Hyundai IONIQ Wins A 2016 Red Dot Design Award for Outstanding Vehicle Design

The newly revealed Hyundai IONIQ  has been recognized for its outstanding design in the coveted Vehicle category, becoming the sixth Hyundai car to receive a Red Dot title in the last three years. The IONIQ is the world’s first eco-friendly car to offer a choice of three alternative-fuel powertrains (full electric, hybrids and plug in hybrids). 

Tun Dr Mahathir Resigns as Chairman of Proton as well as the Chairman of Group Lotus

Tun Dr. Mahathir pictured here with Dato Harith (who is also reported to be leaving as CEO of Proton)

PROTON Holdings Berhad has officially announced the resignation of Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as Chairman of PROTON, effective immediately. Concurrently, Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun would also step down as Chairman of Group Lotus plc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PROTON. 

Ramblings on a Wednesday night - Spare Parts aren't cheap these days...except for....

I may not be as good as a BMW, but my spare parts are damn cheap!

It's been a slightly slow week for me in the automotive scene. I had other things to do and not much had gotten my attention. So today I'd just like to share a little bit of my thoughts on spare parts for car.

The Chelsea Truck Company Black Hawk Wide Track by Kahn Design

A Jeep Wrangler with the volume pumped up to eleven is what this is. Not much to say about this Chelsea Truck Company Black Hawk Wide Track except that it is done to satisfy the whims and fancies of those who want something brutal looking done to the old, trusty Wrangler. I don't think this is all about looks as at least the Chelsea Truck Company uses off road capable tyres. Not just for on the road posing only.

If you're in the UK you cn buy this for a smidgen under £50,000. Actually a whole £1 less than £50,000 that is.

Spotted for Sale: Toyota Wish TRACK CAR - Fuiyoh!!!!! Yeah Right

Here we have something that has been advertised as a track car. Here in Malaysia if a car is stated as a 'track car' it usually means that the car is one of those hatchbacks, coupes or sedans that have been specially done up to go for racing at either Sepang or the Pasir Gudang circuits. When so advertised, they are usually not street legal and is made up of cars that have been deregistered due to heavy mods or cars from neighbouring countries that are declared as scrap but kept in one piece.

The Nissan GT-R you've never wanted - UPDATED with more pics 29 March 2016

My friend, car enthusiast and occasional poster in here, Firdaus Asri, had sent me this photograph of something trying to be a Nissan GT-R.

Sime Darby Auto Connexion offers Ford Ecosport, Ford Fiesta 1.5L Titanium sedan and Sport hatchback with attractive rebates

Ford Ecosport

Somehow car companies are giving a lot of rebates at this point of time. This time we see Ford distributor Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) offering attractive cash rebates of up to RM6,000 and low monthly repayments for selected Fiesta and EcoSport  variants nationwide, from now through 30 April 2016. 

Nissan Indonesia sells the styling looking CrossOver called the Juke...we get a joke

Here is another article to get your minds thinking a little. Last time I wrote about Perodua/ Daihatsu not giving us what Indonesia gets. This time it is Nissan Malaysia. 

Now Nissan Indonesia's idea of what an urban crossover vehicle that is chic, cool, hip, modern, hipster, tumblr, uber, rad and phoar is so much more chic, cool, hip, modern, hipster, tumblr, uber, rad and phoar compared to what Nissan Malaysia has in store for us. Take a look at what is offered by Nissan Indonesia above, and what Nissan Malaysia is offering us below.

Happenings: Shell Helix teams up with Sin Leong Seng Motor to maintain welfare centre's vehicles in Kajang

Shell Lubricants, via the Shell Helix brand has teamed up with one of its distributors Sin Leong Seng Motor Sdn Bhd in helping Persatuan Kanak-Kanak Istimewa Kajang Selangor (PKIK), an association which assists children and adults with learning disabilities.

Volkswagen Golf 1.4TSI upgraded for Malaysia

Volkswagen Malaysia has announced the upgraded 2016 Golf with new and added features at a lower price for the Malaysian market. There will be two variants – the Golf Highline which will be priced at RM159,888* and the Golf Comfortline priced at RM 149,888* (prices do not include registration and insurance).

Truck News: The Volvo Trucks Asia Pacific Fuelwatch Challenge 2016 is officially announced

As I've mentioned earlier,  Volvo Trucks' annual Fuelwatch Challenge is about to begin and now the official announcement from Volvo Trucks' Asia Pacific has been released. The 2016 Fuelwatch Challenge will again take place where Drivers across the region compete in their respective country editions of the Fuelwatch Challenge to be the top driver in their markets and a chance to contend for the prestigious title of the region’s most fuel-efficient driver at the global final in Sweden this time around.

