Honda Malaysia launches the Stream RSZ

Honda Stream RSZ

Honda Malaysia today introduced the Stream RSZ, and the vehicle replaces the current bog-standard version that was launched in Nov 2007.

Mechanically, everything's all but the same in the 1.8 i-VTEC-powered seven-seater, but the updated variant - which has been selling in Singapore for a good bit now - features more in the way of bling, with a full bodykit, a redesigned RSZ front grille and new 17-inch alloys wheels leading the way.

Elsewhere, the front end lights get a reworking too, and the new lamps are auto HID (high intensity discharge) units with smoke-finish covers. Also new, the fog lamps, and let's not forget the inclusion of a sunroof on this one.

Inside, you now have a more refined interior in the way of material, paddle shifters, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a seat-side armrest for the driver and for added convenience, a passenger seat under-seat storage tray as new items on the list.

Atsushi Fujimoto, managing director and chief executive officer of Honda Malaysia said that ''the refinements accomplished in the Stream RSZ show that we are on the pulse of the current lifestyle trend, where style and practicality in an automobile are expected to come hand in hand.''

The Stream RSZ comes in four colours - besides the Premium White Pearl, Honda Malaysia is introducing three new colours with the vehicle, and they are Crystal Black Pearl, Polished Metal Metallic and New Red Pearl.

The outgoing standard Stream managed to sell just over 1,600 units up until Jan from the time it was launched, but Honda Malaysia is being a little more conservative with this one, given the market conditions - the company has targeted a modest sales figure of 350 units for the vehicle this year.

The Stream RSZ is priced at RM155,980, on-the-road, with insurance. Oh, and before you rush out to the showrooms, you might want to know that the Stream RSZ will be available at all authorised Honda showrooms nationwide only from Feb 26 onwards.

Honda Stream RSZ [Read more!]

New Proton SATRIA NEO - Review and Photos

The Campro CPS engine is finally in the Proton Satria Neo, something that many have been eagerly waiting for. The CPS is essentially a Campro engine with a few updates and a variable valve lift system called CPS as well as a variable intake manifold (VIM) system. These additions help push up power to 125 PS at 6,500rpm and 150Nm of torque at 4,500rpm, figures which are up from the standard Campro’s 110hp and 148Nm.

The car’s front and rear track has also been updated. While the Proton Satria Neo had a front and rear track of 1,470mm for both, the Satria Neo CPS H-Line has a narrower front track at 1,467mm and a wider rear track 1,483mm.
We didn’t managed to get hold of a Proton engineer to ask this question but we did manage to ask a member of Proton’s Race Rally Research (R3) team who said the change was made because Proton found the standard Neo suffered from slight oversteer, so this change was made to induce a slight understeer to improve handling. Anyway either way as a result of the large wheel arches, the wheels looks kind of lost inside them at certain angles.

As for aesthetics, as you can see there’s a new bodykit and more prominent flared wheel arches that are inspired from the old Satria GTI’s design. The alloy wheels are of the same 16 inch size as the M-Line but feature a different design that looks like a carbon copy of Advanti Racing’s MEDUSA design but without the two-tone design - perhaps it’s licensed or “inspired”. On the interior, the dashboard is now of a darker shade with red lighting on the various air conditioning controls and auto gear position indicators, has a different door trim design, some new trim around the gear shifter area, and leather seats in a black and red combination similiar to the GEN2 CPS.

The following are the prices for the new Proton Satria Neo CPS, available in only two colours which are unique to the CPS - solid white and tranquility black.

CPS is only available for the high line model, so the lite and M-line models retain the regular Campro. Unfortunately this is the old original Campro engine, without the new IAFM systems in the Saga, Persona and GEN2. The CPS system has also been tweaked with this version of the Campro engine, so the high lift cam profile activation point has been revised. However I’m not sure what is the purpose of activating it later.

VIM switches between a long intake manifold at low RPMs and a short intake manifold at higher RPMs. According to Proton, a longer intake manifold is used at low RPMs to achieve slower air flow; this promotes better mixing with fuel. The short intake manifold allows more air in faster. This is beneficial at high RPMs. The CPS system uses a switching tappet and a trilobe camshaft to switch between two different cam profiles, one with low valve lift and another with high valve lift.

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Honda Insight Gas-Electric Hybrid Car

TOKYO, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Honda Motor Co. announced Thursday that it will launch new gas-electric hybrid car "Insight" Friday.

The Insight is priced between 1.89 million yen (21,000 U.S. dollars) and 2.21 million yen (24,500 U.S. dollars), cheaper than its bigger rival Toyota's Prius, which is sold at the minimum price of 2.33 million yen (25,800 U.S. dollars).

