NEW CAR LAUNCH: Citroen DS3 Launched In Malaysia For RM117,888 OTR!!!

Naza Euro Motors yesterday unveiled the highly anticipated Citroen DS3. The Citroen DS3 was first previewed at the Kuala Lumpur Motor Show 2013 (KLIMS’13) and is the third model after the Citroen DS4 and Citroen DS5 to be launched by Naza Euro Motors following its appointment as the official distributor for Citroen in Malaysia in January last year.

“The entrance of the Citroen DS3 into the Malaysian market completes the Citroen DS line which evokes expertise, style and technology inscribed with the DNA of innovation and distinction.

“The depth of details, vibrancy and technology make the Citroen DS3 an imposing premium B-segment car on Malaysian roads,” said Dato’ Samson Anand George, Chief Operating Officer of Naza Euro Motors Sdn Bhd.

The Citroen DS3 stands out with its finish quality, premium materials and the care taken with every detail. The Citroen DS3 was crowned “Car of the Year” by the UK’s Top Gear magazine when it was first launched and recently, voted the “Best Supermini” 2013 by JD Power Survey in UK.

With razor sharp styling and a visually-arresting design, the Citroen DS3 is a radical take on the compact urban vehicle and a contemporary breath of fresh air for the class.

Citroen's creative talent for innovative vehicle design manifests itself on every feature of the Citroen DS3. From all angles, the Citroen DS3's undeniable on-road presence and refreshing style is evident with stand-out elements such as the 'shark fin' B-pillar and sleek design of the front LED lights.

An especially cutting-edge style choice are the seven available bi-tone roof colours that match the door mirrors with chrome base and are offset by chrome side rubbing strips. There are even multiple colours for the key fobs, colour-coded according to the car.

A cockpit-inspired driving position puts the driver firmly in control with a sports-styled instrument cluster featuring three conical dials, small-diameter wheel and low-slung, body-hugging seats. The Citroen DS3 delivers a nimble driving experience with a turning circle of around 10m also making it a surefooted companion for manoeuvring around cramped urban environments.

For comfort, the Citroen DS3 is equipped with a sophisticated HiFi audio system with an additional, third speaker located in the middle of the upper dashboard and an amplified subwoofer in the boot, an MP3- and WMA-compatible CD player, Bluetooth hands-free kit and Mistral Claudia leather seats.

Under the hood, the Citroen DS3 is powered by a 1.6-litre VTi 120 automatic petrol engine that produces 120 hp and 160 Nm of torque.

The Citroen DS3 combines high-end style with practical versatility, creating an exceptionally spacious cabin out of its compact external dimensions - a Citroen speciality. At 3.95m long, 1.71m wide and 1.46m high, the Citroen DS3's interior belies its neat frame, setting a new class standard for spaciousness. 

The Citroen DS3 also boasts among the largest boot in its class at 385-litres, and for additional load capacity the 60:40 split-fold rear bench can be tumbled forward in a single, effortless movement.

Safety-wise, the Citroen DS3 is fitted with Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Electronic Brake Assist (EBA) as standard on all models as well as an Electronic Stability Program (ESP). Passive safety is also top-level, with six airbags, three-point seat belts and ISOFIX anchor points in the rear side seats all fitted as standard. 

The Citroen DS3 gets a range of driving aids, such as a cruise control/speed limiter and a gear change indicator that recommends gear changes to save on fuel and cut emissions. The Citroen DS3 was awarded a maximum five-star rating from the Euro NCAP crash safety test.

The front suspension is fitted with Macpherson Struts to improve ride quality while the rear suspension is fitted with a flexible traverse beam. Other features include automatic illumination of Headlamps, LED daytime running lights, electro chrome rear view mirror, electrically folding and heating door mirrors and automatic digital air-conditioning.

The Citroen DS3 comes with 17-inch Bellone black Diamond-tipped alloy wheels and is available in Red Rouge Rubi with Black Top, Red Rouge Rubi with White Top, White Blanc Banquise with Black Top, White Blanc Banquise with Blue Top, Black Noir Perla Nera with White Top, Blue Belle with White Top and Yellow Jaune Pegase with Black Top.

The Citroen DS3 is priced at RM117,888 (on-the-road).

Since being appointed as the official distributor for Citroen in Malaysia last year, Naza Euro Motors have inaugurated the Citroen DS4, Citroen DS5 and now the Citroen DS3 as part of Citroen’s prestigious DS line. An extensive network expansion was also set in motion with Citroen Glenmarie in Shah Alam and continued with Citroen Penang Island in Island Glades, Citroen Juru on the mainland, PJ Automall and Citroen Johor Bahru. More showrooms and service centres are primed to open in the near future to accommodate the growing demand for aftersales service.

source: Naza Euro Motors

PRESS RELEASE: VW Malaysia Announce The Winner Of Maybank VW Beetle Prize Presentation

The 2013 edition of the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) which ran from Nov 14 to 24 of last year saw Volkswagen Group Malaysia offer Maybank customers who visited the country’s premier motor show the chance to walk away with the brand-new yellow Volkswagen Beetle 2.0. 

The Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Malaysia, Mr Christoph Aringer and Head of Consumer Finance, Maybank, Mr Abdul Razak bin Mohd Nordin presented the mock key to Syed Ahmad bin Mohamed Ghani, the lucky winner of the most powerful Beetle variant available in the country. 

Beating out close to 6,000 participants, Syed Ahmad could barely contain his surprise at winning the prize, saying “When I found out that I was the winner of the Volkswagen Beetle 2.0, I really couldn’t believe it. I’d always heard of people winning these contests, but have never won anything or personally known anyone who has, so this came as a great surprise to me. I’d like to personally thank Volkswagen Group Malaysia, Maybank and of course, the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) for giving me the opportunity to win my dream car.” 

Managing Director, Volkswagen Group Malaysia, Mr Christoph Aringer mentioned, “The Beetle is the true definition of an icon, one that has impacted people from all walks of life since the 1930s, and yet, is still instantly recognizable all over the globe today. It is our pleasure as Volkswagen Group Malaysia to be able to see a car enthusiast like Syed Ahmad express his support and appreciation for our model and brand the way he has.” 

He also added, “We are delighted to be affiliated with Malaysia’s largest motor show and it has been a pleasure partnering Maybank and MAA, in bringing Malaysians a memorable time with their favourite automobiles and brands. We look forward to the opportunity of working with them again in the near future.”

Launched and available in Malaysia since 7 November 2012, The Beetle 2.0 is currently priced at RM 222,888 and is available for public test drives at all Volkswagen dealer showrooms nationwide. Other variants include The Beetle 1.2 and The Beetle 1.4. For more information, please visit www.volkswagen.com.my

source: VW Malaysia Press Release

SPYSHOTS: All New Subaru XV Crosstrek On Trailer

Recently, during my drive on the Elite highway, I have came across with 2 new Subaru XV Crosstrek on the trailer heading north towards NKVE to unknown destination. As you may aware, during KLIMS 2013, Motor Image Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. have previewed the Subaru XV Crosstrek there thus with this new spyshots does the new Subaru XV Crosstrek is going to be launched here in Malaysia soon..Once i have more updates on this latest development, I will keep you all readers of Auto Insider Malaysia posted. I'm sorry for the not so clear shots as it was taken from my handphone. :) 

INSIDER NEWS:New 4th Generation Honda City Will Be Launched On 13th March 2014!!!

Good news for the readers of Auto Insider Malaysia whom are looking to replace their old rides, Honda Malaysia has announced the booking for the new Honda City is now open and you can head down to your nearest Honda dealership if you fancy the new City and be among the first one in Malaysia to drive this new car. As reported there will be 4 variants available mainly S, S+, E and V specification with the highest specs features all the bells and whistle which make it looks even more appealing then the current Honda Civic. 

As per headline, yes the new Honda City will be launched on 13th March 2014 which is 3 weeks from now. Based on the recent announce made by Honda Malaysia, there will be 5 product launches which include both new and facelifted model. I reckon, the new model that will be launched are Honda City, Honda Jazz, both petrol and hybrid form, facelifted Honda Civic and most probably Honda Brio or the new Honda Vezel. Time will tell and sure you are the first one to be informed of this all new product launches and line up of Honda car for Malaysian market. 

INSIDER NEWS: Proton Will Announce The New DCEO of Proton Next Monday. Read More For The Info!!!!

Another breaking news from Auto Insider Malaysia. Looks like we don't have to wait so long for Proton top management to announce the new top honcho for Proton. Looks like the top management of Proton has already decide the new DCEO for Proton. 

Next Monday, Proton will announce the new DCEO after the Management Committee meeting and based on the insider info, the new Proton DCEO will be En Abdul Harith Abdullah, the current CEO of DRB Hicom Deftech of Pekan and DRB Hicom Group current head of automotive and defense. Before being appointed the CEO of Deftech, En Abdul Harith was the CEO of Modenas. 

En Abdul Harith was a graduate of Royal College of Art in United Kingdom with Master of Design majoring in vehicle design. He was a no stranger to Proton as he was the ex employee of Proton previously. 

From the look of it, looks like the resignation of Dato' Lukman Ibrahim maybe has been decided for a quite sometime due to the immediate appointed of the new DCEO come this Monday.

Let's wait for the official announcement soon. Stay tune with the latest update with Auto Insider Malaysia

INSIDER NEWS: Proton May Soon Be Up For Sale!!!

Yet another story involves our national car automaker Proton. With the recent breaking news of Dato’ Lukman Ibrahim resignation as DCEO of Proton, looks like a bigger tidal wave is about to unfold inside Proton.

Based on the information that I have received, looks like Proton will go through another round of MBO (Management Bought Over). The time frame that was indicated for this MBO would be as soon as April this year, most probably after the launch of Proton P2-30A or Proton GSC.

