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Frankfurt: Volvo Concept You makes its public debut

September 14, 2011 at 6:50 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Cars, Videos

Say hello to the Concept You from Volvo. This concept was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show and it previews an upcoming large luxury sedan by the company. The concept features a fastback design which looks quite similar to the Audi A7.

Finished in a light blue liquid metal paint from DuPont, Concept You sits on large 21-inch polished aluminium wheels and has LED dipped beam in four “ice blocks” on top of the high beam lights. Certain design details on the car is inspired by the Danish design house Georg Jensen.

“The design of the wheels, the grille and details in the innovative headlamps have been inspired by the exquisite works of world-famous Danish design house Georg Jensen. Their precious items capture the essence of Scandinavian design. Uncluttered, organic surfaces and superb craftsmanship that radiate timeless luxury,” says Peter Horbury, Vice President Design at the Volvo Car Corporation.

The interior has a futuristic look with the use of handcrafted pieces of walnut which is accompanied by leather panels, Dinamica suede roof lining and aluminium details. There are also four individual leather seats. The unique thing about the interior is the integration of the design qualities of a tailor made suit.

The back of the front seats and the door panels feature Italian fabric and designs from Swedish fashion house Oscar Jacobson. The other thing to note is the wooden floor which is inspired by Scandinavian homes. It is covered with specially designed hand-tufted carpet from world-famous Swedish brand Kasthall.

The Volvo Concept You is also not shy of revealing its technological details. Among others, it has a control centre that consists of four main areas including a digital Driver Information Monitor (DIM), a head-up display on the windscreen, a touch-screen in the upper part of the centre console and a touch-screen between the two individual rear seats.

The touch-screen in the upper part of the centre console remains in sleeping mode until the driver looks at it. This is thanks to a hidden infrared camera which registers the eye movement. There is a second sensor which looks out for hand movement and it can trigger the Alpine infotainment system’s control mode. The system also allows web surfing when the car is rolling but this is of course reserved for the passenger.

The touch-screen system has hints of a smart pad where by the driver can basically send data via “flipping” (iPad syle) to the head-up display or even to screens at the rear cabin. There is also a light guide in the centre console that indicates the file transfer, how cool is that?

Even the subwoofer in the sound system uses air from outside of the car to create a better listening experience. This Alpine technology which is called FreshAir is not available in the market yet and it is made up by smaller parts that considerably cut weight. In terms of performance and drivetrain details, Volvo is still being tight-lipped about it.

Continue reading to view a high-res image gallery and to watch a promo video of the concept.
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Skoda MissionL Concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show

September 14, 2011 at 5:08 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, Cars, Concept Cars, Skoda, Videos

Skoda’s MissionL Concept had its motor show debut yesterday in Frankfurt and we now have some videos to share with you. First up is a product presentation video as well as the unveiling of the concept while the second video gives you a 360-degree of the Czech vehicle.

Skoda has confirmed that the production version of the concept will arrive late next year and India would be the first market to receive it. It will then head to other markets including Europe, Russia and China in 2012.

Look after the jump for a small live gallery of the MissionL.
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Frankfurt: Lamborghini Sesto Elemento gets green light for 20-unit production run

September 14, 2011 at 3:03 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, Cars, Concept Cars, International News, Lamborghini

Lamborghini has made an official announcement at the Frankfurt Motor Show in regards to the Sesto Elemento concept which was unveiled at last year’s Paris Motor Show. President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, Stephan Winkelmann has confirmed that the concept will go into production. We are also expecting the production version to be identical to the Paris concept.

The production Sesto Elemento will be limited to a 20-unit production run and is planned for a launch in early 2013. This track-only 999 kg model will use a 570hp V10 powerhouse linked to an all wheel drive system. With those figures, the vehicle’s power-to-weight ratio is set at 1.75 kg per hp, allowing the monster to hit 100km/h in just 2.5 seconds from a standstill.

It uses a carbon fiber monocoque made of forged composite and there is also extensive use of carbon fiber throughout the vehicle. Stephan Winkelmann said, “The excellent feedback and the numerous requests we’ve had from our customers have really convinced us to embark on the challenge of producing a vehicle with unique characteristics”.

“We are proud that what a year ago was just a ‘technology demonstrator’ of future super sports cars, even though in working order, will become a small series reality,” he added.

Click here to view more photos of the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento concept.

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Frankfurt: Production Subaru XV debuts – CKD next year!

