Proton Exora BOLD ready for distribution

Proton Exora BOLD is due to be launched in January 2012. As depicted by Proton immediate launching plan is the last post, both Exora BOLD and Exora PRIME will be the curtain opener for Proton 2012. I think all the empty slots around the MVF plant now surely being filled by the new facelifted Exora. After all, those MPV looks lorry-bound already.

The new front end is more menacing looking compared to current angular lookout. The vertical side intake is inline with headlamp lines projected downward. The front grille is similar in design to the Proton P3-21A that we have seen so far. The only missing information right now is the detail technical detail on the new turbocharged Campro and the CVT gearbox. One more photo of older spyshot after the jump.

Proton hits the headlines - highest share price in 9 months!

Proton share price soared to a record high after the announcement that Khazanah is planning to ditch its share in the national car maker. The price on December 5 stood at RM4.50 instead of hovering below RM3 as it usually is. The uproar in price started upon the "Khazanah to invite bid for Proton" statement.  Meanwhile, Bursa Malaysia has issued an unusual market activity (UMA) query on Proton Holdings Bhd due to sharp rise in share price. Proton subsequently announced on Bursa that it has halted trading due to the UMA query issued and will resume trading only at 11.20am, after an hour of halt.

According to Bussiness Times, there are three parties who have submitted a bid to Khazanah Nasional Bhd yesterday to seek control of national carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd, people involved in the bidding process said. Their bid range from RM6 to RM7 per share. It is believed that the bidders are Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar AlBukhary’s DRB-HICOM, several key shareholders linked to the Naza Group and Proton chairman himself Datuk Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh proposing management buy-out. However, at that price, the successfull bidder is actually is getting Proton on a cheap as the current book value per share for the national car maker is RM9.84. Could it also be partly Mitsubishi, whose Proton is expected to announce the manufacturing deal soon?

BMW Malaysia year end offer

Similar to the previous post, albeit in more prestigious brand, BMW Malaysia is offering an attractive pricing for its selected model. The package comes in the form of attractive rebates or special financing package. With this package, the 3-series can be yours from as low as low-ish  RM1,888 permonth for the first year. The offer is valid for selected model in the range of:

• BMW 3 Series Sedan or Coupe
• BMW X1
• BMW 5 Series

Each of these car comes with special BS+RI program that provides basic maintenance and service for F.O.C for extended period of 5 years or 100,000km whichever comes first. This is an upgrade from the typical 3 years/60,000km package. For full information head to BMW Malaysia HERE

New Avanza is coming to Malaysia & latest Toyota promotion

The new Toyota Avanza, which was launched in November in Indonesia, is coming to Malaysian shore soon. UMW Toyota has run a teaser on their website <here>. The car of course is no stranger to all my blog reader here, as I have put a comprehensive technical coverage on the new Toyota Avanza. You may want to proceed to the review of the new Toyota Avanza <here>.

For Malaysian market, the 2012 Toyota Avanza will comes in 4 variants, as listed below:

• 1.3 E (MT) = RM63,864
• 1.5 E (AT) = RM71,864
• 1.5 G (AT) = RM76,590
• 1.5 S (AT) = RM78,865

All prices quoted are for individual registration and for non-metallic paint only. More after the jump.

Ertiga - an Avanza rival from Suzuki

Maruti-Suzuki is expected to launch their latest MPV at the New Delhi Auto Expo in January 2012. The Indian made small MPV is expected to deliver a strong challenge to the Toyota Avanza in the Asian countries. Press in Indonesia are also talking about the arrival of this Avanza-killer.

Unlike the budget Toyota MPV, Ertiga is not a lorry-based. Instead it sits on a Suzuki Ritz platfrom. The wheelbase however has been lengthened by a massive 380mm, totalling 2,740mm. For comparison, Perodua Alza wheelbase is 2,750mm and Toyota Avanza is 2,665mm and Proton Exora is 2,730mm. However, at 4,265mm, Suzuki Ertiga is quite close to Perodua Alza 4,205mm long, and longer than Avanza 4,140mm but dwarfed by Proton Exora 4,592mm.

The silhouette of Suzuki Ertiga is a resemblace to Perodua Alza too, with an elongated car-like side profile and reverse kink rear quarter glass. The Ertiga was previewed as Maritu RIII some years back, but the production car resemble anything but that RIII. The front end is unmistakably Suzuki, with the new Swift overtones to it. The rear end is characterized by wrap-around rear lights, which does not follow the trend of opting for vertically-mounted item like most of its rival out there.More details after the jump.