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Service your Honda, and stand a chance to win an Insight

June 15, 2011 at 12:55 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Honda, Local News

Honda Malaysia has announced details of its customer reward campaign for 2011 – the campaign, aimed at rewarding current Honda owners and potential customers in both routine maintenance and after-sales services, runs from today until August 31 at all authorised Honda dealers.

Throughout the period, existing customers who bring in their cars for service – at any amount spent – will be in the running for a lucky draw to win more than 1,600 service vouchers every month as well as 20 units of Apple iPad 2s and the grand prize, an Insight hybrid.

Some terms and conditions – cars with under 40,000 km mileage being sent in for service will get one lucky draw entry, while those above 40,000 km mileage bag one lucky draw entry as well as a 20% discount on labour cost for the next service. Meanwhile, Accord and Insight owners who purchase Modulo packages for their respective rides will get three lucky draw entries. Time for that service then, eh?

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GM won’t sell Opel to an European rival

June 15, 2011 at 12:12 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Opel

Well, will they, or won’t they? The rumour mill has been going on about talk that potential buyers are looking to take Opel off General Motors’ hands, Beijing Automotive Industry Holding being one name bandied about.

Now, GM’s CEO Daniel Akerson has assured the head of Opel that the American automaker was not in talks to sell the European arm to a rival, according to reports. German newspaper Handelsblatt had originally reported that Akerson spoke with Opel CEO Karl-Friedrich Stracke on the telephone.

The media has been speculating that GM is considering putting Opel and its UK sister brand Vauxhall up for sale – with Volkswagen and BAIC named as possible buyers – because Akerson is impatient with the slow pace of restructuring at the money-losing division, which lost US$1.6 bil last year. .

GM has so far not commented on the reports, despite calls to do so, but people familiar with the matter have revealed that GM was reviewing options for the European automaker, the reports add. Going with the above, it would seem VW won’t be in the picture should GM decide to sell Opel.

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Maruti to launch Suzuki Cervo in India later this year?

June 15, 2011 at 3:25 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, India, Suzuki

Maruti Suzuki has a large family of small cars in India, ranging from the super basic 800 to the Swift, which is actually a big hatchback there. In between them is the best selling Alto (based on Mk5 Suzuki Alto), the tallboy Estilo (MR Wagon in Japan), the Wagon R, the A-Star (we know it here as the Suzuki Alto) and the Ritz, which is called Splash in Europe.

According to reports, the market leading brand will add another model to that large family of hatchbacks, and it’s the Suzuki Cervo, which comes in a modern monobox design. Launched in Japan in 2006, the Cervo is one of Suzuki’s many kei cars, which means that it conforms to the usual footprint and 660cc limits.

Some Indian commentators say that it will be positioned as a Tata Nano rival, while others claim that it will be placed a notch above the Alto. Its arrival is more certain though, and some say that it will be launched in October, in time for this year’s Diwali celebrations.

Other upcoming models for Maruti are the new Swift and the R III MPV. The latter, which is a “made in India for India” model shown in concept form at last year’s Delhi show, has already been caught undergoing testing lately.

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Renault Samsung SM7 based on Nissan Teana unveiled

June 15, 2011 at 12:28 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Koreans, Nissan, Renault

Renault Samsung has unveiled the first shots of the production Renault Samsung SM7, which was previewed just in April as the Renault Samsung SM7 Concept. This Teana-based sedan is intended for the Korean market, but apparently it might just make it to certain markets with a Renault badge.

The production car sheds much of the funkiness that the concept had, which were all the cues that hid the concept car’s Teana origins well. The production version looks much more identifiable as a restyled Nissan Teana.

Look after the jump for a full gallery of both production and concept cars.
[Read more...]

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Volkswagen Beetle Black Turbo edition for the USA

June 15, 2011 at 12:18 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Volkswagen

The Volkswagen Beetle Turbo will be equipped with the same 2.0 litre TFSI engine as the Volkswagen Scirocco/Golf GTI – that means 200 horsepower and 280Nm of torque, paired to a ultra quick shifting DSG gearbox.

Volkswagen of America will even celebrate the marque’s new fast Beetle with a Volkswagen Beetle Black Turbo edition, limited to 600 units and equipped with plenty of look fast bits to go with the go fast engine – red calipers, special 18 inch wheels, a rear spoiler, etc.

