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.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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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.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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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.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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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.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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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.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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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.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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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.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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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.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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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.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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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.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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If Steve Jobs was still alive, what more could he have done? Already we know that Apple has invaded into our lives in a personal and professional way, some more than others. And Apple has tried to be a mainstay in the living room. Remember Apple TV?

Well, it seems that Steve Job has also dreamed up plans to create, the iCar. This piece of tidbit comes from J. Crew CEO and Apple board member Mickey Drexler. He was speaking at one of Fast Company’s Innovation Uncensored convention.

He did not speak about what kind of power or transmission, or even the type of car the iCar will be. But he said that Steve Jobs was more concerned about the design of the vehicle. Steve Jobs died before committing a stroke on paper. Too bad.

Source: Fast Company

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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This is the Volkswagen Golf GTI Black Dynamic. However, it is not the usual boffins at Volkswagen that added parts to the already brilliant Golf GTI.

Nine Volkswagen apprentices from four professions got together for seven months to produce this custom car. The team is made out of four women and five men between the ages from 18 to 23.

With guidance from their trainers, the apprentices planned the entire design, created the respective project plans, selected appropriate parts from the Volkswagen’s catalog, negotiated with suppliers and performed their own work on the car. And since they created it, they got to name it.

The result: 360 PS Golf GTI. The apprentices have tuned the 2.0 litre TSI engine and gearbox management to churn an extra 150 PS over the 210 PS. The engine is mated to a six-speed DSG. The exhaust system has been supersized with a 76 mm diametre pipe.

The car rolls on Barracuda ET 41 8J19 wheels wrapped with 255/35 ZR19 tyres. Stopping power comes from a K-Sport brake system with 380 mm brake discs and eight pistons. Black Dynamic has also been lowered by another 35 mm compared to the production GTI.

Also added by the younglings is a nine-speaker 1,800 watt Focal Utopia Sound stereo system in the boot. It is covered by Plexiglas with black piano finish trim strips. An Alpine sound processer, located under the driver’s seat, manages the sound system.

Another special feature is the GTI lettering in the doors and hatch, which are handmade characters. Seats, steering, door trim and roof are covered in Alcantara.

The Golf GTI Black Dynamic was unveiled to 150,000 Volkswagen and custom car fans at the 31^st GTI Festival at Wörthersee in Austria. The Wolfsburg-based company has always used these festivals to unveil special car projects.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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Shoehorning big engines into tiny cars is what Volkswagen do best and this time, it looks like they’ve outdone themselves, again. This week, at the Wörthersee festival in Austria, the Wolfsburg-based carmaker has unveiled the Polo WRC Street concept car.

As you can see, the design inspiration for the concept is taken from Volkswagen’s WRC car. It wears new aero parts to make it look close to the racing version. These additions include a redesigned front bumper with larger vents and lip spoiler, a rear diffuser, black wheel arch extensions, a rear wing and bigger alloy wheels.

On the inside, the car comes with new sport seats and an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel.

Powering the very sizzling Polo will be a 2.0 litre TSI four-cylinder engine that generates 220 PS, 10 PS more than the Golf GTI. And because this is the hottest street version of the Polo, it comes as no surprise when Volkswagen says they have tuned up the chassis. This Polo R WRC Street will have lowered sports suspension.

The launch is expected to happen late 2013.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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Do paid advertisements on Facebook work? General Motors says no. The American car company is getting ready to stop advertising on Facebook, just when the social media giant is getting ready to sell shares in an initial public offering.

Last year, GM spent US$10 million on Facebook advertisements, but it is only a fraction of the company’s $1.8 billion US ad spending. The amount only makes up a small share of the social media’s total income of US$3.7 billion,  most of which comes from ad revenue.

Wall Street Journal quoted Joel Ewanick, GM’s marketing chief, in saying that the car manufacturer “is definitely reassessing our advertising on Facebook, although content is effective and important.” This means that GM will not be pulling out of Facebook completely.

The Detroit-based carmaker invests about US$30 million on content for the company’s Facebook page. In fact, in the wake of the news, GM has posted on their page saying:

Just wanted to let our millions of Facebook fans know, we’re still here, and we ‘like’ you back! We may not be advertising on Facebook at the moment but we’ll still be talking with you all daily. If anything, we will be providing more content across our many GM Facebook pages – including Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac – to keep the dialogue going.

