Monday 31 October 2011

VIDEO: Tattoo art on Pirelli tyres

Famous tattoo artist, Scott Campbell puts his mark on a set of Pirelli slicks for the Ducati Diavel...sick or what....no need to describe anything, just watch this video

Engineer's Wira to get R3 pimping


  • Four more cars to enjoy a new lease of life
  • Deadline for submitting your Proton Story is Dec 28, 2011.


The Extreme Makeover Proton Edition is gaining steam with the second lucky car getting the ultimate restoration and upgrade work from Proton's own motorsport division, R3.

The first car to receive R3 pimping left the workshop in pristine condition and upgraded to make it look super cool and handle much better.

This time around, the boys at R3 led by Malaysia's Prince of Drift, Tengku Djan Ley Mahaleel  will work their magic on a white Proton Wira owned by loyal Proton customer Sashideran Radha Krishnan.

The car will be stripped down to bare bones, treated for rust and other problems before being rebuilt blt by bolt.


Sunday 30 October 2011

VIDEO: How to sketch a CLS63 AMG like a pro

Well he is a pro, he is a designer at AMG and he shows us how their sketches are done, interestingly, the original sketch is still done on paper....up till today we still need the feel of puttign pend down on paper....



adfs

Saturday 29 October 2011

A new kind of rat rod - all hi-tech underneath

This is a trend that is fast picking up pace, keeping a car with its patina intact and fixing or replacing everything underneath to a very high quality and upgrading the mechanicals to modern standard.

This 1952 Chevy Business Coupe looks regal in its worn out paintwork and dented chrome bumpers. Even the wheels like it came from a derelict. Actually it is a custom machined wheel that is made to look  the part.

The car is the creation of Icon cars, the company that is spearheading the idea of restorations that maintains as much as the patina of the original car.

Hi-res album after the jump



Friday 28 October 2011

VIDEO: Audi's baby SUV gets EuroNCAP 5-star rating


Everyone is obsessed with safety, and why shouldn't we?

Audi is pleased to report that their Q3 passed the European New Car Assessment Programme crash test with flying colours, picking up five stars along the way.

Interstingly EuroNCAP has developed and ESC testing methodology and there is a video of how they test a vehicle's electronic stability control.

Video and more photos of the crash test together with Audi's Press release after the jump

World's first hybrid scooter, and it's from Malaysia


From Dengkil to be specific, apparently the company is all set up and the factory is in place, we will get in touch with them soon and get more details, in the meantime enjoy these video





Hyundai Santa Fe now comes at lower price


Hyundai Sime Darby Motors, the distributor of Hyundai cars in Malaysia is now offering the Santa Fe at a more affordable price of RM150,888 in 'Standard' trim.

The 2.4 litre Standard variant comes as an Inokom Santa Fe but they are the same vehicles with the badge peeled off and stuck with a new one.

The more affordable variant gets the same 2.4-litre Theta II engine that can produce 124Ps and 228Nm of torque.


The main differences from the premium variant are in the interior trims as well as some other features, including the Audio Visual Navigator/GPS (AVN) unit, sunroof, smart key/push start button, reverse camera and driver power seat, which are not included in the standard specification variant. This variant comes with black leather seats.


full Press Release and photos after the jump

VIDEO: Google aims 1million miles in driverless car

Google amazed the world when they announced that their driverless car has traveled 100,000 miles without human intervention and in the process was involved in one fender bender, one which normal human drivers probably cannot avoid either.

Here is a video of Sergei Brin telling us that the next goal is a million miles without human intervention.

I think the robot car is almost here. How long do you think before we can buy driverless cars?


Thursday 27 October 2011

VIDEO: Inside Mercedes-Benz Classic Centre USA

These boys don't go to work, they get to enjoy their hobby and get better at what they like to do while people pay them to do it...sweet


Wednesday 26 October 2011

VIDEO: Fifth Gear pits BMW 1M against Audi RS3

Tiff Needell and Mark Higgins puts these two monsters of Hatchback against each other and find out which car they would rather go home in.

Will it be the high tech all-wheel drive RS3 or the Hooligan-rocket BMW 1M?



I have not whacked the RS3 but I have had fun in the 135i and I can tell you that very few cars can match the balance and fun level that the 1-series coupe can dish out... 

Tuesday 25 October 2011

Porsche preps Leipzig for Cajun production

Porsche is expanding their model range with the compact SUV, expected to be called Cajun, in line with the chilli-pepper name of the big brother, Cayenne.

