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It’s not called SE – Perodua Myvi Extreme 1.5 spotted!

September 8, 2011 at 9:44 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Perodua, Spyshots


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Reader Khairiizuan Bin Nazarudin sent us some fresh shots of the “yellow Myvi SE” that has been regularly spotted on test, and with these undisguised pics, we learn something new about the upcoming variant. For one, it’s not called “SE”, but the Myvi Extreme 1.5, as printed on the rear emblem.

And while the tagline for the new Myvi is “Lagi Best”, this one is “Lagi Power, Lagi Best”, referring to the bigger 1.5-litre engine offered.


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We previously posted some shots of the yellow Myvi Extreme being tested alongside a white coloured car with a different bodykit (view it here), so could that instead be a “1.3L SE” that slots between the Extreme and the standard car? We’ll see.

These pics, which was taken at the port (probably for shipment to East Malaysia or Langkawi?), shows all the previously taped up parts, such as the emblem and the lower part of the front and rear bumpers. We can see that the front bumper is all new, and has prominent cutouts for the fog lamps. Both sides are linked by a bronze coloured lip, matched in colour by the grille and the wheels.


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At the back, the “holes” below the reflectors introduced for the new Myvi (reduces pressure build up, improves aero) appears to have been omitted for the Extreme. The rear wing is rather elaborate in design and very prominent. Of course, there are side skirts to complete the sportier look. We also get to see how the car looks in black.

Moving on to the inside, which we also see clearly here for the first time. The central touch screen head unit looks like the one in the Myvi Elegance, and there appears to be leather seats and a leather wrapped steering wheel for this range topper.

The wheel appears chunkier with the leather wrap, and there are audio control buttons on the left spoke, which is a new feature for the Myvi family. The housing for the instrument cluster is in silver, and there’s some carbon style metallic trim on the door panels.

Read and view the standard new Myvi here. The official launch of the Extreme shouldn’t be too far away from now. Stay tuned!

382 Comments      

2011 Renault Koleos facelift – more images released

September 8, 2011 at 12:38 am By Paul Tan Filed Under 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, Cars, Renault

Renault has released a set of new images previewing the 2011 Renault Koleos facelift that will make its public debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The Koleos is available in Malaysia with the sole option of a 2.5 litre engine, a CVT gearbox and 4X4, but internationally there are quite a few variants available.

There are both 2WD and 4WD models, CVT, 6-speed manual or 6 speed auto depending on model, and instead of the 2.5 litre 4 cylinder, you also have the choice of a M9R diesel in 2 different tunes – 150 PS and 175 PS.

Look after the jump for a huge photo gallery.
[Read more...]

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Hyundai i30 – first images of Frankfurt debutant revealed

September 7, 2011 at 4:43 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, Cars, Hyundai, International News

Hyundai has revealed the first photos of its new-generation i30, which is set to have its world premiere next week in Frankfurt. The shape was previewed in an official sketch last month.

The C-segment offering is designed and engineered at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany, and the company says that the new-gen i30 represents a further evolution of the unique Hyundai ‘fluidic sculpture’ form language.

The car features the Hyundai family face with its signature hexagonal-shaped front grille and the jewel-like design of the headlamps, together with distinctive daytime running lights. Elsewhere, a strong character line runs over the front and rear wheel arches all the way to the tail lamps, and a softer, lower character line rises up the car’s flank to create a play of light and shadow, a fundamental feature of fluidic sculpture.

No specific info or technical attributes on the new offering as yet, so it’s on to Frankfurt for all the necessary to emerge.
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VIDEO: Summer tyres vs winter tyres, is there a difference?

September 7, 2011 at 4:35 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Videos

This isn’t really relevant to us given our tropical climate, but as car enthusiasts it’s fun to watch anyway and perhaps useful to some Malaysian readers who live overseas.

In a test organised by Tyresafe, two Mercedes-Benz C-Class estates took to an ice rink to show the difference in performance between standard-fitment summer tyres and Michelin’s Primacy Alpin winter tyres.

A braking test from 24km/h to zero showed that the car fitted with the winter tyres stopped in 7.01 metres compared to the summer tyre-shod car’s 9.75 metres – a difference of 40 per cent. They also conducted a cornering test, which you can check out the results in the video – naturally the winter tyres did better.

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Test Drive Report: New Nissan Livina X-Gear 1.6 Auto

September 7, 2011 at 4:29 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Nissan, Test Drive Reviews

Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) officially unveiled the new Nissan Livina X-Gear yesterday, while also giving the media a chance to sample the new crossover in a drive from KL to Penang and back. If you missed yesterday’s launch post, click here to view it.

In a nutshell, the X-Gear is a five-door version of the Grand Livina that we’re familiar with, decked with SUV style bodywork. While it’s shorter and has one less row of seats, the five-seater X-Gear shares the same wheelbase and tracks as the Grand Livina. Offered in a single spec – 1.6-litre auto – ETCM is pitching it as a spacious alternative to typical B-segment hatchbacks such as the Ford Fiesta, Mazda2, Honda Jazz and Suzuki Swift.

Read the review after the jump.
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Honda Brio spotted again in KL, this time in Brickfields

September 7, 2011 at 4:12 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Honda, Spyshots

The blue example of the Honda Brio seen a few days ago being transported on a trailer has been spotted yet again. Reader boring (what an interesting moniker) saw the blue Brio in Brickfields a couple of hours ago, and says the car was being utilised for “some sort of advertisement,” as he puts it. He managed to snap this, and adds that there’s another Brio behind the lorry, which of course can’t be seen in the picture.

