Proton in talks with Indian firm to manufacture cars

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian carmaker Proton said Tuesday it was in talks with an Indian automaker to manufacture Proton cars in a bid to break into the sub-continent's booming small-car market. 
Proton also said it will partner Lotus, the UK high-end sports and racing car maker, to manufacture a small, five-door car for Asia and the Middle East. 
Proton managing director Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamad Tahir told reporters: "India is a very important market. Yes, we are talking to one party. I can't tell you who they are. 

"Yes, we are looking for an Indian partner to manufacture Proton cars," he added. 

Syed Zainal said Proton will colloborate with Lotus, which it owns, to manufacture a new "small car," powered by a 1.0- to 1.5-litre engine. 

"Hopefully we can produce the car in less than two years. It will be hybrid and combustion models," he said. 

Syed Zainal denied reports in India's media that Proton was in talks with India's Mahindra & Mahindra about a possible joint venture. 

"There was a discussion with Mahindra & Mahindra several years ago," he said. 

Proton semakin berani

Semua orang sudah tahu berita tentang Proton yang sedang melaksanakan pelan transformasi 5 tahun Lotus bertujuan untuk menjadikan kereta Lotus setanding dengan Ferrari & Porsche. Saya tak tahu berapa banyak wang yang dilaburkan untuk projek itu tapi kalau kita lihat pada nama-nama terkenal yang dilantik oleh Proton untuk projek itu, saya pasti ia bernilai ratusan juta ringgit. 


Di bawah pengurusan baru yang diketuai bekas pegawai kanan Ferrari iaitu Dany Bahar sebagai Ketua Eksekutif Lotus Group dan Pengarah Urusan Lotus Cars, seramai 11 muka baru lain yang memiliki kepakaran dan pengalaman luas dalam dunia pengeluar kereta sport mewah seperti Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin dan Fiat Groupturut disenaraikan. 

Ia antaranya termasuk Paul Newsome, bekas jurutera Jaguar, BMW dan MG Rover yang kini bertanggungjawab merangka pelan kejuruteraan produk Lotus; Donato Coco, bekas pegawai kanan Ferrari yang terbabit dalam rekaan 430 Scuderia dan F548 Italia yang bertanggungjawab dalam pelan rekaan produk baru Lotus dan Andreas Schlegel, bekas pegawai bertanggungjawab merangka strategi pemasaran Daimler-Benz, Prosche AG yang mengetuai bahagian pembangunan jenama dan pemasaran kereta Lotus. 

Perbezaan kereta sport biasa dan kereta sport mewah kebiasaannya merujuk kepada kapasiti enjin serta harga yang ditawarkan. Pengarah Urusan Proton, Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, berkata dibawah pelan transformasi itu, pihaknya mahu menjadikan Lotus sebagai kereta terbaik dalam setiap segmen pasaran kereta mewah yang diceburinya dengan memiliki jenama yang tiada tandingan selain dibantu perkhidmatan terunggul dalam servis jualan dan selepas jualan serta keberkesanan dan produk berkualiti tinggi. 

Saya berharap projek ini berjalan lancar & tidak tergendala di tengah jalan. Jika tergendala ia merupakan satu pembaziran & lebih baik digunakan untuk memperkenalkan Proton di seluruh dunia. Bagaimanapun projek untuk memperkenalkan Proton sedang berjalan sekarang apabila Proton memperkenalkan Proton EMAS baru-baru ini. 

Spyshots: 2011 Opel Astra GTC

If you believed the New Astra, as Opel calls it, is quite a good-looker, especially because is nothing like the Astra models we got used to for years, then you will find the GTC to be perhaps the most aggressive Astra version in years. Despite the rigid, German-style camo the car is wrapped in, the GTC lines can be clearly distinguished, bringing into the spotlight a possible Scirocco contender. To be presented at the Paris Auto Show this fall, the newest GTC version of the Astra will go on sale in spring next year, with quite an offering in terms of performance.
The GTC will likely be powered by supercharged petrol engines, versions of the ones found on the hatchback variant. The diesel engine offer for the GTC will include 1.7l CDTI (130 hp) and 2.0l CDTI (160 hp).

As for other features meant to set the three-door coupe apart from its five door hatchback peer, the GTC will likely get a LED transplant, encased in aggressively styled side panels. The GTC will not be the last high-performance model based on the current Astra. It will be followed by the OPC variant, which will also get on the center stage of Opel's display at the Paris Auto Show. 
More powerful than the GTC, the OPC will likely output around 300 hp, given the fact that the previous version developed 240 horsepower and 320 Nm of torque from a 2.0l four-cylinder engine. 

New Hyundai Coupe 2010 at The Paris Motor Show

On exhibition at paris motor show, Hyundai has medesain replacement for the Hyundai Coupe, the compact 2 +2, will begin selling early next year. Coupe, which made its debut in Europe at the Paris Motor Show in October, is meant to rival the VW Scirocco. However, the Coupe has the advantage of the cost of several thousand pounds less. Autocar reports that he saw on the way to the new Coupe Hyundai Namyang R & D centers in Korea.

It seems quite short, with long rear deck and flat-looking, but other than that, can be mistaken for Veloster concept in 2007. Insider sources of evidence that the coupe will feature an asymmetrical body, with two doors on the left side of the car to allow easy entry to the rear of the cabin from the curb. In addition, the car will have a conventional hatchback. Hyundai Coupe is powered by the latest 1.6-liter, direct-injection-’Theta ‘machines. Entry-level version of the trim, Coupe will have a 140bhp, twin-clutch gearbox and optional. A variant of 200bhp 1.6-liter turbo will arrive after the launch.

Orlando MPV spied

Chevrolet is hoping for a little Orlando magic when it launches its new seven-seat MPV early next year. The newcomer is based on the Orlando concept which debuted at the Paris Motor Show in 2008. And, two years later, the production version will bow at the same show this year.

The design remains close to the original concept, with oversized headlights and twin front grille, separated by the trademark Chevy bowtie logo. The boxy look remains too, making the car appear solid and robust, while also liberating plenty of space inside.

The Orlando is built on the Chevrolet-developed Delta II platform which underpins the Cruze. Unlike the Vauxhall Zafira’s Flex7 seating layout, the Orlando will use a similar arrangement to the Captiva. So unlike Flex7, there is no need to slide and tumble the middle row of seats to access those in the rear. This is a significant improvement for families with permanently installed child seats."