Renault Scala

You've probably heard that the Renault Scala is a rebadged Nissan Sunny. Yes, it is. The French carmaker hasn't had budget-busting development costs to roll out their fifth car in fifteen months as it's a Sunny in disguise. But hey, look again — although it looks familiar, Renault has thrown in some smart design cues to make it a unique product. Let's go into detail.

Design

Up front, the Renault Scala looks much better than the Sunny. The large hexagonal grille with chrome-plated bars and Fluence-inspired headlamps stay true to the 'lozenge' logo. The Sunny roots are more obvious in profile, however, the Scala gets trendy alloy wheels and chrome beading around the glasshouse. There's a decent amount of Renault-isation at the rear, too. The tail lights are of the same shape but have a different design. The white strips on the tail lights join a large chrome garnish across the boot lid. As we saw on the Duster, the name 'SCALA' is embossed on the chrome strip. Overall, Renault has done a neat job of disguising the Scala's origins.

The interior of the Renault Scala is not in the first flush of youth. Except for the chrome logo on the steering wheel, the cabin is pure Nissan Sunny. But does that mean it's a bad thing? No! Never were plaudits more deserved than those showered upon Sunny's cabin space, so it's no wonder Renault decided not to mess with the winning formula. Although space is Scala's USP, lack of rear seat thigh support impinges on comfort. Top variants come with leather seats and leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The interior is up to contemporary standards.

Features

Scala is available in three trims — RxE, RxL and RxZ and the features are similar to the ones of Sunny. The RxZ variant which I drove came with adjustable steering column, electric folding mirrors, rear defroster, rear comfort fan, push start button, keyless entry, climate control and steering mounted audio controls. My only quibble then was the absence of USB or Bluetooth supported audio system. The multi-info display shows tripmeter, instant consumption, average consumption, outside temperature and distance to empty. No compromise is made on safety as well; the Scala is equipped with ABS and driver airbags on all variants. Top variants get passenger airbags, too.

Performance, Ride and Handling

Scala buyers have the choice of a 1.5-litre dCi engine or a 1.5-litre petrol. The familiar K9K diesel engine produces 86 PS @ 3750 rpm and 200 Nm @ 2000 rpm, making Scala a quite responsive car once past some initial turbo lag. Yet, a little more oomph would be nice, especially when pulling out of a trafficky junction in second gear. Refinement is good, however, the diesel engine can be heard noisily in the cabin. The company claims a mileage of 16.95 kmpl for the petrol and 21.64 kmpl for the diesel.

Ranault had chosen a perfect test drive route from Chandigarh to Shimla. Thanks to the slightly tweaked suspension, the Scala hangs on well through sharp bends and feels stable on the highway. I was impressed with its ride quality and the way the suspension soaked up the gnarliest of roads. The steering is not as light as the Sunny but is responsive. However, Scala has a tendency to fishtail when thrown sharply into corners.

Renault is planning to launch Scala in the first week of September. Expect it to be roughly Rs. 30,000 costlier than its Sunny equivalent. Now you probably wonder why spend that extra money, but the Renault Scala certainly has sportier looks and better dynamics that make every extra penny worth the purchase.

hot car features of 2013

Killer car apps of the year

Automakers are rolling out cutting-edge high-tech features and migrating last year’s hot new items more broadly across their model lines with increasing frequency these days. With the playing field being relatively level among most comparable models with regard to performance, comfort and quality, manufacturers are leveraging the latest technology to help their vehicles stand out in a crowded market and to help give motorists a reason to trade in their existing rides for the latest models.

Backup Collision Intervention
Infiniti takes the now commonplace backup camera to new levels of complexity in its 2013 JX35 luxury crossover SUV. First, an Around-View Monitor with Moving Object Detection shows both a 360-degree image of the area outside the vehicle and delivers visual and audible warnings if the system “sees” moving objects crossing within the front or rear views when pulling out of a parking space or backing up. A new Backup Collision Intervention System adds another layer of safety to the system with the ability to automatically engage the brakes to help avoid a collision with vehicles and objects crossing its path while in reverse gear the driver either can’t see or isn’t reacting to quickly enough.

