Archive for Local News

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.

When Proton announced that it made a pre-tax loss of RM4.3 million for for Q1 2005, it explained that it was due to a higher allowance for doubtful debts and higher component costs.

Higher component costs have been attiributed to the rising steel prices. But what about the higher allowance for doubtful debts? What doubtful debts are these? Aren’t car purchases financed upfront by the banks through hire-purchase schemes?

An industry source sheds some light through Dow Jones Newswire.

Click here to read the rest of Proton’s Doubtful Debts

Petronas Media Relations Department released this statement on 2nd September 2005 regarding the signing of a Letter of Intent between Petronas, Nanjing Automobile Corporation (NAC) and Brilliant Culture Group Limited (BCG).

Click here to read the rest of Petronas E01 sold to China’s Nanjing Automobile

Amazing Tempo Sdn Bhd issued this media statement in relation to MITI’s decision to stop issuing APs for the Wald brand.

Click here to read the rest of Amazing Tempo Sdn Bhd Statement

Rafidah Aziz gave Dr. M a hug today in what appeared to be a reconciliation between the two, after their ‘father-daughter’ relationship went through some trouble due to the AP issue.

Click here to read the rest of Rafidah reconciles with Dr. M

MITI has stopped the issue of APs for the Wald marque based on reports of non- compliance with import regulations by the local importer Amazing Tempo Sdn. Bhd.

Amazing Tempo Sdn Bhd is owned by Tunku Datuk Zainol Tengku Izham and Ramzia Arshad, who were allocated 2,025 APs this year.

The Wald cars imported into Malaysia are basically tuned Toyota and Volkswagen models.

I wonder what that ‘non-compliance’ is.

Source: New Straits Times

Proton recorded a pre-tax loss of RM4.3 million for the first quarter 2005 ended June 30 2005 compared to the previous pre-tax profit of RM198.3 million in the corresponding quarter.

Proton said the loss was due to higher allowances for doubtful debts, higher component costs and reduction in sales volume.

Selamat Hari Merdeka!

Source

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak spoke yesterday to the media after world oil prices soared to a record high of over USD$70 per barrel.

Click here to read the rest of Najib hints at oil price hike again

Proton advisor Tun Dr. Mahathir returned the seven vehicles given to him by Proton for personal and official use supposedly to show displeasure over the removal of Tengku Mahaleel as chief executive.

He returned the cars – 3 Volkswagens and 4 Protons – after some serious reflection on the issue.

If I’m not mistaken, one of the Volkswagens he returned should be the super luxurious Volkswagen Phaeton. Friend of mine had a peek at the road tax sticker of the Volkswagen Phaeton one day at the Proton Savvy launch and discovered the road tax for the car is exactly RM46,513.00.

Source: Yahoo Finance

Tengku Djan and his team does Lotus and Race Rally Research proud, winning the Merdeka Millenium Endurance Race with 279 laps in the overall results and class O in R3’s Lotus Exige 300RR. The team beat overall 1st runner ups and last year’s champion team who competed with a Honda Civic 2.0 i-VTEC. It was close, with a difference of only 1 lap.

(L-R) Kazumi, Phillipa, Deanna

X-1R RedBull Racing’s all-female team consisting of Kazumi Mikami, Deanna Yusoff and Phillipa Yoong also managed to finish within the top sixth places in Class B where they raced with a Proton Satria GTi.

Click more for results.

Click here to read the rest of Merdeka Millenium Endurance Race Results