TotalEnergies and Li-Ning launch first 3v3 badminton tournament in Malaysia

TotalEnergies and Li-Ning have just launched the very first official 3v3 badminton tournament in Malaysia – the 3v3 TotalEnergies x Li-Ning Cup. This tournament is the first 3v3 badminton tournament that both companies are co-organizing in Southeast Asia. The 3v3 badminton tournament is also mainly targeted towards non-professional badminton players in Malaysia, in hopes of discovering new badminton talent.
The 3v3 TotalEnergies x Li-Ning Cup 2023 will be kickstarting its first match in Kuala Lumpur on
September 15
,
2023
. The second match will be held in Johor, followed by Penang, and Sarawak. Winners from each state will then compete in a grand finale on
November

18
 and
19
,
2023
 in Kuala Lumpur.
There are a total of four categories available for the 3v3 badminton tournament. This includes:
Men’s Team with two age groups – under 30 and above 30 years old
Mixed Open Team with at least one female player
Mixed Fun Team with at least one player under 15 years of age
There will be a RM300 registration fee per time with goodies worth RM900 in value given to the teams. Additionally, there is a total of RM338,800 worth of prizes to be won by the winners of the 3v3 TotalEnergies x Li-Ning Cup badminton tournament. However, only Malaysian citizens are eligible to participate in the badminton tournament. National or professional players who have participated in international tournaments sanctioned by Badminton Asia and Badminton World Federation (BWF) within the past five years (2018 till 2023) are also not eligible to participate in the tournament.
The launch ceremony of the 3v3 TotalEnergies x Li-Ning Cup badminton tournament was officiated by the Director of Sunlight Sports Sdn Bhd, Dato Sri Sam Soh, together with Managing Director of TotalEnergies Marketing Malaysia, Jennifer Li, Business Development Head of Li-Ning Malaysia, Simon Soh, Assistant General Manager of IOI City Mall, Wilfred Wong, as well as former badminton legend Tan Boon Heong. Goh Liu Ying and Janice Woon also graced the event as key supporters of the 3v3 TotalEnergies x Li-Ning Cup.
Jennifer Li said, “Badminton is a well-loved sport in Malaysia and we are excited to introduce a new avenue to further grow the badminton culture here. As a trusted brand in lubricants and mobility solutions, we are committed to driving excellence in performance, precision and endurance. Badminton shares these same attributes, and we look forward to fostering these admirable traits together.”
Creative Group and Retail Head of Li-Ning Malaysia, Teah Yann Ling said, “3V3 badminton may be relatively new in Malaysia, but it’s already a massive hit in China. This fast-paced and thrilling game offers an incredible opportunity for players of any skill level or gender to participate.”
Teah added, “We are excited to join forces with TotalEnergies to bring people from all walks of life to enjoy the game and connect in a meaningful way.”
Prior to this, the TotalEnergies Li-Ning Lo Yongbo Cup 3v3 Badminton Tournament is a popular series in China. The series has been played in more than 20 cities across the country each year since 2017.
TotalEnergies is also the title sponsor, as well as the Official Energies Partner and Official Lubricants Partner of BWF Major Championships. This includes the BWF World Championships, BWF Thomas Cup Finals, and BWF Sudirman Cup Finals.
Most recently in Korea, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed by TotalEnergies’ joint venture company S-OIL TotalEnergies Lubricants Co., Ltd to be an official partner of the Badminton Korea Association and a sponsorship partner of international badminton games held in Korea. These will be organized by BWF and hosted by Badminton Korea Association. For more information regarding the tournament, or to register for the 3v3 TotalEnergies x Li-Ning Cup 2023, do visit Li-Ning’s website.


New Mazda 3 awarded full 5-Star Euro NCAP rating, 98% for adult occupant [+Video]

The all-new Mazda 3 was
recently subjected to the Euro NCAP crash safety assessment and it was awarded full
5-Stars from the organisation under the new, more stringent 2018 Euro NCAP
crashworthiness ratings.
The Mazda 3 scored a
remarkable 98% in the Adult Occupant category with maximum points for frontal
full width impact, and both car and pole side impacts. Mazda’s i-Activsense
advanced driving assistance systems, particularly the Smart Brake Support (autonomous
emergency braking) avoided collisions in all scenarios, scoring full marks in Low
Speed tests.

In the Child Occupant,
Vulnerable Road User (Pedestrian Safety) and Safety Assist category, the Mazda
3 scored 87%, 81% and 73% respectively – all of which are above the average scores.
The Mazda 3 lost some points in the AEB night time and cyclist crossing
scenarios, achieving adequate to marginal rating.
We recently got acquainted with the new Mazda 3 in Singapore and discovered some
interesting facts
 about the sleek, premium sedan. Hopefully, it won’t be long before we see them running around on Malaysian roads.
IMAGE GALLEY
Mazda 3 Hatchback


Tengku Zafrul: Gov has no intention to phase out AP system despite Tesla direct imports

Despite allowing
Tesla
 to sell its cars directly in Malaysia, the Malaysian government has no intention of abolishing the Approve Permit (AP) system for imported vehicles. This was confirmed by MITI Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul to reporters during the recent
Global Investors & Vendors Convention 2023
 in Kuala Lumpur.
In Malaysia, there is the Franchise AP and Open AP which are both issued by MITI. Franchise AP is given out for free to franchise holders of car brands registered with MITI while Open Aps are sold to parallel importers at RM10,000 per piece to import secondhand cars of any brand into the country (except for cars from Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore). There are also private APs that are given for free to Malaysians who work or study abroad.
The entry of Tesla into Malaysia may change how car sales are done in Malaysia. With a direct-to-consumer approach, Tesla bypasses Bumiputera intermediaries. Although the government has set the precedent that this is now allowed, it has no intention of phasing out the AP system, at least according to the MITI Minister.
Tesla is set to host the launch of its Model Y in Malaysia on July 20, 2023, and bookings are already open for the car. Prices of the Model Y start at RM199,000 for the base variant without options. The price is already inclusive of the usual taxes.
RELATED:
Tesla Model Y open for bookings in Malaysia – from RM199k, extra RM32k for FSD
Brands like Tesla, Smart, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo are already changing how we buy cars – Tesla with its online ordering system, Smart claiming “buying a car is as easy as buying pizza”, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia with its newly introduced agency model for the Malaysian market, and Volvo Car Malaysia with its online e-commerce platform. The dealer model for car sales is certainly changing. As for the AP system, it is here to stay, at least for now.
RELATED:
Tesla to set up HQ, flagship showroom and service centre in Selangor this year


Let us welcome the Lexus LS to Malaysia, 3 variants from RM799k

Shortly after
accepting orders
 for the fifth-generation Lexus LS, Lexus Malaysia has officially introduced their flagship sedan here in Malaysia. Exclusively produced at Lexus factory in Tahara, Japan, the luxury limousine does not come with a price advantage against the locally assembled
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
 and
BMW 7 Series
.
All three variants of the LS –
LS 500
 Luxury, LS 500 Executive and
LS 500h
 Executive sits on Lexus’ new Global Architecture – Luxury (GA-L) platform that will underpin all future rear-wheel-drive models, the new limousine measures at 5,235 mm in length, 1,450 mm in height and 1,900 mm in width with a wheelbase of 3,125 mm, 33 mm longer than the previous-gen long-wheelbase version!
QUICK FACTS
Name
Lexus LS 500 Luxury
Lexus LS 500 Executive
Lexus LS 500h Executive
Engine
3,445cc; twin-turbocharged V6
3,456cc; V6 hybrid
Transmission
10-speed automatic
Multi Stage Hybrid
Max Power
415 hp @ 6,000 rpm
295 hp @ 6,600 rpm
Max Torque
600 Nm @ 1,600 – 4,800 rpm
350 Nm @ 5,100 rpm
Electric Motor Output
–
176 hp & 300 Nm
Combined Ouput
–
354 hp
0 – 100 km/h; Top Speed
5 seconds; 250 km/h
5.4 seconds; 250 km/h
Price (OTR without insurance)
RM799,999
RM999,000
RM1,459,000
EXTERIOR
Lexus has reimagined the LS with the tagline “A Flagship Reborn”, taking much of its design cues from the futuristic
LC Coupe
. On the outside, all three variants of the LS are identical with triple beam adaptive LED headlamps with L-Shaped LED daytime running lights, Spindle mesh grille, sequential turn signals, LED taillamps and a powered boot. Standard on the LS are those 20-inch multi-spoke polished alloys wrapped in 245/45 profile tyres. Unfortunately, there will not be an option for the sharp F-Sport.

INTERIOR
Inside, the cabin was inspired by
Omotenashi
, translated to Japanese Hospitality, creating an inviting and luxurious space for passengers and drivers. As standard, the LS is furnished with Art Wood Grain and leather, but Executive variants of the LS have the option for
Kiriko
 glassware – a type of Japanese striking cut glass ornamentation and Hand-pleated Upholstery. How much for the swanky
Kiriko
 glassware you ask?
RM98,000
.
Standard equipment is properly extensive for a luxury limousine – suede headlining, 12.3-inch Electro Multi Vision Display, 24-inch head-up display, quad-zone automatic climate control with Clean Air filter, Lexus Climate Concierge, illuminated entry system, moonroof, vacuum doors, powered sunshades for rear windows and 28-powered adjusted front seats with massage function.

The entry-level Luxury variant gets a 12-speaker Pioneer sound system and 18-way powered rear seats with ventilation function while the more expensive Executive models add on a 23-speaker Mark Levinson surround sound system, 22-way powered rear seats with Ottoman and massage function.
PERFORMANCE
Underneath the LS 500 is a new 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 that develops
415 hp
 and
600 Nm
 of twisting force. All that power is channelled to the rear wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission. Century sprint is done in a blistering
5.0 seconds
 onwards to a top speed of
250 km/h
.
The range-topping
LS 500h hybrid
 variant is motivated by the
Lexus Multi Stage Hybrid System
, a 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V6 Dual VVT-i petrol engine packing
295 hp
 and
350 Nm
 of torque, further assisted by two electric motors with
176 hp
 and
300 Nm
. Transmission employed here is an innovative
Multi Stage Hybrid transmission
 that marries a four-speed automatic with an e-CVT that mimics a shift pattern of a 10-speed gearbox to deliver a linear acceleration that is free from the typical “rubber band” effect. We have detailed this system
here
.
The LS 500h is no slouch too, capable of sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in
5.4 seconds
 and register a restricted top speed of
250 km/h
.
All variants of the LS ride on Adaptive Variable air suspension for exceptional ride quality. Because the new LS is lower than before, the air suspension system features an access function that automatically raises the car’s height by
30 mm
 for better ingress and egress.
SAFETY
As the flagship Lexus model, the LS range is equipped with the full suite of
Lexus Safety System+
 that bundles Pre-Collision System (PCS), Lane Departure Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert, Adaptive High-Beam System and Lane Keep Assist. Other standard equipment includes 12 airbags, Panoramic View Monitor and Blind Spot Monitor.
WHAT ELSE?
There are a total of 11 exterior colours to choose from – Sonic Quartz, Sonic Silver, Sonic Titanium, Manganese Luster, Black, Graphite Black Glass Flake, Red Mica Crystal Shine, Sonic Agate, Sleek Ecru Metallic, Amber Crystal Shine and Deep Blue Mica. Luxury models can choose between Black/Art Wood or Noble Brown/Art Wood interior theme while Executive models have four options – Crimson & Black/
Kiriko
 Glass, Black/
Kiriko
 Glass, Crimson & Black/Art Wood and Black/Art Wood.
IMAGE GALLERY


