The feasibility study between Lotus Engineering Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Youngman Automobile Group Co Ltd (Jinhua Youngman) recently concluded with positive results, and Lotus has managed to secure the deal to assist Jinhua Youngman produce passenger cars. Jinhua Youngman started off manufacturing commercial vehicles, but recently secured a license from the Chinese government to produce passenger vehicles. Lotus will start with a 4-door saloon for Jinhua, with work scheduled to begin early 2007. Jinhua plans to have a 4 car model line-up within the next 5 years.

Do you think Jinhua will be using our existing platforms like the ones that have spawned the GEN2 and the Waja, helping Proton achieve better economies of scale? Or perhaps Jinhua will be using the flexible and advanced Versatile Vehicle Architecture (VVA) by Lotus, which use was demonstrated to the public with the rapid development of the Lotus APX Concept. The latter sounds more likely.

Source

More spyshots of the upcoming BMW X6, a crossover SUV have been spotted being tested around. It’s obvious the car has a sloping coupe-like roofline, but it is hidden by heavy disguises. No clue on how the rear looks like, as the disguise makes it look like the Z4’s rear lights. While originally the X6 was said to be a Mercedes Benz CLS fighter, now it seems a little strange for a competitor to a 4-door coupe being a SUV-like vehicle. One more photo after the jump, and check out the related posts listed below.

While people have been skeptical on BMW entering non-sedan segments, of opinion that it will dilute the Ultimate Driving Machine experience, I am convinced that BMW can make a minivan or a crossover SUV go like a sedan that handles very well - I experienced proof of this with the new E70 BMW X5 equipped with Adaptive Drive. That is seriously an amazing piece of technology.

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Click here to read the rest of More BMW X6 on the road spyshots

PROTON and A1 Team Malaysia unveiled the Proton Satria Neo A1 Team Malaysia Special Edition yesterday, a model that was developed with intention to go on sale next year. There are no prices and specifications yet, and the final model might differ from the one you see in this post.

I was not at the launch, but got these photos from Proton’s Corporate Communications. From what I see so far, the model comes in a special A1 yellow, has some new non-bling bling design wheels, a big spoiler at the rear, yellow meter panels, leather sports seats with yellow stitching, a sporty MOMO steering wheel, A1 special edition mats as well as a special edition plague near the gear shift.

More photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Proton Satria Neo A1 Special Edition

The MINI Collection introduced this cute cuckoo clock styled after the center console of the new 2nd gen MINI Cooper, featuring a small 1:93 scale Chilli Red MINI going around the clock every hour, with the sound of the MINI horn and engine. The £69.95 clock is expected to sell like hot cakes in time for the Christmas season, following the sales record of it’s predecessor clock, one based on the first gen MINI which sold over 100,000 units.

The MINI Collection features a range of accessories and clothing (see fashion show link below), including sunglasses, kids toys, luggage and even a picnic set. The MINI Cuckoo Clock, and other products from the MINI Collection are available from all MINI dealerships, not sure if it’s available in Malaysia though.

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MINI Collection Fashion Show

Here are some due updates on the few companies that might end up as a new stakeholder in Proton, as well as have a controlling stake in it’s manufacturing arm.

Mofaz

Mofaz has teamed up with a foreign technical partner in it’s bid for a stake in Proton Holdings Bhd. This proposal was submitted three months ago, but the foreign partner in question was not named. Mofaz intends to help turn Proton around, and stresses this is more important than owning a stake in it. How do have the power to turn Proton around without having a controlling stake in Proton, I don’t know. Apparently Mofaz has it’s own way of influencing Proton’s management without a stake?! - Source

Sime Darby

No firm acknowledgement of the intention to buy shares so far. Sime Darby itself has had it’s shares suspended to be merged with Kumpulan Guthrie, and Golden Hope.

Naza

Naza, being a private company, has no Bursa Malaysia sending them queries to explain news so they’ve been quiet about this for quite sometime. But Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin SM Amin finally let the bird out of the cage at the launch of Naza’s new 3S facility at Juru. A letter of intent has been submitted two months ago to the government on the matter of the Naza Group acquiring a stake in Proton Holdings Bhd. Naza believes it can bring the company to greater heights. - Source

DRB-HICOM

Refer to this post for the latest on DRB-HICOM’s plans to take over Proton. No new updates since then.

Volkswagen

No word from Volkswagen themselves, but our government has confirmed it is in talks with Volkswagen again, with the possibility of a controlling stake purchase, which is what Volkswagen wanted but was denied before talks broke down some time ago.

PSA Peugeot Citroen

PSA’s technical team is in town to conduct feasibility studies in the areas of collaboration highlighted in the previous MoU signed. However, Proton says it is not aware of any intentions by PSA to take up a stake in Proton, while officials from PSA itself has mentioned that there are no intentions to take up a stake, merely to partner up for doing business together in the region. Since PSA Peugeot Citroen already has a preexisting partnership with the Naza Group, there seems to be some form of “tag team” of local and foreign partners in place here with Naza and PSA. If not so, then PSA’s collaboration with Proton could be for the Citroen brand instead - remember PSA Peugeot Citroen doesn’t necessarily mean Peugeot! - Source

PWRS, 2003.

