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Jaguar XF facelift arrives in Malaysia – 3.0 V6 petrol, Diesel S and XFR 5.0 V8 Supercharged are the available variants

Jaguar’s facelifted XF sedan was officially introduced by Sisma Auto earlier today. Three variant forms of the new arrival are available, the base 3.0 V6 petrol and 3.0 V6 Diesel S as well as the range-topping XFR 5.0 V8 Supercharged, though the introduction made today was with the 3.0 litre petrol and diesel jobs.

The facelift gives the XF a series of cosmetic enhancements that bring the car’s exterior in-line with the design language introduced on the flagship XJ. The front fascia and lower rear valance treatments differ between model levels, but in general the grille and hood have been revised, as have the front fenders, which now sport new triangular side vents. As befits its status, the supercharged XFR features styling cues that differentiate it from the other XFs.

In terms of powertrain outputs, the AJ-V6 Gen III petrol has 238 PS at 6,800 rpm and 293 Nm at 4,100 rpm, and this is good enough to give it a 0-100 km/h time of 8.3 seconds. Meanwhile, the AJ-V6D Gen III S diesel mill offers 275 PS at 4,000 rpm and double the torque of the petrol unit, with 600 Nm at 2,000 rpm. It’s faster than the petrol variant to the century, doing it in 6.4 seconds.

As for the XFR, the familiar 5.0 litre AJ-V8 Gen III R supercharged lump puts out 510 PS at 6,000 to 6,500 rpm and 635 Nm at 2,500 rpm right through to 5,500 rpm, and these numbers are good enough to give the XFR a sub five-second performance from standstill to 100 km/h, specifically 4.9 seconds. All three model versions, which are equipped with six-speed auto gearboxes, have their top speed limited to 250 km/h.

Besides the revisions to the bodywork, new to the car are bi-function HID xenon headlamps, which incorporate LED daytime running lights that are shaped in a Jaguar ‘J-Blade’ fashion, and the LED tail lights are also new, reworked to extend towards the central portion of the trunk lid. The boot gets a power latch across the model range, and also wears a revised trunk lid trim, with a gloss black lower edge separating the tail lamps.

At the car’s official global launch at last year’s New York Auto Show, three new exterior shades were also introduced to the palette, and the alloy wheel selection has also been increased, with new offerings ranging from 18- to 20-inch units available for the car.

The cabin also gets updated, with changes coming in the form of new trim shades, seats, audio systems and instrument panel. Trim-wise, the centre console, dashboard, and steering wheel are dressed in a new colour scheme, with buttons and switchgear now in black. Additionally, the ‘Tungsten’ finish has been replaced by a more contemporary ‘Aurora’ theme.

The front and rear seats have also been revised, and feature a choice of new colour combinations and veneers. Elsewhere, the instrument cluster information display is now a full-colour TFT unit, and the seven-inch touchscreen now comes with a new polarising filter for improved contrast and reworked buttons below the screen, allowing for easier and clearer function selection.

A choice of three new audio systems abound, with the list headed by an optional 1,200 watt, 17-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium surround sound system, and safety equipment includes front and side curtain airbags, CBC and brake assist.

In terms of pricing, the XF 3.0 V6 goes for RM488,888, the XF 3.0 Diesel S for RM509,888, and the XFR 5.0 V8 Supercharged is a mere snip at RM888,888, all prices excluding road tax and insurance.

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Google 2011 Zeitgeist list: Perodua Myvi tops car searches

Google has released its annual Zeitgeist list for Malaysia, which ranks 2011’s hottest search terms on google.com.my. Zeitgeist, which is German for “the spirit of the times”, offers a glimpse at the significant whats and whos in the eyes of Malaysians. Since we’re an automotive site, let’s focus on the car list. The top 10 fastest rising car brand searches on google.com.my in 2011 are:

1. Myvi/Perodua Myvi
2. Mercedes
3. Volkswagen
4. Honda Insight
5. Peugeot
6. Lexus
7. Perodua
8. Ford Fiesta
9. Audi
10. Lamborghini

This is a “fastest rising” list, search terms that have seen the largest increase in search volume over the year. Not to be confused with “most popular”, which indicates terms that are most frequently searched.

It’s no surprise that the Perodua Myvi is at the top – it’s Malaysia’s best selling car, and people want to read up before they buy. Also, the new Myvi was introduced last year, before the more powerful SE and Extreme came in September, further adding interest.

