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New Volkswagen Beetle Turbo with manual transmission?

April 20, 2011 at 11:01 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Volkswagen

Here’s a new batch of photos of the new Volkswagen Beetle. Our previous story detailing what the latest generation of Beetle is all about featured a new Volkswagen Beetle with a DSG gear lever seen in the interior.

Now we have some shots of what seems to be a high performance version of the Volkswagen Beetle. You have the word “Turbo” seen on the rear much like a Porsche 911, and the interior features a manual transmission and a clutch pedal – this looks to be some kind of proper sporty high performance driver’s Beetle!

Look after the jump for the rest of the new images.
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Suzuki Kizashi EcoCharge Concept debuts in New York

April 20, 2011 at 7:10 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Suzuki

Suzuki has unveiled two Kizashi-based concepts ahead of the New York show; the first is the earlier mentioned Kizashi Apex Concept, and the other is this one, called the Kizashi EcoCharge Concept.

If the Apex Concept is all about performance, the EcoCharge Concept points to the company’s efforts towards eco-conscious motoring. It features a 2.0 litre petrol engine working in tandem with an electric propulsion system combining a 15 kW motor and a 115V lithium-ion battery.

The J20B four-cylinder block develops 142 hp at 6,500 rpm and 173 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm, while the electric motor adds to things with its 11.2 kW (15 hp) maximum output at 1,000-2,200 rpm. Matched to a six-speed automatic transmission, the hybrid Kizashi sees a 25% improvement in real-world fuel economy over its petrol sibling.

In addition to the hybrid system, Suzuki has employed numerous other fuel-conserving technologies including regenerative braking, an engine stop-start system, fuel cut-off during deceleration and low-rolling resistance tyres.

Externally, the Kizashi EcoCharge Concept differs itself from its production sibling with a specialised headlight treatment, LED fog light illumination across the front fascia, new-look lightweight alloy wheels and a unique luminescent white satin paint finish, which contains subtle blue undertones.

Gallery after the jump.
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New Toyota MPV to be launched in Indonesia this July

April 20, 2011 at 4:36 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Toyota

There will be a new MPV from Toyota launching in Indonesia soon, as revealed by PT Toyota-Astra Motor (TAM) bosses. It could be a new Avanza or Kijang Innova, as these two models have been serving the market for a long time, or a brand new model. But what’s certain is that it’ll be launched at the Indonesia International Motor Show 2011, which happens in July.

According to detikOto, TAM president Johnny Darmawan revealed that a new model will be launched at IIMS. He didn’t elaborate, but the company’s Marketing GM Widyawati Soedigdo added that it’s an MPV. “Akan ada mobil baru salah satunya MPV di IIMS,” she was quoted as saying.

The marketing boss of TAM added that the upcoming new model will be “much improved” and that its pricing will be “very competitive”. So what do you think it is?

In Indonesia, a strong MPV market, the Kijang Innova (just Innova to us) was launched back in 2004, receiving a facelift in 2008. The smaller Avanza on the other hand, was launched in 2003 and facelifted in 2006. It’s also sold as the Daihatsu Xenia, although the Toyota badged model is costlier, better regarded and more popular. Toyota is by far the market leader in Indonesia with a commanding 37% of TIV in 2010.

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Suzuki Kizashi Apex Concept – 295 hp turbocharged manual

April 20, 2011 at 4:35 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Suzuki


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Suzuki has unveiled two Kizashi-based concepts ahead of the New York International Auto Show, one of them an eco-friendly version, the other a performance variant. The latter is the one here, and it’s called the Kizashi Apex Concept.

It’s a salute to Suzuki’s motorcycling heritage, and boasts a Garrett turbocharger, an air-to-liquid intercooler, electronic boost control and a specific engine control unit calibration for enhanced driving dynamics.


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The force-fed system takes the 2.4 litre sedan’s power output into the 295 hp range, with a maximum boost of 8.5 psi. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission.

Key to the Apex Concept’s performance is its air-to-liquid intercooler, which is designed for more effective charge air cooling in a smaller package. The unit’s relatively small heat exchanger and circulation pump are designed for minimal intrusions to vehicle cooling, and the intercooler’s primary advantage comes from the reduction in the overall length of ducting, which results in less turbo lag for a faster throttle response.


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The bodywork of the Apex Concept features a striking livery based on Suzuki’s motorcycle racing design theme, and hints at the vehicle’s bloodline to the legendary GSX-R superbike.

Features on the concept include customised LED-based front fog lamps, HID headlamps and special lightweight 19-inch alloys – in a burnt asphalt finish – wearing Yokohama S.Drive 245/35 series tyres. Inside, the cabin receives an eye-catching treatment in black leather, with laser blue Alcantara accents to be found on the sports seats and steering wheel.

