Latest Test Drive
2024
November 2024
Six ‘Hot’ Mercedes to Whet Your Appetite
IF MONEY is no problem, here are six ‘hot’ Mercedes-Benz models to choose from according to your whims and fancies. Mercedes-Benz Malaysia describes its latest model offerings as its luxury showcase to pander the elite class.
Competitively Priced MG5 To Drive Market
IF THERE is one thing you have to take your hat off to, it is the Chinese automotive industry for the way in which it has developed in leaps and bounds over the past decade. It has come out with vehicles that could do things that were unimaginable before without sacrificing performance, quality and reliability.
October 2024
Xpander Wows ‘Em on Practical Space
SPACE is often a priority with vehicle owners looking for a vehicle to accommodate his family transport needs. Fitting the bill is either the MPV (multipurpose vehicle) or SUV (sport utility vehicle).
September 2024
Premium Omoda C9 SUV to Whet Luxury Tastes
TO SPARE you the confusion that we too had earlier, let’s enlighten you as to why there are two apparently different car brands from China selling a vehicle with the same name – Omoda. Firstly, Chery and JAECOO are ‘related’ and this status is somewhat similar to that of Toyota and Lexus.
Top selling Mitsubishi Xpander Gets Refreshed
AS THE top-selling non-national MPV (multipurpose vehicle) in the Malaysian vehicle market, the Mitsubishi Xpander has certainly caught the imagination of many buyers desiring such a vehicle. Since its introduction to the market in 2020, more than 40,000 Xpanders were sold to date.
New Mercedes E-Class Gets More Connected
ENGAGING the driver even more is the latest focus for the latest Mercedes-Benz E-Class as it ‘evolves around you’ being its development theme. The new E-Class is hailed as the most advanced business sedan with its artificial intelligence (AI) learning capabilities via ‘routines’.
EON: Boosting Brand Loyalty Through Better Customer Engagement
SELLING a passenger vehicle today is more than just taking customer orders, delivering the vehicle and servicing it thereafter based on service and warranty terms. There is now a need to impress the customer with greater attention in follow-up service and offers to achieve a positive impression and boost brand loyalty.
Xpeng G6 Lights Up EV SUV market
WITH the heightened flurry of action in the Malaysian EV (electric vehicle) market, it’s not something once could ignore as a car distributor and player. Although the Bermaz Group has its range of EVs from Kia and Mazda to cater the increasing demand, it probably ...
August 2024
Getting Top Mileage with Honda City Hatchback e:HEV
THE Malaysian car owner preference for hatchbacks was clearly established from the early 1980s when some automotive distributors introduced them as an alternative to the sedan variant. Hatchbacks obviously appealed to the younger buyers as such body profile looks sportier without the boot.
BFGoodrich KOs rivals with Third-Generation KO3
FEW might have heard of the BFGoodrich name but those who venture to challenging off-road terrain would certainly vouch for its capability under highly trying conditions. You would expect nothing less for an American tyre brand that develops its tyres in very demanding events like the Baja 1000, a most ...
Range Rover Evoque: Tailored for City Drives
SOME European countries are already taking steps to curtail the number of SUVs (sport utility vehicles) on their roads, in particular city centres, as such vehicles are too big for the parking lots and urban road system. It might come in the form of higher taxes or even city entry charges.
July 2024
ORA 07 Paves Way for Affordable EV Sports Cars
ELECTRIC Vehicle (EV) sports cars are no longer available only as high-end or ultra-premium range models if the Chinese automotive manufacturers could help it. As a global leading force in producing EVs, several automotive brands in China are already introducing mouth-watering sports cars without costing the earth.
June 2024
VW Touareg R-Line Hits Home On Premium SUV Motoring
THE Premium SUV (sport utility vehicle) market is a hotbed of activity where prospective customers are increasingly spoilt for choice. There is the super luxury class for the ultra-elite segment of society, the luxury range for the fat wallets and the premium range for the well-off folks.
May 2024
Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain Gets More Premium and Bolder
THERE is obviously a market for premium pick-ups and Isuzu is certainly capitalising on this niche demand with its D-Max X-Terrain. Recently, it introduced the latest D-Max variant that carries styling and equipment updates to stay ahead of the ...
Tank 300 & Haval H6 Hybrid: China Previews
IT’S NOT often that you hear of luxury SUVs (sport utility vehicles) from China apart from the BEVs (battery electric vehicles). Well, GWM (Great Wall Motor) is going to change that when it introduces the Tank 300 in Malaysia shortly.
Multiple Award Winner Kia EV9 Arrives
THE age of EVs (electric vehicles) is very much upon us and the Korean carmakers are making sure that they are right on the ball. Kia, for one, already has a multiple award winner in its EV9 SUV (sport utility vehicle) and its accolades include being selected as the 2024 World Car and World EV of the Year.
April 2024
Ferrari’s Leisure Open-Top Drive in the Roma Spider
DRIVING a Ferrari along the twisty Balik Pulau road in Penang has to be a great dream. And there we were recently driving the Roma Spider with the soft-top down, enjoying the wind rustling our hair as we took to the series of corners at a leisurely trot.
Top Flight Mercedes-Benz Luxury Showcase
TOP flight motoring options just got better with four new alternatives from Mercedes-Benz – a Maybach SUV (sport utility vehicle), an AMG S-Class, an updated premium SUV and a dazzling coupé. You couldn’t ask for a more varied option that panders to the respective tastes, each with a top dollar price to match.
March 2024
Mercedes-Benz C 200 Lives Up to Top Billing in CKD Package
THE Mercedes-Benz C-Class is said to be the best-selling model series over the last 10 years in Malaysia. Since it first took shape as the Mercedes-Benz 190, the German premium carmaker says more than 10.5 million of the C-Class were delivered globally since 1982.
Contemporary Styling Keeps Latest Mazda CX-5 Flying
THE Mazda CX-5 remains a strong favourite among Malaysian SUV (sport utility vehicle) owners, even in its latest version, due to its contemporary styling. Rivals makes might have gone through complete design updates but few have achieved the same timeless look as the Mazda CX-5.
February 2024
Going full hybrid with the Mercedes-Benz C 350 e
MERCEDES-BENZ took the initial step of going ‘electric’ with the C 200 that was launched two years ago featuring a second-generation integrated starter-generator (ISG) to qualify as a mild hyrbid. It uses a 48-volt electrical system for ‘intelligent assistance’ at low engine speeds that includes boosting or energy recovery to make ‘significant’ fuel savings possible.
Mercedes-Benz E 200 Well Up To Mark in Executive Motoring
THE Mercedes-Benz E-Class is the model that bear the three-pointed star prominently as an executive sedan in the world market. Given its successful grounding over the years since its early days in the late 1940s, the E-Class had been poised to clearly reflect a person’s social standing.
Janaury 2024
New Macan’s Electrifying World Premiere
THE new Porsche Macan made an electrifying start to its World Premiere in Gardens by the Bay, Singapore to become the second fully electric Porsche model and first electric SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) in its range. For sure, Porsche is showing its EV (electric vehicle) capability by featuring the entry-level SUV as a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle).
2023
December 2023
Mercedes SUVs deliver solid drive, whether electrically or engine powered
THE joy of car ownership is often in the driving, whether it is an entry level model or a premium one. It is a decisive factor after acquiring the vehicle based on its looks, price, social features and product support in servicing and spare-parts.
Feature-Laden New Honda CR-V Gets More Premium
THE latest Honda CR-V SUV (sport utility vehicle) has arrived, fully laden with more safety equipment and improved features in a newly designed styling package that’s bound to turn heads. It has grown bigger to complement the longer wheelbase and the top turbo model V comes standard with All-Wheel Drive.
Sixth-Gen Honda CR-V Continues Winning Ways in Chiangmai
THERE is a reason why almost 130,000 Honda CR-Vs have found a sweet spot with Malaysian SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) owners since it was introduced here. Right from the start, it has the looks, performance and social functionality that seemed to gel with Malaysian vehicle owners.
October 2023
Audi Offers Sporty Driving with RS e-tron GT
THE sporty side of EV (electric vehicle) driving is taking shape quickly to entice those who wish to do their part for the environment without losing the pleasure of fast and dynamic driving. In that respect, Audi has its wide range of e-tron models to pander a fair selection of the local market.
September 2023
Honda WR-V Lives Up To Expectations in Langkawi
HONDA appears to have struck gold here with its entry-level WR-V, completing the SUV (sport utility vehicle) family. Since its launch in July, more than 3200 Winsome Runabout Vehicles (WR-Vs) were delivered to eager owners desiring a compact SUV to reflect their mobile lifestyle. This is slightly less than half of the 7000-plus bookings that were received.
August 2023
Exploring Potenza Sport’s Potential at Sepang
THE Bridgestone Potenza Sport is a flagship tyre launched in August 2021 to replace the Potenza S007A. Yes, you read that right; this tyre was launched two years ago. Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, Bridgestone Tyres Sales (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd decided to keep a low profile on the tyre till now.
Dolphin Offers Best of Both Worlds
IT’S hardly surprising that the BYD Dolphin has arrived to an overwhelming response in Malaysia. Being highly affordable for an EV (electric vehicle) doesn’t mean the potential Malaysian buyer is shortchanged on product features and equipment.
Proton X90 Gets Going With Electric Power Assistance
IT WAS only a matter of time that the Proton SUV (sport utility vehicle) range gets a new flagship and sure enough, the X90 came along to take over from the X70. What was a little surprising was that it came only with 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo power with no bigger non-turbo engine displacement alternative as that available for the X70.
July 2023
Build Your Electric Dreams With Well-Priced Dolphins
LOOKS like EVs (electric vehicles) are now coming within the reach of more buyers with the latest model from BYD (Build Your Dreams), the Dolphin. No, BYD is not selling you a fish but a neat hatchback that is as spacious as it is forward looking.
Tesla Hits Town With Best-Selling Model Y
TESLA has bucked the automotive world with its bold EV (electric vehicle) move in the early 2000s, gaining strong momentum over the years to achieve an annual sales volume of more than a million in 2022. The Model Y is one of its best movers and is the obvious choice to make Tesla’s entry into the Malaysian market.
Honda Rides on ‘New Wave’ with WR-V SUV
GIVEN the current preference for SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles), it’s a matter of time before more options are introduced to pander the trend. This was obviously not lost on Honda Malaysia and the result is the new WR-V or Winsome Runabout Vehicle that would complete its SUV range nicely as the entry-level model.
Kia Expands Malaysian Product Range with Niro EV
Kia distributor Dinamikjaya Motors Sdn Bhd has followed up on the Kia EV6 with the latest second-generation Niro Crossover EV (electric vehicle). Beside expanding the Kia vehicle range in Malaysia, the entry of the Niro EV gives the market more choice in picking an EV to pander the respective taste and preference.
June 2023
Mercedes A-Class Facelift Sepang Experience
THE Mercedes-Benz A-Class is the entry level model and since it was introduced as a saloon, it has gained wider acceptance from prospective buyers while the younger and outgoing set leans towards the more powerful AMG models. We got an insight in both the mundane and exciting part of the latest A-Class that has undergone a facelift exercise at the Sepang International Circuit.
Powerfully exciting Mercedes-AMG EV sedans
GOING fully electric doesn’t mean taking the fun out of driving if Mercedes-AMG has anything to do with it. While Mercedes-Benz Malaysia had been introducing its respective range of EVs (electric vehicles) here in AMG Line trim, the launch of the AMG EQS 53 and EQE 53 ups the ante on powerful EV options for the well-heeled to consider.
April 2023
Lotus Goes Mainstream in Sporty Style with Eletre EV
HOPPING onto the SUV (sport utility vehicle) bandwagon could be a difficult choice for a brand that’s dedicated to only making sports cars. But when you see others going so-called mainstream by producing their unique SUV range, such as the Lamborghini Urus and Ferrari’s upcoming SUV, you couldn’t go wrong heading ...
Top-Selling Mercedes GLC Gets Complete Makeover
IF YOU have been waiting for a completely new Mercedes-Benz GLC to come along, your wish is finally granted. Make no mistake, the Mercedes-Benz GLC has been a top seller here in its category with more than 12,000 vehicles sold since it landed on our shores in 2016. Globally, its numbers are even more impressive ...
March 2023
Preview of Next-Gen Triton At Bangkok Motor Show
THE recent 44th Bangkok Motor Show dazzled with several fascinating displays that were definitely of interest to Malaysian car buyers. This included the preview of the next-generation Mitsubishi Triton along with the latest Honda CR-V and Toyota Hilux.
Honda Still On A Roll for 2023
THE excitement at Honda continues into 2023 with the impending launch of appealing new models and a facelift in the pipeline. Adding to that are the new 2S (Service and Spare-parts) centres, strengthening ‘key pillars’ in its model portfolio and boosting its e:HEV (hybrid) footing in the Malaysian market.
Honda Civic e:HEV Just As Frugal On Highway Drives
THE strength of a hybrid vehicle is in its excellent fuel frugal ways in urban driving due to electric power being applied most of the time. This urban aspect is fully proven and if this could be applied to long distance drives as well, the hybrid advantage would be fully complete.
Mazda CX-30 Finally Goes Local Assembly
THE local assembly of the Mazda CX-30 Crossover has finally been fulfilled now that the pandemic is over. The three-year delay was unexpected due to the Covid-19 virus scourge disrupting the production chain, from parts manufacture and sourcing to vehicle assembly.
February 2023
Mercedes-Benz EQS CKD Kicks Off EV Ambitions
MERCEDES-Benz Malaysia is fully committed to its EV (electrical vehicle) ambitions here by kicking off the local assembly of its first EQ model, the EQS 500 4MATIC, at its Pekan, Pahang facility. And starting from the very top in the model range is a clear sign that more EQ models down the line would join the CKD (complete knock down) wagon soon enough
Premium Class Toyota Veloz Meets High Expectations
TOYOTA vehicle owners have rather high expectations of their vehicles and the new Veloz, which replaces the Avanza, meets these lofty anticipations nicely. It comes with all the bells and whistles to qualify as a premium people mover styled along the SUV (sport utility vehicle) body profile. Thus, it is promoted as a Crossover.
January 2023
Hyundai Palisade Facelift To Meet Growing Demand
THERE’S a market for flagship SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles) if someone very important is seeing using them, such as the Agong for one. Apparently, this has become the pull factor for the Hyundai Palisade, of which the facelift model was launched a few days before Chinese New Year.
Kia Sorento and Peugeot Landtrek Previews
FANS of the Kia and Peugeot brands would be pleased to know that more model variants are making their respective entry here this year. For the former, Kia distributor Dinamikjaya Motors Sdn Bhd, listed under Bermaz Auto Berhad, is introducing the latest Kia Sorento while Peugeot distributor Bermaz Auto Alliance Sdn Bhd has the Peugeot Landtrek to perk up the local pick-up market.
2022
November 2022
Good Cat Adds to Growing EV Market
THE successful run of the Toyota Avanza has finally come to the end of the road but despair not, as in its place has come the new Veloz. Boasting new engineering and a completely new body styling, the well-specified (equipment and features) Veloz is seen to befit its model description as a ‘premium Crossover’ in the B-MPV (multipurpose vehicle) market segment.
October 2022
New Veloz ‘Premium Crossover’
THE successful run of the Toyota Avanza has finally come to the end of the road but despair not, as in its place has come the new Veloz. Boasting new engineering and a completely new body styling, the well-specified (equipment and features) Veloz is seen to befit its model description as a ‘premium Crossover’ in the B-MPV (multipurpose vehicle) market segment.
Latest Civic Hybrid Sets New Benchmark
Hybrid vehicles are no longer boring to drive if Honda has its way. The latest Civic hybrid has certainly set a new benchmark in that direction and this was fully recognised in the UK with an award recently.
Ranger Raptor Ups Power Ante With V6 Petrol
POWER drives sales and Ford is right on the ball with its latest Ranger Raptor; it not only boasts of almost doubling the power output of the engine in the previous model but it is delivered with a V6 Twin Turbo EcoBoost petrol engine! That’s a fresh power perspective from Ford in the local pick-up market where turbodiesel engines had dominated until now.
Honda ‘Amps Up’ East Coast Drive with HR-V Turbo & Hybrid
THE Honda HR-V is Honda Malaysia’s best-selling SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) since it was launched in 2015. Up to 110,000 vehicles were sold up to date and it was no surprise that Honda was flooded with orders when the new HR-V was launched in mid-July.
August 2022
Proton X70 No Heavyweight for 1.5 Turbo
SMALL doesn’t mean feeble and this is clearly noted when many carmakers, including premium brands, are developing small displacement engines for their newer range of vehicles. Using turbochargers to raise engine power output without sacrificing fuel consumption is now a widely adopted norm.
Kia Carnival Goes Premium Class With Fewer Seats
THERE was more to the Kia Carnival than being a 11-seat people mover when it first landed on Malaysian shores in January 2022. It has the dimensional volumes and modern looks to match rivals, an attractive price to turn heads and the company to back it up on after-sale services.
