Some Hud Accessories That Worth It

Heads up display (HUD), yes that’s the same stuff that pilots in fighter jets use to check vital data, can be fitted to your regular road car too. Today, we give you a glimpse of the various HUD accessories you can buy for your car, and also a cost effective D-I-Y way to make your car HUD enabled.

Garmin HUD

The HUD that Garmin sells in India sits on your car’s dashboard and beams navigation information. The HUD pairs with a smartphone to beam navigation information onto the windscreen of the car. This gives the driver a seamless view of the road along with the much needed GPS directions. Since the driver doesn’t need to look at a standalone GPS device, the eyes can be on the road all the time, and this improves safety. The Garmin HUD sold in India is priced at 9,990 rupees, and you can buy one here.

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Navdy

Like Garmin’s HUD, Navdy also makes a portable HUD that also sits on the dashboard of a car. However, the HUD made by Navdy goes a few steps further.

Not only does it project directions onto the windscreen, but also allows you to listen to music, make calls and even check mobile notifications, all by gesture control. Here, watch how it works. It’s super cool.

The device can be pre-booked for 299 dollars, which comes up to about 20,000 rupees in Indian currency.Here’s where you can order one.

Universal Car HUD

If you’re looking for a cheaper option, head to eBay and scour for HUD devices. You can find a bunch of universal HUDs that will plug into your car’s OBD port and beam out vital information about the vehicle on the windscreen. These devices generally don’t display navigation information.

Therefore, the universal HUD is mainly for those who’re interested to know what’s happening with the engines of their cars. These HUDs also display speed, rpm and other speedometer features. Alria makes aninexpensive HUD device that sells for around 6,000 rupees.

A D-I-Y solution

What do you need to have a comprehensive HUD on your car’s windscreen?

1. An Android phone running the TorquePro app.

2. An OBD II reader. You can buy one off Ebay.

3. A reflective film on the windscreen

Once the OBD II reader is plugged into your car’s OBD II port, and is connected to your Android phone through Bluetooth, the TorquePro app will begin beaming vehicle data to the windscreen. It is here that the reflective film that you applied to the car’s windscreen comes into action. Since the bright sunlight in India can make the HUD hard to read, the reflective film darkens the effect, making the HUD very legible even in bright sunshine.

Want a HUD that almost costs nothing?

[Image courtesy TechHive]

Yes, sometimes you can have your cake and eat it too. Just get yourself a HUD android/iOS app and your phone will transform itself into a projector. You also can buy a 5X5 inch piece of anti-reflective film that can be stuck on the windscreen to make the phone projector more effective, and reduce glare. There are plenty of HUD apps on the lay Store. Two such ones that caught our eye are Hudway and Navier.