Porsche is laying down UER500 million to upgrade and enlarge their Leipzig factory to accommodate the Cajun.

The new line will take up 17 hectares of new space and expected to add 1,000 personnel to the payroll.

"We are investing another 500 million euro in the production facility to build the 'Cajun' in Leipzig. This is not just a mark of confidence in the manufacturing skills of our Leipzig colleagues, but also an important contribution to the economic development of the region." said Matthias MüllerThe Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Porsche AG.

The Leipzig Porsche plant is known for their green credentials, being one of the world's most efficient car factories. For example, the very efficient air recirculation and power cut-off technologies in the paint shop ensure particularly economical energy use.

Press Release after the jump.


Monday 24 October 2011

Saab/Youngman/Pang Da deal collapse



Apparently Pang Da and YOungman has failed to cough up the interim funding to keep Saab afloat and this has cause the Swedish carmaker to terminate the Subscription Agreement they entered into in July with the two Chinese car companies.

In the meantime Pang Da and Youngman has offered to buy 100 per cent of the company but Saab finds this unacceptable, but it seems there is still room for maneuver as  the parties are still in discussion.

Press Release after the jump


Thai floods force production stoppage at Honda Pagoh plant


It appears that the Thai flood contagion has reached the Malaysian automotive industry, Honda announced a shutdown of their Pagoh plant and cannot say when production will resume.
Honda Malaysia is frantically sourcing parts from other suppliers and until they can find a steady stream, the plant will remain shut.







Mazda will release their new mid-size sedan, aka the new Mazda 6 concept. called the Takeri at the Tokyo Motor Show.

This new car will take on the new Mazda styling language and show the way forward for the company's design direction.

I must say that the Takeri looks good and if it makes it into production with half the gusto and bravado shown here, the new Mazda 6 will be a handsome and desirable sports sedan.

We do, however wonder where Mazda will source the new platform for the Mazda 6, will they continue to have a back-room collaboration with the engineers at Ford or will it be a new in-house platform. Mazda has been relying on Ford platforms for their sedans since the 1970s so I expect there is still sharing programme between Ford and Mazda.

Gallery and Media Release after the jump

Video: McLaren MP2-14C lapping the 'Ring



Lap time 7:28, impressive but this is the third fastest behind the Gumpert Apollo and the Porsche 911 Turbo

Merc X6 fighter confirmed


There were rumours that Mercedes-Benz may be preparing a rival for BMW's X6 but so far there are no spyshots or rendering to even hint at the truth.

Interestingly, Mercedes-Benz decided to give us a hint at their Tuscaloosa manufacturing facility.

During an announcement of new investments of USD350 million to add a new line for an all-new addition to their model line-up, they decided to put a picture of a car under cover as the backdrop and it looks like a hatchback or fastback.

Since Tuscaloosa is used for manufacturing Merc SUVs and the R-Class, I guess it is confirmation that the new expansion is to accommodate the new coupe-SUV, a rival for the BMW X6.

Press release after the jump


Sunday 23 October 2011

VIDEO: Slo-mo and frame by frame analysis of Simoncelli's fatal crash in Sepang


The death of Marco Simoncelli at the Sepang round of the MotoGP shocked the world of motorsports.

The young Italian rider, best known for his entertaining, some say aggressive, riding style lost control of his motorcycle on the second lap and began sliding towards the centre of the circuit when two following riders, Colin Edwards and Valentino Rossi slammed into him.

Photo sequence of crash and video after the jump


Thursday 20 October 2011

Facelifted Innova now in showrooms

Popular IMV people carrier refreshed with new and improved features



  • TOYOTA INNOVA 2.0G A/T : RM110,600
  • TOYOTA INNOVA 2.0E A/T : RM102,500
  • TOYOTA INNOVA 2.0E M/T : RM 97,500
  • New grille design more angular, in line with new Toyota design vocabulary
  • Improved instrument presentation
  • Four-spoke steering wheel
  • Darker coloured trim for seats
  • Horizontal separation of dashboard with different colours to better define the cabin 
The Toyota Innova is a hardworking model from the IMV family that also includes the Hilux, Fortuner and Avanza and as mid life approaches, it gets a timely refresher to bring the model up to date with the rest of the family.

Wednesday 19 October 2011

Test Drive: Skoda Superb 1.8TSI


Superb in name and superb by nature


The Skoda brand enjoyed one of the best revivals in the last decade or so, thanks, in no small part to its new German parents, Volkswagen which took control of the Czech carmaker in the early 1990s and turned it from a joke into a serious contender for quality motoring

Malaysians are not yet exposed to the Skoda brand and they will need some time to get to grips with what Skoda means and represents but when they do, the brand will start picking up fans the way Audi is doing right now.

