Paul Tan's Automotive News

MINI John Cooper Works GP: only 2,000 units worldwide

Anthony Lim — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:41:54 +0000

It’s the fastest MINI ever built, and production is to be limited to just 2,000 examples – the new John Cooper Works GP, which made its debut at the MINI United festival earlier in the week, is set to replace the R53 JCW GP as king of the particular hill when it arrives early next year.

The car is currently completing a programme of testing in preparation for series production, part of which has involved setting an 8 minute 23 seconds lap of the Nürburgring, besting the lap time set by its 2006 predecessor by almost 19 seconds.

There’s no mention of output power as yet, but the promise is surely a noticeable jump in power from the 218 hp as seen in the previous outing. Performance kit for this one includes a full-adjustable race suspension and specially developed racing tyres, as well as a race-spec braking system. And yes, the rear seats have again been removed.

Not just to add flair and presence but also offer improvements on the aero front are bespoke bits, and these are large front and rear aprons, striking side skirts, a roof spoiler as well as a newly-developed rear diffuser to optimise airflow around the underbody.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

Toyota Wish facelift for 2012 on sale in Japan

Paul Tan — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:11:15 +0000

The Estima is not the only Toyota MPV to be given a minor facelift this year – the popular Toyota Wish also gets updated for 2012, bringing subtle improvements such as better interior textures, trim and materials, better fuel efficiency, and of course the most obvious which is the new front look you see above.

The engine options continue to be the same choice of a 1.8 litre or a 2.0 litre unit as per when this generation of Wish was first launched in 2009. The 2.0 litre model is offered as a 6 seater only, while the 1.8 litre is a 7 seater, and includes the option for 4WD.

The 2.0 litre engine is the Valvematic 3ZR-FAE, producing 152 PS and 193Nm of torque, peaking at a relatively low 3,800rpm. These are slightly different numbers from the 2009 pre-facelift model – the 3ZR-FAE made 158 PS and 196Nm then, which are higher numbers, but the 196Nm peak also came in at a higher 4,400rpm. The engine must have been tuned to be more fuel efficient and output less emissions, while having a smoother torque curve kicking in earlier in the rev band.

The 1.8 litre 2ZR-FAE makes 143 PS and 173Nm at 4,00rpm for the 2WD model, and for the 4WD this is reduced to 130 PS and 161Nm at 4,000rpm. Like the 2.0 litre, these are also lower numbers compared to the outgoing pre-facelift car which made 144 PS/176Nm for the 2WD and 133 PS/164Nm for the 4WD.

The 2.0 litre engine is mated to a Super CVT 7-speed transmission, which has a Dynamic Sport Mode not found in the 1.8 litre model’s CVT transmission, except for the 1.8S 4WD model. Another difference between the 2.0 litre model and the 1.8 litre model is the usage of a double wishbone rear suspension on the 2.0 litre, while the 1.8 litre only has that on the 4WD model – for the 2WD it uses a torsion beam.

UMW Toyota imported the previous generation Toyota Wish into Malaysia for a relatively short period of time, but it chose not to import this latest generation in. We think it’s most likely because of grey importers easily undercutting their pricing as grey importers have no service and warranty commitments.

Look after the jump for a photo gallery of the facelifted 2012 Wish.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

Toyota establishes Learning Center in Indonesia

Anthony Lim — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:52:34 +0000

Toyota’s expansion in Indonesia continues with the establishment of a Learning Center in the country, with an aim of systematically transferring vehicle-manufacturing know-how to its Indonesian operations.

Located within Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia’s (TMMIN) Karawang Plant, the 3,700 m2 facility will offer various types of courses and practical training to improve employees’ technical vehicle-manufacturing skills.

Beginning next year, the centre – established at a cost of 23 billion rupiah, and with an annual enrollment capacity of 5,300 – will provide opportunities for suppliers and students in the region to also participate in courses.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

Mazda CX-5 launched – 2.0 SkyActiv-G, RM155k to RM165k

Chris Ng — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:48:03 +0000

The covers have just been officially drawn away from the Mazda CX-5 here in Penang. Now, we’ve already seen the brochure, as well as the price that Bermaz Motor is asking for one.

As a recap, you need RM155,219 for the 2WD and RM165,219 for the AWD (both OTR, without insurance). The CX-5 comes only in one standard spec, so both variants are equipped with the same features, which means the differences between them are not immediately noticeable, apart from the number of wheels driven.

The SUV -which made its Japanese market debut in February – comes bearing Skyactiv technology. In a nutshell, Skyactiv is a holistic approach by Mazda to give better engine performance, handling, environmental friendliness and increased safety in a shell that is quite dashing.

Power comes from the Skyactiv-G 2.0 litre direct injection petrol engine. It has a 13:1 compression ratio, the highest in any production engine, the closest being the Ferrari 458, with a 12.5:1 compression ratio. The knocking that usually comes with a high compression engine is tamed by a 4-2-1 exhaust system with long pipes in the exhaust manifold.

Yes, we have a lower compression ratio compared to the original 14:1, but Mazda has said that the compression ratio is dependent on the quality of fuel for each region, and the ratio of 13:1 is still high.

The engine’s piston has a cavity on the piston crown that gives better air-fuel mixture around the spark plug. The Skyactiv-G is also 10% lighter and has 30% less mechanical resistance compared to Mazda’s current engines. This results in 15% better fuel economy, 15% greater torque output and 15% lower carbon emissions. Oh, and it runs on RON 95 fuel.

Although both variants share the same engine, the output figures are slightly different. The AWD produces 152 hp at 6,000 rpm and 198 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. In contrast, the 2WD generates 153 hp at 6,000 rpm and 200 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. Supposedly, there’s a reason for the slight difference in numbers; Mazda claims it measures the horsepower on the wheels and not on the engine, as other car manufacturers usually do. Can’t say it’s all that convincing, but there you are.

As for fuel economy, the AWD sips 7.3 Ll/100km (combined) while the 2WD needs only 6.9 L/100km (combined). Another thing, the AWD gets a 58 litre fuel tank and the 2WD drinks from a 56 litre tank. The Skyactiv-D, which is the diesel engine, will not be arriving here, due to the quality of the fuel available here.

Skyactiv-Drive partners Skyactiv-G in sending power to the wheels. It is a six-speed automatic transmission that works with a small torque converter unit used only when the vehicle moves from stationary. The power is transferred through a direct mechanical connection, which increases the lock-up range from 40%-60% to 80%-90% at high speeds when compared to Mazda’s current five-speed slushbox.

Mazda also said that the new gearbox shifts smoother and quicker. Mazda’s Mechatronic module, which was previously mounted outside, is now integrated into the hydraulic control mechanism inside the transmission case. Communication with the engine’s CPU is increased and a direct linear solenoid makes the shifting silky throughout the range.

The CX-5 rides on the Skyactiv-Chassis, with a new suspension system that is lighter, yet stiffer. It also features a new geometry with the front MacPherson strut suspension and rear multi-link layout. Standard grip duties are performed by 255/55 R19 rubbers wrapped around 19×7-1/2J aluminium wheels.

