| Here’s the Technical specification of 5 time motoGP champion Valentino Rossi’s Yamaha meant for the 2007 racing season.
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Has Kimi Fit into the Schumi’s shoes?
When everybody is celebrating Ferrari’s win in Australian grand prix, a clear observation on after race will give you fine details on Ferrari’s compatiblity with its new driver Kimi Raikkonen. Financial express has posted a excellent article on this matter, here it is!
Kimi Raikkonen is not Michael Schumacher. Will this come in the way of championship?
When Ferrari signed Kimi Raikkonen to replace Michael Schumacher, most experts warned that one of the biggest challenges that the Italian team faced was not the inconsistency, blind speed or risk taking (some times suicidal) instinct of the Finn but adjusting to the person that he is.
A sample of that was evident at the recent Australian Grand Prix. It was the round one of the 2007 Formula One season and Kimi, driving for Ferrari for the first time, won quite comfortably. Ferrari clearly established that they had a car that was superior to other teams and it was also Kimi’s first race win in more than 12 months. Under the circumstances, one would have expected some sort of celebration on the podium — to say the least. Kimi, possibly bored by his lonely stay inside the cockpit for the entire duration of the race (his radio failed completely), raised his hands and managed a smile. He made a feeble attempt to spray the champagne and finally, gave the bottle to Jean Todt to pass it to the Ferrari team crew below the podium. There was hardly any visible camaraderie between him and the team.
Seven-time world champion Schumacher, on the other hand, would have celebrated as if it was his maiden grand prix victory. And that is something Ferrari team is has got used to. He would have hugged the Ferrari crew members before walking up to the podium. Apart from his customary jump, he would have made eye contact with the Ferrari crew below who made that victory possible and personally, passed on the champagne bottle to his colleagues below after spraying it at them. While Schumacher’s celebrations would have eased after that and would have headed home to be with his family, Kimi would have just started to party!
The way Schumacher and Kimi approach their work is also very different. While Schumacher involves himself thoroughly with the team including planning, strategising, setting up the car etc, Kimi prefers to handle just the driving part. As a driver he likes to drive fast and give the necessary feedback about the car to the team for improving the vehicle. On the other hand, the German would spend a lot of time with technical staff poring over tonnes of data that the computers generate on the performance of the car. It was this aspect of Schumacher that made him maximise the potential of his car. Having got used to Schumacher for such a long time, adjusting to Kimi who prefers to have his space will be something that will take Ferrari and its crew a while to adjust.
While it is too early to speculate the level of commitment Kimi will show to Ferrari, Schumacher and the Italian team had a relationship that was unparalleled in the history of Formula One. The team and Schumacher respected each other. Both accepted that the victories that followed would not have followed without the other.
At a competitive level, personality issues are not too important. The fact that Kimi won at Albert Park is a proof of that. But a closely knit team helps, especially when the team is down in terms of performance. The rapport Felipe Massa and Kimi have managed would have been evident had the Brazilian made it to the podium but that was not the case. Having got a very competitive car this year, Ferrari will be praying that personality issues does not come in the way of the team winning the championships.
Auto News – Apr 2007
* Chinese car maker Chery Automobiles(manufactured QQ) is likely to partner India’s International Cars & Motors Ltd (ICML) to roll out its small car in India next year, the Business Standard reported. ICML is planning to launch a premium hatchback in the 300,000-400,000 rupees price range, which is the fastest-growing car segment in India. ICML currently offers ‘Rhino’ a Sports Utility Vehicle. ICML joined the elite club of India’s manufacturers along with Tata and Mahindra .
*Toyota Motor Corp. became the world’s top auto seller in the first three months of the year, passing rival General Motors Corp. for the first time in history. Toyota sold 2.348 million vehicles worldwide in the January-March quarter surpassing the 2.26 million vehicles that GM said it sold during the same period.For More
*Maruti Udyog (MUL), India’s largest car-maker, has lowered prices between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 on its cars following a reduction in the concessional central state tax (CST) offered by the Haryana government.For More
*Hero group may tie up with japanese major Isuzu for its four wheeler foray. Isuzu already has a brand presence in the country, Isuzu has provided engines to M&M Invader, the HM Ambassador and for the recently launched Rhino SUV from Sonalika.
