One of the most famous superstars in the Hollywood John Cena has been sued American car-maker Ford.
Last year, Ford handpicked 500 applicants out of total of about 7,000 aspirants to purchase the company’s new Ford GT. Some of those chosen were high-profile clients, such as John Cena. It was done as a marketing gimmick to show how cool and amazing the new car is. That, however, loses a bit of sheen when a celebrity goes ahead sells that car in less than a month since getting it.
That is exactly what John Cena did. He received the car on the 23rd of September, and sold it less than a month later, on the 20th of October. At the time of purchase, Cena had signed a contract with Ford which stated that he will keep the car for at least 2 years, which he didn’t.
The agreement, which John Cena signed, reads:
By signing this Order Confirmation Form you are verifying the following: … (B) You understand that being selected for the opportunity to purchase this vehicle is non-transferable and agree not to sell the vehicle within the first 24 months of delivery.
John Cena later confirmed in a phone conversation with Ford that he had sold the car, and promised to work with the company to make things right. However, Ford has said that this has not turned out the way it should have and is now suing Cena for damages. This is what the lawsuit reads:
Mr. Cena has unfairly made a large profit from the unauthorized resale flip of the vehicle, and Ford has suffered additional damages and losses, including, but not limited to, loss of brand value, ambassador activity, and customer goodwill due to the improper sale.
It will be interesting how this legal battle pans out.
From the One Ring to conceal the wearer’s identity to Harry Potter’s disappearing blanket, invisibility has been a fascinating feature of Science Fiction. Scientists have been hard at work to make this technology see the light of day for many years now. Joining the research is Toyota, the Japenese carmaker which has patented a “cloaking device.”
The company recently acquired a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for “Apparatuses and methods for making an object appear transparent,” which Toyota filed on June 17. The company has forayed into the invisibility tech, not to make its cars invisible, but, a part of it at least.
The patent describes the cloaking device designed to turn the A-pillars on the right and left side of the car’s dashboard invisible. The aim to make the pillar invisible is to improve the on-road visibility for the driver. Ironic how making something invisible will improve the visibility on the road, isn’t it? Toyota has said that this is the way to move forward since the A-pillars have become broader to follow crash-safety standards. It’s logical since the wider these pillars are, the more they’ll obstruct the driver’s vision. The cloaking device would use mirrors to bend visible light around the A-pillars to allow the driver to “see” through them. This would give drivers a wider view of the road and their surroundings. It also benefits pedestrians, as drivers would see them better.
Light from an object on an object-side of the cloaking device [i.e., facing the road] is directed around an article [the A-pillars] ]within the cloaking region and forms an image on an image-side of the cloaking device [i.e., facing the driver’s seat] such the article appears transparent to an observer looking towards the object
The way to make things transparent or “invisible” is by manipulating light. Studies around the world currently working on some variant or the other of a possible cloaking device are also trying to do the same. For example, researchers from the Max Planck Institute are working on mimicking the biology of moths’ eyes to turn lenses and glass invisible. All these researches are working on bringing us closer to a technology that can make objects invisible, or at least transparent and Toyota’s venture into the same is proof that a “cloaking device” may just be a few years away from existence.
“Our aim was to make affordable electric cars that everyone could buy. We never wanted to just make expensive cars that no one would buy”, said the CEO of Tesla Inc. Elon Musk at the Model 3 event in Fremont, San Fransisco. Tesla revealed the fruit of its biggest ambition yet, the Tesla Model 3, bringing a top-of-the-line electric car to the masses.
Elon Musk, in his characteristically resolute tone, said: “In Tesla Model 3, we have managed to build the best car you can buy for $35,000.” The Model 3 has an acceleration of 0 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds, a mileage of 220 miles and will cost $35,000 while the long range version with a mileage of 310 miles will be sold at a price of $44,000. Elon Musk, one of the most famous innovators in the world had said 14 years ago that he would build an electric with top-notch specs at an affordable price, and with Tesla Model 3 he seems to have delivered on that promise.
For now, there will only be two versions of the Model 3. This is to supposedly keep things simple on the production front. There is a single motor driving the back-two wheels and an all-wheel drive version will follow in the coming months.
