Thanks to Proton, we got a chance to experience what it is like to be a navigator in a full blown works rally car, well at least what it is like to sit in the navigator's seat while the car is driven at speed by a world class rally driver like Chris Atkinson.
Of course he made it look like a Sunday drive but the blur of hand and feet twirling the steering this way and that way, with the right hand flicking the sequential cogs and tugging on the handbrake and feet dancing away like they are avoiding fire ants is proof enough that rally driving is not for everyone.
Video after the jump
Bear in mind that Chris was driving on roads so rough that if we were driving our own cars, the speedometer would probably never go past 20km/h.
We thought we should share the experience with you so with the help of two on-board cameras and at least four passes on the same route, we managed to capture these footages.
With the first round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship kicking off this weekend, Proton is busy carrying out shakedowns for their Mellors Elliot Motorsports-prepped Satria Neo S2000 is Sepang and they invited us to experience the car in the hands of their ace pilots, Alister McRae and Chris Atkinson.
The car continues to wear the same bright yellow livery but even from the outside there are some obvious changes to the car. The windows have all been changed to perspex and the bonnet now has cutouts for quick adjustments to the team's all-new Reiger suspension system.
Video of the car in action after the jump
We had the privilege of riding the car in its first year here three years ago and we can report that the Satria Neo S2000 is not such a boneshaker anymore, the Reiger suspenders give the car something like 160mm extra travel and the result is a car that is far more stable and predictable.
The wheels may be pounding the uneven oil palm estate service roads but the car is sitting steady atop the new spring and damper units.
The car now has new cams and exhaust system and the improved breathing has resulted in 30 extra lb ft of torque, it mow cranks out just over 300lb ft of twisting force.
The engine is normally aspirated so you can hear the driver working it to the redline most of the time unlike turbo cars which don't need the revs exiting some corners as the torque is delivered early thanks to forced induction.
Everyone seems confident that the car will do well in Johor Baru, I certainly hope this is the case because Proton is bringing down a busload of journos to cover the rally this weekend.
The team has done a lot of winter testing and even conducted a reliability test covering 350 miles, and the car passed without a glitch.
As you can see from the photo above the Mini Countryman was launched at the Kuala Lumpur train station, at platform four.
Platform four was chosen to reflect the All4 concept of the Countryman, ie it has four doors and four-wheel drive.
Video of the launch, more details and full Press release after the jump
This is the biggest Mini so far and reminds us of the original wagon that was converted into everything from delivery can to shooting brakes, well in the sense that they were used to go hunting.
With the size comes the interior space but since the new Mini is not a class leader in terms of packaging and space, don't expect to find a cavernous interior, just enough space for four people.
To be fair, the four people who can fit into the Countryman in relative comfort will travel in style.
The usual Mini trappings like huge central dials, toggle switches on the centre console, large headlamps, broad shoulders, high window line, hexagonal grille and vertical tail lamps are all intact.
The car comes in a wide range of colours and many customisation possibilities and most of them can be specified at birth so it could be fitted as original equipment by Mini.
Acording to BMW Malaysia MD, Geoff Briscoe they are planning another Mini announcement late in the year.
PRESS RELEASE
BMW Group Malaysia Welcomes the New MINI Countryman
First ever MINI to feature four doors, five-person seating layout and Four Wheel Drive (4WD) introduced in Malaysia.
Kuala Lumpur, 24th March 2011 – BMW Group Malaysia today introduced the brand new MINI Countryman, completing the range of MINI vehicles available in Malaysia. As the fourth variant in its model family, the eagerly-anticipated MINI Countryman represents a series of firsts for the iconic MINI name.
The MINI Countryman is the first MINI to feature four doors, a versatile interior layout offering space for five people and a large tailgate offering access to more than double the storage space of previous MINI vehicles. Whilst the MINI Countryman may sound like a more ‘grown-up’ version of the MINI, it has lost none of the trademark, go-kart drive feel of the MINI, even taking it a step further with the MINI ALL4 all-wheel-drive system available with the MINI Cooper S Countryman. All in, the MINI Countryman expresses the defining virtues of the brand in terms of design, premium quality, performance and scope for customisation – all traditions of this premium marque.
Introducing the new MINI Countryman, Geoffrey Briscoe, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia said, “From the start, the MINI name has always been synonymous with excitement, cheekiness and performance; characteristics that are in abundance with the new MINI Countryman that we are introducing today. The MINI Countryman represents everything that is great about the MINI and magnifies it. It is all about the 4 – 4th Family Member, 4 Doors, 4 Wheel Drive and built larger than 4 Metres in size!”
