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A few days after Mitsubishi showed an official photo of the new Attrage, the brochure of the new model has leaked onto the internet. As the compact sedan will be produced at Mitsubishi Motors Thailand's factory at the Laem Chabang plant, the brochure is printed in Thai. However, we can still make some sense out of it. The Attrage will be available in three trims, namely the GLX, GLS and the top-end GLS Ltd. The GLS models will be equipped with twin airbags while the GLX makes do with just a driver's airbag. The GLS Ltd variant will get a Start/Stop button, reverse camera and MP3/DVD/Bluetooth function. The buyer can choose from six different body colours. Mitsubishi claims that the attrage can achieve a fuel consumption figure of 22km/L, which is superior to its rivals, the Nissan Almera and Honda Amaze. The car is powered by a 1.2-litre three-cylinder MIVEC engine which is good for 78bhp and 100Nm of torque. Transmission options include CVT and a five-speed manual.
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[extract] Opel tried to steal the spot light at this year's VW annual event at W
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A German driver, Uwe Schrager, deliberately crashed his Ford Mondeo into a tree to test the airbags of his car. "I knew that the car was fitted with airbags but I didn't trust that they would work, so I wanted to test them. I felt it was better to have a low speed crash that I was likely to survive if they didn't work rather than a high speed crash when it will be too late if they didn't work," said the unemployed Schrager when questioned by the police. When the police arrived, they found the driver putting the car's bumper and other parts into the boot so that he could drive the wrecked vehicle back home and get it repaired. The driver was tested negative for drugs or alcohol. Police said that the man had expected to be able to put back the airbags after the test, but had then discovered that this wasn't possible. The 45-year old Schrager apparently expected the insurance company to put the car back together again but was informed that the incident is not claimable as he had admitted to deliberate crashing. For his actions, Schrager
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In less than a week, the world will witness the debut of the all new 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. But right now, photos of its 1:18 scale die-cast model has surfaced on the Internet, courtesy of a photo gallery in an online French forum dedicated to miniature models. The photos revealed that the new model, codenamed W222, is clearly an evolution of the current model. Perhaps Mercedes-Benz is trying to play it safe with the styling of its top tier sedan so as not to 'shock' its current customer base. Some interesting styling features include a large front grille inspired by the F700 Concept car and LED head lights and taillights. Along with the sedan, the S-Class will spawn a coupe and convertible as well as an extended wheelbase S 600 Pullman trim that will fill the Maybach void. The latest S-Class represents Mercedes-Benz' ninth generation flagship sedan, and the sixth to be officially called the S-Class. Like the current S500, the new S-Class will be powered by a twin-turbo V8 and the S600 will pack a twin-turbo V12. The S 63 and S 65 AMG, diesel, hybrid and smaller powertrains will be introduced at a later date.
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Volkswagen planning carbon fibre roof option for high performance Golf
SYF77 posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
Volkswagen is working on a carbon fibre roof option for performance versions of the Volkswagen Golf. Although Volkswagen did not specify the specific models, it would be safe to assume that the GTI, GTD and 'R' variants would be receiving the carbon fibre treatment. According to Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Volkswagen's Research and Development Chief, the challenge at the moment is to develop a set of waterproof joints to seal the roof to the car's body sides and to its windshield. The carbon fibre roof will provide a weight saving benefit of about 18 to 20 pounds (eight to nine kilograms), improving performance and fuel economy. There are no details on the pricing or launch date for the option at the moment. In recent years, there has been a great interest in the use of carbon fibre material among car makers. BMW and Boeing announced last year that they were collaborating on carbon fibre materials while Volvo has been working on a carbon fibre flywheel technology that can provide up to 25 percent fuel savings when paired to a four-cylinder turbo engine over a six-cylinder unit. -
