Hyundai Sime Darby Motors Finally Launches the Hyundai i30N - Limited to Only 20 Units Via Lazada Chup Dulu and Only in the 275HP N Performance Variant

Finally, Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) has launched the Hyundai i30 N 5-door hot hatch here after previewing it late last year at the KL Motor Show. It has taken them a WHOLE year to finally offer it for sale. Unfortunately, or fortunately since it is finally on sale here, it will be offered for sale exclusively on Lazada Malaysia during its 12.12 Grand Year End Sale. Only 20 units of the i30 N will be available for pre-order from 2 December 2019, through Lazada’s Chup Dulu pre-order feature. 

Happenings: Ekin Kee Charles.Wins The BMW Shorties 2019 Grand Prize With His Short Film 'PACE'

The BMW Shorties has named the short film, ‘PACE’ by Ekin Kee Charles as its its Grand Prize winner for the 2019 BMW Shorties. This is the thirteenth edition of what is the most prestigious and longest running short film contest for Malaysian filmmakers and videographers. The Grand Prize worth RM80,000 in production grant was presented at the BMW Shorties Awards Night 2019, held in conjunction with Urbanscapes 2019 recently.

Hankook Ventus Prime 3 (K125) Ultra High Performance Tyre Launched in Malaysia

Hankook Tire has launched their latest ultra high performance (UHP) tyre, the Ventus Prime 3 (K125) in Malaysia. Hankook says that the new Ventus Prime 3 tyre is an ultra high-performance tire for passenger cars and it has been designed to have as close to as perfect a balance between performance, comfort and safety. 

Motorsport: Team PROTON R3 Finishes 1st and 2nd at the Sepang 1000KM Race

Team Proton R3 (R3) has won the Sepang 1000km (S1K) race for a third consecutive time. The 2019 Proton Iriz driven by Mitchell Cheah and Fariqe Hairuman took the first place and the 2019 Proton Saga driven by Syafiq Ali and Admi Shahrul came second making it a memorable one-two finish. It was a challenging race as there was a safety car period and then some bad weather making the 1000km race of 181 laps cut short to around 9 hours worth of racing instead of much longer.

Arus Jaya, MARii and Perodua Will Establish a Digital Showroom and Co-Develop Smart Sales & Service Solutions

The Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii), Arus Jaya Automotive Sdn. Bhd. and Perodua will develop Smart Sales and Service solutions together with a focus towards the state of Sabah. This was announced at a ground breaking ceremony recently held at the Kota Kinabalu Marriott Hotel for the establishment of the first ever Digital Showroom. The Digital Showroom will be the first of its kind here and developed in order to transition towards enhancing digitalisation of the aftermarket sector.

Maserati Development Prototype Hits The Streets of Modena - Expect an All-New, Most Likely, Mid-Engined Maserati by May 2020

Maserati has previewed photos of the first “mule” for the development of the new Maserati engine. The prototype mule was driven out of Maserati's Viale Ciro Menotti gates, in Modena on the 20th of November 2019. The test cars, or mules of an all new Maserati have special livery that echoes the 'Save the Date' teaser sent out ahead of the event scheduled for May 2020, which could be the first unveiling of what could be a new chapter in Maserati's saga - a return to mid-engine performance coupes by the luxury brand or the replacement of the outgoing Gran Turismo.

Jun Hong Trading Receives the First Ever UD Kuzer Delivered in Malaysia

Recently, the folks at UD Trucks and their sole distributor partner Tan Chong Industrial Equipment Sdn Bhd (TCIE) delivered the first ever unit of the all-new light-duty UD Kuzer to Jun Hong Trading Sdn Bhd. While it may only be a sole unit, the event is significant as it can been seen as a start for UD Trucks' return into the light duty truck segment here in Malaysia.

Volvo Buses host Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Conference together with Technology Depository Agency (TDA) and Prasarana / Some Thoughts After Listening to the Conference

Volvo Buses hosted the very first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Conference in Putrajaya, Malaysia on November 19 th 2019. The event was held together with the Technology Depository Agency (TDA) and Prasarana government agencies related to technology and public transport. It was also supported by the Malaysian Government, The Swedish Embassy and Business Sweden with the intention to  bring together key stakeholders from across Malaysia to build a shared vision that will make Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) work successfully in Malaysia.

Mitsubishi Triton 4x4 Adventure Event in Linear Park, Johor Bahru This Weekend - 23 & 24 November 2019 with Lots of Prizes to be Won

If you are in and around Johor Bahru, you can go experience a 4x4 adventure of sorts courtesy of Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM). They are organising the Mitsubishi Triton 4x4 Adventure over at Linear Park, Desa Tebrau, Johor Bahru from 10.00am to 8.00pm this weekend, the 23 & 24 November 2019. Admission is FREE so if you have no plans, you could go try out a 4x4 test circuit with the Triton pickup truck.

