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BMW M division reveals more about the 1-Series M Coupe

October 14, 2010 at 5:16 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, International News, Spyshots

We know for sure that an M badged hot version of the BMW 1-Series Coupe is coming – M division boss Dr. Kay Segler previously said that the car will roll out in the first half of 2011, they released a video of the car and also showed it on the streets of Paris during the motor show – but details have been scarce, until now.

In an interview with M’s official website, Albert Biermann, Head of Development at BMW M GmbH said that the upcoming hot 1-Series Coupe is “completely in the tradition of the first BMW M3″, and that it will make M-car ownership more accessible. The price will be closer to a 135i Coupe than the M3 Coupe.

The M Coupe will be powered by a 3.0-litre inline six with twin turbos. It will produce about 340 hp. Power goes to the rear wheels via a good old six-speed manual with no automatic option. The prototypes undergoing testing now have many similarities to the chassis, brakes, and rear differential of the BMW M3, according to Biermann, who adds that this car (1,500 kg weight is the target) will be about ten seconds faster than the E46 M3 around the Nordschleife.

More aggressive body styling is expected and the M Coupe will be 80 mm wider than the 135i, which has 306 hp and does 0-100 km/h in 5.3 seconds. Full details will be released in December while the motor show debut will be at Detroit 2011.

More pics after the jump.
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AVL presents its Fuel Cell Commuter EV at Expo Shanghai

October 14, 2010 at 5:05 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News

avl logoIt seems that Austrian-based automotive consulting firm Anstalt für Verbrennungskraftmaschinen List (AVL) is showcasing its new AVL Fuel Cell Commuter electric vehicle at this week’s Austria Tec Week in Expo Shanghai 2010.

No photos or details about the fuel cell range extender system, which was developed through a research project in conjunction with Tongji University in China, or for that matter the EV vehicle from the news picked up on it, but at the heart of it should lie the usual lithium-ion and electric motor system working together with a small hydrogen fuel cell range extender.

AVL does say that the substantial advantage of its FCC is its continuous availability due to the significantly reduced charging time, since refueling with hydrogen only takes a few minutes compared to the few hours needed to charge a battery. Of course, this increased range does also mean that the vehicle needs to carry the necessary hydrogen tank for the autonomous auxiliary power unit.

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Proton Inspira now officially open for bookings!

October 14, 2010 at 11:42 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton, Proton Inspira - full details, specifications and test drive

Proton has unveiled that Proton Inspira will be the official name for its Proton Waja replacement model, which has until now been only referred to by its internal codename, the Proton P3-90A.

The Proton Inspira is developed from a Mitsubishi Lancer with the choice of a Mitsubishi’s 4B10 1.8 litre engine with a 5-speed manual, a Mitsubishi 4B10 1.8 litre engine with a 6-speed virtual ratio CVT gearbox, or a top of the range 2.0 litre 4B11 engine with the same CVT transmission with added steering column paddle shifters.

At launch, the Inspira will have about 26% local content at launch, with the aim of raising it to 40% within the next few months and straight up to 65% within a year from the launch date once the local vendors have been fully prepped. It is built at Proton’s MVF plant.

Available in red, white, black or silver, the new Proton Inspira is now open for booking at any Proton dealer with a deposit of RM1,000. As an appreciation to early birds, Proton will be offering a 2 year (50,000km) free service package worth RM1,658 including parts and labor to those who take delivery of their brand new Proton Inspira for bookings made by the 15th of November 2010 that are delivered before the 31st of December 2010.

The tentative pricing starts from RM79,888 OTR for the 1.8 manual up to not more than RM95k for the top of the line. The 1.8 CVT will be somewhere in the middle. The official pricing will be unveiled at the official launch by the 10th of November 2010.

The photos above and after the jump provided by Proton is the only thing we can show you for now as there is an embargo that we must respect and official images will only be provided closer to the launch date in early November 2010.

Has anyone booked the Inspira yet? Be sure to read our first drive impressions!
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Proton P3-90A based on Mitsubishi Lancer: Preview Drive!

