Rigorous testing

Ford recently provided a fascinating insight into the levels that they go to ensure that any new vehicle that they release for sale is as safe as possible and performs to the very highest standards even when under extreme testing conditions. The Ford Transit Custom is no exception to this sometimes torturous process and the end result is a highly durable commercial vehicle that will keep you on the road and able to deliver on your promises to customers.

Tough love

The process that Ford go through in order to produce a vehicle that meets the highest standards in every aspect possible, is described by Ford themselves as very much “like tough love”. The development programme that they subjected the one-tonne Transit Custom van to lasted six months but was designed to be the equivalent of ten punishing years of ownership. The simulation process aims to check the quality, strength, durability and longevity of all of the vehicle’s components, which Ford themselves described as a “torture test”.

Miles on the clock

The testing process meant that the van covered the equivalent of three million miles and they used more than 150 professional test drivers, custom fleet drivers and a number of trained engineers who all did their best to break the spirit of this road warrior, but pleasingly for Ford, failed to do so.

One previous owner

You would certainly not buy any of the vans that they used for testing, when you consider the amount of miles they covered and also for instance, the temperatures they were subjected to with the aim of inflicting the worst possible treatment a van could endure. The Transit was subjected to corrosive salt, mud baths and temperatures ranging from extreme cold of -40 degrees centigrade up to +40 degrees centigrade at the other end of the scale. Thankfully, buyers of the Ford Transit Custom will be getting a vehicle that has benefitted from all of these tests rather than one that has been through them personal so to speak.

Load testing

An important aspect of a commercial vehicle like the Transit is its ability to handle heavy loads and operate under duress. Ford subjected the vehicle to a punishing schedule under various difficult conditions that were the equivalent of 10 years of vehicle usage compacted into just 30 days of extreme testing. At the end of all these various tests, Ford made over 100 significant improvements and changes to the vehicle before finally releasing the finished version for sale.

NCAP Rating

The Ford Transit Custom scored an 84% rating for adult occupant safety and in particular praised the van’s stable passenger compartment during the frontal impact test. Euro NCAP also awarded maximum points for its side barrier tests and overall it passed with flying colours and a five star rating. If you are looking to pick up a Transit, it is best to check out companies that specialise in this vehicle such as The Car People.

When you pick up your Transit Custom and set to work, you will do so safe in the knowledge that the model you are driving has certainly been put through its paces before you got behind the wheel.

]]> http://www.incarz.com/2013/car-news/transit-custom-tough-love-torturous-testing-earns-ford-a-five-star-safety-rating/feed/ 0 http://www.incarz.com/2013/car-guide/how-to-check-your-audi-tyres-before-a-road-trip/ http://www.incarz.com/2013/car-guide/how-to-check-your-audi-tyres-before-a-road-trip/#comments Mon, 06 May 2013 05:24:50 +0000 InCarz http://www.incarz.com/?p=5808 If you are planning to take the family on a road trip this year, their safety should be your number one priority. In order to keep them safe, it is crucial that your car be at its best to avoid any mechanical failures on the road. Fortunately, to help you avoid potential disaster, here are 4 tips on how to check your tyres before a road trip:

1. Check the air pressure.

Even during normal use, it is crucial that each tyre has the correct tyre pressure to keep everyone safe. However, while travelling, you must take into account the added weight of passengers, luggage, pets, and bikes. When carrying a heavy load, you may need to inflate your tyres at a higher pressure to remain safe, although you will need to check your manual for the full details.

Before packing the boot of your vehicle, it is important to check that your spare tyre is in good working condition in case you should need it. Not only should the spare tyre be in working order, but you should also check that all of the equipment to change your tyres is present and in working order as well.

 2. Inspect the tread.

Once you have checked the air pressure for your tyres, you need to check the condition of the tread. If there is anything embedded in the tread, you will carefully need to remove it and have any holes fixed. If any bulges, lumps, or cuts are found, you must contact a qualified professional immediately for repairs before driving.

You also have to ensure that the tread depth meets the legal requirements for cars, such as an Audi, which is 1.6mm along the central three quarters of the tyre in the U.K. In order to pass, the required depth must also be around the entire circumference of the tyre. If the tread is worn down far enough that you can see the wear bars (raised bars of rubber in the groove), it is time to immediately buy new tyres.

 3. Check the rotation.

When travelling with extra weight, it is important to check your tyres beforehand to ensure that any wear and tear is being distributed more evenly. To help extend the life of your tyres, it is recommended to have them rotated every 5,000 miles. However, if your vehicle has specific tyre requirements, such as different tyre pressures for both the front and back tyres, you will need to refer to your manual.

 4. Check the alignment.

If you hit a bad pothole while travelling, the jolt can potentially cause the front of your car to fall out of alignment. When the car is out of alignment, your tyres can also become damaged. However, you can easily avoid further damage by having your car’s alignment checked regularly by qualified professionals.

