All-new Hyundai Sonata launched for the 2015 model year over at the 2014 New York Motor Show

 Hyundai has released the all-new Sonata for the 2015 model year. This is a whole new model folks. Note that its 'fluidic sculpture' design is in place but isn't so fluidic for this model. It looks slightly more conservative than the previous model and it also looks more conservative if you compare it with the European specced and inspired Hyundai I40. For your information, the Sonata is sold over in America but the i40 is sold in Europe. Maybe this is why there is a difference in styling. A more conservative looking, Ford Mondeo-ish looking car for America less curves compared to the i40. 

2015 Toyota Camry facelift previewed in the States...and the beast becomes slightly beautiful, and salable again.

I think Toyota Malaysia can breathe a sigh of relief again soon. The current Toyota Camry is a horrid, horrid looking thing. It looks like a piece brick with the front of a steam locomotive installed on it. But now, over in America, Toyota has just previewed the 2015 Toyota Camry at the 2015 New York Motor Show. The new Camry looks good, even almost good looking with all of Toyota's latest styling language.

Mazda previews the upcoming 2015 MX-5 drivetrain and it is quite interesting.

Mazda has shown the drivetrain of the upcoming 2015MY Mazda MX-5 and it looks interesting. Not because they're telling us that it'll have all of the latest Mazda SKYACTIV technology and what not but the picture itself. 

Driven: 1995 Mercedes C36 AMG - Something fabulous from AMG's past.

My C180cgi meets its older, yet more aristocratic sibling

A couple of weeks ago a friend asked whether I was free to accompany him and take a look at an old Mercedes Benz that happened to come on sale. I agreed as it wasn't an ordinary old Mercedes Benz. It was an original C36 AMG from 1995.

New Entry Level Perodua Myvi XT launched ...........

....and in one move makes the last batch 1st Generation Myvi Limited Edition feel modern again. I will explain right at the end. 

The entry level Perodua Myvi 1.3 has a new moniker – the Myvi XT. This model replaces the current entry level Myvi and gets more equipment for the sale price as before – 1.3XT Manual – RM41,936 solid & RM42,436 metallic and 1.3XT Automatic – RM44,936 solid & RM45,436 metallic. There is a new grille and instead of plastic hubcaps you get alloy wheels with a design that was used in the face-lifted 1^st generation Perodua Myvi. So no more caps flying all over the place during hard cornering and basically more value for Malaysia's favourite supermini.

Road Test: 2014 Hyundai Tucson 2.0 Executive Plus - A face-lift that works

The Hyundai Tucson was and is Korean giant Hyundai’s entry into the compact SUV category. This second generation version was first introduced to Malaysia in 2010. The Tucson is now about four years old and has now been now face-lifted and improved underneath too – a new engine and some suspension tweaks too. It has quite a lot of work cut out for it as since then, there is more competition from Mazda, Mitsubishi and even Korean counterpart Kia.

The Hyundai Tucson face-lift gets new styling bits, European specification and the new NU series 2.0 engine and slight enhancements to the ride and handling of the compact SUV. All Tucson variants get a new pair of projection type headlamps with LED positioning lights while the 2.4L Executive Plus variant gets an additional new pair of LED rear lamp combination lights. So let's see if this is enough for it to compete out there.

NAZA KIA MALAYSIA KICKS OFF “FULECO FRIEND SEARCH”

Press Release:

NAZA KIA MALAYSIA KICKS OFF “FULECO FRIEND SEARCH”

Search for one lucky child to escort World Cup Mascot onto the pitch at Semi Finals in Brazil

Naza Kia Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. is taking the World Cup fever one notch up by kicking off Fuleco Friend Search, the search for one lucky child to escort Fuleco, the FIFA World Cup Mascot onto the pitch during the Semi Final game in Brazil.

This opportunity of a lifetime is only for a Malaysian child aged between 8-12 years and an accompanying parent through an on-ground contest at Piazza e-Curve, Mutiara Damansara on 26^th April, at 3pm. This contest is the first-of-its-kind in Malaysia where a child gets to walk onto the pitch and be part of the FIFA World Cup.

New Chevrolet Cruze to be previewed and launched soon

....but not here yet lah. Over in America first. Chevrolet will launch an updated Cruze for the 2015 model year at the upcoming New York Motor Show. You get the three part grille / bumper that follows the big designed for America Chevrolet Impala - implying more common styling and a more Americanised feel to the car instead of something from Korea. The headlights are also revised and there are LED daytime running lights are fitted to higher-spec Cruze models.

