Mahindra’s 300cc Mojo arrives during Diwali

Mahindra will launch the much awaited 300cc Mojo motorcycle during Diwali this year, ET is reporting. The 300cc bike in its concept form was showcased in Mumbai last year. On the same stage, the Stallio was launched with Bollywood heart throb Aamir Khan as its ambassador.
The Mahindra Mojo will be priced at around 1.75 lakh rupees.

Anoop Mathur, president, Mahindra Two Wheelers -

We are making sure that all aspects of the bike are appropriately tested and will launch the bike towards the festive season.

The Mojo prototype shown had a gold-plated frame. At the launch, it was said the Mojo will be offered with decal customization options. The concept was fitted with Pirelli tires. The production model will sport a liquid cooled engine and is targeted at the college going students in India.

Mahindra Mojo Technical specifications

Overall length x width x height in mm – 2100 x 830 x 1270
Seat Height in mm – 820
Wheelbase, in mm – 1450
Minimum ground clearance – 150
Kerb Weight ( with 90 % fuel, Tools etc) – 160
Engine Type – Single Cylinder, Liquid Cooled, 4 Valves – Direct Drive, SI
Displacement – 292 cc
Bore x Stroke – 78 mm x 61.2 mm
Compression Ratio – 11 : 1
Maximum Power – 19.3 kW (26bhp) @ 8500 rpm
Maximum Torque – 24 N.m @ 7000 rpm
Starting System – Self Start
Ignition System – ECU (Electronic Control Unit)
Fuel Tank Capacity in liters – 15.5
Transmission Type / Gear Box – Constant Mesh, 6 speed
Frame Type – Twin Tube Exposed frame in Steel, Shining yellow painted; Diamond Frame
Wheel Type – Alloy Wheel
Rim Size (Front / Rear) – Front 2.75 x 17”;
Rear 4.00 x 17”
Tire Size (Front / Rear) – Tubeless 100/80 – 17” (Front) 150/60 -17” (Rear)- radial
Brake Type (Front / Rear) – Disc 320 mm (Front); Disc 220 mm (Rear);
Suspension Type (Front / Rear) – Inverted fork Telescopic hydraulic-damped (Front);
120 mm stroke Horizontally mounted Mono Shox; air + hydraulic damping. (Rear)
Battery – 12V, 9 AH; Maintenance Free
Head Lamp Twin Beams; 35W / 35W X 2; Halogen Bulb (Multi Reflector Type)
Marker / Pilot Lamps – 4 LED’s each side, above twin beam Head Lights
Tail Lamp – LED based (with 12 LED’s)
Source – economictimes.indiatimes.com

Ranbir Kapoor to be signed up for Hero Group

Break ups are becoming more common for the Hero Group. After breaking up with their 25 year partner – Honda, The Hero Group is also breaking up with their brand ambassador Hrithik Roshan and signing up Ranbir Kapoor as a replacement.
The reason for the change is because the Hero Group wants to change its brand image and wants to focus on the youth. This corporate tra­nsformation also includes a change in brand name, positioning and bra­nd buil­ding over the next few years.

The new strategy consists of promoting independent brands like Splendor, Passion, Pleasure and Karizma ZMR instead of promoting individual brands. The company has also started building bikes without the Honda brand name, according to vendors.
Anirban Das Blah, MD and CEO at Kwan Entertainment and Marketing Solutions, a company that is responsible for Ranbir’s endorsement deals, did not deny the development but did not give out details of the Hero deal.
Let’s hope Ranbir can work the same magic as he did for the Nissan Micra.

BMW 650i Launched–Details And Official Price In India

BMW has launched it BMW 6 Series convertible, the BMW 650i in Udaipur India yesterday. The car has been launched besides Lake Pichola of Udaipur. The luxury sedan has been priced at Rs. 95 lakhs. BMW India CEO Dr Andreas Schaaf unveiled the car at the launch. The 650i features a powerful V8 engine capable of reaching 0 to 100 KMPH in just 5 seconds with a top speed of 250 KMPH.

Volkswagen Vento and Maruti SX4 Hit Honda City Sales

Maruti Suzuki has recently launched its Maruti SX4 Diesel at a very competitive price. Also the Volkswagen Vento sedan launched by Volkswagen last year is available in both diesel and petrol variants. With the choice of a Diesel engine and interiors like Vento, the established segment high-selling Honda City is taking a hit. The sales of Volkswagen Vento almost equal the sales of Honda city in past month of Feb 2011. Also the sales of SX4 are rising sharply after the CRDI Diesel Engine option launched by Maruti with 1.3 Litre Diesel engine.

