SiMon Har_

Proton Says 'YES' to 4G !

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:45:00 +0000

Proton and YES, a 4G network provider launched a collaboration which is a Proton Inspira with 4G Internet access. The YES 4G Proton Inspira is Malaysia's first car which has 4G Internet access so that you can go online whenever and wherever you go with speed up to 15Mbps!

For this special edition Proton Inspira worth RM100,000, it has sportier 18-inch rims, YES 4G deco and titanium black tinting for the exterior. Interior wise, it has 3 Apple iPad 2 (one on the dashboard, 1 at the back of each front seat), Sony audio system and a portable YES 4G Huddle. However, don't you think that the iPad 2s might attract thieves? Some might break the window just to make an attempt to steal them!

Another thing is the iPad 2 on the dashboard kind of restricting a bit of the air-cond outlets, not sure whether it will affect anything or not.

I'm glad to hear that the 4G will make its way to Proton's upcoming P3-21A (most probably only available in the high-line variant). To celebrate the collaboration of the two companies, a Yes 4G Proton Inspira and other prizes are to be given away in an online contest! I'm joining it for sure!

*Pics source

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Toyota Prius & Prius C - Rethink The Way You Drive !

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0000

The all-new Toyota Prius C & new Prius were launched in Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre yesterday. Good news for hybrid lovers as the Prius C is priced at RM97k OTR with insurance, opposed to the initial price estimation of RM104k by Toyota. Price of the Prius C undercuts Honda Insight, which is previously the cheapest hybrid car in Malaysia by roughly RM2k.

The Prius C is powered by Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive, where it is fitted with a 1.5litre petrol engine with 73bhp and 111Nm of torque and an electric motor with 61bhp and 169Nm of torque. Combining both create a total system output of 101bhp. The battery is optimally positioned below the rear passenger's seat so that it does not intrude the cabin space as well as lowering down the centre of gravity.

With a coefficient drag of 0.28 and an efficient powerplant, the Prius C can acheive a 25.6km/l of fuel in a European combined cycle! That's similar to its larger sibling Prius in terms of fuel consumption. 0-100km/h can be achieved in 10.7 seconds.

You can travel in the Prius C with 3 modes - Normal, ECO and EV. In ECO mode, the car will optimise the fuel consumption by tweaking the throttle response and onboard energy use such as air-cond. EV mode uses only the electric motor to provide a quiet, relaxing and emission-free drive.

In terms of safety, the Prius C comes with the ABS, EBD and BA as well as TRC, VSC, Hill Start Assist and 7 airbags (including knee airbag). The Prius C below is fitted with bodykits, not sure the production TRD bodykit will be the same or not. Equipment wise, it comes with keyless entry system, push-start button, auto air-conditioning, steering button with Touch Tracer which is touch-sensitive and display the button you are touching on the multi information display (MID). I would say the list of equipment is quite impressive for a compact car like Prius C!

First impression on the cabin can be said as refreshing. Toyota added 2-tone & curves on the dashboard to prevent the cabin from looking dull. However, some parts felt plasticky, especially the door panel. A DVD-AVN system with 6.1inch colour touchscreen, navigation system and reverse camera are optional at the cost of RM2,990.

A person with a tall frame like me will find the space at the rear seat is at a premium. But still, I think it will still be comfortable for short journeys.

At 260litres, the boot space is slightly larger than Myvi's 208litres, to make a comparison.

For the facelifted Prius, it is priced at RM139,900 and RM145,500 for the Prius Luxury which gain extras like LED projector (with Auto Levelling & Washer), leather seats with heated front seats and electro chromic mirror. The new Prius uses the same powerplant as the pre-facelift Prius. A 1.8litre petrol engine produces 99bhp and 142Nm of torque while an electric motor churns out 82bhp and 207Nm of torque. Therefore, they produce a combined output of 136bhp.

Minor changes were spotted in this facelift exercise. Changes include new, sportier front bumper with daytime running LED, new rim design and rear light clusters. These changes made the Prius more appealing to younger buyers.

New dark themed cabin goes well with the dark leather seats. Quality is top notch and everything felt solid to the touch. Since the Prius is a bigger car compared to Prius C, I found the Prius to be spacious at the back, with ample legroom but the headroom is sacrificed (by a little) due to the sloping roof.

The cabin comes with a 6.1inch touch screen display with AUX jack, Bluetooth integrated with a reverse camera, auto air-conditioning, push-start button, steering buttons with Touch Tracer, cruise control and a head-up display so that you can pay more attention on the road. Safety wise, it is equipped with ABS, EBD, BA, TRC, VSC, 7 airbags like in the Prius C, Toyota also fitted JBL 8-speaker system with 8-channel amplifier, sounds terrific even by reading it!

Unlike the Prius C, the new Prius comes with 3 additional driving modes: Power Mode for extra power, ECO mode and EV mode.

Redesigned taillight clusters and a huge boot. Fold the rear seats down and you'll have a wagon, litterally!

195/65R15 rim, wish for a sportier design without compromising aerodynamics to match with the sportier exterior now.

I love Toyota's attention to details like the front passenger footwell illumination (top) and vertical chrome strip on the air-cond outlet (bottom)!

Toyota targeted sales of 1,500 units for the new Toyota Prius while 2,500 units for the Toyota Prius C. I'm sure the Prius C will be selling well thanks to its generous list of equipment, fuel efficiency and compact size which most of the female buyers will appreciate.

Check out some studio shots of the Toyota Prius C & Prius:

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ADV: Join The Malaysia Ranger Challenge !

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 01:51:00 +0000

With the launch of the all-new Ford Ranger being just few months away, Ford Malaysia organized a contest where members of the public can submit ideas on how to test the Ranger to its limit. Examples like taking the Ranger to construction sites where the Ranger can be tested in terms of offroad and loading capability, or as simple as spending 24 hours in the Ranger without getting out of the car to prove that it is as comfortable as your home!

First, you have to register yourself in the website. Then, you'll see the page above where you can fill in the title of your challenge and what your challenge will be. For my case, I made a family oriented challenge, below is my entry:

“More family man are opting pick-up truck as a family car. So for my family-oriented challenges, I will put a family of 4 or 5 into the Ford Ranger to judge its comfort and refinement on tar roads or even offroad! Having few kids in the car can also test the durability of the cabin as well!

