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Mercedes C-Class Coupe revealed ahead of Geneva debut

February 14, 2011 at 11:30 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Mercedes Benz

We’ve seen the leaked images before, and Mercedes-Benz has now fully revealed the C-Class Coupe ahead of its world debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. With this, Mercedes now has a spiritual successor to the CLK to compete with the Audi A5 and BMW 3-Series Coupe. This car will also replace the CLC-Class.

The C-Class Coupe shares a platform with the W204 C-Class saloon and is the same length at just under 4.6 metres despite having two doors less. The Coupe is of course much sleeker in profile thanks to a 41 mm lower roofline and cues such as a beltline that has a “strong upsweep into the C-pillar”. Mercedes prefers a “classic three-box design” for its junior coupe.

Like the facelifted saloon, the Coupe gets new L-shaped headlamps with ear shaped driving lamps underlined by LED signal lamps, in addition to the LED strip below. At the back, the Coupe is unmistakeably C-Class and it also has the facelifted range’s LED strip taillamps plus a diffuser style bumper housing twin pipes.

As expected, the Coupe gets the stepped top dashboard of the facelifted saloon – the 5.8-inch central display is joined to the instrument binnacle as opposed to the independent layout of before. The new three-spoke steering wheel features a flat bottom and comes standard with shift paddles.

Metallic trim accents the dial surrounds, air con vents and buttons. Aluminum trim is standard on the C250, while the C350 features Burl Walnut. Unique Ash Olive Matte Wood Trim is an option. The rear has two individual seats – the C-Class Coupe is a strict four seater.

Engines for the C-Class Coupe include a turbochaged 1.8-litre four-cylinder (C250) and a 302 hp V6 for the C350. Europe will get the usual 220CDi and 250CDi diesel engines. The petrols will come with 7-speed automatic transmissions. The 204 hp/310 Nm C250 is expected to do the 0-60 mph sprint (0-96 km/h) in 7.1 seconds, which isn’t to far from Golf GTI acceleration.

Quite a handsome coupe, isn’t it? Gallery after the jump.
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Tony Fernandes rejects Lotus’ out of court settlement offer

February 14, 2011 at 9:30 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Formula 1, Lotus, Motorsports

As you know, the Lotus vs Lotus naming dispute is going straight to the British court and a hearing has been scheduled for 21 March. According to Team Lotus boss Tony Fernandes, Proton owned Group Lotus has made an offer for an out of court settlement, and he has rejected it as the sum was deemed too small. The declined offer was worth £6 million.

“It was six million pounds for an out-of-court settlement. Of course I would like to end it but the proposal by Proton would have bankrupted the company. We could not accept it,” the AirAsia chief told AFP, adding that 250 jobs and huge investments by shareholders are at stake.

“We never created the situation. We had a five-year agreement. Proton thought they can bully us out. We honestly worked hard to revive the Lotus name in F1. I hope it will end soon. The legal row does not help. That is for sure.”

As a recap, the current stalemate started when Group Lotus terminated its licence agreement with the Lotus Racing before throwing its support behind Renault to form Lotus Renault GP. Meanwhile, Fernandes entered his team as Team Lotus after purchasing the rights to the old name from David Hunt. Group Lotus is arguing that they have no rights to the Lotus name.

To the court it is!

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McLaren MP4-12C full specs confirmed: 600 PS!

February 13, 2011 at 7:57 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars

McLaren MP4-12C

McLaren has unveiled the full specs sheet for its upcoming McLaren MP4-12C sports car. Under the hood is a longitudinally mid engine installed 3.8 litre V8 that not only redlines at 8,500rpm, but does so with twin turbochargers. No direct injection though. Peak power is 600 PS at 7,000rpm and peak torque is 600Nm from just 3,000rpm all the way up to 7,000rpm – this should be one seriously thrilling engine to both drive and listen to!

The all-aluminium engine has 4 valves per cylinder and a dry sump to help it cope with lubricate requirements during hard driving. Conventional port injection and high boost calls for a low compression ratio of 8.7:1. A large bore to stroke ratio of 93mm to 69.9mm contributes to the engine’s ability to rev high. The engine is mated to a 7-speed “SSG” transmission.

0 to 100km/h takes just 3.3 seconds, and you can shave a further 0.2 seconds off if you use the PZero Corsa tyre option as the car comes standard with mixed size PZeros – 235/35R19 at the front and 305/30R20 at the rear.

Look after the jump for a video of the MP4-12C.
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Proton Saga SE R3 Concept by reader Kamarul XY

February 13, 2011 at 4:56 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton

A concept R3-kitted Proton Saga FL with yellow stripes on black paint was showcased at the Thai Motor Expo in the past, but there’s no news of it going into production anytime soon.

