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DUB edition Ford Mustang: looks mean, but only a V6

May 4, 2010 at 4:47 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Ford, International News


Click to enlarge

This hunk of black muscle is the DUB edition Ford Mustang, the result of a collaboration between Ford, Roush Industries and the hip car culture publication. Available in the US this fall, the DUB edition is based on the 2011 Mustang V6, which comes with a fresh 305 bhp 3.7-litre engine with 24 valves and Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) that replaced the ancient 4.0-litre from the previous gen.

The DUB will be offered as a coupe, convertible or a “best-of-both-worlds” Glass Roof option. Both six-speed manual and automatic transmissions are available. Roush parts include the front fascia and splitter, quarter window louvers, windshield banner and lowering springs; the latter goes well with those 20-inch TIS wheels and Pirelli performance tyres.

Also included is a 3.31 rear axle ratio “for spirited acceleration”, DUB logos embroidered in front headrests and a DUB stripe package. Cabins are in black but exterior colour options include Black, Grabber Blue, Race Red and Ingot Silver.

And why a V6? Well, other than the fact that Ford probably wants to highlight their bright new V6 engine that replaces the tired old 4.0-litre, it’s probably a been there done that kinda thing for them as DUB have already done a V8 Mustang for Nelly.

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Ferrari website speaks a new language: Chinese

May 4, 2010 at 11:58 am By Danny Tan Filed Under China, Ferrari, International News

All who peddle premium goods are tripping over themselves in luring new Chinese money, from Louis Vuitton to Ferrari. While LV opened two stores in Shanghai in a day last week, Maranello announced that its official ferrari.com website now speaks Chinese. It was in conjunction with the World Expo opening in Shanghai.

Mandarin is only the fourth language available on the site, after Italian, English and Japanese. This opens up live news updates from Maranello, “Prancing Horse emotions”, activities and products to Chinese readers. They’ll discover interactive areas, car information, F1 news and the Ferrari Store. There’s also a virtual tour of the famous company via video clips and images.

This is further proof of the importance of China to Ferrari, coming straight after the world premiere of the 599 GTO at the Beijing Auto Show. The Prancing Horse brand will also show its Hybrid concept, the Hy-Kers, at the Expo.

Ferrari sold its first car in China in 1993 but only had a commercial presence there since 2004. Last year, they sold over 200 cars in China from 10 dealerships covering Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Nanjing, Dalian and Qingdao. The company also organises Corso Pilota Ferrari driving courses for its Chinese customers, a must I would say.

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GALLERY: Peugeot Hoggar – 206 derived light pick-up truck

May 4, 2010 at 11:13 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Peugeot

Peugeot has released more images of its Hoggar light pick-up truck as we approach its mid-May launch in Brazil. Designed in Brazil for Brazil, the idea behind the Hoggar is similar to that of our Proton Arena/Jumbuck. Proton used the Wira for the Arena, and the Hoggar is based on the South American 207, which is actually a 206 with Peugeot’s “big mouth” corporate face and a new dashboard.

The Hoggar’s load capacity of up to 742 kg and the bed volume of 1,151 litres is very good for small businesses. Setting up shop in the market is made easier with a detachable tailgate that can sustain 300 kg of weight. Three trim levels will be available, and Brazilians can choose from two Flex Fuel engines – the entry-level 1.4-litre with 82 bhp and a 113 bhp 1.6-litre. The top of the range Escapade model comes with 4X4 style addenda and a tonneau cover.

We won’t get this here, but another 206 derived car – the sedan – will be launched later this year. I still see some Arenas being put to good use by night market vendors, although the idea never really caught on here. Gallery after the jump.
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Volkswagen Golf blue-e-motion Concept previews future electric Golf due for 2013 production

May 3, 2010 at 9:16 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Volkswagen

This concept called the Volkswagen Golf blue-e-motion is powered by an electric motor producing 85 kW, which is about 115 PS. Torque is 270Nm across the entire rev range starting from zero revs, and top speed is around 140km/h (due to it having only 1 ratio) which is more than enough for regular driving. And yes, there’s not a single drop of fuel burned in this vehicle – it’s not a hybrid, but a pure electric vehicle.

