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Hybrid powerhouse: BMW ActiveHybrid 7 driven in Munich

Over the past month, I’ve sighted on average five to six Honda Insights in my daily travels in Klang Valley. The costlier “full hybrid” Toyota Prius is a less common sight than the motor assisted Honda, but they’re still more of them around compared to in 2010. This is of course the effect of Budget 2011, which abolished import and excise duty for hybrid cars below 2,000cc.

The hybrid car as we know it, is a more efficient and eco-friendly alternative to regular gasoline powered cars. With the assistance of a battery powered electric motor, cars like the Insight can get away with just a 1.3-litre engine. Fuel consumption and CO2 emissions drop as a result, not to mention that road tax is just RM70 per year in the Honda’s case.

Recently, we were lucky to be able to sample a different sort of hybrid, one that’s more about 700 Nm of torque than RM70 road tax. In the BMW ActiveHybrid 7, the batteries aid km/h, not km/l. Welcome to the performance enhancing hybrid car.

Continue reading the report after the jump.
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Porsche Cayman R launched: 10 hp more, 55 kg less, RM630k – our brief impressions from the track

Sime Darby Auto Performance, local guardian of the Porsche brand, launched the new Cayman R yesterday at the Sepang International Circuit. The hottest Cayman was first revealed to the world at the LA show in November last year. More hardcore and uncompromising than the Cayman S, the Cayman R loses weight, adds power, and takes on a different character from the S.

The 3.4-litre flat six engine from the Cayman S gains 10 horses to make 330 hp in the R, while torque remains at 370 Nm. The redline for this water-cooled, direct injection naturally aspirated powerplant is 7,500 rpm, which one will reach easily while rowing through the seven-speed dual-clutch PDK gearbox. SDAP (a yummy acronym!) says that they will forward customer orders for the six-speed manual to Germany, if they insist on self swapping.

We don’t think many would want to do so, as the PDK version is faster to 100 km/h and more fuel efficient than the manual. The century sprint is dispatched in 4.9 seconds on to a 280 km/h top speed. Combined fuel consumption is 9.3 litres per 100 km, or 10.75 km/l. Compare this to the manual’s 5.0 sec and 9.7 litres per 100 km.

The other main point is weight reduction. The Cayman R uses aluminium doors (15 kg saved) and special seats (shells made of glass and CFRP, 12 kg saved), and Porsche goes to the extent of replacing the inside door handles with fabric straps. The 19in wheels are the lightest Porsche has, and a complete set of four weighs only 40 kg.

In Europe, one can have the R without air con and radio for max weight savings, but these are essentials here, even on a car like this, so SDAP ordered them. Unladen weight is 1,295 kg. If money isn’t an issue, the RM32k optional Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) can add stopping power and shave a further 15 kg off the weight. One can also order a lithium ion battery in place of the normal lead acid battery – this saves 14 kg.

From the outside, the Cayman R can be spotted via its signature “Peridot” colour. But if it’s not in that shade of green, one can look out for the fixed rear spoiler, “PORSCHE” lettering along the doors, black framed headlights and a body that’s lower by 20 mm over the S. The latter is part of the sports chassis which also includes more rigid springs, bespoke anti roll bars, stiffer dampers, wider tracks (+4 mm front, +2 mm rear) and a standard rear differential lock.

A larger negative camber has also been set for both axles to increase directional stability. Also, as Stuttgart set out to build a “purer” sports car, the R cannot be specified with PASM electronically controlled dampers.

At the launch, Porsche allowed journos a chance to sample their new baby on Sepang tarmac. There was a long queue with only one running unit, but yours truly managed to squeeze in one lap before they closed shop. Read our brief impressions of the Cayman R and view the gallery after the jump.
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VIDEO: MINI Cooper S Countryman Review

No, Driven isn’t back yet… but we’re trying out our first online video review. Remember the hijack video that was on this site sometime back? Harvinder has a little fun both on and off the road with the MINI Cooper S Countryman. Look after the jump for a full hi-res photo gallery. Or you can read our text test drive review by Danny Tan.
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MINI Countryman test drive report from Hamburg, Germany

The new MINI, or the BMW MINI, is one of the great motoring successes in recent times. We’re not sure, but it’s possible than even the bigwigs in Munich never envisioned such great reception for the reborn icon. Whether as a style accessory that transcends class in Europe or a toy for the rich in Malaysia, the MINI is still every bit as desirable as it was when it debut nearly a decade ago (has it really been that long?)

Fun to look at and fun to drive it may be, but the hip and happening early adopters from a few years ago might have moved on in life, and may require more space. To keep them in the brand they love, and to attract those who love the idea of a MINI but whose lifestyle/family does not permit, a bigger MINI was needed.

