Chery Malaysia to begin CKD production in June, Tiggo 8 Pro launch expected in July

Chinese carmaker Chery’s official return to Malaysia now has a more concrete date: July 2023. But before the scheduled brand launch, local production (CKD) of its “Phase One” models, including the
Tiggo 8 Pro
 and
Omoda 5
, will begin in June this year.
The estimated timeframe was announced by Chery International Executive Vice President Charlie Zhang, during a media gathering in Kuala Lumpur today.
Zhang says that the company is working tirelessly to meet that schedule, and its local product road map for Malaysia, alongside its localisation plans, are all already confirmed. On the latter, Zhang added that the common parts such as tires, seat upholstery, and plastic trims will be localised.
The company has yet to announce its local production partner yet due to non-disclosure agreements, but Zhang reassured that the announcement will be made “very very soon”.
RELATED:
Chery to produce 30,000 cars annually in Malaysia CKD plant
As announced in the
first official preview last year
, Chery Malaysia’s “Phase One” plan will include the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro and Omoda 5 models. This will then be followed by the
Tiggo 7 Pro
and
 Tiggo 4 Pro
 in the coming years. While the Omoda 5 is expected to become the marque’s volume maker in the Malaysian market, Chery’s return to Malaysia will first be headlined by the Tiggo 8 Pro.
For Malaysia, the seven-seater SUV will be offered initially with a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four engine, making up to
250 hp
 and
390 Nm
. Power is sent to either the front wheels or all four wheels via a seven-speed DCT gearbox.
Following the launch, however, Chery says that a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant of the Tiggo 8 Pro is expected to be launched in Malaysia as soon as next year. It’ll feature the marque’s third-generation PHEV powertrain, consisting of a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, two electric motors, as well as what the marque calls a 3DHT (Dedicated Hybrid Transmission) gearbox, for a combined output of
241 hp
 and
510 Nm
.
Chery says the third-generation PHEV powertrain will feature class-leading thermal efficiency of up to 44%, and boasts a range of over 100 km in a single charge.
ALSO READ:
 Chery Omoda 5 open for pre-booking in Indonesia – cheaper than the Honda HR-V!
As for the Chery Omoda 5, the futuristic-looking crossover will likely feature a 1.5-litre turbocharged inline-four engine underneath the hood, similar to what the Indonesian market gets. The 1.5-litre mill makes
154 hp
and
 230 Nm
, with power sent to the front wheels via a CVT gearbox.
During the preview last year, Chery Malaysia revealed that the Omoda 5 will also be offered with a 1.6-litre turbocharged direct-injection inline-four unit, making
194 hp
 and
290 Nm
 of torque. However, the most interesting variant of the Omoda 5 has to be the
fully-electric EV variant
, confirmed to launch in Malaysia towards the end of this year.
No specifications have been announced yet, but Zhang says that the ride-hand-drive model is expected to begin production in China in September, before moving to Malaysia at a later date.
ALSO READ:
Malaysia-bound Chery Omoda 5 scores full five stars in Euro NCAP safety rating


2014 Mazda3 2.0 SkyActiv Sedan launched in Malaysia, priced at RM139k [+Video]

The Mazda6 is undoubtedly a good looking car and today, her pretty little sister is finally in Malaysia. Bermaz Motor launched the highly anticipated Mazda3 at 1 Utama shopping mall today. Unveiled at the launch was the
2014 Mazda3 2.0 SkyActiv sedan
, and the new Mazda CX-5 2.5 CBU. What’s missing is the Mazda3 hatchback.
Watch our Mazda3 2.0 SkyActiv Sedan video review
Quick Facts
Name
Mazda3 2.0L SkyActiv Sedan
Segment
C-Segment Sedan
Engine
SKYACTIV-G 2.0L, In-line, 4-Cylinder, DOHC 16V (162hp, 210Nm)
Price
RM138,935.50
 (OTR with insurance)
Watch our Mazda3 2.0 SkyActiv Sedan video review
Since the first generation Mazda3 was introduced back in 2004, the Japanese automaker has sold 4 million units around the world, contributing 30% to Mazda’s global sales volume. This is the third generation Mazda3, which is also the third member in the Mazda family to adopt the SkyActiv Technologies, after the CX-5 and Mazda 6. An essential product that is carefully designed and developed.
Specification & Price List

Exterior
 Many would refer this new C-segment contender as the baby Mazda6 due to its
KODO
 design theme. KODO, which means Soul of Motion in Japanese, is a concept Mazda adopted to designs inspired by animals in instant motion. Much like a panther, in a position that’s ready to pounce.  It does look like the all-new muscular Mazda3 is ready to pounce on the rest of the C-segment players in Malaysia, and probably rip them apart as well because, it is really gorgeous.

The look from front of the car is unmistakably a Mazda with the signature front grille and familiar looking Bi-xenon headlights. If you look carefully, the hood of the car is exceptionally longer and the rear is shorter than usual, giving the impression that the weight of the car is shifted to the rear.
A long hood is good, but short boot? Not so, because you’ll get an unusually small boot opening which means there’s a limitation to what you can fit into it. But, the space in the boot does make up to the issue. You do get a spacious boot out of it. You’ll also get a set of
18-inch wheels
 that is quite a surprise for a C-segment car. With that, it just completes the broad stance this panther portrays.
Interior
 Mazda Malaysia advertised in their specs that the seats and upholstery come in fabric, but they are throwing in free upgrade to
leather seats
. That should have come as standard but anyway, there are quite a bit of
carbon fiber
 touches here and there, raw carbon fiber look. They have it on the door panels, steering wheel and the meter cluster hood; and they do look good, young and sporty.

Infotainment system is displayed on the Samsung-tab-looking
7-inch display
 in the middle of the dashboard that is controlled by a i-Drive (BMW) looking commander control on the centre console. Meter cluster is simple with the speedometer in the middle.
The steering wheel is Electric Power Steering that comes with buttons on one side and
paddle shifters
 as well! On the safety side, the car comes with
six airbags
 and is awarded maximum 5-star rating from Euro NCAP, and the standard ABS, EBD, BA, DSC and TCS. Not forgetting, it has electric sunroof as well.
Watch our Mazda3 2.0 SkyActiv Sedan video review
Performance
 This third generation Mazda3 is built entirely on the
SkyActiv Technologies
 that covers the engine, chassis, body and transmission which makes it a Energy Efficient Vehicle (
EEV
). When asked if Mazda’s EEV qualifies for the EEV incentive from government, Datuk Seri Ben Yeoh, Managing Director of Bermaz Motor said the government has recognized Mazda’s SkyActiv cars as EEV however the guidelines on the incentive is still unclear.
What makes it so efficient is the impressive
compression ratio
 figure from the SkyActiv engine,
14.0:1
 which is the highest in its class. This matches the
Ferrari 458 Speciale’s
 compression ratio from its most powerful V8 engine ever made. With that, more power can be generated using the most efficient amount of fuel. The
2.0-litre SkyActive-G
 engine is mated with SkyActiv-Drive, a
6-speed Automatic
 transmission. Both working harmoniously while producing maximum output of
162 horsepower
 at 6,000 rpm and maximum torque of
210 Nm
 at 4,000 rpm.
What else…
 Datuk Seri Ben Yeoh said the focus on the C-segment market is family oriented sedan which explains why the hatchback has yet to make its debut in Malaysia. He added there’s plan to bring in the sporty hatchback with the performance spec but it will be pricey. On the plans of locally assembling the Mazda3, Datuk Seri said Bermaz is now focusing on the CX-5 CKD with dedicated assembly line by Inokom, no specific time frame on when the Mazda3 will be localized.
The all-new 2014 Mazda3 2.0L SkyActiv Sedan is priced at
RM138,935.50
 OTR with insurance. It is available in four colours; Soul Red Metallic, Snowflas White Pearl Mica, Titanimum Flash Mica and Meteor Grey Mica.
Read the new Mazda3 2.0 SkyActiv Sedan full review here
Watch our Mazda3 2.0 SkyActiv Sedan video review
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY


Michelin introduces new Pilot Sport 5 (PS5) and Primacy 4+

Michelin
 has officially introduced the new
Pilot Sport 5 (PS5)
 and
Primacy 4+
 in Europe, available in 50 different sizes ranging from 17 to 21-inches. The new tyres will be available to all markets by the 1st of March 2022.
The new tyres feature Michelin’s Dynamic Response technology where a layer forms a belt around the tyre structure for better contact on the road.
With the MaxTouch Construction, forces from acceleration, braking, and cornering are distributed evenly around the tyres, the new PS5 promises longer tread life.
According to the company’s press release, the new tyres come with a Dual Sport Tread Design featuring large longitudinal grooves that disperse water quicker for better grip on wet roads. The outer part of the tyres, on the other hand, is more rigid for better grip on dry roads.
Aside from the new PS5 tyres, Michelin also launched the new Primacy 4+ with improved wet braking performances even the tyres are worn. The tyre’s performance is credited to Michelin’s EverGrip technology which combines two layers of rubber to offset the loss of tread while improving water dispersion when the tyres are worn.
The Primacy 4+ tyres are available in 121 different sizes, catering to wheels ranging from 16 to 21-inches.
GALLERY


2017 MINI JCW Countryman unveiled, AWD, 231 hp & 350 Nm!

The
second-generation MINI Countryman
 has just gotten a fat dose of steroids, because not only is it the largest MINI model to ever exist, it’s also the fastest, largest ever MINI model to be made. Enter the 2017 MINI John Cooper Works Countryman.
This Countryman gets the tried and tested
twin-scroll turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder
 engine, deploying
231 hp
 and
350 Nm
 of torque. Buyers can either opt for the eight-speed Steptronic auto or the six-speed manual.
It’s only available as a crossover and will sprint from 0 to 100km/h in
6.5 seconds
, or about 0.8 seconds quicker than the Cooper S Countryman ALL4. Also, the new model is 0.5 seconds quicker than the outgoing JCW Countryman it replaces.
Apart from the usual JCW Aerodynamics kit, it receives a sports exhaust, sports suspension with Brembo brakes, 18-inch wheels and JCW-themed interior. Variable damper control is available as an option, though.
The MINI JCW Countryman will be showcased at the upcoming Shanghai Motor Show in April prior to market introduction. Suffice to say, the new Countryman range will undoubtedly make its way to Malaysia, so stay tuned!
IMAGE GALLERY


Mercedes-Benz wins five awards at ASEAN Car of the Year 2016

After another high-flying year for Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM), the company’s product offense strategy this year has earned them no less than five titles at the ASEAN Car of the Year Awards 2016 (ACOTY). Among the five titles, the C-Class also emerged as the third overall winner at the ACOTY, trailing just 2.33 points behind the
title holder
.
To make things even sweeter, all three of MBM’s sedan line up – the
C-Class
,
E-Class
 and
S-Class
 – emerged as winners in their respective category. The C-Class was named Premium Family Car of the Year, E-Class as Premium Executive Car of the Year and S-Class as Limousine of the Year.

