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When reviewing the new Myvi 1.3 earlier this year, one thought that crossed my head as I looked at its prices was that Perodua was starting to get cocky with their success. Although things started off reasonably well at RM43,900 for the entry model, it went a bit outrageous at the other end of the spectrum.

Perodua’s asking prices of RM54,400 (M/T) and RM57,400 (A/T) for the Elegance models are not the kind of money that I would pay for a Myvi. As news of a 1.5-litre model was confirmed, I had great certainty that Perodua will cross the magical RM60k mark with the new variant. Well, the Myvi 1.5 is here now, and it did breach the RM60k barrier, but the pleasant surprise is that it did not happen to the extent which was predicted.

Your invoice will bear a number starting with the digit ‘6’ only if you pick the top range Myvi Extreme 1.5 automatic, which goes for RM61,700 with metallic paint. Manual transmission costs precisely RM3,000 less, but smart money will go to the more modestly-specced SE model instead, which can be yours for between RM50,900 and RM54,400 depending on transmission and paint grade.


Order taking for the Myvi 1.5 commenced earlier this week, and Perodua expects the new variant to account for 45% of total Myvi sales. Demand for the Myvi 1.3 has been overwhelmingly good, and Perodua expects a significant number of buyers who have yet to receive their cars to upgrade their bookings to the 1.5. Since launch, Perodua has collected 34,000 bookings for the 1.3, but has only delivered 18,000 units as of 8 September. No sales figures have been released for the 1.5 as of now.

If you are among those 1.3 owners contemplating an upgrade of your order to the 1.5, there are indeed very good reasons to do so. Under the 1.5’s hood is Toyota’s 1,495cc 3SZ-VE engine which is also used in the Alza. For the Myvi, Perodua has tuned the engine to deliver 102hp @ 6,000rpm and 136Nm @ 4,400rpm. If that does not sound impressive, bear in mind that its kerb weight measures below a tonne – Perodua quotes a century sprint time of 9.98 seconds for the SE manual model.


Both the SE and Extreme variants feature revised bumpers and bodykit to help distinguish themselves from the 1.3 models. Alloy rims continue to be 14″ items as per the 1.3, but feature a new 7-spoke design with grey finish. Perodua offers the SE with five colour options and Extreme with three. Both versions are available with Majestic Yellow, Ivory White, and Ebony Black, with Mystical Purple and Glittering Silver additional choices available for the SE.

Inside, the dashboard is of the same architecture used by the 1.3, but now finished in single black tone. Front occupants get semi-bucket seats, and leather trim is standard offering for the Extreme model. Steering-mounted audio controls are a welcomed addition for both, and in the Extreme, a touchscreen multimedia unit with GPS navigation is included as standard. The system is also offered in SE units with automatic transmission as a RM2,100 cost option. In terms of safety, both models get dual airbags, ABS, EBD, three-point seat belt for all passengers, driver seat belt pre-tensioner and ISOFIX child seat mounts as standard.

Multimedia unit is standard in the Extreme. Cost option for SE auto.


A couple of days back, the Malaysian media had an opportunity to try the Myvi 1.5 on the streets of Cyberjaya over a test route stretching about 8km long. The test cars all wore trade plates, and the two that I managed to try were barely run in – with only 500km on the odo. Although the engines were still tight, it became quickly clear that the new boys have more pace at its disposal compared to the 1.3.

Gear change of the manual version is noticeably improved compared to the 1.3’s. It feels less rubbery and a bit more precise, but biting point of the clutch was rather high and caught me off guard during a hill start. As per our views on the 1.3, our suggestion with the 1.5 is that you opt for the convenience of automatic transmission. If you’re one of those rare breeds that still prefer the pleasure of manual transmission, alternatives from Proton provide slicker and far more satisfying gear changes.

Extreme gets fiercer spoiler and bodykit.


The bigger and heavier engine mean that not only is there an increase in overall vehicle mass, but also rearranged weight distribution compared to the 1.3. Taking that and also the engine’s increased performance into account, Perodua has naturally revised the 1.5’s spring and damper rates to stiffer settings. This change was immediately obvious as ride quality was firmer than what I recalled of the 1.3, although this could also be the result of over-inflated tyres.

