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Meet Hiriko, the foldable two-seater electric city car

January 27, 2012 at 11:24 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News

The bubble-shaped vehicle you see in the photos is called Hiriko, an urban two-seater EV being collaborated on by the the MIT, Spanish government and Basque businesses. It’s an electric vehicle with a novel take on things – it can be squeezed into a smaller footprint when parked.

The Hiriko features a unique folding design that allows it to be parked in a very limited space – this is accomplished by sliding the back section of the cabin forward and folding the cabin up vertically, resulting in a vehicle that takes up less space than a smart fortwo in the lot.

The design also features a single access door at the front of the vehicle, an advanced steer-by-wire system which removes all mechanical steering components, joystick controls as well as four independent in-wheel motors.

The first Hiriko made its debut earlier this week at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels. There’s no mention of range or performance, but it’s known that Axeon will be supplying the two lithium-ion batteries for the homologation prototypes – these will be mounted in parallel, one in each half of the vehicle, with the wheel-mounted motors providing four-wheel steering in addition to four-wheel drive.

Hiriko intends to franchise its production model to enable the vehicles to be locally and sustainably produced by a number of consortia in different markets. The EV, to be built in Vitoria-Gasteiz, will be targeted particularly at large cities, in which it will be available for rental.

The vehicle will be homologated this year, and the prototypes will be tested in cities around the world, with the expectation that it will enter the market sometime in 2013.

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E71 BMW X6 gets its mid-cycle facelift for 2012!

January 27, 2012 at 11:22 am By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars

The E71 BMW X6 has been updated with a facelift for the 2012 model year, helping keep BMW’s amalgamation of a coupe and an SUV looking fresh mid way point in its lifecycle, which for a BMW is typically 7 years.

First launched in 2008, the mid-life facelift or “Life Cycle Impulse” as BMW likes to call it is right on time! Externally, BMW has updated the X6 with the usual new bumpers, headlamps and tail lamps as well as new alloy wheel designs.

The headlamp is now of course lit up with white corona rings, but what’s interesting is that now there’s the option of adaptive LED headlamps, which are fully powered by LED technology – not just the corona rings which act as daytime running lights, which by the way now have the flat bottom design that first debuted on the F30 3-er.

The light sources for low and high beam light are LED units positioned on a horizontal bar at its centre, feeding their light into the reflectors in front. In the facelifted top of the line BMW X6 M, adaptive LED headlights are fitted as standard.

The tail lamps are also lit up by LED, and the styling is designed to be horizontally aligned and to stretch far out to the sides, emphasising the width of the vehicle.

There’s also something interesting – an optional engine bonnet with a powerdome. This feature is not available for order in Germany – not sure why though!

An M Sport kit will be available for the X6, which includes 20-inch M light alloy wheels in double spoke design and bi-colour finish with mixed tyres, adaptive LED headlamps, BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line, black surrounds for the fog lights and M door sill cover strips, sports seats with electrical adjustment and memory function, M-specific Alcantara/Nappa leather combination in black with M-style welt and contrast stitching, M leather steering wheel with shift paddles, M driver footrest, stainless steel pedals, interior strips in Aluminium Flywheel black and the BMW Individual roof liner in anthracite.

As far as the updated interior goes, I wish they had also updated the meter cluster with a Black Panel style display that all the new higher end BMWs have. The X6 continues with a meter cluster that feels “last generation”. The same goes to the steering wheel – while all the new BMWs have rocker switches and thumb scrollers, the X6 facelift makes do with regular buttons.

The existing engines remain the same – the X6 xDrive50i makes 407hp, the X6 xDrive35i does 306hp, and the oil burner xDrive40d and xDrive30d make 306hp and 245hp respectively. No details about the X6 M yet, but there’s a new model called the X6 M50d which we’ll go into detail later.

The M50d is classified as a BMW M Performance car, which is one rung below a pure BMW M car on the ladder, and uses a total of three turbochargers to force air into a 3.0 liter six cylinder diesel to make 381 horsepower and an insane 740Nm of torque, taking the X6 M50d to 100km/h in just 5.3 seconds while consuming only 7.7L/100km on average. All engines including the M50d use an 8-speed auto transmission, except the X6 M which uses a 6-speed.

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Caterham F1 unveils 2012 car – the Renault powered CT01

January 27, 2012 at 10:42 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Caterham, Formula 1, Motorsports

Caterham F1 Team, the rebranded Team Lotus owned by Tony Fernandes, has unveiled its 2012 challenger. The CT01, as it is called, comes with a “platypus-style” nose, which is unusual, but expected to find its way to many other 2012 cars due to new regulations. The team retains its green and yellow theme from the Lotus Racing days.

From these enhanced images, the CT01 appears to be more advanced aerodynamically than its predecessors. Expert F1 eyes also picked out tight-sculpted, low rear bodywork and slim and short sidepods, the latter maximises the low drag effect in that area.

“The regulations have changed to limit the height of the nosebox to try to ensure that noses don’t get too high. Our challenge is that you always want to get the chassis as high as possible to allow clean air flow to the underside of the car, and what you see on the CT01 is our solution to that,” explains tech chief Mike Gascoyne.

