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Proton Persona – name of new Proton Sedan?

August 3, 2007 at 7:16 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton, Proton Persona, Rumours

Proton Persona Spyshot

UPDATE: Proton Persona SE now on sale for RM59,800!

When a new national car is about to be launched, many will start to speculate on the name, and this is also the case with the new Proton sedan.

Word passing through the grapevines is that the new Proton sedan will be called the Proton Persona, and there was even a little photo being circulated of the sedan with the word Persona on it’s number plate.

Today we get a little confirmation – though not 100% sure as it is not from Proton’s mouth. The Edge carries an article on the new Proton Sedan and it calls the new car the Proton Persona. This name is not new, as it has been used by Proton in the past as the export market Proton Wira’s name in the UK.

The article also mentions Proton targets to sell about 4,000 units of the Proton persona a month, though industry analysts from RHB Research Institute thinks a figure of 2,000 to 2,500 Proton Personas a month is more achievable and sustainable.

186 Comments      

Volkswagen might expand 2008 Polo line-up

July 26, 2007 at 9:08 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Rumours, Volkswagen

PoloWhat Car reports that Volkswagen might be looking into creating more variants of the upcoming 2008 Volkswagen Polo instead of the current 5-door, 3-door and CrossPolo variants. Additional body styles such as cabriolets, coupes and even mini-MPV derivatives are possible.

An MPV Polo could be called a Polo Plus, following the Golf and Golf Plus naming scheme. The thought of a Polo Cabriolet reminds me of the old Fiat Punto Cabriolet, one of the cheapest open top cars you can buy on the 2nd hand market today at under RM20,000.

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2007 Kia Optima 2.0 soon?

July 25, 2007 at 7:54 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Kia, Koreans, Rumours, Videos

Kia Optima

The Hyundai Sonata and the Kia Optima used to be mechanical brothers, and both variants were available here in Malaysia, with the latter offered by Naza Kia Sdn Bhd. The Hyundai Sonata has since been updated with an all-new model here in Malaysia first as a CBU and subsequently as a locally assembled CKD unit.

As for the Kia offering, the old Optima is still on sale, but looking at Naza Kia’s continuous efforts with the Kia brand here in Malaysia (the most recent being the introduction of a locally assembled Kia Sportage), we are poised to see the new Kia Optima here very soon as a locally assembled model.

The new Kia Optima differs slightly from it’s Hyundai Sonata brother in the area of front suspension setup, where the Sonata uses a multilink setup while Kia uses a MacPherson strut setup at the front.

Engine options consist of a 145 PS inline-4, a 161 PS 2.4 litre inline-4 and a 185 PS 2.7 litre V6 mated to a 4-speed or 5-speed automatic transmission, with a 5-speed manual also available for those who prefer clutch action.

Kia has been emphasizing on the crash test results of the new Optima, which earned a 5-star rating in the NHTSA crash tests and a 4-star rating in the EuroNCAP crash test.

According to a dealer tip, unlike the Sonata which offers 2.0 and 2.4 litre variants, the Kia Optima will most likely be offered as a 2.0 litre inline-4 only, but will have two different trim levels – a standard one called EX with dual airbags, ABS, fabric seats, CD/MP3/USB audio and a higher spec model called EX “Special Package” with more goodies like a 6.1 Infinity sound system (4 speakers, 2 tweeters, 1 subwoofer) with a 420 watt external amplifier and a 6-CD in-dash changer, ESP stability control, 215/50R17 Michelin Pilot Premacy-wrapped 17″ wheels, powered driver’s seat, and suede/leather upholstery.

Both models will be available with a 4-speed auto gearbox, as the 5-speed units are only available for the 2.7 litre engine. Expect a classy black interior with real aluminium trim, similiar to the locally assembled Kia Sportage.

Have a look at more pics and videos after the jump.
[Read more...]

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Mercedes Benz might drop A-Class

July 2, 2007 at 9:26 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Mercedes Benz, Rumours

B200 Turbo

German business weekly WirtschaftsWoche reported that DaimlerChrysler AG’s Mercedez Benz unit may drop the A-Class and use a B-Class replacement to represent both A-Class and B-Class models in the next generation of that product range to arrive somewhere in the year 2011. In place of the A-Class will be a new compact model more like a small coupe rather town car like the A-class, to go against rivals Audi and BMW, especially since the latter has just announced the 1-Series coupe.

Reuters says when contacted, a DaimlerChrysler spokersperson said he could not comment on the report.

Source

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Ford might sell Jaguar and Land Rover

June 15, 2007 at 5:46 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Fiat, Ford, International News, Jaguar, Land Rover, Rumours

xf1.jpg

The latest whispers being passed around dinner tables in the automotive industry are that Jaguar and Land Rover are currently on the table, and potential buyers are Fiat. It seems that talks started in February this year but ended last month, with no resolution. Sources say the talks were dropped because Fiat was concerned on how the Jaguar would affect Fiat’s credit rating. Fiat would have benefited from Jaguar’s rear wheel drive platforms if the sale had gone through.

With rumours of BMW being interested in Volvo, and most of Aston Martin shares recently being sold, it seems Ford Motor Co is looking to offload all of it’s Premier Automotive Group (PAG) brands.

