All New Hyundai Tucson officially launched

Hyundai Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) has officially launched the all-new Hyundai Tucson here at Hyundai Motor Company's (HMC) brand new Asia Pacific Training Academy in Petaling Jaya today. The third generation Tucson was developed from the ground up as an urban SUV with an emphasis on ensuring affordability and drivability. Hyundai Motor’s latest design philosophy, the Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 was employed as the guideline for both the interior and exterior design. So the Tucson looks like a shortened, slightly smaller Santa Fe. This is a good thing as the Santa Fe is one of the nicer looking affordable SUVs on sale in Malaysia today.

This locally assembled C segment -SUV is currently only available in a 2WD. So its actually all 'wayang' or all show with its SUV body and looks. Of course, being an urban SUV, All-wheel drive would actually never be used by 99% of the buyers out there.

Newly launched Ford Ranger gets 5 star ASEAN NCAP Rating

The newly launched (facelifted) Ford Ranger has scored highest in Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) with the strongest evaluation score of 15.45/16 points in the ASEAN New Car Assessment Program (ASEAN NCAP). The class-leading safety features loaded into this pickup truck has helped the Ford Ranger raise the bar on safety in the pickup segment by leveraging Ford's global engineering resources and advanced safety technologies. Even the two airbag version scores highly too.

Ford Ranger receives maximum 5-star safety rating from ASEAN NCAP. (From L-R): Prof. Dr. Wong Shaw Voon, ASEAN NCAP Chairman, YBhg. Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Chairman, MIROS, David Westerman, managing director, Malaysia and Asia Pacific Emerging Markets, Ford Motor Company.

Ferrari Finali Mondiali 2015 at Mugello

Last weekend Ferrari had the Finali Mondiali (World Finals) of the Ferrari Challenge at Mugello Circuit in Italy. About 50,000 spectators came to the circuit owned by Ferrari. The event was a carnival which had races. The Ferrari Challenge world title. The winners were three drivers from the European series, probably also due to the fact that they are accustomed to racing at the Mugello circuit - the Coppa Shell went to the experienced Erich Prinoth, Matteo “Babalus” Santoponte triumphed in the Trofeo Pirelli and the Pirelli Am title went to Alessandro Vezzoni.

Aside from that there was an exhibition by Formula 1 team Scuderia Ferrari and the Ferrari exhibition which included the brand new F12tdf series which opened the exhibition hour (pic below). This car pays tribute to the famous Tour de France Automobile; it is produced in 799 units and is equipped with a V12 engines with a power of 780 HP.

The new Great Wall Haval H2 SUV spotted at Glenmarie

The new Honda HRV sized (and reported to be priced underneath it) Great Wall Haval H2 SUV has been spotted ahead of its supposed debut at the NST-MAI autoshow 2015 in Mines  this weekend. Previously it was the 'M4' now 'H2'. The 'M4' made it sound like a high powered BMW. Now the 'H2' sounds like its a Hummer. I love how some people market their products. 

You can see from the picture of it being unloaded and compare its size agains the Haval M4 behind it. It has a nice large chrome grille and body styling that's pretty much up to date (like a  Hyundai Santa Fe type of look). Good proportions too. I also like the two tone paintjob of the one in front if the one you see in full.

GUEST POST: Range Rover - The Rolex Submariner on wheels

Happy Deepavali! Since this is an auspicious day let's bring out guest writer Firdaus Asri and his post about Range Rovers. Usually Firdaus drives around in a Volkswagen Golf R Mk6 and does not really fancy anything with a boot. I think he still does not as he has chosen to write about his opinion on the current Range Rover. And that large SUV does not have a boot. It has a hatch. Therefore it is a hatchback....errr. Anyway, the Range Rover, by Firdaus Asri.

Range Rover - Eye Candy and a Rolex Sub on Wheels

I rarely get a chance to drive interesting cars lately for which I would blame it solely on the Editor because he 'sapu' all the nicest ones like the Jaguar XJ last week (Ed- We just didn't want you to drive about 45 minutes in the traffic and rain in order to spend 10 minutes in one and drive home crying on why you cannot afford one. See how caring we are towards you.). But then without wanting to cry like a baby too much, I thought of writing on cars that are pretty and interesting on its own accord without going into too much details on everything else. And there is no better car to start this other than the latest Range Rover.

