Become a better driver with the Shell Helix D Academy!

January 11, 2012 at 10:55 am By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Advertorial, Cars, Local News

Shell has officially launched the Shell Helix D-Academy contest which will see up to 30 participants win the grand prize of being invited to an event which will allow them to take part in special driving course dedicated to compact cars.

At the Shell Helix D-Academy, professional driving instructors will share valuable defensive driving skills, both in theory and in practice (practical training) with the participants. Participants will take home life-saving knowledge which will make them better drivers on the road, something the nation really needs.

With the Shell Helix D-Academy, they will learn how to control their vehicles, which in this case, compact cars with lower displacement engines in adverse driving conditions. This is part of Shell’s believe that protection should not only be given to the engine but also to the driver’s life.

This philosophy also applies to the Shell Helix HX7 E engine oil with its 5W-30 grade which achieves low viscosity at low temperatures. This simply means that the engine oil will be thin enough to flow during morning start-ups and thick enough to protect the engine when it is hot.

The Shell Helix HX7 E is also equipped with active cleansing agents that prevent dirt particles from sticking together to form sludge. Overall, the engine oil is able to offer up to 19% more protection than other tested synthetic-tecnohology oils, 1.8% more fuel economy compared to a 15W-40 mineral oil and smoother power delivery with reduced emissions.

To take part in the contest and put yourself in the running to win tickets to the event and other attractive prizes, all you need to do is to decorate your car in our Facebook application! Simply upload a photo of your car to the application and use the pre-loaded tools to decorate your car, as simple as that!

Top designs will be selected and winners will walk home with tickets to the Shell Helix D-Academy. Contest ends on January 29, 2012! Limited seats are available, so join now!

Good luck!

5 Comments      

Vauxhall Mokka – a small SUV that’s big on things

January 11, 2012 at 10:54 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Vauxhall

Say hello to Vauxhall’s new small SUV called the Mokka. The vehicle is set to make its debut in Geneva, and enter the growing sub-compact B-segment end of the market towards the end of the year.

On call will be a choice of two petrol engines and a diesel, all with Start/Stop eco-tech, and the Mokka will be available in front or all-wheel drive, with six-speed manual or auto transmissions to pick from.

The petrol mills are a 115 PS 1.6 litre naturally-aspirated unit and a 140 PS 1.4 litre turbo, which has 200 Nm of torque. The diesel, meanwhile, is a 130 PS 1.7 CDTI turbo offering 300 Nm of torque. Both the 1.4 Turbo and the 1.7 CDTI can be combined either with six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions.

Design-wise, the Mokka – which will wear 18-inch alloy wheels as standard on most model variants – incorporates Vauxhall’s signature ‘blade’ on the body side, sweeping towards the rear, and looks to be a pretty beefy offering from the photos.

Inside, Vauxhall says there’s lots of versatility and user-friendly functionality on call, with up to 1,372 litres of load space and 19 storage locations to be had. In addition to the generous cargo volume, the SUV will also feature the fully integrated, latest generation Flex-Fix bicycle carrier exclusive to the brand – the carrier is fully integrated in the rear underbody, functioning like a drawer and accommodating up to three bicycles at a time.

Safety equipment includes ESC, traction control, Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control, among others. Other kit includes an Advanced Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL+) bi-Xenon lighting system that includes High Beam Assist (HBA), as well as an optional front camera system which offers Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Forward Collision Alert (FCA) and second generation Traffic Sign Recognition functions as part of its inventory.

9 Comments      


Infiniti’s Geneva-bound electric sports car concept to showcase new style and content direction for brand

January 11, 2012 at 10:53 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Infiniti, International News

Infiniti is still keeping to teasing its advanced sports car concept that’s set to debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The first two partials of the car in November have now been joined by another, and behind-the-scenes info videos have also come about.

The company says the as-yet-unnamed concept will be the first Infiniti to have a range-extender drivetrain, and willl also be the first to feature a midship mounted drivetrain for optimal weight distribution and handling.

