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Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Mitsubishi Concept-cX
Monday, July 30, 2007
All-New W204 C200 Kompressor spotted in Malaysia!
Dubbed a Werkswagen (not to be confused with a Vee-Dub), these pictures depict a sample unit of the new W204 C-Class spotted at the Mercedes-Benz assembly plant in Pekan. This maybe the earliest example to kick-start a CKD programme that could be well underway in Pahang, Malaysia. So, M-B fans can be expecting to see few CBU showroom units for a possible early launch in Sept/Oct 2007. Deliveries of CKD units, however, are only to be expected by Q1 2008.
Related posts:
http://famouscardesign.blogspot.com/2007/02/mercedes-benz-all-new-c-class-w204-in.html
http://famouscardesign.blogspot.com/2007/03/new-2008-mercedes-benz-c63-amg.html
http://famouscardesign.blogspot.com/2007/07/new-w204-mercedes-benz-c63-amg-with.html
Friday, July 27, 2007
Porsche 911 GT2 (997)
Quicker than even the 911 Turbo, it rockets to 100km/h in just 3.7 seconds and marches on to a top speed of 329km/h (204mph). What’s even more impressive is the average fuel consumption of just 12.5L/100km (22.6mpg)!
The rear-mounted powerplant of the new 911 GT2 is based on the six-cylinder boxer engine of the 911 Turbo, with forced induction by two exhaust gas turbochargers featuring variable turbine geometry (VTG). The 3.6L boxer engine achieves its maximum output of 530bhp (390 kW) at 6500rpm, with maximum torque of 680Nm maintained - consistently on tap - between 2200 and 4500 rpm.
Further increase in engine power by 50bhp over the ‘standard’ power unit is achieved in the new 911 GT2 by two turbochargers with a larger compressor (turbine) wheel each side. A flow-optimised turbine housing further raises turbocharger pressure to an even higher level. Furthermore, Porsche engineers have for the first time, combined the turbocharged engine with an expansion-type intake manifold – an ingenious evolution on turbocharged motors. Such an expansion intake manifold keeps the temperature of the fuel/air mixture lower than in the 911 Turbo. This contributes to a significant increase in all-round efficiency, with fuel consumption down by up to 15% under full load despite the significant gain in engine output.
The 911 GT2 offers new achievements also in terms of emission management and control: This is the first Porsche homologated for the road to feature a rear silencer and tailpipes made of titanium as standard equipment. This expensive material reduces weight by approximately 50% versus a comparable component made of stainless steel. The whole rear exhaust set-up weighs just 9kg.
With standard PCCB brakes, featuring brake rotors made of a composite carbon fibre/ceramic compound, the GT2’s maximum stopping power is maintained with an extremely high level of consistency. A further advantage is that PCCB brakes reduce the weight of the unsprung masses versus comparable grey cast-iron discs by approximately 20kg.
Yet another feature fitted standard is the electronically controlled Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), which enables superb handling yet appreciable ride comfort. The new 911 GT2 comes shod with 19” alloys with 235/35 ZR 19 sports tyres in front, and 325/30 ZR 19 rubbers at the rear.
The new Porsche 911 GT2 is expected to go on sale in Germany and Europe by November 2007. Expect it to be in the region of RM1.8million when it comes to Malaysia sometime next year, and likely available only on an indent basis.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
New Proton Gen.2 sedan = Proton Persona?
Poised to replace the ageing Wira sedan range, prices are indicated to be:
1.6 BaseLine (N/M) MT - RM45,350
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
New Mercedes-Benz 1.8L Petrol Engine with 238hp and 400Nm!
Click on picture for more details
Mercedes-Benz DiesOtto powerplant key technological features are as follows:
1) Downsizing with fewer cylinders and a smaller displacement
2) Turbocharging for superior performance
3) Direct gasoline injection as a further fuel economy measure
4) Controlled auto ignition, a combustion process similar to that of a diesel
5) Variable valve control
6) A variable compression ratio leading to even better fuel economy
7) A hybrid module with an integrated starter/generator, which makes the drive unit even more economical (optional)
Mercedes-Benz DiesOtto – a further development of the spark-ignition engine
Mercedes-Benz has combined all the advantages of both engine types in its DiesOtto powertrain. The performance of a gasoline engine, the high torque and fuel economy of a state-of-the-art turbodiesel together with extremely clean emissions is now possible. The new technology package, which stands for the future of the petrol engine, includes features such as direct gasoline injection, turbocharging and a variable compression. At the core of this innovation lies the controlled auto ignition, a highly efficient combustion process similar to that of a diesel. By way of another advantage, and in contrast to comparable developments, the Mercedes system requires no synthetic fuels but can be operated using conventional petrol.
