How does fuel economy work?

In all automobiles there is a speed range for the fuel economy run. Do you know how exactly it works?

First lets see what air fuel ratio is. As from Wikipedia Air–fuel ratio (AFR) is the mass ratio of air to fuel present in a combustion process such as in an internal combustion engine or industrial furnace. The AFR is an important measure for anti-pollution and performance-tuning reasons.

If exactly enough air is provided to completely burn all of the fuel, the ratio is known as the stoichiometric mixture, often abbreviated to stoich.

AFR numbers lower than stoichiometric are considered "rich". Rich mixtures are less efficient, but may produce more power and burn cooler, which is kinder on the engine. AFR numbers higher than stoichiometric are considered "lean." Lean mixtures are more efficient but may cause engine damage or premature wear and produce higher levels of nitrogen oxides.

For precise AFR calculations, the oxygen content of combustion air should be specified because of possible dilution by ambient water vapor, or enrichment by oxygen additions.

Your vehicle get maximum fuel economy when the engine is using the right amount of gas. Fuel for automobile is a mixture of air and petrol/ diesel. So for the perfect fuel economy, you vehicle should be running at  a particular speed where the engine gets the right ratio of air and gas mixture. Lets say the economy range is 45kph to 60kph.

1. When the speed is less.

When the vehicle speed is less than the economy range there is less air passing in through the intake so to compromise to the ratio more gas is consumed.

2. When the speed is more.

When the speed is more than the economy more air is passed in through the intake and in order to prevent lean mixture more fuel is supplied.

3. Economy range.

In the economy speed range right amount of air is supplied into the engine and thus right ratio of fuel with the best fuel efficiency is provided.

Driving in the fuel economy range is good for not just the engine, its good for the future, its good for environment and its good for your bank account.

BMW M2

The much anticipated all new BMW M2 is finally here.

This is one of the most beautiful looking coupe. The M2 has a more aggressive look than the M235i. The all new bumpers with 3 air dams and the rear end features a discreet trunk-mounted spoiler and four exhaust tips integrated into an air diffuser that’s painted gloss black.

All new 19-inch light weight forged rims with Michelin pilot super sport tyres give better road grip and road holding ability.

 Now lets talk about interior. The interior is spectacular.

M2 gets a three spoke steering wheel designed by the BMW's M division, sporty leather seats with blue stitching,adjustable side bolsters and an M footrest and knee pad on the center console for the driver. The M logo is sprinkled throughout the cockpit. Carbon fiber dashboard adds to the sporty touch.

Now lets take a look at the engine.

The M2 is powered by a 3-liter turbocharged six cylinder engine producing 370bhp and 465Nm torque and this torque can be increased to 500Nm with over-boost function. The M2 can reach 60mph from 0 in 4.2 seconds using the 7-speed automatic gearbox.

Expected price in India should be somewhere around 50 lakhs

Supercharger and Turbocharger

What is Supercharging and Turbocharging?

A supercharger is a turbine that compresses the air supplied to the ICE ( Internal Combustion engine) and thus increases the pressure and density of air supplied to the engine. Therefore more oxygen is supplied to the engine during each intake cycle, letting more fuel burn and there by increasing the power output. The power for the working of turbine is obtained from the working of engine via a belt, gear, shaft or chain.

Supercharger

There are mainly two types of supercharger, namely, Positive displacement and Dynamic compressor .

Positive displacement compressor provides a constant and a fixed amount of air at all speeds. Therefore the power is available during every revolution.. Whereas Dynamic compressors rely on accelerating the air to high speed and then exchanging that velocity for pressure by diffusing or slowing it down. That means, dynamic compressors do not provide pressure at low speeds. As speed increases above a certain rpm the power get delivered( usually called as power lagging).

