Recent Posts (Page 238)

  • BMW Malaysia launches the F10 520d: at RM333k, it’s the most affordable 5-Series in town

    In BMW, Cars, Local News / By / / 98 comments

    BMW Group Malaysia today announced the arrival of the latest 5 Series model in its lineup, the 520d. The first diesel-engined variant of the F10 to be introduced locally was unveiled at the BMW Malaysian Open 2011, a leg of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour, in KL.

    The most stunning aspect of the 520d isn’t with its performance, but rather with its price – the SKD car rolls in at RM333,800 (without insurance, with BMW Service Inclusive + Repair), making it the cheapest 5 Series model in the lineup right now. At RM50,000 less than the 523i, that’s really quite a significant achievement. It’s also a big drop from the RM379,800 asked for the E60 520d Sports Edition when that one was introduced locally in October 2009.

    Not that you lose much paying fifty grand less than a 523i. In fact, aside from the omission of Integral Active Steering and the four-zone climate control (there are no controls for the rear blowers on the 520d), just about everything to be found on the 523i is here on the diesel – the iDrive, the large LCD screen, whatever else you can think of.

    The car is powered by the same N47D 2.0 litre four-cylinder common-rail direct injection BMW Advanced Diesel block as found on the 320d (which was uprated from 177 hp sometime late last year), and offers 184 hp at 4,000rpm and 380 Nm at 1,750-2,750 rpm, mated to an 8HP45 eight-speed auto gearbox.

    Performance figures for the 520d, which sits on 17-inch wheels wrapped with 225/55 series tyres, include a 0-100 kph time of 8.1 seconds and a top speed of 225 kph, and the claimed average fuel consumption for the vehicle is just 5.2 litres per 100 km.

    The bag of electronic tricks is comprehensive – there’s the usual Dynamic Stability Control, Dynamic Driving Control and Dynamic Damping Control among the bits. As for BMW EfficientDynamics technologies, these include Brake Energy Regeneration and electromechanical steering.

    Meanwhile, BMW ConnectedDrive components include USB connectivity and bluetooth functions, as well as considerably expanded functionality for mobile phones and portable music players; BMW TeleServices and the optional BMW Telematics Platform Accessory (TPA), which includes an emergency Vehicle Recovery System as well as other BMW Assist remote services, are also to be found.

    Indeed, as you peruse what’s on the kit list, the short of it is that nothing significant has been omitted for the asking price, and that really does make the 520d outstanding value, if you happen to be looking at a premium executive sedan. All very impressive, to say the least.

    Live gallery photos after the jump.
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  • Alfa Romeo shows off sexy 4C Concept, on sale in 2012!

    In Alfa Romeo, Cars, International News / By / / 44 comments


    Click to enlarge

    UPDATE: Interior pic added after the jump.

    Beautiful, isn’t it? This is the 4C Concept, a “compact supercar” according to Alfa Romeo. It’s clear that this 4C is the younger sibling of Alfa’s 8C Competizione, both in name and styling. However, the 4C isn’t a front engined, rear driven car like its bigger brother – it has a mid-engine, RWD layout.

    Well, if the 8C has a V8 then the 4C would have a four-cylinder, so the 4C Concept is motivated by Alfa’s 1750 turbo petrol engine as found in the range topping Giulietta. It’s a direct injection, dual CVVT engine that features a revolutionary scavenging control system which eliminates turbo lag. In the hatchback, this unit produces 235 PS and 340 Nm. Coupled with the just launched Alfa TCT dry twin-clutch transmission, the 4C Concept does 0-100 km/h in under five seconds. Top speed is above 250 km/h.


    Click to enlarge

    The 4C Concept was developed to be lightweight, so it uses carbon extensively. The chassis supports a body crafted completely from carbon, while the rear frame structure and crash boxes are from aluminium. Final weight is “less than 850 kg” and weight/power ratio is lower than 4 kg/hp. Weight distribution is 40:60. The 4C has Alfa’s DNA selector, which controls the car’s throttle, steering and suspension.

    Size wise, the 4C is about four metres long and has a wheelbase of less than 2.4 metres. This means that it’s a very compact sports car – a Porsche Cayman is 4,347 mm long with a wheelbase of 2,415 mm.


    Click to enlarge

    The best news is that the 4C will make it to production. Alfa Romeo says that it will go on sale next year! Pic of the cabin is after the jump.
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  • Italdesign Giugiaro’s Tex coupe concept for Volkswagen

    In Cars, International News, Volkswagen / By / / 14 comments

    Alongside the Go! MPV concept we showed you earlier, Volkswagen owned Italdesign Giugiaro also showed off the Tex concept at Geneva. A two-door coupe sitting on VW’s flexible MQB platform, the Tex is named after Italian comics hero, ranger Tex Willer, which Giorgetto Giugiaro and VW design boss Walter de’ Silva both love.

    “We designed the Tex in actual fact thinking to the Volkswagen sports cars of the years to come. We intentionally kept a family feeling that would immediately identify it as a Wolfsburg product close to production. No visionary or futuristic choice was made, but it is rather a natural evolution of today’s cars with the addition of a few technologies that will shortly become available on the market,” said Fabrizio Giugiaro, deputy chairman and style manager of Italdesign.

