Mazda CX-3 1.5L and 2.0L Core officially launched – on display at 1 Utama from Oct 5-9

A month after
detailed specifications were shared on its own website
, Bermaz Motor has now officially announced the availability of two new entry-level ‘Core’ variants for the
Mazda CX-3
, joining the existing 2.0L High variant to complete the compact crossover’s line-up here in Malaysia.
Fully imported from Thailand, the two new 1.5L and 2.0L Core variants are priced at
RM107,870
 and
RM118,159
 respectively, while the range-topping 2.0L High variant retails at
RM131,359
. All variants also come with a five-year/100,000 km manufacturer warranty and free service programme as standard.
At the bottom of the range is the Mazda CX-3 1.5L Core, powered by the same 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine that’s also used in the
Mazda2
. The four-pot mill here outputs
114 hp
 and
149 Nm
 of torque, while the two higher-end 2.0L models retain the 2.0-litre Skyactiv-G inline-four engine from before, serving up
154 hp
 and
206 Nm
.
Power is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox on all variants, and the Core variants will also get the marque’s signature G-Vectoring Control (GVC) system.
RELATED:
2022 Mazda CX-3 update in Malaysia brings new wireless charger, 8.0in touchscreen, RM132k
As for standard equipment, both Core variants are identically specified; the only difference to justify the RM10k dearer price tag is the larger engine capacity.
Being the new entry-level base-spec models, the new Core variants come with 16-inch alloy wheels instead of 18-inch units on the 2.0L High, while all exterior lighting are also now halogen-illuminated instead of LED. The headlights also do not come with automatic on/off and levelling functions, and you’ll also be missing out on the auto-folding wing mirrors and rain-sensing wipers.
Inside, the Core variants also omits the head-up display, gearshift paddle, Qi wireless charging pad, powered sunroof, as well as the powered driver’s seats from the High variant. Automatic air-conditioning is swapped out for a manual unit, while the seats are also covered in fabric instead of leatherette to help achieve the new price points.
The Core variants do get the new eight-inch infotainment display that was introduced on the High variant
earlier this year
, but the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionalities are limited to a wired connectivity only. Keyless entry with push-start button, electronic parking brake, as well as the selectable driving modes are also inherited from the range-topping 2.0L High.
For safety, the new Mazda CX-3 1.5L and 2.0L Core variants misses out on the advanced safety features that were introduced on the model here in Malaysia
back in 2021.
 The airbag count has also dropped from six to two, while the 360-degree surround view monitor is swapped out for a basic reverse camera.
As part of the launch, the new Mazda CX-3 1.5L Core will be displayed at the Bermaz Auto Showcase event, which will take place on October 5-9 at Oval Concourse, 1 Utama Shopping Centre. Aside from the new CX-3 variant, an array of Mazda models will also be shown at the event including the
CX-8 2.5L Turbo
,
BT-50
, and the
MX-30
.
GALLERY


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia to locally assemble fully-electric EQ models

While many are welcoming the government’s
EV incentives
 with open arms, the end-2023 expiry date for tax exemptions on imported electric vehicles does pose a slight concern to several car brands here in Malaysia – especially those without a local production facility.
That’s not necessarily the case, however, for Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, as the company has just confirmed that it will indeed be carrying out local assembly works for the Mercedes-EQ fully-electric models, as a commitment to the company’s electrification push.
The news was announced by MBM President and CEO Sagree Sardien, during an interview session at the launch of the
fully-electric EQA crossover
. “We are committed, definitely, to producing EV models in the country,” said Sardien.
As usual, there’s no indication on which models will be locally assembled here in Malaysia just yet, but Sardien did confirm that the EQA will continue in CBU form for now.
RELATED: Petronas to deploy EV fast chargers in partnership with Mercedes-Benz and JomCharge
The Mercedes-Benz EQC SUV was previewed here in Malaysia back in 2019.
“We have not made the final decision on which EQ models or EV models we will produce locally, [but] later on this year you will hear a lot more about it.”
“All I can confirm right now is that we definitely have the intention, and are looking at it very deeply and estimating the feasibility around it – and wherever possible, we will try to look at a CKD variant,” she added.
Despite Sardien’s comments,
AutoBuzz.my
 understands that the company will begin its EV local assembly operations with the
Mercedes-Benz EQS
, with preparation works already being carried out at its assembly plant in Pekan, Pahang, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The
Mercedes-Benz EQS’ Hyperscreen
The Mercedes-Benz EQS is the marque’s flagship model under the Mercedes-EQ sub-brand. Introduced globally back in April last year, the range-topping EQS 580 4Matic model gets two electric motors to make a combined output of
523 hp
 and
855 Nm
 of torque. In performance terms, the output equates to a century sprint time of just
4.8 seconds
, onward to a top speed of
210 km/h
.
But most impressively, the fully-electric sedan boasts a mind-boggling range of
770 km
 from a single charge, thanks to the massive 107.8 kWh battery pack, and an incredible drag coefficient of just 0.2 Cd!
Read more about the Mercedes-Benz EQS here!
It’s safe to say that Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s “electric onslaught” has well and truly started, and there’s certainly a lot for us to look forward to in the coming months. Keep your eyes peeled as we bring you the latest news!


McLaren P14 supercar will stop from 200 km/h in 4.6 seconds!! [+Video]

McLaren Automotive has just released more information of its upcoming
second-generation McLaren Super Series
. Apparently, the new supercar will come to a complete standstill from 200km/h in just 4.6 seconds. To put things in perspective, it takes lesser time for the P14 to decelerate from 200km/h than a
Golf R
 to accelerate to 100km/h!
As reported
earlier
, the P14 with its new
4.0-litre bi-turbo V8
 is capable of accelerating from nought to 200km/h in just
7.8 seconds
. Through the power of simple mathematics, this means it will get from
0
 to
200km/h

AND
 back to
standstill
 in just
12.4 seconds
!
It will also take just 117 metres to stop from 200km/h. That’s six metres shorter than the 650S and just one meter shy of the
P1 hypercar
. For the record, the P1’s manages the same 200 km/h to standstill feat in 4.5 seconds with a total distance of 116 meters.
This exceptional stopping power is thanks to
lighter and stiffer brake callipers
,
carbon-ceramic discs
 and optimised brake pedal feel. McLaren’s partnership with renowned tyre-maker Pirelli (who tailor made
 bespoke Pirelli P Zero Corsa
for the P14) gives an additional six percent improvment in mechanical grip compared to the 650S. These specially commissioned tyres are said to provide
 superb driver feedback
 as well as
ensuring extreme levels of grip
 and
 braking performance
.
The official debut of the P14 couldn’t come any sooner. All will be revealed come 7 March 2017. For now though, enjoy a short clip of Chris Goodwin, Chief Test Driver of McLaren, drifting the P14 around a track.


Caterham to open world’s highest car dealership – 137 meters above ground

Caterham has announced plans to open the world’s highest car dealership 450 ft (approx 137 meters) above ground in the coastal city of Brighton, England.
The pop-up store will be based in the British Airways i360 pod will open to celebrate the
 new Caterham Seven 170
; the company’s lightest ever production car. It’s the first time a car has been inside the pod.
At 531 ft, the British Airways i360 is taller than the London Eye, Big Ben and the Tower Bridge. The platform offers stunning, 360-degree views of the South Coast and the English Channel.
Aside from launching it, Caterham will also deploy its team to build the Caterham on the platform in just six hours. It’s incredibly challenging as it requires about a 100 hours for one person to build the car. Caterham said the publicity stunt serves to showcase a cool part of Caterham vehicles – that you can build it yourself.
Caterham Cars CEO, Graham Macdonald said, “This is our lightest ever product so we wanted to launch it in a memorable way. We certainly feel opening the world’s highest car dealership in the British Airways i360 does that while also bringing to life how light the car is.”
The Caterham Seven 170 is powered by a turbocharged 660 cc Suzuki engine with
86 hp
 and
116 Nm
. It may not sound like much but Seven 170 is quick enough to go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.9 seconds – quicker than your standard
320i Sport
.
That’s because the Caterham Seven 170 is actually a feather on four wheels; it weighs just 500 kg! This gives it a power-to-weight ratio of 170 hp/tonne, hence the name Seven 170. With lighter optional body parts, the Seven 170’s weight can be further reduced to just 440 kg, for an even higher power-to-weight ratio of 190 hp/tonne.
Experience driving purity with the Caterham 7, now in Malaysia! Read about it here!
GALLERY


Honda has sold 300,000 units of the City, now the No.1 vehicle in the B-segment

Honda Malaysia today celebrated a milestone for the
 Honda City
 – the best-selling and No.1 model in the B-segment – with the sales of its 300,000
th
 unit in Malaysia.
With the 2
nd
 generation City launched in 2001 selling more than 61,000 units, the 3rd generation saw even greater reception with 85,000 units sold.
The current 4
th
 generation takes the cakes as 155,300 units have been sold since its launch in 2014. After an updated model was introduced earlier this year, the City has since gone on to record sales of over 48,900 units up until August 2018. It even
topped sales charts in Thailand and Philippines
.
Between January to August 2018, the
City contributed 30% to the overall sales for Honda Malaysia
, and captured 51% of the B-segment market share. Compared to the same period in 2017, statistics have shown a 16% increase in sales with the E variant emerging as the top-selling model.
Sales from the Central region was the highest contributor at 49%, followed by the Southern and Northern region at 20% and 19% respectively.
These positive numbers has further cement Honda Malaysia’s No.1 position in the Non-National car manufacturer segment and No.2 position in the overall Total Industry Volume (TIV) to-date.
Honda Malaysia Managing Director and Chief Executive Office, Mr. Toichi Ishiyama said, “We are delighted to mark this milestone of surpassing the 300,000 unit sales for the City within a span of 17 years since it was first introduced in Malaysia. This has proven the success of the City in Malaysia.”
“The 4th generation City is the best-selling model in Honda and the model continues to lead in the B-segment. This outstanding record achievement would not have been possible without the support from our customers. I would like to extend our sincere appreciation and thankfulness to Malaysians for their support and belief in our brand and for making the City the vehicle of their choice,” he added.
Find out what were our
first impressions of the new City
 and
five reasons why you’d enjoy the Sport Hybrid City model
.


2016 Proton Persona launched, 4 variants, priced from RM46k to RM60k

It’s been nearly a decade since the first generation Proton Persona debuted. Back then, it was a relatively popular C-Segment sedan, but Proton has since repositioned the Persona as a B-Segment model. In case you’ve missed the obvious, the Persona is basically a sedan version of the
Iriz
, but a lot of work have been made to distinguish the two apart.
First things first, the Persona’s footprint is smaller than its predecessor. With an overall length of 4,387mm and a 2,555mm wheelbase (same as the Iriz), this Persona is shorter, narrower but taller (1,554mm) than the old C-Segment model. However, the engineers at Proton claim that the new proportions do not compromise on interior space.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Proton Persona Standard (MT)
Proton Persona Standard (CVT)
Proton Persona Executive (CVT)
Proton Persona Premium (CVT)
Engine
1,597cc; inline-4, DOHC with VVT
Transmission
5-speed manual
CVT
Max Power
107 hp @ 5,750 rpm
Max Torque
150 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
0 – 100km/h
10.9 seconds
Price
RM46,350
RM49,350
RM55,350
RM59,350
EXTERIOR
On the outside, the Iriz-based sedan shares a number of standard features, such as halogen projector headlamps complete with etched “Proton” lettering,
front parking sensors
, door-mounted side mirrors, chrome grille, bulb-type tail lamps, rear fog lamp and 15-inch wheels wrapped with 185/55 series tyres.

