tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89069675303676148772024-02-20T23:30:30.419-08:00SUV AdventureNeil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-83242874391616114772010-04-27T05:32:00.000-07:002010-04-27T05:33:45.095-07:002 Mahindra Scorpios go further and beyond<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="fullpost">“The future of India lies in its youth”. A lot of very wise men have emphasized this for as long as my memory serves me. In reality however, the youth were drawn inexplicably to urban life, and were disconnected from the grassroots reality which exists in the real India-the countryside. Which is why, for all its promise, the youth never really delivered what it promised.<br />
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As we speak though, a group of ten young fellas, all extremely well educated and representative of urban youth are planning to change all that. They are making their trip of a lifetime into the hinterland to see for themselves, what makes India the great country that it is. They have set out on a 45 day trip across the nation, leaving the comfort of their city lives behind. And corporate India is backing their ‘Discovery of India’.<br />
<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fncoutinho10%2Falbumid%2F5464792277598618961%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><br />
Chacha Nehru would have been so proud. <br />
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Leading the corporate brigade is Mahindra, which has provided them with two state of the art, completely outfitted Scorpios. These Scorpios are just the beasts they need to tame the terrain as they go cross country.<br />
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Also, MTR with their ready to eat meals, STAR CJ, Map My India with GPS tracking and Nikon with their SLRs are also crucially involved.<br />
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This 45-day trip will see them travel across seven Indian states. They have already set out from Mumbai on their quest through central India. From the locally chaotic social life of UP, Bihar and the culturally exuberant Temple art of Khajuraho, they will then drive along the Himalayan range into Bhutan and then on to the virgin land of Arunachal Pradesh landing up at the farthest point of our country.<br />
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Alongside, they have also taken the time out to maintain a blog, which will let others of their generation peek into their experiences at the <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.furtherandbeyond.com/blog/">blog</a>. For those of you on facebook, you can hear from them as it happens at the <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#%21/pages/further-and-beyond/349130948195">facebook page</a> . Last heard, they were visiting India’s oldest university at Nalanda in Bihar. Hope this inspires many more undertake their own Scorpio expeditions across the country. </span><br />
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<span class="fullpost"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Source: <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.xomba.com/indian_youth_go_further_and_beyond%20">Xerxes - Xomba</a></i></span></span></div>Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-48918199184565719292010-04-19T04:34:00.000-07:002010-04-19T04:34:40.936-07:00Off-roading Experience in India - Scorpio conquers Rajmachi<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span class="fullpost" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Guest post by my friend Varun </i></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span class="fullpost" style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span class="fullpost" style="font-size: small;">Having lived in a city the best part of my driving life, the joy of driving had escaped me. Being stuck in traffic every single weekday on my way to work had ensured I hated the sight of the steering wheel on the weekends. Then, I hit upon the great idea of going off roading. This was around July last year.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcP7yVtS0S21MuVUEyc_zppFjS3fgUk_w-MdiMKL7Bq33e8uUiJlx9NxX_bngD8yHA8tDWtaFTXeXuamY9aKR3gWTRTcMUucnajnR6Z7Mb6KclOf9a8WbBfkmx_vDgssq-ogWmRg_UWOc/s1600/VSHARMA.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcP7yVtS0S21MuVUEyc_zppFjS3fgUk_w-MdiMKL7Bq33e8uUiJlx9NxX_bngD8yHA8tDWtaFTXeXuamY9aKR3gWTRTcMUucnajnR6Z7Mb6KclOf9a8WbBfkmx_vDgssq-ogWmRg_UWOc/s320/VSHARMA.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
<span class="fullpost" style="font-size: small;">To off road, I needed to find myself a good trail and a great SUV. I borrowed my friend’s Scorpio for the same, which was recommended by a few off roaders I met at the community meet for an off road forum in Mumbai. For a weekend getaway, they also suggested I hit the Rajmachi stretch, which provides ample opportunity for the kind of off roading I was looking at. The terrain is real challenging when it rains, and as luck would have it, it rained when I drove there!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
<b><span class="fullpost" style="font-size: small;">Getting there:</span></b><br />
<span class="fullpost" style="font-size: small;">Mumbai to Rajmachi is 121 km, and the drive from Mumbai to Rajmachi takes about 2 hours by car.</span> <span class="fullpost" style="font-size: small;">Some off road essentials they suggested:</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
<b><span class="fullpost" style="font-size: small;">Hitch and Winch</span></b><br />
<span class="fullpost" style="font-size: small;">A front-mount and/or rear-mount hitch. Say you or your buddy slide off of the trail and get buried in too much mud for the truck to handle. With your winch and a stable, secure mounting point (like a thick tree trunk or another vehicle) you can quickly and easily pull the truck back to safety </span><br />
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<b><span class="fullpost" style="font-size: small;">Off Road Recovery Kit</span></b><br />
<span class="fullpost" style="font-size: small;">These kits typically contain heavy-duty tow straps, gloves and a spot light to help you get the most out of your winch system.</span><br />
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<b><span class="fullpost" style="font-size: small;">Tire Gauge and Compressor </span></b><br />
<span class="fullpost" style="font-size: small;">To adjust tire pressure, depending on the terrain.</span><br />
<span class="fullpost" style="font-size: small;">Bull bar / Grille Guard or Light Bar These guards protect your vehicle’s bumper, grille and headlights when you’re tearing through things.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
<b><span class="fullpost" style="font-size: small;">Lights</span></b><br />
<span class="fullpost" style="font-size: small;">If you plan on driving after dark, you can get some heavy duty lights. </span><br />
<span class="fullpost" style="font-size: small;">The Ride: We (me and my girlfriend) set out in the morning around 8 from Bandra in Mumbai to avoid the morning traffic. Reached Rajmachi around 11(we stopped for breakfast). It had been cloudy throughout. Just as we hit the trail, it started to rain. We couldn’t believe our luck! </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
<span class="fullpost" style="font-size: small;">We decided to give the rain some time to slush up the terrain before we could tear it. We spent an hour by the roadside taking in the greenery. An hour later, the terrain was perfect and looked daunting. Just what we were looking for!</span><br />
<span class="fullpost" style="font-size: small;">We tore the terrain, as slowly as we could, just to feel those bumps, and take in the sweet smell of slush as it rose from our wheels. That one ride and I fell in love with the wheel all over again.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
<span class="fullpost" style="font-size: small;">And The Scorpio handled it like a dream. The suspension is both comfortable and intuitive at the same time, allowing you that satiation every time you negotiate the tricky road, while reassuringly securing you as well. The build of the Scorpio makes you feel like you own the terrain (The car you walk into, not crawl into!). And at the end of the road, it came out a winner. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
<span class="fullpost" style="font-size: small;">As for us, the terrain helped us de stress and reconnect with nature, and is an experience I will remember for a while. I strongly recommend it to everyone who’s reading this. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">-Varun</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span class="fullpost" style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-18702729417118609452010-03-10T02:47:00.000-08:002010-03-10T02:51:46.285-08:00Mighty Muscular Scorpio Wins the Maruti Suzuki Desert Storm - NDure Category, 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oBoKyBNMqL1-e5sCX0FHeFjSgROmi94m5aorVuq9XrVSEhV9p2CudbXg-DYphM01BR-K1kJMIirl68vyXVMR311oUIOntspffNlDuzSS2kw4EVHMbSBY3uHcqhE1OeatGSJsiyo8VxEm/s1600-h/Scorpio+Desert+Storm.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oBoKyBNMqL1-e5sCX0FHeFjSgROmi94m5aorVuq9XrVSEhV9p2CudbXg-DYphM01BR-K1kJMIirl68vyXVMR311oUIOntspffNlDuzSS2kw4EVHMbSBY3uHcqhE1OeatGSJsiyo8VxEm/s320/Scorpio+Desert+Storm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446956083815352386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69-ocxJl0p2gf0VuILnI4htNwR_6avciJqIsEcfoKPeyzwZPKNXPoASIaDgSy8g6qY5YwZWExhDqBpTMsrpaowj6k0OPjegKaSCbLjonEfU_TtRNzDzO8T7BRGnTQb7Lfx07mMLqwVRk7/s1600-h/Scorpio+Desert+Storm+2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69-ocxJl0p2gf0VuILnI4htNwR_6avciJqIsEcfoKPeyzwZPKNXPoASIaDgSy8g6qY5YwZWExhDqBpTMsrpaowj6k0OPjegKaSCbLjonEfU_TtRNzDzO8T7BRGnTQb7Lfx07mMLqwVRk7/s320/Scorpio+Desert+Storm+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446955986431306322" /></a><br /><span class="fullpost">Mahindra </span>Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-50009727878781779872009-09-28T23:22:00.000-07:002009-09-29T00:44:57.948-07:00SUV MAHINDRA SCORPIO Mhawk all over Mumbai, Chandigarh, Narkanda, Karcham, kalpa, Sumdo, Tabo & back<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNLo5Ruth0Q0gFSCYA4k8LN7ldiuZYsmd7Q_YDqOT2oBhsrhXKmUwfS9I-Ds0YbamOnAcBnT7w4rpBAJMpB4Qxr7qCY9v07ytMIN6fFj9OuOzQ2_1crUNHmJPLQaHpbyZspuhGVbELxF8/s1600-h/DSC03817.