The all new Toyota Vios has finally been launched in Indonesia. The launch took place at the Ballroom of the Djakarta Theatre on Tuesday, 7th May 2013. Speaking of this latest generation Toyota Vios, do you remember I once said it's not likely to become a taxi? Well, it seems that I may be wrong as Toyota seems to be thinking differently. I once said the latest Toyota Vios wasn't likely to become a taxi not without a reason. This third generation sedan from Toyota comes with various high end features and modern, if not futuristic, styling cues. Projector headlamps and combination taillights are just a few to name. Not to mention that Toyota is also sticking quite a high price tag for the model, around Rp 242,500,000 (S$30,555) for the manual transmission in Indonesia. That's about Rp 20-25 million (S$2,500-S$3,000) more expensive than its predecessor. Toyota offers two trims - E and G - for its latest generation small sedan. As usual, E is the base trim. However, this time, customers can opt for an automatic transmission while purchasing the base trim. This automatic transmission variant will cost them Rp 252,000,000 (S$31,750). As for the G trim, it comes with either manual or automatic transmission, priced at Rp 259,900,000 (S$32,747) and Rp 272,500,000 (S$34,335) each, respectively. As you can see from the prices alone, it doesn't really make sense for Toyota to convert the All New Vios into a taxi. However, according to Toyota, there will be some adjustments to the features and the exterior design for the taxi version of the model. What's been revealed so far is that the rims and front grille will be different from those of the non-taxi version. Power windows - which are available on the non-taxi version - will also be disposed of. The adjustments have been confirmed by Johnny Darmawan, President and Director, PT Toyota Astra Motor (authorised Toyota distributor in Indonesia). "Yes, we'll keep on using the all new Vios as the development base for the Toyota Limo taxi, but it'll be different with a few adjustments, considering the latest generation has been equipped with classy features and the price is already high, too high to be converted directly into a taxi," said Johnny. He also added that there are already three huge taxi operators in Indonesia which are interested in using the Toyota Limo as their taxi fleets. According to him, the taxi operators are interested in the Toyota Limo thanks to the comfort, efficiency, reliability, and the roomy cabin the model has to offer. Now I understand why Toyota persists in converting its latest sedan model into a taxi. Without the adjustments, it will certainly ruin the image of the all new Toyota Vios as a small size premium sedan. As a result, there will be less people interested in spending their dime on the newly released sedan model.
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Fresh details have emerged on the 2014 Mazda MX-5 and its sister car, the Alfa Romeo Spider. Although an agreement has been reached for Mazda to build the Alfa Romeo roadster on the next MX-5 platform, both cars will be offered with its own set of engines. Mazda plans to fit the upcoming MX-5 with a new naturally aspirated 1.6-litre SkyACTIV engine with an output of approximately 130bhp. Mazda is insistent that the new MX-5 will not go the force-fed route although there were turbocharged versions of previous generation MX-5. For the Spider, it will probably use Alfa's turbocharged 1.4-litre 'TB' engine rated at around 120bhp. The more powerful 1750 TBi may also be offered with output of up to 296bhp. Both cars will probably come fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard but a six-speed automatic with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters could also be offered. Mazda intends to keep the size of the new MX-5 the same as the original version. New material and design will aid in the weight reduction while meeting the current crash regulations. The Hiroshima-based automaker hopes to achieve a curb weight of just 800kg.
