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Hyundai Sonata 2012 (Fluidic Design) Launch within Few Days (see Pictures)

We have learnt that the NEW Sonata with Fluidic Design Concept like Hyundai's i20 & Verna is expected to be Launched within this month.

I had clicked these images of the New Sonata during AutoExpo2012:

Hyundai Motors India Limited (HMIL), country’s largest car maker and the second largest car exporter in the Indian auto market, is all set to launch its new premium sedan Hyundai Sonata in the Indian market in the last week of this month. The new 2012 Hyundai Sonata is blessed with new Fluidic design concept of the South Korean auto giant, and the company is hoping to receive the same response received by its Verna Fluidic sedan. 

The company had showcased the new Sonata 2012 at the Delhi auto expo in the month of January 2012, where it had received an overwhelming response by the car enthusiasts. Powered by a 2.4 litre GDI engine, the car delivers a peak power of 201 PS @ 6300 rpm along with a peak torque of 25.5 Kgm @ 4250 rpm. Moreover, there will be options of a six speed manual and automatic transmission to choose from.

The new Sonata Fluidic model will be carrying a number of new age comfort & convenience and safety features including rear seat ventilation, cruise control, Xenon head lamps, paddle shift, 10-way adjustable power seat with lumber support, 4-way power adjustable front co-driver seat, 6 airbags, Electronic Stability program (ESP), anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution (EBD), and rear view camera with push button start.

BOSCH develops Code for Converting your Car into a Smart Car

At the world's largest auto component supplier's engineering centre in Bangalore, engineers are hard at work on a software that they believe will dictate the future of the automobile industry. The engineering and electronics major Bosch developed a code with which developers can now create applications for cars which aid driving, similar to the ones that run on smartphones. 

What these engineers are doing reflects a major shift -- inspired by the success of Apple and Google - taking place in the automotive industry. The usually cagey automakers are opening up innovation platforms for third-party developers. By doing so, carmakers like General Motors and Ford are creating an app ecosystem so that buyers can tap into the computing power within a car. 

These apps help drivers cruise and navigate better, tell them about the weather and lift in-car entertainment. What's aiding the creation of this ecosystem is the amount of semiconductor embedded in a modern vehicle. With 150-200 chips in a car, lots of applications can be built -- from those that monitor weather more accurately to ones that improve mileage and provide driving assistance. Bosch's software, called Busmaster, can plug into an automobile's nervous system, the CAN bus, and receive messages from scores of electronic control units. The CAN bus -- an acronym for the controller area network bus -- transfers data between the electronic control units. 

The electronic units, in turn, control or monitor various functions like wiper blades and power windows. All a developer has to do is download the software from the Net and hook up to the automobile's on-board diagnostic port. Rajesh Puttaswamy, an engineer at Bosch, and members of the company's open source community have built an app called The Eco Buddy using Google's Android operating system. The app uses data retrieved from the car's CAN bus to analyse how good the driver is. It rates his gear shifting pattern, braking and acceleration aspects to predict how well he drove the car. 

Such applications are expected to be the norm. "This is a sign of things to come," says Sri Krishnan V, vice-president , engineering unit, Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions. "The business model in auto industry is evolving rapidly . Everybody wants to emulate what is happening in consumer electronics. The Apple ecosystem is a classic example," he added. Powerful hardware and consistent software that gives freedom to users and developers to build on, and a thriving application ecosystem around the product, has been the success mantra of companies like Apple and Google in consumer electronics. 

Recently, America's second largest automaker Ford re-defined cars as computing platforms on wheels and threw open their in-car connectivity system for developers. The company's OpenXC project, led by K Venkatesh Prasad, group and senior technical leader, Vehicle Design and Infotronics, Ford Research and Innovation, will reach out to universities in India and encourage students to develop apps for the company's models, starting with Figo in India. Third-party developers have already created interesting applications built on the OpenXC platform. 

For one, Weather Underground, an American company which provides weather data has an app to get accurate rain information. General Motors, one of the world's largest automakers, has OnStar telematics system which will be soon opened application developers. The system can integrate with smartphones and other consumer devices. In February, the company announced that the OnStar application programming interface (API) will be made available to developers who want to make mobile applications to work on their proprietary system. 

P Balendran, vice-president at General Motors India, said, "Closed innovation model for technology development can be more restrictive and more expensive in the long run. So, the choice is clear." The auto giant credits much of its recent innovations to its open research and development practices. "Conventional closed innovation models can no longer keep pace and may adversely impact competitiveness of core businesses," Balendran added. 

