Gong Xi Fa Cai

Advertisement

Daimler AG takes up 10% stake in Tesla Motors

May 21, 2009 at 3:36 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Mercedes Benz, Tesla Motors

Tesla Model S

Daimler AG has taken up a 10% stake worth US$50 million in electric car maker Tesla Motors, a move that depends their already pre-existing relationship where Tesla would equip 1,000 Smart cars with their electric motor and battery technology. According to Daimler chairman and Mercedes-Benz head Dieter Zetsche, Daimler wanted more than a supplier-customer relationship with Tesla.

“We are in a time of change. This industry is going through a kind of paradigm shift, and has to reinvent itself ultimately to be independent of petroleum and without CO2 emissions. We need fast technology change,” said Zetsche, and it seems that he sees Tesla’s technology as a way to achieve that fast technology change.

Of course this is a big score for the electric car camp. Any big manufacturers who votes yes for electric cars will steer the industry more towards electric motors and batteries instead of fuel cell cars or extended range hybrids as the defacto method of car propulsion in the future. Daimler has also invested in German battery company Li-Tec, and founded a battery production JV with Evonik Industries. These might end up supplying batteries for both Tesla and Daimler electric cars.

This could also mean Mercedes-Benz platforms could be used for future Tesla like a replacement for the Model S (shown above) in the future, but then again with the versatility in packaging with an electric car, a platform designed for a combustion engine might not be the completely optimal solution.
[Read more...]

5 Comments      

Proton Saga to make Australia debut early 2010

May 21, 2009 at 3:04 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Malaysian Makes, Proton

Proton Saga Photo

The Proton Saga will be entering the Australian market in early 2010. Proton will sell the Saga with a 1.6 litre Campro engine, an engine size up from the 1.3 litre consumer version we get here.

Proton Cars Australia says the Proton Saga will be Australia’s cheapest sedan, which won’t necessarily mean it will be Australia’s cheapest car as most cheap cars are 5-door hatches, which would not lay claim to the cheapest sedan title.

According to Proton Cars Australia, there are currently 25,000 Protons on the road down under right now and hopefully the new Saga will increase those numbers.

While a 1.6 litre version of the Proton Saga isn’t officially on sale in Malaysia yet, there have been classifieds ads appearing all over (such as this) advertising limited units of a Saga 1.6 for sale. The specs include a 1.6 Campro IAFM engine with a 5-speed manual gearbox. The ads also say it is only available in solid red which leads me to believe these are the taxi cars being sold to consumers who want it.

Prices range from between RM39k to RM43k from what I’ve seen and the equipment is minimal, with steel wheels and no airbags, but there are front power windows.

103 Comments      


Volkswagen Golf GTI Wörthersee 09 Concept

May 21, 2009 at 3:34 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Concept Cars, Volkswagen

Golf GTI

Here’s another car for the Wörthersee Tour 2009, and just like the Polo concept it’s going to be called the Volkswagen Golf GTI Wörthersee 09.

It’s more of an aesthetics modification, with the paintwork done in a shade that Volkswagen called “Firespark Metallic”. The wheels are high-gloss black 19 inch alloys. The rear gets smoked tail lamps. The interior gets some nice detailing too – brushed aluminium trim, glossy black painted frames around the air vents, red borders on the floor mats which echo the red on the front grille, and new combination seats with black and red Nappa. Under the hood is the same 210 PS TSi engine in the Golf GTI.

Look after the jump for more pix.
[Read more...]

11 Comments      

Vauxhall Insignia VXR Sports Tourer revealed!

May 21, 2009 at 3:06 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Opel, Vauxhall

Vauxhall Insignia VXR

The new Vauxhall Insignia VXR Sports Tourer packs the practicality of a wagon with an electrical tailgate, the traction of all-wheel drive, the massive power of a turbocharged engine and the sweet sound of a V6 all in one vehicle.

The 2.8 litre turbocharged V6 from the top of the line Insignia originally producing 260 PS has been modified to make more power in the Insignia VXR. It now produces 325 PS, and this is put down to all wheels via an Adaptive 4X4 system and an eLSD (electronic limited slip differential). 0 to 100km/h takes 6 seconds.

