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PEKEMA wants RM10,000 fee for Open APs reduced

May 17, 2010 at 11:10 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News

As of January 2010, Open AP holders have had to pay RM10,000 for each Open AP that they receive. It was free before this, at least on paper. And Pekema (Association of Malay Importers and Traders of Motor Vehicles Malaysia) is not very happy with it.

Pekema’s Sabah branch argues that the RM10,000 charge is a burden to them as the economy is still weak and demand is down. “A charge of RM10,000 per unit makes the situation worse. I feel the rate of RM3,000 per unit will be more suitable,” said Pekema Sabah’s president Rozman Isli to a Bernama reporter. Rozman also added that the RM10,000 should only be paid when the car is registered using the Open AP and not when the car is imported in order to help AP holders with cash-flow.

The Open AP holders are already having it easy with import tax and excise duty. When an Open AP holder brings a car into Malaysia to be sold, they can just keep it in a Customs Department approved bonded warehouse facility. Only when there is a purchaser for the car, the car is taken out and then tax and duties are paid. This means there is significantly less need for start-up capital as the money from the sale is used to pay the tax and duties – no need to fork them out upfront. Now they want help for the RM10,000 charge too.

Business Times reports that MITI Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed will be announcing something regarding all of this at a keynote speech on Wednesday at the Pekema AGM. Pekema has requested that the RM10,000 be dropped to RM5,000 (Pekema Sabah wants RM3,000 – so it’s a middle ground?)

“Do not forever depend on MITI over the issue of Approved Permits. Pekema should find alternative avenues of business opportunities. They should be grateful for what they have received and in turn look at diversifying their business. We need not extend assistance until the end of time. We have spoken about this often and they need to understand,” said Datuk Seri Mustapa.

Whatever happens between PEKEMA and the government, it’s very relevant to us as potential grey import buyers as undoubtedly some of that Open AP acquisition cost will be passed down to us.

Sources: StarBiz, Business Times, Bernama

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Suzuki Swift Plug-In Hybrid to use Sanyo batteries

May 17, 2010 at 10:26 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Suzuki

Suzuki plans to use Sanyo as its battery supplier for an upcoming plug-in hybrid version of the Suzuki Swift. 60 test units of the plug-in hybrid equipped with the Sanyo batteries will be deployed in Suzuki dealerships across Japan in the second half of 2010. Sanyo joins a group of battery supplies engaged to supply batteries for plug-in hybrids including Panasonic for an upcoming plug-in Prius and LG Chem for the Chevrolet Volt.

The Swift Hybrid plug-in car will be a series hybrid much like the Proton EMAS and the Chevrolet Volt. There is a 660cc combustion engine capable of 54 horsepower but its sole function is to run a generator that recharges the Sanyo batteries when needed when the batteries run out of wall socket charged juice. The batteries in turn power a 74 horsepower electric motor.

When the concept version of the car was first displayed at Tokyo 2009, Suzuki said the batteries in that car could go about 20km on full battery capacity before the 660cc engine has to kick in and burn petrol to provide more charge. The latest word from Suzuki has dropped this distance to about 15km.

Look after the jump for a small gallery of the Swift Plug-In Concept.
[Read more...]

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Toyota is back in the black, streamlining effort continues

May 17, 2010 at 5:56 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, International News, Toyota

Toyota will further streamline and become more efficient by moving production to emerging markets and away from mature markets such as North America and Japan. Exchange rates are one of the problems faced by Toyota as it exports a bigger portion of the cars it produces in Japan compared to rivals Honda and Nissan. After its first loss in 70 years, Toyota rebounded to make a profit in the fiscal year ending March 2010, but it took a ¥320 billion kick from the yen’s rise against the dollar and euro.

Targets for production in North America will be higher “self-reliance from development to manufacturing” said Atsushi Niimi, Toyota’s global manufacturing boss. Toyota’s North American capacity is now lower by some 400,000 units from the closure of New United Motor Manufacturing Inc, the company’s joint assembly operation with GM in California. Production in Japan will be streamlined by combining lines and putting production of similar vehicles in the same plants. Also planned are lines that are able to produce both body-on-frame and unibody vehicles.