5 Safest SUVs to drive on Indian highways

Stray cattle, unruly drivers, and pedestrians crossing roads with their eyes closed might just collectively be the worst nightmare for drivers, and let’s face it, our highways are full of them. And while the hand-eye coordination plays the most important part here, as far automobiles are concerned, driver aids are the saving grace. We take a look at the safest SUVs in the Indian market (in terms of the level of safety equipment) under Rs 30 lakhs that would ideally keep you safe in these worse that normal conditions. Ford EcoSportLike its competitors, the EcoSport too loses out on safety features on base versions, but the top-end Titanium(O) does get six airbags.The steering feels connected to the front wheels, so your inputs are transmitted well. The engine line-up doesn’t disappoint either, so as a package the EcoSport works well. A tad more stability would have made it even better.It got a 4-star rating from Euro NCAP, with sound performance in adult, child, and even pedestrian protection.Hyundai CretaWhile the base version of the Creta gets just ABS as standard, the top spec variant comes with a total of six airbags (dual front, two on the sides, and two curtain units) in addition to ABS. Stability assists like ESC (Electronic Stability Control) and Vehicle Stability Management aid to the vehicle’s road holding capabilities.As far as its crash worthiness goes, the Creta is expected to perform similar to the Hyundai ix25 that it’s based on. The latter is available in China, and was awarded a full 5-star rating in the C-NCAP (China New Car Assessment Programme) test where it was subjected to multiple tests.It must be noted that until India gets its own BNVSAP (Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Programme), we’ll need to rely on global ones like Euro NCAP, Global NCAP, or the ones by USA’s IIHS. Latin NCAP and as mentioned above, China NCAP add to the list but the difference in safety equipment can vary the results, e.g. the ix25 tested didn’t have curtain airbags but thankfully the top-spec of the Indian version does. Renault Duster AWD (Honourable Mention)The Duster AWD lacks a bit in terms of the number of airbags offered, even on the top spec variant. Only two airbags are offered, but it does come with a set of nifty features.First, the AWD system improves its stability both on and off road. The presence of ABS and stability assist ensures its mention in our list.In terms of vehicle dynamics, it’s better than most of its competitors. It tackles corners with the kind of confidence that most SUVs can never acheive. That’s what makes the Duster so special, now if only Renault offered side and curtain airbags, too.Mahindra XUV500The highly successful SUV from Mahindra isn’t just an all show but no go product. It comes with up to six airbags on higher versions, and you can also opt for an optional all-wheel drive system for added stability and off-road ability.The vehicle passed the Australian NCAP crash tests with a respectable 4-star rating. The car used in the test came with six airbags and ESP, as do the higher variants in India. Chevrolet CaptivaNot exactly the most popular choice among SUVs, the Chevrolet Captiva is a 5-star Euro NCAP rating bearer. The soft-roader might not be as butch-looking as its body on frame competitors, but it beats them fair and square in the safety department.A total of six airbags is standard across the range, and so are features like ABS and Traction Control. The AWD version is priced about Rs 2 lakh higher but comes with a larger and more powerful engine, too. Audi Q3Apart from the “regular” quattro version (AWD), the Audi Q3 is also offered in a slightly less expensive guise, the front-wheel driven Audi Q3 S. It manages to stay within our target budget, at Rs 28. Lakhs, but doesn’t lose out on safety features. Except the quattro all-wheel drive system, that is.It comes with six airbags, stability assists like ESP and Traction Control, and ABS. Powering the vehicle is a 2-litre diesel engine that makes 140hp and comes mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. It also gets a reassuring 5-star rating from Euro NCAP. The full-size SUVsThe Ford Endeavour, the Toyota Fortuner, and the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport are headed for substantial upgrades, but in their respective current avatars, none of the three stand out in terms of safety.There’s no doubting their stability and off-road skills, but with a paltry equipment list (both Pajero Sport and Fortuner are offered with just 2 airbags, while the Endeavour does a little better with a total of 4 airbags), they fail to do justice to their price tags.Same is true with Ssangyong Rexton, too. It gets four airbags as standard, but loses out to competitors in terms of airbag count. They are indeed very stable, and great mile muchers, but sadly not the safest, in terms of safety equipment.

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The primary reason why people began to appreciate (and eventually) adopt diesel powered cars is fuel efficiency. Now, with stricter emission laws and reduction in fuel prices, petrol engines still have a chance. But not just the naturally aspirated petrol engines but also the force-fed (turbocharged in this case) engines, too. The latter have more torque, develop more power in lower rpms, and are more frugal, too. We take a look at five turbocharged petrol powered vehicles under Rs 15 lakh that can let us have the best of both worlds.

Tata Bolt

90PS, 140Nm17.5kmpl

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Tata Motors’ journey to resurrect itself included the rather recent Tata Bolt. While the sales haven’t shown a great deal of improvement, the Bolt is easily the best product Tata has offered in this segment. The company doesn’t offer a naturally aspirated petrol engine in the line-up – a bold yet very respectable move indeed – and relies solely on a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol unit, called ‘Revotron’.

Also shared with the Zest compact sedan, the MPFI engine makes 90PS and 140Nm of maximum torque. The latter, close to diesel standards, is available from 1,500 rpm onwards, making Bolt petrol fairly easy to drive. Also, the car comes with three power delivery modes – Eco, City, and Sports – which can vary the power delivery depending and hence help achieve better economy, too. Talking of which, Tata claims a fuel economy of 17.5kmpl for the Bolt petrol. Prices for the Bolt start at Rs 4.45 lakh, while the Zest is priced at Rs 4.87 lakh onwards.

