This is the first time that the Malaysian armed forces are known to officially use a Honda model and the cars will be used for law enforcement and policing duties by the Royal Military Police Corps. The Civic variant delivered to the Malaysian Army has a 1.8-litre i-VTEC engine which produces 141 ps/174 Nm. Army personnel using them will benefit from the 5-star safety rating by ASEAN NCAP.
“Previously, the Royal Malaysian Police had also chosen the best-selling C-segment as their new mobile patrol vehicles and we are currently delivering more than 1,000 units of the Civic 1.8S to them to be used for their enforcement duties. Honda Malaysia is proud that the Civic has once again been selected as our frontliners’ vehicle of choice. The Civic will be used by the Royal Military Police Corps for enforcement duties and it is our hope that the ideal model selected will complement and assist the Royal Military Police Corps in their daily commute for their assigned tasks,” said the Managing Director & CEO of Honda Malaysia, Toichi Ishiyama.
The Civic, which has been sold in Malaysia since its first generation was introduced in the mid-1970s, has been one of the more popular models of the brand in the market over the years. It has been assembled in Malaysia from the first generation, initially at Oriental Assemblers in Johor and then, from 2003, at Honda’s own plant in Melaka.
The Civic originally began as a compact entry-level hatchback model but evolved over the years into a larger and more sophisticated sedan. The latest generation is the tenth and has Honda’s Next Generation Advanced Safety Technology.
Since being launched in February 2020, more than 5,000 units of the updated 2020 Civic have been sold according to Honda Malaysia. The company also states that it is No.1 in the C-segment with a 78% market share as of July 2020. It is currently the second best-selling Honda model in Malaysia with prices starting from RM109,326.
To know more about the Honda range of models available in Malaysia, visit www.honda.com.my.
Although insurance coverage for your motor vehicle is compulsory if you want to use it on public roads, the business is competitive and insurance companies offer all sorts of extra benefits if you buy a policy from them. However, one of the best for motorists would be the insurance coverage offered by the car company that sold them their new vehicle. Not all companies do this and it is not their line of business, but they work with their panel of insurance companies to offer their customers the best possible package.
The Honda Insurance Plus (HiP) plan is an example. Introduced in 2002, it is exclusively for Honda owners and provides comprehensive protection and coverage. Working with its panel of 8 insurance companies, Honda Malaysia recently enhanced the HiP package to offer Rescue, Protection and Savings.
“As a car owner myself, I understand the importance of having the peace of mind knowing that my passengers and I are well-protected throughout the ownership of the car,” said Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director & CEO, Toichi Ishiyama. “The all-inclusive and wide-ranging HiP is the best insurance plan for Honda owners because it is developed by Honda, for Honda customers and with our Honda cars in mind.”
“At Honda Malaysia, we are dedicated to offering competitive and comprehensive protection packages for our customers and this HiP plan has been designed to be one of the best in the industry. We believe that this exclusive insurance plan will be able to provide the assurance to Honda owners that they and their cars are well taken care of and they are able to fully experience the ‘Joy of Owning’ and ‘Joy of Driving’ a Honda car,” Mr. Ishiyama explained.
Rescue
The first benefit – Rescue – has a rescue team on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Benefits include 24/7 towing assistance in case of accidents, breakdowns and floods, and the vehicle will be sent to any Honda authorised Body & Paint Centre within a 450 kms round trip from the location. Roadside repair service offers free labour of up to RM200 per event, excluding the cost of spare parts (if needed).
Apart from that, the 24/7 roadside repair services are also available for unexpected situations such as a flat tyre, replacing a flat battery or even running out of fuel. HiP policyholders can also be assured of efficient assistance for hassle-free claims when they are necessary to be made.
Protection
Through the Protection benefit, HiP policyholders are promised high quality workmanship on all body and paint repairs at all Honda Authorised Body & Paint Centres. Only Honda genuine body and parts replacements are used and these come with a 6-month warranty (or maximum of 10,000 kms).
The good thing about having HiP is that if a vehicle is sent to an authorised Honda Body & Paint Centre for repairs, pre-approval of the claim can be faster if it is estimated to be below RM20,000.
