DTOX - The new Express Oil Change Service Centre in the heart of PJ

I recently received an invitation to visit a newly opened car service centre in Petaling Jaya Selangor. The service centre, called DTOX, which stands for Drive Thru Oil change Xpress, is a first-of-a-kind car service centre in Petaling Jaya which offers a 10 minutes no frills drive-through oil change service.

TEST DRIVE: The w212 Mercedes Benz E250 - All the luxury you need and a little more

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The prices of residential property in and around the Klang Valley is starting to sound ridiculous. A few years ago you could get a double story terrace house in Petaling Jaya for about RM400,000. I recently stopped by a developer's showroom for an condominium project located in Ara Damansara where I currently reside. The thousand and a bit more square foot apartment was priced in the region of Seven Hundred Thousand Ringgit. So from a few short years half a million Ringgit now gets you a studio apartment and nothing much else. So the question you have to ask is that what could I buy with RM400,000.00? A Mercedes Benz actually since a house is out of the question.

Anyway, I recently made myself available for a long test drive of the newly facelifted 2013 Mercedes Benz E-Class. The car I had my hands on for a while was an E250 courtesy of the people who sold me my C180 and I have to say that this car is a proper Mercedes Benz and more. Surprisingly more.

Why the heck would you buy a toy Toyota over a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche........etc..etc...

Toy cars are a great thing. They allow us to buy a detailed replica of the car that we would like to own or to some, a model they already own. It allows men and boys (and sometimes women and girls) to dream about their dream car. It allows them to look at the model and dream a little.

This is a good thing if it were a Ferrari model as you know your dreams and ambitions are for something stupendous and incredible. If you own a Ferrari and you have models of your Ferrari or other Ferraris you want it is alright because a Ferrari is what dreams are made of. It is fast, glamorous, exotic, a babe magnet, a toyboy magnet, you name it.

But if you are a future Toyota Camry owner or a current Toyota Camry owner and you buy a toy of it something is totally wrong with you. Especially the remote control version pictured above.

Proton Savvy Back to Life "Attractive" Parts Package..Yeah Rightttttt!

My friend recently brought the Proton Savvy Merdeka (Independence) Day Promotion to my attention. At first I thought that my friend was playing an April Fool's joke on me. But It is September and April is no where in sight. Then I thought Proton must be playing a huge April Fool's joke in September. But Proton is a large corporation and would not have a sense of humour. So It must be true.

So I looked up Proton Edar and lo and behold, such a promotion exists. But the question is whether this is actually a promotion or something else.

It's something else. Really something else.

Sponsored Video: Johnnie Walker Step Inside: Jenson Button The Ultimate Walk

'Enuff Said!!!!

More on the new 2013 Toyota Vios and the problem with Toyota....

As stated earlier, the new 2013 Toyota Vios will be launched soon. It looks good doesn't it? It has a sportier air to it than previously. But we over here have people travelling South-East Asia regularly and we can safely report that if you sit in this new 2013 model, it is actually exactly the same as sitting in the 2010, 2012, 2008 or even 2009 model of the Vios.

You see, when one of our group of motorheads was over in Jakarta, Indonesia recently he had the chance to sit in one of these new Toyota Vios. If  you end up in Jakarta you'd notice that most of the taxis there are Vios. The latest Vios is already in service there as of of those taxis that you can actually take to and from the airport or from any hotel you stay.

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. 

Ol' Skool Mercedes Benz and a current one

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Remember the Mercedes Benz 1990 200E W124 I wrote about frequently in here and also elsewhere? It's still around and this time sports an AMG bodykit with 500E flaired arches as well as a new paintjob. Owner Adlis K has actually kept the car in pristine condition and it even drives fabulously for such an old girl. 

It isn't a 500E as both of us would have liked it to be but here in pricey road rax Malaysia, running a 500E on a daily basis would be impossible. So we have real enthusiasts that make do. 

Note that the 2012 C180 CGI BlueEfficiency owned by Yours Truly also sports a C63 Grille.

Lexus LF-NX Previewed Ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Show

Lexus has previewed their latest SUV concept car. It is scary looking. Like something Pinhead from the Hellraiser movie series would design. It has the trademark Lexus 'spindle grille' (which is my opinion is basically a chubby baby having it's cheeks pinched while the baby's mouth is slightly opened) and a whole lot of sharp lines instead of being soft, cute and cuddly like their current production SUVs. I just added the cute and cuddly part for the fun of it.

But while this may be a concept car, it may go into production without the overly large wheels and with larger headlights as well as some tweaks here and there if it is well received by visitors at the upcoming Frankfurt motor show where this beast will be previewed. But, it is scary looking.