Mazda’s compact SUV also features the Skyactiv-Body. High-tensile steel and a new production process make this one eight percent lighter yet 30% more rigid. The metal is formed into a multi-load structure that is said to effectively disperse impact energy throughout the body structure; done mainly for crash safety. So, the SUV in its 2WD guise tips the scales at 1,522 kg, and the AWD is slightly heavier with 1,589 kg.

Wearing its ‘KODO – Soul of Motion’ suit of armour, the vehicle measures 4,555 mm long overall, 1,840 mm wide overall and 1,670 mm tall, with a 2,700 mm wheelbase. The SUV has an unladen ground clearance of 215 mm for the 2WD and 210 mm for the AWD.

The five-seater features leather seats; the driver seat gets electric-powered seat adjustment (none for the front passenger), although both seats come with warmers. The rear seats have the ability to fold in 40:20:40-split. Dual-zone air-conditioning rounds up the creature comforts.

Entertainment comes from a nine-speaker Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound System, hooked up to a 5.8-inch touchscreen monitor that controls the multimedia. The system can be connected via AUX, USB and Bluetooth. The colour monitor also displays images from the rear camera.

As for safety, the CX-5 comes with DCS, TCS, four-wheel ABS, EBD with Brake Assist and Tyre Pressure Monitor. There are six airbags in here – two in front, side and curtain. Notably, this is the first vehicle that uses a 1,800MPa ultra-high tensile steel for bumpers.

In addition to, Bermaz Motor is offering an ultimate in-total vehicle protection to keep the CX-5 in pristine showroom condition. It is called TRIBOS and it employs an active polymer shield to protect the paintwork. The treatment is also used on the glass, alloys and seats.

The CX-5 comes in five colours – Sky Blue, Zeal Red, Crystal White Pearl, Aluminium Metallic and Metropolitan Grey. Like all Mazda vehicles, this SUV is sold with a three-year warranty plus a three-year maintenance that covers the cost of parts and labour.

As you have guessed, I’ve already taken both CX-5 variants for a short spin. Look out for the initial drive impressions soon.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

AD: Citibank Home Loans Debt Consolidation lets you live debt-free faster while saving you time and money

Chris Ng — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:27:26 +0000

Albert Einstein once said that one of the most powerful forces in the universe is ‘compound interest.’ If the mad-haired scientist was still alive today, he might think the same about ‘debt consolidation’. But what is it?

In easy terms, debt consolidation lets you bundle all your debts into one basket so you can deal with it in one-go. So, instead of having to visit different banks to pay different loans, you’ll be able to settle your monthly repayments with one bank. The ultimate goal is to let you live your life debt-free as fast as possible.

Here is where Citibank comes in.

Citibank Home Loans now allows you to consolidate all your loans into one account. When you do that with Citibank, you’ll also get a single, lower interest rate, a shorter repayment period and a reduced monthly installment amount. Which means, you can wrap your housing, car, credit card and personal loans into one nicely packaged box to deal with.

Plus, Citibank offers you two options to settle your loan. Both options equally save you time and money. Read on to find out how Citibank can help.

FACILITY	HOME LOAN	CAR LOAN	PERSONAL LOAN	TOTAL
Total Payback	381,835.85	121,000.00	28,547.92	531,383.77 (B)
Loan Amount (RM)	300,000.00	100,000.00	20,000.00	420,000.00
Interest Rate (%)	5	3	15
Loan Repayment (mth)	120	84	60
Loan Installment (RM)	3,181.97	1,440.48	475.80	5,098.24 (A)

Let’s say you have a home loan of RM300,000, a car loan of RM100,000 and a personal loan of RM20,000, which puts your total loan amount to RM420,000. As you can see from the table above, each of your loans have its own interest rate, monthly installment and repayment period.

In total, once the interest rate is factored in, your total monthly installment is RM5,098.24 with a total payback of RM531,383.77.

Here is what happens once you consolidate your loans into one basket:

FACILITY	HOME LOAN
Savings (RM)	9,046.19 (B-D)
NEW Loan Amount	420,000
Interest Rate (%)	4.5
Loan Repayment (mth)	120
Loan Installment (RM)	4,352.81 (C)
Total Payback (RM)	522,337.58 (D)

Now you have a single interest rate and a single loan repayment period. All you need to pay every month is RM4,352.81 as opposed to RM5,098.24. It also brings your total payback amount from RM531,383.77 to RM522,337.58, saving you RM9,046.19.

However, Citibank also gives you the option to pay your original monthly installment at RM5,098.24 to shorten your loan repayment period. Here’s how:

FACILITY	HOME LOAN
Months Saved (mth)	21
Loan Installment (RM)	4,352.81
Extra monthly savings from your Cash Flow Savings (RM)	745.43 (A-C)
NEW Loan Installment Amount	5,098.24
Original Loan Repayment (mth)	120
New Loan Repayment (mth)	99

In the end, instead of paying for 120 months, you now only need to service your loan for 99 months. You get to live out of debt 21 months earlier, and we know that is always better to live debt free.

If you decide to consolidate your debt with Citibank Home Loans between now and June 30, 2012, you’ll also get to enjoy a quick getaway at Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa. Terms and conditions apply.

Don’t wait to get started. For more information, get in touch with a Citibank Home Loan Specialist by clicking here.

This is an advertorial for Citibank

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

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CONFIRMED: Peugeot 408 to be finally launched next week

Danny Tan — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:16:44 +0000

Nasim Sdn Bhd has announced that it will finally launch the Peugeot 408 next week. This doesn’t come as a surprise, as groups of unmasked units of 408 were caught on camera last week.

From the pics, we noticed two variants – a Turbo and a 2.0 NA – and Nasim has confirmed that the C-segment sedan will indeed be available in two variants, “with one variant fitted with an enhanced fuel-efficient engine that produces the most power in its segment.” Nasim also claims class-leading cabin space and 562 litres of boot volume.

“The Peugeot 408 is locally-assembled at Naza Automotive Manufacturing (NAM) in Gurun, Kedah and is ready to be launched for both the Malaysian and regional markets.

“We are targeting to produce 60,000 units of the 408 over a five-year period beginning 2012 and we plan to export 60% of that total to markets in the region,” said SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin, Joint Group Executive Chairman of the Naza Group.

He also revealed that Nasim hosted Peugeot distributors from Australia, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Philippines and Bangladesh last week for a test drive event.

Datuk Samson Anand George, COO of Nasim, said the 408 will contribute significantly to the company’s sales target of 9,300 units this year, which will represent a 72% jump from 2011 figures.

Click here to view live shots of the locally-assembled Peugeot 408. The studio pics seen here are from the official Peugeot Malaysia Facebook page, so we presume that they accurately reflect the Malaysian spec car.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

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Hyundai i30, besieged by primates, goes ape for 10 hours

Anthony Lim — Tue, 15 May 2012 06:56:41 +0000

You’ve met Gorilla Glass. Now, meet Baboon Car.

