Cherry QQ and Viva

The Chery QQ (codename S11) is a city car produced by the Chinese manufacturer Chery Automobile since 2003. In 2006, the car was renamed the Chery QQ3 in China, when Chery launched their new supermini, the Chery QQ6.


Engine

The QQ is available with the following two gasoline-powered engines (both EURO III compliant):
0.8 L SQR372 I3 DOHC 12v — 38 kW (51 hp) at 6000 rpm, 70 N·m (52 lb·ft) at 3500 rpm
1.1 L SQR472F I4 DOHC 16v — 50 kW (67 hp) at 6000 rpm, 90 N·m (66 lb·ft) at 3500 rpm

Copyright controversy

The QQ became the center of an industrial copyright and intellectual rights controversy, as General Motors claimed the car was a copy to the Daewoo Matiz (which is marketed outside South Korea as the Chevrolet Spark). GM executives demonstrated the extent of the design duplication, noting for example that the doors of the QQ and those of the Spark are interchangeable without modification.
GM China Group indicated the two vehicles "shared remarkably identical body structure, exterior design, interior design and key components. MotorAuthority.com and Car and Driver called the QQ a "carbon copy", while the International Herald Tribune, in a 2005 article, referred to it as a clone.
Looking at this controversy on a global stage, the Detroit News reported that "the dispute reflects the confusion, risks and ambitions in China's new auto industry, where global carmakers are battling pugnacious upstarts for a piece of what may become the world's largest auto market.

Safety

Though the Chery QQ and the Chevrolet Spark are similar cars, their safety ratings differ from each other. A Euro NCAP front offset crash test showed that the driver's injuries in the QQ are worse than those sustained in the Spark. Upon impact, the QQ driver will most likely suffer severe (possibly fatal) trauma in the head, neck and chest areas, while the Spark driver will at most receive a moderate head injury.

Global markets

Iran
In Iran, the Daewoo Matiz had been assembled by local company called Kerman Khodro since the year 2000 in a joint venture with Daewoo. However, upon being acquired by GM following its 2001 bankruptcy, Daewoo stopped supplying CKD kits to Iran due to a ban imposed by GM. As a result, Kerman Khodro licensed the Chery QQ as a replacement and put it into production at their subsidiary MVM.

Singapore
The QQ is sold in Singapore and is one of the cheapest cars in the city state.

South Africa
Four QQ3 models are available in South Africa since May 2008 and was the cheapest car when launched.

Thailand
QQ cars are available in Thailand since 2009. This car is not the cheapest car in the country due to high tariffs (not built in Thailand or an ASEAN country, but import from China). Its non-Japanese competitors are Naza Forza, Proton Savvy and Kia Picanto.

Vietnam
The QQ is the cheapest car in Vietnam.

In Malaysia, Cherry QQ also available.
would you buy this cutie or perodua viva? Your choice..

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New boy In Town!

Perodua D46T Will Be Launched Very Soon!!


New Perodua D46T Will Be Launched Very Soon!

The much anticipated yet to be named Perodua mini MPV will be launched on 23rd November 2009 at exactly 5.00pm (Malaysian Time). For friends abroad who are not familiar with the Perodua brand, it is Malaysia's second national car maker which manufactures rebadge Toyota/Daihatsu for the local market. It is a small car manufacturer so to speak which specialize on small cars.

The D46T MPV is actually based on the Toyota Passo Sette or Daihatsu Boon Luminas. The mini MPV will look very much like its smaller sibling the Perodua Myvi. Powering the MPV will be a 1.5 liter engine used in the Toyota Avanza.The Myvi is related to the D46T in the very same manner how the Volkswagen Golf is related to the Golf Plus.

I am actually driving a manual transmission Myvi that handles like a boat around corners . The suspension is not geared for comfort either because traveling over bumps launches the passengers upward momentarily. Perhaps it has something to do with Perodua's modification on the Original Toyota Passo to suite the "Malaysian taste". Anyway lets hope the newbie will be have better handling capabilities without sacrificing occupant comfort. A compilation of photos have revealed much of the vehicle. The only thing that interest me at this moment and most of everyone here is the pricing & trim.











