Paul Tan's Automotive News » International News

SsangYong XIV-2 concept to make Geneva debut

Anthony Lim — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:39:11 +0000

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SsangYong is set to give its XIV-2 concept car its debut in Geneva next month. The eXciting User Interface Vehicle 2, to give it its full name, is the follow up of XIV-1 concept that was presented in Frankfurt last year, with a convertible twist to it.

The XIV-2 measures in at 4.16 metres long, 1.82 metres wide and 1.56 metres tall, with a 2.6 metre wheelbase, and will be equipped with eco-friendly, fuel efficient 1.6 litre diesel and petrol engines meeting Euro VI emission regulations.

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The Korean automaker is developing the concept as a premium crossover utility vehicle, with a view of it becoming a strategic model for the global market. SsangYong says that the vehicle’s styling cues are based around ‘a special experience with fun’ theme, and blends the characteristics of a robust and powerful SUV with the dynamic style of an open top sports coupé.

The XIV-2 features a one-touch automatic opening soft-top roof to provide ‘wind in the hair’ driving enjoyment, and its futuristic and aesthetic appearance is very much aimed at bowling over the younger generation.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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Kia Red Rock Special Edition Soul – one more for the US

Anthony Lim — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:43:11 +0000

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Kia has unveiled the seventh in a series of unique SE versions that has come about with its Soul five-door hatch. This one, called the Red Rock Special Edition Soul, unsurprisingly derives its inspiration from the rock formations found in the North American Southwest.

The production model includes a number of features designed to set it apart from other Soul variants, led by a lustrous exterior shade called Canyon. Other RRSE exterior features include a high-gloss black front fascia and mirror housings, while the interior gets exclusive black leather trim and brown cloth seats.

The edition began life as a concept, premiering at last year’s New York auto show. Following its debut, the Red Rock Special Edition concept toured the US, and with enough favourable nods has made the journey from concept to reality. Proof then that there’s more than one way to stir your Soul.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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Kia KH: first sketches of all-new RWD flagship sedan

Anthony Lim — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:51:25 +0000

Kia has revealed the first sketches of what will be its all-new flagship sedan, which is set to be introduced in the Korean market sometime in the first half of the year. The KH, as it’s codenamed, won’t just be limited to the domestic market – Kia says the car will be its flag-bearer in other markets globally.

No details about the car, save that it’ll have the honour of being the company’s first rear-wheel drive vehicle. Kia says that the the design concept behind the KH is tagged as ‘distinctive, modern and classic,’ but there are enough family-look cues on call, the radiator grille design being one of them.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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Hyundai Elantra Coupe – two-door joins the line-up

Anthony Lim — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:04:27 +0000

Hyundai has introduced its new two-door Elantra Coupe at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. Designed at Hyundai’s North American Design Center in Irvine, California, the car continues on the company’s dynamic “Fluidic Sculpture” design principles, with a signature hexagonal front fascia opening and jewelled swept-back headlights giving it a lean, aggressive demeanour.

Other design cues include a blacked-out diffuser valance, dual chrome-tipped exhaust tips and a boot lid incorporating a lip spoiler design element at the rear. On the SE version, the car rides on five-spoke 17-inch alloys.

The car is equipped with a 1.8 litre Nu D-CVVT petrol engine, offering 148 hp at 6,500 rpm and 178Nm of torque at 4,700 rpm, with a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions to be had.

Standard kit includes Vehicle Stability Management, ESC, TCS, ABS with brake assist and EBD, as well as six airbags (front, front side and side curtain), and features on the Coupe include a 7-inch touchscreen navigation system with rearview camera and iPod/USB inputs, Bluetooth and push-button ignition.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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Aston Martin V12 Zagato – production car images out

Anthony Lim — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:13:07 +0000

The first images of Aston Martin’s production V12 Zagato, which is scheduled to enter the market in the fourth quarter this year, have been released. The car – of which only 150 examples will be built – will make its first European appearance in Geneva.

