Well, not exactly a real joyride but more of a virtual one. For those that haven’t sat in a hot turbocharged car before, this is the awesome aural stimulation you’ll get in a spin around the track. Video after the jump.
Click here to read the rest of Joyride around the track in a turbocharged car
At first glance, the new Mitsubishi Colt CZC coupe-cabriolet reminded me alot of the Peugeot 206CC. Coupe and cabriolet all in one car. The Colt CZC coupe-cabriolet was jointly engineered by Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Mitsubishi Design Europe and Pininfarina S.p.A. Click here to read the rest of 2006 Mitsubishi Colt CZC coupe cabriolet
Here’s the latest computer graphic imagery of the BMW X6. Can see that it’s gained a “Bangle butt”, a common design characteristic of all the new Chris Bangle designed BMWs. The BMW X6 is supposed to be a cross-over SUV and coupe type of vehicle. The chassis itself has already been through testing stages at Germany’s Nurburgring.
For more on the BMW X6, check out my previous posts:
Associated Press via Yahoo News reports that the Malaysian Appeals Court upheld a High Court order against Richard Fong Khee Choong to take down a personal website he set up in October 2002 about his Perodua Kelisa.
Perodua sued Richard Fong for defamation and the court ordered Fong to shut down the website pending resolution of the defamation suit.
Does this mean we can’t complain about our cars anymore without having to fear lawsuits from the car manufacturers? This is outrageous. It makes me wonder, I could be next just in case any car manufacturer with deep pockets decides it doesn’t like my site. What constitutes defamation in this context?
I’ll end this blog post with a quote from United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Update: More details. It was not just bashing the Kelisa. Richard apparently posted on a Geocities website a statement accusing Perodua of bribery to get ISO 9000 certification from the United Kingdom Vehicle Certification Agency.
Read more about the case at Yahoo News.
The Naza Group, which just announced that it will complete it’s RM200 million Gurun plant expansion in March, will file for public listing this year.
Naza also plans to spend RM800 million this year on expansion and marketing. Tan Sri S.M. Nasimuddin Amin also said Naza would launch a new sedan model this March.
Naza shares anyone?
Click here to read the rest of Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management i-VTEC
Honda is famous for their 4-cylinder VTEC and i-VTEC engines, but they also have V6 engines in their stables. The Acura NSX had a 3.2 liter V6 and the current shark-faced top of the range CBU Honda Accord on our markets has a 3.0 liter SOHC VTEC V6 engine with the code J30A under the hood. However, USDM and Japanese versions of our Accord (actually called the Honda Inspire in Japan) has a new i-VTEC version of the J30A.
Volkswagen AG will set up it’s distribution channels in Malaysia next month. Volkswagen Group Malaysia was incorporated on the 15th December last year, and is set for a launch in February.
Volkswagen Malaysia will be distributing the cars here in Malaysia, with Quasar Carriage playing the role of super dealer. A local conglomerate will also be assembling certain models as CKD models, though which conglomerate is not mentioned. Quasar Carriage also distributes Skoda vehicles, which are part of the Volkswagen Group.
Anyone know which conglomerate will be assembling CKD Volkswagens? Wondering who snatched the rice bowl from Proton. 
This is a video of an ultimate tricked out old school 1963 Volkswagen Bettle Rag Top at the 2005 Bugjam. There are a few drags of the souped up Bettle versus the new Beetle, and even against a Subaru Impreza turbo.
No idea what’s in this Beetle, I heard you could put a Porsche or a Subaru engine in it since they’re all boxers. Video is after the jump. Click here to read the rest of 1963 Volkswagen Beetle Ragtop Drag Race
Acura (Honda’s premium marque) showcased this Acura RDX prototype at the North American International Auto Show. A 5-seater SUV with four wheel drive and a new powerful turbocharged engine. Is this Honda’s competitor to the Mitsubishi Airtrek Turbo and the Subaru Forester? Click here to read the rest of 2006 Acura RDX Prototype i-VTEC Turbo SUV
Here are some more updates on Proton’s possibilities on entering a joint venture with another car manufacturer.
Mitsubishi Motors Corp issued a statement debunking speculation that it might jointly set up a plant here in Malaysia with Proton to assemble or manufacture Mitsubishi cars.
As for the failed Volkswagen partnership, Proton officials shared their side of the story. Proton said it entered talks with Volkswagen originally to explore possibilities of a mutual benefit collaboration, but Volkswagen started talking about a takeover. Proton had considered it, but not without conditions, which obviously caused the entire deal to fail.
Seems everyone is hardcore denying considering going to bed in Proton to protect share prices or some other reason.
