Toyota Camry to be killed in Japan after 43 years – future generations for foreign markets only

The
Toyota Camry
is set to be discontinued in its home country Japan by the end of 2023, after an illustrious 43 years of history, reports
Nikkei Asia
.
The publication cited poor sales as the reason for the flagship’s discontinuation, where fewer than 6,000 units were sold in Japan throughout last year – an issue that has only been amplified by the ongoing chip shortage issues.
This is in stark contrast to the model’s performance in overseas markets, with over 600,000 units sold in total globally, particularly in China and Southeast Asia, where a Camry – whose name comes from the Japanese word for “crown” – is still seen as an aspirational car for its high-end image.
The Camry is also especially popular in the USA, in part due to the American consumers’ preference for larger vehicles. Over its 43 years of history, the Camry has sold over 21 million units throughout the world – only 1.3 million of those coming from Japan.
RELATED:
Anwar Ibrahim cancels Mercedes-Benz S600 order, sticks with Toyota Camry for PM duties
While the Camry will soon be killed off in Japan, production of the model will still be continuing in the Tsutsumi Plant in Japan for exports. Production for the domestic Japanese market meanwhile will stop by the end of the year, though the company has already reportedly notified its dealerships in Japan to stop taking orders for the model.
The upcoming Camry models under development will also be sold exclusively to foreign markets.
READ MORE:
Facelift 2022 Camry’s new feature makes it more Lexus than Toyota
Here in Malaysia, the Toyota Camry was
 last updated in February 2022
, featuring a slight nip and tuck to its exterior design, alongside new creature comfort features on the interior, plus – more significantly – the highly-awaited Dynamic Force powertrain underneath the bonnet.
Watch our full review of the D-segment sedan here
.


Porsche celebrates 50 years of Porsche design with limited 911 Targa 4 GTS

Porsche is celebrating 50 years of Porsche Design with an exclusive 911, limited to just 750 vehicles, with features and details that pay homage to the iconic designs of Ferdinand Porsche.
These unique features include a silver 911 badge with serial number on the dashboard, the late Ferdinand Porsche’s signature, classic checked pattern seats and a red second hand on the Porsche Design Subsecond clock from the Sport Chrono Package.
RELATED:
 Porsche 911 Targa 4S Heritage Design Edition now in Malaysia, from RM1.6 million
“Black was the colour of the very first Porsche Design product, the Chronograph I. That’s why we’ve chosen it for our limited-edition model. Using Platinum as an accent colour elevates the Black paintwork in the same way chrome details do,” said Porsche Design.
The Targa bar is painted in Platinum and paired with wheels from the 911 Turbo S. The special edition also features a ‘Porsche Design 50th Anniversary Edition’ badge on the slats of the rear bonnet.
Customers of the limited edition model can also purchase the Chronograph 1, a remake of the original from 1972 with a serial number engraved on the back case that’s limited to just 500 pieces.
The 911 Targa 4 GTS delivers 480 h and 570 Nm from a turbocharged 3.0-litre flat-six, paired to either a 7-speed manual or 8-speed PDK gearbox.
RELATED:
History will tell you that this is the most beautiful Porsche 911 Targa of all time
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The Winner’s List from the Malaysia Car of the Year (COTY) Awards 2017

Last night at the Malaysia Car of the Year (COTY) Awards 2017 saw Honda taking a big collective win in multiple categories along with the “Overall Car of the Year” award with the Honda Jazz Sport Hybrid.
The 16th edition of the awards also saw Tan Chong Group taking home an award for “Championing Sustainable Mobility” while the “Automotive Man of the Year” award went to Dato’ Dr. Zahari Husin for his work as Managing Director of Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd.
Elsewhere, the Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine was conferred the “Good Design” and “Plug-in Hybrid Car of the Year” awards while the Hyundai Ioniq 1.6 HEV was appointed the Hybrid Car of the Year.
Unsurprising, the Mazda CX-5 was the “Top Export Car of the Year” while a wide range of models from various manufacturers were all conferred their deserved share of appraisals.
Sedans & Hatchbacks
0,001 – RM 60,000
Perodua Myvi 1.5
RM 60,001 – RM 100,000
Honda Jazz Sport Hybrid
RM 100,001 – RM 130,000
Hyundai Ioniq 1.6 HEV
RM 130,001 – RM 160,000
Honda Civic 1.5 TC-P
RM 161,001 – RM 200,000
Toyota Camry Hybrid 2.5
RM 200,001 – RM 250,000
BMW 330e
RM 250,001 – RM 300,000
Mercedes-Benz C350e
RM 300,001 – RM 400,000
Mercedes-Benz E250
RM 400,001 – RM 500,000
Mercedes-Benz E300
RM 500,000 and above
Mercedes-Benz S400h
SUV & Crossover
Below RM 130,000
Honda HR-V 1.8 2WD
RM 130,001 – RM 160,000
Honda CR-V 1.5 TC 2WD
RM 160,001 – RM 200,000
Kia Sorento 2.2D CRDi
RM 200,001 – RM 300,000
BMW X1 sDrive20i
RM 300,001 – RM 400,000
Mercedes-Benz GLC 250 4MATIC AMG Line
RM 400,001 – RM 500,000
Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine
RM 500,001 – RM 700,000
Jaguar F-Pace Prestige
MPV
Below RM 100,000
Honda BR-V 1.5
RM 100,001 – RM 160,000
Toyota Innova 2.0
Above RM 160,000
Kia Grand Carnival 2.2D
Pick-up
Below RM 120,000
Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2.4G (4×4)
Above RM 120,000
Toyota Hilux Double Cab 2.8G (4×4)
Coupe & Cabriolet
Below RM 350,000
Subaru BRZ
RM 350,000 – RM 550,000
BMW M2 Coupe
Above RM 550,000
Porsche 911 Carrera 4S
The Malaysian COTY 2017 was held in the run-up to the Malaysia Autoshow 2017 which will take place in MAEPS, Serdang this 9th – 12th of November 2017. Those looking to check it out can apply the “Autoshow” promo code on Grab for a discount of RM 8 for two rides. At arrival, both the GRAB passengers will be given complimentary passes for the Malaysia Autoshow 2017 powered worth RM 10 each.


Audi Malaysia opens new 4S centre in Setia Alam

If you’re living in the depths of Selangor, you no longer have to venture out of the deep end to check out an Audi in say, Glenmarie or Damansara, as Audi Malaysia has opened a new 60,000 sq ft 4S centre in Setia Alam.
The four storey showroom features Audi’s “Terminal Architecture” concept which projects the company’s current corporate identity, furnishing and equipment that complies to the standards set by Audi AG.
The opening also marks the appointment of Rimau International as part of the Audi retail and service network in Malaysia.
In conjunction with the opening, the
 public is invited to attend the Audi Centre Setia Alam Open Haus
 from the 4th to 5th of October 2019. For more information, please contact the dealership at 03-33626555.
Audi Centre Setia Alam
 is located at No. 22A, Persiaran Setia Dagang, Setia Alam, Seksyen U13, 40170 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan. The service centre is open Monday to Saturday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. The sales showroom is open daily from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm.
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Ford Fiesta ST gets optional LSD & Launch Control, coming to Malaysia?

Ford has announced a new range of Sports Technologies for the
new Ford Fiesta ST
 where customers will have the option for a Limited Slip Differential (LSD), Ford-patented force vectoring springs and Launch Control to deliver an even more engaging driving experience.
The third-generation Fiesta ST will be offered, for the first time, with an optional
Quaife LSD
 fitted onto the front axle, helping to optimise front-end traction during cornering. The LSD works in tandem with the
Torque Vectoring Control
 that reduces understeer by applying braking force on the inner front wheel when cornering.
European Ford Performance director, Leo Roeks said, “Performance car drivers will be familiar with the dreaded ‘one-wheel peel’, where a fast corner exit is hampered by an overload of torque to the inside wheel.”
“We’ve tuned the all-new Fiesta ST’s mechanical LSD option to work seamlessly with enhanced Torque Vectoring Control to deliver the best possible natural traction without ‘burning away’ excess torque with brake interventions,” Roeks added.
Developed in-house, the
force vectoring springs
 are non-uniform, non-interchangeable, directionally-wound springs that are mounted to the standard dampers. The result is increased lateral stiffness, sharper turn-in, more responsive steering inputs without compromising on comfort and ride quality. The new springs also forego the Watt’s linkage solution typically used to enhance stiffness,
saving 10 kilograms
.
Lastly, the optional
Launch Control
 module allows drivers to achieve consistent and fast launches by simply activating the sequence in the instrument cluster. When prompted, the driver will have to hold the throttle fully open and allow engine speed to build up to the optimum point. Once the car is prepared for launch, all the driver needs to do is release the clutch for the perfect standing start.
With the 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder EcoBoost engine that deploys
197 hp
 and
290 Nm
 to the front wheels, the little hot hatch will sprint to 100 km/h in
6.5 seconds
 with Launch Control activated. Row through all six gears yourself and you’ll reach a top speed of
231 km/h
.
Other features available on the Fiesta ST includes cylinder deactivation technology that improves fuel economy by
up to 11 percent
,
Active Exhaust Valve technology
 that intensifies the exhaust note on demand, selectable
Drive Modes
 – Normal, Sport and Track, the SYNC 3 infotainment system, B&O PLAY high-end audio system, Lane Keeping Aid, Traffic Sign Recognition and more.
Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC), the official distributor of Ford vehicles in Malaysia had the previous-generation Ford Fiesta ST on sale that proved to be quite a popular choice among driving enthusiasts. Looking at how they also introduced high-performance models like the
Mustang GT
, it should be a matter of time till we see this manual hatchback in showrooms.
IMAGE GALLERY
Ford Fiesta ST with Sports Technologies


Selected Mercedes-Benz service centres now back in operation during MCO

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) has announced through a
Facebook post
 that selected Mercedes-Benz service centres nationwide will be reopened during the MCO.
The announcement follows the commencement of the third phase of the
Movement Control Order (MCO)
, where selected industries are allowed to operate, subject to approval from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).
The list of
 26 Mercedes-Benz service centres
 allowed to operate – expected to increase over time – includes those operated by Hap Seng Star, Cycle and Carriage, Mofaz, Asbenz, and BR Jaya. The up-to-date list is available on MBM’s website
here
.
To ensure the safety of its customers and staff, MBM said that extensive measures are in place at these service centres. Walk-in customers will not be allowed during this time to observe social distancing and crowd control rules.
MBM advices to contact your preferred dealership to make an appointment. Alternatively, Mercedes me registered users can also use the
online portal
 to schedule an appointment.
Last week, MBM also announced that all valid warranties expiring between 13 March and 30 June 2020 will be
extended by 60 days from the 30th of June
. Similarly, all cars with a scheduled service due date falling during the MCO period (13 March to 28 April) will be given a 60-day grace period to carry out their maintenance work.
Mercedes-Benz is the second brand to announce the resumption of operation of their service centres following the third phase of the MCO. Yesterday, UMW Toyota also announced that
selected service centres are now being reopened
for “emergency and urgent service requirements only”.


