2008 Honda Civic Mugen Si Sedan

A factory-prepared 2008 Honda Civic MUGEN Si Sedan will debut in mid-October, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.

The Civic MUGEN Si Sedan is equipped with a high-performance suspension, forged aluminum wheels, aerodynamic body styling and a sport-tuned exhaust system.

“Honda enthusiasts have long been asking for factory-installed MUGEN performance products similar to what the company offers in Japan,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda. “We’re enthusiasts, too, and the ultra-premium Civic MUGEN Si Sedan offers exclusive style and elevated handling performance with legendary Honda refinement.”

The track-tuned suspension, tested at the Twin Ring Motegi racing circuit in Japan, lowers the vehicle by 0.6 inches with aggressive spring and damper tuning for enhanced handling performance while still maintaining a high level of ride comfort. Compared to the conventional Civic Si Sedan, front and rear damping force (both bump and rebound) was increased between 8- and 24-percent. Lightweight 16.98-pound 18×7.5-inch forged aluminum wheels (27 percent lighter than the stock 17×7 alloy wheel) and high-grip BFGoodrich® g-Force KDW 215/40ZR18 summer tires help to create MUGEN’s unique, rewarding and well-balanced handling performance character. The full-vehicle aero-package adds a front spoiler with a sports grille, side spoilers, a rear bumper diffuser and a rear wing.

The sport exhaust system reduces back pressure from the catalytic converter back. The Civic MUGEN Si Sedan will be available exclusively in Fiji Blue Pearl and include front and rear MUGEN emblems. Inside, a MUGEN Limited Edition placard is located on the center console along with a spherical 50 mm MUGEN aluminum shift knob.

The name MUGEN symbolizes Honda performance throughout Asia and around the globe. MUGEN, under license by M-TEC Co., Ltd., of Japan, has been closely associated with Honda for more than three decades in the design and manufacture of racing and premium aftermarket performance products.

The limited-production vehicle (maximum of 1,000 units for the 2008 model year) will have a retail price of less than $30,000 when it goes on sale and include a full factory warranty. A prototype of the Honda Civic MUGEN Si was shown at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in fall 2006.

Civic MUGEN Si Sedan Specs:

* Engine Type = i-VTEC DOHC 4-cylinder engine
* Displacement = 2.0 liters (1998 cc)
* Transmission = 6 Speed MT
* Horsepower = 197 @ 7800 rpm
* Torque (lb.-ft.) = 139 @ 6100 rpm
* Ride Height = 5.3 inches (-0.6 inches from Civic Si Sedan)
* Overall Length = 177.8 inches total (+1.1 inches from Civic Si Sedan)
* Wheels: Forged GP 18×7.5 (pattern 5H-114.3 +48)
* Color: Fiji Blue Pearl

Side and Curtain Airbags

Toyota has raised the bar on passenger safety once again, with an announcement that side airbags and curtain shield airbags will now be standard on all new passenger vehicle models in Japan, starting with the new models to be launched shortly.

An SRS side airbag is built into the front seat, and it deploys in the case of a side collision and reduces risk of upper body injury for front seat occupants.

SRS curtain shield airbags are located between the front pillars and the roof-side rails, which deploy and protect both front and rear passengers heads with a curtain-like barrier, reducing impact from side windows, pillars and other internal objects, as well as any external objects like poles.

This is for Japan domestic market cars of course - not sure if this will somehow trickle down to the Toyota cars available in our country sometime in the future.

Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 Turbo FSI (A) 2007

Engine: Straight , 4 Cylinders 16-valve
Power: 200Bhp @ 5100rpm ( 100.8bhp/litre)
Torque: 280Nm @ 1800rpm
Transmission: 6 -speed DSG Length/width/height: 4554 / 1781 / 1459 mm
Wheelbase: 2578 mm
Kerb weight: 1430 kg
0-100km/h: 7.2 sec

New Mitsubishi Lancer on the roads of Singapore

Believe it or not, this is what it will look like on our roads. The new model, soon to be dubbed the Lancer EX, will be launched by Cycle and Carriage on the 10th of August. Of course, we brought it out for a short spin prior to the launch. What’s even more startling, is that the new EX has its roots set deep in the platform of the Mitsubishi Outlander. A whole lot bigger and terribly spacious by Lancer standards, the new car is greatly refined to almost European standards.

