Jaguar previews facelifted XJ with new toys and a refreshed look

Keeping with the times, Jaguar has brought out the refreshed XJ model in a bid to keep up with the new offerings from BMW with the G11 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz W222 S-Class. Jaguar is on the heels to contend the Germans in this niche segment.
The overall shape and design hasn’t changed much but to the keen eyed observer, there are few details that’s been changed out for a more refreshed look for this British full-size sedan. Jag has also introduced its own sports trim line called the
R-Sport trim
 to join the rank and likes of Bimmer’s
M-Sport
, Mercs
AMG
 and the
S-Line
 for the Four Ringed Ingolstadt automaker. The XJ is set to be made available by
autumn
 this year (late September 2015).
As the trend these days is to make the front end sleek, Jag has inevitably gone down that road as well with new XJ getting a slightly more butch front end with chrome finishing and mesh designs. As is the way with Jag, the starkness have been kept to a more subtle degree.
EXTERIOR
The biggest difference on first impressions are with the new twin
‘J-Blade’ DRL
‘s mounted in the
 all-LED headlight
 module which as we’ve seen as of late, is the trend amongst premium automakers in illuminating the way forward. The J-Blades also double as the signal indicators.
Around the side, not much has been tinkered with, but the rear end gets minute changes with a
chrome strip
 that runs across the lower breadth of the bumper, including an oval shaped
chrome

exhaust finishers
 to complete the look.
INTERIOR
The interior is as we’ve come to expect from
 modern-day Jaguars
. A mass of soft leather upholstery and trimmings enveloping the cockpit followed by a pop-up gear knob selector that rises out of the centre console. The cabin also gets a touch of Tron-style blue-backlit touch. Nice.
Luxury is something that’s never been taken out of the equation with Jag subtly reminding everyone how good they are at coach building from days past, starting with
soft grain leather
 that’s been quilted into a diamond pattern with
polished wooden veneer
garnishing.

The audiophile amongst us aren’t neglected either, as Jag is offering four different stereo options with the range topper being a
26-speaker, 1,300 Watt
 system powered by a
17-channel amplifier
 that’s developed by British audio experts
 Meridian
 to produce true Hi-Fi sound.
PERFORMANCE
Let’s start with the
2.0-litre
unit here.

It’s a
 four-cylinder
 engine fitted with a
low-inertia turbocharger
 that makes it more agile and lowers fuel consumption to
8.4 litres per 100km
, all while being able to do a century sprint time of
 7.9 seconds
 before topping out at
241 km/h.
The
3.0-litre V6
 mills are now available in either a
turbocharged diesel
 or
 supercharged petrol
. The
diesel
 puts out a massive
700 Nm
 of torque at
2,000 rpm
 and a top speed capped at
250 km/h
, whereas the
petrol
 powered
V6
 pushes out
 335 hp
 and
 450 Nm
 of torque at
3,500 rpm
 with a 0 to 100 km/h time of a shade
under six seconds
. It tops out at
250 km/h
. The petrol V6 is available in either
long wheel base
 and
all-wheel drive
 options apart from the base model.
The range toppers are the
five-litre V8s
 available in three different states of tune, ranging from
463 to 542 horses
 with the latter figure being reserved for the
 XJ R-Sport
 variant. The blown mill features a
twin-Vortex supercharger
 unit that does the job of producing
torque
 that ranges from
575 Nm to 680 Nm
. It also lends its hand in achieving a fuel consumption rate of
 11.1 litre per 100km
 which, isn’t all too bad considering the XJ weighs in excess of
1,800 kg
. EGR or
 exhaust gas recirculation
 also contributes to that endeavour.
All versions of the XJ are driven by a ZF sourced
eight speed automatic
 gearbox with the exception of the RWD
 3.0-litre petrol
 version which uses a more
compact ZF
gearbox. Tasked with steering is the job of an
EPAS
 or electric power-assisted steering system – one that’s favoured over the conventional heavy hydraulic system. This saves up to
three percent of fuel
.
SAFETY
Jag has kitted out the XJ with a host of safety systems to keep it abreast with the rest of its competitors with tech such as the
360° surround camera system
 and
semi-automated parking
, the latter allowing automated parallel parking.
Driver suites like
All-Surface Progress Control
 (ASPC) helps the driver manage tricky low-friction road surface conditions for a safer ride, while
Traffic Sign Recognition
 senses the road ahead via a front facing
camera
 and
GPS
 that informs the driver of approaching traffic changes such as speed limits and other variables.
The pre-facelift XJ
What’s more is the
 Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist
that uses radars to read the traffic ahead and is capable of slowing down or bringing the car to a complete halt. There’s also
Blindspot monitoring
 and
Reverse Traffic Detection
on board as driver convenience features.
WHAT ELSE ?
The
InControl Remote Access App
 allows owners to
remotely
 check if the windows are up, sound the horn, check how much fuel it has got and can even be used to
start the car
 remotely and
crank up the air-conditioning
 system. Should the driver forget where the car is parked, the app will even draw you a
map
 to get to the car.
IMAGE GALLERY


This heavily-modified Toyota Tacoma pick-up redefines “glamping”

Thanks to the temporary stop of international travelling due to the global pandemic, many seek to have vacations and explorations within the country. Accommodation could still be an issue, so the travelling vehicles have also been converted to a place to stay.
While it is common to see large panel and window vans converted to have a place to sleep and carry other large camping equipment, this example of a Toyota Tacoma in the US pushes the envelope even further.
Built around a 2007 Toyota Tacoma Access Cab (or known in Thailand as Smart Cab with the suicide half-doors in the Toyota Hilux), the long-wheelbase pick-up truck has its chassis extensively upgraded for overlanding (combination of remote travel, off-roading and camping).
While maintaining the robust double-wishbone setup and rigid axle, the shock absorbers and leaf springs have been upgraded to high-performance Emu Dakar units paired with an additional air suspension system. An auxiliary fuel tank carrying some 64 litres of petrol has also been added.
Additional traction is assisted by ARB front and rear air-actuated locking differentials as well as chunky BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A tyres. No serious off-roader is complete without a new front “bumper”, so the Tacoma gets a high approach angle All-Pro steel bumper with a powerful winch tucked inside plus a pair of bright spotlights.
At the other end of pick-up conversions, this Toyota Hilux sings glorious AMG V8 music. More about the “bakkie” here!
The rear section of the Tacoma Access Cab has been heavily modified to fit a large accessories cab. It has been tailor-made to fit a retractable awning, ARB fridge, 64-litre water tank, a propane tank for cooking, a kitchen rack with utensils plus plenty of storage space.
The seller also neatly placed an Airtop collapsible tent on top of the rear accessories cab. Being over 1.6 metres high, one requires a ladder for access.
As for the interior, it is very much untouched, even maintaining the integrated Toyota audio system with a CD player and AM/FM tuner. With journeys expecting to be off-the-grid, the seller also fitted a CB radio for communications with fellow enthusiasts. The back of the cab allows legal seating for two passengers as seatbelts are fitted.
This 15-minute video of a Toyota Hilux being tested beyond its limits is very fun to watch! Take a look at what constitutes as testing for this enthusiast!
Powering the 2007 Toyota Tacoma is a 4.0-litre V6 petrol engine with humble outputs of
239 hp
 and
361 Nm
 of torque. Thrust is sent to all four wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission and easy-to-use shift-on-the-fly part-time four-wheel drive system.
The Toyota Tacoma overlander conversion was eventually sold to a bidder at
USD36,500
 (approx RM154k) which is a substantial sum given its 14-year-old age. However, the buyer could see an immediate exploration in the thick woods and few nights stay with his new investment.
Source:
CarsAndBids.com
,
Carscoops.com
GALLERY


2018 Jaguar F-Type gets a new base variant, 2.0l 4-cyl turbo with 296 hp & 400 Nm

Since its global debut in 2013, the
Jaguar F-Type
 has always been depicted with a hairy-chested V8 powerplant accompanied by a thunderous exhaust note. People tend to forget that there’s also a V6 variant of the F-Type, but that’s pretty much understandable when the V8 sounds so bloody good. So how does a four-cylinder F-Type sounds like? Blasphemy?
Jaguar has updated the
2018 Model Year F-Type
 with some
interior and exterior tweaks
, but the biggest news is the addition of this four-cylinder variant to complement the existing V6 and V8 variants. All F-Type models will get
new bumpers
 and they can be optioned with
full LED headlamps
, while inside there’s the new
lightweight slimline seats
 and
Touch Pro infotainment system
.
It’s the same
turbocharged 2.0-litre 4-cylinder
Ingenium
 engine already used in other Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles, but for the F-Type it gets the power boosted to
296 hp
 and
400 Nm
. The smallest-engined F-Type may have the least amount of power, but with
148 hp per litre
, the turbo four-banger actually has the highest specific power output of any engine in the new F-Type range. Mated to an
8-speed automatic
 which sends power to the rear wheels, the four-cylinder F-Type does the century sprint in
5.4 seconds
 and the top speed is
250 km/h
.
With a smaller mill occupying the engine bay, there’s a
weight saving of 52kg
, and apart from making it the most economical F-Type in the range with a fuel consumption of
7.2 l/100 km
, Jaguar claims this also contributes to an improved agility. Jaguar also promised that the four-cylinder F-Type won’t be compromised in the noise department, with a “meticulously-tuned”
active exhaust
 to deliver a distinct four-cylinder soundtrack.
There’s very little to tell that it’s the F-Type “lite” from the outside, apart from the
center-exit single tailpipe
 and new
lightweight 18-inch wheels
. Meanwhile the
R-Dynamic
 option will throw in a set of 19-inch wheels and switchable active exhaust. The four-cylinder F-Type will be available in either a Coupe or a Convertible guise, and it goes on sale this spring in UK, priced from £49,900 (approximately RM276,300).
IMAGE GALLERY


Facts & Figures: Volvo XC60 facelift launched in Malaysia – B5 and Recharge T8, from RM292k

Volvo Car Malaysia today unveiled the new Volvo XC60 facelift here in Malaysia. Similar to the outgoing model, the company is maintaining two variants for Malaysia, although with one completely new option – the XC60 B5 Momentum and the XC60 Recharge T8 Inscription Plus.
The new B5 naming that marks the fitment of a mild-hybrid powertrain is priced at
RM292,266.50
 and the Recharge T8 plug-in hybrid variant has a price tag of
RM325,449.40
. Both prices are on the road without insurance and inclusive of the sales tax exemption.

