In 2010 Geneva Motor Show, Hamann's follows up their first take of the Range Rover Sport that debuted a few years ago. The new one named the Conqueror II.

Benefiting from the RR Sport Supercharged's new 5.0-liter V8, the Conqueror II packs 560 horsepower and 506 lb-ft torque with a revised engine management system and a sport exhaust.

The exterior gets the full Hamann treatment, with a full body kit, carbon fiber hood, LED running lights and forged 23-inch wheels. Interior comestic works include the usual stuff like embriodered mats, plus aluminum and carbon fiber accents.

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The Hyundai Starex is a van built by the Hyundai Motor Company in South Korea. In the country of origin, the Starex was offered available in a wide range of configurations, including minivan (MPV) and minibus, van, pick-up, taxi, and ambulance. The first generation was introduced since 1997 and replace with current model in 2007.

The 2nd-generation vehicle was introduced as the Grand Starex with larger dimensions and much stronger Common-rail Diesel Injection (CRDi) engine. The CRDi engine is a 2.5 litre inline 4 cylinder with Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT) delivering 125 kw (170ps) with a torque of 392Nm.

Due to the rapid growth in market shares of Luxury MPV like Toyota Alphard, Estima, Nissan Elgrand and Honda Elysion in Malaysia. Hyundai Sime Darby brought in the Hyundai Grand Starex and Hyundai Grand Starex Royale to Malaysia in 2008.

Unlike the Japanese Luxury MPV, this Hyundai Starex is built based on its van platform which uses to build Cargo van and people mover. With this approach, the overall costs of development will definitely lower than the Japanese Luxury MPV which built with its dedicated chassis as luxury MPV. In terms of comfortability wise, I will go for the Japanese model for sure. What if there is a budget concern, why not consider a Hyundai Grand Starex!

In the other hand, why not Toyota consider build a Luxury Van like Starex which based on Toyota Hiace for ASEAN market? How is that sound like?

If you realise, this Hyundai Starex is based on 6 lug wheels which probably harder on sourcing aftermarket wheels. Probably, the only option is to source wheels that are designed for Large Van like Toyota Hiace.

In Malaysia the Starex is available in a more luxurious variant with DVD player, 7 inch LCD panel and fully equiped with body kit. Called Grand Starex Royale the vehicle won many car awards such as the Autocar Asean 2008 for Large MPV category, 1st Place in Asian Auto Bosch Fuel Efficiency 2008 in Luxury MPV Category with a combined fuel efficiency of 8.5l/100km as well as the New Straits Times / Maybank Car of the Year Award in the large MPV category.

The vehicle is also sold with the longest warranty in Malaysia spotting a 5 Year or 300,000km warranty. The price starts from RM 133,474.60 before on-the-road costs.

The new 2010 Polo GTI fitted with 1.4-liter TSI gasoline engine with turbo and supercharging with an estimated output of 180 horsepower and 250Nm of torque at range from 2,000 to 4,500 rpm.

The Polo's GTI TSI gasoline engine mated with a compact seven-speed, twin-clutch DSG gearbox on front wheel drive. Aligned with a 1,184kg kerbweight, the 1.4 TSI allows the Polo GTI to accelerate from rest to 100km/h in 6.9 seconds before reaching a top speed of 228 km/h.

This particular vehicle is capable of delivering a low fuel consumption of 6.0lt/100km on the combined cycle while emitting just 139 g/km of CO2.

AC Schnitzer have done a number on the diesel BMW X1 to come up with the AC Schnitzer X1 E84. With these kits for Diesel powerplant,  the tuned crossover goes from 143hp to 171hp on 1.8d model, and the 2.0d goes from 177hp to 210hp.

Those that opt for the xDrive28i with a 258HP straight-six petrol will have to do with a new sport exhaust system only.

Along with the improved engines, AC Schnitzer also offers a sport suspension and a choice of 18-, 19- or 20-inch alloy wheels in various designs.

For the X1's exterior, AC Schnitzer has readied a package that comprises of a front & rear spoiler, bonnet vents and a roof spoiler.

Interior upgrades come in the form of special carbon-fiber trim, illuminated leather gear knob, aluminium gear knobs with or without digital gear display, a unique aluminium cover for the i-Drive system controller, aluminium handbrake handle and pedal set, foot rests and velours foot mats.

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Volkswagen AG has released official pictures of its all-new large 4WD ahead of its Geneva motor show debut next month. The next-generation Volkswagen Touareg soft-roader is lighter and more efficient than before, but hybrid version will only introduce at certain market.

The hybrid is the most powerful model in the new Touareg range, producing 285kW from its 3.3-litre supercharged V6 and electric motor, though it uses 10 per cent more fuel than the base model turbo-diesel V6 (8.2L/100km vs 7.4L/100km).

