The number 1 automotive brand in the domestic market in the non-national segment for a long time now is Toyota and the credit of this is obviously UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd. (UMWT) As one of the oldest players in the industry, they are entrenched in the minds of the motorist and the public at large. The fact that is not well known to most is that the UMW Group is a major conglomerate with interest in a wide spectrum of industries including oil & gas, manufacturing, engineering, automotive components, IT and many more. As a major player, they set the benchmark for the auto industry and are one of the driving forces of the corporate scene. Besides Toyota, UMWT is also the importer and marketer of the prestigious Lexus marque which has been making steady inroads in markets around the world. With the exclusive Lexus 3S centre in the up-market Mutiara Damansara area, this brand’s growth in Malaysia is a certainty.

The Corolla is known as a “Global Car” was first introduced in 1966 and is currently sold in more the 140 countries. It has recorded sales of more than 30 million units to make it one of the most popular brands in the Toyota stable. In 2001, the Toyota Altis was launched in Malaysia with more than 30,000 units sold as per end 2007. This Toyota Altis is the 10th generation with a makeover both in the interior and exterior in order to continue to meet the needs of its faithful customers. This new package is aimed at the mid range segment of the market and will attract more customers into this category with the current global economic scenario.

In line with the long history in the automotive scene in terms of presence, UMWT has one of the best with 90 showrooms and 52 service centres which are continually being upgraded in 3S centres with a totally new look. This one-stop centre goes a long way reassuring fleet customers of the after sales support. Besides only the outlets, they have dedicated personnel with all-round experience in looking after the fleet industry.

The refreshing treatment given on this Altis is undertaken with the view of bring it more up-to-date with current trends and customer demands. The length has been increased by 10 mm and the width 55 mm to offer better cabin space. With the height being reduced by 15 mm on the same wheelbase, the sporty character is enhanced with a better profile. This in turn provides an aerodynamic efficiency that is designed to provide better fuel efficiency. With the windshield washers shielded by the rear edge of the bonnet, the airflow is improved by offering less resistance. The front bears sight resemblance to its older ‘brother’ in the stable while the rear has been reworked to give a new refreshed look. The layout of the dash is simple and practical with small but eye catching highlights like the silver trimmed centre console. All the instruments panel meters have the Optitron feature that make visibility great both at day and night time. Additionally, these meters are not stressful to the eyes of the driver and this result in reduced fatigue during long journeys. Both the front seats are 8-way power adjustable and there is also the LCD panel Multi- information Display   The entertainment if provided by the head unit with FM/AM, CD, MP3, WMA capability supported by 6 speakers. There is even an in-dash 6-CD changer.     

The DOHC 16-valves VVT-i 1.8-litre forms the powertrain that provides peak power of 132PS at 6000 rpm and the torque of 170 Nm at 4200 rpm. These figures are a marked improvement from the previous Altis and in addition, the engine is all-aluminum. During our test, the numbers we recorded were 110 km/h at 2700 rpm, 120 km/h at 3000 rpm, 160 km/h at 4000 rpm. The engine is responsive and lively that it is bound to meet the demands of most motorists. A 4-seed auto transmission with Electronic Throttle Control System with intelligence or ETCS-i is paired with the engine. It also has a sporty over-ride function that allows the driver to enjoy manual shift up or down by just moving the hand shift to the ‘S’ position. 

As a Toyota, in the area of safety, the renowned GOA standards have been implemented to arrest the concerns of passenger safety. The cabin is designed to be rigid and comes with the energy absorbing feature from impacts from the front, rear and the side. A number of cross-members, impact beams, roof reinforcements have been put in place for addition protection. There are two front airbags and the seatbelts come with pretentioners and force-limiters. The 4-wheel ABS is also provided with EBD and is further complemented by the TRC or Traction Control System plus VSC or Vehicle Stability control. The braking department consists of the 15-inch ventilated disc for the front and 15-inch solid disc for the rear. With the addition of BA or Brake Assist, the stopping power is complete.
 
The warranty offered is 100,000 km or 3 years whichever comes first.
 
For more information on fleet offers, please visit the nearest Toyota showroom.
 
On-the-road price with insurance for company private registration for the Altis 1.8 G Sporty is RM120,940.90 in the colours Beige Metallic, Grayish Blue Metallic, Medium Silver, Black Mica and Silver Metallic.

Price is valid as per 25 November 2008.