Briscoe further added that the MINI brand continues to be a successful and growing brand for BMW Group Malaysia, saying “In 2010, BMW Group Malaysia sold a total of 222 MINI’s, a growth of 3.7 percent compared to the preceding year and with todays launch of the new MINI Countryman, we are looking forward to continuing MINI’s success in Malaysia.”
As the world’s first maker of the premium iconic car, MINI broke new ground when the brand was re-introduced in 2001 by the BMW Group. Built around a strategy of combining advanced vehicle and chassis technology, uncompromising “Go-Kart” drive quality and an inimitable style, MINI quickly earned a special niche in car markets the world over.
“The MINI Countryman represents an assured evolution of the brand’s design language, bridging the gap between the classic MINI concept and a future projection of its capabilities. Even with larger body dimensions, increased ground clearance and four doors, the MINI Countryman is still unmistakeably a MINI.” said Farid Sulaiman, MINI Manager at BMW Group Malaysia.
Available in the Malaysian market from March 24 onwards, the MINI Countryman will be made available in two 1.6 litre engine variants; the MINI Cooper Countryman and the MINI Cooper S Countryman. Originally introduced for MINI in mid-2010, the 1.6-litre four-cylinder unit also boast a host of technical features, enabling the optimal combination of performance and fuel efficiency. The MINI Cooper Countryman’s drivetrain develops 90kW/122 hp, enabling the car to hit the 0 to 100 km/h mark in 11.6 seconds with an average fuel consumption of 7.6 litres per 100km and a CO2 emission rating of 177 grams per km. The MINI Cooper S Countryman, meanwhile, sees the addition of a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct injection complemented by fully variable valve management to the 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, with 135kW/184 hp, enabling the car to hit the 0 to 100 km/h mark in 8.3 seconds, offering by far the best balance between output and fuel consumption in its displacement class.
The result is a new, traction-led expression of the agile handling for which MINI is famed. This ability is underpinned by sophisticated new suspension technology, which includes a front axle with MacPherson spring struts and forged track control arms, multi-link rear suspension and the electromechanical power steering system EPS. The MINI Countryman comes as standard with the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system, while Dynamic Traction Control will be a standard feature only on the MINI Cooper S Countryman and includes electronic locking function for the front axle differential.
The MINI ALL4 all-wheel drive, which comes standard on the MINI Cooper S Countryman allows the driving fun you expect from the brand to be experienced off the beaten track as well. The permanent all-wheel-drive system’s quick and precise responses to changing conditions provide a new, traction-led expression of the handling talents for which MINI is famed. Here, an electromagnetic centre differential positioned directly on the final drive varies the distribution of power seamlessly between the front and rear axles. In normal driving conditions up to 50 per cent of the drive is sent to the rear wheels, with as much as 100 per cent being channeled during extreme situations.
Externally, the MINI Countryman provides a familiar interpretation of classic MINI features, such as the roof line, hexagonal radiator grille, large headlights set into the bonnet, side indicator surrounds, capacious wheel arches and vertical rear light clusters. Using the MINI design language as a starting point, the MINI Countryman then showcases its own individualism with its individual design language. Large glass surfaces and distinctive contours of the roof provide an expansive visual cue of the MINI Countryman’s increase in interior space and four-door layout.
The extra-wide border around the lower part of the body and powerfully bolstered wheel arches are a nod to the robustness of the vehicle and its all-wheel drive capabilities. In wheel offering, the MINI Cooper Countryman features 17 inch light alloy wheels with 5-Star Double Spoke whilst the MINI Cooper S Countryman offers 18 inch light alloy wheels in anthracite and with Turbo Fan design.
The MINI Countryman comes as standard as a five seater with ample space to ensure comfort over long journeys with generous legroom, headroom and shoulder room. The rear seats can be moved forwards and backwards individually in a 60 : 40 split, and the backrests can be folded down either individually in a 40 : 20 : 40 split, all of which allows luggage capacity to be increased from 350 litres to a maximum of 1,170 litres.
The interior of the MINI Countryman also boasts a selection of new design and functional elements. The slightly raised seating position allows easy entry, optimises the driver’s view over the road and reinforces the powerful character of the new model. The Centre Speedometre and air vents are bordered by chrome lining. The unique MINI Centre Rail, meanwhile, runs lengthwise through the middle of the interior in place of a conventional centre console and opens up new ways of integrating storage spaces and accessories just as you want them.
