Flying car AeroMobil 3.0 is ready to rule the roads and the sky | CarDekho.com

Flying car AeroMobil 3.0 is ready to rule the roads and the sky | CarDekho.com



With such a progress we will soon be talking a lot about planes on this blog.

Nissan Teases New Concept Vehicle to be Showcased at Sao Paulo Motor Show | CarDekho.com

Nissan Teases New Concept Vehicle to be Showcased at Sao Paulo Motor Show | CarDekho.com

German car maker Audi will be bringing the next generation R8 in 2016, so the current model which made its way to the market in 2006, will be doing its duty for another year. Thus, Audi is offering various special features on the R8's 2015 model, one of which is a new performance package.

“The R8 model line will also feature a new Limited Edition performance package that will be communicated at a later date. Model Year 2015 Suggested Retail Prices & Retail Release Dates”, car manufacturer stated in its official press release.

Though no specific details about the 2015 Audi R8 Limited Edition is out yet except for the fact that it is a performance package. But we expect the model to arrive with an uprated power specs, plus some upgrades to the suspension and braking setup. Furthermore, the 2015 Audi R8 model year comes with the new colour schemes, red brake calipers, a quilted leather package in silver as well as a new diamond-stitched Alcantara headliner. Additionally, the 2015 Audi R8 V10 offers the S-tronic, dual-clutch transmission, that will be available with a new sports exhaust system.
Mechanically, the car remains identical. As the base R8 still packs the same 4.2-liter V-8, pumping out 420 horses of power. While the R8 V10 gets a 5.2-liter V-10 engine good for 525 bhp, and top-of-the-line R8 V10 Plus offers a 550 bhp version of this engine. Both manual and the S-tronic dual-clutch gearboxes will be available with the units.
With all these additions, the prices have also taken a jump, the base V8 manual Coupe and Spyder are now USD 1,000 more than the current model, now retailing for USD1,15,900 and USD1,28,400. Whereas the R8 V10 Plus, is now USD 3,000 pricier to USD 1,73,500. The 2015 R8 range is expected to hit the roads across this summer.

Did you know ???

Did you know that it is illegal to slam your car's door in Switzerland????

Did you know ???

If A Car In Malaysia Is Too Successful, Competitors Can Have That Car's Price Raised.

 

When a certain car is selling too well within a segment in Malaysia, competitors can actually file a complaint to the authorities and the authorities will them hike up the price of that vehicle (forcefully) to 'level' competition-ship. Case in point, the Passat CC was given a hike of $10,000 from $80,000 USD to $90,000. And the VW Polo GTI also experienced this, going from $46,000 to $56,000.

 

Did you Know ???

 

Porsche's first four-door wasn't the Panamera, or even their four-door prototype from the ‘90s. Porsche actually built a prototype sedan for Studebaker called the Type 542 back in 1952. It was too weird for production

Did you know ???

The Ford GT Is So Strong That During The "Roof Crush" Test, It Broke The Crushing Machine. Alternatively, Ford didn't have a roof-crushing machine strong enough to crumple even one measly little super car.

Did u know ?????

In the year 1916, 55 per cent of the cars in the world were Model T Ford, which is still an unbroken record.

News- a glimpse at the last week

THE NEWS:

• Renault Scala Travelogue Edition launched at Rs 8.48 lakh
• Tesla Motors’s billionaire CEO, Chairman and Co-Founder Elon Musk on his blog said that the company is open to share its technology for the betterment of auto industry. He also mentioned that the company will not file any patent lawsuits to anyone who uses Tesla Motors technology.
• As per the specifications revealed by the company, Mercedes-AMG’s second product after the SLS, the Mercedes-AMG GT, will be powered by a 4.0 Liter V8 Bi-turbo engine.
• Land Rover celebrates 25 Years of DISCOVERY 
• Tata puts temporary stop on Nano's production
• BMW has launched a car with the most stringent safety requirements. Certified to the international standard guideline BRV 2009, the BMW 760Li High Security meets the highest requirements of ballistic protection. 
• 2015 Figo compact sedan fully revealed
•  Nissan introduces 12th generation of Navara pick-up truck in Thailand, the Japanese automaker has been teasing the vehicle for last couple of days
• Hyundai and Kia Motors are one of the major sponsorship partners of FIFA 2014, providing the ground transport along with numerous events. 
• Lamborghini donated the police version of its newest super sports car, the Huracán LP 610-4 Polizia to the Italian police.
• German car maker Volkswagen has released an all-new online teaser image of the upcoming eighth-generation Passat saloon
•  German manufacturer Mercedes-Benz might launch the E-Class cabriolet E400 in India by the end of this year.

Deliveries for BMW i8 begins GLOBALLY!!!

