Archive for Local News

Edaran Tan Chong Motor has brought in the new Nissan 370Z and the new Nissan Murano (no GT-R officially imported yet!). They are going for RM354,000 and RM318,200 respectively excluding road tax, insurance and other OTR related charges such as registration. Both cars come with a 3 year or 100,000km warranty which should be a little better than buying these cars from a grey importer, though alot of importers now offer at least a 1 year warranty.

The 370Z is powered by the new 3.7 liter V6 engine and sits on a shorter wheelbase which will hopefully give the car a more agile feel. The new 3.7 liter engine from the award-winning VQ family features Nissan VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift) and produces 333 PS and 363Nm of torque. Both manual and auto are offered and the price for the manual and auto versions are the same.

The automatic is a new 7-speed slushbox with manual shifting while the 6-speed manual has something interesting – an automatic rev-matching called Syncro Rev Match that automatically blips the throttle to match the proper engine RPM instead of forcing the synchro to force the engine speeds together, thus upsetting the car’s weight balance.

The Murano continues to be powered by the 3.5 liter version of the VQ engine. Most Murano buyers from the grey importers are running the inline-4 version as it is cheaper to buy and also comes with significantly lower road tax costs, but nothing beats the smoothness of a V6. This engine produces 260 PS and 336Nm of torque and is mated to an Xtronic CVT and an ALL MODE 4×4-i all-wheel drive system with Vehicle Dynamic Control.

Related Posts:
2010 Nissan 370Z official details and photos
VIDEO: Nissan 370z Synchro Rev Match transmission

Click for enlarged image

Everyone knows the Ford Everest as the 7-seater SUV companion to the Ford Ranger, being based on the same ladder frame chassis and TDCi engines, so when the Ranger gets a facelift it’s not surprising that the Everest follows suit in keeping the same family look at the new Ranger.

This facelifted 2009 edition of the Ford Everest continues to be available with either a 2.5 liter turbodiesel with 143 PS, or a 3.0 liter turbodiesel with 156 PS. Both engines are available with 5-speed automatics while the 2.5 liter engine also has the option for a 5-speed manual. All variants feature a shift-on-the-fly 4WD-2WD selection system.

The retail prices for the new facelifted Ford Everest (imported from Ford’s Rayong plant in Thailand) in Peninsular Malaysia are RM145,888 for the 2.5L XLT (Manual), RM156,888 for the 2.5L XLT (Automatic) and RM169,888 for the 3.0L XLT (Automatic). The 4X2 version seems to be missing from the new line-up.

The prices for Sabah and Sarawak are RM149,388, RM160,388 and RM173,388 for the 2.5 M, 2.5 A and 3.0 A respectively. All prices quoted exclude road tax, insurance and registration.

Honda has added the new Taffeta White colour that first debuted on the Honda Accord to the 3rd generation Honda CR-V. This will increase the amount of colours offered on the CR-V to 5, with the other 4 being Alabaster Silver Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Sparkle Gray Pearl and Polished Metal Metallic.

The new Taffeta White colour is doing quite well on the Accord, accounting for a total of 30% of Accord sales since its launch in mid-July 2009.

Related Posts:
2007 Honda CR-V Test Drive Review

When RON95 is fully introduced this September, it will cost RM1.75 per liter, which is 5 sen cheaper than RON97 but also 5 sen more expensive than RON92, which will then be phased out. RON97 will be repositioned as a premium fuel with an unsubsidized price tag of RM2 per liter and above.

Once RON95 is out and becomes the mainstream fuel due to the way the new fuels will be price-structured, the game will be pretty much “reset”, with some consumers trying the new RON95 fuels to see which one feels the best with their car’s internal combustion engine. It’s definitely a renewed opportunity to impress and gain some new customers.

