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Ford in Frankfurt: Four world debuts including Focus RS?

August 5, 2011 at 6:26 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, Cars, Ford, International News

Ford, now the fastest growing brand in Malaysia, is planning something big for the upcoming Frankfurt show in September. How big is big? Well, Ford has a 3,200 sq.m stand – its largest ever at Frankfurt – and a 2,800 sq.m track where visitors can test out things such as Active City Stop and Active Park Assist in Ford’s ‘Drive Experience’.

The Blue Oval’s big guns are going to be overseeing the show in Frankfurt, including European chairman and CEO Stephen Odell, J Mays, design group VP and chief creative officer, and Derrick Kuzak, group VP of global product development.

“Ford plans to make a strong statement at the Frankfurt Motor Show, with several very exciting global product reveals and our significantly expanded show stand,” said Odell. “We’re excited to be showing customers our best-ever vehicle line-up and a special glimpse of the future,” he added.

So what can we expect? Ford will bring “four global product reveals” including a major new design concept and details of the next Focus performance car. The latter must be the Focus RS! Stay tuned!

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Lexus GS 350 set for Pebble Beach launch – teaser pix out

August 5, 2011 at 4:52 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Lexus


Click to enlarge

Lexus has released a sneak peek image of its upcoming all-new GS 350 luxury sport sedan, which it will be unveiling at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 18.

The darkened silhouette depiction doesn’t reveal much about the fourth-generation car, but does highlight the distinctive new front grille – essentially that as seen on the LF-Gh – that will soon be seen on all future Lexus vehicles. The new GS was spotted testing on the Nurburgring in prototype form last month.

The company says the completely redesigned vehicle will feature styling cues – again, largely previewed on the LF-Gh – in line with the brand’s new design philosophy, and will also lead the rest of the Lexus lineup towards an entirely new direction in terms of driving dynamics.

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Ford sales up by 230% – fastest growing brand in Malaysia

August 5, 2011 at 2:59 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Ford, Local News

Yes, that’s right. Ford sold 3,458 vehicles in the first six months of 2011, a whopping 230% increase from the same period last year. This makes the Blue Oval the fastest growing car brand in Malaysia.

It’s no surprise that this big jump is mostly due to the popularity of the Ford Fiesta supermini, which was officially launched in October 2010 after several months of pre-launch activity. Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) imports the B-segment hatch CBU from Thailand, where it’s made at the AutoAlliance plant in Rayong.

Of the total figure, the Fiesta contributed 2,035 units, or about 59%. The Ranger pick-up truck, Ford’s biggest seller in Malaysia for a long time, racked up 1,183 units, or 34.2%. The rest were picked up by the Focus and Mondeo. SDAC recently launched the facelifted Mondeo and S-Max MPV, both powered by 2.0-litre Ecoboost engines.

“The exceptional market growth we are experiencing in Malaysia is testament of our commitment to our customers and to the region. These are certainly exciting times for the Ford brand in Malaysia. Over the past few years we have launched seven new or redesigned models to the market and consumers are clearly impressed with what we have to offer,” said David Westerman, Asia Pacific Regional Manager – Ford Export & Growth Operations

“But we are not standing still, and based on Ford’s strong commitment to this region we will continue to deliver a series of innovative, safe and environmentally friendly vehicles,” he added.

Read our test drive reports for the Fiesta and Mondeo Ecoboost here and here.

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Proton “The Transporter” contest – win a 4-day/3-night all-expense-paid trip to watch the Singapore GP

August 5, 2011 at 1:32 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Local News, Proton


Click to enlarge. Surely you’d want to be The Transporter, in this case.

Proton is offering its customers the chance to catch the 2011 Formula One Singapore GP live. The winner of The Transporter online contest organised by the automaker will win a 4-day/3-night all-expense-paid trip to watch the race in Singapore on September 25.

Launched last week, the contest runs until August 24. The competition winner will also have the honour of accompanying Malaysian celebrities Yasmin Hani, Jojo Struys and Diana Danielle to the race, surely a most pleasant task.

Taking part in the contest is easy squeezy – customers who purchase a new Proton vehicle or service their existing Protons during the contest period will be eligible to participate in the contest.

