Nissan Impul Latio officially available in Malaysia now

Click on images to enlarge Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd (ETCM) has introduced the Nissan Latio Tuned By Impul.

“The Nissan Latio Tuned By Impul will be a limited production run and is targeted at customers who want their Latio to be more distinctive and at the same time take driving performance to a whole new level” said Dato’ Dr Ang Bon Beng, Executive Director of Edaran Tan Chong Motor Sdn Bhd.

The Impul parts fitted onto this limited edition model are:

1. IMPUL Aerokit
The Impul aerokit exudes visual drama and dynamic presence. It comes as a set with a new front grille, front and rear bumper spoiler, side skirts and at the rear, Impul’s trademark wing spoiler.

2. IMPUL Sports Suspension System
A high performance suspension system consisting of absorbers and springs designed for a lowered vehicle ride height of 25 mm to provide a firm foundation and a flexible but comfortable ride at the same time. Repeated actual vehicle suspension testing was done to achieve the exhilarating sporty ride with increased lateral force support when cornering and enhance the neutral cornering characteristics of the Nissan Latio.

3. IMPUL Blast II Exhaust Muffler
A high quality stainless steel exhaust muffler in a polished finish and etched Impul logo tail pipe, not only provide sharper engine response with a sporty note but also complements the overall aesthetics of the exterior.

4. 17-inch Team IMPUL NS GTII Alloy Wheels with Dunlop Formula D 01 205/45 R17 Tyres
The Team Impul NS GTII Alloy Wheels are the most recognizable wheels from Impul and only weighs 6.48kg! They not only optimise the handling and enrich the steering feel but also provide a more poised stance on the road. Gold finished exclusively available only for the Limited Edition Nissan Latio Tuned By Impul.

The Nissan Latio Tuned By Impul version is only at a cost of RM10,500.00 (excluding insurance) above the standard Nissan Latio.

After-market purchase for IMPUL Performance Parts will also be available to existing Nissan LATIO owners. Prices are quoted as below and each item can be purchased individually:

- Impul Blast II exhaust muffler: RM2,000
- Team Impul light alloy wheels: RM4,800 for set of 4 (silver available)
- Dunlop D 01 205/45 R17: RM350 per tyre
- Impul Sports suspension: RM3,500
- Aerokit (excluding grille): RM3,000 inclusive of painting
- Aerokit grille: RM800

Nissan Latio Tuned By Impul are priced as follows (on-the-road with insurance):

1.6 ST (M) RM 94,386.00
1.6 ST (A) RM 98,705.50
1.6 ST-L (A) RM103,715.50
1.6 ST-L (A) RM105,587.50
1.8 Ti (A) RM107,744.30

The Nissan Latio Tuned By IMPUL can be exclusively viewed at selected Nissan showrooms nationwide and comes with a 3-year or 100,000 km (whichever comes first) warranty.

*Press release above courtesy of Paul Tan.

Nissan Slyphy launch delayed to July 2008?

In a scoop by For Wheels at the recent Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) annual dinner 2008, it was learnt that the upcoming Nissan Sylphy apparently wouldn't make it to Edaran Tan Chong Motors (ETCM) showrooms this month of April. Instead it will only be available from June/July 2008 onwards. Indicative pricing for this 2.0L engined (MR20DE) C-segment sedan with CVT 'box is between RM110k - 115k.

Related posts:

http://for-wheels.blogspot.com/2008/03/carlos-ghosn-visits-tan-chongs-new.html

http://for-wheels.blogspot.com/2007/07/nissan-bluebird-sylphy-coming-soon.html

Carlos Ghosn visits Tan Chong's new Nissan plant in Malaysia

The Malaysian media had a chance to get acquainted with Mr Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO of Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. recently at Tan Chong Motors Assemblies Plant in Serendah, Selangor. Built at a cost of RM230 million over a 47.3 acre site, it currently produces Nissan models like the Latio, new Grand Livina and the soon-to-be-launched Sylphy. The Serendah plant has been up and running in less than a year from end of construction. Plans are afoot for production to run a 2nd shift by September, thereby doubling up roll-off to 2,400 units a month.