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386779395334915122" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNLo5Ruth0Q0gFSCYA4k8LN7ldiuZYsmd7Q_YDqOT2oBhsrhXKmUwfS9I-Ds0YbamOnAcBnT7w4rpBAJMpB4Qxr7qCY9v07ytMIN6fFj9OuOzQ2_1crUNHmJPLQaHpbyZspuhGVbELxF8/s320/DSC03817.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcNMBjPDOPHhZY_O0HSN_2lhWiS1qp9_l1vVv4h7IwysyYKigVRSYNYvkEzAsunv0RL-tS0rE8sfCCVQ95RdcC2cwCgBv3lDvFAueFqZHEL7jtREJKawNHjr1GOXgXzpB9_2Ru4gKXTUh/s1600-h/DSC00789.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386779384553403938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcNMBjPDOPHhZY_O0HSN_2lhWiS1qp9_l1vVv4h7IwysyYKigVRSYNYvkEzAsunv0RL-tS0rE8sfCCVQ95RdcC2cwCgBv3lDvFAueFqZHEL7jtREJKawNHjr1GOXgXzpB9_2Ru4gKXTUh/s320/DSC00789.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bit.ly/2J5uiL"></a></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bit.ly/2J5uiL"></a><a href="http://bit.ly/2J5uiL"></a><em><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Mhawk all over Mumbai, Chandigarh, Narkanda, Karcham, kalpa, Sumdo, Tabo & back</span></strong></em></div><div><strong><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></em></strong></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The ingredients : 3 guys bored of city life + mahindra Scorpio Mhawk + 15 days of freedom.The itinerary : MumbaiChandigarhNarkandaKibberKarchammKalpaSumdoTaboPin ValleyKibberLosarGramphuManaliAnd then Driving back to mumbai.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">For the whole story, Check this thread on TeamBHP:</span></div><div><a href="http://bit.ly/2J5uiL"><strong>http://bit.ly/2J5uiL</strong></a></div><br /><div></div><div>Pictures also on my picasa:</div><div><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/ncoutinho10/SUVMAHINDRASCORPIOMhawkAllOverMumbaiChandigarhNarkandaKarchamKalpaSumdoTaboBack">http://picasaweb.google.com/ncoutinho10/SUVMAHINDRASCORPIOMhawkAllOverMumbaiChandigarhNarkandaKarchamKalpaSumdoTaboBack</a></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bit.ly/2J5uiL"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386778398919165906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 227px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNM9svYKROT0LZA8U3PJLe1maIjZOfO6AnWjGuXCIUbV-_fjSAxGY-4GJyf-ID2yaAd_gsIob86XSCcUZgBeE3UKjR2o0b3mR-D4YHjouiB9RSz-NIBGkDYVcpT9uwL_ervZYEjISLBv_V/s320/DSC03579.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://bit.ly/2J5uiL"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386778387090395698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRrXbIbZB7xqOAHxc1RvzMHQDv6SFLm1Ue_QOHDOP2hUYdvLAaLXqVFjIpLkxGWREA4M8f0yTy2DrwABDp28RoCg9coXNqGNMC-jtqGPZ-n3Z8iY6oqSBzF8xpPgOAVeXlhMbkWmO_yNC/s320/DSC00968.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><div><div><span class="fullpost"><br /></span></div></div></div>Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-73439366678896071382009-09-24T07:35:00.000-07:002009-09-24T07:38:20.044-07:00Mahindra Xylo MUV: Complete user review (updated: 4 year warranty): Xylo vs. Innova in India car buy<a href="http://bit.ly/3zbzps"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bit.ly/3zbzps"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385032715775637986" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 162px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_oqXrQ8JoYGDL18vuvj3Wb7qyE-y-dugV3QLN3ki-Cop4idVEJTbcKlJIYazVGA7_5pJ1zT2YLFZHrbUE_OHSrK4lh8ptvCztUBRuwwMxaS_ggz1SH0Y5gGsvymlRkF_U3qDPSC7k-DY/s320/poster8.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></span><a href="http://bit.ly/3zbzps"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica;">Mahindra has been growing naturally and gradually along with India's growth since decades. A company, previously associated with tractors and jeeps catering to the rural segment, has now evolved into India's leading auto manufacturing company with products like the hugely successful Scorpio, India's highest selling</span></span><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica;"></span></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica;"><a> SUV.</a> </span></span><p><a href="http://bit.ly/3zbzps"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica;">The Xylo was launched as the final product of Mahindra's <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">project codenamed "Ingenio".</span> The goal was simple, to build the ultimate MUV (Multi Utility Vehicle) for the Indian market with the best features, adequate power and at an extremely competent price. Now, talking about innovation in the Indian auto industry, the mainstream media has not talked about the Xylo as m</span><span style="font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica;">uch as the Tata Nano. But all one has to do, is to take one look at the list of features in this car to realize that Xylo is an engineering marvel. </span></span></a></p><p><a href="http://bit.ly/3zbzps"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica;">The Xylo sports the powerful <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">112 bhp</span> mEagle, this very smooth, <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">2498 cc</span> engine cruises from <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">0 to 60 in 5.8 secs</span>. The dual pilot injection helps drivability of this vehicle in a major way. Slight body roll has been observed with the Xylo but it's really not an issue unless you like driving rashly through corners, something which is best avoided with any MUV. </span></span></a></p><p><a href="http://bit.ly/3zbzps"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Comfort & convenience</span> is where the Xylo scores really big. The much-talked about flat-bed seats are extremely comfortable to rest in the car while someone else is driving. The tilt-steering and the ergonomically designed seats with 3-postion lumbar support are really good for long drives as proper back-support reduces those back-aches and switching drivers is not an issue. The foldable flight-trays, under-seat storage and the ambient lamps give a luxurious feel to the car and you wonder if you're really in a sub-10 lac vehicle! The two mobile charging points and the smart "anti-pinch" power windows are also a thoughtful addition. </span></span></a></p><p><a href="http://bit.ly/3zbzps"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica;">The prime innovative features of the Xylo are showcased in the<span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"> technology and safety </span>features of the Xylo. The advanced Digital drive assist system shows the current speed, instantaneous mileage pattern, gear information pattern, internal & external temperature and humidity </span><span style="font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica;">and the distance you can cover before you run out of fuel. These features are so incredible that once you get used to them, you get really dependent on them! It's something like the cell phone phenomenon; you can't go back to your 2001 cell phone, can you? This is one car that genuinely cares about its passengers it has ABS - so the wheels don't lock up, you don't lose steering control when you hit the brakes and it works like a charm on difficult/slippery surfaces. The engine immobilizer, as the name suggests, shuts the fuel supply is someone tries to steal your car using a fake key. The Intellipark reverse assist works beautifully as the vehicle starts beeping when it comes within 120 cms of any object. The tubeless tires and the warning system (for door-closing and seatbelts) are also handy features. </span></span></a></p><p><a href="http://bit.ly/3zbzps"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica;">A lot of criticism has been aimed at the Xylo's looks, primarily at its tall body structure. I think it is a known fact that the longer a car is, higher the costs. So, if I want space (the prime purpose of an MUV) a short car is very uncomfortable and long cars are very expensive - als</span><span style="font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica;">o they don't fit 7-8 people. Why are SUVs so tall? Simple equation, Space=comfort. Xylo might not be the best looking car in the market, but it is the most comfortable, spacious and advanced car at its price besides the imposing grill with chrome slats and the angry look goes really well for a Mahindra car along with the smooth wrap around tail-lights showing its cooler side.</span></span></a><a href="http://bit.ly/3zbzps"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;"><span style="font-size:+0;"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385033074631136786" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 220px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7T2ctk4SbW5x9ut5s1v2t_guwlmgkHqBr-FtiAaor6hiMFGT_IG67wrM2sqXDAcU4wcP6NLvReTatCuKvbPSBKsJx63bjaiKOBvhVRe8A0i1-evfDgLyhMaPX_Bz1a45vA8JXZYWCU_pB/s320/Banner.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p><a href="http://bit.ly/3zbzps"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica;">All in all, if you're looking for an advanced, powerful, spaci</span><span style="font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica;">ous car and y</span><span style="font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica;">o</span><span style="font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica;">u don't have a very big budget, the Mahindra Xylo is the way to go! Mahindra has just started off</span><span style="font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica;">ering a <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">4 year warranty </span>for those buying the Xylo till 31st October - a brilliant solution to all the maintenance cost headaches. They got</span><span style="font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica;"> 4000 bookings and sold 1788 units of Xylo in two weeks after the launch, I can only imagine the huge spike in demand because of this offer</span></span></a></p><p style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><a href="http://bit.ly/3zbzps"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;font-size:100%;">For more info: </span></a><a href="http://bit.ly/3zbzps"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;font-size:100%;"></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;font-size:100%;"><a rel="nofollow">http://bit.ly/3zbzps</a></span></p><p>Article by: Zubin Raheja from <a href="http://automotionz.blogspot.com/">http://automotionz.blogspot.com/</a><a href="http://bit.ly/3zbzps"><span style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica;"><br /></span></span></a></p>Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-16858001292936545772009-09-08T08:33:00.000-07:002009-09-08T08:45:03.973-07:00How high is your Auto Quotient?Can you get these questions right?