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Ferrari does well in first quarter of 2017

Ferrari has announced that the first quarter of 2017, has been good to them with 2,003 vehicles sold, which is a 6.4% increase compared to the same period last year. The major contributor to this figure was the sales of V12 engine models, which saw a 50% increase in sales compared to the same period last year. The surge in demand for the 12 cylinder engine vehicles off set the 3% decrease in sales experienced by the V8 models. The V12 models that were the most sought after of the lot, where the GTC4Lusso, LaFerrari Aperta and F12tdf.

Besides the sales of fully assembled vehicles, Ferrari is also in the business of selling engines to other manufacturers, racing divisions and Formula One teams. For this quarter, engine revenue increased by 81%, which amounts to RM494 million in total net revenue. This increase can be attributed to strong sales for Maserati models that managed to offset loses due to the termination of an engine partnership between one Formula 1 racing team and Ferrari.

According to the Italian automaker, overall, all regions contributed to its success this year. Market share in Germany, France, Italy and United Kingdom grew at a double digit pace in the first quarter. Ferrari sales in the Americas saw an overall increase of 4.2% with Asia Pacific bolstering sales figures further with a 4.0% increase. China, Hong Kong and Taiwan markets, in total, grew by a commendable 3.2% meaning that demand for Ferrari and sports cars in general, haven’t been hampered by the current uncertain economic climate.

Before this financial year is over, Ferrari plans to ship 8,400 vehicles that include supercar models, which should amount to a net revenue of RM 15.8 billion. Whether or not Ferrari achieves this sales figure remains to be seen, but judging by the current market demand for Maranello’s latest offerings, Ferrari should be able to achieve said targets with relative confidence.

Toyota’s having a special roadshow in May

Instead of waiting for customers to wander into a Toyota dealership, the automaker has decided to take the showroom to them. Called the Toyota Go 2017 Roadshow, UMW Toyota Motor will be having the roadshow event at seven mall locations around the country this month.

The entire line-up which includes, passenger cars, SUVs, pick-up trucks and MPVs will be on display for for the general public to view and experience. Test drives will be available for customers to experience the vehicles’ full potential and find out more about the specifications and pricing.

The roadshow isn’t just a showroom on ‘wheels’ though, because it is actually meant to serve as a one-stop solution for owners and customers a like. The former will have the chance to find out more about the 10-star benefits offered by the company. It includes the Careplus packages for their servicing needs as well as professional repainting and repairing services at Toyota Body and Paint facilities around Malaysia.

It also serves as an opportunity to find out if their vehicles are part of the Special Service Campaigns. In recent times, the automaker had introduced one to replace the infiltrator module of the Takata airbag system of its vehicles.

Customers can meet with advisers to find out more about the various financing packages for hire-purchase loans. Those who prefer to purchase a pre-owned Toyota can meet with advisors from TopMark, which is a subsidiary of UMW Toyota Motor who will inform them on several pre-woned Toyota models and also evaluate the vehicles of those wishing to trade-in their old cars in order to purchase a new one.

There will also be a race prepared Vios that will be on display for the general public. The vehicle is what will be used for a series of one-make races called the Toyota Vios Challenge. It’s part part of the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Racing Festival.

In certain locations of the road show, popular celebrities participating in The Toyota Vios Challenge will also be present. As of now, the automaker has not divulged much regarding this issue, but we will let you know more as soon as we find out.

Besides these events, Toyota roadshow will also have activities to entertain the entire family which include an Outdoor Night Theater and a Petting Zoo. If you are interested, take a look at Toyota’s schedule below and plan your weekend accordingly.

6-7 May 10am – 10pm Central AEON Mall, Shah Alam

6-7 May 10am – 10pm South Angsana Mall, Johor Bahru

6-7 May 9am – 9pm (Sarawak) Boulevard Mall Outdoor Carpark, Miri

12-13 May 10am – 10pm East Coast AEON Mall, Kota Bharu

13-14 May 9am – 9pm (Sarawak) Sibu Gateway, Sibu

20-21 May 10am – 10pm East Coast Stadium Darul Makmur, Kuantan

20-21 May 9am – 9pm (Sarawak) Travillion, Kuching

Honda announces great sales figures and campaigns

Honda Malaysia has announced that sales figures from January to April of this year have been good and has put the automaker on track to achieve its sales target of 100,000 vehicles. This will it to keep the top spot among non-nationl manufacturers based on total industry volume (TIV) this year.

