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Youngman Europestar Lotus L5 launched in Beijing

April 25, 2010 at 6:03 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, China, International News

Youngman Europestar launched a new car at Auto China 2010, engineered by Lotus for the Chinese company. The previously launched RCR (GEN2) and Jingyue (Persona) have been renamed the Lotus L3 5-door and 4-door respectively, while this new model has been christened the “Europestar Lotus L5″.

From the naming scheme I’m assuming that this is a car that’s larger than the Persona and GEN2. There’s not much information about the car online at the moment but a peek at the interior reveals that the dashboard is unique but does resemble the Exora’s a little especially in the upper half of the dashboard.

I can’t find information on dimensions anywhere but Europestar’s website says this car marks Europestar’s jump from the A segment to the B segment (vehicle segmentation in China is named differently). The L5 is available in both 5-door hatch and 4-door sedan form and is powered by the Campro CPS engine.

Youngman also unveiled that an L6 and L7 is in the making. Future models will include more sedans as well as SUV and MPV models. Source

Look after the jump for more pix of the new Lotus L5.
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MG ZERO concept makes its appearance in Beijing

April 25, 2010 at 4:44 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Cars, China, Concept Cars

MG, the British auto brand that is owned by China’s Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) has unveiled a brand new concept in Beijing. Called the MG ZERO the concept was developed by MG’s Global Design team led by British MG Design Director Anthony Williams-Kenny who is based in Birmingham, something that was heavily emphasized in the press release.

The press release which did not point out what powers the concept revealed that the ZERO “previews the design direction of the brand and demonstrates how MG can expand into this high- volume sector of the market.”

It is a compact concept which is 4 meters in length and is expected to feature small displacement engines both normally-aspirated and force-inducted if it goes into production. A report by ChinaCarTimes revealed that it could be sold in China as the Roewe 150 or the MG2 joining the MG TF and the MG6 which will be launched in the UK by the end of this year. An image gallery can be found after the jump.
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New Hyundai Accent premieres at 2010 Auto China

April 25, 2010 at 3:25 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Cars, Hyundai

This is the all new Hyundai Accent or Verna as it is known in other markets. It made its debut at the 2010 Beijing Automotive Exhibition and will be first sold in China before being introduced in other markets.

The new Accent is built on a new platform and its being manufactured at the company’s plant in Beijing. The compact is powered by a new Gamma petrol unit with multiport fuel injection. The 1.6 litre all-aluminum DOHC engine makes 121hp at 6300 revs and 155Nm of peak torque at 4200 revs. This engine is linked to a 4-speed automatic slush box.

There is also a 1.4 litre unit that produces 106hp at 6300 revs and 135Nm of torque at 5000 revs. Buyers in China can select between a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed auto. With the former the 1.4 litre version delivers 100 kilometers with 5.7 litres of fuel. The company revealed that the engine has an enhanced Continuously Variable Valve Timing as well as a smart alternator and air conditioning compressor. There is also a motor-driven power steering.

The Accent’s design is inspired by Hyundai’s new design language. The front end looks a lot like the front end featured on the new Sonata. As a whole it looks better than outgoing model but I feel that the front end looks too big for a rather small-sized vehicle. What do you think?

More images are available after the jump.
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Honda Freed Review – first impressions in Indonesia

April 25, 2010 at 2:28 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Honda, Test Drive Reviews

We were in Indonesia earlier this year to briefly try out the new Honda Freed around Honda Prospect Motor’s test track. It was a very short drive but it did give us some sufficient first impressions of Honda’s compact “premium” MPV.
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Chinese-market Mercedes-Benz E-Class long wheelbase revealed at Auto China 2010

April 25, 2010 at 1:14 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Cars, Mercedes Benz

Everyone knows that China’s economy is growing at a super-fast rate and its no surprise that automakers offer vehicles that are specially made for the Asian country. Joining China’s long wheelbase bandwagon is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class L. This long wheelbase E-Class is the first model by Mercedes that is specific for the Chinese market.

The E 300 L offers 14 centimeters more leg room for the rear cabin and the front seats can be controlled by the rear passengers. The ground clearance has grown slightly as well. The 245hp E 300 is also joined by the 204hp E 260 CGI. This E 260 CGI ELEGANCE comes with things like bi-xenon headlights, Intelligent Light System, electric sliding sunroof as well as Mercedes’ COMMAND DVD system.

The AVANTGARDE version of the E 260 has panoramic sunroof, COMMAND APS with DVD changer, THERMATIC air conditioning system and heated rear seats. If you opt for the E 300 you will go home with a Rear Seat Entertainment System with two LCD screens fitted on rear part of the front headrests as well as a keyless system.

The cars will be assembled in China by Beijing Benz Automotive Corporation which is joint-venture between Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Company (BAIC) and Mercedes-Benz.

Continue reading to view more images after the jump.
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Formula Drift Singapore 2010: Hot action from Day 1

April 24, 2010 at 6:48 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Motorsports

Greetings from Singapore, where we’re covering the Formula Drift Singapore 2010 at the republic’s F1 Pit Building. 42 drivers from all over Asia Pacific went through a brief practice run and qualifying today; the latter’s aim is to find the top-32 drifters for tommorow’s showdown. Come down to the venue (next to the Singapore Flyer) if you’re in the area tommorow for some hot action, hot cars and hot ladies.

Qualifying has just ended (official results not out yet), and it was a mixed bag of results for the Malaysians involved. The course layout involves a long straight where one accelerates hard before initiating a drift for a sharp left. This corner is the first (front) clipping point of the course where drivers need to aim their car’s nose as near to the point as possible, and this was the corner that caught many out.