All-new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV wins Good Design award in Japan

Even though it’s not officially launched yet, the
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
 has already picked up a Good Design award in Japan.
The Good Design Awards is run by the Japanese Institute of Design Promotion, and has been running for over 60 years since its inception in 1957. It remains as the nation’s “sole official design evaluation and awards programme”, so winning it is certainly not an easy feat!
The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV was awarded winner not just based on aesthetics, but also its ample space on the interior – particularly the availability of third-row seating – and an environmental friendly PHEV powertrain.
“The all-new Outlander has undergone a complete platform overhaul and has become a PHEV SUV with a large cabin space that can accommodate a third-row seating. The interior and body designs incorporate a horizontal tone for an enhanced feeling of strength and sharpness,” said one judge.
“Even while offering such a high degree of luxury, road performance, eco-friendliness, and cabin space, Mitsubishi Motors has maintained a reasonable price. SUVs continue to be popular, and we expect the Outlander to be selected by a wide range of users, including people with high environmental awareness.”
The Hyundai Elantra also won a Good Design award in Korea earlier this year! Check it out here.
The all-new Mitsubishi Outlander was unveiled in February this year, initially only with a newly developed 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. The PHEV variant is scheduled to launch in Japan by December this year, with a total driving range of over 700 km (70 km in pure EV mode) thanks to an improved electric motor and larger batteries.
As for looks, the all-new Mitsubishi Outlander is based on the product concept of “
I-Fu-Do-Do
“, which means authentic and majestic in Japanese. The new “Bold Stride” design concept on the exterior expresses a solid and commanding stance on the road, while the interior focuses on quality and touch-and-feel of the materials and colours.
Learn more about the striking all-new Mitsubishi Outlander here.
GALLERY


A Mercedes-Benz EV sports car seems to be coming soon to rival the Porsche Taycan

Earlier this month, Mercedes-Benz announced at an investor conference that it will be launching
 six new electric vehicles
 (EV) under its EQ all-electric sub-brand. Despite the EQ model line-up now ballooning to eight, the German carmaker still isn’t anywhere close to stopping just yet, as
Automotive News
 reports that Mercedes-Benz is plotting an high-performance EV sports car to rival the
 Porsche Taycan
 from across town.
Daimler CEO, Ola Kallenius, while speaking to German publication
Manager Monthly
 dropped significant hints hinting at the arrival of an battery-electric platform for sports cars in the coming years. CFO Harald Wilhelm meanwhile, said on
 Bloomberg TV
 that “[Mercedes-Benz has] a very comprehensive product portfolio, including very attractive sports cars, and sports cars will go electric as well. So stay tuned.”
A
Mercedes-AMG GT
 with no tailpipes?
As far as hints go, it probably doesn’t get anymore clearer than that. It probably would’ve been inevitable given that the industry as a whole is moving towards electrification to comply with emissions standards, and of course to combat the very real ecological problems that the world is facing, but the introduction of the Porsche Taycan probably made it sooner rather than later.
Mercedes-Benz was actually at the forefront of all-electric performance vehicles – as recent as 2013, in fact, with the introduction of the SLS AMG Electric Drive. At a time when the Tesla S Performance – which was barely one-year-old – only made 310 kW (415 hp) and 601 Nm, the Electric Drive SLS boasted an incredible output figure of 552 kW (740 hp) and 1,000 Nm of torque.
The oft-forgotten Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive, arguably the pioneer in ultra high-performance electric vehicles.
Despite its top speed being capped at 250 km/h, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive managed to lap the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 7:56.234 (a figure that has since been obliterated, of course). However, the Electric Drive always sat in shadows of the slightly faster but significantly cheaper V8-powered brother, which meant the EV sportscar was swiftly forgotten – which reports suggesting that fewer than 10 units were ever sold.
The world probably was just not ready for a high-performance EV sports car in 2013, and Mercedes-Benz quickly folded its operations for these vehicles. Seven years later though, it seems that EVs nowadays are all about pushing the performance envelope – with
Tesla’s Model S Plaid
,
Lotus Evija
,
Pininfarina Battista
, and many more all aiming for the quickest EV ever made.
The Porsche Taycan was
 recently launched in Malaysia
.
There’s probably no better time for Mercedes-Benz to dip their toes in the waters again, and based on history, the German marque is more than capable of making great EV sports cars. Could we see a
Mercedes-AMG GT
, or even the
AMG Project One
– a hybrid hypercar with F1 tech – being repurposed into fully-electric vehicles? Only time will tell, but we’re certainly excited.


All-electric Toyota bZ4X in Malaysia – 516km range, 150kW DC charging

After being launched in Thailand and
Indonesia in November last year
, the all-electric
Toyota

bZ4X
 has now been previewed in Malaysia. However, this is just a preview of the model and the bZ4X is not for sale just yet. As part of Toyota’s Beyond Zero strategy,
UMW Toyota Motors
 has registered sample units of the bZ4X for technical evaluation on local road conditions and market research.
By the way, if you’re looking to renew your insurance, you can get a 10% rebate and cash back at the end of your policy if you renew with MotorTakaful by Etiqa. Just log on to
www.motortakaful.com
.
Together with the company’s stakeholders in the government and private sector, UMW Toyota Motor is working towards realizing low-carbon personal transport solutions for Malaysia. But when launched in Malaysia, the bZ4X will be the first all-electric Toyota model in the country.
Built on Toyota’s e-TNGA platform just like the all-electric
Lexus RZ
 and
Subaru Solterra
, the bZ4X measures
4,690 mm
 long,
1,860 mm
 wide, and
1,650 mm
 tall, and is underpinned by a
2,850 mm
 wheelbase. This makes the all-electric Toyota similarly sized to the
Proton X70
 (4,519 mm length, 1,831 mm width, 1,694 mm height, and 2,670 mm wheelbase). The closest rivals to the Toyota bZ4X in Malaysia would be BEVs like the
BYD Atto 3
 as well as the
Chery Omoda 5
 EV that will be coming soon to Malaysia.
On the outside, the Toyota bZ4X features a hammerhead shark-like shape at the front, which is a design also found on the China-exclusive
Toyota bZ3
 sedan. The bZ4X also comes with LED headlights and tail lights, a panoramic sunroof, as well as 20-inch dual-tone alloy wheels.
RELATED:
UMW Toyota’s multi-pathway strategy involves BEVs, PHEVs, FCEVs, and HEVs
Powering the all-electric crossover (that was previewed in Malaysia) is a single motor that produces
204 hp
 and
266 Nm
 of torque, and power is sent to the front wheels. With a battery capacity of
71.4 kWh
, the Toyota bZ4X is able to carry you as far as
516 km
 (WLTP). Do note that there is also an all-wheel drive version of the bZ4X which is available in markets such as Thailand.
When the all-electric crossover runs out of juice, it can be charged at a maximum rate of
6.6 kW
 (AC) or
150 kW
 (DC). The latter is able to juice the car up from 0 to 80% in
30 minutes
. Toyota also assures that the battery will still have 90% of its storage capacity after 10 years.
RELATED:
Toyota Yaris Ativ sales suspended in Thailand, Vios unaffected in Malaysia – Here’s why
Inside, the Toyota bZ4X is equipped with features such as synthetic leather upholstery, an eight-way powered driver’s seat, a seven-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch touchscreen head unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless entry and start, a nine-speaker JBL sound system, dual-zone climate control and a wireless mobile phone charger.
In terms of safety, the bZ4X comes with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 3.0. This includes Dynamic radar cruise control (DRCC), Blind spot monitoring (BSM), Rear cross traffic alert (RCTA), Autonomous emergency braking (AEB), Lane departure alert (LDA), Lane keep assist (LKA), a panoramic view monitor, as well as assisted parking.
Again, this is just a preview of the Toyota bZ4X. Therefore specifications and details of the car when officially launched in Malaysia might be subject to change.
RELATED:
Toyota promises to keep making GR sports cars under new CEO
GALLERY


Volkswagen Passat facelift gains semi-autonomous driving up to 210 km/h!

The eight-generation Volkswagen
Passat B8 is still a fresh sight on Malaysian roads but the German carmaker has
given the mid-sized sedan a facelift. The mid-cycle update introduces minor styling
updates, new connectivity and the first semi-autonomous driving assistance
system on a Volkswagen.
At a glance, the
facelifted Passat gains the option for the IQ.Light full LED adaptive headlamps
that first debut on the new Touareg, restyled front and rear bumpers, sharper
LED taillamp graphics, new alloy wheel designs ranging from 17- to 19-inch in
diameter and the Passat badge spelt out across the tailgate. Additionally, the Passat
can be had the R-Line package which adds shaper aesthetic bits to the car.
Inside, the cabin
architecture is largely the same as before with new interior trims, new instrument
cluster, USB Type-C ports (no more USB Type-A) and new generation capacitive multifunctional
steering wheel. The facelifted Passat can be optioned with the second-generation
Volkswagen Active Info Display (AID) that measures 11.7-inch diagonally. The new
AID offers crisper graphics and wider variety of functions.
The infotainment system
is also a talking point in the updated Passat with three systems available at launch:
6.5-inch Composition Media, 8.0-inch Discover Media and 9.2-inch Discover Pro.
All three screens are equipped with a mobile SIM card to access online
connected services while the 700W Dynaudio Surround Sound System is an option.
On the most advanced
system, it also comes with Natural Voice Control that is activated with the prompt
“Hello Volkswagen”. Major functions related to navigation, telephone and radio
can be operated using speech and the Voice Control works hand-in-hand with the online
connection to give you the latest information.
At launch, the facelifted Passat is available with four TDI diesel engines, three TSI petrol engines and a 1.4 TSI plug-in hybrid system with a rated output of 218 hp. The TDI engines pushes out
120 hp
to
240 hp
 while the TSI petrol engines have rated outputs a
t 150
hp on the 1.5 TSI while the 2.0 TSI is available with
190 hp
 or
272 hp.
The facelifted Passat is also the first Volkswagen model to feature the brand’s new IQ.Drive technologies – the umbrella brand for Volkswagen’s new advanced driving assistance systems. With IQ.Drive, the Passat can be equipped with the new Travel Assist that allows semi-autonomous driving from 0 to 210 km/h. Travel Assist uses Traffic Jam Assist (for vehicles with DSG automatic), Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Assist in combination with satellite navigation and Dynamic Road Sign Display to keep the car on its course. However, drivers are required to have their hands on the wheel at all times when the system in operation.
IMAGE GALLERY


2019 Mazda CX-5 now open for booking – AWD only on 2.5L turbo model

After
previewing the 2019 Mazda CX-5 2.5-litre Turbo AWD
 last week, Mazda has finally announced the full specifications and variants of the 2019 Mazda CX-5 line-up.
Engine options available for the 2019 Mazda CX-5 includes the 2.0-litre and 2.5-litre naturally aspirated (NA), 2.5-litre turbocharged, and 2.2-litre turbodiesel powertrain. All-wheel drive (AWD) is only available on the 2.5-litre turbocharged variant, which replaces the previous 2.2-litre turbodiesel AWD.
All engines on the 2019 Mazda CX-5 will be paired to a SkyActiv Drive 6-speed automatic gearbox.
Notable upgrades to the 2019 Mazda CX-5 line up includes the addition of
GVC Plus
, Mazda’s torque vectoring system with independent brake control, which is
standard across all variants
.
Additionally, Mazda has updated the infotainment systems on all variants. The
7-inch touch-screen
 display on the Mazda CX-5 will be equipped with
 Apple CarPlay
 and
Android Auto
 functionalities. All variants will get a 360-degree view camera except for the 2.0-litre GL variant, which makes do with a regular reversing camera with guide lines.
Safety wise, all variants of the 2019 Mazda CX-5 except for the 2.0-litre GL trim, will come with a varying level of advanced driver assist features such as blind-spot monitoring, adaptive headlights, rear cross-traffic alert, driver attention alert, with the 2.5-litre turbo and 2.2-litre turbodiesel variants equipped with the additional lane departure warning system and lane-keep assist.
The 2.5-litre turbocharged variant also comes with an additional active driver’s
heads-up display
, as well as a redesigned instrument cluster featuring a 7-inch TFT display in the centre.
Mazda promises
 5-year or 100,000 km manufacturer warranty and free maintenance
 for all vehicles registered 1st January 2019 onwards (except the BT-50). The Mazda CX-5 is now available for booking, with prices to be announced soon.


