Gong Xi Fa Cai

Advertisement

Proton Exora M/T (M-Line) open for booking!

July 8, 2009 at 2:45 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton, Proton Exora - Proton MPV 2009

Proton Exora MT

The new Proton Exora with manual transmission is now on the market and it’s only available in the M-Line trim level, which means basics without fancies like DVD players and GPS units, cloth seats, alloy wheels, and some body-coloured parts instead of chrome bits. It’s priced at RM64,998 for the metallic version and RM64,548 for the solid-coloured version. No ultra-basic no frills Exora B-Line in sight yet so far, but the manual transmission version is very welcome for those who want to save abit more fuel with the Exora, and the manual’s 12% transmission losses which is less than the automatic should result in more of the Campro CPS 125 horsepower going to the front wheels, thus improving the Exora’s lethargic acceleration.

Some of us have already had a go at an Exora equipped with a manual transmission during the prototype test drive and other than the fact that there’s more power that actually reaches the wheels, the manual model with more gear ratios also provides a little more flexibility with picking the right gear depending on the load on the engine. With the automatic model you tend to be working the 2nd gear most of the time, which means alot of high revving sometimes. The good news is NVH is significantly better than models like the Satria Neo so it isn’t that bad of a racket.

Next a B-Line model could come out, but the ultimate would be towards the end of next year where the Proton Exora with the Campro 1.6 Turbo will be launched. The Exora will finally get the engine it deserves and then you’ll have a combination of a very competitive price, good interior space, air conditioning all around, and a more relaxed engine that’s easier to drive because of more low end torque.

Look after the jump for a photo gallery of the Exora M/T.
[Read more...]

211 Comments      

New Proton Saga SE in showrooms from 15th August

July 7, 2009 at 6:16 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, New Proton Saga, Proton

Proton Saga SE

We now have more details on the new Proton Saga SE, which is positioned as a premium variant of one of Proton’s cheapest cars right now. The Saga SE continues using the 1.3 litre Campro IAFM engine that’s found in the rest of the Saga range except for the taxi model, so what exactly does “SE” mean? Here are the full details:

  • Only two colours – brilliant red or solid white with a black finish roof top.
  • New front, rear (with faux diffuser design) and side skirts.
  • A new front grille with black finish.
  • Leather seats, door trim and steering wheel
  • Pearl white instrument cluster
  • Dark chrome air-conditioning vents
  • CD player with MP3 support

As previously mentioned, the Saga SE manual is priced at RM43,000 while the automatic transmission model is priced at RM45,500. It is available for booking now for RM500, but the cars will only be in the showrooms from the 15th of August 2009 onwards.

Look after the jump for more photos of the Saga SE.
[Read more...]

292 Comments      


Proton launches Saga SE and Exora Manual – more details to come later!

July 7, 2009 at 1:28 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, New Proton Saga, Proton, Proton Exora - Proton MPV 2009

ProtonProton launched two new models at the Felda Settlers Day in Johor today – the Proton Saga SE and the Proton Exora 1.6 manual.

From the info I am getting now, the Saga SE uses a 1.3 litre Campro IAFM engine as before (the sole 1.6 litre model continues in taxi spec), but comes with aesthetic and equipment changes, while the Proton Exora 1.6 M/T like its namesake comes with a manual transmission. The Proton team is having trouble sending full specs and press release over because they are in an area without internet access now but at least we have the prices:

  • Proton Saga SE Manual – RM43,000
  • Proton Saga SE Auto – RM45,500
  • Proton Exora M/T Solid – RM64,548.00
  • Proton Exora M/T Metallic – RM64,998.00

More details and photos of the new car to come later.

UPDATE: Look after the jump for an event photo gallery of the Saga SE.
[Read more...]

129 Comments      

Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M tackles Goodwood hillclimb together with the 599 GTB Fionaro GHTE and the California

July 6, 2009 at 9:37 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Ferrari, Videos

Ferrari

Ever wondered what a lucky (and rich) dude on a weekend spirited drive in his Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M experiences? Well, can’t give you that experience but through this video you can get a virtual passenger view of sorts.

The V8-powered Scuderia Spider 16M completed a 1.16 mile hillclimb at the Sunday Times Supercar Runs at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in just 59 seconds. Also available are similiar videos of the 599 GTB Fiorano HGTE and two videos of the new Ferrari California. What makes these videos quite interesting other than the lovely sounds are the fact that you can compare the different kind of sounds that Ferrari V8 and Ferrari V12 engines make, they’re quite different!

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

13 Comments      

Perodua Myvi and Proton Satria Neo featured in Top Gear Season 13 Episode 3!

