Why are Tyres Important?
Most drivers know that snow and ice can dramatically affect their safety on the road. Steering, acceleration and braking are more difficult as normal tyres have less grip in these conditions. However, it is not just these extreme wintry conditions which can reduce your safety on the road. Even cold, damp roads can dramatically affect the performance of tyres, leading to an increased accident risk.
Thankfully though, tyre manufacturers have developed a range of winter weather tyres which are specifically designed to operate in these conditions, delivering improved safety throughout the entire winter period.
Hazardous Conditions
While snow and ice present the most obvious hazard to motorists, most drivers change their driving style to suit these conditions.
However, cold, damp roads are visually no different to wet conditions in the warmer months and drivers tend not to adjust their driving style. A tyre's performance though, is significantly reduced by this combination of conditions, making cold damp roads one of the highest safety risks to drivers.
Tyre Technology
Air temperature is a crucial factor in a tyre's ability to perform. When the temperature drops below 7°C, the tread compound in normal tyres begins to harden, providing fewer grips. The tread compound in winter weather tyres contains more natural rubber and advanced silica compounds to minimise the hardening effect, giving extra grip and shorter stopping distances in cold, damp conditions. Together with sophisticated multi-sipe tread patterns, the combination is one that no summer tyre can match, making winter weather tyres the safest option from October through to March, when temperatures rarely rise above 7°C. This especially applies to commuters and business motorists who are on the roads in coldest conditions in the early morning and evening.
Tests some test we found that a car braking at 60mph on a wet road at 5°C stopped five metres shorter, equivalent to more than one car length, when fitted with winter weather tyres.
Checks for all
All drivers, irrespective of whether they fit winter weather tyres or not, should carry out regular checks throughout the winter to ensure their tyres are in the best possible condition for maximum safety.
In winter tread depth should be checked to ensure it is well above the legal minimum of 1.6mm across the central 3/4 of the tyre, around its entire circumference. TyreSafe has developed the 20p test for a simple and quick way to test your tyres' tread depth.
Tyre pressures should be checked at least once a month or before a long journey. Pressures should be checked when the tyres are cold (i.e. travelled less than 2 miles) against the vehicle manufacturers recommended levels.
When checking your tyre pressures, give the rest of the tyre a thorough visual inspection for any signs of damage. Look for any cuts, cracks bulges and remove any embedded objects.
Comparison of temperature dependent braking distance
Honda Cars India's workhorse, the City sedan, is reportedly being prepared for a facelift, and the new vehicle will be displayed at the Auto Expo 2016 in February. Honda Cars India launched the sixth generation of the popular sedan in 2013. The facelift after three years is expected to be more cosmetic and powertrains are expected to remain the same.
A report from Gaadiwaadi.com indicates the new City will be inspired by the Crider sedan available in the Chinese market. The thick horizontal slat at the grille which is part of new design language of Honda will be untouched in the facelift while the headlamps and bumpers will be tweaked in line with the design of Honda Jazz hatchback. The rear of the facelift is expected to sport C-shaped tail lamps and the reverse light and indicators are placed in the middle.
The interior will feature 15.7cm touchscreen, automatic climate control system, audio and handsfree telephone controls, paddle shift, cruise control, electric sunroof and sat-nav system. On safety front the facelift is expected to feature ABS with EBD, rear parking sensor, anti-theft alarm, child safety locks and front and side impact beams.
The City facelift will carry over the 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine that develops 117bhp and 145Nm of torque mated to five-speed manual and CVT gearbox. The 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel engine develops 99bhp and 200Nm of torque mated to six-speed manual transmission.
The current City models are retailed at Rs 8-13 lakh, and the facelift is expected to make the car pricier by Rs 20,000-25,000.
In recent times, the price of petrol and diesel has stopped rising; however; it is still a good amount when running a petrol car. The fuel economy is the only negative aspect about the petrol cars. Normally, the oil burners are 20-30 per cent more fuel efficient than the gasoline units.
