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Jaguar I-PACE IS The “European Car Of The Year” 2019!

The all-electric Jaguar I-PACE has been voted ‘Car of the Year’ at the European Car of the Year Awards 2019. This is the first time a Jaguar has won the coveted prize. The European Car of the Year jury comprises 60 motoring journalists from 23 countries, and the award recognises technical innovation, design, performance, efficiency and value for money.

Prof. Dr. Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “For our first electric vehicle to also be the first Jaguar to win European Car of the Year gives us a huge sense of pride. I-PACE was designed and engineered in the UK from a clean sheet of paper. It is the most technologically advanced battery electric vehicle. It’s a true game-changer. Winning European Car of the Year is an honour and real recognition of what our world-class team has delivered.”

Designed and developed in the UK, the Jaguar I-PACE has had profound sales success globally, with more than 8,000 customer deliveries to date – 75 per cent of them in Europe*. Nothing else on the road looks or drives like the I-PACE. It is engineered to take full advantage of its electric powertrain and bespoke aluminium architecture, offering sports car performance and SUV practicality.

Charging is made easy for customers using the Jaguar public charging service, accessed via a dedicated app or using an RFID key. With tailor-made charging packages and tariffs compiled into a simple monthly bill, it gives I-PACE customers access to more than 85,000 charging points throughout Europe.

The I-PACE has received 55 awards worldwide since it was revealed a year ago, including German, Norwegian and UK Car of the Year, BBC TopGear magazine EV of the Year, China Green Car of the Year, and Autobest’s ECOBEST Award.

For more information on the I-PACE, visit www.jaguar.com

5 Million Volkswagen Tiguans Have Been Made, Now Comes With New Cost-Free Upgrades!

As part of Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia’s continuous efforts to enhance the ownership experience for its customers, the Volkswagen Tiguan will receive an upgrade of a new 2019 Active Info Display (AID) and LED Taillights (below). The upgrades will take effect on all Tiguan units from March 2019 onwards.

The new Active Info Display (below) has a high resolution display colour thin-film transistor (TFT) that is similar to a smartphone. It incorporates functions and features in 2D and 3D graphic display for navigation and media. There is now a three-view customizable screen via the infotainment with over 30 combinations options. The dials can also be pre-set to show a combination of data and a full 3D view map for better navigation.

On the exterior, the LED Taillights have been updated to a new unit with distinctive light graphics. More than a style factor, the new taillight also incorporates brake animation that enhances visibility for safety. The taillights continue to be an all LED system.

For added peace of mind, the upgrades will see no price hike to the Tiguan, and it will remain priced at RM 165,990 for the Highline and RM 175,990 for the JOIN variant. All Volkswagen cars come with 3 years free maintenance, 5 years unlimited mileage warranty and 5 years roadside assistance. The Tiguan combines a 1.4TSI turbocharged direct injection engine with a 6-speed direct shift gearbox (DSG) with sport mode to give an impressive output of 150PS and a torque of 250Nm between 1,500 to 3,500rpm. It boasts an impressive acceleration of 8.9 seconds from 0 to 100kph.

The Tiguan boast safety features such as six airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Multi-collision brakes, Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) as well as hill-hold control. For comfort, the Tiguan features Park Assist, Manoeuvre Braking and 3-Zone Climatronic. For complete connectivity, the Tiguan comes with App-Connect for easy access to apps via the 8”-inch infotainment touchscreen via MirrorLink, Android Auto and Apple Carplay.

The production of the first generation Tiguan began in 2007 in Wolfsburg and has become Volkswagen’s most successful SUV to date with the 5 millionth unit leaving the assembly line in January 2019. Aside from its worldwide success, the Volkswagen Tiguan has enjoyed local success in Malaysia and is locally assembled at Volkswagen’s Pekan Plant, Pahang. For more information, please visit www.volkswagen.com.my

Goodyear launches tyres for flying cars!

During the currently ongoing Geneva International Motor Show 2019 being held in Switzerland, one of the world leaders in tire manufacturing that is Goodyear made a few surprise unveilings which involved something literally ‘out of this world’. From performance tires to autonomous and flying cars, Goodyear pulled out all the stops this year. (more…)

PSA: Mercedes-Benz M’sia Issues Statement On Mercedes-Benz E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid & S 400 h Battery Issue

Following the photo of a Mercedes-Benz Hybrid battery bill that was widely circulated on social-media, MBM has issued this statement and offer, reproduced here in its entirety with no editing…

“Providing the Best Customer Experience is always a top priority with Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM). Our goal is to meet the customer’s needs at any point of their journey with the Mercedes-Benz brand in Malaysia, whether it is their first contact through consultation, the test drive or their purchasing experience and even their after-sales services.