BMW reverses controversial subscription fee for Apple CarPlay

BMW announced in July that there will be a
subscription fee
 for the use of Apple CarPlay in their vehicles, to the dismay of many consumers. Now just a little over four months after the announcement,
Autocar UK
reported that BMW has reversed the controversial decision in the UK.
We reached out to a BMW Malaysia spokesperson, who has confirmed that this change will be applicable worldwide, and will therefore include Malaysia. The update will happen in stages, and there are no exact timeline for our market other than “by the year end to early next year”.
 The service previously required a fee of RM513 per year.
BMW has previously cited the complexity of implementing wireless Apple CarPlay as the reason for the charge, but BMW Malaysia has assured that this functionality will still be available to customers after the change.
No refunds will be provided to existing paying customers of the service. However, according to the BMW Malaysia spokesperson, most of their customers have yet to pay for the use of Apple CarPlay, due to the six-months free trial on every new car purchase. The customers will not be required to pay a fee for Apple CarPlay once their free trial expires.
The subscription fee was initially introduced with the brand’s iDrive 7.0 operating system.
On a side note, Android smartphone users are still out of luck, as BMW Malaysia has noted that there are currently no projected time frame for the implementation of Android Auto in their cars. BMW has previously said that they expect to equip their new models with the feature within the year.


The new Bugatti Chiron Super Sport is all about top speed!

“From the front splitter to the rear diffuser, every centimetre of its skin is designed for top speed”.
That’s how Bugatti summed up their latest creation, the Chiron Super Sport, and it should give you a clear idea of what it’s all about.
Find out more about the standard Chiron Sport here!
It’s got
1,600 hp and 1,600 Nm
 from an 8.0-litre 16-cylinder engine with four turbochargers and all that helps propel the Chiron Super Sport from 0 to 200 km/h in just 5.8 seconds.
Someone in Ukraine tried to build a replica of the Bugatti Chiron and here’s how it looks like!
Interestingly, the 0 to 100 km/h figure was not revealed although Bugatti did mention that it is 7% faster from 0 to 400 km/h compared to the
standard Chiron
.
Even the driving modes offer a hint of what this car is essentially built for; with one called the “Autobahn” and the other “Top Speed”.
Check out the RM1.2 million Bugatti pool table set made of carbon fiber and titanium; only 30 units available!
But what makes this Chiron Super Sport so special, is its
 440 km/h top speed
. To achieve this, not only has Bugatti given the Super Sport larger turbos but also a new transmission.
Significant changes were made to the exterior as well. They’ve
stretched the body to be 250 mm longer
 compared to a standard Chiron for better aerodynamics and to maximise downforce at the rear, they’ve installed a bigger rear diffuser and repositioned the exhausts to the sides; now looking like a pair of shotguns aimed at anyone stupid enough to get close.
Click here to watch the Chiron Sport drag race a fighter jet!
The nine exhaust air holes on each fender are more than just a nod to the Bugatti EB 110 Super Sport. They also serve to release the air pressure from the front wheel wells, thereby generating streamlined downforce at the front.
Watch this mesmerising video of the Chiron Pur Sport ripping through the Nurburging circuit!
The new aluminum wheels in a five-Y-spoke design are wrapped in newly-developed Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres; said to be the only tyres that can consistently drive up to 500 km/h. It is said that every tyre is x-rayed after being made in order to spot the tinniest defects.
Bugatti will soon begin with the manufacture of the Chiron Super Sport in Molsheim, France and each is set to cost (approx. RM16 million).
Here’s what you need to know about the Bugatti Chiron Sport!
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Malaysian takes delivery of one-of-a-kind Apollo Intensa Emozione hypercar

It’s called the Apollo Intensa Emozione ML Chameleon Golden Dragon. Quite a mouthful eh? But for good reason.
For starters, Intensa Emozione means “intense emotions” and
according to its owner
 whom we shall refrain to elaborate on, the one-of-a-kind bespoke hypercar carries a deeper meaning than its “intensa” given name.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZhSJu-mLQY
“A Chameleon Golden Dragon is very flexible; able to change and adapt to the most challenging conditions of life. It is the most powerful dragon with leadership qualities & attitude yet it does not belittle others.”
“In fact, it encourages others to be even more successful than itself because it has no fear of losing. It teaches others and also learn from those that are wiser & knowledgeable than itself,” he added.
Details of the particular car is scarce, but we do know that the standard V12 model in itself, possesses “intensa” performance.

Under the carbon fibre body, is a naturally-aspirated 6.3-litre V12 with
780 hp
,
 760 Nm
, a 6-speed sequential gearbox and a whole 12 different traction control settings to play with.
The
most “intensa” car we’ve driven, the Ferrari 812 Superfast
, also with a naturally-aspirated engine (6.5-litre) makes
800 hp
 and
718 Nm
.
Unlike the Apollo IE as it’s more commonly referred to, which weighs just 1,250 kg, the Superfast tips the scale over 1,500 kg so you can only imagine what the performance is like with a better power-to-weight ratio.
“To maintain exclusivity, we will only build one sole batch of 10 units of the Apollo IE, each to the highest degree of customisation requested by its owner,” said the company.


Subaru Levorg appointed as BTCC race car, the return of racing wagons!

While station wagons (or estates) are mainly for the practical minded, putting a fast engine into a wagon is somehow addictive. What more when they’re meant to go flat out and engage in some heated fender benders with other race cars at the track.
Subaru is currently the latest car manufacturer to join the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC),  and they’ve appointed the Levorg wagon to hit the ground running. Subaru, together with Team BMR, will field two touring car legends, Jason Plato and Colin Turkington, for glory in this year’s BTCC.
To conform with BTCC’s standards, the team swapped the car’s all-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive configuration. The standard engine is also removed to make way for a
2.0-litre turbocharged boxer
 unit from Mountune Race Engines.
While putting a wagon against a field of fast hatches such as the Honda Civic, Ford Focus, and Mercedes A-Class may seem like a handicapped affair, the team remains optimistic with their Levorg race car. The wagon’s strong drag coefficient, punchy boxer engine, low centre of gravity and better weight distribution are among the strengths identified.
The Levorg also became the third wagon to join the BTCC after the exploits of the Volvo 850 in 1994 and more recently, the Honda Civic Tourer. Besides, who would love to see fast wagons perform two-wheel over corners? We do!


Renault Arkana unveiled, new coupe SUV to take on Russia market

Renault has just unveiled their latest mid-sized SUV named the Renault Arkana at the 2018 Moscow Motor Show. Unlike traditional SUVs, the Arkana features a distinctive coupe-crossover body style, opening a new market segment for the French carmaker.
Interestingly, there are no immediate plans for the Arkana to go on sale in Europe but will be introduced to the Russian market in 2019 and other undesignated Asia markets. However, Renault positions the coupe crossover as a C-segment rival with global ambitions.

The Arkana wears the Renault family face that is present on their newer models, having “fangs” for their LED daytime running lights around the slim headlamps, horizontal slats for the grille and angular trims on the lower section. A silver trim at the lower front lip highlights the Arkana’s robust and go anywhere nature.
Its coupe crossover silhouette is obvious from the side with its sloping roofline that tapers downwards as it approaches the C-pillar – a very similar profile to the BMW X4 and Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe. A set of 19-inch alloys fills up the arches nicely and gives the coupe crossover the ground clearance it needs to face different terrains. This is merely a first preview of the Arkana and details of the interior is not revealed to the public.
Senior Vice President, Corporate Design of Groupe Renault, Laurens Van den Acker said: “The Arkana show car is a distinctive coupé-crossover, striking balance between the elegance of a saloon and the powerful stance of an SUV. We have dialled in specific Renault cues, with a strong design, strength and sensuality with a French touch.”
The Renault Arkana will play an important role for the brand’s
Drive the Future
 strategic plan where Groupe Renault intends to expand its product range to increase global sales volumes up to 5 million units by 2022.
The C-segment is currently the most dynamic and challenging sector of the automotive industry, especially SUVs. Customers’ needs are getting more and more diverse as a result, the Arkana is born from those customers’ new expectations.
IMAGE GALLERY


Pictures of brand new W213 Mercedes-Benz E-Class leaked!

The fifth generation Mercedes E-Class (W213) is perhaps one of the most important car launches in 2016, and the good news here is we do not need to wait until its official unveiling in Detroit Motor Show. What we have here are images from a German site and the result is, well, stunning but familiar.
Judging from our first impression, the new E-Class follows very closely in terms of its design, and some may argue that it looks just like a blown up C-Class or downsized S-Class. The W213 gains an additional 65mm in its wheelbase at 2,939mm, while overall length has increased by 43mm to 4,923mm. The car also boasts a
low drag coefficient of 0.23,
 which is slick for a premium saloon segment.
The same tune resonates within the cabin – a place not all that strange for those acquainted with the W205 C-Class and W222 S-Class. We’ve also
gone into detail on the new E-Class’ interior
, which in brief gets a new digital instrument cluster, new thumb controls built into the steering wheel and a variety of cabin customisation including a 64-colour ambient lighting.
Mercedes-Benz will equip the new E-class with a choice of four and six-cylinder engine, one of which will power the E350e plug-in hybrid variant. A
nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic transmission
 is expected to be mated with these engines as well.
More info on the hot new Mercedes-Benz E-Class will surface next week when the car makes its grand debut at the Detroit Motor Show. Stay tuned!
Image Source:
http://auto-presse.de/
IMAGE GALLERY


Japanese tuners go to work on the new Toyota GR86, making over 300 hp!

