EXCLUSIVE UPDATE: Proton MPV exclusive initial details revealed!

A forumer posted photos of a Proton MPV test mule with a Toyota Wish body. Proton is currently performing on-road tests of the new MPV and is either:

a) employing a well known disguise technique of using the body of a similiar vehicle to hide the chassis of a car being tested, or…
b) is currently performing powertrain tests with a body of a similiar weight and size.

The photos show that the interior features a Toyota Wish dashboard with a Proton steering wheel. The interior seems to have a bad fit and finish - weird gaps here and there very atypical of a Toyota.

Look at the area around the left-most air conditioning vent as well as the area where the dash meets the center tunnel which runs between the two front seats. The dash could be looking that way because it has been adapted to fit the Proton MPV’s interior. If you look closely, there’s nothing where the dash-mounted shift lever is supposed to be. There is very likely a Proton powertrain and gearbox under this test mule’s engine bay.

On-road tests with a different body can be done if the air intakes provided by the donor body’s grilles and bumper vents as well as undercarriage design are modified to match amount of air cooling that the final product’s design will give the engine bay. Adding ballasts or stripping unnecessary equipment is done to ensure the final body is the same or similiar weight to the actual product.

Hopefully more photos of the new MPV will surface soon, perhaps later in the year we’ll see some with the actual body.

Proton plans to finalise its India strategy by the middle of 2008, according to its managing director Datuk Syed Zainal in a report by The Star yesterday. A suitable partner (or partners) for the Indian market would have the following qualities:

• manufacturing and distribution experience
• car design and localisation capabilites

Proton will be targetting the B-segment and C-segment in India with cars like the Proton Saga and the Proton Person, with a strategy similiar to the one they used in China, which was getting a Chinese manufacturer to buy CKD kits of the GEN2 (CBU imports initially) and handle sales and marketing themselves in their own market which they would be familiar with, something Proton would not have experience with.

Read my previous article for my thoughts on how Proton could fit into the Indian automotive industry: Proton and the Indian automotive industry. It was written before the Saga launch so at that point we were still speculating the Saga’s dimensions.

On the local scenes, there will be something nice from Proton next week

Source

Click to enlarge

Naza World is now actively promoting 3 of their imported Mazda models as what they say are the ideal cars for the affluent family in a high earning neighbourhood.

Mazda CX7 - from RM248,999

The Mazda CX7 SUV is positioned at the dad, and the 5-seater SUV (ideally 4, Naza says) has a 2.3 liter turbocharged DISI L3-VDT engine under its hood, mated to an Activematic 6-speed automatic gearbox. The turbocharged engine puts out 245 horsepower at 5,000rpm and 350Nm of torque, equivalent to a high torque output normally aspirated 3.5 liter engine, peaking at 2,500rpm but with most of it available across a much wider spread of between 2,000rpm to 4,500rpm.

This specification level imported includes an audio system (Japanese radio frequencies of course, which are not usable in Malaysia), GPS navigation, a television, 6 SRS airbags, ABS, EBD, traction control, heated front seats, a reverse camera, 18 inch wheels, and the Mazda Radar Cruise Control system which is an adaptive cruise system that uses a forward radar sensor to measure distance and speed from both moving and stationary objects. In the case that a moving object in front of you suddenly decides to become stationary, MRCC will apply the brakes and audibly alert you.

Mazda 8 MPV - from RM198,999

Stereotypically, the mum gets to drive the MPV. The third generation Mazda MPV is officially available only in Japan and Hong Kong. It is called the MPV in Japan and the Mazda 8 in Hong Kong. Naza World has decided to call it the Mazda 8 here in Malaysia.

The Mazda 8 MPV has twin sliding doors for access into the rear, and can be opened electrically by the driver. It seats 7 and is powered by the same L3-VDT in the Mazda CX7, which has ample torque to haul the whole family plus luggage around on trips. It has a side view camera feature, which helps side-parking the large vehicle.

Mazda MX-5 - from RM199,999

Naza World is bringing in the 2.0 liter, 4-speed automatic version of the Mazda MX-5. Too bad this is not the new one with the folding hard top roof. The 2.0 liter normally aspirated engine puts out 158 horsepower and 188Nm of torque.

