Proton EXORA Unveiled With New Facelift

Proton EXORA Unveiled With New Facelift

No changes to the mechanicals and running gear, with the 1.6l Campro CPS block continuing as is with 125bhp and 150Nm in the MPV, which is available in Base, Medium and High-line variants in both manual and automatic transmission form.

All three variants feature a brand new interior colour theme, steering wheel finishing and door inner handle finish. The High-line variant benefits from the most number of refinements - these include a new centre panel and panel shift lever finishing, chrome garnish for the fog lamps, door visors, as well as a boot organiser.

Both the High and Medium-line variants also come factory-fitted with new design 15-inch alloy wheels and all-round body kit.

The Exora is available in five colour choices, these being Genetic Silver, Solid White, Tranquility Black, Blue Haze and Plum Red (for the Medium and High-line).

It is priced at RM58,998 (B-Line MT), RM65,998 (M-Line MT), RM70,998 (M-Line AT) and RM76,998 (H-Line AT), all on-the-road (Peninsular Malaysia and metallic-based), and comes with a five-year or 175,000km warranty (whichever comes first).

Source: star-motoring.com and proton.com.my

Proton EXORA Unveiled With New Facelift

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Bermaz Launches Mazda8

Mazda 8

It's the latest third-generation incarnation, the Mazda8, as it's called, that continues to carry the flag, and it's the latest Mazda to join the Bermaz stable in the country. The vehicle, which sits on Mazda's LY platform, is powered by the normally-aspirated 2.3l MZR L3-VE block, offering 161bhp at 6,500rpm and 203Nm of torque at 3,500rpm, mated to a five-speed Activematic auto tranny.

As befits an upmarket people mover, much of the glitz goes inside the cabin, which with its low floor and long wheelbase layout offers the occupants lots of roominess and comfort. In terms of seating arrangement, it's a comfortable fit for six and a full occupancy of eight, even though in reality seven would be the optimal maximum.

The driver's seat is eight-way power adjustable, while the second row and suitably named Super Relax Ottoman seats offer 80mm of slide adjustment to maximise legroom. As for the third row seats, these are generously sized and cushioned to provide ample support. Everything is leather on this one.

The 6:4 split third row features Mazda's unique karakuri folding system. Simply pulling a strap on each seat causes the seat cushion to sink and the seatback to fold, opening up a large flat luggage area. The return mechanism is powered, so you can open the seats at the touch of a switch.

Even with the third row seats in place, you still have a decent 357l of cargo space, which will take two sets of golf clubs, for example. In addition, a 349mm deep trunk under the floor offers maximum capacity of 109l for storage of everyday items, regardless of the seat configuration chosen.

Features include a 3D blackout instrument panel, dual power sliding rear doors which open 785mm wide, a powered tailgate that can be operated at point or from the driver's seat, as well as a powered sunroof. Oh, and a three zone air-conditioning system that has a unique first - a Panasonic nanoe ion generating air purifier system, which of course features in the latter's household appliances.

Other kit includes rain-sensing front wipers, a Clarion 2-DIN DVD/audio 7-inch touchscreen head unit, dual front airbags, front side airbags and curtain airbags covering all three rows of seats, four-wheel ABS, DSC, EBD and brake assist, ventilated disc brakes all round and 16-inch wheels riding on 215/65 series tyres, among other things.

A choice of five colours are available, these being Crystal White Pearl, Copper Red, Sparkling Black, Metropolitan Grey and Sunlight Silver. The Mazda8 is priced at RM190,228, on the road without insurance.

Source: star-motoring.com

Mazda 8

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Honda FREED Coming to Malaysia in Quater 2 2010

Honda’s offering is a model called the Freed which was launched in Japan in May 2008. It was conceived to be a 'lifestyle MPV’ and not just a people-mover so various features were included to meet the needs of diverse activities which the new generation family has. Honda has just announced that the Freed is 100% coming to Malaysia, set for a launch in Q2 this year to be exact. It will come in as a CBU import from Indonesia. Honda also highlights that the Freed will be made distinguishable from other local MPV’s by its unparalleled features that include an automatic sliding door and a flat-floor walk-through cabin among others.