The Executive and Premium trims will benefit from front fog lamps and a rear spoiler. Exclusive to the Premium trim are automatic headlights, keyless entry and push-start button.
INTERIOR
Inside, all Persona variants receive a two-tone beige and black finish. The Standard duo and Executive variants make do with fabric comfort seats, whereas the Premium variant is the only one to get leather upholstered comfort seats. The rear bench has a 60:40 split configuration, but only the Executive and Premium benefit from this feature.

A choice of Single DIN or Double DIN head unit is offered (the former is only offered in Standard trim), but the range topping Premium is the sole recipient of a touchscreen head unit. One key upgrade here is boot space. It’s cavernous, with a volume of 510 litres, up from the old Persona’s 470-litre space.
PERFORMANCE
Like the old Persona, all variants are powered by the sole
1.6-litre four-cylinder
 engine. It’s exactly the same unit from the Iriz, but vibration levels are lower thanks to a three-mount setup compared to the Iriz’s four. The DOHC engine comes with Variable Valve Timing and produces
107 hp
 at 5,750 rpm and
150 Nm
 of torque at 4,000 rpm.
Proton says the engine is up to 13 percent more fuel efficient than the old engine, and it consumes
5.6 litres per 100km
 travelled. This rating isn’t based on any official test cycles, but Proton said the figures reflect that of a real-world result. To achieve this, Proton engineers maintained a driving speed of 90km/h and drove through varying road conditions and angles. Expect the Persona to manage anywhere upwards of 6.0 litres per 100km in real life, though. When flexed, the car sprints from 0 to 100km/h in
10.9 seconds
, almost a full second quicker than the old model.
The engine is paired to two transmissions – a
five-speed manual
 or the same Punch-sourced
CVT
. The Persona’s newly calibrated ECU and TCU improved acceleration and throttle response, but the whine remains audible, albeit slightly less intrusive than the Iriz’s. Drive is sent to the front wheels, and the car is managed by MacPherson Struts up front and a torsion beam setup for the rear axle.
SAFETY
Remember the
5-Star ASEAN crash safety rating
 that was awarded to the Iriz? The Persona fares just the same because they’re structurally identical. Well, almost. Offered as standard here are two airbags, ABS with EBD and Vehicle Stability Control. The only variant to come fitted with
six airbags
 and a
reverse camera
 is the Premium CVT.
Also standard here are ventilated disc brakes for the front and drum brakes for the rear. Although this setup may seem to be a step backwards, braking performance is actually nearly 10 percent better than the older Persona. Previously, the Persona takes a distance of 44.6 metres to hit dead stop from 100km/h, but the new model takes just
41.4 metres
.
WHAT ELSE?
A total of six exterior colours are offered across all variants; Fire Red, Midnight Black, Cotton White, Graphite Grey, Sterling Silver and Carnelian Brown. Each purchase comes with a
5-Year or 150,000km warranty
 package, whichever comes first. Customers who place their orders before the end of September will be rewarded with an additional 3-Year free service package which covers both parts and labour costs.
So, dear readers, liking what you see so far? What do you think of the new Persona? Share with us your thoughts on Proton’s newest model! The next car to roll out of Proton would be the Saga and a new compact MPV. Till then, be sure to give the Persona a quick test drive at a showroom near you.
IMAGE GALLERY


BMW Malaysia sold over 3,200 plug-in hybrids, 44% of all cars sold are hybrids!

BMW Group Malaysia has achieved their best ever sales performance for the BMW iPerformance portfolio, selling over 2,300 units of the
BMW 330e
,
BMW X5 xDrive40e
 and
BMW 740Le
 combined. And that’s only for the first six months of 2017!
BMW Malaysia has sold over 3,200 electrified cars since June last year, which equates to about 44 percent of the company’s total sales to date. That’s significantly more than the world average of 3 percent, and still considerably more than Nordic countries’ 14 percent share.
According to Managing Director and CEO of BMW Malaysia, Mr. Han Sang Yun, the positive growth and take up rate for BMW iPerformance shows that Malaysians are ready for the newest tech in their cars. Of all the brand new F30 3 Series sold in Malaysia to date, 60 percent is of the 330e variant, whereas the 740Le accounts for 40 percent of all the 7 Series sold.
With the increasing number of eager adopters of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV), BMW Malaysia together with GreenTech Malaysia aim to grow the number of charging infrastructures (ChargEV stations) to 25,000 by the year 2020. There is currently 200 units scattered nationwide.


Why would anyone need such a large SUV like the new Hyundai Palisade?

Hyundai has pulled off the wraps of their brand-new flagship SUV at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show (LA Auto Show). The eight-seater Hyundai Palisade sits above the Santa Fe in the Korean carmaker’s SUV range boasting best in class second- and third-row space.
It’s an unmistakeably large car, measuring over 4,980 mm in length, 1,970 mm in width, 1,750 mm in height with a wheelbase of over 2,900 mm. Comparatively, a
standard Santa Fe
 measures
only
4,770 mm long and 1,890 mm wide.
Hyundai’s designers have given the Palisade a clear differential styling worthy of their flagship model, as a result, is the bold and wide cascading grille, extended hood profile as well as vertical LED taillamp design to further emphasise its width. A clever touch on the large SUV is the incorporation of a panoramic glass in the C-pillars to give the third-row passengers a roomy feeling. As standard, the Palisade is equipped with 18-inch alloys, but the optional 20-inch items fill up the SUVs wide arches better.
Despite its boxy appearance, the Palisade boasts a low aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.33 Cd thanks to the raked A-pillar angle, optimised front bumpers and aero optimised underbody panels.

Inside the Palisade offers the best-in-class second- and third-row space as well as luggage space thanks to its elongated dimensions. The cabin is dressed in all of Hyundai’s latest connectivity technologies and premium materials – 10.25-inch widescreen floating touchscreen infotainment display, 12.3-inch fully digital instrument cluster, electronic gear selector, quilted leather seats and 630-watt 12-speakers Infinity® and QuantumLogic Surround® sound system with Clari-Fi™ Music Restoration Technology.
Other in-car features include a heads-up display, roof vent diffuser that channels air to the rear passengers, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Connectivity, panoramic sunroof, heads-up display, surround view monitor and wireless charging port.

Powering the Palisade is a 3.8-litre naturally aspirated direct injection V6 that pushes out
291 hp
 and
355 Nm
 of twist. Drive is channelled to either the front wheels or all four wheels with the HTRAC® four-wheel-drive system optioned via an eight-speed automatic transmission.
As standard the Palisade offers a range of Advanced Drivers Assistance Systems including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Lane Following Assist (LFA), Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist, Safe Exit Assist, High Beam Assist, Driver Attention Warning and Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go.
The Hyundai Palisade will be produced in Ulsan, Korea and will be available for sale in the US market from 2019 onwards.
IMAGE GALLERY
Hyundai Palisade Global Debut in US


Maserati Levante SUV unveiled, curvy in all the right places

While Ferrari’s boss, Sergio Marchionne, infamously quoted that someone needs to put a bullet into his head if there’s any chance of an SUV with a Prancing horse logo at the front, Maserati thinks otherwise. With that, Maserati joins premium carmakers like Bentley, Lamborghini and Porsche – all of which have an SUV in their respective portfolio.
The official images suggest that the Levante will have a bigger front grille than usual, complemented with sleek LED headlights, along with subtle shoulder lines that arches more pronouncedly towards the back. If your eyes follow, you’ll spot a spoiler, stubby shark fin antenna, LED tail lamps and quad exhausts. It’s generally a beautiful SUV, but some angles reveal slight hints of an outgoing SUV.
The Levante will be offered with two petrol engines and a diesel engine, one of which is the familiar
3.0-litre V6 petrol engine
 that powers the Ghibli and Quattroporte models. However, Maserati will offer this engine in two states of tunes – the Levante 350 and Levante 430 – numbers which suggest their power. The 350 is claimed to hit 0 to 100km/h in
6.3 seconds
 before maxing out at
241km/h
, whereas the 430 does the same in
5.2 seconds
 with a top speed of
262km/h
.
The oil burner variant is also a 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6, and we can expect Maserati to offer a high performing variant with a petrol V8. All variants will be offered with an
eight-speed automatic gearbox
, sending drive to all four wheels via the company’s
 Q4 all-wheel-drive system
. At press time, no interior pictures have been released yet.
The Maserati Levante is scheduled for its worldwide debut in about a week at the Geneva Motor Show. This Trident-bearing Italian SUV will definitely attract a new pool of customers to the brand, so expect Naza Italia, the official distributor of Maserati cars in Malaysia, to introduce this car soon.
IMAGE GALLERY


Manhart amps up the VW Golf GTI with 290 hp and a Rolls-Royce-like interior

To us, hot hatches are the kind of cars that don’t really need a tonne of power. A sweet handling, six-speed manual transmission, and around 240 hp or so is more than enough for a jolly good time. But evidently not everyone has the same opinion as us, as Manhart has just proved with their VW Golf GTI 290.
As the name suggests, the souped-up hot hatch now comes with
290 hp
 and
425 Nm
of torque, up from 245 hp and 370 Nm
in standard form
. The extra grunt comes from the MHtronik module, which was developed completely in-house by the German tuning firm.
Manhart did not disclose any performance figures for the GTI 290, though it’s pretty safe to assume that the extra power has knocked a couple of tenths off the already-quick 5.9 seconds century sprint time of the standard Golf GTI (with a seven-speed DSG transmission).
To complement the extra performance, Manhart has also given the VW Golf GTI a couple of visual tweaks – most noticeably are the new Manhart ‘Venturi’ wheels in “silk matte black”, measuring 19-inches in diameter. The entire car is also lowered by 40 mm, courtesy of the new H&R springs.
Rounding off the exterior aesthetic changes are the new in-house diffuser on the rear bumpers, complete with red decorative outlines to match the new decals all around the black-bodied Golf GTI.
On a usual tuning job, the upgrades pretty much end there. But not for this Golf GTI 290, because Manhart also included what might just be the coolest standard equipment ever, a new LED-lined starry sky headliner to style up the interior. Doesn’t that just remind you of
Rolls-Royce
?
No pricing information has been provided for this little gold nugget, but that’s partly because you can also request for additional tuning options, such as exhaust and brakes. Interested? Check out the product page
here
.
GALLERY


