We might see another fuel hike soon, or we might not, but whatever happens, ultimately we are going to get better quality fuel in this country.

The government has amended regulations with fuel, and by the end of March 2007, sulphur content in diesel will go down from 0.3 percent to 0.05 percent, and for petrol, it will go down from 0.15 percent to 0.05 percent. All oil companies in Malaysia will have to adhere to the new standards.

This also means we might be seeing a new price of RM1.96 per liter for petrol and RM1.62 per liter for diesel by the end of March 2007, as the extra refinery process is expected to cost an additional 3 or 4 cents more per liter of fuel.

We’re finally moving to Euro II, from the current MS123 diesel and MS118 petrol standards. Euro II, or EC96, limits car emissions to 7 g/km of NOX and 0.15 g/km of PM (Particle Matter).

European Union countries put Euro II into effect back in 1995, more than 10 years ago, and it was phased out with a new Euro III standard in 1999. Europe moved to Euro IV in 2005, and diesel trucks will have to comply with a new Euro V standard in 2008.

So, everyone hold your breath for 31st March 2007. We might be seeing another fuel price hike. But in return, we’ll get a cleaner environment with less hazardous pollutants!

I received this in an email a few days ago - an application form for the BMW Driver Training Instructor’s Academy. Basically, BMW Malaysia is recruiting candidates to become BMW Driver Training Instructors for it’s new Malaysian BMW Driver Training program via it’s Instructor Academy. The BMW Driver Training is set to be introduced here in Malaysia from April 2007 onwards.

In 1977, BMW became the first vehicle manufacturer in the world to offer professional driver training.

The aim is to enhance your driving abilities by developing both attitude and skills through a structured range of programmes that include theoretical and practical training, enabling you to respond more effectively in emergency situations and make your everyday driving safer and more rewarding. The training also teaches you to appreciate and understand the limits of technology and driving skills, allowing you to assess and overcome potential hazards.

BMW Driver Training is much more than mastering unexpected situations and honing technical and mental skills, its about the exhilaration of a truly memorable experience.

All participants will have to go through a 3-level course, where only participants who pass each level will be able to proceed to the next. The course focuses on training skills, driving skills, driving physics knowledge, as well as brand values and product awareness. Both classroom theory and practical on the track is involved.

Interested participants will have to commit a certain availability of days, in case they currently hold another job somewhere or are still studying, etc. For more detailed information, please check out the PDF file below.

Mazda gives us a preview of it’s new B-segment hatchback, the Mazda 2. Updated to modern Mazda design language, gone is the boxy outlook of it’s predecessor, instead you get a sporty hatch which is reminiscent of the Toyota Yaris. The new Mazda 2 is shorter at 3880mm, however it still keeps an identical wheelbase of 2490mm.

It has a sporty front, with a large air dam flanked by two smaller ones hosting fog lamps, and large headlamps, however I have to disagree with their choice of front grille design - something bigger would have looked better. Trunk space is rated at 250 liters, but with the seats down it enlarges to 469 liters of space. The 2008 Mazda 2 is expected to be unveiled with three engine options, a 1.3 liter petrol (two variants - 74hp/118Nm and 83hp/121Nm), a 1.5 liter petrol (103hp/136Nm) as well as a 1.4 liter turbodiesel.

Two more photos of the rear and side profile after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of 2008 Mazda 2 Preview

DaimlerChrysler today announced that it is open to the possibility of dropping the loss-making Chrysler group from it’s organization structure, or finding new partners for the American automotive group. Previously, DCX stood by Chrysler with a long-term commitment since it’s merger in 1998, but perhaps a predicted operating loss of more than US$1.31 billion foreseen by analysts - the third full-year loss since the merger is just too much for DCX to take. This loss will be offsetted by an earnings rebound at premium passenger car division Mercedes Benz and solid results from its market-leading truck manufacturing division.

The announcement pushed Chrysler stock up by more than 5%, up to it’s highest level since June 2002 - peaking at US$67.43 per share. DCX CEO Dieter Zetsche is expected to announce that an investment bank has been hired to review strategic options for the group. However, divesting the two groups is easier said than done, as cutting apart the two companies would cost an estimated US$34 billion, eclipsing DaimlerChrysler earnings, which is expected to be US$1.92 billion for the Q4 of 2006.

I find it funny that such an announcement should be made, announcing the possible separation of two lovers that were never meant to be on Valentine’s day.

Source: AutoNews

NST’s Life and Times has put a twist on the whole car of the year award thing, with the Life & Times-Shell Malaysia Readers choice contest. The contest had been on-going for quite some time - basically readers send in their choices for the car of the year with their opinion on why the car should be car of the year, and the results will be tabulated.

For one, it was a chance to win free petrol sponsored by Shell Malaysia, and secondly, it was a chance to see if the general public agree with our local motoring journalists: the 2006 Honda Civic had won Autocar Asean’s Car of The Year as well as NST-CBT’s Malaysian Car of The Year.

