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Volvo has developed this Volvo V70 2.5 FlexiFuel Turbo police car for the UK Emergency Services, and will be available from June 2008 onwards. The UK government has a requirement that requires all police districts to operate a minimum of 20% FlexiFuel vehicles, so the new V70 FlexiFuel Turbo will be a welcome addition.

The Volvo V70 2.5FT police car’s 2.5 liter Flexifuel Turbo engine makes 200 horsepower and 300Nm of torque between 1,500 to 4,500rpm, and gets to 100km/h in 7.6 seconds. It can run with the same power output on either regular petrol or Flexifuel (E85), a blend of 15% regular petrol and 85% bioethanol.

One more shot after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Volvo V70 2.5 FlexiFuel Turbo police car

Reader Nozzydrive sent in these shots of the latest B8 model Audi A4 snapped here in Malaysia. The baseline model will feature the recently announced 1.8 liter TFSI engine, which replaces the old 1.8 liter turbo engine in the B7 A4 1.8T.

The new 1.8 liter TFSI engine (click for page with torque curve) features gasoline direct injection and a water-cooled Borg Warner K03 turbocharger. Peak power is 160 PS from 5,000rpm to 6,200rpm, and peak torque is rated at 250Nm at a very low 1,500rpm, with 165Nm available at 1,000rpm.

Models that use a Multitronic transmission gain an extra “virtual gear” - 8 speeds for you to choose from now, though for best acceleration you should just leave it in the normal CVT behavious mode so it can stay at the optimum RPM.

More shots after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of B8 Audi A4 spotted in Malaysia!

EP Manufacturing Berhad (EPMB) is set to increase its export revenue to a total of 50% of total revenue in three years time, up from the current 20% figure. The company has been making headway in Thailand, and is set to begin supply of Bosch alternators and starter motors to two OEMs in the Thai market.

EPMB signed a license and technology transfer agreement with Bosch earlier this week to provide technical know-how for the manufacturing of alternators and starter motors. It expects the two Thai OEMs to account for 150,000 vehicle-sets per annum in 2010 which will generate sales of RM40 million per annum.

EPMB and Bosch has been in partnerships before. The Intake Air Fuel Module (IAFM) used in the Campro IAFM engine found in the new Proton Saga, the Proton Persona and the facelifted Proton GEN2 was developed and manufactured by Bosch and EPMB.

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In an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (Frankfurt General Newspaper), BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer said that the BMW-PSA Prince engines currently used in BMW’s MINI products and Peugeot products will be used in future BMWs.

There are three variants, a normally aspirated 1.4 liter engine with variable valve timing and variable valve lift producing 95 PS and 140Nm of torque, a normally aspirated 1.6 liter engine with variable valve timing and variable valve lift producing 120 PS and 160Nm of torque, and a turbocharged 1.6 liter engine with variable valve timing, and gasoline direct injection producing power outputs of between 150 PS to 175 PS and 240Nm of torque.

The 1.6 liter inline-4 N45B16 engine currently used in the BMW 116i produces between 115 PS / 150Nm to 122 PS / 160Nm depending on model year. It has variable valve timing but not Valvetronic variable valve lift, which the N46 inline-4 engine family has.

This could either mean two things - the BMW-PSA Prince engine will be adapted for a longtitudinal, rear wheel drive installation, or front-wheel drive BMWs, but the first option is way way more likely. We could also see the next generation 120i and 320i be powered by the Prince 175 PS turbocharged 1.6 liter engine instead of the current normally aspirated 2.0 liter engine.

Ford has added the Titanium X Sport variant to its Ford Mondeo range in the UK, which is the highest spec Mondeo so far. Standard equipment includes an in-dash Sony six CD player, voice control, rain sensing wipers, automatic headlights, front and rear park assist, dual-zone climate control, Ford Power Start button, Bluetooth connectivity, bi-xenon lights, alloy pedals and a sports suspension.

