Hollis Road garage

On the recommendation of several of my Malaysian friends, I recently had my car's MOT test done at the Hollis Road Garage on Hollis Road. It reportedly charges the lowest for the MOT test in the whole of Coventry - only £24/



So I drove down there Tuesday evening having made an appointment for 4:30 pm. was relieved when it passed the exhaust test. Unfortunately the car failed the test because both my front direction indicator lights were of incorrect colour and the "nearside front lower suspension arm bush bonding deteriorated resulting in excessive movement."

Took it back to the garage the next day to have the parts replaced. Took them around an hour. Went back home with the MOT pass certificate.

Here's the address:

Hollis Road Garage
139 Hollis Rd, Coventry, West Midlands, CV3 1AG
Tel: 024 76456657

Next generation Honda Pilot

Honda showed off a concept of the next-generation 2009 Honda Pilot at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.



This mid-sized SUV has better on-road handling and a more spacious interior.

New Proton Saga launched

Remember my post on the BLM concept? Well the real thing is here.

Malaysian carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd, yesterday launched the second generation Saga (or is it the 3rd or 4th) at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre. It is 23 years since the first Saga was launched by the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dr. Mahathir Mohammad.

The car does look great and the prices are not that bad either:

N-LINE (Entry line)
1.3MT (S) RM 31,500.00

B-LINE (Base-LINE)
1.3AT (M) RM 37,998.00
1.3AT (S) RM 37,548.00
1.3MT (M) RM 34,998.00
1.3MT (S) RM 34,548.00

M-LINE (Medium-LINE)
1.3AT (M) RM 39,998.00
1.3AT (S) RM 39,548.00
1.3MT (M) RM 37,498.00
1.3MT (S) RM 37,048.00

*S stands for solid paint while M stands for metallic paint.
** AT stands for automatic transmission while MT stands for manual transmission.

You can book the car online with a booking fee of RM 500.00



According to Chairman Azlan Hashim, the company expects to sell 50,000 to 60,000 units of the new Saga model each year.

Jaguar is car of the year

The new XF has won the title of 'Car of the Year 2008' as well as 'Best Executive Car 2008'.

Chosen by What Car? one of Britain's most popular car buyer's guide. It won from a field of 3985 other contenders and 17 class winners.

Read the report here.

Mitsubishi Concept-RA global premiere

Mitsubishi Concept-RA

The Mitsubishi Concept-RA had it's global premiere at the 2008 North American International Auto Show (the Detroit Motor Show). The 2008 NAIAS started on the 13 of this month and will run till the 27 at the Cobo Center in Detroit. It will open to the general public on January 19.


Lancer Ralliart

Other cars from Mitsubishi that will be in the MMC stand includes a 2.0-liter Lancer sedan and a new a 2.4-liter DOHC MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control system) engine variant. The Lancer Ralliart model will also be there. Powered by a new 4-cylinder 2.0-liter MIVEC turbocharged engine, the new Ralliart gives a maximum output of 177 kW (240 PS) and 343 Nm (35kg-m).

MMC will also be showing off its new 4WD sedan Lancer Evolution (Lancer Evolution X for the Japanese market). If you happen to visit the show, do drop by their "S-AWC Theater" simulation booth to experience the ir S-AWC vehicle dynamics control system.

Read more about the Mitsubishi Motors Lineup at 2008 North American International Auto Show.

Knight Rider back in town

The remake of Knight Rider is starting on NBC next month (Feb. 17).

The old Kitt has been replaced by a much newer model.



Do check out the Night Rider Online site as well.

Tata Nano - the World's cheapest car launched

As promised earlier, India's Tata Motors Ltd today unveiled the world's cheapest car at the 9th Auto Expo show in New Delhi, India.

Dubbed the "people's car", the four-door Tata Nano costs only Rs 100,000 (about $2,500/ £1,300).

It is powered by a 33-bhp 624 cc rear-wheel drive, all-aluminium, two-cylinder, multi-point fuel injection petrol engine. According to reports, the car gives about 23 km per litre of petrol.


The Standard version

It is definitely a no-frills car with no air conditioning, no power windows or power steering and comes with only one wing mirror. The dash board only has a speedometer, a fuel gauge and an oil-warning light.


The Luxury version

It is expected to be in dealers' showrooms by September.

Read their press release.

It seems that there were some "Protests over 'World's cheapest car' by Tata" as well.

The Panamera concept from Porsche

Porsche has released the first news of a new concept called the Panamera, which is due to come out in 2009. Their site doesn't say much apart from that it will be a sports coupé. I guess that means that previous rumours about the new car being a sedan, is wrong.

And according to latest reports, there will be a hybrid version as well. Read the Reuters report: New Porsche Panamera to get hybrid drive


Image from Autoblog.nl

Watch the spy video.