Paul Tan's Automotive News » Perodua

Perodua to go the sedan and above 1.5L capacity route?

Anthony Lim — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:02:13 +0000

According to a report, Perodua is expected to obtain permission soon from the government to build cars with an engine capacity larger than 1.5 litres, which it has up to now been unable to do under the limitations tabled in the original arrangement between the government and the company when it was set up in 1993.

The ongoing arrangement dictates that Perodua is only allowed to produce compact cars with an engine capacity of under 1.5 litres. The NST report quotes an unnamed source, who said that the existing arrangement was being reviewed as part of the revision of the National Automotive Policy (NAP).

Toyota Etios with Perodua badging by Theophilus Chin

The source said that if the revised agreement yields positive results, Perodua will be able to begin assembling and producing cars with engine capacities ranging from 1.6 litres to 1.8 litres, effectively marking the beginning of the company’s venture in the sedan segment, the report adds.

The source also hinted that the new models with larger engine capacity would probably be prototyped along the lines of the Bezza concept, which made its debut at the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show in 2010 as a show car.

He added that the introduction of new cars in the segment can be seen as a logical step and consistent with the increased demand for sedan choices among first-time car buyers in the country, but added that the company would not be reducing its focus on the production of compact cars.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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New Perodua Alza SR – entry level variant from RM53k

Danny Tan — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:26:48 +0000

Perodua has introduced a new variant of its MPV called Alza SR. SR stands for “Smart Ride” and this is an entry level variant positioned below the Standard and Advanced spec. It is available for viewing and booking at all 178 Perodua showrooms nationwide now.

Selling for between RM53,013.50 and RM56,513.50 on-the-road with insurance in Peninsular Malaysia, the new variant, available in BX Manual and BZ Auto spec, is Myvi SE priced. Previously, the cheapest Alza was the Alza GX Manual at 55,503.50, so this new one lowers the entry price by about RM2,500.

“The introduction of the Alza SR variant will make it even more affordable for Malaysian consumers looking to upgrade to a more spacious vehicle. Our customers like the versatility and functionality that Alza offers and do not mind having less features available compared with the standard and other variants. However, it does not mean we have compromised on the safety and the aesthetics of the Alza SR,” Perodua MD Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh said.

Under the hood, nothing has changed, but what’s the difference is spec? The Alza SR makes do with “UV protected glass” on the windscreen only, as opposed to on all glass panels, and there’s no rear wiper. The wing mirrors are manually operated. Fog lamps, airbags, ABS, EBD and BA are unavailable, but that’s the case for the 1.5 SX and EZ as well, so it’s expected.

Note that in the Alza SR automatic, the parking brake has been moved to between the front seats (it’s foot operated in other auto Alzas), and the front seats are separated, not bench style. For the manual variant, there’s no change in layout.

The Alza SR comes in three colours: Glittering Silver, Ivory White and a new hue, Mystical Purple. Perodua targets to sell about 400 units of the Alza SR monthly, which will take up around 13% of Alza’s monthly sales.

Alza 1.5 BX Manual (Solid) – RM53,013.50
Alza 1.5 BX Manual (Metallic) – RM53,513.50
Alza 1.5 BZ Auto (Solid) – RM56,013.50
Alza 1.5 BZ Auto (Metallic) – RM56,513.50

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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Perodua sold 180k cars in 2011, takes 30% market share

Danny Tan — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:02:01 +0000

Perodua had a media briefing in KL this morning, revealing its 2011 performance and targets for this year. In a difficult year for the auto industry, the brand once again became the top selling marque in Malaysia, shifting about 180,000 vehicles in 2011. Retaining this title means that Perodua has been top of the tree for six consecutive years now.

The 180k figure is slightly down from the record breaking 188,600 vehicles sold in 2010, but then the total industry volume (TIV) also fell from from 605,156 to just below 600k units. Perodua’s market share also saw a slight decline from 2010′s 31.2% to 30%.

Exports grew from 4,000 units in 2010 to 8,000 units last year. Perodua revealed that Sri Lanka is its top export market now, taking over from UK. Bosses say that once overall cost is further lowered, exports will be ramped up, with a target of 20,000 units by 2015, or about 10% of total output. For 2012, they plan to export 10,000 cars.

Of the 180k local total, Perodua sold 81,904 units of the Myvi, which retains its title as Malaysia’s best selling car, 60,675 units of the smaller Viva, and 37,402 units of the Alza, which is the biggest car it sells.

Click to enlarge chart

2011 saw the introduction of the new Myvi in June, before Perodua wheeled out the “Lagi Power” 1.5-litre Myvi SE and Extreme in September. The Myvi is also exported CBU to Indonesia as a Daihatsu Sirion, launched at IIMS in July.

It wasn’t an easy year to launch such a big model, with the launch coming so soon after the triple disaster (earthquake, tsunami, nuclear) that hit Japan, but the company pulled through (Perodua MD Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh singled out partner Daihatsu for their efforts) and reclaimed lost ground with the popular new Myvi.

Among other obstacles they faced were the amended hire purchase act that came into effect mid 2011, the weak global economy, a strengthening Japanese yen and the recent Thai floods, although effects from the latter was minor compared to the Japanese disaster.

Looking ahead, Perodua sees 2012 as cautiously positive. Datuk Aminar revealed the target of a 4% sales increase to 188,000 units on the back of network growth and “aggressive promotions” throughout the year. Besides new competitors, Perodua sees inflationary pressures, slower growth and Bank Negara’s credit tightening measures (Malaysia’s household debt levels are very high) as challenges.

At the event, Perodua also announced a new flagship 3S Centre to be located in Section 19, Petaling Jaya. This RM30 to 40 million facility will be the model for future sales and service centres in Malaysia and abroad. It will also be the central region’s hub in the company’s new “decentralization” approach. Construction will start in March or April and it’s expected to start operations in 2013.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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Google 2011 Zeitgeist list: Perodua Myvi tops car searches

Danny Tan — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:40:00 +0000

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!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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Perodua organises mass circumcision event for 50 boys

Danny Tan — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:09:14 +0000

A constant stream of news flows past us everyday, from the mouth watering to the bizarre, and here’s one that jumped out to catch attention. Perodua recently organised and sponsored a majlis berkhatan beramai-ramai (mass circumcision ceremony) for boys in the Kampung Sg Choh area. P2 is headquartered in Sg Choh, north of Rawang.

Organised by Badan Agama Islam Perodua (BAIP) together with Masjid Nurul Islamiah Sg Choh and Hospital Selayang, the mass circumcision ceremony, timed to fit in the year end school holidays, saw the participation of 50 boys ranging from six to 12 years old.

Among the brave kiddos were sons of Perodua staff and students from schools around the Sg Choh area. BAIP Chairman Tuan Haji Noor Hashiman Sulaiman officiated the event.

The Myvi maker sponsored RM80 of the RM150 cost for each boy. A majlis Aqiqah was also held, with seven Perodua staff combining funds to sponsor a cow. Perodua chipped in with RM3,000.

