Paul Tan's Automotive News » Hybrids and Alternative Fuel

ETCM forms First Energy Networks – subsidiary to build and operate charging infrastructure and system for EVs

Anthony Lim — Wed, 23 May 2012 09:56:25 +0000

Nissan looks like its ready to up its EV game here, what with Edaran Tan Chong Motor’s recent announcement of the incorporation of a wholly-owned subsidiary called First Energy Networks. The start-up’s principal activity, according to the statement made in its filing to the Bursa, will be to build and operate the charging infrastructure and system for electric vehicles and any related facilities.

The company already has the Nissan Leaf about, though the EV isn’t running commercially, but as part of a pilot programme to create public awareness of the car and the tech. Still, the move beyond just that now looks certain, and with the formation of the new subsidiary, ETCM looks like it’s planning early for the future.

Perhaps it’s all spurred by the suggestion that the Government may pile on more incentives for hybrid and EVs. Reports indicate that the Government is looking at various avenues to help spur the uptake of such vehicles, and the incentives will supposedly be revealed when the second revision of National Automotive Policy is announced sometime this year.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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Mitsubishi i-MiEV Evolution set to take on Pikes Peak

Anthony Lim — Mon, 21 May 2012 06:01:43 +0000

Click to enlarge.

Mitsubishi is set to enter two all-electric vehicles (EVs) in the Electric Class of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb this coming July, and the company is banking on its i-MiEV Evolution to bag the honours in the segment.

The Evolution is a specially-prepared competition version based on the i-MiEV all-electric vehicle – it uses the same motor, drive battery and other major components as the production i-MiEV, but tweaked for performance, and the system is fitted on a specially-designed racing-specific body which uses a tube-frame chassis and a carbon fibre cowl.

The four-wheel drive vehicle’s three motors (one front, two rear) each delivers 80 kW for a system total of 240 kW, and the single-seater – which will be piloted by Dakar winner Hiroshi Masuoka for Pikes – rides on 18-inch wheels and 245/40 series rubbers.

The second Mitsubishi EV entry for the event will be a 49 kW production i-MiEV, modified with a more aerodynamic front bumper and fitted with roll bars and other safety equipment for the climb.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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Toyota RAV4 EV – all-electric SUV makes its debut in LA

Anthony Lim — Wed, 09 May 2012 06:45:44 +0000

Toyota has unveiled its new RAV4 EV, with the all-electric SUV making its debut at the 26th Electric Vehicle Symposium in Los Angeles. Built in collaboration with Tesla Motors, the vehicle has come about from announcement to completion in just 22 months.

The front-wheel drive vehicle features a Tesla designed and produced battery and electric powertrain, good for 154 hp at 2,800 rpm. Other numbers include a driving range of approximately 160 km and a charging time of approximately six hours on a 240V/40A charger.

The SUV has two distinctly different drive modes, Sport and Normal. In Sport mode, the vehicle reaches 0-100 km/h in just 7.0 seconds, with maximum speed being 160 km/h. Normal mode achieves 0-100 km/h in 8.6 seconds, and maximum speed of 137 km/h.

Exterior variations to distinguish the EV from the regular RAV4 include new exterior emblems on the front, rear and the front door panel, utilising the signature Toyota “environmental blue.”

There’s also LED low beam /halogen high beam projector headlights, with vertical LED daytime running lights that dim to parking lights. The rear combination lights are LEDs, accented by a unique light smoke outer lens.

Other changes include reworked exterior elements to help improve aerodynamics. Compared with the gas-powered version, the front bumper, upper and lower grill, side mirrors, rear spoiler, and under body design have all been redesigned to maximise air flow around the vehicle.

Meanwhile, interior elements include a unique “Neutron” fabric, woven with a subtle sheen and blue accent on the seat inserts and door trim, as well as an eight-inch capacitive touchscreen featuring navigation, telematics and EV drive information/settings designed specifically for the RAV4 EV.

And so you’re always aware of what mode you’re running, the dash display color illuminates red when the vehicle is operating in sport mode, and blue in normal driving mode.

In terms of space, total cargo capacity is equivalent to the conventional RAV4 – the company says that no interior space is lost inside the vehicle despite the EV components. The battery pack – which has an eight-year or 160,000 km warranty – is mounted low and to the centre of the vehicle, contributing to a more sedan-like ride.

The RAV4 EV is set to begin selling in the US in late summer this year, initially in four major California metropolitan markets including Sacramento, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles/Orange County and San Diego. Toyota is planning to shift approximately 2,600 units over the next three years.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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Government planning more incentives for hybrid and EV – details to be revealed when revised NAP is announced

Chris Ng — Fri, 04 May 2012 11:08:13 +0000

The Star earlier reported that the Government may pile on more incentives for hybrid and electric vehicles. This move is being done to encourage more Malaysians to embrace environment-friendly vehicles.

On top of the current incentives, which include the 100% import duty and excise duty exemption for hybrids below 2,000 cc in place until December 2013, the Government is exploring other avenues to spur the uptake of such vehicles. One such incentive the Government is looking at is possible income tax exemption.

