Proton. No wonder you're doomed.

Just saw these pictures today. Proton was having its family day and one part of the festivities was the "Invention and Innovation competition, an in-house inter-department contest where staff came up with “concept cars” using units that were destined for scrapping."

From the comments on the blog where I found these, apparently teams of employees in Proton were given off-grade cars, access to Proton's parts bin, paint house, bodyshop etc and RM2,000 to buy stuff they couldn't pinch out of the workshops and warehouses.

After the first 4 or 5 pictures, all I could think was... WTF?!!!

2 points...

1. If this is the kind of inventiveness and innovation that Proton employees can muster when they are given free cars, a modest amount of money and a free hand of Proton's facilities... all I can say is no wonder Proton produces such lousy cars since parting with Mitsubishi and supposedly producing it's own cars from start to finish.

2. While I fully understand it's family day, and the employees are just having fun... let's not forget that these people are car builders by profession and had access to a supposedly world class car building facility. Was there no pride involved? Wasn't there even one creative concept you had in mind where this was just the opportunity to showcase it? Or was it all about just having a few laughs and guffaws? If I were Proton, I would have clamped down on these pictures and executed whoever leaked them out. This is really doing nothing for their brand building efforts. Can you imagine BMW or Audi doing this?

The Good... (not that good lah, but the front rips off the Nissan Silvia S13 quite well)
The rear is ala Ferrari F430 with a bad bumper job.
The Bad... beachcomber
The Ugly... Humvee
The Maybe... the Toyota Alpina
Maybe not!
Then it starts getting dumb...
The BIZARRE!.. Donald Duck?
WTF?!..
A shoe? Throwing a shoe at George W Bush was supposed to be the worst kind of insult. I wonder what this means.
Proton Kayu?! OMG...
Proton Penyu?!
Why would anyone want to drive a car that looks like a durian stall?
Double serving of crap.
Source: Paultan.org

Knight Rider's KITT 2008 is a Mustang

KITT is going to be a Ford Mustang in 2008. Actually, KITT is based on a customised Shelby GT500 KR, which in turn is based on the new Ford Mustang.

And right at the bottom's a youtube of an earlier version the Mustang that would be KITT. It has bling silver wheels, fewer air intakes, low key spoiler and a silly cobra on the front grille. The final KITT though, is way more cool and aggressive as in the first 2 pictures below. Watch KITT do burnouts in Jay Leno's Garage.

Evo X whups the WRX STi

Road and Track does a one on one shootout between the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X and it's competitive doppelganger, the 2007 Subaru WRX STi.

This time it seems, the Evo wins hands down, despite being bigger, fatter and less powerful. I reckon that speaks volumes just how good the all new Evo is, and speaks even more, just how much the all new STi isn't.

Other blogposts on the Mitsubishi Lancer: search?q=lancer

The 235hp 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart

This must be some of the best news I've heard in a long time. Mitsubishi's finally going to introduce a bona fide baby Evo, along the lines of the 200hp Lancer GSR of the 90s.

If it sets its sights on the new and fugly 220hp Subaru WRX 5-door hatch, it's going to be priced around S$90K in Singapore. And that's only S$15K more than a Honda Civic 2.0 and less than a mid-range Camry, Accord or Cefiro.

I might not be able to bring myself to splurge on a S$140K Evo X, but for $50K less, the 235hp Lancer Ralliart might just tweak my loins.

2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart - Road & Track

Mitsubishi's Lancer Ralliart bridges the gap between the economy-car-like Lancer and the ultra-hyper Lancer Evolution. The Ralliart uses the same 4B11 2.0-liter 16-valve turbocharged and intercooled 4-cylinder as the Evolution, but with a more modest (and estimated as of this time) 235 bhp and 253 lb.-ft. of torque. It also uses Mitsubishi's MIVEC variable valve timing and, get this: Like the Evo, the Ralliart will be fitted with a full-time all-wheel-drive system, employing Mitsubishi's Active Center Differential (ACD) with three driver-programmable settings: Tarmac, Gravel and Snow.