Volkswagen has yet to confirm whether the Touareg will use a new petrol V6 or retain the current 3.6-litre V6.

The 3.0-litre turbo-diesel carries over from the current model, with the V6 producing 180kW of power and 550Nm of torque.

The V8 diesel variant will be pitched as the city-friendly soft-roader in the range. It will replace the current V10 model, and despite offering a 800Nm of torque and 254kW.

As similar to BMW with its new X5, Volkswagen will offer an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard across the range, which also keeps fuel consumption down.

Both engines will also achieve lower carbon emissions compared with the current models, and Volkswagen will continue to offer the Touareg purely as an all-wheel-drive SUV, rather than the recent trend by many manufacturers to offer two-wheel-drive variants.

Volkswagen has also achieved improved consumption by shedding more than 200kg from the model’s kerb weight, despite the Touareg growing in size. The company says it achieved the weight loss through lighter body components and lighter high-strength metals.

The Touareg has expanded by 40mm (now 4758mm long) to improve interior space, both for passengers and luggage. The boot offers up to 70 litres more cargo space over the existing model.

The Touareg adopts Volkswagen’s new design language – notably the wide, horizontal grille like the sixth-generation Golf Mk-6.

In profile the second-generation Touareg looks less bulky than the outgoing model, with a lower, more arched roofline.

It’s not yet known if the new Cayenne – to be unveiled at next month’s Geneva motor show – will share doors and glass with the Touareg, as with the original versions of each.

On the safety front, Volkswagen will adopt a new quad-camera system called "Area View" – expected to be offered as an option – which can see the car’s surroundings from different angles, assisting in better vision to the driver.

The Touareg will feature nine airbags, adaptive cruise control, and “Side Assist”, which warns the driver of vehicles approaching from the rear when changing lanes. The Touareg also features stop-start technology, which shuts the engine down when the car is stationary, and restarts it when the brake is released.

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Vehicle recall trend follows...

Last month, Honda announced a separate recall of 646,000 2007 and 2008 Fit, City and Jazz models worldwide, after a fire hazard involving a power window switch resulted in a death in South Africa.

For now, Honda announced it is expanding a previously announced recall to replace an airbag inflator in an additional 438,000 vehicles worldwide, including 379,000 in the United States.

In a statement posted on its Web site late Tuesday, Honda said the driver's airbag inflators in these certain vehicles may expand with too much pressure, which can cause the inflator casing to break and could result in injury or death.

The expanded recall includes 2001 and 2002 Accord, Civic, Odyssey, CR-V, and selected 2002 Acura TL vehicles, the statement said. Honda said there have been 12 incidents related to the airbag inflator problem.

Last summer, Honda added 510,150 cars to the recall worldwide, including 443,727 additional units in the United States.

The recall now affects a total of 952,118 vehicles, with more than 826,000 in the United States.

Although none of the reported problems occurred after July 2009, Honda said it was still expanding the recall because it could not be sure that the inflators in the aforementioned vehicles would work correctly.

Honda said it will notify affected customers by mail and phone with instructions on how to have their vehicles inspected and updated at an authorized dealer. The entire production of each of the models in question is not necessarily included in the recall.

Toyota Motor Corp. has decided to announce an official recall of the newest Prius model due to defective brakes, sources said, while Monday it formulated a policy for the recall of the Sai and Lexus HS250h, both of which use the same brake system as the latest Prius.

On Saturday, the automaker decided to announce early this week the recall of the new Prius model over a brake system defect and informed auto dealers of its decision the same day.

Since the new Prius model was released in May 2009, more than 300,000 have been sold in about 60 nations and territories worldwide, including the United States.

Sai, a model exclusively sold in Japan, went on sale in December 2009.

The Lexus HS250h went on sale both at home and abroad, including USA. About 26,800 units of these two models will be recalled, including those sold overseas.

Also subject to the recall are about 100 plug-in hybrid Prius vehicles, which can be recharged at home and elsewhere using ordinary electrical outlets and which the automaker began leasing in December.

Under the planned recall, the company will correct the electronic control program of the antilock braking system, which is believed to have caused the problem. The system is designed to prevent the vehicle from sliding sideways under sudden braking.

Toyota initially considered issuing a voluntary recall notice as it judged the brake problem is not a structural flaw. Later, however, the automaker decided to make winning back customer trust a priority by conducting the recall.

Toyota’s environmental hero car is being investigated for reported brake problems, fuelling rumours it could be recalled.

The Toyota Prius hybrid car could be headed to an embarrassing recall, topping off a horror fortnight for Toyota that's seen its reputation for reliability and quality battered by an unrelated recall of millions of vehicles around the world.

Rumours are circulating that Toyota's environmental hero car and the world's most popular hybrid could be headed for a recall due to reported problems of braking issues.