Review: Volkswagen Passat 1.8 TSI, business as usual

The
D-segment
 in Malaysia is not as big as the C-segment, but the competition is no less fierce. With the prices of some Asian contenders creeping up, buyers are tempted with the continental offerings that fall within the same price range, if not cheaper. What we have here is one of the continental opponents, the seventh-generation
Volkswagen Passat 1.8 TSI
.
Introduced here back in October 2011, the Passat brings the latest European technology into the Malaysian D-segment market. Things like the downsized and turbocharged engine paired with a dual-clutch gearbox is not something you could get from any of the Asian contenders, so the Passat was seen as a very interesting prospect combined with an attractive sticker price. In 2012 Volkswagen Group Malaysia (VGM) introduced the CKD Passat with a price reduction, making it more irresistible to those who were in the market for a D-segment sedan.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Volkswagen Passat 1.8 TSI

Segment
D-Segment 4-door Sedan
Engine
1,798cc 4-Cylinder, Turbocharged
Transmission
7-speed direct shift gearbox
Max Power
158 hp @ 5,000 – 6,200 rpm
Max Torque
250 Nm @ 1,500 – 4,200 rpm
Price
RM 169,888.00

Recently VGM updated the CKD Passat based on customers’ feedback, with additional equipment to keep it relevant for the current Malaysian market. The
updated Passat
 now comes with
electric folding side mirrors
, anti-theft alarm with electronic immobiliser,
12-way powered driver seat
 with memory function, and
Bluetooth connectivity
. On top of that, the 7-speed DSG now uses mineral oil that is said to remedy the well-known issue that has been plaguing the gearbox.
EXTERIOR
The exterior is not something you would call pretty especially when it’s painted in Reflex Silver like on our test car; it looks relatively dreary. The Passat boldly represents itself as a sedan with its traditional three-box shape, unlike some rivals that go for a sleeker coupe-ish looks with low roofline like the
Hyundai i40 we tested
 earlier. Having said that, there’s the Volkswagen CC.

The use of horizontal lines and the seemingly endless front and rear overhangs make the Passat look longer than it actually is, but in reality it’s shorter than the Peugeot 508. As mentioned, the side mirrors that incorporate the turn indicator and a puddle light can now be folded electronically, but it won’t fold itself upon locking. The wheels are still the same
17-inch
 ‘Minneapolis’ alloys wrapped in
 235/45 R17
 Continental ContiSportContact5 tyres.

At the front, the Passat gets a pair of
active bending xenon headlamps
 with integrated
 LED daytime running lights
, a pair of foglamps that double as turning lamps, and yes, more horizontal lines. At the other end of the car there’s the two-piece
LED taillights
 on each side, a VW logo in the middle that’s also a boot release lever, and
subtle twin tailpipes
 protruding at the bottom left of the bumper. It’s all very serious-looking.
Why so serious you ask? Well how about some flashes of chrome on the grille, side window surrounds, and a strip that runs alongside the lower edge of the body; that ought to help lift up the staid exterior, no?
INTERIOR
The main star has got to be the
12-way powered driver’s seat
 with memory function. If you feel cold, you’ll be glad to know that both front seats have heating function to keep your bottom toasty on your chilly drive up Genting. Just don’t forget to switch it off when you’ve reached KL.

There’s enough space for five on board, with three-point seatbelts for everyone. Occupants are protected by dual
front airbags
, front
side airbags
, and
curtain airbags
. The seats are covered in
black ‘Vienna’ leather
, although the cushion does feel a tad too firm. Rear passenger space is good and there’s a couple of aircond vents, but the Passat only comes with
dual-zone climate control
 that can only be controlled from the main controls on the dashboard up front.

The rear seatback split 60:40 and folds down to extend the boot space, or you can just fold down the the middle seatback to reveal a tiny door behind it. The middle seatback also functions as an armrest, complete with extendable cupholders and storage space underneath. The boot space is commodious at
565 litres
 and yet it comes with a
full-sized spare tyre
 underneath.
Back to the front, from the driver’s seat you can see the clear and sharp instrument cluster through the multi-function leather-wrapped steering wheel that’s equipped with
 shift paddles
. The middle of the dashboard sits the
RCD 510 7-inch touch screen display
, which now supports
Bluetooth
 pairing but still without a navigation system. An
analog clock
 right smack in the middle of the brushed metal-effect strip adds a touch of sophistication to the sombre dash.

The cabin is fairly practical, with enough cupholders, numerous storage space, and deep door pockets that will accommodate a water bottle each. The use of
electronic parking brake
 frees some space on the center console too.
PERFORMANCE
A 1.8-litre engine in a 1.5 tonne vehicle might not sound much, but the
4-cylinder 1,798 cc TSI
 in the Passat is surprisingly punchy. Producing
158 hp
 at 5,000 – 6,200 rpm and
250 Nm
 of torque at 1,500 – 4,200 rpm, the power delivery is linear with minimal turbo lag even at the lower rev range. You won’t really feel the sudden rush when the power comes in, which is a good thing for a mid-sized executive sedan.
The power is transferred to the front wheels via the
7-speed dual clutch DSG
 transmission with manual override and S mode to hold on to a gear longer and the Passat will dash from
0 to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds
. The
220 km/h top speed
 is believable, as the Passat cruises to 200km/h effortlessly usually without you noticing until you glance down at the speedometer.
THE DRIVE
It’s pretty easy to maneuver the Passat around, thanks to the clear all round view and the inclusion of front and rear sensors. The ride is well-contained by being on the stiffer side of comfortable but driving through potholes won’t upset the Passat much. Body roll in corners is well-suppressed but the dull steering won’t inspire you to push harder; then again this is not a car you want to throw about in corners.
The Passat works better as a cruiser. At 110 km/h the cabin is hushed with the rev needle pointing slightly above 2,000 rpm in seventh gear. At speed, the DSG box and the TSI engine combo delivers a smooth gearchange and there’s always sufficient power when you want to overtake the slower traffic. Breaching the legal speed limit is rather easy so you better check the speedometer once in awhile to make sure you won’t be getting any speeding tickets. The Passat is quite potent for such a sedate looking family sedan.
However the DSG box feels clunky in slow traffic crawl, juddering your way out from stationary and making you look like you’re still learning how to drive. Feathering the throttle doesn’t help much, but switching on the
Hill Hold Assist
 makes it a bit bearable as it will hold the car in place particularly when you’re on a gradient. This can potentially seen as a flaw that might retract most buyers from committing to a Passat.
If you do so commit, the payoff is that the Passat delivers an excellent fuel consumption despite the absence of the Start/Stop System that can be found in the smaller Golf. The official claim for the
combined fuel consumption
 is
7.0 l/100 km
 but yours truly managed
6.3 l/100 km
, even with the aircond switched on at all times. Talk about applying the
 Think Blue
 driving philosophy!
IS IT FOR YOU?
The Passat should appeal to those who are seeking for a car with a bit more modern engineering but at the same time wants something that looks discreet. If you frequently travel long distances the Passat is a great companion, and the excellent fuel consumption is an added bonus. To those who are still in doubt over the car’s reliability, VGM is dedicated to improve their after sales and service by taking into account the common feedback from their existing customers. If that’s not enough to convince you, the Passat is not the only car in the D-segment; if you know what i mean.
COMPARISONS
The nearest continental offering with similar price would be the
Peugeot 508 Premium
. The French sedan might have a slight deficit in terms of performance from the smaller
turbocharged 1.6-litre
 powerplant but the 508 counters that with its generous kit such as
 full keyless system
, door mirrors that actually fold upon locking,
coloured head up display
, and a JBL sound system.
Another challenger you can’t dismiss is the
Nissan Teana 2.5 XV
. Packing a bigger engine with more horsepower but less torque than the continental pair, the Teana too comes with a lengthy equipment list such as a
 powered sunroof
 and a sound system by Bose. The seats in particular have softer cushion compared to the Passat, with what Nissan claims as
Zero-Gravity inspired seat
 that will reduce fatigueness over longer journeys. In terms of fuel consumption, the Passat is leading with 7.0 l/100 km, followed by 508 with 7.1 l/100 km, and Teana with 7.5 l/100 km.
If you’re buying the car to be driven, the Passat and Teana have comparable rear cabin space. The 508 feels pretty snug in the back due to the lower roofline, but it comes with roller blinds for side and back windows for added privacy while the Teana only offers a roller blind for the rear screen alone. The
508
 also benefit from a
 quad-zone climate control
 with individual controller so each corner in the cabin can have their own preferred temperature unlike the dual-zone climate control in the Passat and Teana.
Volkswagen Passat 1.8 TSI
Peugeot 508 Premium
Nissan Teana 2.5 XV
ENGINE
Type
4-cylinder turbocharged petrol
4-cylinder turbocharged petrol
4-cylinder petrol
Displacement
cc
1,798
1,598
2,488
Max Power
hp/rpm
158/5,000 – 6,200
156/6,000
171/6,000
Max Torque
Nm/rpm
250/1,500 – 4,200
240/1,400
234/4,000
STEERING
Type
Electrical power-assisted
Electrical power-assisted
Electrical power-assisted
DRIVETRAIN
Transmission
7-speed DSG
6-speed Automatic
Xtronic CVT
SUSPENSION
Type
MacPherson strut / Multi-link
MacPherson strut / Multi-arm
MacPherson strut / Multi-link
BRAKES
Front
Ventilated disc
Ventilated disc
Ventilated disc
Rear
Solid disc
Solid disc
Solid disc
TYRE & WHEELS
Tyres
235/45 R17
235/45 R18
215/55 R17
Wheels
Alloy
Alloy
Alloy
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHTS
Overall Length
mm
4,769
4,792
4,885
Overall Width
mm
1,820
1,853
1,830
Overall Height
mm
1,470
1,456
1,485
Wheelbase
mm
2,712
2,817
2,775
Max Kerb weight
kg
1,517
1,410
1,517
Luggage Capacity (VDA)
L
565
545
516
FUEL
Tank Capacity
70
72
65
Consumption
7.0 L/100 km
7.1 L/100 km
7.5 L/100 km
PERFORMANCE
Max Speed
km/h
220
220
n/a
0 – 100km/h
sec
8.5
9.2
n/a
PRICE

RM
169,888.00
165,348.00
165,322.50

WILL I BUY IT?
If I’m in the market for a D-segment sedan, the Passat will definitely be in my list. The responsive engine should be more than enough for the everyday cut-and-thrust driving. On the other hand, Volkswagen has announced the
eight-generation Passat
 that’s technologically more advanced and looks even better.
IMAGE GALLERY


Highly-anticipated 10th generation Honda Accord now on sale in Malaysia

At long last, Honda Malaysia has finally introduced the all-new Honda Accord to the local market with two variants available –
RM185,900
 for the 1.5 TC and
RM195,900
 for the TC-P model.
Both models are powered by the same 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, with 201 hp and 260 Nm of torque, that’s said to be more powerful than the previous 2.4-litre naturally-aspirated engine with 175 hp and 225 Nm.

