Frankie Ho, Managing Director of Grand Motors Sdn Bhd, Hj Shaiful Rizal bin Pehin Dato Dr Haji Ahmad, Executive Director of Grand Motors, Jacqueline Koh, Kia Sales Manager, Precious Casao, Marketing Manager of Grand Motors Sdn Bhd and Hj Shaiful Rizal bin Pehin Dato Dr Haji Ahmad, Executive Director of Grand Motors posing with the all-new Kia Rio

Grand Motors Sdn Bhd, the exclusive distributor of Kia vehicles in Brunei Darussalam reveals the all-new, 4th generation Kia Rio. It was first revealed in Paris at the 2016 Mondial de I’Automobile. Earlier this morning, the Kia Rio was launched at the showroom at Grand Motors.

So what’s new with the Kia Rio?

It has a new design of course, defined by straight lines and smooth surfacing, giving the car a distinctive, confident new look.

It has a progressive exterior design. At the front, the Rio wears the latest evolution of Kia’s tiger-nose grille, now thinner in height and wider across the front of the car. Integrated bi-function projection headlamps – again, thinner and more sculpted than those of is predecessor – project a new U-shaped LED light signature. Changes to the front of the car, including moving the fog lamps’ position outwards within the front bumper, are designed to add greater visual width for a more stable overall look. The new Rio grows by 5mm in width, further adding to this effect.

The rear section of the Rio is now more upright, with a near-vertical rear windscreen and a shorter overhang. It also features a new arrow-shaped LED light signature. Like the wider-looking “face” of the car, the rear design of the new Rio gives it a stronger overall appearance.

As for the cabin, it has been redefined, featuring sculptural forms and a more ergonomic layout than previous models.You will see the straight lines running the width of the dashboard characterize the shape of the interior, giving the cabin a wider appearance and increasing the sense of space for occupants. The dashboard is now angled towards the driver with a high resolution touchscreen to power the Rip’s audio and new connectivity systems.

The all-new Rio will offer buyers class-leading practicality and safety technology, the latest connectivity features and more assured and engaging ride and handling characteristics.

Did you know that the Kia Rio is Korean manufacturer’s global best-selling model with more than 473,000 sold around the world in 2015 alone? Awesome!!! Do check out the new Kia Rio at their showroom.

During the launch today, Grand Motors had some activities for the public such as hanna

There was also a pancake station

The crowd earlier this morning

Only for today that when you take a selfie and post on social media, you will get a portable speaker

The Mercedes-Benz designers have restyled the product range with great success. The upcoming compact class generation marks the dawn of an even more rigorous implementation of the design idiom of “sensual purity”. The “Aesthetics A” sculpture provides a first indication.

The designers at Mercedes-Benz are reconciling tradition and modernity in designing the cars for the future. Their work centres on ‘Sensual Purity’ as an expression of modern luxury. In applying this design philosophy, Mercedes-Benz sparked a transformation in design with the current AClass, launched in 2012. The new design idiom featuring edges and creases – indentations and recesses in the sheet metal – aimed to create clear forms and sensual surfaces which showcase high tech while also arousing emotions. This played a decisive role in making the brand younger and was key to the company’s excellent sales results. Every Mercedes-Benz model that followed since was born from this philosophy despite having an individual character.

With the “Aesthetics A” sculpture, the design team now presents the vision of a saloon car in the compact car segment which is stripped down to the essential body. It also provides a clear indication of how the design philosophy of ‘Sensual Purity’ will be manifested in the not too distant future. The “Aesthetics A” sculpture embodies the advancement of the Mercedes-Benz design idiom.

“Form and body are what remain when creases and lines are reduced to the extreme. We have the courage to implement this purism”, says Chief Design Officer of Daimler AG, Gorden Wagener. “In combination with perfect proportions and sensual surface design, the upcoming generation of the compact class has the potential to herald a new design era. Design is also the art of omission: the days of creases are over”.

Rather than modifying the basic shape with lines and creases, the Mercedes-Benz designers employ sweeping surfaces at angles to each other to contour the body design with light and shadow and to emphasise the proportions. This makes the essence of a body visible and communicates it in a credible way. The expressive and confident red as a new signature Mercedes-Benz colour underscores the sensuality and emotion of the sculpture.