July 2022
GAC GS3 Spice Up SUV Market
WITH the SUV (sport utility vehicle) market in full swing, the entry of new players gives buyers more options to consider. This trend is taking place across the different model platforms, from the entry level to the mid-range models to the comparative D-level premium class options.
Pirelli Expands Cinturato Market Reach
FANCY the option of fitting Pirelli Cinturato tyres for your Crossover or SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) for the next tyre change? Well, you have that choice now as Pirelli has expanded its Cinturato tyre range to include such vehicles in the tyre replacement market.
June 2022
Kawasaki’s Aggressive Return With Ninja 250 CKD
IF YOU have been wondering what happened to Kawasaki in the Malaysian market for the past two years, well, we are pleased to inform you that Kawasaki is back and making a strong statement with the Ninja 250 and Z250 models assembled by Modenas.
May 2022
Latest Subaru XV Gets Better ‘EyeSight’
ELECTRONICS in automotive use is increasingly being applied to make driving less of a manual affair and many of the newer range of vehicles being introduced are seeing this development trend. The latest Subaru XV is one such example.
Latest Civic Ups Ante on Sporty Yet Urbane Drive
THE Honda Civic has carved out a distinct niche in the Malaysian market that looks unshakeable. It has captured the imagination of the up-and-coming man about town with its sporty orientation while serving his more docile needs as a comfortable family car.
April 2022
New C-Class Comes of Age with Hybrid Power
THE latest Mercedes-Benz C-Class has come of age in two primary ways; firstly, it is now a mid-size sedan and no longer an entry-level one while its status elevation is matched by its inclusion to the hybrid engine circle. For the former, the new A-Class sedan is now the entry-level model.
March 2022
Merc’s Latest GLA Ups Youthful Appeal
MERCEDES-Benz’s latest GLA range maintains the strong momentum the German carmaker had achieved in expanding its SUV (sport utility vehicle) range. As the entry-level model, the GLA range does not fall short in projecting the premium class that it belongs to. And the positive support it has received in Malaysia has seen to the GLA being locally assembled.
January 2022
Comfortable Ipoh drive in the latest Kia Carnival
KIA is making a calculated move on its ‘return’ to the Malaysian market under a new umbrella. Instead of focusing on the mass appeal range, this Korean carmaker is looking at re-establishing its presence at the more premium sector.
Myvi Goes Just As Gung-ho With CVT
THE Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) has been around for quite a while going back to the days when the car was still in its infancy. It is increasingly becoming the favoured choice today as carmakers realised that such a transmission work best with small capacity engines by allowing more efficient operation in tapping power output and providing better fuel mileages.
2021
November 2021
Hyundai Eyes Luxury MPV Inroad With ‘Customised’ Staria Premium
HYUNDAI is not shy on its ambitions in Malaysia through Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors, especially when taking on established names with seemingly firm stranglehold in the market. The luxury people mover segment where MPVs (multipurpose vehicles) play a dominant role is one such area.
Peugeot 3008 & 5008 Evolve Aggressively
THE recent change of hands in the Peugeot dealership in Malaysia to Bermaz Auto Alliance is followed up with the launch of the latest evolvement of the popular 3008 and 5008 SUVs (sport utility vehicles). In addition to the quest for greater modernity in these vehicles’ body design elements, an aggressive streak is also added for a more forward appeal.
April 2021
Triton Athlete Well Up To Mark Off-roading
THE Mitsubishi Triton has enjoyed a strong following since it was introduced here and the latest generation model appeared to have endeared it to a bigger market with its bold and aggressive frontage. This forward design gave the Triton a distinctive brand identity that many Mitsubishi pickup owners could relate to readily and enthusiastically.
March 2021
Corolla Cross A Complete All-Rounder
IT MIGHT have taken Toyota a bit longer against rivals to come up with an affordable SUV (sport utility vehicle) in the C-segment, much less expand on the options available. The RAV4 was once the SUV of note but this was more of a B-segment model and then there was the Rush, which was another B-segment option. The chasm to the Fortuner was only filled about three years ago by the C-HR.
2020
October 2020
Proton X50 Surpasses Rivals Grandly
PROTON used to score on very affordable prices. Then its value got better with improved standard features. Added to that a better ride and handling quality that was developed with Lotus and things were starting to look brighter. Now, it could lay claim to being a superior performer in performance, safety and driving convenience at an attractive price.
September 2020
Latest Nissan Almera Charges Ahead With Turbo Power
IT MIGHT have taken the Japanese carmakers more than a decade to include turbo power in their mainstream cars, when compared to the Germans, but the ball has indeed started rolling in that direction. Locally, Honda has already set the pace with the Civic, CR-V and lately, the Accord, but down the line, Nissan (or rather Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd - ETCM) has taken the lead with the latest Almera.
February 2020
BMW 2 Series Joins Select Gran Coupe Family
BMW has this select group of Gran Coupes that recently saw its newest member in the 2 Series Gran Coupe. First premiered worldwide at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November last year, the 2 Series Gran Coupe would be available for delivery in global markets from March onwards. A good guess would put the second or third quarter for its entry to Malaysia.
A Lot More D-Max for Less
DOWNSIZING is the current theme in engine displacement and many car makers are making the move - although some are slower than others - in their respective range of new vehicle models. The success in Formula One where powerful 1.6-litre turbo-hybrids have ruled for the past four years is probably a persuasive one for the automotive industry in general.
January 2020
Bentley Flying Spur Makes APAC debut in Singapore
BENTLEY enthusiasts in the Asia Pacific region had their first glimpse of the latest Flying Spur late last year in December in Singapore. The third generation of its family line, this model was launched some six months earlier in the UK and its launch in this part of the world was timed to ensure vehicle delivery would be progressively made from the second quarter of 2020.
2019
October 2019
New Premium Choices in Mazda CX-5 Petrol Turbo and CX-8 Six-Seater Luxury
MAZDA has firmly entrenched itself in the Malaysian market as a premium brand from Japan and this was recently boosted with more SUV (sport utility vehicle) model options to pander the growing pool of strong supporters. This includes the CX-8 that now comes locally assembled and the CX-6 Turbo that takes over as head honcho in its model portfolio.
September 2019
Honda HR-V Hybrid: Smaller Engine, More Kick
GOING Hybrid is almost like going turbocharged; you could make do with a smaller displacement engine while enjoying combined electro-mechanical power that is higher than the engine output produced by a bigger displacement unit. And it could provide better fuel economy too in daily motoring use.
Porsche Taycan All-Electric Sports Car Sets Hot Pace
THE increase in demand for fully electric-powered cars is clearly a trend that couldn’t be ignored and Porsche has heeded the call with its first sporty EV (electric vehicle), the four-door Taycan. And in prestige ranking, it has clearly outranked Tesla in performance, stature and price.
August 2019
Latest Saga Takes Affordable Car Ownership to New Levels
THE NEW Proton Saga has taken value-for-money car ownership to new heights, especially for an entry level model. In a way, this reflects the very first time that the Saga was introduced here as the national car in 1985.
July 2019
Nissan Turns Over New Leaf With Superb E-Pedal
ELECTRIC cars are definitely going to be the vehicles of choice in the not too distant future and in Malaysia, it’s a good time to find out more about electric motoring with the new second-generation Nissan Leaf that was launched by Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM). This is more so with the Leaf’s new E-pedal that takes driving a car to a new level of simplicity and pleasure, without losing the fun factor.
Taking on Sepang with BMW M2 Competition
THE BMW M2 represents a raw and brutal sense of outright performance being the first step to BMW’s world of M cars. This impression, gleaned from our drive of the M2 Coupé during the M Drive in Seoul two years ago, continues to hold after another exciting drive experience with the latest model, the M2 Competition, at the Sepang International Circuit.
May 2019
Dynamic Drive with Iriz and Persona
IT MIGHT have been three years since we last drove a Proton but the impression that stayed with us since then was the good ride comfort of the Persona. We got to re-affirm this aspect of the Persona during a drive from Proton’s Centre of Excellence in Subang Jaya to Tanjung Jara via Kuantan in the updated Persona and Iriz.
Updated X-Trail Scores on Dynamic Refinement
THERE was once when we didn’t quite look forward to driving SUVs (sport utility vehicles) as being taller vehicles, they tend to roll more into a corner when pushed hard, exaggerating the understeer as the front tyres squealed in protests. That has all changed in recent years with electrical management of suspension and brake function in complement with improved suspension engineering.
April 2019
Great Yaris All-Rounder for the Young & Young at Heart
TOYOTA is warming up very nicely to the new theme ‘All About The Drive’. Its successive range of vehicles in the current era is getting more dynamically sound and would hold its own through winding road sections, quite unlike the scenario more than a decade ago.
February 2019
Slip-sliding with Triton in Sabah
HAVING been quite impressed with what the new Mitsubishi Triton had to offer during our brief off-road experience under controlled conditions on the outskirts of Bangkok in November 2018, we were looking to see if the impression could be enhanced with actual off-road drives in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah two months later.
January 2019
Bentley’s latest Continental GT Gets More Macho, Yet Remains Suave
THE BEST gets even better and you have to believe that when it comes to the Bentley Continental GT. Late last year, the third generation of the Continental GT was introduced to the Asia-Pacific region, namely Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Singapore and the rest of Southeast Asia.
Latest Toyota Vios Gets More Comfortable & Dynamic
TOYOTA is increasingly shedding its conservative look and developing cars that look more outgoing and aggressive, while improving its dynamic feel and performance. And yet retain its family oriented qualities in a comfortable ride for everyone on board. The latest Vios is an excellent example of this progressive evolvement from the staid and boring image to a vibrant and lively one.
November 2018
New Triton Gets Gung-Ho While Being More Civilised
LOOKS are everything, even for a pick-up truck. This particular vehicle has come a long way from being a mere workhorse, commonly applied in menial industries such as agriculture, construction and field services. Today, it doubles as a workhorse and personal transport for individual entrepreneurs involved in these industries.
October 2018
Renault Koleos and its Charming Ways
THE Renault Koleos appears to be winning the hearts of critics that evaluate vehicles for automotive awards. It was recently selected as the winner in the Large SUV/Crossover 5-seater category by an English news media for the second year in succession.
September 2018
Daihatsu Gran Max Automatic Strikes New Ground
CONSIDERATIONS for vehicle purchase in the commercial vehicle sector differ significantly from private vehicle ownership. A business has to make money and that figures prominently when it comes to buying a vehicle to serve the trade.
July 2018
Audi Sport Morphs Further For More Distinct Identity
AUDI might be seen as the more premium range in the Volkswagen Group but that doesn’t stop this carmaker from establishing itself as a manufacturer of exciting cars to drive. Its participation in motor sports, such as the World Endurance events (although it has now switched its focus to Formula Electric) and world rallies in early ...
June 2018
Bridgestone Turanza T005A Designed for Asean Region
TYRE development also focuses on regional needs, especially where demand is big enough, and Bridgestone is mindful of that. This was clearly demonstrated in the latest version of its flagship tyre Turanza, the T005A.
May 2018
Latest Nissan Serena Goes Quieter and More Comfortably
THE new Nissan Serena S-Hybrid is a perfect example of what better engineering could do to make quiet, comfortable family motoring to be fully enjoyed. This is our impression after driving it to Penang and back to KL over two days. Our benchmark was the drive in the previous Serena five years ago to the south of KL. The Serena we drove to Penang was the 2.0L Highway Star.
April 2018
Latest Honda CR-V no pushover with smaller engine
IT MIGHT have taken the Continental carmakers to set the pace but the Japanese brands are beginning to take up the challenge, some of them anyway. This is the use of small displacement engines but with efficiently managed turbocharging systems to give them big displacement engine power.
Yokohama dB brings silent motoring to quieter levels
SILENT motoring has become a key factor in new car purchases, especially in the middle to premium class market. With carmakers producing vehicles that run quieter with more efficient engines and better body buffers to reduce transmission of noise into the passenger cabin, tyre makers are pressed into doing their part as well.
January 2018
Subaru XV: More Goodies for a Pleasant Drive
Better looks aside, the new Subaru XV Crossover is clearly a better representation of the times with its higher level of equipment to make the ownership experience more convenient and enjoyable. With our last acquaintance in the previous XV reasonably fresh in our mind, we could relate to the novelty of enjoying the newer features that now come standard at an affordable price.
Michelin Raises Benchmark with Pilot Sport 4 S
BENCHMARKS are meant to be set and then broken, and Michelin believes it has done just that when it introduced the Pilot Sport 4 S last year. This is the performance version of the Pilot Sport 4 that was introduced earlier to progressively replace the Pilot Sport as an OE (original equipment) tyre for premium cars and vehicles.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
HAPPY NEW YEAR
HAPPY NEW YEAR
December 2017
Goodyear Expands EfficientGrip Range with Premium Tyre
CHANGE is a constant and it applies to everything, not least of all the automotive and its ancillary industries. Tyres are a must and vehicle development is often done with the tyres the car manufacturers would like to use. The vehicle’s suspension system is normally geared towards the range of tyres it is running on.
November 2017
Double Turbo Options for Hyundai Tucson
THE turbo fever is certainly catching on fast, especially at Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors Sdn Bhd (HSDM) as it followed up to the Elantra Sport Turbo with two new Tucson turbocharged models. That is giving the lifestyle automotive market a double kick instead of one to spice up one’s motoring pleasure.
October 2017
Honda BR-V adds zest to entry level Crossover
HONDA Malaysia’s strategy to make car ownership exciting and affordable is certainly making waves and inroads. Well on its way to achieving 100,000 car sales for the first time this year, we could relate to its ambitious goal after finally getting a drive impression in the BR-V.
September 2017
Elantra’s Power Options Expand Appeal
THE latest Hyundai Elantra is made available with two power options – turobocharged and normally aspirated - to expand its appeal. Being the mid-range models, its reach with the younger set clearly allows Hyundai to provide a more exciting alternative in the Elantra Sport Turbo.
July 2017
Continental Blends Sporty and Premium Performance in PremiumContact 6
REACTION to tyre performance probably gets more critical as you go up the premium ladder in the automotive world. Those who drive premium cars would value the ride performance above all else from the tyre while expecting it to provide other related qualities in equally fine doses.
June 2017
Latest Honda Accord Maintains Sporty Executive Appeal
THE Honda Accord has firmly established itself here as one of the popular options for executive motoring among the Asian brands over the years. This is also reflected in the US market especially with the current generation (ninth) model, which has been the top selling car there in the last few years, with the Toyota Camry second best.
Innova Continues Positive Performance in Fresh Perspective
TOYOTA has given the latest Innova a fresh perspective with a sharper body profile that belies its deep roots. This subscribes to its current approach of giving its range of vehicles less of a conservative profile but a more forward, and in some cases even bold, front.
May 2017
Discovering Sun Moon Lake with New Panamera
MENTION the popular tourist spot, Sun Moon Lake, in Nantou County, Taiwan and the last thing you would think of is a fast drive around it in Porsche Panameras. That was our reaction when we received the invitation to experience a drive impression of the latest Panamera. Were we supposed to enjoy a scenic drive around the lake? That would be ironic for a performance car.
Toyota Sienta Checks All Right Spots for Family Motoring
TOYOTA has moved clearly from a conservative stance to a bolder one in body styling for its newer range of passenger vehicles. An example is the latest Camry that has taken on racy, angular lines in front that one would not have expected of this Toyota executive sedan, say ten years ago.
March 2017
Audi Driving Experience with R8 plus
AUDI conducts a regular driving experience at its Audi Sport centre near Ingolstadt, Germany for new car owners as well as interested parties such as the motoring media. We had our taste of this Audi Driving Experience at the highest level with the R8 V10 plus Coupé, which represents its ultimate sports car.
Hyundai Ioniq: Hybrid Motoring for a Song
HYUNDAI is taking the hybrid challenge to Toyota with the Ioniq by offering such a fuel efficient car at a lower price. Although the Ioniq Hybrid would have enjoyed tax incentives under the EEV (Energy Efficient Vehicle) category, commanding a price below RM115,000 makes it a very attractive proposition. Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors is so confident of the good price advantage that the Ioniq is made available as a locally assembled model.
February 2017
Latest Kia Sorento Cuts it on Diesel Power
THE Kia Sorento has always been petrol powered under Naza Kia’s stewardship until the latest model. This has to do with the progressive availability of higher refined diesel fuel that new diesel engines would perform best running on. To gauge the response to this change of power, Naza Kia brought in a low specification model as an alternative option to the higher-spec 2.4-litre petrol models.
Honda Civic 1.5 Turbo: Enjoying the Affordable Dream
THE latest Honda Civic, now in its 10th generation, highlights the move to turbo power for the normal model range. It might have taken the Japanese automotive industry a bit more time to come on stream with such a move but then again, it’s never too late to hop onto this power trend wagon.
January 2017
Twisty Drive in Portugal with new Audi A5 & S5
HOT on the heels of the new Audi A4 came the Audi A5 and punchier S5. The current trend is to develop the two-door coupé version independent of the supposedly base model to stand it out as an individual car instead of being an extended entity. Moreover, these sportier looking cars are also endowed with the more powerful engines in the range.