Toyota seems to have got back on its feet financially. With aggressive cost cutting and streamlining, the Japanese giant now needs to make an estimated 7 million units to turn a profit, from the previous 8 million. For instance, in the fiscal year ending March 2009, Toyota built 7.56 million units and made a lost, whereas this year they made 7.28 million and made a profit. Toyota’s aim to be a leaner outfit was evident in Thailand, with the suspension and migration of Hilux/Fortuner production.

Source

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Chevrolet Captiva – 5 year warranty and 2 year free service

May 17, 2010 at 4:41 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Chevrolet/Daewoo, Koreans, Local News

Naza is now offering a 5 year (or 175,000km) extended warranty program and a 2 year free service (or 40,000km) package for any Chevrolet Captiva sold between April until June this year. The free service package covers the following items:

  • Engine oil
  • Engine filter
  • Engine coolant
  • Air cleaner
  • Air-conditioner air filter
  • Clutch fluid
  • Spark plug (only applicable to Captiva Gasoline range)
  • Fuel Filter (only applicable to Captiva Diesel range)
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Lumma Design is quick to work on the new Cayenne

May 17, 2010 at 4:01 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, International News, Porsche

The second-generation Porsche Cayenne is not even on sale yet, but German tuner Lumma Design has already started working on it. The styling package, named CLR 550 GT, includes a new front spoiler that has a deep drawn cup spoiler sword with added carbon applications. Kevlar and carbon are some of the materials used to fashion the sporty bonnet, which has gill-like air inlets. Even little details like the windscreen wiper cover has been elevated to reduce drag.

Aerodynamics are further improved by wing extensions while side skirts usher airflow through a specially designed channel to the rear brakes, which helps to maintain optimal operational temperature. Openings in the door fixtures further improve the cooling mechanism. Visual substance can also be found at the back thanks to things like pronounced spoilers with integrated carbon diffuser and a unique triple stainless steel pipe exhaust setup. Placed in the middle, the centre pipe is flanked by two smaller items. More carbon lies in the roof edge spoiler and the tear-off edge on the tailgate. The pimped up look is finished off with 23-inch wheels.

Lumma did not hand out any renderings of the interior, but we’re expecting a carbon fest! More images after the jump.
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VIDEO: What is MIROS and the MyVAP crash test rating?

May 17, 2010 at 3:10 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Videos

When we first heard of MIROS, many of us questioned the rationale of the government’s move in setting up yet another crash test rating here in Malaysia. MIROS operates the MyVAP rating system and the first two cars which received MyVAP ratings are the Exora and the Alza, which both scored 4 stars on MIROS. But what exactly is MIROS? Did you know that MyVAP crash test ratings for now are not based on MIROS crash tests but instead rely on MIROS evaluating the crash test data supplied by the car manufacturer? Last night on Driven we had a full feature on MIROS – watch it in the video above. Head on to Driven’s website to watch the full episode as well as previous episodes.

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Hertz to add Nissan Leaf electric car to its rental fleet

May 17, 2010 at 2:45 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Nissan

Want to drive and experience the Nissan Leaf electric vehicle? It may not be as impossible as you think, as you will be able to do so on your next holiday to Europe or America. Rental car company Hertz is adding the Leaf to its rental fleets in the US and Europe beginning early 2011, shortly after the car’s debut later this year. The volume and rental price hasn’t been set though, according to company spokeswoman Paula Rivera.

Hertz has 2,100 outlets in the US, and California should be getting the early Leafs. “Realistically, we look at high-demand location – where the consumer base is asking for them. When we introduced the Toyota Prius, California was one of the hot locations, and we’re anticipating something similar with the Leaf,” Rivera added. The Golden State is also subsidising the Leaf with a $5,000 cash rebate. Demand is expected from those who want to sample the car before purchase.

The Leaf will also be available at some Connect by Hertz car-sharing locations. Hertz introduced the Connect program in 2008, and it now has operations in London, Paris, Madrid and Berlin.

Billed as the world’s first affordable, mass produced zero emission car, the Leaf is powered by an 80kW electric motor. It has a real world range of 160 km and charges to 80% capacity in under 30 minutes. Top speed is “more than 140 km/h”, so this is not a strictly city bound car. Click here for more images and videos of the Leaf.

