Daihatsu launched the all-new Daihatsu Move yesterday, which is based on a new chassis and comes equipped with a new KF-VE 660cc engine from the Topaz range. The new KF-VE engine makes 58 horsepower at 7,200rpm, and 65Nm of torque at 4,000rpm. You can either opt for a 5-speed manual, a 4-speed automatic or a CVT gearbox and either a 2WD or 4WD drivetrain - these varies with the trim level.

The new Daihatsu Move RS is powered by the KF-DET, a turbocharged version of the new Topaz KF series engine, this boosts power up to 63 horses, which is only a meagre 5 horsepower more than the KF-VE, but it kicks in at a lower speed - 6,000rpm. Torque is up by a large margin and at a lower engine speed - 103Nm at 3,000rpm.

The new Move’s styling cues reminds me alot of the Mitsubishi Colt. Not sure if this will come to our local shores as a Kenari replacement, but Daihatsu are K-car specialists - they really know how to maximize the little space you have to play with considering K-car dimensions - so you can expect this new Daihatsu Move to offer amazing interior space in relative to it’s exterior outlook!

More photos including interior shots after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of 2007 Daihatsu Move launched

UMW Toyota Motor is not optimistic about it’s previously set 100,000 cars a year target, saying it is now not within reach considering sales performance this year to date.

However, it intends to keep it’s 17% market share overall, and it’s 60% market share in the MPV market, and expected sales of 2,500 per month (30% of this to be the new 1.5 liter variant) for the new Avanza facelift will help it achieve that. Average sales per month for the Toyota Avanza last year was 3,000 a month.

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Toyota has announced the new facelifted Toyota Avanza which was already available in Indonesia since July, and with the new look comes a new engine option in the Toyota Avanza 1.5G.

The new engine is not to be confused with the 1.5 liter 1NZ-FE found in the Toyota Vios and the Toyota Yaris, but instead it is one from the Daihatsu stable, the newly developed 3SZ-VE “Topaz” engine, which makes 107hp at 6,000rpm and 141Nm of torque at 4,400rpm.

The new Toyota Avanza 1.5G will be available in 4-speed automatic transmission only. Prices and more details will be available when the Toyota Avanza is launched officially by UMW Toyota on Friday. The Toyota Avanza currently makes up 40% of Toyota sales here in Malaysia, which translates to about 16,800 units for the first six months this year. Thats 2,800 Toyota Avanza 7-seater MPVs a month, which is amazing for a Japanese make considering last I heard, the Waja sells between 2,500-3,000 a month.

UPDATE - New Toyota Avanza Prices: The Toyota Avanza 1.3E will sell for RM62,309 and RM57,813 for the automatic and manual transmission versions respectively, while the new Toyota Avanza 1.5G with automatic transmission’s price is set at RM74,600. All prices are for Individual Private registrations in Peninsular Malaysia.

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Toyota Avanza facelift launched in Indonesia - click for changes

The Honda Civic Type R will not be restricted to just the European market - we will be seeing a 4-door sedan version of the Type R this time! Honda has announced a prototype Honda Civic Type R based on the 4-door sedan model that will be used as the official car (red flag car) for the Japanese Formula 1 grand prix.

The prototype is expected to finish development and be released in Spring 2007, in the Japanese market. The Honda Civic Type R sedan will have a specially tuned sport suspension and will feature the legendary K20 i-VTEC high-revving engine, over 220PS.

Honda seems to have noticed a demand for cars that are somewhat practical (4 doors!) and can also go at a comfortable pace, this began with the introduction of the American market Honda Civic Si Sedan Concept at the Chicago Motor Show.

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Click here to read the rest of 2007 Honda Civic Type R Sedan Concept

This is the SEAT’s entry into the FIA World Touring Car Championship, based on the SEAT Leon. The SEAT Leon WTCC was on display at the 2006 Paris Motor Show, letting us check out what inspired the recently announced 240 horsepower SEAT Leon Cupra.

The SEAT Leon WTCC was introduced in 2005, and unlike it’s 2.0 TFSI road-going Leon Cupra brother, it is powered by a 2.0 liter normally aspirated engine (a high revving unit, likely) as per WTCC rules. Power goes to the front wheels via a 6-speed DSG gearbox.

