The new Mazda 3 hatchback looks even sexier in the flesh!

Bermaz Motor, official distributors of Mazda vehicles in Malaysia has official launched the new Mazda 3 at the One Utama Shopping Centre and when you see the media gawking at the car more than taking pictures of it, you know it’s something special.
There are three new variants for the new Mazda 3 which is fully imported and the new liftback, as it’s officially called, is available as a 1.5-litre base model at
 RM139,770
 or a “High Plus” 2.0-litre model at
RM160,059
.

The 1.5-litre model makes
118 hp
 and
153 Nm
 while the 2.0-litre engines push out
162 hp
 and
 213 Nm
 of torque. Both engines are paired to a 6-speed SkyActive-Drive 6-speed automatic transmission.
While there’s much to gawk over the exterior that been developed based on the Kai Concept, the equipment list of the 1.5-litre base model may not excite as much.
There may be automatic LED headlamps and tail lights but funnily enough, the DRLs are actually bulb-type units. You also don’t get keyless entry although the 16-inch wheels may not be such a bad thing when it comes to changing a new set of tyres.
Inside the 1.5-litre model, you get fabric seats, manually-operated front seats, auto brake hold and a new electronic parking brake.
As for the 2.0-litre “High Plus”, the stunning exterior is further enhanced visually, with round LED daytime running lights both in the front and back, 18-inch wheels, sunroof and keyless entry.
At over RM20k more than the 1.5-litre model, the 2.0-litre “High Plus” gets leather upholstery, a 10-way powered driver seat with memory function, rear air con vents, eight parking sensors, auto locking, paddle shifter and dual zone climate control.
Elsewhere creature comforts include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, eight speakers, and two USB ports.
Safety wise the Mazda 3 hatchback comes with seven airbags, ABS, DSC, EBD, Traction control and Hill Launch Assist.
Exclusively for the High Plus variant is the i-Activsense driver assistance system which includes Adaptive Front Lighting System, High Beam Control, Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Radar Cruise Control, and Smart City Brake Support.
IMAGE GALLERY


Toyota Avanza 1.5X introduced in Malaysia, rugged looks for RM82,700

UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has opened the order books for the new Toyota Avanza 1.5X. The new variant which sits just below the range-topping 1.5S gets a more rugged exterior theme for those who prefer a sporty family MPV.
The new variant gets new black painted body kit extensions on the front and rear bumper as well as the wheel arches. The extended fenders give additional protection from debris kicking into the body paint and a lowered stance.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Toyota Avanza 1.3E
Toyota Avanza 1.5E
Toyota Avanza 1.5G
Toyota Avanza 1.5X
Toyota Avanza 1.5S
Engine
1,329cc; inline-4 DOHC with Dual VVT-i
1,496cc; inline-4 DOHC with Dual VVT-i
Transmission
5-speed manual
4-speed automatic
Max Power
97 hp @ 6,000 rpm
104 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Max Torque
121 Nm @ 4,200 rpm
136 Nm @ 4,200 rpm
Price (OTR without insurance)
RM70,200
RM76,600
RM79,200
RM82,700
RM81,500
At the rear, there are new rear combination reflector units integrated to the taillamps to add a distinct look to the Avanza. Elsewhere, customers can add on the Roof Ornament and 16-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels for a fee.
Inside, the Avanza 1.5X gets the
same equipment as before
 – three-spoke multifunctional urethane steering wheel, fabric seats, manual air conditioning and rear air blowers. In typical Toyota fashion, the infotainment screen can be upgraded to the DVD-AVX or DVD-AVN which comes with a reverse camera.
No changes to the mechanical components, you’ll get a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine paired to a four-speed automatic gearbox to give
104 hp
 and
136 Nm
 of torque. If you are not aware already, the Avanza is rear-wheel driven.
Safety wise, the Avanza 1.5X gets dual SRS front airbags,
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
 with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and ISOFIX mounting points on the second row. Unfortunately,
 electronic stability control
 is missing from the spec-sheet unlike the Honda BR-V which comes with ESC as standard across the range.
Like all models distributed by UMWT, the Toyota Avanza comes with a 5-Years Unlimited Mileage warranty which is transferable to the next owner if the car is within the warranty period. The new Avanza 1.5X will be available for viewing from
24 February 2018

onwards
 at all Toyota showrooms nationwide.


Would you like to see the Mercedes-Benz X-Class 350d 3.0L V6 in M’sia?

Mercedes-Benz UK is now offering the recently debuted Mercedes-Benz X-Class with a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel. The V6 powered pick up sits at the top of the local X-Class line up with a price tag of £38,350 (RM203k).
The X-Class 350d 4MATIC wears the POWER equipment line that features LED high-performance headlamps and taillamps, keyless entry, chrome finish on the under guard, rear bumper, fog lamp housing and shoulder line trim strips. A set of 18-inch six-twin-spoke alloy wheels is standard fitment.
Inside, the range-topping X-Class features eight-way powered front seats, ARTICO leather and DINAMICA microfiber upholstery, seven-inch Audio 20 CD infotainment display (Command Online can be had as an option), multifunctional steering wheel with paddle shifters as well as aluminium interior trim.
Under the bonnet is a 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel with
258 hp
 and
550 Nm
 of torque that is paired to a seven-speed 7G-Tronic Plus automatic transmission. The 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive system feature three driving mode – 4MAT, 4H and 4L to take on different terrains. Mercedes-Benz’s Dynamic Select is also present here to allow the X-Class to cycle between five different driving modes – Eco, Comfort, Sport, Off-Road and Manual.
Safety wise, UK-spec X-Class 350d 4MATIC comes equipped with seven airbags, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Brake Assist (radar-based autonomous emergency braking), Traffic Sign Assist, Hill-Start Assist, Downhill Speed Regulation, a Thatcham anti-theft security package and a load securing rail system standard.
IMAGE GALLERY
Mercedes-Benz X-Class 350d 4MATIC

Mercedes-Benz X-Class 220d 4MATIC


Naza Quest ceases distribution of Chevrolet vehicles in Malaysia

Naza Quest Sdn Bhd has just announced that they will no longer distribute new Chevrolet vehicles in Malaysia effective 15 November 2018. The company will continue to provide warranty and aftersales services for existing Chevrolet owners until General Motors (GM) appoints a new distributor.
Dato’ Samson Anand George, Group CEO, Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings Sdn Bhd outlined the Naza Group’s future strategy: “We came to this decision as a result of a brand rationalisation plan under the Naza Group’s overall corporate strategy to create long-term sustainability and profitability. We will continue to focus on our other four and two-wheel brands. The Naza Group will maximize its complete automotive line-up and explore other business opportunities to expand its market share in the automotive industry.”
While Naza Quest will cease new Chevrolet vehicle sales, majority of the Chevrolet dealerships will remain open during this transition to facilitate the aftersales needs of Chevrolet customers. “I would like to thank General Motors (GM) for their unwavering trust in the Naza Group for the past eight years and wish them all the best in their future endeavours,” Dato’ Samson added.
GM and Chevrolet remain committed to the Malaysian market with its strong growth potential and loyal fan base in Malaysia. GM Southeast Asia, General Director, Vanchana Unakul said: “Chevrolet is here to stay in Malaysia and we will be announcing our new distributor partner as soon as possible.”


Gallery: 2023 Jaguar I-Pace HSE – Eye-catching luxury EV from RM461k

The fully-electric
 2023 Jaguar I-Pace
 has finally made its official debut here in Malaysia, five years after its global debut. The fully-electric crossover lands on our shores in two variants, starting at
 RM460,800
 for the Black LE, jumping up to
RM498,800
for the range-topping HSE variant – which we’ll be taking a closer look today.
Looking to renew your vehicle insurance? Be sure to check out MotorTakaful.com by Etiqa. Renewing online will not only get you a 10% instant rebate, but also cash back at the end of your coverage. Log on to
www.motortakaful.com
 to find out more.
Despite the now
 five-year-old design
, the Jaguar I-Pace is still one of the most unique-looking crossovers on the road today. This is largely down to its proportions, afforded by its full EV platform that pushes its wheels far into the four corners of the car, resulting in short overhangs both front and back.
Being Jaguar’s first-ever dedicated EV, the overall silhouette of the I-Pace is primarily dictated by aerodynamics, where the sloped roofline, flat rear, and retracting door handles all help contribute to its slippery – if not unusual – shape.
Funky shape aside, the I-Pace still wears many of Jaguar’s latest design touches with charisma, including the slim-line matrix LED headlights with the twin J-blade daytime-running light graphics, slim rear lighting, and the signature Jaguar grille.
Due to the reduced cooling requirement on its EV powertrain, the “grille” here actually functions as an aerodynamic device rather than an air inlet, passing air from the front grille through the bonnet and over the top of the top of the car to further maximise its efficiency.
Both variants of the 2023 Jaguar I-Pace here in Malaysia ride on the 20-inch ‘Style 5068’ alloys, although the range-topping HSE variant get a two-tone diamond-turned finish, while the Black LE gets a fully blacked-out colourway.
The interior is where the Jaguar I-Pace starts to show its age, thanks to its busy dashboard layout that can only be described as “old-school” by today’s standards. With that being said, the physical controls do at least make it a lot more convenient to operate – especially on the most commonly-used items like climate and volume control.
This being a Jaguar, there’s no discount on luxuries here, too. Leather upholstery is standard, and the HSE even gets upgraded Windsor leather to wrap its variant-exclusive Performance seats. Other interior highlights include the Meridian 3D surround sound system (HSE exclusive), glass roof, and the unique split-screen Pivi Pro infotainment system consisting of a 10-inch touchscreen on top, and a 5.5-inch touchscreen below for your climate control system.
The 2023 Jaguar I-Pace is powered by a twin-motor, all-time all-wheel drive for a combined output of
400 hp (294 kW)
 and
696 Nm
 of torque. That translates to a century sprint time of just
 4.8 seconds
, onward to a top speed of
200 km/h
.
Aside from raw performance, the Jaguar I-Pace also boasts a “sportscar-like” handling characteristic, thanks to its 50:50 weight distribution, lower centre of gravity, and increased torsional rigidity.
If you want a better balance between sporty handling and comfort, though, the range-topping HSE variant swaps the coil springs for a set of adjustable air suspensions that also automatically lowers when you shut off the car for easier ingress and egress.
The Jaguar I-Pace’s twin motors are supplied by a 90 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, giving the I-PACE an electric driving range of
470 km
 (WLTP cycle). To charge, an 11 kW on-board AC charger tops it up from 0-80% in roughly 8.6 hours. Using a 100 kW DC fast charger meanwhile does the same in under 40 minutes.
As mentioned above, pricing for the 2023 Jaguar I-Pace in Malaysia starts from RM460,800 for the Black LE, going up to RM498,800 for the HSE. The fully-electric crossover is backed by a five-year/150,000 km warranty, a separate eight-year/160,000 km battery warranty, and five years or 102,000 km of free scheduled maintenance.
Check out the detailed gallery below for a closer look at the 2023 Jaguar I-Pace here in Malaysia. For more information, read our
 launch coverage here
.
GALLERY


