Malaysia Motoring News

11th Generation Toyota Corolla Launched

2013-06-09T09:06:00.001+08:00

The details- Styling, Powertrain and Differences Between American and European (Asian) Corolla

The legendary Toyota's small sedan, The Corolla has been released in its eleventh iteration. Almost simultaneously revealed for both American and European version, the new Corolla has finally stretched its wheelbase and grown quite tremendously length-wise. Similar in trend with the latest Toyota Camry, Toyota has given an entirely different front and rear end design between America and the rest of the world to reflect the market positioning and customer taste variation.

Before we get to the details of the styling, in any of the version, the new Corolla is an all-new from the ground up. This means that finally its has got a new platform, with a well stretched wheelbase that is no longer strikingly close to its smaller and cheaper Vios which sticks to 2,550mm wheelbase in its latest incarnation.

Taking the measuring tape, the new Corolla is 4,650mm long, 1,776mm wide, 1,455mm tall and rides on 2,700mm wheelbase. Thus it is 100mm longer in length and wheelbase, 16mm wider and 10mm lower than the previous car. For the drivetrain package, American model continues to be powered by the 1.8L mill exclusively, but differs in their valvetrain system. One soldiers on with the trusted VVT-i mill with its 132hp and 171Nm of power and torque as it has been powering the last two Corolla, while the other one is Valvematic-equipped, offering 140hp and 174Nm, but cuts in with a better fuel efficiency thanks to the more adaptive valvetrain. In America, this modern lump is offered only on the Le Eco trim grade whereas the rest of American trim namely L, LE and S are offered with the former. For the gearbox - LE, S and LE Eco gets the 7 virtual ratios CVTi-S, and if you are 3-pedal kind of person, the 6 speed manual is available too for the LE and S. The lowest L-line, gets the aforementioned 6 speed manual too, but can also be equipped with the conventional automatic gearbox with a grand total of four (!) forward ratios.

There's no news yet on the European engine line-up but expect it to mirror those in Auris closely. This could mean 1.33L to 2.4L for the petrol and 1.4L - 2.2L for the diesel. Asian version also is expected to retain the current engine line-up of 1.6L, 1.8L and 2.0L, but the range could be trimmed down to two engine. If 1.6L is phased out, we could also see the phase-out of the archaic 4 speeder auto too from that car, leaving an all-CVT range which is fittingly more modern.

European Corolla Front End

Going to the styling part, American and the rest of the world gets a different front end. The European (and most probably Asian version too) gets a suitably upmarket styling with prominent headlamps that wraparound the fender and blend with the chromed grille bars. The front fascia is uncannily inspired by Toyota Auris, RAV4 and the new Toyota Vios. Consistent with the aforementioned siblings, the headlamps is edgy in its shape, and theme that is carried over to the bumper too.

The American version (below) slots nicely into its econobox status with a very understated look and a dose of sport-injected styling cues. The headlamp is smaller and shapelier and they are LED powered. The mandatory amber section is the trade-mark of all the American-bound cars. The bumper is different too from the version above, and I personally think it kind of has a Scion-look to it. Overall, the American Corolla looks smaller, and well, to our Asian eyes, cheaper too.

American Corolla Front End

The sharing of platform (or course) and body panel is obvious from the side profile. There's no variation as far as the side panel and door panel is concern. The kind at the rear door is the only breakaway from what can be described as a fuss-free design. Despite the different in the rear end design, from the side the rear light housing is identical for both version. The European version front end is visibly a little higher than the American counterpart, thanks to the bigger headlamp setup.

European Corolla Side Profile

American Corolla Side Profile

European Corolla Rear End

The difference in the rear end end is not as comprehensive as the front end. The outer edge of the tail lamp is identical between the continent. The difference lies in the trunk lid panel, which has a different license plate housing section between the two, and the American version gets a smaller tail lamp inset. While the rear bumper is almost similar, the European version gets the reflector at the bottom end.

American Corolla Rear End

The cabin is almost identical, saved for some very minor detailing. The dashboard is identical, with similar steering wheel, door trim, gear console and meter binnacle. However, the climate control panel is slightly different, as is the audio panel. The American car gets the centre mounted clock in between the Toyota 86-inspired air duct.

The cabin design is a huge departure from the current model. In Asian Corolla Altis, the emphasize is on luxury with a well-defined plastic texture and wood insert, all combined to give a soothing environment. The new one however, has totally ditched the luxury look of the 10th generation Corolla.

European Corolla IP

American Corolla IP

Overall design wise, the 11th generation Corolla is a modernized version of the older version, with the styling (particularly European version) is in-line with the new Toyota design theme, i.e more angular, bold grille and edgy lighting. The interior too benefits from the overused Toyota 86-styled aircond outlet and upright dashboard architecture.

There is not Asian introduction yet, but as before we expect it to mirror the European version here very closely. There are some potential issue like the lost of luxurious interior which could jeopardize the loyal and conservative Toyota owner.

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Aston Martin CC100 - 100 Years Birthday Present

2013-05-19T21:52:00.004+08:00

Aston Martin is celebrating its centenary in world-class style with the debut today of the exceptional CC100 Speedster Concept. Created as a stunning celebration of the great British brand’s 100 years of sports car excellence the one-off CC100 looks both to the past and the DBR1 – Aston Martin’s greatest sporting triumph on the track – and to the future with its teasing glimpses of potential future design direction.

The 6.0-litre V12-powered concept car today makes its world debut by completing a lap of the famous Nordschleife at Germany’s ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nürburgring race. It is lapping the circuit together with the 1000km race-winning 1959 DBR1 with British racing legend Sir Stirling Moss at the wheel. It is the most tangible expression yet of the brand’s year-long 2013 centenary celebrations.

Designed and constructed in fewer than six months at Aston Martin’s global headquarters in Gaydon, working with key supplier Multimatic Inc, under the leadership of Special Projects and Motorsport Director David King, the finished look of the two-seater CC100 is the work of Design Director Marek Reichman working alongside the brand’s Chief Exterior Designer Miles Nurnberger.

Measuring almost four and a half metres nose to tail, and more than two metres wide (including mirrors) the Speedster Concept body is a classic example of the almost infinitely flexible nature of Aston Martin’s trademark Vertical Horizontal engineering philosophy.

