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Perodua sales grow in East Malaysia, 35% market share

November 26, 2010 at 3:20 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Perodua

Perodua launched the Viva Elite Exclusive Edition in Sabah yesterday following the Peninsular launch two weeks ago, adding sales momentum to its best seller in East Malaysia. The small car maker aims to sell 600 units of the RM42,000 leather equipped Exclusive Edition per month.

According to Perodua MD Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh, a total of 240,000 Vivas have been sold since it was launched in 2007 and the high spec Viva Elite is the best selling variant of the range from January to October this year, accounting for 41.4% or 24,000 units from a total of 58,000 units.

In East Malaysia, Aminar said that the Viva is the company’s best selling model at nearly 50% of total sales. “Of the 21,300 vehicles sold in East Malaysia, Sabah contributes 46% to our sales in this region and I believe this market still has a lot of room to grow,” Aminar told Bernama.

The firm has high hopes on East Malaysia. “Sabah and Sarawak are our fastest growing regions with nearly 14% contribution or 21,300 vehicles to our overall sales so far this year. We aim to increase sales contribution from this region from its current to 20% within five years,” he added. Perodua is the market leader in East Malaysia with nearly 35% of total industry volume.

Click here to view details and images of the Viva Elite Exclusive Edition from our previous post.

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Aston Martin Racing introduces updated Vantage GT4

November 26, 2010 at 3:18 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Aston Martin, Cars, International News

amr vant 1

Two years after it made its introduction, Aston Martin Racing has given its Vantage GT4 racecar an update. The firm has reworked the car by enhancing the aerodynamics and increasing the car’s downforce. The 4.7 litre V8 has also been remapped to offer increased levels of power and torque.

The car now features a new front splitter, which increases downforce at the front of the car and improves channelling of cool air to the brakes and radiator. At the rear, the GT4 gains the V12 Vantage’s larger boot ‘flip’. This works together with a new carbon fibre diffuser and rear underfloor, which creates an area of low pressure under the rear of the car, to increase downforce.

amr vant 2

The redesigned underfloor also channels more air through a new rear-mounted high capacity transmission oil cooler. In addition to the engine and aero upgrades, competitors can now choose to include a race-developed Bosch ABS and traction control system from Bosch Motorsport to enhance performance in both wet and dry conditions.

More than 80 Vantage GT4s have been built and sold globally since 2009, and the car has certainly been successful plying its trade in its GT4 competition class – it won the European GT4 Cup this year, as well as the GT4 class at the Dubai 24 Hours, the Nürburgring 24 Hours and the Spa 24 hours.

Gallery after the jump.
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Maserati GranCabrio to be unveiled at KLIMS

November 26, 2010 at 1:24 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Local News, Maserati

maserati grancabrio

Naza Italia will be unveiling the Maserati GranCabrio in Malaysia at the upcoming KLIMS next month. The four-seater drop top features a 4.7 litre V8 – which is also to be found on the GranTurismo S coupe, the basis for this car – offering 440 hp and 490 Nm, mated to a ZF 6-speed automatic gearbox.

The canvas top comprises a structure with a backbone consisting of five steel and aluminium spokes, covered with a triple-layer canvas available in six colours – there’s solid black and titanium grey as well as warm chocolate in that mix. The system, whch takes 28 seconds to fold up/down, weighs in at just 65 kg.

maserati grancabrio 2

Plenty of accessories and kit in this Trident, of course, from a 12 speaker Bose audio system, 7-inch high-resolution colour display with 30GB hard disk, Poltrona Frau Leather upholstery in 10 colour choices (these can be blended together for seats, dashboard, tonneau cover, steering wheel and gear knob) to Carbalho wood from Brazil, among the many fineries.

There’s also matching luggage you can specify – two different sets are available, one in complete leather, the other in leather and fabric, with an extensive palette of colours to choose from. A set consists of two wheeled and two vanity cases, with a single bag designed to be placed on the rear seats also available. Don’t think the luggage will be there at the show, but that’s not the reason you’d be heading to the Maserati display, methinks.

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Peugeot 5008 set for KLIMS launch, RM165K estimated

November 26, 2010 at 10:52 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Peugeot

Nasim Sdn Bhd, official Peugeot distributor, will launch the recently spied Peugeot 5008 MPV at the 2010 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS). The seven-seater will have an indicative price of RM165,000.