A newly configured range of exterior colours featuring eleven new exterior colour options in the form of Pure Red, Bright Yellow, Surf Blue, Light Coffee, Light White, Absolute Black, Cosmic Blue, Oxford Green, Crystal Silver, Royal Grey and True Blue now extends the MINI colour palate. Meanwhile inside, upholstery materials in cloth leather in Parallel Lines of Carbon Black with choices of Pure Red or Light Tobacco, allows for a particularly harmonious combination with the interior Carbon Black Colour Line. Automatic air conditioning and an audio system with CD player are all fitted as standard, while the model-specific array of optional equipment packages available for the MINI Countryman includes the glass roof package and MINI Connected package
The glass roof package offers one touch operation and convenient opening of a panoramic glass roof through radio-remote control key. The package can be obtained for an additional RM 9, 988.
On the other hand, the MINI Connected package is a suite of technology features that opens the door to a globally unique form of in-car entertainment, utilising technology specifically developed to integrate the telecommunications, entertainment and online functions of an iPhone into the MINI, using a cable supplied with MINI Connected for the USB socket or via a snap-in adapter.
Functions of MINI Connected introduced include the world’s first web radio function to allow users to pick up their preferred radio stations from around the world regardless of their locations, user-definable RSS news feeds and much more. Also included in the MINI Connected package is a Harmon Kardon HiFi loudspeaker system (480W/ 10 speakers) and Radio MINI Visual Boost with a 6.5 inches high-resolution colour LCD screen. The MINI Connected package retails at RM 14, 988.
The retail prices (on the road for personal registration, without insurance, with the MINI Tender Loving Care service package) for the new MINI Cooper Countryman and MINI Cooper S Countryman are as follows: -
MINI Cooper Countryman-RM 248, 888 MINI Cooper S Countryman-RM 285, 888
With the Formula One race coming to Malaysia soon, and Lotus Renault scoring a podium in the first race of the season in Australia, behind Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton the season is shaping up to be a an interesting one.
A few weeks ago the Lotus Renault management met with the Malaysian media and gave us an insight into their efforts this year and a hint at what Fairuz Fawzy might be up to this year.
The manufacturer claims that it costs only RM1 to charge the bike from empty to full and each charge can take you as far as 100 kilometres - on a straight and level road of course.
Even assuming that it can travel 30 kilometres on a single charge, this is still good range for one ringgit worth of juice.
We do not know how it performs in the real world yet but as soon as they give us a test bike we will keep you guys informed
In the past we have not been impressed by electric bikes but the technology is improving fast, this may be the one that changes our perception.
Race trophies says a lot about the event and the organiser so Sepang International Circuit commissioned world renowned jewelery make Tiffany & Co to produce their race trophy for the Petronas Grand Prix.
The design is in the form of a classical championship cup, a form that Tiffany has maintained in their catalogue since they began making trophies.
A video explaining the design comes after the jump
PRESS RELEASE
Sepang Race Trophies in Sterling Silver from Tiffany & Co.
Breaking tradition, the winners’ trophies for the Formula 1, MotoGP and the 12-hour Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race (MMER) at Sepang Circuit will now be in sterling silver and courtesy of world renowned silversmith Tiffany & Co.
“I am proud to announce our collaboration with Tiffany and Co, which will be sponsoring the winners’ trophies for the Formula 1 PETRONAS Malaysia Grand Prix, the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix and our MMER for the next three years beginning this year,” said SIC Chief Executive Officer Dato Ahmad Razlan Ahmad Razali.
“This is indeed a historical day for us. It gives us great pride to be working with Tiffany & Co. whose reputation in the industry is without comparison and second to none,” he said at the unveiling of the 2011 Formula 1 PETRONAS Malaysia Grand Prix trophy at ‘Tiffany & Co’ Store, Pavilion Mall in Kuala Lumpur today.
According to Razlan, the partnership with Tiffany & Co, which is a world renowned icon, would inject further glamour and prestige on SIC; and that he was pleased that it was even extended to the 2011 Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix and the MMER event.
“After 13 years, we feel that a change is in line. Hence, the appointment of Tiffany & Co and having the glittering silver material,” he added.
To be held from April 8 to 10, the 2011 Formula 1 PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix would mark its 13th edition; and previous F1 trophies was made of pewter and produced by local companies.
Hailed as the world’s most prestigious motor racing event and ranked third behind the Olympics and the World Cup in terms of popularity, the F1 race is telecast live worldwide and reaching more than 400 million television viewers; giving sponsors huge mileage and international exposure.
For newspapers, magazine and websites, image of the race winners lofting the trophy is almost a must; ensuring worldwide coverage for the specially crafted prized trophies.
