Indian Automotive mission 2006-2016

India's 10-year Automotive Mission Plan (AMP) 2006-2016 is out. Envisaging auto sector investments of $40 billion, the plan aims at enabling the country as a global automobile player in the next decade.

Accordingly, it would chart out a road map for the government and auto industry to achieve a turnover for the sector to increase to $145 billion by 2016, up from the current $35 billion, accounting for 10 per cent of GDP, said reports.

With India's auto sector exports seeking a raise of at least $35 billion if the nation is to be a substantial player in the global market, the auto sector needs around $40 billion investment. This would ensure employment to about 25 million people by 2016, it has been forecast.read more on www.dhi.nic.in/draft_automotive_mission_plan.pdf

Bosch new Smart Electronic start stop system

Bosch has developed an electronic system that will help in reducing fuel consumption by switching off the combustion engine when the vehicle is stationary, particularly during traffic jams or at traffic signals.This and other systems supplied by Bosch will also help reduce CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions further. The technology is stated to have been used in production at BMW.

M&M is the first indian automobile industry to use it in its models.The device switches the engine off when the vehicle is stationary, and starts it again automatically as soon as the driver wishes to move off again.The Bosch system reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by as much as eight per cent.

For the Bosch start-stop approach, developers have designed a specially adapted starter, the Smart Starter Motor. There is no need for any further adjustments to the drive train or the engine.

All new Kappa engine....

Hyundai launched a new 'i10', powered by a 1.2 litre Kappa engine, priced between Rs 3.99 lakh-Rs 5.43 lakh. The company has invested $421 million in research and development of the Kappa engine.The engine, developed in 48 months, would be launched in five variants of ‘i10’ such as Magna, SportZ, Asta, Asta Option, and Automatic, which will have sunroof, 2-din audio system and other special features.Kappa is the eleventh in its series of gasoline engines to be independently developed with Hyundai technology. The new fuel–saving power unit the Kia Kappa engine uses new technologies that cut weight and friction to boost fuel economy.Its some of salient features are -

• The new Kia Kappa engine manages a 5.0L/100km (47 mpg) fuel economy in a combined cycle and emits 119g/km of CO2 which is the lowest figure in its class. The Kia Kappa engine develops 80 PS at 5,200 rpm and 11.4 kgm of torque at 4,000 rpm in the 1.2 version. The Kia Kappa engine will power the i10, i20 A– and B–segment cars and has the lowest dry weight 82.4 kg. The new engine will be built at the Chennai plant in India.
• Hyundai´s i10 minicar with a 1.25 liter Kappa engine will deliver a fuel economy rating of 5.0L/100km (47 mpg) in the European combined test
• The engine block is made from high pressure die–cast aluminum which results in considerable weight savings.
• Weighing a mere 82.4kg is the lightest in its class among leading European and Japanese–made engines .
• Kappa´s main block features a ladder frame construction for superior structural stiffness while its cylinders are fitted with cast–iron liners for improved abrasion durability. Additional weight was shaved off by integrating the engine support bracket with the timing chain cover.
• The most significant engineering innovation is Kappa´s offset crankshaft. Unlike a conventional engine where the centreline of the cylinder bore is in perfect vertical alignment with the rotating axis of the crankshaft, the Kappa´s centreline is offset by a small distance. By creating this offset distance, engineers have succeeded in minimizing the side force created by the pistons. The net effect is an improvement in fuel consumption and a reduction in noise, vibration and harshness.
• The innovative piston concept to reduce piston mass. The shape of the piston skirt was optimized to reduce its size while the compression height of the piston was also reduced, resulting in precious weight savings.
• The optimized piston skirt is also treated with Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS2), a special anti–friction coating.
• A highly sophisticated process of Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) is used to apply an ultra–thin layer of chromium nitride (CrN) to the piston´s oil ring. CrN ensures high wear resistance and a low friction coefficient. CrN–coated piston rings using PVD is an innovative technology borrowed from the Tau V8 engine that Hyundai introduced earlier this year. Friction between the oil ring and cylinder wall has been further minimized by reducing the oil ring tension. The smaller mass and special surface treatment of the piston skirt and oil rings yielded additional savings in fuel consumption.
• Kappa is the first Hyundai engine to be fitted with an accessory drive belt which does not require a mechanical auto–tensioning adjustment device, reducing the hardware and further lowering weight and cost. Because it is designed to maintain an ideal tension setting, the belt runs quieter and with proper preventative maintenance and care, the belt will last 100,000 miles.
• Kappa uses a new, longer reach spark plug which enabled engineers to enlarge the size of the water jacket to promote more efficient engine cooling around the critically important spark plug and exhaust port area. Cooler operation also prevents engine knocking.
• The long reach spark plug (M12 thread) also enabled engineers to enlarge the valve diameter for increased airflow and combustion efficiency.
• Kappa´s valvetrain features a number of innovations: roller swing arm lowers friction in the valvetrain thereby helping improve fuel efficiency. Hydraulic lash adjusters ensure clearances between the valve stem and roller swing arm are always perfect: zero, eliminating valve tapping noise.
• A new valve spring features an innovative beehive shape and smaller retainer. Its reduced weight and spring load help lower friction and improve fuel economy.
• Kappa´s valvetrain is driven by a silent–type steel timing chain that replaces roller–type timing chain: The optimized design greatly reduces impact forces and noise when the gear tooth and chain engage. Moreover, the chain requires absolutely no maintenance.
• A lightweight, heat–resistant engineering plastic was specified for the intake manifold. This reduces cost and weight and yields an overall performance improvement.
• The fuel delivery pipe assembly is a returnless type (to eliminate evaporative fuel emissions) and is made of SUS (steel use stainless) with an innovative inner structure for the reduction of pulsation noise.
• Kappa is controlled by two 16–bit 32Mhz microprocessors for digitally precise control of the ignition timing, idle speed, knocking and emissions.

