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Lexus LF-Gh hybrid – the face of the future GS emerges

Full images of the Lexus LF-Gh hybrid concept, which is set to make its global debut at the 2011 New York International Auto Show next week, have come about. The concept – which effectively showcases the direction the new GS should take – was teased last week with two partial reveal photos, but now you get to see the whole shebang.

Design-wise, the company says the LF-Gh has been conceived as a redefinition of the luxury grand tourer, with a “clean sheet of paper” approach to design. The shape combines presence and emotional appeal with functionality, offering enhanced creature comforts and load space big enough to carry luggage for an extended trip, so it goes.

The front end design incorporates a spindle-shaped grille that projects a resolute look, while also contributing to efficient aerodynamics and radiator and brake duct operation. Remember the face – you’re going to see it again in future Lexus models, and definitely on the next-gen GS.

A very deep front bumper adds to the sense of movement and a low centre of gravity, while the raised bonnet line implies strong performance potential, and the LED headlamps and independent L-shaped LED daytime running lights ensure the LF-Gh has a distinct face.

Design features include front air flow inlets next to the vertically arranged LED fog lamps, exiting through similar slim outlets at the rear that follow the curve of the tail lamps. The concept also explores how traditional features such as door mirrors and handles can be minimised to enhance overall sleekness and improve aerodynamics.

The increased width (the concept measures in at 4,890 mm long, 1,870 mm wide and 1,450 mm tall, with a 2,850 mm wheelbase) provides a suitable canvas for the distinctive wraparound LED tail lamps, which feature intricate reflectors set behind all-red lenses. Judicious use of slim chrome trim elements in the bumper, exhaust and diffuser add subtle touches.

Inside, things have become quite driver-orientated – the driver’s zone has a high-visibility instrument panel and a centre console that’s intuitive to use. A new analogue clock (finally!!) with a three-dimensional face serves as a focal point for the cabin, which is finished in high-quality materials with finely honed detailing.

Blue LED Lexus Hybrid Drive badges in the front grille and on the bootlid denote the car’s hybrid nature, and rounding things off with this one are 20-inch five twin-spoke wheels and P245/35R front and P285/30R rear rubbers.

High-res photo gallery after the jump.
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BMW 5 Series plug-in hybrid for China to debut in Shanghai

At the upcoming Auto Shanghai show, BMW – in collaboration with Brilliance Automotive – is set to debut a concept of a premium-segment plug-in hybrid sedan developed exclusively for the Chinese automobile market. The prototype is based on the long-wheelbase version of the F10 5 Series Sedan and is made in Shenyang.

The car will feature a drive parallel hybrid drive set-up consisting of a 215 hp combustion engine – featuring BMW TwinPower Turbo technology – and an electrical motor offering 70 kW, thereby ensuring characteristic BMW driving dynamics as well as ground-breaking efficiency.

The electrical motor draws its energy from a high-voltage battery housed in the luggage compartment, which can be charged via the mains power supply. When running purely on electrical power, the vehicle can travel emission-free for up to 75 km at a constant speed of 60 kph, and the engine provides a minimum additional range of 400 km, which is in line with the driving profile of Chinese customers in the premium segment.

Indeed, the car is tailored closely towards the demands of the Chinese automotive market, providing ride comfort, luxurious ambience and interior space at the same level as the fossil fuel-only LWB version of the 5 Series sedan sold there. Series production of the vehicle is set to begin in China in 2013.

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Lexus LF-Gh – first teaser shots of new hybrid revealed

As it gets closer to its debut at the upcoming New York International Auto Show later this month, Lexus has teased the Lexus Future Grand Touring hybrid concept with two photos offering partial reveals of the front and rear.

The company tags the LF-Gh as a redefinition of the luxury “grand tourer,” and undoubtedly, the concept will be effectively premiering the new form of the GS, the current incarnation of which has been around since 2005. The debutant is set to make its entrance on April 19.
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Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4 may come to Malaysia this year – 408 sedan set for market launch in April 2012

Here’s some welcome news for diesel hybrid fans – Nasim is exploring the possibility of bringing in the Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4 to Malaysia this year. The car was launched at the Paris Motor Show last October.

Automobiles Peugeot is currently conducting extensive tests in France on the 3008 HYbrid4 with Euro 2M specification diesel that’s available in Malaysia, according to Nasim’s CEO SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin.

“So far the tests have yielded positive results, but there are still more tests to be done. Once we can conclude that the 3008 HYbrid4 will have no problems running on Euro 2M specification diesel, we will look into launching it in Malaysia,” he said.

The 3008 HYbrid4 features a 2.0 litre diesel engine producing 163 hp and an electric motor that offers 37 hp for a combined total output of 200 hp, with a maximum torque of 500 Nm (300 Nm from the diesel block and 200 Nm from the rear electric motor).

Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Mustapa Mohamed tested the 3008 HYbrid4 during his visit to PSA Peugeot-Citroen’s headquarters in Paris last week. Mustapa, who was leading a Malaysian trade and investment mission in Paris, also met Philippe Varin, chairman of the managing board of PSA Peugeot Citroen, who briefed the former on the carmaker’s plans for the Asean region by using Malaysia as a production hub.

In related news, the Peugeot 408 C-segment sedan is set to be launched in Malaysia in April next year; codenenamed T73, the car is based on the 308 hatchback and the “408″ name isn’t confirmed for our market.

Production is slated to begin at the end of 2011 in Gurun at Naza’s manufacturing plant, with a target of 60,000 units to be built over the next five years, for both domestic and Asean markets.

