Not a crossover! Mitsubishi Colt returns in 2023 as a hybrid hatchback based on Renault Clio

Perhaps learning from the controversy of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, Mitsubishi Motors has announced that it has revived another highly coveted name for one of its models but it won’t be yet another crossover. Fans can certainly breathe a sigh of relief to know that the 2023 Mitsubishi Colt will remain as a hatchback but with a modern twist.

Mitsubishi isn’t horsing around as it has revealed a teaser image of the hatchback which will be based on the Renault Clio’s CMF-B platform. The revived Colt will be the second Mitsubishi model from a new collaboration between the Three Diamonds and Renault.


Review: 2022 Honda Civic RS (FE) - If there were ever a perfect car for Malaysians, this is it

There’s no such thing as a perfect car for everyone as the needs and preferences of each differ from one another. However, I have a theory that if you plot a Venn diagram of the common needs of most Malaysian car buyers, one of the cars sitting at the intersection is the 2022 Honda Civic.

Overview: 2022 Honda Civic RS

Price
RM 150,700 (OTR with SST)

Segment
C-segment

Engine
1.5L turbo 4-cyl

Transmission
CVT

Power
182 PS @ 6,000 rpm

Torque
240 Nm @ 1,700 - 4,500 rpm

Origin
CKD, Pegoh

Also read: 2022 Honda prices post-SST: City up by RM 4.4k, Accord up by RM 10k


17 - 23-June Fuel Price Update: RON 97 up 2 sen, others remain

Another week and it's time for the weekly fuel price update.
The fuel prices from 17 - 23-June 2021 is as below:

RON 95 – RM 2.05/litre
RON 97 – RM 2.67/litre (+RM 0.02)
Diesel Euro 5 B10/B20 – RM 2.15/litre
Diesel Euro 5 B7 – RM 2.25/litre


Driving the 2022 Perodua Myvi facelift with new D-CVT – We tell you how it feels

The 2022 Perodua Myvi facelift has hit the ground running with a host of new changes and additional features that have made it more expensive, but also the best ever… at least on paper.
Aside from the typical aesthetic updates, the major revisions are underneath the sheet metal. Chief of which is the brand-spanking-new D-CVT transmission.


20 photos of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate to dissuade you from SUVs

Following the debut of the W214 2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan, the E-Class Estate counterpart (S214) has been revealed. The new S214 model shares many features with its sedan sibling while providing enhanced versatility from its wagon body.


Malaysia-bound BMW i4 debuts with first all-electric BMW M performance model

You have seen the teasers along with the promise that it would head to Malaysian shores, and now we have the final specifications (international markets model, local specifications to be confirmed) of the BMW i4 range.
At launch, the BMW i4's global range consists of two variants, the rear-wheel drive 340 PS / 430 Nm eDrive40, and the all-wheel drive twin-motor 544 PS / 795 Nm M50. The latter of which is touted as “the first purely electric performance car from BMW M GmbH”.
Batteries and range


Lotus Cars to ditch fossil fuel by 2022, might introduce SUV

With a heritage of lightweight racing cars, sources from Auto Express say the Norfolk-based car maker will no longer produce Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars by 2022. A final ICE production car is set to launch in 2021 and that will be the end of it.
Famous for the small racing cars with excellent handling, Lotus has even injected some of its DNA in certain Proton cars. With the Geely Holding Group owning a 51% controlling stake, and Syed Mokhtar’s Etika Automotive owning 49%, Lotus now has access to various platforms and configurations to work with. Rumour has it there even might be a Lotus SUV in the future. Imagine that, an electric SUV by Lotus.

Lotus Evija at Guangzhou Auto Show

With a history of using Toyota engines, it is no surprise for Lotus to skip the hybrid phase and go straight to electric. Lotus CEO Phil Popham says a fully electric system allows for greater freedom of the design and layout of the powertrain. The use of batteries also allows more flexibility in terms of weight distribution.


We’ve bought a Perodua Ativa for a long-term review and tear down!

So, we’ve bought a Perodua Ativa for a long-term review. Having booked the car in January 2021 (way before the virtual launch), we’re one of the early customers to receive the car.
All along, we've been pestering the showroom to expedite the delivery, and we're very happy that it's finally here.

Pearl Delima Red - looked darker in the brochure

What did we order?
We’ve opted for the AV variant with a two-tone paint job, featuring the “Pearl Delima Red” body colour and black roof. No “Gear Up” kit here, since we prefer to keep things simple and clean.


Top South Korean battery makers to flaunt EV battery tech at InterBattery 2021

The electric vehicle (EV) battery market is fast growing and the competition is fierce. Three Korean battery makers will showcase their next-generation battery products and technologies at a major industry fair to get ahead of the competition.
LG Energy Solution Ltd., Samsung SDI Co., and SK Innovation Co. will introduce their newest battery products and sustainable business models at InterBattery 2021 - the country’s leading battery industry exhibition hosted by the South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
During the exhibition, the companies will promote their lithium-ion battery technology that features a higher nickel content. Nickel in batteries is what helps to save cost by delivering higher energy density and better storage capacity.


UMW Toyota Motor sold 9,233 vehicles in September 2022, up 1.6% compared to August

UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT) cruises into Q4 2022 registering sales of Toyota for September 2022 at 9,098 units, while Lexus recorded total sales of 135 units. Total sales for the month of September 2022 stood at 9,233 units (Toyota + Lexus), compared to 9,091 units (Toyota + Lexus) recorded in August 2022.

Year-to-date sales for September 2022 stood at 70,872, while monthly sales stood at 9,233 compared to 8,033 in Sept 2021, a 15% increase from the previous year.


Upgraded for Malaysia, this is why the CKD Proton X90 has multi-link rear suspension

When spyshots of the Proton X90 were circulating on social media over the past couple of months, it appeared that some units of the test mules had a torsion beam rear suspension, while other units appeared to have a multi-link rear suspension.
Now that Proton has formally previewed the X90, we can now confirm that the new 6-/7-seater, D-segment SUV will get a multi-link rear suspension.
Also Read: CKD Proton X90 to have at least 45% local content - 500 local parts, 2 years to localize


New 2020 Perodua Myvi facelift soon to make debut, what to expect from the facelift?

In a blink of an eye, it has been 15 years since the launch of the Perodua Myvi. The current Myvi, launched in 2017, is now in its third generation and is no longer related to any Japanese market Daihatsu. Sales of the current generation started back in 2018, so it is about time for Perodua to introduce refreshments to the car.
Wondering that it hasn’t been long since the current Myvi was introduced, is it time for a facelift already? If you take a look at Perodua’s model trend, the Myvi’s generation life cycle has been reducing in length as Perodua gained more experience in car-making.


Step aside NFT bros, cars are the new futureproof investment as this Lexus LFA sells for double its original price

It’s time for the NFT and crypto bros to take a back seat as enthusiast cars appear to be the new futureproof investment. Don’t believe us? Take a look at this Lexus LFA that recently sold for double its original selling price.
When new, Toyota’s ultra-exotic supercar of the time started at around USD 375,000 (~RM 1.64 million) around 2010 but could easily hit the USD 400,000 (~RM 1.75 million) mark as buyers ticked every box on the order sheet.


Malaysia-bound 2022 Smart #1 launched in China, priced from RM 125k, 272 PS, up to 560 km range

Two variants of the 2022 Smart #1 offered in China
SUV-style EV gets a range of up to 560 km
Malaysia launch on the cards

This is the brand-new 2022 Smart #1, the first model by Smart under its new Mercedes-Benz and Geely joint venture. The new electric vehicle (EV) SUV has just gone on sale in China with prices starting from RMB 190,000 (~RM 125k to RMB 230,000 (~RM 153k). Two variants are offered at launch, namely Pro+ and Premium.

Differentiating the Pro and Premium are equipment count and range. The Pro+ has a 535 km range, while the Premium offers a 560 km range. Both are rated under the CLTC (China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle) test cycle.


Deal breakers: The Mitsubishi Outlander air-conditioning system needs to be improved

Although the Mitsubishi Outlander is often overlooked in the C-segment SUV market, it remains as a very competent option for families seeking a 7-seater SUV.
While some may scoff at the Outlander’s lack of ADAS features or uninspiring design, it remains as a very capable (and surprisingly comfortable) family mover.


Not just Malaysia, Geely's Smart #1 will be launched in Thailand by H2 2024

Smart #1 to reach Thailand by H2 2024
Proton still studying Thailand's EV market

During the signing of Proton and Smart’s new partnership earlier today, it was revealed that Proton will be entering Thailand with the Smart #1 by the second half of 2024.

Thailand will be getting the Smart #1 slightly after Malaysia, as we are set to receive Smart’s first-ever EV by Q4 2023.


New vs Old: 2020 Audi Q5 facelift - Anything new besides its sleek looks?

With Audi just recently announcing its latest 2020 Q5 facelift, let’s dive a little deeper to see what’s the difference between the current Q5 and its newest facelift.
Exterior – A sharper and more distinct Q design language


Owner Review: Old Faithful Merdeka Special - A Review of My 1996 Proton Wira 1.6 XLi

** This article is the personal experience of a 1996 Proton Wira 1.6 XLi owner and does not necessarily reflect the views of WapCar.
Eugene Teoh


Japanese tuner roasts the new GR Supra, saying “it wasn’t made very well!”


Review: 2023 Mazda CX-30 (CKD) - More than just a pretty face?

Raya weekend in Kuala Lumpur might sound like paradise for those who decided to not join the mass ‘balik kampung’ exodus. Who wouldn’t want to enjoy 4 days of smooth traffic and free tolls, right?

Well, the reality is there is still some traffic in the city and those free tolls do not apply on the weekends but then again, when you have something like the Mazda CX-30 on your driveway, a trip around the not-so-traffic-free capital is still pretty enjoyable.


Johor PDRM collects RM 1.38m worth of summonses during 3-day 50% discount programme

During a three-day programme that offered 50 percent discount for traffic compounds, the Johor police collected a whopping total of RM 1.38 million worth of summonses.
According to a report by Bernama, the amount involved 12,799 summonses. The Muar district recorded the highest payment at RM 192,020 while Batu Pahat follows at RM 170,880. Johor Bahru Selatan came in third highest with RM 141,370 collected.


You can’t moon-walk here, horrid road conditions in Sabah likened to moon surface

A video showing road conditions so bad that it was compared to the craters on the moon has been going viral. According to the video uploader, the stretch of road is in Sabah heading to Sandakan from Kota Kinabalu.
The video was uploaded by TikTok user Ah Dan, who was on his way to Sandakan when he came across the badly pockmarked stretch of road around the Telupid area in Sabah.

@ahdan_08 Pergi ke bulan ❌ Pergi ke telupid ✅ #fyp #sabahan ♬ bunyi asal - Kupu²Malam 🦋

From what we can see, the roads are so bad that even pick-up trucks are finding it difficult to pass through. This is demonstrated by the TikToker who was driving a pick-up truck as he manoeuvred through the potholes.


