Archive for International News

Peugeot’s gasoline engines are finally being updated to be matched with 6 cogs, at least for the PSA-BMW Prince engine that Peugeot uses in the 308 and various other models.

The next generation of Peugeot cars with Prince engines will get the new AT6 6-speed automatic transmission supplied by Aisin, instead of the old AL4 that you currently find in the 308 and the 206. One of the first models to get the new combo is the 308 CC, which will get a Prince 1.6 engine with 156hp, 240Nm and the 6-speed auto.

The AT6 (with Tiptronic System Porsche) can withstand a maximum torque of 300Nm, so please take that in mind when you rechip your future 6-speed Pug. This is less than the 450Nm that the AM6 transmission that the Peugeot HDi turbodiesel engines are equipped with, but that is given since the AT6 is lighter and more compact.

General Motors said it has reached an agreement to sell Swedish car brand Saab to Dutch sports car manufacturer Spyker Cars NV. The American company will receive $74 million in cash, paid in two installments, and $326 million in preferred shares of Saab, GM alliance chief John Smith told Associated Press. Spyker will also guarantee up to $10 million in Saab debts owed to GM’s main financing company, GMAC Financial Services.

The AP report also states that a loan of up to 4 billion kronor ($550 million) from the European Investment Bank, backed by the Swedish government and subject to approval by the European Commission is the source of Spyker’s funds. There’s also “Back-up financing” in the form of a 150 million-euro loan ($212 million) from investment firm GEM Global Yield Fund Ltd.

Remember the Artega GT? Penned by Henrik Fisker, ex design director of Aston Martin who also drew the BMW Z8, the Artega GT is as close to a Volkswagen mid-engined roadster as they come. Why? The lightweight German sportscar is powered by VW’s 3.6-litre V6 engine mated to a six-speed DSG gearbox. That drivetrain has only 1,100 kg to pull, thanks to an aluminium spaceframe and a carbon composite bodyshell.

It has been announced that Artega’s majority shareholder and managing director Klaus Dieter Frers will resign and concentrate on his role as CEO of auto parts maker Paragon AG. Buying over his shares is Mexican private investor Tresalia Capital, who has held a minority stake since 2008. Tresalia is one of the major shareholders in the Mexican Modelo brewery which produces the world famous Corona beer, and its head, Linda Alvarado, is the granddaughter of Grupo Modelo’s co-founder.

The Artega GT will continue to be made in Delbrück, Germany, at a volume of 500 units per year. The company’s new MD is Dr. Wolfgang Ziebart, formerly a bigwig at BMW, Continental and Infineon.

Mazda UK has announced that the European version of the facelifted Mazda 6 will be shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2010 shortly after the JDM Mazda Atenza facelift was announced. Both cars look much alike, but with this European press pack we get to see photos of the sedan model that we get here in Malaysia with much more desirable wheels than the lowest spec version that we saw in the JDM press release.

In Europe, the car gets the same 2.0 DISI direct injection normally aspirated engine as the JDM Atenza, but the engine range also includes a 2.2 liter MZR-CD turbodiesel available in three different power outputs ranging from 120 PS up to 180 PS. There is also a smaller 1.8 liter MZR petrol engine and the familiar 2.5 liter petrol engine that we get in Malaysia.

New to the Mazda 6 facelift other than its updated looks are a new pivoting adaptive front lighting system and hill-launch assist.

Look after the jump for hi-res European spec photos.

Click here to read the rest of UK Mazda 6 facelift previewed ahead of Geneva

Toyota USA has instructed all its dealers to temporarily suspend sales of eight models involved in the recall for “sticking accelerator pedal” problems announced a week ago. About 2.3 million vehicles are in the list.

Toyota has investigated reports of sticking accelerator pedal mechanisms in certain vehicles without the presence of floor mats. There is a possibility that the accelerator pedal may, in rare instances, mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position. This unintended acceleration could prove to be dangerous.

