Lotus Chief Looking to Hook Up with Toyota?

Lotus boss Dany Bahar revealed that Lotus is helping Malaysian parent Proton develop a range of cars. Lotus’s British-based headquarters in Hethel is helping with several new models. One of those models is the global city car which debuted at the Paris Motor Show last fall. Much like Aston Martin’s need for the Cygnet to meet fuel consumption regulation, Lotus will need a version of the Proton city car too.

According to Bahar, Proton “is getting the benefit [of owning Lotus] for the first time,” and the new hatchback will look like the concept, if it’s going to happen at all.

Lotus needs its five-year plan to succeed if it wants to survive long into the future. Although owned by Proton, Bahar feels Lotus’s cars are too distant from Proton’s to be able to develop future cars that meet stricter emission and crash regulations.

Even though it’s not up to him, Bahar would like Proton to sell Lotus to a larger manufacturer such as Toyota. This would give Proton and other investors a way out. Toyota may be the smart way to go because of Lotus’s extensive use of Toyota engines in its current cars.

Lotus may have the upcoming Elite and Eterne built by Magna in Austria if its application for a UK regional development loan it needs to build a new factory at Hethel is rejected again.-wot.motortrend.com

Opel Astra GTC Official Details and Pricing

The all-new Opel/Vauxhall Astra GTC is preparing for world premiere at the 64th International Motor Show in Frankfurt and Goodwood festival in UK, as the company releases more details on it.

Opel’s rival for Volkswagen Scirocco is priced nearly a 1000 euro less than the basic VW Scirocco, but is it a better car than the mighty Scirocco? Well. let’s see.

The Astra GTC certainly got presence. The sporty coupe form is imposing and cool, yet kinda practical and convenient for everyday use. It only comes as a three-door car and while the normal looks pretty insane, there’s also a OPC/VXR version coming that’s even crazier.

While the Scirocco is more grown up and dignified, the Astra GTC looks younger and more energetic. you could say though, it’s a bit girly. We will hold on till 2012 to see the hotted-up OPC version.

The car has been developed from the ground up as a sporty driver’s car, so Opel is confident its performance will be more than satisfying for most people. The car features Opel/Vauxhall’s HiPerStrut (High Performance Strut) used on the 325PS Insignia VXR/OPC specially adopted for European roads.

The HiPerStrut uses the existing attachment points from the regular Astra, and has a reduced kingpin inclination and a shorter spindle length. This reduces levels of torque-steer, improves grip – and therefore cornering power – while also enhancing steering precision and feedback. It also comes with FlexRide adaptive damping system.

Compared with the Astra Hatch, the GTC’s ride height has been lowered by 15mm, while the wheelbase has grown by 10mm, from 2685mm to 2695mm. Both tracks are wider, too, at 1584mm (+ 40mm) front and 1588mm (+ 30mm) rear. This allows the option of larger rims (up to 20-inch), as well as improving stability. Not only can the GTC accommodate four adults in comfort, but its luggage compartment provides between 370 and 1235 litres – over 200 litres more than some of the competition.

The Astra GTC can be ordered with a choice of four engines – one diesel and three petrols – which is a good job because you cannot have a car this goodlooking and then ruin it with bad diesel engines.

With 165PS, the 2.0 CDTi is an upgraded version of the diesel that’s fitted to some models in the Insignia and Astra ranges. All engines have a diesel particulate filter, six-speed transmission and Start/Stop as standard, maximising economy and performance. Delivering 380Nm of torque (including overboost function) the 2.0 CDTi engine provides excellent mid-range acceleration for the GTC, combined with a 0-62mph time of 8.9 seconds and a top speed of 130mph.

Start/Stop and a six-speed gearbox are also standard on both versions of the 1.4-litre Turbo petrol engine. With either 120PS or 140PS, the 1.4T achieves a combined 47.9mpg and 139g/km of C02 emissions, yet each still delivers crisp performance with maximum torque of 200Nm delivered between 1850-4200rpm. The most powerful engine in the range is the 1.6-litre Turbo, which produces 180PS and allows the GTC to hit a top speed of 132mph.

It’s all good, but then again, we’re more interested in the OPC/VXR version which should have something like 300 PS!