Malaysia-bound Mazda CX-60 launched in Australia as a hybrid-only model, 328 PS / 500 Nm

The upmarket Mazda CX-60 is now available in Australia. Built on Mazda’s latest Large Product Group platform, the CX-60 is best known for its front-engine rear-wheel drive (FR) layout but in Australia, the CX-60 will only be offered as an all-wheel drive (AWD) model.
Three engine options are available, all hybrids, all paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission with Mazda’s rear axle-biased i-Activ All-Wheel Drive.


All-new 2023 Toyota Alphard and Vellfire get rendered, your first good look at the luxo MPV

  Rendered image by Bestcarweb

Merely days after the front-end and headlight assembly of the all-new 2023 Toyota Alphard and Vellfire leaked online, the luxo MPV now gets rendered by Japanese publication Bestcarweb.
These renders are based off the grainy photos that were first seen on a livestream on the くるまの教科書 YouTube channel.
Also Read: Is that you, all-new 2023 Toyota Alphard? Mysterious MPV emerges online
Like the outgoing AGH30-generation Alphard, the upcoming AGH40-generation model also gets a full-width front grille. This time around, the grille is flanked by slim-profile LED headlights, giving the Alphard and Vellfire a very menacing look.


All-new 2020 BMW 840i Gran Coupé M Sport launched; 340 PS/500 Nm, CBU, RM 968k


Mazda’s fancy SkyActiv-X engines to debut in Australia next month

Come August 2020, Mazda Australia will include the much-vaunted SkyActiv-X M Hybrid to its line-up, but don’t expect it to be cheap.

Compared to regular SkyActiv-G engines, the advanced SkyActiv-X system commands an AUD 3,000 premium.


Perodua Kancil driver accelerates into a tom yam shop

On Jalan Hang Li Poh yesterday, a 66-year-old man lost control of his Perodua Kancil and slammed into a crowded tom yam eatery.
Six people were hurt in the incident at 7.15 p.m. on Thursday (5-May-2022), according to Melaka Tengah OCPD Asst Comm Christopher Patit.

Screenshot taken from Melaka Hari Ini

He said the collision appeared to be an accident, but authorities were still looking into what caused the driver to speed suddenly.


Mazda CX-30 launched in Malaysia. Priced from RM 143,059 – more space, more fun

Following its preview earlier in November, Bermaz Motors has finally launched the Mazda CX-30. Imported from Japan, the Mazda 3-based 2.0-litre crossover is priced just slightly above the entry level 1.5-litre variant Mazda 3. It's a very good value proposition.

3 variants are on offer. The prices are several hundred Ringgits lower than the estimated price announced previously:


Continental tyres and Castrol join forces to offer better services for Malaysian car drivers

Continental Tyre Malaysia and Castrol Malaysia have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore a joint initiative across the country.
Both Continental and Castrol aim to strengthen their position in the country by leveraging on each other’s extensive dealer network, offerings, and expertise to offer consumers high quality products and services for a convenient and complete experience, for added peace of mind.


Greasy mechanics are the past, BMW Malaysia is now training EV experts - training centre first of its kind outside Germany

Through its comprehensive training and certification programs, BMW Malaysia is challenging the stereotype of automotive technicians as blue-collar workers and aims to showcase the level of knowledge and technical skills required in the field of IT and vehicle electrical systems.
Through its BMW High Voltage Expert (HVE) Certification program, BMW Malaysia aims to develop the local electric vehicle (EV) workforce via the BMW Group Regional Training Centre in Malaysia, the only one of its kind for BMW outside Germany.
Also read: Battery depleted in your EV? BMW Malaysia introduces mobile charging vehicle with EV Connection


Next-gen Proton Saga will still offer a manual, purists rejoice?

New-gen Proton Saga arriving in 2024
Manual transmission almost certainly coming
Likely still same P2 platform as the current model

After what seemed like an eternity without a new sedan in sight, Proton is developing not one, but two new sedan models.
The current-generation Proton Saga, codenamed P2-13A, has been around since 2016. It received its first major update in 2019, encompassing revised looks and a Hyundai-sourced torque converter automatic.


Bermaz updates 2021 Mazda MX-5 with Wireless Apple CarPlay, from RM 259k

The glitzy 2021 Mazda MX-5 has received a minor update in Malaysia, now coming with Wireless Apple CarPlay.

The MX-5 is available in sole folding hardtop (RF) guise here, and this update is extended to both the six-speed automatic and manual variants.


Honda Malaysia to maintain prices for its models in 2023, no price increase for now

New year, new prices. That adage is a joy if it’s a price decrease but as we have seen by the likes of Toyota and BMW, the new year sees a price increase in some of its models. However, Honda Malaysia has assured that it will not be increasing prices for now.

"Despite the current challenging situation, Honda Malaysia will maintain its car prices as of now. Our priority is to continue providing the highest quality products and deliver to customers in a timely manner," said a Honda spokesperson.


More than 100% growth, the all-new Isuzu D-Max is second behind the Hilux

The all-new 2021 Isuzu D-Max has proved to be a crowd favourite, as sales of the model has grown over 100 percent since the model was launched in Malaysia.

Isuzu Malaysia has received an average monthly booking of over 1,200 units since its debut in April – far more than the predecessor’s 500-unit month average figure.


Remember the Subaru Viziv Adrenaline concept car? It might come to life

The Subaru Viziv Adrenaline was first previewed at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, showing off a new design concept of future Subaru models. Japan's Best Car Web has a new theory about the car with a prediction that the concept crossover might come to life in December 2021.

Back then not much was revealed about the concept car, prompting many to speculate the concept’s design is a preview of the brand’s Dynamic x Solid design language next evolution.


Launching soon in Malaysia, here's all you need to know about the 2022 Honda HR-V

Thai-spec car pictured

RV-generation Honda HR-V to debut soon in Malaysia
Three powertrain options could be offered here, including a turbo
How much will it be priced at?

After 7 years of being on sale in Malaysia, the RU-generation Honda HR-V will soon bow out and be replaced by the newer RV-generation model.

Thai-spec car pictured

The replacement RV-generation Honda HR-V has been spotted, albeit with full camouflage, doing rounds on Malaysian streets – hinting that Honda Malaysia is gearing up to introduce the successor to the best-selling B-segment SUV here.
Also Read: Spied: Corolla Cross beware, all-new 2022 Honda HR-V seen in Malaysia
Before the model launches here in Malaysia, let’s take a closer look at this upcoming model.


Bermaz to launch new 2022 Mazda CX-3 in January; upgraded 8-inch screen, new colour

Launching in Malaysia in January 2022
New colour option
Upgraded infotainment

Bermaz Motor is expected to launch a new 2022 Mazda CX-3 in Malaysia sometime around January. This new model will introduce several upgrades to its specifications but will otherwise look very similar to the outgoing model.
Details are still lacking but as before, the 2022 Mazda CX-3 will continue to be imported from Japan and assuming that our Malaysian market will mirror the features available in Japan, then the new CX-3 will most likely gain a new colour option - Platinum Quartz Metallic.

New Platinum Quartz Metallic, with two-tone option

Qi wireless charging for compatible mobile device could also be offered (an optional extra in Japan).


Video: RON 95 or RON 97, which petrol is better?

There are different grades of petrol available in Malaysia – RON 95, RON 97 and RON 100. But what are the differences and is one better than the other? We dissect it for you in today’s episode of Answered.
The biggest difference between RON 97 and RON 95 is that the former has a Euro 4M rating while the latter has a Euro 2M rating. This makes RON 97 (Euro 4M) the cleaner fuel with a lesser sulphur content of 50 parts per million (ppm) as compared to the RON 95 (Euro 2M) sulphur content of 500 ppm.
The higher sulphur content results in more exhaust emission which contributes to the formation of acid rain. The Malaysian Government had plans to introduce Euro 4M grade RON 95 but talks about the implementation have gone cold.


7 - 13 Nov Fuel Price Update: Petrol and diesel down!

Petrol and diesel prices from 7 November 2020 to 13 November 2020 are as below:

RON 95: RM 1.61/ litre (-RM 0.03)
RON 97: RM 1.91/ litre (-RM 0.03)
Diesel Euro 2M: RM 1.68/ litre (-RM 0.06)
Diesel Euro 5: RM 1.78/ litre (-RM 0.06)


Genuine Shell lubricants now on Shopee? It’s true!

Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd launches its new official store on Shopee Mall! The new online store is aimed at enhancing the online shopping experience for consumers who value product authenticity and quality.
Shell Malaysia believes that a strong digital presence with a clear selection of genuine premium quality lubricants on Malaysia’s no.1 e-commerce platform, Shopee, can help it reach and engage with a wider customer base.


Used Perodua Bezza from RM 30k - cheap to buy and fuel up, how much to maintain and repair?

Launched in 2016, the Perodua Bezza was the company’s first sedan and answer to the stalwart Proton Saga, offering a practical, efficient and superbly priced sedan for the Malaysian masses.
Six years on, the Perodua Bezza continues to be amongst the most popular cars on the road, having received some great updates in its facelift model, launched in 2020.


The real reason why the great Shah Alam flood didn’t affect Perodua as much as Proton

Perodua's manufacturing operations resumed 3 days after the flood
Many other manufacturers faced parts shortage for more than a month
Perodua's January 2022's sales is up 3 percent, despite flood, Proton down 25 percent

Late Friday night on 17-December 2021, several parts on the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, including Kuala Lumpur and Selangor were inundated by a once-in-a-100-year rainfall. The ensuing flood caused huge losses of property, and 54 deaths.

Shah Alam was one of the worst affected area. The industrial zones surrounding Shah Alam is also home to many automotive parts suppliers and vendors, and this has a direct impact for nearly all car manufacturers that do local-assembly (CKD) operations in Malaysia.


The goal is not to produce cars, but happiness. Move Your World previews Toyota's future mobility solutions

If you have visited Toyota Malaysia's website recently, you would've noticed that it now has a new layout, with a new 'Move Your World' tagline. It's a fitting new tagline too, because few other brands can claim to have moved Malaysia, literally, for as long as Toyota.
If roads are fabrics that weave and connect the many different parts of Malaysia, then Toyota cars are the needle threads. At a time when roads were lacking, the Toyota Land Cruiser 20 Series was the first Toyota to be sold here, delivered to a customer in Sabah in 1956, one year before Malaya’s independence.

  Every morning, trusty Hiluxes deliver farm produce from Cameron Highlands to the low lands, many more small businesses ply their trade in one

Even until today, Toyota vehicles are the modern day beasts of burden that drive our economy. Without the Toyota Hilux, no farm produce from Cameron Highlands will reach the market. The Toyota Hiace is the modern-day camel caravan that moves mails, parcels, and goods from faraway warehouses to customers.


Toyota builds its cars to last 20 years but this Prius is the first to allow used car buyers to enjoy factory-approved upgrades

For the last 26 years, the Toyota Prius has been everything – dowdy econobox when it first came out, the awesome second gen that was so efficient, Americans feared the 'evil government' would force everyone to own, its successor which spread the name worldwide, and the fourth generation that further improved on the foundations of its progenitors.