Like its 3008 sibling, the 5008 is powered by the THP 156 Prince engine. It’s a 1.6-litre twin scroll turbo engine with direct injection producing 156 hp and 240 Nm of torque. It’s paired to a six-speed auto gearbox with Tiptronic. Combined fuel consumption is rated at 7.9 litres per 100 km.

The dashboard design is similar to the 3008′s, which means you get a wraparound driver focussed “cockpit”. As is the norm for recent Peugeots, the MPV is very well equipped, and standard kit includes a head up display (HUD), leather, 18 sq ft panoramic glass roof, 17in rims and Distance Alert.

The latter has a radar which measures the time in seconds between 5008 and the vehicle in front, transmitting this data to the HUD. An alert can be set between 0.9 seconds and 2.5 seconds. The Available Space Measurement aid gives a visual indication of whether the 5008 can fit in a parking space.

There will be two 7-inch LCD screens in the front seat head restraints, two Bluetooth wireless headsets and a connection console for a DVD player or game console. This makes it possible to connect two video sources simultaneously – one screen for one rear passenger. By the way, the second row comprises three individual seats that can slide, recline and folded flat when you want the maximum 2,506-litre cargo space.

Safety wise, the five-star Euro NCAP rated 5008 has six airbags, Hill Start Assist, ESP, ABS, EBD, EBA, Anti-Skid Regulation, Dynamic Stability Control and anti-whiplash front seat headrests. Click here to see official images.

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DRIVEN! Proton’s Range Extender Electric Exora Prototype

November 25, 2010 at 7:12 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton, Test Drive Reviews

Here’s something unexpected. We’ve not only got up close and personal with Proton’s prototype Exora EV, we’ve driven it already! And this wasn’t at a Proton event, but at the iGREET (Information on Green Technology) seminar series on green technology organised by Cyberview Sdn Bhd, the landowner of Cyberjaya. Proton was invited to this sixth and last iGREET session to talk about its foray into the electric vehicle scene.

As most know by now, Proton will roll out green cars in the near future that are often dubbed as “hybrid cars” by the media. In actual fact, the cars coming our way aren’t hybrids in the mould of the Prius or Civic Hybrid, but electric cars powered solely by batteries.

Proton’s Green Project Team is working with UK-based Fraser-Nash Research, Lotus, Imperial College London and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) on a Range Extender Electric Vehicle or REEV – Proton is currently testing the REEV Exora with and without the range extender function, because it’s just a matter of switching the engine on or off.

Some of you might wonder what a range extender is? One of the main drawbacks of an EV is the limited range, and the RE engine takes care of this by providing the battery with juice when it runs dry. So you can reach your destination safely before plugging the car in. The Chevrolet Volt also uses such a system, where its ICE engine doesn’t power the wheels. The experimental RE in the Exora EV prototype is a 400 cc rotary engine with 50 hp. The mass production model most probably won’t come with a rotary, but the target is minimum 50 hp.

There are two electric motors powering this Exora – one for each front wheel. Each makes 35 kW to make 70 kW in total, while torque is rated at 220 Nm combined, available from rest. Proton has decided on the use of lithium polymer batteries, which is more advanced than the lithium ion variety, which is already better than the NiMH packs used in today’s hybrids. Targeted charging time from 10% to full is 6-8 hours while fast charging takes 30 minutes. Proton is aiming for 140 km/h top speed and 140 km range on the Saga body, so we’ll presume that the figures will be slightly less for the Exora.

A charging infrastructure is obviously needed, but at least EV drivers won’t be stranded due to the range extender engine. The REEV Exora is heading to production as early as next year, although nothing is confirmed at this point, which is why we don’t have a detailed technical analysis.

What we have however, is driving impressions of the REEV Exora. We drove the exact same car that won the “Best Range Extender EV” award at the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) Future Car Challenge in England earlier this month. Read it and view the pics after the jump!
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Volvo XC 60 2.0T launched – locally-assembled at RM281k

November 25, 2010 at 6:59 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Local News, Volvo

volvo xc60 1

Volvo Car Malaysia has launched a second XC60 model, and this one is in 2.0 litre turbocharged form. The XC60 2.0 Turbo Powershift, to give the SUV its full moniker, follows in the trail blazed by the XC60 T6, which arrived on the scene in June 2009 in LE and SE forms. Its arrival brings to an end the journey of the T6 variant in the country, of which 150 units have been sold.