HERE ARE A FEW FUEL SAVING TIPS FOR PETROL CAR DRIVERS ARE
1. Drive slow
We know that the main reason behind buying a petrol car is the quick pick up and acceleration, but the car driver needs to be moderate with the car to achieve maximum fuel economy. We advised you to drive with just about 20 per cent throttle input.
2. Drive smartly, don't look for peak torque
Logically, the car will offer best fuel economy figures at peak torques. However, this will work only when the driver reaches the cruising speed. The petrol cars offer good accelerations even on half the peak torque on flat surfaces. Use your gears to gain momentum and fuel efficiency.
3. Don't brake hard
It is very important for one to anticipate his or her stops, instead of revving or brake hard. Once you understand your braking point, let off your throttle completely. This will allow the car to use the engine braking to slow down, which helps in achieving high fuel economy.
4. Switch off the engine while idling
If your car stays idle on a traffic light or some other place for more than one minute, it is recommended to switch off the engine to reduce fuel consumption.
5. Intelligent use of air conditioning
Sensible use of the air-con will save a bit of fuel. If the car driver takes off from a traffic light, we recommend switch off the AC compressor and then accelerate. Only switch your AC on once cruising speed is achieved.
6. Don't drive in rush hours
Every time you stop and start the car in traffic, your car will require first gear that results in high fuel consumption.
7. Close the windows and sunroof on highways
This will reduce the aerodynamic drag, and helps in achieving high fuel economy.
8. Don't carry huge cargo
The unnecessary weight or cargo will increase the weight of the car. Higher the weight of your car, lesser will be the mileage.
9. Regular check of tyre pressure
One needs to maintain optimal tyre pressure. The lower the tyre pressure, the more petrol the car will require for acceleration.
10. Regular servicing
We recommend you to keep your car serviced regularly and keep your car air filter, spark plug and injectors clean.
Brio from Honda has been christened as the Best Built Car of 2015 in India. Latest study done by J.D Power explains the different manufacturing qualities of the vehicle and how it has been improved significantly in the past 5 years.
The study shows the areas pertaining to the defects and malfunctions of over 200 problem and symptoms covering eight different category vehicles.
The study shows the areas pertaining to the defects and malfunctions of over 200 problem and symptoms covering eight different category vehicles.
The study done by JD Power is now in its 19th year and is titled ‘J.D. Power 2015 India Initial Quality Study SM (IQS)’. This study is based on the evaluation from 8,438 vehicle owners who recently purchased a new car between November 2014 and July 2015. Furthermore, 69 vehicles models from 17 makes are also a part of the study.
The new study came into picture in 30 cities of the country between May-September 2015. It intensely examines the issues that the owner experiences in first 2-6 months of taking an all new vehicle to home. And further it investigates more than 200 problem symptoms, such as the HVAC, Engine and transmission, Vehicle exteriors, Vehicle interiors, features, controls, displays, Seats, Driving Experience, audio, entertainment and navigation.
All these problems are concatenated based on the number of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), with the lower PP Score denoting a lower incidence of problems and better initial quality, while the problems that are related to malfunctions and defects accounting for 52 of the total PP100, 26 PP100 decline since 2011. Apart from this, all the design related problems like the feature that is difficult to use and excessive fuel consumption are at 36 PP100 in 2015, down marginally from 38 PP100 in 2011.
According to the rankings, Hyundai Eon got 78 PP100, Hyundai i10 received 83 PP100, Honda Brio 41 PP100, Hyundai Elite i20/ Active 61 PP100, Toyota Etios 82 PP100, Honda City 68 PP100, Toyota Innova 44 PP100, and Ford Ecosport measured 75 PP100. Among the new owners who experience fewer problems against the assumptions, 71 % of them said that they definitely would recommend the car model to all the family and friends. On the other hand, only 34 % from those facing more problems than their expectations said, that they definitely would recommend the vehicles to others.