General Motors is not the only one with doubts. Kia is also unclear how Facebook ads can help direct traffic into its dealerships. However, Subaru is sticking to their guns and will continue to advertise on Facebook. “If the return on investment is there, we will spend more next year,” said Dean Evans, chief marketing officer for Subaru of America.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, GM Facebook page

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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It’s the fastest MINI ever built, and production is to be limited to just 2,000 examples – the new John Cooper Works GP, which made its debut at the MINI United festival earlier in the week, is set to replace the R53 JCW GP as king of the particular hill when it arrives early next year.

The car is currently completing a programme of testing in preparation for series production, part of which has involved setting an 8 minute 23 seconds lap of the Nürburgring, besting the lap time set by its 2006 predecessor by almost 19 seconds.

There’s no mention of output power as yet, but the promise is surely a noticeable jump in power from the 218 hp as seen in the previous outing. Performance kit for this one includes a full-adjustable race suspension and specially developed racing tyres, as well as a race-spec braking system. And yes, the rear seats have again been removed.

Not just to add flair and presence but also offer improvements on the aero front are bespoke bits, and these are large front and rear aprons, striking side skirts, a roof spoiler as well as a newly-developed rear diffuser to optimise airflow around the underbody.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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Located within Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia’s (TMMIN) Karawang Plant, the 3,700 m2 facility will offer various types of courses and practical training to improve employees’ technical vehicle-manufacturing skills.

Beginning next year, the centre – established at a cost of 23 billion rupiah, and with an annual enrollment capacity of 5,300 – will provide opportunities for suppliers and students in the region to also participate in courses.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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You’ve met Gorilla Glass. Now, meet Baboon Car.

Yes, it was definitely a case of monkeying around when the clever folk at Hyundai UK decided to put the new i30 up to a very different type of wear and tear challenge – in the first endurance test of its kind in the UK by a car manufacturer, cheeky safari park baboons were let loose on the hatchback.

Baboons from Knowsley Safari Park on the outskirts of Liverpool were the volunteers, chosen for their well-known love of tearing park visitors’ cars apart – Wayne Rooney will certainly remember them well; his vehicle was subject to their scrutiny when he visited the Merseyside attraction last year.

An i30 was parked in the baboon enclosure, and was immediately besieged by dozens of the park’s primates. The monkeys simulated the punishment a typical family might subject a car to: jumping up and down on seats, pushing and prodding buttons and opening and closing storage bins.

They even checked the durability of cupholders with plastic drinking beakers. Meanwhile, other baboons tested the fabric of seats by eating their lunch in the car, and some played with their toys in the i30’s sizeable boot.

Outside, the paintwork was smeared and scraped, but the hard-wearing paint protected the car from significant scratches and chips.

Ten hours later, playtime was called to an end, and the car – specially-designed for families and their ‘little monkeys’ in the back – emerged virtually unscathed. Seems the extra strong materials used to build the interior, easy wipe plastics and tough fittings held up to the abuse.

“For a baboon, to have a car to play with for a whole day is manna from heaven,” said David Ross, the GM at Knowsley. “I’ve seen thousands of cars pass through this enclosure, get mobbed by monkeys, and none have lasted the distance as well as this Hyundai.”

“These baboons are incredibly inquisitive. If you put them on any car they will scour it for the weak points and find any faults. At one point there were 40 monkeys in the car, pushing it to its limits – that’s ten times the size of the average human family.”

Well, now that the baboon car has come about, I wonder if any other manufacturer will attempt to ape the feat. Maybe use some lions? Elephants? Have a whale of a time?

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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Chevrolet is set to add a new small sport utility vehicle to its model lineup later this year. Called the Trax, the SUV will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show in September.

The company hasn’t divulged any specific details about the muscular-looking offering, beyond saying that it’ll offer a generous cargo space and feature an interior executed to standards usually found in more expensive vehicles.

