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Monday
Saturday
2010 IRC Preparation For Proton
Proton continued its preparations for the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge season by putting three leading drivers through their paces during a test in Wales recently.
Finns Anton Alen and Matti Rantanen and Belgian Francois Duval all drove a Proton Satria Neo Super 2000 at the Sweet Lamb test facility in Wales.
"We had three great drivers who gave us some very positive and valuable feedback. From our point of view one of the most encouraging things is that we put the equivalent of a world championship rally distance on the car without having to do any work to it." said Chris Mellors, who runs MEM, the factory Proton team
"The car felt very stable and the engine had a really good spread of torque right from the bottom all the way to the top."said Alen, who is considering Proton as one of his options for next season's IRC.
A couple of days after the test, Duval slipped on some ice at home in Belgium and broke two vertebrae in his back. He is expected to recover fully, but will be out of action for at least eight weeks.
source: rallybuzz
Wednesday
Michael Schumacher Signed Up For Mercedes GP For His F1 Return
Michael Schumacher has signed a one year deal with Mercedes. The seven-times Formula One champion made a comeback into Formula one after retirement and will be seen in action in F1in 2010.The news of Schumacher’s return to Formula One racing broke on Tuesday.
According to reports, the 40-year-old German finalized the deal at team's offices in Brackley, England .The champion who earned his titles in association with Benetton and Ferrari, had quit F1 at the end of 2006.
According to media reports, Schumacher will receive 7 million euros .Mercedes, who have taken over champions Brawn, have signed Nico Rosberg as their other driver for 2010.
Schumacher had recently cancelled comeback plans with Ferrari this year as replacement for injured Brazilian Felipe Massa due to recurrence of his neck injury he had encountered in a motorcycle accident.
A move to Mercedes will see his unison with Britain’s Ross Brawn. The technical director had guided Schumacher to his record seven titles and 91 race wins. Schumacher has been working as a consultant for Ferrari since his retirement but the Italian team had made it clear that it was not a binding agreement.
Rosberg, who signed for Mercedes shortly after the season ended, has already warned Schumacher he faces a tough task getting back up to speed with F1 but said he would welcome him as a team-mate.
"It will not be easy for him," Rosberg was quoted in German newspaper Stuttgarter Zeitung.
"When you stay away from F1 for a long time, it takes time to get used to all the test sessions again. It's not simple.
"I have no idea if it (a comeback) is true or not, but if he did join that would be an absolutely fantastic move."
Mercedes chief executive Nick Fry on Schumacher return had said earlier this month, "I think that just adds another very interesting element. Can a 40 or 41-year-old compete against someone who is 24 years old? In other sports people have proven that they are very capable even at that age."
source: india-server ; bbc uk
Tuesday
Alex Yoong Shows Disappointment Towards Petronas-Mercedes Deal
Despite being linked with both Sauber and the Malaysian backed Lotus team, Malaysian oil company Petronas has signed as title sponsor for Mercedes for 2010.
The country's first - and so far only - Formula One driver Alex Yoong, who is now head of driver development for Lotus, has expressed his despair at the deal on Twitter.
"Petronas signs with Mercedes GP," he wrote. "Words fail me. Mercedes is a good team, no doubt, but what Lotus is doing is completely ground-breaking and brave and Petronas not seeing that fills me with shame."
The exact length and value of the Petronas deal has not been announced, but team principal Ross Brawn welcomed the news.
"Everyone at Mercedes GP is delighted to confirm our long-term agreement with Petronas and we look forward to working closely with our new partner in the future," he said.
"Our plans for the new season are progressing well, as is the development of our 2010 challenger, and we look forward to seeing the car run in the new Silver Arrows and Petronas livery at the Valencia test in February."
The sponsorship is good news for Mercedes, after German consumer goods company Henkel announced it would not be honouring a deal with the team as it was brokered by an unauthorised member of staff. However, Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug said the contract with Petronas would ensure the team's competitiveness in 2010.
"Within the limits of the new Formula One resource restrictions, the Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team will be well positioned to achieve our goals. We will all strive to present efficient success in the future knowing at the same time that the new season, with some fundamental rule changes, will be a particularly challenging one."
source: espnf1
Petronas ties up with Mercedes in F1, shocking news for Malaysia-backed Lotus
Malaysian oil and gas company Petronas has confirmed a long-term title sponsorship deal with the Mercedes Grand Prix team, just says after saying that it would not be involved in Formula 1 as a team sponsor next season.
Having been associated for over a decade with the Sauber - later BMW - team, Petronas explained last week that it would not continue in F1 as a team sponsor next year but remain only as title sponsor for the Malaysian Grand Prix.
However, Monday's news marks the first large outside funding for the Brackley-based Mercedes, with a concept livery released by the team showing Petronas branding on the front and rear wings of the car which, due to their sizes and visibility to onlookers, are two of the more expensive areas for logo-showing on an F1 car.
"Everyone at Mercedes GP is delighted to confirm our long-term agreement with Petronas and we look forward to working closely with our new partner in the future," commented Mercedes Team Principal Ross Brawn.
"The collaboration of the premium automotive brand Mercedes-Benz and a company as prestigious as Petronas gives our team a fantastic base from which to achieve our ambitions of competing at the top level of Formula 1 and building on the success of 2009, which saw the team achieve the Constructors' and Drivers' Championships.
"Our plans for the new season are progressing well, as is the development of our 2010 challenger, and we look forward to seeing the car run in the new silver arrows and Petronas livery at the Valencia test in February."
