GIMP

GIMP is a popular open-source graphics editing program that is often used as a free replacement to Adobe Photoshop. Short for GNU Image Manipulation Program, GIMP is licensed under a GNU General Public License and is available for all major operating systems including Linux, Mac OS X, and Microsoft Windows. GIMP is a raster graphics editor, as opposed to a vector graphics editor like Adobe Illustrator, or OpenOffice.org Draw (also open-source), and thus useful for manipulating digital images such as photographs. Common tasks include cropping, resizing, adjusting color, creating composite images, removing artifacts and other unwanted image features. GIMP is including as the default graphics editor in many popular Linux distros including Ubuntu, SUSE, and Debian. Originally released in 1995, the current release version is 2.4.5 as of March 1st, 2008.


Pros & Cons
Pros:

•Free alternative to Adobe Photoshop
•Open source application
•Supports read and write of PhotoShop .PSD file format
•Available for UNIX/Linux, Mac OS X, Windows
•Extensive file format support
•Extensive featureset, comparable to Photoshop

Cons:

•Missing some advanced productivity features found in Photoshop with layer management and history
•No Pantone colors because of legal issues

Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse

The good: Long battery life; easy to install; stylish design; innovative scrollwheel; ambidextrous.

The bad: Wordy instructions; no user manual.

The bottom line: Microsoft's new Wireless Optical Mouse is the ultimate choice for everyday mousing.

Price range: $29.99 - $40.69

Priced at a reasonable $45 and available in a variety of shimmering colors, Microsoft's updated Wireless Optical Mouse may be the ideal everyday mouse. Plus, it's cord-free, so there's no need to worry about dreaded desktop entanglements.

Though Microsoft's instructions are overly wordy, our test setup for this mouse was simple and quick, taking less than 10 minutes. The base, which is housed in a cool-looking opaque case, comes PS/2 and USB ready. It is not, however, a recharging station for the mouse, which instead boasts more than six months of estimated battery life, as compared to the average of three months for most other wireless mice, before you'll need to replace the two AAs.

The overall look of the Wireless Optical Mouse is slick and stylish. It sports a comfortable ergonomic design, with added points for being ambidextrous. Perhaps because of the latter, Microsoft sticks to a simple three-button layout, which you can configure however you desire.

The most notable feature of this mouse--and of all new Microsoft mice--is the Tilt Wheel Technology. This nifty attribute allows you to scroll through windows horizontally by simply tilting the scrollwheel to one side or the other. Another unique trait is the smooth movement of the scrollwheel, which doesn't continually click like those of other mice we've used.

Logitech VX Nano Cordless Laser Mouse

The good: Two modes for the scroll wheel let you spin through long documents quickly; very portable; the Logitech VX Nano laser mouse is shaped for both left- and right-handed users; programmable buttons; tiny receiver stores inside the mouse; laser tracking for precision on many surfaces.

The bad: Somewhat expensive; may be too small for people with large hands.

The bottom line: If you can afford its high price, you'll be pleased by the Logitech VX Nano Cordless Laser Mouse's comfort, features, and extremely portable design.

Price range: $48.99 - $72.99

Last year, Logitech released Logitech VX Revolution Cordless Laser Mouse and now the company's follow-up to that device, the smaller VX Nano, has likewise earned great reviews. Like the Revolution, the Nano provides comfortable contours, plenty of buttons, and a storage space for its tiny wireless receiver. To that the VX Nano adds a gliding scroll wheel that's even easier to use, as well as a more compact shape that's accessible to both left- and right-handed mousers. Though at $70 it's far more expensive than other notebook mice, the Logitech VX Nano represents the ultimate in portability for mousing on the go.

Measuring 4 inches long, 2.4 inches wide, and just over an inch thick, the Logitech VX Nano Cordless Laser Mouse is about the size of a bar of soap, which makes it extremely portable. That's also just about the smallest you can make a travel mouse without sacrificing user comfort; the VX Nano felt comfortable for our medium-size hands, though large-handed users might prefer the slighter bigger VX Revolution. We prefer to mouse with our left hand, so we really appreciate the VX Nano's ambidextrous contours, which are comfortable for both left- and right-handed users--a major advantage over the VX Revolution, whose shape accommodates only right-handed mousing.

The Nano's USB receiver is the tiniest we've seen. The actual USB plug makes up most of its 0.8-inch length, and when you plug in the receiver less than 0.3 inch--about the radius of a dime--sticks out. At that size, you can easily leave the receiver plugged into your notebook, even when you're on the move. The receiver also stashes into a storage slot under the mouse's battery cover; we like that the mouse automatically turns off when the receiver is stowed, which saves power and ensures the mouse won't accidentally turn on when it's in your bag. To protect the mouse while in transit, Logitech provides a handy neoprene case.

Like all VX mice, the VX Nano incorporates Logitech's "nearly frictionless" scroll wheel, which lets you scroll through massive documents at extraordinary speeds. With this feature, there's no tactile feedback on the wheel: give it a flick, and it just keeps spinning. We averaged 31 pages per spin while scrolling through a 300-page PDF, and it took just two spins to reach the bottom of our 350-message inbox. If you want more controlled scrolling, just press the scroll wheel straight down to switch into a traditional click-wheel mode. This easy switching between gliding and clicking is a big improvement over the VX Revolution, which requires you to flip a switch on the bottom of the mouse to change scroll modes.

The VX Nano features high-precision laser tracking that we found to be very responsive on our desk, a notepad, and our pants leg. There's a handy LED battery meter on the top of the mouse, so you know how much juice you have left. (Logitech claims the mouse will run for 6 months on two AAA batteries.) Though you can use the VX Nano without any setup--just plug in the USB receiver to an available port and go--installing Logitech's Set Point software, available for both Windows and Mac, makes all of the mouse's five buttons programmable.

Best Hedge Trimmers

Little Wonder 2420 (Around $260)

Best electric hedge trimmer. Comparative reviews give the Little Wonder top ranking among electric hedge trimmers, with enough quiet power to handle half-inch branches. These electric hedge shears also have a host of safety features, and the blade shuts off within a half second after the handle is released. Double reciprocating blades, instead of a single blade, are made to last longer, require less sharpening and minimize vibration. The Little Wonder hedge trimmer comes in three blade lengths.


Makita UH6350 (Around $150)

Mid-range electric hedge trimmer. For a little over half the price, reviews say the single-bladed Makita hedge trimmer gives you nearly the same performance as the more expensive Little Wonder 2420, handling half-inch branches with minimal noise and vibration. It has a dual-switch safety feature, but the blade doesn't stop as quickly after the trimmer is turned off. It does have a front shield for added safety, though users give this feature mixed reviews.


Craftsman 79957 (Around $70)

Budget electric hedge trimmer. Reviews say this dual-bladed Sears Craftsman hedge trimmer can still get the job done -- just less smoothly, with more noise and vibration than more expensive electric hedge trimmers. The Craftsman doesn't have a dual-switch safety feature, but there is a lock-off switch to prevent accidental starts. You can lock the switch on to prevent trigger-finger fatigue, a feature which is a favorite among owners. A cord clip keeps the cord from being accidentally disconnected.