Underpinning every Skoda is the mighty engineering resources of the Volkswagen-Audi Group and VAG is known for producing some of the best engineered vehicles in the mass and premium segment.

Monday 17 October 2011

VIDEO: Idiot hoses down interior of CLS



Apparently the car wash refused to wash the interior so the owner decided to show them how it is done.... priceless

Sunday 16 October 2011

VIDEO: Tesla Model S's huge 17-inch centre screen


2012 BMW 5-series get three turbocharged 4-cylinder and estate variant


New for the 2012 model year is a pair of 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four petrol engines delivering 184HP in the 520i and 245HP in the 528i, plus a four-cylinder diesel unit with the same displacement delivering 184HP on the 520d EfficientDynamics model.

The latter has a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration time of 8.2 seconds and a top speed of 231 km/h (144 mph), while recording an average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle of 4.5 lt/100 km (52.3mpg US or 62.8mpg UK) and CO2 emissions of 119 g/km.

More photos after the jump

Saturday 15 October 2011

ALBUM: Isuzu D-Max launched in Thailand

Isuzu may have officially ended their equity marriage to General Motors but these photos show that the new D-Max is a close cousin of the Chevrolet Colorado, in fact it was developed together with the American brand pick-up truck.

These are the launch pictures in Thailand recently. This is one of the biggest engineering project undertaken by GM Thailand.

More photos after the jump

VIDEO: Driver crash head on with police car




We are not sure where this happened but the police uniform suggest the former Soviet Union.

This video is a reminder just how easy it is to get in an accident, even at moderate speeds, and it is at a moderate speed since both police officers and the passenger of the Audi A4 walked out unscathed.

VIDEO: Huge crash at Nurburgring, 'Ring taxi involved


Friday 14 October 2011

Crashed: McLaren MP4-12C crashed pre-delivery

The McLaren MP4-12C is one of the most expensive supercar on the planet so when one is crashed, you can hear the owner's bank account scream.

Well it seems that this one was crashed by a McLaren staff while testing the car before delivery, check out the seat wrappers and protective plastic on the car.

according to the chap who uploaded the picture, the car crashed into one of his mates' car before slotting itself by this fence.

I hope the buyer will be notified and brand new chassis despatched to the buyer.


ALBUM: 2012 Chevrolet Colorado


2012 Chevrolet Colorado – HIGHLIGHTS

Overview

· GM Thailand’s largest-ever engineering and manufacturing program

· Total global program costs were $2 billion, including a $500 million investment to prepare GM Thailand’s Rayong manufacturing facility for Colorado production

VIDEO:BMW Singapore's strange switch campaign

We are not sure what is happening here, it looks like BMW Singapore changed one owner's car with another one fitted with BMW performance parts, it confused the owner but did she get to keep it? Watch the video to find out

VIDEO: Nissan squeezes GTR engine into Juke


VIDEO: Madness meets Art - car skips rope

High pressure hydraulics, plastic chain, a few willing friends and someone really good at video editing..and you get this ...a short production of a car skipping rope, too awesome and too stupid to describe, just enjoy, two more behind the scene videos showing alternate angles




Thursday 13 October 2011

Nissan GTR shames Lamborghini Aventador at dragstrip


European COTY finalist list released


The European COTY is considered one of the toughest with journalists from the continent bearing their opinion on the industry's offering for the year.

Last year the Nissan Leaf impressed judges with its ability to behave just like a normal car, despite having washing machine motors driving the wheels.

Euro COTY does tend to favour family sedans and hatchbacks so luxury and sports cars have very little chance of winning.

They have just released the list of 35 finalists, follow the jump to see the full line-up of great cars.

AMG prepping four-door Black C63, to challenge Ferrari FF?


Mercedes-Benz is still running the horsepower race with huge engines shoehorned into small cars.


This time they found a 6.3-litre engine that could be forced into the engine bay of the four-door C-Class and turn it into a Ferrari FF challenger as the fastest family transporter. This one actually has a boot but no all-wheel drive.

The four-door version is a further development of the coupe variant and is expected to match the two door for performance.


LOTUS: More F1 Points & More GT4 Success


More F1 Points & More GT4 Success Group Lotus presents something from the weekend….



