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Volkswagen launch Polo P drivers’ training programme

Poor driver safety and etiquette has become a concern among big automakers, so much so that some have launched pilot programmes that aim to educate youngsters on proper driving habits. Today, Volkswagen too have jumped on the bandwagon by launching its inaugural “Polo P” project dedicated to “empowering new licensed drivers with the skills and knowledge” they need.

As the name suggest “Polo P”, the word Polo was chosen because the car of choice for this training programme is in fact a Volkswagen Polo 1.6L hatchback. It is powered by a naturally aspirated 1.6-litre engine which is mated to a 6-speed automatic (Tiptronic) transmission. And the letter P was probably used to emphasise that the programme’s main demographic here are new drivers.

VW says the project will take place at a number of college and university campuses with the first being in Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman or UTAR, in Sg. Long. Participants who take part in this driver safety focused course, will be taught the basics on car maintenance, visual checkpoints, proper sitting and steering positions as well as more serious defensive driving stuff such as the proper methods to execute emergency braking and to complete a slalom course.

If you are interested to go and check it out for yourself, the following is the latest list of venues that have been provided by Volkswagen:

Dates and Venues
25 & 26 March at UTAR Campus, Sungai Long
8 & 9 April at Nilai University, Seremban
8 & 9 July at Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus, Subang Jaya
19 & 20 July at Sunway College, Johor Bahru

To register and get updates on future locations of the Polo P project, visit www.volkswagen.com.my or send a private message on VW’s Facebook page.

Honda opens new 4S centre in Kelantan

Honda customers in Kelantan should be happy with the news that the state’s first Honda 4S centre is now open for business. The 4S centre (Ban Chu Bee Honda 4S Centre), which comprises of sales, service and spare parts departments as well as a paint and body shop boasts a total build up area of 62,200 square feet.

It is said that a total of RM22 million was invested in the facility which features a slew of amenities for Honda owners or potential owners to enjoy while waiting to be attended to. Some of them include a customer lounge and an executive lounge, complimentary Wi-Fi services, kid’s corner and a surau.

There are 20 service bays available at the facility with bays for fast service (5 bays) , tyre service (1 bay), general repair (8 bays) and for air-conditioning (1 bay).

Previously, Honda was only capable of servicing 22,600 vehicles a year in Kelantan but thanks to the launching of the new facility, the ceiling has now been raised to 22,00 vehicles a year. The facility is not only the largest of its kind in Kelantan, but in the entire east coast too.

Honda has had a great start to 2017 with its BR-V receiving 10,000 bookings while the facelifted City received close to 3,000 bookings since its launch three weeks ago. The Japanese automaker isn’t done just yet, as it is currently planning to launch another two more models sometime in the coming months.

Speaking of the latest growth in customer base, Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Katsuto Hayashi said, “Last year, Honda Malaysia sold 91,830 units and of this total, the East Coast region contributed 8% with sales of more than 7,200 Honda vehicles. Kelantan contributed 34.6% towards this regional sales and Honda Jazz was the favourite among the customers here. In the past five years, Honda Malaysia sales in East Coast region have increased by 172%.”

Expect more from Honda soon but till then, if you plan on getting your Honda serviced at the latest 4S centre in Kelantan, contact Ban Chu Bee (Honda 4S Centre) at 09-744 3337 / 09-744 5893 which is located at Lot 1349, Jalan Pasir Mas-Salor 15100 Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

Ford denotes Kuga and Mondeo to Monfort Boys Town

Ford and its Malaysian partner, Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) have presented two Ford vehicles to the Montfort Boys Town in Selangor as part of its Ford Conservation and Environmental Grants Programme.

Montfort Boys Town provides practical vocational training to underprivileged youth. And with the required help, its students will attain the tools and skills they need to live a product life in society. It’s school currently provides Automotive After Sales and Service training which it calls Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM). Currently, the school only offers level one (SKM 1) and two (SKM 2) of the training programme but with the newly acquired vehicles and equipment from Ford, it hopes to introduce a level three programme or SKM 3.