Renault offering up to 90% off on selected parts in mega clearance

TC Euro Cars (TCEC) has announced a mega parts clearance campaign with
up to 90% off
on selected parts for selected Renault models beginning this month till 31st December 2020, while stocks last.
Customers who have purchased these parts are entitled to
50% off on labour/installation charges
, along with free inspection and car wash at the Renault Petaling Jaya service centre. Those who prefer to replace and install the parts at other Renault authorised service centres are entitled to a maximum of 30% off on labour charges along with the free inspection.
Exclusively at the PJ service centre, customers who are Maybank credit cardholders will enjoy
0% installments
 via the Ezy Payment Scheme with a minimum spend of RM500.
Renault Espace
Renault Clio
The promotion is applicable to models such the Kangoo, the 2015 Captur, Scenic, 2014 Koleos, Fluence, Megane (2012 and earlier), variations of the Megane R.S., Clio, Clio IV R.S., Espace III, Espace IV, and Laguna III.
Customers interested in purchasing replacement parts can do so either at Renault service centres or at the Renault Store on Shopee. The parts list is available on the
Renault website
 where customers can submit a request to check on the availability of the parts.
Alternatively, customers can also choose to walk-in to purchase their parts. However, they’ll need to first book an appointment with their preferred service centre through the Renault E-Store to confirm the availability of the spare parts as they’re limited.
Upon confirmation of their purchase, the Renault aftersales team will arrange delivery of the parts to the customer’s preferred delivery address. Delivery charges will apply.


Hyundai Motor Group developed a system to monitor and improve cabin air quality

Hyundai Motor Group has developed an intelligent “Smart Air Purification system” that monitors cabin air quality to automatically filter the air inside the car.
The new automated monitoring system continuously checks the interior air quality until it achieves an “Excellent” status.
Supported by advanced filtering innovations, the system can remove fine particles before passengers even enter the car and purify the cabin’s air throughout a journey.
Conventional air purification systems only operate for a set period upon activation, switching off after a certain time regardless of the current cabin air quality.
With the Smart Air Purification, it’s a little different; it constantly monitors the cabin’s air quality and begins purifying the air when air quality drops to the “Fair” level.
Even if the exterior air quality is at ‘Poor’ level, the system can purify air within the cabin to ‘Excellent’ almost instantaneously.
Are you aware that there’s a new Hyundai Elantra? Check out the video
here
!
Passengers can also monitor the air quality in real time via the car’s audio-video navigation screen, through a 16-bar digital display of air quality. Air quality is categorised by four levels – Excellent, Good, Fair and Poor – in accordance with the Korea Environmental Corporation Standards.
The Group had also designed a laser-based sensor to ensure the system’s reliability and durability as typical sensors are prone to reliability issues as fine particles gradually build up on the measurement lens.
So far, testing has shown that the system can filter out up to 99% (from 94%) of fine particles. The new system is already under consideration for future Hyundai and Kia vehicles, as the company responds to growing health concerns, especially in urban areas.


2016 Jaguar XE arrives in Malaysia, priced from RM340k to RM580k

After months of preparation and private customer viewings, the 2016 Jaguar XE is finally launched here
after its global reveal back in Q3 2014
. Priced slightly on the higher side of this segment from RM340k, the Jaguar XE pits directly against the Audi A4 (
new B9 model
 to arrive here very soon),
BMW 3-Series
 and
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
.
The XE weighs from as little as 1,530 kg, making it Jaguar’s
lightest
,
stiffest
 and
slipperiest

saloon
 to date. Its proportions give it a sporty outlook, while measuring at 4,672mm long, 1,415mm tall and 1,850mm wide. Comparatively, the XE is only longer than the 3-Series, followed by the C-Class and segment-longest Audi A4 B9. Its width however, leads this segment with Audi trailing behind by a scant 10mm at 1,840mm. Good numbers to boot, then.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Jaguar XE Prestige 200
Jaguar XE R-Sport 240
Jaguar XE S
Engine
1,999cc; turbocharged inline-4, DOHC
2,995cc; supercharged V6, DOHC
Transmission
8-speed ZF automatic
Max Power
197 hp @ 5,500 rpm
237 hp @ 5,500 rpm
335 hp @ 6,500 rpm
Max Torque
280 Nm @ 1,750 – 4,000 rpm
340 Nm @ 1,750 – 4,000 rpm
450 Nm @ 4,500 rpm
0 to 100 km/h; Top Speed
7.7 seconds; 237 km/h
6.8 seconds; 250 km/h
5.1 seconds; 250 km/h
Price (before taxes and insurance)
RM340,000
RM365,000
RM580,000
Positioned as the entry-level model to the Jaguar brand, the XE certainly has big shoes to fill and a tall ladder to climb. With that,
three variants
 have been introduced to our market –
XE Prestige
 (200 PS),
XE R-Sport
 (240 PS) and
 XE S
 (340 PS); each progressively more powerful than the other. Now, let’s see what they have to offer.
EXTERIOR
Visually, from the front, the XE strikes an imposing stance thanks to the large black grille, auto-levelling bi-xenon headlights with boomerang-style LED daytime running lights (the XE S gets a more advanced adaptive headlights) and a well-sculpted lower lip. Round the side, wheel sizes start from
17-inch
 for the base (Prestige) variant, while the R-Sport and S variants get
sportier 18-inch wheels
. Of course, there are plenty of design and wheel sizes for you to choose from, seeing as how the XE is labeled as
the most customisable Jaguar to date
.

Basic convenience features on the outside include keyless entry with
Approach Illumination
 (LEDs around the outside of the car light up when you approach), electrically operated and folding side mirrors as well as a powered boot. Yes, it’s just as easy as pressing on a latch under the trunk lid. The rear end is finished off with a pair of LED tail lights with
LED strips inspired by the F-Type
.
INTERIOR
As alluring as the exterior may be, stepping inside the cabin gave us quite a fair share of mixed impressions. The materials used in this cabin don’t feel cheap, but the manner in which it’s executed, design wise, isn’t as awe-inspiring as it could have been especially when compared to the usual German suspects. To each their own, right?

The fully-imported XE’s interior can be had in various trims and colour options. You can have your XE Prestige upholstered in black or “Latte” leather; R-Sport in black leather with three different coloured stitching while the S variant come with a red and black combination hide. Both front seats are electrically powered as well, and it’s standard across the range.
Up front, there’s an integrated
8-inch touchscreen display
built into the centre dash which supports Bluetooth streaming, iPod and USB playback, Bluetooth handsfree connectivity and an SD card slot for navigation. Below it are the switches for the dual-zone climate control and push-start button which
pulsates at 70 beats per minute
 – the resting heartbeat of a Jaguar. Look further down and you’ll find the rotating gearknob which rises up when the engine comes to life.
Overhead, you get – in Jaguar’s terms –
Morzine Headliner
 with a large panoramic sunroof. There are no air-conditioning vents built into the B-pillars, so rear passengers can only get their share of cold air through the dual air vents built into the centre armrest. And because the roofline starts sloping downwards from the B-pillars, rear passengers as tall as 6-feet and above will have to practice contortion due to the lack of headroom space. Hey, it’s not so bad if you’ve got a 380-Watt Meridian Audio System, right? That’s if you get the range topper. The Prestige and R-Sport settles for an 80-Watt in-house sound system.
PERFORMANCE
For the Malaysian market, two engines have been commissioned for duty, and they are the Ford-sourced
turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder
engine and a hotter,
 supercharged 3.0-litre V6
. Powering the Prestige and R-Sport is the smaller engine, which makes 197 hp/280 Nm and 237 hp/340 Nm respectively. The top-of-the-line XE S gets the supercharged engine which makes a cool
335 hp
 and
450 Nm
 of torque!
Both engines are paired up to an
eight-speed ZF automatic
 torque converter driving the rear wheels. This marriage helps the Prestige accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in
 7.7 seconds
, the R-Sport in
 6.8 seconds
 and the S in a mighty quick
5.1 seconds
. The Prestige tops out at
237 km/h
 whereas the R-Sport and S have both their top speed
electronically limited to 250 km/h
.
Through JaguarDrive Control, drivers get to choose between four driving modes – Normal, Eco, Dynamic and Winter. Each setting alters throttle mapping and steering input, and how it works is pretty self explanatory, except Winter. When selected, the system will dampen acceleration and applies a more gradual traction on slippery surfaces.
SAFETY
The Jaguar XE packs quite a list here in this department, offering power operated child locks, front and rear parking sensors, reverse camera, Dynamic Stability Control and Traction Control, six airbags, Emergency Brake Assist and the All Surface Progress Control (ASPC). The ASPC is an intelligent system which electronically maximises low-speed traction during sticky situations, sending just the right amount of power to the rear wheels to get the car moving. Fret not, it’s not a feature you necessarily need in a tropical country, but handy to have nonetheless.
WHAT ELSE?
It should be known that the prices listed here (RM340k for the Prestige, RM365k for the R-Sport and RM589k for the S) don’t include insurance, road tax or even registration. In celebrating its arrival, Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia is offering an
exclusive accessories package worth RM10,000
 for each purchase of the new XE, regardless of variant, and for a limited time only. The accessories include illuminated sill tread plates, anodised aluminium red paddle shifters (our favourite), unique gear selector with dark leather top and rubber bezel as well as four unique metal tyre valve caps.
There is a total of nine exterior colours to choose from and plenty more intricate customisations that will be tailored to suit your style. Every Jaguar XE comes with a 5-year or 150,000km warranty package with 3-year Roadside Assist. Owners of the Prestige and R-Sport can also enjoy a 5-year or 80,000km
Free Scheduled Maintenance
 while the 3.0-litre XE S gets a 5-year or 65,000km package, whichever occurs first.
IMAGE GALLERY


Volvo agrees to supply autonomous-compatible cars to Uber

The Swedish premium car maker is set to supply tens of thousands of autonomous driving-compatible base vehicles between 2019 and 2021 in a non exclusive agreement to enhance the strategic partnership between Volvo Cars and Uber.
Marking a new chapter in collaborations between car makers and tech companies, the vehicles will be based on Volvo’s Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), one of the most advanced car architectures in the world currently seen in top-of-the-line 90 series cars as well as the new XC60 mid-size SUV.
“The automotive industry is being disrupted by technology, and Volvo Cars chooses to be an active part of that disruption,” said President and Chief Executive of Volvo Cars,Håkan Samuelsson. “Our aim is to be the supplier of choice for autonomous driving ride-sharing service providers globally. Today’s agreement with Uber is a primary example of that strategic direction.”
Volvo’s engineers have been working closely with engineers from Uber to develop the XC90 SUVs that will be supplied to the ride-sharing service. They will be incorporated with the safety features and core autonomous-driving technologies required for Uber to supplement with their own self-driving technology. Volvo will also use the same base vehicles to speed up its efforts to release its first fully autonomous car by 2021.