Yes, it was definitely a case of monkeying around when the clever folk at Hyundai UK decided to put the new i30 up to a very different type of wear and tear challenge – in the first endurance test of its kind in the UK by a car manufacturer, cheeky safari park baboons were let loose on the hatchback.

Baboons from Knowsley Safari Park on the outskirts of Liverpool were the volunteers, chosen for their well-known love of tearing park visitors’ cars apart – Wayne Rooney will certainly remember them well; his vehicle was subject to their scrutiny when he visited the Merseyside attraction last year.

An i30 was parked in the baboon enclosure, and was immediately besieged by dozens of the park’s primates. The monkeys simulated the punishment a typical family might subject a car to: jumping up and down on seats, pushing and prodding buttons and opening and closing storage bins.

They even checked the durability of cupholders with plastic drinking beakers. Meanwhile, other baboons tested the fabric of seats by eating their lunch in the car, and some played with their toys in the i30’s sizeable boot.

Outside, the paintwork was smeared and scraped, but the hard-wearing paint protected the car from significant scratches and chips.

Ten hours later, playtime was called to an end, and the car – specially-designed for families and their ‘little monkeys’ in the back – emerged virtually unscathed. Seems the extra strong materials used to build the interior, easy wipe plastics and tough fittings held up to the abuse.

“For a baboon, to have a car to play with for a whole day is manna from heaven,” said David Ross, the GM at Knowsley. “I’ve seen thousands of cars pass through this enclosure, get mobbed by monkeys, and none have lasted the distance as well as this Hyundai.”

“These baboons are incredibly inquisitive. If you put them on any car they will scour it for the weak points and find any faults. At one point there were 40 monkeys in the car, pushing it to its limits – that’s ten times the size of the average human family.”

Well, now that the baboon car has come about, I wonder if any other manufacturer will attempt to ape the feat. Maybe use some lions? Elephants? Have a whale of a time?

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

Chevrolet Trax – small SUV to join the fold in Paris

Anthony Lim — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:54:15 +0000

Click to enlarge.

Chevrolet is set to add a new small sport utility vehicle to its model lineup later this year. Called the Trax, the SUV will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show in September.

The company hasn’t divulged any specific details about the muscular-looking offering, beyond saying that it’ll offer a generous cargo space and feature an interior executed to standards usually found in more expensive vehicles.

The five-seater will be a global offering, and will be sold in more than 140 markets globally, with market debuts set to begin next year. More on the Trax as it gets closer to Paris, undoubtedly.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

Mazda to set up production facility in Vladivostok, Russia

Danny Tan — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:02:18 +0000

Mazda recently announced that it had signed an agreement with OJSC Sollers to establish a joint venture manufacturing company in Russia. Sollers is one of the leading automotive companies in Russia. The JV company will locate its production facility in Vladivostok, in Russia’s Far Eastern Federal District, and operations will begin in fall this year.

The facility will be used for the assembly of Mazda’s new CX-5 SUV (which you’ll hear more about shortly), the next generation Mazda6 and a Sollers vehicle, all for the Russian market. Production capacity will be 50,000 units per year, with the aim of increasing it to 70,000 units per year.

The automotive market in Russia has made a strong recovery since the financial crisis of 2009. In the 2011 calendar year, demand for new cars increased by about 40% from 2010 to 2.65 million units, making it the second largest market in Europe after Germany. Demand is expected to grow to around three million units in 2015.

In Mazda’s fiscal year 2011 (April 2011 to March 2012), the Hiroshima-based carmaker sold 43,561 units in Russia, a 50.2% increase.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

DRIVEN: Proton Prevé Turbo CVT and IAFM Manual tested

Danny Tan — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:58:42 +0000

I’ve had a go at the Proton Prevé, finally. After hearing so much about it from my colleagues (raves and rants, but more of the former) who attended the preview drive, and seeing the latest Proton in the metal at the launch, a drive event to Cherating in THE car of the moment was not to be missed!

The media drive was divided into two groups, and I drove the Prevé on the return leg from the East Coast to KL. Two variants out of three were brought to the event – the range-topping Preve 1.6 CFE (turbo engine and CVT gearbox) and the entry level 1.6 Manual, powered by the Campro IAFM+ engine.

Continue reading after the jump.

No need to go all technical – after months of teasing, a detailed launch report and drive impressions from two testers, I believe you already know what you need to know, technically.

To briefly recap, the C-segment Prevé is available in three variants – the 1.6 CVT Premium, the 1.6 Executive CVT and 1.6 Executive Manual. The Premium CVT is powered by a turbocharged CFE engine with 138 hp and 205 Nm, while the Executive models come with the naturally-aspirated CamPro IAFM+ engine with 107 hp and 150 Nm.

The turbocharged range-topper does 0-100 km/h in 9.6 seconds and has a top speed of 190 km/h. The cheapest manual variant manages 0-100 in 12 seconds and 180 km/h. The IAFM+ CVT combo is the slowest with 12.5 seconds and 170 km/h.

The most-booked variant so far is the Premium, by a huge margin. In contrast, the stick-shift Prevé is stuck in single digits, percentage wise.

We started the day driving the 1.6 Manual on twisty trunk roads, before upgrading to the Turbo CVT, a good sequence. The base stick-shift Prevé is slow as expected, with acceleration found wanting. This is evident when pulling off from low speeds and when momentum is broken.

Maintaining momentum is key in this variant, and the peaky engine needs to be worked hard in any case. More low to mid-end torque would definitely be welcome.

That said, bear in mind that media drives often involve all-out driving and fast convoys. We were also “chasing” the lead group in the Turbo (and even managed to hang on to some poorly driven examples), so the lack of grunt, especially at the low end, was amplified. The M/T Prevé is slow in context, but is usable in normal driving.

A car is so much more than “power” though, and the Prevé fares very well in other driving aspects. Especially nice is the balance between ride comfort and handling, as well as subjective things such as the feel of the controls.

What stands out the most for me is ride comfort and damping, which is unrivaled in the Asian C-segment sedan class. Many will say “Continental feel,” but I can think of some Euro hatches that could do with this level of composure. It makes bad roads feel good, the Prevé.

This unflappable feel extends to the road holding. Hit a dip or bump mid corner and you’ll know what we mean. The Proton sticks to its line, doesn’t gets thrown off course and the rear end doesn’t hop across horizontal obstacles.

This, combined with the natural feel of the steering and brake pedal, means that Prevé is a car that inspires confidence when driven fast – you always know what the car is doing, and can gauge how much it has in reserve. Not easy to measure, or explain for that matter, but I rather this than plenty of cold hard grip without the confidence.

Since this is a family car, the suspension is on the soft side of the scale, so there’s some roll in tighter bends, but nothing off-putting or too dramatic. The observations above were gleaned from fast country road driving – short customer test drives around the block will reveal a “comfortable” and “easy to drive” car, which is accurate.

