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Skoda to launch its version of VW Up! and a small sedan

March 16, 2011 at 11:15 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Skoda

According to Autocar, Skoda is set to launch its version of Volkswagen’s Up! city car later this year, and this will be joined by a new small sedan that will sit in between the Fabia and Octavia.

Skoda chairman Winfried Krause confirmed the plans to introduce the two models at the company’s annual press conference, and said the City Car was to answer to the increasingly strong demand for small cars with low fuel consumption and affordable running costs.

The cars’ styling will contain design cues seen in the Vision D design concept revealed in Geneva earlier in the month, and the company adds that the vehicles will adhere to the brand’s ‘simply clever’ tagline of offering practical vehicles with oodles of space and an outstanding price to value ratio.

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Idol creator Simon Fuller to manage Lewis Hamilton

March 16, 2011 at 11:00 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Formula 1, McLaren, Motorsports

After ending his dad Anthony’s job as his manager last year, McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton will now be managed by Simon Fuller’s famous XIX Management. Fuller, not to be confused with the departed American Idol judge, is the creator and producer of the Idol franchise, which includes the popular American Idol. In XIX Management, Hamilton will join top British sportsmen like Andy Murray and David Beckham.

“It was important I took my time to make this decision as it had to be right for my career and my long-term future. I spoke to many interested companies in recent months but I felt Simon Fuller along with his team at XIX Entertainment not only wanted to help me become an even better racing driver, but they also shared my ambitions for the longer term. I look forward to working with them closely,” the ex-F1 champ said.

The entertainment mogul said: “I’ve met Lewis and his father several times in the past and kept an eye on his career closely over the years. Like any British fan I watched with pride and admiration at his achievements, incredibly winning the world championship at such a young age.

“He’s not only one of the leading sportsmen of his generation, he will I believe become one of the best of all time. It’s an honour to be partnering with Lewis in what will be a very exciting stage of his career.”

Image by Darren Heath

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Mahindra completes Ssangyong deal as scheduled

March 16, 2011 at 10:59 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, India, International News, Mahindra, Ssangyong

As scheduled, Mahindra & Mahindra has completed its acquisition of a majority stake in SsangYong Motor Company, and now owns a 70% share in the Korean automaker.

The deal, which has seen Mahindra forking out US$463 million for the purchase, will see Ssangyong investing heavily this coming year on product development and brand building, now that cash is flowing in. Around 240 billion (US$211.8 million) Korean Won has been projected for expenditure, with 200 billion set for product development and 40 billion for brand builidng.

Mahindra says that no decision has been taken yet on whether there would be any changes involving renaming Ssangyong or with the branding of its products. Plans to launch the Rexton and Korando-C in India have already begun – the two vehicles are expected be introduced there by the end of this year.

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Special 0.5% interest rate for VW Golf GTI, Polo and Eos

March 15, 2011 at 4:06 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Volkswagen

Volkswagen Group Malaysia is currently offering Malaysian customers a special interest rate of 0.50% for the Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk6, the Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSI and the Volkswagen Eos, from now till the 31st of March 2011.

You can drop by the nearest Volkswagen showroom today for a test drive and booking. If we are not wrong, based on our calculations – for a RM95,000 loan for the Polo TSI over 3 years you’ll be paying back RM96,425 instead of RM102,410 repayment for the usual interest rate of about 2.6%, so that’s a savings of about RM6,000 there.

For more information visit Volkswagen Group Malaysia’s website.

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Hamann reinterprets BMW’s X6 M into a Tycoon Evo M

March 15, 2011 at 4:01 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under BMW, Cars, International News

Working on the adage that nothing succeeds like excess, the boys at Hamann have given the BMW X6 M a very big round of the “slap on everything you can think of” treatment, and the result is the Tycoon Evo M.

The vehicle develops 670 hp at 6,000 rpm and 950 Nm at 1,500-5,650 rpm, making for an increase of 115 hp and 100 Nm over the stock M vehicle. Performance numbers include a 0-100 kph time of 4.2 seconds and a 300 kph top speed, the last aided by the removal of the speed limiter.

The gains are thanks to the addition of a newly programmed engine map and a titanium high-performance exhaust system with catalyst replacement pipes, which not only helps improve scavenging but also renders a more dynamic note. Oh, and the brakes are also upped – the SAV has a Mov´it Ceramic high-performance braking system, with six-pot front and four-pot rear calipers.

Of course, bling isn’t forgotten (and how could it be). The vehicle’s body is widened by an additional 60 mm, and the exterior treatment includes newly-designed side skirts, carbon-fibre bonnet, a new front apron (with four LED daylight running lamps), enlarged air inlets, a new rear apron and new rear lights, as well as rear and roof spoilers.