Facts & Figures: Volvo S90 facelift introduced in Malaysia, Recharge T8 PHEV, RM339k

Volvo Car Malaysia has just unveiled the new Volvo S90 facelift here in Malaysia. At launch, the new executive sedan is only available in a single variant – the Recharge T8 in Inscription Plus trim – priced at
RM 339,314
, on the road, without insurance, and inclusive of the SST exemptions.
Just like the recently-launched
XC40 Recharge T5
, the PHEV Volvo S90 now also gets the ‘Recharge’ name to indicate its dual-motor powertrain set-up underneath the sheet metal.
EXTERIOR
Changes to the exterior of this facelift model are subtle at best, but as a whole, does manage to freshen up the looks of the now five-year-old executive sedan.
Up front, the Volvo S90 facelift receives a new bumper that’s now lower than before, characterised by a full-width chrome strip, joining the fog lamps together. The horizontal chrome strip is also mirrored on the new rear bumper.
The tail lamps are also redesigned with a new light signature – similar to that of the sportier
S60 T8 R-Design
 – and sequential turn indicators. To further enhance the sportiness of the executive sedan, the rear tailgate also now gets an integrated ducktail spoiler.
Otherwise, the Volvo S90 facelift is largely identical to the outgoing model, including all of the iconic Volvo design elements. Highlights include:
‘Thor Hammer’ LED headlights
Vertical chrome grille
3D Volvo Iron Mark with floating letters
New 19-inch 10-spoke diamond-cut alloy wheels
Exterior colour options: Bright Silver, Crystal White Pearl, Onyx Black, Platinum Grey and Thunder Grey
PERFORMANCE
The hybrid powertrain underneath the bonnet remains unchanged on the new 2021 Volvo S90 Recharge T8.
Powertrain: Volvo Drive-E, 2.0-litre four-cylinder supercharged and turbocharged petrol, electric motor
Transmission: 8-speed automatic gearbox with Geartronic
Driveline: Front-engine, All-wheel drive (electric motor at rear axle)
Suspension: Active Chassis with 2-corner air suspension
Combined horsepower: 407 hp @ 5,700 rpm
Combined torque: 640 Nm @ 1,200 – 5,400 rpm
0-100 km/h: 4.9 seconds
Top speed: electronically-limited, 180 km/h
INTERIOR
The cabin of the new Volvo S90 facelift is pretty much unchanged from the outgoing model, aside from an upgraded Bowers & Wilkins sound system, featuring 19 speakers with a total output of 1,400 W.
Combined with the different audio modes such as the Concert Hall Mode, which was modelled after the exact acoustic qualities of the Gothenburg Concert Hall, Volvo says the new sound system is able to provide a “true high-end” immersive listening experience.
Other interior highlights include:
12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
Head-up display
9.0-inch Sensus touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Orrefors crystal gearshift knob
Pitched-oak/Grey Ash trim inlays
Illuminated ‘Recharge’ side sill plates
CleanZone automatic climate control with PM 2.5 Advanced Air Cleaner particle sensor
Nappa leather upholstery
Ventilated front seats
Rear seats with built-in child booster seat
360-degree surround-view monitor
Powered tailgate
SAFETY AND CONVENIENCES
The new S90 facelift is equipped with the Volvo IntelliSafe advanced driver assistance suite, which includes features such as:
Blind Spot Information System (BLIS)
City Safety autonomous emergency braking
Cross Traffic Alert, front and rear with mitigation support
Lane Keeping Aid
Pilot Assist
Just like all new Volvo cars, the new Volvo S90 also comes with the
180 km/h electronically-limited speed cap
. And for every new Volvo car launch, we’ll have to repeat this: 180 km/h is plenty fast enough. Not convinced? Check out this
emotional video
 with testimonials from car crash survivors.
PRICING
The new Volvo S90 Recharge T8 in Malaysia is priced at RM358,888 on-the-road, without insurance, though with the current SST exemptions, the price drops to
RM339,315
. Included in the price is a five-year unlimited mileage warranty.
Volvo Car Malaysia added that the petrol-powered T5 variant for the S90 facelift will be available from June 2021 onwards, priced at RM328,888 (before sales tax exemptions).
GALLERY


The BMW i4 M50 is BMW M’s first EV with 544 hp, 0 to 100 in 3.9s

The BMW i4 fully electric sedan has finally be unveiled with key information of its performance and equipment levels. Launched alongside the regular i4 model is the first fully-electric model from BMW M, dubbed the
BMW i4 M50
.
The BMW i4 takes the body style of the BMW Gran Coupe, now called G26. It is about 3 inches longer and an inch wider than the G20
BMW 3 Series sedan
. Being placed under the 4 Series line, it shares the front and rear design of sportier coupe rather than the traditional sedan.
As such, the front bears the instantly-recognisable large, vertically prominent BMW kidney grille now with a unique graduating ‘nugget bar’ insert. The i4 M50 is styled with more black inserts at both bumpers, closely resembling the
4 Series M Sport
 aerodynamics kit, as opposed to BMW i Blue on the eDrive40 variant.
The side of the Gran Coupe meanwhile features a continuous trim from the fender-fitted air breather to the edge of rear doors, similar to the
“hockey stick”
 found on the
G12 BMW 7 Series
. Optimised aerodynamics around the new BMW i4 deliver an incredibly low Cd value of
0.24
.
The taillamps are the same units found on the BMW 4 Series coupe. Opening the single-piece windscreen-bootlid tailgate reveals a large
470-litre
 boot space.
So, what is under the hood of the first fully-electric BMW M car? It consists of a
dual-motor layout
, with the front axle powered by a 190 kW/258 hp electric motor and the rear axle has a larger 230 kW/313 hp motor. BMW says the combined system output of the i4 M50 is 400 kW or
544 hp
 and
795 Nm
 of torque, but is only available for 10 seconds under
Sport Boost
 function.
Under the normal driving mode, the power outputs of the fifth-generation eDrive units are 350 kW/ 476 hp and 730 Nm, which are just 68 hp and 65 Nm lower than Sport Boost mode. Even with variable all-wheel drive, the BMW i4 M50 strangely omits the xDrive moniker.
The large lithium-ion battery under the chassis has a net energy content of
80.7 kWh
, with the standardised-WLTP driving range just a touch over
500 km
. BMW says the highly efficient electric motors promote excellent driving range and thus negate the need to fit large batteries.
BMW has paid special attention to the battery pack, making it slimmer than the usual at just 110 mm in height. The vehicle’s centre of gravity is 53 mm lower than in the G20 BMW 3 Series sedan and the battery is also manufactured using cobalt and lithium from controlled, transparent and sustainable sources.
The BMW i4 M50 can complete the 0 to 100 km/h sprint in just
3.9 seconds
, similar to the
G82 BMW M3 Competition
 sedan. Top speed however is limited to
225 km/h
. This is perhaps due to the single-speed transmission, unlike the two-speed setup in the
Porsche Taycan
.
Meanwhile, the more accessible i4 eDrive40 variant has only a rear-mounted electric motor with peak outputs of
340 hp
 and
430 Nm
 of torque. Sharing the same 80.7 kWh battery as the M50, the lighter and less power-consuming drivetrain of the eDrive40 has an 80-km better range of
590 km
.
The eDrive40 can complete the benchmark century dash in
5.7 seconds
 (just 0.1s quicker than the
BMW 330i
), and perhaps this will be one of the slower BMWs, with a top speed of “only” 190 km/h. The performance figures of the BMW i4 eDrive40 is very similar to the
Tesla Model 3
 with the BMW having a better range.
Charging times deviate according to the technology available. With a 11 kW wallbox (16 A/380 V), the new BMW i4 models require almost 8.5 hours to fully charge. Recharging at a public high-performance charger (200 kW) will just require 31 minutes to top up the charge levels from 10% to 80%.
A quick charge of
10 minutes
 meanwhile will add
140 km of range
 to the BMW i4 M50 and 24 km more for the eDrive40 model.
Handling duties
 are further enhanced by a new
self-levelling air suspension
 fitted to the rear axle. The near-actuator wheel slip controller or ARB that debuted in the fully-electric
BMW i3s
 is also featured in the BMW i4, now updated for use in the i4 M50’s all-wheel drive configuration.
The higher performance BMW i4 M50 also comes standard with adaptive M Suspension, variable sport steering system and thanks to the dual-motor layout, the weight distribution now moves to
48:52
, front-to-rear.
Inside, the familiar BMW 3 and 4 Series dashboard now houses a massive curved display, combining the driver’s instrument display and central display into one continuous unit. Aptly called the
BMW Curved Display
 and first featured in the
BMW iX
, the glass surface actually continues to house two displays- a 12.3-inch for the driver and a 14.9-inch for the control display.
The BMW Curved Display also premieres the company’s latest user-interface called the
BMW Operating System 8
. Voice control via the Intelligent Personal Assistant has been heavily revised in this latest generation, which includes data processing through artificial intelligence.
The new interior and display screen in the new BMW i4 also remove a lot of physical buttons, with the eight-button shortcut keys gone, as well as physical buttons to control the air-conditioning. With no gears to shift, the large BMW M steering wheel also loses the large shift paddles. Other models such as the
Honda City RS e:Hev
 and
Audi e-tron
 actually kept the paddles to control the regenerative braking power. Instead, the BMW i4 comes with a Toyota Hybrid-styled
B-mode
 selectable via the blue-accented shift lever, replacing the M/S-mode.
A BMW M car must sound sporty and emotional, thus the BMW i4 M50 will come with a
different interior sound
 compared to the regular i4 eDrive40. Academy Award-winner
Hans Zimmer
 worked with BMW to create various emotional sounds to fill the cabin now that the engine is gone.