After a long period of waiting for the staggering car that blew minds of many its the time that BMW finally delivers their quite awaited product , the i8.The first eight customers from Germany were handed over their BMW i8s in an official ceremony at the company’s Leipzig plant in Germany. The BMW i8 also becomes the first car to feature BMW’s laser lights and BMW becomes the first manufacturer worldwide to offer totally new laser-powered headlights in a production vehicle. While Roland Krüger, Head of Sales and Marketing Germany for the BMW Group, and Dr. Helmut Schramm, Head of Production Electric Vehicles handed over the keys, celebrity guests, such as TV presenter Thomas Gottschalk and actor Thomas Kretschmann took part in the vehicle presentation.

“In November of last year, we welcomed the first BMW i3 customers here at BMW Welt. Today, we are continuing the BMW i success story with the first eight BMW i8 customers worldwide. As ‘the first of a new era’, the BMW i8 combines the sustainable design of a carbon-fibre body with a powerful plug-in hybrid,” stated Roland Krüger. “This success would not be possible without our retail partners. We are delighted that our BMW i agents are accompanying us on the road to the future of mobility.”
 
Following the vehicle handover, the new BMW i8 was presented to a select audience in a special multimedia show, featuring actor Thomas Kretschmann. “The car looks fantastic. It’s a technical revolution. I’m really looking forward to working with BMW,” said Kretschmann. TV Presenter Thomas Gottschalk who chaired the BMW i8 roundtable remarked, “I just experienced driving the BMW i8 for myself: It’s a lot of fun. I would never have thought pure electric driving could be so sporty.”
The BMW i8 is powered by a plug-in hybrid system that combines a three-cylinder petrol engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and BMW eDrive technology in the form of a hybrid synchronous electric motor. The petrol engine with a displacement of 1.5 litres and an output of 231 hp and maximum torque of 320 Nm powers the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic gearbox. The electric motor with an output of 131 hp and maximum torque of 250 Nm powers the front wheels through a two-stage automatic transmission.

With the total output of 362 hp, the BMW i8 can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds. While offering sports car performance, the BMW i8’s consumption is of a small car with jut 2.1 litres consumed for every 100 km and CO2 emissions of 49 g/km. With just the electric power alone, the i8 can run for 37 kms and can attain a top speed of 120 km/h. Combined with petrol engine, the i8 gets a range of up to 600 kms.

The BMW i8 features a double-wishbone front axle and a five-link rear axle; Electric Power Steering; Dynamic Damper Control as standard; 20-inch light-alloy wheels as standard.

Some important launches in the indian market in month of May

It has been a time since my last post. A lot has happened in the market since then. A lot of staggering  launches have taken place in last one month. So the best way to begin is with the new launches in the last month  along with their launch dates.

1. Mahindra XUV 500 sportz (5th June 2014)
2. Mercedes Benz S Class S 350 CDI (4th June 2014)
3. Force One 4X4 (29th may 2014)
4. BMW X5 xDrive 30d (28th may 2014)
5. Renault Duster 85ps RxE Adventure (28th may 2014)
6. Toyota corolla Altis (27th may 2014)
7. Jaguar XJ 3.0L Portfolio and Premium Luxury (22nd may 2014)
8. Suzuki Celerio Green (20th may 2014)
9. Renault Pulse Petrol  (19th may 2014)
10. Mercedez benz ML63 AMG 4MATIC (14th may 2014)
11. Renault Scala (7th may 2014)
12. Toyota Etios Cross (7th may 2014)
13. Tata Movus (6th may 2014)
14. Audi A8 L (5th may 2014)
15. Mahindra Ssangyong Rexton RX6 (5th may 2014)

All cars and utility vehicles to have a compulsary reversing camera in U.S.

All cars and utility vehicles under 4500kg will have to be fitted with a reversing camera by 1st May 2018
The United States government has ruled to make rear view/reversing cameras as a compulsory fitment for all cars and utility vehicles weighing under 4500kgs. The decisions follows an uproar by security and safety organisations putting pressure on the government for a suitable action that could prevent senseless accidents that occur every year in the United States by drivers reversing out of their driveways.
On average, there are over 200 fatalities and about 1,50,000 injuries per year caused by reversing incidents. More than 50 per cent of the fatalities involve children under the age of five and senior citizens above the age of 70 who are usually slow to react to a car reversing.
According to the ruling, the camera must be able to give every driver a 10-foot by 20-foot or 3-metre by 6-metre field of view directly behind the vehicle. The system will also adhere to a minimum image size, which the United States Transport Department will specify subsequently.



Many United States manufacturers have already started acting on the directive and have started installing add-on reversing cameras as an optional extra on a dealer level. The move to install the cameras is estimated to add about $130-$150 to the price of cars that do not have screens as standard and as little as $25-$40 to cars that already have useable screens. This move might also usher in a revolution in add-on infotainment systems, something similar to CarPlay from Apple, which is expected to be in the market by the end of the year.
The cheapest car in India to get a reversing camera is the new Hyundai Xcent. A luxury first offered in cars only over 50-lakh, the reversing camera and many other similar gizmos have slowly but surely made their way into the lower segments to give added value to a buyer. We expect this decision by the U.S. Government to influence other governments worldwide to introduce a similar directive, which in turn will move towards making roads safer, especially in a country like India.