Going the midship route means facilitating a change in vocabulary for the company’s design language, from a style and content point of view. The purpose of the Geneva concept then is to explore what might be the next stage in how to deliver a vivid, engaging and sophisticated driving experience from an electrically-propelled vehicle – Infiniti believes the midship mechanical layout could very well be a vital ingredient in making that magic happen.

Leave a Comment      

Honda Accord Coupe Concept previews ninth-gen Accord

January 11, 2012 at 2:51 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Honda, International News

Honda unveiled this Accord Coupe Concept at Detroit, which should be just a concept in name. It shows off the styling direction for the next gen Accord, as well as a host of new technologies for the ninth-generation 2013 model, set to go on-sale in America this fall.

The 2013 Accord will feature three all-new powertrains, including a 2.4-litre direct-injected four-pot and two-motor plug-in hybrid system from Honda’s next-generation Earth Dreams technologies. In addition, the V6 Accord will be the first Honda sedan to feature a new 6-speed automatic transmission. Both the Accord Sedan and Coupe are expected to achieve class-leading fuel economy ratings in the US.

Honda says that the next gen Coupe will retain today’s size, but the new US Sedan, which we normally get, will feature a more compact exterior footprint with shortened length and reduced weight for “more responsive handling and improved driving dynamics.” Despite the smaller body, both the Sedan and Coupe will retain the current model’s generous cabin space.

The new 2.4L DI engine will make more than 181 hp and 240 Nm of torque, which is more that today’s 2.4L, while delivering better economy. This engine will be paired to a 6-speed manual or a new CVT, which utilises an innovative cooperative control system for “excellent acceleration and responsive shifting.”

Higher up, the re-engineered 3.5L V6 engine will be paired to a new 6-speed automatic transmission or a 6-speed manual. There will be an increase in horsepower and torque over the current model, and automatic transmission variants will come with Honda Variable Cylinder Management technology. Once again, class leading economy is the target.

The 2013 Accord range will also feature the first application of a new two-motor plug-in hybrid system in the Sedan. The system moves continuously through three modes – all-electric, gasoline-electric and direct-drive.

In all-electric mode, the car will use a 6 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery and a 120 kW electric motor to achieve an all-electric range of approximately 16 to 24 km in city driving scenarios and a top speed of 100 km/h. A full charge will take less than four hours using a 120-volt, outlet and less than 1.5 hours using a 240-volt charger.

In the gasoline-electric mode, the Accord is powered by a 2.0L, i-VTEC inline four Atkinson cycle engine, paired with an electric Continuously Variable Transmission (E-CVT). For more efficient high-speed cruising, the Accord Plug-In Hybrid can engage in a direct-drive mode, in which only the engine drives the front wheels. This model will debut late next year.

32 Comments      

Hyundai Veloster Turbo sports it up with 201hp and 264Nm

January 11, 2012 at 1:18 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, International News

Hyundai has premiered the Veloster Turbo at the NAIAS in Detroit. The car, which is 3 cm longer and 15.2 cm wider than the naturally-aspirated Veloster, is powered by a 1.6 litre Gamma turbocharged four-cylinder GDI engine.

Output figures for the 2013 North American version is 201 hp at 6,000 rpm and 264 Nm of torque from 1,750 to 4,500 rpm. Unique to Hyundai’s twin-scroll turbocharger setup is a patent-pending one-piece cast design for the stainless steel exhaust manifold and the twin-scroll turbine housing, as well as a motor-driven electrical controller for the waste-gate.

Transmission-wise, the car is available with a choice of an in-house six-speed automatic or manual transmission. The manual features a wider gear ratio spread of 5.71 to the NA’s 5.25 to handle the additional torque output.

Speaking of increased torque output, the choice of an auto gearbox, as opposed to the NA Veloster’s DCT, is due to this. The gear ratio spread on the automatic transmission is slightly narrower than the DCT (6.0 versus 6.38), and this narrower spread maintains the engine in the power band when going from one gear to the other – Hyundai says the base Veloster’s DCT is tuned for fuel efficiency, and not for the performance feel needed for the Turbo.

The car features a sport-tuned engine intake and exhaust note – the Veloster’s trapezoidal centre exhaust has been removed and replaced with two larger free flowing circular pipes and a new intake manifold, allowing the engine to offer a more full-bodied sound.