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Dashboard camera captures horrific cargo plane crash in Afghanistan
SYF77 posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icfVsql38oc A National Airlines B747-400 cargo plane was involved in an accident at Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan on 29nd April 2013. The fateful flight from Bagram to Dubai crashed on takeoff, killing all seven crew members on board. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the crash. This is a pure cargo flight with no passengers aboard. The cargo consisted of vehicles and routine general cargo. The whole incident has been captured by a dashboard camera. According to military sources in Pentagon and Afghanistan, the video was most likely filmed by a service crew ferrying security at Bagram Airfield. Warning: Some readers may find the video footage disturbing -
GPS in M-Class helped to track alleged Boston Marathon bombers
SYF77 posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
The two alleged Boston Marathon bombers, Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, were tracked by the police with the help of Mercedes' factory fitted GPS system in the hijacked 2013 M-Class. Mercedes-Benz USA was asked to locate the SUV using the Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance function on the crossover's 'mbrace2' telematics system. The owner of the M-Class is a 26-year old man whose car was stolen at a petrol station. He informed the police that his car could be tracked by Mercedes' satellite system. Mercedes-Benz USA CEO, Steve Cannon, tweeted, "Just found out that our mbrace2 technology in the stolen Mercedes helped locate the Boston terrorists! Thanks to our amazing law enforcement." Mercedes-Benz USA spokeswoman, Donna Boland, confirmed that Mercedes turned on the tracking feature after authenticating the request. Lesson of the day - use a 'not-so-advanced' vehicle when committing a crime. -
MG is developing a range of turbocharged, direct-injected gasoline engines which will be launched in China at the end of 2014, and arriving in Europe a year later. These engines include 1.4-litre and 1.5-litre force-fed units as well as a 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit that claims to rival Ford's Ecoboost unit. Given that Ford's 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine has been named the 2012 'International Engine of the Year' - MG has got some very serious work to do. "Our benchmark for the 1.0-litre has to be the Ford Ecoboost engine," commented MG's Head of Powertrain, Paul McNamara. "Ford has got the technology to market first and changed perceptions. Our goal is to be competitive with their figures and attain the best real-world results possible," McNamara added. The larger 1.4-litre and 1.5-litre turbocharged engines will be available in the MG3, MG5, MG6 and a production version of the CS Concept (above) displayed at the 2013 Shanghai Motor Show. In addition to new power plants, MG is also working on two dual-clutch transmissions, namely a wet version that can handle 359Nm of torque and a dry version that can take up to 223Nm of torque. The wet dual-clutch transmission will go on sale in China this year while the dry one will likely go into production in 2015. The MG Car Company Limited was a former British sports car manufacturer founded in the 1920s. On 22nd July 2005, the Nanjing Automobile Group purchased the rights to the MG brand and the assets of the MG Rover Group, creating a new company called MG Motor.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bowkytZAVdw After Ford, Hyundai is the next car maker to apologise over a controversial commercial. The video, created by agency, Innocean Europe for Hyundai UK, shows a man trying to attempt suicide in his garage by hooking up the exhaust pipe to the cabin of his Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell. The attempt failed as the ix35 only emits water vapours and not carbon monoxide which blocks the transport of oxygen to the brain, heart, and other vital organs in the body. Hyundai issued an apology statement that read, "Hyundai Motor deeply and sincerely apologises for the offensive viral ad. It runs counter to our values as a company and as members of the community. We are very sorry for any offense or distress the video caused. More to the point, Hyundai apologises to those who have been personally impacted by tragedy." Hyundai has removed the YouTube video after widespread criticism on social media. However, the video has been uploaded by other netizens.
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After the 2013 Kia Forte sedan and hatchback made their debut, the two-door version (or better known as the Koup) has been captured in heavy camouflage while undergoing cold weather testing in Northern Scandinavia. The overall profile of the prototype displays an evolutionary design of its predecessor. Although the front fascia is covered up, it is expected to draw styling details from the Forte sedan. Details on the engine lineup are not available at the moment. However, if the Forte hatchback is available with the 201bhp 1.6-litre GDI turbocharged option, we should expect nothing less from the sporty two-door Koup. The naturally-aspirated 1.6-litre GDI with 140bhp could serve as the base model. The Forte Koup is expected to be launched globally in Q2 of 2013. Hopefully the COE system would be revamped by then so that we can afford some "affordable fun" in the new Forte Koup. Photo Credit: Worldcarfans.com
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Subaru has unveiled the WRX Concept at the 2013 New York Auto Show. The concept adopts a sloping roofline which is commonly known as a 'four-door coupe' body style. Together with the huge wheel arches and powerful body lines, we can guess that the next WRX is going to have a distinct identity, distancing itself from the regular Impreza. The direction that the new WRX is heading is confirmed by Toshiro Masuda, Senior General Manager of Subaru Product and Portfolio Planning. According to Masuda, it's more like 'they share a blueprint' than one is a hot version of the other. This is similar to Nissan's decision to separate the GT-R model from the Skyline name. The concept measures 4,521mm long by 1,990mm wide by 1,389mm tall, making it slightly shorter, lower and wider than the current Impreza. The concept wears 20-inch forged alloy wheels wrapped in 245/40Z R20 Dunlop rubber. According to Subaru, the car features a carbon fibre roof to lower the center of gravity and to reduce weight. A prominent rear diffuser and distinct C-shaped taillights enhances the WRX's own identity. The powerplant for the next generation WRX will be a derivative of the 2.0-litre, direct-injected flat-four found in the BRZ. No further power train details have been confirmed by Subaru.
