Truck news: Images from the Volvo Trucks Asia Pacific Fuelwatch Challenge 2015 : Real people, lots of emotion and energy.

Most of the pics below would basically tell the tale of the Malaysian Volvo Trucks contingent to the recent Asia Pacific Fuelwatch Challenge 2015 which was recently held in Hua Hin, Thailand. There were lots of pleasant memories made over there. The pictures will tell the story as an online record to what happened then - meeting new friends, new challenges, new experiences, the laughter and more. 

News: Volkswagen Malaysia sponsors 100 units of Volkswagen vehicles to GPEC Asia

L-R  (front row) : YBhg. Dato' Sri Adenan bin Ab. Rahim, Timbalan Ketua Setiausaha (Dasar Keselamatan), YBhg. Datuk Nur Jazlan bin Mohamed, Timbalan Menteri Dalam Negeri and Mr Armin Keller, Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Malaysia.  

Volkswagen Group Malaysia recently announced its participation as the official car sponsor this year at the General Police and Special Equipment Exhibition & Conference (GPEC) Asia 2015. Volkswagen Group Malaysia will be sponsoring and registering a total of 100 units ranging from the Volkswagen CC, Sharan and Tiguan which will be used for and by delegates throughout the three day conference held at PWTC in Kuala Lumpur on the 21st to the 23rd of October 2015.

New Ford Ranger officially launched in Malaysia

The burnt orange one is the 3.2 WildTrak, 2.2 XLT is in grey

The Ford Motor Company together with local distributor Sime Darby Auto Connexion launched the new Ford Ranger earlier today. This is a very facelifted version of the Ford Ranger we see on our roads. It features a new front end design as well as more equipment and stuff.

The 1.2liter Turbo Renault Clio GT Line - A budget Clio RS?

Whilst I was over in Thailand driving a truck, interviewing truck drivers and eating lots of tom yam, TC Euro Cars launched the New Renault CLIO GT LINE. The car will be available in Malaysia at the estimated price of RM118,000, with an additional RM5,000 for the Flame Red colour. Launch availability is slated for Q4 2015. The spirited and sporty five-door hatchback will be available in four colours – Flame Red, Diamond Black, Glacier White and Malta Blue.

Truck News: IVECO at the Czech Truck Prix VIDEO

Have a look at this video with the IVECO's vehicles of the Schwaben Truck Team at Czech Truck Prix. After driving some trucks around a track (albeit much slower than this) recently this could be fun actually.

The new BMW M4 GTS - Do you want one? I do.

BMW has a new GTS model. The BMW M4 GTS is a 700 unit limited edition that celebrates the 30th anniversary of the BMW M3 (Essentially the M4 is a two door M3 as BMW names its two door coupes in even numbers). 

Schools in Melaka and Negeri Sembilan to benefit from CALTEX FUEL YOUR SCHOOL CAMPAIGN

 Top row (L-R) Mr. Mohd bin Janis, Assistant Director, Registration and Relation Unit of Malacca Education Department; Mr. Shahid Ahmed, Chevron Malaysia Country Chairman; Puan Siti Khairon Shariff, Trustee of MyKasih Foundation; Mr. Haji Rashid bin Abdul Hamid, Alor Gajah District Education Officer alongside teachers from Malacca and Negeri Sembilan at the launch of Caltex Fuel Your School campaign.

Chevron Malaysia Limited, which markets the Caltex brand here in Malaysia, is allocating a total sum of RM250,000 to continue on its annual Caltex Fuel Your School campaign (“the campaign”) in partnership with MyKasih Foundation. This campaign is now in its fourth year and it aims to fund eligible classroom projects – an approach to deliver inspiring classroom sessions for students to further promote the learning of Science, Technology, English and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, this year in Malacca and Negeri Sembilan. 

This year’s campaign reaches out to public schools in Malacca and Negeri Sembilan, with a total of 50 classroom projects to be awarded – 25 projects from schools in Malacca and 25 projects from schools in Negeri Sembilan. The selection of projects will be based on the creative and innovative use of requested project materials which promotes a hands-on learning experience in the classroom and meets the existing classrooms curriculum objectives. 

Shell officially introduces the latest and greatest Shell Helix Ultra ECT C2/C3 0W-30

I was at the official launching of Shell's latest Helix Ultra motor oil yesterday. It was a fabulous event where distinguished guests included valued customers as well as members of the media. The Shell Helix Ultra ECT C2//C3 0W-30 is Shell Lubricant's latest and most advanced product in the Shell Helix With PurePlus Technology range. It is the highest grade that Shell has and offers up to four times better wear protection than the industry standard.