Last May saw the V12 Zagato make its world debut at the prestigious Villa d’Este concours, and with consumer demand the decision was made to build a strictly limited run of cars.

Each Zagato, constructed from a combination of hand crafted aluminium and carbon fibre, will take approximately 2,000 man-hours to complete. Four unique colours have been created for the car, these being Scintilla Silver, Alloro Green, Alba Blue and Diavolo Red.

Inside, the car will feature Seven Bridge of Weir hides in a semi-aniline finish to offer durability while preserving the natural texture of the leather as trim material. Workmanship details will include hand-stitched quilting of a unique design to create a flowing pattern across the seats and headlining as well as ‘Z’ embroidery in the headrests and rear parcel shelf.

Elsewhere, the dashboard and centre stack wears satin-finish carbon fibre, with piano black accents and satin black rotary switchgear and carbon fibre sill plaques, with a ‘V12 Zagato’ inlaid metal script providing a distinctive finishing touch.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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Want to drive a Nissan Leaf? Rent one in London or Paris

Anthony Lim — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:48:22 +0000

Heading to London or Paris in the next three months, and looking to rent a car for travel? Well, you can join the folks at Fringe by driving a Nissan Leaf. Nissan and rental firm Europcar have teamed up to offer the Leaf as a short-term hire in the two cities. Sounds like a great idea for those who are unsure whether an EV will cut it for their needs – think of it as a trial run in real world conditions.

Every customer hiring a Leaf – which has a 175 km operating range on a single charge – will be given a face-to-face handover by a Europcar representative, who has been fully trained on the car and its workings. Simplifying the process, Europcar will recharge the car completely free of charge, even waiving the standard service fee usually made for vehicle refuelling.

The pilot scheme will initially run for three months, but success will potentially see it widened to other cities in France and Great Britain, as well as other countries in Europe. No mention of rental rates, but there’s only one way to find out, I guess …

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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Chevrolet Cruze – wagon to make Geneva debut

Anthony Lim — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:24:16 +0000

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Chevrolet will be debuting its wagon version of the Cruze at the Geneva show, and the vehicle is due to join the sedan and hatch models in the lineup within the next 12 months.

Not much details as yet, but the company says that the new wagon will feature generous storage space and a high level of standard and safety features. The exterior design features a tapering single arch roofline and comes with roof racks as standard, providing convenience while maintaining a poised and sporty look.

The wagon measures in at 4.67 metres long, slightly longer than the hatch (4.51 metres) and sedan (4.59 metres), and load space ranges from 500 litres up to the window line in the rear to nearly 1,500 litres up to the roof top with the rear seats folded down.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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Mitsubishi to debut all-new 2012 Outlander in Geneva

Anthony Lim — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:20:20 +0000

The all-new Geneva debutant teased by Mitsubishi last month now has a name and face to it – the vehicle is the next-generation Outlander. The SUV is set for its global premiere at the Swiss show next month.

The European-market specification Outlander will get both petrol and diesel variants – the petrol mill is the 4J11 2.0 litre SOHC MIVEC four-cylinder, which employs an all-new valvetrain, while the diesel job is the 4N14 2.2 litre turbocharged four-pot MIVEC engine, the latter working with a 2WD drivetrain and six-speed manual transmission. There’s no mention of output figures, but Geneva should take care of that.

Among the items in the kitbag are an Auto Stop&Go idle-stop system, an Adaptive Cruise Control System, Lane Departure Warning System as well as a Forward Collision Mitigation System, the last which detects obstacles on the road ahead of the car and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision.

Interior features include a gloss black instrument panel, silver decorative accents for the switches and the use of soft-touch dashboard trim material. Meanwhile, the second- and third-row seats can be easily configured to provide a number of seating patterns and also a long luggage space with a flat floor, and there’s a power-operated tailgate too.

