VIDEO: Diesel producing modified microbes

Scale model Aventador, yours for EUR3.5 million

This has to be one of the most fantastic piece of news to come out of the Frankfurt Motor Show, a former Mercedes-Benz engineer and model builder extraordinaire Robert Gulpen has come up with a proper carbon-fibre scale model Lamborghini Aventador and he wants to charge buyers more than 10 times the price of the full-sized item. A real Aventador costs about UER300,000.


To see the video of the model and find out why it is so expensive, follow the link

Lotus sign Petronas for GT Motorsports

Ever since Lotus reactivated their Motorsports division to the level of activity that we see today, many Malaysians had wished that Petronas would support the effort but in Formula One, the national oil company decided to go with Mercedes-Benz because it is a top-flight team.

Yesterday Group Lotus announced that they have attracted the oil giant to their GT motorsports activity through Petronas Lubricant International. Petronas Lubricant International used to be known as Selenia, which Petronas bought over a couple of years ago.

Petronas is now a major partner of Lotus Motorsports, supplying lubricants for all their motorsports activities in this category and this includes the Evora GT4s in the British GT Championship, Blancpain European GT and the International Le Mans Cup (ILMC).

Group Lotus Chief Executive Officer Dany Bahar said: "For Lotus, motorsport isn't just a branding exercise – ultimately we're in it to win and PETRONAS share this philosophy. They have built a lot of technological knowledge during their time in motorsport and we can benefit in many ways from technology transfer especially when it comes to fuel and lubricants technology used today in race cars. We are all about technology and performance and in PETRONAS we have a partner who share our values and vision."

For the official Press Release please follow the jump

GM develops new camo pattern for prototype

Camouflage is important to carmakers as they road test future models and early prototypes and up till now the camouflage has been a combination of tapes and swriling print decals.

This new camouflage appears to have been worked around the way that digital cameras process images, the fine block pattern and intersecting white french curves can potentially confuse cameras and make it a lot more difficult for image processors to discern shapes and surface flows.

BTW this is the new Cadillac ATS. 

VIDEO: Time lapse of Audi's huge temporary exhibition hall being built

ALBUM: Frankfurt Motor show Day 1

Lots more photos after the jump

Peugeot Boxer spotted at JPJ Putrajaya

The passenger van market is quite interesting in Malaysia, right nowthe real players are the Toyota Hiace and Nissan Urvan with a smattering of Kia Pregio and Westar with their LDV Maxus. Mercedes Benz offers their Sprinter but it is too expensive for most operators.Peugeot's Boxer is well known in Europe and has a reputation for being tough, so maybe it would do well in our market, if it is priced right and by that I mean under RM110K

Extreme makeover: Proton Edition - the handover

It was an overwhelming moment for Mohd Fadly Hisham Roplay, he couldn't believe just how good his restored 1992 Proton Saga looked.

Proton's R3 team stripped the car bare and gave it a thorough restoration that retained the car's original character with modern updates.

The dashboard and door cappings come from the last iteration of the Saga also known as 'The Tank' while the seats are R3 semi buckets.

It also gets super cool R3 wheels and characteristic red coach line.

The engine has been totally rebuilt and now features an extractor and 'ekzos belimbing' as the final silencer.

After the jump are some more photos of the handover, we will upload a video of the handover in a few days

Decoding the Kia GT

Like other concept cars, the Kia GT is a window into the future of Kia design and a hint of what chief designer, Peter Schreyer is thinking about so let us look at the various design features that may appear in future models from the Korean carmaker.

From the front we can see the evolution of the tiger-mouth grille, it is more stylised with the sides flared downwards and taking on a more vertical position in profile.

The overall styling language is moving away from the angular and flat surfaces to more rounded panels and flowing lines, we can expect this general design to start appearing in future Kia models.

Maserati plays with mud in the Kubang

Italian Super GT brand Maserati is following the footsteps of Porsche and is coming up with a Sports Utility Vehicle to call its own and uniquely Malaysian buyers are squarely in their crosshair.

Called Kubang or mudhole in Malay, Maserati is really keen to impress to Malaysians that their SUV is at home in the mud.

Ok, actually I do not know why they care calling it the Kubang as none of the reports or Media Releases coming out of the Frankfurt Motor Show explains it.

