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Proton’s Neo rally car heads to Belgium for IRC round 5

June 23, 2011 at 8:50 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Malaysian Makes, Motorsports, Proton

Proton will be competing in the Geko Ypres Rally in Belgium for round five of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, which will take the team through an asphalt course through the Belgian countryside, alongside a total of 31 S2000 rally cars.

The course will run over 18 special stages totaling 287km. Apparently this particular rally is often made difficult due to unpredictable weather, and it is expected that 5 of the 18 special stages will be run in fading light or complete darkness.

“I’m looking forward to this event, I have won here before and it’s always a big challenge with a lot of really fast local drivers. The last rally we did (PRIME Yalta rally) with the car showed that we have made tremendous progress with the Satria Neo S2000. The car is getting better and better, we are really improving. I want to come out and be fast in Ypres,” said two-time European Rally Champion Italian Giandomenico Basso.

“I have never done this rally before, but I have seen the stages and the number of people out there spectating is just incredible. I think we’re in for a rally with a lot of atmosphere!” said P-G Andersson, Basso’s team mate.

“We have put in a lot of effort to develop the Satria Neo S2000 since the last round in the Ukraine. These improvements have so far worked in favour of better performance and reliability which we hope will see both Basso and Andersson being competitive in Belgium. We’ve still limited experience competing on asphalt but with Basso’s experience and the determination of the entire team, we look forward to Belgium becoming a good hunting ground for PROTON,” said Head of Proton Motorsports Datuk Abdul Razak Dawood.

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UMW Toyota expands its parts distribution centre facility

June 23, 2011 at 5:03 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Local News, Toyota

In line with the increase in demand for Toyota genuine parts and motor oil, UMW Toyota Motor has completed an expansion exercise for its Parts Distribution Centre warehouse facility in Sungai Buloh.

“To accommodate the growth of our parts business and achieved customers’ satisfaction, UMW Toyota Motor has invested a total of RM30 million to build and expand this facility. With this expansion, we have completed our facility expansion plan for Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak,” said UMW Toyota Motor’s president Ismet Suki.

“Our parts business recorded RM456 million in 2010, a 16% increase from the previous year. Although Toyota’s production was disrupted by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in March, we are pleased that the parts supply from Japan has improved earlier than expected, and we are confident to reach our parts sales target of nearly RM500 million this year,“ he said.

He added that the additional storage space will enable the company to keep more parts items and shorten the delivery time to reach Toyota service outlets and parts dealers.

The facility incorporates Toyota’s efficient 7-storage techniques in its operation, and is equipped with the electronic Bar Code System (TBIPS) to handle the high part lines accurately and more efficiently. It also utilises the Toyota Parts Automated System (TOPAS) software, an advanced system used by Toyota Motor Corporation for parts ordering, receiving, invoicing and also inventory control.

It will however upgrade its existing Toyota Parts Supply System (TOPAS) to the Global Toyota Parts Supply System (G-TOPAS) by 2015 – the system will enable the company to connect to the Global Toyota parts supply system to ensure smoother distribution.

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Lotus unveils revised and restored Hethel test track

June 23, 2011 at 4:43 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Lotus

Lotus’ revised and restored Hethel test track was unveiled earlier in the week, with 1992 F1 world champion Nigel Mansell having the honour of opening the circuit in a 1981 Essex-Lotus 81B in which he started his Formula One career more than three decades ago.

Mansell led a convoy of seven racing cars from the Lotus stable, including the innovative 1980 Type 88 twin-chassis car (which the rulemakers never allowed to race), the Lotus Type 125 Exos Experience car driven by fellow ex-F1 driver Jean Alesi as well a brace of Lotus Renault GP cars piloted by current F1 stars Vitaly Petrov and Bruno Senna.

It was the first time that modern-era F1 cars have gone around the historic Hethel tarmac since the early 1990s. The layout of the 3.54km circuit remains the same, though one extra corner has been added, but significant work has been done on providing the track with the means to handle modern racing car and performance car testing.

The surface has new asphalt, and the track now features larger run off areas. Its mixture of corners, straight and braking zones makes it ideal for testing and optimising every performance aspect of the new era of Lotus products as well as the evaluation of car control at the Lotus Driving Academy. There’s also a new workshop, and the track will soon get a new pit building and a hospitality suite.

Mansell was certainly chuffed. “What a joy it was to be reunited with my old 81B after 30 years. This is a very special place, Hethel, and it was wonderful to open the circuit today by driving alongside my sons Leo and Greg,” the Group Lotus ambassador said.

“It’s extremely fast. The first time I went out I was surprised about the length of the straights, but then of course it’s not only for motor sport but for testing road cars. The layout is perfect for that. It’s a proper test track,” fellow Group Lotus ambassador Alesi added.