Here’s to a speedy recovery for the 50 lads in sarongs!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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Perodua Myvi – 1.3 litre model begins selling in Mauritius

Anthony Lim — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 04:10:36 +0000

Perodua has begun selling the New Myvi 1.3 litre in Mauritius, with the first 22 units already on Mauritian shores. The car, which is available in four variants (AT and MT, in Standard and Premium versions), was launched by Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius, the Honourable Dr Ahmed Rashid Beebeejaun, last week.

Mauritius has long been an export market for the company – since 1996, Rauf Dusmohamud and Co has sold a total of 1,227 Perodua vehicles in the country, with models ranging from the Kancil, Rusa, Kenari, Kelisa and Viva to the Myvi.

Perodua MD Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh expect’s Perodua’s overall sales performance in Mauritius to grow by 67% to 200 units in 2012 from the 120 units expected this year.

He added that P2 is planning to increase its overall export sales to 20,000 units by 2015 from an expected 8,000 units this year.

“This plan, which is a part of our 5-year strategic road map, involves increasing the export volume to our existing markets, while at the same time exploring to new right-hand drive markets that has similar standards as Malaysia,” he said.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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India’s Premier Rio CRDI is a diesel-powered Kembara!

Danny Tan — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:23:13 +0000

Miss the Perodua Kembara? Some might, but we reckon most don’t. Here’s something you might not know – the Kembara a.k.a. Daihatsu Terios is still on sale in India today, where it’s known as the Premier Rio. Billed as “India’s first compact SUV”, the Rio is available as a 1.2 petrol (77 PS/104 Nm) or a 1.5 turbodiesel with 65 PS and 152 Nm.

India’s car buyers have embraced diesel big time, but the Rio diesel hasn’t been selling well. That’s because the current oil burner doesn’t meet the country’s Bharat Stage IV emissions standards (we’ll just have to wait till 2014) that most big cities already use – it’s just BSIII compliant. But reports mention that from next year, the Rio will be adopting a BSIV compliant diesel engine to be more competitive.

This diesel engine is question is said to be the 1.3-litre Multijet sourced from Fiat. Indians are very familar with this license built engine, as it also powers top selling cars like the Maruti Swift and Tata Indica Vista, among other models. The proven engine puts out 75 PS and 190 Nm at 2,000 rpm, which should be very useful in small cars.

Perhaps if we had such an engine with the Kembara, we would have missed it more!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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Perodua’s Twitter-based Tweckbot safety check team is back, now serving Klang Valley, Penang, Ipoh and JB

Danny Tan — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 07:43:49 +0000

Perodua is re-introducing Tweckbot, its unique Twitter-based free safety check team, in time for the upcoming year-end and Chinese New Year festive period. And this time, apart from the Klang Valley, Perodua will extend the service to Penang, Ipoh and Johor Bahru for the four-weekend campaign, which kicks off this Friday.

The teams will carry out a 20-point check that includes an engine check, transmission check, coolant system (coolant level, fan, temperature), brake system check (brake fluid, brake pad wear), power steering system check, clutch system check, tyre check, suspension system check, electrical system check (battery, lights, wiper) and engine diagnosis.

Tweckbot will be in Penang from 25-27 November, Ipoh from 2-4 December, Johor Bahru from 9-11 December and the Klang Valley from 16-18 December. Perodua will allocate between three to five mobile teams each weekend.

In Penang, the areas covered are Greenlane, Batu Lanchang and Island Glades (25 Nov); Pulau Tikus and Island Park (26 Nov); Bukit Mertajam, Simpang Ampat and Bukit Tambun (27 Nov).

In Ipoh, they will go to Ipoh Garden, Canning Garden and Kampung Simee (2 Dec); Bercham, Pasir Puteh and Bandar Baru Tambun (3 Dec) and Taman Happy, Taman Mayfair, Taman Bunga Raya and Taman Sin Far (4 Dec).

Perodua owners in JB can find Tweckbot teams at Taman Sri Tebrau, Taman Serene, Taman Pelangi and Pasir Pelangi (9 Dec); Taman Perling, Taman Sutera and Taman Permata (10 Dec) and Taman Sri Skudai, Taman Skudai, Taman Harmoni 1 and Taman Nesa (11 Dec).

In the Klang Valley, the teams will visit Taman Maluri, Taman Connaught, Taman Muda and Taman Len Sen (16 Dec); Kepong Lama, Jinjang Utara and Selatan and Jalan Ipoh (17 Dec) and SS2 Petaling Jaya, Bandar Utama, Damansara Jaya, Taman Mayang and Taman Megah (18 Dec).

P2 customers whose vehicles need repairs or service will be offered a 15% discount on selected parts at Perodua Service branches. To secure an appointment, Perodua customers need to have a Twitter account and follow the Perodua team on @MYPerodua to know where and when the Tweckbot team will be in their neighbourhood.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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Perodua to acquire Yayasan Melaka land for new 3S Centre

Danny Tan — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 10:17:04 +0000

Earlier today, Perodua entered into an agreement with Yayasan Melaka to acquire a piece of land at Kota Hang Tuah Jaya, Ayer Keroh, Melaka. This piece of property, measuring 1.77 hectares, will be used to build a new 3S (sales, service and spare parts) centre.

The purchase price is about RM7.7 million and Perodua will design the new facility to “incorporate the culture, tradition and history of Melaka,” according to Perodua MD Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh at the signing ceremony. Datuk Tahir Bin Haji Hassan, VP of Yayasan Melaka, signed on behalf of the foundation.

Also planned at the location are a regional office and a training centre to cater for the southern region. There will also be facilities for human capital development, a body and paint (B&P) centre and stockyard.

The 3S service centre will have 25 service bays catering to about 2,500 vehicles per month. The B&P centre will have 30 bays. Construction of this new the outlet is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2012 and completed before the end of 2013.

Perodua currently operates two branches and five dealers in Melaka employing some 220 staff.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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Perodua expects to ink agreement with Proton on strategic collaboration by year-end or early 2012

Anthony Lim — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 07:38:52 +0000

According to Bernama, Perodua says it expects to ink a collaboration agreement with Proton later this year or by early 2012. The company says it has had meetings with Proton at the highest level, and a strategic collaboration for both parties is well on the cards.

“There are a few areas that we are trying to collaborate. They are still at discussion stage. I think we are happy with the items. We will make the announcement on a memorandum of understanding this year or next year,” Perodua MD Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh was quoted as saying.

Aminar added that there was no change in Perodua’s stance on the proposed merger with Proton. “We are against the merger. We have our own plans, going forward,” he said.

In other news, Perodua will be announcing details of its new electronic automatic transmission (EAT) plant in the near future. Aminar said that the company will reveal details on the equity structure of the plant as well as its exact location when the announcement is made.

“We are setting up a joint venture. It’s still in discussion. We’ll make announcement on the equity structure of both Perodua and our Japanese partner (Daihatsu), as well as the location of the plant in the next one or two months, whether it will be in Selangor or outside Selangor,” he told reporters today.

