The first locally assembled 1.5 liter Suzuki Swift rolled off DRB-HICOM’s fully robotic welding assembly line in Pekan last Saturday. The robotic welding line costs RM20 million and is the first non-national local assembly plant for small volume production to adopt robotic welding machines. I assume this allows for better assembly quality.

Suzuki Malaysia Sdn Bhd aims to produce 300 CKD assembled Suzuki Swift cars a month initially, and if demand is sufficient, this may be increased. The first new Swift to roll off the assembly line marks a new milestone since the agreement for Suzuki Malaysia to assemble the Swift here was signed with Suzuki Motor Corporation back in March 2006, more than a year ago.

We still don’t know how much the CKD Swift will cost though, but NST reports that the price is expected to be roughly 30% cheaper. At current prices of between RM87,000 to RM92,000 depending on equipment level, expect the CKD Swift to be sold in the RM60,000 to RM65,000 range.

UPDATE: Sorry, there is an amendment. I misread NST’s article and had the impression Suzuki’s CEO mentioned the estimated price, when it is in fact the reporter’s speculation based on some of his sources.

Source

The Toyota Premio is an edgier, more aggressive, and more chromy version of the Toyota Allion, but is essentially the same car, with difference mostly with the exterior only. The interior is pretty much the same, with similiar trim design too.

It is also the same under the hood, using a 109 horsepower 1.5 liter 1NZ-FE that we’ve all come to be familiar with as the same 1.5 liter unit is used in our local Toyota Vios. The larger 1.8 liter engine option is of Toyota’s new Dual VVT-i flagship family - the 2ZR-FE which puts out 136 horses.

There is so much model overlap in the JDM market for almost all manufacturers. The bigger players can usually afford to make a few base models, a niche model, one or two premium models, all for the same segment, competing with each other as well as outside competition. But it is necessary as the Japanese are an advanced market, and over there the situation favours the consumer.

More photos after the jump.

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Toyota launches new 2007 Toyota Allion for JDM

Click here to read the rest of Toyota Premio for the JDM market

Toyota has updated it’s Toyota Allion mid-sized sedan for the Japanese Domestic Market. By JDM, it means it is a car that most likely won’t be seen anywhere outside Japan, unless someone wealthy brings it in at an expensive price so that he can drive a different car. But Toyota really does have some really cool-looking JDM-only cars. Another example of a JDM-only Toyota is the Toyota Will VS. You could consider the Toyota Allion as the Toyota Avensis’ Japanese sibling, as they all use the same platform and share alot of components.

The new Toyota Allion looks less upmarket than the model it replaces. It’s available with either a 109 horsepower 1NZ-FE 1.5 liter or a 136 horsepower 2ZR-FE 1.8 liter engine, and comes in 2WD and 4WD configurations. The most fuel efficient Toyota Allion can go 18 km per liter of fuel, while the least fuel economical version goes 14.4km per liter. Both engines are mated to Super CVT-i transmissions, including the 4WD variants.

The interior is pretty much basic, however there is an Engine Start/Stop button which should prove to be a favourite with gadget-loving Japanese. A gated shifter also adds a stylish touch. You have a few trims to pick from, a red wood, a lighter wood, and etc. No silver aluminium-ish trim in sight though. Many storage compartments - one in the door panel, one between the two front seats in the center console,

The Toyota Allion has a twin brother, one styled more aggressively but is essentially the same car. This other model is called the Toyota Premio, and I will be covering it in the next blog post. These two new models are part of Toyota’s efforts to stop the B-segment sedan market from shrinking further, already it is bad enough that it is not growing. More and more Japanese are more interested in 660cc A-segment cars instead. Toyota is targeting monthly sales of 3,000 units for each model. In the meanwhile, check out more shots of the Allion after the jump.

Related Posts:
Toyota Premio for the JDM market

Click here to read the rest of Toyota launches new 2007 Toyota Allion for JDM

We’ve seen the car going around the streets of KL, and later saw the reason the car was here - the teaser video that Renault filmed here in Malaysia. Now Renault has revealed full images of the third generation Renault Laguna, along with some details on the car.

Being a mostly European-market car, the new Laguna’s flagship 2.0 dCi turbodiesel engine comes in two different tune levels - 130hp, 150hp and 175hp. A smaller diesel engine is also available - Renault’s 1.5 dCi engine puts out 110 horsepower, and uses only 5.1 liters per 100km on average. All of these turbodiesel offerings use a variable geometry turbocharger. As for petrol offerings, the Renault Laguna also has variant powered by a 145 horsepower 16 valve twin cam engine jointly developed by Renault and Nissan (likely the MR20DE). The top of the line petrol variant is a 2.0 liter turbocharged engine putting out 170 horsepower, likely a light pressure turbo. This engine is mated to a 6-speed auto transmission.