At the higher end of the price spectrum, the
Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe
 went up against the
Bentley Continental GT
 and Porsche Panamera for the Grand Tourer of the Year title and emerged on top. If you wish to have Malaysia’s Grand Tourer of the Year in your stable, MBM is asking for
RM1.5 million
 for the S63 AMG coupe (pictured below).
MBM’s success over the past two years is greatly contributed by their localisation efforts and attractive financing packages, and it is no wonder that they keep smashing records after records. In addition to that, their range of Dream Cars and in-your-face AMGs (cue
G63
) certainly appeals to the affluent few, reaching out to an even wider range of audience.
We at
AutoBuzz.my
 would like to extend our utmost congratulations to MBM for their achievements and look forward to what is in store for 2017.


Jaguar I-PACE declared as 2019’s World Car of the Year

At the opening of the New York International Auto Show, Jaguar Land Rover was also awarded, for the very first time, the World Green Car award for the
Jaguar I-PACE
.
Winning the 2019 World Car Design of the Year award also means the Jaguar I-PACE now has four of those titles under its belt.

The other finalist the
Audi e-tron
 that GC Mah went to see in San Francisco.
The Jaguar I-PACE was shortlisted from an initial pool of 40 cars from all over the world and emerged victorious ahead of two other finalists – the
Audi e-tron and the
Volvo S60/V60
 – for the 2019 World Car of the Year Award.
Here’s the full list of winners from all the categories:
2019 World Car of the Year: Jaguar I-PACE
2019 World Urban Car of the Year:
Suzuki Jimny
2019 World Luxury Car of the Year:
Audi A7
2019 World Performance Car of the Year:
McLaren 720S
2019 World Car Design of the Year: Jaguar I-PACE
2019 World Green Car of the Year: Jaguar I-PACE
The
Little D
 – Suzuki’s answer to the Land Rover Discovery.
The annual World Car Awards has now entered its 15th year since its inauguration in 2003 and has been the
No.1 awards programme in the world for six consecutive years
.
It’s administered by a non-profit organisation comprising of members of management and a group of prominent automotive journalist from Europe, North America and Asia. Well, it’s a lie – cause AutoBuzz.my wasn’t called up for it.


Flood in Germany devastates Porsche showroom

In case you’re unaware, several areas in West Germany have been devastated by the worst flood the country has seen in over 60 years. The floods have also impacted the areas in Belgium and Netherlands that border East Germany.
So far, the death toll is over 180 people with more than 1,000 unaccounted for. The town of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, just south of Cologne, reportedly received two months’ worth of rain in just two days.

The scenes are just as heartbreaking at a Porsche dealership in Stuttgart when a video surfaced on
Carscoops
showing countless 911s and SUVs in a swamp of water.
The video above only goes to offer a slight impression of the severity of the flood. Water levels can be seen to be as high as the wheel arches of the Macan and Cayenne models parked outside, while at the top of your screen, only the top half of the Porsche Taycan can be seen.
This is not an isolated case as other dealerships have been hard hit by the catastrophe that Germany says is contributed by climate change. Last week,
an Audi showroom was completely destroyed
 with new units stacked on top of each other following the flood.


Public Bank and Perodua sign MoC, to provide online financing facilities to dealerships

Public Bank Berhad and
Perodua
 have signed a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) to provide financing facilities to Perodua authorized dealers. This collaboration between the two companies will enable Public Bank to interface and facilitate digitalisation via online submission of hire purchase end-financing applications to the bank. Uploading of basic application documents and tracking of application status are also included.
Public Bank Berhad Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Tay Ah Lek said, “Perodua is also Malaysia’s first and biggest Energy-Efficient Vehicle (EEV) manufacturer. On our part, supporting the growth of the EEV industry is a key pillar of the Bank’s climate agenda, where Public Bank had mobilised over
RM30 billion
 in domestic EEV financing by the end of
2022
.”
He adds, “As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the growth of the EEV industry, Public Bank has increased its EEV lending target from
RM25 billion
 to
RM33 billion
 by
2025
.”
He also added, “Thus, there is strong synergistic potential where Public Bank and Perodua can continue to work together, in not only growing our respective business, but also contributing positively toward ESG initiatives for the betterment of our society and the world.”
Perodua President and CEO, Dato’ Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad mentioned that this three-pronged deal addresses the need for Perodua’s current and future activities. “I hope this collaboration will further elevate our respective organisations to greater heights,” he said.
RELATED:
EV Perodua eM-O concept car at MAS2023 – 350km range, 800V, Myvi-sized


Honda came up with the most interesting April Fool’s prank

Car makers seem to
really enjoy coming up with April Fool’s pranks
 as if it was a competition among themselves, with one trying to outwit the other.
Reading their press releases, you just can’t help but sit and wonder, how and who even came up with these pranks. They’re so eloquently written – as if they meant it – and if you were a little less attentive to the details, you might even think they’re real.
Honda “Pastport” with 1990’s trims and features
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ5oRIXCFlM
As a throwback to the 1990’s, Honda supposedly introduced the new Honda Passport with a new “90’s themed Pastport trim” – equipped with automatic windows, plush micro-fiber seats, a cassette player and a mount for a beeper.
Most remote EV charging point in the UK
Land Rover supposedly installed the most remote EV charging point in the UK, at the Isle of Skye in Scotland – located 24 km from the nearest road – accessible under electric power. Yea, right.
MG’s road-colouring tyres
MG Motor UK introduced road-colouring tyres which are coated with water-soluble dye that covers the road for a splash of vibrancy on UK’s roads, before fading off shortly.
CarGurus’ gets a dog to sniff out the best new car deal
Leading automotive shopping site, CarGurus, has apparently trained a Cocker Spaniel to help car buyers “sniff out” the best deal. When a customer has found the right car, it will bark and offer its paws as a sign of approval. If only there was such a thing…
First ever convertible Toyota Hiace with built-in oven
We actually wished this was the real deal. Apparently only 2,019 units of the Hiace will be built, exclusively for the Australian market. Toyota Australia also “revealed”
an optional extra “built-in pie oven” for the convertible Hiace
, called ‘
PieAce
’, that’s fitted neatly behind the rear tailgate.


Proton offers five years of free PA insurance for frontliners with purchase of a car

As a show of gratitude to the frontliners who’ve worked tirelessly in our country’s battle against the
COVID-19 pandemic
, Proton has introduced the
Proton Cares Programme
, offering five years of free personal accident (PA) insurance coverage to the frontliners or their immediate families with a purchase of any Proton models.
Underwritten by MCIS Insurance, the free PA insurance offers coverage of
up to RM50,000
 for
 five years
, in the event of death, accidental death, or permanent disability of the insured individual.
This is yet another initiative by the national carmaker in the fight against the pandemic. Earlier, Proton
provided 50 units of the X70 SUV to the Ministry of Health
to support the ministry’s logistical requirements. The carmaker also
donated 120,000 face shields
 to hospitals nationwide – all of which are produced in house by voluntary Proton staff.
“Malaysia has made great strides in fighting the battle against COVID-19, thanks to our brave frontliners working tirelessly to safeguard our health,” the post on Proton’s social media read. “Together, let’s adapt to the new normal and continue to play our part to curb the COVID-19 pandemic while making Malaysia a safer country.”
Recently, Proton also announced their
revised price list
, with reduction from the
exemption of sales tax
and additional rebates. The updated price list, which will be in effect until the end of the year, sees the entry price for the
X70 SUV
 dropped to RM89,900.


Elderly lady in Porsche 911 GT3 RS proves age is no obstacle!

If this video proves anything, is that you’re never too late (or too old for that matter) to indulge in your passion or even realise your dreams.
An elderly lady was spotted and filmed at the Monza Circuit in Italy recently, with a (991) Porsche
911 GT3 RS
 pushing out 513 hp! That’s not what you’d expect a person of her appearance to drive; on one of the fastest circuits in the world no less!
Based solely on her body language and movements, she could easily be 65 and above but the way she drove suggests anything but old age!

The age old saying “Never judge a book by its cover” couldn’t be more true and apparent in this video. Right off the bat, the striking green 911 GT3 RS can be seen going full throttle, as it exits the pits.
As the video progresses, you’d realise that it’s nothing like a ride to the groceries – at a snail’s pace – with your own grandma; she’s actually going full throttle and hitting the redline with every gear in one of Porsche’s most ferocious, track-oriented car!
And she brakes really hard (and late) too as the emergency brake lights can be seen flashing at the end of the straights.
Are your parent’s saying they’re too old to do fun stuff? Show em’ this video!


Team Proton R3 creates history with 7th place finish by all-ladies driver line-up

The headlines for the recently concluded Sepang 1000 km (S1K) 2019 endurance race were mostly grabbed by Team Proton R3 for finishing first and second overall, but it was the third entrant by the team that surprised the most.
Car 82, the Proton Saga driven by an all-women driver line-up consisting of Leona Chin, Faye Kusairi, and Nurul Husna, came home a respectable seventh overall, which set the record for the best result for an all-ladies drivers line-up.
This result was especially impressive when you consider that this effort was the first time all three ladies have been in the same car together. A technical issue during qualifying also relegated the team to start at the last position (26th) on the M-Production class grid.
Despite the set back, the ladies performed admirably throughout the nine hours of gruelling racing, methodically working their way up the field to mount a thrilling comeback.
Team Proton R3 Driver Faye Kusairi said, “The S1K was extremely memorable and surreal for me. I am amazed we finished seventh from 26th on the grid but it proves how quick the Proton Saga and our trio of drivers really is. To be honest, I really feel that if we were given another chance, I think we can make it up on to the podium.”
The results also proved the natural ability of the Proton Saga as a competent track car. As the production car was only launched in August 2019, the development team faced a monumental challenge to get the Saga ready in time for the race.
Proton Chief Executive Officer Dr Li Chunrong said, “This year’s car is brand new and despite the very short timelines, the results have been very impressive. This therefore proves the Proton Saga is capable of performing in a variety of environments, from daily commuting to family outings and competing in Malaysia’s biggest race, making it truly a Malaysian favourite.”


Volvo and Google are co-developing an Android-based infotainment system

Mobile phones and have become an integral part of our daily lives. Car manufactures and tech companies all recognise the importance mobile connectivity, hence the creation of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Volvo is taking this to the next level by forming a partnership with Google to develop their next-generation Android-based infotainment system. The objective is to revolutionise how drivers engage and interact with their Volvo vehicles and will offer a variety of Android applications developed by Google, Volvo or third-party app developers. This new infotainment system is set to debut on Volvo models
within the next two years
.