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said that the incentives will be revealed when the second revision of National Automotive Policy is announced later this year.

He said that there are currently about 8,000 hybrid cars on the road, which the government sees as a very low figure. He added that the goal is to increase the number of both hybrid and electric vehicles on Malaysian roads significantly by 2020.

The announcement was made during the launch of Edaran Tan Chong Motor’s Nissan Leaf Pilot Programme. The Leaf is not yet available for sale in Malaysia, but it is available for a limited period for test drives at selected locations.

Our man, Danny, has taken the Leaf for a spin. Read his thoughts here.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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CH-Auto Lithia – flash goes electric, the Chinese way

Anthony Lim — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:32:32 +0000

Sitting in a quiet corner in Auto China 2012 were two electric vehicles from CH-Auto, one presenting a sports car take on the go-green path. The Lithia, as the prototype two-seater Beijing debutant is called, looks sporty enough, even if some of the lines might look a bit borrowed.

It’s powered by an air-cooled AC induction motor offering 201 hp of power with the unit spinning between 7,000 to 8,000 rpm, as well as 220 Nm of torque from 0-5,000 rpm, driving the rear-wheels.

The motor, rated to a maximum 11,000 rpm, gets its juice from a 36 kWh and 106 Ah Li-ion battery pack, and performance figures include a 150 km operating range, a 170 km/h top speed and an under 12 seconds 0-100 km/h sprint time. Not exactly blazing, but hey, it’s an electric.

The 4.5 metre-long Lithia weighs in at 1,600 kg, and normal charge time is seven hours, with fast charging to 80% possible in just 70 minutes. It rides on 215/30, 19-inch front and 245/40 20-inch rear wheels, and features a front disc and rear drum brake system.

Keeping the Lithia company on display was the smart-like Cylent city car. The 2.85-metre long two-seater features a permanent magnet synchronous motor at the heart of things, and weighs in at a modest 700 kg.

Performance-wise, the Cylent can travel 100 km on a single charge, with a top speed of better than 50 km/h to be had. The 8.5 kWh Li-ion pack can be charged in two hours.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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Prototype EV battery explodes at a GM research lab

Anthony Lim — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 08:49:30 +0000

We sometimes tend to forget that batteries tend to be potentially volatile things – they can, if stressed beyond reasonable measure, go south, like catch fire and blow up.

That’s what happened to a prototype EV battery at GM’s Technical Center battery research lab a couple of days ago – it blew up, leaving plenty of damage but only one person requiring minor treatment for concussion and some checmical burns.

According to reports, a small fire had started due to “extreme testing of a prototype battery,” and the resultant explosion of the battery caused significant structural damage in the area used to test lithium-ion batteries.

GM did not state the kind of battery that exploded, but did say that it was an A123 Systems unit, and that it was undergoing tests that were meant to stress the battery. The automaker was quick to add that the battery was not Chevrolet Volt-related, in a bid to protect the car from more negative publicity than it has had already, with regards to battery-related safety.

In May last year, a Volt caught fire after a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) side-impact crash test was carried out on the vehicle, which prompted an investigation on the safety of lithium-ion batteries used for EVs. Last November, a further three Volts were tested by the NHTSA, and two out of three either sparked or caught fire while the third remained normal, the reports add.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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Volkswagen XL1 – two-seater to go into production in 2013

Anthony Lim — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:26:10 +0000

Volkswagen’s XL1 Super Efficient Vehicle (SEV), which premiered in concept form at the Qatar Motor Show in January last year, is set to go into small-series production in 2013, presumably as a primary field test.

VW’s CEO Martin Winterkorn said that production will start in two years time in Germany, according to a report by Automotive News Europe. The report added that sources said the plug-in hybrid will be built either in Dresden or Wolfsburg.

The lightweight 795 kg vehicle is an evolution of the 1-Litre car from 2002 and the L1 concept of 2009, and is capable of offering a staggering 110.9 km per litre in fuel consumption on a combined cycle.

It’s powered by an 800 cc TDI two-cylinder common-rail diesel engine offering 47 hp and an electric motor producing 27 hp, and the hybrid powertrain works with a seven-speed DSG gearbox with an automatic clutch mounted between each unit.

The electric motor can either work independently of the TDI engine or in tandem when accelerating – in pure electric mode the XL1 can travel up to 35 km before the diesel engine cuts in. Performance figures for the 3.97 metre-long two-seater include a 0-100 km/h time of 11.9 seconds and an electronically-limited 160 km/h top speed.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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Honda reaches settlement in Civic Hybrid class-action suit over gas mileage claims in the US

Anthony Lim — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 09:01:13 +0000

Over in the US, according to news reports, a Superior Court judge in San Diego has finalised the approval of a class-action settlement between Honda and Civic Hybrid owners in the US, who claimed that their cars fuel economy was not that which was promised, in this case a combined total of 50 mpg.