“Helping ensure the safety of our customers and restoring confidence in Toyota are very important to our company,” said Group Vice President and Toyota Division General Manager Bob Carter. “This action is necessary until a remedy is finalized. We’re making every effort to address this situation for our customers as quickly as possible.”

The following models are involved: 2009-2010 RAV4, 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Matrix, 2005-2010 Avalon, Certain 2007-2010 Camry, 2010 Highlander, 2007-2010 Tundra and 2008-2010 Sequoia. No Lexus or Scion vehicles are affected by the recall.

Due to the sales suspension, Toyota will temporary stop producing vehicles on selected production lines for a week in February. Toyota’s Indiana, Kentucky, Texas, Canada and Subaru’s Indiana plant are involved.

Last year, the Japanese automaker recalled nearly four million vehicles. The problem? Floor mats that could trap accelerator pedals, also causing unintended acceleration. The two issues are unrelated, says Toyota, although 1.7 million vehicles are affected by both recalls.

This recall only involves the abovementioned models in North America, and does not include right-hand drive Toyotas sold elsewhere in the world.

We previously showed you the facelifted Fiat Punto supermini which ditches the mini-Maserati looks and adds “Evo” to its name. Now here’s an early image of the hot version of that car, tuned by the legendary Abarth.

According to reports, Abarth will work on Fiat’s 1.4-litre Multiair engine to produce 170 bhp in the regular performance model and around 200 bhp in the top Esseesse variant, right smack in Renaultsport Clio territory. The current standard model is rated at 150 bhp, while the Esseesse makes 180 bhp, so the use of Multiair tech adds on about 20 horses to the Scorpion badged Punto Evo.

Italy’s hot hatch flag carrier is also rumoured to come with Fiat’s new dual-clutch gearbox. The same sources also say that the Abarth Punto Evo’s rear lights are LEDs, and that it should debut next month in Italy for around €19,000.

Source

We now have some real life photos of the new Peugeot 408 live from the car’s unveiling in Beijing. After all, professionally shot product images may sometimes be different from how the car looks in real life, so these live photos give us a better idea of how the car looks like and zooms into the small details as well.

The notchback styling of this ‘308 Sedan’ is definitely executive much better than the 206 Sedan or 207 Sedan. Because of the extended 2,710mm wheelbase, the roofline can be made curvier and more natural while still giving the car sufficient rear headroom.

The rear three quarter view reminds me a little of the pretty neat looking Peugeot 406 Coupe, which was referred to by PSA design director Jean-Pierre Ploué not too long ago as one of the last really good looking Peugeots – which will hopefully change with the new design language on the SR1.

Anyway, we also have a live video recording of the reveal for you to enjoy. Please head on to gallery and video after the jump!

Click here to read the rest of Live photos from Peugeot 408 launch in Beijing

The Peugeot 408 notchback sedan made its world debut in China this week. No, it’s not a replacement for 407. The replacement for the 407 will move up a notch in the market since it intends to replace both the 407 and the 607. It will be called the Peugeot 508.

The new Peugeot 408 is actually a C-segment notchback sedan based on the C-segment Peugeot 308 platform, but with its wheelbase lengthened to give better interior room since it is a 4-door. Suspension settings have also been revised for the car’s new sedan weight and for a more comfort-biased setup. In China, its positioned against other C-segment sedans like the Civic and the Focus. And this time Peugeot seems to have gotten the ‘hatch to sedan’ conversion right – it looks a lot less awkward than the 206 Sedan.

The 408 measures 4,680mm long, 1,800mm long and 1,500mm wide. It has a wheelbase of 2,710mm which trumps the Civic’s throne as the longest wheelbase C-segment vehicle available right now (well not exactly – the Fluence wheelbase is said to be 2,702mm). It approaches CD-segment territory with that wheelbase length (the Pug 407’s wheelbase is 2,725mm)! This should mean pretty good interior room in theory.