FORMULA ONE – JAPANESE GRAND PRIX


Lotus Renault GP displayed some promising performance in Japan, which translated into two Championship points on Sunday.

Having been out of contention two weeks ago in Singapore, the team bounced back at Suzuka by getting both cars in the top ten in qualifying. Despite taking a bite out of the barriers on Saturday morning, Bruno Senna managed to claim P9 while team-mate Vitaly Petrov took P10..

Both drivers started on the medium compound tyre, while the other cars around them were on softs. The strategy meant the LRGP drivers had searing pace in the final quarter of the race, but for the start they were at a disadvantage. Petrov switched from medium rubber to soft on lap 39, his final pitstop, and was then unleashed to pass multiple cars and finish in ninth place. Senna suffered from traffic and tyre degradation and finished 16th.

Nissan Treasure Hunt Travels Up North


 The Nissan Treasure Hunt, an on-going event from Customer Relations Management (CRM) of Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM) is indeed an icon of sorts since its first inception in 1990’s. The hunt was successfully rolled out from July to September at Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Penang respectively.

Our recent hunt in Penang was on 10 September 2011, right after the festive season of Hari Raya. There were 32 anticipated teams including a representative from the local Media. After the brief of the game at Nissan 3S Centre in Butterworth, the participants spent hours of “hunting”, exploring around the town.

VIDEO: Proton transporter delivers hot cargo to Singapore

The Proton Transporter was a contest held for lucky Proton customers to watch the Singapore F1 night race with a bevy of beauties, Yasmin Hani, Jojo Struys and Diana Danielle.



The contest is called the Proton Transporter because the winner gets to drive three beautiful women down to Singapore and enjoy the race weekend with them.

This is the first video of the weekend, the drive down to Singapore

VIDEO: Nail biting finish of the Bathurst 1000km


This is what racing is about, a rookie battling an experienced driver for the chequered flag, after 1,000km, there was nothing between them. Endurance racing does not get any closer than this. Enjoy


In the end,  Toll Holden Racing Team's Garth Tander and Nick Percat won the 2011 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 in a thrilling last lap duel with TeamVodafone's Craig Lowndes.

Tander held off a hard-charging Lowndes to take the win by just 0.29 seconds, with pole sitter Greg Murphy in third.

Video after the jump

Alfa Romeo to build 300hp 1.8-liter Turbo Engine


Production Starts in 2013
Turbocharged small engines are advancing in great strides, they are now powering everything from compact sedans to luxury executive transports.

The Fiat Group will use Alfa Romeo to build a new turbocharged engine family, displacing 1.8-litre and capable of cranking up to 300 horses.

The Group revealed plans to produce a new four-cylinder gasoline direct injection turbo engine for Alfa Romeo at the firm's FMA plant in Pratola Serra in early 2013.

Rolls Royce gets special dragon collection for CNY




China is the fast becoming the biggest consumer of cars, especially top end luxury brands, no thanks to the explosion of wealth in the world's largest supplier of all things.

To welcome the new year, the year of the dragon, Rools Royce is preparing a new collection of cars festooned with the dragon motif.

2011 Malaysian MotoGP hillstand B and F sold out


MALAYSIAN MotoGP set to achieve record breaking numbers again this year

Tickets for F Grandstand and B Hillstand all sold out yesterday with only 8 days to go till the action heats up

THE Shell Advance Malaysian MotoGP is set to achieve record breaking numbers again after the organisers, Sepang International Circuit (SIC) announced that all F Grandstand and B Hillstand has been sold out by yesterday.

“As of the end of yesterday, we are pleased to announce that all the tickets for F Grandstand and B Hillstand have been sold out,” said SIC Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Razlan Razali.

Wednesday 12 October 2011

Lotus back on track in Suzuka


Lotus ambassador Jean Alesi was up at the crack of dawn to watch the Japanese Grand Prix



Lotus Renault GP got both cars in the top ten in qualifying, which must have come as a relief after all the head-scratching in Singapore?

It was uncomfortable to watch the pace in Singapore. They weren’t as competitive as they should have been, but things were back on track in Suzuka. Qualifying was impressive, and this is at one of the most demanding circuits ever built. So that’s encouraging but based on where they started I was disappointed with the result. Ninth and 16th: I expected a little better.

What did you make of the fact that neither driver drove a Q3 lap in order to save tyres?

Ducati Superquadro world debut in Sepang Circuit, Malaysia on Oct 20

Apart from this picture and the fact that it would be launched on Oct 20, we only know that it will power the Monster 795.