*Bajaj not to exit from the 100cc market, According to Bajaj Auto GM marketing Amit Nandi, “We are not getting out of the 100cc segment. Rajiv Bajaj’s statement has been misinterpreted. We will continue to sell 100cc bikes till there is demand.” For More
*Because of the increased interest rates car sales in March declines badly expecting the april too manufacturers announced rebates on thir products to woo customers. Here’s the list
#General Motors is offering customers an option of lower interest rates of around 10 per cent or free services or accessories worth Rs 20,000.Customers can choose any of these and also opt for a total maintenance plan to control operating cost. The 10 per cent interest rate is offered to all products of General Motors.
#Market leader Maruti Udyog Ltd increased rebates on its small cars from Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000 a few days ago to reduce the cost of ownership.
#Honda-Siel is working with ICICI Bank to extend the tenure of the loans from five to six years to help customers absorb interest rate hikes. With this, customers will pay 10 per cent to 15 per cent lower EMIs than what they are paying now.
#The second-largest car maker, Hyundai, which is offering its flagship car Santro at a lower rate of 8.99 per cent, might extend this offer to other cars. It has tied up with ICICI Bank, HDFC and Kotak Mahindra for the Santro for a deal in which around Rs 30,000 per car is being absorbed by the dealers, banks and the manufacturers.
*Toyota’s small car may be made in India, India may win the battle against Brazil for the new plant. Toyota’s is planning to develop a 1-litre engine global car by 2010 which will cost around $7,000-8,000 (Rs 3-3.5 lakh). The small car will be made specially to meet the needs of developing countries BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China). Earlier, Toyota planned to introduce passo/boon in India but was stopped due to its higher price. For More
* German sports car major Porsche on 12th March rolled out its second generation Cayenne SUV in India in the price range of Rs. 49.30 lakh to Rs. 1.10 crore. Porsche will have 4 more dealers (Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore & Chennai) in India by the end of 2007 in addition to the Delhi. Porsche currently offers Boxster, Carrera 911 and Cayman. Porsche may launch its sedan Panemara in India by 2009.
* Rajeev Bajaj announced Bajaj Auto will roll out a new motorcycle in the executive category, which could be priced around Rs 40,00o and will be launched by July. Rajeev Bajaj also said the company would develop high power bikes in technical collaboration with Kawasaki, but the bikes will be manufactured and marketed under the ‘Bajaj’ brand. He added Bajaj is working on four wheeler cargo, which will compete with Tata’s ‘Ace’
* Bajaj has once again slashed price by Rs3000 for its 100cc offering ‘platina’. Last month Bajaj made a similar discount. Platina will cost Rs33000 – an unimaginable price for a 100cc bike. Bajaj expects sales to jump by 25% due to this discount. A tough news for TVS star city and Hero Honda CD deluxe. Source:NDTV profit
* Outlook posted as excellent article influence of Indian brains in formula one. For More on TCS relationship with Ferrari.
*Fernando Alonso of McLaren won the Malyasian grand prix. Lewis Hamilton ofMclaren and Raikkonen of Ferrari followed Alonso in order. For Detailed Results
*Most car companies and dealers are doling out lucrative discounts to push sales during April, which is considered as a lean month. Maruti 800 gets cheaper by Rs15000, Esteem by Rs 30000, Getz and Santro by Rs10000 and Indica Xeta by Rs25000 For More
* Tata’s 1lakh rupee car attracts not only Indian majors like Bajaj but also charms world majors like Renault-Nissan. “If you want to be serious in India, you should not cross the $3,000 figure,” said Carlos Ghosn, CEO, Nissan Motor Co, in Nashik. Nissan Motor Co, plans to produce a car priced at below $3,000 (Rs 1.30 lakh) in India. The vehicle would prove the most formidable competition to the Tata Motors Rs 1-lakh ($2,000) car under development and Bajaj’s planned light weight car.
