The all-new i20 N shows that Hyundai is serious about fun

In a world where every other car that’s rolling off the factory floor seems to be an SUV, Hyundai’s latest creation here should be applauded – because the all-new Hyundai i20 N is not a car made for the masses, but for the handful of enthusiasts. They probably won’t sell too many of these (I certainly hope to be proven wrong), but they still went ahead and built it anyway.
Hyundai says that the
i20 N
 is heavily influenced by its WRC rally counterpart, and it is evident almost throughout the entire car – from exterior styling, chassis, to even the weight of the car. Yes, the weight – the Hyundai i20 N weighs just 1,190 kg, which is exactly the same as the i20 Coupe WRC.
Paired to a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged GDi that sends
204 hp
 and
275 Nm
 to the front wheels, the light weight gives the i20 N one of the best power-to-weight ratio in the compact hot hatch class, and translates to a 0-100 km/h sprint time of
6.7 seconds
, onward to a top speed of
230 km/h
. And the best part? It’s only available with a six-speed manual transmission.
Being a full-blown N model, the new Hyundai i20 N also comes with all of the electronics and mechanical wizardries to enhances its performance on track. These include launch control and downshift rev matching (which can be toggled off) for the gearbox, an optional N Corner Carving mechanical limited-slip differential, and left-foot braking calibration.
Of course, the humourously-named N Grin Control drive mode selector is also present on the Hyundai i20 N, with five distinct drive modes – Normal, Eco, Sport, N and N Custom – to suit every driving condition by altering the ESC, engine, and steering responses along with exhaust modes.
To better handle the agility required for track driving, the chassis, suspension, brakes, and steering on the all-new i20 N has also been souped-up from its regular civilian-friendly counterpart. The chassis is reinforced at 12 different points, while the suspension gets reinforced front domes and knuckles with a more aggressive camber geometry for better traction.
There’s also the new anti-roll bar, springs, and shock absorbers, along with a Power Sense front axle and Dual Coupled Torsion Beam Axle rear suspensions that firms up the ride, which Hyundai says provides improved ride and handling performance. The front brakes are also enlarged by 40 mm than the regular i20 for improved stopping power and fade resistance.
As for looks, the WRC connection can be seen on the rear roof-mounted spoiler. Obviously, the one on the actual WRC car is way larger than this, but Hyundai says that it still helps with the aerodynamics of the i20 N. Otherwise, the compact hot hatch pretty much adopts the exterior styling of the recently-announced all-show-and-no-go
i20 N-Line
.
There are of course some unique touches reserved specifically for the full-blown N model. These include the Performance Blue paintjob (other body colours also available) with Tomato Red accents, unique side skirts, a large oval tailpipe, and 18-inch wheels shod with Hyundai N-specific Pirelli P-Zero tyres (215/40 profile). The entire car is also lowered by 10 mm to give it a sportier stance, along with better weight management during spirited driving.
Inside, the i20 N gets a model-exclusive sports seats with integrated head restraints, N steering wheel, N gear knob, a shift timing indicator on the digital instrument cluster, and sporty N metal foot pedals. The iconic Hyundai N Performance Blue colour is also littered throughout the cabin to offset the largely black cabin.
Just like the latest BMW M or Mercedes-AMG models, the tiny Hyundai i20 N also comes with a track data logger – called Performance Driving Data System – to monitor and record your performance parameters, including engine power, torque, turbo boost, lap times, and acceleration times.
Additionally, the Hyundai i20 N is also equipped with the latest Hyundai SmartSense advanced driver assistance systems, which includes features such as forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and autonomous emergency braking, intelligent speed limit assist, blind-spot warning, rear-cross traffic alert, high beam assist, as well as a driver attention warning system with lane departure alert and lane centring assist.
GALLERY


Please enjoy this selection of the finest precision drifting brought to you by Goodwood Driftkhana

With this year’s
Goodwood Festival of Speed
 and Revival cancelled and replaced by a new Speed Week event, the organisers saw fit to spice it up with some new motorsports activities in lieu of live spectators. These included a new rally stage for classic cars, as well as the inaugural ‘Goodwood Driftkhana’ which featured some of the best tyre-shredding action ever seen on the Goodwood grounds.
The new sideways-focused event takes place around some of the access roads around the Goodwood Circuit, with challenges such as curved walls and oil drums fitted with proximity sensors that drivers will have to trigger in order to avoid penalties.
Of course, being a Driftkhana event, the entries are also judged by their flamboyance instead of a straight timed shootout. As such, we saw drivers attempting different approaches to complete the challenge, which the Goodwood YouTube channel has graciously condensed into these two videos. Enjoy.

One of the best runs throughout the entire Goodwood Driftkhana event was done by James Deane, piloting his modified E92 BMW M3, affectionately called the Eurofighter. For those unaware, he is often regarded as the one of the best drifters in the world currently, with Formula Drift and Drift Masters European Championship titles already under his belt.
Deane blazed through the course with millimetre precision, sometimes looking as if he’s going to accidentally knock over some of the obstacles (which other competitors did). But of course with his expertise, needless to say the car was completely under his control at all times.

Aside from purpose-prepped drift cars, the Goodwood Driftkhana also featured some rallycross machines, such as the Ford Fiesta R5 and the all-electric Fiesta ERX. But the coolest entry to the Driftkhana challenge is definitely the
Ford Mustang Mach-E 1400
, driven by none other than Vaughn Gittin Jr.
With 1,400 hp and an undisclosed (though not hard to guess if you know where to look) amount of torque sent to all four wheels, the all-electric tyre-slaying machine danced gracefully around the hay bales and oil drums almost too easily, all while spitting out possibly the biggest amount of tyre fumes.
But what really stood out to us was just how quiet the Mustang Mach-E 1400 was while Vaughn Gittin Jr. gave it the full beans – especially when pitted against the other high-octane petroleum-powered competitors – I guess it’s a sound we’ll all have to get used to sooner than later.


Sisma Auto takes over JLR Glenmarie with new multi-brand 3S Centre

Sisma Auto has announced the opening of the
Sisma Auto Hub
 in Glenmarie, its new premium multi-brand 3S centre for customers to “buy, sell, or service any brand of luxury car”.
The new Sisma Auto Hub replaces the former Jaguar Land Rover 3S centre at Glenmarie, Shah Alam, following the recent move by
Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia (JLRM)
, a joint venture between Sisma Auto and Sime Darby, to consolidate its retail operations in Malaysia.
The move saw the acquisition of dealer assets and transfer of staff from both Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) and Sisma Auto, alongside the consolidation of retail operations of JLRM to Ara Damansara, Selangor, and Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, Penang.
As for Sisma Auto, while they still retain a significant interest in the JLR business as a joint venture partner, they now plan to leverage its more than 25 years of experience as a franchise dealer for Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo, to now offer the “same premium 3S experience for any brand of luxury car”.
The new Sisma Auto Hub Glenmarie features a 14-car showroom, as well as 16 work bays within the service centre equipped with the latest tools and diagnostic equipment.
Sisma Auto Managing Director, Syed Khalil bin Syed Ibrahim said, “We believe that a premium 3S experience should be available to all luxury car owners. At Sisma Auto Hub, our highly trained team will provide the same level of exceptional service that you have come to expect from Sisma Auto.”
Aside from JLRM and Sisma Auto Hub, the company currently also operates two
Volvo
 outlets – a sales showcase at Bukit Bintang and Service and Selekt Centre in Glenmarie, next to the newly-opened auto hub. The company was previously awarded Volvo Car Malaysia Dealer of the Year in 2020 and 2021 consecutively.
The company aims to continue growing with the Volvo brand in Malaysia and has started construction of its flagship Volvo 3S facility in Sungai Besi. Expected to commence operations by the end of 2022, the 50,000 square foot facility, spread over four floors, represents a significant expansion of Sisma Auto’s Volvo business.
The new Sisma Auto Hub is located at
No. 19, Jalan Perintis U1/52, Seksyen U1, Bandar Glenmarie, 40150 Shah Alam, Selangor.
 It is open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Saturday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.


Geely Jia Ji MPV revealed, could this be the new Proton Exora?

Geely Auto has just unveiled first official images of its latest MPV, the Geely Jia Ji (嘉际). Banking on its stylish design and high-tech cabin, the new global MPV opens up a new chapter in Geely’s product portfolio.
Penned at Geely’s Shanghai design studio, the Jia Ji ditches the traditional “box on wheels” design and instead incorporates Geely’s latest design philosophy to create a stylish and modern family vehicle. Familiar cues include the expanding cosmos grille, wide lower bumper, sculpted waistline, and floating roof.
Key dimensions of the Jia Ji were not revealed but the company has said the MPV will meet all family mobility requirements. The Jia Ji is available in either six- or seven-seater configuration with three seating options – 2+2+2, 2+2+3 or 2+3+2.
The cabin is where the Jia Ji takes the game onto another level with modern visuals, high-tech connectivity and abundance of features. Passengers will be greeted with a full LCD instrument cluster, 12.3-inch floating widescreen infotainment panel and a double deck centre console that houses the main controls and electronic gear selector while the lower deck area frees up additional storage space.

Touching on the feel-good items of the cabin are the stylish roof mounted controls with motion activated ceiling light that negates the need to search for the light switch in the dark, ambient lighting that runs across the dashboard,
intelligent cup-holder with cooling and heating function
, panoramic sunroof and a touch panel control for the rear climate control.
The Jia Ji is available with three powertrain options at launch – a 1.5-litre turbocharged mild-hybrid (MHEV), 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid and a 1.8-litre turbo petrol. The
MHEV
 pairs a 1.5-litre turbo petrol with a 48V electrical system to push out
190 hp
 and
300 Nm
 of twist while the
PHEV
 commands
258 hp
 and
385 Nm
 of torque. Both electrified powertrains are paired to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission.
Alternatively, buyers who prefer a more conventional set up can opt for the 1.8-litre turbo petrol engine and six-speed automatic combo that pushes out
183 hp
 and
300 Nm
 of twist.
The Geely Jia Ji MPV will make its market debut in 2019 and will find its way to markets outside of China shortly after. Closer to home, the Proton Exora is due for a replacement soon and looking at Geely’s intention to have
Proton as the regional manufacturing hub for right-hand drive models
, there is a
high chance
 that the Jia Ji will take over the baton from the Exora.
IMAGE GALLERY
Geely Jia Ji MPV


Old NSX vs New NSX: Proof that new cars aren’t necessarily better

They bear more sophisticated systems, they’re more aerodynamic and without a doubt, make more power. Does it actually make them faster or better? This video should offer some perspectives.
As accomplished as modern cars are, there’s
one aspect to them that not only affects emission figure
s
 in more ways than one
 but also hinders performance –
weight
.
Modern cars may be of lighter yet stronger construction but they also carrying much more equipment than ever. Whether it’s on-board entertainment or purely insulation material, there’s just more of everything and that’s not necessarily a good thing.
As some would choose to believe, “Lightness is Speed”; and it can’t be more evident in this video.

