BTCC-spec Proton Persona race cars with over 400hp up for sale, only two units available

Would you like to own what was supposed to be the legitimately fastest Proton in the world? Are you craving for a rocketing Proton that is capable of annihilating the Civic Type Rs into oblivion on the Sepang track? Then this comes as good news to you as
Welch Motorsport
 is putting not one, but two units of these bespoke Protons up for sale!
The UK-based team had been participating in the highly competitive
British Touring Car Championship
(BTCC) with a single-entry
Proton Gen-2
 (Persona in Malaysia) for five years. The car was part of the
Next Generation Touring Car
(NGTC) classification that runs similar spec
2.0-litre turbocharged
 engine and spec-based drivetrain, suspension, electronics and gearbox. Proton on the other hand, had no direct involvement in this project, apart from the chassis itself.
The family-ran team scored its best result by finishing fourth in 2012, with driver Daniel Welch piloting the Gen-2. Over the years, the team struggled with reliability and lacked competitiveness and scoring points immediately felt like a podium finish for this small team.
In 2014, the team added a second Gen-2 entry and commissioned a self-developed engine, which is like the equivalent of having F1 minors like Manor to develop its own engine. Sadly, the results were mediocre at best. This year, Daniel scored only a single point and retired (DNF) in most races rather than finishing it. The second car, piloted by Andy Wilmot, fared no better with the driver quitting just after five rounds.
The team had enough of these Protons, which is why Welch Motorsport Team Principal, John Welch said (as quoted in Tourcars.net) “
It has been character-building and a complete and utter waste of time
.” The team is set to unveil a new car for the 2016 season.
Image source:
thechekeredflag.co.uk
While this piece may sound like a terrible sales pitch, think about it. Not only is this track-bred race car a beauty to look at, it’s well engineered in most departments, making it a
brilliant car for time attacks
! If the 408bhp engine spells problematic to you, an engine transplant from a proven performance car may sort this out. Just like John mentioned – it’s an effective way for character-building rather than forking a fortune to attend motivational talks!
No price has been listed but it won’t hurt to contact them
here
 to own what is quite possibly the fastest Proton on this planet, although we firmly believe there are more Protons pushing in excess of 500bhp somewhere in Malaysia.
News Source:
TouringCars.net
, Image Source: Wikipedia


BMW 330e iPerformance M Sport launched, priced at RM258,800!

The sportier variant of the
hot selling BMW 330e iPerformance
 has finally been introduced, expanding the model variant to two – Sport Line and M Sport. The M Sport costs just RM10k more, yet gives you more value than the premium suggests.
Exclusive to the M Sport variant are a sportier set of 18-inch lightweight M alloys, M-specific front and rear bumpers, chromed kidney grille with gloss black slats, BMW Individual Shadow Line, M badges on each of the car’s side panel and M Sport Suspension package. All the creature comforts from the Sport Line such as reverse camera and powered sunroof are retained.

Inside, you get a new three-spoke leather steering wheel, dark headliner and a blue stripe running across the dashboard. With the BMW Connected App, owners can remotely activate the car’s air conditioning system as well as monitor the battery’s charging status.
There’s no changes to performance, though. The same B48 engine resumes propulsion duties, mated to an electric motor to produce a combined output of
248 hp
 and
420 Nm
 of torque. Drive is sent to the rear wheels through the trusty
eight-speed ZF automatic
. In our own testing, the 330e is able to cover up to 25km in pure EV mode, at speeds of up to 120 km/h.
The sticker price for the 330e M Sport is
 RM258,800
 (without insurance), and comes with 5-Year unlimited mileage warranty, free scheduled service and the 24-month BMW Tyre Warranty programme. Available colours are Black Sapphire, Mineral Grey, Alpine White and my personal favourite, Estoril Blue.
Those interested can visit the nearest BMW showroom to participate in BMW’s Test-Drive Lucky Draw programme and stand a chance to win up to RM88,888 to purchase a brand new BMW vehicle. The programme ends on 12 February 2017 (Sunday).
IMAGE GALLERY


Mercedes-Benz X-Class goes on sale in UK, 2.3L turbodiesel with 7 airbags!

Mercedes-Benz’s first ever pick-up truck, the
X-Class
 has just gone on sale in UK and unfortunately, they will not be getting the 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel. Instead their X-Class will come in two guise – 220d and 250d along with a range of trim levels and options.
At launch, UK customers can choose from three model lines – Pure, Progressive and Power. The entry level
Pure
variant wears halogen reflector headlamps, a matt black grille, integrated side step and 17-inch alloys as standard. Stepping up to the
Progressive
-line and it adds painted bumpers, aluminium door sills, chrome door handles, an iridium-silver radiator grille and 17-inch six-twin spoke alloys in Vanadium silver.

The range topping
Power
 further adds LED high-performance headlamps, LED taillamps, chrome underguard, fog lamps, power folding mirrors and Keyless Go system. It rides on 18-inch six-twin-spoke alloys finished in Himalaya Grey as standard. On top of the standard trim lines, customers can further specify their X-Class with the Style Package that upsizes the alloy wheels to 19-inch items, roof rails, running boards and privacy glass.
Inside, all UK-bound X-Class will feature a 7-inch Audi 20 CD infotainment system, black fabric upholstery, automatic air-conditioning and high-gloss air vents surrounds. The Power-line gets eight-way powered front seats, multifunctional steering wheel, Artico leather and Dinamica microfibre upholstery as well as high-gloss interior trim.
Both the 220d and 250d variants are equipped with a 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel engines outputting
163 hp
 and
190 hp
 respectively. The X 220d comes with a six-speed manual transmission while the 250d is equipped with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. All variants of the X-Class get the
4MATIC all-wheel drive
 as standard.
As standard, the X-Class is equipped with seven airbags, ESP, Active Brake Assist, Lane Keeping Assist and Hill Start Assist. Features such as Trailer Stability Assist and rear differential lock can be added as options.
Prices for the X-Class 220d ranges from £27,310 (RM153k) to £28,510 (RM159k) while the higher output 250d is priced at £30,510 (RM170k) to £34,100 (RM190k).
IMAGE GALLERY


The new MINI Clubman is now sleeker and more grown up

A more powerful MINI John Cooper Works Clubman will also join the ranks in the future. For now, there will be two petrol engines and a diesel powerplant available – a 3-cylinder and 4-cylinder petrol and diesel engine.
Transmission options include a 7-speed Steptronic dual clutch transmission or a 7-speed Steptronic sports transmission.
The base model MINI Clubman
Unsurprisingly, the fastest among the three variants, the MINI Cooper S Clubman with 192 hp and a 230 km/h top speed, does 0 to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds, followed by the diesel Clubman and standard Clubman.
The updated MINI Clubman gets a newly-designed grille – both for the standard and Cooper S models – where the former gets a clearner, chrome look while the latter wears a more cynical appearance with a blacked out grille.
Available as optional extras are the adaptive LED headlamps with Matrix technology that prevents light from dazzling on-coming traffic, the system works by utilising the front cameras and can operate at speeds beyond 70 km/h.
Depending on the variant, there’s a choice of 16-inch to 19-inch wheels although the 18-inch and 19-inch options are new designs.
The Clubman also gets a new sports suspension which lowers the car by 10mm, alongside an optional adaptive suspension.
As for on-board equipment, there’s a 6.5-inch display, only Apple CarPlay connectivity, MINI Connected Services, and MINI Connected App with the Remote Services feature that allows owners to check their vehicle’s location, fuel level, flash the headlights, activate the horn, ventilation and door lock/unlock functions, all through the smartphone.
IMAGE GALLERY
M
INI Clubman
MINI Cooper S Clubman


I drove 1,142km in an EV for Hari Raya and didn’t need a DC fast charger at all

It is Hari Raya Aidilfitri again, and this time around I was provided with a
Mercedes-Benz EQS 500 4MATIC
 to
balik kampung
 with. Admittedly, it was a rather interesting situation to be in. Firstly, this was the first Mercedes-Benz electric vehicle (EV) that is
locally assembled (CKD)
. Secondly, I could experience what it is like to ‘own’ an EV and do a little road trip with it.
You’ve read the title right, and yes, I didn’t need to use a DC fast charger at all for my entire ‘EV Hari Raya’ trip which was a
1,142-km
 trip in the span of 4 days (Day 1 kind of doesn’t count and you’ll find out why soon). How did I manage to do it? Well, let me take you through my one-week ‘ownership’ experience with the EQS 500 4MATIC.
By the way, if you’re looking to renew your insurance, you can get a 10% rebate and cash back at the end of your policy if you renew with MotorTakaful by Etiqa. Just log on to
www.motortakaful.com
.
Before we go on, I should give you some context. I do live super close to my office (less than a 2-minute drive) which has a wall box, so it is pretty much like having a wallbox of my own whenever we have an EV for a review. Lucky me. And as for the car, the EQS 500 4MATIC has an electric range of up to
696 km
 on the WLTP test cycle thanks to a
108-kWh
 battery pack.
Only 20km on the odometer upon collection
Day 1 – Only 12 km driven
So, I collected the car on Thursday (April 20) from Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, and lucky for me, I was the first person to drive the car. It only had 20 km on the odometer and was essentially factory fresh. It still had the plastics on the dashboard unpeeled, so I also had the chance to ‘unbox’ the car which comes with some interesting ‘free gifts’. You can check out that
unboxing video here
.
While I may have been lucky in that sense, I wasn’t lucky enough to get to go road-tripping immediately as there was still a lot of work that needed to be done before the holidays. I only drove for about 12 km on the first day. However, at the end of the day, I still plugged the car in with our wallbox at the office anyway so I could have 100% state of charge (SOC) for the next day.
RELATED:
Mercedes-Benz EQS 500 4MATIC launched in Malaysia – Locally-assembled EV, RM649k
Somewhere at Genting Highlands
If you haven’t, you should visit the Selangor River Dam
Day 2 – Genting Highlands and the Selangor River Dam
With the day being announced as a public holiday (Thank you, PMX), I decided to head up Genting Highlands from Petaling Jaya first thing in the morning. It would be a shame to not make full use of the dual-motor setup (
449 hp
,
828 Nm
) of the EQS 500 4MATIC so I drove it like I stole it. After getting back to Petaling Jaya, I still had over 400 km of range to play with. I spontaneously decided to head to the Selangor River Dam after Friday prayers just for the heck of it. And to sum the day up, I did not experience any range anxiety whatsoever at all.
At the end of the day, I just plugged the car in with the office wallbox again so that it would be at 100% SOC (again) for the next day. The car now had
378 km
 on the odometer after the shenanigans.
You may have already noticed by now, that having a wallbox at home partly reduces the need for a DC fast charger. Am I ‘cheating’ with this ‘ownership’ experience since I have ‘my own’ wallbox at home? Well, yes and no. Heck no for those of you living on landed property, but yes if you are living in a residency that does not allow you to install a wallbox.
RELATED:
Petronas opens first EV charging hub in Malaysia – up to 180kW DC fast charging
Surprise! There is another EV at the kampung which belongs to a family member – the
Hyundai Kona Electric
Day 3 (Hari Raya) –
Balik Kampung
 to Bera, Pahang
After celebrating Hari Raya in Petaling Jaya, I headed to Bera to continue celebrating. The journey started with 378 km on the odometer and 100% SOC. The journey ended with
546 km
 on the odometer and 69% SOC. It was only a 168-km journey which took 3 hours due to the traffic conditions.
Edit: Like the day before, I drove like a madman and accelerated the hell out of the car at every chance I had on the highway.