The powertrain also includes a CVT gearbox – shift away from the 5-speed automatic from before. Fuel consumption rated at 6.3L/100km.
On the outside, aside from featuring an all-new shell with a lower roofline and longer front hood, automatic LED headlights and tail lights are standard across the board, along with LED front fog lights.
The new Accord’s wheelbase has also been increased by 55mm, offering an additional 48mm of leg room inside the cabin. Boot space is now rated at 570-litres, 120-litres more from before.
Aside from offering more space, refinement has also been a priority in the new Accord. Spray foam has been used for better sound insulation within the cabin while the use of High-Performance Adhesive on the body not only reduces cabin noise and vibration but also increases the rigidity of the body structure for improved handling.
New creature comforts in the Accord include an electronic parking brake, 4-way Assistant Power Seat with Shoulder Switch, wireless charging, driver seat memory, Driver Attention Monitor, Walk Away Auto Lock as well as Remote Engine Start.
Elsewhere standard equipment includes cruise control, paddle shifters, 8-way powered driver seats with lumbar support, automatic wipers, rear side window sunshade, 8-inch touchscreen display with 10 speakers and a subwoofer, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and two USB ports with another two at the rear.
Safety wise, the new Accord with 5-star ASEAN NCAP rating comes with six airbags, four sensors each in the front and back, Honda LaneWatch Camera, Emergency Stop Signal and Hill-Start Assist.
Exclusive to the TC-P model are features such as the 360-degree camera, Tyre Deflation Warning System, Cross Traffic Monitor, Smart Parking Assist, and Honda Sensing which now includes the Adaptive Cruise Control with Low Speed Follow and Auto High Beam.
They add on to the Collision Mitigation Braking System, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keep Assist System, Lane Departure Warning and Road Departure Mitigation.
The new Accord is available in four colours – the new Platinum Pearl White, Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic, and Crystal Black Pearl.
IMAGE GALLERY


The adorable BMW Isetta-inspired Microlino 2.0 city car is finally here

Remember the
Microlino 2.0
? One and a half years since the concept first made its debut, Micro has now finally launched the ultra-compact two-seater at the
2021 IAA Motor Show
 in Munich in its final production form – and it’s still just as adorable as ever.
In case you needed a recap, the Microlino 2.0 is a compact mobility microcar, with the design heavily inspired by the Iso/BMW Isetta from the 1950s. And while it now has four wheels instead of three, the spirit of the Isetta still very much lives on with the Microlino 2.0.
The Microlino 2.0 will come in three trim levels – Urban, Dolce, and Competizione – and will be available with three battery capacities: 6 kWh, 10.5 kWh, and 14 kWh. Customers can freely pair their desired trim level to any battery capacity they wish.
The batteries offer an electric range of 95 km, 175 km, and 230 km respectively, and charging them from 0-80% will take four hours on the 6 kWh and 14 kWh variants, and three hours on the 10.5 kWh model.
No matter which battery/trim configuration you choose, though, the Microlino bubble car will feature the same electric powertrain underneath – a single motor on the rear axle producing 19 kW (26 hp) and 118 Nm of torque peak, or 12.5 kW (17 hp) sustained.
Due to its ultra light weight (weighing just 435 kg without batteries), the low power output still results in a pretty respectable acceleration, taking about five seconds from a standstill to 50 km/h, onward to a top speed of 90 km/h – you wouldn’t want to go any faster in a tiny car like this, anyway.
In terms of design, the production-ready Microlino 2.0 is basically unchanged from the concept we saw last year – obviously with the bubble car shape being the main highlight. The LED headlights are embedded into the wing mirrors, and the single fridge-like door is opened via a small button located below the headlight.
Inside, the cabin of the Microlino 2.0 is also largely unchanged, except for the addition of a second screen on the door-mounted dashboard (although technically right, it still feels wrong to saay), which replaces the bank of buttons from the concept.
The second screen control auxilary functions such as heating, and according to Micro, gives more flexibility to

add additional features while using less space.
As for the trim levels, the entry-level Urban version is available in Santorini White or Amsterdam Orange, paired to a glossy black roof. Inside, the seats will be upholstered in fabric, in either black or anthracite shades.
Moving up to the mid-range Dolce adds additional chrome details on the exterior, plus the pretty Infinity LED light bars at the front and back to compliment the headlights and tail lights. Paris Mint, Milano Red, and Zurich Blue shades are also added into the colour palette, but this time paired to a white roof instead.
As for the flagship Competizione variant pictured here, you get an addition of three matte body colours – Gotham Anthracite, London Green, and Torino Aluminium – contrasting the glossy black roof.
Both the Dolce and Competizione variants will also get a folding sunroof as standard (optional in the Urban), alongside a choice of fabric or vegan leather upholstery.
The Microletta, a three-wheeled motorcycle is also being considered for production.
The Microlino will start at EUR12,500 (approx. RM61.5k) for the Urban variant, staying true to the previously advertised price despite higher development and production costs. Assembly will begin this year at the company’s own facilities in Turin, with an initial annual capacity of around 7,500 units.
Micro has already received more than 24,000 reservations for the Microlino 2.0, with first deliveries expected to start at Switzerland first, followed by Germany, and the rest of Europe later on.
GALLERY


MINI offers more flexibility in pricing of 2021 models

MINI Malaysia has released a new price list for its vehicles. This is a similar step to the
BMW price list
 we covered earlier, with the flexibility to select extended warranty and service inclusive package as a customizable item.
This is just a shortened list of popular models. The price of all models can be found at the end of the article.
“BMW Group Malaysia is now offering our dealers and customers greater flexibility in terms of customizable specifications and warranty on their BMW and MINI vehicles, all of which can be done on the new digital interfaces of BMW Shop Online and
MINI Online Shop
. This also enables a more direct interaction between our dealer network and their respective customers for a more personalized product offerings at attractive prices,” said Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia.

As such, customers now get to adjust the purchase price of their new MINI model to their liking, either taking just the standard two-year unlimited mileage warranty coverage with a new the retail price or include everything which sees the price similar to those at 2020 levels.
The flexibility offered means there will be three structures of MINI retail pricing. This scope of personalization allows buyers to have the standard two-year warranty, or customized to have just the extended warranty coverage without prepaying the service package upfront.
Extension of the warranty coverage is categorized according to powertrain performance levels. Coverage for the
regular MINI models
 is priced at RM2,500
, while the John Cooper Works models is RM 2,900. The package for the 100% electric MINI SE is priced at RM2,600.
Meanwhile, the four-year / 60,000-kilometre service package that includes replacement of lubricants and air filters is priced at RM5,600 for the regular MINI models and RM6,000 for the John Cooper Works models. The
fully-electric MINI SE
 only requires a
service package of RM2,000
.
As for the MINI Roadside Assistance, coverage will still be provided up to the fifth year.
MINI MALAYSIA 2021 PRICE LIST


There are now more vehicles on the road than humans in Malaysia

Noticed the terrible daily traffic congestions outside? We’re sure you did. While most chalk it up to the post-covid rush as everyone is now back working in the office, there may be another reason for the madness – the sheer number of cars in Malaysia.
According to a report by the
New Straits Times
, the number of vehicles in the country has now overtaken the human population, with an increase of roughly one million vehicles per year since 2019, outpacing the human population growth for the first time.
According to road safety expert Professor Dr Kulanthayan K.C. Mani of Universiti Putra Malaysia, there were 33.3 million registered vehicles on the roads in Malaysia as of 2021, compared to the 32.6 million human population. Of that 33.3 million vehicles, 47.3% were cars; 46.6% motorcycles, and 4.7% were goods vehicles, with the rest made up by buses, taxis, and car rentals.
That is a stark increase to just three years ago in 2019, where the Malaysian human population stood at 32.5 million, with “just” 31.2 million registered cars on the road. Dr Kulanthayan said that the population is rising at a rate of roughly 300,000 to 400,000 annually, while cars are increasing to the tune of roughly one million per year.
“The vehicle population now is high. If this trend continues yearly where vehicles are rising to the tune of one million, then we are going to face even more horrendous traffic congestion,” he told the
New Straits Times
.
Dr Kulanthayan, who is also the chairman for the Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety, said that the rapid increase in the numbers of vehicles on the roads might be caused by the domino effects stemming from the
Covid-19
 pandemic.
RELATED: KL may impose London-style congestion charge after completion of MRT3
“The pandemic had also caused some to lose income, and they had resorted to taking on several jobs, which means they are travelling multiple times a day and spending more time on the road,” said Dr Kulanthayan. “Some may have taken up p-hailing and e-hailing jobs, which were in demand and allowed during the Movement Control Order period.”
On top of that, there’s also the government’s sales tax exemptions as part of the National Economic Recovery Plan (Penjana) stimulus package, that may have contributed to the soaring number of vehicles on the road.
While the initiative did help the automotive industry recover from the economic downturn caused by the pandemic, the scheme, which has been
extended thrice to June 30 this year
, has also resulted in many people buying cars which they may not have need, as they did not want to “miss out” on the irresistible offers on cheaper cars.
“There could have been graduates who had no intention of buying cars, but they did it because of peer pressure or persuasion from friends and family because they can save money with the tax exemption. This could have led to an increase in vehicle purchase as there is an external push for people to buy cars,” he added.
So how should we go about solving this issue? According to Dr Kulanthayan, the best solution is to increase investments and funding into the public transportation system, as opposed to building more highways or adding more lanes to existing roads.
As proven many times in numerous countries in the world, adding more roads will not solve traffic congestion, but actually counter-intuitively cause even more traffic congestion due to the supplies-attract-demand theory; more roads would entice more people to buy more cars.
Traffic congestion also usually happens at bottleneck areas, where vehicles reduce speed to merge and that subsequently slows down the flow. More lanes on the highways would consequently cause an even worse bottleneck when cars are exiting to local city roads.
“It is the government’s duty to provide public transportation and when they do that, it is best to channel more to rail-based public transportation, [but] we also need road-based public transportation for ‘first and last mile’ connectivity,” said Dr Kulanthayan.
“Rail-based public transportation has no congestion, no issues with punctuality, relieves people of the stress of driving, and encourages productivity during the commute.
“People [also] need to understand that road-based public transportation like buses is the safest mode of transport on the road. Our crash statistics, not just last year, but dating back to three decades, showed that the least contributor of fatalities is the bus. This should attract us to move towards public transportation and whether it is road or rail, both are much safer compared to other types of vehicles,” he added.
He also opined that in addition to the government, the people will also need to take initiative to reduce traffic congestions on the road. In particular, industries and companies with large a number of staff could do more by providing transport to their employees, or offer travel pass subsidies or incentives to utilise the public transport system.
Industries should also weigh the reintroduction of a work-from-home policy to reduce the number of cars on the roads. In his opinion, if the policy had worked at the height of the pandemic, there is no reason for it not to continue.
RELATED: DBKL and MIROS to implement 30 km/h, 50 km/h speed limits in Kuala Lumpur
“If they are working from home, they could contribute more effectively. It is stress-free and they can concentrate better. Perhaps industries can consider enforcing the policy on a rotational basis as it should be not an entirely work-from-home concept.
“If every employer decides on this way of work, we may just be able to reduce up to 20% of traffic at any time. This is one way we can contribute to taking vehicles off the road which many are single car drivers. It also frees up parking space,” he said, adding that it’s best for everyone to also embrace online services, such as banking and shopping, to deter any sort of unnecessary travelling.