What didn’t I like? The instrument panel. The fonts are too flat and stylised for me – difficult to read at a glance. If Proton was trying to achieve a “sporty” feel, they should note that Audi dials, and even those in the Lancer/Inspira, look good and are very legible. Jogging through the multi-info display, I noticed that the “TRIP A” font size is larger than the km reading, when it should be the other way round.

More on the interior. The Turbo comes with a head unit complete with sat-nav, and while this is a good addition, it’s could be better designed. It’s not efficient use of space when the border is so wide, and the screen so small. They could have easily put a bigger screen and just two vertical strips of buttons/dials, VW style, but I’m told that this is an off-the-shelf head unit, and not a clean sheet design.

I’m also not too keen on the gold-ish trim colour in the M/T, preferring the dark wood of the Turbo. No complaints on the ergonomics, though. Everything is on hand and the driving position is good.

Moving on, the 1.6 CVT Premium is a much faster car, obviously. But fast is not the first impression I get, and it’s most probably due to the stepless gearbox. I may not be a fan of CVT, but I recognise that this type of transmission – chosen here for both cost and fuel economy – can be painless and relaxing when done right. Nissan does CVTs well, and the Sylphy is a great example of how the ‘box can add to the driving experience.

Acceleration in the Turbo feels labourious. The key word here is “feels,” because a glance at the speedo needle shows that we’re making good progress. Initial lag, a low-rpm drone and a faint whine throughout means that the Punch CVT isn’t the most “regular automatic-like” CVT in the market. The manual mode feels artificial as well, and the steering paddles work with toy-like tactility.

The 1.6 CFE could be a great engine, but we’ll only get to know it better with a proper manual gearbox or a regular torque converter automatic. The latter is unlikely, because a five- or six-speed unit is costly, and Proton has already gone well down the CVT route.

I reached KL with mixed feelings. The Prevé is a good car to drive and live with (decent looks, lots of space, good NVH), and it has a great package of comfort, handling and feel. Many will be well served by Proton’s latest, I’m sure, but there’s not one variant that’s “just nice” for Mr. Picky here.

The CFE has the kit list, nicer cabin and pace, but its CVT isn’t on par with the best out there. The entry-level manual, on the other hand, has the correct gearbox (I own two manual cars) but lacks pace. I didn’t get to try the CVT/IAFM+ combo, but Anthony and Chris told me not to bother!

So my ideal Prevé doesn’t exist yet – as you can probably guess by now, it’s a 1.6 CFE Manual!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

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Toyota Estima MPV gets a new facelift for 2012

Paul Tan — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:43:32 +0000

The Toyota Estima has been given a facelift for 2012, about three years after the last update which saw Toyota giving it a minor revision to the shape of the headlamps.

For the 2012 facelift, the Estima’s front end has been given a new aggressive look, with a lot of angular detailing on the front bumper, and a front grille design that now follows the bottom edge of the headlamp.

There are not many changes at the rear of the car – the Estima continues to have a sleek silhouette, giving it a sportier look as opposed to the huge boxy “VIP style” look that its bigger brother the Alphard carries. There are new alloy wheel designs, a revised set of exterior colours (total of 6), and Toyota also says they’ve improved the interior tirm and textures.

Engine options also continue to be the same – either a 2.4 litre four cylinder 2AZ-FE making 170 PS and 224Nm mated to a CVT gearbox, or a top of the line 280 PS 344Nm 3.5 litre V6 engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Various gadgets that were already on the pre-facelift Estima continue with the new model, such as the Lane-Keep Assist (LKA) system which detects the lane markers on the road and takes control of the electric power steering to keep the car on course, and the Adaptive Front-Lighting System low beam headlamps wihichswivels according to steering position to help light up the upcoming road around a bend.

The Estima is also equipped with a S-VSC system, an enhancement from the regular VSC system, which can use the electric power steering to apply appropriate steering torque to help stabilize the car.

Look after the jump or click any of the images above for a small gallery.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

Twenty lucky winners strike gold in Caltex contest

Danny Tan — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:05:45 +0000

More contest winners. Twenty lucky folks have struck gold in Peraduan KeEMASan dengan Caltex organised by the fuel brand. Caltex gave away a total of RM280,000 in Maybank Gold Investment Accounts to the winners of the contest, held from December last year to March 31, 2012.

One of four RM40,000 worth of gold First Prize winners, Mohd Asri Abdullah from Kelantan, was represented at the ceremony by his wife Siti Nor Arashyiah. She shared that the family is still in a state of shock and had yet to decide on what to do with the winnings.

25-year old Chok Yung Hau from Port Dickson, the youngest First Prize winner, almost missed the windfall. “I am grateful to God as when the official Caltex winner notification came through, I was onboard a flight and could not answer the call. However, they kept on trying and during the third attempt, I arrived at the airport and was informed about the surprising news,” said the electrical shop owner.

Scams are everywhere these days, and a disbelieving Lee Siew Yin from Labis immediately found a lawyer to contact her neighborhood Caltex petrol station for verification, before celebrating. That’s one very careful lady!

“Peraduan KeEMASan dengan Caltex aimed to reward our customers’ invested support towards the Caltex brand and quality products with worthy prizes across our network. From the faces of our winners, we are happy to note that we hit that mark. We continue to strive towards ensuring Caltex helps customers enjoy their respective journeys,” said Jeremy Oh, Country Chairman, Chevron Malaysia Limited.

There were four First Prizes of RM40,000 each, eight Second Prizes worth RM10,000, eight Third Prizes worth RM5,000 and 1,688 Caltex StarCash cards worth RM199,184 up for grabs. Those who purchased RM40 and above in a single receipt at Caltex stations were in the running.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

BHPetrol gave away tons of prizes to April’s winners

Chris Ng — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:37:37 +0000

BHP have recently presented prizes to the first month of winners of the BHPetrol-Celcom-HTC contest. In total, there were four winners for the month of April, one for each week.

The lucky contestants that won a HTC ONE smartphone each are En. Razmi Zakaria, Mr. SP Navapushanam, Ms. Vivien Chen and Pn. Noraini Marwan. The contest, which runs for three months from April to June 30, 2012, is now in its second month. This means that there are only eight HTC One smartphone left for grabs.

To get in on the action, all you need to do is to purchase a minimum RM30 Celcom Xpax reload in a single receipt. The more you reload, the more chances you have. More details can be had here.

In an another event, BHPetrol have announced the April winners of the BHPetrol’s Drive To Win contest, which runs from April 1 to June 30, 2012. The contest requires participants to spend a minimum of RM30 at participating BHPetrol stations to win cash prizes and 2.5 million ePoints every month.

The first prize of RM100,000 went to Mr. Ong Cheng Teng, who uses Infiniti Advanced2X 97. He will be using the prize to treat his family to a holiday in Taiwan. The second prize of RM30,000 was won by Chin Ying Jack, Ismail bin Mohd Ali got RM20,000 for third, Rachel Lian in fourth will enjoy RM10,000 and Chir Kuan Mok have an extra RM5,000 to spend. To see who else won, click here.

