Short Test Drive: The Jaguar XE 2.0 Prestige & XE 2.0 R-Sport

R-Sport on the left, Prestige on the right

Today I wanted to start off this article with something witty and anecdotal but I somehow cannot find anything interesting to say. Well actually I have a lot to say, but then we'd never get to the car that is supposed to be featured in this article.

XE Prestige 2.0 20T 

BMW M Performance Parts for the new BMW M2 Coupé.- I think the 'M' stands more for Marketing than Motorsports

Sometimes I fail to understand stuff. You go out and buy the ultimate BMW 2 Series called the BMW M2 Coupe. It is obvious this car isn't as cheap as a Proton Saga SV. This means that it should have the volume button for the car's looks, styling, performance, handling and more to be up to level Maximum when you sign the dotted line. 

Motorsports: Ford participates in this year's Le Mans - 50 Years on from their Historic Victory in 1966

Ford will run four Ford GT cars in the Le Mans this year. This is an anniversary of sorts for Ford. The cars will compete at the Le Mans 50 years on from their historical 1, 2 and 3 finish in 1966. All four GTs will be running with team Ford Chip Ganassi Racing and will compete for GTE Pro class glory at the world’s greatest motor race, which takes place on June 18-19.

Used Car Tips: Best Affordable 5 year old Used Car in Malaysia - Circa 2016

In 2014 I wrote about what's the best 5 year old car you could buy then. One and a half years have passed and I have been requested to do another one for this year. So let's see what we can get for about five or so years old with a budget of under RM20,000 circa February 2016.

Can You Afford To Maintain It? 1998-2005 Mercedes Benz S-Class (W220)

Early last year (2015) I was asked by a reader whether it was alright for him to buy a first generation Porsche Cayenne. As you folks know, the Cayenne is a luxury SUV that was made by Porsche to save Porsche from an early death. It sold by the bulk carrier loads and you can see them in every large city in Malaysia. But after doing some research, by doing a lot of reading, calling up friends who have or had such a vehicle the reply (which is here) was that you could, if you have money. Lots and lots of money. Really lots of money. Anyway, this time I'd like to talk about the best car in the world, circa 1998 to 2005 – the Mercedes Benz W220 series S-Class.

Happenings: Volkswagen Malaysia CNY Lion Dance Blessing Ceremony

Bless you, my car!!!

It really is that time of the year again. The time of the Lion Dance in conjunction with the Chinese New Year. But do note that the Lion dance isn't 100% exclusive to the new year celebrations,  it may also be performed at important occasions such as business opening events, special celebrations or wedding ceremonies, or may be used to honour special guests by the Chinese communities. One such occasion was last weekend when Volkswagen Malaysia hosted a Lion Dance Car Blessing ceremony for its customers. 

Motorsports: Renault launches a complete motorsports programme

 Groupe Renault Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn (second from right) with drivers (from right) Kevin Magnussen, Jolyon Palmer and Esteban Ocon and, in front of Renault R.S. 16 Formula 1

Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO of Group Renault, has announced Renault's new motorsport strategy. Two pillars form its basis - Renault Sport Racing and Renault Sport Cars. This is something most of us would say as a Race on Sunday, Sell on Monday part of a car maker's marketing plan. 

 2016 Renault R.S. 16 Formula 1

Renault Sport Racing takes responsibility for Renault’s extensive racing activities, including the newly-created Renault Sport Formula One Team and Renault e.dams (electric racing car team for the Formula E series) as well as the current Formula Renault 2.0, Renault Sport R.S.01 Trophy, plus further customer racing and rallying programmes.

Automotive Corporate Social Responsibility: Ford Expands ‘Driving Skills for Life’ Programme to More Students

DSFL Participants from Taylor’s University

Ford Motor Company has continued its efforts to raise road safety awareness in Malaysia through its global Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) programme, expanding the programme to two more higher education institutions – German Malaysian Institute and Taylor’s University.

FREE SAFETY CHECKS BY PROTON THIS CHINESE NEW YEAR AT PETRONAS STATIONS

After some slightly depressing mood as regards the increase of Proton car prices after the 15th of February, here is some good news for Proton owners. They can get free 30 point safety inspection at selected PETRONAS stations. Free. The key word here is 'FREE'.

Some light reading for you folks - Ferrari 2015 Financial Results

I've decided to post this 2015 Ferrari Financial Results for you folks. It looks like very good reading especially when you need something to read just before going to bed. This is the nitty gritty details of a car company. Underneath all that glamour and red paint, there are numbers. Lots of numbers. So many numbers. Hello, wake up!

News & Opinion: Proton Cars to increase prices for all models effective 15th February 2016

As expected, Proton car prices will see a marginal increase of RM312 to a maximum of RM2,021 depending on model variants, effective 15 February 2016. This comes after an earlier announcement at the end of last year that they would do so.

Spotted For Sale: 2015 "Ferrari FF 3.0 (A)"

Seriously folks...how the heck did this go through in the car sales section of mudah.my?

Volkswagen Malaysia and Swire Motors officially open the Volkswagen Puchong 4S Centre

Another Volkswagen 4S Centre is officially open for business. Volkswagen Malaysia and Swire Motors is pleased to announce the launch of the latest addition to the Volkswagen network – the Volkswagen Puchong 4S Centre. This outlet is also the country’s third Volkswagen Technical Service Centre.