  Clockwise from top left: The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th gen Prius

Today's all-new Prius (generation 5, XW60) emerges to a new set of criticisms and challenges. Though praised for its arresting aesthetics and as a certifiably quality product, Toyota still found itself staring down a barrel of questions: "Why isn't it full electric? Why keep making hybrids?"
Going beyond powertrains

  A bright yellow Prius stole the show at the 44th Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS 2023)

To praise a Prius only for its looks and powertrain is no different to picking up a Lovecraft, then putting it back after looking at the cover and reading the blurb. Obviously the value is in the words; and in this Prius specfically, it is its forward-facing engineering.


LLM to start 24-hour operations in anticipation of 4.6 million road users a day during CNY

Photo credit: Osman Mahussain.

The Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) is anticipating road traffic to reach 4.6 million a day during the Chinese New Year celebration. To ensure all road users receive the assistance they need, LLM will start 24-hour operations from Friday (28-January-2022) to 7-February 2022.
The highway authority told Utusan Malaysia in an interview: in an event that a road user faces any issues during their journeys, they can just call the Traffic Management Centre at 1800-88-7752.

Photo credit: Asyraf Hamzah.

Road users can even call up the same number to enquire about the traffic situation along the highway they are planning to travel on. Other than that, they can also head to LLM’s Facebook and Twitter page @LLMinfotrafik for the latest traffic situation update.
LLM is expecting traffic along the North-South Highway to reach 1.6 million vehicles a day in stages. As for the East Coast, LLM expects traffic to increase to 180,000 vehicles along the Karak Highway.


2022 Kia Carnival previewed in Malaysia, a worthy challenger against the Alphard?

A little more than eight months after announcing itself as the new distributors for Kia, Dinamikjaya Motors Sdn. Bhd. has introduced the all-new 2022 Kia Carnival in Malaysia. The 11-seater MPV is the first all-new Kia model introduced by the new distributor which took over from Naza.

Prices for the local-spec Carnival has not been announced yet but the 11-seater is available for public viewing at Carlist Drive Auto Fair 2021 at the Setia City Convention Centre this weekend from 3-5-December 2021.


Owner Review: Yellow Submarine - My BMW E36 328i

** This article is the personal experience of a 1996 BMW 328i (E36) owner and does not necessarily reflect the views of WapCar.
Facebook: Jack Lee


Review: 2020 Volkswagen Arteon R-Line - Worth paying more for a reskinned Passat?

Remember the Volkswagen Passat CC? The sexy, low-slung, four-door coupe that lured a number of Malaysians away from the usual compact execs like the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The Volkswagen Arteon is the successor to the Passat CC and it aims to accomplish what its predecessor did.

Back when the Passat CC had a facelift, the Passat nameplate was dropped and simplified to just Volkswagen CC. Then, Volkswagen ditched it altogether for its successor and called it the Arteon, clearly positioning it a rung higher than the Passat.


After 2025, the Honda plant that makes valves for VTEC engines will be no more

Honda will be closing down its Tochigi Powertrain Unit factory that makes engine parts by 2025, said the company today in a brief press statement.
Honda says the move is necessary for the company to adapt to the rapidly changing environmental conditions in the automotive industry. It added that expansion in production bases outside of Japan has also led to a decline in demand for supplies from Japan.


Meet Spike, the English Bulldog reimagined as MINI Intelligent Personal Assistant

Inspired by the look of an English Bulldog, Spike is MINI’s Intelligent Personal Assistant. MINI has given Spike a pronoun and shall be referred to as ‘he’. He will be making his first major appearance as an art toy at the Auto Shanghai international trade fair in April 2023.

He will be featured in the cockpit of the new MINI Concept Aceman, showcasing his diverse functions on the OLED central display and dashboard. MINI said they will enable comprehensive insights into the digital world of the new model family and Spike’s diverse functions in the further course of 2023.


2022 Honda Civic FE receives USA’s IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus award

The latest FE generation 2022 Honda Civic has been inducted into USA’s Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) list of safest cars on sale there, receiving the highest Top Safety Pick+ award.
Since USA sells both sedan and hatchback variants of the Honda Civic the award applies to both body styles.


2020 Mitsubishi Xpander vs Aruz and BR-V – Will it conquer the segment?

Malaysia welcomes the newest addition to the 7-seater B-segment SUV market, the Mitsubishi Xpander. The Xpander has been sold in the ASEAN region since 2017. The newest iteration of the Xpander has been introduced in Indonesia in February and Thailand in October.
The Xpander challenges current compact 7-seaters like the Perodua Aruz and Honda BR-V. The price of the Mitsubishi Xpander is yet to be announced, but we expect it to closely rival the Honda BR-V.
All three B-segment SUVs are locally assembled. The Xpander is assembled in Pekan, The Aruz in Rawang, and the BR-V in Alor Gajah. Here’s a quick look at how the Xpander stacks up against the rest.


Geely Preface Concept: Could this be the next Proton Perdana?

It is not secret that the current-generation Proton Perdana is a little long in the tooth – it was introduced back in 2016, and the model hasn’t received any significant updates throughout its model lifecycle.

Unmistakably Geely

One possible candidate to replace the Perdana is the Geely Preface Concept, which was showcased at the 2019 Auto Shanghai.

The Preface Concept gets a sleek interior

Built on the CMA platform that was co-developed with Volvo, the Geely Preface Concept is set to replace the Geely Borui as the company’s flagship sedan when it goes on sale in China later this year.


Social media "demands refund" from Tony Fernandes after he shows off new Tesla Model Y

When mega entrepreneur Tony Fernandes showed off his new Tesla Model Y on his official Instagram account on National Day, social media is not pleased at all. Instead of applauding him for going green, netizens took the opportunity to troll his recent purchase.

  The entrepreneur has since edited his caption to clarify that the car is on lease

Based on his Instagram caption, the AirAsia founder uploaded his new purchase to let his followers know that he is officially going green and saying goodbye to combustion engine cars. After the post blew up, the entrepreneur later clarified that the car was on lease.


New 2020 Volkswagen Passat R-Line launched in Malaysia, from RM 203k

A couple of months ago, Volkswagen Malaysia was busy with the launch of the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace and Volkswagen Arteon R-Line. Also previewed was the 2020 Volkswagen Passat R-Line in white which was only opened for booking at the time.

However, the wait is over as Volkswagen has just launched the Passat R-Line in Malaysia online via Facebook Live as the top-of-the-line variant of Volkswagen’s D-segment sedan. Prices of the Passat R-Line start at RM 203,411 (excluding SST which is valid until 31-December 2020).


RHD 2021 Kia Carnival at Bangkok Motor Show, when an Alphard is too mainstream

The 2021 Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS) is happening as we speak, and one of the cars on display that may pique the interest of Malaysians is the 2021 Kia Carnival. The Kia Carnival in Thailand is fully-imported from South Korea.

The all-new 2021 Kia Carnival made its global debut in August last year. The latest fourth-gen Kia Carnival has grown in size; 40 mm longer than before at 5,155 mm, 10 mm wider at 1,995 mm, with a 30 mm longer wheelbase at 3,090 mm.


Hap Seng Star Kinrara wins Dealer of the Year 2022 award by Mercedes-Benz Malaysia

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia celebrated its dealer network with the prestigious Dealer of The Year 2022 awards, acknowledging outstanding dealers for their operational excellence in delivering the Best Customer Experience. The awards ceremony was held recently, with Hap Seng Star Kinrara taking home the coveted Dealer of the Year 2022 award.

Sagree Sardien, CEO & President, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia said, “At Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, we place our customers at the heart of everything we do. We are immensely proud of our dealer partners' unwavering commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience.


Pros and Cons: 2020 Toyota Vios GR-S – Superb suspension, lackluster powertrain

New to the 2020 Toyota Vios facelift is the addition of the GR-Sport (GR-S) variant, sitting on top of the G variant. The Toyota Vios GR-S adds a few goodies like a reprogrammed CVT with 10 virtual ratios, sports-tuned suspension, and 17-inch wheels just to name a few.


Spied: 2023 Toyota Innova Zenix spotted in Indonesia with sunroof and it looks good!

Source

Toyota has been teasing the arrival of the all-new 2023 Toyota Innova Zenix for the past couple of weeks now but it has not revealed the launch date. Perhaps the due date is inching closer as Indonesian news sites have recently published spyshots of the hotly anticipated MPV.

Source

First reported by Kompas Otomotif, the undisguised Innova Zenix was spotted around Karawang which is where Toyota’s Indonesian plant is located. Only the front-quarter shots were taken and it seems that the next-gen Innova will be going upmarket.

The trapezoidal grille is reminiscent of Toyota’s other crossovers and SUVs like the Corolla Cross and the Highlander. There are also hints of the all-new Avanza/Veloz in front but the Innova is more distinct enough.


Launched ahead of Malaysia – CKD Mercedes A-Class Sedan and GLA debuts in Indonesia

Following the launch of the locally-assembled (CKD) 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 in Malaysia, succeeding the previous made-in-USA model, fans of the three-pointed star brand can expect lower priced CKD Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan and GLA next.
Malaysia is not the only country looking to expand its range of CKD Mercedes-Benz models. Indonesia, a market that is managed by the South East Asian region II team at Wisma Mercedes-Benz’s regional headquarters in Puchong, has launched the CKD A200 Sedan Progressive Line and GLA 200 AMG Line.
Also read: Malaysia to launch CKD 2021 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan, GLA, GLE - 5 new CKD models coming


The 2021 MG ZS is coming to Malaysia - does the HR-V still have a chance?

Say what you want, sports utility vehicles (SUVs) are here to stay. Which means the 2021 MG ZS' introduction to Malaysia is all but certain.
Let's take a look at the ZS and answer your frequently asked questions.
First of all, what is MG?

The MG B is a famous creation of theirs.

Founded in Oxford, England in 1924, MG used to specalise in sports cars. Over the years, the marque changed hands a few times and they're now owned by Chinese automotive giant SAIC Motor Corporation Limited, making everyday commuter cars.


New Sepang Circuit CEO supports return of F1 – if the offer is good

The recently appointed SIC chief executive officer, Azhan Shafriman Hanif, said he would support the idea to host Formula One (F1) race again in the future, provided if the “offer is good”.

“It is not on my top priority at the moment, but if the opportunity comes by [to host F1 again] and the offer is good, I’m very supportive of this idea because this event (F1) brings the branding part of Malaysia," he told local publication Bernama, recently.


This stillborn Mitsubishi Galant was supposed to challenge the Camry and Accord

A lot happens in a carmaker's history - some can sell 10 million cars in just 23 years, some formulas can remain unchanged for more than five decades while some pivoted straight into the world of SUVs. Which brings me neatly to this, the Mitsubishi Concept ZT, or what could have been the Galant.

In case you were curious about how the Lancer looks like now.

Mitsubishi Motors aren't too hot on sedans these days, with the Lancer (yes, the old one the Proton Inspira was based on) and Mirage G4 (Attrage as we once knew it) being sold in very select markets - Malaysia not included. And don't forget they once produced the legendary Galant line-up of D-segment sedans.

Peak old-school cool: the 1989-1991 Mitsubishi Galant AMG. Yes, that AMG.

