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VW increase production at Pekan to cope with demand

The recently launched Volkswagen Tiguan has been well received here in Malaysia. Demand for the German mild off-roader is so strong that VW have had to ramp up production at its Pekan plant to cope with the booking orders.

According to the automaker, the reason people have flocked to the Tiguan instead of its rivals is because it offers solid build quality, balance of style and versatility, decent seating capacity, power and attractive pricing, making it the vehicle a ‘complete package’.

Speaking of the popularity of the Tiguan, Managing Director of VPCM, Mr Erik Winter said, “We are pleased to announce that the Tiguan Highline has been very well-received by Malaysians, and the Comfortline has also caught the eyes of those looking for quality, value-for- money German engineering. The Pekan Plant is working hard on its production timeline to guarantee stock availability, and customers can rest assured that we will be doing our utmost best to ensure and smooth and fast delivery to our new owners.”

The Tiguan is priced at RM148,990 for the Comfortline and RM168,990 for the Highline variant. And to entice customers further, Volkswagen have made the SUV available in a new body colour, called Crimson Red. Both variants of the Tiguan are offered with a 5-year warranty and 5-years’ roadside assistance. But, for limited period, Volkswagen is offering the App Connect function as a complimentary feature for the Tiguan Highline.

If you are interested to know more about this vehicle or other VWs, visit the automaker’s site or your nearest authorized dealer.

Volvo to move away from diesel power

In a recent article on Car Throttle, it was reported that Volvo is currently in the process of moving away from diesel engines. A pioneer of oil burner powerplants, Volvo seems to be abandoning diesel for electric power citing Tesla’s ability to produce exceptional cars that are in very high demand right now.

As we’ve mentioned in a previous article, Volvo’s short term plan is to provide some form of electrification for all models in its current line up. And at the same time, It’s also gearing up to produce its first ever all-electric vehicle, which is slated to hit markets around the world in 2019.

The move to halt R&D of future diesel engines was revealed by Volvo’s CEO Hakan Samuelsson in an interview with German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine. That said, the Swedish automaker isn’t moving away from diesel engines completely. Electric and petrol powered engines/motors still lack the torque and range of large and powerful diesel engines. And Volvo, being a major player in the trucks segment, isn’t just going to give up its share of the market. Until it finds a viable alternative, diesel power will remain the mainstay of Volvo trucks.

This decision, for now at least, will mainly impact passenger vehicles. The requirements for cars and SUVs are far lower than whats expected from trucks. Expect to see the automaker downsize its petrol powered options for electrified ones as it moves to offer cleaner and more environmentally friendly vehicles for its customers.

Source: Car Throttle, Frankfurter Allgemeine

Proton Saga wins Compact Car of the Year Award

Proton recently picked up the Compact Sedan of the Year award for its latest generation Proton Saga. The acolade was awarded to the manufacturer by Drive Safe & Fast and Allianz General Insurance Company (Malaysia) Berhad.

Speaking of the award, Chief Executive Officer of Proton, Dato’ Ahmad Fuaad Kenali said, “We are truly humbled and very pleased with this recognition. The new Saga has come a long way since its introduction in 1985 as a lot of improvements, enhancements and refinements have gone into the making of the new Saga. The new Saga now has a quieter cabin due to the reduction of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), a more stylish design, practicality, safety, convenience and comfort. It is a culmination of the tireless efforts by our team in Proton to give the best value to our customers.”

Prices for the latest Saga range from RM36,800 for the base model car and goes up to RM45,800 for the top of the range Premium 1.3L. When in full spec trim, the Saga comes equipped with advanced safety features such as the ESC, ABS, EBD, traction control, brake assist, hill-hold assist, airbags, ISOFIX and top-tether as well as with all-round sensors.

Apart from this honour, the Saga picked up two other awards in 2016, which are The Rising Star by ASEAN NCAP and Value for Money Car Award by Malaysia Car of the Year.

For those of you who are in the market for a new Proton, the month of May should be the best time to buy one. This month Proton is carrying out its 5 Value Campaign which offers new owners 5-year Free Service, 5-year warranty or 150,000km and RM500 festive bonus with the purchase of a new car. Existing Proton owners also have something to look forward to this month because Proton is giving away a “Loyalty Bonus” of RM1,000 on top of the current promotion for the purchase of a new Proton. Existing owners and their immediate family members will be eligible to receive this Loyalty bonus.

Only for this month, nurses and teachers can expect a special RM500 bonus, and new parents will be able to get a RM1,000 worth child seat for just RM299 with the purchase of any Proton car.

If you would like to know more, visit the automaker’s local website, call Proton customer care at 1800-888-398 or visit Proton’s Facebook page.

