Archive for Naza

Naza Corporation is currently having a year end promotion for its Naza Sutera and Naza 206 Bestari models. This promotion starts on the 8th of December 2007 and ends on the 31st of December 2007.

Buyers of the Naza 206 Bestari during the promotion period will get either a free 32 inch Plasma TV or an Acer Aspire 14.1 inch Centrino Duo notebook computer. The Naza 206 Bestari also comes with 5 years of warranty and 3 years of free service. This offer is valid for the first 100 customers only.

If you buy a Naza Sutera or a Naza Sutera Sportivo, you will get a 29 inch “slim fit” TV and a DVD player. This offer is valid while stocks last.

Related Posts:
Naza 206 Bestari Test Drive Review
2006 Naza Sutera 1.1 Manual

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The Naza Suria is now available in 6 colours (Galaxy Black, Orange, Scarlet Red, Liquid Silver, Samba Green & Cobalt Blue), each with matching “Edisi Grafix” body stickers. Above is the Scarlet Red version.

UPDATE: These stickers are at no extra cost and is valid 31st December 2007. If you prefer a normal Suria without the stickers, it’s also available.

Have a look at the rest of the new colours and body stickers after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Naza Suria Edisi Grafix

We’ll be able to see a host of new locally assembled models from Naza this year, that will expand it’s current 6-model line-up to a 10-model line-up, beginning with a new SUV in May 2007. The Sorento has already been CKD-ed, so this new SUV is most likely the current Kia Sportage (shown above) being sold by Naza.

Naza’s current model line-up is a somewhat multi-national mix: four Korean cars (Suria, Citra, Sorento and Ria), a French car (206 Bestari) and a Chinese car (Sutera). It’s plant in Gurun is running at full capacity with double shifts because of strong demand. January saw 3,000 Naza cars sold, but this dropped to 1,000 in February for the same reasons as the overall industry drop.

The other 3 models to be launched other than the possible Sportage was said to be a locally assembled MPV, and two locally assembled saloons. Looking at the current model range and the range of Kia models to rebadge, I would say the MPV could either be a new Carens (Citra) or Carnival (Ria), while the two saloons could be two of these: Rio sedan, new Spectra (also known as Cerato) as well as the lovely new Kia Optima.

Photos of these possible models after the jump.

Source

Click here to read the rest of Naza to unveil 4 new models in 2007

The Naza 206 Bestari is now available in manual transmission, which should make the car abit more zippy due to less transmission losses, more gear ratios making them closer together as well as the enjoyment of shifting the gears yourself.

You can get one at Naza showrooms for RM63,888, about RM5,000 less than the automatic variant, however with this manual version the ABS has also been removed. However, the twin SRS airbags for the front remain. Surveys show customers in this price range value Dual Airbags first, Reverse Sensors and Vehicle Security as priorities.

Naza has exported it’s first batch of Naza Sutera and Naza 206 Bestari cars destined for the international market on the 26th of January 2007. A small shipment ceremony was conducted at Port klang. The first batch is destined for Nepal, for it’s Nepalese dealer Alpine Motors Co., Ltd, of which has it’s own finance company, Union Finance Ltd, which leases and provides loan facilities through Union Money Transfer Co. Ltd. Alpine Motors, which will have 2 showrooms in Nepal and is also the first automotive retailer in Nepal to have credit card facilities.

Like Alpine Motors, all Nazas distributors will undergo training programmes for both Sales & Service in Malaysia at Nazas training facilities in Gurun. There is a comprehensive aftersales support system in place, including warranty & spare parts backup. The Sutera and 206 Bestari is also destined for Bangladesh, Mauritius, Pakistan, Nepal & Madagascar.

According to Tan Sri Nasimuddin, due to production constraints and local demand, the first phase of Naza’s exports will be to smaller markets like Bangladesh, Mauritius, Pakistan, Nepal & Madagascar. Export efforts will be stepped up once Naza’s Bertam Plant is completed in 2008 with the introduction of new models.

