News: Lexus CT200h F-Sport Finally Arrives in Malaysia

Those wanting the CT200h to look a wee bit more masculine, the F-Sport version is here, finally. Lexus has priced this at RM 201,400 ( RM 206,877 OTR with insurance) which makes this new variant the range topping one.

With that extra bit of cash, the CT200h gets a redesigned bumper up front and at the back along with a mesh grille, lower skirts and a bigger rear spoiler. Inside, it's the same black interior with silver aluminium accents but squint your eyes and you'll see a slight difference. The pedals are now done in aluminium and the scuff plates get an F-Sport logo while the steering wheel gets replaced with an F-sport version topped with perforated leather, a flat bottom and an F-Sport badge. 

 

On the technical side, the engine remains the same with a 1.8l four pot coupled to an electric motor pushing a combined 134 bhp that gets the century sprint done in 10.3 seconds and has a top speed of 180 km/h. While the power remains the same, the handling has been given an upgrade as the suspension system is tuned for a more sporty drive. Hence, F-Sport.

News: Volkswagen Passat Sport by Volkswagen Malaysia Is Here

Volkswagen Malaysia has revealed a range topping variant of the Passat and it's called the Sport. Before we delve into the details, let me remind you that this new variant is a CBU model and is priced at RM 190,967.20 (on the road without insurance) which means it is RM 5k more expensive than the standard CBU Passat and RM 19k more than the CKD model.

It may be a steep difference if compared with the CKD model but it's only fair to collate the two CBU models. So, an RM 5k difference gives you new 18-inch Kansas alloys, a new sports tuned suspension, electrically foldable side mirrors with auto dimming function on the driver's side, 12-way electrically adjustable front seats and here's the fun bit, there's finally a tilt/slide electric sunroof. Many may argue that the sunroof may not be necessary but a little wind brushing your hair and a bragging tease to your mates with the Jap competitions may all be worth it.

For those of you wanting to know about the engine, be disappointed as it is the same 1.8l TSI engine with 157 bhp and 250 Nm of torque mated to a 7-speed DSG gearbox. Still, with five grand extra, the whole package offered by the Sport variant is a bargain really. What did you expect with RM 5,000? More power? You got to be kidding me. 

News: 2013 Land Rover Discovery 4 Revealed

Year 2013 is just around the corner and Land Rover has given the Disco a small update with a new set of trims. Just when you thought the Disco wasn't street stuff, Land Rover has created a package called Black Design which offers a gloss black grille, satin black roof rails and darkened wheels. Speaking of wheels, the Disco's 19 inchers are restyled.

That's not all, 5 new colours are added in the choice list - Havana (dark grey mix) , Barolo Black, Barossa (purplish red), Mariana Black and Causeway Grey and there's an extra two interior trim choices - Grand Ivory Lacquer and Cosmic Grey trim. The interior sees little change but an updated infotainment system and better navigation system is installed. The upholstery sees little revision and an Extended Leather Pack that adds Windsor leather on the seats, dashboard and doors will be an option.

No, the engines will remain unchanged and everything else relating to technicalities are untouched. Still, it's got style. Street style.

Didn't know where to place this but this is the basic Discovery without the Black Design package. Thought you should know.

News: Mercedes SLS AMG Electric Drive, Most Powerful EV

More often than not, Mercedes Benz competed unoffcially with the likes of Audi, BMW and Jaguar even to create the most powerful engine for their lineups. Remember the D-segment sedan power fight which involved the E-Class, 5 Series and the A6? Power was everything and this happened mainly because they didn't want to lose, like Jeremy Clarkson.

Mercedes has now joined the EV competition and claims that their new SLS AMG Electric Drive is the most powerful EV car there is in this world. A bold claim it may be but seeing the SLS Electric Drive having 740 bhp and a monstrous 1,000 Nm of torque, that literally dwarfs the petrol SLS with 591 bhp and 650 Nm of torque. 0 to 100 km/h is done in 3.9 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.