All credit where is due to the craziest Japanese old man out there, Keiichi Tsuchiya, his mad skills, competitive spirit and the highly capable Honda NSX-R he was driving but it was lightness that determined his victory.
Watch the battle closely and you can see it with your own eyes. While the new NSX may be miles more superior on the straights with
573 hp
 from its 3.5-litre twin turbo V6 hybrid powertrain, it’s handicapped by its 1.7-tonne weight in the corners.
The old NSX-R on the other hand, only weighs around 1.3-tonnes, and the difference those few hundred kilograms can’t be more apparent as both cars approach the corners.
The NSX-R is capable of braking a lot later, closing the gap against its successor and is clearly more eager to slingshot out of the corners while the new hybrid NSX is busy interrupting its driver with safety interventions and unnatural driving characteristics.
I’ll leave the rest to the visuals to do the talking. If there’s one video I’d recommend to distract you from the Covid-19 tragedy, this is it. Enjoy!
Source:
Best Motoring Official


Volkswagen announces exclusive trade-in programme for Jetta and Passat

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is kicking off the year with an attractive trade-in programme for the
facelifted Jetta
 and
all-new Passat B8
 which allows existing and non-Volkswagen owners to trade in their current vehicles at an attractive deal when purchasing either these vehicles. This trade-in programme runs till 31 March 2017.
A quick check with the local Volkswagen dealership revealed that VPCM will offer additional rebate on the Jetta and Passat, on top of the value of the car that is being traded in. Owners who trade in their Volkswagen vehicles will enjoy higher rebates compared to vehicles of other brands, but the dealer ensures that the trade in prices are equally as attractive. Be sure to enquire at your local dealership for more details of the trade-in programme.

This programme is valid for vehicles with a
minimum six-month ownership
 from the car’s registration date and it would be subjected to inspection and valuation by each authorised dealerships. The dealers have all the rights to accept the traded vehicle or not.
With prices of the Jetta and Passat beginning at
RM108,990
 and
RM159,990
 respectively (not forgetting the 5-Year manufacturer warranty), the trade in programme certainly gives another reason to replace that ageing car with a brand new one. If you’re not convinced, check out what we think of the
Jetta Highline
 and
Passat B8
 and find out if this is the car for you.


Gallery: Toyota C-HR 1.8L local-spec at Malaysia Autoshow

First displayed at the
2017 Carlist.my Test, Drive and Buy Event
 and subsequently
toured around Malaysia
 and as much hype as it generated, the silver Toyota CH-R was an Australian-spec unit, not an actual representation of what we will be getting here.
At the 2017 Malaysia Autoshow, UMW Toyota (UMWT) displayed a Blue Metallic CH-R that has been adapted to our local Malaysian specification. Yes folks,
what you see is pretty much what you get
 when the much-awaited CH-R officially goes on sale in Malaysia.
QUICK COMPARISON
Name
Toyota CH-R
Honda HR-V
Mazda CX-3
Length
4,360 mm
4,294 mm
4,275 mm
Width
1,795 mm
1,772 mm
1,765 mm
Height
1,565 mm
1,605 mm
1,535 mm
Wheelbase
2,640 mm
2,610 mm
2,570 mm
Max Kerb Weight
1,497 kg
1,249 kg
1,211 kg
Luggage Capacity (VDA)
377 litres
437 litres
350 litres
Visually, our local spec CH-R mirrors the Australian-spec – projector headlamps with three-dotted LED daytime running lights, front fog lamps, C-Shaped LED taillamps, shark-fin antenna, rear spoiler, hidden rear door handles and 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in 215/60 profile tyres. It also gets blacked out wing mirrors and roof as promised on
UMWT’s official website
.

Inside our local-spec CH-R is furnished with leather upholstery, three-spoke multifunctional steering wheel, analogue instrument cluster with multi-info display, electronic parking brake with auto hold, floating infotainment system with localised settings, built-in dash camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, manual levelling seats with powered lumbar support and all four auto-windows.

Motivation comes from a sole
1.8-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder paired to a CVT
 (Continuously Variable Transmission). Safety wise, the CH-R comes with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Blind Spot Monitoring, Electronic Stability Control and a suite of safety features.
A total of six exterior shades will be offered – White Pearl CS, Metal Stream Metallic, Attitude Black while Red Mica, Radiant Green Metallic and Blue Metallic will come with a blacked out roof. Our CH-R will be fully imported from Thailand with prices and launch date to be confirmed at a later date.
IMAGE GALLERY


Gallery: Audi A5 Sportback quattro – Making heads turn everywhere it goes

Introduced at the tail end of last year, the facelift
Audi
 A5 Sportback is for those who want more than just another expensive car; it has to stand out and with the updated model, rest assured, there aren’t many that can hold the candle to the Sportback in terms of how it looks, this price point.
Available in two variants – the 2.0 TFSI front-wheel drive model goes for RM350,900 while the all-wheel drive quattro model will set you back an eye-watering RM377,900 inclusive of sales tax exemptions, along with a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty.
Powered by the EA888 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and paired to a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox, the 2.0 TFSI variant makes
190 hp
 and
320 Nm
. The more expensive quattro model gets more power to feed all four wheels, with
 249 hp
 and
370 Nm
. Also part of the powertrain is a 12V mild hybrid system.
Even with just 190 hp, the 2.0 TFSI model is no slouch as 0 to 100 km/h takes just 7.5 seconds; 5.6 seconds in the quattro model. Top speed is rated at 250 km/h while the 2.0 TFSI model maxes out at 239 km/h.
The changes on the facelift A5 Sportback are subtle but with maximum effect. At the front, it’s easier to count what they’ve not changed as all the crucial bits have been revised. The front grille now features a honey combe-like design, as opposed to vertical slates from before, while the surrounds now appear thicker.
The headlamp graphics have also been significantly revised, with more pronounced graphics. The fog lamp section now gets a more aggressive look, and with the facelift model both fog lamp sections are joined together.
Under the wheel arches are 18-inch wheels for the 2.0 TFSI and 19-inch wheels with a contrasting finish for the quattro which just makes the car look extremely striking as a whole.
Along the sides are frameless window – a look that never gets old – and a silhouette that just blows everything within the RM300k to RM400k price point away.
Aston Martin Rapide?
There’s just something about that sportback design (more commonly known as fastback due to the sloping roofline) that just makes the car look fast without even moving.
Boot space, impressively, is rated at 465-litres and even comes with hands-free boot opening. Just like the front, the rear taillights have been given a dramatic makeover as well with futuristic graphics.
The A5 Sportback’s taillights now come with dynamic turn signals. Also a significant change is the exhaust tip section; the rear bumper now comes with horizontal exhaust surrounds, lending a much cleaner look to the rear end.
On the inside, whether it’s the click of the buttons, the materials and the finishing of it or the design, it’s typical Audi; sleek and clinical. It just creates a different but no less superior environment, compared to its rivals from BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
For starters you get a fully digital instrument cluster display, and a new, larger touchscreen (from eight to 10 inches). The new touchscreen also meant that the rotary dials and buttons, positioned above the gear lever in the previous model, have been replaced with a storage compartment.
At the rear, the A5 Sportback offers generous leg and knee room along with fan speed controls for the 3-zone air conditioning system. However, if you’re over 180 cm tall, you might find headroom to be lacking slightly. The rear seats can also be folded to accommodate longer items.
GALLERY


Toyota Vios Challenge: Celebrities all geared up to drive their race-prepped Vios

You laugh, but these specially tuned Toyota Vios mean serious business. Exactly 24 candidates from the Vios Challenge Racing School have graduated today after weeks of rigorous training, and they’re all geared for the maiden leg in Batu Kawan, Penang next month.
Of the 24, eight are local celebrities – Venice Min, Shawn Lee, Danny Koo, Geraldine Gan, Janna Nick, Shukri Yahaya, Diana Danielle and Fattah Amin – but training is standard across the board. Each had to learn the fundamentals of racing, such as advanced car handling techniques, proper racing lines and safety protocols.

The Vios 1.5 J they will be driving aren’t street legal, and for good reason. They’re heavily modified (by Wing Hin Motorsports) with limited slip differential, brand new suspension and exhaust system, lightweight alloys, grabby-as-heck brakes and sharper throttle mapping. On wheel power is around the
109 hp
 region, but the exact specifications are kept close to chest. It runs on the factory five-speed manual transmission.
The objective Toyota Malaysia is trying to achieve here with the Toyota Gazoo Racing festival is to create a fair and level racing platform for all drivers and for the enjoyment of spectators. Again, the first leg will take place in Batu Kawan, Penang on 12 and 13 August 2017. Visitors can look forward to celebrity performances, a variety of fun activities, food trucks, test drives and an
exclusive preview of the all-new Toyota C-HR
.
Those who purchase a Toyota in the month of July can even stand a chance to win a trip to the Tokyo Motor Show later this year.
IMAGE GALLERY


The Toyota GR Corolla is finally coming this Friday

After literally years of rumours, leaks, and
teasers
, the
Toyota GR Corolla
 is finally about to be upon us with a scheduled launch this Friday, the 1st of April. And no, we checked – it’s not an April Fool’s Joke (since its official launch will take place in the US on the 31st of March).
Now, okay, so Toyota did not explicitly say that the launch is specifically for the GR Corolla. But when there’s so much smoke, there’s bound to be fire too. Heck, they’ve even pretty much shown off the entire rear-end of the (camouflaged) car in a recent
TV ad
 for the GR86.
But fine, you want facts? Here: Toyota provided two accompanying photos together with the announcement, and on the first one which focuses on the widened fenders, its visible body lines are pretty much a complete match to the standard Corolla hatchback in the US. How’s that for a “fact”?
The second photo, however, is a little more of a guessing game. There’s a clear embossed “GR-FOUR” wordmark, but its exact location remains a mystery to us – our best guess is by the side skirts, although even then we’re still plainly blind-guessing. Drop a comment below if you think you know!
Aside from these two photos, Toyota also gave us a brief look at the GR Corolla’s wheels via a short teaser video, and it seems like it’ll share the same 18-inch gloss black units as the smaller
GR Yaris
.
Recent rumours suggest that the GR Corolla will most likely share the same 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine as the GR Yaris, paired to the same six-speed manual transmission, as well as the aforementioned GR-Four permanent all-wheel drive set-up.
While the three-pot mill makes 272 hp on the GR Yaris, the same engine in the upcoming GR Corolla has been rumoured to be uprated to around 300 hp to compensate the larger and – more importantly – heavier body of the
Corolla hatchback
.
RELATED: This GR Sport Toyota Corolla will make you drool!
Screenshot: Toyota USA/YouTube
The Toyota Corolla hatchback never made its way here in Malaysia, so we’re frankly not quite sure if we’ll ever get the GR Corolla here. But then again, the
TNGA Yaris
 that the GR model was based on was also never brought into Malaysia, and yet the
GR Yaris sold like hotcakes here
.
Previous rumours suggested that the GR Corolla will be a US-only exclusive, but weirder things have happened, so we won’t be surprised if it’ll eventually be offered here in Malaysia – seeing that we’re one of the few countries with full-blown
GR Garages
. We won’t be holding our breaths, though.
You can watch the full official unveiling through Toyota’s Vimeo page, linked
here
, at 9.30 am on the April 1st.