Volvo believes that this partnership with Google will offer more flexibility and speed up the development of the platform. One of Volvo’s goals is to allow owners the ability to
 personalise the connected in-car experience
 between their mobile device and car.
There’s good news for current Volvo owners as well. The Swedish company and Google are working on updating the current Sensus Navigation (currently available on the
XC90
,
V90
 and
S90
) with Google Local Search, a location-based service application. Further details of the new infotainment system and
Google Local Search
 will be announced at the Google I/O annual tech show happening on 17 May 2017.
IMAGE GALLERY


Facts & Figures: 2022 Toyota Camry facelift launched in Malaysia, from RM199k

UMW Toyota Motor has launched the new facelift 2022 Toyota Camry – available only in a single variant – from
RM199,109
. The Camry is fully imported from Thailand.
PERFORMANCE
Engine: 2.5-litre Dynamic Force engine
Transmission: 8-speed automatic Direct Shift with Paddle Shifter
Max Power: 209 hp @ 6,600 rpm
Max Torque: 253 Nm @ 5,000 rpm
EXTERIOR
The bulk of the exterior changes lies in the front, with a completely redesigned front bumper. As a result, the gapping look from before is now narrower, lending a more elegant look. The headlamps design remains unchanged however, a camera and two additional parking sensors have been added just below the Toyota badge up front.
Full LED lighting front and back including front and rear fog lights
18-inch wheels
Double wishbone rear suspension
The taillight design remains largely unchanged as well except for the section that extends to the side of the car. The facelift 2022 Toyota Camry comes in five colours – Silver Metallic, Graphite Metallic, Platinum White Pearl Mica, Burning Black and Red Mica.
INTERIOR
Inside the 2022 Toyota Camry is where you’d find more significant changes. Compared to the
model launched in 2018
, the infotainment display and air-con vents have swapped places in order to accommodate a larger infotainment display. Previously, the Camry came with an 8-inch touchscreen.
The multi-info display on the instrument cluster remains similar in size. The wood-like trims on the dashboard and centre console in the pre-facelift model have also been replaced to better suit the interior ambience of the car. The 8-way powered seats for the driver have been upgraded to 10-way powered seats.
10-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
9-speaker JBL sound system
7-inch multi-info display on instrument cluster
3-zone air conditioning
Reclinable rear seat
Arm rest with air-con, radio, and reclining controls
10-way electric seats (driver), 8-way (front passenger)
Head-up display
Wireless charging
The
most incredible upgrade
 offered in the facelift Camry lies in the rear section. It now comes with reclinable rear seats, and controls for the air-con, radio, and seat-reclining feature. Sadly, the control panel on the rear armrest does not offer air-con fan speed controls.
SAFETY
The facelift 2022 Toyota Camry comes with the full set of Toyota Safety Sense features including autonomous emergency braking, lane departure alert, lane tracing assist, and dynamic radar cruise control. The last two features now work at all speeds.
Seven airbags
Blind Spot Monitor
Rear Cross Traffic Alert with autonomous braking
Panoramic View Monitor
Hill-start assist
Toyota Safety Sense
Automatic high beam
GALLERY


It’s therapy time again – colour your favourite Volkwagen models!

If you’ve had an eye on automotive news in recent weeks, you’d know that car companies have not only lent a hand in production of healthcare equipment and apparels, but they’ve also helped customers with scheduled service postponements and even alleviate their cabin fever (and their children’s as well) with art work and handicrafts.
Audi started the snowball with its colouring book
, then
Toyota got creative with paper crafts
 – featuring six different iconic liveries on its GT86 sports car.
Mazda followed suit with their own paper crafts
 featuring classics like the Mazda Familia and the brand’s first ever car, the R360 and yesterday,
BMW published a colouring book
 by numbers.
Now Volkswagen has decided they too, want a piece of this colouring action. It’s common knowledge that colouring has some therapeutic qualities and as for these car companies, either they have data to prove this notion or they’re just copying what each other are doing.
Either ways, it’s a rather cool collection of cars to embark on over the weekend. For starters, there’s the Golf GTI, an overly popular car in Malaysia, the highly-anticipated Arteon and the classic Combi.
Things have not slowed down at the Volkswagen camp since the Covid-19 pandemic overwhelmed economies around the world. Aside from
helping with the production of 3D-printed ventilators
, Volkswagen also announced a
new 2D logo
 to go with the
new R logo
 they introduced last year.
Locally, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) introduced the
eShowroom as an alternative method of car purchase
 during the MCO period. Through the eShowroom, customers stand to save up to RM8,000 for the Beetle, Golf GTI and Golf R models.
GALLERY


We got to be up close with the new 992 Porsche 911 in New Zealand!

We’re here in chilly New Zealand, compliments of Sime Darby Auto Performance, official distributors of Porsche vehicles in Malaysia, to be the first few in the region to check out the
new Porsche 911
in the flesh at its regional launch.
As Adrian said it, it’s not easy to recreate an icon. Some might consider Porsche lazy for its stubborn approach to the 911’s design, but on the flip side, it’s actually harder to make a car look new despite having to stick with the very basis of the car’s design – a long front hood with a sloping roof design and long rear overhangs.
But that’s the beauty of the 911 isn’t it? It simply doesn’t need a radical new design but is instead built on the previous success of its predecessor.
Aesthetically, 911s may not shout and scream as much as a Ferrari or Lamborghini would, but you get the feeling that that’s how Porsche wants it – preferring to reveal its magic on the move.
And this new 992 generation 911, as we will drive and drive hard, is already assuring an absence of disappointment even on paper.
The 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged flat-six has been given a 30 hp and 30 Nm bump from before, now making
450 hp
with
530 Nm
 of torque. This power increase is primarily down to the relocated intercoolers that now rests just below the rear bonnet for better cooling and revised turbocharger flow.
0 to 100 km/h now takes just
3.7 seconds in the rear-wheel drive Carrera S
, while the
all-wheel drive Carrera 4S does it in 3.6 seconds
 with both cars
0.4 seconds quicker
 than the models they replace.
To put things in perspective, that’s Mercedes-AMG GT R (3.5 secs) or even Ferrari Enzo (3.6 secs) rivalling performance and they’re not even the Turbo models! As for top speed, both cars will exceed in excess of 300 km/h – 308 km/h on the Carrera S and 307 km/h on the Carrera 4S.
You might point your fingers at the car’s construction, which is now 70% made of aluminium with only 30% of steel used – unlike 63% steel used before – but the car’s actually slightly heavier before. Porsche magic? Maybe.
Maybe it’s down to the car’s science of wind, or more commonly known as aerodynamics – something Porsche has elevated in the 992. The front vents can now open and close on its own – either for better cooling performance or reduced drag.

Under 70 km/h, the flaps are wide open for better cooling but from 70 km/h and beyond, these front vents completely shut for reduced drag. At 170 km/h, these flaps open up again into a “Performance position”, along with the adaptive rear spoiler.
Rear wheel steer is now available, along with an 11% quicker steering rack, larger vents on the rear bumper comparable to that in the previous generation 991 Turbo. For the first time, the new 992 is fitted with mixed sized wheels – 20-inch in the front and 21-inch at the rear.
The 911 Carrera S now features the wide body – a privilege previously conferred only to the Carrera 4S and Turbo models – also another first along the Wet Mode drive setting catered to driving on wet and slippery road conditions.
As for the other more elaborate details, be sure to check out our Vlog coming up real soon along our first impressions of the new car – can’t wait for it to arrive in Malaysia!
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UMW Toyota hopes for speedy recovery, current restrictions severely affecting the industry

As the country entered the into National Recovery Plan (NPR) exactly a month ago, daily Covid-19 cases have instead risen to five-figure levels, with cases in the Klang Valley alone soaring to over 6,000 cases.
With the NRP broken into four phases and using the number of daily cases as a barometer for moving forward, the Klang Valley is still stuck in Phase One where only industries in the essential services are allowed to operate.
The automotive industry is stagnant, with production and deliveries of new vehicles halted since the beginning of June. Commenting on the situation, President of UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT), Ravindran K. said that the continued closure of all Toyota and Lexus showrooms nationwide meant that no business could be conducted; whilst at the same time manufacturing of vehicles including the supply chain and logistic efforts have also come to a halt.
“We still have an encouraging order bank for the various models. Nevertheless, we are hopeful that the restrictions of the lockdown can be eased to allow us to operate in a limited and safe way. Naturally, we will abide by all Standard Operating Procedures, as we have during the past year,” he said.
“We encourage customers to
make their bookings online
 as we can then plan production at our two assembly plants to minimize waiting time when the restrictions are lifted, to enable customers to enjoy the current financial incentives,” emphasised Ravindran K.
Find out more about the Toyota Vios and Yaris, sedan vs hatchback here!
For the first five months of the year, the company sold a total of 34,026 units, with sales of Toyota Vios, Yaris and the Hilux models contributing to 78% of sales in May. UMWT targets to sell 62,000 units this year, a modest 4.5% increase versus 2020.
Akio Takeyama, Deputy Chairman of UMWT added that prolonged restrictions on vehicle production can have an impact not just on passenger vehicles but also commercial vehicles, which are essential for transportation of goods around the country.
“Furthermore, export business will be affected as well as our subsidiaries export a substantial amount of automotive components as part of Toyota’s global supply chain. If this situation continues for long, we are concerned that our overseas customers may look for new suppliers as they cannot have their own production delayed due to shortage of parts from Malaysia. This could have an impact on Malaysia’s economy as a whole if export business declines,” he elaborated.
Last week, UMWT announced an additional
 investment of RM270 million
 in which the bulk of it is channelled towards expanding the new Bukit Raja plant in Klang
to produce hybrid vehicles
. The prolonged shutdown could also affect the timing of new hybrid products being rolled out from the plant.
UMW Toyota celebrates 50 years of producing Toyota cars in Malaysia!
Current owners of Toyota and Lexus vehicles meanwhile are assured of all necessary measures being in place when they bring their vehicles for servicing. Owners however must contact their nearest service centre on their conditions of opening as well as schedule an appointment.
With social activities only allowed from Phase 4 of the NRP, it is unlikely that the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival featuring the Toyota Vios Challenge one-make race will see the completion of
the original 11-race schedule
. By the end of this month, the original calendar would have covered eight races, including the new additions at the Malaysian Championship Series (MCS).
Takeyama, who is also the
Chief Motorsport Officer of Gazoo Racing Malaysia
 stresses that we should do our part and pray that the number of cases quickly reduces, and the government will be able to relax the regulations to allow public events to be held.


