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ASEAN bound production Subaru XV to debut at Frankfurt

August 11, 2011 at 1:33 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Subaru

Last month, news of Subaru setting up CKD operations in Malaysia surfaced, making our country the hub for a model that will be also exported to Thailand and Indonesia. The following day, we confirmed that the model in question is the XV, which appeared at the Shanghai show earlier this year as a concept.

Now, Fuji Heavy Industries has announced that it will exhibit the production Subaru XV at the Frankfurt show next month. The show unit will be a European spec car.

Billed as a “compact SUV”, the XV is a high riding hatchback with macho 4X4 style body armour, not unlike VW’s Cross models. But it’s not all show; it’s a Subaru, so the XV will come with the brand’s Symmetrical AWD system.

We predict that the production car won’t look too different from the concept car, which appears very production ready. Take away the obvious showcar details such as the fancy touch screen centre console and the dash looks set to go, too.

Instead of just speculating, we hopped over to Singapore for a chat with Glenn Tan, Executive Director of Tan Chong International and Group Chief Executive of Motor Image, the Tan Chong arm handling Subaru in the region. In our exclusive interview, Glenn revealed details on our XV and shared Motor Image’s plans for Malaysia. Click here to view the post.

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2012 Honda Civic images from Saudi Honda website

August 10, 2011 at 10:51 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Honda

Here’s a fresh new photo gallery of the new 9th generation Honda Civic taken off Honda’s Saudi Arabian website, now featuring interior images to complement the front, side and rear angles that we featured last week.

We’ve already detailed the small differences between the US Civic sedan and this Asian/global version in our previous post – basically just the grille, bumper and tail lamps.

The interior looks pretty much the same as the US version too – just minor variances such as different colours used on the dash surfaces (a two tone dash seen here), and a completely red hazard warning button seen here as compared to the black and red one we saw on the US Civic. This image also lacks the full colour screen on the US Civic – here we see regular radio head unit buttons.

Look after the jump for a gallery and an embedded brochure of the 2012 Civic.
[Read more...]

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Catch TSAS on The PETRONAS Brands YouTube channel

August 10, 2011 at 6:43 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Advertorial, Cars, Travel Safe and Save, Videos

Check out the PETRONAS Brands YouTube channel to catch all the previous episodes of Travel Safe & Save with PETRONAS Primax 95 Xtra.

A new episode comes out every Thursday, and there have been 5 episodes out so far, so it would be a great time for you to catch up on the series before Episode 6 comes out tomorrow. It’s our first road trip travel show project so do lend us some support yeah! :)

There’s also a lot of other PETRONAS related videos such as their TV commercials (featuring the green Ford Fiesta – doesn’t it make you wish green was offered here?), some recordings of flash mobs that they’ve done earlier this year, user testimonials, and etc.

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Toyota to launch diesel powered Etios in India next month

August 10, 2011 at 5:01 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, India, Toyota

Toyota’s decision to make a small saloon for India, and its first hatchback for the country, seems to be paying off. Sales of the Etios is currently above expectations – in the seven months since it was launched, the Etios has found 37,000 new homes, 7,000 above Toyota’s estimates. The Etios Liva hatchback received 1,400 bookings in just four days after its June 27 launch.

The Etios was launched with a 2NR-FE 1.5-litre engine (90 PS/132 Nm), while the Liva is powered by a 1.2L with 80 PS and 104 Nm of torque. While they should be entirely adequate for the compact duo, Toyota will be wheeling out a diesel powered Etios sedan, and the estimated date of arrival is in September, a festive season in India where sales peak.

According to Autocar India, the oil burner in question is a 1,364 cc turbodiesel that also powers India’s Corolla. However, the version in the cheaper Etios will not get the bigger car’s Variable Nozzle Turbo (VNT), and will make do with fixed geometry boost.

The mag speculates a max power figure of 75 hp, 12 horses less than in the Corolla. But we all know that diesels are all about low rpm torque and the D-4D in the six-speed manual Altis makes 205 Nm at 1,800 to 2,800 rpm.

Sounds good, and fuel consumption in the 900-plus kg Etios should be brilliant. While it looks rather bland, the Etios has the same 2,550 mm wheelbase as the Vios (meaning it’s quite roomy) and a huge 595-litre boot.

Do you think something like this will work in Malaysia?

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Proton P3-21A snapped on KESAS Highway near COE

August 10, 2011 at 4:06 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Proton, Spyshots

Reader Chong Han Kim spotted this Proton P3-21A on test on the KESAS highway right opposite the Proton Centre of Excellence HQ.

There’s still loads of disguise on the P3-21A, so it should still be quite some time before the car is launched. Even the tail lamps are completely covered up with dummy lenses.

Look after the jump to view a gallery of all three spy pictures. You can also check out our previous story covering the P3-21A chassis frame teaser.
[Read more...]

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Goodyear introduces two new Eagle F1 performance tyres

August 10, 2011 at 12:32 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Feature Stories, Local News

Goodyear recently launched two new tyres in the Ultra High Performance (UHP) segment in Malaysia, where the Eagle F1 Assymmetric 2 and Eagle F1 Directional 5 were shown to Goodyear dealers, car clubs (among them BMW Club Malaysia, VW & Audi Club Malaysia and Italia Auto) and car enthusiasts at Proton’s test track in Shah Alam.

