Gong Xi Fa Cai

Advertisement

Nasim opens Peugeot Blue Box Sungai Petani in Kedah

December 6, 2011 at 4:28 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Peugeot

Nasim Sdn Bhd, official distributor for Peugeot in Malaysia, has opened the Peugeot Blue Box Sungai Petani in Kedah. This is part of a network expansion drive that has yielded five new outlets in 2011. The other new facilities are in Melaka, Kota Bharu, Balakong and Kota Kinabalu.

With Sungai Petani onboard, there are now a total of 21 Peugeot sales outlets and 19 service centres in Malaysia. Operated by Le French Lifestyle Sdn Bhd, a unit of the Chye Seng Group of Companies, Peugeot Blue Box Sungai Petani is a 3S centre offering sales, service and spare parts.

The outlet is equipped with the Peugeot Planet System Diagnostic tool that can perform full static and dynamic diagnostics on the vehicle’s management software. It can also be utilised to carry out software updates. Peugeot Blue Box Sungai Petani is equipped with two service bays and can service up to six vehicles per day.

Nasim is also looking at a great year in terms of sales growth. As at end November 2011, the Naza Group company has sold 4,949 units, which is 92% higher than the volume sold in the same period in 2010. In addition, Peugeot sales in Malaysia as of end October 2011 accounted for 86% of the French carmaker’s total sales in the ASEAN region.

15 Comments      

Proton P3-21A high speed Karak test caught on camera

December 6, 2011 at 3:19 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton, Spyshots

It has been awhile since we had updates on the Proton P3-21A sedan. The last was when a pic of an undisguised yellow example made its way to the Internet, showing us a front end design that has been modified from the Tuah concept paraded at KLIMS 2010. If the final product stays true, the C-segment contender will have projector headlamps, LED DRLs and a wide “mask style” grille.

Anyway, reader Bay MH recently spotted something interesting when driving down the Karak highway to KL. He saw two taped up test mules of the P3-21A and whipped out his camera for some decent shots.

According to our car paparazzi, he was in a Vios and the Protons were doing over 140 km/h, with a Ford Fiesta chasing them (naughty fella!). He observed that both mules had four passengers onboard, and one unit sat lower at the back than the other, probably because it had cargo in the boot.

And just like in a Michael Bay movie, there were action scenes – Bay said that he had to slow down in the corners but had enough to catch up on the straights and both Protons were “cornering nicely at speed”.

Here are the shots that Bay (MH not Michael) managed to snap, bad black Fiesta included :) Click here to view our previous post featuring the abovementioned yellow undisguised pic.

293 Comments      


Tokyo 2011: VW Cross Coupe Concept is small but stout

December 6, 2011 at 1:19 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, Cars, International News, Volkswagen

One of the best looking and realistic concepts on show in Tokyo is German. Volkswagen brought this broad, hunky piece of metal to Japan, called the Cross Coupe Concept. VW says that this crossover is part four-door coupe, part compact SUV – sounds a little like a mini Range Rover Evoque, doesn’t it?

Wide body, low roof, plunging roofline, raked windscreen, prominent square cut wheel arches and an imposing bold front end – the Cross Coupe lookes even better in grey metal than pics. All the right ingredients for an urban fashionable crossover.

After circling the showcar a few times, I was sold. VW says that the “Cross Coupé hints at the future of SUV design at Volkswagen,” which can only be a good thing.

A neat design touch is at the nose, where Walter de Silva, Klaus Bischoff and co have combined VW’s usual inner headlight elements with the grille bars, emphasising the wide look. This CC’s proportions also make the Tiguan look gawky. By the way, while it may look large, the Cross Coupe, while bigger than a Golf, is actually smaller than a Tiguan.

More good signs inside. VW isn’t known for designing sporty, driver centered cabins, but here’s one that deviates from the straight laced, business-like dashboards that they usually prefer.

We see a centre stack tilted to the driver, a high centre console for a boxed in cockpit feel and a flat bottomed steering wheel. Actually if you strip off the obvious show car detailing such as the fancy inner air vents and gear knob, this could well be a production design. Try it.

The Cross Coupe sits on VW’s new modular transverse matrix (MQB), the first time a vehicle has been shown off this platform. It has three power sources. Under the hood is a 148 hp/210 Nm TSI engine as well as an electric motor that makes 54 hp and 180 Nm.

If the Cross Coupe is to be used in AWD or pure electric mode, a further electric motor integrated as a co-axial drive unit in the back axle powers the rear wheels. This one generates up to 114 hp and 270 Nm. Overall output of the system is 262 hp.

20 Comments      

Ford Ecosport is a Fiesta based SUV, web images leaked

December 6, 2011 at 10:48 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Ford, International News, Spyshots


Click to enlarge screen shot

Ford is coming out with a SUV version of its successful B-segment Fiesta, and it will be called EcoSport. Rumoured to be bound for the India Auto Expo in January 2012, pics of the new model has been leaked online. IndianAutosBlog carried some reader captured screen caps and it reveals that EcoBoost tech will be present in the SUV.