The cabin is quiet, comfortable and much more sophisticated – a big jump for Mitsubishi!

The top of the line variant, the Lancer GT, will get sportier styling, sharper lines, wider fenders and it will sit lower down on the ground. Going for $77,988, the GT also features a 5 speed manual to suit those who are game for an engaging drive.

The GT we sampled featured wonderfully precise and well weighted gear shift mechanisms. Even the steering was nicely weighted, totally eliminating any of that “Japanese lightness” that previous Lancers, or even Toyotas for that matter, are known for.

The engine was extremely willing to rev, and the smoothness of it all was again, mind boggling. One recalls the K20A engine of the Euro R Accord.

This 2 litre Lancer, equipped with the 4B-11 that shares its character with a Dodge Caliber, will also be available with a Continuously Variable Transmission, and will retail for $79,988.

If 2.0 4 pot engines are too much for you to swallow, then you’ll be happy to know that the new Lancer EX comes in 1.5 litre variants that go for $62,988 (Elegance model), and $64,888 for the sportier variant.

While the current Lancer GLX is only available as a 1.6-litre model, it will continue to sell for at least another 3 more years.

This decision was taken in a bid to direct the Lance EX in the face of the Nissan Sylphy, Mazda 3, Honda Civic, and other cars in this class. It will also fill the gap between the entry level Lancer and the bigger, more expensive Outlander, effectively replacing the long extinct Galant (after all, it is called the Galant Fortis in Japan) in the process.

Here are some photos:

Civic: Honda’s Icon of Revolution in Engineering Technology

By: Tom

Honda Civic, Honda Civic Hybrid and Honda Civic Type R. This is the line up of Honda Civic Sedans in Japan. The 8th Gen Honda Civic is the icon of revolution in engineering technology. And, the Type R and Hybrid took it a step further.

In Malaysia, the 8th Gen Honda Civic 1.8S and 2.0S which was launched in March 2006 still remains one of the most popular mid-size sedans. This Civic continues to evoke desirability with its sleek and stylish looks, smooth drivability, comfort and fuel efficiency; winning it the only two Car of The Year (COTY) Awards in this country namely the NST-Ambank COTY and the Autocar Asean COTY, as well as the JD Power Asia Pacific Initial Quality Study (IQS) Award.

Since its launch, the 8th Gen Honda Civic has successfully sold close to 13,000 units in Malaysia.The Type R needs no introduction. Type R represents the heritage and the dreams of Honda. It is deeply rooted in Honda’s racing heritage, a product of Honda’s Challenging Spirit. It all started in 1964 when Honda entered its first Formula 1 race bearing the now famous Red H badge.

Through the years, Honda continued to develop its technology and the Type R evolved from the NSX in 1992, and the range was extended to the Integra in 1995, and the Civic in 1997. The Type R is accorded a “cult status” and has a base of loyal fans all around the world.

The latest Honda Civic Type R is the distillation of 15 years of technological progress and the latest expression of Honda’s Racing Spirit.

The latest Civic Type R is available in two versions for the European and Japan market. The version for Europe market is a three door hatchback while the four door sedan version is only available in Japan.

If the Type R is the symbol of Honda’s passion in motorsports and technology advancement, the Hybrid is the representation of both Honda’s passion in technology advancement as well as commitment to environmental preservation.

The Hybrid is a result of Honda’s “Environmentology” philosophy. Environmentology is Honda’s ongoing commitment to environmentally responsible technology. The results include world-changing advances in fuel economy, low emissions and alternate sources for the future. It is all part of Honda’s environmental thinking in action through advanced technology.

Directly descended from the Honda Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion (CVCC), which was the first to pass the Clean Air Act emissions requirement without a catalyst, the latest Civic Hybrid wows with a futuristic shape and high-tech features. Today’s Civic Hybrid represents the very latest in Honda’s commitment to positive environmental change without compromising on the fun of driving. This latest Honda Civic Hybrid recently won the 2006 World Green Car Award in the United States.