The cars come with a 1 year warranty. More photos of each of the cars after the jump.

Related Posts:
2007 Honda Stream CBU imported by Naza World

Click here to read the rest of Naza World imports the Mazda CX7 SUV, Mazda 8 MPV and the Mazda MX5 Roadster

Jenson Button, Testing, RA108, Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona

Honda Malaysia will be having Honda F1 Roadshows in four locations around the country. The first roadshow will begin this Friday to Sunday (29th February to 2nd March) at Queensbay Mall Penang. Next the roadshow will come to the Klang Valley during the weekend of 7th to 9th March and it will be held at Sunway Pyramid. Then the show will go down south to City Square Johor Bahru from 14th to 16th March 2008, before having its last stop at One Utama New Wing between 20th and 23rd of March 2008, this time for 4 days - Thursday to Sunday.

Honda Malaysia says these Honda F1 Roadshows are organised to inspire and spur common car racing spirit with Malaysians. Improvements to its Formula 1 race machine, codenamed RA108 this year, will also be introduced. Besides providing information on the F1 sport, the roadshows will also give have interactive and fun games with prizes to be won.

I will be writing a weekly commentary on issues related to the car industry over at The Malaysian Insider, the latest online paper to hit the Malaysian cyberspace. Have a look at the first story titled “Our car industry - coming or going?“.

INCUS, or Innovative Customization Sys as they call themselves is a bodykit and tuner company that does mainly Korean cars like those from Hyundai and Kia. This is their INCUS Avante Sport based on the Hyundai Avante, also known as the HD generation Hyundai Elantra sold by Kah Bintang here in Malaysia.

This appears to be only one of the bodykits available for the Avante/Elantra, as a quick check at the Incus Tune photo gallery reveals a few other variations, some sleek and subtle and some abit more loud and aggressive.

Plenty more photos of the bodykit after the jump.

Related Posts:
2008 Hyundai Elantra HD on sale in Malaysia

Click here to read the rest of INCUS Avante Sport kit for HD Avante/Elantra

Click to enlarge

Toyota is now offering an integrated GPS navigation unit in the Toyota Yaris SR in the UK market, making it the first B-segment Toyota hatchback in the UK to offer such equipment in that segment.

The 2-DIN head-unit slots right into the space on the Yaris dashboard, and the head unit is badged Toyota, while the removable portable GPS unit is from TomTom. This Toyota-TomTom GPS unit is actually a rebadged Eclipse AVN2210p, and the integrated TomTom GPS is a TomTom DUO, powered by a SiRFstarIII GPS chipset. You can remove the TomTom Duo from the car and use it to navigate while you are walking, or whatever reason you might want to use it out of your car.

The new head unit offers 3.5 inch touch screen operation, Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free, and USB connection for MP3 players. It can also interface with an iPod.

Honda is another Japanese car maker who has paired up with an existing GPS navigation equipment manufacturer - the Gathers Honda infotainment and GPS system that was offered with Honda Accords purchased in December last year is based on a Garmin unit. Volvo Malaysia also offers Volvo-branded Garmin GPS units in their cars.

More images of the head unit after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Toyota uses TomTom for in-car GPS navigation

Click to enlarge

The first official orders for the new MINI John Cooper Works Cooper S hatchback and Clubman S estate will be able to be placed from July 2008 onwards. The MINI JCW will feature a tuned up version of the Prince 1.6 liter turbocharged direct injection engine producing 211 horsepower and 260Nm of torque, up to 280Nm during overboost.

The 1.6 liter common rail direct injection petrol engine makes more power via a larger twin-scroll turbocharger, a performance air filter, air mass meter, exhaust system, catalyst, and an uprated turbocharger inlet manifold diameter. These JCW engines are built at BMW’s Hams Hall plant and have been strengthened with reinforced polished pistons, a strengthened cylinder head, and a modified cylinder gasket. Intake valves and valve seat rings have also been upgraded with stronger materials.