“As we’re the first car out it is obviously stirring up a lot of debate, but because of the 2012 regulations I think you’ll probably be seeing this type of nose on most of the cars this year,” the Brit added.

Unlike before, this car isn’t burdened with lofty targets from the start. “I think we need to see the car on track first and get feedback from the first tests. Until we run the car, we only have numbers and simulation data to work with. But every team wants to move up the grid and we’re no different. We finished 10th in the last two years, which has been our target, but now I think it’s time we moved forward again. Let’s see what happens we get out on track,” said Gascoyne.

Moving forward from just being the “best of the new teams” is to be a solid midfield team, and that should be a realistic target for 2012. The CT01 will hit the track at Jerez next month for testing.

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Acura ILX Concept previews a new entry level saloon

January 26, 2012 at 3:02 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Acura, Cars, International News

At the recent Detroit show, Honda’s luxury brand Acura teased us all with the NSX Concept, but another showcar is much closer to the showroom than the supercar, the ILX Concept.

Billed as the precursor to an all-new compact sedan, the production version of this will roll off Honda’s Indiana plant and is scheduled for a spring 2012 launch. Acura doesn’t call it “the new TSX” but since it will be “positioned as the gateway to the Acura brand”, a position the Acura badged Honda Accord Euro (that’s what the TSX is) now sits on, it’s either that or a new entry level model. The latter scenario will leave Acura with four sedans in its range.

“The ILX Concept has a compact, yet formal proportion, targeting a very professional image. The Acura ILX delivers both, with a low and wide stance and a long nose and a short tail that are aerodynamically efficient, the ILX is immediately recognisable as an Acura,” said Jon Ikeda, head of the Acura Design Studio.

The ILX will feature three different powertrains, including Acura’s first-ever gas-electric hybrid. The range starts with a 2.0-litre inline four, then a high-performance model with a 2.4L engine paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. The hybrid in question is a 1.5-litre petrol engine plus electric motor combo. This should be largely similar to the 1.5 IMA with CVT pairing found in the Civic Hybrid.

New features include a smart entry keyless access system and push button start, along with Pandora internet radio interface and SMS text message function. Front, side and curtain airbags, 4-channel anti-lock brakes and Vehicle Stability Assist will be standard, and Acura anticipates top ratings in both NHTSA and IIHS crash safety tests.

I see a bit of Lexus IS and a bit of Nissan Fuga in the rear three quarters shot. Like it?

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Honda Jazz Hybrid to debut in Malaysia sometime in Q1

January 26, 2012 at 12:36 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Honda, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Local News

Word has it that Honda Malaysia is set to introduce the Jazz Hybrid in the country sometime in the first quarter, further widening the choice of hybrids for the consumer. There’s no indicative pricing for the five-door hatch, which made its debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, but it should be nicely clear under the RM100k mark and by all accounts cheaper than the Insight, currently the cheapest hybrid in the country.

The Jazz Hybrid is powered by an 88 PS and 121 Nm 1.3 litre SOHC i-VTEC engine, with a new generation Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system made up of a 14 PS and 78 Nm DC brushless electric motor and 0.6 kWh Ni-MH battery pack.

A few subtle cosmetic tweaks help distinguish the car from its petrol-based sibling – these include revised headlamps (with a blue-tint), a new front grille and reworked front and rear bumpers, as well as a new tail lamp cluster. There’s also that signature Lime Green exterior shade to denote its eco-friendly character; wonder if that colour will do well here.

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Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 – Stripped out race spec Godzilla

January 26, 2012 at 9:58 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Motorsports, Nissan


Click to enlarge image

This mean racing machine you see here is the Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3, which conforms to FIA GT3 regulations. It has been developed by NISMO and JR Motorsports (JRM), the official partner for this project, throughout last year.

The car’s credentials for GT3 racing worldwide has been proven via a series of extensive tests, included three competitive outings. They will be hoping that it follows the success of the GT1 Nissan GT-R that won the 2011 FIA GT1 World Championship.

The 3.8-litre V6 twin-turbo engine is based on the pre-2012 upgrade standard road car unit, developing 530 PS and 612 Nm of torque. Power is delivered via six-speed transaxle that drives the rear wheels, activated by a semi-automatic paddle-shift system. The stripped out, roll caged car weighs in at 1,300 kilos.

Designed with customers in mind, driveability has been an important factor. Therefore, as well as featuring a chassis that inspires confidence, suspension set-up and driver controls can easily be adjusted to suit a range of preferences, according to NISMO.

Sales and customer support for the 298,000 euro NISMO GT3 will be handled by NISMO for Japan, Asia, North America, South America, and Oceania, while JRM will cover Europe, Russia and the Middle East.

The road going R35 GT-R was recently upgraded for 2012. Click here to read our previous post and view the pics. There’s also a new Track Pack option for those who want to exercise their Godzilla on track, without stretching to the GT3.

