BHPetrol Infiniti 2X - Harmony in Performance

When it comes to filling up the cars I run I usually end up going the extra mile when it comes to the choice of fuel to put into the tank of my cars. This is maybe because as a petrolhead, every detail is important. Down to the type of petrol I pump. Aside from the obvious performance gains that you can find in certain brands of fuel, I also take into account whether the fuel used would give me additional mileage with every tankful I fill up. This simple benefit allows me to get added savings too. One such fuel or petrol is BHPetrol Infiniti 2x or just Infiniti for short. 

MotoringMY video: The Land Rover Defender's crawler gear in action - Short Video by Motoring-Malaysia on YouTube

Since this is the month of Ramadan things are a bit slow these days. Not many companies do product launches during this time and not many people like conducting business meetings too. So I have the time to give you a short video showing the capability of the recently discontinued Land Rover Defender. Production of the iconic 4x4 has since ceased since early this year ending a 25 year production run.

Honda will cease production of the HONDA CRZ - Not gonna miss it much actually.

One of the most disappointing Honda cars in recent history has recently been confirmed to be discontinued. According to some the Honda CRZ was being discontinued with the launch of the CRZ Final Label in Japan. Then we received word that Honda was officially ceasing production of this small hybrid sports car. So the CRZ Final Label is indeed the end of this hybrid sports car. The news mentioned that the CR-Z will be discontinued at the end of the year to make room for the Accord Hybrid and Clarity Fuel Cell cars. 

Ford engines throughout the years and how electronics make them better and more efficient

Ford are proud of their latest engine, the EcoBoost. This is especially for the 1.0liter version which has been named "Best Engine" in its class at the 2016 International Engine of the Year Awards. The three cylinder version of the turbocharged Ford engine won based on the drivability, performance, economy, refinement and technology of the engine.

Truck News: Scania's Heavy Haulage Truck, the Scania R580 finds its first customer in Malaysia - Tiong Nam Heavy Transport and Lifting Sdn Bhd

Truck spotters in Malaysia take note. This is the first time someone has bought Scania's latest heavy haulage truck, the Scania R580, or to be really exact, the Scania R580 CA6X4 EHZ. A mouthful. But a very performance packed mouthful. Tiong Nam Heavy Transport and Lifting Sdn Bhd (TNHTL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of public-listed Tiong Nam Logistics Holdings Berhad, has received delivery of a R580 CA6X4 EHZ Torque Converter / Heavy Hauler truck from Scania Malaysia that will add a heavy boost to its logistic services.

Truck News: HINO updates the 300 Series with a facelift and better equipment

HINO is a commercial vehicle brand that is quite well known and reputable here in Malaysia as well as regionally. In order to maintain such a reputation and customer trust a company usually needs to keep ahead of things and keep customers happy. As such, HINO has now facelifted their bestseller, the HINO 300 Series of trucks with better safety features and other equipment. 

The new for 2016 HINO 300 series of Light Commercial Vehicles now comes with a newly designed front grille with new paint. HINO has also enhanced their 4.5 ton and 5 ton LCV models with door visor that can help to prevent the condensation of water vapour inside the truck windscreen. 

The most important upgrades are the 300 Series LCVs are now offered with tubeless tyres for added safety as well as better fuel economy (tubes make tyres extra heavy and increase rolling resistance) and are also offered with reverse sensors which are very important in any commercial vehicle due to a large blind spot. This would be very useful when reversing. 

Prices should remain the same as previously as nothing has been stated. These are value additions that would make driving this truck a whole lot easier. I like the reverse sensors. These would make delivery in urban environments easier.

Head to the nearest HINO’s dealer showroom to have a glimpse on the newly revamped Hino 300 Series truck. You small business could benefit from this newly updated model.

PRESS RELEASE

Another revolutionary for reputable brand in Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) market

HINO Get Better with New Image

HINO safety features enhanced with new LCV ‘facelift’

►        HINO is the first to launch the Light Commercial Vehicle with tubeless tyre

►        Aiming for the safest truck among the LCV line-up

PETALING JAYA: HINO, a brand that aim for customer’s trust and confidence, has launched their HINO 300 Series with new image. Aiming for customer trust and confidence, HINO ‘retouch’ on their bestseller is produce on mission to be the safer light truck on the road and fuel-saving.

