Car Audio goes Hi-Tech (1/2)

In a world of traffic jams and potholed roads, half of our lives are spent on the road, driving or being driven. It's but natural for Indians to load their cars with the latest incar entertainment systems. Read on to know what's latest in In-Car entertainment…



Unlike your home audio system, which is a luxury, a car audio system is a necessity. Being alone, driving (sometimes driven) through a congested city makes the car audio system a top priority, sometimes for entertainment, sometimes for retrospection and sometimes, just to preserve your sanity through the drive.

If your car audio system isn't trying it's best to keep you calm, then it's doing it's bit when you're out with your family for the weekend picnic, or perhaps when you're out with someone. Regardless of what you use it for, your car-audio system is your true companion during countless rides.

With consumers increasingly going crazy about these audio systems, it is not strange to note that every car manufacturer is now trying to pack as many hitech features as possible to lure customers. While high-end cars pack quite a bit of technology into the humble car stereo, even volume-end cars are beginning to get a taste of designer decibels. Here's a look at what's hot in terms of technology in the car-audio entertainment market:

Motion Sensor & Touch Pad
The motion sensor in your caraudio system offers a smooth, new style of operation which defects an approaching hand and displays control keys. Keys on the system disappear when not in use, letting you concentrate on the main monitor. The Touch Pad offers a unique and intuitive control with a flick of your finger - circular strokes for volume control, vertical to move up/down folders, and horizontal to skip forward/backward.

Bluetooth Wireless Technology
The built-in Bluetooth Wireless technology enables hands-free calls or music streaming, with voice-recognition cell phones, you can dial by just saying the name in your phone book. The wireless functions work even if your cell phone is tucked away in your bag or pocket. You can also stream music from a compatible digital audio player or cell phone, for listening on your car audio.

HS-IV Tuner
The HS-IV tuner features higher sensitivity, thanks to three IF bandwidths (wide, middle, and narrow). It also includes AM Noise Canceller, plus upgraded IF filters that help avoid the distortion caused by interference from adjacent stations.

Part 2 of the series >>

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Suzuki Alto A-Star: The Way of Life

Upping the cuteness quotient of the show with its pink paint scheme was Suzuki Motors' fifth-generation Alto for the world, which will be known as the A-Star to the Indian masses. Suzuki is hoping that the car will also make the company a serious player in the urban small-car segment worldwide in the long run.

One of the impressing features is its remarkable styling (inspired by Maruti Suzuki's A-Star Concept unveiled earlier this year at the Auto Expo in Delhi) and Suzuki's claims of strong performance in terms of fuel efficiency and emissions. The new Alto's roominess on the inside despite its compact dimensions on the outside should also lure urban commuters towards it.

At the heart of its economical and eco-friendly nature will be Suzuki threecylinder 1-litre petrol engine that is currently being seen in the Suzuki Splash in some international markets. The lowfriction engine will play a major part in achieving the promised 22 kmpl fuel efficiency figure. The new Alto will be no slouch either, with 68PS of power and 90Nm of torque at its disposal. Power to the front wheels will be transmitted via a 5-speed manual gearbox, and a fourspeed automatic gearbox option has also been made available considering the car's in-city ambitions.

Apart from its taut and curvaceous exteriors, the car focuses on maximizing interior space for the front two seats while still accommodating two adults in the rear comfortably. Creature comforts will be aplenty on the European version of the car, which will come with six SRS airbags and an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) option to ensure safety of the occupants. Rear bench comfort should be satisfactory as well, with Suzuki's 3-link rigid axle design. At the same time, a high-rigidity Macpherson strut suspension has been incorporated at the front to offer precise and exciting handling as well. With an overall length of exactly 3.5 metres, a width of 1.6 metres and a turning circle radius of 4.5 metres, the car should thrive in packed urban traffic environs.

The car will be launched in Europe in Spring 2009 in Europe, and Suzuki expects to sell around 60,000 units in its first year. The new Alto is a part of the second phase of Suzuki's new 'Way of Life' philosophy, focusing on dishing out cars that are economic and eco-friendly, but do not sacrifice on style, practicality and performance. After the success of the Suzuki Swift and the SX4 which formed a part of the first phase of this philosophy, Suzuki seems well on its way to delivering once again.

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Hyundai i20: The Individual Sleek Chic

The all new i20 sub-compact was unveiled officially at the Paris Motor Show. The car will make its Indian debut at the end of November.

Designed at Hyundai's European Design Centre in Russelsheim, Germany, the i20 can best be described as individual-chic. The sleek 5 door hatch, which incidentally replaces the Getz model worldwide, rides on a longer wheelbase than its predecessor, which immediately translates to the fact that the slick new i20 is expected to have a more spacious interior architecture. The car also features Hyundai's distinctive design motifs, namely, a bold chrometopped grille flanked by piercing teardrop headlamps at the front and striking stacked rear light clusters. Adding to the element of design attitude are the rather robust modern lines that accentuate a hint of sportiness in this sub compact hatch.

Interior levels are said to be class leading and will come with a generous amount of standard equipment. Fitting in with Hyundai's theme of producing global vehicles, the i20 has been designed and engineered to meet European standards. It's a new platform that boasts of better driving dynamics-something we'll get to know soon enough. Incidentally the i20, like its smaller sibling, the i10, will be manufactured at Hyundai Motor India's manufacturing facility in Chennai, which aligns with HMIL's plans of making India their small car manufacturing hub.

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Bentley Arnage Final Series - Exclusive Edition

Bentley Motors launched a limited edition of its stellar luxo-barge in order to celebrate 10 years of the Arnage, 50 years of its mighty V8 engine and 90 years of the marquee. Titled as the Bentley Arnage Final Series, the new model is literally a tribute or rather a grand finale to this legendary brand. The Final Series features a unique specification, and the company intends on making only 150 cars in this exclusive production run. The Arnage era comes to an end with this model and for Bentley lovers, this might be rather nostalgic, however do not despair for this change also ushers in a new generation with an all new Bentley flagship model.

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Italian marquee - Lamborghini Estoque

The spanking new Estoque from the Lamborghini stables is a concept car which literally works out to be the Lamborghini that fits in the wife and kids! Possibly the top showstopper at the Paris Motor Show, the stall was visited by throngs of people who wished to see the four door Lamborghini.


Conceptualized to become the final word against similar attempts by other big names such as the Porsche Panamera and the Aston Martin Rapide, the Estoque is the Italian marquee's first ever four door model.

Lamborghini really intends on driving in their point here with this car which will incidentally form the third car in their model line up. Still in the concept stage, the Estoque's technical specifications remain a mystery, however one thing is for sure that it will feature a front-mid mounted engine, meaning that the engine will lie behind the front axle. As far as the engine is concerned, Lamborghini has a pedigree to choose from, or they could opt for a whole new heart. What we see as likely contenders for underbonnet space are the Gallardo LP560-4's V10, turbocharged V8, maybe with a hybrid mode or even a highperformance TDI courtesy the Audi connection.

Once again, like with all premium sportscar marquees, the critics have booed the four door design, stating that it is very unlike Lamborghini, but what needs to be understood is that times are changing and cars like the Estoque are ushering in a whole new breed of supercarnamely the super-sedans, which isn't really such a bad thing after all!

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