Preview: Mondeo and S-MAX ECOBOOST

KUALA LUMPUR: Local Ford vehicle distributor Sime Darby AutoConneXion Sdn Bhd has unveiled two Ford new models featuring the Detroit car maker’s powerful and yet fuel efficient EcoBoost 2.0-litre engine - the updated Mondeo sedan and S-Max multi-purpose vehicle.

The Mondeo will be launched next month followed by the seven-seater S-Max in August.

Both vehicles to be sold in the luxury Titanium trim grade, are fully imported from Europe and will be equipped with the six-speed dual clutch Powershift transmission for smooth gear shifting.

The Mondeo is estimated to be priced between RM180,000 and RM185,000, and the S-Max from RM185,000 to RM188,000.

The Mondeo gets features such as adaptive bi-xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED tail lights, B-pillar mounted rear air conditioner vents, keyless entry and go, USB support, Bluetooth and Voice Command, cruise control and 17-inch wheels.

It also has Ford Convers+, a 256-colour screen in the instrument panel which displays radio, CD, MP3 player or Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone information.

Safety features include seven airbags, anti-lock braking system with electronic brakeforce distribution, electronic stability programme, hill launch control and traction control.

Powered by a 203bhp and 300Nm 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine that features direct fuel injection, turbocharging and twin independent variable cam timing technologies, the Mondeo can sprint from 0-100kph in 7.9 seconds.

EcoBoost powertrain promises up to 20% more power and fuel economy with up to 15% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to a normal engine of similar capacity.

The S-Max meanwhile, promises spacious interior for family vehicle in a stylish package featuring Ford’s current “kinetic” styling.

S-Max.

Its Fold Flat Seating system which offers 285 litres with all seats folded up and up to 1,171 litres available in “five-seat” mode, greatly enhances the S-Max’s ability to people and luggage together.

Utilising the same EcoBoost powertrain with the Mondeo, the S-Max can sprint from 0-100kph in 8.5 seconds to a top speed of 221kph.

Key features include adaptive bi-xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED tail lights, Ford Convers+, B-pillar mounted rear air conditioner vents, keyless entry and go, USB support, Bluetooth and Voice Command, cruise control and 17-inch wheels.

Safety equipment include nine airbags, anti-lock braking system with electronic brakeforce distribution, electronic stability programme, hill launch control and traction control.

Ford Export Operations Asia Pacific regional manager David Westerman said: “The new Mondeo’s smart design gives it a premium feel, and Malaysian customers will appreciate the class, style and comfort that this outstanding vehicle delivers.”

He also said the S-Max’s sleek new look combines first-class enhancements and functionality for a maximum fun-to-drive experience in comfort and style.

The Mondeo and S-Max come with a five-star Euro NCAP crash rating.

Beetle Revealed simultaneously in Berlin/New York/Shanghai...

2012 Beetle revealed simultaneously in Berlin/New York/Shanghai

 

 On 18 April 2011, the latest generation bug was unveiled in Shanghai, Berlin and New York, launched in the middle of MTV World Stage Concerts, with the official introduction at the Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal – on the eve of the Shanghai Motor Show.


The FOLLOWING were Written By: Volkswagen of America, Inc

Wolfsburg / Shanghai / Berlin / New York – When the first Beetle rolled off the production line, it was called simply the Volkswagen — “the people’s car” — but its distinctive shape inspired nicknames across the globe: Beetle, Käfer, Vocho, Coccinelle, Fusca, Maggiolino or ???! In total, 21.5 million cars were sold.

More than 60 years later, in 1998, the “New Beetle” rekindled the spirit and imagination of the original to a new generation of Volkswagen owners. The second generation version sparked another round of uplifting and joyous enthusiasm known as Beetle Mania.

Today, the Beetle opens a new chapter in its remarkable story. The third generation of the internationally beloved Beetle is celebrating a transcontinental world debut simultaneously in Shanghai, Berlin and New York.

Updating an icon

Only someone who knows and respects the Beetle’s heritage could produce a new generation of this storied vehicle. The task for Volkswagen engineers was clear. They had to develop a modern interpretation of the Beetle, with all the benefits of today’s technologies and efficiencies, and the driving characteristics that define the Volkswagen brand. The result had to remain affordable and stay true to the Beetle’s spirit and great heritage.

The design of the new Beetle presented another challenge. How does one reinvent a look that is so recognizable and unique? Volkswagen Group Design Chief Walter de Silva and Volkswagen Brand Design Chief, Klaus Bischoff, welcomed the task and set an ambitious objective: “Design a new original!”

The designers wanted to develop the new car around the earliest Beetle profile rather than the 1998 New Beetle. They wanted a car that respects the past but looks toward the future. And that is what they created.

EXTERIOR:

The 2012 Beetle is an automotive icon reinvented. Placing the original Beetle and the 21st Century Beetle next to one another, it’s clear that the lines of the rear sections are nearly identical, but the overall look is bolder and more dynamic. The Beetle also breaks free of the design geometry defined by three semi-circles (front wing, rear wing, domed roof above it).