Do you happen to have a spare RM2,200? Are you a hardcore Porsche fan, but never actually got to drive one because you never found an owner who was willing to risk his sweet piece of engineering in your hands? Well, RM2,200 can buy you an experience you will never forget, as Auto Eurokars is bringing the Porsche World Road Show to Malaysia in January 2007. RM2,200 will buy you a one day event with:

1. Test drive of several variants of various models of Porsche cars.
2. Driving skills enhancement course by Porsche qualified trainers. - Seating position, Slalom, Handling, Braking
3. On-track experience at Sepang International Circuit (North).
4. Off-road experience at Sepang International Circuit Moto Cross Track.
5. Road tour around Sepang, Nilai and Dengkil.
6. Demonstration laps by Porsche qualified trainers.
7. PWRS collar t-shirt and cap.
8. Refreshments – breakfast, lunch, tea.
9. Award ceremony and certificate.
10. DVD of event.
11. Experience to cherish.

The course is conducted by Porsche trained and certified trainers and will be held from 7 to 18 January 2007. Limited slots are available, so those who are interested to participate in the 2007 edition of the PWRS may contact either Cik Widat or Cik Emy of Auto Eurokars at +60(3)-5032 9911 by 30 November 2006. Auto Eurokars also accepts walk-in registrations at Porsche Centre Glenmarie and Porsche Centre KL from now till the closing date of 30 November 2006. You can also print out a form available by clicking here, print it out, fill it up and fax it to +60(3) 5032 7911 / 9888.

The BMW X5 has enjoyed phenomenal success since its introduction in 1999, with exactly 616,867 units to be produced by the 22nd of December 2006, with 41% of orders bound for the truck-mad USA. Thats almost 100,000 units a year in a single model alone. BMW claims to have created the Sports Activity Vehicle segment with the X5, basically a SUV which doesn’t handle horribly! Sales every year have not dropped at all over the past 6 years, so in reality BMW doesn’t exactly need to replace the X5 so soon, but them Bavarian folks have done it anyway, with the new Bangle-fied E70 BMW X5. My report on the new 2007 BMW X5 after the jump. Click images for larger sizes.

Click here to read the rest of 2007 BMW X5 4.8i and 3.0d Test Drive in Athens

Honda Malaysia has announced the availability of a limited edition Honda Civic Concept Mugen, a 90 unit run of the Honda Civic 2.0S equipped with a MUGEN bodykit which consists of a front and rear lip, side skirts and a rear wing, and MUGEN GP 17 inch wheels which comes in either gunmetal or bronze. On the interior, the serial number of the car will be displayed on a plague on the dashboard for bragging rights

Out of the 90 units, 50 will come with bronze wheels while the remaining 40 will have the gunmetal version. Done up in a nice Neutron Blue color, the Honda Civic Concept Mugen was developed to commemorate Honda’s 4 consecutive years of outstanding performance in the MME Class A race, as well as a recently achieved milestone of 100,000 registered cars on the road. Of course, the Honda Civic 2.0S also won the Autocar Asean Overall Car of the Year 2006 and the Midsize sedan/hatch 2006 category.

The Honda Civic Concept Mugen will be available in Honda dealers from 22nd November 2006 onwards, and will retail at RM141,800.00 inclusive of road tax and insurance. More photos after the jump. (Updated!)

Click here to read the rest of Honda Civic Concept Mugen 2.0 Limited Edition

Want to know what exactly you’ll be getting with the extra RM2,890 you’ll be paying for a Naza Sutera Sportivo over the high spec Naza Sutera GSi model? A list of changes as well as more photos of the car is available after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Naza Sutera Sportivo Specifications

Coming soon, my test drive report of the new second generation E70 BMW X5. Announced by BMW back in August 2006, the new Sports Activity Vehicle now has 7 seats and comes with a whole list of enhancements, most importantly much better interior space. I’ve not driven it yet, but I’ve sat in it as a passenger.

That particular X5 used as a shuttle car for the journalists was the top of the line 4.8 liter model, making 355hp and 475Nm of torque. The rumble of the V8 was pleasant to the ears at low revs, not sure how it feels like at high revs yet as the driver was driving pretty sedatedly, maxing out at about 4,000rpm at most, but you could feel the torque pushing the huge truck along. Can’t wait to see how the engine behaves when you stick it in the D Sport gear position and really floor it - that will come tomorrow.

I will be in Athens, Greece for the media test drive event until Wednesday, so forgive me if I am slow on news updates and approving moderated comments.

For now, check my previous post on the E70 BMW 5 here, which has a list of new features, specs, and lots of videos.

[UPDATE: Read my test drive report on the E70 BMW X5!]

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New 2007 BMW X5