Gong Xi Fa Cai

Advertisement

Kia Magentis Koup and Wagon in the works?

April 20, 2010 at 2:57 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Kia, Koreans

Kia Magentis Koup
Click for enlarged version of image

Peter Schreyer has indicated that he would love to do a wagon and coupe version of the Kia Magentis, also known as the Kia Optima here in Malaysia. The all-new Magentis has just been unveiled by Kia in sedan form. Typically, a D-segment vehicle such as the Magentis will usually be accompanied by a wagon body in Europe (like the Mazda 6, Euro Accord and Mondeo), as well as a two-door coupe bodystyle in North America such as the Honda Accord Coupe and the Toyota Camry Solara.

Kia Magentis Koup
Click for enlarged version of image

US is probably the only country in the world where large D-segment coupes in that segment (as in non luxury) work, and Schreyer agrees that a “Magentis Koup” would work in the US. Here we have renderings of what a Magentis Koup or Optima Koup would look like by Theophilus Chin. Do you like the renderings?

59 Comments      

Citroën pays homage to China with Metropolis concept

April 20, 2010 at 1:58 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, China, Citroën, Concept Cars

Citroën should be one of the few remaining carmakers who believe that concept cars must deliver shock and awe above all – their recent creations like the GTbyCitroen, Revolte and the Survolt from Geneva look like beings from another planet. Their latest concept, Metropolis, takes all that wackiness and puts it in a limo body.

The French carmaker says that the Metropolis “pays homage to China’s extraordinary development” and reflects China’s “avantgarde status, grandeur and vitality”. What? Created by Citroën’s international design team – based in Shanghai since 2008 – the Metropolis will be on show in the French Pavilion at the 2010 Expo in Shanghai from 1st May to 31st October this year.

The Metropolis’ silhouette is imposing (5.3m long, 2m wide, 1.4m high), blending taut lines with smooth surfaces. Up front, the sculpted wings and kite-shaped grille hint at recent Citroen concepts. The headlamps have an “imperious and steely look” according to its maker. At the rear, there’s an active spoiler and Citroën’s signature concave rear window. Wrapping up is a ‘Pearl Silk’ body colour that changes under different light conditions.

This car is a plug in hybrid which consists of a 2.0-litre V6 petrol and a 7-speed, dual-clutch gearbox. At low speeds, the limo runs in zero emissions mode, its electric motor developing a continuous 55 bhp, peaking at 95bhp. At steady speeds, the engine provides 272 bhp and 375 Nm. When additional performance is required, both sources combine for 460 bhp and 430 Nm of torque channeled to all wheels. The Metropolis sits on Citroën’s Hydractive suspension, of course.

More pictures after the jump.
[Read more...]

17 Comments      


Mercedes Shooting Break concept previews all-new CLS

April 20, 2010 at 12:54 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Concept Cars, International News, Mercedes Benz

This is the Shooting Break concept car from Mercedes Benz that will make its debut in Auto China 2010. Although it’s in a shooting brake wagon style, a lot of what you see here will appear in the new CLS, which should be unveiled later this year. And if you’re wondering, there’s no typo in the name – Mercedes points out that the bodystyle’s history can be traced back to carriages used to “break” in wild horses.

Mercedes’ rival to the much less sleek BMW 5-Series GT and upcoming Audi A7 is wide and flat, with a long bonnet and a flowing roof, made to look more dramatic by the CLS-style plunging glasshouse. Up front, the Shooting Break uses a wide grille housing a big three pointed star, now standard in every Mercedes concept and soon to be implemented across the range. The grille is flanked by headlamps which for the first time feature LEDs (71 of them in total) for all light functions. Prominent on the side profile is an exaggerated beltline sweeping downwards to the rear, meeting strong rear haunches that’s also present on the W212 E-Class.

Open the frameless doors and you’ll find a very accurate preview of the CLS’ dash. Save for some funky hues and textures, it looks production ready and sports many elements that current Mercedes owners would be familiar with. The architecture is sleek and more minimalist that in the E-Class. This wagon has a full-length centre console that emphasises its four-seat layout, which looks very warm and inviting I must say.

The oak floor of the luggage compartment with aluminium loading strips look almost too beautiful to carry cargo. Notice the four saddle bags in the boot and the cursive-script used to spell “Mercedes” on the tail end of the centre console and door sills. There are ten square metres of leather padding this concept’s living space, which is a lot of dead cows for one car!

The concept is powered by a new 3.5-litre V6, with direct injection and a control system that enables lean-burn operation. It uses the latest generation piezo-electric injection valves which enable multiple injections. Even the operation of the ancillary components has been made more efficient and there is also a start/stop function. To come with the CLS, it pumps out 306 bhp and 370 Nm and will be paired to an upgraded 7G-tronic gearbox.

A big gallery awaits you after the jump.
[Read more...]