The Indian report goes on to say that the engine in question is the 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine. This three-cylinder turbocharged Ti-VCT mill produces the power of a normal 1.6 petrol in the higher of its two outputs, but with much lower consumption and more torque, and is part of Ford’s downsized DI + turbo engine range. We have an in depth piece on this cool little engine – click here to read more.


A rendering of how the Ford EcoSport mini SUV might look like

Besides the 1.0 EcoBoost, Indians will require a diesel engine as well, and the Fiesta’s 1.5-litre oil burner should be carried over. The footprint of the EcoSport is expected to be small, about the size of the Perodua Kembara.

India and China are two big markets that will be producing the EcoSport. If they decide to make it in Thailand, we might stand a chance of getting one, too.

25 Comments      

Silver Arrows rebranded, now officially called ‘Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team’

December 6, 2011 at 12:52 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Formula 1, Mercedes Benz, Motorsports

The Mercedes-Benz works F1 team has been rebranded, and will now compete under the name ‘Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team’ from the 2012 season. This is a move from the current ‘Mercedes GP Petronas’ name, introducing MB’s performance AMG division into the mix.

The Mercedes AMG brand is no stranger to motorsports. It is the most successful name in the history of DTM, winning 165 races from 342 since 1988 and securing a total of 32 driver, manufacturer and team titles. AMG has also supplied F1 with the official Safety Car and Medical Car since 1996. It’s therefore a “logical step to strengthen the links between AMG and the Formula 1 activities of Mercedes-Benz,” says the company.

The Mercedes-Benz F1 powertrain facility at Brixworth, UK has worked closely with AMG for several years. This wholly owned Daimler subsidiary will now be renamed ‘Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains’.

“The Mercedes AMG brand promises ‘Driving Performance’ – and what better embodies this philosophy than the intense competitive arena of F1? It is an historic first for the AMG name to be associated to the works Silver Arrows team, and offers fantastic opportunities: first, to further build the sporting identity of the Mercedes AMG brand through one of the world’s most-watched and most successful sports; second, to explore and deliver technology transfer between road and track,” said Ola Källenius, Chairman of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

“This is already being practised with the SLS AMG E-Cell project, whose electric powertrain will be developed as a joint venture between Mercedes AMG and our F1 engine specialists in Brixworth,” he added.

The Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team will compete the 2012 season with the F1 W03 machine, which is currently under development at the team’s Brackley HQ. The car will make its official track debut at the second winter test of 2012, in February at Barcelona.

15 Comments      

Ferrari and Red Bull withdraw from Formula One Teams’ Association (FOTA) over cost reduction stalemate

December 5, 2011 at 5:13 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Formula 1, Motorsports

Champions Red Bull Racing and Ferrari have withdrawn from the Formula One Teams’ Association (FOTA) over disagreements with the Resource Restriction Agreement (RRA), which is about cost cutting in the sport. Despite this latest development, both teams insist that they are committed to finding a solution.

“Red Bull Racing can confirm it has served notice to withdraw from FOTA. The team will remain committed to finding a solution regarding cost saving in Formula 1,” RBR’s statement read.

“It was a difficult decision and a great deal of thought went into it. It was taken reluctantly after analysing the current situation and the stalemate when it came to debate on some issues that were at the core of why the association was formed,” Ferrari said.

“Some of the major achievements of the association during these years…centred around cost reduction, which was of significant benefit to everyone, the big teams and the small ones. Now however, it is necessary to find some new impetus to move it along because FOTA’s drive has run its course, despite the excellent work of current President, Martin Whitmarsh.

“Ferrari will continue to work with the other teams to make the current RRA, aimed at controlling costs, more effective and efficient, modifying it to make it more stringent in key areas such as aerodynamics, to rebalance some aspects such as testing and to expand it to areas currently not covered such as engines,” added the statement.

Still in the dark? This final parting shot should make it clear. “We must return to a situation where F1 is really a test bed for advanced technological research, the results of which can be transferred to Granturismo cars,” the supercar maker said.

“In addition, we must not forget that this sport must become more user friendly and more accessible to the general public and furthermore, it cannot be the only professional sport where it is practically impossible to do any training: the number of days of testing must be increased so that the drivers, especially the young ones who lack experience and the teams, can be adequately prepared, as well as providing more opportunities for them to come into contact with spectators and sponsors.”

7 Comments      

New Toyota Avanza coming soon – specs, prices are out!

December 5, 2011 at 1:15 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Toyota

You’ve already seen the refreshed Toyota Avanza, Indonesian spec, on this website last month, and it looks like UMW Toyota is all set to launch it in Malaysia. UMWT has put up a “coming soon” banner on its website featuring the new Avanza, with the tagline “Make room for more family fun”.