Subaru Stella Custom RS S Edition STI

Subaru decided to release a STI version of the Stella, the Subaru Stella Custom RS S Edition STI (You’ve got to love the tongue-twisting name). Unfortunately this Stella is for the JDM market.

The Subaru Stella Custom RS S Edition STI upgrade is just in the visuals section. It includes: STI chin and roof spoilers, Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, STI logo on shifter, Sport pedals, Carbon fiber interior trim HID low-beam headlamps, 14″ gunmetal aluminum wheels.

The Subaru Stella Custom RS S Edition STI is limited to 500 cars and with this limited figure, I believe Subaru fans out there in Malaysia just can pray that someone will import this Stella.

Skyline GTR34 and tthe chaser is a Toyota Supra

NISMO Nissan 350Z 380RS

NISMO has recently launched the limited version of NISMO Fairlady Z Type 380RS. They gave the 350Z a 3.8 liter engine with a 350 hp power output. That’s 44 hp more than the original engine. Only 300 units were made available for sale and the price is around 34,000 euros.

Technical Specifications:

* Power: 257kW / 350 hp at 7200 rpm
* Torque: 397 Nm at 4800 rpm
* Engine: 3,798 cc 6 cylinder DOHC

BMW 1-Series

The new BMW 1-Series which made its global debut at the Geneva Motorshow in March this year is now available at BMW showrooms in Malaysia. After chalking up sales of more than 200,000 units worldwide to date, the premium compact car now has Efficient Dynamics, courtesy of new powertrains, significant modifications to its exterior design as well as interior redesign. And for the first time, the 1-Series is also offered in a 3-door bodystyle.

“The BMW 1-Series was tremendously successful not only in terms of its worldwide sales figures but also for the fact that it still remains unique as the first and only rear wheel drive car in this segment,” said BMW Malaysia’s MD, Wolfgang Schlimme of the latest model from BMW, adding that the new 1-Series, with its new feature changes coupled with its new pricing strategy, is set to be more popular than its predecessor.

“A new BMW always raises the bar set by its predecessors and this is the same with the new 1-Series. Everything about this car exudes sportiness and agility – from the sophisticated materials and fresh colours utilized to create this car to its interior trimmings as well as from its concave and convex exterior looks right up to its performance capabilities”, said Mr Schlimme.

The new 1-Series has four engine variants. The top end variant, the 5-door 130i features a straight six petrol engine with double VANOS and Valvetronic (195 kW/265 bhp; 315 Nm). The 3-door 120i Sports has a new 4-cylinder engine with second generation direct fuel injection (High Precision Injection) and produces 125 kW/170 bhp with 210 Nm of torque.

Next comes the 118i with an engine that has a fully-variable Valvetronic system as well as Bi-VANOS variable camshaft timing. This engine develops 100 kW/136 bhp and generates 190 Nm of torque. The lowest-priced version is the BMW 116i which has a 4-cylinder petrol engine petrol engine with double VANOS and churns out 85 kW/115 bhp and maximum torque of 150 Nm.

In the styling, prominent changes are very apparent in the front with a newly redesigned and larger kidney grille coupled with new headlight contours that have darker headlamp surrounds. Additionally, a wider air inlet in the front airdam as well as a horizontal trim strip and integrated rectangular fog lights gives the new 1-Series a particularly muscular outlook.

At the rear, horizontal lines with distinctive light contour uphold the car’s sporty and agile perspectives. Furthermore, a new taillight design with LED functionality now features on the new 1-Series to not only offer a homogeneous lighting effect at night but also making this BMW much more recognisable.

From the side view, the five door model shows superior variability whilst the three door version expresses the 1-Series focus on enhanced performance. Longer doors accentuated by a single-piece frameless window moving right to the back end of the car also give the three door body a balanced outlook.

Inside, improvements are significant and portray a superior look and feel that matches that of the higher BMW model series. A new redesigned centre console that is joined seamlessly to the dashboard gives the cockpit a stylish yet sporty experience. Sportiness is further accentuated with a shortened sports gearlever for enhanced shifting experiences at the centre of the cockpit. Additionally, new door trims with materials echoing the upholstery furnish the compact car making the interior more refined.

