There are rumours that Audi may consider developing an Audi A1 to go against the likes of the BMW MINI Cooper. It may be based on the Volkswagen Fox platform. Autobild has artist’s impressions of how the Audi A1 might look like and frankly I think it looks horrible. More details after the jump. Click here to read the rest of Audi A1 artist impression
Petronas domestic masketing arm Petronas Dagangan Berhad launched yesterday it’s new fuel called Petronas Primax 3. Primax 3 will replace Primax at existing Petronas petrol stations and will be priced at the normal RON97 price of RM1.92 per liter.
Petronas Primax 3 features a newly developed additive - SINAR G-05. The new additives in Primax 3 functions as a detergent, demulsifier, and also has anti-corrosion properties. SINAR G-05 was tested in labs in Malaysia, US and Europe. The result is a cleaner engine and improved fuel economy of a 5.6 percent on average compared to other lower quality fuels.
Petronas currently has 790 stations in Malaysia and plans to add another 60-70 this year. This would be a total of RM 350 million in investment, or an average of RM 5 million per petrol station. Petronas expects that the Primax 3 would help it gain double digit market share growth. It currently holds 31% of the fuel market share, and 40% of total petroleum product market share.
AutoBild’s photoshoppers seem to have gotten really busy lately, with tons of artist impressions of future German cars being churned out. Their latest are artist impressions of the Audi Q3, and the Audi Q5. More details after the jump. Click here to read the rest of Audi Q3 and Audi Q5 Artist Impressions
Click here to read the rest of Toyota Human Touch Advertisement
This is Toyota’s “Human Touch” advertisement campaign. It features a few Toyota Cars including the Toyota Belta (Toyota Yaris Sedan), and some higher end models that we do not see here in Malaysia.
This is amazing. This is a video of BMW’s extreme testing innovations. For a producer of cars so packed with technology, it’s only normal for their testing procedures to be highly advanced too. They actually have a Nurburgring track test simulator, which allows a BMW being tested to experience the trials of the Nurburgring track without actually having to be there. There’s also a room where ultraviolet light is used to test the car’s hardiness against the harsh sun. This ultraviolet light is so intense that it could give you a sunburn in 3 minutes.
“One of the most important things is testing, testing, testing, to produce quality in the hands of our customers. The quality really depends on the R&D process. It starts at the R&D process. You cannot produce quality at the end of the production line.” - Anton Ruf, BMW Head of Technical Integration.
If you have a BMW, it will really make you appreciate the work and effort that went into the vehicle that justifies it’s premium price tag. A highly recommended watch. Click here to read the rest of BMW Extreme Testing Technology
This is a video of a prototype self-parking system developed in a joint venture between a Swedish University and Volvo Cars. Also, check out BMW’s auto park system. Click here to read the rest of Volvo Self Park System
Ford is developing a small SUV based on the Ford Focus C-MAX to go heads on against the likes of the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V. The Ford Focus C-MAX based SUV will be a 5-seater like it’s competitors, and will feature an all-wheel drive system. Thankfully it looks like it will be a proper SUV, unlike soft-roaders like the Hyundai Getz Cross.
This artist’s impression reminds me of the Mazda CX-7, one of the sleekest crossover SUVs around in my opinion. And we all know the connection between Ford and Mazda.
auto.sohu carries scans from a Japanese magazine with concept art on how the next Honda Fit (Honda Jazz on our local shores) will look like. The Honda Fit has already been facelifted once since it’s introduction The new Fit seems to have taken on a more muscular stance, like a smaller Honda Edix. It also shares the Edix’s upward sloping side mirror profile. The magazine says the new Honda Fit will debut in mid-2007.
A old series of short promotional films by BMW starring Clive Owen as a driver. The Driver is stopped by a group of armed men demanding he hands over a harmless man he is driving whom they accuse of smuggling diamonds. He then discovers the man has swallowed the diamonds. Click here to read the rest of BMW The Hire Short Films - Ambush
Nissan and Suzuki will be expanding their collaboration with sharing vehicle platforms and rebadging. Currently Suzuki supplies some small cars for Nissan to rebadge. An example would be the Suzuki MR Wagon, which Nissan rebadged as the Nissan Moco. These small cars are usually sold in the Japanese market only.
The agreement cites the possibility of new products for the Japanese market. If feasibility studies go well, Nissan will be supplying a minivan to Suzuki to rebadge, and Suzuki will supply another mini-car like the Suzuki MR Wagon to Nissan to rebadge. This is expected to begin at the end of 2006.
From 2008 onwards, Nissan might supply a compact pick-up truck to Suzuki to rebadge for the North American market. This might be a pick-up like the Nissan Frontier, as it’s considered small by American standards of huge 4 liter engined monster pick-ups. Nissan and Suzuki will also begin manufacturing collaboration by sharing facilities. The first facility to do this will be Suzuki’s Indian plant.
This is an example of a successful collaboration between car manufacturers.