2014 Ducati Diavel unleashed in Malaysia, price from RM109,888 [+Video]

Sole importer and distributor of Ducati bikes in Malaysia,
Next Bike Sdn Bhd
 together with Ducati Corse Moto GP riders revealed the
2014 Ducati Diavel
 at the KL Tower. Indeed it was the height of the Asia Ducati Week 2014 after launching the new Ducati Scrambler & the official announcement of the creation of Desmodonna Malaysia (A salute to the local Ladies of Ducati).
Ducati Corse MotoGP riders Andrea Dovizioso and Cal Crutchlow autographed posters much to the delight of guests and media that jam packed the Megaview Banquet Hall. The crowd anticipated to be one of the first to see the new devil of the re-incarnated defines of a modern sports cruiser.
All done in style and prestige high above the KL skyline, echoing Naza Group of Companies Joint Group Executive Chairman, Datuk Wira Hj SM Faisal’s determination to be right on the very top of the premium bike segment in Malaysia.
When Ducati created the Diavel to stir up the biking world, they never intended to label it a cruiser but the segmentation was popularly used by the motorcycling community and Ducati have since played along with it, and aptly so.
Not only is the Diavel quite a looker when you’re casually riding it around town but it’s also very easy to be tempted by it’s blistering performance when you’ve hit the open roads. Ducati has had tremendous success in Diavel and 2 generations on, this sports cruiser is more “sports” then “cruiser” and Ducati want’s you to know so.
Harnessing the insane power of the
162 horsepower
,
1,198cc Testastretta 11º Dual Spark (DS)
 engine, The 2014 Diavel has a shift in torque figures to the lower and more usable RPM range, revving it easier on urban rides. Peak power arrives earlier at 9,250rpm instead of 9500rpm (on the previous model) and is overall more evident throughout the rev range.
The improvements are attributed to the revised engine intake & exhaust port as well as a more radically adjusted cam timing & compression ratio.
Drawing from its reservoir of power of is commanded by a full Ride-By-Wire system and safety regulated by
Ducati Traction Control (DTC)
 with up to 8 levels of sensitivity. Configuration come in presets of 3 riding modes, Urban, Touring & Sports.
The new split level instrumentation separates key riding information such as Speed, RPM, Time, Temperature & Warning indicators from the lower
TFT display
 that beams out indicators such as Riding Mode, Gear, DTC Level, Fuel Level & Trip Milage in full colour.
Aesthetics & practicality come in a package of all-round LED lights with
LED headlamps
 to accompany the twin LED strip which functions as the brake lights, directional signals & tail lights in clean flowing lines. More on styling & practicality the Ducati way, are Split-level seats with horizontal ribbing (Retro!), grab rails that hideaway into the seats when unused and foot pegs that retract into the sub-frame when you’re riding “
monoposto
“.
The
2014 Diavel
 is available in a very diabolic Dark Stealth with black trellis frame & wheels –
RM109,888
 (Nett Selling Price).
The
2014 Diavel Carbon
 however can be yours also in a very diabolic Ducati Red over Matt Carbon with red frame or a tamer Star White over Matte Carbon with white frame. Both come with black contrast-cut forged wheels by Marchesini. Priced at
RM126,888
 (Nett Selling Price).
[divider]
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Geely mobilise global resources in support of battle against CoronaVirus

Geely Holding Group along with the Li Shufu Public Welfare
Foundation are setting up 200 million RMB fund (that’s around US$ 28.38 million)
to support the prevention and control of the Coronavirus epidemic in Chinese
provinces experiencing the coronavirus outbreak.
The Li Shufu Public Welfare Foundation, established by Geely Holding founder, will purchase and distribute urgently needed medical supplies including masks, disinfectants, medical goggles, and ventilators. The fund will also support the construction of temporary hospitals in affected areas.
In addition, brands under Geely Holding including Geely
Auto, Lynk & Co, Volvo, Polestar, Geometry, Lotus, Farizon Auto, etc. will pool
resources with the Li Shufu Public Welfare Foundation in fighting the epidemic,
including leveraging on the group’s global footprint and logistics; one
instance being the procurement of 250,000 medical masks in Sweden which will be
distributed to affected areas within China.
Geely Auto will donate fifty MPVs to the Wuhan New
Coronavirus Prevention and Control Command Centre for their transportation
needs, while CaoCao, Geely’s ride hailing service has set up an emergency fleet
within the Wuhan area to provide free mobility services for local residents.
Geely Holding is also encouraging all China-based subsidiaries
to adjust their working hours, avoid major public transport routes and opt to
work online.


Woman fined for going 70 metres over district lines to access supermarket within same district

A 44-year-old woman from Alor Gajah, Melaka has been fined RM5,000 for crossing district lines during the
FMCO period
 on her way to a supermarket within the same district, as the main access road to the supermarket skirts the borders of the Melaka Tengah and Alor Gajah districts along some parts.
Even though the start and end points were within the same district, the lady had to use the road which was under the jurisdiction of the Melaka Tengah district in order to get to the hypermarket.
The incident was highlighted by Kota Melaka MP, Khoo Poay Tiong, after the lady was stopped along Jalan Taman Merdeka last Friday. He said that the self-employed woman was now traumatised and could not afford to pay the RM5,000 compound.
The main access road, highlighted in red, skirts between the borders of Melaka Tengah and Alor Gajah. Screenshot: Google Maps
“I visited the site to see for myself the proximity of the border to the road, and felt it was unjust to issue the compound when motorists have no choice but to go through the only access road,” said Khoo, adding that some parts of the road was only 70 metres from the district border.
Here’s all you need to know about travelling during the FMCO period.
The lady was fined despite explaining to the police that she needed to buy certain items from a hypermarket for her online food delivery business, added Melaka Chief Minister’s Secretary for Community Affairs, Yong Fun Juan.
Yong also said that this is not an isolated incident, as he has received notice of several similar complaints from residents. Another woman from Taman Rembia Utama was issued a similar compound at a roadblock in Paya Rumput just last Monday.
Melaka police chief, Deputy Comm Datuk Abdul Majid Mohd Ali said that he would look into the cases, especially the first one, where the driver was stopped for driving less than 100 metres from the border to get to a hypermarket.
“For me, the welfare of the people comes first, especially during this challenging period. I will find out why my men had not used their discretion before issuing the compound, especially when the border is only separated by a row of trees,” he said when contacted on Friday.
[source:
The Star
]


MediaCorp Subaru Car Challenge 2015 kicks off today in Singapore!

Four hundred participants from around the region have their hands on their prizes, literally, holding on to it for as long as they can starting today at Ngee Ann City, Singapore. But only one will emerge as the grand prize winner, driving home a brand new Subaru XV!
The endurance ‘race’ began at 1pm earlier today, as all participants from
Singapore
,
China
,
Taiwan
,
Hong Kong
,
Thailand
,
Philippines
,
Vietnam
,
Cambodia
 and
Malaysia
 placed their right palm on ten Subaru XVs. 320 participants from Singapore, while the remaining are the top 10 winners from their respective countries.
The challenge was introduced in year 2002 as an endurance competition, participants place their right palm on a Subaru car within the surface area of the palm decal, through day and night until one last participant remains. A
5-minute break
 is given in
every six hour
, at 1pm, 7pm, 1am and 7am each day. One family member of each participant is allowed to enter the arena at the 7pm break.
This year,
additional rest breaks
 ruling is introduced whereby supporters can take part in an online game at
http://www.carchallenge2015.com
. The top 10 game scorers will win the supported participant an
extra
 5-minute break, at 10am, 4pm, 10pm and 4am. Let’s show our Malaysian representatives some love!
In the
2014 challenge,
 grand prize winner
G. Jaishanker
 from Singapore battled through
82 hours and 16 minutes
, breaking the previous record of 81 hours and 32 minutes set in 2008. His perseverance won him a brand new Subaru Forester 2.0L.
The
Malaysian
 contingent comprises of experienced participants – Tan Chuan Kok, 40 (6th time participating), Tan Hong Sheng, 35 (5th time), Chang Wei Khang, 33 (4th time), Sathivale A/L Sundrammorthy, 41 (3rd time) and Mihammad Afif Bin Drani, 29 (3rd time), Tan Chuan Meng, 35 (2nd time), Mohd Fadhlly Bin R. Azmi (2nd time) and Ronesh Biswas A/L Bisanuth Biswas, 32 (2nd time). It is Vimalnath A/L Francis, 21 and Subramaniam A/L Gunasegaran, 35 first time participating in the final leg in Singapore. I’m sure they have a better formula to win it this time!
“Over the years, we have seen numerous contestants battle it out for the final prize of a Subaru car, and they have all displayed tenacity and perseverance, traits that resonate with values of the Subaru brand – endurance, longevity and durability.” said Glenn Tan, Executive Director of Tan Chong International Ltd.
Due to the recent haze situation, the organizer built a canopy over the area with fans and air conditioning. So, do expect last year’s record to be broken this time around.

The last man standing will drive away in a Subaru XV 1.6L I-S worth up to
S$115,000
 (including COE for the first time in the challenge’s history), plus
S$5,000
 worth of free fuel from
Shell
.
In addition to that, participants will also compete for other titles –
Country Winner
, the final standing representative of each country walks away with
S$1,000
 cash.
Asian Winner
, the last standing regional contestant gets an additional
S$5,000
 cash.
Country Team Winner
, the country with the longest combined standing time wins
S$10,000
 cash, equally divided among the team.

In conjunction with Halloween this weekend, visitors to Ngee Ann City will get to experience The Walking Dead Live Showcase! And they stand a chance to win a pair of tickets to Comic Con 2016 in the USA.
Stick around for the latest news on the MediaCorp Subaru Car Challenge 2015, reporting live from Singapore!
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Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato unveiled, sexiest Vanquish to date!

Zagato is an Italian coachbuilder famous for crafting exotic supercars into masterpieces on four wheels. Now, Aston Martin became the latest carmaker to receive Zagato’s treatment with the unveiling of the Vanquish Zagato for the upcoming Lake Como event.
This is not the first time an Aston receives a makeover from Zagato, as Italian flair has been incorporated into the British marque’s designs for at least the past five decades. The Vantage was the last car from Gaydon to receive the Zagato touch, and that was back in 2011.