What we have here is a customized Saga SE R3 by reader Kamarul XY. He wanted an R3-ized Saga so much that he just went ahead to a fiber custom workshop in Sunway and specified a custom job combining the top half of the original Saga bumper and the bottom half of the Satria Neo R3 bumper.

As for the rest of the parts, it was obtained off the shelf – spoiler, rims, etc. The R3 effect was completed with R3 stickers and plaques, including the MME sticker that was on the R3 MME edition Waja and GEN2 cars.

Look after the jump for the full gallery of Kamarul’s Saga SE R3.
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Proton’s KLIMS Pahlawan concepts: more details revealed!

February 12, 2011 at 10:45 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Concept Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton

There’s a new Concept Cars section up on Proton’s website and there are a few more additional details as well as photos regarding the set of concept cars they unveiled at KLIMS other than what we were given in the KLIMS press kit.

If you look at one of the images in the photo gallery below, you can see that the Tuah has the word Espire written on the rear numberplate – it looks like this was the original name for the next generation Persona sized concept car before they were all renamed to the Pahlawan theme for KLIMS.

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Dimensions of the Tuah/Espire was also given as 4,540mm long, 1,775mm wide and 1,505mm tall. It has a 2,650mm wheelbase, about the same as the new 2011 Jetta. This puts its right in the middle of the C-segment range. To compare, the Waja measures 4,470mm by 1,740mm wide by 1,420mm tall with a 2,600mm wheelbase and the Persona measures 4,477mm long, 1,725mm wide and 1,438mm tall. The Espire is taller, wider, longer, and has a longer wheelbase.

Also found in the gallery (look for the blue and red cars) are some new renderings by Theophilus Chin, attempting to ‘productionize’ the Tuah/Espire, which gives us a preview of what the next generation Persona might look like in production form.

But in any case, from what we hear the next generation Persona has already gone through many stages of design refinement, and what we see as the Tuah/Espire concept represents an older version of the design.

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The Lekir page actually states that the Europa-based sports car will be powered by a “1.6CFE” engine, which is probably Proton’s new turbocharged engine. Interestingly power is rated at 164kW at 5,700rpm, which sounds nice, but kinda improbable – 164 horsepower sounds about right.

The 164kW could be a relic from the original Europa’s spec sheet – it made around that power in the Europa SE trim. A pointer to the eventual power output of the 1.6CFE engine could be what was displayed at KLIMS – a Proton 1.6 turbo engine making 103kW (140 PS) and 205Nm of torque from 2,000rpm with a 9.5:1 compression ratio.

The URLs of the different concept cars pages also reveal the ‘alternate’ names of the concept cars – the Evo-like Jebat is the Proton Fury, the Exora-derived SUV Lekiu concept is referred to as the Proton XActive, the Europa-derived Lekir Concept is called the Proton Exivo, and the Kasturi which has now become the Proton Saga FL was called the Proton Pure, probably in reference to its white exterior and interior theme.

Look after the jump for full photo galleries of all the Pahlawan concepts.
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Mercedes CLS 63 AMG is the fashion police patrol car

February 11, 2011 at 4:43 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Laughs, Mercedes Benz


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Mercedes-Benz is a big supporter of the fashion scene, not just here in Malaysia but in America as well. And in conjunction with the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (10-17 Feb) in the States, the fashion police will be out in full force to enforce law and order, and they will be patrolling in the new Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG in police livery.

But less stylish New Yorkers need not worry, as the “Fashion Force” won’t be out nabbing style offenders, but to spot stylish people and reward them with a ride to their destination. Their picture will be taken as record and some will receive invitations to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week runway shows as well as the main event.


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“The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Force car is a statement about New York being one of the greatest fashion capitals of the world and the confident approach to individualistic style that people strive to explore throughout this amazing city,” said stylist Brad Goreski.

“Mercedes-Benz has a natural affinity with the world of fashion with cars that appeal to those with a strong sense of style,” said Lisa Holladay, manager of brand experience for MB USA. “The 2012 CLS 63 AMG four-door coupe is the perfect vehicle for the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Force initiative with its fascinating design and significant curb appeal.”

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BMW Vision ConnectedDrive: Networking tool of the future

February 11, 2011 at 3:41 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, International News

BMW’s stand at the 2011 Geneva show in March will have this dramatic roadster concept. Called BMW Vision ConnectedDrive, this study is meant to show a glimpse into the future of intelligent networking between driver, vehicle and the environment. Think of the car working together with your smartphone to cater to your lifestyle in every aspect.

“The BMW Vision ConnectedDrive concept study extrapolates the principle of intelligent networking of driver, vehicle and the outside world into the future. The vehicle is transformed perfectly naturally into a fully integrated part of the networked world and sets new standards in future comfort, infotainment and safety features,” says the release.