It also gets some revised bodywork; there’s a bigger, bolder hexagonal front grille, sculpted side skirts and a new, dynamic rear bumper with prominent diffuser vents in the lower fascia, and the car is finished in a Matte Grey shade.

Additionally, the Veloster Turbo is equipped with unique 18-inch alloy wheels with chrome inserts, projector headlamps with unique LED headlight accents and a sport-tuned suspension – the front wears McPherson struts, coil springs, gas shock absorbers and a 24 mm diameter front stabiliser, while the rear features a light-weight V-torsion beam, monotube shocks and an integrated 23 mm stabiliser bar.

46 Comments      

Toyota Yaris Hybrid: first images of production car out

January 11, 2012 at 1:00 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Toyota

Toyota’s production Yaris Hybrid is set to make its official debut at Geneva in March, and with that, the first official images of the car have come about.

The car was effectively previewed as the Yaris HSD Concept in last year’s Geneva show, and the word then was that the production version was to be launched in Europe in the second half of this year, rolling out of the company’s Valenciennes plant in France.

When the car makes its market debut on the continent, it’ll be the first full hybrid model in the European B-segment, the company says. Its Hybrid Synergy Drive system has been downsized, and the 1.5 litre petrol engine is partnered to a more compact electric motor, transaxle, inverter and battery pack.

The result is a system that’s 20% lighter than that in the Auris Hybrid, which was launched in Europe in 2010. Lighter as the HSD on this one may be, it’s still good enough to give the car 98 hp, and the Yaris Hybrid offers the same occupant space and 286 litre luggage capacity as its conventional petrol and diesel siblings.

4 Comments      

2012 Kia cee’d – first image of next generation European market C-segment hatchback

January 10, 2012 at 11:55 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Kia, Koreans

Kia has released the first photo of its next generation Kia cee’d, which will make its world debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show on the 6th of March 2012, after of which it will go on sale across Europe in Q2 2012.

The cee’d is a C-segment hatchback car made for European tastes – the rest of the world gets a C-segment Kia in the form of the Kia Forte in 5-door hatch, 4-door sedan and 2-door coupe form. The cee’d will be made available with an industry-leading 7 year warranty.

The sole shot we see here is of the car’s front three quarter angle, which shows off Kia’s “Schreyer grille”, a common feature that the South Korean car company has implemented across its entire car range.

23 Comments      

Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid – 1.4 TSI marries 20 kW motor

January 10, 2012 at 8:50 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Volkswagen

You’ve seen the cool Volkswagen E-Bugster earlier, now here’s something less exciting but nearer to the showrooms, the Jetta Hybrid. The Jetta’s zero-flair bodyshell now houses a hybrid powertrain which marries a 150 PS/250 Nm 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine to a 20 kW electric motor.

Together, the combo delivers around 20% better fuel consumption over an equivalent petrol-powered Jetta (19 km/l) and decent performance – 0-100 km/h takes less than nine seconds.

Like the Touareg Hybrid, the Jetta is a parallel hybrid, using a decoupling clutch that can disengage the petrol motor for pure electric drive (or when coasting or braking), disengage the electric motor (for higher speeds or when the battery charge is low), or combine the two units for maximum power. Power is directed to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual clutch DSG gearbox

Using electric power alone, the Jetta Hybrid can be driven at speeds of up to 70 km/h and over a distance of 2 km, depending on conditions. For maximum performance, both the TSI engine and the electric motor combine for peak power of 170 PS.

A lithium-ion battery supplies energy to the electric motor. It is located behind the rear seat bench, making no compromises on interior space. The 38.5 kg pack is made up of 60 individual cells, and together they produce a nominal voltage of 220 V and an energy capacity of 1.1 kWh.

Cooling is provided by an integrated fan, operated by the battery’s own management system that performs diagnostic, monitoring and safety functions, including disconnecting itself in an accident.

If the battery has enough juice, the Jetta Hybrid is switched to electric drive mode either automatically (at speeds of up to 60 km/h) or at the press of a button next to the gear lever (up to 70 km/h).

