2011 Ford Ranger Unveiled

As the car makes its world debut at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, Ford released details of the all-new Ranger for 2011. With its new dynamic style, powertrain and equipments, the 2011 Ranger wants to set new standards in this segment. And for that, it gets a Dagenham-built 2.2-litre Ford Duratorq TDCi I4 diesel engine with peak torque of 375Nm and power output of 110kW (150PS).

The other choice is an efficient new 3.2-litre, Ford Duratorq TDCi I5 diesel engine with a powerful 470Nm of torque and power rated at 147kW (200PS).

The all-new Ranger four-wheel drive models are equipped with a well-proven electronically controlled transfer case that allows drivers to shift from 4×2 to 4×4 anytime via an electronic switch conveniently located on the console. If extra torque or additional downhill braking is needed, low range gearing can also be enabled.

The new Ranger is also carefully engineered to take on rough terrains, with ground clearance of up to 232mm and driveline components that have been strategically mounted above the frame rail. Despite an increased 3,220mm wheelbase and wider track 1,560mm for the 4×4 model, and 1,590mm (front and rear) for the 4×2 model – the all-new Ranger’s turning circle makes it easily manoeuvrable in parking and on narrow city streets.

The suspension too is set up for hard tasks, yet providing smooth, firm but comfortable ride, with a rear leaf suspension design that has been carefully tuned for a variety of road conditions while still delivering outstanding payload capacity. This also gives Ranger a firmly planted ride for high-speed driving on dirt roads with reduced sway and less vehicle “skate” on corrugated or rough surfaces.

The Ranger will have as standard Ford’s Electronic Stability Program (ESP) system that includes four-wheel traction control, yaw control and roll-over mitigation.

That’s enough technicality, real pickup users want to know what’s the payload! The cargo box of the new Double Cab is more than 100mm wider than before – 1,549mm long by 511mm high and with a maximum cargo width of 1,560mm. Volume is an impressive 1.21 cubic metres.

Width between the wheel arches is 1,139mm on all models and special provisions are provided in the cargo box to place struts of lumber in pockets that are located above the wheel arch. This allows plywood or sheet rock to be stacked flat. Width at the rear tailgate opening, at the top of the box, is 1,330mm.

As for the safety, all-new Ford Ranger offers new passive safety technologies, including the availability of side curtain airbags on all cab styles for the first time. Other new Ranger technologies include Rear Park Assist and new Rearview Camera system.-motorward.com

Mercedes-Benz R-Class at 2010 AIMS

Mercedes-Benz has decided to exhibit the latest Mercedes-Benz R-Class at the 2010 AIMS in Sydney. The new model is in Australia for the first time and is now available.

The R-Class  MPV/SUV features some aspects of an off-road vehicle whilst providing seating for up to seven people in a low-ride sedan-like platform. The new R-Class features completely new styling and panels, such as a new bonnet, front guards, radiator grille, head lights and bumper bars. There’s also LED daytime running lights.

The new shape is more aerodynamic-looking which is more pointy and arrow-like at the front and continues over towards the new rear end. At the back there’s a neat rear diffuser and redesigned LED tail lights.

Other standard equipment for the Mercedes-Benz R 300 CDI includes:

• 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive
• 20-inch 5-twin-spoke alloy wheels
• Automatically dimming interior and driver’s side exterior mirrors
• Bi-Xenon headlamps (darkened) with LED daytime driving lights
• Blue-tinted thermal insulation glass all round
• Burr Walnut wood trim elements
• Chrome-look beltline trim strips, rub strip with chrome insert and chrome-look undergaurd at the front
• COMAND APS including Reversing Camera
• Dark tinted glass for rear windows back from B-pillar
• EASY-PACK tailgate
• Electrically folding exterior mirrors
• Electric rear vent windows for 3rd row

Mercedes-Benz R 300 is priced from $92,200, exclude on-road costs and additional charges.-caradvice.com.au

The most reveal spyshots of 2011-2012 Kia Rio sedan

The most reveal spyshots of 2011-2012 Kia Rio sedan

Back in early september autoten post a spyshots Kia Rio sedan replacement (codename UB)spies the car with  heavy camouflage which is covering the most important styling details of the new car.
This time we got most reveal spyshots from China’s website.

