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While getting from point A to point B, your car, an SUV or any other four-wheeler, needs to power only two of the wheels, either front wheels or the rear ones. If the power is delivered to the wheels at the front then the car is a Front Wheel Drive (FWD), if the power is delivered to the rear then the car is a Rear Wheel Drive (RWD). FWD is the most common drive system today. The goal of the FWD vehicles is to max­imize efficiency by minimizing the weight of the vehicle. As the power is delivered to front wheels, which are close to the engine, it removes the need for many components that are otherwise needed to transfer the power to the rear of the vehicle. FWD vehicles also get a more spacious interior while RWD vehicles have to assign spaces under the passenger section to fit the components that power the rear wheels.

RWD vehicles on the other hand have a balanced weight distribution, which allows the system to handle heavier vehi­cles compared to a FWD. RWD vehicles can also handle more horsepower. FWD vehicles are front-heavy because of the addition of the transmission assembly for the wheels in the front of the car rather, rather than having the entire compo­nent at the rear like the RWD vehicles to even out the weight distribution. This means RWD vehicles are heavier compared to their FWD counterparts.

While heavier, RWD vehi­cles are also more balanced. As the weight distribution is more even on RWD vehicles, there is more traction on the road, especially while turning corners at high speeds. FWD, on the other hand, is front-heavy, which becomes clear while making a high-speed turn as the car will struggle for bal­ance and traction.

Another not-so-important but amazingly flashy differ­ence between the two drive systems is that the RWD vehi­cles can ‘drift’, while FWD simply cannot. Drifting is the act of driving while the rear wheels are sliding on the road, but controlling where you are going with the front wheels and the gas pedal. Imagine sliding around a corner with perfect control and high speed. This becomes impossible in a FWD vehicle as the front wheels are responsible for both power­ing the vehicle forwards and steering at the same time. On a RWD vehicle, the rear wheels power the vehicle and the front wheels steer it.

To summarize, FWD vehi­cles have power on the front wheels and RWD vehicles have power on the rear wheels. FWD are more spacious inside but heavy on the front. RWD are less spacious but the weight distribution is more balanced. FWD vehicles are more effi­cient while RWD vehicles are more powerful. We hope this helps you make a choice of drive system that is suited to your needs o

With the amount of time we spend on You­Tube these days, the platform has become a critical tool for video makers, musicians and vloggers alike. With 300+ hours of video content uploaded on YouTube every minute, YouTube has turned into no less than a digital archive of human experience. Considering just how many people are on the site, no doubt new YouTubers are entering the fold every day. For such budding YouTubers, a simple start could be getting your gear in order. Here are a few gadgets you’ll want to bring along for a Vlogging run.

Sony A5100L

Price

Rs 63,700

The Sony A5100L is a great mirrorless camera for vlogging. While the camera is not 4K capable, it shoots very good 1080p footage at 24, 30 and 60 fps. It also comes with a 180-degree flip-able screen that’ll help you monitor your frame as you shoot it. The A5100L comes with a kit 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 lens, which is not great when it comes to quality but is very adaptable. But as a mirrorless camera, you have plenty of lenses to choose from should you desire to invest in a better one. The camera also feels sturdy but at this price point, it is clearly made of plastic. It also does not come with any water resistance what-so-ever, so you be very careful with it around water.

The software on the camera is fantastic, however, with a simple interface designed around ease-of-use while also offering various advanced features. The camera focuses well with a few modes to choose from, but the one that stands out is the face focus mode that tracks your face as you move about the frame, a perfect setting for vlogging. The camera is great and even has a stereo mic for audio (which is pretty good if you want to stay with the on-board mic). But it does not have a mic input, which will is a major downside for videographers. This leads us to our next item.

Zoom H4 Voice Recorder

Price

Rs 23,620

I have to admit, the Zoom H4 is a pretty expensive recorder but I stand by it because I truly believe that good video needs good supporting audio. The Zoom H4 is top of the line, with features that even musi­cians and producers should admire. The recorder captures audio in high-definition 24-bit/96kHz and it has a very good stereo mic on top. The camera also has two XLR ports on the bottom that are attached to many high-quality microphones. The recorder is very capable of recording from a quality mic, which, as a videographer, you should definitely invest in.

If you’re not willing to buy the H4, there are plenty of cheaper options like the Zoom H1 that work great as well.

Sony Vegas Pro

Price

Rs 40,000 to 50,000

Once you have all the hardware, you need the software to put it all together. That’s where Sony’s video-editing software, Vegas, comes in. While there are plenty of professionals locked in the Vegas vs Premier debate, I find Vegas to be a perfect balance between professional and simple. If you’ve had any kind of video editing software before, the interface should be identical. But what sets Vegas apart is its continuous rendering feature and its excellent sup­port for the ‘XAVC S’ format that your Sony camera is going to produce.

The small-SUV market is growing rapidly, as more and more people opt for them. This is also the rea­son why this segment is one of the most competitive. The cars in this segment have to really stand out to get noticed and fortunately the SsangYong Tivoli does just that. Tivoli is one of those small SUVs that provide the look and feel of an off-roader but with the perfor­mance and running costs of an everyday family hatchback. How does the Tivoli stack up against its competition? Read on to find out.

Exterior

On the outside the Tivoli looks small and low (and we don’t recommend you go off-roading in this). On the front, you get a bumper that masks the headlights and the fog lights down below with a narrow slit for the grille. The fog lamps are also wrapped around with body-colored bumpers.