Chipmakers -- who make all the computing possible inside an automobile -- say that chips on cars are more powerful than the ones that go into computers. On an average, there are about 10 million lines of code in a car. Says Ganesh Guruswamy, VP and country manager, Freescale Semiconductor India, "There is more software in a car than in a computer's operating system." 

Freescale is one of the world's largest semiconductor and solutions provider to automobiles. While infotainment and navigation systems, or even wiper blades, which Ford's Venkatesh Prasad says exist on the "long tail" of the car is fast opening up to outside innovation, critical systems like the powertrain are not likely to be opened up anytime soon. However, there are groups that are already working on the car's sensitive areas like the engine control unit. 

"There is a market where people try to hack into the car to soup it up. But these chips are highly secure," says Ganesh Guruswamy adding that his company's chips are used even in F1 cars. For Freescale, which supplies chips from the Tata Nano to the BMWs, nearly $ 2 billion , or 40% of the company's total revenue, comes from automotive segment. 

Earlier this month, Intel's investment arm launched a $100 million fund called the connected car fund. In the next four to five years, this fund will invest in firms that make applications and technology for in-vehicle connectivity -- linking up devices and car's sensors. 

Intel Capital's MD Sudheer Kuppam says, "We are looking at hard-hitting innovations across the world." He, however, declined to share details. Most of the innovations come from Japan, Korea, the US and the UK. "However, companies in Asia-Pacific region have now started offering apps in car services," added Kuppam.

Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/enterprise-it/strategy/General-Motors-Ford-courting-developers/articleshow/12345530.cms

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga COMING on 11th April 2012 : See Official Video

I have been excited about this New MPV from Maruti Suzuki "ERTIGA"

I have already brought you images from the Launch of Ertiga during AutoExpo2012 http://megapowerbosch.blogspot.in/search?q=ertiga

Now I bring you the official Video of the MPV



The excitement is in the air.......... 

Sunday Special : Beat the Car Price Rise & Fuel Price Rise!! "FlintStone Car"

I have been working on a lot of Car Modification Ideas. While some are limited to remodeling of the cars; but others are like, converting petrol cars to Battery Operated Car, Water based Fuel efficiency enhancers, Bi-polar Magnet based Fuel efficiency boosters, and finally converting a Car to Horse Pulled Cart, etc...

However, My some just mailed me a picture for potential Car modification:

"FlintStone" Car

No Fuel, No Mule!

Check out Car Modification - MegaPower EV : : Battery Operated Car Build on Maruti 800 Shell

Budget 2012 : : Diesel Cars to Rule the Roads

Budget 2012 has been presented by Finance Minister yesterday and based on the budget speech it seems that the Auto Industry have somethings to cheer and some areas which are likely to hit the growth.

First The Positives:

1. As expected, the hike in Taxes & Duties on Diesel Cars has NOT been announced. This means that the Diesel Cars WILL NOT get expensive (apart from Luxury & Big Diesel Cars).

2. Subsidy on Diesel Fuel continues thereby Diesel will not be expensive and the attraction for Diesel Cars will continue. ( Sorry but the waiting period for Diesel Cars will increase).

3. Car Companies Stock (especially, those having good share of Diesel Car sales)  will continue to rise/gain as their sale will not decline.

Negatives:

1. Small cars will have price increase not more then 1 to 2 % as a result of increase in Excise Duty from 22 % to 24%.

2. Large cars will see greater price increase up to 5 to 7 %

3. SUV (completely imported and/or Assembled in India with imported parts) will get expensive by 15 to 20%. While multi-national companies will be negatively impacted, Mahindra & Mahindra will not be effected by this and will gain in sales as their SUVs will be relatively cheaper.

Car AC Evaporator (Cooling Coil) inside Blower needs periodic Cleaning

Check out Car Modification - MegaPower EV : : Battery Operated Car Build on Maruti 800 Shell

As summer is approaching I find it fit to advise Car Owners to get the Car AC checked, Blower Cleaned and for older vehicles (more then 3 years old) to get their AC Evaporator (cooling Coil) cleaned.

To explain what I am talking about let me use some pictures:

Since the Air flow is always through the Evaporator or Heater Coil inside the Blower body (hidden inside the Dashboard of the car), in case dust is embedded in the coil, the FLOW of Air will be restricted and even the cooling will be less as dust creates insulating layer between the Cooling Coil and Air.

If you feel that Air Flow of your Car blower has reduced, this could be the reason.

