2021 Marks the 7th Porsche 911 GT3 - You Can Now Pre-Order It at All Porsche Centres Nationwide

Porsche has officially unveiled the new 911 GT3. This is the seventh edition of this high-performance sports car which was also developed in close collaboration with Porsche Motorsport. It is essentially a 911 made into a purer form. It transfers motorsport technology into a production model even more consistently than ever before. The new GT3 sports the double wishbone front axle layout and even more sophisticated aerodynamics with swan neck rear wing and striking diffuser which originates from the successful GT race car 911 RSR. 

New Special Edition Proton Iriz, Saga, Persona and Exora to be Unveiled on 18 February 2021 - at 11.00am

PROTON will be introducing its Special Edition models – the Iriz, Saga, Persona, and Exora. which is set to launch virtually on 18 February 2021 at 11am. These limited run variants will be enhanced with unique design elements for both the interior and exterior of these cars, the Special Edition models is here to meet customers’ needs and suits the most discerning lifestyle. In other not so marketing savvy words, the cars will have additional trim and shiny bits that will make them slightly different from the normal production models.

Malaysians will also be able to place bookings for the Special Edition models on the same date and time. These Special Edition models provide the same level of comfort, safety and handling that are offered in their standard models, except they have now been enhanced in the aesthetics department. Yes. They will look slightly tweaked with some bits here and there. 

The Perodua Smart Build is Launched - This is Perodua's Next Stage in its Ongoing Transformation Plan

Perodua yesterday launched its first sustainable blueprint – the Perodua Smart Build. This is a long term business vision or strategy by the compact car maker that includes nearly the entire Malaysian automotive supplier and dealer ecosystem. The system is designed to thrust both itself and the industry towards greater globalisation in the future. 

According to Perodua President and Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Zainal Abidin, Perodua Smart Build is designed to help Perodua and the automotive ecosystem reap the benefits of the National Automotive Policy by making the industry more competitive and progressive. Chief among the components of Perodua Smart Build are full product development by Perodua and its suppliers, the establishment of a first-class working culture and first-class thinking that will be able to contribute to the nation. 

Test Drive - Hyundai Kona 1.6Turbo (2021 MY) - This is Actually a Viable Choice For a Compact SUV

What we have here is the 2021 Model Year Hyundai Kona 1.6 Turbo compact SUV. We had a go in it just before most of Malaysia was placed under the second Movement Control Order due to the current virus pandemic. It was quite lucky in terms of timing if not this review would not have happened. We had managed to take a short trip down to Ipoh with it and if you are actually lazy to read any further, I can easily tell you that this newly launched (here in Malaysia) C-segment SUV is actually quite good for what it is.

What the Hyundai Kona 1.6 Turbo is a soft roader meant for urban environments with more ground clearance and all the required chunky-boi looks that make compact SUVs the choice over sedans these days. It also has the poke to move and would also give you lots of enjoyment in terms of having more than adequate performance due to its turbocharged 1.6liter engine.

SDAC-Ford Launches New Five-Year and Extended Warranty Plans For All New Ford Ranger Sold in Malaysia

Good news! New Ford Ranger customers will be able enjoy more with the new 5-year manufacturer’s warranty (with the usual terms and conditions*). This is up from the previous 3-year warranty offered before this. But even existing Ford Ranger customers can opt into this new warranty by purchasing a two new Extended Warranty. Plans (with the usual terms and conditions also**) called PremiumCARE and PowertrainCARE.

Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC), the sole distributor for Ford in Malaysia, recently announced the new 5-year manufacturer’s warranty 1 for its Ford Ranger lineup. Why only the Ford Ranger you say? Well, currently, this is the only car that Ford sells in large numbers in Malaysia with the occasional Ford Mustang or SUV thrown in to the picture once in a while (as these are fully imported stuff which comes in small batches). So the Ford Ranger, which is also a favourite of many pickup truck fans here, gets an extended warranty. This should make many people a little bit happier.

