[AAD]

Originally Posted by ACM

5Ok is good. 100K should have been attempted.

I believe TATA will transparently share the details.

How well they will market is a question time will answer.

I believe this is commendable. Yes all cars can maybe do this but doing is believing. Lets not assume.

Many global cars were assumed to easily pass crash trsts but didn't when tested. This is just to demonstrate that actual achievements are more believable that assumed capabilities.

I agree. One way they could convert this into real sales is to send these cars by rotation to some of the key dealerships and offer test drives on these cars to prospective walk in customers.

They could record the positive reactions ( I am assuming it will be positive) of the customers and then show it in ads across various media.

It's important for the average customer to know the quality these cars retain even after driven extensively at these high rpms and speeds in a very short period of time.

Nevertheless, a very creditable effort by Tata Motors indeed which needs to be appreciated whole heartedly

[drsingh]

Originally Posted by AAD

I agree. One way they could convert this into real sales is to send these cars by rotation to some of the key dealerships and offer test drives on these cars to prospective walk in customers.

They could record the positive reactions ( I am assuming it will be positive) of the customers and then show it in ads across various media.

It's important for the average customer to know the quality these cars retain even after driven extensively at these high rpms and speeds in a very short period of time.

Nevertheless, a very creditable effort by Tata Motors indeed which needs to be appreciated whole heartedly

That is the best marketing idea I've heard in a while. Tata needs to take note.

[Latheesh]

Few more pictures from their FB page

[Latheesh]

Tata Motors sets 360 records in an ultimate endurance & fuel efficiency test

Tata Motors announced a set of stupendous records in a 18-day, non-stop high-speed drive with its three cars – Zest, Bolt and the upcoming Tiago – on the 4.2 km long NCAT (National Centre of Automotive Testing) high-speed test track at the Vehicle Research & Development Establishment (VRDE), a DRDO (Defence Research & Development Organization) facility in Ahmednagar. The new generation cars underwent the ultimate endurance run in scorching temperatures for the #GearedForGreat Challenge and achieved multiple record-breaking distances culminating at 50,000km each with an average speed of around 120 kmph, succesfully clocking a staggering 360 records in a single event (Please refer Anexure 1 for record details) – the first ever by any Indian OEM.

Tata Motors‘ triumphant celebration came with four of its new generation cars, the petrol versions of Zest and Bolt; and the petrol and diesel versions of the soon to be launched, Tiago.
According to Mr. Mayank Pareek, President, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors, “We are thrilled to have successfully achieved the 50,000km milestone, this indubitably showcases the technology and robustness of our new cars. The Geared for Great challenge offered us a tremendous platform to display our commitment to bring exciting, high-performance, category defining cars to our customers”. He added, “Our Revotron and Revotorq engines are built to endure extreme performance and deliver a new level of driving experience and we are now bringing these engines into our new upcoming car, Tiago. This Asian record run demonstrates how our engines are among the most advanced drive systems currently available in the market.”

Conducted under the aegis of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI), the sanctioning body in India for the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile – the world body for motorsport), the #GearedForGreat endurance challenge has been designed and developed in partnership with ZEEGNITION as an independent auto expert testing the cars, backed by the Indian Oil Corporation of India (IOCL) and JK Tyres.

Tata Motors embarked on a grueling endurance and a mileage run from 14h March, 2016 with the cars randomly picked from its plant and put them to test to prove their capability. All four cars cars started strongly, first dispatching all existing records for 24 hours with the Bolt storming through to a new Indian mark of 3161km at an average speed of 131.7km/h. From here on it was all about setting new benchmarks on the tough 4.2 km high-speed circuit with all four corners featuring steeply banked curves of varying degrees that put the cars to the severest tests while also allowing them to run flat out. The basic structure of the cars coupled to their engineering design and build plus the efficacy of the suspension geometry greatly aided the ride and handling of the cars to enable their drivers to be both safe and comfortable as they drove at high speed lap after lap, day and night.