The top three results…

Honda Civic: 45%
Toyota Camry: 20%
Proton Satria Neo: 8%

Source: NST Life & Times

Peugeot will be showcasing the awaited Peugeot 207 GTi THP 175 at the 77th Geneva International Motor Show, along with it’s 207 SW Outdoor Concept, 207 CC and the 4007 Outlander-based SUV.

The Peugeot 207 GTi THP 175 is positioned above the previously released Peugeot 207 GT THP 150, and both runs a 1.6 liter THP (Turbo High Pressure) engine. Yes, you got it right, the same engine as the one in the new R56 MINI Cooper S. While the 207 GT THP 150 is tuned lower at 150 horses, the 207 GTi THP 175 has similiar performance stats to the Cooper S - 240Nm of torque from an amazingly low 1,600rpm and 175 horses.

More details when Geneva rolls around the corner.

MINI’s previous Concept Frankfurt gave us an insight into the future of the MINI product range - currently comprising of the One, One D, Cooper, Cooper S and Cooper Convertible. You could say the Concept Frankfurt was a modern incarnation of the old school Mini Traveller, a way of BMW MINI telling us that it plans to develop a new station wagon MINI. However due to legal reasons, the new MINI station wagon will not be called the MINI Traveller, but instead a new name has been chosen: the MINI Clubman.

Spyshots have already been circulating the internet, and the MINI Clubman will feature an assymetrical design, with one side having just a driver’s door, but the other side having a passenger door as well as a small suicide door which swings open to facilitate easy entry into the rear seats. Auto Motor und Sport reports that the MINI Clubman will also receive all-wheel drive technology in end 2008.

Two other rumoured MINI projects include an all-wheel drive MINI Cooper is also in the works, as well as something a little more tricky. This tricky little thing will be called the MINI Colorado, and it will be somewhat like the typical MINI Cooper, however it will have off-road design elements to it, with a higher suspension as well as all-wheel drive, facilitating some light offroading. Colorado is just an internal codename for the moment, but the old school Mini had a variant called the Moke, which was somewhat like a tiny cross between a Jeep and a Mini (refer to photo in the top left).

Malaysian Alfa Romeo distributor Sime Darby Auto Italia Sdn Bhd has unveiled a new limited edition variant of the lovely Alfa Romeo 147 2.0 Selespeed hatchback - the Alfa 147 Edizione Sportivo, or in English, Sports Edition? Changes to the special edition include a customised bodykit comprised of a redesigned front air dam, side skirts, side strip, rear roof spoiler, and a stainless steel exhaust. The car rides on Alfa Romeo ET40 Silver Colour Tristar alloy rims with low profile 215/45 R17TL87W Pirelli Dragon performance tyres. Further enhancing the sporty look are Hotbits HBSC 10-203 Sports Springs, lowering the car by 30mm and enhancing handling and driving dynamics.

Auto Italia press release did not say how many units of this special edition will be produced, but general manager Lim Boon Leong says it will be a limited edition run. It comes with a 2-year warranty, free maintenance for three years and two years free 24-hour roadside assistance from AAM.

Just a recap on the specs, the Alfa 147 Edizione Sportivo is powered by a 2.0-litre 150bhp Twinspark engine, does the 0-100km/h dash in 9.3 seconds, and is specced out pretty well - four airbags, pre-tensioned seat belts, Anti-lock Braking System with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Electronic Stability Programme, Cruise Control System, Anti Theft Device-Key Code Immobiliser, Parking Obstacle Detection Device and others.

Read my test drive report on the Alfa Romeo 147 2.0 Twinspark Selespeed.

Subaru’s boxer turbodiesel will make it’s public debut at the 77th Geneva International Motor Show next month, and it will displayed together with a full drive train, mated to Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive system.

Subaru says the turbodiesel boxer will find it’s first use in a vehicle early 2007, perhaps in one of the European spec diesel new Imprezas. No displacement or any power outputs were given in Subaru’s press release, so we will have to wait until next month to get the full details at Geneva. Click the image on the left to view a larger version with more detail.

Ford’s new Ford Mondeo will debut at the 2007 Geneva Motor show, in it’s three forms, 4-door sedan, 5-door hatch as well as the estate variant. Ford says this is probably Ford’s most elegant and technologically advanced car they’ve ever launched, and it is a very important car for Ford’s new line-up.

Standard equipment for the new 2007 Ford Mondeo include ESP stability control, a Thatcham Cat 1 alarm system, follow-me-home lights, a trip computer and an auxillary socket for connecting your MP3 players. The Ford Mondeo will also feature Ford’s new Easyfuel capless fuel filler with fuel inhibitor to prevent the car from being refueled with the wrong fuel.

The interior has a classy piano black styling, and thanks to it’s high beltline, feels more upmarket and gives the occupants a more cosseted feel. Ford has also ensured plastics are soft touch. There are four different trim levels, the basic Zetec series, a mid-range Edge trim targetted at business and family needs, and two top of the line trims: Ghia and Titanium X.

The 2007 Ford Mondeo will go on sale in June 2007.

Click here to read the rest of New Ford Mondeo unveiled