TEST DRIVE: 2016 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT DRIVEN - 1.8 TSI COMFORTLINE & 2.0 TSI HIGHLINE, INITIAL DRIVE EXPERIENCE

I was in Langkawi recently courtesy of Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia. We were flown in to try out the better late than never all-new Volkswagen Passat B8. It replaces the Passat B7 which has soldiered on for at least a year and a half longer than what should have been. A mid-2015 launch in Malaysia.

PROTON IRIZ 1.3 LIMITED EDITION FROM THE PROTON 'DESIGN SERIES' & FUTURE UPDATES ON THE IRIZ

National car company Proton has unveiled the PROTON Design Series Iriz. The Limited Edition Iriz comes in 2 variants, the Iriz 1.3 standard CVT and the Iriz 1.3 Executive CVT with Honeycomb or The Stripe decals. The Honeycomb decals are found on the Graphite Grey and Cotton White coloured cars and the Stripe decals on the Fire Red and Atlantic Blue coloured cars. Only 2,000 units of the Limited Ed. Iriz will be available with prices starting from RM44,450 to RM49,130 for Peninsular Malaysia. 

PETRONAS SYNTIUM SE engine oil launched exclusively for Proton cars

National car maker PROTON, in collaboration with our national petroleum company PETRONAS, has launched an exclusive range of engine oil for Proton cars. The PETRONAS Syntium SE range is now made available at all Proton authorised service centres. 

BAIC INTERNATIONAL AND AMBER DUAL SDN BHD unveil the D20 Hatchback and EV200 Electric Car

A new passenger vehicle player is in town. BAIC International and local partner Amber Dual Sdn Bhd have unveiled two new cars at the 2016 Malaysia Autoshow. The BAIC EV200 – the first Malaysian Assembled / Manufactured Electric Vehicle for homologation and research purposes and production ready BAIC D20 - the first Right-Hand Drive variant of the BAIC D20 compact car which will be sold early 2017.

J.D. Power 2016 Malaysia Initial Quality Study (IQS) finds that Malaysian National Carmakers are improving in terms of overall quality

The latest J.D.Power findings are out folks. According to the people who are experts in statistics, the New-vehicle quality in Malaysia has improved by 18% from 2015. This year marks the largest improvement in the 14 year history of the study, with the gap between national and non-national brands the smallest it has ever been according to the J.D. Power 2016 Malaysia Initial Quality StudySM (IQS), released today.

All-New B8 Volkswagen Passat Now Open for Pre-Booking from RM160,000 to RM199,000

Volkswagen has announced that they are now accepting pre-bookings for their flagship model, the all-new B8 Volkswagen Passat. It will have an estimated price range from RM160,000 to RM199,000. 

Malaysia Autoshow 2016 opens its doors today - Highlights of the Autoshow and other details

This year's Malaysia Autoshow has started today and will continue till the 13th of November 2016 over at the Mines International Exhibition and Trade Centre in Seri Kembangan. The Malaysia Automotive Institute, a government body under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) is the sole oorganiser of the autoshow and it is a showcase of the Malaysian automotive industry as well as the National Automotive Policy 2014, the automakers and other parts of the automotive industry. It is also a place to showcase and create awareness to help turn the country into a regional base for Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) production.

HYUNDAI Sime Darby Motors starts taking bookings for the soon to be launched Hyundai IONIQ Hybrid - Estimated price RM130k

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) has begun accepting order for its new IONIQ Hybrid, which will be launched in Malaysia by the end of the year. The IONIQ will also be on display at the Malaysia Autoshow 2016 which will be held at the Mines International Exhibition and Convention Centre (MIECC) from November 10 -13, 2016. Interested parties can also place their order at Hyundai’s booth. 

THE AUDI KUALA LUMPUR SERVICE CENTRE IS NOW OPEN ON SUNDAYS

Euromobil Sdn Bhd, who operate the Audi Kuala Lumpur Service Centre at Jalan Chan Sow Lin  has announced that the Service Centre is now open on Sundays, as part of the company’s effort to improve its after sales service. Sunday operations have begun since 18 September 2016.

Daihatsu Perodua Engine Manufacturing Sdn Bhd officially opens its new plant in Sendayan, Negeri Sembilan

Daihatsu Perodua Engine Manufacturing Sdn Bhd (DPEM) has officially opened its new RM500 million joint venture plant in Sendayan, Negeri Sembilan.  This new facility is the second significant investment made by Daihatsu after their transmission manufacturing facility, Akashi Kikai Industry (M) Sdn Bhd, in Senawang began operations in July 2015.

