so, i'm goin to start a new thread to talk ALL ABOUT CAR!...everything...from news, your dream car, new concept car that interests you, or even the car that you hate most!!:yes:

as i love 'exacutive car' from D-segment and E-segment to F-segment, i will do my focus on them...

CAR FAN, UNITE!

http://www.evo.co.uk/images/front_picture_library_UK/dir_444/car_photo_222015_25.jpg

http://www.evo.co.uk/images/front_picture_library_UK/dir_444/car_photo_222013_25.jpg

The fact that Lotus will be building a replacement to the Esprit supercar is no secret. However, Lotus USA boss Mike Kimberly has confirmed in a recent interview the Esprit will not headline the model range. Instead, Kimberly said that a new supercar worthy of being the ‘jewel in the crown’ is currently being planned for 2010 onwards. If built, such a car would be able to propel Lotus to competing head-to-head with the likes of Ferrari, Porsche, and Lamborghini.

Kimberly also discussed his ambitious plans to almost triple Lotus’ output from 2,875 cars last year to 8000 in the medium term. The key to gaining such figures is a car codenamed Project Eagle, a 2+2 GT coupe that is expected to be shown at the next British International Motor Show in mid-2008 and go on sale by 2009.

Old school Esprit fans will be saddened to know the revival was delayed by powertrain issues that required the engine to be changed and subsequently pushed back the release date by a year. It’s now on track for a 2010 debut, Kimberly confirmed in Lotus’ official newsletter.

Fans will also remember Lotus collaborated with various mainstream marques to build go-fast versions of their models including the Ford Cortina and Vauxhall Carlton. Kimberly claims shareholders are in favor of building such versions with cars from Proton, its parent company, but more consideration needs to be given to the market segment such a car would fit in.

evo.co.uk

Lotus use Toyota engine?

New Lotuses on horizon

http://www.evo.co.uk/images/front_picture_library_UK/dir_444/car_photo_222016_7.jpg

From the outside Lotus looks to be in a precarious position. Owner Proton is subject to a takeover bid, and while the Malaysian company’s homeland state-of-the-art manufacturing plant has huge appeal for potential buyers, a small, specialist sports car maker with a dodgy financial past, based in rural Norfolk, could seem like unwanted baggage.

Lotus CEO Mike Kimberley (image) confesses that he isn’t party to the machinations of the Proton takeover but he is adamant that whatever the outcome, Lotus has a future. In fact, he believes the company is now as strong as it has ever been – it has returned to profitability and plans to launch an all-new 2+2 at the London Motor Show in 2008 and the Esprit replacement a year later.

Debts cleared
Kimberley’s optimism is founded on the fact that earlier this year the company’s shareholders agreed to recapitalise Lotus, effectively writing off £60million of accumulated debt. ‘It’s allowed us to clear the decks, to start anew,’ he explains, pointing out that if there hadn’t been confidence in the company’s future viability then such an action wouldn’t have taken place.

Debt elimination, however, is only a means of clearing up past mistakes and, since his return to Lotus in May 2006, Kimberley has been ‘busy’ turning the company into a profitable entity. ‘We’ve been through a period of painful right-sizing,’ he says, ‘and managed to bring down the break-even point from 6000 units to 3000 a year.

‘Production is now tailored to demand – we’re selling 65 cars a week and we’re making 65 cars a week. We’ve eliminated the build-up of stock, particularly in the US where the situation was out of hand and unsustainable. There’s a need to refocus Lotus on being a niche company, small enough that a ‘can do’ culture can flourish, as it did in Colin’s (Chapman) day.’

In March this year Kimberley presented the main Lotus board with a five-year strategic plan, the first time that the company has applied such a discipline. Kimberley insists that ‘you have to have a long-term vision and then stick to it’. One part of his plan has had to be dropped already, though – a Lotus-tuned version of the Proton Satria has been put on hold because of the uncertainty over who will buy the Malaysian company.

New 2+2
Kimberley is clearly passionate about Lotus’s forthcoming models, starting with Project Eagle, a 2+2 designed to sit between the Elise/Exige/Europa and the new Esprit, and due to debut at next year’s London motor show, on sale early in 2009. Teasingly he grants me a quick glance at pictures of the Eagle, which appears to be a mid-engined coupe with (very) occasional rear seating. Think Bertone-bodied Dino 308GT4 with a modern Lotus twist and you won’t be too wide of the mark. Price is likely to be sub-£50K.
Unlike the Europa, the Eagle isn’t based on an Elise platform but it will use a bonded aluminium tub and glassfibre composite body. Kimberley won’t confirm where the engine’s coming from, but doesn’t argue with the logic of our guess at a Toyota unit, most likely a 3.2-litre V6 with about 300bhp.

Aston engine?
Kimberley is less helpful regarding the power source for the next- generation Esprit, set for launch in late 2009, other than to say that he’s very excited about the deal Lotus has sealed with ‘a very well respected prestige car maker’. There’s been much speculation that the engine will be a BMW unit, but given the relationship Lotus has with Aston Martin – it designed and set up the alloy chassis and suspension of the Vanquish – and the desire to be ‘niche’ and ‘exclusive’, an Aston V8 would fit the bill equally well.

When we interviewed Kimberley in 2006, he had just reviewed progress with the Esprit and decided that it wasn’t extreme enough. It seems that the car’s dynamics are now much sharper, ‘more Lotus’, as befitting Hethel’s flagship £70,000 supercar.

Lotus Engineering
While all this has been going on at Lotus Cars, Lotus Engineering has been restructured and ultimately will be run as a separate outfit. It already has several Chinese-market projects on the go as well as half a dozen in the expanding Indian market, including a joint venture with an un-named Indian car-maker. Such is its confidence that Engineering has been able to poach Paul Newsome from Jaguar as MD.

