Proton P3-22A Preve Hatchback Leaked Again

This is the clearer and closer shot of Proton forthcoming Preve Hatchback. This is far closer than before and we can clearly see how the rear end is shaping up, from the tailgate contour to the rear bumper garnish.

The photo was spread through Whatsapp earlier today.

Honda Jade - a stunning looking MPV!

Dongfeng-Honda has released its latest MPV, the Jade which was showcased earlier in the year as thinly disguised concept. The 6 seater in build on a stretched Honda Civic platfrom and at the moment is for China market only. Honda Jade however looks so good that one wonder if this is a lightly modified 3rd-gen Honda Stream as it is too good and well engineered to be simply a China-domestic model.

Honda Jade bears more than passing resemblance to the Honda Civic, particularly at the front, while the rear light is characteristically wears similar theme to the recently launched Honda Fit/Jazz. Bucking the trend where the FB Civic has a chopped wheelbase over the FD predecessor, Honda Jade has a 20mm longer wheelbase then the outgoing Stream at 2,760mm. In terms of other dimension, Jade is 4,660mm long, 1,775mm wide and 1,500mm tall, compared to 4,575mm, narrow 1,695mm and 1,575mm of the current Honda Stream. This makes Jade has a sportier stance thanks to the lower height and wider body. The curvaceous side profile contribute to the elegant flowing look too. 

We don't have the details of the chassis just yet, but it should be mimicking the latest Honda Civic with its all independent struts and multi-link setup. This particular model wears a 215/45 R17 low profile. In powertrain department, it shades Civic too, with the 140bhp 1.8L available initially while the 2.0L mill is set to appear later. Strangely Honda has decided to differentiate the trim level with the transmission (apart from the usual accessories) where the low-end model channeled its drive via a 5 speed automatic while the top line spots a CVT.

The low slung exterior is complemented by a suitably youthful interior. Clad in an all-black trims, punctuated by a simulated dark wood trim accented with chrome lining, the interior is a big departure from the spartan 2nd-gen Honda Stream. For one, it has followed the latest two generation of Honda Civic in utilizing a digital meter binnacle set higher-up in the dashboard. Gone is the angular Honda Civic dashboard theme and in comes a flowing dashboard that wears both the design element from Civic and latest Accord. The gear lever section particular is carried over from the larger D-Segment sibling while the steering wheel comes from Civic. There is also a central mounted rear aircond vent to cool the rear occupant. 

In this setup, Honda Jade is a 6 seater with second row captain seat. The rear most seat looks quite well-engineered in terms of its folding setup as it disappears completely beneath the floor instead of merely folded on top of the floor. This increased the depth of the (admittedly and commonly) short boot when the the 3rd row is deployed for use.

So what do you think? Can this be the new much awaited 3rd-gen Honda Stream? It looks global enough design-wise and it would be a pity if it is reserved only for China while the rest of the world gets the angular and conservative looking (read new Civic, Accord and Jazz) Hondas.

Many, many years ago I really fancied the low slung 7 seater that Honda always produced, particularly the second generation Honda Odyssey and second generation Honda Stream. Seems that low slung tradition of Honda multi-purposes vehicle continues.....

More photos can be found after the jump.

Proton Preve Hatchback P3-22A uncamouflaged!!

It has been months that we have been served with the heavily camouflaged P3-22A (Preve Hatchback) and several rendering, and only now someone managed to spy a totally un-taped rear end of the new Proton hatch. It may look a little bit lacking in the styling umph, but thing could change upon the full reveal using a more flattering angle.

The rear light carries no resemblance with the Preve sedan, and the surface-breaking line on the sedan's rear light is gone too. In comes a larger, more vertical light flanking an elaborative tailgate fascia. The rear bumper lower garnish is quite tall too, incorporating a reflector mounted centrally.

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11th Generation Toyota Corolla Launched

The details- Styling, Powertrain and Differences Between American and European (Asian) Corolla

The legendary Toyota's small sedan, The Corolla has been released in its eleventh iteration. Almost simultaneously revealed for both American and European version, the new Corolla has finally stretched its wheelbase and grown quite tremendously length-wise. Similar in trend with the latest Toyota Camry, Toyota has given an entirely different front and rear end design between America and the rest of the world to reflect the market positioning and customer taste variation.

Before we get to the details of the styling, in any of the version, the new Corolla is an all-new from the ground up. This means that finally its has got a new platform, with a well stretched wheelbase that is no longer strikingly close to its smaller and cheaper Vios which sticks to 2,550mm wheelbase in its latest incarnation.

Taking the measuring tape, the new Corolla is 4,650mm long, 1,776mm wide, 1,455mm tall and rides on 2,700mm wheelbase. Thus it is 100mm longer in length and wheelbase, 16mm wider and 10mm lower than the previous car. For the drivetrain package, American model  continues to be powered by the 1.8L mill exclusively, but differs in their valvetrain system. One soldiers on with the trusted VVT-i mill with its 132hp and 171Nm of power and torque as it has been powering the last two Corolla, while the other one is Valvematic-equipped, offering 140hp and 174Nm, but cuts in with a better fuel efficiency thanks to the more adaptive valvetrain. In America, this modern lump is offered only on the Le Eco trim grade whereas the rest of American trim namely L, LE and S are offered with the former. For the gearbox - LE, S and LE Eco gets the 7 virtual ratios CVTi-S, and if you are 3-pedal kind of person, the 6 speed manual is available too for the LE and S. The lowest L-line, gets the aforementioned 6 speed manual too, but can also be equipped with the conventional automatic gearbox with a grand total of four (!) forward ratios. 