MOTORSPORT: ALEX YOONG wins big at the 2016 AUDI R8 LMS Cup

Former Formula 1 driver and fellow Malaysian Alex Yoong has captured his third consecutive championship in the Audi R8 LMS Cup. Mr Yoong, who drives for team Audi TEDA Racing secured the championship by just one point ahead of Alessio Picariello of the MGT Team by Absolute.

Commercial Vehicles, Truck & Bus: 5 Cost Saving Tips for Commercial Fleet Operations by Caltex, featuring their Delo 400 MGX Oil

One of the challenges facing commercial fleet operators is the struggle to deal with cost pressures. The issue of lowering fleet costs stems from, among several factors, the instability of global prices of crude oil. With crude oil prices impacting world currencies, fleet operators are faced with keeping their expenses in check while managing their assets and inventories to ensure that supply meets demand.

ISUZU Mu-X SUV awarded 2016 Borneo Safari International Offroad Challenge's ‘VEHICLE OF THE YEAR’

It looks like the entry of the Isuzu Mu-X lifestyle SUV in the 2016 Borneo Safari International Offroad Challenge was a successful one as it won the 'Vehicle of the Year' award there. This year's Borneo Safari was deemed to be the toughest in 12 years with daily rainfall causing delays. 

Sunday (Not So) Lite: My first ever oversteer wet-in-my-trousers moments

I got my driver's licence in 1990. I started out driving the driving school's Datsun 120y as well as practicing in my mum (and then hand-me-down) 1981 Honda Civic 1.3 3 door hatchback (paint the car above beige and that was it). The freedom to travel where I wanted to (within my weekly allowance) was fantastic. Of course, In my first few years of driving I was pretty gung ho about my supposed car control skills (I did not have any actually). 

New Authorised Volkswagen Service center in Kota Kinabalu - Kota Bumi Sdn Bhd

An official Volkswagen service centre in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah is now open for business. This service centre is operated by Kota Bumi Sdn Bhd and it is currently the only authorised service centre for Volkswagen in Sabah. 

Ficosa opens a new factory for rear view mittors in Tennessee, USA - Some thoughts about production costs in high income nations

 Ficosa, who are one of the major manufacturers of rear view mirrors in vehicles on earth have opened a new facility in America. With an investment of over 50 million dollars, the new plant is equipped with the sector’s latest technology, becoming the most advanced in Ficosa’s global portfolio. The Cookeville, Tennessee facility, which has a total surface area of 270,000 square feet, is dedicated to producing rear view systems for automotive manufacturers such as Nissan, Ford, Volkswagen, Fiat Chrysler and General Motors. 

Upcoming Events: Largest Vespa Gathering at Publika Shopping Gallery on 19th November 2016

The Vespa scooter is an iconic piece of personal transport. It celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. Naza Premira, official distributor of Vespa in Malaysia is celebrating in a big way. Do read the press release below for the exact date and time of the Vespa Gathering at the Publika Shopping Gallery in Kuala Lumpur on saturday, 19th of November 2016. 

Off Topic - HARD ROCK CAFE KUALA LUMPUR Celebrates 25 years - Wings Concert, Special Burgers, Limited Ed. Tees

This is slightly off topic than the usual automotive/motoring related posts. But there is some motoring history in some ways. The Hard Rock Cafe Kuala Lumpur has been around for a while now. 25 years this year. I was one of the first few people who frequented this establishment. In those days, as well as today, it was a place frequented by people who had association with fast vehicles - the superbikers and also the Harley Davidson riders from everywhere in the world.

Some pointers by Ford to new drivers out there...as well as a reminder to those of us who've been driving for a while too.

The following bits of information are courtesy of Ford Motor Company. The pointers below could help you in the daily grind. 


Are you a new driver? Or know someone who is? Here’s a checklist you need to read

News: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia's PR Consultants pick up Bronze Award in the Corporate Branding category at the 2015/16 Malaysia PR Awards

All smiles at the 2015/16 Malaysia PR Awards.  Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Corporate Communications Manager, Emily Lek (second from left), with the Centriq PR account team, (from left) Jeannette D’Netto, Jacqueline Arnold and Teri Wong.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s corporate public relations programme received the Bronze award in the Corporate Branding category at the 2015/16 Malaysia PR Awards held in Kuala Lumpur recently. The entry titled, ‘Going Beyond Boundaries’, was submitted by Centriq PR Sdn Bhd, who are Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s public relations consultancy.