All-New Stream from Authorized Honda Dealers

Kuala Lumpur, 21 November 2007 – The long-awaited All-New Honda Stream, the second generation of the stylish sporty 7-seater MPV (Multi-Purpose Vehicle) has finally arrived on Malaysian shores. The modern and dynamic looking new Stream, which was first introduced in Japan more than a year ago, was officially launched here today, making it available at all of authorized Honda dealers nationwide.

In his speech at the launch ceremony, Honda Malaysia Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Atsushi Fujimoto thanked loyal customers for their interest in and patience for the arrival of the second-generation Stream. He also announced that all authorized Honda dealers will be offering the brand new Stream with more value packed in for customers.

"At Honda, we pride ourselves in providing our customers with products and services of the highest quality at reasonable prices," said Mr. Fujimoto. "As such, customers are assured of the best quality and value when they purchase the All-New Stream from authorized Honda dealers which come with a 3-year warranty and free maintenance for the first six months. Customers who purchase from authorized Honda dealers are also entitled to a 15% off on All-New Stream parts throughout the sales period. Besides, Modulo accessories will be made available at all authorized Honda dealers."

Mr. Fujimoto also welcomed customers to visit any one of their 53 authorized Honda dealers for information and assistance on the All-New Honda Stream. "50 of our authorized Honda dealers are 3S Centers, which provide sales, service and spare parts facilities. All of our authorized Honda dealers are equipped with the most qualified sales personnel and technicians for our products," stressed Mr. Fujimoto.

Honda Stream was first developed to achieve a 7-seater value concept based on three themes: a design anticipating the changing needs and style of the 21st century; sporty performance for the individual; and an innovative approach to interior space, comfort and refinement.

The latest generation Stream re-offers the same 7-seater concept with 2 bonuses -- a lower center of gravity with optimized flat floor design that heightens its sporty performance; and an even more dynamic exterior that accentuates its stylishness, giving customers the desired improvements in both style and performance without compromising on its functionality as a family car.

As such, the brand new Stream appeals to those who appreciate a young, urban and classy image, but need the practicality of a MPV. The newly improved features of All-New Stream are tailored to change customers’ perception of the Honda Stream from a conventional MPV to a stylish and versatile "7-seater for two" that suits the lifestyle of young and urban individuals today who enjoy the fun of driving.

The All-New Stream’s newly developed 1.8-liter i-VTEC engine delivers a powerful and smooth driving performance. It boasts a series of improvement from the previous generation, including a lowered overall height by 45mm, and a unique technology which Honda has mastered in perfection - low centre of gravity with optimized flat floor design, complemented by the front Macpherson Strut suspension with a new side cancellation spring which improves flat riding comfort.

The optimized flat floor design creates a lower centre of gravity, thereby giving the driver a more sophisticated handling and stable drive. The high-precision body uses strong, lightweight, high-tensile steel which enhances the vehicle’s rigidity, and reduces the vehicle’s weight by 10kg.

Interior wise, the All-New Stream breathes relaxation and quality. The side sill has been redesigned to attain an extra 20mm of width for passengers in the first and second rows. The use of a slim fuel tank permits a lower floor in the third row, while the reduced cross section in the rear frame results in more width. The floor tunnel has also been eliminated for a significant gain in leg room.

As of September 2007, close to 75,100 units of the All-New Honda Stream have been sold in Japan alone in the short year since its launch in Japan. The stylish and family-friendly MPV has alsoaccumulated a string of award accolades in the region, with the latest being Japan Car of the Year – Best Value; The Best Recreational Vehicle (Car and Driver Magazine, Hong Kong); Car of The Year 2006, Silver Prize (Car and Driver Magazine, Hong Kong); and Ten Best Car of the Year 2006 (Automobile Magazine, Hong Kong).

The All-New Honda Stream 1.8-liter i-VTEC is currently available in four color variants at all authorized Honda dealers: Nighthawk Black Pearl, Premium White Pearl, Royal Blue Pearl and Alabaster Silver Metallic.

Customers can now visit authorized Honda dealer showrooms nearby to view the All-New Honda Stream. For more information, please call Honda Toll Free number at 1-800-88-2020, or log on to Honda Malaysia’s website at http://www.honda.com.my for more details.