Front Center-Mounted Airbag
The redesigned 2013 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia seven-passenger crossover SUVs include the industry’s first center-mounted airbag. The tubular-shaped restraint deploys between the front seats and is designed to help protect the driver from injury in collisions on the passenger’s side when he or she is the only occupant. It’s also expected to provide additional protection to the driver and front passenger in a side-impact crash and help deliver additional safety benefits in rollover situations.

Hands-Free Power Liftgate
The latest twist on remote vehicle access uses neither a keyfob control nor a pushbutton. Rather, the 2013 Ford Escape compact crossover SUV allows those burdened with baggage to engage the available power-operated liftgate via a simple kicking motion with one’s foot under the rear bumper (provided the car’s keyfob is in a pocket or purse). The same process closes the hatch. Mercedes-Benz offers a similar system for hands-free opening and closing the trunk in its 2013 SL-Class hardtop roadster.

    The front center airbag will be introduced on the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Chevrolet Traverse midsize crossovers in the 2013 model.

  Pushbutton Gear Selector
With many automatic transmissions now being electronically controlled, the old analog shift lever is fast becoming superfluous and is making way to alternative means of putting a car in gear. To that end, the midsize 2013 Lincoln MKX brings back the pushbutton gear selector – a feature the industry hasn’t seen since the early 1960’s. This new twist on an old concept frees up center console space by providing buttons to engage park, neutral, reverse and forward gears. Similarly, the 2013 Ram 1500 full-size pickup truck is the first vehicle this side of a Jaguar to offer a dial-in gear selector instead of a shift lever.

Tactile-Warning Safety Seat
The 2013 Cadillac XTS full-size luxury sedan affords a set-of-the-pants approach to accident avoidance with its new Safety Alert Seat that engages pulse patterns on the left or right side of the cushion when the car is, say, drifting beyond highway markers or when it’s in close proximity to other cars or obstacles while parking. Vibrations on both sides of the cushion would alert the driver to threats from the front or rear, such as when the car is coming up too quickly on traffic ahead. The system works in tandem with other visual alerts, and General Motors says its research demonstrates it can quickly and accurately focus the driver’s attention to the direction of impending hazards.

    Text Messaging Assistant
With distracted driving now being a major cause of accidents, and cities/states banning use of handheld devices, automakers are looking at ways to help drivers remain connected, but as safely as possible. To that end, Nissan is debuting a Hands-Free Text Messaging Assistant as part of the new NissanConnect smartphone connectivity system in the 2013 Altima. The system will read text messages aloud to users and enable them to respond, either by voice command or via a steering wheel-mounted button that sends preset text like “driving, can’t text,” “on my way” or “running late.”

1.    'Zero Gravity' Seats
As anyone who drives long distances can attest, sitting in a comfortable driver’s seat can make the difference between an enjoyable and intolerable journey.

1.    Ford Escape SUV features a segment-first hands-free power liftgate that opens with a simple kicking gesture under the rear bumper and without the need to fumble for a key.

The new Infiniti IPL G Convertible made its global debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. With its advanced VQ37HR 3.7-litre V6 engine, the 2013 IPL G Convertible will become the second model in the Infiniti Performance Line lineup when it goes on sale at Infiniti Canada retailers in spring 2012 (CNW Group/Nissan Canada Inc.)

2013 Dodge Dart Will Offer Wireless Cell Phone Charging.

Lincoln MKZ Concept

  2013 Nissan Altima Sedan

 The all-new Cadillac XTS will be the industry’s first car to feature directional tactile sensation to warn drivers of potential crash threats.

