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Lexus IS 250 and IS 250 Luxury updated in Malaysia for 2011

January 21, 2011 at 11:00 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars

2011 brings about a few changes to the new Lexus IS 250 including HID headlamps with integrated daytime running lights and washer jets as standard (JPJ approved), a bolder and more shapely front bumper and lower grille shape, a front grille with more visual depth, a new circular dual tailpipe design, new 17 inch 10-spoke staggered alloy wheels, and revised rear tail lamps.

On the interior, two different colour schemes can be chosen, with genuine Bird’s Eye maple wood trim available on the IS 250 Luxury, while the IS 250 gets high-gloss black trim. Changes on the interior are subtle – metallic accents on areas like the steering wheel bezel, meter rings, paddle shifts, instrument cluster surrounds, and glove boxdoor.

The IS 250 gets an 8 speaker Lexus premium sound system, while the IS 250 Luxury gets a 13 speaker version. Both feature a 6 CD in dash changer. The IS 250 Luxury has the option of adding a “Navigation Package” which costs RM23,000 and includes the Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound system (14 speakers, 300-watt 10 channel amp, DVD capable), a 7 inch touch screen display, reverse camera, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity and the navigation system that includes Malaysian, Thai and Singaporean maps. It should by right be called the Sound & Navi package or something. The IS 250 Luxury buyer can also specify a Moonroof for RM7,000.

Under the hood is the same 2.5 litre twin-cam D4 direct injection engine, making 205 horses at 6,400rpm and 252Nm of torque at 4,800rpm. This engine is mated to a 6-speed Super ECT transmission and drives the rear wheels. 0 to 100km/h is reached in 8.4 seconds.

The engine is equipped with a dual-tube exhaust manifold construction which minimizes heat-loss (for optimum cat operation) and noise. The mufflers have variable back-pressure valves to reduce low-frequency booming noise- 7dB less at 1,200 rpm – and reduce high rpm back-pressure by 30%.

Safety features include Lexus Vehicle Dynamic Integrated Management (VDIM), ABS, and a total of 8 airbags including knee airbags for both the passenger and driver. The Lexus IS 250 which has been updated for 2011 in Malaysia is available in two trim levels – IS 250 and IS 250 Luxury. The IS 250 is priced at RM 282,386.20 OTR with insurance while the Lexus IS 250 Luxury model is priced at RM 313,166.20.

When Lexus (the only Japanese brand in its segment) was first introduced into Malaysia its reputation had already preceded it as having a high level of customer satisfaction, so a friend and I actually checked the flagship Mutiara Damansara showroom out when it first opened, dressed up in a very simple manner, with short pants completing the look. The experience was interesting – the guard salutes you as you drive in and the sales personnel offered a drink as we checked out the various cars and trim options on display.

Very impressive, but of course the ‘evaluation’ didn’t go any further as a brand new Lexus is quite out of reach and there I didn’t get a taste of how the sales process was like :P
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2011 BMW X1 xDrive28i gets turbo 4-cylinder engine!

January 21, 2011 at 3:19 am By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, International News

Just a year and a half since its unveiling, the BMW X1 xDrive28i has had an engine overhaul. The subcompact SUV has the honors of being the debut vehicle for BMW’s new N20B20, which finally brings BMW’s TwinPower Turbo technology to its 4-cylinder engine.

The 6-cylinder X1 xDrive28i previously featured the company’s 3.0 litre 6-cylinder normally aspirated engine, making 258 horsepower at 6,600rpm and 310Nm of torque from 2,600rpm to 3,000rpm, with a fuel consumption of 9.4 litre per 100km.

Thanks to the downsized forced induction 2.0 litre N20B20 4-cylinder engine, the new X1 xDrive28i consumes just 7.9 litres per 100km.

Peak power is 245 horsepower at 5,000rpm and 350Nm of torque from as low as 1,250rpm – as you can see, the stats are better in every way! 0 to 100km/h is achieved in 6.1 seconds with the manual and 6.5 seconds with the auto, an improvement of 0.7 seconds and 0.3 seconds respectively.