    The Tex sits very low at 1,355 mm, which is 49 mm lower than the Scirocco. It is however less wide than the Golf based coupe at 1,750 mm. The concept wears large 19-inch wheels that fill the wheel arches nicely.

    Under the hood is VW’s Twin Drive plug-in hybrid system, which couples a 1.4-litre turbo internal combustion engine with a battery powered 85 kW electric motor. 400 Nm is available when both power sources combine. With a 7-speed DSG channeling power to the front wheels, the Tex is able to reach 100 km/h from standstill in about six seconds and reach a top speed of 220 km/h.

    “As a full member of the global Volkswagen Group, Italdesign, now more than ever, is a creative center for fresh ideas and new concepts for our brands. The integration of Italdesign is a building block in our effort to take Volkswagen to the top of the automotive industry by 2018,” Martin Winterkorn, VW Group Chairman said of his company’s new family member.

    Gallery after the jump.
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  • UK Honda Jazz facelift updated with CVT box at Geneva

    In Cars, Honda, International News / By / / 13 comments

    Honda announced at the Geneva show this week that it has replaced the 6-speed I-SHIFT robotized manual gearbox in the UK market Honda Jazz with a CVT gearbox, similar to the one offered in the Japanese market Jazz which replaces the original Honda CVT’s start-up clutch with a torque converter.

    The rest of the Jazz has been facelifted as well, with updated headlamps, a new front bumper and a new black mesh front grille. The design of the tail lamp clusters have been updated as well, with red sections at the top and the bottom with the center section remaining clear.

    In the interior, Honda has used a darker shade for the interior plastics, and chrome rings have been added to the climate control display and air vents, helping to give some contrast with the rest of the dashboard. The seat fabrics have also been updated with a new blue and black pattern.

    On the technical side, engineers have revamped the suspension and steering settings of the new Jazz. The Jazz is supposed to ride better now, and Honda engineers have increased the torque around the center position of the steering wheel to help give the driver more feeling.
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  • Toyota FT-86 II at Geneva – production launch in 2012!

    In Cars, International News, Toyota / By / / 49 comments

    This is the latest design update for the Toyota FT-86 Concept called the Toyota FT-86 II Concept, and it must be quite ready for production as Toyota have announced that the production car will be launched in 2012.

    The FT-86 II Concept measures 4,235mm long, 1,795mm wide and 1,270mm tall with a 2,570mm wheelbase. It’s got a shorter wheelbase and length than the Mazda RX-8 but it’s a wee bit wider and lower.

    Power comes from a boxer engine mated to a lightweight 6-speed manual gearbox, and that’s about all that Toyota reveals on what’s in the engine bay at the moment – no power figures or specs for now. It does power the rear wheels though, so with the right kind of power to weight ratio this could be one fun car to drive.

    Look after the jump for a small photo gallery.
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  • Mazda Minagi Concept: The look of Mazdas to come

    In Cars, International News, Mazda / By / / 14 comments

    Mazda’s next generation of cars are pillared by two aspects – SkyActiv technologies and its new Kodo design language. The Hiroshima based carmaker has shown a compact crossover SUV at Geneva that combines the both.

    After the Shinari of Paris 2010, Minagi is the second concept to show Mazda’s new Kodo design language. Kodo, which translates to “soul of motion”, is led by new design chief Ikuo Maeda, who replaced Laurens van den Acker, the man who introduced the Nagare design seen on the brand’s current range.

    Mazda says that while the Shinari was a pure design concept to express the full potential of Kodo, the Minagi showcases characteristics likely to be seen in its next generation of cars.

    To come up with Minagi, Mazda designers looked at different aspects of cheetahs as they hunt. They then set out to capture the moment when the cheetah contracts its muscles, gets ready to sprint and lunge at its prey. “I felt a compact crossover SUV was the perfect vehicle to express agility and focused movement; the flexibility of four limbs moving in unison, and an upright posture,” explains Masashi Nakayama, Chief Designer of the Minagi.

    From the front, the chromed ‘signature wing’ that spears the headlamps is shared with the Shinari and is part of the new Mazda identity. Dynamic contours on the front fenders that directs the eyes to the wheels are also Mazda trademarks that can be found here. The flowing sculpted lines on the Minagi’s side are likened to a cheetah’s muscles by the designers.

    Take away the obvious showcar flair and you could be looking at Mazda’s upcoming crossover that sits below the CX-7. Rumoured to get the “CX-5″ name, this Tiguan rival will come with Mazda’s SkyActiv tech, a collection of improved to engines, transmissions and chassis that will significantly improve efficiency.

    Gallery and a video after the jump.
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  • New Tata Pixel to be unveiled at Geneva this week?

    In Cars, Concept Cars, India, Tata / By / / 3 comments

    The Tata Nano hasn’t exactly been the runaway success that Ratan Tata was hoping for it to be, but that hasn’t stopped Tata from planning a new larger car to complement the Nano in its next generation product family.