The settlement agreement will give owners between US$100 to US$200, as well as a rebate towards the purchase of a new Honda. The ruling covers around 200,000 Civic Hybrids from model years 2003 to 2009, with owners of 2006 to 2008 year models set to get the higher amount due to additional claims over battery defects, the reports add.

The settlement is valued at around US$170 million. It will also award the plaintiff attorneys more than US$8 million.

The case became big news last month after Heather Peters, a Civic hybrid owner who had declined to join the class-action suit, won her case in Small Claims Court against Honda on the fuel economy issue, in which she was claiming against Honda that her 2006 Civic failed to deliver the 50 mpg economy that was promised.

The Los Angeles resident won nearly US$10,000, and Honda has filed an appeal in that case. Unlike Peter’s small claims case, class-action lawsuits only awards claimants against Honda a maximum of around US$200 in compensation, the reports said.

The reports added that more than 1,700 Honda owners opted out of the settlement, some believing that owners should be paid more, while some complained that the attorney fees were too high.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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Nissan “Can you feel electricity in the air?” teaser goes up on its website – is the electric-powered LEAF arriving?

Anthony Lim — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 06:45:22 +0000

A teaser graphic has gone up on the local Nissan website, with a ‘Can you feel electricity in the air?” tagline being the only thing mentioned, and also that whatever is due to happen is just but five days away.

Chances are it’s the nod to the arrival of the electrically-powered Nissan LEAF, one of the models slated for introduction here this year. Don’t get too excited though, even if this is the case, because the EV isn’t going to be commercially available just yet, as indicated by an earlier report on its planned arrival.

In it, Edaran Tan Chong Motor stated that it will be running a pilot program for the LEAF, in which the vehicle will be used to promote public awareness and be involved in experimental drives with Government bodies, the media as well public audiences. So, you might get to sit in one, but you can’t take it home just yet.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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LC Super Hybrid – going the lead-carbon battery route

Anthony Lim — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 05:32:06 +0000

Yet another hybrid is set to take a bow in Geneva, but this one walks a slightly different path. The LC Super Hybrid, as it’s called, shows what can be achieved through electric hybridisation at low voltages (12-48 volts) using the latest lead-carbon batteries.

Conceived by Controlled Power Technologies (CPT) and the Advanced Lead-Acid Battery Consortium (ALABC), the production-ready micro-mild technology offers the potential of a mass market, petrol-powered, large family car with superb drivability, impressive performance and excellent fuel economy achieved at substantially lower cost than an equivalent diesel model.

Based on a series production 1.4 litre turbocharged VW Passat TSI model, the LC Super Hybrid is set to provide carmakers with real world validation of the pioneering technology. The tech comprises a Valeo electric supercharger (powered by the battery), next generation belt-integrated starter generator with an advanced belt tensioning system, carbon enhanced valve regulated lead–acid (VRLA) batteries which avoid the need for super-capacitors, and higher gear ratios to reduce engine speed.

Recalibration of the engine has increased power from 122 to 142 PS and torque from 200 Nm to 275 Nm. This output is comparable with VW’s bigger 160 PS and 250 Nm 1.8 litre TSI gasoline engine. Despite the enhanced gasoline engine performance, the vehicle achieves near diesel levels of fuel economy, but with substantially lower production costs.

The Passat demonstrator weighs in at approximately 1,530 kg, with its upgraded battery pack and on-board test equipment adding about 79 kg to the kerb weight of the baseline vehicle. However, much of this additional mass, including the test equipment, would be eliminated in a production vehicle as well as the existing starter motor, which is made redundant by the belt-integrated starter generator.

Figures provide the necessary validity – the LC Super Hybrid delivers CO2 emissions of less than 130 g/km compared with 140 g/km for the baseline Passat 1.4 litre TSI, which is already best in class.

Similarly, fuel economy is a claimed 5.6 litres per 100 km, an improvement over the 6.2L/100 km for the 1.4 TSI, measured over the standard European drive cycle. Performance-wise, the LC Super Hybrid gets to 100 km/h from standstill in 8.7 seconds, an improvement of 2.5 seconds over the 1.4 TSI’s 11.1 seconds.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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Mitsubishi i-MiEV Prototype racer to take on Pikes Peak!

Paul Tan — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:40:29 +0000

The sketch above is a preview of an upcoming all-electric racer that Mitsubishi Motors Corporation will be entering in the legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, an annual event set to happen in Colorado on the 8th of July 2012. The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is an annual automobile and motorcycle hill climb to the 4,300 meter summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado with entrants covering an elevation difference of almost 1,500 meters.

The EV racer is called the Mitsubishi i-MiEV Prototype, and it is based on the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. You can actually still see the i-MiEV in the middle, but it’s surrounded by what appears to be one mega huge widebody that extends both the length and width of the i-MiEV, presumably to make the egg-shaped car more corner-friendly. MMC will use the data obtained through its participation in the event to enhance the durability and reliability of pure EVs and plug-in hybrid EVs which it will be bringing to market in the near future.