Years rolled by and Mitsubishi retired the Galant nameplate in 2012. However, it seems that the carmaker had plans in building an all-new model just a few years ago, if this Concept ZT model was any indication.


Made in Indonesia vehicle exports increase a whopping 167% in the first half of 2022!

In 2021, 294,639 vehicles were exported from Indonesia and according to the latest figures by Gaikindo, the first half of 2022 saw a massive jump in the number of exports with 393,151 units.

That’s easily way more than the number produced in the whole 2021 calendar year and compared to the same period last year, it’s a 167% increase. For comparison, the first half of 2021 saw 147,203 vehicles exported from the archipelago.


2022 Nissan GT-R to get 48V mild hybrid powertrain, 600 PS/652 Nm

It’s been over 13 years since the Nissan GT-R first went into production. So, to say that it is aging may be somewhat of an understatement. However, the Nissan GT-R has had continuous updates over the years and the last hurrah will reportedly be a mild-hybrid.

Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign

BestCarWeb reports that the 2022 Nissan GT-R will be electrified in the form of 48V mild-hybrid, with the assistance of an integrated starter generator (ISG). The aim for Nissan is to meet the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards.
With electric boost, the 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine produces a maximum combined output of 600 PS/652 Nm. As before, power goes to all four wheels via a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission.


Malaysia-bound all-new 2022 Lexus NX to launch with 2.4 Turbo, 2.5 NA to come later

Singapore-market NX shown

Shortly after marking its debut in Indonesia, the all-new 2022 Lexus NX is destined for Malaysia.. Lexus Malaysia has yet to confirm this, but sources familiar with the matter say two engine options will be offered.

The first engine choice for Malaysia is the turbocharged 2.4-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine that does 279 PS and 430 Nm, hooked up to an 8-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission. This powertrain combination allows the NX 350 to complete the century sprint in 7 seconds flat.
Also Read: TNGA-based all-new 2022 Lexus NX debuts; new 2.4L turbo, brand's first-ever PHEV


It’s time to stop using the term national cars to describe Proton and Perodua

Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional, the company which we now know as Proton Holdings, was established in 1983 as Malaysia’s national car company. Ten years later in 1993, Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua, better known as Perodua, was established as our second national national car company.
We are now in the midst of setting up a third national car.


Used Proton Saga vs Perodua Bezza, which entry-level sedan to buy?

Typically, when shopping for an entry-level sedan, your choices are limited to the Proton Saga or Perodua Bezza. More so if your requirement is for a car that is priced around the RM 30k to RM 40k mark and is reasonably new so that it can still qualify for a loan.
On paper at least, both cars are neck-to-neck, offering a naturally-aspirated 1.3-litre engine mated to a 4-speed automatic with similar equipment.
But that’s where the similarities end, as both Perodua and Proton took very different approaches when developing their respective entry-level sedan.


Covid-19: This Malaysian start-up can tell you which neighbourhoods are easier to buy groceries from

With so many stupid people panic buying and hoarding up daily necessities as they prepare up hole up at home for two weeks, where should you go to buy your groceries? Obviously it has to be a place where supply is plentiful, but with less crowd.
UrbanMetry is a Malaysian big-data, market intelligence gathering company serving property developers and city planners. It uses artificial intelligence and proprietary algorithms to comb through large amounts of geographical data, extracting trending and patterns within cities.
They have recently published an infographic ranking Klang Valley neighbourhoods on their ratio of grocery stores versus population size.


Spied: All-new 11th-gen Honda Accord caught in Thailand, launching in 2023?

Though SUVs are gaining popularity in Southeast Asia, there is still a demand for sedans, albeit with diminishing sales (and choices). The all-new 11th-generation Honda Accord made its debut in the United States of America but this latest spyshot in Thailand proves that it might also be launched in the region.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Indra Radian Fathan (@indra_fathan)

Taken by the Thai automotive YouTube channel, Tech Hangout Auto, the camouflaged Accord is spotted in the open in the middle of a traffic jam. Like any spied development car, it is devoid of any branding or indication that it’s an Accord but eagle-eyed car enthusiasts would know it’s one.


Geely's electric taxi division introduces a brand-new EV platform for a more flexible future of mobility

The London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC), one of the many brands under Geely Holding Group is known for producing the famous black cabs that are transportation icons for the British capital like red double-decker buses and the Tube. However, LEVC is expanding beyond just the iconic Hackney carriage as it launched a new pure electric vehicle (EV) technology platform.

The Space Oriented Architecture (SOA) is a modular and scalable platform, developed in R&D centres in China, Sweden, the UK, and Germany over the past 2.5 years.


Winner of Toyota Gazoo Racing eSports Championship walks home with RM 20,000 cash!

UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has been actively involved in motorsports-driven initiatives such as the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival, Toyota Vios Challenge and more recently, the launch of the first GR Garage outside of Japan.
Among these initiatives include the Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Velocity eSports Championship. In the grand finals of the second season of the largest national eSports racing event in Malaysia, the overall winners shared a prize pool of RM 70,000.
After an intense day battling with the top 10 best virtual racers in Malaysia, the championship winners of TGR Velocity eSports season 2 were crowned:


2020 Volvo S60 T8 CKD launched in Malaysia, same price, slight change in features

Volvo Cars Malaysia has just introduced the locally-assembled (CKD) Volvo S60 in Malaysia.
The Volvo S60 CKD is priced from RM 295,888 (on-the-road, without insurance), same as the imported version.


No more run-flat tyres on Mercedes-Benz A200 Sedan CKD, good move?

CKD A200 Sedan gets minor equipment changes from the CBU model
Run-flat tyres are replaced with regular ones
Do the pros of run-flat tyres outweigh the cons?

A little over two months ago, the locally-assembled (CKD) Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan was launched in Malaysia with two variants, A200 and A250. The former is priced at RM 210,902 (OTR without insurance and SST), making it the most affordable Mercedes-Benz model in Malaysia.

Previously, the fully-imported (CBU) A200 Sedan was sold at RM 222,121, which marks a reduction in price of about RM 11k. While the differences between the CKD A-Class Sedan and its CBU counterpart are relatively minor, there are a few interesting features that have been added and omitted.


This is your first look of the Mercedes EQS! Slated for debut in early 2021

Mercedes-Benz has given us a quick sneak peek of their upcoming Mercedes-Benz EQS! The full-electric luxury sedan is slated to make its world debut in early 2021.

The EQS is the fully electric member in the new S-Class programme. Hence why the model will be produced alongside other S-Class models, soon to include the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, in Factory 56 at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Sindelfingen (Germany).


2021 Suzuki Vitara AllGrip launched in the Philippines – Will it miss Malaysia?

After a week of teasers and countdown posts, Suzuki Philippines has launched the 2021 Suzuki Vitara AllGrip on the island. The all-wheel-drive variant serves as the top-of-the-line spec in the Filipino Vitara line-up.

Priced from PHP 1,458,000 (around RM 126,000), the AllGrip costs PHP 300,000 more than the front-wheel driven GLX variant. Buyers who fancy the two-tone exterior paint job would have to cough up PHP 1,468,000 and this is pretty pricey considering rivals like the Geely Coolray (Proton X50) cost well below PHP 1 million.


BMW's largest M gathering, a tribute to ///Malaysia Day

The biggest BMW M gathering in Malaysia
Celebrating 59th year anniversary of Malaysia Day
Celebrating 50th year anniversary of BMW Motorsport

Over 120 high-performance vehicles from the BMW M portfolio gathered at the heart of Kuala Lumpur in celebration of two M-specific occasions this year – the 59th Malaysia Day and 50 Jahre M.
BMW Group Malaysia and the M Owners Malaysia community paid tribute to the 59th Malaysia Day this year with a unique gathering of over 120 powerful BMW M vehicles from across the generations; further fuelling the passion for BMW M amongst the local community of owners, motorsports enthusiasts and fans.

From left to right: Andrew Lim, Alfonso Jesena (Managing Director of FUCHS Petrolube Malaysia), Hans de Visser (Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia), Ameet Singh (M Project Lead of BMW Group Malaysia)


Initial network of Tesla Superchargers in Malaysia to cover 10 locations from Penang to Johor

Following the earlier announcement of the pricing for the Tesla Model Y in Malaysia, it was revealed on Tesla Malaysia’s website that the initial deployment of Superchargers in Malaysia will cover 10 locations.

Here is the list according to the "Find Us" section on the website:


21- to 27-April 2022 Fuel Price Update: RON97 unchanged

No changes to fuel prices this week, and fuel prices from 21- to 27-April 2022 are as follows:

RON 95 – RM 2.05/litre (RM 0.00)
RON 97 – RM 3.81/litre (RM 0.00)
Diesel Euro 5 B10 / B20 – RM 2.15/litre (RM 0.00)
Diesel Euro 5 B7 – RM 2.35/litre (RM 0.00)


Why the inconsistency? Volvo attacks ICEs and hybrids while parent company Geely courts Saudi Aramco for engine deal

Volvo’s parent company Geely is courting investment from Saudi Aramco to develop synthetic and hydrogen fuels
Volvo Car to be 100 percent EV by 2030, but will continue to profit from selling engine assets to other automakers, via Aurobay

Consistency in messaging and sticking to one’s principles is how trust is gained. An organization can’t say one message when it wants to lean the left but say something opposite when it leans to the right, and worse, pretend to close its eyes and ears when it’s facing the centre. Unfortunately this is the position that Volvo is finding itself doing.
First, Volvo says it will be limiting all its cars to 180 km/h because it wants to “…. send a strong signal about the dangers of speeding, underlining Volvo Cars position as a worldwide leader in safety,” but conveniently exempts Polestar, which it co-owns with Geely, from the limit. Basically Volvo is saying “We are happy to make exemptions to our proud Swedish principles against speed if you pay more.”

Volvo EX90

Next, Volvo started attacking the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), which it has since left, calling out the legacy automakers-heavy club for dragging its feet in ending combustion engines. Volvo insists that unless the world follows its lead to transition into 100 percent battery EVs, the effects of climate change would be irreversible.


2020 Kia Sonet debuts: Kia's smallest SUV is big on features, enters hotly-contested market

After months of waiting following its concept reveal in February, Kia finally lifts the covers off the 2020 Kia Sonet in a digital presentation held earlier today.


There is no law on hazard light use, so who’s right and who’s wrong anyway?

We’ve all seen cars with their hazard lights turned on during heavy rain or stormy weather. A small number of drivers believe it makes them more visible to other road users. They are headstrong on the fact that they’re making the roads a safer place, and are hard to convince otherwise.
There are three big problems if you drive with your hazard lights on:
1. The hazard light makes your indicator lights non-functional. (Other drivers can’t tell if you’re trying to indicate). This is dangerous.


The new Nissan Kicks goes swinging in Japan with second-generation e-POWER

Nissan has given its Kicks compact SUV a mid-life reboot that’s now gone on sale in Japan with the second-generation e-POWER system, marking another milestone in Nissan’s expansion of its electrified vehicle portfolio.
Since it was launched in the Japanese market in June 2020, the Kicks has offered a powerful yet quiet driving experience thanks to its e-POWER electrified powertrain. The refresh now sees the second-generation e-POWER system that promises 5 percent greater power and 7 percent higher maximum torque.