Other than that, a recreation vehicle (RV) can be used to test the towing ability of the Ford Ranger to the family's vacation spot. And it ain't the lightweight one! All these challenges are to push the Ranger to its limit!"

After submitting your entry, you will have to wait for your entry to be approved. Meanwhile, you can check out (and vote) the entries by other users as well!

Hurry up and submit your entry here! A new Ranger will be loaned to each of the 5 finalists and will make their challenge come true by the Ford crews! The winner (with the best challenge) will walk away with a brand new Ford Ranger! How cool is that!

While you are waiting for the result of the contest, drop by at few of the locations below to check out 'The Ford Story Roadshow 2012':

22-26 Feb 2012 - Sunway Pyramid, Subang
29 Feb - 4 Mar 2012 - Queensbay Mall, Penang
21 - 25 Mar 2012 - The Curve, Damansara

Also, follow Ford's Twitter and like its Facebook page for more great things to come!

*This is an advertorial.

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Which Porsche Are You?

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 10:14:00 +0000

Are you intimidated by a Porsche Cayenne if you are travelling on the fast lane of a highway and suddenly, a Cayenne comes out of nowhere and getting nearer and nearer in your rear view mirror? I certainly does! Couldn't agree more that you'll automatically move to the left lane when such car with great road presence and sharp looking front end are approaching you from the back! Therefore, Cayenne has become my favourite model in Porsche's line-up because it has stunning design, good performance and also excellent offroad ability!

Well, I'll cut to the chase. If you've read my previous post on Naza, you'll know that Naza sells high quality cars at lower price and also provides good after-sales service. This time around, Naza is having a promotion on all Porsche models this weekend! The models include:

Porsche 911 GT2
Porsche 911 Carrera 2S
Porsche 911 Carrera 4S
Porsche 911 Turbo
Porsche 928SA
Porsche Boxster
Porsche Cayenne Turbo
Porsche Panamera S
Porsche Panamera 4S

Venue: Naza Auto Mall, PJ
Date: 18th & 19th February 2012

In conjunction with this promotion, Naza World is organising a Facebook Share Contest where Naza World Facebook fans will need to share & complete a slogan on that particular post by clicking ‘Share’ button. The slogan is “I want to visit Naza World this weekend because…” and one lucky winner will win a pair of F1 grandstand tickets!!!

What are you waiting for then? Head to Naza Auto Mall now to check out the Porsche and others as well!

*This is a promotional post for Naza.

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Peugeot 208 XY Concept - Colour Changing Paint !

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 08:23:00 +0000

Do you guys remember our very own local car manufacturer, Perodua, once created a variant of Kelisa under the name of Kelisa Imago? It has a special kind of paint coat which varies between silver and green when you look at the car under different angle or lighting. The Peugeot 208 XY Concept uses the same concept, it features a special "Pulsion" livery that changes color depending on how close you are to the 208 XY Concept.

The unique feature is achieved with a very precise application of sixteen coats of paint and lacquer. The result is spectacular, and with the help of the 208 XY Concept's stunning exterior design, it is one of the cars that you can fall in love with at first sight!

If Peugeot is putting the 208 XY into production, Nasim have to bring the Peugeot 208 XY into Malaysia, or at least put it as an option!

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P3-21A Cabin Exposed + More Info !!!

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:03:00 +0000

*Update: Pictures removed due to the request from their owner. For pictures, head to the end of this article and click the link to a photo album in Facebook. Thanks.

Once again, more info about Proton's upcoming P3-21A leaked into the Internet. This time we got lucky (not so good news to Proton) because a picture of the P3-21A cabin is exposed to the public! I love how the shape of the center console bears a resemblance of the steering wheel. However, a more adventurous design would be appreciated considering most of its competitors has more attractive looking cabin such as Hyundai Elantra and Honda Civic.

Other than that, below are some of the newly leaked info which I took from Funtasticko:

Auto fold/unfold side mirror – Side mirror will fold automatically when the car is locked dan automatically unfold when the car is travelling at speed after 5km/h.
Auto Off Rear Demister
Follow Home Lamp
Headlamp Warning Buzzer
Trunk Remote Release
Front & rear socket 12V
Front & Rear Fog Lamp
Anti-Trap Power Windor (Driver side only)
Seat Material – Water repelent fabric. 60:40 folding seat.
Smart Info Display (SID) – With 3 readings - Trip A, Trip B and Trip C, and other info.
Autolock & advance lock system
Magnisium Inside Door Handle
Keyless Entry
BOSCH Head-Unit – 2-Din, Touch Screen Monitor, Navigator, Bluetooth, USB, AUX, MP3
YES WiFi Modem – In-car Internet, first ever car in Malaysia, coverage Semenanjung Malaysia
S Mode (Sport) – (P-R-N-D-S), where S Mode will increase the RPM for as much as 1,000 instantaneously for more agresive driving behaviour.
BCM – Body Control Module
No hump in the middle of the rear footwell.

SAFETY :

4 Wheel ABS & EBD with 4 Wheel Disc Brake
TC (Traction Control)
ESC (Electronic Stability Control)
BA (Braking Assist)
4 AIRBAGS – Airbag for the front passenger can be ON/OFF. Not sure it comes with side airbags or curtain airbags.
5 STARS Australia NCAP

DIMENSION

Length = 4.543m
Width = 1.786m
Height = 1.524m

No info on the wheelbase though. But it seems that P3-21A is slightly larger than Honda Civic, Kia Forte and Toyota Altis in terms of exterior.

CHASSIS
Boot Space: 508 litre
Turning Radius: 5.3m
Full Tank Capacity: 50 litre
Aerodynamic: 0.30Cd

POWERTRAIN
1.6 CFE with 7speed Pro-Tronic CVT3 (VVT)
0-100km/h: 9.6 seconds
- For comparison, a Kia Forte 1.6 achieve the same result with 12.5 seconds.

VARIANT
Executive MT, 1.6 IAFM+ 5-Speed MT
Executive CVT, 1.6 IAFM+ 6-Speed CVT
Premuim CVT, 1.6 CFE 7-Speed CVT

COLOR
Solid White
Tranquility Black
Genetic Silver
Fire Red
Blue Lagoon

PRICE
RM65,000 – RM75,000 (quite reasonably priced, but hope the entry level price starts from RM60k)

For more pics, click HERE!

