Volkswagen Jetta facelift launched in Malaysia, priced from RM109k!

The Volkswagen Jetta first landed on our shores in 2011 and back then it was literally miles ahead of its competitors thanks to its TSI and DSG combination. Sales were going up so much so that Volkswagen Passenger Car Malaysia (VPCM) decided to assemble their C-segment sedan at their Pekan plant. However, five years down the road, the Jetta is in a dire need of a refresh.
After weeks of teasing of the facelifted Jetta, VPCMhas finally broke the covers here at Volkswagen Glenmarie. This time, in similar fashion as the Vento, VPCM has offered the Jetta in three different trims – Comfortline, Trendline and Highline.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Volkswagen Jetta 1.4 TSI Trendline
Volkswagen Jetta 1.4 TSI Comfortline
Volkswagen Jetta 1.4 TSI Highline
Engine
1,395cc; inline-4 turbo with BlueMotion technology
Transmission
7-speed DSG
Max Power
148 hp @ 5,000 – 6,000 rpm
Max Torque
250 Nm @ 1,500 – 3,500 rpm
0 – 100km/h; Top Speed
8.6 seconds; 220 km/h
Price (OTR without insurance)
RM108,990
RM117,990
RM128,990
Although VPCM terms this Jetta as a facelift model, the sedan has gone through considerable amount of changes not only aesthetically but also mechanically. However, the dimensions of this Jetta dittos the pre-facelift model.
EXTERIOR
Like its younger sibling the Vento, the Jetta now sports a more matured design, similar to the D-segment Passat. The front now gets a three bar grille, reshaped front bumper that houses new halogen fog lamps and new design headlamps. At the rear, a pair of LED combination tail lights with new graphics can be found. Other subtler revisions include a new
280TSI badge
 located at the lower corner of the boot where the old TSI badge used to sit.
Standard across all variants are front and rear fog lamps, LED rear license plate lamps, twin exhaust tailpipes and power folding, heated side mirrors as well as heat insulated windows.

Only two ways to tell the three variants apart starting from the wheels and headlamps. The Trendline and Comfortline rides on 16-inch alloys (Sedona and Navarra design respectively) wrapped in 205/55 section rubbers. These two variants also get a simpler manual levelling halogen reflector headlamps with daytime running lights (halogen not LED). Only the Comfortline comes with automatic headlamps with “Leaving Home” function.
The more expensive Highline on the other hand gets a Passat-derived automatic Bi-Xenon headlamps with “U”-shaped LED daytime running lights. A 17-inch “Queensland” design alloys with low profile 225/45 section tyres are fitted on this variant instead.
INTERIOR
VPCM has done some minor updates to the interior to keep the Jetta relevant in today’s market. Starting from the Trendline, you get leather wrapped steering wheel, RCD 220 head unit with six speakers, rear air vents and fabric seats. Unfortunately, much of the pre-facelift Jetta’s equipment are not present in the Trendline. Among those omissions are steering wheel multifunction controls, cruise control and automatic climate control. However, remember that the Trendline costs almost
RM22k cheaper
 than the outgoing model.

Stepping up onto Comfortline, the equipment levels are on par with the previous Jetta. On top of what the Trendline is equipped with, this middle spec Jetta adds on multifunction steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, cooled glovebox and an updated 5-inch RCD330G touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth and MirrorLink.
Lastly in the highest trim, the Highline comes with a variety of additional features that puts it on par with its main rivals. First thing that stands out in this top spec model is the leather upholstery that comes with a 12-way powered adjustment for the driver seat. It also comes equipped with keyless entry and start. In typical Volkswagen fashion, the start button is located by the gear leaver. In addition to that, auto-dimming rear view mirror, cruise control and paddle shifters are added into the mix.
PERFORMANCE
Under the hood, the Jetta is updated with a new 1.4-litre TSI turbocharged engine similar to the
Golf
. Despite dropping the twincharge set up of the pre-facelift model, this turbocharged mill is capable of
 148 hp
 and
250 Nm
. In a straight line, this Jetta will hit the 100km/h mark in
8.6 seconds
 all the way to a top speed of 220 km/h.
These figures make the Jetta on par with the ninth-generation
Audi A4 1.4 TFSI
! It has the highest amount of torque in its class. Thanks to its BlueMotion technology, regenerative braking and auto start/stop function, all three Jetta will return
5.0 litres
 of fuel per 100 km. As such, this locally assembled Jetta is qualified for EEV incentives from the government.
SAFETY
While the Trendline and Comfortline see the omission of a good amount of equipment, VPCM certainly did not skim on safety features. As standard, all three variants will get six airbags, ABS with brake assist, ESC, hill-hold control, brake pad wear monitor, ISOFIX mounting points and Volkswagen Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS).
WHAT ELSE?
The asking prices of the Jetta you see here is already inclusive of EEV-incentives. Regardless of variant, buyers will have four exterior colours to choose from – Candy White, Platinum Grey, Reflex Silver and Deep Black.
Buyers will also have a peace of mind in their Jetta with a 5-Year manufacturer’s warranty and five-years roadside assistance in the event of an unfortunate breakdown. The service interval for the Jetta is also optimised to every 15,000 km.
IMAGE GALLERY
VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1.4TSI HIGHLINE


Second-generation Range Rover Evoque to make local debut next month!

Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia has announced that the second-generation Range Rover Evoque will be making its way onto Malaysian soil early next month, approximately 18 months after the
 international launch
.
It’s hard to believe that the design of the original Range Rover Evoque was unveiled more than 10 years ago. The all-new second-generation Evoque features an evolution of the original design, featuring new elements from other models in the Land Rover line-up.
On the outside, familiar cues from the
Range Rover Velar
 is evident throughout, including the slim LED headlights and LED daytime running light graphics, taillights, as well as the bumper designs. The all-new Evoque even adopts the retracting door handle, creating a smooth and aerodynamic surface while on the move.
Despite the many similarities with the bigger brother, the overall body style is still unmistakably Evoque – fastback like roofline, paired to a rising beltline to emphasise the short rear overhang and compact rear end.
On the inside, the all-new Evoque features a clean and classy cabin design. Taking centre stage on the dashboard is Land Rover’s Rover InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system that combines two 10-inch high-definition glass touchscreens to control most of the vehicle’s functions, alongside the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
The all-new Range Rover Evoque is also jam-packed with technology inside. The second-generation luxury compact SUV is the first model from the brand to feature Smart Settings, which uses artificial intelligence to automatically pre-set driver-specific comfort, media and accessibility settings.
Other technology offerings include the ‘ClearSight Rear View Mirror’ which feeds a high-definition video feed from the top rear-side of the car into the mirror, allowing drivers to see even if their usual view is blocked by bulky items at the back.
JLR Malaysia also revealed that our local-spec Evoque will also feature advanced driver assistance features such as Lane Keep Assist and Driver Condition Monitor. The ‘ClearSight Ground View’ is also standard equipment on the Malaysian Evoque, giving drivers a clear 180-degree view out the front of the car to help navigate tight urban areas.
The all-new Evoque will be powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged Ingenium engine, paired to a nine-speed automatic gearbox. JLR Malaysia did not reveal the specific tune we will be getting; the 2.0-litre engine is available in three different state of tune in international markets – 200 hp and 340 Nm; 249 hp and 365 Nm; as well as 300 hp and 400 Nm.
More details on pricing and variants offered will be unveiled during the launch. As standard, the Range Rover Evoque comes with a five-year/150,000 km warranty, five-year/65,000 km complimentary scheduled service package, as well as three-year of Roadside Assistance.


Video: Unboxing (and assembling) the LEGO TECHNIC Ferrari 488 GTE!

He may be one of the most patient souls in the office but we still can’t believe GC Mah actually sat through, not just the entire 488 GTE LEGO TECHNIC

build in one go, but also the video production of it!
That’s because the entire
Ferrari 488 GTE “AF Corse #51” replica
was made up of an eye-popping
1,677 pieces
! Shockingly, his initial plan was to jumble up all the pieces and build it completely unguided, for fun apparently. We have since been questioning his sanity.

As the build progresses, the logic behind the mountainous LEGO pieces becomes clear as the intricate details emerge.
Features include functioning front and rear suspension, doors that open, a V8 engine with pistons that move along with the car, and a functional steering wheel. Even the stickers and decals replicate the exact race car!
After nearly 12 hours of not doing any work at all that day, and over 300 pages of diagrams and puzzles later, here it is – the LEGO TECHNIC Ferrari 488 GTE!
There’s more to know about the LEGO TECHNIC Ferrari 488 GTE
here
! And if the extended MCO has freed up even more stay-at-home time, the LEGO TECHNICS Ferrari 488 GTE is priced at
RM799.90
and can be bought through
Lazada
,
Shopee
 and at all LEGO certified stores!
GALLERY


Mitsubishi Motors to reveal new Triton Ralliart Edition at the Bangkok Motor Show

The Mitsubishi Triton Ralliart Edition was
first revealed in November 2021
 and will soon be showcased at the 43rd Bangkok International Motor Show, happening between the 22nd of March till the 3rd of April.
The Triton Ralliart will be a lower riding variant compared to the rest of the lineup. The exterior features a solid white body and a black roof with side decals, mud flaps, and bed liner with Ralliart logos. The front grille, alloy wheels, side mirrors, door handles, and rear gate handles are painted in Jet Black Mica to compliment the black roof.
The interior features Ralliart floormats and red accents. The new Triton Ralliart comes with front, rear, and side air dams to emphasise the low profile of the vehicle.
Coming back to Malaysia, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia offers the Triton Athlete in three colour options; Sun Flare Orange Pearl, Jet Black Mica, and White Diamond. The Athlete version also features blacked-out 18-inch wheels, door handles, side mirror covers, side steps, aero door visors, and rear bumper.
The Triton Athlete features a 2.4-litre MIVEC turbo diesel engine paired to a 6-speed automatic gearbox (with Sport Mode) that pushes out
181 hp
and
 430 Nm
 of torque. Its industry-leading Super Select II 4WD system makes switching between 2WD and 4WD drivetrains as easy as turning a knob. Check out our off-road experience with the Triton Athlete

here
.
Advance safety features in the Triton Athlete include forward collision mitigation, blind-spot monitoring, lane change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high beam, and pedal misoperation mitigation, along with 7 airbags.
The Triton Athlete was previously priced at
RM 141,500
 and has been updated to
 RM 142,800
 which includes a 5-year/200,000km warranty coverage. Check out the full rundown of the facts and figures of the Triton Athlete
here
.


