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BMW Driving Dynamics Weekend – photos & videos

November 20, 2010 at 7:20 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars

Here’s some videos and photos from today’s BMW Driving Dynamics Weekend event at Auto Bavaria Sungai Besi. Participants listened to a briefing about how BMW’s Dynamic Stability Control works to keep your BMW in check, but after that comes the fun part, where you get to try out the BMW 320d in a parking lot that’s kept continuously soaking wet, first with DSC off and then with DSC on to see the difference!

Look after the jump for one more video and a set of photos from the event. There are another three sessions tomorrow and slots are still available so please call BMW Voice at 1800-88-3000 to book your slot for the BMW Driving Dynamics Weekend.
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Aston Martin Rapide Luxe – when luxury is not enough

November 20, 2010 at 3:02 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Aston Martin, Cars, International News

The £140,000 Aston Martin Rapide not luxurious enough for you? Try the Luxe, a new higher trim level for Aston’s Austrian made “four-door sports car”.

The standard Rapide’s spec list is already very long, but the Luxe adds a choice of exclusive colour options, including Quantum Silver and Concours Blue, bespoke six-piece luggage set that matches the cabin, rear-seat DVD entertainment system with wireless headphones plus glass switchgear and key fob. Also new is the ventilation system, which allows for three temperature settings in the cabin.

The Rapide Luxe is priced around £157,445 (depending on options), which is a £17,000 premium over the standard model. It is powered by a hand-built 6.0-litre V12 with 470 hp and 600 Nm of torque. Pics after the jump.
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Audi A8 bags this year’s Euro Car Body Award

November 19, 2010 at 7:43 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Audi, Cars, International News

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Now, did you know that every year, leading body-manufacturing experts convene to discuss trends as well as scrutinise numerous body shells and series-production vehicles at the International Car-Body Benchmarking Conference? And that there’s an award called the Euro Car Body Award?

The last is where the attendees select the world’s most innovative series-built vehicle body for the year. The 12th edition of the conference, organised by Automotive Circle International and held in in Bad Nauheim, Germany late last month, saw 520 experts and a jury of specialists evaluating 14 of the latest series-production vehicles to determine a winner.

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When voting was done, the winner of the world’s most distinguished award for innovations in body manufacturing, better known as the Euro Car Body Award, was Audi’s A8, making it the fourth time Audi has taken the honours. In taking the gong, the A8 also set a new record by earning 41.11 out of a possible 50 points in the voting process.

Cetainly, there’s a lot in the Neckarsulm-made offering to have impressed the experts. The aluminium body (featuring no less than 13 grades of aluminium) weighs in at 231 kg, 30 kg less than its predecessor, but has a stiffness/weight ratio that’s increased by 20% over the previous shell. For those who enjoy such trivia, building one involves 1,847 punch-rivets, 632 self-tapping screws, 202 spot welds, 25 MIG welds, six metres of laser welds, and 44 metres of bonded seams.

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In addition to its impressive body properties, the Euro Car Body Award also recognised Audi’s pioneering concepts regarding processes, production and manufacturing as well as the company’s know-how concerning materials technology and joining techniques.

The current A8 follows in the tyre tracks of an A8 predecessor, which was the first Audi to win the award in 2003. In 2006, the TT won the award, and in 2008, it was the Q5′s turn to emerge victorious.

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Kia Optima Hybrid introduced – market entry in early 2011

November 19, 2010 at 5:17 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Kia

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Yet another joins the hybrid ranks, and this one is from Korean automaker Kia. The company introduced its new Kia Optima Hybrid Sedan at the 2010 LA Auto Show, and the vehicle is slated to make its US market debut early next year.

It’s equipped with a parallel hybrid system, where a 2.4 litre Theta II Atkinson cycle petrol engine is mated to a small electric motor and drives the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission, without the traditional torque converter.

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The car’s 30kW Interior Permanent Magnet (IPM) synchronous electric motor – described by Kia engineers as a Transmission-Mounted-Electric-Drive (TMED) – sits within the car’s extended transmission casing between the petrol engine and the automatic gearbox, and is the world’s first oil-cooled system.

A special clutch is fitted between the engine and motor, enabling the petrol engine to be de-coupled from the powertrain so that Optima can be operated in zero-emissions, full-electric drive mode from standstill up to 100 kph. Such is the configuration that a high-capacity electric motor and generator isn’t required, thus saving weight and cost.

