Tuesday, 14 February 2012

Mercedes Benz tie up with Mille Miglia Museum

This is what the inside of the Mille Miglia museum looks like

Mercedes-Benz and Mille Miglia are synonymous, the SL bearing number 722 and Stirling Moss is the very image of the classic Brescia-Rome-Brescia race.

The first collaboration will be a display of five vehicles and it goes on display today at the Mille Miglia Museum in Brescia.


Mille Miglia Museum in Brescia
“Mercedes-Benz is part of the high level of continued fascination with the Mille Miglia road race,” says Michael Bock, Head of Mercedes-Benz Classic and Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz Museum GmbH.

“This collaboration with the renowned museum in Brescia ties in with a tradition of joint projects.” And Cavaliere Attilio Camozzi from the Museo Mille Miglia adds: “Brescia and Stuttgart, the Museo della Mille Miglia and the Mercedes-Benz Museum – both are linked by art and a shared passion for motorsport. This is the basis for a partnership with a great future: sport as the ideal ambassador for economic progress and enrichment of the social life in both cities. Together we are strong.”

Not Selling Lotus...

Well, that is to say no decision have yet to be made to sell the iconic British sportscar maker and automotive engineeering powerhouse.

Apparently all this talk of being sold have hit morale in Norwich and Proton Managing Director, Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Tahir made assurances that they are still committed to Lotus, but it all depends on what the new shareholders have to say about it.

Of course the real fate of Lotus will depend very much on what the new owners have to say and DRB-Hicom is expected to pass all the administrative hurdles by March.

Repeated queries to DRB about Proton has been met with the same answer, they will make the decisions after completing the purchase and receiving full information about Proton and all its businesses.

Meanwhile in Europe it appears as if Lotus chief, Danny Bahar is already making alternative plans, evidenced by various reports that he is looking for a new investor in the company.

We will keep you posted on the latest development in Proton-DRB as it happens.

We have excerpts from the Malaysian Insider's story with Syed Zainal


Shootout Video: Autocar UK pits the GT-R against F10 BMW M5

I bet you will be surprised with the test results. There are five tests and just for fun try to guess the score before watching the video....



Audi teases the RS4


  • V8 powerplant with 450 hp, 430 Nm (317.15 lb-ft)
  • High-performance brakes with wave discs
  • Unique combination of dynamics and everyday practicality


Audi's latest humdinger, the RS4 was introduced to the world through a Press Release issued late last night  and interestingly, it appears as a station wagon first.

This 450 hp beast features iconic quattro-style wheel arch flares which makes it look aggressive but still mature and sophisticated.

The 4.2-litre FSI engine is hand-built in Gyor, Hungary and it gets a red-painted cylinder head just in case any mechanic dares to forget that this is no regular soccer mom transport.

It gets seven-speed S-tronic gearbox and launch control so it is a matter of time before we see video shootouts of this car and the Nissan GT-R, like we did with the M5... and we all know how that turned out.

The quattro all-wheel drive system can vary the front-rear power distribution immediately  with up to 70 per cent going to the front and as much as 85 per cent can be sent to the rear wheels.

Full details and lots of photos and Press Release after the jump

Malaysia F1 season kicks off

Here are some pictures of the launch of the Formula One season in Malaysia this year. Tun Dr Mahathir helped to kick off the festivities, as he has always done since the first race.




To see the full album, please click HERE



Naza hosts glittering preview of Ducati Diavel AMG


  • The Special Edition Ducati Diavel AMG is open to orders and are retailing at RM193,999.

DIVA ON A DIAVEL: Datuk Siti Nurhaliza checking out the Ducati Diavel at
the preview in Bangsar
The Ducati Diavel is one special bike and the AMG version is doubly so. Many have been waiting to see the special edition machine and some are just itching to get their cheque books out.

On Friday, Naza hosted fans of the brand and the public to a preview of the machine at the Ducati AMG Performance Centre in Bangsar.

After the jump we have more pictures and a Press Release about the event.




PRESS RELEASE

Kuala Lumpur, 10 February 2011 - Following the first public showing at the 64th International Motor Show in Frankfurt by Ducati and Mercedes AMG last September, the Ducati Diavel AMG officially arrives in Malaysia.

The Ducati Diavel AMG preview unit was specially flown in and is displayed at the Ducati AMG Performance Centre in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.

“The Ducati Diavel AMG is the result of a great collaboration of two global brands that offers a great choice of greater products” according to Joint Group Executive Chairman, Datuk Wira SM Faisal Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin.