September 14, 2011 at 2:44 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, Cars, International News, Subaru


UPDATE: Live images from Frankfurt added after the jump

This is the production version of the Subaru XV that made its debut at IAA Frankfurt. It’s also the model that Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) will assemble in Malaysia for ASEAN, to be done at Tan Chong’s Segambut plant in KL.

Production will start in October 2012 at 5,000 units per year, to be divided between Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. More about that and Subaru’s plans for Malaysia in our interview with Glenn Tan, CEO of Motor Image.

Let’s take a closer look. It appears that the production XV is pretty much the same car as the bright green coloured concept car that debut at this year’s Shanghai show. Subaru calls the exterior design concept “Protren”, derived from “professional tool” and “trendy design”.

The C-segment crossover wears Subaru’s new grille with the hexagonal design, flanked by headlamps inspired by the eyes of a hawk. The rear gets a diffuser style rear bumper with a central lamp. Unusually, it’s painted n body colour. Speaking of that, the “Tangerine Orange Pearl” we see here is the XV’s signature colour.

The XV is a raised hatchback with subtle body cladding and generous ground clearance for that tough look. It was a conscious decision to not put full body cladding around the car as before to “enhance the sensation of dynamism and comfort”. The aluminum wheels on the showcar look rather unique with their silver spokes and black surrounds. No roof rack, but I’m sure we’ll be getting it here.

For the first time in 21 years, Subaru has developed a new engine, codenamed “FB”, to replace the long-serving “EJ” engine. In Europe, Subaru offers a new 1.6-litre petrol boxer (replaces the old 1.5), a 2.0L boxer tuned for grunt in low to mid engine speeds, and a 2.0 Boxer Diesel.

We will get a 2.0L engine, from the new gen, and not the one presently in service in the Impreza and Legacy. It will be paired to Subaru’s new Lineartronic CVT gearbox. The brand’s famous Symmetrical AWD system is of course present in the XV.

Inside, the XV is standard Subaru, which means it’s not the most funky or modern, but inoffensive, clearly laid out and easy to use. The centre stack gets brushed aluminium trim and a 4.3-inch colour multi function display with Eco-driving display at the top; the latter comes with the High Grade version, no colour for Standard. The dials (red for Standard, white for High Grade) do a full sweep at start up.

Subaru wants to highlight the XV’s easy entry and exit. They’ve not only made the door openings larger, but also raised the angle at the top of the front door sash, thereby providing more space between the sash top and body.

The distance between the floor and the top of the side sill has also been reduced, meaning that occupants do not have to stretch their legs as widely as before when getting in and out.

Gallery after the jump.
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My Proton Makeover: 1992 Saga handed back to Fadly!

September 14, 2011 at 12:44 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton

Fadly Hisham Roplay has been waiting for this afternoon for what seems like the longest month. His 1992 Proton Saga, which came with a heart warming story, was selected as the first car for R3 to work on under the ‘My Proton Makeover’ program. He got back the keys to WCP 3145 this afternoon, reuniting again with what he calls his “second wife”.

It wasn’t just him, but yours truly and some of the other Proton owning media members were also eager to see the reworked car. We crowded in R3′s sweltering workshop inside Proton’s Shah Alam facility as R3 head Tengku Djan and Proton Motorsports boss Datuk Abdul Razak Dawood greeted Fadly and family.

The 33-year old Fadly, who works as a technician with an electronics company, was very nervous and emotional through it all, even shedding some tears of joy when the car was revealed and when his story was played on the screen. The moment arrived, and he was shell shocked, a scene not unlike those in the TV show Overhaulin’.

Gone are the Fiore mods on his old Saga, which Tengku Djan said was in worse condition than what they had thought – a family of cockroaches in the boot were among the surprises in store for the R3 boys when they stripped the car!

The top drifter admitted that the task wasn’t easy, since they had only three weeks (instead of a month) thanks to the Raya break. The sourcing of new parts for the old Saga also wasn’t that straightforward.

But the end result looks great, and I envy lucky Fadly. After being stripped to the bone, some welding work was done to WCP 3145 before a base coat and the nice brown/grey paint (or is it gunmetal?) you see here were added. R3 wanted to maintain the “classic look” of the old Saga and spice it up with contemporary touches – the latter came from the 16-inch R3 wheels and the four round tail lamps.

