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Naza-Brabus, official Brabus distributor in Malaysia and Singapore, has recently announced the availability of the Brabus GL 63 BiTurbo luxury SUV for sale. Sporting a 650hp 6.2-litre V8, the luxury SUV is capable of a top speed of 300kph.

Sitting in the engine room is Mercedes-AMG’s 6,208cc M156 V8 extensively reworked by Brabus. From AMG, the naturally aspirated M156 produces between 503 and 525hp depending on model. Brabus went on to bolt two turbochargers, upping the ante to 650hp. Maximum torque of 850Nm is available from 3,000rpm upwards to 5,500rpm.

The two turbos are the product of Brabus’ own custom development, featuring special cast exhaust manifolds with integrated turbine housings and bypass valves. To eliminate turbo lag, Brabus limited the turbos to a small size, and each manifold draws exhaust gases from only three out of four cylinders on each bank.

Brabus also swapped the original pistons from AMG with their own forged units, reducing the engine’s compression ratio to 9.0:1, a necessary modification to ensure turbocharger compatibility. Recommended lubrication is that of synthetic Aral high-performance motor oil. The engine is claimed to be compliant to Euro IV emission standards, but bear in mind that our petrol is not of Euro IV standard, so I don’t expect that to be valid in the Malaysian market.

Paired to the engine is a modified version of Merc’s SPEEDSHIFT 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission channeling power to all four wheels. En route to its 300kph top speed, the GL 63 is claimed to demolish the century sprint in 4.7 seconds.

Also available from Brabus is the Widestar version of the GL 63, which adds 6cm to the GL’s width. It features a wind-tunnel-shaped front apron designed to minimize front end lift. Additional features include LED daytime running lights and four auxiliary headlamps.

In the wheelarches, customers can specify a wide variety of wheel and tyre combination from 21″ to 23″ rims, with Pirelli or Yokohama high-performance tyres available at sizes up to 305/30 R23.

Brabus also suitably uprated the GL’s suspension and braking system to handle the additional juice of the BiTurbo. Tweaking of the Airmatic suspension had ride height lowered by 30mm, while the brakes are now high-performance items from Brabus. In front are 380mm 12-piston cross-drilled and vented discs while the rear gets slightly smaller 355mm six-piston discs.

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The EON Bank Group, as of 2009 the third largest car financier in the country, stepped up their marketing efforts for 2010 with the launching of a year-long campaign dubbed Super Cash, which entitles customers participation into a cash prize lucky draw.

The contest is eligible to all customers with approved and disbursed financing for ANY car hire-purchase throughout the group, with a minimum loan amount of RM50k spread over a repayment tenure between three and nine years.

There will be two half-yearly draws – once in July, and once more at the campaign’s conclusion. For the first draw, customers stand to win a first prize of RM28,888, a second prize of RM8,888 or one of five third prizes of RM1,888. Customers signing up during the first half of the year also qualify for the second draw, which offers a grand prize of RM88,888 and 12 other cash prizes worth a total of more than RM56,000. In addition, consolation prizes of EON Bank’s personalised Touch N’ Go and Smart Tags are also thrown into the mix.

“This year we want customers looking for car financing to remember EON Bank as The Preferred Malaysian Bank, for two reasons,” said Michael Lor, EON Bank Group’s Chief Executive Officer.

“Speedy approval is paramount to car buyers and we have the fastest approval in the country with our AM/PM turnaround, so if you submit your car financing application in the morning with the relevant documents, you will actually have it approved in the afternoon. The second reason is that we are putting cash into customers’ pockets with our Super Cash campaign,” Lor added.

“Our past hire purchase campaigns have always been very well received as customers are assured of rewards they can truly appreciate, while enjoying our speedy approvals. We are confident that this year, with the Super Cash campaign, we will meet our 2010 target of RM4billion in disbursements,” explained Lor.

In 2009, EON Bank was able to attract 41,000 hire-purchase applications during the period from April to September 2009 with its ‘HP 0% Interest Rate’ campaign. That period saw EON Bank disburse loan amounts worth over RM1.4b, and thus making them the country’s third largest car financier with a loan base of RM11b.

“With great campaigns, promotions and new products in store for 2010, we are firmly on track to becoming The Preferred Malaysian Bank! This Super Cash campaign is yet another example of the great things our customers can expect from us,” said Lor

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Shortly after announcing its appointment of Quill Motorcars as the official dealer of Rolls-Royce in Malaysia, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars yesterday officially unveiled the Ghost four-door ‘super-luxury saloon’.