<br /><br />Which was the first Car to be manufactured in India?<br /><br />A bull killed a famous bull fighter, Felix Guzman in 1943. An automaker named its newest model after the famous Bull. After that, all the cars have been named after the bull. Which automaker is this and which was the first model?<br /><br />Which car was used in the movie ‘Ghost Busters’?<br /> <br />The Answers:<br />Hindustan Motors’ Hindustan 10 (Or Morris 10).<br />Lamborghini Reventón<br />1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor aka Ecto-1<br /><br />The most important thing to excel in today’s competitive world is a person’s Intelligent Quotient. But life is too demanding. Inevitably, Cars have become a major part of everyone’s life. It is not enough to just be intelligent. Knowing everything that is auto has also become quintessential. You need to know which is the costliest car in the world, how to repair your car when it breaks down, which is the hottest car in town, which car is a girl-magnet and much more. <br /><br />Intelligent people have an Intelligence quotient. Auto enthusiasts have Auto Quotient.<br /><br />For those who are into all things auto, <a href="http://www.mahindra.com/index.asp">Mahindra and Mahindra</a> have initiated an innovative and exciting platform to share and accelerate their passion - <a href="http://www.mahindraaq.com/index.asp">Mahindra Auto Quotient</a>. <br /><br />The first flag-off in Auto Quotient, is India's first auto quiz. A quiz that will have engineering students from across the country pitted against each other for supremacy of auto knowledge. The stakes to be won are high.<br /><br />The legacy of Auto Quotient has been passed ahead from Mahindra employees who have been battling it out in an elaborate internal auto quiz for the past three years. Now they have taken the initiative to bring these nail-biting, brain-twisting yet informative quizzes to auto enthusiasts outside Mahindra too. <br /><br />The entries for this competition are open till 14th September, 2009 for bona fide students of any legitimate engineering college in India. <br /><br />This is what the winners get: The first prize for the winners of AQ is a ticket to the Geneva Motor Show, annually held in Switzerland. It's a once in a lifetime chance to be amongst the greatest congregation of auto enthusiasts, looking at some of the greatest machines ever made. The first runners-up will get to feel the heat of some serious off-roading. They'll be sent for the exhilarating experience of dune bashing in Dubai. The second and third runners-up will be sent to a thrilling Mahindra Great Escape, India's favourite 4X4 rally, for exciting escapades through some of the most exotic locations across the country.<br /><br />Interested participants can register at the <a href="http://www.mahindraaq.com/index.asp">Mahindra Auto Quotient Website</a>. For everyone else, it is simply a platform to become an ardent auto enthusiast.Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-25214705251186844462009-09-01T21:40:00.000-07:002009-09-01T21:50:58.493-07:00A Car that can be controlled by a Joystick? - The Drive-By-Wire Technology.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoZBYglSQs9PsNvG-z3NC2fnTsxUB4rofRxP8u4vErYdgsr541fbF3W1dH0wgfuH5H04M5hQsDTPdYxstdHuIZAGtX8TEr8Jj2NBbnPAyh3hzSTWRIk4sX44-ncjwufxeduUpkV2P4hjH/s1600-h/456009_770714_4800_4800_795389a2004f5507.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoZBYglSQs9PsNvG-z3NC2fnTsxUB4rofRxP8u4vErYdgsr541fbF3W1dH0wgfuH5H04M5hQsDTPdYxstdHuIZAGtX8TEr8Jj2NBbnPAyh3hzSTWRIk4sX44-ncjwufxeduUpkV2P4hjH/s200/456009_770714_4800_4800_795389a2004f5507.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376728015428094882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XBSwlPKkV3_cn4LMeW3RSiGvsjAwxY2FeFnhDXowQLkUo5AfFnEUEWDuQIIAjj4m64EHn0F21W53M0XrQOH4GHSP4GQ_Xf9xi-4k2K7AxIaVmycdVxS3W3a06QG9fyVAb_wCs4sY_cbp/s1600-h/456016_770733_4800_3820_795438a96f4937.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XBSwlPKkV3_cn4LMeW3RSiGvsjAwxY2FeFnhDXowQLkUo5AfFnEUEWDuQIIAjj4m64EHn0F21W53M0XrQOH4GHSP4GQ_Xf9xi-4k2K7AxIaVmycdVxS3W3a06QG9fyVAb_wCs4sY_cbp/s200/456016_770733_4800_3820_795438a96f4937.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376728005139195970" /></a><br />Remember Knight Rider’s sentient talking car with artificial intelligence, KITT? Or Batman’s hi-tech Batmobile, Tumbler? <br /><br />There are many a fantastical things shown in movies and cartoons that have come true. Gone are the days when futuristic cars which could be controlled by pressing buttons and turning some knobs were just fantastical things possible only in movies or in cartoons. Cars that can be controlled by the kind of joysticks kids use to play video computer games are one of them. They are not legal to drive on most of the streets but are now very much existent. The movement of the stick is exactly the movement of the car.<br /><br />Auto giants like DaimlerChrysler AG and Mercedes-Benz have developed these futuristic ‘sidestick’ cars that challenge every notion of what it means to drive a car. It makes for an intricate combination of high-speed computers with the wheels, engine, steering and brakes. <br /><br />Drive-by-wire, DbW, by-wire, or x-by-wire technology replaces the traditional mechanical and hydraulic control systems with electronic control systems using electro-mechanical actuators and human-machine interfaces such as pedal and steering feel emulators.<br /><br />If the word ‘replaces’ in the above definition is substituted with ‘partially replaces’, bits and pieces of drive-by-wire are available in many modern cars in the Indian market. <br /><br />Central Locking, Power Steering, ABS (Brake-by-wire assist), Electronic Stability Control and in a trivial sense even things like power windows and self starter form a part of the Drive-by-Wire Technology. The electronic throttle, which does away with direct mechanical linkage from accelerator pedal, is now commonplace. Fiat Palio, Swift diesel, SX4, Ford Fiesta, Honda City, <a href="http://www.nissan.in/xtrail/index.html">Nissan Xtrail</a> are all cars that come with electronic throttle. In UV’s, Mahindra’s <a href="http://www.mahindrascorpio.com">Scorpio</a> and <a href="http://www.mahindraxylo.co.in">Xylo</a> come with a number of toys of the Drive-By-Wire Technology which include brake-by-wire (like in ABS) and throttle-by-wire (Electronic throttle). A fully Drive-by-Wire car essentially encompasses all the aspects of X-by-Wire including brake-by-wire, steer-by-wire, throttle-by-wire etc. <br /><br />The motivation for drive-by-wire cars lies in the better positioning of the controls and better performance but the use of the technology is still restricted to research vehicles due to regulatory and safety issues.<br /><br />Mechanical systems degrade over a period of time and one can change the parts that are subject to wear and tear, if the performance of the vehicle is dipping. Electronic systems on the other hand have a tendency to fail without warning. Imagine the joystick of the car conking off at break neck speeds. It could very well be the recipe for an unstoppable disaster.Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-15840515809622660122009-08-30T21:23:00.000-07:002009-09-01T21:56:52.562-07:00It’s a Life and Death situation– Tips to avoid accidents<p face="arial" class="MsoNormal">No one likes accident and no one deliberately crashes his/her car into someone else’s or lets it just swerve out of control. But accidents do happen and it clearly defines the difference between Life and Death. Accidents are usually a split-second affair where the driver never realizes what has gone wrong. Although, in a lot of situations, steadfast presence of mind can help you avoid accidents. Here are some tips and precautions you ought to follow for safe driving.</p> <p face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Don’t be naughty, don’t drink and drive:<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">There are many smart alecs who are drunk to the point of no return but still think, “I am perfectly fine,” while driving. Even if you are mildly intoxicated you are still vulnerable. This happens because, no matter how much you deny it, your reaction time increases with alcohol and drugs. Never drive under the influence of intoxicants. </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">If you are Sleepy, Pull Over<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Don’t stretch yourself by putting yourself behind the wheel when you are feeling tired and sleepy. It could make for the most dangerous situation. When feeling sleepy while driving, pull over on the side and catch a quick nap. </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Red Light means stop, not jump the signal<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">You could get away from the friendly traffic cop at the signal when you jump a red light but you will never be able to reverse your car when there is another car coming right at you at that junction. Traffic rules are made for your safety. Follow them. </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Good brakes, ABS (Anti-lock braking System)<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Recent developments in technology have seen the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-lock_braking_system"><u>ABS</u></a> come into use. ABS keeps the car’s wheels from locking up under hard braking on slippery surfaces like sand, loose grave and oil. Drive vehicles like <a href="http://mahindraxylo.co.in/"><u>Mahindra Xylo</u></a> which come with the ABS feature.