EXTERIOR
Similar to the new facelifted
Volvo S90 Recharge T8
 executive sedan, the exterior changes on the new Volvo XC60 are incredibly minimal. One would really need to place both the
outgoing
 and new XC60 models side-by-side to notice the changed items.
As always, the bumpers’ design gets tweaked, blending better with the rest of the updated line-up. The rear bumper now has a smooth finishing without any exhaust tips, while the front includes a new grille design and larger decorative trim pieces at the corners.
Key features have been maintained over the outgoing model, including items such as:
Inscription grille and chrome details together with 19-inch wheels on the Recharge T8
LED Headlamps with Active High Beam
Active Bending Lights (ABL) only on Recharge T8
Panoramic Sunroof only on the Recharge T8
Roof rails (bright-finished Recharge T8)
Illuminated door handles with ground lighting
Volvo Car Malaysia has also included a new colour called Dawn Silver, replacing Osmium Grey. Three other colours are maintained, which are Denim Blue, Crystal White and Onyx Black.
PERFORMANCE
Headlining the new XC60 in Malaysia is the availability of the new B5 Momentum variant, replacing the T5. The new naming corresponds to a new 48-volt mild-hybrid assistance with a compact lithium-ion battery added to the existing turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine.
Volvo XC60 B5
Engine: 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged, 48-volt mild hybrid
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Drivetrain: Front engine, all-wheel drive
Max horsepower: 249 hp @ 5,500 rpm
Max torque: 350 Nm @ 1,500 – 4,800 rpm
0-100 km/h: 6.9 seconds
Top speed: 180 km/h
Fuel consumption: 7.6 l/100 km
Volvo XC60 Recharge T8
Engine: 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, supercharged and turbocharged
Engine max rated output: 320 hp, 400 Nm
Electric motor max rated output: 87 hp, 240 Nm
Total combined system horsepower: 407 hp @ 5,700 rpm
Total combined system torque: 640 Nm @ 2,200-5,400 rpm
Battery capacity: 11.6 kWh
Drivetrain: Front engine, rear motor, electric AWD
0-100 km/h: 5.3 seconds
Top speed: 180 km/h
Electric range: 45 km
Fuel consumption: (2.2 l/100km)
INTERIOR
The biggest update in the new Volvo XC60 is the interior. However, the images alone do not communicate anything, as the new 9-inch portrait infotainment system is now powered by Android Automotive OS.
Volvo Car Group is the first company to team up with Google on integrating an infotainment system powered by Android with Google apps and services built-in, and the fully-electric
XC40 Recharge
 became the first Volvo car to carry the infotainment system.
The centrepiece of the Digital Services package is access to Google apps and services, which offer hands-free help with Google Assistant, best-in-class navigation through Google Maps and a broad offer of native in-car apps via Google Play.
Standard equipment in both variants include:
12.3-inch TFT digital instrument cluster
Google Digital Services
Volvo Car Apps
Mobile phone charging
Powered front seats with memory function on the driver’s seat
Dual-zone automatic air-cond with Clean Zone Interior Air Quality System
Rear air-cond vents on B-pillars
Cabin pre-conditioning using Parking Climate function
Rear USB charging ports
The Volvo XC60 Recharge T8 Inscription Plus sees more adjustment on the front seats, a head-up display, illuminated Orrefors crystal shift lever, Driftwood Decor inlays, Bowers and Wilkins 1,100-Watt Premium Audio with 15 speakers, and increased ambient lighting areas.
The audio system in the B5 Momentum variant also sees an upgrade versus the outgoing model, now fitted with a Harman Kardon 600-Watt Premium Sound Audio system with 14 speakers.
SAFETY
The new XC60 facelift is equipped with the Volvo IntelliSafe advanced driver assistance systems, with the addition of the new Ready to Drive Notification in the facelift update. Other key features in the ADAS suite include:
Ready to Drive Notification (lead car departure alert)
Pilot Assist
Adaptive Cruise Control
City Safety autonomous emergency braking, with Steering Support
Blind-Spot Information System (BLIS) with Steer Assist
Lane Keeping Aid
Cross-Traffic Alert, front and rear with mitigation support
360-degree Surround View Camera
Oncoming Lane Mitigation
PRICING
The new Volvo XC60 Recharge T8 in Malaysia is priced at
RM325,449.40
 on-the-road, without insurance, and inclusive on the ongoing sales tax exemptions, and increases to RM345,488 once the
exemption discontinues
.
Meanwhile, the new Volvo XC60 B5 Momentum sees an increase of circa RM13,300, now retailing at
RM292,266.50
 on-the-road without insurance sales tax. Volvo Car Malaysia has indicated a price of RM313,888 once the sales tax exemption expires.
Included in the price is a five-year unlimited mileage warranty and a
plug-in hybrid (PHEV) battery warranty coverage
 of eight years or 160,000 km, whichever comes first.
GALLERY


Perodua Ativa scores top marks in latest ASEAN NCAP tests

The Perodua Ativa not only scored a
five-star
 rating in the ASEAN NCAP but is also the first vehicle to be assessed under the
new 2021-2025 Protocol
.
The update to the new ASEAN NCAP 2021-2025 Protocol sees the organisation include an assessment for Motorcyclist Safety (MS) which carries a weightage of 20% to the final score.

Under the new
Motorcyclist Safety
category, features that alert the driver of the presence of motorcyclists and pedestrians are rated and contribute to the scoring. They are further categorised under Blind Spot Detection, Advanced Rear Visualisation, Headlight, Pedestrian Protection and Advanced Motorcyclist Safety Technology.
The other three categories from the previous assessment protocol remain, which are Adult Occupant Protection (40%), Child Occupant Protection (20%) and Safety Assist Technologies (20%).
ASEAN NCAP is also introducing the Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) system functionality assessment in this new 2021-2025 assessment protocol. The organisation will perform the
effectiveness of the AEB
 City and AEB Inter-Urban systems fitted to the vehicle in performing emergency braking at several speeds against another vehicle in front.
The new
Perodua Ativa
 compact SUV, which was officially launched yesterday, received 37.48 points for the Adult Occupant Protection, 17.36 points for
Child Occupant Protection
, 18.57 points for Safety Assist Technologies and 10 points for the Motorcyclist Safety assessments (courtesy of the Blind Spot Monitor, Automatic High Beam and Pre-collision braking with Pedestrian detection).
Even in the entry-level
 Perodua Ativa X
, the vehicle is fitted with Perodua’s Advanced Safety Assist (ASA) suite which includes an updated Pre-collision warning and braking with bicycle and motorcycle on top of pedestrian detection.
The Ativa AV variant’s ASA goes up a notch further with the inclusion of Adaptive cruise control (ACC) and Lane keep control (LKC), with both features working in tandem to deliver
semi-autonomous driving of Level 2
 standards.

This means the Ativa AV variant can autonomously drive around a curve on the highway at speeds from 60 km/h and adjust its distance to the vehicle in front accordingly, with just the driver placing his hands on the steering wheel. This is particularly useful while driving on the North-South Highway.
The turbocharged Perodua Ativa compact SUV is available in three variants, the X starting from
RM61,500
, the H variant from RM66,100 and the range-topping AV variant from RM71,200.


The inaugural Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival – of celebrities, endless performances and heated races

To call the recently concluded Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) Festival a success would’ve been an understatement. Held over last Saturday and Sunday at Stadium Batu Kawan in Bukit Tambun, a staggering 28,000 people showed up; braving the heat and rain to witness the race, festivities and most importantly, meet their revered local celebrities.
These local celebrities included drift extraordinaire Tengku Djan, Danny Koo, Geraldine Gan, Venice Min, Shukri Yahaya, Diana Danielle, Janna Nick, Geraldine Gan and beat-boxer Shawn Lee – most of whom, including drivers in the other categories, were participating in motorsports for the first time.
It was an utter fanfare. Among the highlights were the convoy of Toyota AE86’s, celebrity meet-and-greet sessions, stage shows, drift exhibitions and the very first appearance of the Toyota C-HR in the northern region.
The races were segmented to three categories where the celebs raced against each other in the Promotional category, while the bigger boys meddled about in the Sporting and Super Sporting categories. Not only did the narrow 1.65 km track limited overtaking opportunities, the rain that went on for hours made track conditions even more challenging and slippery for the drivers.
DAY ONE
The first day’s action saw three qualifying sessions in each category followed by two race heats for the Promotional and Sporting categories. In the Promotional Class, Shawn Lee bagged pole position (1:18:508) followed by Fattah Amin (1:19:863) with Shukri Yahaya (1:20:720) coming in third.
Pole position for the Sporting category was held by Ken Foo (1:19:592) followed by Brendon Lim (1:19:851) from Team Dream Chaser and Patrick Tam Wei Han (1:19:876) from Team Maxx ‘N’ Go. In the Super Sporting category, pole position was held by none of other than Tengku Djan (1:16:932) of Team Maxx ‘N’ Go, followed by Mark Darwin (1:17:183) of Team Dream Chaser and Syafiq Ali (1:17:798) from Team M7 Racing.

The first race involving 16 cars from the Sporting category saw the top three from qualifying retaining their positions at the end of the 16-lap race with Ken Foo coming in first followed by Brendon Lim and Patrick Tam. It was not without incident though, as Teoh Khai Lin nudged into Eric Yong of Team Dream Chaser in 4th place, sending him to the barriers.
In the Promotional category, first place was held by Shawn Lee, followed by Shukri Yahaya and Danny Koo. Having clipped a kerb and deflated one of her tyres, Venice Min unfortunately nudged onto Janna Nick and into the barriers causing both to retire from the race. Fattah Amin too had to retire from a broken rim after a tussle with Shukri Yahaya, awarding Danny Koo, who finished 12 seconds behind the leading duo, the last spot on the podium.
DAY TWO
Day Two got off to a very bright start, literally; with clear blue skies and extremely humid conditions. Having gone through a very wet first day, temperatures rose as the drivers from the Super Sporting category lined up for the first (dry)race of the two day race festival.
With conducive racing conditions, it was full-throttle from the get go with Tengku Djan taking home the chequered flag after 18 laps; opening up a 15 second gap from second place Mark Darwin  followed by Syafiq Ali who finished in third. The race saw another precious rim (lightweight ENKEI RPF1’s) casualty as early favourite James Verappan clipped the wall.
The second race of the day was won by Shawn Lee in the Promotional category after 18 laps, followed by Shukri Yahaya and Danny Koo, a deja vu result from the day before. Having fought closely with TRD Asia’s Masaaki Murata in the middle of the pack, Fattah Amin’s misfortune continued as he attempted a brave overtaking maneuver on fourth place Diana Danielle only to send both into the barriers and retirement.