“Aesthetics A” has a three-box design and is thus also a sign of new forms in the compact class, because outside of Germany and Europe classic saloons are also very much in demand in this segment.

The “Aesthetics A” sculpture is a continuation of a series of sculptures from Mercedes-Benz which to date comprises the works “Aesthetics No. 1” (2010), “Aesthetics No. 2”, “Aesthetics 125” (both 2011) and “Aesthetics S” (2012).

Design as a key success factor for Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz design serves to showcase a passion for automobiles in a modern design idiom. The importance which Daimler AG attaches to design today was highlighted when the post of Chief Design Officer was established on 1 November 2016. Dr Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars: “Good design is about much more than simply creating beautiful products: It combines functionality with fascination and gives brand values a distinctive form. We are delighted that our design team under the leadership of Gorden Wagener is among the best in the industry, because the excellent global sales of our vehicles is ultimately also due to their outstanding design”.

Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG: “The double victory in the ‘Best Cars 2017’ gives us momentum for the new year. This success shows that the enthusiasm for our cars continues to hold true. This gives us confidence on our way to the future.” Dietmar Voggenreiter, Board Member for Sales and Marketing at AUDI AG, added: “The A1 and A3 offer all of the virtues of an Audi in a compact format. With this recipe for success, both models consistently drive home strong sales figures. And we expect the demand for premium mobility in the city to continue to grow.”

The “auto motor und sport” award ceremony was held for the 41st time this year. Readers of the renowned trade journal selected their favorites from 378 models in eleven categories. The publication selected an overall winner and a top import in each category. In the “Small Car” category, 20.7 percent of the readers selected the Audi A1, and 17.1 percent chose the Audi A3 as the top of the “Compact Car” class. In addition, the Audi Q7 took second place in the “Large SUV/Offroad Vehicle” category with 10.4 percent of the vote. Third place finishes went to the Audi A4 in the “Midsize” category, to the Audi A6 in the “Upper Midsize” class, to the Audi R8 Spyder in the “Convertibles” class and to the Audi Q2 in the “Compact SUV/Offroad Vehicle” category.

For more information on our award winning Audi models, please call our Kiarong Showroom at 244 2333. Follow us on our social media accounts https://www.facebook.com/AudiBrunei/ and https://www.instagram.com/audibrunei/ to get the latest scoop on Audi.

The brand is celebrating a special milestone that also is a fitting occasion for this time of year: rolling off the production line at the new plant in San José Chiapa is the 8 millionth Audi with quattro drive – the technology that delivers a big, built-in boost in safety and driving pleasure, even on snow and ice. The milestone car is a garnet red Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI quattro

quattro technology made its debut in 1980, and today it is available in more than 100 model versions. The quattro all-wheel drive system is standard in the Audi Q7, the Audi A4 allroad quattro, the Audi A6 allroad quattro, the Audi A8, the Audi R8 and all S models and RS models, and it is available as an option in all other model series. In 2015, 44 percent of all Audi customers worldwide chose models equipped with quattro drive. The AudiQ5 topped the list with about 262,000 units. The quattro models generated particularly strong sales in the United States, Canada, Russia and in the markets of the Middle East.

Audi offers the quattro drive in different versions tailored to each model. This effectively ensures that drive torque can be distributed variably to both axles according to the driving situation.

The self-locking center differential used in many Audi models, with a longitudinally mounted front engine, is a purely mechanical planetary gear. Normally it splits the drive torque sent to the front and rear wheels with a 40:60 distribution.

Sport differential is available on the rear axle with some of the top-of-the-range engines. It actively distributes the torque between the rear wheels and in extreme cases can send almost all of the torque to one wheel. This actually pushes the car into the curve, eliminating any chance of understeer.

Latest development: quattro with ultra technology
The latest phase of development from Audi is the quattro drive with ultra technology which makes up for driving situations where the all-wheel drive doesn’t offer any advantage. The system’s control unit uses a multitude of data to produce a model of the vehicle’s status projecting about half a second into the future. If the system detects, for instance, that the inside wheel is about to lose grip, it switches to all-wheel drive. As a result, the all-wheel drive is always ready when it is needed. The new concept considerably boosts efficiency without diminishing traction or driving dynamics.

