Dunlop Formula D05 & Dunlop SP Sport J5 - Two new Dunlop Passenger Car Tyres are launched for the Malaysian market

Dunlop tyres had recently launched the Dunlop Formula D05 and the Dunlop SP Sport J5 for the Malaysian market. The D05 is the premium tyre of the two and is considered as a high performance all weather tyre with sizes from 15inch to 18inches whilst the SP Sport J5 is the comfort spec tyre and for the bread and butter segment (12inches to 15inches) of the market.

THE ELANTRA FACELIFT LAUNCHED AT ALL HYUNDAI SHOWROOMS

Hyundai has started selling the facelifted Elantra already. According to Hyundai Sime Darby, there are 14 Improvements and Upgrades of the Elantra Facelift. I've driven this model when it was launched a few years ago. It was not a bad car to drive actually. I only thought the seating position was a bit high and that the center air vents were a little too direct to the fingers (if adjusted to face the driver). I suppose the vent issue has been corrected. The first gripe is very personal and would actually mean something if one wanted to use it to drive fast all of the time (and feel like a race car driver seated low all of the time). So it isn't that big of an issue to most of the general population of Hyundai drivers out there.

Ford to Preview Iconic New Mustang for the First Time in Malaysia

Hello folks! Ford has announced that you can view the iconic Ford Mustang over at Publika in Solaris Dutamas over the next few days. This is way ahead of its official launch sometime at the end of this year. A teaser you may say.

The iconic Mustang will be offered in Malaysia in both a fastback and convertible, and with a choice of a 5.0-litre V8, producing 435 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque, or a turbocharged, fuel-efficient 2.3-litre EcoBoost® engine, producing 310 horsepower. Quite amazing is the fact that they are actually bringing in the 5.0 V8 even though Malaysian road tax for that engine capacity will cost in excess of RM10,000.00 for private users. Gotta admire their guts for doing so.

Land Rover Defender 110 - The Flying Huntsman 110 WB 6x6 concept debuts at 2015 Geneva

This beast just debuted at the Geneva Motor Show 2015. Kahn does the AMG G-WAGEN 6X6 with the Defender. Fuiyooooh. Extra long rear from the extra wheels and note the extra long front too folks.

PRESS RELEASE

Kahn Design has announced the debut of a coach-built concept based on the Land Rover Defender 110 titled the Flying Huntsman 110 WB 6x6 Concept. The formal unveiling of the prototype, codenamed "Mission 1" will take place at the Geneva Motor Show, at the Kahn Design stand, no. 6338 at 14:45 on the 3rd of March.

Since the early 1900s, automotive coachbuilders have created custom vehicles using pre existing chassis. Whilst names such as Pininfarina, Zagato and Bertone have risen to be globally recognised, in recent years there has been no equivalent in Britain.

The Proton Perdana V6 - Old school gets you six cylinders

At a time when the latest cars are being launched over at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, I'd like to devote some of my time talking about something closer to home and something which most of you still see on our roads - the Proton Perdana V6.

I recently found myself in one of these cars and noted that I have never written anything about this car ever since I started writing stuff about cars. Anyway, the Proton Perdana was first launched in 1995 to some fanfare. It is basically a mid-sized/D segment sedan and when first launched could be had with a 2.0liter 4 cylinder engine that made about 135hp/176nm. The front wheels were driven through a 4 speed automatic transmission with something called fuzzy logic that actually learnt your driving style and adjusted throttle response to suit. There was also a 5 speed manual. But not many bought this option.

Our Cars: W201 Mercedes Benz 190e 2.3 8v - SOLD

Yup. Serial car buyer....no, make it serial Mercedes car buyer Adlis K has since sold off that beautiful 190e 2.3-16 lookalike of his as of a month or so ago. The reason of the sale after a helluva paint job, the refurbishment of those gorgeous 190e Evolution wheels, a change of a whole lot of mechanical parts like the propshaft bearings, mountings and other stuff is the funding of another car. It usually is......with this friend of mine. Much like the sale of his previous W124 200e that looked like a 500e.

The all-new 2015 Nissan X-Trail....2.0l or 2.5l?

The all-new Nissan X-Trail was launched about a month ago here in Malaysia and today, very early in the morning of the third day of the year of the Goat that I have decided to give my opinion on this SUV.

The 2015 X-Trail is based on the latest Renault Nissan common module family platform and would be used by both Nissan and Renault to make lots of cars. Right now I know that this X-Trail is sold as the Nissan Rogue in America and the X-Trail elsewhere. A short wheelbase variant of this SUV is also produced and sold as the Nissan Qashqai or as Clarkson once called it, the Kumquat. Hey, I'm not the only motoring journo who likes giving new names to funny named Nissan if you get my drift. I suppose it has been quite lucky for Nissan Malaysia that they sold the X-Trail as an X-Trail instead of a Qashqai. It'll be a marketing nightmare trying to try sell the product. Cashcow you say? 

Tested: 2015 Hyundai Sonata 2.0 Executive - Hyundai has caught up and overtaken a few of its challengers too

Hyundai recently launched the latest and greatest Sonata recently and I managed to have a go in it. The 2015 Hyundai Sonata is all new both above the skin and underneath it. It was launched sometime last year and I was quite surprised that Hyundai has decided to bring it in even though it already has the very good Hyundai i40 on sale here.

In the global scale, the i40 is the more European tinged car and the Sonata is the more Korean and more North Americanised (as it is meant for that market) version of the full sized family sedan or also known as the D segment vehicle. We somehow manage to get both the i40 and the Sonata with the i40 being placed as the more premium of the two here in Malaysia. The main difference is that whilst both are 2.0liter 4 cylinder petrol engined cars, the i40 gets GDI (direct injection) for its engine and the Sonata does not. In other words, slightly less tech at a more affordable price. Covering the lower end of the D segment category.

Ferrari previews the Ferrari 488 GTB ahead of its launch

The Ferrari 488 GTB is about to be launched soon over at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. Ferrari says it is not merely an upgraded Ferrari 458 Italia although those who aren't aware will say that it looks pretty much the same.

I suppose it isn't as the heart of this one now gets a 3.9liter bi-turbo V8 that pumps out 670hp and 780Nm torque. Compare this to the 562Hp and 540Nm torque from the 458 Italia and you know it that the 488 GTB is more supercar than before. It has a 7 speed dual clutch gearbox and claims a 0-100kmh time of 3.0 seconds and a 205mph+(330+kmh) top speed (458 Italia gets 0-100kmh done in 3.4seconds and tops out at 202mph if you must know). It also has better aerodynamics too. 50% more downforce than the Italia as well as improved vehicle dynamics from its onboard electronics too.