More photos with enlarged versions available after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of 2006 Paris Motor Show: SEAT Leon WTCC

Among concept vehicles like the Avenger at the 2006 Paris Motor Show, Dodge also displayed it’s production models, like this 2007 Dodge Caliber crossover. The car is a 4-door hatch similiar to the likes of the Toyota Matrix - somewhat like a crossover between a sporty hatchback and a station wagon?! It was introduced this year to replace the Dodge Neon, and was based on the DCX/Mitsubishi GS platform which also spawned the likes of the new Mitsubishi Outlander and the next generation Lancer.

Engine options are a 1.8 liter, 2.0 liter and a 2.4 liter, and you can mix these with choices of a 5-speed manual or a CVT automatic - either front wheel drive or all wheel drive traction is available. There is also a Dodge Caliber SRT-4, featuring a turbocharged 2.4 liter engine making 300 horsepower mated to a 6-speed manual. In the European market, the Dodge Caliber is also available with a 138hp, 310Nm 2.0 liter turbodiesel sourced from Volkswagen AG.

One more photo after the jump, thanks to Ben Corley, and as usual enlarged versions are also available.

Click here to read the rest of 2006 Paris Motor Show: 2007 Dodge Caliber

The Peugeot 207 RCup Concept was first shown at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show in March, but Peugeot has it on display again at the Paris Motor Show. The Peugeot 207 RCup Concept Car was a teaser for Peugeot’s WRC entry - the Peugeot 207 Super 2000.

The Peugeot 207 RCup has wider front and rear tracks, and larger wheel arches, giving it a much stronger look than the original Peugeot 207. Ground clearance is 10cm, and it’s wheel arches are filled up by big 18″ wheels wrapped with 235/40/R18 tyres. Under the hood of the Peugeot 207 RCup is the same engine that will be powering the Super 2000 rally contender, a 2.0 liter normally aspirated engine tuned to produce 280hp at a sky high 8,500rpm!

More photos with clickable enlarged versions after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of 2006 Paris Motor Show Gallery: Peugeot 207 RCup

Subaru Europe President Hiroyuki Ikeda announced at the 2006 Paris Motor Show that the upcoming horizontally opposed 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine by Subaru is almost complete, with development at final stages now.

Subaru’s gasoline boxer won the top spot for the 2.5 liter category in this year’s International Engine of the Year Awards, and the new turbodiesel boxer will be the first oil burning boxer in the world.

The new turbodiesel boxer engine by Subaru is expected to be unveiled at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show.

Here are some shots of the Peugeot 908RC at the 2006 Paris Motor Show, again courtesy of Ben Corley. Peugeot calls the Peugeot 908RC a stylish four-door four-seater limousine which combined power, comfort, and green performance. The Peugeot 908RC is powered by a 5.5 liter V12 HDi DPFS turbodiesel engine mounted in the rear behind the passengers.

The 5.5 liter V12 HDi DPFS turbodiesel engine mounted transversely in the rear was designed by Peugeot to take part in the Le Mans Race Series in 2007, with it’s racing 908 car. The engine makes over 700bhp and produces a very nice 1200Nm of torque. Because of the engine’s 100 degrees V angle, it has a pretty low center of gravity. This engine is mated to a 6-speed electronicaly controlled sequential shift gearbox, specially designed to handle the massive 1200Nm being put through it.

More photos after the jump. Click photos for enlarged version.

Click here to read the rest of 2006 Paris Motor Show Gallery: Peugeot 908RC

Volvo exhibited the Volvo C30 SportsCoupe at the 2006 Paris Motor Show. The Volvo C30 will be available in 5 trim levels - the S, SE, SE Sport and SE Lux. This set of photos show the Volvo C30 in SE Sport trim level, which includes 18 inch alloy wheels and a full bodykit with the body painted in a two tone finish.

More photos after the jump, courtesy of Volvo Media. Click here for more details and specifications related to the Volvo C30 SportsCoupe.

Click here to read the rest of 2006 Paris Motor Show Gallery: Volvo C30 SE Sport