Optimising the internal combustion engine is one of the milestones on the Mercedes-Benz roadmap for sustainable mobility. BLUETEC has already made it possible for Mercedes engineers to make the powerful and economical diesel as clean as the gasoline engine. In the US, this technology has already been available in the E-Class since 2006, and it will also become available in Europe from the end of this year. The W211 E300 BLUETEC will be by far the cleanest diesel in its class, and will meet the requirements of the EU5 exhaust emission standards in full.
"Our next goal will now be to make the gasoline engine as economical as a diesel. All the preconditions for this are provided by our DiesOtto concept, which incorporates the foremost strengths of both the gasoline engine and diesel engine," says Prof. Dr. Herbert Kohler, Head of Group Research & Advanced Engineering Vehicle and Powertrain; Chief Environmental Officer of DaimlerChrysler.
The result of this “marriage" is a four-cylinder unit with a displacement of just 1.8 litres, which combines the strengths of the low-emission gasoline engine with the fuel economy of a diesel. Despite its considerably reduced displacement – downsizing is one of the major factors for achieving lower fuel consumption – this compact power unit delivers superior performance together with refinement at the level of the luxury class. An output of 175 kW/238 hp and a maximum torque of 400 newton metres are achieved together with the hybridisation a fuel consumption of less than 6L/100 kilometres! This fuel economy figure by no means relates to a small or compact car, but to a vehicle the size of the current S-Class, with the level of comfort and safety that is typical of a Mercedes-Benz.
“In line with the worldwide success of today's diesel engine, vehicles equipped with gasoline engines will continue to have a long-term attraction for many customers and in many markets. Accordingly we are giving our attention to both engine types – including a full hybrid option for diesel and gasoline vehicles, " says Prof. Kohler. Mercedes-Benz is working on its DiesOtto concept with corresponding emphasis.
When starting and under full load, the fuel/air mixture is ignited by a spark plug, as in a conventional spark-ignition engine (homogeneous combustion). The controlled auto ignition to which the DiesOtto automatically reverts within its working cycle occurs under partial load conditions, i.e. at low and medium engine speeds.
The result is the very low nitrogen oxide emissions of homogeneous combustion at reduced reaction temperatures. All further emissions control in the DiesOtto engine is by means of a standard three-way catalytic converter. A highly efficient engine management and control system has also been realised to combine the individual sub-systems into a drive concept.
The current prospects for the future of the internal combustion engine reveal its great potential, and show that the new drive concept is a feasible proposition in the mid-term. Some of the intermediate solutions incorporated, e.g. direct gasoline injection, are already in series production at Mercedes-Benz. Others will be gradually integrated into series-production engines until the overall solution has been realised.
Monday, July 23, 2007
New Honda Civic Type-R and Civic Hybrid Coming Soon!
Meanwhile, the new Civic Hybrid is also reportedly being planned for mainstream sales, unlike the last 7th gen Civic. It would be interesting to see how well the electric airconditioning works at traffic stops (when the petrol engine shuts down).
Honda's IMA electric motor together with its 1.3L 8-valve SOHC petrol engine produces 116bhp at 6000rpm and 170Nm of torque at a low 2500rpm. All these are transmitted to the front wheels via CVT. No 5-speed torque converter 'box here.
Update: Prices are guess-timates at this stage, with the Civic Type-R ranging from RM200k to RM210k. The greener Civic Hybrid is rumoured to be circa RM160k.
Related post:
http://famouscardesign.blogspot.com/2007/03/new-honda-civic-type-r-sedan.html
Audi quattro: 27 years and counting...
So how well does Audi quattro work in a country like Malaysia where we NEVER experience snow or blizzard? Well, the writer had a ‘revision’ with an A4 2.0 TFSI quattro recently.