Handcrafted by Tiffany & Co. in its silver workshop, the cup honors the tradition of Formula 1 racing and represents Tiffany’s heritage as a world-renowned silversmith.
Under the three-year partnership, Tiffany & Co. is officially SIC’s trophy producer and sponsor for the three international events – the F1 race, MotoGP and the Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race, which is previously known as the Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race.
“I am made to understand that Tiffany & Co is now already working on a customized trophy for this year’s MotoGP and F1 next year. We are very excited to see the design as Tiffany & Co is known for their classy look,” added Razlan.
Tiffany & Co. creates sterling silver awards for many of the world’s greatest sporting events. Among them are the National Football League Vince Lombardi Super Bowl Trophy, National Basketball Association Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, World Series Trophy for Major League Baseball, and the U.S. Open Tennis Championship Trophies. Inspired by the transcendent form and energy of competition, these outstanding Tiffany & Co. designs are a lasting tribute to the athletes’ dedication and the thrill of victory.
For more details, contact SIC Head of Corporate Communications Azhar Ghazali at 019-3837865 or the National Press Officer Norlina Ayob at 019-3174555.
Caption Pic A from left: Ms Marianne Liow (General Manager Tiffany & Co Malaysia), Dato' Razlan Razali (SIC CEO), Pn Anita Azrina Abdul Aziz (General Manager PETRONAS Motorsports).
Pic B from left : Ms Marianne Liow (General Manager Tiffany & Co Malaysia), Dato' Razlan Razali (SIC CEO), Pn Anita Azrina Abdul Aziz (General Manager PETRONAS Motorsports) and Miss Hannah Yong (SIC Head of Events & Promotion)
Nation’s premier motorsports series continues to attract fans and sponsors
What started out as a weekend race for enthusiasts and young riders letting off steam has become the best organized professional racing series in Malaysia and this year national oil company, Petronas renewed their support for this important motorsport series.
While other racing series are struggling to find competitors, the Petronas AAM Cub Prix has 27 teams fielding 83 riders in the various categories, an increase of six teams from last year.
General Manager of Petronas Motorsports, Anita Azrina Abdul Aziz said that the season marks the 9th year of their association with the series which has grown into a key stage for uncovering, nurturing and developing new talents in motorsports.
She said that the increasing number of riders taking part is just one proof of the series’ potential in developing motorsports in Malaysia.
“The evolution of all the different categories has also allowed the championship to unearth some of the country’s best young talents on two wheels.
She said that the continued participation of motorcycle manufacturers has played a key role in developing the championship, especially through the popular one-make series which are not as costly for younger riders to participate in.
“Petronas has renewed the title partnership because it fits perfectly with our own objectives. As a business, our associations with Cub Prix provided us with a solid platform to position and market our fuels and lubricants.
“Through the championship we have been able to grow the brands, makint it synonymous with cub prix racing, this is why we continue to support this championship,” she said.
Event promoter, Safe Aim Mutual promotions director, Ron Hogg said that the increase in number of teams will help stimulate rider growth.
“2010 was a good year for the championship with young riders like 16-year old Syahrin Abdullah taking the CP130 crown, 14-year old Mohd Ramdan Mohd Rosli winning the CP115 class and Mohd Adib Rosley, 16 clinching the Wira title.
“Young riders taking control and smashing records in 2010 made it a game-changing season that will force existing riders to step up their game but we are still far from achieving the goal of producing a sizeable pool of talent and not just a handful of riders,” Hogg said.
Meanwhile Automobile Association of Malaysia chairman, Tunku Datuk Muzaffar Mustapha said that Petronas AAM Cub Prix had elevated the sport of motorcycle racing to the forefront of the Malaysian sporting arena.
“I am glad to say that despite the high profile and commercial success, it remains grounded in achieving its objectives and continues to look after the needs of upcoming riders. For this I applaud the continued effort and support from Honda and Yamaha in the creation of one-make races tailored specifically for first-time riders.
“The Petronas AAM Cub Prix Championship has, for some time now, been held as the benchmark for professionalism in Malaysian motorsports. I have every confidence that it will continue to remain so for so many years to come.
People often wonder why PETRONAS, an oil and gas company, is involved in motorsports, and believe me, we get asked that a lot!
I can’t say that I’m a natural motorsports fan – I’m more into fishing, the outdoors and nature – but over the years, I have come to appreciate the sport as an excellent branding and business platform when I was heavily involved in PETRONAS’ globalisation strategy beginning in the late 1980's and early 1990's.
Compared to the more established oil majors, we were then still considered a new kid on the block, but we did have the aspiration to be a key player very early on, you know?
