All new Dzire scores the fastest 1-lakh sales mark in Indian automobile history

Maruti Suzuki’s all-new Dzire has achieved the fastest 1-lakh sales mark, a distinctive feat in the Indian automobile industry. The third generation Dzire, launched in May 2017, has surpassed the 1-lakh sales milestone in just five and half months.

Positioned as an authentic sedan offering plush and roomy interiors, loaded with new features and equipped with advanced safety features, the new Dzire became an instant hit.

Expressing gratitude to customers for making Dzire the most successful entry sedan, Mr. R S Kalsi, Senior Executive Director (Marketing and Sales) at Maruti Suzuki India said: "Indeed, the Dzire has brought an unprecedented disruption in the automobile market. The new Dzire takes the brand to a whole new level – an authentic sedan designed for the young, aspirational and indulgence seeking Indian customer. Built afresh on the HEARTECT platform, the all-New Dzire continues to fulfill the growing aspirations of young and prosperous India. Committed to redefine the market, brand Dzire has not only expanded our share in the entry sedan segment but also expanded the industry size."

According to internal research, the top three reasons that have delighted Dzire customers in this avatar include the authentic sedan style and looks; the reliable and efficient Maruti Suzuki brand name and exciting new features in the car like the SmartPlay infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Mirror-link technology and the Auto Gear Shift. These have made the new Dzire an irresistible package.

Interestingly, nearly half of the new Dzire customers have chosen the sedan as their first car purchase. This shows a paradigm shift of the Indian customers who are now opting for a sedan as their first car.

Maruti Suzuki customers have also appreciated the Auto Gear Shift (AGS) technology. Nearly 17% of Dzire customers have opted for AGS variant during April-September 2017. The AGS technology is now available on six options starting V trim up to Z and Z+ in Petrol and Diesel fuel variants.

The diesel variant of Dzire delivers best in industry fuel economy in passenger cars at 28.4 kmpl. Petrol fuel efficiency is 22.0 kmpl, making it the best in the segment.

Dzire has won the prestigious Good Design Awards 2017, hosted by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion in Japan.

Source: Maruti

A proud environment-friendly Vodafone family of Delhi

When I was of the age of my daughter now, the life was quite different. We had not even heard about Mobiles or Internet. There was no Social media or any digital world. There were no Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin or even Google & Yahoo. The only connectivity was through a Landline connection, but it was too difficult to get it. There was a waiting period of over 10 years for a landline connection. For making an STD call, we had to book it and it usually took half an hour or more to get the call connected. Making a payment was a big headache as there were very few spots to make the payment and we had to stand in queue for hours to make the payment. The Lineman used to dictate his terms of continuous connectivity and we were forced to offer him Money as well cold drinks for little favors, almost every month.

Things started changing and slowly but steadily, we reached to an era of mobile phones with so many service providers offering connectivity, Internet, Data plans and a lot more, at very high costs,  with the 24x7 helpline as well online payment possibilities. But it was the era of Call drops and 2G/3G  connectivity. For making a single call, there used to be many call drops, with no incoming voice or no outgoing noise. Signals were too weak to keep you in touch all the time. Internet speed was too slow to do anything while on the move. To overcome the problem, our Government introduced the Portability scheme, where consumers were allowed to shift to the better service provider while keeping the same number. 

Things have changed drastically in the last 30 years and we are now Live on various Social media platforms, interacting with those, whom we don’t even know personally. Now I and my daughter have the best Smartphone, best Internet connectivity, best social media network, best call connectivity, with online payment facilities, 24x7 helpline and a lot more. And this has become true, with the best service provider of India, i.e. Vodafone.  Yeah, Vodafone has the best connectivity & the best network in India now, and I can proudly call ourselves as the Vodafone family, as all of the mobile numbers we have in our family, belong to Vodafone. It is working perfectly in our locality or wherever we go and is the most reliable network.

Moreover, Vodafone is also helping the startups. It digitally connected Delhi & NCR by over 120 Free WI-Fi hotspot zones where you can use Free WI-Fi for 20 minutes, even though you are not a Vodafone customer. Vodafone has also created two Airs-Purifying bus shelters at Delhi & Gurugram. Vodafone is also urging the residents of Delhi & NCR to celebrate a Green Diwali by using the Super crackers being offered by it. To the utmost surprise of one & all, these super crackers have been filled with the Eco-friendly plant seeds to make the Delhi & NCR much greener. Probably that’s the spirit & enthusiasm of Vodafone to serve the customers, that has made it a choice of over 1.2 crore customers in Delhi & NCR.