Whereas, the key difference between turbocharger and supercharger is that the power for the turbine in turbocharger is obtained from the exhaust from the ICE

Turbocharger

A turbocharger is more efficient, provides more power and produce less emission than a naturally aspirated engine. The turbocharger is less responsive than a supercharger. Turbocharger is commonly used in Petrol and Diesel engines but they are also found useful in fuel cells. Because they are smaller in size and less complicated, they are more preferred. 

Apart from these, a twin-charger refers to an engine using both supercharger and turbocharger. 

Supercharging and turbocharging are widely used these days as they are fuel efficient, provides more power and produce less emission.

FASTEST MOTORCYCLES IN THE WORLD

Ninja H2

Over the years many motorcycle manufactures have released their super bikes with challenging top speeds. So lets take a look at who leads the race. Actually many super bikes that were released recently have their top speeds almost same as to the others. The Suzuki Hayabusa (or GSX1300R) had their lead for a very long while. And many still thinks they are still the fastest. But yes, Hayabusa is still on the list but not the fastest. Hayabusa has a top speed of 194 mph( approx. 312 kph) 

Hayabusa

The Ducati 1199 Superleggera has a top speed of 202 mph(325 kph) and is faster than Hayabusa. It had a price tag of $65,000.( appr ox. 43lakh

INR)

Ducati 1199 Superleggera

Ducati's latest model the 1299 Panigale, BMW S1000RR, Honda RC213V-S, Kawasaki Ninja H2 all have their top speed of 185mph( approx 298kph)

Ducati 1299 Panigale

                                       

BMW S1000RR

The Ninja H2's track only version Ninja H2R does a top speed of 222 mph( approx. 357kph). The Ninja H2 and H2R are the most powerful road legal production bike currently.

MV Agusta F4 R 312 does a top speed of 194mph(312kph).

Where as there is a superbike The MTT Turbine Superbike, also known as the Y2K Turbine Superbike which is currently the worlds fastest motor cycle and the most expensive. But the production of this bike ended back in 2005. But I'm not sure if i would want to own this thing even if i had the money. The machine is powered by a Rolls-Royce-Allison Model 250 gas turbine. The bike claims to have a top speed of 250 mph which is close to 400 kph but they have never proven so.

Y2K Turbine superbike.

Another bike on the list is an Electric motorcycle! Its called Lightning LS-218

The manufacture claims this glorified torch does a top speed of 218 mph(351kph). But they too have never proven so. This bike production started in 2014.

Lightning LS 218

These are the fastest bike on my list. Sorry if i have missed out any. Do let me know if so.  

CATIA V5 designing a Enzo Ferrari

Many people have asked me what is it like learning Designing software like Catia V5, Solidworks etc. So here is a video that tells you what designing software are and how fun it is. Check it out, Designing Enzo Ferrari by ALBERTO CERRUDO ( https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs-06P0fBmsfgE-ecaBFytw/feed)

Top 5 smart watches to buy in 2015

■ Samsung Gear 2 Neo Smartwatch  http://amzn.to/1GgUcbS

■ Asus ZenWatch  http://amzn.to/1Fh9MlI

■ Pebble Steel  http://amzn.to/1LaM1Od

■ Motorola Moto 360  http://amzn.to/1EPC0AL

■ LG G Watch R  http://amzn.to/1EPC2Zc

Video Published by: TOP TECH VIDEOS  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCark4B2q22cutojP6bzm2kQ

AMT transmission

Ever wondered what AMT Gear shift is? We often see this in many new car and most of the people think its just a term referred for Automatic Gear Transmission. Well, its not.

AMT or Automated Manual Transmission is transmission that's mechanically similar to a stick-shift, except a computer performs the clutch work. In AMT you can either shift it to the D-mode and it will pretty much work as an Automatic Transmission. And then you have the second choice where you can do the transmission manually but you don't have to worry about the position of the gear knob because you have only '+' and '-' positions. The '+' position is when you want a higher gear and '-' is when  you want a lower gear. There are mainly two types of AMTs, namely, single clutch and dual clutch AMT transmissions.