*Fiat new Fiat Palio Stile comes with two petrol engine options: Palio Stile 1.1 (in three versions- SL, SLE, SLX) and Palio Stile 1.6 (Sport). The Palio Stile 1.1 is priced in the range of Rs 3.49 lakh to Rs.3.90 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), while the Palio Stile 1.6 is priced at Rs.4.31 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). For Fiat Palio Stile new features
*Mahindra Renault, the joint venture between Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) and Renault of France, on Tuesday unveiled much awaited Logan in India. The Logan will be available in diesel and petrol versions and in six colours. The price (ex-New Mumbai) of the petrol 1.4 and 1.6 versions ranges from Rs. 4.28 lakh to Rs 5.69 lakh (before octroi) and the diesel 1.5 version from Rs. 5.47 lakh to 6.44 lakh. The same ex-New Delhi would be Rs. 4.35 lakh to 5.76 lakh for petrol versions and Rs. 5.54 lakh to Rs. 6.51 lakh for the diesel version. The Logan offers fuel efficiency of 14-18 kilometres a litre (kmpl) on the Common Rail Diesel engine and 10-13 kmpl with the petrol engines, according to Mahindra Renault officials. Bookings will be open from april 9 and the vehicles will be delivered from May 9 onwards. For More
*Fiat launches new Palio Stile. Palio Stile is the first product form Tata-Fiat Joint Venture For More
* Cool news for Hot summer, From April 1 onwards Mumbaikars can travel across the city in air-conditioned Maruti Esteem and Indigo Marina beginning from April 1. Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh yesterday launched V Link Fleet Management Services, a private taxi service, which will ply 150 vehicles to begin with and will later increase to up to 1,000. The taxis, which will operate from tomorrow, will charge a minimum of Rs 15 and additional Rs 13 per km with a centralised number for advance booking.
* Hero Honda on March 31 launched a face-lift variant of its 150 cc motorcycle ‘Achiever’ priced between Rs 52,650 and Rs 54,950 (ex-showroom Delhi).The company has launched ‘Achiever’ in two variants — kick start and self start — and would be available in five colours(silver metallic, palace maroon, candy blazing red, magnetic blue metallic and black). The new Achiever comes with improved features including disc brakes, body colour graphics and body colour grips.
Hot Photos – Apr 2007
1) Hot Harley Davidson! soon on Indian roads
2) Photo of Hero Honda’s New Achiever
3) Fiat’s New Palio Stile
4) Photo of Mahindra Renualt New Logan
5) Ford’s Brazil Fiesta may be the answer to Logan
6) Hyundai’s new elantra soon on Indian roads
7) New elantra will take on Toyota corolla and Honda civic
8) New Nissan X-Trail exhibited on a recent auto show soon on Indian roads
9) New Nissan XTrail will take on Honda CRV & Ford Endeavour & Hyundai Tucson
10) Hyundai may launch its LCV ‘porter’ to take on Tata ace & upcoming Piaggio’s mini truck
11) Tata’s new pick-up TL Sprint based on well known Tata’s 207 chassis
12) TL sprint may be rebadged here, Tata’s upcoming sumo will get cues from TL sprint
13) Hyundai’s yet another small car ‘PA’
14) Rear View of soon to be launched Hyundai’s PA
15) Maruti Suzuki New Baleno – SX4 sedan
16) SX4 sedan to take on Mahindra Logan, Ford Fiesta & Honda City
17) Porsche’s newly launched Cayenne
18) The Indian Spark…
19) Rear view of Chevrolet’s spark
source:business standard
20) Toyota’s 2007 corolla axio/auris may hit indian roads soon
21) 2007 new corolla is Toyota’s answer to best selling Honda Civic
22) 2007 new corolla luxurious interior
Hyundai
Hyundai’s Strategy:
Hyundai seems to be following the footsteps of Maruti. Hyundai put more cars in the small car segment which constitutes 70% of the Indian car industry. Hyundai do not want to miss a single customer. It has cars for everyone’s requirement. Truly it is the only player who has cars in most of the segments. Hyundai makes makes
Engine and Powertrain:
Hyundai’s getz is a leader in small car all over the world but Hyundai do not see such a success in
Design and Engineering:
Hyundai has made appreciable changes for the new Getz prime. The exterior changes include
#set of new headlamps and tail-lamps
#new front air dam/ fog lamp setup
#new three-spoke steering wheel
#slight revamp of the centre console
#change in the plastic grain finish
#new body colours
Inside the new getz prime Hyundai has made following changes
#new driver’s seat armrest
#illuminated glovebox
#illuminated power window switches
#adjustable backrests at the rear
Verdict:
Power:
Hyundai has done a serious makeover to Getz to produce Getz prime. When Hyundai is already been complained for under-powering the Getz when compared to its size, Hyundai has opted for further smaller engine. Getz prime – a superior car with under-power engine.
