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MINI Rocketman Concept – now this one is really mini!

February 23, 2011 at 4:50 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, International News

The new MINI isn’t very mini, and newer products like the MINI Countryman have pushed the boundaries in terms of size, but here’s an interesting concept bound for Geneva – one that’s actually mini. Curiously named Rocketman, MINI’s latest idea harks back to the classic Mini in terms of its exterior dimensions.

At 3.419 metres long, the Rocketman Concept not much longer than the much loved 3.05 m 1959 original (11ft 3in next to the original’s 10ft). It’s much wider however at 1,907 mm including the exterior mirrors, and stands 1,398 mm tall. That’s a larger footprint than the Toyota iQ. Like the baby Toyota, it’s a three-door hatchback that’s a 3+1-seater – the sole “real” rear seat is behind the front passenger, the other “+1″ seat is better used as extra storage room for all but the shortest journeys.

Wide-opening doors with double-hinge joints that pivot outwards and integrated sills facilitate entry. The split two-part tailgate consists of one section which is attached to the roof and opens very high and a lower section which extends out 350 mm from the body in the form of a drawer.

Design wise, the Rocketman’s profile and shape is entirely familiar; even the round headlamps are the same size as the MINI hatch, making them stand out even more on a smaller body. A new feature is the light ring inside the headlamp, which adds to the cute factor as well. From the side, one can see three layers – body, wraparound greenhouse and the capping roof. The windows taper slightly as they extend back towards the rear.

The rear lights have a trapezoidal stirrup design where all light functions are integrated. Using projector technology, the lamp assembly projects the lights onto the car body. The high-output LED units ensure that even this indirect illumination concept produces enough intensity. The roof is also a light show. The full-surface glass unit is segmented by illuminated braces to recreate the Union Jack flag.

In addition to multifunction buttons on the steering wheel, the current MINI has a joystick on the center console. By contrast, the Rocketman Concept concentrates all controls on the steering wheel, which has buttons on the left spoke for frequently used functions and a trackball on the right spoke. The latter can be rolled to scroll and pressed to select.

Large gallery after the jump.
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Interesting new models coming from BMW Malaysia soon!

February 23, 2011 at 4:48 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, Local News

This F25 BMW X3 was spotted on a trailer in Klang yesterday afternoon. There was only a single X3 on the trailer it seems, the rest of the vehicles consisted of a combination of the 5-Series Sedan and the 5-Series GT.

As the X and Z models usually don’t have their engine variants listed on the rear badge, we have no idea what model this is – the badge just says X3. Badges such as xDrive20d are usually listed on the front wing or the front door.

The second model would be a new variant of the F10 BMW 5-Series, teased in a message by the BMW Malaysia Facebook account yesterday. No details beyond that but I would place my bets on the introduction of a diesel-powered F10 520d.

These two models are probably not all the new stuff we’re going to see from BMW Malaysia this year as the CBU MINI Countryman SUV could also make its appearance at least by the end of the year, if not early next year. No reason for it to take that long though since it’s a CBU import.

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Italdesign Giugiaro Volkswagen concept drawings leaked?

February 23, 2011 at 3:07 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Concept Cars, Volkswagen

These drawings of what’s supposed to be a range of Volkswagen concept cars by (now Volkswagen-owned) Italdesign Giugiaro have surfaced on the internet. They look like a C-segment and a B-segment hatchback, and the styling is curiously similar to the Proton EMAS and Lotus City Car concepts, also styled by Italdesign Giugiaro. It so happens the Proton and Lotus concepts were unveiled almost exactly a year ago at last year’s Geneva show, and now it’s time for this year’s Geneva show to roll around.

Look after the jump for the full photo gallery.
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Europestar SUV based on Proton platform spied in China

February 23, 2011 at 11:03 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, China, Youngman

Sometime last year we were informed that China’s Youngman was developing an SUV of their own together with Lotus Engineering based on the Proton GEN2 platform. Basically this was one of the first bespoke Youngman Europestar projects of hopefully many to come, a model that doesn’t exist in Proton’s existing portfolio.

