News: Ford and SDAC Add Cheer to Merdeka 2016 with Attractive Deals and Promotions

Ford and its local distributor Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) are offering attractive cash rebates on selected models nationwide from now till 30 September 2016. If any of you are interested you can enjoy cash rebates of up to RM15,000 for the Ford Kuga SUV, up to RM13,500 for the Ford EcoSport compact SUV and up to RM8,000 for the Ford Focus as well as the feisty Fiesta too. 

Industry News: Ferrari announces a record 2nd Quarter and impressive 1st half 2016 Sales Performance figures

Ferrari recently announced its second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2016. As with the world today, there are still companies that make impressive sales figures in times that are seemingly in a slump. Well, right now we are witnessing a slump in Oil & Gas, but as always, when one industry is down, there is usually another one which is somehow booming. And I also have to add that the wealth of the people on this planet has grown tremendously over the past two decades or so making purchasing of luxury and ultra-luxury products continue to be on the uptrend.

Motorsport news: Suzuka Drift Race Challenge Series competition set for this 10th & 11th December 2016 in Batu Kawan

A company called Suzuka Oil Sdn. Bhd. has continued its push to try become a significant aspect in the world of professional Drift motorsports especially in Asia. After successfully organising 2 races in Penang (Batu Kawan end August 2015) and in the Klang Valley (May 2016, ELITE Speedway, PLUS Highway), Suzuka is seeing a return of the Suzuka Drift Race Challenge Series which will take place at Batu Kawan, Penang on the 10th and 11th of December 2016. They did the official launch and press conference of the event last sunday, the 31st of July. It was attended by a few drift cars...obviously.

Motorsport News: Official launch of the 2016 Formula One PETRONAS Malaysia Grand Prix

The campaign for the 2016 Formula One PETRONAS Malaysia Grand Prix had just been officially launched. The Grand Prix event will take place from 30th September to the 2nd of October 2016 at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) and this year, the event will be themed Experience RedeF1ned. The launch event was attended by PETRONAS Senior General Manager of Group Strategic Communications Zahariah Abd Rahman and SIC CEO, Dato Razlan Razali (both pictured above - Left to Right - Dato Razlan & Zahariah Abd Rahman).

News: ‘Ford Go Further Roadshow’ schedule in Seremban, Kuantan, Johor & Klang Valley

Ford and Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) are inviting everyone to the ‘Ford Go Further Roadshow’ which will take place at four key locations in Peninsular Malaysia in the months of August and September 2016.

Truck News: Four units of Volvo FM440 6X2 Trucks delivered to JPLOGISTICS

 (From L-R) Jerome Wong, Vice President of Sales & Logistics for Volvo Trucks Malaysia, and Md Zulnorrain, Chief Operating Officer ofJPLogistics, with the four units of Volvo FM440 prime movers handed over to JP Logistics.

Recently, Volvo Trucks Malaysia delivered four units of the Volvo FM440 I 6x2 TRAS prime movers to Pasir Gudang-based JPLogistics, that will be used specifically to transport compressed natural gas along the East Coast of Peninsula Malaysia. 

Motorsport News: The second round of the 2016 Malaysia Championship Series (MCS) is this weekend - August 5th to the 7th.

This coming weekend - the 5th, 6th & 7th of August 2016 will be the second round of the 2016 Malaysia Championship Series (MCS) of races at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC). The MCS has six races as well as free practice and qualifying sessions over the three-day period and tt will feature the prestigious Asian Le Mans Sprint Cup, the Touring Car Series Asia (TCSA) and the Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific one-make race. 

Truck & Bus News: Win a trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand and more prizes when you service your HINO Truck or Bus

Hino Motors Sales (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd – HMSM has begun its latest campaign on Hino Genuine Engine Oil with a new lucky draw, eligible when you make a minimum RM200 single receipt service. The lucky draw is open to all HINO customers and only at selected participating HINO’s Authorized Service Center in West Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. It starts today, on the 1^st August until 31^st October 2016.

The Perodua Kelisa (2001-2007) - Fun little cars don't fade away long after production has ended.

One Perodua that has still stuck in the minds of most Malaysians is the Perodua Kelisa. It first made its debut in 2001 and was not meant to be a replacement for the long running Perodua Kancil. Both these cars were based on different generations of the Daihatsu Mira.

Photo Comparo - Exterior styling of the new Proton Perdana vs the previous Government-only Perdana / Honda Accord rebadge

Proton recently launched the new Proton Perdana and most of you are aware that it is based on the eighth generation Honda Accord which was produced from 2007 to 2012. This 2016 Perdana features the same eight generation Honda Accord chassis, engine, transmission but with a massive rework of the body. Here we have a comparison in terms of styling - the older car is the one with the 'GP40' registered plate, the newer one is the B plate test car.

