kereta myvi

The problem with Proton

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 23:20:00 +0000

Once we realise that people and productivity come first, it will be easier to solve the myriad headaches facing the car industry in general and Proton in particular.

THE problem with Proton Holdings Bhd is that it feels that Malaysia owes it a living. It wants to continue to make profits at the expense of Malaysians. It does not realise that 25 years is too old for it to be babied.

And now it wants to marry its competitor, Perodua or Perusuhaan Otomobil Kedua, which has surpassed Proton in sales and become number one, so that its future will be sort of assured by larger scale and access to a foreign partner.

But Perodua is a reluctant bride and its top management has openly, and understandably, expressed opposition against the merger because it gives no benefit to Perodua while being potentially rather harmful.

A forced marriage is a recipe for disaster, and it is high time that the Government stood up and took notice of these objections and examined clearly how irrational the reasons are for the proposed merger. The reality of the situation is that Proton, or for that matter any other Malaysian manufacturer, including Perodua, is unable to have the scale and technological expertise to be a viable world manufacturer of cars on its own.

That leaves Proton with no other choice but to find a technological partner, or merge with a reputable, large manufacturer. The first alternative would mean that it will never become competitive and will rely on the partner for its survival.

The second alternative, the only viable one, was very near to completion a few years ago when it was completing a deal with the world's fourth largest car company Volkswagen in 2007 (and again earlier this year) but the deal was scuttled at the last minute by vested interests.

If that deal had materialised, Proton would have been well on the road to a bright future full of promise as Volkswagen geared all Proton's excess capacity up to become a regional manufacturer.

By now, Malaysians and South East Asians could be driving the Volkswagen engineered cars at a fraction of their current price.

We could have seen the local parts manufacturing industry getting a boost from increased volumes and expertise from the German manufacturer which helped the Czech manufacturer Skoda become a major automotive power in a relatively short period of time.

The price to be paid would have been to surrender majority control of Proton to Volkswagen, but even there arrangements could have been made to keep Malaysian distribution and service operations under local majority control (as with Perodua) and let Volkswagen take majority control of manufacturing and regional operations.

That would have been win-win for both parties but pride and vested interests dictated otherwise. Since then the attractiveness of Proton and what it has to offer has diminished in the eyes of international car companies and the national car manufacturer has been unable to strike a deal with any of them.

Proton realises that it is in desperate straits because its local, home-grown models have been unimpressive, as a result of which it lost the lead to the much more reliable Perodua with its popular Myvi range of models. Perodua has not looked back since.

But the baby still wants its milk and now it is looking to Perodua to mother it and provide it with a badly needed lifeline after it desperately did a deal with Mitsubishi to re-badge the Lancer as the Inspira hardly inspiring stuff.

Now it is turning the screws on Perodua and is applying pressure for a merger. Perodua has built itself a successful niche operation with technological help from Toyota-controlled Daihatsu and has become a regional manufacturer of sorts. Its models are more in demand simply because quality and performance is better than Proton's.

It is a merger that Perodua clearly does not want. But will it have a choice at the end of the day? Both Proton and Perodua are essentially controlled by the Government or by Government-linked companies, with only Perodua's manufacturing operations under Japanese control.

The Japanese, through Toyota and Mitsui and Co, can raise their objections here, especially since Toyota has already more or less made its regional plans here in Indonesia, Thailand and elsewhere.

Malaysia lost out because of yes, Proton and a terribly flawed National Automotive Policy which favours inefficient local manufacturers and assemblers and some favoured franchise operators who rely on approved permits for their trade.

The business solution is very clear wean the Proton baby off, and ensure that the punitive import duties on cars are progressively removed so that Malaysians don't have to subsidise the profits of the likes of Protons and can enjoy cheaper cars.

Perodua is likely to survive that move as it has a solid technological and equity relationship with Daihatsu and is fast becoming a regional manufacturer but Proton will have to merge or go extinct. The sooner Proton is weaned off the faster it will see its predicament and sort something out.

Surely that solution cannot be pulling under the water another perfectly well established national car project which is currently flourishing under the only workable model under which a national car project will survive.

Proton lost its chance with Volkswagen. Let it go out there and find an alliance with a world manufacturer like Perodua did a while ago. Let it leave Perodua well alone.

>Managing editor P. Gunasegaram says we should not throw good companies after bad.

MYVI Exclusive Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:28:00 +0000

Perodua has launched yet another variant of MYVi. It's called Exclusive Edition. Among its features are :

Automatic Transmission [EZi] only
3 colours [Medallion Grey, Ebony Black, and Ivory White]
Leather seats and steering wheel
Chrome door handles
5,000 units available

It's a case of Premium meets Special Edition MYVi. Go check it now, the funk soul brother!

Police Shoot Dead Ex-Convict

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:20:00 +0000

KEMAMAN, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- A man who was released from prison about two months ago, was shot dead by police when he tried to mow down a policeman with a stolen car at the 135km Jalan Kuala Terengganu-Kuantan last night.

The dead man's 22-year-old accomplice who was also in the car, sustained a gunshot wound in the shoulder and was warded in a stable condition at the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital in Kuantan.

Seized from the car were several parangs and knives, believed to have been used during break-ins at homes.

The police did not identify the dead man.

The incident occured near a lemang stall at Kampung Geliga in Kijal about 11.50pm.

State CID chief ACP Mohd Fuazi Abduri said on Monday that the ex-convict had seven criminal records, including house break-ins and car thefts, while the accomplice was linked to hold-ups.

Following a report that a Perodua MyVi which was reported stolen in Kuantan was spotted in Kampung Geliga, he said a police team arrived at the scene and saw two men seated inside the vehicle.

Despite repeated requests to alight from the car, the duo refused.

The ex-convict who was in the driver's seat, reversed the car, hitting a parked motorcycle before driving it forward, almost hitting one of the policemen.