If you’ve been around the block for a while, you’ll know that one of the main complaints on the OG Hachiroku twins was that it lacked power. That is why forced induction systems, such as turbochargers and superchargers, were common modifications for the
Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ
 over the past 10 years or so.
So naturally, when the
all-new GR86
was unveiled earlier this year, the first thing that Toyota had to upgrade was the powertrain – which they did. The boxer engine underneath the hood now displaces 2.4 litres instead of two, and the output was bumped up to 235 hp and 250 Nm.
Bone-stock boxer engine with no turbines in sight.
But what the new Toyota GR86 doesn’t come with, are turbo and supercharger kits. So just as the saying “haters gonna hate, tuners gonna tune” goes, aftermarket specialists immediately went to work on the new car – and within just a couple of months, already have something to show at the “Fuji 86 Style” event at the Fuji Speedway last Sunday.
The first of the bunch of force-fed Hachiroku is called the “GR86 Concept GReddy Version”, going with the turbocharger route. Paired to the 2.4-litre Boxer engine is GReddy’s T620Z RX turbocharger, which – from the model number – looks like an updated version of the one offered with the previous 86.
The Japanese tuner did not reveal any performance numbers, but based on their previous work with the 86, it’s safe to assume the new tuned GR86 will make upwards of 300 hp and 350 Nm of torque. Supporting the extra power are the new engine oil cooler, a Power Extreme 3 exhaust muffler, as well as a significantly larger brake system with six-pot front and four-pot rear callipers.
To complement the additional performance, GReddy also developed a new suit of carbon fibre armour in partnership with Voltex, consisting of a new front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser, and a “GT-style” rear wing. The exterior modifications are capped off by a set of 18-inch eight-spoke Volk Racing NE24 wheels.
Meanwhile, Japanese rivals HKS went the other direction with a supercharger kit for the new Toyota GR86. By equipping the car with what it calls the GT2 Supercharger System, HKS says their tuned GR86 will make around the region of
340 hp
, but did not reveal any torque figures.
Of course, to support that much extra power, HKS also had to fit a new engine oil cooler, ECU, and a LA twin-plate clutch underneath the bonnet. To take it to the next level, the show car was also fitted with the brand’s Hi-Power Spec L II lightweight exhaust system, as well as the Hipermax S adjustable suspensions – which the company says calls it “the best ride in HKS suspension history”.
For bodywork, the HKS Toyota GR86 Concept is decked out in dramatic carbon fibre parts, including new front splitter, canards, side skirts, rear lower spoiler elements, a ducktail spoiler, plus a massive rear wing at the back. To tie it all up, HKS also included a set of Yokohama Advan Racing GT wheels.
Both of these cars are still very much in their development phase, so there aren’t any pricing and availability information just yet. It does serve as a tantalising preview to what these aftermarket tuners can do, but the question is, do you really need
 that
 much more power?
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Toyota GR86 Concept GReddy Version
HKS Toyota GR86 Concept


Bentley Continental GT “First Edition” previewed in Malaysia

We’re pretty sure you’re aware by now that the
all-new Bentley Continental GT
 has arrived on our shores just recently. Following up with that, Bentley Kuala Lumpur invited us for an exclusive preview of the “First Edition” Bentley Continental GT.
Bespoke and exclusively appointed, the interior specification of the Continental GT First Edition has been meticulously curated by the Bentley design team to create the most luxurious Grand Tourer money can buy.
Inside, the same Bentley Rotating Display is fitted which enables a seamless switch between three different displays – a 12.3-inch touchscreen display or a three analogue dial with classic displays.
Exclusive to the First Edition are the four unique Dual Veneers for the dashboard – Tamo Ash, Liquid Amber, Dark Stained Madrona and Dark Fiddleback Eucalyptus – combined with Grand Black. What you’re seeing in the pictures is a combination of Liquid Amber and Grand Black.

Also exclusive to the First Edition are the contrast stitching on the diamond-in-diamond quilt pattern on the seats, door panels and rear quarter panels; in addition to the unique Union Jack badges found on the dashboard and front fenders.
The sound system fitted into this First Edition is the optional, top-of-the-range Naim audio system with 2200 watts of serenading prowess. The First Edition is included with the City Specification and Touring Specification. The former comes with park assist and pedestrian warning to name a few, while the latter is provided with a head-up display, adaptive cruise control and even Night Vision.
At the heart of the new Continental GT First Edition is an all-new 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12 TSi engine, mated for the first time to a dual-clutch 8-speed transmission.
A total of
626 hp
 is caressed out of the humongous engine with a highly disturbing
 900 Nm
 of torque – undoubtedly sufficient to power all four wheels (AWD) of the 2,244 kg vehicle made up with the combination of steel and aluminium. 0 to 100 km/h takes just
3.7 seconds
, onward to a top speed of 333 km/h.
The Bentley Continental GT First Edition is available for viewing until the end of March at Bentley Kuala Lumpur, by appointment only. To announce your arrival, do call 03-2165 1688.
IMAGE GALLERY


Kia EV9 teased ahead of January world debut, large EV SUV with 482km range

Kia
 has teased the production version of the
Kia EV9
 through two
Twitter posts
 ahead of its world debut at Auto Expo 2023 which is set to happen in India in January 2022. Only showing the silhouette of the Kia EV9 with a dark background, the body lines and front bumper in the teaser video are different than the
Kia Concept EV9
’s that was unveiled back in November 2021.
In August this year, Kia released official images of
a test unit of the Kia EV9 in heavy camouflage
 and stated that the EV9 will “revolutionise the large electric SUV segment, while accelerating Kia’s brand transformation and affirming its leadership in sustainable electric mobility”. Built on the same E-GMP architecture as the EV6, the EV9 has a much larger footprint and is about the size of a
Mazda CX-9
. So far, we haven’t gotten a peak of the production EV9’s interior.
No numbers have been revealed for the production version of the Kia EV9, but the Kia Concept EV9 was claimed to have an electric range of
482 km
and featured a
350 kW
 charger that allowed a charging time of
20-30 minutes
 from 10% to 80%. The production version of the Kia EV9 is expected to have a larger battery capacity than what current E-GMP models have (more than 77.4 kWh).
In its testing phase, the Kia EV9 was subjected to a demanding verification program that entails a 4WD climbing hill, a rough terrain track, and a deep-water wading test. Testing is also done on Kia’s high-speed, handling, and low-friction tracks. On top of that, it was also subjected to verification tests in locations all over the globe. The cobble roads in Belgium, for example, enable Kia’s engineers to test the EV9’s ride comfort and build quality.
RELATED:
5-door Suzuki Jimny to debut on 13 January, with brand’s concept EV
Set to make its world debut soon, some publications speculate production of the Kia EV9 to begin towards the end of 2023. The EV9 will be Kia’s second ‘EV’-series model after the
EV6
.
RELATED:
Kia EV9 teased in final testing images, to debut in Q1 2023
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EV9 test mule
EV9 test mule
EV9 test mule
EV9 test mule
Concept EV9
Concept EV9
Concept EV9
Concept EV9


11% of Honda HR-V buyers in Malaysia opted for the hybrid e:HEV RS variant

At the launch of the
Hybrid Honda Civic e:HEV RS
 today, Honda Malaysia Managing Director and CEO, Hironobu Yoshimura revealed that 11% of buyers of the
Honda HR-V
 have opted for the range-topping hybrid e:HEV RS variant thus far.
While specific numbers weren’t shared, the company previously announced that it has received over 20,000 bookings at launch back in July, where 20% of those bookings were for the e:HEV RS. The company also previously stated that it expects the hybrid variant to account for 15% of all orders over its lifetime.
The HR-V is just one of the four models in Honda Malaysia’s local model line-up to be offered with a hybrid variant. The e:HEV powertrain was first introduced on the
Honda City in 2020
, followed by the
City Hatchback in 2021
, and the
HR-V
and Civic e:HEV RS this year.
The hybrid e:HEV RS variants for Honda City and City Hatchback, meanwhile, weren’t met with as much enthusiasm here in Malaysia, accounting for only 5% and 8% of the respective models’ total sales for the first 10 months of this year. We suspect it could be due to the e:HEV RS variants’ relatively high asking price, in a segment that’s known to be price-sensitive.
Gallery: Honda HR-V RS e:HEV, from RM 141k – a better choice over the turbo?
The Honda Civic e:HEV RS, unveiled today, is Honda Malaysia’s latest addition to its electrified line-up, powered by a new e:HEV hybrid powertrain consisting of a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated direct injection engine and two electric motors, making a total of
184 hp
 and
315 Nm
. The new hybrid Honda Civic is priced at RM166,500.
The City, City Hatchback, and HR-V meanwhile use a smaller 1.5-litre e:HEV hybrid powertrain, making
108 hp
 and
253 Nm
of torque on the two City models, while the HR-V gets a higher-tuned version rated for
131 hp
.
ALSO READ:
 2022 Honda Civic e:HEV RS launched in Malaysia, from RM166,500


One week of Shell Helix Ultra with PurePlus Technology and why I like it [+Video]

As some of you might have known, Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd recently held an
oil change festival
 which saw them give out approximately 6,000 litres of their most technologically advanced engine oil to date, as well as 15,000 litres of their premium V-Power Racing fuel to 500 lucky participants.
The multinational oil and gas company’s objective was to share with car lovers the benefits of using their fully synthetic engine oil – Shell Helix Ultra with PurePlus Technology and maximising its operating potential by using the aforementioned fuel. This author was one of the 500 participants lucky enough to be given this ‘rejuvenating’ treat, but before telling you why I loved it, let us first go back to the basics of engine oils.
If you already know about engine oil and the meaning to what’s written on the bottle, then you may skip the following two paragraphs to read about my past week’s experience using Shell Helix Ultra with PurePlus Technology and V-Power Racing. For those who have no clue on what the 0W-40, 5W-40 or 10W-40 labels mean, it’s basically the viscosity grading developed over half a century ago to standardise oil changing routines during winter and summer.
Now, most commercial engine oils on the shelves today are multigrades, with the only stark difference between say, a 0W-40 and 5W-40 fully synthetic motor oils being its viscosity grade. The additives used to ensure optimal operating efficiency don’t vary much, if not at all. Allow me to break it down for you; the W in the 5
W
-40 simply stands for
Winter
– an indication of its viscosity at rest or room temperature. The lower the number (e.g. 0W-40 vs 5W-40), the thinner the oil. In most cases, we Malaysians use
5W-30/40 grade oils
, but be sure to
read your car’s instruction manual
 before grabbing a bottle or blindly sending it to your nearest workshop. It will go a long way in keeping your engine performing at its best.
The subsequent number (e.g. the
40
 in 5W-
40
) represents the
fixed
 viscosity limit it has to achieve at 100°C. Again, the lower the number, the thinner the oil at 100°C. We stress upon this highly – you must refer to your handbook on which engine oil to use. Your mechanic should not be a reference point, the handbook should. If both sources yield an unfavourable end result, you can always submit a used sample for a lab test, then get a recommendation from thereon. Viscosity grades and indexes aside, there’s more information written on the bottle, and
Drivers Technology
 has just about all the information you need, such as API and OEM specifications. To understand viscosity better,
click on the video below
.
So, with that out of the way, I’ve got a confession to make. Like many new car owners out there, I’ve paid little to no particular attention when it comes to servicing my car. My daily driver is
slightly over four years old
 now, clocking
nearly 120,000km
 on the odometer. At every scheduled maintenance of 10,000 km, I send my car in to the authorised service centre and have them do their thing while I scour the net reading up and reporting about cars, occasionally straying onto Facebook (guilty as charged) and what have you.
Before you throw your judgements, bear in mind that many car owners of recent years tend to entrust their beloved new cars to the capable hands of authorised service centres, because if they don’t, their warranty gets voided. Four years and some 120,000 km later, I finally mustered the courage to kiss my warranty programme goodbye and take up the responsibility to give my car some personal care and attention. This led me to try Shell’s most advanced fully synthetic engine oil – the result of 40-years of research using a
patented Gas-to-Liquid process
.
Shell Advanced’s Technology Manager, Mr Leo Kin Mun demonstrating the gas-to-liquid process
Like the other 500 participants at Shell’s #LoveMyRide festival, my car had its engine oil drained before receiving 4-litres of Shell’s latest engine oil, followed by
31 litres of Shell V-Power Racing
. Some of you may question the fuel choice, considering how most of us won’t even go near the
RM2.90 per litre
 pump, but that’s just Shell trying to prove a point. Which they did, to some extent. It didn’t take me a week to realise the effects following the oil change, because believe it or not, the consequent result was immediate and impressive to say the least.
The point of ignition was noticeably quicker and the engine felt smoother during idle as well as climbing up the rev range. Vibration while idling was also largely subdued, to my surprise. As for fuel economy, I managed an average of
6.5 litres per 100km
 – not too bad a feat especially after several stints of spirited driving, courtesy of the premium fuel. More updates on this next week with Shell’s FuelSave RON95.
Update: Average fuel consumption improved considerably – nearly 10 percent more fuel efficient prior to using Shell’s most advanced engine oil!
It’s absolutely imperative that you service your car at the recommended scheduled intervals, because that’s one key practice to keep your car running in its optimum condition. Picking the right engine oil for your car may prove to be a challenging task, but spare yourself some time to do a bit of research on some of the more popular brands on offer. This of course, comes after you’ve figured out which viscosity grade to go with, and this info is best obtained by going through your handbook. In case you don’t know which book I’m referring to, it’s the thick encyclopedia most commonly stashed and left untouched in your car’s glove compartment.
About Shell Helix Ultra with PurePlus Technology
This revolutionary gas-to-liquid (GTL) technology produces a clearer base oil with virtually none of the impurities found in crude oil. This base oil delivers higher levels of cleansing and protection, hence, no other motor oil cleans your engine better.
GTL base oil blended with proprietary
Active Cleansing Technology
 as found in Shell Helix Ultra with PurePlus Technology helps extend engine life, reduce maintenance costs, reduce oil consumption, maintain fuel economy and enable better cleanliness. As a result, you enjoy
enhanced performance
 and
superior wear and corrosion protection
 for your car’s engine.
The engine oil is
tried and trusted
 by some of the world’s leading engine makers. The product has received
OEM approvals
 from manufacturers including Ferrari, Maserati, Mercedes, Volkswagen, BMW, Ford, Honda, General Motors, Chrysler, and Hyundai. To experience the cleaning power of the revolutionary Shell Helix Ultra with PurePlus Technology, simply visit any of the authorised Shell Helix Workshops nationwide listed at
www.shell.com.my/helixworkshop
.


New Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan is the ultimate wind cheater

It’s interesting how careful Mercedes-Benz worded this teaser of a press release about the forthcoming A-Class Sedan as it will share the lowest drag coefficient value (at 0.22 Cd) with one other production car when it launches end of this year, i.e. the current generation BMW 5-Series.
But because it has a smaller frontal area compared to the BMW, and through extensive sealing of gaps and a clean underbody, the A-Class Sedan ‘thereby defends the original world record of the CLA Coupé’ by virtue of having the lowest drag of any production vehicle in the world. Do note that before the 5-Series came along, the CLA Coupe had already reigned with a Cd value of 0.22, which is astonishingly more slippery than eco-specials such as the Toyota Prius and Hyundai Ioniq (both at 0.24), even the Tesla Model 3 and the Audi A4 at an excellent 0.23.
China-only A-Class L Sedan debuted back in April and has a longer wheelbase.
Which brings us to the second interesting point; does this mean the A-Class Sedan replaces the CLA Coupe? Word on the street says this may not be the case, even though Mercedes-Benz calls the A-Class Sedan a ‘four-door notchback’, which for all intents and purposes describes the current CLA Coupe. Surely, if there’s going to be a replacement for the CLA, it must have a sloping hatch door at the back instead of a boot lid like it has today, or like the
new A-Class L sedan we saw
 a few months ago in China.
A-Class Sedan has same wheelbase as hatch at 2729mm; A-Class L Sedan (seen here) adds 60mm.
Unlike the China-specific long-wheelbase version, Mercedes-Benz also revealed that the new A-Class Sedan will share the same wheelbase measurement as the hatchback at 2729mm – a 29mm increment over the last generation model, along with ‘top of its segment’ rear headroom. More of the A-Class Sedan is expected to be teased in the coming months.


Like your phone, you can now control Porsche’s new infotainment system with “Hey Porsche”

For some reason still unbeknownst to us, everyone and their aunts seem to be hopping onto the personal assistant train at the moment. Porsche has just unveiled its sixth-generation infotainment system (PCM 6.0) that is set to debut on the
911
,
Cayenne
, and
 Panamera
models in the coming months, and – you guessed it – it now comes with a new “Hey Porsche” voice command system. Who actually uses these aside from when they’re trying to show off to their friends?
Anyway, just like Siri or the Google Assistant on your phones, the Voice Pilot voice assistant can now understand instructions in natural language. For example, when you say “Hey Porsche, I’m feeling cold”, the infotainment system will now automatically increase the climate control temperature.
Other things that can be controlled via the voice assistant include massage seats, ambient lighting, and navigation system. Porsche says that the system is “permanently online” and will continually learn new phrases, so it’ll constantly improve itself to provide more support to the driver.
Speaking of navigation, Porsche says that the new hardware and software architecture allows for even faster route calculations by the navigation system, and thanks to its always-on connectivity, real-time traffic information is also always taken into account in this process.
BMW has also recently introduced its iDrive 8.0 infotainment system, check it out in action here.
To be honest though, we think that most people will most likely still use Waze or Google Maps via wireless Apple CarPlay or the new Android Auto (no wireless here, sorry) connectivity. Apple Music and Podcasts are also now directly integrated into Porsche’s new infotainment system, so iPhone users can access “more than 75 million songs” directly from the car itself, no smartphone connection necessary.
Other new features on the PCM 6.0 infotainment system include a new smartphone-integrated calendar, which will let you dial into conference calls using the calendar service, as well as a built-in “good to know” operating manual.
But the most interesting feature of all (in our opinion, at least) is the “Soundtrack My Life” app, which automatically creates a personalised soundtrack in real time based on your driving style, so you can feel like a movie star on every drive.
The music will swell up with intensity under hard acceleration and cornering, but drops to a calmer pace at lower speeds or at a traffic light. Your spirited drive through the B roads on the weekend will feel very different from a sleepy, Monday morning drive to work.
Instead of licensing existing songs, Porsche has composed its own movie score-like music for the service. The Soundtrack My Life app is currently still in the beta testing phase, but the company says that it’ll also be made available in the Porsche Connect mobile app in the future.
GALLERY


Future BMW and MINI models to get traction control system from the BMW i3

BMW prides itself in the drivability of its electric vehicles as noted in the brand’s tagline – “Electric Driving Pleasure”. Thanks to its instantaneous torque from zero revolutions, electric vehicles can be difficult to tame but owing to the clever traction control system of the
i3
, anyone can enjoy an electric BMW anytime, anywhere.
Sporting a
BMW eDrive system
 that deploys
 181 hp
 and
270 Nm
 of torque from zero rpm, BMW had to employ an innovative traction control to tame the instantaneous power delivery. The traction control system used in the i3 helps improve traction and stability in less than ideal weather and road conditions, especially when accelerating out of tight corners.
Head of Chassis Development at BMW, Peter Langen, explains: “With their high levels of torque and instantaneous responses to every movement of the accelerator, electric motors already make significantly higher demands on driving stability systems than conventional power units.”
Unlike conventional driving stability systems, the i3’s traction control system operates
50 times faster
 by doing the calculations directly in the powertrain. This cuts down the long signal paths in conventional systems, resulting in quicker and more accurate reactions in the traction control system.
Now, BMW has confirmed that the i3’s innovative traction control system will be fitted into all BMW and MINI models (front-, rear- and all-wheel drive included) to provide drivers greater assurance and driving pleasure in adverse driving conditions.


Throwback Thursday: The viral Porsche video that was moving, yet amusing

For the longest time, Porsche as we knew it, was all about their 911s – until of course the Cayenne came along. How did the world turn out so wrong?
Never mind that. While the 911’s drove better and better, after over 50 years of German meticulousness, the exterior seems like a float that’s slowly losing its bulge – deflating and flattening with time.

If you’ve been observing 911s, even from the past 30 years alone, you would’ve noticed the differences.
At this point fire alarms could go off in Porsche’s design department if someone just decided to draw a different silhouette. It could be that serious, who knows.
They might even just be robots, clambering away dressed in nothing but white lab coats.
But it seems like they’re not, and this video proves it.
It showed perseverance to conserve, strong connections, and bursts of amusement – all the same things you’d probably say about a 911 – just to show that they are human.
The star in the video (aside from the countryman with a prominent beard) was the Porsche 111 tractor.
Models from the early 1950s made around
12 hp
, from a 822cc 1-cylinder air cooled engine.
There were also 2, 3, 4-cylinder variants with the latter making over
50 hp
 to power the rear wheels – all with interchangeable engine components.
While they may not be as highly sort after as the 911s of old, these tractors are still collectibles with a decent example asking for over USD15,000 (approx. RM61k).


TMS 2019: The Lexus LF-30 Electrified Concept is a futuristic work of art

Lexus has unveiled the LF-30 Electrified Concept at the Tokyo Motor Show 2019, as the headliner of the brand’s vision for an upcoming generation of electrified vehicles, dubbed “Lexus Electrified”.
Built on an electric platform that will underpin future Lexus and Toyota EVs, the design-led concept sports an aggressive exterior made possible by being an electric vehicle.
The signature Lexus spindle shape now expands from just the front grille to make up the entire shape of the vehicle, with a window glass that stretches across the entire roof, muscular fenders, roof-mounted gullwing doors, and wing-shaped headlights to form the contours of the iconic spindle.
The wing-shaped headlights are not just for visual flair either – they help form the air intakes to aid cooling performance, in addition to improving aerodynamics.
The exterior paint job in ‘Voltaic Sky’ colour employs a metal-infused coating, resulting in a unique blue-green hue to emphasise the aggressive visual appearance of the car.
The inside of the Lexus LF-30 Electrified Concept is every bit as stunning as the exterior. Lexus says its designers employed a human-centered philosophy based on ‘
Tazuna
‘, the Japanese word for rein – as used to control horses.
 All control switches in the LF-30 Concept are mounted on the steering controller, along with a wraparound gesture-controlled display, allowing the driver to control various functions of the car without shifting their vision off the road.
On the passenger side, the seating space is modeled after a first-class airliner seat, with access to a separate gesture-controlled display.
The LF-30 concept employs a new steer-by-wire system. The removal of the mechanical linkage allows the steering column to be moved away during autonomous driving modes.
Other interior highlights include artificial muscle technology rear seats, Mark Levinson audio system, and a “SkyGate” window that uses augmented reality to display starry skies, videos, and even navigation.
As per Lexus fashion, premium materials such as
Yakisugi
 (Japanese charred cedar wood) and recycled metal are used in its interior to project a posh interior appearance.
Lexus paid extra attention to driving dynamics on the FC-30 Electrified Concept, with the introduction of Lexus Advanced Posture Control technology that can manage the powertrain, steering, suspension, and brakes.
Lexus says that the new technology is a core part of the Lexus Electrified vision, and intends to apply the technology to vehicles in the electrified range.
The integrated control system regulates drive-power output independently to all four wheels, courtesy of its in-wheel electric motors, to “evoke the original fun of driving” regardless of the road surface and driving conditions.
The in-wheel electric motors and low positioning of the battery pack also enables better handling of inertia, while the steer-by-wire system allows for more flexible turning control depending on the driving conditions.
Packing a
110 kWh
 battery under the floor, the Lexus LF-30 concept promises a zero to 100 km/h sprint in just
3.8 seconds
, and a top speed of
200 km/h
, despite weighing in at
2,400 kg
.
Output figures of the electric powertrain are rated at
400 kW
 (536 hp) and
700 Nm
. Lexus also claims that the car is capable of covering
500 km
 on the WLTP cycle.
Looking around the car, you’ll be hard-pressed to find any charging ports for the electric vehicle. Lexus is instead choosing to develop a wireless conduction charging for the LF-30 and the Lexus Electrified line-up.
However in an interview with
Autocar
, Lexus Chief Engineer for electrified projects, Takashi Watanabe said “It does not mean the technology will be ready for our first production car on this platform, but in the future we want to enhance the luxuriousness of charging.