All authorised Honda service centres and Body & Paint Centres handle repair work under the Honda Insurance Plan.
Besides that, HiP policyholders will be given medical assistance such as medical referral and arrangement of appointments, dispatch of medications which are not available locally, and medical evacuation or repatriation, if required. As an additional new protection benefit, each HiP policyholder will now get Personal Accident Coverage of up to RM15,000 in the event of Accidental Death or Permanent Disability in the Named Vehicle accident.
Savings
Honda Malaysia has made sure that those who take HiP will enjoy savings and the best value for their premium paid. The extended coverage terms and better savings from replacement costs will help to ease financial burdens.
The existing HiP 100% insurance payout based on the agreed value if car is stolen or severely damaged in an accident for the vehicle age of up to 10 years (since original registration) is now upgraded to 13 years. Other newly introduced privileges include Unnamed Driver whereby HiP provides coverage for all drivers under private registration with no additional names and compulsory excess payment required; flood allowance of up to RM1,500; special relief allowance of RM1,500 in the event of car theft or total loss; and RM1,000 for lost key reimbursement.
Genuine Honda parts are used for repair work and when new parts replace old ones, there is no betterment charge (terms and conditions apply).
Apart from that, there’s 100% coverage for 10 years with no betterment fee imposed when old parts damaged due to accident are being replaced with new original parts.
HiP is available to all existing and new Honda owners who can start their first policy from the time they purchase a new vehicle or when they need to renew their insurance. More information is available at www.honda.com.my.
The countdown has started for the launch of the all-new Honda City in Malaysia with bookings being accepted by 101 authorised dealerships nationwide from today. The Malaysian launch, to take place during the fourth quarter of 2020, will also be the global debut of the City RS intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD).
Preview before launch
Before the launch, the public can get a glimpse of it at various locations in Peninsular Malaysia (click here for the list of venues). Honda Malaysia will also offer ‘early bird’ buyers with a RM1,000 Service Voucher under the All-New City Special Early Booking Programme. And although the price is not announced yet, the new car will have full 10% sales tax exemption until the end of 2020.
This will be the fifth generation of the model which began as Honda’s ‘Asian Car’ in the mid-1990s (there was an earlier City in the 1980s but it was a different concept). The new generation made its global debut in Thailand in November last year.
New LED headlights have a more advanced appearance than the ones in the previous generation (below).
The City RS will have LED Headlights (RS and V variants) with LED Daytime Running Lights as well as new LED taillight clusters. New Black door mirrors on the RS create a two-tone expression of the body colour. There are also 16-inch aluminium alloy wheels with the RS & V variants finished in a dual tone. The circumference of the wheels gives the impression of being rim-less, making the wheels look larger and complementing the larger appearance of the car.
Honda Malaysia has revealed that there will be four variants of the new City which will be assembled at its factory in Melaka. Commenting on the model, Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director & CEO, Toichi Ishiyama, said: “The City has proven to be an important model for Honda Malaysia, a favourite among many Malaysians for its spaciousness, practicality and safety features. Since its introduction to the Malaysian market in 2001, the model has an accumulated total sales of 351,000 units with the most sought-after 4th Generation City which was launched in 2014 contributing more than 205,000 units and upholding its No.1 position in the B-segment.”
Mr. Ishiyama added that the launch of the City RS with a new powertrain in Malaysia is ahead of other countries. “We believe that this new model will excite the market with its advanced styling and engineering as Honda continues to lead the way in pioneering benchmarks and introducing Next Generation Advanced Technology that is ahead of its time,” he said.
4 variants with sporty RS as well
In the Honda line-up, RS is conceptualised as ‘Road Sailing’, where one can imagine driving far away and sailing along the road with an uncompromising driving performance. ‘RS’ is also associated with sporty and stylish appeal Honda variants and with the new City RS, Honda Malaysia expects it to be a class leader.
The City will once again be a game-changer with its new 253 Nm powertrain.
i-MMD powertrain
The new i-MMD powertrain, globally known as ‘e:HEV’, spearheads Honda’s Next Generation Hybrid Technology to realize outstanding environmental performance without compromising driving enjoyment. It provides high efficiency electrification combined with direct and smooth response.