Watch out for these Perodua Bezza patrol cars prowling on the streets of Selangor

Perodua has recently contributed three units of the
Perodua Bezza
 to the Selangor Police Contingent (IPK Selangor) to be deployed as patrol cars.
These Bezza’s have
been outfitted with police equipment needed for the personnel to carry out their
duties such as radios and beacon lamps. The vehicles will be stationed at IPK
Selangor, the Bukit Aman Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department
(JPJKK Bukit Aman) and Hulu Selangor District Police (IPD Hulu Selangor).
Perodua President and
Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad said: ““For the 26 years
Perodua has made Selangor our home, we have been able to operate effectively
and without distress due to the commendable efforts by the Royal Malaysian Police,
particularly IPK Selangor, to maintain public safety, peace and harmony.”
“We hope our humble
contribution can be accepted by the police as a token of gratitude for their
resolute steadfastness, fairness, dedication and courage. We salute you,”
Dato’ Zainal added.
Before you scoff at the Bezza’s
95 hp
/
121 Nm
 1.3-litre powerplant, remember their main function is to serve as patrol cars. Durability, efficiency and manoeuvrability – which the Bezza excels in – becomes valuable qualities to carry out the job.
Besides, PDRM has a
more fitting car
 in their arsenal for high-speed pursuits…


Hybrid Honda Civic e:HEV RS now open for bookings – 184 hp, 315 Nm, key card entry

Starting today, you can place your bookings for the new hybrid variant of the
Civic
, the Honda Civic e:HEV RS. The latest addition to the Honda Civic line-up introduces a new 2.0-litre e:HEV powertrain for the first time in Malaysia, making
184 hp
 and
315 Nm
.
Compared to the
Honda Civic RS
, the e:HEV RS packs an additional 2hp and 75 Nm. Paired with the hybrid powertrain is Honda’s Electric Continuously Variable Transmission (e-CVT). The electric drive unit in the hybrid system is referred to by Honda as the Intelligent Power Unit (IPU). It is powered by a light and compact lithium-ion battery.
Tell-tale signs of the Civic e:HEV RS’s hybrid powertrain on the outside are blue elements on the Honda emblem, a chrome trim on the front grille, an e:HEV badge on the boot lid, and e:HEV RS-specific 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels. All else, the e:HEV RS is similar to the existing RS variant.
Convenience-wise, the new Honda Civic e:HEV RS gets a Key Card which according to Honda, is a segment-first. The key cars introduces a compact and convenient keyless entry and start function. Other notable features in the e:HEV RS are the 9-inch Advanced Display Audio with Wireless Apple CarPlay and the Remote Engine Start feature.
RELATED:
Honda reveals 2022 Civic Type R performance figures, ‘small’ boost from FK8R
Honda Key Card
Standard on the Civic e:HEV RS is the full suite of Honda Sensing. The full suite of enhanced and newly improved Honda Sensing safety features includes the following:
Lead Car Departure Notification System (LCDN)
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
Low-Speed Follow (LSF)
Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)
Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS)
Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
Auto High Beam (AHB)
ALSO WATCH:
All-new 2022 Honda Civic is the most European Japanese car ever – AutoVlogs
Honda Malaysia Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Hironobu Yoshimura said, “The 11th Generation Civic which was launched early this year has been very well received by Malaysians, having sold more than 6,000 units from January to September 2022. To further strengthen Civic’s presence in the market, we are excited to introduce this new variant and for the first time being offered in a 2.0L e:HEV powertrain.”
“In line with the Civic DNA, this e:HEV RS promises an exhilarating drive with elegant styling. We also believe that with the introduction of this exciting variant; it will further elevate the C-Segment and excite our customers.”
RELATED:
Only 400 Honda Civic Type R produced monthly, up to 6 months waiting period


Volkswagen adds yet another new electric SUV to its lineup, the ID.5 GTX

Whether you’ve been keeping an eye on them or not, it’s getting harder to keep track of what’s what with Volkswagen’s new wave of electric cars, and yet there’s a new one – the ID.5 GTX – to supplement the existing ID.2, the
ID.3
, the
ID.4 GTX
.
Then of course, who’d forget the lightning quick ID.R that
 smashed the Nurburgring record
, the
Goodwood Hillclimb record
 and
set a new record around the Chinese version of Pikes Peak
.
The ID.5 GTX is Volkswagen’s first-ever all-electric SUV Coupe and is set to make its international exhibition early next month at the IAA Munich Motor Show.
“R version” of the new Volkswagen ID.3 will be faster than Golf GTI. Read about it here!
ID.3
ID.3
With the ride height of an SUV and the silloutte of a coupe, the ID.5 GTX is Volkswagen’s electric answer to the likes of BMW’s X4, and Mercedes-Benz’ GLC. So far, Volkswagen’s German counterparts only have electric SUVs like the EQB, EQC and the iX3 from BMW.
This Volkswagen ID.X is basically an electric Golf R hot hatch! Find out why!
The GTX name represents Volkswagen’s new athleticism, with plenty of performance. The ID.5 GTX will get an electric motor each to drive the front and rear wheels, with up to
497 km
 of electric driving range.
When the ID.5 GTX arrives at showrooms next year, it will be the second model from the sporty GTX following the
ID.4 GTX
. The ID.5 GTX is the first SUV coupé based on the Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB) and will be able to receive over-the-air software updates.
Volkswagen joins the “Coupe SUV” party with the new petrol-powered Taigo! Find out more in our story!
GALLERY


Infiniti teases new car for LA Auto Show, could it be the Infiniti QX50?

Shortly after the global premiere of the
Infiniti QX80 facelift
, Infiniti has set to reveal yet another product in the coming week. The “an-all-new model” as Infiniti calls it, will make an appearance at the 2017 LA Motor Show.
The internet speculates the model to be the next-generation QX50 based on the similarities of the teaser image to the
QX50 concept
 that made its debut early this year. The prominent shoulder line is also a tell-tale sign that the new car will be a crossover/SUV body style. Again, points towards the QX50.
According to Senior Vice President, Global Design, Alfonso Albaisa, the new model will appear to be seamless and sculptural at a glance with an ingenious blend of proportion and space. Infiniti also claims that the new car will debut with world-first technologies, stand-out design and class-leading interior space.


All-new BMW M4 GT3 debuts P58 straight-six racing engine, 590 hp and 700 Nm

Over the last decade, BMW never raced their famed straight-six engines in the FIA GT3 series, the de facto racing series for production sportscars.
When the automaker began homologating the BMW Z4 M Coupe for the GT3 racing series, it ditched the S54 straight-six engine and instead use a naturally aspirated 4.4-litre V8 engine that was already being used in the BMW M3 GTR.
As the BMW M6 is no longer in production and the all-new
G82 BMW M4
 just released, the company will be using the latter as its new representative in the GT3 racing series.
Development of the road and racing car were done concurrently, with the prototype rolling out of Dingolfing in July 2020, and since then, testing has been performed at various European circuits including the Nurburgring Nordschleife. Close to a year of testing has accumulated over
14,000 kilometres
– the equivalent of more than 70 hours of track time. The new BMW M4 GT3 will make its race debut in two weeks at the fourth round of the Nurburgring Endurance Series (NLS).
Customer will have to wait until
2022
 to race their new BMW M4 GT3 though, as BMW will continue with their testing programme after the race debut.
Now for the technical bits. The P58 twin-turbocharged
3.0-litre straight-six
 engine develops up to
590 hp
,
700 Nm
 and weights 40 kg lighter than the V8 engine in
the M6 GT3
. Unlike the road car’s S58 engine with a single throttle valve, the P58 engine has a motorsport-developed charged cooling system that allows the usage of
two throttle valves
. The connecting rods with pistons and housing were transferred from the road car to the racing car in an
unmodified
 form.
We are all well aware of the high budgets involved in motorsports and BMW has developed and engineered the BMW M4 GT3 with cost efficiency and operations in mind. For lower lifecycle cost than the BMW M6 GT3, the new racing machine will have
longer maintenance intervals
 for the straight-six engine and six-speed sequential transmission.
At the driver’s seat,
BMW M Track Cockpit
 allows many basic configurations to be performed without connecting to a laptop or special software. The steering wheel, made with sim hardware producer
Fanatec
, is a first of its kind, where it can be used in the race car as well as its simulators.
New BMW M3 shows power is not everything in a drag race!
BMW says moving to an electro-hydraulic clutch setup without a physical pedal also lowers wear, all in the name of cost-efficiency.
The G82
BMW M4 Competition
 Coupe in Malaysia is priced from
RM684,800
Finally, the price. The new BMW M4 GT3 starts from
EUR415,000
 (RM2.02 million), a EUR4,000 reduction compared to its predecessor and within a similar price range to other FIA GT3 racing cars.
Video: BMW M2 Competition vs Toyota GR Supra drag race
On the topic of straight-six engines, the
Toyota GR Supra
 also uses the base B58 3.0-litre engine, thus perhaps Toyota GR can finally develop and build the
GR Supra GT3
?
Bear in mind, those Toyota GR Supra GT 300 machines (and older Toyota 86 MC) in Japan’s Super GT aren’t developed from the road car, but from Japan Automobile Federation’s (JAF)
‘Mother Chassis’
 project, where the basic rolling chassis has a Toyota V8 engine, double-wishbone suspension setup, brakes and a carbon-fibre central monocoque.
GALLERY


This Mercedes-Benz S680 “Guard” is probably the safest place to be in 2021

Mercedes-Benz has low-key introduced the new S680 “Guard” that offers so much protection, it might even be able to protect you from this mess of a pandemic.
Unlike previous armoured vehicles made by Mercedes-Benz before, which were standard production cars clad with armoured material, this S680 based on the long-wheelbase S-class, is the first to be built as an armoured car from scratch.
The S680 Guard comes with VPAM VR10 levels of protection, the highest certification for vehicle ballistic protection and you can see why. A vehicle with VR10 certification can withstand gun fires up to AK47 at 90-degrees, without allowing the bullets to pierce its body or glass.
This is the safest Volvo XC90 in the world! Find out more about the Swedish armoured vehicle here!
The glass on the side windows are nearly four inches thick. The window motors are hydraulic units to allow them to operate in the case of emergency when the electronics fail.
This Range Rover Sentinel can jump, swim and even survive gunshots. Read about it here!
It even comes with an emergency fresh air system that provides oxygen when if the cabin is gassed. The tyres of the S680 feature Michelin’s PAX run-flat technology that allows the car to be driven up to around 90 km/h to a maximum distance of 200 km, in the event of a puncture.
All this protection comes at a price, literally and figuratively speaking. As a result, the S680 Guard weighs over 4-tonnes and by comparison, the S400h is only under 2-tonnes.
That shouldn’t deter the S680 Guard from sprinting off with its detuned V12 engine from the Maybach. The 6.0-litre twin-turbo engine makes
604 hp
 and
850 Nm
 to drive all four wheels.
Even the door hinges have been reinforced.
Each unit of the S680 Guard takes
51 days to build
 and reportedly costs around 550,000 Euros (approx. RM2.7 million).
In the future, Mercedes-Benz will only use the S-Class for its armoured vehicles, doing away from the Maybach models used before.
GALLERY


All-new 2014 Volvo XC90 Interior officially revealed [+Video]

Volvo now officially revealed the replacement to their 12-year-old workhorse, the XC90. Well not the entire car actually, but only the interior of the new XC90. Volvo is going to reveal the rest of the XC90 bit by bit starting with these interior shots, towards the full reveal which is said to be in August. Riding on Volvo’s new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), the XC90 is set to provide the latest safety features along with increased interior space.
From these shots you can no longer find the infamous ‘floating’ center stack that has been around for quite some time (which can also be seen in the
V40 that we drove
 earlier this year). Taking center stage in the new interior is the huge tablet-like touch screen contol console which frees up the dashboard from the clutter of multiple knobs and buttons. With this, Volvo promises “an entirely new way for drivers to control their car and access a range of Internet-based products and services”.

