Showing posts with label Cars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cars. Show all posts

Tato Nano Cars went on fire




In what is surely the first blemish ever since wonder car Tata Nano started rolling on the roads, Tata Motors today said it may order a pre-emptive audit check of all 7,500 Nanos despatched so far, taking into account the three incidents of the car catching fire in the last one month. A Nano caught fire in Ahmedabad last month followed by two similar incidents in Lucknow and Delhi yesterday that put serious doubts on the safety aspect of the vehicle.

Delhi-based Sunil Kumar Panwanda claimed his daughter parked the car outside his home early afternoon on Tuesday but the car was on fire after three hours. Panwanda is livid with the company. “I had bought the car for my children and they are now terrified of driving it,” he told TV channel CNBC TV18. “I want the company to refund my money and take back the vehicle.”

Ahmedabad’s Ravindra Bhagat had a similar experience and is now of the belief that a bigger car is better. “I bought the car because Ratan Tata drove and introduced it. I thought this small car will be convenient for daily use in the city. Now, I feel it is better to drive a big car. Even if I get a replacement, I will not accept it,” he told the channel.

But the company played down the incidents saying there was no technical or design fault with the car but only short circuits. “There is no question of recalling any of the cars as there is no technical or design fault with the car. This is not a generic problem,” he added.

Suzuki Swift Plug-In hybrid at Tokyo Car Show



Suzuki is unveiling a Swift with a Plug-In hybrid and a Suzuki SX4-FCW hydrogen drive under the slogan: “Small Cars for a Big Future” at the Tokyo Motor Show .

The Swift Plug-In is designed for short city trips with a petrol-driven generator in addition loading the battery of the electric engine. The battery can also be connected to an electric household socket that gives the car a range of 20 km on one charge.

The model, which is just a concept at this point, uses a 660 cc engine, sourced from a kei car. The engine charges the lithium-ion batteries, which are placed between the front seats – we suspect they extend into the middle of the rear seat as well. The batteries power a 54 kW motor that moves the front wheels.

Suzuki is also showcasing the SX4-FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicle) with a a fuel cell unit designed by General Motors. The high-pressure hydrogen fuel tank has been designed by the Japanese manufacturer with additional energy coming from brake regeneration.

Suzuki is currently carrying out field tests with the SX4 for possible serial production.