These are the last two Koenigsegg Ageras – named Thor and Väder

After an illustrious eight year (2010-2018) production run with the Agera series, it has now come to an end with Koenigsegg toasting the “series finale” with the Thor and Vader – known as the Final Edition cars.
The Final Edition series is made up of three cars – the Thor, Väder and the Agera Final One of 1 – all based on the Agera RS. At first glance they may look identical but as with all Koenigseggs, the devil is in the details.
Personally, the Thor gets my pick. It’s finished in two-tone clear carbon with diamond-flake in select sections of the paintwork – befitting of the stealthy but deadly repertoire Koenigsegg has built over the last two decades. The body features a large LeMans-style central fin for high-speed stability.
On the other hand, the Väder is finished in traditional clear carbon with diamond flake and features two small rear winglets and highlights finished in white gold leaf.
While the colour scheme isn’t exactly for me, its enlarged rear spoiler supported by strakes with bespoke cutouts, revealing the skeleton supporting the active rear wing is pure engineering pornography.
As with all good things, the Agera’s end is nigh –
 leaving us with multiple record-breaking memories
 – with Koenigsegg declaring that a replacement for the Agera will be due at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show.
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The McLaren 720S Track & Pacific theme were beautifully crafted by MSO

McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has just unveiled two new design themes for the McLaren 720S – one inspired by a McLaren Formula 1 car and the other inspired from the blues of the ocean. The two themes were specially commissioned to demonstrate MSO’s ability to bring your wildest imagination to life.
The 720S Track Theme is finished in Anniversary White, a colour inspired by the championship-winning McLaren F1 car of the 80’s. The sparkling white paint is set-off against Carbon Black touches to the bonnet, doors, rear quarter panels and airbrake. Tarroco Orange, a tribute to the company’s modern F1 car, is applied on the outer rim of the wheels and the lining on the side doors.

Inside, the cabin is furnished with Jet Black Alcantara with McLaren orange stitching. A unique addition to the Track Theme McLaren is a new titanium harness bar that allows the driver to install a six-point harness for track use.
The 720S Pacific Theme, on the other hand, gets a Cerulean Blue base paint, as featured on today’s McLaren Formula 1 car, while its door intakes are finished in a darker shade of Estoril Blue. To keep up with the blue theme, all the exposed carbon fibre parts from the front splitter to the engine cover are finished with a Cobalt Blue-tint. The only items that were not painted in blue were the wheels and brake callipers.

The blue theme is toned down towards the cabin with a Jet Black Alcantara theme, bespoke blue inserts and contrast stitching. Both cars also get an MSO dedication plaque in the cabin, reinforcing their status as bespoke commissions from MSO.
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McLaren 720S Track Theme

McLaren 720S Pacific Theme


Remove those plastic gloves when refueling your car

With the Movement Control Order now in effect for almost two weeks, our lives have all been affected in more ways than one.
Positively speaking, we’re now arguably a cleaner bunch with proper hygiene being observed, even at the fuel stations. For fear of contracting the virus when refueling our cars, most have now opted to use plastic disposable gloves when lifting the fuel nozzle.
Sure, it’s good to be cautious with what you touch nowadays but there are risks of imminent danger involved – flash fires from static electricity.
The static electric generated as you exit or re-enter your vehicle can ignite the fuel vapour, causing a fire. Instead, motorists are advised to either use a cloth or latex gloves when handling the fuel nozzle.
In a statement released last week regarding the maintenance of their petrol stations,
Shell Malaysia also discouraged the use of plastic gloves
.
“We would like to remind customers to remove all gloves and plastic protective gear to avoid static contact when refueling,” the company said.


BMW to cut production costs by 25%, but will their cars become cheaper?

BMW
is planning to significantly slash its production costs per vehicle by the middle of the decade, in a bid to become more competitive against rivals such as
Volkswagen
,
Mercedes-Benz
, and
Tesla
.
“We will lower the production costs per vehicle by 25% by 2025 – compared with the level in 2019,” BMW board member in charge of production, Milan Ndeljkovic told German newspaper Handelsblatt in a recent interview, as per
Reuters
.
The interview does not mention as to how BMW plans to achieve such a significant cut, especially in such a short period of time. It’s perhaps even more challenging now as we enter the electric age, as prices for many electric components such as high voltage batteries are still relatively high.
MINI will become the first fully-electric brand in BMW Group.
And then there’s development costs for all-new electric platforms. To make matters even worse for carmakers, the focus on
eco-friendly material sourcing
and production method will no doubt take a toll on their profit margins, too.
BMW’s high-voltage battery plant in Thailand.
The big question for us consumers though, is if the drop in production cost will result in reduction in car prices. While the intention to become more competitive in the market certainly sounds encouraging, it’s important to remember that car prices are not based solely on cost.
BMW Group CEO, Oliver Zipse said that there are no plans to stop development of new internal combustion engines.
Only time will tell what the cost-cutting measures will translate to in their end products, but for now, we won’t keep our hopes up, as cost-cutting can range from discontinuing variants or models with less demand, to plainly just sourcing for cheaper materials.
The new BMW X3 now gets 48V mild-hybrid tech across the board.
In related news, BMW said last month that it is still on course to meet its profit targets for 2021, despite the rising costs of raw materials. The company is also bullish on its 2021 targets, even though the global semiconductor shortage could impact its production schedule.