The news is likely to come as a particular blow to the newly-formed Lotus team which, under Malaysian ownership and soon to be based at Malaysia's Sepang circuit, was always tipped as the most likely candidate for a Petronas contract.
source: malaysiangp
Thursday
Kovalainen To Drive Proton Satria In Finnish Arctic Rally
Heikki Kovalainen looks set to contest next month's Arctic Lapland Rally in his native Finland.
It was reported at the end of the 2009 season that the 28-year-old was keen to resume his hobby of rallying, which was forbidden under the terms of his McLaren contract.
"Heikki is here to drive in Formula 1. That's why he was in Malaysia. But, maybe there is a chance for the rally car. He went and sat in the car and he was very excited about it. It would be a great story, but at the moment no discussions have taken place at all. He would need permission, the rally is dangerous, there is a lot of speculation on this - and that's all it is right now. Nothing is agreed." said Autosport’s source.
Kovalainen has contested the Arctic Rally four times in the past, and his new deal with Lotus looks set to pave the way for a reprise at the end of January.
While in Malaysia for the announcement of his 2010 F1 contract, the Finn sat in a Proton Satria Neo S2000 rally car that had been used the day before with Alister McRae at the wheel.
Proton is the majority owner of the Lotus Cars company, and the Turun Sanomat newspaper reports that the Satria Neo is Kovalainen's likely car for the Arctic Rally.
The Satria Neo S2000, built in Britain by MEM, was in Malaysia for Alister McRae to complete a series of demonstration runs for the Proton board of directors. Once the Scot had completed his driving in a forest stage around the Sepang circuit, the car was taken to Proton's centre of excellence, where Kovalainen asked to see it and then sit in it.
"Heikki was very interested in the rally car and it would be great if we could put something together [for the Arctic Rally]." told MEM team principal Chris Mellors.
Mellors confirmed there would be a car available for the F1 star, should the deal come together.
"I'm sure that wouldn't be a problem," said Mellors.
Another high profile competitor in the Arctic Rally will be Kimi Raikkonen, who is set to make his debut in the Citroen C4 he will drive in the 2010 WRC.
source: motorsport ; autosport
Bring It On: Tony Fernandes VS Richard Branson
LONDON (Reuters) - Lotus F1 principal Tony Fernandes has risen to Richard Branson's challenge for the loser of the two Formula One team owners next season to serve as a stewardess on the winner's airline.
Fernandes, the founder and CEO of AirAsia, said last week that his new Malaysian-backed team had to finish ahead of Branson's Virgin Racing "otherwise I will retire and kill myself."
Branson replied at the presentation of his team on Tuesday by suggesting a less painful solution.
"He has an airline, we have an airline and if we beat him he can come and work on our airline as a Virgin stewardess," he said, adding that he would be "game to do it" if Virgin finished behind Lotus.
"Bring it on, the sexier the better," Fernandes told the Lotus team website (www.lotusf1racing.my) on Wednesday, beneath a mocked up photograph of Branson in an AirAsia outfit.
"It's quite fitting, don't you think? Our passengers will be delighted to be served by a Knight of the Realm," he added.
"But, knowing Richard, the real challenge will be to prevent him from asking our guests 'coffee, tea or me?' That would be scary."
source: reuters
Tuesday
A Date to Remember: 28 Dec 2009, First Ever Top Five Malaysian Car of the Year 2009 Award
Nominations:
- Proton Satria Neo CPS (launched February)
- Proton Exora (launched April)
- Perodua Viva Elite (launched July)
- Perodua Viva 660 BX (launched July)
- Proton Saga SE (launched July)
- Proton Exora Manual (launched July)
- Perodua Myvi Exclusive Edition (launched October)
- Naza Picanto (launched October)
- Perodua Alza (launched November)
Official Trailer:
Do Not Forget
28 December 2009
Monday
Breaking News: It’s official, Trulli and Kovelainen at Lotus F1, Fairuz as third driver
Lotus F1 Racing has today confirmed that Italy's Jarno Trulli, Finland's Heikki Kovalainen and Malaysia's Fairuz Fauzy have joined the team to spearhead driving duties for its debut Formula 1 season in 2010.
There has been much speculation surrounding the identity of Lotus F1 Racing's driver signings in recent weeks, but the appointment of Jarno, Heikki and Fairuz was made formal in an official announcement by Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Sri Najib Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon, at which Jarno, Heikki and Fairuz were also present.
35-year-old Trulli is one of the most experienced, consistent racers in Formula 1 and unquestionably still one of the fastest men over a single lap. He is one of just a select few drivers to have tasted victory in Formula 1, and that at the jewel in the crown of Formula 1 racing, the Monaco Grand Prix. He has also finished in the top ten of the drivers' Championship table on seven occasions.
"I am also delighted to be racing alongside Heikki, someone who I have enjoyed racing against since 2007, and someone else, like me, who brings valuable experience from his time with two of Formula 1's most established teams. I believe that together, we are among the most competitive pairings on the grid, and we will be determined to bring success to Lotus F1 Racing to repay the faith that Tony and the team have shown in us." said Trulli
Heikki's F1 career began in 2006 when he made his debut as a test driver. His appointment to the Lotus F1 Racing team will see the 28 year old Finn starting his fourth season in the Formula 1 World Championship and he brings with him a race winning reputation, confirmed by his first victory in Hungary in 2008, and a wealth of experience that will make a potent combination with fellow race driver Jarno Trulli and Fairuz Fauzy.
"It's fantastic to be joining Lotus F1 Racing and I am excited about the challenges that lie ahead. I recently visited our factory in Norfolk, UK, and was so impressed by seeing how far the team has come in such a short time since it was launched in September, and by how determined everyone is to meet Tony's ambitious targets. I knew immediately it would be a fantastic opportunity to help them achieve their goals." said Kovalainen
Apart from the two, local boy Mohamed Fairuz Mohamed Fauzy, was announced as the third driver for the team.
