2011 Nissan X-Trail Update Revealed

Nissan has revealed the updated-for-2011 X-Trail overseas this week, bringing a number of modest styling and equipment updates.

Speaking with TMR today, Nissan Australia's Jeff Fisher confirmed that while an updated X-Trail is scheduled to debut at this year's Australian International Motor Show, specific details are still to be finalised.

Confirmed at least for the Japanese market, the updated 2011 X-Trail gets Nissan's six-speed automatic transmission - although it is unclear if this is the same six-speed already offered as an option with the Australian-delivered diesel X-Trail.

A new 'Advanced Hill Descent Control' system now features for 4WD variants. This system allows the driver to set a desired driving speed arbitrarily within the range from 4km/h to 15km/h, depending on the degree of hill grade.

Power figures for the 2.0 litre diesel also remain unchanged, developing 127kW and 360Nm of torque.

On the styling front, the updated X-Trail gets an updated front grille, bumper and headlights, while the rear end also gets a new bumper, along with new LED taillights. The new 'X-Tremer' variant brings its own bumper design and unique alloy wheels.

Inside, the 2011 X-Trail gets a revised instrument panel with larger meters, a new display, new colours and trims, and new standard features - although, again, Australian specification has yet to be revealed.

Among those new features are a glove compartment with heat-retention and refrigerator functions, a three-point seatbelt and headrest for the centre rear seat, and an intelligent key system and engine immobiliser.

Pricing and availability for Australia will be revealed closer to the 2010 Australian International Motor Show, which opens in Sydney on October 15.-themotorreport.

Lotus to Unveil Four New Concepts at Paris Auto Show

Details of what exactly the “New Era” for Lotus will entail have begun to slip out with reports that the automaker will show-off four new concept cars at the Paris Auto Show this Fall. According to some reports the vehicles will include a successor to the Esprit, two new front-engined GT cars and a new roadster model. It’s not clear if one of these new models will be the Exige, but Lotus is expected to announce the release of a V6 powered Exige soon. Several spy shots of the car have been taken and considering recent emissions regulations put an end to the 1.8-liter engine (in all its forms) for the European market, Lotus is left only with an underpowered 1.6-liter.

The announcement will come as part of a larger restructuring at Lotus has also announced that it is cutting free its entire European dealer network as it plans to move forward as a serious competitor to Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin.-autoguide.

Proton Beri Sumbangan Besar Kepada Ekonomi

Meskipun berhadapan dengan kritikan dan industri automotif yang mencabar, Proton, kereta nasional Malaysia yang pertama, telah memberikan sumbangan yang besar kepada ekonomi Malaysia dalam 25 tahun kewujudannya, kata Presiden Persatuan Pelabur Malaysia (MIA), Datuk Dr P.H.S. Lim.

"Industri automobil adalah satu industri yang sangat penting, dan tidak diragukan bahawa Proton berperanan dalam ekonomi negara.

"Sebagai sebuah industri, Proton, yang akan merayakan Jubli Peraknya esok telah menawarkan pekerjaan kepada beribu-ribu pekerja, dari pemasangan kereta hinggalah kepada staf jualan, di samping pekerja dalam sektor kewangan yang menyediakan pinjaman kepada pembeli kereta," katanya kepada Bernama di sini.

Lim berkata Proton telah menyokong banyak industri aksesori dan komponen kereta dan menyumbang kepada keluaran dalam negara kasar (KDNK).

Kata beliau industri automotif Malaysia amat sengit persaingannya dan semua jenama kereta boleh dilihat di jalan raya Malaysia.

"Ini membuat Proton sukar mencabar kereta-kereta lain. Bagaimanapun ia harus memberikan tumpuan kepada kualiti, gaya dan penjenamaan untuk mencapai kecemerlangan sebagai kereta Malaysia agar suatu hari nanti Malaysia boleh berbangga dengan Proton," kata Lim.