This is what mekes it interesting..............

Electric indica...

Tata Motors’ electric version of Indica"Indica EV", set to enter the domestic market in next two years .The electric Indica prototype unveiled by the company’s Managing Director, Mr Ravi Kant, earlier during the week is set to make its debut in Norway in 2009. It would later be introduced in other European countries with Government support and infrastructure for such vehicles.The price range hoped to be somewhat near to reva range.

The left-hand drive 'Indica ev' was developed at the Tata Motors research facility in the UK, in collaboration with the top electric vehicle research and development firm in Norway, believed to be Miljoebil Grenland, partly owned by regional utility company Skagerak Energi and the $25-billion energy and integrated aluminium company, Norsk Hydro, with whom the Tatas were reported to have been mulling a new facility to develop light-body chasis in India a few years back.The car can run for 175 km to 200 km when fully charged with a "two-pack" battery,which takes 8 hours to recharge, though mileage could vary according to the type of battery used mostly lithium batteries and almost zero emission.

Tata Yazaki Autocomp Limited, a division of Tata Auto Comp Systems Ltd (TACO) has been working on electric and hybrid technologies for past many years. Tata Yazaki is already supplier of hybrid fuel technology to global majors like Ford. Tata is currently testing the Indica hybrid. The"mild hybrid" indica would have the facility to turn off the engine when it is not needed such as when the car is stopped at signals, and turned on again expected to launch in 2008. Besides the Indica Hybrid, Tata Motors is also working with a US-based company on electrification of its most popular light commercial vehicle, ‘Ace’, and hybrid buses for city transport. And expects to roll out fuel cell technology based buses by 2010....

Electric-drive version of the Nano called E-Nano,to be built in cooperation with the Norwegian electric car specialist firm Miljoebil Grenland.Also on the look out for alternate compressed-air OneCAT technology for the Indian market.

Mahindra & Mahindra is also working on a four-seater electric car that will be bigger than the Reva and plans to bring it on Indian roads by 2010. Currently, M&M has an electric three-wheeler called Bijlee, and is working on an electric version on its three-wheeler Alfa.

Do u think will it be same hit as indica other models..nd is it a good challenger to Reva...please comment....