A few names have been mentioned about this MBO, firstly, Khazanah Nasional buying back Proton from DRB, but the sources revealed that the deal has not gone through well. The next name mentioned was Petron Malaysia which rumors said there have been meeting taking place for the discussion for the MBO.

The next name that was mentioned was Kencana. As we can see here, both Petron and Kencana were associated with Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir even tough Datuk Mokhzani has step up mentioning that he does not own Petron Malaysia.

With numerous delays of Proton turnaround plan by Proton top management sparks the fuels that DRB may relinquish its possession of Proton and focus of with this MBO and let the new owners to charts its own Proton turnaround plan.

With the saga may unfold in the next  few months, stay tune for more updates and breaking news at Auto Insider Malaysia. 

Volkswagen Group AG Posted 6.5% Increase of Car Deliveries In January 2014!!!. Official Press Release!!

The Volkswagen Group began the new year with a sizable 6.5 percent* rise in deliveries, handing over 798,100 (January 2013:749,500)*vehicles to customers in the first month of the current year. “The Volkswagen Group has made a good start to the new year. Even though last January’s delivery figures

reflected the special effect brought about by the Chinese New Year, we still grew deliveries further in the first month of this year. And we are seeing the first increases in Europe, above all in Western Europe, where the downturn appears to have bottomed out”, Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler said in Wolfsburg on Friday, and added: “This is a good start to what will be a challenging year.”

Positive momentum continued on the overall European market, where Group brands grew deliveries by 8.5 percent to 273,700 (252,200) vehicles in the first month of the year, of which 146,700 (138,100; +6.3 percent) units were handed over in Western Europe (excluding Germany). There was a sizable increase for the Group in the home market of Germany, where 82,400 (73,900; +11.6 percent) customers chose a new vehicle from the Group. The company delivered 44,500 (40,200; +10.7 percent) vehicles in the Central and Eastern Europe region during the same period, of which 16,100 (17,400; -7.2 percent) were handed over in Russia.

The Volkswagen Group delivered 57,800 (62,600; -7.7 percent) vehicles in the North America region in January, of which 36,900 (42,700; -13.4 percent) were handed over in the United States. In the South America region, Volkswagen Group deliveries during the same period were down 19.5 percent to 62,200 (77,300) vehicles, of which 43,600 (55,400; -21.4 percent) were handed over to customers in Brazil.

The Group continued to record very encouraging figures in the Asia-Pacific region, where 374,400 (326,200; +14.8 percent) vehicles were delivered in the first month of this year, of which 344,400 (298,300; +15.5 percent) were handed over to customers in China (incl. Hong Kong), the Group’s largest single market – this is the first time January deliveries on this market have exceeded the 300,000 mark. In contrast, deliveries in India declined to 5,700 (7,800; -27.4 percent) vehicles.

source: VW Press Release

Breaking News!! Dato' Lukman Ibrahim Resigns From Proton Once Again!!!

Well the dusk at Proton has not settled down yet. With the imminent launching of the Proton P2-30A or Proton GSC expected this April, Proton Deputy CEO Dato' Lukman Ibrahim has once again tendered his resignation letter again. The twee tee bird was chirping to my ears yesterday evening that Dato' Lukman has clear his office after chairing the management meeting yesterday evening. 

Based on the internal unverified information, his resignation was due to the citing difference between the Proton management team and Dato' Lukman. There are factions inside the Proton Top Management with some of the top honcho were favorite of Tan Sri Khamil. Among the reasons why Dato' Lukman came back to Proton was after the discussion with Proton advisor Tun Dr. Mahathir and this reappointment does not blend well with Tan Sri Khamil. 

Well looks like we have to wait for the official announcement from Proton then. I do hope for the best to the next Deputy CEO of Proton. 

Toyota ECO Youth 2014 Launched. Official Press Release!!!

The Toyota Eco Youth (TEY) programme was launched yesterday marking another year of environmental activities for 16 participating schools nationwide. In its 14th year now, the programme that is one of UMW Toyota Motor three key CSR pillars was officially launched by Datuk Dr Khair Mohamad Yusof, Director-General of Education, Ministry of Education Malaysia and Datuk Ismet Suki, President of UMW Toyota Motor. 

To raise the bar, UMW Toyota Motor announced an increase in the winning prizes, to the delight of all. The winning schools will now receive RM10,000 for the grand prize, RM7,000 for second prize, and RM5,000 for third prize winner. 

According to Datuk Ismet, the increase in prize money was to motivate participants to do even better by coming up with creative and sustainable innovations with market value that can withstand the test of time. 

He explained, “When we first started, our idea is to create eco champions and agents of change in schools. With the participants’ overwhelming enthusiasm and initiative, we extended the programme to include local communities in 2011 when the programme celebrated its tenth anniversary.” 