<span style=""> </span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Maintain control at all times, avoid Overcorrecting<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Some accidents can easily be avoided if you just stay calm. Many accidents happen due to overcorrection. Don’t swerve the car too much to avoid things like road-cones, tumbleweeds, tires, plastic bins etc. It won’t hurt too much even if you run into such things. Swerving your car hard to the right or left instead can throw it out of control.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Keep Safe Distance<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">You must have come across innumerable vehicles with the message “AIR BRAKE – Keep Safe Distance” painted in vivacious fonts on the rear bumper. Do not go and kiss the vehicles in front of you with the front bumper of your car. Maintain safe distance for your own safety.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Follow the speed limits and Caution signs<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Following speed limits and paying heed to caution signs like “Accident prone area – Drive Slow,” will only help you be more secure in your journey. Ignoring this can land you in accidents which you could have easily avoided.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Be alert and pay attention all the time<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Practices like changing the CD in the music system, frantically brushing off the cigarette that has fallen off your lips onto your pants, talking on your mobile phone, leaning down to pick up something are all recipes <span style=""> </span>for disaster. </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Never change lanes without looking<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">When changing lanes, always look in your rear-view mirror and make sure you are not cutting into anyone’s way.<b style=""> <span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">One consideration which is not necessarily a compulsion for driving safety but nonetheless can be very vital is the build quality and how sturdy your car is. <a href="http://www.gm.com/"><u>GM</u></a> is known for its build quality, reliability and safety options. An SUV like <a href="http://www.mahindrascorpio.com/"><u>Mahindra Scorpio</u></a> also packs in a number of safety features like <a href="http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_does_a_collapsible_steering_column_work"><u>collapsible steering column</u></a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crumple_zone"><u>crumple zone</u></a>, fire retardant upholstery, tubeless tyres and ABS can save you from severe damage. </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-77947790883852335982009-06-16T01:48:00.000-07:002009-07-21T01:54:08.231-07:00Mahindra Xylo- the exterminator crushes competition<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdza-kysmBFpkt6Oh9LYAgRpJCIh_Fv8a4b9visZCw29KFQVjidIhDNiPXjidwgujQ0x4-zghDouSj6L8PKJXHq05WldxV877FrUMDF1_Olf2k8oEBG3bhkwV9BWYbnH52gclG3UVNznkm/s1600-h/mahindra-xylo-bhutan-launch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdza-kysmBFpkt6Oh9LYAgRpJCIh_Fv8a4b9visZCw29KFQVjidIhDNiPXjidwgujQ0x4-zghDouSj6L8PKJXHq05WldxV877FrUMDF1_Olf2k8oEBG3bhkwV9BWYbnH52gclG3UVNznkm/s200/mahindra-xylo-bhutan-launch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360833658558885858" border="0" /></a><span class="fullpost">“Thousands across India have outgrown their sedans and are getting set to have the time of their lives in the Xylo” said Mahindra officials. Well their statement definitely holds true as they did have 17000 booking since the launch 5 months back. Oh what a journey it has been! Although I am typically fond of my SUV but can’t help notice how well Xylo is doing. I observed that consumers consider Xylo the bigger Nano. I asked one of my colleague who purchased a Xylo as to why he preferred Xylo over Scorpio (I was convincing him to buy a Scorpio as if I were a salesman at the dealership). The dialogue that pursued is put below as is.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friend:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Bro I have a family of 6. Xylo provided me good leg room and the third seating was also comfortable to fit a 6 footer like me.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Me:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Hmm for you it’s understandable. But is it any good for offroading and long highway drive. I thought you like doing that. Is it a compromise for your family?</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friend:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">No. Maybe it doesn’t look like an SUV but sure does perform like one. And it performs best on highway on high speeds. The traction on the wheel is great. It’s almost as if the vehicle is automated and I am the dummy. Plus come on it has all great tech features and the ABS. And I don’t need to tell you about its price. Its damn affordable! The price was another reason to choose it over Scorpio. I thought I would fit in a good audio-video system with the money I save. I think Xylo should have been renamed “Mahindra Macro”.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Me:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Huh? Why??</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friend:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Welll Tata has Nano. This is 3 Nano’s combined together plus it makes sense, has more features and is superb to carry friends and family, unlike Nano, So Xylo should have been named “Macro”. lol</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Me:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Bad joke bro. lol. I’ll still go for Scorpio. It looks more muscular. But well its fine at least you bought an MPV.<br /><br /></span>Well I realized many people are comfortable with MPV as an option to SUV while many can’t even differentiate between the two. I don’t fit any of the two and love my Scorpio. As long as it is an Indian manufacturer, has good mileage, comes with a great price tag, and helps the concept of carpooling I think its fine for people to buy Xylo. And as it shows they already are! I am worried about competitors like Innova, I wonder what they have up their sleeves because if they don’t have anything they better start looking.<br />Bad boys, Bad boys what you gonna do? What you gonna do? When Xylo comes for you! :)<br /></span>Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-1355656560065340122009-06-14T01:39:00.000-07:002009-07-21T02:09:52.038-07:00Effective ways to save fuel – Tips which will save you some money<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJavyEcyUqeSsIn99P11S4zytuF2eS_W4sM2jlR9_nBMYZS6VpBBWddh4UpBag3nA24-q4O_UHE9P9asM3ujVocxz0bGQw3a55nPQpmd5uAfus9niY4ZSPjXiTNhY72fcDm_UoWJNb9j3O/s1600-h/Fuel_Gauge_300x310.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 194px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJavyEcyUqeSsIn99P11S4zytuF2eS_W4sM2jlR9_nBMYZS6VpBBWddh4UpBag3nA24-q4O_UHE9P9asM3ujVocxz0bGQw3a55nPQpmd5uAfus9niY4ZSPjXiTNhY72fcDm_UoWJNb9j3O/s200/Fuel_Gauge_300x310.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360837806581057858" border="0" /></a><span class="fullpost">With the budget coming in the fuel prices are expected to go up. I don’t need any market analyst to tell me that. Fuel is a finite source and the more we deplete it the more it will cost. Well trying to get a better mileage is not just good for your pocket but also for the environment. I am sure most of them don’t care about the latter so here are some tips to save you some money.<br /><br />Don’t use your accelerator like a drum pedal. Stop alternating between high and low speeds. Accelerate your vehicle slowly and steadily and quickly jump into high gears. Always try and drive on high gears but at the same time on a hill slope always be on lower gears. Consciously practicing this can help you save 40% of your fuel consumption<br /><br />Please drive your vehicle under the speed limit mentioned on the roads (wherever it is mentioned) not only because it will save your life or some fine but also because it will help save some fuel. Less fuel is consumed at slower speed (no theory needed to prove this). If you go from 60 km/h to 95 km/h your fuel consumption increases by 20%<br /><br />Try buying the new micro hybrid variety of vehicles which Mahindra and Tata are giving as an option in higher variants. It basically cuts your vehicles idling time. I understand switching off your engine in traffic jams and restarting sometimes becomes a pain, the microhybrid technology does exactly that without you needing to interfere.<br /><br />Under-inflated tires increase consumption by 6%. Keep a check on your tires air-pressure frequently. This practoise may spare your life and also save you some money<br /><br />You can also reduce costs by using your air conditioner sparingly. If you think its cold enough outside, open the windows. This will also help you stay awake on long drives. Depending on the speed though, using an air conditioner can be efficient. So the faster you are, the more efficient it might be to turn the air conditioner on due to wind resistance on the windows.<br /><br />In the owner’s manual there is detail of which fuel best suits the vehicle (yes there is something called as the owner manual which comes with the car). Always try and use the fuel best suited for your vehicle type. Apart from fuel it will also save you some engine maintenance.<br /><br />As I always say, keep servicing your vehicle from authorized service centre. A properly tuned engine can increase 50% fuel consumption and a poorly maintained Air-filter can reduce 10 %<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">While parking your vehicle check on a few things:</span><br />Switch of all power accessories like the AC, music system etc so that the next time you start your vehicle it doesn’t need to draw extra power to start<br />Check if the fuel is cap is tightly sealed<br />Try to always try to park it under some shade. It keeps the car cool and the engine does not have to provide additional power to the AC to cool the interiors. It also helps prevent fuel evaporation.<br /><br /></span>Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-23997744737175895072009-06-12T01:27:00.000-07:002009-07-21T01:37:49.466-07:00New “Reclaim your life” campaign from Tata Safari-a fake!