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KIA Brand Value Increases Globally In 2017

Kia Motors has been ranked among the highest valued brands in the world once again, according to Interbrand’s 2017 ‘Best Global Brands’ report. The latest study, released recently, confirms Kia’s brand value has grown 6% in the last 12 months, to US $6.68 billion.

“Kia’s continued efforts to evolve and redefine itself are critical to the sustained growth in its brand value” commented Mike Rocha, Global Director of Brand Valuation at Interbrand. “The launch of the Stinger (top) – Kia’s new and exciting fastback sports sedan, and the opening of ‘Beat 360’ (above) – a new sensory brand experience center in Seoul, fill me with high expectations of a bright future for the company.”

For the second year running, Kia is named the world’s 69^th most valuable brand in the report, its latest valuation representing a 645% increase in the value of the Kia brand since 2007. Now the 11^th most valuable automotive brand, Kia is ranked ahead of dozens of ‘household name’ consumer brands, as well as a host of volume, premium and luxury car manufacturers.

“This welcome rise in Kia’s brand value is a clear reflection of Kia’s continuous dedication to our customers,” Charles Suh, Senior Vice President of the Corporate Marketing Division at Kia Motors said. “This result provides us with further motivation to continue our mission to become the most desirable automotive brand in the eyes of consumers.”

What is The Power to Surprise?

The sustained growth in the value of the Kia brand is the result of company-wide efforts to cultivate a more emotional attachment between the company’s products and consumers in every market.

Now a byword for quality and reliability in the automotive sector, Kia has achieved the coveted first-place ranking in the USA’s J.D. Power Initial Quality Study for two years running. Ahead of all other car manufacturers for quality, Kia was also the highest-ranked brand in J.D. Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study in Germany and UK in 2017.

With such momentum, Kia Motors Corporation recently launched its first-ever premium sports sedan, the Stinger (below) and its new hybrid crossover Niro, which are designed to boost the desirability and dynamism of the Kia brand. Portraying a modern, forward-looking image, Kia’s latest products speak loudly about the company’s efforts to prepare motorists for the future, with advanced powertrains, innovative technologies, and premium quality and design.

Digital technologies are at the heart of Kia’s efforts to engage with consumers in markets all around the world. In Korea, Kia broadcasted the anticipated launching show of its new Stinger model live, giving media and consumers the chance to witness the unveiling of the powerful new car first-hand. In the USA, Kia launched the ‘NiroBot’, a Facebook Messenger service allowing users of the social media platform to ask about the new Niro and get instant ‘live chat’ responses.

Also in China, the brand introduced a ‘Kia Surprising Lab’ YouTube service, featuring the technologies at the heart of its latest cars, the K5, KX5 and KX7, which you can see in the short video clip below. All of these efforts illustrate how Kia utilizes relevant and evolving technologies to enhance digital experience and to stay connected with consumers at all times.

To accompany the ongoing growth in the company’s product line-up, official partnerships with the world’s most high-profile sports events continue to aid the strength of the brand. Sponsorship arrangements with FIFA, UEFA, NBA, LPGA and the Australian Open tennis championship have provided Kia with a wealth of opportunities to engage with young-at-heart consumers around the globe.

Stay tuned for our upcoming feature on why Kia is catching up fast with the more established Japanese brands! – Chris Wee.

VPCM Announces Festive CNY “Leaders Of The Pack” Promotion

For Chinese New Year 2018, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is inviting Malaysians to join the Volkswagen family with its “Leaders of the Pack” Chinese New Year campaign.

The Campaign not only offers attractive rebates on the Volkswagen line-up, but those who book and register their Volkswagen cars by the 28^th of February are in for a golden treat and will receive a free ‘Liquid Gold’ Petrol Card worth RM1,188 – which equates to more than a whopping 10,000km of ‘free’ travelling*.

The first 250 customers who book and register their Volkswagen cars will also be presented with a limited edition LEGO Volkswagen T1 Camper Van. Maximum cash rebates on selected models are listed below, while stocks last.

