Mitsubishi Concept-cX

Building upon 70 years of four-wheel drive expertise, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) is pushing the benefits of this technology, in terms of on-road active safety and off-road ability, from Lancer Evolution to the Pajero. At the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show 2007, MMC will unveil a new compact-'SUV' called Mitsubishi Concept-cX. Featuring the �Jet Fighter� grille already seen with Lancer

All-New W204 C200 Kompressor spotted in Malaysia!

Dubbed a Werkswagen (not to be confused with a Vee-Dub), these pictures depict a sample unit of the new W204 C-Class spotted at the Mercedes-Benz assembly plant in Pekan. This maybe the earliest example to kick-start a CKD programme that could be well underway in Pahang, Malaysia. So, M-B fans can be expecting to see few CBU showroom units for a possible early launch in Sept/Oct 2007. Deliveries

Porsche 911 GT2 (997)

Porsche AG is finally unveiling the most powerful 911 so far homologated for road use: the new 911 GT2. The fastest-ever 911 will be available exclusively with rear-wheel drive (RWD) and a manual six-speed gearbox. (The 911 Turbo is AWD with a 6-speed Tiptronic S option).Quicker than even the 911 Turbo, it rockets to 100km/h in just 3.7 seconds and marches on to a top speed of 329km/h (204mph).

New Proton Gen.2 sedan = Proton Persona?

Struggling carmaker Proton will finally launch a new sedan or rather a new body variant based on its liftback model, the Gen.2 by mid-August. It will be powered by the familiar 1.6L Campro engine. In an apparent upgrade, the engine is expected to have a new variable intake system (ala last Ford Lynx 2.0 sedan) and possibly a remapped ECU, in order to improve the much-complained lack of low-end

New Mercedes-Benz 1.8L Petrol Engine with 238hp and 400Nm!

With moderate disappointment over the upcoming W204 C-Class range of engines, especially with regards to carrying over the M271 Kompressor powerplants largely unchanged, the DiesOtto engine developments will be much rejoiced by Mercedes-Benz fans the world over. After all, who doesn�t want power, economy and environmental friendliness all in one package? In Malaysia, an added bonus to this

New Honda Civic Type-R and Civic Hybrid Coming Soon!

Honda Malaysia has been busy training its dealers' sales advisors of late, for two new products to be launched in the near future. Details are sketchy and kind of 'classified' at this stage. But For Wheels do know that the new Civic Type-R slated for official introduction to the local market is the sedan version. Thank goodness it's not the odd-ball hatch shape! Meanwhile, the new Civic Hybrid is

Audi quattro: 27 years and counting...

By Dr LongAs the pioneer of four-wheel-drive technology, Audi set the transmission benchmark as early as 1980 with the launch of the Quattro coupe at the Geneva International Motor Show. Its enduring success on rally courses and racing circuits around the world proves that an innovation like the quattro is truly a practical technological application.Prior to this, only a few exotic cars with a

All-New Honda Jazz world debut soon?

Honda Motor Co.�s Takeo Fukui in his mid-year CEO speech updating the Japanese automotive company�s progress on its three-year strategic plan - that was first introduced in December 2006 - revealed that Honda will debut a successor to the Fit / Jazz sub-compact hatch this year. The all-new Fit will probably make its world premier in October at the Tokyo Motor Show 2007.The European

Mercedes-Benz Active Safety Experience 2007 on Friday the 13th!

By Dr LongApparently, I had gotten rid of any superstitious bone in my body for having attended the Mercedes-Benz ASE 2007 on that glorious Friday, seeing that it was a practical day to take time off from my clinical practice.Having been to the Audi Quattro Driving Experience in May 2005 (thanks to Chips Yap of MTM and Euromobil) and more recently, the Porsche World Roadshow in January 2007, I

Mercedes-Benz Active Safety Experience 2007

Better driving skills can make a world of difference for all road users even those with state-of-the-art active and passive safety systems in their vehicles. To communicate this philosophy, DaimlerChrysler Malaysia has organised the Mercedes-Benz Active Safety Experience 2007 � a driver training programme that makes this possible. Owners' Mercs are just as varied as the ASE training cars!

