Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series

July 4, 2008 by vincent

Jeremy Clarkson test drives and falls in love with the Mercedes CLK Black.

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Top Gear pits the Evo X against the new STi

July 1, 2008 by Vijandren Ramadass

It will quite literally run rings around the Subaru - Jeremy Clarkson.

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New Audi A4 1.8T (B8) Launched

June 27, 2008 by Terence

Euromobil, our local Audi distributor has just launched the latest A4 1.8T which they hope will increase its sale to 300 units annually. Note the trademark LEDs on the front headlamp  which debuted on the R8 and has become Audi’s design trademark.

The Audi A4 1.8T comes equipped with a advanced turbo charged FSI engine hence the TFSI moniker. It produces around 160hp and a mind blowing 250Nm of torque and the best part is that the max torque is archive just at 1500rpm.

The will be only 2 variants for now, the base model which is priced at RM235,000 and the S-Line Pack version which comes in at RM260,000. This adds bigger alloys, leather/cloth combination seats and a bodykit.  Euromobil will be bringing in the 2.0TFSI and 3.2l V6 FSI models later.

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Honda’s new NSX?

June 26, 2008 by Terence

The long awaited next generation Honda/Acura NSX replacement finally broke cover this week. Spies caught it in a zebra-like camouflage lapping the famous Nürburgring in Germany during its development phase.

Their mission? To make this Honda the fastest production model around the legendary circuit. But it will be a tough challenge as rivals such as the Nissan GT-R and the Lexus LF-A are both capable of sub-seven minute 30 seconds lap of the 13-mile race track.

The coupé will get a 550bhp 5.5-litre V10 with cylinder deactivation technology. The same technology that we have seen in the new 3.5l Honda Accord that launched few months back. However in the V10, 5 cylinders will be shut down when the engine load is light to improve fuel consumption and emission. Torque figures are said to be more than 570Nm.

The chasis is rumored to be a modified version of the US Acura RL with a hybrid aluminum and steel body to reduce weight. Power is channeled to the wheels via an eight-speed auto box that includes paddleshifters and also featuring Honda’s SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) that debut in the latest Honda Legend.

Expect the newcomer to debut in late 2010 or early 2011, with pricing being similar to a Nissan GT-R.

Source: AutoExpress UK

Posted in Acura, Honda, International News No Comments »

479,000 Cars To Get Free Rear Seat Belts

June 17, 2008 by Terence

Around 479,000 cars registered before 1995 are expected to get free installation of rear seat belts from early next month until the middle of 2010 under a sponsorship programme initiated by the government.

These cars are basically Perodua Kelisa (28,000), Perodua Kancil (141,000), Perodua Kenari (33,000), Proton Saga/Iswara (150,000), Naza (30,000) and other makes (20,000).

According to Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat, the cost of installation per car would be around RM80 and the cost for each set of three rear seat belts is RM100.

However, the entire cost would be borne by the manufacturers or through sponsorship by corporate organisations. Car owners only need to bring their cars to selected workshops appointed by the manufacturers to fix the rear seat belts.

Source: Bernama

Posted in Local News, Naza, Perodua, Proton No Comments »

Bernama gets Naza Forza as fast response agency vehicles

June 11, 2008 by Terence

Bernama has receive their order of 14 units of the fuel efficient Naza Forza 1.1L on the 5th of June 2008. The cars will be used as fast response agency vehicles by the Bernama TV news crew and will be assigned to the various branches situated all over Malaysia.

Guess this will be coinciding the fact that just 1 day earlier, the Government announced that the new price for petrol was RM2.70 per litre, up 40.6 percent from RM1.92 per litre.

However Naza Corporation Sdn Bhd is confident that despite the increase in petrol price, its fuel efficient cars are catered for the situation, said executive vice president Dato’ Ahmad Ibrahim. He adds that the high fuel price would see an increase of demand for small cars below 1.6 litre like the Naza Forza 1.1 and 206 Bestari 1.4.