The key idea is to empower students with critical thinking skills through the Toyota 8-Step Problem Solving Methodology, so that they will grow into proactive young men and women who will tackle problems heads-on instead of waiting for solutions from authorities or someone else. 

Director-General of Education, Datuk Dr Khair Mohamad Yusof lauds the Toyota Eco Youth as a programme with the potential to change the perceptions and lives of people and communities nationwide. Many of TEY’s elements are similar to what is planned in the Malaysia Education Development Plan that will be implemented from 2013 to 2025. 

Development and progress are necessary to improve a country’s standard of living, yet they must be conducted ethically and responsibly, not at the expense of Mother Nature. “Decisions and actions made today will have an impact upon the future generations. Conversely, the lack of decisive actions today will one day snowball into an uncontrollable environmental problem in the future” he said. 

Datuk Ismet reminded participants that everything that we enjoy today such as clean water and air, green forests, a wide biodiversity did not happen automatically. They were concerted efforts by caring people in the past to plant trees and save our rivers or seas from pollution, which is in line with the Guiding Principles of Toyota Motor Corporation to adopt initiatives that contribute to harmonious and sustainable development of society in all aspects.

Established in 2001, the TEY programme started off with 8 schools around the Klang Valley. The programme was later extended to involve schools nationwide. In 2011, the programme was expanded to involve the local community. 

Participating students will be tasked to find creative and practical solutions to the environmental problems faced by their immediate communities and to engage the involvement of the locals in their efforts. 

They also had to document their experiences and share them in the Toyota Eco Youth blog to gain support and publicity, as well as present the entire project during the closing ceremony at the end of the year. Marks are given for project management, blog content, final presentation and impact on stakeholders. 

For more information, log on to www.toyotaecoyouth.com.my or view the blog at www.ecoyouthblog.toyota.com.my.

source: UMW Toyota Motors Press Release

UMW Toyota Issued Special Service Campaign For The All New Prius 1.8. Official Press Release!!!

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced a special service campaign concerning certain software characteristic used to control the boost converter in the inverter assembly of Prius 1.8 variant. As a result, various warning lights will be illuminated and the vehicle will enter into a fail safe mode affecting reduce in motive power.

This Special Service Campaign is conducted to re-program the software for both Motor Generator Control ECU and the Power Management Control ECU on affected Toyota Prius 1.8 variant.

UMW Toyota Motor has received confirmation from their principal, Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan, that there are 6,160 units of Prius 1.8 variant manufactured from year 2009 – 2013 sold in Malaysia by UMW Toyota Motor that are involved in this Special Service Campaign.

Although there have not been any reported cases in Malaysia, UMW Toyota Motor will be conducting this Special Service Campaign to ensure our customers’ vehicle remain reliable and at its best performance level. 

UMW Toyota Motor will contact all customers involved to carry out the necessary corrective measures at no cost. No other models sold by UMW Toyota Motor are affected by this campaign.

source: UMW Toyota Press Release

Proton Might Be Assembling Honda Brio!!!

Another rumor mill has been shot into my ears by my Proton insider with some news of Proton might be assembling Honda Brio at its plant. Apparently, before Chinese New Year holidays, Proton top brass was said having a meeting with Honda Asia Pacific top brass on the idea of assembling the Brio here in Malaysia.

As you may know, the Honda Brio was currently assembled at Honda Thailand factory, but even with AFTA duties, it is still not viable to bring the car here into the Malaysian market unless it is being assembled here in Malaysia. With the incentive of new NAP being announce on 20th January this year, looks like Honda Malaysia going to this route of getting the incentive under the EEV vehicle. Can Malaysian expect the most affordable Honda cars soon on the Malaysian road? Time will tell.. as for now, keep on rumours coming in!!!!

Interior Spyshot of Proton P2-30A Global Small Car (GSC) Revealed!!!

Finally we can shed some light on how the interior of Proton new upcoming P2-30A or better known as Proton Global Small Car (GSC) through various spyshot of the interior courtesy of Paultan.org and funtasticko.net. 

Based on the interior shot, we can see that Proton has managed to revise its interior design language from a drab waterfall in panel design to a more modern design which to me have some influence of Mitsubishi Lancer interior design. The seven inch ICE is now sits high above the instrument panel where it now being flanked by the aircond vent on both sides with a silver coloured trim adorned its surrounding. 

If you look closer at the seven inch ICE, this dual DIN DVD player which might be a carry over parts from the Proton Inspira but the placement of the volume button has been place on the right side of the ICE instead of on the left side on the Proton Inspira. This radio was manufactured by Blaupunkt and it comes with audio control button on the steering wheel of this new Proton GSC. 

Current Proton Inspira ICE. Similar design with Proton GSC minus the button placement

As for the aircond, Proton has featured an automatic single aircond system as per other current crop of Proton model such as in the Preve and also the Suprima with a more upscale design of the aircond knob. 

If you look further down the center console, Proton has managed to retained the same design as per Preve/Suprima with USB port and also AUX out outlet with the bottom center console box will be covered by a slide mechanism. 