Mercedes-Benz came in second, so perhaps it’s the brand most Malaysians aspire to. Continental cars are getting more popular by the day, gaining a foothold in the Japanese dominated non-national segment, so it’s no surprise to see VW and Peugeot in the top 5.

Hybrids are “in” too, thanks to tax breaks, and the sub RM100k Honda Insight is popular both on urban streets and in Google. Another “hot car” is the Ford Fiesta, the stylish B-segment hatch that single handedly revived the Ford brand in Malaysia. A surprise for me is Lamborghini at number 10 – everyone wants a bull as their wallpaper perhaps?

Away from what we all love, here is the overall fastest rising searches in 2011:

1. Facebook
2. Angry Birds
3. Maharaja Lawak
4. iPhone 5
5. Samsung Galaxy
6. iPad2
7. Jawatan kosong
8. Android
9. Tonton
10. Aishiteru

Agree or disagree? Discuss and leave your two cents below!

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Oriental Metal Industries invests in RM103m alloy wheel plant in Rawang, wants to be country’s top wheel maker

Oriental Metal Industries (M) Sdn Bhd (OMI) is targeting to be the largest Tier 1 integrated wheel manufacturer in Malaysia with its investment in a new RM103 million alloy wheel manufacturing plant north of Rawang.

The investment is part of a strategic plan by OMI’s parent company, MBM Resources Bhd (MBMR) to expand its automotive manufacturing division. Those who follow the business pages will recognise MBMR as a major (but not majority) stakeholder in Perodua.

MBMR owns 78% of OMI, while its technical partner, Central Motor Wheel Company Limited of Japan (CMW) has a 19% stake. The remaining 3% is held by Toyota Tsusho Corp. Established in 1939, CMW, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corp, is Japan’s largest supplier of automotive wheels. It has plants in China, Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and the USA.

Phase one of the project, scheduled to be completed by the fourth quarter of this year, will be adjacent to OMI’s existing Wheel Module Assembly plant, which is located near Perodua’s Sg Choh factory. When fully completed by Q3 2015, the 13,000 square metre facility will have the capacity to produce one million units of alloy wheels annually, for both domestic and export markets.

The alloy wheels will be manufactured to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) standards, which require the products to undergo a heat treatment process after casting for optimum strength and durability. The new plant will use a combination of proven Japanese production methods and high precision and energy efficient low pressure casting equipment from Europe.

At the press conference this afternoon, it was revealed that the demand for alloy wheels in Malaysia is around 1.8 million pieces per year, with 800k of that imported. OMI is looking to reduce the need to import. To a question, OMI bosses say that a portion of Perodua’s alloy wheel supply currently comes from Indonesia. Needless to say, this new plant is expected to satisfy P2′s demand and keep profits within the family, so to speak.

MBMR’s MD Looi Kok Loon adds that this venture into alloy wheel making is a natural progression for OMI, which has been rolling out steel wheels since 1985.

“There is a growing demand for high quality yet competitively priced alloy wheels by car manufacturers and assemblers in this country. We aim to offer our current and potential customers a very attractive locally made alternative to imports, which are often exposed to vagaries such as currency fluctuations, product quality and delivery issues,” he said, adding that OMI is targeting to export about 35% of output.

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Volvo V60 launched – RM230k for T4, RM269k for T5, CKD

Volvo Cars Malaysia today introduced the new V60, with two locally assembled variants being available, the T4 and T5. Both feature Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection (GTDi) petrol mills, the T5’s coming in 2.0 litre form, while the T4 sports a 1.6 litre lump. Numbers for the T5 are 240 hp at 5,500 rpm and 320 Nm of torque, available from 1,800 to 5,000 rpm, as well as a 0-100 km/h time of 7.7 seconds and a 230 km/h top speed.

The T4, meanwhile, offers 180 hp at 5,700 rpm and 240 Nm from 1,600 through to 5,000 rpm, with an on-demand overboost function taking it to 270 Nm – the car does the century sprint in 9.2 seconds and has a 220 km/h top speed. Both variants wear a six-speed Powershift auto tranny.

Many elements from the S60 are to be found on this one, so in terms of kit and features there are really no big surprises. Exterior design-wise, the company is suggesting the V60 as a coupe-like form rather than an outright estate, saying that from a design viewpoint, the focus was on making the car as close to a coupe as possible, while retaining that handy extra space at the rear.