The vehicle is set to be launched first in Russia this summer, after which it will make its debut in European, Japanese, Chinese, Oceania and North American markets. And sometime later this year, a plug-in hybrid Outlander is due to be introduced.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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Volkswagen Tiguan 132TSI Pacific – a SE for Australia

Anthony Lim — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:18:02 +0000

Yet another special edition has popped up, and this one, from Volkswagen, is meant exclusively for the Australian market. It’s called the Tiguan 132TSI Pacific, and helping to distinguish the vehicle as a SE are a host of comfort and convenience items as standard fitment.

Among the items in the kit bag are Park Assist 2, auto dimming rear view mirror, dual zone climate control, vanity mirror with lighting for driver and passenger, automatic headlight sensors, coming-and-leaving home function, rain sensing wipers and front fog lights.

VW Australia has four engine variants of the SUV on call, but the one that has been chosen to wear the Pacific tag is the 177 hp 2.0 litre TSI, which comes equipped with a six-speed manual transmission and 4MOTION all-wheel drive as standard, though there’s the DSG box available as an option.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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VIDEO: Alfa Romeo Giulietta plays ice hockey in the UK

Danny Tan — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:28:47 +0000

With cold wintery weather forecast for the UK this week, and freezing temperatures set to affect many UK roads, Alfa Romeo UK thought of an unusual way to promote the Italian brand – get the Giulietta to play ice hockey!

The key was to showcase the Giulietta’s All Weather mode via Alfa’s driver selectable D.N.A. system, and Alfa teamed up with stunt driver Paul Swift and the UK’s top ice hockey team, Coventry Blaze, to create the video you see here.

In the 1:41 clip, captured solely by the iPhone 4S, you’ll see the sexy C-segment hatchback taking on Blaze star David Phillips in the Coventry Skydome ice rink, in a challenge of icy skill and pinpoint control.

In the “man vs car” battle, the fella in red delivered two cool trick shots – striking a one-inch thick by three-inch diameter hockey puck from just inside the end zone into the home team’s six feet wide net guarded by a goalie. Remember, do not attempt to drive into Sunway Pyramid to repeat these tricks, however fun it looks

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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VW to assemble T5 Transporter and Multivan in Indonesia

Danny Tan — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:57:40 +0000

Volkswagen will assemble “Semi Knocked Down” (SKD) units of its Transporter and Multivan vans in Indonesia. Both based on the current T5 platform, the vans will be for the local market. Indonesia is ASEAN’s most populous country and people carriers are the most popular choice of vehicle there.

The T5 Transporters and Multivans will be built at Volkswagen’s Hanover plant in Germany before being transported to its SKD Center in Bissendorf/Wedemark nearby. Here, the vehicles will be partially disassembled and before making the long journey to Jakarta via Hamburg. At the destination, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ partner Indomobil/Garuda Mataram Motor will pay duty on the SKD units before piecing back the vans.

“We are very pleased that this successful and trusted partner is now also assembling our models for this growth-oriented market. This ensures the product quality which Volkswagen customers are accustomed to, and which they expect from a premium product like the T5,” said Jens Ocksen, Member of the Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles for Production.

A hassle yes, but the duties and taxes saved over bringing in a fully CBU car from Germany must be worthwhile. VW plans to assemble around 220 T5s this year, and the first vehicles will be delivered this month. Do you think a Hyundai Starex type of Volkswagen passenger van will work in Malaysia?

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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Honda’s Thai plant to resume production end of March

Anthony Lim — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:36:43 +0000

Some updates about Honda’s Thai production, which was expected to be out for up to six months from October last year when it was inundated with floodwaters. The company says it is planning to resume vehicle production at its assembly plant in Rojana Industrial Park, Ayutthaya, by the end of March.

The plant was severely affected by the flooding that hit the Kingdom last year; production was suspended on October 4, and the company has since been restoring plant facilities and manufacturing equipment since completing the drainage of the floodwater and carrying out cleaning up operations.

“In October 2011, we had to temporarily suspend production at our facilities in Rojana Industrial Park, which inevitably impacted unit sales. We have finished repairing and installing production equipment and are now running thorough system checks,” Honda Automobile Thailand’s executive vice president, Pitak Pruittisarikorn said in a statement.

