Car Of The Week - Toyota HiLux

Pick up trucks are some of the most versatile vehicles. Pickup trucks are proven, reliable workhorses that can transport passengers, haul cargo, tow loads. The pickup truck was originally made for use as a utility vehicle, but in recent times the role of the pickup truck has changed as more and more of them are being used to transport passengers. Some of the most popular pickup trucks are – Ford F150, Chevrolet Silverado, Dodge Ram, and Toyota HiLux amongst others. We are going to tell you how the Toyota HiLux won the hearts and minds of customers the world over!

The HiLux has been a very successful series of pickup trucks sold by Japanese car giant Toyota in markets such as Australia, New Zealand, Europe, South-East Asia and South America. The Toyota HiLux is currently in its 8^th generation and has sold over 19 million units globally. The HiLux was first introduced in 1968 when Toyota entered an agreement with Hino Motors of Japan to jointly manufacture a pickup truck based on the Hino Briska light-utility vehicle. The first HiLux was powered by a 1.5 L petrol engine producing 76 bhp of max power output mated to a 4-speed manual gearbox and had a payload capacity of 1000 kg.

The third generation Toyota HiLux introduced in 1978 saw a line-up of 3 standard-length and 4 long-wheelbase models, hence giving the pickup more versatility. The HiLux now had better ride comfort and car-like specifications. 4-door variants of the HiLux were subsequently added as well. The first 4WD variant of the HiLux was introduced in 1979 and shared some common technology with the Toyota Land Cruiser. Front disc brakes were made standard on the higher-end variants. A 2.2 L diesel engine producing 67 bhp of max power output was added for both the 2-door and 4-door variants.

Australia’s love affair with the Toyota HiLux goes back a long way. The first HiLux pickups came to Australian shores in 1968 when Toyota distributor Thiess brought them to Australia for duty in the mines and various construction projects of Queensland. In Australia, the HiLux can be found everywhere! Be it mines, rural parts of the country, construction sites, cattle stations, highways, or even garages…Toyota HiLux is everywhere. One of the biggest strengths of the Toyota HiLux is the versatility it offers and it has been unrivaled in this segment both in Australia and globally. The Toyota HiLux is the go-to vehicle for anyone who needs to get a load carried to any part of Australia.

In 1983, the fourth generation HiLux came with a revised exterior and interior design and was also available in an extra-cab design (additional space in the cab/cargo section). The HiLux got a new independent front suspension, giving better ride and capability in rough terrain. The major changes were seen in the engines as the new HiLux received 3 diesel engines and a new turbo-petrol one as well. This gave the HiLux customer a wider range of options while buying their perfect car. This generation of the Toyota HiLux was the blueprint for the Toyota 4Runner. The Toyota 4Runner is a popular SUV manufactured and sold across global markets.

The HiLux is as reliable and indestructible as they come. This was proved in 2003 when British TV series Topgear tried multiple ways to ‘kill a Toyota HiLux’. On the show, a Toyota HiLux was put through a grueling series of tests to check out how indestructible the car really was. The HiLux was driven to its limits…through flood, fire, a falling caravan, and a collapsing tower block; to everyone’s surprise, the HiLux lived through it all and was still functional to drive!! Now that’s a car which is built to last. The Toyota HiLux is a high achiever and a vehicle that knows no limits. The HiLux holds the distinction of being the only vehicle driven to both the North and South Poles. The HiLux has also participated in the Dakar Rally, one of the world’s most challenging rallies and has a pretty decent track record at Dakar too. The Toyota HiLux is the only UV (Utility Vehicle) to top the car sales charts in Australia.

The HiLux is a Toyota through and through. Toyota as a brand stands for simplicity, reliability, efficiency. The HiLux is a great testament to this. These values have been carefully incorporated into all eight generations of the Toyota HiLux and the success story is evident for all to see. A key to the success of the Toyota HiLux in Australia is the fact that Toyota has understood the customers, market very well, and proactively worked upon the customer feedback received.