Toyota's Japanese headquarters is expected to elaborate on the Prius brake problems in a press release at 3.30pm Japanese time today.

The Prius uses an advanced regenerative braking system, which can capture some of the energy normally lost in heat and store it in a battery for later use by the electric motor.

Advanced electronics effectively reverse the electric motor to provide resistance and slow the car. The Prius also has regular brakes for emergency stop situations.

This Traffic Police Officer is actually hiding on the side of the bridge pillar, standby to pursuit with his bike to catch victim that using Mobile Phone while driving. Hopefully all Malaysian are smart enough to know the risk by not talking on the phone while driving.

Use a handsfree ear-piece at least...

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It’s exclusive and expensive that cost €177,310 including VAT in Europe.  For now, Mercedes-Benz has begun hand producing the aluminium-bodied SLS AMG 'Gullwing' supercar in Germany, where only six or seven are expected to roll off the slow moving production line each day.

While computers and robots dominate 21st century vehicle production, Mercedes-Benz says hand building allows extra attention to detail and superior quality.

The revival of Mercedes-Benz’s most famous model – and one of the world’s most sought after collectibles – will be complete in March when European customers start taking deliveries.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG has sleek styling with retro tinges and is topped off by the gullwing-style doors that fold up. This model is powered by a 6.2-litre AMG V8 engine developing 420kW of power, making it the fastest Mercedes-Benz ever produced for the road.

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The latest in a series of recalls, which has now hit almost eight million Toyota cars worldwide, was again due to an accelerator problem and covered eight separate models and dates ranging back to February 2005.

Toyota said parts supplier CTS had begun making pedals based on a new design that resolved the problem and the two firms were testing a remedy.

Toyota's woes went into overdrive last week when it announced a recall of 2.3 million cars in the US due to safety fears related to accelerator pedals. It is also recalling almost 5.3 million US vehicles to replace floor mats that could trap accelerator pedals.

Toyota spokesman Etienne Plas said that ''at least 1.7 million'' of the cars already recalled outside Europe potentially suffered from both problems.

Taking that and the latest European recall into account, that left the total number of vehicles pulled worldwide at 7.7 million.

Toyota, which overtook General Motors in 2008 as the world's top-selling carmaker, has been bedevilled by safety issues that raised questions about whether it has sacrificed quality for quantity.

Honda announced a recall for 646,000 units of 2007 and 2008 Fit, City and Jazz models worldwide, after a fire hazard involving a power window switch resulted in a death in South Africa.

This recall confirmed for all Fit, Jazz and City cars made between 2002 and 2008 in Japan, China, Brazil, Thailand, Malaysia and India.

Honda said extreme amounts of liquid, such as rain or melted snow, can flood the master power window switch on the driver's side, causing the vehicle to overheat. As a result of that, it caused seven vehicles to overheat and two to catch fire.

Honda said it will notify customers by mail with instructions on how to have their vehicles inspected and updated at an authorized Honda dealer.

The automaker said that current 2009 and 2010 models are not affected by the recall.

German tuning specialist, B&B launch of a series of performance package that includes powertain and chassis upgrades for VW Golf R.

The engine mods come in three different stages, with the first bumping output from 270HP to 310HP, the second to 324HP and the third to 362HP.

The most powerful kit features a larger turbocharger, a sports exhaust system with a different downpipe and a racing catalyst, reflashed ECU, a revised air intake system and a new intercooler.

B&B claims that the 362HP Golf R sprints from standstill to 100km/h in just 4.8 seconds and top speed of 280km/h.

The tuning firm also offers a special 8-caliper high-performance braking system, an adjustable coilover suspension with new springs that lower the vehicle's ride height and a set of black-colored alloy wheels in sizes 19'' or 20''.

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While Toyota to be affected by the faulty accelerator pedals made by Indiana-based supplier CTS Corp., it isn't the only one that faces this problem. So, don't dispose your Toyota first...

USA Today reported that Ford has halted production of Transit Classic van in China because it has a similar type of pedal assembly made by CTS as the ones blamed for Toyota's recall in the USA.

"When anybody has an issue in the industry, we check everything about the Ford system and production process," said Ford CEO Alan Mulally. "It's our assessment right now that this is very isolated."

It is also reported that Toyota has issued a new recall of 75,000 vehicles in China for the same matter apart from Europe and USA.

Toyota's recall wave continues to expand and strongly hit its standing as reliable cars. Other Auto-makers like GM and other Japanese Automaker are trying to take up some of Toyota’s market shares at this moment. With the total number of Toyota vehicles affected by two recalls involving gas pedals growing to at least 5.3 million vehicles.

In this few days, there are few incentives programme and low financing scheme are introduced for worried Toyota’s owner to swap their car. Moreover, there are dealers that put out a slogan by saying that ‘our gas pedal doesn’t stuck’ to draw some attention and sales revenue.