UMW Toyota Motor welcomes Takashi Obata as new Deputy Chairman

UMW Toyota Motor
 has announced the appointment of Takashi Obata as its new Deputy Chairman, who assumed the position on 1 February 2022. Obata will be replacing Akio Takeyama, who previously held the position for seven years.
Takashi Obata brings with him 30 years of experience in Toyota Motor Corporation, involved as a key member in the company’s product planning operations for the global market. with UMW Toyota, Obata is committed to driving the company towards adapting to CASE (connected, autonomous, shared, electric) and carbon neutrality.
“This is a priority that is aggressively being pursued by Toyota globally and has already started in Malaysia with the recent launch of the
Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid
 model,” said Takashi Obata. “I am honoured to have been entrusted this role to navigate the Toyota business here in Malaysia towards this direction.”
“I would like to thank my predecessor Akio Takeyama for leaving behind an incredible legacy during his time with UMW Toyota Motor. This role will undoubtedly be a challenging one but I am confident that we will be able to achieve many more milestones in the years to come, especially with the strong support from the Government of Malaysia and all our stakeholders,” he added.
Akio Takeyama
Under the leadership of Akio Takeyama, UMW Toyota Motor has achieved many significant milestones, including the launch of the state-of-the-art
Bukit Raja manufacturing plant
, now recognised as the “No. 1 quality and productivity Toyota plant in Asia”; the introduction of
Gazoo Racing
, both the cars and the racing series; as well as reclaiming the title of the best-selling non-national brand in Malaysia just last year after six years of playing second fiddle.
Video: How fuel-efficient is the 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid?
“I have been very blessed to have been given the privilege to serve in Malaysia over two tenures. Throughout my two assignments in Malaysia totalling 12 years, I had two key phrases I always kept in mind: ‘Reborn’ and ‘Change & Challenge’. My time here in Malaysia was spent in pursuit of ever-better cars and the best customer services while continuously contributing to the Malaysian automobile industry,” reflected Takeyama.
“The years I have spent in this beautiful country were truly wonderful and exciting, filled with so many significant events, milestones, challenges and accomplishments. These accomplishments would not have been possible without the strong support from my team and all our stakeholders,” he added.
ALSO READ: Facelift 2022 Camry’s new feature makes it more Lexus than Toyota


Project Trinity: Volkswagen electric sedan with Level 4 autonomous driving due in 2026

Volkswagen
 has released the first image of
Project Trinity
 – an electric sedan that promises higher electric driving range, charging speed, and digitisation along with
Level 4 autonomous driving capabilities
. The electric sedan will be built in Wolfsburg, Germany, beginning 2026.
The word “Trinity” has been derived from the Latin word “trinitas” which stands for tri-unity – representing the three pillars of Project Trinity. This includes a newly developed electronics platform with state-of-the-art software, simplification of supply structure, and a fully connected production line in Wolfsburg.
Another electric initiative by Volkswagen – the
Mobile Charging Robot
.
“We are using our economies of scale to make autonomous driving available to many and to build a learning neural network. In this way, we are creating the conditions for the continuous exchange of data from our vehicle fleet – for example, on the traffic situation, on obstacles or on accidents,” said Volkswagen CEO, Ralf Brandstätter.
It’s a similar situation with Volvo, where their vehicles
can communicate

with each other
 to warn of potential hazards or traffic conditions ahead.
First sketches of the
new Volkswagen ID. Buzz
 released last week.
Future vehicles such as Trinity will be produced with fewer variants, and the hardware will be largely standardised. The cars will then have virtually everything on board where customers can activate functions on-demand while at the same time, reduce complexity in production.
By developing the automobile into a software-based product, entry barriers to individual/personal mobility will be lowered while at the same time offering even more attractive usage packages.
The Golf GTI Clubsport 45 in celebration of 45 years of Golf GTI.
“In the future, the personalisation of a car will no longer be determined by the hardware at the time of purchase. Instead, customers will be able to add functions on demand at any time via the digital ecosystem in the car,” says Ralf Brandstätter.
Sounds like buying a smartphone, don’t you think?


Honda City, Jazz & CR-V sees increase in price – other brands with CKD incentives to follow suit?

The promise of cheaper cars seems like such a distant memory now and we won’t be surprised at all to see other brands, with local-assembly operations in Malaysia, made to follow suit.
Honda Malaysia has just announced a
5% to 9% increase in prices
 on selected Honda vehicles sold in Malaysia, effective 21st February 2020.
As a result, expect to pay an
extra RM5k
for throughout the Jazz variants, an
extra RM4k
 for any of the City models, and
a whopping RM12k extra
 throughout the CR-V line-up.
The company said the higher prices are a reflection of the Completely Knocked Down (CKD) customised incentive by the Government, which has been reviewed – seemingly to the detriment of consumers – but will be fully adhered by the company.
The new prices are applicable in Peninsula and East Malaysia, throughout 100 Honda dealerships nationwide.
IMAGE GALLERY


第五代Honda City: 自推出以来总共售出68,600台，小改款将在今年第三季度推出

自2020年在大马推出以来，至少根据Honda Malaysia的数据，到目前为止已经售出了超过68,600辆的第五代
Honda City
。仅在2023年上半年，就已经售出了超过10,000辆Honda的B级轿车。这些成就是Honda Malaysia在宣布即将在2023年第三季度推出的改款车型时一同公布的。
Honda City是一款B级轿车，提供五种车型供选择 – S，E，V，V Sensing和RS。最后一个是车辆的轻度混合动力版本，其余的则由1.5升自然吸气4缸引擎驱动。Honda City也有一款掀背车型，但是分享的销售数字只针对轿车版的Honda City。
Honda City要与Toyota Vios，Nissan Almera和Proton Persona等车型竞争。在这个细分市场，Toyota Vios仍是卫冕冠军，自从进入马来西亚市场以来，一直保持着B级轿车最畅销的称号。
对于Honda City，第一代（SX8）在1996年推出，其后是2002年的第二代（GD8），2008年的第三代（GM2），2014年的第四代（GM6），以及2020年的第五代Honda City（GN2）。即将推出的改款车型将仍然属于第五代，也被称为GN2 Honda City。
Honda City在包括印度，泰国，印尼，巴西和日本在内的许多市场销售。在某些市场，City也被称为Grace。
新款的Honda City改款版计划在今年第三季度在马来西亚上市。它已经在印度全球首发，并且已经在泰国上市。改款的Honda City不仅将具有焕然一新的外观，还将增加一些增强的安全功能。
【英文版】


Five cool features in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 you might not know about

Ever since the new Hyundai Ioniq 5 made its
debut in Malaysia
, it has been a real eye-catcher with its retro-futuristic design. However, there are more than meets the eye so here are five cool features of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 that you might not know about.
Headlights with 256 parametric pixels and pixelated rear lights
To produce the unique-looking headlights, Hyundai fitted 256 Parametric Pixels into the headlamps to achieve that retro-futuristic look that flashes in yellow when a turn signal is on. At the back, the taillights feature a pixelated square that keeps true to the design language.

Vehicle-to-load (V2L) that can supply 3.6kw of power
(only available for Max variants)
The Ioniq 5 does not only receive charge as it also gives charge. With the Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) feature, the Ioniq 5 comes with a 3-pin socket inside the cabin for users to charge their phones and appliances alike. The car can also supply up to 3.6kw of power by plugging a converter into the bidirectional exterior charging port to use for appliances and even charge other EVs when the car is above 15% charge.
A comfortable living space
The centre console for the front seats can move up to 140mm backwards which allows for a more relaxing ‘Living space’. The front row is also fitted with relaxation comfort seats that can recline all the way back with a leg rest to offer a weightless feel for the occupant when fully reclined.
Solar roof
Equipped with a solar panel on the roof, Hyundai says that the Ioniq 5 will be able to add 5 to 6 km of range per day just from solar charging. Although it is not nearly enough to support the car entirely, at least 2000 km of charge can be saved throughout a full year’s worth of daylight.
Adjustable regenerative braking
Unlike many electric cars out there, the Ioniq 5 allows its drivers to control the amount of regenerative brake force used when releasing the foot off the accelerator. The car comes with four different levels of regenerative braking ranging from 0 to 3.
At Level 3, simply removing your foot off the accelerator brings a considerable stopping force that allows you to drive by using one pedal only depending on the situation. At levels 1 and 2, the effect of the regenerative braking is significantly lessened, reducing both the “pull-back” effect and the regenerative effect. Lastly at level 0, the regenerative braking effect is completely turned off allowing you to coast when lifting your foot off the accelerator.
Bonus feature
Magnetic dashboard
Next to the gauge cluster is a magnetic pad for drivers to put anything they want like fridge magnets, family photos, phone holders and anything their hearts desire hence bringing forth an element of customizability for the drivers.


The Fender LC Stratocaster is quite literally the Lexus of electric guitars

Collaborations between high-end carmakers and lifestyle brands are pretty commonplace these days as carmakers try to elevate their brand image, but they’re usually reserved for products such as sneakers and watches, or at the most extreme end –
shavers (thanks, Bugatti)
.
Musical instruments, though, those are a little rarer. But Lexus is here to buck the “industry trend” by unveiling the “Lexus LC Stratocaster”, made in collaboration with iconic electric guitar manufacturer Fender.
The LC Stratocaster is Fender Custom Shop’s latest
magnum opus
, created by Principal Master Builder, Ron Thorn. And as the name suggests, it’s inspired by the
Lexus LC Coupe/Convertible
 – or more specifically, the first Inspiration Series model that was unveiled in Japan.
Just like the car, the LC Strat is finished in an omnidirectional Structural Blue paint job, which surprisingly doesn’t feature any blue pigments at all. According to Lexus, the paint job uses multiple layers of colourless materials, all of which come together to reflect and refract light at a specific wavelength which our eyes perceive as the unique blue hue.
This Puma x Porsche collection was the “world’s fastest” sneaker pre-release – you had only 2.7 seconds to buy them! Learn why here.
The blue body is paired to a 3A flame maple neck, finished in high-gloss urethane to show off a hint of Fender’s woodworking tradition. On the otherside is the Richlite fingerboard, polished in – again – a deep blue colour, complemented by white Luminlay inlays that glow in vivid blue, especially when seen on stage under bright spotlights.
To contrast the deep blue of the Strat’s body, the pick guard is made of twill carbon fibre, matching the Lexus’ rear spoilers, while the fasteners are black-button machine head screws to create a clean “automotive” appearance. Ron Thorn also included custom machined brushed aluminium knobs to match those on the Mark Levinson sound system used in Lexus’ cars.
And for the guitar nerds – the Lexus LC Stratocaster is fitted with Fender’s latest Noiseless Single Coils pickups, and just like the Richlite material on the fingerboard, is used for the first time in a Fender Custom Shop guitar.
This Bugatti timepiece has a Tourbillon that replicates the movement of an actual W16 engine! Check it out here.
“When we saw the first iteration of this Stratocaster, we couldn’t believe how well it matched the original LC 500 Inspiration Series,” said Lexus Vice President of Marketing, Vinay Shahani.
“Seeing our Structural Blue colour represented in this Stratocaster guitar illustrates endless possibilities of creativity, and we’re honoured to have been a part of this creation.”
Just like the Lexus LC Inspiration Series, the Fender Lexus LC Stratocaster is also limited to just 100 units worldwide – at USD6,000 (approx. RM25k) apiece. All units come in a custom case wrapped in carbon fibre textured vinyl, with black leather ends and the Lexus logo embroidered inside.
GALLERY