29 Comments      

Lotus Racing in China: Happy Heikki, unlucky Trulli

April 20, 2010 at 11:01 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Formula 1, Lotus, Motorsports

Lotus Racing ended the first round of flyaway races on a high after Heikki Kovalainen finished 14th in Shanghai, which was not only ahead of the other new teams but the first time a rookie team crossed the line ahead of an established rival, in this case Nico Hulkenberg in his Williams-Cosworth.

The Finn made a bold call early on to stay out on dry tyres (like eventual podium sitters Jenson Button and Nico Rosberg) when most of the pack opted for wets, and reaped the rewards. Trulli on the other hand seems to be carrying all the allocated bad luck as his race once again came to a premature end on lap 34. The problem? Hydraulics.

“Whilst I’m obviously pleased I want to say first how disappointed I am for Jarno. He’s had a lot of bad luck so far – it seems all our bad luck has been on his car, so apologies to him, but it was a fantastic race from Heikki. We judged all the calls correctly and were on the right tyres all the way through, so congratulations to the whole team for that.

“I’m also very pleased to see our race pace was very good, especially at the end on the wet conditions. These first four races were always going to be tough, but we’ve achieved what we set out to and now we’re looking ahead to Barcelona and seeing how the updates we’ve been working on help us move forward,” said Mike Gascoyne, Chief Technical Officer.

“It’s kind of bitter sweet today. It’s obviously a great result for Heikki but a real shame for Jarno as he seems to take the brunt of the issues – it’s a bit odd as it does seem to be just his car,” remarked team boss Tony Fernandes.

Lotus isn’t the only team with updates for the start of the European leg of the season, so it’ll be interesting to see where they stand in Spain.

38 Comments      

Toyota Camry Hybrid production & sales begin in China

April 19, 2010 at 6:44 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, China, International News, Toyota

The production of the Toyota Camry Hybrid (the version with the Aurion-style look) has started in China via Toyota’s partner Guangzhou Toyota Motor. The Camry Hybrid will be sold between 319,800 yuan to 364,800 yuan, which roughly translates to between RM150k to RM172k at current exchange rates.

The Camry Hybrid is now produced at a few locations around the world – Kentucky, Thailand, Australia, Japan and now China. Not all produce the same version though – there are some that produce the US and Japanese market bodytype while the rest produce the Aurion-based body. The fundamentals under the metal are the same though – a 2.4 litre Atkinson cycle 2AZ-FXE engine producing 147 horsepower at 6,000rpm and 187Nm of torque at 4,400rpm, paired to a 30kW (40 horses) electric motor with 270Nm of torque.

91 Comments      

2010 Chinese Grand Prix – High-Res Image Gallery!

April 19, 2010 at 6:39 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Formula 1, Motorsports

Jenson Button and the McLaren team have both climbed up the 2010 Formula 1 championship standings. Button who scored his second win of the season yesterday in China is now leading the Driver’s Championship with 60 points, 10 points ahead of Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg who to me is the most consistent driver in this season despite not having a race-winning car. McLaren is also up in front in the Constructor’s Championship with 109 points while Ferrari is in second with 90 points.

Red Bull has been doing really well in qualifying but McLaren seems to have an upper hand through out a full race distance. Its been downhill since Ferrari’s 1-2 victory at the season-opening round in Bahrain. The team has suffered from engine failures and various mishaps although Fernando Alonso has been doing well in terms of damage control.

The Spaniard was slapped with a drive through penalty yesterday following a jump start and made a total of five pit stops. He still managed to finish the race in fourth place. Michael Schumacher is still tailing his teammate in Mercedes. The Formula 1 circus will meet up again at the Spanish GP in three weeks time, if the weather conditions in Europe improve that is.

More images can be found after the jump.
[Read more...]

18 Comments      

Latest model from Naza: Rosomak 8X8 armoured vehicle!

April 19, 2010 at 5:26 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Laughs, Local News, Naza

Not sure about you, but this came as a surprise to me. While we know that the Naza Group does more than just sell cars (they’re involved in property, hotels and F&B for instance) I would never have imagined a tank!

According to the company’s latest press release, Naza Bumar, a subsidiary of Naza Defence, unveiled this Rosomak 8X8 Armoured Modular Vehicle (AMV) at the ongoing Defence Services Asia 2010 exhibition at Putra World Trade Centre.

The Rosomak (Wolverine in Polish) is made by Bumar of Poland and is currently used by the former Eastern Bloc nation for its Land Forces in Afghanistan, Chad and Iraq, besides armies from Croatia, Finland, Poland, Slovenia, South Africa and the UAE.

The main feature of the Rosomak is its modular design, which allows the incorporation of different turrets, weapons, sensors and communications systems on the same platform. The 8×8 AMV weighs between 18 and 26 tonnes depending on armour, weapons and ammunition on board. The Rosomak is said to have very good mine protection and can withstand TNT explosions of up to 10 kgs, besides ballistic protection against 30 mm armour piercing APFSDS rounds.