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GM making contingency plans due to tension in the Korean Peninsula
SYF77 posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
As a result of the rising tension in the Korean Peninsula, GM is making contingency plans to move workers and shift production out of the country. Speaking in an interview on CNBC's Squawk Box, GM CEO Dan Akerson said, "We are making contingency plans for the safety of our employees to the extent that we can." GM is the third largest carmaker in South Korea employing 17,000 people with an annual output of 1.4 million vehicles. About 1.3 million units are exported to Europe and the U.S. One of these models exported is the Chevrolet Spark subcompact (above). Akerson added that it is difficult to shift production out of South Korea but may have to do so if the region continues to destabilise as part of long term planning. However, according to a report on Wall Street Journal, Akerson has already decided to move production to other plants. Should a war take place, Hyundai Motor Group, the world's fourth largest auto maker after General Motors, Volkswagen Group, and Toyota, is definitely going to be affected as well. This could result in wide ranging impact on the global automotive industry. At the time of writing this article, North Korea has moved a second mid range missile to its east coast and loaded both on mobile launchers, fueling fears of an imminent firing. Let there be peace on Earth. -
[extract] Photos of the 2014 Citro
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The above video is reportedly to be captured in Russia. It shows a shapely young lady in an outfit that is more suitable for her wedding night riding on the boot of a Mercedes E-Class. Her compromising position and body movements are bound to attract the attention of other motorists. But I guess most male drivers ain
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After the launch of the stunning new Mazda6, the next model that we expect from the Hiroshima-based automaker would be the compact Mazda3. According to Automotive News, an online car portal, three Mazda dealers in the US revealed that the all-new Mazda 3 will be launched in fall 2013, which means September to November. The Mazda3 is the brand's best-selling model and will share the CX-5's new lightweight architecture. The new 3 is expected to be "Kodomised" like its bigger brother, the Mazda6. The above image shows a rendered impression of the next Mazda3. The arrival of the new Mazda3 will hopefully spice up the Japanese compact sedan market, which is currently at a high risk of being overshadowed by vastly improved Korean offerings such as the Elantra and the upcoming Forte. The new Mazda3 is expected to lose some weight and will be powered by a range of Skyactiv engines. Photo Credit: carscoop.blogspot.com
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Ford in hot soup due to controversial advertisements in India
SYF77 posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
Ford lands itself in hot soup in India due to a series of advertisements promoting the Figo compact MPV. Titled 'Leave your worries behind', there are three advertisements meant to illustrate the Figo's spacious boot. The most controversial of them all shows former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi smiling behind the wheel of the Figo with three scantily dressed women tied up and bundled into the boot. These women each had a ball stuck in their mouths. With the 2012 Delhi gang rape case still fresh in every one's mind and a similar case involving a Swiss national recently, Ford's advertisements with sexual connotations is bound to attract negative public reaction. As a result, Ford had to issue an apology via a press statement: "We deeply regret this incident and agree with our agency partners that it should have never happened. The posters are contrary to the standards of professionalism and decency within Ford and our agency partners. Together with our partners, we are reviewing approval and oversight processes to help ensure nothing like this ever happens again." The other two advertisements features Michael Schumacher as the driver with his F1 rivals in the boot and Paris Hilton with the Kardashian sisters tied up in the boot. -
Mercedes has released a slew of photos showing the interior of the all-new 2014 S-Class flagship. The photos are taken in ambient LED lightings, giving a soothing overall feel as though one is in a high-class lounge. The replacement for the outgoing W221 model will be revealed on 15th May 2013. The luxury saloon will sit on a rear-drive platform and offer optional all-wheel drive, as well as the choice of regular and long wheelbases. The 2014 S-Class is expected to be slightly longer than the outgoing model. In the meantime, here's a look at a luxurious cabin at its best.