 2013 Nissan Altima Sedan

 To help reduce fatigue on road trips and grueling commutes, Nissan is introducing so-called zero-gravity seats on its 2013 midsize Altima sedan. With a design based on posture research from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the new seats utilize a unique articulated seat shape with continuous support from the pelvis to the chest and are said to help reduce muscular and spinal loads, and improve blood flow, thus reducing fatigue.

 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster

    This stops excess water from overshooting and missing the windshield and it also stops the driver from being temporarily blind as traditional jets shoot out windshield washer solution. The Magic Vision Control System is programed to behave differently under different situations.For instance in winter summer or depending on whether the cabriolet top is up or down, it will behave differently. The system automagically varies the amount of water output depending upon speed, ambient temperature, and current driving conditions which include ambient temperature.

Magic Vision Control
The all-new Mercedes-Benz SL has a super-innovative windshield wiper system named Magic Vision Control, which, instead of shooting water from the front hood deck, shoots warm water out of mini-jets built into the windshield-wipers.

   Inductive Charging
In addition to added ways to connect with mobile phones and other devices, at least one car is able to keep such electronics charged without having to plug them in. Available on the 2013 Dodge Dart as a Mopar dealer-installed accessory is a new inductive wireless charging system allows driver to simply set electronic devices in a specified charging zone to keep the juice flowing.

hyundai i30

The first generation of the Hyundai i30 not only was a other hatchback for the Hyundai Motor Company in Europe, it was more. Originally launched in 2007, the first generation of the Hyundai i30 – company’s first car launched with the ‘i’ prefix, introducing a new nomenclature and heralding a new era for Hyundai in Europe – has gone through two facelifts before arriving in its all-new form here on the Frankfurt Motor Show stage.

Pulse aquí para ver la versión en Español de esta Review.

The redesigned C-segment hatchback features new look incluiding Hyundai’s Fluidic Design. The Korean automaker expects the new-generation i30 to build on the remarkable success of the original model. The modern design language shared by the rest of the family it’s offered in CW (available in this fall) or five door versions. The 2012 i30 is available with a choice between two petrol engines (1.4 MPi and 1.6 GDi with 100 and 140 hp) and three diesel CRDi engines (1.4 and two 1.6 with 90, 110 and 128 hp) combinated with a six speed manual gearbox (the most powerful engines may be associated with a 6-speed automatic gearbox also).

Hyundai unveiled its next-generation i30 at the 2011 Frankfurt International Motor Show. The new i30 was designed and engineered at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany, and offers a choice of five engines with a total of six power options and CO2 emissions below 100 g/km due to an upgraded 1.6-litre diesel unit. The next-generation i30 will go on sale in Europe early in 2012 as a five-door hatchback.

It was launched in South Korea since October 20, 2011 and it is the second model under Hyundai’s “Premium Youth Lab” brand. The new Korean-spec i30 is offered with a 1.6 “Gamma” GDi engine and a 1.6 VGT diesel engine. The second-generation i30 is projected to be available in the USA at the summer of 2012 as the 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT. It made a premiere at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show along with the new Hyundai Elantra Coupe, featuring the same 1.8L Nu MPI engine as the original Elantra MD sedan.

Hyundai is the first to admit that the New Generation i30 has been designed and created with Europe in mind, and produced at Hyundai’s Nosovice Plant, in Czech Republic. In Europe, the Hyundai i30 offer divides into between five mechanical options, two petrol engines (1.4 MPi and 1.6 GDi with 100 and 135 hp) and three CRDi diesel engines (1.4 U-2 unit with 90 hp, and the 1.6 with 110 and 128 hp).