The new hybrid, however, covers 30 km per liter of gasoline, against 35.5 kilometers for Toyota's Prius.

The second largest automaker in Japan aims to sell 5,000 Insight cars per month. [Read more!]

New Ford FOCUS Launched in Malaysia

Auto ConneXion has launched the facelifted Ford Focus, and the C307 gets a revised exterior and an upgraded interior, along with some new features thrown in for good measure. Both the Focus Sport hatchback and Focus Ghia sedan are now powered by the 143bhp and 185Nm 2.0l Duratec engine, which continues unrevised, as is the four-speed automatic tranny with the Sport Sequential Shift. Previously, the Ghia sedan came in 1.8l form. Externally, the revised Focus gets a complete new front end - there's a new bumper, bonnet, upper grille (replete with a larger blue oval badge) and headlamps, as well as front fenders with meatier, bolder arch bulges.

At the back on the hatch, a revised, larger windscreen translates into a more pronounced horizontal contour line, and the Ford badge is now positioned lower and is incorporated into a liftgate moulding. Also new, a body coloured roof spoiler, rear bumper and long, clear tail lamps.

Elsewhere, the exterior door mirrors have been enlarged, and the side mirror housings now feature integrated side indicators.

Mechanically, the rear track is now slightly wider, the result of a new range of alloy wheels with additional offset developed specifically for the facelift. Here, both sedan and hatch run 16-inch wheels, with 205/55 R16 rubbers.

Inside, the emphasis on revisions have been on improving the quality of materials and enhancing comfort levels. The evidence is clear to see and feel. Either in black or dark dusk grey, the soft-touch dash pad as well as soft-touch upper door trims contrast beautifully against a tan-coloured inner roof lining to lighten the interior visually.

The driver now sees large-face tachometer and speedometer set deeply into individual binnacles, and positioned above are small-face water temperature and fuel gauges, each surrounded by a silver bezel.

A revised centre stack and redesigned window and mirror switches accompany new intuitive controls for air-conditioning, heater and ventilation system. At night, the centre stack controls are illuminated in soft red light, which is more soothing compared to the stark white of the first generation C307.

A new premium centre console has been designed with an emphasis on improved comfort and function. It features a moveable soft armrest which slides forward 80mm, two cup holders with butterfly lids, a coin holder and a card holder.

Dual-zone air conditioning, six-way power adjustable driver's seat, a two-DIN MP3/six-disc CD changer/six speaker audio system (with an auxiliary input) and a leather interior on the Ghia sedan (fabric on the Sport hatch) round off the mod con list.
Colours common to both variants are Diamond White, Panther Black and Moondust Silver, with unique shades being Racing Blue for the hatch and Infra Red and Ocean for the sedan.

The fully-imported Focus models are available at all 26 Ford showrooms nationwide, priced at RM113,897 for the five-door Sport hatchback and RM112,897 for the four-door Ghia sedan (on-the-road without insurance, Peninsular Malaysia).

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Nissan GRAND LIVINA Get Tuned By IMPUL

Impul Grand Livina Nissan is spicing up the popular Nissan Grand Livina 7-seater MPV with this new edition that features accessories from Impul. Called the Nissan Grand Livina Tuned by Impul, it is fitted with a bodykit comprising of a new front grille, lips for the front and rear, side skirts, and an Impul rear wing spoiler.

The Impul Blast II exhaust muffler system is also available and this is made of high-quality stainless steel with a polished finish. It is said to improve engine response and emits a sporty note which should delight the driver.

Like the Impul Latio, the Impul Grand Livina can also be ordered with Impul alloy wheels (Aura SX-10) with locally-sourced Dunlop Formula D1 205/45R17 tyres. Mr Khoo, Operations Manager for the Impul business at ETCM, said that quite a number of Impul Latio buyers opt to take the wheels as the design is quite exclusive and appealing.

As with the Impul Latio, the accessories for the Impul Grand Livina can be ordered at the time of purchase of a new vehicle. This means that the entire cost – RM10,500 more than a standard Grand Livina – can be included in the H-P loan. That adds a bit more to the instalment each month, of course, but would be a lot easier than having to come out with that much money as a lump sum, which is what you would have to do if you bought from an accessories shop.

IMPUL GRAND LIVINA Photos

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2009 Mazda RX-8 Overview

2009 Mazda RX-8
The 2009 Mazda RX-8 is weird. Its body style? Weird. Its engine? Weirder. Its styling? Yep, that's pretty strange too. Since its introduction five years ago, the RX-8 has served as an automotive asterisk.