Where the T6 version was fully-imported, the 2.0 Turbo Powershift happens to be a CKD version – it’s assembled at Volvo’s plant in Shah Alam, and joins the seven-seater XC90 2.5T petrol and XC90 diesel D5 versions on the lineup of locally-assembled Volvo SUVs.

volvo xc60 2

The vehicle is powered by a four-cylinder 2.0T GTDi (Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection) engine offering 203 hp at 6,000 rpm and 300 Nm of torque, the latter available from 1,750 to 4,000 rpm, mated to a six-speed, dual-clutch Powershift tranny.

Performance specs include a 205 kph top speed, 0-100 kph sprint time of 8.9 secs and 8.5 litres per 100 km combined cycle fuel consumption. Among the standard kit are Xenon headlamps, front fog lamps, power tailgate and 18-inch Merac-design alloy wheels wearing 235/60 series tyres.

volvo xc60 3

The CKD car is comprehensively equipped – there’s City Safety, which helps avoid low-speed collisions by automatically slowing or stopping the vehicle, Collision Warning with Auto Brake (CWAB), Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Dynamic Stability & Traction Control (DSTC) as well as Roll Stability Control (RSC) and Roll-Over Protection System as part of the package.

All these, in addition to the host of TLAs strapped on – ABS with Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA), Ready Alert Brakes (RAB) and Fading Brake Support (FBS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Active Bending Lights (ABL) along with Advanced Stability Control and Traction Torque Vectoring as part of DTSC.

volvo xc60 4

Prior to the launch, VCM opened bookings for the SUV in a pre-launch campaign early last month, and more than 80 units of the vehicle have been sold. The XC60 2.0 Turbo Powershift is priced at RM281,950 (on the road, without insurance).

Gallery of launch photos after the jump
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Proton posts RM186 mil profit before tax in first half of 2010

November 25, 2010 at 6:48 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Local News, Proton

protonProton has reported that it has posted a RM186 million profit before tax for the first half of its 2010/11 financial year, up from the RM165 million it registered in the corresponding period last year.

The company said in a statement that it had registered a 13% increase in its vehicle sales up to Q2 of 2010, with the growing demand for Proton vehicles significantly contributed by three core models – the Saga, Persona and Exora.

Group profit before taxation at RM81 million for Q2 however, was lower than the RM105 million recorded in the immediate preceding quarter. This was attributable to a one-off provision for stock obsolescence, and branding and restructuring costs incurred by Group Lotus for the business turnaround exercise. This involved the launching of a new brand identity for Group Lotus and culminated with the worldwide unveiling of five brand new Lotus models at the Paris Motor Show in September.

“Proton remains confident that sales will continue to grow, on the strength of the public’s positive response towards the recently launched Inspira. As of yesterday, Proton has already received a total of 3,400 bookings for the Inspira since it opened for booking on October 14,” said Proton Holdings chairman Datuk Nadzmi Mohd Salleh.

He also added that Proton’s performance going forward will also be backed by the introduction of refreshers and variants. He further explained that the Group will also focus on expanding into selected key markets, intensifying on branding and marketing initiatives, and continuing to invest in development activities and the acquisition of new technology.

The company also intends to take an early advantage of and capitalise on the Government’s initiative to make Malaysia a regional hub for hybrid, electric and environmentally-friendly vehicles, said Proton’s group managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin.

The full exemption on the import and excise duties until December 31, 2011 for hybrid cars below 2,000cc which includes electric cars, hybrid motorcycles and electric motorcycles is key to these efforts.

“These exemptions will serve as an attractive incentive for local companies such as Proton to manufacture such vehicles in Malaysia. This will not only extend significant savings to car owners in terms of lower fuel costs, but assists Proton in the forefront of promoting Malaysia as a regional hub for the development and manufacturing of green technology vehicles,” Syed Zainal added.

The company is already in the final phase of testing and validating a Proton Exora Extended Range Electric Vehicle, which is targeted for commercial production as early as 2011. The vehicle had earlier in the month won the ‘Best Range Extender Electric Vehicle’ category in the inaugural Brighton to London Future Car Challenge organised by Royal Automobile Club in the UK.