Fuazi said, at that juncture, the police fired a shot in the direction of the car, killing the ex-convict on the spot and injuring his accomplice.

-- BERNAMA

1Malaysia F1 Team To Compete In Race Next Year, Says PM

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:22:00 +0000

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 15 (Bernama) -- The 1Malaysia F1 Team, a joint venture between the government and private sectors in the country, will participate in the F1 race beginning next year, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced Tuesday.

The Prime Minister said the project involved the combined expertise of Proton and Lotus with the support of the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM), Naza Motor and Air Asia.

Najib, who is also the Finance Minister I, told reporters when making the announcement at the Finance Ministry that leading corporate figures such as Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes, Datuk Kamarudin Meranun and S.M Nasarudin S.M Nasimuddin were also involved in the initiative.

"This is the Malaysian team. The car was designed at the SIC, manufactured at the SIC, tested at the SIC and the car is Malaysian-made. Even the pit stop team consists of Malaysians," he said.

He said the 1Malaysia Team would identify a suitable Malaysian driver, adding that the project could lift the country's image in the international arena. Najib said the FIA had received Malaysia's application to participate in the World F1 Championship next year.

Asked on the budget and the total investment by the government, Najib said: "The Malaysian government's investment is through Proton".

Najib said the project was not a waste because it would provide a strong marketing element to the country when it competed in the F1 championship.

"If we want to export the Proton, we must ensure that the brand is strong. There is a strong element of marketing.

It is not merely a sporting activity because there is an element of marketing for Proton and Malaysia while at the same time, the Air Asia and Naza brand names can be popularised," he said.

According to a press release issued by a local public relations company for the 1Malaysia F1 Team, the national team will be based at SIC. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Universiti Petronas as well as Composite Technology Research Malaysia (CTRM), a leading local composite manufacturing expert, have already been engaged to participate in the project.

The statement said the national F1 team would integrate the Malaysian technical and pit crew totaling 200 people to be managed by one of Formula One's most respected technical director, Mike Gascoyne.

He had already recruited a core team of international experts with proven record in the various engineering, design and manufacturing disciplines needed to ensure that the 1Malaysia F1 team was of international standard, readiness and capable of competing with the world's greatest drivers.

Currently, six local and international drivers have been shortlisted for evaluation and the team is expected to announce its two drivers by end of next month.

The statement quoted Najib as saying that the country's participation in Formula One with the national team had far reaching objectives, mainly the advancement of the country's automotive industry development from the technological aspect including initiatives in green technology.

"By establishing our racing centre within the country, we hope to also attract more foreign investments and the best technical minds which, in turn, will spur the growth of our automotive industry where we hope to see more R&D into lighter, safer and more cost-effective cars," he said.

"We further anticipate higher commitment by organisations and attendance by individuals during the F1 Petronas Malaysian GP which will be coupled with increased tourism related returns," Najib said.

He said by creating a national F1 team, the country was taking its motor sports to its pinnacle, thus ensuring its place in this internationally embraced sports that had scaled the heights of entertainment.

The 1Malaysia F1 Team takes its name from the "1Malaysia - People First, Performance Now" policy mooted by Najib in June this year as the unifying foundation for all Malaysians to come together in celebrating its cooperation among it multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious society for the betterment of the nation.

Petronas, the national oil giant, has also made advancement in this arena via its sponsorship of the BMW-Sauber Team for the last four years.

The setting up of the national team is a natural progression to increase the country's returns from investment in Formula One.

-- BERNAMA

Perodua Offers Great Value With Slow Depreciation Figures

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:48:00 +0000

Parker's annual depreciation report proves that Perodua continues to provide great value cars as two of its three models appear in the top ten slowest depreciating cars .

The Perodua Myvi provides fantastic value for money without compromising on specification with air conditioning, central locking, four electric windows, electric mirrors, power steering, dual airbags and ABS/EBD all as standard. With a generous £1,000 cash back still on offer, the Perodua Myvi is available from as little as £6,599. Achieving as much as 58.8mpg on the extra urban cycle along with a low insurance group and vehicle excise duty, the Perodua Myvi provides all round great value for money.

The Perodua range also includes the Kenari mini-MPV available from only £5,499 with a continued £500 cash back offer.

With many people looking to down size vehicles and reduce their costs in the present economic climate, Perodua provides the ideal low cost solution for today's motorists.

Proton In Discussion On Strategic Partnership

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:03:00 +0000

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 (Bernama) -- Proton Holdings Bhd today confirmed that it was in discussion on forming a strategic partnership but refused to name the other party.

"The discussion is ongoing; I don't want to comment with which party," managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said after breaking fast with journalists here.

According to a newsreport, Proton was in discussion with Volkswagen AG, Europe's largest carmaker.

On Tuesday, Volkswagen group was reported planning to make Malaysia as its sourcing hub for auto parts and CKD (completely-knocked down) assembly with a local automaker.

Yesterday, Proton advisor Tun Dr Mahathir said Proton needed a strategic partnership with an international automotive company to upgrade the standard of national car.

-- BERNAMA

Perodua MyVi

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:30:00 +0000

This Malaysian supermini is one of the great unsung heroes of the small-car scene. When it first appeared in September 2006 it cost a shade under £7,000 new, and today a 20,000-mile 1.3 SX will set you back just £4,000.

Cheap doesn’t mean miserly or miserable, however, for with any Myvi you get antilock braking with electronic brakeforce distribution, remote central locking, two front airbags, a CD player, four electric windows and air-conditioning as standard.

It’s not all Perodua’s own handiwork, though, as this hatchback is based on the Daihatsu Sirion, and nestling beneath its bonnet is a 1.3-litre petrol engine from the Toyota Yaris. It’s the only Myvi engine, and a good one at that. Producing 87bhp, this 16-valve unit is quite lively, with a 0-60mph time of 11sec, though the figure that really counts is the near-50mpg for overall fuel economy.