Lotus use Toyota engine?

so far, only Lotus Elise uses the toyota engine, 2ZZ-GE 2ZZ-GE (http://www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/elise/thecar/engine/toyota.html)

A LOCAL FIRM WANTS TO BUY LOTUS?

The Malaysian Reserve reports that a local firm has approached Proton with a proposal to take over Proton’s stake in Lotus. The business daily did not mention which local firm this is - but whispers through the grapevines say this might be Naza.

Naza wants to build its own cars. It’s first attempt at it’s own car was the Naza Sutera, now known as the Naza Forza. For future models, Lotus could provide Naza with the necessary platform to build its car on - the Versatile Vehicle Architecture. Also, as successful distributors of most of the supercar brands here in Malaysia, it could also take over the marketing of Lotus sports cars in this country.

Of course, we don’t actually know for sure if it is Naza, or if there is such a thing at all, so let’s wait and see if The Malaysian Reserves is right about this.

-PAULTAN.ORG

ahaha NAZA makin liar n terdesak :crazy2:

betul ke naza forza tu naza buat? I think i saw the similar car in sri lanka and they call it their own...very similar...not very similar but i think it's the car. Who owns the design?

the forza is the renamed of SUTERA. and the sutera is a re-badge of a chinese car Hafei LOBO. so bcoz the SUTERA tu tak laku...they do the facelift and also rename it. see NAZA thread for the forza's ugly pictures..:D

Hafei LOBO
http://static.paultan.org/thumb-Pic2003728145213.jpg

you see...even the model pun tak cantik :lol:

betul ke naza forza tu naza buat? I think i saw the similar car in sri lanka and they call it their own...very similar...not very similar but i think it's the car. Who owns the design?

I think the model that u saw in Sri Lanka is under the brand "Micro"...also based from Hafei Lobo

HYUNDAI SONATA 2009 (most likely to be on malaysian market by 2008)

Here are more official details on the car Hyundai has decided to call the Hyundai Sonata Transform, basically the mid-life facelift of the latest fourth generation Hyundai Sonata. The new Sonata facelift will be launched first in the Korean market for the 2008 model year, and the rest of the world will get it soonest for the 2009 model year, this probably includes Malaysia as well, pending our local distributor’s plans of course.

I like the current Sonata’s design and I say Hyundai has taken the new Sonata facelift backward in terms of exterior design - for example, the headlamps are now bigger so they look less sleek. But the new interior is a total redesign and looks much more upmarket than the current interior - a huge improvement to me, but very obviously “inspired” by the second generation Lexus RX/Toyota Harrier interior.

In Korea, the 2.0 liter Sonata gets its power boosted up to 163 PS but internationally the new engine specs is announced as having 158 PS. This probably has to do with different tune-ups for different countries having different emissions laws. The new 2.4 liter puts out 171 PS (179 PS in Korea), up from 161 PS. This power gain is achieved through the addition of a new variable intake system to the Theta engine family, and variable valve timing is now on both intake and exhaust ports.

http://images.paultan.org/images/Hyundai_Sonata_Transform_2.jpg

http://images.paultan.org/images/Hyundai_Sonata_Transform_3.jpg

http://images.paultan.org/images/Hyundai_Sonata_Transform_6.jpg

http://images.paultan.org/images/Hyundai_Sonata_Transform_7.jpg

http://images.paultan.org/images/Hyundai_Sonata_Transform_9.jpg

http://images.paultan.org/images/Hyundai_Sonata_Transform_5.jpg

-paultan.org

I want the new Honda Stream :cool:

ohh shit. the new stream....thinking about buying one. No more Honda Civic....buy for the future...

Lexus for me :nocrook:

IS 250

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Lexus_IS_250_Breakwater_Blue_Metallic.jpg/800px-Lexus_IS_250_Breakwater_Blue_Metallic.jpg

more IS 250 pics

http://www.edmunds.com/media/roadtests/spinaroundtown/07.lexus.is.250/07.lexus.is250.340.jpg

http://us.autos1.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/izp/lexus_is250_6speedmanual_2007_dashboard_dashboard_640x480.jpg

http://stadium.weblogsinc.com/autoblog/hirezpics/is250_chrome_01.jpg

http://www.skattertech.com/media/2005/old/IS-250-Lexus-4-701025.jpg

source:http://www.motortrend.com

I m Nissan supporter...:)

Nissan Round Box, NV2000, Intima concepts round out automaker's Tokyo exhibit

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/5315/nissanroundboxnv2000intyw3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/4382/112news07101004znissaniiz5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/9913/112news07101006znissanijs7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I like this...

Nissan Fuga

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/2589/0042ev4.jpg

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/3270/2539793lguq1.jpg

Gorgeous! Keep the eye candy coming folks!

Lexus for me :nocrook:

IS 250

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Lexus_IS_250_Breakwater_Blue_Metallic.jpg/800px-Lexus_IS_250_Breakwater_Blue_Metallic.jpg

caya lah Haze!!! you are my best mate!!...you know what..? LEXUS IS250 is my desktop's and my handphone's wallpaper....oh my gowd...this is one of my most fav car!:banana:

I m Nissan supporter...:)
]

while..i'm not a nissan fan, sorry mate :D
btw, you last ID is..NISSAN_FUGA, rite?

http://au.carnewstoday.com/car-news/images/thumbs/lrg_article_4415-img_0.jpg

my dream car:)

http://media.paultan.org/img/Honda_Inspire_JDM_1.jpg

http://media.paultan.org/img/Honda_Inspire_JDM_3.jpg

http://media.paultan.org/img/Honda_Inspire_JDM_2.jpg

http://media.paultan.org/img/Honda_Inspire_JDM_6.jpg

http://media.paultan.org/img/Honda_Inspire_JDM_8.jpg

http://media.paultan.org/img/Honda_Inspire_JDM_9.jpg

http://media.paultan.org/img/Honda_Inspire_JDM_10.jpg

http://media.paultan.org/img/Honda_Inspire_JDM_11.jpg

http://media.paultan.org/img/Honda_Inspire_JDM_12.jpg

btw, you last ID is..NISSAN_FUGA, rite?