Tengku Djan returns from 4 year hiatus to win drift competition

After a four year hiatus from professional drift competitions, Tengku Djan made a comeback by participating in the recent Drift Competition (Thailand) 2017 at Songkhla Speedway, Thailand. Despite the stiff competition, the well-known Malaysian drifter emerged as the winner of the Class A category.

Driving for the MaxxOil team, Tengku Djan had some tough battles as he advanced through the various rounds. In the final, he went head to head with Thailand’s Davide Dorigo and it turned out to be a sizzler. After completing both mandatory runs, both drifters were tied on points, which lead the judges to call for a “One More Time” or in layman’s terms, a tiebreaker (third run). It was here that Tengku Djan managed to outclass the Thailand drifter on his home soil to be crowned champion.

Speaking of his win, Tengku Djan said, “I appreciate MaxxOil for the support. I am overwhelmed.”

He later added that his win was a culmination of the hard work and dedication from the entire MaxxOil team and without the team and his loyal fans, we wouldn’t have been able to pull off this well deserved victory.

Toyota preview C-HR for Malaysian market

During the Carlist.my MAA Test, Drive & Buy Event, which took place last weekend, Toyota unveiled its latest compact SUV, the C-HR. Sporting sharp contours and angular headlights, the new addition is meant to slot below the automaker’s current full size pick up and SUV vehicles. Many of its design elements have been kept relatively unchanged from concept to production form. It features a diamond architectural theme but the overall dimensions aren’t that far off from the offerings by Honda and Nissan, which is probably what it will be competing against.

The unveil was meant as a preview of the model that was originally launched outside Malaysia in 2016. The C-HR is built on the TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform, which allows the automaker flexibility as well as designing and building new vehicles in a more efficient way that will give rise to even better vehicle development.

Besides the big reveal, during the same event, Toyota also displayed a number of its vehicles including its 4×4 range for the general public to see and experience. Test-drive sessions were available for members of the public who wanted to experience the vehicles’ capabilities. Those who booked a new Toyota vehicle at the event were given an additional e-service voucher worth RM200 which can be used to cover the relevant service costs of their new vehicle at any authorized Toyota service centres.

There’s no word yet on when the car will be officially launched, but based on our estimate, it be too long. We are certain that Toyota wants a piece of the compact SUV market, which Honda has had mostly to itself, these past few years. Stay tuned, we will bring you more news as soon as Toyota releases it.

BMW to reveal new 8 Series concept car

During BMW’s annual general meeting, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Harald Krüger, announced that the automaker would be introducing a new concept car. Considered to be a design study, it will be unveiled at this year’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on 26 May 2017.

The concept car will provide a glimpse into what the new BMW 8 Series Coupe would look like when it eventually is revealed in 2018. According to the Munich based automaker, the new car “embodies uncompromising dynamics and contemporary luxury – the essence of a modern BMW coupe”.

Speaking of the new concept car, Krüger said, “The BMW 8 Series Coupe will build on our tradition of luxurious sports coupes and add a genuine dream car to our line-up – a slice of pure automotive fascination. The 8 Series Coupe will underpin our claim to leadership in the luxury segment. I can tell you today that this will be a true luxury sports coupe.”

At the moment, all we have is an outline of the car. It isn’t much to go on but based on the silhouette, the car may incorporate design cues from the 6 Series Coupe albeit with wider dimensions. Both front headlights and rear taillights should be of the LED kind at the very least and the car in general, should be loaded with the latest safety tech and BMW’s latest iDrive system.

We will bring you more once the car is unveiled next week, so stay tuned for more updates.

BMW opens biggest warehouse and parts centre in Asia Pacific region

BMW Group Malaysia has officially opened its state-of-the-art logistics warehouse and parts distribution centre in Senai, Johor. This facility will function as the parts distribution hub for 23 countries in the region.

The 775,000 square feet facility is located at the Free Industrial Zone of the Senai International Airport in Johor Bharu. More than RM130 million was invested in the facility which is considered one of its kind and the first in the Asia Pacific region. It will not only function as the logistics warehouse and parts distribution centre for vehicle parts but for lifestyle merchandise of brands under the BMW umbrella, which include BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad.

Regarding the launch, Mr. Hendrik von Kuenheim, Senior Vice President Region Asia, Pacific and South Africa, BMW Group, meanwhile, said, “The record sales performance we achieved in Asia last year and in the first quarter of 2017 is a testament to the strength of the BMW Group in the region. In that, we believe Malaysia to be a key market that supports our strategic business direction in expanding our footprint in the region. The opening of the new BMW Group Regional Parts Distribution Centre here will help the BMW Group to continue driving our vision to deliver the best in automotive innovation and value to customers in the region.”

According to the German automaker, the launching of this facility proves its commitment to serving customers in the region and ensuring that the parts supply chain is in check with BMW standards and to ensure customer satisfaction.

