These are spyshots of a new car being tested on Malaysian roads. It is a small mini-MPV type of vehicle which belongs in the Hyundai/Inokom Atos and Perodua Kenari class of cars. It’s heavily plastered, but the overall shape and certain design features leads me to believe that it is the Naza NX-01, which is supposed to be launched on the 22nd of April 2006. That’s 10 days from now. Check out the spyshots after the jump.
Click here to read the rest of 2006 Honda Civic Euro Hatchback Fifth Gear Review
Fifth Gear, a British automotive show reviews the 2006 Honda Civic hatchback. The European Honda Civic only comes in hatchback form, and also has a 2.2 liter i-CTDi turbodiesel version in the model range. So far most reviews have said the 2.2 i-CTDi manual Honda Civic is the best choice from the line-up. Looks like the European market really really likes diesel, and Honda’s new powerplant is a winner. Video is after the jump.
The Toyota Mark X is the successor to the popular Toyota Mark II. The Toyota Mark II has enjoyed sales figures of 4.8 million since it’s first incarnation was introduced back in 1968. The Toyota Mark II is also known as the Toyota Chaser in Japan. Click here to read the rest of Toyota Mark X
This advertisement for the game Sega Rally shows you an over the top look on just how wide-spread the ‘drift’ phenomenon is. The only way to go is sideways!
Video is after the jump.
This is the Honda ZEST K-car, which went on sale in Japan from March 1st 2006 onwards. K-cars are popular in Japan as they provide superior fuel economy and are easy to park too. Engines are limited to 660cc capacity, and manufacturers usually use forced induction to give it a little more oomph, as 660cc in normally aspirated form can only go so far. Click here to read the rest of 2006 Honda ZEST K-Car
Click here to read the rest of Lexus LF-H Spyshots
The Lexus LF-A Concept was shown last October at the Tokyo Motor Show, and Lexus/Toyota officials gave hints that it might be called the Lexus LF-H. Not too differnet from the concept name. Powered by a V10 engine with Formula 1 DNA making upwards of 500 horsepower, it’s expected to be thrown into the same league as the Porsche Carrera GT and the Lamborghini Gallardo. Although most of it’s competitors will be mid or rear engined, this Lexus has it’s powerplant at the front. But it will be rear wheel drive. The production car is already going through testing at Germany’s Nurburgring circuit, and the car is expected to be launched in 2007.
One of the main peeves on Proton cars have been it’s notorious quality control, as evident from a previous post I made on how to fix the Proton Gen2’s door latch. The problem with the Proton Gen2 door latch was the assembly line personnel did not align the latch properly, thus making it abit hard to open and close.
Word is that this particular QC issue has been fixed with new Proton Gen2 stock, so if it’s true that’s good. Other common jokes about Proton QC are like “buy a Proton, get an aquarium free! Best deal for Koi lovers ever. Where’s the aquarium? Your Proton car’s boot of course. It will be filled with water leaking in.”
It is good that Proton is aware of this. It wants to reverse this negative perception that Malaysians have on it’s cars, and is doing more than PR spinning to get rid of the brand image. It is going down to the core of the problem; evaluating it’s product range and it’s suppliers to weed out the quality control issues.
It hopes it’s recently launched Quality Control campaign would address employees, production practices and components manufactured by it’s suppliers to make improvements to Proton quailty.
Proton MD Syed Zainal acknowledged that many complaints by customers on Proton QC were true. “It is important to accept that this is something that has to be changed. The first step is changing individual attitudes towards work,†said Syed Zainal.
I’ve blogged about this attitude towards work before in my post The Korean Advantage. But Syed, I seriously hope that weeding out bad suppliers are part of your plans, otherwise I do not see this going anywhere. Proton personnel attitude especially those at the assembly line can only go so far.
BMW Group Malaysia has released new prices for it’s cars according to the new tax structure that comes with the National Automotive Policy. BMW says prices have dropped across the whole model range, but from the price list I can see prices of models like the BMW M5 have actually gone up, although by only RM10,000 a small fraction of the car’s near million ringgit price tag. Other models which have gone up are cars like the 6-series.
Update: I’ve added another column with CIF prices excluding tax if available. Please read if you’re a masochist and somehow want to feel the pain of being ripped off. Also note that some CBU models being sold by BMW are not present on the CBU Gazetted Pricelist. What does the Customs do in such situations? Click here to read the rest of NAP After-effects: BMW announces new pricelist
Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia has lowered the price of it’s Mitsubishi Lancer GLX 1.6 sedan by 2%, which translates to a reduction of RM2000 to RM97,425.30, excluding insurance. Buyers who have booked the car but have yet to register it will also get to enjoy the new price. The Mitsubishi Lancer GLX is a CBU model.
Prices of other Mitsubishi cars distributed by Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia like the Grandis, Outlander, Colt and Evolution 9 will not change.
How nice. Peugeot has been planting trees since 1999 in Brazil, as part of it’s contribution to the environment to compensate for the pollution that Peugoet cars produce. It’s not that Peugeot cars are less environment-friendly than other marques, but I suppose they just feel it’s part of social responsibility, and it’s very good PR as well.
Over 6 years two million trees have been planted, and Peugeot says it helps offset 55,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide. The project will last another 34 years, as it is a 40-year project.
