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BAIC rolls out T60 concept from old Saab platform

April 26, 2011 at 11:32 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, China, International News, Saab

Back in December 2009, China’s Beijing Auto (BAIC) purchased intellectual property for Saab’s 9-5 and 9-3 sedans from General Motors, who no longer wanted the Swedish marque. The $200 million purchase will bear its first fruit in the form of an own brand sedan by the end of this year, it was revealed earlier.

At the Shanghai show, BAIC wheeled out this T60 concept car, which shows extensively reworked bodywork over the ageing Saab platform. The T60, which looks very modern, resembles different models from different angles, so it’s a good car to play “spot the inspiration” with.

This shortcut to a new car will go on sale early next year in China. Some might dismiss it as new skin over old bones, but the previous gen Saab 9-5 was sold in Europe only until recently and is Euro NCAP proven – so this should be a safer car than many homegrown models.

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Volkswagen considering new entry-level brand for China

April 26, 2011 at 11:03 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, China, International News, Volkswagen

According to a report, Volkswagen is mulling over the addition of a domestic brand in China to work the rapidly-growing entry-level segment.

Currently, the brand is not competing in the 20% of the market occupied by low-cost products, but VW Group China, together with its partner First Auto Works, is currently evaluating whether it needs to add a domestic brand to do so.

If it does open a new entry-level brand into the market, VW will join the growing list of manufacturers introducing joint-venture entry-level brands – General Motors, Honda and Nissan already have such representation in the segment. It all falls in line with the Chinese government’s call for international automakers to create such brands so their Chinese partners can gain expertise and technology, the report adds.

Even if doesn’t introduce that entry-level brand, VW is already set to double its production capacity to around four million units a year by 2018, up from the projected sales of two million units this year.

The company will be opening two new assembly plants – with an annual capacity of 300,000 each – in the country, and production at its seven existing plants will of course be increased. It will however take about two to three years before the new plants can begin production.

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Kubica discharged from hospital, improving by the day

April 25, 2011 at 11:46 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Formula 1, Motorsports

Here’s some good news for Formula 1 fans – Robert Kubica has been discharged from Santa Corona, the Italian hospital where he has been since February, after injuring himself badly in a rally crash.

“Robert Kubica is no longer at Santa Corona Hospital in Pietra Ligure. His condition is good and the driver will be able to begin a new rehabilitation phase outside the hospital. He will carry on being monitored by the Santa Corona doctors who had him in their care through scheduled appointments,” a statement read.

While it’s a step in the right direction, Kubica’s doctor, Dr Riccardo Ceccarelli, has warned that it’s too early to say whether or not the 26-year-old Lotus Renault GP driver will be able to return to racing.

“We’ll understand six months after the accident: we need to wait for nature to run its course even though, knowing Robert, we are confident in his recovery strength. Rebuilding the nerves in the hand is the longest process, so it’s difficult to understand in the first four months what the recovery will be like. He has good sensitivity, but not in every spot. The hand is there, and should regain good functionality,” the good doctor told Gazzetta dello Sport.

For now, the Pole heads to his Monaco home for some rest, before moving to Dr Ceccarelli’s facilities in Italy where he will undergo a “deep rehabilitation programme”. Here’s a quote from the man himself: “Things are definitely improving day by day.”

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Skoda Rapid: a more affordable Czech Volkswagen Vento

April 25, 2011 at 7:53 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Skoda

Skoda Vision D

The latest news from India is that Skoda is planning to revive the Skoda Rapid nameplate to launch its own version of the current VW Vento (Polo Sedan) for the Indian market, as well as other related markets where a sedan version of the Skoda Fabia would be suitable.

Skoda Vision D

The styling for the new Rapid is said to be derived from the Vision D Concept shown here, which first made its debut at this year’s Geneva show. The Vision D is a larger Octavia-sized car with a coupe-like roof. The Octavia is a segment larger than the Fabia.

Look after the jump for a gallery of the Vision D.
[Read more...]

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SPIED! Ford Fiesta “XTR Sapphire” edition – stripes, bodykit, blue interior, 7 airbags, coming in two months!

April 25, 2011 at 3:16 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Ford, Local News, Spyshots


Click to enlarge

For a car that’s doesn’t wear a national or Japanese badge, the Ford Fiesta has created quite some buzz in the market, thanks to cool design, good specs and attractive pricing. Cool as it is, there will always be some who want to stand out further, and some owners have already started customising their rides.

