After numerous teases about the all new Hyundai Azera/Grandeur, Hyundai finally revealed a promotional video of its all new Hyundai Azera. From the video we can see that this all new Hyundai Azera features a HID headlamp with LED daytime running light, a massive touch screen LCD display that was flank by metallic accents on the dashboard, a smart cruise control and also a panoramic sunroof. The car is expected to launched next year so stay tune for more updates of the all new Hyundai Azera/Grandeur.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Advertisement of the all new Nissan Sunny in China!!
Here is an advertisement of the all new Nissan Sunny that was recently launched at Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition where this car will go on sale in China in January 2011 and will be launched progressively across 170 countries around the world most probably including Malaysian market. The car was believed to be based on the underpinnings of the Nissan Micra where can you easily find a strike resemblance on the dashboard of this car and the Nissan Micra. This new Nissan Sunny will be powered by the 1.5 Litre HR15DE four cylinder engine mated to Xtronic CVT gearbox. In terms of suspension, the car features McPherson strut up front and a torsion beam for the rear suspension. Enjoy the video and pics of the car.
A glimpse of 2011 Peugeot cars line up here in Malaysia!!!
Nasim Sdn. Bhd. has just announced on the press release of 308cc that they will launch 3 Peugeot models for 2011 with the 308cc to be launched on Jan 6 2011. So what would be the next 2 models that are going to be launch by Nasim Sdn, Bhd for 2011? Well lucky you readers of Auto Insider Malaysia, I have been informed from a reliable sources that the models that are going to be launch are the Peugeot RCZ and also most probably the Peugeot 408 or the T73 project.
The 308cc was supposed to be launch during the KLIMS 2010 together with Peugeot 5008 but because of unknown reason, the launch of 308cc was delayed to 6th of January 2011. The next two models that I have mentioned above the RCZ was rumoured to be launched in June 2011 with the last model the T73 or Peugeot 408 which recently said to be launched in early 2012 might be launched earlier than expected in the last quarter of 2011.
So far to my knowledge there is already 1 unit of Peugeot RCZ here in Malaysia with Grey body colour that was belong the none the other Nasim CEO SM Nasarudin. A look at Peugeot’s website the RCZ features three powertrain choices mainly the 1.6THP 16v 200BHP, the 1.6THP 16v 156BHP and the 2.0HDi FAP 16v 163BHP. Most likely the engine choice that might see the day on Malaysian roads will be the 1.6THP (Price engine) twin scroll high pressure turbo of with 156BHP with a massive 240Nm of torque mated to a six speed manual gearbox or an optional 6 speed automatic. I think for the Malaysian market, most probably Nasim will bring the 6 speed manual as the choice of transmission here in Malaysia.
As for the 408, there has been a lot of news about the T73 project or the Peugeot 408 for this C segment model that would certainly shake some of the dominance from the Japanese marque where I personally think Nasim Sdn. Bhd will price the 408 somewhere in the regions of RM 110,000 to RM 120, 000 price bracket that would undercut and eat some share from the Japanese car makers. The Peugot 408 is also powered with the same engine that was found on the Peugeot 308 were the 408 shares the same platform with its siblings. So there’s goes the glimpse of future product offering from Nasim Sdn. Bhd. and I do hope these piece of news would become a reality.
Nasim Sdn Bhd to launch Peugeot 308cc on Jan 6 2011!!
Nasim Sdn Bhd, the official distributor of the Peugeot brand in Malaysia, will kick off 2011 with the launch of the much anticipated and award-winning 308 CC on Jan 6.
The two-door convertible will be the first of three new models to be launched by Nasim in 2011. With a stylish and sporty design, luxurious features and advanced technology, the new 308 CC is set to grow Peugeot’s presence in the local coupe cabriolet market.
“Our previous coupe cabriolet, the 207 CC, was the market leader in the segment and we believe the new 308 CC will be just as popular in this niche market.
“Peugeot was the first carmaker to introduce the coupe cabriolet with the 401 in the 1930s and the new 308 CC further reinforces Peugeot’s position as a market leader in this segment,” said SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin, CEO of Nasim.
With an indicative price of RM200,000, the new 308 CC will be launched on Jan 6 and featured at a Nasim roadshow at the Bangsar Shopping Centre from Jan 7 to Jan 9. The new 2+2 308 CC embodies Peugeot’s philosophy of Motion and Emotion with a strong emphasis on design, technology and places emotion at the heart of the motoring experience.
Its exterior is given a sporty appeal through its dynamic directional xenon headlamps, LED rear lights, 18-inch alloy wheels and a twin rear diffuser design.
Inside, the 308 CC features a premium leather interior designed in the tradition of prestige cabriolets, a retractable high resolution 7-inch screen, JBL Hi-Fi system, dual zone air-conditioning and premium leather electric front seats with memory functionality for the driver’s seat.
The 308 CC features a two-piece electrically retractable roof that folds within 20 seconds that can turn the car into a dynamic coupe or an elegant cabriolet.
Safety is also a key characteristic of the 308 CC with the inclusion of six airbags as well as the world’s first side head airbags which are housed in the seat and deployed laterally from the head restraint.