You’ll find black inserts between the headlamp units which comes with projec­tors, and DRLs with a sizeable SsangYong badge placed in the middle. Over to the side, the first thing you notice is the sloping roof with two clean lines above and below the door space. There is a sharp curve line just above the rear door handle, which has also been raised to add some mus­cle to the car. While this raised body work looks normal in pictures it is very pronounced when face to face as it even shows in the rear view mirrors. All this sits on alloy wheels which adds to the decency of the vehicle.

Interior

As we’ve said earlier, it is important to stand out in this segment, and Tivoli does that on the inside, starting with the doors that open nice and wide; space is the name of the game inside the Tivoli. Our review team consisted of five larger-than-average Nepalis, with the driver’s seat set to the needs of one of our reviewers who is over six foot tall. There was plenty leg room and head room for others at the back. Seating three in the back is also comfortable because of the low transmission tunnel. You could definitely go on a long drive with all five on board, without any complaints. The materials used inside the cabin is also good, the steering feels nice and chunky with media con­trols. The touch-screen info­tainment system is also smart and responsive, and there are adequate soft touch materials and plenty of storage spaces.

Performance

Tivoli is powered by a 1.6 liter petrol engine which is mated to a 6-Speed transmission, pro­ducing 124 BHp. It’s a natu­rally aspirated petrol engine, with maximum power coming in at 6,000rpm, while peak torque arrives at 4,600rpm. The accelerator is responsive and the clutch is light, and with a steering wheel that has dif­ferent selectable modes, this car makes for an easy city driv­ing experience. The double disc brakes Tivoli offers also gives you a sense of confidence behind the wheel. While the lack of ground clearance will discourage you from going off-road, the on-road experience in this car is commendable.

Safety

Tivoli is equipped with seven airbags for maximum passenger protection on impact, the most in its class. These include a driver’s knee protection airbag, a feature normally found in prestige vehicles. Other safety features include a high-grade steel monocoque structure and a range of electronic safety aids. Tivoli EX and ELX also feature AEBS, an automated braking system that gives these models a 4-star Euro Ncap rating. In addition, ELX models feature a Lane Keeping Assist system, Traffic Sign Recognition and High Beam Assist. Tivoli is equipped with ISOFIX child seat mountings in the rear outer seats to allow a firm and rigid attachment of child seats. In the event of a collision, the pre-tensioner immediately tightens the seatbelt over the chest and lap, ensuring the occupant is in the best possi­ble restrained position if the airbags are deployed. Rest assured, Tivoli will ensure your safety out on the road.

Verdict

Tivoli is that small SUV with a big heart, in that it is amazingly spacious and well-equipped. The drive is easy around the cities and the car is loaded with safety kit that gives you confidence behind the wheel. The car has all the features you need and on the outside it is quite the looker. Tivoli is one good small SUV that you should definitely take a look at.

Apart from that the major concern the season brings is the increase in risks on the road to drivers, vehi­cles, pedestrians and public vehicles. Here are a few tips to minimize those risks and drive safely in monsoon.

Slow down

Slowing down on wet roads will take longer than on the dry ones, which is why you have to be extra careful with the amount of throttle you are giving the car and also on the brakes you are applying. The rain makes the road highly sensi­tive to even the slightest input you give your vehicle, so be care­ful. You also need to maintain lon­ger distances between you and other vehicles.

Check your tires

Since your tires are the only thing between you, your car and the ground, they need to be in good shape. You need to check the qual­ity of your tire treads and change it if they are too faded. Better treads ultimately equals better grip on the road, which is important during the monsoon because the tire needs to channel the water out of its grooves to maintain the grip with the road. Faded treads don’t do a good job and end up going over the water layer instead of channeling it away, mean­ing you could slip anytime.

Check your wipers

If your wipers are not in good condition, you will not be able to see out of your windshield, as they will not be able to wipe the water away properly. Simple as that. And since we obviously need the best vision we can get, especially during a spell of heavy rain, it should be high up your checklist.

Use headlights in rainy conditions

Rain lowers visibility so turn on your headlights on low beam. This will help other drivers know where you are. Check your headlights and see if they are working as they should. Old and dim bulbs need to be replaced and dirty headlight covers cleaned so that there is no obstruc­tion for the light to pass, ensuring maximum visibility.

Pull over when the rain becomes too heavy

Even the best of wiper blades can be overloaded during a downpour, and will fail to wipe away all the rain even on the highest of speeds. This in turn will hinder your visibility even more as you now have to deal with a layer of water on your windscreen paired with wipers fast going back and forth. This is when you need to slow down or even pull over and wait it out until the rain is not over­whelming.

On the highway

While the standard protocols for distances between vehicles on the highway in the dry is okay, it needs to be increased when you are driving in the rain.

More distance between vehi­cles ultimately mean more time and space for you to slow down or get out of the way if the vehicle in front hits the brakes all of a sudden, or if it runs into an accident. Following closely during the rain can prove fatal; give yourself some space for your own good. Also don’t go around overtaking heavy vehicles like buses and trucks as they spray huge amounts of water, badly ham­pering your visibility.

Try not to splash others

While you are safe inside an air-conditioned cocoon that runs on four wheels others might not be so fortunate. Pedestrians and two-wheelers that are already stuck on a downpour will not be very pleased when splashed with water mixed with the dirt and mud. So when you see small potholes, be a hero and steer away.