Although the red and yellow Youngman Europestar logo on the exterior of the Tiguan-sized SUV is a little covered up, it’s clear to be seen on the interior. According to China Car Times, this Youngman SUV may make its debut at the Shanghai Auto Show sometime in April this year. Look after the jump for a gallery of spyshots of the SUV.
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Jaguar to launch the hardcore 550 hp XKR-S in Geneva

February 23, 2011 at 10:34 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Jaguar


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Jaguar’s XK family will have a new range topper soon, as the British luxury brand has announced plans to launch the hardcore XKR-S at the Geneva Motor Show. Although Jag says it doesn’t depart from the XK’s “duality of purpose” which is GT luxury with incredible performance, the XKR-S gets even more power, revised suspension and a more aggressive look.

“The XKR-S is a bold and exciting new model for Jaguar,” said Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar’s new Global Brand Director. “We expect to attract both loyal and new Jaguar driving enthusiasts who still want the comfort, opulence and class only a Jaguar can offer, combined with inspirational performance.”


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The XKR-S produces 550 hp with 680 Nm of torque, which allows it a top speed of 300km/h and 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 4.2 seconds. It uses a tuned version of the supercharged AJ-V8 Gen III 5.0-litre, which makes 510 hp and 625 Nm in the XKR (0-60 mph in 4.6 sec).

Under the skin changes include a stiffer front suspension knuckle (improves steering precision), stiffer front/rear springs, fatter rear tyres, revised dampers and a 10mm lower ride height. Steering and differential settings have been modified and there’s a revised exhaust system in place.

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Five things the Proton prototype in Sweden tells us!

February 22, 2011 at 11:51 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Malaysian Makes, Proton, Spyshots

1. New Turbocharged Engine

This isn’t exactly something new to us as it’s been mentioned by Datuk Syed Zainal a few times in the past, but just a recap, the next generation of Proton engines will include a downsized turbocharged engine, using 1.6 litre of capacity to produce power equivalent to a 2.0 litre engine, in line with global trends.

Past exhibits of a turbo engine prototype have indicated power figures around 140 PS and 205Nm, with peak torque kicking in at just 2,000rpm. To accommodate the turbocharger, compression ratio has been lowered to 9.5:1, which isn’t really very low for a turbocharged engine. Most of the 2.4 litre engines in the D-segment share a similar compression ratio and they are normally aspirated. This indicates a low boost pressure.

2. At least some variants of the CFE Turbo will be intercooled?

The cutout in the right side of the bumper of the prototype could indicate that an intercooler is hidden behind the mesh. Some form of cooling for the forced inducted air would be something good to have in our hot climate. I’ve had my own experiences running forced induction with and without intercooling and power was significantly better and more stable with an intercooler even though boost dropped a little.

The Campro engine currently has its intake on the right side of engine bay – with the turbo application the air filter could be somewhere on the left, with passing through the turbo on the front of the engine bay, then to the intercooler on the right of the bumper, and back into the intake manifold on the right rear of the engine bay.

3. A new safety feature – ESP stability control

The text “ESP” appears twice in the interior of the car – once on a sticker below the center dash air cond vents saying “P3 – CFE TURBO CVT3 ESP” and once again on a panel below the gear lever which seems to have a lot of red plugs going into it. ESP might just be the reason that the prototype is spending time in Sweden near the arctic circle in the first place. It’s where the Bosch Vaitoudden test center is located, where Bosch engineers test their ESP and ABS systems on the icy surfaces and snowy bends of the native terrain.

I personally feel at least some form of ESP or electronic stability control is a must have for any modern vehicle and it’s good that we are now seeing indications that Proton will be joining the bandwagon. ESP helps stabilize the vehicle by minimizing skids. It automatically applies selective braking to help steer the vehicle where the driver intends to go, combined with traction control which minimizes wheel slip.