He added that until production at Ayutthaya resumes, the company will import Jazz and Accord models from Japan for local sales. Production of parts for export to Honda’s plants in other ASEAN countries will also resume – Honda says that it expects these plants, which had to suspend production due to a shortage of parts, to restart production in April.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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Skoda Citigo five-door set for Geneva debut

Anthony Lim — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:11:24 +0000

Some news about the Skoda Citigo. The company has announced that the five-door version of the city car – essentially the cousin of the Volkswagen Up! – is set to debut at the Geneva show next month, joining the three-door version which was revealed last September and which began selling in its home market, the Czech Republic, in late 2011.

Like the three-door variant, it’ll be powered by a 1.0 litre three-cylinder MPI mill in two output tunes, 60 PS and 75 PS, and should be presumably mated to the same five-speed manual transmission as found in the former. Both five- and three-door models are scheduled to be successively launched in European markets starting from mid-May this year.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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Ford’s 1.0 litre EcoBoost mill set to make market debut in March, to be available across the Focus model range

Anthony Lim — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:00:06 +0000

Ford’s new 1.0 litre EcoBoost engine is set to make its market debut in the UK, across the Ford Focus range starting from next month. The turbocharged, direct injection three-cylinder mill, which was officially unveiled in Frankfurt last year, will be available with two power levels, these being 125 PS and 100 PS.

The 125 PS output tune delivers 170 Nm of peak torque (200 Nm with overboost) between 1,400 and 4,500rpm, giving it the highest power density of any Ford production engine to date. In terms of numbers, this is equivalent in terms of power to the naturally-aspirated 1.6 litre Duratec Ti-VCT engine as found in the Focus, while the torque from the EcoBoost shades the 159 Nm in the NA 1.6 (conversely, the 1.6 Ti-VCT in the Fiesta here has 122 PS and 148 Nm).

After its debut in the Focus, the UK-developed engine is set to feature in the C-MAX, Grand C-MAX and all-new B-MAX later this year.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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Reports: Lotus looking for £500m partner, Genii interested

Danny Tan — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:22:44 +0000

Reports coming from the UK say that Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar is looking for financial partners to buy over the sportscar maker from Proton. The Sunday Times news piece suggested that Bahar is not looking for any partner, but one with the ability to fund Lotus’ costly five-year turnaround plan, one with £500 million ready to invest.

The report adds that Genii Capital is interested in the loss-making Proton subsidiary. Genii, which already owns the Lotus F1 team, is said to have been eyeing Group Lotus for some time and is “close to completing due diligence”.

If the report is accurate, we have a willing buyer. But is Proton’s new owner, DRB-Hicom, a willing seller? “Options are open. At this particular moment, I’m open to sell or not to sell Lotus,” DRB-Hicom boss Datuk Seri Mohd Khamil Jamil was quoted as saying.

Proton, owner since 1996, has already poured in a lot of resources into Group Lotus – should they wait for the fruits of the investment or cut their losses?

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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Fiat 500L 5-door hatch coming soon, 7-seater on the way!

Danny Tan — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:25:30 +0000

Fiat’s reborn icon is about to grow in size. The popular retro styled 500 will get a five-door hatchback variant called 500L, L for large. Codenamed L-Zero, the supermini sized 500L will make its debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.

Reports say that the 5dr’s front end is similar to the current 500, although the 500L will sit on a widened Punto platform. The 500L will be around 4,150 mm long, which is about 60 mm longer that the current three-door 500 hatch. European sales start in July, followed two months later by a seven-seat version that is around 10 mm longer than the five-seater.

Engine options will most probably include Fiat’s TwinAir turbocharged two-cylinder 900 cc engine (85 hp), a 1.4L petrol with 77 hp or 105 hp, as well as a 1.3L diesel with 75 hp or 95 hp.

The current Fiat Idea small MPV will be discontinued at the end of this year, and the 500L will fill that hole in Fiat’s European range. Continental rivals will include Citroen’s C3 Picasso, Ford’s B-Max and the MINI Countryman. The 500L will be built in Kragujevac, Serbia.

