Archive for Naza

This is the new Naza Picanto, just launched by Naza Kia Sdn Bhd a few days ago at The Curve. Yes, this is the CKD Picanto that was previously called the Naza Suria, but now the Suria name has been dropped and replaced by the Kia name, though the Naza badge remains. The Suria name was probably inspired by the Picanto’s Korean market name, which is the Kia Morning.

The most obvious change is of course the aesthetic update to the latest look that has been available from Kia internationally. With the latest facelift in Korea, there were actually two different front ends available but Naza has picked the version with the rounded foglamps to sell here. There is another one with leaf-shaped look foglamps and funkier alloy wheels, probably some kind of special edition.

On the inside, the interior has been updated with orange backlighting for the controls and meter cluster. The meter cluster is complete with an RPM meter but there is no water temp meter. The head unit provided is a 1-DIN design with USB support so you can read your MP3 files off a USB thumbdrive and do away with carrying CDs in your Picanto. The 1.1 liter engine revs up to 6k RPM and puts out a peak of 64 PS at 5,500rpm and 96Nm of torque at 2,800rpm. I like the fact that peak torque is made under 3,000rpm, which is usually the point an automatic car would shift gears if driven gently. But in any case acceleration from 0 to 100km/h will take a long 15.1 seconds.

In terms of safety, the front passenger and driver get two airbags – one each. The airbags are only available on the more expensive EX model. None of the models have ABS. There are four 3-point belts and a lap belt for the rear center. Wheels are 14 inch steels for the LS and 15 inch alloys for the EX, wrapped with 165/60R14 and 175/50R15 tyres respectively. The EX goes for RM46,800 while the LS goes for RM44,500. If you are in the market for one I’d recommend you just go for the EX since you get alloys and two airbags for a premium of RM2,300.

Also note that the Picanto is basically the original car that the Hyundai i10 was based on, and the i10 is sold at a higher price of RM48,888 in Malaysia. But the i10 comes with ABS brakes and a 5-year warranty while from the Naza Kia website it appears the Picanto gets 2 years, though it looks like a (optional?) 2 year extended warranty program is also available. Also, the i10’s CKD packs come from India, while the Picanto’s CKD packs probably come from Korea.

Look after the jump for an E-Brochure and a gallery of the Picanto.

Click here to read the rest of Naza Picanto: latest facelift now in Malaysia

Thanks to reader awak for alerting me about a new update for the Naza Citra, or should we call it the Naza Citra 1.5 now since there is a Citra 2 Rondo and this particular version is an update to the Citra 1. The old second generation Kia Carens has been given a new breath of life by Naza Kia and is priced lower than the Citra 2 Rondo.

The new design is very curiously Saga-like with a blackened area between the upper and lower center grille on the front end, and the rear design features a new rear bumper with an integrated diffuser-lookalike design.

A quick check on local classifieds sites already reveal many salesmen posting up entries and prices range between RM59,888 to RM65,888, making this one of the cheapest 2.0 liter MPVs around, though what you’ll be getting is a model that first debuted in 2002.

Look after the jump for more images of the new Citra facelift.

Click here to read the rest of Another facelift for the old Naza Citra?

Click for enlarged image

Reader acesDSI spotted this Kia Forte with JPJ plates roaming the streets of Batu 3 Shah Alam heading towards Section 20 Shah Alam. It looks like the good-looking Kia Forte is going to be launched soon, and sources in Naza say it’s most likely to be offered in CKD locally assembled form.

Although we cannot really see the badge on the car because of the resolution of the photos, the photographer said the car had Naza badges on, so maybe what we’re going to get is a Naza Forte instead of a Kia Forte.

Click for enlarged image

There are positive and negative points about that, firstly having a Naza badge on is likely to give the company more bargaining power with duties resulting in a lower price, which is ultimately beneficial for consumers if a simple badge swap (that could even be supplier by showrooms) will “fix” it. Secondly it will stop potential customers from waiting for Naza Kia to Naza-ize a Kia Forte in anticipation of further price drops.

If the Naza Forte is to become a proper bread and butter sedan for Naza Kia it has to replace the Spectra in the product range so expect it to come with a 1.6 liter engine, with larger engines reserved for the Kia Koup 2-door coupe which I tested in South Korea recently.

The Naza Group of Companies wants to move from being a family owned institution of management to that of an organization of 23 companies adhering to a multinational organization culture of focusing on improvements.