The rest of the interior still retains the Scandinavian coolness with the combination fine materials such as soft leather and different finishes of wood. Senior Vice President Research and Development of Volvo Cars, Peter Martens says “Our new interior architecture is pure and uncluttered, while still radiating the sophisticated confidence and formality that luxury SUV customers expect”. Even though the dashboard is now cleaner, they still managed to include some fine detailing to the interior such as the diamond-cut start/stop button and the volume control knob. Not only that, the famous Swedish glass maker Orrefors even provide a special crystal glass gear lever for the XC90.

Retaining the seven-seat configuration from the current XC90, the new XC90 will provide more space with the innovative and ergonomically designed seats with minimal padding but just as comfortable with the seat core shaped to resemble the human spine. All seven seats are equipped with three-point safety belts with pre-tensioners. The fully-powered Comfort seat will allow its occupant to adjust the side bolster, seat cushion extension, multi-directional lumbar support and headrests with optional massage and ventilation functions. Those who want more side support can choose the optional Contour seat too.
Three individual second row seats slide and recline, with the center seat have the option of an integrated child booster cushion. The two seats in the third row is said to offer class-leading comfort for passengers with a height up to 170 cm. They are positioned closer together, slightly overlapping the second row seats so that the third row passengers can also enjoy a clear view forward. The flexible interior includes a plethora of storage options for each occupants, with both second and third row seats can also be folded individually.
With all the interior space, Volvo Cars’ CleanZone air purification system will keep the interior fresh and clean from those small, harmful particles and pollen in the incoming air. Four-zone climate control can be specified with the new XC90 and the separate air-conditioning unit for the third row is standard or optional depending on the market. More details of the new XC90 will be revealed afterwards, so stay tuned with Autobuzz.my!
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY


All-new Kia Sorento set for Malaysia launch in 2023 – three variants, CKD, est. RM220-255k

Dinamikjaya Motors, the new official distributor for Kia vehicles in Malaysia, has announced that the
all-new fourth-generation Kia Sorento
 will be making its way onto our shores in 2023. The seven-seater SUV made its first appearance in a brief media preview event recently, and is now open for booking at an
estimated price of RM220,000 – RM255,000
, with an official launch in Malaysia slated for some time this year.
The company did not reveal much in terms of the car’s specifications, but did note that it’ll be offered in three variants here in Malaysia, all of them locally assembled at the Inokom assembly plant in Kulim, Kedah.
The entry-level seven-seater variant (2-3-2 seating configuration) will be paired to a 2.5-litre Smartstream inline-four naturally-aspirated mill, paired to a six-speed automatic gearbox to send
180 hp
 and
232 Nm
 to the front wheels.
The higher-end variants only get six seats (2-2-2 seating configuration), and will be offered with two powertrain options – the same 2.5L Smartstream MPI engine as above, or a 2.2-litre Turbodiesel mill making
202 hp
 and
440 Nm
 – the latter paired to an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The six-seater variants are all-wheel drive-only.
In terms of appearance, the all-new fourth-generation Kia Sorento is really quite unlike its predecessors thanks to its sharper, more sculpted lines. The design concept of
“refined boldness”
 is most noticeable up front, with a big bold ‘tiger nose’ grille up front paired to the slim headlights and daytime-running lights that are integrated into the frame of the grille itself for a more focused and imposing look on the front fascia.
The proportions of the all-new Kia Sorento has also been tweaked, with shorter front and rear overhangs, and a longer wheelbase to make it “appear longer”. The fourth-generation Sorento measures in at 4,810 mm long, 1,900 mm wide, and 1,695 mm tall (1,700 mm for the range-topping 2.2D variant), with a wheelbase of 2,815 mm, which puts it roughly comparable to the upcoming
Proton X90/Geely Haoyue
.
Inside, the all-new fourth-generation Kia Sorento also represents a “step-change” in quality and design when compared to its predecessors, thanks to its striking design and “premium-quality materials” including metallic trims, leather upholstery, and embossed wood-effect surfaces.
The dashboard features a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system as standard across all variants, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity built in. The infotainment display is paired to a set of analogue dials and a multi-info display for the instrument cluster on the lower-end variants, while the range-topping model gets a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster display.
The range-topper also gets a Bose surround-sound system, although the wireless charging pad at the base of the centre console will be standard across all variants.
ALSO WATCH:
Hyundai Santa Fe vs Mazda CX-8, 7-seater AWD turbo diesel SUV review
As for safety, all variants will come with six airbags as standard, alongside the usual passive systems such as ABS with electronic brake distribution, stability and traction control, as well as a multi-collision brake control.
The all-new fourth-generation Kia Sorento will also come equipped with advanced driver assistance features as standard across all variants here in Malaysia, with features including adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and autonomous emergency braking.
GALLERY


Honda could be revving up the hot hatch game with two new Type Rs

I say “could” because the pictures you see here are leaked images and without any solid indication from the brand itself, we’ll try not to rattle the cage too much.
But it is a heck of an exciting prospect to ponder over. For me at least, the excitement comes from the notion of putting back the “Type R factor” into a compact package.

Tracing back into history, although Honda first slapped the Type R on the NSX, giving it unprecedented levels of performance and drivability, I strongly believe it was the Civic Type R that made Honda’s high-performance arm and its offerings more mainstream.
As the years went, the Civic Type R got more powerful, extremely competent but also fatter. It went from being no bigger than a
Perodua Myvi
 to what is now essentially a C-segment vehicle. Some may have opposed it but fortunately most embraced its evolution.
This then makes the Jazz Type R allegation a really promising one. In the pictures, you’d noticed that aside from the familiar design cues the Jazz Type R shares with the
current FK8 Civic Type R
 (especially the front bumper), it also reveals its performance figures of
220 hp
 and
245 Nm
.
That should be plenty enough for a whole lot of fun in the Jazz as currently, even with a mere
120 hp
and
145 Nm
power plant, the standard Jazz has proven to offer just enough poke to go with its practicality.
The “standard” Honda e.
That’s not all. If you look to the right of the second leaked image, you’d also notice a familiar sight but with an unexpected (Type R) signage on it –
a fully-electric Honda e
 wearing the signature Type R colour scheme, tagged with the iconic red Honda badge.
Is Honda for real? This can’t be true, can it? Just yesterday, we posted an article announcing the
fully-electric Honda e’s output
 of
150 hp
 and
 300 Nm
 which has been kept under wraps ever since Honda revealed the fully-electric, rear-wheel driven hatchback.
Speaking of the Jazz, have you checked it out, along with the City, in its
new Red Pearl paint job
?
Surely they can’t be serious; but if they were and know its followers better, the Honda e Type R could bring back the old, glory days in a package that’s destined for the future. It could also offer a smoother transition for the new generation of enthusiasts into the next generation of high performance vehicles.
And hey, it’ll also be the next best thing to come out of electric mobility, aside from
Elon Musk’s comical antics on social media
.


Aston Martin Vulcan meets cold war Vulcan Bomber [+Video]

Built at the height of the Cold War, the British were looking for a way to strategically deliver nuclear warheads to their target under the radar. Spurred by the Manhattan Project and the subsequent bombing of the two Japanese cities in 1945, the Vulcan was designed to carry a tactical payload of circa 4,500 kg with a cruising speed of 500 knots or 930 km/h. Sophisticated it was not, but an icon it sure was.
Aston Martin
 on the other hand has decided to christen its latest track munching monster after this iconic British delta-winged bomber. Now for the keener readers of Autobuzz, you’d be asking why we’re writing about the
Vulcan
 once again after it made its debut at Goodwood a few months back. The answer is  simple, as you will soon find out. And no, the Royal Air Force didn’t bring the Vulcan out of retirement for a day out in the fields.
Codenamed
Vulcan XH558
 – currently being operated by the charitable trust
Vulcan To The Sky
 – is due to retire from ‘active service’ in October. Ahead of that final flight, the famous Cold War-era long range bomber was paired with the Aston Martin Vulcan – via a
 special fly-past
 at Elvington Airfield in
Yorkshire
.
Uniquely for Aston Martin’s the new supercar track weapon –it’s limited to just
24
 examples worldwide and for good reason. This
McLaren P1 GTR
 and
Ferrari FXX-K
 rival costs an unbelievable £1.5 million or
RM9.96 million
 (at time of press). However, should you belong to the ultra-exclusive billionaire racing clubs and want an 800-plus bhp, all-carbon fibre Aston Martin, then look no further. But for the rest of us blue-collared chaps, simply check out the gallery and video.
IMAGE GALLERY


This dedicated policeman in Japan chased down a Lamborghini, on a bicycle!

