BMW
unveils its spanking-new hot-rod: The 7 Series
BMW has unveiled the latest from its stable of hot-rods–the 7 Series. Unveiled
at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year, the 7 Series combines revolutionary
solutions with state-of-the-art technology. It presents cars equipped with
8-cylinder power units and a unique range of functions. At the same time,
control elements have been drastically reduced in this Series, thus providing a
sensational driving experience. The new BMW 7 Series sets new trends in the area
of luxury performance motoring. Featuring progressive design language, an
innovative control concept, and a wide range of highlights in technology, this
outstanding car sets a new benchmark in its balance of performance, dynamism,
safety, luxurious comfort and all-round economy.
The new 7 Series will again be available in two versions with the
"standard" and extended wheelbase, both of which are to be admired at
the 2001 Frankfurt Motor Show. The extra length of 140 millimeters or 5.5"
in the Li version serves exclusively to give the rear-seat passengers more
space. This extra comfort comes with an even more comfortable, upgraded range of
interior features comprising, as just one example, pneumatic suspension on the
rear wheels coming as standard. iDrive in the BMW 7 Series is a new,
trendsetting concept of advanced driver orientation and motoring: On the one
hand, the new BMW 7 Series offers a unique range of functions and control
options; on the other hand, the number of controls and instruments is
dramatically reduced to a minimum in a clear-cut process of reorientation.
Taking this consistent step into the future, BMW determined, for example, that
the conventional shift lever in the middle of the front console or the
conventional ignition key are technologically obsolete.
Allison
Automatic: Adding zip value to heavy vehicles too
Allison and Hindustan Motors Power Products Division (HMPPD) manufacture of
automatic/ power shift transmissions. These transmissions are used in the
off-highway segment such as earth moving, material handling, railway, and oil
field equipment. They have been working on the on-highway segment in India and
have been successful in seeding the concept in market segments where the need
for automatics is felt most. These are city bus, airport tarmac, air catering,
and terminal tractors for ports. The Alliance is also working in more segments
such as Luxury buses, Multi-axle Tippers, Concrete Mixers, Crash Fire Trucks,
School buses, etc. The advantages of using automatics in these segments include,
lower lifecycle cost, higher productivity, lower maintenance, higher
reliability, higher safety, more passenger and driver comfort due to smoother
shift, better acceleration, longer life of power train components, etc.
In developed countries, Allison automatics are predominantly used as a
standard feature, in these segments. HMPPD and Allison provide total solution to
the customer for each application. The Alliance is committed to offering the
Allison range of products at an affordable price, with increase in volumes.
An
Indica with a boot? Nah! This is pure, purring magic...
Tata Engineering has made its entry into the mid-size passenger car segment with
the unveiling of the Tata Sedan. Showcased in both diesel and opetrol options,
the new sedan has been conceptualized and designed by Tata Engineering’s
in-house Engineering Research Center, along with IDEA of Italy.
While a 60-bhp, 1.4-liter, high torque (125 Nm at 3000 rmp) engine powers the
diesel version, the 1.4-liter petrol engine offers a peppy 85-bhp output and 110
Nm of torque through its electronic fuel management system. The Tata Sedan
carries over the class leading features of the Tata Indica and will be amongst
the most spacious of the entry-level mid-size sedans. The new suspension and
larger wheels aim to deliver new benchmarks in ride, handling and braking. Rear
seat comfort is further enhanced with a wider wheelbase and improved ergonomics.
The clear headlamps and bejeweled tail lamps lend a distinctive, contemporary
look to the car.
Tata Engineering had announced its aggressive plans for the passenger car
business four years ago, at the unveiling of the Indica. Over time the Company
has emerged as a dominant player in the B segment car market characterized by
intense domestic competition and the presence of global majors.
In September 2001, within two-and-a-half years of the car being on the road,
the Indica became the highest selling car in its segment and has remained so in
the last quarter of calendar 2001.
The
DC super bus: A surefire runner for the longest Lexus prize
DC Design currently has a fully integrated manufacturing facility for bus
bodies at Silvassa, Gujarat and has a current capacity of ten bus bodies a
month. The company plans to double its manufacturing capacity by mid 2002. The
company currently has an 8% marketshare, which it plans to increase to 20% in
the next two years. While South India has been traditionally a strong market for
the buses, the company is planning to aggressively seek other markets in the
country. The main target consumers are tour-bus operators, luxury hotels,
resorts, intercity fleet operators, and corporates.
The "Lextran Orion" has been designed at the state-of-art design
center, which is manned by a team of trained design engineers and incorporates
the latest design technology using Computer Aided Styling and CAD facilities.
The bus has been designed using the latest technology and best software such as
Alias/ Catia, Opticore and IDEAS. The components of Orion have been developed
through in-house digitizing and Class A surfacing, which gives it a surface
finish comparable to that of a passenger car. The bus has a steel tubular body
with aluminum skin construction.
It uses matted 2K paint systems as a standard application and has proprietary
lighting systems, developed in-house, which are highly detailed, complex and
futuristic. The bus has large panoramic winding glazing to give extended view to
the passengers with a feeling of spaciousness, integrated, flushed and fold out
footsteps at front fascia, proprietary grab handles and locking systems for
doors, body contoured head and tail lamps and chrome accents. It is equipped
with large breathing grill fascia and has one large single-piece windscreen. The
bus has doors with attributed ventilation assent. DC has managed to extract the
best from its partners, the suppliers for key components of air-conditioning,
painting, seating and suspension.