Thus losing 31% of charge on the 168-km journey
Now, there are no public chargers in Bera, so how did I charge? Well, you might call this cheating again, but I actually have ‘another’ wallbox at my
kampung
. How convenient, right?
RELATED:
Gallery – Mercedes-Benz EQS 500 4MATIC, RM649k – Proudly assembled in Malaysia
Our office wallbox is wired to a CEE plug, making it portable.
CEE Plug
Well not literally another wallbox, but with the help of a family member, we have managed to set up our office wallbox (provided by
ChargeSingh
*) to be a ‘portable charger’. How so? By wiring it to a CEE plug. At both my office (or ‘home’) and
kampung
, we have done the necessary wiring from the distribution board to a CEE socket at the porch, complete with an isolator of its own.
*By the way, if you’re buying a charger from
ChargeSingh
, remember to use our Promo Code – AB5OFF
The CEE socket setup at the porch. A similar setup is done at our office. Yes, that is a red three phase socket, but the house runs a single phase supply.
A new dedicated circuit was pulled from the distribution board for the CEE socket.
So, all I had to do was disconnect the wallbox from the office, bring it to the
kampung
, and plug it into the CEE socket there. Simple as that. The only difference? The office has a 3-phase power supply while the
kampung
 house only has a single-phase power supply.
It takes almost 8 hours for the EQS to charge from 53% to 100% with single-phase 7-kW AC charging with a wallbox. Imagine how long it would take if the battery was flat. (Picture is from Day 4 after the Kuantan trip)
We didn’t need to reposition the cars, but they had to take turns to be the ‘Porch Queen’ anyway
So, I could charge at a rate of 11 kW at the office but only 7 kW at the
kampung
. It is slower with a 7-kW rate and would take almost 16 hours (or more) to charge the massive 108-kWh battery of the EQS from 0 to 100%. But it was good enough, and the CEE connector was even shared with another EV during this trip –
the family’s Hyundai Kona Electric
.
Anyway, I was able to ensure that I would have 100% SOC again for the next day – No DC fast charger needed.
RELATED:
TNB Electron charging station rates announced, from RM2.05 per minute for 80kW
The EQS 500 4MATIC in Kuantan
Day 4 – To Kuantan and back
On the second Hari Raya, I headed to Kuantan from Bera and back with the family spontaneously, also just for the heck of it. It was nice visiting Teluk Cempedak and we noticed some EV charging bays being set up over there as well. Since we were in Kuantan, we checked out some EV chargers by ChargeSini and EVGuru at the Mega View Hotel.
We then headed back to Bera and stopped at the Gambang R&R to check out the fast charger by
Gentari
, which was made free from April 21 to 24. Yes, I did charge the car at the Gambang R&R just because I had to use the restroom and buy some refreshments, and since charging was free and the bay was unoccupied, why not? I didn’t actually
need
 to. I could have made it to Bera with the remaining 57% SOC anyway. I charged for 22 minutes and 48 seconds and obtained
18.475 kWh
 of electricity. The SOC went from 57% to 75%.
Long queue for fuel at Gambang R&R West Bound
No queue for DC charging
RM0 charging cost thanks to Gentari
An interesting observation here was that petrol-powered cars were lining up to refuel at the Gambang R&R while the Gentari DC charger was unoccupied. Did I feel privileged? Yes, I did. I was driving a luxury EV, I didn’t have to line up, and just to rub it in, the charging was… free of charge. It is no surprise that the ICE camp isn’t too fond of EVs.
Anyway, I returned to Bera at the end of the day, and like usual, I plugged the car in to make sure I had 100% SOC again for the next day.
Day 5 – Journey back to KL…. but with a detour
It was my last day in Bera, and all that was left to do was to head to Klang Valley. The EQS 500 4MATIC showed about 620km of range on the meter cluster when fully charged. It was only going to be a 168-km journey again, so no sweat with the EQS. In fact, I could actually reach home even with only 40% SOC (or a bit less) left from Bera.
Halfway back though, since the traffic wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, I took a totally unnecessary detour to Fraser’s Hill from Bentong. And boy am I glad that I charged to full regardless the night before. By the time I reached home, I had 42% SOC and 286 km of range left. Still enough for a few more activities, but at this point, it was my body that needed to recharge, not the car. Again, with ‘my own’ wallbox, I just needed to plug the car in, get some rest myself, and the car would be fully charged again the next day…
1,162 km on the odometer at the end of it all from the initial 20 km
Summary
…That’s all just boring now, isn’t it? Nothing sensational here. It would have been so much more interesting if I ran out of charge and had to call a tow truck. But that’s just not the reality of EV ownership, especially if you have your own wallbox (or boxes) which give(s) you the convenience of destination charging. Of course, I should acknowledge that the EQS has a large 108-kWh battery and a long 696-km (WLTP) electric range, and that helped me a lot. Obviously, you couldn’t do the same trip that I did with a
Mazda MX-30
 or a MINI Cooper SE. I also hope that future affordable EVs will also be able to provide ranges close to that of the EQS (above 600 km).
I am a believer that cars should give you the freedom to travel spontaneously. If it requires too much discipline just to keep it running, what is the point of paying all that money? Before I had access to a home/office wallbox, I really did find EVs to be limiting in terms of freedom. I always found myself waiting at DC chargers (when we had EVs for reviews) and didn’t enjoy spending my time that way. Now, my perception has changed slightly.
RELATED:
Say hello to Mercedes-AMG’s first fully-electric model – the 761 hp EQS 53
Yes, that is a different wallbox in the picture. It is the one we typically use for the Hyundai Kona Electric
With a decent amount of EV range and a wallbox/portable charger, that typical freedom that a petrol car would provide is still available in the right EV. It is not like you’ll be able to drive yourself for 24 hours straight anyway (FYI, you need sleep). If you’re a spontaneous driver like myself, just plug the car in whenever you get the chance. This way, even AC charging alone is sufficient to keep you going and it isn’t necessary to always charge to 100% SOC. Some charge is always better than no charge.
Since our EV infrastructure isn’t fully mature yet, setting up your own wallbox wherever you can (if you have the resources) is a great way to improve your EV ownership experience. Charging at home will, at maximum, cost
RM0.571 per kWh
 for now (
RM61.68
to charge the EQS from 0 to 100%). It costs much less than charging at a DC fast charger which can cost up to
RM1.70 per kWh
 (
RM183.60
to charge the EQS from 0 to 100%)


Gallery: Mercedes-Benz GLC 300e Coupe – plug-in hybrid SUV, RM404k

Although the
all-new GLC Class
 has already been unveiled globally,
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia
 is not quite done with the C253-generation model just yet, and has introduced the
Mercedes-Benz GLC 300e Coupe
 in the second half of last year.
By the way, if you’re looking to renew your insurance, you can get a 10% rebate and cash back at the end of your policy if you renew with MotorTakaful by Etiqa. Just log on to
www.motortakaful.com
.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC 300e Coupe is the sole GLC Coupe offering currently available here in Malaysia, and is also the only other plug-in hybrid offering, aside from the
S-Class
. With that many titles to its name, the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300e Coupe comes in at a price of
RM403,888
 on-the-road, without insurance.
While we may not be the biggest fans of the whole SUV-Coupe trend, it’s hard to argue against the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300e Coupe’s charisma. Aside from the sloping roofline, it’s also equipped with the AMG Line body kit, massive 20-inch wheels, as well as the signature diamond pin front grille to make it stand out from the crowd.
On our test unit, the standard-fit AMG Night package – which blacks out most of the chrome trim pieces on the exterior – also works well visually as an accent against the blank white canvas. Although, if there’s one thing to complain about, it’s the weird placement of the charging port – the extra flap on the rear bumper just ruins the balance of the car’s sleek design, making it seem like just an afterthought.
READ MORE:
Mercedes-Benz confirms CKD EVs for Malaysia, “exciting announcement” in Q1 2023
Inside, the brown Nappa leather upholstery is a welcome addition, as it significantly elevates the premium ambience of the cabin. The open pore wood trim also adds a touch of youthfulness to the cabin, without looking too shouty.
With that being said, the dashboard design – with the floating tablet-style infotainment display and sculpted instrument cluster binnacle – is unfortunately starting to feel a little old-school now, especially with the large displays now offered on its other siblings.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC 300e Coupe is powered by a M274 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four engine, paired to a single electric motor to make a combined
320 hp
 and
700 Nm
 of torque. Power is transferred to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission, translating to a 0-100 km/h sprint time of
5.7 seconds
, and a top speed of
230 km/h
(140 km/h in EV mode).
For the electrified bits, power is sourced from a 13.5 kWh battery pack, taking 1.5 hours to recharge with the 7.4 kW on-board AC charger. Fully charged, the battery is capable of providing up to 43 km of pure electric range, via the 90 kW (122 hp) electric motor.
RELATED:
3 luxury features on the 2022 Mercedes-Benz E 300 that were unnecessary, but yet so charming
GALLERY


Ferrari’s latest patent filing has nothing to do with big horsepower or going fast

Ferrari trickles down many technologies learnt from their life in Formula 1 as well as GT endurance racing. Electrification, traction control, lightweight material technology and of course, high engine output and melodic engine noise are the usual new technologies and engineering solutions introduced in each Ferrari vehicle.
A posting in a Ferrari owner’s and enthusiasts forum has unearthed a new patent filing by the brand synonymous with supercars and motor racing. Surprisingly, it does not involve the oily bits or have anything to do with going fast.
Instead, the patent by Ferrari shows an advanced climate control or air-conditioning system that is highly networked with various sensors.
Quiet, convertible and a Ferrari V8. Here are the details of the latest Ferrari SF90 Spider.
Based on the drawings and brief description, the air-conditioning system will gather data not just from temperature and humidity sensors, but also the thermal radiation from the windows, multiple occupants and the heat profile of their faces and bodies!
By having a much more networked controlled system with a vast amount of data, the system can then adjust temperature and airflow suited to the particular occupant, such as one travelling south where the setting sun is more intense on the right of the vehicle.
Air-con panel from the four-seater
Ferrari GTC4 Lusso.
Such an advanced multi-reading air-conditioning system is not entirely new, as the current generation
Lexus LS 500
 employs occupant and solar radiation sensors. Called Lexus Climate Concierge, the system uses 16 infrared matrix sensors to monitor the body temperature of all of the occupants in the LS and adjust the automatic four-zone climate-control system to suit their individual preferences.
Based on the Ferrari patent diagrams, it looks as if the specific facial and body scanning technology is more advanced than that from Lexus / Toyota Motor.
Facial recognition technology is the key to the next set of driver assistance systems. Find out how Honda utilises the technology here.

