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5-stars for Mazda 6 in EuroNCAP crash test

Mazda 6

The Mazda 6 (called the Atenza in Japan) has scored the 5-star maximum rating in the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) 2009 combined safety performance test. The 2009 performance test combines scores achieved in 4 areas – Adult Occupant Protection, Child Protection, Pedestrian Protection and Safety Assist and is more stringent compared to the tests of the previous years.

“Mazda6’s maximum safety rating from Euro NCAP is a reflection of the progress Mazda has made in harmonizing driving pleasure with safety and environmental performance under our Sustainable Zoom-Zoom plan. Going forward, we will strive to fulfill our corporate social responsibilities by further advancing Mazda’s eco-friendly and safety technologies,” said Seita Kanai, Mazda senior anaging executive officer in charge of R&D and Program Management.

Some other Mazda vehicles have also gone through Euro NCAP testing albeit the old version of the crash test framework. The Mazda 5 and Mazda 2 were tested in 2005 and 2007 respectively and both scored 5-stars for Adult Occupant Protection rating.

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BMW Routes: load scenic routes onto your iDrive

BMW Routes

The next time you plan a holiday in Europe, you may want to rent a BMW and make it a road trip holiday. BMW’s new BMW Routes feature (currently still in testing and might be offered on BMW Online services soon) has 25 routes in 5 European countries, designed to run over the course of multiple days with detailed information including photos and even the opening hours of the various stops for interesting sights or food etc you can make along the way. It’s an online portal where you can choose your route and have it sent to your BMW’s iDrive system via ConnectedDrive.

Future plans for BMW include the ability for customers to define their own routes and even share them with other BMW Routes users. This will be useful not only for great sightseeing trips but I can see people mapping out their favourite twisty B-roads for others to have a fun go at. I can’t wait for features such as BMW ConnectedDrive to come to BMWs in Malaysia, but as it is a telco dependant service BMW Malaysia is still in discussions with potential mobile telcos on implementation.

It’s all pretty neat, check out the video after the jump!
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Alfa Romeo Mito GTA Concept to debut at Geneva

Alfa Romeo Mito GTA

Alfa Romeo will be exhibiting an Alfa Romeo Mito GTA Concept at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show in early March, which will likely to be a close to production high performance version of the 3-door Alfa Romeo GTA. The powertrain is likely to be Fiat’s new 1.8 litre direct injection turbo engine, which is also said to be making a debut in the 159 in 200 PS form.

The Mito GTA could have it in a higher state of tune, perhaps 240 horses is not too hard to imagine. The engine has dual variable valve timing, direct injection and turbocharging technology. This is the same Euro 5-compliant engine that was announced to be slotted into the new Lancia Delta.

The Mito GTA will most probably also have the Q2 differential to help rein in those horses sent to the front wheel. Looks like MINI John Cooper Works will have some good looking sexy Italian competition soon!

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Chrysler and Fiat model synergy plan

Chrysler Fiat Business Plan
Click for enlarged version

Chrysler has unveiled their business restructuring plan for submission to the US government in order to quality for the rest of their bailout money. The total money asked for us now US$9 billion, up US$2 billion from the original US$7 billion amount, of which they have already received US$4 billion. Anyway that is not the point, what we’re here to look at is how they plan to integrate Fiat models into their product line-up.

Chrysler will be grabbing 9 models for the US market together with Fiat’s Multi-Air engines (FIRE and FAMB), commonrail turbodiesel engine technology and a dual clutch transmission. Chrysler will be able to supply Fiat with the Dodge Journey, the GEMA world engine with displacements between 1.8 litres to 2.4 litres, and the Phoenix family 3.6 litre V6 engine. The 9 Fiat models include models that will be sold as their original brands which are the Fiat 500, the Alfa Romeo Mito, the Fiat Punto, the Alfa Milano and Giulia (149 and C-EVO based 159 replacement), and an unnamed Alfa crossover.

The other three will use Fiat underpinings but will be Chrysler-branded vehicles: a B-segment 5-door hatchback, a sedan based on the 159′s C-EVO platform, and a larger vehicle based on the D-EVO platform.

Of course whether this will all happen or not depends on whether Chrysler gets the bailout money. Fiat will only confirm its on board with a share take-up (for free!) if that happens.

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RON97 petrol to be floated from July 2009!

Fuel Wallet GaugeThere will be some massive changes to the grade and price of fuel we buy at the pumps in Malaysia this year. First up is the previously announced phasing out of RON92 fuel for a new RON95 fuel grade, which will be subsidised as the government assumes this is the grade that is suitable for the majority of users in Malaysia.