The Vanquish Zagato’s most distinctive difference is the redesigned back, featuring the trademark slope and ‘double bubble’ roofline that extends to the new taillights. The body is made mostly from carbon-fibre, and the rear is complemented with quad exhausts along with an integrated diffuser. Inside, the Vanquish Zagato gets carbon-fibre trim fused with fine leather with ‘Z’ quilt pattern.
Mechanically, it retains the
 6.0-litre naturally aspirated V12
 engine with some performance boost – up from the original 568 hp to
592 hp
. It’s mated to an
eight-speed Touchtronic3 automatic
transmission. Aston proudly claims the car to be more dynamically superior than the car it’s based on, so needless to say, tweaks have been done to the Vanquish’s suspension setup.
The Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato marks the fifth successful collaboration between the British and the Italians. No figures have been revealed to date, but given the fact the standard Vanquish costs
£194,000
(approx
RM1,164,000
 based on today’s rates) and that Zagato cars are relatively exclusive, expect a huge premium over that aforementioned figure.
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Lamborghini Diablo: the brief history of the world’s fastest production car of its time

The Lamborghini Diablo turned 30 years old this year. To celebrate the momentous occasion, Lamborghini is taking us on a trip down memory lane of one of the most iconic poster car ever.
Despite calling it the 30-year anniversary, the Lamborghini Diablo’s story actually began in 1985, five years before its market launch. Codenamed Project 132, the then-unnamed Countach replacement was designed by Marcello Gandini, and was later partially revised by – weirdly enough – Chrysler’s design centre; The American carmaker had become the majority shareholder in Lamborghini at that time.
Lamborghini says that the Diablo has won over the hearts and appreciation of fans since day one, and it’s not hard to see why. With a top speed of 325 km/h, the Lamborghini Diablo became the fastest production car in the world at launch.
The Diablo is powered by the classic Lamborghini 5.7-litre V12 engine, sporting four overhead cams, four valves per cylinder, and multi-point electronic fuel injection. The powertrain – tuned by rally champion Sandro Munari – made 492 hp and 580 Nm of torque, with all of it sent to the rear wheels only.
No electronic driving aids or power steering were available on the car at launch; we can’t imagine how it would’ve felt driving this thing full blast all the way up to 325 km/h. It is however luxuriously finished with leather interior, air conditioning, electric windows, as well as powered seats, perhaps making you feel a little more comfortable on the off chance you’ve made a horrific mistake resulting in a crash…
Three years later in 1993, Lamborghini introduced the Diablo VT, finally equipped with the probably-much-welcomed driving aids, alongside all-wheel drive, several mechanical improvements, and styling changes – all of which eventually made its way onto the two-wheel drive model.
In the same year, Lamborghini also unveiled the SE30 in celebration of the company’s 30-year anniversary. The SE30 bumped the power output to 530 hp. The Diablo SV, unveiled at the 1995 Geneva motor show however, dropped the power output back down to 517 hp, and was only available as a rear-wheel drive model.
December of 1995 also saw the introduction of the Diablo VT Roadster – Lamborghini’s first 12-cylinder mass-produced convertible. The VT Roadster was available only with all-wheel drive, and in order to accommodate the electronically-operated carbon-fibre targa top, Lamborghini had to significantly alter the styling of the Diablo.
The year 1998 saw the purchase of Lamborghini by the Audi Group, and a year later, the updated Diablo SV was unveiled, with a more modern styling inside out designed by none other than
Luc Donckerwolke
. The most notable change was the removal of the pop-up headlights, replaced by a fixed composite lens that – fun fact – was borrowed from the
Nissan 300ZX
.
As for the greasy beats, power from the engine was boosted up to 536 hp and 605 Nm, thanks to the new variable valve lift system. For the first time ever on a Lamborghini, the brakes was also equipped with ABS.
Following the updated Diablo SV, Lamborghini also introduced a couple of 6.0-litre V12-powered variants, though these were limited to special series or for competition usage only.
The Diablo nameplate was finally retired in 2001, where it was succeeded by the Mucierlago. Throughout its life time, Lamborghini made a total of 2,903 Diablos from its Sant’Agata Bolognese plant, and while it may not be the
most-produced Lamborghini any more
, the Diablo still remains as one of the most cherished Lamborghini models in many purists’ hearts.
Another fun fact: Diablo means devil in Italian, so it wouldn’t be amiss if we said, “Happy Birthday, you devil.”
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Shell Malaysia launches petrol and diesel with DYNAFLEX, improves fuel economy!

Good news for all Shell loyalists, because from today onwards, you will be getting an advanced formulation designed to help your engine run cleaner and more efficiently. Shell Malaysia’s new DYNAFLEX technology is available in all their petrol and diesel products – FuelSave 95, V-Power 97 (Euro 4M), V-Power Racing, FuelSave Diesel and FuelSave Diesel Euro 5.
It took them five years to develop this formulation, and the benefits include cleaning and protecting essential engine components such as intake valves and fuel injectors. This new formulation is able to reduce carbon built-up that saps away power and efficiency.
Mae Ascan, Senior Scientist, Shell Global Solutions explaining the benefits of new DYNAFLEX
Shell claims that with the new FuelSave 95 with DYNAFLEX has 20 percent more friction reducing molecules compared to the outgoing formulation and helps protect the cylinders against dirt buildup. The same goes for the V-Power 97 which, compared to the old formula, the new one has
3 times more cleaning and friction reducing molecules
 compared to the FuelSave 95 formulation.
The new V-Power Racing with DYNAFLEX on the other hand, has a unique design to
remove up to 80 percent of performance robbing deposits
. This high-performance fuel is the only fuel co-engineered and recommended by
Ferrari
.
On diesel fuels, the new DYNAFLEX technology contains
powerful dirt-busting molecules
 to clean dirty injectors that contribute to inefficient combustion. This new formulation also helps to offer
better protection against dirt build-up
.
“We place customers at the heart of everything we do, and we aim to make their life’s journey better by giving them one less worry on the road. Our new Shell fuels aim to clean and protect car engines, making them more efficient to help you enjoy your journeys on the road. We believe it is not just where you go, but also how you go that matters. We hope motorists will experience the benefits of our new fuels, enhanced with our latest DYNAFLEX technology, so that they can enjoy better journeys on the road,” said Shairan Huzani Husain, Managing Director of Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd and Shell Timur Sdn Bhd.
The new Shell fuel with DYNAFLEX is available at all Shell stations nationwide. As of 9 May 2017, petrol prices are at RM2.11 (RON 95) and RM2.39 (RON 97) while diesel is priced at RM2.08 (Euro 2) and RM2.18 (Euro 5). You can keep track of the latest fuel prices with the widget located on the right.
IMAGE GALLERY

 Mr. Shairan Huzani Husain, Managing Director of Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd and Shell Timur Sdn Bhd

 Mae Ascan, Senior Scientist, Shell Global Solutions explaining the benefits of new DYNAFLEX


Geely Boyue previewed in Malaysia, to be Proton’s first ever SUV

Making its grand debut at the Definitive Agreement signing between Proton and Geely is the
Geely Boyue
, albeit in left-hand drive form. What you’re seeing is the mass market version of Geely’s most popular model, which will be the basis for Proton’s next big project.
Proton and new Foreign Strategic Partner (FSP) Geely have confirmed that the Boyue will be the first Proton model to be conceived as a result of this partnership. Presently, both Proton and Perodua have not a single SUV on sale – the latter since the days of the Kembara/Nautica.
The Geely Boyue is a midsize SUV, taking on the likes of
Mazda CX-5
 and
Honda CR-V
. In China, it’s offered with a
2.4-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder
 engine producing
162 hp
 and
210 Nm
 of torque. It can also be had with a 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder making no less than
163 hp
 and
 250 Nm
 of torque. Two transmissions –
six-speed manual
 or
six-speed dual clutch auto
 – can be had. For now, no details as to which we will be receiving.
In its highest trim, the Boyue gets keyless entry with push-start button, full LCD instrument cluster, leather wrapped seats, adaptive cruise control, 8-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Eco and Sport drive modes, hill descent control, dual-zone automatic climate control and electronic handbrake.
In China alone, Geely sold a grand total of 109,000 units of the Boyue in the whole of 2016, but the numbers have surged to 103,000 units this year alone, between January and May. Since all Geely models are left-hand drive, the new partnership will see Proton become the right-hand drive hub for the Chinese giant in the ASEAN region.
Interesting times lie ahead, for sure.
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Your tyre’s pressure is vital for your safety and your vehicle’s performance

Road Safety and Breakdown Recovery organisation, GEM Motoring, of the UK has sent a compelling message out to all motorists to ensure that they carry out regular tyre pressure checks on their cars as it stresses that correct tyre pressure is not only vital for safety but is also one way to maximise fuel economy.
The organisation highlighted that under-inflated tyres will reduce your vehicle’s ability to grip onto the road and will also affect your car’s handling for the worse. Not only does it lead to the undesirable situation of unpredictable vehicle behaviour, it also increases the risk of a tyre blowout when sudden rapid defaltion occurs.
How a properly inflated tyre would normally look like.
On the other hand, over inflated tyres isn’t exactly a good thing either. This is as they have a smaller contact area with the road, resulting in an increase in stopping distance. Also, it causes a lot more wear across the central part of the tyre, leading to a shorter tyre lifespan – something we all dread.
GEM Road Safety Officer Neil Worth encourages drivers to perform a tyre pressure check at least once a month – crucially before a long journey as only then the safety systems on your car can perform to its maximum efficiency. He also highlighted that your car’s tyres will last longer without unnecessary increase in running costs.
“After all, properly inflated tyres require less energy than under-inflated tyres to make them turn, so your vehicle will use less fuel”, said Neil Worth.


You need to check out these incredible pictures of the Lamborghini Huracan EVO in the Arctic Circle

Lamborghini Avventura, a series of Lamborghini expeditions organised to discover the most spectacular places and roads in the world, recently took to the Lofoten Islands in Norway and boy did they return with the most incredible pictures ever to surface on the Internet in recent times.
The journey saw seven Huracan EVOs travel through islands connected by what seemed like floating roads, stunning bridges and picturesque mountain ranges.
As if it were heaven on earth, the Lofoten Islands is home to unmolested natural surroundings and is one of the biggest producers of stockfish.
The 630km journey saw the seven Lamborghini’s pass through fishing villages, pristine white sandy beaches, breathtaking coastal roads before concluding at the summit of Mount Keipen where participants witnessed a jaw-dropping view of the midnight sun.
Lamborghini Malaysia recently unveiled the
 Huracan Evo
in Malaysia, with an estimated price tag of RM1.1 million before taking duties into account.
With
640 hp
and
 600 Nm
of torque from a 5.2-litre naturally-aspirated V10 powering the 1,422 kg mid-ship, 0 to 100 km/h is annihilated in just 2.9 seconds – a performance which rivals the Porsche 911 GT2 RS and the
new Ferrari F8 Tributo
 – onward to a top speed in excess of 340 km/h.
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How would you configure your dream BMW M4?