Pricing:
Tata motors displaced Hyundai from second rank in terms of sales in volume and continue to hold the second rank from last December. Hyundai expects a turnaround with its new getz prime. But the expected turnaround will depend on pricing of Getz prime; even Hyundai discounts heavily in the current getz prize (Rs 5.23 lakhs – costlier than swift and Chevrolet U-VA) swift or existing Getz customer will not move for underpowered Getz prime. If that’s the case Getz prime has to compete with its own sibling santro xing and Maruti’s zen estilo. With Hyundai’s planned new small car ‘PA’ is expected to positioned between Getz and Santro and is to be launched by the end of this year. I believe Hyundai Getz prime may find hard to fit into a segment. I believe Hyundai must have named this car Santro Xing prime that might grab more customers. Anyway let’s wait and watch their strategy. Getz prime is expected to be priced around Rs 3.9lakhs.
TVS apache’s IDI and IE surge
IDI –Inductive Discharge Ignition:
Inductors and Capacitors are the important components in modern ignition systems. Most manufacturers choose digital CDI – Capacitor Discharge Ignition system but TVS has opted for IDI – Induction Discharge Ignition system. Earlier manufactures moved to CDI from IDI because of the following problem with IDI. IDI are driven off points which trigger a coil that sends a charge to the spark plug. However, they require exact points and plug gap settings. This drawback made many manufacturers to move to CDI. Capacitors in CDI recharge quickly and hence deliver multiple spark at low rpm or strong till 10000 rpm. The CDI has its own drawback i.e. CDI sparks are extremely short in duration and the amount of energy that can be delivered is also limited unlike the IDI which can deliver longer spark. TVS has opted refined IDI for its apache – employs a variation, micro controller circuit triggers the coil depending on the crank position without needing points. In the process, it generates a 1200 micro seconds (200 -250 micro seconds in other bikes) long spark with 60 milli Joules of energy as seen on some Royal Enfield bikes. Thus with the refined IDI TVS claims apache engine sparks twice as fat and last six times longer than its counterparts. This ensures better combustion (by burning lean mixtures) which means quick response from your apache when you accelerate your apache.
IE surge – Intake Exhaust Resonator:
The second most important technology which powers the Apache is IE surge – the decals (letterings) are nicely placed on the side panels of the Apache. IE surge is nothing but Intake and Exhaust resonator for strong 3500 – 5500 rpm thrust and by this you can reap the benefits of running a large diameter intake and exhaust headers without losing the associated part – throttle response issues. Intake resonator helps to improve the response of the bike. Connected to the air box, the resonator is basically a box which stores air, and then rushes the air to the combustion chamber when the throttle is suddenly opened cutting the ignition lag significantly. Exhaust resonator works like the exhaus-TEC (Torque Expansion Chamber) on Bajaj bikes. Exhaust resonance chamber is fitted on the tuned exhaust to enhance power delivery in the lower reaches of the power band. This technology is to use the exhaust energy thereby ensuring that sufficient levels of torque is available at low engine rpm levels and is optimized to provide torque distribution in the mid and higher range rpm levels.
Next time when you push your apache I believe you can understand what it has!