The five-seater will be a global offering, and will be sold in more than 140 markets globally, with market debuts set to begin next year. More on the Trax as it gets closer to Paris, undoubtedly.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

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Mazda recently announced that it had signed an agreement with OJSC Sollers to establish a joint venture manufacturing company in Russia. Sollers is one of the leading automotive companies in Russia. The JV company will locate its production facility in Vladivostok, in Russia’s Far Eastern Federal District, and operations will begin in fall this year.

The facility will be used for the assembly of Mazda’s new CX-5 SUV (which you’ll hear more about shortly), the next generation Mazda6 and a Sollers vehicle, all for the Russian market. Production capacity will be 50,000 units per year, with the aim of increasing it to 70,000 units per year.

The automotive market in Russia has made a strong recovery since the financial crisis of 2009. In the 2011 calendar year, demand for new cars increased by about 40% from 2010 to 2.65 million units, making it the second largest market in Europe after Germany. Demand is expected to grow to around three million units in 2015.

In Mazda’s fiscal year 2011 (April 2011 to March 2012), the Hiroshima-based carmaker sold 43,561 units in Russia, a 50.2% increase.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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Jazeman Jaafar has finally won his first British F3 International Series race, taking the honours at the Grand Prix de Pau in France, which ran over the weekend. A second place finish on Sunday means he now lies second in the overall British F3 Drivers’ Championship for the 2012 season.

The third round of British F3, which was run on a temporary circuit on the streets of Pau built for the annual Grand Prix de Pau weekend, saw the European F3 Championship joining the party for the two races.

During qualifying on Saturday, the young Malaysian set the best lap time of the British F3 runners to take third on the grid, behind two F3 Euroseries drivers, with Ferrari F1 protégé, Raffaele Marciello, in pole position for both races.

In the first race, Marciello led through to the finish, but it was Jaafar who starred in the British F3 fight for honours. The 19-year-old driver didn’t have the best of starts off the line, but he was soon in the mix.

When second and third-placed drivers Daniel Juncadella and Pascal Wehrlein collided at a hairpin, the Petronas-sponsored driver slid through into second place. A safety car period to recover the stricken cars bunched up the field, and at the restart Jaafar made a bold, spirited attempt on Marciello, but the Italian eventually pulled away and took the chequered flag.

Nonetheless, Jaafar’s outstanding drive was rewarded with the Carlin driver’s first British F3 victory and second-place overall in the race – the second feature race on Sunday, again won by Marciello, saw JJ finish third to secure the spot

“I’m really happy to have beaten the British F3 field and take my first win in the series, as I’ve been waiting a long time for it. My first win, together with listening to the Negaraku, made this very a very special day; it was an amazing feeling. The support from home has never stopped motivating me to be on top,” he said.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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Meet Lotus Racing’s newest kid, the Evora GTC, essentially a lightened GT4 Enduro with some go-faster bits. The vehicle carries over the GT4 Enduro’s 4.0 litre V6, with 450 hp and 460 Nm of torque, as well as its XTRAC six-speed sequential paddle-shift gearbox, but the car has gone on a diet.

Carbon-fibre doors, roof and engine cover have replaced fiberglass panels, and Plexiglass replaces the windows to trim yet more weight off what is already a very light car. At 1,130 to 1,140kg, depending on specification, the GTC tips the scales at 30 kg lighter than the Enduro.

Bits have been added on for it though – traction control and a Bosch racing ABS system have been added to optimise power delivery and braking control. The car also features wider wheels and tyres to give the car more grip through the curves – the front and rear wheels rise to 18x10Js and 12Js respectively, mated to 27/65-18 tyres at the front and 30/65-18s at the rear.

In order to accommodate the wider wheels, flared arches have been fitted, which give the car a more aggressive silhouette without hampering the aerodynamics. Initial testing has already revealed the GTC to be faster than the previous evolution.

As well as the MSA Endurance Series and Grand-Am GTC (undergoing homologation), the car is eligible for the British GT Championship, VdeV Series, Dutch Supercar, and Creventic Endurance Races such as the Dubai 24 Hours and the 12 Hours of Bathurst.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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The Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel will be priced just over 120,000 euros in Europe, or just above £100,000 in the UK, Autocar UK reported. 50 units of the special edition will be headed for Europe and Infiniti has eight confirmed orders so far, or nine, if one includes the unit the double world champ himself will be getting.