SNEAK PEEK OF THE NEW DUCATI MODEL: MONSTER 795



Next Bike Sdn Bhd, the official distributor for Ducati in Malaysia, has been bestowed with the honor of launching the latest Ducati’s model. The first global launch for Ducati in Malaysia, the new Monster is expected to be officially unveiled in the Asian Market this coming 20th October 2011 with Malaysia as the platform.

Malaysians will have the privilege of previewing the new model in the “Ducati Sneak Peek Box” that has been specially placed outside the LOT 10 Mall in Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. Members of the public would be able to have a glimpse of the stunning new model from now until its official unveiling.

Audi sets new sales record in September


Sales figures for AUDI AG continue to increase significantly in all regions of the world: The Company sold around 120,200 cars worldwide in September – 17.1 percent more than during the same month last year. Sales in Europe grew 9.0 percent to around 67,200 cars, driven primarily by high growth in the United Kingdom and in the Scandinavian markets. Audi experienced especially sharp growth in sales in the United States, up 19.3 percent, and in China: In its largest sales market, the Ingolstadt-based company once again significantly accelerated its growth and, with sales of around 29,500 cars, exceeded sales for September of last year by 33.2 percent.

PROTON COMES WITHIN 1.2 SECONDS OF WINNING FIRST SPECIAL STAGE IN THE IRC




PROTON’s PG Andersson drove to a strong 12th place overall and 11th amongst the contenders in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) at the end of a heatedly contested leg 1 in Rally Scotland.

Running as high as third overall in the early stages of the three-day rally, the Satria Neo S2000, at the hands of Andersson, had also come within 1.2 seconds of  claiming the fastest time over the 8.36km second special stage.


Castrol Edge is now stronger



Lubricant specialist Castrol, has improved on their Edge line of high performance engine oil to be even stronger with what they call Titanium Fluid Strength Technology.

The lubricant is designed to protect modern engines that operate under higher pressures than ever before and where every drive is a test of an engine oil’s strength.

Petronas Xtra challenge kicks off


Oil company targets 300 motorists in seven-leg challenge



 Contests and customer participation is one of the best ways to highlight the features of any product and as part of its efforts to further boost product understanding and appreciation, Petronas Dagangan Berhad (PDB) kick-started the next phase of the Petronas Primax 95 Xtra campaign with the Petronas Xtra Challenge.

VIDEO: teaser of Clarkson's latest project...Powered Up

Jeremy Clarkson has the talent of stringing together unlikely combination of words to make any car sound interesting, if not flattering.
Well he is at it again with his new DVD project, Powered Up. Basically he takes a collection of fun cars and trash it around the Paul Ricard test track in France, he even got Karun Chandok to join him in the fun

Toyota production in Thailand unaffected by flood


While Toyota's manufacturing facilities at Samrong, Gateway and Ban Pho are not affected by the heavy flooding afflicting Thailand, some suppliers are facing difficulty delivering parts on time.

However this is not affecting Toyota productions in Thailand.

Read the full Press release after the jump



NAZA KIA MALAYSIA TAKES TEST DRIVE KIA ON TOUR 2011 TO THE CURVE


Naza Kia Malaysia Sdn Bhd, the official distributor of Kia Motors vehicles in Malaysia, will host the final leg of its hugely popular Test Drive Kia on Tour 2011 roadshow in Petaling Jaya, Selangor this week.

The five-day roadshow will be held from Oct 12 to Oct 16 at The Curve in Mutiara Damansara .

The roadshow at the Curve is the final leg of Naza Kia Malaysia’s Test Drive Kia on Tour 2011 which began in May at the One Utama Shopping Centre in Kuala Lumpur before moving to Penang in August and Johor Bahru in September.

Proton denies Genii Capital is negotiating to buy Lotus

In the past few days, some websites have been carrying stories that Genii Capital, the company that currently owns the Renault F1 team is working on a deal to buy out a majority stake in Group Lotus.

In response to this story, Proton issued a short and sternly worded Media Statement denying the speculation.

The statement said: "PROTON hereby states that the alleged moves between Group Lotus and GENII Capital are untrue and that the news are highly speculative in nature.

Toyota opens RM200 million Integrated Quality Hub

Accessories Fitment Centre
As the largest non-national carmaker in Malaysia, UMW Toyota deals with some 90-100,000 cars a year  but despite the significant volume they want to be able to respond quickly to customer request for special equipment or specifications.