The modern Fiat 500 has been a success for the Italian brand, finding more than 770,000 new homes since 2007. Last year, Fiat sold over 195,000 units of the 500 worldwide, including 26,000 units in North America, a non-traditional market for small cars.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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Striking workers halt Indonesian production output

Anthony Lim — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:52:18 +0000

It’s not just natural disasters that can halt production – over in Indonesia, Honda was one of the many Japanese companies forced to stop output last Friday when more than 10,000 workers demanding better wages blocked a major highway, the Nikkei reports.

Police say the workers took to the streets around industrial areas in Bekasi, some 30 km east of Jakarta, effectively closing a highway connecting Bekasi to the heart of the capital and Jakarta’s main port and international airport.

Virtually all companies located at Sumitomo Corporation’s East Jakarta Industrial Park were forced to idle plants when the strike hit. “Operations at 4,000 to 5,000 companies may have been affected,” a government spokesperson was quoted as saying.

Every year, local administrators in the country set minimum wages for each district and sector, and the West Java government decided this year on a 20-30% wage hike in Bekasi. The Indonesian employers association filed a complaint with an arbitration body, which on Thursday ruled for a review of the raise, sparking the massive protest, the report added.

Although management and labour are expected to keep negotiating, West Java is preparing to appeal to a higher body to revoke the ruling. A protracted dispute will have an impact on the supply chains of Japanese and other Asian manufacturers, many of which use Indonesia as an export hub. For example, the world’s number one manufacturer of optical pickups, Sanyo Electric, has its main factory for the key component, which is used in DVD players and the like, in Indonesia.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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Honda CR-Z “Label α” – burgundy coloured special edition

Danny Tan — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:01:58 +0000

The Honda CR-Z has been rather well received in Malaysia. Launched in November last year, Honda Malaysia targeted to sell 100 units of the RM115k hybrid by the end of 2011, but has received over 300 bookings within a month of the launch.

In December, Honda Malaysia announced the availability of three new colours – Storm Silver Metallic, Milano Red and Crystal Black Pearl. This year will also see HM bring in a CVT version of the CR-Z, now only available with a six-speed manual gearbox. This will further widen the appeal of the hybrid coupe, which is now only considered by enthusiasts and those with an active left leg.

In Japan, those shopping for a CR-Z will have this special edition “Label α” model to choose from. It goes on sale this week and will be available as a limited release until the end of May. Nothing major, just bespoke burgundy pearl metallic finish on the outside with a matching interior color for the seats, door panels plus the stitching on the leather steering wheel and stick shifter.

The “Label α” also gets aluminum sport pedals and alloy wheels, the latter not standard across the range in Japan. Available in both CVT and manual form, it is priced at 2,510,000 yen (or about US$32,150) in Japan.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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Aston Martin V12 Zagato – first production car to debut in Kuwait Concours d’Elegance in February

Anthony Lim — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 02:59:39 +0000

Aston Martin is set to debut the first production V12 Zagato at the third Kuwait Concours d’ Elegance, which runs on February 15-18.

The car, which made its debut in prototype form in May last year at the Villa D’Este Concours in Italy, is being built in strictly limited numbers of up to 150 cars, with the first customer deliveries scheduled in late 2012.

The Zagato, based on the V12 Vantage, features a handcrafted aluminium and carbon-fibre body along with a bespoke interior, and is powered by a 6.0 litre V12 mill offering 510 hp and 570 Nm of torque.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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On eBay: Barack Obama’s Chrysler 300C going for $1m

Danny Tan — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:06:08 +0000

There’s only one reason for the presidential price tag on this 2005 Chrysler 300C – it was used by US President Barack Obama! Put up on eBay by one “cubfanatic23″ for US$1,000,000, this 300C was said to be used by Obama when he was Illinois State Senator, before he occupied the White House.