Such a detailed approach to passenger comfort is relatively unheard of in a Ferrari, but with the brand planning to introduce a 4-door large crossover as soon as next year, they certainly need all the pampering features to compete with established super SUVs such as
Bentley Bentayga
,
Lamborghini Urus
,
Rolls-Royce Cullinan
 and
Aston Martin DBX
.
Sources:
Carscoops.com
 and
Ferrari296forum


Lamborghini SUV confirmed, coming in 2018

Revealed as the
Urus Concept
 at the
Beijing Motor Show
 back in
2012
, Lamborghini has officially announced that their sharp SUV is
slated to go on sale in 2018
. While that may seem a long time to wait, it is necessary for Lamborghini to prepare their plant in
Sant’Agata
 for a major expansion to support the upcoming addition to its range of performance vehicles that currently consist of the
Huracan
 and the
Aventador
.
“This is a proud moment for everybody in Lamborghini. The introduction of a third model line endorses the stable and sustainable growth of the company and signifies for us the beginning of a new era.”, said Automobili Lamborghini President and CEO
Stephan Winkelmann
.
While the final product might look different from the Beijing concept, the Urus gave us a hint of what a Lamborghini SUV could possibly look like. Lamborghini has envisioned a sleek
four-seater
,
four-door
 SUV with the promise of
sharp handling
 and
dynamic drive
, while under the skin is said to be a powertrain derived from the close cousins under the
VW Group
 empire.
Stephan Winkelmann added, “The new SUV
will be made in Sant’Agata Bolognese
, demonstrating our commitment to safeguarding the values of ‘Made in Italy’ worldwide.”
Looks like the
high-end SUV
 segment will be hotly contested, as other brands such as
Maserati
,
Bentley
, and
Jaguar
 are also tipped to introduce their SUVs in the near future.
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY


MCS Round 2: The inner makings of Dream Chaser Malaysia

Last weekend at Sepang saw Round 2 of the Malaysian Championship Series (MCS) take place, and we at
AutoBuzz.my
 simply couldn’t afford to miss the adrenaline filled action. Also running in conjunction with the homegrown series was the
Ferrari Challenge
.
Among the few teams participating in the MCS, we caught up with
Team Dream Chaser Malaysia
 to get a glimpse of their progress of this four-part race. The opening round did not go so well for Dream Chaser due to
mechanical issues which retired one of their cars from the race
.
This time, Dream Chaser was three cars strong, and they are car #12 Proton Satria Neo, piloted by female racer
Geraldine Read
, car #21 Honda FD2, piloted by seasoned racers
Boy Wong
 and
Alvaro Mourato
 and car #101 Proton Satria Neo, piloted by 17-year-old
Zharfan Rahmidi
. At the end of the race, Dream Chaser secured third place both the Touring Production (TP, for cars above 1,900cc) and Malaysian Touring Car (MTC, for cars below 1,600).
It was clearly an uphill struggle for Dream Chaser, but their hard work and evidently paid off. After the race, we sat down with the team to understand their journey and struggles leading to MCS round 2.
Team Leader CY Ong
According to team leader CY Ong, the team recently secured a new partnership with
ST Wangan
 as their designated workshop to prep the cars. They also partnered with
R-Engineering
 to specifically build the engines. These partnerships came as a big step forward for Dream Chaser because car #12 had major mechanical issues during Round 1, rendering it unable to complete the race.
The partners worked their magic to fine tune each individual cars to suit the drivers and true enough, they delivered rewarding results. Car #21 came in third for TP class, car #101 came in third for MTC and car #12 came in fourth for the individual cup.
Despite all the preparations, there were challenges that the team had to address before hitting the track. Firstly, the organisers made it compulsory for MTC class vehicles to come equipped street legal tyres instead of semi-slicks during the first round. The team spent an entire week tweaking the suspension to achieve optimum performance. Secondly, car #101 showed worrying signs of engine issues (power loss) during the practice sessions.
To mitigate this, the engineers lowered the engine’s rev limit to 6,600 rpm instead of the usual 7,700 rpm. This is to ensure that the engine would last throughout the one-hour endurance race. CY was very grateful that there were no major incidents during the race and all drivers completed the race safely. What better way to end the race with two podium finishes?
Geraldine Read
Despite a disappointing start to round 2, the ever-optimistic Geraldine Read kept her composure and remained focused throughout the weekend. Her car received a massive upgrade and modifications to better suit her driving style. Her Proton Satria Neo’s engine and gearbox were evidently smoother and reliable than the first round, and this time the race bucket seats were specifically customised to fit her 5’ 2’ frame.
With some mentoring from CY, she shaved off a massive 7 seconds off her personal best during the practice session! That goes to show that Dream Chaser and herself are only scraping the very surface of her potential. However, things weren’t all a bed of roses for the lass. During her qualifying practice, she was sandwiched in between two cars that collided into each other.
Fortunately, no one was injured but the same can’t be said for her Neo. Although the car didn’t sustain heavy damage, the alignment gave way after the minor accident. Her practice was cut short but CY commended her on the ability to accurately provide feedback to the technicians, which allowed them to work more effectively. Despite cutting her practice short, she was able to deliver promising results, finishing fourth in the independent cup and seventh overall in the MTC cup.
When we spoke to Geraldine after the race, she was grateful that the race went smoothly and safely. Although this time she did not make it up to the podium, she expressed her gratitude for the steep learning curve over the weekend. Believe it or not, Geraldine was already thinking of her next race barely an hour after the race ended! For those who would like to catch her in action, Geraldine will be at the Sepang 1,000km endurance race that is happening from 1 to 4 September 2016.
17-year-old talent Zharfan Rahmidi
New to the team is 17-year-old
Zharfan Rahmidi
 who hails from Indonesia. Before joining Dream Chaser, he was actively involved in the motorsports scene since he was 13. Despite his age,
Zharfan
 has quite a number of trophies under his belt – second runner up in the European Touring Car (ETC) Championship and first runner up in the Master Class of ETC Championship. A rookie he certainly is not.
Zharfan has never raced in Sepang before, so between CY and Geraldine, the Indonesian had the toughest hurdle to overcome. He has no car of his own, so he had to drive CY’s Satria Neo (previously #100 now #101). However, the challenges did not scare
Zharfan
away. If anything, the adrenaline made him want to tackle the challenges all the more. With his experience in motorsports, he quickly found his rhythm to the technical 5.5km track and set an astonishing time of 2 minutes 47 seconds on the second day of practice.
However, things did not go so well during qualifying. His car’s engine suffered a loss of power and had to continue the race with his revs-limited.
Zharfan
told
AutoBuzz.my
 that he prayed, hoping that the engine would last throughout the race. True enough, his prayers were answered and the engine held on throughout the race. What’s more surprising is that Zharfan even made it to the podium! For a 17-year old to jump into a car not customised to his style of driving, that alone deserves praise.
What’s next for Dream Chaser?
After an eventful week at Sepang, CY was very pleased with the results but more so at the attitude of the drivers. While winning races are important, CY believes that the goal of Dream Chaser is to provide talented and deserving drivers the platform and support required to venture into motorsports. CY finds attitude a much more valuable virtue than pure driving skills.
Dream Chaser is launching an extension to their drivers programme called Dream Chaser X, which is a mentorship and subsidiary programme to allow grassroots drivers an opportunity to race at a professional level. The programme will allow independent drivers to be mentored by seasoned drivers as well as subsidising the cost to participate in a professional race.
Dream Chaser, as the name suggests, gives drivers a strong platform to chase their motorsports dreams. With their most recent success, it seems that dreams really do come true with Dream Chaser.
Final Results of 2016 MCS Round 2:
Malaysian Touring Car Independent Cup (Best lap time)
Nick Mah (#36) – 2:45.343
Goh Lee Heng (#93) – 2:49.754
Zharfan Rahmadi (#101) – 2:50.606
Malaysian Touring Car Open Cup (Best lap time)
Kenny Lee (#38) – 2:44.272
Mark Darwin (#19) – 2:44.645
David Mcintyre (#59) – 2:49.153
Touring Production (Best lap time)
Fitra Eri (#16) – 2:28.432
Abdul Kaathir/Lai Wee Seng (#23) – 2:28.496
Boy Wong/Alvaro Mourato (#21) – 2:28.864
IMAGE GALLERY


Lexus reveals new RC F ‘Fuji Speedway Edition’

In paying tribute to the track where the Lexus F was conceived, Lexus presents the
RC F Fuji Speedway Edition
. Only 50 units of the limited edition coupe will available.
Named after the ‘Temple of Speed’ situated at the foothills of Mount Fuji, Lexus said the limited edition model embodies decades of development on the iconic Japanese track.
New Lexus ES with TRD F Sport parts is all kinds of cool! Check it out here!
For starters, the RC F will only be available in the Electric Surge blue – a first for Lexus – with a semi-matte finish. The exhausts have been upgraded to titanium units while carbon exterior panels not only improve aerodynamics but also reduce weight. In the quest to shed even more weight, Lexus also used hollowed driveshafts and a lighter air-conditioning compressor.
The Lexus RC F Track Edition still uses a 5.0L naturally aspirated V8…find out more here!
Behind those 19-inch wheels – wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres – are Brembo Carbon Ceramic brakes; 6-pot in the front, 4-pot at the rear.
With all that excess fat taken away, coupled with 472 hp and 536 Nm of torque from a 5.0-litre V8, the RC F Fuji Speedway Edition gallops to 100 km/h from standstill in just 3.9 seconds. That’s 0.3 seconds faster than the standard RC F. It also boasts the best power-to-weight ratio in its class and is the most powerful V8-powered Lexus to date. The V8 is mated to an 8-speed automatic, with rev-matching and launch control.
The blue theme continues inside with black and blue Alcantara seats along with blue carbon fibre trims. The steering wheel and gear knob are also wrapped in Alcantara. For aural pleasure, the RCF comes with an 18-speaker Mark Levinson sound system.
The RC F can be optionally specified with the RC C Carbon Package that consists of a carbon fibre roof, front and rear splitters, and a retractable rear wing.
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This is possibly the first Proton X70 crash in Malaysia

Just less than one month after the
local debut of the Proton X70
, we have what appears to the be the first documented crash involving the new SUV courtesy of a Facebook user who
uploaded to the social media site
.
Based on the unverified information shared on the various Facebook groups, the X70 in question was driving along Jalan Kereta Api Lama, Kamar heading to Kampung Tok Muda Kapar, Selangor when the SUV drove into the ditch damaging the driver’s side of the car. The impact was severe enough for the side airbags to be deployed as told from the pictures.

