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  • Lotus CEO Dany Bahar suspended over his “conduct”

    In Cars, International News, Local News, Lotus / By / / 35 comments

    Dany Bahar has been suspended from his job as head of Group Lotus, a subsidiary of Proton. The temporary suspension is to facilitate an investigation into a complaint about the ex-Ferrari employee’s conduct, according to Proton’s new owner DRB-Hicom.

    “Group Lotus plc (“Lotus”) can today confirm that, following an operational review, chief executive Dany Bahar has been temporarily suspended from his role to facilitate an investigation into a complaint about his conduct made by Lotus’ penultimate parent company, DRB-Hicom Berhad,” the Malaysian company said in a statement.

    “The penultimate holding company would like to stress it is business as usual at Lotus. We fully support the company and will continue to support Lotus in its business endeavours and development,” a DRB spokesman told Norwich Evening News.

    Bahar pictured here with Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin. Is DRB performing a clear out?

    The statement from DRB confirms speculation about Bahar’s future that arose after he missed appointments at the ongoing Monaco GP weekend (a Lotus Originals store opening, among others). Word went around that the flamboyant Turkish-Swiss was instead summoned to Malaysia, where he was told about the suspension.

    With Bahar out of the frame, for now, DRB-Hicom has appointed internal people Datuk Lukman Ibrahim, Mohd Khalid Yusof and Aslam Farikulla to be in charge of Lotus, assisted by current CFO Rusman Zaihan. No official statement on the alleged misconduct by Bahar, so your guess is as good as ours.

    Dany Bahar joined Lotus from Ferrari in late 2009, famously crafting an ambitious five-year plan for the loss-making company. This plan surfaced at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, where Lotus wheeled out five concept cars in a spectacular show. We witnessed that landmark moment – click here to read all about the plan, and the concepts.

    Bahar signed a fresh four-year contract with Proton in December last year, just before the national carmaker was sold to DRB-Hicom. His original contract expires this year.

     

  • BMW Brand Store: first new-direction outlet opens in Paris

    In BMW, Cars, International News / By / / 1 comment

    BMW has opened its first BMW Brand Store, and the inaugural outlet is located in the luxurious area of metropolitan Paris, at the Avenue George V.

    Designed by luxury retail architect Eric Carlson and his team from Carbondale Architects and Version Architects, the 800 sq metre store kicks off the company’s plans for a new generation of BMW brand stores as well as the beginning of a comprehensive programme referred to as “Future Retail.”

    With Future Retail, the company is looking at three objectives – first, to increase the number of possible contact points with customers and prospects, second, to increase the services and benefits offered in its retail channels, and third, to enhance the retail experience at all touch points.

    The Munich-based automaker is also in the process of introducing an additional role to dealers, namely a Product Genius. The PGs – or well-informed sales advisors, if you prefer – will be equipped with a state of the art Information Management System on a tablet device, which will allow them to clearly define a product configuration and offer an in-depth explanation of features supported by visuals and films.

    The objective, of course, is to better support customers with in-depth product knowledge as well as enabling the customer to better utilise and configure products in accordance with his or her particular needs. In simpler terms, call it a savvier way to sell a car.

    The first markets planned to offer Future Retail, including the Product Genius, are France, UK, China and the Netherlands.

     

  • Peugeot 301 – a compact global sedan for new markets

    In Cars, International News, Peugeot / By / / 54 comments

    Peugeot has released the first images and information on its new 301, a compact global sedan aimed at conquering new markets. The car is set to make its debut at the Paris Motor Show in September.

    The car is the first to kick off the company’s reinvention of its naming policy, which now utilises a “1″ final digit for new “value for money” conquest models and permanently fixes the names of the models with an “8” final digit for future renewals, to simplify the understanding of things. As such, models will no longer change their number when they are renewed. So there won’t be a 509, by the looks of it.

    Meanwhile, the company says that the 4.44 metre-long vehicle – with a 2.65 metre long wheelbase – has been developed to adapt to various conditions and extremes (cold weather, hot weather, poor roads, that sort of thing), with a promise of space, including that of the boot, which offers 506 litres in volume.

    Three powertrains have been initially announced, these being a 115 hp 1.6 litre VTi four cylinder, a 72 hp 1.2 litre VTi three cylinder and a 92 hp 1.6 litre HDI four cylinder diesel, with manual and automatic transmission options in the mix. The Peugeot 301 will be the second Pug to wear the new three-cylinder 1.2 litre VTi, after the 208.