“A year ago we set out our plans to introduce a new model line up, ambitious motorsport plans and a revitalisation of the iconic Lotus brand. A year in, we are meeting all the targets and milestones we set ourselves. One of the milestones was the opening of our test track. You might say this is just a refurbishment of a track and not a major achievement in itself, and I agree,” said Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar.

“However, mentally and psychologically, seeing this project accomplished demonstrates that step-by-step our vision is becoming a reality. It shows our entire workforce and our partners that we are delivering on our promises,” he added.

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2011 Perodua Myvi – first five buyers receive cars

June 23, 2011 at 3:06 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Local News, Perodua

The new Perodua Myvi is chugging along merrily; to date, 12,000 orders have been placed for the car since bookings began on June 4, and today, a week after the car was officially launched, the first five owners – Siva Rajan Subramaniam, Mullai Arunasalam, Tan Soo Hong, Yusainianir Mohd Yassin and Kok Zhien Wei – received their vehicles at a simple handing over ceremony in Subang.

“The first five owners here are the first among thousands to receive their cars in the coming weeks and we could not be happier with the response from the public for our new model,” said Perodua’s MD Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh.

Aminar said that Perodua will also ensure that customers get their vehicle in the shortest possible time, compared to the previous experience of six to nine months when the previous Myvi was launched in 2005. He said that those who booked their cars before the launch can expect their cars to be delivered anytime between now and end-July.

In terms of exports, Aminar said that the company was on track to ship the first 500 Myvis, under the Daihatsu Sirion badge, to Indonesia this month. “On average, we expect to export 350 units per month of the model to Indonesia within a 12-month timeframe,” he said, adding that the company is looking to export the new Myvi under the Perodua brand to five of its seven export markets, including Mauritius, Singapore, Nepal, Fiji and Sri Lanka.

Domestically, Perodua expects to achieve its year-end target of 195,000 units, with another milestone coming about before the year is out – the two millionth vehicle production mark should be achieved sometime in the fourth quarter.

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Toyota GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept – electric in the front, V6 in the rear

June 23, 2011 at 2:27 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Toyota

This is the Toyota GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept II, a hybrid sports car that it will be entering into the 24 Hours of Nurburgring endurance race in late July 2011.

The GRMN acronym stands for Gazoo Racing Meister of Nurburgring, which is a tribute to the late Hiromu Naruse, Toyota’s late test driver (1944-2010) who passed away last year. He was also the chief of the GAZOO racing team.

It’s quite obviously based on the Toyota MR-S, as you can see from the interior pix.

The car has a mid-mounted 3.5 litre V6 engine powering the rear wheels, while the front wheels are powered by an electric motor mounted up front, resulting in a hybrid all wheel drive system. The engine’s peak output is 245 horses, but combined with the electric motor the car has an effective 295 horsepower.
[Read more...]

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Michelin Energy XM2 tyre launched in Malaysia

June 22, 2011 at 8:28 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Local News

Longer life, improved fuel efficiency as a result of less rolling resistance, and maximum safety. When it comes to tyres, usually things are centered around one aspect, and rare is the donut that touts all three at one go.

That, however, is what Michelin says its new Energy XM2 tyre offers, an equal proportion of all three. Officially launched today, the new donut replaces the Energy XM1, which has been around since 2004, and is targeted to continue to build on the brand’s overall double digit market share. It’s aimed at the compact and lower-mid size passenger car segment.

The line with this one is that it lasts 20% longer than the XM1, so that means that it’ll offer more kilometres of travel over its useful life. The Alternating Bridging Technology used in the Energy XM2 reinforces the rigidity of tread blocks, resulting in the tread block moving less freely to help reduce the rate of tyre wear.

Having evolved from a hybrid compound that was used in the XM1 to a full silica compound, Michelin says the XM2 offers an 8% reduction in rolling resistance and thus, fuel savings as it goes along.

The company says that reduced fuel consumption is achieved as the full silica used in the rubber compound reduces friction between the rubber particles generating less heat. With less heat generated, less energy is lost, not only reducing fuel consumption, but increasing the tyre’s flexibility, thereby improving road holding.

Which is where the maximum safety bit comes in – the Micro Adaptive Compound means the tyre adapts itself better to the irregularities of a road surface and thus, offers improved grip levels.

Elsewhere, the design’s Optimum Void Grooves can evacuate up to 20% more water compared to the XM1, and a higher volume of water evacuated at a faster rate lowers
the risk of hydroplaning, always a no-no.