Here are the specifications of the Tesla Model 3-
Standard Battery
Starting at $35,000
Range of 220 miles
0 to 60 mph acceleration in 5.6 seconds
Top speed of 130 mph
Long-range Battery
Starting at $44,000
Range of 310 miles
0 to 60 mph acceleration in 5.1 seconds
Top speed of 140 mph
Interiors
15” touchscreen display
Dual zone climate control system
FM/Internet streaming radio
Textile seating
Front Center console with open storage and two USB ports
Convenience
Onboard maps and navigation
Wi-Fi and LTE internet connectivity
Keyless entry and remote climate control using the Tesla app
Voice activated controls
Bluetooth hands-free calling and media streaming
60/40 split folding rear seat to maximize cargo options
Backup camera
Auto dimming rear-view mirror
One-touch power windows throughout
Power-adjustable side mirrors
12-volt power outlet
Safety
Full LED exterior lighting
Seven cameras, forward radar and twelve ultrasonic sensors enabling active safety technologies including collision avoidance and automatic emergency braking
Six front row and two side curtain airbags
Three-point safety belts with belt-reminders for driver and four passengers
Two LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) attachments in the second row
Electronic stability and traction control
Four-wheel antilock disc brakes with electronic parking brake
Floods, fires, tornadoes, ships sink if anything interrupts supply chains, that will interrupt the production. But we have simplified the manufacturing process dramatically. In the same amount of space to build 50,000 cars, we can build 250,000 Model 3s.
Tesla Model 3 will reportedly be released to the public later this year. How it holds up in the real world is yet to be seen.
Easy go taxi app “Uber” has reportedly purchased 100,000 Mercedes Benz S Class vehicles. Till now Uber owned no cars of its own. Germany’s Manager Magazin, claims that both Uber and Mercedes are both investing heavily in making autonomous cars a reality.
This deal which sets the delivery in the future is for Mercedez Benz and Uber technology which will allow the cars to be Autonomous. It is estimated that the deliveries for the said vehicles will begin early 2020, according to Stuttgart. The premium S-Class has been able to park, maintain safe distances from other cars in tight, stop-and-go traffic without the aid of a driver, these features are said to be enhaced over the next few years to allow more capabilites.
A deal which is in the upper region of 10 Billion Euros, is set to compete against the various other companies aiming to make autonomous cars including the likes of Tesla.
Solar energy is finally getting the attention it should have gotten about 30 years back. As environmental predictions grow dire, innovations in the field of sustainable transport mediums have been gaining steam. We have seen cars running on electricity, hydrogen and solar power. We have also seen efforts by researchers to develop airplanes powered by renewable fuels. One such audacious effort called the Solar Impulse 2 is undertaken by Swiss aeronaut Bertrand Piccard, and businessman André Borschberg. The solar-powered plane will be landing in Ahmedabad tonight at around 10 PM.
Solar Impulse 2 is on a trip around the planet with multiple stopovers on the way. It started its journey from Oman on the 9th of March and will take 16 hours to reach the Indian city of Ahmedabad. The distance of 1,465 kilometers between Muscat and Ahmedabad will be covered without using a drop of fuel.
The flight path of Solar Impulse 2’s circumnavigation mission.
Solar Impulse 2 has a wingspan of 72 meters that makes it wider than the 60 meter wingspan of the Boeing 747. The wings are covered with 17000 solar cells that recharge the battery of the plane. The plane weighs around 2,300 kilograms and flies at an average speed of 25 knots or 45 Kmph with a maximum speed varying between 90 to 140 Kmph.
On its circumnavigation trip across the planet, Solar Impulse 2 will travel a distance of 35,000 kilometers. During this trip, it will make 12 stops. During these stops, the innovators will organize various awareness programs like conferences, visits of schoolchildren and information exchanges. After Ahmedabad, the plane will make a stop at Varanasi. The two innovators will take turns to pilot the single seater plane in its mission around the planet.
The success of this trip will be a major boost for renewable energy technology. Solar power is a major source of energy that has unlimited potential for providing free and clean electricity. Let’s hope the success of this mission leads to a radical increase in the research of solar powered planes that may someday lead to entire passenger jets powered by the sun.
Uber, the ride sharing service has had its share of misfortunes in India. The company that was briefly banned following a much-publicized rape incident has got back in business for over a month. It is trying to attract customers back to its service and has slashed the rates by 40% across all its services.
Uber provides three kinds of services; UberGO, uberX and UberBLACK. With UberGO, the company claims to provide rates cheaper than autorickshaws. Uber X lets users choose from mainstream sedans whereas Uber Black lets users access more premium cars. The company has slashed prices of all these cars.