Over the years the Toyota HiLux has been refined and shaped well into the stalwart that it is today. The current generation Toyota HiLux was introduced in 2015 and had sold approx. 16 million units at the time of introduction. The current generation HiLux is now much stronger, reliable, and capable as ever and comes loaded with the latest technology. The HiLux is available in over 30 variants including all body types and powertrain options. There is a wide array of both petrol and diesel engines on offer. With such a wide range of variants, Toyota has ensured there is a HiLux for all types of car buyers.

Is the pickup truck on its way out? That’s a question which can be hotly debated by car critics the world over. But, one thing can be certain the Toyota HiLux is here to stay even in the future. Becoming a vehicle an entire nation (Australia) swears by is not an easy task…but the Toyota HiLux just makes it look so easy!

The Big Lap

Australia, the smallest continent has the most diverse topography and relief from the rest of the world. It is a land for the adventure paramours. It offers among other excitements, an epic road trip. This road trip circumnavigates the entire country and covers approximately 15,000 km; linking the coastal cities all around the country.

This trip isn’t for those in a hurry, it’s a journey that needs time (at least 3-6 months). This trip connects lush rainforests to sun-bleached popular beaches and thriving busy towns to sleepy and remote outback waterholes. Driving along Highway One, one can visit Perth, Esperance Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, and Port Hedland. Taking detours, the scenic beauty of Kakadu, Uluru and Alice Springs, Mount Kosciuszko (Highest mountain range in Australia) and The Great Barrier Reef should not be missed.

Driving in a 4WD is a definite plus on this tremendously demanding trip. Driving between April to September (dry season – wet season roads can be closed) between Broome and Cairns is advisable. The best way to enjoy this trip is to be in a van or camper as the road takes you from highways to fire trials. As you bump along to reach campsites or find a wayside scenery appealing, the stress is always to have a trusty set of wheels. A 4WD with low range, high clearance, a snorkel, and long-range fuel tank will let you explore any track. If you have a camper, then the chosen vehicle should be capable of towing a fully loaded R.V. (A diesel 4WD gives a greater towing torque and fuel economy). Petrol may not be available in the way-out of Aboriginal communities. Another must is to practice maneuvering the camper or caravan as the terrain can vary (sand, mud, corrugation), and controlling a skid can test the most skilled drivers too.

Whether you choose a comfortable motorhome, a minivan, or an SUV there are some essentials that are worth acquiring and installing. Water supply of at least 20 liters in a Jerry Can or as a conduit carrier mounted on the roof of the car is very important. A kitchen and a portable BBQ is luxurious, but a butane burner and a few pots and pans can also be sufficient. It is imperative to carry tools like car jacks, wrenches, hammers besides a mint condition spare tyre plus oil and coolant, etc… to make this epic road trip a smooth and enjoyable journey. 

Sleeping at the caravan parks which are plenty along the Highway One is a prudent option as they invariably have the facilities for shower, laundry, and kitchen. Even National Parks are an interesting choice plus most of them are freeee!!!

 The big lap has several must-see sights including the big cities that you drive through. Sometimes just being on the road (the famous Great Ocean Road from Torquay to Allanford in Victoria) is mesmerizing. The stunning coastline, sunburnt cliffs, shipwrecks, the famous Twelve Apostles (now only 8 remain) and the rainforest jostle to enthrall.

Another detour worth undertaking is from Cairns to the gateway to the Barrier Reef ending at Australia’s northernmost tip, Cape York. This lap is full of adventure as it involves taking the red dirt trail, crossing croc infested rivers, ancient rock art and the meeting of two World Heritage Sites (the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest)

The Coral Coast along the Western Australian coastline via Cervantes, Monkey Mia and Carnarvon gets you to the meeting point of the turquoise Indian ocean and the rugged Australian outback. The Kalbarri National Park, The Pinnacles desert, World Heritage, Shark Bay (where it’s possible to swim with dolphin’s, manta ray and the whale sharks) leaves you luxuriated in the lap of mother nature.

The legendary Pacific Coast from Sydney to Brisbane (900 km) has a host of surfing beaches, charming seaside towns, and National Parks. A slight detour leads to a complete change in the scenery with incredible restaurants, boutiques cheese and wine and chocolate producers in the Newcastle to Hunter Valley region.

