Toyota Aqua witha fuel economy 35 km/L

 

 

Mileage close to 40 kilometers per litre of petrol, performance and comforts at par with the celebrated hybrid Prius—all comes packed under the name The Toyota Prius c (Aqua in Japan) at a price of US$21,700 (INR 11 lakhs). One month’s sales has crossed 10 months’ target: 120,000 orders, and the pace of booking is getting more frenzied. For 17 hours a day, in every 75 seconds, one car rolls out of the assembly line. Currently available in Japan,US and Canada, the Aqua has stolen hearts in various auto shows across the world, and auto markets yearn for her. When does the Aqua come to India?

An assembly line worker attaches the bumper onto the body of a Toyota Aqua, the world's cheapest and most fuel-efficient conventional hybrid car, at a factory of the automaker's subsidiary, Kanto Auto Works, in Kanegasaki, Iwate prefecture, north of Japan March 9, 2012. At this 19-year-old Toyota factory in Kanegasaki, 500 km (300 miles) north of Tokyo, one shiny Aqua hybrid car rolls off the assembly line every 75 seconds, 17 hours a day. With 120,000 orders to fill from just the first month of sales since late December -- equivalent to 10 months' worth of targeted sales in Japan -- the frantic pace will only quicken in the coming months. REUTERS/Chang-Ran Kim

Tata Megapixel, A new global car concept 100 Km/Litre

Geneva: Tata Motors today presented at the 82nd Geneva Motor Show the Tata Megapixel, a new four-seater, city-smart global range extended electric vehicle (REEV) concept for the performance-seeking and environment-conscious motorist anywhere in the world. Combining a lithium ion phosphate battery and an on-board petrol engine generator for recharging on the move, the Tata Megapixel offers a range of up to 900km (with a single tank of fuel), path-breaking CO2 emission of just 22gm/km and fuel economy of 100km/litre (under battery only power).

Speaking on the occasion, Prakash Telang, managing director, India operations, Tata Motors, said, “The Tata Megapixel, developed by our design centres in India, the UK and Italy, is our idea of a city car for discerning motorists in any megacity of the world. It is a result of the progress we have made on the Tata Pixel, displayed last year, and also denotes the company’s future design direction.”

The class-leading ‘Zero Turn’ drive system of the Tata Pixel (shown at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show) has been taken to an even higher level of manoeuvrability in the Tata Megapixel. The car’s electric drive has four independent electric motors, one at each wheel. When parking, the electric hub motors drive the wheels in opposite directions, while the front wheels are turned at an acute angle, enabling an exceptional 2.8 metre turning radius. The at-home charging system is an innovative induction charging system. The car has simply to be parked over the induction pad for charging to begin.

he Tata Megapixel is as distinctive in elegantly melding Indian uniqueness — in colours, graphic themes or materials – with global styling preferences. The integrated lamp and grille graphics sweep back over the front wheel arches to render a dynamic front end. It is echoed on the panoramic roof, creating a harmony between sun and shade and sense of interior space. The floating C-pillar and wrap-around belt line finisher integrate perfectly with the sculpted body surface, flowing freely to the rear and encapsulating the five-spoke wheel design.

A double-sliding door system and the car’s B-pillar-less design make entry / exit easy, besides enabling superb visibility. The battery layout and hub motors maximise the interior package. So, the Tata Megapixel comfortably accommodates four adults with luggage. The front seats are cantilevered on the central tunnel, releasing floor space for additional storage. Light leather trims and rose metal details accentuate the fusion of richness of tradition and innovativeness of technology.

This fusion is heightened by an advanced human machine interface (HMI). The console docking point can connect a smart phone with the car. The built-in large touchscreen HMI, at the centre of the instrument panel, thus becomes a common access point for the repertoire of smart devices and for controlling the functions of the car, such as temperature, ventilation, driving modes and performance.

Tata Motors’ displays also include the new generation Tata Safari Storme SUV, the Tata Aria crossover, the Tata Indigo Manza sedan and the Tata Indica Vista hatchback.