The Tycoon Evo M also gets specially designed forged anodised wheels, in this case a 23-inchers wearing 315/25 R tyres. Imagine how much a replacement will cost. Elsewhere, a Hamann lowering kit, with progressively coiled springs at the front axle and a refining kit for the rear axle, brings the ride height down by 40 mm.

Inside, the SAV features interior applications made of nanai salmon leather, which as its name suggests, has the characteristic structure of salmon skin. Elsewhere, the floor space gets noble chequer-shaped embroideries on the leather, and there’s a three-spoke sports steering wheel and aluminium pedals and foot rests among the reworked stuff. To end it all, the X6′s boot features a Hamann mat with chequer-shaped embroideries and a stitched logo.

Gallery after the jump.
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GALLERY: Nissan Teana facelift in China, changes detailed

March 15, 2011 at 3:31 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, China, Nissan

We headed to the Guangzhou Motor Show in China last December to see the new Nissan Sunny, other world debuts and the hot stuff on display, but also encountered some unexpected new metal like the facelifted Chinese market Nissan Teana.

As you’ve read in our D-segment triple test, the Teana is a great all rounder that delivers good comfort and decent driving ability. This refreshed Teana sees revisions and/or differences compared to the CKD model sold by Edaran Tan Chong – let’s compare and see which do you prefer.

The headlamps are most obviously changed. From the rather plain looking units on our car, the Chinese Teana adds on projector headlamps and an LED strip for more flash. The elements have also been rearranged. Next up is the grille. From the five strips of chrome, Nissan has framed up the grille and gave the inside bars a different colour.

Rounding up the facelift is the reprofiled bumper from a ‘V shape’ to an ‘X shape’, a trick Toyota used for the current Camry. Also notice the disjointed lip to make the air intake more prominent. The result is a more aggressive and ‘sporty’ outlook.

There’s less change at the rear. The taillamps, which already have LEDs arranged in a ‘C shape’, are made more prominent as the ring of diodes are now behind a clear lense.

In our shootout, you may have noticed comments about the Teana’s dash looking a bit sparse, but this isn’t the case with the Guangzhou show car, which has a navigation system. The GPS controls occupy the panel just below the central screen, pushing the climate controls down below the stereo, a position most are used to.

In this Chinese Teana, the dominant cabin colour is still beige, but the main dash panel and the upper door panels are in a darker shade of brown. The wood grain trim is in a lighter hue. I prefer this colour combination over our local car, how about you? The push start button in this left hand drive car is nestled between the steering column and centre stack.

Exclusive hi-res live gallery from Guangzhou after the jump.
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The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

March 15, 2011 at 1:36 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Honda, Nissan, Test Drive Reviews, Toyota

We’re a busy lot manning this website. Unlike monthly magazines or newspaper pullouts, daily updates mean that there isn’t much time to organise shootouts. But when the Nissan Teana came along, it was a great opportunity to test the newcomer and compare it with the Japanese D-segment stalwarts – the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

Here’s a slightly different take on the good old triple test: one weekend, three drivers, three opinions. In this 3-in-1, we look at various aspects of the competing cars with the aim of pointing out more than what a solo reviewer normally can.

Read the full report after the jump. Enjoy!
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2011 Nissan Teana facelift in China gets sportier design

March 15, 2011 at 1:12 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, China, International News, Nissan

We spotted this Nissan Teana on Dongfeng Nissan China’s website sporting a revised look, which leads us to believe this is either the Nissan Teana facelift or perhaps some kind of styling update exclusively for the China market.

The front end gets a big update that seems to focus on making the Teana look sportier – and check out those complicated headlamps, which now feature projector lenses instead of the current generation Teana’s reflector lenses.

The tail lamp also gets updated to this design. Frankly, I think the current look suits the character of the Teana more – this one looks a little like an elderly man having a mid-life crisis. I wonder if this is a global update.

Look after the jump for a full gallery of the China market 2011 Nissan Teana.
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BMW Malaysia launches the F25 X3 – RM348k for xDrive20d

March 14, 2011 at 5:45 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under BMW, Cars, Local News

BMW Malaysia today introduced the F25 X3, and the second-generation SAV arrives in only a single form, this being the xDrive20d. It’s a real push for the diesel brigade, because there isn’t going to be a petrol variant of the form coming in until next year.

The replacement for the E83 rolls in as a more sizeable offering, essentially almost as large as the first-gen E53 X5. In terms of proportion, the company says it is smack midway in between the X1 and current X5 in terms of dimensions.

The X3 xDrive20d comes wearing the same pot as found on the 320d and 520d, in this case the N47D 2.0 litre four-cylinder common-rail direct injection BMW Advanced Diesel block. So you get the same output figures – 184 hp at 4,000rpm and 380 Nm at 1,750-2,750 rpm, and this one also gets the 8HP45 eight-speed auto gearbox.