A Ford Kuga Mondeo were handed over Montfort Boys Town as well as training equipment to aid the students in gaining practical knowledge and skills for them to become successful automotive technicians.

“Ford is proud to support the Montfort Boys Town and help further build on the learning opportunities and practical training and experience they can provide to their students,” said Bagus Susanto, managing director, Asia Pacific Emerging Markets, Ford Motor Company.

“Ford Conservation and Environmental Grants Programme is part of our continued investment in the social and economic development of our country. We hope our contribution will help the students gain the necessary skills and knowledge to enter the workforce and propel their future careers,” added Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz, managing director, Sime Darby Auto Connexion.

Ford’s Conservation and Environmental Grants programme which was launched in 2000, showcases the company’s commitment to support local communities in the country. As part of this effort, Ford conducts a Global Caring Month annually. Last year, volunteers from Ford and SDAC visited the Lovely Bursing Centre in PJ, where they spent time with the elderly, repainted the facility and donated various supplies.

BMW 5-Series launched in Malaysia

It’s finally here, BMW Group Malaysia has launched the latest generation of the 5-Series here in Malaysia. At the moment, only the 530i M Sport has been made available to order. But as a whole, the 5-Series range features a slew of tech that make it a formidable foe to the S-Class.

Now, in its seventh-generation, the new car has a comparatively different look to its predecessor. It’s kidney grille and headlights are now directly linked, a design feature that was absent on former models. The BMW adaptive full-LED headlights with LED daytime running lights (DRL) have been enhanced with roundabout lights and the high beam is now able to illuminate the path ahead up to 500 meters.

The roof’s low and sleek profile provides a coupe-like look to the car’s silhouette which will definitely be of interest to the younger car buyer. The crease below the side windows, now curve upwards which BMW claims, lends a more dynamic appearance to the the car’s look.

Following with the philosophy of form following function, there are a number of bits on the car that serve both an aesthetic and functional purpose. The air vent control in the kidney grille, air inlets and air curtains in the front apron and air breathers in the front wings have been optimized to create better airflow. As such, BMW boasts that the new 5-series offers the best drag coefficient of any sedan at a cd of 0.22.

Featuring a newly designed chassis, BMW used an increased amount of aluminium and high-strength steels in the car’s construction. And as such, the new car is about 100kg leighter than its predecessor. These weight saving measures have attributed the car with a very low centre of gravity, which should improve stability while meandering through sharp bends. Standing as it is, the 5-Series measures 4,936mm long, 1,868mm wide and 1,479mm high.

Equipped with the M-Sport package, the 530i M Sport comes with 19-inch double spoke M Light-alloy wheels wrapped in mixed sized tyres, M Sport brake with blue painted calipers adorned with the ‘M’ moniker as well as M aerodynamic components in the respective body colour, front and rear aprons, and sill overs at the sides. BMW has also equipped the car with electrically adjustable sports seats for both driver (Memory Function)and front passenger, illuminated M door sill finishers, new M specific pedals and M leather steering wheel.

Under the hood is a 2.0-litre engine that features TwinPower Turbo technology, Twin Scroll turbochargers, High Precision Direct Injection, VALVETRONIC fully variable valve control and Double-VANOS variable camshaft timing – it’s a real mouthful but is also a testament to the meticulous engineering effort that goes into new BMW engines.

This engine is mated to an eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission and when in 530i M Sport guise, the 5-Series engine develops 252bhp and 350Nm of torque. Due to that, the 0-100km/h sprint can be dispensed with in 6.2 seconds and enables the car to reach a top speed of 250km/h.

In addition to the three driving modes – Comfort, Sport and Eco Pro, the new 5-Series features an additional mode called Adaptive. When enabled, the Dynamic Damper Control (DDC), steering responsiveness, GPS and Steptronic systems adapt to the driver’s driving style and the route ahead.
Like all BMWs, the main party-piece is the iDrive system and with the new car, it features the latest generation system which offers navigation and entertainment features. the 10.25-inch touchscreen can be accessed with the iDrive controller, voice command, gestures or by touching the display. For comfort, there is a 4-zone climate control air-con system as well as sun protecting glazing for the glass.

