Mahindra Scorpio Hybrid now comes with the Start/Stop system that improves fuel efficiency, writes Hormazd SorabjeeMahindra's Start/Stop system developed jointly by Mahindra and Bosch is so good, it won Autocar's Innovation of the Year award for 2009. After first testing this system - dubbed by Mahindra as the Micro Hybrid in the Bolero - last year, we found no discernible improvement in fuel economy.

 

However, we knew this clever yet uncomplicated system had the potential to deliver significant fuel savings with a little bit of fine-tuning, and this time around, it's been fitted to Mahindra's flagship Scorpio.

 

The Start/Stop system functions through a very simple process. When the car is stationary and idling (in neutral with no foot on the clutch), the engine waits for a few seconds before switching off automatically. Press the clutch and before you can select first gear, the engine fires up and you are ready to go.

 

The logic is clear cut - switch off the engine and you burn no fuel - ask any cab driver!

The hardware is pretty compact and sits deep inside the engine bay. All it consists of is a beefed-up starter motor to cope with the stress of frequent starting, an uprated alternator and a stronger battery to handle the extra electrical load. The crankshaft sensor sends information to the ECU, which in turn decides when to start or stop the engine.

 

What's crucial here is the interval between selecting neutral when stationary and the engine shutting down. In the Bolero we previously tested, Mahindra had set an agonising 10-second delay which proved too long even during rush-hour traffic as cars constantly inched forward; so remaining completely stationary for more than 10 seconds is not that frequent. Okay, clogged intersections and major junctions can keep you waiting for several minutes, but more often, you are ready to move almost immediately after the engine shuts down. This really defeats the purpose of the Start/Stop system.

 

To register an improvement in fuel economy, the engine should idle less, and hence needs to shut off more frequently. We felt the idling time shoud be reduced to five seconds, which is exactly what Mahindra has now done. But has it made a difference? We tested the new Scorpio Start/Stop system for over 1,000km in Mumbai city, with the system switched on and off (there's a button on the dash which disables the Start/Stop function, and the Scorpio runs normally) to get a precise comparison.

 

In Start/Stop mode, the Scorpio returned a frugal 11.5kpl, a near one kpl improvement (0.9 to be precise) in normal mode. That's a pretty impressive figure for a piece of kit that costs just around Rs 4,000. The biggest flaw in this system is that the air-con stops working when the engine switches off. Even the music system resets every time you restart the engine. Hybrid cars such as the Civic Hybrid don't have such problems as the additional run off on electric motor is powered by a bank of batteries.

 

The Start/Stop system or micro hybrid which costs a fraction, makes much more sense in the Indian context as compared to the pricing of the wallet-crunching Civic Hybrid. Now, if only they can find a way to keep the air-con running.

 

In Start/Stop mode, the Scorpio returned a frugal 11.5kpl, a near one kpl improvement (0.9 to be precise) in normal mode. That's a pretty impressive figure for a piece of kit that costs just around Rs 4,000. The biggest flaw in this system is that the air-con stops working when the engine switches off. Even the music system resets every time you restart the engine. Hybrid cars such as the Civic Hybrid don't have such problems as the additional run off on electric motor is powered by a bank of batteries.

 

Honda has realised that a lot of customers for the Jazz might want more than a puny 1.2-litre engine. Considering the fact that the Jazz shares its platform with the Honda City, Honda is now considering slotting the 1.5-litre 110bhp engine from the City under the Jazz’s bonnet too, but not before 2010.

 

This engine would definitely transform the Jazz’s performance, but will add an estimated Rs. 70,000 to the price.

 

Honda also plans to offer an automatic transmission option with the 1.5-litre powerplant. With this option, the Jazz could be dearer by over Rs. 1 lakh.

Mumbai, July 18 Maruti Suzuki, which has been averaging monthly sales of around 75,000 units during the April-June period of this fiscal, is likely to ramp up production by 25 per cent towards September to meet the Diwali season demand.

 

"We are expecting the company to roll out at least 90,000 cars a month by end-September and maintain the momentum through November," top ancillary suppliers to Maruti told Business Line.

 

In the process, they add, the carmaker is poised to touch sales of one million units this fiscal, which marks a significant jump from nearly eight lakh units in 2008-09.

 

"All the company's products are doing roaring business especially the A-Star, the Ritz, the Swift and the Alto. We have our order books full," said a supplier, who did not wish to be identified.

 

In a nutshell, Maruti is not going to give up its leadership slot in a hurry, despite the healthy competition emerging in the market.