Model	Cash Rebate	Additional
Beetle Design	RM 5,000
Jetta Comfortline	RM 10,000
Jetta Highline	RM 8,000
Passat Trendline	RM 18,000	Low interest rate from 0.88% per annum.
Passat Comfortline	RM 18,000
Passat Highline	RM 6,000
Polo	RM 7,000
Tiguan Comfortline	RM 5,000
Tiguan Highline	RM 3,000
Vento Trendline	RM 10,000
Vento Comfortline	RM 10,000
Vento Highline	RM 9,000

As of 1^st January 2018, all Volkswagen cars come with a free 3-year maintenance programme, which means customers will not have to worry about service cost for the firsts three years or 45,000km of ownership (whichever comes first). The programme covers all maintenance costs, as per the standard maintenance schedule, with the exception of wear-and-tear parts such as brake discs, pads, windscreen wipers and bulbs.

To qualify for the promotion and giveaways, all vehicle bookings must be made within the promotion period and is subject to terms and conditions while stocks lasts. For more information, please visit your nearest authorized Volkswagen dealership or visit www.volkswagen.com.my .

*Based on the fuel consumption of the Jetta 1.4 TSI of 5L/100km and of current fuel price of RM2.29/l (RON95).

C&C Becomes Largest “Centre of Competence” for Daimler AG In Malaysia

It has been announced that Cycle & Carriage Bintang Berhad (Cycle & Carriage Bintang) now has the largest network for certified body and paint collision repair facilities in Malaysia, following Daimler AG’s certification of the Cycle & Carriage Johor Bahru, Bukit Tengah and Batu Caves facilities as official Mercedes-Benz Body and Paint Centres. Cycle & Carriage Bintang’s customers in the Northern and Southern region, as well as the Klang Valley, can now enjoy peace of mind and confidence when restoring their Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

“In everything we do, we have our customers in mind at all times. The ‘Centre of Competence’ certification is an assurance that all Cycle & Carriage body and paint repairs are carried out according to the stringent global specifications set by Mercedes-Benz. Having three of our body and paint facilities awarded the certification is an impressive achievement. It reflects the quality of our after-sales teams who deliver our signature first class service to customers every step of the way,” said Cycle & Carriage Bintang CEO, Wilfrid Foo.

In early 2017, Cycle & Carriage’s Johor Bahru and Bukit Tengah service centres underwent an extensive facility and equipment upgrading process. In tandem with this, employees received specialised technical training and service process enhancement. Following which, both outlets were audited in the same year as part of the certification process, and were awarded the ‘Centre of Competence’ certification by Daimler AG. The Johor Bahru service centre spans over 32,000 sq ft and is equipped with 14 body and paint work bays, while Bukit Tengah is over 14,000 sq ft with five body and paint work bays.

Cycle & Carriage Bintang Batu Caves, the centralised body and paint collision repair centre for the Klang Valley, was first awarded the certification by Daimler AG in 2012. As part of the certification process, a re-audit was scheduled in November 2017. The Batu Caves Service Centre achieved the perfect score of 100 percent and is now recognised by Daimler AG as one of the highest-ranking centres for collision repairs in the world. Spanning over 45,000 sq ft with 22 body and paint work bays, the facility has the capacity to service 130 vehicles every month.

Cycle & Carriage Bintang’s network comprises 12 Autohauses nationwide which includes 10 After-Sales Autohauses across Malaysia. In 2016, Cycle & Carriage Bintang was awarded all top three spots in the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Service Excellence Award in South East Asia for demonstrating strong aftersales standards. More recently, Cycle & Carriage Bintang received the highest Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) rating for after sales for the second half of 2017 in Malaysia, with Cycle & Carriage Bintang (Northern) Sdn Bhd Bukit Tengah announced as the Champion in the competitor benchmark study.

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia Announces CNY Promotion, ASX For RM99k Anyone?

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM), the official distributor of Mitsubishi vehicles in Malaysia, is offering attractive promotions this Chinese New Year (CNY) 2018! Own a Mitsubishi ASX Compact SUV from as low as RM99,000*!