Volkswagen wants the new Beetle to be more unisex rather than just appealing to female drivers. Since the majority of the readers here are guys – what do you think, would you drive a Beetle that had the performance of a Golf GTI?

Look after the jump for photo galleries of the new Beetle.
[Read more...]

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Ford 2.0L EcoBoost engine to debut in Malaysia in Ford S-MAX MPV and Ford Mondeo Titanium

June 15, 2011 at 12:08 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Advertorial, Cars, Ford

The age of economy may be upon us, but being frugal with fuel doesn’t mean that there should be any sacrifice in power output delivery, certainly not when you can have the best of both worlds. Today’s engines deliver more, for less, with a bit of help from technology.

These days, the likes of turbocharging and direct-injection offer a smaller engine the performance equal to a larger displacement one – it’s not surprising to see a 2.0 litre DI turbocharged four-cylinder mill more than matching the power output and torque of a normally-aspirated V6, and the numbers add up in performance too.

Ford’s version of this is called EcoBoost. First seen on its 3.5 litre EcoBoost V6 engines, turbocharging and direct fuel injection are the two main items at the heart of EcoBoost’s workings. The turbocharger increases airflow in the engine to boost power and direct injection helps enable more efficient fuel burn for better fuel economy.

How a turbocharger works, if you didn’t already know, is by recovering energy from the exhaust that otherwise would be wasted and putting it back in the engine to gain efficiency. Simply put, the turbocharging system puts more air into the engine, creating more power. A compressor increases or boosts the pressure of the air entering the engine, and an air-to-air intercooler reduces the air temperature before it enters the engine.

Meanwhile, direct injection uses high-pressure fuel injectors to spray a fine mist of fuel directly into each cylinder – the fine mist generated by each solenoid-controlled Bosch injector’s tiny outlet holes helps to create a well-mixed air-fuel mixture, and also cools the incoming air, helping to reduce the potential for engine knock. Unlike port-fuel-injection (PFI) engines that spray fuel in the intake system, the direct injection system puts the fuel exactly where it needs to be for combustion.

A high-pressure injector is positioned to the side of each cylinder, aiming the fuel directly into the cylinder adjacent to a high-intensity spark plug and alongside the intake and exhaust valves.

Fuel from the vehicle tank is pumped at normal pressure to the engine compartment, where a special, cam-driven, high-pressure fuel pump increases the fuel pressure – the fuel is then sprayed into the cylinders at pressures of up to 2,200 pounds per square inch (PSI), which is about 35 times more intense than PFI injection. Electronic control system varies the timing and intensity of the fuel delivery, according to engine operating conditions.

This precisely controlled fuel delivery improves the engine’s transient response, contributes to improved fuel economy and enables improved emissions, particularly at cold start, and an EcoBoost engine can reduce CO2 emissions by 15% and improve fuel efficiency by 20%.

The 2.0 litre EcoBoost I-4 four-cylinder engine, which will debut in the upcoming Ford Mondeo Titanium and S-Max models due to arrive in Malaysia soon, employs many of the basic principles of the first generation EcoBoost engines.

Combining a single turbocharger with a direct injection fuel delivery system, the high-pressure fuel pump – which is a cam-driven mechanical pump with a single piston and an electronic control valve – on this mill operates at 2,200 psi, more than 50 times the norm as seen in a conventional NA four-cylinder engine.

Elsewhere, the turbocharger – which is paired with the direct-injection system to virtually eliminate turbo lag – spins at up to 200,000 rpm and is designed for a life cycle of 150,000 miles or 10 years. It spools up quickly to maximum torque and maintains it across a broad range, estimated from 2,000 rpm to 5,500 rpm according to the company.


Click for enlarged image – learn more at ecoboost.com.my

The 2.0 litre EcoBoost I-4 engine also adds Ti-VCT (Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing) technology, as seen in the Fiesta.

Working on a ‘More Power, Less Fuel’ tagline, the EcoBoost engine promises to deliver power and performance in a smaller, more efficient package, with lower emissions. No surprise to find then that Ford is targetting to offer the EcoBoost engine – in various displacements – in up to 80% of its vehicle nameplates and aim for global sales of 1.5 million EcoBoost-powered vehicles per year in the near future .