Drivers who prefer doing without a clutch pedal are catered for, incidentally, as the Myvi was offered with a four-speed automatic gearbox as well as the standard five-speed manual.

While some buyers may be disappointed by the lack of alloy wheels, the standard wheel trims are smart, and the Myvi includes upmarket features such as LED brake lights and external mirrors with built-in indicators .

On the road the Myvi’s softly sprung suspension gives a smooth, comfortable ride, and providing you don’t mind a fair amount of body roll and laughably low grip, you can make a case for the car being “amusing” to drive in a spirited fashion. The engine is sweet, only getting noisy when pushed hard, but wind noise can be tiring at speed.

The smart grey-and-silver dashboard feels decidedly more upmarket than the car’s price tag suggests, and the standard stereo unit has large, clear buttons and provides pretty reasonable sound quality. In terms of practicality, there are two useful cupholders and two bottle holders, boot volume is a reasonable 255 litres, and the uneven-split rear seat folds to make a flat 630-litre load area.

The Myvi, which comes with a three-year/36,000-mile warranty and requires servicing every year or 10,000 miles, manages to embarrass more mainstream competition, not just by being such excellent value, but because it’s good to drive and cheap to own too.

Could this be the best-value used supermini you can buy? Well, it certainly presents a strong case for itself.

NEED TO KNOW

Air-Conditioning

Standard on all models, but check its operation, because if it doesn’t blow icy-cold, it may well need recharging

Bumpers

The body-coloured bumpers scuff a little bit too readily

Dealers

As there are only 70 Perodua dealers in the UK, you might have to travel some distance for a service, which is required every 12 months or every 10,000 miles, whichever occurs first

Reversing sensors

Standard on automatic versions, these were a £95 option on manual cars

Seats

Cloth upholstery trim in light colours is all too easily stained

Steering Wheel

The lack of adjustment for either reach or rake is quite an omission

VITAL STATISTICS

Model Perodua Myvi 1.3SXi
Engine 1298cc, four cylinders
Power 87bhp
Transmission Five-speed manual
Fuel 48.7mpg (combined)
Acceleration 0-62mph: 11.3sec
Top Speed 106mph
CO2 137g/km
Road tax BAND E (£120 a year)

THE ONE TO BUY

A 2007 57 Perodua Myvi 1.3SXi with 20,000 miles on the clock. Pay £4,825 at a dealer or £4,300 privately

OR FOR SIMILAR MONEY

2003 03 Toyota Yaris 1.3 VVTi CDX 2005 05 Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 Design

2005 55 Peugeot 107 1.0 Urban

2006 55 Daihatsu Sirion 1.3 SE

2006 55 Renault Clio 1.4 Expression

OWNER’S VIEW

“My friends thought I was mad to buy a Myvi, but I’m having the last laugh.”

Claire Blake, Plymouth

Perodua to see better sales in Q3

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:39:00 +0000

The coming festive season is likely to see increased sales in the third quarter of this year for Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd, the sales and distribution arm of Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd.

Perodua sold 77,000 cars in the first six months of this year, and expects better sales in the second half of 2009.

It is also understood that the upcoming launch of its multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) will also propel further the company's vehicle sales.

"The MPV will be launched in November and bookings will start in October," said Perodua Sales Director Ahmad Suhaimi Mohd Anuar in Kuala Lumpur today.

He was speaking to reporters after presenting the grand prize of a 1,100cc Perodua ViVA to university student Azizi Abdul Aziz who emerged winner in the "Jelajah 11 Era Bersama Perodua" competition organised jointly by Perodua and Airtime Management & Programming Sdn Bhd.

Perodua ViVA is the second most saleable car in Malaysia, after Perodua Myvi, with 68,000 units sold in 2008.

Since its launch in 2007, Perodua sold 157,000 units of the ViVA.
-- Bernama

Perodua To See Better Sales In Third Quarter

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:33:00 +0000

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- The coming festive season is likely to see increased sales in the third quarter of this year for Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd, the sales and distribution arm of Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd.

Perodua sold 77,000 cars in the first six months of this year, and expects better sales in the second half of 2009.

It is also understood that the upcoming launch of its multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) will also propel further the company's vehicle sales.

"The MPV will be launched in November and bookings will start in October," said Perodua Sales Director Ahmad Suhaimi Mohd Anuar here Thursday.

He was speaking to reporters after presenting the grand prize of a 1,100cc Perodua ViVA to university student Azizi Abdul Aziz who emerged winner in the "Jelajah 11 Era Bersama Perodua" competition organised jointly by Perodua and Airtime Management & Programming Sdn Bhd.

Perodua ViVA is the second most saleable car in Malaysia, after Perodua Myvi, with 68,000 units sold in 2008.

Since its launch in 2007, Perodua sold 157,000 units of the ViVA.

-- BERNAMA

Tun Mahathir Returns To Proton After Four And A Half Years

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:47:00 +0000

SHAH ALAM, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- Proton founder and adviser Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Thursday made a return to the country's first car manufacturing plant after four and a half years.

The former Prime Minister said he was happy to be back as the plant brought him nostalgia at a time when Proton was just starting out.

"I am happy to be back at the plant which manufactured the country's first Proton car in 1985. It has been 27 years since then, not many businesses can remain that long," he said at a break of fast with Proton staff here Thursday.

Tun Mahathir said the government established Proton as it had confidence in the country's ability although certain quarters were sceptical while some made fun of it.

"I can still recall a comic sketch of the Proton car with a bullock cart roof. However, when the first car was unveiled and I drove it, many people gave it the thumbs up."

He said Proton's pre-tax profit of RM64 million for first quarter of 2009 showed that it was capable of competing in the local and international markets.

Proton would also contribute towards making Malaysia achieve developed nation status by 2020.