You have to remember one thing though. Over time thanks to normal wear and tear, especially on older cars fitted with carburettors which do not deliver the right amount of fuel as precisely as compared to fuel injection, your engine’s combustion chamber might have been “modified” by the dirty carbon deposits caused by the a less than perfect combustion process. Carbon deposits increase the compression ratio because their bulk volume reduces the volume of the combustion chamber at Top Dead Centre and in the end if your engine is tuned to have a minimum of RON95, it may end up knocking thus requiring a fuel of higher than the recommended RON.

Fuel additive packages like the Techron formula found in Caltex fuel that are engineered to provide superior keep-clean for the combustion chamber may be able to help such cars. Techron is a patented formulation of polyetheramine and other unique detergents and components which can help clean up the engine intake system, and fuel metering system and continuous use over time will be able to help keep those parts clean as well. It’s also good to give the engine a little pressure to help these formulas clean off the deposits effectively.

In fact in the US there is actually something called Top Tier Detergent Gasolines, a standardised rating created by BMW, GM, Honda, Toyota and subsequently with Volkswagen & Audi endorsements in 2007. It is a standard that defines the levels of detergency (cleaning ability to provide optimal fuel economy, performance and reduced emissions) of fuels higher than what the US EPA has set, and Chevron (Caltex)’s Techron fuels were the first fuel to meet the Top Tier standard as they did not have to change Techron formulation to meet the standards. It already has adequate amounts of detergency.

This story is an infomercial.

Hyundai has updated the Hyundai Grand Starex with a new front grille that features a slatted design rather than the original Starex’s mesh grille with a chrome surround and a chrome bar going through it. The new model is called the Hyundai Grand Starex Royale. The wing mirrors are also now body-coloured instead of black, and now feature signal indicators on them.

One of the gripes that we had in our Grand Starex review was also the absence of a rear windscreen wiper – this has now been added onto the Grand Starex Royale. On the interior there is a new Pioneer touch screen LCD DVD player that is linked to a 7 inch LCD screen located at the middle top of the MPV for rear passenger enertainment purposes.

For more details on whether the Grand Starex is a worthy addition to your fleet of vehicles especially if you have a growing family (the Starex has a total of 11 seats with seatbelts – that’s alot of people!), check our our test drive review of the Grand Starex. Or look after the jump for more photos of the updated Hyundai Grand Starex Royale. It’s priced at RM148,888 OTR in West Malaysia and RM153,997.50 OTR in East Malaysia. Four colours are available – Crystal White, Stone Black, Sleek Silver and Carbon Grey.

Click here to read the rest of Hyundai Grand Starex Royale gets a new grille!

The Toyota Prius is now here in Malaysia, retailing for RM175,000 OTR inclusive of insurance for private registration. Might be too much for most of us to stomach considering this is supposed to include the rebate that the government is giving on hybrid cars, the same rebate that ensures the Camry Hybrid won’t be sold here in the near future as long as the policies stay the same as it is only for hybrids with engine displacements of under 2.0 liters. The Langkawi and Labuan prices are rather interesting though – its only RM127,408.45 and RM128,046.55 respectively for individual private registration.

As previously indicated we are getting the model without the solar panel, and we are getting the 15 inch wheels instead of the 17 inch wheels. The construction of the 15 inch wheels are interesting – it’s an alloy wheel but it has an additional plastic cover on top to help with aerodynamics. No GPS navi or colour screen on the interior but there is a heads-up display function. Other equipment includes 7 airbags, ABS, EBD, traction control, stability control (VSC), Hill-Start Assist, brake assist, keyless entry and start, and an 8-speaker audio system.

For those who want to check out the Prius in better detail, there is a cut-body model showcased in the UMW Toyota Subang showroom until the 9th of August 2009, after of which it will be moved to Cheras from 10 to 16 and Penang from 18 to to the 31st. This model is said to be one of only two cutaway Prius models in the world – which basically means the Prius is cut to show you the inner components of the THS HSD system.