Underneath its bonnet, the 308 CC is fitted with Peugeot’s award-winning twin-scroll turbo high pressure with direct petrol injection engine which produces 156 hp and 240 Nm of torque that is matched to a six-speed automatic transmission with Triptronic and a sport mode.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
A very simple explanation of Extended Range Electric Vehicle concept brought to you by GM!!
All of us have heard and know that the electric car era is upon us and some of us stills confuse about pure electric vehicles, extended range electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles. Well there are actually a lot of differences between all of these technologies. Luckily the guys from GM have produce a simple layman kind of video to explain what is the Extended Range Electric Vehicles by demoing the Chevy Volt. Based on the really simple to understand video, well now you will have an idea how Proton Exora Range Extended Electric Vehicle that won the electric drive competition in the UK recently works. For pure electric car, the simple answer for that is the car runs purely by supplying the motor from a fully charge battery. When the battery runs out of juice, there goes your drive. The car that runs on this system is Nissan Leaf.
As for Hybrid cars, you can easily understand that a Hybrid car is actually a Petrol car which needs assistant from an electric motor to provide further fuel consumption and also runs with less Co2 emission. There are a few systems of Hybrid car such as Series Hybrid, Parallel Hybrid and Series-Parallel Hybrid. You can Google around to find out more details about this Hybrid System. Examples of Hybrid car are Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda CRZ and Honda Insight that was launched recently.
VW and DRB-Hicom signs an agreement to produce CKD models- Passat, Jetta and possibbly Polo Sedan is on the card
"Developing the market potential of the ASEAN region is of major significance for the Volkswagen Group’s long-term growth strategy," Christian Klingler, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG with responsibility for Sales and Marketing, commented in Kuala Lumpur. He added that the Malaysian automobile market in particular, where more than 570,000 vehicles were sold in 2010, played an important role in the Group’s strategic planning. "We will be using existing structures and capacities at the DRB Hicom plant in Pekan to systematically extend our presence in the Malaysian market of the future," Klingler continued.
It is planned to build further Volkswagen models for the Malaysian market on the basis of a local full scale production in a second expansion phase from the end of 2012. This CKD assembly will have an initial annual capacity of several thousand vehicles and will be successively increased. The Volkswagen Group signed a memorandum of understating to investigate local vehicle production with the Malaysian partner DRB Hicom back in August 2010.
The partner company DRB Hicom has the largest automotive production network in Malaysia and builds passenger cars and commercial vehicles at its plants in Pekan and Melaka. With a nationwide sales network, DRB Hicom is moreover an important automobile dealer and importer in Malaysia.
source: VW Media Service
Miss Tourism International Beauties visit Nissan showroom!!
On 17th of December 2012, Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) was pleased to welcome 57 beautiful contestants representing their respective countries in the Miss Tourism International 2010 World Final beauty pageant to our Petaling Jaya showroom.
In conjunction with this visit, ETCM hosted a tea party and photograph session for Malaysian press members with these 57 international beauties alongside a dynamic range of Nissan products, specifically the newly launched Teana, 370Z, Murano, new X-Trail, Grand Livina and Sylphy.
The annual Miss Tourism International is a globally recognized international beauty pageant promoting goodwill, friendship and world peace and attracting mass viewership from all over the world. Hosting the Miss Tourism International beauty pageant in Malaysia will further promote the nation’s tourism industry and will enable Malaysia to reveal to the world its many beautiful facets, from bustling cities, idyllic towns to the sun-kissed islands. With this country’s unique melting pot of cultures, memories of Malaysia would linger long in the contestants’ minds.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Peugeot 207 received more then 350 bookings!!!
Nasim Sdn. Bhd. today has announced that the recently launched Peugeot 207 has managed to secure an amazing of more than 350 booking from the Malaysian consumers since its launched in November 3rd this year. The Naza group has been on the high ground since the launched of Peugeot 308, the KIA Sorento and now the trend continues with the 207 sedan.
Price at RM 72, 888, the 207 sedan is the most affordable European brand currently on sale in Malaysian market. With some stiff competition from its competitors especially the newly launched C segment Proton Inspira which was price a bit higher than the 207, looks like the French flair has captures the heart of Malaysian.
To keep the ball continuously rolling on the high ground, Nasim has organize a three day nationwide test drive for the 207. From 17th December till 19th December 2010, customers can walk into any of 17 Peugeot Blue Cube Box outlets, five Nasim dealers or for the Klang Valley folk, just head down to Royal Selangor Club at Dataran Merdeka to test drive the 207 and stands to receive a mystery gift. Head down for the full press release of the details of 207 sedan and all the participating outlets of the three day test drive event.
Nasim Sdn Bhd, the official distributor of the Peugeot brand in Malaysia, has recorded over 350 bookings for the new Peugeot 207 since its launch in November.
As part of the company’s plans to continue the sales momentum of the new 207, Nasim will host a three-day nationwide 207 test drive event to give more Malaysians a chance to experience the new 207.
The test drives will be held at 17 sales outlets nationwide as well as the Royal Selangor Club at Dataran Merdeka from Dec 17 to Dec 19.
The new 207 is the most attainable European sedan in the market and has been making waves since its launch on Nov 3.
“We are very pleased with the response so far for the new 207 and we would like to invite other Malaysians who have not experienced the new 207 to give it a try this weekend,” said Samson Anand George, chief operating officer of Nasim.
For next year, Nasim is targeting to sell up to 6,000 units of the new 207.
