Proton GSR New Model

After many years of going around in circles talking to companies such as PSA Peugeot Citroen, Volkswagen and GM, Proton has finally ended up at a familiar place, Mitsubishi Motors. Proton announced to Bursa Malaysia today that it has entered into a product collaboration program with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Japan. The following is the scope of the product collaboration:

• A Development Agreement, to develop a new Vehicle Model for PROTON based on details of work, target specifications, job sharing and time schedule as determined by both parties (”Licensed Product”).
• A Licence Agreement, where MMC grants PROTON a non-exclusive license to use technical assistance and patents solely for the purpose of utilization of technical information for restyling, modification and improvement work, manufacturing of local parts, assembling, selling and after sales services / support of the Licensed Product to be sold under PROTON’s trademark and styling; and
• An Engineering Services Agreement, wherein MMC will provide the work and services for PROTON’s manufacturing of the Licensed Product.

StarBiz revealed today that the Mitsubishi vehicle to be provided to Proton is the new Lancer, which will be used to replace the Waja. A quick check with sources inside Proton revealed that the vehicle would pretty much be a Lancer with only minor changes to the design, even less than what Mitsubishi Taiwan has done to their version of the Lancer.

The Lancer Fortis is shown in the image above, just compare it to the original Lancer (chopped by Theophilus with Proton badges) shown below, it’s a world of a difference! So the good news is our version will likely keep the Lancer’s original aggressive looks.

The new Lancer-Waja will likely be priced at a higher price point than the current Waja CPS, but lower than the Perdana. We’ll also get the GEMA series of engines that comes with the Lancer, though it’s not clear at this moment which one. The GEMA engine is available in 1.8, 2.0 and 2.4 liter displacements.

Other proposed areas that Mitsubishi and Proton are in discussions about include the rebadging of the Persona and the 2009 Proton MPV as a Mitsubishi in certain markets and the joint development of an A-segment hatchback (a new Savvy-sized vehicle), but when contacted by this blog, sources in Proton indicated these additional projects are at best only in discussion stages only, and not something confirmed.

In fact, an A-segment hatch may not be such a good area for Proton to venture into right now, given how price sensitive the A-segment market is. Maybe later, if Proton gains enough technical know-how on how to build a car cheaply and once it has enough economies of scale to price it low yet make a sufficient profit.

The only two car manufacturers enjoying success in that market segment are Suzuki and Daihatsu, who are experts in small cars. It’s very hard to profit and with the current condition of Proton’s economies of scale, I doubt Proton could create an A-segment hatch that could have the right features, quality and price to enjoy a decent amount of success whether in Malaysia or overseas.

I doubt even accounting for the potential units sold under the Mitsubishi badge could help out there as Mitsubishi themselves do not have much successful experience in that area.

From : paultan.org

Selamatan Tahun Baru 2009!

Detik jam 12.o00 tengah malam ini, bakal berubah sejarah dunia dengan melalui suka duka 2008. Ada diantara kita menyambut detik 2009 di Putrajaya,Dataran Merdeka,Dataran Shah Alam atau lain-lain tempat yang menganjurkan pertunjukkan bunga api. Dalam kita menyambutnya, kita perlu sedar bahawa kita umur kita sudah meningkat usia dengan pelbagai dugaan dan rintangan yang ditempuhi. Dengan itu, jadikan 2009 lebih baik daripada 2008 dengan azam yang baru dengan membuat perubahan diri. Aspek yang paling penting adalah hubungan kita dengan Allah dan manusia. Adakah terlalu jauh dan semakin dekat denganNya? Fikir-fikirkan lah!

Sakitnya Mati

Sakit Nya Mati
Dilulus terbit pada Saturday, November 08 @ 15:16:52 MYT oleh TokPenghulu
Oleh napies

"Allah merahsiakan saat kematian kita, adalah untuk melihat sejauh mana kita melaksanakan amalan yang telah ditetapkan kepada kita dan sedalam mana pula kita meninggalkan larangannya. Manusia yang hatinya sentiasa ingatkan mati, akan melaksanakan tugas yang telah diamanahkan kepadanya dengan lebih jujur, bersungguh-sungguh dan ikhlas untuk mendapat keredhaan Allah.

Manusia begini sentiasa merasai setiap tingkah lakunya diperhatikan oleh Allah SWT. Dan ia juga mengetahui setiap tanggungjawab dan amanah yang dipikul akan ditanya satu persatu oleh Allah di akhirat kelak.

Kesakitan bila nyawa dicabut oleh malaikatul maut tidak dapat dibayangkan sama sekali. Walau bagaimanapun Rasulullah mengingatkan tentang mati dan keseksaannya, maka sabda Baginda: Iaitulah sakitnya tiga ratus kali tetakan pedang." Bayangkanlah jika kita ditetak atau dipukul dengan kayu, rotan mahupun besi bukan banyak, cuma sekali saja, itupun sudah tidak dapat digambarkan kesakitannya. Inikan pula ditetak dengan tiga ratus tetakan.