Porsche to introduce the more extreme 718 Cayman GT4 “RS” very soon!

Porsche has announced that the already very potent
718 Cayman GT4 RS
 will soon have a bigger brother – the
718 Cayman GT4

RS
 – set for its world premiere in November.

According to Porsche, the GT4 RS has demonstrated its potential impressively; around twisty mountain roads and on the track, more specifically on the Nurburgring.
Astonishingly, the new 718 Cayman GT4 RS lapped the shorter 20.6 km circuit in just 7:04.511 minutes. That’s about 23.6 seconds faster than the benchmark set by its younger brother, the
Cayman GT4
 through the same distance. A time of 7:09.300 was set when the GT4 RS lapped the full circuit.
The Cayman GT4 RS used for testing was only equipped with a racing seat and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres; the latter is an optional item for the GT4 RS. There was even a judge present to confirm the standard condition and weight of the car.
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 “Sports Cup Edition” unveiled to celebrate 15 years of club sport racing. Check it out here!

“During development, we gave the 718 Cayman GT4 RS everything that characterises a genuine RS: lightweight construction, more downforce, more power, and of course, an even higher level of responsiveness and feedback to driver inputs. The fantastic lap time of the Nordschleife is impressive proof of how clearly noticeable these improvements in driving dynamics are,” says Directors GT Model Line, Andreas Preuninger.
He also confidently added that Porsche’s enthusiast customers can look forward to a pure driver’s car that makes a thrilling driving experience an absolute priority.”
“The GT4 RS is one of the sharpest cars Porsche has ever developed. You really have had to experience the breathtaking noise it makes for yourself,” said development driver Jörg Bergmeister, who has spent more than 500 hours in the 718 Cayman GT4 RS during testing and development.
Facts & Figures: Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 launched in Malaysia – starting from RM999K. Find out more here!
GALLERY


Lamborghini Urus Performante “Essenza SCV12” unveiled – Limited 40 units, for Essenza owners only

Lamborghini
 has just unveiled a new special edition of the
Lamborghini Urus
. It is the
Lamborghini Urus Performante
 “Ezzenza SCV12”
with only 40 units made globally. As if that limited-unit run doesn’t make it difficult enough for you to own one, this special edition Urus can only be purchased by owners of the Essenza SCV12, which is a track-only hypercar.
Customers of the Urus Performante Ezzenza SCV12 can uniquely configure their special-edition Urus. Key highlights of the Urus Performante Essenza SCV12 include extensive use of carbon fiber which can be seen on the hood, roof, rocker covers, mirrors, and the carbon fibre frame with the Lamborghini logo set between the rear light clusters.
To highlight the track-oriented nature of the Lamborghini Urus Peformante Essenza SCV12, Lamborghini’s Centro Stile designers created a dedicated Ad Personam livery with color combinations tailored to specific customer requests, with the paintwork of each unit undertaken in Lamborghini’s in-house paint shop.
The body colors and livery were chosen exclusively by each customer and echo those of their Essenza SCV12 cars, including the distinctive number painted on the doors. Each example is also equipped with 23-inch high gloss black wheels and black calipers by default, though customers can freely select the type and colors of wheels and calipers from those available.
RELATED:
Lamborghini Urus Performante makes Southeast Asian debut in Malaysia
As for performance, the special edition shares the same numbers with the Lamborghini Urus Performante, which is already the sportiest version of the Urus. Powering the car is a twin-turbo V8 engine that outputs
666 hp
 (metric) and
850 Nm
. The car does 0 to 100 km/h in just
3.3 seconds
, onward to a top speed of
306 km/h
.
Inside the Lamborghini Urus Performante Essenza SCV12 features exclusive Nero Cosmus (black) Alcantara upholstery with leather details, carbon fiber decorations with a choice of glossy or matte finish, black anodized aluminum elements, and a Dark Package except for the contrasting red door handles. The carbon fiber details also include a decorative element on the passenger side of the dashboard and the kick plates with the Essenza SCV12 logo and silhouette.
RELATED:
Lamborghini unveils new base-spec Urus S – same 666 hp as the Performante
To make the special edition even more unique, two celebratory carbon fiber plaques are included in the passenger compartment – one with the Lamborghini 60th Anniversary logo, and the other with the vehicle number or the customer’s name.
Lamborghini Head of Design, Mitja Borkert said, “The Lamborghini Urus SC-V12 Edition is the most expressive and detailed livery we have ever created. It is exclusively linked and designed personally for each of the 40 customers of the Lamborghini Essenza SCV12. The livery of the Urus SCV12 is painted black in the lower part to deliver even sportier proportions on the Urus, and the exterior color is directly linked with the exclusive color of the Essenza SC-V12, with a colored pinstripe connecting the front, side, and rear graphically. The result is a stormy, unique, and colorful limited series of Urus.”
RELATED:
Over 60% of Lambos sold are the Lamborghini Urus – 1,599 units sold in Q1 2023
GALLERY


Does the Ford Mustang EcoBoost sound better with this Performance Exhaust?

The
2.3-litre EcoBoost Ford Mustang
 on its own sounds adequately fruity for a four-cylinder petrol mill but when parked next to the Mustang GT with its naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8, you’d wish you spent that extra money for that glorious V8 soundtrack.
In an effort to unleash the full aural potential from the 2.3-litre EcoBoost, exhaust engineers and audio designers at Ford have developed a new
Fully Active Performance Exhaust
 that changes the sound of the car using electronically controlled valves. How does the Mustang EcoBoost with its new exhaust stack up against its bigger brothers the
Mustang GT 5.0
 and Shelby GT350?

According to Ford exhaust development engineer, Hani Ayesh, the
310 hp
 four-cylinder Mustang’s “throaty rumble of the exhaust makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up, just as it might on the larger-engine Mustang GT and Shelby GT350 models.”
The performance exhaust changes the pitch of the car according to the drive mode selected – Normal, Sport and Track, the latter two being the more aggressive setting. Ford’s
“Good Neighbour” quiet mode
 that silences the exhaust note is also available on the new system.
“When I pick up my kids from school, they want to hear that growling rev of the engine but my wife and neighbours, not so much. So, I can select the quieter “Good Neighbour” mode, and keep them happy, too.” said Ayesh.


Gallery: Rolls-Royce Wraith Landspeed Collection delivered in Malaysia – 1 of only 35 in the world!

The
Wraith
 is perhaps one of the most unique offering in the
Rolls-Royce
 line-up, but unfortunately its production run is soon coming to an end, with order books for the two-door ultra-luxury coupe already closed. But by chance, the (probably) last-ever Rolls-Royce Wraith to make its way into Malaysia is a pretty special one – the
limited-edition Wraith Landspeed Collection
.
Back in the late 1930s, Rolls-Royce successfully set not one, but three land speed records, thanks to a certain “forgotten hero” named Captain George Eyston. So to commemorate their incredible achievements, the Landspeed Collection model is designed with several unique touches inspired by the record-breaking Thunderbolt machine, which was designed and driven by Eyston himself.
The Landspeed Collection only comes in one single two-tone colour combination (but available in two opposite variations), blending together Black Diamond Metallic and a new bespoke colour called Bonneville Blue. Colour matched to the skyline of the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, the latter changes colour from light blue to silver under direct sunlight.
The photo-electric timing equipment used during the record-breaking runs were not able to detect the Thunderbolt’s unpainted, shiny silver exterior. To combat this, Eyston painted a large black arrow with a yellow circle on the side to improve the Thunderbolt’s visibility – and the same yellow is also now littered throughout the entire car, both inside and out.
The main highlights of the Rolls-Royce Wraith Landspeed Collection, however, are actually on the inside – with the most obvious one being the new unique Starlight Headliner – a picture-perfect recreation of the night sky at the Bonneville Salt Flats on the 16th of September 1938, the day Eyston set his third and final record.
Rolls-Royce says that the constellations are precisely marked using 2,117 individually-placed fibre optic ‘stars’, the most they’ve ever fitted into the headliner of a Wraith!
Instead of some fancy veneer, the Wraith Landspeed Collection gets unique panelling on the dashboard and rear centre console, with the Salt Flat’s craggy surfaces etched on top. There’s also a commemorative plate on the front centre console that marks out the dates and speeds of the Thunderbolt’s three record runs.
The yellow circle and arrow livery is also immortalised on the clock on the dashboard, with “357.497 mph” and “Bonneville” engraved into the housing to commemorate the top speed recorded on the third and final run of the Thunderbolt.
ALSO READ: Rolls-Royce Black Badge Ghost launched in Malaysia from RM1.8mil
But for us, the most significant piece of memorabilia is actually a single perforated line that runs across the entire driver’s side, starting from the top of the steering wheel, and through the seat upholstery to the back.
Due to the vast nothingness of the Bonneville Salt Flats, it’s almost impossible to see where you’re actually going – especially when driving at such high speeds. Eyston’s solution? Paint a long, black line on the surface as a guide. The simple solution is now immortalised forever in the Landspeed Collection cars as a nod to Eyston’s ingenuity.
On the inside of the driver’s door, you’ll also find a tricolour ribbon to commemorate the three significant honours George Eyston received in his lifetime – two from the British Empire, and one from the French. The ribbon is even made from the same Grosgrain weave silk as the original medals!
Last but not least, the armrests within the cabin – both on the centre console and by the door – are also upholstered in unique padding and thread work to mimic the club armchair that Eyston had in his Thunderbolt.
The rest of the car is based off the Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge, which means it shares the same powertrain underneath the long bonnet – a 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12 mill, sending
632 hp
 and
870 Nm
 of torque to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Despite its humongous size and weight – at over 2.4 tonnes – the Wraith Landspeed Collection still manages a century sprint time of just 4.5 seconds, onward to a electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.
The limited-edition Wraith also shares the same blacked-out front grille and Spirit of Ecstasy figurine, as well as the red callipers from the Black Badge variants.
Only 35 units of the Rolls-Royce Wraith Landspeed Collection will ever be made worldwide, and as usual, they’ve all already been spoken for even before the car was launched publicly. This particular unit will be the only one in Malaysia, and what a sight it is. Check out more photos in the full gallery below!
GALLERY


These Continental tyres are perfect for “modern society”

Cause checking on what and where our friends are eating for lunch on Instagram is more important than checking our car’s tyre pressure just once every fortnight.
At this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, Continental presented Conti C.A.R.E – Connected, Autonomous, Reliable and Electrified – a tyre of tomorrow for the requirements of future electric and autonomous driving.
The tyres feature sensors that are built into the structure of the tyre. These sensors generate and continuously evaluate data concerning tread depth, possible damage, tire temperature and tire pressure.
A centrifugal pump built into the wheel generates compressed air when the vehicle is on the move to actively adjust the tyre presure and keep it within an ideal range.
Any excess compressed air is stored in an integrated tank for the tyre’s “PressureBoost” technology which uses this air to rapidly adapt the tyre pressures to various driving situations.
IMAGE GALLERY