Volvo Car Malaysia Extends Warranty to Five-years/Unlimited Mileage - Up from Three-years/100,000km Previously

Volvo Car Malaysia has IMPROVED on its manufacturer or factory warranty programme to a five-years/unlimited mileage warraty for all privately owned Volvo cars* registered from 1 January 2021onwards. Prior to this announcement, Volvo car owners were entitled to a three-year/100,000km factory warranty with a combined two-years/20,000km Extended Warranty Programme (EWP) provided by an external insurance partner. 

We mostly know that external parties to any arrangement will usually be a little bit reluctant to do things even though its been legally contracted to them. So it is a very, very good thing that Volvo Car Malaysia is now going the internal route to customer aftersales in terms of warranty issues. So with the introduction of the extended factory warranty, customers will be able to enjoy a similar level of protection at no additional cost, fully covered under the five-years/unlimited mileage warranty. So much more peace of mind. 

And Meanwhile, Perodua Sets and Sales Target of 240,000 Cars in 2021 - No Supply Issues Here Folks

And meanwhile, over at Perodua, the Malaysian compact car manufacturer has stated that they have targeted a sales figure of 240,000 vehicles in 2021. This figure is a 9% increase from the 220,163 units sold in 2020  on the back of sustained strong demand for its existing models and the extension of the sales tax exemption announced by the government recently. 

By way of comparison, Perodua sold 240,341 vehicles in 2019. So they are getting back the numbers from 2019 after sales of 220,163 in the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic era (which could be something of historical significance to future historians). 

PROTON Sells and Estimated 5,964 Cars in February 2021 - A Slowdown Due to Manufacturing Supply Being Affected by The Movement Control Order Lockdowns

 January 2021 sales by PROTON - 5,964 units. This marks a decrease of 29.9% over the same month last year. Basically the current round of Movement Control Orders here in Malaysia has stalled sales in the first month of this year. However, Proton says that new or upcoming model launch plans will go on unchanged as company chases after more favourable numbers this year.

Proton's market share is estimated at 18.5%, about 1.0% less compared to the same period last year (with a total industry volume of about 32,000 units for January 2021). According to Proton, the overall figures though are a reflection of supply not being able to meet demand rather than a reduction in bookings. So it could be said that supply of new cars is slowing down sales rather than the pandemic.

 How true could this statement be?

We're Back!!! Here's a Proton Wira with a WTF Type of Downforce Mod

We're Back! Well, or starting to get back but Goddammit, this pandemic lockdown has got me totally bored of motoring as there have been no REAL experiences to... Well, experience. No actual launches to attend. No real cars to try out without lots of social distancing. So much protocol in place. You get the picture. I am all about the experience and Virtual launches bore me. So I rather do other stuff like killing tanks and ships or people in, well, PC games...which are also virtual. Go figure. But here is a Proton Wira with suspect aerodynamic mods. 

Offers and Promos from Volkswagen This Chinese New Year (2021)

In a nutshell, you can get savings up to RM10,000 on Volkswagen models, aftersales offers on parts replacement and genuine oil and that this promotion valid from now till 28 th February 2021

Official Volkswagen distributor in Malaysia, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is having another round of offers and promotions this Chinese New Year (CNY) with what they are calling as "ang pao rebates" which gives out a savings of RM1,000 over and above other rebates. As for the overall promotional campaign, it covers both new car sales as well as aftersales so no one is left out.

Feature Article: Caring About the Air Quality for Your Car

Hello folks! Happy New Year and I'm back after making myself feel better during the dull year end due to the pandemic. Here is a feature article from Proton regarding their cabin filter equipped cars and options. Good for cleaning up the air of your Proton especially since there could be viruses floating around.....

As we embrace the new norm, many of us will be spending a considerable amount of time in our cars to commute daily to work. But is the cabin of your car truly a cleaner environment? Even when travelling with the windows closed, the air quality inside can be affected by the air from the outside. It is therefore important for cars to be equipped with cabin air-filtering capabilities. However, like many other parts in your car such as spark plugs and oil filters, cabin filters are one of the parts we frequently replace in our cars but we rarely talked about. 

