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Audi e-Tron Spyder rumored to debut in Paris

September 21, 2010 at 9:22 am By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Audi, Cars, Concept Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News

Could this be a leaked sketch of the upcoming Audi e-Tron Spyder? According to Caradisiac it is. They have reported that this car will make a Paris Motor Show debut, likely as a concept. The Spyder is a convertible based on the Audi e-tron concept that was recently previewed at the Detroit Motor Show. According to the publication, only a thousand units will be built in 2012.

No information have been provided on the powertrain running this car, but if it is for real, it will probably feature something similar to the e-Tron concept. This would be four electric motors, creating a total power output of 204hp and 2,650Nm of torque. The original e-tron concept was shown at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show featuring 313hp and 4,500Nm of torque.

However some are saying that the topless e-tron will be powered by a 3.0 litre V6 TDI paired with two front-mounted electric motors and a dual-clutch transmission. This means that there is a possibility of the e-tron Spyder being a hybrid instead of a pure electric vehicle. All we can do for now is wait for the Paris event to confirm these reports.

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TD Cars Malaysia exporting the TD2000 to Thailand

September 21, 2010 at 12:59 am By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, Local News

TD Cars Malaysia, makers of the TD2000 have announced plans of exporting their MG-inspired car to Thailand. The Malaysian company recently signed an agreement with Tycoon Car Co Ltd, which have been appointed as the official distributor in the country.

TD Cars’ Managing Director Edward Teo said that Thailand would be the 15th export destination for the TD2000 which is assembled locally by Proton. “Our Malaysian-made car has successfully sparked interest among people from all over the world and we are excited at this opportunity to share our concept of classic open-top driving in Thailand,” he added in a statement.

The TD2000 is scheduled to be launched in Thailand by December this year and Tycoon Car Co Ltd aims to sell at least 20 units in it’s first year. Apart from Thailand, the rear-wheel-drive TD2000 is also exported to the Philippines, Singapore, Australia, the Middle East and the UK.

The TD2000′s chassis is made of high strength steel and uses a fully independent double wishbone front suspension and leaf spring at the rear. It makes use of a 2.0 litre Toyota 3S-FE engine, which develops 130hp. Customers have the option of a 5-speed manual or an automatic transmission.

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2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS – engine line-up revealed

September 21, 2010 at 12:39 am By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, International News, Mercedes Benz

We’ve just brought you official pictures of the new Mercedes CLS. Now we’ve got details to spare you, including the all important engines that are being offered with the 2nd generation CLS. First to be released is the CLS 350 BlueEFFICIENCY, which will house a 306hp 3.5-litre six-cylinder petrol engine.

Next will be the CLS 250 CDI, made up of a 2.1 litre diesel engine producing 204hp. There is also a 265-hp six-cylinder 3.0-litre diesel in the CLS 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY. The company also confirmed that the 500 BlueEFFICIENCY with a 408hp V8 will go on sale in December later this year. All engines are fitted with an ECO engine start/stop function as standard. They will be coupled with the 7–speed G-Tronic Plus transmission.

Most notable is the world’s first fully LED high performance headlamps that is available as an option. For the first time the lighting system features the company’s Intelligent Light System with bi-xenon headlamps integrated with LED technology.

Among others including those must-have safey features, there is also an electromechanical Direct-Steer system as well as an optional Active Parking Assist feature which pretty much allows the CLS to park on it’s own. On the inside, customers will have a choice of five trim variants and three types of leather options. European deliveries of the CLS will begin sometime in April.

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Lotus Elite supercar unveiled – set for 2014 release!

September 21, 2010 at 12:06 am By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, Concept Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Lotus

Lotus has finally revealed it’s plans for the much-anticipated supercar, which will be given the legendary Elite designation. We are not sure if this model is the much-talked about Esprit replacement as the Elite name was used before, both in 1958 and 1974. However the supercar signals the company’s foray into Ferrari and Aston Martin territory. In the press release, the Elite has been described as “ultimate refinement”.

The public will be the judge of that, but no doubt design has progressed slightly, which should help in its quest to compete with the big boys. I must admit that the prototype pictured here does point to a pretty good looking production car.

The 2+2 Elite will be offered with a retractable hard top. It will house a force-inducted 5.0 litre V8 engine (which hasn’t been confirmed whether this will be turbocharged or supercharged) that is set to pump out 612hp and 720Nm of torque. Lotus also mentioned that there will be an optional hybrid system which will be made up by a hybrid gearbox integrated with two electric motors and a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS).

At the moment it is not certain if the above mentioned power figures take the hybrid system’s output into account, although judging from the high numbers, it is likely that power from the alternative source has been included. Weighing in at about 1,650kg, the car can accelerate to 100km/h in around 3.5 to 3.7 seconds, up to a top speed of 315km/h. This also gives it approximately 215g/km of CO2 emissions output.