The third race saw the boys picking up from where they left off on Day One – in Race Two of the Sporting category in a closely contested, highly intense race. So stiff was the competition that drivers were lapping within a second from each other. The race ended with Ken Foo once again taking first place followed by first time podium finisher, Kenneth Koh and Brendon Lim in third.
Having trailed Ken Foo closely throughout the race, a last ditch attempt by Patrick Tam on the outside line resulted into a slide towards the barricades and eventual retirement.
The final race was another follow up from day one – Race 2 of the Super Sporting category. Having won Race One, Tengku Djan had to make do with a 20 kg ballast in his car from third place but it did not seem to have hindered his performance on the track. Diving into the first turn on Mark Darwin, Djan immediately moved up to second in pursuit of Shafiq Ali.
Having got close to Shafiq before a turn, Djan pulled out alongside him in the straights as Shafiq stayed on the inside line. Upon approaching the next turn, contact between the two sent Djan into a half spin or as the motoring writers jokingly regarded as “a controlled powerslide by Djan”. After recovering from the half spin, the rest was history as Djan went on to claim first place with Mark Darwin in second followed by William Ho after 18 laps in the blistering heat.
Unfortunately for me and the rest of us motoring media reps, there was no such thing as witnessing the race on the stands. Nor even on
YouTube
, in the comforts of an air-conditioned room as most of our time was spent behind the lens and under the scorching sun. At the same time, being so close to the action actually showed us what the drivers had to go through – unpredictable weather and track conditions, extremely close shaves with the barricades and a whole lot of bumper to bumper action – all the ingredients that make for an extremely exciting race.
And seeing what a tremendous event the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival has been over the weekend for both drivers and spectators, we’ll be surprised if the next leg, held in
MAEPS, Serdang
 on the
25th and 26th of November 2017
 doesn’t spark an even bigger and more explosive occasion.
IMAGE GALLERY


Next Generation Proton Perdana previewed, together with TDM’s new stretched Perdana

The next-generation Proton Perdana targeted for the mass market is coming close into reality. In the recently concluded Alami Proton Carnival 2015 event held at Proton’s Centre of Excellence, Proton gave members of the media a short glimpse of what to expect from the company’s new “Halo” car.
Proton’s new D-segment darling in red was previewed by none other than Proton’s Chairman himself, Tun Dr. Mahathir. Unfortunately, only the front and lower rear portions were
very briefly
 teased to the members of the media. Proton has previously mentioned that the new Perdana will look entirely different compared to donor car, the eighth-generation Honda Accord. Judging from this brief preview, we can attest to that, cosmetically of course.
From the looks of it, a fastback shape is expected as seen with the extended sloping D-pillar. In a way, it bears similarity with the unorthodox BMW 3-Series GT or Jaguar XJ. Also spotted were a rear ducktail spoiler and a shark fin roof antenna. Also note that the new Perdana measures at 4,999 mm, making it about 50mm longer than its Accord counterpart.
Honestly, we can’t visualise how the real Perdana will actually look like, but what we do know is that two engine options are available – Honda’s 2.0-litre R20A3 and 2.4-litre K24Z2 engines. These inline-four power plants are expected to be mated with Honda’s tried-and-tested five-speed automatic. The new Perdana will be made available to the public in Q1 2016, although no indicative pricing was made mention.
The mysterious new Proton Perdana will be officially unveiled soon!
Just next to the Perdana are
two stretched versions
 of the Perdana – the shorter of the two is for cabinet ministers while the other was customised solely for the Chairman himself. The stretched Perdana for Tun Dr. Mahathir has
 unique red leather interiors
 and subtle additions that are often found in a typical German-made limo. Also unique to Tun’s car is the “Proton 2020” number plate that indicates TDM’s prized limo from his brainchild that is Proton.
Tun’s stretched Perdana is of course based on the current-serving Accordana used by government officials in Putrajaya. As you may have already known, Proton and Honda inked a deal in 2013 to
rebadge
 the eight-generation Accords as government fleet cars to replace the Perdana of old – one that was
based on the Mitsubishi Eterna
. These cars are also not made available for the public. However, the public can wait for Proton’s own interpretation of the Accord by early next year, and one thing’s for sure, we
can’t
 wait to see that.

While we are closer to reaching 2016, perhaps a guessing game on the pricing of the new Perdana will be interesting. What would you reckon the price for probably the cheapest Jaguar looking D-seg saloon car in Malaysia? RM120k?
IMAGE GALLERY


Next-gen Lexus LS flagship sedan teased, to debut in January 2017

The Lexus LS as we know it is the epitome of Japanese premium sedan and the current model has been around since 2006. The introduction of the fifth-generation model is timely, thus Lexus will premier the new LS flagship at next month’s Detroit Motor Show.
Initial impressions of the teaser image reveals that the new LS will indeed receive the “
spindle grille
” treatment, as seen with modern Lexuses. It will also get slimmer LED headlamps.
Lexus claims the new LS is best described as a full-sized luxury sedan with bold exterior and coupe-like silhouette with a touch of “visionary technology”. Being the sedan to chauffeur the
taukeys
, it’s claimed that the limo car will not compromise roominess that will upset its targeted demographic.
Also, the new LS will be based on the stretched version of Toyota’s new
GA-L premium rear-wheel drive platform
 that underpins the
LC500h
. Earlier this year, Lexus unveiled its halo car concept that wowed the world.
It’s likely the new LS could throw away its mature but mundane outlook, only to be replaced by the bits and pieces from the gorgeous LC500h. Back home, the current, fourth-generation Lexus LS is available at RM798k.


Aston Martin DB9 ceases production, farewell to an icon

After 13 years and a few appearances in Bond flicks, Aston Martin rolled off the last nine units of the DB9 Grand Tourer off its production line. This marks, according to Aston Martin, “a farewell bid to an icon”.
The last nine cars will wearing badges labelling each as a ‘651115-10-5857651115-10-5857
last of nine
’, signifying an end of an era for the car that brought much success to this Gaydon-based company. The cars receive touches from the company’s Q customisation department. Yet again, no ejector seats or machine guns fitted into these nine units.
Since its unveiling in 2003, the DB9 spawned models such as the DBS, Rapide,
V8 Vantage
, and the Vanquish. The DB9 also enjoyed some success in GT racing via the DBR9 and the Vantage GT3/GTE models. The DB9 as we know is powered by a
6.0-litre V12 engine
 and paired with a ‘
Touchtronic 2’ six-speed automatic transmission
. Based on its latest 2015
DB9 GT
 configuration, the V12 delivers 540 hp and 620Nm of torque, allowing a century sprint in 4.5 seconds
The DB9 will pass over the baton to the all-new
DB11
, and from the looks of it the DB11 will have no problems succeeding its predecessor. The DB11 also marks Gaydon’s new ‘Second Century’ plan, where at the same time the DB11’s platform will be used for development of future Vantage and Vanquish models.
Happy retirement DB9, and thanks for the memories!


BMW 4 Series Convertible launched in Malaysia, 428i priced at RM429k [+Video]

BMW Group Malaysia launched the topless version of its 4 Series coupe, the sizzling hot BMW 4 Series Convertible. Unveiled together with it at the
BMW Malaysian Open 2014
 tennis tournament was the all-new
BMW 2 Series Coupe
. Available in the form of 428i Convertible, it is priced at RM428,800.
QUICK FACTS
Name
BMW 4 Series Convertible
Segment
C-segment Coupe
Engine
1,997cc In-line 4, BMW TwinPower Turbo
Max Power
245hp @ 5,000-6,500 rpm
Max Torque
350Nm @ 1,250–4,800 rpm
Price
428i Convertible   RM 259,800

The completely new BMW 4 Series was launched last year, as a new representation of the BMW 3 Series Coupe. That was when the ‘confusion’ started with the additional Series in the premium automaker’s line up.
If you have been following closely on BMW’s development, 2-door models or the coupes from the basic line-up now have their own badge, or rather number.
The sportier, sleekier and sexier 4 Series has a new variant that just arrived topless in Malaysia. The BMW 428i Convertible.
EXTERIOR
Derived from the BMW 3 Series Convertible, this topless beauty is now longer by 26mm (4,638mm length) and 43mm wider (1,825mm width). Wheelbase has been increased by 50mm (2,810mm wheelbase), wider front track by 45mm (1,545mm front track) and 81mm wider rear track (1,545mm rear track).

The distinctive feature, which is of course the main reason people buy this is the convertible hardtop. The car can transform from an elegant coupe to a sleek roadster in just
20 seconds
. So, would you be able to fold the roof while on the move? Yes, but only at a maximum speed of 18km/h. The three-part retractable hardtop is folded and put away into the boot. That takes up the entire boot by the way.
However, there’s a good news! You can now have some boot space even with the roof retracted, via an electro-hydraulic loading assistance system that pivots and positions the folded roof. This ensure maximum utilization of the 220 litres available storage space. With the top up, boot space is measured at 370 litres. It comes in 18-inch Multi-spoke allow rims.
INTERIOR
The BMW 4 Series Convertible does come with some pretty good equipment that makes driving it special. One of them is the electromechanical steering with Servotronic, providing speed-dependent power steering support.

It is also equipped with
Adaptive M Suspension
 with electronically controlled damper enabling the car to adapt to driving situations.
Driving Experience Control
 is offered as standard, which offers three different vehicle set-ups for economical, comfortable and sporty driving options.
The cabin upholstery and trim is top notch offering a premium ambience, with its sport leather steering wheel, circular black-panel dials and the iDrive center display. The one-piece rear seat can be folded flat down for the extra compartment space from the boot.
PERFORMANCE
The BMW 428i Convertible is powered by a 2.0-litre four cylinder BMW TwinPower Turbo engine. No, not a 2.8-litre engine. It produces
245hp
 and
350Nm
 of torque. It accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in just
6.4 seconds
, with a top speed of
 250km/h
. Fuel consumption is at quite an impressive figure of 6.6 litre per 100km.
WHAT ELSE?
The BMW 4 Series Convertible was unveiled by international tennis players at the
BMW Malaysian Open 2014
. On the road price with out insurance is at
 RM428,800
, together with BMW Service Inclusive and Repair. It is available in Black Sapphire, Mineral White, Midnight Blue and Mineral Grey.
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY


Huracan STO storms into Malaysia – the closest thing to Lamborghini’s GT3 race car

For those with deep pockets and the desire to be in the driving seat of GT3 racing action, without shoveling cash into a motorsports team, the new
Lamborghini Huracan STO
 that’s now in Malaysia, is the closest thing you can get to being in a race car.
STO stands for ‘Super Trofeo Omologata’; making the Huracan STO a road-homologated super sports car derived from the company’s learnings from the Huracan Super Trofeo EVO and the Huracan GT3 EVO, a multiple race-winning car.
At the heart of the Huracan STO is a 5.2-litre naturally aspurated engine with 640 hp and 564 Nm to propel the car from 0 to 100 km/h in three seconds. It’s more impressive from 0 to 200 km/h, taking just nine seconds and it stops just as quickly as it can accelerate.
With 6-pot brakes in the front, and 4-pot at the rear, and brake discs measuring up to 390 mm (bigger than the wheels on compact cars), the Huracan STO can bring itself to a complete stop from 100 km/h in just three seconds!
The engine has been retuned to be more responsive with a more direct ‘pedal-to-throttle’ feel according to Lamborghini, while gear changes are now even faster. For a more intimate connection with the tarmac, the steering feel is even more direct. The STO also features a wider wheel track, stiffer suspension bushings and model-specific anti-roll bars.
Sheer performance isn’t the only thing that makes the Huracan STO so special as it’s also one of the lightest Huracan’s on sale. Weighing just 1,339 kg (about the same as a Honda Civic), it’s a whopping 43 kg lighter than the Huracan Performante.
That’s all down to extreme weight-saving measures as 75% of the exterior panels are made of carbon fibre including the ‘cofango’ front section featuring the front bonnet and fenders as one single piece. It also fitted with 20-inch magnesium wheels, a titanium roll cage developed with Akrapovic, a lightened windscreen, and carbon fibre bucket seats.
The Huracan STO’s featherweight and intoxicating performance numbers complement its aerodynamic prowess. Most of the downforce is generating at the front splitter and rear wing where the latter can generate up to 420 kg of downforce at 280 km/h – that’s like having 5-6 adults standing on the car, pressing it towards the tarmac for more traction.
The roof consists of two unique exterior features; a shark fin and a rear engine bonnet with an air scoop. The latter was designed to channel air to the engine bay with air deflectors to control the amount of air flowed depending on the engine and exhaust temperature. The shark fin on the other hand improves the cornering stability with varying pressure on each side of the fin and by channeling air directly to the rear wing.
It’s just not just a supercar, it’s a ‘living thing’ that reacts to your every input and is not to be taken lightly…pun intended.
RELATED: Lamborghini unleashes a new 640 hp monster – the Huracan Tecnica
GALLERY