Auto ConneXion knows there’s a demand, and will launch a special “XTR Sapphire” edition of the Fiesta soon. According to sources, it should be made public in about two months from now, but we’ve caught it on cam already!


Click to enlarge

Pardon the image quality and the fact that we only have two pics (guards were nearby!), but we’ll walk you through what we saw. The XTR gets a full bodykit, which includes a front chin spoiler, side skirts and a rear bumper with diffuser. The latter is in grey.

Twin stripes run the length of the Fiesta – one grey, one white – on this blue car (we also saw a hot looking white example pass by, that’s the other colour offered). Not just that, but there’s a side decal that runs the outline of both rear doors. It’s also in grey/white and has the word “Sapphire” on it.


Click to enlarge

The cabin is dominated by blue as well (this pic is of a Thai showcar). The dashboard is in blue, matched with blue door cards and and blue/black seats. Sporty and unique, but not for everyone. Just as well, because not everyone will be able to get their hands on one, as we hear that they’re planning for “around 200 units” of the XTR, which makes it a limited edition.

Besides the visual changes in and out, we also hear that the XTR Sapphire will come with seven airbags, five more than the standard two. The rumoured RM6,000 premium over the top spec Fiesta 1.6 Sport sounds like a good deal too!

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Kia Rio Sedan makes NYC debut, styling different from K2

April 25, 2011 at 2:01 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Kia, Koreans

Last week, we showed you the Kia K2 sedan from the Shanghai show. That B-segment sedan has a China specific design and will be produced domestically for Chinese consumption. Here’s the K2′s sister car, the Rio Sedan, which was unwrapped at the New York show.

Sitting on the same platform as the Rio hatchback that was shown in Geneva (and the K2), the 2012 Rio Sedan will compete in America’s sub compact segment, which would be the Vios/City class in our market. Like the K2, this car is 4.37 metres long and has a 2.57m wheelbase, which is about par for the class – 25 mm shorter than a Honda City, with a 20 mm longer wheelbase. Boot volume is 390 litres.

Penned at Kia’s design studios in Irvine, California, the Rio Sedan looks more like its hatchback sibling than the K2. It has more rounded edges and features compared to the K2, which is more or less like a baby K5 (Optima). Still, the Rio Sedan won’t be mistaken for anything but a modern Kia.

Not noticeable at a glance, but the booted Rio has a different front end from the hatchback – the grille is unique and there’s a single air intake below, instead of three. Like the Rio hatch, and most hatch derived sedans today, this car has a rising shoulder line and a tall boot.

The car pictured here is in the highest possible SX trim, which includes 17-inch wheels with 205/45 tyres, fog lamps, LED daytime running and rear combinations lamps plus dual chrome tip exhaust, things that are rare in this class.

In the US, the Rio comes with a 138 hp 1.6L GDI engine paired to either a six-speed manual or six-speed auto. An Eco Package offers Idle Stop and Go (ISG) technology and an Active Eco System to boost fuel economy.

Gallery after the jump. You can view the China market K2 by clicking here. Which look do you prefer?
[Read more...]

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Proton Exora Hybrid to arrive into the market in 2012?

April 25, 2011 at 12:55 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Local News, Proton

If you’ve been waiting for the Proton Exora Hybrid to enter the market, some positive news then – the vehicle might be introduced next year, if everything goes according to plan. According to reports, Proton’s managing director Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin said that the Exora Hybrid is undergoing testing validation in the United Kingdom, which is expected to be completed in two weeks.

Proton will then get the approval to produce the hybrid MPV after it obtains final certification from the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS). As for its introduction into the market, Syed Zainal hinted that the vehicle would arrive sometime in 2012. “We hope the car goes to the public by next year,” he said.

Development of the Exora Hybrid began in the UK in 2009, and in November last year, fresh from bagging the “Best Range Extender EV” award at the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) Future Car Challenge event held in London, we drove the Exora Hybrid here in its REEV form. How much of this one will translate into the series production product remains to be seen.

Elsewhere, the company says it is confident of surviving in a fully liberalised market, and was prepared to face challenges when the planned liberalisation of the domestic automotive industry comes into play by 2016.

