Top 5 Sedans of 2012

The Indian automotive industry today is one of the world's most rapidly progressing industrial sectors of the world. This, combined with the notable increase in the number of millionaires in India over the recent years, has caught the attention of celebrated auto-makers from across the globe to enter the Indian auto-market. These international brands are merging with the native brands to bring forward cars that are revolutionary in design and futuristic in style. Particularly, the sedan segment has currently been thrown into an absolute turmoil with everyday launches of world-class sedans.

Hyundai Elantra Fluidic

Price: Rs 12.51-15.85 Lakh (Ex-showroom New Delhi)Built along the lines of the all-too-famous fluid design of the Korean manufacturer, the elegant curves and cuts of this new sedan from the stables of Hyundai have turned the heat straight away on the front-runners like Chevrolet Cruze, Volkswagen Jetta and Skoda Laura. With an efficient petrol-fueled 1.8L 4-cylinder VTVT engine and a powerful 1.6L VGT diesel engine, Hyundai Elantra Fluidic is going to be rivaling some of the most fuel-efficient cars in the market. Laying immense focus on the safety and comfort of the occupants, the makers of Elantra have incorporated ABS, front and rear airbags and traction and stability control together with fully-loaded music and climate control systems in a luxuriously-furnished chamber.

Maruti Swift Dzire

Price: Rs 4.88-7.34 Lakh (Ex-showroom New Delhi)

Enjoying the position of India's best-selling sedan ever since its unveiling back in 2008, Maruti Cars made a fresh come back to the segment in February 2012 with the latest model of Dzire shortened to the level of a sub-four metre with an intention of cost-cutting. Rolled out in a fleet of 7 (4 petrol and 3 diesel) variants, the petrol version of the new Dzire is driven by a 1.2L 1197cc K-series engine while a 1.3L 1248cc DOHC mill drives its diesel counterpart. With a longer wheelbase achieved at the cost of a smaller boot, the new Maruti Swift Dzire houses quite roomy and comfy interiors while boasting several renewed stylish outer features.

Nissan Sunny

Price: Rs 5.93-8.93 Lakh (Ex-showroom New Delhi)

Having already been released in 3 petrol and 2 diesel-fueled versions, an automatic petrol version of the classy sedan Nissan Sunny is being anticipated to be launched in 2013. Majorly admired for its upstate and glitzy outfit adorned with a beautiful hexagonal front, large headlamps and body-colored accessories, harmonized with lavish interiors complete with an impressive audio set, key-less entry and start/stop and automatic climate control, Sunny has been blessed with quite an efficient security mechanism as well. Meanwhile, powerful 1.5L 4-cylinder engines have been employed to power both petrol and diesel variants.

Hyundai Verna Fluidic

Price: Rs 7.11-11.26 Lakh (Ex-showroom New Delhi)

Being the one to introduce the revolutionary fluidic make of Hyundai to the world, Hyundai Verna Fluidic has used this individualistic touch completely to its advantage. With sales curves on an all-time rise, Verna Fluidic, with its sporty yet elegant style, has been leading the C segment ever since its launch, an year ago. Even its plush interiors are considered to be the best in the segment. Voicing a tone of futuristic approach not only in style but also in safety, Verna integrates a streak of new and innovative safety features including six airbags, reversing camera, doors fitted with impact and speed sensors and rear disc brakes. All this, combined with mighty 1.4L engines make Sunny a complete package deal.

2012 Chevrolet Cruze

Price: Rs 13.85-15.67 Lakh (Ex-showroom New Delhi)

The recently unveiled face-lift of the Chevrolet Cruze, titled the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze has been rolled out in 3 fantastic models named Cruze LT Manual, LTZ Manual and LTZ Auto. Tweaked and honed to deliver a better fuel-efficiency, its spanking new power-trains paired with a 2.0L engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission gearbox, produce a magnificent 163bhp and 360Nm torque. While on one hand, its eye-catching looks including a sturdy grilled front, smartly fashioned fenders and a handsome bonnet add charm to this brilliant machine. On the other hand, special features like Cruise control, emergency exit and quick-thinking LAN bus make it stand out even amidst stars like Honda Civic and Volkswagen Jetta.

About Author :

Shweta Aggarwal is Guest Author and writes on gadgets and automobiles. Sometimes she writes about nature and it's creativity. Now in this Article, she is sharing the very important news about Top 5 sedan cars in India, 2012 such as Hyundai Elantra Fluidic, Maruti Swift Dzire, Nissan Sunny, Hyundai Verna Fluidic and 2012 Chevrolet Cruze. Follow her at Google+.