That was mine.. :)

NICE ASS...!:lol:

http://www.jaguar.co.uk/uk/en/xf/gallery/photography_A07F866E-BBD9-485B-8B78-1BF8B6CC1A8D_378x624.jpg

THE BRAND NEW JAGUAR XF

http://www.jaguar.co.uk/uk/en/xf/gallery/photography_5D5440C0-DBFA-482D-B87D-479A241482E2_378x624.jpg

http://www.jaguar.co.uk/uk/en/xf/gallery/photography_F2DD9CF0-D78F-4CE0-B5BB-4319F5CE82B0_378x624.jpg

http://www.jaguar.co.uk/uk/en/xf/gallery/photography_4450B060-5B0A-4785-B2AF-164465981C52_378x624.jpg

http://www.jaguar.co.uk/uk/en/xf/gallery/photography_D1232625-D55D-4549-A6FD-3AD4DB9E6774_378x624.jpg

AUDI A4

one of my favourite..

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/5448/audia4pk4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/5233/a43dy7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/8389/audia42ra0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/476/a44qe1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Cars which I'm considering (not soon :D )

VW Jetta
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2281/2099327226_345b2f9dea_b.jpg

Honda Stream
http://www2.uol.com.br/interpressmotor/imagens/16291.jpg

Honda Fit
http://allworldcars.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/2008-honda-fit-11.jpg

Ford Focus
http://www.autoblog.com/media/2007/10/08focus_31_450_op.jpg

This is what we call car.
Seeing all this car, i also understand that the ox must be piss off of only giving comments in the stupid Proton's thread. haha, until tak boleh tahan and created this new thread.

huh....how lucky Bruneian can get whatever car they dream...:|

http://images.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/images/vehicles/gallery/M3S/pho_gallery_M3S_ext1.jpg

http://images.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/images/vehicles/gallery/M3S/pho_gallery_M3S_ext2.jpg

http://images.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/images/vehicles/gallery/M3S/pho_gallery_M3S_ext4.jpg

http://images.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/images/vehicles/gallery/M3S/pho_gallery_M3S_int14.jpg

http://images.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/images/vehicles/gallery/M3S/pho_gallery_M3S_int18.jpg

not that sporty,.....just comfort sedan...

http://mmna.cachefly.net/MMNA/lancer/08/images/gallery/exterior/lan08_pglgprev_ex_1.en-us.jpg

http://mmna.cachefly.net/MMNA/lancer/08/images/gallery/exterior/lan08_pglgprev_ex_3.en-us.jpg

http://mmna.cachefly.net/MMNA/lancer/08/images/gallery/interior/lan08_pglgprev_in_1.en-us.jpg

http://mmna.cachefly.net/MMNA/lancer/08/images/gallery/interior/lan08_pglgprev_in_2.en-us.jpg

http://mmna.cachefly.net/MMNA/lancer/08/images/gallery/interior/lan08_pglgprev_in_6.en-us.jpg

ujan emas di negeri org, ujan batu di negeri sendiri.. :D

2007 Proton Persona Ah Beng Style


http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/5872/2007protonpersonaahbengvq1.th.jpg (http://img297.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2007protonpersonaahbengvq1.jpg)

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/8494/2007protonpersonaahbengbn1.th.jpg (http://img297.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2007protonpersonaahbengbn1.jpg)

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/4576/2007protonpersonaahbengyt6.th.jpg (http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2007protonpersonaahbengyt6.jpg)

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/4835/2007protonpersonaahbengil4.th.jpg (http://img297.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2007protonpersonaahbengil4.jpg)

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/5696/2007protonpersonaahbengna7.th.jpg (http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2007protonpersonaahbengna7.jpg)

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/3628/2007protonpersonaahbengsb1.th.jpg (http://img181.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2007protonpersonaahbengsb1.jpg)

http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/6439/2007protonpersonaahbengao5.th.jpg (http://img410.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2007protonpersonaahbengao5.jpg)



Credit

maru (paultan.org)




http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/8465/2007protonpersonaahbengvb7.th.jpg (http://img181.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2007protonpersonaahbengvb7.jpg)



Credit

remedy (paultan.org)

http://www.volvocars.se/NR/rdonlyres/151E4785-AD02-488A-BCC9-18266E767804/0/S40_exterior_07.jpg

http://www.volvocars.se/NR/rdonlyres/5A0A0F92-D0B4-4C10-9601-AD8A5084BC2F/0/S40_exterior_05.jpg

http://www.volvocars.se/NR/rdonlyres/C781F642-06E1-4663-87BB-EC78493A32CB/0/S40_exterior_06.jpg

http://www.volvocars.se/NR/rdonlyres/B61EC1BF-3A02-40F5-9F80-A15888BAA0E0/0/S40_interior_07.jpg

http://www.volvocars.se/NR/rdonlyres/5173F567-AEAC-4342-9413-4F007E5BB779/0/S40_interior_04.jpg

http://www.volvocars.se/NR/rdonlyres/E073603E-9DCE-4F72-90E7-D2B463C7F92B/0/S40_interior_01.jpg

huh....how lucky Bruneian can get whatever car they dream...:|

This is what people called, slapping your own face!


