Safety Car

Archive for March, 2011

This article contains brief notes on the new cars launched in India. The car reviews of these new cars provide an insight into the actual selves of the newcomers.

BMW X3: With a sports car performance, this convertible is just right for daily drives. The 4.0L 8-cylinder engine gives an excellent power output of 420 bhp.

BMW M6 Series Convertible: Except for the retractable top, the convertible is very similar to the M6 coupe. It comes with a 7-speed manual gearbox, and the 5-litre petrol engine generates 500.

Jaguar XKR Convertible: This is an all-aluminum built convertible with a powerful 5-litre engine giving out 503 bhp. It can zoom from 0-100 km/hr in just 4.8 seconds. It comes with advanced features including the SmartKey keyless entry system.

Audi R8: This dynamic sports car has a 4.2L engine offering 420 bhp. The light weight and the car’s all-wheel drive system add to its performance.

Audi TT Coupe: The car’s 3.2-litre V6 petrol engine can churn out 250 bhp. Climate and cruise control are standard with LCD option. The car is also equipped with plenty of safety features like ABS and an engine immobilizer.

BMW M3: The stylish luxury car is powered by a 4.0L V8 engine.

BMW M Series Coupe: The 5-litre V10 petrol engine churns out 500 bhp. The elegantly designed car has a 7-speed sequential manual gearbox that allows smooth shifting of gears.

Jaguar XKR Coupe: The car flaunts a sleek all-aluminum body and has a 5.0-litre V8 engine that delivers 503 bhp.

Nissan 370Z: It comes in 2 variants. The Touring Coupe MT and Touring Coupe AT are mated to 6-speed manual and 7-speed automatic transmission respectively. The car has a macho look and features an array of safety features.

Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe: The 6.75-litre V-12 engine delivers 453 bhp. The car has a fine blend of performance and style.

Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe: With a whole lot of safety features, the car is agile, versatile and a high performer. It comes with a 6.75-litre V-12 engine.

Mahindra Xylo: The 2.49-litre mEagle CRDe engine delivers 112 bhp. The four variants come in a range of elegant shades.

Maruti Suzuki Eeco: The car is roomy and priced just right. Seven people can comfortably fit in the 7STR STD variant.

Chevrolet Tavera Neo-2: The performance and dazzling looks of the car are awe inspiring.

Toyota Innova CNG: The dual-fuel MUV has a 12-kg CNG tank. The car is eco-friendly and fuel efficient.

Tata Xenon XT: The powerful car has a 2.2-litre DICOR diesel engine mated to the Variable Turbine Technology. The electrical shift-on-the-fly mechanism and the limited slip differential that helps improve stability are simply great.

BMW Z4: The car with a 3-litre six-cylinder petrol engine with a newly developed 7-speed sports automatic transmission offers matchless experience on the road.

Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class: This is the first roadster on the Indian road. It has a 3.5-litre V6 engine that gives 272 bhp. The car has real aggressive looks.

Chevrolet Cruze: A 2.0L VCDi I4 diesel engine with 5-speed manual transmission gives the car excellent power of 148 bhp.

Mercedes Benz E Class: Style, performance, luxury and performance; you get it all in this car. The 3.5-litre V-6 petrol engine delivers 268 bhp at 6000rpm.

New Audi A6: The car comes with a revolutionary design and modern features. It is a stylish car with a spacious cabin.

New Nissan Teana: The car has come back after the facelift. Its powerful 2.5-litre engine can deliver great power of 185 bhp.

Porsche Panamera: The sedan has the Cayenne SUV engine. It comes with modern features like a high-end surround sound system and Porsche ceramic composite brake.

Ford Figo: A small car that’s quite spacious and offers ultimate safety and the cool car is fit for the Indian youth.

Honda Jazz: The 9 bhp 1.2-litre SOHC 4 cylinder i-VTEC engine of this car has been specially designed for the Indian road. The interiors are spacious with the “Magic Seat” configuration.

Volkswagen Polo: The flashy comes in three petrol and diesel variants; Highline, Comfortline and Trendline. All variants come fully equipped with advanced safety features.

Ford Endeavor: The facelifted model with the contemporary look comes in two excellent variants. It has the perfect combination of distinctive looks and great features making it the ideal SUV.

If you’re shopping for a new car, safety features should be on the top of your list of vehicle requirements. Driving can be dangerous. Whether it’s risky driving conditions, the threat of drunk drivers or pure accidents having a car with safety features adds an extra insurance or safeguard against any road or driving mishaps. And as technologies advance and improve, so too do safety features. Whether you’re buying a new Peugeot or a used Honda safety features should always be considered. Here are some of the latest car safety technologies around that go beyond standard seat belts and air bags.

Tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) – Cars installed with TPMS will have a warning light on the dashboard that lights up when tires become significantly under inflated so that blow outs can be avoided. All cars manufactured after September 2007 have TPMS. If you’d like TPMS in your vehicle and are shopping around for a used Landrover, then look for models made in 2007 and onwards.

Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) – ABS prevents the wheels of a car from locking during panicked or emergency breaking. It allows the driver to slow down in a more controlled manner and have a better chance of avoiding an accident.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) – If you oversteer or over correct your steering wheel while driving, ESC prevents the car from spinning out by applying a braking force to one or more wheels as needed.

Adaptive cruise control/collision mitigation - Going beyond traditional cruise control speed maintenance, adaptive cruise control uses sensors and radars to adjust the speed of a car to keep it a safe distance from the car in front, should traffic slow or someone cut in. Once a safe distance has been re-established, the original speed will be picked up without the drivers input.

Dynamic Head Restraints. Headrests can be crucial in preventing whiplash and head injuries in the event of someone driving up the back of you. Dynamic head restraints take it one step further, with new head restraints being designed to deploy automatically in the event of an accident. Often the seatback is also incorporated into the head restraint system, so that both the head and torso are supported in the event of an accident.

Blind-spot detection and side assist. Many new cars now come with the technology to alert you when you are close to a car that may have been in your blind spot or when you are coming precariously close to a vehicle in front of you. Blind spot detection and side assist is especially helpful when parking.

Air bag on/off switches. Air bags are not always safe, especially for small children. Most vehicles, especially two seaters and those with rear airbags, now offer the option to turn air bags on or off depending on who is sitting where in the car.

Car safety features should not be overlooked, so make sure that if you’re looking to buy a new car, you know which safety features are available and which ones you would like included in your vehicle.