The Volkswagen Passat gets enhanced slightly for Malaysia

Earlier today Volkswagen Group Malaysia had made known that the locally assembled Volkswagen Passat is now available with four new features - better infotainment system with more connectivity, 12 way adjustable electric front seats with memory function for the driver's side, folding side mirrors and an inproved anti theft / immobiliser system.

UMW Toyota Motor issues a recall for 82,457 units of Toyota Fortuner, Innova and Hilux

UMW Toyota Motor is conducting a recall (using the super politically correct term 'special service campaign'  ) for 82,457 units of Toyota models consisting of the Toyota Hilux, Toyota Innova and Toyota Fortuner manufactured from year 2005 – 2010 and sold in Malaysia.

This campaign is conducted to replace a spiral cable on affected Hilux, Innova and Fortuner. The driver’s airbag module in the involved vehicles is attached to a spiral cable assembly with electrical connections that could be damaged when the steering wheel is turned. If this occurs, the air bag warning lamp will illuminate and the driver’s air bag could be deactivated, and most probably may not deploy in the event of a crash.

UMW Toyota Motor will contact all Hilux, Innova and Fortuner customers involved to carry out the necessary corrective measures at no cost. The company also states that no other models it sold are affected by this campaign.

For details, call 1-800-8-TOYOTA (1-800-8-869682).

This is in conjunction with the recent announcement made by Toyota Motor Corp (Global) that a special service campaign concerning possible damage of spiral cable in the Hilux, Innova and Fortuner. 

This reminds me of a Dilbert cartoon I read recently - 'Item overheats' so market it as 'Red Hot Specification!!!!' Of course, folks, if you do own one of these, and is not a car thief with the intention of car-jacking one for sale in Laos, Vietnam or Myanmar, do head over to the local Toyota service center. If you are a car thief, hope you get into a car crash and the airbag doesn't work.

Some Mercedes Benz news over at motoring-malaysia.com - Run out W204 C200 and SL400

Mercedes Benz Malaysia has brought out the final edition W204 C-class before it starts bringing in the W205 by the end of this year. Only one model, the C200 CGI Avantgarde with AMG Styling will be sold at regular C200 prices. A 'bargain' at RM254,888.00. It basically has everything included in the previous C250 and C300 sold here but with the 184bhp C200 specced engine. Take a look at it over here at motoring-malaysia.com.

Over in Europe, Mercedes Benz has discontinued the SL350 for a SL400. This is a downgrade in engine size - 3,500cc to 3,000cc BUT a change from normally aspirated to turbocharging has enabled an increase in horsepower and torque. Good for road tax expensive Malaysia when it comes here. Click here to go there.

VW Group via Audi prepares for new engine technology and I am quite worried

The VW TSI engine

The latest news circulating in and around the automotive world is how Volkswagen Group intends to make electric turbochargers,variable compression ratios, cylinder deactivation (all on engines) and coasting (on the transmission) a reality. 

On variable compression ratios for the engine:
Audi Technical chief Ulrich Hackenberg gave no details on how Audi will introduce variable compression ratio technology, but what this means is that the car's engine can have a high compression ratio of a direct injected petrol engine of around 15:1 and when under high loads especially if it is turbocharged and boost is coming on drops to say 11:1. The luxury of being able to have variable compression ratio depending on the load and power demands makes this something all engineers chase after. It would be ultra efficient too.

Sunday Car Porn: Fiat 131 Abarth

I have a soft spot for everything Fiat, especially the Fiat 131 Mirafiori. This was because the car was one which I had my earliest motoring memories. My father owned one of these and we travelled distances throughout the Malaysian Peninsular before the days of the North-South Highways. I was a good car to own, but it had the dreaded Italian car rust problem of the 1970s. Made from cheap Russian steel they rusted even before leaving the factory in Italy. But today, rust aside, we're talking about the special version - the Fiat 131 Abarth.

TEST DRIVE: VOLKSWAGEN POLO 1.6 HATCHBACK

Hello again folks, now's the time for one of those longer than usual reviews that hopefully would assist you in your quest to purchase the correct car for the time being. Of course this is only for the time being as people change and tastes change along the way. Especially if you suddenly get that promotion and start thinking of cars bigger than the one you're driving at the moment. It happens. And before I start going on and on and on, I've just got my hands on the Volkswagen Polo 1.6 Hatchback and this is what I think about it. Do read on.