27-year-old Fauzy joins the team having previously held a Formula 1 testing role for the Spyker squad back in 2007. Since then he has driven in the F1 feeder series GP2, the World Series by Renault, as well as being named as lead driver for Malaysia's involvement in the A1GP Championship.
"There is no greater honour than having the chance to drive for your country. I was given the opportunity to do that for A1 Team Malaysia in A1GP for a couple of years, but to have the chance to join Malaysia's first fully fledged Formula 1 team is very special for me and the highlight of my career so far. I look forward to working closely with Jarno and Heikki on developing the car and the team in our first season together in Formula 1. I am sure we can do Malaysia as a nation proud, as well as upholding the tradition of such a legendary F1 name such as Lotus. Furthermore I look forward to developing as a driver in Formula 1 with the team in the future." said Fauzy
It is a reflection of the determination and status of Lotus F1 Racing to return to Formula 1 that they have hired two race winning drivers for the debut season.
"The selection of the drivers, especially Trulli, was a perfect choice as the 35-year-old driver is vastly experienced," Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek who represented Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak told reporters after making the announcements.
Ahmad Shabery said a new team like Lotus F1 Racing would naturally need an experienced driver to gauge the performance of the team.
"The feedback from the driver (Trulli) who has featured in about 200 F1 races will be vital for the technical and mechanical technological aspects of the team," he said.
Meanwhile, as Quoted by Team Principal Tony Fernandes:
"Firstly, I would like to say this is an historic day for all us at Lotus F1 Racing as we announce our first driver line-up. We have three drivers who I believe complement each other excellently and who I think represent what Lotus F1 Racing and 1Malaysia is all about. That is not to say it was a straight-forward decision because we spoke with other drivers who I rate very highly, but ultimately we have opted for a careful mix of experience, youth and ambition. In Jarno we have the F1 veteran who proved in 2009 that he is as quick and determined as ever. In Heikki we have a continuing rising star who is still hungry to prove himself, and in Fairuz we have a Malaysian national driver who is eager to progress up the F1 ladder to fulfill the hopes of a nation. It's the full package if you ask me."
source: LotusF1Racing ; bernama
Wednesday
Perodua has no immediate plan to make hybrid cars
SHAH ALAM: Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) has no immediate plan to manufacture hybrid vehicles as it wants to focus on producing “affordable, mass-market” cars, said managing director Datuk Syed Abdull Hafiz Syed Abu Bakar.
“Hybrid and electric cars are here to stay but we have no immediate plans (to manufacture the cars) because Perodua’s objective is to make cars affordable for the masses,” he said at a Perodua Alza prize-giving ceremony here yesterday.
It was reported last week that national carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd plans to embark on mass production of hybrid cars by 2011 to overcome rising costs and address environmental concerns.
Hybrid cars are expensive to buy, maintain and insure PERODUA MD DATUK SYED ABDULL HAFIZ SYED ABU BAKAR
“People talk about hybrid and electric cars when the economy is down. But when it improves, everyone forgets about them,” Hafiz said, adding that hybrid cars were “expensive to buy, maintain and insure.”
“As a compact car company, Perodua’s objective is to manufacture affordable cars for the masses. To cater to this market, our cars need to be within a certain price range,” he said.
Currently, Honda Malaysia Sdn Bhd and UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd are the only two official franchise holders offering their own hybrid models in Malaysia – the Honda Civic Hybrid and Toyota Prius respectively.
The Civic and Prius are priced from RM129,000 and RM175,000 respectively.
Hafiz also said Perodua had no plan to launch diesel cars, and that “when we launch our next new model in 2011, it will be a compact, petrol-based car.”
He also revealed that 20% of Perodua Alza bookings comprised single buyers, with 83% of overall buyers choosing the automatic transmission.
Response to the Alza multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) has been overwhelming with the company having received over 11,000 bookings since Nov 13.
Perodua had set an initial target of selling between 3,500 and 4,000 Alza units a month.
But due to the better-than-expected reception, the company has revised its initial sales target of 162,000 Perodua vehicles to 164,000 by year-end.
Sales up to November stood at 151,000 units, according to Hafiz, with Perodua expecting to sell 13,000 vehicles in December.
“Our monthly bookings for November, which stood at 26,357 units was the second highest ever after 29,900 units achieved in June 2005,” he noted.
Hafiz said that with the good demand for Perodua cars, especially for the Alza, the company was confident of meeting its target of selling 176,000 units next year – its highest ever.
“Looking at bookings so far, we expect 2010 to be the best year for Perodua in terms of registrations. With the economy recovering, fuel prices will escalate and at the end of the day, it comes down to fuel consumption,” he said.
Hafiz added that Perodua would be launching “one or two” face-lift models next year, hinting that it would be based on the Myvi.
“The Myvi is here to stay. It’s affordable and just the right size. It’s quite a versatile car,” he said.
Meanwhile, four Myvi buyers won a Perodua Alza each after they were picked as the grand prize winners of the company’s “Myvi Moment” contest, which was held from June 13 to July 31.
The contestants had to purchase a Myvi during the period of the contest to qualify for the draw.
article from: thestar
Explore new global markets, Proton told
TOKYO: Proton Holdings has to be more competitive in the global automotive industry, especially with the opening of new markets due to the Asean Free Trade Area and free-trade agreements.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the national car company needed to come up with suitable marketing and production strategies to make it a bigger player in the international scene, since Malaysia’s domestic market was a small one.
“Depending on government support is not enough,” he told Malaysian reporters yesterday on the second day of his visit here on a special investment mission.
Muhyiddin added that penetrating countries such as India, China and Pakistan alone would be sufficient to make Proton a significant player in the regional market.