Source: http://www.zigwheels.com

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Hyundai Genesis for India

Hyundai is considering its Genesis for Indian market.
The car, if  launched , is going to be a CBU being imported and would thus bear a higher price tag. The car is expected to bear a price tag somewhere near INR 45 lakhs. All we can say is that it will be a good competition to the German cars of the dame segment.

Maruti Suzuki RITZ - A Breif Review

Its been around half a decade since Maruti Suzuki RITZ was first seen on the Indian roads. It is a 5 door hatchback which was originally introduced in 2007 at the Frankfurt auto show with a name of SPLASH. Still it is being sold in various countries with a name tag of SPLASH but in India this name was registered with ford, so the company has to change the name.
Sales indicate that there are about 200000 of these cars on Indian roads which is a huge success for the manufacturers but initially it didn't see such a great response. It had probably been because of the exterior design of the car, especially the rear side. Though it is a good design and was later appreciated by many but it was something new that had hit the market and people didn't feel like spending money on it. But eventually the sales of the product rose because of the performance it offered, which mostly spread through word of mouth, and the trust people had in Maruti.
With the 3 limited editions of the vehicle,namely genus, dazzle and @buzz , it is amongst the highest selling hatchbacks of India.

Talking about specification , the car is currently available in 2 engine options :

1. 1.3L DDiS 4 cylinder diesel engine
2. 1.2 L k-series 4 cylinder engine

The petrol engine is available with a manual as well as automatic transmission options and suzuki claims it to give a mileage of 18.5 kmpl and 17.6 kmpl in manual and automatic transmission  respectively while the diesel engine comes only with a manual transmission which offers a mileage of 23.2 kmpl. Along with a good mileage , the company offers a good ground clearance of 170mm which is more than all the cars of the same segment and is a much needed attribute of the car on Indian roads. the car offers a really smooth suspension which prevents you from jumping off the seat each time you hit a bump.
If we go inside the car, we find seats which are quite comfortable. The seats provide a better sitting posture which resembles a sitting posture of a chair rather than that of a couch which is found in most of the hatchbacks and really gives a problem while driving for a longer time for example driving in a traffic. The car has an elegant dash which looks quite good with the 2 din music system integrated by the company. The gearbox of the car is slightly elevated which adds to the beauty of the car but people are not generally comfortable with it. Though there is a ample leg room in the front as well as the rear seats, what one might find inappropriate is the distance between the front driver and passenger seat. they are a bit too close and might pose problem to some people , especially the fat ones. If we talk about the visibility of road, the front pillars sometimes seem inappropriately wide, especially at the turns. the separate little rpm meter on the dash adds to the beauty of the car.

A good performance, low maintenance cost and a trust buyers have in maruti are the reasons for the success of the car in Indian market. Also buyers turn to this car because they get a good resale value after their usage. Thus the car has the value for money factor as well.

Post your suggestions as comments.

Most Fuel Efficient sedans of INDIA 2014

1. Honda City      (26Kmpl)
   The Honda City has made a comeback into India and has promptly climbed to the top spot in the C-Segment sedan space. The car is India’s most fuel efficient sedan with a 26 Kmpl fuel efficiency rating. The 2014 City manages it by mating the 1.5 liter i-DTEC turbo diesel engine from the Amaze to a 6 speed manual gearbox with overdrive. The car’s 6 speed gearbox allows for a lower cruising rpm, positively impacting fuel efficiency. The motor’s state of tune remains unchanged from the one available on the Amaze, but a lot more sound deadening material is used to quieten things on the 2014 City. 
2.  Honda Amaze     (25.8 Kmpl)                                                                                                   The Honda Amaze was the fuel efficiency champion among sedans until the arrival of its bigger brother, the City sedan. The Amaze delivers 25.8 Kmpl and this fuel efficiency combined with the car’s status of being the first ever diesel car from Honda, instantly propelled it to become a very strong seller for the Japanese car brand. The Amaze features a 1.5 liter i-DTEC turbo diesel engine, designed mainly with India in mind. This all-aluminium motor is noisy but very fuel efficient. The motor also delivers a class leading 98.6 Bhp-200 Nm.
3.  Hyundai Xcent        (24.4 Kmpl)
   The latest compact sedan in town, the Hyundai Xcent manages a creditable 24.4 Kmpl. The high fuel efficiency number may be attributed mainly to the car’s 1.1 liter turbo diesel engine that is a triple cylinder unit, an inherently fuel efficient design. The engine packs plenty of technology with a 16 valve-DOHC head, a variable geometry turbo charger and electronically controlled wastegate. However, the engine does tend to feel underpowered higher up the rev band with refinement levels also petering off. The car gets a 5 speed manual as standard and is based on the Grand i10 hatchback (BA) platform.
4. Toyota Etios     (23.59 Kmpl)
   
