Wednesday, 4 July 2012

Kia Optima


For much of its life, the Kia Optima has been firmly pegged as an also-ran vehicle. Introduced as Kia's first midsize sedan, the first-generation Optima couldn't promise the refinement, documented reliability and assured resale value of its key Japanese competitors. The second-generation Kia Optima followed much the same playbook, though with considerably better results.
Kia's latest, third-generation Optima is an also-ran no longer. With sleek styling, plenty of standard features, potent engine choices and substantial value, the current Optima is a top pick for a midsize family sedan.

The current Kia Optima is very similar to the Hyundai Sonata, but to Kia's credit, the Optima has a distinctive European flair to it. From the outside and inside, the Optima looks and feels like a much more expensive car than its humble price tag would suggest. Optimas are available in five trim levels: LX, EX, EX Turbo, SX and Hybrid. Standard equipment on the LX includes full power accessories, air-conditioning, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and a stereo with a CD player, satellite radio, an auxiliary audio jack and an iPod/USB audio interface. The EX and Hybrid add a few more features (like alloy wheels, automatic climate control and leather), while the EX Turbo gets a more powerful engine. The SX is also turbocharged but has a sport-tuned suspension. Option highlights include a navigation system, the Uvo voice-activated electronics interface, a premium sound system and heated and ventilated front seats.

At the end of this generation, the Kia Optima was offered in three trim levels: base, EX and SX. All came with a 175-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder as standard. The EX and SX could be had with a 194-hp 2.7-liter V6. A five-speed manual transmission was standard on the LX. Optional on the LX and standard on the EX and SX was a five-speed automatic transmission. The automatic-equipped LX came reasonably well equipped with air-conditioning, full power accessories, antilock brakes, stability control, front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. The EX provided leather upholstery, while the SX came with a sport-tuned suspension. Although the base four-cylinder provided class-competitive acceleration, the Optima's V6 was disappointing. It was significantly smaller and less powerful than other six-cylinders in the class. This Optima was reasonably fun to drive around town and provided a smooth ride quality, though many of its class contemporaries did a better job of isolating occupants from bumps and ruts.

Ford Edge


Deciding on what size of crossover to buy can be tricky. Do you get a large crossover for maximum interior space and roomy third-row seating? Or do you get a small crossover for easier urban maneuverability and higher fuel economy? For some people, the middle ground is the way to go, which is why the 2013 Ford Edge midsize crossover should resonate with many shoppers. This popularity largely stems from the Edge's relatively maneuverable size, its handsome interior and many available high-tech features. The latter includes items such as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning and cross-traffic alert, a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system, the Sync voice command system and the MyFord Touch electronic interface.

The 2013 Ford Edge features a modern-looking interior, especially on models equipped with MyFord Touch. This interface consists of three display screens and the ability to input commands for various audio, phone and navigation functions via voice, touch controls or buttons on the steering wheel. It's a smart idea in theory, but in practice we've found the buttons difficult to identify at a glance and too easy to press accidentally. The Edge's front seats provide excellent support on longer trips. In back, the reclining outboard seats are nicely shaped and offer satisfactory legroom, but headroom can be tight if you order the dual-pane "Vista Roof" option. Furthermore, the middle seat is for short trips only due to its slablike seatback. Should you need a third-row seat, we highly recommend the Ford Flex.

The 2013 Ford Edge comes standard with a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 285 hp and 253 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive are standard, but all-wheel drive is optional. EPA-estimated fuel economy stands at 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined. That drops to 18/25/21 with all-wheel drive. Optional on all but the Edge Sport is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (dubbed EcoBoost) that produces 240 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic paired to front-wheel drive is the only configuration available. In Edmunds performance testing, the Edge EcoBoost went from zero to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds -- a bit slower than average but not unreasonably so. EPA-estimated fuel economy is an impressive 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined.

Tata Safari

Tata Safari has a 2.2L, 16 valve and a VTT DICOR engine that churns a power of 140hp at the rate of 4000rpm. Further it has a capacity to provide a torque of 320Nm at the rate of 1700-2700 rpm. Some of the features that have been changed in the new Tata Safari in place include its dimension that has been reduced lengthwise from 4810mm to 4650mm, but it is to be noted that the cabin space has been kept same. Tata Safari is packed with reverse guide system thereby decreasing the rear visibility problem in the car something that is generally found in the SUVs. 
The new features that are available with the new Tata Safari includes Split grille and badges on them, body colored bumpers and new hard covers for the spare tyres are are major changes. The kerb weight of new Tata Safari has also been reduced in both 2WD and 4WD models upto 50 - 75kg. - Tata Safari is available with tubeless tyres.  Adjustable light intensity on instrumental panel, wood finish centre console, dark graphite and perforated tan leather seats and power windows are extended features in the new Tata Safari. Steering of the car is leather wrapped and the gear knob is leather clad too. - Headlamps keep light on for nearly 30 seconds even after the engine is turned off. The new Tata Safari Dicor is equipped with a very significant feature which helps in locating the car even in jam packed parking areas. The remote unlocking system lightens the roof of the car for 5 seconds thus helping you to trace your car. With the improved warranty of 2 years or 75,000 kms (whichever is earlier) the new Tata Safari is available in an improved version in terms of safety application. Different price tag for various variants of Tata Safari indicates that a number of features have been added in the same car. Some of such additional safety features include ABS, dual Airbags, reverse guide system. DVD/MP3 Alpine music system with dual LCD screens as standard features add to the convenience of the customer. Further, Tata Safari is also equipped with crash safety features.


