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Ford EcoSport is ASEAN-bound – SUV is third of eight global One Ford offerings slated for the region by 2015

January 5, 2012 at 1:53 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Ford, International News

Ford has confirmed that the EcoSport SUV, which was officially introduced at the Auto Expo 2012 in New Delhi, will be coming to ASEAN markets. The vehicle is the third of eight all new global One Ford vehicles destined for the region by around 2015.

Developed by Ford’s Development Center in Camaçari, Brazil, the EcoSport sits on the company’s global B-segment platform, which will provide the basis for a family of vehicles expected to eventually represent two million units annually.

Ford has big plans for the vehicle, and says that the SUV is a significant linchpin in its plans to achieve its goal of increasing worldwide sales by nearly 50% by mid-decade to eight million vehicles a year, of which 60% to 70% of sales is expected to come from the Asia Pacific and Africa region.

No introduction dates have yet been bandied for the EcoSport in the ASEAN market, but the company says that it’ll be produced at Ford Thailand Manufacturing’s facility in Rayong, Thailand.

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VIDEO: New Porsche 911 Cabriolet to make Detroit debut

January 5, 2012 at 2:39 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Porsche, Videos

The new Porsche 911 Cabriolet, announced in November 2011, will make its world debut at the upcoming NAIAS in Detroit. The first motor show of the year was chosen because America is the biggest market for the drop top, by far. In fact, Porsche is thriving in the US despite the less than rosy economy – in 2011, Porsche sold 29,023 cars, 15% up from 2010. They plan to shift over 30k units this year.

Back to the 911 Cab. The big news here is the all new roof design. Throwing out the multi-layered fabric item from the 997, this lid uses a fabric skinned composite panel, which provides a nicer shape and a better fit. Porsche also says that this new roof, which takes just 11 seconds to raise or stow, is more resistant to high speed buffeting. There’s also an automatic wind deflector.

The roof is laid on a magnesium frame, and the glass rear window is glued directly to the outer fabric skin. The lowering and closing process can be done at speeds of up to 60 km/h. You can see this being done in the videos.

Powertrains are identical to the 991 Coupe. The Cabrio’s backside houses a 3.4-litre flat six with 350 hp/380 Nm driving the rear wheels via the world’s first seven-speed manual gearbox. The Carrera S Cabriolet comes with a 3.8-litre flat six with 400 hp and 440 Nm. Porsche’s twin-clutch PDK will be a popular option, delivering better fuel consumption and acceleration than the stick shift.

Click here for full details and a gallery of the 911 Cabrio.

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Ford EcoSport SUV debuts in Delhi Auto Expo – global offering to eventually be introduced in nearly 100 markets

January 5, 2012 at 12:53 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Ford, International News

Ford has premiered its all-new EcoSport compact SUV at the Auto Expo 2012 in New Delhi, India. It’s the second model to bear the name, the first-generation model being launched in Brazil in 2003.

Despite the debut, Ford is essentially introducing the vehicle in stages – the exterior design is the first aspect of the EcoSport to be previewed, with Ford saying that more details are to be released in the coming months.

Indeed, there’s not much technically on the EcoSport beyond the fact that the Indian launch vehicle wears the company’s new 1.0 litre three-cylinder EcoBoost mill, in 120 hp and 170 Nm form. The engine is the first EcoBoost unit to be introduced in India.

Exterior-wise, the SUV features Ford’s new global design language, with a short, raked hood and distinctive profile. Modern, oblique headlamps frame a high-mounted trapezoidal grille, which gives the vehicle a signature Ford face.

Design cues include a steeply raked windshield, as well as blacked out B-pillars that unify the side glass into one elegant shape, to help convey a clean, modern profile.

The rear of the vehicle features a large rear window, which wraps around to the sides along with distinctive taillights. A signature visual cue is the spare tyre, which is attached to a swing-out door.

While the interior remains to be seen, the company says that the cabin will feature the same levels of craftsmanship, material quality and quietness as found in its other new-generation global products found currently.

The choice of India for the vehicle’s global debut is in line with the company’s view of the growing importance of that market; the EcoSport is the second of eight products Ford plans to bring to India by 2015.