A few snapshots for those who are considering to add this cutie in their garage..:-)

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Tips To Choose Your Car Wheels

Here's some Tips To Share With




Most of us like to change car rim without any right informations.
There are many other practical reasons why you should really pay careful attention when you are considering to purchase car rims.

Having the right car rims on your car can greatly improve the control and performance of your car on the roads. This translates directly into a more comfortable drive for you and your passengers as well as greater road safety while traveling in your car.


Some of them choose the wrong rim for their car. It is dangerous for safety. Let’s share this tips :-

1. For racing performance, light alloy wheels are the best type to use. Steel rims are no good, they will only slow your automobile down. Heavy wheels add unnecessary weight to your car, which in return lower the driving performance.

2. For driving in traffic area, then alloy wheels are a great choice. Alloy rims actually offer cool air flow over your car’s brake system which will prevent overheating. Alloy aluminum wheels are lighter than chrome or steel wheels you can also improve your gas mileage slightly.

3. Big rims may be the coolest, but the rims, tires, and wheels you choose all depend on what you use your car for.. Whenever you choose a set of custom rims and wheels, you have to consider both the radius and the width of the wheel:

• Wheel radius refers to the total distance from the center point of the wheel to the edge of the wheel. Double the value of the radius and you get the wheel diameter. Most daily driving cars have 17 to 20 inch wheels, which are perfect for all-around control and the longevity of your car parts.

• Wheel width. The wheelbase and the width of your tires determine the width of your rims and wheels. A larger wheel width results in more stability, but makes the car more difficult to turn without the aid of power steering. A narrow wheel width allows your car to turn faster, but is more likely to turn over on high speeds.


There are many types of rim design. Here are some rim designs you may want to consider:

• Spoke wheels. If you have expensive, high-performance brakes, you may want to try spoke wheels. Spoke wheels are quite stable, and are perfect for showing off the inner workings of your vehicle.
• Wire rims. For vintage cars, classic sports cars, and muscle cars, a set of rims built with wire spokes give you that clean, vintage body-shop look most classics have.
• Chrome spinners. If you want to add that extra bit of bling to your vehicle, a set of chrome spinners will definitely make your vehicle a looker on the road. The spinner rim is loosely attached to the actual rim of the vehicle, and moves independently of the actual rim through an electrical system or a gear mechanism. Some chrome spinner rims also have neon or LED lighting in between the spinner rim and the actual rim.





Hope this information can help you to choose the best rim for your car.

Happy hunting!

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Tips To Save Gas!

10 Tips for Improving Your Fuel Economy!

Frequent visiting the gas station up is a fact of every driver's life, but for some drivers it is a necessary evil. If you are one of those people who gulps every time you have to fill up your vehicle, there's good news: there are some simple things you can do to improve your fuel economy no matter what type of vehicle you drive.

Monitoring your average fuel economy regularly is a good idea, too. (Some vehicles have a handy computer that computes this for you.) If you notice a significant change, then something has changed with your vehicle.

Here are 10 things you can do today to get better gas mileage right away.


1. Follow the Recommended Maintenance
A vehicle that is well maintained means it will operate with greater efficiency. This not only improves your overall vehicle performance, but it will improve your fuel economy as well. Fouled spark plugs or a clogged fuel filter will affect your fuel economy. Proper maintenance also means using the right octane gas and the recommended grade of motor oil. Using the recommended types for your vehicle will give you optimum fuel economy — and can save you money as well. Check your owner's manual for your vehicle's recommendations and have maintenance performed regularly by a dealer or reputable mechanic.


2. Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated
Underinflated tires require more energy to roll, which translates into more frequent fill-ups. You can improve your fuel economy by about 3.3 percent if you keep your tires inflated properly, according to the DOE. The psi number noted on the sidewall of your tires is the maximum pressure of the tire and is not the proper inflation level for your car. Your vehicle manufacturer will list the recommended tire pressure in your owner's manual or a sticker on the doorjamb of the driver-side door. Buy a tire-pressure gauge and check your tires monthly, adding air as necessary.