Off-Roading: The Newly Launched Isuzu D-Max 1.9 Turbodiesel Completes the 2019 Borneo Safari

The newly launched (for the Malaysian market) 2019 Isuzu D-Max 1.9liter pickup truck has managed to conquer one of the toughest off-road events in the region, the Borneo Safari. Nicknamed the 'Blue Monster', the latest Isuzu D-Max with its Blue Power 1.9liter turbodiesel engine managed to complete the seven day event which started and ended in the jungles near Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

The Scania XT is Now Used by Sara Transport and Logistic Services (STLS) Group to Tackle Tougher Than Usual Conditions

Scania XT heavy duty prime mover trucks are part of Scania's newly launched New Truck Generation range of trucks here. The Scania XT variant has a more robust design than the usual Scania NTG trucks where all cabs and engines have been designed to take on harsh working conditions in particular, the construction and mining industries. Now, the XT makes an appearance in the Malaysian construction industry with Sara Transport and Logistic Services Group (STLS Group) receiving their first Scania XT trucks.

Editorial: New 2020 Nissan Almera Launches in Thailand - This Will Make Buying Compact Nissan Cars Good Again

The all-new Nissan Almera has been recently launched in Thailand. This is also called the Nissan Versa and Nissan Sunny over in the United States of America and in the Middle East respectively. This is one car which Nissan Malaysia must be itching their hand on as the current Almera (shown below), while still netting some sales is a distant third (or fourth) in terms of Japanese B-segment here. 

Volvo Car Malaysia introduces refreshed Volvo XC90 SUV - Improving On Something Which Is Already So Good

Volvo Car Malaysia has announced that the refreshed 2019 onwards Volvo XC90 full-sized SUV is now available in Malaysia for viewing at all Volvo showrooms.The Volvo XC90 is the Swedish carmaker's top-of-the-line flagship, that marks the company's foray into an electrification strategy. The refreshed XC90 features subtle upgrades to the exterior for the T5 variant, additional performance for the T8 and some with more equipment inside.

New Mitsubishi Triton Quest Launched - More Equipment for the Base Spec Triton

The New Mitsubishi Triton Quest has been launched by Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM). According to MMM, the new Triton Quest is a reliable yet powerful pickup truc, packed with features and that uniquely aggressive and stylish design with a ‘sedan’ outlook. It's the 'sedan' outlook which is different here. Most likely to cater for the on-road only crowd that also loves buying pickup trucks.

The 11.11.19 Booking Through Lazada Malaysia Only Ford Ranger Splash Limited Edition Has Sold Out Ahead of The 11.11.19 Date

People seem to really like the Ford Ranger. Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC), the sole distributor for Ford in Malaysia, had announced that all 19 units of the Limited Edition Ford Ranger Splash had been pre-booked ahead of the Lazada 11.11 Shopping Festival on the Ford Official store on LazMall. It also shows that people are willing to book their new cars through an online portal too.

Volvo Car Malaysia and Dealer-Partner iRoll Ipoh Sdn Bhd Officially Open Their New 3S Centre in Ipoh

Volvo Car Malaysia, has officially opened a new showroom in Ipoh, Perak. The new 3S centre adds more customer touch points for the now premium Swedish carmaker. The new centre is operated by their dealer-partner, iRoll Ipoh Sdn Bhd. Located close to the Ipoh airport and the Ipoh City & Country Club, the showroom adds to Volvo’s growing dealership network here in Malaysia.

Offers & Promotions: Deals by Peugeot Malaysia for the 3008 and 5008 SUV Plus

Nasim Sdn Bhd,who distribute Peugeot vehicles here in Malaysia, have a end of the year promotion on the Peugeot 3008 and 5008 SUV Plus. From now until 31 st December 2019, customers can trade in their cars and get up to RM 10,000 extra from their current vehicle’s appraised value. These SUVs also come with a 3-year free maintenance service which includes parts and labour charges. Customers can also inquire for a special ownership financing with Affin Bank that allows them to own the SUVs from as low as RM 1,300 per month.

Perodua Invests RM7 Million into IQM Sdn Bhd to Centralise Their Old Model Body Parts Manufacturing

This piece of news happened a couple of weeks ago but it is interesting in terms of investments made in the Malaysian automotive industry. Our folks at Perodua has basically  centralised their parts production for its past models with the launch of a new press stamping machine (seen in the photo above) at its supplier's facility, IQM Sdn Bhd. The RM7 Million investment is unique in that it shows that Perodua is still catering to their older customers by providing a constant supply of spare parts for their past generation vehicles aside from expanding their supplier's capabilities so that they may eventually compete on a global level.