This time around, BMW has dumped a myriad of tech into the new 5-Series. it now comes with Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go function, which accelerates, brakes and maintains the required speed (functional up to 210km/h) as and when necessary, depending on traffic conditions. The new car is also able to detect speed limits and adjusts speeds accordingly.

As for safety, the car has Lane Departure Warning and Lane Change Warning systems that alert the driver when he veers into another lane. Approach Control Warning & Person Warning works with the City Brake function which will adjust speeds or applies the brakes when the system detects a person (for speeds up to 60km/h) and vehicles (for up to 80km/h) in the way.

Crossing-Traffic Warning Rear, is a system that warns drivers when reversing from tight spaces. Working with the rear camera, the system is able to offer an improved view for the driver and warn him when there is a potential threat of a collision. Through The Connected Mobility assistant, the car helps drivers plan their journeys depending on the their schedule.

Even the key of the new 5-Series isn’t devoid of tech. It features an LCD display and touch control panel that displays various information of the vehicle’s status and allows the available functions to be controlled from it.

The new BMW 530i M Sport can be ordered in a number of colours which are Black Sapphire, Sophisto Grey Brilliant Effect, Alpine White and Mediterranean Blue. Inside, the interior upholstery leather is of Dakota Black with contrast blue stitching or Dakota Cognac with contrast stitching. However, this isn’t available for the Mediterranean Blue body colour.

Retailing for RM398,800.00, the new car comes with a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty, free schedule service program and BMW Tyre Warranty programme.

Proton launches “Experience the Drive” contest

Proton Holdings Berhad has launched a new contest aimed at attracting potential buyers with attractive petrol and cash prizes. Called the “Experience the Drive Contest”, participating in it is easy, all you have to do is test drive any Proton model, then write a short creative caption or description of the test drive in no more than 20 words to be eligible to win weekly and monthly prizes.

The contest form will be provided to participants at any Proton Showroom or Proton roadshow. The winners will be announced on a weekly basis, following the end of each contest week. Weekly winners will receive a petrol card worth RM500 and monthly ones will receive a cash prize worth RM3,000. Two weekly prizes will be given away each week and one monthly prize each month. That’s a total of RM7,000 to be won each month from the starting date of the contest which was 1 March 2017 till the end, which is 31 December 2017.

Proton, for convenience sake, has asked that participants book their test drive through the MyProton mobile app for a more pleasant test drive experience. Through this contest, Proton wants participants to feel the time and effort the automaker has put in to improve on the safety and driving dynamics of the current crop of vehicles compared with their predecessors.

The contest seems to have been well received because during the first week, the company said that it has received over 200 entries and 2 weekly winners have already been confirmed. The winners were Mohamad Darulhisham bin Mohd Rashid and Saliza binti Ahmad from Kedah and Melacca respectively.

So, if you are interested in participating, visit your nearest Proton dealership or use the MyProton app to book your test drive.

Kia Grand Carnival launched in Malaysia

Kia has officially launched its highly anticipated people mover, the Grand Carnival. The 8-seat MPV is a marked improvement over its predecessor as it features a sleeker silhouette, spacious interior and improved use of quality materials.

Measuring 5,115mm long, 1985mm wide and 1740mm high, the new Grand Carnival features a longer wheelbase than the previous model at 3,060mm. It now has better headroom thanks in part to lower positioned seat cushions, increased legroom for passengers and the roof no longer slopes to the tailgate, giving rise to better headroom for the third row of passengers.

Conforming to Kia’s current design language, the vehicle features a chrome tiger nose grille, elongated headlights that wrap around the front fascia which provides the vehicle with a slightly aggressive look.

“The sophisticated All New Grand Carnival appears sleek and bold with striking features and design that makes it stand out among other MPVs”, said Dato’ Samson Anand George, Group Chief Operating Officer, Automotive, Naza Corporation Holdings Sdn Bhd.

