Suzuki Ciaz 2017

After the successful launch of Vitara, Suzuki has unveiled yet another powerful and fuel efficient imported car in the local auto market, this time an ultra-modern Sedan, Suzuki Ciaz.

 

Renowned actor and Suzuki’s new brand ambassador for Ciaz, Mr Shehryar Munawar lifted the wraps off the car in Lahore on Wednesday, which is being directly imported from Thailand with a 1.4 litre powerful, fuel efficient K- Series engine. MD of Pak Suzuki Mr Hirofumi Nagao and GM Marketing Pak Suzuki Mr Azam Mirza were also present at the event.

Suzuki Ciaz will be available in both Automatic and Manual transmission and includes a 3 year warranty that can be availed from over 90 dealerships nationwide.

Suzuki Ciaz Features

Noteworthy features of the luxury Sedan are keyless entry, ABS brakes with EBD, SRS airbags and an innovative interior.

Suzuki Ciaz Price in Pakistan

The Manual Transmission variant of Ciaz is priced at PKR 1,699,000 while the Automatic Transmission variant comes with a price tag of PKR 1,839,000.

Stylish and Spacious Design

At a glance, Suzuki Ciaz features a sleek exterior profile that is designed to enhance aerodynamic efficiency. The spacious interiors provide ample front and rear leg room. The storage areas are also designed to maximise practicality and include front and rear cup and bottle holders, centre arm rest storage area, seats’ rear pockets, and centre lower box storage compartment.

 

The boot of the car features 490 litres of storage capacity, which is more than many local sedans. The price range and engine size put it in the bracket of Honda City and Toyota Corolla XLi, GLi models.

Ciaz Exterior

While the perception of a car’s design is subjective, exterior characteristics of Suzuki Ciaz visually stand out.

One feature that sets Ciaz apart from its competition in Pakistan is the presence of projector headlamps, something often ignored by the automakers in our country. For instance, you would need to deal with the reflector halogen headlights from the twentieth century even if you climb the configuration ladder of a Toyota Corolla and get yourself an Altis Grande for PKR 2.39 million.

Same goes true for Ciaz’s other competitor, Honda City, which like Corolla does not give customers the liberty to upgrade to projector headlamps at the moment.

Ciaz Interior

The interior of Ciaz is probably one of the most understated elements of the car, an area which is usually the Achilles heel for almost every entry-level sedan.

Ciaz makes up for the visual sparsity with the help of a hundred millimeter longer wheelbase, giving it a noticeably roomier cabin than the one in Honda City. Moreover, power windows, central locking and keyless entry come standard on Ciaz, all of which are otherwise absent from Toyota Corolla’s base-level ‘XLI’ trim.

Powerful yet Lightweight

The Ciaz comes equipped with a 1.4 litre engine with VVT & delivering 91 bhp. With its extremely light weight construction, the car weighs only 975 kilograms which means that it can deliver a staggering power to weight ratio of 93 bhp/tonne.

In spite of having a larger footprint, a lighter chassis enables Ciaz to tip the scales at 1010 kilograms, making it nearly a hundred kilograms lighter than Honda City and over one hundred and fifty kilograms lighter than the Toyota Corolla.

Security Features

As far as safety parameters are concerned, the Ciaz comes equipped with dual frontal airbags, ABS with ED and seat belts with ELR, pre-tensioners and force limiters. This gives Ciaz a 4 star ASEAN NCAP safety ratings for adult occupants.

Pak Suzuki’s prolific track record for introducing reliable vehicles with exclusive warranty continues to bring quality for the Pakistani consumers and promises to value its commitment and harness the power of Suzuki’s “Way of Life!” Courtesy, Dawn

Ford Fusion 2017

The Ford Fusion mid-size sedan is one of the best-selling family four-doors on the market.

Rivals include perennials like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, but the Fusion also competes with the Chevrolet Malibu, Mazda 6, Nissan Altima, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, and Subaru Legacy.

With the Fusion, Ford offers more powertrain choices than many of those competitors, including a plug-in hybrid sedan. (The Fusion Hybrid, and its plug-in hybrid Energi variant, are covered separately.)