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Rolls-Royce Ghost Extended Wheelbase for China market

April 20, 2011 at 3:02 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, China, International News, Rolls Royce

Chinese bosses love legroom and want lots of it, which is why we see “L” versions of cars like the BMW 5-Series, Audi A6 and Volvo S80. But a long wheelbase version of the Rolls-Royce Ghost? Yes, it’s been launched at the ongoing Shanghai show with “Extended Wheelbase” as the name extension.

The Rolls-Royce Ghost Extended Wheelbase is the first ever RR to be launched in Asia, and there’s no prizes for predicting that it will be the best selling RR in China, where it will cost 5.118 million RMB, about 20% costlier than the standard Ghost.

For that premium, buyers get a 170 mm longer wheelbase and increased minimum rear kneeroom (distance between the back of the front seat in its rearmost position and the front of the rear seat’s squab) from 160 to 330 mm. In addition, a panoramic sunroof is standard. From the outside, the Ghost EWB has a new forged alloy wheel design.

But if they wanted a larger Rolls, isn’t there the Phantom? Autocar UK asked the same question, and here’s what RR CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos told them:

“For some of our customers, a Phantom is just too much: too big, too ostentatious, too formal, too expensive. The Ghost EWB is a car that’s more usable every day; the sort of car that you can be chauffeured in during the week, and still enjoy as a driver’s car at weekends. And that’s an increasingly popular usage pattern in developing Asian markets.”

More hi-res pics after the jump.
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Baojun 630 launched in China – sales begin this month

April 20, 2011 at 1:38 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Baojun, Cars, General Motors, International News

The announcement of the launch of the brand was made last November, with production of its first model beginning the same month. Now, five months on, GM’s newest car brand, Baojun, has officially launched the Baojun 630 into the market.

Aimed specifically at the Chinese market, the 1.5 litre Euro IV-compliant sedan – which sits on a Buick Excelle platform – has been designed to attract young drivers in the country’s second- and third-tier cities, primarily the middle-class crowd in its vast interior.

Produced by GM and its partners Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation Group and Wuling Motors in Liuzhou, Guangxi, the Baojun 630 is set to address the growing demand across the country for affordable personal transportation, and will be attractively priced between US$10,000 and US$15,000.

Baojun, which means “treasured horse”, will start selling the 630 later this month. It has a network of 150 dedicated dealerships across the country, but the number of dealerships is expected to double by the end of the year, says GM.
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2013 Ford Taurus SHO: No power up for Ecoboost V6

April 20, 2011 at 1:11 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Ford, International News

Earlier, we showed you the facelifted Ford Taurus. The 2013 model year full-size saloon of the Blue Oval comes with a fresh face, more features and a new 2.0 Ecoboost engine. Both that four-cylinder turbo and the improved 3.5 V6 offer decent figures, but this is the Taurus with the muscles – the Taurus SHO.

The Taurus SHO was always powered by an Ecoboost 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 with 365 hp and 475 Nm, and there’s no change in engine or figures for this facelifted version. There were rumours that this SHO will get bumped to 400 horses, but considering the firepower it already has, perhaps that’s unnecessary. A six-speed SelectShift auto with steering paddles does transmission duties.

So no power up, but the SHO does get a new optional Performance Package. A 3.16:1 final drive ratio will improve initial acceleration, and you’ll get new dampers and specific springs. Also, the EPS steering has been tuned and the ESC has a track mode with “true off” (zero intervention), performance brakes and “track-tuned calipers”.

Looks wise, the SHO is set apart by a black mesh grille flanked by series-specific HID headlamps. A fender-mounted scallop with SHO badge and 19-inch wheels can be seen on the sides (20-inch machined and painted wheels are optional). Black wing mirrors (heated with memory and puddle lamps) and a decklid spoiler are the other changes. The cabin is in full black.

By the way, the picture here gives you a better view of the SYNC with MyFord Touch system’s LCD screens and buttons mentioned in the previous story.

Here’s a finding that Ford is keen to share. About half of 2010 SHO customers had not previously considered buying a Ford, and frequently it’s high-end sedans (examples given are 3 and 5-Series BMWs and Acura TLs) that are traded in. Interesting.

More pics after the jump.
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Nissan Compact Sport Concept – 190 hp 1.6 litre flash hatch

April 20, 2011 at 12:30 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Concept Cars, International News, Nissan


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Well, here’s a cute little critter then, though perhaps it may be a bit too kitschy for many. It’s called the Nissan Compact Sport Concept, and it’s a Nissan debutant at the ongoing Auto Shanghai 2011, along with other cars like the new Latio.


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Designed in collaboration by Nissan’s global design headquarters in Japan and the company’s new design studio in Beijing, the three-door concept hatch – which Nissan says is designed for young customers in emerging countries – certainly displays a fair bit of bling.