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Defensive Driving Course @ Shell Helix D-Academy !!!

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:31:00 +0000

Paultan and Shell had organized a contest where 30 lucky person walk away with an invite to Shell Helix D-Academy defensive driving course! Guess what? I was one of the thirty lucky contestants!

Situated in Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS), the Shell Helix D-Academy comprised of theory and practical lesson. Hosted by Havinder Singh, he taught us what is oversteer and understeer and how to overcome them, the correct seating and steering method and also explained some modern safety features such as Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Programme (ESP).

Since this was a defensive driving course 'dedicated' to compact car drivers, Honda City and Jazz were used as our test car of the day.

Before the practical lessons, trainer showed us what is the correct seating position (distance between body and steering, leg and headroom etc) and steering position (which is hand at 9 and 3 o'clock position). Then, he asked few participants to demonstrate (I was one of them!) what he taught earlier.

So, the practical lessons include skid control, braking technique and slalom. We were awarded marks for our performance in each of the lesson, and the winner walked away with a brand new Samsung Galaxy Note! Too bad the winner is not me :(

First up was the skidding control where we drove a Honda City over an oil-applied corner to simulate understeer (means the car turns lesser than you want it to) and the trainer pulled the handbrake to simulate oversteer (where the car turns more than you want it to). Difficult to imagine, right? I've recorded a video of understeer and oversteer, so check it out!

Understeer (which is not apparent in the video) occurred before oversteer. To reduce understeer, you just need to let go of the accelerator or tap lightly on the brake pedal to regain traction. To counter oversteer, you have to turn the steering wheel to the direction you want to go and step on the accelerator!

Next up was the braking lesson where we had full use of the ABS and brakes by stepping on the brake pedal 100%. It's amazing to experience how ABS can help to avoid obstacle and brake at the same time!

Lastly, it was a slalom lesson in a Honda Jazz. The purpose of the slalom lesson was not to see how fast you can turn around the cones, but to see whether you are using the correct hand-on-steering technique or not. In Shell Helix D-Academy, they encourage the cross-hand method instead of push-pull method because the former can help you to avoid an obstacle faster.

The Shell Helix D-Academy actually is used to protome awareness on Shell's upcoming engine oil - HX7 rated 5W-30. Every participant got a 4litre bottle of HX7 for free, thanks Shell! The Shell Helix D-Academy produced few more better drivers to make road a safer place to be on, and I'm glad one of them is me!

*Update! A group photo from Paultan.org!

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Initial Details of Proton P3-21A Revealed !

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 14:54:00 +0000

Good news! Our Ex-Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir had released some initial details on Proton's upcoming new car, which is the P3-21A. Check out what he listed in his blog:

Proton’s new 1.6 liter turbo engine will be used, which allows the P3-21A to produce the power of a 2.0 liter engine with a smaller displacement.
Hot press steel (which is stronger) as opposed to cold press steel
Vehicle Seek Lamp (not sure what this is, follow-me-home lamp?)
Wiper Auto Speed
Automatic folding wing mirror
Push-button Start/Stop function (I guess the low/mid-spec doesn't have this)
Automatic Wiper Sensors
Automatic Headlamp Sensors
GPS navigation system (I suppose it's the built-in type)
Impact sensing door lock
Central Locking
Alarm with Immobiliser
CVT gearbox with 7 virtual speed manual mode (something like Toyota Altis?)
Tiptronic selection on shift lever
Steering-mounted paddle shifters
ABS with Brake Assist (I suppose the low-end has this, right?)

*Those in brackets and italic are my own words

The specs revealed belongs to the high-line variant of P3-21A. Too bad Tun Dr. Mahathir didn't mention anything about Electronic Stability Control (ESC) nor airbags. Keeping some of the best stuff to keep us remain excited ya? I do hope that the high-line P3-21A is going to get ESC and 6 airbags so that it will have better value-for-money than Kia Forte 2.0.

A picture of the cabin leaked recently, showing what I believe is the low/mid-line cabin of the P3-21A (because there is no built-in GPS). Quite decent looking dashboard with minimalist design, also with nice looking silver trim around the cabin. Hope the quality will be top notch! The P3-21A is launching in 3 months time, but some said that it will be launched on 16 March 2012!

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DRIVEN: 2012 Volkswagen Passat CC !!!

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:25:00 +0000

I'm a man with class. I would love to look cool when I arrive at the jockey area of a renowed hotel. I'm also a man who appreciate some sportiness. I would love to look cool in front of my friends too. There are not many cars out there which can satisfy my criteria, which can be describe as a 4-door coupe. Mercedes CLS & Jaguar XF? Pricey. BMW X6? Bulky and pricey for me too! Volkswagen Passat CC? You betcha!

You don't have to spend a huge sum of money for a Passat CC which you can use to buy a bungalow, but you'll still look classy driving or chauffered in it, and also gain some respects when you are hogging the right lane of a highway. A Passat CC will be all yours with a price starting from RM254,888. That price will be getting you an impressive list of equipments mostly found in more expensive cars like electronic parking brake, bi-xenons, sunroof, electric rear sunshade etc.

I would say that the alloy rim design is inspired by turbine, it's so sharp looking it can cut your eyes... kidding. Desa Park City is a beautiful township which offers gracious scenary and classy houses, and it is also where we tested out the Passat CC. Nice location and nice car, perfectly for the occasion. The Passat CC is no doubt a looker, drawing attention of everyone as it passes by. Sleek styling, coupe-like roofline and the frameless door is oh-so-sexy! Even paparazzi will be focusing on the seductive frameless door instead of the moment you step out of the car in short skirt, good news for Miss Hilton.

The cabin of the Volkswagen Passat CC is also a huge difference when compared to the stark cabin (some would call it minimalist design) of some other Volkswagen models. The dashboard of the Passat CC has curves and silver finishing to contrast with the dark-coloured cabin. Similar to other Volkswagen models, the Passat CC's cabin is built with excellent fit and finishing and also good quality materials.

I started my journey with the Passat CC by sitting in the back seat while a blogger friend of mine, Dustyhawk in the driver seat. Some might expect the headroom at the back to be skimpy but it's not! I'm a relatively tall person and can fit comfortably at the back seats without my hair touching the roof, unless I am there with a spiky hairstyle!

