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Schumacher on the new Ferrari 458 Italia

September 4, 2009 at 12:11 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Ferrari, Videos

No, this isn’t a video about Schumi trashing the new Ferrari through the bends but more of Schumacher waxing lyrical (er, sort of) about the new Ferrari 458 Italia in this third video in a series which features Ferrari and related (Pininfarina?) executives giving their scripted opinions about the new car. Nothing being said is particularly interesting but watch it just for the sights and sounds of the 458 Italia on the track.

Other Ferrari 458 Italia Videos:
VIDEO: Ferrari 458 Italia Styling Elements
New video on the new Ferrari 458 Italia
[Read more...]

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4 teaser videos for Audi’s new electric R8?

September 4, 2009 at 12:11 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Audi, Cars, Videos

Audi Electricity Untamed

Is Frankfurt 2009 the motorshow of the alternative energy sports car? We already have BMW’s Vision EfficientDynamics concept with its diesel-electric all-wheel drive system and Mercedes-Benz’s electric SLS AMG, but now Audi looks like they’re set to bring in an electric version of the R8 to the tables, rumoured to be called the Audi R8 ePerformance Concept. I think after watching the total of four teaser video that Audi’s just released (find it after the jump), you’ll find that this is most likely true.
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AD: Five Stones, SS2 by SDB Development

September 4, 2009 at 12:11 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Advertorial, NOFP

SDB Five Stones

What can you get for about RM900k in Malaysia? You can pick from various cabriolet and coupe non-turbo models of the Porsche 911, a CBU S350L, a supercharged Range Rover Sport, a Jaguar XF-R, or a BMW M5 with some change.
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Gordon Murray Design’s T.25 City Car: Seating Position Configurations

September 4, 2009 at 12:52 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News

Gordon Murray iCentre
Click for enlarged image

Some say Gordon Murray Design’s T.25 City Car will change the way we look at small compact city cars, and also at how they’re designed and built. The T.25 is designed to be licensable to people who want to build them so we could even see a potential Apple iCar if they thought there was a market for it.

The latest bit of info is the car’s seating layout, which you can see in the newly released image found above (click it to view an enlarged view). The T.25′s driver sits in a central driving position which Gordon Murray calls ‘iCentre’. Very Apple-like isn’t it?

Murray is clearly a fan of the centre seating position as his McLaren F1 also featured a similiar position, with the driver in the middle and two passengers flanking him seated rearwards.

You can see the various seating positions allow a combination of three adults or have this varied with kids and storage space. In the full ‘shopping mode’ where all the non-driver space is used for goods, Gordon Murray Design claims a maximum of 750 litres of storage space. The car does not have a gear lever so you can forget about a stick shift, instead it has push buttons that say Forward, Reverse and Neutral.

GMD also says the iStream method of producing the T.25 and future models from the company will reduce the cost of a typical car factory by 80%. This is all quite interesting. Will the T.25 make obsolete the automobile we know today?

12 Comments      

New Lotus CEO: Ferrari man Dany Bahar

September 4, 2009 at 12:30 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Local News, Lotus

Dany BaharProton’s Group Lotus now has a new CEO – Dany Bahar, a Swiss national. Some of you may notice his face is quite familiar, in fact he appeared most recently on this blog on one of Ferrari’s promotional videos of the new 458 Italia.

This is because Dany Bahar was the Senior VP of Commercial & Brand for Ferrari SpA where he oversaw sales, aftersales, marketing, licensing and merchandising for the prancing horse.

Now of course, he is in Group Lotus. Let’s hope he will do some good for Lotus, as ultimately their performance affects Proton.
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Confirmed: MINI range to get two new models

September 3, 2009 at 9:50 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, International News

MINI Coupe Concept

BMW’s chairman Dr Norbert Reithofer have confirmed today that two new MINI models will go into production at UK’s Plant Oxford, including the Frankfurt show’s MINI Coupe Concept. This ends speculation as to whether the MINI Coupe Concept will be produced or not. Previously other senior BMW officials have said that the concept will be built if public response at the motorshow was good but I think these days with the internet and social media you can already gauge such responses before the public sees a car.

MINI Crossover Concept

The announcement today also had another surprise – apparently a second car that will be unveiled at Frankfurt will also go into production. I have a feeling this is the MINI SUV based on the MINI Crossover Concept showcased last year. This will give the MINI brand a total of 5 bodystyles – Hatch, Clubman, Convertible, Coupe and Crossover.