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Your next holiday trip – a visit to the Nurburgring?

November 25, 2010 at 5:25 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News

The Nurburgring is arguably the most well-known race track in the world. It is a place of many events – some a cause for celebration such as the Nissan GT-R trashing the Porsche 911 in terms of lap times, and also a place of sadness, such as the recent death of a Lexus LFA prototype test driver.

As it is used as a handling proving ground for many car manufacturers, even if you’re not there to enjoy the drive, just stand by the spectator fence and you’ll be able to see all kinds of strangely disguised cars with stripes, polka dots and what nots. And disguised supercars still make the awesome sounds that they’re supposed to make. This is thanks to the ‘Ring laptimes being used as benchmarks recently.

Visiting the Nurburgring is like a motorhead’s pilgrimage to the mother of all tracks. How would YOU like a chance to visit the Nurburgring, drive a car that has a few hundred horsepower on its legendary tarmac and come back with the experience of your life, claiming to have done what not many other car enthusiasts have done? We have something very exciting in store for you in the next few weeks so stay tuned.

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Honda Malaysia introduces limited-edition Concept M models – the Accord, Jazz and Civic get all dressed up

November 25, 2010 at 3:45 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Honda, Local News

Concept M_Emblem 1

It seems there are a great many who are into white cars, and dressed up ones at that, so what better way to cater to this demand than to introduce a trio of such models for those into such fashion.

That’s what Honda Malaysia has done with the introduction of three kitted-out variants of the Accord, Civic and Jazz, called the Concept M models. Named after the first letters of Honda’s official accessories partners Modulo and Mugen, the trio of cars are factory fitted with the companies’ respective accessories and are available exclusively in shades of white – the Civic 2.0L and Jazz 1.5L feature Mugen kits, while the Accord 2.4L gets rigged with a Modulo kit.

Concept M_Honda Civic 1

“Through an internal survey conducted amongst Honda customers, we found a good number of them showed preference for car accessories that add exclusivity and sportiness to their vehicles, especially those manufactured by Mugen and Modulo.

With this finding, and in view of the increasing trend of preference for white shaded vehicles in Malaysia market, we have created a fleet of white-coloured Concept M special edition models to fulfil customers’ demand,” Honda Malaysia’s president and COO Rohime Shafie said.

Concept M_Honda Accord 1

The Concept M Civic 2.0L comes fitted with Mugen front, rear and side spoilers, rear wings and Enkei wheels in a special pewter grey colour, while inside, you get grey leather stitched seats as well as Ecotint film-tinted windows. Finished in Taffeta White and limited to 210 units nationwide, the car goes for RM137,980.

Meanwhile, the special edition Jazz 1.5L gets a Mugen front aero bumper, side, rear under and wing spoilers as well as tinted windows, again with Ecotint film. This one, in Brilliant Pearl White, is limited to only 20 units, and is priced at RM116,800.

Concept M_Honda Jazz 1

As for the Accord 2.4L version, the Modulo treatment is made up of front grille, door visor, trunk spoiler and illuminated side steps, and this one also gets grey leather stitched seats and tinted windows (no prizes for guessing which brand), as well as a Garmin Nuvi navigation unit. Like the Civic, the RM176,800 offering is done in Taffeta White, and with only 120 units available, best dial M for Modulo as fast as you can.

Gallery after the jump.
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Renault Sport Megane RS 250 Cup – Full Test Drive Review

November 24, 2010 at 11:24 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Renault, Test Drive Reviews

I have been itching to drive the Megane Renault Sport 250 Cup ever since we knew that it was coming to Malaysia. The previous gen R26 (the one with the big booty) was a great drive, and it would be interesting to see how Renault Sport would improve on the experience, if it could.

The 250 Cup was launched two weeks ago at Sepang, and it looks like TC Euro Cars has ticked all the right boxes and pushed all the right enthusiast buttons. At just below RM230K, this king of hot hatches comes with 250 turbocharged horses, mechanical LSD, mega Brembos with slotted discs, Recaro seats, R.S. Monitor which reads out g-force and lap times (among other figures car nuts love) and the sole option of a six-speed manual gearbox. How about that for a menu!

Continue reading the report after the jump.
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