A 19 year old student wins the KenTrade Trading Challenge and drives away with a Volkswagen Beetle

19 year old Mr. Sim Yu Chin drove away with a brand new Volkswagen Beetle 1.2 TSI. The student, won the KenTrade Trading Challenge II after wining the final round of the challenge - a four hour Face Off Challenge at the Bursa Malaysia Listing Gallery today. 

Imagine that. Sign up for the challenge, participate, be given RM1,000,000 in virtual money (i.e not real currency), play or trade a bit, then make sure you actually profit instead of lose money (He made over RM107,000 within the short period of time) and then someone gives you a RM135,888 car to take home. Life couldn't be better. But technically it could. As the car given is one of those never outdated, iconic type of cars like the Volkswagen Beetle. How lucky can you get? 

Anyway, money makes money. In this case, virtual money makes a student win a Beetle. Next year I wanna participate. But with my luck..... 

(L – R) Datuk Chay Wai Leong, Group Managing Director, Kenanga Group; Ms Alice Wong, PR Manager, Volkswagen Malaysia; Mr Sim Yu Chin, winner of the KenTrade Trading Challenge II; Ms Ong Li Lee, Director of Securities Market, Bursa Malaysia and Mr Lee Kok Khee, Executive Director & Head of Equity Broking, Kenanga Investment Bank.

Driven: A Day with the Jaguar XJ L 2.0 Ti

A few months or so ago I managed a short drive in a Jaguar XJ L 2.0. That short drive was translated into this review over here. Now the thing about short drives or a spin around a block or two is that whilst you can pick up some interesting bits, design traits you may like, some driving pleasure, nuances and other traits, whether good or bad, you can never really judge something as good as having it over a few days at least. But the Jaguar XJ L is one of those cars that is an eye opener, in a very good way. Even over a short drive you can tell how much pleasure this large barge of a car can give you. Then you get lucky. You're actually given another one for one day and one nite (so a big thank you to Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia is in order). And now my life is ruined because I want one so bad and it costs RM653,888.

The car, a white Jaguar XJ L 2.0 Ti, looks incredible from the outside. Do check out how the rear wheel arches flare out a little. It shows off its rear wheel drive stance and a wider rear. Stunning. It is actually as large as a house but because it is low slung you don't actually notice this until you actually park in front of a house. But whilst it is a luxo-barge in every sense of the word its aluminium chassis actually brings its weight down to speed boat weights. It is over 200kg lighter than the equivalent Mercedes S-Class or BMW 7 series. It is because of this inherent lightness that Jaguar can actually fit a small 2.0liter turbocharged petrol engine into the car compared with its rivals which need something with at least a 3.0liter engine in them. And also shows in how this car drives. 

Ambi Pur and FC Barcelona partnership kicks off with a Win A Trip To Barcelona Contest

Last Thursday, Ambi Pur, a brand which is pretty well known for its air fresheners announced their regional sponsorship agreement with FC Barcelona, another famous brand, not known for air fresheners but for soccer or football. The reason this piece of news is here is that Ambi Pur makes car fresheners. So there is an automotive angle here. There is also a football based angle here, but I would leave that to the experts and fans.

Anyway, Air freshener brand Ambi Pur (a brand owned by Proctor & Gamble) and FC Barcelona announced their regional sponsorship agreement today in Kuala Lumpur. The partnership will be activated across six countries in the Southeast Asia market: Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Caltex announces winners of its recent RON97 Promotion

These days the mere pumping of petrol can make someone a winner. Caltex had recently announced the winners of their recent RON97 promotion. The RON97 Promotion kicked off on 16 August, 2015 and took place over a period of 6 weeks before ending on 30 September, 2015. During the 6-week campaign, Chevron rewarded more than 190 lucky customers with a share of over RM110,000 worth of prizes.

From the amount stated above, there were 12 super lucky people who won the grand prize of RM5,000 in cash each. Imagine how much Caltex RON97 can you fill with RM5,000. Wish I took part.