Ford Mondeo makes official Malaysia debut, sole variant priced at RM203k

We all know this one is coming, after the all-new Ford Mondeo was
put on public
display
 at Bangsar Shopping Centre. It’s now officially launched by importer and distributor, Sime Darby Auto Connexion Sdn Bhd, and carries a price tag of RM203,800, on-the-road with insurance and GST. It is built and fully imported from Ford’s new manufacturing plant in Valencia, Spain.
This rather imposing, handsome sedan is known in the North American market as the
Ford Fusion.
 However, a couple of calendars later, it was introduced to the British market. The Fusion is better known around this region as the
Mondeo
. It was also briefly featured in the James Bond flick
Casino Royale
, and tied as BBC’s
Top Gear’s Car Of The Year
 2007 with the Subaru Legacy Outback.
QUICK FACTS
Name
2015 Ford Mondeo 2.0L EcoBoost
Engine
1,999cc; turbocharged with Ti-VCT
Transmission
6-speed WITH SelectShift auto
Max Power
237 hp @ 5,300 rpm
Max Torque
345 Nm @ 2,300 – 4,900 rpm
Top Speed
240 km/h
Price (OTR
with
 insurance and GST)
RM 203,800
EXTERIOR
It seems to be A trend amongst car makers to redesign its upcoming models with a much bolder look. In this case, the front fascia of the Mondeo looks like a cut price, no-frills poor-man’s
Aston Martin Rapide
. With slender new
adaptive LED
 headlights with
LED DRLs
 mounted on a redesigned bumper, complete with a pair of fog lamps nestled parallel to the lower extremities.
Around the back however, the general styling cue remains largely similar to that of the previous generation with the difference being sleeker
LED tail lamps
, a revamped bumper with built-in rectangular chrome exhaust ports with reflector strips sitting right above it; finished off with a redesigned, more angular tail gate. Down the side, the D-Segment sedan has a better line that streams the length of the vehicle, giving it a more masculine fit and figure.
Sitting on
235/50
 profiled
17-inch alloy wheels
 that fit proportionately to the car’s design and style, whilst not seeming lost under the arches. Other features include
auto folding
 side mirrors with
puddle lamps
,
front and rear parking sensors
 and a boot mounted
reverse camera.
There’s also
automatic windscreen wipers
.
INTERIOR
The one-trim-only Mondeo comes with supple leather upholstery for the seats and various other trim pieces including the gear knob and the multi-function steering wheel. Infotainment is courtesy of an
 eight-inch LCD
 display with acoustic help from
Sony
 with a
9-speaker
 stereo system which is
MP3, Bluetooth, USB
 and
AUX
 compliant.
Dual-zone
 EATC ( Electronic Automatic Temperature Control
)
climate control helps in keeping the occupants cool and comfy. Other key features include
10-way electric adjustable seats
 and keyless entry with
Push/Start button
.
PERFORMANCE
Under the hood, therein lies the secret to the Mondeo’s ability to gird its loins. Powered by an EcoBoost – four cylinder
2.0-litre GTDi
powerplant that produces
237 hp
 at 5,300 rpm and
345 Nm
 from 2,300 to 4,900 rpm. This is thanks to the turbocharged direct-injection with Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) with smart regenerative charging. Power is then transferred to the front wheels via a
six-speed
torque converter transmission (no DSG here folks) with
SelectShift manual mode
 that can be operated via the paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel.
All that performance equates to a fuel consumption rate of
8.0 litres per 100km
. The handling on the other hand is dealt with by a McPherson strut setup at the front and a multi-link suspension arm structure at the back.
SAFETY
The Mondeo comes jam-packed with a bucket load of safety acronyms such as
ESC
 (Electronic Stability Control),
BA
 (Brake Assist),
HLA
 (Hill Launch Assist) and
 TCS
 ( Traction Control System); just to name a few.
Isofix
 childseat mounts,
Adaptive Cruise Control
 and
Lane Keeping Alert
,
seat belt pretensioners
 and
 seven all-round SRS airbags
 are some of the reasons this handsome piece of kit got awarded a
five-star NCAP
 safety rating.
WHAT ELSE?
The Mondeo is available in all authorised Ford dealerships and comes in
four varying colours,
namely Frozen White, Tectonic Silver, Panther Black and Ruby Red. It comes with a three-year or 100,000km (whichever comes first) warranty package deal.
IMAGE GALLERY

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This should be the new poster boy for lightweight supercars

Remember the story of
a mean four-wheeler we posted not long ago
? Well the company, headed by a former jet fighter pilot is at it again with another extreme build but this, this is on another spectrum, another scale and form of frightening.
It’s called the
Rezvani Beast Alpha X Black Bird Edition –
 inspired by the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird jet and from the looks (and specification) of it, the Alpha X looks more intimidating than its inspiration.
It’s based on a Lotus Elise chassis with familiar interior trims carried over and with a retail price starting from USD 225,000 (RM 873k), it comes with what seems like a K20A Honda engine that’s been over-bored to 2.5-litre and turborcharged to produce a whopping
700 hp
.
The engine has been built from the ground up with new camshafts, valves, valve springs, new forged pistons, conrods and is led by a Cosworth ECU. The results? A 0 to 100 km/h time of just
2.9 seconds
.
Power is delivered through a close-ratio 6-speed transmission for a more immersive driving experience with an optional sequential automatic transmission but honestly, do you wanna be seen driving an automatic? In something that looks that manly and aggressive?
Its body is made entirely of carbon fibre and as a result, the Beast Alpha X weighs just
975 kg
. Another highlight of its exterior are the trademark SideWinder doors that operates like those found on a MPV.
Source:
Rezvani
IMAGE GALLERY


Hyundai and LG Energy to build 10 GWh battery plant in Indonesia

Hyundai Motor Group has teamed up with battery producer LG Energy Solution to establish a joint venture in Indonesia to manufacture battery cells for electric vehicles (EV).
The two companies, together with the Government of Indonesia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the 10 GWh battery factory to be built in Karawang, Indonesia. The mega project is said to be worth a total of
USD1.1 billion
 (RM4.64 billion).
Construction is scheduled to begin by the end of this year and will be completed by the first half of 2023, with mass production of batteries only to begin the following year. In full operation, the facility has a total output of 10 GWh worth of NCMA (nickel, cobalt, manganese, aluminium) battery cells, sufficient for more than 150,000 EVs.
After Thailand, Indonesia has set the deadline for sales of EVs only. Find out when, here!
The batteries will be used in EVs based on Hyundai’s
E-GMP platfor
m, which currently underpins the
Ioniq 5
 model as well as the
Kia EV6
. Larger models are scheduled to be introduced, such as a sedan and an SUV.
The Indonesian government, in a separate statement, also welcomed the agreement. Mr Bahlil Lahadalia, head of the Investment Coordinating Board Indonesia said, “We will oversee this battery cell investment from start to finish,”
Nickel, together with cobalt and manganese are key materials for the high voltage batteries in electric vehicles (EV) and Indonesia, specifically the islands of Sulawesi and Halmahera, have the largest production and reserves of nickel in the world.
The futuristic Hyundai Staria makes its Asean debut in Thailand. Find out more about the multi-seat van here!
The large deposit there has also attracted the eyes of Tesla, where it was reported by the Indonesian government that the American automaker has
sent in proposals
 on plans for a battery manufacturing and supply chain ecosystem.
The Indonesian government has been insistently building an EV industry ecosystem in hopes of playing a strategic role in the global EV race, such as the establishment of Indonesia Battery Corp. earlier this year.


The “skysphere concept” is Audi’s convertible of the future

The Audi skysphere is the first of a range of design and engineering concept vehicles lined up this year. For the Audi skysphere concept, the designers are redefining luxury in the future that is not just about driving.
Apart from the retro-inspired long-bonnet/short trunk shape, the Audi skysphere also features a technical masterpiece of a variable wheelbase. The sophisticated fully automated mechanism at the front section slides forward or rearward to adjust the wheelbase by up to 250 mm, where GT mode is akin to the length of an
Audi A8L
 and Sports mode like the
Audi RS 5
.
At a touch of a button on the dashboard, the driver can pilot the Audi skysphere with traditional hand and feet controls as well as a much more agile setup of the chassis with stiffer and lowered air suspension setting plus rear-wheel steering in Sports mode.
Back to the urban commute or long-distance driving, the two-seat sportscar can engage into GT or Grand Touring mode, where the steering wheel and foot pedals are hidden away, as well as the dashboard moving forward together with the front section of the concept car. A contrasting decorative piece in bronze on the fender indicates its drive mode, where it’s exposed in long-wheelbase GT mode.
Occupants can sit back, relax and enjoy the sky and scenery in maximum legroom and interact with the digital ecosystem in the vehicle. Various sensors, high-resolution cameras and high-speed data connections feed precise real-time information to the Audi skysphere for Level 4-type autonomous driving.
The multiple LED lighting units on the front Singleframe grille is meanwhile used to communicate on the driving mode, kind of like a ceremonial light show display transitioning between the GT and Sports driving modes.
 https://youtu.be/klkb8OnW9d8?t=748
Watch the transition from GT to Sports mode at time 12:20 and from 14:25
Audi surprisingly entering the Dakar Rally with this hybrid monster! Find out more here!
The rear end is also dominated by a digitally controlled LED surface, with the red lights scratted like rubies across the low height of the tail.
New-generation sustainable materials are used for the interior, such as environmentally-certified eucalyptus wood, “vegan” leather wrapping plus sustainably produced microfibre fabric. A fully digital dashboard with the main display measuring close to 1.5 metres in length allows for various consumption of digital content and even video conferences.
The Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 Quattro is unique, looks beautiful and drives well too. Here are five things about the exclusive four-door coupe.