We were at the regional launch of the duo in Hua Hin, Thailand in late July, and will bring you the full details as well as impressions soon. For now, here’s what the tyres are all about, in a nutshell.

The Eagle F1 Assymmetric 2 is as its name suggests, a sequel to the Eagle F1 Assymmetric that was launched three years ago. The EF1 Assymmetric is still one of the best UHP tyres money can buy, if not the best, but the Assymmetric 2 further improves on it.

The improvements are in areas such as wet braking, wet handling, dry braking and mileage, but the most significant difference is in rolling resistance.

As with the Assymmetric in 2008, Goodyear is confident that the Assymmetric 2 is the best performing UHP tyre in the market now.

The other product is the Eagle F1 Directional 5. A direct successor to the famous Eagle F1 GSD-3 (they skipped number 4 for obvious reasons), this “mid UHP” tyre is positioned slightly lower than the Assymmetric 2, specifically at aftermarket tuned cars as well as those looking to upsize.

While not as dramatic looking as the GSD-3, the Directional 5 comes with an aggressive and sporty looking tread pattern that will appeal to many. Needless to say, the Directional 5 beats the GSD-3 in every aspect. In line with its positioning, Directional 5 sizes start at 15-inch.

The Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 is available in 17”–20” and is priced from RM535 to RM1,710 while the Eagle F1 Directional 5 is available from RM290 to RM705. Full details coming your way soon!

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Next generation Perodua Viva wishful thinking rendering based on 2011 Daihatsu A-Concept

August 10, 2011 at 12:06 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Daihatsu, Feature Stories, Malaysian Makes, Perodua

Remember the lime green Daihatsu A-Concept that was showcased at the Indonesia International Motor Show earlier this year?

It was a concept car developed with the involvement of Indonesians with the technical support of Daihatsu Japan. They were pretty vague about what segment the A-Concept was competing in though – it looked a little bigger than a typical A-segment car, but it had a lower roofline than a typical JDM B-segment tall hatchback like the Myvi – shaped more like a Fiesta or Mazda 2.

Imagine if the Daihatsu A-Concept was toned down for production and given a Perodua badge for sale in Malaysia – that’s what Theophilus Chin sought to achieve with his latest image manipulation project.

The A-Concept was given production side mirrors, a rear wiper, door handles, mud guards, a more production-looking rear light cluster, a hatch-mounted number plate holder (as with all Perodua cars), body colored roof and A pillars, and a revised front to carry a look similar to the new Myvi’s face. It’s colour was also given the popular bluish grey Perodua paint.

What do you think – do you like it?

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Win a Ferrari F40 scale model in our FB caption contest

August 10, 2011 at 12:05 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars

Want to win this Ferrari F40 scale model? All you have to do is the following:

  1. Download the source image file: Source image file
  2. Add your own creative and unique text to the speech bubbles
  3. Submit it to our contest app on Facebook
  4. Submissions close on the 14th of August 2011, after of which there will be a public voting period for the best entry

Looking forward to your entries! :)

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Honda’s Thai exports to drop for the first time in 14 years

August 10, 2011 at 11:24 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Honda, International News

Widely believed to be the big Japanese carmaker most impacted by the earthquake/tsunami disaster in March, Honda is facing sliding figures across the globe, whether it’s a 28.49% drop in July sales (year on year) in America or falling exports from Thailand.

According to Bangkok-based Honda Asian Motor Co, Honda exports from Thailand are expected to fall for the first time in 14 years, no thanks to the devastating March 11 disaster. Exports of Thai-built automobiles, motorcycles and power products dropped 11% year-on-year in the first half to 46.1 billion baht. Exports for the full year are expected to slide by 7% from last year to 90 billion baht.

Exports of automobile products in the first half of 2011 stood at 20.29 billion baht, 37% lower than in 2010. CBU vehicle exports in the same period dived 48% to 17,441 units. The overall figure in the above paragraph was boosted by a strong showing by the motorcycle division.

Interestingly, bikes also helped Honda Motor Co’s second quarter figures to stay black; it made 31.7 billion yen in Q2, almost 90% less than in 2010.

Honda started exporting from Thailand in 1987 and currently ships City, Jazz, Civic, Accord and CR-V models from our northern neighbour to over 30 countries. This year, the list expanded to Mexico via 2,430 units of the City.

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New Hindustan VEER is an Ambassador pick-up spin-off

August 10, 2011 at 10:21 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, India

No such thing as living forever? Bet they haven’t found the Hindustan Ambassador from India. Based on the Morris Oxford III from the 1940s, it was once India’s most popular car, and is still sold today with little changes from the original. Not only is it still selling, Hindustan Motors has just launched a pick-up variant of the Amby called VEER.

The VEER is a 0.8-tonne (200 kg short of our usual 1-tonne) small commercial vehicle. Based on the (very) tried and tested Ambassador platform, it carries changes in transmission and suspension systems suitable for a load carrier. It is available in both diesel (BS III) and CNG (BS IV) versions. There are two models – VEER and VEER LX. While VEER has a separate load tray, VEER LX’s load tray is seamlessly integrated with the front cabin.

Hindustan says that the uniqueness of VEER lies in the fact that it offers the comfort of a car. Inside the cab is a three-seat bench. Priced at Rs 3.30 lakh ex-showroom Kolkata (RM22k), the VEER is now available in East India with plans to go nationwide over the current financial year.

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