RJC COTY win brings cheer to Nissan, ProPILOT scores tech award too

While Nissan has seen better days since the dramatic ouster of Carlos Ghosn, this COTY win for 2020 as chosen by the Automotive Researchers’ and Journalists’ Conference of Japan (RJC) will no doubt bring some much-needed cheer to the embattled Yokohama-based Japanese carmaker.
The RJC had this to say about the
Nissan Dayz
 – a popular kei car model sold domestically.
“The all-new Nissan Dayz has changed the typical perception of kei cars. The newly developed platform, engine and Xtronic continuously variable transmission significantly enhance power, performance and fuel efficiency, and the car features a spacious cabin and luggage compartment. And even better, the model is the first kei car to offer the ProPILOT system and the ‘SOS call’ advanced automatic accident reporting system.”
Nissan also took home the
Technology of the Year award
 in the shape of the
ProPILOT 2.0 autonomous drive system
 which debuted in the Nissan Skyline sedan, otherwise known as the Infiniti Q50 in foreign markets.


Subaru Forester facelift leaked – to be unveiled on June 14

The fifth-generation
Subaru Forester
, despite its many good qualities, is frequently cast aside for more popular choices such as the Honda CR-V, primarily due to its unremarkable looks – and that’s putting it lightly. It’s no wonder Subaru is essentially fast-tracking the facelift update for the Forester, rumoured to be launched in Japan on
June 14
!
As reported by Japanese publication
Creative Trend
, the new update will come with a refreshed exterior design, along with a few upgrades to its tech equipment – specifically the
EyeSight advanced driver assistance suite
. And thanks to a leaked image of what seems to be the cover page of a promotional brochure, we already have a pretty good idea of how the Subaru Forester facelift will look like!
Up front, the changes are largely reserved for the headlights, which now gets a more three-dimensional angular design, in line with Subaru’s latest models such as the
Levorg
. The Japanese publication also reported that the entire headlight unit – including turn indicators – is now LED illuminated.
Other changes on the front fascia include a slightly reprofiled front bumper with a sleeker lower intake area, and a new foglight housing on the corners. The front grille though, looks unchanged from before, aside from a new horizontal trim piece across the entire grille.
No other photos have been leaked on the car aside from this, so unfortunately we still don’t know how the rest of the car will look like. But as usual on a facelift exercise, expect to see a reworked rear bumper, new alloy wheels, and possibly a new tail light design – if Subaru really wants to change the looks (and public perception) of the Forester.
Next up on the list of upgrades is the Subaru EyeSight advanced driver assistance features. Although it’s not the EyeSight X 360-degree system found on the Levorg, the new EyeSight Plus system should still provide an improved performance thanks to a wider field of view on its stereoscopic camera.
The Japan-exclusive 1.8-litre turbocharged
Forester Sport
As for powertrain, the existing 2.0-litre boxer engine will likely remain unchanged on the new Subaru Forester facelift. The naturally-aspirated mill makes
156 hp
 and
196 Nm
, with power sent to all four wheels via the Lineartronic CVT and Subaru’s famed Symmetrical All-wheel Drive system.
Over in Japan, the Subaru Forester is also available in a
new Sport variant
, which inherits the Levorg’s 1.8-litre turbocharged flat-four engine that’s good for
177 hp
 and
300 Nm
 of torque. This should also most likely remain on the new Subaru Forester facelift, alongside the
e-Boxer hybrid powertrain
.
The report says that the new Subaru Forester facelift will be launched in Japan on the 14th of June, which is just a short three days away from now. But before that, what would you like to see on the new Forester? Let us know in the comments below!


2016 Honda BR-V previewed in Malaysia, 7-seater, will be CKD!

At long last, Honda’s seven-seater crossover has landed in our shores
after going on sale in Indonesia and Thailand
. Unveiled at the 2016 Malaysian Autoshow happening at the Mines International Exhibition & Convention Centre (MIECC), the BR-V will be available for public viewing from 10 to 13 November 2016.
Based on Honda’s budget MPV (the Mobilio), the BR-V is a crossover variation of the Mobilio. Dimensions wise, the BR-V is larger than the crowd favourite HR-V, measuring at 4.45 meters in length, 1.73 meters in width and 1.65 meters in height with a 2,660mm wheelbase.
EXTERIOR
With the BR-V being a crossover and not a full blown MPV, the styling is naturally more muscly, suggesting a more adventurous and active nature. The generous ground clearance of 210 mm definitely supports that statement. At the front, the BR-V wears Honda’s signature Solid Wing Face grille and projector headlamps with LED daytime running lights that are reminiscent of the
CR-V
. A pair of halogen fog lamps with chrome housings and a chrome plating at the lower lip completes the front fascia of the BR-V. The small utility vehicle also comes with roof rails, chrome door handles and keyless entry.
At the rear the BR-V comes with a unique pair of C-shaped LED combination rear tail lights that are connected by a lighting bar that runs across the rear tailgate. The tailgate latch is positioned down low for ease of access. Lastly, the BR-V rides on 16-inch dual tone alloys wrapped in 195/60 profile Bridgestone Ecopia EP 150 tyres.

INTERIOR
The front seats were heavily covered up, therefore we have to wait till the official launch before we can tell you what will be featured in our version of the BR-V. However, if the Thailand models are of any indication, the BR-V would have similar interior layout like the
Jazz
and
City
. The Thai-spec BR-V comes with a 6.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with reverse camera, keyless start, illuminated instrument cluster and automatic climate control. We can confirm that our local-spec will at least come with keyless start and a reverse camera.
Fortunately, the rear seats were open to the public to give us a glimpse of what’s to come. The seats are finished in leather so expect the BR-V to feature full leather seats (also dependent on trim level). Roof mounted rear air-vents with fan controls are also available for the rear passengers. The second row seats come with a 60:40 split while the third row are of 50:50 split configuration.
Boot space is rated at 223 litres with all the seats up, but can be expanded to 539 litres with the third row tucked away.
PERFORMANCE
Powering the seven-seater crossover is the familiar 1.5-litre naturally aspirated SOHC i-VTEC that produces
120 hp
 and
145 Nm
 of torque. It’s also the same engine found in the
Honda City
 and
Jazz
. Drive is sent to the front-wheels via a continuous variable transmission (CVT).
WHAT ELSE
No other details were revealed during the preview of the BR-V except that it will be assembled locally. If you are as excited as we are for the launch of the all-new BR-V, stay tuned to
AutoBuzz.my
 for more updates to come!
IMAGE GALLERY


Behold, the first ever BMW X7 – the largest and latest member of the BMW family

As I’ve mentioned before in my Facebook video, the all-new X7 plays a very important role for BMW in that it will redefine what luxury is to the brand – think of it as the 7-series of BMW’s X family.
Cutting to the chase, there are four models available at launch – X7 xDrive40i, xDrive50i, xDrive30d and the M50d – all of which are mated to an 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission.
Max Power
Max Torque
0 – 100km/h
Top Speed
xDrive40i
340 hp
 450 Nm
  6.1 secs
245 km/h
xDrive50i
462 hp
 650 Nm
 5.4 secs
 250 km/h
xDrive30d
265 hp
620 Nm
7.0 secs
227 km/h
M50d
400 hp
760 Nm
5.4 secs
250 km/h
Except for the xDrive50i that comes with a 4.4-litre turbocharged V8 petrol engine, the rest comes with either petrol or diesel-powered 3.0-litre turbocharged in-line six engines. Four wheel steer is available as an option.
Deploying a rear-biased all-wheel drive system, the X7 can direct full power to the rear wheels alone for better efficiency.
Measuring over five metres long, two metres wide and 1.8 metres tall – the X7 establishes itself as the new head of BMW’s X family. Everything about the X7 is over-the-top, as projected by the largest kidney grille ever designed by BMW.
It even sports the one of the largest BMW badges on its front hood. BMW’s Laserlight with Adaptive headlights can be specified on top of the standard LED pair, with a maximum “non-dazzling high beam projection” of 600 metres.
Slotted between the slim LED rear lights is a chrome bar, a design previously seen in the BMW 7-series – a symbol of its stature as the 7-series of the X family. 20-inch light alloys are standard with 21- and 22-inch options.
Inside, the X7 comes with a sports leather steering wheel as standard, along with a newly-designed gear selector, Control Display and digital instrument cluster – each 12.3-inch in size. Some of the controls one the centre console can also be specified to be made of glass. A “thermo” version of the cupholders in the centre console is an optional extra to keep their containers cool or warm as required.
Full-sized seats are offered for two passengers in the third row but if you’re after a full-blown “limousine” experience, the second row can be specified with two individual seats – like an Alphard – except the X7 looks way better than the van.
All three rows of seats are electronically-adjustable, with controls for the driver to adjust the second row seats from the front. With all its seats upright, the X7 offers 326-litres of cargo space.
A three-part panoramic glass roof is standard – stretching all the way back to the third row seats – where they can be electronically-operated; even in the third row. With the glass roof, there’s even a Sky Lounge feature for a visual feast when night falls.
LED light is spread across the glass surfaces to illuminate more than 15,000 graphic patterns and generate a display reminiscent of a starlit sky.
As standard, there’ll be 10-speakers to go with the standard sound system but if you’re an audiophile, there’ll be an optional Harman Kardon or Bower & Wilkins system. The pair of 10.2-inch HD displays for the second row passengers, is sadly an optional extra.
With the standard air suspension, the car can be lowered with a touch of a button for ease of loading. For the same reason, the X7 also features a split two-section tailgate – both of which can be electronically-opened and closed. Hands-free features are an optional extra.
In SPORT mode, the car’s ride height is automatically lowered by 20mm. The driver can also choose to lower or raise the car by up to 40mm.
IMAGE GALLERY


Mercedes-AMG partnered with Will.i.am to make a weird G-Wagen Coupe one-off

Mercedes-Benz
 is no stranger to bespoke one-off models, with recent examples including the
Project Maybach
 in collaboration with the late fashion designer, Virgil Abloh. This time,
Mercedes-AMG
 teamed up with rapper will.i.am to create yet another one-off, and well, all we can say is that it’s all kinds of weird.
The bespoke model is called the Will.i.amg, which, obviously, is a wordplay between Will.i.am and Mercedes-AMG. It’s cute, and luckily they know it too, with the badging plastered all over the exterior. Curiously, most of the one-off’s heavy lifting was actually done by West Coast Customs instead of Mercedes themselves – although the latter did give their final stamp of approval.
The Will.i.amg is based on the
Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe
, but now made into a literal coupe with only two massive doors that opens towards the rear (
à la
 suicide doors). The doors are hardly the biggest departure from the GT’s former sleek silhouette, however.
That accolade goes to – as you must have noticed by now – the blocky face of the car that’s borrowed from the
G-Wagen
. And to complete the look, there’s also a unique emblem on the square radiator grille. The bear-shaped logo, dubbed “Bear Witness”, is supposedly inspired by the three-pointed star and the vehicle sound, and will tie in to a line of bespoke apparel and merchandises born from the collaboration.
The air vents by the front fenders are also unique to the Will.i.amg, as are the unique two-piece panoramic sunroof. While we can’t say that we’re a fan of the bespoke model’s styling efforts, at least the mono-block wheels do fit in with the rest of the car.
The rest of the car, we presume, hasn’t been adulterated too much, as no photos of the rear-end and interior have been provided. We do know, however, that the mechanical bits underneath the bonnet hasn’t been modified at all, because “AMG really does make the best engines” according to Will.i.am.
RELATED: Special edition Mercedes-AMG G 63 celebrates 55 years of AMG
The Will.i.amg is part of a larger collaboration between the rapper and Mercedes-Benz, called “The Flip”, that aims to give more students from disadvantaged communities access to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) education. Mercedes-AMG noted that all activities surrounding the car will benefit the Will.i.am’s i.am/Angel Foundation.
GALLERY


Experience what it’s like to be in a Ford GT as it does 340 km/h!