Specific to the BMW 118i are chrome trimmings on the sports leather steering wheel and controls for the radio and automatic air conditioning whilst automatic transmission is now made available for the BMW 116i.

Other premium innovative offerings in the new 1-Series include front airbags, side air bags and curtain head air bags in the front and rear, AUX-in connector for personal audio file playback via the BMW Radio System Professional, Runflat tyres and dual level brake lights are standard.

In drive feel, the 1-Series promises a very engaging drive due not only to its rear wheel drive capabilities but also to its near perfect 50:50 weight distribution. Optimal 50:50 weight distribution, precise steering with aluminium-strengthened front axle and a finely tuned sports style chassis all contribute to the superior handling of the 1-Series.

The 120i Sports offers a more sports-like personality with an elongated shape of the windows making the car dynamic, elegant and sporty with optional chrome line linking the window area to appear almost as a single unit. The sporty coupe also comes with the M sports package consisting of the M Aerodynamics package, M light alloy wheels double spoke 207M with mixed tyres, satin chrome window frames, M Sports Suspension, Anthracite headliner, Sports seat for driver and front passenger, M Leather steering wheel, an M badge door sill finisher as well as Bi-Xenon lights with new daytime running lights.

The new 1-Series, like other BMWs, comes with special financing packages offered by BMW Credit and BMW Lease, which give BMW customers a truly unique one-stop solution from the company’s specialist financial arm. “With these new packages, owning the 1-Series can be a reality for many people because the attractive finance plans make the model a lot more accessible,” said Mr Schlimme.

Retail prices (on the road, without insurance, with BMW Service Inclusive + Repair) are as follow:
BMW 130i – RM 329,800
BMW 120i Sports – RM 223,800
BMW 118i – RM 199,800
BMW 116i – RM 179,800

Nissan Moco

Nissan latest compact release? This has not been official yet but these pics are circulating around the world of email and just post here to share with you.



Need someone to translate into English please...



The rear look merely like Hyundai Atos?



Nice to see GPS Navigation system is available.



This car designed for lifestyle users.









This car seems to be designed to suite female driver?


No RPM meter?


Powered by K6A DOHC VVT technology with 40kW(54ps)/6500rpm output and 63N.m(6.4kg-m)/3500rpm torque.

Suzuki Swift CKD & Swift Sport

July 04, 2007 10:33 PM Author: Chips

The long-awaited locally-assembled Suzuki Swift is finally going in sale, following its official launch tonight. Two versions of the 1.5-litre hatchback are available, both with 4-speed automatic transmission and the cheaper version goes for RM71,943.50 (insurance included) while the better –equipped Premier version has a pricetag of RM78,099.50. With the price lower than the earlier Swifts which came from Japan completely built-up, Suzuki Malaysia Automobile (SMA) expects to sell around 300 units a month.

The Swift is, of course, no stranger to Malaysian roads, having first appeared in 2005. Up till May this year, nearly 1,800 units have been sold and the model remains popular, hence the decision by SMA to have it assembled locally at AMM in Pekan, Pahang. Some RM20 million was spent to set up dedicated assembly facilities which include a robotic welding line – unusual for the volume of the Swift and goes against conventional thinking that you need hundreds of thousands of units a year to justify having a robot do the welding instead of a human being.

The Swift specifications are as good as the imported version sold earlier with the engine being the 1.5-litre DOHC 16-valve unit that has variable valve timing. 15-inch alloy rims are standard and for safety, there’s ABS, Brake Assist and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution. Dual front airbags are also installed as standard, something which SMA chose not to compromise on in the interests of motoring safety.

Inside the Swift, the audio system has MP3 capability and a 6-speaker layout. Rare in this class of cars is the provision of switches for the audio system on the steering wheel and, not visible, an electro-magnetic latch for the rear hatch.

The Premier version has a sportier exterior with a bodykit, leather upholstery and glass tinting. The total value of these three items is RM6,000.

Four colours choices are available for both versions: Bayside Blue, Silver Grey, Supreme Red and Tranquility Black.

