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Seems as if it may be an internal TML portal that's only available to dealers & service centres - you can also try contacting Tata East Rand & see if they have a Harman software update available for your Bolt, when you next need to have it serviced.
Eina
Cause you keep telling people to buy frekking Datsun Go's and Renault Kwids you son of a bitch!
:crylaugh:
Tata’s compact commuter is put to the economy test in a unique, cross-country odyssey.
The challenge was straightforward: drive 2 100km from South Africa’s northern-most border post – Beit Bridge at Musina – to Cape Agulhas, the country’s southern-most tip. Use no more than 120 litres of fuel to complete the journey.
When I was asked to take part in the event, my first question to organiser Charl Wilken was whether or not the vehicles to be used were powered by diesel engines – usually the top choice for fuel-saving expeditions.
“All the cars are petrol driven,” he replied. “They’re stock standard 1,2-litre Tata Bolts. You will be driving a sedan or a hatchback. There will be five cars in total and you’ll be competing with a co-driver against teams representing other media titles. Are you in?”
“Let me think about it,” I replied. Driving 2 100km on 120 litres of fuel meant that the Tata’s average consumption would have to be maintained at about 17,5km per litre – equivalent to about 5,71 litres per 100km. That’s a tall order for a petrol powered car – even a small one.
First thing I did was check the Bolt’s claimed fuel consumption figures. The manufacturer’s international website claimed the 1 193cc, turbocharged Revotron engine, which drives models sold in South Africa, would deliver 17,57km/litre – the equivalent of about 5,69 litres/100km.
“Hmmm,” I thought, “that puts the target within range.” However, we all know that manufacturer’s figures are obtained under ideal conditions and that South Africa’s topography, especially in the mountainous Cape, can be fuel-sapping.
Next I checked a local motoring title’s claims: 7,8 litres/100km was the published figure for each of the Bolts listed. My enthusiasm for driving the length of South Africa waned somewhat at the thought of having to terminate the challenge in a remote part of the Karoo, my calculations indicating that, at that rate, each of the Bolts would require about 163,8 litres of fuel to cover the intended distance.
hen I read reports published last year at the time the Bolt was launched in South Africa. Colleague Reuben van Niekerk had covered the event – which took the form of an economy run – and had achieved a figure fewer than 5,0 litres/100km, albeit over a much shorter route.
That convinced me. Reuben and I have competed together in a number of economy runs around the country and, if he could get the Bolt to deliver that kind of fuel efficiency, I felt the target for the North to South expedition was achievable. I called Charl and told him I would be competing.
So, early one Monday morning, I joined my appointed co-driver, freelance journalist Ferdi de Vos, and members of the other media teams at Wonderboom Airport for a flight to Musina. Aboard the chartered aircraft were representatives from Ignition TV, La’t Wiel, The Citizen and Auto Dealer.
The plan was to pick up the cars at Musina Airport, drive to the Beit Bridge border post where their 44-litre tanks would be filled to the brim with 95 octane unleaded petrol, and from there set off on the 2 100km odyssey.
Ferdi and I had been allocated a top-spec, XT sedan for the journey, its licensing mass an indicated 1 135kg – 10kg heavier than hatchback derivatives. According to Charl, all cars had had their 175/65 R15 Bridgestone tyres pumped to 2,5 bar.
On the way to the fuelling point, Ferdi and I discussed tactics. Economy driving is demanding but, through judicious use of throttle and good anticipation of road and traffic conditions, we believed we would be able to meet the objective. To conserve fuel we decided not to use the air-conditioning system and, to help to limit drag, keep all of the car’s windows tightly closed.
Before we departed, Charl had briefed the group on the benefits of using the Bolt’s Eco mode – a standard feature on all models, activated at the push of a button – which, through the engine’s control unit, softened throttle response and leaned-out the fuel mixture to improve fuel consumption and reduce C02 emissions.