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Two more videos of the BMW Vision ED Concept

September 2, 2009 at 10:59 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, Concept Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Videos

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept
I guess she overestimated how far the EV mode would take her…

Two new video clips on BMW’s new Vision EfficientDynamics Frankfurt showcar have been released by the boys at Munich, making it a total of three videos now if you include the first one. One is 3 minute long video while the second one is a short 3D teaser of just under a minute long. I’ve also added the first video in case you missed it, so head on after the jump where you will find all three videos. You can also check out my previous post on the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept car to read more on BMW’s new turbodiesel-hybrid sports car concept.
[Read more...]

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Toyota Camry facelift now in Malaysian showrooms!

September 2, 2009 at 10:03 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Toyota

Toyota Camry Facelift

UMW Toyota has just launched the new Camry facelift here in Malaysia. Like the outgoing pre-facelift model, three variants are available – the Camry 2.0E for RM144,900, the Camry 2.0G for RM154,990 and finally the Camry 2.4V priced at RM174,990. All prices are OTR with insurance in Malaysia.

Let’s cut down to the chase on what’s new. First up is obviously its looks. There is a new grille, bumpers, and new wheels designs. The 2.0 models share a 16 inch wheel design while the 2.4 litre model gets a different design that is larger at 17 inches. LED lighting is used in the new rear taillamps.

Toyota Camry Facelift

On the interior, all models share a similiar colour scheme. The 2.0E model uses a new seat fabric design while the 2.0G and 2.4V models get a perforated leather trim for the seats. Cruise control has been added to the 2.0G model, previously available only on the 2.4V model. A new AUX input jack is provided in the cntre console for you to hook up your MP3 player or iPod. Front seats for the G and V cars have 8-way electrical adjustment including lumbar adjustment for the driver.

One unique feature is a switch on the side of the passenger seat’s backrest to allow the rearleft occupant to easily move the front passenger seat forward for better legroom. This is a feature usually found only on the large cars like the 7-Series and the S-Class and makes a bit easier for the Camry to be used as a car that you’re driven in.

Toyota Camry Facelift

A new feature for the top of the line 2.4V is the Smart Entry & Start System which is basically keyless entry and go. All you need is for the Remote Control Unit to be near the car on the driver (within a certain distance) and you can grab the door handles to unlock the doors and deactivate the immobiliser. Then a push start button can be used to start the car. A button on the rear end of the car does the same for the boot opening mechanism. VSC Stability Control and Traction Control are only offered on the 2.4V model. All models get ABS brakes.

The engine and transmission options remain the same as the pre-facelift model – a 2.0 litre engine making 147 PS at 6,000rpm and 190Nm of torque at 4,00rpm as well as a 2.4 litre engine making 167 PS at 6,000rpm and 224Nm of torque at 4,000rpm. The 2.0 is mated to a 4-speed Super ECT while the 2.4 gets a 5-speed Super ECT.

Look after the jump for a full photo gallery of the new Camry facelift.
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VIDEO: Kia Koup Promotional Footage

September 2, 2009 at 6:54 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Kia, Koreans, Videos

Kia Forte Koup

It’s hard to tell what real world performance and experiences will be like for now but one thing’s for sure (though you can read my first impression story when I got to drive the car in Korea), the new Kia Forte Koup is a stunner when it comes to its looks.

If you just can’t get enough of the Koup, check out this fresh new CGI-heavy video from Kia promoting its new Kia Forte Koup after the jump.
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Fancy a pair of jeans with your new MiTo?

September 2, 2009 at 6:19 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Alfa Romeo, Cars

Alfa Romeo MiTo Jeans

Now this is quite interesting, you can now grab a pair of jeans to go with your newly launched (in Malaysia) Alfa Romeo MiTo. Alfa Romeo teamed up with fashion expert Louise Roe and London-based fashion designers Bjork and McElligott to design a range of MiTo jeans. Alfa Romeo icons such as the Alfa Romeo badge’s serpent are used to decorate the designs. The jeans are going for £75 a pair and are available for sale at two Donna Ida retail outlets in the UK. Proceeds from the sales will go towards the Jeans for Genes charity.

Look after the jump for more pix of the MiTo and the jeans.
[Read more...]

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