By taking just a few minutes to inspect your vehicle, you can reduce the risk of experiencing a tyre blowout that will definitely put a dent in your holiday plans.

Affordability

Affordability is the key to the rise of this segment of cars. Most of the mid and small segment cars by most companies are cost-effective. In fact, there is a rising competition to not only offer more varieties to the demanding consumer but to keep the financials and the profitability of the car companies in mind by offering and supplying more of the necessitated product. Pricing offers itself as the best edge to secure a market in a developing country where transport and vehicle demands are evolving.

Demand of Cars

With the rising fuel costs and the increasing cost of the public and private travel on roads throughout the country, it is most cost-effective to get a small car that one can drive around. An owned car works out to be much cheaper and affordable especially when the cost and government taxes on fuel are still expected to rise. Thus, even second hand cars are securing a sound market owing to the expense factor. This economy car segment offers more mileage as well as lesser risks against the lack of insurance.

The Diverse Demand

Earlier the demand of cars was restricted to the men. Now, the demand covers men, women and other teenagers. Even amongst the segment of teenagers, young girls desire to own small cars for daily travel to college and work. Older women too have changed their ideas and evolved to become car drivers. This new added segment of car drivers uses cars for basic small utility and daily chores. Thus, car companies desire to utilise the same requirement and cater to the demand.

Expanding Middle Class

Cars are no more a luxury good. The rise of the vast middle class section of the population coupled with their rising incomes makes the increase in the demand for these cars an inevitable factor. What makes these cars even more attractive is the rising income of the middle class. The teeming millions in the country are now marching towards owning cars. Thus, car manufacturing units see no end to the demand of the said segment of cars amidst the affordability unseen earlier.

Thus, there is no doubt about why and how the rise of the mid and small segment of cars is on a rise. The demand is yet to increase and is not expected to fall. Amongst, the expected forecasts of rising demand the car manufacturers are in the process of adding in more luxurious but cost effective choices to suit the desires to purchase cars.

The first tip is to hit on a reputed store only since the well recognized stores assure of a quality shopping experience. Make sure that store you are going for stocks for high quality auto parts only sourced from top notch manufacturers. Your car is one of your most precious treasures and any compromise on the quality of car parts could mean huge damage for your valued asset. Then, your chosen store must be equipped with a versatile range of extensive car parts like the interior accessories, exterior accessories, performance parts, wheels, tires, automotive lighting and repair parts for every model and make of cars.

Always go for the stores that ensures price match guarantee. In this case if you a car part with lower rate than that featured on the site from another store online, your selected store would match up the price. Besides, there should be the promise of secured and fast shipping with refund and exchange options. You can opt to buy auto accessories or repair parts at CARiD.com since its one of the most eminent car part stores online noted for its super quality parts for all vehicles with price match guarantee.

There is a huge checklist of do’s and don’ts before buying a used car in Delhi. We are going to discuss a few major points here. The main point to be noted before buying a used car is checking upon the owner of the car. A car which is used by a driver or as a taxi should not be in the preference list. Instead one should look for a car which has been driven by a lady or a doctor or a teacher or some senior citizen. Owners tend to be more attached to their cars than dealerships. To them, they’re not just selling a product, they’re selling a memory. These sorts of owners can be difficult to work with. They’ll bust your balls in negotiation over a piece of crap Buick simply because it was their grandfather’s beloved car, and they hate to see it get in the hands of the “wrong person.” Before you make an offer, you need to inspect it to ensure you’re not buying a lemon. This is especially important if you’re buying directly from the owner. Your best bet is to take the car to a mechanic you trust and let him look it over for any defects. If you don’t have a mechanic handy, here’s how you can inspect a used car. Another point to see before you buy a used car in Delhi is to check under the car for rust or oil or water leakage. A car with rusted parts should never be bought.

When dealing with a dealer, the simple rule is that you came here to make a business transaction, exchange your money for a car; you want a car, dealer wants your money. You don’t have to become friends with a salesperson, neither do you have to get angry or argue. Leave unnecessary emotions or empty talks aside and look at it as a pure business transaction; concentrate on facts and details. Just because a salesperson is nice to you, doesn’t mean you should let your guards down when discussing the details; in the end, if you can reach a fair deal, both sides will be happy. Dealers know how to use different sales strategies, and if you visit a few dealers, you might even hear the same sales pitches and stories. Emotion is a big part of the sales process.

So before buying a used old car, make sure to spare a thought to all the details before buying and handing over your hard earned money to the seller.

Mercedes has offered various marvels to the auto lovers and now they have rocked the minds of car lovers with their latest launch of A 45. The new Mercedes Benz A45 AMG was just revealed in the market with spectacular features and functions. It is the model with hot feature of hot hatch with 355bhp which is said to be the most efficient and powerful hot hatch production ever by the company. This model is specially designed to attract the younger generation towards the brand of Mercedes and AMG.

