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Archive for May, 2008

2009 Audi Q5 SUV unveiled

Audi Q5
Click to enlarge

The Audi Q7’s smaller sibling has been unveiled by Audi, and the production version of the Audi Q5 has lost the very coupe-like rear end of the Audi Cross Coupe and Audi Cross Cabriolet concepts, carrying a more conventional SUV shape now.

The new Audi Q5 measures 4630mm long, 1880mm wide, and 1650mm high, compared to the Volkswagen Tiguan’s 4427mm length, 1809mm width and 1686mm width. The Tiguan’s wheelbase is 2604mm, while the Q5’s is much longer at 2810mm. It is based on the B8 MLP platform with a longitudinal engine layout rather than the Tiguan’s Golf Plus-based platform with a transverse engine layout.

Two exterior looks are available - a rugged off-roading look and another more sporty look thanks to the S-line kit. Three different paintjobs are available for the trim elements on the exterior - the standard one is apparently just black all over, but a contrasting two-tone paintjob is also available, or a full body-coloured paint finish.

Three engine variants are available at launch time, with more to be added later. In line with the Volkswagen Group’s downsizing engine roadmap, all three engines are turbocharged, with two turbodiesel variants and one petrol variant. The venerable 2.0 liter TFSI model comes with Audi’s valvelift system with two different valve lift profiles on the intake. Peak torque of 350Nm is available from 1,500rpm up to 4,200rpm, and puts out a total of 211 PS, taking the Q5 2.0 TFSI from 0 to 100km/h in 7.2 seconds.

The two turbodiesel variants are the 2.0 liter TDI and the 3.0 liter TDI engines. Like its petrol sibling, the 2.0 liter unit also puts out 350Nm of torque, from 1,750rpm to 2,500rpm. Peak power is rated at 170 PS, and the Q5 2.0 TDI goes from 0 to 100km/h in 9.5 seconds. This engine is mated to a 6-speed manual, and the instrumentation cluster displays ideal shift times to help the driver get the most mileage out of his Q5 2.0 TDI.

The most powerful engine is the 3.0 TDI, delivering 240 PS and 500Nm of torque between 1,500rpm and 3,000rpm. 0 to 100km/h with the 3.0 TDI model takes 6.5 seconds, yet fuel economy is better than the 2.0 TFSI model at 36.6mpg on a combined cycle compared to 33.2mpg on a combined cycle.

Both the 2.0 TFSI and the 3.0 TDI models are mated to a 7-speed S-Tronic DSG twin dry clutch gearbox. This is something new as previously the 2.0 TFSI engine was only available with the wet clutch 6-speed DSG. A standard feature is quattro permanent all-wheel drive which varies power delivery from 40:60 front-rear up to a maximum of 65 percent to the front axle or 85 percent to the rear axle depending on driving conditions.

More photos of the Audi Q5 available after the jump.

Related Posts:
Audi Q5 S-Line Bodykit

Click here to read the rest of 2009 Audi Q5 SUV unveiled

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Perodua Nautica front and rear shots revealed!

Perodua Nautica Rear
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A day or two after the Perodua Nautica’s teaser site went online, Perodua added two new puzzle pieces of the new 4WD SUV showing parts of the rear hatch and the front grille and bumper. Thanks to readers Hilmy and Suzanne for pointing this out.

Perodua Nautica Front
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The new grille can be quite clearly seen here, so now we can probably mentally put together how the Perodua Nautica will look like. There are only two colours available - Medallion Grey which is probably shown in these teaser images or Majestic Black, which isn’t very hard to imagine.

Related Posts:
Perodua Nautica 4WD: official name for new Perodua SUV
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New Perodua MPV coming in September 2009
Perodua Nautica 4WD teaser site is up!

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Naza Group founder passes away

NazaFounder and CEO of the Naza Group Tan Sri S.M. Nasimuddin S.M. Amin passed away this morning at 1.15am GMT+8 in Los Angeles, California where he was receiving treatment for lung cancer at a private hospital in Long Beach.

I extend my heartfelt condolences to Tan Sri’s family. Despite being the big man behind a large home-grown conglomerate that has provided many jobs, having met him briefly over dinner one day I found him to be very nice man and very down to earth.

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Proton Vendors Association urges vendors consolidation

Proton logoProton Vendors Association president Dr Wan Mohamed Wan Embong says automotive vendors in Malaysia needs to speed up mergers and acquisitions so that Proton vendors will be stronger and will be able to perform in-house design and development including costly engineering and testing, as small and medium vendors would probably not be able to afford such R&D.

Sometime last month, the government announced a RM400 million fund under the Automotive Industry Development Fund for financial assistance for Proton vendors to improve quality and production levels.

A story back in 2006 mentioned that Proton had 270 vendors at that time. Proton now still has over 200 suppliers, but only 140 of them are members of the Proton Vendors Association. Even back during those times, the efforts for consolidation had already begun, but the process seems to be taking a long time.

“It is slow because it is not a easy task to group the entrepreneurs into one, where they have to report to possibly a boss again. And the fact that when you want to be an entrepreneur you have to be independent,” Dr Wan Mohamed added.

Dr Wan Mohamed himself is involved in a consolidation of four vendors under a new company called Automotive Network Alliances which specialises in car interior trim and noise control products.

Related Posts:
Proton Vendors Association wants protection
Proton vendors urge government to go ahead with voluntary scrapping
Proton wants certified vendors
Proton vendors need to buck up!
RM400 million for Proton vendor development

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Facelifted Ford Focus ST

Facelifted Ford Focus ST

The new facelifted Ford Focus ST goes on sale in the UK beginning from today, and gets Ford’s new kinetic design styling that was applied to the base Ford Focus.

Making a return under the hood is the 2.5 liter inline-5 turbocharged engine putting out the same 225 PS as before, taking the Focus ST up to 100km/h in 6.8 seconds. Ford also says the ST can do the Nordschleife in 8 minutes and 35 seconds, apparently the fastest in its class.

The Focus ST gets a bodykit on the exterior to differentiate it from the standard issue Focus, and also comes with 18 inch wheels, Recaro sports seats. The highest ST-2 spec gets a Sony audio system, bi-xenon lights, LED rear lights and Quickclear heated windscreen while the highest ST-3 equipment level ncludes an in-dash six CD player plus full leather trim.

More photos of the Focus ST after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Facelifted Ford Focus ST

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