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FEATURE: Throwback Thursday – Why Do We Love Cars? Fall in Love All Over Again With #EvoEnduro2018! [+Video]

I participated in the very first #EvoEnduro in 2017, an epic “Mille Miglia” type drive which would see participants travel from KL to Phuket, Thailand in the span of one day, stopping only for fuel and food. I participated with my 35-year old Mercedes-Benz (W126) 280SE (above), which made it to and fro flawlessly, and folks, it really was one of the best drives of my life…

Here’s the official video from #EvoEnduro 2018, which asked (and answered) the question “Why do we love cars?” Why do we indeed! I’m already looking forward to #EvoEnduro 2019, so stay tuned for the announcement on that! Check out the #EvoEnduro 2017 photo gallery after the video…

Evo Enduro 2017 Photo Gallery…

Maserati – Main Partner For The Gran Premio Nuvolari 2018

The Gran Premio Nuvolari, a regularity rally only open to historic cars built between 1919 and 1972, will be held from 13 to 16 September on a route which starts and ends in Mantua, the birthplace of Tazio Nuvolari. The Maserati Levante (above), the brand’s first SUV, presented in the MY19 version at the 25^th edition of the Festival of Speed held at Goodwood from 12 to 15 July, features a restyling that has combined important technical updates, such as the new, improved short-stroke paddle shifters, the adaptive Full LED Matrix headlights, with the addition of the GranLusso and GranSport trims and the introduction of new contents such as “Pieno Fiore” leather, the new external colours, the new wheels and a wider selection of interior trims.

Participant in Maserati 6C with 6-cyl, 3500 cc engine

The Maserati cars taking part in the event include: the A6 1500 Berlinetta designed by Pininfarina and built in 1949 – the first Maserati road model, a sports car intended for gentlemen drivers, with a “1500” engine that provided the basis for Maserati racing and road cars of the following years, starting with the A6 GCS; and a Quattroporte built in 1968 – a car that marked a milestone in the history of Maserati, since the first Quattroporte generation, in 1963, created a completely new market segment, that of the luxury sports sedan. Maserati will also be opening the parade of over 300 teams taking part in the GP Nuvolari by organising the Maserati Tribute, a “race within the race”, with the cars in the current range – the Quattroporte flagship, the Ghibli sports sedan and the Levante SUV – lining up on the front row.

“We are delighted to be Main Partner of the Gran Premio Nuvolari, which commemorates legendary Mantua-born driver Tazio Nuvolari, who won major victories with Maserati,” commented Umberto Cini, General Manager Maserati EMEA Region. “It gives us great pleasure to drive Trident brand cars over more than 1000 kms of roads unrivalled anywhere in the world, through beautiful Italian landscapes, in a unique blend of history, passion and tradition, all values expressed to the full by Maserati, which is also proud to reaffirm its role as international ambassador for Italian excellence.”

The 2018 edition of the GP Nuvolari, held this year for the 28^th time, offers a new-look route with the first stage from Mantua across the Po Valley and the Apennines to the Adriatic Riviera, the second stage from Rimini through the beautiful landscapes of Tuscany, Umbria and Marche regions and back to Rimini, and the third stage from the Adriatic Sea through the towns and cities of Emilia Romagna to the finishing line in Mantua.

Shell & MAI: Lucky Contestants Win A Bike & Car In Two Separate “Winners Announcement” Events On The Same Day!

It was a dream come true for technician Khairil Anuar Abd Rasol, 35, (above) when he found himself the proud owner of a brand-new Ducati Monster 797 motorcycle in the recent Shell Advance Buy & Win Consumer Contest. The contest, which ran from April 1 to May 31, 2018, was open to motorcycle owners who purchased any Shell Advance 4T motorcycle engine oil or gear oil worth a minimum of RM25 in a single receipt from authorised Shell Advance retail channels. An on that same day, Velu Kumar Suppan, 54, (below) won a brand-new Kia Picanto as the Grand Prize Winner of the lucky draw held in conjunction with the Malaysia Autoshow 2018 organised by Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI).

“My discipline did payoff. I have always only used fully synthetic Shell Advance Ultra as it goes further without impacting the performance and makes my bike feel lighter and more powerful. I was surprised when I received the call informing me of the good news. I am so thrilled as I did not expect to win the Ducati Monster,” shared Khairil, the Grand Prize winner and proud new Ducati owner. The Shell Advance Buy & Win Consumer Contest was aimed at rewarding passionate bikers who choose to trust Shell Advance for complete protection of their motorcycles’ engines.