INDUSTRY & TRUCK NEWS: FIRST BATCH OF IKBN STUDENTS COMPLETE TRAINING AT MERCEDES-BENZ MALAYSIA’S APPRENTICE TRAINING CENTRE

Celebrating the graduation of National Youth Skill Institute (IKBN) students from the FUSO Training Program, a collaboration between the Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia, and Mercedes-Benz Malaysia. (sixth from left) Secretary General, Ministry of Youth And Sports Malaysia, Datuk Jamil Bin Salleh; (seventh from left) Minister of Youth And Sports Malaysia YB Encik Khairy Jamaluddin; (eighth from left) Mercedes-Benz Malaysia President and CEO, Dr Claus Weidner; and (ninth from left) Vice President, Commercial Vehicles, Mr Albert Yee, with the graduates.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) today awarded eleven students from the National Youth Skills Training Institute (IKBN) with a certification of completion following a successful training stint of the Mercedes Benz Malaysia-IKBN FUSO Training Program at its Apprentice Training Centre in Shah Alam. The event held earlier today in Kuala Lumpur was attended by  Minister of Youth And Sports Malaysia YB Encik Khairy Jamaluddin, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia President and CEO Dr Claus Weidner as well as the senior management of Mercedes Benz Malaysia, officials from  the  Youth and Sports Ministry of Malaysia and those from IKBN.

Caltex Rewards the First 46 Lucky Winners from the ‘Big Fuel Giveaway’ Promotion - Just in time for the Chinese New Year

Chevron Malaysia Limited (“Chevron”), which carries the retail brand Caltex, announced the first 46 lucky winners of the Caltex Big Fuel Giveaway promotion, which kicked off on 1 December, 2015.

SHORT TEST DRIVE: MERCEDES BENZ GLC 250 4MATIC

A few weeks ago I was invited to try out the Mercedes Benz GLC 250 4Matic SUV at Cycle & Carriage's Mercedes Benz showroom located along Jalan Tun Razak (incidently my favourite Mecedes Benz showroom to visit - free plug here peeps!). The Mercedes Benz GLC-Class is Mercedes Benz's answer to the Audi Q5 and the BMW X3. It is a long time coming as prior to this, Mercedes Benz had no direct competitor, locally or in right hand drive markets. Before the GLC existed, which was sometime 2015, Mercedes Benz only had something called the GLK for left hand drive markets. This was actually a huge mistake and if you noticed, there are lots of Audi Q5s and BMW X3s around. Of course, now with the launch of the GLC in Malaysia, things are bound to change.

All-new Elantra and All-new Tucson Win the Prestigious iF Design Award

It has been over 60 years since the first German iF Design Awards were held.  The design awards have been recognized across the world as a symbol of design and styling excellence across various fields including automobile design. Organized by iF International Forum Design GmbH, the awards recognize outstanding design across various disciplines and categories. The jury awarded the sought-after prize to Hyundai Motor’s All-new Elantra and All-New Tucson following a rigorous judging process, involving almost 5,000 entries from 53 countries Both cars  won the  iF Design Award 2016 in “Product” discipline, under “Automobiles / Vehicles / Bikes”.

TRUCK NEWS: A bit on the recent large order of MAN TGS Trucks to the LTS Group

Hartmut Mueller, Managing Director of MAN Truck and Bus (M) Sdn Bhd (3rd from right) presenting a mock key to Lee Kah Chye, CEO of  the Lee Ting San (LTS) Group of Companies (3rd from left) to mark the handover of 70 units of MAN TGS prime mover to LTS. Witnessing the handover is Mohd Azharuddin Bin Mat Sah, CEO of Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat (SPAD) (2nd from right) and other board members of LTS.

I have to say that this must have been a coup for MAN Truck & Bus (M) Sdn Bhd (MTBM). One of the larger  transportation service provider in Malaysia, Lee Ting San Group of Companies (LTS Group), had recently purchased seventy MAN TGS 19.360, 4×2 prime mover intended for long-haul transport. MAN TGS will make up one third of the logistic specialist’s existing fleet of prime movers. 

The First Volkswagen Stand-Alone Body & Paint Centre Launched in Balakong

Volkswagen via their dealer Win Hin Autohaus Sdn Bhd has opened the first stand alone Body and Paint centre. This center is located close to the Win Hin 3S centre in Balakong, Selangor.  this centre covers services such as minor and major body repairs, chassis realignment, genuine parts, windscreen replacements, body spray and paintjobs while also assisting Volkswagen owners with their insurance claims. 

TEST DRIVE: Volvo V40 T5 Cross Country 2.0 - Probably the most refined premium hatchback in the market

Volvo cars have a long history in Malaysian motoring. They were one of the first European cars warmly embraced by the Malaysian car buying public. In the 1970s, 1980s and up to the 1990s you could see many of them plying our cities, towns and even villages. People who could afford a large sedan bought them for their size and safety. They were box shaped cars that many of those born in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s would remember as the car that their father, uncle, grandfather had and those were sweet memories of being in something safe and secure.