Echo HC160 (Around $350)

Gas hedge trimmer. For mobility plus power rated for 3/4-inch branches, Echo gas hedge trimmers get high scores in comparative reviews. Tests show the double-reciprocating blades make clean cuts through branches and thick shrubbery without jamming or slowing. Gas hedge trimmers weigh 5 or 6 pounds more than electric hedge trimmers, but you don't have to drag a heavy extension cord. You'll need hearing protection while using it, and reviews find the exhaust fumes annoying, but vibration dampening is built into this model. The two-cycle engine meets clean air requirements without sacrificing fuel economy.


Black & Decker NHT518 (Around $70)

Cordless hedge trimmer. While corded electric hedge shears keep you within 100 feet of an outlet, the 18-volt Black & Decker hedge trimmer offers cordless convenience. It's also lightweight and quiet, but not as powerful. Based on testing, the Black & Decker is a good choice for quick trims, handling branches up to just under a half-inch. An extra battery (Around $45) will increase runtime. The Black & Decker has a lock-off switch (but it doesn't lock on), and the blade stops almost instantly when the switch is turned off.

Sony KDS-55A3000 - HDTV

The good: Excellent overall color fidelity with superb color decoding and grayscale linearity, as well as best-in-class primary color accuracy; deep black levels with solid shadow detail; de-judder processing smooths out pans and camera movement; numerous picture controls; ample connectivity.

The bad: De-judder processing can seem unnatural; improper de-interlacing of 1080i film-based material; labyrinthine menu design.

The bottom line: The SXRD-based Sony KDS-55A3000 exhibited excellent color accuracy and stellar performance in general, making it the year's best performer in the rear-projection HDTV category.


Sony has a real winner with the new KDS-A3000 series, represented here by the 55-inch KDS-55A3000, the middle of three sizes. We liked Sony's LCoS-based SXRD technology when it was first introduced a couple of years ago, and the company has followed up by significantly improving performance. While not perfect, the KDS-55A3000 is the most color-accurate RPTV money can buy today. Its weakest point is in its video processing, which has been the case with Sony for years, but in this TV's instance, that's hardly a deal breaker. As far as overall picture quality is concerned, the 1080p resolution A3000 series tops our list among rear-projection HDTVs, and its excellent value proposition seals the deal.

Design
The external appearance of the KDS-A3000 series is rather basic, and not nearly as striking as the company's flat-panel LCD models, such as the KDL-XBR4 series. This big rear-projector is finished in silver, with black speaker grilles below the screen where the stereo speakers are housed and a strip of see-through paneling below that. It boasts a table-top design with commendably narrow side and top bezels for a look that's mostly screen; its cabinet is relatively narrow in depth. Overall, the 55-inch model measures 49.6 inches wide by 36.3 inches tall by 15.6 inches deep and weighs 81 pounds.

Features
Features abound on the KD-S55A3000, starting with a massive selection of picture settings. Of course, there are the usual selectable picture modes (Vivid, Standard, Custom, and Cinema), and color-temperature presets (Cool, Neutral, Warm 1, and Warm 2). We found the best combination of these to be Standard mode and Warm 2, which produced the best picture at factory presets. The Noise Reduction feature in the Advanced menu cleans up video noise extremely well without significant side effects. However, the MPEG Noise Reduction feature wipes out about 20 percent of the horizontal resolution; perhaps it should be renamed "Resolution Reduction."

Performance
Overall performance on the Sony KD-S55A3000 was excellent, and its standout characteristic compared with other HDTVs is color accuracy. When the Sony is set to Standard color space, the primary colors of red, green, and blue are nearly dead-on accurate to the ATSC specifications. The color decoding is accurate for both SD and HD sources, and the grayscale from the Warm 2 factory preset came mighty close to the broadcast standard. A quick tweak in the advanced menu under white balance made the grayscale nearly perfect.

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Pioneer Kuro PDP-5080 HD - HDTV

The good: This 50-inch plasma TV displays an exceedingly deep shade of black with excellent shadow detail; clean image with little noise; "smooth" video-processing mode removes most judder; excellent antireflective screen; sleek, minimalist styling; removable speaker; superb connectivity with four HDMI inputs and one PC input; CableCard compatible with TV Guide EPG.

The bad: Expensive; inaccurate primary color of green; no user-menu fine color temperature controls.

The bottom line: The Pioneer PDP-5080HD produces the deepest shade of black--and thus one of the best pictures--we've ever tested.


Black-level performance is one of the most important aspects of picture quality. When a display can produce a deep shade of black, it not only improves the realism and the punch of dark scenes, it also makes colors look richer and more saturated. This 50-inch plasma produces the darkest shade of black we've ever seen or measured from a non-CRT TV, whether plasma, LCD, or projection. It also offers a "smooth" video-processing mode that works relatively well, one of the best antireflective screens we've tested, and numerous picture controls. We do complain about its less-than-perfect color accuracy and its incomplete color temperature controls, but those issues don't prevent it from earning our highest praise. The only real kink in the works is its high price compared to that of other similar resolution plasmas on the market. If you can stomach the extra payout, the Pioneer PDP-5080HD delivers a jaw-dropping home theater picture.

Pioneer also makes a 42-inch version, the PDP-4280HD. We won't review this model, but we see no reason to think its performance won't be on a par with its larger brother's. Pioneer also announced step-up Elite versions of its 2007 plasmas. This year the company is marketing all of its plasmas under the mini-brand Kuro.

Design
Overall, we like the sleek, no-nonsense looks of Pioneer's plasma. The company framed the PDP-5080HD's 50-inch screen in glossy black with a minimum of adornments aside from the Pioneer logo. There's a band of silver along the sides, top, and bottom of the panel, but from the front only black is visible. The set includes a matching stand, and it allows the speaker bar below the panel to be completely removed, in case you want to use an external audio system exclusively. With speaker and stand attached, the panel measures about 48.2 inches wide by 31.8 inches high by 9.3 inches deep and weighs 88 pounds. Remove the stand and speakers and the panel measures 48.2 by 28.2 by 4.5 inches and weighs 76.7 pounds.

The hefty remote control is admirably laid out, with a central cursor key ringed by different size buttons that we found easy to navigate by feel. Although the buttons aren't backlit, they do glow in the dark, but that's not much help when trying to differentiate between the grid of similarly sized keys at the top of the wand. That group includes buttons for aspect ratio selection and picture mode, along with direct access to each of the TV's inputs--a great addition. The clicker can command three other pieces of gear.

We also found Pioneer's menu system easy to use and appreciated the text explanations for the many items. You'll have to burrow pretty far down to get to some of the more esoteric items, but that's about the only downside. The set was definitely designed with picture tweakers in mind; we loved the novel Before and After modes that let us compare the effects of picture settings, as well as the fact that picture parameter sliders were minimized discreetly into the upper left of the screen while being adjusted.

Features
Like most 50-inch plasma TVs, the Pioneer PDP-5080HD has a native resolution of 1,366x768 pixels. That's not as many as competing--and usually more expensive--1080p models, but at the 50-inch screen size, the benefits of 1080p are dubious for most sources (more info). As always, all sources, be they HDTV, DVD, standard-def, or computer, are scaled to fit the native resolution.