    Specific kit and features will undoubtedly be announced as it gets closer to its debut, but items already mentioned for the car include ESP, ABS, up to four airbags, remote boot opening, a MP3 audio system with Bluetooth hands-free and USB connection as well as rear parking assistance.

    The 301 will make its market debut on November 1, and the first country to sell it will be Turkey. This will be followed by entry into Central and Eastern Europe, Greece, the Middle East, Russia and Ukraine as well as selected South American markets.

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  • Renault mulling the introduction of a high-end brand

    In Cars, International News, Renault / By / / 5 comments

    Segmentation is turning out to be very much the in-thing these days – if you want to move up or down in terms of portfolio, bringing about a new sub-brand is the surest and quickest way to go, it seems.

    French automaker Renault is the latest to look at the option. According to French publication Les Echos, the company is mulling the introduction of a high-end brand, Initial Paris, to help expand its market offerings and reach, using Mercedes-Benz platforms.

    The newspaper, which cited Renault’s COO Carlos Tavares in its report, said that the automaker is looking to make a decision on the expansion – as well as a possible move to resurrect its Alpine sports range – by the end of the year.

    Renault would be the mass market brand, Dacia would sell low-cost models, while the Initial Paris and Alpine sub brands would fulfill the growing demand for upmarket and sporty models. Ah well, the more, the merrier.

     

  • Renault Twingo R.S. Red Bull Racing RB7 – a tiny tribute to a race-winning Formula 1 car

    In Cars, International News, Renault / By / / 2 comments

    Renault has just released a limited edition Twingo R.S. to celebrate Red Bull Racing’s 2011 Formula 1 Constructors’ world title. This is not the first Renault to get decked out like this, that honour goes to the Clio R.S. Red Bull Racing RB7.

    The Twingo R.S. Red Bull Racing RB7 is coloured with the same palette as the Clio R.S. version. Which means the car comes in Pearlescent Black save for some choice bits in Sirius Yellow. Additional features come in the form of chequered roof decals and Red Bull Racing logos plastered on both doors.

    The inside is similar to what you get with the Twingo R.S., complete with yellow stitching. This limited edition car also wears a special numbered ‘FIA 2011 World Champion’ plaque and a Renault Sport logo inlay for the gear knob to reinforce its exclusivity.

    The small Renault rides on the ‘Cup’ chassis, which is 40 mm lower than the ‘Sport’ chassis while the spring and dampers have been tightened by 10%. The car moves on 17 inch Gana wheels.

    No changes were made to the Twingo R.S. engine. So it is the same 1.6 litre that generates 133 hp and 160 Nm. Fuel economy is rated at 6.5 litres/100 km and emits 150 g/km CO2.

    The car will only be made to selected countries, namely Germany, Austria, France, Belgium/Luxemburg, Japan, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Switzerland. Expect the same to happen to the Mégane R.S., which will be available soon.

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  • Holden VF Commodore to be the Chevrolet SS in the US

    In Cars, Chevrolet, Holden, International News / By / / 1 comment

    Australia is set to export a car model to the US next year – the yet-to-be-launched Holden VF Commodore is set to make its way into the North American market as the new Chevrolet SS performance sedan.

    The limited-production derivative of the VF will also become Chevrolet’s next NASCAR Sprint Cup racecar, debuting in its race configuration at the Daytona 500 in 2013. When the car arrives, it will be the first time in 17 years that Chevy will be offering a rear-wheel-drive sedan for sale in the US.

    Holden, of course, is no stranger to the North American market – the company was responsible for the design and engineering of the Chevrolet Camaro, while the VE Commodore was sold as the Pontiac G8, and it is currently exporting the Chevrolet Caprice police patrol vehicle to the US.

     

  • Toyota’s hybrid vehicle sales passes the four million mark

    In Cars, International News, Toyota / By / / 33 comments

    Toyota’s global cumulative sales of hybrid vehicles have topped the four million mark as of April 30 2012. TMC calculates that since 1997, its hybrid vehicles have led to approximately 26 million fewer tons of CO2 emissions being emitted, compared to if those cars were normal cars of similar size and performance.

    It all started in 1997, when Toyota launched the Coaster Hybrid EV in August and the first ever Prius. The latter was the world’s first mass-produced hybrid passenger vehicle and sales began in North America and Europe in 2000.