The car will fallow new kia’s design direction.the overall design got much influrance from D segment- the kia Optima (the Rio is b-car).the front is featuring a tiger’s face and all the line look like sclae down version of kia Optima. Inside may be the weakest point of the car.esspecialy the center stack is too simple’s design.

The engine will include  1.4L and 1.6 L petrol. the1.4L CVVT engine is 78.7kW (107 hp),torque is 135NM. the 1.6L CVVT engineis 90.4kW (123 hp) torque is 155Nm.both engine Match 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic transmission.

2012 Mazda BT-50: official details, photos and specs

Besides the 2012 Ford Ranger, the 2010 Australian International Motor Show which takes place in Sydney also saw the introduction of the 2012 Mazda BT-50. The new vehicle which was developed as an "Active lifestyle vehicle”, and promises to show Mazda’s direction in the utility segment. According to Mazda, the new vehicle is more comfortable comparing it to the current BT-50 model, it has refined and expressive styling, it has a high quality interior and offers a smoother ride.The design of the car is completed by the five-point grille, as well as by the new headlights and the chrome crossbar which forms a large pentagon. The headlights have a bold boomerang shape, more elaborate details and a functional beauty. The rear design is completed by the horizontally stretched taillights, reaching around the corners and across the tailgate.

As Ryo Yanagisawa, chief designer of the all-new BT-50, explains: "Mazda's brand message is Zoom-Zoom, which refers to the emotion of motion first experienced as a child. With the all-new Mazda BT-50, we aimed to express this emotion through the design, and we drew a lot of inspiration from various "movements" in the world around us. For example, we had a photograph of a lion. He looked like a magnificent predator with his muscles all bunching up as though he was about to pounce on his prey. His sinews were stretched taut ready to strike, and his mane framed a sharp, masculine countenance that seemed to say, 'I am the proud king of the beasts!' In profile, that lion appeared to be both intelligent and powerful. I really wanted the design of the truck to project that kind of image. This kind of inspiration was the basis of the emotional design that we worked so hard to achieve with the all-new BT-50."-4wheelsnews.com

Subaru Forester S-Edition Concept Unveiled at Australian International Motor Show

Subaru has introduced a Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive Forester concept at the 2010 Australian International Motor Show. The vehicle comes with a list of new elements, which are strong clues pointing to a new variant of the vehicle, which will be released next year.Using the Forester S-Edition concept, the vehicle is built starting from the current turbocharged Forester XT. The concept’s 2.5 liter engine comes with a power premium of 32 hp and 27 Nm, offering a total of 262 hp and 347 Nm of torque.

The list of important novelties includes:

• Paddleshift five-speed automatic gearbox
• Revised sports suspension
• Variable Torque Distribution (VTD) All-Wheel Drive
• Exclusive styling accents
• STI 17-inch high lustre alloy wheels
• Alcantara seat trim with S-Edition logos
• Drilled alloy pedals
• Luminescent instruments with centre design unique to the model
• Forester S-Edition badging

“We’re delighted and honoured that Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) have chosen Sydney for the worldwide unveil of this Forester concept.It points towards an exciting development in our Forester range early next year,” said Nick Senior, Managing Director, Subaru Australia.

“Forester is firmly established as Australia’s best selling compact sports utility vehicle, with the most recent addition to the range being the diesel variants that are proving a sales winner for our All-Wheel Drive brand. There’s no denying Forester’s appeal to Australians in both urban and rural environments, so we think this concept will only add to the huge interest,” the executive added.

