The Tata Nano - the force behind their smallest offering!

(Source: Tata Motrs)

What a journey it has been for TATA Motors. From launching its modern car offering in the form of the Tata Indica in 1998 to the recent brouhaha over its latest baby, the TATA Nano; Tata Motors have truly come a long way! From the tiny Nano to the purring cats in the house of Jaguar, few would disagree over the fact that TATA Motors can be said to have well and truly arrived onto the automotive scene. They have always made it a point to support their products with some apt advertising.Travel back to 1998 and their promises of " more car per car"  and "more smiles per hour" come to mind. Even with their latest genration Vista and the Manza, they have supported them with some pretty strong adverts.

                                                                            (YouTube)

But perhaps their strongest challenge has only just arrived. All know of the birthing pangs surrounding their smallest baby, the Nano. A darling of the critics and the automotive biggies, it has somehow failed to set the sales charts on fire. In-fact, their November sales have been their lowest ever! And the giant is showing signs of a fightback...In good 'ol TATA fashion, there have been a flurry of adverts in the past few weeks. The latest one has one slight twist... In a departure from their humorous ways, the latest Nano advert is designed to pull at the heart-strings. For all those who are still not convinced, take a look at the video above. 

The Eight Cylinder wonder of the SL-Series!

(Source: Mercedes-Benz)

Idolized by people the world over, two-seater sports-car's are practically every teenagers dream. While the makes and models would vary, most automobile centre-folds have revolved around some variant of the other of this quintessential automotive form. It was the summer of 1971, when the Mercedes-Benz 350 SL rolled out of the Mercedes-Benz gates at Stuttgart. This marked the birth of the '107 Series'. Distinguishing itself from the previous runs of the 'SL' line-up was the one thing that mattered, the Engine. Yes, my friends, this was the first one to feature an eight-cylinder power-plant under its long, slender hood.

(Source: Mercedes-Benz)

 In its eighteen years of existence from the summer of 1971 to the end of 1989, this strong, self-confident, imposing open-top vehicle had become a legend. Exuding elegance and quality, the best-in-class crash characteristics made this one of the safest two-seaters out on the open road. And the icon would have turned out rather differently if the debates of 1968 were anything to go by. So intense were the discussions that their Development Head, Hans Scherenberg had to fight tooth and nail for the SL to go topless and feature an additional removable hard-top for inclement weather.

(Source: Mercedes-Benz)

Following the clamour for the coupé, the Body Design Head, presented a rough draft of a four seater coupé. This was fastracked into production and the four-seater sports coupé debuted six months later towards the end of 1971. While the SL-107 Series led to the introduction of many pioneering safety features in this series; it was the promise of open-top motoring in the starved US market, that basically led to high sales. The SL face that dominated the front end, the headlamps all exuded a powerful aura around the model. The grooves on the tail-lamps were another important feature. Not only were they distinctive in their design, but the ribbing also kept them from soiling.

(Source: Mercedes-Benz)

Even the folding-top was designed around the twin pillars of comfort and efficiency. Disappearing and appearing in a mere 30 seconds, once folded, it neatly disappeared underneath a cover. Small details like the dirt-repelling external mirror-covers that enhanced visibility and the wind-deflecting A-pillar mouldings were just the kind of things that one would expect from Mercedes-Benz.

(Source: Mercedes-Benz)

This is why, a well kept SL-Roadster or the Coupe, turns heads every where it goes, whatever part of the world that may be!

Mercedes-Benz BIOME Concept - A Natural Synergy

                         
                          (Source: Mercedes-Benz) 

The designers at the Mercedes—Benz Advanced Design Studios, located at the coastal resort city of Carlsbad in Southern California have truly gone way beyond their brief and designed a concept that is truly symbiotic with nature. Drawing inspiration from the life-cycle and the ecosystem, their BIOME concept is organic in the truest sense of the word. 

 

(Source: Mercedes-Benz) 

Hubert Lee, Head of the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios has likened the BIOME concept as something to the leaves on a tree. He was justifiably proud when he said that the Mercedes-Benz BIOME concept was conceived as a natural technology hybrid, that forms part of the Earth's eco-system. After all, it was Mercedes-Benz that is considered to be the parent of the automobile as we know it.