No one is (or rather should be) above the law – not wealthy individuals, not the influential and most certainly not politicians who claim to not be “public officers”.
While some law enforcers are more lenient in honouring and enforcing the law, this particular Japanese police officer,
on a bicycle no less
, is certainly not one of them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRx_OxUEm44
A video surfaced recently on YouTube showed the commitment of a Japanese law enforcer in chasing down a Lamborghini Huracan after an alleged traffic violation.
While it’s unclear what lengths (or rather distance) he had to go to pull over the driver of the Italian supercar, what’s certain is that the law isn’t something to be disrespected for this devoted policeman.
Source:
YouTube


Win a trip to Porsche Centre Tokyo courtesy of Porsche Gran Turismo Cup Asia Pacific

Building on the success of last year’s Porsche Asia Pacific Forza Cup and E-Sports Supercup, Porsche Asia Pacific together with Porsche Japan, Porsche Korea and Porsche Taiwan is organising the 2021 Porsche Gran Turismo Cup Asia Pacific.
The Porsche Gran Turismo Cup Asia Pacific, which began last Sunday, will be played in Sony’s Playstation Gran Turismo Sport and use a variety of Porsche models within the video game. For us here in the ASEAN region, only five finalists will be shortlisted to the Final Qualifying round (semifinal), joining another fifteen finalists from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.
Passionate e-sports racers would have known and have participated in the first of five qualifying races that have already started last Sunday- a race with the Porsche 911 RSR around Japan’s Fuji Speedway.
We managed to enjoy one of the greatest manual transmission driving experiences with the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 2020 in Sepang. Watch it here!
There are still another four qualifying races to go to collect as many points as possible, and players will race both extremes of Porsche’s finest racing vehicles – the Porsche 356 A at Goodwood Motor Circuit and the Porsche 962 C at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
The next race that is set on September 19th will see players battle it out at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (Circuit de la Sarthe) with none other than the Porsche 919 Hybrid that won the 2015, 2016 and 2017 editions of the endurance race.
Points will be allocated for the finishing order in all five qualifying races, which then promotes the highest five to the semifinals consisting of 20 players over the Asia Pacific region. The top 10 competitors in the semifinal round will then progress to the finals in December. The grand prize consists of an all-expense-paid trip to Japan and many more moments at the Porsche Experience Centre Tokyo.
More information about the Porsche Gran Turismo Cup Asia Pacific can be found
here.
All the best to the fellow Malaysians who have been incredibly fast in various Gran Turismo competitions such as Toyota’s
Velocity
 and MSF’s Cyberturismo.
GALLERY


MINI John Cooper Works GP Concept unveiled, most hardcore MINI to date!

Early this year, we’ve reported that
MINI is working on a third-generation MINI John Cooper Works GP (JCW GP)
, the most hardcore limited-edition MINI ever made. MINI is not ready to launch the car in full just yet but instead, has given us an early glimpse of what is to come with the MINI John Cooper Works GP Concept.
Scheduled for its dynamic debut at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, the JCW GP Concept will replace the previous JCW GP or more commonly referred to as GP2. Like the GP2 – of which only 2,000 units were ever made – the new model will also be offered in extremely limited units.
“The MINI John Cooper Works GP Concept is all about the unfettered feeling of driving and levels of performance found in motor sport competition,” says Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Peter Schwarzenbauer. “This is driving fun in its purest form.” he added.
The JCW GP Concept is an all-out high-performance MINI with uncompromising performance on track, which explains the over-the-top exterior design. The concept car is significantly wider than your standard MINI thanks to a
wider body kit
 which promises superior handling at high speeds. Up front, its extended front bumper helps scoop air into the radiators as well as slice through air more efficiently. The number 0059 pays homage to the year 1959 when the original classic MINI was born.

Round the back, you’ll find a more aggressive bumper with central mounted twin-exhaust outlet that were designed specifically to channel air and reduce drag. The
half-Union Jack taillamps
 are a nod to the concept car’s British origins. Quite a nice touch don’t you think?  Further up the large roof spoiler not only screams attention, it is necessary to keep the car planted to the tarmac.
Like the GP, the interior of the concept car is
 completely stripped out
 in the name of weight reduction. The rear bench is removed in favour of a roll cage where the five-point seat belts are mounted to. All elements of the interior like the Heads-Up display, infotainment screen and instrument cluster were redesigned to be even more driver focused. Curiously, gear operations are through the steering mounted paddle shifters. Here’s hoping that MINI will offer a good ol’ fashioned manual option for the enthusiast.
As mesmerising as the MINI JCW GP Concept may be, it remains to be seen how much of these radical design elements will make it to the production line. No other information on the powertrain nor launch date were indicated but golly, the next-generation JCW GP will surely be one mad machine.
IMAGE GALLERY


All-new Kia Rio breaks cover, production to begin end-2016

Just days ago,
sketches of the all-new Kia Rio surfaced online
, giving us an early glimpse of how the fourth generation hatchback would look. The pictures you see here are the official images released by Kia Motors, and succeeds the
well-serving third-gen model
 which was released in 2011.
Design of the new Rio is led by Kia’s design teams from Germany, California and Korea. The new profile gives it an edgier, more sporty appearance when compared to the curvier nature of the outgoing model. Up front, the new Rio gets a slim ‘Tiger Nose’ grille and are complemented by a pair of bi-function headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights. The rear is dressed with a brand new pair of tail lamps, featuring arrow-shaped LED graphics.
Dimensions wise, the Rio grows albeit by a slight margin. It is now 15mm longer than its predecessor at 4,065mm, 5mm wider at 1,725mm but sits 5mm lower (1,450mm) to the ground. Wheelbase also grew by 10mm (now at 2,580mm), giving way to a roomier cabin.
Inside the cabin is also entirely new. Kia claims they have improved on ergonomics, and one way of achieving that is by angling the dashboard ever so slightly towards the driver. Smacked right in the centre of the dashboard is a new ‘floating’ touchscreen display (size unknown for now) for audio controls, connectivity and navigational systems. This touchscreen head unit tidies up the clutter of buttons from before.
Kia hasn’t revealed much details on the mechanics, but claims that ride and handling characteristics have been improved upon. Once it makes to production, the Rio will offer class-leading practicality and safety technology, as well as the latest suite of connectivity systems such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The fourth-generation Kia Rio will make its global debut on 29 September at the Paris Motor Show. Stay tuned for more details of the Rio!
IMAGE GALLERY


Volkswagen Care Plus members can now enjoy up to 30% discounts on servicing

As a token of appreciation for customer loyalty, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is enhancing the value of the Volkswagen Care Plus programme by an additional 10% on maintenance service.
The additional 10% brings the total discounts to up to 30%, a benefit exclusively crafted for the Volkswagen Care Plus loyalty programme. Only genuine parts are used, and that repairs are carried out by experienced technicians in accordance with global standards and approved tools.
The latest model by VW Malaysia is the new 2021 Volkswagen Arteon R-Line 4Motion. Find out more about the sexy fastback here!
Note that the additional 10% discount on maintenance service is only valid until December 31st 2021.
Launched in late 2018, the
Volkswagen Care Plus
 loyalty programme specifically targets owners of vehicles aged five years or older, providing additional aftersales benefits such as two-year free roadside assistance and 24 hours on-site battery support. Eligible owners can easily sign up for the programme at no cost at any authorised dealership.
Thinking of upgrading to a more affordable Volkswagen? Das WeltAuto has the answer!
“We have about 30,000 owners with us to date, and more than 50% of this figure are Volkswagen Care Plus members, those with cars that are five years and older,” said VPCM, Managing Director, Erik Winter when launching the latest Volkswagen Cares app in August 2021.
This promotion is however only available through the
new Volkswagen Cares app
, which now allows customers to arrange for service appointments, manage their vehicle information, as well as receive reminders from the Volkswagen Insurance Plan (VIP). The new app is now a one-stop centre housing various sales and aftersales support.
Volkswagen to expand SUV line-up in Malaysia. Find out more about which likely model here!


All new Proton vehicles to come with N95 Cabin Filter

Yesterday,
Proton
marked the 35th anniversary of the Saga with the launched of the
limited run Saga Anniversary Edition
. Only 1,100 units will be available, priced from RM39,300.
That’s not all, Proton also announced that all its cars – the Saga, Iriz, Persona and Exora – will be equipped with an N95 Cabin Filter as standard at
 no additional cost
. This follows after the company’s announcement in May that the cabin filter will be
fitted as standard
 in the
 CKD X70
.
For current Proton owners who want to retrofit the N95 Cabin Filter, it’ll cost RM59 excluding labour cost. From now till the 9th of October, Proton is offering a 15% discount for the filter, priced at
 RM50.15
. As for the X70, the N95 Cabin Filter costs RM79 but from now till 18th of August, there’s a 15% discount for it, at
 RM67.15
 excluding labour.
The N95 Cabin Filter can remove 95% of particles larger than 0.3 microns and can remove 98% of PM2.5 dust particles. It serves a barrier against smoke particulates, dust, bacteria and other pollutants for both fresh and recirculated air in the cabin.
For the
latest price list of Proton vehicles
 following the Sales Tax Announcement, click here.


JPJ to provide free replacements of flood-damaged documents nationwide

The Road Transport Department Malaysia (JPJ) has initiated various forms of assistance and relief to vehicle owners that have been affected by the last week’s flooding disaster.
Vehicle owners who have their documents lost or destroyed by the floods can get them replaced for free. The JPJ has listed three important documents which qualify for this initiative: Vehicle Ownership Certificate (VOC), driving licence and the road tax slip or Lesen Kenderaan Motor (LKM).
Source: Twitter/
JPJMalaysia
Document owners will need to personally be at any JPJ offices to replace damaged items. Meanwhile, for documents that are destroyed or missing, owners will need to provide a copy of the Police Report or Disaster Victim Registration Form by the District Office or Department of Social Welfare Malaysia as evidence.
Meanwhile, vehicle owners who are aiding victims in various humanitarian efforts will be given greater liberty in terms of enforcement from the JPJ. Private vehicles such pick-up trucks have been seen providing various aid measures and as well as the story of ‘
Abang Viva
’ who travelled from Malacca to Shah Alam and then Pahang to help victims, whilst having a raft tied up on the roof of his Perodua Viva.
RELATED: Only five days left to pay off your JPJ summonses at up to 80% off
The department also mentioned ongoing assistance by its officers, such as the
JPJ Selangor
 team handing out cooked meals to victims in Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam, coordinating the movement at the relief centres as well as cleaning works at affected districts around the state.
“JPJ and all our staff also pray that the flood victims are given strength and facilitated in their affairs,” the statement ended.


2021 Perodua ‘D55L’ SUV now open for booking – est. RM73k for top spec!

Here it is, at long last! After months of speculations and spy shots, Perodua has now announced that the highly-anticipated ‘D55L’ SUV is now open for booking in Malaysia.
Most details are still under wraps, and that includes the name; the SUV is still now referred to by its ‘D55L’ codename. But what we do know is that the
Daihatsu Rocky-based
 B-segment SUV will be offered in three variants – X, H, AV – with prices estimated to range between
RM62,500 to RM73,400
 on the road, without insurance, and inclusive of
sales tax exemptions
.
The Toyota Raize in Japan.
The D55L will be Perodua’s first turbocharged vehicle. Although no further details have been provided (aside from the fuel consumption figure of 18.9 km/l), it’s not hard to infer that this is in reference to the 1.0-litre turbocharged three-potter found on the Daihatsu Rocky and
Toyota Raize
.
The 1KR-VET 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine makes
98 hp
 and
140 Nm
of torque, and will be paired to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) – also a first for Perodua, who has been opting for the tried-and-tested four-speed torque-converter auto on all of its recent models.
Daihatsu Rocky, first shown off at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show.
Also mentioned in the press release is the inclusion of Perodua’s Advanced Safety Assist (ASA) suite, which has been updated with higher operating speeds, and is also now capable of detecting motorbikes and cyclists.
Lane Departure Warning and Prevention will be standard across all variants, while the Perodua D55L’s range-topping AX variant will be fitted with Lane Keep Control, Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Adaptive Cruise Control – which means the D55L will also be the cheapest car on sale here in Malaysia to feature
Level 2 Autonomous Driving
!
Hopefully we’ll also see the inclusion of
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
 connectivity!
There are plenty of toys for Perodua’s new flagship offerring too, including LED headlamps, which will be standard across, while the two higher variants – H and AV – will also get Adaptive Driving Beam, a seven-inch TFT multi-info display in the instrument cluster, as well as a nine-inch touchscreen infotainment system with voice recognition.
As for colours, the X and H variants will be offered with Glittering Silver, Granite Grey and Cobalt Blue, with the mid-spec H also available in Pearl Diamond White and Pearl Delima Red. The range-topping AV meanwhile, will have the choice of Glittering Silver, Granite Grey, Pearl Diamond White and Pearl Delima Red, plus a two-tone (black) roof option for the latter two pearl colours.
As standard, the Perodual ‘D55L’ SUV will be offered with a five-year/150,000 km warranty.
That’s about all the information that have been provided – everything else will have to wait for the official launch, which is rumoured to happen sometime next month. We’ll of course be bringing you the latest coverage when more information is made available, but what do you think of Perodua’s upcoming flagship model so far?