-- BERNAMA

Perodua Myvi

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:21:00 +0000

Dimensions & Weight 1.3 GHS
Transmission = 5MT
Overall length / width / height (mm) = 3760 / 1665 / 1550
Interior length / width / height (mm) = 1835 / 1400 / 1270
Wheelbase (mm) = 2440
Track front / rear (mm) = 1455 / 1465
Minimum road clearance (mm) = 160
Kerb weight (kg) = 945
Seating capacity = 5
Min. turning radius (m) = 4.7

Engine 1.3 GHS
Engine model = K3-VE
Engine type = Water-Cooled, 4-Cycle, In-line 4-cylinder
Valve mechanism = DVVT DOHC
Total displacement (cc) = 1298
Bore x stroke (mm) = 72 x 79.7
Compression ratio = 10
Max. output (DIN) (kW/rpm) = 64 / 6000
Max. torque (DIN) (Nm/rpm) = 116 / 3200
Fuel System = EFI
Fuel tank capacity (litres) = 40.0

Chassis 1.3 GHS
Steering type = Rack & pinion
Main brakes (Booster equipped)
Front = Disc Brake with Booster (ventilated)
Rear = Drums (leading & trailing)
Parking brake = Mechanically operating on rear wheels
Suspension
Front = MacPherson strut with coil spring
Rear = Torsion beam with coil spring
Tyres = 175 / 65 R14
Spare tyres = T115 / 70 D14

Exterior 1.3 GHS
Headlamp = Black painted finishing
Front bumper = Integrated with fog lamps
UV protected glass = yes
Side mirrors = With side turn signal
Rear Bumper = With rear reflector
Door visor = yes
Rear combination lamp = Smoke clear with LED type stop lamp
Rear spoiler = yes
Disc wheels = 14" Alloy rim with new surface treatment
Side Skirting = yes

Interior 1.3 GHS
Optitron meter combination = Red coloured
Seat fabric = Leather with red stitching
Steering wheel = 3-spoke leather-wrapped
Gear shift bezel = no
Gear knob = Leather knob & cover shifting hole with red stitching
Electric side mirrors = yes
Center cluster = Silver painted
Sun visor = With card holder (driver`s side) and vanity mirror (passenger`s side)
Seat back pocket = Driver & passenger `s seats
Under seat tray = yes

Comfort 1.3 GHS
Audio = 2-DIN radio CD-player with MP3/WMA, USB & Bluetooth
Speakers = 4 Speakers
Integrated seat height adjuster = yes
Reverse sensor = yes
Assist grip = yes
Tilt steering = yes
Power door lock (Central locking) = yes
Power window (4 points) = yes
Adjustable seat belt anchor = yes
Shooping hook = yes

Safety & Security 1.3 GHS
Dual SRS airbags = Driver & passenger
ABS with EBD & BA = yes
Anti-theft device (Immobiliser) = yes

Accessories 1.3 GHS
Luggage tray = yes
Carpet mat = High grade coil mat (red & black colour)
Tool kit bag = yes
Scuff plate = yes
Safety triangle = yes
License plate holder = yes

Perodua MPV D46T

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:37:00 +0000

Finally! Perodua has confirmed the release of all New Perodua MPV in November this year.

Perodua we never failed in her new car as a marketable and value for money car Perodua myvi.

Car is selling at RM65k and has the new proto Exora hit really bad.

Perodua MPV is required to qualify with a 1.5 liter engine as the Toyota Vios and Toyota Avanza.

The new Perodua MPV will be based on Toyota Passo Sette and about 80% of their similarity Outlook.

Some pictures of the new Perodua MPV.

The color of the seats and dashboard is like the Vios G spec.
Creamy colored seats.

Armrests are available.

Panel meter is located in the center of the Toyota Vios removed. The steering wheel is a new design with multifunction buttons.

To DO radio with Bluetooth support. The composer is used exactly the same as Vios.

The gearshift is on the dashboard like a luxury minivan, the change of velocity is established.

Made me to make sure that the car?

A picture below tell everything.
Take a look behind the LCD screen."Akan tiba November ini"=Coming soon on November.

Nice or not... may be cool

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:09:00 +0000

my friend Myvi 1.0 2005 converted to Toyota Passo Racy with YRV 1.3(K3VET) engine.Engine already complete endorse with JPJ..i will list down the item at the car below:

1- YRV engine
2-colum shift gear with triptonic
3- meter YRV
4-boost meter Apexi
5-turbo timer
6-shift light
7-WORK 16" INCH SPORT RIMS
8-body part passo racy
9- 4disk brake abs control
10-kulit pintu passo
11-karpet bumbung passo
12-carpet passo
13-seat FTO depan n seat belakang balut kusyen sama dgn seat depan
14-DVD player baru psg seminggu sebelum ambik ,JVC sun visor DVD player ,2 unit amp,subwoofer and 2 speaker

Perodua Myvi

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 10:07:00 +0000

You may never have heard of the Perodua Myvi, but this Malaysian supermini is one of the great unsung heroes of the small-car scene. When it first appeared in September 2006 it cost a shade under £7,000 new, and today a 20,000-mile 1.3 SX will set you back just £4,000.

Drivers who prefer doing without a clutch pedal are catered for, incidentally, as the Myvi was offered with a four-speed automatic gearbox as well as the standard five-speed manual.

Could this be the best-value used supermini you can buy? Well, it certainly presents a strong case for itself.