The latest addition to the recalls was announced Wednesday, with 1.1 million vehicles added to the 4.2 million recalled in November to fix a problem in which the gas pedal can become caught on the edge of the removable floor mat. That problem can cause the vehicle to accelerate uncontrollably.

A separate recall of 2.3 million vehicles announced last week involving accelerator pedals that can stick on their own. It was being expanded to include an undisclosed number of vehicles in Europe.

The vehicles being added to the floor mat-related recall are:-

• 2008-2010 Highlander
• 2009-2010 Corolla
• 2009-2010 Venza
• 2009-2010 Matrix
• 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe (produced under a partnership between GM)

The vehicles originally included in the floor mat-related recall were:-

• 2007-2010 Toyota Camry
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• 2004-2009 Prius
• 2010 Tacoma
• 2007-2010 Tundra 
• 2007-2010 Lexus ES350
• 2006-2010 IS250 
• 2006-2010 IS350.

Most, but not all, of the vehicles involved in the stuck pedal recall are also involved in the other recall. They are:-

• 2009-2010 Toyota RAV4, Corolla, Matrix and Pontiac Vibe
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• 2010 Highlander
• 2007-2010 Tundra 
• 2008-2010 Sequoia
• Some of the 2007-2010 Camry.

Toyota has been working with the pedal supplier and is close to having a new pedal design ready for approval by regulators, a Toyota spokesman said Thursday.

In the meantime, owners who experience sticking or slowness in the movement of their car's gas pedal should stop driving the car and call a Toyota dealer immediately.

The latest commercial for the new Mercedes SLS AMG, featuring MercedesGP Driver Michael Schumacher.

It was spied! So called 998 model of Porsche’s next generation 911 will be lighter, faster and sexier.

Due in 2011, the new Porsche 911 is expected to focus on lightweight materials in an effort to improve performance, reduce fuel use and improve agility and road holding.

In true 911 fashion the rear mounted six-cylinder engine – updated in 2009 to include more efficient direct injection fuel injection - will remain, and potentially with the usual tweaks to improve performance and efficiency.

Porsche’s engineers are believed to have been working hard on improving the performance of the 911, in particular focussing on weight reduction to boost efficiency.

Below are some of the exclusive new spy shots:-

Mazda has official release on its facelift on Mazda Atenza in Japanese Domestic Market. Atenza is known as JDM version of Mazda6. This round, 2011 Atenza refined with some styling changes, chassis tweaks and a new 2.0-liter DISI gasoline engine with direct injection.

Furthermore, Mazda also tweaked the Atenza's power steering and suspension settings improving the car's handling and straight-line stability at high speeds as well the ride quality.

Although there isn’t any official announcement regards on the facelift of Mazda6 for other market like Asia, US or Europe. But I am sure that we'll get a similar facelift on the Mazda6 pretty soon!

Check out the Photo Gallery on 2011 Mazda Atenza and its interior on the below.

Toyota has announced that it will halt sales of 8 models due to problem that could cause the vehicles' gas pedals to stick. Early this month, Toyota in USA is recalling 2.3 million vehicles to correct this problem.

This new recall is separate from an on-going recall of 4.2 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles to correct a problem in which the pedals could become stuck under a loose floormat that announced in late last year.
 
This new recall is to correct a situation in which the gas pedal could stick without the presence of a floor mat.

The following eight models are included:-

• 2009-2010 RAV4
• 2009-2010 Corolla
• 2009-2010 Matrix
• 2005-2010 Avalon
• Certain 2007-2010 Camry models
• 2010 Highlander
• 2007-2010 Tundra
• 2008-2010 Sequoia

"Our investigation indicates that there is a possibility that certain accelerator pedal mechanisms may, in rare instances, mechanically stick in a partially depressed position or return slowly to the idle position," Toyota USA group vice president Irv Miller said in a statement.

The situation is rare, according to Toyota, but can occur when accelerator pedal mechanisms become worn. The problem will usually develop gradually, Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons said. The pedal may become harder to press and may become slower to return when released. In the worst cases, it may become stuck in a partially depressed position.

No Lexus or Scion sales have been halted. Manufacturing plants that build the eight models will be shut down for at least the week of February 1st.

We first saw the Golf R during last year's Frankfurt Motor Show when the automaker unveiled her to the public.

Recently, Volkswagen released some new photos of the car shot during the international driving presentation in Ellmau, Austria. As recap, VW Golf R comes with a 270HP 2.0-liter turbo engine and all-wheel drive and is the most powerful and fastest series production Golf ever made.

The hottest Golf takes 5.7 seconds from 0-100km/h when equipped with a manual gearbox, and 5.5 seconds with VW's DSG dual clutch transmission. In both cases top speed is limited to 250km/h.

Quick Specification:

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