As for the three-day nationwide 207 test drive event, visitors to Nasim’s sales outlets will be given a chance to drive the new 207, which is equipped with premium features and a distinct driving dynamism that sets it apart from its competitors.
The Nasim sales outlets that will host the three-day test drive events are the Peugeot Blue Box in Glenmarie, Kampung Pandan, Kampung Baru, TTDI Plaza, Nasim Petaling Jaya, Nasim Klang, Nasim Bangsar, Nasim Plentong (Johor Bahru), Nasim Juru Auto-City, Nasim Puchong, Nasim Ampang and Nasim Ipoh.
Five Nasim dealers will also participate in the three-day test drive event. These dealers are Ang Leng Motor Trading (Muar), Epigenic Corporation (Penang), Eurofrance (Johor Bahru), KS Peugeot Blue Box (Jalan Chan Sow Lin) and KS Kemaman.
All 17 sales outlets will be open from 10 am to 7 pm from Dec 17 to Dec 19 for the 207 test drive event. The Royal Selangor Club will conduct the test drives from 10 am to 10 pm on Dec 17 and 18 and 10 am to 6 pm on Dec 19.
Customers who test drive the 207 during the three day event will receive a mystery gift while light refreshments will be served to customers at the sales outlets.
Nasim recently began exporting the new 207 to Thailand where it was featured at the 27th Thailand International Motor Expo from Dec 1 to Dec 12. In the first quarter of 2011, Nasim will export the 207 to
The new 207, priced at RM72,888, displays a bold exterior with Peugeot’s trademark styling while its competitive and expressive lines as well as its 15-inch Interlagos alloy wheels illustrate the car’s premium quality and dynamism.
Inside, the 207 is elegant yet contemporary with the inclusion of a leather-wrapped steering wheel, automatic air-conditioning with a pollen filter, a multifunction display, sensor-activated automatic headlights and wipers. The 207 offers premium audio capabilities with an MP3/WMA CD player with USB and auxiliary functionality connected to a six-speaker system as well as Bluetooth connectivity.
One of the key attractions of the 207 is its drivability thanks to its Peugeot trademark road-holding capabilities and sequential transmission. The car is optimized to offer both comfort and dynamism as a result of its front suspension which has been developed to improve the caster angle to ensure steering accuracy and feel while the rear suspension is equipped with an anti-roll bar.
The 207’s four-cylinder 1.6L engine produces 110 hp at 5,800 rpm and 147 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. It features hydraulic variable power steering to allow the driver to better understand the road surface and maximize driving pleasure while the 207’s four-speed adaptive automatic transmission comes with Triptronic capabilities to enable the driver to engage the gears manually.
The transmission is also fitted with a sport mode for more priority on vehicle performance and acceleration and a snow/traction mode to provide more grip on slippery surfaces. Fuel consumption for the new 207 is 6.1-litres per 100 km (mixed cycle).
A glimpse of Proton future product offering
The first car that will be launch is the Proton Satria Neo RS Edition that was caught uncovered recently. You can head down to this blog post for the news about the Neo RS. Next up is the Proton Exora FL i.e. Exora Face Lift. As you can see, when Proton starts to roll out MC (Minor Change) or SE (Special Edition) that is the indication that a new complete refresh model will be out soon. For the Exora FL, so far there is no clear indication what will be change, it’s been a real secret. Sources stating that the car might be rolled out in April next year and the most noticeable changes would be the use of Campro CFE Turbo engine with CVT gearbox. This is no secret as Proton engineers have been explaining this piece of news during the KLIMS 2010 recently. This new engine from Proton will be complemented by Campro IAFM+ with CVT gearbox that will be features during the Phase 2 for SAGA FL. This is also has been informed to us by Proton’s MD during the launch of SAGA FL yesterday.
Equipment summary of SAGA FL
Wow based on the statistic of my blog today, there is a lot of interest for the Proton SAGA FL where many of the visitors search for more information about the SAGA FL. Let me point out the differences of SAGA FL compared to the pre facelift SAGA.
1) A new stylish front end design with a new grille, bumper and also front headlamp.
2) A new fender design to accommodate the new headlamp design and also minus the turn signal.
3) Side Mirror with LED
4) New 14 inch 6 spoke alloy rims for Executive line
5) LED rear combi lamp
6) Steering wheel audio switches for Executive line
7) ICE with USB, MP3, WMA and AUX Port connectivity for Executive line
8) Front and rear power windows
9) Dual SRS Airbags for Executive line
10) New fabric seat design
11) Two new colours Cafe Latte and Blue Rock.
12) New rear bumper with diffuser like design
13) A new exhaust tailpipe design.
For the added features here is the price of the SAGA FL.
Pre Facelift Saga Saga Facelift Differences
1.3 Standard M/T RM36,998 RM37,998 RM1,000
1.3 Standard A/T RM39,998 RM40,998 RM1,000
1.3 Executive M/T RM39,498 RM40,698 RM1,200
1.3 Executive A/T RM41,998 RM43,298 RM1,300
Have you seen the car in real flesh? You should check out the car at your nearest Proton showroom, look closely, touch it and you will be amazed the future design transformation.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Peugeot Sochaux of France rolls out 20 Millionth car
PEUGEOT’S SOCHAUX PLANT ROLLS OUT 20 MILLIONTH CAR
Honour goes to a 5008
In conjunction with its bicentenary year, Automobiles Peugeot recently rolled out its 20 millionth car at its historic Sochaux plant in France with the honour going to a Peugeot 5008 MPV.
