The Accessories Include Side Scuff Plates
Christophe Lejeune, CEO of Lazada Malaysia and Erik Winter, MD of VPCM. Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) launched the 鈥楯OIN鈥?range of models at the opening day of the Volkswagen Fest 2018 at Setia City Convention Centre earlier today. The Volkswagen Join series of cars are special edition models are for those that want something a little more for their Volkswagen cars. The 鈥楯OIN鈥?range consists of cars which have an accessory package fitted on Volkswagen鈥檚 core models, the Polo, Vento Comfortline and Highline, Tiguan Highline and Passat Comfortline. These 鈥楯OIN鈥?accessories offer better value for money with accessories fitted to them. The accessories include side scuff plates, rear spoiler, trunk garnish, VW Tint, and a list of other exclusive add-ons worth up to RM12,000, depending on the model. According to Erik Winter, Managing Director of VPCM, the 鈥楯OIN鈥?range further reaffirms Volkswagen鈥檚 commitment to provide a wide variety of products with even more value added benefits in them to the Malaysian public.
The 'JOIN' series of Volkswagen cars are a limited run editions and can be ordered from today while stocks last. At this moment, Volkswagen and Lazada Malaysia are once again collaborating to offer a special deal for the Malaysian public. Ordering any Volkswagen JOIN via Lazada entails a customer an added benefit compared to ordering via the usual channels. Customers need to place a booking online, pay the booking fee and if the terms and conditions are fulfilled, they will be able to receive the 鈥楯OIN鈥?accessory package for free. Making the booking is quite straightforward. This is the second time VPCM is working with Lazada. The first was when 12 units of the special edition Beetle was sold out in 20 minutes on Lazada last December 2017. That promotion proved that customers, are receptive towards buying big-tickets items online. This time around, VPCM and Lazada have reported that they had received ten online bookings within a few hours after the launch. This is quite encouraging as the series was launched after the zero GST period. But all JOIN models are also offered with VPCM鈥檚 Price Protection Scheme (PPS) which means that the prices are still kept at low as it was during the tax holiday (VPCM are absorbing the taxable amount). This is also still applicable for Volkswagen cars registered before the 30 th of November 2018 and while stocks last. The launch of the 鈥楯OIN鈥?special edition range was held in conjunction with Volkswagen Fest 2018, which takes place from the 12 th till 14 th October at the Setia City Convention Centre in Setia Alam. Available colours: Candy White, Carbon Steel Grey, Flash Red and Reflex Silver. VW Tint worth RM7,000. Available Colours: Deep Black, Pure White and Tungsten Silver. VW Tint worth RM10,000. The Passat is Volkswagen鈥檚 flagship model here in Malaysia.
There was something cheerily flippant about it, even at 35 mph. The Up GTI knows it鈥檚 not the fastest or the quickest off the line, but also knows that it鈥檚 stylish as hell. If you鈥檙e not having fun, then you鈥檙e doing it wrong. 23,000 here in the U.S., so I鈥檓 declaring the Up GTI a winner on the cost front. 21,739 is reachable for your average broke-ish enthusiast. I guess you could argue that the Fiat 500 Abarth is saucier. The Abarth is definitely quicker and more powerful, but, consider, too, that the 500 Abarth is, at this point, played out. You see normals driving around in Abarths. It鈥檚 not the car鈥檚 fault, but in the category of tiny cars made in Europe that are quicker and more fun than they have any right to be, the Up GTI, pound for pound, is the new king. It鈥檚 a shame that, for now, VW has no plans to bring the Up GTI to the States, probably because Americans are large and don鈥檛 appreciate or buy small cars to begin with. So that鈥檚 on us, really.
Family saloons used to be at the very heart of the automotive industry, but fashions change and now everyone wants an SUV instead. Diesel used to dominate this sector, but a rapid change in policy has seen a switch to petrol, so even since the Vauxhall Insignia Grand Sport was launched, diesel sales have died off. However, there鈥檚 no hybrid option with the British brand鈥檚 hatch, so to line up on price, it鈥檚 the 1.6 Turbo 200 model we鈥檙e testing. This offers similar power to the Camry as well. Similar money only buys a 1.5-litre TSI petrol version of the Skoda Superb with 148bhp, although the kit stacks up, which is key for these motors that鈥檒l mostly be run by business users. There are just two Camry models to choose from: the top-spec Excel and this entry-level Design trim, which costs 拢29,995. Both versions have the same engine, so the choice will only really come down to how much equipment you need. Design spec may be the lower of the trims, but it offers plenty of kit.
Basically, everything is standard, including adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, some solid safety tech, a rear-view camera, Bluetooth, sat-nav, heated leather seats, keyless operation and LED lights. It鈥檚 short on connectivity, but then the Excel doesn鈥檛 improve on this, either. The top-spec car doesn鈥檛 really bring a higher-quality feel; while the materials are acceptable, they鈥檙e not as nice as those in the Skoda, and trail the Vauxhall鈥檚, too. The cabin design is functional and therefore fairly practical, but there鈥檚 very little in the way of sparkle or excitement. It鈥檚 all, well, a bit boring; you can see why people are moving to more stylish SUVs. At least there鈥檚 more interest when it comes to the powertrain because it鈥檚 a fairly familiar but still relatively technologically advanced installation. It teams a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor to help boost performance, instead of its rivals鈥?turbos.
