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  • Honda Freed “premium compact MPV” – RM112,980

    In Cars, Honda, Local News / By / / 564 comments

    LATEST: Honda Freed Review – first impressions in Indonesia

    Honda Malaysia has launched the Freed, which the company describes as a “premium compact MPV” in a new market segment. The “premium” slant is meant to distance this seven-seater from rivals’ compact MPVs, and the Freed’s price of RM112,980 (OTR with insurance) backs up the positioning – it’s costlier than the Nissan Grand Livina 1.8 and the much larger Toyota Innova, for instance.

    The Freed has a unique trump card however – automatic sliding doors that can be operated from the key fob (and from within the car, of course). These doors come with anti-pinch sensors and open to a gap of 600 mm. Honda also points out the low 410 mm height from the ground to the Freed’s floor; this plus grip handles enable easy access for children and the elderly, it says.

    The doors open to a “walkthrough cabin” that has four “captain chairs” for the first two rows and third row seats that fold up sideways, like in old scool 4X4s. Up front is a dual layer dashboard with the instrument binnacle situated ahead of the driver. Everything else is in the middle – an aftermarket 2-DIN Alpine stereo with USB port, a chunky gearknob and the air-con controls. The parking brake is a foot brake. Safety kit wise, the Freed comes with dual airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist and “neck-shock mitigation seat” – the latter basically reduces whiplash injury in an accident, although Honda’s term for it sounds very bombastic.

    The Freed sits on the Jazz/City platform, although its 2,740 mm wheelbase is quite a bit longer than the City’s 2,550 mm. The wheelbase is actually 140 mm longer than the Grand Livina’s although the Nissan is longer overall. The drivetrain is similar to the what we’re familiar with in the City – a 1.5-litre single-cam i-VTEC paired to five-speed automatic. For this application, the gear ratios are shorter and the 116 bhp/146 Nm engine makes 2 bhp less and 1 Nm more than the City. The steering is EPS, suspension consists of MacPherson struts up front and torsion beam at the rear, while the brakes are front discs and rear drums.

    We’ve already driven the Freed and visited the Indonesian plant where it rolls out from, and our impressions and verdict will be coming your way soon. For the meantime, check out the live images from this morning’s launch.
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  • Volvo XC90 D5 comes with extra trim for a limited time

    In Cars, Local News, Volvo / By / / 12 comments

    Volvo is currently having a promotion for the diesel-powered Volvo XC90 D5 where for a limited time while stocks last, it’ll come standard with about RM40,000 worth of aesthetic accessories like 19 inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, a brushed metal design front bumper, XC Design running boards, a sports tail pipe and bright chrome trim around the windows.

    Without the accessory package, standard wheels are 17 inchers. The D5 engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transimssion to put the engine’s 185 hosepower and 400Nm of torque down to the wheels. Fuel consumption for the diesel is just 8.5 litres per 100km on the combined cycle.

    The XC90 D5 goes for RM355K OTR without insurance, the same price as the 2.5T model but the 2.5T will not come with the accessories. It looks like pretty good value for a 7 seater with air conditioning and airbags for all three rows, especially when it has way smaller competitors at the RM300k mark, and its own stablemate the XC60 is going for between RM330k to RM360k.

     

  • Last E60 5-er rolls off BMW Malaysia assembly plant

    In BMW, Cars, Local News / By / / 31 comments

    The last locally assembled E60 5-Series rolled off BMW Malaysia’s SKD (semi-knocked down) assembly plant in Kedah yesterday, a signal that means the new F10 5-Series that replaces it will most likely be coming very very very soon. It will be here as early as next month in fact.

    BMW Malaysia has to date sold 7,735 units of the E60 in Malaysia, of which 6,732 are locally assembled. And that’s not all the E60 rolling around locally – there are thousands more on the road brought in by the grey importers. The F10 will most probably come in first as a CBU model while the plant prepares for local SKD assembly.

    The BMW SKD Assembly Plant is operated in partnership with Inokom Corporation, a subsidiary of Sime Darby Berhad at the Inokom factory in Kulim, Kedah. Both BMW and Inokom share factory space but operate on separate and independent assembly lines in the facility. BMW Malaysia itself is a JV between BMW AG and Sime Darby Berhad.