A “BlueDrive” option includes Intelligent Stop & Go (ISG) start-stop system and 15 inch rolling resistance tyres, resulting in a reduced CO2 of 99g/km for the 110 hp diesel (this version is only available in UK actually). The Hyundai i30 5-door measures are: Wheelbase 104.3 inches (2,650 mm), Length 169.3 inches (4,300 mm), Width 70.1 inches (1,780 mm), Height 57.9 inches (1,470 mm). Curb weight: Petrol – 1,306 kg (2,879 lb) to 1,344 kg (2,963 lb) – Diesel – 1,360 kg (2,998 lb) to 1,440 kg (3,174 lb) –

Refinement has improved, too, particularly with the 81kW 1.4-litre VGT diesel engine we tested in the i30′s event held last month, which is remarkably hushed and rattle-free at low revs. Like the petrol 100-hp version we tested, a little quieter until 4,000rpm. Hyundai used the VW Golf as its benchmark for the i30, and it shows. The i30 is firm but nicely damped – so it copes with the worst potholes, even at low speeds – and feels composed in bends, with body roll well controlled. The steering is less satisfying; it’s accurate enough overall, but there’s a frustrating amount of play around the straight-ahead. I don’t have the opportunity to test newest FlexSteer system available on higher trim levels allows the driver to select different weights of steering.

The i30 doesn’t do much else wrong. The ride is comfortable, the cabin is spacious for tall passengers, the boot is big enough for their bags and the handling is good – although not exactly thrilling. The major controls are arranged in an attractive and easy-to-use layout which emphasises the space of the interior. The suspension impresses with its ability to provide comfort for the i30’s occupants, while the interior provides enough space for tall adults, and the boot is a decent size.

The essential controls – including audio and heating/ventilation – are positioned high up for ease of use. This has also freed up a storage space area ahead of the gearlever, so there’s a decent amount of oddment space. The seats, meanwhile, are well positioned, comfortable and supportive. The top-spec Style Nav model adds a rear parking camera that pops up from under the boot badge; it’s clear and easy to use, but the mechanism is a little noisy.

Inside, the hard plastics found in the first i30 have made way for a premium interior trimmed with soft-touch plastics on the dashboard and door panels. Gloss black details and brushed silver inserts add a touch of class that shifts the i30 ever closer to the kind of interiors we expect from the VW Golf. And the driving experience is almost on a par, too. Front passengers get lots of head and shoulder room, and those in the rear are unlikely to complain about the amount of head- and kneeroom. The boot has a reasonably low lip and offers 378 litres of capacity; that’s more than either the VW Golf or Ford Focus. With the rear seats folded flat (and the seat cushions themselves folded forwards), that volume increases to an equally impressive 1316 litres.

A thick-rimmed two-spoke steering wheel and Hyundai signature ‘supervision’ instrument cluster provide clear and precise graphics. The new i30 will be available with automatically controlled dual air conditioning, plus electric folding door mirrors with integrated side repeaters. Steering wheel-mounted audio controls allow drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel at all times, AUX, iPod and USB connections with MP3 compatibility for the radio/CD player, Electronic Stability Program.

Other new features available are HID Headlights, automatic emergency brake, leather seats (not available in Spain), knee driver airbag, include Autolightcontrol, projection headlamps, LED high mounted stop lamp and front LED headlights, Flex Steer system (provides three different steering modes for different driving environments, Normal, Comfort and Sport), 7″ touchscreen navigation system with rear camera, Bluetooth hands-free with voice recognition. For Spain, the Hyundai i30 offered in five ranges, Base, City, Techno, Style and Style S (only available with 1.6 CRDi 128 hp with automatic gearbox).

- Base

• ABS + EBD.
• ESP + TCS.
• Six airbags.
• ISOFIX system.
• Fog lights with LED daylight.
• Steering wheel.
• Air Conditioning.
• Folding rear seat.
• Trip Computer.
• Electric Front Windows.
• Radio CD with MP3
• Adjustable steering wheel.
• Driver seat: individual type adjustable height.
• Painted front and rear bumpers.
• Body Coloured Door Handles.
• Electrically and Heat Adjustable Door Mirrors.

- City

• USB-iPod connection.
• Painted exterior mirrors.
• Alarm.
• Central Locking.
• Smoker Kit.
• Steering wheel with tilt adjustement, telescopic adjustment and audio/trip controls..
• Spare tire Space Saver.