NEED TO KNOW

Air-Conditioning

Standard on all models, but check its operation, because if it doesn’t blow icy-cold, it may well need recharging

Bumpers

The body-coloured bumpers scuff a little bit too readily

Dealers

As there are only 70 Perodua dealers in the UK, you might have to travel some distance for a service, which is required every 12 months or every 10,000 miles, whichever occurs first

Reversing sensors

Standard on automatic versions, these were a £95 option on manual cars

Seats

Cloth upholstery trim in light colours is all too easily stained

Steering Wheel

The lack of adjustment for either reach or rake is quite an omission

VITAL STATISTICS

THE ONE TO BUY

A 2007 57 Perodua Myvi 1.3SXi with 20,000 miles on the clock. Pay £4,825 at a dealer or £4,300 privately

OR FOR SIMILAR MONEY

2003 03 Toyota Yaris 1.3 VVTi CDX 2005 05 Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 Design

2005 55 Peugeot 107 1.0 Urban

2006 55 Daihatsu Sirion 1.3 SE

2006 55 Renault Clio 1.4 Expression

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 06:54:00 +0000

Road Test - Perodua Myvi 1.3 EZ (A)

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:14:00 +0000

The Perodua Myvi was and is an important development for Perodua. No, not because it's something radically new. And it doesn't take a genius to tell you that it's a re-badged Toyota Passo and Daihatsu Sirion.

But this is important. The Myvi is the sixth Perodua made in Malaysia over its 10-year lifespan. It demonstrates the second Malaysian national carmaker's effectiveness in teaming with international companies such as Daihatsu, in this case, in order to bring about a higher quality, affordable product to the local masses.

So it's all good then, this business of badge engineering. Proton started off this way and Perodua had the Daihatsu Mira manufactured under license for Malaysians as well (read: Kancil).

Slowly building confidence under mentorship by Japanese engineers, the engineers at Perodua were able to dole out a big facelift to the Kancil by the end of the 1990s, and public demand further boosted their confidence. But their desire to upgrade to a bigger car meant that Perodua lost out to in sales to its competitors.

Great timing then, that during the 2002-2005 period, Daihatsu restructured a major part of Perodua's manufacturing operations - a move which enabled Perodua to play a bigger part in planning its product line. This also meant that it would be actively involved in this new model's joint venture, playing a critical role with the input of information, much like what was the case with the Peugeot-Citroen-Toyota joint venture that created the 107, C1 and Aygo respectively.

That's how Perodua got a fair share of the Myvi, and in a big step forward from the past too. In typical early Proton fashion, Perodua would have only received the final design brief, of which allowed only minor cosmetic modifications to be made so their product would be remotely "more unique."

The other benefit of this joint venture in design and manufacture would be the inevitable application of stringent Japanese-like quality control measures. Perodua claims that out of 10 Myvis produced, only 2 are found to be defective, a much easier figure to stomach when compared to the last time they released those figures some years back.

That's not particularly fantastic when compared to cars actually produced on Japanese soil, but it is of course, a vast improvement for Malaysia. Moreover, Perodua has claimed to monitor and improve on the consistency of these levels.

Myvi symbol of successful Malaysia-Japan ties

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:33:00 +0000

The Perodua Myvi is a symbol of the successful cooperation between Malaysia and Japan in the automotive industry, Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Masahiko Horie said.

He said the Myvi was launched on May 25, 2005 and within just two years had become the Malaysian Car of The Year.

"What is interesting about the Myvi is that it is the perfect joint-venture cooperation between Malaysia and Japan," he said in an interview.

Horie disclosed how in order to realise the Myvi project, 500 Malaysian experts were sent to Japan to learn to make a better and innovative car.

The experts, he said, spent 2½ years to produce the design for the Myvi.

"It was entirely a product of Japanese and Malaysian experts working together to create the Myvi design," Horie said.

He added that the prototype for the Myvi was the Dahaitsu Boon.

He said that 80 per cent of the spare parts for the Myvi were locally made.

"The Perodua Myvi is a very good example of what cooperation between Japan and Malaysia can achieve.

"This MAJAICO (Malaysia-Japan Automotive Industry Cooperation) project has also been appreciated by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry or MITI, which is very grateful for the assistance of the Japanese experts.

"I hope the cooperation between Japan and Malaysian in the automotive sector can be further expanded so that more, better selling and quality cars can be produced in future," Horie said.

He said an economic partnership agreement (EPA) was signed between Malaysia and Japan three years ago and 10 different committees were established to improve and enhance the business environment in both countries.

According to Horie, one of the important committees was MAJAICO, which is composed of many different components.

To promote the Malaysian automotive industry and make it more competitive while producing better quality products, he said Japan had sent over 15 experts.

"They were despatched to the different automotive companies. They were also assigned to manufacturers producing spare parts for Perodua, Proton and other car makers like Toyota and Mitsubishi.

"We did this in cooperation with the Small and Medium Industries Development Corporation (SMIDEC), MITI and other Malaysian authorities," he added. — Bernama

Malaysia Best Car Myvi

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:13:00 +0000

MYVI

Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (PERODUA) held a media preview of its latest model, the Perodua Myvi The name ‘MYVI’ is an abbreviation for My Vehicle, My Vision or Malaysian Vision.

The project started in 2002, when a team of 80 engineers was sent to Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd, Perodua’s technology partner, in Japan, to work together, utilizing the Advance Simultaneous Engineering (ASE) programme to conceptualise and produce the new generation car. Perodua’s vendors were also involved from the inception stage, providing collaboration to design and develop component parts, the result of which is the Myvi having 80 percent of local content at the time of launch.

As Perodua readies for the launch of its new flagship, the Myvi, many details have already been made available to the media and unlike some other paranoid companies, journalists did not have to sign an sort of document which warned them of legal action should they break the embargo. This trusting and friendly approach makes it so much easier to agree to a simple request: withhold showing pictures of the actual car till the night of May 25th 2005 when the car will be launched.

So we are allowed to write about the car as much as we want but we’ll save the full story for next week when pictures can be shown as well. For now, here are some of the quick facts, many of which are already known but this is official confirmation.

ENGINES/TRANSMISSIONS
There are two DOHC EFI engines available, both of which are already in other Perodua models. The smaller one is the EJ-VE 989 cc which powers the Kelisa/Kenari and the larger one is the 1298 cc K3-VE used for the Kembara. In case you have forgotten the power outputs, the EJ-VE puts out 58.5 ps/42 kW and the K3-VE, which has Dynamic Variable Valve Timing (DVVT), produces 87 ps/64 kW. 5-speen manual and 4-speed electronic automatic transmissions are available.

