CARnival of the year

ONE of the highlights of this year's New Straits Times/Maybank "Car of the Year" (COTY) 2010, is the "COTY 2U CARnival" car show.  The inaugural car show was announced by New Straits Times Sdn Bhd group editor Datuk Syed Nadzri Syed Harun at the COTY media launch held at the Peugeot Blue Box showroom in Glenmarie last week.  Click here to read more.

To each his own in COTY

  MAY wasn't the month of bread-and-butter cars as it saw the introduction of cars that we won't normally put atop our choice of cars, with the exception of the successor to the popular 5-series sedan.  However, even the new F10 5-series, which was launched with much fanfare, has a curious cousin in the form of the F07 535i Gran Turismo, which was quietly launched. It has been many years since Malaysia has seen a French coupe, but the Laguna reminds us that we are missing that dose of French flair.  Click here to read more.

Ten dream speedsters in COTY race

Pricey, expensive to maintain, costs an earth to run, and utterly hopeless in everyday situations. Placed under the light of rational scrutiny, these cars would melt and wither away. But they don't, in all their beautifully formed sheet metal, ground-hugging pose, and electrifying performance, bringing with them a rich spectrum of life and vigour to drivers and bystanders alike. We are talking of course of performance cars, the source of dreams and aspirations of many.Click here to read more.

Head and shoulders advantage

The archetypical luxury car is nothing more than a big sedan with a big engine and big on luxury fittings and toys.With the arrival of premium sports utility vehicles (SUVs), the era of luxury cars as the choice of transport for affluent individuals is coming to an end as premium SUVs are taking their place.Not only does luxury SUVs have the comfort, refinement and toys to match, these machines offer drivers and passengers the psychological upper ground.Premium SUVs' bulk and ride height allow occupants to waft head and shoulders above the crowd in comfort.Click here to read more.

Picking up the baton

If the value of cars was to be quantified by the sum of all its uses, then these entrants in this category has to be the most valuable cars around.Of all our categories in the Maybank/New Straits Times Car of the Year (COTY) awards, the category of twin cab pick-up trucks offers many uses for the money.Few vehicles on the road can match a pick-up truck's off-road ability and transport capability as well as an everyday means of transport.Click here to read more.

Motoring pleasures

Limousines and performance cars are machines that encompass the most desirable motoring qualities, speed, comfort and excitement. On one hand, limousines give their passengers the privilege of covering vast distances in opulent luxury and comfort, and at times serve as a symbol of power and respect. Performance cars will always become the objects of desire, as they solely exist on delivering the best driving experience.Click here to read more.

SUVs to the fore

Nothing can rival the superior driving position, comfort and go-anywhere ability of the sports utility vehicle (SUV).However, SUVs are seen as symbols of opulence and excess, and thus the segment has suffered badly from the economic slump.Sales figures report a decline of 22 per cent between January and August 2009 compared with the same period last year.That said, economic conditions didn't stop auto manufacturers from releasing a number of new vehicles this year to jump start the SUV market slump.Click here to read more.

Room amid the gloom

Despite the gloom and doom of the global economic slump, which saw a 7.3 per cent decline of year-on-year (January to August 2009) passenger car sales in Malaysia, the multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) segment saw improved sales of 2.3 per cent in the same period.As people tighten their spending, the market is ripe for value for money transports which have enough room to accommodate large families comfortably for long journeys.Click here to read more.

Less executive contenders

The number of nominees in both the Executive Car and Premium Executive Car categories in the New Straits Times/Maybank Car of the Year (COTY) Awards (COTY) is considerably less this year. Last year, there were a total of 10 nominees in both categories. This is largely due to the global economic turbulence earlier this year when many automakers faced financial losses, workforce lay-offs and growing inventories of unsold cars. Thus, most automakers either delayed or in some instances, scrapped the roll-out of new car models this year.Click here to read more.

List of 2009 Nominees

  A- Entry Level Car  Chana Era CV6              Perodua Viva Elite Hyundai i10    B- Compact Car Honda City 1.5L Grade S/E        Proton Satria NEO CPS Toyota Vios 1.5 TRD Sportivo (with TRD suspension)         C - Premium Compact Car Fiat 500 Alfa Romeo Mito  Click here to read more.