The Honda Freed is the latest and probably the longest wheelbase addition to the Global Small Platform which underpins cars such as the Honda Jazz. There are various seating configurations – a 5-seater 2-3 config as well as triple row configs such as 2-3-3, 2-2-3 with individual 2nd row seats, and 2-2-2 with individual seats for everyone. We’ll have to wait until the launch to find out what kind of seat configuration we’ll get. Only one engine is available for the Freed sold in ASEAN and that is the proven 1.5-litre i-VTEC unit that powers the Jazz and City. The engine has a drive-by-wire throttle and a torque boost resonator. It also comes with a 5-speed automatic transmission, like the other models (though the JDM version uses a CVT) which incorporates an Active Lock-Up system for enhanced responsiveness.

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Perodua MPV Called Alza Finally Launced

Perodua has introduced its newest offering, the Alza, into the market. A 1.5l twin-cam pot powers the Alza (the name is derived from a Spanish word meaning “rise”), and the 3SZ-VE puts out 103bhp at 6,000rpm and 136Nm at 4,400rpm of torque. Both five-speed manual and four-speed auto transmissions are available, and at point of launch four variant types will go on sale.

Features include items like steering wheel audio control switches (on the premium version), a four-speaker, CD/MP3/WMA audio system with Bluetooth capability (again, on the premium version only), power windows for all four doors, tilt adjustable steering wheel, a centre mounted meter panel, a foot pedal parking brake, and for the auto version, a gear shifter located on the instrument panel.

There’s plenty to like in the car, especially inside. Granted, the two-tone plastics in the interior still look a little hard to the sight, but the presentation is clean. The 2,520 x 1,415 x 1,310mm (l/w/h) cabin is decently spacious, and the second row seats have separate sliding mechanisms, which allow the seats to be adjusted 150mm. The third row seat is a fold bench, and in all, there’s no shortage of seating arrangements and options.

At its current entry point, four variants of the Alza will go on sale, these being the Standard manual (SX) and auto (EZ) and Premium manual (SXi) and auto (EZi). The SX goes for RM55,490 (solid), RM55,990 (metallic) and RM56,190 (special metallic), EZ goes for RM58,490 (solid), RM58,990 (metallic) and RM59,190 (special metallic).

As for the SXi, the pricing is RM60,490 (solid), RM60,990 (metallic) and RM61,190 (special metallic), and the EZi is priced at RM63,490 (solid), RM63,990 (metallic) and RM64,190 (special metallic). All these prices are on-the-road, with insurance.

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The 2009/2010 Toyota Wish with Valvematic Unveiled

Toyota launched the new design of the 2010 Toyota for the Japanese market. Comes with a 7-speed sports sequential Shiftmatic transmission as standard, 2010 Toyota Wish has two operating modes CVT Sport and Sport Mode Dynamic Mode. Toyota Wish is a 2010 front-wheel-drive and it comes with a 1.8-liter and 2.0-liter engine, both with Valvematic (continuously variable valve-lift mechanism).

Toyota Wish 2010 price for the Japanese market has a range of 1.84 million yen to 2.48 million yen. The Wish is a compact seven-seat minivan, which has acquired a solid reputation for its sporting style, wide-ranging utility and comfortable driving performance with a turnover of over half a million units since its launch in January 2003. The new second generation model has improved the comfort and sportiness, and has significant improvements in behavior, environment and safety. The result is a vehicle to respond to a user of all the “wish”.

All vehicles in the series have a new-generation engine with “Valvematic”, which is continuously variable valve lift and valve timing mechanism that achieves both excellent driving performance and superior environmental performance. The new engine, in combination with Super Continuously Variable Transmission Smart (Super CVT-i) transmission, sets the tone for a maximum of 15% more fuel than its predecessor and more exhilarating driving performance. Director assisted stability control of the vehicle (S-VSC) and the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) and side curtain shield airbags standard on all vehicles in the series, to give the new first-class desires, levels1 security.

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Nissan GRAND LIVINA Get Tuned By IMPUL

Nissan is spicing up the popular Nissan Grand Livina 7-seater MPV with this new edition that features accessories from Impul. Called the Nissan Grand Livina Tuned by Impul, it is fitted with a bodykit comprising of a new front grille, lips for the front and rear, side skirts, and an Impul rear wing spoiler.
The Impul Blast II exhaust muffler system is also available and this is made of high-quality stainless steel with a polished finish. It is said to improve engine response and emits a sporty note which should delight the driver.