However, despite landing into a ditch with significant damage across its right flank, the X70 appears to have maintained its structural integrity.
The X70 is rated
5-Star by ASEAN NCAP
. As standard, all variants of the X70 comes with Hot Press Forming (HPF) technology body structure, six airbags, ABS, electronic stability control, pre-tensioner seat belts and load limiters.
The car involved in this accident was the top of the range Premium 2WD variant which comes with Advanced Driver’s Assistance System that bundles Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Blind Spot Information System (BLIS).
No word on the condition of the passengers involved in the crash but we hope that they are well and wish the occupants and the Proton X70 a speedy recovery.


2022 Subaru BRZ starts from RM118k in the USA

Subaru of America has announced the prices for the
all-new 2022 BRZ
, starting from USD 27,995 (approx.RM118,306). There will be two variants available – Premium and Limited – with the latter asking for USD 30,495 (approx.RM128,871).
Both prices are for the manual variants. The automatic versions of the Premium and Limited costs an extra USD 2,000.
Standard equipment includes LED headlights, a new 7-inch touchscreen that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the Active Sound Control feature, 17-inch wheels, dual-zone air-conditioning, hill-start assist, and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
There’s now even a G-force meter. When Track Mode is selected, the speedometer changes its display – from round dials to a linear graph with color display.
In the more expensive “Limited” variant, upgrades or add-ons include 18-inch wheels, suede upholstery, cornering headlamps, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and a blind-spot monitor. Safety is now also enhanced with a driver’s knee airbag.
GoCar Subs adds a new “Sports category”; Subaru BRZ and WRX available for rent from RM2,699/month!
Optional safety features include adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking (front and back), lane departure warning and high beam assist. These features are bundled under the Subaru EyeSight driver assistance system.
First touted to be turbocharged, the Subaru BRZ was instead introduced with a 2.4-litre naturally-aspirated engine with 228 hp, 249 Nm and a 7,000 rpm redline. Output is 28 hp and 44 Nm higher than the previous 2.0-litre models.
The engine is paired to a 6-speed manual gearbox with a limited-slip differential as standard, while a 6-speed auto with Sports mode is optional.
The all-new Subaru BRZ may not be coming to Malaysia after all, here’s why!
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Perodua to upgrade dealership outlets, 70% to 3S status by 2024

During today’s business briefing press conference,
Perodua’s
 President and Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad announced that the company will begin upgrading its dealership outlets nationwide from 1S and 2S outlets to 3S status, starting this year.
“We have allocated […] RM247.1 million to further modernise our operations, which also include upgrading existing 1S and 2S centres into 3S centres,” he said during the event. The local carmaker is aiming for 70% of its outlets to be upgraded to 3S centres by 2024.
In terms of outlet status, 1S refers to a standalone sales showroom, 2S refers to a service and spare parts centre, while a 3S is the combination of the two. “It is Perodua’s intention to grow with our partners, and we want to do this [expansion] in a way that would be mutually beneficial and sustainable,” Dato’ Sri Zainal added.
As part of the upgrading works, the outlets will be adhering to a ‘New Outlets Standard’ (NOS), featuring Perodua’s latest brand image with a “fresh concept”, while promoting sustainable green operations. The new outlets will also emphasise on ‘mono operation’, integrating the sales and services divisions into one seamless operation to enhance customers’ experience at the outlets.
The expansion should also include plans for Perodua’s Pre-Owned Vehicle (POV) and subscription businesses, as the company is
 committed to a “total rollout” for the latter this year
.
As for after sales service, the company is targetting an increase of vehicle intakes from 2.6 million recorded in 2022, to 2.8 million units this year. “The growth would be a combination of improved service time as well as increasing our service bays throughout the country,” he said.
READ MORE:
Perodua launches Ativa Hybrid leasing programme – RM500/month for 5 years


BMW Malaysia and its PHEV customers plant over 700 trees in Borneo

Plug-in hybrids when sufficiently charged run on zero local emissions thanks to the large battery pack and powerful electric motor, making the surrounding air a little cleaner and the environment a little quieter. BMW Malaysia together with their PHEV customers went a step further for the environment by planting more trees!
BMW Malaysia, via the company’s financial services arm, today announced the completion of their reforestation commitment in Borneo with the Animal Projects and Environmental Education (
APE Malaysia
). Under the Restore Our Amazing Rainforest (ROAR) programme, both BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia and the generosity of new PHEV customers helped to plant
735 new trees
.
BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, CEO, Matthias Schlesiger said, “In the last year, we have made several commitments to give back to local communities in any way we can. We started with the
BMW Safety 360° campaign
 where we were able to raise donations to fund complimentary child car seats for families in need. We extended the same effort to biodiversity conservation as well and partnered with APE Malaysia to support their reforestation efforts in the forests of Borneo. The protection of natural resources ultimately falls onto the very people that benefit from it, and we are grateful that our customers share this conviction with us.”
For every RM100 raised, five new trees were successfully planted at the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary under the ROAR programme. The programme serves to restore habitat for endangered animals which includes the Orangutan and Borneo pygmy elephant, as well as to counteract carbon footprint.
The initiative, which took place on the 1st of May to the 31st of July this year, saw contributions made on behalf of BMW and MINI with the sale of the
BMW 330e
,
BMW 530e M Sport
,
BMW 740Le xDrive
,
BMW X5 xDrive45e
, as well as the
MINI Cooper SE Countryman PHEV
 plus the fully electric
MINI Cooper SE
.
The fundraising efforts by BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia will continue under the
BMW Engage
 platform, as customers can still own their dream PHEVs while contributing to another good cause. From now until the 31st of December, RM100 from every funded contract of the same list of BMW and MINI PHEV models will be channelled to two local non-governmental organisations: Refuge for the Refugees and Empire Project – both of which are actively providing essential aid to vulnerable communities in Malaysia.
More about the great initiative can be found
here
.


The Toyota Supra might actually get a manual transmission

There’s no denying that we like the
A90 Toyota Supra
 a lot – we even featured it in our
#ABC2019 AutoBuzz.my Best (Driver’s) Cars of 2019
 line-up. We didn’t mind the eight-speed automatic gearbox in the Supra too much, but with that being said, there’s still always been this niggling voice at the back of our minds wondering just what the Supra would be like with a manual transmission.
Well, it seems like we might not have to wonder for too much longer. According to Japanese automotive magazine
Mag X
, the reincarnated Toyota Supra will soon be getting an honest-to-god manual gearbox, as part of its annual upgrade cycle to keep buyers interested in the model – see this year’s
power upgrades
.
According to the source, Toyota has been deliberating on the three-pedalled Supra ever since its
debut last year
, but it’s the incessant requests from fans that finally made the development team at Toyota change their minds. If it turns out to be true, the #SavetheManuals movement definitely made a difference here!
Unfortunately, there are no details as of yet on when the manual Supra might arrive. Though, seeing that the Supra was just
recently updated
 with the uprated inline-six engine, we might have to wait upwards of a year for its introduction. As they say, good things come to those who wait, right?
If Toyota managed to convince BMW to let them use the Competition-spec tune, the Supra could see an engine output of up to 510 hp!
Alongside the row-your-own-gear Supra,
Mag X
 claims that Toyota is also plotting for a more hardcore high-performance variant of the A90 Supra, dubbed the
Supra GRMN
, with the latest rumours suggesting that it might even get the twin-turbocharged inline-six engine from the upcoming
BMW M3
 and
M4
.
The new powertrain will most likely be paired to a dual-clutch transmission to make full use of the extra performance, but given that the upcoming M cars will feature a
manual transmission right out of the gate
 (on the standard variant), we can’t help but wonder if the Supra might inherit this powertrain combination too.
Either way, it seems like an interesting couple of years ahead for the Toyota Supra. And if the rumours turn out to be accurate, we can’t wait to put the manual-transmission Supra to its paces to satisfy the little voices in our heads!
For the latest revised price list of Toyota models in Malaysia, click
here
!


Gallery: Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 4MATIC AMG Line, from RM389k

Overshadowed by its younger siblings with more advanced technologies, the Mercedes-Benz EQC was the first electric vehicle (EV) in the EQ series. Sold only as the
Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 4MATIC
 in Malaysia, the EQC fetches a price of
RM388,888
 and was
launched in Malaysia in September 2022
.
Based on the Mercedes-Benz GLC, the Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 4MATIC is a compact executive EV SUV. Unlike other EQ models, it still has a grille instead of a large black panel. It does, however, sport the EQ family look with the continuous lights at the front and rear, blue ‘EQC’ letterings on the front fenders, blue accents in the headlights, and a recognisable EQ front end.
RELATED:
Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 and EQC 400 prices confirmed – RM 329k and RM389k
Being the first of the EQ series, the EQC probably has the best-looking front end, striking a balance between fluidity and a robust look. The wheels are 20 inches in size and the Malaysian-spec EQC gets a set of Pirelli Scorpion Verde tyres.
As standard, the Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 AMG Line is equipped with Multibeam LED Headlights, 20-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels, and an AMG line exterior package on the outside. It also gets aluminium-look running boards with studs on the side.
ALSO WATCH:
2022 Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 AMG Line previewed in Malaysia, 5 Things
Powering the EQC 400 4MATIC is a dual motor setup that, as the name suggests, provides an all-wheel drive (AWD) system. The dual-motor drivetrain is front-biased and produces a system output of
408 hp
 and
760 Nm
, which is plenty for this large (by Malaysian standards) SUV. The EQC does the 0-100 km/h acceleration in
5.1 seconds
 and has a regulated top speed of 180 km/h.
RELATED:
Mercedes-Benz confirms CKD EVs for Malaysia, “exciting announcement” in Q1 2023
Built on an internal combustion engine (ICE) platform, the EQC houses an 80-kWh battery pack that sits underneath the car floor. Being the first of the EQ models and based on the GLC from a few years back, the EQC provides an all-electric range of up to
437 km
 (WLTP), which is still competitive among EVs today.
The 80-kWh battery can be charged at a maximum rate of
11 kW
 with AC charging and
110 kW
 with DC fast charging. An 11-kW AC charger would recharge the EQC from 0 to 100% in
7.5 hours
while 110-kW DC fast charging will charge the EQC from 10% to 80% in
40 minutes
.
RELATED:
Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ Sedan launched in Malaysia, fully-electric E-Class from RM420k
Inside, the Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 4MATIC gets a twin 10.25-inch display with one dedicated as the digital instrument cluster and the other dedicated as the head unit. The EQC supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, albeit only via wired connection. Built on an older ICE platform, the EQC doesn’t get the latest MBUX as you would find in the Mercedes-Benz EQE and Mercedes-Benz EQS. Sound is emitted via a Burmester sound system and the EQC comes with thermotronic automatic climate control.
ALSO WATCH:
Mercedes-Benz EQB 350 4MATIC, from RM329k – 5 Things
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We might be getting an AWD Toyota Yaris hot hatch soon

Hot off the press from the launch last month, Toyota has now teased a performance version of the new
Toyota Yaris
, to be unveiled next week!
In the announcement tweet, Toyota Gazoo Racing has revealed that the Yaris GR-4 prototype will be unveiled at Rally Australia on 17th of November. Considering the curious location, could this be the “homologation special” edition of the next Yaris-based World Rally Championship (WRC) car?
GR Yaris Prototype. Live at Wedding Bells, Rally Australia. 2019.11.17
#GR4

#GRYaris

#TOYOTAGAZOORacing

#WRC

#TGRWRT

pic.twitter.com/m5SFrDbgOf
— TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (@TOYOTA_GR)
November 6, 2019

From the single teaser image, we can clearly see the widened track at the rear, a slightly more aggressive rear spoiler, as well as a lower roofline compared to the standard Toyota Yaris. The GR-4 moniker on the hot hatch also hints that the car will be offered in a four-wheel-drive configuration.
Toyota engineers probably did not have to work too hard to integrate the new drivetrain into the compact hatchback, as the standard Toyota Yaris already offers four-wheel-drive variants thanks to the
TNGA-B platform
 with multi-link rear suspension.
We think the new Toyota Yaris looks pretty good even without the flared wheel arches.
According to
Evo UK
, the current WRC regulations require manufacturers to build 25,000 units of road-going cars that are similar in certain mechanical and design aspects for homologation purposes.
If the Yaris prototype is indeed a homologation special, this means that we can potentially see 25,000 (or more) units of the Toyota Yaris GR-4, instead of the mere 1,000 that were produced for the
Yaris GRMN
!
Other information such as the powertrain and performance figures are frustratingly left out, but fortunately we don’t have to wait too long to find out.


