TEST DRIVE: THE FACELIFTED FORD RANGER 3.2 WILDTRAK - A Characterful Engine Makes this a very special Pick-up

Pick-up trucks are getting more and more versatile these days. This is especially true when it comes to those double cab variants that allow you to carry four other passengers and a lot of cement bags at the same time whilst traversing rough terrain. This is because most come with a 4 wheel drive setup which allows you to go nearly everywhere. It is most useful for construction companies to small time contractors. The versatility of these pick-up trucks make them very popular as is their affordability here in Malaysia.

Commercial Vehicles: Shell Lubricants Malaysia officially launches the Shell Rimula Express workshop network

Shell Lubricants Malaysia has officially launched the Shell Rimula Express workshop network of branded commercial vehicle workshops nationwide. Selected commercial vehicle workshop owners will have the opportunity to collaborate with Shell where they will become part of the Shell Rimula Express network. 

Financing: BMW Group Malaysia Introduces New Full Circle Programme for the BMW X1 sDrive20i and the All-New BMW 530i M Sport for its Corporate Programme Partners.

BMW Group Malaysia today introduced the Full Circle Programme by BMW Credit Malaysia, a new and exclusive financing offering for its existing BMW Corporate Programme customers. The new financing program offers greater flexibility with a wide range of settlement options and ensures future-value peace of mind assurance for purchases of the BMW X1 sDrive20i and the All-New BMW 530i M sport by its existing corporate customers.

MOTORCYCLES: MODENAS' Revival Begins With The Launch of The Kriss MR2 & Also Plans for Strategic Partner Tie-Up

National motorcycle manufacturer Motosikal Dan Enjin Nasional (MODENAS), part of the DRB-HICOM group had launched the latest Modenas Kriss underbone (moped) motorcycle. The Kriss has been their most popular model over the years and they hope that with the introduction of the new MR2 model to the popular KRISS line-up, it will improve its current market share of the entry level underbone motorcycle segment from 8% to 10% by the end of 2017.

Hyundai Motor Wins Two Prestigious Red Dot Design Awards for the Hyundai Azera and the i30 & an Azera in Vietnam

I must say that Hyundai is on a roll when it comes to coming up with award winning designs. Hyundai Motor has recently received recognition for its evolving design philosophy, receiving prestigious Red Dot Awards for outstanding design for the fourth year in a row. Both the Hyundai Azera – badged as Grandeur in Korea – and i30 (Elantra Sport) were recognized by the internationally-renowned awards programme, in ‘Transportation Design’ within the ‘Product Design’ category.

New Volkswagen Tiguan launched in Malaysia - Two Variants, the Comfortline & Highline - Priced from RM148,990 onwards

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has officially launched its stylish new SUV, the all-new Tiguan. Locally assembled in Pekan, the all-new Tiguan is priced at RM­148,990 for the Comfortline and RM168,990 for the Highline. 

TEST DRIVE: 2017 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN 1.4 TSI COMFORTLINE & HIGHLINE

The Malaysian C segment SUV market is a burgeoning market. Everyone is in it. Super tough market. Super, super tough. It's so tough we have the Japanese, Koreans, Chinese, Germans, the French and also most probably the Americans via Ford or Jeep. Speaking about Jeep, I don't even remember if they still have stock of their Jeep Whatsitsname compact SUV. Don't ask me. I just can't remember.

New Exhibit/Tour at the Land Rover Solihull Factory - 50 YEARS OF VELAR: THE STORY OF RANGE ROVER

 Land Rover launches a new visitor attraction at its Solihull home over in the UK. The new exhibit was created to celebrate 50 years of the world's most revered luxury SUV - the original Range Rover prototype which was actually codenamed 'Velar'. The tour takes visitors on a journey from the 1967 Velar prototype to the new Velar. The interactive exhibit showcases British design and engineering story behind the world’s greatest luxury SUV. 

Industry News: Continental’s tire plant in Alor Setar gets a new Plant Manager

The international tyre company Continental has announced the appointment of Carlos Bernabe as Plant Manager for its Passenger & Light Truck Tyres and Two Wheel Tyres manufacturing facility in Alor Setar, Malaysia. He joined the Continental Malaysia team in Alor Setar on January 1, 2017, succeeding Juergen Jacobs Dowling, who has been leading the plant for the past three years and is currently pursuing his career within Continental in South Africa.

I attended the International Automotive Aftermarket Conference by MAI and here are my thoughts about that as well as the industry as a whole

I was privileged to attend the second International Automotive Aftermarket Conference organised by the Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) earlier today. “Spearheading Technology, Enhancing Automotive Aftermarket Industry” This one-day international conference attracted 100 participants, consisting of local and international industry stakeholders, academia, automotive recycling associations, and Government agencies. 

