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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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Cool Audi Q3 Vail Concept wears a winter sports theme

January 10, 2012 at 4:25 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Audi, Cars, International News

Here what Audi brought to Detroit. The Audi Q3 Vail Concept is a winter adventure themed version of Audi’s smallest crossover, the Q3. Groomed specifically for winter sports like the pistes in the famous Colorado mountain resort which inspired its name, the Vail combines harder-edged styling with a brawny 2.5-litre TFSI engine.

Designed for fans of skiing and snowboarding, the Q3 Vail wears Energy Red paint, and its add-on body parts are finished in matte grey quartz. The area around the windows is enhanced by aluminium and high-gloss black.

Vertical bars in the single-frame grille sets it apart. The struts feature a bi-colour theme: their lateral edges are in matte quartz and the slim front faces have a high-gloss finish. Plenty of aluminium panels in front, the top of the side air inlets and the underbody guard are made of the stuff.

Eyecatching features on the flanks include flared wheel arches and running boards, and on the roof the specially designed aluminum rails firmly hold carbonfibre skis and snowboards. The front roof-rail support integrates compact, wide-angled LED lights controlled via buttons in the roof module. Lights on roof rails are things that previous gen X-Trail owners are familiar with.

The Q3 Vail is fitted with 255/45 section off-road tyres and 20-inch five-arm wheels. Track width has increased by 40 mm at the front and rear compared to the standard car, and the body sits 30 mm higher. At the rear, the twin tailpipes are integrated into the diffuser and underbody guard area.

The interior of the Q3 Vail includes two practical devices for winter sports fans. The wall of the boot houses a charging station for storing flashlights and charging them inductively at the same time.

The same technology is used for the Thermos bottle located in the cup holder between the front seats. Both devices have LEDs that show the current charge level. The flashlights also incorporate an infrared heating element that can be used for warming hands or ski boots.

Another intelligent solution is the load floor mat, which has integrated heated seat cushions. The mat can be folded out and laid over the loading lip. This protects the trunk edge while the vehicle is being loaded or unloaded, and also provides a warm area to sit on when putting on or taking off your ski boots. Small LED spotlights on the inside of the tailgate provide light.

The Q3 Vail is powered by a 2.5-litre five-cylinder TFSI engine with 314 PS and 400 Nm of torque. The engine’s five cylinders are consecutively numbered; red ‘wrinkled-finish’ paint has been applied to the cylinder head cover. A panel made from carbonfibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) partially covers the engine, and the air filter is also protected against dirt.

Power is transferred to the quattro permanent AWD system via a seven-speed S tronic transmission. This small SUV can do 0-100 km/h in just 5.5 seconds and top speed 260 km/h.

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2012 Toyota Prius – now in two trim levels in Malaysia

January 10, 2012 at 12:57 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Local News, Toyota

The fuss may be about the upcoming Toyota Prius c, but some interesting developments are also shaping up on the other, more familiar Prius front. A check on the UMW Toyota website reveals that there are now two trim levels being mentioned for the ZVW30 in Malaysia, a standard Prius as well as a Luxury variant.

A ‘New Prius’ tagline is being bandied, so the vehicle – which, going by the site, hasn’t quite arrived but should be right around the corner – should pretty much be the facelift version of the third-generation hybrid that came about last year. The revisions are mild and involve more new kit than any considerable shape rework, though the front bumper and rear lamp configuration are different.

No changes mechanically to the Hybrid Synergy Drive system on it – the 1.8 litre 2ZR-FXE Atkinson cycle engine, with its 99 PS at 5,200 rpm and 142 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm continues to hold court, working alongside the electric motor’s 82 PS and 207 Nm of torque, with a combined output of 136 PS (or 134 hp).

Standard fare contains the familiar, among them seven airbags, VSC and traction control, EBD, brake assist, 15-inch wheels and cruise control. Both 2012 variants will feature a 6.1-inch touchscreen display audio system with Bluetooth, USB and Aux connections, partnered to a JBL eight-speaker, eight-channel amplifier setup.

The standard Prius continues on with high-grade fabric seats and halogen projector headlamps, while the Luxury gets leather seats and LED projectors, complete with auto leveling and washer. The Luxury also gets auto lights, an electro-chromic rear view mirror and heated seats, the last which won’t see much use in this particular climate. New to the Prius are daytime running lights, which are available on both versions.

There’s an indicative estimate for the variants, and the pricing has gone slightly up for the base model, at RM143,000, while the Luxury is expected to retail for RM148,000, both on-the-road with insurance.

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Lexus LF-LC Concept fully revealed, and it’s spectacular!

January 10, 2012 at 12:55 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Lexus

The Lexus LF-LC Concept has been officially revealed, and it’s one heck of a concept car. If I were at Detroit’s Cobo Hall, I can imagine spending good time just standing and staring at this sculpture. Awe inspiring, and check out that cabin!

Challenged by the Lexus Center in Japan to come up with a design for a future hybrid sport coupe concept, the company’s Calty design studio in Newport Beach, California, sought to “advance the redefinition of Lexus” with emotive, avant-garde beauty and advanced technology, yet remain within reach for premium buyers.