With this new 1.5-litre variant, Perodua has finally answered the public’s call for a more powerful version of the Myvi. The aggressively styled Extreme version will appeal to the boy racers, but for our money, the SE model represents a far more sensible purchase, being priced a mere RM4,000 above the Premium 1.3. In fact, the SE certainly makes more sense than the eye-wateringly expensive Elegance 1.3. If you have placed a booking on the 1.3 but have yet to collect your car, you might want to give your Perodua dealer a call.

For our money, SE now represents good value.



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Proton Holdings Bhd and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation today announced serious discussions are underway between representatives of both companies to further strengthen strategic collaboration between both companies. This new development builds on Proton’s long-running relationship with Mitsubishi which dates back to the founding of Proton.

Areas of collaboration that are being discussed at the moment cover:
– Joint production of engines in Malaysia.
– Production of MMC vehicles in Proton’s facilities.
– Parts sharing between MMC’s Global Small car, due for a March 2012 launch in Thailand, and Proton’s global small car.
– Provision of MMC’s future technologies.

Since the first generation Saga in 1985, Proton had a long tradition of utilizing Mitsubishi designs before gradually moving to chart its own path. Models such as the Wira and Perdana were effectively re-badged Mitsubishi vehicles, before the Waja eventually came around.

When the Campro engine was finally ready for commercial production, Proton began to scale back the use of Mitsubishi engines in its design, although it continued to source the bulk of its transmission supply from the Japanese company. A license agreement was signed between the two companies in 2008, which has now culminated in the creation of the Lancer-based Proton Inspira.


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One of the more important concerns for drivers when embarking on a long journey would be the available range of travel that their vehicle can provide before refueling becomes necessary. This concern is even more acute when one drives an electric vehicle, as charging stations for EVs are nowhere near as commonplace as petrol stations.

You need to know how far your vehicle can go, and you need to know if you will have the opportunity to recharge before the battery runs dry. As the bars on the battery charge indicator diminish, doubts will undoubtedly begin to creep in as to whether you will reach your destination or be stranded along the way. This situation is called ‘range anxiety’, and TomTom, in collaboration with Renault has a solution for it.

At the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show 2011, TomTom and Renault have launched their first in-dash navigation system, the Carminat TomTom Z.E. LIVE, designed specifically for electric vehicles. Renault is offering the Carminat TomTom Z.E. LIVE as standard fitment on its Fluence Z.E. model.

The system continuously monitors the battery charge levels and shows the driver available range and also the location charging stations that are within range before the battery gets flat. There is also an eco-routing function which selects the most energy efficient route for the driver. By the end of 2011, Europe is expected to have over 5,000 charging stations all around the continent, and via the TomTom Home application, users can continuously update their map data to include the latest list of charging stations.

Other features in the Carminat TomTom Z.E. LIVE system include live traffic updates, with the system automatically adjusting its route based on current traffic conditions. The HD Traffic system draws input from over 80 million probes around the continent.

KON

Pictures: Official Renault release.

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Last week, Lotus teased us with news of three new cars making their debuts at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show. They told us that one of them would be the supercharged Elise S with 217hp delivered from a torquey 1.8-litre supercharged engine. Among the other two, it was hinted that one would be ‘one of the quickest road cars Lotus has ever built’ and the other marks Lotus’ return to a specific discipline of motorsports.

It was revealed on the IAA press day that the ‘quickest Lotus road car’ refers to new generation Exige S, which has the same Toyota-sourced 3.5-litre supercharged V6 engine from the Evora S feeding it with 345hp and 400Nm. There is a driver electronics pack (Lotus DPM – Dynamic Performance Management) that allows the driver to switch between three modes – Touring, Sport, and Off. An optional Race Pack adds a fourth setting to that list – Race – which features Launch Control and track-optimized suspension settings.

Commenting on the Exige S, Group Lotus Chief Executive Officer Dany Bahar said, “Anyone who has ever driven an Exige will tell you that it’s not for the faint-hearted. The new Exige S skips a few rungs on the ladder to give the driver the ultimate Lotus experience. Quite simply you can’t get more Lotus than the Exige S.”

Meanwhile, the motorsport discipline that Lotus is returning to is none other than rallying, and the car tasked to spearhead that return will be the Exige R-GT, which is developed in parallel with the road-going Exige. The Exige R-GT will participate in the newly formed FIA GT category of the FIA Rally Championship on asphalt in Monte Carlo, Tour de Corse and San Remo.It is powered by the same 3.5 V6 as the Exige S, but the use of 34mm air restrictors required by category regulations means that output is limited to 302hp.