News: MAA will organise the MY AUTO FEST from 20-22 May 2016 at the Mines International Exhibition and Convention Centre

The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA)  will be organising a sales and promotion oriented auto exhibition called "My Auto Fest" at the Mines International Exhibition and Convention Centre (MIECC) from 20 - 22 May. The purpose of the event was that many of MAA's car company members felt that they should organise sales-oriented and promotion event to encourage better auto sales leading up to the  Hari Raya festive  season.

Test Drive: Renault Captur TCe 120 EDC - Renault's is out to capture the compact crossover market

The Renault Captur that I tested here is a something we call a Compact Crossover or a B segment SUV. Like most small SUVs in this category, it is based on a B segment sized car. It is actually based on the fourth generation Renault Clio compact car which has been made slightly longer, wider and taller.  Here in Malaysia, there is one model in the Captur lineup, the Captur TCe 120 EDC.

Updates on reviews in the near future - Ford, Renault, Peugeot & Mercedes Benz

It has been a busy few weeks for Yours Truly. However, I would like to inform that there will be several test drive reviews that would be published in the near future. I will be writing about the following cars and the drive experience of each vehicle. It was a nice experience in each of the vehicles. 

Full Test Drives include:

Truck News: Scania Malaysia delivers two units of Scania P360 LA 4x2 MNA trucks to Circular Agency Sdn Bhd

From left to right, Ganesh Nallu Kumaran, Sales Executive at Scania 

Malaysia; Tom Kuiphuis, Pre Sales Director at Scania Southeast Asia; handing the trucks 

over to Dato' Lee Hau Hian, Managing Director of Batu Kawan Berhad and Mr. Tan Boon 

Chye, General Manager of Circular Agency Sdn. Bhd. & North-South Transport Sdn. Bhd.

CSW_3537 – Scania Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. and Circular Agency Sdn. Bhd. at the truck 

handover ceremony.

Scania Malaysia recently delivered two units of Scania P360 LA 4x2 MNA trucks to Circular Agency Sdn Bhd (CA). The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Malay-Sino Chemical Industries Sdn Bhd, which is part of the Batu Kawan Berhad group. The keys to the Scania trucks were handed over by Pre-Sales Director of Scania Southeast Asia, Tom Kuiphuis to the Managing Director of Batu Kawan Berhad, Dato’ Lee Hau Hian. 

The Group B Rally Car that every one has overlooked at one time or another - The Citroen BX 4TC

Group B Rallying was the maddest and craziest the World Rally Championships had ever been. The Group B rallying lasted from around 1982 to 1986 where drivers got killed and spectators too. The cars were ridiculously overpowered. In those days, Group B cars had little restrictions on technology, design and the even the number of homologated cars that would have to be sold to the public was less (about 200 cars or so, usually manufacturers ended up making less but got away with it). Very low weight was allowed with high-tech materials permitted, and there were no restrictions on boost (unlike the group A cars that actually form the basis of WRC rallying to this day). This usually resulted in the power output of Group B specials hitting 500bhp in 1986, the final year of Group B. Every big manufacturer wanted in on it as it was interesting. Performance and power without limits. 

Truck News: 2015 Diamond FUSO Contest Finale winner wins a Mercedes Benz GLA200 & this year's contest has already started!!!!

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia celebrates customer loyalty with 2015 Diamond FUSO Contest. Commercial Vehicles, Vice President, Albert Yee (left) presents the final grand prize, a Mercedes-Benz GLA 200, to Ng Fook Min from Huan Sin Cycle Motor Sdn Bhd receives the prize on behalf of Metfab Engineering Sdn Bhd.

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Sdn Bhd, authorised distributor of FUSO trucks in Malaysia, has announced the 2015 winner of its popular Diamond FUSO Contest. Last year, over 2,500 entries contested for a chance to win the grand prize worth RM236,888 - a Mercedes Benz GLA200 SUV.

Truck News: Volvo FuelWatch Challenge 2016 is about to begin!

Volvo Trucks' annual Fuelwatch Challenge is about to begin!

The Fuelwatch Challenge 2016 is a competition organized by Volvo Trucks annually for its customers (truck owners/operators) especially for their truck drivers. The competition is a platform to explore the drivers skill and impart information/knowledge to help achieve maximum truck performance with minimum fuel usage (very economical driving techniques). The competition also aims to foster safety awareness among the drivers both during his course of work and otherwise. This will help companies reduce wastage and to reduce truck operating costs wherever we can and also increase road safety awareness among those who use the highways and roads so much more than most of us.

Compact SUVs are usually based on compact hatchbacks. Are they worth the extra money?

Here is something to get you folks to start thinking a little.

Compact Crossover vehicles - These are B segment SUVs. Small, compact and usually based on a small B segment sedan or hatchback and made larger. Usually manufacturers widen the chassis a little, raise it a little, slap on some larger tyres and slot in a larger engine too. Sometimes, stretch the chassis a little. But it is essentially the same car underneath.

Volkswagen Malaysia's stock clearance for 2014/2015 models

Clearance going on at Volkswagen dealers nationwide.....