Compared to the
Ferrari 812 Superfast video
 we shared recently, the
Ford GT
‘s acceleration did come off as a little underwhelming, although it did sound as if the owner wasn’t going full throttle.
The Ford GT’s top speed has been rated at 348 km/h and if it wasn’t for the constrained 4.3 km runway, it would’ve slowly but eventually hit the mark.

The Ford GT is powered by a 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 with
647 hp
and
 746 Nm
. In comparison, the Ferrari 812 Superfast churns out
800 hp
 and
700 Nm
from a 6.5-litre naturally-aspirated V12.
If you think the video didn’t do the Ford GT any justice, check out the
unique displays on the Ford GT’s 10-inch digital instrument cluster
 here!


The new XC40 “Recharge” is Volvo’s first step to an electric revolution

Volvo has lifted the veil on its first ever mass market electric vehicle which will be sold under the Recharge line up – the XC 40 Recharge.
The new XC40 Recharge utilises two electric motors – one for the front axle and another for the rear – effectively making it an all-wheel drive vehicle. Total system output is rated at
402 hp
 and
660 Nm
.
Although it weighs upwards of 2,100 kg, it can still sprint to 100 km/h from standstill in a brisk 4.9 seconds. That said, top speed is limited to only 180 km/h.
Power comes from the 78 kWh lithium-ion battery mounted on the floor of the vehicle, as a result of the Compact Modular Platform’s (CMA) versatility. The platform, which the petrol-powered XC40s are built on, was initially developed with electrification in mind.
Capable of being charged up to 80% in just 40 minutes, the XC40 Recharge is expected to offer up to
400 km of electric driving range
.
The regular XC40 Recharge can be distinguished from the regular petrol-powered XC40 by the front grille and the charging port which is positioned where the fuel flap is. As Volvo opted not to place the charging port at the front, this frees up 31-litres of “frunk” space to add to the 413-litres of boot space.
Inside, the XC40 Recharge stands out with a 12.3-inch digital display to project different parameters specific to the EV. The XC40 Recharge is the first Volvo to have an infotainment system which runs on Android Automotive OS.
By 2025, Volvo is expecting that 50% of its global sales to be made up of electric vehicles. In the next five years, the company plans to launch an electric car every year.
IMAGE GALLERY


Proton suspends all operations until 1st April

Proton has announced that it will be complying with the government’s directive, following the announcement of movement control order from 18th to 31st March by prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
As such, all customer-facing operations – including sales and after sales – will cease starting today, while all Proton outlets will be temporarily shut.
Concurrently, the company’s production operations in its Tanjung Malim and Shah Alam manufacturing plants will also be systematically shut down in an effort to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
In case of emergency such as accidents and breakdowns, Proton’s customer care hotline is still reachable around the clock at
1-800-888-398
 to provide urgent assistance. For other inquiries and complaints, Proton can be contacted via email at
[email protected]
.


Mercedes-Benz is bringing the first commercial self-parking car park to the Stuttgart airport!

Remember the promise of actual self-parking cars – where one day in the future we’ll be able to just step out of our cars at the entrance and our cars will do the rest? Well, that day is now inching ever so slightly closer to reality thanks to Mercedes-Benz and its partners, who will be trialling a self-parking system at the Stuttgart airport.
Mercedes-Benz, along with technology provider Bosch and parking garage operator Apcoa, are working together to provide the world’s first commercial automated valet parking (AVP) system at the Stuttgart airport’s P6 parking garage – and all you need is the recently-unveiled
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
, fitted with the Intelligent Park Pilot option.
With that option checked, drivers can just drop off the car at a specific space located right behind the entry to the P6 parking lot. After confirming to park through your mobile phone, the car will then guide itself automatically into the basement and park itself in the pre-determined parking lot, guided by the information from the infrastructure.
Ticketing and payment will also be automated through Apcoa’s systems, thus giving the driver’s a truly hassle-free experience where you can focus your attention at catching your flight.
For the initial test phase, only two spaces are available for the self-parking Mercedes-Benz S-Classes. The companies say that they are planning to add more spaces in the future when demand increases – and driverless parking becomes standard.
A vehicle collection service is also in the works, and will be enabled once parking garages are equipped with the appropriate infrastructure and given the green light by local authorities.
The AVP system relies heavily on infrastructure, in addition to the kitted out S-Class – and that’s where Bosch comes in. Using various camera feeds in the parking garage, the system is able to identify vacant parking spaces, monitor the driving aisle and its surroundings, and detect obstacles or people in the aisle.
All of the information is then sent to a dedicated control centre in the parking garage that calculates the route the vehicles need to take to reach an available space, which is then sent to the car to be converted into actual driving instructions, guiding the cars to drive through the narrow ramps within a parking lot.
This isn’t the first time that Mercedes-Benz and Bosch have toyed with self-parking AVP systems. The companies introduced the system back in 2017 with a few specifically kitted-out
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
 vehicles to serve as a development platform, and the system was subsequently
debuted in Shanghai in 2018
.
The Stuttgart airport is the latest step for the system to bring the system to a fully-commercialised level in the near future, with Bosch upgrading their infrastructure to use camera-based equipment instead of the
lidar sensors used previously
 – which could help reduce overall infrastructure costs, and bring true level four autonomy to the masses.
GALLERY


Video: Driving the new G20 BMW 330e PHEV in Munich, Germany – AutoVlog

There was a time before Covid-19 plagued the world, when man roamed the planet freely, exploring new places and in our case, new cars. Boy, do we miss it; like this one when we flew halfway across the world to try the new G20 BMW 330e PHEV. This trip to Munich, Germany may have taken place in August of 2019 – just over a year ago – but it has seemed like an eternity.
The wait is finally over though! Joining the locally-assembled BMW
320i
 and
330i
 models available in Malaysia is the
330e M Sport plug-in hybrid
 that’s also built locally in Kulim, Kedah. Also launched alongside the 330e PHEV last month, is the closest and more handsome alternative to the M3, the
M340i xDrive
.

Underneath the hood is a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine paired to an electric motor with an output of 252 hp and 420 Nm. What’s more interesting is that the car comes with an
 XtraBoost function
 that momentarily gives the 330e
 up to 292 hp
. Drive is sent to the rear wheels via an 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission.
Other goodies included in the 330e M Sport is the adaptive M Sport suspension, M Sport brakes, adaptive headlamps, an M Sport steering, a 10-speaker sound system, and on the safety front, the all important autonomous emergency braking.
Following the Sales Tax Exemption announcement, for the latest price list of BMW vehicles in Malaysia, click
here
!


2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupé unveiled, packs 510hp and 700 Nm from its 4.0L V8!

Just recently, Mercedes brought out the
new C-Class Coupé
 that will make its official debut later in the year. As expected, joining that line-up is the newest creation from the crew over at Affalterbach – AMG. Introducing, the all-new C63 AMG Coupé.
Mercedes has boldly promised that this newest iteration of the C-Coupé will be the
sportiest version
 thus far. It’s long been heralded that Merc’s biggest thorn on its side has always been the Munich giant, most notably with its M3 and M4 duo. The new C63 Coupe on the other hand, will face off against the latter.
Since the days of the
 Merc 190E 2.5-16 Evolution
, these giants were locked in a head-to-head battle for the
 best drivers sports sedan/coupé
 for the better part of over
 25 years
.
This all-new C-Coupé promises to deliver
BMW M4
 beating performance
 and driving prowess because Merc has literally loaded this Coupé to the brim with electronics, cutting-edge tech and a truck-load of power. So much so that they’ve released the Coupé in two different flavours, the
C63 Coupé AMG
 and
C63 S Coupé AMG
.
Now, both the C63 and C63 S Coupes come with the company’s new 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 which is same unit in the
 Mercedes-AMG GT
, and in typical AMG fashion, the former is tuned to make just a tad less power than the more feral S. The numbers –
476 hp
 at a screaming
5,500 rpm
 and 650 Nm of torque from just 1,750 rpm.
On the flip side, the
S
 variant packs more heat under the hood than
BMW’s E60 M5
– a tyre munching 330 km/h V10 monster that still holds its ground even today. The Mercedes-AMG makes 510 horses and 700 Nm of twist! And to put things in perspective, that’s more torque than a brand new Porsche 991 Turbo, all packed into this C-Class Coupe!
Responsible for firing all that power onto the tarmac is the reworked
AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT seven-speed dual-clutch
 automatic transmission. The gearbox now switches cogs faster than the previous MCT boxes in previous AMG models.
With that sort of ballistic firepower, the AMG C-Coupé sits
 64 mm
 wider at the
front
 and
66 mm
 wider at the
rear
, enabling it to hug the roads better. On that subject, the C 63 Coupé gets a standard 18-inch, 10-spoke lightweight alloy wheels shod with
255/40 R18
 tyres in front and
285/35 R18
 at the rear. The C63 S Coupe sits on 19-inch wheels, although the tyres’ width remain the same.