Audi TFSI-powered A4s have always been great on the straights, highways and even mildly curved trunk roads. The power of turbocharging plus direct injection is always welcomed - with a smirk or grin - for those quick sprints and fast (and safer) overtaking manoeuvres. However, the substantial 280Nm worth of torque powering just the front wheels can be caught a little too busy especially when you hit tighter corners.
So, the A4 quattro’s driveline must be the cure that will address such ailments, yes? To a certain extent, I do admit that all-wheel drive provided a nicer balance to the A4’s chassis – and possibly weight distribution as well. However, the engine’s power is much sapped off, especially when driven in regular “D” mode. More often than not, you get that bogged-down feeling, attributed to the AWD hardware’s extra weight and permanent-four wheels propulsion.
On the highways, I would have preferred the alive-n-kicking feeling of its front-wheel driven brethren. But that’s only half the story since the quattro-specced A4 is undeniably the one to have when the sky starts to pour. Having driven on the N-S highway one dark and wet evening, I found the quattro confidently tracking on the third lane, overtaking cars as if the tarmac was dry. No wicked or rage-fuelled driving here, I was just unknowingly piling on momentum as if nothing mattered! Honest.
On winding roads, the permanent-four driveline felt busier as you exit corners. This makes the quattro quite a handful to handle. (Two Mercedes-Benz ASE 2007 trainers mentioned something about AWD vehicle having a little less ‘safety reserve’ in extreme handling situations even though they did admit it has better handling and of course, higher levels of grip. I wonder what the ‘safety reserve’ was all about.) The handling difficulty is compounded by the fact that the A4 has an unpleasantly - and undesirably - light and almost lifeless steering. Traction was aplenty – as is torque in 'S' drive mode - around the regular hilly bends that I tackle almost every weekend. Admittedly, I do appreciate the extra road holding forte but the A4’s suspension was acting like it had a mind of its own. With repeatedly tight left-right-left-right handers thrown in succession, the dampers were loosening up a bit too much to rein in the associated suspension rebounds incisively. As a result, there were even a little twitch and pitch to things. The much wanted taut and composed body control were sadly, missing.
Notwithstanding the fact that I may not have the required advanced driving skills to take the quattro to the maximum around those hilly B-roads, I still find myself more aligned towards RWD dynamics. While I admit the A4 quattro did handled better than the regular FWD A4 TFSI multitronic, I reckoned most of us with regular/standard driving skills would do better in the other two junior executives from the alternative Teutonic brands. Well, maybe the upcoming 2008 all-new Audi (B8) A4 has other technical trickery up its sleeves?
Related post:
http://famouscardesign.blogspot.com/2007/05/2007-all-new-audi-a4-b8.html
Friday, July 20, 2007
All-New Honda Jazz world debut soon?
The European Jazz-equivalent will debut at the Geneva International Motor Show in March 2008. Over in the US, the new Honda Fit will make its first public appearance either at the Detroit Motor Show in January ’08 or the New York Auto Show by March ’08. Does this mean that Honda Malaysia will introduce the all-new Honda Jazz and City in 2008?
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Mercedes-Benz Active Safety Experience 2007 on Friday the 13th!
After an opening speech by Florian Muller, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, DaimlerChrysler Malaysia Sdn. Bhd, we were introduced to our trainers by the chief instructor, Matthias Kleinmichel. The trainers for ASE 2007 were Violetta Weykopf (Mrs.), Wim Daems and Jochen Hees.
The do’s and don’ts of seating position were taught as preliminary basics to all groups regardless of which first exercise we were to begin with. In short, 9-3 o’clock positions ALWAYS on the steering wheel – with both thumbs to be rested out of the steering rim, according to this Mercedes-Benz safety teaching. The usual bent at elbows and knees stuffs were obligatorily highlighted as well. Your left foot should be resting comfortably on the footrest – and left knee still bent – if you are seated correctly. Meanwhile, the upper border of your headrest should come in line with the top of your head, which should be a fist width or more away from the roof lining.
We started off with the emergency braking exercise. This was elementary and very comforting to those novice drivers since the starting attempts were done at 30kph! I reckoned the wet parking concrete enabled the ABS to work at such slow speed. We were all doing very well when we ‘graduated’ to 70-75kph at the end of this exercise. Personally though, my first encounter with the W221 S300 L here was that of a very solid limo with truly excellent brakes! The 'new' C230 2.5 V6 was one smooth, refined and delightful drive. Above it all, the take-home message here is: KICK THAT BRAKE PEDAL REALLY HARD in an emergency stop! (in order to utilise ABS fully).
Next up was the slalom which was pretty boring because the cones were quite widely placed and it was a plain driving-up-and-back exercise. The aim of this was to impress upon us the importance of light, smooth and easy steering manoeuvres for our daily safe driving. My impression here again was that the extended wheelbase S300 L was surprisingly agile and easy to handle, despite its length and size! However, its weight when around those cones couldn’t contain itself since you still feel there is still substantial mass being flung about.
Our morning session ended with an exercise to counter understeer (the front wheels not going the way you intended) on the track. This was a pretty daunting task for most of us, since it required us to execute a sudden right turn at speeds of 80kph. Honestly, I didn’t find myself understeering much since ESP was on all the time, but the C200K and E280 we sampled did steer out of our intended line. We discovered the importance of a full-hard-kick emergency braking followed by a counter-steering manoeuvre then – in order not to veer off into grass (side of track) or even crash into Jochen! I have go to admit my body’s adrenaline rush hasn’t begun yet at this point…well, okay, maybe just a little bit during the few bouts of the front tyres wailing.
Lunch was short and sweet. Our group members got to know a little more about one another. During our little chat, it was incidentally found out that Cycle & Carriage Bintang (CCB) has sold quite a few Mercs recently, namely an E200K FL, an E280 AV and even two S300Ls to participants in our group.
I had gotten a little lazy after lunch break, infused with glycaemic (blood sugar) load from the nice meal. Things were about to get exhilarating after the basics in the morning, I was assured by Chris Loo, Marketing Manager, DCM Sdn Bhd. Sure enough, Jochen herded us together again to the earlier ‘emergency braking’ parking lot and we were thrown onto a skid pad with running water. The S300 L impressed me (again!) with its rigid chassis and axles, being quite difficult to induce an oversteer (back sliding away). Nevertheless, in one last attempt I managed to spin the 2tonne plus luxury saloon 1.5 turns, having been late in executing counter-steering manoeuvre. Awesome! The B170s were quite difficult to execute oversteer at 75kph on the wet skid pad despite the ‘best’ of intentions. Most of us found this surprisingly likeable hatch lacked power, though its interior is spacious, practical and more ergonomic than the C200K. It was truly a joy to execute this skid pad exercise in an E-Class, demonstrating the ability of ABS and occasionally ESP to rein you back to safety zone. Meanwhile, the other group seemed to have more fun next door parking lot, with lots of tyres screeching and wailing, I wondered what they were doing then…more on this at the end.
Last but not the least, the double-lane changing maneovre without braking was the most exhilarating of them all. This exercise demonstrates weight-shifting of the car in sudden avoidance of an obstacle right in front of you at speeds of 80-85kph. The hindrance may be in the form of a stalled/crashed lorry or a fallen tree trunk, Jochen had us imagined. I found the knack of doing rear side drifts repeatedly, enabling PRE-SAFE (opened windows did wound up automatically) and ESP to kick in, while catching the induced-oversteer at the steering, best in a W211 E200K. An emergency braking inducing ABS function was required at end of this exercise, after the vehicle has regained its directional composure. Other PRE-SAFE actions like the AC blower winding down momentarily and the seat belt pretensioners winding up tighter were truly eye-opening! Once again, the B170 was not cut out to easily execute sudden double lane changes manoeuvres due to lack of engine power and maybe, its light but less responsive EPS rack, I imagined to myself. We were too shy to confirm this fact with Jochen or Matthias.
At the end of the day, we were impressed with the PRO-SAFE concepts, PRE-SAFE features, ABS, BAS and ESP fitted standard on all Mercedes-Benz passenger cars. A certificates handing-over ceremony was helmed by Elaine Hew, Senior Marketing Manager, DCM Sdn. Bhd. With the usual debriefing by our chief instructor, Matthias and a closing speech by Florian Muller, we bade our goodbyes, leaving the ASE 2007 driving course at Sepang F1 Circuit quite tired but satisfied, and glad that we were all safe – and the Mercs managed to stay on track - all through out that Friday the 13th!
DCM, bring on the AMG Advanced Driving Course…maybe next year?
Note: The writer expresses his sincere gratitude to CCB for having sponsored part of his participation fee for the Mercedes-Benz ASE 2007.