Apart from short pit stops every 2 hours for driver changes, fuel fill-ups, routine checks, and cleaning of the windshield/ headlamps, the 4 cars racked up the kilometers at a scorching pace of 130 -140 kmph. Today, all four cars have completed the 50,000 km mark in record time, offering a remarkable validation of the new Tata Motors processes that are bringing these new-generation cars to the market. Each of the record-breaking cars covered more than 11832 laps of the NCAT circuit, testing the powertrain, suspension, electronic components and body structure to the hilt and beyond. Adding up the distances covered by all four cars gives an impressive total of 200,000 kilometres – which is 5 times the distance around the circumference of the Earth.

The severe stresses put on every major aggregates of the cars considering they were driven at speeds of around 160km/h even approaching the banked curves clearly marked out the stability and road holding of the cars, the suspension and the tyres (by our partner JK Tyres) being markedly on top of all challenges posed by the speed of the cars and the nature of the circuit. Despite the extreme stress, the new engines – The Revotron 1.2T, the Revotron 1.2L and the Revotorq 1.05L held up magnificently over the entire record distance without any deterioration in performance – further testimony to the reliability and durability of the high-tech, indigenously developed engines from Tata Motors.

Besides the endurance test, another four cars of the same description as the Endurance cars, also ran at a constant pace of 45-55km/h until each ran out of fuel to establish a radical fuel economy figure. The Zest and Bolt clocked-in an impressive mileage of 29.89 kmpl and 28.32 kmpl respectively, monitored under the ideal conditions, to show what state‑of-the-art vehicle technology can achieve. Tata Motors will announce the Tiago fuel economy test results at the car’s launch event.

An individual normally covers a distance of 50,000 km, in 3-5 years and it is almost impossible for an average Indian automotive consumer to consistently achieve average speeds beyond 130km/h for a serious length of time. This record run is real testament to the durability, safety and performance of the new generation Tata cars in extreme conditions, way beyond what a normal driver would experience. The major records achieved are testimony to the perfect blend of pioneering technology and tremendous sporting ability at the wheel.

The sporting and technological conduct of the event was in the hands of Godspeed Racing run under the NCR (National Competition Rules) of the FMSCI (Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India).

The participating vehicles were scrutineered at the Tata Motors plant in Pune by FMSCI officials before they left for VRDE by road. All vehicles were in OE stock condition, except for safety fitments such as an emergency engine kill switch, auxiliary driving lamps and a fire extinguisher. More so, all four cars were homologated by the FMSCI as one of the pre-requisites for a record attempt run under the NCR.

Over 60 professional drivers, racers and auto experts from 22 cities from all corners of India, participated in this mega event to push these cars to their limits. The pit stops were efficiently managed by a team of engineers and technicians from Tata Motors, and ably assisted by teams from JK Tyres / JK Motorsports, and IOCL (Indian Oil Corporation Ltd). Working with the tyre supplier, J K Tyre, Tata Motors’ priority was to minimise risks and enhance vehicle performance and driver comfort. The team worked closely with J K Tyre right from the start to ensure that the new generation cars could run the desired course on JK’s latest generation tyres. The crew worked closely with Tata Motors’ own technical team to undertake quick and efficient re-fueling and driver changes, day and night.

The ZEST, BOLT and TIAGO represent the new face of Tata Motors and come with advanced technology and features, which places them class apart, in their respective segments. Whether it was the launch of India’s first turbo-charged, Revotron 1.2T petrol engine, the compact Revotorq 1.05L diesel engine, the first diesel AMT, the first-in-segment multi-drive mode, the high-end infotainment system from Harman, or the intelligent & intuitive design of the TIAGO, these cars are examples of the innovative products to come from the company. Tata Motors is focusing on introducing technologies, which are future-ready, innovative and is offering rich features in its cars, which have been highly appreciated by customers.