The correct way to rectify this is to:

1. Get The AC Gas Recovered (Saved)

2. Dismantle the Dashboard

3. Remove the Blower Casing/Body

4. Open the Blower Casings and remove the Car AC Evaporator (Cooling Coil)

Blower Casing shown here below:

Fig 230 is Evaporator/Cooling Coil while 200 is Heater Coil

5. Get it Washed Thoroughly

 View of Dismantled Dashboard for removal of Blower Assembly

Blower Assembly behind the Dashboard

Opened Blower Assembly with Cooling Coil washed 

The Dirt removed from the Cooling Coil

This Dirt was reducing Cooling as well as Air Flow through the Blower

6. Reassemble the Air Blower and Dashboard

7. Refill the Recovered AC Gas

That normally takes 4 to 6 hours depending upon the Car.

Have A Cool Summer with AC Service from MegaPower Services, BOSCH Cr Service, Kunjwani, Jammu Call : 9086820444 for Booking

We DONOT waste the AC Gas in the system, We Use BOSCH ACS (Automatic AC Service) Machine to  recover, purge (Clean), and refill with FRESH Lubricating Oil for the Compressor.

Demo of BOSCH ACS (Automatic Car AC Service Unit) at MegaPower Services

Mr. Liju Lekshman, Manager - Sales & Business Development Diagnostics, BOSCH Limited conducted Demo of the BOSCH ACS Machine today at MegaPower Services, Jammu

Mr. Rajat Sawhney, External TM - BOSCH Jammu and Mr Vinod Dhawan, from M/s Shushant Spares, Jammu - BOSCH Car Spares Distributor - Jammu were also present and attended to each visiting guest personally to answer and Technical & Commercial queries.

 The Demo Session was attended by Car Dealer Representatives, Workshop Owners, Car AC Service Centres, JK Police, & AC Technicians from Jammu, Samba, Udhampur & Kathua.

Mr Vikas Talreja, from BOSCH Service Training was also available to answers technical questions about the AC Service unit.

The Demo sesion was followed with Lunch.

BOSCH Automatic AC Service Machine : Demo Invitation 14th March 2012 at 11am

BOSCH Car A/C Service Unit Demo at MegaPower Services, BOSCH Car Service, Kunjwani, Jammu on 14th March 2012 at 11.00am

Nissan's small car with Ashok Leyland to hit market by 2014

GENEVA: Japanese car maker Nissan will launch an entry-level small car, developed in partnership with Ashok Leyland, by 2014 that could be priced around Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh.

"We are working on multiple options of price-entry vehicles for the Indian market. One of them is being developed with engineering department of Ashok Leyland. This car will be launched around 2014," Nissan Motor Executive Vice President Andy Palmer told PTI at the 82nd Geneva Motor Show here.

The company will introduce the small car in the fiercely competitive and volume-driven price range of Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh, he added.

He, however, did not share details such as engine strength.

Currently, the company sells only one small car 'Micra' in India in both petrol and diesel engines. According to its official websites, the car is priced between Rs 4.14 lakh and Rs 6.26 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Currently, Nissan has a joint venture with Ashok Leyland to produce light commercial vehicles for the Indian market.

Earlier, Ashok Leyland had said it would not enter the passenger car segment and would limit its association with the Japanese firm to only commercial vehicle space.

The Stile is also a product of theAshok Leyland-Nissan partnership > As seen at AutoExpo2012

Vintage Car Rally at New Delhi (Pics & Video)

The Indian Design Forum opened in capital today with a classic car parade, consisting of 21 classic and vintage cars.

The forum used the parade to highlight how a good design is everlasting using: how the cars are still going strong despite being more than half a century old, in some cases.

The cars were some of the most well known automobiles ever. From a red, shimmering Ford Mustang to a flamboyant Chevrolet BelAir or a princely Rolls Royce Phantom I, each car was like a page out of automobile history. The parade was flagged off by Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Indian racing star Narain Kathikeyan in central Delhi. The convoy, escorted by 8 Tata Arias, circled India Gate and drove through the boulevards of Lutyen's Delhi before returning to the starting point.

Noted lawyer and Heritage Motoring Club of India (HMCI) president, K.T.S. Tulsi was at the wheels of his 1934 Austin. "This car was originally purchased by the Nawab of Lucknow as a birthday gift for his daughter. He received it from its only dealership in Kolkata and drove it all the way to Lucknow," Tulsi said about his vintage car.