The Chinese launch of the car introduces a two engine line-up – a 110hp 1.6 liter engine and a 147hp 2.0 liter engine. Different markets may get different engines. The 1.6 liter engine’s 110 horses is reached at 5,750rpm while peak torque of 147Nm is reached at 4,000rpm with 85% reached from just 2,000rpm. and 95% (140Nm) between 3,000rpm and 5,500rpm. That’s a good and wide torque spread. The 2.0 liter unit is equipped with continuously variable valve timing. It produces its peak power at 6,000rpm with peak torque of 200Nm reached at 4,000rpm.

The transmission options are either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic, which is the new AT8 Porsche Tiptronic system model. Not the same one as found in the 206 or the 308, which is the AL4. The AT8 uses a torque converter by ZF which improves gearbox output and reduces consumption by about 5%. The gearbox management can also lock the three higher gears to reduce torque converter slip during gentle driving. From my sources, these are not the only engine options available for the 408 so if it comes to Malaysia at all, there is still a question mark there. It would be nice if the same Prince engines in the 308 are offered.

Speaking of Malaysia – guess what, it’s under consideration to be launched in Malaysia as part of Peugeot’s plans for the ASEAN region that were revealed in a press conference this afternoon. It won’t necessarily carry the 408 nameplate though – that’s a marketing decision yet to be made. For now we can refer to it as the T73 sedan. Watch out for an update on that later this night.

Click here to read the rest of Peugeot 408 launched in China: 308-based sedan!

General Motors is of the opinion that it will be able to reduce costs and improve performance, quality, reliability and manufacturability of electric motors by doing it themselves. So they’ve set out to try to design and build their own and have set 2013 as a targeted debut year. The GM-designed and built motors will see first use in a two-mode hybrid system for rear wheel drive vehicles. This sounds like trucks, trucks and more trucks – the Volt and Cruze are front wheel drive.

“In the future, electric motors might become as important to GM as engines are now. By designing and manufacturing electric motors in-house, we can more efficiently use energy from batteries as they evolve, potentially reducing cost and weight – two significant challenges facing batteries today,” says Tom Stephens, GM vice chairman, Global Product Operations.

The GM two-mode hybrid system runs like its namesake in two modes. It is capable to run the car in an EV-only zero emissions mode. The two two modes are the ‘input mode’ and the ‘compound split’ mode. The ‘input mode’ is used for moving from a stop, driving at low speeds, and towing, basically any vehicle situation where you need more torque. This mode runs in gear 1 and 2 and can run either with electric power only, engine power only, or both. The compound split mode is used for cruising. In this mode, the electric motors only help the combustion engine when they are needed.

GM claims that they’ve been working at preparing for this for years now, and that the electric motors would be built in the US at a GM facility. They probably couldn’t do it any other way, since they received US$105 million from the US government sometime in the second half of last year with the intention that the money be used for the R&D and manufacturing of electric motors and related drive components in the US. If they decide to go with more cost effective countries, they would probably have to return the money.

But while they dump money into motor R&D, they are also planning to continue to work with suppliers to co-design electric motors and buy them. “This is a strategy we use today with batteries. We are partnering with suppliers to create innovations faster than ever before. Our goal is simply to establish GM as a leader in automotive electric motors. We see that leadership as a key enabler – both to our long-term success and to our nation’s move away from oil dependence,” added Stephens.

Source

Click here to read the rest of GM to develop and make its own electric motors

Not many expect to see a car launched at a fashion show, but then again there aren’t many cars as fashionable as the Fiat 500. Another day, another limited edition. This time, the Fiat 500 by Diesel breaks cover at the Bread & Butter fashion show in Berlin. The collaboration between Fiat and the famous clothing brand by Renzo Rosso also shows off the “Midnight Indigo” blue hue and the 1.3 Multijet II engine with Start&Stop for the first time on a 500.

