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Asian Festival Of Speed (AFOS)
It’s going to be a sensational season opener for this year’s
Asian Festival of Speed (AFOS) at the Sepang Circuit next month. Racing fans from the region will get an early preview of the fantastic line-up of events in this year’s AFOS during the first round of the series from
May 13-14.
With world-class marques like Renault, BMW and Porsche involved in this year’s AFOS, fans will be treated to an action-packed season of intensely thrilling racing. And best of all, the action begins in Malaysia, a prime mover of motorsports in Asia.
14 DAYS to Go.....YOU CAN GET TICKET FROM THE COUNTER AT THE RACE COURSE
No More "Kereta Potong".
Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia's second-hand car dealers do brisk business in unique cut cars, which are assembled by cutting up two different cars and sticking them together to make one vehicle.
Last year, it was reported that there were nearly 50,000 of these cars plying roads nationwide, the New Straits Times reported.
The government, which has long been aware of such scams, is now seriously considering making buyers of second hand cars get the vehicle examined by its experts before banks are allowed to release loans to finance the purchase.
p.s. hopefully, the relevance minister or department will stick to their word.
Lotus Car at RM 80,000 ?
Lotus has made quite the name for itself as a maker of super exotic-looking, high performance vehicles at a price set well below the likes of say Ferrari or Lamborghini.
Well, they’re working on an even more affordable model, expected to be priced between $15,000 to $20,000 USD. Which is around RM 80,000?
Motorists: Stay Away Under Bridge
Two college students who took shelter from the rain under a bridge were killed instantly when a car mowed them down.
“A north-bound speeding car passing the area lost control and went into a spin before crashing into the two,” he said when contacted yesterday.
The victims died on the spot from serious head and body injuries. (The Star)
Perodua is set to overtake Proton
GLOBALLY, this year is going to be historic for the automotive sector as Toyota Motor Corp will overtake General Motors Corp as the number one carmaker.
Perodua is breathing down Proton's neck, thanks to the overwhelming success of the Myvi, as well as other peppy models such the Kancil and the Kelisa.
"This is more important as Perodua may be ahead of Proton in terms of volume," Hafiz said in an interview with Business Times and Berita Harian last Friday.
So Proton, what are you going to do next? Not Savvy type of car anymore, please.
AFFORDABLE LOTUS!!!
National carmaker, Proton Holdings Bhd, plans to manufacture affordable Lotus cars in Malaysia probably in late 2007 or in 2008, its managing director Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said.
"If everything goes on well, the affordable Lotus will be done and assembled in Malaysia. Both Lotus and Proton have agreed on the plan," he told reporters at a press conference to mark his 100 days as managing director. (BERNAMA)
NAZA Sutera look alike!
CHINA Made Hafei Lubao
MALAYSIA made NAZA Sutera
RETURN OF THE KING!
Michael Schumacher has raced his way to victory in the San Marino Grand Prix, holding off a challenge from reigning champion Fernando Alonso.
01 M. Schumacher Ferrari 1:31:06.486 02 F. Alonso Renault + 2.096 03 JP. Montoya McLaren + 15.868 04 F. Massa Ferrari + 17.096 05 K. Räikkönen McLaren + 17.524 06 M. Webber Williams + 37.73907 J. Button Honda + 39.635 08 G. Fisichella Renault + 40.200
Naza Launches SUTERA
NAZA Recession Proof ModelNew NAZA SUTERA 1.1L price at RM35,998 & RM 36,525.
you can check the car out at any NAZA showroom start from 22nd April 2006.
Schumacher grab record POLE
Michael Schumacher has taken his 66th pole position at the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, breaking the record set by Ayrton Senna.
Schumacher's Ferrari set a lap of one minute 22.795 seconds to beat Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello of Honda.
Ferrari's Felipe Massa was fourth ahead of world champion Fernando Alonso.
Schumacher has now racked up more wins, championship titles, poles and points than anyone else, making him the most successful driver in history.
TEAMCAR PREVIEW - NAZA NX-01
NAZA NX-01, set to be priced at around RM35,000-RM40,000, is labelled the "recession-proof car" by its makers because they believe its sales can be sustained on the basis of its pricing even if there is a recession in the markets.
Naza's new nippy, 1.1-litre right-hand drive NX01 saloon will compete in the entry- level market against the Myvi and the Savvy. That market comprises those switching to cars from motorcycles.
Drop Drop Drop!!!!!
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 33,709 passenger cars were sold in March, down 15.1% compared with 39,708 sold in the same month last year.
DPM: No more fuel price hikes this year despite high world oil price
PETALING JAYA The Government is standing by its promise not to raise fuel prices again this year, although the rising price of oil in world markets has cost the Government RM3.5bil in subsidies, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Thursday.
Schumi: We can compete for win at Imola.
Ferrari team leader, Michael Schumacher reckons that the Scuderia will definitely be in the 'ball game' at the San Marino GP this weekend.
Schumacher has scored 11 points thus far this year and while he was right up their in contention for the win at the season opening Bahrain GP, Malaysia and Australia were not so good. Despite all that though, he is convinced they will be in with a shout of winning at Imola, something he hasn't managed since the 'unique' US GP almost 12 months ago.
"We tested intensively and well at Vallelunga and Barcelona and gathered a lot of useful information," he noted. "We proved what we thought over the first few races but, unfortunately, we have demonstrated only too rarely: the pace is there; the package works.