<span class="fullpost">When I saw the new Dicor Ad first time I was floored, from shots of snow covered mountains to sunny terrains and waterfalls. New Zealand looked picture perfect and the narration said ‘If you looked back on your life, what would you remember? The corner office? The corporate power plays? The VIP lounge?’ and I was like how did they manage to make such a classy Ad till i unraveled the truth.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Here is the Safari Ad</span><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RYthT2wB394&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RYthT2wB394&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Of course it did not do any justice to the brand as the film is about giving up the ‘corner room’ and then living life. The Ad must have been developed with the insight that majority of people aren’t following what they had dreamt of in their early days.<br /><br />But an average Safari user is not the corner room, VIP lounge guy anyway – he is the earthy, outdoorsy guy and the Ad may miss the real Safari audience. And somehow I felt that they were not able to portray the ‘office slavery’ concept properly. There was no frustration or aggression which usually the ‘corner room guys’ have.<br /><br />I felt deep inside that concept was fine but it does not fit safari properly. It looked more like an Ad for New Zealand tourism. Maybe a high end SUV would have fit into this classy, soft Ad that they have made for the corporate executives.<br /><br />And guess what came as a shock. While looking around I came across a Landrover Ad which is based on the same concept. After seeing it I realized what a cheap imitation our Ad is. Here I thought that Indian creative guys are getting better but they couldn’t even copy the Ad as is. My hunch about safari being a mismatch in the Ad was right the ad was for Landrover. I am disappointed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Here is the Landrover Ad<br /><br /></span><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_PZxKevhWwc&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_PZxKevhWwc&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /></span>Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-18148550543923246722009-06-10T00:43:00.000-07:002009-07-21T01:24:54.621-07:00Top gadgets and accessory for Indian SUV 2009 - part 4<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1hTV1McIpW7z9Y5U_MDTObQhlV5zS2O6o8dmzaw1HcDVpeFVBA_10yA1g_0p2oB69HzkMKzowIJEkUXzo1raAktj6pkioG3uMGAQHa8j8VnVAeIA2laQaX_t1umrroqxA1zCuiPrYxK_/s1600-h/89ERoadSpeedLimiter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 114px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1hTV1McIpW7z9Y5U_MDTObQhlV5zS2O6o8dmzaw1HcDVpeFVBA_10yA1g_0p2oB69HzkMKzowIJEkUXzo1raAktj6pkioG3uMGAQHa8j8VnVAeIA2laQaX_t1umrroqxA1zCuiPrYxK_/s200/89ERoadSpeedLimiter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360825775828086802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">ROAD SPEED LIMITER </span><br /><br />This is for parents who are worried that their children maybe driving rash at great speeds. This gadget can surely prevent a lot of accident situations. The Road Speed Limiter controls the vehicle speed at a programmable set speed. So if you dont want your child to drive above 80 Kmph then you should look at this option. Your child will not able to change the settings as it is password protected. It also helps improve fuel economy, since set-speed does not cross the optimum vehicle speed. It also increases Engine life and reduces operating and maintenance cost. Well it sounds like a great option but would cost around 12-15,000 INR but if you look at the positives and the money you will save by installing this equipment you should get a return on investment within a year.<br />Things to check before buying<br /><br />· Types:<br /> A) DC Motor type (single speed)<br /> B) Fuel Solenoid type (single speed and dual speed)<br />· Micro-controller based design<br />· The product should not reduce fuel flow to engine and ensure full power to it<br />· Password protected<br /><span class="fullpost"><br /></span>Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-77057279538490673992009-06-06T00:19:00.000-07:002009-07-21T00:42:36.899-07:00Top gadgets and accessory for Indian SUV 2009 - part 3<span class="fullpost"><span style="font-weight: bold;">SAFE REVERSE ASSISTANT </span><br /><br />I know, you are a great driver your estimations are never wrong and you can park your car on any terrain with ease. But well mistakes happen and if you are not sure you should use the reverse assistants. There are two types of reverse assistants: Back mounted camera and Back mounted sensor.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPVn5OtDowPHKDEkMNafODqBm_ROnfoUzs7rFXZXNhSdPNz_ev14OaKAJcin53D8KxBVxaik3h-MA0OWd2u-hkRmfWE6n5yxoDZFPIJ-4rL5c_ioUTxgwjPWds_O5YgMe2SQpnV5itU_AP/s1600-h/Pajero_rear_view_camera.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPVn5OtDowPHKDEkMNafODqBm_ROnfoUzs7rFXZXNhSdPNz_ev14OaKAJcin53D8KxBVxaik3h-MA0OWd2u-hkRmfWE6n5yxoDZFPIJ-4rL5c_ioUTxgwjPWds_O5YgMe2SQpnV5itU_AP/s200/Pajero_rear_view_camera.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360810671918874562" border="0" /></a><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Back Mounted C</span></span><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-weight: bold;">amera</span><br /><br /></span><span class="fullpost">This arrangement has a camera fit to your rear bumper and an LCD to view it on your dashboard. Whenever you switch to reverse gear the camera activates giving you a low angle view on your background. This camera prevents you from bumping into sharp low lying object which you wouldn’t have seen otherwise. You can get this for around 6,000 INR<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Things to check before buying</span></span><br />· Flush</span><span class="fullpost"> mount waterproof camera<br />· CMOS Night Vision Camera<br />· IR Distance: 3M-5M<br />· Power Consumption: DC12V<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlunfm-dZeegP0ZCPldD5ROcQ-TfrCFqpfMFfTx165wPV7R1AwtzkBi2ZhFyxX51o-Zu0TX7uZyHjhPZxUrgmXJllVyoheAbtgvDSUVS1WkhmemXfCKCCsgseBCOGiJld51Bthfojl5ax/s1600-h/org_1594132.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 109px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlunfm-dZeegP0ZCPldD5ROcQ-TfrCFqpfMFfTx165wPV7R1AwtzkBi2ZhFyxX51o-Zu0TX7uZyHjhPZxUrgmXJllVyoheAbtgvDSUVS1WkhmemXfCKCCsgseBCOGiJld51Bthfojl5ax/s200/org_1594132.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360810940213992338" border="0" /></a><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Back Mounted Sensor<br /><br /></span>For the ones who don’t want to spend a lot of money on reverse assistant you can install the back mounted sensor. Usually most cars are giving away this gadget in the high end versions. I Know for sure that Scorpio does. This arrangement works with a sensor on you back bumper which gives the distance between the car and the nearest object lying behind. The data is projected on a special mirror for the driver. Whenever you are too close to an object the sensors start to beep alarming the driver. You should get this for around 1,500 INR<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Things to check before buying</span></span><br />· Choose sensor colour similar to your vehicle body colour ( so that it is not noticeable)<br />· Software programmed<br />· Distance measurement through display<br />· Alarm indication with different tones<br /><br />To check more gadgets click here<br /></span>Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-23241116803109572022009-06-04T00:11:00.000-07:002009-07-21T00:18:28.509-07:00Top gadgets and accessory for Indian SUV 2009 -part 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOUnkulsElTDhcqq1UJPTpZZ3sNDP9X4gsOV6gVvDIhFOdZUw2a5n1dM1pNUxfsWsDvt6umrnQA_TQ2K4CZJ_dtB6NU-g5XBJqvz4N3r98JCPAVhIoVIS3PbI0P-s7SL6sjypO00RX0Gt/s1600-h/prod1020.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOUnkulsElTDhcqq1UJPTpZZ3sNDP9X4gsOV6gVvDIhFOdZUw2a5n1dM1pNUxfsWsDvt6umrnQA_TQ2K4CZJ_dtB6NU-g5XBJqvz4N3r98JCPAVhIoVIS3PbI0P-s7SL6sjypO00RX0Gt/s200/prod1020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360808504428360594" border="0" /></a><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-weight: bold;">GEAR LOCK</span> <br /><br />Well manufacturers are trying their best to prevent theft of the vehicle. New Scorpio has vehicle immobilizer, vehicle tracker etc. but you can do your part for ensuring safety by installing a gear lock. It basically is a mechanical lock which locks the transmission / gear lever in the reverse position. It uses an unique type of key which is not easily duplicable. It shouldn’t cost you more than 1500 INR. It will protect your investment for sure. There are basically two types of gear lock: U Type and Pin Type. You can check out the difference by searching online.<br /><br />Things to check before buying<br />· Superior grade hardened steel.<br />· Proper installment knowledge by the dealer<br /><br /></span><span class="fullpost">For more gadgets click here</span>Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-44974652355434399482009-06-02T22:37:00.000-07:002009-07-20T22:46:11.829-07:00Top gadgets and accessory for Indian SUV 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhZqgVfBEue4f4SX8Z7Qvn5QAspv_r65_1MbY7jX6cvibueEpsYBnP0amwHkGETAGon7yz6lJfQDl0w7JB28X8qkCTvui1-l-cXRXYE-hqaOkWzQqwZJ4QTypHjARlXWnYBnwtzCKmymL/s1600-h/chinavasion-CVSI-1202-1-main2-xx.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhZqgVfBEue4f4SX8Z7Qvn5QAspv_r65_1MbY7jX6cvibueEpsYBnP0amwHkGETAGon7yz6lJfQDl0w7JB28X8qkCTvui1-l-cXRXYE-hqaOkWzQqwZJ4QTypHjARlXWnYBnwtzCKmymL/s200/chinavasion-CVSI-1202-1-main2-xx.