Volkswagen Passat CKD upgraded in Malaysia, priced at RM171k

Volkswagen Group Malaysia today announced the introduction of the enhanced Volkswagen Passat CKD. First introduced as a completely built-up (CBU) in 2011, followed by completely knocked-down (CKD) a year later, the Passat now has gone through an upgrade with more features.
The new locally-assembled D-segment is fitted with improved connectivity, safety and comfort features. It now has
Bluetooth
 capability that allows telephone connectivity and audio streaming. The VW Passat CKD front seats have been upgraded with a
12-way

adjustable

electric seats
 with memory function.
In terms of safety and security, it is now equipped with
 anti-theft alarm system
, with electronic immobilizer. Its side mirrors are now
electric folding mirrors
.
As for performance, it  is powered by the same 1.8-litre TSI engine mated with VW’s signature 7-speed DSG gearbox. Producing
158 horsepower
 and
250Nm
 of torque. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds with a top speed of 220 km/h.
Available in 6 colour choices: Candy White, Light Brown, Reflex Silver, Deep Black, Black Oak Brown and Icelandic Grey, the enhanced Volkswagen Passat CKD is priced at
RM170,817
(OTR without insurance).
[divider]
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Tesla Malaysia official launch confirmed – July 20

After
confirming its entry into Malaysia
 back in March this year, Tesla has now announced the date to its official brand launch here on our shores –
July 20, 2023
. Malaysia will become Tesla’s third market in South East Asia, following behind Singapore and Thailand.
The American EV carmaker has not revealed any information on upcoming models just yet, but it’s not difficult to guess, given that both the
Model S
 and Model X have been discontinued for the right-hand-drive market. That leaves the
Tesla Model 3
 and
Model Y,
 both of which are also offered in Singapore and Thailand as well.
Screenshot: Tesla Motors Malaysia/Instagram
In the Land of Smiles, both Tesla models are offered in three similar variants, including an entry-level single motor variant, alongside two dual-motor AWD variants with different power outputs to make up the Long Range and Performance options. The Single Motor RWD variants are mated to 57.5 kWh battery pack, while the dual-motor options get a larger 75 kWh battery.
For reference, here are the specifications and pricing for both models in Thailand:
Tesla Model 3
Single Motor RWD
 – 283 hp, 420 Nm; 455 km range (WLTP); THB1,759,000 (approx. RM233k)
Dual Motor Long Range AWD
 – 498 hp, 493 Nm; 614 km range (WLTP); THB1,999,000 (approx. RM264k)
Dual Motor Performance AWD
 – 513 hp, 660 Nm; 547 km range (WLTP); THB2,309,000 (approx. RM305k)
Tesla Model Y
Single Motor RWD
– 347 hp, 420 Nm; 455 km range (WLTP); THB1,959,000 (approx. RM259k)
Dual Motor Long Range AWD
– 514 hp, 493 Nm; 542 km range (WLTP); THB2,259,000 (approx. RM299k)
Dual Motor Performance AWD
– 534 hp, 660 Nm; 514 km range; THB2,509,000 (approx. RM332k)
Tesla is the first carmaker to apply for the Ministry of International Trade and Industry’s (MITI) BEV Global Leaders initiative. The programme is aimed at increasing EV demand in the local market, according to MITI minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Aside from selling cars in its Tesla Experience showrooms, Tesla will also be establishing an office here in Malaysia (with a workforce mostly made up of Malaysians), alongside a service centre network, as well as a Supercharger DC fast charging network that will also be open to the non-Tesla EV owners, as part of the BEV Global Leaders agreement.
READ MORE:
Tesla officially enters Malaysia – to establish sales and service centres, Supercharger network


Lamborghini Malaysia shows off the new Huracan Evo in Sepang

The heavy downpour last weekend proved no match for the storm Lamborghini Kuala Lumpur brought to the Sepang International Circuit last weekend with the new Huracan Evo.
With
640 hp
and
 600 Nm
of torque from a 5.2-litre naturally-aspirated V10 powering the 1,422 kg mid-ship, 0 to 100 km/h is annihilated in just 2.9 seconds – a performance which rivals the Porsche 911 GT2 RS and the
new Ferrari F8 Tributo
 – onward to a top speed in excess of 340 km/h.

Due to arrive in Malaysia by Q4 of 2019, the Lamborghini Huracan Evo is expected to fetch upwards of RM1.1 million before the duties kick in.
The Huracan Evo feature Lamborghini’s new rear-wheel steering, torque vectoring and all-wheel drive systems – which are all integral to the new
Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Integrata (LDVI)
.
The LDVI is a central processing unit that controls every aspect of the car’s behaviour where it is capable of anticipating the car’s reaction and the driver’s input – priming the car for the best possible performance whether it’s steaming into a bend of bursting out of a corner.
The LDVI is aided by the Lamborghini Piattaforma Inerziale (LPI) system where a set of sensors and accelerators are used to monitor the Huracan Evo’s behaviour. The car’s active magnetic suspension will then react accordingly to the inputs from the LPI.
Together with the Lamborghini Dynamic Steering (LDS) for the most responsive steering and rear wheel steering, the Huracan is said to be ultra agile and offers unprecedented levels of control.
With the LDVI and all its supporting systems, the car can anticipate the driver’s inputs through the throttle, brakes and steering, gear changes and drive mode chosen.
The “feed forward logic” adds icing to the cake where the car doesn’t just react, but also predicts the best possible driving setup for what’s about to happen ahead.
The Huracan Evo on display was presented with 20-inch Aesir rims wrapped in Pirelli P Zero tyres while the exterior is finished with a new Arancio Xanto orange, four layer paint job.
Inside, an 8.4-inch capacitive touchscreen dominates the centre console, along with a mix of leather and alcantara trims. Carbon forged composites and Lamborghini’s patented Carbon Skin can be specified while the rest of the interior can be customised according to the depth of your pockets.
IMAGE GALLERY


Rolls-Royce Cullinan debuts, better than a Bentley Bentayga?

The ultra-luxury SUV game has just been taken to another level with the debut of Rolls-Royce first-ever SUV, the Rolls-Royce
Cullinan
. With a tagline Effortless Everywhere, the new Cullinan delivers luxury effortlessly without compromise to its esteemed customers wherever they may be.
Sitting on an all-new aluminium “Architecture of Luxury” platform, the Cullinan measures at 5,341 mm in length, 2,165 mm in width, 1,835 mm in height with a wheelbase of 3,295 mm. It dwarfs the
Bentley Bentayga
 in comparison. Boot space is rated at 560 litres and expandable to 600 litres with the parcel shelf removed.

When penning the car, the design team envisioned an authentic, three-box high-bodied all-terrain SUV which resulted in a boxy and imposing car. The front end is familiar Rolls-Royce (albeit much taller), while the rear incorporates traditional Rolls-Royce elements into a high-riding car. The
kink
 at the tailgate is there to give the Cullinan better stance and presence. As if the front grille is not imposing enough.
Like any other Rolls-Royce, the Cullinan also features coach doors to welcome the rear passengers. Upon unlocking, the air suspension lowers itself by 40 mm to aid ingress and egress and raises itself to the standard ride height upon start up. Customers can have their Cullinan’s rear seats in two configurations –
Lounge Seats
 or
Individual Seats
.

The
Lounge Seats
 is the more family-friendly of the two with space for three passengers. The Lounge Seats can also be folded completely (2/3 and 1/3 split) to carry more items – a first for Rolls-Royce. Individual Seats are for those to value ultimate luxury in their SUV, with space only for two passengers, the
Fixed Rear Centre Console
 has a drinks cabinet that holds
Rolls-Royce whisky glasses and decanter
, champagne flutes and refrigerator.
Unfortunately, the Starlight headliner that puts on a light show for the passengers is not available in the Cullinan. Instead, the carmaker has fitted an industry-leading panoramic glass roof for passengers to view actual stars when out on the open road. When in the great outdoors, passengers can enjoy breathtaking views courtesy of the
Viewing Suite
, a retractable bench and table at the boot.
Other items on the Cullinan include a thicker, smaller steering wheel, heated and ventilated seats, digital instrument cluster, touchscreen infotainment system, Spirit of Ecstasy controller, High-Resolution Head-Up Display, Wi-Fi hotspot, five USB charging ports and more.
Moving the Cullinan is a 6.75-litres twin-turbo V12 that puts out
571 hp
 and
850 Nm
 of torque, the latter peaks from 1,600 rpm. Drive is channelled to all four corners and the all-wheel-drive system also features all-wheel steer to overcome challenging terrains.
The drivetrain has been calibrated to ensure the brand’s famed
Magic Carpet Ride
 is evident on- and off-road. The self-leveling air suspension makes millions of calculations every second to ensure the ride and handling adapts to the road conditions perfectly. For those who are willing to take their Cullinan off-road, Rolls-Royce has prepared an Off-Road button that unleashes all the Cullinan’s off-road capability be it for rough track, gravel, wet grass, mud, snow or sand. In its tallest ride height, the Cullinan boasts the deepest wading depth of any super-luxury SUV at
540 mm
.
Driver assist features on the Cullinan includes Night Vision and Vision Assist, daytime and night-time Wildlife & Pedestrian warning, Alertness Assistant, four-camera system with Panoramic View, all-round visibility and helicopter view, Active Cruise Control, Collision Warning, Cross-Traffic Warning, Lane Departure and Lane Change Warning.
CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Torsten Müller-Ötvös said: “The launch of a new Rolls-Royce model is always a seminal moment in the luxury industry. Today we are setting a new standard by creating a new class of motoring and motor car for customers who are well-connected, highly mobile and have a global perspective. They want a new type of motor car that gives them unbounded access in ultimate luxury. Their sense of adventure and daring demands a “go-anywhere in ultimate luxury” motor car that will both take them to and meet them at the pinnacle of life. Cullinan is that motor-car.”
IMAGE GALLERY


Jaguar Land Rover officially rebranded to JLR – New logo revealed

Jaguar Land Rover
 has now been officially rebranded to JLR as its new corporate identity. Now a House of Brands, four brands sit under the JLR umbrella, namely Jaguar, Range Rover, Discovery, and Defender.
The rebranding to JLR serves to remove ambiguity and emphasize the unique identity of each of the four brands. The new JLR logo is now composed of the supposed three letters, with the ‘L’ and ‘R’ being somewhat combined.
JLR says that the creative process behind the new identity focused on elegance, modernity, and a forward-thinking essence to exhibit the direction and ambition of the company. According to JLR, the descending j aspires to add elegance, while the lighter weight of the emblem illustrates the step change to refinement and modernity.
JLR Chief Creative Officer, Professor Gerry McGovern OBE said, “This is the next chapter of our Reimagine journey to become a truly modern luxury business. The new JLR identity will bring clarity to our clients and act as a unifier for our four distinct British brands.”
While the ‘Land Rover’ brand name is not part of the four brands listed by JLR, the Land Rover brand will remain a key part of the company’s DNA. A press statement by JLR reads, “Land Rover continues as a world-renowned and important heritage mark, remaining on vehicles, websites, social media, and retail sites, underpinning the world-class Range Rover, Defender, and Discovery brands.”
JLR CEO, Adrian Mardell said, “Today is an exciting day as we unveil a new identity for our company as part of our House of Brands approach. I’m confident this perfectly illustrates JLR’s ambition in the modern luxury space.”
What are your thoughts on Jaguar Land Rover’s rebranding to JLR and its new logo?