The Sochaux plant currently produces 1,765 vehicles daily comprising of 734 units of the 308, 651 units of the 3008 and 380 units of the 5008.
The award-winning 5008 MPV was recently launched by Nasim on Dec 3. Nasim has set an initial sales target of 100 units a month for the 5008 MPV.
The Sochaux plant in France was established in 1912 and began producing trucks followed by shells during World War One. It began car production in 1921. It is the biggest manufacturing facility in France with 11,800 employees.
Production at the Sochaux plant is expected to reach 360,000 units by end-2010 while the total output in 2011 is forecast to reach 400,000 units.
In 2008, the plant had the honour of manufacturing the 50 millionth Peugeot (combined from production sites). As at end-October, a total of 55.66 million Peugeot vehicles have been produced worldwide.
The seven-seater 5008 is a new interpretation of the MPV and sets itself apart from its competitors in terms of power, luxury, comfort, practicality and safety.
With an on-the-road price of RM159,888 in Malaysia, the front of the 5008 features attractive profiled headlamps, a steeply plunging bonnet, a chrome-detailed grille and 17-inch alloy rims to exude both a sporty and premium appeal.
The vehicle’s profile portrays an elegant styling line which begins at rear door before accentuating on the wing and passing onto the rear to add a touch of dynamism the 5008’s side profile.
Inside, the 5008, features a luxurious interior equipped with avant-garde technologies and exemplary modularity. The overall ambience in the 5008 is enhanced as a result of its stunning 18 sq ft panoramic glass roof and plush leather interior.
The instrument panel in the 5008 is extended by the design of the elegant centre console with a flowing design to focus around the needs of the driver.
Technology and entertainment is a key characteristic of the 5008’s interior with the inclusion of two seven-inch LCD screens located in the front seat head restraints, two Bluetooth wireless headsets and a connection console which can be connected to a DVD player or video-gaming consoles.
The 5008, which was awarded MPV of the Year by the UK’s What Car? Green Car of the Year Awards 2010, features a head-up display unit (HUD) which displays essential driving information such as speed, cruise control/speed limiter and Distance Alert.
Distance Alert is a technology which assists the driver in ensuring the 5008 is within a safe distance from the vehicle ahead. This technology is made possible by a radar located behind the lower front bumper panel which measures the time in seconds between the vehicle in front and then transmits this data to the HUD. This non-intrusive alert system, which can be set between 0.9 seconds and 2.5 seconds, will alert the driver if the 5008 gets too close to the vehicle in front.
Underneath the hood of the 5008 is a 1.6-litre twin scroll turbo high pressure engine with direct petrol injection which produces 156 hp and 240 Nm of torque. This award-winning engine is mated to a six-speed transmission with Triptronic capabilities and a sport mode for increased performance.
KIA Sorento!! A new hit in the town...Confirmed! KIA Optima and KIA Forte Koup to be launch in Malaysia next year!!
The all new KIA Sorento which has been unveiled recently at KLIMS 2010 is a new hit of the town with the SUV has rake in a total of 300 bookings during the 10 days motor shows. This is such a feat as the SUV is still not available at the showroom and according to my friend who is one of the Sales Advisor for Naza-KIA; the SUV will only be available in two or three weeks time as the car is still waiting to arrive from Korea. To tell you the truth, the SUV is truly value for money with features that is above in its class.
I have spend quite some time to watch the SUV in details during the press day of KLIMS 2010, and the build quality is solid with the dark interior ambience that portrays a sense of luxury and elegance. I am now waiting for Naza KIA to provide me a test drive car so that I can thoroughly review the SUV and make the final judgment about this SUV. I will reserve my comment once this is all done. Up next is the news about the all new KIA Optima and KIA Forte Koup. Now Naza KIA has spilt the beans of the intention to launch the car next year. I have give you a hint about this piece of news in this post, so now what we can do is just wait till the car arrived to our shores next year. If you eager to own these models, do contact me at autoinsidermalaysia[at]gmail[dot]com and I try my best to help you secure the car as soon as the car launch here in Malaysia. Read on the full press release from Naza KIA about the amazing feat of the all new KIA Sorento and the official announcement of the all new KIA Optima and KIA Forte Koup.
Full Press Release:
OVER 300 BOOKINGS FOR ALL NEW SORENTO
Kuala Lumpur, Dec 14 – Naza Kia Malaysia, the official distributor of Kia Motors vehicles in Malaysia, received an overwhelming response for the all new 2011 Sorento which was launched on Dec 3.
Since the launch, Naza Kia Malaysia has received over 300 bookings for the all new 2011 Sorento, which features Kia Motors’s latest design DNA.
The all new 2011 Sorento was launched at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS), which ran from Dec 3 to Dec 12. Naza Kia Malaysia’s bookings of over 300 units for the Sorento exceeds its initial monthly sales target of 150 units for the highline cruiser.
“We were confident the new Sorento would be well received by the Malaysian public. There aren’t many SUVs in the market that offer the capabilities, comfort, style and performance of the new Sorento,” said SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin, CEO of Naza Kia Malaysia.