December 2016
Perodua Bezza: Sedan Alternative of Choice
IT WAS a matter of time before Perodua was going to introduce a sedan model to try for a bigger slice of the market. More Malaysian car owners somehow prefer the sedan more than the hatchback even though Perodua held its own since it started in 1996 with its range of hatchbacks to even outsell its closest rival Proton in recent years.
Chevrolet Introduces ‘Friendlier’ Colorado
THE pickup has grown from a mere workhorse to become a more ‘civilised’ vehicle that now easily doubles for work and family motoring. This dual function for the pickup has seen development focused on making the vehicle more comfortable in ride for all on board as well as being endowed with more features to make it more family savvy.
November 2016
Renault Fluence An Affordable Mid-Range Sedan
THE Renault Fluence has been in the Malaysian market since mid-2014 and in that time close to 300 cars were moved, most of the purchases favouring the higher-spec Dynamique variant. At about RM10,000 more at RM119,888 (on the road without insurance) it makes sense to go for a Dynamique Fluence that has leather seat upholstery, standard daytime running lights and LED (light emitting diode) rear combination lamps.
Second-Gen Persona Scores on Ride Comfort
THE Proton Persona has entered its second generation phase and not a minute too soon. Waning sales required an upgrade to refresh interest and the latest Persona won’t disappoint on that score. It has assumed a completely new look that is definitely mainstream in body design, which is good on one hand and not so good on another.
October 2016
Lamborghini Huracán: The Buriram Experience
IT’S not often that we get an invitation to drive a Lamborghini unless we happen to be a potential customer, which we are in no financial situation to be. We had that pleasure earlier in the year to drive the Huracán LP 580-2 rear-wheel drive at a race circuit in Kaohsiung in Taiwan.
September 2016
BMW X1: Just as good in Front-wheel drive
BMW might have gone front-wheel drive (FWD) since 2014 but some would still raise their eyebrows on being told of such a model from this German carmaker. Perhaps it is because BMW has established its image as a strong rear-driven car that few could perceive it doing the same with a front-driven one.
Strong and clean diesel power with Mazda6 SKYACTIV-D
THE progressive availability of Euro5 diesel is beginning to see the introduction of more advanced diesel cars and vehicles. Mazda is among the few who see this as an opportunity to introduce its advanced diesel range to cater to the growing confidence and acceptance of such cars.
August 2016
Roughing out Brisbane outback with BFGoodrich
THE growing demand for pick-ups and SUVs (sport utility vehicles) in Malaysia reflects the trend in many world markets and this is not lost on BFGoodrich, an American tyre maker. This means the demand for tyres suitable for such vehicles would grow in tandem and there is an opportunity waiting to be tapped.
July 2016
Roomier SUV Option in Hyundai Tucson
THE growing range of SUVs (sport utility vehicles) in the market gives the prospective buyer plenty to choose from. Brand loyalty plays a big role here although the younger customer is more inclined to vehicle looks and equipment that might befit his or her lifestyle. This is where the latest Hyundai Tucson is likely to score in the Malaysian market.
April 2016
Lamborghini Huracán Stays Exciting with Rear-wheel drive
LAMBORGHINI might have been pretty low key compared to its more flamboyant Italian rival in Ferrari but after coming under Audi in the Volkswagen Group more than 15 years ago, it has re-established itself as an exclusive player to contend with. Since Ferruccio Lamborghini founded the company in 1963, it had been on a roller-coaster ride and went through a few changes of ownership.
Renault Captur: Breezy Lifestyle Option with 1.2 Turbo Power
TAPPING on the Crossover or SUV (sport utility vehicle) trend sweeping the market appeared to have paid dividends for Renault franchise holder TC Euro Cars. The company is already into its second batch of imported Captur (pronounced as Capture) as this compact Crossover has found favour with a growing pool of prospective Renault customers.
March 2016
Mercedes-Benz GLE 250d & CLA45 AMG: Contrasting Experiences
TO CELEBRATE Mercedes-Benz 130 Years of Innovation at Cycle & Carriage Bintang Berhad’s Georgetown Autohaus, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia provided the media a variety of vehicles to drive between KL and Penang over two days. We had the opportunity to do the KL-Penang leg in the newly launched GLE 250d and the return leg in the CLA45 4Matic, and it was a world of contrast in experience.
February 2016
Renault Clio GT Line: An Engaging Drive
IT’S been a while since we drove a Renault and the Kangoo was the last model that came to mind. Our memory of this French make – from the early days of the Renault 10, 12, 16 and 17 (1970s) to the more recent Kangoo, Megane and Espace (2000s) – had always been on the comfortable ride that appears to be a hallmark of cars from that country.
January 2016
Latest 3 Series Continues Strong Dynamic Pace
THE BMW 3 Series goes through a fairly long model span, thus facelifts keep its appeal fresh and updated technically to hold firmly against rivals, especially from its German counterparts. In the Malaysian scenario, it may only see one serious rival in the three-point star but in major markets like Europe, China and the US, its rival base is wider.
Nissan X-Trail 2.5L: Standing Well Against Peers
The SUV (sport utility vehicle) or Crossover sector is now an increasingly hotly contested one (even exclusive brands are making them) and the one with the looks and features is likely to gain good market share. With the new X-Trail, Nissan has made tremendous grounds in these two areas to be fully worthy of consideration by many in the market for such vehicles.
December 2015
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Latest Audi A4 Sets New Benchmark
THE Audi A4 is no pushover when it comes to technology, performance, perception, styling and design. This is fully continued in the latest model – the ninth in the series - that is due on Malaysian roads in the first quarter of 2016. Audi calls its latest ‘baby’ the winning four with its ‘fascinating’ synthesis of technology and aesthetics. Technically, that numeral for this model series goes back only four generations to 1995. The earlier four generations went by the name of A80 that was first introduced in 1972.
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BMW Goes X-tra Mile in Premium All-Wheel Drive Motoring
BMW hasn’t looked back since it introduced the All-Wheel Drive (AWD) variant in just about all of its model range. The global demand is so good that the AWD range accounts for about a third of BMW sales today. BMW obviously has got it right to command that kind of appeal.
November
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Ford Renews Focus with EcoBoost Power
THE Ford Focus enters its fourth generation cycle, carrying the best-seller torch for the brand with a new look and efficient turbo power. Yes, the latest Focus now looks fully a part of the new Ford family with the characteristic trapezoidal grille and EcoBoost power.
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BMW X1 Second Generation Joins Front Drive Momentum
THE front-wheel drive momentum is picking up speed at BMW; at least for the smaller range of cars. Hot on the heels of the 2 Series Active Tourer and Gran Tourer, BMW has added the second generation X1 SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle) to its new front-wheel drive family.
October
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Jaguar XE Continues British ‘Cat’ Revival
JAGUAR has had quite a colourful journey since it first appeared as the SS Jaguar in late 1935. It was after the Second World War that Jaguar established its niche as a maker of sports cars with a series of successful models; XK120 (1948-1954), XK140 (1954-1957), XK150 (1957-61) and E-Type (1961-1975). There were also the sporty sedan models such as the MK VII and IX, Mks I and II, and the XJ6.
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BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer: The Family Option
THE BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer is the natural progression from the 2 Series Active Tourer and its coming was only a matter of time. The need for a bigger MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) lies in its original design; to serve as a flexible family transporter, this time to pander the needs of a bigger family.
September
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Honda Civic 1.8S: Mid-range Executive Motoring Well Up to Mark
HONDA Malaysia is not sitting pretty as the rivals in the market step up in their respective model offerings through attractive pricing and updated versions to pander to the whims of prospective buyers. Late last year, the ninth-generation Civic was introduced in an updated form with a better level of equipment and new body aesthetics to stamp its presence more vividly.
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Porsche Cayman GT4 Opens New Sporty Purist Options
THE Porsche 911 GT3 once held the status for serious sporty driving on the road, with dynamic qualities that often blur the lines between a road and race car, but that has changed recently with the new Cayman GT4. Seen as the entry level to Porsche’s GT Classification range (that is, GT with a number), the Cayman GT4 is said to open new sporty driving purist options to come.
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BMW 2 Series Active Tourer for Trendy Motoring
THE changing tastes among passenger vehicle buyers can’t be ignored if a carmaker is to stay relevant and be fully competitive. There is an increasing demand for comfortable family vehicles that goes beyond cars and stationwagons (or estates), and this comes well catered to in MPVs (multipurpose vehicles).
July
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Isuzu MU-X: Comfortable SUV with good mileage
THE Isuzu MU-X is not a completely new SUV (sport utility vehicle) being the second-generation model, following the MU-7, which was not sold here. The MU-7 was introduced in Thailand in 2005 to replace the Trooper, the production of which had stopped for some years at that time.
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MINI Cooper S three-door: Powerful Drive Down Memory Lane
THE MINI Cooper S three-door sure brought back some good memories; while driving it through our regular ‘test’ mill, we couldn’t help relate the go-kart experience to the MINI 1000 that we had some fun driving with back in the late 60s and early 70s. The power might have been a world of difference between the ...
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Porsche 911 Targa: Sporty Lifestyle
PURISTS might have lamented the good old days of Porsche when only those who how to drive them can claim full and rewarding ownership. While it is good to be recognised as a car builder who makes exclusive and demanding sporty cars, Porsche also recognises the fact it could expand its customer base tremendously by making its range of cars easier to drive.
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Honda HR-V is Hip and Peppy
YOUNGER car owners are making up a good share of the customers eyeing new models being introduced and they are more inclined to try something new and fresh, rather than stick with standard fare. SUVs and Crossovers have come to be fashion statements among them and many automotive makers are certainly right on this current pulse.
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Rolls-Royce on Record Roll for Fifth Year
ROLLS-Royce capped a fifth record year of vehicle delivery in 2014 with 4063 cars, breaking the 4000-level for the first time and making it the highest sales ever in its 111-year history. This represented a 12 per cent increase over the sales made in 2013, when it had celebrated a record delivery then of 3600 cars.
2015
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Nissan Serena S-Hybrid Goes Local
GOOD fuel mileage passenger vehicles may lose their lustre when petrol prices go down or stay at affordable levels. This is when other attributes of the vehicle come to the fore. For the latest Nissan Serena S-Hybrid facelift model, it is a comfortable and well-equipped MPV (multipurpose vehicle) for eight people at an attractive price that becomes its strongest draw.
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Peugeot 408 Turbo: Great Value for Money Offer
YEAR-END offers sometimes see great value-for-money packages that are hard to resist and the attractive offer by Nasim Sdn Bhd for its Peugeot 408 Turbo is definitely one of them. At RM98,000, or some RM30,000 cheaper than its standard price, the Peugeot 408 Turbo has to be seriously considered for what it can offer in driving fun and functionality.
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MINI Cooper S: 5-door Enhancer
MINI has introduced a five-door model in September that should enhance its appeal for those who are looking at a more conventional option besides the Clubman and Countryman. This was launched as the second body variant of the new generation MINI and this five-door model was made available in the Malaysian market a couple ...
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VESPA Primavera 150 3V ie.
AFTER five days, four nights and 852 kilometres of travelling around Selangor, Federal Territory and Perak, I had to sadly return the little Primavera to Naza Premira Sdn Bhd, Piaggio's Malaysian homebase in Petaling Jaya.
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Porsche Macan: Smaller and Exciting Sporty SUV
PORSCHE has obviously felt the need to reach out to more potential customers with its SUV (sport utility vehicle) and the newly introduced Macan clearly reflected this. This is the compact model to complement the bigger Porsche Cayenne, which has its retinue of loyal customers.
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Honda City Continues Youthful Dynamics
THE Honda City is now into its fourth generation. It seemed like only yesterday that we were the owner of the first-generation City, which started out here as a 1.3-litre model before the 1.5-litre variant was brought in about six months down the road. It has remained a 1.5-litre model ever since.
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BMW X4 & 4 Series Grand Coupé: More Option for the Picking
VARIETY is the spice of life and this applies equally in the premium car sector. BMW is certainly subscribing to that by extending its model options down the line to reach out to more loyal customers who want greater choices to suit their motoring pleasure. If at all possible, the German carmaker would want to have a model in ...
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Latest Tiguan Gets Twin-Charge Power
THE latest Volkswagen Tiguan was recently introduced here with a 1.4-litre TSI twin-charge engine to take over from the 2.0-litre turbo that was made available earlier in the previous model. Volkswagen Malaysia obviously wanted to attract more buyers to consider its Tiguan SUV, which was previously at a premium ...
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Isuzu D-Max 3.0 V-Cross: When Bigger is Better
THE bigger engine displacement option is sometimes the better alternative when you need the added power and torque for your mode of transportation. You need a ‘friendly’ price levy environment as well to make it an affordable choice and this is applicable in Sabah and Sarawak.
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Honda Jazz: Raising Bar To Affordable Lifestyle Motoring
THE Honda Jazz is now into its third generation model and it is seen as raising the bar for cars in its segment: lifestyle motoring in a subcompact form and as a petite but sporty looking hatchback rather than an MPV. The model designation is clearly blurred in this new age but the Jazz finds among its admirers the younger set ...
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BMW M3 & M4: Setting New Spirited Benchmarks
THE BMW Group has come to be the top premium carmaker in the world last year, achieving almost two million vehicles in sales. A key reason for its higher acceptance in the major markets has to do with its wider range of exciting cars. BMW has also clearly demonstrated its ability to provide what customers want and to move with the times
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Honda Accord 2.0 VTi-L: Nimble Yet Comfortable
IT HAD been nine months since the latest ninth-generation Honda Accord was introduced here and it appears to have the stamina to maintain its strong appeal in the market. Honda Malaysia recently invited us for an impression drive and we decided on the Accord 2.0 VTi-L, which is usually the more popular of the two models, the other being the 2.4-litre.
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Mercedes-Benz CLA 200: Sporty four-door Coupé Extends Appeal
CAPITALISING on a successful model concept by extending its appeal to reach out to more buyers seems to be the current trend among some carmakers. The Mercedes-Benz CLS was introduced in 2003 to pander to those who wanted a sporty looking four-door coupé without losing the driving comfort of the E-Class (W211) that it was based on. It came to be a niche model that had its share of ...
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New Nissan Teana: Bigger and More Dynamic
THE Nissan Teana has returned as a new model to slug it out in an increasingly competitive market. When it was introduced as a locally assembled model in 2010, its main rivals were the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Since then, the D-segment market has progressively seen new faces that are available at very ...
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Peugeot 3008 SUV Rejuvenated
IT HAS been four years since the Peugeot 3008 ruled the French roost in the SUV market here, making it the top seller from that country. With more than 2000 units sold to its name since its entry in mid-2010, the 3008 had appealed to those who wanted the French version of SUV motoring.
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Ford EcoSport: Compact SUV for Casual Motoring
FORD may be onto a good thing here in the Malaysian market when it brings in the new EcoSport soon to cater to those who want a compact SUV (sport utility vehicle). Firstly, it has no direct rivals in the price range it is expected to be in, which is from RM95,000 to RM115,000, depending on models as hinted during the KL International Motor Show 2013 late last year.
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Mitsubishi Goes PHEV for 4WD models
MITSUBISHI has already demonstrated its ability to produce electric vehicles for the urban environment with the i-MiEV (Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle), and is making the car more attractive by reducing price gradually in key markets. The next step was to develop an electric vehicle for inter-city driving and the result is the PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle).
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Mitsubishi Attrage SE: Good value motoring
HOT on the heels of the Mitsubishi Mirage came the Attrage, the sedan alternative that scores well with its own body styling. Yes, the Attrage has raised eyebrows regarding its ability to perform, given that it shares the same power base as the Mirage. Those old enough to recall the early days of the Datsun 120Y Automatic might share these sentiments.
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Mazda BT-50 6-speed Manual: Strictly for the Young
THE latest Mazda BT-50 signals a departure from its earlier link to the Ford Ranger when there was a shared development process. This comes mainly in the body design although the engine appears to be similar to that in the current Ranger. Likewise, the model options available in the 2.2-litre and 3.2-litre are the same.
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Hyundai i40 Tourer: Lifestyle Alternative
TOURERS belong to a niche market. They offer lifestyle motoring for those who like to sit low, with good and flexible interior room, and decent power to move quick enough without burning much fuel. Back in the old days (read that as the 70s and 80s), tourers were more commonly known as stationwagons in the local market. Then, such vehicles were widely used as commercial vehicles to transport goods while a few were bought for private motoring.
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Hyundai Tucson Facelift: Smoother and More Fuel Efficient
THE Hyundai Tucson has had a relatively good run since it was introduced to the Malaysian market in 2010. As of late last year, more than 6000 units of the Tucson, which is imported from South Korea, were sold.
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Kia Optima Facelift: The Korean Experience
THE current Kia Optima has enjoyed success well beyond expectations following its launch in 2010. More than 800,000 cars were sold globally as it was an attractive alternative for many in the market for a C-segment car. As it enters its mid-life span, Kia is fully determined to ride on the positive sentiments by endowing the Optima with more than a cursory facelift. And what better way to ...
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Toyota Vios: Raising Comfort Level in a Spirited Way
THE latest generation Toyota Vios has come a long way since the first model was introduced here more than 10 years ago. Although it continues to serve as the entry level Toyota model for the Malaysian market, it has been improved in the area of comfort to measure well up to expectations.
