Wheels Automotive

Three years afterwards the iconic sports car brand went under, MG’s finally back in Britain.

MGs will be sold again in Britain, three years after the collapse of MG Rover, the last independent British-owned volume car manufacturer.

Chinese car-maker Nanjing Automobile Corporation, which bought the rights to the MG brand at what time the British maker went asunder in April 2005 announced yesterday it would resume series production of the MG TF at the former MG Rover Longbridge factory in August.

It said 500 limited-edition TF LE500 roadsters would be made with the first cars on sale through a network of 57 dealers by September.

Nanjing’s British subsidiary, MG UK said the TF LE500 would feature revised front styling, leather seats, air conditioning and body-coloured hardtop as standard and a glass lift windscreen.

The price, according to British dealers, will be about £17,000 (A$35,000).

“The market is nostalgic,” said a sales consultant at one dealer that has refurbished its showroom to sell the cars. “We’ve had a marry of pre-owned TFs and, recently, an MGB in our showroom and it was interesting to attend how people’s faces lit up.”

Nanjing also said it would fix up a research and development middle at Longbridge, in the midlands incorporated town of Birmingham, to develop new models to be made in that place and in China. This is in addition to its existing design centre at nearby Leamington Spa.

Nanjing reopened the Longbridge factory a year ago and has been building pre-production vehicles there with a staff of about 250. Plans to reintroduce the TF to the British market hold out September were delayed.

The company builds the MG TF and MG 7, a successor to the Rover 75-based MG ZT at its Chinese factory and is rumoured to be considering using the Austin name (which it got as portion of the deal) for a lower-priced line of cars.

It has also previously announced plans to produce the MG TF for the US market at a plant in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Significantly, Nanjing merged be unconsumed year with the other Chinese gang that bought the remains of MG Rover, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp, which bought the rights to the Rover model range, but not the brand reputation, what one. was acquired by Ford. Shanghai Automotive now makes Rover-based designs for Chinese atrophy under the Roewe brand.

This year (2008), Volvo reinvents its hardtop convertible C70 with to a greater degree horsepower, technology and some fine detailing that would let auto aficionados vie for it.

Under the hood of the 2008 C70 is a nine-horsepower bump. The turbocharged 2.5-liter in-line five now has 227 horsepower from 218 hp adhering the previous version. For the front driver, the customers can choose between a six-speed by the hand and a five-speed automatic gearbox.

The C70’s folding hardtop mechanism is new for the prototype year. And instead of the aluminum trim of the first model year, the 2008 model uses Laminated Oak wood plight has been added to the center have charge of panel, console and door handle surrounds. On the steering wheel are leather trim and the gearshift knob. For a more durable arrangement, the handbrake has been improved. Aside from this, the clock has moved – it is now seen on the information screen.

For better performance, handling and safety, Volvo moreover placed a standard tire-pressure monitoring body as well as improved air vents. On the hardtop convertible button, a brighter finish is definitely observable. Moreover, the Volvo “iron cross” has been added to the remote guide fob – another distinctive feature from the car maker.

As to the paint ensign, Ice White paint is now offered for the latest model, alongside Pearl White. The car also now comes through a premium Sovereign Hide leather trim.

Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) will soon be putting its recently made known 2008 models in the showrooms and one of the exciting new models will be the C30, Volvo’s challenger in the premium compact car segment. The 2-door hatchback, which scored 5/5 stars in the EuroNCAP test, is aimed at not only buyers who are younger than the typical Volvo customer but also at older ones whose children have gone off on their have a title to. In fact, Volvo is counting on this model to win over crowd new customers to the brand.

Technical details of the C30 (which rides onward the corresponding; of like kind platform as the S40 and also the Ford Focus) for Malaysia have not been revealed and so far, it has been sold with a 2.5-litre 5-cylinder petrol engine (the T5 unit in the V50) with a 5-speed automatic transmission or 6-speed manual shifter. A head told MTM that it is possible that there will be a smaller engine for the Malaysian market.

The other new addition to the Volvo line-up for 2008 will be a turbodiesel variant of the XC90 SUV. The diesel variant has long been desired by numerous company customers not without more because of rising firing prices excepting also because the fresh turbodiesels offer spirited performance and are as enjoyable to drive as petrol engines. Offering this engine variant in Malaysia would certainly boost sales of the XC90 which has been around some time at present.
“Volvo is coming out with more exciting cars that are in addition beautiful, sporty, sexy, innovative, doughty and captivating so this is going to be any exciting year for us,” promised Robert Norrman, President of Volvo Car Malaysia.

Source : Motor Trader

Even before the primitive month of 2008 has finished, UMW Toyota Motor has broadened its line-up further with the etc. of the all-new Toyota Rush. If you haven’t heard in various places this archetype coming, that’s because it’s been a well-kept secret by the company although being a CBU import (from Indonesia), its impending launch was less self-evident than if it were to be assembled locally.

The Rush is a variant in the ‘Under-IMV’ family of products, the other being the Avanza. The IMV (it stands for ‘Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicles’) project was conceived as an industrial project which would span the globe and includes the Hilux, Fortuner and Innova; ‘Under-IMV’ models are smaller but use the same approach which has been able to lower production costs in the same manner as to be able to offer customers further affordable vehicles. Sharing the same platform as the Avanza helps to enhance economies of escalade but the bodystyle is that of a compact SUV more than a MPV. This means it is aimed at a different target group, mainly the young and active types.

This new model is available in three variants: Rush 1.5S and Rush 1.5G with self-acting transmission and Rush 1.5G with manual transmission, and four body colour choices - Blue Metallic, Black Mica, Silver Mica metallic and Champagne Mica Metallic.