Standard equipment is generous no matter which GTC model customers choose. Even in entry-level Sport trim, the GTC comes equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, DAB stereo and USB functionality. Move up to the top-spec SRi, and buyers get as standard tinted glass, onboard computer, leather-trimmed steering wheel and fog lamps. The latest generation Bi-Xenon Advanced Forward Lighting (AFL), which offers nine separate light beams, is optional across the range.

A range of new colours and materials, bespoke to the GTC, set the car apart from others in the Astra range. Morello Red, a new premium leather trim, is also available as an option and brings with it six-way adjustable front seats.

And finally the pricing. The GTC range starts from 21,750 euro (Astra GTC Enjoy 1.4 Turbo 88 kW/120 hp) to 27,855 euro (Astra GTC Sport 2.0 CDTI 121 kW/165 hp) in Europe, and from  £18,495 for the 120PS Sport 1.4 Turbo and extends to £22,430 for the 165PS SRi 2.0 CDTi, in the United Kingdom. Here’s the full pricelist for the UK.-motorward.com

2012 Toyota HiLux facelift image leaked

The first image of the facelifted 2012 Toyota HiLux has leaked onto the internet ahead of the vehicle’s global debut at the 2011 Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne on July 1.

Toyota Australia’s Mike Breen confirmed the new Toyota HiLux will go on sale around two or three months after its local unveiling, pointing at an Australian launch in either September or October.

Mr Breen confirmed the vehicle in the image above (the HiLux Vigo from Thailand) is “fairly representative” of the facelifted model that will be sold locally. The headlights are bolder and squarer, similar to the LandCruiser 200 Series, while the grille adopts a strong three-bar layout. The design of the lower bumper also appears chunkier, giving the HiLux a solid stance.

Mr Breen confirmed there would not be significant changes to the engines or transmissions offered in the upgraded HiLux range, with the current offerings to be carried over into the new model.

The HiLux range includes three different engines: a 116kW/240Nm 2.7-litre four-cylinder petrol, a 126kW/343Nm 3.0-litre four-cylinder diesel and the benchmark 175kW/376Nm 4.0-litre V6 petrol.

It is expected that all new HiLux models will be equipped with electronic stability control (ESC) as standard, following the lead of the Volkswagen Amarok, although Mr Breen refused to confirm this.

The Toyota HiLux is the most popular light commercial vehicle in Australia, and so far this year is the third most popular vehicle overall behind the Holden Commodore and the Mazda3.

The HiLux has a 24.6 percent share of the 4×2 pick-up/cab-chassis segment and 27.1 percent of the 4×4 pick-up/cab-chassis segment.-caradvice.com.au

Leaked: First images with the 2012 Mercedes Benz M Class

The actual version of Mercedes M Class, the W164 is was introduced for the first time in April 2005 as a 2006 model. It was almost entirely new, with a more sporting, aerodynamic look—the coefficient of drag is down to 0.34. On 2009 Mercedes-Benz M-Class got a minor face-lift as it debuted at the 2008 New York International Auto Show.

This face-lift includes new front headlights, redesigned front and rear bumpers, new exterior mirrors, new rim choices, a larger front grille, restyled interior, and a new ML 420 CDI engine choice. The ML 280 CDI became the ML 300 CDI, the 320 CDI the 350 CDI, and the 420 CDI became the 450 CDI.

Now, for 2012 Mercedes will unveil a new generation M Class. Here are the first images showing the luxurious SUV from the German automaker. The images were scanned from a Mercedes brochure.

Under the hood, engine options are expected to include a 306 PS (225 kW / 302 hp) 3.5-liter V6, a 435 PS (320 kW / 429 hp) 4.6-liter V8, and a 3.0-liter diesel that develops 265 PS (195 kW / 262 hp). A few reports have suggested that a diesel-electric hybrid ML-Class is in the works, although a gasoline-electric hybrid like that in the upcoming ML450 Hybridis almost certain.-inautonews.com

Latest Garmin map for Malaysia & Singapore dated 6th June 2011

The latest Garmin map for Malaysia & Singapore dated 6th June 2011 is now available for downloading. 

Click HERE to download.