If that's not tech-geekie enough for you, how about the fact the Ralliart comes with Mitsubishi's awesome new Twin Clutch-SST gearbox (also as in the Evo) that allows the driver to shift manually via steering-column-mounted paddles. Or, it can simply be left in full automatic operation.

More aggressively styled front and rear bumpers, a dual exhaust and an aluminum hood with air intakes differentiate the Ralliart from the standard Lancer.

Basically, with the Lancer Ralliart, Mitsubishi is taking dead-aim at Subaru's Impreza WRX — looks to us like it's a direct hit.

800 marshals wanted for 2008 Singapore F1 GP

Interested? Here's an opportunity to be one of 800 marshals for the 2008 Singapore F1 GP night race. Unlike Malaysia's F1 race, there are no racial considerations or eligibility based on personal connections (ie. to Petronas, Proton or the retards in the local racing fraternity). Even foreigners are welcome if they are willing to spend the time in Singapore being trained.

Michelin Active Wheel

This is actually one of the better ideas to come out of the automotive green movement.

Think about it.

Drive motors/dynamos in each wheel means that the car is immediately 4WD where the power delivery and braking is individually adjustable, and there is virtually NO transmission loss. If you know anything about current 4WDs systems, the more control you have over power delivery - the more complicated and inefficient the mechanicals and power transmission becomes.

Anyway, the larger picture of green cars is that to date, there is still NO electric car that is NOT fossil fuel dependent to a large extent. Either from an onboard conventional engine (hybrid) or having to recharge its batteries by plugging into the power grid, which is powered by... guess what - coal or fuel oil power stations. Some countries have nuclear power, but me... I prefer a little carbon monoxide compared to radiation poisoning.

Iceman winneth... 2007 F1 World Driver's Championship

Kimi Raikkonen finally wins it. Hail the 2007 F1 World Driver's Champion.

Other reading...

The battle: Kimi beats Lewis to maiden title glory

The aftermath: McLaren appeal puts title result in doubt

The 'New Evidence' on Hamilton's Japan Fuji F1 GP victory on youtube

Hamilton's driving to be investigated
Thursday, 04, October, 2007, 12:07

Lewis Hamilton is facing a stewards' investigation into his driving while under the safety car in the Japanese Grand Prix.

The officials are understood to be considering whether Hamilton could have contributed to the collision between Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel that took the duo out of second and third places during the second caution period at Fuji.

"New evidence has been brought to the stewards' attention and they are currently investigating the matter," an FIA spokesman told autosport.com.

Vettel said at the time that he had hit Webber while distracted by Hamilton slowing unexpectedly.

“I was exiting turn 13 and looking at Lewis, because all of a sudden he seemed to slow down really much and I thought he had a problem at that stage," Vettel told ITV Sport's Louise Goodman in Japan.

“And by the time I was looking back to the front I was already crashing into Mark’s rear end.”

Read the rest of the itv article above for Hamilton, Vettel and Webber's comments.

And it is my understanding that the youtube below of a spectator's video is indeed the 'NEW EVIDENCE' mentioned above.

Apparently under the safety car conditions, the race leader must stay 5 car lengths behind the safety car. So, that's another charge against Hamilton besides the accusation of reckless driving.

Fifth Gear shootout - JDM vs Euro Civic Type R

Not sure if Fifth Gear read my earlier post (Euro vs JDM - Civic Type R specifications only review), but they decided to do a track shootout in episode 3 of the current season. The conclusion... was I right or WAS I RIGHT?

Anyway, Fifth Gear provided some performance figures for the JDM CTR that I was not able to find. A sub-6 second century dash [vs the Euro's 7.0s (Honda Sg website) or 6.6s (Fifth Gear)] and a top speed of 160mph / 256kmh [vs the Euro's 231kmh (Honda Sg website) / 140mph (Fifth Gear)].

Bugatti Veyron... Fifth Gear Tiff test

This is an actual test of the Bugatti Veyron on the road and track. Seems Fifth Gear managed to pip Top Gear by getting their mitts on the Veyron first. The first-to-TV advantage is significant enough that Fifth Gear slots it into the very first episode of the current 12th season. Enjoy.

