Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show: Efficiency in Motion

For 10 days in November, Putra World Trade Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, will host that country’s biggest and signature motor show.

 

Carrying “Efficiency in Motion” as theme, this year’s Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show, or KLIMS, showcases the participation of the biggest brands in the car industry, reason why it’s among the biggest and most much-awaited motoring events in the region.

 

KLIMS, which is held just once every three years, features displays by Citroen Peugeot, Daihatsu, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Infinity, Isuzu,  Lexus, Toyota, Nissan, Perodua, Subaru and Volkswagen in six halls of the Putra World Trade Center.

 

It also showcases an American Classic Car display and a section dedicated to the first-ever Malaysia International Auto Salon for modified vehicles. Organized by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), the big-budget show features all sorts of fanfare such as Tamiya Races, Celebrity attendees and F1 Simulators.

 

A Toyota Prius and a Honda CR-Z will be raffled off to lucky motor show goers when it ends on Nov. 24.

 

The opening ceremony was graced by YB Dato Hasan Bin Malek, the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism minister, who extended his sympathy to Supertyphoon “Yolanda” victims when he greeted the group from the Philippines.

 

There are six concept cars on display at the motor show. They include: the Citroen-Numero 9 which debuted in the Beijing Motor Show and showcased the future styling and driving dynamics of Citroen; the Hyundai Ioniq, which was presented also in the AVID Expo in Fort Bonifacio; Malaysia’s own Perodua BuddyZ which was done in partnership with Daihatsu in keeping with the liberalization of the Malaysian Automotive industry. The Toyota NS4, which was revealed in the Detroit Auto Show 2012, is an advanced hybrid with stellar human connectivity and safety features and the Toyota Fun Vii is a gaming console, smartphone and car all rolled into one that debuted in the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show.  The Honda booth features the EV-ter, a small and light sports car fitted with solar panel dashboard.

 

Volkswagen launched their locally assembled Polo 1.6; Hyundai presented its  I40, a D-segment vehicle which is positioned above the Sonata (not yet available in the Philippines). Ford, on the other hand, unveiled the Ecoboost powered Ecosport and Fiesta; Honda revealed the new Odyssey; Nissan, their new small car, the Note. Infinity, Nissan’s premium car brand also introduced the new Q50, which looked very similar to the Lexus IS, and Isuzu, the new D-Max.

 

Saving the planet

 

Notably highlighted are the hybrid versions and electric cars.  The Malaysian concept car of Toyota Camry Hybrid is a 2.5L full-hybrid vehicle, powered by Toyota’s renowned Hybrid Synergy Drive system. Toyota Motor Malaysia plans to introduce a mass-production car to the Malaysian market as a completely knocked down (CKD) model, which will allow for competitive pricing of the hybrid in this country. Nissan officially launched the long-awaited 100-percent Electric Nissan Leaf, the global best-selling, zero-emission electric vehicle, along with its Nissan Serena hybrid.

 

Also catching a lot of attention is the Honda Smart Home System showcasing Honda’s comprehensive energy management system. The Honda Smart Home System proposes the optimal energy management for individual households, controlling in-house energy supply and demand, and helping manage both the generation and consumption of energy for households, including electromotive mobility such as the charging of electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid vehicle.

 

Unlike its Philippine counterparts, the KLIMS is a branding exercise for the auto firms. There are no test-drives due to the space issue.

 

Malaysian carmaker Proton is a notable absentee. Datuk Aisha Ahmad, president of the MAA, said that they could not meet the space requirements of the Malaysian car giant.