     

  • Team Goodyear all set for Formula Drift Singapore 2010

    In Local News, Motorsports / By / / 15 comments

    Formula Drift is back, and the screech and smoke will take over Singapore’s F1 Pit Building this weekend (24-25 April). Those who enjoyed the action at Formula Drift Malaysia last December, and want to cheer on our fellow countrymen (and woman) might want to make their way across the Causeway – grandstand tickets are priced at SGD50 while walkabout tickets go for SGD30 at the door. Early birds save SGD10. Go to www.formuladrift.com.sg for more info.

    Goodyear, which is a huge supporter of drifting in our region, will have a big contingent of drivers in Singapore. Goodyear Malaysia will once again feature three drift veterans – Ariff Johanis, Michael Gan and pint sized Azrina Jane Abdullah, the most prominent female drifter in Malaysia. Some might have noticed the omission of Johan Norman; after some uninspiring drives, he is replaced by Hanizam bin Hazmah for FD Singapore.

    Hanizam, 38, who has spent three years behind the wheel of his Nissan A31, was one of the surprises of FD Malaysia. Then driving for Team GT Radial, he qualified second and was in the top 5 out of 53 drivers competing at MAEPS Serdang. Goodyear Malaysia’s new recruit is a regular podium finisher in local drift competitions, recently finishing second at the ACE Drift Challenge 2010 held in Melaka.

    Team Goodyear’s big name for FD Singapore is top Formula Drift USA Pro Ryuji Miki. The mild mannered Japanese driver was runner up in FD Thailand and Las Vegas last year, but bowed out tamely in Malaysia. No Mad Mike and his loud RX-7 this time around, but Goodyear has signed up his Kiwi compatriot Daniel “Fanga Dan” Woolhouse, who has been drifting competitively since 2003 and was D1 New Zealand champ in 2006. All cars under the Goodyear banner will be using Eagle F1 Asymmetrics, the brand’s flagship high performance tyre.

    Other Malaysians in action are FD Malaysia winner Tengku Djan, Tan Tat Wei and Ivan Lau, all under the Bridgestone banner. Another drifter who caught the eye at FD Malaysia, Mervyn Nakamura, will be representing Team Federal. The home crowd will be cheering on local boy Ivan Lim (Goodyear Binter), while Thailand’s flamboyant Kiki will be swapping PTT colours for RedBull livery.

    We will be in Singapore this weekend to catch the action, so watch this space for reports and results!

     

  • Honda Freed set to launch tomorrow – report soon!

    In Cars, Honda, Local News / By / / 157 comments

    LATEST: Honda Freed Review – first impressions in Indonesia
    UPDATE: Honda Freed premium compact MPV launched for RM112,980

    Lightly covered Honda Freeds (likely for protection against stone chips and scratches more than anything else) have been spotted on trailers along the highways this whole week, leading up to the launch of the Freed tomorrow morning after of which we’ll be able to tell you all about the car including the finalized prices. The Freed is a B-segment MPV based on the City and Jazz platform and it even uses a similiar 1.5 litre SOHC i-VTEC engine, though power is down 2 PS compared to the City.

    Don’t expect the Freed to be an affordable alternative to the Grand Livina though – the positioning is supposed to be ‘premium’ with its dual automatic sliding doors and whatnot. Pricing is expected to breach RM100k significantly for the sole 1.5 litre model while the most expensive 1.8L Grand Livina remains comfortably under it at its RM97,300 price point.

    Hat tip to Yoon Sam Choo and Saiful Haziq for the shots!
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  • Proton launch silver jubilee celebrations – limited edition “tiger themed” Saga, Persona and Exora coming soon

    In Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton / By / / 247 comments

    I just got back from Proton’s Centre of Excellence, Shah Alam, where the national car company unveiled the official logo of its 25th anniversary, kicking off silver jubilee celebrations that will go on throughout this year. Proton has lined up a spread of contests, events and activities that will involve all stakeholders, including customers, the media, and since it’s a national car company – the Malaysian public.