Toyota Kijang Innova facelifted over in Indonesia

August 2013 - Toyota Indonesia releases a facelift of the consistent selling Toyota Kijang Innova for the Indonesian market. We know this van, or people carrier as the Toyota Innova. This is the third facelift since its introduction in 2003 and this is the look that we Malaysians may get eventually. I hope we don't as it isn't drop dead gorgeous, more like drop dead and that's the end of it ugly.

This facelift adds a larger more horrifyingly ugly grille, redesigned bumpers front and rear as well as some trimming here and there. The interior gets a four spoke steering wheel and dual airbags. I may suggest a paper bag for the driver to cover his head while driving the darn thing. I again have to state that I hope that Toyota Malaysia does not use this facelift.

I have never been interested in the Toyota Innova.

The Hyundai Veloster 1.6 - Not for performance, just for looking good.

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There are times when we feel the need for something a little more flashy than the normal cooking hatchbacks, small ugly sedans or even large uncle-mobiles. Even housewives, family men need that urge to feel young and free again or that those who are indeed single and young at heart want a car that actually shows off that side of them. Sometimes, I feel that urge too when it comes to personal transport. In the quest to find a decent second (or third) car for the family I actually stopped to look at those priced below rm140,000 and with something less than four doors. 

I looked at the Honda CRZ, a fantastic car for people who want a sporty urban runabout. It has a 1.5liter engine coupled to an electric motor and makes more than 130hp. It also drove well but I have reservations as regards its running costs after five or more years. Whilst Honda is giving a guarantee that the electric motor's battery pack will last at least ten years I am not convinced that it will do so. Why? You may ask and the answer is because we live in a country where humidity is extremely high and I have never really been confident about any electrical product that sits, whether occasionally in the rain and then the sun will actually stand this constant cycle of hot and cold and of condensation of water vapour in the long run. I may be just ultra paranoid, but there could be a valid reason for me being as such.  Anyway, when Hyundai launched the Veloster recently, I was curious at this single rear door five seater coupe. Could it be the the flashy coupe for small families and for paranoid motorheads like Yours Truly?

The UD Quester is launched - a new heavy duty global truck platform - SPONSORED VIDEO

Let's talk about trucks today. Specifically the newly launched UD Quester by UD Trucks. The UD Quester is a truck designed for a global market with local conditions in mind. Designed by specialists from the Volvo Group (of which UD Trucks is a part of) the Quester is versatile and it has an extensive range of wheelbases and a chassis that is easy to build on – a fact very important to Malaysian truck owners and coach, or bodybuilders which customize a truck's chassis to suit local needs.

Using class leading systems and processes coupled with Japanese build quality the Quester has over 1.5million engineering hours and 65000 hours of road testing during its 3.5 year span from the start of development to its launch. The focus on the vehicle's uptime and fuel efficiency are key ingredients during its development.

Some thoughts on the upcoming 2013 Toyota Vios

This will be a short one without any complains about how bad something is at this point of time in and around Malaysia - like why the heck is the Malaysian Ringgit dropping against most major currencies and why is a deputy minister complaining about gangsters biting the dust. I am actually pleased that Toyota has come up with a Toyota Vios that looks pleasant from the outside and now the inside.

You see, I have no complaints about the exterior of the current Vios. It looks like a mini Toyota Corolla or Camry. In other words, it is as offensive to the eyes of the general public as a wall painted white in colour or a coconut tree on the beach. The upcoming one however is actually nicer to look at. Toyota have put more effort into styling the darn thing this time around and it looks good. The latest Toyota design philosophy is all over this Vios.

Proton Suprima S - Driven.

It's quite a large hatchback isn't it? The newly launched Proton Suprima S looks as big as the Proton Inspira nee Mitsubishi Lancer parked in front of it. Now this is the actual problem that Proton needs to highlight when it comes to launching new cars or variants. I should harp a little about this before we get to the slightly more interesting details about how the Suprima S drives.

Priced from RM76,500 around RM79,988 the Suprima S isn't a cheap Proton. In fact it is slightly cheaper than the Inspira and slightly more expensive than the Proton Preve. It is also more expensive than the Proton Satria R3, which is supposedly Proton's hottest model (which sadly does not come with a turbocharged 1.6liter engine like the Preve and Suprima S). It also sits in the region where one could opt for the cheapest non-Malaysian cars like the hot selling but really big arsed Nissan Almera, the dull Toyota Vios and the slightly better than window dressing Honda City. There are even smaller hatchbacks within the same price range like the Suzuki Swift and the Ford Fiesta. These are world class superminis that are actually the best in their class. 

BMW Previews the M4 Concept - Feng Shui disaster in Series numbering?

Nice. I don't really know how many horses this new M Division BMW will make (actually, about 450bhp) nor do I care how fast it goes (0-100km/h in about 4.4secs). The only reason the picture above is being shown on this site is the fact that I really wonder how BMW is going to market this new 4 series model here in Asia.