You can find out more about EcoBoost at ecoboost.com.my, a microsite that features explanations on the unique engine technology through detailed articles and video clips. In addition, the website will give consumers an opportunity to sign up and get invited to exclusive test drive sessions.

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Gates Corporation – 100 years of experience as a leading OE belt supplier

June 15, 2011 at 12:01 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Advertorial

Strange that even though in the course of any long-term ownership, and with a definite need to replace them, rare is the case where a car owner specifically seeks out an automotive replacement part – or sprout the info – by brand. Undoubtedly, there are those who do, but by and large the average user probably doesn’t notice the things that are under the hood or hidden away, let alone pay attention to a brand.

So, with that, how many of you have heard of Gates, the Corporation or the brand? Well, the company has been around for a good bit, 100 years actually, and it happens to be one of the world’s leading industrial and automotive parts manufacturers, primarily in the area of belt and hose products, systems and components.

The company started in 1911 in Denver, Colorado, when Charles Gates bought The Colorado Tire and Leather Company, and in the hundred years since, Gates Corporation – formerly known as The Gates Rubber Company – has charted a global course that has seen the company expand into 29 countries around the world, with now more than 100 Gates manufacturing, distribution, technical and sales/service facilities delivering innovative solutions from industrial and automotive original equipment manufacturers and replacement markets to agriculture, transportation, mining, oil & gas, construction, food processing etc.

In the field of automotive replacement parts, Gates is a supplier to major car manufacturers worldwide, which enables it to provide OE-equivalent products to the automotive aftermarket. The company provides a host of auto parts solutions, including V-belts, timing belts, auto tensioners, waterpumps, radiator hoses, hose fittings, crimpers, automotive hydraulics and power transmissions, across a wide spectrum of applications, from passenger cars, light trucks and heavy-duty to scooter application needs.

The company was the first to launch OE standard material into the aftermarket an EPDM-based accessory belt, EPDM is simply known as a type of rubber (ethylene propylene diene Monomer rubber) well known for its outstanding heat, ozone and weather resistance properties. In the case of the EPDM Micro-V, the company says that it exhibits high resistance to wear (and ozone), has low stretch, and has good resistance to oil drops, among other things.

Gates also makes timing belts for cars, and prides itself by being the only manufacturer approved by virtually every major OEM to provide timing belts for new engines – it also makes the Unitta range of belts, and Gates and Unitta timing belts are products of the same company.

As the world’s leading belt manufacturer, Gates has a long history of creating new products through innovation to meet constantly evolving requirements, and is also a major supplier of belts to the motorcycle market, one such achievement is equipping Harley-Davidson with the first generation of Poly Chain synchronous belt and through the years, Gates has also become an important supplier to numerous scooter manufacturers, such as Peugeot MTC.

At present, Gates offers an aftermarket replacement scooter belt which matches OE belt performance, the Gates Powerlink scooter belt, designed to provide top performance for CVT drives. The company hasn’t stopped there – today, Gates is also involved in bicycles by providing the innovative solution in the form of the Carbon Drive System, which trades messy chains and skipping with a super strong polyurethane belt.

Granted, it’s not something that you need to be studious about, unless you’re so inclined, but at least you’re that more in the know about things, and if your mechanic shows you a Gates OEM part that he’s about to fit into your car, you know you’re getting quality and recognition. Find out more by visiting the Gates website, and there’s a Facebook page for the Powerlink Scooter belt, if you’d like to know more about that one.

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Saab’s adventure continues – Youngman joins the party

June 14, 2011 at 7:28 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, China, International News, Saab, Youngman

The tempestuous affair that is Saab continues, with another Chinese suitor entering the picture to now make it a three-way deal. The Swedish automaker, owned by Spyker Cars, had been given a shot in the arm in May by Chinese car distributor Pang Da Automobile Trade, which pumped in money to restore Saab’s production and was looking to take a 24% equity stake in the latter.

Now, enter Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile, better known as Youngman, which will form the third element in a joint venture deal. Spyker Cars said yesterday it had signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding for Youngman to take a 29.9% stake and Pang Da to take a 24% share in Saab, for a combined 2.3 billion yuan (US$355 million).