The i-MMD powertrain was previously only available in Honda’s line-up of large class models. To offer the advanced technology across all other Honda models, the engineers at Honda R&D have adapted a more compact and efficient i-MMD system to a smaller-sized vehicle. the powertrain is said to deliver a best-in-class maximum torque rating of 253 Nm which is comparable to a bigger D-segment model or a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated engine.
Customers also have the option of choosing a new 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC powertrain which is the newest engine in its segment.
The new City will have Honda LaneWatch to monitor the blind spot on the car’s left side. However, the camera installation appears to be different from the one’s on other Honda models (below).
Honda LaneWatch comes to the City
With the new City, Honda Malaysia is going further with safety equipment and it will have a couple of B-segment firsts. One of them is Honda LaneWatch, a camera-based system which monitors the blind spot on the left side and shows the image on the dashboard display. This feature is already available in the Accord, CR-V and Civic and now comes to the City.
Replacing the traditional handbrake lever, there is a new first-in-segment Electric Parking Brake which makes handbrake operation a lot easier. Little effort is needed to lift the small tab which can be done with one finger. It also frees up more space on the centre console for other purposes.
If the 1,400 bookings for the Honda BR-V that Honda Malaysia has collected within a month of its launch are any indication, Malaysians are not entirely turned off buying new cars. The exemption of sales tax (till the end of 2020) must also be acting as an incentive as there are savings too. For Peninsular Malaysia, prices without insurance range from RM86,726 to RM93,696, depending on the variant and colour choice.
According to Honda Malaysia, over 32,600 units of the BR-V, a 7-seater, have been sold since it entered the Malaysian market in 2017. It was an entirely new model which fit into the slot left by the Freed as a family-carrier.
Of the 1,400 bookings, 42% are from the Central region and over 85% are for the V variant, one of the two variants available. More than 24% of the buyers have specified Modern Steel Metallic, one of the 5 colour choices available. So if you want your BR-V a bit faster, pick another colour or better still, just tell the sales representative you will take any colour although you do have to pay extra for the White Orchid Pearl finish.
Almost a quarter of bookings are for the BR-V in Lunar Silver Metallic.
The latest BR-V has received cosmetic updates, typical for a model that is halfway through its cycle. New items include 16-inch dual-tone alloy wheels and a Shark Fin antenna.
It maintains the 1.5-litre SOHC i-VTEC 120 ps/145 Nm engine coupled with a Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT). For the V variant, there are also paddle shifters on the steering wheel to allow manual selection of gears when desired.
In spite of having space for 7 persons, the BR-V also has a lot of cargo space – up to 223 litres, which can be expanded to 539 litres when the third-row seats are folded down. The seating can be folded to create various configurations to suit different needs so it can be used to send the kids to school and then transport plants back from the nursery or furniture from IKEA.
For more information on the BR-V or other Honda models, visit www.honda.com.my. Test-drives are also available at all authorised Honda showrooms nationwide.
The Klang Valley has a high concentration of vehicles, many of which are Hondas and over the years, Honda Malaysia has been expanding its dealer network to minimise distances owners and customers have to go to find an authorised dealership to buy a Honda or to have their vehicle serviced.
Recently, the network gained another 3S outlet in Shah Alam, Selangor, which is the 28th Honda 3S Centre in the company’s Central region. The new outlet, operated by Elmina Motors, is strategically located with easy access via Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE), New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE), North-South Expressway (NSE) and the upcoming Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway (DASH).
Elmina Motors invested RM21.8 million in the new Honda 3S Centre which sits on an 85,377 sq. foot property. As a 3S centre, it offers complete sales and after-sales services to customers. Its service centre has 20 bays with specialised areas for jobs involving tyres and air-conditioning and electrical systems.
The facility meets Honda standards in all aspects and customers can also enjoy a variety of amenities such as comfortable lounges and complimentary wifi services. There is also free flow of food and beverages in the pantry area and a Kid’s Corner but these two areas are temporarily closed in view of the current RMCO (Recovery Movement Control Order) situation. All Honda dealerships adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures.