The seller says that he has the original Illinois title showing this Chrysler (VIN #:2C3AA63H55H174644) was actually used by Obama. The 300C was transferred to Obama on 13 July 2004 when the vehicle had two miles on it. He then put over 19,000 miles on the clock.

The seller presumes that the 19k miles included many highway miles back and forth from Chicago to Springfield. Obama won election to the US Senate in November 2004 and could have driven the car between Washington D.C. and Chicago in 2005/2006.

Apparently, Obama received negative media attention regarding his choice of car – a heavy drinking V8 Hemi machine. So the man boosted his green credentials and traded it in for a friendlier Ford Escape Hybrid in 2007.

Mr Seller reminds punters that this is not a joke, nor is the $1m asking price. He points out that President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s 1977 Peugeot 504 fetched £1.5million at an auction, and a 1975 Ford Escort GL once owned by Pope John Paul II sold for $690,000 to a Houston multimillionaire.

Interested? You have just over five days left to make a move!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +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 Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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Acura ILX Concept previews a new entry level saloon

Danny Tan — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:02:17 +0000

At the recent Detroit show, Honda’s luxury brand Acura teased us all with the NSX Concept, but another showcar is much closer to the showroom than the supercar, the ILX Concept.

Billed as the precursor to an all-new compact sedan, the production version of this will roll off Honda’s Indiana plant and is scheduled for a spring 2012 launch. Acura doesn’t call it “the new TSX” but since it will be “positioned as the gateway to the Acura brand”, a position the Acura badged Honda Accord Euro (that’s what the TSX is) now sits on, it’s either that or a new entry level model. The latter scenario will leave Acura with four sedans in its range.

“The ILX Concept has a compact, yet formal proportion, targeting a very professional image. The Acura ILX delivers both, with a low and wide stance and a long nose and a short tail that are aerodynamically efficient, the ILX is immediately recognisable as an Acura,” said Jon Ikeda, head of the Acura Design Studio.

The ILX will feature three different powertrains, including Acura’s first-ever gas-electric hybrid. The range starts with a 2.0-litre inline four, then a high-performance model with a 2.4L engine paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. The hybrid in question is a 1.5-litre petrol engine plus electric motor combo. This should be largely similar to the 1.5 IMA with CVT pairing found in the Civic Hybrid.

New features include a smart entry keyless access system and push button start, along with Pandora internet radio interface and SMS text message function. Front, side and curtain airbags, 4-channel anti-lock brakes and Vehicle Stability Assist will be standard, and Acura anticipates top ratings in both NHTSA and IIHS crash safety tests.

I see a bit of Lexus IS and a bit of Nissan Fuga in the rear three quarters shot. Like it?

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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Mitsubishi to produce ASX in Indonesia starting this year

Danny Tan — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:11:59 +0000

Mitsubishi Motors has announced it will start production and sales of the ASX (also known as Outlander Sport) in Indonesia. This will happen in the first half of MMC’s fiscal year 2012. FY 2011 for MMC ends on 31 March this year, so assembly will start anytime from April to September. The compact crossover will be put together at P.T. Krama Yudha Ratu Motor Factory (KRM), MMC’s consigned assembler in Indonesia.

“Introduction of the Outlander Sport is going be the beginning of a new history for both KTB (P.T. Krama Yudha Tiga Berlian Motors, MMC’s exclusive distributor for Indonesia) and MMC,” MMC President Osamu Masuko said in Jakarta.

This move is part of MMC’s effort to concentrate resources on emerging markets, a major pillar of its JUMP 2013 mid-term business plan announced in January 2011. The fast growing ASEAN region is high priority.

For Malaysia, MMC announced in September 2011 that it is working on a strategic collaboration with Proton that will see the latter produce engines for MMC. The scope also includes consignment production of Mitsubishi vehicles at Proton’s Tanjung Malim plant, and sharing of components between MMC’s Mirage and Proton’s upcoming “Global Small Car”.

At that time, the ASX was said to be one of the models for CKD, but it looks like Indonesia has got that job now. Of course, the Proton-MMC collaboration was done before the national carmaker had a new owner in DRB-Hicom. Will working with MMC fit in with DRB’s plans for Proton, or not?