The same is true for the rear, which features broad tail lamps and metal surfaces. Unlike the vehicle it replaces, this Grand Carnival’s tailgated is now electronic and automated, meaning it will open the moment the vehicle senses that the key is in close proximity of it. Both sliding doors are electrically powered and as such, can be opened and closed with a push of a button.

Like the current generation of Kia vehicles, this one features a rather well laid out interior and the most noticeable of the lot is the 4.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It has a MP3 CD player and integrated six speaker setup, USB and AUX connectivity and plays nicely with the reverse camera. The dashboard has two glove compartments stacked vertically, enabling increased storage capacity. The seats are wrapped in leather, front and second row seats have overhead consoles above them and tri-zone fully automatic air-con ventilators.

As a means to increase cargo space, the third row of seats can be folded flat to increase total volume. The second row features a seat that can be removed to increase space or offer better legroom for the third row passengers.

Under the front armrest, more storage space is available which is sufficient to fit a handbag or a book. Passengers in the rear have their own storage spaces where they can place items of their choosing.

Powering the new Grand Carnival is a 2.2-litre CRDi turbocharged diesel engine that’s mated to a six speed automatic transmission. the engine develops 190bhp and 440Nm of torque, which should offer sufficient power to this people mover.

Like its predecessor, the new vehicle maintains the use of MacPherson front and Multi-link rear suspension. The hydraulic rebound spring, stiffer suspension bars and cross-member bush mountings is said to improve bump absorption and increase passenger comfort.

As for wheels, it gets 18-inch alloy ones and features a myriad of safety equipment including front and rear parking sensors, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Hill Start Assist System, six airbags and HID with Daytime Running Lights (DRL).

Kia is currently offering the Kia Grand Carnival 2.2D EX for RM185,888 and the 2.2DKX for RM165,888. Visit the company wesbsite or your nearest dealership for more information.

Nissan GT-R Track Edition to debut at New York Motorshow

The 2017 Nissan GT-R Track Edition will make its debut at the upcoming New York Motorshow which will take place from 14th to 23rd April. This track edition of Godzilla builds on the already successful platform to deliver even better driving dynamics.

Nissan’s latest edition to the GT-R range slots between the T (Touring) and R (Racing) editions of the namesake. It is said to offer higher levels of performance than the Premium version and incorporates a number of elements from the GT-R NISMO. That said,unlike the NISMO, its engine still retains the same horsepower as the Premium variant at 565bhp.

Other improvements to the car include additional adhesive bonding to the body, which improves body shell rigidity, the 4-wheel-drive system has been tuned to NISMO specifications and too top it all off, Nissan has reduced the weight and added additional roll stiffness as well as NISMO spec tyres.

Those aren’t the only elements that were carried over, the Track Edition also features NISMO front fenders, 20-inch NISMO forged aluminium-alloy wheels and a special dry carbon-fibre rear spoiler. As for the interior, it has a unique red and black colour combination and Recaro seats.

“The new GT-R Track Edition gives buyers a specialized model, one true to GT-R heritage and available only by special order,” said Michael Bunce, vice president, Product Planning, Nissan North America, Inc. “Building on the major upgrade to every GT-R for 2017, the Track Edition is an amazing package inside, outside and under the skin.”

Nissan says that the car will go on sale in the US towards the third quarter of this year but will only be available at GT-R certified Nissan dealerships in the country.

Peugeot 208 Black Edition introduced in UK

Peugeot has chosen Catie Munnings as the automaker’s brand ambassador by choosing her to unveil the Peugeot 208 Black Edition. Munnings, is a rising star in the male dominated sport called rallying. At just 18, she became the first female British driver to win a European Rally tittle in nearly half a century. The young rookie is part of the Saintéloc Junior Rally Team, and with the aid of a Peugeot 208 R2, has become a formidable opponent on the rallying stage.

Munnings is working with the French automaker on a number of projects that are said to be in the pipeline, but the 208 Black Edition seems to be the most important of the lot at the moment. Graced with a number of unique exterior styling options to set it apart from the standard car, the 208 Black Edition can be ordered in a number of colours including Nera Black, Bianca White and Hurricane Grey which are complemented by 16-inch Titane gloss black alloy wheels.