    
   
   The Toyota Etios is a light car developed specifically for emerging markets. The light weight design and a 1.4 liter D-4D turbo diesel engine running a fixed geometry turbocharger allows the Etios to return a fuel efficiency 23.59 Kmpl. The Etios’ diesel engine outputs 69 Bhp-170 Nm and is known for its driveability since turbo lag is minimal. The car is spacious and handles quite well. The interiors reek of cost cutting, a major fly in the ointment.
5. Ford Fiesta      (23.5 Kmpl)
   
   A dark horse that simply doesn’t find enough takers at the hustings, the Ford Fiesta 1.5 TDCI Diesel sedan is an extremely capable performer with a refined diesel engine, and a superbly honed ride and handling package. The car’s 1.5 liter TDCI motor is old tech and runs on a fixed geometry turbocharger and an eight valve-SOHC layout. The motor outputs 89 Bhp-204 Nm and is mated to a well matched 5 speed gearbox. The Fiesta delivers an ARAI certified mileage of 23.5 Kmpl, in the process becoming one of the most fuel efficient diesel sedans in the country.
6. Hyundai Verna 1.4 CRDI   (23.5 Kmpl)
   
   The Hyundai Verna Fluidic offers not one but two turbo diesel engines, in line with the South Korean car brand’s philosophy of offering plenty of choice to buyers. The Verna Diesel’s smaller 1.4 liter CRDI motor is a fuel efficiency champion, returning 23.5 Kmpl. This mileage is possible mainly due to the 6 speed manual gearbox whose sixth ratio goes into overdrive for relaxed highway mile munching.
7. Maruti Swift Dzire     (23.4Kmpl)
   The Maruti Swift Dzire has no parallel when it comes to the performance at the hustings, for the compact sedan is the best selling sedan in India. However, the Dzire does it with a mix of a low purschase price, good performance, an easily accessible service network and low maintenance costs rather than fuel efficiency alone. The Dzire manages to eke out 23.4 Kmpl as per ARAI and the compact sedan features a 1.3 liter Fiat Multijet turbo diesel engine that outputs 75 Bhp-190 Nm. A five speed manual gearbox is a part of the equation. 

8 Reasons to eat cardamom (Elaichi)

Elaichi  or cardamom is one of the most common spices seen in an Indian household. Not only is it added to sweet and savory dishes it is also used as a natural mouth freshener. But the humble green pod has a lot more to offer – healthy wise. Here are the top 8 benefits of elaichi.

1. Improves digestion:

Ever wonder why elaichi is a staple addition to saunf after meal? Well, that is because elaichi  is carminative in nature and helps speed up digestion, reduces inflammation of the stomach lining, fights heart burn and nausea. It is known to soothe the mucous membranes, making it function better thereby relieving the symptoms of acidity and an upset stomach. Moreover, according to Ayurvedic texts it also reduces the water and air properties in the stomach making it more capable of digesting food efficiently.

Tip: If you suffer from indigestion this tip is for you. Take a two to three pods of cardamom, a small piece of ginger, a few pieces of cloves and a few dhania seeds. Grind them well and eat this with warm water. It acts as an instant remedy for indigestion, bloating and gas.

Another great remedy for headaches caused due to indigestion is to make cardamom tea. All you need to do is infuse it into some regular green tea and drink it while it’s warm. This mixture works well right at the onset of the symptoms of indigestion. 

2. Beats bad breath:

If you have bad breath and have tried every sort of remedy out there, give elaichi a try. The spice is packed with antibacterial properties, has a strong flavor and a pleasant smell. Moreover since it helps improve your digestive system – which is known to be one of the leading causes for bad breath – it is very effective in weeding out the root cause of the problem. 

Tip: Chew on a pod of elaichi after every meal. You could alternatively drink some elaichi tea every morning to help detoxify and strengthen your digestive system. 

3. Relieves acidity:

The essential oils in elaichi help strengthen the mucous lining of your stomach, making elaichi a great remedy for acidity. Another way it helps is by increasing the amount of saliva you secrete. On chewing the pod, it releases a slew of essential oils that stimulate your salivary glands, which in-turn stimulate your stomach lining to work better, improving your appetite and reduces the amount of acidity you experience. Elaichi’s essential oils also impart a cooling flavour and sensation that help reduce the burning you feel during an attack of acidity.

Tip: Chew on elaichi  regularly after every meal. The best way to keep acidity at bay is to avoid sitting right after you have eating; instead walk around a bit while chewing on the elaichi pod and you should feel much better. 