View Honda Brio Interior Features | View Honda Brio Exterior Features
Mr. Mohit Arora, Executive Director, J.D. Power, Singapore said that the auto market overall has achieved significant strides for improving the quality of Vehicles and dramatically reducing the malfunctions and defects. This shows that the manufacturing capabilities of the automakers in the country. He also said that these early problems set the route for the entire ownership period and still shows effect years later when the customers replace their cars.
Mr. Arora added that it would be prudent for the automakers to focus on quality, problems related to design and manufacture best in class vehicle ownership experience and improve buyer’s advocacy and loyalty. He noted that styling, quality, reliability are among the top purchases decision factors that one sees while choosing a vehicle and problems experienced in the first 6 months of the ownership can affect repurchase decision.
Talking about the Honda Brio model, the vehicle is very well designed and looks quite trendy and peppy. The front flaunts a wide radiator grille and halogen lights. Dimensionally, the car measures about 3610 mm in length, 1680 mm width, 1500 mm in height and opts a wheelbase of 2345 mm. Coming to the interiors, the cabin is colored in beige and the seats are very comfy. The car also equips DVD player, USB, Aux-in port and Bluetooth connectivity. Safety elements are the anti-lock braking system, seat belt reminder, engine immobilizer and supplemental restraint system.
Mechanically, it works on a 1.2-liter petrol mill that can generate the power output of 86.8 bhp and a peak torque of 109 Nm. Moreover, the automatic transmission gives a mileage figure of 13.3 kmpl and manual transmission provides the fuel efficiency of 16.2 kmpl.
Honda has recently unveiled its India-bound BR-V Crossover/SUV at the on-going 2015 Thailand International Motor Show. The vehicle is expected to make its debut in India at the upcoming 2016 Auto Expo in February. Honda first unveiled the BR-V prototype at the GIIAS auto show in Indonesia, where the car will be launched before coming to the Indian market. New Honda BR-V is based on the Brio platform and will lock horns with Creta, Tata Safari, Mahindra Scorpio, Renault Duster and Nissan Terrano in the segment.
UPCOMING HONDA BR-V EXTERIOR
On the exterior front, new BR-V borrows some of the design cues from Mobilio and is based on the same platform as Brio and Amaze.
Though, aesthetically, the vehicle can be referred to as Mobilio, but looks quite different and appealing. Starting from its front façade, the car gets chrome designed radiator grille, angular headlamps and the wide air intakes for better cooling. On the side which looks similar to the Mobilio, it includes large windows and the car rides on a set of 16-inch diamond cut alloy wheels. At rear, small antenna on the roof is placed and LED incorporated taillamps are connected with the thin strip. On the dimension front, the car measures about 4455 mm in length, 1735 mm in width, 1650 mm in height and sports wheelbase of 2660 mm.
UPCOMING HONDA BR-V INTERIOR
Talking about the interiors, new BR-V is a mix of City and Jazz. It will be a seven seater vehicle with 3-row seating arrangement.
Seats are covered in a fine upholstery where third row comes in a 50:50 folding mechanism. Dashboard adapts the all-black theme while the advanced features include large touchscreen infotainment unit and HVAC controls placed below the unit. Moreover, the Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Anti-lock braking system, Hill Start Assist, rear Air conditioner, Vehicle stability Assist and Dual Front airbags are there in the vehicle for better safety.
Mechanically, new BR-V is expected to be offered in both petrol and diesel engine options that are currently available in Mobilio and City.
It will get a 1.5-litre i-VTEC mill that can generate the power output of 119 bhp and a peak torque of 145Nm. Another motor fitted in the BR-V is the 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel that can churn out the power of 99 bhp and a peak torque of 200 Nm. The mill comes coupled with a standard six-speed manual gearbox.
On the other hand, the petrol motor will get a new CVT automatic gearbox. The new BR-V will be offered in 6 different color patterns, they are the Passion Red Pearl, Crystal Black Pearl, Misty Green Pearl, Taffeta White, Lunar Silver Metallic and modern Steel Metallic. The vehicle will be launched with heavy localization in India to keep the price competitive, however, the price range is expected to fall between INR 8 lac to INR 12 lac.
