People's Dreams Comes Packed In 'People's Car' – Tata's Nano

Tata Motors has launched the 'People's car' – Nano. The brainchild of Ratan Tata - the chairman of Tata Motors, this car is set to change the fate of Indian auto industry for sure. Termed as the cheapest car, Nano's price is less than $2,000. In actual terms, the People's car is to cost more than that. (In Rupees, its gonna be somewhere between 1.2 lakhs to 1.3 lakhs.)

Launched at the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai, the car will be available in three versions in the auto market that includes the base version and two upper tier versions. The automaker has promised to keep the 1,00,000 price for the base models. With Nano in showrooms from today, the car will only be able on road from the first week of July, 2009.

Other Important Details of 'Nano'

Features

• Snub-nosed
• 4-Seater
• 33bhp & 623cc Rear Engine Car
• Measures just 3 metres long (10ft)

Booking Details

• Bookings & Booking Acceptance - 9th - 25th April, 2009
• Deliveries – From Early July, 2009
• Initial Booking Amount – As low as Rs 2999

Production Details

• Limited Production - Around 50,000 - 60,000 units in the first year

Transmission of Your Vehicle – Is It Working Properly?

Its been long since you bought a car but till date never got a chance to check that box underneath your car. Oh yes, you guessed it right – its the transmission system that I am talking about. Every time you take your car for servicing and maintenance, you poke in so much money without even knowing the reason why. Often the repair center tells you that its the transmission or gearbox that's the culprit.

Now next time, you get the feel that your gear, clutch or any other automotive transmission system's part is not functioning in the right manner, then perform a check yourself. Here is how you can do it.

Check The Level of Fluid – Always ensure that fluid level is correct. Automakers suggest that one should check transmission fluid at least twice a year. If not done, low fluid level might damage the your car's transmission or automotive transmission parts and consequently can fall on you disguised as a costly repair.

Losing Fluid Often Means A Leakage – Now that you have checked the level of fluid, you might encounter the problem that is - your car might be losing fluid frequently. This is an alarm for you as well as your car. Your transmission system needs immediate attention and troubleshooting. Mind it – Immediate!

Leaking Transmission? – The alarm continues. Discover the possible transmission problems. Leaking automotive transmission needs to be fixed as soon as possible. Leakage should be checked at these places - at filler tube base, at drain hole underneath transmission, between transmission and engine, at selector shaft and radiator. You can also check fluid leaking in speed sensor mounting point.

Checking the Filter – Did you ever change the filter of your car's transmission. If not then, its better to do it now. Filters are an essential auto part in any automobile. Make sure the filter is of good quality.

Perform these checks on your automobile this weekend and ensure that your transmission is working properly. In case of any kind transmission problem, get it rebuilt. So just give your darling vehicle a healthy body. If you love them, you may also try out these tips to increase the lifeline of your dear vehicle. So, this weekend, spend some time on auto transmission check n repair.

Steering Wheel – Is Yours Luxurious and Comfortable?

Ever thought while you were buying a car – whether the steering wheel of your dream car is ideal for driving. Well, when I said 'ideal', I meant whether the steering system is comfortable as well as luxurious. Steering wheel which is an integral part of automotive suspension and steering parts is operated as well as controlled by the person on the driver's seat.

Hence, it is very essential that you ensure that your car has ideal steering wheel. The cover of steering wheel is vital for comfortable driving. There are huge number of options available in the auto industry. Here are some of the tips to keep in mind while choosing your covers for steering wheel.

Genuine Leather - Make sure that whichever steering wheel you choose has genuine leather as cover material. The right kind of leather will ensure that cover lasts for a longer time. Manufacturers have also come up with environment friendly material for steering wheel.

Non Slip Steering Wheel Hold – Try a hand on the steering wheel and ensure that it is non slip and provides a strong hold or grip to the hands.

Luxurious Feel - An important factor that must be noticed is the luxurious feel and look of the steering. If you don't choose luxurious ones, you are about to mar the look of the plush interiors of your car.

Right Feel For Your Hand – The steering wheel cover should give the right feel to your hand and provide proper protection from hot and cold extremes.

Fit – Size is a vital factor while choosing the covers of steering wheel. Check that the cover fits your steering wheel (mostly 6-bolt steering wheel hub adaptor)

Easy to Install – Installation always is to be considered a priority. These covers should be easy to install. Though the covers should be easy to install, it is advised to be done by professionals always.

Evolving from simple vehicle control components to ones with different features, steering wheels have become styling centerpieces of a number of vehicle interiors. Apart from the tips mentioned above, following are some of the features that are in demand for steering wheel cover.

