ABT polish the Volkswagen Golf GTI

German tuner ABT Sportsline has announced its new performance upgrades for the Volkswagen Golf VI GTI, which includes new bodykit alongside with a series of engine and other mechanical upgrades. Under the hood, by using optimized engine management (ABT POWER) ABT has managed to squeeze 50 more hp from the engine, taking it from 210 hp (154 kW) up to 260 hp (191 kW). And that’s not all, because ABT also offers the ABT POWER S package, which includes a turbocharger and takes the Golf VI GTI up to 300 hp (221 kW). With the POWER S kit, the car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in around six seconds. To ensure a more sporty and safe driving, the German tuner also fitted the GTI with ABT chassis springs (the car’s center of gravity is lowered by 30 mm) and a powerful ABT braking system.
Another highlight of the package is the body kit, which makes the car’s look a lot more aggressive and also improves its aerodynamics. It includes new front apron, front lip, front grille and ABT daytime running lamps, new rear spoiler and rear apron and diagonal 4-pipe exhaust system. The final touch is given by the carbon steel grey metallic paintwork, which looks very, very good. Of course, ABT also offers a range of interior upgrades which further improve the car’s sporty feeling.

The best car cockpit

If Nissan has its way, your next car's cockpit will look like an star fighter, straight out of a Macross remake.

This is the Nissan Land Glider, an electric car with two seats. it has a narrow body, which Nissan says will help reduce traffic congestion by allowing more cars in the same city space, as well as making parking easier. It has a balancing system to make it stable as it takes curves, compensating for inertia with the car's body movement.

Subaru unveil a new hybrid concept

Subaru is set to unveil a hybrid tourer concept at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. The grand touring concept will feature the company's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and horizontally-opposed boxer engine credentials, presented in a sporty gull wing-door design.

Besides a luxurious cabin and an eye-catching aerodynamic body, the car will feature items such as a flat rear floor to maximise passenger space, specialised windscreen shielding to reduce driver eyestrain and a new leather seat covering offering superior breathability, with an in-seat ventilation function for improved comfort and texture.

It will be powered by a 2.0l horizontally-opposed direct-injection turbocharged petrol engine with Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) and a hybrid system. The CVT drivetrain draws on technology recently introduced in the new generation Liberty and Outback.

Meanwhile, the lithium-ion, two-motor hybrid system features a power/drive 10kW motor in the front and a 20kW drive motor in the rear. At start-up and extremely low speeds, such as entering a garage, the rear motor is used primarily to allow driving without petrol engine power.

During normal driving, the petrol engine is primarily used, and under acceleration, the rear motor assists the petrol engine to achieve optimum performance. When accelerating uphill, the front motor, which is normally used as a power generator, also assists in driving the front axle, for improved performance. A non-idling function stops the engine when the car comes to a halt, reducing fuel consumption.

4 new comers from BMW

The BMW Malaysia has launched the 320d Sports, 520d Sports Edition, X3 xDrive20d Executive Edition and the flagship model of the range, the 730Ld, which all carry diesel injection,believe to give significant step for the company in in its drive to promote diesel-power as a more efficient and smarter choice for motorists, albeit in the higher end of the spectrum.


The 320d Sports, 520d Sports Edition and X3 xDrive20d Executive Edition all feature the N47D20 four-cylinder turbodiesel unit - the all-aluminium block delivers 17bhp and 350Nm of torque, and this lends the 320d a 0-100kmh sprint time of just 8.0secs, while on the 520d SE, it's just a shade more at 8.4secs to get to the same mark. As for the F02 730Ld, this one gets the in-line six cylinder N57D30 block, which turns out 245bhp and 540Nm of maximum torque. It's pretty quick too, doing the 0-100kmh bit in a tidy 7.3secs.

The EfficientDynamics concept that the company has in place and available across its model range continues to be played up here, with the two diesel pots being the primary add-ins to the list, which include Brake Energy Regeneration, High Precision Injection and Electric Power Steering. ED's game is essentially to reduce fuel consumption and emission levels, but not at the expense of performance and driving pleasure, which are actually enhanced.



The price would be as the following;

BMW 320d Sports – RM255,800
BMW 520d Sports Edition – RM379,800
BMW X3 xDrive20d Executive Edition – RM333,800
BMW 730Ld – RM698,800

Acura MDX ; to give cadillac and lexus hard breath

Acura MDX, or Honda MDX referring to asian market, has brought automobile industry towards a new SUV market dimension. Of all of the SUVs on the road, this vehicle is for sure will become the "chosen one" .

Leading the list of likeable items is the 3.7-litre, VTEC V6 that pushes 300 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm. While the MDX feels snappy off the line, it's in the mid- and high ranges where things begin to boil. As the VTEC system does its thing, the engine's tone changes almost as dramatically as its work ethic.