Why you feel that the people of Brunei are so Lucky. Because they don't have the STUPID IDIOT National Car Policy that protected the crapy, lousy, lazy, brainless, double standard, car manufacturer (see there is no "S" at the end of the word manufacturer, because i only refer to the One and Only Stupid PROTON.)

If we don't have that policy, i can buy my dream car..... so i fullfill my dream, and you can buy your dream car at the affordable price.

Mr Ox, you really slap your own face. What you have wrote in the Proton thread was not from your bottom of your heart. You just Blindly support and whack whoever against Proton.

Somemore shown the smiley face that one eye see up. :ohno:

price is under RM94k:) kahbintang (http://www.kahbintang.com)

http://www.hyundaiusa.com/images/vehicle/elantra/gallery/asset_upload_file855_15900.jpg

http://www.hyundaiusa.com/images/vehicle/elantra/gallery/asset_upload_file590_15900.jpg

http://www.hyundaiusa.com/images/vehicle/elantra/gallery/asset_upload_file982_15900.jpg

http://www.hyundaiusa.com/images/vehicle/elantra/gallery/asset_upload_file164_15900.jpg

http://www.hyundaiusa.com/images/vehicle/elantra/gallery/asset_upload_file851_15900.jpg

http://www.hyundaiusa.com/images/vehicle/elantra/gallery/asset_upload_file868_15900.jpg

more IS 250 pics

http://www.edmunds.com/media/roadtests/spinaroundtown/07.lexus.is.250/07.lexus.is250.340.jpg

Lexus Malaysia targets 50% increase in sales

PETALING JAYA: Lexus Malaysia is targeting to grow overall sales by 50% this year, driven by the IS 250 model introduced last year, and the new 2008 Lexus GS300 model launched yesterday

Managing director Kuah Kock Heng said: “We surpassed our target for 2007, with over 195 Lexus cars and 83 units of the GS 300 sold.”

The company was confident the upgraded 2008 Lexus GS300 would be well received and further strengthen its position in the premium segment, he said at the unveiling of the new model yesterday.

According to Kuah, the new model incorporated subtle exterior and interior styling enhancements. It is targeted at CEOs, directors, professionals and senior managers.

“The refreshed GS300, which is emblematic of Lexus’ ‘pursuit of perfection’ will certainly raise the benchmark in terms of refinement in quality, detailing and styling in the luxury market,” he said.

On the premium car market, Kuah said he was confident the segment would continue to flourish despite the economic slowdown.

Strategic planning executive director Aminar Rashid Salleh said he expected the segment to grow in tandem with total industry volume, which he projected at 8% to 10% this year.

The new model, which will be available at the Lexus Centre Mutiara Damansara, is priced at RM408,800 (on the road without insurance).

For the new model, three new colour options have been added to the existing eight – black opal mica, beige metallic and frosty pearl mica.

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/pictures/VEHICLE/2008/Lexus/100943572/20159459-396x249.jpg

price is under RM94k:) kahbintang (http://www.kahbintang.com)

http://www.hyundaiusa.com/images/vehicle/elantra/gallery/asset_upload_file855_15900.jpg

http://www.hyundaiusa.com/images/vehicle/elantra/gallery/asset_upload_file590_15900.jpg

http://www.hyundaiusa.com/images/vehicle/elantra/gallery/asset_upload_file982_15900.jpg

http://www.hyundaiusa.com/images/vehicle/elantra/gallery/asset_upload_file164_15900.jpg

http://www.hyundaiusa.com/images/vehicle/elantra/gallery/asset_upload_file851_15900.jpg

http://www.hyundaiusa.com/images/vehicle/elantra/gallery/asset_upload_file868_15900.jpg

PROTON PERDANA KILLER

Start business about the same period, but people are progressing so well, and look at our Poor Proton, still depend on local market which shield them with 200% protection.

http://images.paultan.org/images/Volkswagen_Passat_CC_1.jpg

http://images.paultan.org/images/Volkswagen_Passat_CC_3.jpg

http://images.paultan.org/images/Volkswagen_Passat_CC_5.jpg

http://images.paultan.org/images/Volkswagen_Passat_CC_2.jpg

http://images.paultan.org/images/Volkswagen_Passat_CC_10.jpg

Volkswagen Passat

CC made its debut at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. It is a 4-door sedan based on the Volkswagen Passat platform, but with a different body styling which has a much more sportier, sleeker roofline, intended to give the car a 4-door coupe look ala the Mercedes Benz CLS. The new Passat CC is 50mm lower to the ground compared to the standard Passat, and is 30mm longer.

The new Volkswagen Passat CC will have the new 1.8 liter TSI inline-4 with 160 horsepower as one of its engine options, and the top of the line will be a 300 horsepower 3.6 liter V6 FSI engine. The venerable 2.0 liter TFSI from the Audi A4 and the Golf GTI will also join the lineup later.



It features a few technologies such as Dynamic Drive Control, which adjusts the suspension damping and power steering assistance characteristics to suit the driving pattern. Another feature is Park Assist, which is a self parking system where the Passat CC takes care of steering control and the driver only has to accelerate and brake to ease the car into a parking spot. ACC Automatic Distance Control automatically brakes and accelerates within a speed range input by the car driver, and also avoids frontal collisions using a radar sensor.

