CLOSE
Page 901

by -

Kuala Lumpur, 25 March 2005 – The MINI Convertible made its debut in Malaysia today. At long last, MINI lovers will have the option of going topless in their favourite car. The ragtop is fully automatic, and takes all of 15 seconds to convert from soft-top to open top at the touch of a button. There are no clamps or catches that need to be manually released in advance. A kind of Z-shaped mechanism cleverly folds the top neatly into the rear of the MINI. An additional feature is that the top can be opened partially, somewhat like a ‘sunroof’ for those who do not want the top to be fully lowered.

Sukainah Osman, MINI Manager, BMW Malaysia, said at the unveiling, “The challenge for the engineering team for the MINI Convertible was to add the open air factor to this fun and emotional icon. Their success in this area has made the design of the MINI Convertible not merely functional, but emotional as well; utilizing design principles to bring a fresh new experience to MINI. For example, the steeply raked windscreen and the optimum seating position enjoyed by the driver ensure an unforgettable open air experience when driving with the roof down.”

The two models available, the MINI Cooper Convertible and MINI Cooper S Convertible are both powered by proven engines of 1.6 litre capacity. The MINI Cooper S Convertible comes with a supercharger for more grunt. The supercharged engine has an output of 170 bhp at 6000 rpm, and 220 Nm of torque at 4000 rpm. The naturally aspirated Cooper, in contrast, has an output of 115 bhp at 6000 rpm and 150 NM of torque at 4500 rpm.

The Cooper is fitted with a Constantly Variable Transmission (CVT) while the Cooper S comes with a 6-speed manual transmission. The legendary go-kart type of handling is retained, working well with a very stiff body-shell and independent suspension, automatic stability and traction control (ASC+T) as well as Dynamic Stability Control (DSC). In addition there is Cornering Brake Control (CBC), disc brakes on all four wheels, ABS, and EBD. Suffice to say, the MINI Convertible is packed with goodies.

In addition, the MINI also has an integrated safety system comprising of active and passive safety systems, including ‘intelligent’ dual front airbags, and dual side airbags.

MINI fans will be delighted to know that there are ten exciting colours to choose from, enough to suit most people’s individual preferences.

Interior-wise, both the MINI Cooper Convertible and the MINI Cooper S Convertible are fitted with exclusive materials to match its classy exterior. High quality textile materials and surfaces give the interior special harmony and balance. The dashboard and door linings are available in Silver for the MINI Cooper, and Alloy Patina for the MINI Cooper S. The seat upholstery is available in ‘Octagon’ cloth and leather combination for the MINI Cooper while the MINI Cooper S is dressed in ‘Gravity’ leather.

While they were beefing up the performance specs under the hood and in the suspension, the engineers also decided to go whole hog on the rest of the features, making the MNI a very well stacked machine. Standard equipment include Xenon headlights (MINI Cooper S Convertible), a high quality Harmon/Kardon HiFi audio system (MINI Cooper S Convertible), a heated rear window, automatic air conditioning, a wind deflector, light alloy wheels, a multi-function steering wheel, a rain sensor and an interior mirror complete with anti-dazzle function.

The new MINI Convertible will be available from the authorized dealers nationwide beginning 26th March 2005. Retail prices (on-the-road without insurance) for the MINI Cooper Convertible are RM184, 800.00 and RM223, 800.00 for the Mini Cooper S Convertible.

1 of 4

by -

Ford Ranger 4 by 2 – Pay Only For What You Use

Petaling Jaya, 24 March 2005 – Ford Malaysia unveiled the 2-Wheel Drive Ford Ranger at the One-Utama shopping complex today. Being the pioneer responsible for transforming pick-up trucks from commercial vehicles into lifestyle vehicles in the late 1990s with the Courier and later the popular Ranger, Ford today treads new ground with the launch of the 4 by 2 model.

The new 4 by 2 Ford Ranger comes with an automatic transmission, and carries with it the updated features for the Ford Ranger line-up for 2005. These include new headlight and tail light designs, two additional colours (lime green, and purple), and a host of dress-up accessories and look good parts to suit just about every pocketbook and individual preference.