Detroit motor show called off to make way for temporary hospital

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, but the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit this June has been officially cancelled in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
TCF Center, the venue of the 2020 NAIAS, is also expected to be converted into a temporary field hospital, in line with the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency’s directive.
NAIAS Executive Director, Rod Alberts said, “With the more than 100 convention centres and facilities around the country being considered to potentially serve as temporary hospitals, it became clear to us that TCF Center would be an inevitable option to serve as a care facility to satisfy our community’s urgent health needs.
“Although we are disappointed, there is nothing more important to us than the health, safety and well-being of the citizens of Detroit and Michigan, and we will do what we can to support our community’s fight against the coronavirus outbreak,” Alberts added.
One of the show’s hallmark, the Charity Preview event, will also be cancelled along with the show. Show officials are discussing plans for a fundraising event later this year to benefit the children’s charities that were designated as beneficiaries of the 2020 Charity Preview.
NAIAS Chairman, Doug North said, “We know these organizations rely on the money raised at Charity Preview to fund many wonderful support services for the most vulnerable in our community. With this in mind, we will be in touch with the charities in the near future to present some ideas.”
All tickets purchased for the 2010 Detroit motor show will be fully refunded, while ticket holders for the Charity Preview event will be given the choice to donate the proceeds of their refund to the beneficiaries.


2015 Toyota Alphard and Vellfire launched in Thailand, from RM370k to RM525k [+Video]

Making their Thai debut at the 2015 Bangkok International Motor Show are the popular duo by Toyota – the
Alphard and Vellfire
. They were both launched in Japan earlier this year with three engine configurations to choose from – a
2.5-litre four pot
 unit, a
2.5-litre hybrid
 and the bigger
3.5-litre V6
mill.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Toyota Alphard / Vellfire 2.5
Toyota Alphard / Vellfire 3.5
Toyota Alphard / Vellfire 2.5 Hybrid
Engine
2,493 cc 4-cylinder
3,456 cc V6
2,493 cc 4-cylinder + electric motors
Transmission
7-speed Sports Sequential Shiftmatic and Super CVT-i
6 -speed Sequential Shiftmatic with 6 Super ECT
6-speed Sequential Shiftmatic
Max Power
180 hp @ 6,000 rpm
276 hp @ 6,200 rpm
150 hp @ 5,700 rpm (194 hp combined)
Max Torque
235 Nm @ 4,100 rpm
344 Nm @ 4,700 rpm
205 Nm @ 4,400 – 4,800 rpm

We’re not big fans of the controversial design, but the Alphard’s interior gets a
massive touch of luxury
, including the new “super-long-slide passenger seat” that reclines all the way to the second row.

The all-new #Toyota #Alphard – Exterior View. #BIMS #BIMS2015
A video posted by AutoBuzz.my (@autobuzzmy) on
Mar 23, 2015 at 8:49pm PDT

The rear doors on the other hand, redefine smart entry as they’re able to automatically slide open when it detects passengers. This MPV also features what Toyota claims to be a world’s first – an under floor storage compartment just below the third row seats that measures 148 litres in stowage capacity.

The all-new #Toyota #Alphard – Interior View. #BIMS #BIMS2015
A video posted by AutoBuzz.my (@autobuzzmy) on
Mar 23, 2015 at 8:54pm PDT

Now, as earlier mentioned, the Alphard and Vellfire both share the same engine configuration, starting with the base
2.5-litre variant
. This four cylinder engine makes
180 hp
 at 6,000 rpm and
235 Nm
 of torque at 4,100 rpm, paired to a
seven-speed
 Sports Sequential Shiftmatic CVT-i gearbox.

The all-new #Toyota #Vellfire – Exterior view. #BIMS #BIMS2015
A video posted by AutoBuzz.my (@autobuzzmy) on
Mar 24, 2015 at 1:29am PDT

The hybrid variant also dons a
2.5-litre Atkinson Cycle engine
 (150 hp & 206 Nm), but is boosted by a pair of electric motors – a
141 hp motor
 on the front axle and
67 hp
 on the rear axle, making for a combined output of 194 hp. Drive type is FWD for the former and electric-AWD for the latter.

The all-new #Toyota #Vellfire – Interior View. #BIMS #BIMS2015
A video posted by AutoBuzz.my (@autobuzzmy) on
Mar 24, 2015 at 7:51am PDT

Next we have the range topping
3.5-litre naturally aspirated V6
 engine that makes
276 hp
 at 6,200 rpm and
344 Nm
 of torque at 4,700 rpm, mated to a
six-speed sequential shiftmatic
.
The Thai-spec Vellfire and Alphard carry a starting price of
RM370k
 all the way to
RM520k
. It’s unclear when exactly these luxury MPVs will hit Malaysian roads, but we’re certain it’ll arrive here in next to no time, courtesy of our ever-trusty grey importers. Expect to pay a premium price for it too if you’re looking to be one of the first few owners.
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY
2015 Toyota Vellfire at Bangkok International Motor Show

2015 Toyota Alphard at the Bangkok International Motor Show


If you don’t need 7 seats, the new Audi Q8 3.0 TFSI would be a sexier option

Launched alongside the compact
 Audi Q
2 is the top of the range Audi Q8, a sleeker, five-seater variant of the brand’s Q7 SUV.
Available in a sole 3.0 TFSI Quattro
variant, the Q8 is essentially a coupe version of the Q7 priced at RM727,900 (OTR
without insurance). Despite costing RM128k dearer than a Q7, the Q8 does come
with a substantial amount of additional kit.

QUICK FACTS
 Name

Audi Q8 3.0 TFSI Quattro
 Engine
 2,995cc; turbocharged V6
 Transmission
 8-speed automatic
 Max Power
 340 hp @ 5,200 – 6,400 rpm
 Max Torque
 500 Nm @ 1,370 – 4,500 rpm
 0 – 100 km/h; Top Speed
 5.9 seconds; 250 km/h
 Price (OTR without insurance)
 RM727,900
The Q8 is instantly recognisable by its
sloping roofline around the C-pillars and a taillamp design that stretches
across the tailgate. Standard equipment fitted onto our local spec Q8 include
HD Matrix LED headlamps with dynamic turn signals, LED combination taillamps
also with dynamic turn signals and 20-inch 5-arm style alloy wheels wrapped in
275/50 profile rubbers.
Inside, the Q8 is furnished with Valcona
leather upholstery, individual contour front seats, four-zone automatic climate
control, three-spoke leather wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters, powered
adjustable front seats (memory function for driver side only), Grey Oak inlays,
Ambient Lighting package, MMI navigation plus with two large displays, B&O
Premium Sound System, panoramic sunroof, Heads-up Display, Audi Virtual Cockpit,
electric sunshades, powered tailgate and soft closing doors.
Powertrain fitted onto the Q8 is a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 TFSI unit packing
340 hp
 and
500 Nm
 of torque (the Q7 uses a 3.0-litre supercharged V6). Drive is channelled to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission, allowing the Q8 to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in
5.9 seconds
 onwards to a top speed of
250 km/h
.
As spec-ed, the Q8 is closer to that of a
Porsche Cayenne and Lamborghini Urus than a Q7 because it comes fitted with adaptive
air suspension, progressive steering (sharper steering response) and all-wheel
steering. All these technologies promise a more dynamic driving experience in the
Q8.
The Q8 is also a step up in safety kit with
the inclusion of Audi Pre-Sense Front that bundles Forward Collision warning and
Autonomous Emergency Braking.
Again, the all-new Audi Q8 is priced at
RM727,900 (OTR without insurance) and comes with a 5-Years Unlimited Mileage
Warranty.
IMAGE GALLERY
Audi Q8 3.0 TFSI Launched in Malaysia


Suzuki Jimny Rhino Edition teased for Malaysia – new limited-edition model to launch soon

Suzuki Cars Malaysia, through its
sole distributor Naza Eastern Motors
, has just published a

teaser photo
 on its Facebook page, hinting at a new special edition model for the
Jimny
.
As with most teasers, the photo here is basically shrouded entirely in the shadows. The rhino silhouette in the background, alongside the mention of “off-road supremacy” in the caption, however, does point us at a new variant of the tiny 4X4, perhaps a special edition model similar to the Suzuki Jimny Rhino Edition in South Africa.
Jimny diehards will definitely recognise the rhino branding, but for those who don’t, the rhinoceros is essentially
the
 symbol for Jimny since the 80s, meant as a sign for “rugged strength, robust appearance, solidity, and dynamic power”. Despite that, though, whatever Rhino Edition we’re getting here in Malaysia will most likely not be any more rugged than the regular Suzuki Jimny already is.
If the Malaysian market model does indeed follow the same recipe as the South African special-edition model, then it’ll just be a visual makeover on the outside, consisting of the Suzuki heritage grille, rhino decals and badges, a soft wheel cover with the rhino logo plastered across, plus the red-coloured mud flaps for all four wheels to give it a truly unique look.
Underneath the bonnet is still the same 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated inline-four engine and four-speed automatic transmission combo, pushing
102 hp
and
130 Nm
 to the ground via a part-time 4WD driveline.
Here in Malaysia, the Suzuki Jimny is
currently only offered in a single variant
, retailing at RM174,900 on-the-road, without insurace.


New McLaren hybrid supercar to be called Artura

After releasing
a teaser of its upcoming hybrid supercar
 last month, McLaren has further fueled the anticipation for its arrival with a shot of its rear end, revealing a name.
It will be called the
Artura
and will be the company’s first High-Performance Hybrid series-production supercar which means anyone can get their hands on them. At the moment, McLaren’s hybrid influence extends to the McLaren P1 and the more recent Speedtail which are limited in production numbers.

The arrival of the Artura will mark the debut of an all-new compact twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine, designed to combine with an electric motor in a new lightweight High-Performance Hybrid powertrain.
Yet, the company claims that it will not lose any of the performance benefits of its larger capacity V8 engines. Even better, the new hybrids will benefit from the improved torque response at low engine speeds. To please mother nature, McLaren has also given the Artura the ability to run purely on electric power.
The Artura will be the first of many new supercars from Woking to be built on the new
McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA)
 platform that can accommodate hybrid systems. McLaren said its lightweight design and construction will offset the weight from the electrified powertrain.