"But after his daughter, no one paid any attention to this car and it was to be sold as scrap when I bought it," he added. The car, a creamy brown beauty, with matching leather upholstery, was surprisingly comfortable even though the interior space didn't look like much from outside. Crafted from solid steel, Tulsi said that the car was "heavier than cars twice as long". According to Tulsi, the Austin was amongst the first cars to have suspensions or a fuel pump.

Fellow motoring enthusiast and HMCI general secretary Diljeet Titus was present at the event with his 1930 Stutz LeBaron.

The parade also included novelties such as the BMW Isetta, a 300 c.c. two seater -- had one door opened out in front with an attached steering.

Source (IANS)

DM's Maruti Suzuki Swift Vdi (Know your Car Series)

I have come across a blog site which explains a lot about maintenance issues of Maruti Suzuki Swift Diesel. Sharing the same with u all:

DM's Maruti Suzuki Swift Vdi

Scoop : Increase your Car Fuel Efficiency using Water Powered Fuel Saver Kit

As seen at YouTube: (We are verifying these claims and will try to get this technology soon to Jammu & Kashmir)

The GIRIRAJ Water Power Fuel Saver kit is a retrofit device that can be installed and connected to any internal combustion engine, regardless of the engine's fuel source. It is a closed chamber unit that produces hydrogen and oxygen on demand. There is no storage of hydrogen or oxygen, making the technology extremely safe.

Hydrogen, in combination's with other electrolyzed gases introduced into the intake manifold of the engine, will accelerate the flame spread during combustion, thereby getting more of the vaporized fuel to combust during the initial part of the power stroke. The benefits of the addition of Hydrogen in an internal combustion engine, including a diesel engine have been well researched.

Road Tests have shown 20-90% increases in mileage with the additional implementation of driving tips. Most engines equipped with electronic fuel injection and on-board computers adjust automatically, by cutting back on the amount of fuel injected. For optimum mileage gain & Safety of the Product as well as Customers, we have developed a ECM which controls the Production of Gas as well as adjust the Vehicles' on-board Computer Automatically which helps the computer make the optimum adjustments.

The product can be used on all types and combination's of fuels: gasoline, diesel, natural gas, liquid propane, methanol, ethanol and bio-diesel. Due to the on-board Production of Hydrogen & Oxygen by the GIRIRAJ Fuel Cell, there is no requirement for the market place to undertake or conduct any infrastructure changes. This provides an immediate solution with no extensive costs to industry or the public. In fact, the GIRIRAJ Water Powered Fuel Saver kit can actually SAVE environment as well as money due to reduced operating costs. GIRIRAJ Water Powered Fuel Saver kit can be installed & tested on various types of engines -- everything from gasoline powered riding Tractor to large diesel powered industrial equipments.

The only "servicing" required for the GIRIRAJ Water Powered Fuel Saver kit is the need to add Conditioned water. The GIRIRAJ Water Powered Fuel Saver kit uses approximately one Liter of water for each 10,000 to 12,000 Kilometers or 150 hours of usage.

Normally Electrolysis generates large amount of sludge & it needs periodic Maintenance to flush the complete system & again pour new electrolyte, while in GIRIRAJ H2o Kit it is not required at all. This requires only addition of water in FBA Unit.

Long-term usage has indicated that the GIRIRAJ Water Powered Fuel Saver kit significantly reduces maintenance cost by decreasing the amount of carbon and other particulate matter in the engines oil. Users have found that oil change is required less often. In addition, many of the engines moving parts experience less wear and tear due to a cleaner burn.

ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM):

Increased sophistication of engine computerization, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), and ever-changing diesel fuel formulations can override the positive effects of hydrogen injection. It also controls the Production of Hydrogen + Oxygen Gas as per need of your Engine's requirement. The company has undertaken extensive research into the development of an Electronic Control Module (ECM) to work in either a stand-alone application with an engine's fuel delivery system or in conjunction with the GIRIRAJ Water Power Fuel Saver Kit. The ECM prototype is currently being programmed and tested. This product has significant market potential in the trucking industry.

For more details visit us at: http://www.girirajsystems.com

Addition to the original blog :


The following links have been forwarded to us by my Social Media Circles/Friends which debunk the above claims:


http://www.esowatch.com/en/index.php?title=HHO

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water-fuelled_car#Hydrogen_as_a_supplement

Need more input Please do share your experience...........

Tata Mega Pixel Launched at Geneva Motor Show

Tata Motors has launched a concept version of an electric car called Tata Megapixel at the 82nd Geneva Motor Show today.