I would beg to differ if you say the Passat CC has a stiff ride because it's a coupe. The Passat CC comes with Adaptive Chassis Control which enable you to choose between 'Comfort' mode and 'Sport' mode. The ride at the back was still comfortable despite the car is in 'Sport' mode while Dustyhawk was stepping the pedal to the metal and speeding over speedbumps. The ride got slightly softer by changing the Passat CC back to 'Comfort' mode. The car remains composed eventhough Dustyhawk was making a turn in a roundabout at a relatively high speed, no tyres spin was heard too!

Check out my ride at the back of the Passat CC!

The Passat CC is equipped with a 2.0litre TSi engine with the ability to churn out 210bhp and 280Nm of torque from a relatively low 1700rpm to 5200rpm, mated to a 6-speed DSG gearbox. The 'handbrake' is operated via a 'P' button located at the right of the steering wheel. After releasing the electronic parking brake button, the car responded to the slightest throttle and accelerated swiftly despite its huge dimension.

The gearchange was slick thanks to the DSG gearbox, I don't feel that pedal shift is necessary to make the Passat CC accelerate quicker because the DSG was shifting quite fast and smooth too. Low-end torque was sufficient to launch the car at a quick pace, and you'll feel a surge of momentum if you put a heavier load on the accelerator. It can be a fun to drive car (even with 'Comfort' mode) or it can give you a relaxing journey during your weekend trip to shopping mall. The Passat CC is a well balanced machine of both.

My only comment is the engine start/stop slot. In the Passat CC, the driver has to plug in the remote control into the slot shown above to start the engine. I prefer the slot to be replaced with a start/stop button and the driver can keep the remote control in his pocket or somewhere in the car when starting the engine, just like Toyota Camry 2.4. Save the trouble of taking out the remote control, isn't it?

Verdict:
+ Beautiful design, ride & handling, equipment.
- No generally negatives here.

Check out my other reviews on Volkswagen:
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSi
Volkswagen Jetta

Some photos credit to Vince!

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Lion Dance @ Naza World, PJ !!!

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 10:39:00 +0000

I once worked in a warehouse where it belongs to a renowned child product manufacturer. It's linked together by a few super-size shoplots. However, walking and storing items were made tough due to the dark and filled with pillars and walls environment. Naza World uses similar concept, but it's a long hall instead of combining few lots. It is made possible for people to have a walkthrough easily, where the place is airy, with minimum pillars and lots of sunlight coming into the hall. Taking a glance on some of the most expensive and upmarket cars on the planet will be an enjoyable experience.

Helen, Isaac and yours truly!

In conjunction with Chinese New Year, Naza World invited the public to visit Naza World Automall PJ for lion dance! The lion dance troop was the champion in 2010 and 2011 World Lion Dance Competiton, so it's definitely not some ordinary lion dance we are taking about here! So me, Isaac and his wife, Janice paid Naza World a visit!

The lion dance did noy fail the public's expection. Great rounds of applause were heard throughout the performance. I recorded a part of the performance too!

After the lion dance performance, the public was invited for a quick refreshment, well of course I can't resist to take a glimpse of the car available in Naza World! I found some rare cars such as:

Fiat 500! Didn't know it's in Malaysia already!

Euro Honda Civic Hatchback!

Other than that, luxury cars are also available, for instance:

Jaguar XJ L, to chauffer the top companies' CEO!

Mercedes SLR, first time seeing this legend!

Clockwise: Jaguar XK, BMW Z4, Toyota Alphard (there were many Vellfire too), Toyota Estima. By the way, Naza World was having a promotion for Toyota Estima and Wish on that day!

Clockwise: Nissan GT-R, Porsche, BMW X6, Porsche again!

To our surprise, Isaac and I were interviewed by a reporter from Bernama! *First time appearing in TV news!!!*

Hope Naza will have more events like this because it will bring more exposure to the public!

Address:
Naza World Automall, PJ
3, Jalan 51a/221,
46100 Petaling Jaya.
03-7953-2811

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Wira Rammed Into XC60, 2 Myvi and Superbike Store - With Video !

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:32:00 +0000

News about an aunty driving a Wira who crashed into a Volvo XC60, two Perodua Myvi (one of it is a very new car!), few motorbikes and finally into a superbike store are spread like wildfire! The incident happened in Bandar Sri Permaisuri, KL where the aunty, who is in her 50s, accidentally hitted a XC60 while she was getting out of her parking lot. Then, panicking, move her car back and forth and hitted the stricken two Myvi and lastly, into the superbike store!

Her husband was just away for a moment and all these happened when he came back. Just a few minutes and the incident incurred half a million Ringgit loss to superbike store.

Feel sad for the owner of the yellow Myvi SE :(

Now, the CCTV footage of the incident has been released!

Not sure what had actually happened to the aunty, was she too panic until she accelerate back and forth repeatedly or the Proton's first case of 'sudden unintended acceleration'? Hmm...

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Very Looooong Hummer !!!

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:13:00 +0000

Holy cow!!! It's a long Hummer isn't it? It is spotted by me where it parked in front of Malaysia's first sports car themed restaurant - V1 Concept Bar and Restaurant in Bandar Puteri, Puchong! The place is famous for exotic car owners at night and it is not something extraordinary if you get to see cars like Lamborghini and car clubs park outside of the restaurant at night.

You thought the Hummer above is the longest Hummer that you had ever seen? Think again!!!

This is even longer than the Hummer in the first picture! As you can see (and count), there are eight tyres for this mean machine! I saw a Mercedes S-Class limo before, but man, this Hummer is much longer!

Check out the humongous tyres! The rims should be at least 20-inches big! The windows were tinted very darkly, so I was unable to take a glimpse inside. I can imagine a mini bar or even a mini swimming pool is possible to fit in the elongated Hummer!

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Perodua Alza SR - Better Value !

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:15:00 +0000

What you are seeing above is the newly launched variant of Perodua Alza - the SR. I bet you'll have a tough time spotting the difference of it and a standard Alza. For the SR (means Smart Ride, in this case), it has no fog lights, door visor, rear wiper, chrome and body-coloured B-pillar on the outside, and worth praising Perodua is that the alloy wheel remained for this base line model. This proves that style does not have to be sacrificed in order to get lower price. A wheel cover will really mess up the whole design of a car.