The Naza Forza 1.1 comes with 2 years Free Maintenance Service and also 4 years warranty and is equipped with 2 front SRS airbags and 3 seat belts at the rear for greater occupant safety. It is also equipped with side impact beams for better protection.

Posted in Local News, Naza No Comments »

Algae to produce fuel of the future

June 5, 2008 by Terence

Biodiesel and ethanol better watch out since there is a new biofuel in town. Using little more than algae, sunlight and waste water,  US-based Sapphire Energy has announced that it has created a process produces ASTM certified 91-octane petrol.

While other bio-fuels may be produced in similar fashion, Sapphire’s process is a unique technique that produces a uniform product that can be used in gasoline engines without any modifications. Sapphire insist that their fuel is neither ethanol or biodiesel.

Unlike the production of ethanol, Sapphire’s production process doesn’t use land for fuel or food crop and virtually eliminates any emissions in the creation process. The end result is a green liquid that is virtually identical to petrol.

And just to prove their point, an employee of Sapphire Energy, Brian Goodall just completed a cross-Atlantic flight in a plane powered by the company’s new biofuel.

With petrol prices now at a super high of RM2.70 and predictably higher in the near future, I sure wouldn’t mind using cheaper petrol alternatives such as Sapphire Energy’s biofuel but only time will tell how long before such technology will reach our shores.

For more information on Sapphire Energy and its biofuel, see here.

Posted in International News No Comments »

New Subaru/Toyota coupe to hit the market in 2011

May 30, 2008 by Terence

Hot of the press from Inside Line, seems that a new RWD coupe is being jointly developed by Subaru and Toyota. While the name of this neew 2+2 has been announced, it has been decided to market the car as a Subaru worldwide while being branded as a Toyota in Japan itself. Could this be the actual successor to the famous AE-86?

There is a conflicting report that states the coupe will be based on the Subaru Impreza despite Subaru/Toyota’s press release claiming it to be an all new platform. Whatever the case, it will be powered by a 2.0l naturally aspirated boxer engine producing 220 hp at 6,500 rpm.

Subaru and Toyota will be benchmarking this new coupe against one of the the best FWD Japanese coupe out there, the Honda Integra Type-R. Expect it to be launched in 2011 with a price tag of around USD$20,000.

Posted in Honda, International News, Subaru, Toyota No Comments »

The greatest motor vehicle in the world is… the Honda Cub

May 28, 2008 by Terence

That’s right, with over 40 million of these bikes sold worldwide since 50 years ago, its hard to believe this cheap mode of transportation would take home Discovery Channel’s Greatest Motorcycle In The World Award.

Developed initially as a cheap and reliable mode of transportation for post WWII Japan by visionary Soichiro Honda, the Cub took over the world as Honda expanded their sales line to the US, Europe and basically worldwide . The single cylinder air cooled 4 hp engine with the 3 speed automatic gearbox could take u up to a maximum speed of 50mph or 80kmh. That’s translates to a whooping fuel consumption of 221 mpg or 93.96 km/l.

Although the Cub has long been replaced by Super Cubs, C60, C70 and the popular EX5 here in our country, the original Cub is still being sold in Japan and with increasing sales especially since they are consistency updated with new upgrades on the engine, making it even more powerful, more economical and cleaner than ever before.

Here is a clip detailing why the Cub is the greatest motorcycle in the world:

Posted in Honda, International News No Comments »

Proton bumping up production to 8,000 cars monthly

May 21, 2008 by Terence

Proton has set a production target of 8,000 cars per month to meet the high demand and reduce the waiting time which has now extended to seven months especially on popular models like the Persona and the new Saga.

Proton managing director, Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said that Proton had been raising its monthly production to 6,400 from 4,500 units since April. And if all goes well, we should see the 8,000 figure would be in 2 to 3 months time.

He also mentioned of a new Proton MPV which would be launched sometime in march 2009. Proton is confident this new vehicle will suit large families and will try to take a chunk out of the MPV market currently dominated by Kia Rias and Citras.

Check out the discussion and spy shots of the test mule on the forum.

Posted in Local News, Proton No Comments »