For 2017, a new Ford Fusion Sport joins the lineup with a 325-hp twin-turbo V-6 under the hood.

The new Ford Fusion

The Fusion was entirely redesigned for 2013 in stunning fashion. The Fusion was named The Car Connection's Best Car To Buy 2013, for its sleek, elegant good looks; refined performance; and fuel-efficient EcoBoost turbo powertrains. The Fusion has a premium-car feel and an impressive feature set.

The latest Fusion wears an entirely new design language that owes much to the themes seen on the Ford Focus. It's a sophisticated look, with some cues that echo details on everything from newer Hyundais to the latest Aston Martins and Audis. The cockpit design is formatted around MyFord Touch, a touchscreen controller for phone, navigation, climate and audio systems—though it's an option, not standard.

MORE: Read our 2017 Ford Fusion review

Engines on the 2013 Fusion included a base 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with 175 horsepower; a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder with direct injection, 178 hp, and an estimated highway gas mileage rating of 37 mpg; and a 2.0-liter turbo-4 shared with vehicles from the Taurus sedan, Edge crossover, and the hot Focus ST hatchback. Most were fitted with a 6-speed automatic, although a 6-speed manual was initially available in 1.6-liter versions. That engine was discontinued after 2015.

While most Fusions make do with front-wheel drive, the top Titanium trim offers the option of all-wheel drive when paired with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine. The 2.0-liter almost needs the extra traction to put its potent power down. All Fusions use an independent suspension design that provides confident, and even sporty, handling. It's fun to hustle and also handles long cruises with comfort. The Fusion also has good interior packaging for a family sedan, with a good balance of front- and rear-seat room.

When this generation was introduced, it offered a strong list of standard and available features. Those include Bluetooth with audio streaming standard, available leather upholstery, a rearview camera, and even park assist, which uses sensors and the electric power steering to put the car in tight spots with the driver only operating the brake and throttle.

In the 2014 Fusion, Ford introduced a new 1.5-liter 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine that returned almost the same performance as the 1.6-liter turbo-4 but with better fuel economy. It comes paired only to the 6-speed automatic and features an engine stop-start system to conserve fuel. The 2014 Fusion also made the inflatable rear seatbelt system that was originally offered in the Explorer available on the Fusion, and Ford added cooled front seats and a heated steering wheel to the sedan's options list as well.

For the 2015 model year, Ford quietly dropped the manual transmission and its requisite 1.6-liter turbo-4 from the Fusion lineup. The Fusion's other features remained: enduring styling, very good handling, and excellent crash-test scores from both the IIHS and the NHTSA.

For 2017, the Fusion received a very mild mid-cycle update, with a grille and headlights so subtly redesigned that you might miss them altogether. There's a new top-level Platinum trim, and a new powertrain option as well: the Fusion Sport offers this generation's first V-6, a 325-horsepower 2.7-liter turbocharged V-6, along with all-wheel drive. There's also the latest Sync 3 infotainment system, a redesigned center console with a rotary drive selector, and added active-safety systems including adaptive cruise control that now works all the way down to a stop and back up to highway speeds again.

Ford Fusion history

The Fusion name first appeared in 2006, effectively replacing the defunct Contour that had ended production after the 2000 model year. The first-generation Fusion received an styling and equipment update for 2010, when it added a hybrid version for the first time. The all-new second-generation Fusion debuted for 2013, along with not only another hybrid but the brand's first plug-in hybrid, sold as the Fusion Energi.

Both generations of Fusion were related to the Lincoln MKZ, which was also revamped for the 2013 model year with a more distinctive design. The first-generation Fusion also spawned the Mercury Milan, which was discontinued along with its namesake division in 2011.

In 2006, the first Fusion set a new look for Ford with a very prominent three-bar chrome grille and upright headlights leading to a more conventional look otherwise. Though the look was bold for the time, it aged well and still looked fresh several years later at the end of that model's run. That early Fusion also earned excellent reliability ratings (including the all-important approval of Consumer Reports); it  also gained kudos for quality from many other sources, and has held its resale value far better than the previous Taurus did.