He had also advised us to keep a close eye on another standard feature – the fuel saving indicator. Basically a vacuum gauge mounted in the instrument cluster, it would give us an indication of how much fuel was being used in real time, the further to the right the bar graphic extended, the greater the saving.
Also, since the Bolt’s engine produced its peak torque of 140Nm from the 1 500 revs/min mark, Ferdi and I decided that gear changes would be effected at that point, meaning that we would short-shift when going through the cogs. In top, we would try to keep the revs as low as possible since the faster the engine was made to spin, the more fuel it would use.
We soon discovered that the Bolt felt comfortable cruising with the rev counter indicating about 2 100 revs/min, putting the car’s speed at about 100km/h on the flat. On downhill sections we found that coming off the throttle completely resulted in a marked loss of speed. Maintaining momentum meant that slight pressure had to be applied to the accelerator pedal even on significant declines.
Though the vehicle competes in the budget sector of the car market it is equipped with another useful feature – a trip computer. However, since the gadget lacks an average speed indicator I can’t tell you exactly how fast we travelled to complete each leg of the four-day journey. I’d estimate – based on time taken and distance covered – that we averaged around 90km/h for the distance, the final leg between Oudtshoorn and Agulhas being the slowest at about 75km/h due to the number of mountain passes on the route.
On the positive side, the trip computer did display average fuel consumption and the first indication that Ferdi and I would be able to cover 2 100km on less than 120 litres of petrol came at the first refuel, at Kroonvaal on the N1.
The tank took 22,3 litres of fuel for a return of 4,09 litres/100km – more or less in line with the trip computer’s reading, which we now knew could be relied upon. To make the journey more challenging, we decided then and there to see whether or not we could complete the trip using less than 100 litres of petrol.
Almost immediately we had another challenge with which to contend – driving rain and heavy winds. The Free State was blanketed. From time to time we had to call on the services of the air-conditioner to demist the Bolt’s windscreen, watching in trepidation as average fuel use on the computer display rose as the engine worked harder to supply energy not only to the air-con system, but to wipers, headlights and rear fog lamps, too.
Overall, though, the car proved comfortable and capable. The cloudy conditions that prevailed for much of the journey helped to keep the interior cool. And, despite the vehicle’s compact dimensions, the cabin proved spacious. It was also quiet for the most part, the loudest intrusive noises generated from wind-rush around the mirrors and the notchy snick of the gear lever as the five-speed manual ’box shifted cogs.
Seats were surprisingly supportive and comfortable. Instruments were clear and logically displayed and the small, fuel-usage gauge was well-placed to loom large in the driver’s field of vision. No rattles were apparent, an indication that build quality of Tatas has improved significantly since introduction here of the brand’s Indica.
Road holding was excellent, grip levels remaining high even in the wet. Though body roll was apparent in tight corners taken at speed, steering remained accurate, the car answering commands from the helm with rewarding crispness.
Ferdi and I settled into a routine which saw driver swaps at the halfway point of each leg, the journey broken further by stops for lunch and for refuels. Though our overall average speed was much lower than it would have been had we driven at the national speed limit, the trip proved pleasantly comfortable.
When all the figures were tallied at Agulhas, the Bolt we were driving was deemed to have taken on the least amount of fuel of all the cars, achieving an average of 4,28 litres/100km for the journey. Our closest competitor was the Ignition TV driven entry, which achieved an average of 4,60 litres/100km.
While the majority of the cars recorded figures of below 5,0 litres/100km, those that exceeded the mark were still able to complete the distance without exceeding the 120-litre limit – including one that covered a number of extra kilometres following a navigational error.
All in all, the Bolts proved exceptionally fuel efficient and, in my view, represent good value in the budget buy segment of the market. They might not be as fast as Usain Bolt, but for economy driving they take a gold medal.
I have seen BMW's X5 and Mercs with lights out. It happens. What is your problem? Why you being a bitch?
Beeetch! Calling me a Beeetch...you bliksem!