Shell Lubricants and Waze launch Asia’s first accident-prone spots alerts

In conjunction with the upcoming Hari Raya festive season, Shell Lubricants Malaysia and Waze have collaborated to launch Asia’s first accident-prone spots alerts.
This initiative is aimed to help drivers be safer on the roads during this peak travel period, especially at the beginning of Ramadan, during and after Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Waze, through its crowdsourced data contributed by “Wazers” or Waze users, have identified
50 accident-prone spots
 across Peninsular Malaysia. From 16 May till 15 July 2017, a special Shell Helix icon will pop up to remind Wazers to be extra vigilant when approaching these accident hot spots.
According to Alex Lim, Marketing Manager of Shell Lubricants Malaysia and Singapore, the company is taking its road safety practices further through the collaboration with Waze so that drivers could take to the roads with less worry.
Shell Lubricants will also be running a special oil change promotion to encourage owners to service their cars before embarking on their
balik kampung
journeys. Catch the Shell Helix Aidilfitri video on YouTube and Facebook for a promo code and get up to
RM30 off
 for the next oil change service at participating Shell Helix branded workshops and Shell retail stations’ Lubebay service outlets. The promo code will also appear on the Waze app.
IMAGE GALLERY


Acura Precision Concept unveiled, previews the future of Acura/Honda cars

International motor shows like the ongoing Detroit Motor Show is where we can best take a glimpse of how cars of the future will look like. This time, we take a look of how Honda’s premium brand, Acura, will look like in the coming years with the debut of this Precision Concept.
The Acura Precision Concept flaunts a great number of long and edgy lines, followed by a low and wide stance and sloping roofline. Its sharp proportions are almost everywhere, ranging from the black front grille, headlights and tail lights, bumper, exhaust pipes and just basically anywhere that meets the eye. As with any concept cars, this Acura sits on ridiculously large rims, giving it that aggressive side profile.

Inside, there’s a sense of minimalism detected, with a large screen built right into the centre of the dashboard. The screen could be used for infotainment purposes or a possible platform for future human-machine interface.
Acura’s Creative Director, Dave Marek said, “The Acura Precision Concept is a design study model that literally will shape the direction of all future Acura products. t’s the leading edge of a renewed commitment to creating a powerful and very exciting direction for the next generation of Acura models”.
Although the Acura brand is rarely offered in markets outside of the US, it would be interesting to see whether global Honda models will be taking its design cues from this Precision Concept. After all, you wouldn’t say no to a next generation Accord with lines inspired from the Precision Concept now, would you?
IMAGE GALLERY


Volkswagen ID.7 GTX teased – EV sports sedan, dual-motor AWD

Three weeks ago,
Volkswagen
 unveiled to the world the
ID.7
 all-electric (BEV) sedan, which is the flagship model of the Volkswagen ID. family. But the company doesn’t seem to want to wait any longer and has just teased the hot version of the ID.7, the ID.7 GTX. There aren’t many details released by Volkswagen regarding the ID.7 GTX just yet, as the company has only decided to tease a few highlights of the car.
To differentiate the ID.7 GTX from its ‘regular’ sibling, Volkswagen has given sporty touches to the car. This includes some black gloss elements, a black roof, and darkened windows.
Standard Volkswagen ID.7
RELATED:
Volkswagen ID.7 unveiled – up to 700km range, 200kW DC charging
Powering the ID.7 GTX will be a dual-motor all-wheel drive system, which according to the carmaker is aimed to achieve an optimum combination of efficiency, dynamic and driving stability. The EV sports sedan also comes with a vehicle dynamic manager.
The vehicle dynamic manager enables the driver to control the vehicle’s powertrain, braking, steering, as well as the chassis control system, depending on the driving profile selected. Being built on the Modular Electric Drive (MEB) platform, just like the regular ID.7, the running gear and steering are fundamentally enhanced.
Standard Volkswagen ID.7
As a result, this allows the ID.7 GTX to offer a large bandwidth between comfort and sportiness, according to Volkswagen. However, the carmaker has not shared information regarding the car’s performance figures, driving range, or charging rate as of now.
We will have to wait till Volkswagen releases more details in the future. Inside, GTX treatments given to the ID.7 GTX include red GTX contrast stitchings on the seats, dashboard panel, and doors.
Standard Volkswagen ID.7
The GTX brand houses Volkswagen’s all-electric performance models, which include the
ID.4 GTX
,
ID.5 GTX
 and now the ID.7 GTX which will be coming soon. The brand has been part of Volkswagen’s portfolio for two years and is described by the company as a brand that produces dynamic vehicles which combine electric mobility, sustainability, and intelligent sportiness.
The ID.7 GTX is planned to be launched at the IAA Mobility (International Motor Show Germany) in Munich. The motor show will be held from
September 5
to
 10
,
2023
. Again, this is just a teaser of the ID.7 GTX, therefore actual details of the car when launched might be subject to change.
RELATED:
2023 Volkswagen Arteon R-Line 4MOTION in Malaysia now with IQ.Drive, from RM299k


Infiniti Q50 officially launched in Malaysia, price from RM249k [+Video]

The Infiniti Q50 is finally launched in Malaysia after almost a year since its first appearance at the
KLIMS 2013
, featuring the world’s first steer-by-wire system or Direct Adaptive Steering (
DAS
). Available in three variants, including a hybrid, this new premium sports sedan is priced from
RM248,800
. It has just started a fierce competition in the local premium market.
The new Infiniti Q50 is available in three variants, starting from the Q50 2.0T GT, Q50 2.0T GT Premium and the Q50S 3.5 Hybrid. This new premium sedan wears Infiniti’s new face and design that will be inherited by future models to come, and one of its most standout features are the ‘double arch’ grille, the dynamic wave shoulder-line and crescent-cut C-pillar.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Infiniti Q50 2.0T GT/ Premium
Infiniti Q50S 3.5 Hybrid
Segment
C-Segment
C-Segment
Engine
1,991cc 4-cylinder, turbocharged
 3,498cc V6 with 67hp electric motor
Transmission
7-speed automatic with ASC
7-speed automatic with ASC
Max Power
211hp @ 5,500 rpm
 364hp (Hybrid System Net Power)
Max Torque
350Nm @ 1,250 – 3,500 rpm
 350Nm
Price (OTR without insurance)

RM 248,800 / RM 278,800

RM 398,800
“We are all the more confident that the new Infiniti Q50 will strengthen our presence in Malaysia and nurture our brand. The New Q50 will deliver inspired performance to premium customers through its distinctive new design language, passionate craftsmanship and innovative technologies.” said Dane Fisher, Director, Asia and Oceania, Infiniti Motor Company Limited.
EXTERIOR

Infiniti’s new look is mainly dominated by its fascia ‘double arch’ grille paired with LED headlights with Daytime Running Lights in all three variants. Except that the Q50S gets an extra Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) and highbeam assist. LED rearlights and LED foglights are however similar in all.

The easiest way to differentiate the variants are the allow wheels. The entry level 2.0T GT are fitted with
17-inch
 split 5-spoke aluminium-alloy wheels, Premiun gets
18-inch
 split 5-spoke aluminium-allow wheels, while the top range 3.5 Hydrid are fitted with
19-inch
 triple 5-spoke aluminium-alloy wheels. All wrapped in run flat performance tyres.

INTERIOR

Infiniti claims that the interior of the Q50 offers a powerful blend of three-dimensional textures, highest craftsmanship and premium quality, combining modern luxury and user-focused advanced technology. The engineers even researched on how to develop the leather on the seats to feel like the softness of a baby’s skin.

Welcoming you into the cabin is a dual-screen command centre, a combination of an 8-inch and 7-inch LCD screens. This is where the Infiniti InTouch and Infiniti InTuition reside, enabling access to apps such as Performance Meter and Maintenance Note, while the latter allows customization to digital environment for audio, climate control, and settings for Infiniti Intelligent Key.
The Q50 recognizes up to four Infiniti Intelligent Keys, which the car provides a personalised experience for each key holder. It prepares sitting position, favourite apps, air-cond settings, favourite radio station, side mirror adjustment and many more, all ready for you once in the car. Preset of course.
Standard in all variants are the dual-screen system, leather seats, leather 3-spoke steering wheel and Kacchu aluminium accents, which is based on Japanese Samurai’s armour texture design. The Premium variant is equipped with a set of 14-speaker Bose Studio on Wheels, else it’s a 6-speaker audio system.
PERFORMANCE
 The Q50 2.0T GT is powered by a turbocharged
2.0-liter
, 4-cylinder Direct Injection with Piezo injectors. Mated with a
7-speed
 automatic gearbox with Adaptive Shift Control (ASC). Producing 211 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque. It gets from 0 to 100 km/h in
7.2 seconds
, with a top speed of
245km/h
.
The Q50S Hybrid on the other hand is fitted with a
3.5-liter V6
 engine with Infiniti Direct Respinse Hybrid utilizing a lithium-ion battery and a
67hp electric motor
, together with the same
7-speed
 gearbox as the GT. It generates a total of
364 horsepower
 when both V6 and electric powertrain combined, with a maximum torque of
 350Nm
. Acceleration figure from 0 to 100 in just
5.1 seconds
! Top speed is capped at
250km/h
.
In addition to that, the Q50S  also comes with sports package such as sport-tuned suspension, moon roof and solid magnesium paddle shifters. The world’s first electric control steering wheel or steer-by-wire is only available in Premium and Hybrid variants. After 10 years of research, Infiniti has finally introduced its Direct Adaptive Steering (DAS), offering driving comfort, safety and steering precision. Watch our
launch highlights
 to learn more about the DAS.
SAFETY

When it comes to safety, the Q50 is well prepared. First of, the car is constructed using ultra high-strength steel, with twice the tensile strength of conventional steel.  Standard in all variants are Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), Traction Control System (TCS) and Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC). Cabin is fitted 6-airbags; dual front, two sides, and two curtain airbags.
Premium and Hybrid variants are equipped with some clever safety features. They have the world’s first Active Lane Control (ALC) system which uses camera-based technology to enhance lane-keeping safety; Blind Spot Warning (BSW) and Blind Sport Intervention systems; Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) systems; Forward Emergency Braking (FEB); Predictive Forward Collision Warming (PFCW) and Intelligent Cruise Control.
WHAT ELSE?