Proton S2000 aims to fly in Hungary round of IRC

Practice in Hungary

Proton's S200 campaign has been quite fruitful, it has done well in APRC, not so well in the IRC but improving. Not to mention that fun Top Gear appearance in the UK vs OZ challenge.

This weekend the boys are in Hungary, a new round for the IRC and they think they can do well and make a strong entrance for the brand.

follow the jump for the rest of the story and the official Press Release

BMW files patent for V6

Sacrilegious but inevitable...V6 is the most compact of modern engine designs, allowing multi-cylinder refinement while staying within the length limit of a large four-cylinder design.

Figure 1

according to bimmerpost these images are part of BMW's patent filing for a V6 engine...

From this schematic we can see that the exhausts flow (unbroken line) from both banks are combined into one pipe before it is delivered to one turbocharger (marked 4a) , there is a valve (6)  to the second turbocharger (5a) , which, presumably would open when there is sufficient pressure.

follow the jump for the rest of the explanation and to see two more V6 patent schematics from BMW

Is Lotus bringing an all-new model to Frankfurt

Lotus released a teaser of an unnamed and unseen car (well not very clearly anyway) facing a  boxer. Why a boxer? that's a real mystery.
This is a screen capture of the mystery car, it could be an upgrade of a current model or if it is an all new model, then it is the Esprit... we assume this because Lotus had said earlier that they do not have the financial resources to develop two cars at the same time and they felt the flagship Esprit should be developed first.
My guess? An extreme Evora, maybe with a Lexus V8...the engine they were thinking about when they first started the Lotus revival plan

Watch the video after the jump

VIDEO: Porsche 918RSR design discussed

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TEST DRIVE: BMW 528i M Sport

Ever since BMW introduced their new tagline, ‘Joy is BMW’ my eyebrows have never quite straightened out properly. I don’t understand why they got rid of ‘The Ultimate Driving Machine’ which was brilliant, descriptive and accurate representation of their products.

 I wondered if I don’t get the new tagline, would it mean that I would not get their new cars either? It was a genuinely worrying prospect for a car nut, even one that prefers Stuttgart to Munich.

I still do get BMW cars but I still don’t get the tagline, in fact I get the tagline even less after driving their cars.
The 528i Sport that we are featuring this week is a perfect example of my confusion because, the F10 five series is really a much better driver’s car than the model that it replaces and at the same time it is no better than the predecessor as a passenger car.

Team Petronas Syntium to fight for MMER honours

Top drivers and fast machines makes them the favourites for Asia’s premier 12-hour endurance race

Excitement over the upcoming Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race was racheted up a notch with news of Team Petronas Syntium returning home to compete for honours.
The team has brought much fame and glory for Petronas and also Malaysia by doing well in the Japanese Super Taikyu series. Last year the team finished in third place, this time around they want to improve on their podium position.
The team is debuting their pair of all-new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 cars, giving the Stuttgart carmaker their only entry in the region’s toughest endurance race.
The two cars will sport numbers 28 and 15.

Volvo downsizes engine for the future

Gothenburg wants to be greener than green

Swedish carmaker Volvo has a reputation for being eco friendly and their latest initiative towards zero emissions through a new, downsized engine range consisting solely of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines.

"It's time to stop counting cylinders. At the Frankfurt Motor Show we will reveal a new concept car. It proves that downsized engines can go hand in hand with our customers' expectations on luxury and driving pleasure," says Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research and Development at the Volvo Car Corporation.

The Volvo Car Corporation's upcoming four-cylinder VEA (Volvo Environmental Architecture) engine range includes common rail diesels and direct injected petrol engines. It covers the whole range from high power and torque variants to fuel-efficient derivatives.

Pre launch news: Pajero Sport to get VGT boost

The Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is a decent SUV but it can use a bit more power and later this month that is exactly what it is getting.
Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM), the official distributor of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles in Malaysia will be introducing the new Mitsubishi Pajero Sport VGT, a new variant of the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport next week.
The Pajero Sport VGT 2.5-litre Common Rail diesel engine will be fitted with a new powerhouse management that includes Variable Geometric Turbocharger, boosting power and torque to a significantly higher level respectively.

