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Cosworth extracts 395 hp from the Subaru WRX STI

May 25, 2010 at 5:06 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, International News, Subaru

Cosworth has fettled with the Subaru WRX STI to produce promising results. The finely tuned machine designated the Subaru Cosworth STi CS400 has been improved in more ways than one. The selling point of this car is the fact that the power output has been increased from the usual 296 hp to a significantly higher 395 hp.

The 0 to 100 figures will be in the region of 3.7 seconds and will continue to a top speed of 250km/h. The increase in power output has done wonders for the maximum torque, with the production of an amazing 539Nm. This is equivalent to the acceleration of the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4!

All this power is extracted from the 2.5-litre four cylinder turbo boxer engine along with the help of high performance pistons, connecting rods, head gasket, oil pumps and bearings. The standard turbocharger has been reworked with the addition of a new compressor design and wastegate actuators.

Handling on the car will probably be different as the chassis is a joint effort between Cosworth, Bilstein and Eibach. The list of changes include new coil springs that lower the car’s ride height by 10mm and the increase in the size of the front brakes, which are now 355mm AP Racing discs. This is hidden behind the 18 inch alloy wheels that widen the track of the car by 12mm.

You will get the addition of a new front bumper, foglights, mesh grilles and rear spoiler. Inside, the centre console is finished in a piano black theme while the Recaro bucket seats and tinted back mirrors maintain that sporting persona.

Colour options are limited to just silver, dark grey and red. Only 75 of these machines will be made, and will only be available in the UK.

Look after the jump for a picture gallery.
[Read more...]

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07/08 Lamborghini Murcielago at risk of fuel leakage

May 25, 2010 at 4:58 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, Lamborghini

Calling all Lamborghini Murcielago and Murcielago Roadster owners, your car may blow up! Well that may be an exaggeration, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the US has announced recently that models that were made between 2007-2008 will have to be recalled.

Lamborghini is recalling these models due to the welds holding the fuel pump support inside the fuel tank could detach. This could ‘result in a fuel leak’. Which in turn could result in a fire when igniting the engine. But owners can rest easy knowing that dealers will replace the fuel tanks free of charge and the recall exercise expected to begin in June 2010.

There have been no indication whether cars outside the US are affected but it might be worth checking out as most Murcielago’s would have been assembled at the same point. Until June, you may want to keep your bull in the garage.

Source

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Volkswagen buying over 90 percent of Giugiaro?

May 25, 2010 at 4:15 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, International News, Volkswagen

Volkswagen LogoAccording to Automotive News Europe sources, Volkswagen AG will officially announce their take over of Italdesign Giugiaro S.p.A on Tuesday (European time, not our time) as mentioned in previous articles. If things go through, Volkswagen will be buying up a huge 90 percent stake in the design company that had a hand in cars such as the original Lotus Esprit. The Giugiaro family will retain 10 percent of the family business that surrounds Italdesign co-founder Giorgetto Giugiaro and his son Fabrizio, 45, who heads the design and model division. The move will further help in VW’s plans in strengthening its global brand.

Source

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Lexus recalling LS460L and the LS460 in Malaysia

May 25, 2010 at 2:52 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Lexus

Toyota Motors recently issued a press statement regarding an issue with their VGRS steering system globally. We can now confirm that a few models in Malaysia has been affected by the problem, which include the Lexus LS460L and the LS460. Cars in Malaysia that may be affected is said to be lower than 10.

Lexus Malaysia will be in contact with the respective owners to consolidate the issue. The VGRS system helps the handling of the car. This is done by providing more stability when driving at high speeds and better manoeuvring at low speeds.

The problems is at low speeds, when the steering wheel exhibits a temporary steering wheel off-centre condition which happens after driving away from a tight turn where the steering was at a full lock position. the steering wheel usually will be corrected after 5 seconds of this happening but feedback from customers has spurred the company to correct this little niggle in the system.