Going on a journey that lets you do what you want when you want, how you want, and where you want – this is the epitome of freedom. There are no time constraints (don’t undertake if you do) you could take 6 months to a year to enjoy the wonders of this road trip covering the arid desert and lush rainforest So plan, plan, plan and budget carefully before undertaking it. 

Understanding Your Car - Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)

Driving a car is part and parcel of daily life for a lot of people across the globe. Cars have 2 types of transmissions – Manual and Automatic. Sales of automatic cars have seen a very rapid and increasing rise in recent times. The increase in traffic, changes in perception of the automatic transmission, and improvement of technology are some of the key factors that have led to an increase in this demand. There are majorly 3 types of automatic gear transmissions widely used across cars – Torque Converter, CVT and Dual-Clutch. We are going to make the CVT transmission simple and make you understand it better.

The Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is an automatic transmission that works on seamless shifts and unlike a conventional automatic gearbox does not use fixed gears. CVT is also known as stepless or shiftless transmission. Leonardo Da Vinci one of the greatest minds ever and a man way ahead of his time sketched the first stepless transmission way back in 1490! In 1958, Dutch manufacturer introduced the world’s first CVT transmission in a car. Since the turn of the century, the CVT transmission has been widely used across cars globally.

When fuel is combusted in an engine, power is generated. This power is then transmitted to the wheels which then begin turning and move the car ahead. The speed of the engine is different from the real driving speed (speed of the car on the road while driving). An automatic gearbox uses gear ratios to match engine speed and real driving speed. The gear ratios are fixed and range from low to high. The auto gearbox uses the appropriate gear ratio depending on the speed of the car.

A CVT gearbox does things differently. A CVT gearbox does not have fixed gear ratios and operates variably with the speed of the engine. The CVT gearbox is a very basic system that works on the principle of pulleys. The CVT transmission uses 2 pulleys that have variable diameters connected by a belt or chain. One pulley is connected to the engine while the other is connected to the wheels via the transmission. The pulleys used in a CVT transmission are always in pairs. The input pulley is connected to the engine and receives energy from it to drive the output pulley. The input pulley is also known as driving pulley as it drives the output pulley. The output pulley moves when the input pulley drives it and sends power to the wheels which makes the car move forward.

The diameters of the pulleys are variable and become smaller or larger depending on the speed of the engine. This allows the CVT gearbox to work seamlessly and efficiently without having fixed ratios and operating infinitely at any time and at any engine speed. CVTs are of 3 types – Pulley-based, Toroidal and Hydrostatic. Pulley-based CVTs are the most commonly used in cars. CVTs tend to have the infamous ‘Rubber-Band effect’ experienced while driving a CVT car. However, this is not an issue it is caused by the constant acceleration and deceleration of the car. The CVT transmission has the following advantages – 

1. Smooth Shifts.
2. Improved Fuel Efficiency. 
3.  Better Reliability. 

The disadvantages of a CVT are –

1. Expensive Maintenance.
2. Getting used to driving a CVT car may take some time.

Daniel 'Honey Badger' Ricciardo

Australia is a sport-loving nation, with a good proportion of the population actively following and supporting their loved sports. The most popular sports in Australia include – Rugby, Cricket, Australian Football, and Soccer. Motorsport has been a popular sport in Australia attracting a very big fan following and spectators. The Land Down Under has produced 17 Formula One drivers and 2 World Champions – Jack Brabham (3-time world champion) and Alan Jones. Currently, there is only one driver from Australia on the F1 circuit – Daniel Ricciardo. Ricciardo is arguably the best all-rounder amongst the F1 drivers, and a dark horse for whom the sky is the limit. Let’s find out what makes him so amazing!