Bayangkanlah sendiri. Cuba kita tanggalkan pula kuku daripada isinya, pastinya sakit tidak tertahan. Daging disiat-siat dan dilapah hidup-hidup, dahaga yang amat sangat sehingga air lautan di dunia ini tidak mampu menghilangkannya. Semuanya ini cuma secebis dari perbandingan kesakitan maut, malah beribu-ribu kali lebih sakitnya daripada itu. Oleh itu, untuk meringankan keseksaan roh ketika dicabut oleh malaikat maut,maka digariskan beberapa amalan tertentu yang perlu diamalkan.

Antaranya, sebelum tidur:
1) Bacalah surah Al-Ikhlas 3X
2) Selawat ke atas Nabi
3) Membaca tasbih Amalan harian: Sentiasa membaca Al-Quran Memelihara solat terutama solat fardu Menghormati (jangan bercakap) waktu azan diperdengarkan Membaca tasbih Membanyakkan sedekah Sentiasa berzikir menyebut Allah.

Amalan yang perlu dijauhi:
1) Dusta
2) Khianat
3) Mengadu domba
4) Kencing berdiri Sabda Rasulullah saw yang bermaksud: "Bersuci kamu sekalian dari buang air kecil kerana sesungguhnya kebanyakkan seksa kubur itu dari sebab buang air kecil.

" Pada suatu hari malaikatul maut datang untuk bertemu dengan Nabi Idris as lalu Nabi Idris meminta agar malaikatul maut mencabut nyawanya dan kemudian Allah menghidupkannya kembali. Permintaan ini dilakukan untuk Nabi Idris as mengetahui kesakitan sakaratul maut agar taqwanya lebih mendalam dan teguh lagi. Maka Allah memberikan wahyu kepada malaikatul maut supaya mencabut nyawa nabi Idris dan dia meninggal ketika itu juga.
Malaikatul maut menangis dan memohon kepada Allah supaya Dia (Allah) menghidupkan kembali Nabi Idris lalu dimakbulkan Allah. Setelah di dapati Nabi Idris as sudah hidup kembali, malaikatul maut bertanya: "Ya saudaraku, bagaimana rasanya kesakitan maut?"

Jawab Nabi Idris: "Sesungguhnya jika dibandingkan sakit terkelupasnya kulit dalam keadaan hidup-hidup dan rasa sakit menghadapi maut adalah 1000 kali sakitnya." Kata malaikat maut: "Sesungguhnya saya melakukan dengan secara berhati-hati dan tidak kasar apabila mencabut nyawa engkau itu dan belumlah pernah aku lakukan terhadap seseorang pun."

Dirawayatkan lagi bahawa Nabi Isa as telah menghidupkan beberapa orang yang telah mati dengan keizinan Allah. Maka sebahagian orang kafir berkata: "Sesungguhnya engkau telah menghidupkan orang-orang yang telah mati yang masih baru, yang mungkin mereka itu belum benar-benar mati. Maka cuba hidupkan untuk kami orang yang telah mati seperti zaman yang awal dulu.

" Kata Nabi Isa as: "Cubalah kamu pilihkan?" Mereka berkata: Hidupkanlah untuk kami anak Nabi Nuh as (Sam bin Nuh)." Maka Nabi Isa as pergi ke kuburnya, lalu mengerjakan solat dua rakaat dan berdoa kepada Allah. Dan Sam bin Nuh dihidupkan kembali, tetapi rambut dan janggutnya sudah beruban. Nabi Isa as hairan kenapa jadi begitu.

Berkata Sam bin Nuh:
"Saya telah mendengar panggilanmu dan saya mengira hari kiamat telah tiba, maka rambut dan janggut saya berubah menjadi putih seperti ini dari sebab takutnya hari kiamat. Berkata Nabi Isa as: "Sudah berapa tahun kau meninggal dunia?" Kata Sam: "Semenjak 4000 tahun lalu dan masih belum hilang sakit dari sakaratul maut.""

Sumber: tranungkite

‘Bush Shoe’ Gives Firm a Footing in the Market

ISTANBUL — When a pair of black leather oxfords hurled at President Bush in Baghdad produced a gasp heard around the world, a Turkish cobbler had a different reaction: They were his shoes.

We have been producing that specific style, which I personally designed, for 10 years, so I couldn’t have missed it, no way,” said Ramazan Baydan, a shoemaker in Istanbul. “As a shoemaker, you understand.”

Although his assertion has been impossible to verify — cobblers from Lebanon, China and Iraq have also staked claims to what is quickly becoming some of the most famous footwear in the world — orders for Mr. Baydan’s shoes, formerly known as Ducati Model 271 and since renamed “The Bush Shoe,” have poured in from around the world.

A new run of 15,000 pairs, destined for Iraq, went into production on Thursday, he said. A British distributor has asked to become the Baydan Shoe Company’s European sales representative, with a first order of 95,000 pairs, and an American company has placed an order for 18,000 pairs. Four distributors are competing to represent the company in Iraq, where Baydan sold 19,000 pairs of this model for about $40 each last year.