Government plan will adopt the target set by the Global Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 by reducing the predicted road deaths in 2020 by 50%. A report by Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) shows that, in the absence of a comprehensive road safety program, there will be approximately 8,760 road fatalities in 2015. What is more worrying is they see the number hit 10,716 by 2020.

The concern on this issue also brought Hino to the improvement of their products to upgrade more on safety features, started with their best-selling LCV. So, what’s with product? It came with several upgraded features that could enhance HINO safety assurance yet, comfortable interior feeling to comply with happy and safe driving.

Tubeless Tyres

The new image of HINO 300 Series now gives customer more choice with another safety part as their preference which is the tubeless tyres which will guarantees a better safety and lesser chances of getting involved in an accident. The best part is it contributes to fuel efficiency that can give longer mileage and driving journey through lighter tyre and lower rolling resistance. On top of that, it promises longer lifespan because of the innovation that lower the heat generation. Soon, it will be the important standard item for all the LCV models.

Reverse Sensor

The facelift of Hino 300 Series is enhanced with the technology of reverse sensor which basically assist driver to park and manoeuvre the vehicle effortlessly in any situation and prevent accident during parking.  On top of that, it also help driver to avoid objects while moving in reverse so they can be aware of every objects that is out of their vision, hence, prevent any unnecessary crash and unwanted costs.

Interior Facelift

Giving the new LCV look fresh, it comes with new front grille with new paint.  Other than safety upgrade, Hino also enhance their 4.5 ton and 5 ton LCV model with door visor that can help to prevent the condensation of water vapour inside the truck windscreen.

These add-ons should give the HINO LCV an edge and as for now HINO are continuously improvise their product line-up with safety features. Just smile at the new image of HINO LCV because it is a safer truck on the road.

Visit your nearest HINO’s dealer showroom to have a glimpse on the new LCV retouch.

Volvo Car Malaysia introduces the Volvo V40 T5 with latest Drive-E powertrain - 2.0liter, 245hp & 350Nm

Volvo Car Malaysia have announced that the award-winning Drive-E powertrain is now available for the Volvo V40 T5 here in Malaysia. The V40 basically gets the latest engine that Volvo has to offer and in typical European fashion, the engine and transmission upgrades would come at any time during a model's life cycle. The introduction of the Drive-E engine to the Volvo V40 range completes Volvo’s new powertrain rollout in Malaysia.

PICTORIAL: 1990s Mercedes Benz S320 - Another one of those super duper condition classic Mercedes in Malaysia

Today is another one of those days where I am going to let some photographs do the talking. This is a 1990s W140 series Mercedes Benz S320. The mother of all over-engineered Mercedes Benz. The reason it is in here is because of the condition it is in. It is immaculate. Seriously immaculate but one that is still driven on a weekly basis.

The Proton Perdana is finally unveiled - Prices from RM113,888....

Yup. Finally. After months of speculating and waiting on when would Proton launch the new Perdana they finally have. And it was over at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre where the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak had the honours of unveiling the car. Let's just move on to the car shall we.

SHORT TEST DRIVE: NEW 2016 PROTON PERDANA 2.0 & 2.4 AT THE PROTON TEST TRACK

Prior to the launch of the new 2016 Proton Perdana (launch article is here), I had written earlier that I was invited to try out the new production ready Proton Perdana 2.0 and 2.4liter variants at the Proton semi-high speed oval track. This was another one of those hush-hush sessions where we were not allowed to take any photos. So the photos here are the official press photos. This here is the short drive report for you to digest. The longest and most detailed you would see so far on how this car drives.

Spotted on the Streets: My mid-2000s Ssangyong Rexton has no resale value...what should I do with it?

This is a normal Ssangyong Rexton. It was sold in Malaysia is the mid 2000s. It is powered by a Mercedes Benz 2.7liter diesel engine and 5 speed automatic gearbox. It was quite hardy but it still cost somewhere in the RM138,000+ when it was brand new (circa 2007). And then you know its one of those funny named Korean cars...Ssangyong. So the resale value is pretty much rock bottom. These days you see people asking around RM20,000 for one. So what do you do with a Rexton that has no second hand value? You pimp it out of course.

But I never expected this to come out. 

TEST DRIVE: Volkswagen Vento 1.2 TSI Highline - There and Back Again....as well as a comparison!

