Gong Xi Fa Cai

Advertisement

Mitsubishi i-MiEV becomes first EV to be registered in the country – vehicle to be used to promote EV awareness

October 25, 2011 at 7:43 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Local News, Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia recently registered the first fully electric car in the country; the unit, an i-MiEV, will be used in a suite of activities to promote public awareness on EVs. The car’s public debut was at a special showcase at One Utama that took place on October 19–23, where visitors to the event had an opportunity to ride in the i-MiEV.

“Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia is pleased to be the first to bring in a mass-produced full-electric car to Malaysia to promote the awareness of zero-emission electric vehicles among the Malaysian public,” said MMM CEO Tetsuya Oda.

“Malaysians will get to know more about the innovative technology behind the i-MiEV, and experience for themselves the benefits of an electric vehicle, as test drives will be available for the first i-MiEV in Malaysia,” he added.

The i-MiEV (Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle) is powered solely by electricity, and can be recharged from a regular home socket. The four-seater, which has 49 kW and 180 Nm for output figures, has a top speed of 130 km/h and an operating range of up to 160 kilometres, after an eight-hour charge at 230 volts. Wonder how they calculated the road tax on this one though.

79 Comments      

Marco Simoncelli accident: Official Statement from Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir, Chairman of SIC

October 25, 2011 at 5:43 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Bikes, Motorsports

The Sepang International Circuit sent out this press release today.

On behalf of Sepang International Circuit (SIC), I wish to extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to Marco Simoncelli’s family members, teammates, fellow riders and the whole MotoGP family. We share the pain and shock of the tragic and heartbreaking loss of Marco Simoncelli on 23 October 2011.

Marco will be remembered as a talented rider and a flamboyant character who never failed to put a smile on the faces of the racing fraternity and his fans with his cheerful demeanour. Above all, he was a great man and a competitor who was destined for even greater things both on and off the track. MotoGP and the racing world is now a lesser place without him.

SIC would like to state that the decision to cancel the race was taken after considering the severity of the accident. The decision was agreed upon by SIC and Dorna Sports SL, the commercial rights holder of MotoGP. SIC made public announcements on the cancellation of the race and Marco’s death as soon as we were authorised to do so, with priority being given to officially inform Marco’s family members first. I hope that fans can understand the situation prevalent at the time.

SIC would like to reiterate that all preparations and precautionary steps were taken to ensure we staged a safe race in accordance with FIM, AAM and Dorna safety requirements. However, the inherently dangerous nature of motorsports does not allow a race organiser or track owner to give a guarantee that nothing untoward will happen during a race.

The Sepang International Circuit is acknowledged as having been designed to be a safe circuit and managed by a team of experienced personnel, on and off track, to handle race events professionally. We work to the highest safety standards and we will continue to ensure these standards are met at every race held at our circuit. At the race on Sunday, circuit personnel acted speedily and professionally to attend to Marco as soon as the accident happened. Despite all that was done, the medical team could not change the outcome of the situation given the severity of his injuries. In the aftermath of this sad tragedy, we will work with FIM and Dorna to see if there is anything else we can do to improve rider safety in races.

We at SIC are honoured to have had Marco gracing our tracks with his dazzling skills and panache all these years. To Marco, may you rest in peace. You will be missed. Addio Super Sic.

Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir

30 Comments      


Audi A7 3.0 TFSI quattro now in Malaysia – RM599k

October 25, 2011 at 5:30 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Audi, Cars

The Audi A7 Sportback is now available in Malaysia, priced at RM599,000 without insurance, about an 85k premium over the Audi A6 which was launched here just last month. Like the A6, the new Audi A7 comes with a 300 hp and 440 Nm 3.0 litre TFSI engine mated to a 7-speed S-Tronic twin clutch gearbox and the quattro all-wheel drive.

Both vehicles are pretty much in the same segment and sit on the same platform, but the A7 is designed for those who want a sportier coupe-like roofline for their car, without sacrificing the convenience of four door access. The A7 is a sportback instead of a sedan, so instead of a traditional boot, there luggage area is accessed via a large tail gate, which by the way can be electrically operated so you don’t need to lift the large piece of metal and glass up yourself. The doors are also frameless, which is another unique feature over the A6.

Features that come standard with the RM599k price tag include eight airbags, ABS, ESP, electric adjustable front seats including adjustable lumbar, anti glare mirrors including heated wing mirrors, xenon headlamps, a 6-CD changer system with two SDHC card readers, Bluetooth handsfree, a 7- inch driver info system in the instrumentation panel and a 6.5-inch MMI display, Audi Drive Select with auto/comfort/dynamic/efficiency modes, power assist closing doors and cruise control.