I think it’s fair to say that the progress that we had made up to that point whetted our appetite to strive for even greater success. I mean, it wasn’t as if we had any inferiority complex and we’ve always thought that we had every chance to stand head and shoulders with the big boys.
When we first embarked on our globalisation effort, it was really tough getting through to the peoples and authorities of the countries we wanted to go into. But our involvement in motorsports and in Formula One racing in particular, helped open a lot of doors.
I can remember one business trip to somewhere in North Africa in the early days. We were exchanging business cards with our counterparts there and they instantaneously recognised the PETRONAS logo and its association with F1. “Oh, PETRONAS! Formula 1?" was invariably the remark they made, and some of us might remember than we once ran a TV commercial based on this experience.
It certainly served as a terrific icebreaker. Once they know you are representing PETRONAS, the tone and feel of the discussions became somewhat different and less laboured. Suddenly it was as if there was a common denominator between obvious strangers.
Today we are in more than 30 countries worldwide, and I can tell you that some of the countries and places we operate in are really remote. But thanks in part to the global exposure that we got out of Formula One, there’s always instant recognition wherever we go.
So how did we first get ourselves into motorsports? Having built our experience PETRONAS spent much of the 1980s growing our business beyond its exploration and production and into downstream retail. This was a period when you started to see an explosion in the number of PETRONAS retail stations being built across the nation.
Around this time, we started to think about ways to market our brand, image and products to the masses. We were keenly aware that we were up against the giants of the industry, so we had to think of alternative means to get our name out there and put a more prominent ‘public face’.
At that time, it became obvious that there could be opportunities for such exercise in motor racing and product placement and association.
Malaysia actually has a very interesting motor racing history in the late 60s and early 70s. Not a lot of people know that Malaysia was one of the venues for the Formula Pacific races, which was part of the now-defunct Formula Atlantic.
Apparently, we used to host races at Selangor’s Batu Tiga and Shah Alam circuits, as well as the Penang street circuit. These circuits also hosted other categories like endurance and touring car races, so our nation actually had a pretty impressive racing pedigree and a vibrant local motorsports scene.
Motor racing in Malaysia underwent a transformation in the 1980s with the popularity of rallying, especially when the country’s national carmaker became heavily involved in the sports. This was when we saw motor racing as a brilliant marketing platform, and it was simply too good an opportunity to miss.
Having our name and products associated with the most successful rally outfit of that era not only helped to gain people’s association to our products, but it also provided us with an avenue to differentiate ourselves from our competitors.
Crucially, we also found out that branding exercise through motorsports sponsorship was far more cost-efficient as opposed to forking out a fortune on traditional advertising mediums.
From there, it was a natural progress over the years for us to be involved in other formula and forms of racing.
By the 1990s, PETRONAS’ business ambitions grew to the point where we started to look beyond Malaysian shores, and the aspiration to grow globally provided the impetus for us to look for ways to position our name onto the global stage.
This ushered in our involvement in Formula One racing, starting with us entering into a partnership with Sauber at Monaco GP in 1995.
If you really look at it, there is probably no better platform that can capture millions of eyeballs than Formula One racing and give you an instant recognition across a wide global audience. The decision to enter into Formula One seemed the most natural and logical one, and in many ways, we were just really taking our experience at home and to a global stage.
Again, relative to other branding and promotion media, Formula One proved to be far more efficient in terms of cost and audience reach, and offered a superior value for money compared to other forms of advertising.
And I’m happy to note that we never looked back since.
It’s been 23 years since our first foray into motorsports and we have progressed in leaps and bounds since then. Over the years, what started out as purely a branding and promotion exercise has grown into full-fledged technological partnerships and collaborations to penetrate the international lubricant markets for our Syntium range of products.
There are those who continue to ask if it’s our involvement is still relevant and necessary, and our answer is, very simply, still a resounding yes.
The dispute between Team Lotus and Group Lotus is hard enough for the average joe to get their heads around but now Tony Fernandez has opened a new theatre of conflict, with former owner of Team Lotus David Hunt.
Apparently Hunt now says Fernandez is going back on a deal they struck earlier this year....hmm and we though he had paid for the team.
This could be Fernandez's eastern front, the fight that brings all other disputes crashing on his head.
Below is a snippet of the Daily Telegraph article that broke the story. Click on the link at the end of the post for the full story
Team Lotus civil war breaks out with Tony Fernandes and David Hunt locked in dispute over payment for name

Dispute: Team Lotus principal Tony Fernandes and David Hunt are locked in dispute over payment for the team name
Photo: AP
By Tom Cary
Last Updated: 7:19PM GMT 20/03/2011
It has been dubbed one of the most ludicrous, not to mention confusing quarrels in Formula One history. And it is up against some pretty stiff competition.