It's good enough that the MDX romps from rest to 100 kilometres an hour in 7.6 seconds and manages to turn the 80-to-120-km/h trick in a quick six seconds flat. It is an athletic engine that is not bad on gas either. An admittedly short drive yielded a respectable average of 11.2 L/100 km. The engine's thirst for premium fuel was less appreciated.

The five-speed manumatic transmission helps things, as it is very good at keeping the engine at a roaring boil whenever the pedal is matted. It also delivers a snappy downshift whenever it's called upon, which means the driver is not left hanging out to dry (it also helps to explain the fast passing move time).

The suspension and large P255/55R18 tires also contribute to the MDX's sharp driving demeanour. While the base suspension (front struts and rear multiple links) is pretty good at controlling body motion, the Elite model's Active Damper System takes things to a higher level altogether. In the comfort mode, the MDX rides and drives more like a comfortable wagon than an SUV.

Activate the sport mode and things firm up to the point where body roll becomes all but nonexistent and the response to steering input is sharp without feeling twitchy. It is such that the MDX belies its SUV moniker.

The other key to the MDX's handling prowess is its Super Handling All-Wheel Drive. As with most systems, SH-AWD directs the power to wheel(s) that can be put to the best use, and it does so in a seamless manner that inspires confidence.

That, however, tells only part of the story; it is what happens at the rear wheels that ices the cake. In a corner, the system drives the outside rear wheel faster than the inside rear wheel. This action actively turns the vehicle into the corner, which brings better stability. It also means the driver has to dial in less steering, which reduces the likelihood of understeer. Factor in a good electronic stability/traction control system and putting a wheel wrong takes some doing.

Rounding out the dynamic side is a strong set of anti-lock brakes that deliver short 42-metre stops from 100 km/h. In a pleasant move for the better, this system is less intrusive than Acura's earlier designs.

All of this explains why the MDX needs winter tires, especially when the temperature drops below zero - the rock-hard nature of the all-season rubber in these conditions negates the MDX's all-wheel-drive advantage.

As for utility, the MDX delivers enough for most eventualities. With the third-row seat upright, there is but 15 cubic feet of cargo space. This limited number and the confined nature of the third seat is one of the MDX's few weak points. It's more about bragging rights than function. Drop the third row down and the cargo capacity rises to a far more functional 42.9 cu. ft. Lowering the middle row then opens up a healthy 83.5 cu. ft.

Acura MDX Specification:

Type of vehicle: All-wheel-drive mid-sized SUV

Engine: 3.7L SOHC V6

Power: 300 hp @ 6,000 rpm; 275 lb-ft of torque @ 5,000 rpm

Transmission: Five-speed manumatic

Brakes: Four-wheel disc with ABS

Tires: P255/55R18

Standard features: Tri-zone automatic climate control with filtration, power locks, windows and heated mirrors, tailgate and sunroof, eight-way power driver's seat with two-position memory, eight-way power passenger's seat, power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, cruise control, perforated leather seating, 410-watt AM/FM/MP3/XM audio with six-disc in-dash CD changer, 10 speakers (including subwoofer) and auxiliary input jack, voice-activated navigation system with rear-view camera, rear-seat DVD-based entertainment system with wireless headphones, 115-volt outlet, Bluetooth cellphone integration, Homelink, rear washer/wiper, HID headlights, fog lights.

General Motor counting on new cadillac

General Motors Corp. is counting on the 2010 Cadillac SRX crossover vehicle to lure luxury car buyers with new design and performance features.

The redesigned vehicle was unveiled Sunday and is set to go on display at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit later this month. It replaces the SRX model first launched in 2004.

To help compete with better-selling rivals like the Lexus RX, Acura MDX, and the BMW X3 and X5, the SRX's designers took elements from other Cadillac models and melded them into this one. The new SRX looks faster than its boxy predecessor, with a curving roofline and a more rounded nose that still retains an aggressive look.

"For GM, it's our most aggressive brand," said Clay Dean, GM's global director for Cadillac design. "We want to appeal to people that set the trends."

Cadillac put more energy into improving the interior quality and exterior design of the car, Dean said. A 3-liter direct-injection V-6 engine comes standard, with the option for a 2.8-liter turbocharged V-6. Although fuel economy testing wasn't complete, GM estimates highway miles per gallon will fall in the mid-20s.

Cadillac has a strong following among luxury car buyers, and the brand remains an important one for GM.

Cadillac sales fell 24 percent in the first 11 months of 2008, about on par with U.S. light truck and SUV sales overall. The automaker sold nearly 148,000 Cadillacs in January through November, including about 14,800 SRXs. But Toyota Motor Corp.'s Lexus division sold five times as many RXs.

The 2010 SRX is expected to be in showrooms in mid-2009. Pricing hasn't been announced.

The public got its first peek of the SRX at a California auto charity event in August. The model is one of three launches GM has planned for the Detroit show that starts next week. There's a new Chevrolet Equinox crossover that the automaker unveiled in December, and a redesigned 2010 Buick LaCrosse sedan will make its debut.

source: google news