The next generation Mitsubishi Pajero will be unveiled at the 2006 Paris Motor Show to be held from September 28 2006 to October 15 2006. The new Mitsubishi Pajero - fourth in it’s generation - will continue the SUV’s legacy since it was first launched 25 years ago in 1982. The Mitsubishi Pajero was sold in 170 countries and regions, also known as the Mitsubishi Montero or Shogun in different markets.

The new Mitsubishi Pajero will retain it’s precedessor’s SUV specifications like its approach angle, ground clearance, and other all-terrain performance specifications. New features will include a new 3.2 liter inline-4 common rail direct fuel injection turbodiesel, or a 3.8 liter V6 MIVEC petrol unit, likely the same award-winning 6G75 powerplant in the Mitsubishi 380. True to it’s off-roader nature, it will be equipped with Mitsubishi’s Super Select 4WD-II transfer case with Active Stability & Traction Control (ASTC). In-car entertainment will be provided by a 12-speaker 860W Rockford Acoustic Design Premium Sound System.

The new fourth generation Mitsubishi Pajero will be produced at the Pajero Manufacturing Co., Ltd. in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Shipments to Europe will begin this month, followed by shipments within Japan as well as to Australia in October. We will also see a kitted up Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution based on the new Pajero at the Paris Motor Show, which will be used in the 2007 Dakar Rally.

The photo above is the long wheelbase version, for the short wheelbase 2-door version as well as some shots of the interior scanned from a magazine, look after the jump.

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[ UPDATE: The Suzuki SX4 1.6 automatic has been launched in Malaysia! Click here for more details, specifications, photos and most importantly PRICES! ]

Remember the Suzuki SX4? That joint venture car-SUV crossover platform between Suzuki and Fiat which spawned two cars - the Suzuki SX4 and the Fiat Sedici. Styled by Giugiaro ItalDesign, the little car could look like either a hatchback of a mini SUV depending on the trim level you choose. There was even a WRC Concept released by Suzuki. As if an SUV and a sporty hatch form was not enough, now photos of a sedan version have surfaced on the internet. This is one versatile design!

This could very well be Suzuki’s replacement for the Forenza based on the Daewoo/Chevrolet Optra, since General Motors cashed out on it’s alliance with Suzuki earlier this year. Or it could be a replacement for the Liana sedan. If it arrives on local shores, Suzuki could position it against the City and the Vios, who seem to be having a duopoly in their class. Either way, more photos after the jump.

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The BMW Group will be exhibiting it’s 4 BMW Art Cars in Asia, and the BMW Art Car Tour’s first stop will be Malaysia. The BMW Art Car Collection was conceived by French race car driver and art auctioneer Herve Poulain, who sought to link his two passions - cars and arts.

There are currently 15 BMW Art Cars, and 4 of them will be making their way to Malaysia. They will be displayed at the Petronas Art Gallery in Suria KLCC from September 14 2006 to October 22 2006.

Look after the jump for images and descriptions of the cars and respective artists, courtesy of BMW Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

Click here to read the rest of BMW Art Car Tour - Sep 14 to Oct 22 2006

Domestic Sales

Proton’s domestic car sales are up by 17.5% in August - 11,786 units - compared to the 10,018 units in July, which was in turn 21% higher compared to the 8,328 units sold in June. Proton Edar Dealers’ Association (PEDA) is confident September sales would follow the trend and breach 14,000 unit sales. Sales targets for this year will likely be reduced though, after reevaluation of market conditions. Proton’s previous target was to increase market share for the financial year of 2007 to 45.8 percent, from 2006’s 41.4 percent. Proton’s current market share to date is only 32.4 percent, which is a big drop from the 2006 financial year. Satria Neo sales have been 2,750 units so far, with 4,000 orders in hand since it’s launch since June. The figures outperformed estimates set by the company.

More after the jump…

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Tuner Alpina takes a BMW 320d and tunes it up to achieve a power to liter ratio of 100hp per liter, a 0 to 100km/h acceleration time of 7.4 seconds, 410Nm of torque, a top speed of 238km/h, but yet manages a combined cycle mileage of 17km per liter of diesel.