Video: Preview of the All-New 2021 Hyundai Elantra 7th Generation (CN7) in Malaysia - Extra Thoughts and Photos Inside

Alright folks! The All-New 2021 Hyundai Elantra (CN7) C segment sedan has been previewed in Malaysia and we had a chance to attend the media preview. Thanks to Malaysian distributors Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors. So as usual, we made a video about it. These are our thoughts about the actually gorgeous looking compact sedan (which actually isn't so compact these days as cars have gone larger by a fair bit). Malaysia is getting only 1 variant, the 1.6liter normally aspirated SmartStream engined variant with a Hyundai IVT (CVT for you and me) 8 virtual speeds transmission. It is fully imported, open for bookings and whilst prices have not been announced yet it should not be around RM120K but more closer to the RM140k mark as it is fully loaded with a lot of features.

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors Set to Launch the All-New 7th Generation Elantra Mid-December 2020 - You can go book this gorgeous looking sedan if you want

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors will be launching the all-new 7th generation Hyundai Elantra (CN7) sometime mid-December 2020. This 2021 model is essentially all new and looks very nice. It will be fully imported in 1.6lirer form and since it is fully imported, prices will be at a premium but it will be specced up in terms of active safety and convenience features too. Oh, there will be a video of the Malaysian preview on our Youtube channel on the new car so stay tuned over there - https://www.youtube.com/motoringmalaysia

BMW Group Financial Services Introduces Online i-Renewal Services for the BMW and MINI Comprehensive Motor Insurance Programme

BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia has introduced a new service for their customers. This is the i-Renewal digital service for the BMW and MINI Comprehensive Motor Insurance Programme. According the them, the new programme was brought out to simplify renewal processes for BMW and MINI owners insured by the programme.

Volkswagen Cares Mobile App Has 30,000 Subscribers - It Goes to Show That With the Proper Distributors, Things Do Get Better

Volkswagen Cares, the mobile application for Volkswagen owners here in Malaysia has reached 30,000 subscribers. This has happened two years after its launch, and the app, launched by Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM), who are the authorised distributors of the brand here, is part of the Volkswagen Cares aftersales initiative committed to providing the best for owners in the country. This is definitely an ongoing push by them to improve customer and ultimately brand image in the country.

Offers & Promotions: Ford Malaysia's New Aftersales Servce Promo - Running from 23 November 2020 to15 February 2021

Sime Darby Auto ConneXion (SDAC), the chaps who are the sole distributor for Ford in Malaysia, have announced the latest Service Promotion for the year end. This new promo starts on 23 November 2020 and will continue to 15 February 2021. There will be savings up to 20 percent on selected parts, 10 percent discounts on labour fees for selected packages and a free 27-point vehicle inspection.

Industry Players - Billy Koh, the MD of PROTON Dealership Lesydear Automobile Sdn Bhd Talks About Conducting Business During the MCO

Hello folks! This is something different again. We have an interview with Mr Billy Koh who is the Managing Director of  Lesydear Automobile Sdn Bhd, a Proton Dealership locatedin Puchong, Selangor. Lesydear is one of the Proton dealers who had embraced the change within PROTON and had taken up the offer to upgrade their existing dealership from a 1S (sales only) outlet to a full fledged 3S (sales, service & spares).

MAN Truck and Bus Officially Opens its Port Klang Service Centre

It has been awhile but they've finally done it. MAN Truck and Bus (M) Sdn Bhd (MAN) has officially opened their new service centre in Port Klang and the brand is now able to offer fleet operators and customers more efficient and timelier vehicle care in the busiest port in  Malaysia. The new centre started operating in August and is located at Lingkaran Sultan Mohamed 2, Port Klang. With this centre, it seems that MAN now has an even greater brand presence in the area.

Site Update & New Video: Proton X50 SUV Autonomous Emergency Braking System Demonstration and Our YouTube Channel Has Now Over 7,000 Subs. Thank You!!!

New video on our YouTube Chanel folks. Actually this was released mid last week but I actually forgot to update this over here. It was updated on our Facebook page but I somehow forgot to update it over here in the Motoring Malaysia Blog. The video is another one on the 2020-2021 Proton X50 Compact SUV where the Autonomous Emergency Braking System was demonstrated at the second media preview held just before the launch of this now popular vehicle.