The new Volkswagen Passat CC is targetted at the North American, Western European and Japanese markets. It will make its first debut in Q2 2008.

http://images.paultan.org/images/Volkswagen_Passat_CC_11.jpg

http://images.paultan.org/images/Volkswagen_Passat_CC_12.jpg

http://images.paultan.org/images/Volkswagen_Passat_CC_13.jpg

http://images.paultan.org/images/Volkswagen_Passat_CC_11.jpg

http://images.paultan.org/images/Volkswagen_Passat_CC_12.jpg

http://images.paultan.org/images/Volkswagen_Passat_CC_13.jpg

You only can dream of it and will never own it, if our National Car Policy still there. :lol:

i'm seriously considering passat. Went to Jayamas motor in butterworth but the model available is not the latest. Maybe i'll look for new Passat in Singapore.. I like Passat..

little change in interior..about the same

wahh..can afford passat meh? how much your pay..?

not so much.Enough la for a single guy living alone.. Because i'm single i can afford passat for now...initial intention was to get honda stream but i postponed my marriage plan..so extra money, why dont i get a sedan instead...waiting for new accord too....i'll see which one comes first..

anyway the passat i saw in butterworth is just around rm 200k..rm 15k discount. I guess they are clearing the available stock before they ship in new model...hopefully...

if it's rm 215k in malaysia in singapore it would be around rm 250k at the most...haihhhh...why singapore and malaysia imposed too much taxes on imported cars...i could get a new 3 series for that amount...

anyway the passat i saw in butterworth is just around rm 200k..rm 15k discount. I guess they are clearing the available stock before they ship in new model...hopefully...

if it's rm 215k in malaysia in singapore it would be around rm 250k at the most...haihhhh...why singapore and malaysia imposed too much taxes on imported cars...i could get a new 3 series for that amount...

Because of the STUPID NAtional Car Policy.

From the Bangkokpost, http://www.bangkokpost.com/Motoring/08Feb2008_motor77.php
INTERVIEW

Future: Bright night

Dato Mokhzani Mahathir, second son of former Malaysian prime minister, and chairperson of Sepang International Circuit, talks to Motoring on the future of Malaysian Grand Prix

zWhy does the Malaysian Grand Prix want to switch to night race? We actually started talking about lighting up the track with Bernie Ecclestone (head of F1 commercial operations) as far back as September 2006 for night racing by installing a lighting system that would give almost daylight quality light.

Since then, he has spoken to Singapore and Melbourne about it because he would like to see the broadcast of F1 in Europe at a more decent hour. Having a race in Asia at night [therefore] makes sense.

Singapore and Melbourne are temporary street circuits whereas we are a permanent racetrack. So, putting up lighting systems would allow us to rent out the track more.

Unknown to most people, we're already rented it out 300 days a year _ take out maintenance and holidays, and then we're almost fully booked.

So, we need to try and find [more] time [to rent out the track] and the only way to do that is by installing lighting systems which will allow us to go beyond 7pm. Since we're next to the airport, I don't think that noise will be a problem.

zIs it true that Bernie Ecclestone threatened to exclude Malaysia from F1 if it is not a night race?

No, it was never an ultimatum from Bernie where either we do a night race or get the contract cancelled.

Our current contract is up to 2010 and then last year when we were negotiating for an extension a clause was put in to the contract saying that we need to be ready to host the race at night.

We also said that the pricing [of the lighting system] must not be too big a financial burden for us. Our new contract is now upto 2015.

zWhat is the budget for this?

It could range anything from US$10 to 20 million for F1 as it would demand the highest requirement for lighting because the cars have higher speed and they're designed to run without [their own] lights.

Of course you also have to take into account the safety aspect which is paramount and then TV coverage as the cameras need to be able to pickup all the colours and sponsors' logos clearly so that there's no loss in broadcast quality.

For other races like the [Japanese] GT, the system could be scaled down [to suit]. The system for F1 could be very expensive but it could be temporary, so maybe we could install something just for F1 or beef up an existing system for F1 then take it off.

You must remember that we're a full-fledged F1 circuit that is 5.4km long and covers 580 acres (1,467 rai) of land _ not that you have to light up everything but we need to do it well or not do it at all.

We haven't decided on how we will do this and which [lighting] company we will go for, but definitely we hope to have a night race by next year.

zHow will the change to night race affect TV viewers in Europe and Asia?

European viewers will enjoy it because they'll get to watch it live at a more decent time. For example, the Melbourne race is at 2pm which is something like 6am in Europe and for the first race of the reason that doesn't go down very well with the F1 fans. So, they should enjoy it even more if they can watch it at midday or afternoon.

For Asia it would make a difference to the spectators who come to the track but not much to TV viewers at home.

zWould spectators like it?

They should, as night race would allow spectators to come in at a cooler time _ for it's seven or eight degrees Centigrade cooler than during daytime. It should also be more of a spectacle watching a night race.

zHow will Sepang offset the extra CO2 emission from using more power at night?

It's not going to be something that goes on 24 hours 365 days a year, but it would be more like six hours a night for five nights _ and the power would come from efficient diesel generators.

Perhaps, the spectators' vehicles would generate more CO2 than by the participants of the race themselves, so the increased amount of CO2 is going to be minimal compared to all the other things.

A 747 taking off from KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) probably burns up as much fuel as an entire F1 race at Sepang. So, you have to put things into perspective.

zWill Moto GP be night race at Sepang too?

Again, it depends on what system we put up. In Doha [Qatar] this year will the first Moto GP to race at night with the system being prepped up now and by February 28 they will have a full night test with all the teams and riders in preparation for the race the following week.

