Sunday, November 21, 2010

Renault Megane RS 250



Building on the pedigree of the Mégane F1 Team R26 and Mégane R26.R, the new generation Renaultsport has been honed to offer uncompromising hot-hatch performance.

Under the bonnet lies a new 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine which boasts maximum power of 184kW – or 250hp, as it namesake suggests – and peak torque of 340Nm from 3000rpm.



Utilising a twin-scroll turbocharger, the new engine is exceptionally responsive – particularly at low revs – with 80 per cent of maximum torque available from just 1900rpm.

Power is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed manual transmission, also inheriting the same proven suspension arrangement as the current model.

The new Mégane RS is available with a choice of two chassis: the ‘Sport’ chassis or the ‘Cup’ chassis – with the latter offering a limited slip differential for even greater traction.



The electric power steering offers a specific performance calibration for maximum precision, while an ESC system has been similarly calibrated while retaining the ability to deactivate the system entirely.

Its appearance is unmistakably Renaultsport, with a new front bumper incorporating LED daytime running lights, a low-slung front splitter resembling the brand’s F1 car, 18-inch aluminium alloy rims, and central exhaust tailpipe and rear diffuser.

The interior has also been inspired by the world of motorsport with extra lateral support for the front seats, an analogue rev-counter with visual and audible gearshift indicator, aluminium pedals and a sports steering wheel complete with thumb rests.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Proton Inspira

Proton Inspira Spec & Test drive





At a glance, there’s almost zero difference between the Inspira and Lancer save for Proton’s unique front end design, which is of a V-shape as opposed to Mitsubishi’s trademark trapezoidal “jet fighter” grille. Besides the obvious fact that the change is needed to differentiate the cars, Proton deliberately wanted to move away from the Lancer “too aggressive” look, according to the engineers.



At the rear, you’ll find 2.0 P or 1.8 E to mark the variants, the latter available in both manual and CVT versions. As mentioned in our preview drive, P stands for Premium and E stands for Executive in Proton’s new naming scheme, P being the higher spec. There’s a chrome strip at the bottom edge of the boot, like on the Lancer EX. The Proton’s bumper is unique as it has a black painted “diffuser style” design, as opposed to the straightforward item on the Lancer. The reflectors sit within the black area.

Like the Lancer EX, the Inspira wears 16-inch wheels with 205/60 rubber. With the Proton, you get unique Continental Comfort Contact CC5 tyres with compounds that were specifically developed for the car. The rim design looks much better without the black disguise tape on the pre-production cars. Suspension tuning also differs from the Lancer.



Inside, the differences are minimal. The three-spoke steering design has a Proton badge of course, and the instruments look the same. However, we just noticed that the “left speedo, right tacho” layout of the Lancer has been reversed for the Inspira, which has its rev meter on the left side. The multi-info screen is the orange one as per the Lancer sedan, not the full colour version on the Lancer Sportback. The wood trim in the P spec Inspiras are dark brown coloured (Lancer EX has greyish wood) while the 1.8 E gets a matte silver trim that’s nice to touch. All else is identical to these eyes, including the grade of plastics.

The 4B10 1.8 litre pot found on the two Executive variants offers 140 hp at 6,000rpm and 177 Nm at 4,250rpm, while the 4B11 2.0 litre block in the Premium has 150 hp and 197 Nm at the same rpm as above. Performance-wise, the 1.8 manual has a claimed top speed of 202 kph and a 0-100 kph sprint time of 10.0 secs, while that of the 1.8 CVT is 191 kph and 11.4 secs. As for the 2.0 Premium, it gets to 198 kph and does the century sprint in 10.5 secs. As for kerb weight, the manual rolls in at 1,300 kg, while the 1.8 CVT and 2.0 P are 1,325 kg and 1,335 kg respectively.



Four colours are available for the Inspira, and these are Plum Red, Solid White, Genetic Silver and Tranquility Black. In terms of specifications and equipment levels, the Inspira gets a fair bit of kit, though the 2.0 Premium version does naturally get more in the way of added gear.

Nonetheless, all three variants come with dual SRS airbags, leather steering wheel, front pre-tensioner seatbelts, ABS with EBD, immobiliser and alarm system, central door locking, Isofix point, reverse sensor, solar and security tinted film and steering wheel-mounted audio controls.