The Integrated Quality Hub at the Bukit Raja Industrial Park near Klang Northport is their answer to the dual demands of volume manufacturing and customisation.

More photos and Press Release after the jump.

Tuesday 11 October 2011

GRAHAM CARMICHAEL APPOINTED AS VOLVO’S NEW SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR



Volvo Car Malaysia has appointed Graham Carmichael as its Sales and Marketing Director, who has assumed the position effective from early September 2011.

In his new position, Graham would be managing all aspects of Volvo Car Malaysia’s sales and marketing. He will also be responsible for strategising and developing business plans in alignment with the leading automobile’s business goals.

In a company statement, Volvo Car Malaysia’s President Mr Goran Larsson said the appointment underlined the next level of growth for the company to serve needs of its customers here in Malaysia. “Graham brings with him a wealth of experience in the industry, which I am certain we can leverage on to strengthen the business here in Malaysia.

Perodua invests in Melaka


Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh, Chairman of Perodua Sales
Sdn Bhd signing the agreement with Puan Hajjah Zaleha Bujang,
Board Member of Yayasan Melaka  witnessed by YBhg.
Datuk Tahir Hassan, Vice President of
Yayasan Melaka and Encik Sharabuddin Kudus,
 General Manager of Yayasan Melaka


 Perodua inked a deal which will see it invest between RM17 and RM22 million in an extensive new regional office, training centre, stockyard, service centre and sales outlet.

The national car company acquired a 1.77 hectare land at Kota Hang Tuah Jaya in Ayer Keroh for this purpose.

The purchase price of the property is about RM7.7 million and Perodua will design the new facility to incorporate the culture, tradition and history of Melaka, Perodua Managing Director Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh said at the signing ceremony with Yayasan Melaka.

NASIM TO LAUNCH THE ALL-NEW PEUGEOT 508


Record breaking sales in the first nine months of the year

It has been a record-breaking year for Nasim Sdn Bhd and to put icing on the cake, they are planning to launch the highly acclaimed 508 executive sedan later this month.

The 508 is highly anticipated by brand fans and those looking for an alternative to the usual Japanese executive sedan and this late October launch will certainly capture their attention.

The 508 is not a straight D-segment sedan, it is actually designed to be in between the D and E-segment, a D-Plus sedan, if the category exists.


Mazda 2 now comes with touchscreen infotainment centre console


Mazda is reaching out to customers and listening to their wish list for the different models that are on offer.


While customers are generally happy with the Zoom-Zoom fun driving characteristics of Mazda cars, some want more in terms of in car entertainment and convenience.

In response to this, Bermaz Motor Sdn Bhd  is offering the smallest model in their range, the Mazda 2 with a touch screen infotainment centre in the centre console.



Test Drive: Mazda 8, theZoom zoom MPV


Size does matter but in the case of the Mazda 8, bulk doesn’t mean boring



The boom of the Multi-Purpose Vehicle has continued since the mid 1980s so we can safely say that it is not a passing fad.

With more than two decades of MPV season it is only fair for us to expect carmakers to have figured out how to make the people carrier more fun, after all, when all is done, customers always want more fun.

The sad fact is that to this day there are no MPVs that are fun to drive. Well actually that is not true, the Mercedes-Benz R63 AMG was a mad mad MPV that is a hoot and a half to drive but it also costs a king’s ransom and since my family is unconvinced of my royal lineage they were not willing to cough up the money for one.

Anyway, in the real world, there are no MPVs that are fun to drive.

The rest of the review after the jump

BMW Dangles 19% Discounts as China’s Luxury Market Cools: Cars


Source Bloomberg
China is turning into a buyer’s market for luxury cars as dealers for Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW), Daimler AG (DAI) and Volkswagen AG (VOW)’s Audi offer discounts to maintain sales as demand cools.
In Beijing, BMW dealerships are giving markdowns of as much as 19 percent on a 3-series car, while some Mercedes dealers are selling the C-Class Elegance model at 20 percent less than the suggested retail price, according to cheshi.com, a pricing guide tracking more than 3,000 dealers in the country.


Mitsubishi launches ASX Special Edition


This sportier package is limited to just 50 units


The ASX is a nice little crossover and quite popular among those who want a vehicle that stands out in terms of design as well as stature and to celebrate the first anniversary of the model in Malaysia Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia, the importer and distributor of Mitsubishi vehicles in Malaysia, launched the Mitsubishi ASX Special Edition earlier this week.

The ASX Special Edition is based on the fully imported ASX compact cross-over model and is limited to just 50 units.