Tesla is officially launching in Thailand in December 2022 - Is Malaysia left out?

The poster child of EVs, Tesla is getting ready to make its official debut in Thailand in December 2022 according to a teaser on social media. This would make the Kingdom the second market in Southeast Asia after Singapore to officially offer Elon Musk’s automotive child.

Interestingly, the post was uploaded on the Siam Paragon Facebook page and there is no official Tesla Thailand Facebook nor website. The post did mention the official Line page which only led us to an account with a profile photo of Morty from the Adult Swim cartoon, Rick and Morty.

  A couple of recond Teslas on display at The British Club in Bangkok

Siam Paragon is one of the premier shopping malls in Bangkok; the equivalent of Pavilion Bukit Bintang so it might make sense for one of the most famous names in EVs to make its debut in the Kingdom at an exclusive mall catered to the ultra-wealthy.


The Toyota Hilux driver that wreaked havoc in Bukit Sentosa pleaded not guilty!

Remember the Toyota Hilux that was seen rampaging through a Ramadan bazaar just 2 weeks ago? The owner of the pick-up was charged in court on Friday and he pleaded not guilty against the charges of hurling insults at a policeman and attempted murder!
The driver, Kang Ming Han, 32, is a tyre business owner in Klang. He was charged under Police Act Section 90 for indecent act against a police officer by allegedly shouting abusive words at him when he was arrested at the Bukit Sentosa Hulu Selangor Police Station.
If convicted, the accused can be sentenced to a maximum of 6 months imprisonment or a maximum fine of RM 500 or both.


5th gen 2023 Toyota Prius debuts - adds 2.0L PHEV, 0-100 km/h in 6.7s, with looks Mazda will be jealous of

The 5th generation 2023 Toyota Prius has just made its global debut in Japan today. The highlight of this model is the addition of a new 2.0-litre variant, which is available either as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or a regular (full) hybrid.
The PHEV variant makes 223 PS (combined system output) and is capable of sprinting from 0-100 km/h in a rather un-Prius-ly 6.7 seconds. Without plug-in charging capability, lesser variant 2.0-litre models produce a combined system output of 193 PS, which Toyota says delivers 1.6 times more power than the previous 1.8-litre model.

  Plug-in hybrid variants have a lid on the right side for the charging port. Fuel lid is on the left.

The previous generation Prius’ 1.8-litre 2ZR-FXE engine will still be offered on entry variants of the 2023 Toyota Prius. It would be foolish to drop it because that engine is one of the most reliable in the world, regardless of whether it is compared against other hybrid engines or regular combustion engines. Taxi operators in many parts of the world will agree.


Toyota Vios outsold Honda City 6x in Vietnam in August 2021, nearly 50% market share

Despite showing promising sales in the first half of 2021, coming into August, the Hyundai Accent’s reign as Vietnam’s best-selling B-segment car is slipping away. For the fourth month in a row, the Toyota Vios has claimed the top spot in that segment.

In August, 987 units of the Vios were sold, which gave it a 47.4% market share according to data from the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (VAMA).


Owner Review: Looks beautiful in white  - My 2019 Honda Civic FC 1.5 TC-P

** This article is published on WapCar Community, represent the opinion of users. Click the link below to enter the community for car enthusiasts in Malaysia
https://www.wapcar.my/forum

Basic information about my car:
2019 Honda Civic FC 1.5 TC-P


Prices equal to RM 45k, all-new 2021 Geely Emgrand launched in China

Less than a month after bookings were opened in China, Geely has launched the all-new, fourth-generation 2021 Geely Emgrand.

The 2021 Geely Emgrand is priced from CNY 69,900 (~RM 45k) for the base five-speed manual variant, topping out at CNY 88,900 (~RM 58k) for the range-topping variant. These prices are considerably cheaper than the estimated prices from a month ago.


20 - 26 May 2021 Fuel Price Update: RON97 up 1 sen, others remain

Another week and it's time for the weekly fuel price update. RON97 goes up by 1 sen, while the rest remains.
The fuel prices from 20-26 May 2021 will be as follows:

RON 95 – RM 2.05/litre
RON 97 – RM 2.61/litre (+RM 0.01)
Diesel Euro 5 B10/B20 – RM 2.15/litre
Diesel Euro 5 B7 – RM 2.25/litre


You can now buy a BMW without visiting a showroom, just go to BMW Shop Online

Car manufacturers are taking new measures to carry out new car sales by bringing their brand experience online as their physical showrooms are closed due to the Movement Control Order (MCO) imposed.
The latest brand to do so is BMW Group Malaysia, which just launched its BMW Shop Online - a digital showroom to view and place a booking for a brand-new BMW.


Do I need a special license to drive in Thailand?

The answer is no, Malaysians do not require a special license to be allowed to drive on Thailand roads.
Malaysians are allowed to drive in Thailand because we are part of the 10 ASEAN countries.
It also helps that our country’s domestic driver license come complete with a photograph attached and also include the English language. Totally saving us the need to prepare extra documents regarding our identification!


W214 Mercedes-Benz E-Class confirmed for 2023 launch, to add EV-only variant

The current W213 generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class will soon bow out to make way for an all-new W214 generation model, which will be launched in 2023. The latest E-Class will also be joined by an EV variant developed specifically for China, confirms CEO Ola Källenius.
Speaking at yesterday’s ‘Economics of Desire’ strategy update event, Källenius said Mercedes-Benz Group's product strategy for its Core Luxury segment, which includes both the C-Class and E-Class – its highest volume contributors – is to accelerate the shift towards electrification.


Think the Honda City's ad is extreme? This Geely Preface ad compares it to a Porsche Panamera

The Honda City is not the only one who is throwing shade at multiple “competitors”! Geely, too, joined the bandwagon with an ad for its upcoming Geely Preface that calls out its luxury competitors.
Geely dropped the ad yesterday across their social media platforms and the ad has since gone viral for its unique twist. The ad aims to show off the Geely Preface’s agility thanks to the popular CMA platform on the mountainous winding roads of China.


Pros and Cons: 2020 Mercedes-Benz C200 AMG Line - Punchy engine but punishing ride

Earlier this year, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia introduced the updated 2020 Mercedes-Benz C200 AMG Line with a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, replacing the previous 1.5-litre mild hybrid powertrain.
The update also brought the AMG Line package back (pre-facelift C200 had AMG Line option) to the C200, which previously wore the Avantgarde trim.


UMW Toyota adds new Nebula Blue colour for Toyota Vios to usher in 2022

A striking new colour, dubbed Nebula Blue Metallic has been added to the range of exterior colours offered with the Toyota Vios.
Nebula Blue Metallic replaces the previous Dark Blue Metallic colour, and now joins Orange Metallic, Platinum White Pearl, Red Mica Metallic, and Silver Metallic – totaling five exterior paint options.


All-new 2023 Toyota Sienta design patents found in Indo IP documents, arriving soon?

The all-new third-generation 2023 Toyota Sienta might be suitable in urban and modern markets like Japan and Singapore but don’t simply think it wouldn’t be offered in other countries, at least officially.

Our colleagues over at AutoFun ID have discovered patent images of the all-new Sienta in the latest documents of the Indonesian Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DJKI) that were just recently published.


After-sales won’t improve until we start paying decent wages

During a recent trip back to my hometown in Ipoh, I learned from my dad that the son of the mechanic that he usually visits has moved to Singapore. He recently secured a technical position at the Mercedes-Benz division of Cycle and Carriage. Good for him I say.
He is a talented young kid who has been helping out in his father’s workshop long before his peers learn about the theory of combustion engines. I have no doubt about the quality of his work.
However his father’s workshop is literally under a tree, with a small shack for tools and parts. It doesn’t look very presentable but locals in the neighbourhood will vouch for his work.


This Rolls-Royce Cullinan model is the most expensive toy car in the world

This toy is not for those aged 21 and below as it will set you back at least $14,000 to own one. You certainly do not want a 5-year-old ruining your one-of-a-kind Rolls-Royce Cullinan scale model at all.

Like all Rolls-Royces, no two models are the exact same. That’s right, this scale model of the Cullinan is entirely customisable and bespoke. Customers can customise everything from which side the driver’s seat should be, right down to the colour of the seat belt.


Save up to RM 10,100 when you test drive and post a photo of a Carsome Certified car

They don’t call it the season of giving for nothing, because for a limited time in December, Carsome is offering up to RM 10,100 in savings on your next dream car purchase.
Between 9 – 23 December 2022, get up to RM 2,100 in discounts when you take part in a simple contest, trade in your existing car, and test drive a Carsome Certified car. These discounts are then bundled with existing offers on Carsome Certified vehicles to offer you unrivalled prices on some of the best used cars on the market.
Here’s how it works:


What did Toyota’s President; Akio Toyoda, say after sitting in the Nissan Z?

That header might sound like the opening line to a petrolhead’s joke but unfortunately there’s no punchline here because Toyota’s Akio Toyoda is a proper petrolhead and in typical Japanese chivalry, had nothing but praise after taking a seat in the Nissan Z; a prime competitor to his very own Toyota GR86.
Also Read: 2022 Toyota GR86 / Subaru BRZ: Tuners display hot versions to whet enthusiasts' appetite
Heads of carmakers using motor shows to get a feel of the competitors’ products isn’t new. However, being one of the last of a rare breed of automaker scions; ones that are actual petrolheads, Toyoda’s comments would’ve made for some extremely interesting aural fodder.


French carmakers go sacré bleu as the government requires them to mention cycling and walking in car ads

The French have always been an eccentric lot. Just take a look at their cars if you needed persuasion. Now though, they’ve gone a step further following a move by the government to pass a law requiring automakers to advertise alternative modes of transportation in car ads.
Can you imagine telling McDonald’s to bring up salads in their ads for a quarter pounder?
Also Read: UK brings forward petrol and diesel cars ban from 2035 to 2030


The all-new 2021 Honda HR-V is pretty, but might skip Malaysia

A couple of weeks ago, the all-new 2021 Honda HR-V made its global debut in Japan. It will supersede the predecessor model that has been on sale since late-2013.

Compared to the model it replaces, the all-new Honda HR-V looks far more imposing, with a prominent front grille flanked by slim LED headlights.


Thai distributor EV Primus announces plans to launch Wuling Air in Malaysia in 2024

Yesterday, the Wuling Air EV was launched in Thailand as the cheapest electric vehicle (EV) on sale in ASEAN with a starting price of THB 395,000 (~RM 52k). Fully imported (CBU) from Indonesia, Wuling’s Thai distributor EV Primus also announced that it is planning to expand to Malaysia and the Philippines in 2024 as reported by Autolife Thailand.

This follows an announcement by EV Primus’ CEO, Pittaya Thanadumrongsak at the micro EV’s launch in Thailand that the company plans to locally assemble (CKD) the Wuling Air and the Volt City EV in the Kingdom.