Infiniti is optimistic that this newcomer is able to propel the brand further in the Malaysian market. With its attractive introductory price for a Completely Built-Up (CBU) premium sedan, it’s set to a tough contender among the usuals; BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Lexus IS and Audi A4.
Available in three variants, the entry level
Infiniti Q50 2.0T GT
 is priced at
RM248,800
 (OTR without insurance), at RM30,000 more there’s the
Q50 2.0T GT Premium
is at
 RM278,800
. To get the best out of the new Infiniti,
Q50S 3.5 Hydrid
 is available at
RM398,800
.
IMAGE GALLERY


Hyundai Malaysia guarantees zero-GST prices of the Ioniq & Tucson

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) has just announced that the company will honour the zero-rated GST price tags on Hyundai Ioniq hybrid and selected Tucson models for all bookings made before 31 August 2018.
Customers will not be burdened with the price hike when the Sales and Services Tax (SST) is reimplemented even if their vehicle is delivered after 1 September 2018. The model variants that qualify for this Price Guarantee scheme are as below:
Model Variant
Price with 0% GST
Ioniq Hybrid HEV
RM94,788
Ioniq Hybrid HEV Plus
RM109,988
Tucson Elegance
RM119,188
Tucson Turbo
RM137,488
Managing Director of Sime Darby Motors, Dennis Ho said: “With our stock for the Ioniq Hybrid and Tucson* fast depleting, we will need time to replenish the stock in order to fulfil customers’ demands. It is only fair that HSDM absorbs the SST for orders placed by 31 August 2018, even for vehicles delivered after the SST takes effect”
All vehicles sold by HSDM comes with a 5-Years or 300,000 km warranty as standard. Additionally, the Ioniq is entitled to 3-Years/60,000 km free service while the Tucson is entitled to a 3-Years/50,000 km free service programme.


Review: G20 BMW 330e M Sport: More than just XtraBoost

The G20 BMW 3-Series has had many split opinions. The overall handling and body control are as expected- class-leading and still the benchmark for many to follow, but the riding comfort does not satisfy. It has returned to the unnecessarily stiff and a feeling of insufficient damping from the shock absorbers which was a stereotypical trait of BMW of the late 2000s.
Both the 320i Sport and
330i M Sport we reviewed
 made a lasting impression in which it could be rather unpleasant at majority of the commuting journey due to the relatively harsher ride. One major difference in features that the recently introduced
BMW 330e M Sport plug-in hybrid
 included is the fitment of the adaptive M suspension.
As mentioned in earlier articles, there are literally no differences on the exterior and interior of the PHEV 330e and petrol-powered 330i, both in M Sport treatment.  The ‘eDrive’ emblems that were on the previous generation 330e have been removed, making the identification of the PHEV 330e only through the charging port on the left front fender and the model emblem on the bootlid.
However, the driving experience is much more enjoyable in the plug-in hybrid BMW 330e M Sport. Immediately, the adaptive M suspension does an incredible job in sorting out all the uneven road surfaces. It is softer but body control is still present, with the 330e goes over speed humps with an assuring ‘thud’.
Additional soundproofing also isolates the cabin to a higher level, making it far calmer especially compared to competitors.
The driving modes are exclusive to the 330e, starting with Adaptive, Electric, Hybrid and finally Sport. All are self-explanatory, to be honest, and the much talked about XtraBoost is available in Sport mode.
XtraBoost delivers the maximum
292 hp
 to propel the BMW 330e to triple-digit speeds a lot sooner than you expect, accompanied by a nice feeling of being pinned to the seat. On paper, the century sprint is just 0.1 seconds slower than the 330i, but subjectively felt faster thanks to the abundance of torque from the electric motor from lower engine rpm.
Nothing intangible from the driver’s seat makes one notice the increase in kerb weight of
270 kg
. Yes, 270 kg of extra electric motor, wiring and mass from the plug-in hybrid system and it still goes as you expect from a BMW.
Only on the most aggressive series of bends, one would feel the added weight being waved about, but in day-to-day drives, it’s negligible.
Strong regenerative braking (20 kW) is enabled in Adaptive and Electric driving modes, thus one does not even use much of the M Sport brakes to slow the car down, especially while driving in urban areas. This low-pedal usage keeps the rims much cleaner too with little to no discharge of brake dust.
Out on the open road, there is more than enough system output to clear slower traffic in all driving modes. The transition from full electric to hybrid deserves mention too, one could hardly feel the combustion engine igniting and vibrating away.
In the interior, the hybrid-exclusive information displayed on the driver’s screen is the tally of combustion-free kilometres, an energy meter and electric-only range. I find myself using the speed limit function a lot more in the BMW 330e, as I wanted to drive as much as possible with just the electric motor and keeping under 40% of energy usage.
With an increase in
 public wallbox charging facilities
, improving the electric range was convenient too. However, a battery with 100% charge is nowhere near as optimistic as the publicised 56 km range. My highest range available was 36 km, all in air-conditioning comfort which the regulated European fuel consumption standard (NEDC, WLTP) does not activate.
The BMW 330e M Sport is actually the most expensive four-cylinder 3 Series in the Malaysian line-up. But thanks to enormous incentives from the government, it sits between the
entry 320i
 and the 330i. The very pleasurable
BMW M340i xDrive
 with a delightful straight-six engine meanwhile cost over RM100k dearer but it is money well spent.
With the same outlook and straight-line performance, choosing between the BMW 330i and BMW 330e boils down to infrastructure-related questions and driving preference. It only makes plenty of sense and ‘sens’ if a wallbox or at least a charging socket can be fitted at your place of residence.
Left to charge on its own, the 330e doesn’t seem to have significantly better fuel consumption. The quietness and vibration-free movement in fully electric mode of the BMW 330e still hold plenty of novelty given the lack of EVs in Malaysia.
BMW 330e M Sport specifications:
Engine
1,998cc, four-cylinder turbo, plug-in hybrid
Electric Motor; battery energy content
113 hp, 265 Nm; 12 kWh, EV range: 56 km
Combined system output, horsepower
292 hp, with XtraBoost
Combined system output, torque
420 Nm
Transmission
8-speed Steptronic Sport automatic
0-100 km/h, top speed
5.9 seconds, 230 km/h
Price, OTR (w/o ins, with SST exemptions)
RM264,613.13
GALLERY


SpyBuzz: McLaren’s next generation supercar leaked!

A single image of what appears to be the
McLaren 650S
‘s successor has just surfaced onto the internet, ahead of its global debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. The long awaited replacement for the brand’s Super Series model is known internally as the P14 and apparently will bear the 720S moniker.
This state-of-the-art McLaren will feature the company’s next-generation carbon fibre monocoque. No technical details are available at press time, but we can safely expect the car to produce around 720 PS, as its name suggests. What else can we expect? The company’s signature dihedral doors, of course. Several clear giveaways are the dual exhaust tips, but the rest remain distinctly McLaren.

While the 650S may be the brand’s second supercar in the Super Series, it was often passed off as a
MP4-12C

facelift
. Therefore, we can’t wait to see what the P14 has to offer and secondly, you can count on McLaren to deliver the more hardcore Long Tail version of this somewhere down the road.


Watch the Aston Martin DBX SUV slippin’ & slidin’ on ice

It won’t be long till the first production version of the
Aston Martin DBX
 is delivered to customers. The folks at Gaydon promised that the British marque’s first SUV will go into full production in 2020.
But before the DBX is
ready to hit the production floor, the car was brought to Pirelli’s R&D
Sottozero Centre in Sweden to continue its intensive development programme. The
ice track allows the engineers to tweak how the car handles on snowy roads to
ice handling courses.

Aston Martin Chief
Engineer, Matt Becker said: “The Aston Martin DBX needs to be ready for a wide
range of multi-terrain surfaces, so in addition to testing the car in normal
day-to-day situations, we need to test it in extreme conditions such as these.
Testing these prototypes in cold climate conditions helps us to assess the
car’s early dynamics and crucially ensure confidence inspiring sure-footedness
on low grip surfaces.”
IMAGE GALLERY
Aston Martin DBX Winter Testing


BMW Malaysia confirms price of BMW 330Li M Sport – from RM277,164

First previewed in April together with the
 BMW X3 sDrive20i
, BMW Malaysia has confirmed the pricing of the locally-assembled BMW 330Li M Sport.
The first-ever BMW 330Li M Sport is now priced from
RM277,164.22
, just RM6,000 more than that short wheelbase variant.
As such, the BMW 3 Series line-up in Malaysia, with standard warranty pricing, consist of:
BMW 320i Sport 2021 with BMW Live Cockpit Professional- RM230,763.65
BMW 330e M Sport PHEV- RM249,848.95
BMW 330i M Sport- RM271,212.02
BMW 330Li M Sport Long wheelbase- RM277,164.22
BMW M340i xDrive- RM389,234.13
EXTERIOR
The first-ever BMW 3 Series long wheelbase in Malaysia will be offered with the popular M Sport package. This means the inclusion of the M Sport aerodynamics kit, M badges, and black window surrounds similar to the standard wheelbase variants.
However, the design of the rims is different, together with a rear bumper that surrounds the exhaust outlets in a trapezoidal design. Visible behind the 18-inch wheels are the unpainted standard brake calipers.
18″ M light-alloy wheels in Double Spoke Style 848 M Bicolour, staggered sizing
M Aerodynamics Package
Standard brake calipers
Adaptive LED headlamps
Welcome light “carpet”
Panoramic 2-piece glass roof