The 2009 Mazda RX-8 is a four-seat coupe with a pair of rear-hinged "suicide" doors that ease access to the backseats. There are four trim levels: Sport, Touring, Grand Touring and R3. The base Sport features 18-inch wheels and performance tires, a rear lip spoiler (manual transmission models only), air-conditioning, cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, full power accessories and a six-speaker stereo with CD player and auxiliary audio jack. The Touring trim adds a limited-slip rear differential, xenon headlights, foglights, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and an in-dash six-CD changer.

The rear-wheel-drive Mazda RX-8 is powered by a 1.3-liter rotary engine. The engine's output depends on the transmission selected. Models with the six-speed automatic (with paddle shifters) receive 212 hp and a redline of 7,500 rpm. The six-speed manual version has 232 hp and an atmospheric redline of 9,000 rpm. All RX-8 engines produce a rather meager 152 pound-feet of torque.

Although generally quick by most measures, acceleration is hardly impressive for a sports car. In our tests, a manual-equipped RX-8 went from zero to 60 mph in 7 seconds. Fuel economy is unimpressive at 16 mpg city/22 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined.

Although the 2009 Mazda RX-8 has the look of a race-tuned sports car, its demeanor on the road is considerably more docile. There's plenty of grip in the corners and solid feedback through the steering wheel, but a compliant ride means that it won't beat you up on the daily commute. The rotary engine requires high engine speeds to make serious power, but the delivery is virtually vibration-free and noise levels are subdued. If you like a smooth engine (in feel, sound and delivery), there's none smoother. Overall, the RX-8 is one of the best examples of a car that's both fun to drive and very livable on a day-to-day basis -- just be prepared to pay at the pump.
2009 Mazda RX-8 [Read more!]

Mazda Biante special editions launched in Japan

Japan must be rather big on year-end specials, or is it because of the need to clear stocks? Another Mazda vehicle that gets a limited/special/etc edition treatment is the Mazda Biante, which has two special editions - a Mazda Biante Limited Edition and a Mazda Biante NAVI Special.

The Mazda Biante 20S Limited Edition is based on the 20S but gets extra equipment such as leather on the steering wheel, dual power sliding doors and a keyless entry and start system. The Mazda Biante 20CS Limited Edition is based on the 20CS grade and gets HID headlamps, cleanable seats and leather on the steering wheel.

The Mazda Biante 20 NAVI Special is limited to 800 units and as you can probably guess from its name, adds a navigation system. This takes the previously mentioned Biante 20S Limited Edition with the power doors and etc and adds a Mazda G-BOOK Alpha-compatible HDD navigation system, that also has features such as parking assist with front, side and rear guide monitors, a DVD and CD player, an analog TV tuner with printed antenna, Bluetooth hands-free, and steering-wheel audio controls.

Has anyone seen the Biante in grey import showrooms in Malaysia yet? Given the popularity of the Toyota Alphard, it would seem Malaysians like tall roof MPVs as well.

Source : Paultan.org [Read more!]

The all-new Honda City unveiled

Honda Malaysia today unveiled the third-generation Honda City compact sedan in Kuala Lumpur.

The all-new City comes with numerous firsts in its class, combining style, performance and practicality, but more on that as you read on.

There are two variants available, these being tagged Grade E and Grade S. The Grade E comes with additional paddle shifters, rear reclining seats with an underseat tray and 16-inch sport alloy wheels.

Exterior style-wise, the City adopts what Honda calls an ‘Arrowshot Form’ design outlook from end-to-end. Strikingly, the front end resembles a transformable robot from an animated movie, whilst the tail lamps look very much like those found on the BMW 3-Series.

The i-DSI block is history, so the new City goes about its business with a single powerplant choice, this being a newly-developed four-cylinder 1.5l i-VTEC engine which pushes out 120bhp at 6,000rpm and 145Nm of torque at 4,800rpm. Compliant with Euro 4 level emission standards, the City is deemed the most powerful compact sedan in the market to date.
The advanced i-VTEC engine is now mated with a five-speed automatic transmission with Shift Hold Control and is the first in its class. Gone too is the CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission) gearbox, an omission brought about by the rougher style of driving encountered here, according to surveys carried out by Honda Japan’s R&D division.

Compensating for the absence of a manual transmission gearbox (a five-speed manual is available in both Thailand and Singapore) are the paddle shifters in the Grade E, which provides the driver with a sportier means of changing gears.

The steering wheel is now of the tilt and telescopic type, and the footrest is now wider as the accelerator and brake pedals have been shifted more to the right. The car comes with EPS (Electric Power Steering), and safety comes in the form of dual SRS airbags and front seatbelt pre-tensioners and load limiters.