There are a number of optional extras that you can tack onto the car. Pearl paint costs an additional RM5,000. A heads-up display system costs RM6,500. LED headlamps will set you back another RM8,500. A high-end Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System (upgraded from the stock 600-watt Bose 12-channel, 14-speaker system) costs RM28,000. And an S-Line package for a sportier appearance will cost you RM30,000.

39 Comments      

Honda Malaysia halts CKD plant due to parts shortage

October 25, 2011 at 4:28 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Honda

Honda Malaysia has announced that it its Melaka plant production will be halted effective today due to parts shortage caused by the floods in Thailand. Supplies from Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co. Ltd and other major suppliers which supply to Honda Malaysia have been interrupted because of the floods.

“We apologize for the delay of delivery and we appreciate the understanding of our customers. We are doing all we that can within our capacity to recover the production here in Malaysia as soon as possible,” said Mr. Yoichiro Ueno, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Malaysia.

This means there will likely be supply issues with the CKD models, which include the City, Civic and Accord. CBU models such as the Insight, Stream and Freed are not affected, except for the Honda Jazz which is CBU imported from Thailand.

63 Comments      

Mazda Takeri – broad hints of the new Mazda6 emerge

October 25, 2011 at 1:53 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Mazda

Mazda has released the first images of its Takeri next-generation midsize sedan concept, which is set to make its global debut at the Tokyo Motor Show. The vehicle, which effectively showcases the design direction the new Mazda6 will take, will feature a full array of SkyActiv tech.

With lines based on the company’s new Kodo design language, the Takeri is said to express “an intuitive sedan identity” and contain “an overwhelming emotional beauty,” aside from of course also being the latest platform to highlight SkyActiv.

It will wear a 2.2 litre SkyActiv-D turbodiesel engine and feature an i-stop idling stop system and Mazda’s first regenerative braking system among its kitbag of tech. The company says that the concept will deliver a balance of vigorous performance and a supremely comfortable ride feel as that desired in a sedan. That’s all the flowery spiel for now; expect more details on the rakish car when Tokyo comes about.

112 Comments      

Saab ends investment deal with Youngman, Pang Da

October 25, 2011 at 12:49 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Saab, Youngman

Swedish Automobile, the company which owns troubled automaker Saab, has said it has ended a 245 million euro investment deal with Chinese companies Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile and Pang Da Automobile, following their offer to buy Saab instead of committing to the original deal to invest in its parent company. according to reports.

Youngman and Pang Da had in July signed a non-binding MoU to take a combined 53.9% stake in Swedish Automobile, but now say circumstances have changed, and they want to purchase shares in Saab.

Swedish Automobile’s CEO Victor Muller said last week that the offer was unacceptable, stating that it would trigger every conceivable change of control clause and that would possibly mean the end of Saab, the reports added. He did not disclose the value of the offer.

The termination of the agreements came after Pang Da and Youngman failed to confirm their commitment to the equity investments and to a second deal over bridge funding, though Swedish Automobile added that discussions between the parties were still ongoing.

Swedish Automobile had at the end of September agreed to sell its Spyker Cars operation to American private equity firm North Street Capital, for US$44 million. North Street’s managing partner Alex Mascioli said last Friday that North Street had the capacity to take over Saab should it wish to do, adding that the brand was an undervalued asset that would survive. “I’m willing to do what I can with my resources for Saab,” he was quoted as saying.

By the looks of it, SA’s future remains well in the air at the moment. The company has been struggling for months in its bid to pay suppliers and employees and resume production at Trollhattan.

4 Comments      

Volkswagen Up! – you can squeeze 16 people into one

October 24, 2011 at 1:04 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Volkswagen

So, how many people can you squeeze into a Volkswagen Up!? Sixteen, it seems, in what is the first try with the 3.54-metre long and 1.64-metre wide car. The folks at Volkswagen Communications recently made the attempt, partly for a giggle and partly to show how small can be big, presumably.

The feat eventually saw 16 people, in this case 15 women and a man, finding their way into the car – two in the boot, one on the dashboard, seven on the rear bench, four on the front seats, and two in the footwells, before the boot lid and doors were shut and the windows were closed.

It’s a bit short of that achieved with the original Beetle. At a car meet in Australia, 17 Beetle friends spontaneously decided to squeeze into the Volkswagen icon. Then, in 2010, 20 people – who obviously had extremely high levels of pain tolerance – raised the bar with a record in Wilmore, Kentucky, which landed them in the Guinness World Records.

Naturally, attempts were also made in the successor model. In January 2001, a record 27 students in the US squeezed their way into a New Beetle. You can expect that some adventurous lot will probably try to better the Up! numbers when it makes its market debut next year. The things people do to pass time, indeed.

34 Comments      

Hyundai-Sime Darby opens new 3S centre in Penang

October 24, 2011 at 12:34 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, Local News

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors has opened its latest 3S centre in Penang, and the Sungai Pinang branch becomes the the third 3S outlet for the brand on the island. The showroom is operated by Sime Darby Auto Hyundai (SDAH), a subsidiary of Sime Darby Motors.