All 740 bhp and 1,000 Nm of torque comes from four synchronous electric motors that drive all four wheels technically making it four-wheel-drive. Instead of being in the wheel hubs, they're placed on the axles which Mercedes claims reduces unsprung mass. Two gearboxes work independently with two motors each and there is an AMG Torque Dynamics system which provides selective drive to individual wheels to increase grip in different conditions. It comes in three modes as well: Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus.

The motors get their energy juice from a 60 kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery that gives a range of 250 km and 400 volts at its peak performance. That's a lot of juice to be honest but this advantage comes at a cost, the battery itself weighs about 548 kg though all of it are installed within the transmission tunnel behind the front seats where the petrol tank was in the standard SLS. To shave off excessive fats in this car, a mesh of carbon fibre and aluminium structure replaces the all-aluminium build of the regular SLS and those carbon-ceramic brake discs reduces the weight a slight bit more.

The double wishbone suspension system sees it replaced with independent multi-link ones with pushrod dampers while the wheels are 19-inch in the front and 20-inch at the back. And like all EVs, this electric SLS is quiet as it can be so Mercedes developed a sound generated through 11 speakers. It may have the term concept but the SLS Electric Drive will see sales starting next year for a cool €416,500 (RM 1.6 million) and you can have it in blue chrome.

News: Hyundai Genesis Tuned by Cosworth

Cosworth has dabbled into another project once again and this time, it involves a Hyundai Genesis. To debut in the upcoming SEMA show in the States, this project is called the Cosworth Genesis Racing Series Concept.

The Brit engine experts have shown many a times their capability of creating a powerful engine out of nothing and this bit of Hyundai will be another showcase of their many talents. Of course, it will be the same direct injection 3.8l V6 engine hiding under the bonnet but with a bit of magic Cosworth dust, this engine is now capable of 389 bhp at 6,400 rpm and 440 Nm of torque at 5,100 rpm. That totals up to a gain of 40 bhp and 40 Nm of torque over the standard V6. Sports suspension and brakes made by Cosworth are also made available to cope with the extra power output but specifics have not been revealed.

Matching the power are a few exterior and interior buff ups like a new aero front and blacked out rear diffuser, an integrated rear spoiler, satin-gloss blue finish, gunmetal lightweight racing wheels, bespoke two toned seats, steering wheel and gear shifter. Too bad the pictures shown here are renders of the real thing.

News: HSV GTS 25th Anniversary Revealed

Still wanting a tuner that's covered fully by insurance and maybe, just maybe, came out, hot off the factory with those subzero looking modified body kits on it? You're in luck because Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) has decided to celebrate its 25th year by producing just 140 units of this mad looking beast. Still, lucky as you may be, this car will only be sold in Australia, 125 of them with the remainder 15 being sold in New Zealand.

Not to disappoint you or anything but this special edition has nothing to do with power hikes but aesthetics only. Not that its current powerplant is a disappointment though because inside this special edition GTS is a 6.2l V8 developing a healthy 436 bhp and 550 Nm of torque.

The 25th Anniversary GTS gets a hefty amount of bells and whistles such as new 20-inch forged alloys finished in Satin Graphite that saves 22kg over the standard GTS' or 8% of unsprung weight, vector hood scoops, side vents, updated grille, superflow spoiler, a bi-modal exhaust system and loads of badges. Even though the engine wasn't touched, other performance parts as well as safety are enhanced. The brakes are now six pistoned, there's Rear Park Assist with rear camera as well as Side Blind Zone Alert System which pretty much works like Volvo's BLIS I suppose.

All this can be had for AU$84,990. It may be expensive but try finding the price of a regular GTS and you'll find this the bargain of the century.

News: Suzuki S-Cross Revealed

No, even after the Paris Motor Show, Suzuki has decided to stay mum over the performance specification in the S-Cross. Also, speculations about the S-Cross replacing the dated SX4 turn out to be utter bullfart as Suzuki noted that this will be an all new model from Suzuki competing in an all new segment. The S-Cross's dimensions are as follow: 4,310mm long, 1,840mm wide and 1,600mm tall as well as 2,600mm long (wheelbase) which makes it slightly wider and longer than the SX4. All-wheel-drive or front-wheel-drive options are available though I have a hunch that majority of the buyers will be moms or young 18 year old girls. Thus, front-wheel-drive will do just fine.