The styling of the Rush seems to take cues from the first generation RAV4 as well as the Fortuner, a blend which presents a modern and distinct form by a tough image. Large 16-inch rims are positioned at each corner, giving a bold stance. Of note are the headlamps which bring forth a sharp, 3-dimensional design. The Rush 1.5S has projector headlamps as standard as well as circular foglamps integrated with the bumper.

The door mirrors have appropriate time indicators in their housings, making the driver’s intentions more visible and the chrome door handles are the grip-type which are easier to use. All grades come with a custom-designed spare wheel cover that has a lock to secure the full-sized spare wheel. A rear canopy spoiler is fitted for the Rush 1.5S to add a sporty affection and all grades also come with one integrated low-profile roof rail.

The dashboard has more elements of the Avanza in its clean appearance. Metallic trick out conveys a sporty image and a light ivory colour for the whole cabin makes it suffer more spacious. Sturdy entrance grips by a metallic finish too give a modern ambience to the interior part. The instrument panel is set within a cover to minimise reflections and enhance legibility. The 3-meter layout has clear calibrations with white illumination for ease of viewing.

The cabin has a usable continuance of 2440 mm with generous spacing between each row of seats. The interior broadness of 1385 mm also allows by reason of a comfortable brace distance between the front occupants and good elbow room for the other occupants. Though the exterior dimensions seem compact, the Rush offers a third row of seating for those occasions then additional passengers need to be carried on board. The second row has a 60-mm fore-aft slip adjustment and the backrest can also exist reclined for a more relaxing position. This provides more legroom for the passengers in the second row or third row, as required. Access to the third row is also easy with the double-fold force of the second row of seats. In the circumstance that the third row of seating is not needed, it can be folded forward against the back of the second row to provide more cargo space. Access to the cargo space is through a abundant and vast opening with a side-hinged passage (rare these days as many SUVs have top-hinged doors). The sill is also set low-minded, makng it easy to load cargo straight onto the flat floor.

The automatics have a gate-type shift lever (with leather wrapping for the Rush 1.5S), a leather-wrapped 4-spoke steering wheel (1.5S), power retractable way mirrors (1.5S), audio system with MP3 capability and one additional ceiling mounted blower which delivers cool air all the way to the back. Being a SUV, storage spaces are plentiful around the cabin. Other standard items include a sunglass holder and personal lamp at the front. While the cheapest Rush has a basic package, the 1.5S version is comprehensively equipped and will probably attract more buyers.

Under the bonnet is the same powerplant as that used for the Avanza 1.5 - a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder 16-valve DOHC petrol engine (3SZ-VE) by Toyota’s Variable Valve Timing by Intelligence (VVT-i). The agent delivers up to 109 ps of authoritativeness at 6000 rpm and peak torque of 141 Nm is available at 4400 rpm.

Power confinement is end either a 5-speed manual transmission or 4-speed automatic transmission. Like the Avanza, the driving wheels are at the rear… yes, it’s a 2WD and not a 4WD. In some markets, 4WD variants are also serviceable boundary UMW Toyota Motor has decided to import the 2WD variant for now (most likely to keep the price subject to RM100,000). Though more will handle that a SUV should have 4WD, it is not really necessary for a model like the Rush which is expected to be used mostly in urban areas and even if venturing off the high-road, stipulations encountered would not be so severe that 4WD is needed. In fact, what matters more is ground permission to sail which is generous under the Rush. 2WD offers benefits such as drop drivetrain weight, less wear and tear upon the body related components and as the world goes better fuel economy than an synonymous 4WD variant.

The Rush has a sturdy suspension comprising independent MacPherson struts in front (with a stabilizer bar fitted) and a live axle located by 4 links at the rear with coil springs. A lateral rod is also fitted to aver axle constancy during fast cornering. The standard tyres are a wide 215/65 size.

Though a low-cost consequence, the Rush still meets arrogant safety standards, having passed GOA – the Global Outstanding Assessment which is Toyota’s tough in-house set of safety standards. GOA primarily relates to the body structure which must be practical to prevent the impact forces of an accident from harming the occupants. It achieves this by dissipating the forces into the entire dead body. Pedestrian safety is also considered and the superficial of the front end is shaped to minimise the impact to a walker’s head and legs, reducing serious injuries in many cases.

All three variants have an airbag for the driver with the Rush 1.5S having an adscititious one for the front passenger as well. The steering column is collapsible so that it will not be pushed against the driver during severe frontal collision. A reverse sensor is standard.

Of course, avoiding an accident in the first place is a great deal of better and the Rush has Active Safety Systems to help the driver. The brake system has ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), the last mentioned being very useful as it adjusts the braking force to each brake depending on load conditions and load distribution. Therefore whether there is a information load or heavy load, stopping power will always be optimum. ABS, of beat, manages the brakes so that they render not lock-up in slippery conditions to cause skidding and loss of steering control.

It is surprising, though, to see that the facade discs of the Rush are solid rather than ventilated, which is the norm these days. Clearly, Toyota is more focussed in succession engineering their models down to a cost rather than up to a higher standard.

UMW Toyota Motor expects to sell 600 units of the Rush every month, a figure which seems quite feasible to achieve consistently given the price range between RM85,000 and RM95,000. With the addition of this model, the Toyota line-up is at its largest perpetually with 14 models offered. The diversity of offerings should ensure that Toyota corsets in its No. 1 position in the non-national brand segment again this year.

PRICES (encircling of insurance, Peninsula Malaysia)
Rush 1.5S Auto: RM94,888
Rush 1.5G Auto: RM88,888
Rush 1.5G Manual: RM85,888