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RM175k Toyota Prius now available in Malaysia

August 4, 2009 at 12:44 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Toyota

New Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius is now here in Malaysia, retailing for RM175,000 OTR inclusive of insurance for private registration. Might be too much for most of us to stomach considering this is supposed to include the rebate that the government is giving on hybrid cars, the same rebate that ensures the Camry Hybrid won’t be sold here in the near future as long as the policies stay the same as it is only for hybrids with engine displacements of under 2.0 litres. The Langkawi and Labuan prices are rather interesting though – its only RM127,408.45 and RM128,046.55 respectively for individual private registration.

As previously indicated we are getting the model without the solar panel, and we are getting the 15 inch wheels instead of the 17 inch wheels. The construction of the 15 inch wheels are interesting – it’s an alloy wheel but it has an additional plastic cover on top to help with aerodynamics. No GPS navi or colour screen on the interior but there is a heads-up display function. Other equipment includes 7 airbags, ABS, EBD, traction control, stability control (VSC), Hill-Start Assist, brake assist, keyless entry and start, and an 8-speaker audio system.

For those who want to check out the Prius in better detail, there is a cut-body model showcased in the UMW Toyota Subang showroom until the 9th of August 2009, after of which it will be moved to Cheras from 10 to 16 and Penang from 18 to to the 31st. This model is said to be one of only two cutaway Prius models in the world – which basically means the Prius is cut to show you the inner components of the THS HSD system.

UMW targets to sell 100 units this year which is probably just about all the allocation they managed to get as there is a bottleneck in the Prius supply globally. For those who want to learn more about the new third generation Prius, you may read the related links below:

Related Posts:
3rd generation Toyota Prius: first impression drive
3rd generation Toyota Prius: official details

161 Comments      

Hamann kits up the BMW 5-Series GT

August 3, 2009 at 1:22 am By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars

Hamann 5-Series GT

Hamann’s take on the new BMW 5-Series GT still seems as much as wrong as the original. And it still looks like a puppy somehow. I dunno, maybe, just maybe this particular model will look better in the metal… maybe. That’s still some pretty wishful thinking. Can’t wait for the F10 sedan to be out. Look after the jump for a full gallery showing the car with various different Hamann wheels.
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Nissan Sylphy gets more updates in China!

August 2, 2009 at 9:47 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, China, International News, Nissan

Nissan Sylphy

The Sylphy has also been facelifted in China and over there it gets more changes compared to the Japanese and Singaporean market.

In China, the Sylphy receives similiar treatments to the exterior and interior but adds a new front bumper and new tail lamps for the rear. These set of photos from China also lets us have a closer view of the new meter panel. I’m not completely sure if the Chinese and Japanese model share the same meter panel even though both have black faces, as the Japanese photos are a little low-res.

Anyway, enjoy looking at more photos after the jump. Which Sylphy do you prefer – the pre-facelift Sylphy currently sold in Malaysia, the new Japanese facelift or the new Chinese facelift?
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Nissan Bluebird Sylphy gets minor updates

August 2, 2009 at 8:46 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Nissan

Nissan Bluebird Sylphy Facelift

Nissan gave the Bluebird Sylphy (called just the Nissan Sylphy here in Malaysia) a minor update in May this year. No changes under the hood, just some aesthetics changes. The front headlamps now feature amber-coloured signal indicators.

Nissan Bluebird Sylphy Facelift

The interior now gets a new design digital climate control and the instrument panel meter faces have also been changed from the previous white version to a new black coloured version. Look after the jump for a full gallery of the updated car. No news so far as to when Tan Chong will be facelifting the Sylphy here in Malaysia.
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Nissan LEAF: 160km range production electric car

August 2, 2009 at 7:28 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Nissan

Nissan Leaf

It’s finally here, the first of the production Nissan electric vehicles that they’ve been shouting about for the longest time now. The new Nissan Leaf is a mid-sized hatchback powered by a lithium-ion battery that can go about 160km on a full charge.

The name Leaf in relation to the car’s zero-emissions nature – according to Nissan: just as leaves purify the air in nature, the Leaf purifies mobility by taking emissions out of the driving experience.

Nissan Leaf

The whole car has loads of blue themed in it. The introductory colour is called Aqua Globe. The interior (which at first sight looks Civic-like thanks to the format of the dual-level dash) features blue backlighting for the various displays. On the outside, the headlamps have a blue internal reflective design and are lit up by LED in order to be more energy efficient.

Nissan Leaf

The Nissan Leaf’s lithium ion pack (installed under the passenger area under the seat and floor) produces 90kW and supplies power to the AC electric motor which produces 80kW (107 horsepower) and 280Nm of torque. It’s definitely not going to be a scorcher – it’s likely that due to gearing limitations, the top speed is limited to just over 140km/h and there is no 0 to 100km/h acceleration time given.

Nissan Leaf
Different sockets for a regular wall plug and a quick charger

The 160km rated range is based on the US LA4 mode driving cycle. Nissan claims that this range satisfies the daily driving requirements of over 70% of the world’s drivers. At the end of the day, the Leaf can be charged overnight from a 200V power outlet in about 8 hours, or via a DC quick charger in under 30 minutes. The charging port is in front where the Nissan logo is.

Nissan Leaf

Pricing for the new Nissan Leaf will only be announced later but according to Nissan, it will be priced about the same as a well-equipped C-segment car. The Leaf itself is well within the size of a typical C-segment hatch, with a wheelbase of 2,700mm. The Leaf is 4,445mm long, 1,770 mm wide and 1,550mm tall.

This means a Leaf could potentially be priced about the same as a Nissan Sylphy in Malaysia, which could put it well in reach for a sizeable amount of Malaysians, if only the government can revamp their various engine displacement based taxation systems.

Once that is settled there shouldn’t be a problem having one in Malaysia as Nissan has a right hand drive version pretty much ready. Look after the jump for a full photo gallery as well as 3 videos of the Nissan Leaf.
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Heidfeld races against an F1 car… on a bike

August 2, 2009 at 6:00 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Formula 1, Videos

F1 Car vs Bike

BMW F1 driver Nick Heidfeld and two-time motorbike world champion Troy Corser swap their race machines in this video produced sometime late last month. If you think about it… was this a subtle hint by BMW to Heidfeld that he will soon have to look to other forms of racing instead of his current BMW F1 car? Probably not… that’s got too much conspiracy theory kind of madness in it. Ah well. Watch the video after the jump.
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Peter Krist on the new BMW X1 SAV

August 2, 2009 at 5:19 am By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, Videos

BMW X1

In this video released by the boys at Munich, BMW’s Head of Project for the BMW X1 Peter Krist talks about BMW’s smallest X model to date, which is quite close to size to the current generation and soon to be replaced BMW X3. It’s also the first X1 to be available in rear wheel drive as well as all-wheel drive.

Nothing odd about the X1 to be, there are plenty who want an SUV but want it closer to a sedan’s driving feel and don’t want to handle something overly large – so the X3 has room to move up a size right between the X1 and the X5. There’s quite some room between the X1′s 2,760mm wheelbase and the X5′s 2,933mm wheelbase – somewhere around 2,850mm perhaps, which is a decent size up from the current X3′s 2,795mm wheelbase.

Watch the video after the jump.
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Lexus C-Premium hatch to be called the CT?

August 2, 2009 at 4:36 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Lexus

Lexus Hatchback

It looks like the new Lexus C-Premium hatchback will not be called the BS after all. Good for them too, as you can probably imagine the kind of jokes people will be making about a car called a BS, especially from those who argue against the viability of hybrids, since it appears now that the new Lexus C-Premium is to be exclusively hybrid-only.

Lexus has registered three trademarks in the US – the CT 200h, CT 300h and CT 400h. The naming scheme indicates a hybrid-only line-up with power outputs equivalent to a 2.0 litre, 3.0 litre and 4.0 litre regular internal combustion engine.

The CT 200h will probably use a version of the 1.8 litre HSD system in the new Prius, while the CT 300h will probably use the next generation HSD system that will in the Toyota/Lexus line-up replace the one in the HS 250h. The HS 250h uses the hybrid system from the Camry Hybrid, which is based around a 2.4 litre engine. Toyota seems to be replacing its 2.4 litre engines with a 2.5 litre as evident from updates to the US Camry and RAV4, so the 2.4 litre in the hybrid may also go.