With a body and interior crafted from carbon fibre, tooled and provided by low volume specialists Multimatic, the CC100 utilises the latest generation AM11 naturally aspirated V12 gasoline engine mated to a six-speed hydraulically actuated automated sequential manual transmission. Controlled via steering column-mounted paddle shifts the lightweight ‘box delivers truly sporting changes perfectly suited to the Speedster’s track-focused nature.

The drivetrain will power the CC100 from rest to 100km/h in a little over four seconds, while the top speed is limited to 180 mph. Small gallery can be found below:

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Life-size F1 Simulator - For Hardcore F1 Gamerz

2013-05-19T21:37:00.000+08:00

Are you a circa 30 years old who has given up the Playstation since you graduated? Are you a young successful professional who used to have a history of visiting the game centre in your early-20s? And now in your professional years, you gaming time is limited to just playing Beach Buggy Blitz on your Android?

You could be rejuvenated again, thanks to Costco, you can have your gaming days back again. This is the real size F1 game, mounted on a carbon-fibre bodied stands on the real racing tyres. Out goes the V8 engine, and in comes the i7 processor, Intel SSD hardisk, 3 units of 23" TFT for all-around view and digital speaker system.

Yours for cool GBP89,999.89. Playing an F1 game has never been more professional than this.

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Proton P3-22A uncamouflaged photo leak!

2013-05-19T20:56:00.005+08:00

Photo below shows the rear end of the forthcoming Preve hatchback fully uncamouflaged. From the background, this is from Proton plant. This model also seems to conform to Proton latest design trend. Whereas the older Proton such as Gen2 and Satria Neo majors on the aesthethic, the current generation of Proton cars quite lacking in that.

Apart from the obvious rear end panel design change compared the P3-21A Preve, the rear bumper lower valence is different in design too. There's a centre-mounted rear reflector, and there's no exhaust outlet to be seen.

Source
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Proton's name game - Suprima, Esfora, Persada, Idaman, Exia

2013-04-26T16:09:00.001+08:00

Proton has filed a slew of potential car name over the years since 2009. Perhaps they are unused or rejected names, but some sound pretty...well, not so clever. Proton Esfora was registered in February 2009, probably meant for the MPV at that time, which eventually named Exora. Proton Exia and Proton Idaman both were registered in May 2010, they probably was meant for some other model facelift, or reserved for future years. Proton Idaman was registered towards the end of 2011, which probably meant for the P3-21A which eventually name Preve.

Lastly, Suprima name came up a few days ago. Well, same like Inspira, the "malay-ing" of english work into an adapted Bahasa Malaysia is a trend which is quite disturbing. It is the same konklusi, replikasi, dehidarasi...not clever!

However, despite the name, some of Proton cars are quite ok for their price. Do check out our previous Test Drive report on:

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Honda Jade = 2014 Honda Stream?

2013-04-22T17:46:00.001+08:00

Honda unveiled the Jade MPV at Shanghai Motorshow, and citing it as the China-market MPV to be sold by Dongfeng-Honda JV in Chinese market. However, with the current Honda Stream is kicking into its seventh year of life, it is hard to believe that this model is China-only.

We think this is indeed the forthcoming Honda Stream, a 3rd generation compact MPV. The details are clear, the size is clearly indicates it sits on a Honda Civic-derived platform, and the front end blows everything away with its Civic-alike headlight.

The exterior is fresher-looking than the already-dated 2nd gen Stream, with the afore-mentioned Civic snout, flowing side glass and the fresh take of the rear end that ditch Stream's traditional vertical tail light. The interior looks production ready, with its steering wheel handed from Civic, and the gearknob from 2013 Honda Accord. The climate control panel also look-alike the one from the latest Accord. The dashboard could signal the shift of Stream current architecture towards digital display similar to its sedan-sibling.

Some more photo can be found below.

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Mazda6 2.0 Skyactiv Reviewed - A Drive Out of Hiatus

2013-04-18T00:23:00.001+08:00

The third generation Mazda6 made an official inroad to the Malaysian market on 20th March 2013, and what a strange entry it was. The car kind of slipped quietly into the market, whereby the media test drive and customer test session started way back from the end of January. Delivery started in early March also in a quiet manner and the March launch was also a relatively no big event. This is totally in contrast with the car, which is anything but low-key.

It has a kind of styling that make you wonder whether Honda and Toyota stylist designed car during their part-time job, half-awake or purely, that. It clearly deviates from the safe, bland and unadventurous design that many of its Japanese or even European rivals seems to stick to. Second in the Mazda line-up to wear the evocative Kodo design language, Mazda6 is one sleek looking machine. The front end is dominated by the swept back headlight, with the chrome whisker that runs from the gigantic front grille. Take the Mazda CX-5 front end, lowered it a little and flatten the top part along the hood and you won't stray too far in describing the leading end of the new Mazda6.

The side profile is garnished by the strongly creased fender, a hallmark styling features found on every Mazda from RX-8 sportscar down to Mazda3 which is a familiar sight on our road. The waistline is tall, forming the significant portion of the car total height. The glass-house is shallow, with sports-car like steeply raked A and C-pillar, resulting is a very slim window opening. Those who love the airy feeling of the environment will find it a bit claustrophobic, the small rear door aperture won't help to eliminate those perception too. But we are missing the point here if that is the selling point. The point is that the car is/will be bought by people who wants a D-Segment sedan, with a touch of pizzas to the styling with adequate space for a family of five with reasonably sized boot volume.

The rear end is characterized by the wraparound taillights, which is joined by the chrome bar that run along the width of the car. The rear side panel is bulged, which carries the volume from the expanding rear end from the wheelarches rearward, before being tapered, tucked in towards the rear fascia to improve the overall aerodynamics. Speaking about aerodynamics, the new Mazda6 has a drag coefficient of 0.26, an impressively low figure. This is achieved by clever surface design, as well as the fully covered floor panel to reduce flow disruption.

For Malaysian market, the third generation Mazda6 is offered in two bodystyles of sedan and wagon, while the all-petrol line-up is offered in 2.0L and 2.5L Skyactiv-G version. Both are high-compression ratio direct-injection engine. The former produced 155PS@6,000rpm and 196Nm@4,000rpm while the latter kicked out 188PS@5,700rpm and 250Nm@3,250rpm.Both are paired with 6 speed automatic transmission. The version tested here is the 2.0L model.