Honda Civic 1.5T: the perfect combination of engine and gearbox

The Honda Civic's sitting position is really low. On the one hand, it is very low from the ground, only 105mm when fully loaded; on the other hand, the seat design is also very low. Sitting in the car and reaching the ground is easy, creating a real sports feel, just like a sports car. By reducing the head and wiper height, the vision of the Honda Civic was not affected by the low sitting position.

The Honda Civic 1.5L turbocharged engine has a maximum horsepower of 171 hp at 5,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 220 Nm at 1,700 rpm. The engine does not use the variable valve lift technology in Honda VTEC, which is destined to be not very excited at high speeds, and perhaps many people who are obsessed with VTEC charm will regret it. But in fact, from another perspective, the performance of this 1.5L turbocharged engine is really excellent.
For small capacity turbocharged models, how to refrain from turbo lag is especially important. Fortunately, on Civic, the continuous linear acceleration of the CVT has somewhat restrained the feeling of turbo lag to the driver. The start is light and fast, the CVT gearbox is not dull, and the power output is in one go.


2021 Toyota Innova facelift now in Malaysia: price up RM 2-4k, adds 360-cam, BSM

UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) kicks off 2021 by introducing the 2021 Toyota Innova facelift in Malaysia. Prices for the locally-assembled (CKD) 7-seater MPV now starts from RM 111,622, a slight increase from the previous price range of RM 110,034 (E), RM 117,364 (G) and RM 127,126 (X). The E variant is also available for taxi fleet, and that one starts at RM 97,978.00.
The Innova breaks cover alongside the 2021 Toyota Fortuner facelift.
Mildly refreshed exterior


Genesis marks European launch with largest-ever projection in the Swiss Alps

Hyundai’s luxury arm, Genesis has marked its arrival in Europe with the largest-ever 3D projection of its kind on a mountain in the Swiss Alps.

How big you ask? The 3D projection is 275 meters wide and 180 meters tall – equivalent to the size of almost three football fields.


Malaysian who influenced gov to pass child seat law wins international award

Meet Jchanet Tan, the woman who has been leading the charge to advocate the use of child seat in Malaysia. Tan’s efforts in our country have now earned her the Child Passenger Safety International Instructor of the Year Award.
The award was handed out by the National Child Passenger Safety Board in America. The council was where Tan received professional training to become a National Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST).

Credit: Child Passenger Safety Malaysia

She first started her self-funded training in 2017 and quickly worked her way to instructor status within a year. This allowed her to bring her knowledge home and kick start the first National CPST Certification Training course in Malaysia.


Malaysian car manufacturers to stop work again? Eurocham denies Feb-4 lockdown

A leaked memo from the EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Eurocham) to its members says that the manufacturing sector should prepare itself for a shutdown/strict lockdown if the Covid-19 situation doesn't improve.
The memo adds that the organization’s CEO Sven Schneider had a meeting with MITI on 22-January and was told that the Ministry of Health (MoH) has made a clear stance for a complete shutdown of the economy if Covid-19 cases continue to rise.


2023 Honda WR-V: Ativa killer? Production may start in Dec 2022 in Indonesia

Honda RS SUV concept car displayed at GIIAS 2022
Speculation suggests Honda “WR-V”
Production may start end of 2022
Largest in its class compared to its competitors

Honda's latest SUV was camouflaged and displayed at the Honda booth of the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) 2022.
This is Honda's answer to the Toyota Raize / Daihatsu Rocky (Perodua Ativa), Kia Sonet and Nissan Magnite in Indonesia.

  It’s based on the Honda RS SUV concept car, which was revealed at last year’s GIIAS

Also read: Ativa-rivalling Honda SUV RS Concept: Est. sub-RM 80k price in Indonesia possible


You may now go back to your hometown. Inter-state travel allowed effective Monday

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has just announced that inter-state travel will be allowed effective tomorrow, Monday 11-October.
This comes after vaccination rate of the adult population in Malaysia has hit 90 percent.
“The government has allowed Keluarga Malaysia who are fully vaccinated to cross states from tomorrow without having to apply for police permits,” he said in a press conference today.


Changan overtakes Geely in April to be best-selling domestic brand in China

April was a good month for Changan Automobile, as the Chongqing-based company has maintained its lead over Geely.

With 106,589 units sold in April alone, Changan outsold Geely by 6,258 units. From January to April, Changan sold 471,227 cars, edging ahead of Geely’s 433,907 units.


70 percent of Perodua owners still return to an authorised service centre, even after warranty

Nearly 70 percent of Perodua owners prefer to have their cars maintained by an authorised Perodua service centre, making one of the highest, if not the highest for any automotive brand in the country.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday for Perodua's 2019 business review, President and CEO Dato' Zainal Abidin Ahmad said the figure is two percent higher than the Perodua’s forecast. Last year, Perodua’s network of service centres received over 2,347,000 cars, an 8.3 percent increase over last year’s performance. Overall, Perodua’s after-sales division grew by 15 percent year-on-year.


Designed by former Audi designer, here are 15 photos of the BYD Han EV

You have to admit, Chinese brand BYD has been upping their design game. The company’s new design language, known as the Dragon Face, has even caught the attention of the former Ferrari designer Frank Stephenson. Now the design language has made it onto the first electric vehicle (EV), the BYD Han, and we can’t take our eyes off the new car.


At RM 106k, the Honda City RS is only RM 3k cheaper than a Civic - which to buy?

After a 6-month wait, Honda Malaysia has finally revealed the price of the 2021 Honda City RS e:HEV hybrid variant. The range-topping City is priced at RM 105,950.
Also Read: 2021 Honda City RS e:HEV, price confirmed from RM 106K


2023 Honda Civic Type R (FL5) spied in Malaysia; set to hound the GR Corolla, circa RM 350k?

Seen in this set of pictures is an initial batch of the 2023 Honda Civic Type R (FL5), as photographed by Facebook user Kamarus Shahar.

  Raised rear signifies a spoiler, photographer also noted 'three exhaust outlets' that point to only one model

With its arrival here, this marks four out of four new models we know Honda Malaysia is set to introduce here this year: the WR-V's launch is happening very soon, the City facelift inevitably after that, and the all-new CR-V will follow suit sometime later this year.


2020 Range Rover Evoque launched, starting from RM426,828 with ClearSight System

Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia (JLRM) has launched the all-new 2020 Range Rover Evoque, 9 years since the release of its predecessor.

Prices


SUVs aren't killing sports cars, enthusiasts are

There has been a very prominent narrative in the past decade in the automotive industry. It is one that tells us SUVs are taking over the world, thus making all other forms of cars redundant or out of fashion. Every carmaker, has succumbed to the SUV pressure and made one. You can find calls to stop buying SUVs as it's killing the sports car genre.

One of the most ubiquitious SUVs, the Honda CR-V

Well, I'm here to tell you that, SUVs are bad news for some types of cars, namely the traditional 3 box sedan, and wagons. It offers more practicality in every conceivable metric. So much so, product planners have reduced engine options for D-segment sedans in Malaysia. Why pour time and resources to a category of car that is dwindling, right?


Proton to start assembly in Pakistan by Q3 2021 – X70, Saga first models

Proton has been ramping up its presence in Pakistan with the launching of the Saga a little more than a week ago. Even though it has only two models in its line-up with the Proton X70 completing the pair, Proton’s partner in the South Asian nation, Al-Haj Automotive aims to commence local assembly at its new plant by the third quarter of 2021.

Proton and Al-Haj Automotive signed an agreement in 2018

The plant, which is built on a greenfield site in Karachi, will have a planned capacity of 25,000 units a year. About USD 30 million have been invested into the plant initially and it was supposed to begin operations by the end of 2020. The pandemic probably caused the plan to be postponed.


Pakistan is Proton's largest export market, Brunei is our only neighbour that buys Proton cars

Proton’s export numbers are not big, just several thousand cars a year (3,018 units in 2021). Destination countries are typically very small developing countries.
Last month, Proton added South Africa to its list of export destinations, which now number around 7 countries – Nepal, South Africa, Egypt, and Brunei imports finished (CBU) cars while Pakistan, Kenya, Bangladesh locally-assembles (CKD) them. Sri Lanka will join the list later this year.


How sneaker makers like Nike can teach tyre companies about influencing its buyers

It is amazing how much time and internet juice is spent trying to explain that tyre choices matter. Not too long ago we made a post about why when it comes to tyres you get what you pay for. And it is good to see that for many of our readers, it isn’t news to them.

This time around let’s outline a suggestion that may make people care more about the tyres they buy. And for that, we will use an economic theory known as the Diamond-Water Paradox, or better known as the Paradox of Value.


First tofu delivery practice for the Toyota GR86 at 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed!

The Toyota GR86, one of the most anticipated cars of 2021, will make a dynamic on-road debut this summer at the 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed. This is in conjunction with Toyota's plans to display its "Power of Three" trio of Gazoo Racing cars, namely the Toyota GR Supra, Toyota GR Yaris and now the Toyota GR86.

Toyota Gazoo Racing's "Power of Three" trio

The GR86's apperance at this year's Goodwood Festical of Speed is to serve as an early public preview before the car goes on sale next year in the UK. Obviously, the GR86 will get to display it's tofu-delivering (I mean handling and agility) prowess in the hands of an expert driver.
Also read: Here's why prices of the Toyota 86 & Subaru BRZ are going up


UMW Toyota sales up 43% in September 2021; CKD hybrid model coming soon

The number of new vehicles produced, sold, and delivered has risen significantly in September, the first full month of operations since pandemic-enforced lockdowns were lifted nationwide. UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) had a total sales volume of 8,033 vehicles, an increase of 5,509 units over the August volume.
This was made up of 7,931 Toyota vehicles and 102 Lexus vehicles. The volume was also 43 percent higher than for the same month in 2020 where 5,605 vehicles were sold.


Nissan reveals new plans for more affordable EV powertrains

EVs are still far from affordable for the masses. Hence, Nissan announces its newest approach to electrified powertrain development which would see a reduction in production costs.

Called “X-in-1”, Nissan aims to further increase the competitiveness of its EV and e-Power vehicles via this approach. In essence, core EV and e-Power powertrain components will be shared and modularised which would result in a 30% reduction, compared to 2019, in development and manufacturing costs by 2026.


Geely Boyue X launched in China, new flagship variant priced from RM 73k

After months of teasing and a showcase at the 2021 Chengdu Auto Show, Geely has officially launched the Geely Boyue X in China.

The new model supersedes the Geely Boyue Pro as the flagship variant in the Boyue line-up and the model is priced accordingly. Prices start from CNY 112,800 (~RM 73k) and tops out at CNY 142,800 (~RM 92k).


RM 4.8b loss in tax revenue since SST exemption scheme began in 2020, says MoF

Photo

The sales and service tax (SST) exemption period for new cars that was first announced in June 2020 has resulted in the loss of tax revenue amounting to RM 4.8 billion to date, reports Bernama.
Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said the SST exemption scheme had been extended three times since the first announcement, and the ministry is currently considering its impact and the next course of action.

"The revenue forgone of RM4.8 billion is a huge amount which could be used to channel to help the people in their essentials.