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Nissan Serena S-Hybrid: Comfortable and Economical
FUEL efficient motoring has become the norm right across the model range, more so with the bigger displacement engine segment, with which even the premium class owners would appreciate the fuel savings gained. Hybrids have set the standard along with fuel-efficient diesel models. We see more of the former as our less refined diesel fuel is not suitable for the modern-day diesel-powered cars.
2014
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Kia Cerato Koup Gets Turbo Power
THE new Kia Cerato continues with the same three variants that it was made available with for the previous model although the Malaysian market is likely to see only two: the Cerato sedan that was launched earlier in 2013 and the Cerato Koup that made a year-end entry. The five-door hatchback model is the third variant.
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Peugeot 2008: Crossover motoring in a smaller package
PEUGEOT has obviously enjoyed good success with the 3008 Crossover that shares the same platform as the 308 hatchback, enough to extend that formula to the smaller 208 model as well. Building different models from a common floorpan is the way to go these days as it saves on development costs and time.
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New Nissan Grand Livina: Fresh Face Family Fun
THE Nissan Grand Livina has fulfilled the local need for practical and economical family motoring for quite a few years without asking for too high a price. Its strong sales numbers over the years clearly attest to its popularity. Available in 1.6 and 1.8-litre model variants, there was good demand for both, with the smaller displacement (and more affordable) model taking a bigger share of the pie at more than 60 per cent.
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New Mazda3 Preview: Driver-centric Dynamics
THE third generation Mazda3 to be launched in Japan from November and progressively in other countries is the third SkyActiv model after the Mazda6 and CX-5. With each SkyActiv model, Mazda also introduced new developments that it hopes will enhance the car’s appeal further.
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Ford Fiesta S: Comfortable Sporty Compact
THE Ford Fiesta has found a strong niche in the market, in particular among young buyers, looking for attractive alternatives in the compact hatchback sector. Since it was launched here, Sime Darby’s AutoConnesXion has enjoyed a steady stream of buyers, making the Fiesta its best-selling Ford model averaging more than 100 units a month.
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Third Generation BMW X5: The Boss Gets More Comfortable
THE BMW X5 SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle) may win sales based on its dynamic outlook but the area of comfort is also not overlooked, as the recently launched third-generation X5 is any indicator. There is now a greater distinction between performance and comfortable driving, going by the options that are available with the latest ‘Boss’ from BMW.
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New Mercedes-Benz E-Class: Quiet and Quick
THE latest Mercedes-Benz E-Class has apparently been well received here in its Avantgarde design, especially with its attractive prices ranging from RM366,888.00 to RM405,888.00Perhaps, having gone bigger in engine displacement (from 1.8-litre to 2.0-litre) might have a small part to play in that. This is the new BlueEFFICIENCY range, with the E 200 rated at 135kW (184bhp) ...
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Subaru XV: Smooth Crossover
SUBARU is perhaps the most underrated car brand from Japan, not for the lack of driving fun or technology, but for its lack of presence, especially in Malaysia. The Subaru name rang a bell or two when it was involved in the World Rally Championship (WRC) with its Impreza WRX cars, enjoying relatively good success.
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New Range Rover Sport: Equally at home on highways and offroad
THE launch of the Range Rover in the late 70s laid the groundwork for comfortable offroad driving although the trend didn’t really take off till much later. Today, Range Rover has many rivals vying for a share of that pie. When the latest Range Rover Sport was introduced in early 2013 in the Big Apple, with ‘Agent 007’ Daniel Craig taking the stage no less, it appeared that Land Rover was going back to basics.
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Hyundai Veloster: Three-door sportster Option
THE Hyundai Veloster should appeal to those who want more than just an ‘ordinary’ sportster, styling-wise, that is. As a three-door sports car, the Veloster has few peers along that odd arrangement: it has one door for the driver and two to serve the front and rear passengers.
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New Mercedes-Benz A-Class: The Sepang Experience
THE Mercedes-Benz A-Class has grown dimensionally over the respective models and is no longer the ‘puny’ hatchback it started out as. Today, the latest A-Class is a pretty stout looking car, fully beefed up by eagle-eyed daylight running lights (LEDs), 18-inch wheels, and an improved aerodynamic body ...
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Discovering Isuzu’s 4x4 Land with the new D-Max
THE passion one shares with his vehicle can come in several forms; engine power, handling prowess, sporty orientation, unique engineering, characteristic body design, marque tradition, off-road ability, to name the common bonds. Carmakers usually capitalise on such bonds to promote their respective vehicles to endear loyalists and to catch the attention of prospective customers.
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Bridgestone Expands Ecopia Range
BRIDGESTONE’S introduction of its Ecopia range more than two years ago for the passenger car market appears to have gone down well with customers. The Ecopia range was originally launched to capitalise on its low rolling resistance, which leads to better fuel economy arising from less engine power required to propel ...
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Hyundai Sonata 2.4 Facelift: More Distinctive Flash
IT HAS been more than two years since the new Hyundai Sonata was introduced here and this Korean executive sedan had settled into its own niche, favoured among those who wished to venture onto new products. A facelift model was introduced early this year, following sporty options introduced late last year to maintain appeal.
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Michelin Primacy 3 ST: Good stopping Asia-Pacific Tyre
MICHELIN has come to terms with meeting regional needs for tyre performance and has introduced its new Primacy 3 range (which is the third generation tyre) as a dedicated product for Asia-Pacific markets. It carries the additional ‘ST’ alphabets, which stands for ‘Silence Tuned’.
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Latest BMW Z4: Topless fun with 35iS
THE latest BMW Z4 is promoted as a ‘new’ car although you might be hard put to differentiate it from the previous model at a glance. Those with sharp eyes may spot the slimmer design of the standard bi-xenon headlights that flow further back to the front wheel arches, underlined by the LED daytime running lights.
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BMW M6 Gran Coupé: For Mature Hotheads
LESS than a year after the four-door BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé was introduced, an M Sport version has followed. BMW believes that the ‘mature’ group that the 6 Series panders to is ready for another M Sport model in the range, following the encouraging response to the M6 two-door model. And as M Sport motoring goes, the M6 Gran Coupé is just as heady in performance.
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The Kuga Pounces
THE Ford Kuga, which takes over from the Escape, is a fresh model in all respects to our market. Though the name is new, it is the second generation model as the earlier Kuga was introduced to the US and Europe markets. Strangely, the name Kuga is used for the European market while in the US, it is sold as the Escape.
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BMW 3 Gets Distinctive GT Option
BMW had earlier introduced the GT – Gran Tourismo or Grand Touring – in the 5 Series, which has already gone on to the second generation phase. If there was to be another GT variant in the family, the logical choice was the 3 Series as the reach was wider and the demand just as strong. Sure enough, the 3 Series GT had now come to exist.
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BMW ActiveE: Strong & Silent
BMW’S commitment to electric power is seeing fruit in model extensions and a dedicated range, the i models. Among the former is the ActiveE, which is based on the two-door 1 Series, as well as the MiniE. Although the attention on electric cars have slowed down in a few key markets, some - such as China and the US - are maintaining interest in ‘clean’ power.
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Volvo XC60 T5: Youthful SUV
VOLVO reaches out to the younger set with the XC60 in the SUV class, and for Malaysia, only one model is offered: the XC60 T5. Yes, it’s the more powerful variant and given its target market, it’s clearly the model that should catch the eye here. For 2013, the XC60 has been given an update but going by Volvo’s practice, most of the refinements are marginal and in the engine bay.
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Honda 4th Generation CR-V: Slightly Smaller but Better
ITS launch here might have been delayed by a natural disaster (in Thailand) but the wait is worth the while. The new Honda CR-V is completely redesigned from front to back, giving the fourth-generation Comfortable Runabout Vehicle a fresh new perspective from the old mould, with some Continental influence to the rear styling.
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Third-Generation Cayman Gets Lighter, Quicker
THE Porsche Cayman panders to those who find the 911 too big and the Boxster, not Porsche enough for their liking. While the Cayman may be considered a smaller 911, there are styling differences from the general family semblance to stand it apart on its own as a two-seater sport coupé
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New Mazda6: Driver’s Delight with Skyactiv Power
THE latest Mazda6 has arrived with the highly anticipated Skyactiv engineering that Mazda announced more than a year ago. The new Mazda executive sedan may have grown dimensionally over the old to lose some of its slimness, but it has not lost any of its agility when put to the task through winding roads.
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Ford Focus Sport Plus: Dynamic yet Comfortable
THE Ford Focus is not a new ‘face’ here but it enjoyed only a small share of the market with the earlier models. The latest model may change all that, given its high level of standard features against the established rivals. And the package is not just mere trifles but practical items that were first introduced in premium class cars.
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Toyota Camry 2.5V: Good Premium Value for the Money
THE Toyota Camry has earned its stripes over the years as a car that fulfils executive class motoring and the latest model continues to maintain status quo with the best of them. A few days with the Camry 2.5V, which included a drive to Ipoh for some gourmet food and taking in the sights, easily convinced us as to why this Toyota executive sedan remains a strong seller
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Continental GT: Wild Side of Bentley
THE Bentley Continental is the two-door version that panders to the elite strata hankering for some sporty drives. As it usually weighs more than two tonnes, matching even the large SUVs, few would imagine that the Continental would be almost as much fun to drive as smaller size and nimbler sports cars about half its weight.
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Ford Ranger 2.2 XLT: When Small is BIG…
THE latest Ford Ranger toes the current trend of going smaller in engine displacement without compromising on power and overall performance in general. A more efficient engine turbocharging system has made it possible and for a two-tonne pick-up, you can’t lose out on the power.
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BMW expands options with Hybrid models
BMW has shown its ability to spread its engineering base and not put all its eggs in one basket by introducing hybrid cars. The German carmaker may see more merits in its diesel range to deliver power and mileage, but it too has to accept that diesel clatter is not widely accepted everywhere, such as China and the US.
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World Motor Sport Champions do battle in Bangkok
IF THERE’S a gauge to judge world motor sport champions by, it has to be the Michelin Race of Champions (ROC). The event is already into its 25th year, but it was only run for the first time in the Asean region in mid-December 2012. It was also the second time that the ROC was held outside of Europe, the first being in 2009 at the Beijing’s Bird Nest Olympic Stadium.
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Putting the Joy Back into Driving
TOYOTA is a brand that speaks of reliability, strength and value. As it were, it was voted the most valuable automotive brand in the UK recently. Although it was involved in motor sports at the highest level, such as the World Rally Championship (WRC) and Formula One, few could recall a Toyota car that would awe one in a truly sporty way, other than the mere aesthetics.
Mitsubishi Mirage: Economical and Feisty
THE Mitsubishi Mirage thrives on its role as an Eco-Car in which it is expected to deliver good fuel mileages while serving a great A-B vehicle for most people going about their daily lives. That was our impression, from the time we first saw it at the Mitsubishi factory in Rayong, Thailand, and driving it at the Bira Circuit
2012
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Volvo S60 T4: Livelier Option for Younger Set
THE Volvo S60 is seen as the rival to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 3 Series although the price difference is not as big as you would expect, varying from a few thousand ringgit to more than RM20,000, depending on models. Volvo has its share of followers who have come to accept its brand of engineering and safety standards, and the price that needs to be paid to enjoy that privilege.
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Nissan Sylphy: Hassle-free Family Drive with More Features
THE Nissan Sylphy has strong appeal here and it’s not difficult to see why. It’s a 2.0-litre sedan that took over handsomely from the Altima, and for its price in the RM115,000 to RM125,000 category, it has few peers. Newer ‘faces’ entering the market at equally attractive prices, however, have eaten into its share as the car’s initial novelty had worn off.
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Volvo S80 T5: More Refined Drive
THE Volvo S80 may look pretty similar following our last acquaintance in 2010 but the bold front stands out to stamp its fresh aura with the larger and striking Volvo badge. The S80 T5 Exclusive model that we had a weekend with also came with larger and optional 18-inch alloys with tyres to match (available at an additional RM20,000) to boost its touch of agro.
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Toyota Hilux 2.5G Gets Variable Turbo Punch
THE Toyota Hilux is a top-seller in the local pick-up market but it doesn’t mean that it can’t flow with the winds of change. When the efficient variable nozzle turbo (VNT) technology became the preferred choice for many carmakers, it was definitely time to adopt the system too.
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Nissan Almera KL-Malacca Drive: Strong on fuel economy
THE Nissan Almera has finally arrived and Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) has left no stones unturned in priming up the car to fulfil most customer expectations. Even the Tuned by Impul version was made available, which includes a tuned suspension system in addition to the body kit, depending on the price one is willing to pay.
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Mitsubishi Triton VGT: Smaller but Powerful
GOING smaller these days doesn’t mean becoming less powerful. With improved automotive technology, carmakers can harness smaller but efficient displacement engines while providing impressive power without sacrificing fuel economy. It’s a best of both worlds approach that many have come to accept, especially with oil prices staying at high levels.
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Latest Honda Civic: Thai Drive Preview
SUZUKI built its market on sub-compacts and compacts, and in the past decade, its foray into the World Rally Championship with its Swift gave it some strong standing as a car maker with the engineering to build reliable performance cars. Following the introduction of its SX model some years back in the C-segment market, Suzuki has now gone one step further with the Kizashi in the D-segment category.
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Suzuki Kizashi: Driver’s Delight
SUZUKI built its market on sub-compacts and compacts, and in the past decade, its foray into the World Rally Championship with its Swift gave it some strong standing as a car maker with the engineering to build reliable performance cars. Following the introduction of its SX model some years back in the C-segment market, Suzuki has now gone one step further with the Kizashi in the D-segment category.
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Mitsubishi Mirage Returns as 6th-Gen Eco-Car
THE Mitsubishi Mirage has quite a history behind it, and that includes us especially in the case of Proton. We never saw it as the Mirage here, but as the Colt and Lancer F(iore). Mitsubishi introduced it in Japan in 1978 as the Mirage but sold it globally as the Mirage. Those old enough to remember might recall the Colt of the early 1980s that came with a manual eight-speed SuperShift transmission, which operated on a planetary gear system.
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A Punchier ‘B’ & More Refined ‘M’
THE local Mercedes-Benz team recently embarked on its second set of newcomers for the year, with one of them being viewed more intently than the other. The latest B-Class model comes well updated and a top feature has to be the higher power output. It is no longer a toothless tiger as the new mild turbo engine gives it a lot more bite than before.
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Seeing Isuzu Beyond the D-Max
TO MANY, Isuzu is the D-Max. Some might recall the Trooper, one of the two best-selling 4x4 wagons in the mid-1980s (back then, they were not called SUVs). Isuzu used to sell cars too, like the Gemini, which was initially sold here under the Opel name, sporty Piazza and JJ sedan. Unlike the Gemini, not many Piazza and JJ were sold. Isuzu stopped producing cars when sales became unfeasible and focused on its commercial range and 4x4s. It has not looked back and is today the top commercial vehicle manufacturer in Japan, and the second most successful in the world after Daimler.
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Latest Elantra’s Winning Ways
THE fact that it took a lot longer than usual for the latest Hyundai Elantra to reach our shores speaks a lot about its high demand in markets abroad. Hyundai is virtually stretching its factory resources in South Korea to keep up with the hectic pace. Now that it’s here, carrying the Inokom badge, the scenario is no different. Just a few months into its launch and Hyundai-Sime Darby has received more than 5000 bookings. About 1600 cars had been delivered.
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Chevrolet Trailblazer Eyes SUV Inroad
CHEVROLET has followed up on its success with the Captiva by looking further upmarket in the SUV sector with the new Trailblazer. It believes there is still room for good inroad into the competitive regional market and has added the model recently to its assembly line in Rayong, Thailand.
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Latest Avanza: Affordable Family Motoring Updated
THE Toyota Avanza once had a captive audience among those who wanted family motoring in an affordable vehicle without compromising interior space and flexibility, engine power and fuel economy. Although that has been curtailed somewhat by a similar engine-powered rival in the cheaper Perodua Alza, the Avanza continues to retain a strong following.
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Honda’s Smart Connections
THE general theme at the recent 42nd Tokyo Motor Show revealed few new models. Instead, there was a clear focus on the immediate future. Honda’s President, CEO and Representative Director Takanobu Ito offered this rationale:
“We have not had the best of times this year. First, we were badly hit by the terrible tsunami. Before we could recover fully from that, there came the disruptive floods in Thailand. It was a double whammy that would take a lot to pick up the pieces from. But we have to show our resiliency, our automotive development capabilities, and how technologically advanced we are in being prepared for the immediate future.”
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Honda CR-Z: Award-winning Hot-Hatch Hybrid
HONDA Malaysia Sdn Bhd launched the new CR-Z late last year to very good demand, more so when Malaysia was the first country in Southeast Asia to offer this award-winning hot-hatch hybrid. Although Honda targeted to sell 100 units by end 2011, more than 300 orders were received within a month of its launch, and the orders are still coming in this year. The sleek, aerodynamic and environmental friendly CR-Z is hailed as the world’s first vehicle to combine a hybrid system with a six-speed manual transmission.