Success story: the history of quattro
Audi achieved a milestone in automotive history with the quattro permanent all-wheel drive – in 1980, no other manufacturer offered a fast-running and light all-wheel drive for high-volume production. The technology premiered in 1980 in the Ur-quattro at the Geneva International Motor Show. In 1986 Audi replaced the first generation’s manually locking center differential with the Torsen differential, which could variably distribute drive torque. The planetary drive followed in 2005, with its asymmetrical, dynamic distribution of power and torque. The self-locking center differential is continuously being further developed by Audi and is considered the benchmark for traction and driving dynamics combined with very light weight.

Audi has also celebrated many triumphs in motorsport with quattro technology. The list so far includes four World Rally Championship titles, six victories in the famous Pikes Peak Hill Climb race in the United States, a title win in the TransAm series in the U.S., two DTM titles, 11 national Super Touring Car Championships, and a Touring Car World Cup. The latest victory for quattro technology: In late November, Mattias Ekström and his private rallycross team EKS captured the Driver World Champion and Team World Champion titles with the Audi S1 EKS RX quattro in the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

Hj Mohammad @ Hj Ali Bin Hj Puting on behalf of his son receiving the mock key of the Kia Carnival earlier this morning

Kia marks its 20th anniversary in Brunei Darussalam through its promotion entitled “Kia’s 20th Anniversary”. 20 lucky customers out of almost 400 participants were shortlisted today, 9 January 2016 at their showroom in Beribi. These customers purchased Kia vehicles from 1 September to 31 December 2016. Each of them will bring home a prize on the grand draw slated in Friday, 13 January 2017 (today).

The prizes to be won are Apple products, Samsung gadgets, LG appliances, Harman/Kardon speakers, a trip for two to Seoul, South Korea and a brand new 8-seater KIA GRAND CARNIVAL 2.2L SX (A) CRDi.

Friday the 13th is a lucky day indeed for Md Rafiuddin Bin Hj Mohammad represented by his father Hj Mohammad @ Hj Ali Bin Hj Puting – he just won a brand new KIA GRAND CARNIVAL. Md Rafiuddin recently bought a Cerato last month at Kia Motors.

Present during the shortlisting were finance representatives –Hj Mohd Ali Hj Metussin, sales manager from Baiduri Finance Berhad and Asharul bin Norshahari Kamaluddin, assistant marketing and public relations manager from BIBD AT-Tamwil Berhad.

The top 20 winners for the Kia 20th Anniversary draw

He is one happy man and also for his son

2nd place winner who still won an awesome prize

The 20th consolation place. Samsung Galaxy Gear S2 watch by Tang Tong Kwong

Hj Abd Razak won an Apple Air Pad

Ainul Hafizah won BND 1,000 cash prize as a replacement for the discontinued Note 7

My former classmate Firdaus bin Pehin Dato Hj Abdullah won an Apple iPhone 6s Plus

Another iPhone winner

A winner for the Apple Macbook Pro 13”

All smiles from the grand winner

The Audi A3 sedan was Brunei’s best selling Audi for the second year. The new facelift as seen here will be available soon.

AUDI AG increased its global sales to around 1,871,350 automobiles in 2016, 3.8 percent more than in the previous record-breaking year 2015. During the ongoing, wide-ranging renewal of the model range, sales increased in all core regions: in Europe (+7.6%), in North America (+5.3%) with further growth in the plateaued U.S. market (+4%) and in Asia-Pacific (+0.5%). In all five of its largest individual markets, the four rings sold more automobiles than ever before. Worldwide, demand increased for the seventh year in a row since 2009. Compared with 949,729 customers in 2009, the company almost doubled its market success over this period.

The launch of the new Audi A4 in the overseas markets was well received as its global sales expanded year-on-year by 7.6 percent to around 337,550 units. In Europe, where the model was already available throughout the full year, the A4 took the number one spot in its premium segment, up 25.7 percent to around 164,600 units sold. The update of Audi’s mid-size class is set to continue this year in international markets with the new A5 Coupé and new A5 Sportback, following on from its European market introduction at the end of 2016.