The i-MiEV Prototype will be driven by Hiroshi Masuoka, a legendary race driver whom during the course of decades of racing success took on the brutal Dakar Rally 21 times, winning it consecutively in 2002 and 2003, driving Mitsubishi Pajero and Pajero Evolution models respectively.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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Honda Insight facelift arrives – 1.3L variant, RM99,800

Anthony Lim — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:34:27 +0000

Honda Malaysia has introduced the facelifted Insight hybrid, in its 1.3 litre form. Aside from some external revisions, the facelift – which made its debut in Frankfurt last year – promises to deliver better fuel economy along with a string of other refinements.

Kicking things off are new front and rear bumpers, and the headlights now wear a tint of blue highlight. Additionally, the new grille design features a blue reflector underneath. The tailgate spoiler has also been slimmed, and together with a modified tail gate garnish and a reduction in the size of the wiper motor unit, results in overall increased rear visibility.

Appearance aside, the aerodynamics of the car have also been improved, reducing the running resistance and thus resulting in better fuel economy. The 1.3 litre IMA system – with 88 PS and 121 Nm from the engine and 14 PS and 78 Nm from the motor – gets some powertrain efficiency improvements.

Revisions to the CVT and mill, the latter in the form of reduced engine friction, as well as alterations to the air conditioning system, all do their bit to contribute to lower fuel consumption.

The Insight also features a quieter ride, with the inclusion of added noise insulation materials for better NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) performance. Meanwhile, the seats are now upholstered with a new fabric, and rear passengers now enjoy an extra head clearance of 15mm, following adjustments to the shape of the roof lining and the hip point of the rear seats.

Still on dual airbags, but there’s Hill Start Assist (HSA) and VSA on this one, and the wave key has been changed to a more compact jack-knife version. Four exterior colours abound, and these are Platinum Aqua Metallic, Premium White Pearl, Crystal Black Pearl and Alabaster Silver Metallic.

The facelifted Insight goes for RM99,800 (on-the-road), and comes with a five-year or 140,000 km warranty on the IMA battery. The best part is that you don’t have to wait long for one, if you’ve been eyeing it – fully aware of the current demand of the new Insight, Honda Malaysia says the waiting period for an Insight is now less than two weeks. No indication as to when the 1.5 litre job will arrive.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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Toyota FT-Bh – teaser images of Geneva-bound hybrid

Anthony Lim — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:56:49 +0000

Toyota has teased its upcoming FT-Bh concept through two partials ahead of the B-segment hybrid’s debut in Geneva next month.

The company isn’t revealing any details about the car just yet, except to say that it breaks new boundaries in small car efficiency, saying the FT-Bh is as spacious as an average five-door supermini, but produces about 50% less CO2.

It’ll also be light, tipping the scales at under 800 kg, which is part of the design’s focus on low weight, optimum aerodynamic performance, powertrain efficiency, thermal energy management and electricity savings.

Apparently, it’s also realistically viable as a design – the company says that the car hasn’t been built using exotic materials or expensive techniques, but rather from commonplace, economically viable production methods and technologies, including a down-sized full hybrid powertrain. Guess we’ll see what and how when Geneva comes.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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Meet Hiriko, the foldable two-seater electric city car

Anthony Lim — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:24:25 +0000

The bubble-shaped vehicle you see in the photos is called Hiriko, an urban two-seater EV being collaborated on by the the MIT, Spanish government and Basque businesses. It’s an electric vehicle with a novel take on things – it can be squeezed into a smaller footprint when parked.

The Hiriko features a unique folding design that allows it to be parked in a very limited space – this is accomplished by sliding the back section of the cabin forward and folding the cabin up vertically, resulting in a vehicle that takes up less space than a smart fortwo in the lot.

The design also features a single access door at the front of the vehicle, an advanced steer-by-wire system which removes all mechanical steering components, joystick controls as well as four independent in-wheel motors.

The first Hiriko made its debut earlier this week at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels. There’s no mention of range or performance, but it’s known that Axeon will be supplying the two lithium-ion batteries for the homologation prototypes – these will be mounted in parallel, one in each half of the vehicle, with the wheel-mounted motors providing four-wheel steering in addition to four-wheel drive.

Hiriko intends to franchise its production model to enable the vehicles to be locally and sustainably produced by a number of consortia in different markets. The EV, to be built in Vitoria-Gasteiz, will be targeted particularly at large cities, in which it will be available for rental.

The vehicle will be homologated this year, and the prototypes will be tested in cities around the world, with the expectation that it will enter the market sometime in 2013.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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Honda Jazz Hybrid to debut in Malaysia sometime in Q1

Anthony Lim — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:36:06 +0000

Word has it that Honda Malaysia is set to introduce the Jazz Hybrid in the country sometime in the first quarter, further widening the choice of hybrids for the consumer. There’s no indicative pricing for the five-door hatch, which made its debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, but it should be nicely clear under the RM100k mark and by all accounts cheaper than the Insight, currently the cheapest hybrid in the country.

The Jazz Hybrid is powered by an 88 PS and 121 Nm 1.3 litre SOHC i-VTEC engine, with a new generation Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system made up of a 14 PS and 78 Nm DC brushless electric motor and 0.6 kWh Ni-MH battery pack.