BMW Malaysia
 began taking orders
for the all-new
BMW M3
 and
M4 Coupe
 last month, both available only solely in the Competition model. Prices for them start at
RM664,800
 and
RM684,800
 respectively, though if you’re someone looking for a car at this price, you aren’t going to buy it bog standard, are you?
In that case, BMW Malaysia is also offering an Innovation Package for the duos, which costs RM75,000 for the BMW M3 Competition and RM76,000 for the Coupe. The Innovation Package comes with a host of both aesthetic and functional kit for the cars (full list is available
here
), though the options list do not just end there.
For more granular control on the options list, BMW Malaysia has launched a new configurator for the cars, where you can customise your dream BMW M3 and M4 Competition to your heart’s content – but be forewarned, you’ll easily spend upwards of RM300k just on options itself if you’re like us.
For starters, if you’re looking to paint your brand-new M car in a colour outside of the standard seven finishes, you’re going to have to pony up anywhere from RM10k to RM33k for it – the latter is the price for Frozen Brilliant White Metallic. Want some extra exposed carbon fibre outside? The M Carbon exterior package will set you back RM45,920.
You can also configure your interior configure your interior upholstery with a range of leather colour options, or swap out your seats for the M carbon bucket seats at RM37,130. For something a little performance oriented, perhaps you’d want to opt for the Carbon ceramic brakes for RM80,120.
The most expensive item in the list is the M Race Track package, coming in at RM160,230 – but just like the Innovation Package, this track package also bundles quite a bit of options, including the entire BMW M Driver’s Package which already costs RM23,940 by itself.
That all sounds like a lot to stomach, but fortunately BMW Malaysia is also offering discounts for the optional equipment that you’ve selected. Add on RM30,000 to RM60,000 worth of optional extras, and you’ll receive a 5% discount on the options; anything above RM60,000 will net you a 10% discount.
If you’re looking to configure your next BMW M3 or M4 competition, or just want to poke around a little like us, you can access the configuration pages
here
 (M3) and
here
 (M4). Go ahead, we won’t judge.


5 new features that sets the new Honda City apart from the old

The B-Segment market is well and truly heating up. Within a span of two weeks, we have been privileged to bring you the preview of both the highly-anticipated
 all-new Honda City
, more specifically the “torque king” i-MMD RS variant, and very recently the
all-new Nissan Almera Turbo
.
The Honda City has been dominating the B-Segment market as a firm favourite among Malaysians both young and old. With its ingenious interior packaging and generous equipment, it’s no wonder why the City has been a strong favourite for many. With the launch of new Honda City not too long from now, here are five features that set it apart from its predecessor:
i-MMD Powertrain
It’s no secret that the i-MMD (Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive) system is an all-new powertrain being introduce in the upcoming Honda City, although it’ll probably be reserved for the range topping RS variant.
Its claim to fame is its
max torque of 253Nm from its hybrid powertrain
, significantly higher output compared to the electric motor in the current i-DCD (Intelligent Dual Clutch Drive) model of the current generation Honda city, which generates only 160 Nm.
New 1.5-Litre DOHC i-VTEC Engine
If you prefer the vanilla option, Honda Malaysia has confirmed that the new Honda City will also be getting a new naturally-aspirated mill. This new powertrain will replace the current outgoing model’s trusty 1.5-litre SOHC i-VTEC engine.
In terms of output, the new DOHC makes 1 hp more than the current SOHC unit; bringing the max output to 121 hp at 6,600rpm. Max torque is retained at 145 Nm but it’s achieved sooner at 4,300 rpm as opposed to 4,600 rpm in the previous model.
Electric Parking Brake
This new Honda City is the first vehicle in the B-segment to have an Electric Parking Brake. Often found in pricier segment vehicles like the
Honda HR-V
 and
Honda Civic
, an Electric Parking Brake essentially frees up the center console, allowing you to have more room to store your bits and bops.
The Electric Parking Brake also comes with an additional feature known as Brake Hold. Essentially, the feature holds the brakes for you when your vehicle comes to a complete stop, allowing you to take your foot off the brake pedal which adds convenience when you’re in stop-go traffic.
Honda LaneWatch Camera
First introduced in
9th-generation Honda Accord
, this feature has finally trickled down to the new Honda City. The feature was introduced in the
Honda Civic facelift

launched earlier this year.
This nifty feature work its magic when you signal to the left, and a live video feed of the left side of the vehicle will be displayed on your infotainment screen; mitigating any possible blind spot, allowing you to change lanes with confidence.
Honda Sensing
Do take this with a pinch of salt, or maybe a tablespoon of it if you will. Based on our recent preview, Honda Malaysia has graciously allowed us to preview the exterior of the new Honda City, we were not privy to what’s on the inside of the car.
However, we did notice a rather peculiar set of sensors and module that can be seen positioned next to the rear view mirror. It’s most likely that the new City would come with the Honda Sensing, possibly the full suite.
This would include Forward Collision Warning (FBW), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Low Speed Follow (LSF) and Auto High Beam.
The outgoing Honda City’s safety feature was nothing to scoff at, but what the new Honda City may offer could just bring the safety features game to a whole new level.
The new Honda City is definitely shaping up to be yet another leader in the B-Segment market, picking up where it last left off. Prices of the new Honda City has yet to be revealed, but we do know that the car will be launched in Q4 of this year. If you wish to get up close and personal with the new Honda City, Honda Malaysia has begun their nationwide road tour and you can find the location and schedule over
here.


Take a look at the Ford Focus ST WAGON with 608L of boot space

Ford has just released first images of their Ford Focus ST in the wagon body style. The
front-wheel drive hot hatch
 just got even more practical with a larger boot capacity, giving buyers a more versatile yet dynamic option in the wagon segment.
Like its hatchback twin, the Focus ST wagon can be had with the 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol or the 2.0-litre EcoBlue turbodiesel. The latter is paired exclusively with a 6-speed manual transmission while the EcoBoost mill offers the option for a 7-speed automatic.
Century sprint on the petrol-powered Focus ST wagon takes
5.8 seconds
, just 0.1 seconds off the hatchback while top speed is similar between the two at 250 km/h. It’s the same case for the oil burner, with the wagon taking
7.7 seconds
 to the 100 km/h mark from standstill and a top speed registered at
220 km/h
.
In the wagon, you get
608 litres of boot space
 with the rear seats up and expandable to 1,653 litres – that is significantly more spacious than the hatchback’s 375 litres. The extra space will definitely come in handy for long weekend outings or couples with a growing family.
That’s not to say the Focus ST wagon has gone all soft, features such as electronic limited-slip differential, rev-matching, Continuous Controlled Damping (CCD), Electronic Sound Enhancement (ESE) and selectable Drive Modes
found on the hatchback
 are also available in the wagon.
IMAGE GALLERY
Ford Focus ST Wagon Unveiled


Treat yourself at the BMW Year-End Expo 2019 this weekend with great deals on offer

More often than not, the year-end is usually when we find the best deals. If you have been saving up for a new car this year, Christmas is coming early as BMW Malaysia will be organising a Year-End Expo this weekend.
The Expo is held jointly by Quill Automobiles, Ingress Auto, and Wheelcorp Premium, three dealerships representing BMW and MINI in the Klang Valley.

Over 90 vehicles will be on display at the BMW Year-End Expo, with models including the
BMW 330i M Sport
,
BMW 530i M Sport
,
BMW 530e M Sport
, BMW X1sDrive20i Sport, and the
BMW X3 xDrive30i M Sport
.
Multiple exclusive deals are on offer at the Year-End Expo, including six years and five years Unlimited Mileage Warranty programme, special financing rates from 0.33%, complimentary one-year BMW Comprehensive Motor Insurance.
The BMW Year-End Expo 2019 will be happening from the
6th to 8th December 2019
 at
The Marquee, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
, from
 10 AM to 7 PM
 daily.


Yes, you can now defer your car loans for 6 months but don’t celebrate just yet

You’re probably jumping for joy after Bank Negara Malaysia made a very favourable announcement allowing all bank loans, except credit card bills, to be deferred for six months beginning from the 1st of April 2020.
The 6-month deferment period thankfully, also
applies to hire purchase agreements such as your car loans
. The interests that comes with it will still apply, be accumulated and due for payment after the deferment period in.
The deferment period only applies to loans repayments due from 1st of April onwards and not those which have yet to be paid before the said date.
As for the loan tenure, this effectively means your car loan
will be extended by six months
. If you car loan ends in December 2020, this deferment would mean that it would end in June 2021 at no additional cost.
Below are some screenshots taken from the
Bank Negara Malaysia website
 with all the relevant FAQs, hope that helps!


Subaru Forester GT confirmed arriving in Malaysia before Q3

The handsome new Subaru Forester GT was just launched at the Singapore Motorshow 2020, and Motor Image Subaru has confirmed that it will be available in Malaysia before the first half of the year is over.
The pricing of the car is still in the works, but as it has the same trim levels as the 2.0i-S EyeSight, it’s highly likely to be priced higher.
For comparison, three variants for the Subaru Forester is available in Malaysia, the 2.0i-L, 2.0i-S, and 2.0i-S Eyesight, which are priced at RM139,788, RM149,788, and RM159,788 respectively.
What’s more, Subaru says there is a high chance that the Forester GT will replace the 2.0i-S EyeSight, so buyers who are not too keen on the bolder styling may need to get one quick.
The exterior of the Forester GT has been given a fresh aero kit that brings a new front bumper extension, side skirts, a roof spoiler and a rear bumper extension. It rides on new bespoke 18-inch alloys as well, while the interior is differentiated from the standard variant by two-tone seats.
There is also an updated version of the current 8-inch infotainment display. Though the size is the same as the outgoing one, it is of a higher resolution and comes with a few new features as well, like the
All-round View Monitor 2 and a new parking guidance system
.
This new display will be introduced as a running update to both the current XV and Forester models in Malaysia, though the price has yet to be revealed.
Back to the GT; like the rest of the range, it is powered by a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre flat-four Boxer engine. Power is transferred to all four wheels via a 7-speed Lineartronic CVT transmission. It is good for
 156 hp
and
 198 Nm
 of torque.
The Forester GT has the same trim level as the 2.0i-S EyeSight, so it will get LED DRLs, a powered tailgate with memory function, and, true to its offroad aspirations, headlamp washers as well.
The EyeSight system brings with it Pre-Collision Braking and Throttle Management, Lane Sway and Departure Warning, as well as Adaptive Cruise Control and Lead Vehicle Start Alert. Other systems like Lane Change Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and Blind-Spot Detection also finds its way onto the car.
We tested the Emergency Rear Braking system here in Singapore and thought it was rather effective but as its cost-to-utility ratio is quite high, Subaru will most likely not introduce it in Malaysia.
IMAGE GALLERY
Subaru Forester GT


Toyota opens new 3S outlet in Nilai

UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has added another full-fledged Toyota 3S centre to its dealership network. The new outlet located in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, will be operated by Unitedstar Corporation, a business partner of UMWT since 1995.
The new dealership joins a network of over 90 authorised Toyota 3S and 4S centres nationwide. UMWT President, Ravindran K. said, “The automobile business has been increasingly competitive and UMW Toyota Motor has encouraged its authorized dealers to enhance their facilities and services, in order to provide the best sales and after-sales services to our customers.”
Besides a spacious showroom, the new 3S outlet will also houses
10 servicing bays
. Other amenities include a comfortable lounge for customers to wait while their vehicles are being serviced.
The new Toyota 3S Centre is located at
Lot 19745 – Lot 19758, Jalan Nilai Perdana 7, Taman Nilai Perdana, 71800 Nilai, Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus.
 Customers can call
06-799 0022
 for enquiries, or book a service appointment via phone at
06-799 0033
.


