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Japanese auto giant Toyota will start selling its first fuel cell sedan this financial year, with a price tag of around 7 million yen (US$70,000), the company announced on Wednesday. The vehicles will begin rolling out by March in the home market, it said, and during the summer of 2015 it will make the environmentally friendly cars available in the United States and Europe. "Hydrogen is a particularly promising alternative fuel since it can be produced using a wide variety of primary energy sources, including solar and wind power," the automaker said in a statement. Fuel cell cars are seen as the Holy Grail of green cars as they are powered by a chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, which produces nothing more harmful than water. Toyota's fuel cell sedan can travel about 700 kilometres (435 miles) without refuelling, about three times further than an electric car, and it only takes three minutes refuel, similar to a gasoline engine car, Toyota said. The company, while not abandoning electric altogether, sees the fuel cell as the next logical step after its big early success with the Prius gas-electric hybrid, which has sold about 3.7 million units since its launch in the late 1990s. "Hydrogen does not emit CO2, so it could be a key player to realise a low-carbon society. It can be produced with fossil fuel such as natural gas and even with sludge accumulated in the sewage system," said Toyota vice president Mitsuhisa Kato. "We believe hydrogen could become a very important source of energy in the future." This is the first time Toyota has given a specific timeframe for its fuel cell cars, which it had previously said would go on the market in 2015. The announcement came a day after Japan's industry ministry said the government will strongly support the hydrogen and fuel cell sector in a "strategic roadmap". The ministry said the market related to hydrogen and fuel cell products and infrastructure is expected to expand from about one trillion yen in 2030 to about eight trillion yen within two decades. While automakers expect eventual government subsidies to make fuel cell vehicles more accessible for general drivers, the price tag unveiled by Toyota on Wednesday is also a nice surprise for potential customers - it had been widely expected that a fuel cell vehicle would cost around 10 million yen. But many hurdles still need to be overcome before fuel cell vehicles become a common sight on roads, most notably, the network of hydrogen refuelling stations, Toyota said. The Japanese government has also said it will try to make hydrogen available at a price similar to or less than gasoline fuel, while increasing the number of hydrogen refuelling stations to about 100 next year. The company said it will initially start selling the model only in the regions "where hydrogen refuelling infrastructure is being developed". The price ranges for a fuel cell unit for the US and European markets have not been decided, Toyota said. Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/toyota-names-price-for/1205882.html

Any Toyota Axio owner can enlighten me? What does that means when the "ECO" light blinking in RED and GREEN? Thanks.

Fully agreed with the statement made by this link: http://www.mycarforum.com/reviews/reviews.pl?id=1050 I observed the good points too....value for $$$ buy ride.....

Make no mistake. This isn't a simple tuned up version of the usual BMW 335i. In fact, it's far from it. This is an M3-rivaling fast saloon that can carry four up north in comfort at great speeds. And Alpina has done a great job with its new B3 Bi-turbo. Headline figures are 404bhp and 600Nm of torque from the 3.0-litre straight-six, which equals to a 100 more horses and 200Nm of more torque than the 335i This is achieved with the help of two smaller turbocharger, a larger intercooler, a better fuel pump and its own ECU. Why two turbochargers? Alpina says throttle response is much better and there is less turbo lag, which was what I felt. Coupled with the responsive ZF eight-speed automatic, the sprint to 100km/h is accomplished in a scant 4.2 seconds. On the road, the B3 is a great overtaking tool with all that torque. There is no question this is much faster than a 335i, especially when it achieves full boost. On that note, the turbo hiss is more noticeable now when driving hard. Alpinas have never been track cars and this is no different. The B3 is one smooth riding saloon considering that it is running on ultra low profile non-run flat tyres. Dampers are adjustable but in Comfort mode, body control is slightly lacking as the car can get upset by larger bumps. Sport mode improves things and with one of the finest steering for a saloon, hustling the car down your favourite road is a joy. Overall this is a well-rounded fast sedan. Some of you readers may argue that this is one expensive 3 Series but you do have to pay for the exclusivity. I cannot think of anything I dislike about the car other than wishing for a louder exhaust note, considering it bears the Akrapovic name. But then again, Alpinas aren't supposed to be shouty... Need a more in depth review of the B3? Click here!

