2010 Top 5 car: Proton Inspira

The Proton Inspira is a no brainer contender for market leader because it is a large and comfortable C-segment family sedan that offers excellent ride and handling together with decent safety features at the price of Japanese cars that are one size smaller

2010 Top 5 concept car: Perodua Bezza

This is not an outlandish sports car but a fresh interpretation of what can be done within the accepted dimensions of a compact car.

The three-box profile is next to impossible to wrestle into a beautiful flowing shape but Perodua’s styling has done rather well.

Compact cars will be more important in the future as fuel prices soar, this is why we think anything that gives motorists a choice in this segment is an outstanding effort.

2010 Top 5 Tech: Perecious metal-free liquid-fed fuel cell

Alternative fuel may become a necessity in the near future, no one knows when. Fuel cells is one of the best way to generate electricity because it has no moving parts and therefore enjoy one of the highest levels of efficiency.

The only problem is fuel cells rely on acidic electrolyte membranes to induce the proton transfer that makes it work. Metals corrode in acid, but platinum doesn’t. Platinum is really expensive so fuel cells are really expensive.

At the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show, Daihatsu, through local technology partner Perodua showed off their idea for a precious metal-free fuel cell. Instead of using an acidic membrane, Daihatsu is developing an alkaline solution to the problem.

Alkaline will not corrode metal and this allows for nickel or cobalt electrodes to be used.

Instead of hydrogen, Daihatsu is using liquid hydrazine-hydrate as fuel. The fuel is synthetic and more easily handled and transported than hydrogen.

With Toyota’s financial muscle backing the research this could be the solution for the future.

2010 Top 5 car: Kia Sorento

The all-new Kia Sorento is large, fully specified modern Sports Utility Vehicle that offers the space and comfort of a large vehicle while giving buyers excellent value for their money. 

The full panoramic glass roof, seven seats, reverse camera and a full set of safety features including hill-descent control means that you get more features for less money than other vehicles in the same size class.

2010 Top 5 concept cars: Lotus Esprit

The Lotus marquee has been in the doldrums for the best part of the last 20 years.

While it continues to be the standard bearer for lightweight sports cars, the Elise and its derivatives are track day specials by most drivers.

The five Lotus concept cars shown at the Paris Motor Show is the company’s best hope for survival and the Esprit was the most beautiful of them all.

The elegant proportions, aggressive lines and altogether modern look interpret the Lotus ideals very well.

While purists will say that the Esprit is not immediately identifiable as a Lotus, it is a matter of time before the gorgeous and coherent new design language becomes the identity of Hethel.

2010 Top 5 Tech: TwinCharge Direct Injection

Twincharge direct injection is the current pinnacle of petrol engine technology, returning amazing fuel economy when you want it and decent performance when the driver is in the mood.

Anything that helps to reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions is outstanding technology and the fact that the Volkswagen-Audi Group is packing them into everything including the entry level Polo makes them high-tech for the masses.

2010 Top 5 car: Nissan Teana

The Teana breaks the Japanese executive sedan mould with fresh styling that combines Japanese aesthetics with hints of French flair. 

While the space and comfort level offered by the Teana may not allow it outright advantage over class leaders like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord but these day design is becoming a lot more important to buyers than just outright space and specifications.

2010 Top 5 concept cars: Audi Quattro

The original Audi Quattro was a Frankenstein job, a shortened  Audi 80 platformed shoehorned with every technology Ingolstadt could get their hands on and the result was a fire-breathing rally legend. 

The Quattro concept is a great design because it evokes all the nostalgia of the original car in its proportions and design details without looking retro.

2010 Top 5 Tech: Pedestrian detection

Volvo is offering this technology in their models and the system is intelligent enough to detect and recognize human beings and activate full braking to prevent contact with a pedestrian. 

While the system now works at speeds of just 35 km/h, future advancement and swarm technology will allow cars to know where people are and warn each other about their presence and make pedestrian accident a thing of the past.

2010 Top 5 car: VW Golf 1.4TSI

This is a European family hatchback that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also comes with a clean heart. The TSI engine allows drivers to enjoy driving while looking after the environment while paying normal price for their ride.

2010 Top 5 concept cars: Renault Desir

Electric cars are usually designed to look futuristic and reflect their technology and the result is usually ungainly, boxy and characteristically nerdy.

It has never been clearly explained why carmakers feel that  electric cars should look a bit odd. 

The Dezir looks like just any other cool concept car except it is powered by electric motors.

 Did you know that Renault’s entire range of cars scored perfect five in the EuroNCAP safety tests. They don’t have to look boxy to be safe, do they? Gallery after the jump

GALLERY Renault Desir

2010 Top 5 Tech: Advanced Keyless

Keyless technology is not only a great convenience to drivers but is a unique safety feature, without the physical and radio presence of the keys, cars cannot be started by thieves.

New ideas in keyless technology includes Ford’s automatic boot that opens with just a wave of a foot under the rear bumper.

Future keyless safety feature may include biometric recognition from voice, fingerprint or retina recongnition.

Video of the Ford C-Max with keyless auto-lift rear hatch is below

2010 Top 5 car: Volvo XC-60

Volvoi’s XC90 was the gold standard for family SUVs and it still is but the SC90 has brought some of that Swedish insightfulness into the compact class. 

If you pay for the full monty they will pack the vehicle with cutting edge safety features like lane-change alert, drowsiness alert, blind spot indicators, active cruise control and city traffic assist. 

For the first time in Malaysia a car with all possible safety feature is available and this is why the XC90 is one of our top pick.   

2010 Top 5 concept cars: Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

Cars coming out of S’ant Agata has always been dramatic and spectacular and this concept car is no different but for the fact that it is Lamborghini’s first no-holds barred effort to explore  the idea of a compact sports car in carbon fibre. 

