Gong Xi Fa Cai

Advertisement

Electric smart fortwo to enter small series production after positive trial

June 23, 2009 at 9:48 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, smart

Smart Electric Drive

Daimler has confirmed that it will put the smart fortwo electric drive into small series production after a successful 100 car UK trial involving the Metropolitan Police, universities, local councils, architects and energy companies. The trial involved select customers leasing the vehicle for 4 years at a monthly cost of £375.

The smart fortwo electric drive is powered by a 30kW electric motor built by Zytek. It runs on a single gear transmission and smart claims that cost-wise, it is able to achieve the equivalent of 300mpg. You charge it via a regular 3-pin plug as it has its own own-board charger. 0 to 60km/h takes 6.5 seconds, which isn’t very sluggy at all actually but because it only has a single gear ratio, top speed is limited to more or less 100km/h.

12 Comments      

Iacocca Silver Mustang celebrates 45th anniversary

June 23, 2009 at 2:03 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Ford

Silver Mustang

Lee Iacocca’s name may pop up more frequently these days in Chrysler-related matters, but it’s clear his heart still lies with the other one-third of the Detroit Three – Ford. Iacocca, designer Michael Leone and California-based coachbuilder Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters have came up with this Iacocca Silver Mustang, limited to a 45 unit production run.

At first sight you may notice a ilttle difference – this is more than just a kitted up Mustang. Its actually a whole new custom made body installed ontop of the 2010 Mustang chassis. It’s the most obvious from the side profile – the roofline is alot more like a fastback, rather than the 2010 Mustang’s rear section which has a more prominent boot.

Two engine options are available – a 320hp 4.6 litre V8 (up 20 horses from the standard V8 Mustang, let’s not talk about the V6 Mustang), or a supercharged version of the same engine putting out 400 horsepower. The engines are available exclusively with a 5-speed manual for these cars.

And why a Mustang? He was deeply involved in the production of the first Ford Mustang, which was launched in 1964. It so happens that 1964 is also the same year he became president of Ford’s Ford Division (yes it sounds weird, but as opposed to Ford’s other brands) after joining Ford way earlier in 1946.

Look after the jump for more pix of the Iacocca Mustang.
[Read more...]

39 Comments      


Opel reveals the interior of its 2010 Astra

June 22, 2009 at 10:39 am By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Cars, Opel, Vauxhall

German-based and General Motors-owned auto maker Opel, has released interior shots of its 2010 Astra, ahead of its official launch at this year’s auto show in Frankfurt. The sixth generation Opel Astra, which will also be sold under the Vauxhall brand name features a fresh interior that not only looks good, but one that is functional as well.

Design wise, the interior is treated to, among others, red ambient lighting (from above the centre console and within the door handle recesses), a four-gauge instrument panel with chrome outline on each gauge plus an LCD trip display and soft-touch surfaces. The auto maker assured that the interior offers a high-quality ‘feel’ with the materials used, as well as with tactility offered by the buttons and switches.

With the lack of storage areas in the previous model acknowledged as a problem, the new one comes with various storage solutions, including a sun glass case inserted above the door opening on the driver’s side, pen holders, a two-part glove box, under-seat drawer (for passenger seat), centre console with a 9-CD holding capacity and more.

Featuring a platform that is also used in the Chevrolet Cruze, the new Astra is expected to be offered with a number of engine options including a base 1.4 litre normally aspirated petrol, a 120HP – 140HP with 175Nm – 200Nm of torque 1.4 litre Turbo as well as a 180HP 1.6 litre Turbo that is carried over from the Insignia. There will also be a few turbo diesel engines including a 1.3 litre, a 1.7 litre as well as a 2.0 litre version. Continue reading to view an image gallery.
[Read more...]

29 Comments      

Mugen works on the 2010 Honda Stream

June 22, 2009 at 9:31 am By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Cars, Honda

Mugen, famous tuner for Honda has revealed an updated tuning package for the 2010 Honda Stream MPV, which was recently facelifted. The Mugen package for the Japanese people mover is made up by an exterior kit, including front and rear spoilers, a sporty grille, side skirts as well as a roof-mounted rear wing. The tuner has also added newly designed 17-inch alloy wheels.

