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  • Perodua finishes 2009 on top of the sales chart

    In Cars, Local News, Perodua / By / / 205 comments

    Perodua has released its sales figures for 2009, and it comes as no surprise that the Rawang based company ended the year in top spot. Perodua sold 166,700 units to top Malaysia’s sales charts for the fourth consecutive year. The 2009 total is also the second highest in the company’s history.

    With that, Perodua’s market share is 31.3 per cent, which is an improvement over 30.5 per cent in 2008, when it sold 176,400 units. “We did considerably well in 2009 with a minimal contraction of 0.4 per cent despite the global economic downturn,” said Perodua’s new managing director Aminar Rashid Salleh at a meeting with the media this afternoon.

    Aminar, previously from UMW Toyota, attributed some of Perodua’s success to the Government’s scrapping scheme, which brought 20,000 new sales to Perodua. Perodua’s top seller continues to be the Myvi, which contibuted over 90,000 of the total figure. He also revealed Perodua’s target for 2010, which is to sell 176,000 units.

    Here are some updates on the Alza. We haven’t seen that many of Perodua’s small MPV on the road, and it’s been confirmed that our eyes are not problematic. 18,000 bookings have been received to date, but so far less than 3,000 units have been delivered. Perodua promises to reach 3,000 by the end of this month and to produce/deliver about 4,000 units per month beginning March (February is a short month with the Chinese New Year break).

    Currently, the waiting period for the Alza is from three and a half to four months; Perodua aims to cut this to 2-2.5 months. There won’t be a repeat of the epic waiting list that Myvi buyers had to endure; Perodua admits that they underestimated demand for the Myvi when it was launched.

     

  • Volkswagen Malaysia offers five-year warranty

    In Cars, Local News, Volkswagen / By / / 37 comments

    Volkswagen Group Malaysia (VGM) has announced a five-year warranty programme with unlimited mileage for its cars. This two-year manufacturer warranty plus three-year extended warranty programme is offered to all new Volkswagen buyers.

    Existing customers whose vehicles are still in the two-year manufacturer warranty period are eligible to purchase the extended warranty, subject to VGM’s terms and conditions. UPDATE: This will probably be one of the most asked questions so here goes – the premium on the extended warranty for the previous generation Mk5 Golf GTI is RM2,910. You can buy one if your Golf GTI still has its existing warranty intact.

    Andreas Prinz, MD of VGM said this of the new programme: “With this programme in place we hope to provide ease of mind in ensuring all Volkswagen owners that their Volkswagen remains a Volkswagen and maintain high residual values with the use of genuine parts.

    For more information on VGM’s five-year warranty, go to www.volkswagen.com.my.

     

  • New Volvo dealership opens in Sabah

    In Cars, Local News, Volvo / By / / 28 comments

    Volvo now has a dealership in Sabah, operated by Angkatan Hebat Sdn Bhd. The new showroom is located at the 1 Borneo Lifestyle Hypermall on Jalan Sulaman and will serve the entire Sabah market, since it is the only dealership there. The Angkatan Hebat dealership is in fact the only Volvo dealership in the whole of East Malaysia. Now the people of Sabah will be able to enjoy the Volvo XC90 with a dealership to support the repairs and maintenance.

    This was bound to happen. Early last year we got news of the Sabah government replacing their fleet of executive Perdanas to 2.5 litre Volvos through Angkatan Hebat, a majority state-owned company. Angkatan Hebat manages the state’s fleet and last I checked, they are 70% owned by the state government’s investment arm.

     

  • New Nissan Sylphy Luxury Navi Package trim level adds in-dash GPS navigation system

    In Cars, Local News, Nissan / By / / 53 comments

    Nissan Sylphy
    Click to enlarge

    The Nissan Sylphy is now available as a new variant called the “Luxury Navi Package” variant which includes an in-dash touchscreen GPS navigation and entertainment system. The system is the TCAT Multimedia Navigator System which boasts some interesting specs.

    From doing a little research it appears that the system runs on the SpeedNavi SQ software, which was created by M&Soft, a Hyundai-related company. The touchscreen player uses a 7 inch truecolour touch screen with 800×480 resolution – that’s some pretty impressive resolution so text and graphics should appear quite crisp.