"The Beetle is now characterized by a clean, self-confident and dominant sportiness. The car not only has a lower profile; it is also substantially wider, the front hood is longer, the front windshield is shifted further back and has a much steeper incline. All of this creates a new dynamism,” explains Klaus Bischoff.

The 2012 Beetle is 71.2 inches wide (3.3 inches wider), 58.5 inches tall (.5 inches lower) and 168.4 inches long (6 inches longer). The new focal point is the C-pillar. The development team also increased the car’s track widths and wheelbase. All of this gives the Beetle a powerful appearance with muscular tension.

Another feature is the rear spoiler that is integrated into the design (standard on 2.0L TSI engines with 200 hp). The top surface of the rear spoiler is black, while the underside is painted in body color.

The Beetle is sportier, offering both turbo-charged TDI® Clean Diesel and turbo-charged gasoline engines, in addition to dual exhaust, performance-handling packages, 19-inch wheels, sport seats and new, sleeker styling. Volkswagen will offer a panoramic roof, a range of audio options, including the Fender® Premium Audio System, and a customization program for the 2012 Beetle with a large number of personalization options, including a wide variety of colors and wraps along with an annual theme model.

INTERIOR:

The 21st Century Beetle offers an agile, driver-oriented coupe experience with a quality of materials that goes beyond all class limits. The car’s styling, ergonomics and quality interact to create a new, friendly car with a highly individual nature.

The shape and use of color in the painted or carbon-look dashboards harkens back to the design of the first Beetle.

Three round instrument gauges are arranged in front of the driver (tachometer, speedometer, fuel gauge) providing all key information at a glance. A multifunction display is integrated in the speedometer in middle position. The steering wheel is specially designed with optional painted accents in the spokes depending on the equipment line.

Framed by two air vents, the selected audio/navigation system is optimally located in the driver’s visual field on the dashboard. Within easy reach, climate controls are situated just below.

Similar to the original Beetle, the new car has an extra glove box integrated into the dash. The lid folds upward, while the standard glove box opens downward. Another classic feature: the optional auxiliary instruments above the selected audio/navigation system: oil temperature, clock with stopwatch function and boost pressure gauge.

The “cathedral ceiling” dome roof of the New Beetle has been replaced with a sleek and sporty roofline. Front and rear passenger headroom remains plentiful. In the rear seating area, the longer roof section results in more space. The trunk is significantly larger, offering 10.9 cubic feet of space. A split-folding rear seat and a wide opening trunk lid ease loading and unloading.

Premium Features

The 2012 Volkswagen Beetle will be available in two trim lines “Design” and “Sport.” Each has a unique character. The Beetle can also be customized with a wide choice of optional features. Key features include:

Radio-CD and radio-navigation systems. Standard in the Beetle is the RCD 310 sound system with 8 speakers (includes dual tuner). The premium VIII top audio system is the RCD 510 with integrated CD changer, interface for SD cards and touchscreen. For the first time ever, navigation will be offered in the Beetle, with the RNS 315 featuring a 5-inch touchscreen, CD player and SD card slot.

Panoramic roof. The transparent, panoramic tilt/slide glass sunroof is 80 percent larger than on the previous model. The insulating glass blocks 99 percent of UV radiation and 92 percent of heat energy.

Fender Premium Audio System. The 2012 Beetle will also offer concert quality sound with an optional Fender Premium Audio System equipped with an additional subwoofer and 400 watts of output power. Embedded in the vehicle design is proprietary Panasonic® speaker technology. The system covers the cabin with directional sound from front door speakers that generate imaging beyond the capabilities of traditional speaker designs. It cuts through the noise and other distractions with front dual voice coil speakers, with extended range for all musical genres. Those choosing this sound system also receive adjustable interior ambiance lighting.

Keyless Access. Volkswagen’s automatic keyless entry and starting system, which allows the driver to operate without a door or ignition key, is appearing for the first time in the Beetle. When one of the front door handles is touched, the system detects access authorization from a transmitter, then unlocks the Beetle and starts the engine with the push of a button.

BI-XENON headlights and LED daytime running lights. For the first time, the Beetle will be offered with Bi-xenon headlights. These will be available on future Beetle models, framing the xenon module on the outer perimeters of the headlights and serving as the daytime running lights and parking lights.

Safety

The 2012 Beetle features both active and passive safety. It includes Volkswagen’s advanced Intelligent Crash Response System, which initiates automatic safety protection in some types of collisions — the electrical supply to the fuel pump is shut off, the doors unlock and the hazard lights switch on. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is standard, as are driver and front passenger airbags and Side Curtain Protection® airbags in front and rear.

The 21st Century Beetle is also covered under the no-charge Carefree Maintenance Program. All scheduled maintenance is covered for the length of the New Vehicle Warranty – three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first. Additionally, all current Volkswagen vehicles use synthetic oil, which, when combined with state-of-the-art German engineering, eliminates the need for a 5,000 mile oil change, and allows owners to go farther between scheduled oil changes.