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360785008558088178" border="0" /></a><span class="fullpost"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ROOF MOUNT TFT LCD MONITOR</span><br /><br />MUST MUST MUST have an LCD monitor in your SUV. It is definitely great entertainment for people sitting behind as well as you when someone else is driving. An SUV has great head room so I would advise you to have a roof mounted LCD. Not only because it fits perfectly for a good viewing angle but also because it will not distract the driver (LCDs on dashboard tend to do that). Usually people sitting in the back row of an SUV tend to feel claustrophobic because they can’t see anything right ahead. A roof mounted LCD will keep them relaxed. It is also useful to keep your kids from distracting you. So all in all a great deal. And you should find a good monitor for around 8000 INR<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Things to check while buying</span><br /><br />· English OSD Menu<br />· Display : TFT Active Matrix System<br />· High Resolution<br />· Two Video Inputs<br />· Full Function Remote Control<br />· Dome Lights<br />· Built in IR Transmitter<br />· Built in Clock<br /><br />For more gadgets click here<br /><br /></span>Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-88639959581121144952009-05-27T22:31:00.000-07:002009-07-20T22:35:34.191-07:00How to get the best resale on your old SUV<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLLPr8T1km9ixSYTKPIOm8ME_7cA260UF0z_zV-JLQ_ZdTJrf9_o5OdrNH4P5RPtDkjiZk1w8ndz3N8zIppdzHX2rUA5_TMV1hh6gXGfbn6W_AIcQirtVQVPkdue2DtoMqNqmHml0Vtx4/s1600-h/resale_services.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfLLPr8T1km9ixSYTKPIOm8ME_7cA260UF0z_zV-JLQ_ZdTJrf9_o5OdrNH4P5RPtDkjiZk1w8ndz3N8zIppdzHX2rUA5_TMV1hh6gXGfbn6W_AIcQirtVQVPkdue2DtoMqNqmHml0Vtx4/s200/resale_services.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360782204674356850" border="0" /></a><span class="fullpost">It is something that everyone must have noticed. The price of new automobiles is increasing day by day (i.e. if you take Indian car manufacturers like Mahindra and Tata out of the equation). I am telling you this because we have a very common tendency to trade our cars in 3-4 years for another. We do this because we worry that the resale value will further depreciate as the car gets older. I have promised myself that I wouldn’t trade my Scorpio until the wheels fall of. Any visitor looking at my car will never be able to guess that the car is 3 years old. It is still in prime condition.<br /><br />Here I will tell you tips that will help you maintain your SUV just like I do. I guarantee you if you follow these tips religiously, you will get a better deal when you sell your vehicle. Here are a few ideas to get you started. Some will cost you moolah while the others won’t.<br /><br />The most important thing for a car is their external appearance as that forms the first impressions; please never neglect the finish of your car. Wash your vehicle regularly and don’t let bird poop or road tar stay on your vehicle. It may seem harmless but eventually it will corrode your paint. If you stay near the coast you would want to dry clean your vehicle often to remove the salt that settles on the surface which causes rusting. Most modern car accessory stores have variety of protectant. Use this to protect the finish of your car. My vote would go to a PTFE based product. PTFE is the same thing which is applied on Teflon frying pans. My advice is that you don’t want wax on your car. Wax is a no good product which can only be used for candles. It is used to melt under heat, I am sure I wouldn’t want that for my SUV especially in India where it is always hot.<br /><br />When you are not driving, try parking in a garage or under some kind of shade. If none of that is available buy yourself water and heat repellant cover. I have witnessed so many vehicles getting ruined because it was left naked under the sun and the paint got oxidized. Dark colors are more susceptible, especially red.<br />One of the things that can be classified under common sense is “regular maintenance”. Changing oil, engine tune-ups and things like circuit check and fan belt replacement are things which will help you run the extra mile. Of course you know all of the things I said but the problem is that we don’t act upon it. Really go out there and do it continuously for 3 months to see the difference.<br />It’s easy to for a second buyer to tell if the vehicles owner actually cared about his car. Sometimes the buyer pays more than the value of the car if he feels that the car has been handled with extreme care. There are many more things you can do to take good care of your vehicle but let’s take things one at a time.<br /></span>Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-83490512016320909182009-05-25T22:22:00.000-07:002009-07-20T22:30:40.828-07:00Causes and Prevention of Rollover Accidents<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NSBN88esU5kZKt92squidDaXpFJ_5tzZC3y4FxxUy4kqed3G6PB3jAR781hMLSvz_WyekCzqof28eh8fvX9jQAmfYaDUbpAIaZg4Znh1QyoXOsw33ryE5c8r9Bmd4abU5CEWH1OhAXS9/s1600-h/Rollover+Accident.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NSBN88esU5kZKt92squidDaXpFJ_5tzZC3y4FxxUy4kqed3G6PB3jAR781hMLSvz_WyekCzqof28eh8fvX9jQAmfYaDUbpAIaZg4Znh1QyoXOsw33ryE5c8r9Bmd4abU5CEWH1OhAXS9/s200/Rollover+Accident.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360780868323093010" border="0" /></a>By far the deadliest risk facing SUV, minivan, and truck occupants is a rollover accident. Because of a higher center of gravity, SUVs are more prone to rollover accidents than typical sedans. Compounding the issue is the fact that SUVs often carry heavy loads with make them even more top-heavy and thus are more likely to be involved in rollover accidents.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cause of Rollover Accidents</span><br /><br />Rollover accidents are directly related to a vehicle's stability in turns. That stability is influenced by the relationship between the center of gravity and the track width (distance between the left and right wheels). A high center of gravity and narrow track can make a vehicle unstable in fast turns or sharp changes of direction--increasing the odds that it will tip over once it begins to skid sideways. The problem is most pronounced in 4-wheel-drive pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles, which have a higher ground clearance for off-road driving.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prevention</span><br /><br />Many SUVs have roll-stability control systems that work to prevent rollover accidents. But that won’t help. What a SUV driver needs to do is realize the purpose of his vehicle. Most don’t realize that SUVs are not built for speed it is built for off roading and tackling various terrains. If you are looking for just superior speed DONOT buy an SUV go for a sedan. Of course technically even SUVs will give you superior speed because of the engine built but it will not be easy to tame a SUV at high speeds<br /><br />It is like the difference between a Harley and a Hayabusa. They are built for different purpose. One built for cruise the other for speed. The driver needs to check on his psyche. Are you the one who gets the shot out of adrenalin OR the one who enjoys and takes things at a slow pace and relishes every bit of his life? I am the latter so I chose an SUV<br /><br />Other thing that one needs to realize is that the current SUVs have power steering. The vehicle swings wildly at a move of the steering. So under panic never pull your steering extremely to any direction. Doing that will undoubtedly seal your fate.<br /><br />Most fatal 4WD rollovers are single-vehicle accidents that occur on weekend nights. The drivers are most frequently males under 25, and alcohol is usually involved. In three out of four fatal rollovers, the victims were ejected from the vehicle, indicating they weren't wearing a seatbelt.Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-18273167236312774942009-05-22T08:38:00.000-07:002009-06-23T08:43:22.545-07:00Its all about loving your SUV<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BtBshaXIYYs_U5_v5Uf5yADvuCfegx5Otv9T1t4l93YzITdhNQqtEpwVnEGhaaE_b2_MS7b1TX6qZTQO7iRPIkA1x92MRruxhN5yYZ5OjN9_3fTcB3dI4Xsve80cj1kyyeEwJrYUrS6j/s1600-h/43324482v2_350x350_Front.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BtBshaXIYYs_U5_v5Uf5yADvuCfegx5Otv9T1t4l93YzITdhNQqtEpwVnEGhaaE_b2_MS7b1TX6qZTQO7iRPIkA1x92MRruxhN5yYZ5OjN9_3fTcB3dI4Xsve80cj1kyyeEwJrYUrS6j/s200/43324482v2_350x350_Front.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350548971323796770" border="0" /></a><br />The monsoons still show no signs of respite. Days get longer and the weather more humid. I say a road trip in your SUV sounds like a great way to get away. I’ve got a few tips to share with you to make sure that the road trip does not end in misery.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Send your SUV to the Spa -</span> Before going on a long drive, always get your vehicle serviced. Keeping your SUV happy decides if you are man enough to ride her. It means taking your SUV for a dealer inspection. Tell the mechanic details of your trip, whether you are cutting through edgy mountains in Leh or surfing through the desserts of Rajasthan. Trust me the mechanics know their job, they will tune the vehicle appropriately for the conditions. Finally keeping you and your passengers safe should be the primary concern<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Customize your emergency kit –</span> It is a MUST! There is nothing more important than being ready for the worst. At the least, a roadside emergency kit should include a set of reflecting jackets, jumper cables, flashlight, multi-tool kit, a quart of oil and a water bottle. The customization of your kit will depend on what conditions you are going to be in. Some more items to consider including in the kit are: extra fuses, tools (flat head and screwdrivers, pliers, wrench), Tommy & jack, rags, paper towels, and duct tape. Most of these items can be stored in a duffel bag in the back of your SUV. Also please keep a medical kit to repair yourself.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Plan your route – </span>We are not given the lavishes of a GPS system like the Americans do, so it is essential to plan your trip. Gather all information you need about the destination and its route. Take advices from online forums and people who have visited that place earlier. There are many digital route planners to ease your job; you can also seek it on mapmyindia.com. If you are travelling with your family then carry a big print out of the location map. While you are driving let the other choose places they want to halt. Great way to bond with your family on the trip!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Escaping the city –</span> Escaping the city traffic is a major concern for most travelers. No one wants to get stressed out during vacation by being stuck in bad traffic, heat and pollution. And more importantly it is a major time waste. Try and figure how we could use that time more constructively. Find out when and where you would be likely to run into traffic and plan around it. Remember to relax and enjoy yourself!