He said the highline cruiser would soon be available at Naza Kia Malaysia showrooms nationwide. Besides the new Sorento, Naza Kia Malaysia also received positive feedback from the visitors to its exhibit at the motor show for its other models on display such as the all new 2011 Kia Optima and 2011 Forte Koup.
“The new Optima and Forte Koup are among the new Kia models we plan to introduce to the market in the coming year,” said SM Nasarudin.
The all new Sorento features a confident and contemporary exterior, high-performance powertrain, modern and technology-inspired interior with superior safety features.
The all-new Sorento has been a best-seller for Kia Motors in several markets. In the United States (U.S), Kia Motors America recently celebrated the sale of its 100,000th Sorento, making it the first Kia Motors vehicle to surpass the 100,000 unit mark in the U.S. in one year.
The all-new Sorento features an aggressive and muscular stance thanks to Kia’s signature tiger-nosed grille and high intensity discharge (HID) wraparound headlamps while its straight clean lines give it a solid and robust appearance.
Its sporty appearance is further accentuated with its 18-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps, LED rear lamps and LED side-repeaters on the side-view mirrors. Underneath the hood of the new Sorento is a four-cylinder 2.4-litre DOHC CVVT engine that produces an output of 174 PS and 226 Nm of torque that is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission to offer an exhilarating ride.
For enhanced ride performance, the new Sorento is fitted with a compact and lighter MacPherson strut front suspension and a fully independent multi-link rear suspension while its four-wheel drive system enables off-road driving capabilities.
Inside, the new seven-seater Sorento offers generous head and legroom. The award-winning SUV also includes a host of premium features such as push-button start ignition with a smart key, a panoramic sun roof, a stylish supervision cluster, in-dash six-CD changer, AUX, USB and iPod connectivity, Bluetooth connectivity as well as dual separate climate control for the driver and the front passenger.
In terms of safety, the new Sorento is well equipped with a total of six airbags (dual front, side and curtain airbags), four-wheel Anti-lock Braking System, Electronic Stability Control and Electronic Brake Distribution.
The highline cruiser also features Hill Start Assist Control which prevents the vehicle from rolling backwards when trying to pull away from an uphill gradient and Downhill Brake Control which helps keep the Sorento moving straight and steady down steep grades.
The bonnet of the new Sorento is also designed to crumple and flex strategically to absorb and disperse the shock of a collision with a pedestrian. As such, potential injury for pedestrians is reduced.
The new Sorento is fitted with an electric chromic mirror (ECM) with a 3.5-inch rearview camera for all round vision, rear parking sensors and active headrests to cushion the driver or passenger’s head and prevent whiplash during a collision. The new Sorento comes with a five-year warranty (terms and condition apply).
Monday, December 13, 2010
Perodua donated to various charity under its CSR programme
40 orphans from the various charity homes within Kuala Lumpur and Selangor each received a school bag and stationeries worth RM100 as well as RM100 cash to help them prepare for 2011 school term.
Perodua Managing Director Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh handed over the cash and items to the secondary school students at a hotel on 3rd of December 2010.
“The donation will help ease the financial burden of their guardians and homes to meet expenses for the next school term. This is part of our Corporate Responsibility programme where we give back to the society that is in need,” he said.
Perodua also gave the opportunity to the 40 students to tour the KLIMS 2010 held at the Putra World Trade Centre from 3 to 12 Dec 2010.
“It is our hope that the children’s visit to exhibition booth will help stir their interest in the automotive industry,” he said.
At the same function, Perodua also donated RM3,000 each to 3 charity homes and 3 schools within Hulu Selangor and Rawang in conjunction with Deepavali celebrated recently. This is also in conjunction with the “International Day of Disabled Persons” today.
The homes are Persatuan Kebajikan Sri Saradha Devi Illam, Persatuan Sri Nyanananda Nama Sanggeerthana Malaysia and Independent Living & Training Centre while the schools were SRJK (T) Bukit Beruntung, SRJK (T) Rawang and SRJK (T) Kuala Kubu Bahru.
“It is to help the charity homes and schools to meet part of their daily expenses and programmes,” Aminar said.
Perodua to produce Electronic Automatic Transmission (E-AT) in Malaysia
Perodua with the support from its technical partner, Daihatsu Motor Company of Japan will start production in Malaysia of the high-tech Electronic Automatic Transmission (E-AT) system. E-AT is a high-tech product that requires very high skills and very sensitive controls in its production process.
Perodua Managing Director Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh said production of E-AT is targeted to start in the next couple of years after due planning and preparations.
“While the technology is not something new, we will be the first in Malaysia to produce the E-AT system. Our total investment in this project will be in a few hundred million ringgits,” he said this at a press conference in conjunction with the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) 2010.
Aminar said E-AT system which is now incorporated in 2 of Perodua current models namely Myvi and Alza, helps improves fuel consumption and smoother gear shifting feel.
The E-AT system works under the automatic transmission (AT) – ECU which judges the various conditions. It can also co-ordinate with the engine ECU and finely control a gear shift pattern or the lock-up clutch operation.
“It gives a smoother ride with very little shock and better gear shifting feeling. The best gear shifting pattern can also be chosen according to preference of the driver and road conditions,” Aminar said.