Pumped up Six: Ford Inline-6 Modification

I purchased my first car on a cold day in January at the age of 16. It was a red 1969 Mustang coupe, picked up for $1,800, and I still drive her to this day. The search for my first car lasted over a year, while I worked to save up my money. During that time, there were many makes and models of old cars�I knew I wanted a classic�which I looked at and test-drove. While I was still not certain what car I would end up buying, there was one requirement that I had to adhere to by order of my parents: I could not have a V8. Safety, insurance, the fact my parents actually knew the damage I was capable of were all reasons for this call.

Resolved to this fact, I knew I would have to make due with whatever I could get my hands on. I ended up with the Ford 250ci straight six, and hopes of one day swapping her out for something with a bit more sauce once I had finished her restoration and left home. For the time being, in an effort to hide my shame of rocking a six-banger, I installed a set of split headers from Clifford Performance, complete with a pair of 40 series Flowmaster mufflers. A cutout rear valance with dual tipped pipes added to the effect, and people continue to be fooled and shocked when I tell them it�s a six. I say still, because after a few more modifications I decided to stick with the original engine and continue with the shock factor of putting eights to the test.

The first thing to do is getting acquainted with your online resources. The two I have found to be the most productive for my six-cylinder needs are Clifford Performance�where I bought my headers all those years ago�and Classic Inlines. Both of these companies� sites have articles, how-to�s, photo galleries, dyno results, and engine parts. I would say familiarizing yourself with the products both companies offer is key prior to making any plans for that rebuild. Of course, knowing what you want from your car modification is key at this point as well; are you still wanting a daily driver with average fuel economy and some nice pep, or are you striving for an 11 second drag machine?

If you are a true gear head, you may end up doing the modification yourself. If not, make sure you have a mechanic who knows a thing or two about this sort of modification. Not only is this an uncommon task�especially in the States�but the average mechanic might not be as well versed in working on old inline sixes. Shop around for your guy, and think about getting him involved from the very beginning, and not when you finally have all your parts and are ready to go. Odds are, your mechanic will be pretty stoked about taking on such a unique project�unless, of course, you find someone who does the mod frequently.

The number one issue with modifying the Ford straight six is the unfortunate problem with the intake manifold. Sadly, the Ford 170-200-250 intake manifold was cast as part of the head, meaning it cannot be swapped out. There are kits that allow you to bore into the manifold to add extra carburetors, but this method has always seemed sloppy to me, and obviously irreversible. The Ford Australian six, however, does have a detachable manifold, and these heads are very popular for inline modification. The only problem is�living in America�these heads are very difficult to come by, and even if you buy the head from Australia, the shipping will kill.

A more viable option is to simply purchase an aftermarket head from Classic Inlines. Not only will you then have the option to swap out manifolds, but they also have an aluminum head to make the purchase all the more worth it. Odds are, even with the Aussie head you would perform a complete rebuild, and with the aftermarket you can just order it with the new add-ons already there for you. Performance rods, rocker arms, and springs are all elements with will help beef up the power-potential of your head.

Classic Inlines has you just about covered in all aspects of your car modifications. Their master rebuild kit will get you where you need to go, and I highly recommend going that route over building up the parts one by one. They have several options that allow you to completely customize your package. At this point, it is really important to have done your research and know exactly what you want, and hopefully know what your mechanic recommends; because there is a good chance he still knows more about it than you do, even if this is his first six modifications. 

In the case of my �69, I opted with the C.I. Aluminum 250-4v head from Classic Inlines, also adding the Clay Smith S294-122 Camshaft and Lifters, SI 1.86/1.56 Valves, the Yella Terra 1.65 Roller Rocker Kit, and a Romac High Performance Balancer. I decided to go bold, and skipped the carb, going with EFI fuel injection instead�giving me great mileage and performance. I still make about 24 MPG, and dyno�d at 256 HP and 401 lb/ft of torque. At a recent car show, they had a 150 ft drag strip set up for us, and I completely blew the doors off of my brothers �71 351-4v Mach 1.

The common fate of most six cylinder classics�particularly mustangs�is to gut it and drop in the eight. Hopping up the old six was a blast, and is such a unique addition to the story of your ride. At car shows, my �69 gets unbelievable amounts of attention because people have never seen a six dressed up in such a way. She performs well on the road, while also getting my better fuel economy than I probably could have expected from a stock 302. At the same time, it gives me a sense of satisfaction knowing the heart that beats under the hood is the same one that was dropped in on day one.

Author Bio:

Jack Payton is a car nut in the purest form. He loves to write about everything gear related, and rebuilt his first engine at 15. He works as the online publisher for the online tire retailer tires-easy.com. In his spare time he enjoys cruising, attending car shows, and collecting vinyl.