    The GPS navigation’s mapping system includes 3D junction view and 2.5D building view for a better idea of exactly which junction you have to take. Maps have 15 zoom levels and are for both Malaysia and Singapore, while language options include English, BM, Cantonese, Mandarin, Thai, Japanese and Korean.

    Other features include a reverse camera system with night vision compensation (which auto-engages during reverse), and an audio and video player which streams audio to the car’s 6-speaker audio system through an FM transmitter. Video and audio can be loaded through either an SD card or a USB data drive.

    The Luxury Navi Package trim level is only a RM1,500 premium (RM120,380.00) over the Luxury package which I feel is quite good value. If you purchase the TCAT Multimedia Navigator system along with the reverse camera and etc on its own the RRP is RM3,500.
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  • Lexus launch LS 460 Sport and latest LS 460L

    In Cars, Lexus, Local News / By / / 69 comments

    Hours ago Lexus Malaysia launched the latest LS 460 range, which has just gone through a mid life minor model change. Two variants are available in Malaysia – the LS 460L and the new LS 460 Sport. The former is the long wheelbase variant of Lexus’ limo while the Sport is the short wheelbase version.

    The LS 460L used to be offered in an ultra-luxurious four-seat configuration, but Lexus now only brings in the five-seater, which can also function as a four-seater if you fold down the thick rear centre armrest with plenty of buttons to control the entertainment system (9-inch LCD screen and DVD player) and air-con. As before, LS owners get to enjoy semi-aniline leather ottoman seats with lumbar support massager. Business-class style “butterfly” headrests are new.

    The abovementioned goodies are not available in the Sport, but the cheaper short wheelbase car gets sport tuning for the air suspension, 19-inch forged aluminium rims with wider tyres (18-inch on LS 460L), Brembo brakes and exterior touches such as an aerokit and a grille with less chrome. The Sport is for the LS owner who self drives, so it comes with sports seats with more support and shift paddles for the eight-speed auto gearbox.

    Whichever you choose, the LS is brilliantly refined and luxurious, from the 4.6-litre Dual-VVT-i V8 engine with 380 bhp/493 Nm to the Mark Levinson 7.1 audio system with 19 speakers and 15-channel amplifier. The LS 460L is priced at RM829,448 while the LS 460 Sport will cost you RM719,448. Should you still want a four-seat LS 460L, special orders can be placed.

    Lexus Malaysia sold over 300 cars in 2009, 226 of them being the RX350. The brand has a new centre in Penang, with another one in Johor Bahru coming up later this year. Its Klang Valley 3S Centre is located in Mutiara Damansara, PJ.

    More pictures of the changes after the jump. Note: the shiny wood trim belongs to the LS 460L while the matt finish wood with tan leather trim is from the Sport.

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  • Proton employees show off “creative concepts” at its 2010 Family Day celebration

    In Laughs, Local News, Proton / By / / 197 comments

    It was an early start for a Saturday morning, but I dragged myself out of bed to Proton’s Shah Alam factory to join in the national carmaker’s annual Family Day event; yesterday’s 2010 edition also kick off Proton’s silver jubilee 25th anniversary celebrations. They erected a seriously huge tent (more like an airplane hangar!) to house 18,000 staff and their families who packed the venue. The guest of honour was none other than the man who’s vision created Proton: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed accompanied by wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah.

    No, there weren’t any sneak preview of the Persona facelift or new Waja that I had hoped to catch, but the event was anything but boring, thanks to the participants of Proton’s Invention and Innovation competition, an in-house inter-department contest where staff came up with “concept cars” using units that were destined for scrapping. It was very entertaining to say the least; there was a supercar, a shoe car, a caravan, a wooden sportscar, a Donald Duck inspired gullwing Saga and a space ship!

    Check the gallery after the jump, but before firing the poison arrows, please do not take them too seriously – this is just a fun contest open to all Proton staff, not a prototype design shootout for the next production model. Enjoy!
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  • Proton to participate in Geneva 2010 – world debut of new design language coming up?

    In Cars, Local News, Malaysian Makes, Proton / By / / 89 comments

    In the last few days of the 2009, Proton styling department chief Azlan Othman revealed that an announcement would be made soon on the showcase of a new design direction and language for Proton Design. He mentioned that it would be a ‘worldwide announcement’, and I think Proton MD Datuk Syed Zainal has just given us a clue as to when this announcement is going to happen!