Peeking further back near the gear shift lever and the handbrake of this model, Proton has placed its cup holders here as per current Proton Persona design. 

In terms of other features, the center instrument panel has been filled with buttons that can activate the car front parking sensor, electronic stability control (ESC), hazard light button and also central locking button. The design of the button looks like it was a carry over buttons from Proton Exora.

Besides that, based on the spyshot we can also see that, the new meter combi for the GSC was design with twin binnacle design with the Multi Information Display (MID) being flanked by the speedometer and the tachometer. It is quite disappointing as Proton still utilize monochrome display instead of full TFT display which certainly uplift the looks of this new Proton GSC. 

As per needle for the meter combi, Proton has gone to a right direction with the needle design looks like a copy of Ford Focus/Fiesta needle design which looks quite sporty for this model. 

Lastly, the seat of this model will come with two variant mainly Executive variant that comes equipped with a nice design fabric seat and also for the Premium variant, it will comes with a full leather seat. 

Based on the information that I have received, looks like this model is on schedule to be launched this April, thus stay tune for more updates on the all new Proton P2-30A a.k.a Proton GSC. 

Picture credit: Paultan.org and funtasticko.net 

Volkswagen WRC Team Clinched Second One-Two Win at Rally Sweden. Official Press Release!!

Volkswagen claimed its second one-two of the season at the second round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) and Andreas Mikkelsen/Mikko Markkula (N/FIN) not only clinched a frenetically celebrated one-two, but also put on an extremely gripping duel for the fans. In difficult conditions at the Rally Sweden – thawing temperatures, snow and rain made for a difficult combination – the Polo R WRC proved to be the fastest car for the second time in a row. 43 of 69 possible top-three times, of which 18 produced stage wins, and a one-two-three at the top of the overall standings for a while – Sweden was once again a happy stomping ground for Volkswagen in 2014. 

The team’s Nordic drivers – Jari-Matti Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen – were embroiled in a spectacular duel for long periods of the rally, scrapping for every fraction of a second. In the end, they could both consider themselves real winners: Latvala celebrated his ninth WRC victory, the third at the Rally Sweden and the second in Volkswagen colours – and also moved to the top of the Drivers’ Championship in the process. Mikkelsen made his first appearance on the podium at the pinnacle of rallying. World Champions Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) ended the Rally Sweden in sixth place after a mighty fightback, having previously dropped back to 20th overall following a rare driver error.

“We are delighted that Jari-Matti Latvala’s fine performance this weekend has paid dividends,” said Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neußer, Volkswagen Board Member for Technical Development. “This win was fully deserved and the result of some intelligent driving. Andreas Mikkelsen – the junior member of our team – showed in the trickiest of conditions that he has the potential to compete with the best in the world. Sébastien Ogier was a bit unfortunate with his slip-up. Despite this, he was once again the man to beat this weekend, claiming ten stage wins.”

Duel of the weekend: Latvala vs. Mikkelsen

Finland 13 – Norway 10: the all-Volkswagen duel between Latvala and Mikkelsen had fans on the edge of their seats for pretty much the entire Rally Sweden. It took until Saturday’s final leg to decide which of the two team-mates would emerge victorious from their gripping head-to-head. The morning started with just 3.6 seconds separating the old hand and the youngster. Only after a slight mistake from Andreas Mikkelsen in extremely difficult conditions did Jari-Matti Latvala feel the pressure fall from his shoulders. Mikkelsen lost crucial seconds after spinning on the 18th special stage. A glance at the statistics reveals the extent, to which the Volkswagen drivers dominated the Rally Sweden: Latvala made 18 appearances in the top three, Mikkelsen 13. Jari-Matti Latvala also picked up the 300th stage win of his career in Sweden.

Fightback of the weekend: Ogier recovers to claim sixth

Steered in a fraction of a second too late, skidded into a snow wall, but able to fight on thanks to a little help from the fans – Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia experienced both faces of the Rally Sweden on Friday. Although their mistake cost them the lead, the World Championship winning duo in the Polo R WRC were able to continue at the only snow rally of the season. A run of stage wins saw them recover from 20th place to earn valuable championship points. In total, Ogier/Ingrassia set the fastest time on ten stages.

Valuable commodity: looking after studded tyres the key to success

A thin layer of ice and snow on the first loop, followed by gravel that has been raked to the surface on the second loop – not exactly ideal conditions for the standard studded tyres used at the Rally Sweden. Wherever the gravel had risen to the surface, the drivers risked breaking the tungsten spikes on the Michelin “X-ice North 2” tyres should they push too hard. Both Jari-Matti Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen made good use of their 28 tyres during their battle for overall victory. They both set off on Saturday’s final two loops with six brand-new Michelin tyres.

Lead extended – Volkswagen Motorsport tops the Manufacturers’ Championship

The lead increased by twelve points: Volkswagen leads the Manufacturers’ Championship after the second win of the year. The works team, consisting of Sébastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala, currently has 72 points to its name – 16 more than Citroën and 50 ahead of M-Sport-Ford.