Gallery: Ford Ranger Raptor X – Same same, but different

Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) has just unveiled a new special edition model to the Ford Ranger Raptor, called the
Ranger Raptor X
. But if you’re just reading the spec sheet, you’d think that there were basically no changes on this special edition model, aside from the very red paint job.
And you aren’t wrong – the new features added onto the Raptor X are not headline makers, but they are certainly welcome additions on a vehicle in this day and age, and especially on a humongous pick-up truck, priced north of RM200,000.
But let’s back up for a moment and talk about the paint job. It’s called
True Red
, and from our time with it, looks to be quite a flat red hue, instead of a metallic colour. The new Ford Ranger Raptor X is only offered exclusively with this paint job, but we aren’t complaining – we think that it actually suits the aggressive appearance of the race-ready pick-up truck pretty well. But just between you and me, I’d still pick the Ford Performance Blue.
To go along with the new shiny red suit, the Ranger Raptor X also gets
variant-exclusive decals
around the rear.
Otherwise, the exterior is pretty much unchanged from the regular Ranger Raptor, which was
just updated here last April
. Exterior highlights include the new automatic LED headlights with square-shaped projector units, chunky bumpers with proper steel bash plates, as well as the 17-inch wheels wrapped with massive 33-inch tyres to fill in the flared fenders.
The rest of the new additions on this special edition model are all found on the inside, which are the
Kenwood dual-channel (front and rear) QHD dashcam
 with built-in polarising filter and 32 GB microSD card, alongside a
360-degree surround view monitor
 – the latter particularly useful on a huge chunk of metal like the Ranger Raptor.
Tying up the Ranger Raptor X looks are the variant-exclusive carpet floor mats. But aside from that, the rest of the cabin is pretty much bog-standard from the regular Ranger Raptor, down to the blue-coloured accent stitching on the seats, dashboard, and steering wheel. Wouldn’t it be way cooler to have these in red, to go along with the new exterior paint job?
Also unchanged are all of the mechanical bits underneath the bonnet – the new Ford Ranger Raptor X is also powered by the same 2.0-litre bi-turbo four-cylinder diesel mill, making 213 hp and 500 Nm of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels via the 10-speed automatic gearbox.
But more importantly on the Ranger Raptor are the Fox Racing Shox dampers, coil springs on the rear axles, as well as the terrain management system with the sand-dune-racing-ready Baja mode – all of which are also still present here.
Safety kit also remains identical, which since the update on April 2020, now includes advanced driver assistance features such as autonomous emergency braking, as well as lane-keeping assist.
The new Ford Ranger Raptor X is priced at
RM216,888
 on the road, without insurance, making it RM6,000 higher than the regular Ranger Raptor. Included in the price is a five-year/160,000 km manufacturer’s warranty, whichever comes first.
Liking what you’re seeing?
GALLERY


Throwback Thursday: C 36 AMG, the first child of Mercedes-Benz & AMG

Whether it was your parents, your relatives, your friend’s parents or even your neighbour, it’s almost impossible to not know someone who owned the Mercedes-Benz W202 C-class in the 1990s.
Introduced as the replacement for the Mercedes-Benz 190E, the first generation of the W202 C-Class debuted in 1993 with smoother lines and rounder edges. It was so successful that Mercedes-Benz went on to sell more than a million units from the year 1993 up until production ended in 2000.
The W202 C-Class also marked the beginning of a new naming system where Mercedes-Benz started using letters before numbers i.e. C 200 unlike the 190 E it replaced but we’re not looking at just any W202 C-Class model but instead, the mighty C 36 AMG.
Built to challenge the BMW E36 M3, it was the first project between Mercedes-Benz and AMG and the first mass production model in the  history of their collaboration.
The C 36 AMG was based on the C 280, with extensive engine and chassis upgrades. Opting out from the C 280’s 2.8-litre straight-six, a 3.2-litre straight-six engine from the W124 E 320 was adopted instead. Engine capacity was then increased from 3.2-litre to 3.6-litre with increased bore and stroke.
Other significant upgrades included forged pistons from Mercedes’ DTM race cars, ported cylinder head, reprogrammed valve timing, larger air intakes and exhaust. Mercedes-Benz and AMG were not mucking about with this car.
As a result, the engine made around
280 hp
 with
 385 Nm
 of torque – nearly 40 hp more than the E36 M3 – deployed through a 4-speed automatic transmission. AMG later on claimed that engine output varied between 280 hp to 290 hp as they were hand-built.
With a significant power advantage over its M3 counterpart, 0 to 100 km/h was done in 5.9 seconds, while the equivalent E36 M3 sedan with an automatic transmission could only manage around 6.6 seconds, according to MotorTrend magazine’s review.
Top speed was electronically-limited to just 250 km/h but when de-restricted, word is that the C 36 AMG could hit the 280 km/h mark.
After a little digging through the Internet’s archives on how the C 36 AMG felt behind the wheel,  Road & Track magazine claimed that the C 36 AMG had “reasonable punch in a straight line and good ride and stable feel through the corners”.
In optimising the C 36 AMG, Mercedes-Benz did not shy from cherry-picking the best components from other Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The front brakes for example, were taken over from the R129 SL 600 while those at the back were from the W124 E 420.
It even had the same AMG Monoblock wheel design from the SL 500 and while the suspension setup remained unchanged, the springs and dampers were stiffened along with the use of custom anti-roll bars.
As a result, the car sat more than 20mm lower than the standard model and handled with the poise of a sportscar without compromising the comfort of a refined saloon.
Inside, it was probably unlike anything anyone had ever seen in the early 1990s. The C 36 AMG had a dual-tone AMG steering wheel, an AMG instrument cluster, powered seats, a moonroof, cruise control and a Bose sound system.
In the European models, it came with trims that mimic the carbon fibre weave, while over in the US, the C 36 AMG wore walnut trims. Either way, both would struggle to live up to the standards of today’s elderly.
By early 1997, more than 5,000 units of the C 36 AMG were delivered to customers and by the end of the same year, the C 36 AMG was superseded by the C 43 AMG, the first C-class to be fitted with a (4.3-litre) V8 engine, paired with a 5-speed gearbox. Only 5,200 units of the C 36 AMG were ever built.
In 1996, the C 36 AMG even started a legacy that has continued up to this very day when it began playing the official safety car role in Formula 1.
You may know Mercedes-AMGs to be the cream of Daimler AG’s crop now but it wasn’t until 1999 that the Stuttgart group acquired a majority stake in AMG and since 2005, Mercedes-AMG has been wholly-owned by Daimler.


Final teaser of new facelift Perodua Myvi showcases lane-keeping feature

It is just over 48 hours before Perodua fully unveils the 2021 Perodua Myvi facelift and the company is still very keen on keeping the new hatchback in our minds.
In what seems to be the fourth and final teaser clip of the new Myvi, the
Lane Keep Control (LKC)
 system under the topic of Intelligent Safety is being showcased. The new Myvi in Cranberry Red (an exclusive colour for the facelifted AV variant) is seen to be veering to the broken lines, only to be tugged back into the centre of the lane in the latest short clip.

As mentioned in the
earlier teaser
 image featuring the new steering wheel, the facelifted Perodua Myvi will also feature Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) that works in conjunction with the Lane Keep Control to offer
Level 2 semi-autonomous driving
 capability (adjusting distance and even curve around bends at 60 km/h and above), all under the umbrella of Perodua Smart Drive Assist (PSDA).
As such, the new model sees a jump in retail pricing, now ranging from
RM45,700 to RM58,800
. Currently, all Perodua Myvi models bar the 1.3 G variants offers
Advanced Safety Assist 2.0
 comprising of Pre-collision Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Front Departure Alert and Pedal Misoperation Control.
Apart from these advanced assistance systems, the PSDA suite and A.S.A 3.0 in the larger
Perodua Ativa
 also offer automatic high beam function. The new facelifted Myvi looks set to have this feature as the new instrument panel has the icon illuminated, as well as a new headlamp design that houses segmented LED units. LED DRLs are meanwhile fitted vertically in a slim casing below the new headlamps.
Inside, the dashboard is treated with red surrounds on the air-conditioning vents as well as
two-tone leather seats
. The touchscreen infotainment system also looks like a larger set compared to the outgoing unit.
The new Perodua Myvi is set to be fully unveiled on
November 18th at 9:00 P.M
. and will be broadcast live on Perodua’s
Facebook
 and
Youtube
 pages. Check out the promotional
website
 to watch all four teaser clips of the new Perodua Myvi.
GALLERY


New Nissan Navara PRO-4X storms into Malaysia – official launch on April 16!