Part 1:


Part 2:


Watch also Captain Slow's top speed run: Bugatti Veyron... 407kmh... Top Gear

Unverified!... 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X (JDM) brochure

These are supposed to be pages (some pages are missing) from the JDM brochure of the upcoming Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X (2008 Lancer review here). They are said to have been leaked out to the net. Have not verified the authenticity although it looks genuine enough. For the source, refer to the watermark on the top left of each page.

"276"hp @ 6500rpm and 422NM @ 3500rpm. It tops the performance of not only the IX, but also the tuned FQ300. With peak power unchanged at 6500rpm like its predecessors, it seems that my prediction of a higher power band due to the square 4B11 engine has not panned out. But let's wait to see the definite specs when it's finally launched.

Personally, I like the black 'Top of Evo' on page 25.

Lancer 2.0GT (Malaysia) - First Looks

Visited the local Mitsubishi dealer over the weekend, and took some photos of the just-launched Lancer 2.0GT.


Here's the price list.

It is indeed RM 116K on the road with insurance. Comes with Nappa leather seats, 18" alloy wheels, Yokohama A010 tyres, 6-CD player, full bodykit & spoiler, dual airbags and 3 years free maintenance warranty.


Like I said, I like that nose. And I'd paint the entire central part (grill, bumper and lip) black like the upcoming Evo X. There are even lines on the bumper telling you which parts to paint.


Nice sporty silhouette. Side skirts are not too overstated with holes and rice boy shit.


I'd rather not have the old-fashioned silver finish on the grill. Nothing a little black paint won't take care of. See the downward lines from the lower edges of the grill? The Evo X has that part in black.



The butt of an Alfa 156. None too original, but not a deal breaker for me. I'm feeling so-so about the spoiler.


Note the 2.0GT badge on the lower right side of the boot lid. The boot lid feels super, super solid. The doors however still shut with the typical Japanese characteristic of having to slam it to close properly.


Front twin pot calipers and rotor. The rotor is huge, trust me... but the 18" wheel is even bigger. Previous Evos used to come with 17" wheels standard. These wheels will probably fit the Evo X's four pots and super-supreme pan pizza brake rotors.


Rear single pot calipers and rotor looking diminutive in those 18" wheels despite breaching 300mm diameter.

I would have preferred 17" wheels, instead of 18". Lighter and cheaper tyres. 18" tyres are RM400 ppc for the 'not very performance' models. Be prepared to pay ~RM800 ppc for good, grippy tyres.


Engine bay looks exactly the same as the US spec Lancer GTS. Comes standard with the strut bar.


Engine bay again. Note the regular, old design wiper stalks instead of the bigger, flatter ones that supposedly resist lifting during high speeds.


Back facing exhaust manifold. Notice the ample space to tuck in a turbine, wastegate and a proper extractor.


Nice, sporty deep sunken dials. 234km on the odometer. 24 miles to get onto the ship in Japan, off the ship at Port Klang and 210km to Ipoh.


Typical plasticky Lancer dash. Forgettable.


Leather bound gear knob without sequential shift gates (that's what the paddles are for). I noticed the beautiful stitching on the leather bits.


Chunky, beefy steering wheel. Like a Momo, beautiful to the touch.

I like the magnesium paddle shifters too.


Closer look at the paddle shifters.


View from the back seat. My pals remarked that the back is not as spacious as the new Civic, mainly because the rear wheel wells still intrude significantly into the cabin.

And if you look at the big overhangs in front and behind the wheelbase, you'd conclude that the Lancer is not as efficient as the Civic in turning its bulk into cabin space.


Very comfy and reasonably huggy leather seats. NOT to be used without airconditioning, or I'll guarantee that you'll soak your underwear.


Boot space is so-so only. I'd judge it to be the same as the Wira. The opening is lower and larger though, so you'll have an easier time putting bulky stuff in.


Regular halogen bulbs. No HID for the 2.0GT.

Other posts about the new 2008 Lancer:

Lancer 2.0GT (ie. GTS) launched in Malaysia

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer - Specifications-only Review and Launch Videos