Menurut seorang penganalisis, kemasukan Proton dalam pasaran automobil tempatan pada 1985 menyebabkan berlakunya perubahan besar-besaran dalam sturktur industri, yang ternyata daripada anjakan pasaran kereta domestik yang dahulunya bergantung kepada kereta import, terutamanya kereta buatan Jepun, kepada pasaran yang dikuasai kereta buatan tempatan.

"Hari ini bila kita memandu di lebuh raya, sukar untuk menidakkan betapa dominannya kereta nasional hasil gagasan bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad itu sekarang," katanya sambil menambah bahawa kereta Proton merupakan dua pertiga daripada keseluruhan jumlah kereta yang meluncur di jalan raya Malaysia.

Kumpulan pertama kereta Proton dikeluarkan pada 1985, oleh satu usaha sama antara Mitsubishi Motor Corporation (MMC), Mitsubishi Corporation dan Heavy Industries Corporation of Malaysia (Hicom).

Walaupun bermula lembap, disebabkan oleh kemelesetan 1985-86 yang mengakibatkan kemerosotan permintaan dan peningkatan harga kenderaan ekoran kenaikan nilai yen Jepun berbanding ringgit, namun tidak lama kemudian pemulihan ekonomi Malaysia menyumbang kepada peningkatan pengeluaran dan penguasaan pasaran Proton.

Ini menjadikannya kereta penumpang paling laris di Malaysia.

Menurut penganalisis itu, pendapatan Proton meningkat dengan ketara berikutan bertambahnya jumlah jualan domestik, dengan disokong oleh permintaan kukuh bagi model Exora dan Saga.

Beliau berpendapat pelancaran model-model baharu akan mewujudkan permintaan yang lebih baik bagi kereta nasional itu pada masa akan datang.

Katanya penembusan pasaran-pasaran seberang laut seperti Indonesia dan Thailand memperlihatkan kejayaan dan dengan itu tidak disangsikan lagi bahawa kereta nasional itu akan berpeluang memecut ke destinasi yang lebih jauh lagi.-Bernama.

Daimler 'Green Goddess' could fetch $800,000

If you're big and rich, we have just the car for you. It's big and you'll need to be plenty rich to own it, giving that it has been appraised at about $800,000.

It's the 1949 Daimler DE-36 "Green Goddess" Hooper Drop-Head Coupe, which will be offered by Bonhams at the Quail Lodge in Carmel, Calif., in August.

The Daimler has been completely restored. Once part of the Harrah's auto collection, it sports a two-tone burgundy with a white leather interior. The car won its class at the 1994 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

Bonhams says only seven were ever constructed. With a 147-inch wheelbase, the car is more than 20 feet long and nearly 80 inches wide. It weighs nearly three tons. The car is powered by a large "straight eight" engine and has a semi-automatic fluid flywheel transmission.

Bonhams describes its history:

The original Daimler Green Goddess debuted as a show car at the 1948 Earl's Court British Motor Show in London and was the most expensive car on display. The result of a joint collaboration between Sir Bernard Docker, chairman at the time of Daimler's parent company, BSA, and designers at Daimler, the "Green Goddess" appellation came from the car's special jade green paintwork. Even though the six following replicas of this majestic Daimler were finished in varying colors, the "Green Goddess" designation is applied to any DE-36 bodied in the original show car's distinctive style.

The Dockers, particularly Sir Bernard's wife, Lady Norah, caused a sensation and sometimes scandal wherever they went. They were beloved by the press and paparazzi and known for indulgence in all forms, from fur coats and over-the-top champagne receptions to specially-customized Daimlers fitted with exotic materials like ivory and crocodile, lizard and zebra skins, even gold plating.

After the Earl's Court Show, the Green Goddess was handed over to Sir Bernard, a man who liked his toys large. He owned the biggest privately owned yacht in England and now his personal Daimler would ensure him similar dominance on the road.