Six ‘Hot’ Mercedes to Whet Your Appetite
IF MONEY is no problem, here are six ‘hot’ Mercedes-Benz models to choose from according to your whims and fancies. Mercedes-Benz Malaysia describes its latest model offerings as its luxury showcase to pander the elite class.
Competitively Priced MG5 To Drive Market
IF THERE is one thing you have to take your hat off to, it is the Chinese automotive industry for the way in which it has developed in leaps and bounds over the past decade. It has come out with vehicles that could do things that were unimaginable before without sacrificing performance, quality and reliability.
October 2024
Xpander Wows ‘Em on Practical Space
SPACE is often a priority with vehicle owners looking for a vehicle to accommodate his family transport needs. Fitting the bill is either the MPV (multipurpose vehicle) or SUV (sport utility vehicle).
September 2024
Premium Omoda C9 SUV to Whet Luxury Tastes
TO SPARE you the confusion that we too had earlier, let’s enlighten you as to why there are two apparently different car brands from China selling a vehicle with the same name – Omoda. Firstly, Chery and JAECOO are ‘related’ and this status is somewhat similar to that of Toyota and Lexus.
Top selling Mitsubishi Xpander Gets Refreshed
AS THE top-selling non-national MPV (multipurpose vehicle) in the Malaysian vehicle market, the Mitsubishi Xpander has certainly caught the imagination of many buyers desiring such a vehicle. Since its introduction to the market in 2020, more than 40,000 Xpanders were sold to date.
New Mercedes E-Class Gets More Connected
ENGAGING the driver even more is the latest focus for the latest Mercedes-Benz E-Class as it ‘evolves around you’ being its development theme. The new E-Class is hailed as the most advanced business sedan with its artificial intelligence (AI) learning capabilities via ‘routines’.
EON: Boosting Brand Loyalty Through Better Customer Engagement
SELLING a passenger vehicle today is more than just taking customer orders, delivering the vehicle and servicing it thereafter based on service and warranty terms. There is now a need to impress the customer with greater attention in follow-up service and offers to achieve a positive impression and boost brand loyalty.
Xpeng G6 Lights Up EV SUV market
WITH the heightened flurry of action in the Malaysian EV (electric vehicle) market, it’s not something once could ignore as a car distributor and player. Although the Bermaz Group has its range of EVs from Kia and Mazda to cater the increasing demand, it probably ...
August 2024
Getting Top Mileage with Honda City Hatchback e:HEV
THE Malaysian car owner preference for hatchbacks was clearly established from the early 1980s when some automotive distributors introduced them as an alternative to the sedan variant. Hatchbacks obviously appealed to the younger buyers as such body profile looks sportier without the boot.
BFGoodrich KOs rivals with Third-Generation KO3
FEW might have heard of the BFGoodrich name but those who venture to challenging off-road terrain would certainly vouch for its capability under highly trying conditions. You would expect nothing less for an American tyre brand that develops its tyres in very demanding events like the Baja 1000, a most ...
Range Rover Evoque: Tailored for City Drives
SOME European countries are already taking steps to curtail the number of SUVs (sport utility vehicles) on their roads, in particular city centres, as such vehicles are too big for the parking lots and urban road system. It might come in the form of higher taxes or even city entry charges.
July 2024
ORA 07 Paves Way for Affordable EV Sports Cars
ELECTRIC Vehicle (EV) sports cars are no longer available only as high-end or ultra-premium range models if the Chinese automotive manufacturers could help it. As a global leading force in producing EVs, several automotive brands in China are already introducing mouth-watering sports cars without costing the earth.
June 2024
VW Touareg R-Line Hits Home On Premium SUV Motoring
THE Premium SUV (sport utility vehicle) market is a hotbed of activity where prospective customers are increasingly spoilt for choice. There is the super luxury class for the ultra-elite segment of society, the luxury range for the fat wallets and the premium range for the well-off folks.
May 2024
Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain Gets More Premium and Bolder
THERE is obviously a market for premium pick-ups and Isuzu is certainly capitalising on this niche demand with its D-Max X-Terrain. Recently, it introduced the latest D-Max variant that carries styling and equipment updates to stay ahead of the ...
Tank 300 & Haval H6 Hybrid: China Previews
IT’S NOT often that you hear of luxury SUVs (sport utility vehicles) from China apart from the BEVs (battery electric vehicles). Well, GWM (Great Wall Motor) is going to change that when it introduces the Tank 300 in Malaysia shortly.
Multiple Award Winner Kia EV9 Arrives
THE age of EVs (electric vehicles) is very much upon us and the Korean carmakers are making sure that they are right on the ball. Kia, for one, already has a multiple award winner in its EV9 SUV (sport utility vehicle) and its accolades include being selected as the 2024 World Car and World EV of the Year.
April 2024
Ferrari’s Leisure Open-Top Drive in the Roma Spider
DRIVING a Ferrari along the twisty Balik Pulau road in Penang has to be a great dream. And there we were recently driving the Roma Spider with the soft-top down, enjoying the wind rustling our hair as we took to the series of corners at a leisurely trot.
Top Flight Mercedes-Benz Luxury Showcase
TOP flight motoring options just got better with four new alternatives from Mercedes-Benz – a Maybach SUV (sport utility vehicle), an AMG S-Class, an updated premium SUV and a dazzling coupé. You couldn’t ask for a more varied option that panders to the respective tastes, each with a top dollar price to match.
March 2024
Mercedes-Benz C 200 Lives Up to Top Billing in CKD Package
THE Mercedes-Benz C-Class is said to be the best-selling model series over the last 10 years in Malaysia. Since it first took shape as the Mercedes-Benz 190, the German premium carmaker says more than 10.5 million of the C-Class were delivered globally since 1982.
Contemporary Styling Keeps Latest Mazda CX-5 Flying
THE Mazda CX-5 remains a strong favourite among Malaysian SUV (sport utility vehicle) owners, even in its latest version, due to its contemporary styling. Rivals makes might have gone through complete design updates but few have achieved the same timeless look as the Mazda CX-5.
February 2024
Going full hybrid with the Mercedes-Benz C 350 e
MERCEDES-BENZ took the initial step of going ‘electric’ with the C 200 that was launched two years ago featuring a second-generation integrated starter-generator (ISG) to qualify as a mild hyrbid. It uses a 48-volt electrical system for ‘intelligent assistance’ at low engine speeds that includes boosting or energy recovery to make ‘significant’ fuel savings possible.
Mercedes-Benz E 200 Well Up To Mark in Executive Motoring
THE Mercedes-Benz E-Class is the model that bear the three-pointed star prominently as an executive sedan in the world market. Given its successful grounding over the years since its early days in the late 1940s, the E-Class had been poised to clearly reflect a person’s social standing.
Janaury 2024
New Macan’s Electrifying World Premiere
THE new Porsche Macan made an electrifying start to its World Premiere in Gardens by the Bay, Singapore to become the second fully electric Porsche model and first electric SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) in its range. For sure, Porsche is showing its EV (electric vehicle) capability by featuring the entry-level SUV as a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle).
2023
December 2023
Mercedes SUVs deliver solid drive, whether electrically or engine powered
THE joy of car ownership is often in the driving, whether it is an entry level model or a premium one. It is a decisive factor after acquiring the vehicle based on its looks, price, social features and product support in servicing and spare-parts.
Feature-Laden New Honda CR-V Gets More Premium
THE latest Honda CR-V SUV (sport utility vehicle) has arrived, fully laden with more safety equipment and improved features in a newly designed styling package that’s bound to turn heads. It has grown bigger to complement the longer wheelbase and the top turbo model V comes standard with All-Wheel Drive.
Sixth-Gen Honda CR-V Continues Winning Ways in Chiangmai
THERE is a reason why almost 130,000 Honda CR-Vs have found a sweet spot with Malaysian SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) owners since it was introduced here. Right from the start, it has the looks, performance and social functionality that seemed to gel with Malaysian vehicle owners.
October 2023
Audi Offers Sporty Driving with RS e-tron GT
THE sporty side of EV (electric vehicle) driving is taking shape quickly to entice those who wish to do their part for the environment without losing the pleasure of fast and dynamic driving. In that respect, Audi has its wide range of e-tron models to pander a fair selection of the local market.
September 2023
Honda WR-V Lives Up To Expectations in Langkawi
HONDA appears to have struck gold here with its entry-level WR-V, completing the SUV (sport utility vehicle) family. Since its launch in July, more than 3200 Winsome Runabout Vehicles (WR-Vs) were delivered to eager owners desiring a compact SUV to reflect their mobile lifestyle. This is slightly less than half of the 7000-plus bookings that were received.
August 2023
Exploring Potenza Sport’s Potential at Sepang
THE Bridgestone Potenza Sport is a flagship tyre launched in August 2021 to replace the Potenza S007A. Yes, you read that right; this tyre was launched two years ago. Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, Bridgestone Tyres Sales (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd decided to keep a low profile on the tyre till now.
Dolphin Offers Best of Both Worlds
IT’S hardly surprising that the BYD Dolphin has arrived to an overwhelming response in Malaysia. Being highly affordable for an EV (electric vehicle) doesn’t mean the potential Malaysian buyer is shortchanged on product features and equipment.
Proton X90 Gets Going With Electric Power Assistance
IT WAS only a matter of time that the Proton SUV (sport utility vehicle) range gets a new flagship and sure enough, the X90 came along to take over from the X70. What was a little surprising was that it came only with 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo power with no bigger non-turbo engine displacement alternative as that available for the X70.
July 2023
Build Your Electric Dreams With Well-Priced Dolphins
LOOKS like EVs (electric vehicles) are now coming within the reach of more buyers with the latest model from BYD (Build Your Dreams), the Dolphin. No, BYD is not selling you a fish but a neat hatchback that is as spacious as it is forward looking.
Tesla Hits Town With Best-Selling Model Y
TESLA has bucked the automotive world with its bold EV (electric vehicle) move in the early 2000s, gaining strong momentum over the years to achieve an annual sales volume of more than a million in 2022. The Model Y is one of its best movers and is the obvious choice to make Tesla’s entry into the Malaysian market.
Honda Rides on ‘New Wave’ with WR-V SUV
GIVEN the current preference for SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles), it’s a matter of time before more options are introduced to pander the trend. This was obviously not lost on Honda Malaysia and the result is the new WR-V or Winsome Runabout Vehicle that would complete its SUV range nicely as the entry-level model.
Kia Expands Malaysian Product Range with Niro EV
Kia distributor Dinamikjaya Motors Sdn Bhd has followed up on the Kia EV6 with the latest second-generation Niro Crossover EV (electric vehicle). Beside expanding the Kia vehicle range in Malaysia, the entry of the Niro EV gives the market more choice in picking an EV to pander the respective taste and preference.
June 2023
Mercedes A-Class Facelift Sepang Experience
THE Mercedes-Benz A-Class is the entry level model and since it was introduced as a saloon, it has gained wider acceptance from prospective buyers while the younger and outgoing set leans towards the more powerful AMG models. We got an insight in both the mundane and exciting part of the latest A-Class that has undergone a facelift exercise at the Sepang International Circuit.
Powerfully exciting Mercedes-AMG EV sedans
GOING fully electric doesn’t mean taking the fun out of driving if Mercedes-AMG has anything to do with it. While Mercedes-Benz Malaysia had been introducing its respective range of EVs (electric vehicles) here in AMG Line trim, the launch of the AMG EQS 53 and EQE 53 ups the ante on powerful EV options for the well-heeled to consider.
April 2023
Lotus Goes Mainstream in Sporty Style with Eletre EV
HOPPING onto the SUV (sport utility vehicle) bandwagon could be a difficult choice for a brand that’s dedicated to only making sports cars. But when you see others going so-called mainstream by producing their unique SUV range, such as the Lamborghini Urus and Ferrari’s upcoming SUV, you couldn’t go wrong heading ...
Top-Selling Mercedes GLC Gets Complete Makeover
IF YOU have been waiting for a completely new Mercedes-Benz GLC to come along, your wish is finally granted. Make no mistake, the Mercedes-Benz GLC has been a top seller here in its category with more than 12,000 vehicles sold since it landed on our shores in 2016. Globally, its numbers are even more impressive ...
March 2023
Preview of Next-Gen Triton At Bangkok Motor Show
THE recent 44th Bangkok Motor Show dazzled with several fascinating displays that were definitely of interest to Malaysian car buyers. This included the preview of the next-generation Mitsubishi Triton along with the latest Honda CR-V and Toyota Hilux.
Honda Still On A Roll for 2023
THE excitement at Honda continues into 2023 with the impending launch of appealing new models and a facelift in the pipeline. Adding to that are the new 2S (Service and Spare-parts) centres, strengthening ‘key pillars’ in its model portfolio and boosting its e:HEV (hybrid) footing in the Malaysian market.
Honda Civic e:HEV Just As Frugal On Highway Drives
THE strength of a hybrid vehicle is in its excellent fuel frugal ways in urban driving due to electric power being applied most of the time. This urban aspect is fully proven and if this could be applied to long distance drives as well, the hybrid advantage would be fully complete.
Mazda CX-30 Finally Goes Local Assembly
THE local assembly of the Mazda CX-30 Crossover has finally been fulfilled now that the pandemic is over. The three-year delay was unexpected due to the Covid-19 virus scourge disrupting the production chain, from parts manufacture and sourcing to vehicle assembly.
February 2023
Mercedes-Benz EQS CKD Kicks Off EV Ambitions
MERCEDES-Benz Malaysia is fully committed to its EV (electrical vehicle) ambitions here by kicking off the local assembly of its first EQ model, the EQS 500 4MATIC, at its Pekan, Pahang facility. And starting from the very top in the model range is a clear sign that more EQ models down the line would join the CKD (complete knock down) wagon soon enough
Premium Class Toyota Veloz Meets High Expectations
TOYOTA vehicle owners have rather high expectations of their vehicles and the new Veloz, which replaces the Avanza, meets these lofty anticipations nicely. It comes with all the bells and whistles to qualify as a premium people mover styled along the SUV (sport utility vehicle) body profile. Thus, it is promoted as a Crossover.
January 2023
Hyundai Palisade Facelift To Meet Growing Demand
THERE’S a market for flagship SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles) if someone very important is seeing using them, such as the Agong for one. Apparently, this has become the pull factor for the Hyundai Palisade, of which the facelift model was launched a few days before Chinese New Year.
Kia Sorento and Peugeot Landtrek Previews
FANS of the Kia and Peugeot brands would be pleased to know that more model variants are making their respective entry here this year. For the former, Kia distributor Dinamikjaya Motors Sdn Bhd, listed under Bermaz Auto Berhad, is introducing the latest Kia Sorento while Peugeot distributor Bermaz Auto Alliance Sdn Bhd has the Peugeot Landtrek to perk up the local pick-up market.
2022
November 2022
Good Cat Adds to Growing EV Market
THE successful run of the Toyota Avanza has finally come to the end of the road but despair not, as in its place has come the new Veloz. Boasting new engineering and a completely new body styling, the well-specified (equipment and features) Veloz is seen to befit its model description as a ‘premium Crossover’ in the B-MPV (multipurpose vehicle) market segment.
October 2022
New Veloz ‘Premium Crossover’
THE successful run of the Toyota Avanza has finally come to the end of the road but despair not, as in its place has come the new Veloz. Boasting new engineering and a completely new body styling, the well-specified (equipment and features) Veloz is seen to befit its model description as a ‘premium Crossover’ in the B-MPV (multipurpose vehicle) market segment.
Latest Civic Hybrid Sets New Benchmark
Hybrid vehicles are no longer boring to drive if Honda has its way. The latest Civic hybrid has certainly set a new benchmark in that direction and this was fully recognised in the UK with an award recently.
Ranger Raptor Ups Power Ante With V6 Petrol
POWER drives sales and Ford is right on the ball with its latest Ranger Raptor; it not only boasts of almost doubling the power output of the engine in the previous model but it is delivered with a V6 Twin Turbo EcoBoost petrol engine! That’s a fresh power perspective from Ford in the local pick-up market where turbodiesel engines had dominated until now.
Honda ‘Amps Up’ East Coast Drive with HR-V Turbo & Hybrid
THE Honda HR-V is Honda Malaysia’s best-selling SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) since it was launched in 2015. Up to 110,000 vehicles were sold up to date and it was no surprise that Honda was flooded with orders when the new HR-V was launched in mid-July.
August 2022
Proton X70 No Heavyweight for 1.5 Turbo
SMALL doesn’t mean feeble and this is clearly noted when many carmakers, including premium brands, are developing small displacement engines for their newer range of vehicles. Using turbochargers to raise engine power output without sacrificing fuel consumption is now a widely adopted norm.
Kia Carnival Goes Premium Class With Fewer Seats
THERE was more to the Kia Carnival than being a 11-seat people mover when it first landed on Malaysian shores in January 2022. It has the dimensional volumes and modern looks to match rivals, an attractive price to turn heads and the company to back it up on after-sale services.
