News: Gumpert Forced into Insolvency

What makes a perfect recipe for a supercar everybody wants? Nice name, beautiful-looking-lady-magnet-exterior, posh interior, power, speed and a bit of mad science. Gumpert Apollo isn't that. What it has is mad amounts of power, mad amounts of speed and a truckload of mad science. The Apollo was perfect as a track car but never a crowd appeasing machine in terms of looks which made bad sales that continued on till no one actually bought it. Now, it's filing for insolvency. It's not as bad as bankruptcy but it's still pretty disappointing.

It looks like Gumpert was focussing on the China market too much and no one bought it and since no money was coming in, Mr.Sheid, a lawyer was appointed to handle the insolvency. Audi man, Mr.Gumpert seems very optimistic about the company pulling through saying that they have a big fan base in Europe and is expecting to sell the first vehicle this week. 

As a fan myself, I wouldn't want to see Gumpert to its demise. The Apollo's a butt ugly car but with the Tornante quite production ready design wise, they must continue existing. The Gumpert was a fast car around tracks and with Tornante's looks, I'd want one. Badly. 

Tornante

News: 280 km/h Jaguar XF-R

Love that stance.

If you thought your XF-R was a bit slow, Brit car manufacturer, Jaaaaaaag has announced a speed pack for it. Nothing much really, for  £2,750 (RM 13,578) you get an increased top speed of up to 280 km/h, tweaked front splitters and a bigger wing. The 5.0l V8 Jaaaaaag engine is relatively untouched but undergoes minor software updates. More bragging rights then.

Nope, can't fly just yet

News: Peugeot 208 GTi Revealed

You've got to like the new design direction Peugeot is taking. Look at the 508 for example. Good looks, beautiful interior, feels more expensive than its price tag and a whole lot better than its indirect predecessor, the 407. 208 is the second all new car with the new direction in mind and boy does it look fresh. It may be fresh and like the DS3, look chic but the engine choices are more often that not on the mundane side with a 68 bhp 1.0l engine up to a slightly powerful 156 bhp Prince 1.6l engine. Nothing to shout about.

For you lads in need for more power, the 208 GTi is here though not in Malaysia. Yet. Unlike its predecessor that was bulky, fat and clumsy, the 208 GTi is supposedly a spirit brethren to the much coveted 205 GTi weighing only at 1160 kg. The engine is what you'd expect in other fast cars from the PSA venture, a turbocharged 1.6l Prince engine found in the RCZ and DS3 that produces the same 197 bhp and 275 Nm of torque. 0 to 100km/h takes less than 7 seconds and on to a top speed 225 km/h. You don't get an automatic though, you only get a close-ratio manual for this. Not that you'd want the automatic anyway since you'll be off in the woods in this trying to be Sebastian Loeb. 

The dimensions in the 208 GTi are a little different compared to the standard model. The front has been widened by 10 mm and rear track, 20 mm. The suspension has been retuned with recalibrated dampers, updated anti-roll bars, sports springs and revised steering. The GTi sports MacPherson struts up front and a rear torsion beam. Drive should be involving and direct but I bet your bum bums will have a hard time on roads in Malaysia. 

As with all top end models, the 208 gets physical plastic surgeries as well. The overall bodykit has been made more racer like with wider side sills and flared wheel arches. The grille is changed and loads of GTi badges will be on the car to remind you and your mates that you've bought the most expensive model. Parts of the interior gets the same colour accent as the exterior with chrome bits here and there. Bits and bobs have been retouched too with slightly better materials and lastly, the steering wheel gets a red stitching at the top to remind you that you're a rally driver. Nice. 

News: A Sky Garage Next to Your Living Room in a Condo?

Singapore is a land with very little amount of land. Because of this, the Singaporean government tries to curb its people from owning cars with ludacris amount of taxes. Even with absurd price tags on cars, supercars are like the populating Chinese. Everywhere and ever growing. And since you're a millionaire, you'll be staying in an exclusive condo in the center of Singapore. Well, because land is scarce. Parking will be an issue of course and parking your Pagani Hooyah at the road side would be stupid because well, that's plain stupid. Normal parking lots in normal condos aren't exclusive enough as it will be underground and you won't be able to brag it to your friends in your living room.