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Details are minimal about the car, which is believed to sit on a Micra (March) platform (and looking like it overdosed on steroids), save the fact that it’s equipped with a direct-injection turbocharged 1.6 litre lump offering 190 hp, mated to a six-speed CVT gearbox with a manual shift mode.


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Elsewhere, it’s all pretty much flash; the external bulges make for great eye-candy for those into such curves and flair, and the interior displays enough attention-grabbing bits too – the contrasting black and white interior features red for highlight accents and plenty of oval-shaped cues. No mention if this one will ever come into series production (the 4th-gen K13 Micra/March is only a year old, so it’s not a preview of a replacement), but you can never tell these days.

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2013 Ford Taurus facelift makes New York show debut

April 20, 2011 at 11:53 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Ford, International News

With the whole automotive world focusing on Shanghai and its world debuts, the unfortunately timed New York Auto Show is firmly in the shadows. Faced with a choice, where would you want show off fresh metal? The largest auto market in the world, of course!

But there are still some new cars to be had in NYC, and this refreshed Ford Taurus is one. The 2013 Taurus isn’t all new, but a facelift of the all new 2010 model year car. Ford’s flagship sedan sees better fuel economy, more technology, enhanced design, improved craftsmanship and sharpened dynamics, according to Ford.

Looks wise, the new Taurus features a new face and a more muscular hood, complemented by larger wheels/tyres for a more aggressive stance. Rear quarter panels have been raised, enabling larger, full LED taillamps. Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group VP of global product development, said the styling tweaks were wholly influenced by the new Audi A6, which is quite obvious from the front! The Audi also served as benchmark for exterior fit and finish.

Under the hood, the big news is the introduction of a new 2.0 Ecoboost engine. Cars of this size normally come with a V6, but this turbocharged direct injection four-pot gives better economy while matching the go of a naturally aspirated V6. It’s estimated to deliver 237 hp, 340 Nm of torque and best in class highway economy of 11 km/l.

There’s still a V6 for those who want one – Ford’s usual 3.5 V6 is now rated at 290 hp, 27 horses more thanks to twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT). A six-speed auto ‘box is standard.

Fuel saving measures introduced include low-tension front end accessory drive belt, smart battery management, aggressive deceleration fuel shutoff, variable-displacement air conditioning compressor, reduced friction lubricants and electric power-assisted steering (EPAS). The steering rack is now mounted to the subframe, and the ratio is quicker.

There are other under the skin changes, too. Torque vectoring control improves grip and handling, while curve control slows the vehicle if it senses that a driver inadvertently enters a curve too quickly. With application of four-wheel braking, speed can be trimmed by up to 10 mph in approximately one second. Apparently, entering/exiting highway loops too fast contribute to over 50,000 crashes a year in the US!

Taurus also gets a larger brake master cylinder with revised booster tuning, resulting in a “shorter pedal ratio” and “dramatically improved pedal feel”. Brake friction material has been upgraded for improved fade resistance and performance.

NVH control has been enhanced with the addition of A-pillar and cowl baffles and acoustic wheel-well liners. Inside, all pillars are now fabric wrapped, and the glovebox and console storage are flock-lined, besides having new switchgear.

Also new is SYNC with MyFord Touch, which replaces buttons, knobs and gauges with colour LCD screens and steering wheel five-way toggles. These screens can be personalised and “talked to” via voice control.

Gallery after the jump.
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BMW’s DesignworksUSA to open new studio in Shanghai

April 20, 2011 at 11:28 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under BMW, International News

Not that proof is needed any further that China is the biggest and brightest growth market, but here’s something to cement things anyway. BMW’s California-based strategic design consultancy, DesignworksUSA, is set to open a new studio in Shanghai in the second half of 2011.

The subsidiary, which was acquired by BMW in 1995, already has studios in Los Angeles, Munich, and Singapore, and the opening of the new studio in Shanghai will pave the entry into the Asian market for the company’s European and North American clients as well as provide a further learning ground on things Asian.

The company is not just an inspirational think tank for BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, the Group’s three car brands, but is also an innovation driver for clients away from the automotive industry, with notable projects including the interiors of the Siemens Inspiro Metro and Embraer Legacy Jet as well as with the design of the Intermarine 55 Yacht, Sennheiser earphones and HP Z800 Workstation.

By tapping into the Chinese market, DesignworksUSA is looking to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese consumer behaviors and offer a global creative perspective to its clients in China and in Asia.

As BMW Group Design’s director Adrian van Hooydonk puts it, creating a presence in Shanghai is an important strategic step for both BMW Group Design and DesignworksUSA. “The Shanghai Studio will allow us to better serve design clients in China. Designing in China will also deepen our understanding of this inspiring culture,” he said.

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