Porsche Club Malaysia Melaka Drive May 2010

Porsche Club Malaysia (PCM) has had a successful drive to Melaka's MIMC Go-Kart track on 8th May 2010. With well over 40 cars and overwhelming participation in a track drive clinic on that Saturday. With the obligatory cornering lines, brake-and-steer, trail braking etc exercises resulting useful driving pointers being given to our fellow club members.

A time attack session was held and the winner was Chan Kien Seng in his limited Sport Edition black Cayman S (manual 6 -speed) proving once again that a mid-engined coupe - though less powerful - can be superior to the iconic rear-engined Porsche 911s. Nevertheless, the runner-up was a manic Porsche (996) GT2 on semi-slicks driven by Garry Adam - just 2 secs behind the winning Cayman S bearing registration number: "WHY 911". A very thought provoking registration plate don't you think?

Enhanced Proton Gen2 with Campro CPS for all trim levels

PROTON will be introducing an enhanced version of the Gen2 which sports refreshed exterior styling, with greater product appeal, and above all, offers greater value for money to customers, from 22 May (Saturday) onwards.

The enhanced 1.6-litre Gen2 is available in the High-Line (manual & automatic) and Medium-Line variants (automatic).

With an on-the-road price of RM 57,488 (manual) and RM 60,488 (automatic), the High-Line retains its existing price but offers buyers a whole suite of enhancements.

Exterior enhancements include new finishing for the front grille, alloy rims, and outer door handle. The enhanced Gen2 also comes with a new black painted roof. Inside, it is equipped with leather seats, a multifunction steering wheel which incorporates the audio switches, door trim finishing and a multipurpose container for extra storage area.

The Medium-Line meanwhile, is priced RM1,500 cheaper and will now sell for RM54,988 (OTR) as opposed to the old price of RM56,488. It offers all the new enhancements except for the leather seats, multi-function steering wheel, fog lights and a body-kit. The Medium-Line variant will also be fitted with the 1600cc CPS CAMPRO engine which replaces the current IAFM CAMPRO engine.

Both variants are also available in two new colours: Solid White and Fire Red.

PROTON Group Managing Director Dato’ Haji Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said the introduction of the enhanced Gen2 was one of a series of initiatives being undertaken by the company to introduce not only greater product appeal but also to offer customers better value for money. PROTON, he added, is targeting at selling 300 units of the enhanced Gen2 per month.

Taking advantage of the projected Total Industry Volume (TIV) growth of 2.4% to 550,000 units in 2010, Dato’ Haji Syed Zainal Abidin said PROTON is also aiming at selling 165,157 vehicles this year, a total 12% higher than the 148,027 units sold in 2009. This would also increase PROTON’s market share to 30% from its current 28%.

This will be achieved via the introduction of new and enhanced models, supported by extensive marketing campaigns and promotions as well as increased ground activities.

“Pushing ahead and in conjunction with PROTON’s 25th anniversary, consumers can look forward to an exciting year filled with various programmes. These include a competition, a television programme and even a nationwide tour, to bring PROTON closer to the people,” he said.

The Gen2 was first launched in February 2004 before undergoing a change in October 2005. In March 2008, the Gen2 inherited the CAMPRO engine’s IAFM upgrades while certain variants were fitted with the more powerful CPS CAMPRO engine.

Most Powerful Street-Legal Porsche of all Times: The new 911 GT2 RS

The time: seven minutes, 18 seconds on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. The power: 620 hp. The weight: 1,370 kilograms in road trim with all fluids on board. The car: the new Porsche 911 GT2 RS. The GT2 RS is making its world debut at the Moscow Auto Show on August 25th.

The future top GT model marking the absolute climax in the 911 range is the fastest and most powerful road-going sports car ever built in the history of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart. With power up by 90 hp and weight down by 70 kilograms or 154 lb in comparison with the 911 GT2, the new 911 GT2 RS has a power-to-weight ratio of just 2.21 kilos or 4.9 lb per horsepower, by far the best power/weight ratio in its class. Obviously, these are the ideal ingredients for an ultra-high-performance sports car with supreme agility, truly blistering performance on the road, and of course exemplary Porsche Intelligent Performance. For despite this extra power and performance, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions versus the 911 GT2 are down by approximately 5 per cent to 11.9 ltr/100 km (equal to 23.7 mpg imp) and 284 g/km.


The 3.6 litre six-cylinder boxer engine boosted by two turbochargers with variable turbine geometry - exclusive to Porsche in its combination with a gasoline engine - drives the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. Developed especially for the 911 GT2 RS, sports tyres measuring 325/30 ZR 19 convert this massive power into equally massive performance and acceleration on the road: 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds, 0 to 200 km/h in just 9.8 seconds, and 0 to 300 km/h in 28.9 seconds. Top speed is 330 km/h.

Equally supreme stopping power on this ultra-high-performance sports car comes from PCCB composite ceramic brakes. Appropriate longitudinal and crosswise dynamics are ensured by the sporting RS set-up of the springs, PASM Porsche Adaptive Suspension Management, anti-roll bars, as well as the dynamic engine mounts and PSM Porsche Stability Management.


In its looks the new 911 GT2 RS stands out clearly from the 911 GT2 above all through the lavish use of carbon-fibre-reinforced (CFR) components in matt-black surface finish, even wider wheels and flared wheel arches at the front, new 911 GT2 light-alloy wheels with central locking, as well as ”GT2 RS“ model designations on the doors and rear lid. The upgraded front spoiler lip and the rear spoiler lip made of CFR and now 10 millimetres or almost 0.4 inches higher, again in surface carbon finish, ensure the right aerodynamic precision as well as extra downforce.