4. Helps alleviate respiratory illnesses:

Cardamom helps by increasing circulation of blood within your lungs which helps relieve breathing problems like asthma, cold and cough. In Ayurveda  elaichi  is known as a warm spice, which heats up the body internally, helping in the expulsion of phlegm and relieving chest congestion.

Tip: If you have a cold, cough or a congested chest , elaichi is the best natural remedy to relieve the symptoms.  All you need to do is add a few drop of elaichi’s essential oil to your vessel of steaming water during steam inhalation. Suffering from a cold and cough? Here are natural remedies that can give you instant relief.

5. Regularises your heart rate:

Packed with minerals like potassium, calcium and magnesium, cardamom is a gold mine for essential electrolytes. One of the main components of your blood, body fluids and cells is potassium. With its abundant supply of this essential mineral ealichi helps regularise your heart rate and keeps your blood pressure under control.

Tip: Add elaichi to your daily meals or simply drink elaichi tea to reap its heart healthy benefits. 

6. Fights anaemia:

Another major component of elaichi is copper, iron and essential vitamins like riboflavin, vitamin C and niacin. Known for its immense importance in the production of red blood cells and cellular metabolism, copper, riboflavin, vitamin C and niacin in addition to iron are great to fight anaemia and relieve the symptoms that one experiences due to the condition.

Tip: Add a pinch or two of elaichi powder and turmeric to a glass of warm milk. You can add a little sugar for taste if you like. Drink this every night to help relieve weakness and other symptoms of anaemia. 

7. Detoxifies the body and fight free radicals:

Cardamom is a great source of mineral manganese. Manganese is the key to production of an enzyme that scavenges and destroys free radicals. Apart from that elaichi also has very strong detoxifying properties that help to cleanse the body and protect it from diseases like cancer.

Tip: to help detoxify your body, try this Ayurvedic detox diet. Alternatively you could add elaichi to your daily meal and tea, to reap its benefits.

8. Improves your sex life:

Elaichi is a potent tonic and stimulant. It not only helps to strengthen the body it also fights sexual dysfunctions like premature ejaculation and impotency. Not only does it relieve the problem it also helps you feel energetic and last longer in bed.

Bentley's new SUV

Bentley, the English car maker has revealed an official image of its upcoming luxury SUV. The automaker has published an image of the SUV standing right in the middle of desert showing its outstanding off-roading capabilities. The image can be seen at the official website and twitter fan page, suggesting its arrival by the year 2016.

This new SUV will be the company's fourth model and will join the ongoing model lineup that includes Mulsanne, the Flying Spur and the Continental GT. The automaker also disclosed that the company will invest £800 million in next three years at its headquarters in Crewe for the development of new models. Bentley, the brand known for its iconic Mulsanne and Flying Spur mostly manufactures the four/two door luxury saloon or coupe, will be going in for the prodcution for the first time of an SUV segment car.
According to the company, this car will be the most powerful and most luxurious SUV on the road and will set new benchmarks with respect to the performance, quality and craftsmanship. The SUV will be manufactured in the production plant at Crewe, Cheshire, England and will also provide employment to more than 1000 people. Nothing is disclosed on the part of engine specification. However, this new SUV will be put against the likes of the top-end variants of Land Rover and Range Rover.

Source: cardekho

Suits is back!

The new episode of season 3 of suits has been aired. The new episode has been  interesting as always. But the big question now is 'how would Mike tackle Louis?'.
Whatever might happen between Litt, Specter and Ross, the one thing we can say for sure is that we are going to enjoy watching it and the show will be breathtaking as always.

Crab cake

(For more food related stuff visit - foodiesden.blogspot.in)

Ingredients:

• Crab meat - 1 lb
• Onion - 1/2 (finely chopped)
• Potato - 1
• Garlic - 2 cloves (minced)
• Cumin/Fennel seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Egg - 1
• Chilly powder - 1 tsp
• Garam Masala - 1/4 tsp
• Cilantro - handful(finely chopped)
• Bread crumbs - 2 tblsp

Preparation:

• Boil the crab, remove the meat out and keep aside. You can get crab meat from the store.
• Boil a potato and keep it aside.
• Heat oil in a pan and saute the onions and garlic.
• Take mixing bowl, add the sauteed onions, garlic, boiled potato, shredded crab meat, cumin seeds and cilantro.
• Add chilly powder, salt, garam masala and one egg. Mix everything together.
• If the mixture is moist, add bread crumbs.
• Make equal sized crab meat balls and then shape them as cutlets.
• Fry them with few drops of oil on a hot griddle.
• Serve as a snack or with fish biriyani.
• Tips:

NOTE:

• Boiled and mashed rice can also be used instead of boiled potato.
• Shrimp cutlets can also be formed following similar recipe

crazy recepies and food related stuff

Irish Coffee cup cakes

(For more such recepies go to foodiesden.blogspot.in)

