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New HDi 112 diesel engine for Peugeot

January 19, 2010 at 9:15 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Peugeot

Peugeot has updated its 1.6 litre turbodiesel engine and the first car in the range to get this new engine is the new 308CC drop top. The new engine makes 112 horsepower over the outgoing model’s 110 horses and p uts out 270Nm of torque from just 1,750rpm, which is a 12.5% increase. There is an ‘overboost’ function for a temporary increase to 285Nm.

The engine’s massive torque starts from way under the low ‘peak’ of 1,750rpm – even at 1,000rpm the engine is already making 135Nm torque, then boost kicks in at 1,500rpm giving the engine 242Nm. Higher up the rev range at 3,500rpm, torque starts to taper down to about 224Nm, and the peak horsepower of 112hp is achieved at 3,600rpm.

The new engine meets Euro 5 emissions standards and will soon make its way into other Peugeot cars. The particulate filter has a lifespan of just over 180,000km. No hopes of this particular engine making its way into Peugeot cars here in Malaysia as even with an upgrade to Euro 2, we aren’t able to use these very clean Euro 5 engines. But there may be hope for modified older versions…

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MINI teases upcoming SUV with funky camo

January 19, 2010 at 8:55 am By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars

What’s the best way to produce promotional footage for a car that hasn’t been unveiled yet? I mean, other than just teasing a few shadowy bits and pieces of it. MINI wants to promote its upcoming latest addition to the MINI family (that’s getting not so MINI) but since its not ready to show to the public yet, the new MINI SUV gets a full psychedelic yellow treatment of the camouflage pattern that BMW uses on all its cars.

The shape is still true to the MINI design language, but the new MINI SUV has grown quite well over what a typical MINI would be like – over 4 meters long! 4 is the number for this new MINI – other than its length, its got 4 doors, 4 individual seats, and optional 4 wheel drive. Look at the video after the jump.
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New Kia Sportage revealed via EU patent application

January 19, 2010 at 8:54 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Kia, Koreans, Spyshots

These images are of the 2011 Kia Sportage SUV, revealed via Kia’s patent filing with the EU Patent Office. It shows either the production version or as some suggest, the near production concept that could be paraded at the upcoming Geneva or Seoul motor shows. The Sportage is scheduled to hit domestic showrooms towards the end of 2010 or by the first quarter of 2011.

Penned by former Audi designer Peter Schreyer, the mid-sized SUV features Kia’s new signature grille and sports a cleaner, less severe look than the Hyundai Tucson/ix35, which it shares underpinnings with. The Hyundai was introduced in Singapore last November with a 166 bhp/197 Nm 2.0-litre Theta II engine paired with a newly developed six-speed automatic, so we presume that the Sportage could carry the same drivetrain when it reaches our region.

More pictures of the Sportage from various angles after the jump!
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Alfa Giulietta promo video is an absolute bore

January 19, 2010 at 7:52 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Alfa Romeo, Cars, Videos

Alfa Romeo Giulietta

Look after the jump and you’ll find the first video showing the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta in motion. Except the Giulietta isn’t exactly in motion. All that’s moving is the camera shooting the Giulietta in a rather dramatic style, and you get to hear some ‘inner driver alter ego’ talking to you about how great the car is to drive. All while you watch a white Giulietta just sitting there, doing nothing. You’d think that to set a potential Alfa owner’s heart pulsing we’d get to hear at least the engine. But no. We do get to see how the tail lamps light up in the dark though.
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Some info on upcoming May 1st fuel pricing system unveiled, but much more details needed!

January 19, 2010 at 7:35 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Malaysian Fuel Prices

Fuel Wallet GaugeGood news for those in East Malaysia – the way you buy your fuel and how much you pay for it will likely remain the same after the 1st of May 2010, while West Malaysians will have to adapt to a new and likely more expensive price structure.

According to Domestic Trade and Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in an interview with The Star, there are many people who have to use 4WD vehicles with large engines in East Malaysia because of the terrain so the new fuel pricing mechanism will only come into place later.

From the interview, the matter of factoring in engine capacity in subsidy entitlement considerations sounds like a done deal, with the only thing left to be decided is what is the threshold of engine capacity before you go up a ‘price bracket’. The Minister also revealed that each person who owns a car will only get a subsidy (both in terms of price and litre quantity sense) for one car only, so if you are a parent and have a few cars in your household under your name for each of your kids you may want to start transferring the ownership to the actual user of the car.

Interestingly, the Minister also revealed that the government has no plans to touch the diesel subsidy for the moment. But he did say that the ‘market price’ for our Euro 2M diesel right now is RM2.09 per litre. If you’re shopping in the premium executive car segment, it might be a good idea to go for either the 320d, the 520d and the 730Ld now depending on how deep your pockets are.

For the rest of us who can only afford (relatively) everyday joe cars, there’s a new Ford Focus TDCi coming very soon so that might be a good idea as well.