In the inside, dark-coloured dashboard was found instead of two-tone in the standard Alza. Seperated seats are also used instead of bench-type seat for the front row. No steering mounted buttons and lastly, centre mounted handbrake instead of foot-operated parking brake for the automatic variant. No airbags and ABS for the SR, just like the standard Alza.

It offers the same level of versatility of the stardard variant of Alza, but at a cheaper price. Priced at RM53,013.50 for the manual variant and RM56,513.50 for the automatic variant, the SR is about RM2,000 cheaper than the standard variant Alza.

I'm sure many can make do with the absence of some comfort creatures and trims, right? The Alza SR does not sacrifice safety and performance (still uses the same 1.5litre DVVT engine) compared to the standard Alza. So now it makes the Alza SR better value for money than a standard Alza right now! So either get an Alza SR or get the premium variant of Alza, because the Alza SR makes the standard Alza seems 'negligible'.

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Choosing A Car For Your Child

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:17:00 +0000

Most of the parents in this world have to go through a similar phase: buying a car for their son or daughter who just got their driving license. Choosing a car for yourself is as easy as ABC, but choosing a car for someone who is inexperience in driving might be as hard as trying to figure out the temperature of the sun without the help of Google or Wikipedia.

I've been through a phase as well (as a son, of course), which is trying to buy a used car myself. Since I'm not from a rich family, I surveyed in some used car websites before I settle down on deciding which used car suits me the best. As a teenager, I want something fast and sporty so that I can show it off in front of my friend (too bad there isn't many attractive but also affordable used cars!). Most of the teenage girls would opt for smaller, city car which is easier to be manoeuvred than sedan or SUV. However, as a parent, would you approve your precious prince and princess to get a car like what I've described above?

I'm sure most of the parents out there hope to get a car which is as safe as a World War II bunker for their teenage son or daughter. They would also want a car that can protect each and every possible body parts of their precious ones if something unfortunate happens. Best if the airbags can fill the whole cabin without leaving any empty space, leaving no room for 'error'.

And do you even feel confident with a small car? Eventhough small cars are getting better in terms of safety, we still can't fight the law of physics. Small cars just looks too vulnerable, you can imagine them being flashed from the back by bigger cars on the highway or being flipped over by cross-wind when a bus passes by them. A Hummer would be the perfect candidate then!

Parents would also want their son or daughter's car to be slow, I mean snail slow. Getting a car with rocket acceleration is a no-no, and 0-100km/h should take more time than a secondary school student needed to calculate a complicated calculus question. A 500cc engine with a maximum top speed of 60km/h would be ideal for the car. This will ensure that the car won't be exceeding any speed that could be fatal to the occupants, and fuel saving too!

Still, choosing a car for your child is one of the toughest assignments that you'll face in your parenthood. Your decision might determine how their lives would be in the future. Your child might not be happy with your choice of car, but you'll know it's for your child's own good.

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Is This The Rear-End of P3-21A ?

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:37:00 +0000

Behold, the rear end of the upcoming Proton P3-21A is exposed, is it? The picture above was posted in Funtasticko and many believe that it's the rear end of P3-21A. There is still no source confirming whether it belongs to the P3-21A or not, but based on the quarter side view and rear window design, I would say it is.

The taillights are resemblance of Volvo S60 and Jaguar XF's. But still, based on the photo above, the lines doesn't flow as smooth as the S60 and the design doesn't look as elegant as the XF. It looks a bit boxy to me, hopefully seeing the car in its full glory would change my opinion.

Someone did this illustration of how the P3-21A looks like. It should be pretty close to the actual product which will be launched in March this year, if no delay on the launch date occurs. Initial information about the P3-21A is promising. It’s going to be the first Proton to be equipped with 6 airbags and Electronic Stability Control (ESC).

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Social Media Award 2012 - Best Auto Blog Nominee !

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:43:00 +0000

World Blogger and Social Media Award 2012 is coming and will be held in PWTC next month! You can nominate and also vote for your favourite blogs/websites in its website. Guess what? I'm one of the nominees in the Best Auto Blog category and I hope that you will support me k??!!

Head to Social Media Award website now to vote for me ya!!! As you can see right now I'm in the middle of the pack. Of course I won't be getting more votes than Paultan or some other more famous blogs, but I don't want to be the last in the list too! Haha!

Thanks in advance :P

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DRIVEN: Proton Saga FLX 1.3 !!!

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:19:00 +0000

Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) is something yours truly is still new with. In fact, driving the Proton Saga FLX 1.3 is the first time I've ever driven a CVT equipped car. CVT is becoming more popular these days thanks to its smooth operation, lower cost structure, lighter and also more fuel efficient.

The Saga FLX my dad just got from his company was the low-end variant, where the Executive variant will get extras such as Dual SRS airbags, ABS, EBD, alloy wheel, fog lights, coloured wing mirrors and door handle, steering wheel with audio switches and other amenities with just an extra of RM3.5k. I still don't understand why Proton doesn't equipped the entry level Saga with at least a driver airbag, does it really affect the selling cost so much?

Proton's attention to details are awesome!

While the exterior looks contemporary with the chrome grille and LED taillights, the cabin is a sad scene. For a RM41,798k car, the plastic used is dreadful, worse than the plastic used in some of the car in the same price range. The plastic parts are rough, hard and hollow to fingertip knocks. The driver and front passenger seat's backrest were slightly loose at every inclination angle.

Some places of the steering wheel are hard and uncomfortable to the touch due to poor fit and finishing. The driver's exterior door handle is difficult to be operated too. The saddest thing is that we are in the 21st century, but the rear seat can't be folded!

The Saga FLX 1.3 unit I drove just clocked 50km in the odometer. While on the go, the steering column also felt slightly loosen, it vibrated (but not apparent) while going on rough grade road and bumps, hopefully the service centre can solve this in the first service. The car was jerky at low speed, not sure whether it's caused by the CVT or the still-tight engine. Road noise and compressor noise intruded greatly, but it's forgivable since it's an entry level car.

I understand the Saga is an entry level car, but take a look at the key/remote control. Do Proton really has to save cost by putting the same size/colour buttons? At least put a red button for the alarm like for the Wira. You'll won't be able to feel the tiny little dot on the door lock button too. The similar buttons cost me accidentally pressing on the wrong button at night, causing the alarm to sound off! Hopefully I didn't wake any of my neighbours up!