Here are the new revised rates:
Delhi
Fares
UberGO
UberX
UberBLACK
Tariff
Rs. 7 /KM
Rs. 9/Km
Rs. 12/Km.
Base Fare
Rs. 25
Rs. 40
Rs. 0
Minimum Fare
Rs. 50
Rs. 80
Rs. 100
Per Minute Charge
Rs. 1
Rs. 1
Rs. 1.50
Mumbai
Fares
UberGO
UberX
UberBLACK
Tariff
Rs. 8 /KM
Rs. 10/Km
Rs. 13/Km.
Minimum Fare
Rs. 60
Rs. 100
Rs. 150
Bangalore
Fares
UberGO
UberX
UberBLACK
Tariff
Rs. 7 /KM
Rs. 8/Km
Rs. 13/Km.
Minimum Fare
Rs. 50
Rs. 75
Rs. 120
Uber had also introduced a slew of safety measures to clear the perception of its brand name in the market. These measures include a panic button in the mobile app, sharing location data with up to five contacts. The company also established a local Incident Response Team to handle emergency situations. Uber seems to be proactively trying every weapon in its arsenal to attract the customers back to its service. Hopefully, the company after learning its lessons the hard way, is ready to be a responsible business at least here in India.
Apple has been in the news recently following the revelations that the company is working secretly on an electric car. The news has spread like wildfire and experts from all corners of technology are weighing the pros and cons of Apple’s decision. But between all the talks a battery maker is suing Apple for poaching their employees.
A123 Systems is a lithium-ion battery manufacturer based in the American state of Massachusetts. It makes batteries for electric vehicles, commercial vehicles, and for the business sector. In 2011, the company’s battery technology was used to create a 32 MW energy storage system that was the largest Lithium-Ion battery energy storage system of its kind in operation at that time. A123 had to apply for bankruptcy protection in 2012 following weak growth in the battery market and electric cars.
A123 makes batteries for vehicles to electric grids and claims Apple is stealing its employees to work on a potential electric car.
The company has now filed a lawsuit against Apple claiming that the technology giant has been actively pursuing its employees. A123 named five of its employees in the suit who have either moved to Apple or are in the process of transferring to the company. The company claims that the loss of the qualified talent adversely affects their business as they’ll find it difficult to find replacements.
Apple has not replied to the lawsuit as of yet. The company is said to have engaged hundred’s of employees on a secretive project that is codenamed as ‘Titan’. Apple is also said to have attracted auto professionals from Mercedez Benz and electric car maker Tesla. It apparently plans to bring out an electric car by 2020.
Apple’s competitor, Google, has already invested immense resources into the creation of its self-driving car ecosystem. Apple’s advent into the electric car market is encouraging as the electric car space needs a big boost. Tesla was seen as the only major player in the field, but with the addition of big name brands like Mercedes, GM and Apple, you should hope to see some real competition in this space.
Uber in India came under scrutiny after the recent rape incident. It was held responsible for not conducting a proper background check on the driver involved in the unfortunate incident. Now the company is taking several actions to revive its public perception. The app based cab service has introduced new safety standards through which it intends to create a safer environment for its riders as well as its drivers. The company has asked its followers to use the hashtag #BRINGUBERBACK to show their support for the company.
Uber will be facing a hearing at the transport department on Monday, 29th of December. This hearing will determine if Uber can begin offering its services again. The company has created a page with a petition for the consumers to sign. This page lists the new security initiatives devices by the company.
The text begins by explaining the present safety features of Uber. This includes features like real-time GPS tracking with the ‘Share My ETA’ feature. This feature lets Uber users share their location in real time with others so they can be sure of their safety. Next safety feature is hiring drivers who are police verified and are declared eligible by state transport authority. Uber also requires mandatory star ratings for feedbacks about the driver. The company also states that as the payment can be made through the app, there is no need to carry cash either.
After stating its present safety standards, it goes ahead to introduces the new safety features. Uber says that it will ensure all its drivers have authentic and valid police verification. Additionally, there will also be a local team of specially-trained safety experts to detect fraud, verify and authenticate driver/ vehicle documents and test the validity of our screening. It will bring in experts who will specialize in evaluating the background checks.