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Pininfarina Sergio concept could be produced in limited numbers
SYF77 posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
The Pininfarina Sergio concept car was created to pay tribute to the Italian design house's late chairman and CEO, Sergio Pininfarina, who passed away last year at an age of 85. The stunning concept was displayed at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. According to Paolo Pininfarina, Sergio's son and chairman of the company, the concept was the result of a four-month labour of love by the entire team. Now, there is a chance that you could own a piece of the Sergio concept as there is a rumor that Pininfarina may produce 6 units of the concept at a price tag of about 3 million euros each. The Sergio concept, which is based on the Ferrari 458, sports a barchetta design as it has no windshield or side windows. A barchetta was originally an Italian style of open 2-seater sports car which was built for racing. If the car enters production, it will definitely get a windscreen to make it road-legal. Pininfarina chief designer Fabio Filippini said that they already know how and where to modify the Sergio concept car to make it into a compliant, street-legal model. -
Porsche plans to increase dealerships by 33% over next 5 years
SYF77 posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
Porsche plans to increase its global dealership by 33% over the next five years. According to CEO Matthias Mueller, Porsche will invest 200 million euros annually to increase the number of dealerships to 1,000 outlets by 2018 from the current 750. "Our international dealership network is being expanded at a high pace," said Mr Mueller at the Porsche museum. "In China alone, there's a new Porsche Centre opening almost every month," he added. Despite challenging economic conditions in 2012, Porsche's operating profit rose 19% to 2.44 billion euros while delivering a record 143,096 vehicles. Such sterling results probably gave Porsche the confidence to commit to the aggressive expansion plans. However, the brand is cautiously optimistic on this year -
At the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, a lot of gorgeous models made their world premieres. These include the mid-engine Alfa Romeo 4C, the stunning new LaFerrari supercar and not to mention the fastest Lamborghini ever, the Veneno. However, a motor show is never complete without gorgeous models of another kind
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To celebrate the brand's 50th anniversary this year, Lamborghini has planned to release a special model at the Geneva Motor Show. On the eve of the event, the photo of this hypercar has been leaked. Called the Veneno, which means "poison" in Spanish, this is the fastest Lamborghini ever built. The car is built upon the carbon fibre monocoque chassis borrowed from the Aventador LP700-4. The Veneno is powered by a more powerful version of the Aventador's 6.5-litre V12 engine that produces 740bhp instead of 700bhp. This gives the Veneno a top speed rating of 354km/h. Power is transmitted to all four wheels via a six-speed ISR robotised manual gearbox. If you are thinking of getting one despite the increase in ARF, you might be disappointed to learn that all three units of this limited edition Lamborghini have been sold. Each carries a price tag of approximately
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The 2015 Mercedes S-Class coupe has been spied with lesser camouflage. The model will be the successor to the CL-Class. The name change makes it the first two-door S-Class since the W140 generation of the 1990s. The ultra-luxury coupe will not be just an S-Class with two doors removed but features its own unique styling with a lower front fascia and a sloped roof top. The S-class coupe will share its rear-wheel-drive architecture with the next-generation S-class sedan, which means substantial weight savings as well as optional all-wheel drive. All lightings will be equipped with LEDs. Motivation for the new S-Class coupe will likely be the twin-turbocharged V8 and V12 engines for both the regular and the high-powered AMG models. The 2015 S-Class coupe might go on sale in late 2014. There will also be an S-class convertible variant that will share the coupe's mechanicals and styling. The Bentley Continental GT and Rolls-Royce Wraith are the S-Class coupe's main competitors. Photo Credit: carscoop.blogspot.com
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[extract] The first generation Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan was launched in 2008 and the facelift version was presented at the 2012 Busan Motor Show. Hence, it is timely that General Motors begins the development of the second generation model. For the first time, the Cruze