Australia’s newly seated Prime Minister – Julia Gillard, announced stricter compulsory pollution standards for new cars from 2015, adding new elements as part of Labor’s climate policy.

This program has been funded with AUD 394 millions and runs from January 1, 2011 until December 31, 2014. The main objective is to help take some 200,000 pre-1995 vehicles off the road over 4 years that guzzle a lot of petrol and spew out a lot of pollution.

Australians who trade in older cars for more fuel-efficient vehicles will be eligible for a $2000 rebate under a new initiative unveiled by Australian Labor Party.

However, the rebate would only apply when motorists purchased extra-efficient vehicles, such as the Toyota Camry Hybrid, Holden (Chevrolet) Cruze or Hyundai Getz. This program not only helps to save the earth, but it also able to stimulate the car sales in Australia too.

Chevrolet – a General Motor company with the help of the newly appointed distributor Naza, has launched a all-new 4 door compact sedan in our Malaysia market. Named as Chevrolet Cruze here and most of the country. Chevrolet Malaysia has brought in the CBU ( from Korean) 1.8 Liter Chevrolet Cruze LT with a 6 speed automatic transmission gearbox.  Our Cruze is built in Korean and if you ever wonder why – GM acquire Daewoo about 10 years back, since then certain Daewoo vehicle has been rebrand as Chevrolet in other countries. As for the Chevrolet Cruze in Korea, it is known as Daewoo Lacetti Premiere.

The front of the Chevrolet Cruze looks aggressive, muscular with it’s distinctive Chevrolet’s bow-tie which gives the car a whole continental class of looks. The Chevrolet Cruze design looks significant as compare to other previous Chevrolet models. The company claims Cruze will drive the new styling strategy from the company. Cruze is the first instance utilizing the new GM’s Delta II platform, which will be share too in the upcoming new Opel/Vauxhall Astra. The details front headlamp is designed to jive together with the front fascia styling of the Cruze. Although it does lose out a little bit in terms equipment when compare to continental cars, as it’s not a projector lamp neither with HID. However, the overall front styling of Chevrolet Cruze has compromised that.

Chevrolet Malaysia picked up the blue with black, 2 tone interior for the 1st variant of Chevrolet Cruze LT. The most unique part of the interior would be the blue wrapped fabric on the dashboard.  I couldn’t recall any car in this class range has this idea in interior styling. It’s not something expensive to deliver but it is something special on this Cruze. The seats and door panel are also 2-toned to complete the overall blue matching black interior look. The center console panel design is properly design with sense of futuristic but without over doing it – it reminds of the pre-painted Iron Man suit. Chrome dials on the far left and right air con vents and also the meter gauges give the Cruze a little of  classy-european styling. We were told there might be a full black interior or a grey/black interior in the future, but we thinks that this blue with black styling is distinctive.

Everything seems to look fine as we look through it and we went to find out more about the Cruze when it’s alive. We got the remote and at 1st thought, we mistaken it as a keyless entry remote. The Bow-tied remote has a foldable-flip key within it and we notice here there’s also trunk release here. As we drove the car i can’t help by molesting the Cruze interior because it was the 1st time i experience with a fabric dash. Everything else was properly build and in-place. The ride was quiet & comfortable as we cruise around. The 3 point – steering design is nice and equipped audio controls. As we turn into corners, there was abit more body roll than the Honda Civic. In straights, we floored the pedal to see how well the Cruze can perform.

Click here to read more details on our Chevrolet Cruze Test Drive Review

The automotive industry is getting a little more competitive in our local market here in Malaysia. A few automakers have bundle in extra warranty and free service plan into each car sale. Like all VW now come with 5 years warranty, Ford Malaysia offer extended service plan (ESP) and now goes to Chevrolet.

The new exclusive distributor of Chevrolet in Malaysia – Pavilion Crest Sdn Bhd, a member of the Naza Group of Companies now offers a five-year or 175,000km Extended Warranty Programme plus free service inclusive of labour charges and parts for two years or 40,000km for Chevrolet Captiva SUV.