UMW targets to sell 100 units this year which is probably just about all the allocation they managed to get as there is a bottleneck in the Prius supply globally. For those who want to learn more about the new third generation Prius, you may read the related links below:

Related Posts:
3rd generation Toyota Prius: first impression drive
3rd generation Toyota Prius: official details

Smart Wheels is a microportal that will provide relevant tips and information for potential car buyers that aim to help them to make informed decisions. Smart Wheels will feature a series of stories that will guide you through a car purchase process and what to look out for when you purchase a car. It is an initiative by Honda but remains an independent portal that does not endorse any car brand in specific. It’s been running for a month now, so here’s a recap on what’s been published on the microsite.

Online Articles

• Back to the basics
• Beyond the car: service and support
• Shake that stereotype: you’ll make a better decision without it
• The top 10 most reliable cars in the UK

Print Articles from various publications

Mitsubishi unveiled a new revision of the Mitsubishi Grandis with updated equipment when they unveiled the new facelifted Lancer 2.0 GT today. The Grandis now comes with the following extra features:

• A bodykit – front and rear lips and side skirts
• Door visors on all four doors
• Scuff plates on the interior
• Combination black leather for all 7 seats and door inserts
• Black leather for the steering wheel and gearknob
• 2-DIN 6.2 inch Kenwood DVD receiver with touch screen interface, USB connectivity as well as iPod and Bluetooth support

The Grandis continues to be powered by a 165 PS 2.4 liter MIVEC engine. The engine is the 4G69 which produces peak power at 6,000rpm and 217Nm of torque at 4,000rpm. This engine is mated to a 4-speed INVECS-II automatic.

The updated Mitsubishi Grandis is priced at RM160,557.80 OTR without insurance and is available in White Pearl, Black Mica, Cool Silver and Gray Mica. This is roughly a RM2k increase over the previous price when the facelifted Grandis was launched in 2007.

Look after the jump for more photos from the Grandis launch.

Click here to read the rest of Mitsubishi Grandis updated with extra equipment!

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia launched the 2009 update for the Mitsubishi Lancer 2.0 GT today alongside an updated 2.4 liter Grandis. As previously revealed, the new Lancer features the updated front end that first made a debut on the Lancer Sportback.

It continues to be powered by the 2.0 liter 4B11 engine producing 155 PS and 199Nm of torque, mated to an INVECS-III CVT transmission with paddle shifts that allow you to swap between the CVT’s 6 predefined virtual ratios. The 2.0 GT also features ABS, EBD, dual two-stage front airbags, disc brakes all-round, Nappa leather seats that fold 60:40 at the rear, and a 6-speaker CD and MP3 sound system with steering wheel controls.

Only three colours are available – White Solid, Black Mica and Red Metallic. According to MMM, it goes for RM123,980.00 OTR with insurance. It will be in showrooms from tomorrow in the Peninsular, and from the 21st August onwards for East Malaysia.

Look after the jump for a full live photo gallery of the updated Lancer 2.0 GT. You’ll notice one car that’s slightly modified with 18 inch wheels of a darker shade, and a few stickers on the body. That’s a demo car that Mitsubishi prepared to show us how the Lancer can be “pimped up”, and they took a low-cost, subtle and tasteful route to it.

Click here to read the rest of Mitsubishi Lancer 2.0 GT facelifted in Malaysia!

The Honda Accord Showcase starts today at Highstreet One Utama PJ until the 2nd of August 2009. It will then be held at the Queensbay Mall Penang concourse on the 21st to 23rd August 2009 and then the next and final stop will be JB’s Sutera Mall on the 2nd of October 2009 to the 4th of October 2009.

The new Accord 2.0 VTi-L will be on display in Taffeta White along with a photography exhibition of the Accord. The exhibition combines the Accord and various successful Malaysian personas. A commemorative book with the best photographs of the Accord, the personas and their success stories will be launched there.

Definitely interesting for those who are into vehicle photography.

Click here to read the rest of New Honda Accord “The Perfectionist” Photography Showcase starts today at 1U!