Power Stage yields two bonus points for Jari-Matti Latvala

Victory in Sweden saw Jari-Matti Latvala move to the top of the World Championship for the first time in his career, and as if that were not enough, he also picked up bonus points on the Power Stage. Second place behind Ford driver Mads Østberg on the closing special stage, on which extra points are awarded to the fastest three cars, mean Latvala now has 40 points to his name. He is followed five points back in second place by World Champion Sébastien Ogier. Andreas Mikkelsen is fourth in the Drivers’ Championship with 24 points.

Quotes after day three of the Rally Sweden

Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC #1

“Sixth place is the conciliation prize for us. Sure, Julian and I would love to have repeated the success of last year, but after my mistake on Friday, eight points are the best we could have hoped for. We made a clean run of it on the final day, despite the incredibly slippery conditions. Also, by setting 10 fastest times here we’ve demonstrated that we will be a force to be reckoned with again next year, since Rally Sweden is one of my absolutely favourite events in the WRC calendar. Congratulations to Jari-Matti and Miikka, who put in a fantastic performance, just as Andreas and Mikko did. The team has another reason to celebrate and in the World Championship it is always exciting.”

Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R WRC#2

“It’s amazing to have won the Rally Sweden for the third time. This victory is especially important to me as I won my first ever WRC rally here in 2008. Clinching the victory was no easy task, the difficult conditions and solid times from my team-mates meant that Miikka and I had concentrate fully and give it our best. Due to the thawing snow we drove over a lot of gravel and had to be shrewd when it came to sparing the tyres. Andreas Mikkelsen didn’t make it easy yesterday, he drove a strong rally and fully deserves to be on the podium. It was brilliant that we were allowed to fight in out fairly and weren’t obliged to bow to team orders and is unique in this format. It’s not down to this that I feel very content at Volkswagen.”

Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo R WRC#9

“First time on the podium! I have longed so much for this result. To have achieved it practically on my doorstep is awesome! The final day here in Sweden was once again a real challenge. With the slushy snow and exposed gravel, which characterised the second loop, it was certainly not easy. I had a whiff of victory for long parts of the race – which felt great. After a small mistake, I wasn’t able to keep up the pressure on team-mate, Jari-Matti Latvala. Instead, I turned my concentration on maintaining the gap between myself and Mads Østberg in third place and in the end it was a close run thing. However, all said and done we thoroughly deserved our second place. To have made this breakthrough in the world championship here at Rally Sweden, with some of the toughest conditions in years, makes me feel particularly proud. My team, my co-driver Mikko Markkula and I have earned a beer or two today. We will celebrate in style tonight.”

Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director

“We have the best rally drivers in the world under contract and with the Polo R WRC, they had the quickest and most reliable car here in Sweden. We’ve always known this, but now the results tell you all you need to know. Jari-Matti Latvala clinched this victory with a perfect performance, but he also had to fight it out. He went into battle with Andreas Mikkelsen, who impressed us all. Hats off to both of them, but also to Sébastien Ogier, ten fastest times and a strong comeback speak for themselves. On this occasion he didn’t have the luck of the brave and has to come to terms with the fact that getting stuck in snow is a part of rallying. The team now has the luxurious problem of having to open the next rally in Mexico with the championship leader and second and fourth placed drivers in the standings. But we’ll gladly put up with that. I am unbelievably proud of the result and of the team, whose hard work has paid dividends once again.”

And then there was ...

... Sébastien Ogier’s new record. The Volkswagen works driver travelled a massive 41 metres through the air before landing after the infamous “Colin’s Crest” jump – in doing so he eclipsed the previous best, set by American Ken Block, by a full four metres.

And then there was also ...

... Prince Carl Philip of Sweden, who paid the Volkswagen team a spontaneous visit on Saturday afternoon. As Duke of Värmland, where the Rally Sweden is held, the man third in line to the Swedish throne knows his way around more than just the local geography. Last year, Carl Philip of Sweden lined up at the Rally Sweden himself, taking part in a support class at the wheel of a vintage Porsche 911.

source: VW Malaysia

TOTAL Oil Malaysia Launched Full Range of TOTAL Engine Oil in Malaysia. Official Press Release!!

TOTAL, the official provider of lubricants and racing fuels for FIA Formula One™ Championship winners Sebastian Vettel and Infiniti Red Bull Racing Team, brings its heritage of providing cutting edge lubricants that deliver superior performance, reliability, and fuel efficiency to the Malaysian market via TOTAL QUARTZ, a range of lubricants specially designed to meet the stringent performance requirements of automotive OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and engine manufacturers worldwide.