Read the full interview: Still in dark over system

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Lotus Evora Cup Racer – 400 bhp, 400 Nm, 1200 kg

January 19, 2010 at 7:06 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Lotus, Motorsports

This the race ready Lotus Evora Cup Racer that meets FIA GT4 specification. As its name suggests, it will race in a European one-make Evora Cup series.

The standard car’s Toyota sourced 276 bhp 3.5-litre V6 engine has been enlarged to 4.0-litres, producing more than 400 bhp and over 400 Nm of peak torque. The mid-mounted engine is paired to a six-speed sequential paddle shift gearbox. Serious pace is guaranteed, as the V6 has only 1,200 kg to pull, 200 kg less than the road going Evora.

Other tweaks include adjustable motorsport dampers and six-piston front brake calipers, with two-piece aluminum belled brake discs. The Evora Cup Racer also gets electrical cut off, fire extinguisher and traction control. In addition, a Dallara developed aero package which includes carbon fibre parts significantly improves downforce and cooling. For all that, you’ll need £120,000 excluding taxes.

Looking good in Epsom Green with a Solar Yellow stripe down the centre, the final design and specifications of the Lotus Evora Cup Racer will be revealed at the Geneva show in March. Perhaps Proton’s R3 division should get one of these down for the Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race; with an ace driver like Tengku Djan behind the wheel, it will surely give the Petronas BMW Z4s and 911 GT3s a run for their money!

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Volkswagen Malaysia offers five-year warranty

January 18, 2010 at 6:37 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Volkswagen

Volkswagen Group Malaysia (VGM) has announced a five-year warranty programme with unlimited mileage for its cars. This two-year manufacturer warranty plus three-year extended warranty programme is offered to all new Volkswagen buyers.

Existing customers whose vehicles are still in the two-year manufacturer warranty period are eligible to purchase the extended warranty, subject to VGM’s terms and conditions. UPDATE: This will probably be one of the most asked questions so here goes – the premium on the extended warranty for the previous generation Mk5 Golf GTI is RM2,910. You can buy one if your Golf GTI still has its existing warranty intact.

Andreas Prinz, MD of VGM said this of the new programme: “With this programme in place we hope to provide ease of mind in ensuring all Volkswagen owners that their Volkswagen remains a Volkswagen and maintain high residual values with the use of genuine parts.

For more information on VGM’s five-year warranty, go to www.volkswagen.com.my.

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Tommy Kaira’s “Silver Wolf” Nissan GT-R

January 18, 2010 at 6:17 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Nissan

This is the Silver Wolf, Japanese tuner Tommy Kaira’s take on the Nissan GT-R. Fans of racing game series Gran Turismo should be familiar with this Kyoto based tuner, who interestingly started out by modifying Mercedes cars! The company has since focussed on Japanese models, and its latest project is the mighty GT-R. Honestly, which tuning house can resist tinkering with the greatest performance car to come out from Japan in recent times?

Tommy Kaira shows a lot of sense by not attempting to improve on the GT-R’s twin-turbo V6 engine, instead focussing on upgrading the brakes, suspension and exhaust system. There’s also a wide body styling pack made from carbon fibre. The Silver Wolf looks decent and not too over the top, but why not call it “Black Wolf”? We’re also not sure how much “improvement” can be made on a car as good as the Nissan GT-R, and if the differences can be felt by the average car enthusiast. What do you think?

More pictures after the jump!
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New Volvo dealership opens in Sabah

January 18, 2010 at 1:27 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Volvo

Volvo now has a dealership in Sabah, operated by Angkatan Hebat Sdn Bhd. The new showroom is located at the 1 Borneo Lifestyle Hypermall on Jalan Sulaman and will serve the entire Sabah market, since it is the only dealership there. The Angkatan Hebat dealership is in fact the only Volvo dealership in the whole of East Malaysia. Now the people of Sabah will be able to enjoy the Volvo XC90 with a dealership to support the repairs and maintenance.

This was bound to happen. Early last year we got news of the Sabah government replacing their fleet of executive Perdanas to 2.5 litre Volvos through Angkatan Hebat, a majority state-owned company. Angkatan Hebat manages the state’s fleet and last I checked, they are 70% owned by the state government’s investment arm.

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VIDEO: Proton Persona facelift captured in motion!

January 18, 2010 at 10:19 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Malaysian Makes, Proton Persona, Spyshots, Videos

We’ve so far posted up pictures of the Proton Persona facelift on test, but here’s a video of the soon to be launched model in motion.

Reader Ned Aznir was cruising on the Federal Highway when he spotted two lightly taped up Personas – one in grey, another in a dark colour. He then whipped out his mobile phone, let the two mules pass and caught up with them again.

No suprises in store, but here we can see the Persona’s rear LEDs light up for the first time towards the end. View the video after the jump!

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