We were entertained with food and drink whilst being briefed on the virtues of Shell's latest and greatest engine oil. Some of the food was as cutting edge as the engine oil as it was quite a fusion of different flavours that confused the heck out of our palettes. Anyway, back to the engine oil at hand, Shell Lubricants General Manager for Malaysia and SIngapore, Mr Leslie Ng (above- the chap in the tuxedo holding the Helix Ultra pack) told us that the Shell Helix Ultra ECT C2/C3 0W-30 is also our most advanced formulation to date.

Hyundai Motor is the 39th biggest brand in the WORLD

Hyundai is currently the fourth largest vehicle manufacturer in the world. Hyundai operates the world's largest integrated automobile manufacturing facility in Ulsan, South Korea, which has an annual production capacity of 1.6 million units. The company employs about 75,000 people worldwide. Hyundai vehicles are sold in 193 countries through some 6,000 dealerships and showrooms. The company first started in 1967 as an assembler. It is now the 39th biggest brand in the world and the 7th biggest automobile brand in the world according to Interbrand.

MICHELIN Launches its new mid-range SUV tyre - the Michelin Primacy SUV

Mr. Chandan Thakur (in the suit), MD of Michelin Malaysia with his regional counterpart and Bibendum, aka Michelin Man

Today I met with a few of the tyre guys from Michelin over at a hotel in Petaling Jaya. We were all there for the launch of their latest tyre that will cater for the up and coming SUV market which right now is about 9% of the total volume for the passenger car market and climbing. The tyre in question is the new Michelin Primacy SUV.

This exclusively designed all-weather on road tyre for SUVs is available from 16 inch and above sizes. These are in the common sizes for most popular and family oriented SUVs in the market like the Honda CRV, the Nissan X-TRAIL and the Mazda CX-5 to name a few. 

Spotted for Sale: 1995 BMW M3 E36

This is something nice to dream about. A 1995 BMW M3 E36. This was the first six cylinder M3 and it had a 3.0liter straight-six engine that made about 280bhp. This was something everyone who loved cars dreamt about owning in the 1990s. So this could be a dream come true for some of you out there. This blue car has the 3.0liter engine with the 5 speed manual gearbox. A purist's spec. But those days, most of these performance BMWs had a manual gearbox.

TRUCKS: Short Drive: The Volvo Trucks FH 440 Prime Mover With Tanker Trailer - I drive one on a Racetrack in Thailand

The Kaeng Krachan Circuit on the outskirts of Hua Hin, Thailand is a wonderful place to be driving anything. It is about 3.2km in length and has tight turns and undulations. It has nicely cambered corners, dips and crests that one can play with whilst driving on it. 

Volvo Trucks let me drive one of their prime movers on this race track. I would have liked a nice hot hatch but beggars can't be choosers. So thank you so very, very much whilst we are at it. The Volvo Truck in question was the latest Volvo FH 440 Sleeper Cab. The 440 means 440hp and about 2200nm torque from a Volvo D13A 13,000cc in-line 6 cylinder turbocharged engine. It runs the power it makes through a Volvo I-shift automated transmission unit that has 12 forward speeds. There are a heck of a lot of power and drivetrain configurations for the Volvo FH, from the 13liter 400hp engine to a 16liter 610hp /2800nm  trucker's dream machine special coupled with either the I-shift automatic, a 12 speed and a 14speed manual transmissions to play around with. 

SISMA AUTO AND QATAR AIRWAYS REWARD CUSTOMER WITH 5-STAR TRIP TO THE UK

This is the second piece of news today that also deals with lucky people. Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia's authorised dealer SISMA Auto Sdn Bhd and Qatar Airways had teamed up during a recent campaign by SISMA Auto called the SISMA Auto 'UK VIP Experience'. The grand prize was two return business class tickets on Qatar Airways’ world’s best Business Class, 5-star accommodation for 4 days 3 nights, a Land Rover Experience Drive in Solihul and a private tour of Land Rover’s manufacturing facility.

The Grand Prize winner of the SISMA Auto ‘UK VIP Experience’ promotion was property developer Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Ramasamy a/l Muthusamy, who was represented by his wife Puan Sri Indra Ghandi at a simple ceremony at SISMA Auto’s Kuala Lumpur City showroom at Menara Worldwide recently.

SHELL ADVANCE CONTEST GRAND PRIZE WINNERS GET A TRIP TO CHINA AND A TRACK DAY

 Shell Advance Brand Manager Desiree Cheng (L) and Shell Associate Consumer Brand Manager Jamie Lai with the five lucky Grand Prize winners in Zhuhai

Recently, five lucky Malaysians had won the grand prizes of the Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup promotional contest held on the 31st of May to 30th July 2015. The lucky five won an all-expense paid trip to Zhuhai, China to catch the fourth round of the 2015 Shell Advance Asia Talent Cup (SAATC) motorcycle racing championsion which was held recently. I suppose you can consider them the extra support or cheerleaders for the seven Malaysian riders competing in that round. 