Owners can download new sounds via the BMW IconicSounds Electric at a later stage, which feature the work of the Academy Award winner.
Air quality inside the new BMW i4 is handled by a new nanofiber filter, where nano-fleece and activated carbon layers are used to keep ultrafine dust particles and allergens out of the cabin.
Both the BMW i4 eDrive40 and i4 M50 will be manufactured in BMW Plant Munich through a new flexible and integrated production process. Deliveries to key markets such as the US begins in
November 2021
, with prices starting from
USD55,400
 (similar to a M340i) for the i4 eDrive40 and
USD65,900
 (just USD4k lower than a basic M3 sedan 6-MT) for the i4 M50 model.
The BMW i4 is the fourth model to join the fully-electric BMW i family. While the
iX3
 is based on the
BMW X3
, there is no news if BMW will do the reverse and offer a combustion engine-only
BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe
 later.
GALLERY
BMW i4 M50
BMW i4 eDrive40
The BMW i4 is the fourth fully-electric BMW model
BMW i4, BMW iX3, BMW i3s and BMW iX


What you should know about the DCT in the locally assembled Proton X70

Think dual-clutch transmission and its questionable reputation comes to mind, but is the bad rap justified? As the launch of the locally produced Proton X70 creeps ever closer, it’s already open secret that it would come with a
new 7-speed dual-clutch transmission
 (DCT), among other updates.
To better understand the decision to switch from a conventional torque converter automatic to a DCT and what it takes to make one,
AutoBuzz.my
was invited by Proton to visit Geely’s transmission

manufacturing plant in
Ningbo, Zhejiang Province
 in China recently.
State-of-the-art plant is climate controlled to cool down freshly machined parts.
After a plant tour and dialogue session with relevant key personnel, here’s what we can tell you about the DCT that will feature in the forthcoming locally assembled Proton X70:
It’s a wet DCT, along with an updated engine
Dry or wet clutch? Dry clutch DCTs are lighter and less complex, they are typically utilised for smaller engines and
lower powered applications
. Codenamed
7DCT330
, the DCT to be utlised in the CKD version of the X70 is a
wet clutch DCT
that’s
developed completely in house
by Geely.
A
wet-clutch DCT
 is more suited for
higher powered applications.
As heat builds up in the clutch plate, the oil and fluid in the clutch pan helps with heat dissipation. In the case of the 7DCT330, Geely has developed a low-viscosity oil specifically for the transmission. A 70,000 km to 100,000 km service interval has been quoted for this transmission.
The wet-clutch 7DCT330 developed by Geely is able to withstand up to 330 Nm of torque.
The 330 in the name denotes the ‘torque tolerance’ of the transmission (able to handle up to 330 Nm). In the case of the CKD version of the Proton X70, the transmission is paired with an
updated third-generation 1.8TD turbo engine
that churns out
181 hp
and
300 Nm
,
15 Nm
more from before with horsepower output unchanged.
To improve fuel consumption and output, this engine has been upgraded with a
Dual Variable Valve Timing

hollow camshaft
,
dual mass flywheel
,
low friction pistons
, among others, the Gen-3 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine can also be upgraded to meet future Euro 6M emission standards.
It’s more efficient than other DCTs, says Geely
DCTs are favoured among car makers because it’s more efficient (lower transfer losses) compared to a conventional torque converter automatic. The 7DCT330 boosts an
overall efficiency level of 94.6%

 (peak of 97%)
, which is
close to the efficiency of a manual transmission
and higher than competing transmissions from Germany and Japan, according to Geely.
Benchmark figures against the DCTs of other makes.
As such, the CKD Proton X70 is able the 0-100km/h benchmark in
9.5 seconds
, one second faster than before. This is also attributed to the fact that the turbocharger of the
1.8TD engine starts spooling from only 1,000rpm
 and hits maximum torque at
1,750rpm
 to aid low-end acceleration.
It is extensively used within the Geely Group
The 7DCT330 also has a ‘brother’ in the form of
7DCT390
. The latter is used for hybrid models where an electric motor is ‘attached’ to it to generate an additional 60Nm of torque. Because of its versatility, this transmission is widely applied across a various brands under the Geely Automotive Group including models from
Volvo (XC40)
and
Lynk & Co (01, 02 & 03)
.
To date, more than
800,000 units of these DCTs are running reliably in different Geely Group models
, and this number is expected to surpass the one million mark in 2020.
Shift-by-wire gear console of the Boyue Pro, the CKD Proton X70 shares the same transmission.
It is thoroughly tried and tested
The transmission that will feature in the CKD X70 has been tested for over 9,000,000 km in major cities across the world, with temperatures ranging from
-33°C to 40°C
and it has even gone to elevations of
2,800 m above sea level
.
Geely has quoted a lifetime mileage of more than
350,000 km
for this transmission. As an illustration of robustness, said DCT was deployed in a 2.3-tonne vehicle to drag a 1.8-tonne load up a 12% slope.
We will be testing the locally-assembled Proton X70 with this updated drivetrain on our roads really soon. Stay tuned for updates.
Image gallery


Mitsubishi ASX Designer Edition launched, priced at RM132k – 4WD only

Yep, you read the title right.
Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM)
 have just recently introduced their limited edition, top-spec only
ASX Designer Edition
. It’s the result of a collaboration between MMM and a renowned local fashion designer
Rizalman Ibrahim
. We must say, it does prove to be quite a looker.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Mitsubishi ASX Designer Edition
Segment
Compact SUV
Engine
1,998cc, DOHC inline 4-cylinders
Max Power
150hp
Max Torque
197Nm
Price
RM131,801.50
(OTR without insurance)
Priced at
RM131,801.50
 (OTR without insurance), the Designer Edition costs just
RM3,000 more
 than the regular 4WD ASX, which makes this a
bargain buy
 to be honest, even if the changes are
only cosmetics
.
For starters, the Mitsubishi
ASX
 Designer Edition comes in only
one colour
 –
Titanium Grey
, and is exclusive to this
4WD-only variant
. Now for the obvious. The crossover gets a
matte grey body stripe
 that stretches from the front to the rear of the car, with the latter sporting a
larger
 and
sportier rear spoiler
 that is complemented with a
shark fin antenna
.

The
17-inch alloy wheels
 are now finished in
matte black
, although it’s believed that the wheels were given a few coats of paint over the original ones in which the regular 4WD ASX sits on (the 2WD sits on 16-inches). Be that as it may, there’s no denying that the wheels do look good, and the choice to paint the wheels does bring costs down, so it’s a win-win. The exhaust on this limited edition ASX is finished in
dark chrome
 instead of the regular polished chrome.

The good news doesn’t stop there, for those interested. The interior also gets its fair share of Rizalman’s touch, with the seats now clad in the
theme-inspired grey perforated leather
 which are accentuated with
yellow trims
 and
stitching
. This usage of leather gets extended to the
door panels
 and the now
two-toned gear knob
, whereas the
floor mats
 get the
bright-yellow Designer Edition badge
. To top it off, the
touchscreen head unit
 is also customised to feature the designer’s name upon startup.
As much as we love mechanical tweaks, this limited edition ASX shares the exact powertrain as the regular 2WD and 4WD variants – the
2.0-litre four-cylinder MIVEC
 engine that makes
150 hp
 and
197 Nm
 of torque. Power gets sent to
all four wheels
 via the
INVECS-III CVT
 gearbox with
six-step sports mode
. It also has the
magnesium paddle shifters
 mounted to the steering rack that we all love.
Again, for RM3,000, that is one impressive list of customisation for the ageing crossover. If you’re keen, you ought to know that the
locally assembled

Mitsubishi
 ASX Designer Edition is limited to only
180 units nationwide
. It also comes with a
five-year with unlimited mileage
 warranty programme.
Read our review of the
Mitsubishi ASX CKD
to find out what we thought of this crossover.
IMAGE GALLERY
Mitsubishi ASX Designer Edition

Mitsubishi ASX CKD 2.0L 4WD


Alfa Romeo wants to keep screens to a minimum in their cars

Whether you like it or not, screens are definitely taking over the interior of our cars. Heck, Mercedes-Benz’s
MBUX Hyperscreen
 essentially replaces the entire dashboard with touchscreen displays. But despite the screen invasion, we now know that there’s at least one hold out – and that’s
Alfa Romeo
.
In a recent interview with French TV channel
BFM Business
 and later reported by
Caradisiac
, Alfa Romeo’s new CEO Jean-Philippe Imparato said that their cars will always be “driver-centric”, which to the Italian sports car maker, apparently means “as few screens as possible” in the car.
“I’m not selling an iPad with a car around it, I’m selling an Alfa Romeo,” he added.
The GTA nameplate is back – this time round on the Alfa Romeo Giulia. Check it out here!
Just like most major carmakers in the world, Alfa Romeo is also similarly heading down the path of electrification. Despite the lack of engine noise, Imparato says that they’ll still be exciting to drive and “convey emotions” to the driver.
So what exactly does “as few as possible” and “driver-centric” mean? Well, at least we don’t have to wait too long more to find out, as the Alfa Romeo Tonale SUV – that’s been confirmed to arrive with the brand’s first plug-in hybrid powertrain – is rumoured to make its debut sometime around December this year.
[source:
Caradisiac
]


Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 Spyder launched in Malaysia, estimated price at RM1.35m before duties

Lamborghini, through official distributor JH Italia Sdn Bhd, have just introduced the new Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4 Spyder at their Glenmarie showroom in Shah Alam. The soft-top super sports car was just unveiled at Frankfurt a little over a month ago, so to have it launched here on our shores this soon is mighty quick, which the Huracan is all about.
It’s been ten years since the world debut of the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, and the time has come for a topless successor. The Huracan Spyder shares the same
naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10
 engine (dry sump, compression ratio 12.7:1) as its
hardtop sibling
, one that makes
610 hp
 at 8,250 rpm and
560 Nm
of torque that peaks at 6,500 rpm.

Tasked with sending all that power onto the tarmac is Lamborghini’s
seven-speed dual clutch transmission
 (LDF or Lamborghini Doppia Frizione). On a regular basis, this electronically controlled all-wheel drive supercar will get 70 percent of its torque sent to the rear axle, while the remaining 30 is sent to the front. When needed, torque can be evenly split between the two axles.
Now for the numbers. The Huracan LP 610-4 Spyder sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in
3.4 seconds
 – about 0.2 seconds slower than the hardtop Huracan, no thanks to the additional weight. Reaching the 200 km/h mark takes just
 10.2 seconds
, and top speed is rated at a hair-messing
324 km/h
. That is, if you can find a stretch of road long enough to hit such speeds. Fuel consumption, if you care, is rated at
12.3 litres per 100km
 on a combined cycle.

