Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by travis_ckf

10 things you didn’t know about car names

travis_ckf — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 14:31:42 +0800

Hi /K

Here another top ten feature from AF from ten things u didn't know about car names.

QUOTE

Naming a car can be a fun or daunting at times. A car name can be determined either by judging the looks and feel of the car or simply a decision from market research. Undoubtedly, there are also names that are clearly lost in translation or just simply weird (ask the Japanese for that).In this article, we explore 10 things you didn’t know about car names. Trust us, you will learn something new here!

1. Vulgar concerns

After three-generations, suffice it to say the Honda Jazz is a successful supermini from Japan. In 2001, the car was originally introduced in Japan as the Fit, or pronounced as the “Fitta” if you speak Japanese.That didn’t take long for the Swedish, Norwegian and Danish to discover that word actually refers to a woman’s genitals. To make matters worse, Honda marketed it with the tagline “small on the outside, but large on the inside”! That explains why Honda rebranded it as the Jazz in many countries, including Malaysia and not forgetting, Sweden, Norway and Denmark.

2. Does that smell

The Toyota MR2 is a mid-engine sportscar, which explains the MR2 moniker, which stands for “Midship Runabout Two-Seater”. However, ask someone from France and they know the car doesn’t sound nice, in fact it does sound like crap (in French!).

3. It’s not a Bull Fighter

Lamborghini cars are named after bullfighting elements, ranging from Spanish fighting bulls or even the weapon that kills them. However, there’s a few exception and the most famous of all is the Countach. A popular choice for wall posters among young boys as seen in their bedrooms back then, the word ‘Countach’ is actually an exclamation of astonishment, like ‘holy moly!’ in the local Piedmontese language, or in order words, it’s brilliant!

4. Third World Tank

The vehicle that liberates or terrorises, depending on which front you are standing on. With its outstanding durability and not forgetting, cheap to buy and maintain, the Toyota Hilux is still an iconic weapon of choice for these AK-47 armed rebels in third world countries. The moniker Hilux is an amalgamation of the words “High” and “Luxury”. However, it also means “death on wheels” to the rebels in conflict zones, provided there’s a machine gun attached on it.

5. There is no Pajero in Spain…
Mitsubishi’s iconic 4×4 is known as the Pajero in many parts of the world, including here in Malaysia. Not so for Spain, as that word in Spanish sounds like a slang term for men who fiddle with themselves for sexual gratification. In other words, that’s the last name for a macho and rugged 4×4 in Spain!

6. Eighty Six means Serious Business

The eighty-six means a lot for this Toyota rear-wheel driven coupe. It’s not only the spiritual successor to the Toyota Trueno/Levin AE86 model, but it is also referred as the car’s development number “086A”. In-fact, it doesn’t end there as the engine’s bore and stroke measures at 86mm x 86mm, and even the diameter of the twin-exhaust pipes are measured at, well you guessed it, 86mm.

7. Weird Portmanteau

The Japanese have a weird habit of combining multiple words to into one portmanteau word for a car model. In Greek mythology, ‘Charis’ was a symbol of beauty and elegance. Toyota swapped the ‘Ch’ with ‘Ya’ – German for ‘yes’ and you get the Yaris. Toyota was hoping to perceive reaction for its first-generation Yaris to the European market, and suffice it to say, the car did reasonably well.

Well, things could go worse as imagine what if Toyota swaps the “V” from the Roman goddess of love, Venus with the first capital of the word “Perfect” to portray a car which is “love with perfection”. Fancy a Toyota Penus?

8. Going Places?
Ferrari’s headquarters is in Maranello, located in the state of Modena and has its own private test track in Fiorano. Ferrari is so proud of their birthplace, they named their cars after the location of Ferrari’s landmarks such as Maranello, Modena and Fiorano. Strangely, we can’t think of the connection between the Italians and California.

9. Going around the corners

Nissan’s luxury vehicle arm, Infiniti has launched the hotter version of the Q50 car, known as the Q50 Eau Rouge, which was named after one of the iconic corners at Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps circuit. Nissan also plans to obtain the “Eau Rouge” trademark to be included in Infiniti’s performance-oriented models. Unfortunately, that didn’t go well with the track owners and they will submit an application to challenge Infiniti, in court.

10. American Pride
The Americans are proud with what they have. Named after the free-roaming horse found in North America and the World War 2 fighter that gave the Americans air superiority against the Germans, the Mustang is indeed an American pride. That was the best name Ford has given to its iconic muscle car model.

On the other side of the spectrum, Hyundai took inspiration from the Mustang and they name its subcompact the Pony, with less desirable results.