500 units of the car will be manufactured next year for testing purposes, and full fledged production will happen in 2013 when the car will be launched together with the Jetta blue-e-motion and the Chinese market Lavida blue-e-motion. Volkswagen’s bet is to use bestseller bodies such as the Golf to launch its electric cars as they are already very familiar to consumers, which seems to be a completely different (but perhaps better) strategy from other manufacturers which are going for exclusively hybrid or exclusively electric bodies, such as the Leaf.

“Future electric cars give us enormous opportunities for reshaping mobility to be even more sustainable. When it comes to the environment, however, we must ensure that the energy used to operate these electric cars is produced from renewable sources. Since automotive manufacturers do not have any influence on the types of power plants that are built, the federal government must ensure that eco-friendly energy sources are utilised. Only then will we experience a genuine transition to a new era,” says Dr Martin Winterkorn, Volkswagen’s chairman.

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Volkswagen’s 3-cylinder TDI does 30 km/l in Polo Bluemotion

May 3, 2010 at 4:53 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Volkswagen

Volkswagen’s new baby in its diesel engine range, a 1.2-litre three-cylinder TDI, was paraded at the recent 31st International Vienna Motor Symposium. This block will feature in the latest Polo Bluemotion, which will be delivered to European customers this month. Bluemotion, Wolfsburg’s eco car brand name, took home the World Green Car gong at the recent 2010 World Car Awards.

Although this 1.2 TDI is small in capacity and has only three cylinders, its 74 bhp and torque of 180 Nm at 2,000 rpm should prove to be adequate in the reigning European Car of the Year, and spirited if you put it on Malaysian urban roads (the Honda Civic 2.0, for instance, makes 188 Nm at 4,500 rpm). Less cylinders means less weight and friction power loss, and VW says that it has miked out the most performance, maximum “acoustic comfort” and weight reduction from this configuration without compromising the engine’s thermodynamic efficiency.

Fuel consumption? The previous gen Polo Bluemotion’s claimed figures was 26.3 km/l (3.8 litres per 100 km) and this car is expected to achieve 30.3 km/l (3.3 litres per 100 km) while emitting only 87 g/km of CO2. Green (or rather blue) measures include stop/start, higher gearing, regenerative braking, tweaked aerodynamics and low rolling resistance tyres. Cars like these are the reason why Europeans have not wholeheartedly embraced hybrid technology.

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Audi R8 GT: More power, less weight, not bare bones

May 3, 2010 at 2:38 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Audi, Cars, International News

Audi has unveiled the ultimate R8, which is lighter, more powerful and faster. The R8 GT, which is limited to only 333 units, is about 100 kg lighter than the standard R8 V10 and comes with extra 35 bhp and 10 Nm. These combine for a 0-100 km/h time of 3.6 seconds and a 320 km/h top speed.

The standard R8 V10 is not a heavy car at 1,625 kg, thanks to its aluminum space frame body, so Audi has worked hard to shave the grams here. The GT’s windshield is made of thinner glass; the bulkhead between the passenger cell and engine compartment, as well as the rear hatch window are made of polycarbonate. These three items alone saved 9 kg. Other measures include a fixed rear wing (1.2 kg), thinner sheet metal and additional cutouts from the aluminum front hatch (2.6 kg) and a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) rear hatch (6.6 kg). The rear bumpers and sideblades are also made from CFRP.

Technical components weren’t spared. They shaved 1 kg from the power brake system, 4 kg from the aluminum caps of the brake discs and 9.4 kg from the battery. Audi engineers also gained 2.3 kg from the air intake module and 2.8 kg in the insulation materials. Inside, new carpets save 7.9 kg, while bucket seats with a glass-reinforced plastic chassis are a massive 31.5 kg lighter.

Obssesive? Yes, but the €193,000 R8 GT is not a luxury free, bare bones car either. Climate control, stereo and power windows are included, so is a navigation system with MMI. Most of the cabin is covered in Alcantara with contrasting stitching while the R8′s trademark cockpit arch is in matte carbon.