The Swift Sport was also unveiled tonight although it’s not a new car to many as it was shown a year ago at the KL International Motorshow. At that time, SMA had expected to be able to start selling the car before the end of 2006 but due to tremendous worldwide demand, it was difficult to get units for Malaysia. Even getting units this year has not been easy but SMA managed to persuade Suzuki to supply some and sales should commence sometime in August.

According to a SMA source, there will be manual and automatic versions offered and they are trying to get the prices (excluding insurance) down to RM99,000 for the manual and RM104,000 for the automatic. The final pricing still depends on how much Customs will stipulate as the gazetted price for this model which has a 125-bhp 1.6-litre engine.

SMA’s CEO, Bastamam Hamzah, said that the Suzuki engineers were concerned about the fuel quality in Malaysia because the engine runs on a very high compression ratio of 11:1. Confident that this would not be an issue, he began a long-term test on Malaysian fuel since the middle of 2006 to prove the point.

“Each day, we were putting in a few hundred kilometres on our testcar and there were no problems running on the RON97 petrol that is sold in Malaysia,” Encik Bastamam said.

Honda Jazz Jazzes Up With A New Colour. Yellow Pearl

Honda Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. today introduced a new colour, the striking Helios Yellow Pearl for the Honda Jazz (VTEC) range – adding one more trendy colour to the already exciting range of Royal Blue, Alabaster Silver Metallic, Nighthawk Black Pearl and Brilliant White Pearl (VTEC) and Taffeta White (i-DSI).

The Honda Jazz was first introduced in 2001 and is popularly known as Honda Fit in Japan. Since its launch, the Honda Jazz has sold more than 1.9 million units in 117 countries worldwide. The Honda Jazz is the acknowledged leader in the subcompact segment.

The success of the Honda Jazz globally brought about its introduction to the Malaysian market in 2003. The Honda Jazz was well received amongst its target group who were attracted to the attractive and stylish looks of the Honda Jazz, its innovative technology, spaciousness and fuel efficiency. The Honda Jazz won numerous awards in Malaysia, namely the NST-Mastercard Car of Year Award for 2003 & 2004 and the Autocar Asean Car of the Year Award for 2003/2004. The current facelifted Honda Jazz was launched in Malaysia in August 2006.

HMSB Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Atsushi Fujimoto said, “I am very pleased and excited with the introduction of this new colour for the Honda Jazz. The striking yellow is indeed very suited for the stylish Honda Jazz.”

“With the introduction of the new Helios Yellow Pearl colour on the current Honda Jazz, Honda seeks to give customers added choice when they purchase the Honda Jazz. We at Honda continuously strive to achieve no. 1 in Customer Satisfaction through ways such as providing added choices to our customers,” added Mr. Fujimoto.

To date, Honda has sold over 10,000 units of Honda Jazz in Malaysia, a demonstration of the long-standing appeal of the Honda Jazz.

The snazzy Honda Jazz is by far the only subcompact car in Malaysia that offers unrivalled interior spacious versatility with its ultra seat capability. The Honda Jazz can be transformed into three different modes, the Utility Mode, the Long Mode and the Tall Mode that allow maximum use of space in fitting in bulky, long, or tall items.

Besides the functional Ultra Seat, another attractive feature of the Honda Jazz is the unique central fuel tank layout which resulted in a lowered platform. This improves drivability, stability and offers a more spacious interior for its occupants.

The Honda Jazz comes in two engine variants, the 110 horsepower 1.5-litre VTEC engine and the 88 horsepower 1.5-litre i-DSI engine. The i-DSI engine variant is popular as the Honda Jazz is able to deliver innovative style, spaciousness, comfort, practicality and fuel efficiency in a single vehicle.

When there is a change in speed, the belt-driven Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) system eliminates wasted motion, abrupt lurches or lulls. The smooth, steady acceleration accorded by the CVT further enhances the Honda Jazz’s fuel efficiency. To further boost the driving experience, the 7-speed mode in Honda Jazz gives the driver the option of a normal or sporty drive, which is made even easier with the virtual gear map ratio and simulated gear positions indications on the dashboard.

The public can book the Helios Yellow Pearl Honda Jazz at Honda showrooms from today onwards.