AMG RIDE CONTROL
 deals with adaptive and
adjustable suspension dampening
. Drivers have at their fingertips the choice of either
 maximum sportiness
 or
long-distance comfort
 in three driving settings all at the touch of a button. In addition, the chassis has been
reworked
 and
 strengthened
 to accommodate all the horses lurking under the hood so that the car behaves in a fashion befitting of the name
A-M-G
.
A
limited slip differential
 or LSD hides in the rear axle for improved traction, road holding characteristics and handling. The
C63 coupe
 comes with a
 mechanical LSD
 while the
C63 S coupe
 comes with an
 electronically manipulated LSD
 with
three
 settings. What does an LSD do, you ask? Differentials
 reduce the slip
 on the
inside wheel
 when
cornering
. This allows the driver to accelerate out of corners earlier without the brakes ever coming into play.
Both models come with
AMG DYNAMIC SELECT
 transmission modes, a programme which alters driving characteristic with the aforementioned driving modes. However, the S variant will benefit from an additional drive mode – RACE – for full track action.
Still on the subject of that insane power output, AMG has elected to equip the
C63 S AMG
 with
Dynamic Engine Mounts
. These dynamic engine mounts are instantly able to adapt their stiffness to the current driving conditions and requirements. Softer engine mounts
improve

comfort
, as they provide more effective decoupling of noise and vibration. However, as rule of thumb, handling and agility benefit from a generally stiffen setup. With the dynamic engine mounts, it’s killing more birds with just one stone.
Mercedes has yet to put a retail sticker on this windscreen, but more updates will surface soon as the premier date nears. Stay tuned!
IMAGE GALLERY
Mercedes-Benz C63 Coupe

Mercedes-Benz W205 C-Class Coupe


Mercedes-AMG SLC43 launched in Malaysia, 3.0L bi-turbo V6, RM571k!

For those who adore open top motoring but find the existing
Mercedes-Benz SLC
 range a little lacking in punch, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) has the solution for you. Enter the Mercedes-AMG SLC 43, the most potent SLC money can buy, yet.
What AMG has done with the little roadster is slapping on a 3.0-litre bi-turbo V6 that churns out
367 hp
 and
520 Nm
. Power is channelled to the rear wheels via a nine-speed G-Tronic automatic. Key performance figures include a 0 to 100 km/h sprint time of
 4.7 seconds
 and an electronically limited top speed of
250 km/h
.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Mercedes-AMG SLC 43
Engine
3.0-litre bi-turbo V6
Transmission
9-speed G-Tronic
Max Power
367 hp @ 5,500 – 6,000 rpm
Max Torque
520 Nm @ 2,000 – 4,200 rpm
0 – 100 km/h; Top Speed
4.7 seconds; 250 km/h
Price (OTR without insurance)
RM570,888
Mercedes-AMG did not just slap on a twin-turbo V6 onto the SLC and call it a day, though, because the suspension is also heavily updated to improve dynamics. The SLC 43 now comes with
AMG-specific
 front and rear axles, engine mounts as well as a rear differential. It also gets AMG sports suspension lifted off the SLK 55. These components are designed to complement the high lateral acceleration of the SLC 43 as well as reduce body roll.

Visually, the SLC 43 is dressed in AMG Night-Package that includes the diamond radiator grille and AMG body kit. LED Intelligent Light System headlamps, underbody protection, AMG lip spoiler and 18-inch AMG multi-spoke lightweight alloys are standard fitment.
The interior upholstery is finished in Nappa leather while the AMG interior package with carbon fibre trim comes as standard. Besides that, the SLC 43 is equipped with AMG multifunctional steering wheel (Nappa leather), ambient lighting, powered front seats, keyless entry and start, 7.0-inch infotainment with Harman Kardon surround sound system and reverse camera.

Mercedes-Benz has equipped the retractable roof with
 Magic Sky Control
 which changes the opacity of the panoramic glass roof with a touch of a button to give an open-air feeling without having to put the roof down. The auto-folding roof is able to operate at speeds of up to 40 km/h.
Like the
Mercedes-AMG C 43
, the SLC 43 is also available with Agility Financing and Hire Purchase Classic from Mercedes-Benz Financial. Monthly repayments start from as low as RM5,708. A 4-Year unlimited warranty package comes as standard.
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Toyota confirms GR Corolla, GR86, Manual Supra to launch in Malaysia “very soon”

UMW Toyota Motor
 has confirmed that it will be launching three GR models in Malaysia. The 3 models are the
GR86
, the
GR Corolla
, and the
6-speed manual Supra
. The announcement was made by UMW Toyota president, Ravindran Kurusamy at the media event today. No timeline has been provided for all three models, but the UMW Toyota president said they will be coming “very soon”.
In Malaysia, UMW Toyota has sold the
GR Yaris
 and GR Supra, although the Supra is only available with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The 6-speed manual version of the Supra made its global debut in April this year, about three years after its global debut with an automatic transmission only.
Together with the introduction of the 6-speed manual transmission to the GR Supra, other improvements include enhanced handling performance and ride comfort, newly designed 19-inch wheels, three new exterior colours, an optional tan interior, and an enhanced JBL sound system. Like its automatic counterpart, the 6-speed manual Supra still runs the 3.0-litre turbo engine that makes
387 hp
 (metric) and
500 Nm
.
Before the 6-speed manual Supra, the GR Corolla made its global debut also in April this year. Powered by a beefed-up GR Yaris-sourced G16E-GTS engine, the GR Corolla makes
304 hp
 (metric) and
370 Nm
. Power is sent to all wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission. The GR Corolla made its ASEAN debut last week with Thailand being the first country to welcome it.
Only 9 units are available in Thailand

(for now), and production of the GR Corolla for the global market this year is limited to
2,000 units only
.
RELATED:
Enthusiasts rejoice – 2022 Toyota GR Supra now offered with six-speed manual
GR Corolla
GR86
Lastly, the all-new GR86 made its global debut in October 2021, providing a much-needed refresh from the 2013 Toyota 86. Powered by the boxer FA24 engine, the GR86 makes
235 hp
 (metric) and
250 Nm
. All power is sent to the rear wheels via either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic transmission. Its Subaru cousin, the all-new
BRZ
 has already made its debut in Malaysia and has been delivered to several customers.
UMW Toyota’s latest announcement is sure to excite Toyota fans. With the upcoming new additions to the GR family in Malaysia, UMW Toyota will have brought in four GR models to Malaysia (not counting the manual Supra as a new model).
RELATED:
Toyota GR Corolla launched in Thailand with only 9 units – RM498k, first ASEAN debut


Please tell us you’ve watch Porsche’s latest short film

Well, when we say latest, we really meant “two weeks old”. Nonetheless, 14 million viewers probably enjoyed it!
We’re finally back to work today after a week-long “CNY hiatus” and unsurprisingly, there’s loads to catch up on. In the time that we’ve been away,
Geely has lended a handed to battle the corona virus
,
Lotus has attempted to attract older customers
 and Porsche has come up with this.

It’s a Super Bowl commercial filmed in Porsche’s headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany and its surrounding areas where a Taycan is jacked from the company’s museum.
A pursuit made up night guards in Porsches of their liking ensues, revealing a bevy of beauties from the current and classic collection. Even the Carrera GT, a
Porsche tractor
and Le Mans legend Porsche 917 was roped into the action.

Cheekily, Porsche even teased us with a glimpse of the new 992 generation 911 GT3 in Blue parked in layers of 911 history, as the guards hurried into their “chase cars”.
A 150 strong production was tasked to film this short film and according to Porsche, aerial footages were shot by two drones, including a racing drone capable of hitting 160 km/h!
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Bruno Senna is mentor for McLaren’s P1 GTR Driver Programme

The culmination of the two biggest names in motorsports have come together in a holy matrimony involving the P1 GTR Driver Programme – a programme that was just announced after the very first example just rolled off McLaren’s production line in Woking, Surrey.
The McLaren P1 GTR joins the ranks of
Ferrari’s FXX-K
 track-prepped weapons of mass destruction. Here are the basic facts and figures. Based on the dollar value, the Ferrari FXX-K costs just over
RM11.3 million
 (after conversion, before taxes) while the
McLaren P1 GTR
 clocks the record at
RM12.71 million
 – with taxes it may cost over
RM20 million
, and that’s just being conservative. With those ungodly figures in mind, McLaren has kept mum on the number of GTRs that will be built, but it’s ball is said to be parked circa
30 units
.
The boffins over at
McLaren’s Spec Ops
 division has cooked up a monster that wears the skin of a P1 and will be munching on tracks around the world with power figures estimated at
986 hp
, courtesy of its
twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8
 block. Torque digits, you ask? Well within the 1,000 Nm neighbourhood. It does the century sprint in a blistering
2.4 seconds
 with a top speed of
350 km/h
.
Now with performance figures and a hefty price tag such as that, it’s no wonder that
Bruno Senna
 (nephew of F1 legend Aryton Senna) is the current
 McLaren GT factory driver
. He will now be spearheading the P1 GTR Driver Programme as a mentor.
Senna’s duties in this respect is to
train
 the
owners and drivers
 of these formidable machines in the black art of handling these ferocious million-dollar track weapons. Not only that, but consultants from the factory too will be on hand with the
race seat fitting
, a
Human Performance Centre
 assessment and final discussions around the
design and livery
 of your car. From there, each of the driver will get a chance to acquaint themselves with the upcoming circuits on McLaren’s very own racing simulator.
Speaking of tracks, listed down as
one of the nine
 different exotic locales is our very own high-speed playground –
Sepang’s F1 Circuit
. Now with the better part of
 900 horses
 pulling you along these high-speed circuits, you’d want to know the best and fastest way to get around, naturally. And on hand with such knowledge borrowed from his days at Formula 1 to get round is none other than Bruno Senna himself.
We are thrilled beyond words at the chance to catch a glimpse of these multi-million dollar tarmac arsenals in action right here in our backyard. Keep an eye on this space for more updates on this.
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We should be thankful that it doesn’t snow in Malaysia

Sure, there’s no arguing that a little breeze would be a refreshing change from the usual tropical heat we’re subjected to 365 days a year – a natural repercussion of living by the equator.
But to have four seasons? Winter? Snow? Black ice? Or even worse, blizzards? Aside from missing out on the seasonal snowball fight, we should count our blessings for not having to endure the ugly side of winter. Here’s two examples as to why:
Here you have a school bus in Massachusetts, USA helplessly but gracefully sliding down a traction-free road. Imagine the horror of watching (or knowing that) your kid had been “ice-skating with bus”. But as always, you can count on a Toyota to be up for any tasks and in this case, holding back the bus from causing further damage. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
“Saved by the pole” – a statement rarely expressed by anyone, unless you’re in the constant frost white surroundings of Russia. Yes, the video may be a little dated but the memory of a near head-on collision with a thousand-tonne truck may never get old for those behind the camera of this footage.
Credit:
MassLive
 /
ViralHog


Proton gets cheeky with Merdeka video – X50 makes cameo appearance

Blink and you could’ve easily missed it. It’s probably the most we’ve seen of the longest anticipated Proton as the X50 made its “unofficial debut” in
the company’s Merdeka video
yesterday.
After seeing it heavily camouflaged for over a year, the X50 has revealed itself with LED taillights and daytime running lights, Proton’s new round emblem, and the same wheel design seen in the Geely Binyue. It even appears to come with some sort of carbon fibre-like rear diffuser!
While there’s still no official information on the X50, it’s safe to assume that it will get
177 hp
 and
255 Nm
 from a 1.5-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. That’s in the same ballpark as the
soon-to-be-launched Hyundai Kona
 with
177 hp
 and
265 Nm
 from a 1.6-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder.
With potential safety features such as autonomous emergency braking and adaptive cruise control, the X50 would not only outshine the Proton X70 in terms of equipment but is already proving to be best looking model in Proton’s line-up – as the “group photo” clearly shows.
There’ll be plenty of competition for the X50 in the compact crossover segment – mainly the CX-3, C-HR, HR-V, the XV – along with newcomers like the Kia Seltos and Hyundai Kona but if the X70’s is any indication, in terms of price versus value, there should be no sweat moving shiploads out of Tanjung Malim.
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Mercedes-Maybach G 650 Landaulet unveiled, 99 units only, 1,000 Nm! [+Video]

The current generation Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon is actually 33 years old, and just how proper a send-off it deserves? The Maybach touch of course, no less. Debuting at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show is the Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet!
Unlike the
AMG G 63 6×6
and
 G 500 4×4
, the military grade G-Wagon Landaulet is only limited to
99 units
! It’s suitably large as well, with a length of 5,345 mm, 2,335 mm tall and 2,110 mm wide. The wheelbase spans 3,428 mm long, surpassing even that of the long-wheelbase version of the
S-Class
.