3.Take a Load Off
Heavier vehicles require more energy to move, so carrying around excess weight will also affect your mileage. Empty out your trunk (or even your backseat) of unnecessary items. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk will reduce your fuel economy by 1 to 2 percent in the typical vehicle. If you have a roof rack or roof carrier, install it on your vehicle only when absolutely necessary. Not only does the carrier add extra weight, but it also increases the aerodynamic drag on the vehicle, which further contributes to a loss of fuel economy.


4. Don't Drive Aggressively
We're not talking road rage here, but the type of driving many people do when they are in a rush. Mashing the accelerator pedal from a stoplight, braking hard and speeding all contribute to a decrease in fuel economy. Give yourself extra time to get to your destination and think "steady and smooth" as you drive. On surface streets, driving at the speed limit will give you mostly green lights, which improves your gas mileage as well as reduces the wear on your brakes. On the highway, the DOE says that every 5 mph you drive over 65 mph represents a 7-percent decrease in fuel economy.


5. Use the Highest Gear Possible
Cars are designed to start in the lowest gear possible because that's where they have the most power, but that power translates to an increase in fuel consumption. To improve your fuel economy, drive in the highest gear possible when you are cruising at a steady speed, such as on the highway. If your vehicle has an automatic transmission with a "sport" mode, it's most likely that this is a computer program designed to shift later (and therefore keep you in a lower gear longer). While this gives you greater performance, driving in "sport" mode will also decrease your fuel economy.


6. Use Cruise Control — Selectively
Using cruise control can improve your gas mileage by helping you maintain a steady speed, but only if you are driving on mostly flat roads. If you are driving in hilly terrain, using cruise control typically causes your vehicle to speed up faster (to maintain the preset speed) than it would if you were operating the accelerator yourself. Before you push that cruise control button, think about the terrain ahead.


7. Think Clean
Keeping your car washed and waxed improves aerodynamics and therefore affects fuel economy. Engineer Tom Wagner, Jr. reported to Stretcher.com (as in stretching your dollars) a 7-percent improvement in fuel economy, from 15 to 16 mpg, during a 1,600-mile road trip.


8. Avoid Excessive Idling
When a car is idling, it is using fuel, yet not going anywhere. This translates to 0 mpg. When you leave your car running while you are waiting in line at the drive-thru, or as you wait outside your kids' school, you are wasting fuel. It is more efficient to turn the engine off while you wait and then restart the car. If that's not practical (like in the line at McDonald's), then park the car and go inside instead.


9. Think Before You Vent(ilate)
Running your air conditioner does cause your vehicle to consume more fuel, but driving with your windows rolled down can be even worse due to the increase of drag on the vehicle. If you are driving slowly, such as around town or in city traffic, then you are better off leaving your windows open, if at all possible. For highway driving, roll up the windows and turn the air conditioning on.


10. Combine Your Errands
A little planning can make a big difference in fuel economy. When your engine is cold, it uses more fuel than when it is warm. Combining errands can improve your gas mileage because your engine will be warm for more of the trip. It might also mean you travel less total miles. According to the DOE, several short trips all begun with a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a single, longer trip that covers the same distance.

Otherwise, you can use compact car yet with latest engine technology today.

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Myvi Exclusive Edition!

Hot In Town!



The Myvi car get new styling. Perodua has launched the Myvi Exclusive Edition, which has been refined from interior to exterior. The Exclusive Edition is priced at RM 51,500, which is slightly cheaper than the Special Edition.

Here's the comparisons for your convenience.

Perodua Myvi 1.3 Price Comparison:
RM 46,900 - Perodua Myvi 1.3 EZ
RM 49,700 - Perodua Myvi 1.3 EZi (Premium)
RM 51,500 - Perodua Myvi 1.3 ZHL (Exclusive Edition)
RM 53,400 - Perodua Myvi 1.3 SE ZHS (Special Edition)

Myvi's Interior :


Leather-trimmed steering wheel


Leather seat


Chrome inner door handles


2-DIN audion system with CD Player (MP3/WMA), USB and Bluetooth

Myvi's exterior


14-inch sport rims


Chrome Number plate holder


Chrome door handles


Side skirt

Colors available for Myvi Exclusive edition are :


Ebony Black


Ivory White


Medallion Grey

For those who are considering on the Myvi Exclusive Edition, please get hurry because only 5000 units will be produced in the market..