Dimension-wise, the sedan is 4,860mm long, 1,840mm wide and 1,450mm tall. The wheelbase is 2,830mm long. The Grand Touring has a shorter wheelbase of 2,750mm. It is also shorter at 4,800mm and taller at 1,480mm. In comparison, the old 6 Sedan measures 4,755mm,1,795mm, 1,440mm and 2,725mm in these dimensions respectively. As a results of this, there is 43mm more knee room at the back while the rear seat cushion has been increased by 20mm for added comfort.

The new body structure is 50kg lighter that the car it replaced. Typical to Skyactiv epitome, chassis design is optimized with multi-load bearing structure, which when combined with the higher tensile steel giving out an overall weight reduction compared to the outgoing model.

Mazda6 rides on McPhersons struts up front and Multi-link setup at the back. Wheel size is 17 inch for the 2.0L and 19 inch for the 2.5L, wrapping 225/55 R17 and 225/45 R19 tyres respectively. Apart from wheel and tyre combo size, the 2.0L and 2.5L are differentiated by the equipment level too. All version gets 6 airbags, starter button, auto air-cond, auto wipers, cruise control, TFT touch screen audio system, reverse camera and start stop system. Opting for a higher grade 2.5L will get you 11-speaker BOSE system, i-ELOOP regenerative braking system, satnav, sunroof, paddle shifter, Bi-Xenon headlight, nicer LED DRL with even nicer headlight inner graphic and a host of adaptive driving monitoring systems.

The interior is an dark affair, upholstered in all-black leather seats, black dashboard and door trim. The monotonous interior them is punctuated by the red stitching in the seat and door trim, some chrome bezel around the gear lever, aircond outlet surround and steering wheel. The dashboard fascia is garnished by the plastic trim in harmonically-contrasting plastic panel. Overall space can be described as cosy, large enough but you'll feel cocoon by the high floor console and high window sill. The dissapointing part is the dashboard is almost direct carry-over from CX-5. I personally think a lower fascia will make it a better driving environment, more suited to its sport sedan moniker. Imagine it low fascia, i.e bring down the touch screen ICE and squeeze everything from there downwards.

Driver seat is firm, and it has more bolster for your shoulder and side. I however think the seat bottom/squab is shorter than I expected from a D-Segment car. Otherwise, ergonomics is pretty good, driving position is spot on. Bending the current trend among Japs maker to flood the car with hard plastic, Mazda has equipped the 6 with softly padded material on the dashboard and door trim top. No fake leather stitching on the dashboard here.Rear passenger won't be complaining about space too, and despite the rakish roof-line, the rear headroom is still sufficient. There's also several storage cubbies, there's bottle holder in every door trim, while additional cupholders can be found respectively in the gear console and rear armrest.

Dual-zone automatic airconditioning is standard even on the 2.0L version and they are very effective in cooling down the cabin. Passengers are very likely to be very comfortable in here even for a long journey. MMN has been with the car for 5000km for over 3 weeks, and it can be concluded that the drive is fatigue-free.

Now lets go to the best part. How does it drive? Upon the first encounter of starting up the engine via the starter button, you'll notice the engine is anything but quiet, particular during cold-start. The engine then settles into the rattling note which is close to something we can called quiet-diesel. The sound characteristic seems to be consistent with the rest of gasoline direct injection lump, very much like the N20 units in the BMW.

A glide past the engine bay, and gracefully slid into the driver seat (electrically operated with 2 memories sets) and shut the light-ish door, you'll be isolated from the rattling petrol mill up front. Depress the organ-type gas pedal, the car moves with a great composure. The suspension setting is quite firm, not sportscar-firm, but firmer than the typical floating setup of the D-Segment sedan. The steering is however quite too light for my liking but it makes treading the car past the cramped parking area a breeze.

On the slow ride, you can be forgiven if you think the 2.0L might be a little sluggish. While it bite right from the very first prod on the throttle, the progress after that is serenade if you just pushed the pedal naturally. The Skyactiv-G is clearly tuned for economy. How long a car enthusiastic can last like this, especially when the Soul Red exterior is akin to pouncing cheetah.

Worries you not. Floor the gas till you hear the "tick" sound, indicating you've signaled your intention to your car. It will kick-down immediately and swing the rpm needle to the redzone, giving you the dose of acceleration you so desire. However, the power available is similar to other D-Segment with naturally aspirated 2.0L lump, which you can't expect to be miraculously powerful.

Fuel consumption wise, Mazda6 2.0 can be described as commendable. I managed 7.8L/100km for a spirited highway driving, where most of it is a high speed run. For the city driving, I managed to get around 8.5L/100km. Some forummer in the internet quoted lower fuel consumption, i.e something like 7.3L/100km. So I bet it depends on your right foot. My personal conclusion, this car amazingly beat my 1.5L national car that I used to drive, by quite a margin!

On the highway cruise, Mazda6 is refined is terms of ride despite the slightly firm suspension setting. However, pass the legal cruising speed, the wind noise start to intrude. The Toyo tyres are not the last wod in refinement either as their sound can be heard in the cabin. This is one of the spoilt for the overall driving experience, as the executive sedan should be more serene inside.

Mazda6 2.0 is an adequate tool even if a 180 km/h cruise is required. The big sedan seamlessly sliced through the air with its excellent aerodynamics and the suspension composure for your to enjoy a relaxed high speed cruise. The suspension won't dissapoint you upon the encounter with bend. The steering is precise, even if it lacks the meaningful weight. It however make the car feel nimble, light on its feet. The suspension setup controlled the roll very well, giving you enough confidence to attack the bend.

As a family car, Mazda6 scores well in terms of cabin space, while the exterior styling adds the panache to the overall package. The ride and handling will pleased the driver, although he will slightly dissapointed with the external noise intrusion. The boot also is on a small side, nowhere near the previous model 506L volume. While the boot itself is long, it is quite shallow, which is unforgivable for car which even lacks the spare tyre under the boot floor! There is also an evidence of cost cutting in the boot, where the outgoing Mazda6 multi-link trunk lid hinge has made way for the goose-neck hinge which eat space, but cheaper to manufactured.