Feeling proud that we belong to the Vodafone family of Delhi & NCR and enjoying the best of the services, ever provided by any service provider in India. We are now going to our nearest Vodafone store to get our personalized GIF as well the Super crackers to enjoy the festival of Diwali. Best wishes to the entire Vodafone family of Delhi & NCR for a very Happy Diwali & a prosperous New year ahead. Please log on to https://www.vodafone.in/home-delhi 

Pics used with thanks to Vodafone

HUAWEI Unveils the HUAWEI Mate 10 and HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro

Disruptive innovation often begins with bold dreams. During IFA Berlin, Huawei Consumer Business Group introduced its first AI mobile chipset, the Kirin 970. Today in Munich, Huawei announced the HUAWEI Mate 10 Series, which will open the door to new AI mobile applications. The HUAWEI Mate 10, HUAWEI Mate 10 Pro, and Porsche Design HUAWEI Mate 10 are breakthrough AI devices that combine innovative hardware, the Kirin 970 chipset and EMUI 8.0. The HUAWEI Mate 10 Series continues its legacy of superior product performance and long-lasting battery life while integrating New Leica Dual Camera technology. 

“As we enter the age of intelligence, AI is no longer a virtual concept but something that intertwines with our daily life. AI can enhance user experience, provide valuable services and improve product performance,” said Richard Yu, CEO, Huawei Consumer Business Group. “The HUAWEI Mate 10 Series introduces the first mobile AI-specific Neural Network Processing Unit, launching a new era of intelligent smartphones.” 

Key Features:

- Kirin 970, the world’s first AI processor for smartphones with a dedicated Neural Network Processing Unit (NPU); 

- A 3D Glass Body featuring a barely-there-bezel, HUAWEI FullView Display and HDR10 supported technology for intensely vivid and brighter colors; 

- TÜV Fast-Charge Safety Certified HUAWEI SuperCharge and 4000 mAh battery with AI-powered Battery Management 

- New Leica Dual Camera with SUMMILUX-H lenses, with both featuring an aperture of f/1.6, and intelligent photography including AI-powered Real-Time Scene and Object Recognition and AI-powered Bokeh Effect 

- An all-new, simplified EMUI 8.0 based on Android™ 8.0.

Source: Huawei

Introducing Samsung Connect Tag, a New Way to Keep Track of All That Matters in Life

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is launching the Samsung Connect Tag* – a new way to keep track of the loved ones, valuables and all the matters in life. The Samsung Connect Tag is the world’s first consumer mobile product to use narrowband network technology (NB-IoT, Cat.M1), a specially designed cellular communication standard for small data utilization, low power consumption and the ability to securely connect to the internet for optimal location services. The Samsung Connect Tag offers smart location notifications based on an NB-IoT or Cat.M1 network, leveraging full internet services to identify location information for increased family security and peace of mind.

The Samsung Connect Tag will work with GPS, Wi-Fi-based positioning (WPS) and Cell ID so it can receive accurate location information both indoors and outdoors for effortless location tracking. It can be attached to a young child’s backpack so his or her whereabouts can be tracked, clipped to a dog’s collar so it won’t go missing, and secured the keys so they are never lost. These tracking and notification abilities will minimize anxiety about the user’s favorite items or loved ones, offering an exciting way to use technology for increased family security and an enhanced lifestyle.

Furthering Samsung’s commitment to a seamless IoT experience across devices, the Samsung Connect Tag will be tied to the SmartThings ecosystem, working in conjunction with the user’s smart home appliances through Works with SmartThings. The geo-fence feature on the Samsung Connect Tag will notify the user’s chosen smart devices when he or she approaches – so if the user wants lights and TV to turn on while getting home from a nightly run, the Samsung Connect Tag can trigger these products as the user enters the pre-defined zone, so the user will get a notification when the child enters the schoolyard or a dog jumps the backyard fence.

The Samsung Connect Tag also offers several key features to minimize anxiety and increase usability. If the user loses a car in a large outdoor parking lot, the on-demand function will allow requesting any Connect Tag’s location when desired, simply by pressing a button on the smartphone. 

The Send my location function will send their current location to their guardian, so even a young child can let you know exactly where he or she is and can go pick him/her up safely. Additionally, periodic location notifications will show a trace the loved one's location record.

Connect Tag features a compact size, measuring just 4.21 centimeters wide and 1.19 centimeters thick, as well as IP68 water and dustproof rating for durability. The battery can last for up to seven days on a single charge, minimizing the need to constantly swap out or plug in the device. Connect Tag comes with an exclusive ring that easily attaches to bags, collars or key rings.

Connect Tag will be showcased at the Samsung Developer Conference 2017 on October 18-19 at Moscone Center in San Francisco, California, United States. It will be available for purchase starting in Korea before expanding to select countries in the coming months.

