he Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is a vehicle developed by Mercedes-Benz in conjunction with McLaren Automotive. The SLR stands for sport, light and racing, which puts the car in the running with sports cars like the Ferrari and Aston Martin. The car is actually based off of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR format, but with the help of McLaren Automotive, it became much bigger than the 300 SLR.

There are many technical aspects of the SLR McLaren that set it above and beyond other sports cars. For starters, the aerodynamics of the car are special. When the car reaches speeds above 59 miles per hour, the spoiler will automatically rise to ten degrees. However, the driver can also adjust the spoiler when they want to with the touch of a button, up to thirty degrees maximum. In addition, upon placing force onto the brakes, the spoiler automatically rises in order to help with the stopping power. The brakes are one of the many aspects that are unique to the car. They are made of a carbon ceramic that help to stop the car in a much better way than the simple disc brakes. In addition, the brake technology works to keep the disc brakes dry during wet weather by constantly skimming the service to remove any moisture that may be on the brakes. However, this is a feature that many have given skeptical reviews. They believe that the brakes were designed with stopping at tremendous amounts of speed, which was the idea. However, these critics state that the brakes are a bit on the touchy side for just normal everyday drivin

nd Twingo Gordini, Wind is the next to receive the “French touch”. Renault Wind Gordini expands the coupé-roadster range with a version featuring the best equipment available on Wind. This exclusive model will be presented at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show from March 1.

• A true driver’s car, the coupé-roadster proudly bears the Gordini colours. Shod with 17-inch black diamond alloy wheels, it features Malta blue bodywork with the two white stripes, Glacier white door mirrors, grille trim and rear wing, and a glossy black roof. A badge marked with a “G” completes the Gordini look.

• Wind Gordini also places particular emphasis on interior design. The cabin features special “Gordini” black and blue leather upholstery, blue and white door straps, a blue leather steering wheel with white stripes at the top, and a gear lever with a leather gaiter and metal knob with the Gordini name.

• But first and foremost, the Gordini name expresses a community spirit that has travelled down the years. Just as Gordini drivers of the 1960s and 1970s flashed their headlamps as a sign of recognition when they met on the road, so the modern Gordini community meets up on the social networks. In an innovative move by Renault, they were the first to receive news of the Wind Gordini reveal with a teaser posted on the Gordini fan page on Facebook on January 31.

interior, the Grand Livina provides a sedan-like ride, comfort and handling that is unparalleled in this class of mid-size MPVs - hence it’s communication tagline, “Drive’s Like A Sedan, Fits Like A MPV”. The Grand Livina also comes with new generation Nissan engines that offer brisk performance coupled with exceptional fuel economy to meet the needs of Malaysian drivers.

Using a monocoque body structure, the Grand Livina is powered by either a 1.8L MR engine or 1.6L HR engine with CVTC (continuously variable valve timing control) for improved performance and fuel efficiency. The 1.8L model comes with the choice of a four-speed automatic transmission while the 1.6L version is equipped with either a four-speed automatic transmission or five-speed manual transmission.

Price range : On-the-road prices (inclusive of insurance, road tax, registration fee and ownership claim fee) valid for Peninsular Malaysia will be from RM82,800 to RM95,300 (from USD 24,800 to USD 28,600).

In Malaysia, the Grand Livina is assembled at the Serendah plant of Tan Chong Motor Assemblies Sdn. Bhd.(TCMA). This new facility started production from August, 2007. TCMA invested 67 million US dollars for the new plant and has fully implemented the Nissan Production Way (NPW) which is Nissan’s international standard for global quality manufacturing and vehicle assembly.

“Today, we are very excited to introduce the 1st non-national CKD medium-size MPV in the 1.6 Liter & 1.8 Liter segment. We aim to capture 15% of the total MPV market with the Grand Livina and, in all, the Grand Livina is expected to contribute to as much as 30% of ETCM’s total sales,” said Dato’ Dr Ang Bon Beng, Executive Director of Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd. “Grand Livina provides sedan-intenders an alternative choice for a high-quality and modern design with spacious and flexible seating.”

With momentum in new markets, Nissan plans to introduce this new family of global vehicles to more countries. During 2008, the Grand Livina will be introduced in the Philippines and the Livina into Indonesia. For each of those markets, the vehicles will be manufactured locally.

ZL1 debuted today at the Chicago Auto Show. It is the highest-performing Camaro and the most technically advanced car ever developed in its class. The new ZL1 continues the momentum of Camaro, propelling it into an entirely new realm of leading-edge performance technology. It is planned to launch at the beginning of 2012.

Motivated by a supercharged V-8 engine producing an estimated 550 horsepower (410 kW), the Camaro ZL1 will be the fastest Camaro ever offered by Chevrolet. And more than just power, the ZL1 features technologically advanced and highly developed chassis and suspension systems that help it deliver balanced, track-ready handling and braking power to complement its high engine output. Rigorous development of the ZL1 is ongoing, and official estimates of the car’s capabilities will be released later in 2011, as testing nears completion.

“Camaro ZL1 is about high-tech performance and design, and is a type of car no one has ever brought to this segment previously,” said Rick Scheidt, vice president of Chevrolet marketing. “It’s the most technically advanced Camaro ever, so we’ve chosen a name from the most elite and exclusive Camaro in history.”

The ZL1 name is derived from the all-aluminum racing engine of the same name, which was developed in the late 1960s and installed into a handful of regular-production 1969 Camaros. Only 69 were built with the engine, but they’ve achieved mythical status among enthusiasts, as they represented the pinnacle in Camaro performance – until now. The 2012 ZL1 model is designed to be a major leap forward for the Camaro, bringing a new level of performance capability to the segment.