The company believes it has a winner in its hands with the new donut. “The Energy XM2 has all the necessary attributes – 20% more mileage, additional fuel savings with no compromise on safety – to compete within the compact and lower-mid size passenger car segment that accounts for 80% of all cars sold in Malaysia,” said Michelin Malaysia’s MD Yves Pouliquen at the launch.

There are a total of 22 sizes in the lineup, with fitment across 14- to 16-inches and 175 to 215 widths, and prices for the Energy XM2 range start from RM217 for a 14-incher to RM488 a pop for a 16-inch version.

14 inches15 inches16 inches
185/70 R14 88H TL
195/70 R14 91H TL
175/65 R14 82H TL
185/65 R14 86H TL
195/65 R14 89H TL
185/60 R14 82H TL
195/60 R14 86H TL		205/70 R15 95H TL
175/65 R15 84H TL
185/65 R15 88H TL
195/65 R15 91V TL
205/65 R15 94V TL
215/65 R15 96H TL
185/60 R15 84H TL
195/60 R15 88V TL
205/60 R15 91V TL
185/55 R15 86H TL
195/55 R15 85V TL		215/65 R16 98H TL
215/60 R16 95H TL
185/55 R16 83V TL
205/55 R16 91V TL
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Volkswagen Golf24: 450 hp beast set to take on Nürburgring

June 22, 2011 at 3:23 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Motorsports, Volkswagen


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Volkswagen is set to challenge for honours at this coming weekend’s 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, with no less than five factory-fielded VW Motorsport entries. Leading the charge are three 450 hp Golf24 cars, a thoroughbred racing version of the world’s highest-volume production car.


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Powered by a 450 hp 2.5 litre five-cylinder turbocharged engine, the four-wheel drive Golf24 features a sequential six-speed gearbox with paddle shifters and wears a rather spectacular body shell.


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The three cars will be piloted by an assortment of drivers, ranging from seasoned Nordschleife drivers such as Peter Terting and Patrick Simon, ex-Formula 1 veterans Johnny Herbert and Mark Blundell right through to the likes of Volkswagen junior René Rast and DTM rookie Edoardo Mortara.


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The two other VW factory cars are 330 hp Scirocco GT24-CNG versions, which will contest for honours in the class for vehicles with alternative powertrains. Of note is the three-man crew for one of the vehicles – Nasser Al-Attiyah, Carlos Sainz, Giniel de Villiers, the three Dakar Champions from 2009, 2010 and 2011, who will take on the Nordschleife together in a blue and orange Scirocco GT24-CNG. They will be joined by former DTM racer Klaus Niedzwiedz, who will be the fourth driver for both Sciroccos.

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MINI Coupé – teased on video in a reveal film

June 22, 2011 at 2:27 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under BMW, Cars, International News

BMW has presented the first video impressions of its new MINI Coupé in a 50-second reveal film. The flick is a teaser for the launch of the car, and also leads into the new MINI campaign, which is tagged “Another Day. Another Adventure.”

The reveal film on MINI’s YouTube channel has the vehicle in a variety of locations around the globe, such as Rio de Janeiro, Iceland and Hong Kong, all aimed at showcasing it as the ideal companion for every adventure. Shot in the style of a movie trailer, the video previews three new MINI commercials set to go on air from September on.

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BMW to unveil M3 DTM Concept Car next month

June 22, 2011 at 2:00 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under BMW, Cars, International News

Ahead of its return to the DTM championship in 2012, BMW will be presenting a concept car at next month’s DTM event at the Olympic Stadium in Munich. The concept car – which will be unveiled on July 15 and then placed on show at the BMW Welt during the July 16-17 race weekend – will offer the first impression of what next year’s M3-based DTM racer will look like.

The announcement was made by Jens Marquardt, who takes over from Mario Theissen as the company’s motorsports director on July 1.

“Although we will not be competing in 2011, we want to use this opportunity to give DTM fans and BMW Motorsport followers a taste of what they can look forward to next season. The fact that the DTM is staging an event in Munich this year is obviously exciting and interesting for us,” said Marquardt.

“For this reason, this event is the logical venue to unveil a BMW M3 DTM Concept Car. Under the motto ‘BMW welcomes DTM’, we will welcome the series to Munich and follow the event at the Olympic Stadium closely.”

Development of the M3 DTM for the following season has been in full flow since BMW announced its DTM comeback in October last year, with the first tests to be performed shortly. The brand will be represented by three teams in the DTM next year – BMW Team Schnitzer will run two BMW M3 DTM cars, as will BMW Team RBM and BMW Team RMG.

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VIDEO: 1 minute of the F10 BMW M5 in motion

June 22, 2011 at 12:41 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars

As pictures can only say so much, here’s a video at last showing the new F10 BMW M5 in action on the track. It’s just too bad there’s too much dramatic music instead of the actual growl of the engine.

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