I went to see the system when it was lighting only on the straight and a few corners with Moto GP riders riding on sports bikes. The lights came from above and from the side and there were very little shadow [from the bikes] and no glares to the rider. Loris Capirossi and Dani Pedrosa had no complaints whatsoever.

What they were more concerned about was the consistency of lights [along the whole track] rather than the brightness. In fact, [the lighting operators] had to dim the lights down to 30% intensity before the riders noticed but still the riders had no problem with it.

We will look into what happens in Doha and Singapore before we make any decision.

zHow does Singaporean Grand Prix affect Malaysian Grand Prix?

I would like to think we (Malaysia and Singapore) would be able to develop the spectator base for F1 in the region.

We've been going to Singapore every year _ if I'm not mistaken _ to promote Malaysian Grand Prix. We will talk to Singaporean organisers whether they want to co-promote [theirs] with us.

We've made offers to Singapore to assist them in what they're doing because it will be their first race _ just like when we did our first race we had people from Estoril circuit (Portugal) to help us.

It is in our interest to make sure F1 is run safely and well organised for the sake of spectators and participants. This year is our tenth race and we have some experience that we can share with Singapore or any other country. I'm sure Singapore will do a good job.

I think the motorsport fans will not choose one or another (Malaysia or Singapore). Our ticket pricing is competitive enough and relatively inexpensive. I don't know what Singapore ticket pricing will be like. But with their infrastructure costs, it's likely their prices will be higher.

zWould it be better for Malaysia and Singapore races to be run back to back?

It's [logistically] better for the teams, but then the [overseas] spectators would have to decide which one they want to go to. Say, in the corporate sector and you want to entertain your clients you'd have to choose one or the other.

When the races are far enough apart, you can go to one race near the start of the season (Malaysia) to see how things develop then to another near the end (Singapore) to see how it might end.

However, the challenge is the same this year for Malaysia and Singapore: we have to compete with the Beijing Olympics and, of course, the Shanghai Grand Prix.

We've previously seen corporate spending reduced on F1 when the World Cup [football] was on. So, the Beijing Games could have the same effect.

zAny other important plans for Sepang we should know about?

For the Malaysian Grand Prix we are throwing eight events coinciding with the race such as KL City Sale, music festivals, fashion festival and a Concourse featuring 100 vintage and classic cars.

We are also refurbishing and upgrading our facilities for more convenience to the spectators.

But the one thing we've never been able to do until now is to have five major races beside F1.

There will be GP2 Asia [F1 feeder series], Japan GT, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, Formula BMW Asia and Speedcar stock car racing. Some of them will race both on Saturday and Sunday. So, there will be a lot of good, noisy fun.

29-02-2008: Berjaya gets Mazda distributorship

Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com

KUALA LUMPUR: Berjaya Corporation Bhd (BCorp), via its subsidiary Bermaz Motor Sdn Bhd, has entered into a distribution agreement with Mazda Motor Corporation Bhd for the distribution and retail business of Mazda in Malaysia.

In a statement on Feb 29, BCorp said BerMaz had signed a share sale agreement with Cycle & Carriage Bintang Bhd (CCB), which is the current distributor of Mazda motor vehicles, to acquire CCB's entire stake in Hercules Automotive Engineers Sdn Bhd, the Mazda business operating company, for about RM16.8 million.

It said the securing of the rights to distribute Mazda motor vehicles in Malaysia would complement BCorp’s existing motor vehicles business.

BCorp was previously involved in the Hyundai motor vehicles distribution activities in Malaysia.

“We are pleased to be given by Mazda Motor Corporation the distributorship for the Mazda motor vehicles business in Malaysia. With this vote of confidence, we are committed to increasing the Mazda’s market share in Malaysia.” said BCorp chairman and chief executive officer Tan Sri Vincent Tan.

^^chehh...just distribute ke? i tot berjaya want to make a assembly plant....cheh:bash:. uhh...imagine a cheaper mazda3...:|

Just visited the Honda showroom and checked out the Honda Stream..the interior is so plasticky...Latio interior way better! and no alloy wheel options..price at around RM77K..I also get to see the New Honda accord US version..not bad..around RM95k!

honda stream...?ala..wait lah for proton's next mpv, kita tgk dulu how nice/good it is;)

and is it true new Honda Accord for only rm95k?:shocked:..is that Brunei's price.?

...Latio interior way better!

http://www.nissan.com.my/vehicles/latio/latio/gallery/images/4.2.jpg

nice ke...? looks s0o0 korean's...:tongue3:

yeah the Brunei pricing lah...the Latio in Brunei different..the seats got suede and leather..it may not be that good..but still better than stream

MAZDA 2


http://l.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/i/articles/2008_geneva_auto_show_gallery_2/mazda/mazda_4_x.jpg

http://l.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/i/articles/2008_geneva_auto_show_gallery_2/mazda/mazda_5_x.jpg

http://l.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/i/articles/2008_geneva_auto_show_gallery_2/mazda/mazda_1_x.jpg

http://l.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/i/articles/2008_geneva_auto_show_gallery_2/mazda/mazda_6_x.jpg

FORD FIESTA

http://l.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/i/articles/2008_geneva_auto_show_gallery/ford_fiesta/ford_fiesta_2_x.jpg

http://l.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/i/articles/2008_geneva_auto_show_gallery/ford_fiesta/ford_fiesta_5_x.jpg

http://l.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/i/articles/2008_geneva_auto_show_gallery/ford_fiesta/ford_fiesta_7_x.jpg

http://l.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/i/articles/2008_geneva_auto_show_gallery/ford_fiesta/ford_fiesta_8_x.jpg