*All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

Source: Samsung

Shivan and Narresh Presents Araki Series at AIFW SS’ 18 in association with Nexa

The elaborate work of genius Japanese contemporary photographer, Nobuyoshi Araki and his provocative imagery underlining the notion of human desire serve as the compelling starting point for the new SHIVAN & NARESH series. The collection embraces and interprets Araki’s affinity for lush flower arrangements via prints boasting of forest sights, lined with vibrant flora brought together by a palette steeped in the colors of Japan. The fabrics of the season are finished with luxurious Italian Crepe Jersey and thick knits with rich botanical prints and lustrous embellishments. Detailed Skein motifs flirting with crystals lend a new dimension to the abstraction, making the collection a luxurious addition to one’s destination wedding wardrobe.

Source: FDCC PR

CELEBRATE A SUPER DIWALI WITH VODAFONE

CREATE YOUR PERSONALISED DIWALI GIF TO WISH YOUR LOVED ONES

AVAIL CUSTOMISED PLANS AND DIWALI SURPRISES AWAIT CUSTOMERS

National, October 16^th, 2017: Adding to the festivities this Diwali, Vodafone India, in hallmark style, has come up with an innovative concept to delight customers. Vodafone is encouraging customers to walk into any Vodafone stores across India on 18^th and 19^th October 2017 to get a differentiated Diwali experience and create a personalized Diwali GIF with Augmented Reality to wish an eco-friendly Diwali to their loved ones.

All Vodafone stores will be decked with Diwali accessories and each customer walking into the Vodafone stores will be greeted by traditionally attired Vodafone personnel, with a custom created offer, an opportunity to send a unique, personalized Diwali greeting (GIF) to their loved ones and a chance to take home a gift hamper. 

With the help of the store employees, Vodafone customers can create eco-friendly Diwali ‘phuljharis’ greetings for their loved ones, through a twist of Augmented Reality technology. This personalized GIF can then be sent to friends and family, through social media by tagging them. Each customer will also receive a special Thank you card from Vodafone. 

Extending her Diwali wishes to all 210 million plus Vodafone customers across India, Kavita Nair, Associate Director – Commercial Operations, Vodafone India, said, “We, at Vodafone, have always been customer obsessed and believe in delighting our customers.  This festive season, we invite them to visit our stores for an innovative augmented reality (AR) experience and use it to create their own, unique Diwali greeting for wishing their family and friends.”

Source : Vodafone

Hyundai i30 N TCR shines in China

Hyundai Motorsport’s first circuit racer takes the maiden win. The pace of the Hyundai i30 N TCR stood out on its debut in the TCR International Series at the Zhejiang Circuit in China. The Hyundai Motorsport built car set the fastest time in three of the weekend’s sessions, with Gabriele Tarquini charging through the field in the opening race to give the i30 N TCR a maiden victory.

The weekend was a key opportunity to showcase the performance of the car against the TCR designs offered by other manufacturers. The Zhejiang Circuit, however, presented a new challenge for the team and drivers, the twisting technical layout unlike anywhere the i30 N TCR had tested.

Despite this, Tarquini and Alain Menu produced the two fastest times in qualifying, the i30 N TCR the only car capable of lapping the 3.2km circuit in under 1:33. Tarquini’s best stopped the clock at 1:32.935, but Menu’s session leading time of 1:32.811 was nearly half a second faster than the next best manufacturer in the field.

Unfortunately, due to the temporary homologation that was given to the i30 N TCR for the event, both drivers were ineligible to claim their place in the second part of qualifying, and so were forced to start both of the races from 13th and 14th positions on a circuit where overtaking was expected to be difficult.

Even from this lowly position the speed and handling of the car shone through as Tarquini was able to make his way up the order to take the lead just after halfway through the 19 lap race. He took a sensational win following his development since the i30 N TCR’s first test in April. Menu followed his march up the order through the early part of the race, reaching the top 6 before being penalized for his role in some start line contact. The car undamaged, he finished in 12th position.

Such was the superb pace of the i30 N TCR that the series organizers altered the Balance of Performance (BoP) in the hour following Tarquini’s victory. For the second race both cars were made to run with an almost unprecedented 40kg of additional weight, as well having the engine power turned down.

Still, though both drivers were able to make clean overtakes all around the lap, with Menu and Tarquini moving up to fourth and sixth respectively by the chequered flag.

Gabriele Tarquini said: “This has been an almost perfect weekend for me, and for the team behind the i30 N TCR. We showed we have developed a very strong package for the TCR regulations. Starting from 14th, we did not expect to be able to fight for the victory, especially on such a tough circuit. I had a really good first lap, and was able to take advantage of the good brakes and handling of the car to make the most of the pace of the i30 N TCR.”