A power socket above the cup holder, genius...

Another cost cutting measure, wiper reservoir cap is not attached together with the reservoir. Even my dad's old Kenari is attached... RM41k is not exactly cheap to me as an entry level car! Proton has done right with its Exora but too bad it's a different case for the Saga. With such quality, I'm glad that the Proton Saga is not sold in UK because it might suffer the same fate of the Perodua Kelisa which is 'tortured' by a British automotive TV programme presenter, if you know what I mean. Thankfully the negatives end here.

It is very generous of Proton to provide such a nice carpet! There is also a first aid kit, luggage mat and trunk lid cover (the insulator under the trunk lid) for the trunk. Too bad I would rather save on all these extras to get more features! There is also ample space for 2 adults to fit at the back comfortably, with more than enough legroom and headroom for a 175cm occupant like me.

The CVT was lively and gave a smooth ride at high speed. There's a SAT button beside the gear level that will imitade the behavior of a normal automatic gearbox. My recommendation is to stick with the normal CVT as the SAT doesn't provide more power, but also consumes slightly more fuel and makes the engine sounds rougher. The 1.3litre IAFM engine produces 94bhp and 120Nm at 4000rpm, mated to a 6-speed CVT gearbox, sounded a bit like a diesel engine when you turn the ignition on, but it was relatively quiet when the speed increase, thanks to CVT which brought the rpm down for about 500rpm compared to Saga FL at 80km/h. The powerplant also felt like willing to be pushed too!

Revised suspension for the FLX include thicker anti-roll bar at the front, from 19mm in the FL to 21mm in the FLX, stiffer springs and revised rebound rate which offers 20% to 30% more stiffness. The result, a well-controlled body when going through a corner. While the body roll is still apparent, it shouldn't make the occupants uncomfortable. However, occupants' comfort is sacrifice since the suspension setup is stiffer now, especially for the rear passengers. I love the well-weighted steering wheel, but my dad who are used to city cars with lighter steering wheel said the steering setup is a bit too tight for him.

Based on first impression, the CVT looks promising and the revised suspension is welcomed. The major letdown is the hugh quality problem. If you really want to get a Saga FLX, get the Executive variant as the features it has worth every of your extra penny.

Verdict:
+ CVT, handling.
- Fit and finishing, cabin plastic, lack of safety features for a RM40k car.

One of the best angles of Saga FLX

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DRIVEN: Volkswagen Jetta 1.4 TSi !!!

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:49:00 +0000

Writing a car review is never as hard as calculating the force of a jet water when it hits an inclined plane, for yours truly. However, this case is exceptional. After driving the Volkswagen Jetta 1.4 TSi, I found it tough on describing the places where the Jetta stands out nor its weaknesses. Don't get me wrong, the Jetta is never a bad choice. It's a well balanced car in most of the aspects, and I guess you'll have to continue reading this post to understand what I'm trying to describe here.

People will call the Jetta as plain vanilla (coincidently the test drive unit is white-in-colour), simple design which doesn't help make it a head turner like some other C-segments such as Honda Civic. However, the design is uncluttered and it even brings along a tad of elegance. All in all, the Jetta is beautiful in its own way by being simple.

For your information, Jetta is built based on an extended platform of Golf. Don't jump into conclusion by saying that Jetta is just a Golf with a boot strapped on! Volkswagen announced that the Jetta is an entirely new product, meaning no parts are shared with the Golf. Therefore the Jetta is lucky not to have a disproportioned body from the usual hatchback-to-sedan transformation. I would appreciate if the Jetta has chrome finishing on the window line, or at least on the door handles to give the Jetta a more upmarket feel.

The similar design theme is also applied for the cabin. Minimalist dashboard design in black gave the cabin a gloomy environment. Thankfully, there are few chromes in the cabin to cheer things up. On the bright side, the simple design of the instrument panel and center console are easy to look at and everything is well within reach, sign of good ergonomics. Not to mention the excellent build quality of the cabin.

The powerhouse of the Jetta is the 1.4 TSi which produces 160bhp and 240Nm of torque from as low as 1750rpm. It is the same engine found in the Mk6 Golf, and this engine (brief explanation of the engine can be found in my Golf 1.4 TSi review) is capable of producing fun and be economical at the same time! Volkswagen claimed that the Jetta is the most powerful car in its segment, and I have to agree on this. I remember reading an article about Jetta achieving a range of 350km by using only half a tank of fuel, so I believe the fuel consumption of the Jetta should be quite satisfying as well.

I'm not a 6-foot British automotive TV programme host but the engine is strong enough to satisfy the inner racer boy of me. Under the humble and modest skin is a beast soul, mated to a 7-speed DSG gearbox which shifts gear as fast as lightning (almost). A tap on the accelerator will activate the 240Nm of torque when the engine reaches around 1700rpm, making it hard to believe that it is only a 1.4litre engine fixed under the hood. Handling wise, I would say the Jetta falls between the engaging Honda Civic and the comfort-oriented Toyota Altis. The Jetta is composed and planted on the road when making turns at high speed. The steering was direct and well weighted. The seats are also supportive, capable of holding you in place when you decide to get things a little bit rough.

In terms of comfort, I dare to comment that it is on par with Toyota Altis and Nissan Sylphy, if not better. The suspension was able to absorb humps and bumps well while remain composed on the road. Refinement is one of the best in its class, I barely can hear any noise that intruded the cabin other than the engine when I step on the pedal hard.

Selling at RM150,000, it is priced about RM20k more than its closest Japanese competitors. However, it should be justified that Volkswagen is a more premium brand and the Jetta comes with more features than its competitors, for instance 6 airbags, hill-hold control, dual-zone air conditioning and auto dimming interior mirror. There are explanation for most of the cons, and I had a tough time trying to find any major fault in the Jetta, which there isn't any.

+ Build quality, comfort, refinement.
- No real negatives!

Photos credit to Jayren!

Check out my other reviews on Volkswagen:
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSi
Volkswagen Passat CC

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Cobra @ TTDI !

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:19:00 +0000

I was there in TTDI's Cobra office to repair my car remote control after Toyota SC diverted me to Cobra. It is an admin block with a shoplot to accomodate about 6 customers' car. After parking my car in the empty shoplot, I headed to the admin block and greeted by the friendly customer service representative.