The Sebastian Vettel FX50 S will enter production in October and deliveries start in early 2013. It will be exactly like the concept car shown in Frankfurt last year except for one difference – the matte white paint will be changed to pearlescent white.

Based on the V8-powered FX50 S Premium, Vettel himself has been involved in the development of this special edition, and is said to have specified its sportier chassis setup. Red Bull Racing designed the crossover’s carbonfibre bodykit, which is functional and adds performance – downforce and five per cent lower drag to be specific.

If Europe gets 50, there will be 150 units of the Vettel FX to go around the rest of the world. In Malaysia, the 2012 Infiniti FX37 is priced from RM435,000 OTR excluding insurance.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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Nissan is doing well compared to its Japanese peers. It was announced that profits made a sharp jump in the first quarter of 2012 on the back of an aggressive push in fast-growing markets. The Yokohama-based company reported a net profit of 75.3 billion yen (US$943 million), up from 30.8 billion yen from 2011.

Global sales hit 4.8 million units in its 2011 financial year, a company record. For the full FY ending in March 2012, Nissan reported net income of 341.4 billion yen, a 7% rise on the previous year. Japan’s second-biggest carmaker outperformed rivals Honda and Toyota, both of which reported lower profits.

The past 12 months have been a tough one for Japanese carmakers. The tsunami and earthquake disaster in Japan disrupted production lines and caused power shortages. And just when they were back on steam, the massive floods that covered Thailand – a regional base for most Japanese brands – bogged them down again. Nissan bounced back faster from these setbacks to create today’s headline.

In addition to the natural disasters, a strong currency has hurt Japanese exporters as it makes their goods more expensive overseas and eats into the profits they bring back. “It is an even more encouraging performance given the headwinds created by natural disasters, an over-valued yen and uncertain global economic conditions,” underlined Nissan’s CEO Carlos Ghosn.

No resting on laurels – Nissan is predicting an even better showing for the current financial year. Global sales is forecasted at 5.35 million units, an increase of more than 10%, while net profits are predicted to hit 400 billion yen.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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The Panamera will no longer be Porsche’s only four-door child. The baby Pana, codenamed Pajun, will be introduced by 2017 and will bring the total model lines to six.

Price tag for the Pajun will be between 65,000 euros and 100,000 euros. Porsche’s new sedan will compete with the Mercedes-Benz E class and CLS coupe cars, says Auto Bild. However, the German car magazine did not cite any sources.

Porsche may also add another model to the line up, bringing the total to seven from the current four – 911, Boxster/Cayman series, Cayenne and Panamera. The fifth, the Macan compact SUV, will go into production next year.

The Pajun code name stands for Panamera Junior, similiar to the Macan’s code name which was Cajun, or Cayenne junior.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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Toyota recently announced that worldwide cumulative sales of its Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle (IMV) project series reached five million units at the end of March.

Development of the IMV series started with three models – Hilux, Innova and Fortuner – for introduction in 2004 to over 140 countries. Based on the concept of producing vehicles where they are sold, Toyota established a worldwide production and supply system to offer vehicles quickly, and at an affordable price.

Currently, IMV vehicles are manufactured in 11 locations across the globe, including four countries designated as global IMV supply bases: Thailand, Indonesia, Argentina and South Africa. From here, vehicles are shipped to Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania, Central and South America, and the Middle East.

In addition, major components such as diesel engines produced in Thailand, petrol engines produced in Indonesia and transmissions produced in the Philippines and India are distributed to IMV-producing countries.

The IMV series has proved popular in the developing world, reaching the one million vehicle milestone in 2006, two million in 2008, three million in 2009, four million in 2010, and five million this year.

So it comes as no surprise that TMC will continue to put emerging markets as top priority, as stated in the Toyota Global Vision. TMC aims to increase its sales in such markets from the present ratio of 40% of worldwide sales to 50% by 2015.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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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.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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BMW is lining up the Porsche Boxster in its sights and will do so with the next-generation Z4, according to a report from Insideline. The report quotes well-placed company sources, who also say the new Z4 will be sportier than the previous versions, making it more of a driver’s car than the current Z4 and the previous Z3.

