Avante Facelift in SG (ii)

6. Metal foot pedals looks so sporty. Adds 1,000,000 cool factor points and +25 HP too :P


7. Metal gear shift, USB/IPOD input, a button that I suspect is for ECO/SPORT mode.


8. Engine Start button, and alarm with funny hook. Anyone know what is this? My guess is an immobilizer, but the funny hook?

[edit] Kumar confirmed my suspicion that its a hidden key in case the alarm fails to unlock, etc.



9. A reverse camera right above the number plate. Would be great to snap pics of idiots who tail gate for fun.


10. Enhanced rear-view mirror with reverse camera display.


11. Super Advanced rear-view mirror Light sensor, autodimmer, bluetooth, +60 HP :P


12. Darker looking interior.


13. A brighter picture shows a black and grey interior. Notice the chrome door handles, but using the old dashboard meters.

Avante Face Lift in SG

Posted by erykool from Club Hyundai (CH)Avante Forum (Link HERE!)

1. Outline smoked headlights. I wish the inner portion is also smoked, like in this post.


2. The rear lights fitted with 10 LED lights. Its perfect!


3. The new grill has got 3 vertical lines, instead of 5. I think it looks like the Merc C class grill. I like it, but incus/roadruns still win.


Original grill:


4. Signal lamps on the side mirror.


5. This is the biggest change, the dashboard. Most CH forummers like it, but I prefer the original design. There's something wrong about the new design. Its trying to look modern and traditional at the same time, and doesn't work for me. However the GEAR indicator is a good addition. Also note the "ECO" mode, which means there is a "SPORTS" mode somwhere :)


However, I prefer this dash below from the Elantra Touring. Its symmetrical, has a proper trip meter, shows you which door is not shut tight, looks cooler and more up to date, etc:


More pics from the Hyundai Korea Website:


Additional observation:
- Another view of the new grill
- 4 reverse sensors
- Chrome door handles
- Suspension looks lower

Sime takes back All Hyundai Distributorship

This is actually old news, but I didn't cover it before.

Sources:
Sime Darby to distribute all Hyundai models
The Difference between Hyumal and Kah Bintang

Forums:
Motor Trader
Team Hyundai Malaysia

"Sime Darby’s Motor Group, through its Hyumal subsidiary, will fully acquire Oriental-Hyundai Sdn Bhd (OHSB), a joint-venture between Hyumal and the Oriental Group involved in the distribution and sale of locally-assembled Hyundai models. According to statements made to Bursa Malaysia yesterday, Hyumal will be offered Oriental’s 60% share in OHSB for RM19.8 million, as specified in the conditional Share Purchase Agreement between the two parties."

Some history:
1992: Berjaya established Hyumal Sdn Bhd representing Hyundai in M'sia to sell CBU cars through leniently applied APs, with the intention of setting up Hyundai CKD cars.
1997: Hyundai Motor, Renault & Hyumal had a JV in Inokom Sdn Bhd.
2001: Hyumal & Oriental Holdings had a JV called Oriental-Hyundai Sdn Bhd (OHSB). There was no investment by Hyundai Motor in OHSB. OHSB setup Kah Bintang to sell Hyundai CKD cars (Accent, Elantra & Sonata).
2004: Sime Darby buys Hyumal (CBU) and Inokom (CKD)
2005: Sime bought Hyumal & Inokom from Berjaya. Hyundai-Berjaya Sdn Bhd is now known as Hyundai-Sime Darby motors. Sime also inherits OHSB from this purchase.
2009: Sime fully aquires OHSB.

However, the warning to journalist as below is ridiculous:
OHSB warned that 'Hyundai Motor, is extremely sensitive to negative write-ups'; in one instance in 2005, a journalist who had made some negative comments about one of the models in his test report received a serious note from a marketing guy on OHSB telling him that Hyundai would take legal action against him for such comments!

What does this mean to Hyundai car owners? Will we have more service centers? Better and more professional service? Improved technical competency? Faster warranty claims processes? We'll have to wait to find out.