A surau is also available, along with car wash services and roadtax/insurance coverage renewal services.
“In view of the government’s strategies in resuming businesses, we believe the new Honda 3S Centre will contribute to Honda Malaysia’s effort to support the nation’s economy. The timing is opportune as it also provides another conveniently-located Honda showroom for customers to visit and test drive any Honda model, especially the three exciting models that we launched this year – the All-New Accord, New Civic and New BR-V. This is even more impeccable with the price reductions for Honda models after the announcement of the sales tax exemption by the government of Malaysia,” said Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director and CEO, Toichi Ishiyama.
Mr. Ishiyama believes the opening of the new Honda 3S Centre can support the increase in after-sales service intakes in the Selangor area. In 2019, the company recorded more than 647,100 service intakes in the Central region, a 5.4% increase from the service intakes in 2018.
“With such encouraging growth, Honda Malaysia is continuously working hard to improve in order to provide excellent after-sales services to further elevate customer satisfaction,” he said.
Earlier in the year, the 2020 Honda Civic was launched (along with the 2020 Accord) but as it came out about 20 days before the government implemented the Movement Control Order (MCO) that suspended all business operations in the country, sales were limited. Nevertheless, according to Honda Malaysia, over 2,900 units have already been delivered nationwide, with more than 6,500 booking received up till the end of June.
Today, it has been announced that the Civic – the leader in the C-segment and Honda’s third bestselling model in Malaysia – has been upgraded with Next Generation Advanced Technology. The top variant now has Honda SENSING as well as Honda LaneWatch.
First introduced in the CR-V (in Malaysia), Honda SENSING is an integrated suite of 8 active safety systems that help the driver to avoid accidents. The systems use cameras and radar to monitor the presence of other vehicles ahead and prevent collisions, as well as lane markings to alert the driver if the car is moving out of the lane (or even off the road).
LaneWatch is a very useful feature that provides the driver with a view along the blind spot on the left side of the car. It uses a small camera in the door mirror on the left side (pictured above left) and the real-time image is displayed on the screen on the dashboard (above right), coming on whenever the left signal is activated.
The advantage of having LaneWatch is that the driver’s head does not need to turn so much, compared to turning considerably to look at the left mirror. The head needs to just turn a bit to see the display screen which is in the middle of the dashboard. Guidelines embedded in the image provide reference points to indicate the distance of another vehicle or motorcyclist.
There are different wheel diameters and designs for each of the three variants.
All variants are equipped with standard safety features such as 6 airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist, Agile Handle Assist , Hill Start Assist, Emergency Stop Signal, ABS, Brake Assist, Auto Brake Hold, ISOFIX points in the rear seat. The parking sensors in the front bumper are also said to be new.
The Civic continues to be available with a 173 ps/220 Nm DOHC VTEC 1.5-litre turbocharged engine as well as a 1.8-litre SOHC i-VTEC engine (141 ps/174 Nm). Both engines are paired with a CVT and can bring the car up to a claimed top speed of 200 km/h.
“The New Civic now sets an even higher benchmark in the C-segment, offering a complete technologically advanced sedan that continues to be well-received by young adults, young urban families, professionals and tech-savvy individuals. With the PENJANA initiative [exempting sales tax], this model now receives a substantial reduction, giving customers more reason to own the New Civic,” said Toichi Ishiyama, Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director & CEO.
Unlike the Japanese market, where demand for the Civic has been so low that the company has withdrawn it from the domestic range, the model has been consistently popular in Malaysia. With high demand, there is a waiting period which the company says is presently one month.
You can add Modulo accessories designed for the Civic to have sportier looks.
The White Orchid Pearl colour (which incurs extra cost) appears to be the favourite among customers, representing 42% of the overall sales for the latest Civic. So if you want your car faster, maybe you should choose from the other four colours, or tell the sales representative that you’ll take whatever colour is readily available.
The new Civic is available in three variants, with the 1.5-litre engine powering two of them. Prices without insurance range from RM109,326.51 to RM134,661.28 and the reduced prices will be available until December 31, 2020. More information and the locations of showrooms for viewing and test-drives can be found at www.honda.com.my.