In our pursuit towards providing the best ownership experience for our customers in 2018, we have introduced the Hybrid Battery Extended Warranty programme. At an extremely affordable price of MYR2,688, customers are able to extend the battery warranty for the Mercedes-Benz E 300 BlueTEC hybrid and S 400 h for an additional 4 years. The Hybrid Battery Extended Warranty provides 100% coverage for the repair or replacement of the hybrid battery for up to 8 years or 180,000 kilometers whichever comes first*.

At Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, we continuously seek to ensure that all our valued customers have the optimal cost of ownership through the provision of market adequate pricing for our older vehicles. We are pleased to announce that the new recommended retail price is MYR50,000 for the E 300 BlueTEC hybrid battery and MYR65,000 for the S 400 h hybrid battery.

Rest assured the satisfaction of our customers throughout the ownership experience is a priority at MBM and our Authorized Retailers. We have the best interest of our customers at all times and remain committed to delivering the absolute Best Customer Experience.” – Mercedes-Benz Malaysia.

Should customers have any queries, kindly contact our Customer Care Centre at Tel: 1-800-88-1133 (Operation Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm) or email: customercare_my@daimler.com or visit the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia website at https://www.mercedes-benz.com.my

*Terms & conditions apply

Proton X70 owners taking “the road less travelled” – From Malaysia to China!

A group of Proton X70 owners here in Malaysia has decided to go on a trip of a lifetime to China which involves no other mode of transportation apart from their Malaysia’s first premium SUV. Dubbed the Malaysia-China Amazing Trip organised by the Borneo Leisure Touring Team, participants of the amazing trip will be going a 13,000km adventure for 33 days across 4 countries; Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, and finally, China.

The first leg of the journey which already took place earlier covered a distance of 540km where the Proton X70 owners drove from Malaysia to Hatyai, Thailand. The journey which took only 12 hours had a few stops in between including a visit to the PROTON Juru Auto-City and dinner with the folks from PROTON Motors Thailand.

The Borneo Leisure Touring Team are posing for a group photo before departing for Chiang Khong

Day 2 went on without a hitch as the convoy made their way through the longest legs of the trip from Hatyai all the way to Hua Hin. The journey which covered a massive distance of 720km was long and challenging but cruising in the new Proton X70 made the experience much more pleasant than initially anticipated during long-distance driving.

Upon reaching Hua Hin filled with amazing street life, awe-inspiring relics and magnificent beaches, all participants thoroughly enjoyed themselves even after half a day’s journey in the Proton X70. Cruising roughly between 90-120km/h in a comfortable cabin equipped with all the bells and whistles including an air ionizer that kept everyone nice and fresh.

The Borneo Leisure Touring Team departs Hatyai as they prepare for the longest legs of their trip to Hua Hin

Day 3 saw the Proton X70 owners travelling from Hua Hin all the way to the Tak Province which was about 619km away. It was clearly no issues for both owners and vehicles as they go through the entire powerband produced by its 1.8-liter TGDI engine through many small yet scenic towns of Thailand.

The Proton X-70 Fleet reaches the border crossing at the Yunnan Province, China

Day 4 and 5 were probably two of the biggest challenges of the currently ongoing trip so far as the “road less travelled” has presented to them. It was also filled with many wonderful experiences in between Tak to Chiang Khong and Mengla before crossing over into China. They even made it to the infamous Magic Hill on Highway 105 were by the power of physics and gravity-defying landscape, the Proton X70 set in neutral seemed to roll uphill for about 10 meters!

Members of The Borneo Leisure Touring Team poses for a photo while taking a break from the road

A week has gone by and were pretty sure that there will be more to come from the participants of the Malaysia-China Amazing Trip. Where is the next stop of the Proton X70 convoy? Stay tuned to find out more!

Naza Italia Unleashes Maserati Levante Vulcano Limited-Edition!

One of Ten. That’s right, you’re looking at just one of 10 super-limited-edition Maserati Levante Vulcano that’s available in Malaysia, brought in by Naza Italia, the official importers and distributors of this iconic Italian brand in Malaysia. How limited is limited? Try just 150 units GLOBALLY!

It’s quite amazing that Naza Italia managed to bag 10 of these considering their rarity in the worldwide market. Each unit comes with a special plaque within the cabin that denotes its exclusivity, i.e. 001/150, 002/150, and so on. Present at the 10^th Anniversary celebration was En. SM Nasarudin Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin, Group Executive Chairman of Naza Corporation Holdings Sdn. Bhd. who attributed the distributor’s success to Maserati’s innovation and the dedication and commitment of Malaysian team to the brand and business.

He explained: “We commenced our journey as the Malaysian home of Maserati by launching the Maserati GranTurismo Sports and Quattroporte Sport GTS. This was quickly followed by the introduction of GranCabrio. 2014 was our turning point when we introduced the highly-anticipated Ghibli, an elegant and yet sporty sedan, which was very well accepted by the Malaysia market.”