    The second-gen Prius came in 2003. By now Toyota’s hybrid system was used on minivans, SUVs, RWD sedans and compact hatchbacks. The third-gen Prius launched in May 2009 was well received around the world, leading to cumulative sales of Toyota’s hybrids topping three million by the end of February 2011.

    Fast forward and Toyota currently sells 18 hybrid passenger vehicle models in around 80 countries worldwide. This year, hybrid cars have accounted for 15% of TMC’s global sales. With the Yaris Hybrid scheduled for launch in Europe and the Lexus ES 300h for the USA, figures are bound to grow.

    Toyota sells the Prius and Prius c in Malaysia. Click here to read all about the duo.

     

  • New Honda Civic launched in Thailand – 1.8 and 2.0 SOHC

    In Cars, Honda, International News / By / / 327 comments

    The new Honda Civic was launched earlier this month in Thailand, giving us a good preview of what’s coming. Unlike the previous gen, where our Civic looked significantly different, the new Thai Civic is largely identical to the US-market car. Extra garnish comes in the form of rear reflectors that link the rear lamps to the license plate.

    The cabin has been redesigned, although it retains Honda’s two-tier dashboard that was such a revolution when it debut in the FD Civic. The upper tier is now much longer, incorporating a colour screen that displays various menus.

    In Thailand, one can specify the Civic with a Navi package, and the 2.0L model comes with push start keyless entry, a new feature for the Civic. There’s also an ECON button on the right of the steering.

    Like before, two engines are offered – 1.8L and 2.0L i-VTEC units. The smaller engine puts out 141 PS and 174 Nm of torque at 4,300 rpm. That’s 1 PS more than our current Civic, made 200 rpm higher, so it’s probably just fine tuning.

    The 2.0L is no longer the K-series engine, but a SOHC sibling of the 1.8. Chosen for better fuel economy no doubt, it produces 155 PS and 190 Nm at 4,300 rpm.

    Max power is the same, but there’s 2 Nm more torque, made 200 rpm lower. Both engines continue with Honda’s slick five-speed auto, with paddles on the 2.0. The 1.8 can be had with a five-speed manual as well.

    The rest of the spec sheet show some differences. For instance, Honda has traded the FD’s double-wishbone rear suspension for a multi-link unit. EPS steering is now standard across the range, turning circle is better (5.42 vs 5.8m) but steering is slower at 3.1 vs 2.65 turns lock-to-lock.

    The new Civic has a smaller footprint and shorter wheelbase; the latter is down by 30 mm to make 2,670 mm. The current Civic has superb rear legroom, and we’ll have to see if there’s any real difference in space when the time comes. We’re sure that Honda would have done some repackaging magic, something it’s very good at. The Civic’s flat floor remains.

    In Thailand, the Civic range starts from 773,000 baht for the 1.8 S Manual, topping out at 1.124 million baht for the 2.0 EL with Navi, the only trim for the bigger engine.

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  • Mitsubishi i-MiEV Evolution set to take on Pikes Peak

    In Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Mitsubishi / By / / 0 comments


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    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.

     

  • Skoda Citigo Rally concept debuts at Worthersee

    In Cars, International News, Skoda / By / / 7 comments

    The 31st running of the GTI-Treffen, the annual Volkswagen do held in Lake Wörthersee, Austria, had the usual custom car unveils, among them VW’s Golf GTI Black Dynamic and Polo R WRC Street concept.

    Over at Skoda, there was the Citigo Rally design concept, which might make it into some form of series production eventually. The white car – with a black roof and additional colour accents – goes the OTT route, with massive bumpers, rear wing, a generous air intake in the front apron and forged 18-inch wheels with low-profile tyres.

    The car also gets generously-sized fenders and massive door sills to help widen its girth, and a centrally-mounted exhaust end pipe dominates the car’s rear.

    Inside, there’s a roll cage, and both driver and passenger get race seats, and the dashboard has been optimised for weight – the central console’s purely functional switches and buttons are strongly reminiscent of those in rally cars.

    The event also saw the advent of the Skoda Citigo DJ Car. This one is a essentially a mixer on four wheels – the three-door car’s rear can be retracted from the B column on back, turning the vehicle into a mobile stage. The vehicle was certainly put to good use, with a DJ mixing and sampling his hits from it on stage.

     
 
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