Under the agreement, Youngman will buy an equity stake in Saab for 1.3 billion yuan (US$200 million) and will take a 45% stake in the manufacturing JV, with Saab holding 45% and Pang Da the remaining 10%, according to reports. Youngman will hold a 33% stake in the distribution part of the JV, with Pang Da holding 34% and Saab 33%.

Meanwhile, Pang Da will be forking out 1.0 billion yuan (US$155 million) for its 24% equity stake in Spyker, up from the 605 million yuan (US$93.5 million) it was expected to deploy for its equity investment initially announced on May 16.

As has been the case, this deal hinges on approval from governmental agencies and third parties, involving both Chinese and Swedish governments as well as the European Investment Bank and Saab shareholder General Motors, the reports add. After all that has been happening in recent times, what with the likes of the scuppered Hawtai deal, all at Saab must be crossing their fingers that this one finally comes through.

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After a buffet of thrills and spills, Audi wins Le Mans 2011

June 14, 2011 at 5:33 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Audi, Motorsports

This year’s Le Mans 24 Hours has been won by Audi, and 2011 will be remembered for a long time as one of the classics. Audi’s car No.2 trio of Benoit Treluyer, Andre Lotterer and Marcel Fassler prevailed at the end, but it was a very tight affair – second place went to Peugeot’s Bourdais, Lamy and Pagenaud, whose No.9 car was just 13.854 seconds behind.

There was immense pressure on Lotterer, who drove the final stint being hounded by the Peugeots, and in on/off rain. He also had to pit for a puncture with around 40 minutes remaining, so it’s a job well done.

The French cars filled the rest of the top five positions, meaning all three factory Peugeots made it to the end. Things couldn’t be more different for chief rival Audi, which saw two of their three cars involved in major crashes in the first third of the race. Thankfully, Allan McNish and Mike Rockenfeller sustained no injuries in those incidents.

The first accident saw McNish’s car No.3, who had just taken the lead shortly before the end of the first hour, collide with a Ferrari at La Chappelle. The GTE Pro class car hit the Audi’s left rear wheel, causing the R18 TDI to spin off and hit the barrier hard before rolling over and causing an explosion of car bits. This brought the safety car out.

Eight hours into the race, another Audi crashed out. This time, Rockenfeller’s car No.1, which was running second at 11 pm, was powering down the Mulsanne when he collided with (another) slow Ferrari at the kink, propelling his car into the barriers. This was a super high speed crash, and it’s a testament of the safety built into today’s race cars that “Rocky” climbed out of the car himself.

“If you pursue new paths this always involves a risk. But this risk has absolutely paid off. The Audi R18 TDI was in a class of its own at Le Mans 2011. Particularly due to the two extremely serious accidents this has been the most difficult Le Mans race for us in an emotional sense so far. That our team managed to keep the strong competition at bay for 16 hours with just one car is almost unbelievable,” said Audi Head of Motorsport, Dr Wolfgang Ullrich.

“Everyone at Audi can be proud of this triumph. However, the news that Allan and Mike came out of these extremely heavy accidents so well is at least as important as that of the tenth Audi victory,” he added.

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VIDEO: Supercharged 197 hp Honda CR-Z Mugen in action

June 14, 2011 at 3:04 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Honda, Videos

The first pics of the Honda CR-Z Mugen was released last month, and now there’s a video of RE11 FCZ in action. Tuned by Mugen’s UK performance division, the charged CR-Z’s new bits – carbon fibre bonnet, rear spoiler, bronze Mugen wheels, front LEDs, bodykit, four-pot brake calipers – are shown in the video. Inside, there are Recaro seats and a trio of Mugen gauges on the dash top.

The 1:35 clip also shows the CR-Z’s rev counter change from blue to red as the driver changes into sports mode. The Honda is then seen doing its thing on empty country roads. You can also hear the sound of the engine, and it’s quite racy.

By the way, Mugen’s CR-Z retains the regular coupe’s 1.5-litre petrol motor, but they’ve supercharged it to produce 50% more power and torque. The claimed overall figure is 197 hp and 245 Nm just for the engine. Overall figures will be higher thanks to a recalibrated version of the CR-Z’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) electric motor. More details will be out later this month, when the car gets its public unveiling at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

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