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Yong Siew Loon from Seremban wins the final Proton Inspira in the BHPetrol Fever Frenzy II contest

August 22, 2011 at 4:05 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News

The first Proton Inspira was won by Veenaigmoorthy Narasaman from Puchong, the second one by Madam Wu and the third unit by Engku Mahani from Felda Jerangau, Terengganu. Now, the final Proton Inspira up for grabs in BHPetrol’s Fever Frenzy II contest has been won by Mr Yong Siew Loon from Seremban, the July Grand Finale winner.

Yong, a 56 year old family man with three children, was shocked to receive the good news. “When BHPetrol called to tell me I won I did not believe it. I thought it was a scam but when I realised it was genuine, I was so happy. For me BHPetrol Infiniti Advanced2X is tops for savings and economy. I will go the extra mile to pump Infiniti and I still get the best petrol savings,” said the loyal BHPetrol user.

Other winners in the four-month long contest went home happy, too. In total, BHPetrol gave away four Proton Inspiras, RM120,000 in cash prizes, 20 million ePoints, ten iPad2s and five 40-inch LED TVs .

“The contest was an opportunity for everyone to try out our BHPetrol Infiniti Advanced2X 95 and 97, which offers unparallel performance with our Advanced Double Strength formula. The new fuels are treated with Advanced Additive Compound (AAC) from Germany at the recommended maximum treat rate to give Malaysians the ultimate in fuel savings and power and at no extra cost to users,” said BHPetrol’s MD Tan Kim Thiam.

“We at BHPetrol would like to thank all our loyal customers who made the contest a great success. We know you loved it and we will be back soon to give you more,” Tan promised.

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Kia Rio – five-door to make European market debut

August 22, 2011 at 1:34 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Kia

The third-generation Kia Rio is set to make its European market entrance, joining the compact fray in the UK at the beginning of next month. The UB hatch, which made its debut in Geneva earlier this year, arrives in five-door form first, followed by the three-door version towards the end of the year. There’s also of course a sedan form of the vehicle, the Rio Sedan unveiled in New York in April, which is set to begin selling in the US in January next year, as well as the K2 derivative for the Chinese market.

Universally, the Rio will have six engine choices in all from a 69 hp 1.1 litre three-cylinder diesel unit up to a 1.6 litre GDI mill producing 138 hp, the last set for North America. Four engine choices will be available for the UK – two petrol and two diesel, among them a 107 hp 1.4 litre petrol and a 89 hp 1.4 litre turbodiesel.

Large gallery of the UK spec’d hatch after the jump.
[Read more...]

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Working towards an ultra-small commuter for the elderly

August 22, 2011 at 12:12 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News

Over in Japan, plans are afoot to see if a senior-friendly car can be developed for older folk. Reports say that a group of prefectural governors has proposed the idea of such a vehicle, and test-drives will be held in Fukuoka Prefecture this fall to gain relevant information for the project.

Thirty six prefectural governors have set up a federation which aims to promote the development of easy-to-drive cars for the elderly. The group will ask 40 residents of Asakura who are aged 65 and older to drive both the Toyota Auto Body COMS single-seater ultra-compact and a two-seater compact for a week each.

The programme will also see another two-seater driven around the city and get a further 30 drivers of regular cars, aged between the ages of 20 and 70, to comment on the two-seater’s speed and visibility on the road, the reports add. Data will be collected on routes through monitoring equipment, and the test-drivers interviewed to get feedback on the vehicles’ ease of use compared with their own cars.

Based on data from the test-drives, the group plans to ask the government and automakers to define standards for the new category of vehicle, which would be smaller than a minicar, as well as work towards developing a senior-friendly vehicle, replete with accident avoidance and driver assistance systems.

With elderly people living in rural areas having little access to public transport, cars are essential for shopping and visits to the doctor. The group proposed developing a two-seater, senior-friendly car after conducting a survey with older drivers and finding that most drive alone or with a single passenger and typically travel 10 km or less per day.

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Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG revealed – NA V8 with 415 hp

August 22, 2011 at 11:23 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Mercedes Benz


UPDATE: Hi res gallery of beauty and actions shots added

Mercedes-Benz has revealed its most powerful SLK to date, the latest SLK55 AMG, ahead of its Frankfurt world debut. As the range topping performance flagship of the third-generation SLK that was launched in June, the SLK55 AMG gets a new AMG 5.5-litre V8 engine with 415 hp and 540 Nm of torque, good for a 0-100 km/h dash in 4.6 seconds. Top speed is, as usual, restricted to 250 km/h.

No downsized twin-turbo V6 here, the SLK55 gets a naturally aspirated V8 with a “typical exhaust growl which only a large-displacement eight-cylinder engine can produce,” says Merc. This new M152 unit is based on the AMG M157 5.5-litre V8 biturbo engine that debut last year, and seeing service in the AMG versions of the E, CLS, S and CL.

