All New Maruti Suzuki Dzire launched at Rs 5.45 lakh | Full Specifications | Autoculture

Maruti Suzuki has finally launched its most anticipated compact sedan, the all-new Dzire at an introductory price of Rs 5.45 lakh for the petrol and Rs 6.45 lakh (All prices, Ex Showroom, Delhi). Recently, Maruti Suzuki also previewed the compact sedan revealing some of its details. The car will be offered in both petrol and diesel fuel trims in four grades: LXi/LDi, VXi/VDi, ZXi/ZDi and ZXi+/ZDi+. Moreover, the bookings for the new sedan have already been started at a token amount of Rs. 11,000 across all the Maruti’s authorized dealerships.

Dimensionally, the car now measures 3,995mm in overall length, 1,735mm of width, stands tall at 1,515mm with a wheelbase of 2,450mm, not to forget the ground clearance, which is 163mm. with this new dimension enhancement in the new model, it’s width is increased by 40mm, rear soulder room by 30mm and front shoulder room by 20mm, making it more spacious from inside for the  passengers. The new model has also got some significant increase in its boot capacity to 378 litres.

The top end variant of the new Dzire would boast of LED projector headlamps with daytime running lights (DRLs), electrically retractable ORVMs, 7 inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and satellite navigation, automatic climate control with rear AC vents, leather-wrapped steering wheel, rear defogger, front fog lamps, start/stop button,15-inch precision-cut alloy wheels, reverse parking sensors and reverse parking camera, while the standard features are LED-tail lamp cluster, LED high mounted stop lamp, dual tone interiors, roof mounted antenna and MID screen in the instrument cluster.

Under the bonnet, the all-new Maruti Suzuki Dzire would carry the same set of powertrains – a 1.2-litre 4-cylinder K-Series petrol unit and 1.3-litre 4-cylinder DDiS 190 diesel mill. The former would produce maximum power of 82bhp and peak torque of 113Nm, while the latter would crank out 74bhp and 190Nm. Both the power units would be offered with a 5-speed manual transmission as standard, while a 5-speed AMT gearbox would be available from V trim onwards as optional. Based on the company’s new light-weight HEARTECT platform (same that underpins the Baleno), the sedan would be quite a fuel efficient product by the home grown automajor. The mileage figures for the petrol and diesel variants would be 22.00kmpl and 28.40kmpl (Both ARAI Specified), respectively.

Speaking of the safety features, the 2017 Dzire’s entire range would come with dual front airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA) and ISOFIX child seat anchor mounts as standard safety fitments.

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Manufacturers to use more realistic old and obese crash test dummies | Autoculture

Car manufacturers across the globe understand the need to make safer cars and hence test their cars with utmost care. One of the formidable part of crash testing any car is the crash test dummies, that represent humans and reveal all sorts of forces and impacts that could prove during an accident. To that extent, crash test dummies help a great deed.

The traditional crash test dummy, which has served the crash test industry for over 50 years now had a military physique, representing average human body a couple of decades ago. But the times have changed a lot and with changing lifestyles, the average human body has also changed and they are no more as military as they used to be.

In comes a U.S based crash test dummy manufacturer and developer called Humanetics who have come up with a brilliant solution to include more human elements to the crash testing. Humanetics has proposed to add a new generation of dummies to reflect the rise in the numbers of elderly and obese drivers, along with ‘organs’ that behave like real ones.

Created with the help of Prof. Stewart Wang, a trauma surgeon and director of the International Center for Automotive Medicine at the University of Michigan, the two models revealed are that of a borderline-obese 70-year-old female with a BMI of 29 and an obese 6ft 2in middle-aged male adult with a BMI of 35. According to Wang these two are the fast growing groups of drivers and are not served by existing crash test dummies.

“Today’s dummies represent the average but car makers have been using them for 50 years,” Wang said. “Give engineers that long to pass a test and they get better at protecting that fit physique. However, they’re ignoring a very significant and more normal part of the population.” “The obese suffer more lower extremity injuries than average drivers but fewer abdominal. With the elderly, the area of concern is not the lower extremities but the chest”, Wang added.

A research carried out by the University of California in 2013 found that obese drivers are up to 78 percent more likely to die in a car crash than drivers of average weight. The design of the standard crash test dummy had the lap belt tie across an occupant’s bony hips, while the diagonal belt applies force to the chest.