• Perforation designs

• Non-ozone depleting urethane foam

• Color versatility

• Hand-sewn construction

• Variety of leather wrap stitch patterns

• Full range of surface textures

• Embossed grains

Try out these latest designs and just add a splash of colors to any steering wheel. You will definitely feel that driving is a more enjoyable experience then. Happy Driving!

Automotive Springs and Titanium

The smooth functioning of springs depends upon the material used and its attributes. For automotive springs to yield better results and have longer working life, they need to be durable enough to withstand the pressure. Titanium is the ideal engineering alloy at present that has a number of features required for high production volume automobiles.

Till date, steel was considered the best material for auto springs, but titanium alloy is definitely better. Titanium alloy springs do not need as many turns as required by the springs made of steel. This alloy's density is around half of the steel and therefore less material is used to make a titanium spring. Though there is a major difference in density, there is no difference in ability to perform the same task.

The other benefits that these titanium made car springs have are the strength, density, and modulus for almost any weight- or space-sensitive application. These springs have the same manufacturing processes (cold spring winding, cold setting or blocking and shot peening) like that of steel springs. The shear modulus of titanium is low that minimize the need of turns of the springs. Weight is another essential factor that gives these springs an edge over the steel ones. Titanium automotive springs are around 60-70% lighter in weight than the steel springs.

Titanium's inherent attribute of corrosion resistance also makes this alloy ideal for being used in automobile spring. No protective coating is required for titanium springs which is very essential in steel springs. With so many attributes of titanium, the only disadvantage is that of its high cost.

Advantages Of Podcars – There Are A Number Of Them

Podcars will definitely bring a new revolution in the auto industry through their advanced technology. These personal rapid transits would make commuting within a city easier and definitely faster. This isn't the only benefit of a podcar, there are many. Listed below are the different advantages of Podcar – Your 'Personal Rapid Transit'.

1. Rapid Transit - Its the most obvious and common advantage of these podcar. You can travel a longer distance in a short distance.

2. Its Your Personal Car – Since its small and can accommodate just around 10 people, these future cars serve as your personal car that will take you to your desired destination.

3. Privacy – Definitely An Important USP – Being small, this car would be able to accommodate just your family & friends, thus giving privacy to you. You can now easily get away with those strangers on public transit who stared at you everyday.

4. Fossil Fuel – Electric operated, these cars on elevated guideways would reduce the usage and wastage of fossil fuels.

5. Eco-friendly – Unlike most of other automobiles, the podcars do not pollute the environment. Since it uses clean energy – electricity, it does not cause any harm to the environment.

6. No Frequents Stops – As said earlier, since its your 'personal' rapid transit, these podcars would only stop at desired stops. Being automated, this transit would not stop often thus minimizing wastage of time.

7. Reducing Traffic Congestion – Now, that would be of great relief for anybody on the road. As these cars would run on elevated guideways and not on roads, there would be less traffic congestion.

These are some of the benefits. If your see on the positive side, there are many more. But, there are two sides of every coin. This post covered one side and the next post would focus on the other side that is 'The Disadvantages Of Podcars'. Till then, you have a great time.

Here Comes Podcar – Your Personal Rapid Transit

It's small in size, automated/ computer-guided car and it can take you to the desired destination in few minutes. This is the vehicle of future – Podcars.

Personal rapid transit – Podcars are being defined as private, on-demand non-stop travel system. Electricity is the fuel for these cars that would definitely minimize the use of fossil fuels. This is one of the major advantages of podcars but has stunned the automobile industry that might face risks of being greatly affected when such cars become a common sight in cities.

With accommodation capacity between 2 to 10 persons, these cars would take you wherever you want to go. Sounds convenient! Isn't it? Podcars would run on an elevated guideways thus minimizing congestion on the road.

The concept of podcars is gaining momentum. These podcars are definitely becoming a debatable issue in the news of automotive industry. Now, as every new technology has something good and bad to offer, this one has them too. I'll be covering the benefits of these podcars in the forthcoming posts. Till then, be optimistic to get a ride soon in the podcars that might be coming soon to your city.

Nucleon - Ford's Atomic Bombshell

High gas prices, environmental concerns and the wobbly auto industry asking for loans to build batteries, is the solution anywhere in sight? But Ford's engineers had an insight about 50 years ago in the form of the Nucleon concept, a car to be driven by nuclear power.

The concept car designed by Ford in 1958 was very different. Instead of an internal-combustion automobile engine, a tiny nuclear reactor was to be installed towards the rear of the vehicle. Further, a power capsule was to be placed between twin booms at the rear containing radioactive core for power. And when it ran out of fuel it could simply be replaced to recharge the car. On an average the car could travel 8000 km (5,000 miles) or even more depending on the size of the core.