Related post:
http://famouscardesign.blogspot.com/2007/01/fasten-your-seat-belts-its-porsche.html
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Mercedes-Benz Active Safety Experience 2007
Owners' Mercs are just as varied as the ASE training cars!
Mercedes-Benz has offered its customers driving safety training courses for over three decades now as part of a wide-ranging commitment to improving road safety. The first such courses took place in 1972 and these courses are subject to a constant process of optimisation and are tailored to the needs and priorities of various different target groups.
Mercedes-Benz sees its customer driving training courses as an important part of its PRO-SAFE™ integrated safety philosophy, a philosophy which is underpinned primarily by the aim of accident avoidance. The highly effective safety systems and technically flawless vehicles play its part in achieving this aim but well trained drivers are also an essential ingredient. The aim of Mercedes-Benz driving safety training is to teach drivers how to recognise critical situations in advance and respond to them as effectively as possible. The training also teaches drivers to understand and experience the state-of-the-art safety systems in Mercedes-Benz models.
Mercedes-Benz has always been at the head of the pack in terms of development of vehicle safety and with pioneering innovations such as airbags, ABS, Brake Assist (BAS), ESP® and PRE-SAFE®, the three-pointed star has built up a reputation for setting high standards. In addition to this successful technical commitment, the Stuttgart-based car maker has maintained an equally sharp focus on the human element in road safety. Participants in driving safety training courses held around the world have benefited from exploring the disciplines of driving dynamics and the laws of physics, thus learning how to control their vehicle with maximum safety.
The aim of this programme is based on four objectives:
1) Recognising potential danger
2) Avoiding danger
3) Handling critical situations
4) Understanding and experiencing Mercedes-Benz safety systems.
“The Active Safety Experience features a series of practical tests completed under the watchful eye of expert instructors and aims to give drivers a thorough understanding of the state-of-the-art safety technology at work in Mercedes passenger cars, so that these systems can be used as effectively as possible out on the road. The training programmes are tailored to a range of different target groups, with courses organised for everybody from professional drivers to novices at the wheel,” said Florian Mueller, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, DaimlerChrysler Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
Mercedes-Benz and its integrated safety philosophy PRO-SAFE™ offers this outstanding driving safety training to complement the exceptional engineering and technology of its vehicles. Therefore, all the exercises and programmes are designed and implemented to mirror real-life situations and experienced instructors, medical experts and sports teachers all lend their specialist input to the extremely demanding intensive driving safety training.
The practical section of the training programmes is made up of exercises which reconstruct typical situations in everyday driving – emergency braking, skids, evasive manoeuvres and high-speed lane changes. In this way, the participants on the course learn how to spot the signs of a potentially hazardous situation before it occurs and the right way for a driver to react to danger. The key aim of the driving safety training courses is to teach the participants to think ahead and drive in a way that will allow them to avoid accidents.
The Active Safety Experience reflects Mercedes-Benz' PRO-SAFE™ philosophy of analysing every aspect of safety – from supporting the driver through electronic systems and adjusting occupant protection in response to the severity of the impact, to sending a warning to other drivers and getting assistance to people involved in an accident. PRO-SAFE™ is underpinned by careful analysis of real-life traffic situations and accidents and is evidence of Mercedes-Benz’s long-standing and successful commitment to bringing about improvements in road safety.
“No other car manufacturer can claim as much expertise in the area of active and passive vehicle safety as Mercedes-Benz. The engineers in Stuttgart have thus left their mark on every area of automotive development. Mercedes-Benz sets the pace in terms of honing drivers' skill at the wheel. Indeed, the brand's integrated commitment to safety includes offering a driving safety training programme to its customers around the world and giving them the chance to refine their driving ability,” added Mueller.
For this event, Mercedes-Benz works in close cooperation with tyre manufacturer Michelin, who supplies tyres and a tyre support service for the training vehicles and teaches the participants how to look after their tyres correctly.
Related post:
http://famouscardesign.blogspot.com/2007/07/mercedes-benz-active-safety-experience_19.html
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Isuzu D-Max Facelift 2.5 & 3.0
Apart from the projector headlamps, another first-in-class for the new D-Max is the electroluminescent (EL) meter panel (3.0L version only), which also provides trip information and outside temperature. Another first in the truck segment is its keyless-entry feature plus key-encoded immobiliser for additional security against vehicle theft.