Volkswagen Golf R32

Volkswagen Malaysia has started selling the top of the range Volkswagen Golf R32 in Malaysia, featuring a 3.2 liter V6 engine and 4MOTION all-wheel drive, with a price tag of RM302,618.50 on the road without insurance.

It does the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.2 seconds - 0.7 seconds faster than the Golf GTI , thanks to it’s 250 PS at 6,300rpm and 320Nm of torque that kicks in from 2,800rpm, a relatively low engine speed for a normally aspirated engine. Power is sent to all four wheels via 4MOTION all-wheel drive and a 6-speed DSG gearbox.

Other than the 4MOTION system, the car also has ESP stability control, Traction Control, ABS, and an Electronic Differential Lock to keep things into check. Passive safety is provided by 6 SRS airbags. The car rides on 18 inch wheels of the Omanyt design.

On the interior you have nice sports bucket seats, rain sensor wiper control, dual-zone climate control, and a 10-speaker Volkswagen Sound RCD 500 system with an 8-channel 250W analog amplifier.

There is an initial batch brought into Malaysia, but after that initial batch the Volkswagen Golf R32 will be on an order basis only - ordered when required.

Source : paultan.org

Toyota is a favourite among Malaysians

November 17, 2007 04:28 PM Author: Chips

While national brands take the largest share of the Malaysian new vehicle market, among the non-national brands, Toyota is at the top of the list of Malaysian buyers, suggests a survey conducted by Ratera & van Galen Sdn. Bhd, an independent market research firm based in Kuala Lumpur. 1,233 Malaysian buyers were interviewed on their preferred choice if they were to buy a new vehicle within the next 12 months.

One aspect of the survey, which looked at buyer preferences in the RM60,000 – RM99,000 range, showed that the Toyota Vios was the first choice, followed by the Honda City and Toyota Avanza. It should, however, be noted that the Vios which was referred to was the previous generation and not the latest one as the survey was conducted in the months of July and August 2007; the new 3rd generation Vios only appeared in showrooms during October.

“This finding may reflect the importance of design, an area in which the Vios scored slightly better than the City whilst scoring lower or equal on other factors,” said Toon van Galen, director of Ratera & van Galen.

Interestingly, women made up 39% of the potential car buyers and had a higher preference for the Toyota Innova, Toyota Avanza, Naza Citra or Honda City as their top choices. Men, on the other hand, would go more for Toyota Hilux, Nissan Frontier or the Honda Civic.

The research also revealed that the most important information sources when buying a new car are: word of mouth (58%) followed by car showrooms or dealerships (50 %).

Peugeot 908 RC

The other car that was creating a stir in Hall 1 on Friday was the Peugeot 908 RC. On the outside, it's a really sinister yet somehow really beautiful ultra luxury sedan concept; it was evidently styled to resemble a big cat. Peugeot refers to it as a limousine and indeed it's over 16 feet long. On the inside, it's a rear-drive, rear-engine performance car.

That engine is a 5.5-liter turbodiesel V12 capable of 700 hp and 885 lb-ft of torque -- the company developed it to use in the Le Mans series and, as on a racecar, the V12 is supported by a tubular subframe. The six-speed sequential manual transmission that delivers all this torque the rear wheels resides underneath the engine, leaving room for a proper trunk behind the rear axle.

s massive as it appears, the 908 RC probably isn't too heavy for its size, as Peugeot built it using a combination of carbon composite and aluminum honeycomb. However, the wheels, which you can't help but stare at, certainly don't save any weight -- 20s in front, 21s in back. In the cabin, there's seating for only four, but Peugeot insists there's ample room and visibility to go around, as the rear-mounted engine allowed designers to move the seating position farther forward.

Posted by Erin Sep 29, 2006 2:55 pm

Evo X in Singapore

posted by: nikolaiski

Thats right. Thats the nose of the new Evo X, seen prowling the busy streets of Singapore. Here are some pictures. The car sits on huge, 18 inch alloys and 245/40 profile tyres.

Source : OneShift