Feature: 10 car brands you and your friends are pronouncing wrongly

The one thing Malaysians are truly good at is the art of mispronunciation (some can’t even spell pronunciation correctly!). Car brands such as Peugeot, Renault, Citroen and Volkswagen are some of the most commonly desecrated, so let’s see how well you and your friends score in this game of 10.
i. Audi
As surprising as this sounds, Audi is easily one of the most mispronounced brand among Malaysians. You’re supposed to say
‘ow-dee’
, not
‘o-dee’
. It’s Latin, not German nor English.
ii. BMW
Yeah, we’re all guilty of the alphabetical phonation, but the Germans say it as
‘bay-em-vay’
. There’s probably no right or wrong here since
‘bee-em-dub-u’
 is now a globally accepted way of speech, but it’s a fun fact most of us wouldn’t have known.
iii. Chevrolet
Chevrolet is not quite the popular choice among Malaysians, but the name and company have been around longer than BMW. The next time you pass by a Chevy showroom, make it a point to say
‘shev-ruh-ley’
instead of
‘shev-row-let’
. Silence the t.
iv. Citroen
I love the French brands. Nobody seems to get it right the first time, neither did I. Here’s how you say it:
‘see-twuh-en’
.
v. Hyundai
This one is also not as straightforward as it seems. It’s not
‘hyun-die’
. The right way of pronouncing it is
‘huh-yoon-dei’
. Say
dei
 like you’re calling your
macha
.
vi. Lamborghini
Everyone dreams of one, but how many actually pronounce it right? The correct way is
‘lam-ber-gini’
, not
‘lam-bor-gini’
or worse,
‘lamb-or-jini’
. Now go school that know-it-all
ah beng
.
vii. Lamborghini Gallardo
I’ve got to throw this one in for free. Stop calling it the
‘ga-lar-doh’
. It’s a legendary machine (their best selling supercar!) that deserves no other lingual variations other than Spanish –
‘guy-ar-dough’
.
viii. Mercedes-Benz
This German brand is now the default go-to choice for many enterprising individuals in Malaysia, but somehow their bank accounts seem to be more proficient than their diction. It’s pronounced
‘mer-
say
-deez-benz’
, not
‘mer-see-dis-benz’
. Some of the local favourites are
‘mah-se-li’
or
‘ben-si’
, which are both equally ghastly.
ix. Peugeot
Of all the entries in this list, this brand takes the cake. And of course it had to be French. I grind my jaw every time I hear someone say
‘pee-jot’
! For the love of God, stop. It’s
‘puh-jio’
. There, I improvised it since everyone loves saying
bo-jio
.
x. Renault
Renault is by far the easiest of the French trio to pronounce. Instead of saying it like it is, try the correct way of pronouncing it:
‘re-no’
. Not
‘ri-no’
or
‘ree-no’
, but
‘re-no’
 like the word ravenous.
xi. Porsche
Since BMW doesn’t technically count, here’s the 11th entry to this list. Don’t say it as
‘porsh’
or
‘por-shay’
or
‘porch’
 (yes I’ve heard the latter one too many times). Go all the way –
‘por-sha’
.
And oh, the Porsche Cayenne is actually pronounced
‘ka-yen’
 and not
‘kai-yen’
.
xii. Volkswagen
Admit it. You don’t want me to stop. Very well then. Let’s close off with a brand all of us are wary of (haha!). Instead of pronouncing the v, do it the right way, with an f. It’s
‘folks-va-gen’
.
Now that I’ve spared you a lifetime of self-inflicting humiliation, why don’t you spread the word and edify your peers in the process? If you think you can contribute to this list, drop your thoughts in the comments section and I will gladly produce a sequel. Sorry if I got you tongue tied!


Lexus confirms development of fake manual for EVs that stalls when you mess up

Back in February this year, Toyota made news when it
patented a ‘fake’ manual transmission for electric vehicles (EVs)
 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Recently at a “Lexus Deep Dive” at the Toyota Kenshiki Forum,
Lexus
 confirmed the development of the ‘fake’ manual for EVs was taking place. Lexus Electrified Chief Engineer, Takashi Watanabe said that feature “might be on [the brand’s] future BEVs”.
The development of the ‘fake’ manual started “with some Lexus engineers reflecting on what they liked about traditional [internal combustion] vehicles and what they had to miss out on with electric cars,” as Watanabe says. According to the engineers at Lexus, “[The] manual transmission was one thing they enjoyed in particular.”
Takashi Watanabe standing before the Lexus Electrified Sport concept and an image of the prototype Lexus UX 300e with a ‘fake’ manual gearbox
Lexus has even begun testing its ‘fake’ manual on a
Lexus UX 300e
 and footage of the car driving around in a parking lot was shared during the “Lexus Deep Dive”. The EV mimics the sound of a normal internal combustion engine (ICE) car, and even nails the jerking motion of a typical ICE car. Although the ‘engine’ sound can be heard in the cabin, the car is completely quiet from the outside.
According to Lexus, the ‘fake’ manual is so realistic that drivers even face the possibility of stalling the car. The development team added a manual gear lever, a ‘clutch’ pedal, and a tachometer to the UX 300e to complete the manual simulation. Watanabe says that “the only element that they did not reproduce is the smell of petrol”.
RELATED:
Manual’s not dead… yet: Toyota patents “stick shift” for EVs
Inside the prototype Lexus UX 300e with the ‘fake’ manual transmission. Note the retrofitted tachometer on the dashboard.
Watanabe adds that “so much fun that the project is now under serious development and it might actually be on future BEVs.” Although the ‘fake’ manual project sounds like a funny idea by a group of engineers, Watanabe says that “on a more serious note, this system is really opening new doors.”
Lexus’ “Deep Dive” took place with the Lexus Electrified Sport concept taking centre stage. Commenting on the sleek concept car, Watanabe said, “I cannot tell you when we will be launching a production vehicle based on the Electrified Sport. But I can confirm that we are working on it.”
RELATED:
Mini wants to #SaveTheManual, offers manual driving school in US
Lexus Electrified Aport during Toyota’s
massive unveiling of its EV lineup
Currently being developed for the production version of the Lexus Electrified Sport is the manual transmission, along with all-wheel drive, steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire. “This is not just a design concept. It is meant to become reality,” Watanabe adds.
RELATED:
Toyota confirms GR Corolla, GR86, Manual Supra to launch in Malaysia “very soon”


Here are the most iconic one-liners from ‘The Fast and the Furious’ – 20 years and counting!

The Fast & Furious movies might not be the most factually-correct, nor does it have the most complicated plots. But what it does – and continues to do well – are the over-the-top action scenes, fancy cars, and iconic one-liners.
The simple recipe is so successful that the franchise now spans nine movies (plus a spin-off) over the course of 20 years. In fact, the first movie in the series,
The Fast And The Furious
, just celebrated its 20th anniversary this past Tuesday.
So to commemorate the cult favourite’s milestone while we wait for the franchise’s ninth instalment that is due for a theatre release in Malaysia (hopefully) soon, let’s take a look back at some of the most quotable dialogues from the first-ever
Fast & Furious
 movie.
See the Toyota 86 do a barrel roll in the upcoming Fast 9 movie.

1. “More than you can afford, pal. Ferrari.”
This one’s an instant classic. While driving the iconic orange Supra, Brian pulled up next to a Ferrari F355 Spider at the traffic light. And as one would, he complemented the car, and asked the man driving how much does a car like that costs.
In response, perhaps to impress the lady sitting next to him, the F355 driver said to Brian and Toretto condescendingly: “More than you can afford, pal. Ferrari.” A drag race then ensued, and as anyone could’ve guessed, our heroes obviously “smoked” him.
The most ironic thing about this whole exchange is that the
MK IV Toyota Supra in the movie
was just sold for an
eye-watering USD550,000 (~RM2.2 million)
, which is probably a whole lot more than what a Ferrari F355 is worth these days.
Love Supras? Take a look at how it became a cult classic!

2. “Granny shifting, not double clutching like you should.”
This one’s actually pretty funny, because it makes zero sense at all. The iconic line was said by Dom to Brian, after Brian blew up his Eclipse’s engine while drag racing. But… why on earth would you ever double clutch in a drag race?
First of all, depressing a clutch twice will always be slower than just doing it once – that’s just simple maths. But the biggest hole in the statement is the fact that double clutching is usually done to rev-match your engine between gears during
downshifts
, and the only time you’ll downshift in a drag race is to slow down after the crossing the finish line.
This man owns the largest collection of Fast & Furious replicas! Check it out here.
The line definitely sounded cool when we were all young and knew nothing about cars, but now, we just can’t help but chuckle whenever we hear it. Credit where credit is due, though – ‘granny shifting’ is just pure comedic genius.
3. “Ask any racer. Any
real
 racer. It don’t matter if you win by an inch or a mile – winning’s winning.”
Dominic Toretto’s iconic mic-drop statement, after calling out Brian’s “subpar” shifting techniques. The last part of the line, “winning’s winning”, has also become some sort of mantra for many racing drivers, including Daniel Ricciardo (who’s a massive movie buff, by the way).
Although we can’t argue with the logic behind the statement, we feel that Dominic does come off as a bit of a bad winner here, especially after Brian just destroyed his car after using “100 shots of NOS” and frying the piston rings.
4. “If we have to, overnight parts from Japan.”
This line is another one that’s now heavily ingrained into car culture, particularly in the JDM scene, and it all came from Dominic’s handyman
Jesse’s comments
 when Brian brought in a junkyard-find MK IV Toyota Supra.
Need to replace something on your car? “Just overnight parts from Japan, bro”. It doesn’t even have to be literally imported from the country; the quote is now used to refer to
any
new parts that you’ve ordered for the car.

Bonus: “I’ll have the tuna… no crust.”
The beautiful friendship between Dom and Brian, the backbone of the entire
Fast & Furious
 movie franchise, and it all started with a simple tuna sandwich – with no crust. The unassuming tuna sandwich is Brian’s standard order when he stakes out at the Toretto’s Market and Café while working undercover for the LA Police Department, and of course, flirting with Dom’s sister, Mia.
It was at the café where Brian first met Dom, although the situation wasn’t the most friendly as the latter was trying to break up a fight. But as we all know, their relationship only blossomed after that. You’re not human if you didn’t shed a tear when they parted ways after the “one last ride” (RIP, Paul Walker).
“Brian Earl Spilner. Sounds like a serial killer.”
So there you have it, the most memorable quotes from
“The Fast and the Furious”
 that we can think of! Which one is your favourite, or did we miss out on any? Let us know in the comments section below.