The deep blue colour is inspired by denim. “The use of a micaceous rather than a metallic shade offers at first glance the feeling of iridescent colour which varies according to the light, very similar to stone washed fabrics,” said the press release. This, plus a finer texture of paint creates a 3D-like effect, it adds.

The 500 by Diesel is distinguished by exclusive features such as the 16-inch alloys, a rear strip with fake air intake and Diesel logo, yellow brake calipers (only on the 1.4) and satin chrome painted trim. The cabin comes with dark denim style fabric with yellow stitching, the fifth pocket with the Diesel brand, the head of the famous Mohican on the gear lever knob and more satin chrome on the dashboard.

Besides the Multijet II (75 bhp/95 bhp), buyers can choose between 69 bhp 1.2 and 100 bhp 1.4 petrols. Almost 6,000 units have already accounted for, out of the 10,000 available. One more image after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Fiat 500 by Diesel debuts new diesel engine

Media from all around the world are currently test driving the new F10 5-Series in Lisboa, Portugal right now so you can begin to check out the test drive reports that are being published on an ongoing basis. The Malaysian contingent will be heading there in the first week of February so you can look out for a test drive review on this blog sometime in the first or second week. For now, we are able to get a taste of Portugal via these two videos that BMW have released, filmed at the test drive event in Portugal. They’re mostly beauty footage but they do include a little more than the initial B-roll they released, like the active cruise control feature in action. Check the videos out after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of VIDEO: F10 5-Series footage from Portugal

The Suzuki SX4 compact crossover has been reasonably popular in urban areas such Klang Valley, thanks to its trendy pseudo-SUV looks and competitive pricing for a fully-imported from Japan model. The awkward looking sedan however, has failed to create any impression whatsoever on the Vios/City buyer – it’s truly a rare sight.

For 2010, Suzuki has refreshed the SX4 crossover for Europe. Blink and you’ll miss the redesigned front bumper and grill. Inside, the climate control panel has been revised and now incorporates a display strip and ring lights for the temp and fan knobs. The new instrument cluster comes with a full trip computer while the steering wheel audio buttons are now illuminated. Comfort is said to be improved, thanks to cushioned armrests on the doors, additional sound insulation and new design carpets. Other measures include a larger engine under shield cover together with improved transmission damping and increased rigidity of body parts.

The UK gets two engine options – a 89 bhp/215 Nm Peugeot-sourced 1.6-litre DDiS oil burner and the M16A 1.6-litre which should be familiar to local SX4 owners. However, the petrol engine has been improved for 2010 – it’s now Euro 5 compliant and has a new cylinder head and block for improved cooling and ‘knock’ or detonation control limits. The new max output of 118 bhp is achieved by extending the intake and exhaust valve lift and utilising a variable inlet manifold. The result is improved intake efficiency throughout the rev range. Max torque is 156 Nm at 4,400 rpm.

In comparison, our own Malaysian-spec SX4 has only just recently been upgraded to a 110hp and 150Nm engine in October 2009 up from a previously weaker 101hp and 140Nm engine.

More pictures after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of 2010 Suzuki SX4 gets improved M16A engine

Mazda has updated the Mazda Atenza (the name for the Mazda 6 in JDM markets) in the Japanese market and it won’t be long until we see the Mazda 6 here in Malaysia updated as well. The good news is that the new ridiculous smiley face that Mazda has been putting on all cars from compacts up to big MPVs seems to be missing from the Mazda 6. Perhaps being a D-segment car with an older buyer profile they thought it would be better to play safe with this one.

The front bumper is new with foglamp inserts that curve upwards towards the headlamps, and the front grille is also different although the grille’s outline shape is pretty much similar to the pre-facelift. 25EX and 25Z equipment levels get new bi-xenon headlamps, while the 25S, 20S and 25C models carry over the pre-facelift headlamps but modified with additional chrome plating.