Identical design features include the displacement, bore/stroke, distance between cylinders, ECO stop/start system and direct injection technology. Things unique to the M152 are the new intake air ducting, new cylinder heads, the modified valve drive, an adapted oil supply system and an optimised crankcase.

AMG boasts that no other petrol engine features direct injection at 2,900 psi pressure, spray-guided combustion and piezo injectors, all in conjunction with map-controlled cylinder shut-off, an all-aluminum crankcase with “spectacle” honing, four-valve technology with continuous camshaft adjustment, a high compression ratio of 12.6:1, stop/start and generator management – while revving to a maximum speed of over 7,000 rpm.

Did you notice ‘cylinder shut off’ from the list? That’s a new feature developed completely by Mercedes-AMG where cylinders two, three, five and eight are cut off under partial load, which lowers fuel consumption considerably.

Available over a wide range from 800 to 3,600 rpm if the driver has selected transmission mode C (for Controlled Efficiency), there’s still 230 Nm available in four-pot mode (enough for regular driving), and the reactivation process at 3,600 rpm takes no more than 30 milliseconds. By the way, this tech is also used in the 750 hp V8 engines in Formula 1.

Another new tech is the AMG sports exhaust system featuring a flap on each side. This resolves the trade off between an emotional exhaust note during spirited driving and a more discreet engine sound in the partial load range.

At engine speeds below 2,000 rpm the flaps remain closed. When the driver accelerates, the flaps open at an angle of 15, then 30 and up to 50 degrees. Under full load, the flaps are fully opened so one can hear the full AMG rumble.

Power is transferred to the rear wheels by the AMG Speedshift Plus 7G-Tronic auto ‘box with three transmission modes: Controlled Efficiency (C), Sport (S) and Manual (M). The automatic rev-matching function when downshifting shortens shift times, while a double turbine torsional damper with centrifugal pendulum adapts to engine speed and helps minimise vibrations in four-cylinder mode.

To improve handling, the SLK55 comes with AMG sports suspension with Torque Vectoring Brakes and AMG Direct-Steer system, the latter with a parameter function adapted to match the suspension.

There’s also an AMG-exclusive 3-stage ESP that gives individual control choices at the touch of a button: “ESP ON”, “SPORT Handling Mode” and “ESP OFF” for the very brave or very good.

After all the meat, here’s the garnish. The SLK55 is set apart by AMG light-alloy wheels, exclusive AMG body styling with AMG spoiler lip and two chrome-plated twin tailpipes at the rear.

Inside, the highlights are the AMG-specific analog clock featuring an IWC design, the AMG Performance steering wheel, with its flattened top and bottom sections (also has aluminum shift paddles), and the AMG instrument cluster plus main menu.

A hi res gallery of beauty and action shots is after the jump. Good wallpaper material!
[Read more...]

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CKD assembly of Volkswagens to start by November 2011

August 22, 2011 at 3:10 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Volkswagen

Last year, the news of Volkswagen working with DRB-Hicom to locally assemble VW models got many excited. Back then, they said that three models were earmarked for CKD assembly at DRB’s Pekan plant, and production will start from 2012 onwards. We’re nearer to that date now, and it has been revealed that things are right on schedule.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, at a breaking of fast function with DRB-Hicom employees, said that the Pekan plant will start assembling Volkswagens starting in October or November, and the initial batch will be 200 units.

“The first batch from the Pekan plant will test the response of the local market for the model, a number of which, according to plans, will be exported to Asean countries,” he told the crowd at the Sri Maulana Mosque in Pekan, which included DRB-Hicom MD Datuk Seri Mohd Khamil Jamil. Najib is the MP for Pekan.

It is understood that the first batch mentioned will be the D-segment VW Passat, which should be officially launched early next year. The next model is likely to be the Jetta, which is a sedan variant of the Golf. The Polo Sedan, a.k.a. Vento in some markets, has also been spotted testing here.

There’s a huge appetite for more affordable Volkswagens, and the launch of the CKD models are highly anticipated. How much do you think they’ll cost?

But before all that, Volkswagen is all set to launch the Polo GTI, which has already been spotted in KL. It’ll happen this week in Sepang, as hinted by VW’s Scirocco R Cup ad captured above. Stay tuned!

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VIDEO: BMW Z4 with N20B20 inline-4 turbo engine

August 21, 2011 at 7:06 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, Videos

Wonder how BMW’s new 4 cylinder turbo petrol engine sounds like? We’ve been wondering as well, and now our curiosity has been satisfied a little, somewhat.

Here’s a video of the new BMW Z4 equipped with a N20B20 4 cylinder turbo engine. Of course, how everything sounds like on a Z4 is going to be different from how it sounds like on an F30 3-Series or F10 5-Series. And what you hear on a recorded video isn’t necessarily the same as what you hear in real life.