Ducati’s unique cooperation with Mercedes AMG was first announced at the 2010 Los Angeles Motor Show with a sponsorship agreement for the Ducati MotoGP Team which perfectly demonstrated the shared brand values of high performance, motorsport and excitement. The association soon developed into a rich strategy of co-marketing activities and the Diavel AMG Special Edition represents the first “co-inspired” model, elegantly combining distinctive styling features from both famous marquees.

Based upon the Diavel Carbon, the 2012 flagship model of the Diavel family features AMG’s signature 5-spoke wheel styling, carbon fibre lateral radiator grills with aluminium trim, AMG-style sport exhaust system with engraved end-caps and AMG-style horizontally ribbed seat upholstered in Alcantara®.


The model’s incredible attention to performance detail also ensures that every engine has its Desmodromic cam-timing set by hand and authenticated with the name of the engine technician engraved on the left-side engine casing.

Further underlining the model’s exclusivity, each motorcycle will have a numbered plaque on the fuel tank.

The award-winning Ducati Diavel has had massive first-year success for the Italian motorcycle manufacturer, its bold design merging the worlds of power and style with absolute precision to set a new industry standard for the segment. Ducati’s awesome Testastretta 11° engine combined with their famous chassis technology and a specially engineered 240 section rear tyre delivers mind-blowing performance balanced with user-friendly comfort and safety-enhancing electronics.

Hand-built - as with all Ducati motorcycles - the exclusive new Diavel AMG Special Edition is dressed in matte black carbon fibre bodywork with AMG’s very own “Diamond White Bright” stripe and frame colour contrasted with black wheels. The special edition wheels, seat and exhaust end-caps are all AMG branded while “AMG” is also laser-engraved into the air-duct panels either side of the fuel tank. The Ducati Diavel AMG Special Edition and exclusively designed leather jacket and helmet apparel has also available in early 2012.

Datuk Wira SM Faisal added "At NAZA we are a leading premium provider that represents both the Ducati and AMG brands through our extensive dealerships and networks of Ducati and Mercedes-Benz"

"Our unique disposition further allows the two brands to offer this global tie up here in Malaysia" he further added.

The Special Edition Ducati Diavel AMG is open to orders and are retailing at RM193,999.

SCOOP: Full info of the P3-21A - to include on-board mobile internet

All info leaked by Blog Proton Sales 

Now we know that the Yes 4G box set up in front of Lot 10 shopping centre is to prepare the market for an internet capable Proton and according to this list of options, the P3 will enjoy Yes 4G mobile internet with nationwide coverage (not sure if Yes is nationwide for now)

Accessories 
  1. Auto fold/unfold side mirror –
  2. Auto Off Rear Demister – 
  3. Follow Home Lamp
  4. Headlamp Warning Buzzer
  5. Trunk Remote Release
  6. Front & rear socket 12V – 
  7. Front & Rear Fog Lamp
  8. Anti-Trap Power Windor 
  9. Seat Material – 
  10. Smart Info Display (SID) –
  11. Autolock & advance lock system
  12. Magnisium Inside Door Handle
  13. Keyless Entry – 
  14. BOSCH Head-Unit – 
  15. YES WiFi Modem – 
  16. S Mode (Sport) – 
  17. BCM – 
SAFETY :
  1. 4 Wheel ABS & EBD with 4 Wheel Disc Brake
  2. TC (Traction Control)
  3. ESC (Electronic Stability Control)
  4. BA (Braking Assist)
  5. 4 AIRBAG – 
  6. 5 STARS Australia NCAP –
DIMENSION
Length = 4.543m
Width = 1.786m
Height = 1.524m
CHASSIS
Boot Space: 508 litre
Turning Radius: 5.3m
Full Tank Capacity: 50 litre
Aerodynamic (rintangan angin): Cd Factor = 0.30
POWERTRAIN
1.6 CFE with 7speed Pro-Tronic CVT3 (VVT)
0-100km/h: 9.6 saat
- Untuk perbandingan, Kia Forte 1.6 12.5 saat
VARIANT
Executive MT, 1.6 IAFM+ 5-Speed MT
Executive CVT, 1.6 IAFM+ 6-Speed CVT
Premuim CVT, 1.6 CFE 7-Speed CVT
COLOR
Solid White
Tranquility Black
Genetic Silver
Fire Red 
Blue Lagoon
PRICE
RM65,000 – RM75,000

Auto Cruise
Keyless Push Start (ON/OFF) 
Magnesium Paddle Shift 7-speed & Manual Mode (+/-) di gear column
Audio Switch Steering Control
Soft touch plastic dashboard
Emblem at Steering Wheel 
ISOFIX
Rain Sensor
Light Sensor
Front LED day light 
Sport Rim 16″ (10 Spoke)
Multi-link rear suspension