Winners for both contests were notified by phone.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

Jazeman Jaafar wins his first British F3 race at Pau

Anthony Lim — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:13:11 +0000

Jazeman Jaafar has finally won his first British F3 International Series race, taking the honours at the Grand Prix de Pau in France, which ran over the weekend. A second place finish on Sunday means he now lies second in the overall British F3 Drivers’ Championship for the 2012 season.

The third round of British F3, which was run on a temporary circuit on the streets of Pau built for the annual Grand Prix de Pau weekend, saw the European F3 Championship joining the party for the two races.

During qualifying on Saturday, the young Malaysian set the best lap time of the British F3 runners to take third on the grid, behind two F3 Euroseries drivers, with Ferrari F1 protégé, Raffaele Marciello, in pole position for both races.

In the first race, Marciello led through to the finish, but it was Jaafar who starred in the British F3 fight for honours. The 19-year-old driver didn’t have the best of starts off the line, but he was soon in the mix.

When second and third-placed drivers Daniel Juncadella and Pascal Wehrlein collided at a hairpin, the Petronas-sponsored driver slid through into second place. A safety car period to recover the stricken cars bunched up the field, and at the restart Jaafar made a bold, spirited attempt on Marciello, but the Italian eventually pulled away and took the chequered flag.

Nonetheless, Jaafar’s outstanding drive was rewarded with the Carlin driver’s first British F3 victory and second-place overall in the race – the second feature race on Sunday, again won by Marciello, saw JJ finish third to secure the spot

“I’m really happy to have beaten the British F3 field and take my first win in the series, as I’ve been waiting a long time for it. My first win, together with listening to the Negaraku, made this very a very special day; it was an amazing feeling. The support from home has never stopped motivating me to be on top,” he said.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

Lotus Evora GTC – lighter and tighter than the GT4 Enduro

Anthony Lim — Mon, 14 May 2012 08:39:37 +0000

Click to enlarge.

Meet Lotus Racing’s newest kid, the Evora GTC, essentially a lightened GT4 Enduro with some go-faster bits. The vehicle carries over the GT4 Enduro’s 4.0 litre V6, with 450 hp and 460 Nm of torque, as well as its XTRAC six-speed sequential paddle-shift gearbox, but the car has gone on a diet.

Carbon-fibre doors, roof and engine cover have replaced fiberglass panels, and Plexiglass replaces the windows to trim yet more weight off what is already a very light car. At 1,130 to 1,140kg, depending on specification, the GTC tips the scales at 30 kg lighter than the Enduro.

Bits have been added on for it though – traction control and a Bosch racing ABS system have been added to optimise power delivery and braking control. The car also features wider wheels and tyres to give the car more grip through the curves – the front and rear wheels rise to 18x10Js and 12Js respectively, mated to 27/65-18 tyres at the front and 30/65-18s at the rear.

In order to accommodate the wider wheels, flared arches have been fitted, which give the car a more aggressive silhouette without hampering the aerodynamics. Initial testing has already revealed the GTC to be faster than the previous evolution.

As well as the MSA Endurance Series and Grand-Am GTC (undergoing homologation), the car is eligible for the British GT Championship, VdeV Series, Dutch Supercar, and Creventic Endurance Races such as the Dubai 24 Hours and the 12 Hours of Bathurst.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

Sebastian Vettel’s Infiniti FX50 S will cost over £100,000

Danny Tan — Mon, 14 May 2012 07:06:25 +0000

The Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel will be priced just over 120,000 euros in Europe, or just above £100,000 in the UK, Autocar UK reported. 50 units of the special edition will be headed for Europe and Infiniti has eight confirmed orders so far, or nine, if one includes the unit the double world champ himself will be getting.

The Sebastian Vettel FX50 S will enter production in October and deliveries start in early 2013. It will be exactly like the concept car shown in Frankfurt last year except for one difference – the matte white paint will be changed to pearlescent white.

Based on the V8-powered FX50 S Premium, Vettel himself has been involved in the development of this special edition, and is said to have specified its sportier chassis setup. Red Bull Racing designed the crossover’s carbonfibre bodykit, which is functional and adds performance – downforce and five per cent lower drag to be specific.

If Europe gets 50, there will be 150 units of the Vettel FX to go around the rest of the world. In Malaysia, the 2012 Infiniti FX37 is priced from RM435,000 OTR excluding insurance.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

Proton R3 – performance parts and styling kit promotion

Anthony Lim — Mon, 14 May 2012 06:20:20 +0000

If you’ve been looking to kit up your Proton Inspira, Gen-2 or Satria Neo with R3 gear, then this will definitely be of interest. Came across a Proton Motorsports promotion on R3 performance parts and styling accessories while browsing the Proton corporate website.

On the going list are a number of styling, handling and performance parts – among the items are R3 4-2-1 headers for the Neo CPS and CamPro as well as the Gen-2 CPS, a Neo R3 spring set and Neo CamPro, Gen-2 and Inspira bodykits. The promo runs until June 30, so plenty of time to peruse the stuff, if you’re so inclined.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

Pastor Maldonado wins Spanish GP, Williams’ first victory since 2004 – garage fire injures 16 soon after

Danny Tan — Mon, 14 May 2012 04:58:27 +0000

It was a dramatic weekend in Spain for the Williams F1 Team. Pastor Maldonado won yesterday’s race ahead of Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen, ending the team’s victory drought that dates back to the 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix. The Catalunya victory is the first F1 win by a Venezuelan, and it happened on the weekend of team founder Sir Frank Williams’ 70th birthday.

If that’s not enough, the Wlliams team garage went up in flames after the race, injuring 16 people, one with severe burns. The race winner was seen carrying his 12-year-old cousin Manuel to safety in the blaze, which is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault in a fuel rig. Caterham said four of their mechanics were taken to the medical centre, one with a minor hand injury and three for smoke inhalation. Thankfully, there were no casualties.

Maldonado started first on the grid, as stewards penalised Lewis Hamilton for running short of fuel at the end of qualifying. Local hero Alonso beat him to the first corner, but Maldonado regained the lead after the second round of pitstops.

The red car was all over the Williams at the end part of the race, and a pass by Alonso looked inevitable at that time, but the two-time champ’s challenge faded away.

A charging Kimi was eating away at the gap between him and Fernando, but the Lotus man ran out of laps. Still, a second podium finish in two races is a good result for the returning Finn. Teammate Romain Grosjean finished fourth to cap off a good day for the team.

Sauber’s Kamui Kobayashi did really well to claim fifth, while showing that he still has the kamikaze moves that made everyone sit up and notice. Defending champ Seb Vettel finished sixth after a successful late charge that saw him overtake both McLarens (Hamilton eighth, Button ninth) and Nico Rosberg, who finished seventh. Vettel was hit with drive-through penalty for failing to heed yellow flags. He also required a new front wing in his final stop.