FORD KUGA

http://l.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/i/articles/2008_geneva_auto_show_gallery/ford_kuga/ford_kuga_2_x.jpg

http://l.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/i/articles/2008_geneva_auto_show_gallery/ford_kuga/ford_kuga_3_x.jpg

http://l.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/i/articles/2008_geneva_auto_show_gallery/ford_kuga/ford_kuga_6_x.jpg

http://l.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/i/articles/2008_geneva_auto_show_gallery/ford_kuga/ford_kuga_5_x.jpg

a nice looking SUV :drool:

dang!! I like the Fiesta!!!

http://l.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/i/articles/2008_geneva_auto_show_gallery_2/mitsubishi_prototype_s/mitsubishi_prototype_s_7_x.jpg

looking from this angle....undoubtably nice

http://l.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/i/articles/2008_geneva_auto_show_gallery_2/mitsubishi_prototype_s/mitsubishi_prototype_s_3_x.jpg

but looking from here....yaikksss!!:bash:

http://l.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/i/articles/2008_geneva_auto_show_gallery_2/mitsubishi_prototype_s/mitsubishi_prototype_s_4_x.jpg

emm...a station wagon looks-alike sports car is indeed ugly...

VOLKSWAGEN SCIROCCO

http://l.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/i/articles/2008_geneva_auto_show_gallery_2/volkswagen_scirocco/volkswagen_scirocco_2_x.jpg

http://l.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/i/articles/2008_geneva_auto_show_gallery_2/volkswagen_scirocco/volkswagen_scirocco_5_x.jpg

http://l.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/i/articles/2008_geneva_auto_show_gallery_2/volkswagen_scirocco/volkswagen_scirocco_3_x.jpg

http://l.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/i/articles/2008_geneva_auto_show_gallery_2/volkswagen_scirocco/volkswagen_scirocco_8_x.jpg

CHEVROLET MALIBU

this is definately not for Malaysian market...but, a very nice midsize family sedan :okay:

http://www.chevrolet.com/malibu/images/wallpapers/exterior/800/_0.jpg

http://www.chevrolet.com/malibu/images/wallpapers/interior/800/_0_0.jpg

http://www.chevrolet.com/malibu/images/wallpapers/interior/800/_0_2.jpg

a same league with Camry/Accord...but why GM does not sell it to our market, or perhaps it has been rebadged into something else?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Chevrolet_Malibu_Hybrid_DC.JPG/800px-Chevrolet_Malibu_Hybrid_DC.JPG

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/2008_Chevrolet_Malibu_LT_DC.JPG/800px-2008_Chevrolet_Malibu_LT_DC.JPG

WOW:banana:

launched 2 weeks ago......soon to make our traffic worse....:D

http://images.paultan.org/2008_Toyota_Altis_Launch/2l.jpg

http://images.paultan.org/2008_Toyota_Altis_Launch/3l.jpg

http://images.paultan.org/2008_Toyota_Altis_Launch/8l.jpg

http://images.paultan.org/2008_Toyota_Altis_Launch/9l.jpg

http://images.paultan.org/2008_Toyota_Altis_Launch/11l.jpg

Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6E - RM102,900.00
Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8E - RM109,900.00
Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8E Sporty - RM112,250.00
Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G - RM117,900.00
Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G Sporty - RM120,250.00

launched 2 weeks ago......soon to make our traffic worse....:D



Make our traffic worse?:nuts:.
You nuts or what?

Why you didn't go kutuk the cheap plank BLM keluaran Your Favourite Car Manufacturer of All Time - Plotong


Real stupid, if you keep quite, people won't think that your are dumb.
But when you start make comments, you look dumb and dumber. :lol:

Just for interest, here are some pics of very small cars i found in Italy, small cars are popular to navigate the narrow streets and easy parking. there are lots of Smart cars but this seems to be a local italian brand
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/picaddict_1975/Italy/IMG_0570.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/picaddict_1975/Italy/IMG_0621.jpg

this is not a car but something like a converted scooter and used as a delivery vehicle, see what i mean by easy parking
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/picaddict_1975/Italy/IMG_0603.jpg

Altis is a cool budget car..big booth spacious and i'm considering one...the diesel one lah heheh

Altis is a cool budget car..big booth spacious and i'm considering one...the diesel one lah heheh

what? budget car..?this bruneian is very 'berlagak' one lah...:lol::jk:...huhu...in malaysia, Altis is considered semi-luxury i tell you, same class with civic.....

Just for interest, here are some pics of very small cars i found in Italy, small cars are popular to navigate the narrow streets and easy parking. there are lots of Smart cars but this seems to be a local italian brand
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/picaddict_1975/Italy/IMG_0570.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/picaddict_1975/Italy/IMG_0621.jpg


..emm...no wonder one movie i watched hollywood movie some times ago features this kinda small...a very small....extreamly small car when they shoot one scene in Rome...

emm..also no wonder BMW Mini, Smart makes big money in europe...

i think proton should try selling savvy in italy...;)

..

i think proton should try selling savvy in italy...;)

I just read the joke of the day at the Malaysian Astronaut 's Thread, and here come the second jokes of the day.

What's wrong Malaysian, just in one day, there are two JOKE OF THE DAY.
Bravo.

^^ I also saw old style mini Fiat of the '60 that had been redone like the Mini and VW Beetle but didnt manage to get a pic. can you find it osh.