BONUS: Why the Chevy Nova didn’t do so well in Spain
Well, to cut a long story short, Chevrolet really should have checked up on this one before launching it there, because in Spain, ‘Nova’ literally means ‘doesn’t go’. Truth is often stranger than fiction isn’t it?.

soscili: http://www.autofreaks.com/features/feature...bout-car-names/

Also I need some ideas for vol2 on this topic too. Feel free to contribute any ideas, n share it if possible, coz u will do se7en a favour.

Cheers!

Three Cars Perodua Should Rebadge

travis_ckf — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 12:46:57 +0800

Yo /K peeps,

In my latest piece on AF, right after the Axia is done and dusted, Perodua is perhaps looking for future cars for its lineup. So here's my take on which car Perodua should pick instead:

QUOTE

After the Axia – Three cars Perodua should consider rebadging!

Perodua has had a great year in 2014. With orders for the new Axia flying off the charts, Perodua is set to become Malaysia’s No.1 car manufacturer in 2014, having sold over 140,000 cars, 50,000 more than Proton. Not forgetting, Perodua has invested millions on new plants in Malaysia just to ensure it keeps Proton at bay for the race to become Malaysia’s numero uno car manufacturer. Not bad for a car manufacturer whose modus operandi is badge engineering.

Notably, it was 20 years ago when Perodua launched its first car with the Kancil, which you may know was derived from the Daihatsu Mira. Rebadging isn’t new to Perodua, and not surprisingly the Axia is based on the Toyota Agya/Daihatsu Ayla model. However, not all rebadging exercises are an instant success, as seen with the forgotten and obscure Nautica (I doubt you can even remember it). Looking at Daihatsu’s current lineup of vehicles, we on AF are looking at what are the possible models that should be Perodua’s future models as well.

1. Daihatsu Move/Move Conte

Fact:
Remember the Kenari, the tall unorthodox mini-MPV-looking thing that appeared on Malaysia’s roads? The Kenari was based on the second-generation Move Custom and had a long lifespan of 9 years since it was introduced in 2000. The Kenari was a favourite for car modders, ranging from engine transplants (plug a k3-VET into the Kenari’s engine bay and it will become a pocket rocket) and exterior bodykits. The introduction of the new Kenari, based on the current generation Move (LA100/LA110) will make car modders happy.

The current fifth-generation Move was introduced in Japan in 2010 with engine options including a 660cc turbocharged engine and 1.0-litre naturally aspirated engine. Daihatsu also introduced a few variations of the Move known as the Move Custom and Move Conte. The Move Conte (pic below) is inspired by the boxy Toyota Bb, which should please buyers looking for a small economical runabout with unique styling.

Why Perodua should bring it here
Compared to the “Kenari”, the current Move and Move Conte are decent lookers. This should be a good seller for young Malaysians who want style over substance, and yet it’s economical to maintain as well. By looking at the boxy aesthetics of the Conte, it fits to become the spiritual successor of the Kenari.Sadly, we can only see the Move/Move Custom will only make sense if the Axia is not introduced. As both cars looked more or less the same dimensions wise, we doubt Perodua will want to have two similar cars to compete with one another, although that happens in Japan, a lot.

What should it called: Perodua Kenari Mk2, we suppose?

2. Daihatsu Copen

Fact:
Daihatsu’s cheap and cheerful motoring isn’t always limited to small hatchbacks. Instead, this small convertible is Daihatsu’s interpretation of fun driving with affordable prices, just like what Mazda did it with the first-generation MX-5. The second-generation Copen was introduced earlier this year and it does look splendid. Owners can even customize 11 of the car’s body panel with various colours, just like how we customize our phone covers

Powered by either a 660-turbocharged three cylinder engine or the 1.3-litre K3-VE from the Perodua Myvi, it weights below 900kg so we can imagine how much fun this car can provide. Despite it is front-wheel driven, it’s all forgiven with the car’s standard five-speed manual gearbox. A CVT is offered as well, but why you want that in a fun car like this in the first place?

Why Perodua should bring it here:
One thing we noticed in Perodua’s current lineup is there’s a lack of cars that are fun to drive, hence the Daihatsu Copen rebadge should fix that. Price it competitively at below RM60,000 and Perodua will have the bragging rights to become the first Malaysian car manufacturer with the most affordable (only) roadster!The only setback here is our country’s hot and humid weather does not fit roadsters well, which explains why roadsters are a pretty niche market on our roads. Despite that, we think this will be a solid seller for average Malaysian middle-income earners who are looking for a second car.

What should it called: Perodua Wind (or Angin?)

3. Toyota Prius C/Aqua
Fact:This time we look outside the box to see what if Perodua can rebadge any cars from Toyota knowing that 1. Perodua’s major shareholders are UMW, who owns the Toyota franchise in Malaysia and 2. Parent company, Daihatsu is owned by Toyota.The Toyota Prius C (also known as the Aqua in Japan) was introduced in Malaysia in early 2012 with an attractive price of below RM100,000 and sold in decent numbers. Sadly the price was jacked up to RM153,170 when the excise duties for hybrid vehicles was discontinued earlier this year. With sales of hybrid vehicles for Toyota impacted, the only way if UMW wants to sell hybrid cars in Malaysia is by introducing a locally-assembled one.