Perodua was also mulling whether the plant will be constructed at one go, or in phases, adding that at least RM200 million is to be invested on the factory, which will produce transmissions for both the domestic and export markets.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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Perodua Myvi Wolfrace Design Concept – bling, UK-style

Anthony Lim — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:20:02 +0000

Click to enlarge.

Over in the UK, Perodua has teamed up with Wolfrace Wheels, a UK-based wheel and design house, to come up with the Myvi Wolfrace Design Concept. The car is based on a standard specification Myvi, but features a number of enhancements, primarily visual.

Items include a luxurious leather/alcantara interior, black polished 16-inch Wolfrace Shark Alutec 5-spoke alloy wheels, low profile Falken tyres and a lowered suspension with Eibach springs.

Elsewhere, the car gets a Wolfrace graphics pack in signature colours as well as a contrasting red tailgate spoiler and mirrors, rear window privacy glass, twin chrome exhaust and high-end Vibe audio upgrade, which includes a bass enclosure. It’s scheduled for production in early October.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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Perodua Myvi SE 1.5 and Extreme launched – manual and auto, from RM50,900 to RM61,700 – we’ve driven it already!

Danny Tan — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 05:00:03 +0000

After rounds and rounds of spyshots, this time, it’s the real thing. Moments ago, Perodua officially launched the much anticipated Myvi SE 1.5 which is a new Myvi with a 1.5-litre engine, the biggest capacity lump that has ever been put into the popular hatchback.

And if the new Myvi launched in June is called “Lagi Best” (34,000 people agree and have booked the car) the Myvi SE’s tagline is “Lagi Power, Lagi Best”, referring to the bigger 1.5L engine powering the car.

There’s also the Myvi Extreme 1.5, a name which we broke last week. The Extreme is essentially the same car as the SE, but with a more extreme bodykit and some added kit. It can be immediately recognised by the grey lower lip missing on the SE.

At the back, the Extreme gets a unique bumper, a more elaborate spoiler and chrome door handles. The new seven-spoke rim design and grille insert are shared by both.

Click to enlarge price list

Both the SE and Extreme are available with a four-speed auto gearbox or a five-speed manual. Prices range from RM50,900 for the SE manual to RM61,700 for the Extreme auto, figures that are lower than some have speculated. To recap, the Myvi 1.3 range starts from RM43,900 and tops out at RM57,400 for the 1.3 Elegance auto.

Myvi Extreme (white) easily identified via grey bumper lip, fog lamp housing has less bars

Let’s start with the heart of the matter. The SE and Extreme are powered by a 1.5-litre twin-cam engine with DVVT. This is the 3SZ-VE engine used in the Alza, and not the 1NZ-FE from the Toyota Vios. The chain driven (timing chain, not belt) engine puts out 102 hp at 6,000 rpm and 136 Nm of torque from 4,400 rpm, a 12 hp/19 Nm jump from the Myvi 1.3.

While this is lower than the Vios’ 108 hp/141 Nm, the Myvi 1.5 (at 970 to 995 kg) is lighter than that sedan, and Perodua’s power-to-weight ratio charts sees the SE beat the “Model SS” (Suzuki Swift), “Model V” (Vios) and “Model P” (Persona).

Rear bumper design is unique for each variant, Extreme gets a more elaborate spoiler

Lagi power eh? The Myvi 1.5′s acceleration is not to be scoffed at – the SE manual does the 0-100 km/h sprint in just 9.98 seconds, which is very swift. To compare, a BMW 320i Sport does the same sprint in 9.8 secs, so don’t play play! The Myvi SE auto is timed at 12.49 seconds. So 2.0L sedan owners, don’t be too surprised if that pesky yellow thing runs neck-to-neck with you in the traffic light GP!

As for fuel consumption, Perodua claims 15.9 km/l for the manual and 12.9 km/l for the auto. These figures are slightly down from the 1.3L, but are still better than competing national cars, says P2.

All black interior and steering buttons are standard, Extreme gets leather seats and tinting

Inside, the Myvi 1.5 gets an all black dashboard and interior, unlike the dual-tone scheme on the standard car. The steering wheel is now wrapped in leather, and there are audio controls on the left spoke, a first in Myvi history. The front seats are also unique – Perodua calls them “semi bucket seats”.

Start the car and you’ll also realise that the Camry style instruments – orange illumination in 1.3 Standard, turquoise in the Premium/Elegance – is now in red, with white for the needles and trip computer. The dial design is also slightly different and there are chrome rings thrown in. The plastic surround for the meter panel is now in sliver.

Myvi 1.5 instruments are in red and white, design is different, chrome ring added

The Myvi SE comes with the “flush type” audio system as seen in the Myvi 1.3 Premium. This one has Bluetooth, USB and the a sliver carbon fibre look, but the backlight is now red to match the instruments.

The full colour DVD touch screen system with navigation found in the Myvi 1.3 Elegance is an option for the SE automatic and standard on the Myvi Extreme.

The other additional kit that are exclusive to the Myvi Extreme include leather seat covers (with Extreme badge on the front seat backs), Extreme carpet mats (driver’s mat comes with locks to keep it in place), and window tint. These are in addition to the exterior differences mentioned and shown above.

We’ve driven the Myvi SE 1.5 already. Read our first impressions and view the hi res gallery after the jump. You can pore over 50 images of every nook and cranny, and there’s a presentation video, too.

Perodua Myvi SE 1.5 and Extreme – First Impressions

Two days ago, we attended a media preview and test drive of the Myvi 1.5 around Cyberjaya, the same place where Perodua did the media preview for the new Myvi in June. Fortunately, we got to drive a bigger loop this time around (about 10 km), giving us the chance to stretch the Myvi SE’s legs a little and test out the “Lagi Power” claims.

The changes to the cabin were immediately felt once I stepped in the car. Perodua may have been too liberal to call those seats “semi buckets” but the seat backs are new, offering more side support for the lower back section. However, they should have also changed the flat seat base, which was carried over from the standard Myvi.

One sits very high in the Myvi (SE and 1.3), even when the seat is set to the lowest position – not very sporty or conducive for hard driving, but a boon for most Myvi drivers. I’ve seen some so petite, they’re fully “sheltered” by the seat, and cannot be seen by the car behind, have you?

The steering feels much better in the hands with the leather wrap, noticeably chunkier but not too thick. The red dials were chosen for a sportier feel, and most will love it. Oddly, I prefer the cool blue dial lighting in the Myvi Premium/Exclusive, though. In any case, the Camry style instruments are a big deal for a car this price – they do so much to raise perceived quality and premiumness.

After being told that the manual Myvi SE is a 10 second car, I had to try the stick shift first. Far from the most satisfying gearshift feel, doing it yourself in the Myvi SE is a typical Perodua manual shift experience. No snick snack, the shift feel is rubbery and the gates don’t go deep enough/not very well defined for yours truly. Gets the job done, but not the most fun to use. But remember that the Myvi SE is no hot hatch, so it’s unfair to expect Swift Sport shifting!