HOW MANY VERSIONS?
Five, with only one (Myvi 1.0SR) having the 1.0-litre engine. The others have the 1.3-litre engines and two high-grade versions come with airbags, ABS and some extra accessories. Almost 80% (976 parts) of the car comes from Malaysian or Asean suppliers. All versions used 14-inch wheels except the Myvi 1.0SR which has steel wheels.

HOW GOOD IS THE QUALITY?
In order to assemble the Avanza for Toyota, Perodua’s factory had to be able to meet the quality standards of Japan’s No. 1 automaker and it has achieved a defect rate of 0.2 per car – that’s 2 defects per 10 cars. This rate has been achieved with the first production units and Perodua is confident that it can be maintained. It is certainly a big improvement from 10 years ago when the rate was between 2.0 and 2.5 PER CAR.
WHAT ARE THE COLOURS?
Ebony Black, Klasik Gold, Glittering Silver, Mocca Silver, Ozzy Orange, Mistik Red and Olive Green. Only the first three colours are available for the Myvi 1.0SR.

MYVI SE (Special Edition)

Perodua’s new Perodua Myvi SE was launched last Friday, and has been available in showrooms for the past week now. A short recap on the specifications: new front and rear bumper, sideskirts, rear spoiler, new sports rims, blue outlined Optitron meter panel, chromed muffler tip, leather seats, and silver trim for center console.

The Perodua Myvi SE’s new bodykit is reminiscent of the Toyota TRD bodykit for the Passo and Boon, however Perodua has made some modifications to the rear bumper, making it more complex with a diffuser-like design instead of the TRD’s smooth design. I’m thinking that area would look good painted black or dark gray. Waiting list won’t be too long as Perodua has stocked up 1,000 of the new special edition Myvi SE cars prior to the launch. Perodua targets 1,200 units a month for the Perodua Myvi SE.

Three sporty colours are available – Ebony Black, Mistik Red and Ivory White.

Poton Cars Supporter of Australian Miss Universe

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:59:00 +0000

Seven thousand beautiful young women of Australia entered the Miss Universe Australia pageant this year, double to that of last years. After a lengthy elimination process, it all came to a grand finally on Wednesday 22 April 2009, offering the finalist from each state and territory the opportunity to become the new crowning Miss Universe Australia 2009.

A buzz of anticipation circulated the room, quickly turning into a mouth opener as one by one thirty two beautiful young women of Australia walked proudly out, hopeful to capture everyone's heart, especially the judges.

Renowned judges on the night were Deborah Hutton, Jon Stevens, Camille Stone, Nigel Stanilaus, Charlie Brown, Joh Bailey, Jonathan Westbrook and the director of Miss Universe Australia Deborah Miller.

The event would not be possible without the support of sponsors. Proton Cars Australia was one of the preliminary sponsors to Miss Universe Australia and provided a brand new Proton Persona GX to the newly crowned Miss Universe Australia 2009, Rachael Finch.

On receiving her fantastic new Proton Persona, Rachael was overwhelmed. "I am so excited to be driving away in a brand new Proton." Rachael said.

Proton Cars Australia would like to congratulate Rachael Finch on her crowning of Miss Universe Australia 2009. "We will be working closely with Rachael over the coming year and look forward to having Rachael on board as an ambassador for Proton" said Billy Falconer General Manager Sales and Operations.

Rachael shall be competing with representatives from around the world in the Bahamas 23rd August 2009 for the crowning Miss Universe 2009. All the best Rachael, we know you will make Australia proud.

2 brothers held over break-ins

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:16:00 +0000

BATU PAHAT: Two brothers, one of them physically disabled, were arrested last week in connection with housebreaking and snatch thefts in the district.

District police chief Assistant Commissioner Ibrahim Mohd Aris said the elder of the two brothers, aged 27, was arrested on Aug 18, while the disabled brother, 23, was arrested on Sunday.

"The elder brother was arrested while driving a Perodua Myvi that the brothers had stolen after they broke into a house in Jalan Tanjung Labuh a few days earlier. They also stole a laptop, jewellery, handphones and bank passbooks.

"The other man was arrested following interrogation of the first suspect."

He said both men tested positive for drugs and had prior criminal records.

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New 1,000cc Daewoo Matiz Creative unveiled: Korean-badged production Chevrolet Spark

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:34:00 +0000

Go spend with Visa Debit and stand to win a Perodua Myvi

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:50:00 +0000

Type of contest: Lucky draw

How to win : Just spend a minimum of RM20 with your Visa Debit card on everyday purchases like groceries, meals, petrol or movie tickets wherever Visa is accepted and you may drive home one of the three Perodua Myvi 1.3 SE!

Entry Details

To enter send an SMS to 32123 in following format:VName6-digit approval code Amount spentFor example: V Jane Tan 123456 123.50A reply confirming your participation will be sent.

Click to participate: http://www.visagreatbreaks.com/travel/PromoListing?catID=0&promoID=1116&ctryID=MY#1116

Prize: 3 x Perodua Myvi 1.3 SE

Deadline: 13 September 2009

Maximum capacity - Daihatsu Sirion 1.5 SX

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:33:00 +0000

AS THOSE with a limited number of cliches to fall back on like to keep reminding us, the world is getting smaller. And it’s a phenomenon that’s giving more precedence to the global car.

Different markets have different requirements, but it’s the affordable small cars that appear to have the most cross-border appeal.

Different markets also have different marketing departments, which is why a small car can crop up in different markets under different guises.

Depending on where you look to buy one, this particular compact city car may be known as Daihatsu Storia, Toyota Duet, Toyota Passo, Perodua MyVi, Subaru Justy or, my particular favourite, the Daihatsu Boon.