The facelifted D-Max’s 3.0L engine now has what Isuzu called “i-TEQ Super Commonrail” fuel system. Coded 4JJ1-TC, this long-stroke engine replaces the previous 4JH1-TC unit. The new engine has an identical displacement of 2999cc but features a new DOHC 16-valve aluminium cylinder head for improved breathing and hence better combustion efficiency. The twin camshafts are chain and gear-driven for a lifetime of maintenance-free operation and the cams themselves drive roller rockers for quieter and smoother operations. Power of the engine is a respectable 100 kW/136ps at 3400rpm, 4.2% higher than the old engine. Torque figures remain the same with 280Nm for the manual versions and 294 Nm for the automatic but the manner in which the engine peaks is what makes the new engine stands apart. Maximum torque is available between 1200rpm and 3400 rpm for the manual version and 1400rpm and 3000rpm for the automatic version, so driveability is always good with appreciable low to mid-range torque always on tap. Despite this, the new 3.0L commonrail turbo diesel is claimed to be 19% more fuel efficient than the old powerplant.
The 2.5-litre 4JA1-L engine however, remains unchanged from before and is offered only as a 4x2 with manual transmission. This variant is targeted at outdoor entrepreneurs who want nothing more than a dependable, durable and low maintenance workhorse.
The 2007 D-Max also comes equipped with larger front disc brake calipers – 45.5mm now from 42.8mm before. Such upsizing of calipers enable shorter braking distances and also better pedal feel. The brake servo is also bigger now, at 9 inches in diameter to increase braking force. The 3.0L version is fitted with ABS and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) for added braking stability, whatever the load. A limited-slip differential (LSD) is standard on all 4WD variants for greater stability and control in slippery conditions.
The facelifted 2007 D-Max is available in a choice of five colours: Starry Black Mica, Angelic White Solid, Mercury Silver, Eclipse Blue and Gamma Grey.
Prices of the new D-Max (OTR inclusive of insurance, for Peninsula Malaysia) are as follows:
2.5 Manual 4X2: RM71,475.30
3.0 Manual 4X4: RM89,776.30
3.0 Auto 4X4: RM96,758.30
Mitsubishi Evolution X's Twin-Clutch SST Gearbox
Thursday, July 12, 2007
New 1-Series 3-door Hatchback and Facelift
There is now a 120i Sports in 3-door hatchback form. This M-accesorised variant has a new 4-cylinder engine with direct fuel injection (High Precision Injection in BMW speak). Horsepower is now an improved 170bhp with a higher torque of 210Nm (upped from 150bhp and 200Nm respectively). The 120i Sports features the M-sports package consisting of the M bodykit, M light alloy wheels (double-spoke 207M) shod with runflats of different sizes (F-R), satin chrome window frames, M Sports Suspension, Anthracite headliner, Sports front seats, M-steering wheel, an M-badged door sill garnish as well as Bi-Xenon headlamps. Will this same 4-pot find its way into the soon-to-be-refreshed 320i as well?
Prices of the new 1-Series (on the road, without insurance, with BMW Service Inclusive + Repair) are:
BMW 116i – RM 179,800
BMW 118i – RM 199,800
BMW 120i Sports – RM 223,800
BMW 130i – RM 329,800
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Future BMW 3 Series - E98?
With the new 3-series, designers will attempt to address criticisms of the current car’s awkward slightly mundane styling. These renderings, compiled using information from sources close to the project show that the new car will have a pronounced kidney-grille with the air-intakes positioned on either side of the bumper just below the headlights.
The bonnet will sit much higher than on the current model to improve pedestrian safety, while the sides will be marked with a prominent character line and high beltline. Proportions will remain much the same as the current model but weight will be reduced thanks to the increased use of aluminum in its construction.
New options for the 2012 3-series will include hybrid variants as well as the latest version of BMW’s Efficient Dynamics. The X-Drive AWD system is likely to gain favour thanks to a redesign of the system to reduce weight, which will only increase fuel consumption by 0.5L per 100km over RWD models. Other features that may make it to production include night-vision devices, a heads-up display and radar safety systems.
Source: BMW Club Malaysia & Motor Authority
Related post:
http://famouscardesign.blogspot.com/2007/05/bmw-concept-cs.html