Naza Wheels Sdn Bhd and Nasim Sdn Bhd, both companies under the Naza Group unveiled the Mazda 3 1.6 (A) sedan Naza Edition and the limited edition Peugeot 206XT 1.6 (A) Naza Edition imported direct from France. The cars are done up by NZ Galaxy Sdn Bhd, a company that envisions to provide personalize vehicles for the masses at affordable prices, from what I see, something like a car styling company.

The Mazda 3 1.6 (A) sedan Naza Edition goes for RM113,993 and comes with a NZ Galaxy bodykit, rims, a leather interior, tinted glass, rear tail finisher, special emblem and global positioning system with Malaysian and Singaporean maps. As for the Peugeot 206XT 1.6 (A) Naza Edition, it too has a new bodykit, a leather interior, crystal clear head lights, tail pipe finisher and the GPS system. Only 10 cars are available for sale at RM85,000.

Naza Kia and Naza Automotive Manufacturing has donated RM500,000 in cash and in kind to the Johor flood relief centres. They also sent a relief team consisting of Naza staff and it’s panel of doctors, including one who had helped in the tsunami relief efforts in Aceh.

In addition, the employees of the Naza Group of Companies will embark on a donation drive to collect necessary items, including clothing, food, and other essential items for the flood victims. Naza will also deploy their staff to help in the relief efforts in Johor to facilitate distribution of these items.

Pretty nice of Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin to help, pity the people in Johor. While some wail over the loss or devaluation of their submerged cars, others have lost everything they have, save for the cloth on their backs.

The issue of taking over the government’s investment arm Khazanah Nasional’s stake in Proton continues to make the news, with the most recent update saying that a decision will be announced sometime in March 2007.

Naza has submitted it’s proposal and presented it to the relevant officials on Thursday last week, and it will be considered together with other proposals from local firms like the Mofaz group and DRB-HICOM. DRB-HICOM took a different approach to it’s proposal, with what I perceive as a two prong attack - number one - it says it can help Proton, we’ve read about that before.

Number two - it says it has no choice but to win the bid because if it doesn’t, DRB-HICOM might potentially tumble down into financial trouble. “We then have to crack our heads (to find a way) to move forward. If we cannot go into the auto industry (in a big way) we would have to move into other areas. But, with 60% of our group revenue coming from the auto sector, we need to take over Proton and protect our current business,” said the groups automotive and component division Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Omar. Since the government has a 39% stake in DRB-HICOM, the group’s performance is of concern as it is also a government investment like Proton.

However, The Edge cited unnamed sources that the government is committed to putting priority on foreign firms rather than local firms, as foreign firms could offer more to Proton. The Prime Minister rebutted this rumour yesterday, saying all proposals would be properly considered and evaluated before a decision is made.

Related Posts:
DRB-HICOM explains 32.9% stake proposal rationale
Volkswagen conducting due diligence audit on Proton?
JMEPA: The reason Volkswagen wants Proton?

Naza is currently having a promotion until the end of the month where anyone who test drives one of Naza’s 3 compact cars - the Naza Bestari, Naza Suria and Naza Sutera will get a mystery gift.

Also, if you decide to buy any of these cars before the 31st of December 2006, you’ll get an accessory package worth up to RM2,000.

For the Naza Bestari, the accessory package includes tinting, rear headrests, hood insulation and others. Not sure about the other cars except for the gold tint.

[ LATEST UPDATE: Naza has updated the Naza 206 Bestari for the 2008 model year. Click the link for more information! ]

Finally after a long wait, the press fleet for the Naza 206 Bestari is ready and I managed to get a hold of one unit to write a test drive report. The Naza 206 Bestari, codenamed the NX-02 is basically a locally assembled rebadged version of the Peugeot 206, in fact the Peugeot lion badge is still displayed proudly on the rear hatch. Look after the jump for what I think about the Naza 206 Bestari.

Click here to read the rest of Naza 206 Bestari Test Drive Review