Anyone know how much can i push out of the BMW 320i turbo engine? I am guessing it can go much further than the output of 245hp from the 328i...

After its world premiere in India last year, the 2014 Honda City made its Asian debut in Thailand recently. They will receive a total of six different variants starting from 550,000baht(S$21,000) for the base model which is fitted with a five-speed manual transmission. For those who want some convenience, they can opt for the new seven-speed CVT transmission which is said to improve efficiency and effectively replaces the old five-speed automatic. The new City gets a mildly improved 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine which churns out 120bhp and 145Nm of torque. Changes to the engine include a tweaked i-VTEC system, friction reduction (low tension oil seal, zigzag piston pattern coating) and weight reduction via an integrated resin intake manifold. Like its rival, the Vios, the 2014 Honda City also grew in terms of wheelbase length to improve its interior space. An increase of 50mm allows it to match the Nissan Almera’s wheelbase while overall length is just 25mm longer than the previous model. The Thailand-market City gets a seven-inch multimedia system which supports Bluetooth and other media connectivity features. An interesting feature for the 2014 Honda City is its touch-enabled automatic climate control system which is quite similar to Lexus’s IS saloon. It now also gets rear air-con vents which will prove useful in our country. Other niceties include keyless entry, push-start ignition and multi-function steering wheel with paddles shifters. Some of the cars with higher specifications will feature six airbags, VSA stability control, Hill Start Assist and a multi-angle rear view camera that allows you to adjust up to three different levels. To those who are keen on the car, expect the 2014 Honda City to reach our shores in the second quarter of this year.

IS250 or 320i? Which one will you prefer? Im all the the Bimmer. http://www.mycarforum.com/blog/12/entry-3312-all-new-is-muscles-against-the-3-series/

Dear Sifu, need your advices on BMW 320i and 520i in 2008 model. Q1. How to identify a PI and AD model for 320 and 520? Q2. There are models with 320i, 320i XL and 520i and 520i XL. What does XL stand for? Q3. Will 520i underpower due to same engine as 320i as 156bhp for its weight? I saw the pricing difference no much for 320 and 520 but 5 series have larger sapce and features like i-Drive and eagle Xenon light. I read the review 320i gives 9.8 sec (1475KG); FC 12.3km/l and 520i give 10.6 sec (1490KG); FC 8km/l. Q4. It seems that there is a different engine to provide 170HP for 520i. This is a PI model right? Q5. Any recall and potential problems on these 2 models from 2008? Thx for inputs.

[extract] In the Geneva Motor Show this year, the Chinese automaker Qoros had a debut that was quite successful to say. This time, the automaker is planning to make another bow and it

If you own a Hyundai car, especially the Elantra, you might want to be more careful and try to avoid accidents as much as you can. Otherwise, you might risk ending up slicing your ear or probably even other body parts. No, we aren't making things up. This has happened to at least one Hyundai owner that we know of. It's a common thing for airbags to deploy in the event of a crash. However, for this sedan model from Hyundai, the Elantra, the deployment of the airbags just might prove not to be as smooth as expected. Thing is, when the airbags are deployed, a headliner support bracket will also be propelled. Unfortunately, in the case of the Hyundai Elantra, the bracket might become loose and even be completely dismounted. As a result, the bracket might end up flying across the car cabin, carrying a possible threat of causing laceration injuries to any of the passengers inside the car. The Elantra owner we talked about earlier had his ear sliced by this headliner support bracket and had reported it to Hyundai. According to Hyundai, this defect only applies to its aforementioned sedan model units that were built sometime between 2011 and 2013. To address this issue, the South Korean automaker is now recalling 186,254 units of the Elantra affected. For Elantra owners that have yet to receive notification from Hyundai or to find out more about this defect, it's advisable to contact Hyundai. Well, while we honestly think that it's possible to fix this issue simply by applying adhesive strips to the headliner, we do recommend that you contact your local Hyundai dealerships that will apply the fix in the upcoming May. Chances are, you will get the fix for free anyway.

