Archive for International News

Chery Automobile Co. Ltd has shown signs of being a responsible car manufacturer that intends to stick around, rather than taking the “make fast profits and ignore issues like brand building and after sales support” approach that many others have adopted with their shitty deathtraps.

A recall notice has been issued for the Chery T11 Tiggo SUV, a unique visual blend of the 2nd generation Toyota RAV4 and the 2nd generation Honda CR-V which uses Mitsubishi 2.0 and 2.4 liter engines. The recall affects 1,875 of the Chery Tiggo SUVs with automatic transmissions, of which 80 are for the export market. The faulty component involves a fan controller which needs to be repaired. The faulty fan controller might cause engine failure, likely due to overheating.

Related Posts:
Chery Tiggo (Chery T11) coming to Malaysia

DaimlerChrysler filed for the CLC-class trademark in the USA back in May 2006 and recently this month it has been published for opposition. The CLC-class trademark was registered for both class 012 - Automobiles and their structural parts and class 028 - Toy model vehicles. It’s not really known what the CLC-class will be, but some have said it might be a convertible version of the Mercedes Benz CL-class shown above. Check the links below for more details on the Mercedes Benz CL-class.

Related Posts:
2007 Mercedes Benz CL-class, CL500 and CL600
2007 Mercedes Benz CL-class AMG, CL55 and CL65

Source: Trademark Electronic Search System

Volvo will debut it’s new hydraulically controlled dual-clutch gearbox in diesel variants of it’s Volvo S40 sedan and Volvo V50 stationwagon models, coinciding with a mid-life facelift of the two cars. Parent company Ford also plans to introduce the dual-clutch gearbox to other models like the Ford Focus and the Ford Focus C-MAX, which currently also offer CVT gearboxes, as well as the Land Rover Freelander and some Mazda models. Ford Focus ST or MazdaSpeed 3 with a dual-clutch gearbox, anyone?

While Volkswagen’s extremely good Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG) is supplied by BorgWarner, Ford gets it’s units from Getrag, and the system is called Powershift.

Honda is developing a new V6 turbodiesel engine equipped with it’s new NOx catalyst techology which will debut in the new 2nd generation 2.2 liter inline-4 i-CTDi engine. The V6 engine will follow shortly after the launch of the new new 2nd gen inline-4 in the year 2009, and both engines will meet tough new U.S. regulation which requires diesel engines to have emissions pretty much the same level as gasoline engines! The first vehicles that are set to get Honda’s new V6 turbodiesel are Honda’s Ridgeline, Pilot and Odyssey and Acura’s MDX - if you notice, mostly US market vehicles.

Honda Motor Company CEO Takeo Fukui also said that while the 2.3 liter i-VTEC Turbo engine is currently limited to usage in the Acura RDX, it could be possible that the turbocharged gasoline engine might be offered in a Honda vehicle soon, perhaps in a future high performance Accord sedan?

That would be yummy, as revving high to get power is not really a characteristic that goes well with a car that spells space and comfort like the Accord - it’s supposed to waft along really fast with massive torque, not scream along.

Hirohide Ikeno, president of Honda R&D Americas Inc., said the company is also considering V-8 engines. And Honda’s upcoming NSX replacement is said to feature a high performance V10 screamer.

Acura/Honda’s biggest engines right now are currently V6 engines, and this fact hampers US sales for the flagship Acura sedans like the Acura RL, because Americans are after all big fans of big displacements and the V8 growl.

We can say goodbye to the W203 Mercedes Benz C-Class now, as the last of it’s production rolled off Mercedes Benz’s plant in Sindelfingen, 15km south west of Stuttgart, Germany. This particular generation of the C-class was introduced in 2000, replacing the previous W202 C-class introduced in 1993. Following the 7-8 year model cycle that the C-class has always had, this phasing out was expected, and the new W204 Mercedes Benz C-class is expected to have a public debut either at the Detroit Motor Show in January 2007 or the Geneva Motor Show in March 2007.

Above is an undisguised spyshot of the third generation Mercedes Benz C-class, and one again following the tradition of C-classes, it looks like a downsized S-class. The size of the boot looks abit small from the looks of the rear overhang, but then again it might be an optical illusion of sorts to make the car more sporty.

Skoda has unveiled a major update to it’s smart supermini, the Skoda Fabia. The new Skoda Fabia carries Skoda’s new front facia look as shown on the new Skoda Roomster, and from what I can see, there’s also some Suzuki Swift-like design elements in the side profile design. Thanks to the new front bumper, it is a little longer than the previous Fabia (read review here). External measurements of 3992 mm x 1642 mm x 1498 mm make it one of the largest superminis in it’s class. The boot has a basic capacity of 300 litres, up to 1163 liters when the rear seats are folded down.

The new Skoda Fabia comes with 4 petrol engine options as well as 3 diesel engine options. Petrol engines include a 60 horsepower 1.2 liter, a 68 horsepower 1.2 liter, a 84 horsepower 1.4 liter 16 valve, and finally a 1.6 liter 16 valve making 103 horsepower. The oil burners include a 1.4 liter turbodiesel making 68 horsepower, a higher output 79 horsepower 1.4 liter turbodiesel with diesel particulate filter, and a 103 horsepower 1.9 liter turbodiesel also with diesel particulate filter. All engine options come with 5-speed manual transmissions, and the 1.6 liter petrol option can also be equipped with a 6-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission.

New safety features include head airbags for both front and rear seats. In the rear, a childs seat can be affixed with a top-tether belt which limits the forward movement of the upper part of the childs seat in the event of a head-on collision.