As described earlier, buying the 2.0L won't get you the amenities such as sunroof, paddle shifter, LED DRL (totally different headlamp design), a stunning 19 inch alloy wheel, satnav system and a host of Mazda active driving aids. You'll still get the essentials such as the dual-zone automatic aircond, leather upholstery, 6 airbags, typical ABS+EBD+TCS, starter button and RM30k price difference. For information, Mazda6 range starts with 2.0L Sedan at RM159,440.20, moves to 2.5L Sedan at RM187,659.30 and topped by the 2.5L Grand Touring at RM191,763.30.

Gallery of the new Mazda6 can be found below:

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Hiatus

2013-02-08T19:39:00.000+08:00

Malaysia Motoring News will be inactive until further notice. Soft target for re-launch is scheduled in May, back with a renewed concept.

Thanks.
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Malaysia Motoring Scene 2012 - Glancing Back

2013-02-02T16:13:00.001+08:00

So the Total Industry Volume (TIV) for 2012 settled at 627,753 units, some 4.6% increase over the 2011 TIV, despite the tightening loan regulation imposed by Bank Negara. Out of this volume, 88% is taken by the passenger vehicle. However, within the passenger vehicle segment, there is slight shift in the uptake of the MPV at the expense of the passenger car. The SUV and window van market see no grow at both stick to 3.4% and 1.1% respectively.

Moving away from the categorical statistic towards the brand positioning, Perodua has strengthened its position as the country number 1 with 189,137 units which is commanding 30.2% of the market share. Even compared to the already-excellent 2011 for Perodua, there is more than 9,000 increased of car sold. Despite the increased in TIV, and most car maker recorded an increase in overall sales, Proton magically managed to buck the trend by selling less vehicle, totalling just 141,121, a decrease of 17,536 unit compared to 2011. In fact, if one look into the top ten sales chart, every player including Perodua, Toyota, Nissan, Honda Volkswagen, Hyundai-Inokom, Isuzu and Suzuki) recorded an increase except for Proton and Mitsubishi (slotted in 8th between Hyundai and Isuzu). In December, Toyota came eerily close to overtake Proton in monthly sale, something unthinkable some years back. Toyota, the third place holder sold 105,151 units in 2012, 18,200 more than 2011. The detail sales volume for each manufacturer can be seen in the figure tabulated by Motortrader.

In 2012, there are many significant launch. For the Malaysian maker, there is Proton Preve, which was hyped as the "best ever" and "global car" by its maker. At that segment of market, another affordably-priced car that entered our market include Inokom Elantra and Mitsubishi Mirage.

How did Proton managed to more than 17,000 units? Did all those people go out and buy Toyota Vios instead, partly contributed to the growth of 18,200 units by Toyota? It's not impossible although Vios can be dubbed as a mundane car, it is a perfect car for those who appreciate cars only by its brand, potential resale value and reliability record. And Toyota is perfect at that. Furthermore, monthly payment is usually does not differ much from the big Proton as the interest rate for the foreign brand is generally lower. For those who knows nothing about car like the description above, there's also a feeling of "graduated", "migrated" and "upgraded" when shifting to the foreign brand, subsequently positioned themselves differently in the social rank.

Nowadays, there is not model statistic anymore although anyone knows that it is Myvi that tops the chart. The rest of the subsequent places surely are taken by the Viva, Saga, Vios and Alza. One can only speculate about Preve's placing, but surely it is not near the place Persona used to occupied sometimes back. While Perodua's placing is almost secured until 2015 (when the new liberalisation policy is said to come in place), what can DRB-HICOM do to combat the sliding Proton market share?

Looking ahead, Malaysian Automotive Association predicts and upward trend for 2013, with 640,000 units forecast. This is due to multiplier effect of ETP and the increase of GDP. As a consumer, there's also several interesting car coming down to our stream. The confirmed entrance is the new Honda CRV, Mazda6, localized Mazda CX-5, Proton Preve Hatchback P3-22A and Perodua Alza facelift. We are hoping to see the new Honda Accord too, as well as the Kia Forte K3.

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Topless Toyota 86 Coming

2013-02-01T21:20:00.001+08:00

The affordable (forget it if you are in Malaysia) Toyota chuckable RWD, the 86 is set to loose its roof, and destinated to be showed to the crowd in the upcoming Geneva Motorshow in March. Dubbed FT-86 Open Concept, Toyota will use it to gauge the public reaction as well as initiating an engineering feasibility study for the open top 86.

Toyota i-Road

FT-86 open Concept will be be joined by three further Toyota sibling; i-Road micro car and a duo of production car in the form of Toyota Auris Touring Sport and the new RAV4. The i-Road is an urban transport for 2 people, offering an emission free and a run ride. The showcase of the RAV4 also signalled its entry into the European market. Both of these mass-production car will be accompanied by Auris Touring Sports Black, RAV4 Premium and RAV4 Adventure.

Photos of Auris Touring Sport and RAV4 are after the jump.

Proton P3-22A Preve Hatchback Spied En-Route Genting

2013-01-28T12:25:00.000+08:00

A video of black Proton P3-22A Preve Hatchback was uploaded into youtube by user Ernest Kok. It is a short video and it reveals no new things, but it is the upcoming Proton nevertheless. Enjoy the video below:

On a different note, have any of you take a look at the Proton Preve forum in lowyat.net? It is surprising to see that this new national car carries a lot of problem, even an absurd things like a smelly aircond. Check it out HERE. Is this all true?

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Aston Martin Rapide S - Facelift, 550HP

2013-01-24T14:42:00.000+08:00

Aston Martin has introduced a mid-life update to the Rapide model which was originally introduced to the world market in 2010. The 2013 update consist of an exterior makeover, redeveloped powertrain, retuned suspension, re-trimmed interior and received a new moniker too, now called Rapide S.

Up front, the car received a new front fascia design, prominently differentiated from the old by the new, larger grille. The new grille is as large as the older car upper and lower grille combined, and the lower sill follows the same design trend as the new DB9.

The change was not purely aesthetic; instead it has achieved compliance with the latest European pedestrian protection regulations. The patent-pending design – which features a unique ‘keystone’ construction – enables the grille to move rearwards on impact, whilst the central and outboard chin stiffeners give rigidity to the lower structure and support achievement of the leg impact regulations. Cut-outs on the front wing catwalks contribute to the achievement of the headform regulation.