Why Perodua should bring it here:Perodua’s plant in Rawang once assembled the Toyota Avanza MPV many years ago, and Perodua is aggressively expanding with new plants around Malaysia. Perodua has yet to have its own hybrid car; but should that happen, they will heavily rely on Daihatsu for the technology and as we know it, it comes from Toyota. Other than that, this seems like a clear winner of Malaysia’s CKD hybrid incentives.Although getting a Prius C with Perodua logos for <RM80,000 does sound like a win-win for both Toyota and Perodua, it only can be a reality depending on the willpower from the decision makers from all parties.

What should it called: Perodua Aqua?

CONCLUSION:For 2015, Perodua should introduce an urgent facelift for the Myvi to fend off the impressive Proton Iriz. With the Alza facelifted earlier this year, Perodua will not have any new models for the next two years or so. Hopefully, this article will provide them some ideas, although that’s easier said than done as such ideas may only materialize after months of market research and intense debate and presentation inside the boardroom. But should they only pick only one from this list, fingers crossed they would pick the Copen.Perodua Wind anyone?[Image: Wikipedia]

soscili: http://www.autofreaks.com/features/feature...ider-rebadging/

Proton previews new Active Safety Sys on Iriz!

travis_ckf — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 13:44:45 +0800

As per one of the Iriz chats in /K, here my report for AF on LG Electronics ADAS system on Proton Iriz, with drills below:

AF EXCLUSIVE: LG ELECTRONICS PREVIEWS NEW ACTIVE SAFETY FEATURES FOR PROTON!

QUOTE

During the “Alami Proton” event last weekend, I stumbled upon (by accident) a group of engineers from LG electronics with a green Proton Iriz. What was supposedly a short trip to meet up with the nice guys from R3 turned into an amazing discovery about an upcoming technology for Proton cars. Trust me, this is one discovery that made me very excited that you wouldn’t want to miss!

The name “LG” isn’t new to Proton. This Korean firm has collaborated with Proton on a number of projects; from designing models such as the Savvy, Saga and Exora to supplying various electronics for Proton cars. The latest Iriz Active concept was made possible courtesy of the talents from LG Electronics as well. Suffice to say, they are currently one of Proton’s most crucial partner to survive in the cutthroat automotive industry. Right now, the boffins from South Korea are here in Malaysia to test a range of new active safety features for Proton, such as the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS).

The green Iriz over here is not your ordinary Iriz; instead it is a prototype equipped with ADAS. That comprises of Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW). I won’t go so much into details as firstly, the names are pretty much self-explanatory and secondly, most of the technology are still work in progress. But combining all of them and you will get an advanced active safety system from Proton that could set the bar higher when it comes to safety features in Malaysian cars.

The eager beavers from LG were kind enough to demonstrate the ADAS in their prototype, with me riding shotgun with one of the engineers on the wheel. As you may guess, the AEB works by performing the emergency braking without requiring the driver to engage the brakes.

In that demo, the green Iriz with AEB enabled will drive at 60 km/h towards a mock obstacle and the car’s electronics will trigger signals to stop the car from hitting that obstacle. Long story short, the Iriz passed the test with flying colours, twice. I have seen it with my own eyes that the driver did not press any brakes, and most importantly, the car managed to halt just centimeters away from that obstacle.

All that happened in split seconds when the sensors from FCW detected an obstacle in front, prompting the AEB into action by putting full force on brakes to prevent collision. TSR works similarly with FCW where it sweeps the road for obstacles that could pose as a threat to the driver and the AEB will kick-in during emergencies. LDW meanwhile works similarly with Mercedes-Benz’s Lane Keeping Assist function, warning the drivers when the car shifts off-lane. All these requires the ADAS stereo camera, another propriety technology from LG Electronics.

As impressive as I was, I gave feedback to the boffins of LG that such technologies will be much welcomed to Malaysians, knowingly Malaysian drivers are pretty much “reckless” while on the road. Should that becomes a reality, I’m confident that the traffic accident death rates in Malaysia will fall drastically.

That prototype has so far has been revealed to Proton’s chairman, Tun Dr. Mahathir and CEO, Datuk Abdul Harith Abdullah and the response was positive. However, more test needs to be done by the engineers and the prototype is set to be tested on the public roads soon. Perhaps in the near future, that mock obstacle will be replaced by a real car or truck.