As of now, Honda has achieved 35% of its sales target with 34,500 vehicles sold at the end of April. Compared to last year, sales has risen by 40% or 9,800 more vehicles were sold. Attributing to that number is the new BR-V that racked up 7,800 orders and the new City which has received 7,200 bookings since its launch in March.

Demand for the Civic has risen too with 840 vehicles sold per month. Prior to the introduction of the 10th gen car, the Civic nameplate was only receiving 50 to 200 orders, which says a lot of the new car’s appeal.

And to ensure that the Japanese automaker keeps up with demand especially with the upcoming festive season, Honda’s two production lines will be adjusted so that waiting periods do not exceed 2 months and that with the increased production, quality control isn’t effected either.

Besides these sales figures, Honda Malaysia also announced new prices for the HR-V and CR-V 2.0 2WD due to re-classification under the new customs tariff code. Pricing for the HR-V 1.8L S is now RM101,100, E is RM110,700 and the V variant is RM121,000. The price of the two-wheel-drive CR-V has been adjusted to RM141,500.

As a means to allure more potential buyers to the brand, Honda will be organizing two campaigns this month. The ‘Nikmati Musim Bonus’ will take place from 1st May 2017 to 31st May 2017. During this period, Honda is offering customers 2 years of free vehicle servicing (parts & labour) or cash options. The second campaign, is a nationwide showroom event which will be conducted in conjunction with Mother’s Day on 13th May 2017.

The event will take place from 10am to 4pm and will feature a whole host of activities for the appreciation of mothers, which include roses and Mother’s Day cards made by their own children in the Honda showroom. Other activities include test drive gifts and lucky draws, which should prove to be fun and enjoyable for the whole family.

Kia introduce diesel variants of Sorento and Sportage GT

Kia has added oil burners to its current line-up with the introduction of the Sorento HS Turbo Diesel and the Sportage GT Turbo Diesel. These vehicles are powered by the 2.2 CRDi (Common Rail Direct Injection) (198bhp and 440 Nm of torque) and 2.0 AWD GT CRDi (185bhp and 400Nm of torque) engines respectively that are mated to a six-peed automatic transmission. Kia boasts close to 1,000km range on a single tank of diesel for both vehicles, which should be to the liking of those who travel long distances often.

“We are convinced with the advanced automotive technologies and upgraded top range features of these two new variants of the Kia Sorento and Sportage will provide customers even greater ownership value and satisfaction. The new award winning models are highly-developed with a premium level interior, an award-winning exterior design, riding comfort, excellent fuel economy with a more efficient choice of engines,” said Dato’ Samson Anand George, Group Chief Operating Officer, Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings.

The Sorento features projector HID with adaptive light system headlamps and a prominant radiator grille with three-dimensional cubic mesh pattern and rolls on 19-inch rims. Inside, like most Kias, it has a premium feel thanks to the leather upholstery, clean centre stack layout and spacious interior. The vehicle also comes with an interactive infotainment system that features a 7-inch LCD screen, smart power tailgate, 10-way power assisted driver seat, seat variations for the 7-seats, Smart Parking Assist System, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), electronic parking brake and drive mode select system.

Expect a whole lot of safety kit because the Sorento HS Diesel comes with six airbags, vehicle stability management (VSM), electronic stability control (ESC), anti-lock brake system (ABS) and hill-start assist control (HAC).

The diesel Sportage GT on the other hand, is similar to the petrol version in terms of looks as it features the distinctive grille, DRLs, LED fog lamps and rolls on 19-inch allow chrome wheels. Inside, you get a infotainment system that features a 4.2-inch LCD screen that is hooked up to a 6 speaker sound system as well as driver and passenger power seats.

