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VIDEO: Porsche Panamera Promo Footage

May 19, 2009 at 4:35 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Porsche, Videos

Porsche Panamera

Here’s some promo footage that Porsche shot of their latest car, the 4-door Porsche Panamera grand tourer. The 2010 model year car was first unveiled at Auto Shanghai 2009 just last month in production form.

At launch time, only V8 models will be available. Both front mounted engines will be similiar to the V8 motors in the Porsche Cayenne SUV, one normally aspirated and one turbocharged. Like the baseline Cayenne, a baseline 3.6 litre V6 model will come later, including a hybrid model.

Look after the jump for the video and a gallery.
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Hamann kit for the F01 BMW 7-Series

May 19, 2009 at 11:02 am By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars

Hamann F01

Once I was driving around town and saw an E39 5-Series with a long horizontal strip of LED daytime running lights, one strip on each side of the bumper. I later found out that these long strips of LEDs were available from accessory shops and you could put them on anywhere on the car you want. These horizontal strips of lights have become so popular (by Audi) that even Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche have implemented them. And now it comes to BMW via a namebrand bodykit, thanks to Hamann.

The Hamann bodykit for the F01 and F02 BMW 7-Series features a short strip of daytime running lights integrated into the front bumper. The rest of the bodykit does well to make the car seem more dynamic and aggressive, including a roof spoiler and some mean-looking quad tailpipes with 90mm diameter outlets. The Hamann side skirts are only for the short wheelbase F01.

Hamann F01

The 730d and 740i receive 4 new springs which lower the car’s centre of gravity at the front and rear axles by 40mm each, while the 750i and 750Li gets a set with 2 new springs and an “evening kit” – I’m not entirely sure what that is. Wheels are 22 inchers wrapped with 265/30ZR22 tyres at the front axle and 295/25ZR22 tyres at the rear axle.

Hamann has also thrown in some engine tuning for the 730d. The single turbo alumininum crank turbodiesel engine gets its 245hp power upped by another 45, and Hamann says this is just the first stage.

Look after the jump for a full image gallery.
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10% rebate on direct motor insurance buys?

May 19, 2009 at 10:44 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News

Usain Bolt M3

Right now when you renew your motor insurance, 10% of the fee you are paying actually goes to the insurance agent as commission. From the 1st of July 2009 onwards, you could potentially save on this 10% fee by buying your motor insurance from insurance companies directly.

Insurance companies will have to offer mandatory rebates to customers who buy insurance directly such as through the Internet, telemarketing, direct mailing, or walk-in customers. If you are a new customer you will be entitled to a 5% rebate, and from the 2nd year renewing with that company onwards, you’ll get a 10% rebate.

There are already plenty of insurance companies selling insurance online such as ETiQA. But while this move will benefit consumers who are aware of this and know how to go directly to the insurance companies, many insurance agents would have lost a source of annual income, as the same person usually goes back to a certain agent every year for his motor insurance needs.

Source

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VIDEO: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Preview

May 18, 2009 at 11:04 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Mercedes Benz, Videos

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

Mercedes-Benz is really letting alot of information on the new SLS AMG out to the public even before the full production car is unveiled or launched. We’ve previously seen sketches, self-snapped “spyshots” and even full blown undisguised interior images, but now here’s over 15 minutes of footage of the SLS AMG on all aspects including the disguised SLS tearing up some roads and some snowy areas, the AMG V8 engine assembly, and so much more. Check the video out after the jump together with the previously released images of the SLS AMG. You can even see the Gullwing doors in action in the video.
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2010 Audi A8 to get November debut?

May 18, 2009 at 1:19 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Audi, Cars, Videos

Audi A8

An all-new Audi A8 is set to be unveiled in November this year for the 2010 model year, something that I am quite eagerly awaiting to see, as most car manufacturers put most of their best stuff in their flagship models.

The current A8 has been soldiering on since 2003 and a full model change is quite timely with German luxo-marque’s typical 7 year model lifecycles. The S-Class received a mid-life facelift this year and Munich’s offering got an all-new model change last year, with the flagship just announced, chock full of 12 cylinders, 2 turbochargers and 8 forward ratios.

It’ll be interesting to see what the flagship motor of the Audi A8 will be this time – in the last installment it was the massive 6.0 litre W12, putting out 443 PS and 580Nm, taking the monster up to 100km/h in just 5.1 seconds. I won’t be surprised if the flagship is a diesel this time!

Look after the jump to check our a previously posted trailer of the movie Transporter 3, which features the Audi A8 that we will be soon saying goodbye to.
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Audi Q5 in Malaysia: RM299k to RM325k!

May 18, 2009 at 9:22 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Audi, Cars, Local News

Audi Q5

The new Audi Q5 is here in Malaysia, available in two models – the regular version priced at RM299,000 or the S-Line priced at RM325,000, both prices without insurance. Both models come with the very nice 2.0 litre TFSI engine with Valvelift putting out 211 horses and 350Nm of torque between 1,500 to 4,200rpm, and is mated to a 7-speed S-Tronic twin clutch transmission.

The S-Line package includes an S-Line exterior bodykit, Milano leather for the front seats and black headlining. On top of that you can also spec some other niceties including a B&O sound system for RM6k, a panoramic glass roof for RM10k and an electrical tailgate for RM6.5k. This should mean a fully loaded up Q5 should cost you RM347.5k!