Standard equipment includes leather seats and steering wheel (the one on the T5 gets a silk metal inlay), roof rails, Shimmer Graphite inlay décor trim and an eight-speaker, four-channel amplifier setup – on the T4 the entertainment system is CD-based, with a 5-inch integrated colour screen, while the T5’s does DVDs and comes with a 7-inch screen, replete with a navigation system.

Both variants come equipped with 17-inch alloys, the T4 getting Balder design wheels and 215/50 series rubbers, while the T5 has Njord wheels, wrapped with 235/45 profile donuts.

Plenty in the way of safety-related kit, with the usual assortment of three and four-letter acronyms to be found – there’s DSTC with ASC and CTC, ABS, EBD, ready alert brake (RAB), fading brake support (FBS), hydraulic brake assist (HBA), blind spot information system (BLIS) and active bending lights (ABL) among the mix.

The T5 features Adaptive Cruise Control with queue assist and distance alert, as well as a Collision Warning System with full auto brake and Pedestrian Detection, while the T4 makes do with cruise control.

Five exterior shades are available for the V60, and these are Electric Silver, Ember Black, Ice White, Seashell and Flamenco Red. The V60 T4 goes for RM230,000, while the T5 version is priced at RM269,000, both prices being on-the-road, without insurance.

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UMW says it has no plans to acquire stake in Proton

Of late, there has been no shortage of conjecture about the possibility of Khazanah Nasional letting go of its 42.7% stake in Proton, with a number of potential suitors having being mentioned. UMW Holdings Bhd was among those mentioned in some reports, but it turns out that UMW has no plans to acquire Khazanah’s stake, Bernama reported today.

According to UMW’s group chairman Tan Sri Asmat Kamaludin, UMW has a lot on its hands already, and its focus was on its present commitments, mainly the partnership with Toyota and Perodua.

“I think we’ve already cleared that UMW is not making any bids. We at UMW are committed to our partner Toyota in enhancing its business here in Malaysia and making Perodua self-reliant pre- and post-NAP (National Automotive Policy),” Asmat said.

He added that as far as UMW was concerned, the Proton issue had not been discussed at board level, and a bid has not even been considered. “We’ve never made any bids. The reports say that shareholders of UMW have made the bid. I don’t know about that. Maybe you have to ask them,” he told reporters after the launch of the new Toyota Avanza.

Asmat added that UMW had plans to ensure Perodua post survive implementation of the new NAP, where the government has already indicated that it will liberalise the automotive sector by 2016, the Bernama report added. “We have a plan to develop Perodua and make it self-reliant before that,” he stated.

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2012 Toyota Avanza launched – RM64,590 to RM79,590


UPDATE: Hi res gallery of studio images added

UMW Toyota officially launched the new Toyota Avanza hours ago. This is the second generation Avanza introduced in Indonesia late last year, and our Avanzas now come from that neighbouring country, no longer assembled by Perodua in Rawang. You should know plenty about it already – we covered the Indonesia-spec car and also posted up a scan of the official UMWT brochure in December.

Here’s a recap. This full model change Avanza comes after 140,000 units of the first gen MPV have been sold in Malaysia since October 2004. The Avanza was a pioneer in the affordable MPV segment, and was once the best selling non national vehicle in Malaysia, outselling passenger cars. This new one wears more sculptured styling for a more dynamic outlook relative to the original. More 3D, car companies like to say.

The profile is also less upright, and the lights at both ends wrap around the body. Current Avanza owners will also notice that the door handles have changed from the lift up type to the grip type, which looks and works better. The wing mirrors have a more streamlined look and incorporate turn signals. The windscreen washer nozzles have been relocated to below the glass for a smooth bonnet.

It’s not just a facelift as some believe. The new Avanza is 20 mm longer and 30 mm wider than before, while front and rear tracks are up by 20 mm. The platform has been carried over, and the RWD layout remains. Toyota says that RWD gives better maneuverability via a better turning circle, which is best in class at 4.7m. The range topping 1.5S has a different grille and bumper (larger intake) than the G and E specs.

Under the hood lies the familiar 3SZ-VE 1.5-litre VVTi engine. It puts out 103 PS and 136 Nm, which is less than before because this engine adheres to Euro4 standards, according to UMWT. In case you didn’t know, Malaysia is one of the few markets that are still on Euro2; our neighbours and markets like China and India have progressed.

So perhaps it’s too much of a hassle to “customise” a Euro2 engine for us – the official line is that UMWT is not sure when the Govt will jump from Euro2 to Euro4, so they decided it’s better to bring in the latter.