Audi has also designed a pair of golf bags to perfectly fit in the front trunk or “frunk” of the skysphere concept.
Under the variable-wheelbase chassis is a fairly standard-sized 80 kWh battery, enough to provide the concept car with more than
500 km
 of range. Power is fed to just the rear wheels with an electric motor mounted on the rear axle. Total power output is
632 hp
 and
750 Nm
 of torque and completes the benchmark sprint in a humble four seconds. The Audi skysphere certainly looks like an art piece when charging at Audi’s first-class
luxury charging lounges
.
The next concept vehicle to be unveiled is the Audi grandsphere later this year and the Audi urbansphere set to unveil in 2022, and the trio of concept vehicles lead directly to the future of Audi design. The company is planning to
only launch new fully electric cars
 as soon as 2026.
GALLERY


BMW M8 Coupe gets 4.4L twin-turbo V8 with over 600 hp & M xDrive AWD

BMW’s latest
8 Series Coupe
 will spawn a fire-breathing M8 variant powered by a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8. The first-ever BMW M8 will be available as a Coupe, Convertible and four-door Gran Coupe.
The M8’s 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 is expected to produce over 600 hp and will feature a fully variable M xDrive all-wheel-drive system that is rear-wheel bias by default with the option to be purely rear-wheel driven – a similar set up to the
F90 M5
.

Mechanically, the M8 gets M-specific chassis tuning for maximum dynamic prowess in the form of M Servotronic steering, M compound brakes (395 mm front, 380 mm rear) with the option for carbon-ceramic items (400 mm front, 380 mm rear), wider front track as well as bespoke suspension mountings for better stability.
Familiar M styling cues will take shape in the form of larger air intakes, aerodynamically optimised bumpers and 19-inch M light alloy wheels with the option to be upgraded to 20-inch items wrapped with M-specific ultra-high-performance rubbers.
The new BMW M8 Coupe is expected to make its market debut sometime in 2019 with other body styles to follow in due course.
IMAGE GALLERY
BMW M8 Coupe Teaser


5 minutes in the new A90 Toyota Supra – here’s our brief feedback

UMW Toyota has just unveiled the long-awaited Toyota Supra on Malaysian soil
last week
. We had the opportunity to take the Toyota Supra for a quick spin on an empty air strip, and here are a few things that we like about the new Supra!

1. Power that can send you to the rear of your seats
The 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six engine at the front churns out a peak power of
340 hp
 and
500 Nm
of torque! With all of that power going to the rear wheels, hooning the new Supra was quite an experience! Not only did it feel like it had more than 340 hp, all of the sound you hear are genuine — Toyota did
not
 add any artificial engine noise through the speakers.
The new A90 Toyota Supra does 0 to 100 km/h in just
4.3 seconds
, and the turbo pull from around 3,000 rpm was just relentless – felt like we were glued to the back of the seat – and the engine happily revs on with plenty of grunt all the way up to 6,500 rpm.
That’s a nice looking rear… but we can do without the extra Toyota badging, don’t you think?
2. Controversial styling… until you see it with your own eyes
The new Supra may have looked a little underwhelming
when official pictures first surfaced
 but it looked so much better in the flesh!
The big headlamps reminded us of the
previous-generation A80 Supra
, but Toyota completely redesigned the rear with new svelte taillights which are integrated into the vertical vents.
We particularly liked the Formula 1-inspired reverse light assembly, as well as the integrated ducktail spoiler. It was hard to not stare at its buttocks as the Supra pulled away!
3. What happens when you combine the master of chassis development with a veteran in making small sports cars?
We are not sure if it’s the BMW effect (yes, the Supra is based on a BMW chassis), but the new Toyota Supra handled very, very well. Most of the time, the car is completely drama-free.
During our drive, we put the Supra through a brake-steer combination test, and the Supra managed to slice through the cones with so much composure – even under extreme weight and direction shifts!
You might assume that all that poise would rob the Supra of its RWD “fun factor” but we’re happy to report that the opposite is true. Give the throttle a little squeeze and the tail of the Supra slides out in a predictable and controllable manner. Just see how the Supra drifts in our video above!
On high-speed runs at speeds in excess of 200 km/h, the A90 Toyota Supra still felt reasonably planted on the tarmac with the suspension soaking in the undulations well. The weighty and steering rack tuning made high speed driving very manageable!
4. Am I in a BMW?
The interior of the Toyota Supra is essentially a BMW, but it’s not a bad thing! The new Supra is well equipped with niceties such as the full-coloured head-up display and 12-speaker JBL audio system. All of the controls on the centre-console are laid-out projected a clean appearance and were easily accesible, and the infotainment system – based on BMW Operating System 7.0 – was a breeze to use.
Seating position in the cabin was also nice and low with plenty of headroom although ingress and egress may require some getting used to with the low roofline. The touring-inspired seats wrapped in leather definitely seemed comfortable enough for long-distance road trips.
Our first impressions of the Toyota Supra were pretty positive, and we can’t wait to tell you more through our videos! In the meantime, here’s a recap of the specifications for the new 2019 Toyota Supra:
Name
2019 Toyota Supra GR GTS A90
Engine
3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six
Transmission
8-speed automatic gearbox
Max power
340 hp @ 5,000 – 6,500 rpm
Max torque
500 Nm @ 1,600 – 4,500 rpm
0-100 km/h; top speed
4.3 seconds; 250 km/h (electronically limited)
The 2019 Toyota Supra starts at
RM568,000
 (on-the-road, without insurance) for the Prominence Red colour option, RM573,000 for the Silver Metallic and Lightning Yellow, and RM580,000 for the Matte Storm Gray Metallic.


Throwback Thursday: 40 years of the Mitsubishi Pick-Up Truck

The year is 1978, Superman first graced the big screens, the first cellular mobile phones were introduced, and the world’s first test tube baby was born. It was also the year when Mitsubishi presented their first-generation pick-up truck.
Mitsubishi went on to sell over 4.7 million pick-up trucks over the next four decades. Now in its fifth-generation, the pick-up truck has evolved into a highly versatile vehicle that can be right at home in cities and the wilderness – a far cry from the original.
Mitsubishi’s first pick-up truck was called the Forte, which translates to strong in Italian. The Forte underwent rigorous endurance testing and development in North America, Thailand and Saudi Arabia. The investment was well worth it as the Japanese carmaker produced over 657,000 of the first-generation pick-up.
It wasn’t until a decade later that Mitsubishi introduced a fresh new replacement called the Strada. It was a big step for Mitsubishi as the second-generation pick-up truck was available with a wider variety of configurations including Single Cab, Club Cab, Double Cab, 2WD and 4WD drivetrains.
The nameplate was also changed to cater to different markets – Strada in Japan, Mighty Max in North America, L200 in other regions and Triton in Australia; the last of which would become very familiar with Malaysians. By the end of its model life, Mitsubishi produced over 1,146,000 units of the second-generation model in Japan and Thailand.
The third-generation Strada was an evolutionary step forward and that model went into production in November 1995. Emphasis was placed to make the pick-up truck be more appealing to the passenger car buyers. As a result, the Strada was positioned as a roomy five-seater with a passenger car-like interior that was comfortable and capable enough for both recreational and commercial uses.
Malaysians experienced the third-generation pick-up as the Mitsubishi Storm which was introduced here in 2001. As its name suggests, the Storm took the market literally by storm as the first pick-up truck in Malaysia to offer an automatic transmission paired to the country’s first-ever Euro 3 compliant turbo-diesel with an output of 120 hp and 300 Nm.
In 2005, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) was established and took over the role as the exclusive distributor of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles in Malaysia. MMM proceeded to offer new variants of the Storm powered by 2.8-litre and 2.5-litre turbodiesels.
It was also the first time that Mitsubishi’s “Easy Select 4WD” was introduced with its synchronized free-wheel front differential that allows the driver to choose the most efficient drive mode (2WD or 4WD) to suit different road conditions. The company went on to produce 1,046,000 vehicles over the span of a decade.
When it came to the
fourth-generation
 model, Mitsubishi’s pick-up would evolve to become a product that played a key role in Mitsubishi Motors’ global strategy, sold in 150 different markets. The Triton name was adopted and the pick-up proved to be an instant hit within the region.
This generation of Triton was a crucial one as it had to exceed the fundamental performance expected of a pick-up truck but also offer the highest build quality as well as features to make the vehicle attractive to a wide range of customers who wants more from a traditional truck.
The packaging gave the Triton the roomiest interior in its class, while its suspension and interior equipment commanded comfort levels that rivaled passenger cars. It was no surprise that Mitsubishi went on to produce 1,423,000 of the fourth-generation pick-up, such was its popularity.
Fast forward to today, Mitsubishi’s pick-up trucks have come a long way from just being a dependable workhorse. The new Triton commands driving characteristics and equipment levels that you would normally get in a passenger car. Its 5.9 meters turning radius, refined 2.4-litre MIVEC turbo-diesel and the premium cabin has won over the hearts of many worldwide. So much so that the Triton was awarded Pick-Up Truck of Malaysia at the
2018 Cars of Malaysia awards
.
It has been 40 years of pick-up excellence since Mitsubishi’s first offering and the company is forging ahead with a new and improved one — teased here as the soon-to-be-unveiled 2019 Mitsubishi Triton. Looking back at its proud heritage, we have a feeling that the new Triton pick-up will be even more complete and all-encompassing.


Only 400 Honda Civic Type R produced monthly, up to 6 months waiting period

Just last week
Honda
 revealed the boosted performance figures of the 2023
Honda Civic Type R
. Unfortunately for those who wish to own it, Honda has confirmed that it will only make
400 units
 per month and that is for Japan only. Even for the Japanese market, Type R customers may have to wait for up to
six months
 until the delivery of their cars.
The new Civic Type R is built at the Yorii Plant in Japan. The K20C1 engine, on the other hand, will continue to be built at Honda’s Anna Engine Plant in Sidney, Ohio.
Powered by an enhanced version of the K20C1 engine, the 2023 Honda Civic Type R makes
315 hp
 @6,500 rpm and
420 Nm
 @2,600-4,000 rpm. The six-speed manual transmission has also been enhanced with a lighter flywheel, a revised rev match system, a high-rigidity lever, and an optimized shift gate pattern.
A helical-type LSD is also present on the 2022 Civic Type R. Handling-wise, Honda has widened the track of the Type R by one inch in front and 0.5 inches at the rear. The wheelbase has been extended by 1.4 inches. The body is more rigid than that of its predecessors and most of the body panels are exclusive to the Type R.
RELATED:
Honda reveals 2022 Civic Type R performance figures, ‘small’ boost from FK8R
So far, the 2023 Honda Civic Type R has
clocked a 2:23.120 time on the Suzuka circuit
. The 0-100 km/h acceleration time has yet to be revealed.
Despite the track-oriented design, the 2023 Honda Civic Type R offers conveniences like wireless phone charging, Apple CarPlay & Android Auto connectivity, and a Bose Centrepoint Premium Sound system as standard. Colour options for the 2023 Civic Type R include Historic Championship White, Rallye Red, Boost Blue, Crystal Black Pearl, and Sonic Grey Pearl.
With customers in Japan having to wait for up to six months, the waiting period for other countries may take longer. The long waiting period comes as no surprise as the entire automotive industry has been hit by the chip shortage and the supply chain issue.


