2014-02-02 ~ Motor Bin

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Ever tried Automatic Manual Transmission? Here's how it works!

11:11 PM No comments

Courtesy-Car dekho

Maruti Suzuki finally landed the much awaited Celerio hatchback into our market at a price tag of 3.90 lakh for the base manual petrol (LXI) and 4.29 lakh for the base AMT petrol (LXI). The vehicle is the least expensive automatic available on sale in our country. Let's dive into the technicalities of this Automatic Manual Transmission.

Automatic manual transmission, as the phrase depicts, has two modes - manual and automatic. The automatic mode of this gearbox is similar to and behaves like the conventional automatics. The manual mode (imprinted as 'M' in the gearshift lever) gives you a feeling of driving a manual car but without a clutch pedal in the foot well. In the 'M' mode, you can enjoy the best of the engine, revving it hard till the red-line, extracting the best possibilities from each gear.

Automatic Mode

In the AMT setup, torque converter is absent, whereas, it is present in conventional automatics. The torque converter in an automatic vehicle replaces the mechanical clutch, allowing the transmission to separate from the powertrain. In the AMT, the car is equipped with a dedicated ECU (Electronic Control Unit) for precise shifting. The electronic-hydraulic actuators help in changing gears, indeed removing the need of a clutch in the foot well! It has three modes namely 'D'- Driving mode, 'N'- Neutral mode and 'R' - Reverse mode.

'M' Mode
'M' mode, or the manual mode, is rather more fun to drive as compared to the automatic mode in this vehicle. In this mode, you can rev the rpm count to red-line in each gear! To engage the vehicle in 'M' mode, you need to flick the gear lever to the extreme left. 'M' mode sports sequential gear shifts, just like paddle shifters behind the steering wheels in high-end cars. For an up-shift, you just need to nudge the lever down a little where '+' sign is indicated, similarly, for a down-shift, you require a little nudge upside where '-' is indicated.

As the power swapping torque converter is replaced by electronic hydraulic actuators, the car delivers a mileage similar to that of its manual counterpart. The ARAI certified mileage figure for the car stands at 23.1kmpl. The only disadvantage of automatic manual transmission is that it offers little jerky shift in comparison with the conventional automatics. Just to add to your knowledge, the production of AMT gearbox is done by Marelli Powertrains, at the manufacturing facility based in Manesar. This company is a subsidiary of the Italian component manufacturer - Magneti Marelli.

We'll keep bringing you more guides...meanwhile, you enjoy your rides with AMT!!

Chevrolet @Auto expo 2014

11:34 PM No comments

Courtesy-Rush lane
General Motors India launched the all-new Chevrolet Beat hatchback and unveiled the new Chevrolet Adra concept vehicle, at the 12th Auto Expo 2014. The models are among the 13 concept and production vehicles appearing on the Chevrolet stand at India’s premier auto show.

“GM is proud to be showcasing an array of products offered by Chevrolet, one of the world’s fastest-growing vehicle brands, at the Auto Expo,” said GM India President and Managing Director Lowell Paddock.

“Many of the products on display were engineered locally to meet the unique needs and preferences of the domestic market. They represent our commitment to continue growing our presence in India,” said Stefan Jacoby, GM executive vice president and president, GM International Operations.

Chevrolet Beat

The Chevrolet Beat is GM India’s best-selling model. The all-new Beat has refreshed styling that sets a new standard for the hatchback segment. A trendy new chrome-accentuated front grille with Chevrolet’s aggressive dual-port design theme highlights the upgraded exterior.

The Beat’s newly designed clear glass headlamps have black accents, while its new taillamps sport a stylish combination of colored and clear glass. Trendy new fog lamps with chrome surrounds and a newly designed rear spoiler with LED inserts along with sporty reflectors on the new dual-tone rear bumper complete the aggressively styled exterior.

chevrolet manchester united at delhi auto expo-2

The Beat is available with a choice of eight exterior colours: Super Red, Cocktail Green, Sandrift Grey, Switch Blade Silver, Summit White, Misty Lake, Linen Beige and Caviar Black.
Inside, audio controls mounted on the steering wheel are available on selected variants to enable drivers to enjoy music without taking their eyes off the road. The all-new Beat also comes with a new silver interior and height-adjustable driver’s seat for added comfort.

The Beat, which is available with a choice of three fuel options (petrol, diesel and LPG), is the most fuel-efficient hatchback in the market. It has ARAI-certified fuel economy of 25.44 km/L for the diesel engine, 18.6 km/L for the petrol engine and 13.3 km/L for the LPG engine.
Top variants come with front dual air bags, anti-lock brakes (ABS) and Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) as standard for complete safety.

The 10 variants of the all-new Beat offered in India are priced between Rs 4.06 lakh and Rs 6.10 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi).

GM India launches Chevrolet Beat and shows Adra Concept-5

Chevrolet Adra

The Chevrolet Adra concept SUV, which was developed entirely by Indian designers at the GM Technical Centre-India (GMTC-I) in Bangalore, is making its global debut at the show.
The Adra adopts traditional global Chevrolet design language while addressing local customer expectations to cater to the next generation of Indian car buyers. It offers all of the advantages of a traditional SUV – such as high ground clearance, exceptional all-around visibility, a high seating stance and generous interior space – in a compact package.
“The Adra is a major achievement for our local designers, who conceptualized and designed the model from the ground up,” said Paddock. “It represents a new possibility for the fast-growing compact SUV segment.”

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.9 million Chevrolet cars and trucks a year. The Chevrolet brand was introduced in India in 2003 and is now one of the fastest-growing automotive nameplates in the country. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design and high quality. The Chevrolet portfolio in India includes the Spark, Beat, Sail, Sail U-VA, Cruze, Tavera, Enjoy and Captiva. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.co.in

Honda India Pavilion@Auto expo 2014

3:04 PM No comments

Honda @auto expo 2014

Surprise! 2-wheelers use 61% of petrol, cars only 34%

12:22 PM No comments

Courtesy- WIki Media

According to a survey conducted for the Government of India by M/s. Nielsen (India) Pvt. Ltd., 99.6% of the total petrol consumed in India is used by the transport sector. The survey also indicates that largest consumers of petrol in India are two-wheelers. Cars come in a distant second place.

The result of the survey shows that two-wheelers account for 61.42% of the country’s total petrol consumption of 16 million tonnes. In the states of Odisha (82.3%), Bihar (75.2%) and Rajasthan (72.9%), two-wheelers account for more than 70% of the total petrol sold.

Cars and three-wheelers account for 34.33% and 2.34%of the country’s total petrol consumption respectively. Most three-wheelers have switched to CNG or diesel, since that proves cost-effective.

Petrol has been deregulated by the Government, which has caused its price to shoot up drastically in comparison to diesel, which is still regulated. Most two-wheelers in India are bought by the rural users or people who are looking for a convenient and cost-effective means of transport. If the Government continues to let the price of petrol keep climbing, it will not be long before many Indians find it difficult to afford running a personal vehicle.