From now until 14 February, cash bonuses for all Mitsubishi models/variants are as follows:

No	Model/Variant	OTR Price without insurance GST inclusive (RM) in Peninsular Malaysia	Cash bonuses & Warranty
1	Triton VGT Adventure X	126,990.00	CNY bonus up to RM8,000 All Triton variants except Triton Quest: Five years warranty or 200,000km Triton Quest: Five years warranty or 100,000km
2	Triton VGT AT Premium	116,300.00
3	Triton VGT AT GL	103,800.00
4	Triton VGT MT	107,600.00
5	Triton MT	93,920.00
6	Triton Quest	77,390.00
7	Outlander 2.4L (CKD)	155,000.00	CNY bonus up to RM4,000 Outlander 2.0L & 2.4L: Five years warranty/unlimited mileage
8	Outlander 2.0L (CKD)	139,988.00
9	ASX 2WD	119,100.00	CNY bonus up to RM20,000 All ASX variants: Five years warranty/unlimited mileage
10	ASX 4WD	134,300.00
11	ASX Adventure (Limited Edition)	123,988.00

In conjunction with the festivities, MMM will also be hosting an ‘Xperience Mitsubishi’ contest with the following mechanics:

The Xperience Mitsubishi Contest

1. Go to any Mitsubishi showrooms and test-drive any Mitsubishi cars.

2. Take a video after your test-drive to describe your Mitsubishi drive experience.

3. Upload your videos either on Facebook or Instagram (please make sure it’s a public account) and hashtag #Mitsubishi4me

4. Mitsubishi Motors will select the best entries for a chance to win RM10, 000!

*Terms and conditions apply

That’s not all; Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia will also be having an exclusive ‘New Year New Ride’ Chinese New Year showroom event at this selected showrooms:

Date (Weekends)	Time	Mitsubishi Showrooms
27 January (Saturday)	10.00am – 6.00pm	Evatrend Sdn Bhd (Setapak)
28 January (Sunday)	10.00am – 6.00pm	Target Orion Star Sdn Bhd (Klang)
3 February (Saturday)	10.00am – 6.00pm	Ingress Motor Centre Puchong
4 February (Sunday)	10.00am – 6.00pm	Target Orion Star Sdn Bhd (Balakong)
10 February (Saturday)	10.00am – 6.00pm	EON Auto Mart Sdn Bhd (Glenmarie)

Test-drive any Mitsubishi model during the event day and stand to win RM888 cash prizes or Ralliart merchandise. Customers who place a booking during the event day will also receive a Ralliart dry bag and CNY money packet.

Visitors to the showrooms can also expect a whole lot of fun filled family activities and games such as Chinese dough doll making, Chinese calligraphy, paper cup piggy bank making, face painting, God of Prosperity appearances and lion dance performances.

· Prices are quoted on-the-road without insurance, GST inclusive for private registration in Peninsular Malaysia (not applicable in duty free zones).

· Terms and Conditions Apply.

Honda Malaysia’s Record-Breaking 2017 – Best In Its History!

Honda Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (HMSB) has announced the results of an outstanding year in 2017. The company recorded an astounding total sales of 109,511 units, the highest in the history of Honda Malaysia since it was established in 2003. This is also the first time that Honda Malaysia achieved sales of more than 100,000 units. This sales figure is also the highest that a Non-National brand has ever achieved in Malaysia.

The Central region contributed the highest number of sales at 47%, followed by Southern region and Northern region. The overall sales for 2017 increased by 19% compared to the 91,830 units recorded in year 2016.

Commenting on the outstanding year that Honda experienced, Honda Malaysia Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Toichi Ishiyama said, “The year 2017 truly was remarkable for Honda Malaysia. At the beginning of 2017, we challenged ourselves with a sales target of 100,000 units and in March 2017, we achieved a historical milestone with the 600,000^th unit (CKD) production within the span of 14 years since Honda Malaysia started in 2003. At the end of 2017, based on internal data our market share was at 19%, an increase of 3.2 points from 2016. For the first time ever, we surpassed the 100,000 units sales achievement within a calendar year. We continue to maintain our No. 1 position for Non-National segment and No. 2 position in overall TIV of the automotive industry.”

“On behalf of Honda Malaysia, I would like to extend our sincerest appreciation to all Honda Malaysia customers for their faith and belief in our brand and for making Honda their vehicle of choice. This achievement would not have been possible without our valued customers as well as strong support from our business partners and the Malaysian government,” added Mr. Ishiyama.

Having reviewed an outstanding 2017, Honda Malaysia is all geared up to make 2018 another successful year with many exciting products and services in the pipeline.