PAG lost US$327 million before taxes last year, it’s third loss in a row for three years. Jaguar has lost the most money apparently, a total of between US$500 million to US$1 billion since 2001. Land Rover has gained traction recently though, pardon the pun :)

Source

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BMW new models update, allegedly

June 7, 2007 at 4:45 am By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, Rumours

BMW_1-Series_3-Door_Side

New models coming up from BMW – a 123d, an X5 3.0sd, as well as a revised BMW M5 with more power! The 123d is an entry-level 1-Series that will get BMW’s new inline-4 2.0 litre twin turbodiesel that has yet to be slotted into any cars yet. If you’ve missed reading about it, do check it out via the links in the related posts below.

The E70 BMW X5 will also get a more powerful diesel variant, and no prizes for guessing which engine will supply that power – the award winning 3.0 litre twin turbodiesel that first appeared in the 535d. The BMW X5 3.0sd will likely put out similar power figures to the 535d, 335d, and X3 3.0sd – 286 horsepower and 580Nm of torque. This same engine will also find it’s way into a 635d, spied recently on test runs.

In the high performance category, the M5 and M6 are expected to get power upgrades to somewhere around 530 horsepower, and there are also rumours of an upcoming BMW M10 sports car, something we’ve referred to as the Z9 or Z10 previously.

Source

Related Posts:
BMW announces 204hp, 400Nm twin turbodiesel inline-4
2008 BMW Z10 Supercar (now to be called M10?)
BMW 635d spotted!
BMW 635d in the works

7 Comments      

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Bluetec-Hybrid

June 7, 2007 at 4:20 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Mercedes Benz, Rumours

S-Class

A hybrid version of the W221 Mercedes Benz S-Class will be unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show in September this year, making it Mercedes Benz’s first hybrid car. Unlike most hybrids which use a petrol-electric combination, the hybrid S-Class will combined a Bluetec diesel engine with a compact electric motor.

A previous concept called the Direct Hybrid concept used a 3.0 litre V6 diesel engine together with an electric motor, but sources reveal it is more likely the S-class hybrid will use a four-cylinder Bluetec diesel instead, likely a similiar engine to the 2.2 litre 4-pot found in the Mercedes Benz Vision C220 Bluetec concept. There is also another Bluetec turbodiesel in the Benz arsenal – the 4.2 V8 TDI Bluetec that was put into the Vision GL420 Concept.

There is no official name for the car at the moment, but some have begun to call it the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Bluetec-Hybrid.

Source

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2012 Range Rover L405 might go all-aluminium

May 29, 2007 at 7:29 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Land Rover, Rumours

The king of the luxury 4WDs will go on a diet for it’s next generation, but it’s a diet plan that will take 15 years. A new lighter Range Rover is being proposed by Land Rover engineers for the 2012 model year, using stablemate Jaguar’s rivet-bonded aluminium monocoque chassis technology.

This construction technique will save the new L405 Range Rover nearly 500kg, improving it’s fuel consumption, power, and so many other variables. It will also have a shorter roof so that it’ll look less top heavy. A hybrid drivetrain is also in the works – we don’t really expect petrol prices to have improved much by 2012.

21 Comments      

BMW crossover small MPV to be called BMW F3

May 29, 2007 at 3:33 am By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, Rumours, Spyshots

BMW F3

Previously referred to as the BMW V3, it looks like BMW’s long anticipated crossover mini MPV vehicle will be called the BMW F3 instead, and the small 3-series based 5-seater gets the green light for production. The BMW F3 will be a 3-series-based product with a little more utility designed into it, think of it as BMW’s answer to the Mercedes Benz B-Class.

AutoWeek reported a BMW insider giving the following statement: “Weve looked carefully at prevailing market trends, and there appears to be a clear shift away from old-style multi-purpose vehicles. By combining the high seating position of a sport/utility vehicle with the space afforded by a traditional station wagon, crossovers appear to be providing an clear alternative to buyers.”

Most of it’s components will be shared with the 3-Series and the upcoming full model change BMW X3 which should arrive in 2009. The BMW F3 is expected to go into production somewhere in mid-2010.

Following this naming scheme, BMW’s RFK, or Raumfunktionales Konzept which means “space-functional concept” which is expeced to be a larger Mercedes Benz R-Class rival will likely be called the BMW F5.

I don’t know about you, but V3 and V5 definitely seems to have a better ring to it than F3 and F5. Besides, BMW is already going to use the F letter for it’s new chassis codes, since the E chassis codes are sort of running out of numbers.

Related Posts:
2008 BMW V3?
BMW Space Functional Concept – Possible BMW V5 MPV?

30 Comments      

Porsche’s mini Cayenne: Porsche Roxster

May 28, 2007 at 6:01 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Porsche, Rumours

roxster

Autobild reported that Porsche will be building a smaller version of it’s Cayenne SUV based on the Audi Q5 and Volkswagen Tiguan, in a classic Porsche-VAG platform sharing tradition that was used with the Cayenne-Touareg-Q7 trio. There’s certainly a business case for this, as the Cayenne proved to be a financial success, though many have criticized Porsche for diluting it’s brand by developing an SUV, a far cry from the sports cars it was making.

While most of the time an automaker would just remain silent on such comments, Porsche has responded via Dow Jones Newswires that there are NO plans for a Porsche version of the Audi Q5.

12 Comments