“The E-AT Project is in line with the National Automotive Policy (NAP) which encourages the investment of high-technology projects. We believe that this project will contribute considerably to the automotive industry in Malaysia,” he pointed out.
“We also believe that this E-AT system project will be able to bring benefits and confidence to Malaysian domestic economy under the strong leadership of our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak,” Aminar said.
“This will complement the initiatives under the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and the Economic Transformation Plan (ETP) recently announced by the government,” he said.
“It is Perodua’s commitment to participate in the Domestic Direct Investment projects,” Aminar said.
Proton's R3 division next project uncovered; The Proton Satria Neo R3 RS Edition
Wow this is one of the hottest news in town. From my blog clan Funtastikco, we have another round of spy shots coming from Proton. Now this time is the Proton Satria Neo RS which was said to be launched in a limited edition quantity. Based on the information from the blog, only 70 units of this car will be produced by Proton R3 division. Based on the spy pictures, I guess the car was shot on R3 production shop. When I ask my sources, this Neo RS was initially a stock Satria Neo being bought by R3 division to be added some further enhancement.
From the pictures we can see there is a new colour for the Neo RS and it features a black painted roof for a more sportier looking. The ICE setup looks like being taken from the same ICE unit from the Exora 25th Anniversary Edition that features an integrated GPS module and also a reverse view camera. There is also a push start button on the left side of the Instrument Panel which is the same as what we have seen on the Proton Neo Lotus Racing Edition.
From the pictures we can see there is a new colour for the Neo RS and it features a black painted roof for a more sportier looking. The ICE setup looks like being taken from the same ICE unit from the Exora 25th Anniversary Edition that features an integrated GPS module and also a reverse view camera. There is also a push start button on the left side of the Instrument Panel which is the same as what we have seen on the Proton Neo Lotus Racing Edition.
Based on the information that I’ve got from my sources, the steering wheel of the Neo RS will differ from the standard Neo but it will look more like on the Neo Lotus Racing edition. The wheel design as seen on the car is not the final design, but the real design can be seen on R3 approved accessories wheels at Proton website that will feature the same 16 inches wheels. As being mention in Funtasticko blog, the car will have hp and torque upgrade with the numbers indicating 145hp and 168Nm of torque.
This bump of hp and torque was achieve by changing to R3 camshaft, crankshaft and water pump pulley set, R3 Clubsport ECU upgrades and R3 cat back exhaust system. The ride height of the car will be lowered with the use of R3 performance spring set minus the whole setup of Ohlin suspension as what we have seen on the Satria Neo Lotus Racing Edition. Targeted to be launched in the first quarter of next year, this car will kick start the range of exciting vehicles to be launch from the Proton stables next year which includes the Exora FL that will feature the turbo charged Campro CFE engine.
Proton Saga FL to be launch on 15th December 2010!!!
The much anticipated Proton Saga facelift which was caught numerous times in the cyber space which includes in my blog clan Funtasticko will be launch soon. How soon, as I have been commented at Funtasticko blog, your agony will be over this Wednesday 15th of December 2010. This will be the last Proton car to be launched this year and the much anticipated Proton Saga will be officially unveiled here in Malaysia. Based on the previous rumours from my sources, the car supposed to be launched during the press day of KLIMS 2010, but this has been postponed to later date for an unknown reasons. Instead of launching the car, Proton has decided to show us a concept car based on the latest Saga facelift dubbed “Proton Kasturi”.
The facelifted Saga, as shown on the image will be known as Proton Saga FL. With a much sportier front end look, and a refresh design to the rear end, this new Proton Saga FL has been targeted to capture a much higher sales compared to the previous model with most of the changes can be seen on the Highline or Premium line model. The Highline model will received 4 powered windows instead of only 2 power windows and also the will be dual front airbags which is a very much welcome features as compared to the model it replaced. Besides that, the turn indicator has been move up from the fender to the side mirror and this turn indicator features LED lights and the design was a carry over design from the Proton Persona Elegence side turn mirror indicators.
That’s not all, for all models, the radio has been upgraded to be able to play MP3/WMA files with sources can be played from just the CD but now with the AUX input and also USB inputs. All the audio features can be control on the steering wheel via audio switches but the steering wheel audio switches is only limited to the Premium line model. In terms of fabric, the design has been refresh to a much modern looking rather than a plain uninspiring look for the pre facelift model. As I have mention earlier, the most differences can be seen on the Premium version, this is also includes a new refresh design of the alloy wheels. The rim still sports a 14 inches though where a 15 inches wheels will be a much desired for a complete overall makeover.
As for the engine, there are no changes to the power or to the torque of the car. It is still will be powered by the Campro IAFM engine spotting the same 4 speed automatic transmission and Aichikikai 5 speed manual transmission. The last changes are the colour palette. Proton will be introducing 2 new colour palettes for the Proton Saga FL which is the Blue Rock and also Cafe Latte. These two new colours will join the rest of other favourite colours the Tranquillity Black, Genetic Silver, Solid White and Granite Grey. In terms of prices, so far there is no firm information about this, but do the maths by adding up another RM 2,000 to RM 3,000 from the current Premium Line price for the new Saga FL Premium Line. Now the agony is over. Let’s watch it live this Wednesday at your nearest Proton Edar outlets. Before that, enjoy the rest of the pics after the jump.
pics source: Funtasticko Design and Paultan.
pics source: Funtasticko Design and Paultan.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
The power of Indian car market!!!