So what’s bubbling with the little Honda hatch then? No disguise, and supposedly, two of them. Doing duty for an ad campaign? Marketing ploy with the open deployment, and sampling to see if there’s public interest? Is it coming, or just something being done for another market? No answers, only more questions, and so the mystery remains.

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Renaultsport Megane RS 250 Cup with Stage 2 tuning package – meatier at 320 hp and 488 Nm

September 7, 2011 at 1:31 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Renault

This should definitely be of interest to Renaultsport Megane RS 250 Cup owners – 320 hp and 488 Nm running off the car compared to the stock 250 hp and 340 Nm should sound very much like a symphony to them ears.

Those are the numbers promised by a Stage 2 tuning package just introduced by UK-based performance specialist RS Tuning. The 320 hp at 5,500 rpm is dyno proven, and the maximum torque kicks in at just 3,250 rpm. Lots of tractability on call, what with over 350 Nm of the torque available from between 2,500–6,250 rpm.

It isn’t cheap, not at £2,499 (RM11,920) for the whole road legal (with sports cat) package, especially when you’ve also got to factor in shipping and taxes, but the outlay bags an alloy Forge Motorsport high flow intercooler, a choice of sports catalyst or cat bypass pipe (which cheapens things a bit), a Milltek stainless steel performance exhaust system and a specially developed RS Tuning ECU remap for the 250’s F4Rt engine.

There’s no timing data currently available for the RS Tuning RS 250 Stage 2 upgrade package, but the company says that road and track testing has revealed supercar style levels of in-gear and outright acceleration. For those who can afford it, the exercise should deliver an absolute stonker.

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Mitsubishi Pajero Sport VGT to arrive later this month – 178 PS, 350 Nm, estimated RM173k

September 7, 2011 at 12:21 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Local News, Mitsubishi

Another variant of the Pajero Sport is coming about – Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia is set to introduce the VGT variant of the big ‘un sometime later this month. As the acronym suffix suggests, the version will feature a variable geometric turbocharger.

The company says that the Pajero Sport VGT’s 2.5 litre commonrail diesel 4D56 mill, as such equipped, will feature improved performance, with higher levels of power and torque than what the current turbocharged oil burner offers (which is 136 PS at 3,000 rpm and 314 Nm at 2,000 rpm). No figures were mentioned in the release, but output numbers for the VGT version should very well be 178 PS at 4,000 rpm and 350 Nm at 1,800-3,500 rpm, a pretty nice jump indeed.

The seven-seater is estimated to roll in at around RM173,000, and will join the Pajero Sport GS 4WD and Pajero Sport GL 2WD in MMM’s lineup. That’s the GS in the pix above, by the way.

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Toyota Avensis facelift to be unveiled in Frankfurt – Prius full-hybrid family also to take opening bows

September 7, 2011 at 11:40 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Toyota

Toyota will be unveiling its revised Avensis at Frankfurt – changes to the British-built sedan include revised exterior styling incorporating a frontal treatment following Toyota’s new design language. The interior also gets a rework, with improvements to be had in terms of ‘look and feel’ quality, and the company, while keeping mum on details, adds that strategic changes have been made to the powertrains and driving dynamics. Toyota boldly claims that these changes represent the largest mid-life investment it has made for any model.

Frankfurt will also see the introduction of the new Prius family of full hybrid models -Toyota’s full hybrid model has been updated and will be joined by the production version of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid and the seven-seat Prius+. With their introduction, the Prius will be the first full hybrid to be offered as a complete, stand-alone model range.

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Volvo XC90 – the nine-year-old doyenne gets updated

September 7, 2011 at 11:20 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Volvo

Yes, that grand dame of the SUV world, the Volvo XC90, may be nine years old, but it shows no sign of stopping – in fact, the vehicle has been given yet another set of exterior and interior refinements to keep it going until, well, the second-gen one eventually arrives.

On the outside, there’s a new daytime running light configuration using LEDs in the lower bumper, and a redesigned silver metallic bumper bar as well as silver roof rails are now standard on all variants. There’s also a new lower door moulding, with all XC90 specifications now fully colour-coordinated.

At the back, there are new tail lamps, with dual light guides, LED brake lights and silver turn indicator bulbs (offering an amber light). Also on the exterior treatment list is a new six-spoke 18-inch wheel, done in a silver matt finish.

Inside, the veritable fave gets a number of refinements to give the interior an even more luxurious feel – aside from revisions to the three-spoke steering wheel, there’s aluminium décor as standard and watch dial-inspired instrument design with white lighting, among others. The tailgate now comes with a new, colour-coordinated leather grab handle, and the load cover has also been redesigned.

Meanwhile, the Volvo On Call system can now be combined with Bluetooth mobile phone connection, and the system has been upgraded to be able to do music streaming from a preferred Bluetooth-enabled portable music player. New too is a mobile app that makes sure that the driver can stay in touch with the parked car via an iPhone or Android smartphone.

Along with the new dress-up comes two exclusive version forms, the Executive and R-Design. Going the Executive route bags one a number of exclusive options, such as soft leather seats with ventilation and massage, as well as a number of details with a more exclusive finish. Opting for the R-Design version gets the buyer a more driver-focused character. On top of the special chassis, the new R-design version also features redesigned upholstery, inlays, door panels and new Ixion 19-inch wheels.

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