Lexus Malaysia opens 8th showroom in Melaka

Lexus Malaysia has just opened its doors to their newest showroom in Melaka, the brand’s
third outlet
 this year. The Lexus Melaka showroom operated by Hiewa Auto Gallery Sdn Bhd whose working ties with UMW Toyota Motor stretches as far back as 2005.
The full-fledged
Sales and Service Centre
 (2S) is a double storey building that spans about
30,000 square feet
, and features a mezzanine floor, customer lounge, a business centre and a cafe for visitors. It’s also manned by a mix of 14 staffs trained in five-star hospitality and skilled engineers which operate the four service bays.
Visitors can expect to see the brand’s latest line of cars, such as the Lexus ES, GS, LS, RX, IS and the recently launched RC sports coupe.
Lexus Melaka is now open for business and is located at 2A, Jalan Autocity 6, Persiaran Autocity, 75450, Ayer Keroh, Melaka. Call Lexus Toll Free Line: 1800 88 53987 (1-800-88-LEXUS) or visit
www.lexus.com.my
 to visit the dealership or to book a test drive.


You can now get 28% off your GoCar booking when travelling on the ERL

GoCar Malaysia has announced their partnership with Express Rail Link (ERL) to facilitate the mobility of travellers using the KLIA Ekspres service.
The
online-only package
, which costs
RM101
 for adults, includes a return trip on the KLIA Ekspres train line, and a
 28% discount code
 for your GoCar booking. Additional passengers in the same trip will cost RM90 per adult, or RM40.50 for children.
The promo code for the car-sharing service is
only valid for bookings at KL Sentral
, and is
capped at RM50.
 Both the train ticket and discount code are also only
valid for 1 month
 from the selected travel date of the first trip.
 According to
GoCar’s website
, the car-sharing service’s fleet of vehicles include the Nissan Almera, Captur, Serena S-Hybrid and even the Nissan Navara pick-up truck. Prices start at RM6.90 per hour for the Nissan Almera.
GoCar Malaysia President, Nicholas Tan said, “Connectivity has always played a vital role in the transportation industry, even more so these days. Similarly, as travellers, we are also looking for that seamless experience when it comes to mobility.
“We are excited to work with ERL to realise this shared vision and bring this convenience to more travellers who are going to or from KLIA and KLIA2,” he added.
ERL Chief Executive Officer, Noormah Mohd Noor, also said “This KLIA Ekspres and GoCar package would offer a seamless journey for our customers who appreciate the speed and reliability of our train service, as well as the flexibility and convenience of car-sharing while contributing positively to reducing their carbon footprint.”
Additionally, the local car-sharing service has also announced the availability of GoCar vehicles at selected ERL stations, including KL Sentral (KLIA Ekspres Arrival Hall and Departure Hall), Bandar Tasik Selatan, and Salak Tinggi.
The Salak Tinggi station will also act as GoCar’s new hub, where travellers to the station can opt for one-way trips in addition to round trips with the GoCar vehicles.
Further information on the package is available at the
 KLIA Ekspres mini-site
, where you can also book your tickets.


More than 50% of roads in Selangor have “expired”, report claims

According to a report by
The Star
, about 60% of roads in Selangor, where some are
between 30 to 40 years old
, have “expired” and are the reason for consistent potholes and defects.
This issue was highlighted by Izham Hashim, Chairman of the State Infrastructure and Public Amenities, Agricultural Modernisation and Agro-based Industry Committee.
Izham pointed out that
roads mature within 15 to 20 years
and will require upgrading beyond that particularly to its sub-base layers. He also stressed that unless this is done, merely patching up the roads will not improve its conditions.
In other local news, the government is now finding
more efficient ways to dispose abandoned cars
.
Overloaded vehicles have also been singled out as the other main contributor to road defects.
It was noted that the delay in resolving such issues could be
due to a road falling under several government agencies
 along with a lack of communication between them. There are no such systems for federal roads.
It was reported that in 2019, Izham proposed to restructure the ownership and maintenance of roads in Selangor but discussions are still underway.


2022 Subaru WRX and WRX Wagon launched in Thailand, offered with six-speed manual!

TC Subaru Thailand has just officially welcomed the
all-new 2022 Subaru WRX
 and WRX Wagon in the Kingdom, making it the second nation in the region (after the Philippines) to receive the second-generation model. Jealous? Don’t be, because the two models are also slated to be launched here in Malaysia by the end of this year, so treat this as a preview of what we might be getting soon!
The Subaru WRX needs no introduction.
Unveiled globally back in September 2021
, the second-generation model is now underpinned by the Subaru Global Platform. The WRX Wagon, meanwhile, is essentially the
second-generation Subaru Levorg
, but with the WRX’s powertrain stuffed underneath its bonnet.
On the topic of powertrain, both models are now powered by a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine, which makes
275 hp
 and
350 Nm
in the Thailand-spec cars. The cars are all-wheel drive as standard, equipped with Subaru’s famed Symmetrical AWD system, and buyers can choose between a six-speed manual and a “Subaru Performance” CVT transmission (CVT only on the WRX Wagon).
RELATED:
Next-generation Subaru WRX STI models could be hybrids!
In terms of standard equipment, both the Subaru WRX and WRX Wagon in Thailand are fairly similarly equipped, with standard equipment including LED headlights and tail-lights, 18-inch wheels, an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen infotainment display (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), analogue instrument cluster with a 4.2-inch multi-info display, reverse camera, and seven airbags.
The CVT variants, including the WRX Wagon, adds on gearshift paddles, an eight-way powered driver’s seat with memory function, electronic parking brake, the SI-Drive transmission mode selector, as well as
 Subaru’s EyeSight advanced driver assistance features
. The latter includes autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, automatic high beam, front vehicle departure alert, as well as a blind spot monitor.
Pricing for the all-new 2022 Subaru WRX in Thailand starts at
THB2,999,000 (approx. RM374k)
 for the manual variant, moving up to
THB3,099,000 (approx. RM386k)
 for the CVT-equipped WRX. The WRX Wagon meanwhile is priced at
THB2,959,000 (approx. RM369k)
 in the kingdom of smiles.
ALSO READ:
2022 Subaru BRZ price up by RM20k in Malaysia for both manual and automatic variants
[Photos: Subaru Asia Thailand/Facebook]
H/T to HeadLight Magazine
GALLERY


Quick Review: Toyota Corolla Cross, the next big thing for Toyota?

The Toyota Corolla Cross has just made its local debut today (check out our
full launch coverage
 if you haven’t already!), but luckily for us, UMW Toyota invited the media over for a test drive session just about a week before the launch, where we managed to briefly put the 1.8G variant through its paces.
While we might still need a little bit more time to fully form our overall opinions, there’s still plenty to talk about, especially since we were given the chance to drive the all-new Toyota Corolla Cross across a variety of conditions – so here goes!
Driving out of the compounds of UMW Toyota’s HQ, where we were immediately met with a sea of red brick roads, the three of us in the car (with masks and social distancing in place) collectively let out a subtle gasp – the Corolla Cross almost completely soaked up all the bumpiness you’d expect from the brickwork!
The comfort levels within the cabin is something that we constantly came back to throughout the drive. Even on the highways, the Corolla Cross effortlessly soaks up the undulations, demonstrating the kind of poise you’d expect from a premium European grand tourer in the way it sits down onto the tarmac after a crest on the road.
The comfort-oriented suspension set-up is aided by decent NVH levels, with engine and wind noise kept at a minimal level – the latter particularly surprising here, as the 1.8G variant misses out on the acoustic windshield treatment that’s present on the range-topper. Road noise does tend to seep in a little at highway cruising speeds, though it’s nothing out of the ordinary.
Now, in a car that’s so comfortable and supple, plus the mere fact that it’s actually a tall-riding SUV, it’s probably safe to assume that the Corolla Cross wouldn’t shine in the handling department… right? Well, let’s just say you’d be surprised at how well it handles on windier roads, as we quickly found out on some twisty backroads heading towards Semenyih.
We automotive writers like to rave about the Toyota New Global Architecture platform, or TNGA for short, because of its ability to completely transform a car’s road-hugging characteristics. Surprise, surprise: the TNGA-C platform, underpinning the all-new Corolla Cross, has once again showed its magical powers.
Even though it comes with a more simplistic, “budget” torsion beam suspension at the rear, the Toyota Corolla Cross still feels incredibly fun on the windy roads. You’d never imagine an SUV of this size can seemingly flow from corner to corner like this, but the Corolla Cross does.
The traction also genuinely surprised us – despite looking like a significant hunk of metal, the Corolla Cross manages to handle its weight beautifully around sharp bends without breaking a sweat most of the time, urging you to give it more speed. Even when it does break traction, it does so pretty gradually, giving you the chance to easily correct it.
As for the powertrain, yes, it is the same ol’ 1.8-litre naturally-aspirated four-banger, with the same
139 hp
 and
172 Nm
 of torque. While the power figures are nothing to shout about, you’ll be hard-pressed to find fault in actual driving situations – even when you crave for a little fun on the weekend.
This is especially true thanks to the brilliant CVT gearbox. Throttle response is immediate, and the gearbox is also eager to hold higher revs even at partial throttle input to make up for the lower power output, making it fairly easy to overtake on highways.
On the flip side, when you’re more gentle on the throttle input, the gearbox just disappears into the background, leaving you with a quiet, serene cabin during highway cruising.
The best part of all of this, is that they’re pretty much shared between the two variants – as they have no differences in the mechanical bits. So no matter which one you choose, you’ll rest assured knowing that you’re getting one of the best-handling SUVs out there in the market.
There’s still a lot to unpack about this all-new SUV – so make sure to check out our coverage on the Toyota Corolla Cross
here
. We also made a short video on our experience during this media drive event, linked
here
.
For now, do you think if the Toyota Corolla Cross has enough to take on the beloved
Honda HR-V
? Let us know in the comments section below!


Get the coolest automotive apparel now from the new AutoBuzz Shop!