The movement is not new. “The concept we’re showing here in Detroit continues the Lexus design revolution started with the CT and GS. The concept hybrid 2+2 liberates the idea of a sport coupe and pushes the boundaries of performance, style and technology,” said Mark Templin, Lexus Group VP and GM.

The LF-LC displays the new Lexus design language in its bold interpretation of the signature Lexus spindle grille and rear architecture. Silky curves blend smoothly into dynamic angles, creating a nice blend of lines, shadows and corners.

Framed by a deep aluminum surround, the mesh pattern of the spindle grille takes 3D sculpture form, and the air intakes are functional. Daytime running lights are shaped like an “L” while the vertical fog lamps use a fading dot matrix pattern to suggest a sense of movement.

The concept car’s glass roof features a lightweight, cantilevered pillar with a glass-to-glass juncture inspired by modern architecture. A rising, kick-up window graphic and polished aluminum trim are unexpected elements. Overall, the greenhouse design enhances driver visibility while adding to the sleek lines of the car.

Lexus integrated the spindle grille theme to the rear as well. The tail lamps, inspired by the look of a jet afterburner at take-off, use inner lighting to create a sense of depth. The rear is also fitted with fog lamps, repeating the fading dot matrix pattern of the front. Visually, the integrated tail and fog lamps repeat the “L” shape and lead eyes down to the quad exhausts.

The cockpit is spectacular. The driver is enveloped by deeply scooped side panels and a high, curved console. The effect is to focus the driver zone on the controls and on the road. LF-LC incorporates a remote touch-screen device that allows operation without shifting altering line-of-sight. Twin 12.3-inch LCD screens provide information and navigation display. A pop-up touch-screen keyboard is used to control the ICE, climate and navigation.

Never mind all that, just look at the organic shapes and nice blend of metal trim and wood accents. The beautiful stitch details emphasise the attention to detail here.

This is a design concept, so all we know mechanically is that the LF-LC is a front-engine, rear-wheel drive car featuring Advanced Lexus Hybrid Drive.

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Concepts for the young: Chevrolet Code 130R, Tru 140S

January 10, 2012 at 11:31 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Chevrolet, International News

Chevrolet has two interesting concepts for the Detroit show – Code 130R and Tru 140S – catered to the young. According to US census data, there are 80 million American consumers approaching 30, representing 40% of today’s potential car-buying public and a combined $1 trillion in purchasing power. So it all makes sense.

Over the past year, Chevy has conversed with young consumers across America. The young say they want sedan-sized functionality in performance coupe form that seats four passengers, interior connectivity and convenience featuring innovative storage, WiFi, smart phone integration with Chevrolet MyLink and heads-up display, 40 MPG with a 1.4L Ecotec turbo with around 150 hp, and a price range in the low $20,000s.

In response, they came up with these two coupe concepts. Code 130R is the red one, a four-seat coupe with a simple upright profile. Code 130R features “heritage performance-inspired styling” and rear-wheel drive. There’s also the Chevy crossflag emblem on the fender. Small RWD coupe playing on the word “heritage”, sounds a bit like an American Toyota GT 86!

The Tru 140S is a front-wheel-drive “affordable exotic” four-seat sporty coupe. Shown in an all-new matte white with chrome wheels featuring crossflag emblems, Tru 140S is designed to look confident, exotic, expensive and fast. Tru 140S is based off the same platform as the Chevrolet Cruze.

Which do you prefer, the “baby muscle car” or the “baby supercar”?

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Hyundai Elantra and Range Rover Evoque win 2012 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards

January 10, 2012 at 8:45 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, International News, Koreans, Land Rover

The new Hyundai Elantra is the 2012 North American Car of the Year, while the Range Rover Evoque is the 2012 North American Truck of the Year. Both victorious models were revealed at the 2012 North American International Auto Show at Detroit.

The winners were chosen by a jury of 50 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada. Instead of being given by a single media outlet, they are awarded by a coalition of automotive journalists from the both countries who represent magazines, television, radio, newspapers and websites.

The awards are designed to recognise the most outstanding new vehicles of the year, benchmarks in their segments based on factors including innovation, comfort, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar, according to the organisers.

The Elantra MD, which will be launched next month in Malaysia, scored 174 points. It beat the Volkswagen Passat (161) and Ford Focus (155). “The Hyundai Elantra is sporty, yet sensible. Luxurious, yet affordable. Spunky, but safe. The Elantra is a series of paradoxes and every one is another argument for the latest, impressive entry in the Hyundai lineup,” wrote Jayne O’Donnell, a member of the jury from USA Today. This is the second North American COTY award for Hyundai, which came up tops in 2009 with the Genesis.

In the truck category, which includes SUVs, the Range Rover Evoque scored 254 points, way ahead of the Honda CR-V’s 142 and the BMW X3′s 94. This is the first win for the British marque. “Range Rover successfully charts a new direction for the venerable SUV trailblazer with a fresh design and advanced thinking about environmental issues,” said another juror, Alex Taylor of Fortune magazine.

This is the 19th year of the awards, which was inspired by the “Car of the Year” in Europe. Last year, the Chevrolet Volt won for cars and the Ford Explorer won for trucks, but none of the Detroit carmakers made it into the top three in either category this year. Congratulations Hyundai and Land Rover!

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