Archive for International News

[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

Peugeot’s 206CC revolutionalised the convertible market, bringing the coupe-cabriolet concept not just to the high-end luxury market, but in a price range that was comfortable for everyone, well, almost everyone anyway. It achieved sales figures of 500,000 units worldwide in the past 6 years since it’s introduction in 2001. It’s successor, the Peugeot 207CC was first shown to us as a preview in the form of the Peugeot 207 EPURE Concept, which was basically a 207CC body with an electric powertrain. Today Peugeot announces details and specifications of the new Peugeot 207CC.

More details after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Peugeot 207CC announced

Here’s Proton’s plans to increase market share in Indonesia. For the moment, PT Proton Edar Indonesia will sell CBU (fully imported from Malaysia) sedans in the 1.3 liter to 1.8 liter capacity range, which is liable for 5% duty. Even with the duty slapped on, prices of Proton cars there is still cheaper than Japanese imports.

Apparently CKD assembly operations in Proton’s Cikarang plant will start when there is enough demand for Proton cars in Indonesia. But the question is, shouldn’t the purchase/building of a plant only come after volume justifying CKD operations has been reached?

Source

The new 2007 Honda CR-V received a 5-star crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration across the board - which means frontal crash passenger, frontal crash driver, side crash passenger and side crash driver test results were excellent. Similar good results were obtained from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Two videos of the frontal and side crash tests as well as links to the results pages for the two institutes’ findings after the jump. The new 2007 Honda CR-V is expected to reach our local shores soon next year, so if safety for your family is your top priority and you’re looking for an SUV in that range, you might want to hold out for the new CR-V. While the CR-V tested by the two American institutes are the 2.4 liter version that will likely not make it to our market, crash test performance of the R20A engined model that we will probably get should be similar.

Click here to read the rest of 2007 Honda CR-V Crash Test

Tesla Motors, who sent shockwaves through the industry with the introduction of the Elise-based electric sportscar the Tesla Roadster (shown above) has announced that it will be making a new 4-seater sedan aimed at the BMW 5-series, to be released by the end of the decade.

The luxury electric sedan is set to be available globally in two variants, one with a similiar engine to the Tesla Roadster (248 horsepower) with a 320 kilometer range on a single charge, and another more powerful variant with a higher range - about 480 kilometers. The sedan will be built with lightweight steel, and production is expected to be 10,000 to 20,000 units annually.

This is likely the first manufacturer to come up with a fully electric powered sedan for mass production, while other manufacturers have gone different paths - Lexus is focusing on hybrids while BMW is investing in hydrogen and turbodiesel technology. Don’t expect anything funky like in-wheel motors though, the motor and battery pack will be positioned traditionally in the front, and power will be sent through the rear wheels.

In order to compete with Mercedes’ AMG and BMW’s M divisions, Lexus has decided to develop a performance branding badge for it’s top of the line sports-oriented cars, and it’s decided to tag them with an “F” badge. Trademarks have been filed for the model name IS-F, as well as the F logo shown above.

Looks like some kind of shoe manufacturer logo to me, but anyway, while previously it was rumoured that the BMW M3-competitor Lexus IS-F (IS500) would be powered by a new 2UR-FSE 5.0 liter V8 based on the 1UR-FSE, it is also possible that there will be no new engine and the 4.6 liter V8 1UR-FSE would be used instead. The 1UR-FSE, a 4.6 liter DOHC V8 with Dual VVT-i and direct injection with a high 11.8:1 compression ratio makes 380hp at 6,400rpm and 498Nm of torque at 4,100rpm. The 1UR-FSE also comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission, that’s right - EIGHT ratios!

While Lexus is keeping mum on the issue for the moment, the new F-line of cars is expected to be announced at the Detroit Motor Show 2007. I can just see the advertisement taglines now - “You’ve been F-ed!”

Related Posts:
Lexus IS500 Preview

Ford recently unveiled to the new Ford Ranger Double Cab to the Thai market at the Thailand 23rd International Motor Expo 2006. Along with it’s 7-seater brother the Everest, this new generation of the Ford Ranger features Ford’s new Duratorq TDCi common rail direct injection turbodiesel engine. And while the Ford Focus in our local market goes around with only a 4 gear auto, the new Ford Ranger gets a new 5-speed automatic transmission - allowing better use of the diesel’s short torque band.

The 2.5 liter Duratorq engine is a DOHC 16-valve turbodiesel unit, featuring Bosch common rail direct fuel injection and a variable geometry turbocharger. It makes 141hp at 3,500rpm and 330Nm of torque at 1,800rpm, up from our market’s current Ranger’s 2.5 liter SOHC indirect injection turbodiesel which makes 121hp and 262Nm of torque.

With Mitsubishi recently bringing in it’s new Storm replacement, the Triton, and the D-MAX being facelifted quite recently, Ford Malaysia should be doing something about it’s aging Ranger pickup soon.

Click here to read the rest of New Ford Ranger with 5-speed auto in Thailand

Toyota’s mini Camry - the new Toyota Corolla has made it’s European debut at the Helsinki Motor Show 2006 in Finland. While we’ve already seen this Corolla when it made it’s world debut at the Beijing Motor Show not too long ago, these photos are probably the first that show clearly the interior of the new car. As previously mentioned, the sedan Corolla will continue to keep it’s name, while the hatchback has been reincarnated as the Toyota Auris.

Toyota seems to have taken a leaf out of Volvo’s design book with the new Corolla’s silver floating center console panel. It’s a good thing the car has a drastically new interior as that’s where you’ll be spending most of your time in, because the exterior looks like a mere evolution of the old Corolla Altis we have running around our streets.

More photos after the jump.

Related Posts:
2007 Toyota Corolla Axio launched in Japan
New Toyota Corolla Altis preview at Beijing 2006
Toyota Auris announced

Click here to read the rest of New Toyota Corolla debuts in Europe