The second major change is a switch to a floating system for RON97 petrol according to international oil prices from July 2009 onwards. It was not indicated whether this would be a daily, weekly, twice a month or monthly float. Since prices are now determined twice a month perhaps it may change to a more frequent weekly float. RON97 is considered by the government to be a “premium fuel’ and thus will not be subsidised. Petrol retailers also told Business Times that not only will RON97 not enjoy subsidies, it might even be taxed!

Lastly, diesel in Malaysia will be upgraded from current MS123 standards to Euro 2M standards.

Related Posts:
Cheaper RON95 fuel to be introduced mid-2009
APM: How fuel prices are calculated in Malaysia
Malaysian diesel to be Euro 2M grade in 2009

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Kia teases the Kia Sorento XM side profile

Kia Sorento XM

Kia released this teaser image of the next generation 2010 Kia Sorento, codenamed XM. The new XM Sorento will ditch the current generation (sold here in Malaysia as the Naza Sorento)’s ladder frame design in favor for a monocoque chassis that will promise to be lighter, stiffer and more comfortable at the expense of off-road hardiness. The current Sorento turbodiesel engine will be replaced by the new R-Engine family, an all-aluminium turbodiesel engine available in both 2.0 and 2.2 litre displacements. The 2.0 litre unit puts out 184 PS and 392Nm of torque while the more powerful 2.2 litre unit does 200 PS and 436 Nm of torque. Petrol versions will be served by Hyundai-Kia’s various inline-4 and V6 engines. We’ve already seen leaked undisguised exterior and interior photos of the Kia Sorento XM in the past, and it looks quite decent!

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LEAKED: Is this the new F10 BMW 5-series?

If this image above is truly a leak of the front end of the F10 BMW 5-Series, then BMW is moving back to the days of the E46/E39/E38 where all its 3 sedans look pretty much like different sizes of each other. The supposed 5-Series in the photo above (that found its way onto the 5Post forums) features the new F1-inspired hood from the E90 3-Series LCI (facelift) and the large kidneys from the 7-Series, albeit less squarish but in a more appealing slightly rectangular shape. It has a very aggressive and muscular look. If this is the standard F10, can you imagine what the M5 will look like?

Related Posts:
F10 BMW 5-Series Sedan Artist’s Impression
BMW Concept 5-Series Gran Turismo

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2009 Ford Ranger facelift: first details unveiled!

Ford Ranger

The new Ford Ranger facelift can already be seen at Ford Thailand’s website, so its only about time before the Thai-sourced pickup truck makes its way onto Malaysian soils. The styling for the Ranger facelift is of course derived from the Ranger Max show truck at the Thai Motor Expo last year. In Thailand, its powered by either a 2.5 litre or a 3.0 litre unit, putting out 143PS/330Nm and 156PS/380Nm respectively. Towing capacity is rated at 2,250kg and 3,000kg respectively. Both are DuraTORQ TDCi units with common rail direct injection and variable geometry turbocharger technology, mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual transmission with dual-mass flywheel. Have a look after the jump for more detailed shots of the new Ranger.
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Massively huge Ford F450 in Melbourne

Ford F450

You wanna know why the pickup trucks we have in Malaysia that we already have difficulty parking sometimes are called “compact” trucks? Well, it’s because of trucks like the Ford F450, one of the few large pickups that you can find in the US. These shots of a Ford F450 were snapped by reader T P L at the Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia. It’s seriously massive and probably used mostly for fleet purposes, though I’m sure there are some that’ll buy one for the purposes of going to a casino. This behemoth is powered by a range of engines from a 5.4 litre V8 petrol with 300 horsepower, a 6.8 litre V10 with 362 horsepower or a 6.4 litre V8 turbodiesel with 350 horsepower and a massive 650Nm of torque. Its sheer size and power makes our Mother Trucker Navara look tiny in comparison! Just see how it looks like next to the 7-Series in the photo above!

Look at more photos after the jump.
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New Peugeot 206+ entry-level car for Europe

Peugeot 206 Plus

When the Peugeot 207 was released, the 206 was not retired and was instead repositioned as a new entry level car and continues to be sold in many markets, especially emerging markets such as South America. The 206 also continues to be sold here in Malaysia as the Naza 206 Bestari.

Peugeot has given the 206 a fresh look with the new Peugeot 206 Plus, which essentially facelifts the 206 to have a similiar front end to the 207 and other Peugeot models. This means larger more feline headlamps and that wide gaping mouth grille. Engine options include a 60 horsepower 1.1L petrol engine, a 75 horsepower 1.4 litre petrol engine, and a 1.4 litre HDi diesel with 70hp. The interior design gets updated with a look that resembles the 207′s dashboard.

The 206 Plus is manufactured in France for the core European market. It’s actually already available in some emerging markets, for example it is called the Peugeot 207 Mercosur in South America.

Look after the jump for more shots and a video of the 206+.
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