The automotive industry is facing a few problems. High component prices such as steel and insane fuel prices. The Economist has a very good article on the state of the automotive industry as whole, as well as predictions on where things are going. Click here to read the rest of The World Automotive Industry
The Suzuki Swift is a zippy little car that’s on our shores in CBU form. Now the fun little car is going to get even more fun!
The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has announced that it is illegal to install HID lights on vehicles without prior approval from the department.
Even luxury car importers must get approval from JPJ if their cars have HID installed straight from the factory. Click here to read the rest of JPJ makes HID illegal without approval
I am going to edit or delete any comment which mentions racial issues from now on.
The Kia Rio name is refreshed in Malaysia with the new Kia Rio model being launched here in Malaysia on 7th September 2005.
[UPDATE: Read my test drive report on the Kia Rio 1.4]
Hyundai is launching it’s new 2006 Hyundai Sonata in Japan, trying to lure the Japanese with popular Korean actor Bae Yong-jun in it’s advertisements.
The car will go on sale on Sept. 10 and cost between 2.1 million yen (RM72,000 roughly) and 2.68 million yen. Hyundai has less than 1 percent of the Japanese market. Click here to read the rest of 2006 Hyundai Sonata in Japan
A short piece of news, yet would mean a lot to those eyeing the Proton Savvy but have been turned off by the lack of an automatic version. The Proton Savvy’s automatic transmission variant will begin production this month. Can’t wait to test drive it to get a feel of how the Malaysian-ized Renault Quickshift 5 feels like. Click here to read the rest of Proton Savvy Automatic
The government will be revising it’s road tax rates on September 12 2005.
The government also announced it would delay any further fuel price hikes until next year. We should still be able to breath freely on RM1.62 a litre for RON97 for the time being.
Naza and Automobiles Peugeot signed an agreement today to produce a locally manufactured and branded version of the Peugeot 206 car for local and regional export markets.
Naza will be manufacturing a Peugeot 206 branded under the Naza brand, and it will come with a 1.4 liter engine. This car will be manufactured at Naza’s assembly plant in Gurun, Kedah and may shift to Naza’s 2nd plant in Penang in 2007.
Target export markets for the Naza-branded Peugeot 206 1.4 liter are Thailand and Indonesia. Cycle and Carriage Automobiles will be providing the after-sales service in Malaysia.
Source: Dow Jones Newswire
The Proton Satria Neo has been launched! Click the banner for an in-depth review of the car we’ve all known as the Proton Satria Replacement Model!
Seems Proton is working with Kleemann for it’s new 1.8 liter Campro to be found in the Satria Replacement Model. The 1.8 liter Campro engine will be developed to be fitted with Kleemann’s twin-screw supercharger.
The Kleemann supercharger managed to push up output from 306hp and 460Nm torque up to 506hp and 675Nm torque on a 5 liter Mercedes V8 engine without any engine modifications.
I’ve tried to look for other sources of this piece of news online but only found one in Bahasa Melayu by Johardy Ibrahim in Utusan Malaysia’s Korporat section, seems strange doesn’t it? Let’s treat this as an unconfirmed rumour for now.