Vauxhall Insignia VXR

Other changes with the VXR variant include a ride height that is 10mm lower, and a system called HiPerStrut, which is said to reduce torque steer and maintain negative camber during cornering, thereby improving wet and dry grip levels. The tourer rides on 19 inch alloys (20 inch forged at an option) which hide some nice Brembo stoppers behind their spokes. On the inside you have Recaro seats at the front and VXR specific steering, shifter and instrument panel graphics.

Vauxhall Insignia VXR

The Insignia VXR’s competitors are spelled clear. “The Insignia VXR Sports Tourer will be a compelling alternative for buyers in the premium sector who may currently be considering an Audi S4 Avant or BMW 335i M Sport Touring. We’ve already seen a swing to the Insignia from premium buyers who’d never before ticked the Vauxhall box on their wish list, and we expect to see the same buying pattern emerge with all versions of the Insignia VXR,” says Andy Gilson, Vauxhall’s Marketing Director.

Of course countries that get Opels instead of Vauxhalls will receive the Insignia OPC, which is the same animal with a different badge.
[Read more...]

22 Comments      

New Subaru Legacy Wagon completes new family!

May 21, 2009 at 2:33 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Subaru

Subaru Legacy
New Legacy family clockwise form top: wagon, Outback and sedan

Subaru has unveiled the wagon body version of the new Subaru Legacy in Japan. We’ve already seen a wagon body new Legacy in the form of the new Subaru Outback but this is a wagon without all the off-roader bits.

Like the new Legacy sedan and Outback, the Legacy wagon will carry over all the improvements that the new Legacy has over the outgoing model – the increased length, width, height, widened tailgate, better engines (2.5 SOHC boxer, 2.5 DOHC turbo boxer, 3.6 DOHC boxer), better interior, the works!

New Subaru Legacy

It still looks pretty boring though so hopefully the drive makes up for it, or maybe this is one of those cars that simply look better in real life, like the F01 7-Series. We’ll probably see only very few of these only through special requests from the grey importers or perhaps none at all in Malaysia as wagons don’t do well in Malaysia and Motor Image is concentrating on the Subaru Forester.

Look after the jump for a full gallery of the new Legacy wagon.

Related Posts:
2010 Subaru Outback makes an appearance at NYIAS 2009
2010 Subaru Legacy production car unveiled!
[Read more...]

10 Comments      

Volkswagen Polo Wörthersee Concept previews GTI

May 21, 2009 at 2:00 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Concept Cars, Volkswagen

Polo Worthersee

Volkswagen will be exhibiting a concept version of what is to be the new generation Polo GTI. They are calling it the Volksagen Polo “Wörthersee 09″ Concept after the Wörthersee 2009 Tour event where it will be unveiled at. The Wörthersee Tour is essentially an annual meeting of Volkswagen and Audi enthusiasts in Europe.

The Polo Wörthersee 09 is done up in a paint that Volkswagen calls Flash Red, with two black stripes extending over the front, over the roof and all the way to the rear. The black wheels you see are 18 inches in size and are from the Budapest design.

Volkswagen must want to keep the Polo GTI engine secret from now (its platform mate Ibiza’s hot hatch versions feature both 150 PS and 180 PS 1.4 TSIs) as this display car is built around a 1.4 MPI Polo and still comes with the donor car’s engine, which puts out a boring 86 PS.
[Read more...]

8 Comments      

New 265 PS Volkswagen Scirocco R unveiled!

May 21, 2009 at 1:01 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Volkswagen

Volkswagen Scirocco R

Here’s the hottest version of the Volkswagen Scirocco so far, released just in time for the Scirocco race car’s Nurburgring 24 hour race entry.

This blue devil is the new Volkswagen Scirocco R, and it is powered by a boosted up version of the firm’s venerable 2.0 litre TSI engine, now producing 265 PS and 350Nm of torque, which is similiar to the motor found in the Audi TT-S and the Audi S3. This engine drives the front wheels only, through an XDS front differential lock.

Volkswagen Scirocco R

The Scirocco R gets its own bodykit which Volkswagen says is largely based on the Scirocco GT24 race car. The front bumper features large air intake openings which will provide adequate cooling for the boosted up engine, and the rear features a black diffuser and dual chrome tailpipes. The side profile is dominated by the 18 inch Talladega design alloy wheels.

As always, look after the jump for a full gallery!
[Read more...]