Flooring the pedal and getting past the first three gears, the Myvi SE’s improved acceleration is very apparent, and getting to highway speeds is very easy. The pick up is really quite impressive, and the buzzy engine is quite energetic at the higher end of the rev counter.

The first bend I encountered, a long sweeper, also revealed a weightier and generally nicer steering feel. I later learned that there’s no difference in the EPS, and the difference in feel is due to the reworked suspension.

Speaking of that, the Myvi SE feels firmer than the standard car. Body roll is still a frequent visitor, although the lean angles are smaller now. There wasn’t bad roads to try the ride comfort in our route, but my guess is that it shouldn’t be too uncomfortable. I sat at the back for a round (headroom is less generous than the previous gen Myvi) and the high speed ride is quite composed.

I got hold of an engineer from the R&D team, and he explained that the rebound and compression rates for the shock absorbers were a little higher than the standard setting. Same for the springs, which are untouched in front but stiffer at the back.

He also revealed that the Continental CC5 tyres used were specially tuned for the SE, a unique Perodua spec 175/65 R14, in other words. Rubber wise, they sacrificed a little bit of ride comfort for better stability. The tyres are not too loud and grip was better than I expected.

So the Myvi SE is a better drive than the Myvi 1.3, and not just for the improved pace, which is the most impressive part of the car for me. But don’t get us wrong, this is no hot hatch, and a Ford Fiesta 1.4 trumps the SE in every subjective driving criteria.

However, if one’s in the market for a Myvi, do test the SE first. Unlike the old one, this SE is not just leather and bodykit, but a better car. The Myvi SE is lagi best than the Lagi Best!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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Perodua Myvi SE 1.5 open for bookings from 12 Sept – four variants available in manual and automatic transmission!

Danny Tan — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 04:33:51 +0000

Perodua has officially announced that the Myvi SE 1.5 will be open for bookings from 12 September 2011, which is next Monday. The range topping “Lagi Power, Lagi Best” Myvi will be available at all 178 Perodua showrooms nationwide from 15 September 2011. Prices will be announced on the launch day.

Wait, what happened to the “Myvi Extreme” name revealed by the pics we posted yesterday, you ask. Well, Perodua says that a total of four variants will be available, so perhaps “Extreme” is one of them. What we know for now is that there will be a “Multimedia” variant available, and the Myvi SE will come in both manual and automatic forms.

Choose from five colours, one of which is the “Majestic Yellow” shown here. Another is black, and white is almost certain to be included.

“We are very encouraged by the feedback from our existing and potential customers who want a Myvi with a bigger engine capacity. This new 1.5 Myvi “Lagi Power, Lagi Best” is currently exclusive to the Malaysian market,” Perodua MD Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh said.

“The new 1.5 Myvi is aimed at the young and urban executives who want a model which is sporty and premium. We anticipate that the new 1.5 Myvi will contribute to about half of the monthly 8,000 units Myvi sales,” he added.

The P2 boss also said that all Perodua showrooms will stay open “until very late at night” during the first few days after the launch, in anticipation of big crowds.

Since June, Perodua has received a total of 34,000 bookings for the new Myvi 1.3, and has delivered 18,000 units to date. The Myvi has overtaken the Proton Saga to again be Malaysia’s best selling car (according to MAA data, click here to view), a place that it has occupied for a long time.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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It’s not called SE – Perodua Myvi Extreme 1.5 spotted!

Danny Tan — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 01:44:57 +0000

Click to enlarge

Reader Khairiizuan Bin Nazarudin sent us some fresh shots of the “yellow Myvi SE” that has been regularly spotted on test, and with these undisguised pics, we learn something new about the upcoming variant. For one, it’s not called “SE”, but the Myvi Extreme 1.5, as printed on the rear emblem.

And while the tagline for the new Myvi is “Lagi Best”, this one is “Lagi Power, Lagi Best”, referring to the bigger 1.5-litre engine offered.

Click to enlarge

We previously posted some shots of the yellow Myvi Extreme being tested alongside a white coloured car with a different bodykit (view it here), so could that instead be a “1.3L SE” that slots between the Extreme and the standard car? We’ll see.

These pics, which was taken at the port (probably for shipment to East Malaysia or Langkawi?), shows all the previously taped up parts, such as the emblem and the lower part of the front and rear bumpers. We can see that the front bumper is all new, and has prominent cutouts for the fog lamps. Both sides are linked by a bronze coloured lip, matched in colour by the grille and the wheels.

Click to enlarge

At the back, the “holes” below the reflectors introduced for the new Myvi (reduces pressure build up, improves aero) appears to have been omitted for the Extreme. The rear wing is rather elaborate in design and very prominent. Of course, there are side skirts to complete the sportier look. We also get to see how the car looks in black.

Moving on to the inside, which we also see clearly here for the first time. The central touch screen head unit looks like the one in the Myvi Elegance, and there appears to be leather seats and a leather wrapped steering wheel for this range topper.

The wheel appears chunkier with the leather wrap, and there are audio control buttons on the left spoke, which is a new feature for the Myvi family. The housing for the instrument cluster is in silver, and there’s some carbon style metallic trim on the door panels.

Read and view the standard new Myvi here. The official launch of the Extreme shouldn’t be too far away from now. Stay tuned!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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Yellow Perodua Myvi SE spotted transported by trailer

Paul Tan — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 08:27:35 +0000

Prior to the 2011 Perodua Myvi’s launch, we saw two different versions being tested on the road – a regular Myvi and another version with a sportier outlook that looked pretty much like a Myvi SE. Come launch time, only the normal Myvi was launched, and only with a 1.3 litre engine. So there’s still a few chapters to go when it comes to the new Myvi – the Myvi SE continues to be sighted around town and the fabled 1.5 litre version is also supposed to be coming soon. Perhaps they’ll launch together?

The Myvi SE’s launch could be coming very soon as reader Sean Lim saw a whole trailer load of yellow Myvis being transported on the KESAS highway, moving towards Port Klang near the Kampung Jawa exit.

Another reader Muhammad Ridhuan Md Nor also saw a yellow Perodua Myvi SE being tested earlier this month at Jalan Kuala Kubu Bharu.

Reader Saiful Azlee also saw a yellow Myvi SE being tested on KM 105 Jalan Kuantan-Kuala Terengganu, heading towards to Kuala Terengganu. What’s interesting in this set of photos is that the white Myvi seen here is different from the Myvi SE. The most obvious change is the fact that it has a different rear spoiler design from the Myvi SE, and it’s not the same spoiler design seen on the Myvi when it was launched either. Is the white Myvi here a regular non-SE Myvi 1.5?

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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Next generation Perodua Viva wishful thinking rendering based on 2011 Daihatsu A-Concept

Paul Tan — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 04:06:54 +0000

Remember the lime green Daihatsu A-Concept that was showcased at the Indonesia International Motor Show earlier this year?