The G650 Landaulet is strictly a four-seater, and it has half-convertible roof structure – a nod to the decorated Maybach 62 Landaulet of past. By half we mean only the rear passengers can enjoy the fresh breeze of nature.
Powering this exquisite German metal is a
twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre V12
engine that produces a monstrous
630 hp
 and
 1,000 Nm
 of torque. Drive is of course sent to all four wheels, though the 4WD system here is no slouch. Off-road capabilities are enhanced with portal axles, providing a ground clearance of 450 mm. Wheel size measure at 22-inch and come fitted with 325/55 profile tyres.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7uGiiHsVr0
Mercedes-Maybach have yet to reveal the pricing of this luxurious off-road SUV, but we have every reason to believe that it will be one of the most, if not the priciest variant in the model’s 33-year long history. Expect to see one parked in the garages of the Sheikhs and footballers across the globe.
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Facts & Figures: 2022 Kia EV6 GT Line AWD open for booking in Malaysia, from RM300k

The highly-awaited
Kia EV6
 has now finally made its official debut here in Malaysia, with the order books now open for the
award-winning Korean electric vehicle (EV)
. Offered here in a single GT Line guise, interested customers can now place their bookings for the EV6 at all Kia dealerships nationwide. Prices start from
RM300,668
 on-the-road before insurance, excluding SST exemptions.
EXTERIOR
The EV6 was designed under the brand’s new ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy, characterised by futuristic and high-tech details by blending sharp stylistic elements with smooth, sculptural shapes.
Key highlights of the new design include the ‘Digital Tiger Face’, which utilises the car’s daytime running lights and a ‘sequential’ dynamic light pattern to represent the brand’s signature ‘Tiger Nose Grille’ for the electrification era.
The side profile meanwhile accentuates a “crossover-inspired” aesthetic, with its sharp lines and high-tech detail giving the EV6 an aerodynamic silhouette. A character line runs along the bottom of the doors, curving upwards towards the rear wheel arches to visually elongate the profile of the car, and further extends to join up with the ducktail-esque full-width tail lamps.
In terms of exterior equipment, the Kia EV6 GT Line comes as standard with the following items:
Dual LED projector headlights, with LED daytime-running lights and sequential turn indicators
20-inch alloy wheels, 225/45 profile
Smart powered tailgate
Smart keyless entry
PERFORMANCE
The Kia EV6 will be available here only in the GT Line AWD Long Range guise at launch, with technical specifications shared with the
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Max
, as both models are built on the same
Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP)
 architecture.
Powertrain: twin-motor electric drivetrain
Driveline: All-wheel drive
Max horsepower: 320 hp
Max torque: 605 Nm
0-100 km/h: 5.2 seconds
Top speed: 185 km/h
Battery capacity: 77.4 kWh
Range: 506 km (WLTP test cycle)
Max rated charging speed, DC: 350 kW (10-80%, 18 minutes)
Max rated charging speed, AC: 11 kW (10-80%, 7 hour 20 minutes)
Just like its Hyundai counterpart, the Kia EV6 also features a Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality, which essentially turns the car into a power bank for other electrical appliances, capable of offering a max power output of 3.6 kW even when the car is switched off.
INTERIOR
Thanks to the e-GMP architecture, the Kia EV6 boasts a cabin space “similar to many mid-size SUVs”, despite its relatively compact exterior dimensions. The dashboard is designed specifically with a sloping surface to create a “sense of space and opennes” for the front passengers, while the rest of the cabin also highlights the use of sturdy fabrics made out of recycled plastics.
Interior equipment highlights include:
Curved display panel, dual 12.3-inch display for digital instrument cluster and touchscreen infotainment display
Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, multi-Bluetooth connectivity
Dual-zone automatic climate control, rear air vents
Wireless charging pad
14-speaker Meridian surround sound system
Powered front seats with Premium Relaxation leg rest and lumbar adjustments
Black suede upholstery with white leatherette accents
7 airbags
360-degree surround-view monitor
Dual 12V power socket
SAFETY
The fully-electric Kia EV6 GT Line will be offered with the full suite of advanced driver assistance and safety tech, including:
Autonomous emergency braking – forward, junction blind-spot, and rear-cross traffic
Smart Cruise Control (L2 semi-autonomous)
Lane following and keeping assist
Blind-spot monitor
Driver attention warning
Remote Smart Parking Assist
WARRANTY CHARGING NETWORK
Fully-imported from South Korea, the fully-electric Kia EV6 GT Line will be offered with a five-year/150,000 km vehicle warranty, alongside a seven-year/150,000 km lithium-ion battery warranty – the latter a Malaysia exclusive, with two years of additional coverage over the global standard.
Dinamikjaya Motors also revealed during the launch that a EV charging network will be established specifically for EV6 owners at the company’s EV service centres across the nation, although a charging fee may be required.
Parent company Bermaz motor will also be establishing a partner programme with other Charge Point Operators (CPO) in Malaysia to offer widespread charging availability to their customers.
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BMW Digital Key now available with Samsung Galaxy S21 and Google Pixel 6 smartphones

BMW has announced the availability of the Digital Key that was only available on Apple iPhones, now been extended to selected Android-based smartphones.
First introduced in
June 2020
 with Apple, BMW was the first automaker in the world to offer customers a digital car key on their iPhone. Apart from locking and unlocking the driver’s door, starting or stopping the engine is also permitted with the BMW Digital Key, when placed at the wireless charging pad. The Digital Key was first featured in the
facelifted BMW 5 Series
.
The latest BMW Digital Key uses the new
My BMW App
 as well as highly advanced smartphones that have been fitted with the latest ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, a short-range wireless communication protocol that offers precise tracking and positioning of devices with high-speed data transmission.
BMW owners in the US, the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain can use both the Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra and Google Pixel 6/Pixel 6 Pro to activate the Digital Key.

Meanwhile, owners in South Korea can only use the said Samsung Galaxy S21 models, while BMW owners in Canada, Ireland, Japan, Taiwan and Australia will need to get a Google Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro to leave their BMW Comfort Access keys at home and enjoy the Digital Key.
Closer to home, only Google Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro users in Singapore is listed as able to use the new feature. Both of these smartphones have been updated with the Android 12 operating system.
As technology advances, expect more Android-based smartphones to be compatible with the BMW Digital Key. However, the vehicle also needs to have the highest communications package called BMW Connected Package Professional or ConnectedDrive that includes services such as voice-activation
Intelligent Personal Assistant
, Intelligent Emergency Call, Concierge Services, Remote Services and Teleservices together with the smartphone wireless charging tray.
Review: BMW M340i xDrive- The best of both worlds
In Malaysia, BMW Group Malaysia offers the Digital Key function in very selected models, such as the
BMW M135i xDrive
, M340i xDrive,
430i M Sport
, both the
M3 and M4 Competition models
, the
8 Series
 range and SAVs from the locally-assembled
BMW X5 xDrive45e
 plug-in hybrid to the latest
BMW X7 xDrive40i
.
BMW Thailand
 meanwhile offers the Digital Key in all three variants of the facelifted 2021 BMW 5 Series. The four doors also come with the soft-close feature as standard.


Mini Cooper S, Cooper SE, Clubman, Countryman, JCW – prices increased for 2023 in Malaysia

Mini Malaysia
has released the updated price list for its models here on our shores, which sees an increase in prices ranging from 0.2% to 4.1% across the board, depending on variant. According to a statement, the company attributes the price rises to the global inflation and rising manufacturing costs.
Starting with the Mini 3 Door, the standard
Cooper S
model now retails at RM273,888 (with Extended Warranty & Service Package) thanks to a 0.3% rise in prices. The
fully-electric Cooper SE
 meanwhile sees a more sizeable increase of 4.1%, now retailing at RM199,164. Customers can however now specify their Cooper SE without a head-up display, which drops the price to RM196,876.
The same 0.3% price hike for the Cooper S is also applicable for the Convertible (RM299,888), 5 Door (RM280,888), and Clubman Cooper S (312,888) models, but the Mini Countryman Cooper S does see a more significant price hike of 1.9% to now RM259,888. For the latter, 2022 model-year units are still available at no price increase at RM254,988.
John Cooper Works
 models meanwhile see a price increase of 0.2% to 0.3% across the board. The full price list can be found in the table below.
RELATED:
Facelift MINI John Cooper Works Countryman launched in Malaysia
Click to enlarge.
All prices listed here are inclusive of the Extended Warranty & Service Package, consisting of a four-year unlimited-mileage warranty, and a four-year/60,000 km service package (unlimited mileage for Mini Cooper SE). Customers can opt out of the package for a two-year unlimited mileage warranty at a lower price.
In view of the price hikes, the company assures that its customers will be able to “enjoy more new feature enhancements” in all of their cars purchased in the year ahead.