55,354 units of Honda vehicles assembled in Malaysia in 2018 and 2019 are being recalled to replace a fuel pump. This move follows a global action by Honda in many other countries.
It is understood that the fuel pump in affected vehicles may contain faulty impellers. The fault may, in some cases, cause the fuel pump to get stuck and unable to provide fuel, resulting in the engine not starting or stalling while driving.
According to Honda Malaysia, no injuries or accidents have occurred due to fuel pump issues and the replacement is a precautionary measure. The models affected are shown on the chart below:
In a statement issued today, Honda Malaysia apologises for the inconvenience caused to the affected customers and reassures that all its models produced in 2020 are not affected in this product recall.
Owners of affected vehicles will be informed via notification letters which will include details of the product recall. The company urges owners to contact any Honda authorized dealer to make an appointment upon receipt of notification to replace the fuel pump (subject to parts availability). The replacement of the fuel pump and all related costs will be free of charge.
The recall includes the hybrid models as well (HR-V Hybrid pictured).
As the Honda Toll Free number is undergoing technical maintenance, owners can obtain more information on this product recall by contacting any Honda authorized dealer or log on to www.honda.com.my to check their vehicle status.
In the event that you are not the original owner of the vehicle, your contact details may not be available to Honda Malaysia and you might not receive a notification letter. If you believe your vehicle is also among the affected units, you can contact a Honda authorised dealer for assistance to check on the matter.
As the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has a large fleet of patrolcars, it takes a while to change the fleet. Evaluations must be conducted on potential replacements with reliability, durability and performance being important considerations.
After its assessments, the PDRM finally chose the Honda Civic 1.8S as its new patrolcar, with the first 425 units being delivered recently. The delivery was to have taken place in March but had to be postponed due to the Movement Control Order (MCO) restricting movements at the time.
“We are delighted that we are now able to resume the plan to deliver these new mobile patrol and enforcement vehicles which are expected to assist in the tasks and responsibilities of the police force in effectively responding to emergencies, maintaining law and order,” said Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director & CEO, Toichi Ishiyama. “We are pleased that the Royal Malaysia Police have chosen the best-selling model in C-segment to assist them in their daily tasks, enforcements and administrative duties for the country.”
All 10 generations assembled in Malaysia
The current Civic is the 10th generation of the model and was launched in 2016 in Malaysia. Since the first generation introduced in the 1970s, every generation of the model has been assembled in Malaysia. The latest one comes from Honda Malaysia’s own plant in Melaka.
Latest 2020 version of the Civic was launched early this year.
The police personnel using the Civic will be assured of good performance from the 1.8-litre i-VTEC engine which delivers power through Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT). Maximum torque is 141 ps with 174 Nm of torque for strong acceleration and meeting Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) standards, fuel economy should be good. This would be important since the cars will be in use a lot for daily duties.
Honda’s Next Generation Safety Technology – the proprietary Honda SENSING suite – will help protect the personnel in the event of an accident while also allowing them to have good control over the car if they are in high-speed pursuits. The Civic, which is rated 5-star by ASEAN NCAP has safety features such as 6 Airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist with Agile Handle Assist, Hill Start Assist, Emergency Stop Signal, ABS, Brake Assist and Auto Brake Hold.
The retail price of the Civic is around RM114,000 although with the recent announcement of exemption of 10% Sales Tax, the price will be lower from June 15 until the end of 2020. More information on the model as well as other Honda models in Malaysia can be found at www.honda.com.my or any of the 101 authorised dealerships nationwide.
Seems like with the industry resuming business, the car companies are trying to quickly make up for the lost months and deferred product introductions. After recently starting deliveries of the updated Honda BR-V, Honda Malaysia has now also announced an update for the RS version of the popular HR-V crossover SUV.
Second choice for interior colour
The update is a new interior colour – a classy dark brown leather which customers can choose as an alternative to the existing black leather theme. The dark brown leather materials are fitted to the centre console, front panel, driver and passenger seats (front and rear) as well as door panel lining.