It is only valid for Captivas bought from April until June 2010. According to Chevrolet, the items covered under the programme including Engine Oil, Filter, Coolant, Air Cleaner, Air Conditioner Filter, Clutch Fluid, Spark Plugs (for Gasoline Model) and Fuel Filter (for Diesel Model).

As part of Naza plan, the company is targeting to have total 18 3S (sales, service and spare parts) dealerships throughout Malaysia. Currently, there are only 8 dealerships over nationwide in Malaysia.

With this promo, probably it will give you a little more reason to consider the Captiva now.

View Official E-Brochure of Chevrolet Captiva

View Official Malaysia Price List for Chevrolet Captiva

Photo Gallery: Chevrolet Captiva

[View with PicLens]

GM has been making the “230″ marketing campaign in the states and also in the internet. It seems like the 230 figures actually means 230 miles per gallon on the Chevrolet Volt ! That’s 97.78 Km/litre in our language. Which about more than 4 times more what Toyota Prius can do. This is definately a breakthru, if the numbers doesn’t varies much from those Volts that is cruising on roads. It fuel consumption rating is based on a new methology by EPA to determine fuel economy for extended-range electric vehicle like the Chevrolet VOlt. As on the electric consumption, the Volt will consume 25 kW/hours per 100 miles. Which now makes the Chevrolet Volt the most fuel economy car ever in it’s range.

The Chevrolet Volt is powered by an electric motor and a battery pack with a 40-mile range.The battery can be recharged from a standard electric plug. On top of that, a small internal combustion engine kicks in to generate electricity for the car with a claim of total range of 300 miles.

The Chevrolet Volt, will be at the showrooms in US, end of 2010 and it is expected to cost near USD 40,000.

Fans of Bumblebee in the states, has to wait no more. They can purchase their own “Bumblebee” , well at least look-a-like. Chevrolet in US has launch a Chevrolet Camaro Transformer Special Edition. The special edition comes with,

• AUTOBOT® shield on the driver and passenger side panels
• AUTOBOT® shield on each of the four wheel’s center cap
• AUTOBOT® shield embroidered on interior center console
• “TRANSFORMERS” logo on driver and passenger doors’ sill plates
• “TRANSFORMERS” logo embedded into the hood rally stripes
• High-gloss black center rally stripe package

Chevrolet suggest that the retail price package is USD 995. For us it is too good to be true, how often do you see a movie edition car on sale? However if you think it will transform into robot mode, maybe you can try dreaming in the car.

As an icon to the Bumblebee, [more:Click here to continue reading and See the Full Gallery]the Camara Transformer SE only comes in Rally Yellow and only available in LT or SS Specs.

The LT specs model comes with a 3.6L engine produces304 horsepower (227 kW) and 273 lb.-ft. of torque (370 Nm). Where as the SS specs high performance Camaro is equipped with a 6.2L V-8, 426 horsepower (318 kW) and 420 lb.-ft. of torque (569 Nm). For those who is dreaming to have such car, just go watch Transformers again and for those who is planning get one, please don’t crash Bumblebee.

Every year journalist all over the world gather to test-drives and choose their favourite World Car of the Year (WCOTY). The 2010 World Car of the Year Nominees list is out. And the Nominees for the Overall World Car of the Year: 2010 are,

• Audi Q5
• BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo
• BMW X1
• BMW Z4
• Buick LaCrosse / Allure
• Cadillac SRX
• Chevrolet Camaro
• Chevrolet Cruze
• Citroën C3 Picasso
• Honda Insight
• Hyundai Genesis Coupe
• Hyundai i20
• Infiniti QX
• Jaguar XJ
• Kia Cerato Koup / Forte
• Kia Sorento
• Kia Soul
• Lexus HS250h
• Lexus RX
• Mazda3
• Mercedes-Benz E-Class
• Mitsubishi Outlander
• Nissan 370Z / 370Z Roadster
• Nissan Cube
• Nissan Patrol
• Peugeot 3008
• Porsche Boxster / Cayman
• Porsche Panamera
• Renault Scénic
• Subaru Legacy / Outback
• Toyota Prius

The voting and test-drive process will take place from now until the April 1, 2010 for the annoucement of All World Car award winners at New York International Auto Show.

For more info, you may refer the official World Car of the Year 2010 awards website.