Test Drive: Renault Captur TCe 120 EDC - Renault's is out to capture the compact crossover market

The Renault Captur that I tested here is a something we call a Compact Crossover or a B segment SUV. Like most small SUVs in this category, it is based on a B segment sized car. It is actually based on the fourth generation Renault Clio compact car which has been made slightly longer, wider and taller.  Here in Malaysia, there is one model in the Captur lineup, the Captur TCe 120 EDC.

Updates on reviews in the near future - Ford, Renault, Peugeot & Mercedes Benz

It has been a busy few weeks for Yours Truly. However, I would like to inform that there will be several test drive reviews that would be published in the near future. I will be writing about the following cars and the drive experience of each vehicle. It was a nice experience in each of the vehicles. 

Full Test Drives include:

Truck News: Scania Malaysia delivers two units of Scania P360 LA 4x2 MNA trucks to Circular Agency Sdn Bhd

From left to right, Ganesh Nallu Kumaran, Sales Executive at Scania 

Malaysia; Tom Kuiphuis, Pre Sales Director at Scania Southeast Asia; handing the trucks 

over to Dato' Lee Hau Hian, Managing Director of Batu Kawan Berhad and Mr. Tan Boon 

Chye, General Manager of Circular Agency Sdn. Bhd. & North-South Transport Sdn. Bhd.

CSW_3537 – Scania Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. and Circular Agency Sdn. Bhd. at the truck 

handover ceremony.

Scania Malaysia recently delivered two units of Scania P360 LA 4x2 MNA trucks to Circular Agency Sdn Bhd (CA). The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Malay-Sino Chemical Industries Sdn Bhd, which is part of the Batu Kawan Berhad group. The keys to the Scania trucks were handed over by Pre-Sales Director of Scania Southeast Asia, Tom Kuiphuis to the Managing Director of Batu Kawan Berhad, Dato’ Lee Hau Hian. 

The Group B Rally Car that every one has overlooked at one time or another - The Citroen BX 4TC

Group B Rallying was the maddest and craziest the World Rally Championships had ever been. The Group B rallying lasted from around 1982 to 1986 where drivers got killed and spectators too. The cars were ridiculously overpowered. In those days, Group B cars had little restrictions on technology, design and the even the number of homologated cars that would have to be sold to the public was less (about 200 cars or so, usually manufacturers ended up making less but got away with it). Very low weight was allowed with high-tech materials permitted, and there were no restrictions on boost (unlike the group A cars that actually form the basis of WRC rallying to this day). This usually resulted in the power output of Group B specials hitting 500bhp in 1986, the final year of Group B. Every big manufacturer wanted in on it as it was interesting. Performance and power without limits. 

Truck News: 2015 Diamond FUSO Contest Finale winner wins a Mercedes Benz GLA200 & this year's contest has already started!!!!

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia celebrates customer loyalty with 2015 Diamond FUSO Contest. Commercial Vehicles, Vice President, Albert Yee (left) presents the final grand prize, a Mercedes-Benz GLA 200, to Ng Fook Min from Huan Sin Cycle Motor Sdn Bhd receives the prize on behalf of Metfab Engineering Sdn Bhd.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn Bhd, authorised distributor of FUSO trucks in Malaysia, has announced the 2015 winner of its popular Diamond FUSO Contest. Last year, over 2,500 entries contested for a chance to win the grand prize worth RM236,888 - a Mercedes Benz GLA200 SUV.

Truck News: Volvo FuelWatch Challenge 2016 is about to begin!

Volvo Trucks' annual Fuelwatch Challenge is about to begin!

The Fuelwatch Challenge 2016 is a competition organized by Volvo Trucks annually for its customers (truck owners/operators) especially for their truck drivers. The competition is a platform to explore the drivers skill and impart information/knowledge to help achieve maximum truck performance with minimum fuel usage (very economical driving techniques). The competition also aims to foster safety awareness among the drivers both during his course of work and otherwise. This will help companies reduce wastage and to reduce truck operating costs wherever we can and also increase road safety awareness among those who use the highways and roads so much more than most of us.

Compact SUVs are usually based on compact hatchbacks. Are they worth the extra money?

Here is something to get you folks to start thinking a little.

Compact Crossover vehicles - These are B segment SUVs. Small, compact and usually based on a small B segment sedan or hatchback and made larger. Usually manufacturers widen the chassis a little, raise it a little, slap on some larger tyres and slot in a larger engine too. Sometimes, stretch the chassis a little. But it is essentially the same car underneath.

Volkswagen Malaysia's stock clearance for 2014/2015 models

Clearance going on at Volkswagen dealers nationwide.....

TRUCK NEWS: Volvo Trucks Malaysia have a promotion on their Imported Volvo Battery while stocks last

Volvo Trucks Malaysia are having a great promotion now (while stocks last) for their Imported Volvo Battery. The package consists of the following:

Proton Perdana launch is bound to be very soon - Brochure out at the website and a clearer pic by Yours Truly!!!

The 2016 Proton Perdana launch is imminent. The pre-launch Brochure is out on their website. And also in  here. And I have adjusted the image and made it clearer for you a little. So you can see how it really looks. But don't you worry. It will be launched very soon. 