The Indian car market is one of the fastest growing car segment markets in the world now where most people there ditching out their motorcycles and moving up to a four wheeler. Remember my post about the all new Toyota Etios that has been launched on 1st December 2010. The car was a real deal for the Indian consumers with a value for money and sports quite reasonably looking sedan car. The most shocking truth is, the waiting period of owning the car is 6 months and these sales numbers was achieve without the people actually driving a test drive car. Gosh, this is so frantic and no wonders why Proton is very eager to enter the Indian market. The latest rounds of report stating that Proton will venture to the Indian market starting from next year where rumours has been whistling to my ears that Proton has sent a few cars to study the road condition, i.e. HNT testing before they enter the Indian market. Hopefully our national car maker can make an impact there of un tap phenomenal growth.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Volkswagen Group shows a stellar performance for the first 11 months in 2010.
Towards world’s no. 1 car maker by 2018, Volkswagen Group has been strengthening its grip towards achieving its dream by showing a much stellar performance this year. The numbers don’t lie and Volkswagen has revealed that for the eleven month of sales in 2010 have exceeded full year sales of 2009. There has been 12.7% increase in deliveries to 6.59 million vehicles in the month of November. In the month of November alone, the VW Group saw an increase of 16.2% of car deliveries with a total of 617,000 units; easily pass Malaysia TIV for the full year. VW Group is expecting to move more than 7 million units of cars under its brand for the whole year 2010 according to VW Group Board members for sales Christian Klinger.
The most significant increase was contributed by the Chinese market with the total delivery of 1.82 million units from January to November 2010. In Asia Pacific region, there is an increase of 38.6% compared to the previous year with the sales in the US seen an increase of 21.3% or 325,600 units car sold. The only concern for the VW Group is the sales in its home land. Surprisingly, the sales shrunk 19% from 1.17 million vehicles sold to just 950,000 units sold in the same period last year. Well looks like the German people does not share the same sentiments as the rest of the world in this improving economic condition.
For Audi, a member of VW Group, for the first time has breach 1 million sales worldwide or an increase of 15.3% which has seen an overall growth in almost all the market the car maker enters. The same impressive growth continues with the Skoda brand, with the total deliveries worldwide jump 12.3% from 625,700 units to 702,400 units. No wonder I have read an article in the UK complaining a long waiting period for a Skoda car and this is also partly due to the Euro/Pound Sterling conversion which the VW Group is closely monitoring. Read on after the jump for the full press release from Volkswagen GmBH.
More information of the all new Hyundai Azera/Grandeur
I have been covering a few posts regarding the all new Hyundai Azera/Grandeur and now we have a much more glimpse of the new car. Showing above is the video of Hyundai Azera on the move without any camouflage touring the highway in South Korea. Besides that we have some info regarding the engine that will be powering the all new Azera.
In South Korea, the Azera will feature two choices of engine both featuring direct injection technology. The base model will be powered by a 2.4 Litre engine, the same engine that has been powering the latest generation of Hyundai Sonata and KIA Optima with the top of the line featuring a 3.0 Litre GDI engine with 270hp and a massive 309Nm of torque. So far there is no information regarding the transmission option for this car, but I would think the modest transmission will be the self develop 6 speed automatic transmissions from Hyundai.
source: Hyundai and HG-Club
source: Hyundai and HG-Club
Transformers 3; Dark of the Moon trailers!!
Transformers Dark of The Moon Teaser (1080p) from Michael Bay Dot Com on Vimeo.
For any petrol head out there, a part from the Fast and Furious franchise, the Transformers franchise is also one of our favourite movies. As you may read before, the shooting for the Transformers 3 has been shot in various location around the world featuring some of the nicest car on earth. Now the 3rd instalment of the Transformers will hit the theatre in July 2011 and will be featuring in 3D with the title “Transformers Dark of the Moon” Enjoy the trailer of this much anticipated movie in 2011.
A glimpe of exciting 2011 from Naza-KIA!!
The KLIMS 2010 is going to shut its curtain tomorrow that might probably see the highest number of visitors since its inception. Well there are a lot of stories that I can report for the motor show which includes things that might soon come to our way in 2011. One of the things is coming from the KIA booth. What I mean is the new KIA Koup and also the KIA optima. On the booth of Naza KIA, Naza KIA has showcases the all new KIA Sorento, KIA Cadenza or also known as KIA K7 in Korea, the KIA Optima or K5 in Korea and the KIA Forte Koup which all of this vehicles were showcases for the first time in Malaysia shores.
As I told you earlier, the first wave of new vehicles that might see the days in Malaysia in 2011 would be the KIA Forte Koup. During KLIMS 2010, Naza KIA brought in KIA Cerato Koup, which is essentially the same car with only different name. The nameplate Cerato is more familiar to our neighbouring country down south with our side got the name Forte. A look at KIA Cerato Koup in Australia, the car was powered by 2.0Litre Theta CVVT engine that produce 156hp and 194Nm of torque, enough to provide some relaxing and exhilarated drive when you need it. Sources inside Naza KIA have informed me that the car will be available for the Malaysian market next year with the indicative price of less than RM 120,000.00. Yes less than RM 120K for a good looking coupe.