The car would be steam driven, with one turbine to power the motion and the other to drive an electrical generator. The used up steam would be cooled and recirculated into the system. And the powertrain and transmission would be integral to the power module, while the electronic torque converters would be installed in the place of the drive-train in use at the time.

Such a nuclear powered car could outlast any conventional battery. And being run on steam, there won't be problems of emission too. No noise pollution or anything. A great automobile for a concept for sure. However, it never became a reality because the nuclear reactors of those times were a great deal bulkier to be fitted into a car.

Brainy Traffic Intersection – Driving Made Safer

Safety of a car’s occupants is paramount, and automotive accessories like airbags and seat belts, have effectively saved numerous lives. Despite the fact that driving wisely is a precondition to a safe journey, newer safety devices are slowly taking over the responsibility from humans.

Recently, a “smart intersection,” was showcased by the researchers at the Ford’s Research & Innovation Center. The system is a step in the direction of using GPS technology and wireless infrastructure-to-vehicle communications to avert car crashes and to help in preventing traffic jams.

The Smart Intersection

The system comprises electronic technology that monitors traffic signal status, data from Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and digital maps. After which it transmits the information to automobiles.

At the drivers’ end, advanced safety equipment is installed that sounds an alert (audio/visual) to the driver when he’s about to encounter a dangerous situation on the road. For instance, the driver would be cautioned, if the car’s about to rush through a red light, which can be fatal.

What data is exchanged?

The brainy intersection is able to generate and transmit several different types of data to the vehicles. Some of these include digital map of the intersection, another six maps of the area surrounding the stop sign crosswalks and intersections, precise location by using lane-specific GPS, and of course the status whether the signal is red or green and its timing. Once this data is transmitted, the vehicle’s own collision avoidance system processes it to decide whether to act or not.

Importance Of The Technology

A focus on intersections is crucial because research reveals that about 40 percent of all accidents occur at intersections. Further, 20 percent of all who die in fatal crashes are killed at intersections.

Intersections are a fact or roads and they are here to stay, along with the danger they pose. What’s more eye-opening is the fact that based on projections of the U.S. National Intelligence Council, about 66 percent of population would inhabit city regions by 2015, which would be twice as large as today’s figures. Hence systems such as these should pave the way for safer transport.

Automobile safety devices have come a long way from seat belts to the sophisticated devices such as anti-lock braking systems, to “Airbags With Ears!” Still, there’s the challenge for a lot of new age technologies to be successfully implemented, and fast too.

Airbag Safety System with Ears!

Till the time new age automobile safety systems, such as intelligent highways become common, a lot of innovations to improve automobile safety rely on making the existing safety systems more effective and efficient.

With the talks of encouraging stronger car roofs, and news of putting air bags on the outside, this year's Bavarian Innovation Prize winner seems to have taken a leap ahead to enhance passenger safety by a good margin. The award was jointly received by the international automotive supplier Continental and the Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences.

The prestigious award went to the innovation called the “structure-borne sound airbag.” Not only does this innovation promise to effectively sense an impact but it can also “hear,” the sound of impact. This additional functionally aides the device to react quickly and intelligently. Precisely, the system promises up to 50% faster firing times for air bags.

The system with ears is based on the technology called Crash Impact Sound Sensing (CISS). The research on the technology was carried out at the Institute for Applied Research (IAF) at Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences for several years.

How it Works?

The whole process of triggering air bags can be thought of to occur in two phases. The first is the detection of danger and the next step calls for the system to decide on what action to take?

The CISS works by hearing the danger as it approaches. It can detect both the accident as well as its severity from the typical structure-borne sound produced by the impact. Further, it can even differentiate much more quickly and more reliably between varied crash situations.

The second critical component of the cycle is to make a quick decision on release of the airbags. During serious accidents, the airbag safety system must decide within fractions of a second. For a typical frontal collision, the system has anywhere between 10 and 40 milliseconds to decide. The system's got to make a choice whether the airbags have to be triggered? Or are the airbags not needed at all, because the other elements, such as the crumple zone and safety automotive accessories viz. seat belts would suffice, etc.

The vehicle's rate of deceleration provides the necessary input to the system, and this information is then fed into the central airbag control unit (ACU) for analysis, all of which happens in a matter of milliseconds. The whole system has been integrated into a single high-performance sensor.


The structure-borne sound is produced when the vehicle deforms. During a crash, the sound is transmitted through the front longitudinal members of the chassis and frame, or the body shell's "railway lines," to the central control unit.

It's exciting to see automotive research geared towards making promising advancements in automobile safety with seemingly simple, yet highly effective tweaks here and there.