The central goal of the car’s development was creating something new – a Camaro intended to reach optimal lap times on top road-racing circuits and excellent driving dynamics on the street. To achieve that goal, engineers evolved many of the existing Camaro’s systems, as well as incorporated new technologies such as electric power steering and Magnetic Ride Control, the world’s fastest-reacting suspension system.

Camaro ZL1’s design communicates and supports its performance mission. Rather than using decorative elements, ZL1 is visually differentiated from other current Camaro models with elements vital to the car’s elevated capabilities.

“Everything about the ZL1’s design is directly related to its technology and serious performance, especially aerodynamics,” said Ed Welburn, vice president, Global Design. “Our designers’ goal was to execute that function-oriented design with beautifully sculpted forms, creating an imposing, powerful persona. Function becomes the aesthetic. The intent is a car that delivers on the attitude it projects.”

Major elements of the ZL1’s design are a new front fascia and hood with air extractors, designed in tandem to create aerodynamic downforce to aid handling. The car’s hood includes a signature center section constructed of carbon fiber and rendered in satin black finish. New rocker panels, wide tires, 20-inch wheels and exhaust tips portray the car’s handling and power.
The ZL1 badge appears on the grille, hood and the brake calipers, all key areas portraying the technology
Tech overview
Supporting the dynamic track and street performance of the ZL1 is the LSA 6.2L supercharged engine, which will produce an estimated 550 horsepower (410kW) and 550 lb.-ft. of torque (677 Nm), with specific features for the Camaro. Built on GM’s legendary all-aluminum, small-block V-8 architecture, the LSA features an intercooled supercharger system, premium heat-resistant aluminum-alloy cylinder heads and other details designed to ensure its exceptional performance is delivered with smoothness and refinement. Components and design elements that contribute to the LSA’s performance include:

Malaysia today introduced the Stream RSZ, and the vehicle replaces the current bog-standard version that was launched in Nov 2007.
Mechanically, everything’s all but the same in the 1.8 i-VTEC-powered seven-seater, but the updated variant - which has been selling in Singapore for a good bit now - features more in the way of bling, with a full bodykit, a redesigned RSZ front grille and new 17-inch alloys wheels leading the way.
Elsewhere, the front end lights get a reworking too, and the new lamps are auto HID (high intensity discharge) units with smoke-finish covers. Also new, the fog lamps, and let’s not forget the inclusion of a sunroof on this one.

Inside, you now have a more refined interior in the way of material, paddle shifters, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a seat-side armrest for the driver and for added convenience, a passenger seat under-seat storage tray as new items on thushi Fujimoto, managing director and chief executive officer of Honda Malaysia said that ”the refinements accomplished in the Stream RSZ show that we are on the pulse of the current lifestyle trend, where style and practicality in an automobile are expected to come hand in hand.”

The Stream RSZ comes in four colours - besides the Premium White Pearl, Honda Malaysia is introducing three new colours with the vehicle, and they are Crystal Black Pearl, Polished Metal Metallic and New Red Pearl.
The outgoing standard Stream managed to sell just over 1,600 units up until Jan from the time it was launched, but Honda Malaysia is being a little more conservative with this one, given the market conditions - the company has targeted a modest sales figure of 350 units for the vehicle this year.
The Stream RSZ is priced at RM155,980, on-the-road, with insurance. Oh, and before you rush out to the showrooms, you might want to know that the Stream RSZ will be available at all authorised Honda showrooms nationwide only from

which was launched mid of year 2008 signals a new phase in the evolution of Perodua. This is the first time that Perodua is not building its own model and instead importing it as a completely built-up unit (CBU) from Japan, a move that critics say is a departure from its original mission and also not appropriate for a national car company.

Perodua estimates that the successor to the Kembara would draw about 200 buyers a month at most and while making 2,400 units a year locally is possible, the question is whether it will be worth the investment and whether it will be a CKD assembly approach or manufacturing (which means stamping body panels). There are companies which do assemble less than 3,000 units a year but their plants are geared towards smaller volumes than what Perodua today produche first thing most people will remark is that the Nautica looks like the Toyota Rush and yes, it is a shorter version. From various conversations with Perodua, Daihatsu and Toyota engineers, the Daihatsu BeGo/Terios from which the Nautica is derived is the ‘standard’ wheelbase model and Toyota adapted the platform to use for the Rush for Asean in order to get a 3-row SUV (and also uses the same platform for the Avanza).

Dimensional differences are therefore visually noticeable since the Rush has to accommodate three rows of seats. The wheelbase is almost 100 mm longer while the body is about 300 mm longer but the width is the same for both models. However, Perodua’s marketing people do not regard the Rush as a direct rival since that is aimed at a more family-oriented target group which needs a 7-seater. So if it is not competing with the Rush, then the Nautica is actually in a segment on its own asspeed automatic transmission is available but the drivetrain is a full-time 4WD, like the Kembara’s. The use of 4WD in small models is not new in Japan and many of the manufacturers have provided it as a means to improve stability on slippery surfaces like ice and snow, and not for off-road capability. Thus the 4WD in the Nautica is essentially a ‘mild’ system that will come in useful on wet roads and also for casual off-road driving. Don’t expect it to perform like a Toyota Land Cruiser just because it has 4WD and in any case, the Dunlop Grandtrek tyres (not intended for extreme conditions.

Moving inside the Nautica, it will be immediately evident that it is very different from the Kembara. The earlier SUV was small and the cabin was compact but the Nautica offers a lot more space with its wider body. Those who felt the Kembara’s seating made them too ‘intimate’ with their passengers will be pleased with the extra elbow room and also the larger seats. The driver’s seating position is high, like in the Kembara, something which was a major reason for many people buying the SUV. other 2-row SUVs are larger and cost more with the exception of the Chery