Motorsport: Leona Chin Scores a Double Win in the M Production (MTC) Category in the recent Malaysia Championship Series (MCS)

Leona Chin, who most of you would know is a familiar face in Malaysian motorsport as well as in the local automotive scene recently scored a double win in the M Production (MTC) Category during the recent Malaysia Championship Series held at the Sepang Circuit. Driving the Tedco Racing Suzuki Swift Sport, she scored the double victory after qualifying in Pole Position. She is the first female to qualify a Pole Position and then go on to win in both races over the weekend in Malaysia Championship Series. 

Sunday Lite: I Miss Suzuki Cars - Someone Should Start Bringing Them In Again.

I miss Suzuki cars. Sometime in 2016 Suzuki decided to pull out of Malaysia after deciding to enter into some sort of joint venture arrangement with Proton. They were to pull out of the Malaysian market and let Proton rebadge their vehicles starting with the Suzuki Ertiga. Of course, by some horrific twist of fate, they got snookered as Proton was forced by some unseen hand to quickly find a foreign partner which they did in the form of Geely.

TOP 5 JUNIOR HOT HATCHES YOU CAN BUY BRAND NEW IN MALAYSIA (2015)

Welcome back! This is the first posting after the 2015 Id Fitr celebrations in Malaysia. I'm technically still on vacation but I think it has been a while since we had a 100%  Motoring-Malaysia posting instead of just the news. Well, I suppose there was that 'Spotted For Sale' Alfa 4C, but of course, the more the better. So now's the time for us to state THE BEST JUNIOR HOT HATCH IN MALAYSIA that you can buy right now (July 2015 that is). According to Yours Truly here of course. This is because I have driven them all nd I do believe that it is my duty to tell you guys about it.

Number #5 - Volkswagen Polo GTI

Guest post: Top 5 Pre-Loved Hot (and Warm) Hatchbacks under RM60,000

Today is a public holiday in Malaysia. It is therefore a day to chill and relax.  So we now have an article written by my friend and fellow petrolhead Firdaus Asri. You may remember him as the chap who wrote that eye watering article about his latest purchase (and spending), the Volkswagen Golf R Mk6. Now he gives us a list on his favourite fairly new and affordable used Hot (and warm) Hatchbacks that you can get in Malaysia. 

My Top 5 Pre-loved Hot (and Warm) Hatchbacks

I have always had a soft spot on hot hatches because I grew up in the one that kick-started the whole hot hatch genre thing, it was a 1976 VW Mk1 Golf. A short trip back to memory lane, I vividly remember that my parents bought it from my almost abnormal uncle and for years it was pretty much the only car that we had that sort of worked and worked well.

Suzuki Swift Sport CVT - THE One to drive if you cannot do the shifting yourself

Fun to drive cars have always been a priority over here on Motoring-malaysia.blogspot.com. We thrive on driving cars that are fun. They may not have to be superfast but they have to have an emotional attachment with the driver when on the move. The thing about 'soulful' cars is there they are usually expensive here in Malaysia as we suffer, yes, suffer from obscene taxes and other whatnots. You need good credit rating with the bank or you must have a really fat monthly salary to indulge in such cars here in Malaysia. But occasionally you have the Suzuki Swift Sport to give you a rush at a price of around RM100,000. Hey, RM100,000 is affordable for a fun car in this day and age. Sad but true.

The 2012 Suzuki Swift Sport Is Finally Revealed

Suzuki has finally revealed the new Suzuki Swift Sport. Based on the recently launched new Swift launched early this year it should be equipped with the same 50mm longer wheelbase and lots more size and space. And we in Malaysia haven't even received the new bread and butter Swift to date. The reason we are not getting a new Swift when Singapore has already got the latest Swift models is that we assemble out Swifts locally. I suppose CKD packs of the current Swift have not run out to make it economically feasible for them to bring in the latest model. Boo Hoo to Suzuki Malaysia.

Anyway, aside from the small rant above the new Swift Sport should be going on sale sometime next year. If it is brought here we should get the 5 door version instead of the one pictured above which is certainly a Euro only variant as even the Japanese got the 5 door version of the previous Swift Sport.

It will get a revised 1.6liter DOHC engine that'll put out 134hp instead of 125hp. It also gets 160Nm instead of 148Nm torque. I suppose this is to offset the slight gain in size (and bulk) of the new car. It also gets a 6 speed gearbox  and 17 inch alloys too. I suppose the alloy wheel upgrade is necessary considering the car is slightly larger now.

Whatever the case is I hope that it'll handle like the earlier car, which was bloody good (aside from having a slightly tallish sitting position which is actually typical in all modern superminis). I rate that car as one of the best affordable drives around. You can click here to go to read about what I thought of the soon to be replaced Suzy Swift Sport.

Suzuki Swift S-Concept showcases the upcoming Swift Sport

The car above is the Suzuki Swift S Concept which was recently shown at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. This is how the upcoming Suzuki Swift Sport will look like. As some of you readers know, the Swift Sport is my favourite affordable supermini. I totally adore this little car because of its agility, handling and its honest to goodness nature. Not to mention if you love trail braking into a corner this is the car for you. The tail swings round to 'meet' you where you want it to.

 In the article I stated that if it ain't broke, why fix it. This sums up what Suzuki has done to the Swift. A little stretch, a little pull, a little nip here and some added girth there but it still looks pretty much like the earlier car.

Click here to read more about the S Concept

Driven: Automotive Bliss and the 2008 Suzuki Swift Sport

Automotive bliss can mean a lot of things. One of it could be waking up early on a Sunday morning, taking that sports car of yours for a drive to nowhere and feeling great about yourself. It can also mean the satisfaction of fixing something small yet the pleasure, or pain, derived from it is immense. Bliss is a nice word to describe a feeling that someone who feels naively feels satisfied or truly happy when the actual situation isn’t so impressive.

Imagine this, your sister in law’s Proton Wira decides to not start when your wife, kid and sister in law decide to go shopping on a Saturday afternoon. You being all dressed up in your sports Rolex, Italian loafers, nice Audi T shirt and blue jeans ready to hop into your Subaru Impreza decide to help change the battery under the sweltering sun. It’s an automotive moment there folks, getting his hands dirty fixing a run of the mill Proton and enjoying that moment of pain and suffering yet accomplishing something. The car started, everyone was happy and could go wherever they wanted to.