So how do you think it looks? Not bad eh?

Spotted For Sale: 1964 Mercedes Benz 220S - Oh, the Horror!!!!

The first word that came to my mind when I saw this was...why? What we have here is an abomination of sorts. A classic collectible Mercedes Benz Fintail that has its heart transplanted to a twin turbo Japanese engine together with a cobbled up interior. Take a look at that transmission tunnel/center console. Taken straight from the donor Toyota car with some D.I.Y panels to put some gauges here and there. Even the doors have some funky mdf (aka plywood) board to hold some speakers.

Short Test Drive: 2016 Ford Focus 1.5 Ecoboost Titanium+

Yesterday I attended the launch of the new 2016 Ford Focus somewhere in Kota Damansara. This is now a heavily revised third generation Ford Focus before I say anything else. It was a surprisingly short event due to the fact that some of us were given the opportunity to take the car out for a spin in it. I was put into a full specced Ford Focus Titanium+ sedan with two other journalists and we were asked to head to four locations located throughout Klang Valley where we would be tested on stuff the new Focus has built into it. At the same time, we would actually take turns driving the car silly.

New Ford Focus launched in Malaysia - Filled to the brim with technology

Ford just launched the new Ford Focus here in Malaysia. This is essentially a facelift of the current Mk3 Focus but it features quite a number of major changes compared to the earlier car.  The changes include slimmer headlights, a new trapezoidal grille, more prominent character lines in the front fender and bumper making it similar to that of the Mondeo and keeping things in line with the current Ford design identity. But inside and underneath, Ford has really upgraded the Focus. This car has tons of new features and even a total engine and transmission change! Call it the Mk3.5 as it truly is a major facelift.

Short Test Drive: 2015 Proton Perdana 2.0 - I get to try out this Civil Service only model and more thoughts on the upcoming model

Lunch today was memorable. It was memorable because the food was good as was the company. I also managed to try out a 2015 Proton Perdana 2.0P. Most of you readers out there would know this second generation Proton Perdana as the badge engineered 8th generation Honda Accord and one that is exclusively used by the Malaysian Civil Service, Government officials including Ministers and senior management of DRB-Hicom and Proton. 

MOTORSPORTS: Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific 2016 starts off in Suzuka, Japan

Here are some stuff on the Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific 2016. First race was last weekend over in Suzuka, Japan. The Ferrari Challenge is a one make challenge (Ferrari obviously) and you would see the latest mid-engined V8 Ferrari cars dueling it out. These days it is the 458 Italia and the 488GTB. 

Happy Birthday BMW - My short message & BMW's next 100 years

Yesterday BMW celebrated their 100th year in existence. Happy belated birthday BMW. Sorry I was busy driving running some errands in a Mercedes Benz. Sorry, couldn't help it.... But your cars and motorcycles are very nice to drive nonetheless.

New Contest from Proton - Have the longest single/family owned Proton and win the upcoming Proton SAGA!

New Contest from PROTON! Proton is now searching for the longest single owned or family owned Proton vehicle in immaculate condition and with high mileage. The Grand Prize is one of the soon to be launched all-new Proton Saga. There will be ten consolation prizes ranging from refurbishment worth RM1,000 to RM5,000 as well as the winners getting a chance to visit Proton's manufacturing facility. 

Daihatsu Indonesia gets to sell the Copen Coupe....Why don't we get it here?

I wrote in 2010 that I thought it would be good if Perodua rebadged the then Daihatsu Copen into a Perodua. It would be a breath of fresh air in Malaysia as there would be a very affordable coupe for us Malaysians to have a go with. Well, it has been 5 and a half years since and during that 5 over years Perodua has now become the number one selling car brand in Malaysia, dethroning Proton. And nothing has changed.

Spotted for Sale: 2005 Mitsubishi Colt Turbo - An alternative Junior Hot Hatch

This is a fairly interesting alternative for those interested in an affordable junior hot hatch. A 2005 Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart 1.5 MIVEC Turbo going for RM33,800. This was ridiculously expensive for a small car when it was new due to its fully imported nature. The base normally aspirated Colt 1.5 MIVEC already had a list price of around RM120K so this one is at least a good RM20K more when it was new. Even so, there were those that bought it. But I think most bought them after Mitsubishi Malaysia threw price rebates into the package. There were also some WALD badged imports - this was the time when some grey importers tried to be smart and CON-vinced the government to issue them tuning APs turning everything from a Toyota Wish , a Mitsubishi Colt or a Volkswagen Golf into a WALD branded car.

Mercedes Benz A-Class facelift launched - Four models launched, up from Three previously

Whilst members of the media attended the launch of the Mercedes Benz A-Class yesterday morning , I ended up viewing the cars later in the evening together with invited guests and customers for the launch party over at the newly opened Mercedes Benz Cycle & Carriage Bintang City Store at TREC, KL. I got home pretty late last night which is why you only saw an update of the cars on the Facebook page with the prices. Too busy mixing with people who were enjoying the live band, DJ music, food and drinks. The company was pretty good too.