The second generation of the full-size Q7 SUV completed its global market introduction in 2016, with sales up 43.6 percent to around 102,200 customers. As such, the Q7 doubled the average annual sales of its predecessor, achieving more than 100,000 deliveries per year for the first time ever. The new Q2 extends the popular SUV family from the four rings to a compact city format. Its European premiere in late 2016 generated high demand at Audi dealerships; more markets will follow in 2017. With the new Q5, the generation changeover for Audi’s top-selling SUV is also set to initiate this year.

The renamed Audi Sport GmbH provided another growth engine for Audi in 2016. As its flagship model, the new R8 accelerated by 31.8 percent to about 2,890 sports cars sold. The entire R and RS family exceeded the 20,000 unit mark for the first time with strong gains of 18 percent to around 20,200 automobiles.

“The excellent feedback for our latest automobiles shows that our model and technology initiative is paying off. This year we will further drive forward the comprehensive renewal of the Audi portfolio and successively roll out new models in the markets,” says Dietmar Voggenreiter, Board Member for Sales and Marketing at AUDI AG.

Connect with us at https://www.facebook.com/AudiBrunei/ and https://www.instagram.com/audibrunei/ or visit our local model range at http://www.audi-brunei.com/sea/brand/bn.html

Hong Kim Seng, co-owner of Kien Sing (Tan) Co. (KST), Pg Shamhary bin Pg Dato Hj Mustapha, Managing Director of BSM, Lim Soo Lian, co-owner of Kien Sing (Tan) Co. (KST) and Mr Hong Chian Kai, General Manager of Kien Sing (Tan) Co. (KST) during the official launch of the KST Shell Helix Branded Workshop at Madewa yesterday

Group photo with KST associates and BSM representatives

Kien Sing (Tan) Co. (KST) yesterday launched a Shell Helix Branded Workshop at their Madewa outlet. Apparently they have four outlets and the Madewa branch is the first of its outlet to be branded in to Shell Helix Workshop.

Did you know that the company has been in existence since 1960s? And they started off the business by selling bicycles in Bandar. They later relocated to Gadong, being the main outlet and the second one opened at Seri Complex specializing in car repairs and spare parts. Now they have four outlets and still going strong.

KST has a strong relationship with Brunei Shell Marketing Company since the 1980s and it’s no surprise that KST (Madewa) has transformed into a Shell Helix Branded Workshop. With their good track record and offering top notch quality service, BSM entrusted with their consistency and hence KST was chosen to partner with BSM to be a Shell Helix Branded Workshop.

The revamped workshop will also help to cater to the younger generation as most of their clienteles are the “aunties and uncles”. I quite like the overall feel of the workshop and with this collaboration, it will help to bring a better service to the customers.

During the opening remarks, Mr Hong Chian Kai, General Manager of KST, thanked BSM for their trust in the partnership. Also present was Pg Shamhary bin Pg Dato Hj Mustapha, Managing Director of BSM, Hjh Siti Kurshiah Hj Anuar, Head of Commercial, Hong Kim Seng and Lim Soo Lian, co-owners of KST.

In conjunction with the launch, KST is pleased to announce a three days free oil change promotion. With any purchase of Shell Helix lubricants and oil filters at their Madera outlet, customers are entitled to an oil change free of charge. Term and conditions apply. For more information, please contact 265 6722 or visit their outlet at Spg 618, Kim Sa Complex, Kg Madera, Jalan Tutong.

Congratulations to Kien Sing Tan Co. on the Shell Helix Branded Workshop.

Mr Hong Chian Kai, General Manager of Kien Sing (Tan) Co. (KST) delivering his welcoming remarks before the ribbon cutting

A token of appreciation to Pg Shamhary

Pg Shamhary touring around the workshop

The interior look of the KST

Trust Shell products 😀

Seng Yee and I were on duty during the launch

The special promotion from KST

DS 5 model. Check them out at The Mall

DS 5 model. Check them out at The Mall

You may have be familiar with the Citroën family with its comes to the DS models. Apparently DS Automobiles has officially separated from its parent company Citroën in 2014. So if you let that sink in your mind that now whenever you see these models roaming around the country, it’s a DS Automobiles and the exclusive distributor is Grand Motors Sdn Bhd.