In the obese people, the lap belt sits above the abdomen, and with elderly people, the pressure exerted by the diagonal belt can cause serious chest injuries. The new crash test dummies are a result of thousands of CT scans and the resulting 3D images were measured in a process called analytic morphomics, a method for expressing different physiological states in numbers and measurements. The data will further be used to install artificial organs that will behave like real ones in a crash.

The 3D printing process is used to produce body parts and vital organs that will behave like the real things in a car crash. “We use 3D printing to create body parts such as a rib,” said Jim Davis of Humanetics. “Previously, we had to design something that would deflect and move like a rib but not break like one. With 3D printing and new materials, we can tune a rib to the precise performance we want.”

Both the dummies are still in the prototype stage, but Jim Davis, VP of engineering at Humanetics, is keen to make them a reality. “It takes a village to raise a dummy, so we’re working not only with ICAM but with major OEMs on their development,” he said.

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Renault’s reaction on Duster scoring Zero Star rating | Autoculture

In a statement, Renault India said, “Safety is of paramount importance for Renault and all our products meet and exceed the requisite safety standards set by Indian Regulatory Authorities. India is gradually moving towards international safety norms by including more robust safety regulations and the assurance of the Bharat NCAP is a positive step in this direction. As a customer-focused company, Renault fully supports this initiative and we are already future-ready in terms of technology, design and engineering for enhanced safety for all our vehicles. Indian Government has announced that the crash test regulation for the existing cars will come into effect in 2019 and for the new cars in 2017. Renault fully supports this.”

For rear seat child occupant protection, Duster's base version also scored 2 stars and following this test, Renault asked Global NCAP to test a version of the Duster, which included a single driver airbag, scoring 3 stars for adult occupant protection.

Mechanically, the Duster SUV is powered by a 1.6-litre K4M 4 cylinder petrol unit that produces a maximum power of 103 bhp at 5850 rpm and a peak torque of 145 Nm. The engine comes paired with a 5 speed manual gearbox. On the other hand, the diesel version is powered by a 1.5-litre dCi mill that belts out 83.8 bhp of power with a peak torque of 200 Nm. This unit comes mated to a 5 speed manual transmission, while the higher tuned 103 bhp version comes with a 6 speed manual transmission.

Read More - Lexus India Launched Its Luxury LX450d SUV at Rs. 2.32 Crores

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Lexus India Launched Its Luxury LX450d SUV at Rs. 2.32 Crores | Autoculture

Lexus, the luxury brand of world's leading automaker Toyota, has launched the LX450d SUV at a sticker price of Rs. 2.32 Crores (Ex. Showroom, Delhi) in the Indian market. The company has started its Indian operations just a couple of months back in March and it has a couple of hybrid models and a diesel SUV in its portfolio. Lexus LX450d is based on Toyota's flagship model Land Cruiser as it is underpinning the same ladder-on-frame architecture. It is the only non-hybrid model in the company's artillery in India.

During the launch of Lexus brand in India, Akitoshi Takemura, Senior Vice-President, Lexus India said, "Lexus is looking to expand its product portfolio in India going forward and the priority is to make in India but for the time being the company would want to understand the luxury customer and once the column is consolidated we would see to assemble here. We would be happy to contribute to PM Modi's Make in India campaign." As for the features, the LX450d SUV comes with touch screen infotainment system in the centre console, moon roof, 4-zone climate control, driver and front passenger power adjustable seats, rain sensing wipers, steering mounted control, SMART Key entry system and cruise control as standard

Speaking of the safety features, the SUV boasts of 10 airbags, parking assist, hill assist control and a multi- terrain monitor which gives 360-degree view of surrounding area. Lexus LX450d is powered by a 4.5L V8 diesel motor which generates top power of 261bhp and peak torque of 650Nm, while linked to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The SUV also gets an all-wheel-drive system as standard. It touches the 100kmph mark from standstill in just 8.6 seconds, while clocking a top speed of 210kmph. It is being learnt that Lexus, as a part of network expansion strategy, will open dealerships in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. In addition, the company will open service centres in Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kochi.

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Volkswagen Releases Official Teaser of the New 2018 Polo | Autoculture

Volkswagen released a teaser video of upcoming Polo hatchback which is likely to launch later this year. Since its first launch in India in 2009, the Polo hatch has received many face lifts and the German marque is ready yet another as seen in previous spy shots and now in the teaser video released.

