F1 Sepang Pics

Here are some pics of the recent F1 race in Sepang, courtesy of Muz who was watching it live from the Grandstand. Lucky guy.

Auto Fair

There is a Auto fair coming up.

It is organised by Purnama Jelita (???)and will be held at the Main Concourse, Kompleks Bukit Jambul, Jalan Rumbia, Penang from 25th to 27th of March.

Participants include Duaria Motors Sdn Bhd (Kia), Ford Concessionaires Sdn Bhd (Ford), Proton Edar Sdn Bhd (Proton), Scott and English (M) Sdn Bhd (Tata) and Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (Nissan).

TRM Spyshots

Several pics of the Proton Tiara Replacement Model (TRM) and the Satria Replacement Model (SRM)has been doing the rounds on the internet. One of the visitors to my blog recently e-mailed me these pics. Thanks Kim.







I just realised that this is a good marketing tool. Proton can actually get the feedback from several potential customers before they actually go ahead with the full scale production.

Sepang F1 05

I was unable to watch the Malaysian Grand Prix this Sunday at Sepang but was able to catch some bits of the race on TV. It was quite funny, but even my mother-in-law is talkign about the F1 race. It seems that there are a lot more F1 fans in Malaysia as compared to a few years ago when almost everyone thought that building the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) was a waste of public money.

Anyway, coming back to the race, it was Renault's second consecutive F1 victory with Fernando Alonso dominating the 56-lap Malaysian Grand Prix right from the start at Pole Position. With this win, Alonso moves to the top of the championship standings.

Toyota had their first ever podium position, with the Italian Jarno Trulli crossing the finish line 25 secs behind Alonso.

Christian Klien claimed the final point.

Here are the final race results:

1. Fernando Alonso Renault
2. Jarno Trulli Toyota
3. Nick Heidfeld Williams-BMW
4. Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-Mercedes
5. Ralf Schumacher Toyota
6. David Coulthard Red Bull Racing
7. Michael Schumacher Ferrari
8. Christian Klien Red Bull Racing

In the championship, Renault leads with 26 points. Toyota is now in 2nd place with 12 points. Red Bull's is 3rd while Ferrari is 4th with 10 points along with BMW Williams and McLaren.

India's first Formula One racing driver Narain Karthikeyan was able to complete the race, coming in at 11th place. Not bad for a rookie driver.

NOTE: 13 days to the F1 race in Bahrain.

My brother-in-law was able to watch the race live at Sepang. I will try to get some pics from him and put it up here.

Malaysia's First Sports Car

The Star carried an interesting news today. It reported that Malaysia's First sports car called the Esna Venera is expected to roll out in 2006 and that the company Esnasports Sdn Bhd had already received 20 orders. The car will cost between MYR500,000 ($131,579) and MYR800,000.

The company will produce only 150 units of the car after which they will start on the next model. Keeping the car exclusive seems to be their strategy. You can read the news in the Star here and also in the NST.

Got this picture from the NST website.

However, I was wondering how this can be Malaysia's first sports car when Proton already has announced that they would launch their own sports car later this year. They also have the various Lotus models.

New Mazda Car

At the 75th Geneva International Motor Show (Salon International de l’Auto in Geneva) several new cars were seen. This includes the new two-seater Mazda MX-5 from the Mazda Motor Corporation. It is the third generation evolution of the world’s best-selling lightweight sports car (known as the Roadster in Japan) which first debuted at the Chicago Auto Show in February 1989.



The new car is equipped with a newly developed 2.0-liter MZR engine for all markets. However, models with a 1.8-liter engine would be available for the European market.

It will be available in 8 exterior colors. Regarding the interior, base models will have black upholstery and a matte-silver metallic finish. Higher-grade models offer two choices: a combination of saddle-tan and black leather or black leather in a monotone treatment.

As for the safety aspect, the new MX-5 comes with the Mazda Advanced Impact-energy Distribution and Absorption System. It also has newly developed side airbags and a larger-volume head protection airbag.

The car runs on 205/45WR-17 radial tires.

The all-new MX-5 will be launched in global markets in the latter half of 2005.
For more information go to the new Mazda MX-5 website.

Passet Assembly

According to a recent news report, Germany's Volkswagen and Proton are to begin assembly of an Asian version of the VW Passat at Proton's Tanjung Malim plant.

Naza Launches New Sportage

Naza Kia Sdn Bhd launched the new Kia Sportage at Putrajaya on the 4th of this month.

Priced at RM 121 888.00 (on the road including insurance), they call the Sportage "Part car, Part SUV, Part MPV". That's marketing I guess.

The MPV comes in 10 colours - beat that Proton.