Alain Menu said: “The i30 N TCR has really impressed me this weekend. With the Zhejiang Circuit being so different to the circuits in Europe where we have tested we didn’t know what to expect. However, from the very first lap the i30 N TCR has proven to be a good handling car around the slow-speed corners, as well as the faster sections of the circuit. It was instantly a very comfortable, easy car to drive on the limit, which is exactly what is required for a Customer Racing project.”

Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing manager Andrea Adamo said: “We hit all the targets that we set this weekend for the i30 N TCR. We came here to show the competitiveness of the car against the others in the TCR International Series, and with our pace, throughout the weekend we have definitively shown the strength of our car in the series. Our performance and reliability here show that the i30 N TCR is strong not only on fast, flowing tracks but also on tighter, more technical layout. Our customers should be able to take their new car to any circuit, in any series and be able to fight at the front.”

The i30 N TCR will return to the TCR International Series for the championship’s final weekend in Dubai on November 17-18.

Indie Eye to be launched in Milan in 2018

Indie Eye, a brand that explores the area of avant-garde eye-wear design in India, is a collaborative initiative by a designer, Tanira Sethi and an artist, Jayanta Roy, guided by a product development and design expert, Sunil Sethi.

The product line is uncontrolled by the set norms of fashion and seeks to redefine the ‘regular’. It is meant for free thinkers, people who believe in self-expression and have an ‘eye’ for individualistic fashion.

The project was conceived at the serendipitous meeting of the three creative minds at Jayanta’s art exhibit. Fascinated by the metaphoric take on eye-wear, two years hence, the brand is proposed to be launched in Milan in 2018. Indie Eye is currently designing unconventional, bespoke objects d’art on request.

Source: W five

Audi e-tron FE04 fast and reliable

The new Audi e-tron FE04 has left a strong impression at the official pre-season testing of the Formula E electric racing series at Valencia (Spain). Team Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler from Monday to Thursday completed the largest number of test kilometers of all ten teams. The lap times of the first all-electric Audi race car were promising as well.

New Audi factory driver Daniel Abt (Germany) and title defender Lucas di Grassi (Brazil) reeled off an extensive test program with the four race cars of Team Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler in high summer temperatures of up to 30 degrees centigrade in the shade. The program was focused on race simulations and optimization of the energy management of the new motor-generator unit (MGU) which now only has one forward gear.

In spite of the heat, the four Audi e-tron FE04 ran with complete reliability on all three days, so enabling Daniel Abt and Lucas di Grassi to reel off a total of 474 laps on the three-kilometer Circuit Ricardo Tomo near Valencia, which equates to a distance of 1,466 kilometers – equalling the race distance of a whole Formula E season. The two Audi drivers were regularly part of the top group, although the absolute best times are only of limited significance: testing was only permitted with the full qualifying power of 200 kW twice per day and per car. In addition, the track configuration was modified by a second chicane on the start-finish straight during the test.

“Daniel and Lucas felt comfortable in the car right from the beginning and confirmed to me that we’ve done good development work and made a big step forwards with the new powertrain,” said Team Principal Allan McNish, assessing the tests. “Even though we’re only going to see where we really stand at the season opener in Hong Kong and still have a lot of work to do until then, we can be very happy with the test in Valencia. The Audi e-tron FE04 is reliable and fast. Now we need to continue to optimize energy management and the software on the test bench and in the simulator.”

“It’s been a positive test,” reigning Formula E Champion Lucas di Grassi agreed. “I believe that our new car is very competitive. Audi, ABT and Schaeffler have done a good job. We made optimal use of the three test days in order to put ourselves in a good position for the season opener in Hong Kong. The top times were very close together. I’m expecting a thrilling season.”

“The test at Valencia went smoothly,” said Daniel Abt. “There was a lot to learn with the new software and other things. We made good progress on these three days, especially on the last day. The car is running superbly and is fast. I can hardly wait to tackle my first two races as an Audi factory driver in Hong Kong.”

From now on until the season opens in Hong Kong on December 2 and 3 testing is prohibited in Formula E. The four Audi e-tron FE04 cars will be completely dismantled and reassembled once more at the team’s base in Kempten. In mid-November, they will be flown from England to Hong Kong.

Source : AUDI

Formula E

Audi will be the first German automobile manufacturer to race in Formula E. The brand with the four rings is taking over ABT Sportsline’s place on the grid. The Allgäu-based team has been successfully present in Formula E since the electric racing series’ inception and in the future will be taking care of the Audi race cars as the fielding team. Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler will start to the fourth Formula E season in Hong Kong at the beginning of December. Audi driver Lucas di Grassi clinched the FIA Formula E title in the 2016/2017 season.

Source: Audi