It was a concept car developed with the involvement of Indonesians with the technical support of Daihatsu Japan. They were pretty vague about what segment the A-Concept was competing in though – it looked a little bigger than a typical A-segment car, but it had a lower roofline than a typical JDM B-segment tall hatchback like the Myvi – shaped more like a Fiesta or Mazda 2.

Imagine if the Daihatsu A-Concept was toned down for production and given a Perodua badge for sale in Malaysia – that’s what Theophilus Chin sought to achieve with his latest image manipulation project.

The A-Concept was given production side mirrors, a rear wiper, door handles, mud guards, a more production-looking rear light cluster, a hatch-mounted number plate holder (as with all Perodua cars), body colored roof and A pillars, and a revised front to carry a look similar to the new Myvi’s face. It’s colour was also given the popular bluish grey Perodua paint.

What do you think – do you like it?

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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Perodua sales up by 85%, orders for new Myvi hit 25k units

Danny Tan — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 09:41:07 +0000

Last month, it was reported in the press that Proton has overtaken Perodua to be the top selling car brand in Malaysia, with the former on top in both June sales and first half of 2011 figures. However, that period coincided with the final months of the old Myvi’s lifespan, as well as the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, which obviously impacted Perodua much more than Proton.

Well, it seems like P2 is back with a vengeance, and armed with its new “Lagi Best” Myvi, has sold 16,500 units in the just concluded month of July. That’s a whopping 85% higher than what they sold in June (8,900 units), giving Perodua an estimated 32% share of the market. The Rawang based company expects this momentum to continue for the rest of the year.

“We are thankful to our customers for their continuous support for Perodua. We are also grateful for their patience in waiting for the delivery of their vehicles as we sorted out the production backlogs,” said Perodua MD Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh. “In the case of the Perodua new Myvi, bookings has already reached 25,000 orders and about 10,000 units have been delivered to our customers to date,” he revealed.

Besides the contribution from the Myvi, sales of the Viva and Alza also improved in July from the month before. However, Perodua’s year-to-date sales is still 14% lower than the 111,500 units sold from Jan-July 2010.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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Perodua Tweckbot – a Twitter-based free safety check

Anthony Lim — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 05:26:00 +0000

Perodua today launched its Twitter-based free safety check called Tweckbot, where P2 owners with a Twitter account can send a request to a mobile team to carry out a 15-point safety check, if the latter happens to be nearby.

The Tweckbot – which combines Twitter, check and robot to get the name – is also what Perodua’s mobile team is called. Five of these mobile teams will ply 14 locations within the Klang Valley between now and August 10 – in time for the Raya holidays – to provide the free safety check for Perodua owners.

The 15-point check includes an engine, transmission, coolant system (include coolant level as well as fan and temperature) and brake system check. Other items on the checklist include the power steering, tyres, suspension and electrical system.

The mobile teams can potentially check 40 vehicles per day, depending on weather and traffic condition. Locations covered include Subang, Ampang, Sentul, Kg. Baharu, Cheras, Serdang, Puchong, Wangsa maju, Selayang, Shah Alam (section 1-14), Shah Alam (Section 15-24), Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Bangsar and Petaling Jaya.

To secure an appointment, Perodua owners need to have a Twitter account, and follow the Perodua team on @MYPerodua to know where and when the Tweckbot team will be in their neighbourhood. Vehicles that need proper servicing, maintenance and repair will then be channeled to service centres of the customer’s choice.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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Daihatsu Sirion launched at IIMS – it’s a Perodua Myvi!

Danny Tan — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 08:51:44 +0000

PT Astra Daihatsu Motor has launched its latest model at the Indonesian International Motor Show (IIMS) 2011 with with plenty of song and dance (not Bollywood, but Party Rock Anthem!). Readers of this website would have already known that the Sirion is a rebadged 2011 Perodua Myvi, and that the car is built in Malaysia and exported to Indonesia – we caught a trailer of Daihatsu badged Myvis heading to a port in June.

Now that we’ve seen and touched it in the metal, we can confirm that the Sirion is identical to the Myvi save for Daihatsu badges on the front, rear and steering wheel, which is a basic looking three-spoke unit (I prefer Perodua’s wheel). There’s also a “VVT-i” badge at the rear, which is DVVT for us, although the new Myvi doesn’t have badges for that.

Of the three variants we have in Malaysia (Standard, Premium, Elegance), PT Astra chose the mid-spec Premium, which has standard features such as Optitron MID, Bluetooth, USB and MP3 functions, power retractable wing mirrors and 14in alloys, among other kit.

According to Perodua MD Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh, who looked relax blending in with the crowd instead of being on stage, PT Astra is looking at importing the top spec Elegance model at a later stage. For now, it’s the Premium with a 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual. It was revealed that PT Astra is targeting sales of 500 units per month – not much, but still much more than the 100 units or so per month rate of the previous Sirion, which was also from Perodua. The majority seller will be the manual variant.

Priced at 139,500,000 to 150,500,000 rupiah (RM48,715 to RM52,556), the Sirion is costlier than basic versions of the Xenia, which is Daihatsu’s version of the 7-seat Toyota Avanza. This ties in with the relatively small 500 units per month and the more “premium positioning” of the Sirion in Indonesia.

The Sirion is also being launched in various locations throughout Indonesia today. Live gallery from IIMS after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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Perodua Myvi Jet and Perodua Myvi Sport Silver special editions launched for the UK market

Paul Tan — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:57:25 +0000

Thought you saw the last of the last generation Myvi on this blog? Nope! It’s still on sale in the UK, and in fact from the image above you can see that the UK market Myvi is still the first generation pre-facelift model, the design that the compact had before it was facelifted in 2008.

Perodua UK has launched two Myvi special editions for the UK market called the Myvi Jet and the Myvi Sport Silver. The Myvi Jet is the black car you see here, equipped with chrome door handles, side moldings, remote central locking, and a new 10 spoke 14″ silver alloy wheel design.

The other car is of course the Myvi Sport Silver which adds the same side moldings and chrome door handles, but also has a carbon fiber lookalike finish for the interior and 10 spoke 15″ alloy wheels.

Both are only available in manual transmission. The Myvi Jet goes for £7,499 while the Sport Silver goes for £7,999*.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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Politeknik Ungku Omar wins 2011 Perodua Eco Challenge!

Danny Tan — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 02:43:46 +0000

UPDATE: Full gallery added after the jump.

Politeknik Ungku Omar has won the 2011 Perodua Eco Challenge, held over the weekend at Melaka International Motorsports Circuit (MIMC). The team from Ipoh managed to squeeze 24.07 km from just half a litre of Petronas Primax 95 Xtra petrol, beating closest challengers Universiti Industri Selangor (Unisel, 19.1 km) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM, 17.42 km).

PUO took home RM20,000 cash for their efforts, while Unisel and USM won RM10,000 and RM5,000 respectively. In the Engineering category, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) took home RM15,000 for bagging the top place ahead of USM and Universiti Kuala Lumpur-Malaysia Spanish Institute.