MINI Malaysia Launches the New MINI Clubman

(from left to right) Linnet Yew, Head of MINI Malaysia and Sashi Ambi, Head of Corporate Communication of BMW Group Malaysia with the New MINI Clubman.

The New (for the 2020 Model Year) MINI Clubman has been launched here. This refreshed Clubman is about three years from the initial introduction of the unique six door MINI. It comes with a new transmission system and more equipment with even more connectivity for this digital age. This latest MINI model adds to the range and offers station wagon type of motoring to the picture.

VIDEO: The 2019 Land Rover Discovery Sport & 2019 Range Rover Velar Drive Experience at the Above & Beyond Tour - We Try These SUVs Off-Road and On-Road

Hello again folks! Another video, but this time it isn't featured on Motoring Malaysia's YouTube Channel. It is currently featured on Land Rover Asia Pacific's YouTube channel and this is where I got to try out off-roading and on-roading in the 2019 Land Rover Discovery Sport and the 2019 Range Rover Velar SUVs over at the recent Malaysian leg of the Above & Beyond Tour.

Shell Malaysia Does A Whole Lot As Title Sponsor of the Malaysian MotoGP - 10 Years as Title Sponsor and Still Enthralling Visitors to the Shell Hillstand and Other Activities

Having Shell Malaysia as the title sponsor of the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) for the tenth year running is a blessing. The energy providing company have over the years improved their participation and this year, they have enhanced the Shell Hillstand features so that local motorsport enthusiasts can experience the MotoGP to an even high level of excitement.

PROTON Sells 9,503 Units in October 2019 - Solidifying their Position as a Strong Number #2 in Terms of Overall Sales

Proton, the favourite Malaysian car company, especially when it comes to most Malaysian coffeeshop discussion has continued its upward trend in terms of sales numbers. They have reported that they have managed to sell 9,503 vehicles in the month of October 2019. Currently, their year to date total sales are 79,833 units which includes domestic and export sales. This is a 46% growth given that the Total Industry Volume has shrunk by 1.3%. Proton cars now have a market share of 16%

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia Halloween Special Video - Spooky VWs in Malaysia

This is a short video posted by the folks at Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia in conjunction with this year's Halloween celebrations. Not going to write much but just to say go watch it. It covers the infamous or fictional or still unverified urban legend that is about that strange yellow coloured Volkswagen Beetle (the classic one, not the new ones) that seemingly haunts Karak Highway. I am sharing this a bit late as Halloween just passed us by.

BMW Motorrad Malaysia Launches the all New BMW S 1000 RR, BMW R 1250 R & R 1250 RR For The Malaysian Market

One of the many motorcycle launches that coincided with the MotoGP Malaysia was the unveiling of the New BMW S 1000 RR, BMW R 1250 R and BMW R 1250 RS by BMW Motorrad Malaysia. The new BMW S 1000 RR is the company's 3rd generation S 1000 series of superbike. The R 1250 R  roadster or naked styled bike and the more sleek looking R 1250 RS are street bikes which cater to the more relaxed rider but who still likes the taste of refined motorcycling.

Newly Refreshed Renault Koleos to be Previewed at PACE Event (2-3 Nov 2019) at Setia City Convention Centre - Also Open For Booking

Renault’s recently refreshed flagship D-segment SUV, the Renault will be on preview to the public for the first time here in Malaysia at the Premium Auto Car Expo (PACE) on 2-3 November 2019 at the Setia City Convention Centre. The new 2020 Renault Koleos is distributed by Renault’s sole franchise holder in Malaysia TC Euro Cars and will be offered in two variants, the Renault Koleos and Koleos Signature, two variants like before.

Ten Motorcycle Mechanics Receive Awards from Ducati MotoGP Rider Andrea Dovizioso at a Special Meet the Fans Session Organised by MotoGP Sponsors Shell Malaysia

The Malaysian MotoGP weekend is underway and the activities regarding motorcycles are many. Yesterday,  Ten lucky motorcycle mechanics were presented awards by Ducati MotoGP motorcycle racer Andrea Dovizioso and Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd Managing Director Shairan Huzani Husain at an exclusive meet-the-fans session organised by Shell Malaysia ahead of the 2019 Shell Malaysia Motorcycle Grand Prix this weekend. Many braved the traffic to make it to the event which was attended by Grab bike riders and a few motorcycle clubs, notably the Desmo Owners Club Malaysia. Aside from that, local celebrity Fattah Amin who is also a Shell Advance brand ambassador for Malaysia attended the event.