Facelifted Toyota Vios is now Launched from the price of RM72K to RM92K!

Credits to: http://paultan.org/2010/04/15/facelifted-toyota-vios-launched-rm72k-to-rm92k/

UMW Toyota has launched the facelifted Toyota Vios this afternoon. Like most MC (minor change in Toyota speak) cars, the makeover is limited to the front and rear look, wheels and cabin trim while the internals are unchanged. Powered by the tried and tested 1NZ-FE 1.5-litre with 108 bhp and 141Nm mated to a four-speed automatic, the refreshed Vios sees a slight increase in price over the old car, ranging from RM1,100 to over RM2,000 depending on variant. Here are the new prices, which are OTR with insurance:

• Vios TRD Sportivo RM92,000
• Vios G RM87,300
• Vios E RM81,500
• Vios J (A) RM76,090
• Vios J (M) RM71,990

Up front, the main change is the radiator grille, which brings some “Camry style” to the Vios. The grille now has two chrome horizontal bars as opposed to the previous single split, while the fog lamp housings are now in silver. At the launch event, UMWT showed off the range topping TRD Sportivo and the G-spec, and both came with new design 15-inch alloys and door visors. At the back, the MC Vios gets new taillamps that has more detailing compared to the plain old units. The chrome strip above the number plate is also longer and more prominent now. I have a feeling Toyota wanted to give the Vios a “classier” feel with this facelift, and the grille, chrome and multi-spoke alloys are supposed to create that effect.

Inside, the theme continues with piano black trim on the trademark “waterfall” centre console and chrome on the gear shifter base, hand brake knob and door handles (chrome package only for G). There’s also a new steering wheel with its base flattened off slightly and redesigned audio controls on the left spoke. In the G, the wheel is covered in dimpled leather while the TRD Sportivo gets red stitching to match the rest of its red/black cabin. The G gets combination leather seats and a light grey/beige theme, which further enhances the Vios’ airy, spacious feel. Variants lower down the range get dark grey fabric. We don’t get the Thai market’s HUD, start/stop button and AUX jack.

Equipment wise, all variants come with ABS with EBD and Brake Assist. J-spec cars get a driver’s airbag while the rest comes with two. Most of the goodies such as rear disc brakes, 15-inch rims and integrated stereo are only for the TRD Sportivo and G-spec. As before, the TRD Sportivo can be ordered with optional sports suspension. Scanning through the spec sheet, I saw that both manual and auto J-spec cars now come with power adjustable and retractable wing mirrors, which wasn’t the case previously, if memory serves right.
UMWT started taking orders for this car in February, and has over 2,500 bookings in hand as of now. The company plans to sell 32,400 units of the Vios this year and is confident of retaining the model’s No.1 position in the B-segment.

This Rear Brake light reminds me of the Subaru Impreza Version 9 which look quite similar to it.

This is the Rear Brake Lamp for Subaru Impreza Version 8. Looks alike huh?

The Interior

MTM R8 GT3-2: Supercharged, 560 bhp, RWD

Credits to: http://paultan.org/2010/04/09/mtm-r8-gt3-2-supercharged-560-bhp-rear-wheel-drive/#more-25097

Cold winters do strange things to German tuners. With the amount of snow they get, you’ll think that Wettstetten based tuner MTM would be grateful for the quattro AWD system on the Audi R8, but instead they have gone ahead and made a rear-wheel drive version of Audi’s supercar!

Presenting the MTM R8 GT3-2, which MTM says is the only RWD street-legal Audi around. The company “promises a complete new driving experience and pure driving pleasure” as you battle with the 560 supercharged horses from the 4.2 FSI engine. Torque is rated at 580 Nm. This is a big jump from 414 bhp and 430 Nm of the standard car and even surpasses the R8 V10’s 517 bhp/530 Nm. The GT3-2 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds on to a 317 km/h top speed. The 0-100 time is identical to the R8 V10, but remember that this tuned car puts its power to tarmac only via the rear wheels.