Subsequently in 2016, Naza Italia-Maserati achieved its next milestone by launching the ‘Maserati of SUVs’, the Levante. In the last few years, the distributor has introduced at least three each year of upgrades and face-lifts of the various models. “Thanks to Maserati’s continuous innovation, we are able to delight the most discerning tastes of our Malaysian clientele with a comprehensive product line-up that is stylish, refined, technologically excellent and innately exclusive,” said En. Nasarudin.

Another key attribute to Naza Italia – Maserati’s success is its 45,000 square feet flagship centre in Petaling Jaya. The state-of-the-art 4S showroom and service centre was inaugurated in 2009 and refurbished in 2015 to meet Maserati’s global brand identity.

Speaking to media at the celebration, Dato’ Samson Anand George, Group CEO of the Automotive Division at Naza Corporation Holdings Sdn. Bhd. emphasised the flagship centre represents Naza Italia – Maserati’s commitment towards the brand and clientele in Malaysia. He said: “We strive to make the entire experience of owning a Maserati unique and sensational – from the moment you walks through the doors of our showroom, to the point of your car’s delivery and the dedicated after service. To this commitment, and to the delight of Maserati fans and enthusiasts in northern Peninsular Malaysia, the I am pleased to announce that plans are in the pipeline for network expansion in Penang”.

As part of its 10^thAnniversary celebration, Naza Italia – Maserati unveiled the limited edition SUV (sports utility vehicle), the Levante Vulcano Limited Edition, where only ten units will be available for the Malaysia market.

The Levante represents the turning point in Maserati’s history. It trail-blazes through new territory for the brand as the marque makes its first foray into the world of luxury sport utility vehicles in its more than 100-year history. When the Levante was first launched in 2016, it also made a key contribution to completing the marque’s luxury and sporty fleet line-up. Since then, the Levante has been a popular addition to Malaysia’s luxury automotive market.

“As such, it could not be more apt to mark Naza Italia-Maserati’s one decade of achievements with ten exclusive units of the limited edition Levante Vulcano for Malaysia” said Dato’ Samson. Indeed, the new Levante Vulcano is produced in a series of just 150 units for the European and Asian markets, including Malaysia. The units for Malaysia are available with twin-turbo V6 engine of 430 hp, as well as exclusive finishes and matte Grigio Lava colour exterior that comes with the new Vulcano logo and the words “one of 150”.

Dato’ Samson closed his address with words of thanks. “We are grateful for the guidance and support of Maserati’s team at both regional global levels and the patronage of our loyal clients. We look forward to another decade of partnership and excellence to continue creating the Maserati ownership and luxury lifestyle experience for our clients here”. The public is invited to visit the Naza Italia-Maserati showroom in Petaling Jaya to view the Levante Vulcano and speak with Naza Italia – Maserati’s team in greater detail about Maserati’s newest offering. Follow @maserati.malaysia (Instagram) and www.facebook/maserati.malaysia for the brand’s latest updates in Malaysia.

About the Levante Vulcano

The Vulcano limited edition is available with twin-turbo V6 engine of 430 hp, designed by Maserati Powertrain and built at the Ferrari plant in Maranello. The exclusive matte “Grigio Lava” shade of the exterior highlights the Trident SUV’s sporty lines to magnificent effect. The exterior look is completed by the Nerissimo pack details (dark look rear light clusters, black chrome front grille and logos, glossy black window surrounds, body-coloured door handles and burnished exhaust tailpipes), the 21-inch Helios wheels, also with matte finish, and the red brake calipers.

Inside the new Levante Vulcano, every finish is redolent with sporty elegance. The heated, ventilated full Pieno Fiore leather seats come in red colour, featuring electrical adjustment with memories, complete with contrasting embroidered Trident logo on the headrest, and are designed to underline the model’s “volcanic” personality. In addition, it is fully equipped with an impressively comprehensive range of Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS) with more active functions, whilst retaining the razor-sharp steering feel symbolic of any Maserati. The functions include Integrated Vehicle Control, Forward Collision Warning, Traffic Sign Recognition, Surround View Camera, Highway Assist System, Lane Keeping Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist.

The exclusive allure of the new Levante Vulcano limited edition is further enhanced by the interior trims in high gloss carbon fibre, also used for the gearshift paddles and the insert on the electrically adjustable sport steering wheel, and the chromed aluminium badge on the central tunnel bearing the legendary Trident, together with the new Vulcano logo and the words “one of 150“.

The standard outfit is completed by the Bowers&Wilkins premium sound system, the soft close door closure system, the front and rear parking sensors and the full-LED Matrix adaptive headlights. The limited edition Levante Vulcano enters the Malaysian market at the starting price of RM838,800.00 (inclusive of local taxes and duties). The price includes 3 years Standard Warranty coverage with no mileage restriction plus a Free maintenance program of 3 years/ 100,000 km whichever comes first (Inclusive of *Maserati Premium Service Plus of 3 Years /60,000 km).

2019 Maserati Levante Vulcano Limited Edition Photo Gallery…