Daniel Ricciardo is a driver for the Renault F1 team alongside Frenchman Esteban Ocon. Ayrton Senna, one of the greatest race drivers of all time was the one who inspired Ricciardo to take to car racing. Ricciardo’s first taste of Motorsport came at the age of 9 when he began karting at the Tiger Kart Club. In 2005, Daniel entered the Australian Formula Ford series and put on an impressive performance despite driving a car, not on par with the competition. Daniel’s performance was enough to get him a scholarship to the Formula BMW Asia championship the next season. He finished his Formula BMW Asia debut season strongly with an impressive 3^rd spot in the championship.

Daniel’s performances and potential saw him attract a lot of attention from Europe. He moved to Formula Renault in 2007, hence entering the world of European circuit racing. Daniel quickly moved up the ranks with a string of great performances and entered the British F3 championship. Driving for Carlin Motorsport, Ricciardo won the British F3 championship becoming the first Australian driver to win the title since David Brabham won it in 1989. 

2011 was a landmark year for Ricciardo as he earned a driver’s seat with the HRT replacing Narain Karthikeyan in their line-up. Ricciardo got picked up by Toro Rosso for the 2012 season driving with new teammate Jean Eric Vergne. In 2013, Ricciardo finished 13^th in the championship during his second season with Toro Rosso. This got him a well-earned promotion to the senior team Red Bull Racing. Ricciardo was now in the big leagues!

Ricciardo replaced Mark Webber to drive alongside 4-time world champion Sebastian Vettel. Ricciardo was on the pace in his first race for Red Bull at the Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne. To everyone’s surprise Ricciardo finished the race second, only to be stripped off that position by the stewards due to technical irregularities. Driving an F1 car is a very challenging task both mentally and physically for a driver. F1 drivers need to have laser focus, super quick reflexes, concentration, and risk-taking ability amongst other attributes. Ricciardo has all this in abundance and is probably the most complete all-round driver on the F1 circuit. Ricciardo secured his first Grand Prix victory at the 2014 Canadian Grand Prix and second win at the Hungarian Grand Prix in the same year. Ricciardo was awarded the Laurens World Sports Award for Breakthrough of The Year for his performances in 2014.

For the 2015 season, Sebastian Vettel moved to Scuderia Ferrari making Ricciardo the lead driver at Red Bull. Red Bull’s 2015 season was plagued by engine and reliability problems dampening the season for Ricciardo. Ricciardo has been nicknamed ‘Honey Badger’; an apt name for a personality like him. The Honey Badger is considered one of the most fearless animals. Ricciardo knows no fear and this shows in his driving. Ricciardo is as good as they come with regard to overtaking and late braking. Both these driving skills require a lot of skill to master and risk-taking ability to execute. Ricciardo can be credited for some of the best overtakes in F1 over the past decade. Ricciardo is not a driver you want to see behind you when driving on an F1 circuit…if you give him an inch, he will take a mile! Seeing Ricciardo overtake other cars on the circuit is like watching a masterclass, he makes it look so easy and effortless!

Braking is a very crucial skill to master when racing in any format. Timely braking at high speeds can avert fatal crashes. The art of braking late and managing to effectively overtake and control the car in a composed manner is something Ricciardo has aced! Just look at his performance during the 2018 Monaco Grand Prix, a sheer exhibition of class! Ricciardo had an interesting time at Red Bull when Dutch hotshot Max Verstappen became his teammate. The 2 drivers had a rivalry which pushed them to perform better against each other. While there was a rivalry on the track, both Daniel and Max are good friends off it. That’s just how Ricciardo is, unlike a lot of F1 drivers he is different and showcases a more human side to his personality. Fun-loving, always joking and goofing around Ricciardo is regarded by many as being the most fun guy in F1! Be it drinking champagne from his race shoe or jumping into a pool after winning a race…Ricciardo is a complete entertainer!

In 2018, it was announced that Ricciardo had signed a 2-year contract with the Renault F1 team and Pierre Gasly would take his seat at Red Bull. This came as a surprise to all but was also evident with the friction between Ricciardo and Verstappen at Red Bull in the previous season and the Red Bull team favoring Verstappen as their lead driver. The first season at Renault did not turn out as planned for Ricciardo, as the car had reliability issues and was just not capable of keeping up with the performance of the top cars in the circuit. When one looks at Ricciardo, his driving style and ability…the potential he has is evident and is a driver who deserves a worthy car to give him the means of winning the World Championship.  