Source

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Thailand vehicle sales on the up despite political crisis

May 17, 2010 at 1:55 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, General Motors, Isuzu, Toyota

Political strife within the Thai government hasn’t slowed down vehicle sales in the Kingdom. In April, General Motors reported a 62% jump in sales to 1,879 vehicles compared to 1,162 units in the same month last year. With this rise in demand, GM is toying with the idea of increasing output at its Rayong factory to 76,000 vehicles per annum and to invest US$467 million to upgrade facilities and build a new diesel engine plant.

The gains are not just for GM, as even Toyota, who recently suspended production at one of its plants, increased deliveries by 43% to 92,000 units. Isuzu, another big pick-up truck player, has reported a 44% jump to 46,071 units sold. These figures are year-to-date, as of end April. According to the Automotive Industry Club, general vehicle output has increased by 129% from a year earlier to 150,119 vehicles.

Ray Young, GM’s vice president of international operations, is concerned about the current political crisis but reiterated his company’s confidence in our northern neighbour. “We are monitoring the situation in Thailand, but we remain optimistic. Our business and expansion plans will continue in Thailand without delays. The nation will remain the leading automotive market in the ASEAN region,” he said.

Source

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Switzer GT2 R911S is a 911 with 911 horsepower!

May 17, 2010 at 11:48 am By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, International News, Porsche

Anything Porsche can do, we can do better. This must be the mindset of Ohio-based Porsche tuner Switzer. While many are still talking about the just released Porsche 911 GT2 RS, Switzer Performance has unveiled a 911 with 911 horsepower. Called the Switzer GT2 R911S, this mad car will drop the GT2 RS, which is the most powerful street legal Porsche of all time.

The R911S is a modification of the company’s P800 GT2 package and has various track centered revisions. Using race fuel, the car delivers over 800 horses at the rear wheels. With such power on tap, driving dynamics is an issue. Thus Switzer has fitted a titanium inverted front-strut and remote-reservoir suspension engineered by the track experts at JRZ, the exact same hardware JRZ uses in the Patron GT3 Cup and Grand-Am Rolex GT series.

Fully customisable damping rates and individually selected springs will further help to fine tune each customers road and track experience, the tuner says. Switzer also offers the R911S Carbon package, a suite of lightweight carbon fibre body panels that sheds weight and lowers the car’s center of gravity “for maximum performance in advanced-level trackday and time-attack sessions.”

Do you really need so much power to have fun? Perhaps this is for wealthy rodeo riders who want to fight their car, not drive it. More images after the jump.
[Read more...]

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Lotus in Monaco: Early shower for Heikki and Trulli

May 17, 2010 at 10:46 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Formula 1, Lotus, Motorsports

It wasn’t a good Monaco debut for Lotus Racing, after Heikki Kovalainen succumbed to mechanical problems and Jarno Trulli missed the chequered flag with a few laps to go. The Italian was running last before he climbed over the top of Karun Chandhok’s car to put both men out of the race. The Indian driver described Jarno’s move as “something silly”. “He is not an idiot, I quite like him and he is a nice guy. I think when he apologises he know he has screwed up,” the HRT man said.

“This wasn’t a great weekend for me. After we had a problem with the wheelgun in the pitstop I was stuck behind the HRTs and trying to find room to overtake – in the last lap Karun seemed slow through the second and third sector, and I’d seen he was leaving room at Rascasse, so I tried to get through but we touched and that was that – the end of the race. It was one of those things – a racing incident, but I still feel like we’re going in the right direction as a team, and I want to put the bad luck behind me when we get back on track in Turkey,” Trulli lamented.

Mike Gascoyne sounded apologetic. “I think as a team we have to take a look at everything to be able to do a better job for him,” the technical director said.

Heikki on the other hand, was forced to retire due to an issue with the steering that made it unsafe to continue. “Just before I retired I could feel the steering alignment was a bit uneven – on the right hand corners I had to use maximum lock, even in the tunnel, and it got the point where it didn’t feel safe anymore. In Monaco you can’t take a risk with it so I came in,” he explained.

“This was our strongest performance yet compared to the midfield, so obviously mixed emotions for where we finished. Heikki had a very strong race and in the middle his performance was particularly good compared to the midfield group. It’s a shame we had a problem on his car – the steering joint failed, something we’ve not seen before – but overall it was a very positive weekend for him,” Gascoyne added.

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