July 2022
GAC GS3 Spice Up SUV Market
WITH the SUV (sport utility vehicle) market in full swing, the entry of new players gives buyers more options to consider. This trend is taking place across the different model platforms, from the entry level to the mid-range models to the comparative D-level premium class options.
Pirelli Expands Cinturato Market Reach
FANCY the option of fitting Pirelli Cinturato tyres for your Crossover or SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) for the next tyre change? Well, you have that choice now as Pirelli has expanded its Cinturato tyre range to include such vehicles in the tyre replacement market.
June 2022
Kawasaki’s Aggressive Return With Ninja 250 CKD
IF YOU have been wondering what happened to Kawasaki in the Malaysian market for the past two years, well, we are pleased to inform you that Kawasaki is back and making a strong statement with the Ninja 250 and Z250 models assembled by Modenas.
May 2022
Latest Subaru XV Gets Better ‘EyeSight’
ELECTRONICS in automotive use is increasingly being applied to make driving less of a manual affair and many of the newer range of vehicles being introduced are seeing this development trend. The latest Subaru XV is one such example.
Latest Civic Ups Ante on Sporty Yet Urbane Drive
THE Honda Civic has carved out a distinct niche in the Malaysian market that looks unshakeable. It has captured the imagination of the up-and-coming man about town with its sporty orientation while serving his more docile needs as a comfortable family car.
April 2022
New C-Class Comes of Age with Hybrid Power
THE latest Mercedes-Benz C-Class has come of age in two primary ways; firstly, it is now a mid-size sedan and no longer an entry-level one while its status elevation is matched by its inclusion to the hybrid engine circle. For the former, the new A-Class sedan is now the entry-level model.
March 2022
Merc’s Latest GLA Ups Youthful Appeal
MERCEDES-Benz’s latest GLA range maintains the strong momentum the German carmaker had achieved in expanding its SUV (sport utility vehicle) range. As the entry-level model, the GLA range does not fall short in projecting the premium class that it belongs to. And the positive support it has received in Malaysia has seen to the GLA being locally assembled.
January 2022
Comfortable Ipoh drive in the latest Kia Carnival
KIA is making a calculated move on its ‘return’ to the Malaysian market under a new umbrella. Instead of focusing on the mass appeal range, this Korean carmaker is looking at re-establishing its presence at the more premium sector.
Myvi Goes Just As Gung-ho With CVT
THE Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) has been around for quite a while going back to the days when the car was still in its infancy. It is increasingly becoming the favoured choice today as carmakers realised that such a transmission work best with small capacity engines by allowing more efficient operation in tapping power output and providing better fuel mileages.
2021
November 2021
Hyundai Eyes Luxury MPV Inroad With ‘Customised’ Staria Premium
HYUNDAI is not shy on its ambitions in Malaysia through Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors, especially when taking on established names with seemingly firm stranglehold in the market. The luxury people mover segment where MPVs (multipurpose vehicles) play a dominant role is one such area.
Peugeot 3008 & 5008 Evolve Aggressively
THE recent change of hands in the Peugeot dealership in Malaysia to Bermaz Auto Alliance is followed up with the launch of the latest evolvement of the popular 3008 and 5008 SUVs (sport utility vehicles). In addition to the quest for greater modernity in these vehicles’ body design elements, an aggressive streak is also added for a more forward appeal.
April 2021
Triton Athlete Well Up To Mark Off-roading
THE Mitsubishi Triton has enjoyed a strong following since it was introduced here and the latest generation model appeared to have endeared it to a bigger market with its bold and aggressive frontage. This forward design gave the Triton a distinctive brand identity that many Mitsubishi pickup owners could relate to readily and enthusiastically.
March 2021
Corolla Cross A Complete All-Rounder
IT MIGHT have taken Toyota a bit longer against rivals to come up with an affordable SUV (sport utility vehicle) in the C-segment, much less expand on the options available. The RAV4 was once the SUV of note but this was more of a B-segment model and then there was the Rush, which was another B-segment option. The chasm to the Fortuner was only filled about three years ago by the C-HR.
2020
October 2020
Proton X50 Surpasses Rivals Grandly
PROTON used to score on very affordable prices. Then its value got better with improved standard features. Added to that a better ride and handling quality that was developed with Lotus and things were starting to look brighter. Now, it could lay claim to being a superior performer in performance, safety and driving convenience at an attractive price.
September 2020
Latest Nissan Almera Charges Ahead With Turbo Power
IT MIGHT have taken the Japanese carmakers more than a decade to include turbo power in their mainstream cars, when compared to the Germans, but the ball has indeed started rolling in that direction. Locally, Honda has already set the pace with the Civic, CR-V and lately, the Accord, but down the line, Nissan (or rather Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd - ETCM) has taken the lead with the latest Almera.
February 2020
BMW 2 Series Joins Select Gran Coupe Family
BMW has this select group of Gran Coupes that recently saw its newest member in the 2 Series Gran Coupe. First premiered worldwide at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November last year, the 2 Series Gran Coupe would be available for delivery in global markets from March onwards. A good guess would put the second or third quarter for its entry to Malaysia.
A Lot More D-Max for Less
DOWNSIZING is the current theme in engine displacement and many car makers are making the move - although some are slower than others - in their respective range of new vehicle models. The success in Formula One where powerful 1.6-litre turbo-hybrids have ruled for the past four years is probably a persuasive one for the automotive industry in general.
January 2020
Bentley Flying Spur Makes APAC debut in Singapore
BENTLEY enthusiasts in the Asia Pacific region had their first glimpse of the latest Flying Spur late last year in December in Singapore. The third generation of its family line, this model was launched some six months earlier in the UK and its launch in this part of the world was timed to ensure vehicle delivery would be progressively made from the second quarter of 2020.
2019
October 2019
New Premium Choices in Mazda CX-5 Petrol Turbo and CX-8 Six-Seater Luxury
MAZDA has firmly entrenched itself in the Malaysian market as a premium brand from Japan and this was recently boosted with more SUV (sport utility vehicle) model options to pander the growing pool of strong supporters. This includes the CX-8 that now comes locally assembled and the CX-6 Turbo that takes over as head honcho in its model portfolio.
September 2019
Honda HR-V Hybrid: Smaller Engine, More Kick
GOING Hybrid is almost like going turbocharged; you could make do with a smaller displacement engine while enjoying combined electro-mechanical power that is higher than the engine output produced by a bigger displacement unit. And it could provide better fuel economy too in daily motoring use.
Porsche Taycan All-Electric Sports Car Sets Hot Pace
THE increase in demand for fully electric-powered cars is clearly a trend that couldn’t be ignored and Porsche has heeded the call with its first sporty EV (electric vehicle), the four-door Taycan. And in prestige ranking, it has clearly outranked Tesla in performance, stature and price.
August 2019
Latest Saga Takes Affordable Car Ownership to New Levels
THE NEW Proton Saga has taken value-for-money car ownership to new heights, especially for an entry level model. In a way, this reflects the very first time that the Saga was introduced here as the national car in 1985.
July 2019
Nissan Turns Over New Leaf With Superb E-Pedal
ELECTRIC cars are definitely going to be the vehicles of choice in the not too distant future and in Malaysia, it’s a good time to find out more about electric motoring with the new second-generation Nissan Leaf that was launched by Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM). This is more so with the Leaf’s new E-pedal that takes driving a car to a new level of simplicity and pleasure, without losing the fun factor.
Taking on Sepang with BMW M2 Competition
THE BMW M2 represents a raw and brutal sense of outright performance being the first step to BMW’s world of M cars. This impression, gleaned from our drive of the M2 Coupé during the M Drive in Seoul two years ago, continues to hold after another exciting drive experience with the latest model, the M2 Competition, at the Sepang International Circuit.
May 2019
Dynamic Drive with Iriz and Persona
IT MIGHT have been three years since we last drove a Proton but the impression that stayed with us since then was the good ride comfort of the Persona. We got to re-affirm this aspect of the Persona during a drive from Proton’s Centre of Excellence in Subang Jaya to Tanjung Jara via Kuantan in the updated Persona and Iriz.
Updated X-Trail Scores on Dynamic Refinement
THERE was once when we didn’t quite look forward to driving SUVs (sport utility vehicles) as being taller vehicles, they tend to roll more into a corner when pushed hard, exaggerating the understeer as the front tyres squealed in protests. That has all changed in recent years with electrical management of suspension and brake function in complement with improved suspension engineering.
April 2019
Great Yaris All-Rounder for the Young & Young at Heart
TOYOTA is warming up very nicely to the new theme ‘All About The Drive’. Its successive range of vehicles in the current era is getting more dynamically sound and would hold its own through winding road sections, quite unlike the scenario more than a decade ago.
February 2019
Slip-sliding with Triton in Sabah
HAVING been quite impressed with what the new Mitsubishi Triton had to offer during our brief off-road experience under controlled conditions on the outskirts of Bangkok in November 2018, we were looking to see if the impression could be enhanced with actual off-road drives in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah two months later.
January 2019
Bentley’s latest Continental GT Gets More Macho, Yet Remains Suave
THE BEST gets even better and you have to believe that when it comes to the Bentley Continental GT. Late last year, the third generation of the Continental GT was introduced to the Asia-Pacific region, namely Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Singapore and the rest of Southeast Asia.
Latest Toyota Vios Gets More Comfortable & Dynamic
TOYOTA is increasingly shedding its conservative look and developing cars that look more outgoing and aggressive, while improving its dynamic feel and performance. And yet retain its family oriented qualities in a comfortable ride for everyone on board. The latest Vios is an excellent example of this progressive evolvement from the staid and boring image to a vibrant and lively one.
November 2018
New Triton Gets Gung-Ho While Being More Civilised
LOOKS are everything, even for a pick-up truck. This particular vehicle has come a long way from being a mere workhorse, commonly applied in menial industries such as agriculture, construction and field services. Today, it doubles as a workhorse and personal transport for individual entrepreneurs involved in these industries.
October 2018
Renault Koleos and its Charming Ways
THE Renault Koleos appears to be winning the hearts of critics that evaluate vehicles for automotive awards. It was recently selected as the winner in the Large SUV/Crossover 5-seater category by an English news media for the second year in succession.
September 2018
Daihatsu Gran Max Automatic Strikes New Ground
CONSIDERATIONS for vehicle purchase in the commercial vehicle sector differ significantly from private vehicle ownership. A business has to make money and that figures prominently when it comes to buying a vehicle to serve the trade.
July 2018
Audi Sport Morphs Further For More Distinct Identity
AUDI might be seen as the more premium range in the Volkswagen Group but that doesn’t stop this carmaker from establishing itself as a manufacturer of exciting cars to drive. Its participation in motor sports, such as the World Endurance events (although it has now switched its focus to Formula Electric) and world rallies in early ...
June 2018
Bridgestone Turanza T005A Designed for Asean Region
TYRE development also focuses on regional needs, especially where demand is big enough, and Bridgestone is mindful of that. This was clearly demonstrated in the latest version of its flagship tyre Turanza, the T005A.
May 2018
Latest Nissan Serena Goes Quieter and More Comfortably
THE new Nissan Serena S-Hybrid is a perfect example of what better engineering could do to make quiet, comfortable family motoring to be fully enjoyed. This is our impression after driving it to Penang and back to KL over two days. Our benchmark was the drive in the previous Serena five years ago to the south of KL. The Serena we drove to Penang was the 2.0L Highway Star.
April 2018
Latest Honda CR-V no pushover with smaller engine
IT MIGHT have taken the Continental carmakers to set the pace but the Japanese brands are beginning to take up the challenge, some of them anyway. This is the use of small displacement engines but with efficiently managed turbocharging systems to give them big displacement engine power.
Yokohama dB brings silent motoring to quieter levels
SILENT motoring has become a key factor in new car purchases, especially in the middle to premium class market. With carmakers producing vehicles that run quieter with more efficient engines and better body buffers to reduce transmission of noise into the passenger cabin, tyre makers are pressed into doing their part as well.
January 2018
Subaru XV: More Goodies for a Pleasant Drive
Better looks aside, the new Subaru XV Crossover is clearly a better representation of the times with its higher level of equipment to make the ownership experience more convenient and enjoyable. With our last acquaintance in the previous XV reasonably fresh in our mind, we could relate to the novelty of enjoying the newer features that now come standard at an affordable price.
Michelin Raises Benchmark with Pilot Sport 4 S
BENCHMARKS are meant to be set and then broken, and Michelin believes it has done just that when it introduced the Pilot Sport 4 S last year. This is the performance version of the Pilot Sport 4 that was introduced earlier to progressively replace the Pilot Sport as an OE (original equipment) tyre for premium cars and vehicles.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
HAPPY NEW YEAR
HAPPY NEW YEAR
December 2017
Goodyear Expands EfficientGrip Range with Premium Tyre
CHANGE is a constant and it applies to everything, not least of all the automotive and its ancillary industries. Tyres are a must and vehicle development is often done with the tyres the car manufacturers would like to use. The vehicle’s suspension system is normally geared towards the range of tyres it is running on.
November 2017
Double Turbo Options for Hyundai Tucson
THE turbo fever is certainly catching on fast, especially at Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors Sdn Bhd (HSDM) as it followed up to the Elantra Sport Turbo with two new Tucson turbocharged models. That is giving the lifestyle automotive market a double kick instead of one to spice up one’s motoring pleasure.
October 2017
Honda BR-V adds zest to entry level Crossover
HONDA Malaysia’s strategy to make car ownership exciting and affordable is certainly making waves and inroads. Well on its way to achieving 100,000 car sales for the first time this year, we could relate to its ambitious goal after finally getting a drive impression in the BR-V.
September 2017
Elantra’s Power Options Expand Appeal
THE latest Hyundai Elantra is made available with two power options – turobocharged and normally aspirated - to expand its appeal. Being the mid-range models, its reach with the younger set clearly allows Hyundai to provide a more exciting alternative in the Elantra Sport Turbo.
July 2017
Continental Blends Sporty and Premium Performance in PremiumContact 6
REACTION to tyre performance probably gets more critical as you go up the premium ladder in the automotive world. Those who drive premium cars would value the ride performance above all else from the tyre while expecting it to provide other related qualities in equally fine doses.
June 2017
Latest Honda Accord Maintains Sporty Executive Appeal
THE Honda Accord has firmly established itself here as one of the popular options for executive motoring among the Asian brands over the years. This is also reflected in the US market especially with the current generation (ninth) model, which has been the top selling car there in the last few years, with the Toyota Camry second best.
Innova Continues Positive Performance in Fresh Perspective
TOYOTA has given the latest Innova a fresh perspective with a sharper body profile that belies its deep roots. This subscribes to its current approach of giving its range of vehicles less of a conservative profile but a more forward, and in some cases even bold, front.
May 2017
Discovering Sun Moon Lake with New Panamera
MENTION the popular tourist spot, Sun Moon Lake, in Nantou County, Taiwan and the last thing you would think of is a fast drive around it in Porsche Panameras. That was our reaction when we received the invitation to experience a drive impression of the latest Panamera. Were we supposed to enjoy a scenic drive around the lake? That would be ironic for a performance car.
Toyota Sienta Checks All Right Spots for Family Motoring
TOYOTA has moved clearly from a conservative stance to a bolder one in body styling for its newer range of passenger vehicles. An example is the latest Camry that has taken on racy, angular lines in front that one would not have expected of this Toyota executive sedan, say ten years ago.
March 2017
Audi Driving Experience with R8 plus
AUDI conducts a regular driving experience at its Audi Sport centre near Ingolstadt, Germany for new car owners as well as interested parties such as the motoring media. We had our taste of this Audi Driving Experience at the highest level with the R8 V10 plus Coupé, which represents its ultimate sports car.
Hyundai Ioniq: Hybrid Motoring for a Song
HYUNDAI is taking the hybrid challenge to Toyota with the Ioniq by offering such a fuel efficient car at a lower price. Although the Ioniq Hybrid would have enjoyed tax incentives under the EEV (Energy Efficient Vehicle) category, commanding a price below RM115,000 makes it a very attractive proposition. Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors is so confident of the good price advantage that the Ioniq is made available as a locally assembled model.
February 2017
Latest Kia Sorento Cuts it on Diesel Power
THE Kia Sorento has always been petrol powered under Naza Kia’s stewardship until the latest model. This has to do with the progressive availability of higher refined diesel fuel that new diesel engines would perform best running on. To gauge the response to this change of power, Naza Kia brought in a low specification model as an alternative option to the higher-spec 2.4-litre petrol models.
Honda Civic 1.5 Turbo: Enjoying the Affordable Dream
THE latest Honda Civic, now in its 10th generation, highlights the move to turbo power for the normal model range. It might have taken the Japanese automotive industry a bit more time to come on stream with such a move but then again, it’s never too late to hop onto this power trend wagon.
January 2017
Twisty Drive in Portugal with new Audi A5 & S5
HOT on the heels of the new Audi A4 came the Audi A5 and punchier S5. The current trend is to develop the two-door coupé version independent of the supposedly base model to stand it out as an individual car instead of being an extended entity. Moreover, these sportier looking cars are also endowed with the more powerful engines in the range.