The solution means Aston Martin can remain true to its design ethos, and avoid the use of plastic grilles and nose cone bumpers that stretch up in front of the bonnet.

The redesigned front end is matched at the back by a striking new rear deck profile which includes a more pronounced boot lid ‘flip’. The aerodynamic and aesthetic upgrades both reinforce the sporting nature of new Rapide S and work to counteract lift at higher speeds.

The interior is enhanced with the new piano black interior pack that adds a deep, rich, mirror-like shine to the facia, transmission tunnel centre plate and door handles of the Rapide S. A darker surround in the instrument binnacle and steering wheel with black horn-push surround round off the pack’s sumptuous additions. Luxurious blend headlinings in either tan or grey emphasise the luxury still further inside. More details and photos can be found after the jump.

McLaren P1 Underbody - Full Blast Aero-Effect

2013-01-24T13:43:00.000+08:00

McLaren showcased its forthcoming P1 hypercar to a bunch of potential client at an event nearby McLaren Beverly Hills. The car was air-lifted from the truck into the SLS Hotel, raising a rare chance to see the underbody of the acclaimed hypercar.

Thanks to the photographer Dirk A at Supercarfocus, we can really see the F1-inspired flat underbody, finished off with an intricately designer rear diffuser. The diffuser is not the sole aerodynamic feature on the car, as various other passive and active devices are expected to make an appearance too. One of them is the rumoured active front flaps and the some compressors to push the air towards certain areas of the body.

McLaren will officially debut in March at Geneva Motorshow, where its interior and gasoline engine with KERS assistance will be fully revealed. Read our previous article on McLaren P1 HERE.

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Development of Children-Friendly Vehicle

2013-01-22T19:48:00.000+08:00

How many of us get pissed off when our kids stained the interior of our "reasonably-priced" car, thanks to the beige interior for some pseudo-luxury ambiance? Or you can see the vomit just disappear into the seat fabric? Or the toy's sharp edge tear out the stitching and scratch the plastic trim part?

Luckily car maker nowadays are a bit clever. The seat fabric are now water repellent, and it is rare to find to an RM50k (read family-bound car) to be trimmed in light hue. The plastic trim too can be made sturdier, more resistant to scratch by cleverer texturing.

Ford too is up for the game. After being an innovative player by totally eliminating the B-pillar for an ease of entry (read HERE), it is apparent the Ford B-MAX has been designed with kids in mind too. Ford has now tried to make that job easier for mums and dads by “child-proofing” the new B-MAX.

Engineers subjected the new B-MAX to laboratory tests that simulate the toughest treatment that children and pets can dish out, including soaking materials in milk and fizzy drinks; testing fabrics with a “mace”; and pounding plastics with a heavy rubber ball.

Samples of all leathers and fabrics used in the Ford B-MAX’s interior were tested for stain resistance and ease of cleaning after being soaked for 24 hours in the liquids and being smeared with soil and grease.

Engineers also tested resistance to damage that can be caused by abrasive zips and fasteners found on children’s clothing and bags. The “mace test” used a metal ball with needle-sharp spikes to brush fabrics 600 times and replicate the effect of snagging zips and studs. Engineers also carried out a special test to repeatedly rub the seat material with Velcro.

Impact tests – conducted at temperatures as low as -30 degrees Centigrade when plastic is more brittle – used a rubber ball 10 times heavier than a regulation football to ensure that plastic parts could withstand bumps and knocks. Fabrics were also rubbed 60,000 times in a 17-hour non-stop wear test; metal spikes were scraped across plastic parts to test scratch resistance; and carpets were checked for durability on a special test rig fitted with rough abrasion wheels.

Is the car in our market up to this standard yet? Let's make something simpler first, like ensuring there is sufficient cupholder for the rear passenger, not by hiding them inside the rear armrest which eliminate the cupholder itself when there is a third occupant in the rear seat.

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Proton Past Patents - MSX, Sepang & NEF

2013-01-20T22:33:00.000+08:00

It's Sunday night, and instead of chilling to perfection, yours truly was surfing the patent website in pursuit of several patent for work purposes. Lifeless isn't it? Anyway, in the middle of boredom I remembered of several Proton patent that rocked the internet back in 2004-2005. There are many more, including the main and component of Proton Satria Neo (SRM back then), Savvy (TRM during its inception), as well Exora. Some are patented in Korean patent website too. Anyway, instead of looking at what you can find on the road, lets look at something you either can't see, or worst still, seen as something else.

First up is the NEF engine, a V6 engine family that is listed USD597104, showcasing the aesthetic of the engine. Paultan did some coverage on this engine HERE, the range comprises of a modular 2.2L and 3.0L Supercharged V6 mill kicking some 300bhp@6,250rpm and 360Nm@4,500rpm for the latter. It was tested in Waja prototype sometimes back. It was fitted to the Proton MSX concept (world knew it as Lotus APX). Do you that Proton MSX, thanks to its all aluminium construction (VVA platform, an advanced hybrid of cast, extrusion and stamped aluminium hold together with a combination of rivet and adhesive) weights mere 1.5 tonne and projected to reach 270 km/h top speed? Porsche Cayenne surely can't run too far from this car if it is ever made.

RFOB View of Proton's V6 engine

This patent covers only the outlook. The technical innovations were not included. We can see from here the engine RFOB with its transmission fixing, FFOB with all the front end auxillary and side view exposing the placement of cylinder block, front cover, bedplate and oil sump, including the accessories too such as the oil cooler and things.

Side view, you can see the arrangement from oil sump upwards

Next up is the car that was fitted with the NEF engine. It is none other than Proton MSX, published in USD566619. To prove that this car is meant to be Proton instead of Lotus APX (oh well, as if the Waja side-mirror was not obvious of a clue), the aesthetic patented here bears the Proton logo elongated outline instead of Lotus circular item. After these years, it still look stunning. There was MMN old article about Proton MSX HERE, but as I worked a bit on this car so I don't dare to say much. More after the jump.

Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray Revealed

2013-01-14T21:46:00.001+08:00

There's new Chevrolet in town, and it is not the new Cruze or Orlando. It is the legendary Corvette, the seventh iteration of the iconic American sportscar. Styled to impress the newer generation of performance car buyer who has been spoilt by the edgy design paired to explosive performance, C7 Corvette wears a well-cut suit.