He also said that there was a need to produce the vehicles more competitively, as the cost was still high.
Earlier, during a question-and-answer session with Malaysian students and professionals here, Muhyiddin said he was still dissatisfied that Proton was not exporting the national car in a big way.
“They need to increase their competitiveness. They should be able to compete not only domestically but also internationally. I don’t need to teach them, the Proton management.”
On whether a strategic partner had been identified by Proton, he said nothing had been finalised.
Muhyiddin also told reporters that investment by the Tokuyama Corporation was expected to contribute RM19bil to the country’s gross domestic product in 10 to 15 years.
“The company’s business operations in Sarawak will have a multiplying effect as many of the supporting companies will also be located in the area,” he said.
Tokuyama is expected to begin polycrystalline silicone manufacturing operations for solar cells from 2013, with its base in Longmaju, Sarawak. The investment from Tokuyama will be RM5.5bil.
Muhyiddin said a meeting yesterday had resulted in Malaysia agreeing to give incentives like cheaper supply of electricity for 10 years, sourcing of skilled workers and negotiating on electricity rates after the 10-year period.
article from: thestar
Tuesday
A1 Team Malaysia eyes Le Mans series
With the future of A1 Grand Prix looking bleak due to financial difficulties, A1 Team Malaysia have set their sights on another car racing category — the Le Mans series in Europe.
A1 Team Malaysia CEO Jack Cunningham, in an interview with The Malaysian Insider,explained that the Malaysian A1 team was finally getting a clearer picture as to its direction and what it needed to do to ensure the team's survival and relevance in the world of motorsports.
"We are still trying to understand how to fit in the motorsports picture in light of the F1 programme in Malaysia. Although there is no complete position, as of right now we have a greater sense of an idea of what we're going to do," said Cunningham, referring to the hotly publicised introduction of Malaysia’s very own Formula One team — Lotus F1.
His declaration today came in light of the recent controversies surrounding A1 Grand Prix, where so far three major racing events have been cancelled with the most notable being the opening race at the Surfers’ Paradise International Raceways in the Gold Coast, Australia.
A1 Grand Prix Operations Ltd, a subsidiary of A1 Holdings, went into liquidation in June 2009 after cash-flow problems resulted in the company, which is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the series, being unable to pay its suppliers.
Its cars were also impounded by a freight company seeking outstanding payments, something which threatens to ground the series to a permanent halt despite assurances that a rescheduling of races is to commence in February next year.
"We think that we are going to run in what is known as the Le Mans series as well as the 24-hour race of Le Mans," said Cunningham of his Malaysian team's plans.
The Le Mans series (LMS) is a European sports car racing endurance series based around the 24-hour Le Mans race and run by the Automobile Club de 'Ouest (ACO). The series was originally named the Le Mans Endurance Series, but changed its name prior to the 2006 season.
The Le Mans 24-hour race, widely touted as one of the most gruelling races in the racing industry, requires drivers to drive 24 hours non-stop where whoever goes the furthest wins. Only refuelling and the changing of tyres are allowed. Three drivers take turns to drive each car.
Although the future sounds promising for A1 Team Malaysia, the issue of sponsorship remains a problem.
"We are talking to our current sponsors in the light of the probability that A1GP will only adjourn in February... we have to see whether they will support us in another series."
Asked whether the talks are proving to be favourable, he declined to speculate as things were too early for any concrete indication.
"Impossible to say at the moment, it’s too early to gauge their feelings on this, but without the transfer of sponsors we would not be able to go ahead with this (Le Mans series plan). We also need to find other sponsors that would want to do the series with us," noted Cunningham.
He hinted that the prospective sponsors were more "flexible" than the current sponsors the team had under A1GP.
Besides that, a deal with car racing engineering company Lola is possibly in the works, as Lola has shown positive feedback towards A1 Malaysia's courtship of them.
"I don’t want them (Lola) to think that the sale to us of these cars is a given... I want to go back to them and negotiate a proper deal. It’s not finalised. Lola was here in Malaysia last week discussing a range of issues, to see if there are potential partners for Lola in Malaysia."
Cunningham asserted that the focus on Lola was also because the original A1 cars were of Lola designs.
It is understood that Lola aims to expand its reach and influence in Malaysia far beyond motorsports, as Lola also owns a large composite business, and 75 per cent of the company's work is outside the motorsports field.
A1 team Malaysia's racing engineers are currently in a training programme with Lola to "familiarise" themselves with its cars.
There is also the probability of the team hiring a non-Malaysian for the position of one of the three drivers as Fairuz Fauzy's availability depends entirely on Lotus F1.
"We have three weeks to decide on this. The entries for the Le Mans series have to be submitted in January," said the A1 Malaysia boss.
article from: malaysiainsider
Thursday
Lotus F1 Given Numbers 18 and 19, aiming next week for driver announcement
Team Lotus F1 will be using the designated No. 18 and 19 on their cars in what is seen as a boost to their efforts to stamp their mark in their debut season in the world championships next year.
“We have received confirmation from the FIA that we will be No. 18 and 19. This makes us the highest ranked among the new teams,” he said.
Besides Lotus, three other newcomers have been accepted for the 2010 season – Campos Meta 1 (No. 20 and 21), US F1 Racing (22 and 23) and Virgin Racing (24 and 25).
Besides that, Lotus are set to name their team for the 2010 season in the immediate future, with chief executive officer Riad Asmat
"We will name two drivers and a reserve. Negotiations are still going on." said Riad Asmat, CEO
He also said that they hoped to finalise the much awaited driver’s line-up by next week.
Malaysian Fairuz Fauzy is among the candidates and the possibility is he will be the reserve driver as technical director Mike Gascoyne is looking at having experienced drivers to carry the challenges in the team’s debut season.