It was completed at the end of last year and marks the first phase of the construction of the entire facility. Situated in a strategic area with good access to the sea port and airport in the Free Industrial Zone, BMW’s new centre should improve parts supply even further. Besides Malaysia, other countries that will benefit from the launching of this facility include Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Philippines, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Tahiti, New Caledonia, Fiji, and Guam.

The opening of this new centre is expected to create 120 new job opportunities in the country, which is good news for us Malaysians.

Porsche achieves new record this year

Porsche has exceeded its own expectations this year by achieving increased revenue, number of employees and vehicle deliveries compared to the same period last year. Its profit margin grew from 16.7% to 17.6%, operating results increased by 8% and revenue increased by 2% to EUR 5.5 billion (RM 26.1 billion).

This year, Porsche managed to sell more vehicles than it did during the same period last year by reporting a 7% increase which equates to 59,689 vehicles. During the same time, the German automaker’s workforce grew by 13% to a total of 28,249 employees.

Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board and Member of the Executive Board for Finance and IT at Porsche AG, Lutz Meschke, said, “This exceptionally good result is a seamless continuation of our record year in 2016, and we have once again exceeded an already high level.”

The automaker attributed much of its success this year to the attractive pricing of its vehicles, which include the Panamera. The most popular of its variants where the plug-in hybrid and the Sport Turismo. Porsche is also adamant that the addition of electric propulsion vehicles in its product portfolio has not taken anything away anything from the spirit and principles of the company. Any vehicle that bears the Porsche badge, will offer the best performance and handling characteristics that it has to offer. An electric or hybrid Porsche will be able to utilize the best technology available to deliver peak performance to drivers as and when needed.

The Stuttgart based automaker expects to see moderate growth in revenue and vehicle delivers this year provided that the foreign exchange rates remain stable. Porsche says that it requires at least a 15% profit margin to maintain its current running costs and position as one of the most profitable automotive manufacturers in the world.

Story of a Corolla KE35 and the man who brought back its shine

True love can only be described by those who have experienced it. Such is the case with Romain Saraiva and his red 1976 Toyota Corolla KE35. His interest in cars ran in his family. On family road trips, Romain and his family would play car spotting games.

At a much younger age, Romain, who at the time was still in school, was looking to buy his first car. He wanted something different and with a soul. He stumbled upon a Toyota Corolla Coupe whole on vacation with his family in Portugal. Smitten by the car’s silhouette and uniqueness, when he got back to France, kept an eye out for a similar one. He eventually found one and acting on impulse, bought the car.

Blinded by his love for it, he didn’t realize that the car was in pretty bad shape. It’s previous owner, in an attempt to make a quick sale, made a hash of the repair work. As such, a lot of the work had to be done by Romain to get the car looking brand new again. Watch the video and let him tell you how his passion for his KE35 led him down this complicated path.

New BMW 1 Series to be launched in July

Fresh after the reveal of the 2 Series bimmer, BMW has spilled the beans on the new 1 Series that should be launched at the same time as its bigger brethren. The compact premium car will come in 3-door and 5-door form and will be offered in three new editions which are Edition Sport Line Shadow, Edition M Sport Shadow and M140i Edition Shadow.

Subtle design changes help differentiate these variants from the rest of the line-up. They include black kidney grille, black inserts in the LED headlights and darkened LED rear lights. There are also 5 new light-alloy wheels to choose from but they will only be made available in 17 and 18-inch form. Inside, the new 1 Series features a newly designed instrument panel and various design tweaks to improve drivers’ attention and provide for a better feeling of spaciousness.

The addition of new materials and premium leather upholstery help give the car a more elegant apperance, which is a welcomed feature for vehicles in it’s category and price point. BMW’s famous iDrive system governs the 8.8-inch touchscreen and various other functions including voice control, Navigation and touch-sensitive interface.

Those wanting a little more sophisticated will not go empty handed because the 1 Series comes with the BMW Connected Drive services that ensure that the car is connected with systems that enable Real Time Traffic Information (RTTI) with hazard preview, On-Street Parking Information, vehicle access via Remote Services and the integrated Microsoft Exchange function for sharing and editing emails, calendar entries and contact details. Smartphone integration for Apple CarPlay, inductive charging and a WiFi hotspot for up to ten devices are all features that are available with BMW’s latest infotainment system.

Petrol Engine options for the 1 Series are similar to that of the 2 Series BMW. they include three, four and six cylinder petrol engines as well as three and four cylinder diesel ones. Power output range from 109bhp for the basic 116i to 340bhp for the fire-breathing M140i. Touted as the only compact hatch with rear-wheel-drive, the new 1 Series has also been made available with the xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system as an option.

If you are interested in the car, you would be happy to know that BMW has added two new exterior colours for the bodywork, which are Sunset Orange and Seaside Blue. Expect more from BMW in the months leading up to the official launch, but we will do our part to ensure you get the latest news.