Five thousand posters advertising the shoes, on their way to the Middle East and Turkey, proclaim “Goodbye Bush, Welcome Democracy” in Turkish, English and Arabic.

For now, Mr. Baydan’s customers will have to take his word for it. The journalist who launched the shoes at a news conference a week ago, Muntader al-Zaidi, 29, was wrestled to the ground by guards and has not been seen in public since. Explosives tests by investigators destroyed the offending footwear.

But Mr. Baydan insists he recognizes his shoes. Given their light weight, just under 11 ounces each, and clunky design, he said he was amazed by their aerodynamics. Both shoes rocketed squarely at Mr. Bush’s head and missed only because of deft ducks by the president.

Throwing a shoe at someone is a gross insult in Arab countries, and Mr. Bush is widely unpopular in much of the region. But as he enters his last weeks in office, he seems to have gained a small foothold of appreciation here.

By SEBNEM ARSU

Published: December 20, 2008

Honda FCX Clarity 2009

In developing the FCX Clarity, Honda has managed to strike the perfect balance between futuristic technology and the very human desire for a thrilling ride. The result amounts to zero emissions and maximum driving experience.

Yes, the FCX Clarity is the car of the future, but it’s ready for the road this summer.

Shaping Standards

This dynamic full-cabin sedan was designed to set the sedan standard for the next century. The aggressive front end features a 6-sided grille and the whole package is wrapped up in a sophisticated, rich color we call Star Garnet Metallic.

Back to the Future

Even from the rear, this vehicle commands attention. Elegantly tapered passenger cabin lines complement the accentuated fender flares. A high center slopes down lower at the fenders. And in the back you’ll find an under-trunk storage well, offering a convenient place to store valuables away from prying eyes. Honda adds another first with the addition of refractive rear privacy glass on part of the trunk, which helps the driver see better through the rear view.

Secret Ingredients

Ever wonder what the future feels like? Spend some quality time inside the FCX Clarity and you’ll be pleased to discover that craftsmanship is alive and well there, as is advanced interior comfort. Everything inside this roomy four-passenger vehicle is designed with humans in mind.

Rooted in Comfort

A significant percentage of the seating material in the FCX Clarity is derived from plants to extend its environmental sensibility even further. The revolutionary Honda Bio-Fabric provides a CO₂ reduction of 30% compared to conventional polyester made from petroleum products.

Better fabric for the environment is better for you, too. Silky soft to the touch, this Honda Bio-Fabric also provides outstanding elasticity—which helps to prevent sagging—as well as durability sufficient to withstand everyday wear and tear. And each seat is individually contoured to complement the human form.


Evolved Interior

The interior of the FCX Clarity has a clean, inviting feel accomplished with naturally warm earth-tone colors. Silver accents with piano-black finish complete the distinctive markings of this highly evolved species.

Seats and Storage

All the amenities you’ve come to expect from Honda are right there where you need them. Heated and cooled seats keep you comfortable no matter the season. A rear center console does double duty as a tray table, and front and rear door pockets are convenient places to stash your stuff.

Technology of Tomorrow

The advanced technology on this car isn’t all reserved for the powertrain. A Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™* with voice recognition and rearview camera helps you coming and going — and it even finds your nearest hydrogen station. XM® Radio† and an MP3/auxiliary input jack in the center console rock your world. Even the glove compartment is outfitted with Honda’s USB Audio Interface.**

Dash Around Town

A multi-layered instrument panel floats before your eyes, and 3-D gauges stand out with the information you need. The futuristic hydrogen-consumption gauge changes color and size to reflect hydrogen consumption as your driving conditions change. During high consumption the ball becomes large and amber colored. As consumption decreases, it shrinks and turns yellow then blue. If you’re ready to go high tech with the car of the future, just hit the Vehicle Start Button.

*The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System is available in the United States, except Alaska. See your Honda dealer for details.

†Required XM® Radio monthly subscription sold separately after 90-day trial period. Installation costs and other fees and taxes may apply after initial trial period, including a one-time activation fee. Subscription fee is consumer only. All fees and programming subject to change. Subscriptions subject to Customer Agreement available at xmradio.com. XM service only available in the United States except Alaska. The XM name is a registered trademark of XM Satellite Radio Inc.

**The USB Audio Interface is used for direct connection to and control of some current digital audio players and other USB devices that contain MP3, WMA® or AAC music files. Some USB devices with security software and digital rights-protected files may not work. Please see your local Honda dealer for details on compatibility. Windows Media® Audio is a trademark or registered trademark of Microsoft® Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

From the start, Honda engineers designed this car to be tons of fun to drive. Acceleration in the FCX Clarity is smooth and powerful for a great overall driving experience.

