Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk6 - full details unveiled!

Volkswagen has unveiled the production version of the Mk6 Volkswagen Golf GTI and some journalists have already managed to have a go at it at the international driving presentation in Saint-Tropez, France. This blog has no such luck so we’ll just have a look at the details while we wait for the Mk6 to reach our shores and then perhaps we can have a go, like we did with the Mk5 Golf GTI. For now you’ll have to wait for write-ups in the local magazines, and read my write-up after the jump.

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W212 E63 AMG set for New York debut

There’s one very easy way to tell the real stuff from the aesthetic replicas when it comes to AMG and M cars. Just check out those huge brakes in the photo above! The W212’s E63 AMG is expected to have a 6.3 liter normally aspirated V8 under the hood, churning out 525 horsepower and 630Nm of torque. The basis of this “prediction” by many publications out there are because it is similiar figures to the SL 63 AMG. It may also get the AMG Speedshift MCT transmission, a planetary transmission automatic gearbox but with the torque converter replaced with a startup clutch. The latest AMG car from Stuttgart is expected to be unveiled at the 2009 New York International Auto Show.

Peugeot 308 to hit Malaysian showrooms in January

Malaysian Peugeot distributor Nasim Sdn Bhd has started taking orders for the C-segment Peugeot 308, set to be available in Peugeot showrooms in January 2009. Two variants will be available, the Peugeot 308 VTi and the Peugeot 308 Turbo.

The Peugeot 308 VTi is a C-segment car powered by the 1.6 liter BMW-PSA Prince engine with Valvetronic throttle-less operation, the same unit found in the MINI Cooper producing 120 PS and 160Nm of torque. It will compete against other 1.6 liter C-segment cars, which is basically the 1.6L Mazda 3 and the 1.6L Toyota Corolla Altis.

The powerful Peugeot 308 Turbo is powered by a 1.6 liter engine, but it is turbocharged with direct injection to produce 150 PS at 5,800rpm and 240Nm of torque constantly from 1,400rpm all the way to 5,000rpm. It is a detuned version of the 175hp unit in the MINI Cooper S and the Peugeot 308 GT. This will position the 308 Turbo head to head against 2.0 liter C-segment vehicles such as the Lancer 2.0 and Civic 2.0. Don’t be fooled by its 150 PS output, it’s got really good best-in-class torque levels equivalent to a 2.4L engine and the high torque is also achieved from a low RPM point, so expect the 308 to be a very smooth and easy drive around town.

Of course, one difference between the 308 and its competitors listed above is the fact that both the variants mentioned above are 5-door hatchbacks (only the 308 GT is a 3-door hatch) while all its competitors are sedans, except for the Mazda 3 2.0 hatchback and Ford Focus 2.0 hatchback. But you can expect similiar competitive price levels with 1.6 liter and 2.0 liter cars.

W212 Mercedes-Benz E-Class shots leaked online!

Three low-resolution official photos of next year’s 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class have been leaked out onto the internet. The frontal shot of the W212 E-Class reveals a design that is more of an evolution of the W211 Facelift when you look at the oversized pointy shield grille and the shape of the front bumper, but the headlamps have departed from the ‘classic’ E-Class round shape and are now more like the Lexus GS. Also new are daylight running lights in the form of a horizontal strip of LEDs.

The side profile features a sleek character line and it slopes upwards from the front to the back. There is a very clear family resemblance with this new side profile and that of the current generation S-Class and the W204 C-Class.

The rear end is just bad. It kinda looks like someone took the taillamps of the B-Class and slapped it onto the butt of a Nissan Sylphy. Of course, this style of tail lamps aren’t exactly new on the E-Class. The W210 had it and while the W211 sedan changed to a rather nice design that flanked the bootlid nicely, the W211 stationwagon kept the W210-style of tail lamps. Now it’s back on the W212 sedan again! But who knows, it may look better in real life. The integrated tailpipes are a nice touch though.

Expect a full reveal of the W212 E-Class at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.

BMW Premium Selection: approved used cars with 1-year warranty for Malaysia

BMW Malaysia is now offering the BMW Premium Selection in Malaysia, which is a approved used car program. A BMW Premium Selection car must have an approved and documented vehicle history, pass a 72-point check, and must be less than 5 years old or less than 100,000km of mileage. The cars will be visually and technically refurbished before being put on sale.

Among the items on the checklist include a body check for visible signs of accident damage, check paint for defects, check tyre for minimum 3mm tread across entire width including spare wheel, check complete brake system, check shock absorbers, check battery and electrical systems, check mirrors, windows sunroof, central locking and interior lights, check seat belts, check fluid levels, check clutch, brakes and transmission, check wiper blade and washing system and a test drive for performance and noise.

The cars will come with a 1 year or 25,000km warranty, a 1 year or 25,000km free scheduled condition-based servicing plan, a 24 hour roadside assistance plan, and financing can be obtained from BMW Credit.

A quick check with the car location function on BMW Malaysia’s website reveals some BMW 320i less than a year old sold at under RM200k, and a delicious 1 year old black BMW M3 Coupe with a red interior is going for RM588,000.

The first BMW showroom in Malaysia to offer the BMW Premium Selection is the Auto Bavaria Glenmarie showroom. The BMW Premium Selection showroom is a 2-floor, 28,000 square feet building built next to the existing Auto Bavaria Glenmarie 4S center.

This is quite obviously a direct attack at the grey importers that have been enjoying the benefits of BMW Malaysia building its brand here in Malaysia. Did you know that 13,760 premium cars were registered in 2007 but over 6,000 units out of that were registered by grey importers? According to BMW MD Geoffrey Briscoe, a customer that buys a grey import BMW puts themselves at risk because the cars may not have been designed for Malaysian climate, have no service history and may be dubious documentation. The BMW Premium Selection is a more “legitimate” means to owning a BMW if you do not want to fork out the full price for a brand new BMW Malaysia car.

2009 BMW 7-Series Exterior & Interior Design

Adrian Van Hooydonk is Chris Bangle’s successor at BMW as the brand’s design chief (Bangle has moved up to become the group’s design chief), and in the video you find after the jump he explains some of the design elements of the F01 7-Series. Still don’t get the oversized front grille, but oh well. Hit the jump for the video.

Peugeot 207cc is 'Most Economical Super Coupe' in Malaysia

With a fuel consumption of 13.9 kms/litre, the RM158,888 Peugeot 207cc was judged the most economical model in the Super Coupe category of a fuel-efficiency event held recently. To know more about the 207cc and other Peugeot models available, visit the Nasim-Peugeot Malaysia website

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