CarNoise: 2009

Honda has made the official debut of its new updated economy car, the next gen Honda City. To begin with, 2009 City will only be available in Thailand. But within a few months time it will be released in India, China, Philippines, Malaysia, Pakistan and other Asian markets. The Thai version of Honda's latest City will sell for 524,000 to 694,000 baht, which is about 15,000 US dollars. It comes with a 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine that makes 120 hp of horsepower. It is available in five speed manual and automatic transmissions.

See 09 Model Honda City Picture Gallery Below.

Visually, Honda City is much better looking than the previous generation City and thus will have a much wider appeal. The front end has a strong resemblance to the Honda FCX Clarity. It has a huge front grille that merge seamlessly with the new stylized headlights which incidently look like they were taken from the Altis. At the rear the short bootlid with an integrated spoiler gives the car a stout BMW'ish look. Rear-lamps have a nice design but not everyone would say the same about it.

The exterior dimensions of the new Honda City are - 4,395mm long, 1,695mm wide and 1,470mm tall. This makes it 5mm longer and wider but 25mm shorter in height. Thus unlike the tall boy looks of the previous model, the new City gives an impression of being a much more proportional sedan with a sportier stance.

On the inside is a simple but elegantly designed dash, well laid out instrument cluster and an aluminium finish center console. There are loads of storage spaces that include 7 cup/bottle holders. The steering wheel is now adjustable for reach as well as height. It features paddle shift controls and integrated audio controls. Cars audio system now comes with an iPod compatible USB connector. The rear seats are placed higher than the ones at the front and can be folded in a 60/40 split. Everything is very well put together, as you would expect from Honda.

The fifth-gen Honda City comes in three models variants- S, V, SV. The City S and City V have dual-tone beige interiors while the top-end City SV gets the exclusive dark trims. For customers in Thailand the car will be available in six colours: Habanero Red Pearl, Deep Lapis Blue Metallic, Alabaster Metallic, Polished Metal Metallic, Bold Beige Metallic and Crystal Black Pearl.

Source: Pakwheels
Read More On: Honda City

Photo Gallery: Latest Thai Version Honda City Official Pictures. Click Pics To Enlarge.

2009 Honda City Photo Gallery: Pictures Taken From Brochure. Click Pics To Enlarge.

Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) has as expected come out with the technical details and hi-res pictures of the 5th generation, 2009 model BMW 7-Series. We have already discussed a lot on the new 7-Series in our previous posts that can be read here. So now without adding anything more from our end we will leave you with what BMW has to say about its flagship model which is going to make its debut at the upcoming Paris Auto Show.

PRESS RELEASE (UK VERSION):
The New BMW 7-Series Highlights
- World's first Night Vision system with individual pedestrian recognition.
- World's first production car with front side view camera.
- First BMW Saloon with speed-related Integral Active Steering.
- First BMW with Lane Change Warning.
- BMW 7 Series to feature EfficientDynamics for class-leading CO2 emissions and fuel consumption.

The launch of the fifth generation of the BMW 7 Series sets a new benchmark in automotive luxury, technical innovation and class-leading driving dynamics, combined with emissions reducing and fuel saving technology.

The flagship of the BMW model range debuts in November with a host of world firsts and will initially be offered with a choice of three powerplants, one diesel and two petrol engines. The two petrol-powered cars will be offered with a long-wheelbase body too. All three engines produce more power yet use less fuel and produce less emissions than the models they replace.

Model	Power hp	Torque Nm/lb-ft	Zero – 62mph Seconds 0 - 62	Top Speed Mph	Combined Mpg Imp/U.S.
BMW 730d	245	540/398	7.2	153	39.2/32.6
BMW 740i	326	450/332	5.9	155*	28.5/23.7
BMW 740Li	326	450/332	6.0	155*	28.2/23.4
BMW 750i	407	600/442	5.2	155*	24.8/20.6
BMW 750Li	407	600/442	5.3	155*	24.8/20.6

* Electronically-limited.

The BMW 730d sets a new benchmark in terms of drivetrain performance. The new all-aluminium 3.0-litre straight-six cylinder diesel engine produces 245hp at 4,000rpm. Its effortless real world driving smoothness comes courtesy of a peak torque figure of 540Nm attained from 1,750rpm through to 3,000rpm.