With the 4 by 2 model, Ford Malaysia aims to cater to those who want the ruggedness of the Ford Ranger, but do not really need the 4 by 4 functions. With its high ground clearance, tough suspension and rugged tyres, the Ranger 4 by 2 can easily tackle rough terrain or dirt roads without any problem. Considering that the road system in our country is one of the best in the region, the Ranger 4 by 2 seems to make sense. The buyer thus pays only for what he uses, as opposed to buying other makes and having to pay for 4-wheel drive when you don’t really need it.

Externally, the Ranger 4 by 2 looks exactly the same as the 4 by 4 Ranger model, the only giveaway being the high/low range gear change lever beside the standard gearshift lever

Speaking at the launch, Mike Pease, the Managing Director of Ford Malaysia, said, “There is now a complete range of pick-ups to fit the need of customers. We are confident that the Ranger will fulfill the need of customers who want to own a real truck.”

Price on the road without insurance for the Ranger 4 by 2 Automatic is RM81, 888.00 versus RM88, 766.40 for the Ranger 4 by 4 Automatic, representing almost RM8k worth of savings. For those interested in viewing the vehicles, the entire range will be on display at the One-Utama shopping complex untill Sunday the 27th of March 2005.

1 of 4

by -

Kuala Lumpur – Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) rewarded the top Sales Consultants and Service Advisors for their outstanding performance for 2004 at the “Customer for Life” 2005 Awards held at The Westin Kuala Lumpur recently.

Rajendran Muniandy, a sales consultant for Federal Auto Cars Kuala Lumpur was awarded the top Sales Excellence Awards, whilst Kandasamy Ramasamy from Swedish Marque Sdn Bhd emerged champion in the Service Excellence Award category. Swedish Marque Sdn Bhd won the overall Volvo Dealer Excellence Award.

The “Customer For Life” Awards is part of the Customer For Life (CFL) initiative that involves a continuous tracking study to identify and measure customer satisfaction. The CFL study is important because VCM is not only interested in selling cars, but even more interested in ensuring that customers are satisfied with the service they receive. Initiated in 2000, the results are based on interviews and feedback from Volvo owners at all dealerships through Malaysia. The CFL research focuses on both sales and after-sales experience of the customer.

Ms. How Wei Thing, Managing Director of Volvo Cars Malaysia said, “As part of Volvo Car Corporation’s goal to be number one in customer satisfaction, we are continuously striving for excellence in customer service, and naturally customers’ feedback on their ownership experience is crucial in order for us to constantly improve our performance.”

“This study has helped us to monitor the key attributes that lead to high customer satisfaction, and we have used it to identify our strengths and also address our weaknesses. The CFL scores have improved significantly to as much as 15% in 2004 as compared to the year before, for sales, and 10% for after-sales,” she added.

The CFL is also an incentive programme to motivate dealers, sales consultants and service advisors to improve their level of customer service. Through the CFL race, the Sales Excellence Awards for top three Sales Consultants, the Service Excellence Awards for the top three Service Advisors, and the Dealer Excellence Award were up for grabs. The winners received cash prizes, Volvo Certificates of Achievement, trophies and a prestigious dinner hosted in their honour.

Other winners for the Sales Excellence Awards were Low Kian Weng from Swedish Marque in 2nd place and Chan Chee Hong from Federal Auto Cars, Penanag in 3rd place. In the Service Excellence Awards, Paramasivam Ramadoss won 2nd place and Nazrin Ahmadin won third. They are both from Swedish Marque.

The winners list for the ‘Customer for Life’ Excellence Awards:

Volvo Dealer Excellence Award : Swedish Marque Sdn Bhd

Sales Excellence Awards
Champion
Rajendran Muniandy (Federal Auto Cars KL)

2nd Place
Low Kian Weng (Swedish Marque)

3rd Place
Chan Chee Hong (Federal Auto Cars Penang)

Service Excellence Awards
Champion
Kandasamy Ramasamy (Swedish Marque)

2nd Place
Paramasivam Ramadoss (Swedish Marque)

3rd Place
Nazrin Ahmad Saruji (Swedish Marque)

by -

YOUNG RACER SCORES PODIUM FOR TAN CHONG MOTOR IN F1 SUPPORT RACE =

Shah Alam, Malaysia – Monday March 21st. 2005 … Seventeen year-old
driver James Russell, in only his second single-seater race, upstaged
several experienced racers to take a podium spot in yesterday’s
“Silverstone Formula Malaysia” F1 Support Race at the Sepang F1
Circuit. James’ entry was made possible by support from Tan Chong
Motor Sdn. Bhd., plus backing for the race from Silverstone Tires.