It’s always been a dream of ours; not just to be the most recognisable name in automotive but also to see everyone rocking our brand on their backs. With the new
AutoBuzz Shop
, we’re one step closer to that!
To celebrate the new AutoBuzz Shop, we’re releasing an extremely limited edition “Graphic Series” consisting of three different designs. There’s the
R32 GT-R
, the
E30 M3
,
 and the
Porsche 911
 – some of the most iconic names from the glory days of automotive. Also cause we can’t afford a lion dance and there are no red ribbons to cut.
These custom-made prints are designed and printed in Malaysia, each priced at
RM69
. Once they’re sold out – that’s it – we’re never making them again. If they’re not your style, there’s always the “Team Series” line-up of tees that are worn in
our videos
. Those go for
RM49
each.
And just because, we added the “Suck. Squeeze. Bang. Blow.” to our collection – the four things that literally make the world go round. It’s also how an engine works.
Even Leona Chin approves. The other two are just there to fill in the spaces.
With our merch, you’re not just buying pieces of cloth to cover your one-pack but also bragging rights for having the rarest automotive apparel. You’d likely never run into another person with the same thing!
So help us keep our lights on and stimulate the economy at the same time with a purchase, or 10!
GALLERY


“Phua Chu Kang” fined and banned for speeding – still slower than M’sians driving to lunch

Phua Chu Kang actor Gurmit Singh has been fined SGD$800 (approx. RM2,487) for speeding in his Audi A8 L recently.
The Singaporean has also been
 banned from driving for three months
, after being caught driving at
131 km/h in a 70 km/h zone
.
The actor had his son in the car with him and according to the once-upon-a-time best contractor in JB and Singapore (and some say Batam), he merely sped up to let his son hear a certain noise that only appeared after 100 km/h.
A new Audi? Making some noise? That can’t be right…not for a SGD$430k car!
Well, breaking the law is breaking the law, and we need to call a spade, a spade. Being the good sport that he is, the actor took to social media to apologise rather sincerely.
No offense to the man who was Malaysia’s main source of TV entertainment in the 1990s, but this article is not meant to tarnish his reputation but merely to raise more awareness and offer some perspectives.

The irony of this footage.
Compare that, and how we behave on our roads. In Malaysia, we’d be doing those speeds, while taking a selfie with the kids somersaulting at the back with no child seats or even seat belts on.
We’d mostly run into a Myvi, at the same speed if not travelling even faster, and end up racing together with it. If anything 130 km/h is just an appetiser. Next time, we’ll try 140km/h until we “hear a sound” as well.
A fine? Nah, we’d avoid that buy either slowing down dramatically just before the speed camera, or just tuck a few sheets under our driver’s license as we present it to our esteemed law enforcers.


Edaran Tan Chong gives 25% off on parts and labour to Nissan owners affected by flood

Edaran Tan Chong Malaysia (ETCM) has announced the commencement of their
Nissan Relief Campaign
 which seeks to provide aid to Nissan customers in areas affected by the flood, mainly Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perlis, Perak and Sabah.
The campaign, which begins immediately until
 28 February 2015
, provides:
1.
25 percent discount
 on Nissan
genuine parts
 affected by the flood
 2.
25 percent discount
 on
labour charges
 on affected Nissan vehicles
 3.
Free towing
 charges on affected Nissan vehicles of up to RM150
 4. Three months or 5,000 km warranty on labour and Nissan genuine parts that are replaced on all affected Nissan vehicles
ETCM’s Director of Marketing and Product Planning, Tan Keng Meng said, “As a Malaysian company, our growth has only been due to the support Malaysians have given us throughout the years. With the flood situation being one of the worst in the country’s history, this is one way we can help relieve the burden of our customers. It is our responsibility to do what we can to assist those who have supported us in their time of need.”
Nissan owners are urged to send their vehicles to the nearest service centre when possible, or call their 24-hour Nissan Customer Care Centre hotline number at
1800-88-3838
.


Lexus LC Convertible sat in a -18°C freezer for 12 hrs, and fired up right away!

The
Lexus LC 500 Convertible
 is undoubted one of the most beautiful convertibles around but it’s not all style and no substance. In typical Lexus fashion, it’s not only intricately put together, it’s almost over-engineered one could say.
Lexus has released a video of the LC Convertible in an industrial scale freezer for 12 hours to show that its quality goes far beyond its looks.
Read about the RM1.35 million Lexus LC 500 Convertible in Malaysia, with 470 hp and 540 Nm here!

In pushing the car’s build quality to its limits in sub-zero conditions, Lexus even folded down the
 LC Convertible’s four-layered roof
, exposing the cabin to the brutally cold temperatures.
The test was performed at the Climatic Chamber at the Millbrook Proving Ground, Bedfordshire. The 649 sq ft unit is large enough to accommodate two double-decker buses and
can maintain temperatures between +85°C and -60°C
. The facility is regularly used to test the endurance of defense equipment as well as road vehicles of all kinds.
Specifically for the LC Convertible, the oversized fridge was
set to -18°C
; a temperature
cold enough to freeze rubber
 and is also the standard for vehicle defrosting assessment. Water was also sprayed onto the LC Convertible for a sheet of ice to form over its body.
Once inside, it took about an hour for the freezer to reach the preset temperature before the car was left untouched inside overnight.

“Exterior surfaces contract in extremely cold conditions and manufacturers need to ensure their vehicles can withstand this without damage to parts and will still be able to start and get moving,” said a senior engieering at the test facility.
He added, “With the roof down, the interior components will be in an extremely stressed condition and it will not be a nice place for anyone to be – the hope is that the air conditioning system, the heated seats and steering wheel will still operate as they should.”
Even the
film crew had to take precautions
 due to the extreme temperatures; operating a “buddy system” to ensure immediate response if any member of the team began to suffer adverse effects from being in the freezer.
The next day, the LC Convertible was subjected to testing at a test track and seemed completely unfazed by its 12-hour deep freeze. The
naturally-V8 engine fired up at first crank
, while the displays and gauges came to live immediately – showing no negative effects from a night in the freezer.
“I am asked to do a lot of crazy things in my job and this was one of them. I wasn’t really nervous until I turned up and saw the car sitting in the freezer looking really cold. I thought “Am I going to have to sit in that?”, said test driver, Paul Swift, son of the infamous Russ Swift.
“Thankfully it was great, I was really impressed.”
GALLERY


Toyota Malaysia recalls 6,160 Prius for hybrid system software update

UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT), the official distributor of Toyota and Lexus vehicles in Malaysia, has just announced a Special Service Campaign (SSC) involving 6,160 units of the Toyota Prius 1.8 Hybrid to update the software of the hybrid system.
Prius 1.8 Hybrid models manufactured and distributed by UMWT between 2009 to 2013 is involved in this recall campaign. Affected vehicle owners will be notified to bring their car in to update the ECU programming. The repair process will take approximately one hour. Like all SSCs, all costs related to the repair will be borne by UMWT.
This SSC is carried out to ensure customers’ vehicles remain reliable and at its best performance level. For further information, owners of affected cars can contact any authorised Toyota service centre or call the Toyota Freephone at 1800-8-869682.


A 6-time former Olympic gold medalist sets a new record for 19 consecutive donuts

When it comes to breaking records on two wheels, the Sir Chris Hoy name is a household one but the former Olympic track cyclist and racing enthusiast has just set his first record on four wheels.
In conjunction with Caterham’s 60 years of the Seven celebrations, he set a new record of 19 consecutive donuts in the Seven 620R, the most powerful production car Caterham has ever built in a “60 Second Donut Challenge”.
“Everyone knows I spend a lot of time in cars these days but I’ve never had much practice donuting,” said the 6-time Olympic gold medallist.
The frightening 620R comes with a 2.0-litre supercharged Ford Duratec engine which delivers
 314 hp
 with
 297 Nm
 of torque, in a car weighing just
572 kg
, lighter than the first generation Lotus Elise, famous for weighing close to nothing at 700-odd kgs.
The powerplant is coupled with a 6-speed sequential gearbox and limited-slip differential. As such, 0 to 100 km/h is done in a blistering
2.79 seconds
 before the 620R tops out at 155 mph (
249 km/h
).
The record is an icing on the cake for Caterham, as the launch of two limited edition models for the 60th anniversary celebrations were sold out in record-breaking time – the retro Seven Sprint in just seven days, and the more recent
Seven Supersprint in just seven hours
!


Perodua sold 82,700 cars from Jan – Apr, 9.5% increase vs last year

Perodua is maintaining
a strong momentum for the first four months of 2019, delivering 82,700 new cars
from January to end-April 2019. A 9.5% increase compared to the same period
last year.
Perodua President and
Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad said: “While Perodua awaits
the Malaysian Automotive Association’s (MAA) official total industry volume
numbers, we believe that Perodua’s market share is above 43% for the four-month
period, thus directly benefitting the domestic economy as a whole.”
All 50 units of the
Perodua Bezza Limited Edition sold out
April 2019 saw the highest
number of Perodua vehicles sold in history, which saw over 22,100 new
registrations, is nearly 11% higher than April 2018. In one month, Perodua sold
over 7,700 Myvis, 5,900 Axias, 4,200 Bezzas, 3,200 Aruzs and 1,100 Alzas.
“The Myvi continues to
be our best-selling model – since its November 2017 launch we have delivered
over 115,000 units to happy customers, who love the stylish looks, build quality,
fuel efficiency, interior space and the amount of advanced equipment they get for
the price,” added Dato’ Zainal.


Nissan to launch 5 e-POWER models & 3 electric vehicles in Japan by 2022

In a push for electrified vehicles, Nissan has announced its plans to introduce three new dedicated electric vehicles (EV) and five e-POWER hybrid models in Japan by the end of 2022.
Electrification has reaped sustainable returns for the Japanese carmaker as reflected in the 10 per cent growth in Nissan’s global EV sales as well as sales of the Nissan Leaf surpassing 100,000 units in Japan. Nissan expects EV and e-POWER models to make up 40 per cent of domestic sales in the same year and by 2025, 50 per cent of the models sold by Nissan will be an EV or
e-POWER
 models.
Nissan’s Executive Vice President for global marketing and sales, Daniele Schillaci said: “As our domestic market, we are proud that Japan is leading the way forward when it comes to Nissan Intelligent Mobility. This vision is changing the customer experience by delivering technologies and services that are making their lives better and also enabling steady profitable growth through Nissan M.O.V.E. to 2022.”
With M.O.V.E to 2022, Nissan aims to become the global leader in electrification, autonomous driving and mobility services with a target sales of 1 million electrified vehicles (e-POWER and EVs) globally per year by the end of the plan.


The Honda Civic Type R is now cheaper by RM18k thanks to 0% GST!

After announcing that the company will be
absorbing the 6 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST)
 on selected models ahead of the new zero-rated GST fiscal policy comes into effect, Honda Malaysia has announced the full zero-rated price list for its entire model range.
Locally assembled models like the
Jazz
,
City
,
BR-V
,
HR-V
,
Civic
,
CR-V
 and
Accord
 will be cheaper by some RM4,088 to RM9,573 come 1 June 2018. Fully imported models, namely the
Odyssey
 and
Civic Type R
 will see a price reduction of RM14,362 and RM18,072 respectively.
The zero-rated GST price list comes after the announcement made from the newly installed Pakatan Harapan Government to reduce the GST rate to zero percent as per their campaign manifesto. The new price list will be valid until further announcement made by the Ministry of Finance to reimplement the Sales and Service Tax (SST) in the coming months.
Other services such as scheduled maintenance, purchase of spare parts and labour charge will also be zero-rated GST effective 1 June 2018.