Rolls-Royce gets state-of-the-art carbon fibre accessories

If you’re one of those extremely well-to-do individuals who feel like the Rolls-Royce in your garage is
boring
and needs a bit of added spice, then this Carbon Atelier Program will definitely get your composite craving fixed.
This programme is brought to you by European design house Bengala Automotive and US-based Vitesse AuDessus who will both customise your Rolls-Royce with forged carbon fibre parts. Forged carbon fibre, according to Bengala, is not necessary for weight reduction or performance properties but more for aesthetics purposes.
They have managed to produce carbon fibre to a granite-like finish, unlike the conventional weave like design. From the picture, the material finish looks akin to a piece of fine jewel. Vitesse offers customised body panels for the Phantom, Phantom – Coupé, Phantom – Drophead Coupé, Ghost, Wraith and Dawn.
On top of that, the company also offers custom
forged carbon fibre wheels
, which they claim to be

a world’s first. The said wheels are more rigid and lighter than titanium alloys. Bengala and Vitesse guarantee that all parts are of the highest standards and comply with OEM fit and finish. All parts come with a 5-year warranty against any defect or yellowing of the materials.
Now, if you’re in dying need to customise your Rolls with forged carbon fibre components, be glad to know that Vitesse ships
worldwide
. You can view their online catalogue
here
.
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Michelin to use 4 billion recycled bottles for tyre manufacturing every year

Michelin announced that it is committed to making its tyres sustainable by 2050. This move has been inspired by the
Vision Concept

tyre
which was introduced in 2017.
Today nearly 30% of more than 300 components used by Michelin in tyre manufacturing are made of natural, recycled material or sustainable raw material. The main ingredient in making tyres is natural rubber, along with metal, fibers, and synthetic rubber. This also includes components that strengthen the tyres structure such as carbon black and silica.

One of the efforts in making its tyres sustainable involves using biomass from wood, leaves, corn stalks and other plant waste where over 4.2 million tonnes of wood chips will be used to make Michelin tyres every year.
Michelin will also be partnering with Canada-based Pyrowave to recycle plastic packaging like food trays and yogurt pots into synthetic rubber. It is estimated that 42 billion pots could be used recycled into Michelin tyres every year. Some four billion plastic bottles will also be recycled for tyre manufacturing each year.
In February this year, Michelin announced its partnership with Enviro to build its first tyre manufacturing plant in the world. The Swedish company has developed methods to recover the necessary and high quality reusable materials from end-of-life tyres to be used to manufacture new tyres.


Ferrari Challenge Finali Mondiali caps off season at the Mugello circuit with Steve Wyatt victorious once again!

Back in early September if you recall,
Ferrari Challenge Asia Pacific race
 made a scheduled stop at our very own Sepang Circuit which saw Steve Wyatt rocket himself to clench the podium’s top spot. They have since made their way back to the Prancing Horse’s sovereign soil in Tuscany for the final stop of the series this year at the
Mugello Circuit
.
The armada was greeted by
50,000
 cheering fans on the final day. Among the crowds were Ferrari’s official drivers Kimi Raikkonen, Sebastian Vettel and Esteban Gutierrez, including an exhibition of their Scuderia Ferrari cars.

Joining these highly-esteemed Formula One drivers were Managing Director
Amedeo Felisa
, Vice-President
Piero Ferrari
 and President
Sergio Marchionne
. The trio were taken for a blast-session around Mugello with the F1-trio at the helm of three newly-launched limited edition
F12tdf
 cars powered by a slightly uprated
V12
 motor that churns out an incredible
780 hp
.
Following this, the
458 Italia GTE
 and
GT3
 competing in the
World Endurance Championship
 (WEC) and in the main national and international GT championships took their places on the track. Thereafter, Ferrari brought out the
2016
 machines which is the
newly-launched twin-turbo 488
 with a couple of flavours, namely
GTE
 and
GT3
 specs.