In the minor “Design and Participation” category, Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) took home RM5,000 as the chosen team. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and UTM were second and third.

In the previous two editions, USM took top honors in the automatic category, so they should be a little disappointed at not meeting their “25 km and above target”. They were banking on their ace card, which is cylinder deactivation for the supplied 660 cc three-pot engine. Their simple looking 370 kg machine ran on only one cylinder full time, logical since this “race” doesn’t require much power or speed.

By the way, this year’s PEC is a much tougher challenge, as teams were only given one engine and one (manual) gearbox, as opposed to a complete car in previous years. This means that instead of just stripping and modifying Vivas, students have to also work on chassis and bodywork. And because of this extra work, the seed money given to each team has increased from last year’s RM10k to RM17,500. Also, instead of one litre, they now have to squeeze miles out of 0.5 litres of fuel.

The winning team’s lean machine on skinny tyres relied on measures such as a fuel tank that’s “ngam ngam” in size, with minimal space for air and a very lean 22:1 air fuel ratio, according to team leader Mohd Azmi.

Each team had their own focus – the Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten, last year’s M/T winner) team worked hard on CFD, and were proud of their car’s 35:65 weight distribution, enthusiastic second year Mechanical Engineering student Tan Win Yew told me.

Another team that mentioned “good handling” was Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), whose car had all round double wishbone suspension and 40:60 weight distribution. The logic is that a car that can corner well and relatively fast can maintain momentum by minimising the need to brake.

Some other things caught the eye of yours truly. This year’s grid had a female driver in the small frame of Nur Effarini. The pint sized final year Mechanical Engineering student weighs just 45 kg, in contrast with the big guy driving for PUO. She should have weighed even less after the race, as the UTM car was stuck on the steaming grid for quite some time due to an electrical glitch (according to a team member). It started in the end, and they went home with smiles and cash.

Another eye catcher was the “Lotus Elise” of UKM. In contrast with the skeleton look of rivals, they wanted to do a “body that can be commercialised”, which according to them was part of the original regulations, including closed wheels. Apparently, the rules changed, but they stuck to the plan. The batik cabin is questionable, but it’s not easy to fabricate that body in a short time. But because of the extra weight, they were never really in contention.

Another looker for me is the “Caterham style” white Unisel car with orange stripes. Tanjung Malim based Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah had the most outrageous looking car on the grid. Their hot rod style “classic car concept” didn’t look too lightweight and aerodynamic, though.

The Perodua Eco Challenge is one of the more unique CR initiatives in town, challenging student minds and allowing them an outlet to experiment, and be hands on in practising what they learn from books. Congratulations to the winning teams, see you again next year in Melaka!

Full gallery from the event is after the jump. Spot anyone you know?

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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2011 Perodua Myvi – first five buyers receive cars

Anthony Lim — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 07:06:37 +0000

The new Perodua Myvi is chugging along merrily; to date, 12,000 orders have been placed for the car since bookings began on June 4, and today, a week after the car was officially launched, the first five owners – Siva Rajan Subramaniam, Mullai Arunasalam, Tan Soo Hong, Yusainianir Mohd Yassin and Kok Zhien Wei – received their vehicles at a simple handing over ceremony in Subang.

“The first five owners here are the first among thousands to receive their cars in the coming weeks and we could not be happier with the response from the public for our new model,” said Perodua’s MD Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh.

Aminar said that Perodua will also ensure that customers get their vehicle in the shortest possible time, compared to the previous experience of six to nine months when the previous Myvi was launched in 2005. He said that those who booked their cars before the launch can expect their cars to be delivered anytime between now and end-July.

In terms of exports, Aminar said that the company was on track to ship the first 500 Myvis, under the Daihatsu Sirion badge, to Indonesia this month. “On average, we expect to export 350 units per month of the model to Indonesia within a 12-month timeframe,” he said, adding that the company is looking to export the new Myvi under the Perodua brand to five of its seven export markets, including Mauritius, Singapore, Nepal, Fiji and Sri Lanka.

Domestically, Perodua expects to achieve its year-end target of 195,000 units, with another milestone coming about before the year is out – the two millionth vehicle production mark should be achieved sometime in the fourth quarter.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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VIDEO: 2011 Perodua Myvi instrument panel demo

Paul Tan — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:33:13 +0000

Here’s a short little walkthrough video on how the Camry-inspired instrumentation panel for the top of the line 2011 Perodua Myvi looks and moves. The fade in and fade out of the backlight is a nice touch, and so is the multi-info display integrated into the circle in the middle of the speedometer.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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2011 Perodua Myvi – full details and first impressions

Anthony Lim — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 13:02:17 +0000

Click to enlarge

The Perodua Myvi first arrived on the scene in May 2005. With 487,400 units sold since then, the five-door hatchback has certainly been popular with the public – that it has been the country’s best-selling model for five years, from 2006 to 2010, states it all.

Of course, as good a run as it has been in terms of numbers, there’s only one way to ensure further success, so it’s time for a change, or at least a complete makeover for the car. The first-generation Myvi was facelifted in August 2008, but now a full revision is at hand with the arrival of the 2011 Myvi.

From a concept point of view, where the old car was defined as a multi-purpose compact (MPC) by the company, the second-gen vehicle is now tagged as an advance multi-purpose compact, or A-MPC if you will, which essentially translates into a refined compact car that continues its predecessor’s tradition of reliability, but with upgraded features and improved vehicle performance.

The incoming car soldiers on in 1.3-litre form – the promise of a 1.5-litre variant hasn’t come to light, unfortunately – and retains the usage of the same platform as before, though revision work has come about with the chassis.

The short of it is that Perodua says that the new Myvi contains more than mere aesthetic changes, and is really an evolution of the outgoing car, featuring a sleeker exterior, a more spacious and refined interior, enhanced safety features as well as improved NVH and better functionality and equipment levels.

Let’s take a look at the changes in the new car, which is available in three variant forms – Standard, Premium and the top-of-the-line Elegance – at point of launch.

Read our full report after the jump.

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Exterior

While the general profile of the car remains similar to the first-generation model (there’s no mistaking that the new car is a Myvi at first glance, after all), a number of styling cues have come about to offer a more refined and sharper-looking shape with this one, which tips the scale at 950 kg up to 985 kg, depending on variant and version.

Dimensions-wise, the 2011 Myvi has the same width as the old car, as well as the same track (front 1,455 mm, rear 1,465 mm) and wheelbase length (2,440 mm), but is shorter and slightly lower. Width remains the same at 1,665 mm, while the 3,690 mm length makes the new Myvi shorter by 60 mm compared to the old one (3,750 mm).

While this might suggest a reduction in cabin space, the interior length of the new car is actually up by 15 mm. Strangely enough, the length of the Elegance variant is listed at 3,765 mm, a good 75 mm more than the other two variants (presumably, this added acreage is the result of plastic bits). The height of the new car is 1,545 mm, just 5 mm lower than the older Myvi, the reduction coming about from a revised roof line.