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Mitsubishi to produce ASX in Indonesia starting this year

January 26, 2012 at 3:11 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Motors has announced it will start production and sales of the ASX (also known as Outlander Sport) in Indonesia. This will happen in the first half of MMC’s fiscal year 2012. FY 2011 for MMC ends on 31 March this year, so assembly will start anytime from April to September. The compact crossover will be put together at P.T. Krama Yudha Ratu Motor Factory (KRM), MMC’s consigned assembler in Indonesia.

“Introduction of the Outlander Sport is going be the beginning of a new history for both KTB (P.T. Krama Yudha Tiga Berlian Motors, MMC’s exclusive distributor for Indonesia) and MMC,” MMC President Osamu Masuko said in Jakarta.

This move is part of MMC’s effort to concentrate resources on emerging markets, a major pillar of its JUMP 2013 mid-term business plan announced in January 2011. The fast growing ASEAN region is high priority.

For Malaysia, MMC announced in September 2011 that it is working on a strategic collaboration with Proton that will see the latter produce engines for MMC. The scope also includes consignment production of Mitsubishi vehicles at Proton’s Tanjung Malim plant, and sharing of components between MMC’s Mirage and Proton’s upcoming “Global Small Car”.

At that time, the ASX was said to be one of the models for CKD, but it looks like Indonesia has got that job now. Of course, the Proton-MMC collaboration was done before the national carmaker had a new owner in DRB-Hicom. Will working with MMC fit in with DRB’s plans for Proton, or not?

The ASX featured in our recent five-fold mega SUV shootout – click here to read that one.

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Jaguar XF gets two new variants, Sport and SE Business

January 25, 2012 at 3:12 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Jaguar

Jaguar has introduced two new variants of the XF, called the SE Business and Sport editions, and both feature the 2.2 litre diesel unit in different output tunes.

The SE Business gets the 163 PS version, and adds satellite navigation, complete with a seven-inch touchscreen and HDD mapping on top of the kit already specified in standard specification form, which includes intelligent start stop, a 400 watt sound system with DAB digital radio, leather and suede-cloth seats and bi-Xenon headlights.

Meanwhile, the Sport model is based on the 2.2 Diesel 190 PS engine, and adds the full aerodynamic pack which debuted on the Diesel S. This includes a revised front bumper, a black grille element, side sill extensions, a subtle rear boot lid spoiler and a black rear valance.

Inside, the Sport features half leather suede-cloth seats, bond grain trim and dove contrast stitch as well as electric driver and passenger adjustment. The version also gets piano black trim with ‘Sport’ decals on the centre console and stainless steel foot pedals.

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Mitsubishi teases all-new vehicle ahead of Geneva debut

January 25, 2012 at 12:10 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Mitsubishi


Click to enlarge image

Detroit has passed and now it’s Geneva’s turn in the annual major motor show calendar, so expect to see teasers and online reveals before the wraps come off in Switzerland in March. Here’s one from Mitsubishi, teasing a new model from the front. While it looks like a development of the Concept PX-MiEV, MMC didn’t give any clue on the type of vehicle, only saying that it’s an all new model.

To be sold within this year, this mystery model marks the start of an all-new generation of global products for Mitsubishi Motors, which is set in MMC’s “Jump 2013” business plan for a greener and more global Mitsubishi. This new family of cars and SUVs will see a “gradual transition to a re-focused design language”.

This new design language is not yet finalised, but it’s said to be flexible enough to suit specific vehicle requirements whilst staging MMC’s famous Three Diamond logo accordingly. The company says that this “engineering-driven look” will be “refined yet assertive”.

Click here to see the Concept PX-MiEV that was shown in Tokyo 2011.

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Toyota TS030 Hybrid – the Le Mans challenger unveiled

January 25, 2012 at 10:53 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Motorsports, Toyota

Where one journey ends, another begins. Last week, the FIA World Endurance Championship lost Peugeot; this week, Toyota unveiled its entry, the TS030 Hybrid, which is set to join the fray in specific races.

The TS030 Hybrid is the successor to the TS010 and TS020 cars which participated at Le Mans with podium success during the 1990s, and the new 4.65 metre-long car sits on a brand new carbon-fibre LMP1 chassis that has been developed and produced at TMG.

The TS030 Hybrid is powered by THS-R (Toyota Hybrid System – Racing) powertrain consisting of an all-new V8 3.4 litre normally-aspirated petrol engine and hybrid system, the latter featuring a capacitor storage system developed by official team partner Nisshinbo.

Testing and evaluation is continuing on the merits on the front motor system – produced by Aisin AW – and a rear motor system developed by Denso, with regulations limiting hybrid systems to recovering a maximum of 500 kJ between braking zones whilst restricting deployment to only two wheels.

In announcing the arrival of the TS030 Hybrid, which made its first roll-out on track at Paul Ricard earlier in the month, the company also revealed its intention to race two cars in specific races. The Toyota Motorsport vehicle will make its race debut on May 5 in the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship,and two TS030 Hybrids will be entered in the subsequent Le Mans 24 Hours on June 16-17.

A driver line-up of Alex Wurz, Nicolas Lapierre and Kazuki Nakajima has already been confirmed for one car, while discussions are still ongoing to finalise the driver line-up for the other.

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