Off the track, Ricciardo is a simple, fun-loving guy who leads a chilled out and leisurely life. A family man at heart, Ricciardo ensures he is always in touch while traveling the world for races or shuttling between his homes in Los Angeles, Perth, and Monaco. Ricciardo loves music and considers hip-hop, rap to be his preferred genre of choice. Ricciardo has a smile so broad that it can fill a dark room with light! Ricciardo is a world-class athlete who diligently follows his diet and fitness training regime. On the track, Ricciardo is a very aggressive yet balanced driver who understands when to switch from attack to defense and vice-versa.

Daniel Ricciardo is not only an amazing driver but is also an amazing human. He is the embodiment of a well-rounded athlete both on the track and off it as well. With uncertainty over his future at Renault, it shall be very interesting to see what’s in store for him. Is it time for Daniel ‘Honey Badger’ Ricciardo to make the switch to Ferrari? Let us know your thoughts.

Its Lights Out At Albert Park: The First Race Of The F1 Championship Season

Watching Formula One is a stimulating experience for most car and motorsport enthusiasts. If you are a fan of fast cars, power-packed races, and stunning racetracks then you have to tune in to the Australian Grand Prix. It is the most anticipated race of the season. The Australian Grand Prix is the season opener and sets the tempo for the F1 season ahead, many fans deem this as the ‘race you cannot miss’. Formula One being a very exclusive event you still have fans from all over the country and the world travel to Melbourne to visit Albert Park to witness the round 1 of the FIA Formula One World Championship.

Typical attendance over the weekend in Australia is around 300 000 spectators, with a crowd in excess of 100 000 on race day. This year marks the 25th Formula 1 race to have been held at Albert Park, since its debut in 1996, which was won by Damon Hill in a Renault. Melbourne began hosting the Australian Grand Prix at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit (Albert Park) in 1996, taking over from Adelaide, which hosted the race from 1985-1995.The Albert Park circuit in Melbourne held non-championship Grand Prix races in the fifties. A revised circuit joined the world championship calendar in 1996. At the same time, the race moved from being the last race of the season to the first and has normally held the opening race of the season since then.

Michael Schumacher is the most successful driver at Albert Park, scoring four wins (2000,2001,2002,2004). Sebastian Vettel, who won at Albert Park in 2011,2017 and 2018 could equal Schumacher’s tally at the 2020 Australian Grand Prix, however, due to the COVID-19 situation will have to wait until next time… The Albert Park circuit is semi-permanent, meaning it's not a full-time racing venue. For most of the year, the roads that make up the bulk of the race track are open to the public and anyone can drive on them.

The Albert Park circuit is one of the faster circuits on the F1 race calendar. The track is well laid out allowing for drivers to race at high speeds. Albert Park can get bumpy and has some uneven surfaces as well. The bumpy nature of the track requires drivers to have a very good front suspension set up allowing them to have maximum control while cornering and combating slippery surfaces.

‘All men are created equal, but some work harder in pre-season’. F1 drivers need to go through a rigorous 8-week program that will get them into shape for the upcoming season. This includes taking care of their physical, psychological, and most importantly their diets too. Race teams work tirelessly in pre-season too, giving the best race drivers in the world the means to go on and win the prestigious F1 World Championship. Being the first race of the year, the Australian Grand Prix is filled with excitement and anticipation and certainly, a must-watch for all car, motorsport fans across the globe! 

Team Kshatriya - One Of India's Best BAJA SAE Teams

College racing events such as Formula Student, BAJA SAE are very popular in engineering colleges, universities across the globe. These events offer engineering students a very good platform to leverage what they have learned in theory and put it into practice by building a race car. India has very good college racing teams like IIT Bombay Racing (Electric) and Pravega Racing (Combustion) who participate at the highest levels of Formula Student globally. Apart from Formula Bharat; BAJA SAE and Enduro Student India are amongst the leading college racing competitions in India. We are going to tell you more about Team Kshatriya who has been one of the oldest and highly successful BAJA SAE teams from India.