Mansang Logistics Takes Delivery of the First Scania New Truck Generation XT Rigid Truck and Enters into the Scania Ecolution Agreement

Mansang Logistics is the first truck operator in Sarawak to sign the Scania Ecolution Agreement. The signing of the agreement also coincided with the delivery of Mansang Logistics' First Scania New Truck Generation XT Rigid type heavy duty truck. The Scania Ecolution agreement was entered between Scania Malaysia represented by Phang Yee Fong, the Regional Manager for the East Coast and East Malaysia, Scania Southeast Asia and Lim Kee San,Head of Customer Management who represeted Mansang Logistics Sdn Bhd.

2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible Arrives in Malaysia

The 2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible has arrived in Malaysia . Officially launched by Lexus Malaysia, it is not merely a LC 500 coupe without a roof but was also designed with a version in mind. It allows wind in your hair feeling yet provides the same thrills as the coupe.

Shell Malaysia X BonusLink 'Ekstra Ganjaran Setiap Hari' is Currently Ongoing

Shell Malaysia and BonusLink recently launched the ‘Ekstra Ganjaran Setiap Hari’ campaign to reward loyal customers with up to 4X BonusLink Points for fuels purchases. The campaign began on 16 November 2020 and will end on 30 April 2021. During this campaign, customers can accumulate BonusLink Points faster than before, based on the principle of tiered rewards where the more purchases a customer makes in a month, the higher the points tier they move up into, and the better the rewards they will receive. Up to 4 times the usual BonusLink points amount.

This campaign is one of the ways Shell Malaysia and also BonusLink is helping out their customers. Shairan Huzani Husain, Managing Director of Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd and Shell Timur Sdn Bhd said, “Helping customers and communities through the COVID-19 pandemic remains a top priority at Shell. At a time of unprecedented economic uncertainty, we’ve had to rethink our loyalty programme offerings to ensure we continue to stand behind all our customers and provide them the best value."

Enhanced Toyota Vios Soon to be Launched - Now Open for Booking

Right after announcing the new Toyota Yaris slight facelift and equipment upgrade, UMW Toyota Motor have announced that the best selling Vios will shortly be sold with a front end refresh and will also come equipped with more premium safety features. The new refreshed for 2021 Toyota Vios compact sedan will be available for booking from today onwards and you can book either online or at all authorised Toyota Showrooms throughout Malaysia.

Locally Assembled 2020 Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4MATIC Coupe Launched - Priced at RM 498,722.77

Okay, Mercedes-AMG are not calling the GLC 43 4MATIC Coupe just a SUV, but an AMG. They can call it whatever they want as it is an AMG in terms of this GLC variant! With its AMG tweaked Mercedes-Benz 3.0-litre V6 biturbo engine it makes 287 kW (390 hp) with a more than adequate 520m of torque is allows this performance GLC variant to hit 100kmh from a standstill in 4.9seconds.

Volkswagen Malaysia 11.11 Sales Festival - Offers for the Passat Elegance and the Tiguan AllSpace Highline as well as Service Packages for Current Volkswagen Owners

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has unveiled the Volkswagen 11.11 Sale. This time the annual 11.11 (these days its all the repeated calendar dates) sale features the Volkswagen Passat Elegance sedan and the recently launched all-new Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Highline models which will have special offers for the auspicious sales date. There are also after sales offers for servicing which shall be stated down below.

Volkswagen and Wei-Ling Gallery Raises RM133,200 from Arteon Art Car Auction Which Will Go to the Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia (BCWA)

Recently, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) and Wei-Ling Gallery have managed to raise RM133,200 from the charity auction of Arteon art cars held at W Kuala Lumpur hotel. The auction is for a very good cause, where the proceeds from it will be channeled to the Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia (BCWA), with a minimum token of appreciation presented to each artist for their contribution. The artists also need some reward for their hard work you know.