In the UK, we're lucky enough to get three versions; the Subaru Justy, Perodua Myvi and Dahatsu Sirion, but only the latter is offered with three engine choices, including the most recent 1.5-litre petrol unit.

With a more powerful, larger capacity engine the Sirion immediately offers greater potential. A smart package regardless of engine size, the 1.0-litre three-cylinder and 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol units remain better suited to life around town. Both need to be pushed fairly hard for any kind of motorway use.

The 1.5-litre unit, essentially the 1.3-litre with a longer piston stroke providing more torque, feels much more at home on the motorway. Its 100mph-plus top speed means it comfortable cruising at motorway pace while a 0-62mph acceleration time of a shade over ten seconds is perfectly respectable. Even better is the considerably greater refinement at speed.

Yet everything’s relative and, although the 1.5-litre unit offers larger capacity benefits when compared with its smaller counterparts, it’s still a relatively small capacity engine. Given the potential for smaller engines to produce some very impressive fuel consumption figures, the Sirion 1.5 could be considered to be slightly under achieving in this department. CO2 emissions and combined fuel consumption figures are less impressive than those of the similarly powerful 1.33-litre Toyota Yaris, for example.

However, the running costs for the Sirion 1.5 are not to be scoffed at, and it’s certainly worth considering the lower purchase price of the model, a feature that remains a staple of the Daihatsu range.

The SX trim level, uppermost but one, comes with some useful extras on top of an already surprisingly generous specification. All Sirions feature air-con, full electric windows, remote central locking and electric power steering while, on the safety side, boasting electronic brake-force distribution and driver passenger and side airbags.

The SX also gets the electric mirrors, rev counter and stability control system missing from some of the lower specification models alongside its chunky bumpers, side-skirts, rear lip spoiler and alloy wheels.

As a package, it doesn’t appear to be missing anything obvious. Build quality is good, with a visibly well put together body and an interior that doesn’t squeal or rattle even though some of the materials are less than top quality. Perhaps it’s the improved refinement and performance of the 1.5-litre engine that raises expectations; but there’s less inclination to be forgiving of the dashboard assembly in the 1.5 SX model.

Although extremely functional with masses of storage and a clear and concise instrument arrangement some of the buttons are awkwardly positioned, the switchgear feel agricultural in places and the central ventilation arrangement is ungainly.

Fortunately the driving experience is considerably more impressive. With a wide stance and a wheel at each corner the Sirion offers a responsive ride. The electric power steering is light but still offers some feedback and the ride quality is good.

It can easily be appreciated by four adults, too. The Sirion’s spacious body, particularly in terms of headroom, makes it feel like a much larger car than its footprint suggests. The boot is not the largest, narrowing at the top due to the sloping rear seat angle, but its depth means carrying a reasonable amount of luggage is not out of the question. Fold the rear seats flat and the boxy body offers small van-like potential.

It’s not without its flaws, but the 1.5-litre Daihatsu Sirion offers a level of equipment and space far in excess of its humble price tag. As a cost effective alternative, it’s definitely worth consideration.

FACTS AT A GLANCE Model: Daihatsu Sirion 1.5 SX, £10,280 on the road.

Engine: 1.5-litre petrol unit developing 102bhp and 97lb/ft of torque.

Transmission: 5-speed manual transmission driving the front wheels.

Performance: Maximum speed 109ph, 0-62mph 10.5 seconds.

Mazda MX-5 2.0i Sport Tech

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 05:39:00 +0000

here’s a farm shop near where I live. Actually, it isn’t really a farm shop at all because the floor is made from oak rather than fertiliser bags and all of the staff look like supermodels instead of burst walnut trees.

Inside you can buy jumpers made from exotic goats, bread that would make a Frenchman faint and apples so shiny, they could double up as disco balls. It’s called Daylesford and it’s the subject of much mockery, principally because everything is so bleeding expensive. As a friend of mine said recently: “I went to Daylesford to get some cheese this morning. But I only had £162 on me.”

The thing is, though, it is excellent value for money. When I go there on a Saturday morning, I always meet someone who invites me round for dinner that night. This means I don’t have to buy supper, or cook it.

What’s more, without Daylesford I’d have to go to London to buy my groceries, which would cost £50 in petrol, £8 for the congestion charge and £100 to get my car back from the pound. So, all of a sudden, 25 quid seems the bargain of the century. Especially when you consider that Daylesford has started to affect house prices. People will pay considerably more to live near it, which means that every time someone buys a loaf of bread, I’m earning about £500,000.

And on top of all this, without Daylesford I’d have to go to a local supermarket to buy my ham. Yes, the ham there is only 4p, but it’s Barbie pink and about as nutritional as the plastic bag it’s sold in.

We see the same sort of thing with cars. I recently drove something called a Perodua Myvi, which sells for £7,600. That’s cheap when you consider it has the same number of wheels and glove boxes as a Rolls-Royce Phantom. But it is extremely expensive when you work out how miserable and dreary it makes you feel. It’s a car built utterly without joy. Buying one of these would be like buying a nylon dog simply because it’s cheaper to keep.

There are lots of cheap cars on the market but only a very small number offer truly excellent value for money. The Fiat 500 is one, for sure, because just seeing it makes you happy. And the Skoda Roomster is another, provided you avoid the three-cylinder diesel version. Yes, you will save money when you buy it, but the savings will be offset by the cost of the funeral you’ll need shortly after you first try to build up enough speed to join a motorway.

The Jaguar X-type is perhaps the best example of cost having nothing to do with value. Yes, it was very cheap for a Jaguar. But since it was nothing more than a Mondeo in a rented suit, it was extremely poor value for money. That’s why it never sold well. And that’s why 300 poor souls at the Halewood plant are now facing the dole queue.

And then there’s the new Vauxhall Insignia VXR. On the face of it, this looks excellent value. The Insignia is a good-looking car and the hot version is even better. What’s more, it has a long list of standard kit, a 321bhp twin-turbo engine and four-wheel drive, and since prices start at a whisker over £30,000 it is way less than its rivals from Audi and BMW.