Truck News: Volvo Trucks grows its market share in Malaysia’s premium heavy-duty commercial vehicle segment

Volvo Malaysia announced today that it had recorded an increase of 4.8% in sales for its Volvo truck brand for financial year 2016, compared to the previous year. The growth was achieved through the sale of 370 units of trucks. This has led to the brand capturing 45% of the market share in the European heavy-duty prime mover segment in Malaysia, making it the top truck brand for the year.

Classic cars: Back when Hino made cars - the Hino Contessa 1300 Coupe

HINO is known in these parts as a reliable truck maker. It has been like that since the 1970s when the first set foot into Malaysia and slowly grew their brand into what it is today. Of course, it wasn't like that in the mid-1960s. The company made cars then.

Hyundai Motor Advances its ‘Future Mobility’ Vision at the 2017 Seoul Motor Show

Hyundai has revealed its latest hyper-connected car and autonomous driving technologies at the 2017 Seoul Motor Show which runs from today to the 9th of April 2017. The ‘Home to Car’ and ‘Car to Home’ services with Hyundai's self-developed ccSP platform introduced together with the FE Fuel Cell Concept car’s Asian debut (above) demonstrates Hyundai’s overall tech integration as well as eco-vehicle commitment. 

Happenings: BMW Group Malaysia Awards Best Performing Dealerships and Individuals in the Country at the BMW Dealer Awards Night 2016.

Yesterday I wrote about BMW Group Global rewarding their best dealers globally with Sime Darby's Auto Bavaria coming up as one of the finalists. Not too shabby eh? Anyway, now, BMW Group Malaysia held its annual BMW Dealer Awards Night, recognizing the best of its 39 strong dealer network in celebration of the premium automaker’s successful 2016 financial year. The accolades were handed out to the best performing dealers and individuals for their contribution in achieving steady business growth for the premium automaker’s BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad brands.

TRUCK NEWS: 300th FUSO Truck Delivered To Biforst Logistics & MoU entered for intent to purchase FUSO electric truck in the near future

Today was the official hand-over and delivery of the 300th FUSO truck to Biforst Logistics. This occasion marks as a historic milestone in the long-standing relationship and trust between Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Commercial Vehicles (which owns the FUSO brand) and Biforst Logistics.

Sime Darby Auto Bavaria is one of BMW Group's 36 Best Dealers in the World

BMW honoured its 36 best dealers worldwide during the Excellence in Sales awards ceremony in Munich. The awards were presented by the programme’s patron, Ian Robertson, BMW AG Management Board member for Sales and Brand BMW, Aftersales BMW Group. 2016 was a record year for BMW Group sales and these awards recognise the outstanding contribution made by the company’s dealers. 

Ford Donates Vehicles and Equipment to Montfort Boys Town

Ford Motor Company, together with its local partner Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC), today named the Montfort Boys Town in Selangor as the latest recipient of its Ford Conservation and Environmental Grants Programme in Malaysia. 

BMW Group Malaysia Launches the All-new BMW 5 Series

The seventh generation BMW 5 Series has officially been launched in Malaysia. Internally codenamed the G30, this is BMW's take on how a premium business should be. At this moment only one, fully imported variant is available - the BMW 530i M Sport. The official retail price (on the road, without insurance, and with BMW Group Malaysia’s latest 5 Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty, Free Scheduled Service Program and BMW Tyre Warranty Programme) is RM 398,800.

Truck News: New UD Trucks dealership opens in Kuantan

Tan Chong Industrial Equipment (TCIE), the sole distributor of UD Trucks in Malaysia together with their official dealer, Edaran Setia Auto Sdn Bhd has officially opened its latest  UD Trucks dealership in Kuantan, Pahang. With over 25 years of experience in the commercial vehicle industry, Edaran Setia Auto aims to cover the East Coast region focusing on delivering the best sales experience to a wide range of industries that are ongoing on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

DRB-HICOM REAFFIRMS NEED TO BE DETAILED IN PROTON FSP SEARCH

"There have been news reports stating that we are left with only one bidder. I can confirm that all parties that submitted bids for PROTON are still in the running and DRB-HICOM is still evaluating these bids. We are going through the tail-end of this meticulous process, and we are looking forward to completing this search by the end of the first half of this year," said DRB-HICOM Berhad (DRB-HICOM) Group Managing Director, Dato' Sri Syed Faisal Albar. With this he basically reaffirmed the Group's statement last week that all bidders are still in the running to be selected as PROTON's FSP.