This car is actually the 2 door BMW 3 series. BMW wants us to believe that the 2 door variant is inherently sportier than any 2 door 3 series before this and that it deserves a series of its own. There goes our dreams of a new proper 2 door BMW M3 after the E92. Somehow unlike Mercedes Benz who have decided to call the 2 door C-class as the C-class Coupe, BMW had decided to make the coupe variant a whole new model series - the BMW 4 series. So we have the BMW M4 pictured above, as well as slower cooking models like the 420i, 428i, 420d, 430i, 440i. Now would Feng Shui practicing Asia welcome the 4 Series with open arms? The number 'Four' basically means 'die' in cantonese.

Proton Suprima photos leaked.

Photos of the Proton Preve hatchback are going around (I've taken this from my friend who got it off the web.). I think there are going to be more Subaru Impreza copies running around. Now its going to be the GRB hatchback version especially in blue pictured herein. Malaysians that cannot afford an Impreza are going to make this their Impreza whether  Subaru, Subaru owners and rational people like it or not. All they would think this car needs is a bonnet scoop and wallah, it's a Subaru. Of course, the new Proton hatch is going to cost somewhat like the Preve - around Rm60,000 to Rm75,000 depending on whether it has a turbocharger or not. (update - there are two versions of the Suprima S. Both turbocharged)

It's also called the  Proton Suprima. Sounds like a brand of Petronas unleaded petrol to me and when i was typing this on the Ipad the autocorrect spelt 'subprime'. hmmmm.....

UD Trucks will preview the new UD QUESTER soon - SPONSORED VIDEO

UD Trucks is now ready to launch the UD Quester – a new heavy duty truck range developed for Asia and other growth markets. Its global launch takes place in Bangkok on August 26, 2013. UD Trucks was formally known as Nissan Diesel and since Volvo Group (the commercial vehicle manufacturer and not the car producer – which is owned by Geely) took control of the company in 2007. Since then it has since used UD as its brand name, which is short for 'Ultimate Dependability'. Yes people, UD Trucks is a Japanese brand with a Swedish presence too.

The new truck will be called the Quester. The name Quester reflects UD Truck's six year quest to deliver a range of trucks and services, designed for Asia and other growth markets. This means that the UD Quester was designed to handle the the tough and rough roads and traffic conditions (which are usually terrible) throughout Asia. A truck with the same mind-set and endurance as a long-distance runner – efficient, determined and tough. 

New Kia Cerato or Hyundai Elantra?

Last year Hyundai launched the current Elantra. This year, Kia launched its latest iteration of the Forte/Cerato here in Malaysia.

Hyundai Elantra

Kia Cerato

Aside from their respective front grilles they look so similar on the road.

The Mercedes Benz A200 - Beautiful, but shame about the ride

It's the month of Ramadan and I have been doing what I do best during this period. What I do best is nothing much at all as when you're fasting, doing nothing is the best thing one should do. Unproductive it may be but I believe that if you do not move, you do not burn so much calories and therefore do not need to consume more sustenance until it is time to break fast.

But sometimes you do need to go out and get some chores done. One chore is trying out the newly launched Mercedes Benz A-class. The A200 to be precise. 

2013 Kia Cerato - It Seems Things Were Not So Smooth At The Recent Media Event

I heard this piece of news directly from a few journo friends of mine. Their road trip in the new 2013 Kia Cerato (Kia Forte replacement) for Malaysia did not end up too well. I suppose the cars prepared by Kia were not very prepared in the first place.

One car suffered traction control failure making its anti-lock braking system pulse unnecessarily. This of course made forward progress impossible. 

Classic AMG - The W114 250 and the 300ce 'Hammer'

Here are some photos of the earlier AMG cars long before they became Mercedes Benz-AMG. One is a W114 250 that has been breathed by AMG and the other a 300ce in the wide arch form.

The 1970s 250 was one of the first few cars that AMG breathed upon. Nothing much on the exterior except the lowered stance and wheels but the engine allowed it to chase BMWs. No one modded Mercedes Benz is those days. No, it did not have a stonking V8, the 250's 2.5liter straight six was tuned in the traditional way - camshafts, exhaust, exhaust manifolds, carburetor tweaks, cylinder head port and polishing and pistons. I think 146bhp must have became 180-190bhp at the very least. This was in the 70s. Fast enough to scare the 1974-75 Porsche 911 Carerra drivers. That Porsche had a mere 210hp at the time.

