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SEAT Ibiza – fourth-generation Typ 6J gets facelifted

January 13, 2012 at 3:33 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, SEAT

The Mk 4 SEAT Ibiza has been given a mid-term facelift, and the reinterpretation is featured across the entire three body-style range, from the three-door Ibiza SC to the five-door Ibiza and the Ibiza ST estate.

Exterior changes include a reworked front trapezoidal grille – the flatter proportions as well as redesigned horizontal honeycomb structure and a lower air intake help emphasise the car’s width. The front and rear bumpers have also been redesigned, as have the headlamps, which are available in two halogen versions or with optional bi-xenon lamps and LED daytime running lights.

The interior, meanwhile, gets improved material quality, with a wide choice of new paint surfaces and materials, which range all the way to fine leather upholstery. Among the items that have been reworked in the cabin is the glove compartment, which is significantly larger than pre-facelift – at 10.7 litres, it now offers space for a lot more than just a pair of gloves.

The equipment line-up for the car has also been revised, independent of bodyshell form, and among the new kit is the SEAT Portable Media System with touchscreen monitor. Available for the car later in the year, it combines the functions of a navigation system, on-board computer, audio system and hands-free device.

As for available engines, the range is broad, from a base 1.2 litre 60 PS mill to a range-topping 1.4 TSI twin charge lump which has 150 PS and a DSG transmission as standard fitment. Ecomotive variants include the 105 PS 1.2 TSI Ecomotive and 75 PS 1.2 TDI E Ecomotive. A choice of five- and six-speed manual gearboxes are available, and DSG is available as standard or as an option with a number of engines.

The new Ibiza runs on wheels ranging in size from 15- to 17-inches, and several new designs have come about for the facelift, which is set to make its European market debut sometime in spring.

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Lexus LF-LC Concept is the fairest of them all in Detroit

January 13, 2012 at 2:46 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Lexus

Think the Lexus LF-LC Hybrid Sport Coupe Concept is a stunner? Well, you’re not the only one then; those in the industry seem to think so as well – a group of leading automotive designers and design academics have named the car the top design concept at the NAIAS.

The Detroit debutant bagged this year’s EyesOn Design Award for best concept car. Created by Lexus’s Calty studio in Newport Beach, California, the design of the 2+2 coupe explores how a future redefinition of Lexus design might take be like, with a more emotive and avantgarde approach.

The EyesOn Design Awards are given in recognition of skills and creativity in different areas of design for both concept and production vehicles, including Aesthetics and Innovation, Concept Implementation, Functionailty and the Spirit of Industrial Design.

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Porsche Boxster – new-generation roadster rolls in

January 13, 2012 at 12:47 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Porsche

Porsche has announced the introduction of its new Boxster, which arrives wearing an all-new body and a completely revised chassis. Available in both Boxster and Boxster S forms, the car features new flat-six engines with direct injection, and together with a considerably lower weight, longer wheelbase, widened track and larger wheels, promises a new level of driving dynamics.

Styling-wise, the Boxster now has shorter front and rear overhangs, a significantly forward-shifted windscreen, flatter silhouette and expressive edges. Inside, the passengers are enclosed by a new fully electric hood, which now dispenses with a compartment lid for the convertible top when stowed.

The interior of the new car reflects the new Porsche outline, with its distinctive centre console – originating in the Carrera GT – improving ergonomics. There’s also more space for the driver and passenger.

In terms of engines, the Boxster’s 2.7 litre mill – which is based on the 3.4 litre engine of the Boxster S – offers 265 hp, which is 10 hp more than its larger capacity predecessor. As for the 3.4 litre unit in the Boxster S, there’s 315 hp on call, five horsepower more than before.

Both models feature a manual six-speed gearbox as standard, with the seven-speed dual-clutch Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) available as an option. Performance specs include a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 5.7 seconds for the Boxster and 5.0 seconds for the Boxster S.