Performance figures for the all-wheel drive vehicle include a 0-100kph time of 8.5 seconds and a 210 kph top speed, as well as a best-in-class fuel consumption of 5.6L/100 km.

In terms of BMW EfficientDynamics-related kit, the new X3 features optimised aerodynamics, intelligent lightweight construction, Brake Energy Regeneration, Electromechanical Steering, demand-based control of ancillary components and functions and, for the first time in any BMW vehicle in Malaysia, an Auto Start/ Stop function in combination with automatic transmission.

If the external design is an improvement over the E83, then plenty has also happened in the interior, which features Nevada leather upholstery and matt silver satin trim finishers – the increase in overall size means that cabin space is also up; at the back, this works out to 23 mm more knee room and a 20 mm increase in width over the previous X3, so the rear seat occupants get a fair bit more space.

The rear seat backrests can be split 40:20:40, where the three segments can be folded down either individually or together, and the boot volume of 550 litres goes up to 1,600 litres with the rear seats folded.

Kit includes xenon headlamps, V-spoke style 304 17-inch alloys (with 225/60 series tyres), a 6.5-inch monitor and 12 loudspeaker audio system, and BMW ConnectedDrive components include USB connectivity and Bluetooth hands free functions, as well as access to items such as BMW TeleServices and the optional BMW Telematics Platform Accessory (TPA), which includes an emergency Vehicle Recovery System as well as other BMW Assist remote services.

The X3 xDrive20d is priced at RM348,800 (on the road, without insurance, with BMW Service Inclusive + Repair). Two optional packages (Technology and Comfort) are available for the F25; the Technology package features BMW’s Dynamic Damper Control working in tandem with BMW Performance Control, BMW Navigation System Professional and extended connectivity for mobile devices.

Meanwhile, the Comfort package features the automatic operation of the tailgate, comfort access system and a panoramic glass roof. The Technology package adds RM28,000 to things, while the Comfort one goes for RM18,000. Additionally, limited units of the new X3 xDrive20d Special Edition will also be available from launch, boasting additional features such as Dynamic Damper Control, Performance Control and 18-inch light alloy wheels, and this one goes for RM368,000.

Look after the jump for a full gallery of the new X3.
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New F13 BMW 6-Series Coupe: details and photo gallery

March 14, 2011 at 1:02 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars

BMW has finally unveiled the new BMW 6-Series in solid-roofed Coupe form, with an internal codename of F13. The F12 Cabriolet with a soft top roof was unveiled earlier. Like the F12, the new F13 Coupe debuts with two engine variants at launch time – the 3.0 litre turbocharged 640i Coupe and the 4.4 litre twin-turbocharged V8 650i Coupe.

The biggest difference between the 6-er Cabrio and the 6-er Coupe is of course the roof – the Cabrio uses a soft folding top while the Coupe has a traditional fixed roof. The Coupe also has a slightly shorter tail as it does not have to store a folding roof inside its rear.

One of the biggest changes you notice at the front end though are the headlamps – as you can see from the image above the 6-er Coupe’s headlamps seem to have been significantly updated from the one launched with the Cabrio. It’s much more high tech and similar to the original headlamps on the BMW Gran Coupe Concept.

These are the optional LED headlights, which use LEDs exclusively as its light source for the driving lamps, the low beams and high beams.

The 640i pulls to 100km/h in 5.4 seconds and goes on to a top speed of 250km/h. The 6 cylinder turbocharged engine is of the latest N55 family, with a single turbo, high precision fuel injection and VALVETRONIC valve and throttle management. The 640i comes with an Auto Start-Stop function as well as an “ECO PRO” mode which tweaks the ECU, throttle behavior and the shifting pattern of the 8-speed automatic to favor a relaxed and frugal driving style while keeping the RPMs low.

The 6-Series Coupe can also be specified with a top of the line Bang & Olufsen High-End Surround Sound System. It consists of 16 speakers distributed around the cabin – 2 bass speakers, 7 mid-range speakers and 7 tweeters, all with individual amplifiers. This system also adds additional design features in the interior – the B&O system’s speakers use all-aluminium speaker grilles, in case the superior audio quality doesn’t remind you that you’ve shelled out extra for the high-end system.

There is even one tweeter positioned on top of the iDrive display which is motorized to rise up from the dashboard when in use. Adds for some cool factor like the motorized air cond vents in the Jaguar XF.

Look after the jump for a full photo gallery as well as a video of the 6-Series Coupe in action – you can check out the motorized tweeter I mentioned earlier in action too.
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