As you may know it, such advanced active safety features are only reserved for premium European marques, and this is something LG Electronics will work on by creating these active safety features with affordability on mind. With LG’s quest for affordable active safety features and Proton’s aim for creating world class cars with modern safety features, it is a win-win situation for both companies.

However, there’s no confirmation if the Iriz or any Proton models will get such active safety features in the near future, something which could boost its chances to score 5-star rating in the renowned but stringent Euro NCAP. All will depend on the costs of such a system, as one wrong move on the pricing, it can make or break this system in a price sensitive country, such as Malaysia.

Ideally, I would wish Proton to offer high quality affordable cars with top-notch safety features. Imagining a future Proton car, once associated with safety standards of a green beverage can, to have safety features of a Volvo was ludicrous and unthinkable when I was in school. Thanks to the special efforts from our Korean friends, the unthinkable may soon become a reality in the near future.

more drills:

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

source: http://www.autofreaks.com/2014/09/af-exclu...res-for-proton/

Ini before Toyoi butthurt

10 things you may not know about Malaysia cars!

travis_ckf — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 10:20:52 +0800

Hi folks

Since today is Malaysia day, here a post I made during the Merdeka day. Still relevant to this day and u all enjoyed it while learning something new:

QUOTE

10 things you may not know about Malaysia cars!

Malaysia just celebrated its 57th year of independence, and ‘Malaysia Day’ is just around the corner. While usually the media is filled with patriotic feel-good adverts and songs, at AF we would like to educate both petrolheads and Malaysians on what the country has achieved in the automotive industry over 57 years. Hence, we have gathered ten things that maybe you didn’t know about the cars from our country!

1. The MyVi is the abbreviation for My Vehicle, My Vision or Malaysian Vision. However, the Myvi could also mean “Malaysia’s People car” since the Perodua’s B-segment supermini is seen almost everywhere on Malaysia’s roads.

2. Remember the red Proton Waja that can drift? That was in fact a Nissan Silvia S15 underneath with the Waja’s bodyshell with Nissan’s SR20DET powerplant inside the hood as well. Basically, it was a one-off Waja done by the car-freaks at Proton’s R3 division. We love you guys!

3. The Perodua Kenari did offer a disabled friendly variant, called the Kenari Kasih. Based on the Daihatsu Move Sloper, this variant has a compartment at the back that allows those in a wheelchair to roll inside and lock safety.

4. Malaysia almost had its first sports car which is the Esna Venere. The project was expected to be launch in 2006 but sadly the project was canned after the founder passed away. The Venere is a 3.0-litre mid-engine car and was targeted to price around RM500-600K.

5. The “Aeroback” models on the Saga, Iswara and Wira are exclusively designed by Proton as Mitsubishi did not offer the hatchback versions of the Lancer model.

6. A TV show was used as an inspiration for a Proton car. Yes, you guess it right, the Proton Knight was inspired by the Knight Rider TV show from the 80′s. And yeah, some copyrights were apparently infringed and Proton had to discontinue it, so if you have one in original condition, it’s a definite collectors item!

7. Remember the Proton car that gave Karamjit Singh and Allen Oh titles such as the Production World Rally Championship (PWRC) and Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC)? That car was in fact the Proton PERT Mk1 (Petronas EON Racing Team), which was a rebadged Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V. The Evolution VII was rebadged as Proton PERT Mk2 as well.

8. The first generation Proton Saga was in fact reviewed by the original BBC’s Top Gear. Not to be ridiculed like the recent formats we all familiar, but instead it was given a proper review, and it’s a good one!

[YOUTUBE]LwC6fF3SR9w[/YOUTUBE]

9. While Proton become the country’s first national car project, the title for the first car assembly plant in this country goes to Swedish Motor Assemblies (SMA), who still assembles Volvo cars in Shah Alam till this day.

10. Bufori, the Australian car maker that specialised in classic cars, is built in Kepong, Selangor, and is still in existence since 1998.

BONUS:

Would you agree that to qualify as a true Malaysian car (regardless national or non-national) a “teh tarik” hook is a must!

Happy Merdeka/Malaysia day folks!

soscili: http://www.autofreaks.com/2014/09/post-mer...-malaysia-cars/

Police "high-light" those motorist's eye in China!

travis_ckf — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 22:57:14 +0800

For those totally annoyed with our dumba** drivers flashing high light or high-beam, our cops should learn a thing or two here

QUOTE

Police in China force Motorists caught using high-beam lights to sit and stare into them

We all hate it when on-coming drivers use high-beam lights that blind our eyes while driving at night. Now in China, drivers who were caught using high-beams all the time are being forced to sit and stare into the high-beam headlights!

Following a number of accidents caused by drivers blinding other road users by using high-beam headlights inconsiderately, the traffic police at Shenzen, China, are giving the offenders a taste their own medicine for five minutes or so. Offenders who refuse to undergo this punishment will face a fine, having their vehicle impounded or risk losing their driver’s license.