Ferrari returns to 24 Hours of Le Mans in style, claims victory after 50-year absence

Ferrari
 marked a triumphant return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans after a 50-year absence, winning the Centenary edition of the historic event with its
499P Hypercar
, in a manic race filled with rain showers and lengthy safety car periods. The 2023 win is the Prancing Horse’s 10th overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans – the last of which was won 58 years ago in 1965.
Car number 51, piloted by Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, and Antonio Giovinazzi, crossed the finish line with 342 laps under its belt to clinch the victory, after what was the closest battle for the top step in recent Le Mans history, at least until Toyota’s car number eight spun out with less than two hours to go, necessitating a stop in the pits for repairs.
The prancing horse’s other entry, number 50, finished in fifth position despite starting in pole position, after a crash early in the night knocked the crew out of contention for the podium.
RELATED:
Ferrari to reclaim Le Mans glory after 50 years with the 499P Le Mans Hypercar
Ferrari’s return to Le Mans was spurred by the sport’s new Hypercar category, with a focus on hybrid technology. Replacing the fabled LMP1 category, the new Hypercar class was a result of a rule convergence that allowed competitors from the United States’ IMSA-sanctioned series to compete in World Endurance Championship (WEC) and vice versa, allowing for a wider variety of manufacturers and race teams to compete against each other.
Aside from ending Toyota’s five-year winning streak, the Ferrari 499P also beat out the
Porsche
, Peugeot, and Cadillac factory entries after 24 hours of intense racing – each of them were leading the race at one point.
The Hypercar grid is set to further expand next year with the addition of new factory entries from BMW, Alpine, and Lamborghini.


Video: Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 4MATIC facelift review

The ferocity of Mercedes-AMG cars has become much more attainable thanks to the
entry level
45-series, although its performance is far from entry level. We got our hands on the most practical 45-series model, the
Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 4MATIC facelift
 and understood why anyone would want a high-performance compact crossover, at all.
Powered by the world’s most powerful series production four-cylinder engine, the M133 2.0-litre turbo gives the GLA 45
375 hp
 and
475 Nm
 of torque, sending drive to all four wheels through a seven-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT dual-clutch transmission. With Race Start (launch control) activated, the car will sprint to 100 km/h in
4.4 seconds
 onwards to a top speed of
250 km/h
.
Fully imported from Germany, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) is asking for RM408,888 a pop. If you’re concerned that this is an “old model”, keep in mind that the new-generation GLA is still some time away and not to forget Mercedes-AMG would require time to apply their magic touch.


Tyres Are Not Bananas, says Michelin Malaysia

Malaysians seem to have an unfounded obsession with “fresh tyres”, constantly hunting down tyres with the most recent date of manufacturing, believing that the fresher the tyres, the better they perform. However, Michelin Malaysia is here to debunk this myth with its “Tyres Are Not Bananas’” campaign.
Unlike bananas, tyres does not have an extremely limited shelf life. In fact, the countdown on the life of the tyre starts only from the date of fitment. When the tyres are properly stored, the rubbers are only subjected to the minor temperature fluctuations of the storage facility which has negligible to
no effect whatsoever on the tyre’s

performance
.
In a tyre wear test conducted by the Korean Department of Customer Protection comparing a brand new tyre and a three-year old unused tyre yielded
no difference in performance
. Both tyres that underwent high-speed and stepped speed test also showed
 identical tyre wear
.
In a test conducted by ADAC, the German motorist organisation revealed that rolling resistance on newly manufactured tyres and unused three-year old tyres were
identical
. In another study conducted by Osaka City University in Saudi Arabia, a 10-year-old unused tyre in storage showed similar rate of ageing to a tyre
driven for two years
. Additionally, if a tyre is stored for 20 years at 40 degrees Celsius, it would show ageing signs similar to tyres with
40,000 km mileage
.
Pascal Nouvellon, Managing Director of Michelin Malaysia Sdn Bhd said, “We advocate attention on overall tyre care which includes maintenance of correct tyre pressure, proper alignment, inspection for damages and tread depth measurements.” Through this campaign, Michelin Malaysia aims to educate motorists to give
 focus on

tyre quality

and care
 instead of date of manufacture.
“All Michelin tyres come with a six-year warranty and we recommend that tyres older than 10 years from the date of manufacture be removed from service,” Nouvellon added.
The “Tyres Are Not Bananas” campaign runs from 12 July to 4 August 2017, and Michelin will be visiting several locations in the Klang Valley to create awareness amongst motorists. Michelin is also inviting the public to post a creative photo of themselves with bananas to stand a chance to win attractive prizes such as a set of Michelin tyres, petrol cards and exclusive Michelin merchandises. Full details of the competition can be found
here
.


Upcoming Maserati MC20 Convertible already looking hot in first official teaser

It’s only been a little over a year since Maserati unveiled the
MC20 flagship
, but the Italian carmaker is now already prepping to launch a convertible variant of the supercar – and lucky for us, they’ve also released a set of images to tease us of what’s to come.
Maserati wrapped an early test prototype unit in a cloud-themed camouflage for the photoshoot in Modena. Why clouds, you ask? Well, “after all, it is a convertible,” says Maserati in the brief press release.
As expected, the upcoming Maserati MC20 Convertible shares most of the coupe’s design elements – or at first glance, at least. The Italian carmaker did not provide any shots from the rear of the car, but even from a semi-top-down shot, we can already detect some mild differences in styling, namely the A pillars and roofline of the car.
Maserati says that the body is still made from carbon fibre composite, and based on the photos, we’re guessing that it’ll also come with a hard-top instead of a fabric roof, just like its
Ferrari F8 Spider
 rival.
RELATED: Check out David Beckham’s Maserati MC20 that he “designed” himself
The new roof and its associated folding mechanism will undoubtedly add some extra pounds to its kerb weight. For context, the Ferrari F8 Spider added an extra 70 kg compared to the coupe, but that shouldn’t be too much of a problem for the MC20’s mid-mounted twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 “Nettuno” engine that packs
630 hp
 and
730 Nm
of torque.
ALSO READ: Maserati Ghibli Hybrid launched in Malaysia
Following the coupe and convertible variants, Maserati will also further expand the MC20 range with the addition of a fully electric version, in line with
Maserati’s electrification strategy
. There are no concrete launch dates for the MC20 convertible just yet, but it shouldn’t be too much of a wait from now.
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At RM584k, the new Taycan RWD is the cheapest 4-door Porsche you can buy!

Just mere days after the
European release
, Sime Darby Auto Performance, the sole distributor for Porsche vehicles in Malaysia, announced today that the rear-wheel drive (RWD) Taycan is now in Malaysia.
The line-up that was
launched late last year

has four-wheel drive traction, with the addition of a motor at the front axle. Being the most accessible variant, prices for Porsche Taycan RWD now starts from
RM584,561
 that is valid until
30 June 2021
.

Similar to the
four-wheel drive variants
, the rear-mounted motor has a two-speed transmission. The base output with the familiar 79.2 kWh single-deck Performance Battery is
326 hp
. When the driver activates Overboost mode with Launch Control, the power output climbs to
408 hp
 and
345 Nm
.
Upon closer inspection, these are actually 21 inches in diameter
If that is not enough, the Taycan RWD can also be had with more power. A larger 93.4 kWh two-deck Performance Battery Plus (also found in the Turbo variants) will deliver the following: base output of
380 hp
 and a full
476 hp
 with
357 Nm
 with Launch Control and Overboost mode.
Both power outputs will complete the century sprint in
5.4 seconds
 and reach a top speed of 230 km/h. In terms of driving range, Porsche promises a
431 km
 range on the base battery, and
484 km
 on the larger Plus battery pack – both values based on the WLTP cycle. The latter value is in fact the highest range offered on any Porsche Taycan variant to date.
Distinguishing features of the new Taycan RWD include 19-inch ‘Taycan Aero’ wheels, coil-sprung suspension with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), black brake calipers, and LED headlights.
A long list of options is available, but highlighted options include “surface-coated” performance brake discs, three-chamber adaptive air suspension, a colour head-up display, front passenger display as well as a 22 kW on-board charger.
Viewing and availability of the Porsche Taycan RWD at Porsche Centres in Malaysia is scheduled to begin from the second quarter of 2021.
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The new Proton Iriz looks more than just a facelift exercise

AutoBuzz.my’s 2018 Compact Hatchback of the Year
 now comes with a new face and a refreshed interior and Proton has officially launched it along with the
facelifted Persona
.
Engine options remain the same – a 1.3-litre and 1.6-litre – carried over from before although Proton says it’s been optimised for better fuel economy.

There are five variants available –
1.3 Standard MT
 at RM36,700 ,
1.3 Standard CVT
at RM39,700,
1.3 Executive CVT
 at RM44,700,
1.6 Executive CVT
 at RM46,700, and
1.6 Premium CVT
at RM50,700.
The 1.3-litre model makes
94 hp
 and
120 Nm
 of torque while the 1.6-litre model offers more with
 107 hp
and
150 Nm
. Transmission options include a 5-speed manual and a CVT transmission.