Information gleaned from multiple generations of Honda fuel cell vehicles pays off right now. Compared to the previous model, the powertrain on this next-generation FCX Clarity:

• Is over 397 pounds lighter
• Has 120% better power-to-weight ratio
• Is 20% more fuel efficient
• Has a powertrain that is 45% more compact and 10% more energy-efficient

Free and Clear
First, the basics: a fuel cell vehicle is powered by an electric motor running on electricity generated by a hydrogen-powered fuel cell stack. The more efficient Honda E-Drive electric motor lets you drive with peace of mind knowing that you are helping to reduce the amount of CO₂ being released in our atmosphere. The compact coaxial motor is quieter and can run at higher rpm, for greater efficiency and speed.

Get Vertical

The Vertical Flow (V Flow) fuel cell stack is one of Honda’s greatest breakthroughs in this area. The new design is smaller, allowing for better packaging efficiency. With a smaller stack, there’s room for more people. This ingenious design allows higher cell voltage stability and reduces the amount of heat generated. Gravity also helps with drainage of the excess water.

Added Power

The compact, high-efficiency lithium-ion battery pack is used as a supplemental power source capturing lost energy during deceleration and braking. The new lithium-ion battery delivers improved performance and energy recovery in a more lightweight, compact package. The new battery is significantly lighter and smaller than the ultra-capacitor of the 2005 FCX, allowing it to be stowed under the rear seat. This gives the car more passenger space and a bigger trunk.

and We believe high safety standards can apply to all vehicles—even the groundbreaking ones. Six airbags are standard. Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®)Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) systems are standard. Even a Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) is present and accounted for.

And the FCX Clarity passed all the rigorous tests required by U.S. safety standards that other Honda models have endured. So you can drive the FCX Clarity with confidence.

Next Best Thing to a Co-Pilot

Honda Motor Co., LTD introduced the Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) in 2003, and we have now added it to the FCX Clarity. CMBS™ can help detect certain potential collisions and, through the use of visual and audio alerts plus an automatic tug of the seat belt, it can alert the driver to take action. If a collision cannot be avoided, front seat belts are automatically retracted and braking force reduces the vehicle's speed to help lessen the force of the collision.*

Honda has also taken safety precautions with regard to tank and refueling safety. Learn more.

*Depending on the speed of closure between the vehicles, CMBS may skip one or more alerts prior to braking.

Bukit Fraser (Fraser’s Hill)

Fraser's Hill still retains its old colonial charm and is not to be missed. It is almost as if time has stood still for the 1,000 or so residents. They go about their same old ways throughout most of the week, waiting for the weekend to bring in a trickle of guests and visitors. Most of the old stone cottages previously owned by colonial traders have withstood the weather well. In the years of the British Empire, the British families retreated to the cool hill stations during the hot seasons. The cottages here resemble those found in their English villages, equipped with a cosy fireplace and meticulously cared for garden plots. An afternoon of croquet with friends was followed by afternoon tea and evening cocktails.

One of the main attractions at Fraser's Hill is bird watching. There are a great variety of birds residing in the area and because Fraser's has been gazetted a protected area for a while now, the birds have become more approachable.

The Gap

At the foot of Fraser's Hill is the Gap - a colonial resthouse and one of the remaining few in Malaysia. A short rest at the Gap Resthouse is a welcomed relief..for those who suffer greatly from motion sickness.. A chance to stretch your legs, take big gulps of fresh air and smaller gulps of coffee at the restaurant does wonders. One of the last remaining Resthouses built during the heydays of good old fashioned, unhurried travelling, the Resthouse is a well preserved relic of colonial architecture.

Give us your views on what must be tried, seen, eaten, or just say something about this place.

How to get there

By Car

From KL or Penang

the journey takes approximately 1½hours from KL and is only accessible by road. Take the North-South Highway towards north, take the exit for Kuala Kubu Bahru.As you get off the North-South highway toll for Kuala Kubu Bahru, turn right at the lights, passing Kerling before arriving at Kuala Kubu Bahru.

From Kuala Kubu Bahru take the easterly road past the police station all the way along the winding roads to the Gap Resthouse.

This is situated on a little knoll to your right. Cant miss it. The road to Fraser's Hill is some 500m from the Gap resthouse, to the left.

Fraser's Hill can be accessed anytime. The new one way road system has abolished the Gap gate road system.

Accommodation

• No recommended accommodation found.

Sightseeing Packages

• No recommended sightseeing packages found.

Transfers

• No recommended transfers found.

GM puts Volt engine plant on hold

Posted by: Anthony Lim

General Motors, anxiously conserving cash so it can keep operating into 2009, said on Wed it would halt construction of a plant tied to one of its most important projects while the automaker awaits a Washington bailout.

GM said it is putting the brakes on the construction of a factory in Flint, Michigan, set to make 1.4l engines for the Chevrolet Cruze and the Chevy Volt plug-in electric car.

It's just have to Volt a little longer.

It's just one more effort by GM to hold on to every penny possible as it speeds closer to the day when the 100-year-old industrial giant won't be able to pay its bills.

The company has been scaling back just about everywhere - shutting down vehicle production, ending sports sponsorships, turning off escalators and even cutting back on office supplies - to stay afloat.

GM is seeking up to US$18bil in government loans as it tries to survive the worst US auto sales environment in 26 years. It says it needs US$4bil before this year runs out.