“There’s no denying that the Elite is breathtakingly beautiful to look at but it’s so much more than that, it’s a car that over delivers in all other aspects as well. One could say it’s a car of perfect contradictions, it’s compact yet spacious, high performing yet low emitting, lightweight yet still reassuringly solid. It’s a car that we are exceptionally proud of at Lotus and we truly believe that there is nothing else like it out there both in terms of styling and performance,” said Dany Bahar, CEO of Group Lotus.

This front mid -engined, rear wheel drive car will be put into production in early 2014 with a market debut in the second quarter in the same year. Prices are unconfirmed, but is expected to be at around the £115 000 mark. Look for a high-res picture gallery after the jump.

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JPJ undercover squad snaps 3,560 road sinners in the act!

September 21, 2010 at 12:06 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News

How was your Hari Raya holidays? It’s always good to catch up with friends and family from our hometowns, which is why Malaysians take every opportunity to balik kampung. But these periods of celebration are often marred by our horrible accident rate, which is among the highest in the world. To strike some fear in errant and misbehaving motorists, the police and JPJ have been out in full force this Raya.

It has been reported that undercover officers from the Road Transport Department (JPJ) have caught some 3,560 motorists committing traffic offences on camera during the recent Ops Sikap. The snoop squads were stationed along the country’s 202 “death stretches” and top road crimes were beating the red light, cutting queue, using emergency lanes and road shoulders, overtaking at double lines and using mobile phones while driving.

JPJ director-general Datuk Solah Mat Hassan revealed that the said officers travelled or stationed themselves along the death stretches in plain clothes and only equipped with cameras.

If you were among those caught on camera, expect a notice from JPJ in your mailbox inviting you for an interview, where the department would explain the alleged crime and hear your response. Datuk Solah said the interviews were necessary as the vehicle owners may not be the ones committing the offences.

Remember our previous post quoting the JPJ boss inviting the “services” of public MMS snipers? “The public have also been supportive by sending us photographs of motorists committing road offences. We will use these to book the errant motorists,” he said.

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BMW updates iDrive with a load of new stuff

September 19, 2010 at 1:03 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, International News

BMW have updated its iDrive in-car computer with a few new features mainly to do with connectivity through its ConnectedDrive system.

Through Google’s Panoramio service, iDrive’s navigation module will download images of the destination to provide the driver with additional navigational aid. The navigation module can also provide drivers with current European weather and temperature information updated at two-hourly intervals, at map scales starting from 1cm to 20km. Of course, these features start with Europe first so they may not be of much significance to a Malaysian BMW driver for now.

There’s also a feature called iPod Out, which allows display and control capability for iOS 4 devices using the on-board monitor and vehicle controls, including custom playlists, and the Genius function. BMW says they’ve changed the way they interface with iOS devices to the new iPod Out system to ensure future devices can be used with the vehicle on a long term basis. iDrive’s audio player can now also display Cover Art on the on board monitor.

For BlackBerry users, iDrive will now be able to access your phone’s emails via Bluetooth. Emails can be viewed on the control display or be read out via a text to speech feature so you don’t have to take your eyes off the road. The first BlackBerry to support this feature from launch is the Pearl 3G 9105. You can also access your calendar entries, SMS, tasks, and memos, not only from your BlackBerry but from a list of compatible smart phones. Any image file accompanying a stored contact can be displayed on the on-board monitor, for example when there is an incoming call.

For the F01/F02 7-Series, BMW has now added a full fledged telephone to the car – you do not need to pair your phone to the car via BlueTooth to access telephony services now. You can use the phone via a cordless handset integrated into the centre console of the rear compartment.

Next, BMW has finally caught up with the many other manufacturers offering on-board WiFi services. The WiFi access point uses an internet connection from either a mobile phone that supports SIM Access Profile integrated into the vehicle using a snap-in adapter, or a SIM card drawer which you can insert a data-enabled SIM card. The car switches between UMTS and GSM frequencies – no HSDPA here. Interestingly, BMW says the WiFi hotspot function is available as a retrofit function for all current BMW models as long as it is equipped with the latest generation of iDrive and has the mobile phone preparation with Bluetooth interface option.

Undoubtedly one of the gadgets that a BMW passenger will be using in the backseat is one of those new iPads, so BMW is cashing in by selling an iPad holder, which is an add-on to the optional Travel & Comfort System, which functions as the base carrier where holders can be hooked on. This Travel & Comfort system will debut with the new BMW X3 and will be available for all other models from Spring 2011. The iPad holder can be turned 90 degrees for a vertical or horizontal display, and tilt angle can be adjusted in the vertical mode.