Other items on the features list across the board are trunk lid remote release, front fog lamps, welcome home light system, driver’s side anti-trap/auto up-down power window, height adjustable driver’s seat and a MP3/Bluetooth-enabled CD player audio system with Arkamys 3D DSP.

As befits its Premium suffix, the Inspira 2.0 gets a number of differentiation points and features compared to the two 1.8 Executive models, and these are:

* Cruise control (with steering wheel-mounted switches)
* Column-mounted paddle shift controls
* Automatic climate control
* Auto headlamp and rain sensors.
* Body kit and rear spoiler.
* Leather seats and door trim finishing (the 1.8 versions are in fabric)
* A GPS navigation system.

Peninsular Malaysia Prices

* Proton Inspira 1.8 M/T – RM78,999
* Proton Inspira 1.8 CVT – RM84,999
* Proton Inspira 2.0 CVT – RM91,999

East Malaysia Prices

* Proton Inspira 1.8 M/T – RM80,999
* Proton Inspira 1.8 CVT – RM86,999
* Proton Inspira 2.0 CVT – RM93,999

Langkawi Prices

* Proton Inspira 1.8 M/T – RM71,999
* Proton Inspira 1.8 CVT – RM75,999
* Proton Inspira 2.0 CVT – RM82,999

Sunday, November 14, 2010

ViVa Exclusive!

Walah...

New Perodua Viva exclusive!



The Perodua Viva Elite Exclusive Edition is the latest edition to Perodua’s Viva model line-up. It adds a few new features to the existing Perodua Viva Elite model, which so happens to be the best selling Viva variant so far (41.4% of total Viva sales) since it was launched.

The new Exclusive Edition is available in a new colour – Classy Purple, in addition to two other colours – Midnight Blue and Ivory White.



The leather seats are made out of smooth leather for the main body, while the darker bits you see above are suede velour leather. The Viva Elite Exclusive Edition is priced at RM42,000 on the road.



Other changes include custom colored alloy wheels, new combination leather seats, and Exclusive Edition trim level badging.



Perodua aims to sell 600 units of the Viva Elite Exclusive Edition every month. The car was launched at Perodua’s new Puchong 3S center, which now combines the sales branch and the service center in a single location. The old service center has been moved to the site of the current sales center for better customer convenience and now includes 16 bays with 14 of them having hoists.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Good News ! Proton to offer hybrid car below RM100k



good News To Hbyrid Car Lovers

PROTON Holdings Bhd is looking to offer its first hybrid car at a competitive price of below RM100,000, Advisor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.

Expected to be commercially launched next year, Proton is said to be developing hybrid as well as electric engines with British company Frazer-Nash Research, South Korea's LG and its Britain-based subsidiary Lotus.

Dr Mahathir, who is former prime minister, said the development of hybrid cars was part of Proton's initiative to move into green technology.

"We have now frozen the design and in the process of improving the performance of the car. We will make an announcement very soon," he told reporters after handing over Proton's 25th Anniversary edition cars to the first nine buyers in Petaling Jaya.




"The price of a hybrid car will be slightly higher than an ordinary car because the batteries are so expensive. In the case of a well-known car maker, the hybrid car will be three times higher than ordinary cars.

"Our cars, I think will be below RM100,000," he said.

He said Proton would be putting its three hybrid cars to participate in a race in Britain on Nov 6.

Meanwhile, Proton Managing Director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir the company would set a test fleet of about 50 hybrid vehicles for use by the government before the launch of mass production.

He had earlier said that the company was producing the Exora hybrid version in Britain for testing and research.

A vehicle with hybrid technology means it has two sources of power -– petrol and electricity.

Today’s hybrids combine a petrol engine with one or more electric motors.

The fully-electric hybrid drivetrain consists of an engine that recharges lithium ion batteries, which, in turn, power an electric motor responsible for driving the car.

Honda Malaysia yesterday announced that customers could purchase its new Civic Hybrid at on-the-road price of RM108,980 in Peninsular and RM109,980 in East Malaysia, which is RM21,000 less than the current Honda Civic.

Last week, UMW Toyota Motor cut the Toyota Prius on-the-road price with insurance in Peninsular Malaysia to RM139,900 from RM175,000. The price in Sabah and Sarawak is about RM141,500 due to higher logistics costs.

This was in line with the government's decision to extend tax incentives for hybrid vehicles until Dec 31, 2011.


sources -- BERNAMA

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