There's no news yet on the European engine line-up but expect it to mirror those in Auris closely. This could mean 1.33L to 2.4L for the petrol and 1.4L - 2.2L for the diesel. Asian version also is expected to retain the current engine line-up of 1.6L, 1.8L and 2.0L, but the range could be trimmed down to two engine. If 1.6L is phased out, we could also see the phase-out of the archaic 4 speeder auto too from that car, leaving an all-CVT range which is fittingly more modern.

European Corolla Front End

Going to the styling part, American and the rest of the world gets a different front end. The European (and most probably Asian version too) gets a suitably upmarket styling with prominent headlamps that wraparound the fender and blend with the chromed grille bars. The front fascia is uncannily inspired by Toyota Auris, RAV4 and the new Toyota Vios. Consistent with the aforementioned siblings, the headlamps is edgy in its shape, and theme that is carried over to the bumper too. 

The American version (below) slots nicely into its econobox status with a very understated look and a dose of sport-injected styling cues. The headlamp is smaller and shapelier and they are LED powered. The mandatory amber section is the trade-mark of all the American-bound cars. The bumper is different too from the version above, and I personally think it kind of has a Scion-look to it. Overall, the American Corolla looks smaller, and well, to our Asian eyes, cheaper too.

American Corolla Front End

The sharing of platform (or course) and body panel is obvious from the side profile. There's no variation as far as the side panel and door panel is concern. The kind at the rear door is the only breakaway from what can be described as a fuss-free design. Despite the different in the rear end design, from the side the rear light housing is identical for both version. The European version front end is visibly a little higher than the American counterpart, thanks to the bigger headlamp setup.

European Corolla Side Profile

American Corolla Side Profile

European Corolla Rear End

The difference in the rear end end is not as comprehensive as the front end. The outer edge of the tail lamp is identical between the continent. The difference lies in the trunk lid panel, which has a different license plate housing section between the two, and the American version gets a smaller tail lamp inset. While the rear bumper is almost similar, the European version gets the reflector at the bottom end.

American Corolla Rear End

The cabin is almost identical, saved for some very minor detailing. The dashboard is identical, with similar steering wheel, door trim, gear console and meter binnacle. However, the climate control panel is slightly different, as is the audio panel. The American car gets the centre mounted clock in between the Toyota 86-inspired air duct. 

The cabin design is a huge departure from the current model. In Asian Corolla Altis, the emphasize is on luxury with a well-defined plastic texture and wood insert, all combined to give a soothing environment. The new one however, has totally ditched the luxury look of the 10th generation Corolla.

European Corolla IP

American Corolla IP

Overall design wise, the 11th generation Corolla is a modernized version of the older version, with the styling (particularly European version) is in-line with the new Toyota design theme, i.e more angular, bold grille and edgy lighting. The interior too benefits from the overused Toyota 86-styled aircond outlet and upright dashboard architecture.

There is not Asian introduction yet, but as before we expect it to mirror the European version here very closely. There are some potential issue like the lost of luxurious interior which could jeopardize the loyal and conservative Toyota owner.

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Aston Martin CC100 - 100 Years Birthday Present

Aston Martin is celebrating its centenary in world-class style with the debut today  of the exceptional CC100 Speedster Concept. Created as a stunning celebration of the great British brand’s 100 years of sports car excellence the one-off CC100 looks both to the past and the DBR1 – Aston Martin’s greatest sporting triumph on the track – and to the future with its teasing glimpses of potential future design direction.

The 6.0-litre V12-powered concept car today makes its world debut by completing a lap of the famous Nordschleife at Germany’s ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nürburgring race. It is lapping the circuit together with the 1000km race-winning 1959 DBR1 with British racing legend Sir Stirling Moss at the wheel. It is the most tangible expression yet of the brand’s year-long 2013 centenary celebrations.

Designed and constructed in fewer than six months at Aston Martin’s global headquarters in Gaydon, working with key supplier Multimatic Inc, under the leadership of Special Projects and Motorsport Director David King, the finished look of the two-seater CC100 is the work of Design Director Marek Reichman working alongside the brand’s Chief Exterior Designer Miles Nurnberger.         

Measuring almost four and a half metres nose to tail, and more than two metres wide (including mirrors) the Speedster Concept body is a classic example of the almost infinitely flexible nature of Aston Martin’s trademark Vertical Horizontal engineering philosophy.

With a body and interior crafted from carbon fibre, tooled and provided by low volume specialists Multimatic, the CC100 utilises the latest generation AM11 naturally aspirated V12 gasoline engine mated to a six-speed hydraulically actuated automated sequential manual transmission. Controlled via steering column-mounted paddle shifts the lightweight ‘box delivers truly sporting changes perfectly suited to the Speedster’s track-focused nature.

The drivetrain will power the CC100 from rest to 100km/h in a little over four seconds, while the top speed is limited to 180 mph. Small gallery can be found below:

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