The engine’s compression ratio has been reduced to make up for the larger turbocharger boost, which now maxes out at 1.3 bar instead of the standard “S” engine’s 0.9 bar. Peak torque of 260Nm kicks in at 1,850rpm thanks to the fast spooling twin scroll design of the turbocharger, despite it being larger than the standard size. The 6-speed manual gearbox has been strengthened to take the additional power and torque.

The MINI John Cooper Works Cooper S and Clubman S features a specially tuned Works sports suspension, but there is an optional lowering kit that lowers the car by 10mm. Larger disc brakes adorned with upgraded calipers painted red, with the front discs approximately 22mm larger than on the standard Cooper S. These discs are installed behind 17 inch JCW Cross-Spoke CHALLENGE light (10kg each) alloy wheels wrapped with run-flat tyres.

On the interior, you get a leather sports steering wheel, and a Piano Black interior trim with an Anthracite roof lining. An upgraded sound system is also included in the JCW package and features 10 speakers and an eight-channel amplifier. The speedmeter now tops out at 260km/h (or 160mph).

Other features include ABS, EBD, Cornering Brake Control, Electronic Differential Lock, DSC Stability Control with Hill Assist, and DTC Dynamic Traction Control. DTC allows a larger amount of slip before the traction control system kicks in. DSC/DTC can be turned totally off if needed, and the Electronic Differential Lock remains to help transfer torque to the tyre with more grip when necessary.

More images of both the JCW Cooper S and Clubman S after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of MINI John Cooper Works Cooper S and Clubman S

Click to enlarge

The Peugeot 207 Spider shares the same model code as the 207 hatchback and its derivatives, but in actuality has nothing much in common with the rest of the 207 range. It is a Le Mans Prototype-style racer build with a tubular frame chassis, and meets IAF LMP1 and LMP2 regulations.

The Spider’s tubular frame chassis consists of three main parts for easy repairability, and the engine and gearbox is installed in the rear with a transverse layout. The engine used is the turbocharged 1.6 liter PSA-BMW Prince engine, or the EP6DTS in Peugeot terminology, tuned to produce 175 horsepower at 5,800rpm, the same as the MINI Cooper S and the 308 GT THP 175. This engine is mated to a Sadev ST 74-14 6-speed dog teeth sequential gearbox with a 207RC-based sintered metal disc clutch mechanism, and shifting is via paddles on the steering wheel.

Most of the components used to build the Peugeot 207 Spider are off the shelf components from existing Peugeot cars. For example, the front and rear hub carriers are modified from the ones used on the 407, and so are the disc brakes and brake calipers. The radiator and intercooler is from the 207 GTi THP 175, the steering column is from the Peugeot 206, and the steering is from the Peugeot 407.

Bodyworks are divided into 9 individual parts to reduce repair costs. Two diffusers help improve road holding - one at the bonnet forward of the front wheels, and the other at the rear of the car, separated by a wide, flat underfloor covering that covers the entire underside of the car.

The 720kg racecar was designed to be driven in single class categories, and I was informed that a prominent person in the motorsports industry has bought 15 units for a new one make race here in Malaysia, more details on this will be revealed once an official announcement has been made.

One make races are rather interesting because the race car model is standardized and only minimal modifications can be made to each car, so the outcome on the race is pretty much dependent on driver skill. The standard Bosch ECU on the EP6DTS has been modified to prevent reprogramming or modifications.

A unit of the Peugeot 207 Spider is currently on display at the Peugeot Auto Fair at the Glenmarie Blue Box. More photos of the Peugeot 207 Spider after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Peugeot 207 Spider race car

Click to enlarge

Naza has updated the Naza 206 Bestari with a new bodykit including a rear roof spoiler, door visors, and a new exhaust tailpipe. The rear seat bench now includes head rests, something that was optional on the car when it was initially launched, even though product images showed that it had headrests.

The 3 year or 100,000km warranty package has been upped to 5 years now, and includes 3 years free maintenance. With the additional accessories and warranty, the price remains the same at RM68,888 for the 1.4 liter French-rebadge.

One more rear shot after the jump.

Related Posts:
Naza 206 Bestari in-depth specifications, photos and price
Naza 206 Bestari Test Drive Review

Click here to read the rest of Refreshed 2008 Naza 206 Bestari