Blog nominated for award

Some great news. The Car News - Auto Lah blog has been nominated for the Fave Tech Head 2012 in DiGi's WWWOW awards for the year 2012. I would like to thank all my visitors for your support. Cheers, Adam

New MINI Countryman videos

Mini has come up with some more videos of the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman tearing up desert roads in Morocco.

What do you think?

2013 Mercedes-Benz A Class

The new Mercedes-Benz A Class just made it's international debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The model is miles apart from the current models. It has a more aerodynamic and more aggressive look which Mercedes calls "emotive design". The roof is also lower but has a sporty, high-quality interior.



It will compete against the BMW 1-Series, Audi A3 and Lexus CT 200h.

The car will come in several gasoline and diesel engine options, ranging from a 1.8-liter turbodiesel with 109 horsepower, to the 211-horsepower A250 with its turbocharged gasoline four-cylinder.

The car comes with adaptive headlights, speed limit assist, blind-spot warning, a reversing camera, collision-prevention, and "PRE-SAFE" occupant protection. PRE-SAFE means that in the case of an accident, the car is in the most suitable state possible for protecting the occupants closing windows, pulling the seatbelts tighter and more.

This will be the first A class Mercedes to go in sale in the US market.

More exclusive info here

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Future of Lotus uncertain after takeover of Proton

DRB-Hicom Bhd's recent takeover of Malaysian car maker, Proton Holdings Bhd. has resulted in an uncertain future for Lotus Group International Ltd.

Khazanah Nasional Bhd. which is the Malaysian Government’s investment arm, sold its 42.7% stake in Proton to DRB-Hicom for RM1.29 billion ($414 million). An additional 7.7 percent stake was bought in the open market which gave DRB-Hicom a majority stake in the company.

Proton bought Lotus Group International Ltd in 1996 but the subsidiary has yet to make a profit. News reports indicate that sales have collapsed in the UK.

The rumours that the new owners of Proton might sale off the company have hit morale at the British HQ though Dato’ Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, head of DRB-Hicom, has dismissed these rumours. Read the full report here.

The new Volvo V40

Volvo has unveiled the V40 at the Geneva motor show yesterday. It is Volvo's first true five-door hatchback.

Roomy interiors.

Volvo is perceived as having the safest cars and they are.

This time, they are not only thinking about the driver and the passengers but even the pedestrians outside. So in case you hit someone, an airbag pops out from the rear edge of the bonnet to cover the windscreen and the front pillars.

And if there is an obstacle in front the car sensors will detect it and brake automatically.

The V40 comes with the option to have the dynamic spoiler fitted with the extra winglets. It will cost money though.

Regarding the engines, there are several versions and I read that both the 150 and 180bhp petrol engines is the same as Ford Focus 1.6. They also have one version with Volvo's own 2.0L diesel five-cylinder engine.

New MINI John Cooper Works Countryman

Check out the new MINI John Cooper Works Countryman which will debut at Geneva next month.

It not just a new body kit and some bold colours - it comes with a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine mated with a six-speed manual gearbox and 4 wheel-drive. It has lowered sports suspension and a top speed of 140mph.