These records are for the following categories:

Indian National Record for Indian-built sub-compact sedans with petrol engines up to 1200cc
Indian National Record for Indian-built hatchbacks with petrol engines up to 1200ccIndian National Record for
Indian-built mini-hatchbacks with petrol engines up to 1200cc
Indian National Record for Indian-built mini-hatchbacks with diesel engines up to 1100cc

Source: http://www.tatamotors.com/press

[methecupid]

Originally Posted by Latheesh

Despite the extreme stress, the new engines – The Revotron 1.2T, the Revotron 1.2L and the Revotorq 1.05L held up magnificently over the entire record distance without any deterioration in performance – further testimony to the reliability and durability of the high-tech, indigenously developed engines from Tata Motors.

Source: http://www.tatamotors.com/press

Thanks for the information Latheesh, quite a read! Not sure if everyone here were upto speed on this, but was quite a revelation for me - considering I was watching this space quite intently over past couple of weeks; what's with this Revotron 1.2T and Revotorq? I know the later will find its space underneath the bonnet of the to-be-launched Tiago, is the 1.2T going to be plonked in the Bolt Sport?

[Latheesh]

Originally Posted by methecupid

Thanks for the information Latheesh, quite a read! Not sure if everyone here were upto speed on this, but was quite a revelation for me - considering I was watching this space quite intently over past couple of weeks; what's with this Revotron 1.2T and Revotorq? I know the later will find its space underneath the bonnet of the to-be-launched Tiago, is the 1.2T going to be plonked in the Bolt Sport?

Petrol Revotron 1.2L - Tiago
1,199 cc, 3-cylinder, 12V DOHC, all-aluminium engine which churns out 84 BHP (@ 6,000 rpm) and 114 Nm torque (@ 3,500 rpm). Being a new age petrol, it belongs to the Revotron family, even though it doesn't have a turbo.

Petrol Revotron 1.2T - Bolt& Zest
The Bolt is powered by the same 1193cc turbocharged 4 cyl petrol 'Revotron' motor from the Zest. This isn't an all-new engine developed from a clean sheet of paper. It actually uses the familiar cast-iron block of the Indica Xeta, has 2 valves / cylinder and an SOHC valvetrain (competition offers 16V DOHCs).The motor has been extensively reworked though. Developed in-house, this powerplant uses a Honeywell turbocharger and makes 89 BHP (@ 5000 rpm). Interestingly, while the peak torque of 140 Nm is identical to the Zest, it is available in a wider rpm range of 1500 - 4000 (Zest = 1750 to 3500 rpm).

source: TBHP official reviews

[Latheesh]

Today's Times of India has a full page ad about the TATA GREAT ENDURANCE CHALLENGE

[teemus]

Somehow I missed this thread but when I stumbled upon this.. I read it from start to end!

Well done Tata!!

[Turbohead]

Can't believe I missed this thread! Mad mad achievement!

Wonder why they never marketed it like they should have! Even in 2020 I hear regular people saying how Tata cars don't last! Continuous high RPM driving is a recipe for wear and tear! Well done Tata!

[FourWheelDrift]

Originally Posted by Turbohead

Can't believe I missed this thread! Mad mad achievement!

Wonder why they never marketed it like they should have! Even in 2020 I hear regular people saying how Tata cars don't last! Continuous high RPM driving is a recipe for wear and tear! Well done Tata!

Hey Turbohead,

Quite a few of us followed along on this thread, as the event unfolded. I do recall there was a fair bit of publicity online and on ZEE's channels as well, at the time.

I've looked up and put the relevant links below, if you're interested in learning more.

Cheers,

FourWheelDrift

YouTube videos :
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCou...cUJT1gYNcR1YAg

Facebook posts :
https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/gearedforgreat

Twitter :
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23gear...rc=typed_query

Instagram :
https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/gearedforgreat/

[GrammarNazi]

Originally Posted by Turbohead

...Wonder why they never marketed it like they should have!

I referred my classmate from school to them for a Tata Nano to do the Mongol Rally (car would be donated for charity at the end!) and they gave the team a Brand new Genx Nano + spares + some assistance and for all that he wasn't even asked to pen down a blog or travelogue. Just a handful of small videos & a few pics.

Even in 2020 I hear regular people saying how Tata cars don't last!

Some instances get over-amplified due to the internet going weird & exaggerating things, while sadly more than a few instances really are true.