GM board member Kent Kresa told The Associated Press last week that the company might make it into the early part of the first quarter, depending on auto sales, yet GM has several billion dollars worth of supplier payments due shortly after the first of the year, and analysts have said the company probably doesn't have the cash to pay them.

GM announced plans in Sept for the new engine plant in Flint, 50 miles northwest of Detroit, and said production would begin in 2010. But the company is delaying the purchase of big-ticket items needed to build the factory, such as structural steel, spokeswoman Sharon Basel said.

The plant's engines will extend the range of the rechargeable Volt, GM's high-profile next-generation vehicle that will be able to travel 40 miles on electricity alone. They will also power the Cruze, GM's new small car that is supposed to get around 40mpg.

Ditto the ability to Cruze around in one of these.

Basel said Volt and Cruze development will continue as scheduled and the company still plans to bring them to showrooms in 2010. The construction delay, she said, may be temporary until the company figures out its cash situation.

"Everything that involves heavy cash outlays obviously is under review," Basel said. "Our intent is to still go forward with a new facility bringing that engine to Flint."

Meanwhile, GM has held off many large expenditures, such as the steel for the Flint plant, Basel said."Those are huge cash outlays, and we don't have the cash," she said.

Basel said there is plenty of time to build the factory, install equipment and get it up and running in time to produce engines for the two new cars. The company already makes the 1.4l engine at a plant in Austria, she said, giving it another option for engines.

"We have lots of options. The construction of the new plant is not going to interrupt our plans for the Volt or Cruze," Basel said.

Work will continue as scheduled on the Lordstown, Ohio, assembly plant, which will make the Cruze starting in mid-2010, said GM spokesman Chris Lee. The company has not formally announced where the Volt will be built, although the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant was identified in the 2007 contract with the United Auto Workers. Lee said Volt production remains on schedule for later in 2010.

GM said in Sept it would invest US$370mil in the new factory, which will employ 330 hourly and salaried workers and allow the company to double its global production of smaller engines by 2011. The plant will have 300 flexible work stations that will let GM build different four-cylinder engines without retooling.

The United Auto Workers union agreed that new hires for the plant would be paid US$14 per hour, about half the wages of a current UAW worker. It also agreed to a new flexible pact with GM that lets workers do multiple jobs.

The new factory brings the prospect of more jobs to an industrial city hard hit by auto job losses. GM's nearby Flint Engine North plant closed in Aug. - AP

Scam Email

Sebagai pengguna email, kita terbiasa menerima email-email meragukan dan dikategorikan sebagai SCAM dan juga SPAM sekali, terutama dari negara Afrika. Berhati-hati dengan email tersebut yang mengandungi tipu helah tersendiri.

Di bawah adalah link koleksi email Scammer, macam-macam jenis dan kelakar pun ada. Link tersebut ialah:

http://www.419eater.com/html/letters.htm

Shoe-thrower inspires Bush-bashing Web games

A shoe-throwing incident at an Iraqi news conference with George W. Bush has inspired a spate of Internet games where the players hurl footwear at moving targets of the U.S. president.


Picture taken on December 16, 2008 in Paris of man playing an Internet video game which consists in throwing a virtual shoe at US President George Bush. An Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes late December 14 during the US leader's farewell visit to Iraq, who ordered the invasion of Iraq by US forces in 2003.

He games, which have mushroomed online and spread by email, range from animations to cut-up footage of the now-infamous news briefing on Sunday when an Iraqi reporter threw his shoes at the president who ordered the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Pelting someone with shoes is considered a grave insult in the Arab world.

One game, which appears on the site www.sockandawe.com -- a pun on "shock and awe“, the term used by U.S. military officials to describe the initial air assault on Baghdad in 2003 -- gives players 30 seconds to try to hit Bush with a shoe as many times as possible, with the score appearing in a corner of the screen.

Players are greeted with the command: "OBJECTIVE: Hit President Bush in the face with your shoes! Do it!"

On-target shots are met with a "well done“ message.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki can be seen peeping over a lectern next to a dipping and diving Bush in the cartoon game.

The television reporter who threw the shoes, Muntazer al-Zaidi, has become an instant sensation in the Arab world. A Facebook profile set up in his honour had enlisted 1,871 fans by Wednesday afternoon, many of whom had posted disparaging messages about the outgoing U.S. leader. Zaidi, who admitted his action in court on Tuesday, remains in custody pending an investigation by the judge. He could be sent for trial under a clause in Iraq’s penal code that punishes anyone who tries to murder Iraqi or foreign presidents.

Zaidi’s family says he harboured deep anger against Bush, blaming him for the tens of thousands of Iraqis who died after the U.S.-led invasion unleashed a wave of sectarian and insurgent violence that has only now begun to die down.

Many ordinary Arabs opposed the U.S.-led invasion and blame Bush for the violence that followed.

Another game at http://bushbash.flashgressive.de , includes a leader board on which players can post their best scores.

An animated version -- "a shoe at Bush?“ -- claims over 2.2 million direct hits since its Dec. 15 start date.