"By the end of the day, it offers customers a heady mix of value for money (even in used cars), sales and service support. In addition, the company has been churning out new products that have sustained customer interest," another supplier said.

 

Market observers maintain that the Tata Nano could end up eating into a share of Maruti's market share but that is going to take some time.

 

In the first place, production of the Nano for this fiscal will be confined to barely 45,000 cars from Tata Motors' interim plant at Pantnagar. Numbers will increase during 2009-10 when the Sanand facility in Gujarat is up and running but even then bridging the gap with an aggressive market leader will take some time longer, they say.

 

What has been equally heartening for Maruti is the fact that its exports have been surging lately to account for at least 15 per cent of its total output and tipped to rise even further in the coming months. This has largely been propelled by Europe's scrappage schemes (especially in Germany, France and the UK) which have increased demand for fuel-efficient cars.

 

The company has also been going flat out on its rural drive and sales here are also taking up 15 per cent of production. The focus here will only sharpen in the future through a host of schemes intended to woo buyers in these markets.

 

"Maruti has constantly been in the forefront for innovative finance schemes which have targeted specific customers such as teachers, lawyers, journalists, policemen and even panchayat chiefs. The lessons have been handy in evolving new retail initiatives to push sales," sources said.

 

In the midst of this buoyancy, there are some issues to ponder over.  There is a huge demand for Maruti's diesel cars but dealers say delivery schedules are still under some pressure thanks to the company's export commitments to east Europe.

 

There is also a degree of apprehension that with a slew of models, some could be marginalised but then, as experts say, this is only inevitable.  "The idea is to constantly keep buyers eager and excited. Not all products may work but the ones that do will make all the difference in the leadership stakes," they aver.

The Delhi government will open another chapter in its efforts to go green during the Commonwealth Games next year - by introducing hybrid cars.

 

The first hybrid car, to run alternately on petrol and electric energy, will be put together by a group of students from the Delhi College of Engineering (DCE). The college has received Rs 20 lakh from the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for the effort.

 

DCE director P B Sharma told Newsline that a team of eight undergraduate students from disciplines like electronics, mechanical and electrical engineering, will create a hybrid car out of a Maruti Esteem. Maruti Udyog has already given the car to the college. "We have expertise in developing a hybrid car," Sharma said. "We made the first hybrid, single-seater, which won us a prize in the US in 2005.

 

"This project will take our innovation forward." The team of students will work on the project for the next few months and will also be graded on it. The students will be led by Sharma and another faculty member, S Maji.

 

Sharma said the car will be developed in such a way that it could set a precedent for commercially-viable hybrid cars.

 

According to Delhi government officials, the hybrid car will be displayed at a Commonwealth Games venue during the event and may even be used to give joyrides. An official said: "Apart from showcasing our cultural and historical heritage to athletes and spectators arriving in Delhi, we would also like to project to the world our commitment towards the environment."

 

The team of students will work on the project for the next few months and will also be graded on it. The students will be led by Sharma and another faculty member, S Maji.

 

Sharma said the car will be developed in such a way that it could set a precedent for commercially-viable hybrid cars.

According to Delhi government officials, the hybrid car will be displayed at a Commonwealth Games venue during the event and may even be used to give joyrides. An official said: "Apart from showcasing our cultural and historical heritage to athletes and spectators arriving in Delhi, we would also like to project to the world our commitment towards the environment."

Fiat India rolled out the Grande Punto hatchback on 17th June09 with an aggressive price Rs 3.99 lack (ex-showroom Delhi), pitching it against segment leaders Suzuki Swift and i10, while pricing it way below Hyundai i20 and Honda Jazz.

 

The company will offer the car with three engine options - 1200 cc Petrol, 1400cc petrol and 1300 cc multijet diesel engine. Grande Punto is Fiat's latest offering after the Linea sedan and is expected to drive volumes. Fiat hopes to start with average sale of 2000-2500 units, nearly double to that of Linea. "We believe that the B Plus segment (premium hatchback) in India has been undertapped and consumers are increasingly looking forward to driving world renowned, international brands," said Fiat India Head - Rajeev Kapoor. Market analysts said Fiat has chosen to opt for an aggressive pricing for the Punto as it is upbeat after the encouraging response to Linea despite the market slowdown. Economics of scale has also made it possible for the company to price the car cheaper. Fiat is making cars at a new factory at Ranjangaon in Maharashtra in a JV with Tata Motors and the companies are sharing engines across models, enabling bulk purchases from suppliers helping them better bprices for raw materials and spaeatrs.