Like the Impul Latio, the Impul Grand Livina can also be ordered with Impul alloy wheels (Aura SX-10) with locally-sourced Dunlop Formula D1 205/45R17 tyres. Mr Khoo, Operations Manager for the Impul business at ETCM, said that quite a number of Impul Latio buyers opt to take the wheels as the design is quite exclusive and appealing.

As with the Impul Latio, the accessories for the Impul Grand Livina can be ordered at the time of purchase of a new vehicle. This means that the entire cost – RM10,500 more than a standard Grand Livina – can be included in the H-P loan. That adds a bit more to the instalment each month, of course, but would be a lot easier than having to come out with that much money as a lump sum, which is what you would have to do if you bought from an accessories shop.

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Naza Citra II Rondo

The new Citra II is adapted from the latest Kia Carens/Rondo and is a full model change. It rides on Kia’s MG platform which is also used for the latest Optima sedan and also has the 2-litre petrol engine with CVVT (continuously variable valve timing) which puts out 145 ps at 6000 rpm and 189 Nm of torque at 4250 rpm. The engine is the GEMA engine which was jointly developed by Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi Motors and Chrysler. Claimed performance with the standard 4-speed electronic automatic Shiftronic transmission (manual sequential shift also possible) is 11 seconds for 0 – 100 km/h and a top speed of 190 km/h.

Sharing the platform with the Optima means it has a front suspension consisting of MacPherson struts hinged off a subframe and 2700 mm away (wheelbase), a rear suspension with a multi-link layout. Surprisingly, the wheelbase is 20 mm shorter than that for the Optima and in fact, the Citra II has a smaller ‘footprint’ than the Optima. However, its roofline is much higher, which tends to give it a somewhat bulbous profile but the explanation is that generous interior headroom was an important consideration.

Disc brakes are fitted to all four wheels and ABS +EBD is standard. There are two wheel sizes – 6Jx15 for the EX version and 6.5Jx16 for the EXS version. Locally-made Goodyear NCT5 tyres are standard rubber.

A lot of effort has gone into bringing down noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) in the Citra II and sources of NVH in both the bodyshell and the powertrain were directly addressed. One example: the use of a dynamic damper, continuously-variable valve and resonance chamber along the exhaust system cuts down NVH significantly. The use of a morse-type timing chain also reduces noise while providing a more durable timing chain.

Keen to make a strong impression in Europe, Kia has given a lot of attention to safety, which European customers are very concerned about. The Citra II gets all the structural features which make the bodyshell strong and both front occupants have the additional protection of airbags. All seven persons in the cabin get seatbelts and head restraints. Also rare in this class is the impact-sensing door unlock system which makes it easier for rescuers to get injured occupants out after an accident.

At RM84,888 (RM4,000 more for the EXS version), the Citra II Rondo is certainly going to challenge the Nissan Grand Livina but Naza-Kia is not looking at beating the Nissan since their target for the Citra II is around 200 units a month (the Grand Livina does about a thousand units a month). It would probably also appeal to Toyota Avanza owners who want to move up but who do not want to get a much bigger MPV like the Innova. With its passenger car platform and dynamics, it should also be an easy transition for those who are moving from a sedan to a MPV.

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Proton Exora: Malaysia’s First MPV

Malaysian Prime Minister Dato` Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak has officially launched the much anticipated Proton Exora, Malaysia’s first home-grown multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) last night.

Unveiling the new MPV with the Prime Minister were PROTON Holdings Berhad Chairman Datuk Mohd. Nadzmi Mohd. Salleh and Managing Director Dato` Haji Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir. Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed, the person instrumental in launching the national car project in 1983, was also present with Tun Siti Hasmah Mohamed Ali to witness the launch.

The launch was attended by several Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers, foreign dignitaries and other distinguished guests.

The launch marked a milestone not only for PROTON but for the country as well as the Exora is Malaysia’s first locally produced MPV encompassing almost 90% of local parts and components. The Exora is also the first wholly “Malaysian-Made” MPV from design and concept to engineering and manufacturing by PROTON.

The Exora emphasizes the three main feature elements – comfort, performance and safety, which were translated into the design and quality of the vehicle. PROTON Holdings Berhad Chairman Dato` Mohd. Nadzmi bin Mohd. Salleh described the Exora as PROTON`s answer to the needs and requirements of PROTON customers who are more discerning.