December 2016
Perodua Bezza: Sedan Alternative of Choice
IT WAS a matter of time before Perodua was going to introduce a sedan model to try for a bigger slice of the market. More Malaysian car owners somehow prefer the sedan more than the hatchback even though Perodua held its own since it started in 1996 with its range of hatchbacks to even outsell its closest rival Proton in recent years.
Chevrolet Introduces ‘Friendlier’ Colorado
THE pickup has grown from a mere workhorse to become a more ‘civilised’ vehicle that now easily doubles for work and family motoring. This dual function for the pickup has seen development focused on making the vehicle more comfortable in ride for all on board as well as being endowed with more features to make it more family savvy.
November 2016
Renault Fluence An Affordable Mid-Range Sedan
THE Renault Fluence has been in the Malaysian market since mid-2014 and in that time close to 300 cars were moved, most of the purchases favouring the higher-spec Dynamique variant. At about RM10,000 more at RM119,888 (on the road without insurance) it makes sense to go for a Dynamique Fluence that has leather seat upholstery, standard daytime running lights and LED (light emitting diode) rear combination lamps.
Second-Gen Persona Scores on Ride Comfort
THE Proton Persona has entered its second generation phase and not a minute too soon. Waning sales required an upgrade to refresh interest and the latest Persona won’t disappoint on that score. It has assumed a completely new look that is definitely mainstream in body design, which is good on one hand and not so good on another.
October 2016
Lamborghini Huracán: The Buriram Experience
IT’S not often that we get an invitation to drive a Lamborghini unless we happen to be a potential customer, which we are in no financial situation to be. We had that pleasure earlier in the year to drive the Huracán LP 580-2 rear-wheel drive at a race circuit in Kaohsiung in Taiwan.
September 2016
BMW X1: Just as good in Front-wheel drive
BMW might have gone front-wheel drive (FWD) since 2014 but some would still raise their eyebrows on being told of such a model from this German carmaker. Perhaps it is because BMW has established its image as a strong rear-driven car that few could perceive it doing the same with a front-driven one.
Strong and clean diesel power with Mazda6 SKYACTIV-D
THE progressive availability of Euro5 diesel is beginning to see the introduction of more advanced diesel cars and vehicles. Mazda is among the few who see this as an opportunity to introduce its advanced diesel range to cater to the growing confidence and acceptance of such cars.
August 2016
Roughing out Brisbane outback with BFGoodrich
THE growing demand for pick-ups and SUVs (sport utility vehicles) in Malaysia reflects the trend in many world markets and this is not lost on BFGoodrich, an American tyre maker. This means the demand for tyres suitable for such vehicles would grow in tandem and there is an opportunity waiting to be tapped.
July 2016
Roomier SUV Option in Hyundai Tucson
THE growing range of SUVs (sport utility vehicles) in the market gives the prospective buyer plenty to choose from. Brand loyalty plays a big role here although the younger customer is more inclined to vehicle looks and equipment that might befit his or her lifestyle. This is where the latest Hyundai Tucson is likely to score in the Malaysian market.
April 2016
Lamborghini Huracán Stays Exciting with Rear-wheel drive
LAMBORGHINI might have been pretty low key compared to its more flamboyant Italian rival in Ferrari but after coming under Audi in the Volkswagen Group more than 15 years ago, it has re-established itself as an exclusive player to contend with. Since Ferruccio Lamborghini founded the company in 1963, it had been on a roller-coaster ride and went through a few changes of ownership.
Renault Captur: Breezy Lifestyle Option with 1.2 Turbo Power
TAPPING on the Crossover or SUV (sport utility vehicle) trend sweeping the market appeared to have paid dividends for Renault franchise holder TC Euro Cars. The company is already into its second batch of imported Captur (pronounced as Capture) as this compact Crossover has found favour with a growing pool of prospective Renault customers.
March 2016
Mercedes-Benz GLE 250d & CLA45 AMG: Contrasting Experiences
TO CELEBRATE Mercedes-Benz 130 Years of Innovation at Cycle & Carriage Bintang Berhad’s Georgetown Autohaus, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia provided the media a variety of vehicles to drive between KL and Penang over two days. We had the opportunity to do the KL-Penang leg in the newly launched GLE 250d and the return leg in the CLA45 4Matic, and it was a world of contrast in experience.
February 2016
Renault Clio GT Line: An Engaging Drive
IT’S been a while since we drove a Renault and the Kangoo was the last model that came to mind. Our memory of this French make – from the early days of the Renault 10, 12, 16 and 17 (1970s) to the more recent Kangoo, Megane and Espace (2000s) – had always been on the comfortable ride that appears to be a hallmark of cars from that country.
January 2016
Latest 3 Series Continues Strong Dynamic Pace
THE BMW 3 Series goes through a fairly long model span, thus facelifts keep its appeal fresh and updated technically to hold firmly against rivals, especially from its German counterparts. In the Malaysian scenario, it may only see one serious rival in the three-point star but in major markets like Europe, China and the US, its rival base is wider.
Nissan X-Trail 2.5L: Standing Well Against Peers
The SUV (sport utility vehicle) or Crossover sector is now an increasingly hotly contested one (even exclusive brands are making them) and the one with the looks and features is likely to gain good market share. With the new X-Trail, Nissan has made tremendous grounds in these two areas to be fully worthy of consideration by many in the market for such vehicles.
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Latest Audi A4 Sets New Benchmark
THE Audi A4 is no pushover when it comes to technology, performance, perception, styling and design. This is fully continued in the latest model – the ninth in the series - that is due on Malaysian roads in the first quarter of 2016. Audi calls its latest ‘baby’ the winning four with its ‘fascinating’ synthesis of technology and aesthetics. Technically, that numeral for this model series goes back only four generations to 1995. The earlier four generations went by the name of A80 that was first introduced in 1972.
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BMW Goes X-tra Mile in Premium All-Wheel Drive Motoring
BMW hasn’t looked back since it introduced the All-Wheel Drive (AWD) variant in just about all of its model range. The global demand is so good that the AWD range accounts for about a third of BMW sales today. BMW obviously has got it right to command that kind of appeal.
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Ford Renews Focus with EcoBoost Power
THE Ford Focus enters its fourth generation cycle, carrying the best-seller torch for the brand with a new look and efficient turbo power. Yes, the latest Focus now looks fully a part of the new Ford family with the characteristic trapezoidal grille and EcoBoost power.
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BMW X1 Second Generation Joins Front Drive Momentum
THE front-wheel drive momentum is picking up speed at BMW; at least for the smaller range of cars. Hot on the heels of the 2 Series Active Tourer and Gran Tourer, BMW has added the second generation X1 SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle) to its new front-wheel drive family.
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Jaguar XE Continues British ‘Cat’ Revival
JAGUAR has had quite a colourful journey since it first appeared as the SS Jaguar in late 1935. It was after the Second World War that Jaguar established its niche as a maker of sports cars with a series of successful models; XK120 (1948-1954), XK140 (1954-1957), XK150 (1957-61) and E-Type (1961-1975). There were also the sporty sedan models such as the MK VII and IX, Mks I and II, and the XJ6.
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BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer: The Family Option
THE BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer is the natural progression from the 2 Series Active Tourer and its coming was only a matter of time. The need for a bigger MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) lies in its original design; to serve as a flexible family transporter, this time to pander the needs of a bigger family.
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Honda Civic 1.8S: Mid-range Executive Motoring Well Up to Mark
HONDA Malaysia is not sitting pretty as the rivals in the market step up in their respective model offerings through attractive pricing and updated versions to pander to the whims of prospective buyers. Late last year, the ninth-generation Civic was introduced in an updated form with a better level of equipment and new body aesthetics to stamp its presence more vividly.
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Porsche Cayman GT4 Opens New Sporty Purist Options
THE Porsche 911 GT3 once held the status for serious sporty driving on the road, with dynamic qualities that often blur the lines between a road and race car, but that has changed recently with the new Cayman GT4. Seen as the entry level to Porsche’s GT Classification range (that is, GT with a number), the Cayman GT4 is said to open new sporty driving purist options to come.
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BMW 2 Series Active Tourer for Trendy Motoring
THE changing tastes among passenger vehicle buyers can’t be ignored if a carmaker is to stay relevant and be fully competitive. There is an increasing demand for comfortable family vehicles that goes beyond cars and stationwagons (or estates), and this comes well catered to in MPVs (multipurpose vehicles).
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Isuzu MU-X: Comfortable SUV with good mileage
THE Isuzu MU-X is not a completely new SUV (sport utility vehicle) being the second-generation model, following the MU-7, which was not sold here. The MU-7 was introduced in Thailand in 2005 to replace the Trooper, the production of which had stopped for some years at that time.
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MINI Cooper S three-door: Powerful Drive Down Memory Lane
THE MINI Cooper S three-door sure brought back some good memories; while driving it through our regular ‘test’ mill, we couldn’t help relate the go-kart experience to the MINI 1000 that we had some fun driving with back in the late 60s and early 70s. The power might have been a world of difference between the ...
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Porsche 911 Targa: Sporty Lifestyle
PURISTS might have lamented the good old days of Porsche when only those who how to drive them can claim full and rewarding ownership. While it is good to be recognised as a car builder who makes exclusive and demanding sporty cars, Porsche also recognises the fact it could expand its customer base tremendously by making its range of cars easier to drive.
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Honda HR-V is Hip and Peppy
YOUNGER car owners are making up a good share of the customers eyeing new models being introduced and they are more inclined to try something new and fresh, rather than stick with standard fare. SUVs and Crossovers have come to be fashion statements among them and many automotive makers are certainly right on this current pulse.
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Rolls-Royce on Record Roll for Fifth Year
ROLLS-Royce capped a fifth record year of vehicle delivery in 2014 with 4063 cars, breaking the 4000-level for the first time and making it the highest sales ever in its 111-year history. This represented a 12 per cent increase over the sales made in 2013, when it had celebrated a record delivery then of 3600 cars.
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Nissan Serena S-Hybrid Goes Local
GOOD fuel mileage passenger vehicles may lose their lustre when petrol prices go down or stay at affordable levels. This is when other attributes of the vehicle come to the fore. For the latest Nissan Serena S-Hybrid facelift model, it is a comfortable and well-equipped MPV (multipurpose vehicle) for eight people at an attractive price that becomes its strongest draw.
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Peugeot 408 Turbo: Great Value for Money Offer
YEAR-END offers sometimes see great value-for-money packages that are hard to resist and the attractive offer by Nasim Sdn Bhd for its Peugeot 408 Turbo is definitely one of them. At RM98,000, or some RM30,000 cheaper than its standard price, the Peugeot 408 Turbo has to be seriously considered for what it can offer in driving fun and functionality.
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MINI Cooper S: 5-door Enhancer
MINI has introduced a five-door model in September that should enhance its appeal for those who are looking at a more conventional option besides the Clubman and Countryman. This was launched as the second body variant of the new generation MINI and this five-door model was made available in the Malaysian market a couple ...
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VESPA Primavera 150 3V ie.
AFTER five days, four nights and 852 kilometres of travelling around Selangor, Federal Territory and Perak, I had to sadly return the little Primavera to Naza Premira Sdn Bhd, Piaggio's Malaysian homebase in Petaling Jaya.
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Porsche Macan: Smaller and Exciting Sporty SUV
PORSCHE has obviously felt the need to reach out to more potential customers with its SUV (sport utility vehicle) and the newly introduced Macan clearly reflected this. This is the compact model to complement the bigger Porsche Cayenne, which has its retinue of loyal customers.
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Honda City Continues Youthful Dynamics
THE Honda City is now into its fourth generation. It seemed like only yesterday that we were the owner of the first-generation City, which started out here as a 1.3-litre model before the 1.5-litre variant was brought in about six months down the road. It has remained a 1.5-litre model ever since.
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BMW X4 & 4 Series Grand Coupé: More Option for the Picking
VARIETY is the spice of life and this applies equally in the premium car sector. BMW is certainly subscribing to that by extending its model options down the line to reach out to more loyal customers who want greater choices to suit their motoring pleasure. If at all possible, the German carmaker would want to have a model in ...
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Latest Tiguan Gets Twin-Charge Power
THE latest Volkswagen Tiguan was recently introduced here with a 1.4-litre TSI twin-charge engine to take over from the 2.0-litre turbo that was made available earlier in the previous model. Volkswagen Malaysia obviously wanted to attract more buyers to consider its Tiguan SUV, which was previously at a premium ...
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Isuzu D-Max 3.0 V-Cross: When Bigger is Better
THE bigger engine displacement option is sometimes the better alternative when you need the added power and torque for your mode of transportation. You need a ‘friendly’ price levy environment as well to make it an affordable choice and this is applicable in Sabah and Sarawak.
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Honda Jazz: Raising Bar To Affordable Lifestyle Motoring
THE Honda Jazz is now into its third generation model and it is seen as raising the bar for cars in its segment: lifestyle motoring in a subcompact form and as a petite but sporty looking hatchback rather than an MPV. The model designation is clearly blurred in this new age but the Jazz finds among its admirers the younger set ...
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BMW M3 & M4: Setting New Spirited Benchmarks
THE BMW Group has come to be the top premium carmaker in the world last year, achieving almost two million vehicles in sales. A key reason for its higher acceptance in the major markets has to do with its wider range of exciting cars. BMW has also clearly demonstrated its ability to provide what customers want and to move with the times
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Honda Accord 2.0 VTi-L: Nimble Yet Comfortable
IT HAD been nine months since the latest ninth-generation Honda Accord was introduced here and it appears to have the stamina to maintain its strong appeal in the market. Honda Malaysia recently invited us for an impression drive and we decided on the Accord 2.0 VTi-L, which is usually the more popular of the two models, the other being the 2.4-litre.
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Mercedes-Benz CLA 200: Sporty four-door Coupé Extends Appeal
CAPITALISING on a successful model concept by extending its appeal to reach out to more buyers seems to be the current trend among some carmakers. The Mercedes-Benz CLS was introduced in 2003 to pander to those who wanted a sporty looking four-door coupé without losing the driving comfort of the E-Class (W211) that it was based on. It came to be a niche model that had its share of ...
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New Nissan Teana: Bigger and More Dynamic
THE Nissan Teana has returned as a new model to slug it out in an increasingly competitive market. When it was introduced as a locally assembled model in 2010, its main rivals were the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Since then, the D-segment market has progressively seen new faces that are available at very ...
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Peugeot 3008 SUV Rejuvenated
IT HAS been four years since the Peugeot 3008 ruled the French roost in the SUV market here, making it the top seller from that country. With more than 2000 units sold to its name since its entry in mid-2010, the 3008 had appealed to those who wanted the French version of SUV motoring.
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Ford EcoSport: Compact SUV for Casual Motoring
FORD may be onto a good thing here in the Malaysian market when it brings in the new EcoSport soon to cater to those who want a compact SUV (sport utility vehicle). Firstly, it has no direct rivals in the price range it is expected to be in, which is from RM95,000 to RM115,000, depending on models as hinted during the KL International Motor Show 2013 late last year.
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Mitsubishi Goes PHEV for 4WD models
MITSUBISHI has already demonstrated its ability to produce electric vehicles for the urban environment with the i-MiEV (Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle), and is making the car more attractive by reducing price gradually in key markets. The next step was to develop an electric vehicle for inter-city driving and the result is the PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle).
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Mitsubishi Attrage SE: Good value motoring
HOT on the heels of the Mitsubishi Mirage came the Attrage, the sedan alternative that scores well with its own body styling. Yes, the Attrage has raised eyebrows regarding its ability to perform, given that it shares the same power base as the Mirage. Those old enough to recall the early days of the Datsun 120Y Automatic might share these sentiments.
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Mazda BT-50 6-speed Manual: Strictly for the Young
THE latest Mazda BT-50 signals a departure from its earlier link to the Ford Ranger when there was a shared development process. This comes mainly in the body design although the engine appears to be similar to that in the current Ranger. Likewise, the model options available in the 2.2-litre and 3.2-litre are the same.
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Hyundai i40 Tourer: Lifestyle Alternative
TOURERS belong to a niche market. They offer lifestyle motoring for those who like to sit low, with good and flexible interior room, and decent power to move quick enough without burning much fuel. Back in the old days (read that as the 70s and 80s), tourers were more commonly known as stationwagons in the local market. Then, such vehicles were widely used as commercial vehicles to transport goods while a few were bought for private motoring.
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Hyundai Tucson Facelift: Smoother and More Fuel Efficient
THE Hyundai Tucson has had a relatively good run since it was introduced to the Malaysian market in 2010. As of late last year, more than 6000 units of the Tucson, which is imported from South Korea, were sold.
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Kia Optima Facelift: The Korean Experience
THE current Kia Optima has enjoyed success well beyond expectations following its launch in 2010. More than 800,000 cars were sold globally as it was an attractive alternative for many in the market for a C-segment car. As it enters its mid-life span, Kia is fully determined to ride on the positive sentiments by endowing the Optima with more than a cursory facelift. And what better way to ...
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Toyota Vios: Raising Comfort Level in a Spirited Way
THE latest generation Toyota Vios has come a long way since the first model was introduced here more than 10 years ago. Although it continues to serve as the entry level Toyota model for the Malaysian market, it has been improved in the area of comfort to measure well up to expectations.