According to the World Bank, Malaysia has an average of 361 vehicles per 1,000 people, a figure that increases to 977 in urban areas such as Klang Valley, the highest rate of vehicle ownership in the Asia Pacific region. According to analyst firm Frost & Sullivan, the rate will continue to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.8% until 2019, despite the fact that Malaysia is now the second most expensive country in the world to own a car. However, the robust demand for cars is dampened by continuous increases in fuel prices, putting pressure on automobile owners to seek ways in which they can save on fuel while optimising their car’s performance.

“Choosing the right engine oil has never been more important in Malaysia,” said Antonio Miranda, Managing Director of TOTAL Oil Malaysia. “It can make a difference in extending your engine’s life, even up to a few years, and in extending fuel mileage, especially in the of rising fuel prices. We have taken our 30 years of expertise in Formula One™ and competitive motorsports to develop the most cutting-edge automotive solutions for the mass market and specialised industries. These lubricants ensure optimum vehicle performance while maximising fuel. We all know that Malaysians love their cars and we want to empower them to take the best care of their vehicles with our lubricants.”

A survey conducted by IPSOS reveals that 32% of consumers will shift to a different brand if it delivers better performance. TOTAL’S promise of bringing “More Protection, More Kilometers” has encouraged more drivers to choose it over other lubricants. Says Kenny Lee, owner of KEGANI AUTOTECH SDN BHD, “My clients choose TOTAL because of its high quality and ability to keep the engine running in top condition.” 

The TOTAL QUARTZ range of products has been developed to maximise the engine’s life. TOTAL QUARTZ lubricants contain 3 main components – a base oil of varying composition and properties enhanced by polymers and performance additives. While most lubricants fulfill basic functions such as ensuring the engine is clean, providing good cylindrical compression for efficiency, and preventing overheating, TOTAL QUARTZ goes the extra mile by saving on fuel consumption and protecting the post-treatment systems fitted in new engines. Total has developed a fuel economy calculator to show how TOTAL QUARTZ lubricants can help reduce fuel consumption. 

In addition to engine oil, TOTAL Oil Malaysia specialises in providing comprehensive lubricant solutions for machinery, heavy duty vehicles across industrial sectors including food processing, construction, steel, rubber, textile, metalworking, etc. Each solution has been created to meet the strictest quality standards and have been endorsed by major OEMs) such as Kia, Citroen and Peugeot

To celebrate its success in the local market, TOTAL Oil Malaysia, along with Sony Pictures, is presenting the film ROBOCOP, which will premier in Malaysia on January 31. To know more about TOTAL Quartz lubricants and to win free movie tickets, log on to their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/totalmalaysia. TOTAL Oil Malaysia is also giving a free Robocop umbrella for every purchase of TOTAL QUARTZ 9000 (fully synthetic) and a free hand towel for TOTAL QUARTZ 7000 (semi-synthetic).

Availability

TOTAL QUARTZ is available in more than 1000 independent workshop across Malaysia. TOTAL also has 130 Auto Lubcare workshops across Malaysia, which provides full servicing for passenger cars using Total Oil products. For more information on product availability, please visit www.total.com.my or our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/totalmalaysia.

source: TOTAL Oil Malaysia

Perodua Apologise For The Late Delivery of The New Alza. Official Press Release!!

On behalf of Perodua, I wish to apologise to our customers, in particular our new Perodua Alza customers, for a slight delay in delivery of their vehicle due to unforeseen circumstances.

We wish to assure our customers that the delay is neither because insufficient stock nor quality concerns. As of today, production of the New Alza stood at 10,000 units against 8,000 bookings that we have received since bookings were opened on 20th December 2013.

Most of the units are now at our sales centres nationwide awaiting delivery and we are focusing our efforts to ensure that you receive your vehicle at the soonest possible time.

That being said, the responsibility is ours and we greatly regret any inconvenience this delay has caused you - our valued customers.

On the upcoming celebrations, we wish everyone an enjoyable break. 

To our Chinese friends, business partners and especially our customers, we wish you a happy and prosperous Chinese New Year – Gong Xi Fa Chai

source: Perodua Press Release

VW Malaysia Officially Launched The CKD Polo 1.6. Official Press Release!!

The new Polo 1.6 makes its debut in the Malaysian market recently as Volkswagen Group Malaysia introduces its third locally assembled vehicle to the Malaysian public.

With its sporty and dynamic design, this new car is the ideal choice for young drivers desiring a dynamic and engaging experience that does not compromise on levels of comfort, safety and quality, a car that is “Big on Fun”.

Given a national premier during the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show last November, the newest member of the Polo family comes in a comprehensive package with a host of value-added features that is priced competitively to offer consumers a German engineered, Malaysian assembled vehicle. 

Combining exhilarating performance with superb low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, the new Polo 1.6 is an enviable mix of space, quality and performance with a strong emphasis on environmental friendliness.