As for Velu Kumar the winner of the Kia Picanto, he was one of the 215,853 visitors who attended the fourth edition of the annual Malaysia Autoshow at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) from 26th to 29th April 2018. “The new Kia Picanto is timely as my current car is quite old. I look forward to using it as my daily commute to work in Subang Jaya,” he said. Mohd Sazali bin Mohamed Amin, Chief Financial Officer, MAI presented Velu Kumar the keys to his car during a prize giving ceremony at the MAI headquarters in Cyberjaya. Aside from Velu Kumar, 30 car buyers at the autoshow also won fuel vouchers worth RM1,000 each.

Peugeot Malaysia umum harga baharu dengan cukai SST – harga TURUN!

Nasim Sdn Bhd (Peugeot Malaysia) telah mengumumkan harga baharu bagi model-model tawaran mereka di pasaran Malaysia yang kini telah dikemaskinikan dengan Cukai Jualan dan Perkhidmatan SST. Cukai SST sebanyak 10% ini telah pun bermula pada awal bulan September 2018. (more…)

Perodua Alza dikemaskini untuk 2018 – Dari RM51,490

Kereta jenis MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle) paling laris dan juga paling berpatutan kini telah dikemaskinikan untuk tahun 2018 dengan pelancaran generasi terbaru Perodua Alza. Kini dengan empat varian berbeza, Perodua Alza 2018 kini boleh didapati dari RM51,490 hingga RM62,690 (harga atas jalan tanpa insurans). (more…)

Manual Transmissions – New Abarth 124 GT Does It Right!

Manuals. Manual Tranny. Sticks. Stick Shifts. Three Pedals. Call them what you will but chances are you’ll be calling them out in futile. As more and more consumers opt for the ubiquitous automatic-transmission, the good ‘ol manual transmission seems to be going the way of the dodo bird… hell, you can even apply for an ‘auto-only’ drivers license now.

Apart from the first and second national car makers, you’d be hard-pressed to find a ‘new’ manual transmission’d car these days, thus along with countless others, I often scour the online classifieds for used ones. Sentras and Corolla SE’s (above) have been piquing my interest lately…

Even Porsche, despite its famed PDK, realised the allure of a manual transmission, and offered it as an option in its 911 Carrera T (above) overseas, but of course, it’s unlikely we’ll ever get one here. So it seems, in the new car segment, unless you’re willing to fork out buku-bucks for a Honda Civic Type-R or Toyota GT86 (or this bad boy above), there’s not much to be had.

But all is not lost, because just like its main rival the Mazda MX-5, the Abarth 124 GT (above) does come with a good old-fashioned 6-speed manual transmission! Here’s the story and photos from AutoExpress UK… (click link for full article)

There’s a new range-topping version of the Abarth 124. The GT is limited to just 50 units in the UK, and the most striking thing that sets it apart from the regular model is its hard top roof. The new carbon fibre lid weighs just 16kg, and Abarth claims that it adds a little structural rigidity to the open-top chassis – and more body control as a result. It houses a heated glass rear screen too which, being wider than the one you get with the standard fabric hood, makes the GT easier to see out of. The roof is removable, so if you still want to enjoy open air thrills, it’s just a few screws (and a cleared space in the garage) away.

The engine is unchanged from the regular Abarth 124, so there’s 168bhp to play with from the a 1.4-litre turbo engine. It’s at its best in the mid-range – there isn’t a huge incentive to rev it to the red line as you would in the Mazda, and the engine feels tardy when it’s off boost. However, it’ll crack 0-100kmh in under 7-seconds, and 45mpg real-world fuel economy is entirely achievable. It’s mated to a wonderful six speed gearbox, and pedals which are well positioned for heel-and-toe downshifts. For the full article click here.

Abarth 124 GT Photo Gallery (Photos from AutoExpress UK)

Perodua Alza – M’sia’s Favourite 7-Seater MPV Now With New Looks, More Equipment & Better Value

The nation’s most popular and most affordable seven-seater Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) is now up to date for 2018, as Perodua officially introduces the latest iteration of the Alza to the Malaysian market. Priced from RM51,490 to RM62,690 (OTR without insurance), the latest Perodua Alza comes in Standard (MT), Standard (AT), SE (AT) and Advance (AT) variants. All are powered by a 1.5 litre 3SZ-VE DVVT engine that’s connected to a five-speed manual transmission on the Standard MT and a four-speed automatic transmission on all other variants.

Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd Managing Director Dato’ Dr Zahari Husin said, “Our latest Perodua Alza continues to offer the comfort, practicality, versatility and ample room for seven that Malaysians have loved and adored for nearly a decade. With an abundance of storage compartments and flexible seating configurations, the latest Alza is perfect for family outings and everyday use in line with its ‘Versatile as You’ tagline,” he said, adding that over 344,200 units have been sold since the Alza’s birth in 2009.”

New to all Alza variants are redesigned instrument panel graphics, a new-look centre cluster and a two-motion remote control key (press once to unlock driver’s door, double-press to unlock all doors). Air-con flow to the third row is now better thanks to new fixed fins between the front centre air vents, an improved evaporator and enhanced heat-exchange piping.

All variants get front fog lamps, a rear spoiler, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, solar and security window film, reverse sensors and 15-inch alloys that are finished in silver on the Standard variant and titanium on SE and Advance variants.

Standard and SE variants get a new audio system with USB and Bluetooth functionality, while SE and Advance variants benefit from a bolder and more prominent appearance, courtesy of a new front bumper with a larger lower intake, a new twin-bar front grille and new side skirts, while a new rear bumper and tailgate garnish round up the changes at the back.

Featured on the SE and Advance variants are new-design leather seats and front corner sensors, while the Advance exclusively gets a roof-mounted monitor and an Android-based touch-screen multimedia system with Smart Link, Bluetooth, navigation and reverse camera functions.

“Recognising customers’ fondness for personalising their vehicles, Perodua is introducing a range of unique GearUp accessories for the Alza, for the first time. These include exterior cosmetic add-ons, quilted seat covers and sun shades,” Dato’ Dr Zahari said. On the safety front, dual front airbags, ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist and ISOFIX child seat points in the middle row are standard across the Alza line-up, netting all variants a four-star ASEAN NCAP safety rating.

“The order books are now open for the latest Perodua Alza, which will hit our showrooms nationwide in stages beginning 6 September. See it in the metal, experience it and take it for a spin – our authorised sales advisors will be more than happy to serve you, assist you and answer any queries you might have,” said Dato’ Dr Zahari.

The latest Perodua Alza is offered with a five-year/150,000 km warranty (whichever comes first). Available colours are Granite Grey (new to the Alza, exclusive to SE and Advance variants), Ivory White, Glittering Silver, Mystical Purple and Electric Blue. Prices are as below:

Perodua Alza Standard (MT) RM51,490

Perodua Alza Standard (AT) RM54,290

Perodua Alza SE (AT) RM56,890

Perodua Alza Advance (AT) RM62,690

Download the Brochure here: 2018 Perodua Alza brochure

Download the Price List here: 2018 Perodua Alza Price List

Download the GearUP Brochure here: Alza GearUp brochure

All prices are on-the-road (OTR) without insurance for Peninsular Malaysia

#Live2Drive With Continental Tyre Malaysia Adventure Across Two Continents A Success!

How’s this for a journey of a lifetime? The #Live2Drive team of local professionals who made an adventure of a lifetime travelling from Malaysia to Europe in classic Volkswagen (VW) vehicles using Continental tyres made it safely back to Malaysia after clocking over 52,000 kilometres of road travel. At a press conference recently at its premises in Petaling Jaya, Continental Tyre Malaysia (“CTM”) shared that the #Live2Drive team covered 30 countries over eight months and around 607 hours of driving on the road.

CTM’s Managing Director and Head of Continental’s ASEAN Region for BU PLT Replacement APAC, Cameron Wilson said, “We are delighted to welcome the #Live2Drive team back to Malaysia and are proud of how the team managed to inspire those they meet as well as their contribution to the community along the way.”
“CTM is also pleased that the robustness and durability of Continental tyres have successfully took the #Live2Drive team safely across various terrains and roads which can get rough at places. Along the way, fans who recognised the Continental brand as well as those who are keen on classic cars came along to meet and cheer the team along. This reaffirms the premise that Continental tyres are trusted the world over for quality, performance and its German Technology,” Wilson added.