The unveiling follows the company's recent announcement of its first all-new engine in 21 years, which will make its debut on naturally aspirated Foresters in Australia in early 2011. We are talking about the third generation four cylinder horizontally opposed 2.5 liter Boxer engine. This comes with a longer stroke, compact combustion chamber and lighter moving parts.-autoevolution.com 

Proton unveils Inspira priced from RM79,888

 
Proton Holdings Bhd has unveiled an all new mid-sized four door Sedan, "Inspira", with a starting price of RM79,888 and it is not a replacement model for Waja.

"Waja is being discontinued. This is not a replacement," Group Managing Director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said at the soft launch of the latest edition of Proton's family here.

He said the new model clearly demonstrated the many ways to come out with a good car and a result of Proton's long-term relationship with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC).

The collaboration with MMC to come up with the Inspira enabled Proton to save a lot of funds and time, he said.

"It's cheaper from the company's point of view," he said, adding that it would cost up to RM700 million to develop a completely new car.

"It's a win-win collaboration of Proton and MMC," he said.

Booking starts today with a minimum fee of RM1,000. Those who book the car from today until Nov 15 will get a free two-year service or first 50,000km.

The service package includes free labour charges and service parts worth RM1,658 in total for the car that will be launched on Nov 10.

Proton offers continuously variable transmission (CVT) with intelligent and innovation vehicle electronic control system (INVECS-III) in a variant of the Inspira.

Among practical features customers stand to gain from include auto cruise, automatic light and rain sensors, welcome and coming home light system, fully automatic air conditioning system with climate control system for both front and rear occupants, and all round airbags for passengers' safety.

Proton aims to sell 1,600 units of the Inspira a month.

"The market for the C-Segment cars is about 5,000-6,000 units a month. So, we are looking at 1,600 a month as it is value for money," Syed Zainal said.

He said the company also aimed to export the Inspira, "but we will first ensure the stability of production first."

Inspira comes in four colours -- White, Black, Silver and Red.-Bernama,

2011 Suzuki Swift R Concept to debut at Beijing Motor Show

The current Suzuki Swift is starting to get a little old now since it was launched in 2004. This concept is a way of Suzuki reminding us that it knows a thing or two when it comes to the hot hatch segment. The Swift has always been one of the, if not the most driver-oriented hatches in the segment, too, this looks like it’ll have no trouble reinforcing that.

The new concept features all the right enhancements, enough to whet appetites far and wide in the world of driving enthusiasts. Lowered and hunkered-down sports suspension, as well as a fatter track and sprouted camber settings compared to the Sport variant, the car looks like it’d be a hoot around any track or strip of road.

Under the bonnet is said to exhibit considerable upgrades although Suzuki hasn’t confirmed any definite details. Speculators say the car will get a 1.4-litre turbocharged engine, outputting up to 134kW. But it’s not outright power that is the key here, it’s light weight agility that will make this R Concept excellent fun.
The exterior features a number of enhancements over the current lineup too, including a bespoke ‘R’ bodykit said to mimic fairing designs seen on the GSX-R1000 motorbike.
Pricing and production details are yet to be confirmed. Suzuki has said it will unveil the car at the Beijing Motor Show in April 2011 though. We’ll keep you updated.-caradvice.com.au

Renault fluence ZE

For singles and newly-wed couples, a car with just two doors would be enough, but if you have a wife and three kids and want to be as green as possible, you may as well buy an electric car, but a 4-doors one… just like the Renault Fluence ZE, whose concept has been presented at this year’s Paris Motor Show.

The Fluence ZE is designed as a nice family car and it’s electric, too. Its range is not something you will brag about (160 km, or 100 miles), but with the perspective of batterytechnology that gets more efficient every year, it may be a wise investment.

It’s only a concept right now, but when it will come to the market, the specs will probably be better. The Renault Fluence ZE also features a solar panel for those times when every drop of energy matters and you’re stranded in the middle of nowhere with nothing more than sunlight as a power source (still, you wouldn’t like that, because the car would probably need a day of full sunshine to go for another mile). Anyway, the solar panel helps for the car’s air conditioning systems, like it does in the Prius. Let’s hope its weight won’t increase the energy usage like it does in Toyota’s hybrid, from 4.8 to 4.9 L/100km.