Volkswagen Polo has been in production since 1975, where the company has sold over 14 million of the units worldwide. The new Polo for the first time will be based on the VW’s versatile MQB platform. The car has been spied earlier undisguised revealing some of the changes made to its design.

Speaking of the exterior, the 2018 Volkswagen Polo will borrow its design cues from Volkswagen's new design philosophy that will include sleek elements on the front fascia like grille and headlamp unit, while on the side profile there is a prominent character line is running through. At the rear, the Polo would get a wider bumper, new tail lamps and a larger tailgate. As it is based on the new MQB A0 platform, the new car will be larger than the existing model and with the weight saving construction, it is likely to be 70 kg lighter as well.

In the international markets, the new Polo hatchback is expected to come with a 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre turbo petrol engines and a 1.6-litre diesel power plant. But in India, it will continue to be powered by a 1.2-litre petrol with 74 bhp and the 1.5-litre diesel unit with 89 bhp. Both the power train comes paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox.

Porsche 911 GT3 Sets a new Lap Time At The Nürburgring | Autoculture

Porsche is celebrating a lap time of 7 minutes, 12.7 seconds clocked in the 911 GT3 on the Nürburgring track. The record has been set by Porsche test driver Lars Kern in the regular, road legal 911 GT3 with Porsche’s PDK box, where the specifications are similar to its motorsport counterpart. The new Porsche 911 GT3 beat the time set by its predecessor by 12.3 seconds.

Speaking on this, Mr Frank-Steffen Walliser, Vice President Motorsport and GT cars at Porsche said, “By achieving this time, we have emphatically proven that the new 911 GT3 not only provides the best driving experience, but can also deliver an impressive performance on the Nordschleife. The focus was on optimising the driving quality and adapting to the slight increase in engine power.”

Adding to this, Andreas Preuninger, Director GT Product Line said, “A few years ago, lap times like this could only ever be achieved by thoroughbred racing cars with slick tyres. The new GT3 can now achieve this with comparatively modest power, but is still fully suited to everyday use.”

The 911 GT3 is power-packed with 4.0-litre, naturally aspirated flat-six engine that cranks out impressive 493 bhp of maximum power with a top torque of 460 Nm. As we know that Porsche relies more on pure racing technology than the previous model, the car comes equipped with rear-axle steering, a 7-speed Porsche PDK gearbox and Michelin Sport Cup 2 N1 tyres, the sports vehicle approached the starting line in the Eifel in its standard trim.

“If you can drive fast on the Nordschleife, you can drive fast anywhere in the world”, Frank-Steffen Walliser comments.

At an air temperature of 8 degrees and an asphalt temperature of 14 degrees, the conditions for Porsche test driver were ideal for racing. The road-legal rear-wheel drive Coupé recorded its best time under notarial supervision. Currently, Porsche is developing an all new version of the GT2 RS that will come packed with a turbocharged 6-cylinder engine and will produce an impressive power of about 700 bhp with rear wheel drive.

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Volkswagen Beetle, Scirocco Could Be On The Chopping Block | Autoculture

Two of Volkswagen's most sporting hardtops, the Beetle and Scirocco, could be on their way out, according to a VW board member.

"The Beetle and Scirocco are representatives of an emotional and appealing class of vehicles, but it is not always about continuing cars from one generation to the next," board member Arno Antlitz said, according to Autocar.

The British publication reports the Beetle convertible would continue in production. We expect, however, that both body styles would likely die as their natural product cycles are nearing the end. The current Beetle has been on sale since the 2012 model year.

Antlitz's comments, which came at Volkswagen's annual corporate meeting, could be troubling for some enthusiasts, but they're not new. Rumors of the Beetle's demise have swirled for years. The Scirocco, another enthusiast favorite, is not sold in the United States, though hot hatch fans have long clamored for it.

Volkswagen has come under pressure to cut costs in the wake of the Dieselgate scandal and is placing greater emphasis on its electric vehicle programs and sport utility vehicles, like the Atlas, which could make halo products like the Beetle and Scirocco less critical. We expect the Beetle could die around 2019, which is when the Arteon upscale sedan is expected to launch in the US market.

Perhaps the rumors are having some effect: sales of the Beetle are up 20.4 percent through April to 5,405 units in the United States.

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