Based on the 200EX concept car showcased at Geneva 2009, Ghost (RR press materials specifically omitted the ‘the’ in front of the model’s name) is set to spawn a new family of Rollers separate from the Phantom family.

A media preview took place at the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Kuala Lumpur showroom in Petaling Jaya. Speaking at the preview, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Asia Pacific Regional Director Colin Kelly said, “Ghost is a more informal design that broadens the appeal of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, combining refinement, new technology, and contemporary style. It bears all the hallmarks of other Rolls-Royce cars, using the finest wood and leather materials and employing manufacturing standards which are no different to Phantom. Ghost will be built-to-order.”

The chief selling point for a car like Ghost, and Rolls-Royce in general, is an obsessive attention to detail which leaves no stone unturned in the quest to build a flawless automobile. While most manufacturers consider consistent alignment of panels to be ‘attention to detail’, RR takes it to the point where the bulls from which their leather are sourced are raised in pastures free of barbed wire just so that there are ‘fewer imperfections in the leather’. Consistent panel alignment is just another item in a lengthy list.

In the Rolls-Royce hierarchy, Ghost sits a rung below the Phantom, and it is styled to reflect that. As per RR’s spin, Ghost is said to incorporate the marque’s classic design cues, but portraying a less formal air than its bigger brother.

Nowhere is that trademark attention to detail more obvious than in the plush cabin. You get into the rear through rear-hinged doors that open as wide as 83 degrees, and then close them at the touch of a button. The panorama sunroof helps fill the cabin with natural light, but our suspicion is that Malaysian customers will have the roof closed during daylight.

On the move, Ghost is designed to ensure that its occupants are shielded from any harshness outside. The rear seats are deliberately placed behind the C-pillars for the purpose of privacy – something that most Rolls-Royce customers undoubtedly cherish. In the face of such perfection, details as mundane as quad-zone climate control barely even deserve mention.

We know that 20% of this car comes from BMW’s F01 7-series. Its electronics are carried over almost untouched from Munich, but this is not something we will begrudge Rolls-Royce for. Though the centre console displays graphics that unerringly resemble the iDrive, its control switches appear to exude an unmistakable aura of prestige and luxury each time you flick them.

Excellence continues at the mechanical level, starting with the steel monocoque chassis. The suspension is setup for a ride of unparalleled comfort using double-wishbone front and multi-link rear architecture. It uses air springs with electronic variable damping, able to raise or lower the car by 25mm. Also incorporated into the chassis are various electronic driving aids packaged into what is called the Integrated Chassis Management system.

Powering Ghost is a new 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12 engine producing 563hp @ 5,250rpm and a staggering 780Nm @ 1,500rpm, sent to the aftwards by an 8-speed ZF-sourced automatic transmission. Rolls-Royce claims that Ghost will do the century sprint in 4.7 seconds, and will consume fuel at a rate of 13.6 litres/100km.

Speaking about the car’s commercial prospects in Malaysia, Dato’ Michael Ong, Managing Director for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Kuala Lumpur said, “Ghost is receiving a healthy interest in Malaysia and I have no doubt that this car will be a success in Malaysia with its unique blend of effortless dynamism.”

Brenda Pek, General Manager for South East Asia Pacific added, “I expect Ghost to have strong demand in Malaysia, as well as attract a broader set of buyers who have not considered a Rolls-Royce before.”

As Ghost is a highly customizable built-to-order vehicle with endless possible spec combination, putting a fixed price on print is not possible, though the manufacturer’s suggested retail price is in the region of RM2.6 million exclusive of taxes, insurance, and all the relevant bureaucracy fees.

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Earlier today, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between auto parts supplier New Hoong Fatt Holdings Bhd (NHF) and the Road Safety Department to pave the way for a partnership to develop and implement road safety programmes for NHF employees. Signatures on the MoU were from Mr Chin Jit Sin, MD of NHF, and Datuk Suret Singh, Director General of the Road Safety Department.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr Chin said, “NHF has more than 1,000 employees, a large number of whom are motorcyclists. Over the last few years, there has been an increase in the number of our employees involved in road accidents. This trend alarms us and we decided to take a positive step by collaborating with the Road Safety Department to promote road safety among our employees to help reduce the number of road accidents.”