The top of the line CT 400h will likely use a variant of the hybrid system in the GS 450h, which is based around a 3.5 litre V6. We know that this engine will fit the C-Premium chassis if rumours that it will be based on an Auris is true, because a variant of the Auris called the Toyota Blade uses a 3.5 litre engine in Japan.

It’ll be interesting to see how well a CT 300h holds up to an IS 220d. The IS 220d is the first ever diesel by Lexus and is offered in Europe. It features a nice 2.2 litre diesel putting out 175 horses and a nice 400Nm of torque.

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Michael Schumacher’s return to Formula 1: training with a F2007 race car and GP2 slick tyres

August 1, 2009 at 2:06 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Formula 1, Motorsports


2009 F60 Formula 1 car.

Michael Schumacher is racing in a Formula 1 car again, and the whole world is excited about it. He is a racing legend, and is perceived by many as the ‘best’ Grand Prix driver there is. Schumacher, who has temporarily taken over Massa’s race seat following the Brazilian’s freak accident last weekend in Hungary, is now undergoing extensive training programs to prepare himself for his first race since 2006′s Brazilian Grand Prix.

Highlights of his training program would be made up by: physical exercise, driving in a Ferrari simulator and actually driving a real Formula 1 car. All of these have to be cramped within three weeks, since the European Grand Prix at the streets of Valencia happens on August 23rd. With the physical exercise, the 7 times World Champion will focus on his stamina and neck muscles, especially after suffering from a motorcycle crash in February.


2007 F2007 Formula 1 car.

The Formula 1 simulator is an important part of his training. Modern Grand Prix drivers rely on this tool, since it is the next best thing there is, after driving the actual car. Especially these days, when there is a mid-season testing ban, it becomes more important. The simulator offers real-life driving scenarios, with tracks that are developed using laser technology and satellite images. Even the virtual car features real-life driving characteristics, and various scenarios can be added, such as different weather conditions, rain for example. The simulator works like those high quality racing games available out there, although it is definitely better.

The part where the 40-year old has to drive the real car is the most important one. Unfortunately, there is a mid-season testing ban. However, there is a loophole. Schumacher is allowed to drive the F2007 race car, which is the car used for the 2007 championship. The car was not supplied by Ferrari and wasn’t classified a test car. In fact, the car is provided by F1 Clienti, which is a workshop owned by Ferrari, meaning the German is allowed to drive it. Schumacher just concluded his first test yesterday, at the Mugello circuit and the results were positive.

The car is of course outdated and was developed using different rules set by the FIA, but Ferrari fitted slick tires (from a GP2 car) and ran the car. Ferrari has requested permission to use this year’s F60 race car, but has only received the green light from FOTA (Formula One Teams Association). The Prancing Horse is waiting for the FIA’s verdict regarding the matter.

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Mazda MX-5 / Roadster 20th Anniversary Special Edition model revealed

August 1, 2009 at 1:09 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Cars, Mazda

The MX-5, which is also known as the Mazda Roadster in Japan is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and it’s maker, Mazda has announced a special edition model to commemorate the occasion. The Mazda MX-5 20th Anniversary Special Edition, which is already available in Japanese showrooms, is based on either the RS soft-top version or the VS Power Retractable Hard Top (RHT) version of the nimble sports car.

The former comes with a 6 speed manual transmission while the latter is fitted with a 6 speed automatic. Equipment wise, the auto maker has added Recaro bucket sport seats that are finished in Black Alcantara and red leather, seat heating with five temperature settings, soft synthetic leather padding on door armrests and on the center console lid, fabric soft top with glass rear window (soft-top model only) and “20th Anniversary” badges on the the fenders.

Furthermore, there are 17-inch aluminum wheels shod with 205/45R17 84W tires, clear front fog lights and bezels as well as a front strut tower bar (cowl connecting type). The car is only available in Crystal White Pearl Mica and carries a price tag of 2,860,000 yen for the soft top version (with the manual tranny) and 3,110,000 yen for the retractable hard top version (with the automatic cog box). Both prices are inclusive of tax.

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