http://www.sgcarmart.com/news/review.php?AID=36&PN=1 I did a review, G-TECH meter and all...this is the first of our actual clocked review/runs. Hope this helps!

Hi All, As the topic, additionally, no Sunny, no Subaru TS, no OPC, balance COE>4 years any lobang?

http://www.sgcarmart.com/new_cars/newcars_...p?CarCode=11114 Nice. Made in Germany.

[extract] Russian company, Zavod imeni Likhachova (commonly known as ZIL), is a major heavy vehicle manufacturer. They are well known for their trucks and buses but they also manufacture armoured limos and up-scale sedans for rich and influential Russians (including former Soviet officials) for many decades. The pictures you see here are from Zil

Brothers and sisters In your expert opinion, what is a good sedan to get if you are always waiting in the car around town, engine on, aircon on, etc? What are the criteria do i have to look at? Like for example: strong battery, low fuel consumption, strong cold aircon, engine won't buildup too much carbon deposit, etc? This car's sole purpose is to ferry passengers to and fro. Luxury is a plus point, but no need too ostentatious. Performance and handling not really necessary. I am thinking, something like a low tech SOHC engine Korean or Japanese car?

For the benefit of would-be sedan buyers, I have compiled the list price from the respective car makes official website in Singapore and LTA OMV checker and came up with the following dealer gross margins calculation. Gross margin is not profit margin, gross margin does not take into account overhead and sale/marketing cost. $22271 Toyota Camry 2.0 @ $147988 $26707 Hyundai i45 2.0 @ $140999 $18870 Nissan Teana 2.0 $150300 $30091 Subaru Legacy 2.0 $158800 $14867 Kia Optima 2.0 $134999 Hyundais is not the most value for money 2.0 sedan car in Singapore. Kia is, followed by Nissan. For fun, I have the margin for BMW 320i, $53807, at list price of $219000.

