The Hyundai IONIQ HEV is awarded the EURO NCAP 5 STARS

Hyundai Sime Darby Motors, the official distributor had just launched the all-new Hyundai IONIQ hybrid compact car yesterday and recently, EURO NCAP had tested it and have awarded the car with the overall maximum 5 star safety rating! 

SHORT TEST DRIVE: THE JAGUAR F-PACE 3.0 Supercharged R-Sport - The noise, I love the noise it makes

I must say that this compact luxury SUV is a surprise. The thing about the F-PACE is that it sits on a special to Jaguar-only platform. It uses the same platform as the new Jaguar XE and C-X17 Concept SUV. When it first came out I thought Jaguar Land Rover was going to take the Range Rover Evoque chassis, slap on a Jaguar nose and change the plumbing so that the car sounds like a growly Jag instead of a subdued Landie or Range. But no. I was wrong.

Jaguar F-PACE launched in Malaysia - Link to the short test drive of the F-PACE 3.0 R-Sport inside

The All-New Jaguar F-PACE has been launched. It is a performance SUV from Jaguar with unrivalled dynamics, matched with everyday usability all in a compact luxury SUV package (think Audi Q5, Mercedes GLC in terms of usable size folks - it is not a large X5 or GLE sized SUV). 

PROTON BAGS 3 AWARDS AT THE ASEAN NCAP GRAND PRIX AWARD 2016

Proton has also won a slew of awards at yesterday's ASEAN NCAP Grand Prix Award 2016 which were held in conjunction with ASEAN NCAP'S 5th anniversary and the STOP THE CRASH ASEAN 2016 event held at Sepang International Circuit over the past two days. 

The 3 awards were:

The Perodua Bezza receives Best Occupant Protection for child and adult award by ASEAN NCAP

The ASEAN NCAP Grand Prix Awards has just concluded earlier tonight. This is the first time the ASEAN NCAP awards for the most safest vehicle and related categories of the year are announced in conjunction with their two day STOP THE CRASH event at Sepang International Circuit (which continues tomorrow). One happy winner is Perodua.

The STOP THE CRASH event by ASEAN NCAP on Road Safety equipment and tech - Proton, Toyota, Subaru, Volvo and most Importantly, BOSCH with their Motorcycle ABS

I spent this tuesday morning at the Sepang International Circuit at the Stop The Crash Event organised by  ASEAN NCAP and also MIROS (Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research). This was the first ever event conducted by ASEAN NCAP on road safety awareness but from a technology point of view. Vehicles with the latest in road safety technology were brought out and the safety features were demonstrated to the guest who attended the event, which by the way is also carried out tomorrow (the 30th of November 2016) for those who have pre-registered.

The HYUNDAI IONIQ HEV is launched in Malaysia - Priced to go from RM103,390.27!

Hyundai Sime Darby Motors has launched the Hyndai IONIQ Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) in Malaysia. The 'driving device' will be sold in two specifications - the IONIQ HEV and the IONIQ HEV Plus. The prices offered are surprising as their previous press release stated the car to be around the RM130,000 price range. Now at its launch, they've surprised us as the IONIQ HEV comes in at RM103,390.27 OTR with insurance and RM114,165.87 for the IONIQ HEV Plus.

GOODYEAR’S EAGLE-360 CHOSEN AS ONE THE 26 BEST INVENTIONS OF 2016 BY TIME MAGAZINE

Time Magazine has chosen the Goodyear Eagle-360 concept tyre (tire in American English) as one of TIME Magazine's “Best Inventions of the Year 2016.” Of course it is. This tyre is as round as a ball. It isn't a doughnut. It is a sphere. So it definitely is unique and could re-invent the wheel (by not having a wheel in the first place). Wow.

Truck News: UD Trucks’ Extra Mile Challenge 2016 - The Malaysian Team wins first prize!!!

Congratulations is in order. A UD Trucks team from Malaysia took part in this year's ‘UD Trucks Extra Mile Challenge 2016’ and came out tops in the competition. The UD Trucks Extra Mile Challenge took place in UD Experience Centre at the company's headquarters in Ageo, Japan.

Scooter & Industry News: MODENAS Launches 3 scooters - The Modenas Karisma 125, Elegance 250i & KYMCO 250i Downtown

I had nothing better to do last friday afternoon. It was after lunch and I had no appointments as it was friday. No one does appointments on friday after lunch these days (unless your boss is cruel or you are a cruel boss). So anyway, I had an invite from the people at DRB-Hicom to attend the launch of two new scooter models from MODENAS (their motorcycle division basically) - the all-new Karisma 125 and Elegan 250i as well as the launch of the KYMCO 250i Downtown. The Kymco scooter is actually a new model from Modenas' latest principal KYMCO, who make and sell scooters in many parts of the world, and is a market leader in its home-country, Taiwan.