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Best Gas BBQ Grills

Weber Genesis E-310 (Around $550)

Best gas grill. Reviews say the Weber Genesis E-310 is the best general purpose gas grill, even though it's expensive compared to less durable models from Char-Broil or Fiesta. It has porcelain-coated cast-iron grates that heat consistently, placing it first in grill reviews. It's also extremely stable and easy to assemble, with ample shelf space and three even-heating burners. Experts say this model will last for years, and Weber backs up the claim with a lifetime warranty on the castings, ten years on the burners and five years on everything else, plus 24/7 customer service. Weber also sells the nearly identical S-310 (Around $600), which comes in stainless steel instead of black, blue or green. The related E-320 (Around $700) and S-320 (Around $750) include side burners. These models work with refillable propane tanks, but if you want to use your home's natural gas line, natural-gas versions are also available.


Char-Broil 45,000 Btu Gas Grill (Around $250)

Budget gas grill. The Char-Broil gas grill is made of painted steel, and it doesn’t look as stylish as Weber gas grills. However, in objective tests, it cooks about as well, with high scores for even heating. The budget Char-Broil gas grill has three burners and a bonus side burner for heating sauces or sautéing vegetables. The Char-Broil's relative build-quality is reflected in its warranty: Three years on the burners (Weber gives you ten) and one year on everything else (Weber provides five years). We also read some mixed reviews for durability and Char-Broil customer service.


Kenmore 16233 (Around $450)

Gas grill with infrared rotisserie. The Kenmore 16233 has this year's trendy new feature: an infrared rotisserie burner. But this Kenmore model costs far less than other grills with this feature. Infrared light heats up very quickly and produces a dry heat that's comparable to charcoal -- without the mess or wait time. That makes for a succulent whole chicken or turkey. In addition to the rotisserie, the Kenmore 16233 has four standard burners and a primary cooking area of 500 square inches, along with a side burner. Reviews give this Kenmore gas grill good scores for performance, and we didn't find the same durability complaints for this grill as for less expensive gas grills.


Weber Q 220 Portable Grill (Around $200)

Best portable gas grill. This 280 square-inch portable grill uses the same porcelain-coated cast-iron cooking grates you’ll find in Weber's full-sized grills. Other portable grills often use a solid grill plate, so they are more like a grill pan than a true grill, say reviews. The Weber Q brings high-quality grilling to the campground or tailgate, according to experts. You can comfortably fit about nine burgers on the Q 220, which comes with two flip-out side tables and uses single-use 14.1-ounce propane canisters. With an adapter (Around $25) you can use 20-pound refillable propane tanks.


Broilmaster P3 (Around $1,000)

Luxury gas grill. If you're one of a small percentage of shoppers who shell out big bucks for high-end grills, experts like the Broilmaster P3. This model is one of the cheaper high-end grills, with an adjustable-height cooking surface; reviews say that means you can move the grates closer to the heat to get a great sear on steaks. The Broilmaster P3 is made of high-grade stainless steel and has a long warranty. The P3 can also be hooked up to your home natural gas line, so there's no need to refill propane bottles. In performance tests, however, this model performs only slightly better than models half as expensive.

Bose QuietComfort 3 - Head Phones

The good: Bose's QuietComfort 3 headphones are a smaller and more compact follow-up to the QuietComfort 2s. They offer a more compact design, extracomfortable cushy foam earpieces, a rechargeable battery, full sound, and effective noise-canceling circuitry, and they fold up for storage in the included carrying case. Additionally, Bose offers a 30-day home trial.

The bad: The Bose QuietComfort 3s are even more expensive than their predecessors. And when the battery dies, so does the music.

The bottom line: With the QuietComfort 3s, Bose has done a remarkable job of shrinking its popular noise-canceling headphones while achieving similarly impressive sound quality--but that engineering feat doesn't come cheap.


Specifications

Manufacturer:Bose Corp.


General
Recommended Use - The noise canceling feature blocks the din on buses and airplanes. Plus, they are portable for easy transport. Active noise canceling technology makes these circumaural headphones ideal for commuting and air travel.

Product Type - Headphones
Width - 5.3 in
Height - 7.4 in
Weight - 5.6 oz
Additional Features - Noise canceling circuit

Headphones

Headphones Type - Headphones - Binaural
Headphones Form Factor - Ear-cup
Connectivity Technology - Cable
Sound Output Mode - Stereo
Active Noise Canceling - Yes

Miscellaneous

Cables Included - 1
Included Accessories - Battery, Battery charger, Carrying case, Detachable audio cable, Extension cable, 1/4 in Stereo plug adapter, Dual plug adapter

Power

Battery - 1 x Headphone battery - Rechargeable Lithium Ion - Rechargeable

Price $350

Grand Theft Auto 4

The next-generation sequel to the controversial number one selling game. Grand Theft Auto 4 has you playing as Russian immigrant, Niko, trying to escape his shady past in modern-day New York. In a break from the trend of increasingly larger worlds to explore, Rock Star opted for a more densely packed smaller game world than in San Andreas. Major improvements over the previous games come in the form of a more vibrant city, substantially improved combat mechanics, "deeper" personal relationships, fleshed out physics and animation systems, and a comprehensive online component.

Pros & Cons
Pros:

•Emergent physics system and animation with Endorphin
•A city that feels more "alive"
•Storyline or freeform abilities
•In-game cell phone is absolute genius
•New wanted system much better, no need for Pay 'N Spray
•Excellent graphics (every version gets better)
•Seamless multiplayer
•Incredible soundtrack
•Deep hand-to-hand combat system
•Characters in the game have a quality about them that makes you care for what happens
•Over the shoulder aiming works perfect

Cons:

•Limited co-op gametypes
•Awkward camera control
•Lower resolution and blurry image on the PS3 version
•Bad shadow dithering on Xbox 360 version
•Some people with certain models of the PS3 can't get past the initial cutscene
•Linear storyline
•Most buildings and objects can't be used
•Rockstar never talks about a PC release until a year after the consoles.
•Cars can be difficult to control
•Framerate issues


More information

Gameplay

GTA4 fundamentally resolves down to the basic mechanics the first incarnations pioneered - stealing cars, shooting gangsters/cops, and completing missions. The fourth main installment of the franchise refines and improves many of these fundamentals. Most notably is the change to the gun shooting mechanics, where before auto-aim played a very large role and often times frustrated players, GTA4 uses an over-the-shoulder view similar to that in Gears of War. Also similar to Gears of War is the inclusion of a cover system that lets Niko hide behind objects to avoid getting hit. Hand-to-Hand combat has also been refined with a deeper moveset, and more combos available.

Driving has taken on a more realistic feel to match the rest of the game's setting. Cars now have more distinctive weights and features that sometimes make them more difficult to drive than in previous games. Vehicles that can be driven by Niko include cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats and helicopters. Bicycles and airplanes introduced in San Andreas don't make the cut.

Setting

Rockstar is taking the game back to its roots and placing the setting in the fictitious Liberty City. This time around the city is far more realized and offers a more than passing resemblance to New York City. Four of the Five burroughs are found in the game under fictitious names, with the notable exception of Long Island. Rockstar has been quoted as saying the city is smaller than the one in GTA:San Andreas, however its far denser, making the overall amount of places you can travel to be equal. Buildings are more interactive with many containing full interiors.