One more photo after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of New 2007 Skoda Fabia unveiled

A report from AP says that Volkswagen AG may conduct a due diligence audit on Proton as discussions on a possible tie-up including stake transfer progresses further. Recent newspaper reports have suggested that Volkswagen is the forerunner in the bid to partner with Proton. Volkswagen’s possible 51% purchase into Proton’s manufacturing unit is said to be worth RM 2 billion ringgit, which will result in Proton gaining knowledge through tech transfers as well as a capital injection. Initially, Volkswagen might use Tanjung Malim to assemble the Volkswagen Passat model for the Japan market, taking advantage of Malaysia’s free trade agreement with Japan.

This will result in Volkswagen holding Proton’s manufacturing unit shares, but what is to happen to the government’s 43% stake in the main company Proton Holdings Bhd? This might be where the local partner comes in, a company like DRB-HICOM or Naza could purchase part or all of this stake from the government. Volkswagen is said to have the edge over PSA Peugeot-Citroen because PSA Peugeot-Citroen is interested in a partnership that could involve sales and joint model development collaboration but it did not want to involve a stake transfer.

Sources: IHT, Bernama

Related Posts:
JMEPA: The reason Volkswagen wants Proton?
Proton stake purchase updates
PSA Peugeot Citroen and Proton to meet next week
DRB-HICOM wants to help Proton
DRB-HICOM confirms Proton share purchase talk
Government gives green light to foreign control in Proton

[UPDATE: Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia has launched the new Lancer. Click here for more details on the fully imported Lancer 2.0 GT that's available in Mitsubishi showrooms now.]

Mitsubishi Motors has released details on it’s new 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer, set to make it’s global public premiere at the 2007 North American International Auto Show (the Detroit Motor Show) at the Cobo Center in Detroit.

The new Mitsubishi Lancer is based on Mitsubishi’s new GS Platform, which is also the underpinings for a few other models like the latest Mitsubishi Outlander as well as the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and others. The new Lancer is larger than the current model, with an overall length of 4570 mm (35 mm longer), overall width of 1760 mm (65 mm wider), overall height of 1490 mm (60 mm taller) and wheelbase of 2635 mm (35 mm longer).

The engine for the American market version will be from a new family of engines by Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance, a joint venture between Mitsubishi, DaimlerChrysler and Hyundai. The new 4B11 engine, also used in the new Dodge Caliber, is a 2.0 liter DOHC 16 valve engine with MIVEC variable valve timing, making 152hp, mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. There is also an optional CVT transmission with a 6-speed virtual gear mode called Sportronic(R). Cogs can be swapped via magnesium paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

The European version will come with 5 engine options, including a 140hp 2.0 liter common rail turbodiesel from Volkswagen AG. The performance Evo version is not out yet, but it’s expected to be powered by a 4B11T 2.0 liter MIVEC Turbo making over 300 horses equipped with a dual-clutch gearbox. Dodge used a different approach with it’s Caliber SRT-4, turbocharging the 4B12 2.4 liter instead. Rumours are that the Lancer Ralliart is also expected to come with a turbocharged engine, detuned to position it between the 2.0 MIVEC and the Evo’s 2.0 MIVEC Turbo, or it might just use the 172hp 2.4 liter 4B12, up from the current Ralliart’s 2.4 liter 4G69 SOHC making 160hp.

More photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of New 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer specs and photos

When the new E60 BMW M5 was released, everyone drooled over the awesome 5.0 liter V10 engine, and the advanced 7-speed SMG-III computerized clutch gearbox, but the boys in the stick shift camp found themselves alienated - the SMG-III gearbox was the only gearbox available with the M5.

BMW North America listened, and is now offering the E60 BMW M5 with a manual transmission, a no cost option. The manual box is a 6-speed though, one cog less than SMG-III’s 7 ratios. However, the manual model removes the ability to fully disengage DSC stability control - BMW doesn’t want owners doing 8000-rpm dump launches and making BMW pay for new drivetrain components under the warranty period.

Instead, it will have something called an “M Dynamic Mode”, which turns off most of DSC’s features, similiar to the Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) on the BMW X5, but still keeps some of the electronic governing of madness on - you can’t do redline launches, this means there’ll be no extreme tyre burning with the manual M5.

What exactly is the point then? Takes abit of the fun out of having a manual transmission in the first place, but I guess there’ll have to be some give and take eh? The manual BMW M5 is only available in North America at the moment, the rest of us will have to continue tearing up roads with the SMG-III M5s, not like they’re a bad thing.

A friend of mine and I have always pondered, what was our Prime Minister doing when he handed out abolishment duty for inbound Japanese CBU and CKD packs by 2010 in exchange for duty free export of “fruits” (and others) to Japan in the recent Japan-Malaysia Economic Partnership Agreement (JMEPA), since we do not export any cars to Japan.

What we did not realise is duty free access to the Japanese market has increased the worth of Proton and it’s Tanjung Malim plant tremendously. A report by Forbes quoting AFX News says that the Malaysian government has short-listed Volkswagen AG to be Proton Holdings Bhd’s strategic alliance partner. Of course, being short-listed doesn’t mean Volkswagen will be the final partner chosen. Recent statements by the PM himself mentioned that the strategic partner will only be decided by Quarter 1 2007.

If Volkswagen is indeed The One, the deal will involve Volkswagen taking a 51% controlling stake in Proton’s manufacturing arm. Volkswagen wants to penetrate the Japanese market, and this is the reason for it’s keen interest in Proton - to use Tanjung Malim as an assembly base for Japan-bound cars. In return, Proton will receive sales aids and technology transfer.

Source

Related Links: JMEPA Press Statement Page 1, Page 2