"We are in the ball game. The new aerodynamics and the engine improvements are a clear step forward. We have also worked on the tyres and the set up and have received positive feedback in each sector. I repeat: now we have to improve our chances and that means always being among the leaders.
Sepang To Host The Biggest Ever Super GT
THIS year’s Super GT Championship Malaysia, at Sepang Circuit in June, will feature the biggest ever drivers’ participation with eight championship series joining the feature Super GT race during the three-day motor racing showcase.
Sepang International Circuit (SIC) general manager Datuk Ahmad Mustafa, in a statement yesterday said the other series lined up as the support races will include the newly introduced single-seater Formula Renault V6 Asia, the regular Formula Renault FRD and the Gates Hong Kong Classic Car Championship.
Adding to the excitement will be the car championships under the Malaysian Super Series, which comprised the Supercar Championship, the 2,000cc supersaloon championship, the 1,600cc supersixteen championship, the sub-1,000cc supercompact championship and the new Honda DC5 One-Make Championship, which makes its debut in the upcoming MSS round on May 28.
Sepang will host Round Four of the 2,006 Super GT Championship series from June 23rd to 25th June as the only venue outside Japan.
'No cause for alarm, security to be tightened'
M'SIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER REPLIES:
'No cause for alarm, security to be tightened'It was interesting that on 2 Apr, The Sunday Times and The New Paper on Sunday simultaneously carried lengthy reports and an editorial (The Sunday Times) on car thefts in Johor.
It was unfortunate that these reports over-exaggerated the actual situation on the ground and at the same time portrayed four major shopping malls in Johor Bahru (Holiday Plaza, Plaza Pelangi, Aeon Tebrau City and Giant Plentong) in a rather bad light.
The immediate and strong reaction to these reports could certainly have been anticipated.
In 2004, of the 1,381 cars reported stolen in Johor, only 33 (2.39 per cent) were Singapore-registered cars. In 2005, of the 1,394 cars reported stolen, 52 (3.7 per cent) were Singapore-registered cars. In January and February 2006, of the 264 car thefts reported, only 3 were from Singapore.
Expect 10 percent Slash in Used Car Prices
Kuala Lumpur: The value of used cars may come down by 10 per cent from May.
The move is in line with the price reduction of new cars under the National Automotive Policy (NAP).
This will result in buyers securing lower loans.
Federation of Motor and Credit Companies Association of Malaysia secretary-general, Khoo Kah Kin, said they had been notified of the matter by financial institutions.
The amount of loan disbursed by financial institutions is tied up to the value of the vehicle. For instance, a car valued at RM40,000 by dealers will be assessed at RM36,000 by financial institutions.
And as the standard practice by banks is not to give 100 per cent financing, purchasers will end up with lower loans.
The federation was still waiting for the guidelines from financial institutions before implementing the new measure.
"Dealers will not have any problem with the new measure as the ones to feel the brunt are purchasers, especially those whose vehicles are repossessed. As the value has dropped, the loan's outstanding balance will be higher."
Malaysia Automotive Association President Datuk Aishah Ahmad said used cars dealers had to restructure their pricing to reflect cheaper costs.
In the Klang Valley the prices of locally-assembled used cars have been reduced by between RM2,000 and RM3,000 and imported ones up to RM10,000.
A used car dealer in Selayang said it had no choice.
"A car priced at RM93,000 is now sold at RM83,000. It is better to dispose of them now and not make any profit than keep them and continue making losses."
Another company said it was in trouble as it had some 1,000 used cars in its stock.
Proton must choose right foreign partner, says Mahathir
PUTRAJAYA: Proton Holdings Bhd should be able to work with a foreign partner, but it has to ensure that the partnership benefits the country's automotive industry, Proton adviser Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.
“They can work with a foreign partner, but it is important that they find someone who really has the expertise in car making.
“If it is just a manufacturer of components, we should then just buy their components alone. Many of them want to sell their components, but have not actually made a car. We need to find the partner who knows how to make a quality car. That is important,” the former prime minister told reporters after the country's four astronaut candidates visited him at the Perdana Leadership Foundation yesterday.
Mahathir said this when asked to comment on Proton's plans to work with a foreign car producer. – Bernama
Proton considered selling stake to foreign car company.
Malaysia's national car maker Proton, said that it is considering selling a stake to a foreign company to form a strategic partnership, AP reported.Proton's managing director said that the company is involved in talks with a foreign company for a strategic core alliance, and there is a possibility that it may involve an equity participation.The company's official refused to name the company or give details of the partnership, including whether it will involve a technology transfer, and said that the two sides hope to agree on the deal by the end of this month.Proton plans to upgrade its Shah Alam factory, streamline production to boost efficiency, and consolidating the company's supplier base to enhance quality, Syed Zainal added. More than 3,000 vendors now supply some 5,000 auto components to Proton.Proton was ditched as a possible equity partner in January by Germany's Volkswagen AG after the Malaysians refused to relinquish management control, a precondition of the European auto giant.
Two college students who took shelter from the rain under a bridge were killed instantly when a car mowed them down.
GLOBALLY, this year is going to be historic for the automotive sector as Toyota Motor Corp will overtake General Motors Corp as the number one carmaker.
Michael Schumacher has raced his way to victory in the San Marino Grand Prix, holding off a challenge from reigning champion Fernando Alonso.