Scania Malaysia Officially Opens its New Sales and Services Branch in Kuching

Scania Malaysia has officially opened their new Sales and Services Branch in Kuching, Sarawak. The new centre is located at Lot 935, Lorong Demak Laut, 7A Jalan Demak Laut 7, Demak Laut Industrial Park, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak and is the second sales and services branch after one in Bintulu, The new centre is part of Scania's expansion plan in the state which is deemed as a growing market for the brand.

Ford Awards Malaysian Distributor Sime Darby Auto Connexion with Best Distributor Awards

Ford Motor Company recently held their annual Chairman’s Award programme where the company awards their best distributors throughout the world. The award, launched regionally in 2016 saw its 2019 best distributors announced with these companies deemed at the top of their Customer Satisfaction game honoured. Malaysian Ford distributor Sime Darby Auto Connextion (SDAC) was one of the companies that won both the Chairman's Award as well as the President's Award. Kudos to SDAC.

Refreshed Toyota Yaris Coming Soon - With New Front End Design, Extra Features and is Now Open for Booking

The Toyota Yaris compact B segment hatchback is soon to be sold with a slight front end restyle, have added vehicle telemetry system and have additional equipment inside. It is already open for bookings at all authorised Toyota dealerships nationwide and we have the estimated price list attached below for your convenience. 

Announcement for a Special Service Campaign to Replace the Fuel Pump in Some Toyota and Lexus Models

Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT), distributor of Toyota and Lexus vehicles in Malaysia, have announced a recall or in Toyota talk, Special Service Campaign (SSC), which is an official call to replace the fuel pump on certain units of Toyota and Lexus models. This SSC is an expansion of earlier campaign which expands on the models stated earlier.

New Formulation Shell Advance Motorcycle Engine Oils Launched - Benefit Focused For Different Riding Needs

Shell’s recent move to connect the right lubricant product to the right consumer by focusing on key customer benefits has reached its Shell Advance range of motorcycle engine oils. The newly announced Shell Advance Power and Shell Advance Long Ride engine oils will make it easier for bike owners to choose the right lubricant based on their riding styles and needs. Shell has made things easier for their customers- Those that wants 'power' can opt for the one that states so, and those that want protection for longer rides or commutes, can opt for the one branded as 'Long Ride'. Simple and easy for the consumer.

The All-New 8th Generation Hyundai Sonata is Launched in Malaysia - Only 1 Variant Offered with the 2.5liter Engine

Aside from launching the new 2020 Hyundai Kona compact SUV (that article is HERE) via their Facebook page (due to the current pandemic restrictions put in place here in good ol' Malaysia), Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) had also launched the all-new 8th generation 2020 Hyundai Sonata sedan.This D-segment sedan will be Hyundai's most premium offering, is fully imported from South Korea and will come in only one variant - the SmartStream G2.5 version and priced at RM206,888 onwards.

The Hyundai Kona Finally Makes it to our Shores - 3 Variants - 2.0MPi Standard & Active and 1.6 Turbo with Prices Starting at RM123,888 Onwards

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) launched two new models today, the 30th of October 2020, – the all-new 2020 Hyundai Sonata and the actually long awaited B-segment Compact SUV called the Kona. We shall be talking about the new Kona here and the Sonata in another article (which you can read Here). The Kona was launched globally in mid-2017 and it finally makes its way here as part of Hyundai Malaysia's remodeling exercise in terms of its products and customer experience.

Hyundai Sime Darby Motors Will Launch the 2020 Hyundai Kona and Sonata Online of Facebook on 30th October 2020 at 3.00PM

Hyundai Sime Darby Motors or basically Hyundai Malaysia will be officially launching both the Hyundai Kona compact SUV and the Hyundai Sonata sedan officially online over at their Facebook page on the 30th of October 2020 at 3.00pm Malaysian time. If you happen to be free do head over to the page and watch it, especially if you want to know how much these cars will officially cost. HERE is the Hyundai Malaysia Facebook page and you can watch a teaser video there too -  https://www.facebook.com/hyundaimalaysia/

Proton X50 1.5TGDi Officially Launched - Prices Start at a Low RM79,200!!!