SHORT TEST DRIVE: 2013 Peugeot 208 1.6VTi - Luxury in a small package

Now let's get back to reality after Malaysia's 13^th General Elections. I want things to go back to normal. This means everyone goes back to work, school, retirement or college. This also means that the Bangladeshis (any other race that you can say are illegal voters) are not harassed and can go back to doing whatever Malaysians do not want to do. I say, when you don't want to do it yourself, you call them to do it. But when you want a conspiracy, you also end up using the same people you need to run your factories, restaurants and what nots. So make sure life goes on. If not how the heck am I going to continue carrying on with my life in peace?

Anyway, my search for a new family car has basically not ended after my recent purchases. This is because I am a serious Motorhead. Even when there is no need to buy a new car I am still on the lookout for a new car. Right now the Reza family feels the need to 'upgrade' the Pink Perodua Myvi to something a little more flashy that has a little bit of pizzaz. So I have driven the Peugeot 208 1.6 Vti 5 door hatchback recently and I find it to be one of the better little hatchbacks that you can buy under RM90,000. (update - it's 2016 and we actually have not upgraded!)

Oil Prices around the world vs Petrol Prices around the world

We are only the 27th largest oil producer on planet Earth yet our unleaded petrol prices are 11th cheapest in the planet. Aren't we glad for subsidies? I decided to share this info with you guys out there after I had a fantastic drive to Ayer Keroh, Melaka yesterday morning. The Mercedes Benz C180's pedal to the metal. It felt good burning some fossil fuel. Although I do wish that Malaysian road tax were cheaper. If it were, an AMG C63 would be nice. All RM15,000.00 worth of annual road tax (approx) of it.

Car Prices In Australia, Malaysia and South East Asia

I recently took my family across the border to the Lion City for some shopping and sightseeing. It wasn't a Rest & Recreation type of holiday. It was Arab Street (above) for the wife's clothing material, Orchard Road for more shopping and the Jurong Bird Park for the little girl's sightseeing. My feet felt like lead after three days and then we had to face quite a horrendous jam whilst trying to make it back to KL. But it was a fun filled trip. Lots of things to see and do over there.

The great thing about the trip down south was that it was the first really long trip using the car I recently bought - the Mercedes Benz C180 CGI BlueEfficiency and even after the six or so hours driving back from Singapore I felt as fresh as when I started the journey. Everyone needs to own one of these or better. But let me tell you a secret. You could do the same thing with a Toyota Camry. It is even quieter than a C-class. It isn't as sporty to drive as one buy if you want to feel as fresh as you started your journey, the unclemobile could be your choice. Remember the Unclemobile folks.

Anyway, I was actually quite intrigued by the fact that there are quite a number of newly registered C180 (1.6) C-classes over there. This with the fact that COE (certificate of Entitlement) prices are sky high at over SGD60,000 per car and the very recent tightening of car loans over there (50% downpayment and a maximum of 5 years). A C180 costs SGD 185,000 or thereabouts. Now convert that to Ringgit, it is a bomb. And there are many of them around.

This got me thinking about car prices around South East Asia. The reason being that so many Malaysians out there seem to be complaining about not being able to afford cars over here with the excise duty and other taxes and whatnots. Let me enlighten you guys out there by saying that Malaysia isn't as bad as we think.

Let's take a Mercedes Benz C200 CGI as an example. In good ol' Malaysia the C200 CGI Elegance sells for RM262,000.00. It looks steep doesn't it? With all those zeros behind and all that. Now lets compare the price of the same car elsewhere in the region.

IDR (Indonesian Rupiah)    559,000,000   -  RM177,404.22
BHT (Thai Bhat)                    2,250,000    - RM236,362.83
Peso (Philippine Peso)            3, 280,000   -  RM248,005.97
SGD (Singapore Dollar)           220,888    -  RM550,791.07

AUD (Australian Dollar)             64,954   -  RM209.851.00
NZD (New Zealand Dollar)        69,999   - RM181,775.72

I converted using xe.com's currency converter and I did not pick these figures out of nothing. Note that we are second highest in the list, but our figures aren't that far from other countries where the automotive industry has government protection, namely Thailand and the Philippines. Cars are cheap if you buy those manufactured locally (Toyota in Thailand as an example - you will see that everycar is a Toyota and a fourth or fifth is another brand).

It isn't that rosy in Australia too. Whilst you may think that AUD65,000 is a small amount but a junior exec in Australia may earn AUD6,000 or AUD72,000 per annum, but he is liable to get hit with income tax of between 9.1% to 21% depending on his deductions (The super rich here pay a maximum of 44.9% in taxes, still not as high as Sweeden where you pay up to 56% of your income for 'FREE EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE'). The best bet is the junior exec gets off with 12.5% average and on top of that a 1.5% Medicare levy (now WHO SAID things were free in developed countries).

