GM launches Beat diesel at Rs 4.29 lakh

Beat just got smarter with all new 1.0 XSDE SMARTECH Common Rail Diesel engine from Chevrolet made exclusively for India. With a power output of 58.5 PS and torque of 150 Nm, this engine promises an impressive mileage of 24* kmpl. (*As certified by Certification Agencies as per rule 115 of CMVR)



It has a Fixed Geometry Turbocharger with vacuum operated wastegate for smooth, efficient operation and superior torque delivery from very low engine RPMs for a peppy drive.



The Beat Diesel’s three-cylinder DOHC engine features state-of-the-art Common Rail Fuel Injection technology for outstanding emission performance and fuel economy. Its electrically controlled throttle body further reduces carbon emissions.



The Beat Diesel’s 65 per cent high-strength steel body cage ensures a high level of occupant safety. Sixty per cent of the body is made of galvanised steel for extra corrosion protection.



Engine is equipped with Launch Support Logic which assists the driver to launch the car effortlessly on slopes.



Aluminum alloy DOHC cylinder head with Light weight, graphite coated low friction pistons offers improved performance, high fuel efficiency and longer engine life.



GM says that as an added benefit, the engine is the quietest powerplant in its segment and provides outstanding performance in stop-and-go traffic conditions.



Aimed at meeting the highest quality and performance standards, the diesel version of the Beat has been extensively tested at proving grounds with harsh terrains and climatic conditions for intensive durability, quality and performance.



It also incorporates an advanced technology maintenance free timing chain drive system and added anti-corrosion protection. The engine oil only needs to be changed every 15,000 km or 1.5 years, for lower maintenance costs.

The Beat Diesel’s SMARTECH engine is complemented by a High Torque Transmission that offers smooth, effortless gear changes. Its hydraulic clutch requires extremely low pedal effort.

The Smart Engine and Clutch Protection Mode minimises clutch wear while further improving fuel efficiency.

The company also stated that with Pro-Vario Assist Featherlite Electronic Power Steering (EPS) with human comfort technology provides power steering assistance while parking and driving at low speeds.

The incredible world inside Audi A8 L W12

Audi, the German luxury car manufacturer, has introduced the top version of its flagship model - the new Audi A8 L W12 quattro. Equipped with a powerful 6.3 FSI petrol engine, the newest variant of Audi’s flagship sets new standards of luxury, dynamism and efficiency, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds to effortlessly reach its governed top speed of 250 km/h.



The new Audi A8 L W12 will be priced at a whopping Rs 1.26 crore (ex showroom Maharashtra).



Audi states that the subtle visual details distinguish the new A8 L W12 quattro from the other cars in this model line.



The single-frame radiator grille with integral grid structure has a high – gloss black paint finish and special chromed horizontal bars.



There are also chromed inserts of new design in the air inlets, and chromed applications on the exterior mirrors.



W12 badges are displayed on the single-frame grille and at the rear of the car. The exhaust system has two trapezoidal-pattern tailpipe trims neatly integrated into the rear bumper.



Among the high-end technologies featured on the A8 L W12 quattro are the standard LED headlight units with all lighting functions performed by LEDs.



The A8 L has a body built from aluminum using the Audi Space Frame (ASF) principle and therefore weighing about 40 percent less than a comparable steel body.



Twelve cylinders are the ultimate engine configuration, a tradition that still applies in the large luxury car class. The 6.3 FSI engine has an output of 368 kW (500 hp) and delivers its peak torque of 625 Nm at 3,250 rpm.



Another high-end feature of the long-wheelbase Audi A8 is the reclining seat behind the front passenger’s seat with massage functions and a foot rest on a power-adjustable support at the base of the front passenger seat back.



It sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in only 4.7 seconds and effortlessly reaches its governed top speed of 250 km/h.

Heating, ventilation and the luxury head restraint are integral features. A folding table, additional wood and leather trim, a refrigerator and a Rear Seat Entertainment system with two 10.2-inch screens are among the features that promote relaxed travel or alternatively concentrated work in this mobile lounge.

The transmission makes a major contribution to ensuring the high efficiency of the Audi A8 L W12 quattro.

The eight-speed tiptronic shifts smoothly and quickly, with the individual gears closely spaced but with a generous overall spread from low to high.

Gear shifts are performed electronically (“shift by wire”) from an elegant yacht-style selector lever or at steering wheel paddles.

The center differential, the main component in the quattro permanent all-wheel drive train, divides the torque flow from the engine in a sporty manner, with 60 percent to the rear axle and 40 percent to the front in regular driving conditions.

But if the situation changes, up to 60 percent of the torque can be sent to the front, or 80 percent to the rear. The A8 L W12 quattro runs on 19-inch alloy wheels with a 15-spoke design reserved for this model, with size 255/45 tires.

Behold Gaddafi's ‘Libyan Rocket’

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has always been internationally recognised for his vibrant fashion sense, sleeping in Bedouin tents wherever he goes, wearing huge provocative buttons, being guarded by heavily armed women, just to name a few. An epitome of Gaddafi's eccentricity is the car he designed for himself, which Libya claims is the safest vehicle on earth. However, don't go into any details to back up the claim.

The Saroukh el-Jamahiriya, which means Libyan rocket, is a five-seater saloon with the nose and tail of a rocket and powered by a 230bhp V6. Launched at a conference called the Organization of African Unity and organized by Colonel Gaddafi in 2009, the Libyan Rocket comes with airbags, an electronic defense system and collapsible bumpers that supposedly help out in a crash.. Wonder what is an "electronic defense system"? Apparently, no one knows what it is or how it works.

Dukhali Al-Meghareff, chairman of the Libyan Arab Domestic Investment company which produced the prototype, touted it as revolutionary in automotive history. "The leader spent so many hours of his valuable time thinking of an effective solution. It is the safest car produced anywhere," said Mr Meghareff.