The 2020 Proton X50 Compact SUV has just dropped into town. Officially that is! The prices are actually close to as predicted by Yours Truly. I had thought that it would come in at around RM80,000 to RM105,000 and PROTON actually beat me on both entry level and the high specced 1.5 Flagship variant. The new X50 costs RM103,300 for the 1.5TGDi Flagship, RM93,200 for the Premium, RM184,800 for the Executive and RM79,200 for the Standard. All prices are till 31st December 2020 and is with the Sales Tax Exemption. Good prices actually and it should stir up the below RM100k market segment here. Other brands are going to jump.

Sime Darby Auto Selection Launches Online Used Car Store for the Malaysian Market

Sime Darby Auto Selection is Sime Darby Motor's corporate multi-brand used car dealer. They have now launched their online used car store which is tailored to provide a seamless and easy to use oline used car buying experience. The new online store - simedarbyautoselection.com.my enables visitors to the site to search from a wide range of high quality used cars – from used to nearly new vehicles from the comfort of wherever there are at, at home or in the office or anywhere they may be.

The New Mitsubishi XPANDER is Now Open for Booking - Full Malaysian Specifications Also Revealed - Thoughts and Ideas on What to Do With It If You Buy it

The new 2020 Mitsubishi XPANDER is finally getting its Malaysian launch soon. The compact MPV, with Crossover looks was initially launched over in Indonesia mid-2017 and it finally sees its debut here. The official distributors of Mitsubishi here, MITSUBISHI MOTORS MALAYSIA (MMM), have stated that bookings are now open at all authorised dealerships and they have also revealed full product specifications of the Xpander. Its official launch is targeted for November2020. It will also be locally assembled over at Pekan, Pahang for Malaysia.

The Official Launch of the Proton X50 - Virtual Launch is Tomorrow - 27th October 2020

This is it folks. The eagerly awaited launch of the Proton X50. Not much actual reporting can be done as the launch will be a virtual one over on the official PROTON Facebook page.  As you folks know, this new compact SUV will be packed full of features. It should be quite a good buy with its combination of sporty design, powerful performance, outstanding safety, revolutionary connectivity and total comfort. 

Of course, being Malaysians, the price is the only thing we all want to know. If the price is right, expect more of the X50 to be ordered and on the road. So, this is why I am actually looking forward to this launch, virtual or not. Currently the pandemic lockdown measures have put a dent in my mood to actually do anything but I still have to admit that a game-changer like the Proton X50's launch is still pushing the right curious buttons in me. 

So let's all watch it online here at 10.50am tomorrow, the 27th of October 2020 on ProtonCarsOfficial - 

https://www.facebook.com/ProtonCarsOfficial

Watch it folks. This could be another turning point in terms of what the Malaysian automotive landscape is going to be.

Isuzu Officially Opens a New 3S Dealership in Taiping, Perak

There is a new Isuzu 3S centre in Taiping, Perak. The dealership is operated by GB Motors and it is located along Jalan Simpang which is close to one of the main roads leading to Taiping town. The new outlet will now offers more accessibility and touch points for Isuzu customers  as well as residents and businesses in the Matang region, the area surrounding Taiping. 

Promotion: Limited Units of Renault Captur 1-Month Trial Subscription is On Offer at RM699 - You Get to Try a Captur for a Month with a Low Price

You folks should pray that Renault get more podium positions in this year's Formula 1. In conjunction with Renault’s recent F1 podium (they came in 3rd) at Nurburgring, Germany,you can experience driving a new Renault with the Renault Captur crossover. It now comes with a new limited promotion on the Renault Subscription 1-Month Trial Plan so that you get to enjoy savings of more than 50 percent on the plan. Imagine if they win this year's championship then!

Proton Employee From R&D Department Found COVID-19 Positive - Steps Have Been Taken By the Company to Help Curb Any Spread of the Virus

PROTON has come out with a statement that states one of their employees have been tested positive for Covid-19. The employee is from the Research & Development Department located in Shah Alam and is not one of those that are in the sales, aftersales or marketing departments which have contact with lots of people.