All the customers need to do is log on to the contest website, fill in their details and complete a slogan on why they should be chosen as The Transporter. The customer who fulfils the contest’s criteria and produces the most creative slogan will be chosen as the winner.

Ten consolation prize winners will also win themselves exclusive Lotus-Renault Grand Prix merchandise and a pair of tickets to watch the 2011 Formula One Singapore Night Race.

“Through this campaign, we hope to support Group Lotus in its sponsorship and involvement in Formula One, and at the same time our priority is to provide our customers with a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of the F1 fever, something which money just can’t buy. It’s also our way of thanking our customers for their support and loyalty towards Proton,” said Proton MD Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin.

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Jianghuai Automobile to build assembly plant in Brazil

August 5, 2011 at 12:36 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, China, International News

Some news about Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co, or JAC. The Chinese automaker is looking at expanding its presence in Brazil by building a production plant there, reports say. The Hefei-based company, which made more than 450,000 cars domestically and was placed eight last year in terms of output for Chinese auto manufacturers, is already present in Brazil.

It began sales in the country in March this year, and by June had sold more than 20,000 units of its J5 sedan in Brazil. The J6 MPV is due to be introduced into the Brazilain market this month. The new plant is slated to begin production in 2014 and will have an annual production capacity of 100,000 vehicles.

JAC isn’t the only Chinese automaker with grand plans for Brazil – Chery has begun work on its own assembly plant there, and earlier this year, Chonqing Lifan Industry Group stated plans to build a JV assembly plant with Brazilian auto dealer EFFA Motors, the reports add.

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Problem with illegally parked cars? Roll over them then

August 5, 2011 at 11:56 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under International News

Ah, yes, this is probably something we’ve all wanted to do at some point, maybe even every day – crushing the beans out of an illegally parked car.

Over in Lithuania, the mayor of the country’s capital, Vilnius, decided to send a very clear – and dramatic – message over this issue. Apparently, Mayor Arturas Zuokas and the members of his office had grown tired of the hundreds of complaints over illegally parked vehicles.

So what’s a responsible mayor to do about such irresponsible behaviour? Why, get a 10-tonne BTR-60 eight-wheeled armoured personnel carrier and roll over one such vehicle as an example. In this case, a blue Mercedes, which was supposedly parked on a bike lane.

“I want to point out that if you have a car and more money it doesn’t mean that you can park it everywhere. Recently there has been an increase in this type of parking violations, and it shows a lack of respect for others,” reports quote the mayor as saying.

Well, the mayor seems to have driven home the point. We’d suggest not trying this at home on illegally parked vehicles in your neighbourhood. Unless you can get your hands on a Soviet BTR APC. At which point, someone else might too, and the ensuing mayhem might not be too pretty.

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Fiat CEO Marchionne warns against underestimating China

August 5, 2011 at 10:52 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Chery, China, Fiat

In many automotive circles, whether at the mamak or in boardrooms, China is still the butt of jokes. However, underestimating Chinese carmakers may not be that wise, if one remembers that Japanese and Korean cars were once in the same position. Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne is warning against that.

“If anyone deludes themselves that they can ignore China, they will pay a huge price. China’s auto industry has grown tremendously, and they have some of the most updated current technology. They should not be underestimated. We cannot afford to be unprepared for the ascent of China, reassuring ourselves of our invincibility,” Marchionne told an auto industry seminar in Michigan.

“The excuse that we did not understand or that we underestimated the scale will serve no purpose. Rather we need to continue to work to make our industrial base more competitive, because the day of reckoning is inevitably coming.”

The Italian pointed out that at present, Chinese carmakers produce almost entirely for domestic consumption, but “even assuming China were to export only 10% of what it produces, the risk we face in our home markets is enormous.”

He has reason to worry. Fiat is fighting for market leadership in fast growing Brazil, the world’s fourth largest car market and a target for the Chinese. Chery has started construction of its first factory outside of Sao Paulo and expects to churn out 50,000 vehicles a year there by end 2013. Meanwhile, Jianghuai Automobile (JAC Motors) is to invest between $600 and $900-million for its maiden Brazilian assembly plant that will start operating in 2014.