Daimler was the first car to be manufactured in England. Introduced in 1897 the Daimler nameplate paid tribute to the German engine used in the very earliest examples but the British and German Daimler (now Daimler-Benz) concerns have always been separate entities. An on-going association with the British Royal Family began when the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) selected a Daimler for his first automobile in 1898 and shortly thereafter appointed the company the official motorcar of the British monarchy.

With most of the few surviving Green Goddess Daimlers already securely ensconced in permanent museum collections, the opportunity to acquire one of these legendary convertible coupes is an extremely uncommon occurrence.-content.usatoday.

Luxgen7 MPV EV

After launching their SUV model, the company has revealed today the Luxgen7 MPV EV+ which the manufacturer believes, it surpasses any competition in terms of performance. The Luxgen7 MPV EV+ is a 7-passengers electric people carrier that's powered by a 240hp and 265Nm torque electric motor. The carmaker claims the Luxgen7 MPV EV+ can accelerate from 0 to 62mph (100km/h) in 8.6 seconds and that it has a top speed of 90mp/h (145km/h). 

The electric motor of the Luxgen7 MPV EV+ is juiced by a lithium-ion battery that offers a range of up to 200miles (300km) at a cruising speed of 25mp/h (40km/h). 

The powertrain of the Luxgen7 MPV EV+ includes a power management and transformation center, PEU (power electronic unit). The PEU includes an induction motor, charger, battery management system and a regenerative braking system. 

The Luxgen7 MPV EV+ price has not been announced at this moment. 

Luxgen Press Release:

Drastic climate changes are largely the result of industrial activities, and have rapidly become the biggest threat to humanity; however, the full impact has not been fully grasped by the policymakers and the general public. To take initiative in corporate social responsibility, and further accomplishing the prospect of environmental protection, LUXGEN offers a perfect choice for those visionaries with intention to contribute their part in protecting the environment - the LUXGEN7 MPV EV+.

While the majority of vehicles worldwide are still consuming none-renewable fossil fuel, LUXGEN, which started the research and development of electric vehicle technology years in advance, has launched the world’s first 7-passenger EV. EV could be seen as the only option that generates no carbon emissions and delivers eco-friendly clean power when comparing with other fuel technologies such as LPG and hybrid power. Through the collaborative R&D with the AC Propulsion (ACP), a world-leading electric vehicle pioneer, LUXGEN has developed the unique core technologies for the LUXGEN7 MPV EV+ including its 240hp and 265Nm torque AC induction motor capable of propelling the LUXGEN7 MPV EV+ from 0 to 62mph (100km/h) in 8.6 sec, and reach a maximum speed of 90mp/h (145km/h). Most surprisingly, the lithium-ion battery packs can offer the LUXGEN7 MPV EV+ over 200miles (300km) cruising range at a fixed speed of 25mp/h (40km/h) on a single charge. Such achievements have re-established the benchmark for an EV, and substantially closed the performance and utility gap between an EV and a fossil fuel powered counterpart.

The innovative EV technologies of the LUXGEN7 MPV EV+ includes the power management and transformation center, PEU (power electronic unit), which integrates the induction motor, charger, battery management system, and the ability to convert kinetic energy into electricity via a regenerative braking system. The high performance lithium-ion battery pack, which provides a high endurance power supply for the entire vehicle through its modularized design, and could discharge excess electricity back into the power grid to balance electricity utilization during peak and off-peak times. The traction induction motor with its maximum power output of 180kW (approx. 240hp), offers LUXGEN 7MPV EV+ unprecedented driving enjoyment.

In addition to its impressive power performance, the energy efficiency of the LUXGEN7 MPV EV+ is outstanding with an energy conversion rate at up to 80%. The LUXEN7 MPV EV+ strikes an amazing EER performance which is 1.7 times higher than a hybrid and diesel vehicle, and 2 times higher than a gasoline-powered vehicle. Such efficient energy utilization places LUXGEN at the leadership position in offering the best eco-friendly transportation solutions.-zercustoms.