For Group Lotus’ Director of Motorsport Claudio Berro, the return to rally has an extra special meaning, “My motorsport career started in rally, in fact, I even took part in the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus’ Italian Rally championship winning a race in San Marino back in 1981 so this is a very nostalgic moment for me.  As we unveiled the car in Frankfurt, alongside the original championship winning car, I had the chance to get back inside and the smell was exactly the same – it brought back many happy memories for me.”

KON

Pictures: Official Lotus release.

See also:
– Lotus rocks Paris with five stunners
– World Premiere of the new Lotus Evora GTE Road Car Concept
– Lotus to showcase six in Frankfurt – 3 new cars, 2 new options & 1 special edition

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Encouraged by the strong response for the recently concluded Infiniti Fever Frenzy II contest, Boustead Petroleum Marketing Sdn Bhd (BHPetrol) has launched a new contest, “Save & Win” which offers motorists a chance to win cash prizes and millions of ePoints.

Customers who spend a minimum of RM30 at any participating BHPetrol service station will be eligible to participate. The contest period will be divided into three monthly segments with prizes to be won for each segment. Multiple contest forms per entry is allowed for purchases of more than RM30 and entry forms must be submitted via contest drop boxes at all participating BHPetrol service stations nationwide. Eligible participants can submit as many valid entries within the contest period but are entitled to win one prize only. Contest forms will not be rolled over to the following month’s draw. Monthly winners will be selected based on a manual lucky draw by BHPetrol.

The prizes for each month are:

First Prize: RM50,000
Second Prize: RM30,000
Third Prize: RM20,000
Fourth Prize: RM10,000
Fifth Prize: RM5,000
Consolation Prize: 50 X RM1,000
Special Prize: 50 X 50,000 ePoints

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The International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia (IGEM) took place recently at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from 7 to 10 September 2011, and one of the exhibits on display was the Toyota Prius placed there by UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd.

Being held for the second time, the IGEM conference brings together industry players and professionals from various sectors to explore and develop opportunities in green markets, in line with increasing awareness of the general public towards issues of eco-friendliness and sustainability.

UMWT’s entry into IGEM is supported by Toyota Motor Corporation, and the objective of its presence is to showcase and heighten the public’s awareness on Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive technology. The display booth of UMWT contains materials for visitors to learn about the history of Toyota’s hybrid powertrain development, how it works and how it benefits the environment.

Worldwide, Toyota has sold a million units of the Prius spread over three model generations. The third generation model was launched in 2009, and has been faced with overwhelming demand since. In Japan, Toyota has sold 31,000 units of this model with 180,000 names in their order books. Locally, UMWT has also moved 1,000 units into Malaysian homes, with demand boosted by Government tax incentives.

KON

Picture: Official UMWT release.

See also: Toyota Prius – Hybrid Car Gives 4.8 litres per 100 km Consumption

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Four weeks ago, technician Fadly Hisham Roplay handed over the keys of his 19-year old Proton Saga Megavalve to Tengku Djan Ley of Proton’s R3 Division for a complete refurbishment, having been selected as the first winner of the ‘My Proton Makeover’ programme.

Since then, Fadly has been getting around in a rented Proton Wira while the folks at R3 stripped his car from head to toe and then meticulously rebuilt it. Today, the wait is finally over for the 33-year-old Fadly as Djan unveiled to him a car that is barely recognisable from the one that was driven in last month.

“It was indeed a fun few weeks for our R3 engineers. The car was very worn out when we received it, not surprising considering that it is a 19 year old car! But nonetheless, well done to the boys who put in the hours to make sure the car is up to R3 standards,” said Tengku Djan.

R3’s handiwork on Fadly’s car is no Pimp My Ride job. As Djan explains, “At R3, we believe simplicity is best, so the changes made have been subtle. The car’s classic looks have been maintained but definitely looks more modern and stylish.”

The Lancer Fiore nose that Fadly grafted to his car has been removed, as the original Megavalve look is restored with some minor R3 tweaks added. Inside, the original interior has been completely reworked to resemble that used by the newer Saga LMST version – the last version of the original Saga before being replaced by the Saga BLM.