James’ excellent performance was encouraging given the strength of
the international field, and the fact he was able to participate in
only one brief practice session. But, during Saturday’s practice and
qualifying sessions, his times improved steadily by one second a lap,
and he was able to qualify in fifth at the end of the day. From his
position on the third row of the grid, James unfortunately moved a
fraction of a second too soon as the five red lights went out, and he
was assessed a ten second penalty. But, by obeying frantic signs from
the pit wall to increase his pace, he was able to open up a seventeen
second gap over fourth place finisher Raja Razman.

The top step of the podium, at the end of the ten laps of Sepang’s
awesome 5.44km circuit, was occupied by Australian Charlie Charles,
with Finland’s Mikko Nassi taking second. James was more than happy
to take away the trophy for third place, along with a set of
Silverstone tires, plus a magnum of champagne which he is
unfortunately too young to drink!

At the end of the race, his manager and father Paul Russell commented
“We’re really grateful to Tan Chong Motor for the financial
assistance they have provided. Hopefully more Malaysian companies
will take note of this, and step in to support young drivers. Gaining
a podium placing, we hope, will be a good reward for Tan Chong’s
support” he concluded.

James, who has already experienced many types of motorsport, winning
trophies in karting and rally co-driving, will return to the wheel of
his SR Motorsport Subaru Impreza in less than two weeks’ time.
Competing as a driver in the Malaysian Rally Championship, he will
need to switch his style from the smooth flowing discipline of a race
car driver, to the rather rougher challenges of Malaysia’s gravel
plantation roads. A solid performance should see him move up from his
current third in class placing, hopefully challenging for a class win
by the end of the year. In the Rally Championship James is co-driven
by experienced Englishman Tim Sturla, who is very impressed by James’
potential.

Having a chance to compete in a race as prestigious as the
Silverstone Formula Malaysia support race has helped provide James
with valuable all-round experience, and will enable him to excel in
either a race or rally discipline as his career develops.

1 of 3

by -

New Toyota Hilux – Urbanised & Civilised

Friday 18 March 2005 – UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd, assembler, and distributor of Toyota vehicles in Malaysia launched the new generation of the Toyota Hilux. This is the seventh generation of the tough Toyota Hilux line. First introduced in 1967, it has sold more than 10.5 million units worldwide, and has a reputation for being tough and reliable.

As the world developed, there was a gradual shift towards more urban usage demands, as more and more roads are opened up. The need for ultra-tough 4WD vehicles is slowly diminishing; instead, there is a new group of users who want 4WD vehicles, but with more car-like features and increased comfort, to be used as daily drivers, but can be used for off-road recreation during weekends. The ‘macho’ image projected by the ‘truck-like’ appearance also appeals to many. In fact, the recreational vehicle market is one of the fastest growing segments.

The Toyota Hilux has traditionally been identified as one of the best vehicles for the toughest conditions, and in Malaysia, it has gained great popularity as the vehicle for use in the construction and the logging industry. It was only with the introduction of the (current) outgoing model a couple of years ago that Toyota actually had a vehicle that could compete with the likes of the Ford Ranger and the Mitsubishi Storm on an equal footing. Now with the all-new Hilux, with its very car-like features, a new benchmark has been set, at least in the looks department.

Three variants of the new Hilux are available; the Double-cab versions are available with a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission. A single cab version is available only with a 5-speed manual transmission.

A more rounded shape, with integrated bumpers, a large aggressive looking grill, and combination headlights give the Hilux a totally new character. Pleasant side contours and over-fenders make it less like a workhorse, and more like a recreational vehicle.