Car and Bike Insurance Part -3
Part-3
In this part we will see about No Claim Bonus, Malus and special on insurance. If you have been paying the premium without any fail and have made no claim on the own damage section of the policy, insurance companies offers special package for those people called No Claim Bonus.
% of No Claim Bonus deductible on own damage premium – if no claim is made on the preceding year is 20%, for preceding two consecutive years – 25%, for preceding three consecutive years -35%, for preceding four consecutive years – 35%, for preceding five consecutive years – 50%.
At the same time when a vehicle owner lodges claim after an accident, the insurer levies certain percentage on the premium amount from the subsequent year. This is called malus and is 10% for a two year old vehicle and goes up to 50% for a four year old vehicle.
Motor Accidental Claims Tribunal (MACT) ensures compensation for victims even where driver or owner is not at fault. The amount ranges from Rs25,000 per person in case of permanent total disability to Rs50,000 in case of death. In hit and run cases too, the act stipulates a payment of Rs12,500 per person in case of grievous injury and Rs25000 in case of death.
As I promised I will bring you the special on insurance in this post. Last week Economic times posted an article thereby made my job easy.
Motor claims can now find digital solution..
How the Online System works?
The insurer gets all the relevant information required to assess the claim. This way, the insurer can approve the claim within a couple of hours of the car reaching the repairer. In the manual process, this normally takes a few days. The online system will also provide high level break-down of claims statistics to the insurance company. These statistics will be vital in the de-tariff scenario that has started since January ’07.
To provide accurate estimates, the online system needs to have parts prices and labour time data from all car manufacturers. So far in
The online processing solution covers the entire cycle from claims intimation to settlement. The insured benefits by getting claims settled faster and are assured of the accuracy of the estimate. The repairer benefits as he is able to turn around cars faster and the loss assessor or surveyor can conduct more surveys per day and increase productivity while improving on the accuracy of the survey reports. The future is online, the future is integrated.
Extreme Machines -Bugatti Veyron 16.4
In this new section we will see about extreme machines ever developed by human being.
As of now this cars may be for our eyes only due to their hefty price tag (please look at the price after completing the post), but these extreme machines are considered as Ideal ones and helps in designing next generation cars. This kind of machines pricks the mind of the manufacturers to produce incredible machines. Here is one such extreme machine called Bugatti Veyron 16.4 – the fastest, most powerful, most expensive production car in the history of the automotive industry.
Bugatti Veyron 16.4 has the luxury of a Rolls-Royce, the performance of a Formula One car, and the drivability of a Honda. It’s a combination that leaves the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, the Ferrari Enzo, and other wannabes in the dust
Its 8.0-liter 16-cylinder engine has four turbochargers and produces 740 kilowatts (1001 metric horsepower, or 987 hp). And you want torque? How does 1250 newton-meters sound? The car reaches 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds from a standing start, and 300 km/h in 16.7 seconds. It has a top speed of 408 km/h..
The structure is made of carbon fiber and aluminum. The brakes are carbon ceramic, and the exhaust system is titanium. There are 10 radiators to dissipate the engine’s heat. To keep the car on the ground when its winglike shape develops lift at high speeds, there are front and rear air diffusers and a massive rear spoiler that deploys electronically to generate a drag force of 0.6 times the force of gravity. Ride height varies with speed from 125 to 66 mm.
To go beyond 375 km/h (233 mph), the driver must stop the car, insert a special key, and go through a checklist (“Seatbelts, check; oil, check; last will and testament, check”). At top speed, the Veyron runs through a full tank of gas in 12 minutes, for a fuel economy measured in gallons per mile. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates it at 3.846kpl and 7.692kpl in normal city and highway cycles. In average for a kilometer Bugatti Veyron 16.4 needs Rs186. Presumably, though, mileage won’t be a factor in anyone’s purchase of this vehicle, ever. From 400 km/h, the car can stop in 10 seconds, covering more than a kilometer while doing so.