    He revealed at Proton’s 2010 Family Day celebrations that Proton would be participating in the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in March this year. Geneva is probably one of the most important non-American market motorshows out there along with the Frankfurt show, which is just a wee bit strange considering there are no Swiss automotive manufacturers.

    A Geneva exhibit usually warrants something big to showcase to make it worth it so maybe… just maybe… perhaps what Azlan meant was that Proton could be showing an interesting concept car featuring future design language elements in it? Peugeot is also taking the same route, showcasing its Peugeot SR1 Concept there.

    Other than that, DSZ also said that the Exora is due for a Middle Eastern market debut soon, and a consolidation process of its Shah Alam and Tanjung Malim plants are underway and scheduled to complete by the end of this year. No details have been revealed but in Proton’s current overcapacity state we might see Proton consolidate all manufacturing in one plant?

    Until March then!

     

  • A chance to win RM100,000 just by filling up with RM30 Shell fuel

    In Advertorial, Local News / By / / Comments are Disabled

    Here’s a chance to potentially get a big year end bonus for doing what we normally do – pump petrol. With every minimum purchase of RM30 on Shell fuels, lubricants or selected products at Shell Select stores, you stand a chance to win RM100,000 plus 100,000 BonusLink points every week.

    There are also three RM10,000 plus 10,000 BonusLink prizes and 1000 prizes of RM100 plus 100 BonusLink points to be won. Winners are drawn weekly. Non BonusLink card members will also get the points – they will give you a new account if you win.

    All you need to do is attach the original receipt to the contest form (make sure it has the station stamp), answer an obvious question, fill in your details and drop it into the prominent contest boxes at Shell stations. Alternatively, you can snail mail the form to Pejabat Pos Peti Surat No. 11709, 50754, Kuala Lumpur.

    This ongoing 14-week contest ends on March 7, 2010 so if you haven’t already been trying (we have!) there are still three months more to go. This campaign is to promote Shell FuelSave, the company’s new fuel formula designed to save up to 1 litre of fuel per full tank. Good luck!

    Click here to find out more!

     

  • Govt to announce new “reasonable” toll rates

    In Local News / By / / 106 comments

    Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak revealed to members of the media on Friday that the government is at the final stage of restructuring highway toll rates and that an official announcement will be made by the premier. “We are now in the final stage, and I will make an announcement,” he said.

    The new toll rates “will reflect consumer interests and satisfaction as well as a high level of highway quality” according to the Prime Minister. He revealed to the members of the press during the opening ceremony of Persada Plus which is Plus Expressway Berhad’s main headquarters. Najib assured that the new toll rates will be reasonable but did hint that the rates may travel upwards.

    “Additional lanes should be added to congested stretches immediately. As the cost, this can be negotiated with the government because we practise the principle of cost-sharing. The people will not mind if there is a slight increase in toll rates, provided traffic flow is smooth without any congestion,” were his exact words.

    He also explained that the highway system plays an important role in the growth of a locality and new industrial sites. This will then give a positive impact to the economy. “I believe our highway system can spur a high level of economic growth because the movement of people, goods and services depends on a sophisticated and quality highway network,” he added. Unfortunately we can only guess when the announcement will be made. Thanks to Zali for the pointer!

    Source

     

  • Malaysia all set to be Peugeot regional hub

    In Cars, Local News, Naza, Peugeot / By / / 47 comments

    peugeot logoPeugeot today announced its intentions to make Malaysia its regional hub through its relationship with the Naza Group. Peugoet is currently distributed in Malaysia by Nasim Sdn Bhd, which took over the franchise from Cycle & Carriage.

    Since Nasim took over, a nice European marque has been made an affordable choice for many Malaysians, undercutting its competitors both in terms of price and specifications. Turbocharging and direct injection technology in a petrol engine for the masses! Naza sold 3,766 Peugeot cars in 2009, comprising of 2,347 units of the 206 Bestari, 885 units of the 308, 491 units of the 407 and 43 units of the 207 CC. For 2010, the group is targeting to sell 2,930 Peugeots in Malaysia, which will include the “T33″ entry-level model, to be produced at Naza’s Gurun plant.

    Peugeot themselves are expanding its ASEAN Regional Office in PJ, which will manage operations for the Asia-Pacific region (excluding China). Peugeot’s ASEAN Regional Office in Malaysia currently runs an ASEAN training centre and technical help desk for after-sales technicians in the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East.

     
 
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