Another reason the first Fusion resonated is that it simply was fun to drive. It helped that it was built on some of the same underpinnings as the previous-generation (pre-2009) Mazda 6, another vehicle lauded for its sport-sedan handling. Not counting pricier European luxury makes, the first-generation Fusion was quite possibly the best-handling mid-size four-door sedan available in the U.S. during its run on the market.

The base 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine offered from 2006 through 2009 was only adequate with the automatic transmission, but felt considerably peppier with the standard manual gearbox—a combination that was hard to find in some areas. The V-6 didn't stand out for its performance numbers—it only made 240 hp—but it felt strong in the Fusion and the 6-speed automatic transmission worked especially well with it.

For 2010, the 2.3-liter engine was replaced with a 2.5-liter that wasn't much more powerful but was considerably less noisy when pressed to perform. And the Fusion finally got Ford's larger, 3.5-liter V-6, making up to 263 hp. From 2007 on, all-wheel drive was been offered on the Fusion, but it was only available with the V-6 at first, and had slightly lower power ratings than front-wheel-drive models. All Fusions received a heavy face lift for the 2010 model year, as well.

The first-generation Fusion had a comfortable ride and a roomy interior, but for its first several years, up through 2009, it could feel a little drab inside. A redesigned instrument panel and new seats, along with some improved materials, brightened up the feel of the Fusion for 2010. Ford also stepped up the safety features for 2010; options included blind-spot monitors with rear cross-traffic alert.

The only common complaint with the 2006-2009 Fusions was that they didn't return the fuel economy of most mid-size rivals—most of which were slightly larger and had slightly larger engines. Despite the improvements for 2010, fuel-economy figures didn't become much better.

Ford remedied that for 2010, with the introduction of the Ford Fusion Hybrid, a model that paired a version of the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor system. The Fusion Hybrid was able to run on electric power at up to 47 mph and achieved an outstanding city rating of 41 mpg, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Changes were minimal from then on, until the Fusion was replaced for 2013.

Ford Explorer

The Ford Explorer is one of the best-known SUVs in America. It was introduced in the 1990s as a truck-based sport-utility vehicle, but in recent years has been transformed into a more car-like crossover SUV with very good performance, and less of an emphasis on off-road driving.

With the current Explorer, Ford has a competitor for vehicles like the Honda Pilot, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Nissan Pathfinder, and the Toyota Highlander.

Today's Explorer is front-wheel-drive-based, with all-wheel drive available as an option. All Explorers use an automatic transmission. The Explorer can seat up to seven, and offers a choice of 4- and 6-cylinder engines in trim levels that range from base to XLT, Sport, Limited, and Platinum.

The new Explorer

Introduced for the 2011 model year, the current Explorer trades in some rock-climbing ability for more all-weather comfort and family practicality. Ditching the body-on-frame design, the car-based Explorer arrived with seven-seat capability, electronic assistance for its all-wheel-drive system, and a 3.5-liter V-6 engine teamed with a 6-speed automatic.

A turbocharged 4-cylinder engine became an option for the 2012 model year, and delivers up to 28 mpg on the highway—some 25 percent better than any Explorer before it. For 2013, a turbocharged V-6 was added as a sort of V-8 replacement.

The latest Explorer is among our top-rated vehicles for families for its interior and fuel economy as well as for its carlike handling and good safety record. It gets the highest rating of "Good" from the IIHS on all tests except the new and tougher small-overlap front crash, where it's rated "Marginal"—just one step above the lowest "Poor" rating. The NHTSA gives its highest five-star overall rating to 2013 through 2015 Explorers, though earlier models are somewhat lower rated.

The current Explorer also includes all the latest connectivity systems, including a navigation system with Sirius Travel Link and Sync, which uses Bluetooth to enable voice control of some vehicle systems. There was also MyFord Touch, a system that used steering-wheel or voice controls to direct audio, navigation, and phone with a large LCD touchscreen to display the interface. It was been controversial, with some publications and customers pointing out glitches and difficulties in getting used to the system, but it is an option.