Uber will be setting up an Incident Response Team that will specialize on resolving critical issues for the rider and the drivers. They have also enhanced the ShareMyETA feature in their app. Through this, users can send complete trip details (including live GPS tracking, driver photo, name and vehicle license number) to their loved ones.
There had been many incidents this year where Uber came out as an antagonist. The company is in desperate need of an image overhaul, and the introduction of new safety features might just be the first step towards it.
To read more about how technology can be used to make cabs safer in India, click here.
Alternative fuel is the talk of the town. With the environment degrading with each passing day and more and more people joining the sane club of those who accept the climate change reality. The race to find the next best fuel is intense. Ethanol seems to be the immediate answer to the issue.
Now is the time for Alternative fuels
There are many contenders for the title of the best alternative fuel. There is everyone’s favorite; Solar energy. This is in fact the cleanest and the best fuel for our civilization. There have been massive investments around the world to substitute solar power as an alternative to coal based power.
There are Wind and Geothermal energy options which are also seen as good long term solutions for the global energy crisis. These options are great for electricity solutions but we still have major issue of pollution from automobiles around the world. These gas based monsters will take forever to replace to electric car systems which are still in developmental phase. The alternatives are not yet efficient enough as their internal combustion engine counterparts.
So how do we take on the menace of fossil fuel powered, greenhouse gas emitting vehicles which have become so essential for our lives that it’s hard to imagine a life without them. As India imports around 70% of its petroleum needs, the need to find alternatives is extremely important. The immediate solution can be found in Ethanol.
Source: Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell, Government of India (GOI)
As seen by the official Government of India figures, India’s fuel bill has been rising yearly. The sector that consumes the most fuel is transportation. Urgent steps need to be taken to reduce the massive expenditure on fuel or else we would have shortage of funds for developmental initiatives for education, healthcare and social improvements.
Ethanol is an organic compound that can be made with corn starch, sugar cane, sugar beet, grain, barley, hemp, potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, sunflower, fruit, grain, wheat, straw, cotton, other biomass and many more. It can also be made from the by-products of sugar processing plants. Considering the amount of sugar that is in our food today, it seems there is a lot of sugar waste (molasses) out there. Currently most of it goes into the production of alcohol (Hail Old Monk).
Ethanol can be blended in with the petrol to make it more environmental friendly. Not just that, it can help to battle the meteoric rise in fuel prices. It needs an extra step in the distillation process and for this sugar plants can be retrofitted for an Ethanol treatment facility.
There are many blending options. There is e10 with 10% blend to e85 which is an 85% blend of Ethanol to petrol. The e10 can work in any vehical that was made after 1980 and e85 works with flexible fuel cars. Ethanol has about 35% oxygen which helps burn up completely thereby emitting less toxic gases.
Indian Transport and Shipping minister wants to encourage Ethanol blending
Recently the new Transport Minister of India, Nitin Gadkari declared an initiative to blend ethanol to save foreign exchange. Indian oil companies have expressed a desire to buy ethanol but they can’t find enough supply here. One of the prime reasons for this is that alcohol companies give higher prices for molasses than Ethanol producers.
According to Nitin Gadkari’s company Purti group; which is a producer of Ethanol, if 140 crore litre of ethanol can be procured in an year, it can save about Rs. 63000 Crores of precious foreign exchange on petrol.
This action, while commended for being an economically directed initiative is also being berated for its short sightedness. India has been facing the wrath of food inflation for a while. If there is a shift in the agricultural sector from food crops to fuel crops it can severely increase food prices. Also as there is an acute shortage of talented agricultural scientists, educating the farmers on increasing the efficiency will be an issue.
Currently in the world market US and Brazil are the top manufacturers of ethanol. They produce around 90% of the world’s ethanol. While US’s production is more grain based, Brazil opts for Sugarcane. As India is the second highest producer of the sugarcane, it can easily exploit that statistic in its favor. India has a biofuel policy but what is really required is long term commitments from the top brass. Investment in education of farmers to manage sustainability between food and fuel crops should also be a parallel priority.
There is also a major issue with Ethanol, if a sustainable plan isn’t worked out, farmers will dedicate a lot of land and may even clear forests for its production. This will negate whatever benefit is gained from blending it with petrol. In fact, cutting down forests adds more greenhouse gases than any other source.