Barring an 11th hour settlement, the High Court battle between British car manufacturer Group Lotus, sponsors of the Renault F1 team, and rival outfit Team Lotus will commence onm Monday to determine who has the right to use the brand in Formula One.
However, Telegraph Sport has learned that an equally fierce fight is taking place behind the scenes which potentially threatens the outcome of that trial.
It has emerged that Tony Fernandes, the team principal of Team Lotus, is locked in a bitter dispute with supposed ally David Hunt, brother of former world champion James Hunt and the man who bought the Team Lotus name from the administrator when the outfit was wound up in 1994.
The dispute centres around Hunt's claims that Fernandes has gone back on an agreement the pair struck in January over payment for the Team Lotus name.
The revelation will surprise fans who were under the impression that Fernandes had already paid for the marque. It will also surprise those who believed that he and Hunt enjoyed a cosy relationship. Fernandes told his Twitter followers in January that Hunt was "the most honourable man" in the whole Lotus v Lotus dispute.
The majority of accidents involving pedestrians take place in suburbs which are usually packed with homes, schools and civic amenities.
The large number of people in these areas increases the likelihood of accidents while the number of young people and children further heightens the possibility of death and injury.
The best tip for driving in residential areas is to slow down, right down to about 30km/h so that you have more time to avoid a pedestrian that suddenly encroaches onto the road.
It also pays to look ahead as far as possible and identify possible places where pedestrians which includes young children may emerge.High risk areas include schools, junctions, near shops and homes.
Keep a lookout for traffic calming devices such as speed bumps, islands, bollards and stripes as they are clues of danger zones. The moment you see these devices, follow the posted speed limits.
Remember that going slow is the best strategy for driving in residential areas.
Peugeot 207 is not only versatile but contributes to the diversity of choice in the popular sub RM100K family car segment
By Marhalim Abas
In the non-national car segment, cars in 1.5 and 1.6 category and priced below RM90,000, the Toyota Vios and Honda City are in the perennial best seller lists.
They are followed closely by the Korean upstarts from ia and Hyundai with other Japanese makes which easily cost more than RKM90k.
Interestingly, the Vios 1.5 manual is the cheapest in this category costing some RM71k although one can splurge for the Sportivo version which is pegged at City E price of around RM85k plus.
It is in this very competitive category, Nasim Sdn Bhd, a member of the Naza Group is pitching the Peugeot 207 sedan. The CKD model is offered at RM73,074.50 off the road. Yes its even cheaper than its stable mate, the Kia Forte for which the 1.6 model starts from RM75k, also assembled at the plant in Gurun, Kedah.
Styling wise, the 207 looks more to the 206 which it replaced but since it’s a sedan it has a much larger boot, 420 litres to be exact. Not the biggest but I can guarantee that it will not be troubled by the weekly shopping trips.
The same goes for other excursions like chasing little white balls or the perennial balik kampong trips.
The front end drooped menacingly but does not look as aggressive as the more expensive 308. To be honest it looked more like a 407 on a low carb diet. Anyhow like others I have issues with the back end starting from the C-pillar but I guess it’s more of a personal taste rather than any design faux pas
Overall, the 207 looked like a nifty vehicle, an updated version of the previous model but remained a quintessential modern Peugeot. Driving wise, the 207 feels lively on the word go although one do not expect too much from the 1.6 litre car.
The steering felt too light for me coming out from parking or traffic lights but felt much more comfortable as the speedo goes past 40km/h. Again it’s more of a personal issue but I prefer to have the same feel from start to finish
One needs to floor the left pedal to get the most from the 1.6 litre twin-cam 16- valve four-cylinder engine. With147Nm at 4,000rpm on tap the 207 is respectable on the right lane of toll highways but it will have to make for other road hoggers willing to be captured on speed camera.
The four speed automatic transmission comes equipped with Tiptronic and a Sports mode, which is unheard of for cars sold at this price range. Normal driving mode is almost mandatory for the daily commute but if you wish to be more aggressive on the tog changes, the Sports mode is the way to go especially during over taking on the twisty back roads.
One word of caution, though, as in other cars fitted with the Sport mode, aggressive driving will quickly drained the heavily subsidised RON95 petrol from the 50 litres fuel tank.