Apart from the aesthetic upgrades, potential owners can also opt for a performance brake package, performance muffler with a single exhaust pipe, sports suspension for better road holding and a performance air filter. Continue reading to view more images of the 2010 Honda Stream kitted with the Mugen package.
[Read more...]

32 Comments      

Michael Schumacher revealed as The Stig?

June 22, 2009 at 9:00 am By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Videos

One of Top Gear’s most highly guarded secret has been finally revealed, and yes, we are talking about the true identity of the show’s quirky track driver, The Stig. Prior to this, many have been linked to The Stig’s identity, including former British racing driver Ben Collins and reigning Formula 1 World Champion and fellow Brit Lewis Hamilton.

There was also the Black Stig, which was revealed as Perry McCarthy, former Formula 1 test driver and then ‘terminated’. On the premier of the show’s 13th season, The Stig was accompanied into the studio and while sitting on the guest seat, the man in white removed his helmet, and the 7 times Formula 1 World Champion was revealed!

So, is Michael Schumacher really The Stig? Or is this just another publicity stunt? Well, its up to you what to believe in, but if you ask me, I’d rather believe that there are a number Stigs around, not just one. Meanwhile, continue reading to watch a 54 second-long video of the reveal.
[Read more...]

84 Comments      

Proton readying Exora B-Line Manual for launch?

June 22, 2009 at 2:26 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Malaysian Makes, Proton, Proton Exora - Proton MPV 2009, Spyshots

Proton Exora B-Line

Proton will be attempting to stave off Perodua’s attack with a smaller but cheaper Perodua D46T MPV combined with a more desirable Toyota-associated brand because of the original model (it will be derived from the Toyota Passo Sette) this coming November.

The D46T is no secret, we’ve already seen the exterior and interior of what the Perodua version will look like, and the Toyota Passo Sette has already been around for quite sometime for all to see. In fact, one of the Passo Sette we’ve seen on Malaysian roads on road tests may in fact be likely to be owned by Proton.

The weapon of choice will be a cheaper version of the Exora. Right now the Exora is only available in M-Line and H-Line variants, with the only differences between them being creature comforts and minor styling differences.

A cheaper Exora will be further downgraded in terms of equipment, and will likely feature a manual gearbox, which actually could be more of a blessing for the Exora, as the auto while capable of taking the vehicle up to cruising speed and keeping it there, is rather sluggy to move around at city speeds.

Reader Kenneth spotted this Exora on the Penang bridge. It has light disguises on but we all know it’s an Exora. The LED tail lamps are still there but if this is a version of the production B-Line or manual model, we can see some evidence of downspeccing in the form of steel wheels with a cover instead of proper alloy wheels.

Look after the jump for the rest of the spy photos and a video.
[Read more...]

189 Comments      

Rumour: Daimler to buy stake in Porsche?

June 21, 2009 at 12:42 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, Rumours

Panamera
An early spyshot of the Panamera… disguised with W203 peanut headlamps!

With the industry being the way it is now, there have been plenty of talks about this or that brands being sold here and there, and of mergers, alliances, and share swaps.

The latest are rumours that Daimler, who have also been said to possibly do a stake swap with BMW, is in deep talks since the end of May 2009 to take up a stake in Porsche. This was according to a German business magazine called “manager magazin“.

Despite achieving things like owning a large amount of Volkswagen Group shares, Porsche is currently in debt (likely thanks to the Volkswagen stake buys) and has asked for German state aid while in talks to sell a stake to Qatar via the Qatar Investment Authority. Its debt tripled to 9 billion Euros after it raised its Volkswagen stake to 50.8% earli this year.

A Daimler AG spokesperson dismissed the report as speculation, while spokespersons from Porsche and Volkswagen said they were not aware if there were such talks.

8 Comments      

The F149 Ferrari California: a new kind of Ferrari

June 20, 2009 at 8:36 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Ferrari

Ferrari California

Ferrari’s new F149 California was unveiled not too long ago and will be making its way to Naza Italia showrooms pretty soon. When it was first unveiled I think many were put off by how it looked and what it stood for. Some consider it Ferrari’s first Porsche – an A to B car instead of an A to A car, as in the first Ferrari that you can actually use as a daily driver and even on cross-state trips comfortably instead of just for a short weekend drive to somewhere nearby for thrills and back to the garage.

