Home News Feeds News Feeds Paul Tan's Automotive News Paul Tan on the Automotive Industry Ferrari 458 Spider launched ? pricing starts from RM1.9 mil The 458 Spider today joined its coupe sister, the 458 Italia, in the local Ferrari lineup, and rolls in at a starting baseline price of RM1.9 million, going up to RM2.2 million or so depending on the level of customisation you load on it. The Spider, which debuted in Frankfurt last year, is powered by [...] Related posts: Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia Series starts in Sepang Mitsubishi i-MiEV Eco Tourism Pilot Demo Program starts – EV is now available at Four Seasons Resort, Langkawi Ford Ranger breaks cover at roadshow – estimated pricing revealed, RM98k for 2.2L XLT, RM115k for 3.2L Wildtrak 4 lucky winners heading to Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi in the Shell Helix Ferrari World Challenge Frankfurt preview: Ferrari 458 Spider Ferrari to debut 458 Spider at Frankfurt, Scuderia in 2013 Great Wall Motor comes to Malaysia – Haval diesel SUV at RM120k, Wingle pick-up truck starts from RM59,888! Audi Q3 production starts in Spain, market launch in Q4 Volkswagen Passat CC – VGM says delays in deliveries due to re-evaluation exercise, possible increase in pricing Ford Ranger comes well equipped with creature comforts While the upcoming Ford Ranger is a rugged 4×4 truck on the outside, it does not mean that the Ranger needs to be stripped out on the inside. Instead, the Ranger is packed with technologies that you would not normally find in a run-of-the-mill truck. For instance, the truck features the Bluetooth Voice Control system [...] Related posts: Global Ford Ranger Challenge – five local finalists picked Global Ford Ranger Challenge – deadline extended Ford Ranger XLT roadshow: iPads and G-Shocks for grabs Tweet a pix with a Ford Ranger – it might land you a prize New Ford Ranger T6 Test Drive Report from Chiang Rai Ford Ranger breaks cover at roadshow – estimated pricing revealed, RM98k for 2.2L XLT, RM115k for 3.2L Wildtrak New Ford Ranger seen again, this time without disguise! New Ford Ranger in camouflage spotted, it’s coming soon! Malaysians to take on new Ford Ranger in the “Global Ford Ranger Challenge” – winner drives the truck home! VIDEO: 2011 Ford Ranger towing four other rival trucks! Team Lamborghini Kuala Lumpur JH Italia unveiled ? Rizal Ashram Ramli a.k.a. Jejai is the Super Trofeo driver Last week, we told you about the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Asia Series that will kick off in Sepang on May 25-27. Today, Eminent Century Sdn Bhd, official Lamborghini importer, and its sole dealer JH Italia Sdn Bhd, introduced Team Lamborghini Kuala Lumpur JH Italia, which will compete in “the fastest one-make series in the [...] Related posts: Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia Series starts in Sepang Super GT 2012 Round 3 announced – bigger event this year Lotus F1 Team: An inside look into the team’s garage Become a better driver with the Shell Helix D Academy! Petronas Syntium Team on the verge of fourth consecutive Super Taikyu championship title, aiming for win at Motegi B5 biodiesel debuts in Kuala Lumpur, at 247 stations Sharpen your driving skills with BMW Driver Training Team Lotus avoids Monaco chaos for double finish, Davide Valsecchi wins GP2 race for Team AirAsia Lamborghini to build a ‘daily driver’ third model Range Rover Evoque to arrive in the fourth quarter this year, ‘Salam Kuala Lumpur’ campaign launched today My Proton Makeover ? Amirul reunited with his Satria 1.3 Car number five in the My Proton Makeover programme has been reunited with its owner – Amirul Azim recently received his 2001 Satria 1.3, all spruced up from the refurbishment, from the good folk at Proton. Petaling Jaya-born Amirul, who works for an IT management company, described his relationship with the Satria as one that [...] Related posts: Final two My Proton Makeover cars revealed – Saga, Satria My Proton Makeover – the Satria GTI goes back to Hafiz VIDEO: Proton Satria GTI Makeover #2 EXCLUSIVE: Proton Satria GTI Makeover Video #1 My Proton Makeover – Iswara goes back to Norzamzarini My Proton Makeover – more in-progress pix of the Iswara My Proton Makeover – and now, a Satria GTI gets redone My Proton Makeover – 1996 Iswara Aeroback is third up My Proton Makeover – Sashideran gets his reworked Wira My Proton Makeover – next up, a 17-year-old Wira sedan! New 981 Boxster and Panamera GTS launched at Porsche Motorsport Week ? roadster priced from RM450k The new Porsche Boxster and Panamera GTS made their local debut yesterday afternoon at the Sepang International Circuit, where official distributor Sime Darby Auto Performance (SDAP) is having the Porsche Motorsport Week 2012. The event, held to reward SDAP customers, combines two activities – Porsche Driving Experience (skid pad, moose test, brake test, slalom in [...] Related posts: CONFIRMED: Peugeot 408 to be finally launched next week Goodyear Eagle EfficientGrip launched – priced from RM400 Seventh-gen Porsche 911, the 991, launched in Malaysia Porsche Boxster – new-generation roadster rolls in Porsche Panamera GTS – 430 hp and 520 Nm VW teaser ads surface – new cars launching next week! Porsche Panamera Turbo S and S Hybrid launched – the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 and Boxster Spyder also unveiled Toyota to introduce a low-priced car for China in 2013 Kia Sportage to be launched next week, estimated RM140k Porsche Cayman R launched: 10 hp more, 55 kg less, RM630k – our brief impressions from the track General Motors cuts Facebook ads but adds content Do paid advertisements on Facebook work? General Motors says no. The American car company is getting ready to stop advertising on Facebook, just when the social media giant is getting ready to sell shares in an initial public offering. Last year, GM spent US$10 million on Facebook advertisements, but it is only a fraction of [...] Related posts: Mitsubishi Motors Thailand to export the Mirage to Japan Audi Q5 gets mid-life updates, adds hybrid to the range Infiniti adds hybrid M35h and entry M25 to its local lineup Infiniti’s Geneva-bound electric sports car concept to showcase new style and content direction for brand MINI USA adds yummy Recaro seats to the option list F30 BMW 3-Series to get world debut on Facebook General Motors opens new diesel engine plant in Thailand New car brand to be born in Frankfurt – Eterniti Motors Honda cuts off slow selling Crosstour from Accord family Toyota adds two new members to its crash dummy family MINI John Cooper Works GP: only 2,000 units worldwide It’s the fastest MINI ever built, and production is to be limited to just 2,000 examples – the new John Cooper Works GP, which made its debut at the MINI United festival earlier in the week, is set to replace the R53 JCW GP as king of the particular hill when it arrives early next [...] Related posts: GALLERY: MINI John Cooper Works Countryman MINI John Cooper Works Countryman makes it number six MINI Roadster – production drop top MINI Coupe unveiled! Hyundai sells 2.95 million units worldwide through third quarter 2011 – sales up by 10% over same period in 2010 MINI Coupé launched – only in 1.6 Cooper S form, RM250k Honda recalls 962,000 cars worldwide – Fit, CR-V, City, as well as CR-Z models affected globally MINI One – limited edition 31 units to debut in early August 2011 – more details unveiled! MINI One coming in August, only 31 units up for sale MINI John Cooper Works Coupé Endurance – all set to premiere at the 24 Hours Nürburgring VIDEO: MINI Cooper S Countryman Review Toyota Wish facelift for 2012 on sale in Japan The Estima is not the only Toyota MPV to be given a minor facelift this year – the popular Toyota Wish also gets updated for 2012, bringing subtle improvements such as better interior textures, trim and materials, better fuel efficiency, and of course the most obvious which is the new front look you see above. [...] Related posts: Toyota Estima MPV gets a new facelift for 2012 Production Ford Tourneo Custom announced, on sale 2012 E71 BMW X6 gets its mid-cycle facelift for 2012! Group N Proton Satria Neo rally car goes on sale in Japan Toyota Prius is Japan’s best selling car, imports surge Toyota Aqua hybrid makes market debut in Japan 2012 Mitsubishi Pajero minor facelift in Japan/Europe Honda Insight facelift launched in Japan – features new Insight Exclusive variant with 1.5 liter IMA system Mitsubishi Delica D:3 – rebadged Nissan NV200 goes on sale in Japan beginning end-October New generation Toyota Camry Hybrid launched in Japan! Toyota establishes Learning Center in Indonesia Toyota’s expansion in Indonesia continues with the establishment of a Learning Center in the country, with an aim of systematically transferring vehicle-manufacturing know-how to its Indonesian operations. Located within Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia’s (TMMIN) Karawang Plant, the 3,700 m2 facility will offer various types of courses and practical training to improve employees? technical vehicle-manufacturing skills. [...] Related posts: Suzuki Ertiga MPV to be introduced in Indonesia VW to assemble T5 Transporter and Multivan in Indonesia Mitsubishi to produce ASX in Indonesia starting this year Suzuki on course to triple engine production in Indonesia Indonesia set to be No 1 automotive market in ASEAN New 2011 Toyota Avanza facelift unveiled in Indonesia Geely to build its own assembly plant in Indonesia IIMS: Daihatsu A-Concept – by Indonesia, for the world Suzuki to build new engine plant in Indonesia Daihatsu to open R&D centre in Indonesia Mazda CX-5 launched ? 2.0 SkyActiv-G, RM155k to RM165k The covers have just been officially drawn away from the Mazda CX-5 here in Penang. Now, we?ve already seen the brochure, as well as the price that Bermaz Motor is asking for one. As a recap, you need RM155,219 for the 2WD and RM165,219 for the AWD (both OTR, without insurance). The CX-5 comes only [...] Related posts: Mazda CX-5 brochure and price leaked – from RM159k Mazda CX-5 SUV selling better than expected in Japan Mazda CX-5 arriving soon in Malaysia? The ads hint at it! GALLERY: Mazda CX-5 gets Kodo looks and Skyactiv tech Win RM165k monthly with BHPetrol Save & Win! Facelifted Chevrolet Captiva is here – 2.4 petrol, RM155k Production Mazda CX-5 previewed ahead of Frankfurt debut – Skyactiv technology meets Kodo design Mazda BT-50 Freestyle Cab to debut in Melbourne Bentley Continental GT launched – from RM1.74 mil on Mazda SkyActiv-G 1.3 DI engine – first one to arrive