The all-new 11-seater Hyundai Starex sets the trend of large group mobility in luxury and comfort without compromising in safety, style, performance and economy. Groups of 11 people no longer need to travel in a cramped and uninspiring vehicle.
The occupants can get into and out of the jumbo-size rear interior with utmost ease through the two large sliding doors. Accommodating them in full comfort are three rows of adjustable seats with ample leg and shoulder rooms to stretch on long journeys.
Further comfort inside the Hyundai Starex comes in the form of niche entertainment features that include ceiling-mounted LCD screen, sound surround speakers and CD changer; all hand installed by master craftsmen to create a luxurious ambience.
Luxurious interior
Ensuring a cool and enjoyable journey even under the unforgiving tropical heat, there are large air condition outlets on the dashboard, six on the edges of the ceiling and another two on the flat floorboard as standard fittings.
Designed from ground up to meet the needs of modern lifestyle, the Hyundai Starex should revolutionise group travels. The stylish overall design of the Hyundai Starex starts with a distinguished and prominent nose featuring trendy headlamp clusters, large radiator grille and front bumper. Every arrival in the large Hyundai Starex is with admiration all round.
Ultra luxurious seats on the concept 7 seater variant of the Grand Starex
Large flared wheel arches create the sporty image while carefully sculptured rear of the Hyundai Starex culminates the signature design of the latest people carrier in town. In fact, the simple addition of a set of light alloy wheels is all that is needed to heighten up the looks of the Hyundai Starex.
Looks alone are not the only strong point of the Hyundai Starex. Beneath the rigid and tough body are state-of-the-art automotive technology features found mostly in expensive high performance sedans. All round coil spring suspension and disc brakes fittings are enough to drop the jaws in awe of even the most sporting motorists. These items enable the Hyundai Starex to soak up the worst road conditions with ease and stop a lot safer and faster.
More super hot standard features are the turbo-charged green engine with common rail direct injection (CRDi) and variable geometry turbocharge (VGT) that ensure the Hyundai Starex moves a lot faster yet more economical than anything in its class.
If those items are enough to satisfy the most discerning motorist, there are more. How about the 5-speed seamless automatic transmission found mainly in expensive Continental sports sedans?
In short, the Hyundai Starex revolutionises how to be a star among large people carrier with its looks, features and value for money. It is also a good base for those bold enough to create a truly personalised version as demonstrated by some units shown at the launch in One Utama.
L to R: Deputy General Manager of Hyundai Asia Pacific, Mr. CJ Park with Chief Operating Officer of Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors, Mr. Dennis Ho
In the grand version, one can add special leather seats, pop-up 15-inch TV, electrically powered footrests, foldaway coffee table and Mahogany side tables. There is actually no limit in personalising the interior into a mobile living or bed room but the fact remains that the Hyundai Starex is the perfect base vehicle to start with.
With a base model price of RM138,888 (OTR without insurance for private ownership), the Hyundai Starex 2.5 CRDi Auto offers true value for money. Even with the full customising, the Hyundai Starex would still be a very affordable MPV.
Mazda starts Biante production
Mazda CEO Hisakazu Imaki (right) and a plant official with Job 1 Biante
Big MPV is all the rage these days, just look at the number of Toyota Alphard and Nissan ElGrand on the road, it seems that the wealthy just loves these super-size MPV for their children school run and family outings.
Well, the latest addition to the fray is the Mazda Biante which has all the traits of a Japanese large MPV, namely strange name, elaborate detailing, really boxy features. Mazda being Mazda, even their full size MPV tries to look a bit sporty with it’s longer than usual snout and slightly lower roofline compared to the Alphard and ElGrand.
I suppose one could say that this is the most sporty of the three shoe box on wheels.
Mazda calls it a mid-size tall MPV. I guess it is mid sized if you compare to full-size American MPVs which are assigned their own postcodes.
Mazda’s Ujima Plant No.1 workers celebrating Job 1 Biante rolling off the production line
Oh yeah, I almost forgot why I even started writing this entry… it is to tell everyone that production of the Biante just started at their Ujina Plant No.1 near their Hiroshima headquarters and they are already taking orders in Japan. I wonder how many of the early orders are placed by our parallel importers and how soon will this model be here.
Anyway, below is the full Press release from Mazda…
Mazda Motor Corporation today held a commemorative ceremony to mark the production kickoff of the all-new Mazda Biante minivan at its Ujina Plant No.1 (U1) near Mazda’s headquarters in Hiroshima. Sales of the Mazda Biante are scheduled to commence in Japan on July 8, 2008.
Approximately 550 people, including Mazda’s Representative Director, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, Hisakazu Imaki, together with executive officers, union representatives and employees, gathered at the Job#1 ceremony to celebrate the Mazda Biante’s production launch.
President Imaki greeted the attendees, saying, “The launch of the all-new Biante marks Mazda’s entry into Japan’s mid-size ‘tall’ minivan segment. In terms of sales volume, it is second only to the compact car segment, where we introduced the all-new Mazda Demio last year.
“As the latest product to embody Mazda’s Zoom-Zoom tradition, the Mazda Biante will enable us to appeal to an even wider range of customers with vehicles that ‘look inviting to drive, are fun to drive, and make you want to drive them again.’ Going forward under the banner of our ‘Sustainable Zoom-Zoom’ declaration, Mazda will continue to pursue harmony between driving pleasure and environmental and safety features. And we will work all the harder to build vehicles of even better quality for our customers.”
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