Geely’s latest premium electric sub-brand is called Zeekr, doing it alone for now

Geely today adds another brand into its long list of automotive portfolio. Zeekr, as it is called, will target the premium electric vehicle (EV) segment that has foreign brands such as Tesla, Audi, Polestar and Volkswagen.
How does one pronounce the name? According to the Chinese characters, the name Zeekr is written as ‘Ji Ke’ (极氪), and as such, it looks like the brand will be pronounced as ‘zeeker’ or seeker that begins with ‘Z’.
Nope, not a Zeekr. This is the sketch of the Lynk & Co Zero Concept
Zeekr vehicles will be built on Geely Holding Group’s open-sourced
Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA)
 and will include its own battery technologies, management system, motor technologies and EV supply chain support. Last week, Geely was reported to be investing over
USD4.6 billion
 into an
EV battery plant
 with Farasis Energy.
The first vehicle bearing the Zeekr brand is expected to be delivered by the third quarter of this year, and the company is planning an aggressive product offensive of a new EV model each year in the coming five years.
Products will be made available in China at the initial phase, with plans to export should the demand build up. So far, only Lynk & Co is made available out of China, with the establishment of two dealerships in
Europe
. The soon-to-be-launched
Lynk & Co Zero
 sedan will be the first vehicle to be built on the SEA EV platform.
The Geometry C, not using the latest SEA platform
Zeekr Company Limited will be jointly owned by Geely Automobile Holdings with 51% ownership while the remaining 49% by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (ZGH). Both parties have also agreed to inject 2 billion Yuan (RM1.264 billion) in capital into the new company.
Other EV models under the Geely Holding Group include Volvo, Polestar, Lynk & Co,
Geometry
 and Lotus Cars with the
Evija
 EV. More details on Zeekr is expected to be announced at the upcoming Shanghai Motor Show 2021 slated for late April.
Note: Main image is a Geely Preface Concept


There will be a new Lotus Sports Car before the SUV

With an RM7 billion investment from its new owner, Geely, Lotus is gearing for its upcoming plans to broaden the appeal of the British sports car brand. Before the unveiling of a new-generation platform for the Elise, Exige and Evora, Lotus has confirmed that they have a new model up their sleeve for 2020.
According to
AutoCar UK
, Lotus Cars CEO, Phil Popham has confirmed that the new model will be based on a heavily revised existing Lotus platform which retains Lotus’ famed driving dynamics but with the added ergonomics and connectivity. “There’s this one car, then the new platform,” Popham said.
It is likely that the new car will be based on the Evora, banking on the “Touring” credentials the car already has. Moving forward, the company will be focusing on its
new SUV
 and new-generation platforms which is said to take three to four years to complete.
Popham also added that since
Lotus is now part of a large and well-resourced group as Geely
, the sports car brand can leverage on the Group’s expertise and bring down the production cost and time as well as improve the quality of future sports car models. Currently, Lotus cars use too many parts and their cost is also “too high”, a reason for Lotus’ inconsistent build quality.


F90 BMW M5 launched in Malaysia, 4.4L biturbo V8 sedan for RM943k

A new contender has joined the high-performance premium business sedan game as BMW Group Malaysia welcomes the arrival of the F90 BMW M5. Priced at RM943k, the M5 is looking to give the
Mercedes-AMG E 63 S
 a good run for its money.
Unveiled globally in August 2017, the M5 has gone on to score several accolades to its name such as the 2018 World Performance Car of the Year at the 2018 New York International Motor Show and two Guinness World Records for the
longest drift and the longest twin-vehicle drift
.
QUICK FACTS
Name
F90 BMW M5
Engine
4.4-litre; BMW M TwinPower Turbo V8
Transmission
8-speed M Steptronic automatic
Max Power
600 hp @ 5,600 – 6,700 rpm
Max Torque
750 Nm @ 1,800 – 5,600 rpm
0 – 100 km/h; Top Speed
3.4 seconds; 250 km/h
Price (OTR without Insurance)
RM942,759.86
Visually, the M5 is as understated as any other
G30 5 Series
. Blink and you’ll miss the M-Specific body kit, M wing mirrors, carbon roof and rear ducktail spoiler. Shoutier bits include the M front fenders, quad exhaust outlets and 20-inch 706M style M double-spoke lightweight alloy wheels.

Standard stopping power comes from the M compound brakes identified by the blue-painted six-piston fixed front callipers and single-piston callipers at the rear. For an additional
RM95,000
, you can have the M Carbon Ceramic Brakes fitted that shaves
23 kgs
 and provide stronger and more consistent stopping power. Onlookers will know your M5 is serious business thanks to the Gold painted callipers.
Inside, the M5 retains much of its business saloon luxury with standard features include Merino leather upholstery (Argon & Black or Black), aluminium carbon structure with dark chrome highlight interior trim, powered front seats with memory function, BMW Navigation Professional 10.25-inch Touch Display with Gesture Control and Harman Kardon sound system.

Separating the M5 from its
lesser
siblings are the M-specific LCD instrument cluster and Heads-Up Display, M multifunctional steering wheel with M1 & M2 drive mode select, M gear selector with Drivelogic control, bucket styled seats, red start button and illuminated M5 door sills.
Open up the aluminium hood you’ll find a 4.4-litre BMW M TwinPower Turbo V8 engine developing
600 hp
 and
750 Nm
 of torque which is available from a lowly 1,800 rpm. Century sprint is done and dusted in
3.4 seconds
, onwards to a governed top speed of
250 km/h
.
The F90 M5 is also the first M5 to feature the xDrive all-wheel-drive system. The M xDrive can work in tandem with the Dynamic Stability Control to programme the car into
three driving modes
 – 4WD, 4WD Sport and 2WD, the latter puts the car to be purely rear-wheel driving without any electronic nanny.
For those inclined, BMW Group Malaysia offers a range of step-up options for customers to spice up their M5. Starting from the
Performance Pack
 which costs RM30,000, it includes an M Sport Exhaust System, M Carbon Engine Cover and M Seat Belts;
Advanced Safety Pack
 with Driving Assistant Plus for RM15,000 and
Entertainment Pack
 that adds Rear-Seat Entertainment Profession with Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System for RM55,000.
Priced at RM942k, the F90 BMW M5 is available in Marina Bay Blue metallic, Donington Grey metallic and Singapore Grey metallic as the standard colour palette, but the company is willing to expand the colour choice if you ask nicely.
All purchase of the BMW M5 comes with a 5-Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Schedule Service, 2-Years or 24-Months Tyre Warranty Programme, BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline, BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App, BMW White Card Elite and BMW Service Online.
IMAGE GALLERY

 No more V8s?


2023 Audi e-tron GT, RS e-tron GT launched in Malaysia – from RM601K

Four months since
opening its order books
, Audi Malaysia has now officially launched the 2023
e-tron GT
 and RS e-tron GT here in Malaysia, alongside the
Q8 e-tron and Q8 Sportback e-tron
. The sleek-looking electric four-door grand tourer starts at
RM600,790
 here in Malaysia for the base e-tron GT variant, jumping up to
RM808,790
 for the high performance
 Renn Sport
edition.
The standard Audi e-tron GT is also offered with a Dynamic Package option, with several addition equipment for
RM679,790
.
Looking to renew your car insurance? Check out MotorTakaful.com by Etiqa to enjoy a 10% instant rebate, cashback, and many more. Learn more at
MotorTakaful.com
.
Audi e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT Performance
Both variants of the Audi e-tron GT are powered by a twin-motor, all-wheel drive drivetrain set-up, but their output differs by quite a significant margin.
The standard e-tron GT makes
476 hp
 and
630 Nm
, but can be increased up to
530 hp
 and
640 Nm
 for 2.5 seconds during launch control. In ideal circumstances, the Audi e-tron GT can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in
4.1 seconds
, onwards to a top speed of
245 km/h
.
Step up to the range-topping RS e-tron GT, and you’ll get
598 hp
 and
830 Nm
, the former increasing up to
646 hp
 momentarily in “boost mode” for a century sprint time of
 3.3 seconds
, and a top speed of
250 km/h
.
The regular Audi e-tron GT rides on steel springs with adaptive dampers, while the RS e-tron GT steps it up with a set of air suspensions, which automatically lowers the car by up to 12 mm during high-speed cruising. The range-topping RS also adds on all-wheel steering, tungsten carbide-coated cast-iron brake discs (also available on the e-tron GT with Dynamic Package), as well as an electronically-controlled rear differential lock for better traction out of corners.
2023 Audi e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT Battery and Range
The electric motors are supplied by a
85 kWh
 battery pack on both variants, providing the electric four-door fastback sedan up to
487 km
 of driving range. Thanks to its 800V electric architecture, both the e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT will support DC fast charging of up to 270 kW, taking it from 5-80% in just
22.5 minutes
. Both cars also come with an on-board AC charger, supporting up to 22 kW of power on the RS e-tron GT and the e-tron GT with Dynamic Package.
Audi e-tron GT Design
The Audi e-tron GT won the 2021 Goldenes Lenkrad (Golden Steering Wheel) awards for the
 Most Beautiful Car of the Year
 category, and it’s not hard to see why. Its silhouette is fairly similar to that of the Porsche Taycan, yes, but it also has a distinct
Audi-ness
 to it that just makes it stand out.
Audi says that many of the design elements here also guide the form and looks for the brand’s future electric models, including the new blocked-off Singleframe grille, and the unique lighting signature both front and rear. The sleek silhouette alongside other aerodynamic treatments help reduce the e-tron GT’s drag coefficient to just 0.24 Cd.
Exterior equipment highlights include the electronically retractable rear spoiler, three-dimensional matrix LED headlights (upgraded to laser light high beams on the e-tron GT with Dynamic Package, as well as the RS e-tron GT), and the sculpted full-width tail light strip with dynamic turn indicators.
The Audi e-tron GT gets a set of 20-inch wheels, while the RS e-tron GT steps it up with 21-inch items with a variant-exclusive design finished in black. Black Package plus is also standard, which darkens many of the exterior trims of the car. Opting for the Dynamic Package or the RS e-tron GT will add on a lighweight carbon roof, as well as red brake callipers.
Audi e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT Interior
Inside, both the e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT are fairly standard Audi affairs, where sharp angles dictate the modern dashboard design. The standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is paired to a 10.1-inch MMM infotainment touchscreen display that’s tilted towards the driver. The front seats offer a low seating position to match its sporting credentials, and come with 18-way adjustabilities, pneumatic side bolsters, and seat ventilation as standard, as part of its sports seat pro package.
Opting for the Dynamic Package means the e-tron GT’s interior essentially steps up to the same level as the RS e-tron GT, sharing many of the same equipment including a Nappa leather and Dinamica microfibre upholstery, head-up display, a B&O premium sound system, as well as additional glossy carbon interior trims, paired to matte carbon twill decorative inserts.
In line with its eco-conscious powertrain, the floor carpet and mats of the Audi e-tron GT line are made out of a material called Econyl, that consists of 100% recycled nylon fibres made from production waste, fabric and carpe remnants, and old fishing nets.
As for safety, the Audi e-tron GT range in Malaysia comes as standard with eight airbags, autonomous emergency braking for both front and rear incidents, adaptive cruise control, efficiency assist, swerve assist, turn assist, lane departure warning, plus front and rear cross traffic assist.
2023 Audi e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT Pricing in Malaysia
The 2023 Audi e-tron GT range in Malaysia is priced as follows:
Audi e-tron GT –
RM600,790
Audi e-tron GT with Dynamic Package –
RM679,790
Audi RS e-tron GT –
RM808,790
All prices listed above are on-the-road, without insurance, and
inclusive of the Audi Assurance package
, that extends the warranty up to five-years with no mileage cap, alongside three years of scheduled service at a 15,000 km interval.
Customers can opt for just the standard two-year (unlimited) warranty package, which drops the prices down by approximately 2-3% across the board. No matter which warranty package, though, the high-voltage batteries are all covered by an eight-year warranty.
All 2023 Audi e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT customers in Malaysia will also receive RM1,000 in JomCharge credits (one year validity) for charging at JomCharge locations across Malaysia. A standard mobile e-tron Charging System Compact charger is also included in the price, with a max output of up to 11 kW on a three-phase power supply.
GALLERY
2023 Audi RS e-tron GT
2023 Audi e-tron GT with Dynamic Package


This Nissan Navara Dark Sky Concept is used to look deep into outer space

Nissan recently unveiled the Navara Dark Sky Concept in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), that’ll function as a mobile astronomy lab with a world-leading, observatory-class telescope.
It will support astronomers with observations of the universe in so called “dark-sky” locations, away from the night time glow of urban areas, which decreases visibility.
The colour scheme of the Nissan Navara Dark Sky Concept follows after the cosmos with dark colours while the interior combines the deep shades of the night sky with the orange of a setting sun.
The reflective orange piping on the seats are there to provide better cabin visibilty, eliminating the need for white lights that would disrupt the astronomer’s night vision.
Sticking out like a sore thumb on the trailer is the ultrahigh-power PlaneWave telescope. Th red lights were deployed since it affects human night vision the least and wouldn’t cause visual disruption during observations.
The trailer’s roof can be opened to focus the telescope on the night sky. Using a 40 cm mirror, it allows astronomers to view beyond the rings of Saturn, to distant galaxies and supernovas.
IMAGE GALLERY


Testing Waze on Apple CarPlay, goodbye Apple Maps

While the world is keeping their eyes peeled for the latest and greatest iPhone
yet
, our mandarin site writer, Kelvin, was on the lookout for the announcement of the new Apple iOS 12 operating system which will (finally) support Apple CarPlay third-party navigation apps like Waze and Google Maps.
Apple first made the announcement to integrate CarPlay with third-party navigation application at the 2018 Apple World Wide Developer Conference in April. Shortly after that, the tech giant rolled out 14 beta versions of the iOS 12 software, the highest number in the history of iOS beta versions.
Curiously, in the beta versions of the iOS 12, there were no signs of Waze on CarPlay, much to Kelvin’s disappointment. There is a reason behind this delay, beta versions of applications are subjected to the “Test Flight” approval from Apple and beta version of Waze for CarPlay was finally made available on iOS 12 for beta testers on 18 September 2018.
Launching the Waze app on Apple CarPlay, the author immediately noticed the cleaner and more minimalistic interface as compared to the ones on Android Auto. On the infotainment screen itself, users can select destinations under Favourite and History but new destination search will require users to key in on the iPhone itself as there is no keypad available on the CarPlay app.
Other functions include the all-important “Send a Report” icon on the bottom left of the screen to report traffic conditions, accidents, police sightings and the rest.
Apple did not disclose the official availability of third-party navigation applications on Apple CarPlay, but the integration of Waze and Google Maps will finally make CarPlay useful other than streaming Spotify. For now, let’s be patient and allow the software developers to iron out the bugs because nothing worse than a buggy application am I right?
[
Mandarin Version
]


Gallery: 2023 Volvo XC40 B5, Recharge T5, P8 Ultimate – from RM269k

Earlier this month, the
Volvo XC40
 in Malaysia has been given an
update
 with a slight front-end refresh and a new set of wheels. There are more additions to the XC40 which we will get into, and the update bumps the XC40’s starting price to
RM268,888
. Three variants are offered with all of them being electrified.
Recharge Pure Electric P8 Ultimate
Recharge T5 Ultimate
B5 Ultimate
The three versions of the 2023 Volvo XC40 are the:
XC40 B5 Ultimate (MHEV) –
RM268,888
XC40 Recharge T5 Ultimate (PHEV) –
RM268,888
XC40 Recharge Pure Electric P8 Ultimate (EV) –
RM278,888
XC40 Recharge Pure Electric P8
The front end for all versions has been revised with a new front bumper that features a new foglight cluster. The front grille has been retained for the B5 and T5, but the Pure Electric P8 gets a new front panel to go with the new bumper design.
RELATED:
Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric sold out for MY2022 in Malaysia – over 400 orders, 120 delivered
B5 Ultimate
T5 Ultimate
P8 Ultimate
All versions of the XC40 get 19-inch wheels with the B5 Ultimate featuring a 5 Y-spoke design and both T5 and P8 with a 5 Double-spoke design. As for colour choices, there is a new Fjord Blue colour for the XC40. Also new is the omission of the dual-tone colour scheme for the B5 Ultimate and the Recharge T5 Ultimate. That is now exclusive for the XC40 Pure Electric P8, making it easily distinguishable from its partially-electric counterparts.
AWD Mild hybrid system with 2.0-litre NA engine and an electric motor in the B5 Ultimate
As for the powertrain, all three variants have a completely different drive system. The XC40 B5 Ultimate is powered by a mild hybrid system consisting of a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine and an electric motor. Combined, the system makes
263 hp
 and
390 Nm
. Power is sent to all wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission.
B5 Ultimate
Recharge T5 Ultimate
Recharge Pure Electric P8 Ultimate
Moving on, the XC40 Recharge T5 Ultimate gets a plug-in hybrid system with a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine and an electric motor. It is the only version of the XC40 in Malaysia that doesn’t come with an all-wheel drive (AWD) system. The hybrid system has a system output of
262 hp
 and
425 Nm
 and all of that is sent to the front wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT).
No engine in the Pure Electric P8 Ultimate
Lastly, the XC40 Pure Electric P8 is powered by a dual-motor AWD that makes
408 hp
 and
660 Nm
. Storing power in the P8 is a
78-kWh
 battery pack that provides
438 km
 of range (WLTP).
As for charging, the Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric P8 is capable of
150-kW
 DC fast charging and
11-kW
 AC charging. With 150-kW DC fast charging, the XC40 Recharge P8 can charge from 0 to 80% in just
40 minutes
. With 11-kW AC charging, it takes
8 hours and 15 minutes
 to charge from 0 to 100%.
Inside, the facelift introduces Android Automotive to the B5 Ultimate and Recharge Pure Electric P8 Ultimate. The soon-to-be phased-out Recharge T5 doesn’t get the Android Automotive system as it still runs the Sensus system on its 9-inch portrait head unit. It also doesn’t get Volvo’s Digital Services Package (
DSP
).
Android Automotive on B5
Sensus system (shown on S60)
On the B5 and P8, the DSP includes Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Play Store, Volvo Car App Remote Functions, and data for said services. The DSP is included in the price of the B5 and P8 and lasts for 4 years until a subscription renewal is required.
As for upholstery, the XC40 gets a Suede textile/microtech charcoal upholstery as standard. An interesting feature XC40 is the topography lighting trim on the doors and dashboard that lights up in the dark. This is only provided in the Recharge T5 Ultimate and the Recharge Pure Electric P8 Ultimate.
B5 Ultimate
Recharge T5 Ultimate
Recharge Pure Electric P8 Ultimate
In the safety department, the XC40 comes with Volvo’s City Safety Package that includes collision avoidance and mitigation with intersection support and object (Pedestrian, Cyclist, & Large Animal) detection with steering support and braking. It also features the full suite of advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) which includes:
Front & Rear Collision Warning & Mitigation Support
Lane Keeping Aid (LKA)
Run-Off Road Mitigation with Road Edge Detection
Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Steer Assist
Cross Traffic Alert (CTA) with Auto Brake
Emergency Stop Assist
Topography lighting trim on the dashboard of P8 Ultimate
The updated Volvo XC40 costs
 RM268,888
for both the B5 Ultimate and the Recharge T5 Ultimate. The Recharge Pure Electric P8 fetches a price of
RM278,888
. Included in the price is a 5-year/unlimited mileage warranty and an 8-year/160,000 km high voltage battery warranty.
RELATED:
Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric updated for 2023, now from RM 279k
GALLERY


Fresh graduate takes home grand prize in BMW Shorties 2019

BMW Shorties, Malaysia’s longest-running short film competition, has just wrapped up its 13th edition. The short film ‘PACE’ by Ekin Kee Charles has been named Winner of BMW Shorties 2019, taking home a grand prize worth
RM80,000
 in production grant.
‘PACE’ is a 15-minute short film about a young girl contemplating her identity for the first time in a small town in Sabah. Determined to be more than just the ‘girl’ in her group, she takes a leap of faith by pushing the boundaries of what it means to be feminine in a world that is seemingly built for the opposite gender.
‘PACE’ is Ekin’s first submission to the BMW Shorties. A Cinematography fresh graduate from the University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), her winning short film was also awarded the Best Editing award for the stunning visuals and stellar production quality.
Syahnur Asyikin Kee Charles, or better known as Ekin, said “Making this short film was no easy feat but working with my niece and nephews made it a spectacular experience. We directed children with no acting experience and shot a short film without any written lines; the story was told through their candid emotions and reactions to the directions we gave them.
“I set out to convey a message about gender, identity and the many conflicts with ourselves, no matter the age; and I am proud to have achieved that,” she added.
The dialogue-less short received all-round praises from the judges, with BMW Shorties 2019 judge and filmmaker Amanda Nell-Eu saying “It is rare we see a short film so silently moving yet so loud in its storytelling, despite the minimal dialogue between her characters.”
This year’s BMW Shorties, themed ‘UNCHARTED’, received the highest number of submissions in the competition’s history. The finalists’ short films can be viewed on the
BMW Shorties YouTube channel
.


TNB, PLUS Malaysia to set up EV charging network along North-South Expressway

Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB)
will be setting up an electric vehicle (EV) charging network along the North-South Expressway (NSE), as part of its collaboration with highway operator
PLUS Malaysia
,

Bernama

reports.
The partnership, first announced back in March this year, will see an investment of RM90 million from the national utility firm over a span of three years to develop the EV ecosystem here in Malaysia.
“TNB aims to accelerate the battery electric vehicle (BEV) adoption to capture the RM1.3 billion market value by 2030 and welcomes collaboration with strategic partners to stimulate the growth of the BEV ecosystem,” TNB President and CEO Datuk Baharin Din said at an editors’ media briefing today, as reported by the newswire.
The collaboration between TNB and PLUS is aimed as a holistic approach in reducing carbon emissions on PLUS highways. In addition to setting up EV charging infrastructure, the companies will also install energy efficiency monitoring and solar photovoltaic systems at selected rest and relaxation (R&R) stops along the highways.
RELATED:
Shell and Porsche announce cross-country 180 kW charging network, six stations in Malaysia
In addition to PLUS, Baharin said TNB is also in talks with other highway operators and federal road authorities under the Public Works Department (JKR) to set up EV chargers.
He added that the Malaysian EV market has a potential for 3,300 charging points for 33,350 BEVs on the road by 2025, which should translate to an annual electricity revenue of RM80 million. By 2030, the numbers are set to increase to 18,000 chargers and 524,409 BEVs on the road, and an annual electricity revenue of RM1.25 billion by 2030.
ALSO READ:
BMW Malaysia DC fast chargers now part of ChargEV – cheaper time-based rates, annual subscription required
“By 2030, we forecast half a million EVs to be on the road with 2.3 TWh of electricity charging requirements, valued at RM1.26 billion. This also means 4.4 million tonnes of CO2 emissions reduction by taking internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles off the road,” Baharin was quoted by
Bernama
 as saying.
The potential positive impact on both climate and the company’s revenue makes the development of the EV ecosystem a clear priority for TNB, he explained.
Aside from building charging infrastructure, TNB will also be providing upskilling and reskilling courses for the EV industry, as well as electrifying about 4,200 of TNB’s own fleet of vehicles, sponsoring EV-related studies, and fostering coalitions among EV sector players such as Zero Emission Vehicle Association (ZEVA),
Bernama
 reports.


Experience the Jaguar F-PACE, XF and XE this 16-18th March

Experience what it’s like to drive the
 Jaguar XE
,
Jaguar XF
 and the
F-PACE
 on a driving circuit, on the road and on Jaguar’s innovative Smart Cones course this 16th to 18th March at the Setia City Convention Centre when Jaguar’s Art of Performance Tour arrives in Malaysia.
The
Smart Cones
 course is designed to put the driver’s skill along with the car’s precision and agility to the test. Inspired by the agility training game known as “Batak”, the course consists of intelligent illuminating cones to notify the drivers of their next target with only a moment’s notice.
Participants will also be
among the first in Malaysia
 to sample the
2.0-litre F-PACE
 before it’s launched in Malaysia this April. The F-PACE’s new 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Ingenium powertrain
 features a single twin-scroll turbo that produces
 247 hp
 and
365Nm
 of torque from only 1,200rpm.
Power is delivered through an 8-speed automatic transmission with the lightened F-PACE capable of sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.0 seconds. The XF business saloon does the same run in 5.6 seconds while the XE sports saloon hits the 100 km/h mark in just 5.5 seconds.
To participate in the Art of Performance Tour Malaysia, do
register your interest here
.


Formula 1’s new safety car is a Beast of the Green Hell

For the 2018 Formula 1 (F1) season, FIA will officially enlist the services of the
Mercedes-AMG GT R
 as their Official FIA F1 Safety Car. The AMG GT R will replace the existing AMG GT S that has been serving reliably for the past three seasons.
With
576 hp
 and
700 Nm
 from its 4.0-litre biturbo V8, the AMG GT R will be the most powerful safety car of all time. The safety cars task is to safely lead the pack when bad weather or accidents occur, so why do they need such a brutal car? Because F1 cars
aren’t meant to go

slow
.

The performance requirements of an F1 safety car is demanding because it must be able to maintain a minimum pace to prevent the F1 vehicles to prevent the tyre and brakes from excessive cooling as well as engine overheating from the lack of airflow. With a century sprint time of
3.6 seconds
, top speed of
 318 km/h
 and technologies from the
AMG GT3 race car
, the AMG GT R can surely set a decent pace.
As a result, the AMG GT R needs little modification to take on its new role; FIA livery, light bar on the roof, two iPads as radio controls and light switches positioned at the headliner. The roll-over protection bar and ceramic compound brakes are part of the
AMG Track Package
 that regular customers can add as an option.

Bernd Mayländer, who will again be the driver of the safety car for the new season said: “I am very much looking forward to my new company car. It is an absolute highlight in terms of driving dynamics and is one level higher up still than the
AMG GT S
 of recent years. Of course, ideally the safety car should be deployed as rarely as possible – but when we have to safely bunch up the Formula 1 field and lead it around the track, we will be superbly equipped with the AMG GT R”
Alongside the new safety car, Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Estate will once again take on the role as the Official FIA F1 Medical Car, piloted by racing driver Alan van der Merwe, with FIA F1 deputy medical delegate Dr Ian Roberts as his co-driver. The 490 litre luggage compartment safely accommodates the full complement of emergency equipment, including defibrillator and respirator.
IMAGE GALLERY


What’s the Buzz: How Malaysians behave on the road these days

A shocking
dashcam footage
 has emerged on social media on yet another incident of a motorcyclist running a red light and smashing into a car. Let’s not call it an accident anymore since it’s clearly a (mis)calculated attempt to beat the law.
But before lay down scorn on all the motorcyclists of this world, bear in mind that a dark-coloured Perodua Viva and one other motorcyclist also dashed across the busy Jalan Semangat (now called Jalan Prof. Khoo Kay Kim) junction after the lights have clearly turned red. Prior to that, a silver Toyota Vios just made the junction on ‘yellow’, which is actually the signal to slow down by the way.
Lights are red, the first motorcyclist and a dark Viva are making a dash for it.
We aren’t sure of the fate of the motorcyclist as the footage ended with him writhing on the ground (at least there’s movement) as the unfortunate driver of the Toyota Sienta alighted to check on him. The only positive, if there is even one, is that the journey to the nearest hospital (along Jalan Universiti) is a short one.
‘Suicidal’ rider tries his luck, even after the first oncoming car has passed the junction!
We have no idea why Malaysian motorists (yes, drivers and riders) have become so brazen on our roads. According to a
Bloomberg report in 2017
, we are ranked third in the world for the highest death rate on the road. It is probably worse now.
The moment of impact, tough luck for the Sienta driver.
Some say it’s the lack of enforcement, others point to a lackadaisical attitude towards road safety. Whichever the case, it has gone beyond recklessness. If you are one of those who defy traffic lights and take unnecessary risks on the road for reasons known only to yourself, please consider the life-changing and life-ending consequences of being an idiot behind wheel.
Screen grabs are taken from a video posted by FB user Derek Foo.


Coming to Malaysia, here is the GWM Tank 500 at Auto Shanghai 2023

Soon to enter the Malaysian Market is the Tank 500, a Land Cruiser-rivalling vehicle by
(Great Wall Motors (GWM)
. On display at
Auto Shanghai 2023
, the
Tank 500
 is offered in a total of six variants, with prices starting from
RMB 360,000
 (approximately
RM 232,221
).
Good news to any of you interested in this
Land Cruiser
 competitor, as it is confirmed that the Tank 500 will be coming to Malaysia alongside the
Tank 300
. The variants and pricing will be revealed as we approach its Malaysian debut.
Underpinning the Tank 500 is a 2,850 mm long ladder-on-frame platform. Measuring 5,070 mm or 4,878 mm long (depending on variant), 1,934 mm wide, and 1,905 mm tall, the Chinese SUV’s dimensions are close to that of the Toyota Land Cruiser. Regardless, this is a huge SUV, at least when compared to the size of cars most of us Malaysians drive.
The Tank 500 also features GWM’s capable Hi4T 4WD system and is available in ‘smart’ 4WD and part-time 4WD modes. Crawling mode is also available which aids in travelling across mountains and waters safely while off-roading.
RELATED:
GWM’s Tank 300 coming soon to Malaysia – Still want that Jimny?
Looking at the Tank 500’s exterior, we can see lots of chrome being used, from the front especially, all the way to the back. Like it or not will certainly depend on your personal tastes. But to a certain extent, the Tank 500 does carry a ‘majestic’ look, which is how GWM Tank describes this SUV on its official site.
The rear of the Tank 500 gives out a rugged but at the same time elegant feel, thanks to the bumper, rear-mounted spare tyre and the expensive-looking LED rear lights. Other standard exterior features include:
Automatic LED headlights with follow-me-home
LED daytime running lights
Front LED fog lamps
Door sill plate lamps
RELATED:
Malaysia-bound Ora Lightning Cat at Auto Shanghai 2023, up to 705km range
Under the hood of the large Chinese SUV is a 48V mild hybrid system, which consists of a 3.0-litre turbo V6 and an electric drive system, The powertrain is mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. This results in 260 kW (
353 hp
 metric) and
500 Nm
 output, which translates into more horsepower but less torque than the Land Cruiser.
Inside, the Tank 500 looks expensive as it includes standard features such as a heated leather steering wheel, a 12-speaker sound system, and a front wireless mobile phone charger.
Additional features available on higher variants of the Tank 500 include:
Rear wireless charger
Electric steering wheel adjustment
Second-row sunshade
Other features that are available as options include:
Digital rearview mirror
Leather roof linings
Automatic parking function
Remote parking function
Lane tracking reversing
RELATED:
Smart #3 debuts at Auto Shanghai 2023, fastback version of Smart #1
In terms of safety, the Tank 500 comes with a full suite of features as standard, such as Brake Assist (BA), Traction control (TC), Roll movement intervention (RMI), Hill-start assist control (HAC), Hill descent control (HDC), Auto hold, and Secondary collision mitigation (SCM) system. It is also equipped with a 360° full-view driving recorder, Interior driving recorder, Driver fatigue monitoring system, Front collision warning (FCW), Rear collision warning (RCW), Automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, Blind-spot monitoring (BSM), Lane change assist (LCA), Junction assist (JA), Intelligent cruise assist (ICA), Traffic jam assistant (TJA), Lane departure warning (LDW), Lane keep assist (LKA), Lane centEring keeping (LCK), Traffic sign recognition (TSR), Cross-traffic alert (CTA), and Tire pressure monitoring.
Colour-wise, customers have a choice of six exterior colours and five interior colours to choose from, including two-tone options. If the above-mentioned specifications are to come with the Tank 500 in Malaysia and at the right price, it might just be a very popular ladder-frame SUV, as long as Malaysians are willing to give it a try.
RELATED:
Tengku Zafrul receives Ora Good Cat for long-term test drive – MITI to study EV usage pattern
GALLERY:


250,000th Honda City owner gets RM6,300 worth of goodies from Honda Malaysia

Since the first introduction of the second-generation Honda City to Malaysia in 2001, the B-segment sedan has been a popular choice among Malaysians. Sixteen years later, Honda Malaysia sold 250,000 units of the car, with Mr. Tan Kian Hui being the milestone marker.
Honda shifted more than 61,000 units of the second-generation City while the third-generation went on to sell more than 84,000 units. Come the
fourth-generation City
, the newest model, the company sold an impressive 100,000 units between March 2014 to December 2016, making it the most popular City ever. The City has always been locally assembled, and Honda Malaysia is proud to say that their best-selling model is made here in Malaysia.
The 250,000th City presented to Mr. Tan is a grade V City finished in Modern Steel Metallic, purchased at Tiong Nam Motor (M) Sdn. Bhd. To celebrate Tan’s first car, Honda Malaysia presented Mr Tan with a full set of Honda merchandises and Honda Genuine Accessories consisting of Modulo package, Urban package and Utility package worth RM5,300 as well as RM1,000 worth of service vouchers.
“I have always had a good impression of Honda cars. When it came to buying my own car, I immediately only thought of Honda and I liked the City very much the minute I saw it because the design is very attractive. When I sat in the car for the first time, I was impressed with the amount of features such as rear view camera and rear air conditioning that give added convenience. I booked the car just about a week ago and to be the 250,000th City owner is totally unexpected. I am very happy with my new City!” said Mr. Tan who hails from Klang.
Besides that, Honda Malaysia is also giving out RM1,000 worth of service vouchers to 24 other lucky customers which will be announced on the
Honda Malaysia Facebook page
. Honda Malaysia is also currently running a number of campaigns, including
Best Deals Promotion
 that rewards new customers automatically,
Best Time to Get Best Protection
 Ecotint promotion and
The Digital Treasure Hunt Wall Contest
 where the public can participate in the
Facebook contest
 and stand a chance to win a variety of prizes.
The new
Honda City facelift
 was launched earlier this month and priced between RM78k to RM92k. Over
2,000 bookings
 have been made in just 10 days since its arrival. It’s safe to say that the City is here to reign in the long run.
IMAGE GALLERY


A family who Mustangs together, stays together

If you’ve been following our stories, you would’ve seen
Ford’s latest teaser of what could be the new hybrid Mustang
, due to be unveiled some time in the next decade.
But before all that, let’s dive into the cult-like following the Mustang brand has amassed, the influence it had on the American people and those around the world – like this family of eight, for example.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RJ-3qHNteo
From a 1969 Mach 1 Mustang to a 1994 Ford Mustang GT, this family has it all and the madness, started from their father as is always the case, who used to own nothing but Ford pick-up trucks but the love for all things Mustangs really started when one day he returned with a 1965 Mustang.
“It felt like Christmas”, said one of the brothers when describing the
new 2018 Ford Mustang
. Find out what the other siblings had to say (or scream) about Ford’s new muscle car.
Source:
Ford


Hyundai Sonata LF gets massive design refresh and a 242 hp 2.0L turbo!

The
seventh-generation Hyundai Sonata
 was quite a hit in many markets overseas, but in Malaysia it struggled to put up a fight against rivalling D-segment models. Hyundai responded by giving the Sonata a huge makeover which was just unveiled in its native country, Korea.
This refresh exercise is quite substantial, and it’s exactly as per the
sketches
 leaked online some days ago. The front fascia shares similar traits with the current
Elantra
 and
i30
 models, whereas the headlights are slimmer than before. Also new are the fog lamps’ design. Behind, it gets a striking new pair of LED tail lamps, and the Sonata lettering is now between the lamps.
The blue Sonata you see here is of the 2.0-litre turbo variant, and will get a sportier mesh grille, black-bezelled headlamps, darkened LED DRL surrounds and a host of black-contrasted trimmings. At the back, there’s a new diffuser with dual exhaust tips. A choice of 17- or 18-inch wheels can be had depending on variants. Changes on the inside are minimal at best, with the most evident difference being the sportier three-spoke steering wheel.
Two forced-induced powertrains are offered in South Korea: a
 178 hp 1.6-litre
 and
242 hp 2.0-litre
. Both are paired to an all-new
eight-speed automatic transmission
– two cogs up than before. The range-topping 2.0-litre turbo sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in
7.5 seconds
 with a top speed of
240 km/h
. All Sonatas are offered with active safety kit comprised of lane keep assist, high beam assist, dynamic bending lights and blind spot detection.
Sales of the 2017 Hyundai Sonata facelift will begin by mid-2017. It will be making its Malaysian debut in the near future, but whether or not we get the turbocharged engines remains to be see. If Hyundai Malaysia is serious about the D-segment pie, then we can surely look forward to getting the Sonata Turbo. This will take place after the new
Elantra
 and
Tucson turbo
 make their debut.
IMAGE GALLERY


The upcoming electric Hummer will have a “crab mode” party trick

The Hummer is resurrecting as an all-electric pick-up “super truck” on the 20th of next month. To rival the Tesla Cybertruck’s eventual list of party tricks which we’ll see more when it actually begins deliveries, GMC shot first by teasing the Hummer EV’s “crab mode” ahead of its launch.
The “crab mode” is enabled by the Hummer’s rear-wheel steering, which isn’t a new technology by all means and purposes. However, it’s rare that we see it being used in this manner, and from the looks of it, the rear wheels on the upcoming Hummer EV does look like it rotates quite a bit – perhaps more than the
all-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class
‘s 10-degrees of rotation.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvX3959EjuM
We are struggling a little to find a realistic use case for the “crab mode” though, other than being a neat trick to show off to your friends – which kind of makes sense given the buyer demographics of a Hummer.
Perhaps to make parallel parking a little easier? In any case, wouldn’t it be more useful to have each wheel spin in an individual direction – like the
Rivian R1T’s tank turn mode
 where the car can change direction in place?
Our closest guess would be to help the humongous truck clear certain obstacles on tight off road trails. But the actual usefulness will still hinge on how much the rear wheels can turn – which we’ll find out more in a bout a month.
At launch, the Hummer EV will be offered in both pick-up truck and SUV forms. Several fully-electric powertrain options will be available, with the range-topping variant making up to
1,000 hp
 and
15,591 Nm
 (!) of torque. With that much power, GMC says that the Hummer EV will be able to hit 100 km/h from a standstill in just three seconds.


MINI gets a new logo – no longer three-dimensional

The new Mini is penned from the three-dimensional badge that has been around since the relaunch of the brand in 2001 – only now, it loses the protruding elements and features a flat design.
Aside from the black and white effect that projects a better clarity of the brand’s new identity (as if the shape of the car isn’t recognisable enough), the shading and grey tones in the previous logo have been forgoed.
The new logo will be applied to all MINI models as of
 March 2018
 – on the bonnet, rear end, steering wheel and on the remote control. For the eagle-eyed observers, you would’ve noticed the new badge on display when MINI cheekily presented it on the
MINI Electric Concept, due in 2019
 just a few months back during the Frankfurt Motor Show.
Also in the name of commemorating its roots, MINI had recently also introduced the
1499 GT
, in celebration of one of the most well-known classic Minis of all time, the 1275 GT.
The MINI 1499 GT houses a pokey little 1.5-litre 3-cylinder Twin Power Turbo engine producing
 102 hp
with 0 to 100 km/h taking
10.1 seconds
.
Power is delivered via a 6-speed manual gearbox with rev-matching technology and is contained by sports independent rear suspension. Only
 1,499 units
 of the 1499 GT will be built between November 2017 to February.
IMAGE GALLERY

MINI Electric Concept


BMW M boss explains why the XM is an SUV, not a coupe

If you’re anything like us, the
 BMW concept XM
must have left a sour taste in your mouth when it was unveiled back in December last year. Billed as the first exclusively M-badged model since the
M1
, the soon-to-be-produced XM turned out to be a chunky SUV, rather than a sleek, low-riding sports car as one would logically expect.
While enthusiasts are left scratching their heads, the explanation to the controversial choice is actually quite simple – if not a little boring – according to BMW M boss, who said that SUVs are now basically the most important segment in the car market.
When asked by
Autoblog
, BMW M CEO Frank van Meel said, “When we did the M1, every car company that wanted to say ‘I have something special’ built a sports car – that was the segment everyone wanted to enter. If you look today at the biggest, most important, and fastest-growing segment, it’s clearly the SUV segment. And, in comparison to other manufacturers, we were still lacking this ultimate expressive luxury flagship at the top of M.”
RELATED: New lightweight BMW M4 CSL storms to life to celebrate 50 years of M
Essentially, the reason BMW made the XM into an SUV is… us – the hypocritical car buyers. We like to think that we only want sports cars, but when it comes to buying cars, most people still gravitate towards the SUVs. And when the money’s there, you bet the carmakers will capitalise on it with SUVs of all shapes and sizes.
BMW themselves have already expanded its own SUV range, covering all the “traditional” numerical models from
X1
 all the way up to
X7
. Most of them already have their own full-blown M variants, too, which means BMW already knows that the demand is there for the super-fast M-badged SUVs. But with all that being said, a standalone M SUV model still seems pretty bold.
Not that they’re worried at all, with van Meel pointing his fingers to the other ultra-expensive SUVs on the market. “Of course, there is the
Mercedes-AMG G 63
, the
Lamborghini Urus
, the
Aston Martin DBX
, and so on. You see all of these high-end, very expressive models. For the customers, this is something that has been missing at M. That was the biggest demand.”
And for those lamenting BMW M for forgetting its motorsports-linked roots, van Meel has a rebuttal too: “In our 50-year heritage, we’ve always looked at racing and series-production cars to see where each one is going and what they can learn from each other.
“We’re continuing this with the XM: it has a V8-electric plug-in hybrid system, and [our upcoming entry into the LMDh prototype category] also has a V8-hybrid drivetrain. You can see that when it works for racing, it also works for the high-performance cars.”
The production version of the BMW XM is scheduled to be unveiled sometime this year, featuring a plug-in hybrid powertrain consisting of a “newly-developed” V8 plus an electric drive component. There will be two different power output guises, with the first one already confirmed to offer a total system output of
653 hp
 and
800 Nm
.
This will then be followed by a more powerful version, matching the figures first teased alongside the Concept XM at around
750 hp
 and
1,000 Nm
 of torque.
Fine, BMW, you win this time. But I bet you still can’t explain the XM’s weird design.
GALLERY


Team Mitsubishi Ralliart wins AXCR with rally-prepped Triton on first attempt

Team Mitsubishi Ralliart successfully clinched overall victory in its first-ever attempt at the Asian Cross Country Rally (AXCR) race, with a team of three rally-prepped
 Mitsubishi Triton
 pick-up trucks.
Over a total distance of 1,524 km, including 637 km of timed special stages (SS), Car #105 driven by Thailand’s Chayapon Yotha finished in first place overall with a time of 8 hours 22 minutes and 44 seconds, while Car #118 driven by Indonesia’s Rifat Sungkar finished fifth with 17 minutes and 14 seconds behind.
It was not a straightforward race for Team Mitsubishi Ralliart, as the unpredictable weather and natural landscapes in these parts of the world threw a myriad of challenges to the team during the rally, which ran from Buriram, Thailand to Siem Reap, Cambodia.
The third Mitsubishi Triton rally car, #119 meant for high-speed support, also had to unfortunately retire from the race as driver Sakchai Hantrakul tested positive for Covid-19 after SS1.
READ MORE:
Mitsubishi’s challenger in the 2022 Asia Cross Country Rally is a “nearly-stock” Triton!
Rifat Sungkar in car #118 suffered a flat tyre during SS2, which subsequently resulted in chassis damages, and a drop all the way down to eighth position. The team’s repair work allowed him to continue the rally the next day, and he managed to claw his way back into fifth place overall.
The second half of the rally was also filled with challenging terrains, consisting of large, deep puddles scattered on muddy roads caused by heavy rain. With the overall win and two cars in the top five, the lightly-modified Mitsubishi Triton truly demonstrated its might and toughness in the AXCR.
RELATED:
Mitsubishi is bringing back the Ralliart name and re-entering motorsports
Commenting on the win, Team Mitsubishi Ralliart team director, Hiroshi Masuoka said, “For this year’s AXCR, we built on the high reliability and durability of the Triton by tuning the engine and chassis, and entered the rally with specifications relatively close to the production car. Even so, the two Triton rally cars delivered powerful driving, and I am very proud of our high finish.
“The superb performance came down to the drivers, who were able to extract the Triton’s performance and show us some great drives, the engineers who worked every day to fine-tune the vehicles perfectly, all the staff who provided support, and the know-how that Mitsubishi Motors has accumulated over the years.
“We would like to feed the knowledge we gained through our participation in the AXCR back into the development of production vehicles, and build Mitsubishi vehicles that are even tougher, more powerful, and more reliable,” he added.
ALSO WATCH:
Ralliart is back! Checking out the Mitsubishi Triton rally truck in Thailand
GALLERY


All-new 2022 Volkswagen Taos has arrived – a budget Audi Q3?

The all-new 2022 Volkswagen Taos has made its debut and will slot below the bigger Tiguan; offering signature Volkswagen driving dynamics, in a smaller package with a lower price tag.
Built on the MQB platform shared by the Atlas and Golf, it comes with a single powertrain will be available to all variants – a 1.5-litre direct-injection EA211 TSI engine making 158 hp and 249 Nm.
The Taos is available as a front-wheel or 4Motion all-wheel drive. The front-wheel drive models are fitted with 8-speed automatic transmissions while the all-wheel drive gets a 7-speed dual clutch transmission.
All Taos models with 4Motion all-wheel drive feature Active Control, which allows the driver to select specific vehicle settings based on driving conditions. It has four settings – On-road, Snow, Off-road, and Custom Off-road.
Dimensions wise, the front-wheel drive measures 2690 mm in wheelbase, it’s 1842 mm wide and 1636 mm tall. The all-wheel drive model is a tad more compact, with a 2682 mm wheelbase. All-wheel drive models have a multilink layout at the rear while front-wheel drive versions get a torsion beam.
On the outside, the Taos comes with LED lighting with Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) available in the higher variants. An illuminated light line is also available, stretching outward from the logo as on the ID.4 electric SUV. Roof rails are standard, with 17- to 19-inch wheels options. In the higher variants, a panoramic roof is also available.
As for the inside, while the Taos may be an entry-level compact SUV, the equipment list is anything but. It boasts the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit with a fully digital 10.25-inch instrument panel, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto through the Volkswagen MIB touchscreen infotainment system.
A 10-colour ambient lighting system works in sync with the Driving Mode Selector; in Normal Mode it projects a white light, red in Sport Mode, and blue in Eco Mode.
In the higher variants, the Taos comes with an 8-inch display and wireless charging and multi-phone pairing. So available is the BeatsAudio sound system with 8-speakers, a 400-watt amplifier and a subwoofer.
The Taos also comes with the enhanced Volkswagen Car-Net feature that allows for remote start and remote lock to name a few from the owner’s smartphone.
With the Car-Net feature, users can also locate nearby parking lots and monitor their vehicle’s status such as fuel level, mileage, and door lock status. The Car-Net feature also offers in-car WiFi and even allows users to search for the best deals from insurance companies.
Other interesting features include the Curfew Alert which notifies the owner if the vehicle is driven beyond the set curfew and Valet Alert which warns the owner if the vehicle is driven more than 300 metres from the valet drop-off location.
As for driver assistance, the Taos comes with IQ.DRIVE for semi-autonomous driving capabilities. This includes features such as adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, forward collision warning, blindspot monitor, and rear-cross traffic alert.
The Emergency Assist feature helps slow the vehicle to a gradual stop in its own lane if the system detects zero driver input on the steering wheel following multiple warnings. Other features available includes Park Distance Control, Maneuver Braking, and Light Assist.
Prices for the Taos starts from USD 22,995 (approx RM95k) for the front-wheel drive models to USD 25,040 (approx RM103k) for the 4Motion all-wheel drive models.
GALLERY


Hyundai Creta vs Kona – which Korean B-segment SUV should you choose?

The
second-generation Hyundai Creta
 has just been
launched in Malaysia today
, marking the official debut of the compact crossover model here on our shores. Take a quick glance at the company’s model line-up, though, and you’ll notice they now have two B-segment crossovers on offer for the Malaysian market – the Creta, and the
Kona
.
While we can’t comment on the company’s plans and strategies, we
can
 compare the two models head-to-head, to hopefully give you a better idea on which B-segment SUV to choose – if you’re dead-set on getting a Hyundai, that is.
The all-new Hyundai Creta is priced at
 RM149,888
here in Malaysia, on-the-road, without insurance. So for pricing parity, we’ll be mostly comparing it to the
Hyundai Kona 2.0 Active
 and
1.6 Turbo
 variants, priced at
RM141,328
 and
RM150,888
 respectively (accurate as of time of writing).
Hyundai Creta
Hyundai Kona 2.0 Active
Hyundai Creta vs Kona – Exterior
The Hyundai Creta and Kona are both built around wildly different styling languages; the Creta has a more upright, traditional SUV-like appearance, while the Kona adopts a sleeker and (arguably) more fashionable profile, thanks to its raked rear windscreen and sharper front fascia.
Both models are equipped with LED headlights and daytime running lights as standard, the latter hidden in the Parametric Jewel grille on the Creta. The Kona does get the larger (and more interesting-looking) wheels at 18-inches in diameter, and if you opt for the 1.6 Turbo variant, there’s also the dual-tone black roof treatment, alongside roof rails as standard – despite the Creta being the more “rugged-looking” model of the two.
Where the Creta wins, though, is in size. The new kid on the block measures slightly larger in almost every dimension, but most notably in length – where it’s 110 mm longer than the Kona. The elongated profile translates to not just a more substantial stance on the road, but also more space on the interior – which we’ll get to later.
Hyundai Creta vs Kona – Performance
The Hyundai Creta is offered in a single variant in Malaysia, powered by a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated inline-four engine with
115 hp
 and
144 Nm
 of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels via a SmartStream IVT gearbox (Hyundai-speak for CVT), taking
12 seconds
to reach 100 km/h from a standstill, and onward to a top speed of 170 km/h.
As for the Hyundai Kona, you’ll have a choice between two powertrain options. The cheaper of the two variants get a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated inline-four mill, offering
149 hp
 and
180 Nm
, while the other gets the significantly more powerful 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, making
198 hp
 and
265 Nm
.
The former engine is paired to the same IVT gearbox for a century sprint time of
9.7 seconds
, while the 1.6-litre turbocharged mill gets a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission for a sportier driving feel, and an even quicker 0-100 km/h acceleration time of just
7.7 seconds
. That said, the Hyundai Creta does come with gearshift paddles behind the steering wheel to at least simulate the experience.
READ MORE:
2023 Hyundai Creta launched in Malaysia, RM150k – Still want that X50?
Hyundai Creta
Hyundai Kona 2.0 Active
Hyundai Creta vs Kona – Interior
Both the Creta and Kona are quite equally matched in terms of interior equipment, with both models getting the same 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and eight-inch touchscreen infotainment display as standard – the latter coming with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
The Kona does – once again – stand out with its 10-way power-adjustable driver seats, a wireless charging pad (on the 1.6 Turbo), head-up display, along with an ambient lighting system and leather upholstery that can be specified in light beige if you so choose, further elevating the premium atmosphere of the cabin; the Creta is only available with fabric seats.
As we mentioned earlier, though, the all-new Hyundai Creta is the bigger car of the two, boasting 416 litres of cargo room at the back with the rear seats in its normal position, while the Kona only has 374 litres. The rear legroom and headroom on the Hyundai Creta should also be more spacious, although no official measurements are available for our comparison.
Hyundai Creta
Hyundai Creta vs Kona – Advanced safety
Both the Creta and Kona are similarly equipped with Hyundai’s SmartSense advanced driver assist systems, with features including autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitor and collision avoidance assist, lane keeping and lane following assist, rear cross traffic collision avoidance assist, leading vehicle departure alert, and driver attention warning.
Although if you spring just RM1,000 more over the Creta for the Hyundai Kona 1.6 Turbo, you’ll also get adaptive cruise control, which makes it capable of Level 2 semi-autonomous driving.
READ MORE:
Hyundai Kona N Line, 1.6 Turbo launched in Malaysia, from RM147k
Hyundai Creta vs Kona – Which one to buy?
With the specs laid out side-by-side, it appears that the Kona remains the better value pick between the two, as even the 2.0 Active variant (at RM8,560 cheaper) comes better equipped than the Creta, not to mention its better performance. At just RM1,000 more expensive than the Creta, the Hyundai Kona 1.6 Turbo’s significantly better performance just puts it in a completely different league when compared to the new kid on the block.
Hyundai Sime Darby Motors does try to sweeten the deal a little with the complimentary three-year/50,000 km free service package, although that’s still just limited to the first 150 customers (for now).
Unless you really like the looks of the Hyundai Creta, or truly need that extra 42 litres of cargo room at the back, we unfortunately cannot recommend the new B-segment crossover – not at RM149,888. Do you agree with our on-paper assessment? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
GALLERY
Hyundai Creta Plus
Hyundai Kona 2.0 Active


Volkswagen joins the “Coupe SUV” party with the new Taigo!

Volkswagen has said they plan to expand their crossover and SUV portfolio due to customer demands as well as better profit margins which is critical for future investments. Currently, more than 20% of their annual sales is an SUV model.
Beginning with the
Volkswagen T-Cross
 and then
larger T-Roc
 in key markets, Volkswagen is now offering a third variant in this ‘T-“ family. Called the Tagio, is built on the MQB-A0 platform that also underpins the Volkswagen T-Cross and new Polo.
To accommodate the sloping rear profile and steeply raked rear windscreen, the wheelbase has been stretched by 15 mm to a total of 2,566 mm.
At 4.266 m long and 1.757 m wide, the new Volkswagen Taigo is similar in size to the
Mazda CX-3
,
Nissan Kicks e-Power
, Honda HR-V and
Proton X50
. It is the most crowded landscape of the crossover/SUV segment, where Kia, Hyundai, Peugeot, Toyota and even MG has a product of this compact size.
A R-Line trim is also available from launch of the new Volkswagen Taigo, featuring sportier bumpers, wheel design and R emblems.
At the other end of the spectrum lies the VW Atlas Sport GT Concept. Find out more about this 300hp SUV here!
Inside, the Volkswagen Taigo adopts the new switches and design of the
facelifted new Volkswagen Polo
. New features such as capacitive touch-panel dual-zone air-conditioning controls, a large touchscreen infotainment system and the 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro are all available in the Taigo.
Powertrain options for the baby coupe-SUV are a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder delivering
95 hp
 or
110 hp
 and a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that makes
150 hp
. Similar to the T-Cross, the smaller engine can be paired with manual or automatic DSG transmission, while the 1.5-litre is only offered with the DSG transmission.
The Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace has been upgraded for this year. Click here to find out more!
So, which do you prefer? Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia
is planning to bring

in more products
 and expand their SUV line-up this year. Given the choice of four SUVs (including the existing Tiguan Allspace), the Tagio would be a great addition to complement the T-Cross which is available for importation immediately.
The T-Roc meanwhile is positioned to be more premium and more powerful, akin to a Volkswagen Golf.
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