"Bush’s Boot Camp“ starts with an audio quote of Bush saying "those weapons of mass destruction have got to be somewhere.“

2009 Honda City : In-Depth Detail and Specifications!

The Honda City is now in its third generation, and has been launched in countries such as Singapore, Thailand and India. In line with the global economic outlook as well as global fuel prices, manufacturers have been downsizing their cars and the new City makes a perfect compact sedan in the Honda line-up slotted in under the Civic for world markets. It is considered to be a world car now, as it has also been recently revealed that the City will also be sold in Europe. Look after the jump for an in-depth look at the new City.

Design

The first generation Honda City (not including the old little car that also came with a turbocharged engine) was designed as an ASEAN car that came with engines such as the 1.5 liter SOHC VTEC engine. It was quite a popular choice as a budget and “boxier” version of the Civic.

The second generation is the City that is currently sold in Malaysia, and while it was a solid offering in terms of drivability, fuel economy

and performance, it had one major problem - its looks. Being a sedan version of the Honda Jazz subcompact, the Honda City ended up looking like a steam iron. Some even called it a flowerhorn.

Many customers could not get over its looks and opted for the Toyota Vios instead, but most of those who put their money on the City were quite happy with it, especially the buyers of the i-DSI version which offered superior fuel economy. It also allowed customers to enjoy a smooth CVT that always keeps the engine in its peak powerband.

Now for the 2009 model year, while the City is still somewhat based on the Jazz especially with its underpinings, there is no resemblance on the outside at all. Instead, the City now looks like a sedan version of the European Honda Civic hatch with a nice roofline instead of the previous City’s steam iron roofline. In fact, since the European City is based on a platform with a rear torsion bar, the Euro Civic may have more in common with this new City than we think!

Honda calls the design concept of the new Honda City the “arrowshot”, as you can see from the sketch above. The car seems to concentrate all its forces on a point at a front, while the rear has a raised deck lid for a more upright stance. This makes the City look like its ready to release energy even when it is static. As with the Honda Accord, there are some hints of BMW-like design with the new City, especially with the rear end and that Hoffmeister kink at the C-pillar.

The front end of the car looks like it was lifted off the European Civic hatchback, with the grille from the Honda FCX Clarity. It looks quite concept-car-like, and I would say Honda was quite brave to have pulled this one off. I think there will be quite a few people who will be turned off by the Optimus Prime futuristic look on the front end - but they can look at the aftermarket “solution providers” if they dislike it. I think the rest of the car looks good - the rooflline does not flow as sleekly as the Civic, but its a huge improvement over the previous City.

As for the wheels, you get either a 5-spoke wheel for the 15 inch size, or those funky Y-shaped 5-spokers for the 16 inch size. For markets that call for a low-cost City (maybe we will get one to compete with the Vios J?), there is a 3-piece 5-poke design wheel cover on steel wheels in 15 inch size. The tyre sizes are 175/65R15 and 185/55R16.

Interior

Firstly, the doors open 80 degrees for easy access to the interior. In the interior, you get an instrument panel that is traditionally positioned behind the steering wheel. Good for those who dislike centrally-mounted instrument panels. There are two colour schemes - one beige and one black. Both will likely be used by Honda Malaysia, with the black for a high-spec or sports-specced version of the car and a beige one for the other. The black interior uses black for all the plastic parts while the fabric is in a purplish-black colour. The beige interior uses a grayish-beige tone for the plastic parts while the fabrics are done in beige with yellow overtones.

To reduce the previous City’s odd looks, Honda has made the car 45mm lower, but to maintain a good amount amount of headroom, they’ve changed the seat rail design and reduced cushion thickness (though they claim comfort is maintained) to reduce the driving position by 15mm. This allows a lower roofline for a sleeker shape while keeping a decent amount of headroom.

The front quarter window has been removed and the A-pillars have been made thinner by 14mm for better visibility. In addition, the mirror area for the wing mirrors have been made taller but slightly slimmer for a more square shape, compared to the previous generation’s more rectangular side mirrors. This results in an increased mirror size by about 15 percent for better rear visibility. The front wipers have also been repositioned to have reduced front windscreen protrusion by 20mm.

The air-conditioning system is available with both manual and automatic controls, and the center dash area looks significantly better with the automatic controls are the design of the manual controls end up making the dash look cheap. The air conditioning blowers have their noise reduced by 4dB while increasing airflow capacity by 10%. Honda has added better filter to reduce outside odors from entering the cabin. In addition to the front air outlets, Honda has attempted to design the airflow to hit the rear bench via the bottom blowers which travel under the front seat to cool the rear passenger area.

There are a few storage areas around the interior - a glovebox in the dashboard, a storage tray for small items underneath the handbrake, a storage area in the center armrest with a cardholder, a pocket for small items under the air conditioning vent on the driver’s side, a coin pocket below that, a cup/bottleholder and a storage area in the front door pockets, a cupholder between the two front seats, a cupholder in front of the shift lever, and cupholders in the rear armrest.