Indeed, NHF was stung into action by recent losses of two employees to road accidents. Production operator Mohamad Zaimey Zin bin Ahmad perished in 3 June 2009 due to severe head injuries from an accident, while Ahmad Usman bin Jayasalam is suffering from 30-40% permanent paralysis / disablement in his left limbs due a road accident that took place on 11 Dec 2008, when he was only 19.

“We believe that through education, accidents can be prevented and lives can be saved, and we are thankful to Datuk Suret and his team for helping us drive him this road safety message to our employees. As a responsible employer, NHF takes every precaution in our work processes to ensure the safety of our employees. Signing this MoU with the Road Safety Department takes our commitment to safety to the next level,” elaborated Mr Chin.

At the signing ceremony, NHF distributed reflective jackets to its motorcycle-riding employees while the Road Safety Department presented them with crash helmets. As part of the mooted cooperation, the Road Safety Department will be conducting a road safety talk for NHF employees ahead of the upcoming Chinese New Year travel season.

Explaining his department’s motives in supporting NHF’s cause, Datuk Suret said, “The Road Safety Department’s vision is ‘zero death resulting from road accidents’. In signing this MoU with NHF, we are one step closer to fulfilling this vision. Our role is to educate and increase the level of awareness of road safety amongst the public. Through advocacy programmes and collaboration with caring corporations such as NHF, we hope to achieve this vision.”

At the ceremony, Datuk Suret also took the opportunity to deliver the message to all road users that the Road Safety Department will continue to step up their efforts in cultivating safe road practices both in the aspect of education and also enforcement.

In fact, he specifically noted that come May 2010, a total of 1,000 traffic cameras, electronic and automated, will be deployed throughout the nation to catch traffic offenders with the primary focus on speeding and traffic light violation. Some of these cameras will be fixed, and some mobile. These cameras are said to be of sufficiently high resolution to be able to photograph both the car and the offender’s face.

Writer’s Note:

I personally admire the tenacity of Datuk Suret and the Road Safety Dept in tackling the issue of road safety for the country. They lack of neither passion nor initiative in their championing of the cause, and that deserves praise.

Road users are told in no uncertain terms that they need to eliminate practices such as using of mobile phones, cutting of queues, beating red lights, improper fastening of seat belts or helmets, overtaking on double white lines, and speeding.

I am in complete agreement with all of the above, except for speeding. No doubt, saying ‘speed kills’ is the politically correct thing to do, but that’s not the whole truth. Speed on its own does not kill, it’s the difference of speeds between colliding bodies that does the damage. A car doing 50 in a 110 zone is equally as dangerous as one doing 150.

Another problem with strictly enforced speed limits is that rather than keeping their eyes on the road, where the real action is, drivers have to constantly cast anxious glances at the speedometer to ensure that it doesn’t pop over 110.

Speed limits in congested areas are fine, because people certainly shouldn’t be doing triple-digits around the schools or the neighbourhood, but on the highways, there needs to be some flexibility. Anybody has accident statistics of the autobahn?

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Kuala Lumpur, 28 January 2010 – Volvo Car Malaysia topped up its model line-up with the unveiling of its V5 model today. The V50 is a sporty-looking wagon that complements the Volvo S40 Sedan.

Mr. Goran Larsson, Volvo Car Malaysia President, said, “It’s classy, timeless and engineered to live up to the expectations of adventurous buyers looking for a practical, versatile wagon that’s designed for activity, and for the active.”

The V50 comes with the same mechanicals as the S40, i.e. a two litre DOHC engine, a six-speed automatic transmission with Geartronic (read as manual shift option), and shift lock (read as lock-up clutch) to provide fun in driving, while keeping fuel consumption down. The new automatic transmission features a dual-clutch system that is more efficient while providing seamless gearshifts.

The move to a 2.0 litre engine is in line with the trend amongst major car makers to downsize engines and reduce fuel consumption plus reduce emissions.

As usual with Volvo cars, safety is built into the car, and the list includes BLIS (Blind Spot Information System), DSTC (Dynamic Stability Traction Control), and Dual Xenon lights. In addition, there is SIPS (Side Impact Protection System) WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System), in addition to the seatbelts and head restraints.