The suspension system has been redesigned to reflect the new identified requirements of the Hilux users. The front now features a double wishbone system and coil springs arrangement, while the rear rides on leaf springs to cater for heavy loads. A stabilizer bar is fitted to the front to reduce roll. The Load Sensing & Proportioning Valve (LSPV) is retained, as is the LSD (Limited Slip Differential) for improved traction in wet and muddy conditions.

In the safety department, there is a driver’s side airbag, and an ABS system is standard equipment.

The common rail 2.5 litre diesel turbo engine is a little bit of a disappointment though, with its power rating of a mere102 horsepower at 3,600 rpm, and 260Nm of torque at 1600 to 2400 rpm, although its configuration is DOHC. Noticeably missing is an intercooler, and when queried about this, a spokesman from the company stated that the Hilux engine cannot be fitted with an intercooler because if the quality of the diesel in the country. To be fair, we have not tested the vehicle as yet, this being only a media launch. We should be able to report if the engine power is adequate or not, if and when we get one for a full evaluation.

Size-wise, the new Hilux is higher, wider and longer, and the interior features would look just as at home in a car. No doubt, the fact that this is a Toyota will stand in its favour, and UMW Toyota will stand a very good chance of achieving its 7000 units target for this year.

Prices range from RM88k to RM93k, depending on specifications and registration type.


1 of 4

by -

Sepang, 18 March 2005 – Kimi Raikkonen, as Tag Heuer Ambassador, met his fans at a small gathering at the Pan Pacific Hotel, KLIA, Sepang together with the hosts of the evening, Tag Heuer Regional Managing Director, Mr. Ravi Thakram, and Mr. Jean-Christophe Babin, Tag Heuer president and Chief Executive officer.

Kimi Raikkonen is one of five personalities appointed as Tag Heuer’s 2005 global ambassadors. The others are fellow F1 competitor Juan Pablo Montoya, movie stars Uma Thurman and Brad Pitt, Sports personalities Maria Sharapova and Tiger Woods.

Members of the press and a few lucky members of the public got the rare opportunity to hear what the 25 year old Finnish driver, popularly known as the “Iceman”, had to say about his chances of a win in this Sunday’s Malaysian Grand Prix. Speaking in his familiar unemotional monotone voice, Kimi put it all down to having a reliable and fast car, with tyre choice being critical to his performance. When asked about the unpredictable Malaysian weather and how it may affect his performance, Kimi remarked that he would prefer a dry race, as it would allow him and the others to enjoy the race. He also hoped that he would not be caught out by rain in the qualifying session, as this may mean him starting out behind slower drivers. “It would be difficult for me then, as the slower drivers would slow down my lap times…it will then be difficult for me to get a high placing,” he said.

It was a short meeting, and after twenty minutes or so, he left for his hotel to rest for the next day’s qualifying session. His poor fans who were hoping for a photograph with him, or an autograph went home disappointed. How sad!

1 of 4

by -

Formula One drivers and teams have given strong support to Sepang International Circuit’s (SIC) charity auction of F1 memorabilia, which will be held at the 2005 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix Ice Gala to raise fund for Tsunami victims.

While the Ferrari team has agreed to donate its V10 engine for auctioning, drivers Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello have also donated their 2003 racing suits.

“We will also have the racing gloves of Mark Webber, David Coulthard’s West racing suit, Jarno Truli’s Renault F1 suit and the racing suit of Malaysia’s F1 driver Alex Yoong as well as personal items from Jenson Button and Takuma Sato of the Honda Racing Team,” says SIC chairman Datuk Mokhzani Tun Mahathir.

“There will also be a special Stewart GP race suit worn by Sir Jackie Stewart when he tested the SGP1 car,” added Datuk Mokhzani.

Apart from the F1 memorabilia, other items to be placed under the auctioneer’s hammer would include jewellery and fine watches from Audemars Piquet. They would be putting a special show of their watches and jewellery that night.

“We are working closely with eBay to have these prized items on their website. A complete list of auction items is being compiled and will be posted on the SIC official website, www.malaysiangp.com.my, soon,” he said.

The Charity Auction would be among the highlights of a first ever Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix Ice Gala, which will be held in conjunction with the 2005 Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix.