Whatever it is… it’s time to say goodbye to their sweet normally aspirated inline-6!

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2012 Audi A5 facelift range gets various technical updates

August 21, 2011 at 6:42 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Audi, Cars

In the never-ending quest to satisfy the needs of both consumer and policymaker demands for fuel efficiency and reduced emissions, Audi has revised their engine line-up for the 2012 model year, with the changes reflected with the latest model to be updated – the facelifted Audi A5 range. We’ve already covered some of these changes on the surface in our earlier story – here we go into a little more detail.

1.8L TFSI upgraded to 170 PS to replace 180 PS 2.0L

The baseline 1.8 litre TFSI inline-4 engine has been given a complete redesign, and these changes should later be implemented in the other four cylinder engine sizes, such as the fun 2.0 litre TFSI used in various VAG cars. Power is now up from 160 PS to 170 PS, and this engine now replaces the 180 PS tune of the 2.0 litre TFSI engine.

Something new with the engine is an upgraded fuel delivery system which now features a higher rail pressure (200 bar up from 150 bar) and both FSI direct injection as well as conventional indirect injection. Some carmakers have dabbled with this idea in the past, such as the Toyota/Lexus D-4S system, which also features both injector types.

Under part-load conditions, the system injects fuel at the end of the intake manifold, where it is mixed with air. This is said to help reduce both fuel consumption and particulate emissions, and plays a part in helping the engine meet Euro 6 emissions standards.

Normally aspirated 3.2L V6 replaced with supercharged 3.0L

The normally aspirated 3.2 litre V6 engine has been replaced with a lower output version of the supercharged 3.0 litre V6 TFSI engine, producing 272 PS instead of the original 333 PS tune it was unveiled with.

Normally aspirated 4.2L V8 replaced with supercharged 3.0L

The screaming 4.2 litre V8 in the S5 Coupe has been replaced with the higher output version of the 3.0 litre supercharged V6 engine, making 333 PS. This is an expected mode, considering the different body styles of the S5 like the drop top version have already had the V8 replaced with the blown V6, so now it’s finally the Coupe’s turn to get the more efficient engine.

A more advanced Quattro system

The 2012 model year A5 gets a more advanced quattro all wheel drive system using a crown gear center differential, which first made its debut on the RS5. It also has torque vectoring for more effective torque distribution.

New efficiency mode for Audi drive select

A new mode called ‘efficiency’ has been added to the current range of ‘dynamic’, ‘auto’, and ‘comfort’ modes in Audi drive select. In this mode, various variable systems like the power steering, throttle response, transmission shift point and even the air conditioning system will be adjusted for minimal power consumption.

We expect all of these changes to eventually reach the rest of the Audi range wherever applicable.

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VIDEOS: Proton’s Hari Merdeka Celebration TVCs

August 21, 2011 at 6:17 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Malaysian Makes, Proton, Videos


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New Volkswagen Polo GTI snapped at a VW dealership!

August 20, 2011 at 8:25 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Volkswagen

UPDATE: Volkswagen Polo GTI launched in Sepang – read our full launch story.

It looks like the Volkswagen Polo GTI is already in Malaysia, so I suppose we can expect a launch very very soon. This Polo GTI with its protective layers still unremoved was snapped at Volkswagen Jalan Ipoh by reader Mansor J, who uploaded it onto our Facebook fan page.

This new high-performance version of the Volkswagen Polo has a twin-charged (supercharger + turbocharger) 1.4 litre TSI inline-4 engine under its hood which is able to crank out 178 horsepower at 6,200 revs and 249Nm of torque from as low as 2,000 revs. It’s mated to a 7-speed twin clutch DSG gearbox.

Wonder how much the Polo GTI will be priced at? The last generation Polo GTI was officially priced at RM138,888. Wonder if the new Polo GTI will receive a similar price tag. The current generation Polo 1.2 TSI goes for RM108,888.

While you wait for the launch, we have some stories for you to catch up on – 1) Polo 1.2 TSI test drive review and 2) previous generation Polo GTI test drive review.

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McLaren gets investment from Singaporean billionaire

August 19, 2011 at 9:48 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, McLaren

This just in – McLaren Automotive has announced that Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim has made a “significant investment” in the UK sports car manufacturer. Mr Lim is the 8th richest man in Singapore according to Forbes Asia. He also operates a chain of Manchester United-themed restaurants and bars across Asia.

“Peter Lim’s track record in Asia as a highly respected business leader adds further quality to our board in this highly competitive business environment at an exciting time for the company,” said Ron Dennis, McLaren Automotive and McLaren Group executive chairman.

Wearnes Automotive is the official dealer for McLaren cars in Singapore. When the Wearnes appointment was announced in February this year, there were already rumours of Peter Lim looking to invest in McLaren, but everything was denied at that time.

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