Multiplayer

Grand Theft Auto 4 is the first time that online multiplayer is available to console players. Rock Star has taken cues from other modern online games and added their own GTA twist. Up to 16 players can take part in online matches that exist within the same open world of the single player. This means you can engage in one of the 16 different multiplayer modes and still travel to any part of the map, engage with civilians and do everything you can do in the regular game. Rock Star attempts to keep the interactions localized by making health and weapon respawns occur in select parts of the map.

Customization plays a large role in the multiplayer modes. Hosts are given the ability to specify the number of pedestrians available, cars in the streets, if cops are active, auto-aim settings, etc. Players themselves can also customize their digital personas with different clothing and body shape choices, the more you play, the more points you gain to unlock further customizations for your avatar.

Rock Star Social Club

Taking inspiration from Halo 3 Rock Star has a website that accompanies the game to provide statistics, community organization and other benefits to gamers. Not only do online games get logged in the social club, but extensive leaderboards and challenges for the single player game.


Differences between Xbox 360 and PS3 versions

Downloadable episodic content will be available exclusively for the Xbox 360 version. Any exclusive content/features for the PS3 version has not been announced yet.

Audacity - Media Software

Audacity is a free cross-platform digital audio editor for Windows, Mac, and Linux licensed under the GNU General Public License. It is a multi-track audio editor with many features found in commercial software. Audacity was originally written, and currently maintained by Dominic Mazzoni, now a Google employee, while he was a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University. The current stable version is 1.2.6 released on November 15th, 2006 and is currently one of top 10 most popular downloads from SourceForge.net.


Pros & Cons
Pros:


•Free, open-source audio editor
•Supports multi-track editing
•Great free tool with all essential features
•Silence detection for automatically splitting up analog recordings into multiple files or tracks
•Fast. loading files, zooming, applying effects

Cons:

•Commercial programs have better features for more advanced functionality
•Multi-track functionality is limited and could be improved

More information

Features

- free, open-source
- cross-platform, with support for Windows, Mac, and Linux
- recording and playback of sound files
- multi-tracking editing
- file formats: supports WAV, AIFF, MP3, Ogg Vorbis
- many digital effects and plugins, that can be written in Nyquist (LISP-like language)
- noise removal
- amplitude envelope
- independent speed/pitch
- normalization
- fading (in/out)
- trimming
- support up to 96 kHz sampling and 24 bit resolution
- can detect silences in audio tracks to automatically break up files into tracks recorded from vinyl records and audio tapes

New Ford Endeavour

Quick Take

* Fuel Economy 7/11 km/l (city/highway)
Available Engines 2.5L In-line 4, 141 bhp
3.0L TDCi Inline-4, 154 bhp
Available Transmissions 5-speed Manual Transmission (MT)

* Estimated values may differ under various conditions.

Highlights

Rugged appearance.
3.0L Turbo diesel engine
Ample cargo space.

Pros

Dual control air-conditioning system.
Premium audio system.
Great off-road driving dynamics.

Cons

Performance for highway cruising could be improved.

Overview

The Ford Endeavour was introduced in India in 2003. It is sold as the Ford Everest (a midsize SUV) in Asia and was built on the lines of the local Mazda-based Ford Ranger pickup truck platform. With this offering, Ford brought to the Indian consumer a premium, world class and versatile 7-seater. The new Ford Endeavour is available in two versions: the 2.5L XLT 4x2 and the 3.0L Thunder+ 4x4.

Besides its commanding road presence and imposing built, the Endeavour offers a genuine SUV experience and proclaims its SUV-truck roots with pride. It is a hugely functional SUV with serious off-road capability, especially in the all-wheel drive (AWD) version. For city driving, however, the 2-wheel drive variant would be a better choice.

This new Ford is equipped with a comprehensive list of safety features that meet the highest standards of excellence and are in keeping with the Indian regulations. It has been designed to withstand the impact of an accident with a rigid body shell, reinforced cabin and crumple zones in the front and rear. With these features and a potent engine, it competes with Hyundai Tucson and Honda CRV.

Powertrain & Performance

Endeavour comes in two variants - 4x2 XLT and the 4x4 Thunder+. The base is equipped with a 2.5L In-line 4 turbocharged diesel engine that generates a power of 141 bhp and renders 330 Nm worth of torque, whereas the Thunder+ is powered by a 3.5L TDCi In-line 4 diesel engine that churns out 154 bhp.

The XLT is available in a Two-wheel drive configuration (4x2) whereas the Thunder+ comes with All-wheel drive. 4x2 is perfect for city/highway driving, whereas the 4x4 is geared up for rugged and all-terrain driving. A 5-speed manual transmission comes standard on the model.

Despite its imposing size, the engine serves up power efficiently. It handles reasonably well, takes a corner like a veteran and delivers a satisfactory ride in the city. Transmission is smooth and seamless, with smooth upshifts and downshifts.

This SUV might not exhibit aerodynamic proficiency on the highway, but it handles rugged terrain like a pro and is in its element on dirt roads. The anti-lock braking system (ABS), with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), makes for quick braking response.

The Endeavour's humungous tyres and rigid chassis soak up bumps. Handling is superb, while steering is precise and responsive.

Build & Styling

There is no denying the Ford legacy in the Endeavour's overall architecture. The front end is distinctive with its high bonnet and behemoth size. The rather aggressive fascia out-front is decked up with a large, bold and sporty looking grille as well as multi-reflector headlamps. Aiding and abetting the new Endeavour, in its hardy off-road worthiness, are the mud flaps and wheel moldings along with fashionable roof rails. Silver side-steps run along the length of the vehicle and accentuate its brute quality. The Thunder+ variant offers a classier exterior compared to the XLT. It has larger mirrors that incorporate turn indicators and puddle lamps, a spare wheel cover, body cladding and many more attractive features.

The variants offers wide tyres (265/70 R16) that facilitate the most favourable combination of traction and stability on slippery ground.

It is also fitted with a highly toughened and modern bull bar, two-tone body cladding that gives it an even sportier look, alloy wheels, a fifth door mirror that comes in handy while parking or reversing, and a hard top cover for the extra tyre that can be locked to prevent its theft. Decals on the body of the vehicle enhance its looks.

The interior of the Ford Endeavour is roomy and elegant with world-class levels of comfort. Both the variants are endowed with luxurious leather upholstery and AC vents for all the three rows to make long and bumpy drives cushy. It comes with well-appointed amenities harboring little details, that both surprise and delight. For entertainment on-the-go, the vehicle has been endowed with an iPOD-compatible audio system. The Thunder+ is enhanced by Camel tone full leather interiors, six CD changer and MP3 player with six speakers. The entertainment is also loaded with an interior roof-mounted DVD player and dual air conditioning with controls mounted on the ceiling.

A standard cutting-edge theft protection feature, passive anti-theft system (PATS), prevents the engine from being started with an incorrectly coded key by automatically shutting off fuel to the fuel injection system after two seconds. A high visibility "command" driving position makes for better visibility while driving. Also included in the new Ford Endeavour are amenities such as a 4-wheel ABS with EBD and dual airbags, child-proof rear door locks, fuel tank shields, seat belts for all seven occupants, front passenger airbags, and more.

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New BMW X3

Quick Take
* Fuel Economy 15/22 km/l (city/highway)
Available Engines 2.5L I-6, 192 bhp
Available Transmissions 6-speed Manual Transmission (MT)
5-speed Automatic Transmission (AT) with Steptronic

* Estimated values may differ under various conditions.