October 13, 2010 at 5:50 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Malaysian Makes, Proton, Proton Inspira - full details, specifications and test drive

We were fortunate enough to be invited to a preview of the new Proton P3-90A, which is supposed to be a replacement for the Proton Waja, and positioned above the Proton Persona in the Proton product line-up. It’s no secret by now that this new model is based on the current generation Mitsubishi Lancer.

Look after the jump for our first impressions based on the preview drive.
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Budget 2011: BMW Malaysia dreams of cleaner fuel, government support for clean diesel technology

October 13, 2010 at 5:47 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, Local News, Malaysia Budget 2011

The 2011 Budget will be tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at the Dewan Rakyat this Friday (15 Oct). Many of us working in the private sector are hoping to get some share of the goodies, and some might be relieved to hear that the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has been postponed by the Finance Ministry, deferred to “enable the Government to engage inclusively all segments of the people on the imposition of the GST”.

As motorists, we hope for the best, which is usually translated to no increase in costs. The automotive industry has its own wishlist too – for instance, Toyota would not have been able to launch the Prius here with a competitive price if not for the tax breaks for hybrid cars announced in Budget 2009.

BMW Group Malaysia, which has been a leader in introducing the latest in diesel technology in Malaysia despite the unfriendly conditions, is hoping that the Government sees diesel tech as a main component in its green policies. BMW argues that diesel tech will be a good friend to our wallets and the environment, something that this website fully agrees with. And like the rest of us, they’re also hoping that fuel quality is improved, fast.

Geoffrey Briscoe, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia expertly states his views and the 2011 Budget wishlist of his company in a statement you can read after the jump. It’s good stuff and definitely an interesting read.
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Something new from Lexus, and it’s not a car – the world’s most advanced driving simulator

October 13, 2010 at 5:41 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Lexus, Technology

lexus sim

It sounds like just the thing for video game buffs, but this one is very much geared towards designing technology to help make driving safer.

It’s the world’s largest and most advanced driving simulator, run by Lexus at its research campus in Higashifuji, Japan. A series of complex, interlocking full motion tracks span the interior of a room the size of a football field. On top of the tracks sits a round domed structure, approximately 4.6m high and 17m in diameter, supported on a full three-axis hexapod system.

Inside the dome, a real Lexus vehicle is mounted to a turntable, allowing drivers to test and experience actual vehicle controls. A high-definition imaging system provides a full 360-degree environment of roads around the vehicle, and drivers can see and hear traffic and the city around them, including receding scenery that’s viewable in the side- and rear-view mirrors.

The pod is able to tip forward, backward and from side-to-side, and coupled with the track system, which moves the pod in all directions, the simulator can create realistic sensations of acceleration, cornering and handling, being able to mimic speeds of up to 300 kph and a turn angle of 330 degrees to boot.

In essence, the simulator allows engineers to conduct tests to learn about driver behavior and reaction times. Besides traditional traffic incidents, tests are done to determine driver response while distracted by technology such as text messaging, navigation systems and car warnings/displays, as well as driving in poor visibility conditions and while drowsy.

Besides making for newer safer designs, these simulations of different driving scenarios allows engineers to analyse driver reactions before an accident and help determine what technologies can be used to assist in helping to prevent future accidents. So, while it’s not a video game, it’s surely no less cool.

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Volkswagen Touareg gets the Exclusive treatment

October 13, 2010 at 1:54 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Volkswagen

vw touareg exclusive 1

Now, VW’s new Touareg is already winsome enough for most in its regular form, but what’s there for the person who thinks standard isn’t spiffy enough? Well, how about a Touareg kitted out with a Volkswagen Exclusive package then?

Available to order with all engine variants, including the hybrid, the version boasts a range of luxurious features, starting with an exterior that comes with a Chrome & Style package and anodised silver roof rails.

vw touareg exclusive 2

Inside, things begin with seats in a high-quality two-tone Nappa leather combination as standard. Available in two colour combinations, Pepper Beige/Titan Black and Dark Burgundy/Titan Black, the leather offers a practical feature besides looks, in this case treated “cool leather”, which prevents the seats from becoming too hot under direct sunlight.