A Second Wind. Driving the BMW 335i Sedan. A second wind is largely used to describe a phenomenon, whereby an athlete who is out of breath suddenly finds the strength to press on at top performance with less exertion. Could it be true of this 335i i have at my disposal? With the latest 3 series now unveiled, perhaps it is time to take another look at the last of the E-designated 3's, the E90. It's been almost 6 years since the E90 was introduced, being the successor to the handsome E46, many critics again spoke ill of the new 3's Bangle-d styling, but like all of E90's contemporaries, it has aged considerably well. Losing the daffy duck kidney lips and procuring a leaner chiselled face during the process of it's lifespan. This 3 Series i have with me though is not your ordinary run-of-the-mill 3 you see pottering around your neighbourhood. It also isn't JUST a license-killing Twin scroll boosted 335i sedan either. What this is in fact, is a fully kitted out 335i laden with BMW Performance Parts. The total sum of these parts alone will set you back a smigen over 40Gs. Those BMW racing seats, cup and hold you into place tighter than Wonderbra's latest offerings. While you are stuck to your seat, grab hold of that lovely alcantara laced BMW Performance wheel, choked full of gadgetry you'd never imagine would be inside a steering wheel of a road car. With a LCD screen staring right at you and delivering information you'll never really need (but is totally cool anyway) when driving down Orchard Road. Unidiectional G-force readings, lap timers, acceleration timers, vehicle information and a set of LEDs that light up as your revs build and blink furiously when it is time to shift up. Do yourself a favour and shell out for this wheel, if only to make you think you are behind the wheel of a full-fledged race car. After you are done fiddling with the steering wheel (i took about half an hour), give the starter button a push and listen as the tweaked exhaust notes permeate into the cabin. It fires up with a bark and settles down into a slightly hollow fizzy burble. To be honest, it could do with more low end tones but i suspect the engineers left bassy beats out to cut out any droning noises when the car is cruising. You sort of wish there was a button which will allow more of that exhaust music to come into the cabin though, as it is now, people outside the car will get to enjoy the howl of the boosted straight-six more than the driver. Speaking of which, when you finally step out of the car (after giving it a proper drive of course), apart from that lovely bodykit and those gorgeous 19inch wheels, you'd notice little bits of carbon extras ($$$) which set this E90 apart from the rest. The wing mirrors and the tail spoiler both sport the exotic carbon finish. All these parts come straight of the BMW Performance Parts options list, even those stripey stickers along the flanks. How does this kitted up 335i drive? The regular 335i is already a very accomplished BMW and in tricked out "BMW Performance" form, is it any better? That will really depend on how you perceive "better" to be. The ride with a lower and revised suspension setup is harsher and you'd feel it. The throttle response with a slight power up is addictively er, responsive. Push the drumstick gearknob into sport mode and the gearbox does a good job of selecting the proper ratios to keep you in the powerband and allowing you to slingshot past all the pesky turbo-diesel taxis on the roads. If you are the sort of driver who enjoys a good blast down your local roads and you enjoy talking to other people about the differences between under and oversteer, yes, you will enjoy these chassis enhancements. If perhaps you are the sort of driver who prefers a car which doesn't jiggle your bottom and underwear too much, maybe you should leave the "Chassis upgrade" box unchecked. That is the beauty of these Perfomrance parts, allowing you to customise your wants and giving you the choice to either go the full hog or just take in the bits you fancy. If you ever find yourself to be in the lucky shoes of someone ticking off these parts, my choice bits would be that gorgeous steering wheel, all the exterior bits and paraphernalia, the chassis/power upgrades and those fancy stickers along the side. The 19-inch baller wheels although fabulous to look at, take too a bit too much off the ride and having to constantly look out for portholes might be tiresome in the long run. The wonderful Performance seats again, are a sight to behold, but at over 9 grand a pair, might leave your wallets feeling a little uncomfortable. They do a great job of holidng you in place when you are driving balls-out, but you don't drive balls-outs everytime you get behind the wheel. Glossy brouchures might make you think you do, but the reality is that 80% of the time, you are going to be stuck in traffic on your daily sojourn to the office and back wishing you'd have seats with a little more squish. Having to go through the look of incredibility on all passengers faces when you tell them you paid "HOW MUCH?" for non-electric setas might get boring after a while too. With these parts installed, this 335i will be pressing on at it's peak while shooting off into the sunset with tyres smoking and turbos boosting!

From the list below, place in order, in your opinion, the nicest looking to the least appealing sedans. Not engine, not by displacement, Not performance, Not value for money....just the looks! Toyota Altis Honda Civic Hyundai Elantra Chery A3 VW Jetta BMW 320i Volvo S40 MB C200 Mitsubishi Lancer EX Kia Optima K5

thinking of buying but scare my car cant fit. My boot cant collapse one. Anybro here tried be4?

Saw this thread in the 3GWRX forum. 2011 WRX STI sedan avaliable for sale in Singapore by indent basis. Takes approx. 3 months for the car to arrive. 2.5L euro spec. Estimate cost slightly higher than the current STI hatch. For more enquires, call MI sale supervisor, Winston at 91077688. http://www.sg3gwrx.com/index.php/topic,13330.0.html

thinking of getting a new bodykit for my 2008 latio sedan.. other than solomon, anyone know where to get ?

as the topic, please advise Singapore market only

Engine: 1.6GDi with 6AT/6MT