4. Future models may use a multi-link rear suspension

This prototype is definitely not sitting on a platform that’s 100% similar to the Exora’s. When the Exora was launched, Proton explained that it was modular and the Exora’s torsion beam rear suspension could be replaced with a multi-link rear suspension.

This prototype uses a multi-link rear suspension as you can see from the image above. Many car manufacturers are moving to torsion beams for almost everything. This might just be some derivative of the chassis of the Proton Persona R replacement model with Exora sheetmetal.

5. New CVT transmission

There are two indications to this – first of all the same sticker that has the text ESP on it also has the text CVT3. And when you look at the gear shifter area, the shift pattern is quite different from the P-R-N-D-3-2-L in the Exora.

Instead, we have P-R-N-D-L which is typical of CVT transmissions – D for drive and L for a CVT shift pattern that emphasizes on engine braking.

Look after the jump for hi-res versions of the Swedish Proton prototype spyshots.
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Ford Fiesta: join the 1 million Fiesta owners worldwide!

February 22, 2011 at 10:41 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Advertorial, Cars, Ford

This is a sponsored advertorial to promote the Experience Fiesta, Experience Hollywood contest where you can win a 5D4N trip to the American Idol.

American carmakers are coming out of the global financial crisis changed, and without question the Ford vehicle line-up of today is the best in its history. Many people think of Ford as a manufacturer of trucks and SUVs, which it is. But Ford is also a great car manufacturer – we particularly like how all of their cars are great drives – and a product transformation is underway here in Malaysia.

We now have some very interesting passenger Fords including the Mondeo as well as something that looks straight out of the typical European buyer’s garage – the frugel Ford Focus TDCi. All three Ford passenger cars feature the award-winning kinetic design concept which visualizes energy in motion – basically the cars look like they’re on the go even when they’re static. The latest passenger car in Ford’s stables in Malaysia is the new German-engineered Ford Fiesta is already a global success with more than one million sold since late 2008.

We all know that Australia is a country where they love their large sedans with engine capacities of 4.0 litres and above with at least six cylinders, but interestingly the under-30 age group in Australia accounts for 32 percent of Fiesta sales, and the average age is 40. In the United States, the average age of the Fiesta buyer is 46, and 29 percent of the buyers are under 35. Many consumers who have traditionally bought larger cars are downsizing to the Fiesta, and as a result despite the smaller size they’re also still used to the spec levels found in higher cars. So to keep these buyers happy, a small car now has to live up to the expectations that its larger siblings usually have to tackle.

The Ford Fiesta features specifications that you rarely find in a B-segment vehicle under RM100,000 such as twin variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust valves, a 6-speed dual clutched transmission, Voice Activation control for the in-car entertainment and Bluetooth handsfree communication systems.

The Fiesta also features Ford’s EasyFuel system which first debuted on the Ford GT Supercar. This eliminates the need for you to unscrew a fuel cap each time you want to refuel the car. Ford says this will solve the problem of drivers forgetting to replace the gas cap after refueling. These caps are often left at the petrol stations, on the boot, on the roof, or dangling from the cars as they drive away.

Test drive a Ford Fiesta today and you might just have a chance to win a 5D4N trip to the American Idol. Instead of just a normal test drive where the sales advisor prattles off the car’s features, Ford has actually prepared an interactive audio CD which will be played in the car and will guide you through the car’s features. After a 15 to 20 minute drive, you will actually be taught how to use the Voice Control feature to submit your contest entry via the mission center, which is basically a 1-800 toll-free number with an Interactive Voice Response you will call using the car’s Bluetooth hands-free system.
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BMW launches i sub-brand, 2 models to roll out from 2013

February 22, 2011 at 6:23 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, International News

It has been known for quite some time now that BMW has plans for a sub brand, something like the M division. It’s out of the box now, and it’s called ‘i’. BMW i is a sub brand focused on developing sustainable mobility solutions and will encompass electric vehicles.