The wheelbase has been stretched by
110 mm
, measuring 2,961 mm, which is just 14 mm shorter than the BMW 5 Series. Compared to the Lexus ES which visually looks exceptionally spacious like a long-wheelbase car, the ruler only registers a reading of 2,870 mm, or 91 mm shorter than the 330 Li.
BMW says there is a 6 mm increase in overall height on the 330Li M Sport compared to the
330i M Sport
. Boot space is rated at 480 litres.
INTERIOR
In terms of the additional features for the more spacious back seat, there aren’t any extra toys. However, a massive two-piece
panoramic glass roof
 provides more light into the enlarged cabin. Dimensionally, the legroom for the rear passengers has
increased by 42 mm
, while headroom is a marginal 4 mm more compared to the 330i M Sport.
Dashboard in Sensatec
Aluminium Tetragon trim with pearl chrome highlights
M Sport steering wheel and foot pedals
Comfort front seats
12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster
10.25-inch touch screen central display
Three-zone automatic air-conditioning
10-speaker HiFi sound system
Enhanced ambient lighting (lighting strip at back of front seats)
Upfront, the occupants are treated to a higher quality interior compared to the standard wheelbase variants. The dashboard is now covered in Sensatec with contrast stitching while the switches at doors are in a satin finishing called “Galvanic Embellishers”.
The Malaysian launch of the first-ever BMW 330Li M Sport will also debut the new
‘My BMW App‘
 that provides easy access to a wide range of remote services, on-the-go navigation, and e-mobility features. The application will replace the BMW Connected App
this month
 and is now available for download on both Android and iOS-enabled smartphones.
The first-ever locally-assembled BMW 330Li M Sport can be had in Mineral White or Carbon Black and paired with Vernasca leather upholstery in Mocha with black stitching.
PERFORMANCE
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder
Transmission: 8-speed Steptronic automatic, rear-wheel drive
Max Power: 258 hp @ 5,000 rpm to 6,500 rpm
Max Torque: 400 Nm @ 1,550 rpm to 4,400 rpm
0 – 100 km/h: 6.2 seconds
Top Speed: 250 km/h (limited)
Fuel consumption: 6.4 l/100 km
The powertrain of the new BMW 330Li M Sport mirrors the 330i M Sport, which means access to the potent
258 hp
 output and
400 Nm
 of torque from the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. Due to the increase in overall mass, the 0 to 100 km/h time for the long-wheelbase variant takes a little longer, now registering
6.2 seconds
– a 0.4-second delay.
Being focussed as a limousine, the suspension has the standard lift-related dampers setting (non M Sport, non adaptive) as well as standard steering mechanism, unlike the 330Li M Sport with variable sport steering paired with M Sport suspension. Watch our review on the BMW 330i M Sport
here
.
SAFETY
Similar to the standard wheelbase variant, the new BMW 330Li M Sport is also equipped with the Driving Assistant Package which includes:
Front Collision Warning with brake intervention
Lane Departure Warning
Lane Change Warning
Rear Cross-Traffic Warning and Collision Prevention
Reverse camera
Intelligent Emergency Call
PRICING
The first-ever BMW 330Li M Sport is priced from
RM277,164.22
 on the road, without insurance, and inclusive of the SST exemptions. However, the aforementioned price only comes with a standard two-year warranty.
For the full five-year/unlimited mileage warranty with free scheduled service programme and, the price increases to
RM290,284.22
 – a RM13,120 premium.
With the Balloon Financing Plan from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, the first-ever BMW 330Li M Sport can be owned with a monthly instalment plan starting from RM3,078 (based on estimates of an 80% loan on a five-year tenure).
GALLERY


The truck you’d want for a zombie apocalypse – the Ford F-150 “AT44”

The Ford F-150 “AT44” is built by Arctic Trucks and if that company sounds familiar to you, that’s because they’re the same people that built the two Toyota Hilux used by Jeremy Clarkson and James May and their Top Gear crew in their Arctic expedition special.
Safe to say, these guys are well established when it comes to building the biggest and baddest trucks to explore the roughest, coldest, ice-laden landscapes on this planet. Look them up and you’d realise that the Toyota Hilux isn’t their only “Arctic explorer of choice”.

Among the 4x4s they modify and prep to face the white death that is the Arctic include the Toyota Land Cruiser, the Isuzu D-Max, the Nissan Navara and Patrol, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and even the Lexus 570.
 Check them out here
!
While the company has meddled with Ford’s pick-up, it has only been limited to the F-350 but this Ford F-150 “AT44”, named after its 44-inch tyre conversion according to
Motor1.com
, should mark a new beginning although not much else is known about the so far as the company has only so far teased its existence on their
Facebook page
.
Source:
Arctic Trucks
GALLERY


Tesla Model 3’s wild reception proves the Apple hype is real

Tesla Motors has unveiled the Model 3, Tesla’s third model after the Model S saloon and Model X SUV. This time, the Model 3 is positioned as the company’s bread and butter, long-range electric vehicle to attract the masses. Think of it this way; the Model S is the iPhone 6s, and the Model 3 is like the iPhone SE. It’s for everyone.
The Model 3 is a subcompact car that uses
 lithium-ion batteries,
 capable of travelling
344km
 in a single charge. Performance remains strong with the base car. It dashes to the century mark in 6.0 seconds (Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk once said “We don’t make slow cars”), so expect future variants of the Model 3 to go faster, way faster than the current 6.0-second benchmark.
Practicality is a strong suit with the Model 3 as it
 sits five comfortably,
 made possible with a redesigned cabin. Just like other Tesla cars, boot space is available at the front and back. All Model 3 variants will receive Tesla’s Autopilot autonomous driving technology as standard and a five-star safety rating is expected once it’s put through the crash safety test.
The Model 3, built at Tesla’s Fremont plant, begins at
£24,000
 (approx RM137,000 at current rates) which is pretty accessible for a Tesla (the base Model S at £54,995 in the UK), matching the price of most compact premium saloons in the UK. However, hold that excitement first because production will only be commencing late 2017. But that hasn’t stopped over 130,000 people from placing their orders!
Prior to this, the idea of having the Tesla brand present in our region seems a little far out of reach. But with the Model 3, it’s turning out to be more of a reality than just a dream. Who knows in the future, with the right charging infrastructure and appointed distributor, we might just be able to buy ourselves an official Tesla car. Until then, let’s just wait. Patiently.
IMAGE GALLERY


Volkswagen rolls out new brand design and logo in Malaysia

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia revealed today in a video conference its new brand design and logo to lead the company’s fresh new vision and attitude.
Just like what BMW has done to theirs recently
, Volkswagen has also opted for a rebranding exercise of sorts, not just to align the company’s brand image on a global scale but also to be more relevant in the digital scene. Volkswagen says the new logo is also aimed at appealing to the younger and upcoming generation of car buyers. Looking at it, their intentions couldn’t be any clearer.

“All visuals are bolder and more colourful, incorporating a vibrancy that is translated to the way the brand is communicated. This also applies to the new brand symbols such as pictograms, typography, colours or layout guidelines,” said Volkswagen.
The new logo now projects a more modern and simpler appearance that’s flat, two-dimensional and more digitally adaptable. Along with the latest evolution of the iconic logo, Volkswagen now has
a sound logo by a female voice
 – one that’s definitely more approachable and inviting
 compared to the coarse, manly voice used currently
.

VPCM, Managing Director, Erik Winter said, “This introduction represents a new era for the brand. “We have always been digital first here in Malaysia, having pioneered numerous ground-breaking initiatives, from selling our cars on ecommerce sites to launching our digital showroom.”
“In such challenging times, we recognise the need to be even more customer-centric, and to be able to move to the new brand design completes this transformation for us. The principles of ‘people first, ‘new attitude’ and ‘digital first’ will shape our future direction in better reaching out and creating a new Volkswagen experience for our customers.”
As mentioned earlier, this new initiative is also a realignment of the Volkswagen brand design – one of the world’s largest rebranding campaigns – involving over
171 markets and 10,000 dealerships
. In Malaysia, a total of 21 dealerships will be revamped externally and internally in stages, over the next months and is expect to be completed by the end of 2020.
VPCM said that the first Volkswagen in Malaysia to bear the new logo would be the
 Mk 8 Golf
but also highlighted that they’re not expecting it to arrive by this year.
In the same video conference, VPCM said the
new Passat R-Line will be launched “very soon”
 without specifying a date although it’s safe to assume that the new car, based on the
Passat Elegance
 launched at the end of last year, would still be bear the old logo.
GALLERY


Gallery: 2023 BMW M340i xDrive facelift from RM391k – 392hp, 500 Nm, new M Sport Pro variant

BMW Malaysia has launched the new facelift BMW M340i xDrive with two variants available. The facelift starts from RM391,800 for the standard variant while the new M Sport Pro variant starts from RM396,800. For that, the M340i xDrive will also come with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty and free scheduled service.
Note that the standard M340i xDrive is now RM28,120 more expensive than before, while the new M340i xDrive M Sport Pro variant is available exclusively online with a pre-booking fee of RM3,000.
By the way, if you need to renew your car insurance, get 10% cash rebate and cash back at the end of your policy if you renew with
MotorTakaful.com
 by Etiqa!
So what do you get for that higher asking price? For starters, a better-looking car (somewhat). The front end looks no different to the facelift BMW 3 Series launched earlier this year, while the rear end looks far more aggressive than before, especially with the new rear bumper design.
Making up the exterior are items like adaptive LED headlamps, a new front grille design that sports horizontal instead of vertical chrome pins from before, 19-inch style 791 M light alloy wheels, M Sport brakes and M adaptive suspension. With the M High-gloss Shadowline package, items like the side mirror and window surrounds are finished in high-gloss black.
There are a bunch of interesting colours too; such as the Portimao Blue, Black Sapphire and Alpine white which were available for the pre-facelift model. For the facelift, BMW has reintroduced the Melbourne Red in favour of the Sunset Orange along with new options like Skyscraper Grey and Brooklyn Grey. Doesn’t it just pop in that Melbourne Red colour?
Moving inside, the first thing you’d notice is the large BMW Curved Display featuring a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen. You also get a head-up display, a wireless charging pad, Harman Kardon surround sound system and three-zone air conditioning. Upholstery options include Vernasca leather in Black or Mocha.
As for the new M Sport Pro variant, it stands out with M Lights Shadowline, 19-inch style 792 M light alloy wheels, M seat belts, red brake callipers, and a Tacora Red upholstery.
Under the hood is a 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engine with 392 hp (288 kW) and 500 Nm of torque to drive all four wheels via an eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission. Its 0-100 km/h is 4.4 seconds, with a top speed of 250 km/h.
GALLERY


We love this simple addition to the new Mitsubishi Triton!