Undoubtedly there are critics mentioning this is an inhumane act, but the police spokesperson said such harsh punishment is working.

‘We have had a few critics but overall the vast majority of people have approved the initiative. A short time is enough to give people an idea of what the other driver is seeing and to be more considerate in the future’ said a spokesperson for the police.

In fact, this is indeed a bright (pun intended) idea to put the misuse of high-beams on vehicles to an end. Let’s hope our traffic police and road transport department are reading this!

soscili: http://www.autofreaks.com/2014/08/police-i...tare-into-them/

Son discovers late dad’s ghost car in Video Game

travis_ckf — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 15:21:48 +0800

As someone who plays alot of games last time n maybe soon to be a father in the coming years, this story really "menyayat" hati.

IT FEELS, IT FEELS!!

QUOTE

Son discovers his deceased dad’s ghost car in a Racing Video Game

People will sometimes find an item that relates to a deceased person, be it letters, photos, voice calls and now, video games. Here’s a true and heartwarming story of how a teenage son, who lost his father ten years ago, discovered a reflection of his father, driving a ghost car in a Xbox video game

The story originated from a YouTube video on the topic of spiritual experience in video games. This teenager shared his story in the comments page:

Well, when I was 4, my dad bought a trusty XBox. You know, the first, ruggedy, blocky one from 2001. We had tons and tons and tons of fun playing all kinds of games together – until he died, when i was just 6.

I couldn’t touch that console for 10 years. But once I did, I noticed something. We used to play a racing game, Rally Sports Challenge. Actually pretty awesome for the time it came, and once I started meddling around… I found a GHOST. Literally.

You know, when a time race happens, that the fastest lap so far gets recorded as a ghost driver? Yup, you guessed it – his ghost still rolls around the track today. And so I played and played, and played, until I was almost able to beat the ghost. Until one day I got ahead of it, I surpassed it, and… I stopped right in front of the finish line, just to ensure I wouldnt delete it. Bliss.

To the uninitiated, a ghost car is a feature in racing games where a player’s best time on the track will be recorded to allow other players to compete with that ghost car in future rounds. In this case, his father had set the fastest time on one of the tracks in this game, and it took quite a while for his son to match his father’s ghost car. Knowingly, beating his father’s time will create a new ghost car that subsequently removes his father’s ghost car, he chose not to finish the race in order to preserve his memories with his dad.

This poignant tale has gone viral and touched many hearts around the Internet. But so far no one has confirmed the identity of the original poster. Still, the way this teenager reconnected to his departed father by playing against his dad’s ghost car is a reflection on how technology involves spirituality in a bittersweet way.

soscili: http://www.autofreaks.net/2014/07/son-disc...ing-video-game/

game as below:

Are Kei-Cars reaching an impending Doom?

travis_ckf — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 21:50:32 +0800

It seems the small little Kei-cars will be a thing of the past. The small 660cc cars with yellow number plates are facing a bleak future when higher taxes were splatted into them. Not forgetting, the protection for kei-cars are everything but over.

Byebye viva/mira all?

QUOTE

Are Kei-Cars reaching an impending Doom

Remember the original Perodua Kancil and Perodua Kenari that graced our roads? These cars are products from Daihatsu’s Kei-cars; originally introduced only in the Japanese market and typically powered by either a normally aspirated or turbocharged 660cc engine. The Kei-cars, identified by the unique yellow license plates (pic above), provided cheap and cheerful motoring to all walks of life in Japan, either for personal transportation via small micro hatchbacks or carrying items via micro trucks. Now after 60 years, the glory days of Kei-cars are in jeopardy.

In April, the Japanese government introduced measures that hit the Kei-car owners, including higher sales tax, higher gasoline tax and a 50% increase of Kei-car tax. Japan’s unique tax breaks and restrictions for Kei-cars to protect domestic automakers from foreign competition has caused uneasiness during trade talks between Japan and other nations. In other words, the government no longer protects domestic manufacturers of such cars like Suzuki, Daihatsu, Honda, Toyota and Nissan.

To make matters worse, these cars are not manufactured for export, due to its small size that evidently fails the strict safety standards in Europe and the United States. Selling Kei-Cars only domestically means limited economies of scale and manufacturers can’t justify spending more for research and development on such cars. In an era where the automotive industry is all about net profit, it is a matter of time before Japanese car manufacturers abandon Kei-cars – such a result will impact Suzuki and Daihatsu heavily as these two are the kings of small cars.

“For years, the kei was the people’s car in Japan. But now its role is over. The distinction no longer makes sense” said Mitsuhisa Yokoyama, an analyst at SC-ABeam Automotive Consulting, an advisory firm based in Tokyo.