The “Mother Trucker” is back in Malaysia – or so says Edaran Tan Chong Motors (ETCM), with the introduction of the new Nissan Navara PRO-4X that was previewed to the media today. The new range-topping pick-up truck will officially launch on the
16th of April
alongside all other variants, where pricing will be announced.
Bearing a
radical new design
, and especially so on the PRO-4X variant, you probably wouldn’t know that this is actually a facelift model if we didn’t tell you so. Up front, the PRO-4X gets a new distinctive fascia, characterised by the new quad-LED projector headlights with C-shaped daytime running lights, as well as the new humongous ‘Interlock’ grille.
A chunky black surrounds the grille, where it also features the ‘NAVARA’ script across the top, while the Nissan logo is blacked-out on this PRO-4X variant, contrasted by orange accents that are littered throughout the entire exterior.
Other exterior features include new LED fog lamps, now housed in a squared-off cut-out on the bumper; 17-inch wheels in gloss black; blacked-out fender flares, door handles, door mirrors, roof rails, and side steps; as well as the new LED combination tail lamps at the back with C-shaped light signature.
Moving inside, while the overall dashboard architecture remains the same from before, the new Navara facelift does get some significant upgrades to its kit, including a new analogue instrument cluster with a full-colour seven-inch multi-info display, and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
Nissan says that they have significantly improved the quietness and comfort in the cabin, thanks to new noise-isolation acoustic laminated glass on the windshield and front windows, as well as new rear seats with improved thigh support and curved backrest (alongside new centre armrest).
The new Nissan Navara PRO-4X is also equipped with a new multi-link rear suspension with a dual-rate coil spring – the latter reduces “body toss” by up to 33%, while improving vehicle stability, ride comfort, and road handling to be “on par with SUVs”.
In terms of safety, the new Navara PRO-4X is equipped with the Nissan Intelligent Mobility advanced driver assistance suite, which includes features such as forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning, Intelligent Moving Object Detection, Intelligent Driver Alertness, as well as High Beam Assist.
When the drivetrain is put into the four-wheel low mode, the Intelligent Around View Monitor (I-AVM) automatically switches on into an off-road mode, to help the driver navigate tough terrains easily.
Underneath the sheet metal, the new Navara PRO-4X is powered by the same YD25 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel mill, making
190 hp
 and
450 Nm
 of torque. The powertrain is paired to a seven-speed automatic transmission with manual mode.
Although the powertrain is unchanged, the new Navara does come equipped with a new electronic locking rear differential to help push the pick-up truck out of tricky conditions, as well as a new Trailer Sway Assist system to help maintain vehicle driving direction through the electronically-controlled braking.
For more serious pick-up truck workloads, the new Navara PRO-4X’s truck bed comes with a new Utili-Track Channel system with two channels and four heavy-duty forged aluminium cleats that lock anywhere along the channel, giving you more versatility in tying down your heavy cargos. On that note, the payload of the new Nissan Navara has also been improved to
1.1 tonnes
.
The Nissan Navara PRO-4X will be available in four exterior colours: Stealth Grey, Burning Red, Pearl White, and Black Star; the first three are brand-new colours for the pick-up truck.
Official launch is currently scheduled for the 16th of April, where a six-variant line-up will be introduced here in Malaysia.
GALLERY


Who else thinks the new Nissan Note e-Power NISMO S looks awesome?

Remember the Nissan Note e-Power NISMO launched back in 2016? Nissan has just dropped a new “NISMO S” variant – not just adding more syllables to name but more power and sportiness to one of Japan’s best-selling car.
With over
 130 hp
 and
320 Nm
 of torque, it’s got
 25% more power and torque
 than the Note e-POWER NISMO courtesy of custom tuning of the electronic control unit along with increased electrical output among the significant upgrades.
The outside is furnished with custom NISMO S badges, 16-inch wheel aluminium wheels, custom tail pipes and LED headlights. With all that power, a lot of attention has been given to the underpinnings of the car.
It sits on a set of custom suspension, strengthened front stabilisers, front and rear cross bars for structural enhancements.
Inside, you wouldn’t miss the outstanding custom suede sport seats with a NISMO logo and red stitching, a custom e-POWER meter, custom footrest and aluminum pedals.
IMAGE GALLERY


You can now watch your Volkswagen being serviced from home!

Volkswagen customers can now book their service appointments from the comforts of their homes with the new
Online Service Booking
. It’s available on both desktop and mobile, where customers get to select their preferred dealership, date, and time. They will only be required to key in their vehicle details and once done, an aftersales advisor will be in touch to confirm the service appointment booking.
Another new digital service is the
Service Cam
, allowing owners the freedom to not be at the service centre when their cars are being attended to. A sales advisor will share a detailed walkthrough video of the vehicle while also recommending the necessary parts replacements.
The

Service Cam merely serves to
highlight areas of the car not covered in the scheduled service maintenance
. Upon reviewing it, customers can decide whether to proceed with the parts replacement.
Service Cam further complements Volkswagen’s
#safehands
 contactless initiatives as the customer only needs to drop off their key, confirm vehicle acceptance, and undergo
 5-Star Service Check
 digitally.
Any additional repair work needed is sent via video to the customer
, together with an e-quotation so that the customer can make an informed decision.
Once the vehicle is ready, any explanation of the invoice followed by the vehicle handover will also be done via Service Cam. The customer will be able to make an electronic payment and collect the vehicle.
Other on-going promotions at Volkswagen includes a
Repair Package
 for vehicles older than five years. The package offers owners up to RM1,394 savings on shock absorbers and up to RM992 savings on brakes. Available packages are for front absorbers, rear absorbers, front and rear brakes.
Not only are the main parts changed, but other relevant component parts such as nuts and bolts, are replaced to ensure better performance and safety as per the manufacturer repair process. These genuine parts are accompanied by a 2-year warranty for customer’s peace of mind.


First Drive: Kia Grand Carnival 2.2 CRDi, the MPV contender to look out for

The first-generation Kia Carnival or Naza Ria as most of us are familiar with, was one of the first premium MPVs available in the Malaysian market in early 2000’s. The full-sized MPV made its way to many homes as the mum mobile and a very well-rounded weekend family mover.
Whether its ferrying the kids to football practise or picking up the in-laws in one go, the Carnival was the
perfect family car
. Unfortunately, its popularity was short lived due to its poor reliability and terribly low resale value. It also didn’t help that consumers were turning to parallel importers that had plenty more to offer.
Unsurprisingly, Naza Kia Malaysia (NKM) skipped the second-generation Kia Grand Carnival altogether in favour of other higher volume sellers. Fast forward to 2017, the Grand is back with the
recently launched third-generation Kia Grand Carnival
. We joined NKM for a relaxing afternoon in Janda Baik to celebrate the return of the Grand Carnival to the Malaysian market and here is what we learnt from our short stint in it.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Kia Grand Carnival 2.2 CRDi KX
Kia Grand Carnival 2.2 CRDi EX
Engine
2,199cc; Common Rail Direct Injection VGT turbodiesel
Transmission
6-speed automatic
Max Power
190 hp @ 3,800 rpm
Max Torque
440 Nm @ 1,750 – 2,750 rpm
Price (OTR with insurance)
RM165,888
RM185,888
THE MID-SPEC KX IS MORE THAN ENOUGH
Our drive began in the
mid-spec KX
, seemingly bummed out that we won’t get to start our day in the most expensive and luxurious EX trim. However, after getting comfortable in the back seat of the mid-spec Grand Carnival, I had no qualms about this particular variant. Despite being
RM20k cheaper
 than the EX trim, I find myself fiddling with features that even most competitors don’t have such as rear sunshades, USB charging ports and powered sliding doors on both sides.

The range topping variant does come with extra bells and whistles to play with but I can’t justify the
10 percent jump in price
 for nice to have items such as tri-zone climate control, powered driver seats and the powered tailgate (the manual tailgate is on the lighter end of the scale anyway). Really, the KX has all you need and more but of course, if you’re able to splurge, the EX is certainly a better deal; just remind yourself that you’ll be driving around in that horrendous beige interior.
TURBODIESEL PACKS A HEFTY PUNCH
Propulsion on the Grand Carnival comes from a 2.2-litre Common Rail Direct Injection (CRDi) VGT turbodiesel, the same unit found in the
Sorento CRDi
. In this application, the motor dishes out
190 hp
 and
440 Nm
 of torque, sending drive to the front-wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.
For your everyday commute, the Grand Carnival will pull to highway speeds in a brisk and linear fashion. In town, the gearshifts are smooth and precise while the diesel rattling at idle is negligible and is by
no means unrefined or intrusive
. However, should you exit a toll booth and cheekily hit the pedal to the floor, all
440 Nm
 of twisting force spins the front wheels from 1,750 rpm, causing the tyres to squeal for grip. Did I mention its frugal too?
IT HANDLES WELL FOR AN MPV
To give credit where its due, the engineers at Kia has done an exceptional job in the
 ride dynamics department
 for the Grand Carnival, achieving optimal balance between handling prowess and ride comfort. Snaking along the twisty Karak Highway, the large MPV was able to hold its ground fantastically with
 minimal body roll
. Driving through the jarring roads of Klang Valley, the Grand Carnival absorbs all the undulations without complaints. Bear in mind that its running on 18-inch alloys.
Interestingly, Kia has opted for a
hydraulic steering set up
 as opposed to an electronic module. Now if you think that a hydraulic steering is going to send superior road feedback to your palms, you’d be disappointed. Kia has deliberately tuned the steering towards the numb end of the spectrum for better comfort on longer journeys without having to hang onto a heavy and overly sensitive steering wheel.
ITS SPACIOUS BEYOND COMPREHENSION
Measuring at 5,115 mm in length, 1,740 mm in height and 1,985 mm in width the Grand Carnival’s dimensions dwarfs the likes of
Toyota Alphard
 and
Vellfire
. The designers at Kia have maximised every inch of its 3,060 mm wheelbase to create
lounge-like comfort
 for every passenger. Even with three adults side by side in third row, there was no rubbing of shoulders or fighting for space in the footwell.
What is more impressive is the available legroom and kneeroom for second and third row occupants. Despite sliding the second-row bench all the way back, an average height adult can still be accommodated in the third row comfortably without his knees rubbing the seats. All that with
960 litres
 of boot space to spare.
SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE?
It is in fact a great value deal if you’re shopping for an upmarket MPV, the only thing that you need to really consider is whether you have parking space that fits a five-meter long MPV and the unflattering beige interior. All things considered, the Grand Carnival is a closer competitor to the Alphard/Vellfire duo than it is to the similarly priced
Hyundai Grand Starex
.
Overall, the Grand Carnival is a proper luxury MPV that punches well above its weight. Couple that with a full suite of safety features such as six airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, ESC, hill-start assist, front parking sensors and ISOFIX mounting points, it’s easy to understand why it’s moving out of dealerships by the dozens.
If you’re considering a reconditioned MPV from the grey market for below RM200k, perhaps you should pay a visit to your nearest Kia showroom and see for yourself what this fully-imported Kia Grand Carnival has to offer. Besides, no used car dealer is going to offer you a 5-Year unlimited mileage warranty package, smart financing package and Kia Value 5 Plus that guarantees the resale value of the vehicle.
IMAGE GALLERY
KIA GRAND CARNIVAL MEDIA DRIVE

Kia Grand Carnival 2.2 CRDi EX

Kia Grand Carnival 2.2 CRDi KX


All Volkswagen Group vehicles will soon share the same EV platform and software

Volkswagen Group currently has five different vehicle architectures in its stable, but the automotive giant is looking to slim their offerings down to using only two, and eventually just one electric platform moving forward. The announcement was made yesterday as part of Volkswagen’s New Auto product plan for the next 10 years, as the carmaker shifts towards electrification.