The 2,993cc powerplant posts the lowest ever CO2 figure of any previous BMW 7 Series and it is also the most economical 7 Series ever. Its 192g/km emission figure is class-leading for conventionally powered luxury cars, while no other competitor comes close to its 39.2mpg combined consumption figure. It can accelerate from zero to 62mph in 7.2 seconds and has a 153mph top speed.

To put the BMW 730d's competitive advantage in context this luxurious vehicle records near identical fuel consumption and CO2 emissions to the Mercedes C320CDi – a car that is two market segments below the 7 Series and is smaller and lighter than the BMW.

The impressive performance of the 730d is, in part, possible due to third-generation common-rail direct injection technology, incorporating piezo injectors, that operates at a peak pressure of 1,800 bar. This system ensures a near perfect combustion process. Weighing 185kgs the new six-cylinder diesel engine is also 5kgs lighter than its predecessor.

The BMW 730d is set to be the biggest seller in the UK, accounting for approximately 85 per cent of sales.

The BMW 750i and 750Li are the range flagships. The new 4,395cc V8 engine from the recently launched X6, featuring twin-turbochargers and high-precision direct injection technology, produces 407hp from 5,500rpm to 6,400rpm; impressive figures that are backed up by an equally stunning 600Nm of torque from 1,750rpm to 4,500rpm. Such breathtaking performance sees the BMW 750i accelerate from zero to 62mph in 5.2 seconds (5.3 seconds for the 750Li) before going on to an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph. Consumption on the combined cycle is 24.8mpg, while CO2 emissions equate to 266g/km.

The all-aluminium V8 engine powering the 750i and 750Li also features its own world first - twin-turbochargers and catalysts that are placed within the V-space of the engine block. This not only optimises packaging but the reduction in manifold length and larger cross sections mean the engine breathes better for enhanced performance. Double-VANOS variable valve technology and high-precision direct injection technology further aid engine performance to the degree that all the innovations combine to offer a V8 engine that has an equivalent output of a traditional 12-cylinder unit.

Aimed at customers who prefer the characteristics of a petrol-powered BMW six-cylinder engine, the BMW 740i and 740Li are also offered. Using an internationally-acclaimed 2,979cc powerplant, the BMW 740i musters 326hp and 450Nm of torque for rapid yet serene performance. The twin-turbocharged engine features high-precision direct injection and Double-VANOS variable valve technology to achieve optimum performance. The car accelerates from zero to 62mph in 5.9 seconds (6.0 seconds for the 740Li) before going on to an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph. The 3.0-litre BMW 740i and 740Li post combined fuel consumption figures of 28.5mpg and 28.2mpg respectively, while returning emissions figures of 232g/km and 235g/km.

All BMW 7 Series models come with a six-speed automatic gearbox as standard.

EfficientDynamics
The launch of the new 7 Series means the entire BMW range now comes equipped with EfficientDynamics technologies as standard. With its roof, doors, bonnet and side panels all made from aluminium to dovetail with the principle of lightweight engineering, the BMW 7 Series also has other innovative class-leading technology which improves engine performance, while cutting fuel consumption and emissions.

Brake Energy Regeneration uses the engine's power on overrun, such as braking, to charge the battery for the car's electrical circuit. When the driver is accelerating the alternator disengages so all of the engine's power is channelled towards the car's performance. Other ancillaries, such as the air-conditioning compressor, are also able to disengage to improve the all round performance of the car. This intelligent use of drivetrain power is why EfficientDynamics technology has helped the 7 Series become a class-leader in terms of performance, fuel consumption and emissions.

World firsts
The BMW 7 Series' drivetrain superiority is reinforced with a plethora of automotive firsts. All 7 Series can now be specified with the world's first car available with a Side View camera system. In addition to Park Distance Control that aids slow speed manoeuvring, the front side view camera system provides another tier of driver awareness. With the touch of a button two forward facing cameras mounted in the front bumper can show an overview of traffic conditions on the iDrive display. This allows the driver to negotiate a partially obscured junction, leave a car park or drive through a narrow gate with absolute confidence.