At 4,235mm long, the 207 is not the biggest car around it fits well in the cars in the same category. Four adults will sit comfortably for long distances while three at the back are only advisable for short haul to the malls or hypermarkets.
For a late entrant into a crowded market, Nasim is offering a host of items of standard in the 207 such as an automatic climate control system, leather-wrapped steering wheel (with tilt adjustability), a multi-function display (located top centre) and four silver-trimmed, white background dial meters.
A six-speaker, single-DIN MP3/WMA CD player audio system is also standard equipment and come equipped with Bluetooth and USB.
Other standards items are dual front SRS airbags, two Isofix points for child seats, as well as sensor-activated headlamps and wipers, another first for a car in this segment. I am guessing the Isofixs come standard from the manufacturer as child seats with such mounting are way too expensive for most Malaysians consumers.
After three days with the 207, I have to question myself would I buy it? To be honest I have yet to make my mind since I am due to domestic reasons is looking for a much bigger vehicle than the normal.
Some say buying non-national cars in this segment shows a vertical movement in their social standing.
I am not too sure about this although many people still regard their choice of automobiles as a mark of their achievement in life. I buy my cars for my needs and not to show off to others. The 207 is straddled between the safe choice of Vios/
City and the Korean makes. Yes, the Japanese and Korean makes do have a higher residual value. But life is about diversity. The more the merrier, they say.
Nation’s premier motorsports series continues to attract fans and sponsors
What started out as a weekend race for enthusiasts and young riders letting off steam has become the best organized professional racing series in Malaysia and this year national oil company, Petronas renewed their support for this important motorsport series.
While other racing series are struggling to find competitors, the Petronas AAM Cub Prix has 27 teams fielding 83 riders in the various categories, an increase of six teams from last year.
Video of the launch and the rest of the story after the jump
Anita Azrina Abdul Aziz General Manager, Petronas Motorsports
General Manager of Petronas Motorsports, Anita Azrina Abdul Aziz said that the season marks the 9th year of their association with the series which has grown into a key stage for uncovering, nurturing and developing new talents in motorsports.
She said that the increasing number of riders taking part is just one proof of the series’ potential in developing motorsports in Malaysia.
“The evolution of all the different categories has also allowed the championship to unearth some of the country’s best young talents on two wheels.
She said that the continued participation of motorcycle manufacturers has played a key role in developing the championship, especially through the popular one-make series which are not as costly for younger riders to participate in.
“Petronas has renewed the title partnership because it fits perfectly with our own objectives. As a business, our associations with Cub Prix provided us with a solid platform to position and market our fuels and lubricants.
“Through the championship we have been able to grow the brands, makint it synonymous with cub prix racing, this is why we continue to support this championship,” she said.
Ron Hogg Promotions Director, Safe Aim Mutual
Event promoter, Safe Aim Mutual promotions director, Ron Hogg said that the increase in number of teams will help stimulate rider growth.
“2010 was a good year for the championship with young riders like 16-year old Syahrin Abdullah taking the CP130 crown, 14-year old Mohd Ramdan Mohd Rosli winning the CP115 class and Mohd Adib Rosley, 16 clinching the Wira title.
“Young riders taking control and smashing records in 2010 made it a game-changing season that will force existing riders to step up their game but we are still far from achieving the goal of producing a sizeable pool of talent and not just a handful of riders,” Hogg said.
Meanwhile Automobile Association of Malaysia chairman, Tunku Datuk Muzaffar Mustapha said that Petronas AAM Cub Prix had elevated the sport of motorcycle racing to the forefront of the Malaysian sporting arena.
“I am glad to say that despite the high profile and commercial success, it remains grounded in achieving its objectives and continues to look after the needs of upcoming riders. For this I applaud the continued effort and support from Honda and Yamaha in the creation of one-make races tailored specifically for first-time riders.
“The Petronas AAM Cub Prix Championship has, for some time now, been held as the benchmark for professionalism in Malaysian motorsports. I have every confidence that it will continue to remain so for so many years to come.
Part 1 of our video report of the Geneva Autosalon, In this part we have the Rolls Royce 102EX, Lamborghini Aventador and the Kia Picanto and Kia Rio Part 2 and Part 3 will come tomorrow and on Wednesday
Proton's R3 division have been very busy lately, working on race machines, special showcars and also limited run models like the R3 Satria Neo you see here.
Available only in fire red, the car is basically a more affordable version of the Lotus Racing Satria Neo which came with really nice high end componentry.
The rest of our first impression and the video is after the jump
For the R3 Neo, the team replaced the Ohlins dampers and AP brakes with R3's own recalibrated units that are based on the standard issue factory parts.