    Internally, there’s this logo design competition, which won Rosaidatul Nor bt Rosli RM5,000, and “special gift sets” to 651 pioneer employees who have been with the company since day one. For the public, there will be a Saga Snap & Win photo contest, which will offer RM25,000 cash to a snapper with the most sentimental and/or inspiring image of the Proton’s first car or the new Saga. I’m looking forward to throw my name in the hat with pictures of my rusty but trusty 1992 Saga.

    Proton will also organise a charity road show of 125 cars from the 11 official Proton car clubs. Called “Jelajah Amal 1Proton 1Malaysia” the convoy will tour the nation with a shipping container transformed into a Mobile Technology Exhibition Unit. Dato’ Haji Syed Zainal, Proton’s MD, said that since not everyone can visit Proton, “we’ll bring the factory and R&D to the people”. Perhaps they’ll bring the EMAS concept car for its first Malaysian tour. Who knows? In addition, there will be a charity fund where RM25 from each car sold will be channelled to 25 worthy organisations.

    All this leads up to a gala dinner on the 9th of July, where Proton will launch 25th Anniversary special editions of the Saga, Persona and Exora, limited to 25 units each. What do we know now? Not much except that the cars will carry a “tiger” theme based on the animal’s “powerful, brave and elegant” characteristics. A 5,000 issue commemorative coffee table book will also be launched on that date, which is the date the first Saga rolled off the line in 1985. Over 3.3 million Protons have been made since then.

    At the event, Dato’ Syed Zainal gave a rousing speech saying that “every time we had to swallow a bitter pill, we emerge stronger,” adding that the company’s current hurdle is to compete in the international environment. “Times have changed, customers have changed, and we need to adapt. It is time for us to evolve from local hero to a full-fledged global and competitive automotive player,” he said.

    He also revealed Proton’s growth targets for this year, which is to achieve 6 to 7% growth in this financial year and double exports. The company is aiming at a 70:30 domestic export ratio, from the current 75:25, and is looking at China, India, Middle East and of course ASEAN to provide the export growth.

     

  • Renault Laguna Coupe coming to Malaysia next month!

    In Cars, Local News, Renault / By / / 42 comments

    Is white still the new black? Renault clearly thinks so, because it has launched a Monaco GP limited edition of the Laguna Coupe in that colour. To be exact, it’s in pearlescent white metallic with a contrasting “pearl black” roof. Strange name though, since the Renault F1 Team’s most recent win in Monte Carlo isn’t that recent – it was in 2006, courtesy of the Spanish guy now racing for Ferrari.

    To match the roof, UK buyers get black 18-inch “Interlagos” alloys and folding door mirrors. Based on the GT and powered by the 2.0 dCi 180 FAP engine, the limited edition boasts four-wheel steering, dark grey leather upholstery with Monaco GP logos and gloss white inserts for the dash, centre console and door panels. Other features include Bluetooth, a Bose stereo, electric heated front seats, front and rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitor and fully integrated Carminat TomTom sat nav.

    Good news to those who appreciate the Laguna Coupe’s sleek lines – Malaysian Renault distributor TC Euro Cars will be introducing the car here (not the Monaco GP edition though), and we hear that the launch is planned for next month. A CBU car from France won’t be cheap, but a 2.0-litre petrol turbo engine paired to a six-speed auto should guarantee decent performance. Watch this space.

    More images after the jump.
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  • Latest model from Naza: Rosomak 8X8 armoured vehicle!

    In Laughs, Local News, Naza / By / / 176 comments

    Not sure about you, but this came as a surprise to me. While we know that the Naza Group does more than just sell cars (they’re involved in property, hotels and F&B for instance) I would never have imagined a tank!

    According to the company’s latest press release, Naza Bumar, a subsidiary of Naza Defence, unveiled this Rosomak 8X8 Armoured Modular Vehicle (AMV) at the ongoing Defence Services Asia 2010 exhibition at Putra World Trade Centre.

    The Rosomak (Wolverine in Polish) is made by Bumar of Poland and is currently used by the former Eastern Bloc nation for its Land Forces in Afghanistan, Chad and Iraq, besides armies from Croatia, Finland, Poland, Slovenia, South Africa and the UAE.