The next Z4 will go through some design changes. The new car will have its long hood shortened, but it will have minimal impact on the overall design of the car. It seems that there are a lot of people out there who like the shape of the current model, and the German carmaker does not want to turn away current fans.

The report also says that the current four-cylinder turbocharged N20 engine, which powers the current Z4, can also be found in the next one. The lighter engine will give the two-seater roadster a more favourable weight distribution for better handling performance.

The new Z4 is planned for a 2015 launch date, though little else can be pried from the report.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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Since we’re back on a bit of a roll, here’s another one from Beijing. Geely’s GLEagle GX7 is the first SUV from the company which owns Volvo, and the seven-seater has just made its market debut in China.

Shape-wise, you’ll again probably see that reinterpreted from elsewhere, but the lines look clean enough on the 4,540 mm long, 1,835 mm wide and 1,700 mm tall vehicle, which has a 2,661 mm wheelbase.

The GX7 is available in two petrol engine guise forms, these being a 4G18 1.8 litre and a 4G20 2.0 litre. Reports mention that a 2.4 litre unit is to join the lineup sometime this year. At the show, what looked like a diesel mill called the 4D20 was also mentioned, but no idea if that’s currently on the cards.

Transmission options are a five-speed manual and six-speed auto, but there’s also mention of a 7DCT unit in that mix (though the diesel does only with manual and auto). Elsewhere, items on the kit list include ESC, seven airbags, a GSG Geely Intelligent Stop-go system, 17-inch wheels and 225/65 series rubbers.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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The rotary-powered Mazda RX-8′s life is coming to an end, no thanks to stricter emission rules. And as a send off, Mazda created a final special edition for the unique four-door coupe called Spirit-R, launched in November last year and limited to 1,000 units.

But too many enthusiasts wanted a piece of the farewell cake, so Mazda has decided to extend production of the Spirit-R by another 1,000 units. According to the Hiroshima-based carmaker, orders poured in from customers of all ages, including sports car fans and rotary engine enthusiasts. The six-speed manual has been more popular, accounting for 66% of orders.

Both manual and auto variants have their own exclusive kit. The self-shifter sports aero parts, “hard suspension” with Bilstein dampers, Recaro fabric bucket seats, aluminum pedal set and 19-inch bronze-painted forged aluminum wheels.

The six-speed Activematic auto, on the other hand, gets black leather seats (eight-way powered, with memory), “sports suspension,” 225/45 91W tyres and 18-inch alloys (gun metallic) and heated front seats. Three body colours are available for both – Aluminum Metallic, Sparkling Black Mica and Crystal White Pearl Mica.

Kit shared across the board are special ornament, black bezel lamps, larger brake rotors, piano black trim, front/side/curtain airbags, DSC and TCS, leather steering and centre console box with red stitching. The Spirit-R is priced at 3,250,000 yen (RM124,789) for the manual and 3,120,000 yen (RM119,816) for the auto.

Mazda started selling the twin-rotor rotary RX-8 in April 2003, and as of March 31, 2012, has produced 192,094 units of the rear-wheel drive sportscar. Production ends next month. Sayonara!

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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More from the sifted pile of Beijing pix. The name sounds like a play on the name of the son of the Greek god Helios, which of course adorns a certain German luxury sedan. But Changan’s Raeton 1.8T is very much its own car, and is very much a move into the upmarket side of things for the Chinese automaker, by the looks of it.

The 4.90 metre-long vehicle – the biggest model to bear the Changan name – is equipped with a 1.8 litre turbocharged engine, with output figures being 174 hp at 5,000 to 5,500 rpm and 240 Nm from 1,850 to 4,800 rpm.

The mill is mated to a six-speed auto box, and performance specs include a 210 km/h top speed and an 8.4 litre per 100 km fuel consumption. Other numbers include a 2,810 mm long wheelbase, and the car comes with ESP, with ABS, EBD and EBA in the list. No photos of the mid-sized offering’s interior, sorry about that – it was one of those many ‘snap and run’ moments.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:52:01 +0000.

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