At the front, the bonnet has been revised, offering a more prominent slope to enhance visual styling, and the front also features improved pedestrian collision safety aspects, in compliance with EC market requirements.

The visual effect is aided by a downward scoop that accentuates the new halogen-based projector headlamps the car wears. The new headlamps not only enhance the looks, but offer increased light coverage area and improved night visibility.

New to the Myvi is a front bumper lower lip, which the company tags as an “air spat,” to improve the aerodynamics and is also undoubtedly aimed at helping dress up the car further. Elsewhere, the new Myvi’s wheel arches have been reworked to offer the car a more muscular stance, and the front bumper design features a wide horizontal line to further bolster the presence of the car.

From the side, the car has more prominent character lines on the side panels to beef things up, and for the Premium and Elegance versions, the door centre pillar panels have been blacked out to add more dynamism to the side profile.

At the back, the tailgate now has more curves going about it, and visually doesn’t look so flat viewed from dead-on centre. In line with the changes, the rear lamps are a sleeker looking LED combination design.

Another new feature is air vents located on the new rear bumper, located under the reflectors. It’s not just for flash – the cut-outs are there to ease pressure build-up on the rear bumper to reduce flapping, something that’s visibly evident on the outgoing Myvi.

The use of UV protected glass is retained for the car; Perodua says this helps cut out UV rays by 91% compared to normal green glass and helps prevent the deterioration of cabin material. Granted, many are going to paste on a window tint film anyway, but it’s nice to know that it’s there.

Interior

Contrary to rumours, the new Myvi is not just a mere bumper change facelift, something which is evident in the cabin. The interior dimensions differ from the new car, and the dashboard is also all new. By the way, the new Myvi’s dashboard design is unique to Perodua, and is not shared with the Japanese market Toyota Passo.

The biggest and most obvious change in the dash layout is the relocation of the automatic gear shifter to the centre console, freeing up space between the front seats for knick knacks. However, this only applies to the automatic version – manual transmission cars have the usual floor mounted gear lever, and the space on the centre console is filled by a cubby hole.

One of the highlights of the cabin is the new instrument panel, which features Toyota Camry-style meters. Sitting within the central speedo is a round screen that displays a digital fuel gauge, automatic gear position and information such as average fuel consumption and range. The latter isn’t even available on some D-segment cars, so it’s generous for Perodua to make it standard for all Myvi trim levels.

Whether with orange (Standard) or turqoise (Premium) illumination, this new instrument panel gives the Myvi an added sense of occasion and ups the level of “premiumness.” Also contributing to the “more premium feel” is the integrated head unit, which has large buttons and a clear layout. Compared to the old model, this new HU looks more feature rich. The sliver carbon fibre print may not be to all tastes though.

Opt for the Elegance spec and you’ll get a full colour 6-inch touch screen head unit with navigation. This is not offered anywhere else at this price point, and really adds to the Myvi’s showroom appeal. This HU comes in piano black trim, which looks nice but is easily smudged. For the Premium and Elegance, chrome trim is available on the shift knob and A/C controls.

The familiar “bottle cap” air-con controls are taken from the Alza, and is also similar to those on the pre-facelift Toyota Vios. But closer inspection reveal that the Perodua’s A/C has more functions compared to the two-mode A/C in the Vios. The steering wheel also looks very familiar, although checks show that it’s not from the Alza, JDM Passo or Vios.

It’s more than just the dashboard, as the interior dimensions differ from the old car’s. The 1,850 mm interior length is 15 mm longer than before, while interior width is 20 mm less.

Click image above for an enlarged version

The latter is slightly narrower because of a new, thicker door trim. And in line with the lower overall height, interior height (measured at the B-pillar area, new roofed is more curved) is now lower by 5 mm.

The slightly altered interior dimensions don’t affect the Myvi’s well known cabin space and airiness. But rear passengers will notice a slight decrease in headroom due to the rounder edges of the new car.

Luggage

The new Perodua Myvi has 208 litres of boot space, which is actually 17 litres less than the Myvi it replaces that had 225 litres. This is because of increased couple distance (front to rear) and thicker padding for the rear seats.

With the rear seats folded, the new car’s enlarged boot space stands at 595 litres, which is less than the previous Myvi’s 630 litres. The margin is even bigger for the folded seat boot space because of the thicker door trim on the new car.

Equipment levels and features

Click image above for an enlarged version

The three variants offer a total of six versions of the car, which retains the K3-VE 1.3 litre DVVT twin-cam mill – offering 90 hp at 6,000 rpm and 117 Nm at 4,400 rpm – throughout the range.

In Standard form, the car is available in SX five-speed manual and EZ four-speed auto guise, while Premium has the SXi manual and EZi auto, and the respective Elegance versions are the SXE and EZE.

Click image above for an enlarged version

The new Myvi has electric power steering featuring across the entire model range, and Perodua says that with the elimination of the need for the power steering pump has translated into some minor gain in the power output from the engine.

Meanwhile, noise and vibration performance is also improved over the old, with the inclusion of additional insulation on the engine hood, door trim, floor and roof areas.

Round-design fog lamps are to be found on the Premium and Elegance, which also get electric retractable side mirrors and a new 6-spoke 14-inch alloy wheel design. The Standard variant gets 14-inch steel wheels with wheel covers, and the car rides on 175/65 series rubbers.

Inside, the rear 60:40 split configuration seats are extendable by pulling the seat cushion forward over the leg space, offering a flat surface that one can sleep on (well, you can imagine the fun to be had with this one). Alternatively, they can be folded down in full flat mode for cargo purposes. Elsewhere, items such as a shopping hook (or teh tarik holder, if you will) in the Premium and Elegance variants offer up to 3 kg of carrying load.

Click image above for an enlarged version

The seats themselves feature padding and shoulder areas that have been reshaped to provide extra comfort, and the new seat fabric feels softer, the company states – the Standard gets standard grade fabric, while the Premium gets a high grade one.

Safety-wise, all variants get dual SRS airbags, which is a welcome move, and the driver’s side gets a seat belt pre-tensioner force limiter. Three-point seatbelts are now to be found for all three rear occupants, and both Premium and Elegance versions come with ABS and EBD and brake assist, but a big plus is the inclusion of ISOFIX mounts on all models for the easy and secure installation of child seats. Something like Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) would have been welcome, but we were told that the reason for its omission is because of the front disc/rear drum brake configuration and the absence of four-wheel ABS.

The Elegance variant features a bodykit consisting of full skirting, side moulding and spoiler, as well as chrome door handles, Elegance badging and tint film compliant with JPJ regulations – those wishing to add the body kit will be pleased to hear that it can be purchased as an accessory in a few months time. Elsewhere, there are also leather seats and Elegance carpet mats, aside from the biggie, which is the touchscreen multimedia four-speaker system with navigation.

For this one, there’s USB and SD card support as well as Bluetooth capability for both phone and audio, and the DVD-based system also offers MP3/WMA playback. Meanwhile, the Standard gets a radio/CD player four-speaker audio system with MP3/WMA capability, and the Premium comes with the same, but with USB and Bluetooth added in,

The Myvi is available in six colours, five of these being metallic – Ebony Black, Glittering Silver, Medallion Grey, Pearl White and a new shade called Mystical Purple – and an Ivory White solid shade.