The interior also exudes the flair of sporting performance in virtually every detail, featuring lightweight bucket seats made of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic in carbon surface finish and lightweight door panels with door opening straps. The basic interior colour is black, contrasting attractively with features such as the seat centre sections and the roof lining as well as segments on the steering wheel rim. The gearshift and handbrake lever are both finished in red alcantara.

Limited to just 500 units, the 911 GT2 RS will be available in Europe from September 2010, in the USA from October 2010. The Euro base price is 199,500.- Euro. Including VAT and national specifications/equipment the new 911 GT2 RS will retail in Germany at a price of 237,578 Euro.

New Mercedes-Benz V6 and V8 engines: lower emissions, lower fuel consumption & yet higher output!

Mercedes-Benz is setting previously unachievable efficiency standards in the premium segment with completely newly developed V6 and V8 engines. The new V8 engine has a displacement of 4663 cc and develops a maximum power output of 320 kW (435 hp), which is around 12 percent more than its predecessor despite approximately 800cc lesser in displacement. Torque has increased from 530 Nm to 700 Nm – i.e. by no less than 32 percent. Fuel consumption has however been reduced by 22 percent.

With the same 3499 cc displacement as its predecessor, the new V6 engine develops 225 kW (306 hp). Torque has increased from 350 Nm to 370 Nm. Here too, the improvement in fuel efficiency is remarkable. The S 350 with the new V6 engine consumes an economical 7.6 litres per 100 kilometres, a saving of 24 percent compared to its predecessor.

Mercedes-Benz has achieved this considerable leap in efficiency with the use of a start/stop function as standard and other features such as newly developed, third-generation direct petrol injection with spray-guided combustion, multiple injection and multi-spark ignition. With this new generation of V-engines, Mercedes-Benz is clearly demonstrating that with concerted further development, internal combustion engines still have a great deal of potential, and that V6 and V8 engines with their great running refinement can continue to be used to good effect in the future.

19-inch Sport Classic wheels available for retrofitting on the Porsche 911

One the the most iconic retrofit highlights from Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is the 19-inch Sport Classic alloy wheels. Sporting the unmistakable look of Porsche’s legendary Fuchs rims and developed especially for the 911 Sport Classic - built in a production run of just 250 units - it is now available for retrofitting to any of the 911.

Re-interpreted in individual style, the wheels in five-spoke design with the rim star painted black, the wheel hump in gloss-lathed finish, and the coloured Porsche logo on the wheel hub, are a genuine eye-catcher. Introduced by Porsche for the first time in 1966, these unique wheels are now making a nostalgic return.

The new wheels measure 8.5 J x 19 ET 55 and come together with tyres in 235/35 ZR 19 (front) and, respectively, 11.5 J x 19 ET 50 with tyres in 305/30 ZR 19 (rear) on all current all-wheel-drive models of the 911 Carrera and Targa as well as the 911 Turbo at an all-in price per set of Euro 5,569.20 including VAT (cars with tyre pressure control Euro 5,866.70).

Porsche Aerokit Cup for the 911

The newly developed Aerokit Cup available on all versions of the 911 Carrera Coupé shows a close and direct link to the fastest brand trophy in the world, the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. At the front of the car the most outstanding feature is the new apron with its striking trim bars in the centre air intake and the characteristic spoiler lip.

Already available on new cars at a price of Euro 4,968.25 (including VAT), the Aerokit Cup may now also be retrofitted on current models of the 911 from Porsche Tequipment at Euro 4,522.00 (including VAT), plus fitting and paintwork.



While so far the Aerokit with its particularly sporting look was not available to drivers of the 911 Cabriolet and Targa (997), the new, striking Sport Design front apron now closes this gap, with the spoiler lip matched aerodynamically to the regular rear spoiler.

Naturally, the new front panel also fits on all other versions of the 911 Carrera and 911 Targa in the 997 model series. Finished in the same colour as the car itself, the front apron in Sport Design blends harmoniously with the overall contours and silhouette of the 911.



At the rear the unique rear lid with the wing fitted in position takes up the highly successful design of the former model. It almost goes without saying that all components have been optimised in Porsche’s wind tunnel to improve both driving behaviour and aerodynamics.

The Aerokit retails on new cars at a price of Euro 2,368.10 (including VAT) and is available from Porsche Exclusive. It may also be retrofitted individually by Porsche Tequipment at a price of Euro 2,159.85 (including VAT), plus the cost of fitting and paintwork.

Porsche Tequipment: Sport Steering Wheel with proper paddle shifters for 911 and Boxster/Cayman with PDK

For those of you who have driven a PDK (twin clutch 'box) enabled 911 (997) or Boxster/Cayman (987/987c), he or she will likely dread the 'dumb' swinging-rocker switches sitting atop of the 9 and 3 0'clock limbs of the steering wheel.
Well, Porsche AG has finally come out with a solution to this - as usual, nothing less than a paying option along with a sleeker & sportier steering wheel.

Here is the press release:

A sporting feature well known from the new 911 Turbo is the three-spoke sports steering wheel with gearshift paddles for the PDK transmission. Starting immediately, this unique leather steering wheel with gearshift paddles behind the right and left steering wheel spokes carried over from motorsport is available at a price of Euro 940.10 (including VAT) also for individual retrofitting on all versions of the 911, Boxster, Cayman, and Panamera with PDK and, starting in August 2010, on the all-new Cayenne with Tiptronic S.

The high-quality shift paddles are naturally made of metal. Through their stretched sickle shape, the gearshift paddles allow the driver to shift gears manually with perfect ease, from a wide range of individual holding positions on the steering wheel. The driver shifts up on the right and down on the left.