Tata Safari is dressed with very attractive dual tone beige interiors and dual tone beige dash board that is packed with advanced graphic instrument cluster and leather upholstery. Other features that make Tata Safari interiors stylish are - Leather Covered Steering Wheel, New Leather Covered Gear Shift Knob, Leather Seats, Indicators on ORVM, Central Console Finish, 'Safari' embossing on the the front seats headrests, Headrest mounted LCD Screen on front seats, Roof mounted Rear AC Vents that make Tata Safari interior appearance very attractive.
Tata Safari is a luxurious SUV model that is packed with a lot of advanced luxurious features, offering more comfort with a pleasurable driving experience. The comfortable features that are available with Tata Safari includes Tilted Power Steering, Climate Control AC with HVAC (Heating Ventilation and AC), Roof Mounted Rear AV Vent, Power Windows, Electrically Adjustable Side Rear View Mirror, Electrically Operated Remote Fuel Flap, Keyless Entry, On Board Advanced Music System, Headrest Mounted LCD Screens on Front Seats, Height Adjustable Driver Seat, 3 Positions Lumbar Support For Front Seats, Arm Rest on Driver and Co Driver Side, 60:40 Spilt and Completely Folding Middle Row Seats, Cup Holders on Floor Console, Cigarette Lighter in Front Console and Ash Tray at Front and Middle Row, Rear Wash and Wiper, Electrical Rear Glass Demister, “Follow Me Home” that illuminates your path after parking, Puddle Lamps on Front Door, “In Car Illumination” : Front Roof Lamp cum Spot Reading, Lamps with Delay Function, Glove Box Lamp, Adjustable Light Intensity on Instrument Panel, Digital Trip and Tacho Meter, Digital Outside Temperature Indicator, Analog Clock on Center Console, Coat Hooks on Door, Magazine Pockets in the Door Pads, Storage Net in Luggage Compartment.

Exterior sporty look is the most important part of any SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) and Tata Motors does not disappoint their customers. The front appears very aggressive and dynamic with its strong bonnet line and large head lamps with clear lens fog lamps placed next to the grille and the anti glare rear view mirror. From the side, Tata Safari appears muscular with its sturdy side steps, front and rear gate scuff plates, side cladding, sporty roof rails and 16” alloy wheels. Tata Motors has made the rear in Tata Safari trendy and sporty with its tail gate scuff plates, new rear combination lamps, stylish rear spoiler with brake lamp.
Tata Safari is a seven seater luxurious SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) with a spacious passenger room. The exterior dimensions of Tata Safari are - its length is 4,650mm, width with footsteps 1,918mm, height 1,925mm and its wheelbase is 2,650mm with the ground clearance of 205mm andminimum turning radius of 6.0 meters.

Kia Sorento


Kia is a brand on the rise in the United States. From its memorable hamster ads to its high-profile sponsorship of the NBA, you don't have to be a car nut to know that this South Korean company is no longer a peddler of anonymous, value-driven cars. And even though its most recent offerings have been getting plenty of attention for their creative, eye-catching styling, it's the comparatively conservative 2013 Kia Sorento crossover SUV that's actually the brand's best-seller. Quite simply, the Sorento doesn't need anthropomorphic rodents or an L.A. Clipper to get noticed. It all starts with its size. Placed in between compact SUVs like Kia's own Sportage and midsize SUVs like the Toyota Highlander, the Sorento falls in line with vehicles like the deceptively large Honda CR-V. However, the Sorento manages to squeeze in an available third-row seat that can actually fit adults. Despite such a generous amount of passenger and cargo space, this Kia still feels maneuverable and achieves decent fuel economy.
The Sorento's cabin doesn't have the visual flair of its more recently redesigned Kia siblings, but it's attractive enough and benefits from the brand's usual array of audio and climate controls that are intuitive with a substantial feel. Dashboard plastics are hard to the touch, but look good and are certainly on par for the class. Kia's Uvo system also works very well. Based on the same technology as Ford's Sync system, it allows drivers to control various functions with voice commands, including their MP3 players and cell phones.
The 2013 Kia Sorento LX comes standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 175 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque. Every Sorento comes standard with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, while all-wheel drive is an option. In Edmunds performance testing, this base LX engine with front-wheel drive went from zero to 60 mph in 9.9 seconds, which is slow for the class. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 21 mpg city/29 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 21/27/23 with all-wheel drive. Optional on the LX and standard on the EX is a direct-injected version of the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. Though we haven't tested this engine, its acceleration should be better. EPA-estimated fuel economy is definitely better at 22/32/25 with front-drive and 21/28/23 with all-wheel drive. Standard on the SX and optional on the others.
 