July 6, 2009 at 4:27 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Malaysian Makes, Perodua, Proton, Videos

Top Gear Myvi

Malaysian cars have only appeared on Top Gear a few times in the past, and they haven’t exactly been portrayed in a very good light most of the time.

We all know what happened to the Kelisa, and the Waja was used as an example of a car with not very good crash safety in comparison to cars like the Avensis. The Proton Savvy did appear on rival show Fifth Gear and did well on the hill climb test they had. The Satria Neo is a regular feature on Top Gear Australia.

Jeremy ClarksonIf you’ve been following the latest Season 13 of Top Gear, you would have already watched Episode 3 which has two of our cars in it – one from each manufacturer.

The Perodua Myvi (it’s rather odd how British people pronounced Myvi) and the Proton Satria Neo are featured in a segment where the team have to go find the best small “cheap and cheerful” car in the UK. Being priced at the lower end of the various car segments, the Neo and Myvi are natural candidates among other cars like the Chevy Aveo.

Skip to about minute 6:55 of the first video to go straight to the segment, then continue with the second video. The segment is broken over 2 videos. It isn’t pretty, just look at the face Jeremy is making while he is driving the Myvi.
[Read more...]

222 Comments      

Mercedes-Benz E-Guard VR4 Armored Vehicle

July 6, 2009 at 2:31 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Mercedes Benz, Videos

Mercedes-Benz E-Guard

The E-Guard is not your regular W212 E-Class – it’s been beefed up substantially to give extra protection to the occupant inside, but the extra protection are all hidden and cannot be seen by the naked eye. It starts off as a regular E-Class chassis, made to regular series production standards.

Next, protective elements are installed. These are precisely formed to exactly fit the contours of the bodyshell without encroaching on the interior space. The fit must be perfect to provide proper protection. The slightest misfit might cause a bullet to be able to pierce through. There is also optional underbody armour, which will allow the entire underfloor of the passenger area to withstand the explosion of a DM51 hand grenade.

Mercedes-Benz E-Guard

All the extra protection helps the E-Guard conform to VR4 protection class. BMW’s “Security” series of armored cars also conform to this same specification. This means it can withstand handgun bullets of up to .44 Magnum in calibre at random angles of fire and not just via certain angles, to provide the most realistic protection possible. Runflat tyres in 17 inch size are used for additional protection (all BMWs except some M cars have this as standard), ensuring the car can still go at up to 50km and 80km/h speed in case attackers damage the tyres.

Of course all the extra parts makes the E-Guard so much more heavier than a regular E. Brakes, suspension and stability control systems must be adjusted and recalibrated to suit the new weight. The E-Guard uses a special Level II version of the AIRMATIC air suspension system as standard.

Look after the jump for some pretty interesting videos talking about the E-Guard and its assembly process. It also demonstrates with a loaded gun the difference between a normal W212 and the E-Guard in terms of bulletproofness. Enjoy the videos!
[Read more...]

25 Comments      

US teaser: A new Honda coming soon?

July 6, 2009 at 2:04 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Honda, International News

Honda Something New

A completely new Honda vehicle is on the horizon, or so says American Honda Motor Co’s “Future Cars” section on their website. No clues at the moment but I think it could be either two things – a CR-Z, or it could be the Honda Accord CrossTour four-door coupe with the sloping roofline and a rear hatch that we saw a few weeks back! Check out the Honda Accord CrossTour story for more pix of what could possibly be Honda’s version of the upcoming Acura ZDX.

6 Comments      

Coming soon: Smart Wheels!

July 6, 2009 at 1:48 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Honda, Local News

Smart WheelsBuying a car is probably your second biggest purchase in life, if not first. So, it is normal to mull over a decision repeatedly until you get the slightest hint of comfort and assurance. Perhaps some hard facts would help.

Every one of us probably knows at least one person who made a car purchase decision based on misguided facts, or they simply did not know how to choose a car that meets their needs. They end up regretting their purchase later, but by that time it is too late and they are already saddled with a burden of a 5 year or up to even 9 year loan!

Soon we’ll have Smart Wheels, a microportal that will provide relevant tips and information for potential car buyers that aim to help them to make informed decisions. Smart Wheels will feature a series of stories that will guide you through a car purchase process and what to look out for when you purchase a car. It is an initiative by Honda but remains an independent portal that does not endorse any car brand in specific.

There will also be a Q&A section where you can ask questions and clear up any uncertainties related to your car purchase.

So watch out next week for Smart Wheels on the 11th of July!

Leave a Comment      

New BMW X1 compact SUV officially unveiled!

