DRB-HICOM Autofest 2015 - Offers, Deals and fun for all!

The DRB Hicom Autofest 2015 is on from today, 6th to the 8th of November 2015. From 9am to 6pm at the EON Complex, Glenmarie. 11 brands - Proton, Lotus Cars, Spyder Can Am, Audi, Volkswagen, Honda, Jeep, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Tata and Modenas as well as DRB Hicom non automotive brands and products too.

Deals, packages  and test drives are available. Special auctions for used Proton cars on Saturday (11am and3pm) and Sunday 8th November (3pm). Over 200 Proton cars including the Exora Bold, Suprima S, Preve, Inspira, Persona and more will be auctioned off at very affordable prices.

Experts Meet To Find Ways to Enhance Road Safety at the Conference of ASEAN Road Safety 2015

 Deputy Transport Minister of Malaysia, YB Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi officially opening CARS2015

As the United Nations’ Decade of Action for Road Safety reaches its mid-point, the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) gathered the region’s top experts to galvanise efforts to enhance road safety at the ASEAN Road Safety 2015 (CARS 2015).

Shell Launches the Shell V-Power LEGO Collection - Now Available at Shell Stations throughout Malaysia

#ReadySetBuild - Shell officially launched its new Shell V-Power LEGO Collection at Sunway Pyramid today. This is an exclusive range of small LEGO sets that are based around Ferrari and Shell respectively. The collection was created in collaboration with Ferrari and the LEGO group and introduces six new models - four iconic Ferrari cars (with a tiny pull-back motor in them), a Finish Line and Podium set which includes a LEGO minifigure (minifig), and a set of the Shell Station modelled after the one at Ferrari's Foriano Circuit - Ferrari's private racetrack in Maranello. The Shell Station set comes with a Shell Scientist minifig. 

Tuan HJ Azman Ismail (pictured above, in the middle), Managing Director of Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd and Shell Timur Sdn Bhd said that Shell are excited that through the Shell V-Power LEGO Collection, they can bring people together. He said that "Motorists, race fans, toy enthusiasts, children and adults alike (will) make Shell a happy pit stop for all. We believe that the simple act of building can be more meaningful and fun if shared with others. Our hope is for our customers to not simply build the Shell V-Power collection but form closer bonds in the process" 

Ford looks towards nature to find answers - First step, the Gecko Lizard

And....meanwhile....Over at the FOMOCO (Ford Motor Company) Headquarters in the States, researchers of Ford have decided to study more of nature to seek out new solutions that are sustainable to modern day challenges in design and its impact to the environment. The first step is that little lizard called the Gecko.

This little lizard can stick upside down and on most surfaces. The sticky toe pads would be researched to improve adhesives (used in automobiles especially in the interior plastics and other polyurethane that needs to be stuck together). The science involved is called BIOMIMICRY, or copying what is biologically made naturally and adapting it to what humans build. 

Matthias Muller, Chairman of the Board of Management, Volkswagen AG announces key steps to realign the group

Matthias Müller, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG (ex-CEO of Porsche), has announced the five key steps to realign the Group especially in light of the current 'DieselGate' crisis that the group is facing. I think this is very much needed as we are now hearing that the 3.0liter Volkswagen/Audi diesel engine also has some cheat device for emissions testing in them. 

The crisis faced by Volkswagen group is really huge. For the first time in years the group has posted a loss. There are 600,000 employees worldwide to care about too. The key steps would be put in place (five of them) and we would now see a new game plan that would see the Volkswagen group's future to the year 2025 would be rolled out by middle of 2016. This effectively replaces the earlier Group Strategy 2018.

Toyota Ranks Highest in New–Vehicle Sales Satisfaction Among Mass Market Brands for a Third Consecutive Year

I just had the time to read up on JD Power's latest findings about the 2015 Malaysia Sales Satisfaction Index Study which was released at the end of October 2015. Toyota as usual has come in as number one. Not surprisingly of course. Now what is my opinion about this?

Note that this are mass market brands. This means no Audi, BMW, Mercedes Benz or Rolls Royce. I also see an absence of Volkswagen in the report. Volkswagen is a mass market brand. It is not a premium brand. This could mean that Volkswagen has not participated this time around or JD Power has not got a fairly large response from customers of that brand. 

Driven: 2015 Volkswagen Passat 1.8 TSI DSG (B7) CKD

I had a go at the locally assembled Volkswagen Passat 1.8TSI (B7) recently. This is Volkswagen's full sized or D segment competitor here in Malaysia and it has been around in this form since 2011 with local assembly in Pekan, Pahang since 2012. Now this B7 series Passat has a long history to it in terms of production life cycle. It actually started its life as a B6 Passat in 2005 and was heavily facelifted in 2010 for the 2011 production year. And by heavily facelifted, it really is some extra engineering compared to the usual facelift of a change of bumpers and lights.

The B7 Passat actually only keeps the roof of the B6 Passat. The rest of the body panels are new. The changes to the 2005 chassis are also quite extensive with a 2mm increase in wheelbase (2,711mm) and a 4mm overall increase in length (4,769mm). The interior of the car gets a slightly redesigned dashboard (especially below the vents with the addition of an analog clock and better quality trim) and more soundproofing with thicker glass all round. The Malaysian spec Passat B7 gets the 1.8 TSI engine with the 7 speed dual clutch transmission as standard.

Renault CLIO GT LINE Now Available at Showrooms Nationwide

TC Euro Cars, the sole franchise holder for Renault cars in Malaysia, today announced that the sporty and stylish New Renault CLIO GT LINE is now available in showrooms across the country. It is available at the confirmed retail price of RM118,000, on-the-road inclusive of GST without insurance for private individual registration.

TOKYO Motor Show 2015: Subaru Impreza 5 Door Concept -

The Tokyo Motor Show 2015 is currently ongoing. Subaru has decided to preview the next-generation Impreza 5 Door Concept there. The concept has a "Dynamic & Solid design with a hexagonal grille and "hawk-eye headlights." The Impreza Hatchback (which is what this really is) concept measures 4,400mm long, 1,880mm wide and 1,440mm tall with a wheelbase that spans 2,670mm. Subaru has decided not to reveal any other details as yet. So we do not know what engine, drivetrain and performance specs so far.