A few subtle cosmetic tweaks help distinguish the car from its petrol-based sibling – these include revised headlamps (with a blue-tint), a new front grille and reworked front and rear bumpers, as well as a new tail lamp cluster. There’s also that signature Lime Green exterior shade to denote its eco-friendly character; wonder if that colour will do well here.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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Malaysia in discussions with automakers about making the country a hybrid and EV assembly/distribution point

Anthony Lim — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:11:41 +0000

The Malaysian government is in the midst of discussions with foreign automakers for the latter to set up electric and hybrid vehicle assembly and distribution points here, Bernama reports.

Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, who made the announcement, said that the discussion is at several stages, adding that the government will wait for the respective companies to make the announcement.

“The manufacturers are from many countries, but I cannot reveal the details for now. Some are serious, and some want to think about the idea,” he told reporters at the launch of the BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics Showcase in KL on Wednesday.

Mukhriz said the plans are in line with the government’s aspiration to transform Malaysia into an electric and hybrid vehicle hub in the region, and also said that Malaysia is trying to look at it from the standpoint of the Asean market rather than just the local market alone.

He added that the government is also talking to several automotive parts and component makers to establish plants here.

“We understand also that there are a number of different components in the car manufacturing industry, including in the hybrid business. So once we are talking wih the automotive sector, we are also talking to the parts and components suppliers to convince them to look at Malaysia as a serious destination for their investment, while at the same time supporting the industry as a whole,” he said.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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Volkswagen E-Bugster – the Beetle gets electrified!

Anthony Lim — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:51:46 +0000

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.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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2012 Toyota Prius – now in two trim levels in Malaysia

Anthony Lim — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:57:17 +0000

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.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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Toyota Prius c arriving soon – teased on UMW Toyota site

Anthony Lim — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 06:46:34 +0000

Toyota’s Prius c hybrid is arriving in Malaysia soon. The hybrid was unveiled in production model form at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show and was introduced into the Japanese market – in its Aqua domestic version form – in Dec, so its impending arrival here is pretty rapid, by any measure.

We earlier had the brochure to work on (the resolution isn’t great because it’s from Facebook, so the image has been descaled), but have now updated the story accordingly; the UMW Toyota website already has details on the car, as well as an estimated pricing – RM103,990, which will be welcome news for those looking at a cheaper alternative to the more upmarket Prius. At this price point, it’s looking very much competitively priced against the Honda Insight.

The Prius c wears a 1NZ-FXE 1.5 litre Atkinson cycle mill, which has 73 PS at 4,800 rpm and 111 Nm at 3,600-4,400 rpm for numbers, and it works alongside an electric motor/Ni-Mh battery combination offering 61 PS and 169 Nm, together offering a combined 101 PS output. The system is mated to an E-CVT drivetrain.

Features include halogen projector headlamps, front fog lamps, fabric seats, cruise control, a 3.5-inch full colour multi-information display and a 2-DIN head unit with USB and iPod compatibility. Other features on the Prius c include a four-spoke urethane steering wheel with tilt and telescoping adjustment, power retractable sideview mirrors and electric power steering.

Brakes are front discs and rear drums, and the car sits on 15-inch wheels with 185/60 series rubbers. On the safety front, there are seven airbags (front, front side, curtain and driver knee) as standard, as well as VSC, traction control, EBD and brake assist

Five colours are available for the car, these being Silver Metallic, Black Mica, Citrus Orange Mica Metallic, Super Red V and Lime White Pearl CS, the last shade adding RM800 to the total price.

On the options list is a DVD-AVN package, which consists of a 2-DIN audio unit with colour touchscreen, navigation system and reverse camera, and this one goes for RM2,990.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTEC Hybrid introduced, in both saloon and estate form – E400 Hybrid also debuts

Anthony Lim — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 04:46:44 +0000

Mercedes-Benz has announced the introduction of the E300 BlueTEC Hybrid, available in both saloon and estate form, as well as the E400 Hybrid. Both vehicles will make their official debut at the upcoming NAIAS in Detroit in January.

The E300 BlueTEC Hybrid is powered by a four-cylinder diesel offering 204 hp and 500 Nm, working in tandem with an electric motor that produces 20 kW and 250 Nm – Merc says that the vehicle is the most economical luxury-class vehicle in the world.

The company adds that there’s no compromise in space, safety and comfort brought about by utilisation of the intelligent modular hybrid concept – no changes to the body of the base vehicle were necessary.

The car is part of the intelligent downsizing strategy of Mercedes-Benz – the E300 BlueTEC Hybrid is positioned at the same level as the E300 CDI, but offers fuel savings of around 15% compared with the E250 CDI, even in actual road traffic conditions.

Meanwhile, the V6 petrol unit in the E400 Hybrid cranks out 306 hp and 370 Nm, and the mill is also supplemented by the same electric motor’s 20 kW and 250 Nm.