Although the car’s performance is to be expected, there are more impressive engineering feats that go into making this Spyder. Lamborghini says the
electrohydraulically operated
 lightweight soft top can be retracted in just 17 seconds at speeds of up to 50 km/h. This unfortunately, comes at a cost. The mechanical components add some heft to the car, and results in a 120kg weight gain. It now weighs
1,542kg
 and distributed 43:57.
Another improvement worthy of note is that the Huracan Spyder’s torsional rigidity is
 up by 40 percent
 over the Gallardo Spyder, while
downforce takes a 50 percent leap
 from before. This is achieved by
hybridising carbon fibre and aluminium
 in the chassis – two of the most loved materials by sports car manufacturers.
Just like the regular Huracan, the Spyder rides on
20 inch wheels
 wrapped in
245/30 R20 Pirelli
 rubbers at the front and meatier
305/30
 tyres at the rear. Both axles are suspended on aluminium double wishbones with regular steel springs and hydraulic dampers, though a more sophisticated magneto-rheological damper control can be had as an option. Disc brakes are made of
carbon-ceramic
 clamped by six-pot callipers and four-pot callipers at the front and back respectively.
The keen eyed among you would have noticed that this car is a left-hand drive variant, but that’s only for display purposes. Pricing of the Huracan Spyder has not been confirmed, but an estimated figure of
RM1.35 million
 has been put forth. This of course excludes duties and taxes, so expect prices to soar above the RM2 million mark.
IMAGE GALLERY


Get your first taste of an electric with GoCar – Nissan Leaf at RM24.90 per hour

GoCar has launched its
GoEV programme
 to make it more accessible for Malaysians to experience the advantages of an electric car.
The programme is only applicable within the Klang Valley, with 25 units of the latest generation, fully electric
Nissan Leaf
. There are already three EV car sharing zones at GoCar’s Petaling Jaya hub, MyTown Cheras and Avenue K. A total of 10 GoEV zones will be available by the end of 2021.
“Malaysia still has a long way to go in terms of EV adoption and infrastructure. However, we believe that through car-sharing and subscription, we can help encourage mass adoption. We are so excited to be bringing affordable EV access to the general public. This way, everyone and not just the privileged few can experience the EV lifestyle,” said GoCar CEO, Wong Hoe Mun.

The GoEV programme is open to all drivers aged 18 years old and above. Users will need to sign up as a GoCar member to select their preferred GoEV Share or GoEV Subs plans.
Nissan celebrates 10 years of the Leaf EV with a special-edition Leaf10 model…check it out here!
Rates are either calculated by hour or by day at the rate of RM24.90 or RM249 per day.
For further “encouragement”, GoCar is offering 25% off on all GoEV Share round-trips for booking before 31st of January 2022, with the promo code “TRYGOEV”.
Those who want a longer duration can opt for a 36-month subscription at RM2,299 per month. Rates are inclusive of road tax, insurance, regular servicing and a wall box home charger.
GoCar will also provide a complimentary ChargEV card in each vehicle, giving users access to almost 300 charging stations nationwide. Charging stations at the GoEV zones are free for use by all GoEV customers.
Updated Nissan Leaf warns pedestrians with chimes, up to 30 km/h…find out more!


Perodua reopens showrooms and service centres nationwide

Perodua
 has announced that all of its showrooms and aftersales outlets, including paint and body centres, have resumed operations, following the government’s
latest directives
 for the reopening of the automotive sector in the National Recovery Plan (NRP).
The reopening of its outlets comes after the resumption of its manufacturing facilities in Rawang recently.
As usual, strict SOPs are in place during this period to protect the health and wellbeing of its customers and employees; only customers who are fully vaccinated will be allowed in the premises, and the wearing of face masks will be required at all times.
Additionally, customers will also be required to make an appointment for both showrooms and service outlets prior to their visit. Contact information for all Perodua outlets can be found
here
.
In addition to showrooms, car wash centres are also now allowed to operate in NRP Phase 1 states. Find the full list of approved industries here.

According to Perodua President and CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad, deliveries have already begun in stages since this week, and will gradually ramp up over the coming weeks – so if you’ve booked yourself a new Ativa, hold on tight, it’s coming soon!
“We thank our customers for their patience, understanding and loyalty in receiving your Perodua vehicle. We expect to be able to deliver nearly all existing orders within the year,” he added.
The 10 km travel limit has been lifted for fully-vaccinated individuals. Read more here.
Back in June, Perodua announced that it was
still on track to achieve its sales target
of 240,000 units this year. However, the extended lockdown period, where its production facilities and sales outlet were not allowed to operate, have obviously thrown a wrench into the works.
“We are currently evaluating the impact of the lockdown that was introduced on 1st June 2021 to our operations, and we will announce our revised targets for the year soon,” Dato Zainal said.


Get instant approval on your next car loan with AmBank MAT

AmBank Group has just introduced its Auto Finance Instant Approval with MAT (Mobile Application Terminal) service which allows prospective car buyers to have their car loans application approved on the spot through a tablet.
The MAT is a portable device that allows applicants to submit their details and documents onto AmBank’s system and receive immediate approval within 30 minutes if the applicants meet all the necessary requirements.
AmBank MAT (Mobile Application Terminal)
Some of the key features of the MAT include a built-in MyKad reader with biometric reader to allow customers to perform thumbprint verification, built-in camera with Optical Character Recognition (OCR) capability to capture all the document details just by taking a picture as well as and online connectivity to EPF i-Akaun.
The MAT can also populate customer information and generate e-forms with digital signature(s), making it a one-stop, paperless and fast solution to auto financing. The Auto Finance Instant Approval is applicable to both new and used cars alike regardless of the car price. Interest rate is also the same as a regular paper submission to AmBank.
AmBank Group CEO, Dato’ Sulaiman Mohd Tahir
At the moment, the Auto Finance Instant Approval with MAT is only open to private individuals although AmBank is studying ways to extend this instant approval service to company purchases. Presently, there are 800 MATs nationwide and customers can participate in paperless transaction with instant approval at AmBank appointed car dealers and AmBank branches.
IMAGE GALLERY

 AmBank Group CEO, Dato’ Sulaiman Mohd Tahir

 AmBank Mobile Application Terminal (MAT)


Here’s the first glimpse of the new BMW i4 undergoing tests in Sweden

The charge towards electrification is getting more aggressive among European marques and BMW is not keen on falling behind as they’ve just released images of the new i4 going through its paces in the frozen end of Sweden.
The tests, located in the Arctic Circle, provides the ideal requirements for the electric motors, high-voltage batteries and the BMW eDrive system as well as the suspension to prove their endurance and durability.
The four-door coupe BMW i4 utilises the fifth-generation BMW eDrive Technology with over
600 km of pure electric driving range
. Not only that, it’s capable of a four second 0 to 100 km/h time!
Furthermore, the car is equipped with the latest connectivity features and designed for Level 3 automated driving. The BMW Group’s new technology flagship will be produced at the BMW Dingolfing plant as from 2021.


Watch the BMW M3 and M4 Competition duke it out in a drifting family feud

It’s been two weeks since the launch of the all-new BMW M3 and M4 twins, and now that all the talks about their giant grilles have died down a little bit, BMW saw it fitting to remind everyone that the new dynamic duos are still fun to drive with a drift battle between the two.
The promotional video takes place at a deserted shipping port in Slovenia, where most sane people have presumably already gone back home. The video starts off with a lime-green
BMW M4 Competition
 driving out of a M-Town shipping container, but was swiftly joined by another set of headlights, belonging to the
BMW M3
. Driving the cars were none other than BMW M CEO Markus Flasch and Ede Weihretter, one of the many BMW M driving instructors worldwide.

The video featured some do-not-try-at-home stunts and a gratuitous amount of sliding on the wet pavements, paired to loud noises, quick cuts, and shiny lights – a tried and tested recipe for a great promotional video. But perhaps the best part of the video was when the cars raced past the security guard, though he was not paying any attention to his surroundings as he was busy replying to BMW M’s Instagram story post – hoping to see the cars in real life. Well played, BMW.
We also had a chance to see for the first time the M Drift Analyser, a part of the optional M Drive Professional system which records and rates how well you can stick your rump out in a corner. Unsurprisingly, the CEO of BMW’s performance division and a M driving instructor will have no troubles achieving the full five stars.
Both the BMW M3 and M4 competition are powered by the S58 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline-six engine. The M3 in standard form gets a healthy
473 hp
 and
550 Nm
 on tap, while the Competition-spec M4 gets an uprated engine, producing
503 hp
 and
650 Nm
.
The standard variants come as standard with a six-speed manual transmission – which was featured on the M3 in the video – while the Competition models get an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
The Competition models can also be specified with a M xDrive all-wheel drive system – which we presume is the case with the M4 Competition in this video judging by Flasch’s comments that the “M4 (Competition) is faster”. Though, he still didn’t have any trouble having some sliding fun as the all-wheel drive system is capable of a 100% rear-wheel drive “drift” mode.
Of course, being BMW’s own promotional video, there’s no winner to this “race” – perhaps other than us, the viewers. If we can just forget the grille for a moment, which of these two will you choose?


2022 Toyota Veloz launched in Thailand to replace ageing Avanza

Toyota has officially discontinued the Avanza in Thailand with the launch of the more
upscale Veloz
 today, which will serve as the model’s replacement.
The all-new seven-seater MPV will be fully imported from Indonesia, and will be offered in two variants at launch – the base Smart variant, priced at THB795,000 (approx. RM103k), and the range-topping Premium grade at THB875,000 (approx. RM113k), making it significantly more expensive than the outgoing Avanza which started at THB649,000 (approx RM84k).
For that extra dough, you do however get quite a bit more than
its predecessor
, at least in terms of premium touches and styling sophistication.
Firstly, the Veloz is built on the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) platform instead of the semi-ladder frame chassis. Aside from the driveline switch from rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive, the new platform should also give the MPV a significantly more comfortable and competent ride thanks to a more rigid unibody construction.
Moving to the DNGA platform has also allowed the Veloz to grow considerably in size – now measuring 205 mm longer, 70 mm wider, and 5 mm taller, with a 95 mm longer wheelbase than the outgoing Avanza.
In terms of design, the Toyota Veloz also stands out from the Avanza of yore (
and even the all-new model!
) with more SUV-inspired touches, including a hexagonal mesh grille up front flanked by sharp-looking LED headlights and full-width tail lights, chrome trims, sportier bumpers, and squared-off fender flares.
The upmarket treatment continues inside, where you’ll now find modern amenities such as a two-layered dashboard design, swathes of chrome and silver trims, a seven-inch digital-instrument cluster, wireless charging pad, and touchscreen infotainment displays replete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
Standard features wise, the base Smart variant comes equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, silver chrome trims on the outside, push-start button, part-leatherette upholstery, reverse camera, and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment display.
Moving up to the Premium model will net you a set of larger 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels, dark chromium exterior trims, roof rails, a 360-degree camera system, a larger nine-inch infotainment display, and the basic Toyota Safety Sense ADAS suite which includes autonomous emergency braking, Lane Departure Assist, Front Departure Alert, automatic high-beam, and Pedal Misoperation Control.
Otherwise, the six airbags, stability control, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert systems are standard on both variants.
Underneath the bonnet is an unchanged 2NR-VE 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated inline-four engine from before, making
106 hp
 and
138 Nm
 of torque. However, much like the
Perodua Myvi
 here in Malaysia, the antique four-speed automatic gearbox has been replaced by Daihatsu’s new D-CVT gearbox with split belt and gear drive.
Closer to home, recent rumours are suggesting that the Veloz will too be replacing the Avanza here in Malaysia, and possibly even the
Perodua Alza
 as well! Given the choice, would you pick this over the
Mitsubishi Xpander
? Let us know in the comments below!