The 1.3L model, which can only be had with a 5-speed manual gearbox, makes 91 PS and 117 Nm of torque. This K3-VE VVTi powered variant is the lightest, naturally, at 1,070 kg. The range topping 1.5S weighs 1,105 kg. There’s no manual option for the 1.5L engine – a four-speed auto is mandatory.

Despite the slightly lower figures, acceleration is improved and fuel economy is better than before, so it’s win-win for the consumer. FC wise, the new Avanza 1.5 is rated at 12 km/l (7% better) while the 1.3 model does 12.6 km/l, which is 9% better than before. Toyota attributes this to lower rolling resistance tyres (by 10%), improved aerodynamics, lower weight (15-20 kg depending on variant) and the adoption of Electric Power Steering (EPS).

UMWT further tells us that noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) has been improved over the old car, and the suspension has been retuned to offer better ride comfort, including for the last row. For NVH, Toyota has added a resonator to the air cleaner hose to reduce engine boom at high rpms. The 1.5L gets a revised exhaust pipe design to further lower noise.

Kit wise, the 1.5S and 1.5G comes with 15-inch alloys (185/65 tyres), fog lamps, multi info display, tilt steering with audio buttons and a 2-DIN head unit with AUX, USB and six speakers. ABS, EBD and dual airbags are also included.

New features across the board include a one-touch tumble down function for the middle row seats, which now can be slid fore and aft. The top of the centre stack has an additional air vent; this one blows re-cooled air to the rear blower for better cooling performance. The interior theme is black for all variants and there’s a new meter design. Look at the brochure scan for the full spec break down.


Click to enlarge spec sheet

Price wise, the Avanza 1.3 is priced at RM64,590, the 1.5E at RM72,590, the 1.5G at RM77,290 and the 1.5S at RM79,590. These are on the road prices including insurance, for metallic colours. The options list has two items – Toyota Standard Solar Flim and an Aerokit.

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Become a better driver with the Shell Helix D Academy!

Shell has officially launched the Shell Helix D-Academy contest which will see up to 30 participants win the grand prize of being invited to an event which will allow them to take part in special driving course dedicated to compact cars.

At the Shell Helix D-Academy, professional driving instructors will share valuable defensive driving skills, both in theory and in practice (practical training) with the participants. Participants will take home life-saving knowledge which will make them better drivers on the road, something the nation really needs.

With the Shell Helix D-Academy, they will learn how to control their vehicles, which in this case, compact cars with lower displacement engines in adverse driving conditions. This is part of Shell’s believe that protection should not only be given to the engine but also to the driver’s life.

This philosophy also applies to the Shell Helix HX7 E engine oil with its 5W-30 grade which achieves low viscosity at low temperatures. This simply means that the engine oil will be thin enough to flow during morning start-ups and thick enough to protect the engine when it is hot.

The Shell Helix HX7 E is also equipped with active cleansing agents that prevent dirt particles from sticking together to form sludge. Overall, the engine oil is able to offer up to 19% more protection than other tested synthetic-tecnohology oils, 1.8% more fuel economy compared to a 15W-40 mineral oil and smoother power delivery with reduced emissions.

To take part in the contest and put yourself in the running to win tickets to the event and other attractive prizes, all you need to do is to decorate your car in our Facebook application! Simply upload a photo of your car to the application and use the pre-loaded tools to decorate your car, as simple as that!

Top designs will be selected and winners will walk home with tickets to the Shell Helix D-Academy. Contest ends on January 29, 2012! Limited seats are available, so join now!

Good luck!

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2012 Toyota Prius – now in two trim levels in Malaysia

The fuss may be about the upcoming Toyota Prius c, but some interesting developments are also shaping up on the other, more familiar Prius front. A check on the UMW Toyota website reveals that there are now two trim levels being mentioned for the ZVW30 in Malaysia, a standard Prius as well as a Luxury variant.

A ‘New Prius’ tagline is being bandied, so the vehicle – which, going by the site, hasn’t quite arrived but should be right around the corner – should pretty much be the facelift version of the third-generation hybrid that came about last year. The revisions are mild and involve more new kit than any considerable shape rework, though the front bumper and rear lamp configuration are different.

No changes mechanically to the Hybrid Synergy Drive system on it – the 1.8 litre 2ZR-FXE Atkinson cycle engine, with its 99 PS at 5,200 rpm and 142 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm continues to hold court, working alongside the electric motor’s 82 PS and 207 Nm of torque, with a combined output of 136 PS (or 134 hp).