Honda unveils Motor Compo compact electric scooter that works as a power-backup

Rest assured, we’ve never seen a scooter as compact and yet fully-functional as this. By Honda, the Motor Compo showed up at the Tokyo Motor Show and is in essence a foldable electric scooter. With its total length and height measuring less than 1 meter, the scooter’s removable battery also doubles up as a power source in case of emergencies, making it more than just a foldable electric scooter! And yes, the Motor Compo looks seriously adorable and hooked on to a renewable energy source, this little foldable scooter could probably be the cleanest way to get around the neighborhood, without you having to blow away half your wallet on gas

Aakash tablet goes on sale for Rs 2500

DataWind, the Canadian company that is manufacturing Aakash, has started the online booking and pre booking of the much anticipated low cost Android tablet. Online booking is for students' version of the tablet and pre booking is for UbiSlate 7, the upgraded version of Aakash.

Students' version of Aakash will be available for Rs 2,500 and will be delivered in seven days. The commercial version, UbiSlate 7 is priced at Rs 2,999. The payment mode for both the tablets is cash on delivery.

The commercial version of Aakash tablet will be powered by Android 2.3 and will have a resistive touchscreen, Cortex A8-700 MHz processor and graphics accelerator HD video processor, 256 MB of RAM and 2 GB of internal memory.

Other specifications are a one standard USB port, 3.5 mm audio jack, a 7 inch display with 800 x 480 pixel resolution, resistive touchscreen, GPRS and WiFi support.

"The improved version of Aakash tablet will be available in retail outlets by January end," a spokesperson of DataWind told The Mobile Indian.

The tablet was to be made available in retail stores by the end of November. "The delay in the availability of the tablet has been due to upgradation in the tablet and some unforeseen delay in manufacturing," the spokesperson said.

To book and prebook student and commercial versions respectively of Aakash tablet, users have to visit DataWind's website and fill up the required form. In case of booking they will get a booking ID and a message which will state, "You will shortly receive an email confirmation from our support team with further details."

In case of pre booking users will get a confirmation message which will state, "The commercial version of the Akash UbiSlate 7 would be launched in early weeks of December. After the commercial launch we would get in touch with you to deliver your device as soon possible."

As a matter of fact, the confirmation message a reader will see is factually incorrect as The mobile Indian had reported earlier the Aakash tablet will be available only by January end.

Datawind has however not cleared how it is going to establish the identity of students who will book the cheapest version of Aakash tablet. When The Mobile Indian contacted spokesperson of Datwind he said, "Anyone can book the student version of Aakash tablet."

This defeats the purpose of providing students an affordable tablet as now anyone can place an order to get the tablet. Interestingly, now it has been revealed that the government has procured only 10,000 Aakash tablets for distribution in schools and colleges of the initial 1 lakh proposed.

Toyota unveils car with customizable interiors and exteriors, the Fun-Vii

Tired of having driving that same old slab on wheels every day? Toyota came up with a concept design that could have you driving your car with a whole new look on a daily basis! Called the Fun-Vii, this one showed up at the Tokyo Motor Show and has an easily customizable exterior that users can change to suit their moods and fancies. Enabling drivers to show off flashy messages and designs on the exterior of their car with an easy-to-use application, the car’s interior sports an augmented reality function that allows users to change the theme of the Fun-Vii’s interiors whenever required! A brilliant way to make an everyday commute a lot more interesting, the Fun-Vii concept by Toyota would do pretty well if it really did hit manufacturing lines.

Detonator futuristic bike is astonishing

The one name which comes to mind, while constructing astonishing bikes is German automotive futurist Daniel Simon for his futuristic vehicle design company, “Cosmic Motors”. Detonator is the futuristic bike also called the “street cruiser bike built for humanoid droid” by Simon.One would have to pay $100,000 for Detonator which has ultramodern looks, Sci-fi feel and technically advanced description.

The Nokia Twist flexible phone concept

A mobile phone that can twist and turn to your wills and fancies might seem like a far-out dream for now. This concept designed by Tapani Jokinen & Jarkko Saunamaki for Nokia Design and Nokia Research Center does seem to give a preview of what a flexible phone would seem like. Called the Nokia Twist, the phone uses nanotechnology, emotional interaction and is completely flexible! Also, the transparency of the phone’s body makes it a visual treat indeed.

Bikoff concept enables you to carry your bicycle to work!

Looking for a perfect eco-friendly way to get to work? Here’s a bicycle that won’t make you look plain silly while decked up in your sophisticated office wear. Called the Bikoff, this concept bicycle works great since you simply don’t need to park it in the office car-park among those luxury saloons of your colleagues. Instead, the Bikoff bicycle folds up completely and turns into a briefcase-like contraption that you can carry to your desk! A clearly incredible concept bound to create interest in most office workers, the Bikoff beats driving down your gas-guzzling sedan to work!