MTM adds on its own suspension kit with several settings, lightweight forged wheels on Dunlop Sport Maxx GT or Michelin Cup Sport tyres. The 20-inch rims hide 380 mm punched and ventilated brake discs. Nothing much is done on the outside except for a carbon fibre front spoiler, side skirt and rear wing for better air flow. I think the red chequred design looks quite cool on a black R8.

Besides selling the GT3-2 new, MTM has an open invitation to brave (or mad?) R8 owners to transform their Audi into a rear-wheel drive car.

Federation D Presents Nissan S14: Drift Car Construction

Credits to: http://federationd.com

Federation D proudly presents one of its drift machine which is a under construction Nissan S14. The pictures below shows the progress of the whole car is being done by purchasing the SR20 Engine, parts, Accessories, roll cage and etc.

SR20 engine ready to install

Waiting for parts in the workshop

Incomplete Interior

Could touch the floor through the gearbox hole

Roll-cage installed

Gearbox being ready for installation. Jack holds it up while they lower the car using the Hydraulic lift.

 Note the new single-plate clutch that the gearbox attached to. Sweet

Close up shoot of the Single Plate Clutch

Installing the gearbox

New 2-way LSD (limited slip differential; essential for drifting) at the rear axle, between the 2 Rear Tyres. By seeing the exterior, that shows 2 shiny new cogs. The engine (through the clutch) connects to the gearbox which connects to the LSD.

The interior necessities have just been re-installed. dashboard should be in soon enough

Engine bay is gradually filling back up

The upgraded cam pulley close up shoot 

Progress Update : Car is almost done... ~ 80%

Engine bay-passenger side : The custom exhaust manifold and header, with a waste gate attached (blue cap). This then connects to the turbocharger below (with a cloth sticking out).

Front-mounted intercooler. Just behind it is a small oil cooler. New piping can be seen entering and exiting the intercooler.

Engine bay-driver side : Heavy duty blow-off valve.

New exhaust system fabricated, welded, and mounted

Virus to help split water into hydrogen for fuel cells?

This has to be the geekiest and coolest piece of news related to the alternative fuel industry that has come out in a while. A hydrogen fuel cell is one very clean way to generate electricity on the fly in a car, eliminating the need for long waits for recharge times. But the hydrogen has to be generated first and that also requires alot of energy. One of the best sources of hydrogen is water, as it is so abundant. In fact, water is a byproduct of the fuel cell electricity generation process.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could store the water in the car and just synthesize it into hydrogen and oxygen on the fly? The fundamental laws of physics says that this is not possible as you cannot create energy out of nothing. It would take alot of energy to separate the water into hydrogen and oxygen. There are many who claim to have ‘broken’ this law, such as the massive Hydroxene and LMG tie-up publicity that happened quite a while back in our very own Bolehland.
Researchers are looking for more and more ways to create hydrogen in a cheaper way in terms of energy expenditure than existing methods and the latest is an effort by a team in MIT. It is basically artificial photosynthesis using a modified virus and sunlight to split water into hydrogen and oxygen atoms. An engineered bacterial virus called M13 binds with the molecules of a catalyst (iridium oxide) and a biological pigment (zing porphyrins). They become wire-like devices that can efficiently split oxygen and hydrogen from water. The virii are encapsulated in a microgel matrix to maintain a uniform arrangement, keeping them stable.
“The role of the pigments is to act as an antenna to capture the light. and then transfer the energy down the length of the virus, like a wire. The virus is a very efficient harvester of light, with these porphyrins attached,” says Angela Belcher, the Germeshausen Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Biological Engineering.
Right now what the system does is extract the oxygen, but the hydrogen atoms get split into their component protons and electrons. A second part of the system is still under development that will combine these hydrogen atom components back into proper atoms and molecules. They also need to find a cheaper catalyst.
This artificial photosynthetis still has a long way to go however. According to DuPont Professor of Materials Chemistry and Physics at Pennsylvania State University Thomas Mallouk, for this system to be cost-competitive with other approaches to solar power, it has to be at least ten times more efficient than natural photosynthesis, be repeatable a billion times, and use less expensive materials.
This isn’t going to happen in the new feature, but the ideas that this research project has brought up could help with the big picture of alternative fuel! For now, a prototype device than can carry out the splitting of water into oxygen and hydrogen should be able to be ready in two years, according to Professor Belcher.

