Porsche 911 R Limited Edition arrives in India

Porsche Centre Bengaluru welcomed a new model in the 911 range this week, with the arrival of the limited edition 911 R. The exclusive model, which was purchased by a Porsche collector in Bangalore, is the only one of the 991 units produced globally, delivered in India. However, Porsche India did not reveal the price for this limited edition 911 R.

Engine:

The 911 R features a 500 hp naturally aspirated engine and six-speed sports transmission. At work in the rear is a six-cylinder flat engine with a displacement of four liters, similar to the 911 GT3 RS. The racing engine generates 460 Nm at a speed of 6,250 rpm, capable of breaking through the 100 km/h barrier in 3.8 seconds and achieving a top speed of 323 km/h. Combined fuel consumption in the NEDC is 13.3 kmpl.

Design:
From the exterior, the 911 R bears greater resemblance to the 911 Carerra than any other model. Characteristic details such as the rear body, front and rear apron and nose bear similarities to the 911 GT3, hinting that it originates from the motorsport department in Flacht, Germany The body is comprised of lightweight components that originate from the 911 GT3, which can be altered for road use.

A retractable spoiler, familiar from the Carerra, and a rear underbody diffuser specific to R models provide the necessary downforce in place of the fixed rear wing. The center of gravity is altered in the 911 R as the bonnet and wings are made of carbon, alongside a roof made of magnesium. The rear windscreen and side windows are constructed from lightweight plastic, which enhances the vehicle's overall weight, resulting in the 911 R as the lightest model of the series, with only 1,370 kilograms.

Features:

Inside, the driver sits in a carbon bucket seat with fabric center panels in Pepita tartan design, a nod to the first 911 in the 1960's. A 360-millimeter "R-specific" GT steering wheel and R-specific short gearshift lever on the clutch panel enhance the active driving experience. Carbon trim strips in the interior with an embedded aluminum badge on the front passenger's side indicate the limited number of 911 R. A typical feature of GT vehicles are the pull straps as door openers.

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Bengaluru Techie Makes India’s First Driverless Car With Tata Nano

An autonomous vehicle or self-driving cars are no longer a science fiction India,  as this technology is already being tested on the roads. And now the news is rife that Bengaluru-based techie Roshy John, who is practice head, robotics, and cognitive systems at TCS, along with his team is developing India's first driverless car.

According to Roshy's blog on YouTube, it was Roshy who witnessed a near-death experience while returning to home from airport in a taxi as the driver was sleepy. John then made the drive sit in the rear seat and took the steering wheel in his hands to drive home safely. And that was the time when he thought of inventing an autonomous vehicle within his capabilities.

In his blog post, Roshy said that he had no clue from where to start. And five years later, "I selected Tata Nano because it is a rear engine vehicle, it has so much of place for sensors and actuators, and it is a cute little car," he added.

As per a report that appeared in Times of India, John purchased a Nano to test the software in 2011. Daimler, Nissan, General Motors, BMW, Google, and Tesla are investing big bucks in developing driverless cars across the world.

John along with his 29-member team worked on the software and algorithms in their free time and created a 3D model to test it. Creating an algorithm using a custom cluster (multiple computers), the team were able to read all parameters of the engine.

The car is also equipped with wheel encoders to measure the speed of the wheel, multiple lidars to identify obstacles around the car, HDR cameras, and GPS. The data was processed by the software to make the car 'drive' like a human. Apart from this, pedal robots have been attached to the accelerator, brake, and clutch and connected them to the software.

And once John will receive permission from the traffic police, this autonomous Tata Nano car will be tested on Indian roads.

Kia Motors To Start India's First Car Manufacturing Plant in Andhra Pradesh

South Korea's Kia Motors Corp is close to finalizing Andhra Pradesh as the site for its first factory in the country, as it speeds up efforts to start production in the fast-growing market, a source familiar with the matter said.

Reports of Kia looking to pick a site have been doing the rounds for a while, but an official with the Andhra Pradesh administration had told Reuters last year that the state was the frontrunner given its proximity to Tamil Nadu - home to plants of Kia's affiliate, Hyundai Motor Co.

The Korean firms, jointly the world's No.5 car maker, are chasing new business after missing targets over the past two years. And now, there are worries sales to the United States, one of their biggest markets, could be affected by protectionist trade policies under President Donald Trump.

India, however, remains a bright spot, with Hyundai - the country's No.2 automaker by sales - reporting growth there. Kia is hoping to leverage its affiliate's supply chain network built over nearly two decades to gain a foothold in the market that is tipped to become the world's third largest by 2020.

This month, Kia is likely to choose a site in the district of Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, for its factory, the source said, adding the state had offered about 600 acres (242.81 hectares) of land to the automaker.

A second source also said that Kia was likely to pick Andhra Pradesh as its factory site. The sources did not want to be named as they were not authorized to talk to media.

Kia intends to produce small sedans and small sport utility vehicles at the plant from July 2019, although the plan is subject to change, a third person said.

The CEO of Kia Motors, Park Han-woo, said the automaker was in the process of picking a site for an Indian factory, without giving any details on location.

"Preparations are going well. We are ready to break ground on the factory anytime," he told Reuters on the sidelines of an industry event in Seoul on Tuesday.

Maharashtra and Gujarat have also been wooing Kia for the factory, Reuters reported last year.
Kia is likely to compete with its affiliate Hyundai, Tata Motors, Honda Motor Co and Maruti Suzuki India Ltd in India, a market skewed towards cars costing less than 47000.

Hyundai is one of a handful of successful foreign car makers in India. Japan's Toyota Motor Corp is trying to expand in the country and this week announced a partnership with Suzuki Motor Corp, which dominates the Indian market via its Maruti Suzuki venture.
"Kia cannot afford to miss the India market," said Ko Tae-bong, an auto analyst at Hi Investment & Securities.

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