In a way this is the anti-Lotus, an eye wateringly expensive all carbon track-day special  that will help carmakers better understand how to work with the materials and adapt their design and engineering approach to suit the black stuff. 

2010 Top 5 Tech: Swarm Technology

The world already possess the necessary technology to make cars drive from one point to another without crashing into anything but they are not sending it out into the market yet because they need to be absolutely sure that it is safe. 

Swarm technology may be the key here. Video below

Basically swarm technology mimics the super-organism nature of insect colonies and how each member of the colony can communicate about their surroundings to the others. 

Cars with swarm technology will warn each other about road conditions, traffic hazards and even potential pedestrian crossings and weather conditions. 

Self-communicating cars may conjure images of big brother but just like insect colonies, the Queen don’t have to know where the workers are to make sure that everything runs just right

Mail Motor's Top 5 list - countdown begins

Hi Guys, it's the last day of the year so we want o recap some of the best things that have come out of teh auto industry so we have compiled our list of top 5 technology, top 5 concept cars and top 5 cars to arrive in Malaysia in 2010

Top 5 technology comes out at the top of the hour, top concept car at 20 past while top car will be posted 20 minutes later. Although they appear in a certain order, the items on the list are not ranked from fifth to first (this is called a cop-out clause).

Visist us often today or put us on your RSS alerts or get your copy of The Malay Mail today - it comes out at 4pm so visit your nearest distribution centre and get yourself a FREE copy

The countdown starts at 9am Malaysia time which is GMT+8

Mazda Production and Sales Results for November 2010

Mazda Production and Sales Results for November 2010

Mazda Motor Corporation's production and sales results for November 2010 are summarized below. I. Production   Breakdown Nov. 2010 Jan. - Nov. 2010 Units YoY  Change (%) Units YoY  Change (%) DOMESTIC PRODUCTION Passenger Cars 78,386 +9.7 817,019 +30.2 Commercial Vehicles 1,150 -35.3 18,330 -17.1 Total 79,536 +8.6 835,349 +28.6 OVERSEAS PRODUCTION Passenger Cars 36,907 +69.6 308,034 +54.8 Commercial Vehicles 4,548 +24.0 48,807 +33.5 Total 41,455 +63.0 356,841 +51.5 GLOBAL PRODUCTION Passenger Cars 115,293 +23.7 1,125,053 +36.1 Commercial Vehicles 5,698 +4.6 67,137 +14.4 Total 120,991 +22.6 1,192,190 +34.7 Note: As of January 2007, overseas production figures are based on Mazda brand units coming off the production line (does not include CKD units). 1. Domestic Production Mazda's total domestic production volume in November 2010 increased year-on-year, up 8.6% compared to November 2009, due to increased production of passenger vehicles. [Domestic production of key models in November 2010] Mazda3 (Axela):  32,941 units (up 4.5% year-on-year) CX-7:  10,276 units (up 52.3% year-on-year) Mazda5 (Premacy):  7,429 units (up 3.3% year-on-year) 2. Overseas Production Posting a year-on-year increase for the eighteenth consecutive month, Mazda's overseas production volume in November 2010 improved 63.0% on November 2009, reflecting healthy production of passenger and commercial vehicles. [Overseas production of key models in November 2010] Mazda6:  20,380 units (up 86.5% year-on-year) Mazda3:  8,877 units (up 68.2% year-on-year) Mazda2:  6,306 units (up 47.1% year-on-year) II. Domestic Sales   Breakdown Nov. 2010 Jan. - Nov. 2010 Units YoY  Change (%) Units YoY  Change (%) DOMESTIC SALES Passenger Cars 7,974 -40.9 187,855 +13.8 Commercial Vehicles 1,947 -14.4 26,481 -1.0 Registration Total 7,074 -39.9 166,903 +14.7 Micro-mini Total 2,847 -28.7 47,433 +2.7 Total 9,921 -37.0 214,336 +11.8 Mazda's total domestic sales volume in November 2010 decreased year-on-year, down 37.0% compared to November 2009, due to reduced sales of passenger and commercial vehicles. Mazda's registered vehicle market share was 3.5% (down 0.5 points year-on-year), with a 2.4% share of the micro-mini segment (down 0.4 points year-on-year) and a 3.1% total market share (down 0.5 points year-on-year). [Domestic sales of key models in November 2010] Mazda2 (Demio):  2,321 units (down 44.2% year-on-year) AZ-Wagon:  1,258 units (down 42.9% year-on-year) Mazda5 (Premacy):  1,026 units (down 3.6% year-on-year) III. Exports   Breakdown Nov. 2010 Jan. - Nov. 2010 Units YoY  Change (%) Units YoY  Change (%) EXPORTS Passenger Cars 69,408 +13.0 656,393 +32.1 Commercial Vehicles 0 - 785 -46.4 North America 26,607 +12.4 263,389 +44.4 Europe 24,648 +24.0 186,673 +9.5 Oceania 5,845 -7.5 66,783 +6.5 Others 12,308 +5.6 140,333 +69.8 Total 69,408 +12.8 657,178 +31.9 Posting a year-on-year increase for the second consecutive month, Mazda's export volume in November 2010 increased 12.8% on November 2009, due to healthy shipments to North America, Europe and other regions (Asia, Africa and Central & South America). [Exports of key models in November 2010] Mazda3:  30,419 units (up 6.3% year-on-year) CX-7:  9,468 units (up 43.6% year-on-year) Mazda5:  6,849 units (up 2.4% year-on-year)

KLIMS 2010 Mega Photo album

To see all the photos please click HERE