The instrumentation panel features a trip computer that can display fuel consumption in kms per liter in real time, as well as average fuel consumption and distance in km remaining until the fuel tank is empty. With an instant fuel consumption meter, the driver can teach himself how to drive fuel efficiently by monitoring how much fuel he is using in various driving scenarios.

The rear seats have a little storage space underneath it and Honda has suggested you store your umbrella there in the product photos they have shot. The rear bench splits and folds 60:40 and has an armrest integrated into the center with two cupholders in it. The Ultraseats feature seems to be gone now - these are probably just regular split-fold rear seats, though there is an option for a version with a 2-position recline system.

The driver’s seat features a ratchet-operated seat height adjuster to adjust seat height by up to 50mm. Something that is quite rare for a B-segment sedan is the ability to adjust the reach of a steering wheel in addition to the usual tilt. This means the steering wheel can move towards and away from you as well as having its tilt adjusted up or down. However, there is also a tilt-only steering wheel option for the City, which means each country’s product planners will have to decide which spec level gets the tilt-and-telescope (rake-and-reach) and which one gets the tilt-only.

Dimensions

The extended wheelbase (100mm longer from 2450mm to 2550mm) allows for a larger interior space. This increases legroom by 25mm. Other changes to the interior include a floor that is lower by 20mm, and 15mm more footroom for the rear passenger. A more comfortable footrest has been installed thanks to the space made available by moving the accelerator and brake pedals 15mm to the right.

While the wheelbase is longer, the wheels are nearer to the edges of the vehicle, resulting in an increase of length of only 5mm, which means its not much harder to fit into side parking spaces compared to the previous City. The trunk exceeds the 500 liter mark slightly at 506 liters, however it seems that the width of the entry into the boot space would be better if it was wider.

	Old City	New City	Vios
Length	4390	4395	4300
Width	1690	1715	1700
Height	1485	1470	1460
Wheelbase	2450	2550	2550
Weight	1090kg	1155kg	1045kg
Power	110 PS@5,800	120 PS@6,600	109PS@6,000
Torque	143Nm@4,800	145Nm@4,800	141Nm@4,200

New 1.5L i-VTEC Engine

The new L-Series SOHC i-VTEC engine in the 2009 Honda City is the same unit as found in the 2nd generation Honda Jazz. It produces 120 PS at 6,600rpm and 145Nm of torque at 4,800rpm, making it one of the most powerful 1.5 liter units today.

Unlike the SOHC VTEC unit in the previous Honda City VTEC which only switched between opening and closing 1 of 2 intake valves per cylinder, the new i-VTEC engine actually varies the valve timing and valve lift, though this is not a continuously variable system like in the K-Series i-VTEC, but instead switches over at pre-set RPM points.

Interestingly you can see a small dip in the torque curve at around 3,300 to 3,500rpm before it picks up again immediately, which is probably just about before the i-VTEC engine switches to a more aggressive cam profile.

Honda actually acknowledges this and claims the torque dip provides a smoother drive, whatever that means! The good news is this engine is compatible with RON92 fuel which should allow you to save on your fuel bills a little.

There are quite a few other improvements in this new engine. The new engine now features 4 valves per cylinder, with larger 28mm diameter intake valves.

Valve area is increased by 4%, and this reduces pumping losses and improves maximum output. The throttle is controlled via Drive-By-Wire which transmits accelerator pedal position via an electric signal.

The engine switches from the use of two oxygen sensors in the previous City VTEC engine to a new air-fuel ratio control system that uses one oxygen sensor and one Linear Air-Fuel Ratio sensor (LAF sensor). This allows a higher level of precision.

The conrod is made of hot-forged, high-tension steel which has an improved fatigue strength of approximately 50%. This allows a 17% reduction in the conrod cross-section area to reduce weight by about 1kg. This also allows the engine to rev higher because of reduced inertial force.

A combustion chamber shape that would suppress engine knock was also developed, which features a more compact piston head thanks to thicker piston edges to prevent residual gas accumulation. The coolant flow in the water jacket has been redesigned from a dual-flow structure to a single-flow structure which flows into the block ahead of the cylinder head. This allows a concentrated coolant flow that improves cooling efficiency, further improving knock resistance.

As a result, engine knock is reduced, which means more aggressive ignition timings can automatically be used, which can be felt with an increase in low-end torque. Torque is further enhanced with the adoption of a resonator chamber in the intake manifold.

In addition, the rocket arm is stronger by 20% thanks to stronger aluminium. Another 1kg is shaved off via the use of a lightweight plastic head cover. The cylinder head has an integrated exhaust manifold which helps bring the high thermal resistance catalytic converter closer to the engine. This allows the catalyst to warm up faster and also reduces cost because there is less precious metal needed in the catalyst.

NVH is improved with the use of an auto-tensioner for the auxiliary belt drive system so that belt tension is stabilized, with the variations in tension automatically regulated in accordance with load. The engine also has a new patterned piston coating is claimed to be the first in the world and a proprietary Honda technology. The shape around the piston skirt is modified to reduce both piston slap noise and friction. The pattern also improves oil retention which reduces friction even more.