In the rarefied world of the supercar, so-called volume production is measured in hundreds, sometimes just dozens of cars. By that standard, the 300 examples of the Veyron 16.4 that Bugatti Automobiles SAS, of
Bugatti built just 7000 cars between 1909 and 1956, from Grand Prix winners to the legendary Royale ultraluxury car. It seems the greatest of ironies that the storied French marque was revived by Volkswagen, parent company of Skoda and Audi. A pet project of former chairman Ferdinand Piëch, the development of the Veyron took eight years. Industry analysts don’t expect the company to recoup its investment.
But what a glorious piece of engineering it is. Volkswagen should be proud. Perhaps even Ettore Bugatti, a man of immense flamboyance, ego, and engineering genius, would be pleased.
Looking at the cost each Veyron costs about Rs 7.5 crores (you can buy 25 Mercedes Benz C- class for this money). If we are lucky Amitabh or Sachin may buy this car and we can see it on our favourite news channel CNN–IBN or NDTV Its our choice!
update: bugatti veyron special edition(naked) showcases at Frankfurt motor show
Spanish motoGP
Five-time world champion Valentino Rossi got his first win of 2007 and disappointed the home fans as he beat Dani Pedrosa at the Spanish MotoGP.
The Italian started from second on the grid but eased past Spaniard Pedrosa on the opening lap and led throughout. Yamaha’s Rossi finished over a second ahead of Honda’s Pedrosa and Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards of the
World champion Nicky Hayden made a great start from 11th on the grid and got as high as fourth before fading in the latter stages to finish seventh. Stoner, in contrast, got stronger as the race went on and powered past Hayden with seven laps remaining to take fifth behind
Suzuki rider John Hopkins looked sharp as he posted the fastest times in the early laps to move into fifth but the American slid off into the gravel on lap 16.
Pedrosa said: “To be second here is very good. We are on the podium again. I think we did a good weekend and the people here were unbelievable.”
World champion Jorge Lorenzo continued his flawless start to the season with a thrilling victory in the 250cc race.
The 19-year-old Spaniard won a fierce battle with fellow countryman Alvaro Bautista and
Talmacsi led from the start, lost the lead to Pesek on the final lap, but overtook him on the straight to grab the win.
Spanish MotoGP result:
1. Valentino Rossi (
2. Dani Pedrosa (
3. Colin Edwards (US) Yamaha 45:56.041
4. Toni Elias (
5. Casey Stoner (
6. Carlos Checa (
7. Nicky Hayden (US) Honda 46:07.486
8. Marco Melandri (
9. Chris Vermeulen (
10. Shinya Nakano (
250cc race result:
1. Jorge Lorenzo (
2. Alvaro Bautista (
3. Andrea Dovizioso (
125cc race result:
1. Gabor Talmacsi (
2. Lukas Pesek (
3. Hector Faubel (
source:bbc sport
Honda
The Warring Brothers…
Honda’s new sporty Unicorn Vs Hero Honda’s CBZ Xtreme
Note: Both the new versions of Unicorn and CBZ X-Treme are revamped in studio not in the factory
Styling and Power are the deciding factor in the 150cc segment. Recently both these manufacturers are widely criticized for their sticker jobs i.e. their new variants do not feature new engine or any other major revamp in design but with new graphics. Seeing their new models the criticism seems to be true. The new Honda sporty unicorn shed its multi colour and embraces two tone setting with black front forks, clear lens indicator (now seen in most two wheelers) and new sleek graphics. Honda’s limited/special grand prix (GP) version features orange mag wheels (red one is seen in recently launched Karizma) and new graphics. Sadly the new treatment for the unicorn is too little and too late to woo customers.