    The main feature of the Rosomak is its modular design, which allows the incorporation of different turrets, weapons, sensors and communications systems on the same platform. The 8×8 AMV weighs between 18 and 26 tonnes depending on armour, weapons and ammunition on board. The Rosomak is said to have very good mine protection and can withstand TNT explosions of up to 10 kgs, besides ballistic protection against 30 mm armour piercing APFSDS rounds.

    Don’t expect hot hatch handling, although the Rosomak is said to have “agile mobility, combining speed, agility, and crew comfort in all kinds of terrain and adverse climatic conditions” from its hydraulic all-independent suspension. How much does it cost? Call the Ministry of Defence’s hotline number!

    UPDATE: The Rosomak is powered by a Scania 12-litre diesel engine with 480 bhp and 1970 Nm of torque. It is paired to a 7-speed ZF automatic gearbox, which sends drive to all eight wheels. It can even survive in water thanks to two shrouded propellers at the rear of the hull. Max swimming speed is 10 km/h.

     

  • Nissan Navara Calibre 4X2 launched in Malaysia

    In Cars, Local News, Nissan / By / / 24 comments

    A rear wheel drive variant of the Nissan Navara called the Navara Calibre 4X2 has been launched in Malaysia! You get to save some money in purchase price as well as shed the extra weight of the 4X4 system – a smart bet if you want to buy a truck for its power and lifestyle applications but without the 4X4 offroad capabilities. However you will not be getting the same power as the other variants!

    The engine looks the same – a 2.5 litre YD25DDTi common rail injection diesel engine with a variable geometry turbocharger – but the power output is quite different. We are used to the Navara’s massive 174 PS and 403Nm of torque engine output figures, but in this Calibre model the engine only makes 144 PS and 356Nm of torque. I wonder if a simple modification of ECU parameters and/or boost levels will help ‘unleash’ the 174 PS.

    The rest of the Navara Calibre 4X2′s equipment sheet is not simply a version of the 4X4 LE Automatic without the 4X4 system. Its headlamps are halogen instead of Xenon and it does not come with the LE and SE’s Dual SRS front airbags. However unlike the baseline 4WD manual, the Calibre 4X2 has ABS and EBD brakes. Speakers are 4 instead of 6 mated to a single CD player instead of a CD changer. The interior trim is fabric. The overhead console box and passenger A-pillar assist grip has been removed. But the Calibre 4X2 does get the interior silver finish trim of the top of the line LE, something which the SE Manual and Standard Manual doesn’t get.

    The following is the price for all Nissan Navara models including the 4X2 Calibre in Peninsular Malaysia, OTR for private registration:

    • Nissan Navara 2.5 Automatic LE 4×4 – RM105,800
    • Nissan Navara 2.5 Manual SE 4X4 – RM94,800
    • Nissan Navara 2.5 Manual Standard 4X4 – RM89,800
    • Nissan Navara 2.5 Automatic Calibre 4X2 – RM89,900

    Look after the jump for some showroom photos of the Navara Calibre 4X2. It is available in a special Desert Gold colour alongside Supreme Black, Tungsten Silver & Twilight Gray.
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  • Ford now offering free service and wear and tear item replacement for Focus, Mondeo, Escape

    In Cars, Ford, Local News / By / / 102 comments

    Ford and Sime Darby Auto ConneXion has announced that all Focus, Mondeo, and Escape registered from the 1st of April 2010 onwards will enjoy complimentary Extended Service Plan (ESP) Premium Maintenance Coverage for 3 years or 60,000km. This covers all the following at no charge in addition to the 3 year or 100,000 warranty:

    • Engine oil and filter changes
    • Multi-point routine inspections
    • Replacement of brake pads and brake linings when worn
    • Replacement of shock absorbers
    • Replacement of spark plugs
    • Replacement of clutch discs
    • Replacement of engine belts and hoses
    • Replacement of wiper blades

    This basically ensures all the wear and tear replacement items on your Fords under the ESP programme are covered free of charge during your first 3 years or 60,000km of Ford ownership.

    This should give potential car buyers another reason to consider a Ford as most competitors only offer a warranty and you still have to pay for expensive oil changes at the official service centers, which you will be forced to go to in order to keep your warranty. Some may only offer free oil/filter changes or sometimes only free labour. Ford ESP covers the brake pads, spark plugs, wipers and etc as well.

     
 
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