Isuzu D-Max Facelift 2.5 & 3.0

Due to the war heating up in the pick-up truck segment, Isuzu�s D-Max has undergone a facelift for 2007. The tough pick-up now sports a refreshed frontal visage plus some sheet metal changes. Interestingly, this is the third �nip-and-tuck� since its introduction in Malaysia.Striking changes this time around are sharper looking headlamp which utilises an ellipsoidal projector lens (3.0L D-Max only

Mitsubishi Evolution X's Twin-Clutch SST Gearbox

By Dr LongMuch has been said and anticipated about the all-new Lancer Evolution X�s 6-speed robotised manual gearbox. Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has finally confirmed its application and named it Twin Clutch SST. For those of you familiar with VW Golf GTI's DSG gearbox or Audi's S-Tronic automated manual transmission, Mitsubishi�s version is not much different with twin clutches set in

New 1-Series 3-door Hatchback and Facelift

The BMW 1-series has now undergone a facelift as well as power boost, underlining something called Efficient Dynamics which promise a better drive as well as comfort. There is now a 120i Sports in 3-door hatchback form. This M-accesorised variant has a new 4-cylinder engine with direct fuel injection (High Precision Injection in BMW speak). Horsepower is now an improved 170bhp with a higher

Future BMW 3 Series - E98?

Click to see full imageThe E90 BMW 3-series has been around since 2005 but news and details about the next-gen model are already circulating the internet. The next model will feature styling lifted from the Concept CS. The expected release timeline will be in 2012, the next BMW 3-series will be the first of a family of BMW cars with a more recognizable face derived from the original styling of

A Jaundiced Honda Jazz Anyone?

On its last leg of service since the world debut in 2002, the Honda Jazz gets a new dazzling coat called Helios Yellow Pearl. This is the sixth colour to be made available but it's exclusive to the Jazz VTEC, apart from Brilliant White Pearl. The other choices are Royal Blue, Alabaster Silver Metallic, Nighthawk Black Pearl and Taffeta White (Jazz i-DSI only).Over 10,000 units have found

New Mercedes-Benz (W204) C63 AMG with 457hp and 600Nm!

Mercedes-Benz has released details of its long-awaited new C63 AMG, based on the latest W204 C-Class. Its AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine develops a peak output of 336 kW/457 hp and a maximum torque of 600 Nm � unrivalled figures in this segment. As expected with such brutal output figures, the C63 AMG rockets from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, while its top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h.

2007 Mitsubishi Lancer Launching Soon?

A teaser post noted over at MTM Online has hinted at a new model launch from Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) sometime this Q3 2007. From the look of things, it is most likely that the fresh model would be the all-new Lancer (aka Galant Fortis in Japan) in CBU form.The new Lancer is expected to be powered by a 2.0L MIVEC engine cranking out 155bhp, and possibly equipped with a CVT transmission (

BMW 135i Coupe

This is going to be one fact little car. It is the coupe version on the already on the road hatch back and it is powered by a 300hp (some say 360hp) twin turbo inline 6 cylinder engine producing 300 lb-ft of torque from as low as 1400 rpm. This little rocket will propell itself from 0-100 kph (62mph) in 5.3 seconds according to BMW and will speed on to a top electronically limited speed of 155 mph or 250kph. It even has BMW's traditional Hofmeister kink.

The car is bing produced as a 2008 model and is expected in showrooms early in the new year. It is certainly going to bring back some memories for the 2002 Turbo owners out there.

Another cool car from BMW.

Formula one season update

What a phenomenal F1 season it has been so far up to the British Grand Prix in Silverstone England today.

Newcomer and rookie Lewis Hamilton with McLaren has been on all of the podiums (9) so far this year and is leading the championship in points with 70. He has won races and is re writing the record book. Ron Dennis made a wise decision in putting him in a McLaren this year.

This is what it looks like in the 2007 drivers championship so far:

01	Lewis Hamilton	70
02	Fernando Alonso	58
03	Kimi R�ikk�nen	52
04	Felipe Massa	51
05	Nick Heidfeld	33
06	Robert Kubica	22

It is impressive to see that BMW is 3rd in the championship points. They have some more work to do to be challenging the podium, but surely and steadily they are doing it. I'd think that by the end of the year they will be nipping at the heals of Ferrari and McLaren.

