Customize your Jaguar

Jaguar now allows you to fully customise new XF. Right from the colour of your car - exterior as well as interior, the choice of leathers and veneers, the exact style and size of alloy wheel and other vehicle options. Check out "Design Your XF' to configure and price your XF.

Of course my choice was the costliest build - the XF SV8 4.2 S/C Petrol which starts from From £54,900.

I choose a silver coloured exterior. Any other colour makes it look cheap. Champagne/Truffle - Softgrain Leather Champagne/Truffle - Softgrain Leather for interiors and selected the following packages, options and accessories:

- Electric Glass Sunroof
- Electric glass sunroof with tilt/slide one touch operation
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Parking Aid with Rear Camera
- Parking aid with front sensors (includes Touch-screen visual indicator) and Rear - - Rich Oak Veneer
and last but not the least, the Garage Door Opener

The total price: £57,040

That's not too bad.

Honda FCX emits only water vapour

A car that only emits water vapour - this has been the dream of many people. People have proved it is possible but Honda has actually put a car on the road.



The Honda FCX Clarity is a “dedicated platform hydrogen fuel cell vehicle", that runs on electricity powered by hydrogen, and emits only water vapor and heat into the air.



Unlike hybrid car, it does not use gasoline and is therefore a Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV). The car is certified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as a Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) and by the EPA as a Tier-2 Bin 1, the lowest possible federal EPA emission rating. It will also receive an EPA Inherently Low Emission Vehicle (ILEV) rating due to its entirely sealed fuel system.

Presently it only comes in one clour, Star Garnet, a unique deep-red tone.

It is certainly not aimed at motorheads who like powerful cars as the car only has a top speed of 100 miles per hour on a test track

Right now, they are not on sale and only a limited number of the FCX Clarity vehicles will be available for lease only in the Torrance, Santa Monica and Irvine areas in mid-2008. The lease should cost around $600 per month for three years (including maintenance).

Mitsubishi Concept-RA to be unveiled at NAIAS

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc. (MMNA, based in Cypress California) will unveil the Mitsubishi Concept-RA to the world at the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS or the Detroit Motor Show). The 2008 NAIAS runs from January 13 to 27 at the Cobo Center in Detroit and opens to the general public on January 19.

Just take a look at the design sketches. Don't they look fantastic.




The new concept from Mitsubishi combines performance and environmental responsibility - something you won't hear often

It is a coupe which features the Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) vehicle dynamics control system driveline and the Twin Clutch SST automated manual transmission used in Lancer Evolution (Lancer Evolution X in Japan). The car will be powered by a new high-efficiency, low-emissions 2.2-liter 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve turbodiesel engine with MIVEC*6 continuously variable valve timing control.

Environmental friendly features:
The engine has piezoelectric injector common-rail direct fuel injection that allows a lower compression ratio and with a VD (Variable Diffuser)/VG (Variable Geometry) turbocharger, the clean diesel unit delivers a maximum output of 150 kW (204 PS) and maximum torque of 420 Nm (42.8 kg-m).

For compliance with U.S. emissions standards (Tier 2 Bin 5 emission regulations), the engine is fitted with a new catalytic converter system.

For improved crashworthiness and to reduce vehicle weight, the body structure uses an aluminum space frame, as well as engine hood, fenders and other outer panels made from high impact-resistance and easily recyclable plastic resin.

Euro NCAP test results for the Nssan X Trail

I have always liked the Nissan X trail and I was quite surprised when I learnt that it had only achieved four stars in adult occupant protection test conducted by Euro NCAP recently.



Read the full results of the test here on the Euro NCAP site.

Fuel prices coming down

The prices of petrol has sky rocket the past few weeks and had even crossed the £1 per litre barrier - the first time since we arrived here in the UK.

Fortunately, the prices seem to be going down and today I saw that it was 89.9p/ litre at my favourite BP station near my house.

That's why I am really annoyed by people back in Malaysia who complain about fuel prices there.

Proton's Islamic car idea

I couldn't believe it when I read about Proton's plan to come out with an Islamic car on Ainee's blog. Read the Reuter's report here.

So what's Islamic about the car?

Well, it will come equipped with a compass that points to Mecca, and a compartment meant specifically to put the Koran, the Islamic holy book. Proton plans to develop the car jointly with Iran and Turkey.

Apparently the idea came from the Iranians.


Pic from the Proton site.

Zagross Khodro Car Industries Co., the sole assembler and distributor of Proton in Iran has recently ordered 5,000 units of the Waja (called Impian in foreign markets) to be used as taxis in Iran. This is part of a US$200 million urban public transportation renewal initiative in Tehran. The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department of Malaysia, Dato' Sri Mohd Effendi Norwawi unveiled the green coloured taxi at a ceremony there. Read the press release: 'Proton clinches orders for 5,000 WAJA for Iran'.

At first I thought it is a ridiculous idea but then it might be a great marketing idea. If that is what customers in Muslim countries want, why not?

Taiki - a sleek concept from Mazda

Here is Mazda's vision of the future - the Mazda Taiki. The latest concept which was unvieled at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show, is an evolution of the Nagare design theme. Looks like a bird about to fly.

This front-engine rear-drive sports car of the future features a revolutionary next-generation rotary engine and enhanced aerodynamic performance.


Mazda also showed off the new Mazda Atenza - soon to be introduced in Japan and the new Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid.