Mitsubishi Triton VGT Athlete launched – decked out in Black

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia, the official distributor of Mitsubishi vehicles in Malaysia, officially launched the new Triton Athlete pick-up today that’s available only in Mica Black.
Power comes from the award-winning 2.4-litre MIVEC turbodiesel engine with Variable Geometry Turbo technology with an output of
178 hp
 and
430 Nm
 of torque, delivered through a 5-speed automatic transmission with Manual Mode.
The exterior receives a new front bumper garnish, new Black Grille with Honeycomb mesh, new 17-inch alloy wheels in black, a new Sports Bar and Dark Grey/Orange decal.
The front end is equipped with Auto Bi-Xenon HID headlamps, LED daytime running lights and fog lamps while over to the side, features power-adjustable side mirrors with integrated turn indicators. At the back, the Triton Athlete sports a tailgate spoiler – the only model in the Triton range to receive it.
Inside, the new Triton houses a new touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, linked to six speakers. Other notable features in the Triton’s Black Monotone interior includes paddle shifters, a push start button, a Multi-information Display in the meter panel and the 4WD Selector.
Safety wise, the Triton comes with ABS, Electronic Brake-force Distributor, Brake Assist, Active Stability Control, Traction Control, Hill-start Assist, Trailer Stability Assist, ISOFIX and a total of seven airbags.
 The new Triton Athlete is priced at RM 126,990 excluding Insurance. All Tritons except for the Triton Quest comes with a 5-year warranty or 200,000 km. The Triton Quest is safeguarded with a 5-year warranty or 100,000 km.
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Hyundai Malaysia offering up to 50% discount on genuine parts

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) is urging customers to service their vehicles exclusively at authorised Hyundai service centres to ensure that parts used in their vehicles are genuine.
This is in light of recent reports on the
sale of fake Hyundai and Kia parts by unauthorised auto parts dealers
 with some sold at the same price as the original items. The fake items seized were fast moving consumables including oil filters, air filters, brake pads and spark plugs.
Hyundai authorised service centres now offer up to
20% discount
 on selected genuine parts until
31 July 2018
. The service promotion which started on 1st June 2018 also offers
10% discount on labour costs
, a mystery gift for customers who spend RM500 and above on service, as well as a
15% discount
 for a fuel system cleaner.
As for owners of the Grand Starex Royale, there are
 discounts of up to 50%
 on genuine parts and two mystery gifts for a spend of RM500 and above on service.
With the 0% GST initiative, the
 1.6 Turbo Elantra
 now
 costs RM124,088 (OTR w/out Insurance)
.
“Service promotions such as this are meant to encourage vehicle owners to service their vehicles at Hyundai’s authorised service centres. Hyundai service personnel will then be able to examine the condition of their vehicles and authenticate the parts used if the vehicles have been serviced at unauthorised centres”, said Managing Director of Sime Darby Motors (Malaysia, Thailand and Taiwan), Mr Dennis Ho.
“Customers need to be wary of such products and they shouldn’t risk their safety by using parts that may not be genuine”, he added.
To learn about Hyundai’s sales and service promotions as well as upcoming events, customers can log on to
Hyundai Malaysia’s website
 or follow
Hyundai Malaysia’s Facebook
 page.


GoEV turns one, celebrates 500,000 km of zero-emissions travel with 70% discount

GoCar Malaysia’s
 electric vehicle (EV) car sharing fleet,
GoEV
, has just turned one-year-old. In that time, it has recorded more than 500,000 km in total distance travelled, with more than 1,000 GoCar users taking the opportunity to experience quiet, clean city driving via the GoEV option, since it was launched in the Klang Valley in December 2021.
Among those users, more than 90% of them are experiencing EVs for the first time!
So to celebrate the milestone, GoCar is offering up to 70% in savings (capped at RM80) on GoEV car sharing bookings with a special promo code
“1STGOEV”
. The limited-time promotional offer is valid only for bookings made between 12-15 December, but users have until January 31, 2023 to redeem their bookings.
Additionally, the company is also giving away 100,000 GoPocket Points, equivalent to a value of RM1,000, to 10 lucky GoCar and GoEV users.
READ MORE:
GoCar Subs adds new Sports category – Subaru BRZ, WRX from RM2,699/month!
The company has been busy expanding its GoEV Share fleet. In the one year since its launch, the fully-electric car-sharing fleet now has over 50 vehicles for both sharing and subscription options. Among those, more than 30 are the
Nissan Leaf
, littered across the 20 zones within Klang Valley that GoEV currently operates.
“The EV market in Malaysia has been gaining momentum, specifically in the development of charging infrastructure and introduction of more EV models from various car brands. However, accessibility to the masses is still a challenge. The high cost of purchasing an EV is simply not viable for most Malaysians, especially given current challenging economic conditions,” said GoCar Malaysia CEO, Wong Hoe Mun.
“GoEV addresses this gap, and we are proud to be the first car sharing platform to offer a compelling solution for EVs in Malaysia. The goal is to provide more affordable EV access to the general public so that everyone, not just the privileged few, can experience the EV lifestyle. Through our subscription model, potential EV buyers can also take advantage of GoEV for a longer-term experience before jumping on the bandwagon to buy one,” he added.
As for the normal GoEV Share service, it’s currently available only for round trips (pick-up and return at the same zone) and short-term use, with options ranging from hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly rentals. Normal rates start from RM24.90 per hour and RM249 for a day, to RM232 per day for a one-month booking.
To ease any potential range anxiety, each GoEV vehicle also comes with a
complimentary chargEV card
, giving users access to almost 300 charging stations nationwide. Charging stations at the GoEV zones are free to use for all GoEV members.
Through the recent integration with
EV Connection’s JomCharge platform
, users can also easily view charger locations, availability, and charger types within the JomCharge network directly through the GoEV app.


The new E-PACE: A new addition to the family of Jaguars

Jaguar has finally drawn the curtains on the all new E-PACE, the third SUV in the Jaguar family following the award-winning
F-PACE
 and
all-electric I-Pace
. On the surface, the E-PACE looks to have inherited the performance and stature of a Jaguar sports car but the added space and practicality of an SUV.
The E-PACE takes plenty of its design cues from the brand’s F-Type sports car, evidently through its gaping front grille and LED headlamps. Like the F-PACE, the E-PACE come with short overhangs, muscular proportions and a sleek rear end. The E-PACE is the first vehicle in its class to offer the 21-inch wheel size, all the way down to 17-inches.

For those who fancy a little more aggression on their SUV, the R-Dynamic package intensifies the bold exterior; adding more angulars to the front and rear bumper, front fog lamps, Gloss Black trims and Satin Chrome details on the front grill for a more aggressive look.
Inside, Jaguar promises a high-quality and modern cabin with a sporty impression. The geometry of the cabin gives great forward visibility and sporty ergonomics, similar to the F-Type. It’s loaded with tech too, featuring items such as the 10-inch Touch Pro infotainment system with InControl connectivity, 12.3-inch Interactive Driver Display LCD instrument cluster and full colour heads-up display.

Not forgetting that this is a family SUV, the E-PACE comes with plenty of storage compartments to store loose items alongside a grand total of nine charging points (five USB, four 12V sockets) for your devices. Seen as a vital aspect to a SUV, the E-PACE offers a generous 577 litres of boot space made possible by the vehicle’s clever Integral Link rear suspension architecture.
The E-PACE is available in five different powertrains with three diesels and two petrol engines. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium diesel engine with three different states of tune: 148 hp/380 Nm, 178 hp/430 Nm and 237 hp/500 Nm while the 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium turbo petrol outputs 246 hp/365 Nm and 247 hp/400 Nm.
All engines are mated to either an intelligent nine-speed ZF automatic or a quick-shifting six-speed manual transmission. The E-PACE models are available in front-wheel drive (the first Jaguar with FWD since the X-Type) or all-wheel drive (AWD) layouts. Its Active Driveline all-wheel drive system, a technological break-through within Jaguar, together with the system’s torque-biasing capability ensures optimal stability and dynamics with a hint of Jaguar’s unmistakable rear-wheel drive characteristic.
The E-PACE’s Configurable Dynamics would provide the driver with better controls of the vehicle with individual settings for the throttle, transmission and steering. Its Adaptive Dynamics suspension system, where fitted, goes one up by detecting the driver’s input, body and wheel movements and preemptively adjusts itself for improved agility and reduced body roll.
The new E-PACE will come with an array of driver assist technologies. They include the Forward Traffic Monitor system as part of the E-PACE’s 360-degree Surround Camera, Adaptive Driving Beam and Park Assist, a system that utilises ultrasonic sensors to measure and ensure the suitability of the parking spot before steering itself into it.
In the event of a collision, the E-PACE’s safety cell is bolstered with a total of six airbags allocated for the driver and passenger, thorax and side curtain airbags. This is also complemented with an innovative pedestrian airbag, making the E-PACE the only vehicle in its class to provide such a feature. On impact with a pedestrian at speeds between 25-50km/h, its Active Bonnet lifts and the pedestrian airbag deploys to cover the base of the windscreen within 50-60 milliseconds from beneath its trailing edge.
The airbag system, patented by Jaguar Land Rover, is supported by various other safety features including, Corner Brake Control (CBC), Roll Stability Control, Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) together Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Electronic Traction Control (ETC) and Emergency brake Assist (EBA) to name a few.
The E-PACE is a key vehicle integral to the expansion of Jaguar Land Rover’s global manufacturing footprint and together with engineering and manufacturing specialist Magna Steyr in Austria, production would be commencing in 2018.
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Volvo’s next-gen Sensus infotainment system gets integrated Google Apps

In 2017, Volvo Cars announced that they will be partnering with Google to develop a
next-generation Android-based infotainment system
. Twelve months later, the Swedish premium carmaker has released new details and a teaser video of what the new operating system can provide.
Built upon Volvos Sensus user interface, the new infotainment system gets a similar portrait layout screen – a key element as the company is working to allow existing Sensus system to be updated with the new software. Customers can expect features such as integrated voice-controlled Google Assistant, Google Play Store, Google Maps and other Google services available in their cars.
Senior Vice President of research and development at Volvo Cars, Henrik Green said: “Bringing Google services into Volvo cars will accelerate innovation in connectivity and boost our development in applications and connected services. Soon, Volvo drivers will have direct access to thousands of in-car apps that make daily life easier and the connected in-car experience more enjoyable.”
Google Assistant
 – Google’s version of Siri – allows drivers to control in-car functions such as climate controls, multimedia settings and even send messages, all by saying “Hey Google”. Volvo is also working on developing dedicated apps, software and connected services that are compatible with the new system.

The first Android-based Sensus infotainment system is due to be available on Volvo Cars “in a couple of years”, although last year Volvo announced that the system is set to debut within the next two years. Either way, it’s exciting times ahead for Volvo, question is, any chance this tech will trickle down to Proton Cars…?


Honda Malaysia launches the Accord 2.4 VTi-L with Honda SENSING

Honda Malaysia today announced that its Next Generation Advanced Safety Technology, Honda SENSING will now be available in the new Accord 2.4 VTi-L.
The launch marks the second model in Honda Malaysia’s product line equipped with Honda SENSING, following the introduction of the Honda CR-V. The 2.4 VTi-L Advance with Honda Sensing will carry forward the
same premium features
 that are currently available in the outgoing model which
we have tried and tested
 including LED front and rear lights, 7-inch Advance Display Audio with i-MID that’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible along with Honda’s LaneWatch technology.

The Honda SENSING technology in the Accord 2.4 VTi-L, like the
CR-V
, includes Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW).
In other news, sales of the Accord surpassed more than 5,500 units sold since it was launched in September 2016. The 2.4 VTi-L variant alone contributed to 25% of that figure, with the 2.0 VTi-L accounting for 61% and 14% from the 2.0 VTi variant.

As such, Honda Malaysia will be offering only two variants of the Accord from November 2017 onwards – the 2.0 VTi-L at RM 149,350 and the 2.4 VTi-L Advance with Honda SENSING at RM 169,800.
Honda Malaysia has recorded impressive sales performance this year with more than 87,800 units sold from January to October 2017. The Sport Hybrid models, the Jazz and City, have recorded more than 1,860 bookings in just five months.
Aside from anticipating the launch of the all-new Honda Civic Type R, which will take place really soon, Honda Malaysia looks to achieve its 100,000 unit sales target by the end of this year.
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The new Kia Carnival teased ahead of New York Auto Show

The Kia Carnival, also known as the Kia Sedona for the North American market, has recently been teased ahead of the New York International Auto Show.
From the looks of it, it seems like that the Carnival has matured up, and has the new trademark family face, including daytime running lights, the tiger grille, and a much sloping windscreen.
More details, like drivetrain options and trim levels are expected to be announced during the New York International Auto Show. The New York International Auto Show is happening from 18th April till 27th April. Keep an eye out for this spot.


Want to win an exclusive Bentley pen? Here’s how!

Bentley Kuala Lumpur has recently
launched the all-new Continental GT
 with a 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12 TSi engine. It produces
626 hp
 with a highly disturbing
 900 Nm
 of torque. 0 to 100 km/h takes just 3.7 seconds, onwards to a top speed of 333 km/h.
In conjunction with the recent launch, we are giving away a
Bentley ball pen worth RM 269
 and here’s how to win it! Watch our video below and answer this simple question,
“What’s special about the Continental GT’s headlamps?”
(Answer mentioned in the video).
Send your answer via PM to
AutoBuzz.my’s Facebook page
 and also tell us,
“If you had a Bentley Continental GT for a day, what would you do?”
. We will pick the most creative answer to be the winner of this exclusive Bentley merchandise. The on-going contest will end by
 9th March 2018
 and the winner can collect the prize from Bentley Kuala Lumpur.
Bentley Kuala Lumpur is also offering
28% off
 for Bentley Collection & Accessories; also ending on the
31st of March 2018
. Bentley’s showroom is located at
Etiqa Twins, 11 Jalan Pinang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur. They’re open from Monday to Friday, 9am till 6pm and Saturday 10am till 3pm.
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Video: 2019 facelift Perodua Axia, 5 Things

Aside from introducing the new 2019 facelift Axia with prices starting from RM24k, Perodua also mixed things up a little with the introduction of a
“crossover-inspired” STYLE variant
with model specific trims and a taller ride height.
By far the biggest news for the new Axia is the addition of the
Advance Safety Assist (ASA) 2.0
 which has found its way into the
Aruz
 and
Myvi
. The ASA includes Pedestrian Detection, Pre-Collision Warning, Pre-Collision Braking, Front Departure Alert and Pedal Misoperation Control.

All variants, including the STYLE model, is fitted with the same 1.0-litre VVT-i engine producing
68 hp
 and
91 Nm
 of torque. The entry-level E variant is the only model with a
5-speed manual
 option while the rest are only available with a 4-speed automatic gearbox.
With more than 5,000 bookings made even before its public reveal, the Perodua Axia will be looking to maintain its status as the best-selling A-segment hatchback in Malaysia.
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Own a new Audi A3 1.4 TFSI from just RM999 a month with 1.18% interest!

Audi Malaysia’s new financing plan, the Audi Progressive Financing Plan is here, and prospective owners can look forward to purchasing the entry-level A3 from just RM999 a month, whereas the
A6 1.8 TFSI
 can be yours for just RM1,700!
How does it work? Let’s take the Audi A3 1.4 TFSI (retails at RM186,900 without insurance and road tax) for example, with a loan period of seven years:
7-Year Tenure
Interest Rate
2.08%
1st Year
RM999 monthly
2nd Year
RM1,600 monthly
3rd Year
RM1,600 monthly
4th Year
RM2,650 monthly
5th Year
RM2,650 monthly
6th Year
RM3,410 monthly
7th Year
RM3,410 monthly
Final Instalment
RM283.38
Yes, monthly repayment increases over the years, and there’s a reason it’s called the Progressive Financing Plan. However, the interest rate differs depending on the loan tenure; a five-year loan has an interest rate of
1.18 percent
, whereas a nine-year loan gets slapped with
2.38 percent
– both with their own instalment figures, of course.
Managing Director of Audi Malaysia, Immo Buschmann said, “Owning an Audi has never been easier with this new financing package, which provides preferred interest rates of as low as 0.98 percent per annum, greater flexibility to manage your cash flow and an accessible entry point to Audi’s entire range of progressive vehicles.”
The
second-generation Audi Q7 3.0 TFSI
 can be yours from RM3,100 a month!
Almost all models
 offered in Malaysia can be purchased via the new financing plan, but only limited to purchases made between 1 March to 30 April 2016. This financing package is brought to you by Audi Malaysia and Audi Capital Advisory, a division of Volkswagen Capital Advisory. For more info, visit your nearest authorised Audi showroom or simply
visit their website
 to find the Audi of your dreams!


New 2021 Mitsubishi Xpander facelift unveiled – CVT gearbox, redesigned interior!

Four years since the
Xpander
 was first unveiled at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS), Mitsubishi has now given the seven-seater MPV/crossover its (technically) second facelift – although calling it just a facelift discounts what Mitsubishi has done on the model!
As we’ve already seen from the
teaser last week
, the new 2021 Mitsubishi Xpander receives a reworked front fascia, headlined by the new T-shaped headlight enclosures that’s placed low within the bumper, replacing the trapezoidal units in the
pre-facelift model
.
The LED positioning and daytime-running lights above remain unchanged from before, although the grille elements have now been cleaned up with new, cleaner gloss black slats that join the two “brows” together.
Further down, the skid plate elements on the bumper have been reworked with a cleaner yet sophisticated look – now featuring a single wide intake as opposed to the original four, joining the foglamps together.
RELATED: The Mitsubishi Xpander is now Indonesia’s best-selling car
The same motif is also repeated on the rear bumpers, with a significantly cleaner design, while the main LED tail lamp assemblies receive a new T-shaped light signature, joined by new LED-illuminated third brake lights positioned within the roof spoiler. As for the wheels, the range-topping trim level gets new 17-inch two-toned machine alloys.
In addition to just equipment updates and surface redesign, the new 2021 Mitsubishi Xpander also gets slight revisions to its proportions, with an increase of 75 mm on its front overhang and 45 mm at the rear, apparently for a more “high-class feel” per the Japanese carmaker.
Its ride height have also been increased by 15 to 20 mm (depending on variant), thus giving it a ground clearance of 220 to 225 mm – supposedly the highest in its class, giving it better off-road performance.
Mechanically, the biggest update on the new Mitsubishi Xpander is the adoption of a new CVT gearbox for improved fuel consumption, in place of the ancient four-speed box from the pre-facelift model.
The 1.5-litre inline-four mill remains unchanged with
105 hp
 and
141 Nm
 of torque, although it has been fitted with a new external exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system to further help with fuel efficiency.
Other driving-related upgrades include a new front strut mount with improved rigidity, and larger cylinders (with new high-performance damper valves) have been fitted on the rear dampers to help improve ride quality.
The Mitsubishi Xpander facelift will also come with a Hybrid variant in the future! Read more here.
Moving inside, Mitsubishi has given the new 2021 Xpander a reworked dashboard with a more horizontal design motif to add visual width within the cabin, and a touch of class when paired to the beige leather upholstery and trims.
Equipment wise, the central touchscreen is now upsized to nine inches in diameter (same size as the Malaysian-specification Xpander), while the air-conditioning controls now get a digital unit (although still manual), replacing the pre-facelift model’s rotary controls.
Also new here is the electric parking brake, replacing the old-school hand lever on the pre-facelift model – which, in addition to freeing up space on the centre console, also gives the Mitsubishi Xpander a new automatic brake hold function.
With more space on the centre console now, Mitsubishi saw fit to add a larger open tray to fit your smartphones, while higher-end trims also get a new armrest with a storage bin underneath that can house up to four 600 ml bottles.
Other additions in terms of conveniences include new Type C USB ports at the back of the centre consoles (for models with a centre armrest), and new cupholders in the second-row seat armrest.
The new 2021 Mitsubishi Xpander will be manufactured at the Mitsubishi Motors-Krama Yudha plant in Bekasi, West Java in Indonesia, and will first go on sale in Indonesia ahead of being rolled out for other markets in the ASEAN region – Hopefully not too long of a wait for it to be locally-assembled and launched here in Malaysia!


2022 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid CKD features and specs detailed!

UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has provided the full features and specifications of the upcoming 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid 1.8 prior to its official launch
this Friday
. So without further ado, let’s dive right into to it!
Thailand model shown.
Exterior wise, the
locally-assembled
 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid will feature the same 18-inch wheels and bumpers as the regular petrol variant of 1.8V. The only differentiating factor are the blue highlights on the LED headlamps and Toyota oval logos, alongside the ‘HYBRID’ emblems on the front fenders and tailgate.
Standard equipments on the outside are similar to the 1.8 V variant, with factory-fit items including bi-LED headlamps, LED tail lamps, 18-inch alloys, handsfree powered tailgate, roof rails (rated to hold 70 kg of load), and rain-sensing automatic wipers. The Hybrid variant does however get an exclusive colour, called Celestite Grey Metallic.
Thailand model shown.
As for the hybrid system, the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is powered by a
98 hp / 142 Nm
 naturally aspirated 1.8-litre (2ZR-FXE) paired to a sophisticated dual-motor-generator setup (72 hp / 163 Nm) with a power-split device (PSD) that functions as an electronic continuously variable transmission (ECVT).
The combined system output is
122 hp
whilst seen to officially return fuel consumption of 4.3 litres per 100 km or
23.3 km/L
under ECE R101 test cycle. The powertrain first appeared in the fourth-generation Toyota Prius. Find out why the output is lower than the 1.8G and V variant’s 139 hp as well as the difference compared to Honda’s e:HEV system
here.

Inside, the Hybrid gains a new 7-inch digital driver’s instrument cluster, alongside dual-zone air-conditioning system, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Paired with the Hybrid powertrain is also a Sport, Eco or Normal drive mode switch plus a dedicated EV (electric vehicle) mode – Although, being a self-charging hybrid with a small high-voltage battery, the electric range is limited to one to two kilometres.
Other interior items are shared with the other variants, including black leather upholstery, powered driver’s seat, rear ventilation duct, 60:40-split rear seat with recline function, sliding front armrest, and front driving video recorder (DVR), and the nine-inch touchscreen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Hybrid variant only gets slightly different carpets and a blue Smart Start switch.
Thailand model shown.
In an
earlier announcement
, UMWT has already said that the Hybrid variant will also be equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense advanced safety assistance pack, with standard features including the Pre-collision System (autonomous emergency braking), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, and Automatic High Beam.
The Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and Lane Tracing Assist features meanwhile have been enhanced in the CKD variants of the Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8V and Hybrid 1.8 to operate at all speed ranges, unlike the earlier version that only activates from 30 km/h.
Pricing for the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid 1.8 is placed at an
estimated RM137,000
 – actual figures will have to wait until the launch this Friday. UMWT is also offering an eight-year unlimited mileage warranty on the hybrid electrical components, which includes the battery, inverter and power management control unit. Customers can even extend it for an additional two years for an estimated RM2,950.


Hyundai expands sales and service network to Butterworth

Hyundai has recently expanded its sales and service network in the northern region, with the opening of a new 3S Centre by CS Euro Auto in Butterworth, Penang.
The new 3S Centre will join two other Hyundai 3S Centre in the state of Penang. Located strategically in Butterworth, the new 3S centre aims to service Hyundai customers from the Penang island, as well as neighbouring vicinities such as Bukit Mertajam, Kulim, Prai and Nibong Tebal.
Measuring
14,480 square feet
, CS Euro’s 3S Centre, built upon Hyundai’s Global Dealership Space Identity (GDSI), houses a showroom,
six servicing bays
, as well as a spare parts centre once renovation works are completed.
Services offered by the new 3S Centre in Butterworth include Quick Service, shuttle service for customers, as well as a lounge with free WiFi access for waiting customers.
CS Euro has eight years of dealership experience in the past with European and American carmakers. Hyundai is committed to expanding their dealership and service network with experienced dealers to ensure quality of service.
Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors Managing Director, Low Yuan Lung said, “Offering premium service quality is our ultimate aim and we will continue to work on that by establishing partnerships with experienced dealers.”
The Hyundai Butterworth 3S centre is located at
77, Tingkat Bagan Jermal, 12300 Butterworth, Malaysia
. Showroom is open daily from
9 am to 6 pm
, while the service centre operates from
9 am to 6 pm
 from
Mondays to Saturdays
.
In conjunction with the grand opening, all service customers at the new 3S Centre will be offered a
10% discount
 on labour and parts, as well as a mystery gift. Customers can call
04-3318 001
 for sales enquiries, or
04-3317 001
 to book a service.


The Lucid Air can apparently charge up to 482 km in just 20 minutes

While range anxiety is still the most commonly-quoted factor against electric vehicles, the fact that you’ll have to sit at the charging station for an extended time during your journey (not taking into account if charging infrastructure even exists at all) definitely rustled more than a few jimmies too.
Well, Lucid Motors is claiming to have eased the pain of EV ownership – or at least a couple of annoyances – with its new
Lucid Air
, particularly its new fast-charging capabilities of up to
482 km (
300 miles
) in just 20 minutes
, at a peak charging rate of over 300 kW or
32.2 km (
20 miles
) per minute
.
For context, that’s approximately the distance between Kuala Lumpur and the Bukit Kayu Hitam Thai border checkpoint in just 20 minutes of charging time. Bonkers stuff.
The Lucid Air achieves that thanks to its “ultra-high”
900V+ electrical architecture
, custom lithium-ion battery cells, custom battery and thermal managements system, as well as the efficiency of the powertrain itself – a more efficient motor means more mileage from the same amount of electricity.
Additionally, the Air’s ‘Wunderbox’ on-board charging unit also uses the universal Combined Charging System (CCS) connectors, opening up the possibility to charge at all public charging infrastructure, including the growing list of 350kW DC fast-charging stations (in the United States, at least) which helped Lucid achieve that incredible figure.
For comparison, Tesla’s Superchargers can provide up to 250 kW of energy, which according to
Inside EVs
, equate to about 24.1 km (15 miles) per minute, five less than Lucid’s claim.
As an extra slap in the face to
Tesla
, Lucid also claims that its Air has a
range of 832 km (517 miles) from a single charge
, making it the longest-range EV right now, and beating out the

Model S
 Long Range Plus’ 647 km (402 miles).
The Air beats the Teslas even during home charging, thanks to its 19.2kW AC onboard charger that supports charging speeds of up to 128.7 km (80 miles) per hour. Tesla’s Level 2 home chargers output at a maximum of 11.5 kW, translating to 71 km (44 miles) of range per hour of charging on the Tesla Model 3.
With the Lucid Connected Home Charging Station, which is one of the first AC charging stations with bi-directional charging, the Lucid Air can even be used as a temporary energy reserve to power their homes in the event of blackouts, or power your off-grid vacation homes.
Based on numbers alone, the Lucid Air could actually mount a proper challenge against Tesla’s domination in the EV sphere. But frankly, we’ve said the same thing to too many contenders already, yet none have really made any sizeable impact yet. Perhaps, numbers alone can’t do the trick…


All-new Lexus NX detailed, plenty of new technologies and horsepower

The all-new Lexus NX has been launched over the weekend and while it looks like the current generation, it shares nothing with it.
Built on the new GA-K platform that also underpins the Lexus ES 250, the all-new NX is about an inch larger in all dimensions except height which is increased by just 5 mm. Lexus seems to have paid particular attention to the rear axle though, as the
rear track is now 59 mm wider
 than before, promising better handling and stability.
The F Sport variant will gain different bumpers, spindle grille design and coloured wheel arches. At the rear, the taillamp runs across the width of the car joined by large L-shaped lamps, a design that first appeared in the smaller
Lexus UX
.
Inside, the second-generation Lexus NX has its dashboard layout based on the Tazuna concept that was used in the
Lexus LF-30 Concept
 car of 2019. Unlike the growing number of one-piece
curved displays
, Lexus is employing the traditional meter hood and separated infotainment display, measuring a whopping 14 inches in size.
Lexus has applied an anti-reflective coating to the windshield as well as glare-reducing technology in the display screen plus a processor 3.6 times faster than the outgoing unit for the clearest images in all lighting conditions. Air-conditioning control is also placed in the large display, with rather fancy looking temperature dial-switches.
The new infotainment system called Lexus Link now functions more like a smartphone, with voice recognition, over-the-air updates (OTA) as well as cloud navigation via the data communication module. The also means the removal of the Lexus trace-pad controller, uncreatively turned into large cupholders in the lower console of the new Lexus NX.
Another new technology in the Lexus NX is the
e-latch electronic door release system
, in which the humble interior door handle has been changed to an electronic switch. Lexus has also paired this with the Safe Exit Assist, where the opening of doors is being monitored by the Blind-Spot Monitoring system, to ensure occupants do no open the door into oncoming vehicles including bicycles.
At launch, the all-new Lexus NX will be available in four different powertrain options, none of them carried over from the previous generation. The NX 250 will be powered by a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated engine delivering
199 hp
 that is also currently serving the
Lexus ES 250
.
The ‘8AR’ turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine has been replaced by a new 2.4-litre unit, with outputs of
279 hp
 and
430 Nm
 of torque. Both of these non-electrified engines will be paired with a new Direct Shift eight-speed automatic transmission.
A new all-wheel drive with different torque split for the two engine outputs will also be available, with the turbocharged engine gaining a ‘full-time’ AWD system that has a default front-to-rear split of 75:25.
Lexus has also focused more on the electrified variants of the all-new NX due to strong demand. The Lexus NX 350h features the fourth-generation Lexus hybrid system that combines the new 2.5-litre Dynamic Force engine and more powerful and efficient electric motors.
Power is up 22% from the old 2AR unit, escalating to
242 hp
 and improving 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time to 7.7 seconds. Headlining the all-new NX is
Lexus’ first plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV)
 model, the NX 450h+.
The powertrain of the NX 450h+ combines an upgraded version of the naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre engine from the hybrid model with a significant amount of punch from two electric motors and a large lithium-ion battery. With the total system output of
306 hp
, it sends the Lexus NX 450h+ from
0 to 100 km/h in just over six seconds
.
Thanks to an 18.1 kWh battery pack, the electric driving range is 63 km and able return a fuel economy of under 3 L/100 km under WLTP standards. All these figures sound rather similar as Toyota launched the
RAV4 Prime Plug-in Hybrid
 with the same powertrain early last year in the US and Europe.
Lexus says, thanks to the usage of the highly efficient hybrid engine, the NX 450h+ is expected to be as much as 20% better fuel consumption than competitors when the lithium-ion battery pack is depleted.
Similar to the
new Lexus IS
, the subjective aspect of driving operation has been fined tuned and honed at the new Lexus Shimoyama Proving Ground.
Gone are the days where the new technology is only made available in the flagship LS limousine. For the safety systems, the new Lexus NX will be the first model to feature the third generation of Lexus Safety System+. Pre-Collision System is now capable of detecting solid objects such as trees, walls and utility poles in the car’s path.
Emergency Steering Assist will intervene if a high risk of collision is detected with oncoming traffic or crossing pedestrians when making a right turn at a junction. Front Cross-Traffic Alert meanwhile assist to notify the driver of approaching vehicles where visibility at the junction is hindered such as narrow back lanes.
Users in Japan, the US and China will also be able to use their smartphone as a digital smart key for the new NX, which can be extended to be a remote control to park the car (in tight spaces) while standing outside.
GALLERY
2021 LEXUS NX F SPORT
2021 LEXUS NX
2021 LEXUS NX – TECHNICAL


The wait is over – here are the refreshed Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia has just welcomed a host of new offspring in the form of the Golf 1.4 TSI, Golf GTI and Golf R. The 1.4 TSI comes in two forms – the Sportline and the R-Line.
Priced at
RM 239,990
, the
Volkswagen

Golf GTI
 is powered by a 2.0-litre TSI direct injection engine with an output of
 227 hp
 and
350 Nm
. Power is delivered through a 6-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission where 0 to 100 km/h is done in just 6.4 seconds before it maxes out at 248 km/h.
The Golf GTI comes with Adaptive Chassis Control (DCC) with an electronically-controlled damping system with Driving Mode Selection – ECO, Comfort, Normal, Sport and Individual.
Standard exterior equipment includes Dynamic Cornering Light, Dynamic Light Assist, daytime running lights and LED low and high beam. The MK 7.5 GTI brings about new changes like the redesigned front apron with a new honeycomb design for the radiator grille and air intakes, 18-inch Milton Keynes alloy wheels and full LED tail lights with Dynamic Indicators. The new MK 7.5 GTI retains the hallmark red strip across the front grille, GTI logo by the fenders, a front splitter and a roof spoiler.
Inside, the GTI is fitted with a 12.3-inch Active Info Display that offer five different views, a new 8-inch touchscreen “Discover Media” infotainment system linked to 8-speakers alongside navigation features, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, MirrorLink, Driving Mode Selection and a Performance Monitor. Also new to the interior is the GTI “Vienna” perforated leather upholstery with red linings.
Volkswagen Golf R
Priced at
RM 295,990
, the Golf R takes performance to another level with
286 hp
 and
380 Nm
 from its 2.0-litre engine paired with a 7-speed DSG transmission. Off the line, the Golf R will take just 5.1 seconds to a 100 km/h before it hits an electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h. Unlike the GTI, the Golf R gets power funneled to all corners through the 4MOTION all-wheel drive system with Adaptive Chassis Control also as standard.
The refreshed Golf R comes with a new bumper, redesigned lower intake grille and new Advanced Adaptive LED headlamps with dynamic light assist. The back end features new LED tail lights, a new rear diffuser and 19-inch Spielberg/Pretoria alloys.
Inside, the R gets “Vienna” R leather upholstery, R Sports steering, a 9.2-inch touchscreen Discover Pro infotainment system (with gesture control function), illuminated scuff plates and also a 12.3-inch Active Info Display virtual instrument cluster.
Both models come with seven airbags as standard and are covered by VPCM’s a five-year factory warranty with five years of free roadside assistance.
IMAGE GALLERY
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI


All-new Honda CR-V launched in Malaysia, 4 variants, from RM143k to RM168k!

Every single model currently sold by Honda Malaysia is a segment leader. Every single one, except the CR-V, but all that is about to change.
Honda Malaysia aims to reclaim its position as market leader in the C-segment SUV category with the long awaited
fifth-generation Honda CR-V
. Packed with Honda’s latest technologies, powertrain and an irresistible price tag, the all-new CRV is ready to make a striking comeback.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Honda CR-V 2.0L 2WD
Honda CR-V 1.5TC 2WD
Honda CR-V 1.5TC 4WD
Honda CR-V 1.5TC-P 2WD
Engine
1,997cc; 4-cylinder SOHC i-VTEC
1,498cc; 4-cylinder DOHC VTEC Turbo
Transmission
Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT)
Max Power
152 hp @ 6,500 rpm
190 hp @ 5,600 rpm
Max Torque
189 Nm @ 4,300 rpm
243 Nm @ 2,000 – 5,000 rpm
0 – 100 km/h; Top Speed
11.3 seconds; 193 km/h
8.8 seconds; 200 km/h
9.2 seconds; 200 km/h
8.8 seconds; 200 km/h
Price (OTR without insurance)
RM142,400
RM155,700
RM161,600
RM167,700
The all-new CR-V has grown in every dimension, measuring at 4,584 mm in length, 1,855 mm in width, 1,679 mm in height and 2,660 mm in wheelbase. The increased dimensions translate to a more spacious interior.
EXTERIOR
As standard, all variants of the CR-V are equipped with full LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights, LED fog lamps, powered folding side mirrors with turning lights, tailgate spoiler, smart keyless entry with walkaway lock and LED tail lamps. Curiously, automatic wiper is omitted on the 2.0L 2WD. Only the top spec 1.5TC-P gets auto high beam and active cornering lights.

The entry level CR-V rides on 17-inch alloys wrapped in 235/65 profile tyres while the turbo variants ride on 18-inch dual tone alloys wrapped in 235/60 profile tyres. All variants of the CR-V get a full size spare wheel.
INTERIOR
Honda’s flagship SUV are all generously equipped. It starts with leather upholstery, wood interior garnish (silver on the 2.0L), leather wrapped multifunctional steering wheel with paddle shifters, full colour LCD instrument cluster, keyless start, 8-way powered driver seats, 4-way powered front passenger seats, electric parking brake with auto hold, 7.0-inch Advanced Display Audio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, eight speakers, dual-zone climate control, rear air-vents, powered tailgate and two rear USB charging port.

Thanks to its larger dimensions, Honda knee room is lengthened by a whopping 90mm for the rear passengers. Boot space is rated at
522 litres
 and with the rear seats folded down (one touch folding function), it will swallow up to 1,084 litres of cargo.
PERFORMANCE
Honda Malaysia is offering two engine choices for the CR-V: a 2.0-litre four-cylinder SOHC i-VTEC with
152 hp/189 Nm
 and a 1.5-litre four-cylinder DOHC VTEC Turbo with
190 hp/243 Nm
. Drive is sent to either the front-wheels or all four-wheels via a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), which is the same transmission as the
Civic FC Turbo
 albeit with a different tuning.
Century sprint, if you intend to take your prized SUV to the drag strip, is done in
11.3 seconds
 for the naturally aspirated mill while the blown motor takes
8.8 seconds
 (4WD slower at 9.2 seconds). Top speed is rated at
193 km/h
 for the 2.0L while the 1.5L turbo maxes out at
200 km/h
.
SAFETY
On the safety front, the CR-V is the first Honda model sold in Malaysia to come with
Honda Sensing
. This next-generation Advanced Safety Technology bundles Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Low-Speed Follow (LSF), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) and Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS). Honda Sensing helps the driver to reduce or completely negate the likelihood of a collision as well as semi-autonomous driving in traffic.
Unfortunately, Honda Sensing is reserved for the most expensive 1.5TC-P variant. However, all of them are equipped with safety features expected from vehicles of this class, which includes six airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with Agile Handling Assist (AHA), ABS, Brake Assist (BA) with EBD, Hill Start Assist (HSA), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), front and rear parking sensors and reversing camera.
WHAT ELSE?
The CR-V is available in five exterior shades – Obsidian Blue Pearl, Dark Olive Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic, Lunar Silver Metallic and White Orchid Pearl. All purchases of the CR-V come with 5-Years unlimited mileage warranty. A range of Honda genuine accessories – Aero Kit, Urban Package, Utility Package and Window film are available as an added option.
IMAGE GALLERY
Honda CR-V 1.5TC-P 2WD

Honda CR-V 1.5TC 2WD


Watch Maria Sharapova scare Mark Webber in the Porsche 911 GT2 RS

If you’re the type to cringe when someone holds the steering wheel wrongly then letting a complete novice drive you real quickly in a monster of a supercar can be the scariest thing to do.
So here’s how former F1 driver Mark Webber reacted being in the passenger seat with tennis darling, Maria Sharapova, behind the wheel of the unforgiving
Porsche 911 GT2 RS
.
With a 3.8-litre twin turbo flat six, making a dizzying
 700 hp
 and
750 Nm
 of torque, almost 100 hp more than its predecessor, the 911 GT2 RS is the most powerful 911 ever made.
Blistering past the 100 km/h mark from standstill in just 2.7 seconds, the 911 GT2 RS was not only confirmed as the fastest road-legal 911 but the
fastest RWD sportscar to lap the famed Nurburging
.
Credit:
YouTube
IMAGE GALLERY


These were once the most expensive wheels in the world, at RM8 million a set!

The car customisation culture is a vast and extensive one. While some take pride in the race decals on their A to B workhorses, some take to performance upgrades for their need for speed.
Some, however, perceive it as a means of portraying wealth and when that happens, even the sky isn’t the limit. These wheels by
Asanti Wheels
 based in the United States, made over 10 years ago, took car customisation to a level no normal human being can comprehend.
The first set consisted of 22-inch custom 3-piece forged wheels where each featured
12,000 diamonds and 800 sapphires
, totaling 1,100 carats of precious stones. The stones were said to be meticulously placed by world-renowned jeweller, IceLink.
Each of these diamond/sapphire-encrusted wheels costs USD250,000 (approximately RM1 million) then, for a cool total of
RM4 million (approx.) a set!
For that money, you’re not only buying a set of wheels, as Asanti also threw in
a new Bentley Continental GT
 and round-clock-security on the rims for a full year!
The next set – one that completely redefines the word “excess” – was from the Asanti AFS 103 Series. It had an asking price of
USD2 million dollars a set (approx. RM8 million)
 – making it the world’s most expensive set of wheels at the time.
The wheels are only available from a minimum size of 30-inches, all the way to 34-inches where each was inlaid with
26,000 diamonds and 1,200 sapphires
.
It’s uncertain if Asanti still makes these wheels, but surely, there must be better ways to spend USD2 million, even if money is no object.


Highway toll plazas closed as police clamp down on MCO

As the Movement Control Order (MCO) enters its second week, authorities have ramped up their enforcement to restrict crowd movement by ordering for the closure of toll booths and limit those passing through, according to a report by
Malay Mail
.
Based on circulars distributed by two highway concessionaires, several interstate tolls plazas and those along intercity expressways will be closed effective today, in an effort to curb outgoing traffic from major districts and towns.
The closures have been
ordered by the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM)
, according to the circular distributed by PLUS Highway.
Mandatory U-Turns
 have been implemented at the closed toll plazas.
As for those that will remain open, traffic will be
converged to one single lane
 where
police checks
 will be conducted. Vehicles will only be allowed through
based on police discretion
. These measures will be in place
 until the end of the MCO period.
The affected PLUS toll plazas are as follows:
– Plaza Tol Jalan Duta – Traffic diverted to single lane
– Plaza Tol Sungai Besi – Traffic diverted to single lane
– Plaza Tol Skudai – Closed, mandatory U-Turn
– Plaza Tol Ayer Keroh – Closed, mandatory U-Turn
– Plaza Tol Pedas Linggi – Closed, mandatory U-Turn
– Plaza Tol Kuala Kangsar – Southbound closed
PLUS also said that the highway along the elevated Tapah turn-off (KM326.8) would be closed off, affecting those looking to travel from Ipoh to Bidor.
Seperately, Highway Concessionaire LITRAK has also announced closures for the Pantai Toll Plaza A along the Kerinchi Link, for both northbound and southbound traffic.
“However, highway users can still use the Pantai Toll Plaza (B) to get to their destination,” read LITRAK’s statement.


BMW’s new Regional Distribution Centre in Korea costs RM496 million

BMW Group Korea has just opened its doors to the world’s largest BMW Regional Distribution Centre after Munich in Anseong, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. It is strategically located 80 km south of Seoul and will service key markets in the Asia-Pacific region such as China, Japan and Malaysia.
The Korean ₩130 billion (RM496 million) investment covers a total area of 14 acres, comprised of a total of six buildings including the main warehouse, three storage areas, a welcome house and a security building. A total of 600 new jobs is expected to be generated to support the facility.
It is capable of storing up to 75,000 units of parts and has a parts loading rate of 75 percent, ensuring that they are swiftly delivered to each dealership. Customers can expect shorter waiting periods for their parts to arrive as BMW prioritises their same-day delivery services.
BMW Group Korea will also be adopting the Eurasian railway line (connects Asia to Europe) once operations begin in 2019. This is similar to what Volvo is doing,
using railway lines as one of their transportation links
.
With the world’s second largest BMW Regional Distribution Centre (in addition to BMW Group Malaysia’s
Regional Parts Distribution Centre (PDC) in Senai
), BMW customers in the APAC region can expect even shorter lead times for their BMW parts.


Daniel Ricciardo just had one of those days like the rest of us

The Azerbaijan F1 Grand Prix – with its 2 km long main straight
and mind-bogglingly narrow sections – served up its annual dose of excitement
on Sunday. And while the results were familiar (yes, another Mercedes-AMG one-two),
there were no lack of overtaking and on-track skirmishes.
But one instance stood out in a most bizarre manner when Daniel Ricciardo of Renault F1, while attempting to get back on the circuit after overrunning the tight Turn 3, reversed into his ex-Red Bull teammate Daniil Kyvat (now driving for Torro Rosso) before checking his mirrors.

Crunch! That’s how on-track souvenirs are made (click to watch on YouTube).
The seemingly low speed impact was innocuous-looking enough and generated a few pieces of carbon fibre as souvenirs for the marshals, but it also meant an early bath for Honey Badger, as the gutsy Ricciardo is fondly known and Daniil Kyvat a.k.a. Torpedo, who for once found himself at the receiving end of errant driving usually associated with the Russian.
Aside from yet another DNF for Ricciardo (this makes 3 out of 4 races so far) in what is turning out to be a rough start at Renault, he will be penalised three grid slots in the next grand prix at Barcelona, Spain for the embarrassing manoeuvre.
Watch his reaction here
, we think we know how the Aussie feels.


Nissan Serena NISMO goes on sale in Japan, gets full NISMO treatment!

The all-new
fifth-generation Nissan Serena
 was unveiled last year and NISMO, Nissan’s official tuning arm has gotten their hands on one of these MPVs and given it their renowned NISMO treatment. Yes, ladies and gents, the Nissan Serena NISMO is real and has just gone on sale in Japan.
NISMO did not just slap on a body kit and called it a day, much has been done to the chassis to give the car a more exhilarating driving experience without compromising on comfort and convenience. At a glance, the Serena NISMO gets custom front grille, new front bumper with air ducts, new rear bumpers with diffuser inserts and even a custom rear spoiler.

Other than the additional NISMO emblems and red stripes another obvious sign that this is no ordinary Serena are those custom 17-inch five twin-spoke NISMO alloys wrapped in 205/50 profile
Bridgestone Potenza Adrenalin RE003
 high-performance tyres. It also rides on a set of custom suspension tuned for maximum handling performance and long-distance comfort.
If you think the exterior kit is a little over the top for a family MPV, wait till you see the interior. NISMO has fitted the Serena with Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel,
RECARO sports front seats
, NISMO instrument cluster and red contrast stitching. Fortunately, NISMO has retained all the creature comfort items such as power sliding doors, touchscreen infotainment and air conditioning.

Mechanically, the Serena NISMO retains its 2.0-litre MR20DD four-cylinder twin-CVTC paired to an X-Tronic CVT. Except here, NISMO has retuned the ECU, electric power steering and Vehicle Dynamics Control for punchier acceleration and a more engaging drive. Coupled that with the
NISMO sports-tuned muffler
, you have a full fledge NISMO model. The company did not reveal its figures but expect the hotter model to better the factory’s 144 hp and 210 Nm of torque.
The Nissan Serena NISMO retains its
ProPilot semi-autonomous driving technology
 and retails for ¥3.4 million (RM126k) in Japan. Locally, the fifth-gen Nissan Serena has yet to make its debut but when the time comes, we have a feeling that Edaran Tan Chong may just offer the NISMO package.
IMAGE GALLERY


This Hyundai Kite is every Hot Wheels enthusiast’s dream car

Hyundai recently premiered the Hyundai Kite – a two-seater dune buggy concept vehicle that’s able to convert into a single-seater jet ski that looks like an enlarged version of a Hot Wheels diecast.
The Hyundai Kite was created by 15 transportation design master’s course students from Istituto Europeo di Design (IED), a renowned Italian design school, in a second collaboration with Hyundai Design Centre Europe.
Their previous collaboration in 2014 resulted in the creation of the
PassoCorto, an ultra-lightweight sports car concept
.
The Hyundai Kite is a doorless, roofless and windowless vehicle that can be used on the road and on water. It consist of a monocoque chassis and is designed to project freedom and a floating impression, connecting to the idea of spending leisure time near the water.
It’s got a steering that’s shiftable from left to right, O.Z Racing wheels, SABELT seat belts and plug-in charging features.
The Kite is powered purely by electric with four brushless motors placed inside the wheels and a water jet turbine for travelling on water. The Hyundai Kite’s human-car interaction will be controlled by the user’s mobile phone to offer customers intuitive control over all the car’s functions.
IMAGE GALLERY


Lamborghini donates Huracan to Pope Francis, to be auctioned off for charity

A one-off Lamborghini Huracan RWD LP580-2 was donated to Pope Francis to pay homage to Vatican City – home to the pope and headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Huracan was conceptualised by Ad Personam – Lamborghini’s customisation department. To pay tribute to the Vatican City flag, the Huracan is painted in Bianco Monocerus (White) with Giallo Tiberino (Yellow stripes) accents around the silhouette of the car.

Before you get all green-eyed, the Pope
will not
 be rolling around in a 5.2-litre naturally-aspirated V10 rear-wheel drive supercar, instead the “symbolic” Huracan will be auctioned off on 12th May 2018 and all proceeds will be
 donated to charity
.
The Pope has decided that the proceeds will go to –  the reconstruction of Nineveh Plain; Pope John XXIII Community, an NGO dedicated to helping trafficked women and two Italian associations in supporting women and children in need aid initiatives in Africa. For the record, the retail price of a Huracan LP580-2 Coupe in Europe starts from €150,000 (RM738k) before options.
IMAGE GALLERY


Volvo announces global recall due to faulty AEB software, 1,802 affected in Malaysia

Volvo Cars has announced a recall globally affecting more than 700,000 cars, due to an issue with the software related to the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) safety system.
According to a
 document
 filed to the United States national automotive safety board NHTSA, the recall involves almost all modern Volvo models (S60, V60, V60 Cross Country, S90L, V90, V90 Cross Country, XC40, XC60, XC90)
manufactured between 9th November 2018 and 11th March 2020
.
The issue was first discovered by
Danish motoring group FDM
 during a large-scale test of automated advanced driver assistance systems, when a XC60 consistently
failed to automatically apply the brakes
 during one of their tests.
After investigations by Volvo, it was revealed that the software was incompatible with newer hardware used in units produced after the fourth week of 2019, causing the AEB system to not function as intended in certain situations and in certain temperatures.
Volvo reassures that the regular braking system is not affected by this defect, and therefore the cars are still safe to operate. Thus far, there are no reports of incidents or accidents related to the issue.
Locally, Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) stated that
1,802 units of
XC40
,
S60
,
XC60
,
S90
 and
XC90
 models are affected by this recall. Owners of cars affected by this recall are now being contacted by VCM to have their cars corrected free of charge, via an
update of a corrected software
.


You probably shouldn’t drive the Bugatti Chiron Noire at night

Back in March, Bugatti built an one-off
 Bugatti La Voiture Noire
 (which means “the black car” in French, by the way) as a tribute to the all-black Type 57 SC from the 1930s. While that one-of-one specimen was sold for 11 million Euros, the demand was so great that Bugatti has brought the design over to the
Chiron
 as a limited edition, with only 20 ever to be made.
Two versions of the Chiron Noire will be available – Elegance and Sportive. The Chiron Noire Elegance features an exposed carbon fibre bodywork, while the C-shaped Bugatti signature line, which is milled from solid metal, gets a matte polished aluminium finish. The Bugatti emblem is finished in black enamel, and the radiator grille gets a new mesh design.
The black theme continues inside the cabin, with only the “Inner Signature Line”, finished in silk-matte aluminium, interrupting the darkness within. Customary Noire badging is found throughout the interior, while a carbon fibre “Noire” badge is inlaid in the centre armrest.
If you think that’s still not sinister enough, the Sportive takes the term all-black to a whole other level. The carbon fibre bodywork is now covered in a matte-black finish, as well as all exterior trim items such as the signature line, wheels, as well as the titanium quad-tailpipes.
The inside of the Chiron Noire Sportive feels almost as if Bugatti had a paint job accident, as even the rotary switches, push buttons, steering wheel, and door handles are all dipped in matte black paint.
The Chiron Noire still retains its 8.0-litre 16-cylinder engine, pushing out a mind-boggling
1,500 hp
 and
1,600 Nm
 of torque. Zero to 100 km/h takes just
under 2.5 seconds
, and it’ll happily accelerate to over
400 km/h
.
If you fancy one of these all-black machines, the Bugatti Chiron Noire special editions will set you back
three million Euros
 (RM13.9 million), with deliveries starting from the second quarter of 2020. The Noire treatment can also be had on the Chiron Sport, as a 100,000 Euros option.


Volvo showcases new 2.0-litre Drive-E engine, triple-boost with 450 hp [+Video]

Volvo is proud to announce their prototype
High Performance Drive-E Powertrain
 with
450 hp
. In a move to proof their “commitment to delivering driving pleasure through down-sizing”, they have worked with their suppliers AVL, Denso, and Volvo Polestar Racing to develop this High Performance Drive-E Powertrain Concept.
Dr. Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President for Research and Development at Volvo Car Group
 said “When we launched the Drive-E powertrain family, our aim was to deliver the most advanced 4-cylinder engines in the industry based on emissions and fuel consumption relative to performance and drivability. We knew that 320 hp in our petrol configuration was just a starting point. The 450 hp High Performance Drive-E Powertrain Concept, demonstrates this ambition and the versatility of the Drive-E Powertrains,”.
The
2-litre 4-cylinder petrol
 has been further boosted by a couple of
 parallel turbochargers
, which are fed by an
electrically powered turbo-compressor
. The compressed air from the turbo-compressor is then used to spool up the two parallel turbochargers while fuel is fed by a dual
fuel pump working at 250 bar
 pressure, claiming to eliminate the dreaded turbo lag.
Volvo
 refers this setup as “triple boosting”, and it’s another step to fully utilize their flexible Drive-E powertrain. “It may sound odd, but this 450 hp powertrain concept is an important part of the Drive-E development program. Down-sizing must offer customers attractive and usable power for broad scale emissions reduction to work. Compact powertrains free up space and weight in the structure of the car, which can be used for electrification and even further emissions reduction. And that is our ultimate ambition,” added Dr. Mertens.
It’ll be interesting to see when (or if) Volvo decides to put this in production, as it has a huge potential to go against the likes of the German rivals that are already using their version of 2.0-litre 4-cylinder powetrain with various state of tuning.
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY


Alpina now under BMW Group – the beginning of Alpina electric cars?

BMW Group has announced that it has acquired the Alpina brand from the Bovensiepen family, founders of the brand in 1965. Alpina was involved in BMW tuning and motorsports from the 1960s onwards and began manufacturing passenger cars based on BMW’s vehicle lineup in 1978.
Since 1983, the company based in Buchloe, Bavaria in Germany, has been registered as an official automotive manufacturer with the German Federal Motor Transport Authority.
For now, everything remains status quo as the running agreement which was extended for another five years in late 2020, will expire on the 31st of December 2025.
“The automotive industry is in the midst of a far-reaching transformation towards sustainable mobility. For that reason, existing business models need to be re-examined on a regular basis. For over 50 years, Alpina has demonstrated how to deliver top-quality cars through meticulous attention to detail. Acquiring the trademark rights will allow us to shape the long-term course of this brand steeped in tradition,” said the BMW board of management.
The BMW Alpina B5
The move is made to ensure and secure the long-term future of the Alpina brand as emission regulations, electrification and other modern/costly requirements in vehicle development put small-series car manufacturers such as Alpina at higher risk.
RELATED:
G30 BMW 530i v BMW 530e PHEV shootout at Litar Dato’ Sagor, Perak!
Alpina, Co-managing Director, Andreas Bovensiepen said, “We recognised the challenges facing the automotive industry early on and are now setting the right course for Alpina. We decided not to sell Alpina to just any manufacturer because BMW and Alpina have worked together for decades.”
The BMW Alpina B8
The company owned by the Bovensiepen family will continue to use its engineering expertise in developing, manufacturing, and selling BMW Alpina vehicles within the existing cooperation until the end of 2025. This results in base BMW cars receiving extensive modification by the Alpina team – including the engine and transmission, as well as the chassis, aerodynamics, and interior equipment.
BMW Alpina vehicles will be pre-assembled on BMW production lines before the final assembly in Alpina workshops in Buchloe. This also includes customising interiors to customer specifications.
RELATED:

BMW introduces first-ever X models made in China – X5 xDrive30Li & X5 xDrive40Li


Mazda MX-5 will hit Malaysian shores in August, 2.0L droptop coupe to cost over RM200k

The
Mazda MX-5 or Miata
, as it’s affectionately known to some markets, will be finding its way here come August this year carrying a price tag that is believed to be well over the RM200k mark, according to sources from Bermaz Motor.
Fans of the popular Japanese droptop coupe can look forward to getting the more powerful
2.0-litre Skyactiv-G
 (158 hp and 200 Nm) variant as opposed to the smaller 1.5-litre four-pot (129 hp and 150 Nm) mill. Say what you will, but
no manual transmission
 will be offered, so Malaysian customers will have to make do with the
six-speed Skyactiv-Drive automatic
 gearbox (with
blipping function
 and Sport Mode) driving the
rear wheels
. And because we’re getting the 2.0-litre mill, limited-slip differential comes as standard.

The MX-5, now in its fourth life cycle, adopts the company’s Kodo design philosophy and benefits from extensive use of aluminium and high-tensile steel, resulting in an overall kerb weight of between 990 to 1,060 kg! Mazda also claims that the Roadster achieves a
perfect 50:50 weight distribution
, achieved partly by positioning the engine behind the front axle.
Tasked with providing feedback to the driver is the new dual pinion electric power steering – a Mazda first. With or without the soft-top, the driver and its passenger can immerse themselves in the
nine-speaker Bose AudioPilot sound system
. There’s also a suite of driver’s convenience and safety features, such as Blind Spot Monitoring System, High Beam Control with Adaptive Front-lighting System, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning System, MZD Connect System with 7-inch screen and GPS navigation.
Granted, some of the features mentioned here may not make it into our MX-5s, but by the looks of it, the tentative pricing seems almost justified. While we’re at it, let’s also not forget the fun-to-drive element it promises. We’ll be reviewing the MX-5 following its local launch in August, so stay tuned for its latest developments!
IMAGE GALLERY


Audi e-Tron Prototype is the most aerodynamic SUV Audi has made

The more aerodynamic a car is, the more efficient it can slice through air contributing to lower wind resistance, positively affecting the cars fuel economy and refinement. Which is why Audi has spent over 1,000 hours fine-tuning the aerodynamics of the soon-to-be-launched
Audi e-Tron Prototype
.
The result is an impressively low drag coefficient of 0.28 cd – the lowest ever for an Audi SUV, although the slickest SUV belongs to the Tesla Model X at 0.24 cd. According to Audi, 0.01 cd represents a real-world driving of 4.8 km which explains why the four-rings went to that extent to bring those figures down for the all-electric SUV.
To achieve those figures the engineers have incorporated innovations such as flat underbody with optimised louvres, electronically controlled flaps on the front grille, side air inlets, adaptive air suspension that lowers itself by 26 mm at speeds above 119 km/h for lower drag and the optional virtual exterior mirrors.
The virtual exterior mirrors are cameras that replace the conventional wing mirrors. They reduced the vehicle width by 15 cm contributing to lower drag and cutting wind noise. The images captured are transmitted onto the OLED displays on the A-pillar and drivers can also optimise the cameras to three views – motorway, turning and parking for greater safety.
Audi UK is already taking orders
 for the over
400 hp
 all-electric SUV that comes with a triple motor set up with a 95-kWh battery pack. With the new “e-Quattro” all-wheel-drive system, the e-Tron Quattro can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in
4.5 seconds
. Audi has also recently revealed that the SUV can be
fully charged in just 30 minutes
 when connected to a high-speed charger.
IMAGE GALLERY

 The Audi e-tron prototype in a Faraday cage

 The Audi e-tron prototype in a Faraday cage

 The Audi e-tron prototype in a Faraday cage


The BMW M3’s M Performance exhaust still looks weird even in person

BMW has this weird addiction of introducing M Performance parts on all of their cars. Not just on the regular street-going cars, but also on the full-blown M models – and that includes the
BMW M3
 and
M4
 too.
It’s so common that we usually don’t bat an eye any more, but the new kit caused quite a kerfuffle online when it was
unveiled back in October 2020
, because of one particular element – the M Performance exhaust.
Image:
BMW Blog
It’s not unusual for carmakers – especially supercar and hypercar brands – to toy with the exhaust exits, and if done right, they can look pretty good (see:
McLaren 765 LT
, basically all
Pagani
 cars). But on a car that already looks so divisive, we think that a milder approach to the shiny tips would perhaps be the better choice – like what the stock M3 and M4 actually comes with.
In our opinion, the M Performance exhaust’s weird triangular layout just clashes too much with the M3/M4’s more “orthordox” lines (at least at the back), and well – these live photos courtesy of
BMW Blog
 certainly backs us up.
The BMW M3 Competition was part of our AutoBuzz Best (Driver’s) Cars of 2021! Check it out in more detail here.
BMW brought along a BMW M3 to the 2022 Chicago Auto Show, fully decked out in M Performance parts including a whole lot of carbon fibre winglets and flics, a new carbon fibre decklid spoiler and front splitter, full M Division livery, and of course the aforementioned M Performance exhaust system.
Making things worse, because of its unique layout, opting for the M Performance exhaust also means that you’ll have to fork up for the carbon rear diffuser, which considerably adds up to the cost of the whole ordeal.
It’s certainly unique, but we’re still not sure it looks all that good – we do know for a fact that we won’t be shelling out the extra dough just for that. What do you think? Sound off in the comment section below.
[Images: BMW Blog]
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Perodua sold 78,564 cars in Q1 2023, up 27.5% from last year

For the first quarter (Q1) of 2023,
Perodua

recorded a total sales of
78,564 cars
, which is 27.5% more than the same period in 2022 (61,624 cars). As for the month of March itself, Perodua sold
32,179 cars
, showing a 20.2% jump from the 26,759-unit figure from the same month last year. Compared to February 2023, the monthly sales in March was up by 29%.
As for production, Perodua managed to produce a total of
84,800 cars
 in Q1 2023, which is a 33.9% increase from the same period in 2022. In March alone,
33,666 cars
 were produced. Perodua says that the production was boosted in an effort to fulfil the PENJANA orders before the deadline.
Perodua President and Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad said, “These achievements can be attributed to several factors, such as our efforts to fulfil the PENJANA orders before its deadline on 31 March 2023, production improvements throughout the supplier ecosystem and better coordination within our sales network.”
“Despite these achievements, there are still a small number of PENJANA orders that we were unable to fulfil, to these customers, we will honour the sales exempt amount guaranteed under the initiative and we apologise for the long wait,” he adds.
RELATED:
2023 Perodua Axia – 20,100 bookings received, 13.6k converted from ‘old’ Axia bookings
Moving forward, Dato’ Sri Zainal said that Perodua is expected to further build on these achievements as the number of bookings for its models continues to be healthy. He said that the sustained production growth managed to reduce some of the waiting periods in certain models.
The Perodua President and CEO said, “In fact, some of our models, the waiting period has been reduced significantly, only particular models such as the
Bezza
,
Axia

and
Alza
 have a slightly longer waiting period based on their respective variants and colour.”
In terms of production, Perodua says that the global price of raw materials has decreased recently, easing cost pressures for suppliers, Perodua, and most automotive players. Perodua is targeting a total sales of
314,000 cars
 and a total production of
330,000 cars
 this year. If the Q1 2023 pace is maintained, Perodua is on track to achieving its targets.
RELATED:
Perodua aims 314,000 sales in 2023, to expand subscription business


2020 Honda Civic facelift launched with Honda Sensing, RM114k – RM140k!

Alongside the launch of the
Honda Accord
, Honda Malaysia has also officially launched the 2020 Honda Civic facelift. Three variants are available as before – 1.8S (
RM113,600
), 1.5TC (
RM129,600
), and 1.5TC-P (
RM139,600
).

EXTERIOR
 The facelifted Honda Civic receives an updated front bumper, along with a new rear bumper garnish. The entry-level 1.8S variant is still equipped with halogen headlights and fog lights, but both of the 1.5TC variants get LED headlights and fog lights as standard.
The 1.5TC variant also gains chrome-finished door handles, while the top-of-the-range 1.5TC-P variant gets a new front grille finished in black, along with a new trunk spoiler with integrated third braking light.
The 1.8S variant sits on newly-designed 16-inch wheels, while the 17-inch wheels on the 1.5TC variant remains the same as before. The Premium variant gets an all-new 18-inch alloy wheels.
INTERIOR
 Honda has included a couple of new creature comfort additions to the 2020 Honda Civic, which Honda says was done in response to customer feedback. These include a new 60:40 rear folding seats, along with new fan speed control buttons on the climate control panel, and automatic front wipers.
The leather seats on the 1.5-litre models have been reupholstered with a new “Chequered Flag” accent design, while the steering-wheel switches have been refined in both aesthetics and texture.
Otherwise, the interior packaging of the Honda Civic remains largely the same. The 1.8S variant gets single zone air-condition, while the 1.5TC variants have dual-zone climate control.
As standard, all variants come equipped with a seven-inch advanced infotainment display, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, HDMI input, and two USB ports. The infotainment is connected to eight speakers.
SAFETY
 Undoubtedly the hero feature of the car, the 2020 Honda Civic facelift now comes with the full Honda Sensing suite, which utilises a combination of a monocular camera and a millimetre wave radar, available exclusively on the 1.5TC-P variant.
The Honda Sensing suite includes safety and convenience features such as Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist, Road Departure Mitigation, Forward Collision Warning with Collision Mitigation System, Adaptive Cruise Control with low-speed follow function, as well as Auto High Beam.
All variants of the new Honda Civic are now equipped with four front parking sensors as standard. The 1.5TC variant also comes equipped with Honda LaneWatch, which utilises a camera to complement the side mirror for a better view around the blind-spot area.
POWERTRAIN
 No changes are done to the powertrain on this mid-cycle refresh. The 1.8S variant is powered by a 1.8-litre four cylinder naturally-aspirated engine, producing 141 hp and 174 Nm of torque. As for the 1.5TC variants, a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder Earth Dreams engine generates 173 hp and 220 Nm of twist.
Both engine options are paired to a CVT gearbox. Performance wise, Honda claims a 0-100 km/h time of 10.4 seconds for the 1.8S variant, whiel the 1.5TC variants does the century sprint in 8.2 seconds.
The 2020 Honda Civic facelift will be available in five exterior colours – Lunar Silver Metallic, White Orchid Pearl, Modern Steel Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, as well as the latest addition to the line-up, Passion Red Pearl.
Honda Malaysia has also made available some extra kit for the new Honda Civic, such as the Modulo Package which includes all-round skirting and a wing-styled trunk spoiler, Urban Package, Utility Package, and Protection Package.
As standard, the 2020 Honda Civic comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, along with five-time free labour service within 100,000 km or five years.
IMAGE GALLERY


The upcoming Porsche Macan Electric will have 1,000 Nm of torque

Porsche
is gearing up for the launch of the next-gen
Macan
, which has been confirmed to be
offered in a fully-electric version
. Ahead of the launch, the German company has now given members of the media a preview of the pre-production mule, alongside some preliminary information of the Macan Electric – which is reportedly its official name according to
Jalopnik
.
The main focus here is on the Macan’s Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture, which Porsche is co-developing together with
 Audi
. While its set-up is broadly similar to the Taycan’s bespoke J1 Architecture, Porsche says that the PPE has been given a number of improvements to help give more power, better handling, and greater range.
Similar to the
Taycan
, the Macan’s PPE platform is built on the 800V architecture, featuring a battery pack of roughly 100 kWh in capacity across all variants, consisting of 12 battery modules. It’s slightly bigger than the Taycan’s optional 93.4 kWh battery pack, which should give it even more range than the 484 km offered on the longest-range Taycan, although Porsche says that the new batteries will give it the right balance between range and performance.
In terms of charging, Porsche is targetting a 5-80% charge in under 25 minutes, which should equate to over 270 kW (Taycan) on DC power. The Porsche Macan Electric will also support 400V chargers, like your run-off-the-mill home wallbox chargers, by effectively splitting the battery into two halves in order to boost charging speeds.
RELATED:
Porsche wants to make as many Macan EVs as petrol model, production starts 2023
Porsche Macan Electric development mule.
The all-new Porsche Macan Electric will be built to support both all- and rear-wheel drive configurations, with the former giving up to a maximum output of
450 kW (612 hp)
 and
1,000 Nm
 of torque. Porsche says the electric motors have been improved with a new “double V” magnet arrangement, while the materials used are also specifically selected to increase efficiency.
The rear electric motors are placed as far back as possible to form what Porsche calls the “performance rear axle”, shifting the weight balance to a 48:52 split instead of a perfect 50:50. It’s a conscious design decision, and most of the power actually flows through here under normal conditions, hence the staggered wheel widths to better handle the torque and weight.
That said, thanks to the two-motor configuration, torque can still be infinitely variable between the front and rear, and the rear axle also comes with a fully-variable electronically controlled rear differential to further split the power to the rear-left and rear-right wheels. The front axle, meanwhile, gets a simpler brake-enabled torque vectoring system, similar to
Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control
.
Paired to the new rear-wheel steering (up to five degrees), as well as the new two-valve dampers for the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) system, means that the Porsche Macan Electric should be a pretty nimble compact SUV to drive – much like its current iteration.
Review: 2022 Porsche Macan – a realist’s ode to sports cars
The all-new Porsche Macan Electric only exists in a camouflaged, pre-production form for now. However, it shouldn’t be too long more of a wait for us to see the car in full. Porsche says deliveries for the new electric compact SUV will begin in early 2024, with a launch scheduled sometime next year – so keep your eyes peeled!


The new Toyota GR GT3 Concept is set to change motorsports as we know it

Headlining the Toyota Gazoo Racing booth at the ongoing 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon is the GR GT3 Concept – a conceptual take on customer racing and a new approach to motorsports.
Unlike adapting production vehicles for use in motorsports, Toyota Gazoo Racing intends to develop this specific vehicle for customers to participate in global FIA GT3 racing series. The idea by Toyota Motor Corporation as a whole is to make the
motorsports industry sustainable
.
The GR GT3 Concept is aimed to promote ‘driver first’ car development with a desire to provide attractive cars for customers who are participating in GT3. The company further expands that feedback and technologies refined through its participation in various motorsports activities to develop both the GT3 and production cars further promoting ever-better motorsport-bred cars.
Based on the images provided, the GR GT3 Concept should still be propelled by good old combustion engine technology, as seen by the exhaust outlet at the front fender. The silhouette is unlike any current or even
future Toyota
 model, making it a rather interesting project.
Toyota, via Lexus, currently offers the Lexus RC F GT3 machine for global endurance racing to its customers.
In a short interview, Koji Sato, President of Gazoo Racing Company said the vehicle is currently being in the virtual development stage with the participation of racing drivers for the delivery of a prototype soon. However, his boss, Akio Toyoda, was quick to push for only the best, “We have to develop a car which can win the race! A pilot car is not enough!”
So much similarities to the Mercedes AMG GT sports car, and a little of the Lexus LFA
Their latest model, the
GR Yaris GRMN
, is the embodiment of this new approach, continuously developed and refined through various participation in events for an even better hot hatchback. It doesn’t come cheap though, as all the manufacturer-made improvement has bumped the car price to over JPY 8million, double the price of a normal GR Yaris!


BMW Malaysia updates 320i Sport and 330i M Sport with AEB and other driving aids, costs RM5k more

BMW Malaysia has updated the equipment list of both the
CKD 330i M Sport
 and the
 320i Sport
where both now feature the long-awaited, highly coveted autonomous emergency braking.
In the Driver Assistance section of the brochure for both models, the
Driving Assistant Package
 is now included – consisting of Lane Departure Warning, Lane Change Warning, front collision warning with brake intervention a.k.a autonomous emergency braking, rear cross traffic alert and rear collision prevention.

These have been added to supplement the existing features such as cruise control with braking function, Parking Assistant with Reverse Assist and reverse camera.
These additions however will cost you extra RM5k on both models. The CKD 330i M Sport which was introduced six months after the
CBU model was launched
 and
reviewed
, now costs
RM293,800
, up from RM288,800 while the 320i Sport now comes with a price tag of
RM248,800
, up from RM243,800.
The BMW 330i M Sport.
As a refresher, the CKD 330i M Sport comes with
258 hp
 and
400 Nm
 and does 0 to 100 km/h in 5.8 seconds while the CKD 320i Sport has
184 hp
 and
300 Nm
, with a 0 to 100 km/h time of 7.1 seconds.
Both are powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, paired to a 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission with paddle shifters.


Lexus goes Back To The Future with the Hoverboard [+Video]

In 1985, a certain Marty McFly wowed cinema goers not by his usual theatrics or the plutonium-fueled DeLorean but rather, a pink Hoverboard from a couple of kids playing around in front of town hall. With that, he proceeds to out run the baddies and the rest is cinematic history.
Interesting coincidence though, that the film featured an alternate timeline and the year was
2015
. The same year that Lexus chose to unveil its latest invention. But unlike most of the creations that come out of Lexus, this has four wheels short and it
 hovers
. But we suspect at this point fellow readers, you are least interested in what, who and where as opposed to the burning question –
HOW ?
In the short film you would have seen international pro-skateboarding sensation
Ross McGouran
, pulling of tricks and slick moves while on the
Lexus Hoverboard
 around the hover park. First off, the hover park was built bespoke for this in Barcelona. Constructed using circa 200 metres of magnetic track set beneath the surface of an area similar to a conventional skate park. This gave Lexus and McGouran the opportunity to demonstrate tricks that no skateboard could ever perform, including the greatest trick of them all – travelling across water.
The Lexus Hoverboard features
 two cryostats
 or
reservoirs
 which contain
superconducting materials,
kept at
 -197°C
 through immersion in
liquid nitrogen
 – of which is the ‘vapor’ you see in the film. When the board gets close enough to the magnets in the ground,
 it hovers
. The deck on the other hand is made from bamboo, which replicates its four-wheeled cousins’ interior.

The
magnetic field
 from the track is effectively
‘frozen’
 into the
superconductor
 in the board, maintaining the distance between the board and track – essentially keeping the board in a hover. The force is strong enough that the rider can
 stand and even jump
 on the board. That in a nutshell is the secret to the Lexus Hoverboard.
The Lexus Hoverboard is a great sign that science, technology and innovation are indeed heading in the right direction. However Lexus has announced that it will not be sold at this point in time. As cool as the hoverboard is, unless you’ve a custom-built a Hover Park in your backyard, it’s back to watching Back to the Future for the rest of us.
IMAGE GALLERY


New Daihatsu Ayla in Indonesia – for the same money, the Perodua Axia AV is better equipped

The
Perodua Axia
‘s cousin, the Daihatsu Ayla has been launched in Indonesia with five variants available starting from 134 million rupiah (RM39k) for the 1.0 MT, 146.9 million rupiah (RM42k) for the 1.0 X MT, 166.9 million rupiah (RM48k) for the 1.0 X CVT and two further 1.2-litre variants for 164 millon rupiah (RM47k) and 184 million rupiah (RM53k).
For comparison purposes, we’ll go with highest spec 1.0 X CVT Daihatsu Ayla that’s priced similarly with the highest spec Perodua Axia 1.0 AV starting from RM49,500 to have a look and see how much more we’re getting with our Axia unlike its Indonesian cousin. Of course, the Indonesian prices are direct conversions and with taxes and duties taken into account, it would cost more than RM48k.
For starters, both are powered by a 1.0-litre 1KR-VE engine with 67 hp although in terms of torque, the Axia produces 2 Nm more than the Ayla at 91 Nm. That’s not all. Looking at the spec sheet and images of the Ayla from the Daihatsu Indonesia website, it seems for more or less the same amount money, our Perodua Axia seems better equipped.
Based on the variant comparison table from the Daihatsu Indonesia website, it seems the 1.0-litre Ayla does not come with LED headlamps along with LED positioning lamps – a feature available to Axia for the first time. According to the comparison table, it seems only the 1.2-litre Ayla models are fitted with LED headlamps.
Features like keyless entry are only available in the higher grade 1.2-litre Ayla. That said, the Ayla is available in a wider range of colours; a total of eight compared to the Axia’s five. The 1.0-litre Ayla ADS also gets textured panel as part of its front grille; something not offered even in the most expensive Axia.
On the inside
, the differences are even more apparent. Even in the highest grade 1.2-litre Ayla, you only get a seven-inch touchscreen, with the 1.0-litre models getting a double-din headunit with a CD player. In the Axia, you get a nine-inch touchscreen in the RM49,500 AV model. The range-topping Perodua Axia AV also gets a digital instrument cluster – something not offered even in the 1.2-litre model Ayla.
On the safety front, all variants of the Ayla are not equipped with autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and prevention, blindspot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert but are available in our local Perodua Axia AV.
The
all-new Perodua Axia
 may have grown bigger and picked up a few new tricks which is always something you’d expect from a new generation vehicle. Some quarters of the Internet, however, has had a different opinion; saying that the Axia is no longer a cheap car with all the additional equipment.
What are your thoughts on that? Should new features and additional refinement be included without an increase in price? Or would you prefer the Axia to remain plain and simple?
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Cycle & Carriage Bintang Glenmarie bags Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s Dealer of the Year 2020 award

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has just announced the winners of the annual Dealer of The Year 2020 awards, which recognises dealers for their operational excellence in delivering the Best Customer Experience.
The company presented a total of seven awards to the following dealers:
Most Improved Dealer – Hap Seng Star, Setia Alam
Best in Customer Services – Cycle & Carriage Bintang (Northern) Bukit Tengah
Best in Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) – Hap Seng Star, Bukit Tinggi
Best in Sales – Asbenz Stern, Kuantan
Best in Financial Services – Hap Seng Star, Kinrara
Best in Business Excellence – Cycle & Carriage Bintang, Mutiara Damansara
Have you seen the interior of the new Mercedes-Benz EQS? Check it out
here
!
The top prize of the night, the Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Dealer of the Year 2020 award, was presented to
Cycle & Carriage Bintang Glenmarie
 as the dealership excelled across all the touchpoints of the business to achieve the highest overall score.
Cycle & Carriage Bintang Berhad, CEO, Wilfrid Foo Tsu-Ji said, “We are truly honoured to be awarded the prestigious Dealer of The Year award. Throughout 2020 and its unforeseen challenges, Cycle & Carriage Bintang has remained resilient and continued to provide exceptional service to our customers. The credit for this award goes to the entire team that worked tirelessly to make 2020 a successful year for all of us.”
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has the largest network in the premium vehicle segment with 32 authorised dealerships nationwide.


Here’s a Bugatti you or your children can “drive”

Back in 1926, Bugatti founder, Ettore and his son Jean built a scaled down replica of the Type 35 – the most successful racing car of all time – for Ettore’s youngest son to mark his 4th birthday.
What was supposed to be a one-off project for the “Bugatti Baby” as it was called, ended up in production with 500 units built after overwhelming response from visitors at Bugatti’s HQ in Molsheim.
In celebrating Bugatti’s 110th anniversary, they’ve now introduced the “Baby II” with
only 500 units available
, just like the original. Unlike the original, Baby II is three quarters the size of the actual Type 35 and can be driven by adults and children.
Like the original Baby, the Baby II is rear-wheel driven, propelled by a battery-powered electric powertrain. Get this, it
even comes with limited-slip differential and regenerative braking
!
The original Baby in black.
It also comes with two different drive modes; a
 1.3 hp Child Mode
 with top speed limited to 20 km/h and a
5 hp Adult Mode
 with a top speed of 45 km/h.
For those crazy enough to want to drive it faster, it comes with an optional
“Speed Key”
 like in the Chiron that removes the speed limiter while unleashing the full
14 hp.
Stopping should not be a problem with modern brakes applied all-round. The cockpit features an aluminium dashboard, leather seats and a replica 4-spoke steering from the Type 35.
Each car comes with a limited-edition numbered plaque and Bugatti’s famous Macaron badge, made of
50g solid silver
.
The Baby II.
Prices for the Baby II starts from an eye-watering
RM138k
with production to begin at the end of 2019.


Volvo V90 unmasked ahead of Geneva debut, gets 407hp Twin-Engine T8! [+Video]

All you wagon lovers out there, rejoice! The big Volvo wagon is back! As reported in our earlier post on the
S90
, the premium sedan is now joined by a wagon sibling,
the V90
. The new V90 has been revealed in all its glory through these official press photos, before making its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
Although Volvo hasn’t released the detailed specs of their new wagon, the third model in the
90-series
 Volvo is also based on the same
SPA
 (Scalable Product Architecture) platform, so you know that the stuff underneath are largely the same.
Expect the V90’s engine range to mirror those already in the
XC90
 and the S90, which includes the
D4 and D5 diesel
 as well as the
T5 and T6 petrol
, and Volvo’s Senior VP of R&D has confirmed that the
407 hp
 and
640 Nm T8 Twin Engine
 petrol plug-in hybrid will also be available on the V90. Any more powerful than that you might have to wait for the
Polestar
 boys to work their magic on the V90 (and the rest of the 90-series Volvos, of course).
The V90 will not skimp on tech too. Similar to the other 90-series Volvos, the V90 will feature the
City Safety
 system which will scan its surroundings and alert the driver if there’s anything in the way, while the
Pilot Assist
 offers semi-autonomous driving.
There’s also the
Sensus-connect
 system, which controls everything inside the car via the portrait-style
9-inch touchscreen
 in the middle of the dash. From the official press pictures here we can see that the rest of the cabin is lifted straight off the S90, and that’s a good thing since the interior represents Volvo’s latest interpretation of understated Scandinavian coolness.
The sleek design continues on the outside. If you love how the XC90 and S90 looks, then you will most definitely like the V90. The front three quarter is essentially the S90, but the back now carries an additional baggage. It’s a good-looking thing really, and we think the tail lights on the V90 work better than those on the S90.
So which one is your personal choice? The rugged
XC90
, the smart
S90
, or the understated V90?
VIDEO GALLERY
IMAGE GALLERY


DS Automobiles to electrify all its cars from 2025 onwards, DS 7 PHEV first

Since DS Automobiles unveiled its first Formula E race car in
2015
, the French carmaker has been continuously developing its single-seater all-electric race car. With its latest generation DS E-Tense FE 19, DS continues to be the only French brand to be an FIA-approved Formula E manufacturer for its 2018/2019 season.
It would then make sense for DS to trickle its learnings from Formula E into its production vehicles and the brand has just announced that all its new generation of vehicles will be offered either with a
 hybrid or pure electric powertrains
 from 2025 onwards.
The first model to be parked under the new electrification strategy is the
DS 7 Crossback
 E-Tense 4×4 – a plug-in hybrid SUV packing a
200 hp
 petrol mill assisted by
two 80 kW
 (108 hp) electric motors (one on each axle) to give a combined output of
300 hp
 and
 450 Nm
 of twist. The DS 7 Crossback E-Tense 4×4 will make its official debut in 2018 and DS claims the all-wheel-drive SUV will have a pure-electric range of
48 km
.
That will be followed by DS’ first all-electric vehicle, the DS E-Tense Concept car that will make an appearance at the 2018 Paris International Motor Show. The concept car is said to feature an all-electric powertrain capable of generating
402 hp
 and
516 Nm
 of torque.
CEO of DS Automobiles, Yves Bonnefont, commented: “Starting in 2025, each new DS will be launched exclusively with electrified powertrains. Our ambition is very clear: for DS to be among the global leaders in electrified cars in its segment.”
IMAGE GALLERY
DS 7 Crossback

DS E-Tense Concept Car


UMW Toyota posts strong sales figures for February – up 37% from January

UMW Toyota Motor has announced sales figures for February 2023 with 9,233 units of Toyota vehicles sold and 64 units of Lexus. It’s the best month-on-month sales performance for the company for the month of February – representing a 45% increase compared to February 2022.
The company also recorded impressive monthly sales growth. UMW Toyota sold a combined 9,297 units (Toyota and Lexus vehicles); a significant 37% increase from the 6,786 units of Toyota and Lexus vehicles sold in January 2023.
UMW Toyota is continuing its strong start to the year, with year-to-date sales of 16,004 units (Toyota) and 79 units of (Lexus).
“Our February 2023 sales numbers are a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team at UMW Toyota Motor. By continuously listening to our customers and adapting to their needs, we have been able to maintain our position as a top-performing player in the automotive industry,” said Datuk Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor.
Recently, UMW Toyota launched a range of GR and GR Sport vehicles including the new
 GR Corolla
 from RM355,000, the
GR86
 from RM295,000, and the
manual GR Supra
 from RM645,000. The GR Sport range is made up of the Corolla Cross GR Sport from RM142,000 and the GR Hilux from RM159,880.
While the GR86, GR Supra and GR Corolla need no introduction, the
GR Sport Hilux
and
GR Sport Corolla Cross
aren’t just about aesthetic upgrades; in fact, far from it. Mechanical upgrades in the Hilux include gear shift paddles and sports suspension while the GR Sport Corolla Cross features a sports ECU for its electronic power steering, sports suspension and a performance brace for the chassis.