“ Volvo adopts a holistic view of safety that encompasses both preventive and protective safety and in line with this, our vision is that by 2020, no one should be killed or injured in a Volvo,” concluded Larsson.

Retail price is RM 185,950 (OTR without insurance), and test drives are available from today onwards in Klang Valley, while other locations will have the V50 available for test drive from 1st February onwards.

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Peugeot plans to go big in ASEAN, and by virtue of its partnership with local outfit Nasim Sdn Bhd, Malaysia has been selected as the marque’s manufacturing hub for right-hand drive markets in Asia. Of course, those of us following developments of the auto industry are only too used to grand pledges by manufacturers that, after lifting our hopes, end up being undelivered.

Nevertheless, as a demonstration of its serious intent, Peugeot sent a figure of great importance within their hierarchy to deliver their message. The man they sent was none other than Mr Nicholas Wertans, the company’s deputy managing director, on a two-day visit to Malaysia.

Yesterday, Mr Wertans hosted a media briefing along with CEO of Nasim Sdn Bhd, En SM Nasarudin SM Nasimudin, to unveil the brand’s new identity in Malaysia and also to share with us Peugeot and Nasim’s plans for the not too distant future.

Opening the press conference, Nasarudin noted, “We are confident we can make Malaysia Peugeot’s industrial hub for the region. I believe we have only touched the surface of the Peugeot brand’s potential in Malaysia and the region.”

“For this year, we are planning to launch four new models and targeting to sell close to 3,000 units,” he added, also saying that the strategy is now to position Peugeot as an ‘accessible premium brand’.

As mentioned in a report we carried last week, Peugeot’s rebranding exercise is inline with the French marque’s strategy to move themselves three places up in the ranking of carmakers from tenth to seventh by 2015. Central to that strategy is a new product offensive that will see no less than 14 all-new models being launched from now to 2012.

Symbolizing the brand’s renewed market assault is a new brand identity, which includes a new Lion, a new logo typeface, and a new motto – Motion & Emotion, with the ‘O’s visually enlarged to resemble wheels. In Malaysia, Nasim plans to have their entire network inline with the new branding by the end of this year, while Peugeot themselves expect full implementation worldwide to be completed by 2012.

“Since 1810, Peugeot has associated its name, and later its Lion emblem, to saws, tools steel crinoline stays, coffee grinders, bicycles, motorcycles, scooters, and cars.

“To each of this worlds, Peugeot has brought passion and innovation, while laying emphasis on its industrial origins based in particular. On strong 200 years later, Peugeot affirms its international ambition by launching a new marque project,” said Mr Wertans.

At the media briefing, we were shown a number of Peugeot’s planned products both for this region, and worldwide. We can tell you right now that the recently launched 3008 and 5008 is set to enter our market this year. The RCZ coupe, on which the new Lion is set to debut, will also be making its way here shortly after its global launch. A strong statement of intent, surely.

Other models set for launching in our shores this year include the 308CC and the new T33 sedan, widely accepted to be the 207 Sedan, a model with underpinnings from the 206, though its naming for the Malaysian market has yet to be finalized. Production is set to commence in Gurun during the latter half of the year, with Thailand and Indonesia already earmarked as export destinations.

A couple of other models were also shown to us which are not yet planned for the Malaysian market. They include the SR1, a vehicle still being designated as a concept, but said to be seriously considered for series production. Whether or not we will be seeing SR1s running on the roads, its styling cues will definitely be seen sprinkled all over Peugeot’s cars coming up over the next decade.

One model worth looking at is the T73 sedan, which was being unveiled in China as the 408 the same time that the first official images were being shown to us. Now, don’t mis-understand, this is not a 407 replacement. Its underpinnings are in fact based on the 308, which it greatly resembles. At this stage, plans are not in place for the T73 to come to Malaysia, but don’t bet against it. Peugeot designed this car to compete in various markets around the world, to go head on with C-segment competitors.

However, the one that we’d really want to see coming is the BB1 concept car, which Mr Wertans revealed was greenlighted for production a mere days ago. Fully electric, the BB1 is a what Peugeot calls the ‘crossroads between the worlds of the two-and-four-wheel vehicle’. Built on a tubular chassis, the BB1 sits four passengers and measures a mere 2.5 metres long. Propulsion is provided by a pair of electric motors mounted in the rear wheels.