    The new car is expected to be called the Tata Pixel and it will be unveiled at this week’s Geneva show in concept form, powered by a 3 cylinder turbodiesel engine. It will be bigger than the Tata Nano and the concept version will feature gull-wing doors, something not likely to make it to production.

     

  • New Ford B-MAX MPV based on global Fiesta platform

    In Cars, Ford, International News / By / / 8 comments

    This is the new Ford B-MAX, which will replace the Ford Fusion MPV in the European Ford line-up. It’s a B-segment MPV based on the same Ford global B-car platform as the Ford Fiesta, and it’s similar in size too, just 110mm longer than the 5-door Fiesta and a full 320mm shorter than the larger Focus-based C-MAX MPV. It sits 110mm taller than a Fiesta.

    The B-MAX doesn’t have a traditional B pillar, and it also features twin rear sliding doors. So when the front doors swing open and the rear doors slide rearward, you get a single large opening into the interior where you can either get into the front passenger chair or the rear passenger bench. The opening measures over 1.5 meters wide. When closed, the door frames interlock and act together to protect the occupants by absorbing energy together like a “virtual B pillar”.

    “With its highly popular S-MAX and Galaxy, and more recently the all-new C-MAX and Grand C-MAX, Ford has a proven history of bringing innovation and style to the multi-activity vehicle market. The new B-MAX signals that Ford is ready to bring the same bold thinking to the small car market.  With its unique door format and dynamic design, the B-MAX sends a strong message that customers looking for a compact, stylish and versatile vehicle will soon have an exciting new choice,” said Stephen Odell, chairman and CEO of Ford of Europe.

    Propulsion is via a new inline 3 cylinder 1.0 litre EcoBoost engine, which is the latest in the range of Ford EcoBoost engines which currently consist of inline-4 and V6 engines. The 1.0 litre unit has direct injection, turbocharging and Ti-VCT variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust. It has auto start-stop as well, but curiously the very basic specs as in horsepower and torque have not been revealed for now. It should be similar to a normally aspirated 1.6 litre though.

     

  • Ferdinand Piech: Alfa Romeo sales could quadruple under Volkswagen Group ownership

    In Alfa Romeo, Cars, International News / By / / 6 comments

    Volkswagen’s Ferdinand Piech takes another shot at Alfa Romeo’s current owners Fiat/Chrysler, claiming that Volkswagen could turn around Alfa Romeo and increase sales of the Italian brand up to 400,000 cars a year within 5 years, which is almost quadruple of what the brand is currently doing – about 112,000 cars.

    Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has stated repeatedly that the group would not sell Alfa Romeo anytime soon, even going on to say that as long as he is the CEO of Chrysler and Fiat, Mr. Piech will never have Alfa Romeo.

    Such is the allure of the sexy Alfa Romeo brand, that these two bosses seem to treat the ownership of the brand as some kind of status symbol. Alfa Romeo certainly isn’t a profitable brand under Fiat, and in fact Marchionne claims Alfa had always been a money loser in the 7 years he has been at the company, even going as far to say that he wasn’t sure if Alfa Romeo ever really made any money.

    On the matter of the sale to Volkswagen, he suggested the German car manufacturer group concentrate on fixing Spanish brand Seat first. Why does Alfa Romeo struggle to sell as many cars as it should, despite having good designs and brand image? Who knows, perhaps with reliable Volkswagen underpinnings it could really do much better than it currently is. The idea of an Alfa Romeo is certainly sexier than a Seat.

     

  • Audi A3 Sedan Technical Study with 408 horsepower!

    In Audi, Cars / By / / 17 comments

    This is the new Audi A3, which slots below the Audi A3 in the company’s product range, as the A4 has become quite a large car now. For now, Audi is still calling it a technical study, but undoubtedly this will go into production.

    As this car has been called a “notchback sedan” by Audi rather than a full fledged sedan, many were worried that it would end up looking awkward and stubby but the end result you see here is actually quite handsome, with a coupe-like roofline helping to smoothen out the side profile. It measures 4,440mm long, 1,840mm wide and 1,390mm tall, with a 2,630mm wheelbase. It weighs about 1,540kg.

    The Audi single frame grille at the front is made of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic. The headlamps are powered by LED, as expected from all modern Audis launched in the past 2 years.

    The concept is powered by a 2.5 litre inline-5 engine making 408 horsepower and 500Nm of torque between 1,600rpm to 5,300rpm, which is some very tasty specifications and it would be awesome if a compact and explosive RS3 sedan made it into production to compete with the 1-Series M Coupe. The engine is mated to a 7-speed S-Tronic DSG transmission, sending power to all four wheels via quattro permanent all wheel drive. 100km/h is reached in just 4.1 seconds.

    Audi has chosen to give the A3 sedan a rather bright and light interior which seems to clash with the aggressive exterior and engine specifications. The MMI system is full-fledged, complete with connectivity features like using a UMTS connection to turn your car into a Wi-Fi hotspot.

    Look after the jump for a small photo gallery.
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