The latest in a series of steps taken is an effort to “upgrade” its human resources or staff – a signing with Motorola University, where 1,000 of the Naza Group’s employees will be trained and developed to improve their skills focusing on increasing productivity and revenue. The training will be provided by Motorola University based on programs that Motorola has developed on the way of becoming a Fortune 500 company.

Naza will offer these programs to employees of all 23 Naza companies under SM Faisal, which will include leadership development, lean manufacturing, customer driven total solutions and the Motorola Six Sigma Program series.

There are many big companies who are actually family-owned but are managed and run by trained professionals. One example very close to Naza is the BMW group, which has been majority (about 46%) owned by the Quandt family since the 50s. It is a proven formula that works.

The Malaysian Reserve reports on its front page today that Naza and PSA Peugeot-Citroen are looking at introducing a 1.6 liter entry level car that will be sold in Malaysia and also assembled and exported from here to other ASEAN regions. This solidifies plans for Naza to turn Malaysia into Peugeot’s assembly hub for the region.

Naza currently already exports the 206 to various countries including Nepal. It is in line with Peugeot’s international entry level car strategy for this to be some variation of the 206 and since we already have the 206 in 1.4 liter variety, perhaps the new compact car will be the 207 Sedan which is essentially a 206 sedan with 207 aesthetics. A 1.6 liter engine will be good news. Ideally it should be priced around the new Hyundai Accent’s level, but who knows. There is also a 307 Sedan that exists.

Look after the jump for more shots of the 207 Sedan.

Click here to read the rest of New 1.6L entry-level Peugeot for M’sia in 2010?

The Naza Group’s SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin has revealed that Naza Kia, Naza Corporation and Nasim Peugeot will be unveiling a few new models this year, in addition to the CKD Peugeot 308 VTi and 308 Turbo and the CKD facelifted Peugeot 407 already launched this year.

There will be 2 new Naza-badged models, one new Kia-badged model and 3 new Peugeot models launched. The Kia-badged car is very likely to be the new Kia Forte (shown above, gallery after jump), which is said to be launched in Q2 this year. The two Naza-badged models will also be based on Kia models, they could be a new facelifted Naza Suria and an all-new monocoque Naza Sorento, based on the new facelifted Suria and the upcoming Kia XM Sorento.

A report by StarBiz claims 2 of the 3 new Peugeot models to be the Peugeot 3008 and the Peugeot 207. The 207 could be the real 207 or it could also be the 207 Compact (206+), a facelifted 206 with 207 looks, which would be a repalcement for the Naza 206 Bestari. The third model could be the Peugeot 308 CC 4-seater coupe-convertible unveiled recently, which would complete the current 308 VTi, 308 Turbo and 308 GT offerings.

Read the related links below to read our past coverage on all of these cars that are expected to hit our shores by the end of the year.

Related Posts:
Peugeot 3008 Crossover: details and photos
New Peugeot 206+ entry-level car for Europe (207 Compact)
Kia unveils Kia Picanto facelift
New Kia Sorento snapped without disguise
First photos of new Kia Forte sedan

Click here to read the rest of More new models from Naza’s Kia and Peugeot distributors this year

The three sons of the late Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin Amin are now Group CEOs of the Naza Group with various different companies under their portfolio. The brothers would like to share with you via this site how the Naza Group is managed now after the passing of the late Tan Sri. The oldest son SM Faisal is now in charge of the Naza Motor Trading group which handles brands such as the Naza World parallel importer, Naza Italia’s Ferrari and Maserati, Naza-Brabus, Naza Premier Auto’s Porsche, Mazda under Naza Wheels, Mercedes-Benz under NZ Wheels, Perodua under Naza Mekar, Harley-Davidson under Naza Prestige bikes, Ducati under Next Bikes, Naza-badged Hyosung bikes under Naza Bikes, Naza Bikers Dream parallel imported bikes, and Naza Ventures, a prestige limo service provider.

SM Nasarudin handles Naza’s three official distributorships – Peugeot via Nasim Peugeot, Kia via Naza Kia and Naza Corporation’s own-brand products such as the Naza Forza. He is also the CEO of NZ Diners, the franchise holder of Bubba Gump Shrimp in Malaysia. Other Naza companies that fall under his jurisdiction include Naza Pan Asia (property investments), Naza Automotive Manufacturing, Naza Hotel Management, NZ Communcations (creative solutions), NZ Galaxy, Naza Academy, and Naza Defence. While Naza TTDI which has a flagship project in the Golden Triangle – Platinum Park is also managed by Nasarudin, their youngest brother SM Faliq is the new MD.