In 2009, Nasim sold 3,766 Peugeot cars comprising of 2,347 units of the 206 Bestari, 885 units of the 308, 491 units of the 407, and 43 units of the 207CC. Even discounting the sales contributions of the 206, Nasim’s sales of Peugeot cars still amounted to a seven-fold increase from 2008.

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For the third successive year, the country’s best selling car is now also the best quality compact car, according to J.D. Power at least. The Perodua Myvi finished top in the Compact Car segment for J.D. Power Asia Pacific’s 2009 Malaysia Initial Quality Study. Topping the survey outright is the rugged Isuzu D-Max pickup, while the likes of the Honda City, Toyota Corolla Altis, and Toyota Innova also returned results that were above industry average, beating rivals in their respective segments.

Now in its seventh year, results for the 2009 edition of the study were compiled based on feedback from 2,874 owners of new vehicles purchased between Sept 2008 and May 2009. Participants of the survey, which owned a combined 52 different models, were interviewed from March 2009 to July 2009, and were asked to provide feedback 200 problem symptoms covering eight vehicle components: vehicle exterior; driving experience; features/controls/displays; audio/entertainment/navigation; seats; HVAC; vehicle interior; and engine/transmission.

From the gathered feedback, the various models were then ranked against each other by the self descriptive term problems reported per 100 vehicles (PP100). The industry average for Malaysia is 136 PP100 in 2009. That’s not very good from a consumer perspective, as it means that on average, something is bound to be faulty when you take home a new car.

The results by segment, extracted from J.D. Power’s website, are as follows:

Compact Car Segment

3qtr front R5

1. Perodua Myvi (127 PP100)
2. Proton Savvy (154 PP100)
3. Perodua Viva (186 PP100).

Entry Midsize Car Segment (B-segment)

city

1. Honda City (76 PP100)
2. Toyota Vios (107 PP100)
3. Proton Saga (158 PP100)

Midsize Car Segment (C-segment)


1. Toyota Corolla Altis (80 PP100)
2. Honda Civic (103 PP100)
3. Nissan Sylphy (109 PP100)

MPV/Van Segment


1. Toyota Innova (85 PP100)
2. Nissan Grand Livina (89 PP100)
3. Toyota Avanza (100 PP100).

Pickup Segment

DSC_0457a

1. Isuzu D-Max (66 PP100)
2. Toyota Hilux (94 PP100)
3. Mitsubishi Triton (101 PP100).

Perodua comments

Yesterday, Perodua issued a press release announcing their recipient of the IQS results from J.D. Power. At a prize presentation held in Perodua HQ, Rawang, J.D. Power Asia Pacific GM Taku Kimoto said, “For the customers, good fuel efficiency is the main reason to purchase a Myvi in addition some (respondents) quoted the attractiveness of the design and the roominess of the cabin.

PIX 1

Since its launch in May 2005, the Myvi has went on to be the country’s top seller with over 378,000 units sold since. In 2009, it once again topped the nation’s sales charges with some 91,000 units sold.

Also present to receive the award from J.D. Power was Perodua MD En Aminar Rashid Salleh, who said, “This is a very proud day for us as the Perodua brand has earned the trust of the Malaysian public yet again. On behalf of Perodua I would like to thank all Malaysians for choosing Myvi as their car of choice.”

KON

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In anticipation of the planned introduction of Euro 4 Diesel in 2012, which is just around the corner, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia brought in one unit of their current C Class fitted with their latest fourth generation 2.1 litre common rail diesel engine. This car/engine configuration is exactly what is sold in Europe at the moment, so it is not unproven technology, so to speak. The reason why it cannot be sold here is that this engine cannot run on our present Euro 2 diesel available here.

The Mercedes-Benz 250 CDI that was presented to me for a test drive was introduced in 2008, and replaces the previous 2.2 litre diesel. Being of compact dimensions and light in weight, this engine is designed to be fitted for front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive vehicles; basically the B-Class and the C Class segment cars. Just as a point in passing, as high as 80 percent of all cars sold in Europe are diesels.

The new CDI engine has a capacity of 2,143 cubic centimeters, but is named the 250 CDI, I suppose for the sake of differentiating it from the similarly-sized engine it replaces; the new engine produces a whopping 204 horsepower at 4,200 rpm, and a staggering 500Nm of torque, peaking at 1,600 – 1800 rpm. The development of diesel power is indeed growing in leaps and bounds, and every so often, we get news of new breakthroughs. In particular, the new Mercedes CDI engine gets it new-found power through dual-stage turbo-charging and some clever tweaking on the engine management systems. Translated to the road, this means enormous power available from just out of idling speed, and driven correctly, can be very frugal on fuel as well.