Yes, but the money you save in no way compensates for the fact that you must spend the next year or so telling your friends that you have a Vauxhall. Which is a bit like saying you have genital warts. People will raise their eyebrows and edge away.

Buying a Vauxhall to save money is like going on holiday to Northampton to save money. You will, for sure, but you will not be as happy as if you went to France.

And all of this brings me naturally to the Mazda MX-5, which I think represents better value for money than any other car on sale in Britain today. A 1.8-litre soft-top version, as opposed to the one that comes with a folding metal roof, is £16,345, and for that you get almost exactly the same amount of fun you would get from a Ferrari 430 Spider.
This is the thing with convertibles. When the roof is down, the buffeting and the racket mean that any speed above about 80 is unpleasant. So you really don’t need a million horsepower or a gearbox that can swap cogs in a billionth of a blink.

With the Mazda you get the engine at the front, rear-wheel drive and skinny tyres. This, then, is a car designed to thrill and excite and put a massive smile on your face at the sort of speed that won’t mess up your girlfriend’s hair.

My old mate Tiff Needell, from commercial television, is perfectly capable of power-sliding a space shuttle but argues to this day that the most fun he’s ever had is in a Morris Minor, because it can be provoked into some tail-out action at about 2mph. So it goes with the Mazda. In short, you don’t need to be an astronaut with titanium hair follicles to get the best out of it.

Put simply, an MX-5 feels more alive at 30mph than most other cars feel at 100.

So, every time Mazda changes something on its little sports car, I’m worried the end result will be a bit more serious, a bit more “driver-oriented”, a bit more anal. And that the original recipe will have been ruined.

I realise, of course, that an original can be improved, no matter how good it may have been. You have only to listen to the Hothouse Flowers’ version of I Can See Clearly Now to understand this. But, for every original that’s improved, there are a thousand that are ruined.

That’s why I approached the recently facelifted version of the MX-5 with a heavy heart and a sense of foreboding.

Let me give you an example. Mazda has fitted the engine with a forged crankshaft, floating pistons and new valve gear. It all sounds like the wet dream of a diehard, adenoidal car bore. But don’t worry. Despite all the work, the amount of power the engine produces remains exactly as it was before. And it’s the same story with the torque. The only real change is that you can now rev to 7500rpm before you need to change gear. And it all sounds a bit more sporty.

The company has changed the front suspension too, and that worried me as well. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the setup in the old car, so why fiddle? Plainly it was simply to keep the engineers out of Hiroshima’s love hotels, because it is just as sparkling and brilliant as it was before. Maybe it’s a bit more focused, a bit sharper. But only if you concentrate, and that’s the thing about the MX-5. You don’t concentrate: you’re way too busy having a nice time.

Inside, you now get Recaro seats and higher-quality switches, but I didn’t notice these either.

I said recently that the BMW Z4 is the best of the open sports cars, but after a couple of days with the Mazda I realise I was talking nonsense. The BMW is excellent but the MX-5 demonstrates that its extra speed, extra grip and extra size is all a bit wasteful. In the little Japanese car you get exactly what you need, and exactly the space you need, and nothing more.

I realise that the hairy-chested among you will be scoffing and tutting and heading straight for this column on the internet so you can speak your mind. You will say “girl’s car” and “gay” and all sorts of other things.
Well, that’s fine. You waste your money on a Mustang or a Ferrari. The fact is that if you want a sports car, the MX-5 is perfect. Nothing on the road will give you better value. Nothing will give you so much fun. The only reason I’m giving it five stars is because I can’t give it 14.

The Clarksometer

Mazda MX-5 2.0i Sport Tech

Engine 1999cc, four cylinders

Power 158bhp @ 7000rpm

Torque 139lbft @ 5000rpm

Transmission Six-speed manual

Fuel 37.2mpg (combined)

CO2 181g/km

Acceleration 0-62mph: 7.6sec

Top speed 132mph

Price £19,695

Perodua Myvi

noreply@blogger.com (Transporter09) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:48:00 +0000

Citibank Perodua Myvi 10X Rewards Points Easy Pay Campaign

If you plan to book a Perodua Myvi. Please on hold! Now with latest Citibank credit card deals, Perodua Myvi 10X rewards points Easy Pay Campaign, you can make a down payment using your Citibank credit card and enjoy 0% interest on your down payment and 10X rewards point.

This Perodua Myvi 10X rewards points Easy Pay Campaign valid till 30 September 2009 at all Perodua outlets. This campaign is only open to Citibank core credit card members ( Platinum, Gold, Classic, Choice, Clear, AirAsia, Celcom and CitiBusiness, including supplementary cardmembers ). 10x Rewards points not valid for Shell, Giant and Cash Back cards. 0% Citibank Easy Pay is only valid for Myvi variants with a minimum transaction of RM1,000 and a maximum of RM5,000.

Make a down payment using your Citibank credit card and enjoy:
* 0% interest with a minimum transaction of RM1000 or a maximum of RM5000
* 10X Rewards Points

10X Rewards Points
*All Participants will be entitled to 10x Rewards points based on the amount paid in Ringgit Malaysia for the down payment of the Perodua Myvi via Citibank Easy Pay. For example, if a customer paid RM5,000 on Citibank Easy Pay for the down payment,
he/she will be entitled to a total of 50,000 Rewards points.

*The normal 1x Rewards point will be awarded on a monthly basis based on the monthly Citibank Easy Pay plan amount.

*The extra 9x Rewards points will be awarded to the Participants based on the amount paid for the down payment and will be credited into the Participant’s transacted credit card between 8 to 10 weeks after the Campaign Period.

Hurry to a Perodua showroom because this Perodua Myvi 10X rewards points Easy Pay Campaign is only valid till 30 September 2009. Perodua Hotline : 1 800 886 600