By creating this kind of dynamic car model, the company is directly into the competition with BMW and Next Gen Audi RS3. Both these cars are quite popular in the teen age buyers and to capture this age group, this model could be the best possible weapon.

Normally, the company has got reputation of creating larger cars with the leading models of C Class which is described as the “bread and butter car” of the company. Among different stuffs that have been considered heavily by the makers, the pricing is the leading one. This technically classy model will be cheaper than the C63 model which is sold at £58,000 in the European markets. The base price of A45 AMG is decided as £36,000 which is quite economical and affordable to these class car lovers. All the rival car models are quite near by to the rates of this splendid splendor of Mercedes AMG.

The inside story of this model is heroic and exciting. It has been created by using a four cylinder engine which is never ever used by the AMG built cars. The salient features of the cars are:

* 1991cc turbocharged petrol car

* Highest specific output of any 2.0 liter engine

* Developing 355bhp at 6000rpm and 45.9kgm from 2750rpm to 5000rpm.

* A bespoke car with all aluminum engine

* An inimitable sand-cast clock with larger twin scroll turbo

* Hand built engine with the formula of “one man, one engine”.

All of these features become more meaningful with the figures of speed acceleration which is 100kph in just 4.6 second and top speed of 250kph. The technicians also have considered the environmental issue and therefore the model claims of discharging 12kpl and 161g/km of CO2 which could be considered as a fantastic feature for the nature safety. This feature is dedicated to the standard stop-start and alternator disconnect. The high cylinder engine and advanced spray direct injections are the two core issues of the car.

The A45 AMG is a four-wheel drive car. The car is powered by 4 Matic Drivetrain. Another eye catchy feature of the car is the latest seven speed dual clutch automatic gearbox. The combination of gearbox and four wheel drive car is also quite unique and special for the company. Three modes of transmissions are proffered by the car namely Controlled Efficiency, Sport and Manual. Braking system is quite powerful with the drilled depth of 350mm by 32mm discs at the front and 330mm by 22mm at the back.

So, the features and functions of New Mercedes A45 AMG are good enough to make any car lover crazy. Have you?

This Jeep model will be developed by Fiat Chrysler alliance that has been formed recently to capture the entire segment and specially to cover Indian market more dominantly. The latest model will be displayed for the first time in theNew Yorkmotor Show in the coming March. After launching this model, Jeep will discontinue with their last model ofLiberty. This announcement was made by the company to make the people aware about their future strategies.

This model is prepared by keeping almost all the big markets of the world. The company has larger business inEuropewhere the competition in B segment SUV is quite stiff. Here, the latest model of Grand Cherokee Jeep will beat the heat of Honda CR-V and Nissan X Trail. These both models are having huge business response in this part of the world. It will be real challenge for the Jeep model to compete them. After New York Motor Show, the product will be launched in grand manner in the Indian markets. It will be positioned below the Wrangler Jeep and Grand Cherokee.

According to the company, this would be the best SUV buying for the SUV lovers inIndiaas there is no model even near to this quality in this segment.Indiais a developing nation and therefore this qualitative manufacturing by Fiat and Jeep will wash out all the lower quality models. The Dodge Chrysler Jeep also is quite popular in few countries but this model will probably break all the records of sales as per the expectation of the company.

This model is a version of Fiat’s Compact Wide platform. In this technological revolution format, the company is targeting t create the models that covers lesser area and still offer wider covering for the insiders. It is having four wheel drive system.  V6 engine and diesel both the versions are available for the Indian market as both of the engines are quite popular in the Indian Auto lovers. Also the company is planning to launch Petrol V6model especially for the Indian auto lovers and it will be attached with the 3.2 liter version. Nine speed automatic gear box is one of the most special parts of this latest jeep model.

So, just wait and watch for the best possible alternate for B segment SUV of Jeep. If you are inIndia, you will surely get something special for the waiting period!!

May 1, June: The auto maker Porsche celebrated the 60th anniversary of the first two Porsche Clubs in the world by launching a special limited edition of its 911 Club Coupe. Porsche will be producing only 13 limited edition cars and will sell 12 out of them keeping one for the Porsche museum.

The first Porsche Clubs was founded by seven gentlemen in Westphalia, Germany in 1952 and the second was started by six persons few months later. The car maker decided to honour the 13 gentlemen by launching 13 exclusive limited edition of Porsche 911 Club Coupe. Today, the company has 640 Porsche Clubs in 75 countries with 181,000 members.