The California also looks smaller than it actually is. Check out the video below of Michael Schumacher talking about the California. You can see that the California is actually larger than it looks. I think it looks smaller because it’s not seriously low like most Ferraris thus the whole scale is not typically Ferrari.

The body is made from aluminium and the design by Pininfarina attempts to pay homage to the old Ferrari 250 California. And it does look similiar, from the shape and the way the headlamps are set in the body, to the size, shape and position of the lower air intake grille. At the same time it shares a family look with the rest of the FMR Ferraris – its older brothers the 599 and the 612.

There are rumours going around about how the California came to be. Some say that the model was originally designed to be a Maserati, which explains why it was designed to be so livable in, compared to the other Ferraris. However the amount of research and development put into the car required it to have a Ferrari badge and thus Ferrari price points and profit margins to justify its R&D cost and technologies. This has never been communicated officially by Ferrari of course, but I can see why it cost so much.

Ferrari California

The Ferrari California is currently the first and only model with a V8 engine installed longitudinally in a front-midship position, that means the engine is in front of you instead of behind you. Power travels through a signature flat propeller shaft to the rear wheels. It’s also the first to feature a 7-speed twin clutch transmission, and this is currently the only option for the California – no gated-manual transmission here, though I’m sure one could come later if there is demand. The chassis rides on a double wishbone setup at the front and a multilink setup at the rear. Optional is a magnetic adaptive suspension, similiar to the one on the 599 GTB Fiorano.

It’s also the first Ferrari with direct injection, which will improve emissions, fuel efficiency, and boost power at lower RPMs. The 4.3 litre V8 is built entirely from aluminium and uses a 90 degree angel between the two V banks, and an 180 degree angle between the cranks. The crank is a flat plane instead of a cross plane, which gives the V8 a more racecar-like sound – like two inline-4s singing or rather shrieking in harmony together instead of an American-ish rumble that you expect from a crossplane crank.

Ferrari California V8 Engine

Power is 460 horses at 7,750rpm and 485Nm of torque at 5,000rpm. Now not only is that a pretty high torque to displacement ratio for a normally aspirated engine, but 75% or 340Nm of that is already available and usable from just 2,250rpm, a testament to the magic of direct injection as well as variable valve timing on both intake and exhaust.

Don’t expect the California to represent an early entry point into the Ferrari buyer experience though – the company has no Boxster/Cayman equivalent in terms of pricing yet, at least here in Malaysia, not sure about overseas. Expect to pay 7 digits for this baby when it arrives here in Malaysia!

Look after the jump for more videos and a gallery of the California.
[Read more...]

19 Comments      

New Porsche Panamera Promo Footage: exterior, interior, retractable spoiler, etc

June 20, 2009 at 6:44 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Porsche, Videos

Porsche Panamera

Here’s a new set of promotional footage and beauty shots for the upcoming 4-door Porsche Panamera. You can check out the exterior and interior (I think it’s got the most wood in a modern Porsche that I’ve ever seen!) in detail and even watch the car in motion. There’s also footage of how stuff like the retractable rear spoiler works.

Check the video out after the jump!
[Read more...]

29 Comments      

Detroit Electric to supply electric car technology to Dongfeng; potential JV in works?

June 20, 2009 at 12:56 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, China, Detroit Electric, Dongfeng, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News

Dongfeng Aeolus Fengshen

Dongfeng has commissioned Detroit Electric to jointly research, develop, market and sell Electric Vehicles in China using Detroit Electric’s electric drive systems.

The Chinese company will provide the cars, and Detroit Electric will provide the propulsion, similiar to the arrangement that DE has with Proton. But the DE-Proton deal involves rebadging the Persona and GEN2 under the Detroit Electric brand, but for Dongfeng, the two companies will study and explore the market entry strategy under the Dongfeng and Detroit Electric brand.

The two companies are also discussing the possibility of forming a joint venture company to manufacture, assemble, produce and supply the electric drive technology in China to the Dongfeng Group and other vehicle manufacturers that want to buy the technology.

Dongfeng does Kia, Nissan, PSA Peugeot Citroen and Honda in China, but they have been recently focusing on developing their own brand too. They recently launched a sedan based on the old Citroen ZX chassis called the Dongfeng Aeolus Fengshen, shown above.

11 Comments