Continue reading the report after the jump.
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The Japanese D-segment trinity shootout: Honda Accord vs Nissan Teana vs Toyota Camry

We’re a busy lot manning this website. Unlike monthly magazines or newspaper pullouts, daily updates mean that there isn’t much time to organise shootouts. But when the Nissan Teana came along, it was a great opportunity to test the newcomer and compare it with the Japanese D-segment stalwarts – the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

Here’s a slightly different take on the good old triple test: one weekend, three drivers, three opinions. In this 3-in-1, we look at various aspects of the competing cars with the aim of pointing out more than what a solo reviewer normally can.

Read the full report after the jump. Enjoy!
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Proton R3 Satria Neo – short test drive impressions

We are back from a short test drive session of the Proton R3 Satria Neo, which happened at Proton’s testing ground in Shah Alam. Unlike the RM115k limited edition Lotus Racing Satria Neo (back when Proton and 1MRT were still on friendly terms), this version is much more accessible at RM79,797 but will still provide enthusiastic drivers with plenty of smiles.

To keep the price down, the R3 Neo doesn’t include the Lotus Racing Neo’s headline Ohlins suspension and AP Racing brakes, which were inspired by the real Lotus cars. The modded Campro CPS engine is the same. As we found out, the changes don’t detract from the fun factor and performance of the LR Neo, which makes it the better buy. There are even some improvements thrown in.

Continue reading the report after the jump.
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Ford Mondeo Facelift 2.0 Ecoboost Powershift – short drive

When we first reviewed the Ford Mondeo in February 2010, our man Danny enjoyed the drive and gave his overall thumbs up but commented that the package would be closer to prefect if it had an Ecoboost or a TDCI engine, as the 2.3 litre Duratec HE engine’s 159hp and 208Nm was a little underwhelming.

It looks like Danny’s wishes has come true as we hear SDAC is preparing for the launch of an updated Mondeo later this year. We jumped at the opportunity of trying out one of the new facelifted Ford Mondeos currently available in Singapore in Titanium spec with a 2.0 litre Ecoboost engine and a 6-speed Powershift transmission. Our current Mondeo is of Trend spec, with a normally aspirated 2.3 litre engine and 6-speed slushbox automatic.

Look after the jump for our findings after a short drive.
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Second Generation Volvo S60 2.0T Test Drive Review

I still remember the day when I first set eyes on the original Volvo S60 – a black T5 with those gorgeous multi-spoke rims. As with most young men, Volvo wasn’t a brand that I had lust for (I was attracted to the allure of the four rings then), but the turbocharged S60 with 250 horses was a different kind of beast. Actually, the so called ‘Revolvolution’ started with the S80 before that, but the more compact S60 wore those shoulders better. Sexy, almost.

That was a full decade ago. They took their time but Gothenburg has finally given the world a new S60. Like how the original attempted to change people’s views of the brand, the new S60′s mission is to change one’s perception that Volvo’s are dull to drive. This car is the most sporting Volvo has ever made. Heard that before? We’ll find out if it truly is, but one thing is for certain – this S60 looks the part.

Continue reading the report after the jump.
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Kia Optima 2.4 GDI Test Drive Report from Australia

How far it has all come along, indeed. If, in the past, Korean cars were seen as dowdy, perceived as unimaginative and subject to the more than odd derogatory comment in passing, then surely whatever is transpiring before our eyes is, quite simply, nothing short of a revelation.

Revolution, even. Granted, it has certainly taken time for things to kick in, but you only have to look at the past two years and see how rapid things are coming on line, where the slew of offerings coming about have, one after another, sought to not just placate, but accomplish something far more radical – how about excite for a suitable adjective?

Whatever you may call the current Hyundais and Kias of the world, they are most certainly not dowdy, unimaginative or befitting anymore of derogatory comments. Not even if you happen to be an erstwhile Japanese brand loyalist, even though the latter will undoubtedly still be flung this way.

For Kia, the pathfinder has unquestionably been the Forte, at least on these and nearby shores. This one proved once and for all that you could get a Korean offering that had the drive to match the looks. In many ways, it has helped alter the poor perception from all this while, stuck on with some pretty nasty glue.

The likes of the new Sorento, Sportage and Optima – all displaying the new design language set about by Peter Schreyer – are the next wave, set to capitalise on this little foothold on the beach. It is with the Optima that our story unfolds here, and what a neat little tale it has turned out to be indeed.

Continue reading after the jump.
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Test Drive Report: Second-generation Volkswagen Touareg

After the big bang entry of the Golf TSI and new Polo, the arrival of Volkswagen Group Malaysia’s next new model will be relatively low key, and rather unexpected. The first batch of the second generation Touareg SUV is already in town, as we discovered when filling up at a petrol station last month. You can register your interest now, but we understand that sales will start in January 2011.

VGM responded to our request for a test drive with the same brown “999″ unit that we spotted. It is a 3.6-litre V6 powered model paired to an 8-speed automatic gearbox, the sole variant offered in Malaysia. Despite being improved in every area (as you’ll read about after the jump) and loaded with equipment, the price is unchanged from the outgoing model – yours for RM437,283 OTR excluding insurance.

Continue reading the report after the jump.
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