Honda BR-V in India might fill up the unexpected sales space left by Mobilio MPV.
With the rising concern of safety, the Indian buyers are looking for safer cars with standard basic safety features like dual airbags and ABS. Some Car manufacturer offer two air bags and ABS in all variants. In reaction, Government too is going to make these safety features compulsory in the coming two years or so. But, there is a good number of non-ABS cars existing in the country and hard braking in such vehicles is always risky, so here are a few things that you can keep in mind while braking till you buy your next car that should definitely have an ABS system.
BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE, WHAT DOES AN ABS DO?
ABS - Anti-lock Braking System
ABS works on a simple principle of keeping the wheels rotating irrespective of the driving conditions. This is done so that a car could only be steered if the wheels are not locked and are rotating. As in the locked wheel scenario, the contact patch stays still and the car goes straight irrespective of the fact that one is turning the steering wheel or not. An ABS unit gets sensors that monitor wheel lock and as soon as they sense such condition they actuate a servo that overrides the pedal response given by the driver and makes the pads constantly grab and release the brake disc so as to keep the wheel moving.
This is the reason why ABS makes high speed turns safer to execute even if the driver is braking in the curve itself. The wheels don’t lock and the vehicle will complete the curve, otherwise it will just go straight. Ahh! there is no better way to explain this than the following pictorial, yes it's the same annoying one that we see in every car manufacturers website or newspaper commercial.
Prevention is better than Cure!
Always keep three things in mind while in a non ABS car. First, the car doesn’t have ABS, second, the car doesn’t have ABS and third the car doesn’t have ABS. So for these three discrete reasons never go over speeding. As things happen in a fraction of second and a mere difference in the speed of vehicle could either reduce the damage or escalate it to some serious levels, at times fatal. A vehicle involved in an accident at 40 km/h will see less than half the damage than the same vehicle involved in an accident at 60 km/h.
Despite these measures, I mean by staying in the speed limits, there are certain situations that may require hard braking and executing some steering maneuvers also. But, the loss of control over the vehicle could be avoided if you have a good practice.
How to Brake safe?
Know your car
The first step is understanding the braking of your car and by that I mean at what depression of the pedal the wheels tend to lock. This is usually down to the bite of the brakes, most of the cars have a progressive bite, while others have a frequent bite which tend to lock on a very less pedal input. By knowing this you will be able to analyse that at what particular speed and pedal depression the wheels will lock, so that you can release the pedal again, in order to keep the wheels rotating. Practice this by observing your pedal inputs and this will help you stay normal and in control if something unexpected happens.
Use the engine
Engine braking is a very effective thing to bring into your braking habits. It is frequently used in off-roading for safely climbing down an incline while keep the vehicle engaged in low ratio gears and not using the brake pedal. However, the engine braking mentioned here is different from that in off roading (explained in infographic). It has three benefits.
One- it takes the whole load of braking off the brakes and distributes it evenly with the engine. Consequently, the wheels are less likely to lock when the brake pedal input is gentle as engine will keep the wheels powered.
Two- it relieves the use of clutch frequently and hence the clutch plate will last longer.
Three- as the load is divided the brake pads will also last longer.
Pumping the brakes
Pumping the brake pedal gently mimics the same action as given by the ABS, as said earlier the ABS unit frequently grabs and releases the brake disc so as to keep the wheel in motion. This is very effective at speeds close to 90 kmph also, but the brake pedal has to be pumped gently, otherwise it could be intimidating for you and the other vehicles on road. This pumping could be better defined as squeezing the pedal till the limit when it just starts to skid and then withdrawing the foot and then again squeezing the pedal, repeating this till you feel that the vehicle is now in control. To know when the wheels are going to lock up you have to follow the “know your car” point.
Practice makes one perfect and in case of cars practice will also help you keep away from panics in emergency situations. A mind that could think in emergency situation will help you apply these techniques efficiently and will make your driving safer.