Among the entries received for the first round of submissions, Fadly’s tale was picked due to the lighthearted and entertaining nature of his story with the car. It was clear to all that the car is something extremely close to his heart.

“This car means so much to me, carrying so many memories. With this makeover, it has been given a new lease of life and now, we will have even more memories together,” Fadly said.

If you have a Proton in your garage currently in need of a makeover, R3 will be taking in another five cars under the ‘My Proton Makeover’ campaign. The question is, will your story be heart-warming enough get you selected?


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Thailand may not have its own local brand of vehicles, but it is a universally accepted fact among auto industry observers that Thailand is the undisputed automotive hub of South East Asia. That recent reports have surfaced about Toyota mulling over the possibility of exporting some of its Thai-built vehicles back to Japan shows just how far the Thai auto industry has come.

Despite constant changes to its political climate, auto makers have flocked to Thailand being attracted by the size of its market and also its ability to consistently maintain policies despite regular changes to its government. Over the years, various auto makers have invested huge sums setting up world class plants there, and among the bigger players of the Thai market are General Motors.

Since 1998, GM has pumped in US$1.3 billion worth of investments into the Thai economy, the latest being a US$200 million diesel engine plant that was just opened in Rayong. Spanning an area of 54,275m2, GM’s first diesel engine plant in the region is built with an annual capacity of 120,000 engines to cater for Thailand and global consumption. By 2012, this plant is expected to supply some US$94 million worth of engine components into GM’s global supply chain.

The first engines that will roll out from the plant will be the all-new Duramax four-cylinder engines, with displacements of 2.5 and 2.8 litres, featuring turbocharging and aluminium cylinder heads. The engines, claimed to meet Euro IV emission standards, have been tested for durability in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America. First to use the new engines will be the upcoming Chevrolet Colorado pick-up to be produced also in Rayong.

The opening of this new diesel engine plant comes a month after GM announced the reactivation of its Bekasi plant in Indonesia. With an expected capacity of 40,000 vehicles per annum, the Bekasi plant represents a US$150 million investment by GM and jobs for 800 Indonesians.

“GM is committed to growing our footprint and business throughout Thailand and Southeast Asia,” said GM Southeast Asia President Martin Apfel.

So, Thailand gets US$200 million, Indonesia gets US$150 million, and Malaysia is once again left out. In all honesty, can we blame GM for overlooking us?

KON

Pictures: Official GM release.

See also:
– Chevrolet Colorado Show Truck unveiled in Bangkok
– GM reactivates its Indonesian plant

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Proton’s latest outing for the Intercontinental Rally Championship season has turned out to be a forgettable one as neither P-G Andersson nor Giandomenico Basso were able to bring their Satria Neo S2000 rally cars across the finish line of inaugural Canon Mecsek Rallye in Hungary.

Being a newly-included event in the IRC calendar, Proton’s had their hopes up for a strong finish as no team had any past experience to draw upon in preparing their strategies for the rally. Unfortunately, however, their plans did not include having Basso suffering from a freak failure of his engine oil filter seal in the first day or Andersson kerbing his wheel in the next.

Andersson finished the opening special stage in 17th position before his accident in the second special stage forced an unscheduled wheel change. The incident cost Andersson almost eight minutes’ worth of time, and dropped to 42nd place. To make things worse, it eventually turned out that Andersson’s car also sustained damage to its differential, resulting in adverse effects to its handling.

To his credit, Andersson was able to overcome his handling difficulties and moved himself to 39th place in Special Stage 5 before eventually forced out by technical issues in Special Stage 6.

Looking at the brighter side of things, Head of Proton Motorsports, Datuk Abdul Razak Dawood noted that, “Under these circumstances, we had certainly hoped for a better result, but despite the unfortunate setbacks, Andersson’s drive was able to clearly demonstrate the Satria Neo S2000’s strong pace and competitiveness. We have certainly taken a significant step forward compared to where we were earlier this year, and development of the car continues as we look forward to bridge the performance gap between us and the likes of Skoda, Peugeot and Ford.”

Pictures: Official Proton release.


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Local Audi distributor Euromobil Sdn Bhd has launched the latest generation model of the A6 luxury mid-sized sedan for the Malaysian market. The A6 badge first came to use in 1994, when Audi revised its model nomenclature, renaming the Audi 100. The new model is the fourth generation of the lineage; seventh, if you include three generations of the predecessor.