Toyota GR Supra gets updated with more power and a gorgeous new blue shade

Although it may seem like just yesterday that Toyota introduced the
fifth-generation Supra
 (and we are
still very smitten by it
), it has actually been a little over a year since its launch, and Toyota felt like it’s time for an upgrade.
Confusing naming aside (it’s officially called the 2021 Toyota GR Supra), the new update brings a more powerful engine, along with a retuned chassis.
The 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six engine in the Supra now churns out
387 hp
, up from 340 hp. Torque has been marginally increased, but more importantly the power band has been widened, with peak torque available all the way
up to 5,000 rpm
.
However, if you can recall,
our own test
 suggests that the Supra produces more power than stated on power, so we’ll have to wait and see if the new figures are accurate. Either way, Toyota claims that the GR Supra can now do the century sprint in
3.9 seconds
.

Toyota says that the boost in power comes from a new dual-branch exhaust manifold, now with six ports instead of two previously. A new piston design also reduces the engine’s compression ratio from 11:1 to 10.2:1.
If you are eagerly waiting for a new manual option, you’re out of luck this time as the updated Toyota Supra is still only available with the eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox.
Handling on the Toyota Supra has also been improved with this latest update, thanks to the new
 lightweight aluminium braces
 that for increased lateral rigidity, along with
updated front and rear bump stops
, and a
new damper tuning
.
Toyota has also revised the programming for the electric power steering, Adaptive Variable Suspension, Vehicle Stability Control, and the active differential.
As a result of the refined hardware and software, Toyota claims that the updated Supra is
more stable through quick direction changes
, with
increased roll resistance
 and
enhanced cornering stability
.
Inside, the Americans get some new features that we
Malaysians already get as standard
, such as an 8.8-inch infotainment display, as well as the Toyota Supra Safety System which includes Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitoring, as well as Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
However, the updated GR Supra also comes with a new
Wireless Apple CarPlay
 option, a feature currently still limited to just a handful of cars.
To commemorate the launch of the updated GR Supra, Toyota is also offering
1,000 units of the A91 Edition
, available in Nocturnal Black or the gorgeous Refraction Blue (pictured here), the latter is an all-new colour to the Supra, available exclusively on the A91 Edition.
Similar to the
 Launch Edition
 last year, the A91 Edition comes with some added visual flair including a carbon fibre lip spoiler, matte black wheels, C-pillar graphics, and carbon fibre mirror caps.
The A91 Edition also comes with an exclusive black Alcantara leather upholstery with blue contrast stitching, and will be delivered with two exclusive “key gloves” and trunk mat.
IMAGE GALLERY


No reason why the new Mercedes-Benz CLA won’t be a big hit in Malaysia

Let’s face it, more often than not Malaysians make car purchase decisions based on their emotions. The emotive factor of a car is a make or break deal for many, which is why the Mercedes-Benz CLA, a car banking on its seductive design enjoyed decent success over the years here in Malaysia because the car just makes you
feel good
getting in and out of it.
The second-generation Mercedes-Benz CLA has just made its global debut at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and we have to say, it looks fine as heck. Well, the three-pointed star did promise that the new CLA will be the “most emotional vehicle of its class”.
At a glance, the CLA is essentially a shrunken
CLS four-door coupe
. But where the CLS appeals to more established and mature demographics, the CLA tugs the heartstrings of the young and young at heart with its emotive design.
The CLA features the brand’s latest iteration of its Sensual Purity design language, with a long, stretched bonnet, sleek roofline, wide tracks with exposed wheel arches giving it that wide stance and dynamic profile. At the front, you’ll find the Mercedes-Benz’s new family face compromising of flat headlamps, diamond radiator grille, fluid bumper design as well as strong bonnet domes and lines.
Its sleek silhouette is attributed to a combination of long, stretched entry line above the windows and frameless doors that’s uninterrupted to the C-pillar. The slightly building wheel arches were designed to fit wheel sizes measuring 16- to 19-inches.

The rear is where things get interesting. Where the
W177 A-Class hatch’s
 taillamps were plain and dare we say, uninspiring, the CLA’s two-piece, narrow full LED taillamps with a 3D graphics suit the CLA’s emotive and sporty character perfectly.
Compared to the predecessor, the new CLA has grown longer, wider and sits slightly lower to the ground. It now measures 4,688 mm in length (+48 mm), 1,830 mm in width (+53 mm), 1,439 mm in height (-2 mm) and wheelbase has been stretched by 30 mm to 2,729 mm. The front and rear tracks have grown 63 mm and 55 mm respectively, giving the new car its wide stance.
Despite its wheelbase has grown by 30 mm,
passenger leg room did not grow at all
 with front legroom measuring 1,062 mm (-1 mm) and rear legroom at 861 mm (+1 m). Elbow and shoulder room did, however, grow significantly to better accommodate occupants. Boot space, however, is now smaller by 10L to 460L compared to its predecessor.
Inside the CLA, the cabin is lifted straight from the new A-Class with its widescreen cockpit, turbine-style air vents, dual element dashboard new-generation multifunctional steering wheel and new touchpad design to operate the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system. The “Hey Mercedes” intelligent assistant has been further improved to
better understand more complex queries
 and no longer gets confused by another passengers’ conversation.

Other options available on the CLA include sports seats, 64-colour ambient lighting, Head-up Display, navigation with augmented reality, MBUX Interior Assist, Energizing Package Plus, sunroof and more.
At launch, the CLA is presented with the CLA 250 variant, packing a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder pushing
225 hp
 and
350 Nm
 of twist mated to a 7G-DCT dual-clutch transmission. By May 2019, there will be a broad range of diesel and petrol engines available featuring manual or dual-clutch transmissions and 4MATIC all-wheel drive.
As standard, the CLA is equipped with Active Brake Assist and Active Lane Keeping Assist. It can also be optioned with advanced driver assistance systems from the S-Class such as Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, Active Emergency Stop Assist, Active Lane Change Assist and PRE-SAFE PLUS.
IMAGE GALLERY
Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 Edition 1

 CLA Coupe Interior


TNB Electron DC chargers now in Ayer Keroh and Paka, free of charge

For those looking to make long trips with your electric vehicles during Chinese New Year, great news!
Starting today, TNB Electron has made available two charging stations along the PLUS Highway at the Ayer Keroh R&R (Northbound) and along the East Coast Expressway at the Paka R&R (Northbound).
Each of the charging stations will feature two 90 kW DC chargers to cater to two electric vehicles at one time. On that note, charging is free but for a limited time period only. The charging stations are operational 24 hours a day.
To access the chargers, users will have to download the GO TO-U app, available on the
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play store
.
Image credit:
TNB Electron


New BMW i Charging points installed in Penang, open to public

Tian Siang Premium Auto, the authorised dealer of BMW cars in Ipoh and Butterworth and Gurney Paragon Mall have installed two BMW i Charging stations at the
Gurney Paragon Mall in Penang
 for the convenience of shoppers with plug-in vehicles.
Managing Director of Tian Siang Premium, Tan Ka Kin said,
“The new charging facilities here at Gurney Paragon Mall marks our first
location on the Island of Penang and the second in the state that is
fully-equipped and ready to further power the future of mobility in Malaysia,
complementing the two BMW i Charging Facilities introduced at the Iconic Hotel
in Butterworth, Penang in October last year. As we continue to expand
accessibility to charging facilities, I am confident that the adoption of
electromobility in the northwestern region of Malaysia will increase in 2020.”
The new BMW i Charging stations in Gurney Paragon Mall complement the existing charging points made available by BMW Group Malaysia and its dealer partners, which now stands at
over 20
 spread over various locations including Bangsar Shopping Centre in Kuala Lumpur, The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat and WEIL Hotel in Ipoh; Holiday Inn and The Equatorial in Malacca; as well as at CityONE Megamall Kuching.
Through the BMW ChargeNow service, offered as part of the BMW 360° ELECTRIC programme, customers can also access to
270 charging locations
 under ChargEV’s nationwide network.


The new Toyota Supra’s racer cousin looks incredibly mean!

The wait is still not quite over. Technically, it’s still not the Toyota Supra we’ve anxiously been looking forward to since the curtains drew on the previous generation in 2002. It’s still a concept but of a different kind; it’s called the GR (for Gazoo Racing) Supra Racing Concept. At least, they’ve confirmed the Supra name.
Nothing much beyond that has been revealed as to what powers the car as Toyota’s global site merely dangled some dimensions for us to nimble on – clearly unaware of what the public wants to know.

What’s certain is that the new road-going Supra will not feature that massive rear wing along with the dramatic bodywork that features wide front and rear bumpers, a front splitter and rear diffuser. While it offers a faint impression of how the actual Supra will look like, it’s certain you wouldn’t want it with plastic windscreen and side mirrors like those found in the GR Supra Racing Concept.
That said, we’d really love to see those BBS wheels revealed with the actual car alongside the Brembo Racing callipers and racing exhaust.
If you haven’t already heard, the new Toyota Supra will be sharing a similar platform with BMW as it has been developed in tandem with the
new Z4
. It’s been rumoured that the new Z4 could be offered in both coupe and convertible configurations while the Supra remains solely a hard-top.
IMAGE GALLERY


Mazda trademarks new ‘R’ logo in Japan – is the Spirit R making a comeback?

The letter ‘R’ is pretty much the de-facto designation for cars that are a slightly more fun than usual – Type R, Rennsport, Racing, you name it. But for Mazda, the letter ‘R’ is quite a bit more special than just that, because in this case, R also means rotary.
And that is why when Mazda submits a trademark application for a new ‘R’ logo, you better bet damn sure that its hardcore fans would notice it right away, and start cranking the rumour mill into high gear.
Interestingly, the new logo was actually discovered by a member at the “
New Nissan Z
” online forums. It seems like even the Nissan-faithful are excited by the prospect of a new performance Mazda model!
The new ‘R’ logo is formed by four individual elements in grey and red, which together forms a negative space image of a stylised ‘R’ – much like how the empty space in the old Formula 1 logo has the number ‘1’ in between the flags.
And we might be reading too much into this, perhaps even reaching into wish-casting territory, but doesn’t the highlighted red triangle remind you of the Reuleaux triangle inside a Wankel engine?
Could the new R logo takeover the now-defunct Mazda MPS/Mazdaspeed brand? Read more about the brand’s performance department here.
Mazda’s rotary engine plans is not a secret any more. The company has already
officially confirmed the rotary engine range-extender powertrain
 for the
MX-30 EV SUV
 (which has since been delayed), but of course, being enthusiasts, we all
want
 to believe that a properly-designed logo means something more than just a range-extender.
Many online are also pointing to its similarities to the Spirit R logo that was previously used on the RX-7 and RX-8 sports cars, theorising that we could once again see a Spirit R model, perhaps for the
Mazda MX-5
. Although, the beloved Miata isn’t actually a rotary-engined car, so we’re not sure if this rationale actually holds any water.
Even the Mazda MX-5 will be electrified in the near future. Read more about it here.
Photo:
Mike Roberts/Flickr
It would certainly be fitting, though, perhaps as a final swansong to the internal combustion engine before the
inevitable takeover by the electrified powertrains
.
There are so many possibilities, and all of them seen to make at least a bit of sense. But which of these, if any, will actually come true? Only time will tell, but we sure hope that it’ll be something fun. Let us know what you think in the comments below!