Renault has sacrifived trunk space for the battery, so you won’t be able to carry much in the space left, maybe some handbags and what you bought from the local “boulangerie” on your way home.

Anyway, it’s a nice car. Let’s hope it will be as affordable as it is nice. Renault already has plans to implement abattery swap program, so you will probably be able to swap the battery in just three minutes, practically on the go, throughout the entire France and Europe, later on.-greenoptimistic.com

Scion To Sell Toyota FT-86 in 2012

Just the Facts:

• Toyota plans to sell the FT-86 as a Scion.
• U.S. dealers have been told the entry-level sports car will be priced from around $25,000.
• It may be marketed in 2012 under the name Scion FR-S.

Scion dealers were told this week that they will sell the Toyota FT-86 in the U.S., according to media reports quoting dealer sources. The production version of the car reportedly will be unveiled next April at the 2011 New York Auto Show and will be priced in the U.S. from around $25,000. It may be marketed in 2012 under the name Scion FR-S.

The FT-86, jointly developed with Subaru, was introduced in concept form a year ago at the Tokyo auto show. Widely known, somewhat pejoratively, as the "Toyobaru," the FT-86 will share its basic architecture with a Subaru companion, known internally as 216a, according to the Web site Toyobaru.net.-insideline.com

Nine best European vehicle safety technologies

Volvo's City Safety Technology can prevent low-speed collisions.

(Credit: Volvo)

During the 2010 Paris Motor Show, Euro NCAP presented nine awards to automakers for new, advanced safety technologies. The awards covered crash prevention and mitigation technologies as well as emergency telematics services.

Here are the nine winning technologies:

Audi Side Assist
A blind-spot detection system, Audi Side Assist shows a warning light when a car is detected on either the right or left rear quarter of the Side Assist-equipped vehicle.

BMW Assist Advanced eCall
When onboard sensors show that a BMW has been involved in an accident, this system dials a BMW call center, sending data about the severity of the accident and likely injuries to passengers, allowing for an appropriate emergency services response.

Honda Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)
CMBS uses forward-looking radar to detect obstacles, then calculates the likelihood of a collision depending on driver behavior. If a collision is imminent, it applies the brakes and preemptively tensions the seat belts.

Mercedes-Benz PRE-SAFE and PRE-SAFE Brake
This Mercedes-Benz system works similarly to Honda's CMBS, pretensioning seat belts and applying the brakes when a collision is imminent.

Opel Eye
Opel's Eye system uses a forward-looking camera to identify lane lines and traffic signs. It warns the driver of lane departure and highlights specific types of traffic signs.

Peugeot Connect SOS
Similar to BMW's eCall, Connect SOS uses the car's sensors to detect a collision, then sends a text message to a call center with the vehicles direction of travel and severity of the crash. It then opens a voice connection between car and call center, letting the passengers talk to an operator.

Citroen Localized Emergency Call
Citroen's system is exactly the same as Peugeot's.

Volkswagen Lane Assist
Using a forward-looking camera, Lane Assist detects lane markings and warns the driver when the car is drifting. If the car drifts too far over a lane line, the car automatically turns the steering wheel a little bit to correct the departure.

Volvo City Safety
This Volvo system is designed for low, urban speeds, under 20 mph. It uses a camera to detect obstacles in front of the car, slamming on the brakes if it detects an imminent collision. At speeds under 15 mph, it can brake soon and hard enough to prevent a collision.

Euro NCAP is a European organization, similar to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the U.S. Euro NCAP also offers general vehicle safety ratings, similar to NHTSA's star ratings.

These awards are a new service by Euro NCAP intended to highlight new safety technologies for cars sold in Europe. Euro NCAP evaluates the technologies by having staff sit in during automakers' testing.

Of these technologies, Audi Side Assist, Honda Collision Mitigation Braking System, Mercedes-Benz PRE-SAFE and PRE-SAFE Brake, and Volvo City Safety are currently available in the U.S. Telematics services with emergency call features are also widely available.-cnet.com