Single-clutch AMTs are older, lurch-prone and generally unpleasant. Dual-clutch AMTs, on the other hand, are designed to eliminate lurching, and the best units provide incredibly quick yet perfectly smooth shifts. Most AMT-equipped cars use dual-clutch technology.

Pros: Better fuel economy, acceleration and responsiveness are better when compared with an Automatic Transmission. The magic of the AMT lies in its ability to combine the fuel economy and performance of a true manual with the everyday convenience of an automatic.The cons for AMT are few but notable. Its expensive because the technology is complex.It would also need an expensive repair if anything goes wrong. All engines haven't still worked out low speed AMT behavior yet.

Overall AMT vehicles are like a car with manual transmission without a clutch and is a huge victory for automotive progress.

By 2020

Top 10 Advanced Car Technologies that you can expect by the year 2020

10. Re-configurable Body Panels

There is an increase in demand for both SUVs and trucks todays. So what if you could have both the types in one car? A SUV with lightweight body panels and advanced motors that retract the roof and side glass into the lower body panels!!

 9. Smart/Personalized In-Car Marketing

By 2020 the average car will be fully connected to the internet, meaning your vehicle will provide marketers with a powerful set of metrics to customize their message. So, get ready for personalized, location-based ads in your car’s display.

8. Four-Cylinder Supercar

As the name suggests, a super car with just 4 cylinders and having 200+ horse power

7. Active Health Monitoring 

 A car that can pull over and call paramedics when the driver has a heart attack. The car seatbelt or steering wheel sensors that track vital statistics and most of the cars will just wirelessly pair with devices like your phone, tablet etc So when the sensors trigger that there is something wrong with the driver, it automatically calls the paramedics.

6. Remote Vehicle Shutdown

When your car is stollen you can shutdown your car with the help of a remote. This technology already exists but by 2020 remote vehicle shutdown will enter the social consciousness.

5. Active HUD

Head Up Display or the HUD is a technolgy thats been there for a long time but by 2020 we’ll see active glass capable of displaying vibrant images. Imagine a navigation system that actually highlights the next turn (as seen from your perspective, through the windshield) as you approach it.

4. Comprehensive Vehicle Tracking

Insurance companies, and some state governments, are already talking about fees based on how many miles a person drives. There is a good chance that we will see a  future where insurance companies will require comprehensive driver tracking.

3. Biometric Vehicle Access

From KEY to KEYLESS entry, and now the future of entering into your car with key-fob-less entry and start.  You’ll be able to unlock and start your car without anything more than your fingerprint ( or a retina scanner).

2. Driver Override Systems

It means the car actively disregards your commands and make its own decisions. Sounds strange, but there might be situations where you are going to hit a wall, and you still hit the gas pedal, the car overrides your decision and activates the brake. The rapid increase in sensor technology will force a shift in priority, giving the car final say — not you.

1.  Autonomous Vehicle

Not fully autonomus vehicle. Because it will take more than 5 years before a car can drive anywhere. But by 2020 we’ll have cars capable of being fully autonomous in certain circumstances, most likely rural interstates with minimal variables.

source: Forbes

Range Rover on Hell's Revenge

Watch Range Rover tested to the limits

Range Rover on Hell's Revenge

Chevrolet TrailBlazer

Chevrolet will be launching their new SUV within few days from now. Lets take a look at it.

Exterior: The Chevrolet TrailBlazer has the usual Chevrolet touch to it with the split design and the mesh grille. Fog lamps and daytime LEDs are standard. All in Chevrolet has given the the muscular look to it.

The wheel arches of its LT trims are expected to be fitted with a set of 16-inch alloy wheels. While LTZ variants will gets an elegant set of 18-inch royal silver finish alloy wheels, which enhances the look of its side profile. These rims are further covered with high performance tubeless radial tyres

Interior:  Very spacious interiors and is quiet similar to that of Cruze.