Source from: http://web.mit.edu/press/2010/virus-water  aka massachusetts institute of technology

VW facelifts the Touran

Credits to: Anthony: http://star-motoring.com/blog/permalink.asp?id=1116

VW has unveiled its facelifted Touran at the Leipzig Motor Show, with revisions to the styling as well as the introduction of new petrol and diesel engine options being the major changes on the updated MPV.

The Touran features styling following the design direction established by the Polo, Golf and facelifted Touareg. There's a new grille with strong horizontal lines that are replicated in the new front bumper while at the rear, revised tail-lights featuring intricate LED bulbs are fitted along with a new tailgate and bumper. Completing the revisions are a set of new alloy wheels and chrome-edged rubbing strips running down the side of the vehicle.

Inside the Touran, fresh new trim finishes are joined by a three-spoke steering wheel ahead of a new set of dials featuring subtle white backlighting and a large electronic display to relay information on the vehicle’s systems.  A revised centre console with chrome highlights houses new controls for the ventilation system.

The MPV continues to retain its versatility, with seven seats as standard, the third row of which can be folded down into the floor of the vehicle to leave a 695l cargo space that can be increased to 1,913l with the centre row seats are folded.

 As for engine options, the entry-level petrol pot is a new 105bhp 1.2l TSI unit, with a 140bhp 1.4l TSI engine further afield. Two's also the number for diesel blocks - a 1.6l TDI in either 90bhp or 105bhp output form and a 2.0l TDI, again available in two output versions, 140bhp or 170bhp.

Skyline History and Specification details on BNR34

Production figures 7,849 (by end of February 2000)
Descriptions Standard: 3,169
V-spec: 4,619
V-spec N1: 31
Body Colours Version 1
- Bayside Blue (TV2)
- White (QM1)
- Sonic Silver (KP4)
- Athlete Silver (KV2)
- Black Pearl Metallic (GV1)
- Active Red (AR2)
- Lightning Yellow (EV1)
- Midnight Purple II (LV4) / Limited edition of 300.
- Midnight Purple III (LX0) / Limited edition.

Version 2
- Bayside Blue (TV2)
- Athlete Silver (KV2)
- Sparkling Silver (WV2)
- White (QM1)
- White Pearl (QX1)
- Black Pearl Metallic (GV1)
Version 1 Released: 8th January 1999.
Length: 4,600mm x Width: 1,785mm x Height: 1,360mm
Wheelbase: 2,665mm
Curb Weight: STD 1,540kgs / V-spec 1,560kgs
Max Power: 280ps/6,800rpm
Max torque: 40.0kg-m/4,400rpm
* Length: -75mm, Width: +5mm, Wheel base: -55mm (compared with BCNR33).
* Increased torque by 2.5kg-m from BCNR33.
* 245/45-18 tyres.
* Twin ball bearing ceramic turbochargers.
* Boost pressure increased to 0.93bar from 0.84 of BCNR33.
* Brembo brake calipers and discs.
* Getrag 6-speed manual gearbox.
* N1 conn-rod bearings as standard.
* Red engine cover.
* Plastic cambelt cover. (BNR32/BCNR33: metal)
* Lightweight turbo outlet tube. (-1.8kg)
* Multi Function Display.
* Engine immobilizer.
* Herical LSD on GTR Std.
* Brake cooling air guide on V-spec.
* Front diffuser and rear carbon fibre diffuser on V-spec.
* Active LSD and ATTESA E-TS PRO on V-spec.
* Harder suspensions on V-spec.
* V-spec special tacho meter.
Version 2 Released: 28th August 2000.
* N1 rear brake calipers on all GTR range.
* Aluminium pedals.
* Revised interior colour scheme. (Version 1: Grey cloth / Version 2: Black cloth)
* Revised centre cruster colour scheme (Version 1: Gold / Version 2: Illidium)
* Clear front indicators and side repeaters.
* Additional body colour: White Pearl and Sparkling Silver.
* Carbon fibre bonnet with NACA duct on V-specII (-4kgs).