Honda Jazz facelift now on sale in the US, comes with Honda Sensing

Not long after
we received the Honda Jazz facelift
 in Malaysia, our friends in the US also received the same model, except they get the Honda Sensing active safety suite.
Better known there as the Honda Fit (just like in Japan),  the refreshed supermini is broadly similar to ours. However, items such as the two-piece chrome and piano-black grille are unique to their market. The fog lamps are circular compared to the rectangular ones we get.
The new Sport trim adds 16-inch rims, rear diffuser with body-coloured accents and chromed exhausts. Two exterior colours also make their debut here – Helios Yellow Pearl and Orange Fury.
The biggest update for the Fit is the inclusion of
Honda Sensing
 active safety suite, and it is offered across all trims. This mean it gets Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Mitigation Brake Braking System, Lane Keeping Assist System with Lane Departure Warning and Road Departure Mitigation with Road Departure Warning.
The Fit is powered by a
1.5-litre four cylinder i-VTEC
 petrol engine that deploys
130 hp
 and
 155 Nm
 of torque. Customers can choose to go with either the six-speed manual or the seven-speed CVT.
The 2018 Honda Fit is now marketed as America’s most affordable car with the most advanced safety and driver-assist technology. Pricing and availability will be announced in due time.
IMAGE GALLERY


Civic owners club issues apology for Temiang controversy with another gathering video

To call it an Internet sensation would be an understatement; the scenic Jalan Temiang-Pantai has drawn visitors since it was in operation in August of 2021 but it has also attracted danger and negative attention.
Recently a group of Honda Civic owners found themselves in hot soup after organising a massive gathering where the cars were parked by the emergency lane of Jalan Temiang-Pantai. The gathering drew criticism online and caught the attention of the authorities, prompting members of the club to be called in for questioning.
From the latest post on FCCM’s Facebook page.
The group has since
issued an apology on Facebook
 (posted yesterday but dated 22nd of January) but not without a little stir. The apology wrote “Salah tetap salah, tindakan pun telah di ambil. Permohonan maaf telah dibuat. Terima kasih netizen”.
Ironically, the post was accompanied by a video of yet another gathering but it’s unknown if the video was taken prior to or after the controversial gathering.
From an observer’s point of view, it may not be the smartest move and generally speaking, the cops are now starting to take offense (literally) on such gatherings.
According to
Sinar Harian
, PDRM has issued 48 summons so far for traffic offenses committed along Jalan Temiang-Pantai and according to the Negeri Sembilan Police Chief, Datuk Mohamad Mat Yusop, the most frequent offense committed was parking along the emergency lane for pictures and gatherings.
According to the Police Chief, it’s fine to take pictures but the public is not allowed to park on the emergency lane to the point where it disrupts traffic. The Police Chief also noted that it is not illegal for the public to jog or cycle on that road, as long as it does not obstruct traffic.
Fair enough, but it’s a little contradictory, don’t you think?
How would someone take pictures of the scenery if they did not stop their vehicles by the roadside – which in this case – on the emergency lane?
Those who have been there would know that there isn’t a proper place to park nearby the scenic spots and no Malaysian would entertain the idea of walking – not even for 100 likes on Instagram.
Call it a hype, or a farce but the extent of the problem has even prompted the Negeri Sembilan authorities to request for the Malaysian government to build car parks along Jalan Temiang-Pantai, according to an article by
Utusan Malaysia
.


Renault Captur facelift gets blind spot warning and Bose sound system, all for RM86k!

Shortly after its global unveiling back in early March, the United Kingdom is among the first markets to receive the
facelifted Renault Captur
. Besides the cosmetic updates, UK-bound Captur gets a range of active safety features as well as a whopping 24-variant line-up.
For the UK market, two turbo petrol engines and two turbodiesel engines are available at launch, namely the 898cc TCe 90 (90 hp/140 Nm), 1.2-litre TCe 120 (120 hp/205 Nm), 1.5-litre dCi 90 (90 hp/220 Nm) and 1.5-litre dCi 110 (110 hp/260 Nm). All engines come with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard but the TCe 120 and dCi 90 engines are available with the six-speed dual-clutch transmission. Power is sent exclusively to the front wheels as before.
Building on the crowd favourite dual-tone paintjob, Renault is offering two new body colours – Desert Orange and Ocean Blue. A new Mercury Silver roof is also made available. This gives the Captur a total of 36 colour combinations. Other new aesthetics upgrades include the C-shaped LED daytime running lights, full-LED ‘Pure Vision’ headlamps, revised front and rear bumper and new alloy wheel designs ranging from 16- to 17-inch in size.
Inside, seven interior colour themes can be selected, from Ivory, Blue, Caramel, Red, Bronze-tinted Chrome, Satin Chrome and Smoked Chrome. The updated cabin benefits from higher quality materials and new seat designs that produce more support and comfort. A range of multimedia systems are specified depending on variant, including a 7-inch R-LINK touchscreen with Android Auto and six-speaker Bose Sound System. All variants except for the entry-level variant can be specified with a fixed glass roof.
As standard, all variants of the facelifted Captur come with six-airbags, ABS with BA, Electronic Stability Control, Electronic Traction Control, cruise control, speed limiter and Hill Start Assist. The Captur has Euro NCAP’s maximum five-star crash safety rating. The facelifted Captur also comes with Blind Spot Warning and Hands-Free Parking (auto parking) function on models from Dynamique S Nav and above.
Prices for the facelifted Renault Captur in the UK starts at £15,355 (RM86k) while the range topping model retails at £23,145 (RM129k). Closer to home, TC Euro Cars has just introduced the
locally-assembled pre-facelift Captur
. It’s only a matter of time before the facelifted Captur makes it way here as a CKD unit, no less.
IMAGE GALLERY


Porsche embraces the essence of driving with the new 911 Carrera T

Porsche has introduced the new 911 Carrera T, a tribute to the puristic approach behind the original 911 T (for Touring) from 1968 – with less weight, shorter gear ratios from a 7-speed manual gearbox along with rear-wheel drive and a mechanical rear differential lock.
Power comes from a 3.0-litre turbocharged flat six engine putting out 370 hp and 450 Nm of torque. Thanks to shorter gear ratios and a mechanical differential lock, the Carrera T sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in just
 4.5 seconds
 (4.2 with the optional PDK transmission) and 200 km/h in just 15.1 seconds before hitting a top speed of
290 km/h
.
The
Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM)
, usually not available in the 911 Carrera, comes as standard. Ride height is lowered by 20 mm while the rear-axle steering is available as an option for the Carrera T.
The Carrera T’s cabin is occupied by only two four-way electric sports seats with the centre section in Sport-Tex fabric – optional full bucket seats are available. A short-shift lever with shift patterns in red is exclusive only to the 911 Carrera T. Sound dampening has been largely reduced, although the rear seats and Porsche Communication Management (PCM) can be had on request without additional cost.
On the outside, the Carrera T comes with an optimised front spoiler lip, with Sport Design side mirrors. The Carrera T can be distinctively-recognised with its 20-inch Carrera S wheels in Titan grey.
The rear view is distinguished by the slats in the rear lid grille, the “911 Carrera T” badging and a sports exhaust system with black tips. Colour options include, GT Silver, Jet Black, Carrara White, Lava Orange, Racing Yellow, Miami Blue and Guards Red among others.
The Carrera T’s rear window and rear side windows are made of lightweight glass and the door trims feature opening loops. The result of the lightweight measures is an unladen weight of 1,425 kgs, where two-seater is
20 kgs lighter
 than a 911 Carrera with comparable equipment.
The Carrera T will be available by early next year with prices beginning from EUR 107,533 (approx RM 535k).

IMAGE GALLERY


The Koenigsegg Jesko looks like a spaceship in the middle of old Hong Kong

In celebrating the appointment of Kingsway K Cars Ltd as Koenigsegg’s official dealer for Southern China, Hong Kong and Macau, the Koenigsegg Jesko – named after Christian von Koenigsegg’s father – made its appearance in both the old and newly developed parts of Hong Kong and the pictures speaks for itself.
The appearance also celebrates Koenigsegg’s 25th anniversary and it’s entry into the Southern China market – all that “new Silicon Valley money” from Guangzhou now has a new destination.

Kingsway K Cars Ltd will not only sell but provide distribution, after-sales and marketing services for Southern China, Hong Kong and Macau.
The arrival of the Jesko in Hong Kong, its first appearance in the Asia-Pacific region, was celebrated in grandeur at the Ritz-Carlton, fresh from it’s global debut at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show.
The Jesko is the latest megacar by the Swedish innovators and serves as a replacement for the
Agera
 – the car that showed the Bugatti Chiron how brutal acceleration and mind-boggling top speeds are done.
Its numbers simply beggars believe –
 1280 hp
 (1600 hp on E85 fuel) with
1500 Nm
 of torque from a revised 5.0-litre twin-turbo V8.
While official performance figures have yet to be revealed, something Koenigsegg will not be discreet about, Christian von Koenigsegg has been reported to call the car “Jesko 300” at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show – perhaps an indication of the car’s 300mph top speed, or more.
IMAGE GALLERY


Kia Sportage 2.0 EX introduced in Malaysia, new base model for RM130k

Naza Kia Malaysia (NKM), the official distributor of Kia vehicles in Malaysia has just introduced a new variant to the Kia Sportage line up. The new Kia Sportage 2.0 EX officially replaces the
2.0 KX and 2.0 GT
 as the entry-level model while the
2.0 CRDi GT
 soldiers on as the range topping model.
Visually, the Sportage EX is the middle ground between the KX and GT trim, it gets HID projector headlamps with LED daytime running lights, simple bumper with halogen foglamps, new 18-inch five twin-spoke alloys and LED taillamps.
Name
Kia Sportage 2.0 EX
Kia Sportage 2.0L CRDi GT AWD
Engine
1,999cc; four-cylinder Nu MPI
1,995cc; CRDi turbodiesel
Transmission
6-speed automatic
Max Power
152 hp @ 5,250 rpm
182 hp @ 4,000 rpm
Max Torque
192 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
400 Nm @ 1,750 – 2,750 rpm
Price (OTR without Insurance)
RM129,888
RM153,888
Inside you’ll find keyless entry and start, automatic climate control, 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, rain sensor, auto folding side mirrors, Electrochromic Mirror (ECM) and auto dimming rear view mirror.
Power comes from the same 2.0-litre Nu MPI four-cylinder engine that serves up
152 hp
 and
192 Nm
 of torque. Drive is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.
Fortunately, the entry level Sportage has retained the full range of safety kit – six airbags, ABS, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) as well as front and rear parking sensors.
The Kia Sportage 2.0 EX is priced at RM129,888 (OTR without insurance) and is available in five exterior shades: Cherry Black, Mercury Blue, Fiery Red, Snow White Pearl and Mineral Silver. Like all Kia models, the Sportage comes with 5-Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty.
IMAGE GALLERY
Kia Sportage 2.0 CRDi GT


Production-spec Preface Concept officially launched in China as the Geely Xing Rui

