Essential Motoring 101

Forget about reducing your travel time and planning your journey first before you start the engine - we still need to go for that road trips to the beach, visit our loved ones, have a cup or two of teh tarik at the mamak, see the girlfriend and bring out, or simply to run a small errand. Life still goes on whether or not fuel prices skyrockets up to the moon.

However, here are some methods from our friends from our neighbouring countries. Who says the Vietnamese, or Chinese, are not advanced in their thinking in post-war environments; we should emulate what they do when it comes to saving fuel, if you dare, that is.

They not only achieve maximum fuel efficiency with their machines, heck, they could kill three or more birds with one stone too!

Here’s how they do it…

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The recent news about the government cutting on non-beneficial expenses and fueling more on development has got the rakyat filled with many questions that need answers.

A go for local cars or a no for imported cars?

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The first feather on its cap, the Proton Persona has won the hearts of Malaysians, and especially to the people at Frost & Sullivan, a growth consulting firm that also does market research of all sorts.

 
It is a great car, it really is! 

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Everything is getting light these days. Particularly in the motorsports arena where everybody wants to be the fastest in the track, for the ultimate ego-booster of their lives. To achieve that, the driver and his machine should ideally be of the ideal weight.

No, its not made of alloy

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For those who are uninformed, its the last day of the Divine Dad contest before it closes this evening!

Here is a shout-out to all who has a dad (or two) to take part in the Father’s Day contest organised by ???????? ????? ????????Star-Motoring.com, an online portal all about automotive news and reviews.

The winner gets a roaring Jaguar at his/her doorstep

Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM), the assembler and distributor of Nissan vehicles, has certainly been stepping up on their product line of late. In six months, two new models were released into the Malaysian market - the Latio and the Grand Livina. This has created a storm in the Malaysian market for non-national cars that elevated the company into the limelight once again.

Will it be the Sylphy this time?

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In a reactive decision to stay competitive in the pick-up truck market, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia have stepped up their product ammo by roping in two new variants of the Triton 4×4 pick-up truck - a 2.5L 4×2 manual and the 3.2L 4×4 automatic, which will also come as a completely build-up from Thailand, like the current Triton is.

The stormtrooper storms again

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Perodua brought in the Nautica as the replacement model for the Kembara that had since been the most affordable locally-manufactured 4WD compact SUV in Malaysia. After several face-lifts on the Kembara and an engine replacement, the manufacturer suggests that a completely new model may entice the many young drivers who simply want something different rather than a boring sedan.

Since the launch of the Viva in 2007, the second national carmaker has good vibes that the next new model would be introduced in 2009, looking at a 2-year pattern. So, between now (May) till year 2009, the Nautica would best to fill the gap of the wait, rather timely for the 10-year-old Kembara to ‘retire’ and be replaced.

Here are some pics of the Nautica, based on the initial test drive. Yes, this story and pics may be stale to some of you but at least this post can be your future point of motoring reference!

Deja-vu for most of you? The Nautica is not.

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Today will be the launch of the new Perodua Nautica, the replacement for the aging Kembara. As you have seen and peeked from their site www.theideal4wd.com.my, the Nautica has very similar looks as the Toyota Rush.

Looks aside, the Nautica is somewhat different in some ways that the Rush may not match, which I will post here later.
Watch out for more pics later this evening after the launch that will be held at KLCC this evening.

Not your ordinary 4WD 

Another shocking loss to our country, the founder, chairman, and CEO of NAZA Group of companies, Tan Sri S.M. Nasimuddin S.M. Amin passed away yesterday morning at 1.15am in Los Angeles, California due to lung cancer.

Tan Sri (middle) flanked by Rafidah and JH Moon, former MD of Kia Motors Asian Regional Office during the launch of 2 new KIA models

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