The wheels feature white laser engraving which should be to the liking of those from the rallying fraternity. Apart from that, the grille and door mirror shells are painted gloss black but the latter comes with colour accents as well.

Under the hood of this particular Pug is a 1.2-litre PureTech 82bhp engine that is said to offer sprightly performance but still return a decent fuel consumption figure of 22km/L on a combined cycle. It ‘s the same power unit that was awarded “International Engine of the Year” title in the 1.0-litre to 1.4-litre category in 2015 and 2016.

Inside, the car features a 7-inch multi-function touchscreen infotainment system which features DAB Digital Radio, Bluetooth, CarPlay, MirrorLink and androidauto connectivity.

Peugeot expects the car to become a popular variant of the three-door 208 range and is also allowing customers in the UK to configure and order their 208 Black Edition as well as other models, from start to finish using Peugeot’s Order Online facility.

Kia Sportage is a ‘must test drive vehicle’ in the US

Kia’s Sportage has been named as one of Autotrader’s 2017 Must Test Drive vehicles. The list is made up of vehicles Autotrader thinks consumers need to see and experience before making a decision. The ones that make it on the list are decided by a team of editorial experts who believe that said vehicles have the potential to change customer perceptions on an entire segment or brand.

“Winning an Autotrader 2017 Must Test Drive Award is further testament to the transformation of the Kia brand and marks another accolade for the Sportage, our longest-running nameplate,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning Kia Motors America (KMA). “Sportage balances world-class craftsmanship and outstanding design, while delivering a host of standard features at a low starting price.”

For a vehicle to be eligible for this title, it has to be currently on sale, be priced under $75,000 and said to offer a significant value – however, that might be somewhat subjective. Apart from that, said vehicle needs to score no lower than a 3.5 on Autotrader’s five-point scale, a tough list of criterias for any vehicle. But that said, since Peter Shreyer took over the reigns of the Kia design team, the automaker has been churning out stunning econoboxes that wouldn’t look out of place parked next a BMW or Audi.

The latest 2017 Sportage has a structure that is stiffer and more spacious when compared to the previous generation. It comes equipped with advanced driver assistance technologies, suspension and steering improvements and an AWD system that Kia says helps improve the vehicle’s driving dynamics. The Sportage with the FWD SX Turbo trim comes equipped with a 2.0-litre turbo engine that produces 240bhp or 237bhp on AWD models and 353Nm of torque. When in LX and EX trims, it is fitted with a normally aspirated 2.4-litre engine that produces 181bhp and 237Nm of torque.

Class-action lawsuit filed against Ford’s ‘track ready’ Shelby GT350

Ford’s new Mustang, the Shelby GT350 isn’t thoroughly enjoying its time in the land of the free. Based on news articles published by Business Wire and Car Throttle, several owners of the Shelby GT350 have qualms regarding the Blue Oval marketing the car as ‘track ready’. Apparently, several owners have found out that their GT350s started overheating after spending just 15 minutes on track. These overheating claims are from customers who have bought the base car and those fitted with the Technology Pack.

Several of them have filed a class-action lawsuit against, what they believe is, Ford’s misleading claims of the Shelby GT350 being track ready. They feel that if Ford approved them for track use, then these vehicles should be able to hold up to all kinds of abuse at racing speeds. The complaints of overheating surrounds that of the transmission and rear differentials. Lawyers of the unhappy owners also say that they require compensation from Ford on behalf of the owners of these vehicles.

The Shelby GT350 is a rear-wheel-drive muscle car from Ford that features a 5.2-litre V8 engine that puts out about 526bhp and 429Nm of torque. Considered as a well balanced muscle car when compared to previous generations, the latest Shelby GT350 has been a hit in the US and abroad. If the GT350 nameplate seems familiar, it should because it was used back in the days of the original car, which was also pushed to its limits on tracks all around the US.

How Ford responds to this lawsuit remains to be seen but as of now, Ford has not offered to rectify these issues albeit internal investigations are probably underway to figure out the root cause of the problems.

Source: Business Wire, Car Throttle