In 2017, it was replaced entirely with Sync 3, a system that doesn't escape faults. We've tested it in other vehicles and found it to be slick, albeit a little laggy and confused in certain situations, most noticeably in selecting day/night display modes during dawn and dusk.

Ford brought back the Explorer Sport badge in 2013. Instead of a two-door variant like its predecessor with the same name, this version uses the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 from the latest Taurus SHO, making 350 hp. It is paired with standard all-wheel drive and includes more standard features as well as suspension and steering improvements. Ford sees the turbocharged V-6 as a replacement for the Explorer's previous V-8 models, making it the closest thing to a performance-oriented Explorer we're likely to see. Its 0-60 mph times are a full two seconds quicker than the standard V-6 Explorer, too—while towing remains as high as 5,000 pounds.

The EPA has rated the Explorer as high as 28 mpg on the highway in 4-cylinder front-wheel drive guise, with all-wheel drive models earning 18 mpg city, 26 highway ratings.

For 2015, Ford added an appearance package on XLT models that creates a look more like that of the Sport model. This way, buyers can opt for the sportier monochrome look without moving up to the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6. The package includes a gray grille and mirror caps, black lower body cladding, and body-color door handles, among other visual changes.

A revised version of this Explorer goes on sale for the 2016 model year. The interior and exterior have been given a subtle once-over, with the exterior design now resembling a Land Rover's more than ever. The look is much more sophisticated, with finer details and a more cohesive front-end treatment. A Platinum model has been added at the top of the range, and there's a new 2.3-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder available as well, bringing the available engines to three.

For 2017, Ford has added a sport appearance package to lower trims that replicates the Sport trim's good looks for a lower price. Sync 3 also replaces the finicky MyFord Touch system with limited effect.

Ford Explorer history

In its past, the Explorer was more directly related to Ford's small pickup trucks and was offered in many more versions—everything from a manual-shifted three-door to a V-8-powered quasi-pickup. Introduced for the 1991 model year, the Explorer was distantly related to the Bronco II that it replaced. Compared to that stubby, basic two-door, the Explorer was packaged and marketed much more successfully. It practically inaugurated the SUV era in America along with the Jeep Grand Cherokee, and quickly became one of the best-selling, most recognizable and popular vehicles in the U.S. market, with annual sales approaching a half-million.

Those earliest Explorers were three-door and five-door wagons, and quite crude devices that drove like short-wheelbase compact pickups. In fact, there were still a few shared parts with the Ford Ranger truck. A shortened three-door Explorer Sport was offered through 2003, while a four-door Explorer Sport Trac with a small pickup bed was offered through the 2010 model year.

The first-generation Explorer came under fire in 2000 and 2001, when a number of rollover accidents—linked to underinflated or improperly specified Firestone tires—led to the model's recall and replacement of the tires. From that recall, and the hearings around it, grew the federal requirement for tire-pressure monitoring and also arguably sped the deployment of electronic stability control. It also severely hurt the Explorer's brand image, causing sales to plummet.

That happened despite the much-improved Explorer that emerged after a full redesign in the 2002 model year. Standard equipment included an independent rear suspension, and a third-row seat became an option for the first time. In 2006, more safety features were added, and the exterior styling was smoothed over. Through this era, the Explorer's interior functionality also got better, with usable seating space for up to seven, and third-row seating that became easier to use. Still, Explorer sales never had quite recovered after the tire-separation issue, and buyers started to migrate to more carlike crossover vehicles like the Toyota Highlander.

That Explorer was a better-handling, more refined vehicle than its predecessor—and still is a good recommendation for its towing capacity for those that don't need a full-size SUV. The 4.6-liter V-8 is the engine you'll want in that case; the 4.0-liter V-6 isn't responsive or smooth or particularly powerful. It's not much more efficient either: Explorers equipped with V-8 engines typically get about the same real-world mileage as V-6 models from that era.