It only took them 10mins to get the job done while you wait in the air-conditioned lounge. Quite efficient job I would say!

While waiting for my remote control to be fixed, I saw Cobra also produces products like siren, reverse sensor and even GPS-integrated vehicle recovery system.

Some of you might realize that your Honda, Toyota and even more premium manufacturers like Audi uses Cobra security system! Just pay a visit if you have any technical difficulties with your car's security.

Address:
Cobra Auto (M) Sdn Bhd
118-120, Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi,
Taman Tun Dr Ismail,
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan
Tel: 03-7729 7540

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Maruti Swift Dzire - Sedan Version of Swift !

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:57:00 +0000

Ah... the latest generation Suzuki Swift hatchback. WAIT! Is it what I think it is? At the back?

Oh no! It's a boot (I wouldn't want call it a boot since it's SO short!) strapped on a Swift hatchback! Maruti Suzuki in India had done it again in designing a sedan version for the popular Swift hatchback, in a bad way.

Remember the 1st generation Swift Dzire? No, this is not a photoshop gone wrong. Measuring at 4160mm, the Swift Dzire above looks disproportioned with such a long-ish rear overhang. Maruti also did a cost cutting measure by using back the same taillights of the hatchback on the sedan, where the end result is not so great...

Now, Maruti Suzuki had done it right by redesigning the rear end of the Swift Dzire. Frankly, it's a bit of a looker from the back, ala Suzuki Kizashi! However, it is the boot length which destroyed the whole design. Maruti Suzuki kept the overall length under 4m to enjoy some benefits by Indian government for small cars. The result - the shortest boot that I had ever seen. It's so short that it won't make a difference in terms of boot space, literally.

Thankfully the cabin of the all-new Swift Dzire looks great. The two-tone dashboard, wood trim and silver finishing on the steering wheel doesn't reflect its low price tag. Moreover, the instrument panel look like it came from a C-segment car!

Pics source

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DRIVEN: Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSi !!!

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:35:00 +0000

Sometimes looks can be deceiving. I remember vividly when the latest generation Volkswagen Golf is launched in Malaysia, my first thought was "Is it a facelift?".The Mk6 Golf looks almost identical from far, spotted only the headlights as the biggest changes in terms of design compared to Mk5 Golf. Although the Mk6 uses the same platform as the Mk5, the Mk6 is a new beast compared to its predecessor...

The critically acclaimed Volkswagen Golf had reached its 6th generation. It came to Malaysia last year with a selling price of RM158,888 for the 1.4 TSi variant, while the GTi is going for slightly over RM200k. The Volkswagen Golf has sold more than 25 millions worldwide since 1974! Of course this happened for reasons. I was eager to test drive the Car Of The Year 2009, which is the Golf in this case, to find out what's with the Golf that makes people go gaga about it.

Our test drive course was located in a residential area, but comfort and handling can be tested thanks to the humps (a lot of it!) and roundabouts. My first impression on the Golf Mk6 is like a Mk5 with make-up, more contemporary styled than the latter to keep up with the rapidly changing market. The headlights are elegantly designed, comprised of chrome, boat-like shape which houses the projectors. Although the exterior design looks simple, it is not boring to look at either.

One of the highlights of the latest generation Golf 1.4 TSi is the dual force inducted engine. The automotive industry currently prefer to downside the displacement of the engine but adding in turbo-charger to increase the engine's power. Volvo and Volkswagen, to name a few, followed the pattern and Volkswagen gave the 1.4 TSi engine two force induction system to increase the power output to 160bhp and 240Nm of torque in the small-ish 1.4litre powerplant. Mated to the engine is a 7-speed dual clutch DSG transmission with smooth gear change.

The Golf is not a good car to mess with at a traffic light junction! The 240Nm of torque is available from as low as 1750rpm, and this enables the Golf to triumph some normally aspired 2.0litre engine cars in a drag race! The figures proved itself true when the car surged forward as I accelerated the car until around 1700rpm. It gave a brisk acceleration and knot to 100km/h can be achieved in less than 10 seconds! No turbo lag was experienced as Volkswagen solved the problem which is usually found in a force inducted engine by adding a second force induction device.

Although the ride was a bit on the firm side, the Golf was still able to isolate most of the road imperfection, giving a composed and comfortable ride to the passengers. Drivers who prefer to have some enjoyment in driving can step the pedal to the metal, and feel yourself getting shoved into the seat as the twin force inducted engine launches itself into the air. Okay I was exaggerating, but you should get my message,right? Bear in mind that this is just a Golf 1.4 TSi, I'm sure the Golf GTi will be much more powerful than this! I brought the Golf to 100km/h in no time and it felt stable, composed with engine and wind noise well compressed, the road noise was a bit over my liking though.

Three alphabetical acronyms like ABS, EBD, ESP, TCS and 7 airbags (including knee airbag) are some standard equipments in the Golf to provide a peace of mind and safe handling. The Volkswagen Golf is no doubt a safe but also an enjoying car to drive. It has adequate space for 5 adults in the cabin and a well-sized boot for a weekend shopping spree. No wonder some family guy even opted the Golf as his family car!

+ Strong engine, handling, spacious cabin.
- Road noise.

Check out my other reviews on Volkswagen:
Volkswagen Jetta
Volkswagen Passat CC

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INFO: Disc Brake

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:13:00 +0000

Almost every modern cars are equipped with 4 disc brake, but some car manufacturers will still opt for drum brake for the two rear wheels to lower down the cost as drum brake is cheaper compared to disc brake. Although a disc brake cost more than a drum brake, the former is more effective while braking. Sometimes safety does come with a price.

Let me share a brief explanation on how the braking system works. Disc brake, which usually made out of cast iron, is clamped by brake pads and the pads will be forced hydraulically onto the disc brake when force is applied on the brake pedal. This action will causes friction between the brake pads and disc brake, slowing down or bringing the car to a halt.

Can you spot the new ones and old one?

Some common problem on brake are brake squeal and vibration. I'm sure you guys had experienced or at least heard the pain-in-the-ear squealing sound when a car applies its brake. It is often caused by brake pads wearing off, signalling its time to change new brake pads! Sometimes vibration which is sent into the cabin while braking is caused by crooked or deformed disc brake. If your front disc brakes are crooked, it will send minor to severe vibration to the steering wheel, depending on braking speed.

