Source: Mitsubishi Motors Corp. Press Release
Friday 27 April 2007
2008 All-New Mitsubishi Evolution X
Thursday 26 April 2007
New 2008 Lexus LX 570
Larger in all dimensions, this new Lexus SUV promises more space, comfort, safety features, luxury amenities and driving pleasure.
The smart and neat-looking 5.7L V8 (as pictured above) is capable of a punchy 381hp and 542Nm worth of torque. Rest assured these figures are more than adequate to drive those monstrous 20-inch wheels all around, via permanent 4WD.
Owing to the sky-high taxes at all levels for a big capacity SUV like the LX 570, it is unlikely that Lexus Malaysia will park one of these (ex-stock) at their flagship showroom floor in Mutiara Damansara, PJ. However, one may spot that occasional few units a couple of years down the road, as reconditioned parellel imports from Japan.
Wednesday 25 April 2007
New Ford Ranger 2.5TDCi in Malaysia
The new 2007 Ford Ranger TDCi is priced at RM88,639 for the 4X4 XLT Auto while the 4X4 XLT Manual is a more affordable RM83,739. Bookings are open in May 2007 and deliveries will begin soon after.
Monday 23 April 2007
2007 Nissan Grand Livina
Edaran Tan Chong Motors (ETCM) will launch this model sometime Q3 2007 with prices expected to be in the range of RM75k to RM100k. Let's hope we get better spec/trimmed versions and hopefully, a Livina 1.6 CVTC (HR16DE engine) as the entry-level variant instead of the 1.5L base model.
Thursday 19 April 2007
New SsangYong Actyon
Actyon is visibly targeted at a younger audience. The moniker is a word-play between “action” and “young or youth”. Even though categorized as a small-sized SUV, there is enough space and versatility for most sports and lifestyle activities. Performance figures should approximately be the same as the Kyron, but by weighing 130kg lighter, this new Korean SUV will likely be quicker off the block. Possibly having better agility and handling too. Practically even better mileage to every tankful of diesel as well.
The shapely and sharp big-eyed headlights are very modern, with a single inward-slanting grille (phew! no more double-layered grilles), drawing inspiration from the SsangYong SV-R concept. Even the creased-ribs on the shark-nosed bonnet are the same of the concept car, successfully rendering a muscular stance up front.
The rear screen is very sloping, much like a sports coupè, but the Actyon is tagged as an SUV. A little paradox here but all design elements gelled-together rather well when witnessed in the flesh, or rather metal. What remains to be seen however, is whether Competitive Supreme will launch this leaner, sleeker and more athletic looking SUV-Coupe-Crossover in Malaysia anytime soon.
Pictured above is a jacked-up SsangYong Stavic MPV, displaying its mechanical drivetrain, suspension and floorpan. While below are the equally inspiring dancers after a show routine. Last but definitely not the least are the other - more elegant - SsangYong models at the Bangkok Motor Show 2007!
Test Drive: Volkswagen Touareg 3.6 V6 FSI
Specifications:
VOLKSWAGEN TOUAREG 3.6 V6 FSI
Engine: 3597cc, V6 Direct Gasoline Injection
Power: 276bhp @ 6200rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 2500-5000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic with Tiptronic
Acceleration: 0-100km/h: 8.5secs (as tested)
Top speed: 215km/h (claimed)
Price: RM433,888 w/o insurance and road tax
Verdict: A value choice in the company of the ML350 and X5 3.0i. Like a capable budget-Cayenne V6, by a further stretch of imagination.
The full report was published in NST-CBT on the Sunday of 22nd April 2007.
Wednesday 18 April 2007
Mercedes-Benz at BKK Motor Show 2007
Mercedes-Benz Thailand seemed bent on promoting the New Generation (W211 Facelift) E-Class, with a dedicated audio-visual presentation plus even an E220 CDI on display, something DaimlerChrysler Malaysia will not be remotely associated with for this new millennium, Bluetec or otherwise. Thanks to the commercial-grade Euro-1 diesel at the pumps!
Kindly note the creative and precise water-jet curtain display of Mercedes-Benz model alphabets (“e” as pictured above). The three-pointed star logo was also decently projected (in tandem) to the left of the MB display stand.
Related post: http://for-wheels.blogspot.com/2007/03/new-mercedes-benz-s300l-in-malaysia.html
New Nissan Frontier Navara
As with the upcoming Ford Ranger (in Malaysia), the new Navara also has that 5-speed automatic option, in addition to a standard 6-speed manual (as pictured below). These transmissions are obviously put into service to better saviour the magnitude and spread of torque available.
Set to start another round of power race among the mainstream truck makers of Ford/Mazda, Mitsubishi, Isuzu and Toyota, the new Navara will definitely be the ‘powerhouse’ benchmark for some time to come. In comparison, the Toyota Hilux has the most dismal output of 102bhp from its 2.5L D-4D. The new Ford Ranger 2.5 makes do with 143bhp @ 3,500rpm and 330Nm starting from 1,800rpm. Mitsubishi will tweak its new Triton from 136bhp to 160bhp, while Isuzu’s D-Max will get a boost for its 3.0L turbodiesel to punch out 145bhp, a significant hike from its current 130bhp. Toyota is reported to be planning to substitute the 2.5 to a 3.0L D-4D capable of 164bhp. The horsepower mania among the pick-ups is definitely on!
What remains unclear though is whether all these awesome figures are accessible for trucks enthusiasts in Malaysia. The much-professed fuel quality (read: low sulphur) upgrade at the pump has reached a dead end, with petroleum companies locked in a stalemate with the government, leaving both parties unwilling to pick up the tab for further stages of purification at the refineries. Until then, it is unlikely that we will see a Frontier Navara churning out 172bhp, running on antiquated, inferior grade Euro-1 diesel. Secondly, local distributor Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) has not announced any further addition to its line up of the Teana, Tiida sedan/hatchback and Grand Livina launches for 2007.