The red R3 logos on the rims and front grille are joined by a red pinstripe around the body, which Fadly likes a lot. There’s also a rear spoiler and subtle carbon fiber style stickers on the B and C pillars. And if you’re wondering, the “VIP” logos on the fenders and boot stand for “Very Important Proton”.

As for the engine, Fadly’s 1.5L Megavalve was given a full overhaul job. With the clock turned back to 0 km, it now breathes better with a customised filter system and custom exhaust system starting from the extractor to the muffler – it sounds quite loud! The Saga also sits on new suspension tuned by R3, hence the lowered stance.

As for the interior, the old Saga’s 80s building blocks style dashboard makes way for the minimalist style Saga LMST dash. The interior is in black, accented in red, which appears on the air con rings and stitching on the leather seats. A MOMO steering and a new Blaupunkt ICE system are the other additions.

Click here to see the work in progress pics, as well as how Fadly’s Saga looked like before being “overhauled”. Full gallery of the handover ceremony and the reworked car is after the jump – over 50 pics await you!
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Frankfurt: Volkswagen shows off the Beetle R Concept

September 14, 2011 at 12:44 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, Cars, Concept Cars, Volkswagen

This is the Volkswagen Beetle R Concept which made its public debut at the Frankfurt motor event. It is a design study which will likely translate into a production run at a later stage. The concept is treated to a sportier body kit with front and rear bumpers that are widened by 30 mm. The front bumper has three air intakes that are finished in Black High Gloss which is the same treatment given to the front spoiler.

The vents and various other slots are functional and they provide engine and brake temperature regulation. The rear bumper also assists in the aerodynamics department along with a diffuser and a rear spoiler. The exterior also sports two sets of dual chrome tailpipes, free-standing wings that are widened by 15 mm as well as a roof with the Black High Gloss treatment.

The Beetle R sits on large 20-inch Talladega alloy wheels which is the same design utilized by the Golf R and the Scirocco R. These wheels are finished in Serious Grey.

On the inside, the sportier Beetle has motorsport shell seats that are upholstered in black Nappa leather, seat piping in Space Blue and lots of R logos everywhere. The instruments have been modified as well and brushed aluminium is used for all pedal caps.

You might be wondering what is powering the concept but unfortunately Volkswagen has neglected to mention the details in the press release. However you can safely expect it to have engine performance figures that match the Golf R and the Scirocco R.

As always, more images can be found after the jump.
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Frankfurt: Facelifted Toyota Avensis makes its debut

September 14, 2011 at 12:43 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, Cars, International News, Toyota

Among many production and concept cars that are making Frankfurt as their debut ground, one of it is the facelifted Toyota Avensis sedan and its wagon variant. In terms of design the refreshed Avensis is given a reworked front fascia whereby there are changes in the proportions of the upper and lower grilles. The headlights are also slimmer and they incorporate daytime running lights.

The rear receives a new bumper along with a revised lamp combo and a new chrome trim for the license plate. There are also new wheel options. The interior benefits from upgraded upholstery with new colours, a redesigned centre console, revised air vents and so on. The instrument dial backlighting has been changed to white, from amber. The Avensis also features Toyota Touch and Go Plus which is a touch-screen satellite navigation system.

This system makes its world debut with the Avensis and has numerous features such as an advanced voice recognition for navigation address input, email send and receive functionality, text-to-speech message readout facility and more. It also comes with a total of 11 speakers.

Work has been carried out under the hood as well. The 124bhp 2.0 litre D-4D turbodiesel unit now comes with a new turbo, modified combustion chamber and improved glow control. This results in the improvement of fuel efficiency and the reduction of CO2 emissions output. There is also the 148bhp 2.2 litre D-4D turbodiesel offered with either a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) or a Diesel Particulate and NOX Reduction filter (DPNR). Also in the list is a 145bhp 1.8 litre Valvematic gasoline engine.

All engines are mated to a 6-speed manual while the 6-speed automatic is available as an option for the 2.2 litre model. The 2.0 litre and the 1.8 petrol can also be paired with Toyota’s Multidrive S CVT transmission. Other features, where some are optional include Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Assist, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC+) and Adaptive Front Lighting.

There is also an Advanced Pre-Crash Safety System with a millimetre-wave radar sensor to scan the road ahead and it will recognize potential hazards. It can then alert the driver and subsequently provide additional braking assistance when the driver brakes. It will also activate the seat belt pretensioners. Most interestingly, the system will apply brakes on its own to reduce impact speed if the driver does not hit the brakes for some reason. This is something like Mercedes’ PRE-SAFE feature. Another thing I noticed is that the interior has hints of the W211 Mercedes-Benz E-Class :)

Continue reading to view a high-res image gallery.
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Frankfurt: Land Rover reveals the DC100 and DC100 Sport Defender concepts

September 14, 2011 at 12:51 am By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, Cars, Concept Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Land Rover, Technology


UPDATE: Live photos have been added to the gallery.