Final Edition GB270 Subaru Impreza

The version name of GB270 is taking the name from the UK's Rally GB, gets a final work-over from the folks at Prodrive, complete with a modified version of the 2.5-liter boxer that produces 266 HP and 310 lb.-ft. of torque – 40 HP and 74 more pound-feet of twist then the standard model.

With additional upgrades like lowered sports spring kit, quick shifter, MOMO gear knob and 18" 7.5jj GT1 wheels, this monster has a slower 0-60 timing drops by 0.6s (from 5.9s) but relatively its mid torque has improved.

Exterior improvements including new rear spoiler and mesh grill for the sedan; new waist rear spoiler, front and rear aero pieces, a black mesh grill and the glossy black finished rollers.

They only made 300 units of sedans and 100 units of hatchback, so book yours fast!

Mazda Demio a.k.a. Mazda 2 On Sale In Japan

The long awaited Mazda 2 now is on sale at Japan.

Mazda has named this model to be known as Demio, targeting a higher sale of 5,000 units per month compared with previous total sale of 1,040,000 units on its predecessor model in Japanese market.
This model weight 100kg less targeted to have a 54mpg fuel efficiency while running a 1.3L MZR Miller-cycle engine with optional CVT.
Below is the press released copied from Mazda source:
Mazda Motor Corporation has announced the Japanese launch of the fully redesigned Mazda Demio (known overseas as the all-new Mazda2) which goes on sale at all Mazda, Mazda Anfini and Mazda Autozam dealers throughout Japan from today, July 5, 2007. The target sales volume for the all-new Demio is 5,000 units a month. Prices range from 1,125,000 to 1,580,000 yen (including tax).
The first generation Mazda Demio went on sale in August 1996. It heralded a new trend in the compact car segment for exceptional space and functionality in a conveniently compact vehicle. The second generation Demio improved on the characteristically Mazda-like driving dynamics and became a popular choice for many consumers. As of May 2007, the Demio had a total production volume in Japan of over 1,040,000 units and has become Mazda's biggest selling model in the Japanese market. The all-new third generation Demio was developed using a "personal smart commuter" concept, with the emphasis on emerging modern values such as increased concern for environmental and safety issues and a greater emphasis on design.
The all-new Demio offers driver-friendly functionality and packaging as well as individual styling that makes you want to get in and drive it. The design team aimed to inherit the fun-to-drive Zoom-Zoom DNA that is common to all Mazda vehicles and balance it with top class fuel economy, safety performance and comfort levels. By completely redesigning the body and chassis, the new Demio is around 100 kilograms lighter than the previous model*. The Demio 13C-V grade combines Mazda's newly developed, naturally aspirated MZR 1.3L Miller-cycle engine with continuously variable transmission (CVT) to achieve top class 10-15 mode fuel efficiency of 23.0 km/L (rated by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport [MLIT]). This represents an improvement of approximately 20 percent over the previous model*. All model grades also offer superb environmental performance, with emissions at least 75 percent lower than Japan's 2005 standards.
Mazda's Representative Director, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, Hisakazu Imaki, said, "The all-new Mazda Demio is a core global model and it is intended to accelerate our progress toward achieving the objectives set out in the Mazda Advancement Plan, our new mid-term plan announced in March of this year. Furthermore, this is our very first product that embodies "advanced Zoom-Zoom", offering harmony between driving pleasure and environmental and safety features, based on our long-term technology development vision, 'Sustainable Zoom-Zoom.' At Mazda, we will continue to drive our business forward through product-led growth and, at the same time, enhance our efforts to develop environmental and safety technologies to help realize a sustainable future."

Source and Picture: Autoblog
Article: Me

Nissan Latio and Latio Sport

It’s been a long and challenging past few years for Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) while their principal। Nissan Motor, was busy regaining its strength and position in larger markets. After the formation of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, the focus was on markets which could generate large revenue streams quickly and these were the USA and Japan, followed by Europe. The rest of the world (or ‘General Overseas Markets’, in Nissan-speak) had to wait and distributors like ETCM have been putting in efforts to hold market share in spite of not getting fresh new models.