Safety features for Kia’s smaller mild off-roader include six airbags, anti-lock brake system (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), vehicle stability control (VSC) and hill-start assist control (HAC). Apart from that, its Dynamax AWD system increases the level of safety especially on wet roads by distributing power to front or rear axles depending on which needs it most.

As for body colours, the Sorento is offered in Imperial Bronze, Snow White Pearl, Aurora Black Pearl and Silky Silver. The Sportage GT comes in Cherry Black, Mercury Blue, Fiery Red, Snow White Pearl and Mineral Silver.

Kia has made both the Sorento and Sportage GT diesel vehicles available to order nationwide with a price tag of RM191,888 and RM159,888 respectively. Both vehicles come with a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty. If you are interested, visit the automaker’s website or your nearest showroom.

Young boy wins new Peugeot 408 THP

It’s not everyday that you get to drive home a brand new Peugoet 408 worth nearly RM110,000. But that is exactly what happened to 9 year old Muhammad Farhan Hakimi bin Mohammad Nor who participated in the recent third Perlis Marathon.

Young Muhammad Farhan was the lucky winner of a grand lucky draw of the 2017 Perlis Marathon, which was sponsored by Naza Corporation Holdings. He is the youngest of six children and was participating in the 5km category of said marathon. His has had a love for sports from a very early age, which should help him grow into very capable athlete.

Speaking of the prize, his mother Sakinah Bt Md Isa said, We are grateful to Naza Corporation Holdings for sponsoring the Peugeot 408 as it is like a dream come true for the family. “This wonderful surprise will be kept for our own use especially for the upcoming Hari Raya celebration.”

Muhammad Farhan was presented with a mock key of his Peugeot at the award ceremony from HRH Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin ibni al-Marhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail Raja Perlis together with the management of Naza Corporation Holdings.

It will be a while before the young boy will be eligible to take his Peugeot for a spin, but that won’t stop him and his family from enjoying many new memories with their brand new 408 THP.

Gymkhana on a budget with a Subaru Impreza

We are sure you’ve heard of Ken Block, the rallying/rallycross racer and adrenaline junkie who’s known all around the world for his amazing gymkhana stunts videos. In them, Block executes some pretty amazing stunt maneuvers/driving while getting from point A to point in the most flamboyant way possible. It’s a more extreme take on gymkhana racing.

Unlike Block, most of us do not have the resources nor the expertise to have a specifically built gymkhana track and a supped up rally car to drive on it. Well, that’s where our story begins today. Tyler Witte, a Youtuber, has taken it upon himself to show the rest of us that you don’t need sponsorship backing to have fun on a gymkhana course.

The stunts in this video, which was reported by motor1 and car throttle, depicts some seriously entertaining action as Witte thrashes his modified first generation Subaru Impreza Coupe on a DIY gymkhana course setup at a construction site. Granted, the stunts aren’t as daring as those attempted by Block, but they are entertaining enough to show us car nuts that you can have motorsports-like fun on a budget. All you need is some ingenuity, technical know-how and enough open space to indulge in your own gymkhana shenanigans.

Little is known about what’s under Witte’s Impreza’s hood, but the first generation Impreza was produced in 1992-2000 and came with a number of engines ranging from the docile 1.5-litre EJ15 boxer to the high displacement 2.5-litre EJ25 – all of which, were flat four engines. The 2.0-litre and 2.2-litre engines came as turbocharged variants which offered impressive performance figures at the time. These engines were mated to either a 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual transmission.

The most coveted of the first generation Impreza cars was the coupe version called the Impreza 22B STI. Produced between March and August 1998, the 22B was built to commemorate the automaker’s 40th anniversary and to celebrate Subaru’s third consecutive manufacturer’s title in the FIA World Rally Championship. Compared with the standard car, the 22B received significant changes in design and mechanical upgrades, making it a vehicle with exceptional power and handling characteristics, but we digress.

Take a look at the video, then let us know what you think. And if it appeals to you, we will publish more content like this in the near future.

Source: motor1, car throttle