The Dashboard - Inside Nissan's Oppama Factory

Do you interesting on how a car made? A video on introducing the Nissan's Oppama Factory may serve a very good viewing for you.




Published on 24 Jan 2013

 January 25 - Oppama - The Nissan Global Media Center presents the Dashboard, our program on cars, people, technologies, motorsports and relationships that are changing the industry.

The Dashboard comes to you from Nissan's Oppama Plant, a pioneer in flexible manufacturing and the production site of the Nissan Juke, Sylphy, Cube and 100%-electric LEAF. We report on Oppama's 3-millionth visitor, a prestigious award for Nissan's Resonance concept crossover hybrid, and take a look at optical wireless technology for cars.

KL Auto Show 2013 Postponed

Received an email from organizer that they had postponed the 2013 KL Auto Show, due to I had posted an article on this show, it is better for me to post their postponed notification as well.

Nissan Resonance Concept Car

At the Detroit Auto Show, Nissan has revealed a daring crossover design concept that previews a potential direction for the next-generation Muranocrossover.

Created at Nissan Design America, in San Diego, and penned by Nissan Motor Co. senior VP and chief creative officer Shiro Nakamura, the new concept was inspired by “the ‘innovation era,’ and optimism for a bright, energetic future.”

From the front there’s a V-shape, running from the grille all the way through the hood and back to boomerang-shaped headlights, while special attention has been paid to side surfacing, and the combination of steep A-pillars and a large, full-length glass panoramic roof with flowing rear pillar help altogether add to a feel of cabin spaciousness.

The exterior is done in a warm Flare Orange, with tinted acrylic grille, Satin Chrome accents, and 22-inch alloy wheels.

Holographic display

Inside, the Resonance Concept has its instrument panel ‘floating’ on the console, with infotainment and communication features all up front, with a holographic experience and visual depth helping to assign priorities and levels of importance to the driver. Cloud-based telematics complete the connectivity and information suite.

“The architecture of the cabin is open and structural,” said Bancon, in a release about the concept. “Like the exterior, it redefines and pushes the segment beyond convention.”

Overall, the length of the concept is 190.6 inches, while the wheelbase is 113.2 inches—just slightly longer than the current Murano. But at 78.7 inches, the concept is about four inches wider.

Hybrid powertrain

Under the hood, the new model features the hybrid system that Nissan has been developing for a wide range of vehicles, with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, plus one electric motor/generator and two clutches integrated into the case of Nissan’s next-generation Xtronic continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). There’s also a compact laminated lithium-ion battery and intelligent battery charging control.

While Nissan now has the Pathfinder crossover to appeal to families, as well as the Rogue compact crossover just below, it seems that the automaker might take a more daring path with the Murano.

The automaker also hints in the release that it expects the Resonance Concept to be provocative—and even polarizing.

Source: http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1081679_nissan-resonance-concept-at-detroit-previewing-the-next-murano

KL Auto Show 2013

Besides the KLIMS 2013 that will be feature in the month of November, actually there are one auto show will be hold in the month of January, this show which will be hold on 26th to 28th January at KLCC Convention Centre, seem not get a very big publicity, may be it is free entrance event that they think will drive crowd who shopping at the KLCC area.

Even their official website http://axiacom.com.my/ not seem have any further details of the show. Beside this, when I try to look for this event in KLCC Convention Centre website http://www.klccconventioncentre.com/Homepage-@-Calendar_of_Events-landingPage.aspx which this event also not showing in their event list, just thinking actually who is this event organizer?

Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2013

The last Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) can track back to the year 2010, the show will be feature again in this year from 15th to 24th November, at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur.

The organiser Malaysian Automotive Association will hold an official launch & signing ceremony of KLIMS 2013 on the 22nd January at PWTC Dewan Tun Hussien Onn A.

Fiat Punto 1.6 Top Set Gasket

Another non Japanese model top set gasket that source for customer recently, Fiat Punto 1.6, and just like what it printed on its label, it also use on Fiat Tipo and Fiat Tempra 1.6.

First Lotus Showroom in Malaysia

Sharing a news from The Star Motoring on "First Lotus Showroom in Malaysia opens, two models launched", actually I'm quite interested on knowing how I can source a Lotus model engine gasket if I need one of it, anyone can provide the engine specification details on those Lotus model?

PETALING JAYA: DRB-Hicom cemented its commitment to the Lotus brand with a flagship showroom  that was opened today in Sungai Penchala, Kuala Lumpur.