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604 hybrid vehicles sold in Malaysia up to last year

According to a report, a total of 604 hybrid cars were sold in the country until last year following the two-year tax waiver granted for such vehicles granted until 2010 (which has since been extended to Dec 31, 2011, with 100% exemption on import and excise duties). These were made up of both Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid models.

Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday that in 2008, 10 units of hybrid cars were sold, while the figure rose to 267 in 2009 and 327 in 2010. With the arrival of the Honda Insight, the numbers should continue to grow, but it’s still very much a trickle when you look at things happening elsewhere.

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Malacca state exco set to go the green path with hybrids

Well, it’s always nice to hear that more are adopting the green path – pretty soon, it looks like a state government is going that route in a big way for its automotive-related needs. According to a report in The Star, Malacca state exco members and other top officials could be cruising in hybrid vehicles soon, if an offer to become more environment-friendly goes through.

The offer, in this case, is from Honda Malaysia, which has submitted a proposal to the state for it to change its current fleet of cars to far greener ones, namely the Insight hybrid.

“Honda is offering us a good deal and we are now waiting for the green light from the Federal Government. We have also assessed the proposal by Proton on similar cars and will leave it to the Federal Government to decide,” the state’s Chief Minister Datuk Mohd Ali Rustam said.

A new portfolio called Green Technology has been created, falling under the purview of Mohd Ali, who added that the state government was also contemplating the use of only electric-powered taxis and buses in order to create a greener Malacca.

He said that the state government was studying the blueprints submitted by Proton and a heavy vehicle manufacturer from China to introduce electric taxis and buses in the state, with the change to be carried out in stages if implementation begins.

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Pininfarina BlueCar to be built for French car sharing service

Pininfarina has announced that it has penned a contract with Cecomp and Bolloré, in which it will build 4,000 of its BlueCar electric vehicle for Autolib, a car sharing service which will be operational in October 2011 in Paris and 40 other municipalities in the Île-de-France district.

The car, which will feature as the mainstay in the low-cost car rental scheme, will be built at the company’s plant in Bairo Canavese in northern Italy. The contract will run until December 31, 2013, at a total rental rate of 14 million euros.

The BlueCar, which made its debut in at the Paris Motor Show in 2008, is a four-seater, five-door hatch which features a Lithium Metal Polymer battery that can be recharged at a traditional mains plug. With a life span of around 200,000 km, the battery enables the car to have an operational range of up to 250 km on a single charge.

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If the shoe fits, drive it – getting a kick out of going electric

Okay, so this is where it all starts getting a little bizarre – first Play-Doh, then this. So you think you’ve seen electric cars in all shapes and sizes. Well, can’t have seen one shaped like a men’s shoe, yes?

Built by a footwear company in China called Kang Shoe, the three metre-long vehicle took six months to build, and features bodywork made out of real leather, which five bulls generously donated. Seems it’s made like a normal shoe too, just scaled up to fit.

The shoe, sorry, car, can carry two people up to 400 km on a single charge at speeds of up to 30 kph, and the battery is located underneath the driver’s seat. By the looks of it, it can even be classified as a convertible. Minus the rag top.

It was demonstrated outside Kang Shoe’s headquarters in Wenzhou in eastern China’s Zhejian Province, where the company’s workers got to drive it. Undoubtedly, they must have had a real kick out of it. Company president Wang Zhengtao says there are plans to make 40 of these for stores around the country, as promotional tools. Wonder if you can have them in left/right pairs.

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Proton Tuah to be showcased at Japan AEE show – organisers hoping that EMAS will be exhibited too

The next show stop for Proton’s EMAS hybrid is possibly Japan. According to a Bernama report, the organisers of the 2011 Japan Automotive Engineering Exposition (AEE) in Yokohama – which runs May 18-20 – are hoping Proton will exhibit the EMAS at the Malaysian Auto Industry Exhibition (MAIE), to be held within the AEE.

The report quoted Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro)’s director of international trade fairs in the Trade Fair Department Yoichi Kimura as saying the event’s organisers were hoping Proton will respond positively, given the ever-increasing growing interest in hybrid vehicles against the backdrop of rising oil prices, which is now at US$105 a barrel.

The annual exhibition – which is organised by the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan – attracts about 70,000 visitors, including top auto industry officials and motoring enthusiasts.

The MAIE, which began in 2007, has been instrumental in getting more Japanese companies to evaluate the capability and export quality of Malaysian automotive products, Kimura said.

He said an example is the Satria Neo hatchback, which first caught the eye of Japanese auto parts manufacturer CUSCO at the 2007 exhibition. Plans are afoot to import the car from the middle of this year, which is set to be developed and sold as rally cars for Japanese rallying enthusiasts.

Proton has indicated it will exhibit the Tuah concept car at this year’s MAIE, according to another official from Jetro’s Trade Fair Department.

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And now, an electrifying way to learn how to drive …

Well, seems that some novice Japanese drivers are going to get to grips with EVs very early on. According to a report from Yahoo Japan, the nation’s top auto leasing firm, Sumitomo Mitsui Auto Service, has leased 20 Nissan Leaf all-electric vehicles to the Safety Driving System (SDS) driving school group, which operates 21 schools in eight areas in Okayama prefecture.

The vehicles, which will be deployed in 13 locations, will help expand operational capability as well as provide the perfect means for new drivers to experience the different characteristics of EVs right from the start and gain a better awareness about the new tech. The report adds that Sumitomo Mitsui Auto Service will continue looking at expanding deployment of EVs on a wider scale.

Brings new meaning to run silent, run deep – you won’t hear those L-drivers coming. Good or bad, well, you decide.

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