^^ do you mean Fiat 500?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/White_Fiat_500.jpg/800px-White_Fiat_500.jpg

this the original version, produced in 1960's

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/Fiat-new-500-front.jpg/800px-Fiat-new-500-front.jpg

and this is the 2007 version, but they keep the interior as the original...retro!

thanks osh, yes thats it. my relatives many years ago owned the original fiat 500 and their children had a nostalgic moment when they saw the lastest version. They were thinking of buying the new version to surprise their parents but when told about it their parents were horrified as they didnt have good experiences with the original 500 :)

eh?...i don't think fiat 500 is on our shore yet lah. and btw it is not even my taste also...;) looks cheapo...

my father said...when he was young, the most famous brand is fiat and alfa. that time japanese made is considered 'pariah' one...:lol:

eh?...i don't think fiat 500 is on our shore yet lah. and btw it is not even my taste also...;) looks cheapo...

my father said...when he was young, the most famous brand is fiat and alfa. that time japanese made is considered 'pariah' one...:lol:

Now you father era has gone, now here come the era of the mighty OSH. and this time, the Malaysian made - Proton is considred "pariah" one....:lol:

CHEVROLET MALIBU

this is definately not for Malaysian market...but, a very nice midsize family sedan :okay:

http://www.chevrolet.com/malibu/images/wallpapers/exterior/800/_0.jpg

http://www.chevrolet.com/malibu/images/wallpapers/interior/800/_0_0.jpg

http://www.chevrolet.com/malibu/images/wallpapers/interior/800/_0_2.jpg

a same league with Camry/Accord...but why GM does not sell it to our market, or perhaps it has been rebadged into something else?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Chevrolet_Malibu_Hybrid_DC.JPG/800px-Chevrolet_Malibu_Hybrid_DC.JPG

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/2008_Chevrolet_Malibu_LT_DC.JPG/800px-2008_Chevrolet_Malibu_LT_DC.JPG

Chevy's in the US have horrible build quality....you sit in it, you can feel you may have overpaid....

Chevy's in the US have horrible build quality....you sit in it, you can feel you may have overpaid....

oh really...?i din know that.:lol:

perhaps american put much expectation for chevy to compete with BMW...to be honest, when we talk about built quality, even i don't think Camry has that level of 'excellence'. much of its interior parts feel cheap...

btw, this malibu received a lot of positive reviews from automotive critics, if i'm not mistaken....

Honda aims to sell 600 new Accords a month

KUALA LUMPUR: Honda Malaysia Sdn Bhd targets to sell about 600 of the all-new Honda Accord monthly in the first year.

The new Accord, now available at all authorised dealers nationwide, comes in three variants – the enhanced 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre i-VTEC engines, which provide balance between performance and fuel economy; and the new 3.5-litre i-VTEC V6 engine, the first ever and most powerful in the Accord line-up.

Managing director Atsushi Fujimoto is confident in meeting the sales target, given that the company had received bookings of 2,200 units for the new model to date.

http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2008/4/23/business/b_2kenzo.jpg
Honda Motor Co Ltd executive chief engineer Kenzo Suzuki with the new Accord

Some 60% of the bookings are for the 2.0-litre variant while the rest is for the 2.4-litre model.

“Due to the overwhelming response, the waiting period will be about three months,” he said after launching the new Accord yesterday.

“We will import the completely built-up units of the 3.5-litre i-VTEC V6 from Thailand while the other two variants will be assembled locally,” he said.

He added that the company planned to import about 60 units of the 3.5-litre i-VTEC V6 variant over the next one year.

The retail prices with insurance are RM141,800, RM171,800 and RM249,800 for the 2.0-litre, 2.4-litre i-VTEC and the 3.5-litre i-VTEC V6 engine respectively.

On the key improvements of the new Accord, Fujimoto said besides better fuel-efficiency, all engines came with five-speed automatic transmission. The cabin has been expanded to offer a 3.2% increase in interior space.

The distance between driver and front passenger was increased up to 40mm and the rear knee space lengthened to deliver more leg room for passengers in the rear seats.

“Overall, the cabin room is the largest among cars of its class, including the continental makes, providing a comfortable and luxurious feel and ride for both driver and passengers,” Fujimoto said.

He added that the new Accord catered to both personal and business usage.

oh really...?i din know that.:lol:

perhaps american put much expectation for chevy to compete with BMW...to be honest, when we talk about built quality, even i don't think Camry has that level of 'excellence'. much of its interior parts feel cheap...

btw, this malibu received a lot of positive reviews from automotive critics, if i'm not mistaken....

I don't think Americans have any aspirations that Chevy can be anything like BMW. In anything, I think Cadillac might be more suitable for that role. What Chevy has always done, has been to offer American sized cars for cheap and keep workers employed in auto production plants all across the US.

It received positive reviews? Good, hopefully that will translate into higher sales, cuz recently, I don't think GM has had a good grasp on what the American people want to buy...

Naza Forza output to rise with Thai demand
Published: 2008/04/25


NAZA Corp Sdn Bhd has announced that the production of Naza Forza cars into the Thai automotive market will be increased to meet the demand.

The 1.1L Naza Forza, which recently made its debut in Thailand’s highly competitive automotive market, has managed to secure 542 orders, the company said in a statement yesterday.

It added that Yontrakit Motor Sales Co, the official importer of the Naza Forza into Thailand, has urged Naza Corp to increase the car production.

Priced at 349,000 baht, the Naza Forza is the most affordable new car in the market.


The model is also exported to Nepal, Bangladesh and Singapore.

Exports to Singapore, which began earlier this year, are also said to be encouraging with strong acceptance of supermini cars from Malaysia.

Export sales amounted to about 30 per cent of total Naza Forza sales, Naza Corp said.

The company said it is also in talks to export the car to Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Mauritius.

Naza Corp also said that though the demand for the Naza Forza is strong in both Thailand and Singapore, there will be enough cars to satisfy the local demand. — Bernama