Standard fare contains the familiar, among them seven airbags, VSC and traction control, EBD, brake assist, 15-inch wheels and cruise control. Both 2012 variants will feature a 6.1-inch touchscreen display audio system with Bluetooth, USB and Aux connections, partnered to a JBL eight-speaker, eight-channel amplifier setup.

The standard Prius continues on with high-grade fabric seats and halogen projector headlamps, while the Luxury gets leather seats and LED projectors, complete with auto leveling and washer. The Luxury also gets auto lights, an electro-chromic rear view mirror and heated seats, the last which won’t see much use in this particular climate. New to the Prius are daytime running lights, which are available on both versions.

There’s an indicative estimate for the variants, and the pricing has gone slightly up for the base model, at RM143,000, while the Luxury is expected to retail for RM148,000, both on-the-road with insurance.

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Motor insurance rates to be gradually revised

Effective January 16, the motor tariff premium rates in the country are set to be revised on a gradual basis, according to a Bernama report. Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), which issued a statement on the matter, said that the revision will be the first to be carried out in over three decades, adding that the premium adjustment was to be in a small amount and implemented over a period of four years.

For example, third-party cover on motorcycles of 110 cc will experience a premium increase of between RM1 to RM3.50 per year over the next four years. For a private car of 1,400 cc, the premium adjustment will be between RM6 to RM34 per year over the same period.

As for commercial vehicles such as outstation taxis and buses, the impact of the premium adjustment on the passengers will be minimal, at less than 10 sen per passenger per trip.

The tariff revision is part of the New Motor Cover Framework, which addresses the structural issues within the motor insurance and takaful sector. The framework also involves an immediate implementation of critical measures to enhance efficiency in claims settlement.

The central bank said that the adjustment in the tariff is to be reviewed periodically in order to ensure that the adjusted premium rates continue to be reflective of the claims experience, and assured that the implication on the public and businesses will be marginal.

It stated that the current tariffs, which have not been revised for more than 30 years, have been a major source of difficulties faced by the public in recent years – while premiums have not been adjusted, there has been a significant increase in the level of car ownership to about 19 million to date, and with it, a corresponding accident rate and claims. The enhancements will significantly reduce the average claims settlement period to six to 18 months from the present one to five years.

The framework will pave the way for the detariffing of motor insurance premiums in 2016, in which premium rates will be further differentiated in accordance to the risk profile of individual vehicles and fairer to vehicle owners, as those with good claims experience will enjoy much better premium rates than those with a higher risk profile, BNM added.

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Toyota Prius c arriving soon – teased on UMW Toyota site

Toyota’s Prius c hybrid is arriving in Malaysia soon. The hybrid was unveiled in production model form at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show and was introduced into the Japanese market – in its Aqua domestic version form – in Dec, so its impending arrival here is pretty rapid, by any measure.

We earlier had the brochure to work on (the resolution isn’t great because it’s from Facebook, so the image has been descaled), but have now updated the story accordingly; the UMW Toyota website already has details on the car, as well as an estimated pricing – RM103,990, which will be welcome news for those looking at a cheaper alternative to the more upmarket Prius. At this price point, it’s looking very much competitively priced against the Honda Insight.

The Prius c wears a 1NZ-FXE 1.5 litre Atkinson cycle mill, which has 73 PS at 4,800 rpm and 111 Nm at 3,600-4,400 rpm for numbers, and it works alongside an electric motor/Ni-Mh battery combination offering 61 PS and 169 Nm, together offering a combined 101 PS output. The system is mated to an E-CVT drivetrain.

Features include halogen projector headlamps, front fog lamps, fabric seats, cruise control, a 3.5-inch full colour multi-information display and a 2-DIN head unit with USB and iPod compatibility. Other features on the Prius c include a four-spoke urethane steering wheel with tilt and telescoping adjustment, power retractable sideview mirrors and electric power steering.

Brakes are front discs and rear drums, and the car sits on 15-inch wheels with 185/60 series rubbers. On the safety front, there are seven airbags (front, front side, curtain and driver knee) as standard, as well as VSC, traction control, EBD and brake assist

Five colours are available for the car, these being Silver Metallic, Black Mica, Citrus Orange Mica Metallic, Super Red V and Lime White Pearl CS, the last shade adding RM800 to the total price.

On the options list is a DVD-AVN package, which consists of a 2-DIN audio unit with colour touchscreen, navigation system and reverse camera, and this one goes for RM2,990.

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