TTW joins Goodyear Malaysia Drift Team

Veteran drift driver on the 2011 team roster 

Top drift competitor Tan Tat Wei or TTW as he is better known, is now officially with the Goodyear Malaysia 2011 Drift Team.
He has made quite a name for himself in the regional drift scene, scoring an impressive 73.7 at the Singapore 2011 Formula Drift and winning the competition.
“It is truly an honor and pleasure to be affiliated with Team Goodyear. The association is one that has already begun to create a great deal of opportunity for me and has open many doors since I first joined them eight months ago.

Chevy wins second manufacturers’ world title

Last weekend Chevrolet won its second consecutive title of the Manufacturers’ Championship in the World Touring Car Championship with the team completely dominating both races.

Yvan Muller and Alain Menu made a 1-2 in Race 1 and Yvan Muller, Rob Huff and Alain Menu took all podium steps in Race 2. 

With this result, the drivers’ title, it is now mathematically certain for one of the three Chevrolet drivers. That is how dominant the team is this season.

Latest Pump and Win has RM500K on offer

Shell Malaysia is making this festive and holiday season an even more special one with the launch of its latest cash contest - Pump and Stand to Win RM500, 000.

From 7 September 2011 until 15 November 2011, Shell will be giving away cash prizes to more than 1000 winners every week.

Each week, Shell will be giving away RM20,000 to one lucky grand prize winner; RM2,000 to five lucky winners and RM100 to 1000 additional customers, as a consolation prize. At the end of the ten-week Contest, all 10 weekly grand prize winners have the opportunity to win up to half a million Ringgit!

To find out how you can take part and win, follow the jump

Honda recalls Civic, City and Jazz

Power steering hose deterioration in hot and humid weather and master power window shorts require product update

Honda Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. is conducting a recalls or ‘product update’ for the 2006 Civic – 200-2008 City  2005-2007 Jazz to implement preventive measures against what they describe as ‘undesired technical issues in the affected units’. 
“Honda Malaysia would like to apologize to all customers for the inconvenience caused. The campaign aims to implement a few preventive measures against technical failure. “This is an early call for inspection and replacement, of which we believe could sustain the best product performance for customers in spite of the technical irregularities,” said Yoichiro Ueno, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Malaysia.

Bookings for 1.5 Myvi SE open from 12 September

Photo liberated from paultan.org

Malaysians have been waiting for the MYVI 1.5 ..well it is officially available for booking now so quickly go to a Perodua showroom so you can have it as soon as it is launched next Thursday (September 15.

Paultan says it will be called Extreme and has photos of badges to back it up but all we know is PErodua says Lagi Power, Lagi Best

Follow the jump to read the Press Release

The history of the bowtie emblem - according to Chevrolet

The Chevrolet bowtie is one of the most famous badge in the auto world and many have wondered what a bowtie has got to do with cars.

Was it because bowties were glamorous and cars were glamorous in the early days.

Was it because General Motors founder, William Durant  was a big bowtie fan?

Was it just a random choice?

Could it be possible that Durant thought that since bowtie prints look okay on hotel wallpaper, he thought it would look good on the snout of a car?

Follow the jump to read the official story... be warned that it is satisfactorily unconclusive

VIDEO: Ferrari 458 Italia loses its head at home

The Ferrari 458 Italia is probably one of the most gorgeous automobile of our time so the best thing for it is to lose the roof. Apparently fans of the brand have been waiting for the spyder variant since launch.
Well, here is the video of the launch, enjoy.

LEAKED?: Maserati's SUV looks a bit like photoshopped X6

I cannot say for sure that this is the new Maserati SUV because there are so many good photoshoppers out there. At a glance it looks like a photoshopped BMW X6...don't you think?

Well we will know for sure next week...

VIDEO: Toyota 3 - Merc 0: SL stalls in flood while Toyotas drive past

Just as a Mercedes-Benz SL stalls in flood waters, three Toyotas waltzed past, followed by a Honda and a Nissan...

Youtube Gold: Guy build 1/4 scale RC jet powered dragster

With enough skill and a lot of money, you too can build a radio controlled 1/4 scale jet-powered dragster.

The world does not need a radio-controlled scale model jet dragster and that is what makes it so wonderful.

Awesome onboard video of an F-16 RC jet

The owner of this jet squeezed in a small pan-tilt camera into the cockpit to give us a pilot's view and it is totally mind blowing, for the first time we can pretend to be real fighter jet pilots and fly our RC jets like they are real planes....