So, are your brakes in tip-top condition? Visit your trusted or nearest mechanics if it's not because safety comes first!!

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Volkswagen Test Drive Event !!!

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:05:00 +0000

Not everyone will get the chance to test drive six Volkswagen models in one day - but a group of bloggers had! Thanks to Nuffnang and Volkswagen, a bunch of bloggers had fun trying out six Volkswagen models available - Polo, Polo GTi, Jetta, Golf, Passat and Passat CC in Desa Park City.

The event started from 11am to 2pm but I was located into the 2nd session, which started at 12.30pm. I arrived at 12.30pm sharp but saw 1st session participants were still trying out the cars... In the end, I drove only 3 models - the Jetta, Golf and Passat CC (detailed review for each of them will be posted in the near future!) just in time before the end of the event.

Let's take a look on some of the Volkswagen models available on that day:

The red hot ~~chilli pepper~~ Volkswagen Polo! Its good handling, fuel efficiency and compact size make it the perfect urban roundabout vehicle. Although it's the smallest (and cheapest in Malaysia) model in Volkswagen's product lineup, the cabin does not feel low-end at all. The dashboard is covered with soft-touch material and everything feels built to last, a typical Volkswagen.

Then it was the Polo GTi which was in the limelight. Bloggers were swarming the car to get a chance to play with its horses, horsepower I mean!

A Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSi was there (different variant than the Golf above) but too bad the Golf GTi was not available. I drove the Golf 1.4 TSi and I got to say I'm impressed! Selling at RM158,888, the Golf 1.4 TSi worth every of your penny, and I bet the Golf GTi will be even more awesome! Like I said, a more detailed review on the Golf 1.4 TSi will be coming!

Before the event, we were asked to choose one out of six Volkswagen models to be test driven, and I chose the Volkswagen Passat CC. Yes, I drove it too! It's such a cool car which can turn heads around when you drive pass people!

Didn't get to take a picture of the Volkswagen Jetta, which I also drove it in the event. My short verdict for the Jetta is it's a strong contender in the C-segment dominated by many Japanese car models. The Jetta is one of the best, but too bad it's price is also higher than its competitors.

Lastly will be the Passat 1.8 TSi. Also a strong contender in the D-segment, thanks to its technological advanced powertrain and classy design.

It was a pity that Golf GTi and Scirocco were not there for the event. Otherwise our test drive session will be much more enjoying! So, which is your ideal car? Das Auto, The car.

*UPDATE

Nuffnang released some snippets of the Volkswagen event!

Follow me via Blogger, @simon_har or subscribe to SiMon HaR_ so that you'll be informed when I posted reviews on the Volkswagen I drove!

Check out some of my reviews on Volkswagen:
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSi review
Volkswagen Jetta 1.4 TSi review
Volkswagen Passat CC review

Detroit Motor Show 2012 !

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 07:36:00 +0000

Detroit Motor Show 2012 has debuted a lot of cool looking cars from the big manufacturers around the world. Below are some new production/concept cars which I think deserve the Top 10 best looking debutants of Detroit Motor Show 2012 (in no particular order):

Honda Accord Concept, a 'concept' which shows you how the new generation Accord will look like. Looks sporty, but unfortunately it still doesn't stand out of the crowd. Honda still opted the conservative side like the 2012 Civic in terms of design...

2013 Cadillac ATS. Love the red hot paint and the headlights which flows far back from the front end!

2013 Dodge Dart. Dodge certainly has improved in designing its cars these days. C-segment will have another tough competitor now! One word for the Dart: hot!

2013 Lexus LX570. It bears some resemblance of the 2012 Lexus GS 300's grille, adding uniqueness to the rather ordinary looking exterior.

Honda/Acura NSX Concept. Good news, Honda/Acura will put the NSX into production! You'll also get to see Tony Stark/Iron Man driving it in the upcoming movie 'The Avengers' first!

2013 Ford Fusion/Mondeo. It is the spice among the bland looking D-segments. Expect good performance, handling and safety from it too!

Lexus LF-LC, one of the highlights of Detroit Motor Show 2012. Take a look at the lines of the LF-LC, all of them are telling you "look at me, I'm sexy!".

Volkswagen E-Bugster, EV version of the Beetle. Packed with 114bhp and 199 pound-feet of torque! This is not an EV to mess with!

Chevrolet Tru 140S. Apart from the name, everything else will turn you on! One hot hatch it is!

I will personally give the Chrysler 700C Minivan the 'Wackiest Design Award'! The window lines are simply wacky without looking disporportioned. Look closer and you'll see the windows, headlights and fog lights have the same design theme.

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Toyota 'Trio' Are Coming!

noreply@blogger.com (SiMon Har) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:24:00 +0000

Toyota is starting its year 2012 with a 'bang'! The all-new Toyota Avanza (above) is launching this week, expect it to be a hot selling model from Toyota again, thanks to its affordable price. A 1.3litre engine with 91bhp and a 1.5litre engine with 103bhp will be offered to customers to choose from. The price starts from RM63,864 for the entry-line 1.3E to RM78,864 for the high-end 1.5S.

It is a surprise that UMW Toyota decided to bring the Prius C, which is a hatchback, to Malaysia. Estimated price for the Prius C is RM103,990, priced slightly higher than Malaysia's current cheapest hybrid, which is the Honda Insight. However, the list of equipment and safety are impressive. A push-start button, 3.5inch full colour multi-information display, cruise control, steering wheel with tilt and telescoping adjustment, automatic air-cond, seven airbags (with knee airbag) and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) as standard!

The Prius C uses a 1NZ-FXE 1.5litre Atkinson cycle engine, which produces 73bhp at 4,800 rpm and 111Nm at 3,600-4,400 rpm together with an electric motor of 61bhp and 169Nm, combining them are capable of producing 101bhp output. The powerplant is mated to an E-CVT gearbox and have fuel efficiency of 40km/l!

Lastly will be the facelifted Prius. The price of it, unfortunately, has bumped up to RM143,000 from RM139,000. But the price bump doesn't come without reason. The facelifted Toyota Prius spotted with a sportier looking front bumper integrated with LED running light, and also new rear light clusters. An additional RM 5,000 at RM148,000 you can get the Prius Luxury, which gives you leather seats, auto-dimming rear view mirror and LED projector headlamps.

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