In case you are getting some ideas, such as trying to get one in through the gray importers, don’t, because the model that we had on trial is not tuned for our Euro 2 fuel, and we were given strict instructions not to put in any fuel from any petrol station. Refueling was done at the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia vehicle depot in Shah Alam, plus a couple of jerry cans containing Euro 4 diesel were put into the boot as back-up.

To test such a car, it had to be an out-station trip, and so it was off to Johor Baru that we went, with a full tank and two jerry cans filled with a total of 40 litres of the precious Euro 4 diesel.

Getting into the car, it feels just like any of the current model Avantgarde C Class, with electrically controlled seats, the same luxurious feel, but with AMG wheels, a body kit, active headlights that swivel in tune with the steering, and a sunroof. Inside, you see a navigation system, and a ‘mouse’ for browsing the various controls.

As you start the diesel, remember that it needs to be warmed up a little before you unleash the power; in fact, all engines should be warmed up; this is done by moving off using low engine revolutions, and not stressing the engine. After about a couple of kilometers, the engine temperature should have warmed up sufficiently, and that’s when you push pedal to metal.

The result, as with most of these new generation diesels, is astounding. The power figures for this engine are already record-breaking for a production car; no, this is not an experimental car, but an actual production model pulled off the line and brought here. Our country is just not ready for it yet, due to our fuel situation. A similar situation existed here in the late seventies when the first few cars imported from Japan required unleaded fuel, and we didn’t have any – the result of which was fouled plugs and clogged valves.

The 250 CDI came with a 5-speed automatic transmission, and this was good enough to transmit the power to the rear wheels; acceleration is awesome, making zero to one hundred in 7.0 seconds flat; it out accelerates almost anything on the road. We did catch up with a Porsche Carrera 4S somewhere after the Melaka turn-off, and when the driver saw us in his rear-view mirror, he promptly scooted off, pulling away from us quite easily, and so I settled down for a good drive behind him, letting him clear the way for me. However, after about five minutes of high speed driving, I guess the adrenalin rush was a little too much for him to handle, and he graciously pulled over to let me pass. Nice guy!

In a little over an hour, we arrived at Tangkak; I went to the famous Tangkak Beef Noodles place, but found it to be closed – it appears they open only at 9.30 in the morning, and I was too early. Never mind, I found a very nice Bak Kut Teh place at the other end of the road. Then it was a more leisurely drive for the remainder of the journey to Johor Baru. The entire journey was done in record time; suffice to say that it surpassed any of my previous fastest times, and the wonderful thing is that I did not feel fatigued. In fact, it was only an hour later that I drove back to Kuala Lumpur, having finished my meeting with some associates there.

What is great about the 250 CDI in the C Class is the ride comfort. The suspension is set on the firm side of comfortable, but the suspension has enough give to soak in the undulation in the road extremely well. It is firm enough to handle anything up to 220 km/h or so of high speed driving (on Malaysian roads); you might wish for something harder after that, and this car will touch 240 km/h quite easily, and I even managed to ‘lick’ the 250 km/h mark once when the road was completely devoid of other traffic, but for me, I think the current setting is just about perfect for day to day driving.

Fuel consumption? Well, from the specification sheet given to me, the claim is 5.8 to 6.4 litres per 100 kilometres. These are the numbers based on some European standard of testing; in real world terms, you would expect a figure between 7.0 to 10.5 litres per 100 kilometres, depending strictly on how you drive. Driven sedately, you might even manage to get it down to 6.0 litres per 100 kilometres; as for me, I got a range of 9.0 to 10.5 litres per 100 kilometres, but then I was having a blast most of the time, so these are probably the worst figures you are likely to get.

Personally, I look forward to the day when we can have good clean diesel – our environment will be cleaner, and besides, we will have more options in terms of great cars to buy.

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Less than three years into its life cycle, the Mazda Atenza (known as Mazda6 to anyone outside Japan) has just been facelifted for its domestic market. In a worldwide press release, Mazda announced that the facelifted Atenza is immediately available for bookings in showrooms throughout Japan, with three body shell options – Sedan, Sport (5-door hatch), and Sport Wagon.

