MALAYSIA, which has to reduce tariffs on auto and parts imports as part of a deal with Asian neighbours, is scouting for a partner for national carmaker Proton as it faces increasing foreign competition.The Malaysian government unveiled its National Automotive Policy on Wednesday, setting a framework to deregulate the industry and end a system of import “Approved Permits”, which has been blamed for encouraging corruption.While the government said it would allow foreign carmakers producing large cars worth over RM150,000 (US$44,120) 100 percent ownership of new manufacturing operations here, it would keep excise duties on completely built cars and kits.“We would like to develop further the local industry in Malaysia, this is of strategic importance to us,” International Trade Minister Mustapa Mohamad told a press conference.
The policy, first launched in 2006, aims to liberalise an automotive sector that heavily favours Proton through steep taxes on imported vehicles in Malaysia, the biggest car market in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations bloc (ASEAN).Proton shares were up 0.25 percent by 0311 GMT in a broader market down 0.7 percent.Proton, which runs its plants at 50 percent capacity, according to industry analysts, held unsuccessful talks with Volkswagen in 2007.Recent newspaper reports have speculated that Proton could again try for a tie-up with Volkswagen, or seek out General Motors or Peugeot as a potential partner.There has also been speculation Proton could be taken over by a Malaysian company such as DRB-Hicom, owned by reclusive billionaire Syed Mokhtar, or by local car assembler and distributor Naza. - Reuters
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
BMW CONCEPT M1
Will the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept that BMW debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show earlier this month spawn a production eco-friendly supercar from the German automaker? According to Auto Express, the answer is yes, and the U.K. publication is projecting that the new green M1 will be ready for sale in 2012.Naturally, the heart of this rumor-spec supercar is a hybrid powertrain similar to the one shown off in Frankfurt. A turbocharged three-cylinder diesel engine displacing 1.5-liters would be used in conjunction with a pair of electric motors providing all-wheel drive capabilities. The run to 60 mph would theoretically take less than five seconds and top speed would reportedly be capped at 155 mph.Other unique bits that were introduced on the Vision Concept that could potentially make it into production include active aerodynamic elements that allow for an excellent .22 coefficient of drag. An unknown source tells AE that the car's hybrid powertrain, dual clutch gearbox (pulled from the M3) and aluminum-intensive chassis are all "ready for the road."If there's any truth to this rumor, the new eco-friendly M1 successor would be marketed as a rival to the Audi R8 and would potentially hit the market with a price well north of $100,000. We'll see.
A hybrid car
A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) combines a conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system. The presence of the electric powertrain is intended to achieve either better fuel economy than a conventional vehicle, or better performance. A variety of types of HEV exist, and the degree to which they function as EVs varies as well. The most common form of HEV is the hybrid electric car, although hybrid electric trucks (pickups and tractors) also exist.
Modern HEVs make use of efficiency-improving technologies such as regenerative braking, which converts the vehicle's kinetic energy into battery-replenishing electric energy, rather than wasting it as heat energy as conventional brakes do. Some varieties of HEVs use their internal combustion engine to generate electricity by spinning an electrical generator (this combination is known as a motor-generator), to either recharge their batteries or to directly power the electric drive motors. Many HEVs reduce idle emissions by shutting down the ICE at idle and restarting it when needed; this is known as a start-stop system. A hybrid-electric produces less emissions from its ICE than a comparably-sized gasoline car, as an HEV's gasoline engine is usually smaller than a pure fossil-fuel vehicle, and if not used to directly drive the car, can be geared to run at maximum efficiency, further improving fuel economy.
The hybrid-electric vehicle did not become widely available until the release of the Toyota Prius in Japan in 1997, followed by the Honda Insight in 1999. While initially perceived as unnecessary due to the low cost of gasoline, worldwide increases in the price of petroleum caused many automakers to release hybrids in the late 2000s; they are now perceived as a core segment of the automotive market of the future.[3][4] Worldwide sales of hybrid vehicles produced by Toyota reached 1.0 million vehicles by May 31, 2007, and the 2.0 million mark was reached by August 31, 2009, with hybrids sold in 50 countries.[1][2] Worldwide sales are led by the Prius, with cumulative sales of 1.43 million by Augut 2009.[1] The second-generation Honda Insight was the top-selling vehicle in Japan in April 2009, marking the first occasion that an HEV has received the distinction.[5] American automakers have made development of hybrid cars a top priority.[6]
Modern HEVs make use of efficiency-improving technologies such as regenerative braking, which converts the vehicle's kinetic energy into battery-replenishing electric energy, rather than wasting it as heat energy as conventional brakes do. Some varieties of HEVs use their internal combustion engine to generate electricity by spinning an electrical generator (this combination is known as a motor-generator), to either recharge their batteries or to directly power the electric drive motors. Many HEVs reduce idle emissions by shutting down the ICE at idle and restarting it when needed; this is known as a start-stop system. A hybrid-electric produces less emissions from its ICE than a comparably-sized gasoline car, as an HEV's gasoline engine is usually smaller than a pure fossil-fuel vehicle, and if not used to directly drive the car, can be geared to run at maximum efficiency, further improving fuel economy.
The hybrid-electric vehicle did not become widely available until the release of the Toyota Prius in Japan in 1997, followed by the Honda Insight in 1999. While initially perceived as unnecessary due to the low cost of gasoline, worldwide increases in the price of petroleum caused many automakers to release hybrids in the late 2000s; they are now perceived as a core segment of the automotive market of the future.[3][4] Worldwide sales of hybrid vehicles produced by Toyota reached 1.0 million vehicles by May 31, 2007, and the 2.0 million mark was reached by August 31, 2009, with hybrids sold in 50 countries.[1][2] Worldwide sales are led by the Prius, with cumulative sales of 1.43 million by Augut 2009.[1] The second-generation Honda Insight was the top-selling vehicle in Japan in April 2009, marking the first occasion that an HEV has received the distinction.[5] American automakers have made development of hybrid cars a top priority.[6]
The new car FT-86
The crew from Japan's BestCar magazine have apparently taken the initial pics of the Toyota FT-86 concept and grafted a unique nose, rear fascia and wheels onto ToMoCo's new sports coupe, and while the result is less-than-fetching, the accompanying report offers a pseudo-confirmation of what's been suspected all along.According to BestCar's (notoriously unnamed) sources, the Subaru coupe (internally dubbed 216A) will come equipped with all-wheel drive, and a choice of two engines in Japan – the 250-horsepower 2.0-liter EJ20 or the worked over, 300-hp boxer four from the WRX STI. Naturally, the additional kit will result in a substantial price increase over the Toyota version, not to mention a 220-power weight penalty courtesy of its AWD drivetrain. There's also talk of a slight increase in height, width and wheelbase, but no word on whether the Subaru coupe will make it to U.S. shores. If it does, expect it to arrive sometime after its introduction in Japan in 2011, with a price tag somewhere around the $30,000 mark.
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