When the driver releases the gas pedal at higher speeds (up to 135 km/h) the TSI engine is decoupled, reducing drag torque losses. Under braking, it switches to battery regeneration mode. At higher speeds, or when the battery is depleted, the engine provides extra power to recharge the battery.

Despite the extra weight of the battery, motor and extra safety mods to the vehicle structure, the Jetta Hybrid weighs only 100 kg more than the non-hybrid sedan at below 1,500 kg. Externally, the Jetta Hybrid can be identified by aero mods including a new front spoiler, a rear diffuser and a rear spoiler that help to improve the car’s Cd value by 10%.

With a 1.4-litre engine, the Jetta Hybrid qualifies for Malaysia’s tax incentives for hybrid cars – will this be the first non-Japanese hybrid player in our market? Read our review of the Jetta 1.4 TSI here.

32 Comments      

Acura NSX Concept previews next-gen Honda supercar

January 10, 2012 at 6:55 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Acura, Cars, Honda, International News

Honda has unveiled its NSX Concept at the NAIAS in Detroit, effectively previewing the next-generation NSX, which is expected to enter the market in the next three years. The concept arrives wearing an Acura badge, and sports a hybrid drivetrain.

The NSX Concept wears a mid-mounted, next-gen VTEC V6 engine with direct-injection, mated to a dual-clutch transmission, working in tandem with a 2 Electric Motor Drive combination that features a bilateral torque adjustable control system.

Elsewhere, there’s a new Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) drivetrain, which can instantly generate negative or positive torque to the front wheels during cornering, and Honda anticipates the system will deliver handling performance unmatched by previous AWD systems.

The new NSX will be developed by Honda’s North American R&D centre, and will be built in Ohio, but the company states that the car will be pretty much a global offering, catering to sports driving enthusiasts throughout the world.

“Like the first NSX, we will again express high performance through engineering efficiency. In this new era, even as we focus on the fun to drive spirit of the NSX, I think a supercar must respond positively to environmental responsibilities,” Honda’s president and CEO Takanobu Ito said in Detroit.

This Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system will make the NSX the ultimate expression of, “the synergy between man and machine,” he added. “The NSX will make the driver one with the car to enhance dynamic driving abilities without getting in the way.”

38 Comments      

Volkswagen E-Bugster – the Beetle gets electrified!

January 10, 2012 at 4:51 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Volkswagen

Volkswagen has debuted a Beetle concept car called the E-Bugster at the NAIAS in Detroit. The two-seat Beetle speedster features pure electric drive and is a powered by a Blue-e-Motion system, with a 85 kW motor at the heart of it. The concept is lower (by 90 mm) and wider (by 30 mm) than the stock Bug.

Taking some cues from the Ragster concept from 2005, external design elements include a swept-back and wide windscreen, LED headlights and highly customised bumpers from the production Beetle, and these feature daytime running lights to the left and right of the central air intake styled in C-shape fashion. These styling elements also appear in modified form as reflectors in the rear bumper, which was also redesigned.

Inside, the car features a lightweight construction steering wheel, sport seats, the use of aluminium as material for door handles and belt guides as well as a continuous centre tunnel finished in body colour, among other things.

Staring up the E-Bugster is a bit of a light show – engaging the Start button immerses the interior in a white light, then a blue light. It begins with a light pulse in the instrument cluster – from there the light emanates as a thin line of light, just one millimetre wide, coursing into the door window sills and around the air nozzles.

The car’s central electric module weighs just 80 kg, and juice for the motor is stored in a lithium-ion battery whose modules are housed in a space-saving location behind the front seats. The battery has an energy capacity of 28.3 kWh, offering the car a 180 km operating range.

The car features a new Combined Charging System, which has been developed in cooperation with Audi, BMW, Daimler and Porsche as well as American carmakers Ford and General Motors. The system’s standardised interface offers single-phase charging with AC current and fast DC charging. Via a quick charge, the battery can be topped up within 35 minutes at suitable charging stations.

The E-Bugster rides on 20-inch versions of the production Beetle’s 18-inch Twister wheels, and these are wrapped with 235/35 series rubbers.

10 Comments