The interior for India is expected to be Beige. Standard features are expected to include MyLink infotainment system, steering mounted audio control, automatic climate control and jump seats for 3rd row. It has an advanced surround sound system with 10-speakers. Adaptive cruise control is also equipped for the TrailBlazer. The instrument cluster features quite a few functions like digital tachometer, outside temperature display, fuel levels, trip-computer, a digital clock and several notification lamps for keeping the driver updated.

Engine: Engine is expected to be a 2.8- liter 4-cylinder Duramax diesel beast producing 200hp and 500Nm torque.This power is transferred to the wheels via a 6-speed automatic gearbox which also have an active system. With all wheel drive as optional. Whereas the standard model is expected to have a 2.5L Duramax engine producing 163hp and 380Nm torque. This model is equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission transferring power to the front wheels.

Mileage: The 2.5L engine is expected to give an average mileage of 12.5kmpl whereas the 2.8L version is expected to give around 8kmpl

The car is also equipped with a total of 6 airbags. The advanced engine immobilizer with alarm system prevents it from theft and any unauthorized entry. Apart from ABS and EBD, it is also equipped with brake assist which improves its braking ability.

The price tag is expected to be between Rupees 32- 40 lakhs

Google Driverless Car

Google announced its first fully functional driverless car, which is ready for testing on public roads. Google developed various prototypes that lacked on different fundamental and functional aspects.

India is getting HOT

Yes!!  India is getting HOT

The new Fiat Punto Abarth is the most powerful Hot Hatchback to hit the Indian roads

 FIAT PUNTO Evo ABARTH

A first look and yes the car is HOT. Fiat is trying to lead the race with the all new T-Jet powered Punto Evo Abarth. Exteriors: All new sets of paint with Abarth logo in the place of the Fiat logo. T-Jet badge is also given. It has got scorpion decals and red Abarth stickers on its sides. Red OVRMs and all new sets of alloy wheels feature this car. Interiors: Abarth logo on the steering wheel. All new sporty pedals and different seats with colored stitching are new

Engine: The T Jet engine is a four cylinder 1.4L turbocharged producing 145hp!!! And the power goes to its front wheels via a five speed manual gearbox. The ride height is a bit less compared to the normal version. All four wheels get disc brakes and a stiffer suspension. Pricing is expected to be 50k to 70k more than the ordinary versions.
This is a car that i'm looking forward to.

DC AVANTI

Wonder why DC AVANTI is getting lots of attention?
Dilip Chhabria, marked a milestone in the Automobile Industry of India with the Avanti. Without a doubt you can say that Avanti is by far the most stunning, sporty car that has ever been designed and produced in India.
Super cars are a classification of Cars that have a Mid-Engine body layout with more than 200bhp. Avanti produces 250bhp @ 5500 RPM powered by a Renault-sourced 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. The power goes to the rear wheel, doing 0-100kmph in 6 Seconds.
Avanti is by far the best design from India and is a truly remarkable car.

Top 5 most expensive cars

5.) Ferrari F60 America

Price tag : $2.5M

F60 America

Engine: 6.2-liter V12 producing 740hp {0-60 mph under 3.1 seconds}

This limited edition was launched as a part of Ferrari's 60th Anniversary in the U.S. Designed to combine the delights of a V-12 engine and open-top driving.

4.) Mansory Vivere Bugatti Veyron

Price tag: $3.4M

Bugatti Veyron

 Engine specs: 8.0-liter W16 engine producing 1,200hp and 1,106 pound-feet of torque (0-60mph under 2.5 seconds)

The Bugatti Grand Sport got tuned Mansory. They made all new interior. New LED front lamps. Carbon fiber-ed body.