The 31,000 sq ft centre, located at 3, Jalan Sg Pinang, features a total of 11 service bays, enabling a quicker turnaround time, and can accommodate 30 Hyundai vehicles a day.

The outlet features, among other things, a premium customer lounge with free Wi-Fi and refreshments, as well as Quick Service and 24-hour Key Drop to its customers. Quick Service eliminates long waiting hours at the service centre, though it only applies to basic car servicing and doesn’t include repairs.

The 24-hour Key Drop enables customers to leave their car at the service centre at any time of the day for servicing or repair. It’s as simple as filling up a form and dropping off the key at a secured box. Once the envelope is picked up by the Service Advisors, a call will be made to confirm the type of service or repair required.

16 Comments      

Marco Simoncelli dies in Sepang after MotoGP crash

October 24, 2011 at 12:23 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Bikes

Honda rider Marco Simoncelli died today in a horror crash during the Malaysian MotoGP in Sepang. He was pronounced dead at 4:56pm today at the SIC medical centre.

The accident happened just minutes after the race began where the Italian’s bike went into the path of Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi on turn 11.

Everyone who saw the incident knew this was not going to be good when it was observed that Simoncelli’s helmet got knocked off in the collision. He suffered serious trauma to the head, neck and chest.

“When our medical staff got to him he was unconscious. In the ambulance because there was a cardiac arrest they started CPR (cardiac pulmonary resuscitation). Immediately in the Medical Centre, with the help also of the Doctor of our staff at the Clinica Mobile and local Doctors, he was intubated and it was possible to take off some blood from the thorax. The CPR was continued for 45 minutes because we tried to help him for as long as we thought it was possible. Unfortunately it was not possible to help him and at 16:56 (local time) we had to declare he was dead,” said MotoGP Medical Director Michele Macchiagodena.

Colin Edwards, who was also involved in the crash, had a dislocation of the shoulder and had it fixed under anesthesia. According to Macchiagodena, he is doing fine.

155 Comments      

MINI Coupé launched – only in 1.6 Cooper S form, RM250k

October 21, 2011 at 10:52 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under BMW, Cars, Local News

BMW Malaysia today introduced the all-new MINI Coupé – the car arrives in a single engine form, in this case the Cooper S guise. No surprises with the 1.6 litre turbocharged car’s output figures, with 184 hp at 5,500 rpm and 240 Nm at 1,600 to 5,000 rpm, with overboost taking this to 260 Nm at 1,730 to 4,500 rpm.

It’s the brand’s first model to adopt a three-box body structure, with a strikingly stepped rear end setting it apart from the rest of the MINI family, with the low-slung silhouette and expressively styled “helmet” roof adding to things. Speaking of the roof, it’s painted in a contrasting colour as standard; a new take on Sport Stripes is among the additions available as an option.

Elsewhere, an active rear spoiler, fitted for the first time on a MINI, is also integrated in the boot lid. The spoiler pops up automatically when the Coupé reaches a speed of 80 km/h, with the four-part control mechanism returning the spoiler to its rest position at speeds of under 60 km/h. This visually striking mechanism serves to reduce lift at the rear axle, optimising both aerodynamic balance and grip levels of the new MINI Coupe.

Inside, the Coupé – which sits on 17-inch Conical Spoke alloys – features typical MINI style cues, among them the large centre speedo and a rev counter positioned directly behind the steering wheel, and the interior comes finished in a Carbon Black shade, replete with a Black Chequered interior surface.

Oval recesses in the roof liner help create extra headroom for taller drivers; the absence of a rear seat bench means you get more in the way of boot space – the boot features a 290 litre capacity, with a large, high-opening tailgate and a high through-loading system that can also be opened from the driver’s or passenger’s seat.

A host of exterior paint finishes are available for the Coupé, eight in all, these being Chilli Red, Pepper White, Spice Orange, Midnight Black, British Racing Green II, Eclipse Grey, Lightning Blue and White Silver, while the roof is painted as standard in a contrasting colour, with a choice of Jet Black or Pure Silver to pick from.

The retail price (on the road, without insurance, with the MINI Tender Loving Care service package) for the MINI Cooper S Coupe is RM 249,888.

There’s also an optional MINI Connected package, which allows iPhone users to stay connected when on the move. An onboard monitor allows passengers to receive RSS news feeds as well as Facebook and Twitter posts, displaying them on the on-board monitor and have them read out using the MINI Connected voice output function.

Included in the RM14,988 MINI Connected package is a 10-speaker, 480 watt DPS amplifier Harman/Kardon HiFi loudspeaker system and Radio MINI Visual Boost with a 6.5-inch high-resolution colour LCD screen.

74 Comments