Superior Torque, Fuel Efficiency and Handling

Equipped with a 1.6-litre 105PS petrol injection 16-Valve Multi Point Injection (MPI) engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic, the new Polo 1.6 comes with a maximum torque of 153Nm available at a low 3800rpm – making it amongst the most powerful cars available in its segment. At the same time, the car performs a remarkable fuel economy – offering a combined fuel consumption of 6.3 litres per 100km, allowing drivers to go a distance of almost 16 km per litre. The new Polo 1.6 has superior handling performance, making it one of the best rides in its segment. The car drives with less body roll, giving a more stable handling and providing increased safety and confidence to both the driver and passengers.

Connectivity and Comfort – Best in Class

Offering a wide range of connectivity options to the customers, the new Polo 1.6 comes with a new RCD 320 Radio system with multi-language support, single CD player (WMA/MP3 compatible), USB and iPod interface, AUX-IN support, SD card slot, and Bluetooth connectivity for mobile and audio streaming. The car is equipped with enhanced features such as “Climatronic” automatic air conditioning system, a fully automatic climate control system for the comfort of all occupants. 

Unique Features for its Segment

The new Polo 1.6 is equipped with features such as cruise control, remote control operated power windows, and automatic one touch up/down power windows for all four doors – making it the only car in its segment to offer such exclusivity.

Safety Features – Peace of Mind

Similar to all other Volkswagen vehicles, a high level of safety is ensured in the new Polo 1.6. Equipped with dual front airbags, the inclusion of Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS) and anti-pinch power windows in all four doors makes this car a very safe ride. Additionally, the new Polo 1.6 comes with the standard 3-point safety belts for rear outboard occupants, child seat anchor (ISOFIX system), anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Brake Assist (BA), Park Distance Control (PDC) and electronic vehicle immobilization device for an enhanced peace of mind for driver and passengers regardless of age. 

Interior

Exuding the Volkswagen look and feel, the new Polo 1.6 comes with an interior chrome package (chrome surrounds for radio and light switches, AC panel and vents, steering wheel accent). With a tilt and telescopic adjustable multi-function leather steering wheel, a leather gear knob, and a leather handbrake lever, discerning drivers can look forward to an enhanced driving experience. Additionally, the new Polo 1.6 comes with folding rear seats, ‘Livon’ fabric seat upholstery and a large multi-function display.

Exterior 

The new Polo 1.6 is a sporty-designed car that features clean lines throughout its body, embodying the true Volkswagen DNA. The car comes with 15-inch “Riverside” alloy wheels, twin chrome bar front grille, chrome based headlights and new taillight design to give the car a sporty dynamism that is evident at a glance. The car is further equipped with halogen headlamps that are manually height adjustable as well as front and rear fog lights for the rear to ensure optimal visibility in any situation. 

The new Polo 1.6 comes in 5 different colors; namely Candy White, Flash Red, Pepper Grey, Reflex Silver and Deep Black. 

The new Polo 1.6 is available at all Volkswagen dealerships in Peninsular Malaysia starting from 24 January 2014 at a price of RM87,888. For the first 500 vehicles however, there will be a special launch price offer of RM85,888. For more information on the new Polo 1.6, please visit www.volkswagen.com.my

source: VW Malaysia

Suzuki Malaysia Automobile Revise The Pricing of Suzuki Jimny. Official Press Release!!

Suzuki Malaysia Automobile (SMA) today announced that it has revised the pricing of the Jimny – the fresh-faced legendary compact 4x4 that’s been a dependable favourite for over 4 decades.

“In light of recent hikes in the cost of living, we’ve decided to revise the pricing of the Jimny as a gesture to our customers. In situations like these, ‘every little saving helps’ and we hope that this will somewhat ease the financial strain on new car buyers,” explained Mr. Keiichi Suzuki, Managing Director of Suzuki Malaysia Automobile Sdn Bhd.

The new pricing means the Jimny can now be purchased for RM3,400 less than its original 2013 selling price (on-the-road price without insurance). The 1.3L Jimny is available at RM86,488 (AT) or RM81,488 (MT) in Peninsular Malaysia. East Malaysians also benefit from the price reduction: RM90,488 (AT) or RM85,488 (MT) in Sabah and RM91,488 (AT) or RM86,488 (MT) in Sarawak.

The newly launched Jimny is a genuine cross-country vehicle that meets daily city maneuvering with ease and dominates in off-road encounters. Incorporating subtle changes with its practical design, the 2013 Jimny remains true to its predecessors yet comes with a fresh new face and muscular appearance that make it suitable for both work and play.

During the announcement of Jimny’s price revision, Suzuki also revealed that its award-winning Swift Sport will soon feature the Auto-Cruise function before the second quarter of this year, providing efficient, comfortable and easy driving with greater fuel-saving. Yet another consideration that makes increasing living costs a bit more bearable!

Anyone in the market for a top quality car can head to the Suzuki Mega Roadshow locations (only until 2 March 2014) or visit authorized Suzuki dealers to get their very own Jimny, Swift, Alto, Grand Vitara, SX4 and Kizashi and have the benefit of sensational deals and rebates.

source: Suzuki Malaysia Automobile Press Release