True to its brand signature, DS Automobiles is the ‘Spirit of Avant-garde’. Now the brand is revealing its new logo, comprising the DS monogram sitting above the name “DS AUTOMOBILES”. The French language was deliberately chosen to recall the brand’s French roots and to reflect DS’s high-end positioning that rests on its best-in-class automotive know-how.

DS 5 model. The new DS 5 is a vehicle of avant-garde styling, associating dynamic behaviour, refinement and attention to detail with a selection of advanced technologies. It embodies all the attributes of present and future DS vehicles. This DS flagship model introduces the brand identity and gains the new front face along with other qualities that make it a true DS.

Alongside new features such as the sculpted, vertical grille with the DS logo in the centre, the Xenon Full LED headlamps, touchdrive interface and high-performance engine, the new DS 5 maintains all the qualities behind its renown, body lines defying conventional definition, an exceptional exterior and interior design with refinement visible in every detail, and a ‘cockpit’ driving position.

The interior of the New DS 5 brings to mind the world of aerospace design. The most symbolic feature is the cockpit roof. With its three light wells, the roof creates a unique ambience tailored to individual requirements, by day and by night.

Featuring the latest-generation six-speed automatic gearbox which offers faster gear changing, greater driveability, and reduced internal friction, the new DS 5 is also equipped with Turbo High Pressure (THP) 165 Stop-and-Start petrol engine. It consumes 5.9 litres per 100km over a combined cycle for CO2 emissions of 135g/km, an improvement of 30g/km or 18 per cent over a combined cycle.

On the road, the new DS 5 delivers a dynamic but relaxed drive. The running gear has been upgraded from launch for improved comfort. The shock absorbers gain PLV (preloaded linear valve) technology, which limits sudden changes in damping force, in order to produce a more linear damping curve. At the same time, the compression stroke is longer. As a result, the new DS 5 soaks up bumps and dips in the road more effectively. Vibration comfort is also significantly improved by the reduction in impact noise.

I have yet to test drive the DS 5. Perhaps one day when time permits.

DS 4 Crossback. Check them out at The Mall

DS 4 Crossback. Check them out at The Mall

The DS 4 Crossback model. It’s a crossback model and it’s meant to be versatile, expressive and adventurous by nature.

Versatile in concept and design, DS 4 Crossback is aimed at customers looking for ‘urban and extra-urban adventure’. The vehicle displays its go-anywhere credentials with strong styling features including wheel arch trims, a black front end and spoiler, large black wheels, special grey roof bars, upward vision of 45° thanks to the panoramic windscreen, black exterior rear-view mirrors, door sill and carpet mats. Its status is further underlined by a ride height that is 30mm higher than on the hatchback version.

With its shimmering, expressive colors and high driving position, it offers an alternative to conventional hatchbacks in this segment, with a more cheerful touch.

DS 4 Crossback’s strongly marked lines and features embody all the styling attributes of DS. Viewed from the side, its body styles feature a chrome belt running around the dark-tinted side windows with a tautly drawn roofline ending in a spoiler. The compact, muscular rear styling maintains its refined, distinctive design. To enhance this unique styling, the horizontal light guides showcase the rear lights.

Mated to the new six-speed automatic gearbox, which features faster gear changing, greater drivability, and reduced internal friction. DS 4 Crossback is available in Turbo High Pressure (THP) 165 Stop and Start petrol engine. It is an impressive performer with fuel consumption of 5.5 litres per 100km, a 29 per cent improvement on the THP 160, CO2 emissions of under 130g/km, and 240Nm of torque.

The watchwords for DS are refinement and attention to detail, both on the outside and the inside. This is very much evident on the new DS 5 and DS 4 Crossback. The ‘Spirit Of Avant-Garde’ expresses DS’ international ambitions. It reflects the philosophy that guides the brand towards an offer of remarkably stylish and resolutely technological cars that are extremely refined down to the smallest detail, and offer an exceptionally comfortable ride.