The manual transmission remains the 6-speeder found in the X1 before this, but the new N20 turbocharged engine is mated with an 8-speed transmission instead of the outgoing 6-speeder – this makes the new X1 xDrive28i the first X1 equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission. I think it’s just a matter of time before the rest of the models get updated with an 8-speeder.

You can probably expect the N20B20 to find its way into the 1-Series and the 3-Series as well as perhaps the X3, but I’m not quite sure about the 5-Series, although on paper the engine would be more than capable! I’m also very curious on how this new engine sounds like – can it match up with the sweet song of an inline-6?

Look after the jump for a huge hi-res gallery of the X1.
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Porsche to produce cars in China and North America?

January 20, 2011 at 6:45 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Cars, International News, Porsche

Porsche seems to be doing well these days. The sports car brand is now looking to extend its manufacturing to the outside of Germany and the whole of Europe to be exact. Porsche’s CEO Matthias Mueller has revealed to Germany’s Focus magazine that the company may set up production in North America and China to help the company double up its annual global sales to 200,000 units. “We will consider this year whether to start production in Asia or North America,” were his exact words.

The company is also expected to use the former Karmann factory in Osnabrueck, Germany to manufacture the Boxster and Cayman models. This plant was taken over by Volkswagen on January 1st. Up to now, Porsches have been built in Germany, at the Zuffenhausen and Leipzig plants. The out-of-Germany production could also be done in existing Volkswagen factories. In fact, the upcoming Cajun SUV could be built in Volkswagen’s Chinese factory where the Audi Q5 is also being rolled out.

Porsche is also confident that producing its cars outside of Germany would not hurt the company’s image as the production of the Boxster was once outsourced to contract manufacturers in Finland. “We are OK as long as we can say our cars are engineered by Porsche,” he told to another magazine, WirtschaftsWoche.

It makes sense to start producing Porsches in North America as the United States is one of the brand’s most important market. China is of course another important market for the company. Porsche also plans to establish a new customer centre as well as a test track in Shanghai while the number of dealers are expected to rise in China, from 35 to 85, then probably to 100 outlets.

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2011 Saab 9-5 SportCombi – initial photo released

January 20, 2011 at 4:37 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Cars, International News, Saab

This is the 2011 Saab 9.5 SportCombi and we now have a single official image to share with you. The SportCombi is pretty much an estate version of the 9-5 sedan and it is also known in certain markets as the SportWagon. This new model is slated for an official launch at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March.

The SportCombi is expected to be sold with several practical features including a flexible U-rail load space setup, an adaptable multi-fold floor as well as a stowage under the floor with a sealed wet storage compartment. A programmable power tailgate and a 60/40 split for the rear setbacks should be in the list as well.

Engine and transmission specifications should be carried over from the 9-5 sedan variant such as a turbocharged 220hp 2.0 litre and a 300hp 2.8 litre V6. There is also a 2.0 litre turbo diesel with 160hp. Continue reading to view the above image in high-res fashion.
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LIVE from the Monte Carlo Rally: Proton’s challenge ends – one mysterious failure, one unfortunate accident

January 20, 2011 at 4:23 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Malaysian Makes, Motorsports, Proton, Proton Satria Neo


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It has been a freezing day for yours truly in Valence, France, but I’m not the only miserable one, as disappointment hangs in the air at the Proton camp. After all the hard work and anticipation, the team’s challenge at the Rallye Monte Carlo 2011 ends on the first day of the event.

To be exact, it lasted two stages long. We woke up before the sun rose to reach Col de la Fayolle, a viewing point on SS1. After securing a photography spot, it was torture waiting for the first car to past, thanks to 0 degrees temperature coupled with strong winds – a shivering body makes sharp pics harder to get!


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The huge crowd at the hairpin cheered as the first Skodas and Peugeots zoomed past, followed by the Satria Neo S2000 of P-G Andersson. The best looking car of the event got our yellow contingent excited, but worry creeped in when the sister car of Chris Atkinson was nowhere to be seen.

Turns out that the Atkinson’s run lasted only 700 metres into SS1. An electrical problem caused the ECU to stop working. “It was only five or six corners into the rally, I’ve never retired so early before in my career,” said the dejected Aussie when we met him at the service park. He added that the car ran without any issue in two days of testing prior to the event, and the actual cause of the failure is still unknown at this point.