Kia Optima GT coming to M’sia as CKD, 2.0L Turbo with 242 hp & 350 Nm!

Knowing full well that the demographics of Kia Optima K5 buyers are generally the young executives and the young at heart, Naza Kia Malaysia (NKM) are going to respond to the market with a hotter and more dynamic GT variant of the K5. Sources told
AutoBuzz.my
 that it will come as a locally assembled unit and may come as soon as first half of 2017 pending Government approval!
First
unveiled at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show
, the Kia Optima GT gets a
 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder T-GDI
 with
242 hp
 and
350 Nm
 of torque. Capable of propelling the Optima GT to 100 km/h from standstill in
7.4 seconds
. Drive is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.
The Optima GT also gets revised suspension setup and a rack-mounted electric motor-driven power steering system (R-MDPS) that offers quicker response and greater steering feedback for a sportier driving experience. Internationally, the Optima GT wears some extra go fast bits such as dual exhaust tips, more aggressive front bumper and a subtle air diffuser.
Locally, the Optima K5 on sale is assembled at NKM’s plant in Gurun, Kedah therefore the company is able to assemble the Optima GT right here in Malaysia. Expect the Optima GT to come with an arsenal of premium features and hopefully it will be reasonably priced thanks to CKD incentives.
Sources explained that the introduction of the Kia Optima GT is one of NKM’s strategies to strengthen the brand appeal in Malaysia and will also serve as an indicator of the public acceptance towards turbocharged Kia vehicles. Therefore, the decision to introduce more turbocharged vehicles such as the
fourth-gen Rio
 T-GDI and
Cerato T-GDI
will be highly dependent on the market sentiment towards the Optima GT.
IMAGE GALLERY


Second gen Audi R8 V10 Plus prototype test driven on the track [+Video]

Making yet another grand appearance at the Geneva Motor Show next week is the second generation supercar from Ingolstadt, the Audi R8. We know only very little about the car, and by little we mean just the
LED and laser headlights
 as well as some obvious
aerodynamic tweaks
 to the front bumper.
The all-new Audi R8 featuring
laser light technology
Last week, Audi released a short video of their range topping
R8 V10 Plus
 lapping a circuit at the hands of Frank Stippler, Audi’s very own in-house test driver. From the video, we learned that the V10 Plus variant (5.2-litre) makes
610 horsepower
 and
560 Nm
 of torque from the naturally aspirated mill. It reportedly sprints from standstill to 100 km/h in
3.2 seconds
, an impressive
0.3 seconds quicker
 than its preceding model.
The second generation Audi R8 is set to make its world debut in exactly a week’s time at the 85th Geneva Motor Show. This is one Audi you would not want to miss, so don’t blink away!


Five cool features of the all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class

The highly anticipated, all-new Mercedes-Benz A-Class has just been unveiled and while it may attract mixed opinions on how it looks, it’s undoubtedly the most technologically-advanced A-Class produced by Mercedes-Benz.
Without further ado, here are the five cool features we think will throw you off the edge and open those cheque books when the A-Class finally makes its debut in Malaysia.
Mercedes Benz User Experience
The new A-Class is the first Mercedes-Benz model to feature the new MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) multimedia system with artificial intelligence.
The system comprises of a high-resolution Widescreen cockpit with touchscreen operation of the media display, the navigation display with augmented reality technology plus intelligent voice control with natural speech recognition, which is activated with the words “Hey Mercedes”.
A head-up display is also available. The touchscreen is part of the comprehensive MBUX touch-control concept – a triad consisting of the touchscreen, touchpad on the centre console and touch control buttons in the steering wheel.
Artificial intelligence is used for the
prediction features
, which are also part of MBUX with extended functions. With these, MBUX anticipates what the user would like next.
For instance, anyone who often telephones their mother on Tuesdays during the journey home will receive her telephone number as a suggestion on the display on this day of the week. Anyone who regularly switches over to a radio station with news at a certain time also receives this as a suggestion.
Intelligent Drive; with functions from the S-Class
The new A-Class comes with the latest driving assistance systems adopted from the S-Class where for the first time its able to drive semi-autonomously in certain situations. It comes with improved camera and radar systems to allow it to see up to 500 metres ahead.
Features in the optional Driving Assistance Package includes Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC with Active Steering Assist, Active Speed Limit Assist, Active Lane Change Assist, Active Emergency Stop Assist, Active Brake Assist, Evasive Steering Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist and Traffic Sign Assist.
The new A-Class is also the first Mercedes-Benz model to have been developed at the new Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety. The design of the vehicle have been influenced by research from real accidents. The highly rigid passenger cell is credit to the use of high-strength and press-hardened sheet steel.
MBUX’s LINGUATRONIC
Another highlight of the MBUX is its intelligent voice control with natural language comprehension, which is activated by the words “Hey Mercedes”.
It allows the users to control the vehicle’s various functions including phone calls, writing and hearing messages, weather, forecast, climate control, heating and lighting.
Not limited to certain default commands, MBUX’s LINGUATRONIC is able to recognise and understand virtually every command. For example, “Will the sun be shining tomorrow in KL?” is now understood equally as well as “Will the weather be fine in KL tomorrow?”.
The system is so flexible that, to change the air-con temperature, you can say “I am cold” instead of “Change temperature to 24-degrees”.
Head-up display
The optional head-up display is a new feature in the A-Class which now also allows you to configure other functions of the car via the settings menu within the head-up display itself – a first in its class.
A series of lenses and mirror project a full-colour image (24 x 8 cm) into the windscreen – that makes it look like its floating above the bonnet. The head-up display can project navigation instructions, vehicle speed, speed limits or the settings for cruise control or Active Distance Control DISTRONIC.
Exciting new interior design
For the first time, a cowl above the cockpit has been completely removed. As a result, the wing-shaped main body of the dashboard extends from one front door to the other with no visual discontinuity.
Thanks to the omission of a cockpit cowl, the main body of the dashboard extends from one door to the other, behind the seemingly free-floating widescreen.
The five round air vents have a new turbine look inspired by the world of aviation – where the air vanes have been arranged to mimic the impression of a jet aircraft turbine.
The newly designed 3‑spoke steering wheel, door handles, centre console and seats follow a modern design language. The ring-shaped, completely closed door-pull handle is rather unusual but claimed to be ergonomic.
IMAGE GALLERY


Is Toyota really giving the Prius a GR treatment?

It appears that the
all-new fifth-generation Toyota Prius
 will soon be getting its own high-performance Gazoo Racing makeover soon – or at least, in concept form.
Toyota has teased a new concept car due to be unveiled next week at the upcoming 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, said to be “equipped with vehicle technologies that have been developed through numerous challenges in motorsports participation”. While they stopped short of naming the car, the masked car in the teaser photo does closely resemble the all-new fifth-generation Toyota Prius.
See the resemblance?
Details are obviously scarce right now, but the teaser image does suggest a big visual overhaul for the hybrid model, including a GR-ified rectangular front lower grille, plus motorsports-inspired quad (daytime-running?) lights on the corners.
As for the “vehicle technologies” in the teaser, the GR Prius is likely to become Toyota’s first high performance hybrid model, with an upgraded hybrid system based on the marque’s learnings in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) series, where Toyota fields its GR010 Hybrid in the Hypercar class.
It’s unclear whether the Toyota GR Prius will ever reach showrooms, or it will remain just as a concept. Recent rumours suggest that the Toyota GR86 will transition to a hybrid powertrain based on the 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder mill of the
GR Yaris
.
In that case, the Toyota GR Prius here could act solely as a test bed for the development of the new hybrid powertrain. Although, we’re sure Toyota will be happy to sell it if there’s enough demand from its customers…
RELATED:
Toyota GR86 gets GR Yaris engine, but it’s not what you think it is


India’s first electric supercar makers want to revolutionise the way cars are built

They’re called
Mean Metal Motors
 and this, the Azani, is set to be their first electric supercar and the numbers look incredible.
We’re talking 1,000 hp and 1,000 Nm and a 0 to 100 km/h time of under two seconds. The electric supercar’s top speed is even more impressive; estimated to be 350 km/h.
With a 120 kWh battery pack, the electric driving range is expected to be over 500 km. That’s about the
same range as what the

Taycan offers
; and that’s a Porsche.
As the car isn’t officially launched yet mind you, the promises don’t stop there. It will supposedly come with
Augmented Reality displays
, and something called the Advanced Morphing seats. The former is self-explanatory while the latter is unlikely to involve morphine.
It will also have all the advanced driving aids available in most cars today such as adaptive cruise control, autonomous braking, and lane change alerts.
Possibly just illustrations at its infancy stage.
A quick browse through
their website
 revealed even more innovative ideas for vehicle production, albeit in vague terms.
They include using organic composites, using one platform to build all types of vehicles to lower production costs, and a higher life cycle for its components. The last one, wow.
That’s not all. Production lines in their micro-factories will be incorporated with Artificial Intelligence. It’s said that AI’s adaptive abilities can increase production efficiency.
Pardon me for sounding so skeptical but looking at the figures, it’s hard not to wonder if it could all come true but it’s unlikely that MMM will have a short stint in the automotive production scene as they’ve been around for nearly 10 years now, since 2012. Everything from R&D, design, aerodynamics and engineering of the electric supercar is done in-house, by a 22-strong team.
MMM expects to sell the Azani for around USD 120,000 (approx RM506k).


Porsche Mission E confirmed for production, and it aims to slay Tesla!

Porsche, after
bidding farewell to the 911’s naturally aspirated flat-six
, drops yet another shocker today by confirming production of their an all-electric model, dubbed the
Porsche Mission E
.
It’s a historic moment for Porsche because the Mission E will be the company’s
first 100 percent electrically powered sports car
, ever. The strictly four-seater Porsche packs
600 hp
 that sends it blitzing from 0 to 100 km/h in just
 3.5 seconds
, and apparently it’ll hit 200 km/h in less than 12 seconds.
Powering the car is a cutting-edge
electric drive system
 that sends power to all four wheels, and its high-discharge density batteries and motor allow multiple “full throttle accelerations” in a very short duration – a technology that hasn’t made its way to present day electric vehicles. Despite that, it boasts having a range of over 500 kilometres in a single charge!
The Porsche Mission E will come with an
800-volt turbocharger
 (or Porsche Turbo Charging) system that juices the car up to 80 percent in just 15 minutes. Alternatively, the car
can also be

charged wirelessly
 via an induction coil built into the garage floor. All this may seem too far-fetched now, but Porsche aims to make the car available
by the end of the decade
.