One of the #Live2Drive team member, Cliften Nathaniel shared about his experience on the ride, “Driving through what was a ‘cold summer’ in summer tyres was beyond my expectations. Cold summer is like driving up really high altitudes with cold temperatures, rough hard-off roads, as well as through snow and on some parts of icy roads. Despite all that, the tyres performed fantastically and made us wanting to keep driving. I used two different sets of Continental tyres: 185/65/15 and 215/55/17 for my Kombi – apart from the comfort, they also handled well in wet conditions and allowed me more confidence when driving through the continents in a classic car.”

ComfortContact™ 6 (CC6) and UltraContact™ 6 (UC6) tyres were used throughout the journey by the #Live2Drive team who were driving three VW Combi and a VW Beetle.

BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo pertama diperkenalkan – RM450,000!

BMW Malaysia telah memperkenalkan BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo yang pertama yang bertemakan keluasan, keselesaan dan fungsi yang tiada tandingan di dalam kelas kenderaan mewah. Varian yang telah dilancarkan semalam adalah BMW 630i GT model CKD terkini yang mebawa jumlah model yang dipasang di dalam negara kepada sembilan model dan 11 varian. (more…)

Lucky Ford Customer Drives Away a Sporty Fiesta in SDAC’s 10th Anniversary Extravaganza

Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC), the sole distributor of Ford in Malaysia concluded its 10^th Anniversary Extravaganza on a high note as one lucky customer drove away a brand new Ford Fiesta 1.5L Sport. Logeshwaran Balasubramaniam (above, right) from Pahang, a loyal Ford owner expressing his joy at winning the Ford Fiesta said, “I’d like to thank Sime Darby Auto Connexion and Ford for this reward. My family and I never expected to win a prize, let alone a brand new Ford Fiesta 1.5L Sport. This has truly made our year extra special!”

“We are delighted to celebrate a decade of continued success. Our momentum would not have been possible without the support from our customers. Campaigns like the 10^th Anniversary Extravaganza is one of the many ways we show our appreciation towards their on-going trust and loyalty,” said Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz, (above) Managing Director, Sime Darby Auto Connexion.

He continued by saying, “Our customers are our best brand ambassadors. We believe in making our customers’ experience more enjoyable, be it in the form of products, services, promotions and ensuring that every visit to our showroom is a delightful one.” The SDAC 10^th Anniversary Extravaganza ran from 1 April 2018 to 30 June 2018, offering incredible deals on selected Ford models. During the campaign, customers who purchased any Ford Ranger model stood a chance to walk away with a Fiesta as the grand prize.

For more information on Ford, visit SDAC’s multilingual website (www.sdacford.com.my), which also features a chatbot now available in three languages – English, Bahasa Malaysia and Simplified Chinese – to provide a better customer engagement experience.

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English

FEATURE: Throwback Thursday – Why Do We Love Cars? Fall in Love All Over Again With #EvoEnduro2018! [+Video]

Maserati – Main Partner For The Gran Premio Nuvolari 2018

Peugeot Malaysia umum harga baharu dengan cukai SST – harga TURUN!

Perodua Alza dikemaskini untuk 2018 – Dari RM51,490

Manual Transmissions – New Abarth 124 GT Does It Right!

Perodua Alza – M’sia’s Favourite 7-Seater MPV Now With New Looks, More Equipment & Better Value

#Live2Drive With Continental Tyre Malaysia Adventure Across Two Continents A Success!

BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo pertama diperkenalkan – RM450,000!

F1 (Round 6): Preview & Starting Grid for 2020 Spanish Grand Prix

BMW Malaysia introduces X3 M Competition and X4 M Competition, priced from RM886,551

100% financing packages to buy new Toyota or Lexus models

New BMW M8 Coupe and M8 Gran Coupe launched

Six pairs of original Jaguar E-Types to be restored to celebrate 60th anniversary in 2021

Fuel Price Updates For August 15 To August 21, 2020

Try a Renault at TC Euro Cars and become the owner of a concept car

Countdown starts to all-new 5th generation Honda City launch

Winners of BHPetrol ‘Kaya Raya’ contest receive their prizes

First look at the updated Kia Stinger for 2021

Archive

WTCA Introduces Locally-Assembled GAC GS3 Emzoom in the ASEAN Region

New R&R Stop Along CSR to be Completed by August 2025

GWM Haval H6 Hybrid Officially Launched in Malaysia for RM139,800

Volkswagen’s Iconic Polo to Make Way for Smaller and More Affordable Electric SUVs

Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 4MATIC SUV Launched – RM626k

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