Team Kshatriya is a leading BAJA SAE team based out of VIT, Vellore in India. Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore is one of India’s top engineering colleges and is also the home of Pravega Racing – India’s best Formula Student (Combustion) team. Team Kshatriya participates in BAJA SAE India and Enduro Student India which take place at Pithampur and Pune in India respectively. BAJA SAE is an inter-college student design competition run by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). The competition challenges college racing teams and aspiring engineers to design, build and race off-road vehicles that can tackle the harshest terrain. The cars designed by teams in BAJA competitions are very similar to dune buggies.

Team Kshatriya was founded in 2006 by a group of mechanical engineering students from VIT, Vellore. Team Kshatriya was one of the first all-student motorsport teams of India and also the first Indian team to participate in BAJA SAE South Africa. With the inception of BAJA SAE India in 2007, Team Kshatriya shifted focus to the new competition making it their primary competitive event annually. The events in BAJA SAE India are divided into 2 categories – Static Events and Dynamic Events. The Static Events include – Design Report Presentation, Cost Evaluation, Business Plan Presentation, CAE Evaluation (Bonus Event), Go Green Challenge (Bonus Event); whereas the Dynamic Events include – Acceleration, Rock Crawl, Suspension, and Traction, Maneuverability, Endurance Race. BAJA SAE India sees over 400+ college racing teams participate every year, hence making the competition a great proving ground for talented young engineers and a hotbed of innovation.

Team Kshatriya has a strength of 46 members who are bonafide students of VIT, Vellore; each playing a crucial role in the success of the team. The team members are divided across various departments – Vehicle Dynamics, Transmission, Brakes, Design, Electrical and Management. Team Kshatriya’s current car is Vikrant which is combustion vehicle powered by a single-cylinder 305cc 10HP air-cooled, Briggs & Stratton OHV Intake Model (engine is event specified, all teams have to use the same engine with no other modifications) mated to a customized CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) gearbox. The car can reach a top speed of above 60 km/hr and has a relatively short turning radius of 1.8 meters.

Many college racing teams are funded and managed by students themselves. Like a lot of college racing teams in India, Team Kshatriya has often found it difficult to raise funds via sponsorships and partnerships. However, this has not curbed their innovation and determination to be the best. Kshatriya was one of the first BAJA teams in India to make the switch from a manual transmission to a customized CVT. The custom CVT transmission was built by the team members of Kshatriya themselves! Kshatriya is among the handful of teams who have custom-built their braking system which includes the master cylinder, brake calipers, and brake rotors as well. A short turning radius is very handy, especially in an off-road vehicle. Team Kshatriya is one amongst the very few teams who have achieved a turning radius of 1.8 meters (under 2 meters). 

Team Kshatriya believes in constantly improving from their learnings over the past events and experiences. This is crucial to their success and being amongst the leading teams in India. Before beginning work on their next car, Kshatriya internally discusses and collectively learns from their shortcomings in the previous events and works towards strengthening themselves in all departments. The collective inputs of all team members are paramount to the success of a race team and Kshatriya follows this process very diligently. Kshatriya team members are a mix of freshers, juniors, and senior members with regard to their course completion at VIT. The freshers are inducted during their first year of college and are groomed, trained under the seniors of the team this form of mentorship helps for better managerial planning within the organization and also helps juniors be well-groomed and trained to lead the various departments of the team in the future. The development of a new car comes in 3 phases – Design, Manufacturing, Testing, and Validation. Each of these phases plays a very crucial part in the making of the final car.

While they are a race team, Kshatriya is run like an organization having its own processes and systems. This further enhances the holistic development of team members and the experience shapes them to be ready for the real corporate world. The main aim of Team Kshatriya is to become the best BAJA SAE team in India and winning the coveted BAJA SAE India championship. With a strong foundation, innovative approach, great teamwork, and above all the determination to succeed Team Kshatriya are well on their way to do the same. We at AutoGuru India are proud to have been associated with Team Kshatriya and are very happy to get their story out to the masses! Watch this space for more!