Equipment levels on the Boxster include an Alcantara interior, 18-inch alloy wheels, Auto stop/start and Sports mode, remote control hood operation, audio CD with a 7-inch colour touchscreen and a universal audio interface offering MP3 connectivity. Meanwhile, the Boxster S adds 19-inch alloy wheels, partial leather interior and Bi-Xenon headlights.

New to the car is the Sport Chrono Package option featuring Dynamic Transmission Mounts. Also new in the Boxster is the option of Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV), with a mechanical rear limited slip differential.

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Toyota Prius is Japan’s best selling car, imports surge

January 13, 2012 at 11:36 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Toyota

The Toyota Prius hybrid was the best selling car in Japan last year, a position it has sat on for three years running. A total of 252,528 units of the Prius were sold in 2011, assisted by strong sales of the Prius Alpha, an MPV version of the car that debut in May.

It’ll take a brave man to bet against the Prius retaining the position this year. This is because the range is further strengthened by the Prius c variant, a smaller and more affordable Prius. The Prius c has been teased on UMW Toyota’s website, with full specs, and at the Avanza launch on Wednesday, bosses said it will be launched next month in Malaysia.

Honda’s Fit (we know it as Jazz) was the second best selling car with 207,882 units, up from fourth spot in the previous year’s rankings, while Suzuki’s Wagon R minicar was third with 160,439 units.

2011 was a difficult year for the industry in Japan, which was hit by an earthquake and tsunami in March, so total sales were down by 20%. Local production suffered, and imports took advantage – sales of foreign cars crossed the 10% mark for the first time ever last year.

Of the foreign brands, Volkswagen sold the most for the 12th straight year with 50,635 units, an increase of 8.4%. Other top foreign marques were BMW (34,195 cars, up 5.5%) and Mercedes-Benz.

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Toyota NS4 plug-in concept offers a vision of the future

January 12, 2012 at 12:01 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Toyota

It’s called the NS4 advanced plug-in hybrid concept, and it’s supposed to signal a new styling direction for Toyota aimed at making an emotional connection with consumers. The Detroit debutant is nonetheless packed with a veritable array of tech, and is essentially an innovations showcase for the brand.

Design-wise, the lift back design features powered swan-wing doors and a distinctive trapezoid grille among the styling cues, but it’s all really about the whizz-bang with this one.

Inner and outer rear view mirrors have been replaced with cameras that provide the driver with a panoramic view to the rear. The rear-view camera displays images on a dashboard-mounted screen, and provides the driver with a much wider field of vision when compared to a traditional rear view mirror.

Inside the cabin, the NS4 concept features a human-machine interface (HMI) centred around a multi-touch screen that has the look and feel of a smartphone. The simple, intuitive operation conveys information quickly with the minimum of distraction to the driver, and is even capable of “learning” driver preferences to anticipate driver responses in specific environments and situations.

As for the powertrain, the hybrid plug-in system on this one features a reduction in component size and weight, and benefits gained are an improved overall fuel economy, better acceleration and longer all-electric range, as well as a short charge time.

Among the active safety kit on the NS4 are a next generation pre-collision system (PCS) with lane departure and pedestrian collision avoidance technologies, adaptive driving beam (ADB) headlights, and blind spot monitor (BSM).

Even the glass does the tech tango – four new glass technologies are integrated into the windscreen, front and rear windows to improve driver visibility, fuel economy and electric driving mode mileage efficiency.

The flourine-coated glass has a high UV absorbing inner-layer and also features an anti-solar film with radio-wave transparency, the latter to reduce the internal vehicle temperature and improve electronic device functionality. The flourine provides for a rain-resistant ‘hydrophobic’ coating, offering improved visibility and rain drop elimination, and there’s also an anti-fog coating slapped on for good measure.

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Vauxhall Mokka – a small SUV that’s big on things

January 11, 2012 at 10:54 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Vauxhall

Say hello to Vauxhall’s new small SUV called the Mokka. The vehicle is set to make its debut in Geneva, and enter the growing sub-compact B-segment end of the market towards the end of the year.