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Nissan Serena S-Hybrid: Comfortable and Economical
FUEL efficient motoring has become the norm right across the model range, more so with the bigger displacement engine segment, with which even the premium class owners would appreciate the fuel savings gained. Hybrids have set the standard along with fuel-efficient diesel models. We see more of the former as our less refined diesel fuel is not suitable for the modern-day diesel-powered cars.
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Kia Cerato Koup Gets Turbo Power
THE new Kia Cerato continues with the same three variants that it was made available with for the previous model although the Malaysian market is likely to see only two: the Cerato sedan that was launched earlier in 2013 and the Cerato Koup that made a year-end entry. The five-door hatchback model is the third variant.
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Peugeot 2008: Crossover motoring in a smaller package
PEUGEOT has obviously enjoyed good success with the 3008 Crossover that shares the same platform as the 308 hatchback, enough to extend that formula to the smaller 208 model as well. Building different models from a common floorpan is the way to go these days as it saves on development costs and time.
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New Nissan Grand Livina: Fresh Face Family Fun
THE Nissan Grand Livina has fulfilled the local need for practical and economical family motoring for quite a few years without asking for too high a price. Its strong sales numbers over the years clearly attest to its popularity. Available in 1.6 and 1.8-litre model variants, there was good demand for both, with the smaller displacement (and more affordable) model taking a bigger share of the pie at more than 60 per cent.
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New Mazda3 Preview: Driver-centric Dynamics
THE third generation Mazda3 to be launched in Japan from November and progressively in other countries is the third SkyActiv model after the Mazda6 and CX-5. With each SkyActiv model, Mazda also introduced new developments that it hopes will enhance the car’s appeal further.
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Ford Fiesta S: Comfortable Sporty Compact
THE Ford Fiesta has found a strong niche in the market, in particular among young buyers, looking for attractive alternatives in the compact hatchback sector. Since it was launched here, Sime Darby’s AutoConnesXion has enjoyed a steady stream of buyers, making the Fiesta its best-selling Ford model averaging more than 100 units a month.
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Third Generation BMW X5: The Boss Gets More Comfortable
THE BMW X5 SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle) may win sales based on its dynamic outlook but the area of comfort is also not overlooked, as the recently launched third-generation X5 is any indicator. There is now a greater distinction between performance and comfortable driving, going by the options that are available with the latest ‘Boss’ from BMW.
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New Mercedes-Benz E-Class: Quiet and Quick
THE latest Mercedes-Benz E-Class has apparently been well received here in its Avantgarde design, especially with its attractive prices ranging from RM366,888.00 to RM405,888.00Perhaps, having gone bigger in engine displacement (from 1.8-litre to 2.0-litre) might have a small part to play in that. This is the new BlueEFFICIENCY range, with the E 200 rated at 135kW (184bhp) ...
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Subaru XV: Smooth Crossover
SUBARU is perhaps the most underrated car brand from Japan, not for the lack of driving fun or technology, but for its lack of presence, especially in Malaysia. The Subaru name rang a bell or two when it was involved in the World Rally Championship (WRC) with its Impreza WRX cars, enjoying relatively good success.
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New Range Rover Sport: Equally at home on highways and offroad
THE launch of the Range Rover in the late 70s laid the groundwork for comfortable offroad driving although the trend didn’t really take off till much later. Today, Range Rover has many rivals vying for a share of that pie. When the latest Range Rover Sport was introduced in early 2013 in the Big Apple, with ‘Agent 007’ Daniel Craig taking the stage no less, it appeared that Land Rover was going back to basics.
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Hyundai Veloster: Three-door sportster Option
THE Hyundai Veloster should appeal to those who want more than just an ‘ordinary’ sportster, styling-wise, that is. As a three-door sports car, the Veloster has few peers along that odd arrangement: it has one door for the driver and two to serve the front and rear passengers.
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New Mercedes-Benz A-Class: The Sepang Experience
THE Mercedes-Benz A-Class has grown dimensionally over the respective models and is no longer the ‘puny’ hatchback it started out as. Today, the latest A-Class is a pretty stout looking car, fully beefed up by eagle-eyed daylight running lights (LEDs), 18-inch wheels, and an improved aerodynamic body ...
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Discovering Isuzu’s 4x4 Land with the new D-Max
THE passion one shares with his vehicle can come in several forms; engine power, handling prowess, sporty orientation, unique engineering, characteristic body design, marque tradition, off-road ability, to name the common bonds. Carmakers usually capitalise on such bonds to promote their respective vehicles to endear loyalists and to catch the attention of prospective customers.
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Bridgestone Expands Ecopia Range
BRIDGESTONE’S introduction of its Ecopia range more than two years ago for the passenger car market appears to have gone down well with customers. The Ecopia range was originally launched to capitalise on its low rolling resistance, which leads to better fuel economy arising from less engine power required to propel ...
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Hyundai Sonata 2.4 Facelift: More Distinctive Flash
IT HAS been more than two years since the new Hyundai Sonata was introduced here and this Korean executive sedan had settled into its own niche, favoured among those who wished to venture onto new products. A facelift model was introduced early this year, following sporty options introduced late last year to maintain appeal.
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Michelin Primacy 3 ST: Good stopping Asia-Pacific Tyre
MICHELIN has come to terms with meeting regional needs for tyre performance and has introduced its new Primacy 3 range (which is the third generation tyre) as a dedicated product for Asia-Pacific markets. It carries the additional ‘ST’ alphabets, which stands for ‘Silence Tuned’.
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Latest BMW Z4: Topless fun with 35iS
THE latest BMW Z4 is promoted as a ‘new’ car although you might be hard put to differentiate it from the previous model at a glance. Those with sharp eyes may spot the slimmer design of the standard bi-xenon headlights that flow further back to the front wheel arches, underlined by the LED daytime running lights.
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BMW M6 Gran Coupé: For Mature Hotheads
LESS than a year after the four-door BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé was introduced, an M Sport version has followed. BMW believes that the ‘mature’ group that the 6 Series panders to is ready for another M Sport model in the range, following the encouraging response to the M6 two-door model. And as M Sport motoring goes, the M6 Gran Coupé is just as heady in performance.
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The Kuga Pounces
THE Ford Kuga, which takes over from the Escape, is a fresh model in all respects to our market. Though the name is new, it is the second generation model as the earlier Kuga was introduced to the US and Europe markets. Strangely, the name Kuga is used for the European market while in the US, it is sold as the Escape.
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BMW 3 Gets Distinctive GT Option
BMW had earlier introduced the GT – Gran Tourismo or Grand Touring – in the 5 Series, which has already gone on to the second generation phase. If there was to be another GT variant in the family, the logical choice was the 3 Series as the reach was wider and the demand just as strong. Sure enough, the 3 Series GT had now come to exist.
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BMW ActiveE: Strong & Silent
BMW’S commitment to electric power is seeing fruit in model extensions and a dedicated range, the i models. Among the former is the ActiveE, which is based on the two-door 1 Series, as well as the MiniE. Although the attention on electric cars have slowed down in a few key markets, some - such as China and the US - are maintaining interest in ‘clean’ power.
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Volvo XC60 T5: Youthful SUV
VOLVO reaches out to the younger set with the XC60 in the SUV class, and for Malaysia, only one model is offered: the XC60 T5. Yes, it’s the more powerful variant and given its target market, it’s clearly the model that should catch the eye here. For 2013, the XC60 has been given an update but going by Volvo’s practice, most of the refinements are marginal and in the engine bay.
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Honda 4th Generation CR-V: Slightly Smaller but Better
ITS launch here might have been delayed by a natural disaster (in Thailand) but the wait is worth the while. The new Honda CR-V is completely redesigned from front to back, giving the fourth-generation Comfortable Runabout Vehicle a fresh new perspective from the old mould, with some Continental influence to the rear styling.
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Third-Generation Cayman Gets Lighter, Quicker
THE Porsche Cayman panders to those who find the 911 too big and the Boxster, not Porsche enough for their liking. While the Cayman may be considered a smaller 911, there are styling differences from the general family semblance to stand it apart on its own as a two-seater sport coupé
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New Mazda6: Driver’s Delight with Skyactiv Power
THE latest Mazda6 has arrived with the highly anticipated Skyactiv engineering that Mazda announced more than a year ago. The new Mazda executive sedan may have grown dimensionally over the old to lose some of its slimness, but it has not lost any of its agility when put to the task through winding roads.
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Ford Focus Sport Plus: Dynamic yet Comfortable
THE Ford Focus is not a new ‘face’ here but it enjoyed only a small share of the market with the earlier models. The latest model may change all that, given its high level of standard features against the established rivals. And the package is not just mere trifles but practical items that were first introduced in premium class cars.
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Toyota Camry 2.5V: Good Premium Value for the Money
THE Toyota Camry has earned its stripes over the years as a car that fulfils executive class motoring and the latest model continues to maintain status quo with the best of them. A few days with the Camry 2.5V, which included a drive to Ipoh for some gourmet food and taking in the sights, easily convinced us as to why this Toyota executive sedan remains a strong seller
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Continental GT: Wild Side of Bentley
THE Bentley Continental is the two-door version that panders to the elite strata hankering for some sporty drives. As it usually weighs more than two tonnes, matching even the large SUVs, few would imagine that the Continental would be almost as much fun to drive as smaller size and nimbler sports cars about half its weight.
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Ford Ranger 2.2 XLT: When Small is BIG…
THE latest Ford Ranger toes the current trend of going smaller in engine displacement without compromising on power and overall performance in general. A more efficient engine turbocharging system has made it possible and for a two-tonne pick-up, you can’t lose out on the power.
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BMW expands options with Hybrid models
BMW has shown its ability to spread its engineering base and not put all its eggs in one basket by introducing hybrid cars. The German carmaker may see more merits in its diesel range to deliver power and mileage, but it too has to accept that diesel clatter is not widely accepted everywhere, such as China and the US.
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World Motor Sport Champions do battle in Bangkok
IF THERE’S a gauge to judge world motor sport champions by, it has to be the Michelin Race of Champions (ROC). The event is already into its 25th year, but it was only run for the first time in the Asean region in mid-December 2012. It was also the second time that the ROC was held outside of Europe, the first being in 2009 at the Beijing’s Bird Nest Olympic Stadium.
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Putting the Joy Back into Driving
TOYOTA is a brand that speaks of reliability, strength and value. As it were, it was voted the most valuable automotive brand in the UK recently. Although it was involved in motor sports at the highest level, such as the World Rally Championship (WRC) and Formula One, few could recall a Toyota car that would awe one in a truly sporty way, other than the mere aesthetics.
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Volvo S60 T4: Livelier Option for Younger Set
THE Volvo S60 is seen as the rival to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 3 Series although the price difference is not as big as you would expect, varying from a few thousand ringgit to more than RM20,000, depending on models. Volvo has its share of followers who have come to accept its brand of engineering and safety standards, and the price that needs to be paid to enjoy that privilege.
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Nissan Sylphy: Hassle-free Family Drive with More Features
THE Nissan Sylphy has strong appeal here and it’s not difficult to see why. It’s a 2.0-litre sedan that took over handsomely from the Altima, and for its price in the RM115,000 to RM125,000 category, it has few peers. Newer ‘faces’ entering the market at equally attractive prices, however, have eaten into its share as the car’s initial novelty had worn off.
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Volvo S80 T5: More Refined Drive
THE Volvo S80 may look pretty similar following our last acquaintance in 2010 but the bold front stands out to stamp its fresh aura with the larger and striking Volvo badge. The S80 T5 Exclusive model that we had a weekend with also came with larger and optional 18-inch alloys with tyres to match (available at an additional RM20,000) to boost its touch of agro.
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Toyota Hilux 2.5G Gets Variable Turbo Punch
THE Toyota Hilux is a top-seller in the local pick-up market but it doesn’t mean that it can’t flow with the winds of change. When the efficient variable nozzle turbo (VNT) technology became the preferred choice for many carmakers, it was definitely time to adopt the system too.
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Nissan Almera KL-Malacca Drive: Strong on fuel economy
THE Nissan Almera has finally arrived and Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) has left no stones unturned in priming up the car to fulfil most customer expectations. Even the Tuned by Impul version was made available, which includes a tuned suspension system in addition to the body kit, depending on the price one is willing to pay.
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Mitsubishi Triton VGT: Smaller but Powerful
GOING smaller these days doesn’t mean becoming less powerful. With improved automotive technology, carmakers can harness smaller but efficient displacement engines while providing impressive power without sacrificing fuel economy. It’s a best of both worlds approach that many have come to accept, especially with oil prices staying at high levels.
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Latest Honda Civic: Thai Drive Preview
SUZUKI built its market on sub-compacts and compacts, and in the past decade, its foray into the World Rally Championship with its Swift gave it some strong standing as a car maker with the engineering to build reliable performance cars. Following the introduction of its SX model some years back in the C-segment market, Suzuki has now gone one step further with the Kizashi in the D-segment category.
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Suzuki Kizashi: Driver’s Delight
SUZUKI built its market on sub-compacts and compacts, and in the past decade, its foray into the World Rally Championship with its Swift gave it some strong standing as a car maker with the engineering to build reliable performance cars. Following the introduction of its SX model some years back in the C-segment market, Suzuki has now gone one step further with the Kizashi in the D-segment category.
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Mitsubishi Mirage Returns as 6th-Gen Eco-Car
THE Mitsubishi Mirage has quite a history behind it, and that includes us especially in the case of Proton. We never saw it as the Mirage here, but as the Colt and Lancer F(iore). Mitsubishi introduced it in Japan in 1978 as the Mirage but sold it globally as the Mirage. Those old enough to remember might recall the Colt of the early 1980s that came with a manual eight-speed SuperShift transmission, which operated on a planetary gear system.
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A Punchier ‘B’ & More Refined ‘M’
THE local Mercedes-Benz team recently embarked on its second set of newcomers for the year, with one of them being viewed more intently than the other. The latest B-Class model comes well updated and a top feature has to be the higher power output. It is no longer a toothless tiger as the new mild turbo engine gives it a lot more bite than before.
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Seeing Isuzu Beyond the D-Max
TO MANY, Isuzu is the D-Max. Some might recall the Trooper, one of the two best-selling 4x4 wagons in the mid-1980s (back then, they were not called SUVs). Isuzu used to sell cars too, like the Gemini, which was initially sold here under the Opel name, sporty Piazza and JJ sedan. Unlike the Gemini, not many Piazza and JJ were sold. Isuzu stopped producing cars when sales became unfeasible and focused on its commercial range and 4x4s. It has not looked back and is today the top commercial vehicle manufacturer in Japan, and the second most successful in the world after Daimler.
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Latest Elantra’s Winning Ways
THE fact that it took a lot longer than usual for the latest Hyundai Elantra to reach our shores speaks a lot about its high demand in markets abroad. Hyundai is virtually stretching its factory resources in South Korea to keep up with the hectic pace. Now that it’s here, carrying the Inokom badge, the scenario is no different. Just a few months into its launch and Hyundai-Sime Darby has received more than 5000 bookings. About 1600 cars had been delivered.
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Chevrolet Trailblazer Eyes SUV Inroad
CHEVROLET has followed up on its success with the Captiva by looking further upmarket in the SUV sector with the new Trailblazer. It believes there is still room for good inroad into the competitive regional market and has added the model recently to its assembly line in Rayong, Thailand.
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Latest Avanza: Affordable Family Motoring Updated
THE Toyota Avanza once had a captive audience among those who wanted family motoring in an affordable vehicle without compromising interior space and flexibility, engine power and fuel economy. Although that has been curtailed somewhat by a similar engine-powered rival in the cheaper Perodua Alza, the Avanza continues to retain a strong following.
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Honda’s Smart Connections
THE general theme at the recent 42nd Tokyo Motor Show revealed few new models. Instead, there was a clear focus on the immediate future. Honda’s President, CEO and Representative Director Takanobu Ito offered this rationale:
“We have not had the best of times this year. First, we were badly hit by the terrible tsunami. Before we could recover fully from that, there came the disruptive floods in Thailand. It was a double whammy that would take a lot to pick up the pieces from. But we have to show our resiliency, our automotive development capabilities, and how technologically advanced we are in being prepared for the immediate future.”
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Honda CR-Z: Award-winning Hot-Hatch Hybrid
HONDA Malaysia Sdn Bhd launched the new CR-Z late last year to very good demand, more so when Malaysia was the first country in Southeast Asia to offer this award-winning hot-hatch hybrid. Although Honda targeted to sell 100 units by end 2011, more than 300 orders were received within a month of its launch, and the orders are still coming in this year. The sleek, aerodynamic and environmental friendly CR-Z is hailed as the world’s first vehicle to combine a hybrid system with a six-speed manual transmission.
December 2015
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Mitsubishi Mirage: Economical and Feisty
THE Mitsubishi Mirage thrives on its role as an Eco-Car in which it is expected to deliver good fuel mileages while serving a great A-B vehicle for most people going about their daily lives. That was our impression, from the time we first saw it at the Mitsubishi factory in Rayong, Thailand, and driving it at the Bira Circuit