INGREDIENTS:
Cupcakes

2 cup(s) all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon(s) baking powder

0.25 teaspoon(s) baking soda

0.25 teaspoon(s) salt

0.50 cup(s) boiling water

2 tablespoon(s) instant-espresso powder

0.25 cup(s) whole milk

1 stick(s) unsalted butter, room temperature

0.50 cup(s) granulated sugar

0.50 cup(s) packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

Frosting

1 cup(s) heavy cream

1 tablespoon(s) confectioners' sugar

1 tablespoon(s) whiskey

Instant-espresso powder, for dusting

PREPARATION:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Make the cupcakes: Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Pour water over espresso powder; let cool. Combine espresso with milk. Beat butter and granulated and brown sugars with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with espresso-milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour (batter may look broken).

2. Fill 15 cups (of two 12-cup muffin tins) three-quarters full. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, 20 to 22 minutes. Let cool; turn out cupcakes from tins.

3. Make the frosting: Whisk together cream and confectioners' sugar until medium peaks form. Add whiskey; whisk until slightly stiff peaks form.

4. Top each cupcake with 2 tablespoons frosting; dust with espresso powder.

 

X4: NOT A BMW X6

Because BMW is spreading its segment-busters down the line, it's now time for the 2015 BMW X4. And it looks just like a shrunken X6. Or a jacked up 4-series Grn coupe. Actually, it looks like a lot of BMWs.

Engines are the common BMW variety, with the xDrive28i getting the 2.0-liter, 240-horse turbo four and the xDrive35i scoring the 3.0-liter 300-horse turbo straight six. An 8-speed automatic is the only transmission.Unlike the 2015 X3, there are no rear-wheel drive or diesel options.

It goes on sale this spring after its launch in April at the New York Auto Show, with the xDrive28i starting at $45,625 and the 35i kicking off at $48,925. That's about three grand more than an X3. Or about $15,000 less than an X6.

Lamborghini Huracan

Several new supercars, vehicles costing more than 100,000 euros ($137,000), are vying this week to upstage one another at the Geneva International Motor Show. The offerings in the segment, dominated by European manufacturers, reflect the revival of the region’s auto industry after a six-year slump.

The wave of horsepower-heavy models, including Bugatti’s 2.18 million-euro Rembrandt, on display at the show underscores the return of performance cars following years in which some producers held back. Lamborghini headlined the trend by debuting the 610-horsepower Huracan, which replaces the $181,900 Gallardo, their all-time best seller.

Lamborghini had more than 1,000 orders for the Huracan, even before the March 3 premiere, when white, yellow and dark grey models slinked across a stage in Geneva. Winkelmann said deliveries of the car next year should exceed the 1,800 peak sales of the Gallardo on the U.S., china and a rebound in some European markets.

Drag coefficient for automobiles

The drag coefficient is a common measure in automotive design as it pertains to aerodynamics. Drag is a force that acts parallel and in the same direction as the airflow. The drag coefficient of an automobile impacts the way the automobile passes through the surrounding air. When automobile companies design a new vehicle they take into consideration the automobile drag coefficient in addition to the other performance characteristics. Aerodynamic drag increases with the square of speed; therefore it becomes critically important at higher speeds. Reducing the drag coefficient in an automobile improves the performance of the vehicle as it pertains to speed and fuel efficiency. There are many different ways to reduce the drag of a vehicle. A common way to measure the drag of the vehicle is through the drag area.
The application of new parts and concepts onto the vehicle design are easier to include when in the design stage of a vehicle, rather than in Aftermarket(automotive) parts, however, the fabrication of these parts assists in the streamlining of the vehicle and can help greatly reduce the drag of the vehicle. Most vehicles with very low Drag coefficients, such as race cars and high efficiency concept cars, apply these ideas to their design.

Wheel covers

When air flows around the wheel wells it gets disturbed by the rims of the vehicles, and forms an area of turbulence around the wheel. In order for the air to flow smoother around the wheel well smooth Wheel covers are often applied. Smooth wheel covers are hub caps with no holes in them for air to pass through. This design reduces drag, however, it may cause the brakes to heat up quicker because the covers prevent airflow around the brake system. This is why this modification is more commonly seen with high efficiency vehicles, rather than sports cars or racing vehicles.

Partial grille block

The front grille of a vehicle is used to direct air directly into the engine compartment. In a streamlined design the air flows around the vehicle rather than through; however, the grille of a vehicle redirects airflow from around the vehicle to through the vehicle, which then increases the drag. In order to reduce this impact a grille block is often used. A grille block covers up a portion, or the entirety of the front grille of a vehicle. In most high efficiency models or vehicles with low drag coefficients there will be a very small grille already built into the design, therefore a grille block is unneeded. The grille in most production vehicles is built generally to have as much air flowing into the engine in order to keep it from overheating. But most commonly there is too much airflow into the engine, preventing it from warming up in a timely manner, so a grille block is used to increase engine performance and reduce the vehicle's drag.