The E300 BlueTEC Hybrid is initially planned to be launched on the European market, while the E400 Hybrid will be made available on the American market first, followed by other countries such as Japan and China later. Right-hand drive variants are scheduled.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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Nissan Leaf – pilot program to begin in Malaysia in 2012

Anthony Lim — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:06:04 +0000

Word has it that the Nissan Leaf electric vehicle is coming into the country sometime in the first half of next year. Before you get too excited, it’s not a commercial launch, but rather a pilot program that Edaran Tan Chong Motor will be running for the vehicle, which recently added the Japanese Car of the Year 2011-2012 title to its award-winning list.

Datuk Dr Ang Bon Beng, ETCM’s executive director, said that the pilot program is in line with Nissan’s comprehensive efforts toward the realisation of a zero-emission society. “The pilot program will involve electric vehicle awareness sharing and experimental drives to Government bodies, members of the media as well as public audiences,” he added.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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BMW to launch new EV brand for Chinese market

Anthony Lim — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:16:05 +0000

BMW is set to create a new electric vehicle brand in China, together with local partner Brilliance Jinbei Automobile, according to a report. The creation of the brand is coming about in order to meet China’s joint-venture rules.

“We will have a new brand. It’s a legislative requirement,” BMW’s chief of sales and marketing Ian Robertson told Automotive News Europe, adding that the EVs destined for the Chinese market will utilise some of the electric powertrains that the company is developing.

According to Robertson, China is looking towards JV partnerships such as BMW-Brilliance to establish new EV brands, with an aim for the country to grow its exports.

“The Chinese auto market is the biggest in the world, but what they haven’t really got is an international brand with Chinese origin. I think there will be a requirement of globalisation of a Chinese brand. What’s happening is that we’re all encouraged to have more brands with a new technology element to it. If that technology is proven to be successful, then there’s an opportunity for that brand to grow and prosper,” he said.

No details were forthcoming on the models for China and their powertrains. Earlier in the year, BMW – in collaboration with Brilliance – debuted a concept plug-in hybrid 5-series at Auto Shanghai. The company plans to introduce its i3 EV in 2013 and its i8 plug-in hybrid in 2014 in China.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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Nissan Leaf is 2011-2012 Japanese Car of the Year

Anthony Lim — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:05:13 +0000

The Nissan Leaf has added another feather to its cap – the EV has been named as the Japanese Car of the Year for 2011-2012. The announcement was made at the Tokyo Motor Show, and this is the first time in the award’s 32-year history that an electric vehicle has won.

The win makes it a hat-trick of COTY titles for the Leaf, which has also taken the 2011 European Car of the Year and the 2011 World Car of the Year accolades. The last Nissan to bag both the European and Japanese Car of the Year titles was the Micra (or March), back in 1993.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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Nissan’s new 2.5 liter hybrid unit to replace 3.5 liter V6?

Harvinder Sidhu — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 07:17:08 +0000

Nissan has introduced a brand new hybrid drivetrain which is made up by a 2.5 liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, an electric motor as well as a lithium-ion battery pack. The interesting bit is that the 2.5 four potter is supplemented by a twin-screw supercharger.

This helps the new system to produce almost similar horsepower and torque figures as the company’s VQ35 3.5 liter V6 unit. This means we are talking about approximately 260 hp and 338 Nm of torque. At the same time, fuel consumption is lower too, at least 10% lower with the continuously variable transmission. Engineers claim that the new system has plenty of low and mid-range torque.

This drivetrain will either be made available alongside the 3.5 liter V6 or it might replace it all together. It is expected to be introduced into the North American market by 2013 and many suggest that it could in the next-generation Nissan Altima.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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Honda Fit EV makes global debut in LA

Anthony Lim — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:28:11 +0000

The Honda Fit EV has made its global debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show – the all-electric vehicle, based on the Fit hatchback, offers a 198 km highway driving and a 122 km combined city/highway operating range, based on US EPA city cycle test methods.

The five-seater Fit EV, which will be introduced to US consumers via leasing programs beginning next summer, will be powered by a 20 kWh lithium-ion battery and a 92 kW coaxial high-density electric motor which is derived from the motor used in the FCX Clarity fuel cell electric vehicle.

A 6.6 kW, onboard 32 amp charger allows for convenient recharging of the vehicle; with a 240-volt charger, the Fit EV can fully recharge in as little as three hours. It will feature a 3-mode electric drive system, adapted from the CR-Z Sport Hybrid – the system allows the driver to select between Econ, Normal and Sport modes.

Externally, the Fit EV is identical to the gasoline-powered Fit, though it offers a higher hip point to accommodate the under floor placement of the 20 kWh battery. It will only come in a single, exclusive color, this being Reflection Blue Pearl, and will also have the familiar chrome front fascia similar to other Honda eco-friendly vehicles such as the Insight hybrid

Additionally, the car gets EV badges on the rear hatch and decals on the side of the vehicle to help distinguish it from its gasoline counterpart, and it will wear distinct five-spoke alloy wheels and an aerodynamic rear spoiler. Inside, the seating surfaces are covered with bio-fabric.