Paddock talk has former Toyota driver Jarno Trulli, Kamui Kobayashi, Takuma Sato and also former F1 world champion Jacques Villenueve in the running for the two main seats
source: thestar
Wednesday
Mass Production For Proton Hybrid Cars In 2011
BANGKOK, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- Proton is hoping to embark on mass production for its hybrid cars by 2011, said its managing director Datuk Syed Zainal Syed Mohamad Tahir Wednesday.
He said it was being developed through collaboration with its Britain-based subsidiary Lotus and several component suppliers like battery manufacturers.
"We have a dedicated team at Lotus to develop and test the car using Lotus technology. I tested the cars two weeks and I am impressed with it," he told Malaysian media on the sideline of the Thailand International Motor Expo here.
Earlier Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who launched the Expo, was given a briefing on Proton's venture in Thailand and its latest model Exora which hit the Thai market during the expo.
Syed Zainal said several Exora hybrid cars are currently being tested in Britain and would be shipped to Malaysia by end of December or early next year.
Under the second stage, Proton would assemble hybrid vehicles as government fleet vehicles, especially in Putrajaya before going for mass production in 2011.
"This can be expanded to fleet for private sectors like Pos Malaysia, DHL or others who are using big number of vehicles for their business," he said.
He said it was part of Proton's move to support Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's initiative to enhance green technologies for vehicles that could pave way for fuel efficiency and a greener environment.
Asked about the investment involved, Syed Zainal said it was not big as they were working with Lotus and other component manufacturers.
"We are developing the hybrid with battery manufacturers. By doing so, our investment will not be high," he said.
On the pricing, he said it has not been decided yet, but added that it would initially be higher than the conventional models.
Hybrid vehicles, which deliver power by switching between a petrol engine and an electric motor, can save up to 30 per cent on fuel costs but they are more expensive than conventional models.
He also said Proton has been developing electric cars since early this year, using models like Saga, Persona and Exora, adding that mass production would take longer as it needed expensive infrastructures like charging stations and power plants.
source: bernama
Proton To Announce Strategic Alliance With A Global OEM Soon
BANGKOK, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- Proton's talks with a global original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for a strategic alliance is underway and the national car maker is confident of clinching a deal soon, Managing Director Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir said Wednesday.
“We are clear on what needs to be done (our future plan)...the biggest question everyone is asking is on the strategic alliance. Discussions are underway, hopefully we can make an announcement soon," he told the Malaysian media on the sidelines of the Thailand International Motor Expo here.
Syed Zainal Abidin said once the specific collaboration with the global OEM was announced, he was confident it would bring better future for Proton not only in the Malaysian market, but also other markets where Proton was already in or going to enter.
He, however, declined to identify the OEM involved or whether German auto giant, Volkswagen, was the company Proton was talking to.
Syed Zainal's latest statement was the clear indication of Proton forming a partnership with a global player after months of speculation on its future, especially with reports that some local companies like DRB-Hicom was keen to take over.
There were earlier reports that Volkswagen would form a strategic partnership with Proton and assemble its vehicles at the national carmaker's second plant in Tanjong Malim.
Volkswagen Group Malaysia Sdn Bhd Managing Director Andreas Prinz had said before that the group was also thinking of making Malaysia its hub for parts distribution in South East Asia.
Malaysian Government investment arm, Khazanah Nasional, the largest shareholder in Proton, aborted talks with the world's fourth largest carmaker in 2007 as it was not keen to let the German manufacturer to take over management control of the national carmaker.
Proton officials were tight-lipped when asked on the potential partner or whether other players like General Motors are also negotiating with them.
Global players' interest in Proton resumed after the Malaysian Government unveiled the National Automotive Policy in October that aimed to liberalise the automotive sector.
Last week, Proton Holdings Berhad announced 77 per cent increase in pre-tax profit of RM100.65 million for the second quarter ended Sept 30, 2009 against RM56.61 million in the same quarter last year.
In the 2008-2009 financial year, the national carmaker sold 108,405 Proton cars in the country and exported 18,426 units.
source: bernama
Proton Aims To Export 50 Percent Of Production
BANGKOK, Dec 1 (Bernama) -- Proton Holdings Bhd will export its top-selling Exora to Australia and Middle East next year and launch its first model in India in 2011 as its aims for a 50 per cent export of its total production within three years.
Its managing director, Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, said Proton exported about 24 per cent, or 26,000 cars, in financial year 2009/2010 and hoped to sell over 40,000 next year.
"The economy is recovering and the signs are there for us to reach a 50 per cent share of export and 50 per cent domestic market within three years," he told the Malaysian media after launching Exora at the Thailand International Motor Expo here on Tuesday.
In the 2008-2009 financial year, the national carmaker sold 108,405 Proton cars in the country and only exported 18,426 units.
He said Exora, Proton's maiden multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), has received 25,000 bookings since its launch in Malaysia last April and 1,500 in Indonesia while total sales in Thailand were expected to be around 150 units a month.
Asked if he was confident of Exora's success in Thailand as the MPV market was only around two per cent, Syed Zainal said similar situation existed in Malaysia four years ago, but the trend has changed and more people were moving towards such segment to get value for money and the changing lifestyle.
Since making its entry into the highly-competive and Japanese manufacturer-dominated market here, Proton and its Thai distributor, Phranakorn Auto Sales, had sold over 7,000 cars, with the top model being Savvy.
Syed Zainal said next year, Proton planned to launch the Exora in Australia, Egypt, Syria, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia after exporting it to Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore earlier.
"To cope with the expected increased in demand, we plan to have two shifts to double our production from the current 2,800 units a month," he said.