Two engines are available for this equipment level - a 225 PS turbocharged inline-5 engine, or a 175 PS 2.2 liter TDCi engine which is expected to account for a majority of the sales. The 2.2 liter TDCi takes the Ford Mondeo Titanium X Sport from 0 to 100km/h in 8.4 seconds, and both engine variants are mated to a 6-speed manual. The car is available in either 5-door or estate bodystyles.

More images after the jump.

Related Posts:
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Click here to read the rest of Ford introduces Ford Mondeo Titanium X Sport

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Vauxhall has updated its UK-market Vauxhall VXR8, a badge-engineered version of the Holden HSV Clubsport. The Chevrolet LS2 engine under the hood has been replaced by the latest LS3, which is larger in displacement at 6,162cc versus the LS2’s 5,967cc.

Other than just raw displacement, the LS3 also has other advantages over the LS2 such as high-flow cylinder heads, and an enhanced valvetrain design.

Despite quite a few modifications, power goes up only by 14 PS, with the V8 now rated at 431 PS at 6,000rpm. Thankfully emissions and fuel consumption are rated the same as the outgoing LS2. Translated to road times, the VXR8’s 0 to 100km/h sprint time drops by 0.1 seconds to 4.9 seconds.

Other changes include a standard gearbox oil cooler for models with an automatic gearbox, and a new colour called Heron White. View another photo after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Vauxhall VXR8 Gets 6.2L LS3 V8 Engine

UK-based Antonov Automotive Technologies is advocating the use of a dual-speed supercharger (which they are already producing and continuously improving) for the current trend of downsizing displacement and force inducting engines in efforts to improve fuel economy and emissions.

“Car makers are increasingly looking at superchargers to enhance the performance of small engines. Unlike turbochargers there are no heat issues to manage, and the study of exhaust gases can then be assigned to energy recovery systems,” says Antonov operations director Chris Baylis.

According to Antonov, a dual-speed supercharger which can run faster at low engine RPMs for that instant “kick” and run slower at high engine RPMs to extend the boosted torque curve across the rev range can be much cheaper than complex combinations of a supercharger and turbocharger like the Volkswagen 1.4 liter TSI’s twin-charger.

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Compared to the normal Audi Q5 which was recently featured, the Audi Q5 S-Line kit features larger wheels with low profile tyres (we’re talking about 19 inch with optional 20 inch sizes), and a new front grille with more prominent vertical slats. And of course, there is the S-Line badging on the exterior and on the interior as well.

More images after the jump.

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Click here to read the rest of Audi Q5 S-Line Bodykit

Rieger Tuning, a 20 year old tuning and bodykit company based in Germany has released this tuned version of the Audi A4 3.0 TDI. The standard 3.0 TDI engine’s 240 PS at 4,000rpm and 500Nm of torque at 2,000rpm has been boosted up via ECU tuning to now produce a 335d-beating 293 horsepower and 610Nm of torque. Of course, the car is shod with Rieger Tuning’s bodykit and 20 inch wheels.

However with most ECU-based turbocharged engine tuning you can expect the standard engine’s impressive flat torque curve to be destroyed, with peak torque probably kicking in later in the revs and not sustained as long, as with most 335d and 335i tuning kits.

More images of the white beauty after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Audi A4 3.0 TDI tuned by Rieger

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The last time we spoke about this car, it was on a good all-round workout up to Cameron Highlands and back. But there’s only so much you can do on a schedule, with a driving partner. Also, the fact that the motoring media were about meant that the ’sportier’ Avantgarde models were snapped up way ahead and held preciously throughout the trip.

It was everyone’s loss since nobody got to make a simultaneous comparison between the two trim lines last year. But a hardworking Shannon Teoh pursued Mercedes-Benz Cars Malaysia so he could ‘C-for-himself’.

They might be sick of his face by now, but you get to read more from him after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of W204 Mercedes-Benz C200K Test Drive Review