To be held on March 17 and graced by His Majesty the King and Her Majesty The Queen, the Ice Gala would be attended by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet members, celebrities, socialites, captains of the industry, F1 drivers and team principals and officials from Formula One Management (FOM) and All Sports Management – the commercial arm of FOM.

Malaysia’s famous and most successful film star Datuk Michelle Yeoh would also be attending the Ice Gala, which would be held at the Kuala Lumpur Mandarin Oriental.

True to its name, the night would carry a theme of ice and snow with the hotel Ballroom to be transformed into a spectacular ice garden with cool temperature, mist spray, lighted silver trees, snowflake crystals and blue fairy lights.

With Grammy Award winning jazz diva Diana Krall as the performing artist, CNN anchorwoman Lorraine Hahn as the master of ceremony and an attendance of high profile guests, the F1 promoter hoped that the event would help boost networking the corporate fraternity between Malaysia and its international partners.

“Through the Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix Ice Gala, we hope to create a spectacular, unique and memorable evening of top class hospitality and entertainment hosted by leaders of the Malaysian Government and Malaysia Inc.

“F1 is an opportunity to mix, mingle and communicate with all sorts of people around the world and through this interaction, I believe we can do more to promote Malaysia at every level,” he said.

The F1 Gala Dinner was last organised by SIC in the year 2000 in conjunction with the second edition of the Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix where SIC organized the final round of the season in October.

Malaysia will organize Round 2 of the 2005 Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix from March 18 to 20. The season opens in Melbourne this weekend with the Australian Grand Prix.

by -

Introduction
The ESNA Venera is a sports car that has been designed to offer not only style and exclusivity but also the latest in terms of technology and driver appeal.

ESNASPORTS is committed towards producing technologically advanced lightweight sports cars and have resorted to using the latest in terms of construction technology to achieve this goal.

Carbon fibre composite is the main construction material for Formula One cars because of its lightweight and extraordinary strength and since weight is the biggest enemy of sports cars, the Venere has been designed using the latest weight saving materials including chromoly alloys, aluminium honeycomb and super strong carbon fibre. The car steps into the ring tipping the scales at 1,080kg.

It also features a technologically advanced six-cylinder 3.0 supercharged engine and double wishbone suspension on all four corners to ensure that the driver has the best in terms of power and handling. The projected top speed is 300km/h.

The front-engine and rear-wheel drive layout was chosen because of the inherent advantages the layout offers in terms of balance and packaging.

Design
The Venere has been sculpted to look elegant yet sporting. The graphic of the front design mimics sports cars from the 1930s with its long bonnet and wheelarches that melt into stepping boards.

Bonnet V-Line can be traced from the grille and it widens towards the A-Piller with black air-vent serving aesthetics as well as cooling functions. The headlamps are positioned on the stylized front fenders that end where the side air vents begins.

The side has been kept clean with minimal detailing. The wheel-hugging shoulder line and character line which strokes upwards from the side vents give the car a sense of movement.

The glass area have been kept slim to create a sense of aggression while the roof will also incorporate an unpainted carbon fibre section which gives the impression of the front windscreen extending into the roofline. This helps create a sense of lightness that adds elegance to the shape.

Carbon fibre air splitters are placed in front and under the rear bumper to help manage under body airflow and improve the car’s aerodynamic performance.

The distinctive front projector lamps and unique rear lens help to give the car a sense of completeness where many small-volume producers resort to using minor parts from other manufacturers.

With an expected top speed of 300km/h, the design will undergo wind tunnel testing to validate some of the design hypothesis and this will be done to ensure that the car remains stable even as the vehicle approaches its speed limitations.

The interior will feature the latest in terms of creature comfort and aesthetics. While it cannot be described as spacious in absolute terms, the Venere is spacious when compared to other sports cars.

Engine
The 3.0 motor will enjoy added benefit breathing through a supercharger. While the detail has yet to be finalized, it is expected to have variable valve timing and a high redline.

Power output is expected to be around 300 to 350 bhp and this is considered sufficient to propel the car to a top speed of around 300km/h.

A choice of six-speed manual and automatic gearboxes will allow the driver to choose a car that better suits their driving style and preferences.