Yo Auto to show new concept wit super-cool doors

Lamborghini is synonymous with scissor doors while the Mercedes SL owns the gullwing door concept and now we have a beetle-wing door concept.

We have all seen how beetles have hard shells protecting their thin and delicate wings and this is exactly what the Yo Auto concept car's doors look like once it is opened. we call it the beetle-wing door

 to watch the video and read the rest of the story, please follow the jump

VIDEO: Awesome downhill ride

Some rides are just so awesome that spectators are left breathless but a few are so mind-blowing that even the commentators are left scramblling for superlatives

this young man's downhill zip almost defies the laws of physics, hanging on to slippery corners like they are velcro...

VIDEO: BMW 6-series Grandcoupe caught out and about

BMW's challenger of the Mercedes-Benz CLS is nearly ready and this is the first video of the car in the wild that is clear enough for us to see the silhouette and some details including the trademark spoiler-bootlid and the greenhouse  outline.

Overall, it looks like a 6-series with two additional doors, which will probably split opinions the way the six did when it was first launched.

To read the rest of the story and watch the video, please follow the jump.

Subaru teases the XV

The Subaru XV is an interesting crossover that is expected to hit markets next year and this picture gives us a clear idea of what the rear end of the car will look like.

They will also showcase the BRZ coupe alongside the XV at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month.

Read the Press Release after the jump to find out the details of these two cars and their display in Frankfurt.


PRESS RELEASE


Exhibition Outline of the 64th Frankfurt Motor Show

Tokyo, August 31, 2011 - Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, will exhibit the "SUBARU XV" as a world premiere and the "SUBARU BRZ PROLOGUE - BOXER Sports Car Architecture II -", the technology concept of Subaru's All-new Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car, the "SUBARU BRZ", as part of the Subaru exhibits at the 64th Frankfurt Motor Show. (Press day: September 13 and 14; Open to the public from September 15 through 25, 2011)
The press conference by New President Yasuyuki Yoshinaga is scheduled at the Subaru booth on September 13, 2011 at 9.30h

The Subaru XV was developed under the concept of "Urban Adventure" as a new type of crossover vehicle featuring a sporty and casual design. The XV projects the unique value Subaru aims to bring to the C-segment crossover market. With overall proportions conveying a sense of stylishness and lightness, the XV design also displays the confident presence of a crossover vehicle. Its superior drive performance and fuel efficiency are warranted by Subaru's next-generation power unit and Subaru core technologies - the symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive and advanced Subaru Dynamic Chassis Control Concept - making the XV incredibly safe and secure to drive. Subaru has made it possible to truly provide "Enjoyment and Peace of Mind" as defined in its new brand statement, "Confidence in Motion," in this new Subaru XV.
Major specifications
Body size (Overall: Length x Width x Height): 4,450x 1,780 x 1,570 mm,
Wheelbase: 2,635 mm
Power Unit: New Generation Subaru Boxer engine (2.0-litre 4-cylinder Horizontally-Opposed engine) plus Lineartronic (CVT)
< SUBARU BRZ PROLOGUE - BOXER Sports Car Architecture II ->
"SUBARU BRZ PROLOGUE" embodies the technology concept of the "SUBARU BRZ", currently under joint development with Toyota Motor Corporation. The architecture employs Subaru's new platform, built around its key component: the Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engine. It also features the totally new Subaru direct injection Boxer engine exclusively designed for the new sports car. The SUBARU BRZ PROLOGUE will showcase how Subaru's state-of-the-art engineering technology proposes to make the SUBARU BRZ deliver a "Pure Handling Delight" driving experience.
Major Specifications
Body size (Overall: Length x Width x Height): 4,200 x 1,770 x 1,270 mm
Wheelbase: 2,570 mm
Engine type: 2.0-liter direct injection naturally-aspirated
four cylinder Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engine
The special site on the Subaru Global Site (http://www.subaru-global.com/11frankfurt/teaser/) will be updated with information relating to Frankfurt motor show. This will include teaser images of the all-new "SUBARU XV" and "SUBARU BRZ PROLOGUE" as well as a movie of Subaru's press conference.
About Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, is a leading manufacturer in Japan with a long history of technological innovations that dates back to its origin as an aircraft company. While the automotive business is a main business pillar, FHI's Aerospace, Industrial Products and Eco Technologies divisions offer a diverse range of products from general-purpose engines, power generators, and sanitation trucks to small airplanes, crucial components for passenger aircrafts, and wind-powered electricity generating systems. Recognized internationally for its AWD (all-wheel drive) technology and Horizontally-Opposed engines in Subaru, FHI is also spearheading the development of environmentally friendly products and is committed to contributing to global environmental preservation.
News Source: Subaru

Citroen Tubik: A concept people carrier for outgoing Kelantanese?