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Infiniti FX crossover gets facelift and Limited Edition

August 5, 2011 at 10:05 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Infiniti, International News

The Infiniti FX, one of the most bold looking cars on sale, gets a facelift. The most obvious change is up front, where the FX wears a new grille inspired by the Infiniti Essence Concept from Geneva 2009. There’s also newly designed alloy wheels. Inside the “command center-style cockpit”, heated seats are now standard across the range, while the Fine Vision electroluminescent gauges has a more pronounced white appearance.

Here’s one interesting feature we found – an automatic driving position system. This moves the steering wheel and wing mirrors adaptively into the correct position when the seat is adjusted, allowing the driver to change the seat position and keep the same mirror viewpoint and relationship between the steering column and driver’s shoulder position.

The FX comes with two engine options, a 5.0-litre V8 with 390 hp and 500 Nm and a 3.5-litre V6 with 303 hp and 355 Nm. Both are mated to a 7-speed auto with manual shift mode, Downshift Rev Matching and Adaptive Shift Control. Solid magnesium paddle are thrown in with the Sport Package.

Based upon the Infiniti FX35 AWD variant, the Limited Edition features an exclusive Iridium Blue exterior colour, 21-inch 10-spoke graphite finish wheels (with 265/45 V-rated all-season tyres), dark tinted headlights with Adaptive Front lighting System (AFS) and auto-leveling, and dark tinted side air vents and lower door trim.

Other LE features include aluminum roof rails/roof rail crossbars with graphite finish, aluminum pedals, graphite floor mats with unique blue piping, Infiniti Hard Drive Navi and Around View Monitor.

Infiniti, which is coming to Malaysia later this year, will be debuting a new seven-seat crossover called JX soon, read about that one here.

Gallery after the jump.
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Harvinder and Julie explore the wonders of Taiping in Episode 5 of Travel Safe and Save with PETRONAS PRIMAX 95 XTRA!

August 4, 2011 at 7:17 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Travel Safe and Save

Last week Harvinder brought Negeri Sembilan to your computer screens as he checked out the local Seremban market, visited Cape Rachado and experienced The Dusun. For Episode 5 of the travel series that goes to off-the-beaten tracks, both Harvinder and Julie visit the lovely town of Taiping.

The duo travel to the town which is famously known as the wettest town in the peninsular with the feisty little Ford Fiesta where they check out the Kuala Sepetang Charcoal Factory which has been around since the 1940s.

The hosts continue their journey with a stop at the fishing village in Kuala Sepetang that was formerly known as Port Weld before checking out the Taiping Casual Market as they try out a rather special beverage called “Doremi”.

They finally retire at Adeline’s Villa, a close-to-nature resort in the midst of the Gopeng rainforest. You can also check out episodes 1 till 4 of Travel Safe and Save with PETRONAS PRIMAX 95 XTRA here.

Check out an image gallery and more information on the locations after the jump.
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Bristol Cars to go electric – new model due out 2013

August 4, 2011 at 5:58 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News

While Bentley is thinking about jumping into the SUV market, another old British automotive name is looking at going electric. Niche sportscar maker Bristol Cars, which went into administration earlier in the year and was then rescued by Kamkorp Autocraft, is apparently working on an all-new electric supercar, according to a report.

Brit mag Evo says that the four-wheel drive, range-extended EV is scheduled to be launched in 2013. It’s really no surprise that Bristol is looking at electrifying things now that it has been saved from oblivion. Swiss company Kamkorp is part of the Frazer-Nash Group, which is at the forefront of plug-in extended range powertrain technology, and which is working with Proton on its electric drivetrain – FN’s tech featured in the Proton’s Exora Hybrid that took the Best Range Extender EV award class win in last October’s RAC Future Car Challenge.

The report adds that Kamkorp’s owner, Kamal Siddiqi, bought Bristol as a means to showcase FN’s technology, and he has since tasked his team to come up with a new Bristol that will seat four in absolute comfort and is capable of both 320 km/h and a more than 35 km per litre (100 mpg) equivalent fuel economy.

The new car won’t be based on an existing Bristol design, but will utilise a base vehicle from an as yet undisclosed manufacturer, with FN adding in the powertrain consisting of separate twin motors at the front and rear and a 14 kwH battery that can be charged via plug-in or through the Wankel-based generator that will also equip the car.

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