There will be four variants of the Avanza offered here – one base model 1.3 M/T and three 1.5 A/T variants. The 1.5-litre engine in question is the 3SZ-VE with 103 PS and 136 Nm, the same VVT engine powering the Perodua Alza. It’s mated to a four-speed automatic and is available in E, G and range topping S trim levels.


Click to enlarge spec sheet

Kit wise, ABS with EBD is available from G spec onwards. The G and S also get fog lamps and dual airbags, while the 1.5 E makes do with a driver’s airbag. All 1.5 variants get a 2-DIN head unit with MP3, WMA, USB, and AUX/iPod compatibility, but only the G and S get steering audio buttons (a first for the Avanza), tilt steering and six speakers. The S spec comes with a “sports” bumper and radiator grille plus side skirts.

Prices start from RM63,864 for the 1.3E, rising to RM71,864 for the 1.5E. The plusher 1.5G is priced at RM76,590 while the range topping 1.5S will set one back RM78,864.


Click to enlarge spec sheet

Click here to see the Indonesian spec new Avanza. Our previous post comes with detailed brochure shots of the new features and redesigned details.

148 Comments      

LIVE from Tokyo: Retro liveried Honda RC-E is super sexy

December 5, 2011 at 11:31 am By Danny Tan Filed Under 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, Bikes, Honda, International News

If only four-wheeled EVs are half as sexy. Honda revealed the RC-E concept at Tokyo to great response, thanks to evocative livery that recalls the glory days of the RC racers from the 1960s. Having seen the real vintage stuff days ago at the Honda Collection Hall, Twin Ring Motegi, this one made me drool!

The RC-E is electric powered, so that fuel tank contains no liquid, but batteries. Not much details have been released, but Honda promises a powerful and smooth ride, and 600cc class performance in a 250cc class body. Should be a very strange bike experience – strong off the line EV style, but with no noise!

We can see good stuff such as the Ohlins TTX suspension and Brembos. And part of the reason it looks good is because there’s no need for big headlights – the RC-E’s LEDs are nestled in the nose vent below the No.1. Also notice the plug sign at the bottom of the bike, hinting at what’s powering it.

11 Comments      

New Volkswagen showroom opens in Ipoh, 10th in M’sia

December 5, 2011 at 10:36 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Volkswagen

Volkswagen Group Malaysia (VGM) and Goh Brothers Motor, an authorised dealer of VGM, recently launched Goh Brothers Motor’s Volkswagen showroom in Ipoh, located along Jalan Kuala Kangsar.

In his speech at the launch, Ricky Tay, MD of VGM said the launch is in line with VGM’s rapid expansion plans in Malaysia and also to ensure customer satisfaction throughout the region. “Volkswagen’s presence in the northern region will further strengthen VGM’s nationwide network as well as bringing the Volkswagen brand and service closer to customers and Volkswagen lovers in this region,” he said.

“Volkswagen‘s main guiding principles in Network Development are Optimised Coverage, Customer Oriented, Dealer Profitability and Investor Friendly, all of which are values shared by Goh Brothers, and they are thus equally keen to translate these principles into business achievements and results,” Tay added.

Goh Brothers Motor is an old name, having been in the automotive industry for over 23 years, and with experience dealing with both local and international car brands. Goh Brothers Motor was appointed an official authorised VW dealer in May 2007. To date, Volkswagen has 10 showrooms across Malaysia.

13 Comments      

LIVE from Tokyo: Subaru BRZ, sister of the prom queen

December 5, 2011 at 9:45 am By Danny Tan Filed Under 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, Cars, International News, Subaru

The Toyota GT 86 is undoubtedly the star of Tokyo Motor Show 2011, the belle of the ball. And while the Subaru BRZ (stands for Boxer engine, Rear-drive, Zenith) is essentially the same car, with the same flat-four engine, it didn’t generate as much ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ as the new hachi-roku. Understandable, since it’s not the one with the evocative name.

But the compact body goes quite well with Subaru blue, I think, and FHI had a fetching matte white BRZ on display, too. Other differences from the Toyota include the addition of a funky spoiler and the lack of the 86 logo at the base of the A-pillar, replaced by a generic vent. Subaru is also mighty proud of its trademark Boxer engine, which is compact, light and with a low centre of gravity, ideal for a small sports car.

This “Proud of Boxer” statement will be seen on the race BRZ that Subaru will campaign in next year’s Super GT GT300 category, as well as the team’s overalls. Subaru’s many fans will be wishing for a “STI version” with turbo and AWD, but will Toyota allow its prom queen be overshadowed and outperformed by her sister?

Enjoy these live shots of the BRZ from Tokyo Big Sight, including interior shots and the GT300 racer. Click here for live pics and a video of the GT 86.

28 Comments