Competing squarely against the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series, Audi’s opening gambit for the A6 starts with the strong 3.0 TFSI quattro model at RM515,000 on-the-road without insurance. Majority of the A6’s international line-up consists of diesel models, none of which will be in our shores anytime soon.

Another petrol engine in the catalogue is a 2.8-litre naturally aspirated FSI model, which has also not been selected by Euromobil for Malaysian consumption. Instead, the next coming alternative would be the 2.0 TFSI model which we have been told is already ‘on its way’ to Port Klang.

Global debut of the A6 took place earlier this year, and Ingolstadt’s latest challenger to the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class is very much a technological powerhouse. The drivetrain specs alone make for impressive reading – the launch-spec 3.0 TFSI comes fully loaded with turbocharging, direct injection, quattro all-wheel drive, 7-speed dual clutch transmission, innovative thermal management and automatic start/stop as standard.

The numbers that result are similarly impressive, though for a turbocharged direct injection engine, its peak torque of 440Nm comes at a rather high 2,900rpm being maintained until 4,500rpm. Maximum output of 300hp is produced between 5,250 and 6,500rpm. Extensive use of aluminium construction has allowed Audi to maintain a lean mass of 1,740kg for the A6 3.0, and as a result, the V6 motor up front is able to provide a century sprint of 5.5 seconds whilst returning a claimed fuel consumption rate of 8.2 litres/100km.

However, we know from experience that published and actual fuel consumption figures usually differ, and in some cases by huge margins. With the A6, Audi has programmed the Audi Drive Select system with an Efficiency Mode that optimizes engine and transmission settings for the smoothest driving style possible. Energy consumption by the ancillaries are also monitored, and the system’s activation is indicated by the letter “E” displayed in the instrument cluster. The mode is deactivated when you slam the throttle and trigger the kickdown switch.

Other functions of the Audi Drive Select system are Comfort, Auto, and Dynamic. A fifth setting, Individual, allows the driver to individually adjust the various characteristics of the car to suit his/her preference, so if you think that the handiwork of Audi’s engineers are not good enough for you, you are more than welcomed to programme your own settings.

There is a generous offering of standard kit in the A6. The instrument cluster features a 7″ driver info system (DIS) colour display in addition a dashboard-mounted 6.5″ screen for the Audi MMI system. Both these screens allow the driver and passenger access to the suite of infotainment systems packed into the A6 that includes satellite navigation, Bluetooth, and DVD among others.

Illuminating the road up front, the A6 is equipped with Xenon bulbs integrated to an adaptive light system. At speeds between 10 and 110kph, the lights swivel based on steering inputs to provide optimum illumination along curving roads. It also features variable headlight range control, which automatically adjusts from high to low beam based on traffic conditions to avoid dazzling other road users.

Options that can be ticked to further spice up your A6 include pearl paint (RM5,000), heads-up display (RM6,500), LED headlamps (RM13,000), Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System (RM28,000) and the S line package (RM30,000). The new A6 is available for viewing and test drive at Audi showrooms starting from today 10 September 2011.

So, what’s next for Audi?

At the Audi A6 launch yesterday, DRB-Hicom Group Managing Director Dato’ Sri Haji Mohd Khamil Jamil spoke of Audi’s increasing prominence in the Malaysian market. He said that, “In 2011, we sold 1,000 cars, which represent a 30% increase from the previous years – thus, increasing the brand’s market share in the luxury segment.”

It was further added that Euromobil will also be joining the fun selling approved used cars like several other makes in the market. In October, the Audi Approved Plus programme will commence operations. Dato’ Sri Khamil said, “With the opening of this centre, it offers the finest selection of pre-owned cars at attractive retail pricing and the confidence that all vehicles have undergone a stringent safety and mechanical 110-point check, complete with proper road-test by qualified Audi engineers.”

A new 3S centre will also be opening in Taman Tun Dr Ismail in 2012, and talks are also in progress for the possibility of CKD assembly of Audi vehicles in DRB-Hicom’s plant in Pekan in a number of years. It should be noted however, that even if this plan comes to fruition, an Audi CKD programme would be operated and managed separately from the Volkswagen CKD programme that DRB-Hicom has already secured. This is because the Volkswagen Group manages all its marques as separate business and legal entities.


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