<span class="fullpost"><br /></span>Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-39715785362513822682009-05-19T08:22:00.000-07:002009-06-23T08:32:57.654-07:00Honey I shut the Kids!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinG6BbjJ8Y8lhE_7tGbA0rB38-O89Ue5zA7aHcFikBOCFHn9-4f9aWU5tLjCO59zinDbPaIUpn757B-XzOzIpWQVXzgsjpItezu9Mw2yM-RkwXSmctn2332Z6sKuDtoNLavJMvfGT-HP4B/s1600-h/ProblemChild.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinG6BbjJ8Y8lhE_7tGbA0rB38-O89Ue5zA7aHcFikBOCFHn9-4f9aWU5tLjCO59zinDbPaIUpn757B-XzOzIpWQVXzgsjpItezu9Mw2yM-RkwXSmctn2332Z6sKuDtoNLavJMvfGT-HP4B/s200/ProblemChild.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350545317237924594" border="0" /></a><span class="fullpost">OK Indian parents! Please don’t get defensive when I say this but kids are annoying and real trouble makers. I know you all agree with me (come on no one is watching you- just nod your head). Do you remember those days when you used to ride with your lover alone? You could smell freedom in the air. It was pure pleasure, no interruption whatsoever.<br /><br />Ok maybe I am getting a bit harsh. Children are also a great source of entertainment during travel if you know how to handle them properly. They can make the trip quite pleasurable indeed. But for that planning is very important. One way to avoid distractions during travel is to leave for the trip around the child’s sleeping time. Let them settle in and they would immediately go to sleep. This way you will cover initial part of the journey without little or no distractions. But you have to be careful to adjust your sleep timings in a way that you are refreshed when you begin your journey. It is crucial that the driver is very alert especially during night drives.<br /><br />There are a few more things you can do to keep your kid engaged. Let him pack his own small backpack. Allow him to keep things that he is very used to playing at home (personally Sony PSP is my life saver). You may want to assist him pack his bag and explaining him why he would want to take certain things.<br /><br />Following are some ideas which can be used while traveling.<br /></span><ul><li><span class="fullpost">Age appropriate reading material such as picture books for small children and reading books for older children.</span></li><li><span class="fullpost">Music playing devices such as MP3 or CD player. Remember to bring along an extra set of batteries.If you can, install a DVD player in the vehicle. Play a movie the child loves.</span></li><li><span class="fullpost">Age appropriate activity books such as puzzle books. </span></li><li><span class="fullpost">Child specific backpack with personal items of their choice. Plastic drinking cups with built in straws that can have juice or water frozen in them prior to trip will reduce spilling and the need for ice.</span></li><li><span class="fullpost">Electronic games</span></li><li><span class="fullpost">Snack package containing fruit snacks or wafers. The only thing to keep in mind is to buy snacks that will not leave sticky residue on fingers, face or automobile seats. Snacks can be packed to fit into a child’s personal backpack.</span></li></ul><span class="fullpost">Keeping in mind the amount of time that will be required to travel to ones destination will help in determining just how many items the child should bring along. So these are few things I follow when I have to take my nephew along anywhere. I hope this helps you distract the kids from creating more distractions :)<br /></span>Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-28683009942985639472009-05-18T08:04:00.000-07:002009-06-23T08:15:22.762-07:00India China War- I hate China!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXCgHp4YciOSYDcX4nl_RW3uiduyUpMIf1sZI7wanhh_L4dENdPQXuvlCRN8OILz668B-jkWRronHkRjbN9GdI9pXkMU0_oSrL8k14d6ZzJ0Ms-xxX8pbL82iFSZYWZg-vfUdUQchi8ni/s1600-h/funny_chinese_strong_man.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXCgHp4YciOSYDcX4nl_RW3uiduyUpMIf1sZI7wanhh_L4dENdPQXuvlCRN8OILz668B-jkWRronHkRjbN9GdI9pXkMU0_oSrL8k14d6ZzJ0Ms-xxX8pbL82iFSZYWZg-vfUdUQchi8ni/s200/funny_chinese_strong_man.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350541315182860898" border="0" /></a><span class="fullpost">General Motors to sail away from bankruptcy agreed to sell its flagship brand the “Hummer” to China's Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co.<br /><br />By selling hummer GM plans to secure 3000 jobs. After selling four of its US brands GM is planning to limp back to become a profitable company it used to be.<br /><br /><br />Tengzhong is not making a bad deal either. By buying hummer they plan to capture a large chunk of the china’s SUV market which has already surged by 25% last year. Also it would help them enter emerging markets and stand out as a global player.<br /><br />"There are a lot of new rich in China who like niche brands such as Hummer," said Ricon Xia, a Daiwa Institute of Research analyst in Shanghai. "A lot of private companies like Tengzhong have emerged because of the economic boom and they will strike more surprising deals like this one."<br /><br />The other brands that GM plans to sell are Saturn and Saab. They are also likely to cut down the production of Pontiac considerably.<br /><br />"This is a good acquisition for Sichuan Tengzhong and a good sale for GM," said Wong. "They can do the manufacturing and marketing in the US, but in addition to that they can produce Hummer elsewhere for markets such as China, India and the Middle East."<br /><br />The Hummer sale should be completed by the end of the third quarter.<br /><br />Well China will do what China does best. Imitate! Once they get their hands on hummer they will start imitating the technology and make variety of international cars at cheaper rate. I can bet on it. I just wish That Mahindra would have bought the Hummer. Then we could have earned the profits that now China will. :) there is a Chinese walking past me while I write this, I am going to take the chance and kill one, will do my country a favor.<br /></span>Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-36466483591277197542009-05-15T07:47:00.000-07:002009-06-23T07:58:50.945-07:00Renault- Sandero Details<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenvw5i9eUAjFL_0hZr3ilDVvGHma7XDIXDLOAU75ABlqR1NoNcVDRiwMhIZxykyjkdVwC0EFUHq0UYvXOtJIMDqNH-jokiP7bv6zcztr_dI4Zma1nEIo3MBT16Y7sWJ7KJFgBM7QSNge-/s1600-h/renault-sandero-stepway-2008_2000x1325.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenvw5i9eUAjFL_0hZr3ilDVvGHma7XDIXDLOAU75ABlqR1NoNcVDRiwMhIZxykyjkdVwC0EFUHq0UYvXOtJIMDqNH-jokiP7bv6zcztr_dI4Zma1nEIo3MBT16Y7sWJ7KJFgBM7QSNge-/s200/renault-sandero-stepway-2008_2000x1325.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350535869234982994" border="0" /></a><br />Renault, French car manufacturer has become a household name after its joint venture with Mahindra. It has proved its success after it launched the Mahindra Renault Logan - Mid Sized sedan in April 2007.<br /><br />Well there is great news! The company has plans to launch the Sandero SUV which is first in the queue to be launched in India and it was actually built for the Brazilian markets.<br />The two basic qualities of the compact Sandero make it a good ‘Urban Sport’ vehicle includes roominess and robustness. The SUV will be matted with a 1.5-Litre dCi diesel engine similar to the one on the Logan and comes with a stylish bumpers and grille, chrome-finished exhaust pipe, cozy and spacious interiors with seating capacity of five adults, and roof rails.<br /><br />The high-set position of the driver’s seat is an exclusive feature which makes driving extremely comfortable especially for women. It not only helps short drivers by aiding them in seeing the road better but also gives them a feeling of superiority in any urban road condition.<br /><br />And believe it or not the best part of the Sandero Stepway is that it is expected to be priced at around Rs 5 Lakh. That’s right my friends. I am sure Mahindra will have to play an important role to play in getting the vehicle at the miraculous cost. Unlike other Renault cars, this revolutionary SUV is all set to invade the mid-size SUV segment and repeat the success of the Logan. Hail Renault! :)Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-25839489616571712882009-05-13T07:23:00.000-07:002009-06-23T07:44:56.647-07:00Tips on how to test a test drive<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-x9yKYCLMtUF4JzQJ2FF8jg2CWiKgu4lLhJnphgq3RVo3gPfsHQy5KhmWwjpxHCe6U44hyIVjI76m0yM-5uU3DbbnvuI1DT8Kj1zwhb386vbmy7aPuyP9GNyw2IKDFc3zY_xjJvSrwHiG/s1600-h/used-car-dealer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-x9yKYCLMtUF4JzQJ2FF8jg2CWiKgu4lLhJnphgq3RVo3gPfsHQy5KhmWwjpxHCe6U44hyIVjI76m0yM-5uU3DbbnvuI1DT8Kj1zwhb386vbmy7aPuyP9GNyw2IKDFc3zY_xjJvSrwHiG/s200/used-car-dealer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350533280930414114" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="fullpost">Well you went to an auto website and booked a test drive, few days later you have the keys in your hand. Now what? What are you supposed to check while have a test drive?<br /><br />There are many things a person can check on basis of his personal preferences however I would just be mentioning the standard things to check out while taking a test drive.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Research<br /></span>Go online and check out for test drive reviews for the vehicle you wish to purchase. note down the negatives and positives mentioned by other users. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Let’s Get Acquainted</span><br />There is no point in test driving a vehicle that doesn’t offer the desired features. Before requesting the keys from the salesperson, become acquainted with the vehicle. Inspect the exterior and interior thoroughly. Find out what features the vehicle has and where they are located. If the seats collapse or can be removed, test the feature. Open the trunk or cargo area with each form of access: key, button, remote. Open all of the doors, and sit in all of the seats to determine comfort and convenience.