The front end of the the new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray wears an familar traditional face, but has been made crisper with a strong characterline. The bodyline continues to rise towards the back, where the traditional wrap-around rear glass has been ditched, and in comes a normal C-pillar that also housed the rear quarter glass, previously unfound on any Corvette except the earliest coupe model. The rear end too is controversially new, where the quad-rounded rear light has been replaced with a squarer, recessed unit. Quad tail pipes complete the dramatic rear end styling.

The new Corvette retain the familiar chassis architecture of removable targa roof, but it is also packed with innovative construction. The hood and the removable roof are made of carbon fibre, while the fender, doors, rear quarter panel and some underbody panel are manufactured from composites. The body structure is aluminium and the weight distribution has been optimized for perfect 50:50 balance front to rear.

The chassis main frame is composed of five aluminium segments including and extrusion panel at each end and centre main rail jointed by cast nodes at suspension interface points. Each segment thickness is tuned to meet their respective strength requirement, thus thickness vary from 2mm to 11mm. These results in 45kg weight saving, plus it is also 57% stiffer. More photos and details after the jump.

First Sighting of 3rd-Gen Honda Stream

2013-01-13T01:02:00.000+08:00

It is the 7th year of service now for the sleek Honda Stream since its 2006 introduction, and the first sight of its replacement has been caught, in China. Set to be inspired by the Concept S previewed in Beijing Motor Show, the next Honda Stream will be introduced in China market in the middle of the 2013, with the debut scheduled for April's Shanghai Auto Show.

The recipe for the new Stream will be very much similar to its predecessors, i.e a low-floor 7 seater concept. Traditionally, Honda Stream is based on the Honda Civic, so the Civic FB will be the donor vehicle, albeit with a lengthened wheelbase as it has always been for the last two Streams.

The sole photo here shows that the new Stream will get a swoopy glass house, similar in trend with the Concept S, as well as a nod the the first generation. This rear shot also indicate a possibility of the switch from the vertical rear light to a horizontal one. The squarer rear end too bears some resemblance to the current Odyssey.

Malaysia typically gets a CBU Stream, with launches way later than any other market. Expect at least a year delay compared to other essential market, so that will take us into 2014.

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Mazda6 Malaysian Spec Revealed - 2 Engines & 2 Bodystyles

2013-01-11T22:12:00.001+08:00

The 3rd generation Mazda6 is a hot stuff in Japan whereby 7,300 units has been booked after a month of sales opening date. Could that make Malaysian introduction later than expected due to overwhelming demand? Perhaps, but the specification for the Malaysian car has been revealed, thanks to the early advertisement from the local dealer on oto.my.

Malaysian car will come with both 2.0L and 2.5L engines, where the latter will be available with wagon bodystyle too in addition to the typical sedan. Specification-wise, all version gets 6 airbags, starter button, auto air-cond, auto wipers, cruise control, TFT touch screen audio system, reverse camera and start stop system. Opting for a higher grade 2.5L will get you 11-speaker BOSE system, i-ELOOP regenerative braking system, sunroof, paddle shift, Bi-Xenon headlight and a host of adaptive driving monitoring systems. Indicative price is RM154,000 for the 2.0L Sedan, RM181,000 for 2.5L Sedan and RM185,000 for 2.5L Grand Touring. All these are CBU, unlike most of its similarly priced, less-equipped and locally-assembled fellow Japanese rivals.

To recap,there are two gasoline engine on offer, namely the fame 2.0L Skyactiv-G and 2.5L Skyactiv-G, both are high-compression ratio direct-injection engine. The former produced 155PS@6,000rpm and 196Nm@4,000rpm while the latter kicked out 188PS@5,700rpm and 250Nm@3,250rpm.Both are paired with 6 speed automatic transmission. The sedan is 4,860mm long, 1,840mm wide and 1,450mm tall. The wheelbase is 2,830mm long. The Grand Touring has a shorter wheelbase of 2,750mm. It is also shorter at 4,800mm and taller at 1,480mm. The 2.0L car rides on 225/55R17 while the 2.5L car rides on 225/45 R19.

The full gallery and details of the 3rd generation Mazda6 can be found in our previous posting HERE.

The detail about the i-ELOOP regenerative braking can be found HERE

The specification details from the brochure can be found after the jump.

3rd Generation Suzuki Swift Launched - RM77,888

2013-01-10T21:15:00.001+08:00

Suzuki Malaysia Automobile has officially launched the third generation Suzuki Swift to our market. Coming in CBU from imported from Thailand, it is priced at RM77,888 and you can add up the bodykit for RM5,300. The CKD model will be available soon, as SMA only imported handy unit of the CBU car.

The new Suzuki Swift measures 3,850mm long, 1,695mm wide and 1,510mm tall while riding on a 2,430mm wheelbase. Compared to the current car, the new Suzuki Swift is 90mm longer in total while the wheelbase is up by 50mm. It is also 5mm wider while the height is retained. While the extended wheelbase has lend a greater interior volume, Autocar UK quoted a better legroom and the rear occupants can tuck their feet underneath the front seat. While headroom is at the premium, the seats offer a good thigh support. The boot space is slightly smaller than before at 210L.

The new Swift is powered by K14B 1,372cc offering 94bhp@6,000rpm of power while torque is 130Nm@4,000rpm. The engine is 100cc smaller than before, and the output is good deal less compared to the 101hp and 133Nm available previously. The transmission is a 4-speed automatic. Suzuki said the reduction in engine power is accompanied by weight reduction and thus results in no performance lost.

Suzuki Swift retained the architecture of the previous car with its McPherson strut up front and torsion beam rear suspension. Suzuki Swift is always known for its keen handling. The new one should be the same. Autocar UK quoted it as "handles tidily, strong grip, excellent body control and balance, strong brakes, unexpectedly pliant and relaxing rides" but slightly let down by the slightly disconnected steering and prone to cross-wind interruption.

Additional photos can be found after the jump.