Highlights

Stylish build inside and out.
xDrive feature.
Loaded with safety features.

Pros

Comfortable, roomy interiors.
Offers decent acceleration.
Delivers a smooth ride.

Cons

Off-road ability needs improvement.

Overview

The BMW X3 is a 4-door Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) produced by the German automaker BMW. Based on the BMW 3-Series automobile platform, the X3 is available in a four-wheel drive (4WD) version and a five-seater configuration.

The X3 was launched at the Detroit Auto Show in 2003 but has been brought to India only in 2007. It is available in a single petrol variant, the 2.5Si.

The X3 comes with a basic vehicle warranty and a powertrain warranty of four years or 50,000 miles, and contends with the likes of the Toyota RAV4 and the Nissan X-Trail.

Powertrain & Performance

The 2.5Si derives power from a 2.5-liter In-line six-cylinder (I-6) petrol engine, which generates 192 bhp and 245 Nm of torque. The engine is teamed up with a standard 6-speed manual transmission. However, it can also be coupled with an optional 5-speed automatic transmission with Steptronic.

The suspension system includes a double-joint spring strut front axle and central-arm rear axle. It also comprises front and rear anti-roll bars. Sports suspension without vehicle lowering and Servotronic is optional on the 2.5Si.

Inner-vented disc brakes in the front and outer-vented disc brakes in the rear offer forceful stopping power to the X3. The X3 features xDrive, all-wheel drive system with variable torque distribution.

Build & Styling

The X3 rides high on a wave of style. It measures 4565 mm in length, with a 2795 mm long wheelbase. Its front fascia incorporates black bumpers with integrated fog lamps, ornamental twin-kidney grille with chrome surround and distinct, sleek headlights.

Electrically-adjustable exterior mirrors and a rear window wiper are standard on all X3 variants. Also standard is a body-coloured roof spoiler that incorporates the third brake light. Roof railings are available as optional on the X3, as is a trailer tow hitch with removable ball head that includes trailer stability control. It stands on 17-inch light-alloy wheels.

As for the interiors, it comes standard with cloth upholstery, while leather upholstery is available as optional. It features a standard 60:40 split-and-fold rear bench seat. Manual seat adjustment is standard on the X3, though the option of electric seat adjustment with memory function for the driver's seat is also available. Sport seats and seat heating for driver and passenger are also optional on the 2.5Si.

The 2.5Si is also available with an optional leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift-knob. However, it comes standard with a manually-adjustable steering column. A multi-function feature as well as heating for the steering wheel is optional on the 2.5Si.

Some standard interior features present in the X3 are power windows, power door locks, air-conditioning including micro-filter, heat-insulating tinted glass on windows, and cup-holders. Instrument panel in the X3 includes round speedometer and rpm dials, fuel gauge, and coolant temperature gauge.

The option of an automatic air-conditioning system is also available on the 2.5Si. Also available is the option of an electric panorama glass-roof with slide and lift function, which allows the sun to stream in to or the breeze to waft through the cabin. Rain sensor, including automatic headlight activator, is also available as optional on the X3.

The X3 also comes with ample storage options. There are storage compartments in the centre armrest in the rear, the centre console in the front, the dashboard, and all doors. The X3's luggage compartment comes with a capacity of 480-1560 litres. It also features a light in the tail-gate and a partition net for added convenience.

For entertainment, the X3 comes with various options that include a 6-disc CD changer including an MP3 decoder; a HiFi loudspeaker system, and a HiFi system Professional.

A blend of style, comfort, and power, the X3 does not forget to ensure the protection of its occupants. It features bumpers with aluminum impact absorbers in the front and steel impact absorbers in the rear; deformation units at the front and integrated side impact protection in the doors. Door reinforcements offer optimum occupant protection in the event of a side collision.

It also comes standard with airbags, seatbelts, central locking with electronic immobilizer and crash sensor, child seat fastening in the back seat, and flat tyre indicator.

In addition it features Dynamic Stability Control, Automatic Differential Brake (ADB-X), Brake-Force Display, Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), and Hill Descent Control (HDC) to give you complete safety and control over the car on different types of terrains.

ADB-X emulates the function of a differential lock through direct intervention on a specific wheel. The HDC enables the X3 to take steep downhill gradients safely by automatically reducing the car's speed without the driver having to apply brake.

Some optional safety features includes a front and rear Park Distance Control, a child seat fastening in the front passenger seat, and an alarm system with remote control.)

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Asus EN9600GT - Graphics Card

Product Price : 12,000

The graphics card market has been heating up in the recent past. After a succession of wins for Nvidia, ATI was finally able to put together a competitive answer in the form of the HD3850 and 3870. Not to be
left behind, Nvidia has launched the first of the 9000 series. And it's not a high-end, extremely expensive part. Rather, it's the 9600GT, the successor to the 8600GT. We tested the Asus EN9600GT. The
GeForce 9600GT is fabbed on a 65nm process and sports a 256-bit memory bus. The core runs at 650MHz, while the 512 MB of GDDR3 memory runs at 1.8 Ghz. 64 Stream Processors are rather less than the 112 found in the 8800GT.

The card looks very similar to the 8800GT, with the same physical dimensions. The single slot design and sole PCIe power connector make it easy to plug into mid-range systems. The card draws about 95 watts under load, which is not too much. A 400 watt SMPS is good enough. Heat and noise levels are quite low, and the improvements made to the PureVideo HD feature mean that this might make a nice card for a powerful HTPC. A nice touch is the inclusion of an S/PDIF connector on the card. Asus supplies the little wire that you need to hook this up to the S/PDIF connector on your motherboard. ATI's solution of putting a audio chip on the graphics card for HDMI is perhaps more elegant, but this works as well.

We tested this card on our upgraded test rig. We used a Intel Q6600 Quad Core processor on the new Intel DX38BT motherboard, paired with 4 GB of DDR-3 RAM, and a 150 GB Raptor. Since this card is intended to compete with the Radeon 3850, we tested against that. The 3850 is hampered a little, since it only has 256 MB of RAM. We also tested it against the 8800GTX and the Radeon 3870X2, but since those cards are not directly comparable, we've kept them out of the ratings. The 9600GT did quite well in 3D Mark 2006, getting a score of 10211 3D Marks, as compared to 9945 for the 3850. In our gaming tests, the 9600 GT maintained a healthy lead over the 3850, averaging between 20 - 40 % faster. We tested Crysis, Unreal Tournament 3, Company of Heroes, World in Conflict, Supreme Commander, and our old stalwarts: Doom 3 and F.E.A.R. We tested at 1680x1050 for the most part, except for Crysis - 1024 x 768, Doom 3 - 1280x1024, and F.E.A.R - 1024x768.

Crysis was quite playable at 1024x768 with settings set to High and 8X Anti-Aliasing. If you switch AA off, then the frame rates rise to 36, which is eminently playable. The 3850 managed 20 and 29 frames under
the same conditions. Unreal Tournament 3 was very smooth, running at 54 frames with all graphics sliders set to maximum. The 3850 lagged behind with 54 frames. In the rest of the games a similar story
unfolded.