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When setting off, the Optima Hybrid operates in Electric Mode, and as the vehicle speed rises, the 8.5 kW Hybrid Starter motor/Generator (HSG) starts the petrol engine and the clutch is closed, allowing the engine to take over the task of propelling the car. The electric motor switches into hybrid operation and serves as both a secondary engine (during full acceleration and hill-climbing) and a generator to recharge the battery pack as necessary.

The motor offers 30 kW (40 hp) and 205 Nm of torque from 0 to 1400 rpm in electric mode, and the combined hybrid powertrain of electric motor and engine puts out 154 kW (206 hp) and 265 Nm. Performance specs include a 0-100 kph time of 9.2 seconds, a top speed of 195 kph and a combined fuel economy of 6.2 litres per 100km, which is a significant improvement over a bog standard Optima.

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Battery-wise, the car employs a 34 kW lithium polymer battery array developed in partnership with LG Chem. Compared with nickel-metal hydride batteries, lithium polymer batteries weigh 20-30% less, occupy 40% less volume, are 10% more efficient and can hold their charge 25% longer than NiMh units.

So reliable is the battery pack, which weighs in at just 43.6 kg, that a replacement isn’t needed for at least 10 years/250,000 km, says the company.

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The Optima Hybrid gets a few tweaks to help it along, aerodynamically speaking – the car is lowered by 5mm and new features include an active air flap in the front grille, smooth underfloor panels, low-drag wheels and low rolling resistance tyres, all helping to reduce the drag coefficient to 0.26Cd.

Gallery after the jump.
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Ford reduces stake in Mazda from 11% to 3.5%, and is no longer the largest shareholder

November 19, 2010 at 4:08 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Ford, International News, Mazda

Following the earlier intimation that it might do so, Ford has officially announced that it is reducing its stake in Mazda to 3.5% from the 11% it currently owns, with the transaction expected to be completed by today.

The 7.5% will be transferred to Mazda’s business partners via off-auction trading through the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Ford’s decision to reduce its ownership stake in Mazda will allow it to increase flexibility as it continues to pursue growth in key emerging markets, specifically in China.

The US automaker, which will now be Mazda’s fourth-largest stakeholder after the sale, took a 25% stake in Mazda in 1979 and gained management control in 1996 when it increased its shareholding to 33.4%. In late 2008, in an effort to raise cash, Ford’s share in Mazda was reduced to 13%, and the stake dropped to 11% last year when Mazda issued new shares.

Both companies have agreed to continue their strategic partnership. “Ford will remain one of Mazda’s largest shareholders with a 3.5% stake, and both companies are committed to continuing our strategic partnership which spans over 30 years, and will continue to collaborate on areas of mutual benefit such as key joint ventures, joint projects and exchange of technology information,” Mazda’s CEO Takashi Yamanouchi said in a statement.

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Lotus to supply 2.4L turbocharged V6 IndyCar engine

November 19, 2010 at 4:07 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Lotus, Motorsports


This KV Racing car still uses a Honda engine next season, but that will change in 2012

It’s a three way game for engines in the Izod IndyCar Series for 2012 now – engine supplier Honda has recently been joined by Chevrolet and now Lotus! Lotus has just announced that it will be supplying in-house engines and are bodykits for the IndyCar series. It will also be creating a motorsport facility in Indianapolis.

The first team to be using the new Lotus engines in the 2012 IndyCar series is KV Racing Technology. Chevrolet also has its first customer – Team Penske. The 2012 rules stipulate engines of 2.4 litres in capacity, a maximum of 6 cylinders, and turbocharged to produce between 550 to 700 horsepower. The Chevrolet engine will be a twin-turbocharged 2.4 litre V6, and we can expect Lotus to follow a similar configuration with their IndyCar engine.

“We will be using the knowledge gained from our extensive research into E85 bio fuel and turbo charged engines to ensure we extract the maximum performance. As you would expect from the company that pioneered aerodynamics in sports car and F1 racing over the years, our aero body kit will also be a world class solution. So all in all, will the 2012 Lotus IndyCar will be as innovative and revolutionary as the Lotus Type 38 that won in 1965 and changed Indy forever? Maybe – we’ll have to wait and see!” said Claudio Berro, Director of Lotus Motorsport.

There seems to be a whole load of stuff happening with Lotus ever since Dany Bahar joined the management team!
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AMG – official car partner for the Ducati MotoGP Team

November 19, 2010 at 4:02 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Bikes, Cars, Ducati, International News, Mercedes Benz

AMG’s sponsorship of the Ducati MotoGP Team marks the first step in a new joint-marketing journey. I guess the two companies think their target customers are quite alike – which pretty much can be summarized in a few words – rich men who love speed.