A week after the Grand Prize winners had enjoyed their trip to China, Consolation prize winners were treated to a fun day out on the tracks at the Elite PLUS Speedway Go-Kart Track at Shah Alam.  They were given an opportunity to go on laps on the 150cc MiniGP bikes (which  look absolutely tiny on some of the prize winners) or go-karts, compliments of Shell Advance.  Some of the Malaysian riders taking part in the 2015 SAATC also came for a meet-and-greet session and to train at the track. 

 Contest winners getting ready to go onto the Elite Speedway track in 150cc Mini GP bikes

Scania Driver Competitions 2014/2015 Malaysia-Singapore - Champions crowned.

Yesterday, on the 1st of October 2015, a total of 16 finalists from the bus and truck category competed in what Scania believes to be the toughest practical finals that they have organised to date in the Scania Driver Competitions. Eight truck and eight bus drivers duked it out against each other in their respective categories in the Scania Driver Competitions 2014/2015 Malaysia-Singapore and as in any competition, there can be only one winner (for each category of course).

Mr. Saiful Nizam Abd Aziz of Bank Simpanan Nasional was the champion in the bus category whilst Mr. Abdul Aziz Amir of Shaziman Transport Sdn Bhd was crowned champion in the truck category. Each champion took home RM10,000 in cash, a championship trophy and a certificate of achievement. The companies they represented were awarded a RM5,000 worth Scania service voucher. 

2016 Mitsubishi Lancer - This is still it....

This, is the 2016 Mitsubishi Lancer. Details of it has just been released for all to see. 

It is basically the same car we first saw in 2007. It is a facelift. In fact it is the first real facelift since the car first came out in 2007. The one they had a few years ago was some bits here and there with the same bumpers and stuff. This one you get a new front bumper with integrated DRLs (more than previously) on the outside and inside you get a very, very, very, very, oh you get my point slightly redesigned center console with an upgraded infotainment system. The rear of the car seems to have remained the same...bumper and all.

Hyundai Tucson and Sonata Earn IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Awards

In one of the American automotive industry’s most rigorous tests of vehicle safety, the 2016 Hyundai Tucson and 2016 Hyundai Sonata earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) 2015 TOP SAFETY PICK+ award. This is the first time Tucson, which received a significant redesign for the 2016 model year, has received the highest honor from IIHS.

Spotted for Sale: 2010 Toyota Vios 1.5(m) Turbo - No joke

I don't really like writing about the Toyota Vios. It isn't because it is ugly like a Nissan Almera or a half baked effort like the Proton Iriz. It's just a car which is so darn common and every uncle, auntie, grandpa, grandma, fresh grad, college student, ah soh and soh hais actually drive it on a daily basis. Especially the soh hais. These are those that think that the Vios is an AE 86 and they tailgate, beam and overtake on the left like nobody's business.

Being typical Toyota, it attracts Malaysians who seem to think of resale value over anything else when they want to buy a car. And because of this a Toyota is always on top of their list. For anyone selling Toyotas, it is like setting on the auto-pilot. Everything is quite straightforward. But today this used Toyota Vios caught my eye over in mudah.my.

Volkswagen Roadshow over at One Utama and The Curve from October 1-4

The Volkswagen crew are hard at work pushing the brand over here in Malaysia. These dedicated bunch of people will be hitting the One Utama and The Curve shopping malls again this October 2015 with their range of Volkswagen vehicles. From 1 to 4 October, the German automotive brand will be at The Curve and One Utama from 10.00am to 10.00pm. 

Kenanga Investment Bank's KenTrade Trading Challenge II - Volkswagen as grand prize sponsor

I was over at the Curve yesterday where the KenTrade Trading Challenge II by Kenanga (“KenTrade Trading Challenge”)was officially launched.  This is Kenanga's effort to continuously create awareness and education on share trading and the market. So why am I at an Investment bank event? Well, a Volkswagen Beetle 1.2TSI is the grand prize for the challenge winner this time around. 

I managed to squeeze in a question to the people at Volkswagen at the event as regards the 'Dieselgate' issue over in the United States and the change of leadership arising out of this in Europe. They don't really have much to say as Volkswagen Malaysia sells mainly petrol powered vehicles and the issue is on its diesel powered vehicles. There is not much to be said except that whatever Volkswagen Group over in Europe says is what their stand is over here. It makes sense when the issue in question is pretty much irrelevant here.