Tubik or terbit is Kelantanese for appearing or coming out so I guess Citroen is really going micro by targeting outgoing Kelantanese families huh..

OK jokes aside, this is another one of those fanciful concept cars that is created when the design or advanced design team is given a blank sheet of paper.

I am not sure what design cues we can take from this concept but it does show that Citroen is consistent in their rediscovery of past design icons that made the company what it is today.

Clearly Tubik's designers were inspired by the Citroen H van of the 1960s, so maybe we can expect their next full-size MPV to look like this...but then again maybe not.

Anyways, it is an interesting distraction and I certainly hope Citroen will continue to buy interesting cars...

More photos after the jump

BEWARE: New bridge-mounted speedtrap cameras and their location

I am all for fixed speed cameras in dangerous locations, as long as the public is informed of their location and sufficient warning is given with signboards and other means, after all speedtraps are put in place to make our roads safer and not make money, right?

If motorists are still stupid enough to break the speed limit even after they have been warned, then they deserve every cent of fine imposed on them.

For the full list of locations of speedtraps in the country please follow the jump -  (not verified lah, just somethign I picked up on facebook  but still it is good to slow down at these locations, if for nothing other than to keep yourself safe)

Thanks Bobo for the tip

Ultimate adult sandbox allows everyone to play with heavy equipment

Las Vegas sells itself as an entertainment destination and they certainly try to fulfill every desire...and most of us have always wanted to drive a tractor or operate an excavator at some point in our life and now we can.



Las Vegas is now home to the world's largest sandbox and in it are excavators, dozers and other heavy machinery and all you have to do is pay, listen to a short instruction and then be let loose...

Please, please, can we have one like this in Malaysia....

NEW VIDEO: Japanese Tsunami from a car

This video is captured by a dash-mounted camera on a delivery vehicle and the vehicle sank under the Tsunami and was recently recovered, video experts extracted this video.

the driver was clearly caught out and surprised at the speed and ferocity of the water, he escaped just before the car was pushed under water by debris.

2012 Volvo XC90 unveiled

It would take a real Volvo fan to spot the changes to the 2012 XC90 but then again, it is such a successful design that any major change to the face may lose it fans....just ask Michael Jackson.

Minor tweaks are made to the usual suspects such as lamp cluster design and bumpers with the mandatory redesign of the side garnish.

Interior is updated with new colours and more equipment, which is quite an accomplishment since the original was very highly specified

The truth is Volvo has to make the XC90 last at least three more years as the replacement is slotted for 2015, by which time the model would be 13-years old. a dinosaur in automotive terms

To see more photos, please follow the jump

Berani siut: Rider tunjuk skill di Nurburgring

Bukan senang ank pusing sat lap di Green Hell atau Nordschleife (Litar Utara) Nurburgring. Panjangnya lebih 14 kilometer dengan berpuluh-puluh selekoh buta yang boleh meragut nayawa jika pemandu tak berhati hati...tambah pulak penunggang, mesti ngeri punya.



bayangkan kalau kita lentok tahap ni di Kuala Klawang atau Kuala Kubu, tentu member semua tabik springggg...

sekali tonton video ni memang impressed dengan keberanian rider ni , dua kali, lagi impressed kerana dia memang komited di setiap selekoh dan membrek begitu lambat dan menurunkan gear dengan begitu cepat...this boy got kahunas.....brass balls...

Video ni dihasilkan oleh Kawasaki Europe dan Bridgestone, penunggang pulak ialah penunggang uji Bridgestone, Tim Rothig.

Masa yang dicapai ilaah 7min 50 saat.

Armour company boss stands behind his work, while being shot with an AK47

Texas Armouring Corporation CEO, Trent kimball is quick to show just how good his product is and to prove it,





He stood behind a piece of armoured windshield and allowed one of his staff to shoot at him from close range with an AK47

...see him twitch at the first shot...and who wouldn't right...

After three rounds, the windshield stood the test and Trent walked away unhurt...impressive