“I am very pleased that we are able to announce our strategic cooperation with Ducati today. AMG and Ducati ideally complement each other, as both companies share the same values: racing as the driving passion, and high performance plus exclusivity as the central brand messages of both AMG and Ducati. This long-term cooperation will help us to jointly access new customer groups,” said Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

“I am especially proud to have AMG as one of our sponsors for the MotoGP Team. I am also very pleased that our joint marketing activities are well under way. In AMG we have found a partner who perfectly reflects our brand values of high performance, motorsport, excitement and our sense of unmistakable style and design,” said Gabriele del Torchio, President and CEO of Ducati.

During selected AMG events, participants will be able to test ride Ducati motorcycles, and Ducati customers will similarly have the opportunity to try out the latest AMG high-performance cars at events. Joint events are planned for the members of the AMG Private Lounge, in which more than 13,000 AMG customers worldwide are registered.

What do you think – are Ducati riders more similar to AMG customers or BMW M customers? Not that such a marketing partnership would ever happen – BMW has their own Motorrad bikes to accompany their M vehicles, and that includes the new S 1000 RR!
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SAIC buys nearly 1% stake in GM through latter’s IPO

November 19, 2010 at 3:39 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, General Motors, International News

Shanghai Automotive Indstrial Corp, General Motor’s joint venture partner in China, has bought close to a 1% stake in GM through the latter’s initial public offering.

SAIC said it had paid nearly US$500 million for the 0.97% worth of shares in the IPO, and both companies said the share purchase will enhance their cooperation. Last year, GM transferred a 1% in its joint venture, Shanghai GM, to SAIC, which gave the latter a 51% stake, and this was followed by both companies forming a new partnership in India to market low-cost vehicles there.

The IPO has generated more than US$20 billion for the US automaker. The gains from the IPO will end the US government’s role as the majority shareholder in GM through a US$49.5 billion bailout, which came about when GM entered bankruptcy protection in June last year. It is reported that the US Treasury will receive as much as US$13.6 billion from the IPO.

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Hyundai Azera teased in sketches – debut next year?

November 19, 2010 at 3:19 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, International News, Koreans

The Hyundai Azera (also known as the Hyundai Grandeur) remains one of the very few Hyundais remaining on sale now that still has the old design language instead of the new fancy fluidic design that we’ve seen on the Sonata, Elantra, and even the humble Accent.

It was sold in Malaysia, but pretty much had no real competitor. In the US, it belongs to the same class of large sedans that’s one size larger than what we know as D-segment sedans (Sonata, Accord, Camry). These larger sedans called “full size sedans” include the Toyota Avalon, the Ford Taurus and the Chevrolet Impala. These class of cars have big V6 (sometimes V8) engines, and Hyundai’s marketing for the Azera in the US has the slogan “more horsepower than a BMW 5, more interior than a BMW 7″.

Hyundai must be somewhat happy with how the current Azera looks as there are design cues that pay homage to the current generation, especially the rear end. The Azera will be the largest front wheel drive Hyundai sedan and slots in between the front wheel drive Sonata and the rear wheel drive Genesis.

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Infiniti M35h’s Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians (VSP) system

November 19, 2010 at 3:04 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Infiniti, International News

Infiniti claims its new M35h set to go on sale in 6 months time is the world’s first production hybrid to feature an audible pedestrian warning system called the Approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians (VSP) system.

As the M35h uses a hybrid drivetrain that consists of a 306 PS 3.5 litre V6 mated to a 68 PS electric motor that can run on the electric motor alone especially at low town driving speeds, the detectability of the car to visually impaired pedestrians is a cause for concern.

The VSP system is computer controlled and links an in-car sound synthesiser with a speaker built in to the front bumper. It works from a standstill up to 30km/h upon which it cuts off, and cuts back in at 25km/h as the vehicle slows down. The M35h can travel on electric-only mode at speeds of up to 80km/h but according to Infiniti, road noise past 30km/h was deemed sufficient for VSP to remain off.

A range of high-low sounds at different volume levels ranging from 2.5kHz at the high end to a low of 600Hz was chosen after an extensive research programme to find the most effective, but least intrusive, noise. It was also designed to be audible to all age groups. We wish we could hear how it sounds like on the Infiniti M35h but you can find an example of VSP working on the Nissan LEAF above.

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