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SS1 was from Le Moulinon to Antraigues, and after 36.9 km, Stephane Sarrazin of Peugeot was leading, followed by IRC defending champ Juha Hanninen of Skoda. It was very tight between the two (only 0.3 seconds separate), but they pulled out a gap from the rest – Guy Wilks and Bryan Bouffier (both driving Peugeots) were 20 seconds behind.

Proton’s now sole driver P-G Andersson finished SS1 in 12th, the best placed non Skoda/Peugeot, one minute behind the leaders.


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We then hopped on our vans heading to St Bonnet le Froid, which was a long mountain road drive away. Happy to beat the jam and reach in time, moods were deflated by news that P-G will not start SS3 after crashing in SS2. Apparently, he knocked his front left side on a rock (or kerb) and the lower arm mounting broke, despite it not looking too serious in the pic below. The Neo couldn’t even limp home and was out of the race.


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So it’s confirmed that Proton is out of this IRC season opener. Other series’ may have a rule that allows cars to compete on the following day if repairs can be done in time, but not IRC. Out for the day means out of the rally. It’s the worst possible start to the season for Proton, but as a team member says: “That’s rallying, anything can happen”. Being here with the team, I share the disappointment.


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Four stages happened today, and Skoda is leading after Day 1 with Hanninen clocking 1:11:33.4. On his Fabia’s tail is another Fabia driven by Freddy Loix 44.5 seconds behind. Behind the Skodas are Petter Solberg, Sarrazin and Guy Wilks, all driving Peugeots. The best placed non Skoda/Peugeot is Julien Maurin’s Fiesta S2000 in 10th.

A big live image gallery awaits you after the jump.
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Lexus CT 200h – RM168,000 OTR, without insurance!

January 19, 2011 at 8:29 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Lexus, Local News

If you’ve been thinking of owning a new Lexus for under 200 grand, well, here’s some cheery news. The soon-to-arrive Lexus CT 200h hybrid will go for just RM168,000, on the road without insurance, according to the Lexus Malaysia website, which has put up the pricing for the hatchback. That’s for the standard CT 200h, with a Luxury version slated to pop in as well at RM196,500, also OTR without insurance.

The vehicle – in either guise – is powered by the same powertrain combination as found on the ZVW30 Prius: the 2ZR-FXE 1.8 litre Atkinson cycle petrol block – which develops 98 hp at 5,200 rpm and 142 Nm at 4,000 rpm – and permanent magnet synchronous motor/168-cell NiMh electric drivetrain, which offers 80 hp and 207 Nm, together offering a combined total output of 134 hp.

Specifications-wise, common to the two CT 200h variants coming into Malaysia are perforated leather seats (with seat heaters), dual-zone air conditioning, cruise control as well as a six-speaker Lexus Premium Audio system for the basic and a 10-speaker one for the Luxury model, among other things.

There’s also the usual host of safety assist kit, these being ABS, BA, VSC, TRC and EBD, along with eight airbags and rear seat Isofix points, and the car will come wearing 16-inch wheels with 205/55 series tyres.

In what might be an effort to get the price to where it’s at, there’s a bit of fare that’s been omitted in the stock CT 200h – the headlamps are halogen units (the Luxury gets LED lamps), and the driver and passenger seat adjustment is of the manual variety (the driver’s seat on the Luxury is powered).

Elsewhere, there’s no smart entry, Electro Multi Vision (EMV) screen, rain sensing wipers or rear reverse camera on the basic CT 200h, all of which are of course to be found on the Luxury variant, and the additional RM28,500 for the latter also bags you a Lexus navigation system and remote touch controller on top of the above items.

Nonetheless, it’s an achievement, a Lexus for that price in its standard guise. More when the car is launched, undoubtedly, but one can sense some hamsters running already.

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Mazda Minagi compact crossover concept previews CX-5?

January 19, 2011 at 1:52 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Concept Cars, International News, Mazda


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Mazda will be premiering its new Minagi compact crossover SUV concept at the Geneva Motor Show this March, and has released the first sketches of the vehicle.