Kia Picanto facelift unveiled with EV9-like front end, retains 5-speed manual

Once made available for the Malaysian market, the adorable
Kia Picanto
 has no signs of returning to the Malaysian market. That being said though, the Kia Picanto has just been given a facelift which comes with a more futuristic front end.
According to Kia, the Picanto is one of its best-selling models in several regions worldwide. It is just unfortunate that it couldn’t quite compete with the prices of our local car brands. Thus Kia in Malaysia is now only offering cars that aren’t exactly budget-oriented. Now back to the facelifted Picanto.
With the facelift, the Kia Picanto is now offered in two choices – the baseline and the GT Line. Just like most of the cars around these days, the headlights and taillights now have a connected design that successfully updates the ongoing platform of the Picanto. Like other Kia models, the design of the facelifted Picanto embodies the ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy and features the brand’s signature ‘tiger nose’.
As for wheel choices, the Picanto is available with 14-inch, 15-inch, and even 16-inch wheels, depending on the variant. To enhance the GT Line’s looks, Kia has given it a “confident” front end emphasizes “sporty elements”. The GT Line also gets a special rear diffuser.
In the performance department, the new Picanto carries over the pre-facelift engine choices. Customers have the option between a 1.0-litre and a 1.2-litre engine, both naturally aspirated. Both engines drive the front wheels only and can be paired with either a 5-speed manual transmission of a 5-speed automated manual transmission.
RELATED:
2023 Kia Sorento in Malaysia, from RM211k – Is the diesel worth it?
Inside, the Picanto also remains largely the same with the facelift featuring an 8.0-inch floating touchscreen head unit that comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. It also comes with Kia connect in certain regions.
Safety-wise, the Kia Picanto is well equipped with Kia’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. This includes Forward Collision-Avoidance (FCA) 1.5, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Driver Attention Warning and Leading Vehicle Departure Warning (DAW+), Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) and Lane Following Assist (LFA).
RELATED:
Kia EV9 specs revealed – over 541km range, V2L, L3 autonomous driving


Steve Wyatt victorious at Sepang once again at Round 6 of Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific

The final week of August saw the
Ferrari Challenge
 contingent come down to the famed Sepang F1 Circuit (their second last stop of the tour) with an armada of factory-prepped Ferrari 458s.
It was
 Round Six
 of the Prancing Horse challenge, and each of the 19 drivers pitted in a head-to-head race in the one-make racing series.
Steve Wyatt
 brought the thunder from Down Under with a podium finish on

both
Race 1 and Race 2
 around the 5.543 km long track.

The drivers were doing an average of
 2 minutes 15.5 seconds
, thanks to a set of super-sticky
Pirelli
 rubbers. The
Ferrari 458
 in question here isn’t your standard production model, but rather the
458 Challenge Evoluzione
. It still uses the same road-going
4.5-litre V8
, but here it is tuned to churn out
750 hp
 at
9,000 rpm
! All that power is shot through the rear wheels via a
 seven-speed F1-style dual clutch
 close-ratio gearbox.
The Evoluzione has a factory-spec
aero kit
 with a revised
front spiltter
 and a
huge rear wing
 to increase downforce. Ferrari’s engineers have tweaked the
suspension
 and
brakes
 to handle various track conditions as well. Weight reduction on the other hand, goes into overdrive with most panels replaced by lighter and thinner materials. All those modifications mean that the 458 Challenge Evoluzione is just
 0.2 seconds

slower
around the hallowed Fiorano test track than the
Ferrari FXX
!

Both races were broken down into
three classes
, beginning with
Race 1
. The first category was
Trofeo Pirelli
, the very race which saw
Steve Wyatt
 dominating the class. The Australian driver also set the fastest lap time of
2:14.509
 in the second lap of the race. Pirelli Championship leader
Renaldi Hutasoit
 finished second and Indonesian driver
David Tjiptobiantoro
came in third.
The
Trofeo Pirelli AM
cup saw Swedish driver
 Alexander West
clench his first-ever podium win, while
Stefano Montesi
 and
Xu Wei
 came in
second and third
 respectively. In the
Coppa Shell Class
, Chinese driver
Yanbin Xin
 showed unfettered determination to extend his four consecutive wins to five in Race 2 on Sunday. The other two podium places belonged to Japanese driver
Ken Seto
 and Chinese driver
Huilin Han
.

On Sunday,
 Wyatt
 led the race from start to finish and once again stood proudly at top of the podium, beating
Renaldi Hutasoit
 by a whopping
11.308 seconds
. Coming in third place was Indonesian driver,
David Tjiptobiantoro
.
The
Trofeo Pirelli AM
 cup witnessed a fierce battle for first and second places, as
Alexander West
 emerged victorious while Chinese driver
Wei Xu
 trailed behind the Swede by
2.917
 seconds.
Jung Hoon Youn
 of Korea came in
third
, who hosted the first three seasons of Top Gear Korea.

Huilin Han
 of car 139 took home his
first ever podium finish
 in the
Coppa Shell
 class. Fellow compatriot
Yan Bing Xing
, who won Saturday’s race, followed closely in second place. Both cars were separated by a gap of only
 0.662 seconds
.
Bo Song
, also from China, settled for
third
.
The contingent will be flying to Italy for the
Finali Mondiali Mugello
or the World Finals at the Mugello Circuit in Tuscany. It is scheduled to take place from 5 to 8 November.
IMAGE GALLERY


Volvo XC90 T8 plug-in hybrid previewed, world’s most powerful and greenest SUV

As
previously hinted
, Volvo’s top-of-the-range
XC90
 T8 is said to produce a total of
400 hp
 and
 640 Nm
 of torque from a
2.0-litre four-cylinder Drive-E
 powertrain – even up to 450 hp
here
. However, this 2.0-litre engine is no ordinary four-cylinder mill.
In the
XC90 T8,
 it’s not only
turbocharged and supercharged
 to produce 318 hp and 400 Nm of torque, but it’s also paired to a
 60kW electric motor
 with 240 Nm of torque placed at the rear axle.
On top of that, there’s the
crankshaft-mounted
 starter generator (CISG) located between the engine and the
eight-speed automatic gearbox
 that juggles between the roles of seamlessly switching from pure electric drive to full-hybrid mode, being a generator, and also as an electric engine booster by providing up to 150 Nm of torque when needed. Smart, huh?
As a hybrid, the XC90 T8 is fitted with the
high-voltage (270-400V) battery
 cleverly placed in the center tunnel without sacrificing interior space and also gives the XC90 a lower center of gravity for better handling. The XC90 T8’s
fuel consumption
 is rated at just
2.5 litres per 100km
travelled.
Before entering the vehicle, the driver can configure the XC90 T8’s drivetrain, battery and cabin, either directly inside the car or by using the
Volvo On Call mobile app
 for a preferred cabin temperature. Once inside, the driver can choose from
 five different driving modes
: Hybrid, Pure electric, Power mode, AWD, and Save.
The default
Hybrid
 mode automatically switches the power source from the 2.0-litre engine or the electric motor,
Pure electric
 mode allows the XC90 T8 to be driven in full-electric for up to 40 km, while
Power
 mode combines both power sources that is said to deliver lower-end torque similar to a V8 engine.
It will also send the XC90 T8 from
0 to 100 km/h
 in just
5.9 seconds
. In
AWD
 mode it offers constant all-wheel drive on demand while in
Save
 mode the four-cylinder engine will charge the battery and when it’s fully charged, they will be freezed for a later use in Pure electric mode.
Promising the best of both worlds where performance meets low emission, the XC90 T8 appears to be a multi-faceted vehicle that offers performance and efficiency in a single package. Volvo Car Group’s Senior Vice President of Research and Development, Dr Peter Mertens said, “The XC90 T8 is a plug-in electric car, hybrid car and high-performance car rolled into one.” Here’s to hoping that the folks at Volvo Car Malaysia will introduce this very trim here!
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY
XC90 T8

XC90

XC90 R-Design


Mazda CX-8 confirmed, new 6 or 7-seater flagship SUV, on sale end-2017!

Mazda Motor Corporation has just announced plans to launch a brand new crossover SUV – the Mazda CX-8. Slotting between the CX-5 and
CX-9
, the CX-8 can be had in either six-seater or seven-seater configuration. The new SUV will go on sale in Japan by end-2017.
The CX-8 will feature the full suite of SkyActiv technologies and Kodo: Soul of Motion design like its SUV siblings. While the CX-9 is available almost everywhere else in the world (Malaysia included), its home country does not have the full-sized SUV on offer. Therefore, the new CX-8 will be positioned as Mazda’s flagship SUV in Japan.
Measured at 4,900 mm in length, 1,840 mm in width and 1,730 mm in height, the CX-8 is marginally smaller than the CX-9 (5,075 mm height; 1,969 mm width; 1,747 mm height) but shares the same wheelbase of 2,930 mm. Motivation comes in the form of a 2.2-litre SkyActiv-D new clean diesel engine, presumable the same albeit tweaked unit from the
second-generation CX-5
. Transmission option is a six-speed SkyActiv-Drive automatic transmission. Further details such as alternative powertrains or AWD will be announced at a later date.
Based on the single teaser image, the CX-8 will feature a more upmarket cabin design similar to the CX-9. In the six-seater configuration, the middle seat on the second row is replaced by what appears to be an armrest instead of having a clear pathway for passengers to climb onto the third row seats like on MPVs. Other noticeable observations are the new seat design that offers more shoulder support than the CX-9.
“It has the looks, performance and high-end feel customers expect from a Mazda, and even adults can sit comfortably in the third row. Mazda aims to create a strong emotional connection with customers, and we will achieve this by continually advancing our lineup to offer all customers our unique combination of driving pleasure and outstanding environmental and safety performance,” said Masamichi Kogai, Mazda’s Representative Director, President and CEO.


Feature: Five things you need to know about the Honda City facelift

The
Honda City
 is no doubt Honda Malaysia’s most popular car. The sheer number of them on the road can attest to that. In fact, it’s so popular that it dethroned the all-conquering
Toyota Vios
 as segment leader to become the most popular B-Segment car in Malaysia!
With the imminent launch of the
Honda City facelift
, here are five things that you need to know about the car.
1. Full LED headlamps and LED fog lamps
Yes, that’s right. Forward illumination source is LED for both the headlamps and fog lamps, just like the
Honda Civic FC
. The
Mazda2
 was the first B-Segment car to come with full LED headlamps, but the Honda City will be the first to feature LED fog lamps.

2. Brand new front grille
Previously, it had a large Platinum Grille which divided opinion. On the facelifted model, it gets a much sleeker Honda Solid Wing grille with honeycomb inserts, just like that of the
Civic FB
. The grille also extends to the headlamp housing like the Civic FC.