The latest Exige S and Elise S were launched in conjunction with the official opening of the showroom by Proton advisor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

This is the first Lotus showroom in Malaysia, occupying 10,520 sq m of land and offers a complete Lotus experience with a showroom, a customer interactive block and a service/parts centre that can cater for up to eight cars at a time.


The showroom spans 1,060 sq m and comprises sales areas for new and pre-owned Lotus cars.

Proton deputy chief executive officer Datuk Lukman Ibrahim said there were plans to set up 3S service centres in Penang and Johor Baru within the next two years and expanding the Lotus support network to Sabah and Sarawak was a possibility after that.

Both the Exige S and Elise S use Toyota-sourced engines that have been adapted to Lotus requirements.

The Exige S has a mid-mounted transverse 3.5l V6 engine fitted with a Harrop HTV 132- supercharger  that gives the car a top speed of 274kph. It has peak torque of 400Nm at 4,500rpm and 345hp at 7,000rpm.

On the other hand, the lighter Elise S uses a 1.8l inline 4-cylinder engine with Magnuson R900 supercharger  in the same engine layout, conferring upon it a top speed of 234kph. It has peak power of 217hp at 6,800rpm and 250Nm of torque at 4,600rpm. 

Here's how the Exige S and Elise S Coupe (below) cabins look like. The Exige S uses a conventional key to start the engine while the Elise S uses a start/stop button as seen just below the right-most air-cond vent.

Both models use a 6-speed manual gearbox with sports ratios

The Exige S is longer and wider than the Elise S and is available in two bodystyles - a RM452,030 Roadster version and the RM462,230 Coupe version.  The new Elise S Coupe is priced from RM332,300.

The prices are inclusive of three year or 100,000km manufacturer's warranty, whichever comes first.

Typical of Lotus sports cars are the high sills and low bucket seats that make getting in easier than getting out.

The interior of both models are relatively spartan, another Lotus trademark, but Lotus officials said the interior is actually an improvement over the predecessors'.

The Exige S is offered with a choice of two tyres: the all-weather Pirelli Zero Corse or P Zero Trofeo meant for track use with lower wet performance than the Zero Corse. 

Proton is majority-controlled by DRB-Hicom Bhd after the latter acquired a 42.74 per cent stake from government investment arm, Khazanah Nasional Bhd.

DRB-Hicom is a heavyweight automotive player with considerable experience of 28 years.

As the only player in Malaysia with a fully-integrated automotive business, encompassing component manufacturing, import and assembly of vehicles to distribution and after-sales activities, DRB-Hicom is in a position to re-shape Proton and its Lotus division so as to enhance quality, cut costs and drive up profits.

The Elise S.

Pajero 3.0 V6 Overhaul Set Gasket

I think this is the first Mitsubishi Pajero that come in V6 engine in Malaysia market, not quite sure when it starting selling in Malaysia but this 6G72 2,972cc SOHC engine can be trace back to the year of 1988.

This Pajero model include L141, L146G and V23W, actually the Mitsubishi Debonair ECI S22A engine is quite similar with this Pajero engine with some minor changes in their intake and exhaust manifold design.

New Car! How long should its engine gasket lifespan?

You buy a new car, how long do you expect you driving your car until its first change of its engine cylinder head gasket? 5 years? 10 years? Or 100,000km mileage? Or you are thinking that you should be able to maintain the engine well enough until changing engine gasket is out of your consider condition?

Anyway we know that every parts have its lifespan, but will you scratch your head when customer are sourcing for the cylinder head gasket that actually the car is driving for less than 2 years?

It will happen indeed when a driver is not taking good care or alert to any abnormal engine condition, engine coolant that not change for quite a long time, coolant pipe or hose system leaking and didn't alert to the temperature signal when driving.

Stone knock to the oil pan causing the engine oil leak out without notice and more ridiculous some are too busy even not going to change the engine oil in the correct interval duration.

Some claiming that the RON95 petrol standard in Malaysia is not the same as in Japan which that cause the engine tend to easy overheat.

No matter what is the reason, the car owner need to pay for the price if need to source for a new model engine gasket too soon from it launched, it may not available in the after market and the price for the OEM parts for new model tend to be in the high side.

So can you guess the gasket in the photo actually is for what model and actually run for how many years? You recognize the gasket and you will know the answer.