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Next Toyota Supra to be a hybrid

November 7, 2006 at 10:18 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Lexus, Rumours, Toyota

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Apparently there will be a variant of the Lexus LF-A sold under the Toyota brand under the venerable Supra badge, but instead of using the LF-A’s 500hp V10, it will use a tuned up version of the Lexus GS450h’s 339hp 3.5 litre V6 hybrid engine paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission.

The hybrid powertrain, called the 2GR-FSE, is said to produce power equivalent to a 4.5 litre V8, hence the GS450h moniker. The S in the engine code represents the inclusion of Toyota’s D4-S twin injection system, which combines direct injection with traditional port injection. At low revs, the engine uses a combination of both direct injection and port injection, while at high load conditions only direct injection is used. This supposedly allows for better fuel efficiency.

The new Toyota Supra hybrid sportscar is expected to be unveiled end of 2007.

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2008 Lexus LF-A at Nurburgring
Lexus LF-H Spyshots
Lexus LF-A

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More previews of the Alfa Romeo 149

November 6, 2006 at 2:47 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Alfa Romeo, Cars, Rumours, Spyshots

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Here are somemore previews of the upcoming Alfa Romeo 149, based on the Fiat Group’s Premium platform, basically a shorter wheelbase version of what’s under the Alfa 159. Previous artist’s impressions done by Italian car magazine Quattroruote were based on leaked spyshots of the car – while they didn’t officially show the actual car, the artist’s impression was based on the spyshots.

The photos above however, are supposed to be a clay mock-up of the car, partially covered by a red sheet. While the rear design has stayed true to what we’ve seen recently, this is probably the first time we’re looking at the front. I can’t say I am connecting much with the new retro round lights that the clay model has – similiar to the ones on the Alfa 8c Competizione and the Alfa Romeo Diva Concept.

The Alfa front end lights design has gone from ovalish bulgy lamps seen on the pre-facelift 147 and the current Alfa GT, to sleek and slim ones on the post-facelift Alfa 147, to the current round retro-ish ones. While the lamps can be said to look good on sports cars, I’m not too sure if it will suit a hatch like the new 149. The car might end up looking too stout. What do you think? Click here for a rear 3/4 view of the car so you can have a look at the side profile as well.

Related Posts:
2007/2008 Alfa Romeo 149 Artist’s Impression

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Another impression of BMW’s CLS fighter

November 6, 2006 at 12:37 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, Rumours

bmw4doorcoupesmallleft.jpgThis is What Car’s artist impression of the upcoming CLS fighter by BMW. What the car is to be called seems to be divided between the 8-series and the X6. Autobild of Germany has also done a similiar concept drawing, click here for my post back in June 2006 with the image. AutoBild’s take looks more original, while this one by What Car looks more like a 4 door adaptation of the 6-series coupe.

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BMW’s CLS Fighter

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Miata fighter – 2010 BMW Z2?

November 4, 2006 at 6:09 am By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, Rumours

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While the small, cheap-ish and cheerful fun roadster market is currently being dominated by the Mazda MX-5 Miata and the Pontiac Solstice, Car and Driver magazine has news of a potential Miata killer by BMW called the Z2. Scheduled to be released by 2010, the new BMW Z2 will have the current Z4′s underpinings, and is expected to cost below US$30,000.

So wait awhile, and you’ll be spoiled for choice if you’re in the market for a fun roadster – an American, a Japanese or a German!

14 Comments      

Volvo XC60 Artist’s Impression

September 17, 2006 at 11:18 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Rumours, Volvo

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Volvo’s new smaller-sized SUV (above is an artist’s impression) will join it’s bigger brother the Volvo XC90 first as a concept version displayed at the upcoming North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and will subsequently debut as a production model in the second quarter of 2008. Despite previous reports calling the new SUV the XC50, Volvo insiders have informed the motoring world that it will be called the Volvo XC60 instead.

Being slightly larger than the current third generation Toyota RAV4, the XC60′s styling will be similiar to other Volvo cars especially their current SUV the XC90, and will share the current V70′s EUCD platform.

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Car scrapping policy – 15 years?