With the raising tax, rising fuel cost and escalating inflation, this will surely hit the working class Japanese. It looks like the classic Kei-car such as the Daihatsu Mira, Suzuki Wagon-R, Suzuki Cappuccino and Honda Beat will soon become relics of the past.

The 5 Most New Underrated cars in Mysia

travis_ckf — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 15:24:04 +0800

I have listed 5 new cars that is considered as Underdogs in the Mysian car market. Where Mysians usually settle for Myvi, god car or camry, there are cars as listed here are crying at the showrooms.

So would u guys agree? Or any cars that should be included as well?

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

source: http://www.autofreaks.net/2014/06/the-unde...your-attention/

If TLDR:
I listed these 5 new cars as underdogs - Kia Picanto, VW Polo Sedan, Hyundai Veloster, Proton Inspira n Suzuki Kizashi

So before u put ur money into god car, myvi or camry, why not these?

Koenigsegg coming to Mysia!

travis_ckf — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 16:39:43 +0800

Koenigsegg is coming to Mysia, launch date will be 10-6-2014!

QUOTE

Unlike German or Italian exotic cars, only over a hundred individuals can lay claim to owning a Koenigsegg model. It is a rare masterpiece that is recognized in the Guinness World Records as the fastest 2-seater car in the world to travel from 0-300km/h and back to 0 km/h in under 22 seconds.

On 10th June, Koenigsegg will officially open its doors to customers and car enthusiasts in Malaysia. It will be brought in under the Naza Group of Companies, under a new company called Naza Swedish Motors Sdn Bhd. To add up to the excitement, the company will also launch the Koenigsegg Agera S.

The Koenigsegg is powered by a 5-litre V8 bi-turbo engine that develops 1030hp and over 1000Nm of torque from a low 2700 rpm and 1100Nm from 4100 rpm. It can run on 98 octane RON or 93 octane DIN petrol which makes it one of the most flexible and easy-to-use hypercar engines in the world and it has an incredible top speed of 400 km/h!

We’ll get into more details on the Agera S when it is officially launched next week so stay tuned!

soscili: http://www.autofreaks.net/2014/06/swedish-...a-on-10th-june/

In before Sultan Johor ordered one, or 5000CC road mahal tahap gaban

/K tards be nice on the roads....coz

travis_ckf — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 13:16:09 +0800

Lesson learnt. U all muz be nice to other drivers, moreover woman on cars coz u may get the same thing like below (identity was withheld)

Previously my editor wrote about our bad driving habits, and he has a point
http://www.autofreaks.net/2014/05/feature-...s-in-the-world/

if tldr:
- Article title: Are we becoming the worst drivers in the World?
- Mysian drivers are attributed by the 3-Is - Impatience, Indecision and Inconsideration.
- Conclusion, cut off the 3-Is, and be nice to each other on the roads. Give way and show courtesy and gratitude. Who knows u get something like that black Getz lady driver, or more?

U want Hot Nissan Sylphy? Look at this

travis_ckf — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 12:50:45 +0800

With the new Nissan Sylphy is coming to our shores, here a hot or "ah beng"-ield Sylphy u can look upon. Minus the turbocharger from the Juke RS of coz

QUOTE

This Nissan Sentra NISMO is a fast Nissan passenger car done right

What Nissan did with the new Sentra model shown in the LA motor show with the help of NISMO is something that have been long anticipated by Nissan fans. This Nissan Sentra NISMO concept is a tuned up Nissan passenger car done right.

If cynics think that this is just a mere cosmetic upgrade, then think again. The standard 1.8L engine producing 130HP was beefed up with a turbocharged, intercooled four-cylinder from the Juke Nismo RS. That resulted into an impressive 240bhp with 240lb/ft of torque which is impressive for a front wheel drive saloon.

The concept is equipped with 6 speed manual transmission, ditching the CVT gearbox from the standard Sentra model. Handling was improved by using NISMO’s customised suspension and springs. More impressively, a LSD (limited slip differential) unit was placed into this concept car.

On the aesthetics side it was equally impressive with a lower front spoiler and oversized arch flares designed and improvements on aerodynamics. Adding some aggressive looks on the car including the gorgeous 19 inch RAYS alloy rims and the unpretentious dual exhaust tips.

Just for reference, the Sentra in the United States is actually the current Nissan Sylphy in Singapore. The Malaysian’s Sylphy is due for replacement in 2014 and it should be based on this Nissan Sentra. So the next time Edaran Tan Chong Motors introduces the new Sylphy, we might get a glimpse of the Sylphy NISMO trim based on this Sentra NISMO concept.

soscili: http://www.autofreaks.net/2013/11/this-nis...car-done-right/

how fast would you need to go to defeat AES?

travis_ckf — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 14:52:06 +0800

Science has prove that it is actually possible to beat AES or our traffic cops's punya speedtrap, if only.....