   

   (Source: Mercedes-Benz) 

Through the BIOME concept, Mercedes-Benz have illustrated the vision of the perfect vehicle of the future which is created to function in perfect synergy with nature. Crafted from an ultralight material called 'BioFibre', the BIOME concept barely tickles the weighing scales (in automotive speak) at a mere 394 odd Kg. Don't be fooled by its flyweight however, as 'BioFibre' is more robust than steel. It is grown (yes, that's correct) in Mercedes-Benz's own nursery from a proprietary DNA. It functions by collecting energy from the sun and storing it in a bio-chemical bond called 'BioNectar 4534'.

                             
                         (Source: Mercedes-Benz)


It is this 'BioNectar 4534', stored in the 'BioFibre' material of the chassis, interior and wheels. Mercedes-Benz have also devised a way to use trees as solar energy trappers using natural receptors. This strengthens the bond between nature and the BIOME concept while acting as a catalyst to cover mobility energy requirements the environmentally friendly way and encouraging the conservation of natural resources.

Automotive Security: From Inflatables to Satellites

The year is 1910 and auto robberies are on the rise. A certain Mr. Bosco of Ohio has just wasted $5 on an ignition locking device that failed to prevent a determined thief to take the Bosco jalopy on a joy-ride.

Now, Mr. Bosco didn't quite take it kindly that the thief could take off with his ride in spite of having spent on an anti-theft deterrent device. In his rage, he had this brainwave that there is no better deterrent for a car thief than seeing a human in the car.

                                          (Source: canoe.ca)

So Mr. Bosco launched the 'Bosco Collapsible Driver'. An inflatable imitation of Charlie Chaplin, the 'Collapsible Driver' was meant to be put away once the owner had returned to the vehicle. Now, the adverts of that time really tried hard to convince the general public that the 'Bosco Collapsible Driver' was the best thing to happen to a driver trying to save his car from robbers.

The 'Bosco Inflatable Driver Co.' sadly had to fold up within two years of opening shop, perhaps due to the fact that one could only have as many inflatables in cars. But it is rumoured to have laid the building blocks of the automotive security industry.

                                      (Source: microvbb.net)



These days, we have security solutions that enable tracking of your precious vehicle using the entire communication network. Tracking the whereabouts via satellite in real time, you even receive updates on your cell phone at pre-determined intervals, to keep you relaxed about the location of your prized possession at all times.

As the digitization of our lives continues to grow in leaps and bounds, who knows what awaits us in our quest to keep our wheels safe...

City Roads - A roller-coaster ride

                                      (Source: Google Images)

You just gotta love the powers that head the Public Works Department in this crazy city fondly known as Bombay. Many a times I have wondered if they have their own magic carpets to waft around the city or do they have some sort of 'floo-network', a la Mr Potter.

                                   (Source: Google Images)

For I have never for one understood their twisted sense of humour, if it may be called so. The tarmac in this wonderful city has been under constant attack from myriad clueless agencies who come to work with a showel and an axe to pick. The planning boffins may have even been buried under a few feet of cobwebs by now, so long have they been absent from the city scape.

It truly is difficult to digest that the richest Municipal corporation in the entire country cannot provide its tax paying citizens some decent tarmac. The latest such example being the lovely idea of paving entire roads and junctions with interlocking cement blocks.

                                 (Source: Google Images)

Just ask the common man and you will realize why this was not such a great idea. But NO! The wonderful powers that be in the BMC decided to go ahead and do just that. Entire budgets were poured into lining the city streets with these paver blocks. Tarmac that could have been restored and maintained at a fraction of the cost was uprooted and these ugly things put in place.

The result? A bumpy and harsh ride that kills the backs of the citizens of this city. A health hazard and a nightmare for the poor drivers who navigate through the bumps and the sharp edges. And a city that curses its way 24/7 while it nurses its wounds.

                                   (Source: Google Images)

A cabbie recently told me - "Saab - Yeh BMC waale hai naa, hum log ko Essel World ki seher roz karaana chaahate hai, isliye yeh raaste aisi haalat mein chodte hai" Translation - The BMC wants us citizens to have a roller coaster ride similar to the ones available at Essel World, that's why they give us such roads!

Wake-Up Call!

                                    (Source: Google Images)


Its eight in the morning and the middle of the week. At a busy intersection somewhere in the suburban heart of the city that never sleeps, people are in their own world. Hurrying about to meet their daily commitments, they are unmindful of the fact that their life is tied to making it onto the 8.13 train! Meanwhile, back on the streets, its rush hour. In the networked world of today when everyone is said to be wired into the other; one incident made me question the entire situation.