Happenings: Ford / Sime Darby Auto Connexion's Third Annual 'World Cup' Challenge skills competition for sales consultants

The Ford and local partner Sime Darby Auto Connexion's 2016 World Cup Challenge reflects Ford’s investment in developing the skills of their sales consultants through intensive trainings as well as provides a platform for our sales consultants to sharpen their skills and knowledge in order to deliver competent sales experience to their customers

Haval Malaysia offers very generous incentives on the Haval M4 Crossover

If you are interested in buying something that is very different but in the price bracket of the usual Perodua and Proton range of vehicles there is that compact crossover from Haval Malaysia to consider. Now, Haval have announced a slew of incentives including a fantastically long 7 year unlimited mileage warranty. It would make sense as these days a lot of Malaysians take car loans of up to 9 years.

Happenings: BMW Group Malaysia Reveals Finalists for BMW Shorties 2016 - 12 from a record total of 115 entries.

7 of the 12 finalists with BMW's Mr Sashi Ambi, Head of Corporate Communications, BMW Group Malaysia (left) & Nadira Llana (2nd from left)

BMW Group Malaysia has announced the finalists of the BMW Shorties 2016 short film making competition. 12 finalists’ short films are up to contend for the People’s Choice Award which opens for public voting from the 30 th November to 7 th December, 2016 on www.bmwshorties.com.my.

PROTON launches the Ertiga compact MPV

The Proton Ertiga has been launched. Proton Ertiga is a compact sized MPV and it is the first model introduced through Proton’s collaboration with Suzuki.  It comes in 2 variants – the Executive (manual [MT] and automatic [AT]); and Executive Plus (AT) transmissions respectively with prices starting from RM58,800 up to RM64,800 for Peninsular Malaysia.

Young Aces Technical College (YATC) for automotive courses officially opens its doors

The Young Aces Technical College (YATC) officially launched its vocational learning centre last friday, the 18th of November 2016. The launch was graced by Yang Amat Mulia Tengku Syarif Temenggong Perlis, Dato’ Seri Diraja Syed Amir Abidin Jamalullail (brother to the Raja of Perlis) and his wife, Yang Mulia Che Puan Temenggong Perlis, Datin Seri Diraja Farinawati Datuk Mohd Din. The launch was also attended by Leona Chin, celebrity female drifter and motorsport athlete as well as YATC partners from Mintye Industries Berhad, JPK Malaysia and SkillsMalaysia.

The 2017 Hyundai Grand Starex Royale is launched in Malaysia

Hyundai Sime Darby Motors has launched the latest facelifted Hyundai Grand Starex Royale in Malaysia. The new 2017 Model Year Grand Starex Royale gets some exterior updates starting a new massive looking front chrome grille and bumper. 

BMW Dealer Tian Siang Premium Auto is the official automotive partner for the new Design Village Mall in Batu Kawan - BMW Roadshow on 25th-27th November 2016

Tian Siang Premium Auto, the authorised representative for the BMW brand in the Butterworth and Prai in Penang is the Official Premium Automotive Partner for the Opening Ceremony of the new Design Village Mall in Batu Kawan, Penang. The premium automotive dealership will be shuttling Dignitaries and VIPs in a Fleet of BMW 7 Series, BMW X4, BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer and BMW 1 Series vehicle during its opening day.

Spotted For Sale: Sometimes, a Toyota Avanza's condition is so good until its God-like

A typo. Or an actual lack of how to spell correctly. Anyway, a 'God Condtion' Toyota Avanza is all you need. Full Loan available too. Most probably endorsed not by a local bank but by heaven.

Six new Vespa models displayed at 70th Anniversary Vespa celebration in Publika Shopping Gallery, Kuala Lumpur

I actually went to see some Vespa scooters at the recent Malaysian Vespa 70th Anniversary Celebrations. A big thing since I am not really a bike kinda guy. But this is a Vespa. Something cute, cuddly and very Italian. Not to mention a style icon. I like style icons.  The event, “The Largest Vespa Gathering”, was held at Publika Shopping Gallery last Saturday, 19th November 2016. 

Caltex Fuel Your School Programme creates positive impact for over 10,000 students

Caltex (aka Chevron Malaysia) has successfully completed its annual Caltex Fuel Your School programme (“Caltex FYS”) in partnership with MyKasih Foundation. This year, this Corporate Social Responsibility programme has benefited over 10,000 students collectively in both Pahang and Kelantan schools.