QUOTE

how fast would you need to go to defeat speed cameras

Speed cameras are universally accepted as the thing we motorists love to hate. Closer to home, Malaysian motorists were haunted by the infamous Automated Enforcement System (AES) – in which, if they went over the speed limit, flashes from that shoe box on a pole meant you’d be about RM300 poorer. Are there any ways we can defeat these speed cameras? Apparently, there is….

Take away ridiculous methods from putting deflecting CDs or spot-lights surrounding the number plate, or installing the biggest turbocharger you can find into the engine, because it won’t help. The students from the University of Leicester’s Master of Physics program did an experiment in the name of science (and perhaps reducing chances of getting speeding tickets). In the end, the research concluded that you need to achieve the speed of 191,000,000 km/h (yes, 191-million) in order for the camera to miss your ride’s number plate. Warp speed anyone?

How’s this possible? It appears that speed cameras can be fooled if you achieve one sixth of the speed of light. The students used the Doppler Effect to make their calculations. We won’t be going into much detail on this, but if science is in your veins, perhaps read up their page here.

So in the end, forget getting the Hennessey supercar or strapping a rocket into your car in order to fool these speed cameras and it would be best to be a law-abiding citizen by sticking to the speed limit; well, try to anyway.

soscili: http://www.autofreaks.net/2014/04/how-fast...-speed-cameras/

Mitsu to say sayonara to Lancer Evo

travis_ckf — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:28:07 +0800

It looks like sayonara to Lancer Evolution series

QUOTE

Mitsubishi is set to put an end on the production of the iconic Lancer Evolution this year. The current Lancer Evolution X, which has been in production since 2007, was overdue for a replacement, but there was no news on the next generation Lancer Evolution to be heard.

“Mitsubishi Motors does not have any plans to design a successor with the current concept, as a high-performance four-wheel-drive gasoline-powered sedan,” said spokeswoman Namie Koketsu, which pretty much confirms that the next generation Lancer Evolution will not be.

However, she added that the company would “explore the possibilities of high-performance models that incorporate electric vehicle technology” but did not elaborate in much detail.

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution needs no introduction to petrolheads in Malaysia. As the car that inspired many of the souped-up Proton Wiras on the roads and was seen in many Jackie Chan movies in the 90st, the Lancer Evolution will be fondly remembered as the car that won four World Rally Championship (WRC) titles.

Contrary to its name, it seems the “Evolution” is set to stop, evolving.

soscili: http://www.autofreaks.net/2014/04/mitsubis...by-end-of-2014/

Bangkok Int Motorshow 14 Chicks Feast

travis_ckf — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 22:44:55 +0800

Inilah dia. The hot "tom yum" chicks from Bangkok Int Motorshow (BIMS) 2014. Either if she the real deal or trap up for u to judge

The next few ones really NSFW Come think of it, i prefer the chicks from KLIMs then these

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

soscili: http://www.autofreaks.net/2014/03/photo-ga...2014-part-deux/

car porn over here:
http://www.autofreaks.net/2014/03/the-best...t-of-bims-2014/
http://www.autofreaks.net/2014/03/bangkok-...-photo-gallery/

Porsche burning? Replace all engines!

travis_ckf — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 14:32:32 +0800

Porsche 911 GT3 terbakar? Tukar semua engine, FOC. Problem solved!

QUOTE

Porsche to replace all 911 GT3 engines as solution to potential fire risk

Previously it was reported that Porsche had halted all sales of the 911 GT3 after a few cases of the car catching fire that till now has claimed 5 units. Porsche has came out with a solution – they are going to replace the engine of all 785 units delivered. Now that’s what we call grabbing the bull by the horns!

Porsche has confirmed the cause of this problem is due to a loose bolt in a piston connecting rod. “Obviously customer safety is our priority,” said a Porsche spokesman, “We’ve investigated the two situations and identified that there is a potential for a fixing to become loose and therefore we’re rolling out an engine with a modified component. It’s much more straightforward to replace an engine than to strip down existing units.” he added.

The replacement of all these engines will cost quite a bit, but yet again it is acceptable as customer safety or vehicle integrity is paramount to Porsche. Not forgetting, parent company Volkswagen, rakes in $23,000 profit for every Porsche sold.

In previous cases there were reports of engine damage in the GT3 resulting in a fire thought to be caused by oil spilling onto hot components. Despite no reported injuries, Porsche asked all 911 GT3 customers (which includes Top Gear presenter, Richard Hammond) to stop driving their cars until a solution is identified.

cilisos: http://www.autofreaks.net/2014/03/porsche-...tial-fire-risk/

AutoFreaks.NET's Weekly Poll thread #2

travis_ckf — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 13:39:20 +0800

Welcome to AF's weekly poll questionnaire. We will post questions over here and will create a top ten/five list based on the obtained feedback. Think of it like Jalopnik's "Question of the day" and "Answer of the day" posts and you get the picture.