“PROTON is now venturing into the MPV segment which has grown in popularity. The Exora will be our answer for the customers out there who are now more conscious about comfort and safety of their family members while traveling. It is designed, engineered and manufactured based on research and market studies made by PROTON over the years,” said Dato` Mohd. Nadzmi.

Dato` Mohd. Nadzmi added that the introduction of the Exora indicated the advancement of the Malaysian automotive technology as it is locally produced from ground up, from the initial R&D activities right through to the design and production processes. “Being one of the pioneering team members who helped set up PROTON 25 years ago, I am indeed very proud of the achievements made by the PROTON family who have turned a vision into a reality,” he added.

“I am certain that PROTON will not stop here, but will continue to improve and increase its efforts to ensure it remains relevant and able to compete with other established global car makers,” said Dato` Mohd. Nadzmi.

Meanwhile, PROTON Holdings Berhad Managing Director Dato` Haji Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said the Exora was an engineering feat for PROTON as it was developed in merely 18 months from the time PROTON fixed the design (model-fix) to production stage. “This feat has gained us much respect from our peers in the automotive industry,” he said.

“It indicates our success in not only producing cars but also in developing a pool of capable and experienced engineers and skilled workers in the Malaysian automotive industry. We have proven that the impossible is now possible with hard work and determination.

“The Exora meets our aspiration to produce the right car at the right time and at the right place. Malaysians have already warmed up to the Exora ever since the booking for the MPV was opened on 21st February 2009. So far, we have received more than 2,500 bookings and this is a very encouraging development for us. The level of trust given by our customers towards the MPV is heartening,” said Dato` Syed Zainal.opment

“Don’t take our word for it. Please do come over to any of the 293 Proton Edar and EON sales office nationwide to see and experience the Exora yourself,” added Dato` Syed Zainal.

The night also saw the first four Exora owners receive their keys from the Prime Minister and driving home in their brand new Exoras. The Exora owners were three early bird customers, Syed Mohd Lutfi bin Syed Hamzah, Ramamuthie a/l Varathan and Teng Kim Hong and winner of the MPV Naming Contest, Norsholihan binti Abd Eaanich.

The Exora features the 1.6 CamPro CPS engine with 4-speed automatic transmission and is available in two variants, Medium-Line at RM69,998 (OTR) and High-Line at RM75,998 (OTR), with 2 airbags as standard. The Exora is available in six colors – Pyrite Brown, Gaia Blue, Genetic Silver, Tranquility Black, Blue Haze and Solid White.

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Honda Stream RSZ 2009

With its 1.8-litre 140PS i-VTEC engine, the Honda Stream RSZ continues to deliver what generations of Honda drivers have come to know and love: exceptional fuel efficiency. Coupled with highly compact MacPherson Strut suspensions at the front and Honda's renowned double wishbone suspensions at the rear, what you'll have in your hands is an amazingly comfortable ride.

i-VTEC engine

Honda Stream RSZ 1.8-litre 140PS i-VTEC engine is mated to a Drive-By-Wire (DBW) system to deliver the purest driving experience. At fast cruising, the Valve control is complimented by a DBW (Drive-By-Wire) system that provides optimum throttle valve control, which significantly reducing pumping losses. This allows greater energy efficiency and exceptional fuel economy.
A delightful blend of practicality and style, the Honda Stream RSZ is sure to impress both families and singles. Fit for today's stylish corporate individual, the will take you to the office or to the beach with the family in comfort, thanks to its 1.8 i-VTEC powerhouse engine and 7-seater interior. Exuding style that unleashes the younger side in you, the Honda Stream RSZ features a new level of styling and refinements like 17-inch alloy rims, an exclusive RSZ aerokit, HID headlights and many, many more accessories. Exhilaration and elegance are now in perfect harmony.
Honda builds its cars to the highest standards for better protection for you and your family. In Honda Stream RSZ, high-tensile steel has been applied to more areas of the body, improving structural rigidity. The front sub-pillar has been eliminated while crucial connection points that have been reinforced throughout the frame. Tailored blanks that incorporate fused steel plates of different thickness and materials means Honda Stream RSZ encases passengers in a safety cell.

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Perodua MPV, Perodua D46T will be Released

The Proton Exora has been launched, second national carmaker Perodua is also in preparation to launched their MPV in this year. According to the Perodua MD Datuk Syed Hafiz Syed Abu Bakar, this new perodua or we can call as Perodua D46T will be sell for the reasonable price between RM57K to RM66K.

