Fiat mulling new sedan to replace Linea
Fiat is evaluating a replacement for the Linea, which is nearing the the end of its lifecycle.The possible options being considered are the production version of the Fiat Aegea concept that was unveiled in May 2015 at the Istanbul Motor Show or the Grand Sienna that the manufacturer currently sells in the Brazilian market.
The Aegea concept is yet to go on sale internationally as a production car (albeit under a different name) and Fiat has only developed the car for left-hand-drive markets. But to launch it in India, Fiat will have to invest in tooling for a right-hand-drive (RHD) version which will be hard to justify if India is the only market for the RHD car. The current Linea sells on average 171 units a month and these volumes are too low to amortise the costs of expensive tooling for a new RHD dashboard and other ancillaries.
The other option is the Grand Sienna. The car is essentially a heavily reworked derivative of the Linea developed for the Brazilian market. As with the Aegea concept, the Sienna is also a left-hand-drive and will go through the same steps to adapt it for right-hand-drive markets.
Fiat is set to significantly upgrade its model range sometime in 2018 with a family of new cars spun off an all-new platforms. The Aegea or Grand Siena hence may only be a stop gap arrangement till then.
New Ford Endeavour SUV tech explained
Ford is preparing to bring the new Endeavour to India early next year. The large body-on-frame SUV from the American carmaker will get the choice of a 2.2-litre 158bhp four-cylinder diesel or a larger 3.2-litre five-cylinder 197bhp diesel motor. The smaller unit can be mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox, while the larger unit gets the automatic unit as standard.
Here’s a look at the new Ford Endeavour’s on and off-road tech.
Terrain Management System
The most significant addition to the new Endeavour is the Terrain Management System, something commonly found in Land Rovers. The system offers a choice of four settings – Normal, Snow/Mud/Grass, Sand and Rock.
The Normal mode is best suited for everyday driving with the torque distributed 40:60 front to rear as standard. The system actively distributes torque between the front and rear to minimise wheel spin.
In the Snow/Mud/Grass mode, torque distribution is enhanced along with making the gearbox up-shift and down-shift early to maintain tractive force. The throttle response is also dulled, while the traction control system works to reduce wheel slip.
The Sand setting aims to maintain the SUV's momentum over sandy terrain. Under this setting, the four-wheel-drive system aggressively distributes torque between the front and rear wheels as well as allows the rear differential to be locked at high speeds. The gearbox holds gears for longer and downshifts early only during braking. The traction control system becomes more liberal and allows for some wheel slip to better maintain momentum. Under this setting, the throttle is quite sensitive and responds even to slight pedal movement.
The last setting is Rock. In this mode low-range is activated. The gearbox holds onto first gear and does not upshift. The traction control system works full-time to keep the wheels from slipping while the throttle sensitivity is reduced to allow for better control.
Active Park Assist
The new Endeavour gets a park-assist system that essentially parks the car for the driver into an open space. The SUV uses a series of sensors to scan for an open parking spot before taking control of the steering while the driver only uses the gearbox, accelerator and brakes as directed by the system.
Blind Spot Information system with Cross Traffic Alert
This system uses a series of sensors to monitor traffic approaching the new Endeavour from the driver’s blind spot and warns the driver accordingly. The system also functions in parking situations, if it identifies a vehicle approaching or parked in the driver’s blind spot.
Roll Stability Control
The Roll Stability Control system uses on-board gyroscopic sensors to monitor speed and body movement during fast cornering or sudden swerving to activate each brake individually. This stops the car from rollovers.
Once launched, the new Ford Endeavour will rival the likes of the Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and the upcoming Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV.
Global NCAP urges SIAM to adopt new safety standards
Following the enforcement of the ban on sub-1,500kg vehicles laid out by an interim order of the Gauhati High Court, the London-based crash-test safety agency, Global NCAP has come forward with the request for Indian automakers to adopt United Nations standards for front and side impact, from January 1, 2016.
In a letter to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), David Ward, the secretary general of Global NCAP, writes, “In the wake of the recent Assam Interim Court Order banning the sale of small four-wheelers that fail international crash tests, and ahead of the new occupant protection regulations being applied by the Indian Government from October 2017, Global NCAP respectfully encourages SIAM to take its own voluntary initiative on car safety.”
The letter further went on to cite several examples of voluntary initiatives by European manufacturers to enforce road safety, to motivate Indian automakers to follow suit.
Ward commented that, in terms of safety, the Indian automotive industry is where Europe was 20 years ago. He also said that Indian automakers could easily match global standards since many major domestic and international car companies in India are already producing vehicles that meet international safety standards for global exports.
Ferrari India re-launch scheduled for August 26
Ferrari’s return to India is set to officially take place on August 26. The legendary sportscar maker will reveal the California T which, at Rs 3.3 crore (ex-showroom, Mumbai), will be the most affordable Ferrari an enthusiast can own. The Ferrari California T is a GT convertible model, and the name is a throwback to the fabled Ferrari California models of the 1950s and 60s. It is powered by a 552bhp 3.9-litre bi-turbo V8 engine, and gets a feature called variable boost management, which delivers varying torque levels in different gears (increased torque at higher gears).
The tech gives a sense of continuous rising acceleration as is typical of Ferraris, and eliminates turbo lag to a great extent.
Two new Ferrari dealerships – one in Mumbai and the other in Delhi – are currently being set up, while bookings are already open. In fact, reports suggest that the limited quota of the models for this year are already sold out, and the brand is now accepting bookings for 2016.
Alongside the California T, Ferrari will retail its entire line-up in India, barring the LaFerrari hypercar. Sitting at the top of the range is the F-12 Berlinetta, at Rs 4.72 crores. The prices for all the Ferrari models are just base asking rates, and the final amount is likely to vary depending on accessories and options chosen.