Fortunately it doesn’t greatly affect safety and this will not happen when changing lanes or turning at intersections. UMW Toyota Motor have stated that they will be booking in the owners as soon as the parts are available to carry out the ‘corrective measure’ and customers can expect to wait no longer than an hour.

Customers who have booked the LS460L or LS460 Sport needn’t fear as Lexus Malaysia have maintained that all the models will go through corrective measures before they’re delivered.

For more information customer can also contact their helpline which is 1-800-8-LEXUS (53987)

31 Comments      

Peugeot RCZ Test Drive Report from Spain

May 24, 2010 at 5:36 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Peugeot, Test Drive Reviews

Local brand handlers Nasim has done a brilliant job at providing us with very well specced and very well priced Peugeots that don’t require car buyers to fork out extra for a European alternative, something Malaysians have been forced to accept for so long.

The 206 Bestari started the ball rolling by providing something classy in the budget segment, but it was the introduction of the 308 that propelled Peugeot into the minds and shortlists of carbuyers, and into Japanese territory.

But I am going to be honest and say that the 308 doesn’t at all move me, someone who leans more on the Continental side of the argument when it comes down to Europe vs Japan. While the 308′s sheer value can’t be ignored, it doesn’t offer much to the keen driver – while the engines are good – strong, smooth, and quite fast in the Turbo’s case – every other driving aspect isn’t. Even the 175 bhp 3-door GT doesn’t really cut it as a hot hatch.

Shoulder to shoulder in the real world (against fellow European C-segment hatchbacks, not Civics and Corollas) the Pug is no where near a Golf Mk6 in overall ability and is unenjoyable to drive next to the Focus. The deal breaker for me is that awful “Porsche” auto ‘box, not so much for its lack of ratios (only four) but for the slack and being so clueless.

Casting a wider net, there’s still nothing in Peugeot’s current range that’s desirable to this writer – could the RCZ change this skeptic?

We were privileged to sample Peugeot’s latest pride and joy at the RCZ’s international launch in northern Spain last month, and here’s the report.

Continue reading after the jump.
[Read more...]

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UniChip Europe pumps up Toyota Hilux 3.0L’s power

May 24, 2010 at 5:32 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Toyota

If you think that your Toyota Hilux doesn’t have the grunt that you require, you will be pleased to know that Unichip Europe has introduced a new Uni-Q upgrade. The 3.0L Hilux which has been claimed to be previously ‘unmappable’ using traditional OBD based systems will now be able to be tuned up with the new remap.

The Uni-Q upgrade enables tuners to refine and increase performance of any petrol or diesel engine. There will be a 29 bhp increase in power from 155 bhp to 184 bhp at 3500 rpm from the Hilux’s 3.0-litre engine, while torque figures jump from 344 Nm to 400 Nm from as low as 3,000rpm.

Unichip Europe has developed an off the shelf ‘U-connect wiring loom’ for customers to install themselves in a matter of minutes. The Uni-Q comes pre-programmed with the specially developed ECU map settings for the fueling and turbo boost settings, making it an almost ‘plug and play’ scenario.

A decent amount of performance is extracted from this bulky machine, thus this will be a welcome change for Hilux customers and would be even better if that specifications can be used for the 2.5 litre engines available here in Malaysia,

Look after the jump for a power chart of the upgraded engine.
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Honda suspends Thai operations due to Red Shirt protests

May 24, 2010 at 3:56 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, Honda, International News

Honda has suspended operations for a day at two of their factories in Thailand, due to the bloody turmoil created by the Red Shirt protests. One of them is a car manufacturing plant in Ayutthaya while the other is a motorcycle plant in a Bangkok suburb. The company also closed its main office in the capital as the military cracked down on the Reds.

“We’ll decide whether to operate our business on a day-by-day basis, watching the changing situation there,” a Honda spokeswoman told AFP. The Ayutthaya plant churns out around 240,000 vehicles a year, mostly Accord and Civic sedans meant for the domestic market.

After last week’s wave of arson attacks by angry Red Shirts, which consumed buildings such as the Central World shopping landmark and the iconic Siam Theatre, the City of Angels is being cleaned up now, and normal life is starting to resume, along with the traffic jams.

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Nido EV is Pininfarina’s version of the Proton EMAS

May 24, 2010 at 3:10 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News

Possibly tired of drawing up Ferraris, Pininfarina tries their hand at the whole eco car thing and have released this electric car concept called Nido EV. A development of the similarly named 2004 concept, the Nido EV, which is slightly bigger than a Smart fortwo, is designed both to explore the electrification of a small city car and a modular floorpan.

The body structure of this first running prototype is a tubular steel frame, while the final version will have an aluminium space frame. The structure was designed to adapt to four different configurations: 2-seater, 2+2, pickup and light van. They can be completely electric or hybrid. Doesn’t it sound like a certain concept from a rival Italian design house that captured Proton’s attention?

The Nido EV is powered by a 30 kW electric motor housed in the rear of its 900 kg shell. With 125 Nm of instantaneous torque, the 100 km/h mark is reached in only 6.7 seconds, faster than a Golf GTI. Top speed is electronically limited to 120 km/h. Instead of the common NiMh or Li-ion batteries, the Nido is powered by salt batteries. The Zebra Z5 Ni-NaCl battery is said to guarantee high levels of safety and reliability and a full charge delivers 140 km of emissions free driving. The battery is 100% recyclable at the end of its life.

Also, as if already expecting plenty of questions about the Nido’s unfinished interior, Pininfarina explains that the cabin is still at the “technical prototype” stage, with no attempt at stylistic research. Gallery after the jump.
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Hyundai i10 now comes with 1.25L Kappa engine!

May 24, 2010 at 12:19 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, Koreans, Local News

The Hyundai i10 now has an additional variant in Malaysia equipped with the more modern and powerful twin cam 1.25 litre Kappa family engine, which supplements the 1.1 litre SOHC and does not replace it in the Malaysian line-up.

This engine complies with Euro 4 emissions regulations and produces 80 PS and 112Nm of torque compared to the 1.1 litre Epsilon single cam engine’s 66 PS.

There are actually two versions of the new aluminum alloy Kappa engine. One is a lower powered 1,197cc with a shorter stroke, but we are getting the European spec 1,248cc version, hence the 1.25 litre displacement instead of just 1.2 litre.

All Kappa engines are twin cam, 16 valve, use distributorless ignition, lightweight ECOFORM pistons, and feature an EPS power steering system. The engine is mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission.

The i10 (1.25l Kappa) is CKD assembled and is priced at RM49,688 (OTR) for the standard spec and RM52,688 (OTR) for the high spec (adds 2 airbags and ABS brakes) in West Malaysia and comes with a 5 years warranty or 300,000km extended warranty.

The Kappa model also has two exclusive colours not available on the 1.1 litre – Oyster Grey and Deepsea Blue.

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New Audi A8 is a moving WiFi hotspot!

May 24, 2010 at 12:07 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Audi, Cars, International News

Audi is future proofing its new A8 limo by factory installing a WLAN hotspot for wireless internet connection as an option. Which means that passengers not only have business class comfort, but can conduct business in the car too, as they can access internet wirelessly via the WLAN module and UMTS with up to eight devices.

Wireless surfing, accessing information, data and e-mails from company networks, and downloading the latest apps for the iPad can be done securely, as the connection contains WPA2 encryption for transfer of data. Connection speeds can go up to 7.2 Mbps.

The first car in the world to offer such a function, using the WLAN hotspot will involve inserting a data capable SIM card into the Bluetooth online car phone. There is also the option of using Bluetooth from a mobile phone to establish a connection. Internet connectivity is channelled through the rooftop antenna of the Audi A8 using its own UMTS module, which is said to have outstanding connection stability and reception quality.

A huge gallery of the A8 is available here.

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