That's why they called it EXCLUSIVE!

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Malaysian Car Better Builts This Year : JD Power

The numbers speak for themselves - according to the results of J.D. Power's Asia Pacific 2009 Malaysia Initial Quality Study (IQS), the overall new-vehicle initial quality in Malaysia has markedly improved from 2008.

The study, now in its seventh year, examines new-vehicle quality during the first two to six months of ownership.

The study measures more than 200 problem symptoms covering eight vehicle components: vehicle exterior; driving experience; features/controls/displays; audio/entertainment/navigation; seats; HVAC; vehicle interior; and engine/transmission.

All problems are summarised as the number of problems reported per 100 vehicles (PP100), and lower scores indicate a lower rate of problem incidences and higher performance. The study was based on responses from 2,874 new-vehicle owners who purchased their vehicle between Sept 2008 and May 2009, with 52 passenger car, pickup and utility vehicle models from across 15 brands evaluated.

The Malaysian average was 136 in 2009, improving by 22 from 2008, and all eight component areas showed improvement levels. Vehicle exterior issues and problems related to the driving experience represent nearly 50% of total reported problems.

In terms of specific models by segment, the Perodua Myvi ranks highest in the compact car segment for a third consecutive year with 127 PP100, followed by the Proton Savvy (154) and the Perodua Viva (186).

Meanwhile, the new Honda City ranks highest in the entry mid-size car segment, with 76 PP100. Second in the category is the Toyota Vios (107), with the Proton Saga (158) placed third.

In the mid-size car segment, the Toyota Corolla Altis takes the honours with 80 PP100, followed by the Honda Civic (103) and the Nissan Sylphy (109).

As for the MPV/van segment, Toyota's Innova takes the top spot for a second consecutive year, with a score of 85 PP100, with the Nissan Grand Livina (89) and the Toyota Avanza (100) making up the top trio.

In the pickup segment, the Isuzu D-max ranks highest with a 66 PP100 rating, well ahead of the Toyota Hilux (94) and the Mitsubishi Triton (101).

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Tinted Glass

Reason To Consider When Tinted Your Vehicle

Rules 5 (1) and 5 (3) of the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Certain Types of Glass), Amendment 2000, stipulate that the front windscreen should permit not less than 70% light transmission, while the back windscreen and side windows should permit not less than 50% light transmission.

Special exemption for the installation of tinted glass

The installation of tinted glass is allowed for certain persons only as specified under rules 11(a) and 11(b) of the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Certain Types of Glass) 1991. Any person not included in rules 11(a) and 11(b) who faces problem of exposed skin or security threat may apply for a special exemption.

The owner or driver who contravenes these rules shall be liable to:-

A fine not exceeding RM 500.00 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 weeks for a first offence; and
A fine not exceeding RM1000.00 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month or both for a subsequent offence.
Methods of application

Application should be made using Special Form CG1, which can be obtained from the RTD Headquarters in Putrajaya. All applications should be accompanied by the following documents:-

Certified copy of identity card.
Letter of confirmation from a government medical officer as well as the latest medical records.
In case of applications for security purposes, attach supporting documents.
Approval
All applications will be considered and submitted to the Director-General of RTD. They will then be forwarded to the Minister of Transport for approval.

Period
The approval period for the use of tinted glass is one year only and has to be renewed.

Renewal
The renewal application should be made three (3) months before the expiry of the approval period by attaching the following documents:

Completed Form CG1.
Certified copy of identity card.
Letter of confirmation from a government medical officer as well as the latest medical records. Copy of the Minister of Transport’s approval letter.
Copy of the Vehicle Registration Card.

So the owner have to follow the rules when considering to tint up their glass.

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