Under tray

The underside of a vehicle often traps air in various places and adds turbulence around the vehicle. In most racing vehicles this is eliminated by covering the entire underside of the vehicle in what is called an under tray. This tray prevents any air from becoming trapped under the vehicle and reduces drag.

Fender skirts

Fender skirts are often made as extensions of the body panels of the vehicles and cover the entire wheel wells. Much like smooth wheel covers this modification reduces the drag of the vehicle by preventing any air from becoming trapped in the wheel well and assists in streamlining the body of the vehicle. Fender skirts are more commonly found on the rear wheel wells of a vehicle because the tires do not turn and the design is much simpler. This is commonly seen in vehicles such as the Honda Insight. Front fender skirts have the same effect on reducing drag as the rear wheel skirts, but must be further offset from the body in order to compensate for the tire sticking out from the body of the vehicle as turns are made.

Modified front bumper

The front bumper is the first part of the vehicle that the air must flow around. Therefore, it plays a crucial role in reducing drag. In order to preserve the teardrop shape of the vehicle a front air dam is often used. A front air dam extends from the very front of the vehicle down to the lowest part of the vehicle. It does this to direct airflow around the vehicle rather than through it. Contoured deflectors, or tire spats, are often made as part of the front bumper in order to direct airflow around the tire without having any increase to the outward flow. With the Sears-Haack body,  body being the best possible aerodynamic shape,the modifications of the front bumper would be ideal to mimic the front of this shape; however, adjustments must be made out of practicality and legality, and more often a tear drop shape is formed by the front of the vehicle, such as in the Dymaxioncar.

Boattails and Kammbacks

A boattail can greatly reduce a vehicle's total drag. Boattails create a teardrop shape that will give the vehicle a more streamlined profile, reducing the occurrence of drag inducing fliw seperation.A kammback is a truncated boattail. It is created as an extension of the rear of the vehicle, moving the rear backward at a slight angle toward the bumper of the car. This can reduce drag as well but a boattail would reduce the vehicles drag more. Nonetheless, for practical and style reasons, a kammback is more commonly seen in racing, high efficiency vehicles, and trucking.

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Jeep's baby SUV

 Jeep unveiled a low cost entry level vari..,.. t 'Renegade' into its lineup at the Geneva, the images of the 2015 Renegade compact SUV leaked couple of days before its global unveil at the motor show. This quirky looking SUV with full on JEEP DNA will hit the market by 2015 and will be produced at Melfi, Italy.

Fiat-Chrysler Motors India confirmed that they will be launching Jeep brand in the country; though the product launches are delayed but it is expected that the company will drive in the brand by around late 2014 or early 2015. This new 2015 Renegade offering by Jeep might be the next in-line product after the Rubicon and Cherokee.

Speaking of the design, the Compact SUV incorporates a boxy design; Jeep says that 2015 Renegade demonstrate a throwback in term of design to the original military Jeep. The Classic timeless seven slot vertical grille, high ground clearance and boxy shape are some characteristics legacy of the original military Jeep which the 2015 Renegade follows with a modern touch! The vehicle sports circular headlamps and fog lamps, front fender mounted turn indicators and square tail lamps, a typical military Jeep architecture. The car also boost all around plastic cladding and pronounced wheel arches. The SUV boosts a low drag coefficient (Cd) value of 0.36.

The vehicle shares its underpinnings with Fiat 500L, boosting a steel monocoque structure architecture. Pulling the Jeep's compact SUV is the Fiat borrowed Multi-Jet II diesel motors, Multi-Air petrol motors and flex-fuel E.torQ motor. Handling the transmission duties will be two manual, a dual clutch DDCT and first in the segment 9 speed auto gearbox. As far as India is concerned, Fiat will only bring the MJD II and MultiAir units coupled maybe with a manual or dual clutch to keep prices as low as possible to make it competitive.

The vehicle comes with 'Trail Rated' 4X4 badge and rides on 17 inch rubber with all terrain tyres; it is also equipped with Jeep's 'Selec-Terrain system'- a terrain selection system. On the inside, the vehicle gets 7 inch fully digital hi-def instrumentation cluster, which displays array of informations. It also boosts a large screen 'UConnect' infotainment system that fulfill all your need from navigation to phones integration and different types of music connectivity. It also comes with Jeep's 'My sky' option in which the sunroof in the Renegade can be completely taken off for full on air experience! It also retracts just like a normal sunroof.

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The Jaguar XE luxury sedan announced

Tata Motors owned luxury and sportscar maker Jaguar has readied up a BMW 3 Series rival in the form of the XE luxury sedan. Jaguar announced the XE luxury sedan at the ongoing 2014 Geneva Motor Show. The luxury car will be unveiled by the end of this year, when actual dimensions and specifications will be released.

