Nissan introducing wireless charging for its electric cars
Electric cars are normally charged with a plug in charger, but Nissan has shown its distinctive innovative technology by doing away with the plug in charger. The auto maker is going in for wireless charging for its new electric cars.
The electric cars will be charged through inductive charging which will use electromagnetic fields and coils which can interact without actual contact. This technology is being used in electric toothbrushes and artificial hearts, but Nissan has successfully upgraded it to charge electric vehicles.
The fact that a ZEV can be charged in a specially designed parking spot without the need for wires will be a boon for car owners. However, one thing to be said for this system is that it is not as efficient as wired charging. At the same time it does make the car easier to charge, so there are both positives and negatives to this technology.
[Via: globalmotors]
New Shades & Graphics Introduced For Yamaha R15
Yamaha have spruced up the looks of R15 with introduction of new colors and body graphics. This new makeover adds a punch to the sporty looks of the bike. R15 is now available in four new colors namely "Impact Yellow", "Midnight black", "Sunset Red" and "Racing Blue."
Apart from the new Yellow shade, the tone of the red color has also been changed and is different from the previous red color. Similarly there is a slight difference between the black and blue colors from their previous variants. The red colored bike now also has the side flaps of the same color. The previous version had the black side flaps. The Yellow color has white colored side flaps and the paint quality is very good on it.
There is a new design on the side flaps which extends to the tank of the bike. There is a new R15 sticker above the left headlamp. Yamaha has also provided the rim stripe tape in the Yellow, red and black bikes. The ex-showroom price New R15 is around Rs 2,000 higher than the previous version which comes to around 99500.00.
Toyota planning another hybrid car for the UK market
Toyota's Auris hatchback is going in for a facelift and will also be released as a hybrid in 2012, according to sources. The car will use the same hybrid drive train as the Prius but will be cheaper. By 2012, the Prius, too, will be available as a petrol-electric and a plug-in hybrid.
The hybrid version of the Auris hatchback will be built at Toyota's UK plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire from 2012. It will be the first hybrid to be completely assembled in Europe with its the engines, battery assemblies, motors and electronics to be imported directly from Japan.
Prices for the Prius currently start at £18,390 ($29,900/€21,400) and it is likely that the Auris hybrid will be starting at around £15,000 ($24,400/€17,400).
[Via: globalmotors]
Toyota’s deal with Aston Martin
For the first time ever, Toyota has agreed to build and supply a car to an outside car maker. Toyota will be making the car for Aston Martin. Called the Cygnet, the car will be ultra small and though based on the IQ model will be substantially different.
The car will be sold in Europe and details like launch date, price and number of cars have yet to be decided. Aston Martin is known for its premium sports cars which have been made famous thanks to the James Bond movies.
[Via: globalmotors]
Hyundai India incurs losses for the first time
According to reports in the media, Hyundai Motor India suffered a loss last year - the first such occurrence in its 10-year existence - and continued to make a loss during the first quarter of CY 2009. According to HMIL, the losses are due to higher input costs and currency fluctuations, with the Indian Rupee dropping by 11.5% against the Korean Won during 2008.
Though Hyundai India's profits have not, supposedly, declined on the operating level, the company posted a loss on the non-operating level due to the weakening Indian Rupee. HMIL is said to have lost Rs 55.9 crore in India during 2008, when the Indian Rupee went down from 22.6 to 25.2 against the Korean Won.
This made it more expensive for HMIL to import components from Korea. However, analysts believe that the worst is over for HMIL and that the company will return to profitability during the second half of this year.
[Via: indiaautomotive]
Yamaha introduces racing kit parts to Indian customers
Yamaha has launched a range of exclusive racing kit parts by for its customers. Built by Yamaha Engineering Corporation and specialist firm, Daytona in Japan, these parts are exclusively for racing purpose in a closed circuit only.
The parts include race ECU, high lift cams, full exhaust system, special alloy sprockets, adjustable back steps and braking parts like big diameter petal disc brakes, master cylinder, and stainless steel hose. These parts will be available to customers by September this year."
Mr. Sanjay Tripathi, Division Head Product Planning & Brand Management, India Yamaha Motor said, "Racing kit parts are developed using valuable experience gained from Moto GP & World Superbike racing and Yamaha wants to provide its customers in India with the same thrill and feeling of racing instinct. Also with the launch of these kit parts we want to encourage safe racing culture in India.
[Via: autocarindia]
Hyundai Elantra: 1-millionth car destined for African market
Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea's largest automaker, reached the milestone of one million exports to Africa. With the latest shipment of Elantra models bound for Egypt at the Ulsan port, Hyundai's total exports to Africa reached one million units. Hyundai achieved this feat in 33 years following the first export of 26 Pony units, its first own model, to Liberia in 1976.
It took Hyundai 29 years to pass the 500,000 export milestone, reached in 2005. However, Hyundai realized the second half million in just 4 years, testament to Hyundai's rapid growth in Africa.
Major importing countries in the region that contributed to the record sales include Egypt, South Africa, Algeria, Morocco and Nigeria. In Egypt especially, Hyundai sold 53,153 units and proudly sits as the No.1 brand (26.4% market share). Meanwhile, to strengthen its marketing potential in the region, Hyundai opened its Africa Regional Office in Cairo, Egypt in November 2008.
[Via: Hyundai]
New M-Sport kit for BMW 7-Series
Photos of New M-Sport kit for BMW 7-Series....
[Via: Paultan]
Toyota reports record sales of the Prius
When Toyota launched its new generation Prius, the hybrid car, it had an expected sales target of 10,000. But Toyota far exceeded its own expectations because it had a whopping order book of 180,000 vehicles instead! It seems like the Japanese are scrambling for a piece of the action.
Prius has now become the top selling car in Japan, toppling the Insight, Honda's hybrid vehicle and its nearest competitor. While the Insight is selling for $19,700, the new Prius is priced at $20,900, but it gives better mileage than Prius's previous model.
The government in Japan is also offering incentives to buyers of new hybrids in the form of making them tax free. Similar to the US's cash for clunkers scheme, in Japan a person trading in a model which is 13 years or older, gets a rebate of $2,500; without a trade he still gets $1,000 off.
Strangely enough the older model of Prius is also being sold and is doing very well. Hybrid car sales have picked up in Japan and elsewhere. In the US the car has still to arrive in larger numbers and so it sold only 700 pieces last month, though the older model still managed to notch up a figure of 10,091.
Overall, Japan's auto sales figures have gone down, registering a 24 percent drop when compared to last year's figures.
[Via: wheelsnews]
2010 Ford Taurus – incentives for early orders
The 2010 Ford Taurus is going to go on sale in September and if you book your car early, you can get discounts ranging from $500 to $1000. The incentive is to lure buyers to pay now (or at least book now) and then wait for the car till the beginning of September.
Ford is particularly targeting fleet owners with these incentives, because every little bit helps in sluggish markets. While Ford would be happy to notch up sales comparable to last year's figures, it does not want to congest the market, so it hopes to keep sales for rentals in lower figures. The new model is an improvement on the previous one, and hopefully the company will be able to meet its sales targets.