After a great duel with a restless Mark Webber, Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg emerged to take the final point of the day.

Living legend Michael Schumacher had a bad day in the office, colliding into Bruno Senna when fighting for position at the end of the straight on lap 13. Stewards found Schumi to be the guilty party and handed the Mercedes man a five-place grid penalty for Monaco. Schumacher has collected just two points after five races, 39 less than teammate Rosberg.

Who had a worse day than him? Felipe Massa, perhaps. The struggling Ferrari driver was penalised for ignoring yellow flags and was lapped by his teammate at the end, finishing 15th. Massa also has two points to date, 59 less than joint-championship leader and teammate Alonso. The end has to be near for Massa…

Five races, five different winners. Next stop, Monaco.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

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Nissan achieves record sales, first quarter profit doubles

Danny Tan — Mon, 14 May 2012 03:41:05 +0000

Nissan is doing well compared to its Japanese peers. It was announced that profits made a sharp jump in the first quarter of 2012 on the back of an aggressive push in fast-growing markets. The Yokohama-based company reported a net profit of 75.3 billion yen (US$943 million), up from 30.8 billion yen from 2011.

Global sales hit 4.8 million units in its 2011 financial year, a company record. For the full FY ending in March 2012, Nissan reported net income of 341.4 billion yen, a 7% rise on the previous year. Japan’s second-biggest carmaker outperformed rivals Honda and Toyota, both of which reported lower profits.

The past 12 months have been a tough one for Japanese carmakers. The tsunami and earthquake disaster in Japan disrupted production lines and caused power shortages. And just when they were back on steam, the massive floods that covered Thailand – a regional base for most Japanese brands – bogged them down again. Nissan bounced back faster from these setbacks to create today’s headline.

In addition to the natural disasters, a strong currency has hurt Japanese exporters as it makes their goods more expensive overseas and eats into the profits they bring back. “It is an even more encouraging performance given the headwinds created by natural disasters, an over-valued yen and uncertain global economic conditions,” underlined Nissan’s CEO Carlos Ghosn.

No resting on laurels – Nissan is predicting an even better showing for the current financial year. Global sales is forecasted at 5.35 million units, an increase of more than 10%, while net profits are predicted to hit 400 billion yen.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

New Enhanced Black Panel for BMW F10 from July 2012

Paul Tan — Sun, 13 May 2012 16:34:39 +0000

A regular Black Panel display

BMW updates the production specs of their cars twice a year – and for the 07/12 production update they have something nice in plan for whoever’s ordering the F10 5-Series – a new optional Enhanced Black Panel which features a completely reconfigurable instrument panel on the Enhanced Black Panel’s 10.25 inch display.

BMW’s new Enhanced Black Panel dipslay

The arrangement of the information is familiar to those who drive the current range of BMWs – two chrome rings on the black surface, flanked by a fuel level and temperature displays. The temperature and fuel displays remain visible when the ignition is turned off, but the rest of the display blacks out.

Something interesting happens when you switch to certain drive modes – as you can see above, ECO PRO mode brings on a blue theme which replaces the RPM meter with a huge fuel economy meter – essentially a giant version of the small meter that’s usually positioned below the RPM meter.

Switch to Sport mode and the display turns red, with the the speedometer turning digital and the RPM meter having a huge gear indicator.

The F10 is currently offered with two different instrument panels in Malaysia – the 520d and 520i come with a lower end Black Panel cluster which only has a color display in the bottom right section. The 528i and 535i gets the full Black Panel display – the kind that goes blank when you turn the ignition off. Given that we don’t have the luxury of picking and choosing options when it comes to ordering cars in Malaysia, chances of this optional feature appearing in cars sold by BMW Malaysia would depend entirely on them.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

New 3-door BMW 1-Series hatch debuts entry level 114i

Paul Tan — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:16:24 +0000

BMW has announced a new 114i engine variant for the new 1-Series, which slots in under the previous baseline petrol model, the 116i.

The most affordable (and lowest powered) 1-er is powered by a variant of the 1.6 litre TwinPower Turbo 4 cylinder engine as the 136hp 116i and 170hp 118i, except in the 114i it’s tuned to make 102 hp at 4,000rpm and 180Nm from as low as 1,100rpm.

It looks like BMW is pretty set on a 100% turbocharged line-up for every single model in its range, even the low-end models. And 180Nm from 1,100rpm would mean good torque from low RPM, despite it running out of breath higher up in the rev range with a low peak.

Its TwinPower Turbo engines now come in various sizes – 1.6 litre, 2.0 litre, 3.0 litre, 4.4 litre and 6.0 litre, and the typical BMW engine size notation doesn’t reflect cubic capacity any longer – we’ve got 14i, 16i, 18i, 20i, 23i, 28i, 30i, 40i, 50i, and 60i all from the mentioned 5 engine displacement sizes.

Look after the jump for a gallery of the new 3-door bodystyle.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

BMW M135i – if you ever need 320hp in a 3-door hatch!

Paul Tan — Sun, 13 May 2012 11:44:22 +0000

The 3-Series isn’t the only car in the BMW range to get a new body type today – BMW also announced the new 3-door body for the 1-Series hatchback, including the hot blue car you see above – the new M135i, the four model in the BMW Performance Automobiles range, which previously only included the M550xd, the X5 M50d and the X6 M50d.

Under the hood is a twin turbocharged 3.0 litre six cylinder turbo engine, making 320 horsepower. This is the N55 though, but the tuned up version of the N54 that was installed in the 1 M Coupe – that car is a different class altogether and a true M car, while the M135i is an M Performance car.

The M135i gets bespoke looks as compared to the rest of the 1-Series range, and like the previously launched BMW M Performance cars, in place of fog lamps, you get air inlets decorated with a signature horizontal slat in metallic Ferric Grey. It’s available with either an 8-speed auto or a 6-speed dry sump manual.

The specs seem a little less exciting though as compared to the 50d 5-er, X5 and X6 trio – those cars introduced a powerful new tri-turbo diesel engine, but a 320 horsepower and 450Nm tune of the N55 is nothing we’ve never seen before. It does have M-specific suspension tuning, and is delivered with a fixed caliper four piston M Sport Brake System with oversized discs.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

F31 BMW 3-Series Touring body makes world debut!

Paul Tan — Sun, 13 May 2012 09:51:11 +0000

The new F31 Touring has been unveiled – the second body type in BMW’s new 3-Series range. Like the sedan, the new 3-er Touring will come in various lines – Modern Line, Luxury Line, Sport Line and M Sport, as well as a basic “fleet car” spec like the one on the CBU 320d sedan launched in Malaysia recently.

The Touring tailgate opens into a rear storage area with a low loading sill 62cm from the ground, that now stores 35 litres more capacity compared to the outgoing E91, and BMW claims this is more space than any of its rivals. The rear bench splits and folds 40:20:40 to extend the storage area into the passenger cabin.

