The 370Z launched in India comes with the Synchro Rev Match manual transmission. This system facilitates a smooth gear change by increase or decreasing the rpm of the engine so that the clutch plate and the flywheel mess at the same rpm. For instance when you change down from 4th gear to 3rd you would take the foot off the throttle, apply the clutch and change the gear, at this moment the Synchro Rev Match kicks in. It matches the engine rpm (i.e. flywheel’s rpm) to that of the clutch shaft’s (i.e. shaft connecting the clutch and the gearbox) and then re-engages the clutch which results in ultra-smooth gear change.

It does this by means of sensors (obviously). Synchro Rev uses engine rpm sensor, gearbox rpm sensor throttle position sensor and a sensor to monitor the position of the gear lever. In the 6-speed manual 370Z, the output shaft spins at the same rpm (5000 assuming) as the engine at 6th gear as the gear ratio is 1.1 (almost) but the gear ratio for 5th gear is 1.56:1 (assuming) hence when the gear is shifted from 6th to 5th the engine has to spin at 5000*1.56 rpm for a smooth gear change. Synchro Rev increases the rpm of the engine to 7800rpm so that both the flywheel and the clutch plate spin at the same rpm and then re-engages the clutch. Other than the smooth gear change, Synchro Rev reduces the wear and tear of the clutch plate.

here is a video of 370z’s engineer explaining how the Synchro Rev match works:

Fiat displayed the Linea Dualogic at Delhi which might even be launched later this year. The word “Dualogic” refers to the transmission of the Linea. Dualogic on the functional basis is both automatic and manual but it is not the same kind of automatics with torque convertors. It is so unique and brilliant that it is 10% fuel efficient than any other automatic gearbox and 3-5% fuel efficient than any other manual gearbox.

It is a known fact that a good car with a bad driver behind its wheels will get lesser mileage than a good driver. All these mileage is lost mostly in the shifting of gears which involves shifting at the right time and short time. A conventional automatic gearbox doesn’t solve this problem either as it is worse on mileage however good or bad the driver is. Fiat thought out of the box to solve this and thus was born the Dualogic.

Dualogic transmission consists of the same 5-speed gearbox as a manual but it doesn’t have a clutch pedal. A servo arrangement which consists of an electronic motor which turns on and off up on receiving of electronic signals, this engages and disengages the clutch through a mechanical linkage. This servo arrangement also has the actuating mechanical links which shift gears. In simple English instead of you depressing you foot on the clutch pedal and shifting the gear with your hand, the computer controlled robot inside the car depresses the pedal and changes the gear at the right time for better mileage and better power. If automatics aren’t your thing switch to manual mode in which you move the gear lever forward for shifting up and backward for shifting down.

Though Dualogic refers to the gearbox, it’s got its roots spread all over the car. There are sensors to monitor how far the brake is depressed, the car will start only if the brake is depressed which is an indicator of a driver’s presence. If the driver’s door is open the gear will shift automatically into neutral. There are sensors to monitor the inclination/declination the car is taking and gearshift is based on that. In fact every parameter which would affect gearshift is monitored and gear shifting is done to get the best performance from least amount of fuel.

Valvetronic Variable lift (VVL) is a patented System of BMW used first in its 2001 3-series and is now being impregnated into the 2011 5-Series. Nissan has a similar system in its Skyline Coupe (Infinity G37). What this system does is vary the volume of fuel entering into each cylinder by varying the lift of the inlet valve. It does this continuously with increase and decrease in RPM.

The system adds two main parts to the cylinder head cam rocker arm assembly. The first is an electric motor which gets its input from the throttle position sensor. The second is an intermediate rocker-arm which is turned by the electric motor and transmits its output to the rocker arm.

When the driver calls for more power the electric motor turns the intermediate rocker arm and this causes the valve to open deeper. This helps fuel efficiency since in a conventional engine no matter at what RPM the engine runs the valve opening is constant, which means even at low RPM the inlet valve is a bit more open than needed.

Pictorial representation:

Yesterday’s Hindu paper reported that the switch from compressed air to nitrogen for tyre inflation is catching up in Chennai.

The advantages of using Nitrogen instead of compressed air are:

• Nitrogen is cooler and the tyres don’t get heated much during long drives
• Nitrogen is lighter than air.
• Nitrogen is non-combustible
• Nitrogen doesn’t contain moisture that prevent wear and tear due to oxidation of the inter tyre surface.
• 25% better tyre pressure retention.
• Provides better grip.