Tech features include a standard telematics system that allows the driver to stay connected through a smartphone, PC or interactive remote. Through the Fit EV smartphone and computer applications, the driver can remotely view the vehicle’s state of charge, initiate charging and activate the air-conditioning or heater, to pre-condition the vehicle while connected to the grid, to maximise battery range on start-up.

The mobile application and website also offers the ability to set charging notifications and alerts to optimise charging times based on varying utility rates. The Fit EV will also come equipped with a standard Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System to locate public charging stations and frequently updated traffic information.

Meanwhile, the interactive remote – operable up to 30 metres from the vehicle – allows the driver to monitor the vehicle’s state of charge and cabin temperature, initiate and terminate charging and remotely turn on the air-conditioning via it.

Honda will begin leasing the Fit EV to customers in select California and Oregon markets next summer, and will expand to six East Coast markets in early 2013. The company expects volume at this early stage of production to be approximately 1,100 Fit EV’s over the next three years.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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Seat unveils its electric path – Altea XL Electric Ecomotive and Leon TwinDrive Ecomotive paves the way

Anthony Lim — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 07:43:15 +0000

Seat has introduced its prototype Altea XL Electric Ecomotive, a totally electrically-driven zero-emissions car, as well as its prototype plug-in hybrid, the Leon TwinDrive Ecomotive. The debutants are set to make their way to government institutions in Catalonia and Madrid for assessment in their vehicle fleets.

The Altea XL Electric Ecomotive has 115 hp (or 85 kW) and 270 Nm of torque for numbers, as well as a 135 km/h top speed. Seat says the Altea XL doesn’t sacrifice any loss of passenger and cargo carrying space, with the batteries located under the rear seats and the boot.

Features include a rooftop photovoltaic cell panel, which recirculates fresh air inside the passenger compartment when the car is parked under the sun, reducing the energy needed afterwards by the climate control system.

Meanwhile, the Leon TwinDrive Ecomotive has a range of 52 km in full electric mode, with a top speed of 120 km/h. In combined mode, with the engine in play, the car gets to 170 km/h, and consumes only 1.7 litres per 100 km, says the Spanish automaker, which is looking at introducing its first electric plug-in hybrid car commercially in 2015, to be followed by an all-electric vehicle in 2016.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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Gordon Murray Designs T.27 – RAC Future Car Challenge’s best overall entry consumes equivalent of 0.81L / 100 km!

Anthony Lim — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 08:14:13 +0000

As you’re probably aware of already, Gordon Murray Design’s T.27 electric city car took a sweep of major honours in the second running of the RAC Future Car Challenge that took place last weekend.

The T.27, which competed against more than 65 entries including the latest technology from 11 major car manufacturers, won ‘Most Energy Efficient Small Car (Prototype)’, ‘Best Overall Pure Electric Vehicle’ and ‘Best Overall Entry – RAC Future Car Challenge Winner.’

The vehicle covered the 91.94 km (57.13 miles) from Brighton to London carrying two occupants inside the allocated time, using energy equivalent to 350 miles per gallon (or 0.81 litres per 100 km) and with emission totalling only 37 gm CO2/km. On a full charge, taking only four hours, the T.27 can do more than 160 km.

The design is the latest vehicle to use Gordon Murray Design’s innovative iStream manufacturing process, which the company says sets new standards in weight, footprint, small car dynamics, safety, packaging and efficiency whilst addressing full lifecycle CO2 emissions, congestion, parking and low cost motoring.

iStream, the company says, is F1 technology for the everyday motorist, delivering benefits from ‘light-weighting’ along with high levels of safety – GMD recently completed a structural durability test which showed the T.27’s iStream chassis to be up to 60 times more durable than a standard steel structure.

“This win represents a huge step forward in our race to reduce automotive energy consumption and emissions. This year’s success, in combination with last year’s win with our petrol powered T.25, awarded ‘Most Economic Small Passenger ICE Vehicle’ and ‘Most Economic and Environment Friendly Small Passenger ICE Vehicle,’ proves absolutely that lightweight is our most powerful tool for solving our energy problems,” Gordon Murray said.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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Honda CR-Z launched – RM115k OTR with insurance

Anthony Lim — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:39:31 +0000

Honda Malaysia earlier this evening launched the CR-Z, making Malaysia the first country in Southeast Asia to offer the three-door hybrid hatch to car enthusiasts. The third Honda hybrid to be introduced in the country is priced at RM115,000 on the dot, on-the-road with insurance (or if you will, RM111,878, without insurance).

The “hot-hatch hybrid,” as the company has tagged it, is powered by a 114 PS and 145 Nm 1.5 litre LEA SOHC i-VTEC engine and a 10 kW (or 14 PS) and 78 Nm MF6 brushless DC electric motor and a sophisticated Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) – together, the powertrain combination delivers 124 PS at 6,000 rpm and 174 Nm of torque at 1,000 to 1,500 rpm.

The IMA Hybrid System is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, which is the standard transmission for the car, with a Hill-Start Assist function present. The vehicle also features a 3-Mode Drive System, which enables the driver to choose and switch between Sport, Normal and Economy modes with the switch of an individual button.