Recently a bunch of Malaysian automotive journalists and I went up north to Penang recently courtesy of Volkswagen Malaysia. The reason for this trip was to try out the new Volkswagen Vento 1.2TSI. Now the Volkswagen Vento is actually the Volkswagen Polo Sedan. Volkswagen had decided the name needed to be changed for this facelift. According to them the reason for this was because they had done quite a bit of facelifting underneath the exterior of the car which gets a little bit more chrome trimming, new bumpers, new headlights, new taillights and new cosmetic bits inside (New, more upmarket looking steering wheel especially).

INDUSTRY NEWS: PROTON Officially opens its first 3S showroom in Chile

28th May 2016 marked the day when PROTON officially opened its doors (again) to customers in Chile. Proton had opened its new 3S showroom located in Irarrazaval, Santiago. The centre is located just 15 minutes away from the city centre and is managed by distributors Andes Motor. Andes Motor is a subsidiary of the Kaufmann Group which is a leading distributor of buses, Trucks and luxury cars in the South American country.

Project Kahn's Land Rover Discovery Sport 2.0 TD4 SE Black Label Edition - Some idea on how to soup up your local Disco Sport

The people at Project Kahn over in the UK have said that they have re-kitted one of the new Land Rover Discovery Sport into something gentlemanly. I think it looks brutish and all aggressive with those large wheels and black out exterior. 

ALL PROTON CARS, ACTUALLY ALL CARS, CAN BE JUMP STARTED LAH! R.T.F.M. OKAY?

Some of you Malaysians out there are so gullible and plain lazy. Let me tell you why. There have been stupid photos going around social media stating that you should not jump start certain Proton models as it will damage the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) of these cars. ALL PROTON CARS CAN BE JUMP STARTED.OKAY. So ignore the stupid notice you see below which I gotten off Facebook. The person who put this up is a moron. 

All New Honda Civic officially launched - Normally aspirated 1.8 and a turbocharged 1.5.

Honda has launched the tenth generation Honda Civic here in Malaysia. The Civic1.8L, 1.5L Turbo and 1.5L Turbo Premium are priced at RM110,726, RM124,376 and RM132,155. I think the prices are competitive, the 1.8 is priced very right and imagine that with only RM14,000 more you can go Turbo. 

NEWS: MERCEDES-BENZ MALAYSIA LAUNCHES W213 E-CLASS & THE MERCEDES-BENZ SERVICES MALAYSIA W213 AGILITY FINANCING

The new W213 series Mercedes Benz E-Class has just been launched in Malaysia.  The variants are the E 200 Avantgarde, E 250 Avantgarde, E 250 Exclusive and E 300 AMG Line. All have the current Mercedes Benz 1991cc, (2.0liter) 4 cylinder turbocharged petrol engine first seen in the facelifted W212 E-class. The engine makes 184ps, 211ps and 245ps respectively. 

First Ford Mustang delivered to a customer in Malaysia and its a 5.0 V8.

Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz (left), managing director, Sime Darby Auto Connexion presents the all-new Ford Mustang to Mr. Ganesan A/L Selvaraj (right), 

And there you have it. The chap who bought the first officially sold RHD Ford Mustang to be registered in Malaysia had bought the 5.0liter V8. Now we're talking. A big thumbs up. Then again, if the price of the car is already over RM450,000 for the entry level 2.3liter version, and the 5.0liter V8 is only a mere RM100,000 more.....the choice is quite easy actually. Congratulations is in order.

News: Volkswagen Malaysia's Hari Raya offers - Rebates and more

Now its time for Volkswagen Malaysia to announce their Hari Raya promotion. All Volkswagen models currently in stock get a RM2,000 'Duit Raya' rebate from now till 31st July 2016. And I think Volkswagen wants me to order kuih raya also, going by the background of the pics they provided. Or 'buka puasa' early. If you know what i mean.

SPOTTED FOR SALE: Citroen ZX 2.0 16Valve with a 6 speed manual gearbox upgrade

The Citroen ZX 2.0 16Valve 3 door hatchback was somewhat of a cult favourite among those of us who lived, breathed and dreamt cars in the 1990s. In those days the 152/167hp 2.0 16valve was one of the few European cars that had quite a good reputation against the numerous Honda Civic, Proton Wira (with a lot of Lancer Mods), GC8 Impreza and other cars from te Japanese brigade. Even the 1.9 and later 2.0 8 valve 5 door hatchbacks were also considered as the Euro to drive fast in.