Related Posts:
SM Nasarudin appointed Naza Group CEO

Need or want a 7-seater? Are you a government servant or an employee of a GLC? Can’t afford the monthly installments even if you stretch your payment period to the very long 9 year term? If you think 9 years was pushing it, wait until you see this. I do not recommend taking such insanely long loans for a rapidly depreciating item such as a car but there is such an option now anyway, if you want to put yourself in such a situation.

Naza Kia Sdn Bhd has teamed up with the Koperasi Pendidikan Usahawan Berhad and AmBank Berhad to offer a 12 year low interest rate loan for the Naza Citra RS and GS. Monthly installments can go as low as RM647. There is also a promotion now where you will get free 2 months installment, a free 2 year or 50,000km service maintenance package, and an extended 5 year or 125,000km warranty.

Call 1-800-888-542 to find out more. Those who want something newer can check out the Naza Citra II Rondo.

Naza Kia Sdn Bhd has launched the new Naza Citra II Rondo in Malaysia. The Naza Citra II Rondo is essentially the Kia Rondo which is the replacement model for Carens that the Naza Citra is based on. The Citra will continue to be sold as a budget 7-seater SUV, and the new Naza Citra II Rondo will be positioned between the Citra and the Ria, bringing Naza Kia’s 7-seater offerings up to 3 models.

According to Naza Kia, the new Rondo is built on the D-segment new Kia Optima platform and also shares the Optima’s sweet new GEMA-based 2.0 liter DOHC CVVT engine producing 145 horsepower and 189Nm of torque, mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission with sequential manual shifting. The GEMA engine is a joint project between DaimlerChrysler, Hyundai and Mitsubishi. The 4B11 in the Mitsubishi Lancer is also based on the GEMA family.

Like the Optima, the Rondo rides on MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link setup with coil springs at the rear. It also has anti-roll bars as standard for both the front and rear axles. It scored 5 stars on the NHTSA frontal crash ratings.

Two equipment levels are available – the Naza Citra II Rondo EX and the Naza Citra II Rondo EXS. The Naza Citra II Rondo EX features foglamps, six-jet windscreen washers, a trip computer, a 6 speaker sound system with a CD player, ABS brakes, dual SRS airbags, a manual climate control system, body-colored door handles, body-colored side moldings and black front grille crossbars packaged with 15-inch alloy wheels wrapped with Goodyear Eagle NCT5 tyres. The Rondo EXS carries over the features from the EX but adds an automatic climate control system, steering wheel audio, a roof rack and 16-inch alloy wheels.

The Rondo’s front row features 1,043mm of headroom and 1,042mm of legroom while the second row (60:40 multifold split bench) offers 1,015mm of headroom and 975mm of legroom. The third row (50:50 split) is naturally less at 887mm of headroom and 800mm of legroom but Naza Kia says this is enough for an average-sized adult. It’s best to head to showrooms and try it for yourself.

• Naza Citra II Rondo EX – RM84,888
• Naza Citra II Rondo EXS – RM88,888

Look after the jump for more photos of the new Naza Citra II Rondo.

Click here to read the rest of Naza Citra II Rondo 7-seater launched in Malaysia

Click to enlarge

Naza Corporation has introduced a premium version of the Naza 206 Bestari called the Naza 206 Premium. It’s priced at RM71,888.00, about RM3k more than the 206 Bestari’s RM68,877.80 price tag. For the additional RM3k, this is what you get:

• Leather on the steering wheel, interior and two-tone seats.
• 3 head restraints for the rear seat bench
• A 6-speaker audio system (additional 2 over the Bestari)
• Seat back pockets and Peugeot logo at the back of the front seats
• Only rear spoiler (you lose the full bodykit of the 206 Bestari)
• New design Peugeot-badged 14 inch alloy wheels
• 206 Premium badging, Peugeot sill plates, door visors, hood insulator
• Reverse sensors

The interior leather is done up in orange, meant to be the same colour as the dashboard lighting. With more Peugeot badges around the car including on the alloy wheels it should be cheaper and easier for you to Peugeotize this car, which is what most people do. You get a 5 year warranty with 3 years free service including parts and labour.

The 206 Premium comes in 4 colours – Quick Silver, Aegean Blue, Svelte Grey and Onyx Black. Look after the jump for photos of the rear and the interior.

Click here to read the rest of Naza 206 Premium now on sale for RM71,888