No change in price
The price remains as RM124,800 (without insurance). Colour options are Passion Red Pearl, Modern Steel Metallic and White Orchid Pearl.
Launched in 2015, there are more than 91,000 units of the HR-V on Malaysian roads. Right from the start, it was a hit as it arrived at the right time when the SUV market boom was accelerating. The facelifted HR-V which was introduced in January 2019 has sold more than 19,000 units with the RS variant contributing 21% to the total.
The HR-V RS is powered by a 1.8-litre SOHC i-VTEC engine and uses an Earth Dreams Technology Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT). Functional features include a 7-inch display screen for the infotainment system, paddle shifters and the very useful LaneWatch system which provides a real-time view of the blindspot on the left side of the vehicle.
“The HR-V RS received overwhelming response from the market since we introduced it in early 2019. Then, based on customers’ feedback for an enhanced touch of sophistication, we introduced the stylish black leather interior for the HR-V RS. We are delighted to provide yet another selection of interior styling to suit the differing personalities of our discerning customers – the new classy dark brown leather interior. We are committed to continuously improve our product offerings as we listen to customers’ feedback and market demand,” said Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director & CEO, Toichi Ishiyama.
With the resumption of business after a long ‘break’ during the Movement Control Order (MCO), the car companies are trying to make up for the lost time, especially when they had new models planned for the first quarter which could not be launched, let alone delivered to customers.
For Honda Malaysia, the facelifted BR-V (did you know it means ‘Bold Runabout Vehicle?) was to have been in showrooms in April but that was obviously not possible since all showrooms had to be closed. Finally, the company can launch the new 2020 7-seater crossover MPV which is available in two variants. The E variant is priced at RM89,900 while the V variant is priced at RM96,900, both prices excluding insurance premiums.
Campaigns to help COVID-19 relief programmes
In conjunction with the launch, Honda Malaysia also announces a COVID-19 relief program as one of the two campaigns related to the BR-V. Called the ‘Be Kind With BR-V’ campaign, for every unit of the model sold from today until August 31, 2020, the company will donate a portion of the proceeds to COVID-19 relief programmes.
At the same time, the company has also organised a joint effort among its dealers to support affected communities in their neighbourhood through a second campaign. This is the ‘Honda Dealer Donation Drive’ and it will run until August 31, 2020 as well. Honda customers can visit their nearest dealership to donate basic necessities such as dried foods or household items (cash will not be accepted). The donations will be compiled and delivered to affected communities in the areas around the respective dealers.
The latest BR-V has the usual cosmetic changes that come with a facelift like a new front grille, restyled front and rear bumpers, front foglight garnish as well as a new Dual-Tone finish for the 16-inch alloy wheels. A Shark Fin Antenna is also installed on the roof.
It’s never easy for the marketing people to get the factory to offer new exterior colours. However, this time, they managed to get a brand-new colour which is a first in Honda Malaysia’s model line-up – Marine Purple Pearl. This joins another four colour choices – White Orchid Pearl, Modern Steel Metallic, Lunar Silver Metallic and Passion Red Pearl.
Proven powertrain, now with paddle shifters
Performance-wise, the BR-V continues to use a 120 ps 1.5-litre SOHC i-VTEC engine coupled with Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT). The more expensive variant comes with paddle shifters which allow selection of gears without taking the hands off the steering wheel.
The BR-V offers a lot of versatility in its spacious cabin, with multiple configurations enabled by the 60:40 One-Touch Tilt & Tumble mechanism in the second row and 50:50 Tilt & Full Tumble in the third row. It has the biggest boot volume in its size class: 223 litres even when all the seats are in use, and up to 539 litres when the third-row is folded down.
New value-added features include tweeter speakers, a cargo bay light and cabin filter. The V variant gets a new 7-inch Display for the infotainment system, as well as new leather seats with Red Finishing matching the gear knob’s red stitching. Automatic Air Conditioning, Keyless Entry and a Push-Start Button are now standard features in the E variant.
For more information on both the Community Relief Campaigns or to locate a showroom to test- the new BR-V, visit www.honda.com.my.