Recently a group of Stanford University scientists have discovered a process by which Ethanol can be harvested without using plant agricultural resources. The process involves passing Carbon monoxide through an “oxide-derived” copper electrode. The team is now looking into making the process more efficient so that land resources can remain just for food instead of being pressurized into fueling stomachs as well as fuel tanks. This kind of developmental research and innovation should be encouraged by the governments everywhere.
Solar Powered Electric Cars are our best bet for a sustainable future
Overall the major issue with Ethanol still is that it is a short term action plan and we have to focus on long term solutions. One sure shot solution that comes to mind is Electric Vehicles. EV’s technology unknown to many is about a 100 years old. They were abandoned because of malicious campaigns against it and the cheap availability of fossil fuels in that era.
We are now close to exhausting accessible fossil fuels reserves. Exploring new places to extract oil from earth comes at a cost like the incident with BP’s Deep Water Horizon. The need for alternative transportation investment is extremely crucial right now. The time for inaction is long past gone.
If only farts could power vehicles, we Indians would have had free energy for life.
Picture a future with no street lights, but the road it self lit up. A road that warns you about blockages like fallen trees, giant boulders, crossing animals way in advance. A road that melts snow instantly, thereby no slipping cars. Not just roads but imagine parking stands, sidewalks, airport tarmacs and playgrounds that have programmable lights which work according to your requirement. Oh yes, they can also power themselves and everything around them with the awesome powers of the Sun. And here is the best part, this can be made possible in the present itself. Prepare yourself because the most freaking amazing invention of all time is about to be unleashed across the world and they are called SOLAR FREAKING ROADWAYS.
In the last few decades we haven’t seen a single major infrastructural innovation apart from the telecommunication revolution. The fact of the matter remains that neither Facebook, nor twitter nor any other app is ever going to bring real tangible development. We need to create cities which look like the fantasies of people who came before us. We have stopped investing in real world infrastructure. There needs to be massive R&D investment to make the next generation transportation apparatus possible.
Julie and Scott Brusaw, inventors of Solar Roadways
Enter into the scene, Julie and Scott Brusaw. They are the mild mannered master builders(Lego movie anyone) and inventors of solar roadways. These guys are real life pioneers who might go unnoticed in a crowd but they have invented something that the future humans will thank us for, instead of blaming us for all the destruction they will face because of our greenhouse emissions.
The video makes the concept pretty clear. It’s a smart roadway which can practically make our tar roadways extinct. The solar panels are hard and strong. They are imbedded with intelligent circuitry and made almost entirely with recyclable materials. They also produce clean energy, which might put an end to the dirty smog that has taken over major cities around the world. We may actually reach a shortage of garbage when this project reaches full potential.
Solar roadways are also probably the safest road possible. Their LED infused circuitry and intelligent electronics connected with optical fibers help to monitor their situation constantly.
This is in fact a revolutionary idea which can be put into place right away with the available technology of the present. Some of the biggest names in the tech world are realizing the importance of infrastructural innovation and have started to invest heavily into such projects. One such person is Elon Musk who offered an audacious idea last year called the Hyperloop. According to Google founder Larry Page, he would rather give his billions to Elon Musk than charity because of his avant garde developmental ideas.
The Hyperloop can change our existing Railway models
The Hyperloop is a high-speed transportation system which incorporates reduced-pressure tubes in which pressurized capsules ride on a cushion of air that is driven by a combination of linear induction motors and air compressors.It is a lot cheaper than to install than the conventional intercity railway model and futuristic too.
Coming back to the star of the moment, the best part about the Solar Roadways is the fact that they pay for themselves. They not just provide the safest mode of transport; they also generate free electricity for all, which will end our addiction to coal and gas forever. We don’t need those massive transmission lines anymore.
We have finally unlocked the knowledge that the plants and trees figured out almost 350 million years ago. We can now harvest the energy of the sun for all our purposes.
The only suggestion we would like to give the inventor is that they should adopt a better marketing strategy. Even though they have a prototype contract with the Federal Highway Administration, there website is not enticing enough for a common man to get excited about the prospects of their prodigious invention.
Lets share this incredible revolutions with all and demand our lawmakers to start finding ways to break ground for the induction of Solar Freaking Roadways all across the word. And then maybe we can invent Lightcycles too, and live in a scintillating Tron-like universe.
Etihad Airways has reached sky limits in terms of luxury by introducing a private suite complete with a living room, double bedroom, dining table separate, and an en-suite shower room. The three-section personal cabin on their new A380 features a lounge area, a bedroom and a bathroom.