The 4.69 meters long Renault Laguna sedan has a fastback stance to it, while the stationwagon version is more than just a Laguna with an additional D-pillar - it’s rear is of a different design with different tail lamps. Chassis dynamics has improved, with front and rear suspension stiffness improved over the previous model by 20 and 50%, respectively, plus higher performance anti-roll bars. Steering is also of a closer ratio. The new Renault Laguna III is also 15kg lighter than the previous Laguna across the model range.

The new Renault Laguna III also boasts new generation double side airbags - thorax and pelvis airbags to be exact. All airbags are double-chamber and double-pressure airbags. Passenger protection for side collisions are also enhanced with a device based on two sensors located in the front door and the centre pillar, a specific algorithm adjusts the release time according to the violence of the impact. The Laguna II was the first ever car to achieve a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating, so the new Laguna III should easily follow in it’s predecessor’s footsteps.

More photos after the jump.

Related Renault Laguna III Posts:
Renault puts up new Renault Laguna teaser site and video
Unidentified car on test (Renault Laguna)
2007 Renault Laguna Artist’s Impression
Upcoming Renault Laguna Spy Video

Click here to read the rest of Renault reveals full images of Renault Laguna III

So the PM has said one thing and Khazanah Nasional has said another. The best way to know if the Volkswagen talks are on or not is ask Volkswagen right? It appears that Volkswagen is still talking to Proton, and is preparing something to reopen discussions with Proton again. This piece of news comes from a Volkswagen spokesperson, however it’s not known what discussions are these, and whether it will involved a stake transfer, or just some form of cooperation.

However, whether the cooperation involves a stake or not is going to be irrelevant to who will be managing Proton as the government has said it will never hand over control of Proton to a foreign company.

“We are seeking a strategic partner to have a firm collaboration of the strengths of both Proton and the partner, and we believe this will enable Proton to become more competitive. A collaboration must be in line with our thinking and our position, otherwise there cannot be an agreement. What this means is that we will not simply hand over Proton, we have our stand that a prospective strategic partner must accept,” said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Let’s stop for a moment and have a look at where Proton’s thinking and position has gotten it so far. Do we really want to stand by that position?

Responding to the earlier call by the PM to stress on the importance of Proton turning itself around soon, Khazanah Nasional says all issues should be sorted by the end of 2007. Khazanah Nasional has met up with the PM and briefed him on what’s going on with the talks with Volkswagen and other parties like General Motors.

Khazanah Nasional wants to work with a partner through a strategic alliance - basically selling some equity is possible, and are willing to look at the control of certain parts of the business such as manufacturing, which would benefit the most from a foreign partnership. I am sure Proton has it’s product planning sorted out under this new management - they have Bob Hall after all, and he’s certainly not an idiot. His team should be equally capable. I believe most of the “misses” rather than hits are projects from the old management. The products are going to come soon, but if manufacturing does not put them out properly, no one is going to buy them.

There is some kind of plan B in Khazanah’s books - if there is no strategic partner to be found at the end of all the talks - product pricing. It will make “recommendations” to the government accordingly. I have a really bad feeling about this… the only way to make Proton products more competitive through pricing alone is to make Proton cars cheaper, or everyone else more expensive. Go on, try to guess which one is more likely?

Anyway, there is some hints in the media that the new talks between Volkswagen and Proton will be about something new, and with the recent rumour of an Indonesian Volkswagen base instead, I really believe there is some amount of chance that Volkswagen will be using the PT Proton Tracoma Motors plant in Indonesia. It’s just what I see with the few vague pieces of puzzles I’m trying to put together.

Source: Bernama, The Star

Related Posts:
Khazanah says talks with Volkswagen still on
Proton in the red for financial year 2006
Volkswagen looking at Indonesia instead?

Volkswagen Malaysia has just launched it’s new CrossPolo B-segment vehicle. The CrossPolo, and it’s less cross sibling the Polo are slotted between the Volkswagen Fox and the larger Volkswagen Golf. There is even a GTI model. It shares a platform with other VW groups cars like the Ibiza and the Skoda Fabia, which I reviewed earlier.

The CrossPolo is available in 1.6 form only, and goes for RM124,888.00, which is about RM9,000 more than the Polo 1.6 liter. What you get for that extra money is the CrossPolo bodykit, more airbags, larger 17 inch wheels… and the removal of a 60:40 split rear bench. The unladen kerb weight of the Polo is 1,079kg, while the CrossPolo weighs in at 1,138kg, naturally because of all the extra stuff. This extra weight also brings down 0-100km/h acceleration to 12.4 seconds, down from 11.3 seconds in the Polo.