On India, which he considered a strategic and important market, Syed Zainal said Proton was expected to announce its local partner early next year and the first car would roll out within a year.
To stay competitive, Syed Zainal said, Proton would refresh its models with more new cars within a short period of time as the life cycle of a current model by top manufacturers was four years, unlike 10 to 12 years before.
"One model for 10 years don't work anymore. We are working on models like Perdana and Waja ... works are under way and we hope to finalise them soon," he said.
source: bernama
Saturday
Proton Exora To Hit Thai Market Next Week
BANGKOK, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- With over 7,000 of its cars already on the road, Proton is set to launch its maiden multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) Exora in the Thai market at the Thailand International Motor Expo next week.
Based on initial feedback from the media and industry experts, Phranakorn Auto Sales general manager (operations) Apichart Wangsatorntanakhun said they were expecting a good response from Thai buyers.
"We took more than a dozen journalists to test the Exora in Malaysia. Exora received excellent reviews from the media, as well as those who came for discussion with us and saw the car at our showroom," he said in an interview here.
The Nation daily, in its review Friday said that Exora, with good handling and ride balance for its class, combined with versatile interior, was a good value as a family-mover against the smaller Toyota Avanza and the pricey Honda Freed.
Proton made its entry into the Japanese manufacturers-dominated Thai market at the end of 2007 to take advantage of the low five per cent import duty imposed under the Asean Free Trade Area agreement. Phranakorn was appointed as its official distributor.
According to Apichart, Exora's competitive pricing matched with quality, interior design and various accessories like leather seats and DVD player would enable it to compete with other MPVs in the market.
"It's value for money...it's similar to what Japanese manufacturers have been doing and is their secret for success. But now, their cars are a bit over priced," he said, adding that Honda Freed launched here two weeks ago was priced at between 894,000 Baht and 1,074,500 Baht (RM1 = 10 Baht).
Apichart said the 1.6-litre engine with five-speed manual or four-speed automatic Exora in five colours would hit the market in the price range between 699,000 Baht to 799,000 Baht.
Launched on April 15 in Malaysia, the Exora model has received 26,000 bookings todate, and 17,000 units were already registered in the domestic market there, as well as making its debut in Indonesia and Singapore.
Apichart said since its entry into the highly-competive market, Proton had sold more than 7,000 cars, with the top model being Savvy.
Asked on Phranakorn's sales target for Exora, Apichart said they had set a high target but declined to reveal.
"Overall, we hope to get about 900 bookings for all our models during the motor show.
"In fact, we are giving free insurance and free leather seats for Savvy buyers," he said.
Last year, Proton, which has 35 dealers nationwide, received 863 bookings during the popular expo attended by more than 1.5 million people. There were 14,000 orders.
Other Proton models available here are Neo, Gen 2, Persona and Persona CNG.
He said the overall sales was good, considering the weak Thai automotive market where sales dropped by 20 per cent for passenger cars and 28 per cent for pick-ups.
source: bernama
Tuesday
Perodua Alza Launched: Car One Moment, MPV The Next
Perodua.. a word that is so familiar among us..
What would be the first thing to cross your mind if you see the word “Perodua” in front of you? Made in Malaysia? Not really.. Cheap and funky? very doubtful.. what then..
the perfect word.. SMALL ..
Since it’s founding in 1993, Perodua has produced small cars for almost 15 years such as the Kelisa, Myvi, recently re-launched Viva (Elite version) and of course.. the popular Kancil.. 15 years of small car is just the tip of the iceberg considering that Kancil alone has the total production units of 722,223. Not forgetting that the Myvi is the best selling car for 3 consecutive years since 2006 in Malaysia.
But recently, Perodua just got bigger and bigger. After the Nautica SUV, here it is.. the first MPV from Perodua, the Alza..
So anyway, here we are finally, the Perodua Alza. The smaller MPV also comes with a smaller price tag, though Proton has worked to introduce the Exora Basic as well. Perodua says the Alza project first started off as the D46T about 3 years ago. The Japanese version was unveiled on Christmas day last year.
As for the name Alza, it actually means ‘to rise’ in Spanish. Probably symbolizes Perodua rising up the product segments once again – its cars are getting bigger and bigger.
First, let’s take a look inside this MPV. The first thing that caught my attention in the automatic version is the shift lever that positioned at the dashboard resulting in more spaces between the driver and the front passenger seat. The space filled up by the driver seat which extends leftwards. However, the extended part of the driver seat is relatively pointless if you ever want to use it as a seat because of the dashboard design. The foldable armrest is just nice and comfy. This automatic version also features a footbrake as the handbrake. Although the wheelbase of the Alza is greater than the Exora had, the Proton’s still felt bigger and more comfortable. This issue is supported by the fact that a 180+ cm person’s knee had to be pushed hard against the second row seat when he’s seating at the third row.
The Alza had improved suspension settings and it was likely that the biggest contributor to the Alza’s decent behaviour around corners is the addition of a rear stabilizer bar.The Alza’s power output and weight is actually quite similiar to the Avanza’s, which means performance should be comparable. The Alza and Avanza actually use the same 3SZ-VE engine though the Alza’s is transverse and the Avanza’s is longitudinal for rear wheel drive installation.
The luggage space depth is about 30cm but the third row kinda slants rearwards so you have more of a triangular wedge kind of boot space. WIth the third row folded, the luggage space grows up to 89.5cm in length. It’s a Myvi with a good sized boot.