45 Comments      

Audi Q5 custom concept with 408 PS V6

May 20, 2009 at 2:55 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Audi, Cars, Concept Cars

Audi Q5 custom concept

Audi has prepared a really tuned up Audi Q5 called the Audi Q5 custom concept, what handy timing for them to showcase this car right after the launch of the Q5 in Malaysia. Lucky owners with deep pockets even after shelling out RM300k or more for the SUV can head on right to shops like Next Level Customz with photos of this new Q5 concept in hand.

But the Audi Q5 custom concept is really more than just a Q5 with an aggressive bodykit. Under the hood is the supercharged 3.0 TFSI V6 from the Audi S4, but tuned up from the standard levels of 333 horses and 440Nm of torque up to 408 PS between 6k to 7k rpm and 500Nm of torque from 3k rpm up to 5.5k rpm.

Audi Q5 custom concept

0 to 100km/h in this body takes only 4.4 seconds. If a future new RS4 is ever going to dump its delicious-sounding V8 for a supercharged V6, expect this kind of power levels. In fact we could actually be looking at a future Q5-S if Audi wants to take it up a notch, but there is no plans for a GLK AMG or X3-M so far. Power is channeled to all wheels via quattro and a quick-shifting 7-speed S-tronic twin clutch transmission.

The aesthetic modifications have also widened the modded Q5′s track by 90mm and ride height lowered by 60mm. Those wheels that look like 7 spokes of steel stained with blood are 21 inches in size.

Look after the jump for a full photo gallery.
[Read more...]

19 Comments      

Ducati 1198 and 1198 S launched at Next Bike’s new Ducati showroom in TTDI!

May 20, 2009 at 1:15 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Bikes, Ducati

Ducati 1198

Naza’s Next Bike Sdn Bhd has just opened the doors to its second Ducati showroom in Malaysia, occupying the first floor of the 3-storey 28,000 square feet Naza Autoworld Complex at TTDI Plaza. Service remains at the 4S centre at Naza Automall PJ along the Federal Highway.

The new Ducati 1198 also got its official importer launch at the showroom opening. Next Bike has held the Ducati import and distributorship since November 2000, so it’s been 9 years of sales now. Next Bike intends to sell 120 Dukes this year from the entire Ducati range including the Monster, Hypermotard and the superbikes.

An initial allocation of 13 Ducati 1198 and 1198S has arrived, but already some have been pre-sold. The bike’s 1198cc Testastretta Evoluzione engine puts out 180 horses at 9,750rpm and 13.4kgm of torque at 8,000rpm. The new motor is nearly 3kg lighter than the one in the 1098 S.

The 1198 S also has a Ducati Traction Control system which is competition ready, and system activation/intervention is indicated on the rider’s instrument panel.

Ducati 1198

Other than the DTC system, the 1198 S further improves upon the 1198 with lighter wheels – 7-spoke GP replica Marchesini forged and machined wheels to be exact, while the 1198 uses 10-spoke wheels. The 1198 S uses 43mm Ohlin shocks while the 1198 uses a set supplied by Showa. There is also a Ducati Data Analysis package for the S, which enables the retrieval and analysis of data collected from your previous track session or road trip via a USB cable and PC software.

Other than the bikes, a full range of Ducati and Ducati Corse mechantise from fashion wear to premium gifts, miniature bikes and lifestyle equipment with Ducati branding are also sold at the showroom.

The Ducati 1198 goes for RM158k while the 1198 S goes for RM185k. Look after the jump for some images and a video of the 1198 and the 1198 S.
[Read more...]

44 Comments      

Lexus F-Sport kit for the IS C Convertible

May 19, 2009 at 7:24 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Lexus

Lexus IS C

The Lexus F-Sport bodykit and aftermarket accessory range has been extended to cover the new 2-door hard top convertible body variant of the Lexus IS.

In case you haven’t previously read about it, the F-Sport range of products is a step between a regular Lexus and F cars like the IS-F, much like BMW’s M-Sport parts are positioned between a regular 3 and an M3.

Lexus IS C

The IS C you see here carries alloy wheels of the same design as the one first launched with the sedan IS F-Sport, and the rest of the performance accessories also seem the same, so for full details you can read my previous post on the F-Sport parts. The only thing is the wheels now also seem to be available in 18 inch sizes, while previously the F-Sport kit was launched with 19 inch wheels.

Look after the jump for a full gallery of the IS C equipped with the kit.
[Read more...]

29 Comments