The EcoSport – which will eventually be sold in nearly 100 markets worldwide – will be produced at ultra-modern, flexible assembly plants in India and Brazil, as well as other markets to be announced at a later time.

Live photos from New Delhi thanks to Motorbeam.com and Ford APA.

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VIDEO: New Nissan Pathfinder teased, next Navara’s face?

January 4, 2012 at 8:02 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Nissan, Videos

Here’s a short teaser video of the Nissan Pathfinder preview concept, which provides a sneak peek at the next generation of Nissan’s longest running nameplate in the USA. To be unveiled at the upcoming Detroit show, Nissan says that it comes with “thoughtful technology, comfortable seating for seven and ample cargo room”.

The company adds that the new one “takes all of Pathfinder’s traditional SUV hallmarks and wraps them in a new platform and dramatic new aerodynamic body”. That seems to be true from what we can see via a profile teaser image released earlier. The new Pathfinder, in a departure from the current car as well as most truck based SUVs, sports highly sculptured body panels and has quite a curvy shape.

The seven-second teaser video shows the front end of the SUV. We can see that there’s a more distinct V-shape to the front fascia compared to today’s car. Slimmer, more dynamic headlights, too, but still a macho face, we think.

By the way, the Pathfinder is an SUV version of the Navara pick-up truck that we know (think Mitsubishi Pajero Sport and Toyota Fortuner), so this could well be our first look at how the next-gen Navara will look like. Click here to see how the current Pathfinder looks like.

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Bajaj RE60 – not a car, but a four-wheeler vehicle

January 4, 2012 at 5:01 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, India, International News


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It has four wheels, has a car-like shape (can’t say if it drives like one though), but its maker says it isn’t a car. It’s the Bajaj Auto RE60, which was unveiled yesterday, ahead of the 2012 New Delhi Auto Expo.

You’d be forgiven if you thought that the rather ungainly RE60 has come about to compete with the Tata Nano, the world’s cheapest car, but Bajaj says it’s not the case – rather, the 400 kg hatchback has been designed to give drivers of three-wheeled vehicles the chance to move up to the safer performance of a four-wheeler, on the cheap.


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The boxy vehicle measures in at 2.75 metres long, 1.31 metres wide and 1.65 metres tall, and is powered by a whopping 20 hp 200 cc engine, which is rear-mounted. The little mill is capable of running on LPG and CNG as well as petrol, and gives the RE60 a 70 km/h top speed. Bajaj says that the car will give 35 km to the litre in regular use.

The RE60, on which work began in 2007, will be made at Aurangabad, which is where Bajaj produces its three-wheeler range. It’s expected to roll in cheaper than the Nano, but then again, it’s not being tagged as a car.

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Rolls-Royce rolls out the ‘Year of the Dragon Collection’

January 4, 2012 at 3:26 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Rolls Royce

Rolls-Royce has announced its Year of the Dragon Collection, a commemorative offering Inspired by the legendary creature revered by the Chinese. Designed in England by the brand’s Bespoke Team, the Year of the Dragon Collection has been created to “celebrate the ultimate symbol of power, prosperity and good fortune”. By the way, the Chinese Year of the Dragon starts from 23 January.

On first glimpse of the Dragon RR, a prominent feature is the twin coachline with a dragon, in gold colour, hand-painted to the side of each Phantom or Phantom Extended Wheelbase. In order to achieve perfect symmetry and balance, the dragon will always look forward. The hand-painted dragon coachline is inspired by the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Inside, the dragon is hand embroidered onto the interior leather of every headrest using a combination of four thread colours: Tan, Golden Sand, Black and White. The combination is designed to complement a pallette of recommended leather colour options and the design can be finished with additional seat piping. There are also two hand stitched cushions for the rear passengers, specified with embroidered contrast double R-R logos and piping.

All four door sills will feature exclusive red illuminated treadplates with Year of the Dragon 2012 highlighted with LED lighting. A dragon inlay will be hand laid to the passenger panel of every car in this unique collection. The Phantom model name is also applied in gold. Wood wise, modern or traditional marquetry matches the customer’s veneer choice, which is laser-cut and then hand assembled into position in the veneer.

Taukes who want to ride with dragons in the year of the dragon can place orders at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Kuala Lumpur, located along Jalan Semangat in Petaling Jaya.