Top seeded Tengku Djan from Team FX Formula Bridgestone scored a zero in his first run, but managed to complete a clean second run in his Silvia (new livery replaces the iconic white/red/black scheme, we don’t like!) to qualify. Teammates Ivan Lau and Tan Tat Wei (both driving AE86, Tan’s is rotary powered!) should feature tomorrow too. Mervyn Nakamura, the Team Federal driver who impressed in FD Malaysia scored zeros in two of his runs and is out, but the studious looking Ee Yoong Chern from Team Tyrepac Kumho should be in.

Team Goodyear Malaysia had mixed results. Ariff Johanis and his wife Jane didn’t manage to come up with clean runs – Ariff smacked his car in the barrier on his first run, and couldn’t do much with a damaged car thereafter. Michael Gan managed one points scoring run; although not high, it could still see him through with many faring worse.

The team’s new boy Hanizam Bin Hamzah (pic below) should be featuring tomorrow, but after some high drama. His flying bonnet broke his A31′s windscreen in practice, and the replacement was secured litreally seconds before his qualifying run. Although he had zero practice and knowledge of the track due to the incident, he scored 55.3 and 55.8 points in both runs. Very impressive!

Other drivers who caught my eye were Japanese driver Atsushi Murata in his RedBull 180SX and Thailand’s 17-year old Chanapol Kerdpiam, more popularly known as SS Flora. The latter was superb in FD Thailand, and is now drifting under Team Goodyear alongside Pat. Both of them outdrifted flamboyant compatriot Kiki Nana. Malaysia’s Lim Kim Wan (Team ISC) in his baby blue FD RX-7 also did very well.

More reports coming your way tomorrow. For now, take a look at the hot stuff from FD Singapore after the jump. I’ve lost a lot of fluids and got a shade darker to capture these, so I hope you like what you see :)
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Citroen DS High Rider interior shots just released

April 24, 2010 at 4:46 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Citroën, Concept Cars

We’ve already seen the exterior of Citroen’s DS High Rider Concept at Geneva earlier this year, but now Citroen has unveiled the interior photos. The interior door panels are trimmed with a graduated grey to gold shading that’s supposed to match the golden tone of the DS High Rider Concept car’s golden exterior paintwork. You can also spot a colour screen in the centre console and the ‘Hybrid’ badge just below the gear stick. Look after the jump for the rest of the interior shots.
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BMW Concept Gran Coupe – is the 8-Series back?

April 24, 2010 at 4:24 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, Concept Cars

BMW’s Design Night event in China in conjunction with Auto China 2010 brings to us something completely unexpected – a near-production four door coupe called the BMW Concept Gran Coupe which is meant to be a continuation of the allegedly “scrapped” BMW Concept CS. Coincidentally they are both China world premieres.

I don’t know about you but to me, it looks like BMW has finally got their new post-Bangle car design just nice with this, although you could say that they are probably also playing kinda it safe. But when a concept car is this ‘safe’ it’s definitely really close to production. The F01 7-Series was pretty nice looking but its nostrils are oversized. The 5 GT is just ugly. The new 5 looks good but still feels a little off in terms of design. This is near perfection, maybe if the rear number plate was on the bood instead of on the bumper it would look even better, but it’s still sex on wheels as it is.

The Concept Gran Coupe is a four door sedan, but the B pillar is hidden. There are traces of previous concept cars in the design as well – the tail lamp internal lense design is similiar to the one on the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics although on that car it was a floating design and on the Concept Gran Coupe it is enclosed inside a tail lamp.

The question now is when are they putting it into production, and what will it become? It’s quite clearly a rival to cars such as the Porsche Panamera and the Audi A7 (the Rapide is just too expensive to be in the same league) but will they revive the 8-Series nameplate, or call this a four door 6-Series (along with a two door coupe and convertible 6-Series)?

Look after the jump for more pictures of this gorgeous coupe.
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Auto Bavaria Sg Besi Tyre Sale This Weekend

April 23, 2010 at 6:08 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News


Click for enlarged image

Following the 70% discount parts Auto Bavaria sale events that were held the past few weeks, Auto Bavaria Sungei Besi will be having a tyre sale this weekend. A Pirelli P Zero Rosso 245/45ZR19 tyre can be had for as low as RM525 per piece. Drop by tomorrow or on Sunday if the tyre sizes and models you can find above (click on the image for enlarged version) interest you. But of course, first come first serve so the earlier you go the better the chance for you to secure the tyre you want as they are in limited quantities.

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Li Nian “Everus” sedan – Chinese market Honda concept

April 23, 2010 at 1:12 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, China, Concept Cars, Honda

Honda will be exhibiting this Li Nian concept car at Auto China 2010 in Beijing this year. Li Nian is basically a Chinese market only brand that Honda and their Chinese partner Guangqi Honda Automobile (previously known as Guangzhou Honda Automobile – the namechange happened in April 2009) have been working on.

This is not the first Li Nian car we’ve seen – a compact SUV concept built on the Jazz platform as well as an open top roadster that looks like it’s meant to be a somewhat like a next generation Honda S2000 was first shown at Auto China 2010 in April 2008.

This latest Li Nian Concept is a sedan that I’m assuming is called the “Everus” and it looks something like a Honda City with rear design cues from the Honda Airwave and a large Acura-like grille on the front. The photos don’t really give any indication on what size the vehicle is – the front looks very grand like it belongs on a larger vehicle but the side profile looks like a smaller sedan.

I am guessing that this is the City-based C-segment sedan that Guangqi Honda said they were working on back in September 2008. Honda in China is sold by two companies – Dongfeng Honda and Guangqi Honda. In the C-segment market, the Honda Civic is sold by Dongfeng Honda, leaving Guangqi Honda with no C-segment sedan competitor.

Look after the jump for hi-res images of the new Li Nian.
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