Don’t expect hot hatch handling, although the Rosomak is said to have “agile mobility, combining speed, agility, and crew comfort in all kinds of terrain and adverse climatic conditions” from its hydraulic all-independent suspension. How much does it cost? Call the Ministry of Defence’s hotline number!

UPDATE: The Rosomak is powered by a Scania 12-litre diesel engine with 480 bhp and 1970 Nm of torque. It is paired to a 7-speed ZF automatic gearbox, which sends drive to all eight wheels. It can even survive in water thanks to two shrouded propellers at the rear of the hull. Max swimming speed is 10 km/h.

176 Comments      

It’s official: FD2 Civic Type R to be discontinued after August, Japan to get 2010 spec UK-built hatchback

April 19, 2010 at 3:25 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Honda, International News

The impending demise of the FD2 Civic Type R is confirmed; Honda has announced that it will discontinue production of that manic machine after August 2010. However, Honda is out to sooth broken hearted Japanese enthusiasts with the 2010 model year Civic Type R Euro, which comes with mild exterior revisions and a “limited edition” tag.

The sharply styled three-door hatchback rolls off from Honda’s Swindon plant in the UK, which is the only factory in the world to build the car. The first FN Type R units boarded ships from Southampton in October 2009 to make the long trip to Japan. Since it went on sale in November last year, Honda has shifted over 1,850 units.

The company says that the CTR Euro has been “especially well-received by buyers in their thirties to forties, who value a sports car as part of an upscale lifestyle.” We can only presume that the buyer profile for the FD2R is younger and more “hardcore”, which can also be used to describe its uncompromising ride quality.

While similar in basic concept (howling high revving i-VTEC engine, slick six-speed manual, super grip), the European Civic Type R is not the car we know with a different skin. The 2.0-litre engine makes 198 bhp/193 Nm, less than the FD2R’s 221 bhp/215 Nm and the rear suspension is a torsion beam as opposed to double wishbones.

Local FD2R owners might want to hang on to their cars, which will very soon be “collector’s items”. The hatchback would be very expensive for Honda Malaysia to import, so this should be the last we’ll see of official Type Rs in Malaysia. It was fun while it lasted.

80 Comments      

New Hyundai Accent spyshots show a downsized Sonata!

April 19, 2010 at 12:32 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, Koreans, Spyshots

Here are some spyshots of the new Hyundai Accent undisguised. It looks like the same car as the untaped red unit we posted before, which could have been either the new Accent or new Elantra/Avante. More likely the former, as the B-segment car is the older of the two – the current MC Accent was launched back in 2005. This new set of spyshots also reveal the car’s rear end, which looks to have the “Verna” badge on the bootlid (it’s quite blur though). The Accent is called Verna in its home market as well as in Singapore.

Hyundai is moving away from dull designs, and Korean entries are becoming design leaders in their segments – the new Sonata and Tucson look so removed from their predecessors, it’s hard to believe they’re only one generation apart in the same model line. This supposed new Accent clearly takes after the Fluidic Sculpture design language from the Sonata, and looks like a downsized version of it. The long headlamps, prominent strakes and lines, they’re all here, and it looks good.

We look forward to the unveiling, possibly at the upcoming Beijing Motor Show, but for now check out the rest of the pics after the jump.

Source
[Read more...]

62 Comments      

CNG powered VW Scirocco to take on Nürburgring 24 hours

April 19, 2010 at 11:45 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Motorsports, Volkswagen

Volkswagen is set to again unleash its green racers on the circuit nicknamed “green hell”. The car in question is the Scirocco GT24-CNG, and three of those will make a return to Nordschleife to race in the Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race held from 12-16 May.

The Scirocco GT24-CNG is powered by a 2.0-litre TSI engine powered by natural gas, reducing CO2 emissions by 80 per cent over a conventional petrol engine. The unit is a development of the powerplant that secured class victory last year and sees power output increased to 325 bhp from just under 300 bhp. 2010-spec cars also have larger braking systems to reduce maintenance intervals and two extra light units in the front bumper to improve visibility.

One of the three cars, which will be driven by Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Management Board for Technical Development and Prof Dr Stefan Gies, VW’s Head of Chassis Development, will be the testbed for an active electro-hydraulic differential designed to combine the functionality of the standard unit with improved handling characteristics and a reduction in understeer. If it passes this ultimate test of endurance, perhaps we’ll see this feature in VW’s upcoming road cars.

Will Team VW improve on last year’s best placing of 15th? Early signs are promising, with driver Nicki Thim recently posting a lap record on the Nordschleife circuit for a front-wheel drive vehicle in a time of 8m 47.337s.

7 Comments