Audi’s 5.2-litre direct injection V10 engine makes 560 bhp and 540 Nm here, thanks to tweaks to the electronics. The hand built engine is paired to a six-speed R-tronic gearbox and power is goes to all wheels via Audi’s quattro AWD. The system sends 15% of power to the front axle and 85% to the rear in normal driving. Audi says that this ratio goes well with the R8 GT’s 43:57 weight distribution.

Gallery is after the jump.
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GALLERY: Haunting images of the Citroën Metropolis

May 3, 2010 at 1:03 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, China, Citroën, Concept Cars, International News

This is the Citroën Metropolis concept car, which shows off the French brand’s typical wackiness on a long limo body. To make its debut at the World Expo in Shanghai, the Metropolis was created by PSA’s Shanghai design studio as a “homage to China’s extraordinary development” and is meant to convey the country’s “avantgarde status, grandeur and vitality”.

The imposing 5.3 m long/2.0 m wide limo is a plug in hybrid powered by an electric motor and a 2.0-litre V6 petrol engine. Combined, 460 bhp and 430 Nm of torque is channeled to all wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

This latest gallery after the jump is as dramatic as the car itself. For more about the Metropolis, see our previous post here.
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US will not get the 7-seater Chevrolet Orlando

May 1, 2010 at 2:40 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Cars, Chevrolet, International News

Automotive News has reported that General Motors will not sell the 7-seater Orlando in the US and said that the company intends to focus on its current models. Nevertheless the Cruze (Delta II)-based Orlando which was presented as a concept back in 2008 will make its market introduction in Canada, Europe and Asia.

In the US General Motors has decided to increase the output of the Equinox, Traverse and Malibu models to make up for the missing Orlando. At the same time the production of the Cruze in the US later this year is still on schedule. If we’re lucky, we may just see Chevy’s new distributors Naza bring in the Orlando as a Honda Stream competitor since it seems to use the same formula – use a C-segment sedan platform to make an MPV.

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PSA Peugeot Citroen to rebadge Mitsubishi ASX

April 27, 2010 at 6:01 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Citroën, International News, Mitsubishi, Peugeot

PSA Peugeot Citroen and Mitsubishi have announced that the Mitsubishi ASX (called RVR in Japan) will be built for PSA Peugeot Citroen. This comes as no surprise considering how many other “rebadge” deals PSA and Mitsubishi have been having in the past – the Outlander rebadged as the 4007 and C-Crosser as well as the i-MiEV rebadged as the Peugeot iOn and the Citroen C-zero.

The Peugeot and Citroen versions of the Mitsubishi ASX will have their own styling, much like what they did for the Outlander project. PSA Peugeot Citroen will be using its own 1.6 litre HDi turbodiesel for its versions of the ASX. They are targetting a fuel consumption of 4.7 litres per 100km for the two wheel drive version. An all-wheel drive version will also be available.

Look after the jump for pictures of the original RVR. The two photos you see above are Theophilus Chin‘s impressions of what Peugeot and Citroen versions of the RVR/ASX might look like.
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Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa race car by Zagato

April 27, 2010 at 10:13 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Alfa Romeo, Cars, International News

This is not a concept car like the Alfa Romeos we saw in Geneva, namely the 2uettottanta roadster by Pininfarina and the outrageous Pandion by Bertone, but a real race car. It was commissioned by Alfa collector Martin Kapp (you can see the German’s name on the car) who owns rare stuff like the SZ coda tonda, SZ coda tronca, TZ and TZ2, Junior Z and S.Z, among others.

Zagato says that the TZ3 Corsa honours 100 years of racing and winning in the 20th century. Alfa and Zagato has a long history together, from the Mille Miglia victories of the 1500 6C, 1750 GS and 8C 2300 Zagato to the Formula 1 championship of Juan Manuel Fangio, aboard his Alfa 159 bodied by Zagato. In the 60s, they conqured the 12 hours of Sebring, Targa Florio, Nurburgring and the 24 hours of Le Mans together.

Powered by the 8C Competizione’s V8, the TZ3 Corsa is based on a monocoque carbon fibre tubular chassis, coupled with a tubular frame and a lightweight aluminium body. It comes with goodies from OMP and Pirelli. Check out the gallery after the jump.
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