The ASX featured in our recent five-fold mega SUV shootout – click here to read that one.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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Jaguar XF gets two new variants, Sport and SE Business

Anthony Lim — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:12:55 +0000

Jaguar has introduced two new variants of the XF, called the SE Business and Sport editions, and both feature the 2.2 litre diesel unit in different output tunes.

The SE Business gets the 163 PS version, and adds satellite navigation, complete with a seven-inch touchscreen and HDD mapping on top of the kit already specified in standard specification form, which includes intelligent start stop, a 400 watt sound system with DAB digital radio, leather and suede-cloth seats and bi-Xenon headlights.

Meanwhile, the Sport model is based on the 2.2 Diesel 190 PS engine, and adds the full aerodynamic pack which debuted on the Diesel S. This includes a revised front bumper, a black grille element, side sill extensions, a subtle rear boot lid spoiler and a black rear valance.

Inside, the Sport features half leather suede-cloth seats, bond grain trim and dove contrast stitch as well as electric driver and passenger adjustment. The version also gets piano black trim with ‘Sport’ decals on the centre console and stainless steel foot pedals.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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Mitsubishi teases all-new vehicle ahead of Geneva debut

Danny Tan — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 04:10:40 +0000

Click to enlarge image

Detroit has passed and now it’s Geneva’s turn in the annual major motor show calendar, so expect to see teasers and online reveals before the wraps come off in Switzerland in March. Here’s one from Mitsubishi, teasing a new model from the front. While it looks like a development of the Concept PX-MiEV, MMC didn’t give any clue on the type of vehicle, only saying that it’s an all new model.

To be sold within this year, this mystery model marks the start of an all-new generation of global products for Mitsubishi Motors, which is set in MMC’s “Jump 2013” business plan for a greener and more global Mitsubishi. This new family of cars and SUVs will see a “gradual transition to a re-focused design language”.

This new design language is not yet finalised, but it’s said to be flexible enough to suit specific vehicle requirements whilst staging MMC’s famous Three Diamond logo accordingly. The company says that this “engineering-driven look” will be “refined yet assertive”.

Click here to see the Concept PX-MiEV that was shown in Tokyo 2011.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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Toyota TS030 Hybrid – the Le Mans challenger unveiled

Anthony Lim — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:53:16 +0000

Where one journey ends, another begins. Last week, the FIA World Endurance Championship lost Peugeot; this week, Toyota unveiled its entry, the TS030 Hybrid, which is set to join the fray in specific races.

The TS030 Hybrid is the successor to the TS010 and TS020 cars which participated at Le Mans with podium success during the 1990s, and the new 4.65 metre-long car sits on a brand new carbon-fibre LMP1 chassis that has been developed and produced at TMG.

The TS030 Hybrid is powered by THS-R (Toyota Hybrid System – Racing) powertrain consisting of an all-new V8 3.4 litre normally-aspirated petrol engine and hybrid system, the latter featuring a capacitor storage system developed by official team partner Nisshinbo.

Testing and evaluation is continuing on the merits on the front motor system – produced by Aisin AW – and a rear motor system developed by Denso, with regulations limiting hybrid systems to recovering a maximum of 500 kJ between braking zones whilst restricting deployment to only two wheels.

In announcing the arrival of the TS030 Hybrid, which made its first roll-out on track at Paul Ricard earlier in the month, the company also revealed its intention to race two cars in specific races. The Toyota Motorsport vehicle will make its race debut on May 5 in the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship,and two TS030 Hybrids will be entered in the subsequent Le Mans 24 Hours on June 16-17.

A driver line-up of Alex Wurz, Nicolas Lapierre and Kazuki Nakajima has already been confirmed for one car, while discussions are still ongoing to finalise the driver line-up for the other.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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Audi R8 Limo – stretching the V10 to the limit

Anthony Lim — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:30:13 +0000

Fancy being chauffered around in a Audi R8? Well, you can if you happen to be in the UK sometime after summer this year. Specialist limousine service company Limo Broker has announced plans to create the world’s first R8 stretch limousine.