Now add to the fact that everything you buy in Australia is susceptible to Goods and Sales Tax (GST)of 10% it gets a little tougher overall. In 2011-2012 there was such a thing as Flood Levy which the junior exec would have to pay 0-0.25% of his hard earned income to subsidize the rebuilding of Queensland after the 2010-2011 floods over there. So as a result, when I was holidaying in Australia in 2011, there are not many luxury compact executives running around. Its either the cost of living is high, or everyone there does not want earthy possessions which are slightly more luxurious than others (I doubt so).

In Singapore things are ultra shitty. You got GST at 17%, and 3 room condos going for SGD 3.5million (Here in PJ, its still a 'sane' RM750,000 or thereabouts). Junior exec earning SGD6,000 may get hit with a 10% income tax (maximum payable tax in SG is 20%) and no chance ever to buy a house or a Mercedes Benz.

Over in Jakarta, Indonesia you wouldn't want to drive a Mercedes Benz. The traffic is horrendous and everyone around you is in a state of poverty that you are liable to be kidnapped, car-jacked for money or your car simply keyed. You'd want something third world like a Toyota Kijang Innova to run around.

So what are we complaining about? The food here in Malaysia is good, houses aren't as stratospheric as Singapore, our living conditions aren't as crazy as Bangkok or Jakarta or Manila, we don't pay ridiculous amounts of taxes.

Malaysia is the best place to be. Full stop.

The Mercedes Benz CLA 45 AMG

Mercedes Benz AMG previewed this car at the 2013 New York Motor Show. Based on the Mercedes Benz CLA series, a car itself based on the A45 hatchback shares its drivetrain with the hatchback Mercedes Benz A 45 AMG.

The 2013 Mercedes Benz CLA 45 AMG is powered by an AMG 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine with 355bhp/450Nm torque, 4MATIC all wheel drive, SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission, AMG sports suspension with independently developed front and rear axles, electromechanical AMG speed-sensitive sports steering, AMG high-performance braking system, 3-stage ESP with "SPORT Handling" mode.

The Mercedes Benz CLA is Mercedes Benz's smallest sedan. It takes over the position from the C-class and in its usual base form is front wheel driven. This baby gets all wheel drive and a sexier bodykit. It does look awkward in certain angles (especially the rear three quarter angle below) but when compared to its rivals, the BMW 1 series and now the newly revealed Audi A3/S3 sedan it knocks the socks out of these cars with its edgier and more aggressive styling. This sort of styling will attract the younger crowd. Just compare its looks with the recently launched A3 sedan. That car looks pedestrian doesn't it?

And with this AMG model, it will whistle and fart as it steamrolls over its rivals. I mean, have you seen the A45 AMG's video release of it running on a track? Wheeee....then proootttt, as the dual clutch gearbox shifts a gear. This is what the CLA 45 AMG will sound like too. Of course, with over 300bhp, it would be pretty fun too. AMG's first highly tuned production 4 cylinder makes this something different too. We used to read, hear or drive AMG V8s. This is a throwback to the days when they used to tune a whole lot of 4 cylinder cars in the 1980s (especially the 190E 2.3-16 variants for their customers).

And what a heck of a way to win over new fans. And to keep old ones very amused and very interested.

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New Audi A3 Sedan & S3 Sedan Previewed..Nothing New To See Here. Move Along

This folks is the all new, fabulously styled Audi A3 Sedan.

Errr.... No. Sorry, wrong picture. This is an A4. Sorry folks.

The Malaysian Nissan Sylphy - Still the old model and Drum Brakes??????

One of the most contested sectors in the Malaysian automotive market is the C segment car category. Now those of you who haven't a clue on what a C segment car is let Yours Truly try to enlighten you. A C segment car is what the European Union calls the British standard sized small family cars or what the Americans call as Compact cars. By 'compact' and 'small', these cars are actually those between 4100mm to about 4700mm depending on whether they are a hatchback or a sedan.

German Cars reliability...(with an exception) are terrible!!!!

My decision to purchase a Mercedes Benz over some other German brands has proven fruitful. A recent study in the UK by Warranty Direct has claimed that Audi, VW and BMW are ranked in the bottom 10 in terms of engine reliability. It has been reported in the authoritative (and not some piece of crap on-line blog that may be even worse than this one) AutoExpress magazine. You can the article at its online site here. The graphs below is also from the same magazine.

Top 10 manufacturers

	Manufacturer	Failure rate (%)	Failure rate (1 in x)
1	Honda	0.29%	1 in 344
2	Toyota	0.58%	1 in 171
3	Mercedes	0.84%	1 in 119
4	Volvo	0.90%	1 in 111
5	Jaguar	0.98%	1 in 103

Bottom 10 manufacturers

	Manufacturer	Failure rate (%)	Failure rate (1 in x)
1	MG Rover	7.88%	1 in 13
2	Audi	3.71%	1 in 27
3	MINI	2.51%	1 in 40
4	Saab	2.49%	1 in 40
5	Vauxhall	2.46%	1 in 41

This article was brought to my attention by a very good friend of mine who currently owns and Audi A4. He is contemplating on going elsewhere for his motoring kicks after this. I would too. By the way the new Mercedes A-class (above) is tempting. I definitely need to work harder for a second car. Wait. I already have more than one car.....hmmm.

