Isuzu Gives Birth to New MU-X SUV with the Help of GM

Here's a quick quiz: what do the Chevrolet Colorado (international model), Holden Colorado and Isuzu D-MAX pickup trucks have in common with themselves as well as with the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Holden Colorado 7 and the just introduced Isuzu MU-X SUVs?

The answer is that, leaving aside emblems, grilles, lights and trims, they are the same pickup trucks co-developed by GM and Isuzu, while the other set of vehicles are the passenger SUV versions of the former.

All that said, the only true differentiator between the new Isuzu MU-X that was unwrapped this week in Thailand with the two GM models is the mild restyling of the front and rear ends and the interior décor and trims.

Isuzu said it will offer the MU-X with a choice of two turbo diesel units, a 3.0-liter rated for 177hp at 3,600 rpm and maximum torque of 380Nm (280lb-ft) at 1,800-2,800 rpm, and a smaller 2.5-liter delivering 136hp at 3,600 rpm and maximum torque of 320Nm (236lb-ft) at 1,800-2,800 rpm. Buyers can choose between 2WD and 4WD models - the latter with a TERRAIN COMMAND switch.

Inside there's room for up to seven passengers in three rows of seats. Available features include a navigation system with a 7-inch monitor and a DVD player with 7-inch touch-screen monitor.

Thanks to Bonn from Autodeft for the heads up!

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New Ford Transit Connect Taxi Goes to Hong Kong

The recently revealed all-new 2014 Ford Transit Connect Taxi has added Hong Kong to the list of global cities where it will go on service, following New York City, Chicago, Miami and Los Angeles. Although it owns nearly 60 percent of the taxi market in the United States, Ford also wants to strike it big in other regions of the world, with Hong Kong being the first major city chosen.

The Transit Connect Taxi has been unveiled in Hong Kong, where it comes equipped with a liquefied petroleum gas fuel system designed to run on the city’s developed LPG infrastructure. 

Based on the current Ford Transit Connect, the taxi version is longer than the previous model, offering seating for five and increased cargo capacity. The car features a new engine, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder unit paired to a new six-speed automatic that can run on gasoline or liquefied petroleum gas.

The 2014 Transit Connect Taxi has a lower ride height, providing improved clearance for taxicab companies to place advertising on the cabin roof. Ford has also added an interior hood release, allowing drivers easy access to check fluid levels prior to starting a shift.

The floor of the Transit Connect Taxi has been lowered for improved access to the cabin and can be modified for wheelchair accessibility through Ford’s Qualified Vehicle Modifier program.

By Dan Mihalascu

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What in the World is This?

Are you up to a guessing challenge? If you're reading this, then we'll assume the answer is yes. So, some of the questions we have been pondering after looking at these two photos of the same car are, 'What exactly is it, and what's it trying to resemble?', and 'Who made it and why?'.

Leaving the second set of enquiries aside, we came up with two candidates for the base model, the first being the Mitsubishi Lancer Celeste from the mid-1970s, early 1980s (also sold as the Chrysler Lancer in Australia, and Plymouth and Dodge Arrow in North America), and the other a Nissan Skyline C110 from the '70s.

As far as what it's supposed to look like, well, the front seems to incorporate a Mitsubishi Galant snout, while at the back, we're not sure if it's supposed to resemble the last, dark plastic days of the third generation Corvette, a 1980s-2000s Nissan Skyline GT-R, or something entirely different.

Heck, have a go at it for yourself in the comments section below the break.

Photos via Top Gear Philippines (via Edward Marvin Abueg) , Mitsubishi Celeste and Nissan Skyline pics via Wikipedia (1) , (2)

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Damn, Where Did That Slab of Concrete Come From?

We're going to guess that Taiwanese authorities placed a slab of concrete in front of this zebra crossing to protect pedestrians from vehicles, but it also seems to work as a punishment tool for impatient drivers.
Take this gifted driver of a black Toyota sedan, who not only disregarded the red light but also tried to make a quick illegal left turn.

Someone Should Find this Driver and Report Him/Her to the Police

Making an honest mistake while sitting behind the wheel is one thing, being careless or to put it bluntly, a complete asshat, is quite another.
On Sunday, the driver of a previous generation Honda CR-V (possibly in Taiwan - if we're wrong, tell us in the comments) was filmed by a motorcyclist making an extremely dangerous move on the road when he or she drove between a Nissan Sentra and a scooter driven by a father with his child riding at the back, almost knocking them down.

Daewoo Lanos Uses Up One of its Nine Lives

In today's fix of dascham goodness, we have a Daewoo Lanos sedan that somehow ended up crossing the road in reverse – we say somehow, because from this distance and angle, we're not sure if there was a person behind the wheel or if the car was left unsecured.
Whatever the reason or…lack of reason, if you prefer, the white compact saloon backed up on the road and was almost hit by an oncoming car traveling at high speed.

Porsche Cayman Coupe Slams Into the Rear End of a Truck without Lights

The driver of a Porsche Cayman coupe was filmed by an adjacent vehicle fitted with a dashboard-mounted camera smashing violently into the rear end of a truck at high speed.
The accident, which looks like it took place in China or at least in a neighboring country (if any of our readers can help with the translation, leave us a message in the comments), occurred when the Cayman driver didn't notice the truck that did not have any lights open at the back and was traveling on the left hand side of the road.

China Helps BMW Group Report 13.7% Increase in Profits and 8.3% in Sales in Q3

Thanks to growing revenues and sales in Asia and especially China, and to a lesser extent, North America, the BMW Group was able to offset a stagnant European market in the third quarter of the year.

Taiwanese Man Bumps into a Traffic Officer…with his Truck

True, accidents can happen any time and at virtually any place, but we think the driver of the small truck seen in this video from Taiwan is unforgivably careless. How on earth can you not see the police officer with the distinctive yellow markings in broad daylight?
Even though he was literally hit by a truck, the officer managed to get up by himself and trot to the sidewalk before another motorist had the chance to finish the job. And yes, that's definitely going to hurt for a while…

Volkswagen Begins Assembly of T5 Passenger and Commercial Vans in Indonesia

The strong economic growth in the Asia region continues to interest the Volkswagen Group, which has decided to begin “Semi Knocked Down” [SKD] assembly of its T5 Transporter passenger and Multivan commercial vehicles in Indonesia
The German firm will assemble the T5 models in Indonesia for the local market together with the importer Garuda Mataram Motor.