There's a solution. For those of you with USD 7.5m, have a look at Hamilton Scotts Sky Garage Apartments in Orchard Road as the condo you're staying will have your car parked beside your living room. Sounds astonishing? Not really. With money and a bit of engineering trickery, your supercar will be parked in a complex lift that will send your car to your condo unit with a press of your thumb. Cool eh? USD 7.5m too little? How about USD 24m for a penthouse?

News: Lada XRAY Concept

Surprises are expected in Motorshows. Like the XRAY for example. Weird name from a weird auto manufacturer, Lada. The XRAY may be weird but - I may cringe saying this - it looks fresh and current from a car manufacturer that makes communist era cars to this day. It has to look fresh as it is designed by Steve Mattin who also penned the XC60 for Volvo and Merc's ML-Class.

I do not like Lada. It reminds me of a Reliant Robin. Useless and garbage. But if it wants to continue operating, the XRAY may be a glimmer of hope for the ailing brand. The XRAY may not go into production but it will be a design benchmark for other upcoming cars that come out of the Lada stable especially with its X shaped grille. Lada hopes to increase its market share in Russia by 40% with the upcoming models. Still, the first cars that would get the XRAY inspired design wouldn't be launched till 2015. That's a long wait and 40% is a big aim. Hmmmm.

News: 2013 Renault-Samsung SM3

SM 3

The Renault-Samsung tie-up seems to have updated the SM3. Officially unveiled ahead of the September Motor Show, the updated SM3 is improved though not sure how much. Nothing much has been revealed but the pictures show a restyled bumper, light clusters and a more prominent looking layout. Note that the SM3 is a sibling to the Fluence so with a different badge and name, expect the new Fluence to look like this. No engine details have been revealed too but it is reported to be housing a 1.6l with a new continuously variable transmission. It will also have a digital instrument cluster, electronic parking brake and SMart Connect infotainment system with GPS.

Ford lights?

Renault inFluence

Lovely looking dials

Some details have been from Carscoop

News: Nissan Sylphy Launched in Thailand

Finally a good looking Nissan family sedan since way back when

Nissan Sylphy was a crappy looking car. It had a good engine, smooth transmission and a comfortable drive but the Sylphy was bought by people whose work involved numbers and whose name is Bill. Fact. The new Sylphy though isn't that. Like the Almera, this machine is worth a second glance.

Rear lights looking close to the Focus Sedan's?

Taking cues from the Altima (not sold in Asia) , it gets the new trapezoidal family grille with LED infused lights though LED can be seen almost everywhere and eschews its quirky, ugly look from its predecessor. It is a tiny bit shorter now at 4,615 mm but wider at 1,760 mm. The wheelbase remains unchanged at 2,700 mm with a class leading 510 liters of boot space.

LED lights

The previous Sylphy had soft materials placed in loads of places, soft leather seats and ample space at the back. It is pretty much a comfortable car but ergonomically, it looks dated. The new one has a much better interior with everything more sorted out with a touch of luxury without compromising the comfort level of the previous car. It gets keyless entry now and has a push start button. Also in the interior specs list, the new Sylphy sports faux Maple wood trim, USB supported audio system and a touch sensitive screen.

Interior with loads of soft touch materials and leather. The interior seems right. Weird.

Unlike the older generation, the new Sylphy now gets two engine choices. First being a 1.6l four-cylinder with Twin C-VTC that pushes 114 hp and 154 Nm of torque and a 1.8l four that produces 129 hp and 174 Nm of torque. The 1.6l engine gets a manual and X-Tronic's new CVT option whilst the 1.8l one gets the CVT. I dislike CVTs but you have to give Nissan credit for their CVTs being silky smooth. For those of you who want further info, the suspension is made up of MacPherson struts up front and gets a torsion beam at the rear.

Mini Altima - a good thing

Like what you see here? The Sylphy will be brought in to Malaysia soon enough as sales of the Sylphy is pretty much stale but ETCM hasn't opened their mouths just yet. For those of you wanting a new C-segment car, wait. This new contender seems a good buy. Will definitely update about the price and drive as soon as it arrives in Malaysia.