2019 Perodua Axia will be a whole lot safer and possibly funkier too!

Two years after its facelift exercise, Perodua has announced that the updated 2019 Axia, now available in six different variants (E, G, GXtra, Style, SE and Advance), is open for booking.
No changes have been made to the power and drivetrain as the updated models retain the 67 hp/91 Nm 1.0-litre 3-cylinder engine with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed auto. Unlike before, the manual option is now strictly for the base model E.
Estimated prices of the 2019 Perodua Axia.
By far the
biggest change in the updated 2019 Axia is on the aspect of safety
; with the inclusion of the
Advanced Safety Assist (2.0)
 driver assistance system
first introduced in the Aruz
 and
Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
.
The former is
only available in the Advance variant of the 2019 Axia
. All models are similarly equipped with
 dual airbags
as before.
The suite of driver assistance systems include Pre-Collision Warning, Pre-Collision Braking, Front Departure Alert and Pedal Misoperation Control.
Pre-Collision Warning
 works between 4 km/h to 100 km/h and
Pre-Collision Braking
 between 4 km/h to 80 km/h (for vehicles) and 4 km/h to 50 km/h (for pedestrians).
That’s not all. It seems Perodua has more in store for us with the introduction of new “Style” variant which appears to be a mini crossover of sorts based on the pictures. Otherwise not much has been revealed on the “Style” variant except its fuel consumption figure of 20.8 km/l.
It’s possibly down to the added weight as it appears to have roof rails as per the picture above. Perhaps bigger wheels as well? But that’s all just a wild guess for now so stay tuned!
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Range Rover Evoque Convertible conquers the gravel, debuting in November 2015 [+Video]

Yes, it’s real. There exists a topless Evoque, and it’s bound for its world debut next month. The Range Rover Evoque is no stranger to the world of SUVs, and it more than just successfully introduced the brand to a wider pool of new and younger customers. The Range Rover Evoque Convertible first surfaced as a concept car in 2012, a year after the regular variant began production.
Land Rover claims that the Evoque Convertible is the
world’s first luxury compact SUV convertible
, though despite going topless, the SUV retains its dynamic on- and off-road driving capabilities and structural rigidity as well. The video below shows the Evoque Convertible going through its final stages of testing at the company’s all-terrain proving ground where its full suite of off-road (and on-road) technologies is showcased.
Not much is known of the topless SUV for the time being, but we can expect both
petrol and diesel engines
 to power the vehicle. What we do know is that nobody in their right mind will take the Evoque Convertible off-road, not least with the top down, of course.
Land Rover Chief Engineer of Vehicle Integrity, Mike Cross said “Land Rover prides itself on being a class leader when it comes to all-terrain capability and the Evoque Convertible is no different. Thanks to a combination of innovative engineering and the application of advanced technologies, Evoque Convertible will deliver a dynamic and assured SUV experience that has been tested around the world. We call it ‘
The Convertible for all Seasons
’.”
It will make its world debut at the Los Angeles International Auto Show in November and subsequently go on sale in the UK beginning March 2016.
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Save up to RM469 on servicing your Vios with the Toyota Service Savers

UMW Toyota Motor
 has introduced the Toyota Service Savers (TSS), a maintenance package that you can buy when purchasing new Toyota vehicles.
With the TSS package, service costs are covered in advance and owners will only need to send their vehicles for its scheduled service without having to make payments once the scheduled service is completed.
The TSS package can be used at all 85 authorised Toyota service centres in Malaysia over a period of
 five years from the time of purchase
. Prices of the TSS package depends on the model – starting from RM3,220 for the
Vios
 (savings of RM469) to RM6,030 for the Hilux (savings of RM922).
The TSS package covers the necessary service for each Toyota model at recommended intervals and includes fluids and replacement parts. Additionally, customers who opt for the TSS package will receive a 10% discount on selected parts and a 20% discount on wheel alignment and balancing as well as air-conditioning service packages.
For the latest price list of Toyota vehicles in Malaysia, click
here
.


Facts & Figures: 2022 Proton X70 MC launched in Malaysia with new 1.5TGDi engine, from RM94k

The
X70
 was the car that changed Proton’s fortune when it first launched here back in 2018, in a year when the national carmaker had one of the worst sales performance in recent history. Now more than three years later in 2022, Proton has given the X70 a mid-cycle “minor change (MC)” update, bearing some light aesthetic upgrades, but a major update underneath the bonnet.
A total of five variants will be offered on the 2022 Proton X70 MC, including the return of the Executive AWD variant, starting from RM93,900 for the 1.5 TGDi Standard 2WD variant; the previously-available Premium X variant has now been dropped.
PERFORMANCE
The main highlight of the 2022 Proton X70 MC is definitely its new 1.5 TGDi engine underneath the bonnet – the same unit that also powers the X50 Flagship, but now completely assembled in Proton’s Tanjung Malim plant on a brand-new engine assembly line.
Engine: 1,477 cc, turbocharged inline-three, petrol
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch transmission
Max horsepower: 177 hp @ 5,500 rpm
Max torque: 255 Nm @ 1,500 – 4,000 rpm
0-100 km/h: 9.8 seconds (+0.3 seconds vs 1.8 TGDi)
Proton says the switch was mainly driven by better fuel consumption, of which the new engine offers a
7% improvement
 in terms of economy, while maintaining a “similar performance level”. The weight of the engine has also dropped by 43 kg with the switch, which should help make up for some of the performance deficit.
For customers who are looking for more performance, however, the existing 184 hp/300 Nm 1.8-litre turbocharged inline-four engine will still be offered, albeit solely on the range-topping Premium variant.
In terms of the powertrain itself, Proton says that it is completely identical to the one offered on the X50 Flagship. However, they’ve added a new NVH-optimised foam-based engine cover to help keep noise levels within the cabin to a minimum.
EXTERIOR
In terms of design upgrades, the 2022 Proton X70 certainly does live up to the “minor change” name, as there’s virtually no design changes on the outside aside from a new coat of gloss-black paint on the front grille, bumper trims, and the horizontal plate at the rear with the Proton wordmark.
The range-topping Premium variants get a new set of multi-spoke 19-inch alloys that are taken from the
limited-edition X70 Special Edition model
, while the 18- inch items on the Executive also get a new design.
INTERIOR
Similar to the exterior, there are also virtually zero changes to the kit offered on the interior across the board, with the only difference being a new black headliner, as opposed to beige from before.
An eight-inch touchscreen infotainment display is standard across all variants, with online connectivity and “Hi Proton” voice assistant built-in. The range-topping Premium variant comes with a brown Nappa leather upholstery on the seats, along with ventilation in front (Executive and up).
As mentioned above, the Premium X variant has now been dropped on the 2022 Proton X70 MC update. The sunroof, which was previously exclusive to the Premium X variant, will now be offered solely on the 1.8 TGDi Premium variant.
SAFETY
Also unchanged is the safety kit offering, with only the Premium variants getting Proton’s Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). The ADAS suite includes:
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
Blind Spot Information System (BLIS)
Intelligent High Beam Control (IHBC)
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is also included exclusively on the Premium variants, alongside four front parking sensors (Executive variant gets two, while the Standard variant does not come equipped with front parking sensors).
PRICING
A total of five variants (including the 1.8 TGDi Premium 2WD) will be offered on the new 2022 Proton X70 MC, with pricing as follows:
1.5 TGDi Standard 2WD – RM93,900
1.5 TGDi Executive 2WD – RM105,500
1.5 TGDi Executive AWD – RM111,300
1.5 TGDi Premium 2WD – RM117,900
1.8 TGDi Premium 2WD – RM121,800
All prices are on-the-road, without insurance, and inclusive of the sales tax exemptions, which is currently scheduled to expire at the end of June 2022.
Also included in the price is a standard
five-year unlimited mileage warranty
 with
five times free labour on scheduled services
, and a five-year 1GB data package for the infotainment system.
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Do you really know what you think you know about EVs?

Along with government policies and the presence of a charging infrastructure, consumer awareness is one of the key factors in the adoption of electric vehicles in the long term. According to Nissan, 37% of South East Asian customers are considering an EV for their next vehicle purchase, but may not necessarily comprehend the fundamentals surrounding the usage of electrics cars.
“Across the region, we consistently hear that people love the idea of EVs but many may not fully understand how EVs fit into their lifestyles or the usage basics,” says Yutaka Sanada, regional senior vice president for Nissan A&O. To meet that challenge, Nissan is sharing the knowledge accumulated as the world’s first mass producer of EVs on electrical mobility through voices of real people as they experience the technology first-hand.
The multipart video covers charging, range, driving and ownership – key topics that generate the most common questions – and features Tim Jarvis, Australian explorer and environmental scientist, and Naya Ehrlich-Adam, founder of sustainable food business Broccoli Revolution in Bangkok, as they take on questions related to electric cars.  Let’s start with charging.


2016 Audi R18 Le Mans Prototype racing machine premiered in Munich

It’s back and it’s meaner than ever. That pretty much described the new Audi R18 e-Tron quattro LMP1 machine during its launch in Audi Sport Finale event in Munich. The Ingolstadt premium car manufacturer claims that the 2016 Audi R18 Le Mans Prototype is the most powerful and most efficient race car the company has ever built.
This R18 is set to become Audi’s weapon of choice in the prestigious LMP1 category in next year’s World Endurance Championship (WEC). The new R18
retains the diesel powertrain
 from its predecessor and has been
upgraded into 6MJ
 energy retrieval. Audi also follows this year’s title winning Porsche by ditching the flywheel energy storage in favour of the lithium-ion battery solution in its hybrid system.
The biggest changes go to the bodywork that’s now designed to maximise aerodynamic performance. That said, the designer of this car could also have been a big fan of Darth Vader.
Head of Audi Motorsport, Dr. Wolfgang Ullric said, “
W
ith our new Audi R18, we’re setting a clear signal: Audi continues to put the pedal to the metal in motorsport, deliberately relying on TDI – the world’s most successful automotive efficiency technology – at Le Mans.”
Meanwhile, in charge with piloting the brand new race car are the same duo from this year’s WEC. Just like its sister company Porsche, the third car lineup, usually raced in Spa and Le Mans, will be dropped for next year.
Porsche had won not just the driver’s and manufacturer’s title this year, but also finished 1-2 at the the 24 Hours of Le Mans held some months back. The 2016 WEC season will kick start in the Six Hours of Silverstone on 17 April.
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Audi e-tron Sportback Concept teased ahead of Shanghai Motor Show

Audi’s first assault into the Electric Vehicle (EV) foray, the e-tron Sportback Concept, has been teased via a few sketches. The new coupe-like SUV concept is scheduled to make its worldwide in the upcoming Shanghai Motor Show.
The e-tron nameplate applies on both plug-in hybrid and full electric vehicle models from Ingolstadt. This sporty and electrified SUV could become Audi’s answer to the BMW X6 and Mercedes GLE coupe.
The illuminating rings and the strangely tiny door mirrors aside, the Audi e-tron Sportback Concept looks fantastic. For that, we can’t wait to find out more about this concept when the Shanghai Motor Show opens its door this week.
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Proton publishes more teaser images of the Proton Iriz

Exactly a week ago, we celebrated the country’s
57th Independence Day
, which was also when Proton launched their new
microsite
, one that’s dedicated to progressively tease (perhaps reveal) their upcoming model, codenamed the ‘
Iriz
‘. We’ve gone through several characteristics of the PCC in our previous
report
, and now,
two
 additional images have shown up on their microsite.
Joining the list of ‘good-to-have’ features in the ‘Iriz’ are the
black leather seats
, highlighted with
white stitches
 as an added contrast. We can expect the leather to come in just one colour –
black
 – and that the stitches in white. We can also expect the leather seats, which are
perforated
, to be featured in the
higher specced
 variants.
Proton has also expanded the use of
leather
, this time adorning the
instrumentation panel
 with
three-dimensional
,
textured-leather
 wrapping, as seen in the picture above. If the entire dashboard is indeed covered in 3D leather, then it’s clearly a step forward by Proton to improve its overall finishing quality.
The other teaser shows a close up view of the engine bay, with the letters ‘
VVT
‘ embossed at the
top
 of the
engine cover
. The said acronym stands for
Variable Valve Timing
, a technology employed to
improve fuel efficiency
,
increase engine performance
 and at the same time
reduce emissions
.
Engine capacity remains unknown, and we can only assume that an engine of a
smaller displacement
 would be tasked to take advantage of the new
Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV)
incentive. As of now, our guess is as good as yours.
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