Land Rover has unveiled two Defender concepts at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The first is the DC100 concept which was revealed prior to the motor event and second is the roof-less DC100 Sport concept which was just announced moments ago. According to the famous 4×4 maker, these two concepts will help set the pathway for the future design of the iconic Defender and they both showcase various off-road capabilities.

Both concepts sit on the same lightweight, mixed-alloy platform and feature 2.0 litre gasoline and diesel engines with hybrid and plug-in capabilities. They both run on a permanent four-wheel drive configuration along with an 8-speed transmission.

Other features include an Intelligent Stop/Start system, three-abreast ‘social seating’, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Leisure key which is a waterproof and lightweight alternative to the control fob, built-in induction charging stations as well as the ‘Always-on’ connectivity and telematics feature which allow for car-to-smartphone, car-to-car and car-to-base communication.

As for the 4×4 functions, both concepts have the Terrain-i scanning device which alerts the driver about obstacles while off-roading and it can even suggest alternative routes. There is also something called Wade Aid which uses sonar technology to assess water depth and it can also advise the driver on the optimum speed. Another interesting feature is the spiked tyre system which can be activated by the driver.

There is also Driveline Disconnect which physically disjoints the rear axle to save fuel when the all-wheel drive system is not required and there is also an updated Land Rover Terrain Response system. So what’s the difference between the two concepts? Well the DC100 pretty much showcases the future of Land Rover capability and versatility while the DC100 Sport is an “active expression of freedom and leisure.” Land Rover also took the opportunity to reiterate that the new Defender will be launched in 2015.

Continue reading to view an image gallery.
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Frankfurt: Seat IBL Concept – sleek Spanish sports sedan

September 14, 2011 at 12:36 am By Danny Tan Filed Under 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, Cars, International News, SEAT

The grainy leaked pic of the Seat IBL we saw yesterday is authentic, and the rest of the pics show a handsome saloon from VW’s Spanish marque. Billed as a “sports saloon”, the IBL looks neat and sleek – not very expressive or full of flair, though, and a little anonymous to these eyes.

The plug-in hybrid IBL completes Seat’s trio of concept cars that previews the look of the next generation. Laying the groundwork was the IBE compact electric sports coupé from Geneva 2010. The IBX that followed in this year’s Geneva show transposed the look on a crossover style vehicle. Now, a sedan.

“The IBL shows that sports saloons within the Seat brand portfolio will play an important role in future. However, this concept car does not pre-empt a specific model, but rather shows the design philosophy we are applying to bring the unmistakable Seat identity to a saloon car, too,” said James Muir, President of Seat.

Measuring 4.67 metres with a generous wheelbase of 2.71 metres, the IBL is about the size of today’s Seat Exeo, which is a reworked B7 Audi A4. The car is 1.85 metres wide. It’s fresh that a concept saloon isn’t called a “four-door coupe” by its creator – Seat says that the IBL “almost belongs in the four-door coupe category.” Hmmm…

Gallery after the jump.
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Frankfurt: Subaru presents the BRZ Prologue coupe

September 13, 2011 at 11:49 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, Cars, Concept Cars, International News, Subaru


UPDATE: Live photos have been added to the gallery.

Subaru has unveiled its own version of Toyota’s FT-86 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Called the BRZ Prologue, it was unveiled in a somewhat unfinished guise with a see-through body showing off the coupe’s internals. The company calls it the “SUBARU BRZ PROLOGUE – BOXER Sports Car Architecture II”

The BRZ features a rear-wheel-drive layout and is fitted with a normally-aspirated 2.0 litre Boxer engine which is exclusively developed for the coupe. The engine features a revised bore and stroke setting and also features Toyota’s direct injection and port injection technology which is commonly known as D-4S.

Subaru promises that the BRZ will offer “Pure Handling Delight” and confirmed that production is expected to start in spring 2012. Subaru also revealed the dimensions of the vehicle which includes a 2,570mm wheelbase. The vehicle is 4,200mm long, 1,770mm wide and 1,270mm high.

Continue reading to view more high-res photos of the vehicle.
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