HONDA MALAYSIA'S 2016 sales report, 2017 hopes & dreams, some thoughts and the upcoming Honda City facelift

Some facts and figures from Honda Malaysia. Firstly, Honda Malaysia exceeded the set target to end 2016 with a sale of 91,830 units. 15.8% market share - no1 non-national brand in Malaysia and No. 2 in total industry volume in Malaysia. Wow.

Honda Malaysia launches the Honda BR-V and some thoughts of it against its competitors - Alza, Avanza, Ertiga, Sienta

Honda Malaysia launched the Honda BR-V earlier today. It is priced from RM85,800 (OTR w Insurance) for the 1.5L E and RM90.013.33 for the 1.5L V high specced variant. 

Honda Accord facelift launched in Malaysia - Enough tweaks to keep it fresh for awhile longer

After teasing the facelifted Honda Accord on their website, Honda Malaysia have launched the facelifted 9th Generation Honda Accord. Three variants like previously are offered. All have upgraded specs and some interior trim changes, which include redesigned front bumpers, 7 inch infotainment screen and the top of the line 2.0VTI-L and 2.4VTi-L get LED headlights to complement the LED Daytime Driving Lights.

Opinion: My actual thoughts on the newly launched Honda City X and Jazz X Malaysian specced limited editions

Since the launch of the current City in 2014, 87,000 units have been sold. The current Jazz, launched here in 2014 has sold 34,000 units to date. But the last few months have been a very tough period for vehicle sales here in Malaysia. So in order to drum up sales in a weak market, Honda has launched  the limited edition Honda City X and Jazz X sometime last week. Honda claims that the 'X' supposedly means X-clusivity, X-citement and X-cel. 

Honda Malaysia Airbag Recall Update August 2016

This is the latest update that Honda Malaysian has given on the Takata Airbag fiasco. You can now change your airbag(s) of affected Honda vehicles as the parts have arrived. Now read the article below and fix your appointments ASAP. 

Honda's Official Statement on the recent death caused by faulty Takata Airbags

Here is the official statement by Honda Malaysia as regards the recent death of a Honda City driver. Note the following:

1. Honda Malaysia has inspected the vehicle involved.

All New Honda Civic officially launched - Normally aspirated 1.8 and a turbocharged 1.5.

Honda has launched the tenth generation Honda Civic here in Malaysia. The Civic1.8L, 1.5L Turbo and 1.5L Turbo Premium are priced at RM110,726, RM124,376 and RM132,155. I think the prices are competitive, the 1.8 is priced very right and imagine that with only RM14,000 more you can go Turbo. 

INDUSTRY NEWS: MY AUTO FEST 2016 nets about RM20 million worth of bookings.

 The recent My Auto Fest 2016 which was held over the weekend of 20th to the 22nd May 2016 was quite a success according to its organisers, the Malaysian Automotive Association. The sales driven auto show actually netted about RM20 million worth of bookings which I hope translates into actual sales after this. It was also the platform for various car manufacturers to preview their products. 

Tenth Generation Honda Civic previewed at the MY AUTO FEST 2016 - My Opinion and the other Honda deals there

Honda Malaysia has decided to preview the all new tenth generation Honda Civic. This cannot happen sooner actually as I cannot wait for Honda to stop selling the current model and start selling this new one. This new Civic was swarmed with people when they lifted the black cloth covering the car. Everyone was super excited and wanted to view the car and had their camera and camera phones out.

Spotted for Sale: 2012 Honda CR-Z 2.0 - It should have been like this all along

It's been a while since I did any 'Spotted for Sale' articles. I suppose it's because there haven't been anything truly interesting out there when I was checking out the want ads. This time we have a winner folks, a 2012 Honda CR-Z with a nice big fat VTEC inside. By nice I mean a 2.0liter with 2.4liter stroker kit Honda K20a Type R engine plonked into it instead of the standard lethargic 1.5liter with a tiny electric motor for assist. 

Honda S660 gossip - S660 Type R for Japan and S1000 for the global market

The Honda S660 is one of those Japan market only kei car coupes.Here it is pictured in Mugen form. It has about 64 hp from its VTEC 660cc engine. Small light and therefore nimble enough to feel like a proper MG Midget or Austin Sprite from the days gone by. But I think Honda are listening to global feedback with this car and is rumoured to have okayed  1000cc version of the car which will be sold globally. It will be called, get this, Honda S1000. Imagine calling it like the Honda S2000. Honda S1K. Cool eh?