“We set ourselves a strategic target to become global market leader in electric vehicles – and we are well on track. Now we are setting new parameters,” said Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess during the presentation. “Based on software, the next much more radical change is the transition towards much safer, smarter and finally autonomous cars. That means for us: Technology, speed and scale will matter more than today.”
Over the next decade, Volkswagen Group will slowly phase out internal combustion engine platforms like the MQB (
VW Golf
,
Audi A3
), MLB (
Audi A5
,
Lamborghini Urus
), and MSB (
Porsche Taycan
), moving all of its vehicles to the
MEB
 and
PPE
architectures designed for electric cars.
Check out how the Porsche Taycan drives – both on track and on road!
Following that, the company will eventually consolidate everything to just one single platform called the Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), which will rmake its debut in 2026 on a new fully-electric model, reported to be the successor to the Audi A8.
Audi CEO Markus Duesmann said: “Introducing the SSP means leveraging our strengths in platform management and building on our capabilities to maximize synergies across segments and brands. In the long run, our SSP will significantly reduce complexity in mechatronics.”
To run the new EV platforms, Volkswagen has also established a new software division called CARIAD, who will oversee the development of the software stack for all group cars.
Currently, the entity is working on three software platforms: E³ 1.1 will allow for over-the-air upgrades for the MEB product portfolio; E³ 1.2 (in 2023) will include a new unified infotainment system for Audi and Porsche vehicles; and in 2025, E³ 2.0 will include a unified operating system for all vehicles within the Volkswagen Group, alongside level 4 autonomous driving readiness.
VW’s streamlining efforts also include a unified battery cell design for all of its future cars, which is said to reduce costs by 50% over current levels. The batteries will be produced in
 six gigafactories across Europe
, with a production capacity of 240 GWh by 2030.
The company will also be implementing a “closed loop” approach for its batteries, giving them a second life by reusing these spent batteries in other application, and/or recycling them to recuperate raw materials for use in production.
Learn more about Volkswagen’s battery supply plan here.
The group is also setting up charging locations across the board with partnerships from companies such as CAMS in China, Electrify America in the U.S., as well as BP, Iberdrola, and Enel in Europe, to ensure that drivers have access to quick convenient charging.
The last facet of its transitional product plan are new mobility solutions such as the
MOIA robo-taxi service
, scheduled to be launched in Europe by 2025.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles CTO, Christian Senger said, “Together with ARGO AI, we are developing an industry leading self-driving system which will enable us to offer completely new mobility services and autonomous transport services. Volkswagen Group is aiming for a significant market share and additional revenue streams in this important future business.”


Zotye SR8 SUV is a Porsche Macan clone, priced from RM77k!

To coin the term “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” is clearly evident in some Chinese automotive brands. Take for instance Gotye and its new SR8 SUV. It is a carbon copy of the
Porsche Macan
. What’s worse is the Macan lookalike will make its debut at the upcoming Beijing Motor Show!
Judging from the leaked images from Car News China, it’s certain that Zotye made little effort on originality as seen with the SR8’s shape, fascia, bumpers, headlights, roof rails and even the interior. However, instead of the Macan’s quad rounded exhaust, the SR8 gets a quad square exhaust design.
Image Souce: Car News China

The good news is, under the bonnet isn’t a powertrain from Stuttgart. Instead, it’s got a
Mitsubishi-sourced 2.0-litre turbo engine
 that churns
 190 hp
 and
 250 Nm
 of torque mated with either

a
five-speed manual
 or
six-speed dual clutch auto
. For the record, a standard petrol variant Macan is powered by either 249 hp 2.0-litre turbocharged unit or a 400 hp 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo lump.
Being a clone with a much less powerful engine has its benefits, as the
130,000 yuan
 (
RM77,000
 based on today’s rates) Zotye SR8 undercuts the cheapest Macan sold in Malaysia by
RM343,000!
Comparatively, one base Macan can get you the equivalent of five SR8s (all in different colours), but since copyright laws are strict everywhere beyond China, don’t expect to see the SR8 reaching our shores. We don’t, either.
In 2014,  Changan Auto and Jiangling Motors Corporation unveiled the Landwind X7, which was a blatant copy of the Range Rover Evoque. That didn’t take long for Jaguar Land Rover to launch a lawsuit against these companies, but Chinese authorities did nothing to stop that. That probably will hint Porsche to not wasting time with a lawsuit.
IMAGE GALLERY

 Image Souce: Car News China

 Image Souce: Car News China

 Image Souce: Car News China


Volvo S90 T8 PHEV CKD now in Malaysia, 0-100km in 4.8 seconds, from RM369k!

Shortly after Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM)
opened the order books
 for the locally assembled S90 T8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV), the premium executive sedan from Sweden is now available for purchase. As reported earlier, the S90 T8 is decked out in the Inscription line – the highest specification available on a Volvo.
VCM has two variants of the S90 T8 on offer – Inscription and Inscription Plus, priced at RM368,888 and RM388,888, respectively. If you’re unimpressed by the pricing, remember that the entry level
S90 T5 (CBU)
 goes for RM388,888 while its German equivalent, the
Mercedes-Benz E 350 e AMG
 and
BMW G30 530i M Sport
 does not pack
640 Nm
 of twisting force and Volvo’s impressive suite of driver assistance system.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Volvo S90 T8 Inscription
Volvo S90 T8 Inscription Plus
Engine
1,969cc; four-cylinder supercharged and turbocharged
Transmission
8-speed automatic
Max Power
320 hp @ 5,700 rpm
Max Torque
400 Nm @ 2,200 -5,400 rpm
Electric Motor
87 hp & 240 Nm
Combine Output
407 hp & 640 Nm
0 – 100 km/h; Top Speed
4.8 seconds; 250 km/h
Price (OTR without insurance)
RM368,888
RM388,888
EXTERIOR
Decked out in the Inscription trim, the S90 T8 wears Inscription-specific grille, dual exhaust outlets, Inscription badges, additional chrome touches by the side sills, 19-inch ten-spoke diamond cut alloys wrapped in 255/40 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres.

Other standard items include full LED adaptive headlamps with Thor’s Hammer LED daytime running lights and puddle lights. The other way to tell the T8 apart from the T5 & T6 variants is the extra charging outlet cut out on the passenger side front fenders.
INTERIOR
Inside, both the Inscription and Inscription Plus dittos the one on the XC90 T8 Inscription – Nappa leather upholstery, Orrefors Crystal Gearshift Knob, 9.0-inch Sensus touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 12.3-inch TFT Adaptive Display instrument cluster, 10-speakers High Performance Audio System, 360-degree surround view camera, powered tailgate, dual-zone CleanZone automatic climate control, Heads-Up Display and many more.

The Inscription Plus adds on a 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins® Premium Sound Audio System. Curiously both the T8 variants does not come with a powered sunroof as per the fully imported
T6 R-Design
 variant. Boot space is uncompromised at 500 litres.
PERFORMANCE
Like the
XC90 T8
, the S90 T8 is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder supercharged and turbocharged petrol engine paired to an electric motor to give
 407 hp
 and
640 Nm
 of thrust, significantly more than the recently launched
Mercedes-Benz E 350 e
’s
286 hp
/
550 Nm
 output.
The PHEV drivetrain is mated to an
eight-speed automatic transmission
, with the petrol engine sending drive to the front axle while the electric motor drives the rear wheels, effectively making the S90 T8 an
all-wheel drive
 model. In a century sprint, the Volvo will leave its German rivals to eat its dust taking only
4.8 seconds
 to get to the 100 km/h compared to their sluggish time of 6.2 seconds. On full whack the Volvo is electronically limited to 250 km/h.
Getting the battery to full charge from empty takes
3.5 hours
 from a domestic power socket and that is enough to give you a pure electric range of 50 km. Fuel consumption is rated at
2.0 L/100 km
.
On the standard S90 T8 Inscription, it sits on a single-setup Dynamic Chassis while the Inscription Plus gets the more potent
Active Chassis with Air suspension on the rear axle
(just like the XC90) which automatically keeps the rear at the correct level for better comfort.
SAFETY
Safety is where the S90 T8 blows its rivals out of the water. As standard it gets the IntelliSafe which bundles Collision Avoidance with intersection support, Pedestrian, Cyclist &Large Animal Detection, Rear Collision Warning & Mitigations Support, Run-off Road Mitigation, Pilot Assist with steering assistance (up to 130 km/h), Driver Alert Control with Lane Keeping Aid (LKA), Blind Spot Information and Cross Traffic Alert.
WHAT ELSE?
The Volvo S90 T8 PHEV is assembled at VCM’s assembly plant in Shah Alam. Every purchase of the S90 T8 comes with a 5-Year or 120,000 km warranty package as well as five years Volvo on-call service. Early adopters will enjoy a special introductory price of RM348,888 and RM368,888 for the Inscription and Inscription Plus respectively.
IMAGE GALLERY


MINI Minimise Campaign offers 0% interest rates and cash rebates, available on new MINI eShop

In conjunction with the upcoming Raya fesetivities, MINI Malaysia is kicking off the Minimise campaign with a range of attractive offers, including cash rebates and instalment support and zero interest rates on selected MINI models.
Headlining the Minimise campaign is the
MINI Countryman Plug-In Hybrid
, which will be offered with
interest rates starting from 0%
, as well as a
cash rebate of RM16,000,
 and
instalment support of RM5,000
.
New MINI Countryman Plug-in Hybrid owners will also receive a
complimentary MINI Public Charging Cable
, along with a ChargeNow card to enjoy
one-year complimentary charging
 at any of the 309 ChargeNow facilities nationwide.
Aside from the the Mini Countryman PHEV, the Minimise campaign also offers other attractive deals, including
instalment support of RM3,000 to RM5,000
, as well as further c
ash rebates from RM8,000 to RM22,000
 for a wide range of MINI models.
All offers from the Minimise campaign is now available on the MINI eShop, which was also launched today alongside the
BMW Shop Online
. The new eShop will showcase the entire range of the MINI model line-up, where customers can book and purchase right from the comfort of their homes.
The Minimise campaign offers are available now until the
30th of July 2020
, while stocks last. The MINI eShop is available at
www.mini.my/MINIeShop
.


Here’s is how much the Mercedes-AMG A 35 4MATIC costs in the UK

Afflaterbach’s latest entry model, the
Mercedes-AMG A 35 4MATIC
 garnered tremendous fanfare when it first presented itself in September 2018. Now, Mercedes-Benz UK has just announced that the A 35 4MATIC will retail from 35,580 Sterling Pounds.
With that, you’ll get a base A 35 4MATIC with 18-inch five-twin-spoke AMG alloy wheels, high-performance braking system with AMG lettering, AMG exhaust system, MBUX multimedia system with “Hey Mercedes” voice command, 7.0-inch instrument cluster and touchscreen media display, Nappa leather AMG Performance steering wheel, automatic dual-zone climate control, reversing camera, Active Lane Keeping Assist and Speed Limit Assist.