Besides the obvious ploy to give Tesla a run for their money, Porsche claims that the Mission E project is part of their sustainable growth vision. This project created more than
1,000 job opportunities
 at the company’s headquarters alone, and with it a 700 million euro investment to expand future operations.
IMAGE GALLERY


2022 Subaru BRZ price up by RM20k in Malaysia for both manual and automatic variants

Back in March, we reported that Motor Image Malaysia, the distributor for Subaru vehicles here in Malaysia, has
begun taking orders
for the
all-new Subaru BRZ
.
At that point, the 2022 Subaru BRZ offered in both manual and automatic transmission options, was priced from
RM229,245
(on-the-road, without insurance) for the manual variant, and from
 RM239,245
 for the automatic variant.
It has since come to our attention that starting prices for both variants have
increased by around RM20k
, from the 1st of May onwards. Those who have placed their bookings before the 1st of May will not be affected. According to our sources, there will be no changes in specification while the waiting list is now between
seven to eight months
.
Whether or not it’ll deter you, here are a few things to consider about the all-new sportscar. The new BRZ is now powered by a 2.4-litre naturally-aspirated boxer engine (as opposed to a 2.0-litre unit before) with 237 hp and 250 Nm. Transmission options include a 6-speed manual or automatic gearbox with power sent (as you’d expect) to the rear wheels. It’s the only way we’ll have it as well.
With the extra power from the increased engine capacity, the BRZ is quicker from 0 to 100 km/h; 6.8 seconds in the automatic model and 6.3 seconds with the manual gearbox. Top speed also defers; with the automatic variant capable of a 216 km/h top speed, while the manual is capable of 226 km/h.
Aside from the noticeable change in exterior and interior design, the Subaru BRZ will also be equipped with Subaru’s famed EyeSight driver assistance system which includes active cruise control, autonomous emergency braking (front and rear) among others.
Standard features include 18-inch wheels, 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a digital instrument cluster, Track mode, and Ultrasuede upholstery.


If you love Porsches, this video of its evolution is a must-watch!

It’s likely that you’ve not seen this video – seeing as after two years of being online, it has only garnered over 200k views, but you should.
The video documents the evolution of Porsche post-World War 2 after Ferry Porsche decided to build his very own sports car having not found one to his liking.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuwT2AmV2S0&list=WL&index=26&t=0s
From the
Porsche 550 Spyder
, famously driven by the late James Dean, to the cutting-edge
 Porsche 918 Spyder
 – the 27-minute video captures Porsche’s passion and drive in constant pursuit of engineering breakthroughs.
Although, only 18-minutes of this video are actually genuine (and worth watching) as it actually leads you into a promotional video for the new
Porsche Panamera
 – it’s an advertisement, essentially.


Kia to expand EV line-up to 14 models by 2027, 1.2 million annual EV sales by 2030

In a recent CEO Investor Day event, Kia has announced its plans to accelerate its electrification timeline by expanding its battery electric vehicle (BEV) line-up to 14 models by 2027.
The electric onslaught will begin next year, starting with the EV9 large SUV, followed by “at least two” new models per year. Compared to the company’s previously plan to release 11 BEV models by 2026, the increase in the current roadmap will consist of two new electric pickup trucks, along with an entry-level BEV model.
The Kia EV9, shown off last year in
concept form
, is a large three-row SUV, measuring roughly 5 metres in length. Despite its massive footprint, the company says it’ll still have a 0-100 km/h sprint time of just five seconds, and a range of around 540 km on a single charge.
It’ll also be the first Kia model to feature the brand’s new AutoMode advanced autonomous driving technology, a Level 3-certified system that will allow the EV9 to drive itself in certain circumstances with basic human supervision, and even capable of automatic lane changes on highways.
Kia also claims it will introduce “full autonomous driving” in 2025 or 2026, which will be fitted to “100% of new cars in major markets and 80% of total sales”, according to Kia CEO Ho Sung Song.
On the topic of sales, the Korean carmaker is increasing its targets to sell 160,000 electric cars this year, moving up to 807,000 units in 2026, and eventually reach 1.2 million units annually by the end of the decade – the latter a 36% jump over its initial targets announced just a year ago.
Meanwhile, hybrid and plug-in hybrid models are also targeted to account for another 52% of its global sales by 2030 – up from an estimated 17% in 2022.
ALSO READ: Bermaz Auto to introduce full range of Peugeot SUVs, Kia EV6
To entice buyers, Kia will be unveiling a flagship GT variant for every new BEV model built on its dedicated electric General Modular Platform (e-GMP), starting with the EV6 GT offering
576 hp
 (430 kW) and
740 Nm
, and a claimed 0-100 km/h sprint time of
3.5 seconds
.
However, don’t expect all of Kia’s GT models to be that potent, as the company says the GT treatment will be “optimised for each model”, to offer “dynamic performance [based on the] vehicle category”.
In essence, bigger SUVs will focus on “prestige with power”, hinting at less hardcore, more highway-friendly high-speed cruisers, while smaller models including sedans and crossovers will feature “agile performance on compact design”, consisting of “on-road driving performance” and “overwhelming acceleration”.
RELATED: Kia EV6 named 2022 European Car of the Year
In tandem with the targeted sales increase, Kia also announced its plans to increase its battery supply from 13 gigawatt-hours (GWh) to 119 GWh by 2030. The batteries are expected to increase in energy density by 50%, while also dropping roughly 40% in costs.
Aside from consumer-facing models, Kia will also be introducing a range of “purpose-built vehicles” targeted at delivery services, ride-sharing, taxis, and other industries. The first model will be a modified version of the Niro small SUV, with dedicated electric models to follow.


Video: Audi Q2, Things You Need To Know

With 1 of 3 Audi models sold globally being an SUV model, Audi Malaysia has reshuffled its product line up to be a “Q” centric one. The all-new
Audi Q2 1.4 TFSI
 is now the most affordable new Audi in Malaysia.

The Malaysian market gets only one engine variant, a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder TFSI engine that pumps out
150 hp
 and
250 Nm
 of torque. Drive is channelled to the front wheels via a 7-speed S Tronic dual clutch allowing the Q2 1.4 TFSI to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in
8.5 seconds
 onwards to a top speed of
212 km/h
.
Despite being fully
imported from the home of Audi in Ingolstadt, Germany, the Q2 1.4 TFSI is
priced very competitively at RM219,900. Undercutting even some of its locally
assembled rivals by a fair bit.
IMAGE GALLERY
Audi Q2 1.4 TFSI Launched in Malaysia


Continental’s new wheel & tyre concept are the bomb, bye bye TPMS

Continental Tyres introduced two new tyre technology concepts that will change the road safety and comfort game – they’re called the ContiSense and ContiAdapt. They will be continuously monitor the tyre’s condition as well as actively match the tyre’s performance depending on the road conditions. That’s crazy!
ContiSense
 is essentially uses sensors to
detect the tread and temperature of the tyre
 which will send signals to a receiver in the car. If anything punctures the tyre, an immediate alarm will trigger the driver – faster than current available systems, which only warns the driver the tyre pressure has already begun to drop. Data can be transmitted to the vehicle electronics or via bluetooth to a smartphone.
ContiAdapt
 on the other hand combines micro-compressors into the wheel to
automatically adjust the tyre’s pressure
. The system can
modify the width of the wheel
 – yes you read correctly – to provide the most traction depending on road conditions.
For example if the road surface is slippery, it will widen the wheels contact with the road and lower the tyre pressure to deliver optimum grip. By contrast, if the roads are smooth and dry, it will narrow down its footprint and increase tyre pressure automatically for better fuel efficiency.
ContiSense and ContiAdapt are joined by a concept tyre that enables the benefits of both systems to be fully leveraged. The tyre design features three different tread zones for driving on wet, slippery or dry surfaces. Depending on the tyre pressure and rim width, different tread zones are activated and the concept tyre adopts the required “footprint” in each case. In this way, the tyre characteristics adapt to the prevailing road conditions or driver preferences.
Continental see both these tyre technologies as promising concepts for the future which would require tyres to adapt and meet the needs of automated driving. They follow after the
ContiSilent
 technology which reduces road and tyre noise and the
ContiSeal
, an automatic sealing feature for punctures.


2023 Honda City facelift leaked in full video walkaround ahead of launch

We’re supposedly just days away from the 2023 Honda City facelift’s global debut in India, but a full video walkaround of the new car has already been posted online ahead of the launch, courtesy of a YouTuber that goes by the name Kamal Yadav.
This is already now the second time we’ve seen the 2023 Honda City facelift. And as we’ve already seen from the
previous leak
, the updates here are relatively minor. On the outside, the front grille now gets an updated mesh with a diamond pin-style honeycomb design, alongside a new slimmer chrome trim piece.
The bumpers have also been slightly redesigned both front and back, the latter featuring a new faux carbon-fibre diffuser-like element. In India at least, the new 2023 Honda City also gets a small lip spoiler to match the more aggressive styling, alongside a new set of wheels.
Inside, the general design of the cabin remains largely identical to the
outgoing pre-facelift model
. Interior equipment also remains unchanged, with features such as the eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, the semi-digital instrument cluster with a seven-inch display, and – on the India-spec car – an electric sunroof, all making a return on the facelifted car.
The video does show off a new wireless charger, although it appears to just be an “aftermarket” part sitting atop the cupholders on the centre console. To be entirely honest, we’re much more envious about the six-speed manual shifter on the centre console, rather than these superficial creature comfort additions.
As for powertrains, the existing 121 hp 1.5-litre petrol unit, alongside the
 e:HEV hybrid powertrain
, are both expected to remain on this new facelift model. However, online media portals report that the diesel engine previously offered on the Honda City in India will likely be dropped on the facelift update, due to the introduction of the new Real Driving Emissions (RDE) standards in the nation.


Only 399 souls will ever get to own the roofless, windscreen-less McLaren Elva

McLaren’s range of supercars are segmented into a few main series’. There’s the Sports Series, Super and Ultimate along with the recent addition of the GT series featuring the “softer” McLaren GT.
With the new 1.4 million pound McLaren Elva where only 399 will ever be made, there’s now a new arrival in the Ultimate series which is currently made up of the Speedtail, the Senna, the P1 and P1 GTR.
First of all, its name; the Elva stems from customer versions of race cars designed by the late founder Bruce McLaren – the McLaren-Elva M1A of the 1960s.
The roofless, open-cockpit two-seater with a carbon fibre chassis and body, is without a windscreen and side windows (although these can be spec-ed) – making it the lightest road car produced by McLaren Automotive although its exact weight figures have yet to be determined by the Woking-based supercar maker.
The lack of a windscreen has prompted McLaren to innovate the
world’s first Active Air Management System
 which essentially channels air over the cockpit which in McLaren’s own words, is to create a “bubble of calm” for the passengers. The AAMS also helps cool the radiators when inactive.
The Elva gets
815 hp
 and
800 Nm
 to play with from a 4.0-litre twin turbo V8, 7-speed combination used in the Senna and Senna GTR. With launch control, the numbers are simply staggering –
0 to 100 km/h in under three seconds and 0 to 200 km/h in 6.7 seconds
.
Like the Paganis and Koenigseggs, the Elva can be specified with exposed carbon fibre body panels. It can also be personalised with 18-carat white gold or platinum badges and 24-carat gold engine bay heat shields.
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