News: Honda Jazz S

Honda Malaysia has introduced the cheaper version of the Jazz - like finally. Previously with the Grade V, it is priced at RM 109,800. Now, with the 'new' S version, it is just a shade off a hundred thousand at RM 99,800.

With the downgrade in pricing, the car itself is also veered into a downgrade. The S grade gets the silver part at the end of the exhaust pipe, paddle shifters, cruise control, decorations on the side sill and audio controls on your steering wheel gone. The alloys also have been changed into a size smaller at 15 inches. What doesn't change is the engine - a 1.5l i-VTEC engine producing 118 hp and all the electronics. It's still a tad bit expensive considering you can get so much more with RM100k *cough* Elantra *cought* but the money's yours anyway.

News: Honda CRZ Supercharged from Jackson Racing

The CRZ has always been a car that resembles a handsome man with no balls, pea brain and liked eating eggplants. It looks good but just hasn't the power to match. Jackson Racing took matters into their hands and now, you get a supercharger kit for your all-looks-but-no-show CRZ.

Substance over style?

Current CRZ produces 122 bhp and 173 Nm or torque. With the supercharger bolted on, you get a respectable 172 bhp and 234 Nm. That's Polo Gti territory. Almost. As always, Malaysia rarely welcomes these tuners to officially avail the tunes for the CRZ. Here's hoping CRZ owners would try bringing this home. Now, if you don't trust Jackson Racing although they are really established, you can try HKS as another alternative.

News: F1 on Holiday

Have you ever taken leave from work and had no interactions with work whatsoever for a week? It seems F1 is finally taking a break of 14 days and when I say break, it literally means that engineers cannot lay their hands on their workstations.

McLaren was the first who dispersed their team right after the Hungarian GP at midnight followed on by other teams. Ferrari has yet to follow suit. William's Bruno Senna says that this shut down is his first real holiday in several years. "I will not see a sponsor, the team nor a journalist. I will stay at home, sleep and enjoy the sun" as quoted by Senna. This has got to be good news. F1 has to take a break once in a while and let the people involved to spend quality time with their families. Politics can take a back seat now.

News: Arrinera Hussarya

For those of you who didn't know, Arrinera is a Polish-British joint venture that creates supercars. They revealed a prototype in 2011 and received loads of critiques, mainly negative ones. Reason being it looking similar to that of a Gallardo.

Their first prototype in 2011. 

Looks decent though

Arrinera took notice of the critiques and decided to revamp the design. Now, you get the Arrinera Hussarya. It does sound very much like the Huayra but Arrinera affirmed that the name derived from the Polish cavalry, the Hussars that were undefeated in battle for over a 100 years. Although the design has been updated, it still carries strong cues from Lamborghini. To me, it's unmistakably a modified Gallardo. I'd still have this over a Gallardo if I had that kind of money though. Why you ask? Exclusivity, baby.

First glance reminds me of a Lamborghini

What sets this car apart from the Lamborghini is that the chassis and suspension is developed with Lee Noble. Yes, the guy who made the crazy superb handling M12/400. So, you get the venture between the Polish and British now eh? Power comes from a supercharged 6.2l V8 pushing 641 bhp and 800 Nm of torque. 0 - 100 km/h takes a mere 3.2 seconds and the Hussarya hits a top speed of 211 mph. So you want one? Now, that's £100 000 a pop and you don't get it till late 2013 when it actually starts production.

Tesla rear lights

Love the engine bay!

News: Opel Astra's Range-Topping Diesel

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't saying the Astra's top of the line car was a diesel. I meant the diesel range of the Astra finally gets the most powerful version. It packs a 2.0l BiTurbo CDTI that pushes 195 horses and a whopping 400 Nm of torque. This engine is made available for the GTC, 5-door variant and the station wagon. Top speed; 229 km/h. Modest. Still, it's the fastest diesel there is in the range.

Beautiful

I'd like to say something about this car now. I like this car. I like it a whole lot. I wonder why GM never tried risking things and try bringing this car to Malaysia. I mean, it looks really handsome and with the Megane RS and Golf R in our shores, Opel should try its luck over here. I want one.

Notice the top? Now that's something

News: Volkswagen Completes Porsche Takeover

This must make it through

For those of you who didn't know, Volkswagen and Porsche had been competing with each other to own each other. Well, Porsche had a 'partnership' with Volkswagen long before and since Volkswagen is publicly listed, Porsche became the unlikely highest shareholder of Volkswagen. To cut the story short, Volkswagen was aware and competed with Porsche.

Later on in the game, Porsche realized taking over Volkswagen would bring in debts only solved if Bill Gates and Warren Buffet gave all their fortune to Porsche. Well, it didn't sound all too plausible so Porsche decided to give in. And well, here we are. Volkswagen finally completes the takeover of Porsche. That's a shit explanation, wasn't it? But, you get the point. Family rivalry.

Still, with the war between the two makes over, platforms, technology, components like the dials in the Porsche can be shared. It's a good thing. According to Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn, Porsche will retain its identity and more models will make its way in Porsche's car range. The management will be smoother too, not that you care though, I don't.

News: Mini Paceman Spy Photos

Mini has released four official 'spy' photos of a production Paceman lightly camouflaged. The Paceman is basically a Countryman with two doors taken off. MINI described the car as 'powerful and agile'. Well, it could be powerful but agile? The car is about the size of a BMW X1. It's like saying Jason Statham is agile in ballet. Still, I want to be surprised as I was with the Evoque.

 Engine options would likely be carried over from the Countryman which includes a 1.6 producing 120 hp and 2 turbocharged 1.6-s with the first one pushing 181 hp and the other, 215 hp. Let's hope the top of the range gets more power.