The Jaguar XE will go into serial production by the middle of 2015, and is expected to arrive into India by the end of next year given the growing luxury car market in this part of the world. The XE is based on the car maker’s new aluminum architecture, which also underpins the C-X17 crossover that was showcased at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo. 

Looks wise, the solitary teaser image and the images of the aluminum frame of the XE indicate a front end that looks very similar to the C-X17 crossover, and a profile that seems to borrow the fast back design from the larger XF sedan. The XE range will also get a new range of four cylinder turbo petrol and turbo diesel engines dubbed the Ingenium series.

The Ingenium range of engines mark a shift from the Ford and Peugeot derived turbo diesel motors that Jaguar and Land Rover use currently. The 4 cylinder motors will support both rear wheel drive and all wheel drive architectures, and are said to be ready for tunes that will propel the XE to speeds of up to 300 Kph.

Clearly, Jaguar seems to have the BMW M4 and the Mercedes Benz C63 AMGs in mind. Expect a high performance version of the Jaguar XE sedan to follow the initial crop of lower priced BMW 3 Series competitors. The new Ingenium range of engines also aim at delivering high fuel efficiency and low CO2 emission numbers.

10 Astonishing Facts related to cars

1. The new car smell comprises of over 50 Volatile Organic Compounds.
2. Initial cars used a lever for for steering the car instead of a steering wheel.
3. In 1916, 55 percent of the cars in the world were Model T Fords, a record that has never been beaten.
4. The world's first speeding  ticket was issued in 1899 for attaining a peed of 12 mph.
5. The first radio for a car was invented in 1929.
6. Thrust SSC holds the World Land Speed Record, set on 15 October 1997, when it achieved a speed of 1,228 km/h (763 mph) and became the first car to officially break the sound barrier.
7. The Dubai police fleet includes Lamborghini, Ferrari and Bentley. According to them, expensive and fast cars allow them to catch speeders easily.
8. The New York City Police Department used bicycles to pursue speeding motorists in 1898.
9. The ornament on the hood of Rolls Royce is called the Spirit of Ecstasy.



The Spirit of Ecstasy



Dubai Police Cars

10. The first traffic lights were installed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1914.

Types of transmissions in vehicles

Following are the types of Transmissions used in vehicles:

1.  Manual Transmission
2. Automatic Transmission
3. Semi-automatic Transmission
4. Non-Synchronous Transmission
5. Bicycle gearing
6. Dual clutch Transmission
7. Continuously variable Transmission (CVT)
8. Infinitely variable Transmission
9. Electric variable Transmission

X4 to be unvieled on 6th march

BMW X4

The BMW X4 to be unveiled on 6th March.

Advantages and Disadvantages of automatic gear transmission over manual gear transmission in vehicles to the customers in India

Advantages and Disadvantages of automatic gear transmission over manual gear transmission in vehicles to the customers in India

India has seen a huge development in the automobile industry in a last few decades. These developments may include India becoming the sixth largest vehicle manufacturer in the world and introduction of automotive giants like Jaguar, Land rover, triumph, Harley-Davidson, Isuzu etc. not only in the Indian markets but the manufacturing domain as well.

One such development has been increase in number of automatic transmission, semi-automatic transmission, CVT (Continuously variable transmission) and DCT (Dual - Clutch Transmission) vehicles. The types of gear transmission in vehicles have their advantages and disadvantages.

People may say that manual transmission vehicles are less expensive in comparison to automatic transmission vehicles but there is reduction of human effort and that’s what a machine is made for and thus it helps a lot on roads in India where the traffic is highly unorganised.
The automatic gear transmissions thus have a good utility in the cumbersome traffic.

 It is often quoted that manually transmitted gear systems generate a good fuel economy. But what one often misses is the driving habits of the person driving the car and condition of traffic. On Indian roads we find amateurs driving cars who accelerate the car with a full throttle and immediately apply breaks generating a lower fuel economy. The fuel economy of the car also goes down by the abrupt gear changes. An automatic transmission somewhat helps in eliminating the loss in fuel economy due to this.

Though the automatic transmission have various advantages over the manual gear transmission in vehicles, it is often advised to learn how to drive on a vehicle with a manual transmission because of the law of licencing in India and various other countries that states that a person who takes the test of driving on a car with automatic gear transmission is allowed to drive such cars only. He/she will not be allowed to drive a manual transmission vehicle while a person who takes the test in a car with automatic gear transmission is allowed to drive both.

A good alternative to both is Dual Clutch transmission which is usually operated in a fully automatic mode, and many also have the ability to allow the driver to manually shift gears. Using these, a person can maintain the fuel economy of the car by using the manual mode when needed and go for automatic mode for a relaxed driving experience.