[UPDATE : Proton has launched the 2007 Proton Waja facelift. Click here to view!]

Proton’s new Proton Waja powered by it’s S4PH Campro engine was launched yesterday. Among the enhancements over the Mitsubishi-powered Waja besides the engine are all-round leather seats, a new meter cluster, redesigned air-cond vents and a new double-DIN CD player with MP3 support.

The manual Waja Campro retails for RM59,888.20 while the automatic Waja Campro retails for RM63,888.76. The Mitsubishi-powered Waja automatic retails for RM63,588.

Both the Mitsubishi-powered Waja and the new Waja Campro will be offered for the moment but Proton hopes to gradually phase out the 4G18 Waja with the new Campro Waja.

There are a few differences with the engine behaviour of Mitsubishi’s 4G18 and Proton’s S4PH Campro, of which I’ve blogged in my previous post Waja 4G18 vs Waja Campro.

I’m sure many of you know about the new Proton Waja that’s going to be released soon (I heard today!) with a Campro engine instead of the Mitsubishi 4G18 that was found in the original Proton Waja. Let’s look at the differences between the two engines.

Click here to read the rest of Waja Campro vs Waja 4G18

[ UPDATE: The talks have finally ended in a no go. Click here for latest update. ]

The verdict is out. After a long series of meetings and what not since September 2004 since Proton and Volkswagen first announced a strategic partnership, everything has fallen to ruins and things are now over between the two car manufacturers.

Volkswagen Group Chief Executive Bernd Pischetsrieder told analysts at the North American Auto Show that Volkswagen’s plans on how to move forward with the Proton partnership conflicted with what the Malaysian Government and Proton had in mind.

Apparently Volkswagen’s plans were pretty rigid, thus when ideas conflicted, the decision was to just drop the whole idea altogether.

Right now they are still in talks on cooperation but it would only be in a few isolated projects to support Proton, and not have any joint programs or joint ventures. According to reporters, Pischetsrieder put strong emphasis on the word support.

Update: Proton shares fell as much as 20% to RM5.10 before exchanging at RM5.60 at 10.46am today. HLG Securities downgraded Proton shares status to ’sell’. Proton officials said they were suprised by the announcement as they have yet to receive an official reply from Volkswagen.

Source: Reuters

Jeremy Clarkson tries to bang, drown, and burn a Toyota Hilux to test it’s strength. Let’s see how Toyota’s old workhorse fares. From what I’ve heard, it has a pretty good reputation in East Malaysia for being one of the toughest hardiest pick-up trucks around.

Video after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Jeremy Clarkson tests the Toyota Hilux’s hardiness

The Top Gear crew tests out the cornering ability of three cars, a Toyota Prius, a Perodua Kenari and a Smart ForTwo as compared to a Lotus Exige which has excellent cornering ability.

Video is after the jump!

Click here to read the rest of Top Gear tests cornering ability

Looks like the new 2006 Honda Civic is set to be on Malaysian roads pretty soon. These spy shots were sent in by a reader, and apparently they were shot being test driven in Shah Alam.

Click here to read the rest of 2006 Honda Civic Spyshots in Malaysia

Infiniti showcased a new concept car at the 2006 North American International Auto Show at Detroit. This new Infiniti Coupe concept might just be the base for development of the next Infiniti G35.

Click here to read the rest of 2006 Infiniti Coupe Concept

The comments on my blog are becoming too much of a sore to the eyes for me not to do anything about it anymore.

I am sick and tired of watching people engage in mindless cheap shots at each other just because they disagree with the other’s opinion.

Opinions are opinions and everyone is allowed to have one. I’ve pleaded many times for my readers to argue constructively, and when needed to, agree to disagree.

I didn’t want to do this but now I am forced to. From now on, each and every comment will have to be approved by me first, until I change my mind. Maybe until things cool down. Personal attacks and anything else unrelated to the blog’s topic will not be accepted.

Update: As per a reader’s suggestion, I’m going to try to force registration and login to comment instead of moderating everything outright. Please please PLEASE do not abuse the discussion function of my blog. I have a life, and I don’t want to spend my whole day moderating your comments to keep this place a pleasant read for everyone else. If you want to pick fights or be obnoxious, go to a bar, get drunk and punch the ugliest person you see.

Register here for commenting.

Trucks account for half of all new vehicle sales in America. Is the American consumer’s appetite for trucks and SUVs so great that a supercar manufacturer like Saleen, manufacturer of the Saleen S7 Twin Turbo has to start making trucks?

Click here to read the rest of Saleen Sport Truck S331 Supercharged

Volkswagen presented this concept vehicle called the Volkswagen GX3 at the Los Angeles Motor Show. It was developed by the Moonraker Team and VWs Design Center in California. The result is something that looks like a cross between a car and a motorcycle.

Click here to read the rest of Volkswagen GX3 Concept