Proton said although it’s just a facelift, the Iriz has undergone no less than
367 component changes

in the facelifted Iriz. The CVT gearbox for example, has been enhanced to be smoother, more responsive and refined than before.
At the front is a new headlamp and grille design, with the latter inspired by the new Proton X70 SUV. The Iriz also gets new front and rear bumpers that has seemingly refreshed the aging hatchback.
There’s also a new 10-spoke wheel design to go along with 14-inch and 15-inch options for the lower grade models.
Inside, the Proton Iriz’ dash receives a darker, more subdued dashboard along with a new 7-inch head unit that offers the same voice command system as found in the Proton X70.
Illumination for the buttons have also been given a new look, to go with the new analogue gauge design that’s clearer and easier on the eye.
Safety wise, the Iriz gets six airbags, that includes curtain airbags, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control, Hill Hold Assist, Reverse Camera with Guiding Lines to name a few.
IMAGE GALLERY


The Ora Good Cat starts purring in Thailand, up to 500 km range

With such a memorable and catchy name, it certainly gained our attention as one of the easiest names to recall from the
hundreds of EV
 brands in China. Introduced as “the most interesting EV brand”, the Ora Good Cat by Great Wall Motor (GWM) has finally been officially launched in Thailand, only the second market in the world.
The Ora brand (pronounced O-ra, inspired by the last name of world-famous mathematician/physicist Leonhard Euler) is GWM’s first battery electric vehicle (BEV) sub-brand and has also set up a facility in Rayong, Thailand to penetrate the Asia Pacific region.
This Ora Good Cat (translated literally from the Chinese characters 欧拉好猫) is offered in three variants, priced from
THB989,000
 (approx. RM123k) to
THB1,199,000
 (approx. RM149k).
Dimensionally, the Ora Good Cat is about the same size as a Volkswagen Golf Mk.7, measuring 4.235 m in length and 1.825 m wide. Built on GWM’s latest EV platform called Lemon, the Ora Good Cat has its motor placed in front, while the battery pack sits between the 2.65 m wheelbase. A simple space-saving torsion beam axle provides suspension for the rear.
Power outputs are modest, with the electric motor churning out
143 hp
 and
210 Nm
 of torque across all three variants. With the standard 47.8 kWh battery pack, the range is 400 km under the more optimistic NEDC/R101 cycle. The range-topping Ora Good Cat 500 Ultra meanwhile promises up to 500 km of driving range thanks to a larger 63.1 kWh battery pack, both from CATL, one of the world’s leading EV battery makers.
GWM quotes a charging time of 40 minutes to top up the larger battery pack from 30% to 80% level, with the smaller battery requiring 8 minutes less via a DC fast charger, while its 10 and eight hours respectively via a home charger.
Standard features in the Ora Good Cat include circular LED headlamps, a unique full-width LED tail lamp strip, 17-inch wheels with covers, fabric seats, seven-inch drivers instrument display paired with a 10.25-inch central infotainment display, automatic air-conditioning system with PM2.5 filtration and connected vehicle features via smartphone plus firmware-over-the-air updates.
Meanwhile, the mid-range Ora Good Cat 400 KM Pro gets larger 18-inch wheels, panoramic moonroof, two-tone exterior paintwork, faux leather seats, wireless smartphone charger and ADAS such as adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, autonomous emergency braking, 360-degree parking camera system and six airbags.
The range-topping Ora Good Cat 500 Ultra meanwhile adds intelligent LED headlamps with welcome lighting effect, intelligent parking, lane change assistant, emergency lane keeping with rear monitoring and braking system, various interior colour themes and driver’s seat with memory and massage functions.
There is even an Ora Good Cat GT available in China, where the model’s sporty name implies, adds red-painted brake calipers, sportier bumper designs, extended wheel arches and a sporty red interior.
Based on certification documents, the Ora Good Gat is currently imported from GWM’s Taizhou facility in China. Other Ora models in its home market include the Black Cat compact hatchback, the more spacious, taller body White Cat and the flagship iQ SUV.
In Malaysia, Great Wall Motor’s products are represented by Go Auto Group of Companies which brought in a range of
Haval SUVs
. They also have an assembly facility in Gurun, Kedah.
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Review: Mercedes-Benz E350e – The Dawn of a New Age

Gone are the days where we had to remember each other’s house numbers, adjust our oversized TV’s antenna or even physically head out to buy food. Also gone are the days where a Mercedes-Benz E-Class would announce its own arrival with the unmistakable wail of its radiator fan.
One of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s latest introduction, the E350e, in an automotive sense, is another testamant of everything’s that changed in our world. Without lacking any of the presence and panache so typical of an E-Class, it now rolls off from standstill in a manner so discreet that it would appease even the most silence-obssesed librarian.
The E350e is offered in two different trims – the Executive Line that’s priced at
RM 392,888
 and the AMG Line that retails for
RM 395,888
. As I assume that an extra RM 3,000 would mean nothing for someone who’s in the market for a sub-400k vehicle, I’ll urge you to pay the difference and indulge in the aggressive and pronounced appearance of the AMG Line E350e.
That’s cause it just looks so darn good. Instead of being hood-mounted, you get the three-point star on a cleaner grille design, a more aggressive front bumper and a set of visually-enticing 19-inch AMG five-twin-spoke light alloy wheels.

Even if you do decide to opt for the more “plain Jane” Executive Line, prepare to still dazzle on-lookers with the MULTIBEAM LED headlamps that greets, often times the driver, with a mildly amusing light show every time its switched on. It’s got 84 individual LEDs which actively adjusts itself to ensure the best possible visibility on the road by lighting up the darkest areas ahead without glaring at on-coming traffic.
On the inside, it’s the complete opposite, for me at least. Having not been a fan of a “wood-trimmed” interior, the new brown open pore wood trims in the Executive Line spectacularly reflects the modern approach to a traditional display.
With a more faded, pastel tone to its presentation, I can see the wooden door and dashboard trims appealing to an even wider (and younger) demographic now rather than it being confined to the taste of an older group of Mercedes-Benz buyers. That said, whether it’s the Executive or AMG Line’s interior, it’s one of the most luxurious, most inviting and most attractive enclosure you can buy for that money.
Every item, every component, every dial, switch and knob oozes refinement with strange satisfaction. Even the speaker covers on the Burmester 13-speaker sound system are a thing of beauty; surrounded by a sense of opulence from high quality soft touch materials and immaculate fit and finish.

By now you’d probably be thinking that I sound like a Mercedes-Benz salesman but if you’ve not sat or spent considerable time in the new E350e like we had during our media drive to Johor Bahru en route to the Tanjung Jara Resort in Terengganu, it really does sound like a hard sell.
There were a few things that caught my attention but not necessary my liking; the speaker covers somewhat felt like cheese graters to the touch, the double 12.3-inch touchscreen’s display is sometimes blinded by reflections and those orange leather trims in the AMG Line’s interior could only appeal to those with a fancy for the tanning bed but are they negligible?
Without a shadow of a doubt. Whether its ergonomics, comfort, convenience or luxury, the sheer quality the E350e’s interior will never fail to distract you from its shortcomings, if any.
The highlight of the interior though – had to be the elongated double 12.3-inch high-resolution touch screen display – stretched from the driver’s line of sight to the centre of the dashboard. Not only was its interface easy to maneuver through, on its own, it was simply a visual amusement – projecting various parameters of the vehicle while offering a range of speed and rpm displays.
Oh, being a PHEV, the E350e’s dual-zone climate control comes equipped with a pre-entry climate control which cools the cabin down by the time you settle in to those Nappa leather seats. The softness of the leather really pampers the touch and honestly, once you’ve gone Nappa, you’d never go back.
I wonder why an S400h is needed when the E-Class alone can offer such level of fanciness and refinement. Sinking yourself into the rear seats, which cups you in such a way that you wish your journey would never end, it’s hard for the mind to dish out a comparison with other vehicles in this segment – especially when you’re so engrossed with indulging the high levels of ride comfort afforded by the Air Body Control air suspension with active damping.
Wind noise? Close as makes no difference – absent. It’s simply in a class of its own.
Further at the back, the batteries positioned beneath the boot hasn’t been detrimental to trunk space at all – which now stands at just 400-litres. The batteries, by the way, can support the E350e’s electric only feature with
33 km of driving range
.
The E350e boasts a combined system output, along with the electric motor, of
286 hp
 and
550 Nm
 of torque mated to a 9G-TRONIC transmission. While there’s more than an abundance of power at the stretch of your right foot to reach the E350e’s electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h, its seamless power delivery through its nine gears, is also sadly its drawback – there’s just way too many gears to downshift from when you’re looking to invoke some eagerness from the engine.
Sure you can just leave it in automatic mode, floor the pedal and the E350’s computer wizardy will be at your service to shift straight down to the most appropriate gear but then it would render the pedal shifters rather obsolete – it’s quite the predicament.
That said, this car, as capable as it is for spirited drives, the E350e’s distinction is in the way it sips fuel. While its claimed fuel consumption is rated at 2.1 L/100 km – an impossible figure not even the feet of god can achieve on our roads – I managed a solid
6 L/100 km
 through a mix of back roads, highways, slow drives and spirited runs; very respectable when you consider how heavy the car is.
To safeguard the car’s fuel economy, the E350e comes with four Hybrid modes – the E-Mode, E-Save, Charge and Hybrid. It even comes with a
haptic feature
 that kicks the throttle back when you’re being too eager with the gas pedal.
Driving dynamics wise, I’m going to risk everything and go on a limb to say that I still prefer BMWs but that’s just being preferential and perhaps borderline mean to the E350e. In Sport + mode, it does project all the sporty credentials that will rile the excitement of the demographic it appeals to. Then again, it’s probably safe to assume that “that particular demographic” will not buy the E350e to misbehave on the road.
It would be to ferry himself, his family and friends in the wealth of luxury, splendour and exclusivity not many can rival when the Mercedes-Benz name is in the mix.
IMAGE GALLERY


Ken Block’s Climbkhana Two takes on the Tianmen Mountain, sideways

Ken Block, best known for his crazy Gymkhana videos, is back at it again. After conquering Pikes Peak with his famed
Hoonicorn V2
, Block brought his 1977 Ford F-150
Hoonitruck
 to take on China’s Tianmen Mountain.
Featuring 99 curves – most of it with a treacherous drop at one side – The Heaven’s Gate is hailed as China’s most dangerous road. Despite all that, Climbkhana 2 was still done in the most Ken Block way possible – with drifts and donuts.

The Hoonitruck, built on the 1977 Ford F-150, features a
3.5-litre Roush Yates EcoBoost V6
 engine that pumps out
914 hp
 and
952 Nm
 of torque. You best bet that it took some serious bravado to drive this tail-happy truck up Tianmen Mountain.
But being Ken Block, he made it all seem way too easy. Our palms were definitely sweaty after watching the drift maestro power his way through the tight hairpins with inch-perfect accuracy. At that speed, the cement barriers probably won’t do too much to stop the car; any tiny mistake can send the Hoonitruck flipping down the mountain.
We must admit though, Climbkhana 2 did not wow us as much as his previous gymkhana videos from back in the day. Perhaps due to his usual extravagant stunts, a “simple” hillclimb almost seems too boring for Ken Block.
Besides, other than being a spectacle to watch, Ken Block’s method of sideways driving also isn’t the fastest way up a mountain. For that, you’ll have to check out Volkswagen’s
record breaking run with the ID.R
.


Volkswagen Malaysia adds extra 2 years free maintenance for Tiguan and Passat

If you needed just an extra push to take the leap into VW ownership, Volkswagen Malaysia has now given the final push.
They’ve announced that an
additional two years free maintenance
 will be given to the
Tiguan
,
Passat 1.8 TSI Comfortline and 2.0 TSI Highline
. The promotion is valid from 1st of July to 31st of December 2019, extended to the entire Tiguan and Passat lineup.

Those eager to jump on the VW bandwagon will now enjoy a total of 5 years free maintenance (or 75,000km, whichever comes first), 5 years unlimited mileage warranty and 5 years roadside assistance.
Model
Tiguan
Passat
1.88% low interest rate savings
RM7,700
RM8,600
5 Years Free Maintenance savings
RM 6,100
RM 6,500
Total savings
RM 13,800
RM 15,100
Volkswagen said that with the low interest rate and the additional two years free maintenance, buyers stand to enjoy up to RM13,800 savings on the Tiguan and RM15,100 savings on the Passat.