Bookings for the new Mazda CX-5 SKYACTIV were accepted from September 12 and from what we heard from the Bermaz Motor people, response was good even though the prices were not finalised. It goes to show that when a brand is strong and trusted, people have no problem putting their money down first if they want to be early buyers.
This evening, the Mazda distributor has released the confirmed prices which are shown in the chart below. As mentioned earlier, there are 5 locally-assembled variants available with only the top one having AWD and a turbocharged 2.5-litre SKYACTIV petrol engine.
The Porsche Panamera arrived on the scene in 2009, offering sportscar performance one with the versatility of a touring sedan. It has shaped the brand over the course of the last 10 years as a technology platform for innovations that were transferred to other Porsche models.
Over 250,000 units have been delivered worldwide to date and to celebrate the model’s 10th anniversary, Porsche has prepared a special edition model series. The 2020 Panamera 10 Year Edition models feature upgraded standard equipment and exclusive design highlights. The special edition is available for the Panamera, Panamera 4 and Panamera 4 E-Hybrid versions.
The special standard equipment list includes 21-inch Panamera Sport Design wheels in satin-gloss White Gold Metallic and ‘Panamera10’ logos on the front doors, also in White Gold Metallic. The anniversary logo can also be found in the interior on the front passenger trim panel and on the door entry guards. The interior is black with deviated stitching in White Gold.
Additional standard equipment
The Panamera 10 Year Edition models come as standard with a host of additional comfort and safety features. ParkAssist including Surround View, LED matrix design headlights including PDLS Plus, Lane Change Assist and Lane Keep Assist are part of the extended standard equipment, as are heated 14-way comfort seats with Porsche crest on the headrests, soft-close doors, and a BOSE Surround Sound system.
With standard adaptive 3-chamber air suspension including Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and Power Steering Plus, the Panamera10 models are also ideally equipped for outstanding driving dynamics.
The hybrid version comes with the otherwise optional 7.2-kW on-board charger rather than the 3.6-kW charger that is included in a standard Panamera 4 E-Hybrid model.
The Panamera 10 Year Edition and Panamera 4 10 Year Edition both use a mono-turbo 3.0-litre V6 engine generating 330 ps, while the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid 10 Year Edition has a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 and an electric motor that generate a combined 457 ps.
A Porsche for four
Looking back at the company’s history of over 70 years, the idea of offering a Porsche for four was considered from time to time. However, prototypes such as the Type 530 based on the 356, lengthened variants of the 928 or the 4-door coupe Type 989 did not make it into production.
Type 530 of the 1950sA prototype built in the 1960s on one of the occasions when the engineers thought about a Porsche for four.
At the start of the new century, the decision was made to develop a 4-door hatchback sedan. The requirements included outstanding driving dynamics, generous interior space and a quintessentially Porsche appearance. The first Panamera made its public debut on April 19, 2009 on the 94th floor of the World Financial Centre in Shanghai, and set standards in its class thanks to the wide spread between sportiness and comfort. It was packed with innovations: for the first time, a luxury-class production model was offered with a dual-clutch transmission and start-stop system. The flagship Panamera Turbo also introduced air suspension with adjustable air volume, as well as an adjustable, multi-dimensionally extendable rear spoiler.
In 2011, the Panamera set the stage for a new age of electromobility: as the first parallel full hybrid in the premium sedan segment, the Panamera S Hybrid was the most economical Porsche to date despite a power output of 380 ps. Two years later, the Panamera S E-Hybrid once again led the way in the segment as the world’s first plug-in hybrid.
With the second generation, introduced in 2016, Porsche embraced electric performance . The boost strategy adopted from the 918 Spyder allows sportscar-like performance in combination with high efficiency. The top model is the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid with a system power of 680 ps.
Mazda Motorsports has announced their latest addition to its motorsports program in the form of the all-new Mazda3 TCR race machine and it looks dope as hell. This supremely beautiful Mazda3 will be taking part in the 2020 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, starting with a four-hour endurance challenge. (more…)
There’s a new Audi Centre in town and it is located in Setia Alam, Selangor. Catering to the ever-growing Audi owners here in the central region, the new Audi 4S facility focuses on everything from sales, services, spare parts, body and paint shop for all of your Audi needs. (more…)
We’re into the month of October, starting off the final quarter of the year. It’s a period when car companies will be looking at how to clear their stocks before the year ends and prepare for new challenges in 2020.
For Proton, there must be a very upbeat mood running through the company as sales have been on an upswing. Another major milestone was achieved at the end of September when the company exceeded its total sales volume for 2018 within the first three quarters of 2019. With 70,330 units (including exported units) delivered so far this year, the sales volume is 8.6% higher compared to the 64,744 units delivered for the whole of last year. And there are still 3 months of sales to go…
Highest market share in 66 months
With 8,934 units (inclusive of exports) delivered in September 2019, Proton achieved a growth rate of 97% over the 4,524 units in the same month last year. By the company’s own estimation (pending official data from the Malaysian Automotive Association), it would have a market share of 20.2%, which suggests stronger sales growth that rival brands. The figure is a 66-month high for the brand and helps to increase its year-to-date market share to an estimated 15.8%.
Proton Saga leads in A-segment sedan class
The Saga used to be Malaysia’s bestselling sedan and being displaced was something Proton did not take lightly. Major revisions were made for the 2019 model – including a change in the automatic transmission type – and it’s clear that the buying public likes what has been done as over 20,000 bookings have been received since it was launched.
Proton reports that, during the month of September, it delivered 3,994 units nationwide and that’s the highest number of monthly deliveries for a Proton model in 2019. The company believes the number places the Saga at the top in the A-segment sedan category in Malaysia. The last time the Saga was No. 1 in this category was around 3 years back.
Extras for X70 customers in October
Based on its estimation, the X70 SUV has also maintained its position as the leading SUV in its class. To celebrate its performance this year, Proton is offering additional benefits to customers who purchase a unit in October. On top of the standard 5-year free labour service, 5-year unlimited mileage warranty and 5-year Internet data packages already included with every unit, there will also be a subsidised insurance package and overtrade incentive worth up to RM2,000.
Volkswagen has stopped producing the Beetle and whatever stocks remain in Malaysian dealerships as well as dealerships in other countries are all that’s left. Decades from now, these last models may be classic items, the way the original has held its own appeal.
You may want to get one to keep but you already have a car and can’t pay for a new Beetle. However, there is way to get one for FREE – and all that’s needed is a creative spirit. As part of a year-long celebration of the beloved Bug, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia will be giving away a brand-new Beetle in its ‘Win the Icon’ Instagram contest.
The last Beetle leaving the assembly line at the VW factory in Mexico in July this year.
The contest runs from today till 4 pm onNovember 30, 2019 and rides on Volkswagen’s tagline of ‘Better experienced than explained’. Open to all Malaysians (with a valid driver’s license), participation in the contest needs only a test drive of a new Volkswagen model at any authorized dealership in Malaysia. You have to document the experience in a one-minute video clip, caption it creatively and then upload it to Instagram (set to Public viewing).
You can test-drive various models and submit separate videos as well, and these will be accepted as additional entries.
Together with your submission, you need to complete the slogan: “My #BetterExperiencedThanExplained story is…”. Follow and tag @VolkswagenMalaysia in the post. That’s it! And if your submission is the winning one, you will know in December and become the owner of a new Volkswagen Beetle 1.2TSI.
You can ask for a test-drive at any authorised VW dealership in Malaysia
For more information, visit www.volkswagen.com.my or any authorised Volkswagen dealership in Malaysia.