We were pleased with the performance of the 9600GT. In the wake of the 8800GT and GTS launch, Nvidia has followed up with another solid product. ATI is not giving up though, and the graphics card market is heating up again.

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Intel DX38BT - Motherboard

Product Price : Rs. 10,000

The Intel DX38BT (Bonetrail) motherboard is supposed to replace the BadAxe 2 D975XBX as Intel’s top of the line enthusiast motherboard. Unfortunately, the board is obsolete at launch, since it does not support a 1600 Mhz Front Side Bus, thereby ruling out Intel’s fastest processor — the QX9770. However, let’s examine the things the board does offer. PCI Express 2.0 is supported, and Intel has done away with all legacy ports, including the floppy drive and PS/2 connectors. Eight USB ports on the back panel along with four on the board take care of peripheral connectivity. Six SATA ports and two eSATA ports mean that you can hook up a whole lot of storage. This board only supports DDR-3 memory, which is a bit of a shame. Gigabit LAN and a single FireWire 400 port are par for the course.

The board performed quitewell, scoring exactly 100 on our WorldBench tests. We tested it with an Intel Quad Core Q6600 and 4 GB of DDR-3 RAM. A PCMark score of 8800 meant that the board is not holding back the CPU. Intel also makes it easy to overclock with BIOS options for CPU and memory clock speeds and voltages. You can also use Intel’s Desktop Control Center to tinker about without having to reboot. The BIOS suffers from a little bit of lag, which surprised us.

Intel is poised to launch the X48 chipset, which will add support for 1600MHz and further enhance overclocking. We’d suggest holding off for a month or so to see what Intel serves up next.

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Aten CS52A - KVM

A KVM (keyboard Video Mouse) switch has generally been considered to be the domain of server rooms and sysadmins. However, in these technologically advanced times, many of us have two computers at home. If you often motor your chair from one monitor to another in the same room, or have a tangle of cables on your desk as two keyboards fight it out for your valuable desk space, the Aten CS52A is for you. An entry-level KVM switch, it lets you control two computers with one keyboard, monitor, and mouse. It also
has audio support, so you need only one set of speakers as well.

The setup is easy enough, since you just have to plug in the various wires. The keyboard can be connected through a PS/2 port, but you’ll need to have a USB mouse. Once everything is connected, you simply press a button on the wired remote, and control switches from one PC to another. It’s slightly surreal, but works quite well. We had no issues using the switch, and mostly you just forget about its existence. Games, movies, and the usual range of office tasks worked fine. There’s no support for DVI, so you have to use the VGA input. You can plug a USB hub into the USB port and connect other devices as well.

This is a niche product, but if you are in this particular niche, you’ll find it quite useful. At a low price of Rs. 3,000, it makes sense to pick it up rather than buy a pair of monitors, keyboards and mice, and deal with the resulting confusion. Aten also has a DVI model, but that costs a little bit more.

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Kawasaki ZX-6R (2007-current)

New price £7,190
Engine size 599cc
Power 110bhp
Top speed 164mph


Overall verdict

In the Kawasaki ZX-6R, Kawasaki has built a race ready 600 which is road legal, just. Everything about the ZX-6R is track focused, you could enter a standard Kawasaki ZX-6R into a club race and you wouldn’t be far behind the top runners. The more you thrash it the more fun you’ll have. The Kawasaki ZX-6R is easily the most fun 600 on track but let down by its real world capabilities.

Engine

A measured 109.61bhp at the back wheel made the Kawasaki ZX-6R the most powerful 600 in our recent group test. You have to keep the Kawasaki ZX-6R motor singing to get the most out of it above 9,000rpm ideally, but revving it to its 16,000rpm redline sends shivers down your spine.

Ride and Handling

The track-focussed Kawasaki ZX-6R is built for carving up race tracks. The brakes are outstanding, and the Kawasaki ZX-6R remains stable no matter how late you dare to brake. You can carry a stupid amount of corner speed on the Kawasaki ZX-6R, which is really confidence inspiring. The Kawasaki ZX-6R's front will give the odd twitch over bumps and imperfection on the road.

Equipment

The Kawasaki ZX-6R has fully adjustable suspension front and back, radial brakes up front... it ticks all the boxes for a 600 supersport machine. The standard slipper clutch is one of the best on the market something the Kawasaki ZX-6R has always led in term of development for the original ZX6-RR. Read reviews of parts for a Kawasaki ZX-6R.

Quality and Reliability

Kawasaki has never had a problem with engine reliability or build quality and the Kawasaki ZX-6R is no exception. An MCN staffer who owned one of the original high revving ZX6-RRs says it never missed a beat despite its hard life. The Kawasaki ZX-6R feels well built and solid with attention to detail in the finish.

Value

At £7190, the Kawasaki ZX-6R is the second cheapest 600 on the market and it’s a new model for 2007, only Suzuki’s older GSX-R is cheaper. Haggle with a local dealer and you should be able to steal a Kawasaki ZX-6R for under £7,000 which for the latest, track-focussed 600 which will hold its own against almost anything on track, is a bargain. Find Kawasaki ZX-6R motorcycles for sale.

Model History

2007: All new Kawasaki ZX-6R, now 599cc.

Other Versions

None (RR version discontinued now that Kawasaki ZX-6R is 599cc).

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New Maruti SX4

Quick Take

* Fuel Economy 10/14 kmpl (city/highway)
Available Engines 1.6L In-line 4, 102 bhp
Available Transmissions 5-speed Manual Transmission (MT)

* Estimated values may differ under various conditions.

Highlights

1.6L M-Series petrol engine.
Choice of two variants.
Comes packed with more features at a lower price than its competitors.

Pros

Influenced by European styling.
Comfortable interiors.
Low running costs.

Cons

Option of a diesel engine would have bettered the competition.

Overview

The Maruti Suzuki SX4 is an A3 premium segment sedan that blends style, comfort, performance, and safety.

Launch of the Maruti SX4 coincides with the phasing-out of the Maruti Baleno, which was launched in 1999 and could not see great success. The SX4 is the second international offering from the house of Maruti, the first being the Swift. India is the first country to see the launch of the SX4, which proves India's worth as one of the hottest car-markets in the world.

The SX4 is being touted as the tallest, widest, and broadest sedan in its class. It is available in two variants, the Vxi and the Zxi. The SX4 boasts of various features which are available only in cars that cost about a lakh more as compared to it. That is why the SX4 is expected to give a tough competition to the Chevrolet Aveo, Ford Fiesta, Honda City, and Hyundai Verna.

Both, the Vxi and the Zxi variants are available in a host of Metallic colours such as Silky Silver, Clear Beige, Midnight Black, Sunlight Copper, Pearl Arctic White, Supreme Red, and Azure Grey.

Powertrain & Performance

The SX4 Vxi and Zxi variants derive power from a contemporary and economical 1.6-litre M-Series petrol engine that delivers a generous 102 bhp of power @ 5,500 rpm and 145 Nm of torque @ 4,200 rpm.

The Vxi as well as the Zxi are maneuvered by a highly responsive electronic power steering and are mated to a smooth shifting 5-speed manual transmission.

Both the variants ride on independent gas-filled McPherson strut suspension with anti-roll bar in the front and semi-independent torsion beam suspension with gas-filled shock absorbers in the rear. These types of suspensions help the car sail over the uneven Indian roads offering the occupants of the SX4 with a silky ride.