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Michelin iPhone and iPad apps – 1.4mil downloads in 2011!

January 4, 2012 at 2:25 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News

Everyone loves Bibendum, a.k.a. the Michelin Man, including legions of iPhone users across the world. The list of the best App Store applications for 2011 has just been released, and three Michelin apps are among the year’s bestsellers.

They are ViaMichelin Mobile in the navigation category for iPhone, Restaurants in the Michelin guide France in the lifestyle category for iPhone and the Michelin France map in the navigation category for iPad. In 2011, a total of 1,400,000 Michelin applications were downloaded from the App Store.

ViaMichelin Mobile is a free iPhone app, the only free one among the Top 5 App Store apps in the navigation category. It allows users to take advantage of ViaMichelin’s experience and know-how in route planning and maps for mobile devices.

Developed for iPad, the Michelin France map app is offered offline so that users don’t have to pay any connection fees. Available in five interface languages (English, French, German, Italian and Spanish), the map can be downloaded for €9.99.

For gourmands, Restaurants in the Michelin guide France ranks among the App Store’s Top 5 in the lifestyle category. Downloadable for €7.99, it enables users to locate all Michelin selected restaurants in France, from three-star establishments to small neighborhood bistros. Bon Appétit!

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Suzuki on course to triple engine production in Indonesia

January 4, 2012 at 12:27 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Suzuki

Suzuki is on schedule to triple its engine build output to 150,000 units a year in Indonesia – the company’s new engine manufacturing plant, which will take the number to that eventual figure, remains on course, according to a report.

The Nikkei adds that the facility, which will occupy a 1.3 million sq. metre plot on the outskirts of Jakarta, will feature comprehensive engine manufacturing operations by 2015, including the ability to cast and forge engine parts.

The company, which assembles the Swift and SX4 in Indonesia, is working to lift its annual output capacity there from 120,000 vehicles to at least 150,000 next spring. Its engine production capacity in Indonesia however still stands at 50,000 units a year.

The report adds that in addition to using its Indonesian engines and parts locally, Suzuki will consider exporting some output to factories in other ASEAN member countries. At the same time, the company plans to import engines and parts from Thailand to Indonesia, creating a division of labour and cutting costs by consolidating the production of individual engine types.

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Citroën C3 Picasso Code – playing dress up, this SE

January 4, 2012 at 11:34 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Citroën, International News


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Yes, another special edition, this time from Citroën; over in the UK, the company has introduced the C3 Picasso Code, which replaces the previous Blackcherry special edition. The Code edition is effectively a HDi 90 manual VTR+ version, with added equipment.

The base car already has a fair amount of kit, but the C3 Picasso Code gains a ‘Look Pack’ that features more dress-up bits, like 17-inch ‘Clover’ alloy wheels in either Polar White or Cherry Red, depending on body colour, chrome lower bumper inserts and shiny black painted door handles, again featuring chrome for the inserts.

There are also Obsidian Black painted front/rear bumpers and door mirrors, the latter tarted up further with a shiny black surround and base plate, as well as longitudinal roof bars. A choice of four external shades – Polar White, Cherry Red, Belle Ile Blue and Thorium Grey – round off the list.

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Tan Chong goes the motorcycle route in Laos

January 4, 2012 at 11:20 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Bikes, International News

According to a report, Tan Chong Motorcycles Laos has been appointed the exclusive distributor, importer and after-sales service provider for SYM motorcycles and spare parts in Laos.

The company, which is a Tan Chong Motor Holdings (TCMH) unit set up in March last year, has inked a three-year distributorship agreement with Vietnam Manufacturing and Export Processing (VMEP), effective Jan 2, 2012.

The distribution of SYM motorcycles in Laos by TC Motorcycles Laos is expected to commence in the first half of 2012, with showrooms set up in the Savan-Seno Special Economic Zone and Vientiane, TCMH said in its filing with Bursa Malaysia. It added that the total projected sales volume for the first three years of operation is 12,200 units.

The Vietnamese manufacturer builds an assortment of SYM models, including the rather menacing sounding Attila Victoria, Attila Elizabeth and Shark, and has over 230 authorised 3S (sales, service, spare parts) centres in Vietnam.

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