August 31, 2006 at 7:00 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Rumours

I am driving a 1984 Nissan Sunny 130Y. The original engine was a single overhead cam carburetted 8 valve 1.3 litre engine called the E13. It made about 65 horsepower. It still runs very well after 2 engine transplants (now running an E15 carburetted 8 valve SOHC 1.5 litre – 67hp), albeit the NVH has gone quite horrible, which makes the ride at highway speeds pretty deafening for me due to wind noise but it sure doesn’t harm other road users.

I’ve just got back from Langkawi from the Honda Accord Media Drive event to be greeted by updates on the possible car scrap policy. Nanyang.com.my posted a piece of news on the controversial Car Scrapping Policy which is rumoured to find it’s way into the soon to be announced Budget 2007.

The report quotes industry sources saying the policy will be imposed on cars aged 15 years and older, to ensure:

  1. More orderly road traffic
  2. Safety for road users
  3. A cleaner environment

There are currently 80,000 cars on the road over 15 years of age, and most of them are Protons. The scrapping rebate previously suggested is not to be given out by the government, but by national makes – thus making the rebate effective for purchasing a new national make vehicle only.

Nanyang’s report doesn’t exactly have the most solid sources or references, so we don’t really know whether it will be implemented or not until the Budget 2007 is announced. Are you ready to commit yourself to another 9 grueling years of loan repayment?

Previous post on the car scrapping issue available here.

By the way, happy Merdeka Day to all Malaysians!

91 Comments      

Next-gen Subaru Impreza: sedan and hatch

August 24, 2006 at 8:53 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Rumours, Subaru

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AutoExpress reports that the next generation Subaru Impreza will not be abandoning it’s sedan form, instead it will be offered as both as hatchback and classic sedan form! The 5-door hatchback variation of the Subaru Impreza will come first in the UK summer 2007, while the sedan version will come soon after.

All wheel drive and boxer engines will be standard, but Subaru is also developing a turbodiesel boxer which might find it’s way into this car, given Europe’s diesel affinity.

A concept version of the Subaru Impreza hatchback will be revealed at the 2007 Geneva Auto Show early next year. Design cues will likely come from the Subaru B5 concept shown above.

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2008 Subaru Impreza to be a hatch

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E92 BMW M3 Possible Specifications

August 19, 2006 at 10:11 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, Rumours

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I am eagerly awaiting the new E92-based BMW M3 to be released to see what fantastic new engine BMW will be putting under the hood. New BMW engines seem to naturally be award winners lately – the 3.0 twin turbodiesel in the BMW 535d, and the normally aspirated 5.0 V10 in the BMW M5.

Details of the new E92 BMW M3 has surfaced on forums like M3 Post, and while we don’t know if this is the actual real specifications, let’s just have a look at it anyway. Details are after the jump.
[Read more...]

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Who’s your Dadi?

August 13, 2006 at 10:05 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, LMG Auto, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Rumours

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After that short speculation in my previous post, it’s quite obvious the new car to be launched this Tuesday in Johor will be a Dadi SUV or pick-up truck with an LMG Auto badge. While The Star’s report only mentioned a national car, a similiar report by Bernama confirms that the car is an LMG.

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Dadi has two SUVs called the Dadi Shuttle and the Dadi Tourer, as well as a pick-up called the Dadi Trekker. Not sure which one will be launched this Tuesday, but the lights in the teaser looks like the pick-up truck. Reminds you of the Isuzu D-MAX eh?

Dadi vehicles use Mitsubishi engines in general, namely a 4G64 2.4 litre SOHC engine producing about 147hp and 214Nm of torque, which should be ample for an SUV or pickup of that size.

The theme of the ad is strange though – what do they mean by just add water?

45 Comments      

BMW Space Functional Concept – possible BMW V5

August 12, 2006 at 9:32 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, Rumours, Spyshots

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Despite the challenges of making an MPV an “Ultimate Driving Machine”, BMW is responding to market needs by developing an MPV which might be called the BMW V5. The project is called the BMW Space Functional Concept, and it’s production version results will go against the likes of the Mercedes Benz R-Class as a spacious and luxurious people mover. An Automedia artist’s impression is shown above.

Rumours are that the production version of the BMW Space Functional Concept will be called either the V5 or V6, followed by a more compact BMW V3 model.

If BMW follows the footsteps of Honda’s Odyssey and Stream, it shouldn’t be too hard to inject sporty and good driveability into an MPV.

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Possible 2008 BMW V3 Artist Impression

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