Perodua Alza 1.5L Standard M/T
Solid – RM55,490
Metallic – RM55,990
S. Metallic – RM56,190 Perodua Alza 1.5L Standard A/T
Solid – RM58,490
Metallic – RM58,990
S. Metallic – RM59,190
Perodua Alza 1.5L Premium M/T
Solid – RM60,490
Metallic – RM60,990
S. Metallic – RM61,190
Perodua Alza 1.5L Premium A/T
Solid – RM63,490
Metallic – RM63,990
S. Metallic – RM64,190
Perodua Alza 40 seconds TV Commercial –English-
Perodua Alza 40 seconds TV Commercial –Malay-
Perodua Alza 60 seconds TV Commercial –English-
Perodua Alza 60 seconds TV Commercial –Malay-
source: paultan
Macau GT Cup: Bufori BMS R1 shows amazing potential
At 10:30am on 22nd November 2009, the much awaited Macau GT Cup race is held on the Guia Circuit in Macau. Lamborghini GT3 driver Keita Sawa beats three times Macau winner Darryl O’Young to take the race win. British driver Daniel Watts finished in third place. Bufori Motor Company’s Bufori BMS R1, racing for the first time in its world debut, had an accident at Lisboa corner and sadly retired from the race.
The race began with a rolling start, Alex Yoong’s Bufori BMS R1 started in 28th position. Right after the start, he began to show the car’s potential by passing many cars. At the end of the first racing lap, he was already in 23rd position, with a best lap of 3:00.388.
But in the following laps, many accidents happened on the track, two Chevrolets and a Ginetta retired from the race. The race organizers decided to send out the safety car. During the safety car period, no overtaking is allowed.
At the end of lap 4, the safety car left the track and the race is re-started. Just as Alex Yoong is shaping up for another overtaking move, he had an accident at the Reservoir Bend, brushing the barriers with the right rear of his car. A piece of debris from the track got in the car and jammed the throttle, so Alex decided to stop the car.
“At the start, I passed a few car and at Mandarin Oriental Bend I passed another car around the outside. Then I went into Lisboa side by side with a Ferrari and although he tapped me at San Franciso Bend, I was able to accelerate up the hill and overtake him. Unfortunately I brushed the barriers and then debris from the track caused the throttle to be stuck. Without power I had to stop. It is a sad end to the race and I am sorry for my mistake.” Alex Yoong said.
But Alex also feels that the car is much better than yesterday already. It was already faster than some of the cars in front and it has huge potential. “In just 9.5 weeks, we have arrived in Macau with a brand new, completely Asian designed and built sportscar. This kind of project has never been done in Asia, except in Japan. Today on the track, we have beaten the likes of Aston Martin and we were racing with Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche...etc. Without any testing, we were already the quickest GT4 car in today’s race. The car has amazing potential.”
The team and the car will now return to Malaysia for repairs and testing at Sepang Circuit. Both cars and the two drivers: Alex Yoong and Frank Yee will be driving. “We still have a lot of work to do, there is a lot of oversteer, we need to add a rear wing and get more horsepower, because we were losing power on the straight.”
BMS Team Prinicipal, Bufori Global distributor, BMS Sales & Marketing (BSM) CEO Mr. Joe Lim said, “Although we only completed four laps, the race experience has provided the team with a lot of useful data. Whether in the development of the CS road car or the BMS R1 race car, it will be a great help. This is also why we entered this race in the first place: implementing race developed technology and utilizing the race experience on our road car.” Mr. Joe Lim also mentioned that the both the Bufori BMS R1 and the Bufori CS road car will appear in the Beijing Auto Show in April 2010. Bringing Bufori’s hand crafted sportscar to the Chinese market. “We will insist on using race car technology to develop our road cars. Therefore next year we will take part in the Asian GT Masters. That will be the time when we will show our true potential.”
credit: -official press release from BUFORI
Thursday
Here they are!!.. photos of Perodua’s next big thing, the Alza (test drive unit)
Here they are!!.. photos of Perodua’s next big thing, the Alza.. although it is only the test drive unit, its even got bodykit.. Unfortunately, we still don’t know where these photos shot at.. Unlike the spyshot photos that we posted before, the test drive unit features a bodykit by adding bumpers to the front and rear end resulting in a more aggresive look.
Perodua began accepting bookings starting from 13 November and would be priced between RM56,000 and RN64,000. Datuk Syed Abdul Hafiz, Perodua managing director said that Perodua expect to sell the MPV between 3500 and 4000 units per month. Lets wait for the launch in 23rd November.
Monday
Lotus F1 Signed First Driver, Public Announcement Soon
Team principal Tony Fernandes announced that Lotus F1 Team has signed their first driver on his twitter acoount but he still did not mention who the driver is.
One Malaysia formula one team aka lotus has signed it’s first driver. Public announcement soon. The dream continues.
About who the driver is, rumor has it that Japanese Kamui Kobayashi would be perfect for this job. The Japanese driver even admit that if he had to choose a team considering that Toyota already quit from the pinnacle of motorsport, he would go for Lotus.
On the other hand, Italian veteran, Jarno Trulli also has been linked with a move to Lotus without any confirmation yet.
Malaysian Fairuz Fauzy also could be the driver but the team’s Chief Technical Officer Mike Gascoyne recently announce that 27-years-old Fauzy only will be a third driver (test driver) for the team considering that Fauzy is in the lack of experience. “Fairuz will be in the team probably as a reserve driver or a test driver. He has the talent but we don’t want him to ‘crash and burn’ in the race because of his inexperience,” said Gascoyne.
Proton Expects To Sell 150,000 Vehicles In Local Mart
KOTA BAHARU, Nov 16 (Bernama) -- Proton Holdings Bhd expects to sell 150,000 units of its vehicles for the financial year ending March 31, 2010 in the domestic market and another 25,000 units in the overseas market in the same period.
Its managing director, Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, said the projected rise in sales was based on the good response from consumers to Proton cars which have been improving quality wise.