Lada Kalina


 



Not avilable in india....

Renault Duster


Akin to its name, Renault Duster is a characteristic SUV with aggressive looks and power. With Renault Duster the French auto major is looking forward to change its fate in the Indian auto Industry. Where the auto majors like Maruti, Hyundai and Tata touching five to six digit sales figure, Renault is just able to touch the initial four digit. Duster, is the first crossover SUV being developed by Dacia, the Romanian automaker which is a fully owned subsidiary of Renault since 1999. Duster SUV made its official appearance in the year 2009 and the SUV became available in the European market in March 2010. Duster is sold under Dacia badging in Europe,Algeria,Turkey, Morocco,Ukraine,Jordan, Syria, Egypt and Lebanon. 
 Despite being compact, the dimensions of Duster pose a challenge to any terrain contrary to the trend that SUVs are meant to be bulky. Built on Nissan B0 platform, Duster will have an overall length of 4.31 meters, just shorter than its big brother Renault Koleos, and a width of 1.82 meters. Considering its size and high ground clearance of 205 mm, Renault Duster is fit for city as well as the off roading and has the nature of a true 4x4 SUV.
 Renault Duster SUV  figure front throws rugged appearance coupled with the sturdy wheel arches. The front grille is clad in chrome. The side view in turn also enhances the SUV appearance of Renault Duster besides high ground clearance. Renault Dacia Duster is the world’s cheapest SUV. Dacia, a Romanian car maker happens to be a completely owned subsidiary of Renault. As per reports, Renault Duster was tested aggressively in almost all the terrains round the globe before it was first launched in 2010. Duster. Together, they will form the most youthful line-up on the Indian market. The suspension system as well as the underside has been strengthened to handle any road including off-road. The low weight of the new Renault SUV as well as its compact size makes it agile on any piece of land.

The interiors of Renault Duster are much inspired by Renault Logan. Though it is an SUV, it can seat only 5 passengers. All black-theme in the interiors take away the luxury quotient but renders a sporty look. The 3 spoke steering, which bears Renault’s logo, is electrically powered but can be a bit too heavy on turns. The dash is quite curvy and looks sporty. The AC vents on shiny brown central console and either sides of dashboard can be closed completely. The rear seat passengers can have individual AC vents outlined with shiny brown color for their comfort. The instrument console has large dials akin to SUV and is illuminated in red. A lot of interior equipments looks like borrowed from Logan. The same semi hooded instrument cluster cover with its chrome polished dials with a digital display in the center all comes from Logan. The gear lever is a bit stubborn like the steering. The glove box is quite big for storage.
 Renault Duster’s flat seats will surely be comfortable in Indian car with the usage of high quality materials having a premium touch to it. Even the material used on the door sills is up-market. The music system is integrated well in the central console and looks modish with its Bluetooth and aux input functions. Front seats are two electrically programmable but without memory functions. Power window switches for the rear passengers are most likely to be on comfortable door pads. The shiny brown door handles will be large to hold while turns and jerk.

Renault Duster India looks like a perfect off-roader in appearance. Duster is based on Logan platform and falls under D segment of cars. Renault Duster is designed to grapple all types of roads and tracks. Wide wings and a tall stature reveal its personality.  The roof rails, chrome wide grille, the skid plate, antenna, high ground clearance and the alloy wheels render it a much sporty look. The rugged exteriors of Duster are marked by three slat grille which ingrains a big Renault badge in the centre. Although the engine of this off-roader is not-so-powerful to actually do a serious off-roading, still it has been given claddings all around to protect the vehicle’s body from any and every angle. Renault Duster horizontal grille is held by a pair of double optics headlamps. Renault Duster is quite lengthy according to the trend of crossover SUVs and do not qualify the sub-4 meter excise levy. A sleek body color bumper in the front gives way to black plastic cladding which houses round fog lamps on either side. A nudge bar holds the number plate in its centre. The bonnet is all flat with no curves however some characters lines are visible. Tinted large windshield gives way to the high roof. The roof antenna is an example of aerodynamic design and helps reduce wind noise and turbulence.