The leather seat system includes heated front seats with electric 12-way settings, electro-pneumatically adjustable backrest side bolsters and head restraints with longitudinal and height adjustment.

vw touareg exclusive 3

Inclusive to the Exclusive package are leather door inserts, a black headliner and sill panel strips in stainless steel, with exclusive lettering to boot. Decorative real wood elements, finished in Olive Silk Gloss, round off the items in the interior.

The package also includes 19-inch Salamanca alloy wheels – finished in Sterling Silver – as standard, with a 19-inch Girona wheel available as a no-cost alternative. There’s also an optional 20-inch Tarragona wheel if one thinks the nineteens are too small and don’t cut it.

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Move aside Monster, here comes the Ducati Diavel!

October 13, 2010 at 12:18 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Bikes, Ducati

Ducati has a way with names. Why a cocktail of letters and numbers (CBR1000RR for instance) when you can just call the thing by whatever feel it gives you. Case in point is this, Ducati’s new model that will make its world debut at the EICMA International Motorcycle Show in Milan next month. It’s called the Diavel, Bolognese for devil.

Pronounced Dee-ah-vel, the name was born early in the development process of the bike. When the prototype was wheeled out in front of a group of Ducati engineers and technicians for the first time, one man saw its rear silhouette and exclaimed in the Bolognese dialect: “Ignurànt comm’ al diavel!” or “Evil, like the devil!” in English.

From then on, Diavel became the internal nickname for the project, now made official. Apparently, this was also how the legendary Monster was named 20 years ago.

Built to have a commanding presence, lightweight and agile, the Diavel “will take the man-motorcycle relationship to the next level in absolute comfort”. It won’t be lacking in performance with a Testastretta 11° engine and just 207 kg to haul. Features include ABS, Ducati Traction Control and Ducati Riding Modes.

High res image after the jump.
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Fiat five-seater mini-MPV to be built in Serbia – is this the new Fiat Idea?

October 13, 2010 at 12:05 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Fiat, International News

fiat L0

Resurrecting plans for production after they were frozen in 2009 due to the global recession, Fiat is set to build its L0 five-seat mini-MPV, effectively the replacement for the current Fiat Idea, at its factory in Kragujevac, Serbia.

The vehicle will sit on a Fiat 500 platform, but which is longer and wider than that of the two-door compact. You could of course call it a 500 with a tail, as the impression suggests. The current Idea, as well as the Lancia Musa, is underpinned by a chassis used in the second-generation Punto.

Fiat Automobili Srbija, which in the past was where state-owned automaker Zastava assembled Yugos, will build the five-seat MPV for the European market, as well as a seven-seater L0 version for both European and US markets, beginning the second quarter of 2012 after test production takes place next year.

The plant will have an output capacity of 200,000 cars a year, with possible expansion to 300,000 vehicles if demand increases.

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Rhys Millen pimps Hyundai’s flagship Equus for SEMA

October 13, 2010 at 11:45 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, Koreans


Click to enlarge

Here’s an unlikely “victim” of the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas. Hyundai is soon to launch its S-Class segment Equus flagship saloon in the US, but Rhys Millen Racing (RMR) have already got their hands on the luxury car, “pimping” it with exterior, interior and performance upgrades.

Helmed by the famous racer of the same name, RMR calls their creation the RMR Signature Edition Equus. It comes in two-tone carbon fibre and Red Bull Racing blue satin clear paint by BASF, together with carbon mirrors, front chin and rear deck spoilers plus giant 21-inch alloys. Inside, the Signature Edition Equus will sport embroidered headrests and floor mats plus ostrich hide (what?) leather seats with suede accents.

Performance wise, a special air-intake and stainless steel sport exhaust adds 30 horses to the 4.6-litre V8 engine for 415 hp. To match the added power, the Equus will also get a high-performance 14-inch brake kit.

“This is the third consecutive year we’ve partnered with Hyundai to bring a must-see car to the SEMA Show. The intelligent luxury platform of the new rear-wheel drive Equus is a perfect vehicle for tuners who have graduated from other segments and want to work with the best the automotive industry has to offer,” Rhys Millen said.

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