So as you’re all aware by now, the
new Mitsubishi Triton
 has finally made its way to Malaysia after its
global unveiling in Bangkok, Thailand
 and its
preview at the 2018 Kuala Lumpur International Motorshow
.
After a
quick taste of the car in Bangkok
, we got to spent some time off-roading with the new pick-up in Sabah. Substantial time was also spent on the tarmac, en route to Kudat, Tambunan, Keningau, and Tuaran.
In the 850 km I clocked in three days, with just under a tank of fuel (surprisingly), one thing really stood out to me – the
knee pads on the side of the centre console
.
It made all the difference on the those patchy roads, especially when the driver (me) is made of skin and bones – it’s not fun knocking the side of your knees on hard plastic.
A quick check showed that no other pick-ups on sale in Malaysia at the moment are furnished with the said knee pads – save for the Nissan Navara that comes with a little storage compartment – perhaps something for other manufacturers to look into.
On the side note, it was announced that the Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia has seen a hike in sales for the previous Triton, from 4,556 units (2017) to
 5,658 units
 (2018).
In 2019, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia
expects to sell over 7,000 units
 of the new model which had already received
800 bookings
.
Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia will also be adding
seven new showrooms
to its network this year, to a new total of 59.
IMAGE GALLERY


Nissan expands recall for models affected by defective Takata airbags

There’s no other way to say this; if you own a Nissan vehicle in Malaysia, please refer to the tables below and take action immediately if your vehicle is affected by Takata airbag inflators that could pose a threat to you or your passenger when they are triggered.
Expanded recall for Nissan models for August 2019.
A total of
11,917 units
 are being recalled this round and it involves three models; the
D40 Navara pick-up
 (this covers the last gen model),
Grand Livina MPV
 and
X-Gear crossover
. The current-generation NP300 Navara is not included in this recall.
Owners of Nissan vehicles affected by the airbag recall will be notified by letter and are urged to set up an appointment with the nearest Nissan authorised service outlet.
Selected Nissan outlets
 also have extended operational hours and are open every day of the year, including weekends and public holidays to cope with the recall campaign.
Existing models previously announced which require airbag replacements.
The fastest and simpler way to check if your vehicle is affected is via online at
http://servicecampaign.nissan.com.my/
 or you can pick up the phone and call
1-800-88-3838
 to enquire. As of June 2019, Tan Chong have replaced defective airbag inflators belonging to 99,670 vehicles, or 56% of those affected.


MoF confirms no additional charges for hire purchase loans during moratorium

The Minister of Finance, Tengku Dato’ Sri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz has announced through a media statement that there will be
 no additional charges
 to the instalment payments – compound and additional accrued interests – for all hire purchase car loans or fixed-rate Shariah financing, in relation to the
six-month moratorium as announced in March
 at the start of the
Movement Control Order (MCO)
.
Essentially, if you have opted in – which should have been automatic – for the six-month moratorium to defer your loan payments from the 1st of April, your repayments will
return to your original monthly amount from October 2020
 onwards until the end of your loan tenure – which will be
extended by six months
 to reflect the moratorium period.
The latest announcement by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) has effectively nullified the changes made by Bank Negara Malaysia on the 30th of April to
allow for banks to charge accrued interest
 during the moratorium period.
Tengku Zafrul said in the statement that the decision was made after discussions with the banking industry. “The government hopes that this decision can help ease the burden of the people in these trying times.”


First impressions: New Nissan X-Trail Hybrid – it’s intelligent

This mid-life facelift of Nissan’s best-selling SUV has been a long time coming. While the X-Trail remains one of the most popular SUVs in its class, it has been outshone by competitors in features and technology since its launch in January 2015.
 Facelifted X-Trail sports new rear bumpers and ‘smoked’ tail-lamps with LED light bar.
Well, it’s no longer the case with the introduction of the
facelifted X-Trail
, now equipped with a slew of active safety tech as part of the Nissan Intelligent Mobility initiative. Just to recap, the refreshed range now encompasses four variants with different three powertrains:
2.0-litre 2WD (Standard grade); estimated price of under RM139,900
2.0-litre 2WD (Mid grade); estimated price of under RM149,900
2.5-litre 4WD; estimated price of under RM159,900
2.0-litre Hybrid; estimated price of under RM169,900
Standard safety specs have been raised across the board and all variants get six airbags except the 2.0L base variant with four, along with electronic stability control and around view monitor as before, but now with the addition of moving object detection (adds a layer of preventive safety if you have toddlers at home).
 John Mayer ‘approves’ of the Android Auto-ready head-unit on the updated X-Trail.
Gone is the foot-operated manual parking brake, now replaced by an electronic park brake with Auto Hold function on all variants. Additionally, there’s a new Nissan 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system (made by Bosch) that comes with
Android Auto
 and
Apple CarPlay
, for all four variants as well.
The 2.0-litre 2WD mid-grade onwards adds lane departure warning, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic and powered tailgate with foot detection, while both the 2.5-litre 4WD and Hybrid variants top up the list of active safety functions with active cruise control, forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking.
 Nissan’s Intelligent Cruise Control in action; works seamlessly above 32 km/h, easy to use too.
The most interesting variant is of course the 2.0-litre 2WD hybrid. This new drivetrain isn’t to be confused with the mild hybrid system found on the Serena S-Hybrid as it’s a full hybrid with 0.9 kWh worth of lithium-ion batteries powering a
41 hp
 and
160 Nm electric motor
.
The X-Trail Hybrid is capable of electric drive (when state of charge allows, automatically regulated by the hybrid system) with regenerative braking. The dual-power source is channelled through to the CVT via a dual-clutch control system. So as not to catch pedestrians unawares, the X-Trail Hybrid emits a simulated rolling ‘noise’ when under pure electric power.
 New hybrid powerplant churns out a total system output of 179 hp, not bad.
The
combined output
 of the hybrid system is
179 hp
, with torque unspecified, though the electric motor is capable of a very handy
160 Nm
 on its own, supporting the
144 hp
 and
 200 Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder MR20DD
 direct injection engine.
We had a brief go at the X-Trail Hybrid at its media preview and the low-end response is noticeably perkier than the non-hybrid pre-facelifted 2.0-litre 2WD, with much improved NVH (as part of the facelift updates), ride comfort and perceived interior quality. Do note that the Hybrid is a 5-seater while the rest remain as 7-seaters owing to the placement of the battery pack behind the second row.
 The interior of the X-Trail gets a new steering wheel and various soft-touch trim.
We also managed to trial the active cruise control and forward collision warning system and it works well right off the bat in traffic, but more importantly, the suite of active safety tech is simple to activate via the rather sporty three-spoke steering wheel. Is Nissan back in the reckoning in this ultra-competitive segment? We’ll find out soon enough after its official launch next month.
Image gallery


Video: Ferrari Portofino, Things You Need To Know

Naza Italia, the official distributor of Ferrari vehicles in Malaysia has officially added the
Ferrari Portofino
 to their line up of cars. Let Eu Jin tell you Things You Need 2 Know about the latest 2+2 convertible Ferrari.
As a successor to the California T, the Portofino gets a turbocharged V8 engine measuring 3.9-litres of displacement. The new powerplant brings output to
592 hp
 and
760 Nm
 paired to a seven-speed F1 dual-clutch transmission. Couple that to a lighter body (-80 kg), the Portofino will sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in
3.5 seconds
 onwards to a top speed of
320 km/h
.
Like any other Ferrari, the Ferrari Tailor-Made programme offers customers to spec their Portofino to their heart’s content. That is if they aren’t bothered by the base price of RM948,000 excluding duties and options.


Neta V receives 100 bookings at Malaysia Autoshow 2023, cheapest EV for now

The cheapest electric vehicle (EV) in Malaysia right now, the
Neta V
 has garnered 100 bookings during the Malaysia Autoshow 2023 alone. Making its Malaysian debut at the Autoshow, the Neta V is priced at
RM99,800
, but was offered with a RM10,000 cash rebate for those who placed their bookings during the Autoshow.
The Neta V is a fully electric car by Hozon New Energy Automobile, a Chinese EV company backed by Chinese battery giant CATL. In Malaysia, the Neta brand is officially distributed by Intro Synergy Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of GoAuto Group.
As a budget EV, the Neta doesn’t boast high performance figures. It is a powered by a single front-mounted electric motor that makes 70 kW (
95 hp
) and
150 Nm
. No 0-100km/h times are listed, but the Neta does
0 to 50 km/h
in
 3.9 seconds
, onward to a top speed of
120 km/h
.
As for battery and range, the Neta V houses a small
38.5-kWh
 battery pack which provides
380 km
 of range (NEDC). Charging can be done at a maximum rate of
6.6 kW
 with AC charging and
100 kW
with DC charging. 6.6-kW AC charging fully charges the car in roughly
8 hours
 while 100-kW DC charging charges the car from 30% to 80% in approximately
30 minutes
.
RELATED:
Neta V makes Malaysia debut – budget-oriented compact EV SUV from RM99,800
GoAuto Group Chief Strategy Officer, Mohd Norazli Mohd Salleh said, “We are pleased to have reached our milestone of 100 bookings during the Malaysia Autoshow 2023. We are grateful to Puan Muhaya Salleh, for being our hundredth customer, and we look forward to delivering her NETA V soon.”
To celebrate this exciting moment, NETA presented Muhaya Salleh, who is the 100th customer, with a NETA V Diecast model to symbolize the hundredth booking.
Muhaya Salleh said, “I have been on the lookout for an electric vehicle that is both eco-friendly and stylish, as a special gift to my daughter. I fell in love with the vehicle’s sleek, modern look, as well as its warranty offers. We are excited to be part of this milestone.”
RELATED:
Hozon to produce EVs in Thailand, to cater for ASEAN region


Get 13% off when you purchase Trapo mats, now on Touch ‘n Go eWallet!

These days, you can get almost anything done through the Touch ‘n Go eWallet. Whether it’s getting Visa card, getting CTOS reports, investments and parking payments, it can all be done in one app. Now, you can also get Trapo car mats through the app!
Earlier today, both parties put pen to paper on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which will see Trapo’s eco-friendly car mats being sold on the Touch ‘n Go eWallet app. Special deals will also be available exclusively for those who purchase the car mats through the app.
To commemorate the partnership, Trapo is offering a 13% discount to Touch ‘n Go eWallet users on all their items storewide from
April 3 to 30
.
“Touch ‘n Go eWallet is always on the lookout for partners such as Trapo to bring added value to our users by providing access to quality products and services with the convenience of making payments through the eWallet app. Through this partnership, Touch ‘n Go eWallet is able to expand our mobility offerings beyond transit, toll and parking payments, vehicle trade-ins, health and motor insurances to premium automotive products to our users,” TNG Digital, Chief Commercial Officer, Danny Chua.
Chua added, “We are always supportive of initiatives that promote environmental sustainability, and Trapo’s mission in repurposing industrial waste into high quality usable and desirable automotive products is highly commendable.”
“Touch ‘n Go is widely used by Malaysians and as such we share a common audience. We believe that this partnership is a great opportunity to advocate our local sustainable products with a focus on promoting better safety and comfort on the road,” said Trapo Asia, Co-CEO and Co-Founder, Tzong Lee.
Recently, Trapo also partnered with DK Schweizer, a local OEM upholstery supplier, to introduce a range of
SnapFit car seat covers
. There are three types available – PVC from
RM1,299
, synthetic leather from
RM1,699
 and semi-Nappa leather from
RM2,099
.
Get
15% off
 the car seat covers and
20% off
 when purchasing both the Trapo car mats and SnapFit car seat covers. The seat covers are available at Trapo Hubs nationwide.