Stopping power is reinforced with ABS (anti-lock braking system) with EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution), while BA (Brake Assist) amplifies the driver’s foot force with minimal pedal input.

Entertainment for the occupants inside the City is provided by an advanced audio system that is compatible with MP3 players, iPod, USB memory or a mobile hard disk drive. In the Grade E variant, you get a six-speaker system with steering wheel audio controls, while the Grade S makes do with a four-speaker arrangement.

The all-new City does not compromise in rear passenger convenience with a fold-down armrest that also houses integrated cup holders.

Another first in its class, the City’s rear trunk is able to contain a whopping 506l of cargo, which is equivalent to being able to store four nine-inch-wide golf bags.

As mentioned, the Grade E’s rear seats can be folded in a 60:40 split configuration for extended luggage carrying capacity, and is fitted with an underseat tray to stow away wet umbrellas or footwear.

There are a total of five colours to choose from – Alabaster Silver Metallic, Bold Beige Metallic, Polished Metal Metallic, and new colours Crystal Black Pearl and Deep Lapis Blue Metallic. Unfortunately, a striking signature colour called Habanero Red Pearl, as well as a very pretty Tafetta White, is not available.

The Honda City is manufactured in Malaysia, with 30% of the parts sourced locally, including the seats and instrument panel, while the rest are from Japan.

According to Atsushi Fujimoto, managing director of Honda Malaysia, the previous City was still doing quite well into the end of its run, having registered a total sales volume of 8,000 units from Jan to Nov this year. With the arrival of the new one, Honda Malaysia is targeting to sell about 1,500 units of the new City on a monthly basis, and pre-launch bookings have been brisk, with more than 1,500 orders to date - as of launch time, the waiting period is a month, though that is surely to change if more orders come about.

The City rolls in at RM84,980 for the Grade S and RM89,980 for the Grade E (both on the road, with insurance) and comes with a three-year warranty or 100,000km and six months free service or 10,000km, whichever comes first.

A Modulo accessories package is available to spruce up the City’s exterior, and this consists of front, side, rear and trunk spoilers, all for an additional RM4,750.

Source : Star-motoring.com [Read more!]

2009 Subaru FORESTER - Review and Photos

The current Subaru Forester was introduced for the '09 model year. Based on the most recent Impreza, this Forester is larger and offers more ground clearance than its wagonlike predecessor. The result is a compact sport-utility that is decidedly less compact, offering the same type of sizable maximum cargo capacity and interior space available as its principal competitors.

As before, Subaru offers a pair of horizontally opposed boxer four-cylinder engines with all-wheel drive as standard. The 2.5X models feature a naturally aspirated unit that produces 170 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual is standard and a four-speed auto is optional. The XT models get a turbocharged version of this engine that churns out 224 hp and 226 lb-ft of torque. All XT's get the automatic.

The Forester comes in four trim levels: 2.5X, 2.5X Limited, 2.5XT and 2.5XT Limited. The base model is very modestly equipped, but some of the XT's features are available in a Premium Package that includes alloy wheels, sunroof and a reclining rear seatback. The Limited models gain luxury items like leather upholstery, a power driver seat, automatic climate control and an upgraded stereo. They can also be outfitted with an optional navigation system.

As with its previous iterations, the current Subaru Forester is a strong entry in the constantly growing compact SUV segment. Although the four-speed automatic hampers its performance and refinement, this new Forester is nevertheless an impressive entry. With a comfortable cabin, ample cargo space and lots of available equipment, the Forester stands up well to best-selling competitors from Honda and Toyota.

Article & Image Source : Edmunds.com

2009 Subaru FORESTER Photos

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2009 Mitsubishi Galant Overview

2009 Mitsubishi Galant

The Mitsubishi Galant represents a viable option when considering mid-size sedans. It does everything reasonably well and is enjoyable to drive.

The Galant is a front-wheel drive sedan that comes in four trims: ES, Sport Edition, Sport V6, and Ralliart. The ES and Sport Edition models are powered by a 160 horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a four-speed Sportronic automatic transmission. The Sport V6 and Ralliart trims both use a 3.8-liter V6 engine teamed with five-speed Sportronic automatic transmission, with the Sport V6 producing 230 horsepower and the Ralliart 258 horsepower. A number of package options are available to add more first-rate features to the Galant.

The 2009 Mitsubishi Galant receives new interior stylings on all levels, and new exterior stylings such as color-keyed side mirrors, door handles, and rear spoiler (excluding ES trim).

Article Source : autos.aol.com
Image Source : Mitsubishicars.com

2009 Mitsubishi Galant
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