Work has already begun on the creation of the one-of-a-kind white example, under the guidance of Chris Wright from Carbonyte UK. Carbonyte UK, which is also responsible for the world’s only Ferrari limo, will work in conjunction with Limo Broker to create the vehicle, which is set to become the signature car for the Limo Broker brand.

There’s a rendered video which gives a 3D outline of the concept behind the limo, and an impression of how the finished stretched supercar will look like. The seating arrangement as displayed from the interior rendering looks pretty cool. So, anyone for a ride?

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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Saab selling off its Trollhattan museum vehicle displays

Anthony Lim — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:19:04 +0000

According to a report, bankrupt Swedish automaker Saab is auctioning off its vehicles on display in its museum in Trollhattan. The company is selling the classic displays online, after failing to find a buyer for the entire collection. The collection is now closed except to serious bidders, with the cars available for viewing online.

Bidding on the vehicles closes tomorrow, UPI reported. A total of 131 vehicles are up for grabs, from the 1946 Ursaab, the first Saab ever produced, to modern prototypes. Also on the list are a blue and yellow 1960 racing Saab as well as a 1981 Turbo 900 “Silver Beast,” which was custom-equipped for James Bond, replete with bullet-proof windows and tires, tear-gas ducts and a “SAAB 007″ license plate.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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New Maruti Swift Dzire spied in India, it’s a ‘Swift Sedan’

Danny Tan — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:01:32 +0000

The previous gen Suzuki Swift, which is still current in Malaysia, spawned a sedan in India called Swift Dzire. The looks were odd, but the booted Swift proved popular. Here’s the new one, based on the latest Swift. Caught on camera by MegaPower Services, it confirms that the Dzire name has been continued, and that a launch is imminent.

Viewed from the rear, the “Swift Sedan” looks decent, but the funny proportions are unavoidable, since Suzuki wanted it to be below four metres in length to enjoy the Indian government’s excise benefits for small cars. As a result, the stubby tailed new Dzire is shorter than the old one, which is 4,160 mm long.

In front, the Dzire is distinguished from the hatch by a new grille and fog lamp housings. The cabin is carried over from the new Swift, which dumped the old minimalist dash for a more conventional layout. Being a sedan, the Dzire is trimmed with “luxury” in mind, as opposed to sporty – a two-tone theme and wood trim can be found.

Engine options are said to include a 1.2-litre K Series petrol and a 1.3-litre Multijet diesel from Fiat, engines that already see service in Maruti’s range.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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Nissan March Nismo Concept shown at Tokyo Auto Salon

Danny Tan — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 01:10:56 +0000

Nissan had this on show at the Tokyo Auto Salon, the Nissan March Nismo Concept. It’s Nissan’s supermini tweaked by racing arm Nismo, and it comes after the similarly themed Juke Nismo Concept from Tokyo 2011. Click here for a full live gallery of that car.

The March gets a body kit which includes a front bumper fascia, side skirts, roof spoiler and rear bumper fascia with diffuser. The exterior, painted in Nismo’s pearl white with trademark stripes, also gets a new grille and side mirrors. The cabin is updated with Nismo designed seats and steering wheel. The March’s suspension is also lowered and it rolls on bigger alloys.

These concepts aren’t just for fun. Last year, Nissan announced a major expansion programme for Nismo that will see the racing arm applying tuning and performance expertise to Nissan road cars.

“The time is now right to let ordinary drivers experience what our racing drivers enjoy every time they head out onto the track. We aim to bring Nismo’s passion and focus on driving excitement to mainstream models,” said Carlos Ghosn, Nissan’s President and CEO.

Makes sense, milking the formidable Nismo name to sell more cars. We have already seen Edaran Tan Chong use Impul for the Malaysian market, but Nismo is the more powerful brand.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Tue, 14 Feb 12 08:38:30 +0000.

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