Transmissions

Both the manual and automatic transmissions available for the new Honda City in our region are 5-speed units. Other markets such as Japan will likely get the CVT transmission while Europe gets a 6-speed i-SHIFT automated manual transmission.

Honda says the ASEAN market prefers the feel that a 5-speed automatic transmission gives, hence the switch from the CVT gearbox in the previous generation City. The CVT also had alot of bad talk going around about being expensive to maintain/replace, which has put off some people I know from considering used Citys.

As shown from the graph above, the 5-speed auto is less rubber-band-like when you hit the throttle from a standstill. It kicks in faster and harder, but soon after the CVT takes over while the 5-speed auto slowly catches up… and you can see towards the right of the graph that performance is similiar after the initial take-off.

There is the option for paddle shifters on the steering wheel - left to downshift and right to upshift. In D mode selected on the gear lever, you can use the paddles to quickly downshift or upshift whenever you need it to, but the transmission returns to fully automatic mode after awhile with no shift activity.

There is another mode - S mode, which at first puts you into a sporty automatic mode that keeps the revs up higher than usual, but if you start using the paddle shifters it goes into a manual mode that stays in the gear you have selected even after the absence of shift activity after awhile. Who knows, you may want to use your 2nd gear for your entire journey for some particular reason - the transmission will let you.

The 5-speed manual has a new carbon synchromesh for smoother shifts and an optimised clutch pedal stroke. The following are the ratios for both transmissions:

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
Manual	3.461	1.869	1.235	0.948	0.809
Auto	2.995	1.678	1.066	0.760	0.551

Ride and Handling

The 2009 Honda City features a MacPherson strut setup at the front and a torsion beam at the rear. There are a few enhancements over the design used in the previous generation City. For the front suspension, the kingpin axis has been rotated rearward for an enlarged caster angle and increased caster offset. This improves straight-line stability. The ride is also made more supple via larger capacity compliance bushes.

The torsion beam has a reduced spring lever ratio (reduced from 1.54 to 1.11) and an increased trailing arm bush capacity for a more supple ride comfort. Roll steer and roll camber has also been improved for better handling. The rear suspension attachment points have been reinforced as with the rear damper attachment point structure. The rear bulkhead also has increased rigidity.

The car’s Electric Power Steering now has an increased motor capacity (from 40A to 60A) and a modified gearbox mount for a more steady and direct feel, leading to a more enjoyable and confident driving experience.

In-Car Entertainment

Now this is quite interesting, by default the Honda City does not come with a CD player. It does support WMA and MP3, but these have to be loaded from USB instead of being loaded from a CD. There is also aux support for analog sound input. Honda probably thinks all the young urban buyers of this new City will have forgotten the CD already, instead preferring to use their portable media player (such as the iPod) or MP3 or WMA files whenever possible, whether burned on CD or stored on a USB drive.

You can either connect your iPod or a USB drive to the USB input. If you connect an iPod, the center rotary selector on the head-unit performs the same functions as the iPod’s clickwheel.

For those who absolutely need CD support, the little storage area accessible when you flip up one panel of the head unit that is meant for you to store your MP3 player is also a 1-DIN slot for you to install your own CD player. Honda’s product planners for each country may also choose to equip their offering with a head unit that has a CD player already built-in.

The 2009 Honda City now also has an option for a premium sound system, though I am not sure whether Honda Malaysia will put this in one of the trim levels of their local offering. The premium audio uses a 45W x 4 channel amplifier sending sound to four PP cone speakers with neodymium magnets and two hard-dome tweeters. The head-unit’s DSP equalizer is tuned to match the interior sound characteristics.

Safety

Thanks to the European homologation processes, the new Honda City has increased safety, especially for pedestrians. The engine hood, hood hinges, front fenders, front bumper, front windshield support structure and even the wipers are designed to absorb energy easily and bend out of the way whenever possible for better pedestrian crash safety. All of this also helps the passengers in the cabin as all the energy is absorbed instead of being channeled into the cabin into the legs of the front passengers.

The brake discs at the front are of a larger diameter compared to the outgoing model and the brake master cylinder has been made longer but with a smaller diameter. Honda says this allows a more powerful brake booster performance while offering a lower pedal ratio for a more linear brake pedal feel.

Other safety features include SRS airbags, active headrests to prevent whiplash injuries for the front passenger and driver, and the usual combination of ABS and EBD. There is still no traction control offered though, not even on the European model as far as I can tell.

So there you have it, the new 2009 Honda City explained to you in-depth together with comparisons with its rival the Toyota Vios and the previous generation Honda City. Next up: a test drive review of the new Honda City!

But for now, enjoy more photos of the new City including live photos from the 2008 Singapore Motor Show.

PHOTO GALLERY: 2009 Honda City

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PHOTO GALLERY: 2009 Honda City - European Spec
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PHOTO GALLERY: 2009 Honda City - LIVE Photos
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From : paultan.org