"We have raised our production quality with the latest models that have seen good response from our consumers while giving the imported cars a run for their money," he told reporters after a celebration to honour teachers and the best students from Sekolah Kebangsaan Paloh Pintu Gang here Monday.
Syed Zainal Abidin said Proton did not face problems in terms of marketing but did face some competition from cars imported from China and marketed at lower prices.
He said Proton's priority remained in increasing its production quality and introducing new models to consumers.
"The Proton Pesona, Proton Exora and several latest models from Proton are capable of competing with cars from overseas," he said.
source: bernama
Sunday
Bufori New CS Sport Car To Be Launched 2010, race version to enter Macau GT Cup
BUFORI Motor Car Company (BMCC) is extending its model range and will soon be launching a new generation of modern sportscars.
The BUFORI CS, which stands for “Compact Sports”, is a purist and powerful 2 door coupé. Unlike previous generations of BUFORI motorcars, the BUFORI CS is intentionally modern-styled. Powered by a 2.0L turbo-charged engine, the sportscar will feature a lightweight composite body and offer the typical BUFORI craftsmanship, attention to detail and quality. The BUFORI CS is expected to be launched in Malaysia at the beginning of 2010 and more details will be revealed towards the end of the year.
The BUFORI CS is fully designed and developed by BMCC in Malaysia. It was recently decided that BUFORI wanted to have a race version of the car, in order to prove the vehicles capabilities and performance under extreme conditions and directly apply proven racing technology to the on going development of the road car.
This lead to the creation of the newly established BMS (BUFORI MOTOR SPORTS), which is the motorsport division of BUFORI. Through the collaboration with AXLE MOTORSPORT, a company dealing in high-tech motor racing development, BMS and AXLE MOTORSPORT jointly developed the BUFORI BMS R1 using a team of Formula One engineers, employing only the highest quality components and materials
The BUFORI CS marks the beginning of a new era for BMCC.
Unlike previous BUFORI models, the design of the BUFORI CS is intentionally modern, boasting elegant flowing lines and subtly pronounced fenders. Four circular LED rear lights give an additional sporty dimension to the overall, timeless elegant body.
The monocoque body is made of ultra-light and rigid reinforced Carbon Fiber & Kevlar and lies on a space frame chassis.
The unequal upper and lower arm front and rear suspension with coil over shocks are fully adjustable and provide excellent road holding.
The BUFORI CS is fitted with a front mounted 4 cylinder 2.0L turbo–charged high performance engine that delivers effortless power and offers an exhilarating driving experience.
The BUFORI BMS R1, the race edition of the BUFORI CS, a race version of the Bufori CS will be entered in the 56th Macau Grand Prix this month. The race car is called the Bufori BMS R1 and will be entered by the new BMS AXLE RACING team, a JV between Bufori Motorsports and Axle Motorsport. Axle is a familiar name – Alex Yoong is the man behind it. The race car was developed in under 10 weeks and complies with FIA GT3 specs.
Wednesday
Fairuz Fauzy Set To Be Reserve for Lotus F1
Lotus F1 Racing team chief technical officer Michael Gascoyne confirmed, well almost, the obvious when he said that Fairuz Fauzy “is 99.9%” in the team.
However, Gascoyne who has worked with McLaren, Sauber, Renault and Toyota, said Fairuz would not necessarily get a race seat when the 2010 season starts in Bahrain in March.
“Fairuz will be in the team probably as a reserve driver or a test driver. He has the talent but we don’t want him to ‘crash and burn’ in the race because of his inexperience,” said Gascoyne.
The 27-year-old Fairuz finished second in the Formula 3.5 World Series by Renault. He also had a stint in GP2 and raced for A1 Team Malaysia. His previous involvement with a Formula One team was as a test driver for team Spyker F1 in 2007.
“Take (Fernando) Alonso for example. He was signed as a test driver and didn’t get a race seat until after three years with Renault and he went on to win trophies,” said Gascoyne.
“This is exactly what we want with Fairuz, for him to have enough experience because racing in the Formula One is at a much higher level than he used to.”
Gascoyne said there was no point having a Malaysian driver in the team “and always at the back of the starting grid.
“If you ask any young driver if they’re ready for Formula One, their answer will be ‘yes’. But at the end of the day, it’s experience that matters when racing in Formula One,” said Gascoyne.
full article: thestar
Monday
Next Proton Persona Will Be Designed By Italdesign ?
The Business Times report revealed that a clay model of the car already exists at the design house’s headquarters in Turin, Italy.
The sedan is aimed at widening Proton's market, which at present is largely limited to Malaysia and its Asean neighbours.
It will be engineered to meet tougher European and North American standards although its marketing in these regions has not been finalised.
Strategies are being thought of and one option would be to market the car in some of the new markets, such as in Europe and North America, through collaborations with local established brands under which Proton could earn revenue from intellectual property rights.
Syed Zainal Abidin said the new car will incorporate plenty of new technologies and Proton is already talking to potential global suppliers on several inputs for the car.
"The objective is to produce a car very different from current Proton vehicles," he said.
Other strategies are also being explored for its other models. The Waja is headed for an enhancement programme through a collaboration with Japanese giant Mitsubishi and the same arrangement is being undertaken with another company to study options for the Perdana.
Eventually, Proton will produce a sport utility vehicle (SUV). Syed Zainal Abidin has said that the company intends to have a full range of products for its customers.
Exploratory talks with potential partners on an SUV programme have started, including with a Chinese car company.
It is also inevitable that Proton will have to look into the hybrid car segment.
Although it may be a while before it mass-produces an electric car, Proton, through UK unit Lotus Cars, has started talks with a South Korean battery company and an electric motor corporation.