Maserati Granturismo Sport Launched in Malaysia

Very recently Naza Italia, official distributors for Maserati in Malaysia launched the Maserati GranTurismo Sport. This grand tourer is a fabulous looking, and sounding car. It comes with a 4.7liter V8 which makes 460hp and 520Nm torque running the rear wheels via a 6 speed automatic transmission. This is actually a great car for one to head down south to Singapore or up north to Krabi for those inter-peninsula jaunts that genuine petrolheads should occasionally do.

Anyway, what we found out from the launch are:

• The 2013 Maserati Granturismo Sport will be priced from RM1,118,000.00. Affordable from the likes of last year's sales figures for Malaysia (see below).

• Malaysia is the third largest market for Asia Pacific. Quite surprising as Asia Pacific includes Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and China. These countries are full of billionaires and Italian car collectors.

• Maserati sold over 3,500 cars worldwide last year (2012) and aim to sell 50,000 cars by 2016. This will be achieved when Maserati launches their SUV, a smaller 4 door saloon and a smaller entry level coupe.

• Last year Maserati sold 27 cars in Malaysia. This year Naza Italia is aiming for 40 with the launch of the Granturismo Sport. There are 27 people who basically bought something other than a Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Bentley and Rolls Royce. This also means that supercars are still affordable in Malaysia. Ridiculous tax and duty aside. It also tells you that instead of whining and complaining, we should all work harder and try buy our supercars in such a competitive climate.

• The Maserati Granturismo Sport will be the entry level Maserati for Malaysia. It seems Naza Italia has decided that Malaysian Maserati customers will not go for the 'basic' Granturismo. The basic Granturismo has a smaller 4.2liter, 405hp car. I suppose since you're going to spend a million Ringgit you should have at least 460hp. And what's an extra 400cc of road tax while you're at it.

• Maserati will not be competiting in any motorsport events in Malaysia for the time being. This I should know as I personally asked Mr Gaetano Marino, Regional Director Maserati Asia Pacific about it. Maserati Trofeo is a nice one make series that is pretty interesting for those that are interested. I also wish a customer would participate in one of Sepang's endurance races with one (like one or two Aston Martin customers who have done so).

(Seated, left to right - The very dapper Encik Wan Ahmad GM Naza Italia, Mr Gaetano Marino Regional Director Maserati Asia Pacific, Datuk Wira SM Faisal Tan Sri Nasimuddin Joint Group Executive Chairman / CEO Naza Group of Companies and Datuk Maruan Mohd Said Senior VP 4 Wheels Naza Motor Group)

Anyway, the Maserati Granturismo Sport is a fabulous car. It has that beautiful Ferrari designed V8 engine that barks out a heavenly sound. It is nothing like the V8 in a Ferrari as it does without the flat plane crank that Ferrari uses in its cars. It rumbles. It does not shriek. More like an Aston Martin V8 or a Mercedes-AMG V8. Not as bassy as the AMG, but velvety. You got to experience it for yourself. AND I have to mention that the flappy pedals behind that fancy steering wheel must be one of the nicest and most tactile pedal shifters I have felt in a while. 

The event was just a launch and preview of the Granturismo Sport. Now hopefully Maserati would let me drive one so that I can get to write to you guys about it.  

Oh, there was a very tall lady wearing a sash - Miss Universe Malaysia 2013 who is Maserati Malaysia's spokesperson. 

The New Suzuki Swift 1.4 - Photos and Initial Opinion

Here we have a few photographs of the All New Suzuki Swift 1.4. A car that is new to Malaysia and old to most places around the world. I have no idea why it has taken Suzuki Malaysia eons to launch the car over here in Bolehland. It may be due to the fact that CKD stocks of the previous generation Swift were not exhausted. It may be some unseen force of economics that may have come into play. It may be something as simple as Suzuki Japan forgetting that Malaysia exists. But lets move on from the conspiracy theories and enjoy the fact that this well-engineered supermini has finally made it to our shores.

At first glance it looks exactly like the older car. Then you notice it is only slightly larger. It's bum is definitely bigger and has a Peugeot 308esque type of look to it. It does look a little more grown up and a little bit more contemporary without losing its original design cues. The interior is better than before. It looks to be better built and it also seems to have better material quaility too. It looks more mature on the inside too. 