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The View from the Passenger Seat</span><br />Allow the salesperson to drive the vehicle first. While in the passenger seat, check the radio, air conditioning, windows, locks and other manual or electronic features. Listen for noises coming from inside and/or outside the vehicle. The vehicle should be well insulated so there shouldn’t be much noise from outside. Be aware of any rattles from the engine. This is a great opportunity to ask questions without the distraction of driving so don’t be shy.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Be Honest, Not Reckless</span><br />Adjust the seats, mirrors, steering wheel and pedals before starting the vehicle. Turn the radio off and buckle the seatbelt. Now the drive begins, but lets face it, most drivers do not drive well and a test drive is not the time to start. It’s important to know how the vehicle will respond to every day mistakes like keys left in the ignition, lights left on or unlocking the vehicle from the outside through the open window. While driving, test how well the vehicle handles your daily driving. Don’t take this opportunity to test the limits of the vehicle, just make sure it can sustain less-than-perfect driving habits. Remember to check visibility during parking and backing up, too. If more than one person will be driving the vehicle frequently, have both of them test drive the vehicle. Both drivers should feel comfortable and safe in the vehicle before purchase.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Once is Not Enough</span><br />Test driving a vehicle doesn’t not mean that a purchase has to be made that day. Take time to compare the features, comfort and drivability to other vehicles. Don’t be afraid to spend a few extra dollars to have your mechanic look at the vehicle and/or take it for a drive. It’s better to spend a little money now instead of a lot of money a few months down the road. Take the vehicle on a second spin and spend some time thinking before making a final decision.<br /></span>Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-24532758270909657782009-05-08T07:06:00.000-07:002009-06-23T07:16:39.320-07:00Mahindra scorpio- Micro Hybrid technology<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAqk2iYkZY3k24zzQC934kJ_8IcYkU3ArU3i96pKlTJWTbgGZmYMEo81w1n8rrxI_6NF6zXHJ8w9NLLx93kIHhMi80-rSvGfLJPtsN5m1wJfJoZWyXPQmdv8TnWwv6aKueMrWgLL5pZxc/s1600-h/mahindra_fuelsmart_system.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAqk2iYkZY3k24zzQC934kJ_8IcYkU3ArU3i96pKlTJWTbgGZmYMEo81w1n8rrxI_6NF6zXHJ8w9NLLx93kIHhMi80-rSvGfLJPtsN5m1wJfJoZWyXPQmdv8TnWwv6aKueMrWgLL5pZxc/s400/mahindra_fuelsmart_system.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350526435535379458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span class="fullpost">The new ‘mighty muscular’ Scorpio was launched successfully to excellent customer response..<br /><br />However, with all the attention riveted by the Scorpio’s new look, an important feature got sidelined. The revolutionary Micro Hybrid technology*.<br /><br />Hence, I would like to give you some factual information about what this technology actually is, and what it can do to limit pollution and conserve our planet.<br /><br /><br />The start stop system automatically shuts down and restarts the automobile's engine. The engine begins effortlessly once a driver depresses a clutch prior to moving ahead. This in turn reduces the duration for which the engine is kept idling, thereby improving fuel economy. This start stop system comes into play when the automobile has to spend considerable amounts of time waiting at traffic signals or in traffic jams. This feature started in hybrid electric vehicles but now has also started appearing in vehicles without a hybrid powertrain like Scorpio and Bolero. Fuel economy can improve by 5 to 10 percent in non-hybrid vehicles with the start stop system.<br /><br />Mahindra deserve credit for taking the lead in implementing Micro Hybrid technology. I am sure many will follow in the footsteps of this first Micro Hybrid car in the country.<br /><br />In a nutshell, the Micro Hybrid technology:<br />• Switches off the engine when the Scorpio idles for a preset duration<br />• Switches the engine back on, the instant your leg touches the clutch pedal<br />• Burns less fuel, thus reducing pollution and conserving the environment<br /><br /><br />Volkswagen Polo Formel E, Fiat Regata ES and BMW were some of the earliest vehicles to use this technology. Smart Fortwo is a micro hybrid sold in Europe. Mahindra & Mahindra is the first in India to introduce Micro hybrid Technology with Scorpio and Bolero.<br /></span>Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-70906078291631440732009-05-06T08:50:00.000-07:002009-06-23T08:53:12.823-07:00Bosch Tie up with Scorpio<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXrhpSDX9Ty3D8F8LKJTUVCv7Nubz6ftcsh8ijyHgQP1rm-9ne5B4ultvAtCAe5bDXNAc8QI-mgm2gb7Y9KdAcVIjsRWh_-NSD06veIFld4wJ9wTCiO3ur2Qm9AcSC_R12LVUw-f-iOkr/s1600-h/bosch_logo1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 70px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXrhpSDX9Ty3D8F8LKJTUVCv7Nubz6ftcsh8ijyHgQP1rm-9ne5B4ultvAtCAe5bDXNAc8QI-mgm2gb7Y9KdAcVIjsRWh_-NSD06veIFld4wJ9wTCiO3ur2Qm9AcSC_R12LVUw-f-iOkr/s200/bosch_logo1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350551278528447778" border="0" /></a><span class="fullpost">I don’t think anyone needs an introduction on Bosch. It is a global giant and a technology leader. A world fueled with the technological revolution is setting high standards for the role of safety in automotive electronics. It would be hard to find any vehicle in the world which runs without a Bosch component. They are definitely the trend setters in advanced motoring.<br /><br />In the Indian automobile industry, which is also currently witnessing revolutionary changes with technological advancement, Bosch, the largest auto parts supplier in the country, made its larger presence by commissioning its electronic control unit (ECU) for diesel and gasoline fuel injection systems at Naganathapura in Bangalore.<br /><br />So far the company was meeting the requirements of all the major OEMs in the country by importing ECUs from its overseas operations, including those in China and Europe. With an appreciable increase in automobile production in India since last few years, Bosch realized the urgent need to establish its indigenized manufacturing unit for ECUs at Naganathapura not only to meet the growing demand of its customers but also to ensure a quicker delivery at lower cost. However, there is no compromise on the quality of Bosch ECUs produced in India. The Indian production facilities indeed conform to the world standard similar to the company plants in Hungary, Mexico and China.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><br />Over the past few years, Bosch has been introducing its innovative products to the Indian market as part of its increased commitment to India. The company has already introduced the Common Rail Injection System for diesel vehicles, which has revolutionized the Indian diesel car and SUV markets. The system will also be made available in the commercial vehicle segment in India in the near future.<br /><br />Another Bosch innovation is the Start-Stop System, which can save fuel consumption of 8-12 per cent, is already in use in Mahindra’s Scorpio and Bolero models. The next in the offing is the anti-lock braking system, which will be manufactured in India from this year.<br /></span>Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8906967530367614877.post-84648584609932325442009-05-06T06:56:00.000-07:002009-06-23T07:06:00.520-07:00Metrosexual SUV ??<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRADnT9lhkRPAV83-tVmeegUuXDLpA9nZGlnwVAZkW6AJVk7At8qFJphGNeIkEkX_CyUOSvBG8biWJqPC5Pksp44o3yPHWFk2gXZxvFnAlgyl8lACLK5oVOxhBucDaTO6GHnq4Ord6YuiI/s1600-h/audi-q5-front-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRADnT9lhkRPAV83-tVmeegUuXDLpA9nZGlnwVAZkW6AJVk7At8qFJphGNeIkEkX_CyUOSvBG8biWJqPC5Pksp44o3yPHWFk2gXZxvFnAlgyl8lACLK5oVOxhBucDaTO6GHnq4Ord6YuiI/s200/audi-q5-front-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350522387122335122" border="0" /></a><span class="fullpost">Recently I came up with the news that Audi is planning to launch Its Luxury vehicle Q5 in India. Well technically it’s a superior car and any new born would gleefully look at Q5 whizzing by an Indian road. But I am annoyed, because Audi calls it an SUV!<br /><br />Here is the news snippet I came across “<span style="font-style: italic;">German luxury car maker, Audi, added a new vehicle in its sports utility vehicle (SUV) portfolio, launching new Q5 in diesel and petrol variants. The SUV comes with two engine options 2.0 TFSI and 3.0 TDI in price range of Rs. 38.29 lakh and Rs. 44.19 lakh respectively at all 11 dealerships of Audi in India.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Audi India Managing Director, Benoit Tiers said: “The Audi Q5 combines the dynamism of a sports sedan with Audi’s all-wheel drive to create a superior technology package for both on</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">and off-road driving.”</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The company launched premium Q5 despite low demand across automobile segment. Earlier, it sold Q7, the bigger version of Q5, in the domestic market with sale of 1,050 cars in India.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">It has set a target to sell 1500 units of its six models namely A4, A6, A8, TT, R8 and Q7 in the current fiscal.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Mr. Tiers further added, “The luxury car market is growing at a faster pace in India and we are targeting that. We plan to sell 100 Q5 SUV this year, and take it up to 500 by next year. Overall, we have set a target to sell 1,500 cars in 2009.</span>”<br /><br />I wonder why I hate foreign SUVs so much. Is it the bad fuel efficiency, the high price or simply that the SUVs made internationally are less of sport and more of luxury? The design is getting smoother day by day and the marketing promises comfortable city drive. City drive? Whatever happened to the use of “Off roading” as a synonym for SUVs. Well by the time I complain here they may have already sold a few pieces. The only point I am trying to make is that they should put all these ultra modern luxury vehicles into a new genre instead of ‘metrosexualising’ SUVs<br /></span>Neil coutinhohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01722782193693617076noreply@blogger.com0