The charismatic Carlos Ghosn was back in Malaysia after a period of seven years and was happy to note the progress of Nissan brand in our important market, in partnership with Tan Chong over the past 50 years, an alliance that dates back to the nation’s independence.

In January of this year, Nissan recorded the highest monthly sales in Malaysia since 1985, at 3093 units. To affirm this Carlos revealed, “And with over 10,000 bookings for our new Grand Livina, we can look forward for more growth to come”.

Ghosn in his speech thanked everyone involved with the Nissan brand in Malaysia, recognizing the achievements of all from the factory and offices through to sales and after-sales. The head of Nissan Motor Co. also reaffirmed Nissan’s commitment to Malaysia, of which there are four pillars:

1) Empathy to Malaysia as a nation since 1957, creation of strength from diversity.
2) Half-century of partnership with Tan Chong, from “Datsun” to Nissan through the generations.
3) Belief in the benefits of regional integration through initiatives such as ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA).
4) Commitment to Malaysian consumers. By offering the right product with the right design, high quality and value.

During the media Q&A session, Ghosn reiterated Nissan’s plan for ASEAN as an attractive and vibrant market place. Therefore, instead of a global one-for-all car, Nissan believes a common regional platform in tandem with fully localized production is more attuned to the automotive needs and desires of a certain locality. For example, Renault-Nissan will partner Bajaj in India to introduce a low-cost US$2,500 car by 2010.

In addition, Nissan also sees importance in the affordable and fuel efficient A- and B-segments of vehicles for ASEAN under AFTA. As always, Nissan has been and would still want to have a car in every class/segment, rather than cluster around just a few categories but its priorities are more on these two fast growing classes in emerging markets. A step further, emphasis will be more towards B-segment growth in markets like China, India, Middle East, Brazil and of course, ASEAN. Carlos has also cautioned that for the next fiscal year (April 2008 – April 2009), mature markets like the U.S., Europe and Japan will experience slower growth in view of the U.S. recession, economy contraction in Western Europe and slowdown in Japan. Last year, across the ASEAN region, Nissan saw growth of 25% in sales.

On plans for future sustainable mobility, Mr Ghosn has outlined the options of hybrid, electric, clean diesel and fuel cells vehicles in Nissan’s product range. He added it was premature and short-sighted to bank on any one of the above alternatives, given the different geopolitical and regulatory climate in every region, country or government. Carlos has pointed out for example, in Europe every one other vehicle sold is diesel powered while in both Japan and the U.S., oil burners hardly make up 1% of all passenger vehicles registered. Above it all, he is quite optimistic about electric cars, saying that its fully-electric vehicles will be sold in the U.S. by 2010, in Israel by 2011 and rest of the world by 2012.

To stay competitive and afloat in this age of ever-increasing costs, Nissan’s has always believe in the right product planning, strategy, technology and more importantly localization plan e.g. for ASEAN. This will also help hedge it against wide currency fluctuations as evident in the recent Japanese Yen strengthening versus U.S. greenback. Making this point, Mr Ghosn stressed “Localisation is the key to cost control, so as to be not so exposed to violent currencies fluctuations”.


On a related note, Mr Ghosn, Dato’ Tan and Dato’ Ang also revealed the new Nissan Sylphy to the media. During a media TV interview, I asked if the new R35 GT-R will be officially imported to Malaysia of which Dato’ Ang gave examples of CBUs new Murano, Qashqai and the likes possibly from Tan Chong in 2009. He, however was neither confirmatory nor committing on the supercar availability in Malaysia (not at least officially) - with the much essential after-sales support from ETCM - in the near to medium term.

For Nissan’s current fiscal financial year, 3.7 million cars have been shipped and this is attributed to its 6% of overall global automotive market share. Malaysian sales of Nissan vehicles currently stakes at 5% and Mr Carlos Ghosn is confident of rationalizing this to international level in Malaysia. Lamenting this, Dato Dr Ang Boon Beng, Edaran Tan Chong Motor Executive Director, is bullish on increasing Nissan’s local market share to 6% or even 7% – with its vision of strategic planning in products, technology and localization as evident from a tour of assembly lines of Grand Livina and Sylphy with its auto parts’ carts frame labeled “Return to Nissan Indonesia” and Return to Nissan Thailand”.