This is divided into three aspects – safety, infotainment and comfort. The fundamental concept of BMW ConnectedDrive – the intelligent networking of driver, vehicle and the outside world – is expressed on four levels: the display and operating concept, an unparalleled light installation, the design itself and the integration of the whole concept into the multimedia setting of the stand at the motor show. This is best explained by scenarios, which you’ll find after the jump.

Design wise, the Vision ConnectedDrive is classic BMW despite looking futuristic. The long bonnet, long wheelbase and a passenger compartment that’s set well back are all there. The front has a strong horizontal orientation, stressing width. The kidney grilles and dual headlights have been designed in a particularly flat fashion.

The doors are a particularly distinctive feature of the exterior. Two sliding elements – one inside, one outside – disappear into the bodywork of the vehicle when the door is opened, enabling entry. While the outer shell slides forward, the inner shell disappears into the rear area of the vehicle with a movement in the opposite direction. The Vision ConnectedDrive can also be driven with the outer doors open.

Read the scenarios where BMW ConnectedDrive can come in handy after the jump. There’s a hi-res gallery too.
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New Kia Rio – first photos of Geneva debutant revealed

February 11, 2011 at 3:12 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Kia, Koreans


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Kia has revealed the first official photos of its upcoming next-generation Rio, which will make its official debut in Geneva alongside the Picanto.

The new Rio will be available in three body styles (3-door and 5-door hatch, as well as 4-door sedan), and the company says that the B-segment offering will have a premium presence that’s rare in this segment.

The vehicle gets its own interpretation of Kia’s signature grille, integrated with the headlamps to give a new twist on the Kia family look. In profile, the body to glass ratio and its strong wedge form give the hatch a dynamic, sporty stance.


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The new model features a wheelbase extended by 70 mm – to 2,570 mm – and promises greater passenger space and comfort, as well as increased cargo capacity to 292 litres (hatchback) and 390 litres (sedan). Exterior dimensions changes include an increase of 55 mm in overall length and 25 mm in overall width, though its height has been reduced by 15 mm over the old one to give the new Rio a sportier stance.

Inside, the new car will deliver a high level of quality previously associated with larger models, together with a wide selection of trim options.

The Rio will get six engine choices in all, depending on market, from a 69 hp 1.1 litre diesel unit for Europe up to a 1.6 litre GDI pot producing 138 hp for North America. Europe will also get an all-new, high-performance 1.2 litre turbo GDI unit from 2012.

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Robert Kubica is out of ICU, two operations set for today

February 11, 2011 at 1:57 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Formula 1, Motorsports, Renault

Robert Kubica, who is seriously injured from a rally accident, has been released from intensive care and will be moved to a trauma unit in Santa Corona Hospital as he continues to recover. Although the Pole cheated death when the armco speared the cabin of his Skoda, injuries include a partially severed right hand and injuries to his right leg and arm.

Kubica underwent surgery on Sunday after arriving at the Italian hospital and there are more scheduled for today and early next week. “His general condition is good, so much so we can programme two operations on Friday. Next week we expect to perform the last operation on the patient,” Dr Giorgio Barabino told the BBC.

“He started to feed himself today, and everything is moving. Now is the time for sticking all the bones together and educating the muscles, but we don’t know how long that will take. All I know for now is that for the next three months for sure he won’t be back. After that, it could be four, five six. He needs at least three months to recover physically, and then we see,” team boss Eric Boullier said.

On Kubica’s replacement, it’s all down to how Nick Heidfeld performs at Jerez this weekend. “Nick is here to be evaluated. Once we have finished our assessment of him, if we are happy with Nick, then we keep Nick. If we are not, we go to Barcelona and we test some other drivers,” Boullier added.

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Lotus Evora by Mansory – it’s carbon-fibre central!

February 11, 2011 at 1:03 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Lotus


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“Is it always wise to customise? If you must, then do it with some style …” So goes the intro to Lotus’ brief release on its upcoming offering that will be showcased in Geneva.

The car in question is the Evora, and the company is quick to point out that the car going to the show isn’t an Evora facelift, but “a taste of the future of Lotus product customisation. Merely the first toe in the water and a showcase of the potential future.”


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Turns out that the Evora has been given a cosmetic reworking by aftermarket tuning outfit Mansory, which has done a fair number of mods on upmarket cars, some in a rather over-the-top manner.

That’s not the case with the Evora by Mansory, which displays enough carbon-fibre to wage a little war with, but all delivered in clean enough fashion. The roof, rear spoiler, rear diffuser, side skirting as well as front splitter all get the carbon graphite treatment. No idea what the interior’s like, but you can bet there’s more of the stuff to be had inside.

Geneva will reveal all.

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