Luxury Lobby for First class ticket holders.
Each of the Abu-Dhabi based airline will feature one residence, which can be occupied by two people. The residence bedroom features a double bed, joined to the living room by a short corridor. The living room features a two-seat leather couch, a dining table and private minibar. Both the living room and bedroom feature LCD television screens for in-flight entertainment.
Personal Sky Suites with LCD TV and Bed
By the middle of next year, Etihad’s A380 servicing the Sydney-Abu Dhabi route. The prospective passengers flying to London, Melbourne,New York and Paris will next in line to get their own luxuriously equipped A380’s.
Etihad’s aircraft’s already feature private chefs, but this is the first time any airline has offered a dedicated, skilled butler. This new aircraft will also feature nine first-class “apartments” in a 1-1 configuration on the upper deck. Six of which will have linking doors for those traveling together, and all will have access to a shower room. The first class suites will be 74 per cent larger than the existing Etihad first class product.
Full size beds for a hotel-in-air experience.
The A380 is the world’s largest airliner, measuring 72-metres long and with a wingspan of just under 80 metres. It’ll carry 498 passengers, with two residence guests, nine first class, 70 business class and 417 economy class passengers. The size of the A380 has allowed Etihad to do dabble around with the interiors, which was impossible before. Singapore Airlines, the first airline to take delivery of A380s, set the precedent by creating private “suites” in its first class cabin. Emirates, too, broke new ground with its A380 by becoming the first airline to install showers on-board.
First plane to provide Showers In-Flight.
The price has not yet announced officially , but considering the amount of money and effort they have put in for this service, it is speculated to be approximately $20,000.
Carriers in the Middle-East and Asia are competing on their finest hand-outs in order to draw high-end travelers. The airlines in other parts of the world, including Qantas, have reduced the number of planes offering first class seats to put a focus on mid-range premium economy travel.
Polaris is a recognized leader in the Powersports industry with annual 2012 sales of $3.2 billion. Polaris is famous for high quality off-road vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the Polaris RANGER and RZR side-by-side vehicles, snowmobiles, motorcycles and on-road electric/hybrid powered vehicles.
On the occasion of completing two years in India, Polaris Industries Inc. launched the RZR XP 900 at the Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad.
The Anniversary marks two years since the launch of the Polaris brand in India and since then, Polaris, has emerged as a market leader in ATV segment and has witnessed a good response across all its products. Looking back at the past two years, we take pride in kick starting an off road revolution in India. Polaris has responded to market trends by offering its customers the best off-road experience while ensuring safety riding, regular parts supply and service support. The celebrations are an opportunity for us to thank our customers for their enthusiasm and acceptance of our product. We would also like to thank our business associates “Polaris Experience Zone” spread across the nation ,” said Pankaj Dubey, MD, Polaris India.
The Polaris RZR XP 900 engine is equipped with 88 HP, Dual OverHead Cams (DOHC), 4 large valves for high RPM power and 180 degree crank shaft for balanced performance. RZR XP 900 features the Polaris-exclusive Optimized Mass Design. The new Polaris RZR XP 900 is priced at INR 24,50,000/- (approx.) and will be available at all Polaris Dealerships across India.
Polaris India has 14 dealerships in India including the new ones in Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh. Polaris India started its operation in 24 August 2011. The company was recently awarded its first commercial order in India from Gujarat Police. The order was given by Gujarat Government for its model RZR S 800. In order to assist in relief efforts Polaris India donated five off road vehicles to Uttarakhand Government after the state was hit by floods recently.
[toggle title=”Press Release “]New Delhi / Hyderabad, 24th August, 2013: Polaris India Pvt Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Polaris Industries Inc., the world leader in off-road and All-Terrain vehicles today completed two years of its presence in the Indian market. On the occasion of its 2nd anniversary, Polaris launched the RZR XP 900 at the Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad.
The second anniversary celebration saw all the Polaris dealers, Polaris Riderz Stop and Polaris Experience Zone and team polaris coming together to join the celebration in the upcoming Polaris Experience Zone at Ramoji Film City.
“The Anniversary marks two years since the launch of the Polaris brand in India and since then, Polaris, has emerged as a market leader in ATV segment and has witnessed a good response across all its products. Looking back at the past two years, we take pride in kick starting an off road revolution in India. Polaris has responded to market trends by offering its customers the best off-road experience while ensuring safety riding, regular parts supply and service support. The celebrations are an opportunity for us to thank our customers for their enthusiasm and acceptance of our product. We would also like to thank our business associates “Polaris Experience Zone” spread across the nation ,” said Pankaj Dubey, MD, Polaris India.