The next model that will be introduced in Malaysia next year will be the KIA Optima that was design by Peter Schreyer and Miklos Kovacs along with an Italian Davide Limongelli. Slotted to be introduce somewhere 3rd quarter next year, the car will be available in both 2.0 Litre and also 2.4 Litre Theta 11 engine that is mated to a 6 speed automatic transmission. The current highest spec of KIA Optima in Malaysia, the Optima Novus spec is retailed at RM 110,000.00 so we can expect the latest generation of KIA Optima will be price slightly below RM 130,000.00 for the low spec version which is a bit below than Hyundai Sonata with the 2.4Litre high spec most probably will be price nearing RM 150.000. This is just my estimation, so don’t take a word out of it.
The next two models that will be launch in Malaysia next year will be the all new KIA Sportage and also KIA Soul. The latter model is still under consideration of Naza-KIA and right now they are doing some feasibility study whether it is worthwhile to bring in the model here in Malaysia. Currently the only competitor for KIA Soul is the Suzuki SX4. As for KIA Optima and KIA Forte Koup, if you are interested, do contact me for more details and I will help you to achieved your dream as much as I can.
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Friday, December 10, 2010
UMW Toyota launched the upgraded Toyota Rush!!!
UMW Toyota Malaysia has launched the upgraded Toyota Rush; a recreational Urban SUV, the fully imported Toyota Rush from Indonesia offers an improvement made compared to the previous generation. Through Kaizen (constant improvement) as an integral part of Toyota philosophy, the improvement to this upgraded Toyota Rush was conceived from issues highlighted and suggestion made by previous owners and customers of Toyota. There will be three variants as previously offered namely the Rush 1.5S Automatic, Rush 1.5G Automatic and Rush 1.5G Manual.
There will be 3 new colours available as choice for customer; Champagne Metallic, White and Grey Metallic with two previous colours being offered such as Black Mica and Silver Mica Metallic. The exterior of the upgraded Rush features a new grille complemented by a new front bumper with restyled intergrated foglamps housing for the 1.5S variant. On the rear end, the upgraded Toyota Rush features a number bumper with a restyled protector plate and a newly design clear combination lamps. To further enhance the appearance, the door mirror now features a turn indicators in their housing for a more visible warning to other road users and the door handles has been furnish with chrome. All the variants also received a custom designed spare wheel cover on the rear side hinged door that has a lock to secure the full sized spare wheels.
For the interior, the overall ambience of Ivory colour from the previous generation is now will be dominated by a bold dark grey colour theme. This is one of the most important features for a SUV which is known for its active lifestyle thus a darker interior is very much welcome. To further enhance the new interior theme, the instrument panel also received some changes to better coordinate with the new look. Besides the new colour theme, the gear knob is also new both in colour and also the design. The complete the transformation, the dashboard centre console has been completely redesigned and now has an analogue styled presentation for the audio system area. The ICE also has been upgraded with now features a 2-DIN radio instead of a single DIN as previous model. The ICE is compatible playing MP3 and WMA audio formats with owners of portable music players and USB thumbdrives can be connected to the head unit for a more enjoyable personal jukebox experience.
Responding the needs of customers, the new Rush now has a 50:50 split backrest for the third row seats for a more convenient seating and cargo needs arrangement. To further spoil the customers, the new Rush now comes fully fitted with Toyota Standard Solar Film that cuts 99% UV rays and also 40% infra red radiation which has been tested and approved by JPJ to meets the law enforcement regulations. Smartag users should now fret about this new tinted film, and the film has been tested and confirmed not to interfere with signals transmitting from the system.
In terms of the suspension, the new Rush suspension comprises of an independent McPherson struts in front and live axle located by 4 links at the rear with coil springs with added improvement for a better shock absorption thus increasing ride comfort for the occupants. In terms of engine, the new Rush still powered by the 1.5litre 4 cylinder 16 valve VVT-i (3SZ-VE) engine where the fuel efficiency has been improved by 5% through optimization of the air conditioning system while noise levels have been reduced at high speeds (100 – 120 km/h range). For the latter improvement, insulation has been added in the dashboard area and a resonator has also been fitted to the air-cleaner.
In terms of safety features, the new Rush carries with the same safety features as the previous models to ensure a piece of mind owning the vehicles. To further enhance the ownership experience, the new Toyota Rush comes with 36 months/100,000kms whichever come first warranty subjected to conditions as stated in the Owners Handbook. The new Rush is now available at the showroom nationwide with the price as stated below:
Peninsular Malaysia:
Rush 1.5S Automatic – RM96, 990
Rush 1.5G Automatic – RM91, 190
Rush 1.5G Manual – RM88, 190
Sabah:
Rush 1.5S Automatic – RM99, 253.70
Rush 1.5G Automatic – RM93, 487.90
Rush 1.5G Manual – RM90, 505.00
Sarawak:
Rush 1.5S Automatic – RM99, 303.70
Rush 1.5G Automatic – RM93, 537.90
Rush 1.5G Manual – RM90, 555.00
All the price above are for Metallic colours. Head on after the jump for the rest of the pictures and a full press release.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Gallery from Proton booth at KLIMS 2010
Here are the other cars on displays at Proton booth. Enjoy the pics that I have stored for you.