3. Dual tone alloys
According to Honda Malaysia, all variants (three in total) of the City will feature dual-tone alloy design. The one pictured here measures 16-inch in size and wrapped in 195/55 profile Goodyear Excellence tyres. Lower range variants will most likely be fitted with 15-inch in size like the pre-facelift line-up.

4. LED combination tail lamps
Like the JDM Honda Grace, our local-spec City will get LED combination tail lamps. The two-bar design looks so much more premium than the ones before. No need for the grotesque Lexus-esque aftermarket pair now, eh?

5. ESC standard across the board
Previously, ESC or in Honda terms, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) was only available for the top two variants. Now, Honda Malaysia will have this essential safety feature equipped on all variants as standard.
If by this point you’re sold and are determined to get yourself a brand new ride,
Honda Malaysia has already opened the order books
. This means the facelifted Honda City will be launched very, very soon! No prices were announced but the
pre-facelift model
 was priced
between RM76k to RM91k
. As usual, watch this space for the full launch report!
IMAGE GALLERY


Hap Seng Star opens new Mercedes-Benz Autohaus in Setia Alam

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) together with authorised dealer partner Hap Seng Star (HSS), has just unveiled the seventh Mercedes-Benz 3S centre in Klang Valley, the Mercedes-Benz Hap Seng Star Setia Alam Autohaus (HSS Setia Alam).
HSS Setia Alam is the result of an RM2.8 million investment between the principal and authorised dealer and is Hap Seng Star’s 11
th
 Mercedes-Benz Autohaus in the country. The new 3S centre will serve an ever-growing customer and fan base in the vicinity of Setia Alam, Puncak Alam, Kuala Selangor, Tanjung Karang and Sekinchan.

HSS Setia Alam occupies a built-up area of 10,730 sq ft and is equipped with the latest Mercedes-Benz Presentation System II (MPS II) design concept. Managed by 39 certified personnel, the Autohaus is able to accommodate up to six showroom vehicles and is capable to service up to 500 vehicles a month.
Hap Seng Consolidated Berhad Group Chief Operating Officer and Hap Seng Star Chief Executive, Mr Harald Behrend, said: “Throughout our nearly 50 years of collaboration with Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, we have been dedicated and passionate in providing exceptional service and best customer experience to our valued customers. Today we remain as dedicated and passionate as we first started. Our strong commitment continues with this new investment in Setia Alam.”
IMAGE GALLERY


Renew your BMW and MINI insurance online with BMW Malaysia’s new i-Renewal service

BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia today introduced the new i-Renewal digital service, Allowing BMW and MINI owners to renew their insurance policy easily and quickly through the online portal.
The BMW and MINI Comprehensive Motor Insurance Programme offered by the i-Renewal service is underwritten by Allianz General Insurance. Through the i-Renewal portal, customers can request for an instant quotation by providing some basic information, or renew their insurance policies directly on the website with only a few clicks.
To celebrate the launch of the new service, BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia will also be offering a
one-year complimentary Enhanced Road Warrior coverage
 for every owner who successfully renews their insurance policy through the i-Renewal platform by 31 December 2020.
The Enhanced Road Warrior service provides additional Personal Accident coverage and other insurance benefits, as well as a range of comprehensive car assistance programme available around the clock, such as 24-hour emergency towing (unlimited towing distance), minor roadside repair, taxi assistance, arrangement of car rental and hotel accommodation, and international assistance, among others.
The all-new BMW 330e M Sport was recently launched here in Malaysia. Check out what’s new in our coverage
here
!
BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia Managing Director, Tobias Eismann said, “The BMW Group is committed to innovating and further improving the premium mobility experience for all our customers while digitalising our existing touch points and services.
“By introducing the new i-Renewal digital service for the BMW and MINI Comprehensive Motor Insurance Programme, we are expediting this essential part of the premium mobility experience to keep it as hassle-free and seamless as possible.”
The new i-Renewal service is now available through the purpose-built website
here
. Additionally, BMW and MINI owners can also access the new digital service via
BMW Engage

here
, or directly through the BMW Group Loyalty+ mobile application.


MHV Autohaus Gombak awarded Best Overall Dealer for 2018

Volkswagen Passenger
Cars Malaysia (VPCM) recently celebrated the accomplishments of its network of
dealers at the 2018 Volkswagen Dealer Awards Night. The awards night recognises
the top performing dealers and dealer employees for their achievements in
supporting the Volkswagen brand in Malaysia.
The judging and
scoring criteria were based on the individual dealer’s efforts in sales and
marketing, aftersales, customer satisfaction, dealer standards compliance and manpower
qualification from January till December 2018.
Best Dealer (4S Centres): Wearnes Automotive
Best Dealer (within Klang Valley): MHV Autohaus
Best Dealer (outside Klang Valley):
Lee Motors Autohaus
Best Overall Dealer 2018: MHV Autohaus
MHV Autohaus was once
again named Best Overall Dealer for 2018, retaining their title from last year.
Managing Director of VPCM, Erik Winter said: ““Year after year, we continue to
encourage and steer our dealer partners to strive on continuous improvements.
It is through our partners that we build trust and confidence amongst our
owners to enhance their overall ownership experience, and we are pleased to be
able to honour our high-achievers in recognising all the hard work they have
put into their business for the Volkswagen brand.”
The six individual
Overall Top Achievers were:
Best Sales
Manager: James Leong, MHV Autohaus
Best Sales
Consultant: Yan Mun Ee, Goh Brothers, Ipoh
Best
Aftersales Manager: William Loh, MHV Autohaus
Best Parts
Manager: John Leow, MHV Autohaus
Best Service
Advisor: Azrul Muzakhair, Wearnes Sungai Besi
Best
Technician: Husni Thamrin, Lee Motors, Alor Star


Haval H2 1.5 Turbo previewed in Malaysia, priced from just RM89k!

Hailing from the Middle Kingdom, C-segment SUV Haval H2 has just made its Malaysian debut via distributor GO Auto, a model which will compete with the likes of the
Honda CR-V
,
Mazda CX-5
,
Kia Sportage
 and
Hyundai Tucson
. What the Haval loses out in terms of badge cred, it makes up with a rather impressive equipment list.
Launched in three variants – Standard MT, Comfort AT and Premium AT, GO Auto targets to sell 1,000 units of the H2 before the year ends. The first 100 units slated for the Malaysian market is CBU, but local assembly will commence in September 2016.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Haval H2 Standard MT
Haval H2 Comfort AT
Haval H2 Premium AT
Engine
1.5-litre; turbocharged inline-four cylinder
Transmission
6-Speed Manual
6-Speed Automatic
Max Power (hp)
147hp @ 5,600 rpm
Max Torque (Nm)
210 Nm @ 2,200 – 4,500 rpm
OTR Price (RM)
RM89,950
RM98,950
RM101,950
EXTERIOR
At 1,695mm, the Haval H2 stands taller than segment favourites Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5, but shorter than both at 4,335mm. Looks wise, the Haval H2 is rather well proportioned. Buyers may opt for the roof-body two-tone colour scheme that converges at the C-pillar, separated by a Haval badge.
From the front, the chromed grille is flanked by a pair of height-adjustable halogens underlined with a row of LED DRLs. The indicators are integrated within the wing mirrors, each featuring a miniature projector that lights the ground with the Haval logo.

Moving onto the back, the tailgate sports a neat design with HAVAL lettering emblazoned across. Below that is a concave space dedicated for the number plate, a la Audi Q5. Finished off with a pair of chrome-tipped tailpipes, the rear of the Haval H2 looks decidedly classy to this writer.
INTERIOR
Apart from the shiny piece of metal that runs across the fascia (which could be a bit too loud), the interior of the Haval H2, at first impression, looks pretty well put together. The six-way electrically adjustable driver seat (absent on the base model), for instance, feels pretty sculpted and supportive. Standard across the range are leather seats, ISOFIX, Anti-Glare rear view mirror, Bluetooth connectivity and rear air conditioning vents.

The interior is also where the standard model loses out considerably in terms of kit, compared to the comfort and premium versions. It comes without auto headlamps and wipers, cruise control, sunroof, boot space cover, dual high tone speakers, reverse camera, dual zone AC system and ambient lighting.
The center console is home to two rotary dials that control the stereo and the air-conditioning  system, whereas buttons for radio and Bluetooth handsfree (to answer calls) are neatly laid out on both sides. The main touchscreen display sits just below the central air conditioning vents.
PERFORMANCE
Here’s the star of the show. The Haval H2 is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder mill that churns out 147 hp and 210 Nm of torque. All power is channeled to the front wheels via a sox-speed manual or automatic transmission. Not going to win any drag races against its Japanese rivals, but kudos to GO Auto for offering a manual option.
SAFETY
Safety is one aspect that the Haval H2 doesn’t lack. Standard across range are dual front airbags, electronic stability control, collision fuel off system, tyre pressure monitoring system and an active headrest. The Comfort and Premium variants gets more in the form of four additional airbags (front side and curtain airbags), reverse camera and left front wheel zone camera(installed within the left rearview mirror).
WHAT ELSE?
Again, the Haval H2 is offered in three variants, beginning with the manual which is priced at RM86,776.01. The Comfort and Premium versions are priced at RM95,527.97 and RM98,445.29 respectively. All prices are inclusive of GST but excludes insurance.
Colours available include Haval Blue, Titanium White, Modern Grey; two tone body colours are offered too, which are Haval Red + Classic Black, Classic Black + Titanium White and a creatively named Brownish Brown + Titanium White. The Haval H2 is packaged with a 5-Year warranty and 3 years or 60,000km free service. Owners may get their vehicles serviced at 20 3S dealerships and 16 2S centres nationwide.
IMAGE GALLERY


Petron now offers EURO 4M RON 95 petrol at all its filling stations

In not so many words, over a social media video post lasting 5 seconds, Petron Malaysia has confirmed that all its stations across Malaysia is now offering
EURO 4M
 RON 95 Petron Blaze petrol, making it the third petroleum company in Malaysia to do so, after Shell (selected stations) and Petronas.
If you have missed
our story yesterday
, EURO 4M RON 95 had in fact been gazetted by the government to come into effect on 1st January, 2020. The low sulphur content of EURO 4M specified at
50 parts per million
 (ppm) or lower, compared to
500 ppm
 as mandated by the outgoing and hopelessly outdated
EURO 2M
standard. RON 97 petrol in Malaysia already complies with EURO 4M.
Interestingly, the shift to EURO 4M for RON 95 petrol was supposed to coincide with the implementation of the
Petrol Subsidy Programme
 (PSP) for Malaysians categorised under the
B40 group
 which would have resulted in the price of RON 95 petrol being pegged to market levels as fuel subsidies are gradually removed. However, the minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs announced that the PSP is postponed and that the price of RON 95 petrol will remain at
RM 2.08 per litre
, for now.