3.) Lykan HyperSport

Price tag: $3.4M

Lykan Hypersport

 Engine specs: 3.7L flat-six producing 740hp. (0-60mph in 2.7 seconds)

The Lykan HyperSport is a limited production sports car by W Motors, a UAE based company founded in 2012 with the collaboration of Lebanese and Italian engineers. It is the first supercar to be produced in the Middle East. The Hypersport is the first car to have headlights with embedded jewels; they contain titanium LED blades with 420 diamonds. The buyer has a selection of rubies, diamonds, yellow diamonds, and sapphires to be integrated into the vehicle's headlights at purchase.

 2.) Lamborghini Venono

Price tag: $4.5M

Lamborghini Venono Roadster

Engine specs: 6.5L V12 producing 750hp (0-60mph in 2.8 seconds)

Lamborghini as usual went insane with the design. As they call, it is a collector's master piece of engineering and design. An open racing prototype of extreme design and breath taking performance.

1.) Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita 

Price tag: $4.85M

Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita 

 Engine Specs: 4.8 L twin-supercharged V8 producing 1,004 hp (0-60mph in 2.8 seconds)

No.1 on the list is the Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita edition. Only 2 cars were ever build. By utilising this new and unique method, Koenigsegg has managed to coat fibres with a diamond finish, which was fully developed at Koenigsegg HQ.Only three CCXR Trevitas were planned to be produced, however, because of the complexity to make the special white carbon-fiber, only 2 were ever made, making it one of the rarest vehicles manufactured by Koenigsegg.

Apart from these one of the most expensive car that was purchased by Birdman in 2011 was the Maybach Exelero. He purchased it for $8M!!! 

Maybach Exelero

This car as from Wikipedia is a high-performance unique sports car built in 2004. The 700 hp (522 kW) four-seater with a twin turboV12 engine is a one-off design built by Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH, on request for Fulda Tires, the German division of Goodyear. Fulda is using this car as a reference vehicle to test a new generation of wide tires. The German luxury car manufacturer created the model as a modern interpretation of its legendary streamlined sportscar from the 1930s.

Mercedes Benz F 015

This concept car is top luxury model ever done by Mercedes Benz. And it is also a hydrogen fuel cell powered car. It also has futuristic technologies like self driving.

V2V Technology

V2V is the short for Vehicle To Vehicle. This is also knowen as Vehicular communication systems and are a type of network in which vehicles and roadside units are the communicating nodes, providing each other with information, such as safety warnings and traffic information. This technology  can be more effective in avoiding accidents and traffic congestions. The system uses a 5.9GHz band width for communication. The main mission behind this operation is reduce or eliminate road accidents and achieve safety and intelligent transportation.

Top 5 best Product Designs

1. The Ford Model T and VW Beetle
Model T for bringing automobile to the masses. The model T was cheap because of assembly line production. This was the first car to use the newly designed production method. This design changed the manufaturing process of automobiles.
The VW Beetle is considered to be the best provocative designs of 20th Century. Everyone loved the Beetle. The car had a diverse history and is considered to be one of the best automobile designs.

2. Motorola StarTAC
The first cell phone to appropriately integrate technology, interaction, style, and size.  In 2005, PC World put StarTAC at #6 in The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years. The StarTAC was among the first mobile phones to gain widespread consumer adoption; approximately 60 million StarTACs were sold.

3.  iMac
iMac made computing friendly and accessible for the masses.

4. Polaroid Camera
Instant camera uses self-developing film to create a chemically developed print shortly after taking the picture.  Polaroid Corporation showed this magic to the world. This was then followed by various other manufact55urers.

 5. Swiss Army Knife
Everyone owns this compact and amazingly useful product at some point. This small compact tool has around 141 different functions. This is by far one of the best product designs the world has seen.

WiTricity

WiTricity

 

Wireless Electricity Transmission is the latest technology. Yes, as the name suggests it is now possible to transfer electricity without the help of a wire. Now you can recharge your phone, laptops etc and even use electronic items without the help of any wires. This technology was made possible by WiTricity Corporation.  The term WiTricity was used for a project that took place at MIT, led by Marin Soljačić in 2007. And so now it is possible to transfer electricity without wire.