July 3, 2009 at 9:14 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, International News, Videos

BMW X1

The new BMW X1 must be a very important car for BMW as for the first time ever with BMW press packs, I was having trouble handling the amount of photos they released! They released over 150 photos of a brown and a white X1 and the total file size for the hi-res pix was over 1,5GB, which I had to download then resize down to about 150MB before uploading.

The X1 measures 4454mm in length, 1798mm wide (2006mm with mirrors included), and 1545mm tall with a 2760mm wheelbase. In comparison, the X3 measures 4570mm long, with a 2795mm wheelbase. So it’s definitely a smaller vehicle, but the wheelbase is quite similiar to the current E90 sedan.

BMW X1

It’s also the first BMW SUV to come with a rear wheel drive version as well as xDrive. The most economical version is the X1 sDrive18d with rear wheel drive, putting out only 136g/km of CO2 and using only a measly 5.2 litres per 100km, equivalent to 54.3 UK mpg. The following are the various X1 variants:

Model Power (hp) Torque L/100km
xDrive28i 258 @ 6,600 310Nm @ 2,600-3,000 9.4L
xDrive23d 204 @ 4,400 400Nm @ 2,000-2,250 6.3L
xDrive20d 177 @ 4,000 350Nm @ 1,750-3,000 5.8L
sDrive20d 177 @ 4,000 350Nm @ 1,750-3,000 5.3L
xDrive18d 143 @ 4,000 320Nm @ 1,750-3,000 5.7L
sDrive18d 143 @ 4,000 320Nm @ 1,750-3,000 5.2L

BMW X1

As you can see the European range is mostly diesel-centric, with the sole petrol engine being the 3.0 litre inline-6, tuned to make 258 horses, hence the “28i” rating instead of “30i” which usually puts out about 272 horses in their latest incarnations. The rest are diesel, and ditching the weight and losses of xDrive reduces fuel consumption by about 0.1L per 100km with the 20d and 18d models. All manual models come with auto start-stop and a gearshift indicator.

BMW X1

The interior features a 40:20:40 split backrest at the rear which can extend the 420 litre cargo area up to 490 litres if you set the backrest angle to something more vertical, or if you just drop them down, storage goes up to 1,350 litres. The rest of the interior is a typical BMW and you don’t get some of the more modern interior bits such as the shift by wire gear knob and the Black Panel multi-info LCD, but you do get the new hard disk based iDrive system.

Look after the jump for a full press release, some videos, and a full photo gallery of the new BMW X1.
[Read more...]

40 Comments      

Volkswagen to invest US$140 million in Indonesia

July 3, 2009 at 7:43 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Volkswagen

Volkswagen LogoAt first, the figure was said to be about US$47 million, but the latest is a whopping US$140 million! It’s heartbreaking I know but yes, we’re talking about Volkswagen’s investment in Indonesia to build an assembly plant there that will first only have CKD assembly and paint shops, but will later become a full fledged manufacturing plant complete with stamping and the whole works, if all goes well!

Indonesia’s Investment Coordinating Board head Muhammad Lutfi has revealed that US$140 million will be invested over the next 2 years on the 50,000 Touran a year factory, and the Indonesian government will support them with tax incentives.

Lutfi added that MPV manufacturing in Indonesia is on average 30% cheaper than any other ASEAN countries because of government incentives. Toyota and Honda also makes their MPVs there (remember the Toyota IMV project?), with the latest being the Honda Freed, which is being assembled at Honda’s plant in Karawang.

More and more automotive companies may be looking at Indonesia soon. Four Chinese brands have entered Indonesia in the last 2 years – Chery, Foton, Great Wall and Geely. Their economy is forecasted to grow 4% this year, and they are said to be the 3rd fastest growing economy in Asia after China and India. It’s also the world’s fourth-largest country by population.

Astra

Indonesian citizen earnings are slowly rising to point where a majority can abandon their motorcycles for cars, and proof of that is in the increasing gridlock problem in Jakarta. The buses and taxis share the same jam and there is no MRT. The first will only begin construction in 2011 and operational by 2016.

You can also look at P.T. Astra International’s stock prices and earnings – they are a large automobile conglomerate in Indonesia and have partnerships with Toyota, Daihatsu, BMW, Peugeot, Nissan Diesel, Isuzu, and Honda.

Previously a Volkswagen spokesperson said their Indonesian vehicle assembly plant is a first step towards Volkswagen’s long term ASEAN market development. Volkswagen can also use their Indonesian plant to supply CKD kits or complete vehicles to Japan, thanks to the Japan-Indonesia Economic Partnership Agreement.

Source

78 Comments