The rear window also opens separately from the rest of the tailgate for convenient loading of small items. Like the F30 sedan, the Touring also gets the Smart Opener feature, which basically means you can give an area under the centre of the rear bumper a light kick to raise the tailgate, in case your hands are full with goods.

The range kicks off with three engines – two turbodiesels – a powerful 258hp/560Nm 3.0 litre six pot 330d and a 184hp/380Nm 2.0 litre four pot 320d, and a turbocharged 2.0 litre four pot petrol – a 245hp/350Nm 328i. All engines meet Euro 5 standards, and the 320d can also be specced to Euro 6 standards.

The four cylinder engines can be had with either a 6-speed manual or a 8-speed auto, while the 330d is available as an automatic only. Both transmissions have Auto Start-Stop for reduced fuel consumption.

BMW has also announced that more engine variants will be added later – a 320i, a 318d and a 316d. Curiously, no mention of a 335i…

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 TB MultiAir – 170 hp, RM178,888

Danny Tan — Sat, 12 May 2012 04:15:41 +0000

Sime Darby Auto Italian launched the Alfa Romeo Giulietta at its Jalan Ipoh showroom yesterday evening. The Italian five-door hatchback is only available as a 1.4 TB MultiAir for now.

SDAI says that the range topping QV (Quadrifoglio Verde) model with Alfa’s 235 PS “1750 TBi” engine is coming soon, with a six-speed manual gearbox. Mmmm…

Sweet as that Cloverleaf may sound to enthusiasts, let’s focus on what we have for now, which is not bad at all. The MultiAir engine is of the downsized variety, displacing just 1,368 cc. But with turbocharging and Fiat’s patented MultiAir system (electro-hydraulic variable valve actuation tech, controls air intake without a throttle valve), it makes at a respectable 170 PS and 250 Nm of torque.

Paired to a six-speed TCT gearbox (twin-clutch, Selespeed finally retired), the Giulietta 1.4 TB MultiAir does the 0-100 km/h sprint in 7.7 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 218 km/h. Claimed combined fuel consumption is 5.2 litres per 100 km.

As with most modern European cars, Start-Stop is standard, but can be switched off. Also included is Alfa’s DNA selector, which gives the driver three driving modes – Dynamic, Normal and All-Weather. The DNA switch is placed in front of the gear selector. Boot space is still a decent 350 litres.

Riding on Fiat Group’s all-new Compact platform (the Dodge Dart and just unveiled Fiat Viaggio are the other beneficiaries), the Giulietta’s suspension consists of front MacPherson struts and rear multi-links.

Apparently, with aluminium wishbones at the back, Alfa managed to shave 10 kg compared to a conventional multi-link setup. Using the same metal up front saved four kilos.

There’s an army of safety systems at work. In addition to six airbags, it has VDC (Alfa’s name for ESP), ABS, EBD, HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assist), MSR (Modular System Regulator), CBC (Control Brake Cornering System), Hill Holder Control, ASR (Anti Slip Regulator), DST (Dynamic Steering Torque System) and TTC (Torque Transfer Control System). Alfa’s electronic Q2 electronic diff works on the front axle.

Standard kit includes bi-xenons with AFS function, dual-zone climate control, sound system with MP3/USB/Bluetooth and Blue&Me, steering radio and phone controls, leather, LED DRLs and 17-inch alloys. Three colours are available – Ghiaccio White, Alfa Red and Black.

The Giulietta is priced at RM178,888 excluding road tax and insurance. Click here to view a nice promo video. By the way, the lovely classic you see in the gallery is the Giulia Sprint from the 1960s.

LIKE ALFA ROMEO MALAYSIA ON FACEBOOK

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

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Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia Series starts in Sepang

Danny Tan — Fri, 11 May 2012 04:27:01 +0000

The bulls are set to take over Sepang! Lamborghini is all set for the debut race of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Asia Series at the Sepang International Circuit on May 25-27, after a promising official pre-test session at the F1 track last week.

The Super Trofeo car is a lightweight version of the road-going Gallardo LP 560-4. With 570 hp, a re-engineered chassis and reduced weight, Lambo calls this “the world’s fastest one-make race series”.

Following three successful seasons in Europe since 2009, where the bulls go to Monza, Spa, Silverstone, Nürburgring, Paul Ricard and Navarra, the Super Trofeo Championship will for the first time also run on six of the best circuits across Asia, including Sepang, Fuji, Ordos, Zhuhai, Penbay and Shanghai for the Grand Finale in November.

The 2012 season will see teams from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and mainland China push the Super Trofeo to its limits. The series will be held in partnership with Blancpain, Swiss watchmaker and the European series’ title sponsor.

We had a chance to drive a Lamborghini on Sepang recently, although it wasn’t a race. Click here to read. Lamborghini launched the Gallardo Malaysia Limited Edition last week – read the launch story here.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

Driving home a BMW is easier than ever with Auto Bavaria Sg. Besi’s E90 3-Series financing pack: RM1,888 per month!

Harvinder Sidhu — Fri, 11 May 2012 04:26:22 +0000

Is it the time to upgrade to a new set of wheels and you are hovering around the RM2,000 per month mark? Well you can now include a BMW to your list with Auto Bavaria Sg. Besi’s latest financing package for the E90 3-Series.

The package applies to the E90 BMW 320i which you can drive home for just RM1,888 per month and the E90 BMW 323i which can be yours for RM1,988 monthly. The former gives you 156 hp and 200 Nm of torque from its 2.0 litre 4-pot engine while the 323i gives you a sweet 2.5 litre 6-cylinder unit with 190 hp and 230 Nm of torque.

Both models also come with BMW’s iDrive system which gives you navigation and more. For further information, please feel free to visit Auto Bavaria Sg. Besi or call 03-9223 3200.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

Toyota 86 – UMWT releases online teaser with spec sheet

Danny Tan — Fri, 11 May 2012 02:26:28 +0000

We already know that the Toyota 86 is coming to Malaysia, and the estimated prices. UMW Toyota has now revealed more via a teaser section on its website, showing the specs and features of the impending arrival. They have some videos, too.

Manual and automatic transmissions will be offered; both have six speeds and the latter comes with paddles. They will be matched to a 2.0L four-cylinder boxer engine, a trademark of development partner Subaru. The 16-valve DOHC unit with D-4S direct injection and dual VVT makes 200 PS at 7,000 rpm and 205 Nm of torque at 6,400 to 6,600 rpm.

The automatic does 0-100 km/h in 8.2 seconds and has a top speed of 210 km/h, while the manual achieves both tests in 7.6 seconds and 226 km/h, respectively. So no, you won’t be as fast as those turbo hot hatches, but you’ll get to enjoy a high-revving NA engine in a rear-wheel drive car (Torsen LSD equipped), something carmakers don’t really make anymore.

The 86′s suspension consists of front MacPherson struts and double wishbones for the rear. All round ventilated brake discs – 294 mm rings for the front and 290 mm for the rear. The standard wheels are 17-inch, with 215/45 rubber.