Proton Exora Turbo Now Cheaper at RM69,000

2013-01-09T22:40:00.002+08:00

Fancy a turbocharged Proton Exora to haul those 6 passenger in hurry but can't quite afford the Exora Bold Premium? Your prayer has been answered quietly by Proton with the introduction of the Proton Exora Bold CFE Standard, effectively displacing the CPS-powered Exora Bold Executive. The new variant of the Proton Exora slipped quietly to the showroom, and it is priced from RM68,550. The Premium version is priced at RM79,562, while the Exora Bold Executive (CPS) was RM66,762.

Externally, the Exora Bold Standard wears the facelifted body like the rest of the range, but with the fog lamp, rear spoiler and alloy wheels eliminated. Meaning that it will look like the rest f the updated Exora with the bolder (no pun intended) front bumper, updated rear bumper and smoked rear light. Interior-wise, it is on par with the Exora Bold Executive, meaning that it is fabric upholstered, silver-lined centre console, no DVD player and the auto-cruise and reverse camera deleted. Steering wheel-mounted audio switch is gone too. No bid deal though.

Safety wise, the 4,592mm long Proton MPV is still protected by dual SRS, and the ABS and EBD is retained too. There are no mechanical change to the setup offered on the more expensive Bold Premium.

For a reminder, the turbocharged CFE engine produced a healthy 138hp@5,000rpm and 205Nm of torque from 2,000-4,000rpm. Read more about Proton CFE engine HERE.

The only drawback is the color choice. You must like the lighter hue to Proton Exora or else you have to pick up the other variant. For Proton Exora Bold CFE Standard, only Solid White and Genetic Silver are offered. However, at only RM68,550 do you think it is still smart to buy a RM69,503 Perodua Alza Advanced or RM64,203 Alza Premium? Think about it...Proton Exora deserves a bigger share of pie....

Malaysia Motoring News thinks Proton Exora Turbo drives like a dream for an MPV. Read about it HERE.

Photo source: BluePearlAuto
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Suzuki Swift Coming Soon - From RM77,888

2013-01-09T21:49:00.000+08:00

The 3rd generation Suzuki Swift is coming to our shore, and really soon in fact as the advertisement has already start popping up in the mudah.my website. The car also has been spotted on the transporter so it is clear that launch is imminent.

Asthetically, the 3rd generation Suzuki Swift carries similar design trend as the current car. Overall silhouette, roof pillar and the lamp shapes are familiar, albeit they are elongated to offer a more dynamic look.

The new Suzuki Swift measures 3,850mm long, 1,695mm wide and 1,510mm tall while riding on a 2,430mm wheelbase. Compared to the current car, the new Suzuki Swift is 90mm longer in total while the wheelbase is up by 50mm. It is also 5mm wider while the height is retained. While the extended wheelbase has lend a greater interior volume, Autocar UK quoted a better legroom and the rear occupants can tuck their feet underneath the front seat. While headroom is at the premium, the seats offer a good thigh support. The boot space is slightly smaller than before at 210L.

The interior design is vastly different from the current Swift with a better designed dashboard which is less plain the 2nd generation car. The audio setup follows the same theme as the bigger brother Kizashi.

Malaysian car is bound to receive K14B 1,372cc offering 94bhp@6,000rpm of power while torque is 130Nm@4,000rpm. The engine is 100cc smaller than before, and the output is good deal less compared to the 101hp and 133Nm available previously. The transmission is likely to a 4-speed automatic like the one found in Singaporean market, unlike the Swift in other market which is available with CVT gearbox. More detail after the jump.

2013 Toyota Corolla Sedan Spied - Sharp New Look

2013-01-08T21:07:00.001+08:00

The previous spyshot of the forthcoming Toyota Corolla provided no clues whatsoever on the front and rear styling, and with just a glimpse of the dashboard. Things are a little clearer, sourced from the Portuguese website. The bare-bodied Corolla here revealed an Auris-derived front end styling with visibly shapelier fascia.The headlamp is set plunging down, creased back up to meet the wide radiator grille. Big Toyota emblem takes the centre stage, whereby beneath it lies an enlarged air intake.

The side profile shows the kinked up rear door trailing edge, much like how the Lexus IS looks like. The clearer interior shot shows that it is indeed Auris-inspired instead of Corolla Axio derived, which is far more conventional.

The rear end is however still unknown. This series of photos still can't uncovered it. Two more photos can be found after the jump.

ADRIAN NEWEY - The Greatest F1 Car Designer Ever?

2013-01-05T16:02:00.001+08:00

Reb Bull Racing has secured their third consecutive Formula One Constructor Championship for 2012 in the newly introduced Texas Grand Prix and subsequently Sebastian Vettel secured his third consecutive title one race later in Interlagos, Brazil. Red Bull Racing (RBR) car, the RB8 Formula One machine in the hands of Sebastian Vettel beat Fernando Alonso is his slower F2012 by mere 3 points, while RBR as a team won 60 points over Ferrari's 400 points, thanks to its consistently well performing second driver.

RBR did not has the best start for 2012, where the RB8 lacks the exhaust-blown diffuser from its predecessor due to the rule change, thus preventing RBR from continuing its 2011 momentum. It took 4 races for Sebastian Vettel to appear as a winner. He retains this strong big-points run along the season before suddenly surged for four-consecutive win from Singapore to India to fend off the diminishing Fernando Alonso who, prior to summer break enjoyed 40 points cushion.

Such resurgence is not possible if everything stays normal unless your opposition suddenly become disable, or the driver suddenly re-discovered a driving skill, quite unlikely. One answer, the improved car. As Fernando Alonso keep saying he was fighting Adrian Newey instead of directly mentioning Vettel, as Mark Webber is usually entangled too in this titanic 2012 season.

Who is Adrian Newey? Every F1 technical geek surely know who he is. Personally, I started reading about him in 1999, when Formula 1 came to Malaysia, thanks to a genius idea by the former Prime Minister to host a grand prix in Malaysia. Adrian Newey is one of the key figure in the technical aspect for F1 car, together with his counterpart in rivalling team such as Rory Byrne, Eghbal Hamidy and Mike Gascoyne. It was by reading his biodata that prompted me to choose Aeronautical Engineering as my field of study in the UK, and the desire to be like him was what inspired me to participate in Renault F1-Altran Engineering Academy back in the good old days.