Ventilated disc brakes in the front and drum brakes in the rear provide sharp stopping power to the SX4 and minimize its stopping distance. The Zxi comes with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) that makes your command of the car safe on highways.

A ground clearance of 180 mm and 190 mm endows the SX4 Vxi and Zxi respectively to be driven on all kinds of roads without the worry of its floor being damaged. With a turning radius of 5.3 metres, the SX4 can be driven, turned, or swerved in narrow lanes without any hitch.

The Vxi stands on 195/65 R15 tubeless tyres while the Zxi is propped on 205/60 R16 tubeless tyres. Fuel tank of both the variants can hold a maximum of 50 litres.

Build & Styling

Influenced by the latest European design trends, the SX4 boasts of a trapezium form, with wide treads and large wheels. Measuring 4,490 mm in length and 1,735 mm in width, the SX4 looks imposing. Arched fenders further add to its athletic and muscular stance. Its front fascia is dominated by a sporty boat-shaped grille and a headlamp cluster touching the bonnet. At the rear, the SX4 has got a large tail gate and rear bumper that improves its expediency.

Both the variants come with body-coloured bumpers, rear fog lamps, electrically adjustable outside mirrors, and a glass antenna. Some exterior features limited to the Zxi include front fog lamps and alloy wheels.

With a wheelbase measuring 2,500 mm and a high roof-line, the SX4 offers roomy and comfortable interiors. It can seat up to five people and comes standard with fabric seats and power windows in the front and the rear. However, the Zxi is also available with the option of complete leather interiors that offers optimum comfort.

Some interior features common to both the variants are a heater, centre room lamp, twin map lights, remote operated fuel-tank lid, remote-operated trunk lid, rear seat centre armrest, adjustable head rests in the front and rear, and a rear defogger.

The Vxi comes with a manual air-conditioner while a single-zone auto air-conditioner maintains temperature in the Zxi. The Zxi is also equipped with a driver's seat height adjuster, a feature absent from the Vxi.

For safety of the driver and passengers, the Vxi as well as the Zxi feature seat-belts, child-lock rear doors, side impact protection beams, an intelligent Computerised Anti-Theft System (iCATS), and front door-lock canceller. iCATS is an engine immobiliser, which when fitted into an automobile prevents its engine from running unless the correct key is present.

However some safety features restricted to the Zxi are a driver's airbag, passenger airbag, 3-point Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) front seatbelt pre-tensioners and force limiter, keyless entry, ABS, and Emergency Brake-force Distribution (EBD).

New Hyundai i10

Quick Take

* Fuel Economy 15/19 km/l (city/highway)
Available Engines 1.1L iRDE Inline-4, 66 bhp
Available Transmissions 5-speed Manual Transmission (MT)

* Estimated values may differ under various conditions.

Highlights

Intelligent Responsive Drive Engine.
Wide range of colours.
Optional anti-lock braking system.

Pros

Elegant styling.
Spacious interiors.
Affordable family car.

Cons

Lack of adjustable headrests.

Overview

Hyundai Motor India Limited launches i10 under the PA code name in November 2007. Taking advantage of the demand for more small cars in the Indian auto industry, Hyundai rolled out i10 with a powerful engine and an upscale interior. It is one of India's most popular 'A' segment small car. It is built to take on sub-compact segment cars such as the Chevrolet Spark, Maruti Suzuki Zen Estilo, Maruti Suzuki WagonR, and Tata Indica Xeta.

The well-equipped i10 is an affordable small car and a perfect combination of superior technology, roomy interiors, and the stamp of reliability. It was the most talked about car in small car segment before its launch and it is sure to gain the confidence of car enthusiasts with its aerodynamic design, array of standard convenience and comfort features, and luxurious fittings. It comes with all elements that would please a buyer looking for a small family car at an affordable price.

It is available in 4 variants: D-lite, Era, Magna, and Magna O. All these variants come with a 1.1-liter engine and are available in a wide range of colours. Magna O is a top-end variant. It comes with safety features like an anti-lock braking system (ABS) and airbags. It also comes with an optional sunroof with slide and tilt feature.

Powertrain & Performance

Under the hood, the i10 boasts of a 1.1-litre Inline-four Intelligent Responsive Drive Engine (iRDE) that churns out 66 bhp at 5,500 revs and 99 Nm of torque at 2800 rpm. Hyundai's intelligent responsive technology strengthens and powers the engine to improve performance and mileage. The 5-speed manual transmission with overdrive that comes standard across all variants is quick and responsive. The i10 is designed with ventilated discs in the front and self-adjusting drums in the rear.

It is lively and handles well with its short wheelbase and turning radius that makes it ideal for swift maneuvers. The car shows minor body lean while cornering, so that is something to watch out for. The new i10 sports top class McPherson Strut suspension in the front and CTBA with coil springs in the rear that best suit Indian road conditions. It rolls on steel wheels with tubeless tyres to increase the level grip and comfort while negotiating slippery surfaces.

Build & Styling

The i10 is a wide and smartly designed small car that draws the attention of enthusiasts with its stylish and aerodynamic design. It is built and styled contemporarily similar to that of the Ford verve concept and the new Aveo U-VA. Its low slung grille flanked by the two large headlamps distinguishes the i10 design from its competitors in the segment.

The most impressive and stylish cues are the sharply raked windscreen and ellipsoidal glass that enhance the overall look of the i10. The interiors display luxurious fine fittings to provide unsurpassed comfort and the interior looks quite modern with dashboard integrated center console instead of conventional floor shift pattern.

Elegantly designed interiors are not only plush but also provide a luxurious feel. Dual Tone Beige Interior features 3-spoke steering wheel that makes handling easier and nimble. The design of the dash is impressive and appealing. All equipments including the instrument cluster, the AC, and the audio system have been fitted and placed properly on the console. Five persons can comfortably fit in its spacious interior. The seats are supportive and offer good comfort but the lack of adjustable headrests would slightly reduce the level of comfort on long drives. Standard interior features include an Electronic Trip-meter, an Electronic odometer, a low fuel warning lamp, an air conditioner with heater, and an internally adjustable ORVM. It is packed with safety features including child safety door locks, seatbelts, and crumple zones.

New Chevrolet Spark

Quick Take
* Fuel Economy 13/18 kmpl (city/highway)
Available Engines 1.0L S-TEC In-line 4, 63 bhp petrol
Available Transmissions 5-speed Manual Transmission (MT)

* Estimated values may differ under various conditions

Highlights

Handsome, sturdy, and solid good looks to give it an edge in the market.
The city-drivability of Spark is extremely comfortable due to its compact size, agility, and easy handling.
Accelerates from 0-100 kph in 14 seconds.

Pros

Roguishly striking design and easy-to-maneuver compact styling.
Siemens EMS to monitor emissions, which allow it to burn fuel more efficiently thereby giving a better mileage.
Large boot space of 170 litres.

Cons

Instrument pod is placed in the center of the dashboard, which might make it difficult for the driver.

Overview

GM launched Chevrolet Spark in India as a come-back vehicle to the long forgotten Matiz. GM is trying to grab a 10 percent share of the rapidly growing automobile market in India by 2010. Chevrolet Spark will be produced at GM's Halol factory near Baroda.