So now, you can catch the two models DS 4 Crossback and DS 5 at the atrium of The Mall, Gadong until Sunday, 11th December. You can also follow them on their Facebook page. The SPIRIT OF AVANT-GARDE expresses DS’ international ambitions. So do check them out.

Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Mustappa bin hj Sirat, the Minister of Communications accompanied by Mubashar Khokar, the Chairman of BETTER Sdn Bhd during the official launch of BETTER at Times Square yesterday

The Minister checking out a Volkswagen at the BETTER roadshow

A new term that the community will be familiar with and that is “user-ship” as quoted by Mubashar Khokar, the Chairman of BETTER Sdn Bhd, a new company that allows rental car services and it’s touted to be the biggest in Brunei Darussalam. The guest of honour was Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Mustappa bin hj Sirat, the Minister of Communications who gracefully launched the newly automative rental/lease service by BETTER Sdn Bhd.

Even the Minister was impressed with BETTER, commenting on its impressive business model that offers reasonable prices for customers and very convenient. He also mentioned that the leasing option will be economical savvy since the car will depreciate in value after four years (of lease). He added that the target market such as large institutions, embassies, diplomatic missions, government departments with certain disposal policies and multinational companies, will benefit from this newly offered service.

During the welcoming remarks of Mubashar, he praised the hard work of Irwan and his team (of BETTER) for making the service possible for the residents of Brunei Darussalam. He shared how BETTER has a very unique business model and it’s a very strategic expansion for BIBD Group as it’s more than just a car-leasing and rental company in Brunei Darussalam.

He did have an interesting point when he highlighted the term user-ship than ownership as the idea is to educate the public the user-ship is more practical since cars depreciate in value in a long run. At BETTER, they want to provide a better deal to their customers by providing short and long term value for customers’ individual needs with flexibility.

I also love the idea that they even have an app for BETTER which has been highly praised for its interface and user friendliness. It’s available on both Google Playstore and IOS. You can even subscribe the BETTER plan on your app and deliver the car to your doorstep within 24 hours.

The other amazing deal from BETTER is that the prices are inclusive of insurance, road tax, servicing and many more. This is totally different to that of a hire purchase model where the car owner has to still fork out for servicing, insurance and road tax to begin with.

For more information about BETTER, do visit their roadshow at Times Square until the final day Sunday 4th December 2016. So far they are a few brands that have signed up with BETTER and they are KIA, Hyundai, Toyota, BWM, Audi and Volkswagen. You can also follow BETTER on their social media platform on Facebook and instagram @better.brunei

During the launch at Times Square yesterday

The Minister having a chat with Craig Allen, the US Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam

Check out the roadshow of BETTER at Times Square until this Sunday

The Minister checking out the BETTER app and he was quite impressed

Haji Azhar Hj Ahmad, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications, Dr. Hi Supry bin Hj Awang, Director of Land Transport and Irwan Lamit, the Managing Director of BIBD At-tamwil

The Minister handing out a token of appreciation to one of the first customers of BETTER

Jati Transport Appreciation Day is an event specially organised to thank all Mercedes-Benz Brunei customers for placing their trust in our products and services over the past years.

At the event, our guests were treated to a widespread of international cuisine and their children enjoying an afternoon full of fun activities such as face painting, hand henna, photo booth, etc.

A special demonstration on Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive were also demonstrated at the event with the new S-Class. Our sales executives demonstrated the driver assistance system which helps the driver to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead and to remain in the centre of the lane. DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist and Stop&Go Pilot relieves the strain on the driver, especially on long journeys and in tailbacks.

A Mercedes-Benz powerbank were also given away to those who take part in the Park Pilot challenge and successfully perform the autonomous parking. The Park Pilot system can pilot the vehicle into parking spaces automatically by means of braking and steering intervention. If an automatic transmission is fitted, the speed is controlled automatically and gear changes are automatic also.

Our guests were given the opportunity to test drive a full range of Mercedes-Benz models. Images courtesy of Jati Transport and Aziz Idris of Borneo Bulletin.