Adrian Newey graduated in Aeronautical and Astronautic Engineering from University of Southampton in 1980, in First Class Degree no less. Over there, he conducted a research on ground-effect aerodynamics which won an interest from Fittipaldi Automotive where he landed his first job.

Newey then joined March racing team in 1981, initially as a race engineer before start designing racing car, March GTP which went on to win two consecutive IMSA titles. Within the same team, he then designed the Indycar for 1984 season which proved to be successful after taking 7 victories including Indy 500 and CART title in the following year.

In 1986, Newey decided to return to the formula one arena in Europe with FORCE F1 team, a short-lived job when the team withdrew at the end of that season. Newey then re-united with March team as Chief Designer for formula one project. As March team evolved into Leyton House team, Newey was promoted to be Technical Director. The partnership was not eternally smooth-sailing, he was fired in 1990 as the team performance declined.

Then the mega years began. Adrian Newey joined Williams F1 team as Chief Designer. In 1991, the team finished second in the constructor championship, and Nigel Mansell finished second in driver championship behind the legendary Ayrton Senna. The dominance happened in 1992, where the Newey-engineered Williams-Renault FW14B utterly dominated, as Nigel Mansell won 9 races in a season, record-breaking feat for the era.

Williams-Renault FW15C - the active F1 car

Adrian Newey talent continues to shine in the following year, where he, together with Patrick Head engineered an active-car, with continuously electronically adjustable suspension, anti-lock braking and traction controlled FW15C. His leading driver, Alain Prost won the championship that year, ahead of nemesis Ayrton Senna. Read more after the jump.

MERCEDES E-CLASS COUPE & CABRIO FACELIFTED

2013-01-04T20:39:00.000+08:00

Following the recent redesign of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan and estate, Mercedes has extend the new design update to the coupe and cabriolet versions. The facelift mainly consist of the new headlamp design, which not unlike the sedan, ditched the quad light setup. The headlamp, despite similar in theme with the sedan, is far more elongated and sharply-edged. It also comes standard with anti-dazzle LED lights. The bumper has been revised too, with larger air intake.

Unlike the sedan which has got a smoothen rear flanks, the mascular rear hunch has been retained on the coupe and cabriolet. The rear light now features a horizontal lighting element, which together with the rear bumper has created a wider-look for the rear fascia.

In the interior department, the changes is more subtle but no less significant. Firstly, an analog clock makes an appearance in between the redesigned central air ducts, and there is now a two-piece decorative trim (single piece centre garnish for the sedan) available in both wood and aluminium. The floor-mounted gear lever is now gone, and in comes a Direct Select system which also accompanied by the paddle shifter.

Altogether, there are six petrol engine and three diesel engine for the new E-Class coupe and cabriolet. Among the new one is the BlueDIRECT spray-guided direct injection (SGDI) 4-cylinder engine which include a fast-acting piezo injectors, turbocharger and fully variable camshaft. There is also a new variant addition compared to the pre-facelift, called E400 bi-turbo which joined the rest of gasoline V6 and V8 which already equipped with BlueDIRECT technology. More details and photos after the jump.

BENTLEY REVEALS NEW CONTINENTAL GT SPEED CONVERTIBLE

2013-01-02T21:38:00.000+08:00

The Continental GT Speed Convertible, Bentley’s new open-top performance flagship - and the world’s fastest four-seat convertible is revealed ahead of its international debut on 14^th January at the North American International Auto Show, Detroit. Taking its place at the pinnacle of the Bentley Continental range, the new GT Speed Convertible has a top speed 325 km/h.

In a nutshell, this the high performance open-roof version of the new Bentley Continental GT, thundered by 616 bhp twin-turbocharged 6.0 litre W12 delivering an earth pulling 800Nm of torque. Buttery-smooth driven via the close-ratio 8 speed automatic transmission, the all-wheel-drive Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible is capable of pulling a mega 4.4s century sprint.

The Continental GT Speed convertible shares its powertrain specification with its Bentley stablemate the GT Speed coupé, meaning a 6.0L W12 twin-turbocharged, 48-valve. The aforementioned 800Nm of torque is on service from 2000rpm, and plateau all the way until 5000rpm to deliver the characteristic effortless high performance only a Bentley can offer.

The new GT Speed Convertible’s powertrain is even more tractable than its Speed predecessor, and just as fuel-efficient as the new W12 Continental GT. Switching the gear selector to ‘Sport’ mode however demonstrates the dual personality of the new GT Speed convertible, delivering a sharper throttle response, gear-shifting at higher engine speeds and faster ‘block shifting’ (eg 8th direct to 4th gear) for instantly accessible acceleration. The enhanced performance is accentuated by a glorious baritone snarl from the free-breathing exhaust, a thrilling soundtrack to the magnificent powerhouse under the bonnet.

For the exterior, Continental GT Speed convertible is distinguished by a matrix radiator grille and bumper air intakes in a dark-tint chrome finish. The 21” Speed alloy wheels are unique to this model, and are available in silver or an optional dark tint. Large, elliptical exhaust tailpipes feature a rifled interior, while a further, subtle design touch is revealed when the bonnet is opened – the black inlet manifold is unique to the Continental Speed models. As with the GT Speed coupé, the winged ‘B’ badge which crowns the radiator shell is set upon a black enamel background. The front wings of the GT Speed Convertible are created in superformed aluminium, their seamless form and crisply-defined body creases creating an impression of tension and muscularity.

Inside, exclusive treadplates featuring the ‘Speed’ legend welcome you to a four-seat cabin that features the hand-craftsmanship of the Mulliner Driving Specification, with its distinctive diamond-quilted hide upholstery. For the Continental GT Speed models Bentley offers an exclusive Dark Tint Aluminium ‘engine spin’ finish, inspired by the dashboards of the Le Mans winning Bentleys of the 1920s. Its understated shade is the perfect complement to the exterior’s dark tint chrome radiator and bumper grilles. Other optional finishes include the full range of fine wood veneers and a satin-finish Carbon Fibre option for fascia and centre console.

The infotainment system features Bentley’s latest software upgrades, which vary from region to region but include refinements such as point of interest mapping, optional satellite landscape imagery, live traffic data and, where the infrastructure supports it, digital radio. The system features 15 Gigabytes of available music space, as well as the facility to play music via an iPod, MP3 player, the car’s own six-disc CD changer or SD card. More details and photos after the jump.