Honda Malaysia Previews the 2015 Honda HR-V - Ahead of its February launch

An All-New Honda HR-V will be hitting Malaysian shores in February 2015.  It is a subcompact crossover vehicle and is actually based on Honda's Global Compact Series, which includes the current Honda City and Honda Jazz. It is called the Honda Vezel over in Japan (pic below) and uses the HR-V moniker here. The HR-V was previously used in the 1998-2006 HR-V mini SUV.

Some thoughts on the all new 2014 Honda Jazz

Had a look at this mid spec Honda Jazz. Its big. Very practical but me thinks that it desperately needs a Honda Modulo body kit to hide its length (yes it look like a stretched previous model with a funky front end) and make it look more hunkered down. Interior plastics nothing to shout about but it is well fitted together.

Would I buy it for RM77800? Maybe if I wanted its practicality I would but I dont. I would either buy a VW Polo 1.6 hatch (better built and drives well) or even the Proton Suprima S (a larger, more performance oriented car that could be cheaper with discounts) over this.

Note- this was posted earlier on motoring-malaysia.blogspot.com's Facebook page. Do follow us over there folks. We discuss stuff occasionally.

KAH MOTOR SELAYANG - HONDA'S FIRST 3S CENTRE TO ADOPT HONDA'S NEW CORPORATE IDENTITY

I attended the official opening of Kah Motor's Honda 3S centre in Selayang on Monday and it marked the start of Honda using its new (for Malaysia) Corporate Identity (CI). Those who follow the website on Facebook would be aware of this earlier. The centre boasts 28 repair bays and a state of the art workshop, sales and parts centre. Eco-friendly too with use of LED lighting here and there.

Honda seems to be on a roll with the new Accord and the recently launched Honda City. MD and CEO of Honda Malaysia, Mr. Yoichiro Ueno (pictured above (left) with Oriental Holdings Bhd Deputy Chairman, Dato' Loh Kian Chong (right) - representing Kah Motors) also states that Honda Malaysia plans to sell up to 75,000 units of passenger vehicles this year. This is due to the expansion of its manufacturing facility in Melaka, the improved CI and the new models launched.

Honda gets 10,000 bookings within a month for the All-new Honda City.

Fuiyoh. But what do you expect with the Honda City? It is a Honda and therefore its badge carries some weight. The all-new Toyota Vios seems like a rehash of the earlier one with and basically has a new suit (I have come to the opinion that Honda seems to have won this round as it has more tech, equipment and is unpretentious - I mean check out the Vios' interior fake leather stitching made out of moulded plastic for heaven's sake!!!!). The Nissan Almera seems to be downright dowdy in terms of styling. And everyone who's badge conscious, and there are many here in Malaysia, would not want to be seen in the quieter, more refined, sometimes faster (when turbocharged) Proton Preve and Suprima S.

So do read onwards to the press release if you are interested folks.

All-new 2014 Honda City is making its rounds now

The all-new 2014 Honda City was displayed at Paradigm Mall in Petaling Jaya over the weekend. I suppose this is a pre-launch roadshow for Honda's B segment sedan...a.k.a the Toyota Vios fighter. It will be priced around RM70,000-90,000 depending on what spec you choose and it will be officially launched here in Malaysia sometime in March.

How does it look in the metal?

The new 2013 Honda Accord

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The ninth generation Honda Accord was recently launched in Malaysia and Adlis K and I had a look at the latest version of a popular sedan. We liked it. The overall look of the car is more cohesive and balanced compared to the earlier car and more impressive in real life compared to pictures of the car. 

Malaysia will have two engine variants with three specifications. The flagship Honda Accord in Malaysia is the Honda Accord 2.4l VTIi-L. This car has the new Honda Earth Dreams Technology 2.4liter engine and a slew of gadgetry to entice carbuyers out there for an on the road price of RM172,800.00. Cheaper than the Toyota Camry 2.5v, its natural competitor in its class. 

The All-New Ninth Generation Honda Civic - What the heck are you trying to sell to us, Honda?

When I was a younger man than I am today I used to run around Kuala Lumpur and its surroundings in a second-generation Honda Civic hatchback. The car, a 1981 vintage had a 1335cc single cam engine and generated something like 60bhp. But in those days, it only had to move 800kg of car or so and it was a nippy little bastard, putting it bluntly.  I was happy with it, especially in its final, modified according to my tastes, form. Actually I was extremely happy with it but that is something which I shall write about at a later date.