M-spec Released: 8th May 2001
* Based on V-specII.
* Full leather interior.
* Front seat heater.
* Special ripple control shock absorber.
* Special rear stabilizer.
* Fine grip type steering wheel with gold stitching.
* Aluminium Bonnet. (Optional: Carbon Fibre Bonnet with NACA duct.)
* Exclusive body colour.
* Limited edition of 50 per month.

N1 Version * N1 Ball bearing metal turbochargers.
* N1 Bigger rear brake caliper and discs.
* Big capacity front mounted engine oil cooler.
* Less electric control of wing mirrors. (non colour coded.)
* Plastic hand brake lever. (Std: leather)
* Plastic centre console lid. (Std: leather)
* Less air-con.
* Less rear wiper.
* Less rear fog light.
* Less remote control key.
* Less audio.

V-specII NUR
M-spec NUR Released: 26th February 2002.
* Limited edition of 1,000 as BNR34 GTR Final Edition.
* N1 turbochargers.
* N1 Engine block.
* N1 Pistons with weight balancing.
* N1 Piston rings.
* Weight balanced conn-rods.
* N1 Oil pump.
* N1 Water pump.
* N1 Exhaust manifold.
* N1 Intercooler air hose.
* Exclusive cylinder head cover colour.
* Exclusive gold VIN plate.
* Exclusive rear emblem.

Fiat 500C by Diesel debuts

Credits to: Anthony @ http://star-motoring.com/blog/permalink.asp?id=1114

 The Fiat 500C by Diesel, the cabriolet version of the model jointly created by Fiat and clothing brand Diesel in 2008, made its debut today in Japan.

The car will make its European debut later in the week, on Apr 15 at the Milan Furniture Fair. It will be marketed worldwide, starting in Italy from May, available with four engine options - 1.2 69 HP, 1.4 16v 100 HP, 1.3 Multijet 75 HP with DPF and 1.3 Multijet II 95 HP - and three body and top colour combinations.

The 500c by Diesel gets exclusive bits, as expected - externally, there are 16-inch alloy wheels, a rear trim with imitation air intake, yellow brake calipers (only on the 1.4 100 HP version) and satin-finish chrome painted details. Inside, the customised cabin sports a dark denim style fabric with yellow stitching, a fifth pocket with the unmistakable Diesel brand, the head of the famous "Mohican" on the gear lever knob and a special satin chrome coloured dashboard. 

Model Hwang Mi Hee @ KOAA Car Show

This is a 2009 KOAA Car Show held in Tokyo and its the largest exhibition by participants among the auto related shows in Korea. (328 exhibitors in 2008). Besides that, it's an international exhibition with many foreign companies from abroad. It is also sponsored by Korean Central Government from 2004 thus a nationwide exhibition supported by the following most of Korean regional governments

Event Info:
- One on one business meeting arrangement service between exhibitors and buyers such as Korean automakers, tier 1, tier 2, and major impoters, etc.
- Advanced automotive technology training programs jointly organized by SAE International in U.S.

	Nov. 19(Thu) ~ 21(Sat), 2009
	, Seoul, Korea
	22,000 sqm
	400 Companies
	(The Ministry of Knowledge Economy)     (Gyeonggi Provincial Government)
	(Korea Automotive Industry Globalization Foundation)     (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency)   in cooperation with    (Society of Automotive Engineers International)
	The European Union Chamber of Commerce in Korea Korea Automotive Technology Institute Korea Auto Industries Coop. Association