Limited edition coupe is designed based on the 911 Carrera S Coupe. Painted in classic ‘Brewster Green’ exterior colour, the car boasts high gloss trim strips and flaunts ‘911 Club Coupe’ lettering on the doors. The car comes with the Porsche’s standard Sport Design Package featuring chin spoiler up front and classic ‘duck tail’ spoiler at the rear to make the car look distinctive.

On entering inside the coupe, the same distinctiveness and exclusivity is maintained. Interior of the car features full natural leather in Espresso with stitching in Luxor Beige, air vents, louvers, seat backrest of the Sports Seats Plus and great attention to detail.

Under the hood, the Carrera S 6-cylinder naturally-aspirated boxer engine with direct injection powers the coupe to generate output of 430 horsepower, which is 30 hp more than regular Carrera S Coupe. This new drivetrain has a modified cylinder heads and camshafts along with the newly developed variable resonance-type intake system incorporated with switchable flaps to produce more power. Coupe is equipped with a sports exhaust system bearing two dual tailpipes. New tweaked engine with carbon fibre inserts when mated to Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch gearbox can sprint from zero to 100 kmph within 4 seconds.

Exclusive 911 Club Coupe is incorporated with the Porsche Active Suspension Management system having electronically controlled damping and two manually controllable electronic maps. The car with great suspension system has the ability to lower the suspension by 20 mm. With the wide 245/35 ZR-rated tyres at the front and 305/30 ZR-rated tyres at the rear on 20-inch wheels, the car offers plenty of grip and implanted ride while cornering as well.

This coupe features a personalized laser engraving – ‘911 Club Coupe- personally built for’ and the name of the client making it more exclusive. Well, this exclusivity is necessary considering that only 12 of these coupes will be sold to the public.

May 30, 2012: The German carmaker BMW will launch its 2013 6 Series Gran Coupe in the UK market in the coming month. The company will launch three variants of the 6 Series namely BMW 650i, BMW 640i and BMW 640d. The entry level BMW 640i will bear a price tag of £61,390, while top variant BMW 650i will be made available for £70,650. On the other hand, the diesel variant BMW 640d will be priced at £63,900.

Powered by a new 4.4-litre twin turbo V-8 six-cylinder engine, the top variant 2013 BMW 650i is capable of churning out maximum power of 450 hp and peak torque of 650 Nm. The entry level BMW 640i is powered by a 3.0-litre twin turbocharged 6-cylinder drivetrain, which produced 320 bhp of power and decent torque of 450 Nm. Powered by a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder powertrain, the diesel variant 2013 BMW 640d Gran Coupe generates maximum output of 313 hp and 630 Nm of peak torque.

Engines of all the tree models are mated to 8-speed automatic transmission. BMW 650i offers decent mileage of 31.7 miles per gallon and emits 206 gms/km of CO2, while the BMW 640i delivers good mileage of 35.8 miles per gallon and emits 181 gms/km of CO2. The diesel coupe BMW 640d offers better mileage of 49.6 miles per gallons compared to its petrol counter parts and emits 148 gms/km of CO2.

The new BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe will come equipped with Dakota leather upholstery, rear and front parking assistance, climate control, steering adjustments, keyless entry, heated front seats and 10.2 inches high quality resolution display with BMW Professional Navigation. The BMW 640i and 640d will sport 18 inches alloy rims, while the top variant BMW 650i will feature 19 inches alloy rims.
In addition to this, the company will also offer an M Sport variant featuring 19 inches lightweight M alloys, aero kit, sport seats, black brake calliper, elegant tailpipes and sporty interiors along with many other standard features.

May 29, 2012: Mahindra and Mahindra has made an announcement of opening the booking for its sports utility vehicle XUV500 for the third time from June 8, 2012. Unlike second phase when the bookings were only open to 19 cities, the SUV maker will be opening the booking for the XUV500 across all the dealerships in India. Moreover, the auto maker will also raise the production capacity to 4,000 units every month in order to cope up with the bookings.

The Chief Executive of Automotive Division at Mahindra and Mahindra, Mr. Pravin Shah said that the journey for the XUV500 has been remarkable and the company is pleased to open reservation for the vehicle at national level covering all the dealerships across India. “We have been inundated with request for re-opening of booking not just from existing cities but also from cities where the XUV500 was not available. Now that we have ramped-up our production capacity significantly, we are confident that we will be able to take care of the growing all-India demand of the vehicle,” he added.

XUV500 has been receiving overwhelming response since its launch in September 2011. The company had received over 25,000 booking during the second phase of bookings and out of them only 7,200 were lucky enough to get the XUV500 from the showrooms.

With the 2.2-litre mHawk common rail diesel engine capable of delivering output of 140 PS, the XUV is the first transverse layout, front-wheel-drive vehicle from Mahindra. The vehicle has been developed by the maker after a research for four years with feedbacks from customers globally. XUV500 has also received various accolades including the prestigious Car of the year by the automotive industry experts in the country.