Audi Q5

Although there are plenty of platform sharing going on between Volkswagen and Audi and the Q7 has many technical and platform similiarities to the Cayenne and the Touareg, the Q5 is no rebadged Tiguan. The Q5 is more of a SUV-ized Audi A4 and uses the A4′s MLP architecture, which means a longitudinal engine layout instead of the Tiguan’s transverse engine layout.

Also, the Tiguan’s transverse edition of the engine puts out less power and torque – only 200 horses and 280Nm over 1,700 to 5,000rpm. The Tiguan also uses a regular torque converter 6-speed auto, while this Q5 has a DSG.

Audi Q5

Its competitors in Malaysia is the new Land Rover Freelander 2 which goes for RM272k with a 2.2 litre turbodiesel engine, the Tiguan 2.0 TFSI which goes for about RM250k, the X3 which goes for RM320k (this model has even disappeared from bmw.com.my) and the RAV4 which comes in the cheapest at RM204k. Internationally there is also the Mercedes-Benz GLK but Malaysia will not see this model offered officially as Stuttgart has decided to build it in left hand drive only.

Look after the jump for a full gallery and video of the Q5.
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Toyota Urban Cruiser photographed next to a Toyota Land Cruiser, see the family resemblance?

May 18, 2009 at 8:59 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Toyota

Toyota Urban Cruiser

The world’s motoring press yawned when Toyota unveiled the new Toyota Urban Cruiser for the European market. The Urban Cruiser was supposed to help fill in the gap after the Toyota RAV4 grew larger.

Many expected a new model but all we got was a rehash of the Toyota ist and the Scion xD with a slightly higher ride height. And the thing is it shares half its name with the mighty Toyota Land Cruiser, a true blue offroading machine. But I suppose the word Urban changes the word completely. Here’s a new set of 3 photos of the new Urban Cruiser snapped next to its Land Cruiser big brother.

Toyota Urban Cruiser

Various engines are available with the Toyota Urban Cruiser, including that new 1.33 litre Dual VVT-i unit that also features start-stop technology and puts out 129g/km. There is also a 130g/km 1.4 litre D4-D turbodiesel putting out 89 horsepower, and this particular engine is exclusively available only with all-wheel drive.

Toyota Urban Cruiser

The AWD system is called Active Torque Control can vary torque distribution from 100:0 up to 50:50 between the front and rear, so it actually runs in front wheel drive most of the time whenever the additional rear traction is not needed. This is done via an electronically controlled coupling located in front of the rear differential. There is also a LOCK button to force 50:50 mode.

33 Comments      

50 new Toyota Prius for the British Army

May 18, 2009 at 8:46 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Toyota

Army Toyota Prius

A total of 50 second generation Toyota Prius (not the latest one that’s just launched) will be joining the service in the UK this year! It’s not going to be in the battlefield of course, but will join the British Army’s White Fleet’s fleet of 6,600 admin cars in efforts to meet a government target that all cars procured between 2007 and 2011 produce less than 130 g/km of CO2.

The 50 units of the Prius which puts out 104g/km of CO2 will replace 50 units of the Vauxhall Vectra, which produces nearly 50% more of the emissions at 154g/km.

“Our vehicles are constantly being changed over because they have reached a certain mileage or a certain life. When we change our vehicles we are looking for value for money but also having in mind those targets the Government has set us on sustainable operations. Taking delivery of this fleet of hybrid vehicles, whose carbon emissions are below the 2011 targets set to us at HQ Land Forces by the Government, means we are ahead of schedule in terms of what the White Fleet produces,” said White Fleet’s Director of Infrastructure Mark Armstrong.

It’s quite interesting looking at a government walking the talk. When they hike up emissions taxes and this and that to force their citizens and residents to be less damaging to the environment, they do the same to set an example.

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13 year old boy pilots Prodrive Impreza to victory

May 18, 2009 at 8:40 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Motorsports

Subaru

This 13 year old Indonesian boy is being called the “next Lewis Hamilton of the WRC”. Sean Galael won the first two rounds of the KFC Junior Rally Sprint in Indonesia in a Prodrive Impreza Group N rally car with the same specifications as one used in the Production World Rally Championship.

Subaru

Sean was also in the co-driver’s seat last year in the Indonesian Rally Championship with Prodrive’s own works test driver, Dave Maslen, and former Australian rally champion, Cody Crocker. This year, he will once again be the co-driver for the Serge Motorsport Prodrive Impreza N14 in the Indonesian series.

That’s quite impressive really. What were you doing when you were 13? But Sean’s involvement is not that huge a surprise really as he has it in his blood – his father Ricardo is also a rally driver and won the Indonesian Championship in 2006.

48 Comments      

Lexus Remote Touch: a Japanese take on the in-car user interface

May 18, 2009 at 8:34 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Lexus

Lexus Remote Touch

Lexus now have their own iDrive-like device. BMW debuted iDrive with a rotary knob and other car manufacturers followed suit with a similiar knob.

Lexus started off with a touch-screen system, which you can see in the LS and GS sold locally right now but with the new RX, Lexus chose a system they call “Remote Touch control” which looks rather similiar to a Nintendo Wii’s nunchuk.

Lexus Remote Touch

The little controlled knob works very similiar to the Wii’s nunchuk as well, just nudge it around to control the screen’s mouse pointer. The system also “pulls” the mouse pointer to an icon if it passes close to it.

Look after the jump for more shots of the actual Lexus Remote Touch as found in the new third generation RX.
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