UPDATE: Volkswagen Group Malaysia is now selling the Volkswagen CrossPolo for RM108,888. Click for more details.

The CrossPolo bodykit includes the SUV-style kit as well as 17 inch wheels, up from the 14 inchers on the Polo. The interior is also reworked with a bright orange trim. The suspension has also been slightly raised. The most impressive feature of all is a set of 6-airbags - front, side and curtain - probably the only car in it’s segment and price which offers airbag protection for the rear passengers as well.

The 1,598cc 1.6 liter EFI engine has no FSI direct fuel injection, but it is a newer model than the old 1,595cc 1.6 liter Volkswagen Malaysia has put into the Volkswagen New Golf. It makes 105PS at 5,600rpm, and 153Nm of torque at 3,800rpm. This engine is mated to a 6-speed transmission, which is looking to be the new standard in gear ratios offering a good balance between ratios and overkill.

So yes, fans of premium B-segment hatchbacks, you now have an interesting alternative that has it’s specs on papers done up pretty well. As for how the car actually is… I’m having a bit of a problem reaching out to Volkswagen Malaysia, but will keep trying. Some might be disappointed the engine is not of the latest and greatest FSI variant that Volkswagen has become very noted for, but stuff like the 6 airbags and general Volkswagen build quality goodness are very relevant plus points.

More photos and videos after the jump.

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Click here to read the rest of Volkswagen CrossPolo - 1.6 with 6 airbags!

Contradictory to what the Prime Minister mentioned yesterday, Khazanah Nasional who owns about 43% of Proton and spearheads the talks between Proton and a potential stakeholding partner has said that it is still in talks with Volkswagen, as well as the other potential foreign partner, General Motors. Local partners such as DRB-HICOM, Mofaz and Naza are also in consideration.

There is now a new deadline for partnership talks to conclude, but because of what has happened previously, I am not sure anymore if a deadline means anything at all. Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said the new deadline would be 3 months from now - which would be 31st August 2007, coincedentally Merdeka day. We should be able to know by then whether we will be able to “merdeka” from this continuous soap opera that is the Proton foreign partnership talk.

Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop also commented that controlling stake was not an issue in any talks that was going on. However, I am not sure if we can believe anything in the news anymore as reports from the government, Khazanah, and Proton always seem to contradict each other.

Proton shares dropped 5 sen to RM5.30 since the announcement of Volkswagen pulling out and making a loss for the 2006 financial year.

Source

For a short while, the only way you could get a pimped out E70 BMW X5 was to buy the Hamann-tuned version, but that might look too unsubtle for some of your tastes. Now you have a more “factory” option - BMW has released the M Sport kit for the BMW X5.

The BMW X5 M Sport kit is only available for the top of the range BMW X5 4.8i, and includes 19-inch V-spoke M light alloy wheels, a sports suspension, M Aerodynamic body styling, Sports seats, matte aluminium surround to the side window frames, high-gloss Shadowline roof rails, Anthracite headlining and M leather steering wheel.

Customers wishing to further differentiate their X5 can also choose to upgrade to larger 20-inch M V-spoke light alloy wheels for that extra bling factor. After all, if you can afford an SUV that costs nearly RM900,000 here in Malaysia, what are tyres to you? The sports suspension combined with BMW’s Dynamic Drive active anti-roll bar option for the 4.8i would definitely put the SPORTS into Sports Activity Vehicle.

The BMW X5 4.8i M Sport is available in Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Carbon Black, Monaco Blue, Space Grey, Titanium Silver. M Sport kits for the other two X5 models, the 3.0si and the 3.0d will be available later in 2007.

No news of whether the X5 4.8i M Sport will be available in Malaysia, with the three X5 models only being launched earlier this week. In terms of worldwide sales, the 3.0d model leads with more than 90% of X5 orders comprising of that model. During my test drive of both the 4.8i and the 3.0d models in Athens, I also came to the conclusion that I preferred the diesel model, but Dynamic Drive is a MUST-HAVE! Unfortunately, the Malaysian X5 3.0d is not equipped with Dynamic Drive.

More photos after the jump.

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Second Generation BMW X5 3.0si, 3.0d and 4.8i launched in Malaysia!
New 2007 BMW X5 (E70)
2007 BMW X5 4.8i and 3.0d Test Drive in Athens
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BMW Service Inclusive And Repair

Click here to read the rest of 2007 BMW X5 4.8i M Sport