The tail lamps are also different with what Mazda calls a ‘chrome plated wing motif’ at the part of the lamps that curve towards the side of the body. In Japan, the wagon and hatchback models use clear tail lamp covers with LED lighting while the sedan model uses red tail lamp covers and normal bulbs for lighting. Finally, both 17 and 18 inch wheel options have new designs. Piano black trim has been added to various parts of the interior including the center panel, shift gate and steering wheel spokes.

The 2.0 liter engine in the current Mazda Atenza/Mazda 6 has been updated to a new model featuring DISI direct injection. It makes 153 PS at 6,200rpm and 189Nm of torque at 4,500rpm, which is up from the previous figures by a few Nm.

Look after the jump for a full gallery of the new Atenza.

Click here to read the rest of Mazda Atenza (Mazda 6) facelifted in Japan!

It looks like Italdesign-Giugiaro has loads more under its sleeves other than work for the new Proton Persona which is set to hit the streets in 20 months from now. They have just scored a huge contract from Chinese-backed US-based Hybrid Kinetic Motors Corp. The car above was unveiled at the announcement of the deal – but it isn’t even a model designed for HK Motors. It’s a recycled concept shown at 2008 by Italdesign called the Giugiaro Quaranta Concept.

Hybrid Kinetic Motors Corp has engaged Italdesign for the development of 8 new models based on a common flexible platform and powertrain, all to be engineered by Italdesign. The deal is worth 375 million Euros and will keep GIugiaro occupied over the next 4 years, and they will also provide on-site assistance for production, which means there will be income for the next 6 to 8 years!

Many probably think Italdesign is a design firm, but truth it they are capable of engineering work as well and have actually often been contracted by the mainstream automakers to assist with vehicle engineering. It’s just that launching a product with ‘design by Giugiaro’ is seen as a good thing but ‘engineered by Giugiaro’ usually makes people wonder why a car company can’t manage its own product engineering.

But among the models that Giugiaro has engineered are the new R56 MINI range including the Cooper, Clubman and Cabriolet. These are only the vary few models that the automakers have allowed Giugiaro to take credit for – the rest are buried with NDAs and confidentiality agreements.

“HK Motors is offering us the unique opportunity to design an entire range of products that should be state-of-the-art in terms of aerodynamic efficiency and weight because reducing emissions is the main target of the entire project,” says Italdesign vice chairman and design director Fabrizio Giugiaro. The company is said to be aiming for CO2 emissions of under 50g/km and its vehicles will use a common powertrain that uses a small turbocharged engine.

Their main sales market seems to be USA at the moment, and HK Motors has expressed that it plans to build a plant in South Alabama and make up to 1 million cars a year there.

Click here to read the rest of Italdesign-Giugiaro to develop 8 models for HK Motors

Kia Motors Corporation has announced that its global sales figures for 2009 reached an all-time high of 1,651,920 units. This figure represents a year-on-year increase of 20.1%, cementing Kia’s position as one of the world’s fasting growing automakers. This comes after sister company Hyundai breached the three million unit mark for the first time in 2009 (up 11.6%), bringing the combined Hyundai-Kia total to over 4.75 million units sold.

By region, Kia posted year-on-year increases in China (256,732 units, up 69.9%), Korea (412,752 units, up 30.4%), North America (346,181 units, up 11.3%), Western Europe (242,288 units, up 7.7%) and general markets (304,522 units, up 16.2%). Kia’s best selling model in overseas markets was the C-segment Forte with 304,295 units sold.

We have previously commented on brands that provide value for money thriving in uncertain economic times, such as Skoda, Hyundai and Kia. While the Czech brand provides VW tech on the cheap, the Koreans are riding on improved design and quality plus their customary long warranties and lower purchase price.

But where are these increased sales coming from? At the expense of the guys at the top, of course. Toyota has just released its 2009 sales figures which saw a 13% drop to 7.81 million, and Detroit giants GM and Ford have been hurt by poor domestic performance. These companies will also face challenge from a motivated Volkswagen (6.29 million in 2009, up 1.1%), which aims to unseat Toyota by 2018.