Proton has been prepared for this for a long time, according to Syed Zainal. “We have a five-year journey and whatever we do, we must make sure the cars become cheaper and its product design and quality get better,’ he said last week.

The company’s current restructuring exercise, which should be completed later this year once it is approved by the board and shareholders, is in line with the company’s direction heading towards 2016.

“We want the company to be more flexible and focus on whatever they do. We have the breadth but not the depth. We want to be better in the way we design, manufacture, sell and distribute our cars,” he stated, and the restructuring would obviously streamline many things and add focus, going forward.

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MIROS wants your opinion – public consultation on e-bikes

April 25, 2011 at 10:34 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Local News, Public Transport

The call to introduce electric bicycles in the country is now being studied at a rather aggressive pace – as part of that exercise, the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) is inviting members of the public and industry to give their written views, comments and feedbacks on whether and how electric bicycles should be regulated in Malaysia.

The feedback, MIROS says, will be useful for the study that it is currently conducting in order to make proposals on how to regulate the use of electric bicycles. In many countries, e-bikes are classified as bicycles rather than motor vehicles, and so are defined separately and looked at as a specific vehicle type in many areas of legal jurisdiction.

It’s all part of a greater effort by the Government to look at the e-bike issue in depth. Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha has said that aside from MIROS, various agencies including the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Road Transport Department, Road Safety Department Malaysia are part of the study; public feedback will also be taken into consideration in formulating the regulations.

The findings from the study will be submitted to the cabinet for a final decision. In a statement issued last week, Kong said that the electric bicycle will be accepted as a bicycle and the regulations governing it will not be very complicated, but will follow international standards. He added that the electric bicycle will be allowed on the road, and that the government does not want to make it difficult for the public to get approval for it, though the safety of road users is the government’s main concern.

So, giving your views in the public consultation is invaluable. Unfortunately, there’s not that much time to do so – all submissions must reach MIROS by 5pm on April 29, which is later this week.

Below are the points covered, and questions regarding, the issue.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON ELECTRIC BICYCLES IN MALAYSIA

PUBLIC CONSULTATION: The Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) is pleased to open for public consultation the issue of electric bicycles in Malaysia.

PURPOSE: The aim of this public consultation is to obtain views, comments and feedback from the public on whether and how to regulate electric bicycles in Malaysia.

BACKGROUND: MIROS has been directed to study and make proposals on how to regulate the use of electric bicycles in the country. The possible use of electric bicycles in Malaysia cuts across multiple sectors such as road safety, green technology, specification standards, the extent of regulation (for example registration, licensing, training, insurance and law enforcement) and socio-economic factors, to name a few. The outcome of this public consultation could have significant implications for consumers and industry.

ISSUES: MIROS therefore seeks feedback from the public and industry on the aforesaid matters and in particular, the following:

1. According to your understanding:
A. What is a bicycle?
B. What is an electric bicycle?
C. How should we differentiate an electric bicycle from a motorcycle?

2. Should there be a clear definition of “electric bicycle” in the law?
A. If yes, why? (Please provide reasons for your views)
B. If no, why not? (Please provide reasons for your views)

3. Whether electric bicycles should be allowed in Malaysia?
A. If yes, why? (Please provide reasons for your views)
B. If no, why not? (Please provide reasons for your views)

4. If electric bicycles are to be allowed in Malaysia:
A. What type of electric bicycles should be permitted and what specification standards (for example, speed, battery type, lights etc) should be applicable? (Please provide the reasons and basis for your views)
B. Should any other aspects of the industry be regulated?
C. Should the use and operation of electric bicycles be regulated?
a. If yes:
i. what aspects of their use and operation should be regulated? (Please provide reasons for your views)
ii. to what extent should they be regulated? (Please provide reasons for your views)
iii. in what way should they be regulated? (Please provide reasons for your views)
b. If you think electric bicycles should not be regulated please also provide the basis for your views.