P1J04513s
Mazda Atenza facelift.

Altogether, a total of 12 variants are available in various combinations of two engine options, three transmissions and two drivetrain layouts. For a start, the 2.0-litre engine, fitted in the Sedan and Sport Wagon, is now fed by direct injection, delivering not only improved outputs from the existing engine but also reduced consumption and emissions which qualify it for a 50% tax reduction under the Japanese government’s eco-car incentive programme.

P1J04519s
2.0-litre variants now get direct injection

The 2.5-litre engine, though carried over unchanged, does not lose out in terms of its green credentials either. Emission levels of the entire range of the Atenza facelift are certified to be an impressive 75% below the Japanese Government’s 2005 exhaust emissions standard, qualifying them all for the designation of Super-Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles (SU-LEV).

Helping the Atenza in achieving the emission figures is Mazda’s single-nanocatalyst exhaust purification which is said to reduce precious metal usage by 70%. Auto versions also get an eco-lamp on the dash to encourage a more eco-friendly style of driving.

Though the Atenza is offered with front wheel drive as standard, each of the three body style offers the option of one four-wheel drive variant powered by the 2.5-litre engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The front wheel drive variants all come with 5-speed automatic transmission as standard, though the Sport 25Z variant offers the choice of a 6-speed manual equipped with Hill Launch Assist.

atenzaspecs

Chassis updates claimed by Mazda include revised settings for the power steering and suspension for improved high speed handling and straight-line stability. The 4WD variants get Mazda’s Active Torque Control Coupling 4WD System which ‘optimally distributes torque between the front and rear axles’ to suit driving conditions and road surface.

P1J04505s P1J04510s
Atenza Sedan

P1J04506s P1J04511s
Atenza Sport

P1J04507s P1J04512s
Atenza Sport Wagon

P1J04508s
Interior

KON

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The Continental Automotive Group has recently announced a collaboration with the Schaeffler Group for the series production of a new generation of petrol engine turbochargers. Developed by the Engine Systems Business Unit of Continental’s Powertrain Division, the new charger is set to commence production in 2011, with plans to reach an annual production capacity of 2 million units by 2014. It is designed to allow for fully automated assembly, which Continental claims to offer advantages in terms of production quality and cost.

logo

“This collaboration is the result of Continental’s successful search for a strong partner to complete the final development phase and put the turbocharger into series production. It means we will be profiting from Schaeffler’s extensive mechanical expertise”, explained Dr. Peter Gutzmer, head of the aforementioned Engine Systems Business Unit.

The scope of collaboration between the two parties are being revealed as such: Continental shall be responsible for integrating the turbocharger into the vehicle manufacturers’ engine systems, and for application development, product engineering, purchasing, sales and quality, whereas Schaeffler will provide support in the final development phase and will assume full responsibility for industrialization.

Revealed details of the turbocharger specify a 38mm-diameter turbine designed to spin at speeds up to 240,000 rpm. Such specification levels calls for a high level of fit and finish of the various moving parts, and Continental has expressed its confidence in that the Schaeffler Group’s possess sufficient technical prowess to meet these demands.

contiturbo

Schaeffler’s site at Lahr, Germany, shall serve as the ‘Centre of Excellence’ for the process development and the transfer of know-how to other production sites. The Schaeffler Group’s mechanical engineering department will be tasked to design the assembly line and production facilities. Additionally, Continental also plans to further leverage on the Schaeffler Group’s massive worldwide presence to ensure speedy response to orders.

With European manufacturers increasingly favouring forced induction over large displacement, Continental’s development of this new turbocharger certainly couldn’t be timelier. According to Dr. Gutzmer “turbocharging gasoline engines is becoming ever more important since it is the only way to achieve the downsizing of engines that is essential to the reduction of fuel consumption.”

contiturbo2

Continental’s maiden attempt at developing a turbo was completed in a record time of three years, with work being spread out between the company’s two sites at Grünstadt in Rhineland-Palatinate and Regensburg in Bavaria. The turbo is designed for assembly along a fully automated single axis production line, a setup which Continental claims to simultaneously deliver lower defect rates, cost benefits and increased volume. It is also further claimed to be vastly scalable and easily adaptable for various engine sizes.

KON

See also: A look into the Continental Automotive Group

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