After unveiling the
Preface Concept

at the Shanghai Auto Show last year, followed by a
pretty ambitious advertisement spot

highlighting the car’s German sport sedan-rivalling handling prowess, Geely has now officially launched the CMA-based sedan as the Xing Rui in China.
The Geely Xing Rui is billed as a model under the Geely 4.0 Era – the brand’s fourth-generation of models that are based on modular architectures, featuring advanced connectivity, intelligence, and quality that include safety as a standard.
But first up, the name – which Geely says “means everything in China”.
Xing
 means star in chinese, while
Rui
roughly translates to a good omen for the future.
The Xing Rui is the brand’s second CMA-based model after the
Xing Yue coupe SUV
, which Geely says has allowed the design team to take the Preface from concept to production form within a short time frame. To date, the CMA platform is already underpinning nearly 700,000 cars on the road across the wider Geely Group, including the
Volvo XC40
, and
Lynk & Co 03
.
In production form, the new Xing Rui pretty much remains truthful to the stunning exterior design seen on the concept car, with highlights include an evolved Expanding Cosmos grille, wider body and track, along with larger alloy wheels for an enhanced road presence.
The minimalist philosophy in the interior of the concept is also brought over into production form, though a lot less concept car-like, and without the cool B-pillar-less scissor doors for obvious reasons. The dashboard architecture was brought over from the concept with slight changes to the material choices, and the free-standing digital instrument cluster is replaced by a binnacle instead, perhaps for better legibility under direct sunlight.
The use of a dual-colour upholstery and intricate topstitching on the door cards and dashboard adds to premium image of the D-segment sedan. Geely says that the CMA platform allowed its engineers to focus on interior space, as well as noise, vibration and harshness (NVH), with special attention paid to increase the legroom and overall comfort of the rear passengers.
Under the hood of the all-new Xing Rui is a two-litre turbocharged engine, mated to a
seven-speed dual clutch gearbox
 that is used throughout the entire Geely family. No performance figures have been provided as of yet, but with an advertisement singling out the German sport sedans, we’re hoping that it’ll be something quite exciting!
Other highlights on the Geely Xing Rui include a “highly intelligent super brain connected to the cloud”, i.e. a connected infotainment system, that is able to update itself over-the-air (OTA), which enables the model to “continuously evolve and never become outdated”.
With rumours suggesting that the Preface Concept – and now the Xing Rui – might become the next Proton Perdana, would you be placing an order when it makes its way onto our shores?
GALLERY


Review: Toyota Vios GR-S – Stimulates the eyes, sedates the soul

With the introduction of the
Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival (TGRF)
 featuring the Vios Challenge one-make race, the communications for motorsports and performance-enhancement changed to Gazoo Racing or GR. As such, time was needed to slowly incorporate and build the GR brand image and awareness in Malaysia.
Thanks to three seasons of the Vios Challenge racing events at TGRF, the introduction of the
Vios GR Sport
 is more than just a simple task of adding on a different body kit. Priced at
RM95,284
, the GR Sport is certainly much more than a
RM7,700 accessories
 package fitted on to the 1.5G variant.
The scope of changes in the Toyota Vios GR Sport is much more compared to the previous generations under the TRD Sportivo nameplate. Dynamic performance now takes centre stage with large 17-inch gloss black wheels, stickier tyres, sports suspension plus a different tuning to the CVT to offer
10-steps
 (or speeds) on top of the exterior and interior visual changes.
First off, the Vios GR Sport is true eye-candy when viewed in the metal, especially when paired with the Platinum White Pearl paintwork. The larger
17-inch wheels
 with Toyo TR1 tyres in 205/45R17 size measures a larger diameter, filling the wheel arches even better.
Similar to many
GR Sport
 treatments around the world (e.g. C-HR, Corolla, Aqua), there are no changes to the performance of the engine. Peak outputs from the
1.5-litre
 engine remain the same since its introduction in
late-2016
 and carried over to the 2019 model-
107 hp
 at 6,000 rpm and
140 Nm
 of torque at 4,200 rpm.
Acceleration from standstill has suffered from the fitment of the larger and wider wheels. Yours truly found the Toyota Vios GR Sport nowhere near as quick as the
Vios 1.5G
 with regular 16-inch wheels, especially picking up the pace from low speed (coming out of junctions and U-turns). Turning on the Sport mode helps a little, but this also means the engine rpms are held higher, which increases more unpleasant engine noises.
Driving around the multitude of repair work, patches, plus potholes in the streets of Petaling Jaya, the sports suspension offers a
comfortable
 ride without any harshness. Great work from the local team in dialling in the valve setting and coil spring stiffness, which is said to be a
20% increase
 compared to the regular Vios model! Yes, the Toyota Vios GR Sport will look even better with a 15 mm reduction in vehicle height, but technical constraints mean the ride height has to follow the 1.5G model.
Bodyroll and composure of the vehicle are now a lot better, but that is expected from the sports suspension. It is however a pity that the steering ratio cannot be changed. Being a product designed in the early 2010s, the steering requires quite a lot of turning input to achieve the desired trajectory. Competitors that have been launched recently actually feel sharper, more natural in this respect.
What is amazing is the level of sound insulation this generation of Toyota Vios has. Even fitted with 205-section tyres featuring sports tread and pattern, the cabin remains quiet at all speeds.
Now for the biggest party piece that even UMW Toyota created a pair of badges for it- the
10-step CVT
. In summary, the “gear ratio” or steps does provide a tonne of sportiness without breaking the speed limit. No charts or graphics were made, so yours truly tried to illustrate what the steps felt and looked like.
Leaving at full throttle in M-mode (manual) will not hold the engine rpm at its designed 6,200 rpm redline. The control unit in fact doesn’t even go near the tachometer’s red zone, automatically “shift up” to the next “gear” at close to
6,000 rpm
. Each shift (at least to the seventh step/gear) is accompanied by a well-calibrated
“shift shock”
 like a certain dual-clutch transmission from Wolfsburg, no matter if you leave it to shift on its own at full throttle or manually pulling the right paddle. Quite impressive to be honest, the whole system a lot
more engaging
 than many other manual modes.

The driving experience of the Vios GR Sport commence 19:00 into the video. Enjoy!
Each upshift sees the rpm drop between 700 to 1,000 rpm, based on observation. This means, shifting up at 5,000 rpm will see the rpm drop to about 4,250 rpm, while leaving it to self-shift/cycle the 10 steps at full throttle sees the rpm drop to circa 5,100 rpm. The short range of rpm drop allows the engine to be at its most optimum power band, according to UMW Toyota.
This single change in the Toyota Vios GR Sport might sound more performance-oriented, giving the driver impression of changing many gears like in a scene from Fast and Furious movies, but in reality, the pace feels slower. It does sound like an unnecessary exercise too, with the driver clicking the right paddle four times just to reach 90 km/h.
A trivia to end the sporty variant of the Toyota Vios in Malaysia. In the vehicle’s JPJ registration card or ‘geran’, the TRD Sportivo variants are named as ‘Vios 1.5S’, as the TRD Sportivo is an accessory package that is fitted on the 1.5S model code. Similar to this Vios GR Sport, it will just be labelled as Vios 1.5G as the entire accessory package is fitted to an existing 1.5G variant.
Toyota Vios 1.5 GR Sport Specifications:
Engine
1,496cc, four-cylinder, Dual VVT-i
Max horsepower
107 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Max torque
140 Nm @ 4,200 rpm
Transmission
CVT, 10-speed in Manual mode
Price, OTR (w/o ins, with and SST exemptions)
RM95,284, add. RM400 for Pearl White
GALLERY


Review: The facelifted Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TSI Elegance – true class doesn’t shout

The 8th generation compact executive sedan was first introduced in 2015 so it was about time for a mid-life refresh, and as usual such a facelift brings about a lot of significant changes in the car.
Even so, can the 2020 Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TSI Elegance remain relevant in this increasingly tough segment?
There’s only one variant available and you’re looking at it. Priced at
RM189,012 on-the-road without insurance
, this is quite the departure from the seven different ones available in the pre-facelift model.
So let’s get into it. As this is a review of the Passat, we’ll focus on the day-to-day with the car so if you want a comprehensive equipment list,
you can find it here
.
How does it drive?
Excellently when used for daily commuting. The new 2.0-litre TSI turbocharged engine makes
190 hp
 and
320 Nm
 of torque. The grunt comes in around 1,500 rpm so it’s highly usable from the get-go.
Yes, the numbers are slightly down compared to the outgoing engine, but the difference is not as apparent as you’d think in the real world.
It’s still more than 300 Nm of twist, mind you, so whenever liberties
are taken with the accelerator, the Passat will surge towards the horizon with ease.
The engine finds a capable partner in the equally
new wet-clutch 7-speed DSG transmission
. When left to its own devices, it is both smooth and quick, with the familiar twitch when moving off from standstill.
I really enjoyed driving the Passat around. It felt noticeably more refined and more comfortable. Harsher road conditions are filtered out well from the cabin, while the suspension felt supple through speed bumps. It’s not the last word in dynamic driving, but it can’t be faulted either.
It looks great
The word facelift means, of course, that exterior updates are to be expected and in the new Passat, the updates look great. A new bumper design on both ends give it a fresh visual appeal, while both head and tail lights have also been redesigned.
The front pair utilises LED technology only while the DRLs work overtime as sequential turn signal indicators. Meanwhile, the rear light clusters also feature the same turn indicators, and have also received a welcome redesign to resemble a wave.
New 18-inch alloy wheels called Liverpool accompany these changes, and there’s a new ‘PASSAT’ word adorning the rump just below the VW badge. This is the new trend, isn’t it.
Overall, it is a reserved update, but a tasteful one nonetheless. Subtlety is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it is definitely mine.
What else is there to like?
The sombre interior loses the wood trim from the outgoing car, but gains a
new 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment display
that cleans up all the buttons in the centre, leaving a minimalist and appealing instrument panel. The same system supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and there are three USB-C ports by which a phone can connect to the system.
Besides that, there is a 30-colour ambient lighting system to suit any mood, although I left it in light blue all the time. The Passat just felt like a light blue kind of car. The intensity of the light is also adjustable, although once set to the desired setting, it was never touched again.
Aside from these high tech stuff, the old adjustable centre armrest makes a welcome comeback, while rear passengers can sit in comfort thanks to the sunshades – two on the windows and one on the rear windscreen – that keep out the worst of a sunny afternoon.
The dislikes
The
new 11.7-inch Digital Cockpit instrument cluster
 does not sync with Google Maps or Waze, and instead has its own version of maps and there’s literally not a soul in the universe who will use it over the aforementioned established solutions, so it’s time to remove such features.
Aside from this, I was never quite at ease in the driver seat. The seat has a back support that seems to dig into the my upper back, and I never grew accustomed to it.
It’s clear that Volkswagen’s choice to keep only one variant in its Passat line-up is a reflection of current buyer sentiments. Demand for SUVs continue to increase, while the D-segment sedans receive less and less attention.
And in this segment, the consensus in the office is that the car to beat would be the fantastic
Toyota Camry
. The Passat loses in terms of dynamic driving, but on a straight bit of road, the Japanese car won’t see where it went.
The weight behind the badge is also a factor, but this is relative as it depends on where you stand in the Conti vs Jap discussion.
The new Passat is just so, both as a sum of its parts, and also due to its overall updates and tasteful execution. In a world where products demand your attention, the Passat is quietly confident that those who know, would know it’s a car worth buying.
IMAGE GALLERY