Two models will be launched under i from 2013 – the BMW i3 and BMW i8. The BMW Group will also significantly expand its range of mobility services over the years ahead. To achieve this, a Venture Capital company was founded in New York, BMW i Ventures, with investment totalling up to 100 million USD.

The BMW i3 – previously known as the Megacity Vehicle – will be the BMW Group’s first series-produced car for urban areas to be driven by electric power alone. The i8, meanwhile, is based on the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept study. Its plug-in hybrid drive “blends the sporting ability of a high-performance machine with the fuel consumption and emissions of a small car” according to Munich.

i cars will still wear BMW logos, but with a blue ring circling them. The range will also be distinguished by blue grille surrounds, aerodynamic side skirts, “stream flow C-pillars” and “large but narrow” wheels.

Both models are based on a groundbreaking construction concept known as LifeDrive architecture. An aluminium chassis houses the powertrain, and the passenger cell consists of high-strength but extremely lightweight carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP).

Both i3 and i8 will be built in BMW’s Leipzig plant, which will receive 400 million euros of investment. Development and production synergies will be achieved as both vehicles will share component sets for the electric motors, power electronics and lithium-ion batteries.

“Both cars have been designed specifically for their respective alternative drive systems. We used the innovative architecture and CFRP to cancel out practically all of the extra weight added by the batteries. For our customers this means superior driving dynamics combined with significantly increased range using electric power,” explains Klaus Draeger, BMW board member responsible for development.

An additional range of mobility services – which can also be used independently of the cars – will be an integral component of BMW i. They’re talking about things like improve usage of existing parking spaces, intelligent navigation systems with local information, intermodal route planning and premium car-sharing.

“Mobility requirements are changing in rapidly expanding megacities. Our commitment to car-enabled mobility services, like BMW ConnectedDrive, will be significantly expanded under BMW i,” said Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management responsible for Sales and Marketing.

Gallery after the jump.
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Subaru teases ‘Boxer Sports Car Architecture’ on website

February 22, 2011 at 2:42 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Subaru


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It was previously announced that Subaru will be bringing its version of the Toyota FT-86 to Geneva, and Fuji Heavy Industries, the maker of Subaru automobiles, has opened a special website that’s open to the public. Visitors to www.subaru-global.com/boxersports.html will see a teaser image of what Subaru calls the “Boxer Sports Car Architecture”.

What’s shown is an outline of the front section of the compact sports car, with the brand’s famous horizontally-opposed boxer engine residing within. The other tech Subaru is famous for – Symmetrical AWD – won’t appear on this sports car however, as it’s rear driven. The caption on the website says that this RWD sports car will make “Subaru’s legendary on-road performance even more accessible”.

Subaru’s FT-86 is called the “Subaru Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car Technology Concept” for now. We’ll have to wait for the debut to know its real name.

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Rolls-Royce 102EX – electric Phantom set for world tour

February 22, 2011 at 12:48 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Rolls Royce


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Rolls-Royce has confirmed the development of 102EX, a one-off, fully electric powered Phantom that will debut at Geneva. 102EX will serve as a working test bed for a global tour that includes Europe, Middle East, Asia and North America, where RR owners will be given the chance to experience it and give feedback.

“We have engineered the world’s first battery electric vehicle for the ultra-luxury segment. With this vehicle, we begin an exploration into alternative drive-trains, seeking clarity on which alternative technologies may be suitable to drive Rolls-Royce motor cars of the future,” said CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös.

There are no plans yet to develop a production version though; as one of the company’s EX models it will serve to begin a dialogue with existing owners and stakeholders, which includes enthusiasts, members of the public and the media. The dialogue RR is seeking will be on the car’s ability to deliver an acceptable range between re-charges and to operate in extreme weather conditions.

Two more teaser images after the jump.
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