The new BMW 7 Series can be specified with the world's most advanced Night Vision system in a production car. BMW was the first manufacturer to fit Night Vision to a premium car and it has now upgraded this package to include a pedestrian recognition system in another world first. A control unit analyses video data of human behaviour as part of the Night Vision camera's reach and can subsequently alert the driver if it detects a human is moving into the path of the vehicle.

Building on the impressive list of innovations, the 7 Series is the first BMW to feature Lane Change Warning combined with Lane Departure Warning. The latter is a system that first appeared on BMW 5 and 6 Series models and uses a camera to monitor road markings. Should the driver start to stray out of lane, a gentle vibration of the steering wheel provides an alert. However, courtesy of two radars located at either side of the rear bumper, Lane Change Warning adds another level of driver safety. The sensors constantly scan the blind spot either side of the vehicle, up to a distance of 60 metres, and alert the driver to the presence of another vehicle with a triangular symbol in the door mirror housing.

Cars that are specified with Head-up Display and Lane Departure Warning have the added driver benefit of a speed limit warning system. The camera used as part of the Lane Departure Warning system can now also scan oncoming road signs to alert the driver of any impending speed restriction. The current speed limit is then displayed in the Head-up Display. This is the first time a production car has been offered with a speed warning system that can read road signs.

Completing the host of innovations is speed-related Integral Active Steering. A car specified with this optional equipment allows the rear wheels to turn by up to 3º. At slow speeds it is highly manoeuvrable, while at a faster pace it offers enhanced composure and driving dynamics.

Tailormade driving dynamics
The latest generation BMW 7 Series is the first to have Drive Dynamic Control featuring Variable Damping Control as standard. Drive Dynamic Control is the umbrella function that lets a driver customise the characteristics of his or her car. As part of this Variable Damping Control can bet set in comfort, normal, sport, sport + modes. For the first time though these settings are infinitely variable depending on driving style and road surface condition. The selected mode now alters the throttle response, gear change speed and steering feel.

To aid driving dynamics and comfort the 7 Series is the first BMW Saloon to feature race car-like double-wishbone front suspension. This arrangement allows engineers to fine-tune the suspension for the best kinematic configuration. The rear suspension consists of a five-link arrangement made of aluminium which can be further optimised with the inclusion of Adaptive Air Suspension.

The BMW 7 Series comes as standard with Dynamic Stability Control + featuring additional functions such as Hill-Start Assistant, Brake Drying, Brake Pre-tensioning, Soft-stop and Brake Fade Compensation. Dynamic Traction Control can be activated via a button to enable spirited driving or greater traction of slippery surfaces such as snow and ice.

A new interior
The new BMW 7 Series comes with one of the most luxurious interiors of any premium car. In addition to a new iDrive controller and larger 10.2-inch screen, owners will be able to programme frequently selected radio stations or navigation destinations on favourite buttons located on the centre console. For the first time on a BMW the instrument cluster comprises a high-resolution colour display with Black Panel technology. This new style of display makes for greater character clarity and, when not in use, forms a smooth, homogenous black surface that gives the interior an added level of modern elegance.

The 7 Series is the first BMW to enable a customer to upload their favourite music to be stored on the vehicle courtesy of an 8Gb hard drive. In excess of 100 albums can be saved in this way for the driver's enjoyment. Four-zone automatic air-conditioning is fitted as standard while, for the first time, the 7 Series can have a rear seat ventilation system combined with massage function. The air-conditioning system feeds cool air to the seat squab and backrest, while 12 massage bubbles gently knead the occupants' upper body.

The BMW 7 Series comes with BMW ConnectedDrive. This facility features elements such as a dedicated call centre with a concierge service, automatic fault awareness and BMW Assist, the electronic safety net that automatically dials the emergency services in the event of an accident, free of charge for three years.

The BMW 7 Series goes on sale in the UK on 15 November, 2008. Prices will be announced in due course.

Source: TheyReviewed
Read More On: BMW 7 Series

Photo Gallery: New 2009 Model BMW 7-Series High-Res Pictures.