For that proper hot hatch look, the AMG Style package can be added for £2,595 which includes AMG Aerodynamics package with extended front splitters, additional front flics, diffuser blade, gloss back rear wing and 19-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels all painted in gloss black. It also comes with the AMG Night package and heat-insulating dark-tinted glass.
Other feel-good items such as the Multibeam LED headlamps, Widescreen cockpit, 64-colour ambient lighting, keyless entry, Burmester surround sound system, panoramic sunroof, illuminated door sills and Advanced Driver Assist systems can be specified for a price.
With all the bells and whistles checked, you are looking at a grand total of £48,850 (RM260k), yikes. While this does not tell us how much the A 35 4MATIC will cost in Malaysia, but it serves as a good indicator of the price positioning of the baby AMG which is upwards of RM300k.
To recap, the Mercedes-AMG A 35 4MATIC is powered by an uprated M260 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine found in the
A 250
. Output figures are now
306 hp
 and
400 Nm
 paired to a seven-speed AMG Speedshift dual-clutch automatic to drive all four wheels.
Century sprint is done in
4.7 seconds
 with Race Start (launch control) engaged and flat out it will do a top speed of
250 km/h
. To put things into perspective, the baby AMG is almost half a second quicker than the
Volkswagen Golf R
 and a full second quicker than the
Honda Civic Type R
.
IMAGE GALLERY


Allianz Malaysia updates EV fleet with two new Nissan Leafs

Allianz Malaysia has revamped its fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) with two new units of
Nissan Leaf
. The new EVs are a continuation of the company’s green agenda to reduce carbon footprint in terms of business logistics, which first began with its first EV fleet in 2015.
Both units of the Nissan Leaf are leased directly from Edaran Tan Chong Motor for a period of three years, and is available for employee-use.
Welcoming the two new Allianz-branded Nissan Leaf EVs, Allianz Malaysia Chief Executive Officer, Zakri Khir said, “We were shopping around for a new fleet of EV cars and the Nissan LEAF was a great fit for many reasons […] This all bodes well for our green agenda and at the same time, we are looking forward to our employees enjoying a smooth and safe ride on us.”
The second-generation Nissan Leaf was launched here in Malaysia in July 2019. Boasting a
40 kWh battery pack
, the Nissan Leaf is capable of a range of up to
270 km based on the WLTP combined cycle
.
Using the provided 6.6 kW 30-ampere AC home charging cable, the Nissan Leaf charges from empty to 100% in approximately seven hours. A 50 kW quick DC charger meanwhile is capable of topping off a depleted battery in just 50 minutes.

The electric motor at the front axle is rated for an output of
150 hp and 320 Nm
, which translates to a 0-100 km/h time of
7.9 seconds
, onward to a top speed of
155km/h
.
Other standard features on the Nissan Leaf include safety features such as Intelligent Forward Collision and Emergency Braking, Around View Monitor (360-degree view) with Motion Object Detection and Driver Alert warning, as well as the
‘e-Pedal’
, allowing you to drive the EV using only just the accelerator pedal; regenerative braking will be automatically applied once the driver lifts off to charge the battery.
Globally, Nissan has already
delivered more than 500,000 units
 of the Leaf since the model’s inception 10 years ago. Nissan estimates that the Leaf has collectively driven more than 14.8 billion kilometres, and helped prevent more than 2.4 billion kilograms of CO
2
 emissions.
Following the announcement of the sales tax exemptions until the 31st of December, the Nissan Leaf is priced at RM181,263 on the road, without insurance. For the full updated price list of Nissan models in Malaysia, click
here
.


Demand for the all-new Isuzu D-Max increased by 140% in Malaysia compared to its predecessor!

The all-new Isuzu D-Max is proving to be quite the crowd favourite here in Malaysia, with orders for the pick-up truck growing by more than 100% compared to its predecessor, mirroring the model’s success in other regions such as Australia, New Zealand, and
Thailand
.
Since the third-generation D-Max was launched here in Malaysia back in April this year, Isuzu recorded an average booking of over 1,200 units every month. For context, the average monthly bookings for the previous-generation model hovers around the 500 units range.
Find out how the Isuzu D-Max compares against the Toyota Hilux and Mitsubishi Triton!
Isuzu Malaysia attributes the growth in sales to the truck’s new good looks, new and improved features, and the brand’s reputation for reliability. “This all-new D-Max phenomenon that has swept the various markets has been somewhat overwhelming,” said Isuzu Malaysia Chief Operating Officer, Masayuki Suzuki.

The 1.9-litre Premium (Auto) is the most popular variant among new Isuzu D-Max owners, with 36% percent of buyers in Malaysia opting for this variant. Surprisingly, the variant is also particularly popular in Peninsula Malaysia, which chalked up 61% of sales, reversing the traditional 60/40 split where East Malaysia usually absorbs a bigger share of pick-up truck sales.
Check out how the all-new Isuzu D-Max performs in the real world!
Isuzu says that the reason for the variant’s popularity in urban areas boils down to the smaller 1.9-litre engine, which results in a lower road tax.
Meanwhile, the range-topping X-Terrain variant soaked up 17% of the orders. Despite its premium on the road tax front, more than half of all X-Terrain sales have come from the Peninsular, as urban buyers appreciate the addition of the advanced driver assistance systems, and the upmarket and refined cabin of the range-topper.
Here are five things that make the all-new Isuzu D-Max feel more like an SUV than a pick-up!
In fact, the company says that 81% of its new owners have stated that they would utilise their new pick-up trucks for both work and leisure – workhorse truck no more!
“The response to this new model has been extremely positive, considering the limited opportunities prospects have had to fully experience the new model due to the strict movement controls and safety protocols.
“Our current aim is to ensure the smooth, safe and timely delivery of vehicles to our customers despite the various administrative and logistical concerns faced domestically and globally,” added Suzuki.


The Toyota GR Corolla is a mean-looking Type R slayer with rally-bred AWD

It’s been a long and difficult wait (no thanks to all the
rumours and teasers
), but the highly-anticipated Toyota GR Corolla is now finally here, with its sights aimed straight for the
Honda Civic Type R
 and
Volkswagen Gol
f
 R
.
Just as we reported previously, the all-new Toyota GR Corolla will be powered by the same 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine that is also found in the
GR Yaris
, but with power bumped up significantly to
 304 hp
, and a slight nudge in torque to
 370 Nm
.
According to Toyota, the power hike comes primarily from the new triple exit exhaust system, which reduces back pressure and improves exhaust flow, and gives the engine a “more-pleasant extension of RPMs”.
Similar to the GR Yaris, the engine is also paired to a six-speed intelligent manual transmission (iMT) here on the all-new Toyota GR Corolla, with power sent to all four wheels via a reworked GR-Four all-wheel drive system. No performance figures have been provided just yet, but we’re expecting the century sprint to take somewhere around the neighbourhood of five seconds.
Toyota will also be offering a Circuit Edition model for the GR Corolla, which adds a pair of Torsen limited-slip differentials to help increase grip during and out of corners.
RELATED: ‘Drift King’ test drives Toyota GR Yaris on hill climb, uncovers weaknesses
While the GR Yaris took on a more radical look compared to the base Yaris it’s based on, the GR Corolla here does stick more to the script of the regular Corolla Hatchback in terms of looks, with only a slight increase in track width both front and rear (60 mm and 85 mm respectively).
Despite that though, Toyota says that the car’s body has been “specially constructed” for the GR Corolla, with new braces, structural adhesives, and welds to significantly increase the car’s body rigidity, all while without compromising on the strength and safety of the car.
The bonnet and front body panels are also made out of aluminium to save weight, and if you opt for the Circuit Edition, the Toyota GR Corolla even comes with a forged carbon fibre roof for even more weight savings.
As for looks, the all-new Toyota GR Corolla retains the same aggressive recipe as seen on the GR Yaris, with a massive gaping front grille, vertical side air intakes, widened fenders, a massive wing at the rear, 18-inch alloy wheels that hide the red aluminium calipers and slotted discs, plus a unique rear bumper that houses the triple-exit exhaust system – two circular tips on the sides, and one pill-shaped exit in the middle.
ALSO READ: Toyota GR Supra gets decked out with carbon fibre on new A91-CF Limited Edition
The interior of the Toyota GR Corolla is also matched with several motorsports-inspired tweaks, including the leather-trimmed GR steering wheel and seats, as well as aluminium pedals. Uniquely, the GR model also ditches the electronic parking brakes from the base Corolla in favour of a mechanical parking brake, which disconnects the rear axle when activated to allow for more angular slides while drifting.
The GR Corolla will be built in the same Motomachi plant in Japan as the GR Yaris, and will be the first Toyota GR model to be sold in the United States – although, word on the grapevine is that it’ll also be offered in other global markets at a later date. No pricing has been announced yet, but sales in Japan will start in the second half of the year.
GALLERY


Up to RM4k savings for the Volkswagen Passat Elegance, this weekend only!

Volkswagen dealerships across the country will be hosting a special sales event for the Passat Elegance this weekend on the 10th and 11th October 2020, from 11 am to 5 pm. In addition to just the brick and mortar stores, the sales event will also be happening virtually on the respective dealerships’ own social media channels.
The dealerships will be hosting their own Facebook Live stream, where sales consultants will provide detailed introduction and walkthroughs of the various models on sale. Customers can send in their questions and interact directly with the sales consultants, from the comfort and safety of their own homes.
During the event, an additional RM2,000 rebate will be offered on the entire Passat range – including the

Elegance
,
United
, and the upcoming
R-Line
 – and will be applicable on top of any existing ongoing rebates. In the case of the Passat Elegance, this adds up to a total of RM4,000 in rebates.
As for the other Volkswagen models, a RM1,000 rebate (on top of other ongoing rebates) will also be offered for the
Vento
,
Golf R-Line
,
Tiguan
as well as the recently launched
Tiguan Allspace R-Line
 and Highline, and the
Arteon R-Line
.
The
Volkswagen Passat Elegance
 was launched locally early this year, sporting a refreshed exterior design and a new 2.0-litre TSI turbocharged engine, good for
 190 hp
and
320 Nm
of torque, paired to seven-speed wet-clutch dual clutch transmission.
The
United limited edition
 meanwhile adds on RM12k worth of Volkswagen Original Accesories to the Passat, including 19-inch Verona wheels with a self-centering hub caps, LED projection door lights, and aluminium scuff plates.
The soon-to-be-launched
Passat R-Line
 gains additional sporty exterior trims including the R-Line bumpers, as well as several mechanical upgrades such as the Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) and Electronic Differential Lock (XDS) for a sportier driving experience, though powertrain remains the same as the Elegance.