Hero Honda hopes to revive the CBZ brand with its new CBZ X-Treme. The CBZ was an extremely popular and stylish bike of its times when it was launched in 1999, the bike had no competition in the 150cc segment. But in 2007 Hero Honda knows that it is not going to be easy for to do it again. Hero Honda has concentrated much on design for its new CBZ X-Treme. Both unicorn and CBZ borrows many design cues and features from Karizma. The instrument pod and the overall headlamp assembly of the X-Treme have a more trapezoidal shape looking like Karizma. The new turn indicators have been integrated into the headlamp housing and the tail lamp cluster features a segmented stop and brake light section with the turn indicators built into a single unit that wraps around the brake light’s bottom side. Both these features will help you to save your indicators in busy road condition. LEDs have been used replacing the conventional bulbs and together with the new Bajaj Pulsar 180 DTS-i becomes one of the first bikes to feature this kind of lighting at the rear. X- Treme also features split grab rail first of its kind in indian bikes (also featured in recently launched Pulsar 200cc)
Both X-Treme and Unicorn features a large fuel tank which is more practical with a generous knee recess even for tall riders. Both these bikes also features black alloy wheels, black engine, black chain cover and three gauges – engine rpm meter, speedometer and fuel gauge. Use of chrome on side panels of both X-Treme and Sporty Unicorn demands a compulsive look from the pedestrian. CBZ X- Treme features body coloured rear view mirrors while the new sporty Unicorn retains the same black theme for its mirror. Finally, Unicorn is conservative in styling, whereas X-Treme’s look is stimulating. Also X- Treme gets higher rating than sporty Unicorn when comes to features.
Engine and Powertrain:
Hero Honda tweaked the engine a little bit for its new CBZ whereas the Honda retains the same engine for sporty unicorn. Hero Honda have not tweaked the Achiever-spec motor in basic configuration (bore, stroke, compression are identical), but it has increased the power to 14.2 bhp (first 150 to make more than 14 bhp). The extra grunt ensures the
X-treme makes it more powerful than the Unicorn. X-treme is quicker than Unicorn, Autocar achieved 0-60kph in a quick 5.24 seconds, with 100kph flying past in 18.27sec and a top speed of 113kph with the Xtreme. The vertical format engine, which is assisted by a constant velocity (CV) carburetor, generates a peak torque of 12.8Nm at 8,500 rpm, quite similar to the Unicorn’s engine. Both these bikes features five-speed gearbox – a one down, rest up shift pattern. Unicorn scores over CBZ X- Treme in being economical, Unicorn returns a combined fuel efficiency/mileage of 52kpl as against 48kpl returned by CBZ X-Treme. Unicorn is meant for performance savvy and CBZ X-Treme for power savvy.
The new CBZ X-Treme’s chassis is a tubular, diamond-frame type with a single down tube and a box-section swing arm. The ground clearance is an adequate 145mm. 18-inch mag wheels are offered at the front and the rear of the bike. While the front features a 2.75-inch regular tyre, the rear tyre is 100/90 in size, which has been combined with a Tuff-up tube for the added advantage of a relatively puncture-free performance. I believe every CBZ X-Treme driver will enjoy the riding position. With neat handlebar-to-seat-to peg geometry and comfortable seating position I’m sure that X-Treme rider will be reluctant to get down from the bike. X-Treme with the steeped up pillion seat, carefully placed rear foot rest position and split grab rail it ensures a pleasant experience for pillions too. Both these bikes use telescopic forks at the front. 240mm disc brake at the front and drum brake at the rear are standard features.
Sporty Unicorn apart from the new wider rear tyre and its new badge sporty, it has nothing to match to sports character of CBZ X-Treme. But don’t underestimate the riding character of Unicorn. It is the most solid bike in this segment. Honda’s Unicorn features a diamond-type frame with single down tube, which is more rigid and is yet flexible enough to absorb the shocks that will be thrown up by Indian road conditions. The stiff chassis provides the Unicorn excellent straight-line stability and smooth, confident cornering ability. Mated to this diamond frame, the box section swing arm and the unique mono-suspension at the rear add even greater strength to the Unicorn handling dynamics. X-Treme’s outdated twin hydraulic units for rear suspension is no match to Honda’s mono-shock suspension. Honda’s Unicorn may lack sporty character but its handling ability is superior in its class.
CBZ X-Treme self start is priced at Rs56,500,Honda’s grand prix(GP) version i.e. special/limited edition of Unicorn is priced at Rs59,425 and the sporty version at Rs58,150. (all are ex-showroom price,Delhi)