A car required to pass today’s safety requirements won’t be as light as an AE86, but the 86 isn’t a fatty – the manual weighs in at 1,275 kg, the auto is 23 kilos heavier.

This is no stripped out sports car, so the equipment list is very decent. auto on HIDs with washers, smart entry and start, aluminium pedals, cruise control, dual-zone air con, auto up/down windows, 2-DIN head unit with USB and AUX-in, solar tint and seven airbags are standard. The VSC system, unlike that in Toyota saloons, has a VSC Sport Mode, which gives you more freedom.

Also, ISOFIX mounts for the tiny rear seats are available, so it’s impractical rather than impossible for guys planning to start a family, for the first few years at least! Small adults for short journeys are possible in this 2+2.

Price wise, the estimated price for the manual (OTR with insurance) is RM243,000, while the auto is expected to set you back RM249,000. Six colours will be available at launch, but one of them (Satin White Pearl) is a RM800 option.

Click here for a live gallery of the 86, and here for a first impressions story on the 86′s twin, the Subaru BRZ.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

Porsche will add a smaller sedan, code-named Pajun

Chris Ng — Fri, 11 May 2012 01:47:39 +0000

The Panamera will no longer be Porsche’s only four-door child. The baby Pana, codenamed Pajun, will be introduced by 2017 and will bring the total model lines to six.

Price tag for the Pajun will be between 65,000 euros and 100,000 euros. Porsche’s new sedan will compete with the Mercedes-Benz E class and CLS coupe cars, says Auto Bild. However, the German car magazine did not cite any sources.

Porsche may also add another model to the line up, bringing the total to seven from the current four – 911, Boxster/Cayman series, Cayenne and Panamera. The fifth, the Macan compact SUV, will go into production next year.

The Pajun code name stands for Panamera Junior, similiar to the Macan’s code name which was Cajun, or Cayenne junior.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

Ford Mondeo and S-MAX go 240 PS – RM194k and RM199k

Anthony Lim — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:35:00 +0000

If you’ve been eyeing the Ford Mondeo or S-MAX, the neat news is that the juiced-up variants said to be arriving are finally here, without fuss or fanfare – Sime Darby Auto ConneXion has quietly introduced the 240 PS EcoBoost versions for both vehicles, and these replace the previous 203 PS models.

The uprated version of the 2.0 litre EcoBoost mill offers 240 PS at 6,000 rpm and 340 Nm at 1,900 to 3,500 rpm. Aside from the increased output, the vehicles get some revised kit, especially in the case of the Mondeo, to offset the price increase that has also come about.

The 240 PS Mondeo, which goes for RM193,888 on-the-road with insurance, gets a full Titanium bodykit comprising a new grille, front, rear and side skirting, and there’s also mention of a new design 17-inch alloy wheel in the brochure.

For the interior, the previous leather and Alcantara for the seats and door cards have been replaced by full Nappa leather, in a Windsor Ebony shade. Also, a Sony audio system with nine speakers goes on in place of the non-Sony eight-speaker system found on the 203 PS version, and there’s now USB connectivity.

Less change on the S-MAX, which gets a fixed panoramic sunroof as the sole new item, though the price for the people mover is still under the 200 grand mark, at RM198,888, again OTR with insurance.

Gallery and brochures after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.

Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupé, yours for RM781,888

Chris Ng — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:15:16 +0000

There is some serious power to be had in here. This is the just-launched Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupé and it has a massive 6.3 litre V8 engine armed with the AMG Performance package that produces 487 hp and 600 Nm of torque. It accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 4.3 seconds and has an electronically-limited top speed of 280 km/h.

Since it inherits the SLS AMG’s bag of tricks, the C 63 AMG’s engine has forged pistons, connecting rods and lightweight crankshafts that shave three kilograms in weight. To visually differentiate the stock 6.3 litre V8 (this standard engine has 30 hp less without the AMG Performance pack), the engine features a variable intake manifold in titanium grey.

The AMG Speedshift MCT 7-speed is tasked with transmission duties. The gearbox uses a compact, wet start-off clutch rather than relying on a standard torque converter.

There are four settings for the transmission. ‘C’, for Controlled Efficiency, provides earlier upshifts, lowest possible engine speed and a softer accelerator pedal. Three other settings come after ‘C’, they are ‘S’, ‘S+’ and ‘M’. Modes ‘S+’ and ‘M’ shifts gears in just 100 milliseconds. Race Start mode lets the driver squeeze out maximum acceleration.

The C 63 AMG rides on specifically designed three-link front suspension, reinforced multi-link independent rear suspension and a wider track all around. The list continues with a stiffer elastokinematics, the autonomous axle kinematics with negative all-round camber and stabilisers with a larger cross-section for better responsiveness and greater lateral acceleration. Spring and damper rates have been modified to optimise ride comfort without culling responsive handling characteristics.

The driver can also influence handling with the three-stage ESP – ESP On, ESP Off or ESP Sport Handling Mode. Stopping power comes from an AMG high-performance braking system that consist of internally ventilated and perforated brake discs on all wheels, highlighted by red painted brake calipers all round.

The Coupé gets all of AMG’s styling cues. The front section is made visually sharper with the AMG front apron that includes lower cross-struts finished in high-gloss black and LED daytime driving lamps specially created for AMG. Also in front is the new wing-shaped grille and powerdomes on the aluminium bonnet.

As for the rear, the C 63 gets an AMG rear apron complete with a black diffuser and three diffuser fins. Flanking those are a pair of chromed twin tailpipes that make up the AMG sports exhaust system.

Inside, the Coupé shares the CLS 63 AMG’s parts such as the instrument panel with integrated screen, as well as the AMG Performance steering wheel, which features nappa leather and Alcantara grip areas. AMG sport seats can also be found inside.

Adding to the long list are things from the AMG Performance Studio catalog. They include the AMG Exterior Carbon Fibre package, AMG rear axle differential lock, AMG trim elements in carbon fibre/high-gloss black piano lacquer and AMG floor mats.

Mercedes-Benz also bestowed the C 63 with COMAND Online that enables Internet browsing when the car is stationary. COMAND also comes with sat-nav that shows four routes with one being the economical route. It also allows you to record and repeat the route that the car has travelled. These destinations can then be saved and imported via an SD card.

In terms of safety, the C 63 comes standard with seven airbags, belt tensioners and belt-force limiters for all seats. It also has Attention Assist that detects drowsiness, ABS, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, ESP, headlamp assist, Intelligent Light System ILS, Parktronic including Parking Guidance, Pre-Safe, Lane Keeping Assist, cruise control with Speedtronic variable speed limiter and blind spot assist.

It is safe to say that this coupe comes armed to the teeth with parts from the AMG catalog. Mercedes-Benz Malaysia is asking RM781,888 (on-the-road without insurance) for it. You can also request for a C 63 without the AMG Performance package.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Wed, 16 May 12 13:49:30 +0000.