This year, the challenging period comes to an end as a number of brand new models will be launched in Malaysia। We’ve already seen the Teana flagship last month and also the new Urvan and towards the end of next month comes the new Latio which is intended to do battle in a broad segment stretching from the Honda City/Toyota Vios up to the Toyota Corolla Altis (but not the Honda Civic, though).


Available in two bodystyles – sedan and hatchback – the Latio (pronounced ‘la-she-o’ and not ‘la-tee-o’) uses the Nissan B platform which is also shared with some Renault models like the new Clio. It will be offered with a choice of two engine sizes – 1.6 litres and 1.8 litres – and both 4-cylinder engines were developed jointly with Renault. Besides having DOHC 16-valve cylinder heads, the all-aluminium engines have Nissan’s Continuously Variable Valve Timing Control (CVTC) and Drive-By-Wire throttle control for quicker response.
The performance claims for the engines are as follow:HR16DE 1598 cc: 109 ps at 6000 rpm, 153 Nm at 4400 rpm, 13।9 kms/litre consumptionMR18DE 1798 cc: 126 ps at 5200 rpm, 174 Nm at 4800 rpm, 13.0 kms/litre consumptionAn interesting difference in the dimensions of the two engines is that the smaller engine is undersquare (longer stroke) while the larger one is overquare (shorter stroke).

The Latio Sedan will be available with both the engines in four versions: Latio 1।6ST Manual; Latio 1.6 ST Auto; Latio 1.6ST-L Auto; and Latio 1.8Ti Auto. The Latio Hatchback will be known as the Latio Sport and have only the 1.6-litre engine and automatic transmission. Besides a half dozen colour choices, the Latio Sport will also have one exclusive colour – Harvest Yellow.

The suspension layout comprises independent MacPherson struts in front and a simple H-shaped torsion beam axle with stabilizer at the rear. A notable feature in the front suspension is the provision of internal rebound springs and also the use of ripple control telescopic dampers which are said to enhance ride and handling.
Front suspension
Rear suspension
With the Latio, Nissan is pushing the standards for the 1.6-litre segment higher and introducing quality levels which should be class-leading (and certainly a big leap from the Sentra which incidentally, will remain in production for the foreseeable future).
Interior roominess is also a strong point and Nissan-supplied data indicates that the Latio Sedan’s interior length is 2035 mm long whereas a certain 1.6-litre ‘Competitor T’ has a length of 1925 mm (the identity of ‘Competitor T’ was not provided…). The cabin width is also 10 mm more for the Latio with more generous gaps between the occupants’ heads and the ceiling.
“The interior length is the best in its class and the materials used as well as high-quality finishing give the Latios a quality level not commonly found in cars of this segment,” said T. Nose, Vice-President of Product Planning of Nissan Asia-Pacific, at the press preview tonight.
The somewhat blunt rear end of the sedan contains a huge volume of luggage space – 467 litres – which is said to be greater than Competitor T and even a Competitor H which has a 1.8-litre engine. The floor is set lower down, allowing for more volume. Also noticed on the car was an electro-magnetic latch for the bootlid – just press it gently and the bootlid pops open.
The Latio Sport is equally spacious within and is appointed with a sportier ambience using dark materials. The rear seats can slide forward by 240 mm to increase boot volume. Both the sedan and hatchback have rear centre armrests which incorporate cupholders.
Full specs for the Latio are not available just yet but from the display cars, it was evident that the interior trim for the most expensive versions will include wood finish and bi-xenon headlights will be fitted on some versions. The Latio will also be the first model in its class (assembled locally) to have true keyless entry and starting using the Nissan Intelligent Key System. ETCM’s NISMO division is also looking at the possibility of a NISMO Latio later on.
Bootlid has electro-magnetic latch - just press the switch and it opens
Engine can be started without inserting a key, just twist the tab at the ignition key position
The prices for the Latio will only be announced next month but a ETCM source hinted that the range would be between RM80,000 and RM110,000. The company expects to sell between 500 and 600 units a month, all of which will come from its new RM230 million state-of-the-art assembly plant in Serendah, outside Rawang, Selangor.

Regular Low Octane Gas May Be Costing You More Than Buying Premium

What Is Octane and How Does It Affect Your Engine’s Gas Mileage and Horsepower? Trying to save money by using a lower octane gas is almost a guarantee that you will actually spend more money on gas (depending on the cost difference of the choices between 87 octane and 93 octane).