Industry News: J.D. Power 2016 Malaysia Customer Service Index (CSI) Study SM - Toyota, Mazda, Mitsubishi Kia & Isuzu top the list

According to the J.D. Power 2016 Malaysia Customer Service Index (CSI) Study SM released earlier today, Malaysian car owners intolerant of service advisors not tending to their needs personally and quickly at service centers can significantly lower customer satisfaction levels. This means impatient customers bringing down the reputation of a certain car make or brand. Toyota is the best CSI brand, followed by Mazda, Mitsubishi, Kia and Isuzu rounding up the top 5 best after sales service in Malaysia for 2016.

ALL-NEW CALTEX DELO ® 400 MGX 'SINGLE FLEET' ENGINE OIL IS UNVEILED FOR THE MALAYSIAN MARKET

L to R ·         Dr. Simon Chung, Regional Technology Specialist, Chevron Lubricants

·         Asim Khan, Area Business Manager, Cluster Asia Pacific, Chevron Lubricants

·         Lennard Kwek, Asia Pacific Marketing Manager, Chevron Lubricants

Caltex Lubricants unveiled its latest premium diesel engine oil – Caltex Delo ® 400 MGX SAE 15W-40. This newest lubricant offering from Caltex has its ISOSYN technology providing unmatched protection in both high & low sulphur diesel fuel environments. Best of all it can give up to 80,000km between oil changes for most market situations. 80,000km!!!! Wow.

Sports Car News: Lotus Elise Race 250 launched with range of track-specific options as standard

Meanwhile, over in Hethel, UK the chaps at Lotus Cars have released the latest version of their popular Lotus Elise, the Elise Race 250. This track specced car is eligible for many race series around the world and it has been developed to meet the high demands of the track, with a raft of performance-oriented features as standard. 

Truck News: Viva Haulage Sdn Bhd gets its first new Scania Truck from Scania Malaysia for its expansion plans

 Handing over the keys to the truck to Mr Tee Wah Meng, Director of Viva Haulage Sdn Bhd, was Tuan Haji Idros Puteh, Sales Director, Scania Southeast Asia. 

Viva Haulage Sdn Bhd (Viva) has taken delivery of its first brand new Scania truck. The company which specializes in the container haulage business for major forwarding agents and freight forwarders in Port Klang had chosen the Scania P410LA 6x2 MSZ truck. This truck comes with a host of added benefits to ensure maximum support for its customers.

Happenings: Local Malaysian Celeb Neelofa presented with a Volkswagen Passat R-Line after winning the Most Popular Artiste Award for ABPBH

Waaaaaah. That local Malaysian celebrity named Neelofa was just presented a Volkswagen Passat R-Line after winning the coveted ‘Most Popular Artiste’ category at the 29 th Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian (ABPBH) - the 29th Berita Harian Popular Star Awards (Berita Harian is a Malay language newspaper). Volkswagen was the automotive sponsor of the awards. Get popular, win a car. Seems to be a simple enough thing to do.

Test Drive: 2016 Hyundai Tucson 2.0 Executive - Hyundai's compact SUV grows up

Hyundai have come a long way. Back in the 1990s when Hyundai first set foot in Malaysia you would have never thought that their cars would actually be good to even sit inside. They went through many phases in terms of car design and styling. Back in the 1980s and early 1990s they made nondescript looking cars that were bland to look at. In the late 1990s they started aping certain European brands. But it was when they decided to bring in talents from across the globe that this Korean brand started making waves.

First Crash of the Perodua Bezza?

This could be the first crash of the new Perodua Bezza sedan in the hands of test drive customers. 

TRUCK News: FUSO Diamond Mini Draw Contest 2016 / 2017 - 15 winners from 885 entries!

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Commercial Vehicles, recently presented 15 delighted FUSO truck customers who participated in the FUSO Diamond Mini Draw Contest 2016 / 2017 with attractive prizes in a special customer appreciation event. Five of the lucky 15 winners each won an exclusive trip to Japan and service and parts vouchers worth a total of RM 85,000. Meanwhile, 10 other fortunate customers each won consolation prizes of service vouchers worth RM 1,000. They were chosen from a total number of 885 entries.

Perodua 1st Half 2016 Performance Report - Strong performance reported on all fronts, maintains projected sales targets4

Perodua, Malaysia's second national car make is on a roll. Earlier today they held a press conference and disclosed sales figures and other performance related news regarding the car maker. Perodua basically told us that they are doing incredibly well actually with the announcement that they maintain their projected sales target of 216,000 units for 2016 despite the reduced projected total industry volume of new car sales due to the unstable global (and local) economy as well as the current soft consumer sentiment.

Away with the Proton Perdana

I have just arrived in Melaka after a drive with the Proton Perdana 2.0. I am down here with a bunch of other automotive journos who were in the 2.4 and 2.0 also. Here are some real life pics of the cars from my phone for the time being.