- Techno

• Height-adjustable driver seat.
• Automatic air conditioning with two climate control zone.
• Bluetooth
• Cruise Control.
• Mirrors Turn Signal.
• Heated side mirrors
• Electric Rear Windows.
• Leather Steering Wheel.
• Reading lights.
• Glasses holder.
• Flex-steering (provides three steering wheel modes).

- Style 

• 16″ inch Alloy Wheels (15 inches in the GDi version).
• Rear center armrest.
• Style black leather/cloth.
• Electric folding mirrors.
• Trunk net.
• Front and Rear Electric Windows “One Touch”.

- Style S

• 17″ inch Alloy Wheels.
• Heated Front Seats.
• Rear Parking System.
• 7″ inch LCD touch screen with AM/FM/CD/MP3.
• Voice Control.
• Rear Parking Camera.
• Knee airbag.

Photo Gallery:

Key Features:

• Engine : I 4.
• Fuel : Petrol.
• Engine Alignment : Front Transverse.
• Drive : FWD.
• Displacement : 1397 cm3.
• Bore x Stroke : 77 x 75 mm.
• Type : 16 Valves.
• Compression Ratio : 17.
• Output : 100 hp (74 kW) @ 4200 rpm
• Torque : 137 Nm.
• Gearbox : 6 speed Manual
• Wheelbase : 2,650 mm.
• Length : 4,300 mm.
• Width : 1,780 mm.
• Height : 1,470 mm.
• Front Brakes : Vented Discs (300 mm).
• Rear Brakes : Discs (284 mm).
• Front Tyres : 195/65 R15.
• Rear Tyres : 195/65 R15.
• Kerb Weight : 1306 kg.
• Front Suspension : McPherson struts. Coil springs.
• Rear Suspension : Coil springs.
• Top Speed : 182 km/h (113 Mph).
• 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) : 12.8 s.
• Fuel Consumption: 7.9L / 6L / 4.9L (39 mpg).
• Fuel Tank : 50 L.
• Trunk : 378 L.
• CO2 emissions : 139 g/Km.

*PRICE LIST

• 1.4i 16v 100 CV Base 15.590 €.
• 1.4i 16v 100 CV City 16.490 €.
• 1.4i 16v 100 CV Tecno 18.290 €.
• 1.4i 16v 100 CV Tecno Sky 19.040 €.
• 1.6 GDi 135 CV Tecno BlueDrive 19.190 €.
• 1.6 GDi 135 CV Tecno BlueDrive Sky 19.940 €.
• 1.6 GDi 135 CV Style BlueDrive 19.990 €.
• 1.6 GDi 135 CV Style BlueDrive Sky 20.740 €.
• 1.4 CRDi 90 CV City 17.990 €.
• 1.4 CRDi 90 CV Tecno 19.390 €.
• 1.4 CRDi 90 CV Tecno Sky 20.140 €.
• 1.6 CRDi 110 CV City 18.890 €.
• 1.6 CRDi 110 CV Tecno 20.290 €.
• 1.6 CRDi 110 CV Tecno Sky 21.440 €.
• 1.6 CRDi 110 CV Tecno Aut. 22.390 €.
• 1.6 CRDi 110 CV Tecno Aut. Sky 23.140 €.
• 1.6 CRDi 128 CV Style 21.890 €.
• 1.6 CRDi 128 CV Style Sky 22.640 €.
• 1.6 CRDi 128 CV Style Aut. 23.990 €.
• 1.6 CRDi 128 CV Style Aut. Sky 24.740 €.
• 1.6 CRDi 128 CV Style S 24.490 €.
• 1.6 CRDi 128 CV Style S Sky 25.240 €.
• 1.6 CRDi 128 CV Style S Aut. 25.590 €.
• 1.6 CRDi 128 CV Style S Aut. Sky 26.340 €.