A lady struggling to cross the street. Auto-rick guys, two-wheeler riders and car-drivers all swerve without bothering to allow the lady to cross. How much time does it take to pause a bit.... not much, but then again, the people are in some mad dash to get somewhere important. Eventually, she does manage to make it to the central median.

Something about her doesn't seem right. Everyone fails to notice her struggle. And then it happens. She trips and falls right in the path of the oncoming traffic. People watch, vehicles swerve around her. A few even have the gall to hurl abuses at her. Its as if everyone is engrossed in some cheap reality show. A young lady shows up, helps her to her feet and escorts her to the safety of the street curb.

People now snap out of their stupor and continue with their lives as if nothing ever happend. A newspaper guy begins to chide her for even attempting to cross the street. Yet another misguided soul comes up and mutters about why is it that some people just don't stay at home when unwell. The lady in discomfort finally pays heed to her samaritan and her assistant; and agrees to return home to rest!

Then comes another ordeal. The assistant is pleading with various rick-guys to help take an injured lady home. The heartless buffoons just swerve away with their meters half flagged. Finally one kind guy stops, hears the tale and whisks her away to safety.

That's it. A FIVE minute slice of life in the great city of blinding lights. Touted as the city that never sleeps, it was saddening to know that most people were caught napping in their apathy!

The V-12 (Vee Twelve) - An endangered breed...

                                    Source: taylorpatterson

As far as automotive nirvana goes, having a V-Badged car is an assured way to knowing that you have something special under the hood. A peculiar thing about this family is their equal numbered cylinders in the quest for balance and power. Starting with the V6, they reach their zenith with the most superlative of them all, the Beast! Reverently called so because of the huge lump of power that they exude, they are also called upon to power some of the most insane set of wheels in the world. In today's times of political and environmental correctness, this particular species of power-plants is a fast disappearing rarity. So rare is their appearance these days that they have gained their place in the endangered species of power-plants list.

                                     Source: motorwerksgroup

Mercedes-Benz have always been staunch believers in the power of the V-engine (Vee) design. It was back in the early nineties when they unleashed their flagship 6.0-liter V12 beast on the motoring world. Internally referred to as the M 120 Engine, it was a path-breaking design for Mercedes-Benz. Not only was it their first series-produced twelve-cylinder Mercedes-Benz passenger car, but also the most powerful Mercedes-Benz car engine of its day. The power and torque figures were rated at 300 kW (408 hp) and 580 NM respectively, with a staggering 500 NM of it available at just 1600 clicks! For some V12 aural nirvana, watch the short clip below.

              Source: Youtube

The beast was kitted up with four-valve tech, a variable intake cam and a sophisticated electronic injection system with a hot-wire air mass sensor. All this high tech wizardry were in cahoots with each-other to try and keep both, exhaust emissions as well as fuel consumption down to a minimum. To put things into perspective for you, each cylinder had over 300 customized ignition maps with knock limiting in each case and were managed together by the ignition system! In-fact, the M-120 was the only twelve cylinder engine in the world to feature this sophisticated cylinder-selective anti-knock control. 

                                 Source: motorwerksgroup

The high compression ratio that was a result of all this tech-wizardry meant that engine and drive management would need to be looked at afresh. So, the control modules communicated via a common data channel, thereby rendering them jointly active. This feature made it possible for the rapid warming of the catalytic converters despite cold starts; it enabled the vehicle to find its grip on slippery surfaces via Acceleration Skid Control and a new engine friction torque control feature that allowed it to power out of slippery situations. 

                                      Source: benzworld

And the V12 saga continued with it offering the world’s largest catalytic converter unit for passenger cars. With a seven-litre volume, in order to avoid any excess fuel consumption on account of the catalytic converter, it ensured a high degree of long-term stability. An innovative design was used to create double and triple walled manifolds and pipes in the exhaust system. Together with these, the ceramic catalytic converters were embedded in insulating expandable matting.  This allowed them to reach their optimum operating temperature in a very short time, thereby aiding emissions control as well as controlling fuel consumption.

                                           Source: 500Sec

This beast of an engine has gone on to power some of the most special cars in the Mercedes-Benz family. Of these it is the W140 SEL 600, the most special of them all. A favourite of the most powerful people in the world, today these behemoths are being cared for by dedicated aficionados all over the globe.