The race in Silverstone today was great. Lewis Hamilton was on pole slightly edging out Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari in qualifying. Felipe Massa was unable to keep his Ferrari running on the formation lap and was forced to start from LAST for the race finishing 5th behind Robert Kubica of Poland in the Sauber BMW who finished 4th.
Fernando Alonso looked like he was in with a shot for the win after the first pit stops, but the Ferrari crew and Kimi's spectacular driving knocked that on the head with Kimi winning, Fernando Alonso the current world champion of McLaren 2nd and England new super star Lewis Hamilton finishing the race in 3rd position.

I have to give it to Ferrari for this race. Kimi won and Felipe came 5th. I would expect that it would have been a Ferrari 1-2 if Felipe had of not had to have started from last place.

I still think Kimi is the best driver on the grid, so I am expecting the last half of the 2007 F1 season to be even better than the first. Will Lewis continue his podium streak? Will Kimi who has won the most races this year continue his pace? Will Fernando get upset by being overtaken by Lewis and switch teams next year? We will have to wait and see.

Nissan Bluebird Sylphy Coming in Q1 2008?

By Dr LongThe real-deal Nissan Sentra replacement model may see the light of day in Malaysia after all. Getting wind from some market analysts, Tan Chong Motors may start production of this all-new model as early as Q4 2007 at its spanking new Serendah automotive assembly plant.For new Nissan models these days, engines options from Renault co-developed powerplants remains aplenty. Whether Tan

New Audi TT Coupe First Drive: Alternative view

Well, it�s been sometime now I have shared my point of view but here goes. The TT is one really cool looking car. Hands down! You would think that most coupes of this genre were only made for cruising along some boulevard. Until you realize that this little car had a new heart transplant. The now popular 2.0 liter TFSI turbo engine coupled with my favourite gearbox, the VW DSG. (Audi calls it �

First Drive: 23 Minutes in an Audi TT Coupe!

By Dr LongIn an attempt to better the 6 minutes or 360 seconds drive accorded to the media during the launch the new Perodua Viva, For Wheels set out to break this record at Euromobil, franchise holder and distributor for Audi in Malaysia.Even with an iconic, sleek and sporty shape like the new TT, this writer was painfully smiling when it was his turn to slip into the driver�s seat. Mind you, it

Lower Prices for Suzuki Swift

Suzuki Malaysia Automobile (SMA) has relaunched its best-selling model, the Suzuki Swift with a lower price tag of RM71,943.50 (with insurance) for the entry level version. The Premier-spec Swift has a sticker price of RM78,099.50. The fully-imported Swift was selling for RM89,783.50 for the base model, and RM94,387.50 for the higher spec model. Only the Swift Premier wears the sporty bodykit

Kia Sportage Relaunched in Malaysia

Originally launched worldwide in September 2004 and in March 2005 for the Malaysian market, local franchise holder and distributor for KIA vehicles, Naza-KIA has relaunched a locally assembled version of this compact SUV recently. However, it is eye-opening to see this �rebadged� KIA not wearing the �Licensed by KIA� plaque and/or "NAZA" emblem but the real McCoy Korean nameplate!Originally

New BMW F3 and F5

While Mercedes-Benz is contemplating a different model to replace both its A- & B-Class come 2011, its long time arch-rival, BMW, has a 3 Series-based compact MPV (Sportvan) given stamping approval for production. Expected to arrive sometime mid-2010 in both RWD and all-wheel drive (AWD) forms, the F3 will likely share the same engines as the 3-Series and 1-Series. Both BMW�s superb 2.0L

Mercedes-Benz to Axe A- and B-Class in 2011?

Getting wind from the German financial newspaper Wirtschafts Woche, luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz has reportedly scrapped plans for successor models to its A & B-Class, due for replacements in 2011. In an about turn, an all new sporty compact hatch has been approved for development by Daimler boss Dieter Zetsche in order to compete head on with the sportier Audi A3 and BMW 1-series. News gathered

New BMW 1-Series Coupe

By Dr LongBMW has given a new lease of life to its beleaguered 1-series hatchback - by adding a rump to the rear - resulting in the new 1-Series Coupe. To be available soon in Europe, the 1-Series Coupe will wear 3 different badges:120d, turbodiesel 2.0L 4-cylinder, with 177hp and 350Nm.123d, 2.0L twin-turbocharged diesel, offering 204hp and 400Nm.135i, with 306hp and 400Nm, from BMW�s award