And even if your car does have ABS, these few things will help you stay more focused on the drive, thereby making it more effective over time. Though, with an ABS fitted car you have to omit the pumping-the-brakes step and just press the pedal in a planted manner.
Honda has always been at the top of the heap, whether you’re considering aspirational value, quality of sales and service, or simply sales numbers. Honda cars have set a benchmark when it comes to the overall car in a given segment. The City is no exception. Honda City held the crown for the best mid-sizer for years. Buying Honda City is good option in Sedan Category.
HERE ARE 10 THINGS ABOUT THE HONDA CITY THAT YOU MUST KNOW.
Origin
This is the fourth generation of the Honda City. The first came out in 1996, the second in 2002, and the third in 2008. The first was based on a modified Civic platform but the second and the third generation Citys, like the current fourth generation one uses the same platform as the Honda Jazz.
Styling
The All New Honda City is more of an evolution in terms of design. One can spot similarities between the third and the fourth generation cars in the outside door handles as well as the length and width of the cars. The design overall, though more dynamic, resembles the third generation car quite closely. It also uses similar wheel and tyre sizes.
Interior
Inside, the fourth generation Honda City is dramatically different. It looks edgier and more current than the insides of the outgoing car. We particularly like the high gloss finish around the dashboard, the easy to read clocks and the use of touchscreen interface for the stereo and air on functioning. The visibility, given the overall design hasn't changed dramatically, will be as good as the older car. The new City overall feels plusher than the old one, for sure.
Equipment
The fourth generation Honda City gets an armrest and air con vents for the rear passengers. There's also a bottle holder on each rear door adding to convenience. Upfront, apart from the touchscreen audio system with Bluetooth connectivity, the new City also gets usable and info-rich instrument cluster, keyless push-button start, a sunroof, rear parking camera, electric ORVMs with fold function and conveniently located cup and bottle holders. It also gets ABS and driver and front passenger airbags.
Space
The fourth Generation City hasn't grown in size. It still measures 4440mm in length and 1695mm in width. However, the wheelbase has increased by a significant 50mm taking the figure to 2600mm. The previous City was already one of the more spacious cars in its class, but now with the longer wheelbase, Honda claims, the City will comfortably be the most spacious car in its class. In terms of rear kneeroom, shoulder room as well as head room, the City truly does impress. It's quite spacious upfront too. And the boot, as was the case with the previous car, is reasonably big and usable.
Engines
The new City will come 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines. The 1.5L i-DTEC, India’s most fuel efficient diesel engine, gives an unparalleled mileage of 26.0 kmpl and max power of 100 ps. Available in the new 6 Speed MT, it’s an all aluminium construction that runs on low friction technology and thus, lets you explore the farthest corners with perfect efficiency.
The refined 1.5L i-VTEC petrol engine strikes a perfect balance by providing an impressive power of 119 ps combined with a mileage of 17.8 kmpl in the manual transmission. The new Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) with torque converter, on the other hand, offers unsurpassed economy of 18.0 kmpl and boasts of being more fuel efficient than any other manual in its segment.
Gearbox
The City will come with the option of two gearboxes. The diesel powered City will only get a five speed manual. The petrol powered version though will get both a 5-speed manual as well as a CVT transmission. The shift quality for manuals will be crisp, short-throw and effortless. The clutch effort will be low too making the City an easy car to drive around town.
Variants
Expect three trim levels per engine option – E, S, SV, V and VX. The base version – E – will not get all the equipment the show car had on display. Things like the sunroof for instance will be missing on the base version. The top two versions meanwhile will be handsomely equipped for their class and will be armed with comfortable and spacious seats.
Pricing
The All New City is more spacious, better equipped and clearly more modern than the car it replaces. It is also to be dynamically better sorted. All New Honda City cost around 7.60 Lakhs Petrol Variant and 8.80 Lakhs Diesel Variant.
Availability
Honda All New City car is available at our Solitaire Honda Showrooms in Mumbai.