Why? Because it’s a certainty that you will get terrible gas mileage. Isn’t that ironic? And horsepower? Forget it. Your horsepower won’t even be close to what you should have. But the worst part is that it will eventually harm your engine. Badly. Surprised? All the things that people have told you about “hearing” or “reading” that there is no reason to buy premium gas because the regular gas is just as good are wrong! Then there’s the belief that the higher octane premium gas is just another rip-off by the oil companies. Wrong again. But that’s a measure of how desperate we’ve become trying to save money on gas.We are becoming penny-wise and pound-foolish. First let’s look at what octane means. It’s not about horsepower or heat energy. All an octane measure that’s posted on service station gas pumps means is that the octane number signifies the average of two methods of testing a fuel’s resistance to detonation. They typically range from 87 octane for regular unleaded gas to 93 octane for premium fuel. If you read most of these signs you will see a notation that the octane has been calculated using the formula R+M/2. We could go into another page to explain that.

Without going into all the scientific stuff, this means that a premium fuel has a much higher resistance to detonation than does a regular fuel of 87 octane. You read it right. Resistance to detonation. So what’s this about detonation? The resistance to detonation is the primary quality of a good gasoline. This is desirable so the detonation inside the cylinder head can be ignited evenly; the spark plug ignites the flame front in the cylinder head as a mixture of gas and oxygen. The flame moves in a deliberate manner across the top of the piston and cylinder. That’s how it’s supposed to work. So the better the fuel’s resistance to spontaneous igniting the more controlled the burning of the gas and the subsequent expansion of the heated gases that pushes the piston down to turn the crankshaft. But when a fuel with a lower detonation is used where it shouldn’t be used (in an engine whose manufacturer says it shouldn’t be used) the whole process goes out the window.

Abnormal combustion is what it’s called. And that’s because the intense heat and pressure in the cylinder subjects the lower detonation fuel (the 87 octane fuel) to an environment that it wasn’t meant for. So pockets of the fuel can spontaneously self-ignite creating secondary flame flashes. When those meet in the out-of-control burning in the cylinder head, the engine gets a shock wave. This shock wave is the knocking sound we have all heard in an engine at some time or another. Sometimes it sounds like marbles rolling around in the engine.

Other times it actually sounds like the piston rods are loose and rattling. Whatever it sounds like, it’s not good for your engine . . . really not good. So now comes the part where technology almost outwits us again. In older cars – those that didn’t have computer controlled engine functions, we all knew that the knocking sound meant that either we were using el cheapo gas or the spark timing was wrong. That was easy enough to fix. Just buy better gas or have your mechanic re-set the timing.

Some guys could do that themselves in their own garage or under a shade tree. But now we have these ingenious high-tech engines that are monitored by an on-board computer and they are constantly making adjustments to correct or improve what the computer perceives as a problem. Here’s where we fool ourselves. Or rather where the engine fools us and we believe it. These little critters are equipped with knock sensors. When they detect the typical bad detonation from using low octane fuel, the little devils automatically retard the spark timing or take other precautions to protect the engine. So, in reality, the sensors are de-tuning the engine to accept the fuel’s octane. The designers put this in to protect the engine from damage, but only for the short run. But with the spark timing compromised, the engine’s performance is just shot.

This is why it looses horsepower so badly, as I pointed out earlier. In addition to robbing the engine of power, the electronic computerized de-tuning has put the engine into a mode that, by the nature of the low uncontrolled detonation, wastes the fuel’s energy to power the vehicle. So, if you think you’ve outsmarted the oil company, think again. You’re among their best customers because your vehicle’s miles per gallon are in the toilet. Said another way, you use more of their product than you need to. The techno-wizardry of this is amazing, but the down-side is that the electronic computerized controls – the techno-wizardry -- can mask the inferior detonation so effectively that you may never be aware that it’s happening. So you are merrily driving along thinking how clever you were to not fall for that premium gas trick at the service station. Meanwhile your car is running sluggishly and you are using a great deal more gas than you should be using. But you sure saved a lot of money on that last fill-up, didn’t you?