Specifically built for an extreme performance Side x Side. The Polaris ProStar™ 900 engine features 88 HP, Dual OverHead Cams (DOHC), 4 large valves for high RPM power and 180 degree crank shaft for balanced performance. This delivers fast throttle response, ground breaking power and revolutionary acceleration. The innovative lightweight design features a helical cut final drive with optimized gear geometry to maximize efficiency.
Only RZR features the Polaris-exclusive Optimized Mass Design. The engine and other components are strategically placed to create the absolute lowest center of gravity, for the ultimate in razor-sharp performance. Hands down, RZR owns the desert, the dunes and any wide open space.
The new Polaris RZR XP 900 is priced at INR 24,50,000/- (approx.) and will be available at all Polaris Dealerships across India.
Polaris India increased its penetration through its dealership network in the country. With its recent dealership in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, the company has 14 dealerships across the country, since its inception. It has 16 Polaris experience zones to let people get an experience of off road driving. To reach to more people, Polaris India has also 10 Polaris Riderz Stop where people get to ride the vehicles and buy them.
Polaris India started its operation in 24 August 2011. Since then, it has encapsulated various milestones. The company was recently awarded its first commercial order in India from Gujarat Police. The order was given by Gujarat Government for its model RZR S 800. In a bid to assist in relief efforts Polaris India donated five off road vehicles to Uttarakhand Government after the state was hit by floods recently. Recently, honouring cricketer Bhuvneshwar Kumar for his successful record of consistent bowling in the recently concluded tri series between India, West Indies and Sri Lanka, Polaris felicitated the budding star with Polaris RZR S 800.
About Polaris India
Polaris India Pvt Ltd is established as a wholly owned subsidiary of Polaris Industries Inc. (USA). Polaris India Pvt Ltd. launched its flagship products including ATVs, Polaris Ranger RZR, Side X Side Vehicles and Snowmobiles in India on 24th August 2011. It has a wide network of 25 Polaris Outlets & 14 Experience Zones across the Nation. The Dealerships are state of the art & are equipped with workshop for service. Polaris India has a full-fledged warehouse & technical training centre with Spare parts in Delhi/ NCR.
About Polaris Industries Inc. Polaris is a recognized leader in the Powersports industry with annual 2012 sales of $3.2 billion. Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and markets innovative, high quality off-road vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and the Polaris RANGER® and RZR® side-by-side vehicles, snowmobiles, motorcycles and on-road electric/hybrid powered vehicles.
Polaris is among the global sales leaders for both snowmobiles and off-road vehicles and has established a presence in the heavyweight cruiser and touring motorcycle market with the Victory and Indian Motorcycle brands. Additionally, Polaris continues to invest in the global on-road small electric/hybrid powered vehicle industry with Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), Goupil Industries SA, and internally developed vehicles. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a complete line of Pure Polaris and KLIM branded apparel and Polaris accessories and parts.
Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PII”, and the Company is included in the S&P Mid-Cap 400 stock price index.
Information about the complete line of Polaris products, apparel and vehicle accessories are available from authorized Polaris dealers or anytime at www.polaris.com.
Hindustan Motors and Mitsubishi together have launched the Anniversary Edition of the Pajero Sport, in the occasion of completing one year of the SUV’s launch in India. The Pajero Sport Anniversary Edition model comes with a few additional features like Touchscreen audio system with GPS navigation, Reverse parking camera, Body colored bumper with a rear spoiler and the anniversary edition decal.
Everything apart from those additional tweaks remains the same, like the 2.5 liter turbo diesel engine that gives 178 of excessive power and 400 Nm of peak torque. Pajero runs with 5 speed manual transmission and an option for 4WD.
Pajero Sport Anniversary Edition decal
Currently, Pajero Sport Anniversary edition is priced at Rs 23.60 lakh, and this offer is valid till August 31.
We expect 20 per cent growth this financial year,” he says and added that the vehicle only caters to the niche class. He added, On an average we are selling about 2,000 to 2,400 vehicles and the SUV has immense following,” said Ashish Kaul, head sales and channel expansion, Mitsubishi Motors.
Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles has launched the e2o, its all electric zero emission car in Nepal. Agni Energy, who is the official distributor of Mahindra Vehicles in Nepal will retail the electric car from their showroom in Kathmandu. Mahindra e2o is priced at NPR 2.25 million (around INR 13.72 lakh). Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles Chairman Pawan Goenka at the launch said that electric vehicles have been emerging as an alternative to petrol or diesel driven vehicles.
With the Mahindra e2o, we have taken the lead not only in creating a comprehensive ecosystem to nurture sustainable mobility solutions, but have also firmly placed a choice in the hands of our customers,” he said.
According to the Mahindra, the vehicle has been launched in Nepal as an urban mobility solution, which is a fully automatic car that comes with a “Boost Mode” system for quick acceleration. Goenka further said that the electric vehicles is likely to be a perfect solution for a sustainable “zero-emission society”. Such vehicles also cut down the problems like environmental degradation, pollution related health concerns, climate change and rising fuel prices.
The company claims that one can fully charge the e2o at home with 15 Ampere socket, and the battery will require only 5 hours to fully charge, with every hour of charging adding 20km of run. Mahindra e2o sports various advanced features such as regenerative braking system, 6.2-inch touchscreen with GPS navigation, smartphone controlled locking and air-conditioning, Hill Hold function, Sun2Car solar energy power and many more.
Technology is ever-growing, one would say each day something new is developed. In this ever growing age of technology, it is not easy to keep yourself updated with all the new developments in the world of technology. We live in a world where present technology seems to fulfill, in some cases present technology is also ahead of what SOME people may think. It is always good to know what does the future technology got for us.
Google Glass:
Google glass is a great step in technology. What is the Google Glass ?
Google Glass is a wearable computer with an optical head-mounted display (OHMD) that has been developed by Google in the Project Glass research and development project, with a mission; Production of a mass-market ubiquitous computer. Google Glass displays information in a smartphone-like hands-free format, that can interact with the Internet via natural language voice commands
As per Google, Glass is fairly simple to use, for taking an image one just has to say take a picture and its all done, you can record everything hands free, even share what you see – Live! get directions right in front of you, just speak to send a message, ask anything that’s on your mind, translate your voice, get few answers without even asking. The structure for the Google Glass is strong and light with an Evolutionary design. The colors it will be available in Charcoal, Tangerine, Shale, Cotton, Sky.
All this features would be of better understanding after you watch this:
We will have to see if Glass would live up to our expectation as Rumored Google is getting these available from next year just for $299. But, will Glass be able to maintain its position in the market because if we look at the technology it is growing, so the day is not far when we might have the same technology on our goggles or in the lenses we wear.
Oculus Rift
The Oculus Rift is an upcoming virtual reality head-mounted display developed by Oculus VR, who have raised $16 million, of which $2.4 million was raised with crowfunding via Kickstarter. The company, founded by Palmer Luckey and the co-founders of Scale form and id Software, John Carmack was later hired as its Chief Technology Officer.
The Oculus Rift is a next-generation virtual reality headset designed for immersive gaming. The test kits are in the process of being shipped out, are you getting your own Oculus Rift development kit?
For more information and to see how this works watch the video below.
If we talk about the technology in the future cars, the BMW i8 concept car is the best example we can quote as if now.
The BMW i8, first introduced as the BMW Concept Vision Efficient Dynamics, is a plug-in hybrid under development by BMW. The initial turbodiesel concept car unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, and the BMW i8 gasoline-powered concept car destined for production unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. The i8 concept has a 7.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack which delivers an all-electric range of 35 km.
The Vision Efficient Dynamics concept car is a plug-in hybrid with a three cylinder turbo diesel engine. Additionally, there are two electric motors with 139 horsepower. It allows acceleration to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.
According to BMW, the average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle (KV01) is 3.76 liters/100 kilometers and has a carbon dioxide emission rating of 99 grams per kilometer (1,3 l/100 km and 33g CO2/km ; EU-PHEV ECE-R101). The estimated all-electric range is 50 km, and the 24-liter diesel tank extends the total vehicle range to up to 700 km. The lightweight chassis made mainly from aluminium, windshield, top, doors and fenders are made from polycarbonate glass and the body has a drag coefficient of 0.22.
These are just some that technologies that are upcoming, but as mentioned above the world of technology is ever-growing with ideas and resources. We can hope for a better and luxurious future.