The Swift 1.4 that we are now getting is fully brought in from Thailand. No, it is not imported from Japan and this first batch of cars was brought in to get the ball rolling. From a taxation point of view the car is slightly cheaper than if it were brought in from Japan. This is why it costs RM78K instead of RM82K+ when they first brought in the previous generation model from Japan - but that was a 1.5liter and not knowing what type of arcane pricing system that MITI sets out for imported cars, we may never know if it is cheaper or not in the first place.  According to sources, Suzuki Malaysia will be bringing in about 900 to 1,000 or so units before local assembly begins. 

So what has impressed yours truly about this finally available new Suzuki Swift? Aside from the fact that it is slightly more grown up in all aspects, it now comes with something called rear disc brakes. The previous 1.5liter Swift made do with rear drum brakes. So you are getting better equipment with this new, albeit smaller engined Swift - It also has a proper stop-start button for its keyless go system, no need to turn the fob where the key was supposed to go like before. 

Now the older car made about 100bhp. This new one makes 95. The old one has more torque too but this new one has slightly less mass to move around with. It weighs a good 30kgs less and in theory only loses out  ever so slightly. I suppose this is the price to pay for more refinement and better fuel economy. Don't complain too much as the Swift 1.4  isn't meant to burn rubber (but it has some tuning potential and the potential to look like a Swift Sport - which is good enough for some). Suzuki does not have any other larger engine for the base Swift as this is the largest engine sold worldwide. So if you want more poke in a Swift, wait for the upcoming Swift Sport. Which according to sources will arrive here eventually. 

Told Ya So - The All New Suzuki Swift 2013 Launch in January '13

I have been observing my blog stats earlier today and it seems that there are a lot of people trying to find news on the upcoming 2013 Suzuki Swift launch in Malaysia. Most have been directed to my earlier article on the matter where I stated that the all-new Suzuki Swift will be launched in January or February of this year. And you know what? It is true.

By Saturday, 12th of January 2013 the new CBU or fully imported Suzuki Swift 1.4liter will be in most Suzuki showrooms around Malaysia. Prices should begin at around RM77,000+ and for that you get a 1.4liter 94bhp//130Nm/ 147g/km CO2 rating car that is slightly larger than the earlier model. It is lighter too by around 30kg, which is always a good thing. Now if you cannot afford the car at that price, all you have to do is be a little patient and wait for the CKD (locally assembled) model to be launched. It may take a few months, or years, knowing the incredibly long time that we have to wait for this CBU model to come in but yo may save a good RM10,000, which is still quite a lot of money these days.

And how do I know this little detail? No, not because I write automotive related stuff. I bought a Suzuki Alto last year remember? The sales people still remember you if you spend money.

A tiny bit on the 2012 Mercedes Benz C180 cgi

I bought a brand new car right at the very end of 2012. I suppose to some it does not make sense to buy a car right at the end of the year but in my case, the car was being sold on a discount to clear 2012 stocks and therefore the discount alone covers whatever depreciation that most of you people think about. I certainly do not.

I bought a 2012 Mercedes Benz C-class.  A C180 CGI with a 1,796cc engine, 156bhp and 250Nm torque running through a 7-speed automatic gearbox. Me, a motorhead who writes for several automotive websites ends up buying a Mercedes. What does that tell you folks out there? It tells you people that Mercedes Benz makes splendid cars. I suppose the same thought is shared with notable journalists out there like Jeremy Clarkson (who owns a CLK63 Black and a classic 600) or Chris Harris who at one time or the other reviews a whole lot of Mercedes Benz AMGs and loves them to bits for his video reviews on Chris Harris On Cars/ Drive.

Of course, since I live in Malaysia and the prices for more exotic Mercedes Benzes are stratospheric, I had to settle for an entry level one that is still costing me a smidgen over Two Hundred and Fourteen Thousand Ringgits. This would be the same if I lived in Singapore, as COE would make the same C180 CGI cost over Two Hundred Thousand Singapore Dollars. Tough luck. If this were the UK, the same car may cost about Twenty Five Thousand Pounds. I'll just have to make do with this then as beggars can't be choosers.

Oh yes, this is one surprising Mercedes Benz. The car is brisk to drive, the handling is precise and overall the refinement impeccable. Build quality is typically Mercedes Benz and it looks like they're (almost) back to the days where their cars felt like they were made from a solid block of steel. Everything you touch is nicely weighted and balanced. This little bit of extra tactility is what separates a proper premium executive sedan from the rest. A Toyota Camry may offer you the same amount of goodies, but the weighting and feel is still all wrong. An Audi gives you more flash with the same quality feel but an Audi feels a little lighter to the touch (which some like). The interior of the new BMW F30 3 series comes close but is still no cigar in my opinion.