Luckily the R3 Neo gets to keep the lovely 145 horsepower unit and better still the engine has been further retuned to make it even more tractable.
To give it more room to play, R3 has brought the CPS activation point lower to 4,500rpm and and re-set the variable intake runners to switch to the short pipes at 5,500rpm so effectively the engine is on the boil from 4,500rpm all the way to the 7,500rpm redline.
Oh yes, the revcounter is still the standard item so it would still indicate a 6,250rpm redline and R3 is not shouting about the higher redline but I guess they will brief owners about it
With the shorter and stiffer springs and different wheel offset designed to fill the wider wheel arches, the car now comes with new alignment settings. The owner's manual comes with the new settings and owners have to inform their tyre shop of the new settings when getting the wheel alignment sorted out.
The really nice bits about the car is the front splitter, lowered seats, grippy steering and nappa leather on the seats.
Apart from the parts mentioned above, front splitter and the lovely close-ratio gearbox, R3 is selling the other performance parts as aftermarket so if you feel like upgrading the hot cams, recalibrated ECU, extractor, cat-back exhaust system, springs, rear spoiler, springs and wheels are all available at Proton Edar's platinum outlets.
At just a shade under RM80,000 the R3 Neo is great value, the chassis is beutifully sorted and now changes direction with a lot of confidence and predictability, it loves powering out of corners and simply tucks into the line with more throttle, the brakes are really impressive, stopping the car from 100km/h in around 35 metres.
Apaprently it reaches 400 centigrades without degradation...
I can't understand why the tow truck operator hooked the pick-up truck the way he did, Surprisingly the crowd and, presumably, the owner wasn't that upset about the incident..
Well everyone was cheering and swearing in excitement rather than in anger...but then again it is kind of funny
· Week 7 winner (RM3, 000): Ms Empina Anak Ngulu - Housewife from
Kuching, Sarawak
Press Release after the video
PRESS RELEASE
Shell Malaysia Rewards Another Five Malaysians RM 30,000 Each More than RM3 million in prizes up for grabs just for fuelling up at Shell
Shell Malaysia ushered in the year of the Rabbit with a grand celebration, hosted specially for Shell V–Power 97 ‘Win Weekly at Shell’ Contest winners! Held at The Royale Bintang @ The Curve, the celebration brought together five grand prize winners of RM30,000 cash and limited edition Ferrari key ring sets. In high spirits these ordinary Malaysians, from Klang Valley, Johor, Perak, and Sabah, were joined by a few winners of the recently concluded Shell V–Power 97 Race to Abu Dhabi campaign.
We would like to seek your help in highlighting this news in your publication. Please find attached the press relese (in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin), as well as pictures along with captions.
Vijay Mallya - terminated Aerolab's contract after suspected breaches of confidentiality
It seems that Team Lotus design chief, Mike Gascoyne may have brought more than just his ideas to the British-based, Malaysian-funded team and his former employer, Force India's Vijay Mallya is not amused
Mike Gascoyne
According to Force India, some ideas for aerodynamics may have been leaked out of their engineering contractor Aerolab.
More after the jump
Force India had terminated their contract with Italian-registered Aerolab after suspecting leaks, or rather, breaches of confidentiality.
Force India and Team Lotus will come face to face in the High Court in January of next year after a date was set for the dispute over intellectual property rights, which also involves aerodynamic design firm Aerolab.
Last summer Vijay Mallya’s Force India launched court proceedings in both the UK and Italy against Team Lotus’s parent company 1Malaysia, its technical chief Mike Gascoyne and Aerolab after suspecting that their rival team may have used their intellectual property in the design of the Lotus T127.
Its quite funny, this is a piece from Top Gear's 21st year, which was in 1999 or something and they guys and gals looked back at how they got to where they were
It is interesting and funny...its no wonder that Top Gear looks the way it does today...and Jeremy Clarkson was as ridiculous then as he is now, thank God for that
Rolls Royce is not really known for their eco-friendly cars, after all six and three quarters can burn through a lot of petrol....
But even the ultimate plutocrat ride has to keep up with the times or risk becoming extinct so Rolls Royce came up with the all-electric 102EX as part of their centenary celebrations.
CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos says they will send the 103EX on roadshow to see if customers find it electrifying.
Lotus Engineering put together all the electrical power bits and made sure everything worked.
Harley-Davidson of KL will be having Mega Sales fr 5 Mar-15 Apr 2011 at HDKL PJ showroom & KLCC lifestyle gallery. Discount up to 60% on merchandise. Your chance to live the Harley Davidson lifestyle Now!