Malaysia's first EV taxi is here - Hire one starting November 2022

The MG 5 EV wagon you’re looking at is the first EV taxi that will enter service as soon as November this year.
According to Facebook post by Alladin.my, this MG 5 is the first of a fleet of EV taxis operated by MySuri Biz Tech, an online platform provider and operator of the Teksiku ride-hailing app, that will begin deployment in the Klang Valley and Langkawi.


30-June to 6-July Fuel Price Update: All prices unchanged

For the week beginning 30-June to 6-July 2022, fuel prices see a change whereby no grade sees a price increase. Everything stays the same as before.
Fuel prices will then be as below for this week:

RON95 – RM 2.05/litre (RM 0.00)
RON97 – RM 4.84/litre (RM 0.00)
Diesel Euro 5 B10/B20 – RM 2.15/litre (RM 0.00)
Diesel Euro 5 B7 – RM 2.35/litre (RM 0.00)


BMW 320e and BMW 520e make global debut, new entry-variant PHEVs with 204 PS/350 Nm

Unfortunately, the 320e Touring has a slim-to-none chance of being launched in Malaysia.

BMW Group has announced new plug-in hybrid variants for the BMW 3 Series and BMW 5 Series for the European market - the BMW 320e and BMW 520e.

Both the BMW 320e and 520e feature an identical powertrain that makes a combined output of 204 PS and 350 Nm of torque. The 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine alone makes 163 PS.
Drive is sent to the rear wheels via an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission. The BMW 320e will have an option for xDrive to power all four wheels.


PDRM investigating incident between Lamborghini convoy and Ford Ranger along North-South Highway

Over the weekend, a video of a supercar convoy gathering and blocking the entire North-South Highway went viral. The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) is now investigating the case.
The incident is believed to have happened at around 6.30 pm on 18-March-2022 along Kilometre 34 southbound heading to Sedenak.
According to a statement released by Kulai district police chief Supt Tok Beng Yeow, initial investigations revealed that the incident started when a Ford Ranger pick-up truck tried to overtake the convoy dangerously.


Owning a Peugeot 3008 or 5008 has just gotten more alluring

Peugeot Malaysia is attracting car buyers to put their money on down the 3008 and 5008 SUV Plus with a few benefits.

From now until 31 December 2019, customers can trade in their cars and get up to RM 10,000 more than their current vehicle’s appraised value, essentially an overtrade.


Spied: Kia Sonet testing ahead of global debut

The upcoming Kia Sonet has been spied testing in Indonesia ahead of its global launch.

The Sonet is the subcompact sister to the much-awaited Kia Seltos.


Ora Good Cat dominates Thai EV sales in first half of 2022 - Can it be repeated in Malaysia?

Thailand has a new leader in the EV market and unsurprisingly, it’s the coolest cat that resembles a Porsche. The first half of 2022 saw 1,355 units of the Ora Good Cat sold in the Kingdom which in turn represented a 43.8% market share.

Sales for the Good Cat electric vehicle (EV) did not take off immediately, however. According to data compiled by Autolife Thailand, the electric cat’s sales began to take off from February with a mere 143 units which were enough to propel the Good Cat to the top of the EV sales charts.


CKD 7-seater 2022 Kia Carnival to make Malaysia debut at the WapCar Auto Show this weekend

CBU 11-seater variant shown

In a surprise turn of events, Dinamikjaya Motors has just confirmed that a locally-assembled three-row seat variant of the 2022 Kia Carnival will be making its Malaysian debut at this weekend’s WapCar Auto Show at Pavilion Bukit Jalil.
Currently, the 2022 Kia Carnival is imported (CBU) from Korea, and it’s only available as a four-row 11-seater, powered by a 2.2-litre turbodiesel that makes 202 PS and 441 Nm, paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission. But this information is only academic, because all allocation for the model is already sold out.

The CBU Kia Carnival was last sold at RM 196,340.


Audi to revise naming convention; even numbers for EV, odd numbers for ICE

Audi will be revising its naming conventions for differentiation between full-electric (EV) and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, reports Automotive News Europe.

First reported by German newspaper Heilbronner Stimme and as cited by Automotive News Europe, Audi's EV models will use even numbers while combustion engine models (including hybrids) will use odd numbers, CEO Markus Duesmann said at the company's annual news conference.


Malaysia-bound Smart #1 scores 5 stars at the Euro-NCAP; 96% in Adult Occupancy, higher than a Tesla Model S

Now that the Smart #1 is about to go on sale in Europe, it is time to subject the electric vehicle (EV) to some crash tests. The SUV snagged a perfect 5-Star rating at the Euro-NCAP with an Adult Occupancy score of 96 percent, that’s even higher than a Tesla Model S!
With a score of 96 percent in the Adult Occupancy category, the EV has the highest score amongst models from Chinese manufacturers. It even trumps more expensive EVs like the Nissan Ariya (86 percent), Toyota bZ4X (88 percent), and even the Tesla Model S (94 percent).


Honda HR-V has cornered 79 percent of the crossover market

Honda Malaysia announced today that its ever popular Honda HR-V was sold 14,800 times between January to November 2019, cementing it firmly as Malaysia’s best-selling crossover with a 79 percent market share.
The Honda HR-V was launched in 2015 and it has held the No.1 position ever since, with an average market share of 76 percent.
Since then, Honda Malaysia has sold over 87,000 units of the Honda HR-V.


Scoop: Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution to return in 2021 as an electric crossover?

Think of Mitsubishi Motors (MMC) and you’re most likely thinking about its past when it conquered rallies and the silver screen with cars like the legendary Lancer Evolution and Eclipse. Now though, Mitsubishi Motors is on another trajectory, and in doing so, it wants you to forget those glory days.
Yes, fellow petrolheads, if you’ve managed to read past the headline and actually read the article, MMC has plans in reviving the Evolution name but as an electric crossover.

Have the mighty truly fallen?

This is according to a scoop obtained by Japanese media and based on what’s been speculated, the revived Evolution nameplate would be based on the e-Evolution concept that was unveiled at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show.


BMW teases first ever M3 Touring – to be launched in 2022?

For generations, the BMW M3 was sold as a sedan, a coupe, and a convertible - the latter 2 became the M4. But there never was an M3 wagon even though BMW has offered a wagon 3 Series for years. Until now.
The closest to an M3 wagon would be the M340i Touring but some purists wouldn't consider that a real M-badge car.


Malaysia-bound Peugeot 2008 overtakes Captur to be Europe's best-selling SUV of 2021 so far

SUV sales in Europe saw massive growth during the first 5 months of 2021 and none saw such stratospheric gains like the Peugeot 2008. 87,674 units of the B-segment SUV were sold in the continent, contributing to a 143% growth compared to the same period in 2020 according to data by JATO.

That puts the 2008 as Europe’s best-selling SUV of the year so far. Last year’s best-selling SUV in the continent, the Renault Captur, slipped to third place in the segment with 72,282 units sold in the same period.


BTS explains the benefits of hydrogen power in new Hyundai documentary

In conjunction with World Environment Day, Hyundai takes the opportunity to promote the use of hydrogen power as a sustainable fuel with the release of a new documentary starring K-pop superstars BTS.
Titled “For Tomorrow, We Won’t Wait”, the new documentary features BTS leader, RM, on hosting duties as he rouses viewers to take action immediately while also explaining what hydrogen power is.


Police: 113 road accident deaths over the span of 6 days during Raya celebrations

Deputy inspector-general of the police (RMP) Datuk Razarudin Husain stated that a total of 113 deaths from road accidents were recorded nationwide in Op Selamat as of 4-May-2022.
During the six days of Op Selamat which began in 29-April-2022 in conjunction with the Aidilfitri celebrations, a total of 9,816 accidents were reported.

For illustration purpose

The first day (29-April), a whooping 2,140 accidents were logged with 10 deaths, on the sixth day (5-April), a total of 1,455 accidents were recorded involving 24 fatalities.


Up to 484 km range; new 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric spied before Malaysian launch

Though spied at Petronas Ara Damansara, these two cars aren't looking for petrol – you're looking at the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric, months before their scheduled Malaysian launch in the fourth quarter of this year (Q4 2021), which we're in now.

Set to be fully-imported (CBU Korea), there are no indicative prices at the moment as the company is waiting on the government's announcement regarding EV policies.


Owner Review: Is this car really the poor man's BMW? - My story of my 2016 Mazda 3 BM

** This article is published on WapCar Community. Click the link below to enter the community for car enthusiasts in Malaysia
https://www.wapcar.my/forum

Basic information
2016 Mazda3 BM


Will Malaysia be launching a CKD Porsche Macan?

Following a report by The Edge Weekly, it seems that Porsche is seeking to locally-assemble (CKD) some of its models at Sime Darby Motor’s Inokom plant in Kulim. Some of the models planned include the Porsche Cayenne and the Porsche Taycan. However, some media sites have also said that the Macan is also planned to be one of those models.

This is based on an article published by Maybank Investment Bank Research. Given how popular the Macan and the Cayenne are, it makes sense for the German premium carmaker to start producing these two models here, right?


What makes BMT 216A the essential Bond car and what happened to it?

For over 50 years, moviegoers and action film fans alike have seen MI6’s Agent 007 aka James Bond fight baddies and swoon ladies with his debonair attitude.
To some of us though, Bond was the gentleman spy with an array of awesome rides and none shook our hearts up (not stirred) quite like the Aston Martin DB5. Specifically, the Silver Birch DB5 that wore the number plate BMT 216A


Now, nearly 30 percent of new cars sold in Malaysia are SUVs, up 6x from 2014

Soon, 1 in every 3 new cars sold in Malaysia will be an SUV
Sedans dropped from 78 to 64 percent
MPVs dropped from 16 to 7 percent

By the end of 2022, it is projected that one in every 3 new cars sold in Malaysia will be an SUV. As for June 2021, the market share of SUVs now stand at 29 percent, according to data by the Malaysia Automotive Association.

The figure is compared against passenger carrying vehicles, excluding commercial vehicles like pick-up trucks, prime movers, buses, or panel vans.


Why is the round Thundercat logo missing on the 2021 Proton Iriz R3 Edition?

Amidst all the buzz surrounding the upcoming Perodua Ativa, Proton tried to divert the attention on Malaysia’s newest SUV with its launching of a quartet of limited-edition models including the Proton Iriz R3 Edition and the Proton Persona Black Edition.
However, one thing missing on these models is the round Proton "Thundercat" logo.


20 photos to help you decide if the 2023 (G70) BMW 7 Series is forward-looking or just ugly

You’re looking at the all-new 2023 (G70) BMW 7 Series, which BMW says it gives ‘driving pleasure, unsurpassed long-distance comfort and a top-end digital experience’. But you’re still digesting how it looks, aren’t you?


Forget drive-thrus, the new trend is in-car dining service!

As the country continues to observe MCO, restaurants are scrambling to cope with the no dine-in restrictions with various methods like promos, creative menu items, and free delivery. But Padi House, a local restaurant chain, has come up with a way to serve the fussy eaters that prefer their food fresh off the wok with an in-car dining experience called #HidanganKereta.