The BMW F30 may now have overtaken the C-class in the handling stakes (the previous E90 wasn't as good as this W204 in my opinion), but this C-class still feels like its steering is sharp and nicely weighted, and goes where it is pointed. It also corners quite flatly too in my opinion.

But what actually moved me to buy this car (other than the fact that it was being sold on a discount) was the badge. That three pointed star is an institution. Especially with the traditional grille and the upright hood ornament. Targeting the road you're on as you drive. The way it sits on the bonnet makes one feel good, which is why Rolls Royces and Bentleys have one too. Much like the bonnet scoop on a Subaru Impreza. Yes it's a completely  different thing, but I suppose I do like something slightly blocking my forward view in a car and that three pointed star does it for me.

An Apology, A Fleet of Cars and A New Addition

I have to apologize to you readers out there. I have been extremely busy with life these days. Over the past month or so I have been occupied with traveling and a whole bunch of stuff. I was in Penang early last month. I was also in Raub, Pahang thrice. I was in Fraser's Hill twice. I was in Ipoh once. I was basically everywhere except in front of a computer typing out stuff.

In between all of that traveling. I had to work. I had cars to service. I also had to chill out with friends to talk about man/boy stuff. In short, writing has taken the last seat on a very long bus filled with countless of other activities that requires my time. I sometimes wish time does not fly as fast as it does these days. It my be age catching up and suddenly overtaking yours truly as I find my self trying to do so many things in a week.

Now back to the topic of cars. I seem to have acquired a fleet of cars over the past couple of months. Those that are aware would know that I have to maintain a 2005 Subaru Impreza 1.6 TS, a 1998 Proton Wira 1.6XLi which I had inherited from my late-father, a new 2011 Suzuki Alto which was bought for my mum to use and a 2010 Perodua Myvi 1.3 SE which the Missus uses.

The Subaru has been a very reliable workhorse and recently had its cracked front windscreen changed. I have no issues with the car and it has only left me stranded once due to a leaking water pump hose. But throughout the seven and a half years of ownership it has performed admirably and at times punches above its weight.

The Proton Wira is like any 1.6 automatic Proton Wira out there. Very cheap to maintain and very dependable. After sorting out its overheating issues it has been a decent, albeit a slightly boring ride. But if you just want a dependable Klang Valley roundabout which is light, economical and practical with some decent tech - multi-link suspension, a 4 speed autobox with enough punch to cruise at highway speeds at a relaxed gait, an old Proton Wira is totally acceptable. Don't expect it to be anything else though.

The Suzuki Alto 1.0-It has been to the Suzuki service center twice in the last 6 months. This is because somehow, the service booklet suggests that you service it every 3 to 4 months or 5,000km. In order to keep its warranty intact I am doing just that although it hasn't crossed 4,000km to date. The reason this car was chosen over a Perodua Viva or another Myvi is that  it drives better than both and my mum likes the way it looks. I like the way it looks. My mum takes it to be shops in front of her house and to a few places in and around her neighbourhood. I have a warranty claim to make from Suzuki thought, the key cylinder at the steering column is a little sticky and according to Suzuki, a replacement cylinder is in order. A rare occurrence according to Suzuki. So rare that it has to be ordered from India, the place where the Alto is made. Sometimes, you get issues with cars that aren't made by Proton (this little statement is for those that think you can't get issues with cars other than Proton). Now aside from that, everything has been peachy with the tiny Suzy.

The Perodua Myvi is trusty and dependable. The Missus isn't complaining about having to drive a car that has consistently headed the Malaysian car sales list over the past few years. It may have a trashy ride and a slightly hollow feel to it but it serves its purpose and competently does what its supposed to do. Its looks do not offend me (unlike the Proton Saga BLM) and it is nippy around town (which is very important when traffic is bad these days). Coupled with the mods I've done on it. It's actually quite good to drive.

And then comes the surprise.....I've added another one to the list. A brand spanking new Mercedes Benz C180 CGI BlueEfficiency. Yes folks, I've basically decided to satisfy my lust for the three pointed star. Expect some sort of write-up on it soon. If my hectic life allows me to do so.

The New Aston Martin Vanquish visits Kuala Lumpur

Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur recently previewed their latest V12 Grand Tourer, the Aston Martin Vanquish at their showroom recently. It was in Singapore prior to this, and was in town for a few days before making its way upwards towards Japan if I heard correctly. The Vanquish, a pre-production car was shown to prospective customers, current Aston Martin owners and members of the media.

This is a FordsubishiLexus Laser GSL ART TypeR

No. It isn't. What we actually have here folks is a 1989-1995 Ford Laser KF series. But according to all the badges that are plastered on its tailgate it is a concoction of a Lexus Mitsubishi TypeR GSL ART (whatever that means).