Aston Martin is going electric – EV motors and batteries to be supplied by Lucid Motors

Aston Martin
 is going electric, and it’s enlisting the help of Californian EV start-up
Lucid Group
to make “the world’s most thrilling and highly desirable electric performance cars”.
The partnership, announced last night, will see Lucid Group – who sells the
 Lucid Air EV
 – supply batteries and electric motors for Aston Martin’s upcoming electric vehicles. In return, Lucid will take a 3.7% stake in the British sportscar maker.
Lucid Air
Not much else has been said on the deal, but we do know that Aston Martin plans to have its entire line-up fully electrified by 2023. The
Aston Martin Valhalla
, its first plug-in hybrid model, will begin deliveries in 2024, while its first production fully-electric model is scheduled to launch in 2025.
Despite the new partnership with Lucid, Aston Martin says that Mercedes-Benz will also still
 continue to supply
 its “powertrain and electric/electronic architectures for current and future generation Aston Martin vehicles”.
ALSO READ:
2023 Aston Martin DBX707 review – physics-defying masterpiece
How the two companies will tie in together is unclear at the moment, but from the language in the press release, it appears that Aston Martin will leverage on the German carmaker’s electronic architecture to control the electric motors and batteries supplied by Lucid, enabling advanced powertrain technologies including “infinitely tuneable” per-wheel torque vectoring and minute energy recouperation adjustments.
The company’s consulting arm for its Formula 1 team, Aston Martin Performance Technologies, will also play a major part in the development of its future electrified products.
Mercedes-Benz will continue supplying the powertrain for Aston Martin’s internal combustion engine and hybrid vehicles before the transition into full electrification. According to the press release, Lucid’s motors and battery will only be used as part of its upcoming in-house Battery Electric Vehicle platform.
“Along with Mercedes-Benz, we now have two world-class suppliers to support the internal development and investments we are making to deliver our electrification strategy,” said Aston Martin Executive Chairman, Lawrence Stroll.
“With the recently announced
long-term partnership with Geely
, we will also gain the opportunity to access their range of technologies and components, as well as their deep expertise of the key strategic market of China,” he added.
ALSO READ:
The Aston Martin DB12 marks 110 years of the brand – 680hp, RWD, 0-100km/h in 3.6 secs


As if the M2 isn’t exciting enough, BMW wants you to actually drive it in a VR world too

Say what you want about their looks, but you can’t deny that BMW makes incredible cars – and it looks like the
all-new M2
 is no exception too. But as if driving it isn’t already exciting enough, BMW is now presenting a new system, dubbed M Mixed Reality, to let you actually drive the real car in an actual environment. It’s hard to explain, so check out the video below.
We still can’t decide if it’s a good idea to put on a virtual reality (VR) headset while driving an actual, physical moving car yet.

Shown off at this year’s Web Summit in Lisbon, the M Mixed Reality system integrates gaming elements into actual driving, using a unique “mixed reality” (MR) approach, which blends the natural and actual world with artificial, digital perceptions.
In essence, the VR/MR headset will overlay a virtual racetrack onto your vision while you’re driving the actual physical BMW M2 on an (we hope) empty air field, which allows for more “exciting” elements to your drive such as avoiding obstacles, or collecting virtual coins.
RELATED:
BMW turns the M2’s garish looks up to 11 with new M Performance parts
BMW says the M Mixed Reality system takes all movement and rotary axes of the car into account. In other words, the BMW M2 itself becomes the game controller – a very powerful and fast controller at that, with
460 hp
and
550 Nm
under your right foot.
“Anyone who asks what virtual experiences in the automotive sector might look like in future: That is the answer. People must be able to experience this new feeling — and with M Mixed Reality, we offer them a suitable solution for this, says BMW M CEO, Frank van Meel.
ALSO READ:
See how the BMW X5 fits in your driveway with the new AR experience
We don’t think BMW is actually planning to ship this system to customers, which is probably a good idea considering it’ll be a legislation nightmare, even if the tech is flawless. Instead, it’s more of a technological showcase for VR and MR applications, which highlights their use of innovative technologies in its vehicles and within the company, driven by people’s wishes and needs, BMW says.
The company is already using mixed reality technologies in many forms of applications, including cross-team development of vehicles, as well as product planning thanks to the completely virtualised iFactory Lydia. By the beginning of next year, the BMW Group will also digitize all production sites using 3D laser scans.
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McLaren 570GT gets Novitec treatment, it’s a power and carbon fibre galore!

The
McLaren 570GT
 was designed to be the ultimate everyday supercar: dynamic on spirited drives and comfortable for long, grand tours. A panoramic glass roof, 562 hp from a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 and 350 litres of combined boot space (rear deck and front boot), its everything you’ll ever need in a supercar.
If its sedated exhaust note (to separate the
570S
 and 570GT) or children-friendly looks that is preventing you from putting money down on one, Novitec has just the solution for you – the
Novitec Refinement Programme
. The refinement programme includes a tune, an exhaust system, handling upgrades and aerodynamic-enhancing carbon fibre components.
Through the Novitec N-Tronic plug-and-play module, engineers have been able to unlock extra grunt from the M388T 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 without tampering with the car’s existing electronic controls. Three different engine mappings are cleverly
integrated into the Active Dynamics Panel
 whereby the driver can choose and instantly activate one of the three Normal, Sport or Track setups.
In track mode, the engine churns out additional
75 hp
 and
92 Nm
, giving a total output of
 637 hp
 and
692 Nm
 of torque. Its century sprint is slashed from 3.4 seconds down to
3.0 seconds

flat
 while top speed is raised by 9 km/h to
335 km/h
. Novitec also claims that the new mapping
sharpens the throttle response
 and gives a
stronger torque curve
 across the rev range.
As for the sound track, customers can have their exhaust system made with stainless steel or even lighter
Inconel material
 used in
Formula One
. The exhaust system weighs lighter than the standard system and promises to unlock the symphony of the force-inducted V8.
For those seeking a more aggressive appearance for their 570GT, Novitec has a range of
carbon fibre components
 ranging from front splitter, rear spoiler, side skirts and side air intakes to beef up its appearance. All the visual bits are carefully crafted in wind tunnels to complement and further enhance the car’s aerodynamics.
Like on the standard 570GT that came with mixed wheel sizes, Novitec will also provide the car with
Novitec MC1 five twin-spoke forged alloy wheels
 measuring 20-inches at the front and 21-inches at the rear. The wheels can further complement the wheel arches with the
 Novitec sport springs
 that lowers the overall ride height by
30 mm
. Besides that, Novitec can also help customers to furnish the interior with fine leather and Alcantara to their liking.
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MINI wants to send you on an all expense paid trip to the UK!

MINI Malaysia is celebrating its 60th anniversary with yet another offering of great deals from now until 31st December 2019.
The “Great British Deal” as they refer to it, silly as it sounds, offers significantly
 lower monthly repayments starting from RM2,388 with the MINI Balloon Financing
, at a lowered interest rate starting from 0.77% for MINI vehicles purchased from now to 31st December.
On top of that new owners will also enjoy
insurance rebates of up to RM2,000
 on MINI vehicles with the MINI Financing Plan but the pièce de résistance has to be the all expenses paid trip to the UK.
With every purchase of any MINI models during the campaign period, there’ll be an automatic contest entry where one lucky winner will walk away with a trip for two!
In commemorating this 60th anniversary milestone, MINI Malaysia also recently launched the
MINI 60 Years Edition
 model dressed exclusively in a British Racing Green paintjob with only 60 units available.
All MINI vehicles come with a 4-Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service; 24-Hour Roadside Assistance and MINI Black Card membership.


PLUS to increase toll rates next year, may see up to 5% increase on four highways

PLUS Malaysia Berhad, while earlier confirming that the toll rates for all their highways will remain unchanged, have announced that four out of five of its highway concessions will undergo a pricing revision in 2016, according to a report from
The Star
.
The recent toll hike (up between 20 sen to RM3.00)
affected about 18 highways in the Klang Valley
, but it seems that the worst has yet to come. Under the original concessionaire agreement, PLUS Malaysia Bhd’s concession period is to expire in 2018, though this has been extended to 2038 thanks to several Government-sanctioned deferment in toll hikes. The public limited company has five highway concessions that operate the routes below:
North-South Expressway (NSE)
New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE)
Federal Highway Route 2 (FHR2)
Seremban Port-Dickson Highway
North-South Expressway Central Link (NSECL)
Malaysia-Singapura Second Link (MSSL)
Butterworth-Kulim Expressway (BKE)
Penang Bridge
The report said only the Penang Bridge will be spared as per the concessionaire agreement, whereas the toll hike on four other highway concessions will ultimately be determined by the Government. The NSE (longest highway in western Peninsular Malaysia) makes up the largest chunk of PLUS’ revenue – about 80 percent to be precise. According to Malaysian Rating Corp Bhd’s (MARC) data, PLUS recorded
RM2.46bil in toll revenue
 for the first nine months of the year ending Dec 31, 2014, against full-year revenue projection of RM3.32bil.
PLUS operated highways have remained unchanged since 2005.
Source:
The Star Malaysia


2016 Honda Civic Hatchback, a spiritual successor to the original Type R?

After many
teasers
 and
previews
, the tenth-generation Honda Civic hatchback has finally been unveiled in full glory. The five-door hatchback from Swindon UK, armed with a turbocharged engine and a stick shift, could potentially become the spiritual successor to the legendary EG/EK Civic Type R hatchback.
Right off the bat, the car’s final aesthetic is a close to the Honda Civic Prototype concept unveiled at Geneva. It retains the
saloon
‘s aggressive and sporty looks, while the rear end gets a new central exhaust setup, just like the prototype.
Powertrain options for the new Civic depend on where it’s headed. For the United States, the lineup begins with the all-familiar
1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged
 with two different tunes –
174 hp
 for the entry level and
180 hp
 for the Sports variant. Torque is the same for both variants at
220 Nm
. For the first time ever, the 1.5-litre turbo is mated to a
 six-speed manual gearbox
, but a CVT is available as an option.
For the UK and Europe, a choice of 1.0-litre, 1.4-litre and the 1.5 turbocharged petrol engines will be offered with the Civic hatch. The hybrid and the
hotter Type-R
 is also in the pipeline, with latter being strapped with a 2.0-litre turbocharged lump.
New to the Civic is the
independent rear suspension
setup, which makes a return after the old torsion beam setup is retired. This should make the Civic all the more improved dynamically, and could likely stack up to more established hatches such as the
Volkswagen Golf
 and
Ford Focus
.
The Civic Hatchback will be on sale in the United States in September and will make its official debut at the upcoming Paris Motorshow. For those of you who cannot stop drooling over this, don’t worry, it will surely find its way here through parallel importers. Would you pay a premium for it, though?
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Here are some sneak peaks of the new fully-electric MINI

MINI has released a pair of design sketches as an initial preview of the first fully-electric model following the introduction of the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 plug-in hybrid –
the same one that went on sale in Malaysia
 a couple months ago.
“These initial sketches for the fully electrified MINI outline our vision of authentic design creating a bridge between the history of the brand and its electric future”, said Head of MINI Design, Oliver Heilmer.
The car’s front grille will adopt a hexagonal form and can stay closed to improve airflow. A yellow accent with an E badge in the same colour will identify it as an electric MINI.
The second sketch shows the striking wheel design of the fully-electric MINI, which has been carried over from the MINI Electric Concept – unveiled for the first time last year – into the production model.
The
facelifted MINI Coopers launched in Malaysia
 recently.
The first production model of the MINI with a battery-electric drivetrain will
hit the roads in 2019
; exactly 60 years after the classic Mini went on sale.
Based on the MINI 3 door, the electric model will roll off the assembly line in Oxford. Its drivetrain will be produced at the Dingolfing plant and Landshut – the competence centres for electric mobility within the BMW Group’s production network.


Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan vs CLA 4-door Coupe, which is your pick?

Mercedes-Benz latest-generation
of compact cars is undeniably some of the more attractive cars in the market
today. Take the Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatchback for example, it’s pretty, high
tech and has a gorgeous cabin. Never mind if the A 200 comes with a modest 1.33-litre
turbo petrol engine and torsion beams at the rear, it’s still a very attractive
car inside and out
However, for those who adore the A-Class’ Sensual Purity design but can’t make do with its 370 litres of boot space or you’re just not a fan of hatchbacks (
blasphemy!
), there are two other alternatives for you without having to stretch your budget to a
CLS
 – the
A-Class sedan
 and
CLA 4-door coupe
.

The two are based on the A-Class hatch, sharing the same design cues and mechanicals. There are, however, some little but distinct cues that separate the two cars apart. Firstly, some facts and figures:
 Name
Mercedes-Benz A-Class Hatchback
Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan
Mercedes-Benz CLA Coupe
Length
 4,419 mm
 4,549 mm
 4,688 mm
Width
 1,796 mm
 1,796 mm
 1,830 mm
Height
 1,440 mm
 1,446 mm
 1,439 mm
Wheelbase
 2,729 mm
 2,729 mm
 2,729 mm
Drag Coefficient
 0.25
 0.22
 0.23
Boot Space
 370 litres
 420 litres
 460 litres
Headroom front/rear
 1,024 / 960 mm
 1,024 / 944 mm
1,023 / 908 mm
Elbow room front/rear
 1,457 / 1,446 mm
1,457 / 1,446 mm
1,457 / 1,454 mm
Shoulder room front/rear
 1,400 / 1,372 mm
1,400 / 1,372 mm
 1,400 / 1,372 mm
 Effective legroom front/rear
 1,062 / 861 mm
1,062 / 861 mm
1,062 / 861 mm
EXTERIOR
Both the A-Class sedan
and CLA Coupe shares the same wheelbase of 2,729 mm like the A-Class hatch but
varies in length and height. The CLA Coupe is the longest car among the two (139
mm longer than the A-Class sedan) but it is also the sleeker option here thanks
to the sloping roof design.
At a glance, the two might
appear to be the same car, but the A-Class sedan has a more conventional sedan silhouette
as compared to the CLA’s fastback design. Upon scrutiny, you’ll notice that the
headlamps are also different with the CLA featuring a tad bit more sculpture to
them and an extra “tick” for its LED daytime running lights.
It’s also a different story round the back, with the A-Class sedan spotting a taillamp design that reflects the previous-gen CLA. No complaints there because it looks great on the car. There is also a more pronounced kink on the boot lid, contributing to the
A-Class sedan’s overall aerodynamics
 that betters even the slick-looking CLA.
The CLA now wears an
ultra slim taillamp that shares a similar profile to the new-generation CLS.  Although I still can’t bring myself to say that
I love them.
INTERIOR
Inside, the differences
are less pronounced, both cars share the same cabin architecture dominated by
the large widescreen cockpit, turbine style air vents, dual layer dashboard and
new-generation multifunctional steering wheel with touch sensitive buttons. Spec
the exact trim level and you won’t be able to tell the difference.
A-Class Sedan Interior
CLA Coupe Interior
Onboard features
(depending on specification) include Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment
system, Burmester Surround Sound System, sunroof, massaging seats, 64-colour
ambient lighting and more. But if there’s one thing that the CLA has an edge
over the A-Class sedan, it’s the frameless doors.
PRACTICALITY
The yardstick for practicality is boot space and surprise surprise, despite being a 4-door
coupe
, the CLA has the largest cargo space among the lot at 460 litres compared to the A-Class sedan’s 420 litres. Too bad we’ll never see the
CLA Shooting Brake
 here in Malaysia…
If you’re expecting the A-Class sedan and CLA to be roomier than the hatch, you’ll be disappointed because the two cars share the same wheelbase as the hatch resulting in the same legroom and shoulder room. Headroom in the CLA also suffers from the coupe design which renders it having 36 mm lesser available headroom compared to the A-Class Sedan. Interestingly, the A-Class hatch is the one that offers the most headroom for rear passengers!
PERFORMANCE
All Mercedes-Benz compact
cars are available with the same range of engine options from the efficient
(and road tax friendly) 1.33-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol in either 180 or
200 guises as well as a punchy 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol in the 220
or 250 tunes. They are all mated to a 7-speed DCT dual-clutch box to send drive
to the front-wheels or the optional 4MATIC all-wheel drive on certain variants.
The A-Class hatch is also offered as a full-blown AMG,
A 35
 or the soon to be launched
A 45 S
. The CLA will definitely spawn an AMG variant in the future but whether or not Daimler will stick an AMG badge to the A-Class sedan remains to be seen.
SAFETY
Globally, both the A-Class
sedan and CLA are available with the full suite of advance driver’s assistance
system and semi-autonomous driving function from the S-Class such as Active
Distance Assist DISTRONIC, Active Emergency Stop Assist, Active Lane Change
Assist and PRE-SAFE PLUS.
However, don’t expect
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) to have these features equipped on the cars they
bring in unless you’re prepared to fork out a hefty premium over its competitors.
WHAT ELSE?
All in all, the Mercedes-Benz
A-Class sedan and CLA 4-door coupe are very similar cars on paper with a slight
twist in flavour. The former is a more practical people carrier (more rear
headroom) while the latter has an irresistible flair to it when rolling up at a
venue (at the expense of rear headroom of course).
It won’t be long till
MBM brings in both the A-Class sedan and CLA 4-door coupe to our shores and word
on the street is that some dealers are already fishing for orders from potential
customers. Having all said and done, which of the two would be your pick?
Me, I’ll have the hatchback
any day.


This Kuroi Sports Pack adds more heat to the spicy Mazda3

The arrival of the
all-new Mazda3 sedan and hatchback
 in Malaysia is imminent, like really soon, so we thought we’d whet your appetites a little and stimulate your creative (car modification) senses with Mazda’s Kuroi Sports Pack.
The kit, revealed by Mazda Australia, includes a front lip, a rear diffuser, a rear spoiler and door mirror caps to go with the 18-inch satin chrome alloy wheels.

Recent reports have revealed that the new Mazda3 hatchback and sedan will be available in three different variants as CBU units with
estimated pricing from RM140k to RM161k
.
Two powertrains will be available – a 1.5-litre SkyActiv-G 4-cylinder engine with
114 hp
 and
150 Nm
 and a 2.0-litre SkyActiv-G engine with
 155 hp
 and
199 Nm
. Both engines are paired to a SkyActiv-Drive 6-speed transmission.
At it’s global unveiling Mazda said that the all-new car can be expected to offer dramatic improvements in the areas of design, driving performance, NVH, performance and quality feel.
IMAGE GALLERY


These are among the many updates in the facelifted 2018 Porsche Macan

Porsche has unveiled the facelifted 2018 Macan in Shanghai, China with a host of interior and exterior along with equipment upgrades to uphold the compact SUV’s success since it was introduced in 2014.
On the outside, the Macan gets a new LED headlight with a three-dimensional design, a reworked front end that now appears wider and a redesigned rear end with a three dimensional LED light strip.

Its chassis has been further fine-tuned to deliver even more neutrality while maintain stability and improving comfort. The Macan still features mixed tyres with different widths on the front and rear axles.
This supposedly allows the driver to take full advantage of the intelligent, all-wheel drive Porsche Traction Management (PTM). Accompanying this are newly-developed tyres accompanied by new 20- and 21-inch wheels.
Inside, the most prominent changes include an 11-inch Full HD touchscreen display (increased from 7-inches) with the new Porsche Communication Management (PCM), a newly-designed instrument panel, re-designed and re-positioned air vents and an optional GT sports steering wheel plucked out of the Porsche 911.
The PCM system offers intelligent voice control and an online navigation system as standard while the optional steering wheel comes fitted with a Mode Switch plus Sport Response Button, as part of the optional Sports Chrono Package.
The facelifted Porsche Macan in Miami Blue. Other exterior colours include Mamba Green Metallic, Dolomite Silver Metallic and Crayon.
The new Macan is offered with an extended  range of assistance systems including the new Traffic Jam Assist that enables adaptive cruise control at speeds up to 60 km/h. The system also features partial automated acceleration and braking with steering assistance in a traffic jam or in slow-moving traffic.
Since 2014, Porsche has delivered more than 350,000 units of the Macan. With over 100,000 deliveries to date, the Macan is especially popular in the Chinese market and the model you see here is offered exclusively for the Chinese market.


Japanese automotive parts giant acquires 20% stake in Tayaria

Autobacs Seven Co. Ltd. (AB7), a Japanese public listed automotive parts giant has just signed an agreement to acquire a 20 percent stake in local tyre chain Kit Loong Tayaria Sdn. Bhd. (KLT). This partnership, according to KLT’s Chief Executive Officer, Jacob Chen will provide both parties business growth opportunities.
With more than 59 years in the aftermarket automotive parts industry, AB7 currently operates more than 500 stores in Japan with plans to expand to overseas market. On the other hand, KLT, authorised distributor of Pirelli, Kumho, Corsa and Jinyu tyres have over 80 Tayaria Alliance outlet across Malaysia and has plans to increase that number to 120. This partnership will create a synergistic effect for both parties as they work together to create business opportunities.
According to Jacob, AB7 and KLT will be working closely to provide more products suitable for the Malaysian market and share best-practices in retailing. This will not only help KLT to achieve their 120 outlet goal sooner but also foster greater competitiveness for their respective Tayaria Alliance outlets.