Continuous high RPM driving is a recipe for wear and tear! Well done Tata!

On the contrary, highway usage (constant high engine revs in same gear with good roads) causes ⅒ wear compared to city usage : varied revs, varied engine load with constant gearshifts and poor roads.

[FourWheelDrift]

Originally Posted by GrammarNazi

On the contrary, highway usage (constant high engine revs in same gear with good roads) causes ⅒ wear compared to city usage : varied revs with constant gearshifts and poor roads.

Hi GrammarNazi,

I do believe that the contrary is true.

Constant full throttle, high rpm, high speed driving puts much more strain through the powertrain and the drivetrain. See the link below from howstuffworks.com.

However, to simulate worst case driving conditions over a vehicle's life, all engine manufacturers put their products through hell on test beds. Take a look at the link from Car & Driver below where some extreme tests are described. Also see the link containing a paper by Chrysler engineers, comparing severity of testing of actual vehicle driving vs on a test bed.

Finally, a press release from Daimler Benz outlining the merits of this kind of high speed endurance test for vehicles is also mentioned. The last 2 lines are important.

Cheers,

FourWheelDrift
__________________________________________________ _________

Source : https://auto.howstuffworks.com/under...engine%20lasts.

How the car or truck is driven also affects how long the engine lasts. The harder an engine has to work, the shorter its lifespan tends to be. Applications like towing heavy loads, repeated extreme acceleration and deceleration, revving the engine past its redline or driving at top speed for long periods of time can all decrease how long an engine lasts.

Acceleration and deceleration in a city environment does not constitute extreme conditions.
__________________________________________________ _________

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a1...ut-of-engines/

https://www.nrel.gov/transportation/...permission.pdf

https://media.daimler.com/marsMediaS...ml?oid=9904104

[Turbohead]

Absolutely!

At top speed, your engine is working against friction from the ground, resistance from the air and resistance from the weight of the car. It's pushing your engine to it's limits at full load! This is not as simple as revving your engine in neutral.

It also speaks about how engine oil has improved in these years. 10k oil change interval with the kind of stresses involved is amazing!

[kung_foo_fanta]

Originally Posted by GrammarNazi

I referred my classmate from school to them for a Tata Nano to do the Mongol Rally (car would be donated for charity at the end!) and they gave the team a Brand new Genx Nano + spares + some assistance and for all that he wasn't even asked to pen down a blog or travelogue. Just a handful of small videos & a few pics.

Oh wow! Completely off-topic, but by any chance did your classmate maintain a blog/vlog about his rally experience? I am super interested in the Mongol Rally, was planning on doing it this year, but then, stuff happened.

On the other hand, I just think that each team at Tata has their own set of planned activities which are seldom discussed with the other teams at Tata. Like, there's a marketing team who will just think through their campaigns that they have charted out at the beginning of the model/year and then there's the technical team, who manage to eke out achievements like these which are basically motherlodes of information about the vehicles' capabilities... but are seldom advertised with the same fervor as the other campaigns.

I just think they need to sit together and realize what's actually possible with the car and then take it from there! Bring out the features and specialties of the car in a way that everyone can understand and admire and use opportunities like the Mongol Rally to show the hardiness of their engines and cars.

A Nano, on the Mongol Rally
Can't imagine I missed that!

[FourWheelDrift]

Originally Posted by kung_foo_fanta

Oh wow! Completely off-topic, but by any chance did your classmate maintain a blog/vlog about his rally experience? I am super interested in the Mongol Rally, was planning on doing it this year, but then, stuff happened.

...

A Nano, on the Mongol Rally
Can't imagine I missed that!

Interesting ... apparently these folks maintained their journey log on FB :

https://www.facebook.com/Nanomads/?fref=ts

The aftermovie is also on the NanoMAD YT channel :

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=nanomad

Plenty of news coverage online as well :

https://www.google.com/search?q=nano...hrome&ie=UTF-8

And also covered in the Nano AMT thread, from this post onwards :

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offic...ml#post3976404 (Tata Nano AMT (Automatic) : Official Review)

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

FourWheelDrift