Honda City still holds a good position in terms of volumes of sales, but with the Diesel option missing, there is bound to be some sales loss with the customers who prefer diesel sedans with the similar lever of features and comfort offered by Volkswagen and Maruti.

Although Honda is working on Diesel Variants of Honda Accord and Honda CRV, but there is a need of Diesel option for Honda City as well which might lag behind in sales because of the missing diesel option.

Social Networking For Cars

The social networking, micro-blogging trend is already a mainstay of the tech-savvy generation, but why would anyone want a car to send Twitter messages? And how is that possible?

The car that could Twitter is AJ, a 2011 Ford Fiesta that’s a test bed for company engineers exploring the boundaries of what’s possible when an automobile is connected to the Internet and all of its concomitant services. In May, a team of Ford engineers drove AJ from Ann Arbor, Mich., to San Mateo, Calif., to participate in the Maker Faire. Along they way, AJ sent out Twitter messages.

Ford Fiesta that sends Twitter messages

“It’s getting pretty dark; time to put the headlights on,” was a typical entry, but followers also learned when AJ’s mood was “joyful.” But how could a car be joyful?

“There’s no traffic, and it’s not raining and it’s enjoying a winding road,” said Joe Rork, an information technology architect with Ford’s in-vehicle research and strategy team. Mr. Rork recalled the journey recently during a presentation in Manhattan. He explained that AJ was indeed sending the messages on its own.

The software behind AJ was an app called the “Auto”matic Blog. It tapped into the available data on the car, including telemetry information, like location, speed, acceleration and braking. It also gleaned information from the windshield wipers, steering input and GPS data and correlated it with live information culled from the Web.

So AJ’s software could combine, say, real-time traffic notices about congestion with its current situation (stop-and-go braking) and weather forecasts (storms ahead) and then send a Twitter entry like, “Stuck in traffic; not looking forward to next 50 miles, either.”

The Twitter app wasn’t the only connected software the Ford engineers tested. The group also ran the location-based Foursquare app, through which the car could automatically check the team in at restaurants and tourist spots along the way (and send pictures). Also being tested was a program developed by University of Michigan students called Caravan Track, which allows a group of fellow travelers to be automatically apprised of their friends’ locations and conditions up ahead.

But why would anyone want to do this? Ford is already on track to add smartphone apps, including a Twitter feed, to its Sync-based cars later this year. It has also announced that it will enable other phone apps to connect to its cars, essentially allowing third-party software programs to use a vehicle’s built-in controls, like buttons on the steering wheel, to control programs, including music players running on connected Android phones. The tests with AJ were a natural extension of this strategy, according to Mr. Rork, to see what’s possible when the car is connected and online all the time.

Interestingly, mainly off-the-shelf hardware was used, including a high-speed cellular data connection, a Wi-Fi router and a Dell computer running Windows 7 in the trunk. It means just about any car could be turned into a Twittermobile. And as for those who scoff at the idea that anyone would want to receive messages from a car, consider that even though AJ rarely sends messages these days, he still has more Twitter followers than I do.

New Cars For Sale

Buying a car can be a very great experience; however you need to be familiar with the car sale strategy and car reviews in order to buy a car worth the amount you spend. Cars are second big investment and needs lot of research before buying one.

Car is a big investment and a sign of luxury and needs to be purchased carefully. When you plan to buy a car, the first question which comes to your mind is, if you want to buy a new car or settle for an old one. Obviously, new car is expensive as compared to pre – owned car.  If money is not a constraint, then it would be better to buy a new car rather then a used one.

There are large numbers of people who are passionate about new cars and would buy any new car launched in the market. They prefer the best model with advanced features. In the technical world, you don’t have to worry about anything. There are a number of websites that offers new car sales services. Now you can select the best model with great price in front of your computer without any hassle. One such website is Private Fleet which provides best car buying services for car lovers in Australia.

It is always a good idea to refer to car reviews before picking one. These car reviews ensures that the prospective customer has maximum knowledge about the car before he reaches the showroom to buy a new car. Car reviews gives you information about almost all aspect of the car and help you decide on the best one. Online purchasing gives you enormous extra benefits. You don’t have to make any effort. The online services include all the hard work for you. You will get the product at your home with complete details. In case of any doubt read the reviews about the company. Collect the complete information about the company. If you think company is reliable then you can place an online order.

You are not a professional car buyer or not very confident about choosing the right car, it would be better to take help from some car broker. Car brokers have the complete knowledge about the market and latest models. Car broker can help you get a great car within your budget. However, it is essential that you consider a reliable broker.

There are online brokers that can help you in making a sound investment. You can also interact with brokers face to face or through your telephone. In this way, you can enjoy a great experience while you are buying a new car.