The company says that the vehicle will showcase its Skyactiv technologies and new Kodo design language, and is effectively a preview to an upcoming next-generation product – an entry-level SUV likely to be the CX-5.


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No details as yet, but Mazda states that the Minagi will fully introduce the host of Skyactiv technologies available – it’ll feature a Skyactiv body and chassis as well as a Skyactiv engine and transmission.

From a design language point of view, the Kodo design theme on this one is said to “communicate pent-up energy bursting with vitality as the vehicle nimbly navigates a sprawling urban cityscape.” Do you see it in the renditions?

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Pirelli concludes F1 tyre testing, all set for the big show

January 19, 2011 at 1:07 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Formula 1, International News, Motorsports

Pirelli has been another busy bee this past week – the company completed its private testing campaign in Abu Dhabi ahead of the 2011 Formula One season, for which the Italian tyre firm has been appointed sole supplier in a three-year agreement, to 2013.

Spanish driver Pedro de la Rosa spent four days at the wheel of the Toyota TF109 that has been used to test the Italian rubber since August – two days to run through the entire range of PZero dry tyres and two nights to test the wet and intermediate tyres.

The wet weather test made history, as it was the first time that a Formula One car had been run in wet conditions at night, with floodlighting. In order to replicate rainy conditions, tankers dampened the 3.1 km north loop of the Yas Marina circuit with approximately 140,000 litres of water over two evening sessions that lasted from 6pm to midnight.

Elsewhere, the Italian tyre company announced that it would also be supplying rubbers for the Citroen Racing Trophy from this coming season, with another three-year agreement set in place as exclusive supplier.

The one-make rally series will take place throughout 10 countries in 2011, and is open to all Citroen two-wheel drive rally cars, including the C2-R2 MAX and the more recent DS3 R3. The selection of asphalt and gravel tyres will feature tech based on the covers supplied to the World Rally Championship, which the company was also an exclusive provider for in 2008-2010.

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Lotus Exos Type 125 to make track debut at Vallelunga

January 19, 2011 at 12:36 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Lotus, Motorsports

More news on the Lotus front – looks like the Exos Experience is getting underway. The Type 125 F1-inspired track-only car revealed last August was on display at the Autosport International show, and news is that it will be making its track debut this week with a test at the Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi in Italy.

Following this, the car – which is powered by a 650 hp 3.5 litre Cosworth GP V8 engine mated to a six-speed semi automatic gearbox with paddle shift – will head over to Abu Dhabi next week, where the first lucky customers will get the chance to put the car through its paces on the F1 track at Yas Marina Circuit.

The holistic Exos Experience should see the limited number of Lotus 125 owner drivers getting a whole lot for what they pay for, among this plenty of track time on various circuits such as Paul Ricard in the south of France as well as the Autódromo do Algarve, Portimao in Portugal. As they rightly should.

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Lotus Evora GT4 Endurance gets on the podium in Dubai

January 19, 2011 at 11:52 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Lotus, Motorsports

It’s certainly been a busy week for Lotus Motorsport, what with three driver announcements, participation at the Autosport International show in Birmingham – where the Lotus-Renault GP F1 livery was unveiled – as well as a 24 hour race.

The last forms the basis of this piece – a podium finish in the GT4 category at the Dubai 24 hour race over the weekend. The Lotus Evora GT4 Endurance, piloted by the Mansell brothers, Leo and Greg, Lotus GT factory driver Johnny Mowlem, WTCC driver Stefano D’Aste and Gianni Giudici, finished 3rd in the GT4 class and 22nd overall.

The result was a minor miracle, given that the car began at the back of the grid after logistical delays resulted in the team missing both testing and qualifying. The result could have been better still had the car not been delayed by the substitution of two driveshafts, replaced in record time by the Lotus Motorsport mechanics. This was the only technical issue during automotive marathon that was the Dubai 24 hour race.

“I am happy with the debut of the new endurance version of the Evora. Due to the high variation of temperatures between night and day, the Dubai 24 hour race is one of the most severe endurance races in the desert, and I think that the car has shown fantastic handling and reliability, important characteristics already demonstrated on the road version of the Evora,” said Lotus director of motorsport, Claudio Berro.

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