The new concept allows diners to dine in the comforts of their cars. After you have made your order, staff will fit a makeshift table on your steering wheel so you don’t have to find a surface to place your meal.


Low-mileage used cars are safer to buy than high-mileage ones? Not necessarily

If you are in the market for a used car, there is a high chance you have been advised to purchase a low mileage example because it is safer than buying a car that has clocked a lot of miles.
The consensus is, the less a car has travelled, the less wear and tear it picks up, meaning there’s less chance of components failing once you have bought the car.


Thailand's blue or Malaysia's red? Which do you prefer on the 2020 Honda City?

We previously reported that the Honda City e:HEV powered by the 1.5-litre i-MMD full hybrid petrol engine made its official debut in Thailand alongside the Honda City Hatchback. Now the car in its hero Obsidian Blue Pearl colour is on display at the 2020 Thailand International Motor Expo (TIME).

The Honda City e:HEV in Thailand is identical to the Honda City RS that will soon make its arrival in Malaysia come January 2021.


Spyshot: Alleged RHD Proton X50 caught on camera

It appears that right-hand drive prototypes of the upcoming Geely Binyue-based Proton X50 have started roaming our streets, as our friends over at Funtasticko just posted photos of such a model.

The up-close shots give us a clearer look at the upcoming B-segment SUV, now with the steering placed on the correct right side of the car. Furthermore, the front wipers have also been redesigned for right-hand drive conditions. The upcoming Proton X50 is also expected to don Proton’s latest logo.


These 4 habits will ruin your automatic transmission

Alright, maybe ruin is a little dramatic. The point is, we all have our habits when driving; some of them are fairly harmless and some potentially lethal (texting, for one).
Habits that can incur unnecessary costs and inconvenience or worse, risk an accident are best corrected. So, these are the 4 things you should not do in an automatic transmission car.
1. Shift to reverse while the car is still moving forwards


BYD partners with Nvidia to deploy Drive Orin-powered NEVs to the market

BYD, a leading manufacturer of new energy vehicles (NEVs a Chinese phrase for xEV, basically an electrified vehicle), is extending its use of the Nvidia Drive Orincentralized compute platform in its next-generation Dynasty and Ocean series of vehicles.
BYD and Nvidia believe that future cars will be programmable, and Drive Orin provides the compute horsepower for diverse, redundant sensor processing in real time, allowing automakers to develop and support new software-driven services throughout the entire life of the vehicle.


Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia gets ready to serve customers in Temerloh, Pahang

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM), the official distributor of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles in Malaysia, together with authorised dealer Auto Raya Timur cut the ribbons to a new Mitsubishi Motors 3S Centre (Sales, Service & Spare parts) in Temerloh, Pahang today.
The new Auto Raya Timur showroom in Temerloh incorporates Mitsubishi Motors’ new corporate branding that represents the company’s global tagline ‘Drive Your Ambition’. The corporate mark is a powerful statement of Mitsubishi Motors’ commitment to the values and aspirations of its drivers.


120 units of Mitsubishi Tritons got knighted

Mitsubishi Malaysia jacks up the Triton Adventure X variant with special accessories. The Mitsubishi Triton Knight is limited to only 120 units and has an asking price of RM 137,900.

The Triton Knight is distinguishable with a grey coated front bumper garnish, an aggressive hood protector and side window deflectors further complimented with Knight body stickers.


Banks to make U-turn, interest charges might be imposed during 6-month moratorium for car loans?

The following is still a developing news, we will update it when clearer official announcements are made. We were tipped off by our friends at Careta.my that banks might begin imposing interest charges on delayed/outstanding car loan repayments of borrowers who took up the 6-month moratorium.
A statement released by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) earlier today said “…banking institutions are in the process of formalising agreements which reflect the revised payment terms with borrowers/customers with hire-purchase (HP) loans and fixed rate Islamic financing to give effect to the 6-month moratorium on loan/financing payments.”
BNM did not say anything specific to interest charges for Hire Purchase borrowers but according to The Star, The Association of Banks in Malaysia (AMB) has said that borrowers who took up the 6-month moratorium offer can now choose to either:


Launching soon in Malaysia, register your interest for the 2021 Toyota Harrier

We’ve spied the SUV in Malaysia which hinted at its impending arrival, now UMW Toyota (UMWT) has pretty much confirmed the launch of the all-new 2021 Toyota Harrier on their official Toyota Malaysia website.
Also read: Spied: All-new 2021 Toyota Harrier has arrived in Malaysia, launch imminent


2020 Toyota Corolla Cross gets 5-star ASEAN NCAP rating - Higher than Proton X50!

Ever since its launch in July, the Toyota Corolla Cross has been making some waves around South East Asia. While we wait for the crossover's imminent arrival here, it has scored a 5-star rating.

The Corolla Cross's overall score of 88.61 points means that it even scores higher than the Proton X50 which has a score of 84.26 points!


India launches long wheelbase BMW 3 Series, Malaysia next

BMW India launched the long wheelbase (LWB) 2021 BMW 3 Series Gran Limousine (codenamed G28) today. This launch marks India as the first country to get the right-hand drive (RHD) version of the stretched 3 Series.
And yes, if you've been following our posts, you'd have noticed that Malaysia could be the next country to receive this model. More on that later.
Longer, with more legroom


Malaysia-bound TSS-equipped Toyota Veloz scores 5 stars in ASEAN NCAP

The 2022 Toyota Veloz is the first Toyota model to be tested under ASEAN NCAP’s stricter 2021 – 2025 protocol, which now also includes assessment for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) as well as blind spot monitoring, among others.
The model tested is an Indonesian-market Toyota Veloz manufactured in 2021, with the front and side impact tests conducted at Japan’s JARI lab.


All-new 2020 Hyundai Sonata launched in Malaysia – Priced from RM 189,888

Hyundai Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) has officially launched the all-new fully imported from Korea (CBU) 2020 Hyundai Sonata in Malaysia after a few years of being absent from the market. This is launched alongside the Hyundai Kona.

The all-new Sonata is only available with a single variant with a special introductory price of RM 189,888 inclusive of tax savings for the first 50 units. The D-segment sedan competes with the likes of the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.


Video: Suzuki Swift Sport (ZC32S) Owner’s Review in Malaysia, leave it stock or mod it?

Enthusiast cars are getting rarer by the day, especially in Malaysia. We used to see a variety of brand-new hot/warm hatches being offered such as the Ford Fiesta ST or even the Suzuki Swift Sport. Now though, they are all but extinct.

Thankfully, there’s still the used car channel and myself was lucky enough to get a hold of a stock 2015 Suzuki Swift Sport - codenamed ZC32S - in manual, no less.


Starting at RM 390k, Mk8 VW Golf launched in Singapore

Image credit

The eighth-generation of Volkswagen's iconic hatchback, the Mk8 VW Golf, makes its official launch in Singapore. Two variants are available at launch, the Golf Mild Hybrid 1.5 eTSI - with three equipment packages (Life, Life Plus, and R-Line) - and the Golf GTI.
What's new outside?

Starting outside, the classic Golf body lines remain, wrapped with modern touches like LED headlights (standard across the range) in front. The Golf's distinctive C-pillar design remains very much intact when viewed sideways. Strong character lines running from front to back ensures the Mk8 Golf retains a taut, muscular presence.
What's new inside?


Spied: Geely Haoyue aka Proton X90 testing around Mid Valley

The Geely Haoyue has been spotted yet again, but this time it was testing around Mid Valley. Also known as the Geely Okavango in the Philippines and Russia, the 7-seater SUV is heavily tipped to be named the Proton X90 in Malaysia.

This latest round of spy shots was sent to our media friends Careta by reader Iz’aan Zharif. If you're wondering how to clearly tell it is the Proton X90 Careta did a comparison of the trade plates to confirm that this is indeed the same car posted by another Facebook user Akid Basarom who spotted the same SUV in Genting just 11 days ago.


Kia EV6 to make first public debut at WapCar Auto Show Exhibition this weekend

Our inaugural WapCar Auto Show Exhibition takes place this weekend (1-3 July 2022, at Pavilion Bukit Jalil) and among the many, many things to expect then, you’ll also get the exclusive chance to view the 2022 Kia EV6 as it appears in front of the Malaysian public for the first time.

The EV6 GT-Line AWD – the sole variant available here – will join the display stands alongside the Kia Carnival, as well as other models from Mazda, Peugeot, and Mercedes-Benz.


Suzuki Jimny EV confirmed; set for 2024 launch, to be joined by other new hybrid, BEV models

Suzuki has outlined their carbon neutrality plans, and as expected, showcased some of the upcoming products. It'll be a diverse range, and one of the more interesting ones is the Suzuki Jimny EV.

Should all go to plan, the fully-electric Jimny will be first unveiled for the European market in 2024. It will be introduced alongside 4 more battery-electric models for the region.


Bully driving his grandmother’s Proton X50 caught on camera giving the finger

Looks like road bullies have yet again forgotten the presence of dashcams and what charges incriminating evidence can bring upon them! A Proton X50 driver was caught on camera not only giving another road user the finger but also dangerously brake testing the individual.
In the 42 second video uploaded by user knnyshera, the grey Proton X50 was seen committing multiple road offences by first dangerously changing lanes without indicating, then trying to make a U-Turn at a junction where it is not allowed.

Kejadian siang tadi di Chemor. Kereta aku almost kena langgar dengan lori dari belakang gara gara si bodoh ni nak Uturn dekat T junction NO Uturn siap tunjuk🖕🏻Pemandu Proton X50 ABJ3 samseng dan kurang ajar 🤬 @My_CrimeWatch @PDRMsia_Trafik @MohKeIpoh @JPJ_Malaysia pic.twitter.com/QQJBRmh51P window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/22557728108/MY_Article_Middle_leaderboard_pc', [
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— kenz (@knnyshera) June 21, 2021

Although the video is muted, the uploader mentioned that they honked at the X50 hence the driver’s reaction of sticking out his hand to curse at the uploader.
To make matters worse, the uploader also noted in various social media posts that there was a heavy lorry behind them. When the X50 started brake testing them, they were worried about the lorry rear-ending their car.

UPDATE: Laporan polis telah dibuat dan mendapati pemilik kenderaan ABJ3:

KAREM JEAT KAUR A/P BHAM SINGH

NRIC: 491119085XXX

Dan pemandu merupakan cucu kepada pemilik kereta. Pelaku dipanggil ke IPD Ipoh untuk disoal disiasat. Puas hati, lain kali jangan lansi 🤬 pic.twitter.com/FXIjq02SVk
— kenz (@knnyshera) June 22, 2021

The victim has since filed a police report about the incident. Initial investigations revealed that the X50 is registered to a 68-year-old woman in Perak. At the time of the incident, it was driven by the owner’s 24-year-old grandson.
According to updates, the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) has hauled the 24-year-old up to the station for questioning.
The case is currently investigated under Section 506 of the Penal Code for threatening and intimidation without damage. If charges stick, the 24-year-old will be facing a 2-year jail sentence, fined, or both.
Also read: Honda CR-V (BMD 3787) busted on Facebook for bullying! The car-hunt is on
Update: Honda CR-V road bully surrenders himself to the police