5. What are your views, if any, in respect of the following regarding electric bicycles:
A. Road safety in respect of:
a. The individual electric bicycle rider ( i.e. electric cyclist)
b. How the presence of the electric cyclist on the road might influence the safety of other road users; and
c. Bicycles being powered by electricity instead of human power
B. Environmental impact
C. Socio-economic issues

6. Are you a user of electric bicycles?

7. Are any of your family members an electric bicycle user?

SUBMISSION DETAILS: Please send us your comments by email to electricbicycle@miros.gov.my or by hard copy addressed to Nurmaizah Jamsuri at MIROS at:
Lots 125 – 135,
Jalan TKS 1,
Taman Kajang Sentral,
43000 Kajang, Selangor.

All comments (whether by email or hard copy) must reach MIROS by 5pm, Friday 29 April 2011, at the latest. The aggressive timeline for this study does not, regrettably allow for a longer time for this public consultation.

If you have the time and are so inclined, you might want to find out if there are any more seats at tomorrow’s Electric Bicycle Usage In Malaysia forum, which will discuss the views from various parties, vehicle safety aspects, law enforcement, green energy, infrastructure and other related areas.

The public can attend the forum, which will take place tomorrow, April 26, at the Pullman Hotel in Putrajaya, from 8.30am-2pm, but seats are limited; contact Abdul Rahmat at 03-8924 9316 or e-mail at abdulrahmat@miros.gov.my to register and confirm your seat, if there are still any left.

Meanwhile, over here, we’d like to hear your thoughts about electric bicycles. Aye or nay, and why? Do share your musings with us.

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An end to hidden speed traps, Deputy IGP says

April 24, 2011 at 10:49 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Local News

The days of speed trap ambushes to catch unsuspecting motorists are over, according to Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar.

Yes, guile – and there certainly has been enough of that, from locating the guns in the most unimaginable places (sitting in drains just off the highways, among them) to the use of camouflage in the past – is being replaced by transparency. Simply put, motorists will be warned about impending speed traps ahead.

“We should not be hiding behind bushes. We should come out in the open and enforce the law,” Khalid said. The directive to stop the ambushes has been issued, he added, saying that signs would be set up before the speed trap or roadblocks to warn the motorists beforehand.

Of course, the big question is how it will affect generated revenue – since September 2009, the police has issued summons to more than 2.5 million motorists, primarily from speed traps and speed cameras, and from 2000 to 2008, outstanding summons added up to RM2 billion, certainly not an insignificant amount. Still, the move towards a wider scale implementation of automated speed camera systems should continue the effects of enforcement, just in a different, indirect manner.

It’s a step forward in the right direction, this direct method of enforcement sans subterfuge. Undoubtedly, public education on the perils of speeding and working towards observing the designated speed limits will still take a long while to accomplish, but the removal of the cat-and-mouse game is certainly a welcome move. What do you think this move will accomplish, if any?

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Proton MD: Power windows to get lifetime guarantee!

April 24, 2011 at 12:56 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton

When there’s a mention of ‘Proton’, the tag ‘power windows’ won’t be too far away. In fact, regulars of this website would know that whenever there’s a Proton related post (or even unrelated posts), the infamous issue will be brought up by certain quarters.

It’s no myth, and many have experienced it before, but Proton has turned the corner in making reliable power windows, and in a show of confidence, there will soon be a life warranty for Proton power windows!

Tackling the infamous topic at a quality campaign, Proton MD Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin said that the carmaker’s power windows are now defect free, but the ingrained perception is hard to reverse. “We have improved the quality by leaps and bounds, but the negative perception lingers. The perception of the public at large is very important, and it is our biggest challenge,” he lamented.

The “once and for all” solution? A lifetime guarantee, it is. “We will guarantee that the power windows will work,” he declared. But like in all warranties, terms and conditions apply, and these details would be sorted by the end of this month.

Syed Zainal also shared an interesting personal experience. The Proton boss related his experience from the back seat of a Proton Waja airport limo from KLIA to his house in Subang Jaya.

“The driver would open his door instead of using the power window when we stopped at the toll booth. My wife was giggling and poking fun at me. So I asked him if the window was spoilt. He said no. He said his friend told him that if he used the power window too much, it would break down!” Syed Zainal said to laughter from the crowd.

“I gave the taxi driver my card, and asked him to do me a favour by using the power window. I told him to call me on my mobile phone if the window breaks down. He has yet to call me,” he said.

“Some people, although they have never driven a Proton, are saying Protons are not good. We want to put a stop to that,” he added. We take that he meant recent Protons under his watch – they’ve certainly improved by leaps and bounds!

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