Perodua D46T are adaptation from the Toyota Passo Sette, it measures 4,180mm long, 1,695mm wide and 1,620mm tall, with a long 2,750mm wheelbase to maximize the interior space (2,550mm long). Perodua D46T comes with 1.5 liter engine and it can be sits for 6 or 7 people at the same time.

Let’s us wait for the great Malaysian MPV after Proton Exora. Is Perodua D46T will give the good competition with the Proton Exora? We’ll see it.

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Proton Exora - What You Need To Know

The new Proton Exora, officially launched by the Prime Minister is a model which should have been available a long time ago. Of course, this is not really Proton’s first MPV as there was the Juara, a mini-MPV cloned from the Mitsubishi Town Box. Being a latecomer in the MPV segment is not necessarily a disadvantage for Proton because it had the chance to see the shortcomings of other MPVs and not only avoid them but also offer a better product. From what can be seen, Proton made full use of its 'lateness’ and has come out with a model that is innovative and it also has that Lotus DNA which has given its recent models noteworthy ride and handling. As mentioned earlier, being late allowed Proton to see what the competition offers and do better than them so the dimensions for the Exora could be made class-leading. As the chart below shows, it is longer and wider than the Nissan Grand Livina, Toyota Avanza, Naza Rondo and even the Toyota Innova. From earlier spy pictures, it did not seem that long but apparently it is.
The inside of the Exora is very impressive from the point of view of spaciousness and also appointments. With this model, the interior designers have outdone themselves and far from looking cheap (which was often the comment about Proton interiors), there is thoughtful use of different textures for the various surfaces which makes a lot of difference. In the past, this sort of thing was not given a lot of attention and dashboards looked really cheap and plasticky.

In keeping with the times, the Exora (H-Line) has a standard DVD player/monitor mounted on the ceiling. It’s a standalone unit which can play DVDs and also accept media cards so apart from watching movies, the occupants could review their holiday pictures as they go home.

One thing which Protons have been praised for – right from the first Saga – has been the air-conditioning. Given our hot climate, a high-performance cooling system is important and with the Exora’s large cabin and extra glass area, this would have been a challenge. To ensure that everyone stays cool, there are vents on the ceiling – two on each side so that even those in the third row get cool air. The fan speed can be controlled but the switch is too far forward (ahead of the DVD player) and would be better if it was positioned over the second row.

For now, the Exora has only one engine – the 1.6-litre Campro CPS+VIM which produces 125 bhp at 6000 rpm and 150 Nm of torque at 4500 rpm. It’s a familiar engine by now so we won’t get into much detail. A turbocharged version is rumoured for introduction later on but no one will confirm it. Incidentally, the Exora has front-wheel drive in case you don’t realize it.

The Campro engine – after the CPS version - has proven itself to be a good powerplant in sedans but with the Exora weighing over 1,400 kgs, the weight-to-power ratio is obviously not as good as what it would be in a Waja. For this reason, a lot of effort was put into retuning the transmission control unit to provide the driveability that would be acceptable. This also necessitated a change of the final drive ratio in the Mitsubishi transmission to a lower 4.625 (all the other ratios in the manual and automatic transmission are the same as in the Waja and Gen2). This means that overall gearing is lower and that enhances low-end performance but sacrifices a bit at the top end. However, the Campro CPS is already known to be inherently strong at the top end so losing a bit is no big deal. Most owners would probably not notice it anyway. There is also a lock-up clutch installed which provides a direct solid link in top gear at cruising speeds, reducing power losses that occur with the hydraulic linkage.

The Exora was crash-tested for 12 different requirements, optional and mandatory, all of which it passed. Besides ensuring that it can meet the legal safety requirements in countries that it will be sold in, Proton’s engineers also aimed for a high rating in the EuroNCAP crash test. EuroNCAP is an independent organization which conducts crash tests on vehicles sold in Europe and carmakers pay attention to its results which are also made public. While EuroNCAP has not actually crashed an Exora (and would only do so if it is sold in Europe and it chooses to evaluate the model), its criteria are available to manufacturers who can conduct their own crash tests and see how well their new model will fare. In the case of the Exora, the crash tests conducted in an independent facility in Spain showed that the MPV could score 4 stars (out of the maximum of 5) based on EuroNCAP criteria.

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