On call will be a choice of two petrol engines and a diesel, all with Start/Stop eco-tech, and the Mokka will be available in front or all-wheel drive, with six-speed manual or auto transmissions to pick from.

The petrol mills are a 115 PS 1.6 litre naturally-aspirated unit and a 140 PS 1.4 litre turbo, which has 200 Nm of torque. The diesel, meanwhile, is a 130 PS 1.7 CDTI turbo offering 300 Nm of torque. Both the 1.4 Turbo and the 1.7 CDTI can be combined either with six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions.

Design-wise, the Mokka – which will wear 18-inch alloy wheels as standard on most model variants – incorporates Vauxhall’s signature ‘blade’ on the body side, sweeping towards the rear, and looks to be a pretty beefy offering from the photos.

Inside, Vauxhall says there’s lots of versatility and user-friendly functionality on call, with up to 1,372 litres of load space and 19 storage locations to be had. In addition to the generous cargo volume, the SUV will also feature the fully integrated, latest generation Flex-Fix bicycle carrier exclusive to the brand – the carrier is fully integrated in the rear underbody, functioning like a drawer and accommodating up to three bicycles at a time.

Safety equipment includes ESC, traction control, Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control, among others. Other kit includes an Advanced Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL+) bi-Xenon lighting system that includes High Beam Assist (HBA), as well as an optional front camera system which offers Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Forward Collision Alert (FCA) and second generation Traffic Sign Recognition functions as part of its inventory.

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Infiniti’s Geneva-bound electric sports car concept to showcase new style and content direction for brand

January 11, 2012 at 10:53 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Infiniti, International News

Infiniti is still keeping to teasing its advanced sports car concept that’s set to debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The first two partials of the car in November have now been joined by another, and behind-the-scenes info videos have also come about.

The company says the as-yet-unnamed concept will be the first Infiniti to have a range-extender drivetrain, and willl also be the first to feature a midship mounted drivetrain for optimal weight distribution and handling.

Going the midship route means facilitating a change in vocabulary for the company’s design language, from a style and content point of view. The purpose of the Geneva concept then is to explore what might be the next stage in how to deliver a vivid, engaging and sophisticated driving experience from an electrically-propelled vehicle – Infiniti believes the midship mechanical layout could very well be a vital ingredient in making that magic happen.

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Honda Accord Coupe Concept previews ninth-gen Accord

January 11, 2012 at 2:51 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Honda, International News

Honda unveiled this Accord Coupe Concept at Detroit, which should be just a concept in name. It shows off the styling direction for the next gen Accord, as well as a host of new technologies for the ninth-generation 2013 model, set to go on-sale in America this fall.

The 2013 Accord will feature three all-new powertrains, including a 2.4-litre direct-injected four-pot and two-motor plug-in hybrid system from Honda’s next-generation Earth Dreams technologies. In addition, the V6 Accord will be the first Honda sedan to feature a new 6-speed automatic transmission. Both the Accord Sedan and Coupe are expected to achieve class-leading fuel economy ratings in the US.

Honda says that the next gen Coupe will retain today’s size, but the new US Sedan, which we normally get, will feature a more compact exterior footprint with shortened length and reduced weight for “more responsive handling and improved driving dynamics.” Despite the smaller body, both the Sedan and Coupe will retain the current model’s generous cabin space.

The new 2.4L DI engine will make more than 181 hp and 240 Nm of torque, which is more that today’s 2.4L, while delivering better economy. This engine will be paired to a 6-speed manual or a new CVT, which utilises an innovative cooperative control system for “excellent acceleration and responsive shifting.”

Higher up, the re-engineered 3.5L V6 engine will be paired to a new 6-speed automatic transmission or a 6-speed manual. There will be an increase in horsepower and torque over the current model, and automatic transmission variants will come with Honda Variable Cylinder Management technology. Once again, class leading economy is the target.