Volkswagen Polo GT TSI

105PS, 175Nm
17.21 kmpl

(Image courtesy: Zigwheels)

VW has had a huge experience in making turbocharged petrol engines – the first one in India must have been the first-generation Skoda Octavia. Fitting a turbocharged petrol engine in the Polo not just does justice to the car’s chassis, but also helps VW foray into the enthusiast-centric segment of the market. The Polo GT TSI is powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged, direct injection petrol ‘TSI’ engine, and comes mated to a 7-speed, dual-clutch ‘DSG’ transmission. The car is a hoot to drive, and is revered among enthusiasts.

VW also offers the same drivetrain combo in the Vento, but doesn’t give it ‘GT’ branding. The engine makes 105PS and 175Nm of torque. And on the less interesting but vital side, the Polo GT TSI is claimed to return 17.21kmpl. The Polo GT TSI is priced at Rs 8.48 lakh while the Vento TSI is priced at Rs 9.87 lakh (both ex-showroom).

Ford EcoSport EcoBoost

127PS, 170 Nm
18.88 kmpl

SUV-like styling, a chassis that could handle both good and bad roads, and a very competitive pricing all have ensured that the EcoSport is the most successful Ford car in India today. Apart from the other regular engine options, the EcoSport is also offered with Ford’s EcoBoost – a direct injection, turbocharged petrol engine that has steadily made its way to a lot of important global products (in various sizes, of course) including the Fiesta, Focus, and the Mustang. Even the new Endeavour gets it (that variant is unlikely to come to India, though).

The EcoSport uses a 1-litre ‘EcoBoost’ unit which makes 125hp (127PS) and 170Nm of torque, despite being the smaller than the other two mentioned above. In terms of fuel economy, the engine is claimed to return 18.88 kmpl. Prices start at Rs 9.14 lakh onwards (ex-showroom).

Fiat Linea T-Jet

114 PS, 207 Nm
15.7 kmpl

Fiat makes one of the most driver oriented cars, and even their non Abarth-branded products offer great fun. Right from the most basic variant, the Linea proves to be a very entertaining car to drive. Give it a turbocharged petrol engine, and it’s bound to become way more fun. The 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine in the Linea T-Jet makes 114PS and, cue drumroll, 207Nm of torque. The latter even outshines a lot of diesel engines! It’s claimed to return 15.7 kmpl.

The Linea T-Jet comes with ABS and disc brakes on all four wheels as standard, and is priced at Rs 8.08 lakh onwards.

Volkswagen Jetta

122 PS, 200 Nm
14.69 kmpl

The Jetta’s another VW in the list, but comes with a larger engine – a 1,390cc turbocharged petrol ‘TSI’ unit that makes 122PS and 200Nm. Claimed to return 14.69 kmpl, it must be kept in mind that the Jetta is the largest of all here, so the engine has a lot of kilograms to lug around. Unlike the Polo GT TSI, the Jetta TSI comes with a 6-speed manual gearbox, and is a real treat to drive.

With the same engine, the lighter, more driver oriented Skoda Octavia feels more alive from behind the wheel, but sadly breaches our Rs 15 lakh budget by about a lakh, so can’t be included in the list. The Jetta, though, is priced a little lower, at Rs 14.15 lakh onwards.

Should you buy one?

All the engines except the T-Jet and the 1.4 TSI are small capacity, 3-cylinder units. That means they don’t sip a lot of fuel, unless you start revving to make the most of the power available. Diesel engines don’t need to be revved a lot because maximum power is developed quite early in the rev range, but petrols (even turbocharged petrols) have to. And that hampers the fuel economy a bit.

Drive them carefully and you’ll experience the best of both worlds, but try pushing hard and the economy will go down, drastically. A cleaner and more fun alternative to diesel engines, turbocharged petrol is a technology worth serious consideration.

Worth a buy? Oh yes!