The three modes alter the response of the throttle, steering, idle stop timing, climate control and the level of assistance provided by the IMA Hybrid System, and the individual modes are also indicated on the Illuminated Advance Sports Meter as glowing coloured rings of light. In Sport mode, you get – as expected – improved acceleration response, and steering feedback is tighter; in this mode, the light on the meter goes red.

Normal mode of course provides the optimum balance between driving performance and fuel economy, with an EPS response that’s balanced, smooth and agile. Switching to Econ mode, as it’s called, reduces throttle response, optimises motor assist, controls the air conditioning economically and lengthens idle stops to maximise fuel efficiency.

In Normal and Econ mode, the glowing coloured rings of light in the meter display changes from blue to blue-green to green depending on the driver’s style of driving; green, of course signifies the most fuel efficient driving.

Equipment on the 1,160 kg vehicle includes halogen headlamps with LED positioning lights, front fog lamps, a three-spoke leather steering wheel, cruise control, a six-speaker audio system with USB and an auxiliary input, rear foldable seats (which really are jump seats at best – there’s enough space to get in for an adult, but you can’t sit up straight!) and a glovebox cooler, among others. Folding down the rear seat back translates into 410 litres of boot space, which allows space for two golf bags.

On the safety front, the car comes equipped with dual front airbags, side airbags with Occupant Position Detection System and side curtain airbags. There’s ABS, BA and EBD as well as Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) in the mix too.

The CR-Z rides on 16-inch five twin-spoke alloys, wrapped with 195/55 series rubbers. At point of launch, there’s only a single external colour for the car, which is Premium White Pearl, but expect other shades to join the palette list soon – we hear that red, black and silver will come about as it goes along. And yes, you can also expect an auto CVT-equipped version to arrive on the scene sometime next year, but no word yet exactly when.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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Free parking for hybrid vehicles in PJ for three months

Anthony Lim — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 09:08:46 +0000

Three months of free parking in Petaling Jaya – that’s the cheery news awaiting new hybrid vehicle owners. The Petaling Jaya City Council, or MBPJ, has announced the free parking initiative as part of its green incentives programme as tabled in its 2012 budget.

According to a report, hybrid vehicles – and that means the Honda Insight, Toyota Prius as well as the Lexus CT 200h and RX 450h (and the Honda CR-Z, when that arrives soon) – will be given a special pass to enjoy the free parking, which presumably is valid for any public parking bay in the city. The report mentions that the incentive will be for cars registered from January 1.

There’s no mention of when the free parking duration will begin though; presumably again, this should be anytime from January next year. Which also brings about the question – does the January 1 registration validity only cover vehicles registered from the start of 2012, or from this year? Questions, questions.

In other news mentioned in the report, the council will also be spending RM100,000 to install energy-efficient LED lights at residential areas, which will help brighten back lanes. The cost of installing the lights, maintenance and replacement of faulty lights will be borne by the council, states the report.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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smart fortwo electric drive on display at 1 Utama

Anthony Lim — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:07:52 +0000

No, it’s not available commercially in Malaysia, and even if it was, it would easily cost more than a C 250 CGI. The smart fortwo electric drive seen here is actually making a stopover in the country – the Singaporean-based vehicle is in town courtesy of its appearance at the recent 1st Malaysian-German Sustainable Automotive Mobility Conference 2011, which was organised by the Malaysian German Chamber of Commerce.

You can however catch the car in the metal, if that be your sort of thing, over the weekend – the fortwo electric drive is on display at the Highstreet zone of 1 Utama shopping centre, and it’ll be there until Sunday.

A bit about the car, for those who don’t know what it’s all about yet. The second-generation fortwo electric drive is equipped with a 30 kW permanent magnet motor offering 120 Nm of torque, and driven by a single-speed fixed gear ratio transmission.

The car’s water-cooled 16.5 kWh lithium-ion battery, which is housed between the axles and occupies the space where the fuel tank is located in a conventional fortwo, is good enough to give it an operating range of 135 km. Which won’t quite take you from KL to KLIA and back, but ample enough for light-duty in-town use.

The 148 kg battery – made by Tesla Motors – has a full recharge time of eight hours, juiced via a household socket, but if you only need to do around 30-40 kilometres of travelling a day, the vehicle only needs to be charged for three hours.

And if you putter around at the average 25 to 30 km/h that smart says is normal in city traffic, the fortwo electric drive can go for around four to five hours continuously before it needs to be recharged.

Other performance figures for the 890 kg rear-wheel drive fortwo include a 0-50 km/h (yes, you read right, half a century) time of 5.8 seconds (or if you prefer, a 0-60 km/h time of 6.5 seconds) and a maximum speed of 100 km/h.

As you’d expect, due to the cost and supporting infrastructure limitations, there aren’t that many fortwo electric drives about – the few thousand examples worldwide are in the hands of selected customers, with leases offered for a period of four years and 60,000 kilometres. In the case of this example, it’s part of a EV case study being conducted by the Singaporean government.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:47:48 +0000.

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