The 2013 Accord range will also feature the first application of a new two-motor plug-in hybrid system in the Sedan. The system moves continuously through three modes – all-electric, gasoline-electric and direct-drive.

In all-electric mode, the car will use a 6 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery and a 120 kW electric motor to achieve an all-electric range of approximately 16 to 24 km in city driving scenarios and a top speed of 100 km/h. A full charge will take less than four hours using a 120-volt, outlet and less than 1.5 hours using a 240-volt charger.

In the gasoline-electric mode, the Accord is powered by a 2.0L, i-VTEC inline four Atkinson cycle engine, paired with an electric Continuously Variable Transmission (E-CVT). For more efficient high-speed cruising, the Accord Plug-In Hybrid can engage in a direct-drive mode, in which only the engine drives the front wheels. This model will debut late next year.

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Hyundai Veloster Turbo sports it up with 201hp and 264Nm

January 11, 2012 at 1:18 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, International News

Hyundai has premiered the Veloster Turbo at the NAIAS in Detroit. The car, which is 3 cm longer and 15.2 cm wider than the naturally-aspirated Veloster, is powered by a 1.6 litre Gamma turbocharged four-cylinder GDI engine.

Output figures for the 2013 North American version is 201 hp at 6,000 rpm and 264 Nm of torque from 1,750 to 4,500 rpm. Unique to Hyundai’s twin-scroll turbocharger setup is a patent-pending one-piece cast design for the stainless steel exhaust manifold and the twin-scroll turbine housing, as well as a motor-driven electrical controller for the waste-gate.

Transmission-wise, the car is available with a choice of an in-house six-speed automatic or manual transmission. The manual features a wider gear ratio spread of 5.71 to the NA’s 5.25 to handle the additional torque output.

Speaking of increased torque output, the choice of an auto gearbox, as opposed to the NA Veloster’s DCT, is due to this. The gear ratio spread on the automatic transmission is slightly narrower than the DCT (6.0 versus 6.38), and this narrower spread maintains the engine in the power band when going from one gear to the other – Hyundai says the base Veloster’s DCT is tuned for fuel efficiency, and not for the performance feel needed for the Turbo.

The car features a sport-tuned engine intake and exhaust note – the Veloster’s trapezoidal centre exhaust has been removed and replaced with two larger free flowing circular pipes and a new intake manifold, allowing the engine to offer a more full-bodied sound.

It also gets some revised bodywork; there’s a bigger, bolder hexagonal front grille, sculpted side skirts and a new, dynamic rear bumper with prominent diffuser vents in the lower fascia, and the car is finished in a Matte Grey shade.

Additionally, the Veloster Turbo is equipped with unique 18-inch alloy wheels with chrome inserts, projector headlamps with unique LED headlight accents and a sport-tuned suspension – the front wears McPherson struts, coil springs, gas shock absorbers and a 24 mm diameter front stabiliser, while the rear features a light-weight V-torsion beam, monotube shocks and an integrated 23 mm stabiliser bar.

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Toyota Yaris Hybrid: first images of production car out

January 11, 2012 at 1:00 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Toyota

Toyota’s production Yaris Hybrid is set to make its official debut at Geneva in March, and with that, the first official images of the car have come about.

The car was effectively previewed as the Yaris HSD Concept in last year’s Geneva show, and the word then was that the production version was to be launched in Europe in the second half of this year, rolling out of the company’s Valenciennes plant in France.

When the car makes its market debut on the continent, it’ll be the first full hybrid model in the European B-segment, the company says. Its Hybrid Synergy Drive system has been downsized, and the 1.5 litre petrol engine is partnered to a more compact electric motor, transaxle, inverter and battery pack.

The result is a system that’s 20% lighter than that in the Auris Hybrid, which was launched in Europe in 2010. Lighter as the HSD on this one may be, it’s still good enough to give the car 98 hp, and the Yaris Hybrid offers the same occupant space and 286 litre luggage capacity as its conventional petrol and diesel siblings.

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