Suspension
Double wishbone suspension layout will be used to ensure that the car is endowed with class leading ride and handling characteristics. The very wide tracks front and rear ensures the Venere will attack corners with confidence.

The packaging and suspension tuning for the car will be carried out locally and a well-known international partner is expected to participate in the process.

Construction
In their effort to reduce mass, the car will feature extensive use of carbon fibre, chromoly alloy and aluminium honeycomb.

The body will be made entirely out of carbon fibre and different parts will be made using different techniques, depending on their purpose and the amount of load and stress the parts will have to endure.

Underneath, the chassis will be chromoly spaceframe with carbon fibre passenger tub. The carbon tub will also feature aluminium honeycomb floorpan and the chassis is expected to offer class leading stiffness and rigidity.

1 of 4

by -

Kuala Lumpur, Thursday. Swedish Marque, the delightful new Volvo dealer was declared the best in Malaysia when it comes to customer care. This was officially acknowledged by Volvo’s local distributor Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) when they awarded Swedish Marque the Dealer Excellence Award and with it, the Customer For Life (CFL) Trophy for having the best customer satisfaction results in 2004.

The trophy was presented by VCM’s Managing Director How Wei Thing to Swedish Marque’s General Manager Pang Cheong Yan at an awards dinner held recently in Kuala Lumpur.

Apart from winning the overall Dealer Excellence Award, Swedish Marque also swept all three individual Service Excellence Awards and achieved 2nd placing for the Sales Excellence Award.

In his acceptance speech Pang said that the award was particularly special considering how new the dealership was. “We are very honoured that the customers have rated us the best. This is a tremendous achievement considering this is our first full year of operation and most of our staff were new to the business,” he said.

Significantly, all the individual award winners from Swedish Marque have had no prior automotive industry experience and Pang attributed the company’s success to the single-minded attitude of making service excellence a way of life.

“When we started operations, we wanted people who looked at high customer expectations as an opportunity rather than a challenge and winning the award for best dealership and sweeping four of the top six awards for best individuals is testimony that having the right attitude was paramount to achieving service excellence,” he said.

The customer satisfaction measurements are conducted by an independent body appointed by Volvo Car Malaysia to track satisfaction levels of customers who visit dealerships.

“The awards that Swedish Marque garnered were truly the voice of confidence by customers who acknowledged that Swedish Marque is indeed the best place to buy and maintain Volvo cars,” said Cheong Yan.

However, Pang stressed that the winning of the top dealership is only an acknowledgement of the past and there will need to be further effort to push the envelop for the future. “What was delightfully different will become run-of-the-mill. We need to challenge and renew ourselves as the road to service excellence begins with sincerity and integrity followed by hard work and dedication for the long haul,” he concluded.

1 of 1

by -

Takuma Sato, BAR Honda driver, is one of two Asians now in Formula 1, the other being newcomer Narain Karthikeyan in the Jordan team. Sato has the better chance to get onto the podium, being more experienced, and in a much faster car. There was a time last year when it looked like he would be the first Asian to win a Formula 1 race, but a blown engine put paid to that.

For this Sunday’s race, Malaysians will be rooting for Sato to win, and at the Honda pre-race party two nights ago, Sato made a solemn promise that he would do his level best. Having withdrawn from the race before its completion in Melbourne, the team will be starting the Malaysian Grand Prix with brand new engines, while everyone else will be running engines that are one race old.

Sato, a naturally friendly person, interacted well with the audience at the Honda Pre Race party, and appeared very confident about his chances. He was certainly a lot different from the time I saw him two years ago, when he first started driving for the BAR Honda team. His English has improved tremendously, and he is not as nervous.

The BAR Honda cars have been more competitive, and with the implications of this year’s new regulations still unclear, the field is wide open. All the old calculations and permutations regarding tyres, pit stops and fuel strategy have to be thrown out of the window, and the team that adapts quickest to the new conditions will benefit most. One might say that the playing field is a little more level now. Here’s wishing good luck to Sato-san. Go out there and do us proud.

1 of 4
Prev1...900901902...1,038Next Page 901 of 1,038
-->

NEW CAR LAUNCHES

TEST DRIVES & REVIEWS

Automotive News