Key facts summary:

Name: The Beetle

World debut: April 18, 2011

Market launch, North America: September / October 2011

Market launch, Europe: October / November 2011

Market launch, Asia: February 2012

Equipment lines: “Design” and “Sport”

Engine specifications: 2.5L 5-cylinder (170hp/177lbs.-ft); 2.0L TDI (140hp/236lbs.-ft); 2.0L TSI (200 hp/207 lbs.-ft)

All US engines fulfil BIN5 / ULEV PZEV

Designers: Walter de Silva (Group), Klaus Bischoff (Brand), Exterior: Marc Lichte (team leader), Cris Lesmana, Nisan Kucam. Interior: Tomasz Bachorski (team leader), Ingo Brückmann. Colour and trim: Oona Scheepers (team leader), Susanne Gerken

REST OF THE WORLD ENGINES: (taken from Paultan.org)


Meanwhile, the rest of the world gets 105 PS, 140 PS, 160 PS and 200 PS mills. In markets such as Asia, Australia, Europe and New Zealand, the new Beetle will be offered exclusively with charged four-cylinder engines, in TSI or TDI guise.

The three charged TSI petrol engines are the 105 PS 1.2 TSI (with BlueMotion Technology, and including Stop/Start system and battery regeneration), 160 PS 1.4 TSI and 200 PS 2.0 TSI, while the two diesel engines are the 105 PS 1.6 TDI and 140 PS 2.0 TDI jobs (incidentally, the TDI engines are not going to be offered in China). All five engines get DSG transmission as a drivetrain option.

The 160 PS (European version) and 200 PS (worldwide) petrol-engine variants come with a factory-installed XDS electronic differential lock as standard. XDS – which extends the familiar EDS functionality – improves handling in fast curve driving and calibrates the car toward more “neutral” steering; it does this by using active brake intervention to prevent wheelspin of the unloaded wheel on the inside of the curve, and this improves traction. Elsewhere, electronic stabilisation programme comes as standard, as well as six airbags.

Without further ado, I present you 3 video clips of the new Beetle:


Video 1:  By EUROCARNEWS


Video 2: Also by EUROCARNEWS: 2012 VW Beetle Driving

Video 3: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle revealed - night scenes by worldcarfans



That's all folks, thanks for having the time and patience to read this blog entry.

ARTICLE: 900,000th MX-5 to set new record

900,000th MX-5 to set new record

 HIROSHIMA: The popularity of the MX-5 continues to grow, with Mazda producing 900,000 units on Friday.

The 900,000th Mazda MX-5 was a 2.0-litre softtop model in Germany.

This milestone was achieved 21 years and 10 months after mass production of the first-generation MX-5 started in April 1989.

The MX-5 was initially certified by Guinness World Records as the world's "Best selling two-seat sports car" when production reached 531,890 units in May 2000. Guinness updated the record when production passed 700,000 and, later, 800,000 units. Currently, Mazda is reapplying to Guinness World Records to have the record updated to 900,

During the 1960s and 1970s, numerous lightweight and fun-to-drive sports cars offered nimble handling and free-spirited open-air motoring.

In the 1980s, Mazda decided to resurrect this spirit with a new roadster for the modern age. Using the latest engineering techniques, Mazda developed the MX-5 and announced it in February 1989 as a reminder that driving could still be fun despite ever-stricter safety and quality standards. To this day, the MX-5 remains the longest enduring nameplate in Mazda's global lineup.

Nobuhiro Yamamoto, program manager of the current MX-5, said, "Since Mazda launched the original MX-5, it has undergone two complete product redesigns and a series of upgrades. Its enduring success is due to the strong support it enjoys from MX-5 fans around the world. Going forward, I will strive to keep the MX-5's spirit alive while evolving it into a car that will be loved by even more people."
 

 

VW Polo is Wheels Mag 'Car of the Year' - again

Polo is 'Car of the Year' - again

 

Wheels Magazine's 'Car of the Year' award for a second year running, the Australian Associated Press reports.

The VW Polo has followed the VW Golf to small-car fame, winning over judges with its "beautiful" engineering.

Wheels Magazine editor, Bill Thomas, said Nissan's Micra and the Renault Megane, both small cars, joined the Polo as top three finalists for the award.

Thomas said it was not surprising to see small cars taking the limelight.

"It's a fair indication of the way trends are going in car buying in Australia. Small car sales have gone up by 55 per cent.

"It means that a third of cars in Australia now are small cars," he said.

The Polo sells for about A$20,000 (RM60,000).

Thomas said the finalist nod was a first for the Nissan Micra, impressing judges with a complete overhaul.

"The Nissan Micra is probably the best car ever sold for under A$13,000 (RM39,000)  in Australia. The features and extras make it excellent value,"

Among the more expensive small cars, the Renault Megane hot-hatch sells for about A$42,000 (RM126,000).
 -Bernama