The automaker will also consider exporting the Spark, which is a version of the Daewoo Matiz, to Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. India's small-car market makes up the lion's share of the country's market for passenger vehicles. The Spark has a more stylish and expensive look in comparison to its predecessor, so that it can compete in the small car segment in the country.

The Chevrolet Spark offers a host of features that combine with its handsome, sturdy, and solid good looks to give it an edge in the market. This Hatchback has a new and improved body design and all the space that you would want for your family.

The proposed compact car would compete in the same segment as that which is currently dominated by the Maruti Alto, Zen, Wagon R, Swift, Hyundai Santro, and Tata Indica.

Spark could very well be the next BIG story in the automobile industry as it tries to capture Indian hearts and Indian roads with its roguishly striking design and its easy-to-maneuver compact styling. Spark also brings with it the variety of color, so that your car remains different and one among the few. Available only in petrol versions, Spark allows you to choose from ten different colors: Galaxy White, Poly Silver, Teal Blue, White Gold, Ocean Blue, Peach Orange, Apple Green, Super Red, Jazz Blue, and Pearl Black.

Powertrain & Performance

The Chevrolet Spark comes in four variants: 1.0, 1.0 PS, 1.0 LS, and 1.0 LT all with 4 cylinders 1 litre (995 cc) petrol engines. All variants generate a power of 63 bhp at 5400 rpm and a torque of 90.3 Nm at 4200 rpm. This makes the Spark a definite improvement on the Matiz in with much more engine power and acceleration. All the engines have a 5-speed manual transmission.

The city-drivability of Spark is extremely comfortable due to its compact size, agility, and easy handling. It has a 4.6 wall-to-wall turning radius that may cause a problem during sharp turns, but its compact size will allow you to park in constrained spaces. The front McPherson struts suspension and the rear torsion beam axle suspension provide you with a smooth ride even on bumpy Indian roads. The Spark has a top speed of 155-157 kph and due to its heavy weight the car is steady even at high speeds. It can accelerate from 0-100 kph in 16 seconds.

It comes with a Siemens EMS to monitor emissions, which allows it to burn fuel more efficiently.

Build & Styling

The Spark measures 3495 mm in length, 1495 mm in width, and 1518 mm in height. It has a kerb weight of 850 Kg that ensures it steadiness during turns. It has a 2345 mm wheelbase. The headroom and legroom are spacious enough for four people to sit comfortably in.

The interior of the car is designed with the word "different" in mind. The instrument pod is placed in the center of the dashboard, above the console. This gives the entire interior of the car a new look. Through the steering wheel is placed a digital pod that comprises of all the warning signs. This innovative design is a true novelty of sorts even though it might be a tad impractical. The interior is designed as an attempt at having all the small luxuries that people usually only find in luxury cars. There are hooks to hang shopping bags, bottle and card holders, a sunglass case, and drawers under the front seats.

Spark has been designed to possess a rear suspension that along with a comfortable ride also gives you the option of a large boot space of 170 liters, which you can increase to 845 liters if you fold the rear seats. The boot provides a low loading platform and is protected by the boot lining from the upper part of the rear bumper.

In the event of a side impact, the car's central pillar protects the occupants making it safe for all passengers.

Spark's exterior has a very soft yet bold look. It has very smooth and prominent etches that define its hood in a blunt shaped V that makes the car look like it is smiling. The poached-egg-shaped headlights are prominently placed on either side of this hood. The front bumper and grill present a look of solidarity. The symbol of Chevrolet is centralized in the front of the hood.

Highlighted wheel arches and structured sides of the car divide it prominently, giving it a futuristic and streamlined appearance. The round rear lamp is distinctive and completes this car's overall attractive and purposeful looks.

Spark's top variant comes with power steering and remote adjustable rear view mirrors for the driver, and also electronically adjustable rear view mirrors for the co-driver. Some other features that you have the option to choose from are height-adjustable seats for driver, ABS brakes, airbags, child seat tether anchorage provisions, and alloy wheels.

Best Multivitamins

One-A-Day Men's Health Formula (Around $6.50 for 60 tablets)

Best multivitamin for men. Experts say that men should look for a multivitamin with no more than 9 milligrams of iron; less is even better. Iron overload can cause health problems in men, including joint pain, heart palpitations and impotence. One-A-Day Men's Formula contains no iron, plus it has 150% of the recommended Daily Value (DV) of selenium and vitamin E, both of which may help prevent prostate problems. A 12-year study is currently under way to determine whether high amounts of selenium and vitamin E prevent prostate cancer. Until proof is in, the modestly higher amounts in One-A-Day Men's may offer prostate benefits while still being a safe level for consumption.


Centrum from A to Zinc (Around $6.50 for 50 tablets)

Best multivitamin for premenopausal women. In contrast to men, premenopausal women lose iron during menstruation. Experts recommend that women in this age group take a multivitamin with 18 milligrams of iron, like Centrum from A to Zinc. This Centrum formula also contains 400 micrograms of folic acid, which is essential for preventing neural tube defects (like spina bifida) in babies. The neural tube develops before most women know they're pregnant, so experts recommend taking folic acid even before conception. Experts also advise women to look for a multivitamin that contains at least some vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene, since too much vitamin A in the form of retinol palmitate or acetate can cause birth defects. This Centrum formula contains 3,500 International Units (IU) of vitamin A, of which 29% is beta-carotene.


Equate Complete (Around $5 for 130)

Alternative store brand multivitamins. Although reviews say you should avoid vitamins from discount and dollar stores, experts say that reputable store brands often perform just as well as name-brand vitamins in testing. Equate Complete has the same ingredients as Centrum from A to Zinc, but at a fraction of the price. It contains the same 3,500 IU of vitamin A with 29% in the form of beta-carotene, 400 micrograms of folic acid, and 18 milligrams of iron.


Stuart Prenatal (Around $30 for 100 tablets)

Best prenatal multivitamin. Pregnant and lactating women have unique needs in a multivitamin, including increased folic acid and a higher percentage of vitamin A in the safer form of beta-carotene to prevent birth defects. Stuart Prenatal has 800 micrograms of folic acid and 100% of its vitamin A (4,000 IU) in the form of beta-carotene, along with 100% DV or more of other essential vitamins and minerals.


One-A-Day 50 Plus (Around $5.50 for 50 tablets)

Best multivitamin for men and women over 50. People over 50 may have a decreased ability to absorb vitamin B12 from food, so experts advise this age group to look for 25 micrograms of B12 in their multivitamin, like One-A-Day 50 Plus. This multivitamin also has 20 micrograms of vitamin K, which can help prevent hip fractures. However, vitamin K can interfere with blood-thinning medications like Coumadin, so people taking such medications should consult their doctor before taking a multivitamin with vitamin K. Iron overload can also be a concern in people over 50, but this multivitamin contains no iron.


Flintstones Children's Complete Chewable Vitamins (Around $9 for 60 tablets)

Best children's multivitamin. Children can sometimes be fussy eaters, and are notorious for not wanting to swallow pills. Flintstones Complete Chewable Vitamins are fruit flavored and contain child-appropriate amounts of essential vitamins and minerals. Flintstones Complete also passed Consumer Lab's stringent testing of multivitamins.