Brief Driving Impressions

We got a very brief spin in the Myvi at the car’s preview. However, bear in mind that it was just a small loop of just 4.4 km in Cyberjaya, just enough to exit Cyberview and accelerate to highway speed, before making a u-turn home. We will need an extended drive for a more concrete view, but here’s what we have for now.

The driving experience isn’t very different from what we remember of the old Myvi. The engine can be heard quite loudly in the cabin, but we can also say the same for the RM110k Honda Jazz, so it’s no big flaw. Some in our office noticed improved noise insulation over the previous model, though.

The best-selling car in Malaysia is as easy to drive as ever. Visibility is excellent and all the controls are light and effortless. The new EPS steering isn’t the last word in feel and precision, but fulfills its “easy” brief well. Once again, we’ll need a longer stint, but the helm feels a bit less vague than before.

The suspension is new, with retuned spring and damper rates (front dampers by Kayaba, rear dampers by APM) for a firmer ride and better control. Without a back-to-back drive, our short loop didn’t offer a chance to test this out.

What we all agreed on is the new cabin, which is offers a more premium feel than the basic old dash. The instruments and head unit are good to look at and work well. In the back seat, the reduced headroom is apparent. It’s still adequate, but no longer generous, as our demo pic shows. The “frame” of the roof is now nearer to the passenger’s head when the seat back is in the most reclined position.

Remember that the new curved roofline helps aerodynamics, which in turn improves acceleration and fuel consumption. The new Myvi is claimed to have 4% better fuel consumption and 15% better for the auto. Besides being more slippery in terms of body aerodynamics, the use of EPS and lower rolling resistance tyres contributes to the cause.

Click to enlarge

In the media preview, the various test units wore different rubber from Silverstone, Goodyear and Continental – we’re not sure which brand makes it to the showroom.

By the way, Perodua has collected 10,000 orders for the new Myvi since 4th June, and exports to Indonesia starts next month. Here are the prices of all variants:

Variant	1.3 Standard		1.3 Premium		1.3 Elegance
Colour	SX (MT)	EZ (AT)	SXi (MT)	EZi (AT)	SXE (MT)	EZE (AT)
Solid	RM43,900	RM46,900	RM46,900	RM49,900	RM53,900	RM56,900
Metallic	RM44,400	RM47,400	RM47,400	RM50,400	RM54,400	RM57,400
Special Metallic	RM44,800	RM47,800	RM47,700	RM50,800

Click to enlarge

Report by Paul Tan, Danny Tan and Anthony Lim.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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Unidentical twins: Perodua Myvi versus Toyota Passo

Danny Tan — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 13:01:50 +0000

Just for fun, here’s some side by side images showing you the differences between the new 2011 Perodua Myvi and the 2010 Toyota Passo/Daihatsu Boon. You can see the different route that the Japanese companies and their Malaysian counterpart took with the styling of their second generation products. Look after the jump for more pix.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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2011 Perodua Myvi D54T to be launched tomorrow night

Anthony Lim — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 12:52:00 +0000

Well, the moment has arrived – tomorrow night finally sees the official introduction of the 2011 Perodua Myvi, with the launch of the car at the Putra World Trade Centre being officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Bookings for the D54T began on June 4, so you sort of knew the debut was soon to follow. The new second-generation Myvi was previewed to the media a couple of weeks ago – we’ll have a comprehensive report on the debutant tomorrow night.

Be sure to check in at 9pm!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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Perodua Myvi D54T previewed on Buletin Utama TV3

Paul Tan — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 09:17:20 +0000

Buletin Utama’s Auto segment once again brings us a sneak preview of an upcoming local badged model before its launch. The last model previewed was the Proton Inspira, and this time we get to preview the 2011 Perodua Myvi D54T ahead of its launch this month.

We’ll feature some of the “key” images that was shown on TV after the jump. If you want to view the full episode yourself, you can watch it on Alt Media’s online video portal tonton.

Key design features over the current Myvi

Projector lense headlamps

Interior features dash-mounted shifter for automatic

The manual transmission model has a storage area where the dash shifter should be

Stacked level instrumentation cluster with multi-info display inspired by current generation Toyota Camry

Two different head units seen – this seems to be the baseline

And this is a hi-end touch screen with Bluetooth telephony

The touch screen even looks like it has a GPS system

There was a short crash test video shown – the watermark text says Applus IDIADA, which is a automotive testing facility in Spain.

Interior photo shows a two tone predominantly light grey interior

Boot space

Anything else you can spot? Share it with us in the comments. If you want to view the full episode, you can watch it on Alt Media’s online video portal tonton.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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2011 Perodua Myvi spotted being trailered in the night

Paul Tan — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 08:32:49 +0000

We thought that yesterday’s posting of two lightly disguised Myvis would be the last of the new 2011 Myvi spyshots before the car’s launch this month, but it looks like we were wrong! Reader Syed Adam snapped a few photos of this trailer transporting a few units of the new 2011 Perodua Myvi without any disguise on them, although we can’t see much anyway as the photo was snapped at night.

I suppose that these Myvis are being trailered to dealerships across Malaysia. There should be many Perodua dealerships with the new Myvi in their compound by now, although I think with strict instructions for them to be covered up before the launch. That probably won’t stop the dealerships from lifting the covers a little if you’re a serious buyer that wants to place a booking though.

Look after the jump for four photos of the trailer.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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2011 Perodua Myvi – last of the spyshots before launch?

Anthony Lim — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 09:31:36 +0000

New photos of the upcoming 2011 Perodua Myvi have come about – two examples, in white, were snapped near the company’s home base in Sungai Choh, presumably carrying out some final evaluation exercises.

The photos are the clearest of the new car so far, and the cars are seen wearing very little disguise – at the front, the emblem and fog lamps are covered with white tape, likewise at the back, with the emblem and rear fog lamps getting the same treatment, and the rear lamps are covered with minor cladding.

Essentially, this should be the last set of spyshots of the Myvi, which should be launched into the market very soon, given that bookings for the car are officially set to begin tomorrow, which means the launch can’t be too far away!

Gallery after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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2011 Perodua Myvi – bookings open from June 4

Anthony Lim — Tue, 31 May 2011 11:38:11 +0000

It looks like the launch of the new 2011 Perodua Myvi is around the corner – the company sent an email stating that it will begin accepting bookings for the new car from this Saturday, June 4. Unfortunately, the press release that was supposed to be attached wasn’t there in the mail, so we can’t say what other info there is on the release.

The car itself has already been spotted many times – in disguised form – out on the road, so the shape of the new form isn’t a stranger. What remains to be seen is whether a 1.5 litre version will come about with the D54T, as initially mentioned months ago. Guess the answers to all will be revealed soon enough.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Mon, 13 Feb 12 03:49:24 +0000.

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