Because of all these advantages Hp has installed nitrogen tyre inflation machines in 22 of its 137 bunks in the city. It can be filled in both two-wheeler tyres and tubeless tyres of cars. Before filling up your tyre with oxygen, compressed air should be completely removed.

Though most bunks offer this as a free ad-on service to their customers, some bunk charge up to Rs.50 for each tyre and Rs.10 for subsequent re-fills.

The U.S National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a safely alert for all Toyota and Lexus owners requiring them to remove the floor mat off the driver’s portion. There have been cases of the throttle pedal getting jammed in open position due to the floor mat. This is caused because of low clearance between the floor and the pedal and also because of the floor mat design. This problem is specific to Toyota and Lexus cars because of their unique flood design.

The cars that have been identified to have this problem are:

• 2007-2010 Camry
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• 2004-2009 Prius
• 2005-2010 Tacoma
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2007-2010 ES 350
• 2006-2010 IS 250 and IS350

If you ever find you self in this position Toyota would want you to do this: Brake hard with both feet, apply clutch (in case of manual transmission), and shift to neutral (in both manual and & automatic). If you have key less entry, push and hold the start/stop button for 3 seconds to turn off the engine. If it’s a conventional key-ignition turn the key to the ACC position, do not remove the key at any time since it will lock the steering wheel. To know about various Key positions click here.

Toyota recommend that you remove the floor mat,but if you choose not to , Toyota recommends that you ensure that a proper floor mat is used and installed properly. Toyota gives more information on this in its webpage www.toyota.com.

Imagine yourself driving alone on a highway at 100kms an hour and all you have got to entertain yourself with is the radio and the sight of the passing barren land. You are bored and your mind starts to wonder and you start thinking what would make this drive interesting and a wild idea enters your mind, and you ask yourself the question what would happen if I shift to reverse gear now!

The moment that though enters your mind, you would imagine the result to be a badly spectacular image of ball bearings spraying in all directions with the gear box chewing away its own metal until the whole gearbox blows us with an impressive boom!, but wait a minute is that the reality ?

As it turns out reality is disappointing. A gearbox is designed to prevent the reverse gear from engaging while the vehicle moves forward. There is a function called Reverse Inhibit in a gearbox which prevents inadvertent selection of reverse. All the new cars come with this technology; this is designer’s way of protecting us from ourselves!

The gearbox will ignore your request to change into reverse until you get down to a proper speed, it’s like the gear box telling you ‘hey, I know you want reverse pal, but I’m just not going to give it to you until the appropriate time’.

But this may be the case with cars which have Reverse Inhibitor but what about the once which don’t?. Since no one has tried this as an experiment, we rely on expert opinion on this one. But again the reality is less exciting than you might have imagined.

They say when a car without Reverser Inhibitor is shifted to reverse on a drive, the most likely thing to happen is the engine will stall and it will act like as if it’s in neutral. The car won’t spin off or skip as you would imagine. But they also say if you are too unlucky the gearbox will self-destruct itself.

So for safety reasons always keep your hands off the gear knob!

Mahindra & Mahindra have stolen the show at the World Hydrogen Technologies Convention with its new Hy-Alfa, the world’s first hydrogen powered 3-wheeler vehicle. That an Indian company is making the first hydrogen powered 3-wheeler is no surprise, considering that India is the world’s biggest 3-wheeler market. But what is really unique about this is the fact that Mahindra has straddled the line between the uber-tech electric-motor powered by fuel cells concept and the by now old-fashioned conventional IC engine. The Mahindra Hy-Alfa would be powered by a “Hydrogen Powered ICE”. A compromise between the two extremes, which runs on compressed hydrogen gas with zero emissions.

According to Dr. Mathew Abraham, General Manager (R&D) of Mahindra & Mahindra, ““The Hy-Alfa is the first vehicle of its kind in the world. It runs on nothing but compressed hydrogen gas and is incredibly engineered to run with absolutely zero emissions, which makes it a pleasure to drive on congested city roads. Hydrogen is, in fact, the technology and fuel of tomorrow and is the long term solution to pollution, energy security & CO2 emission related concerns”. Both the cargo and passenger 3-wheelers will be getting the Hy’ treatment and notably M&M have recently signed an MOU with UNDIO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) and ICHET(International Centre for Hydrogen Energy and Technology) to give a demo of the Hy-Alfa in the capital.

To think that a homegrown company is pioneering new green technology is at once heart-warming and encouraging. TATA is also exploring the realms of electric and hydrogen technologies while small REVA is the world leader in electric car sales. Seems India is at the rather green cutting edge of the world.