Last week, we asked what is Mysia's best national car and the winner is the Proton Satria Gti . This week, we will do the exact opposite instead....

WHAT IS MALAYSIA's WORST National Car?

Just reply by naming that particular car and tell us why. You can add a picture if its possible.

For the sake of this poll, i will put the national car to be defined as:

1. Vehicle produced by domestic brands like Proton/Perodua
2. Rebadged cars with special "privileges", like Naza, Hicom and Inokom only. Partial national cars qualified as well (like Naza 206, Sutera/Forza, i10, Forte)**

The result of this poll will be complied into a top ten/five list to be posted on AutoFreaks.net by next week.

So, lets roll!!!!

Honda to say sayonara to the Insight

travis_ckf — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 16:22:48 +0800

For those who owns the 2nd gen of the Honda Insight, dont sell ur car and instead keep it for 2-3 decades, then go to eBay or Mudah to PROFIT!

Honda says sayonara to Honda Insight

QUOTE

Honda pulls the plug on the Insight

The spokeswoman for Honda has told the media that “Honda informed dealers in November that the current generation of the Insight will be discontinued this month and asked them to stop taking orders.” It is unknown if there will be a new model to replace the Insight, but it seems very likely that Honda will rely on the hybrid version of the new Honda Jazz/Fit to march on.

The Insight was the first hybrid vehicle in the US market when Honda introduced it in 1999, seven months earlier than the Prius. Last year Honda sold 280,629 Insights globally, of which 157,275 were sold in Japan. Last year, sales in the US were dismal; the Insight was the second worst selling Honda car, with only 4,802 units finding new homes.

The second generation Insight made its worldwide debut in 2009 and was introduced to the Malaysian market in late 2010. With changes on the NAP structure this year in which there won’t be anymore tax exemption for imported hybrid vehicles, it looks like the end is near for the Insight model in Malaysia too.

soscili : http://www.autofreaks.net/2014/02/honda-pu...on-the-insight/

AutoFreaks.NET's Weekly Poll thread

travis_ckf — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 13:39:34 +0800

Hey guys,

Autofreaks.net is our automotive n bikes portal that belongs to the Lowyat MSC group. In this thread, I would like to start a "Question of the week" section to involve participation from the folks of FnF in various topics. We will post questions over here and will create a top ten list based on the obtained feedback. Think of it like Jalopnik's "Question of the day" and "Answer of the day" posts and you get the picture.

This week, we start with the question of something rather interesting.......

WHAT IS MALAYSIA's best National Car?

Just reply by naming that particular car and tell us why. You can add a picture if its possible.

The result of this poll will be complied into a top ten list to be posted on AutoFreaks.net in the near future.

So, lets roll!!!!

New Proton Model out today!

travis_ckf — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 11:31:15 +0800

/K, today Proton will launch another Super Premium model during their sales carnival in Kuala Terrenganu. Looks like Preve.

ada drill as below:

Any guesses?

Afghan cops stop car theft by slashing tyres!

travis_ckf — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 14:16:07 +0800

If you afraid yr car gets stolen, call ur guard to blow all tyres in that parking lot. Apparently, it worked

QUOTE

Afghan cops stop car theft by slashing tyres!

Apparently in Kabul, Afghanistan, it is reported that car thief has been so rampant that the cops over there have to resort to an extreme measure that is for sure defeats car theft. In this edition’s of Truth is Stranger than Fiction, you be amazed that the authorities in Afghanistan puncture the tyres of all cars parked at night in order to prevent thieves from driving them away.

It is reported that a man leaves an office in Kabul during the evening, only to discover all four tyres on his car were slashed. So he went to report this to the police, only to find out that he couldn’t make the report as after all, it was the cops who did it!

Nesar Ahmad Abdulrahimzai, Kabul’s police chief in the 10th district, has decided to perform this act of absurdity in order to prevent the car from being stolen. Or perhaps he is giving tyre shop owners in Kabul a bigger reason to smile.

Interestingly, media organization, the NPR , has reported that over the past six months, there are only 2 cases of reported car thefts in that area in Kabul. Who knows, the cops could have splashed all the tires of cars parked in that area. However the Kabul’s police chief says that the 10th district is abusing its power, and this has to be stopped.

So, for now it is hard to be in the shoes of the Afghan cops. Not only they were poorly equipped and were constant targets of suicide bombers, they now can’t prevent car thieves by blowing away all the tyres of cars nearby.

soscili: http://www.autofreaks.net/2014/01/truth-is...slashing-tyres/

In before #Malaysiabolehparkkeretasyukurlah