(Like maybe this perhaps? Stay tuned! – Chris Wee)

Naza Kia Launches All-New Picanto @ RM49,888

Following its sneak-preview last year (above), Naza Kia Malaysia has kicked started 2018 with the launch of the all new Kia Picanto which just took place at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC).

Now in its third generation, the All-New Kia Picanto is the only non-national brand in the local A-segment which boasts an assertive new innovative design, better performance and a spacious new cabin, which the latest model also promises to be the most versatile car in its class.

Speaking at the launch of the All-New Kia Picanto, Ivan Kuan, CEO of Naza Kia Malaysia (below, right) said, “The Malaysian automotive A-segment market is one of the most fiercely contested segments. With the introduction of the All-New Kia Picanto, we hope to tap on this lucrative market segment and set the tone for our sales this year.”

The All-New Kia Picanto is uniquely modern, designed with safety and power in mind, with futuristic details and sportier image. Inspired by iconic designs, the latest addition to Kia’s line-up is a stronger build with subtle edginess and a rich body volume to fullfil customer’s demands.

The All-New Kia Picanto dons a dynamic design with a modern rich cubic effect on its side profile to create a strong yet sophisticated side-line treatment and bolder body lines for a more fun urban drive look.

Its open-link style radiator grille visually enhances the Picanto’s wide proportions to achieve that modern sleek look.

With the wheelbase extended to 2,400mm (increase of 15mm), the wheels are pushed further out to the corners of the car for a 25mm shorter front overhang, making the car look more planted on the road.

The exterior of the All-New Kia Picanto is also complemented by new projection bi-functional headlamps that project both high and low beams, with LED indicators and LED daytime running lights. The bumper is also retained from its predecessor with added detail to enhance overall aesthetics.

Inside the All-New Kia Picanto, Kia designers created a refined cabin with a modern lifestyle feel as compared to the second-generation model, with new materials and layout, adding a greater sense of quality. The predominantly horizontal design adds greater visual width to the interior, highlighting the increased cabin dimensions.

For added comfort, the seats of the All-New Kia Picanto is revamped to provide better seating for all occupants while maintaining all other interior space advantages. The seating height of the first row seats are reduced by 10mm and moved backwards by 5mm to improve headroom by 3mm and legroom by 15mm. The optimised door trim also increases shoulder room by 10mm for the 1st row seats. Additionally, the latest model’s crash pad is now slimmer with its steering wheel moved 10mm upwards to increase knee and foot room.

Those who value luggage space can now rejoice as the All-New Kia Picanto now boasts greater luggage capacity and better space efficiency with its foldable second row seats (60:40 split), giving up to 1,010 litres of maximised cargo space. It also comes with other value added convenience which the market has come to appreciate in a car of this segment which includes keyless entry, push start button, one touch triple turn signal, auto light control, RPAS (Rear Parking Assist System), electric folding side mirrors and safety power window on the driver’s side.

Ivan further commented, “The All-New Kia Picanto is engineered for the confident and stylish urbanite youths with a preference for sporty uniqueness, fuel efficiency and modern safety features. With the introduction of the All-New Kia Picanto to our latest line-up, we target to sell 5,000 units within the year, which will make up 50% of our total sales target for 2018. We are confident this will give us a great kick-start for a brand new year.”

The All-New Kia Picanto was carefully crafted with top-notch safety features. It is constructed with double the proportion of Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) compared to the outgoing model and a selection of active safety technologies.

With a stronger body than ever before, 44% of the All-New Kia Picanto’s bodyshell is cast in AHSS (up from 22%), reducing body-in-white weight by 23 kg while improving tensile strength by 12%. The new, stronger steel reinforces the floor pan, roof nails and engine bay, as well as the A- and B-pillars, strengthening the core structure around the car. The new bodyshell also uses more than eight times the quantity of structural adhesive found in the previous model (67 metres of joins throughout the structure are now reinforced with the adhesive). Overall, static torsional stiffness has been improved by 32%.

For value added safety, the All-New Kia Picanto has six airbags strategically placed up front and at the sides of all passengers, ISOFIX baby seat mounts, rear seatbelt pretensioners and active safety systems like ABS and ESC.