Lastly, there is a something for vehicles that are not equipped with iDrive. There are plenty of such models in Malaysia, such as the 320d, the entire X1 range, and etc. BMW seems to be suggesting you use your iPhone as a replacement, such an “extremely high-quality BMW Station for the Apple iPhone” (press release language can sometimes be hilarious), which can be equipped to the 1-Series, 3-Series, Z4, X1, new X3 and outgoing X3. It allows the iPhone to be docked without any visible cable connections and also comes with a handsfree kit with a directional microphone, a radio mute function for incoming calls, and a charging function.

To complete the whole pseudo-iDrive experience, BMW will be releasing an iPhone app soon called BMW Link, which is sort of an in-car interface for your iPhone. Other than your usual telephony and music player functions, BMW Link also offers certain services from BMW ConnectedDrive such as breakdown assistance.

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BMW Concept 6-Series Coupe looks production ready!

September 19, 2010 at 11:33 am By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, Concept Cars


BMW have unveiled its Paris 2010 concept car – the BMW Concept 6-Series Coupe. As expected, the upcoming F12 6-Series is basically a 2 door version of the hot BMW Concept Gran Coupe. BMW claims the Concept 6-Series Coupe is a “design study” for a premium-class 2+2-seater but we all know that this is basically very close to production, since the spyshots we’ve seen of the new F12 look very much like this car.

Not much have been revealed about the F12 Concept so far, except for a bit about its headlamps. BMW says the F12 Concept features full white LED headlamps, which is a first on a BMW. Both the low beam and the high beam use LEDs, along with the fog lamps. The brake lights, signal indicators and etc on the rear are all LED-powered as well.

Look after the jump for a full gallery of the new F12 concept, including some angles of the interior.
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Hyundai BlueOn: the Korean company’s first full EV

September 18, 2010 at 10:42 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Hyundai, International News

Hyundai has officially unveiled their first fully electric car, called the BlueOn. The company first previewed an electric car concept, which was based on the previous i10 model at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009.

The BlueOn is based on the 2011 Hyundai i10, measuring in at 3,585 mm in length, 1,595 mm in width and 1,540 mm in height. This shell is powered by an 81hp electric motor that generates 210Nm of torque. Power will come from a 16.4kWh Lithium ion polymer battery that is said to have a longer lifespan and storage capacity compared to a nickel metal hydride battery.

Furthermore, the new powertrain gives the BlueOn an acceleration figure of 0 to 100km/h in 13.1 seconds, going on to reach a top speed of 130km/h. The car travels 140km on a single charge. When it runs out of juice, it can be recharged with a 220V household socket in six hours. A 380V power outlet on the other hand, replenishes 80 percent of its power in 25 minutes.

If noiseless electric cars are your worries, Hyundai has fixed that problem by installing a Virtual Engine Sound System (VESS) that creates an artificial sound to alert pedestrians of its presence. Hyundai plan to make about 2500 units by the end of 2012 and will be promoted in the next G20 summit. Look for pictures after the jump.
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2012 Mercedes CLS: more official pictures released ahead of Paris 2010

September 18, 2010 at 10:41 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, International News, Mercedes Benz

Mercedes has released more official pictures of the 2nd generation CLS, keeping the public well informed ahead of its Paris debut. Thanks to a leaked brochure pictures, we got a first glimpse of the new CLS, which has now been revealed in all its glory.

As you can see, the new Mercedes family face goes well with the CLS, no more looking like a bug of some kind. Though, it does look like the German’s have regressed in terms of individualist style, sticking with safer design lines.

The only thing Mercedes will be keeping away from the public till Paris is the specs of the car. Regardless, some are convinced that it will feature a 3.5 litre V6 engine generating 306hp, 4.7-litre 429hp turbo V8 and a range topping AMG 5.5 litre turbo v8 punching in at 536hp. You can expect all this and more at the Paris Motor Show 2010.

Look after the jump for a picture gallery.
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Mercedes Benz A-Class E-Cell: 500 units to be built

September 18, 2010 at 10:40 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Mercedes Benz

In a bid to be compliant with Euro emission standards, Mercedes has announced that they will be putting the A-Class E-Cell electric car into production.

The car will be powered by a 95hp electric motor that produces a respectable 290Nm of torque, but on average the car gives you about 68hp, with a 0 to 100 figure in 14 seconds. The car has an electronically-limited top speed of 150km/h.

Thanks to two 36 kWh lithium-ion batteries, the car has a range of 200km. This can be recharged in eight hours with the use of a 230-volt home socket for a 120km journey. The figure reduces to 4 hours if using a 400V industrial power point.

As with all modern day electric cars, the A-class will have electric car related tech such as pre-start climate control, unique display unit, COMAND sat nav, infotainment system along with trimmings such as bixenon headlights. A cool feature on the car is the fact that you can check your car charging status over the internet and phone.

The A-Class will have an initial run of 500 units, no doubt to test the waters, which will be available on lease in Europe later this year. Look after the jump for a picture gallery.
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