The original turbocharger was replaced with a better, quicker spooling, more responsive turbo by Garrett. 200 horses are achieved at 4,000rpm, and the 410Nm of torque is constantly surfing on a flat torque curve of between 2,000rpm to 3,000rpm. While the short powerband might take some enjoyment out of the drive, the massive G forces that the big torque will give you more than makes up for it. And you have a 6 manual cogs to play around with, as well as an agile chassis with a 50-50 weight distribution.

When you’re not having your bit of fun on the track or on empty windy roads, the 61 liter fuel tank gives you 1037km of mileage to play with, if you can trust Alpina’s combined cycle mileage claims.

Click here to read the rest of 2007 Alpina D3 based on BMW 320d

Richard Hammond, or known as the Hamster should be a household name by now, thanks to him being part of BBC’s Top Gear team.

The Hamster recently took the Perodua Myvi out for a spin, and he seems to be impressed! This should be good news for Perodua, who plans to lift it’s export volume from 3,000 units currently to 10,000 units a year.

No jokes, this is a good-looking car. But if it looks familiar, that’s because this is a Daihatsu Sirion in all but name. You see it costs billions to develop a new car - you design them on computers then build lots of them to crash into walls. So Perodua let someone else do it and spent their money sticking a new badge on it.

But they kept a bit back to spend on styling. Which is why, even though it shares bits and pieces with the Sirion, the Myvi is better looking.

And his final verdict:

So under seven grand for a good-looking car, built in a factory shared with Toyota, which handles as well as a Yaris, does nearly 50mpg with a three-year warranty - yes please.

Click here for the full review.

AutoExpress has some insider news on the new rumoured Audi TT RS, or rather the lack of such a model. AutoExpress says the S line upgrade for the Audi TT is as good as it gets for the new TT, and no Audi TT RS will be developed because it would clash with the upcoming Audi R8.

So if you want the TT to look fast as well as go fast, get the 3.2 V6 version and slap on the S line bodykit, but if that isn’t hot enough for you, better be prepared to fork out more cash for the Audi R8!

Great Wall is the latest Chinese car manufacturer making a foray into the European car market, with 500 units of it to hit the streets of Italy this month. Previously, Jiangling was the first with a car in China - the Jiang Ling Landwind SUV. The Great Wall Hover is a 5-seater SUV based on Isuzu Axiom underpinings powered by a Mitsubishi 4G64 2.4L SOHC engine, making 125hp at 5,250rpm and 190Nm of torque at a low 2,500rpm.

Available in both 4X4 and 4X2 drivetrains, the Great Wall Hover is one of the more better looking Chinese vehicles, though it looks like the front is Vauxhall-inspired. More photos after the jump.

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DaimlerChrysler Malaysia Sdn Bhd (DCM) will start selling CKD versions of the Mercedes Benz S-class luxury sedan beginning February 2007. So far it’s assembly plant in Pekan, Pahang has already produced 25 units of the CKD Mercedes Benz S-class, and once 100 units are ready, sales will begin. At a rate of 25 units a month, the 100 units will be ready in time for the proposed February 2007 launch and sales.

DCM’s Pekan plant is a joint venture with local conglomerate DRB-HICOM and currently assembles CKD packs of the Mercedes Benz E-class as well as the Mercedes Benz C-class. The plant also assembles Mercedes and Mitsubishi Fuso commercial vehicles. It’s total production capacity is 5,000 units annually, and production is currently at the 3,000 unit level. DCM plans to assemble 300-500 Mercedes Benz S-class CKD packs annually, and will be the only plant in Asia to assemble the S-class.

The baseline Mercedes Benz S350L S currently costs RM939,888 in CBU form. Two other models, the CBU S350 SE and the CBU S350SEL cost RM978,888 and RM1,048,888 respectively. CKD assembly should allow the car to be priced cheaper in Malaysia, though it remains unknown at this time if much of the savings will be passed on to the customer.

Source

This is the Citroen C-Métisse Concept car, to be shown at the Paris Motor Show later this month. The Citroen C-Métisse Concept combines the features of a high performance sports car together with environmental friendliness - this means a top speed of 250km/h but using only 5.2 liters of diesel per 100km. Classic Citroen design cues are kept - long bonnets and non-existant rear overhang, most Citroens like the C4, Xsara and Xantia look like notchbacks. More details after the jump.

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