Owners of the All-New Kia Picanto will now have access to some of the most advanced infotainment and modern technology enhancement available in the A-segment, while still enjoying the same high value for money expected of a Kia vehicle.

The large ‘floating’ 7.0-inch touchscreen at the centre of the dashboard houses a navigation system with 3D map which connects to your smartphone; readily integrated using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with voice recognition features. This grants users access to their smartphone functions via the Head Unit’s user interface to get directions, make calls, receive messages and listen to music. Other multimedia features include an audio remote control, Bluetooth and AUX & USB ports.

Powered by a 1.2 Kappa MPI engine, The All-New Kia Picanto has a Gated type 4AT with improved NHV performance, better fuel efficiency and power delivery efficiency.

To further add value to Kia vehicles, Naza Kia Malaysia is also reintroducing the ‘NOVUS’ Kia accessory bundle for all new Kia vehicles starting with the All-New Picanto, for the first time ever, in the Malaysian market. Accessories included in the package are the NOVUS emblem, solar tints, stylish and sporty NOVUS Bodykits, as well as leather seats and a DVR-digital video recorder among others.

The All-New Kia Picanto is now available in the Malaysian market in five different colours such as Pop Orange, Lime Light, Honey Bee, Clear White and Titanium Silver, and is now on display in authorised Kia showrooms nationwide.

Kia Picanto Product Specifications:

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS	ENGINE
	Type	Kappa 1.2 MPI CVVT
	Displacement (cc)	1,248
	Bore X Stroke (mm)	71 x 78.8
	Max. Power [Ps (kW)/rpm]	84 (61.8)/6,000
	Max. Torque [NM (kg.m)/rpm]	121.6 (12.4)/4,000
	Fuel Type	Petrol
	Fuel Tank (litres)	35
	TRANSMISSION
	Transmission Type	4-Speed Automatic
	CHASSIS
	Seating Capacity (Pax)	5
	Body Type	5-Door Hatchback
	BRAKING
	Front Brake	Ventilated Disc
	Rear Brake	Solid Disc
	SUSPENSION & WHEEL/TYRE
	Front	MacPherson Strut
	Rear	Coupled Torsion Beam Axle (CTBA)
	Wheel	14″ Alloy
	Tyre Size	175/65 R14
	Spare Tyre	Temporary Tyre
FEATURES	EXTERIOR
	Head Lamp	Projector Halogen with Auto Light Control & LED Daytime Running Lights
	Rear Combination Lamp	LED Type
	Fog Lamp	Projector type front, rear bulb
	Side Door Mirror	Electric Adjustable
		Integrated LED side turn signal
		Electric Folding
		Body Colour
	Outer Handles Door	Chrome Coating
	INTERIOR
	Instrumental Panel	Trip Computer
	Instrumental Panel	Segment-type Meter Cluster
	Sun Visor	Vanity Mirror
	Audio	Floating Type 7 inch LCD Colour Touchscreen
		Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Ready
		Radio/MP3/AUX/USB
		Bluetooth, 6 speakers, Steering Audio Control & Rear View Camera with dynamic guideline
	Air Conditioner	Manual
	Front Seat	Fabric with Driver Seat Height Adjuster
	Seatbelt	Front : 3-Point ELR Type with Height adjuster Rear : with Pre-tensioner
	Key	Smart Key & Keyless Entry
	Luggage	Rear shelf cover
	Luggage	255 litres capacity
	Windows	Front and rear powered
	Windows	Driver’s auto up & down
	STEERING
	Steering	Leather wrap upholstery
		Motor Driven Power Steering
		Min. turning cycle Radius of 4.8m
		Tilt steering

	SAFETY
	Airbags	Dual front, side, curtain
	Child Anchor	ISOFIX
	Sensor	Rear Parking Assist System with 3 Sensors
	Sensor	Speed & Impact Sensing Auto Door Lock
	Vehicle Stability Management	ABS, BAS, ESC, TRC
	Hill-Start Assist Control	HAC

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Latest News

KIA Brand Value Increases Globally In 2017

VPCM Announces Festive CNY “Leaders Of The Pack” Promotion

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Honda Malaysia’s Record-Breaking 2017 – Best In Its History!

Naza Kia Launches All-New Picanto @ RM49,888

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