Steve Wyatt
 has been on quite a roll this season, a point that was brought home when Wyatt clenched the trophy atop the podium upon winning the
2015 championship title
 for the Trofeo Pirelli race,
beating Indonesia’s Renaldi Hutasoit.

Ziad Ghandour
 of Scuderia Lebanon
triumphed
 in the
 Trofeo Pirelli Am
 after a fierce battle with overall leader, China’s
Wei Xu
 and Korea’s
 Jung Hoon Youn
.
The Finali Mondiali
 at Mugello will host the final two rounds of the
Three Series
 that includes
Europe
,
North America
 and
Asia-Pacific
 series.
Sunday saw
 all the drivers on track for the two world championship finals, the Trofeo Pirelli (divided into Pirelli and Pirelli Am) and the
Coppa Shell
. Keeping up to this tough act to follow was the
 F1 Clienti
 and the cars of the
XX Programmes
.

The F1 Clienti will offer a glimpse of the
V8
 and
V10-powered
 Ferraris which competed in
Formula 1
 from
1998
 to
2011
, while the
1050 hp Ferrari FXX-K
 will do the lion’s share of the work for the XX Programmes. However, that isn’t forgetting the
FXX
 of 2005, built on the basis of the
Enzo
 and the
599XX
 that was introduced shortly thereafter. Not a bad way to cap off an epic weekend of Prancing proportions.
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Porsche boosts 718 Cayman and Boxster line-up with GTS models

The new 718 Boxster and Cayman GTS will be powered by the same 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated flat-six found in the
718 Spyder and Cayman GT4
.
For the near-ultimate mid-ship experience, these two models will now have
400 hp
 and
419 Nm
 at their expenses, through a six-speed manual gearbox. Both models will come as standard with the
sports exhaust system
 although the 718 Boxster GTS stand to benefit more with its open-top.
Both models are expected to complete their 0 to 100 km/h runs in just
4.5 seconds
 with top speed capped at 293 km/h.
It’s a
massive departure from the previous Boxster and Cayman GTS
 variants introduced in 2017 which utilised a 2.5-litre turbocharged flat-four with only
365 hp
 and
430 Nm
.
While the
 “Sport Design” front end
 on both the new GTS’ project a largely similar appearance as the 2017 models it replaces, the rear bumper design has been slightly revised.
The dual centre exit exhaust tips from before are now replaced with one on each side. Under the wheel arches are 20-inch light-alloy wheels. Behind them are larger cross-drilled, cast iron brake discs with a 6-pot caliper in the front tasked to cope with the braking needs of the new GTS’.
As standard,
ride height is now 20mm lower
 than the standard 718 models, although the optional Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) lowers the GTS’ by just 10mm.
Inside, Porsche did not bother trying too hard with a typically clean and functional interior, with Alcantara garnishing the seats, steering wheel, gear lever and door trims. The 718 Cayman GTS gets the extra touch with the same Alcantara material applied on the roof lining and A-pillars.
To spice things up, there’s an optional “GTS interior package” which comes with red seat belts and rev meter, along with the GTS emblem embroidered on the headrests and Porsche lettering on the floor mats.
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718 Boxster GTS
718 Cayman GTS


Sportscar and superbike convoys banned from driving up to Genting Highlands

It was a ticking bomb waiting to detonate; sooner or later this was bound to happen. Those who frequent Genting Highlands or Gohtong Jaya during the weekends would know that the roads heading up and down the hilltop resort have been completely overwhelmed by convoys of fast cars and superbikes.
Without trying to generalise, most go about their business and have their fun without causing any nuisance but every now and then you have a few rotten apples who’ve somehow misunderstood the public roads up the hill as their father’s own.
Well the management of Genting has had enough and has put their foot down. Effective immediately, all convoys made up of mopeds, superbikes and even sportscars are
 banned from driving up to Genting Highlands indefinitely
, according to a
video that surfaced on Facebook yesterday
.
According to the policeman in the video, the management decided on the ban due to the loud exhaust noises from large convoys up Genting Highlands. Apparently this has caused a nuisance at hotel lobbies as well – especially for hotel guests who are checking in for a getaway.
There isn’t an official statement from the management so far but we assume this ban applies from the Karak highway exit up to Gohtong Jaya and onwards – perhaps even from the Batang Kali entry point.
What do you think of this ban? Is it long overdue? Or should Genting only penalise those causing nuisance? Is that even feasible? Let us know!
Image source:
Resort World Genting Facebook


Nissan GT-R facelift surgically enhanced, gets luxurious interior!

The Nissan GT-R is close to a decade old and although its successor has yet to be seen, potential customers will have to settle for another update, at least for now. Just unveiled in New York, the
Godzilla
 sports a new look both inside and out, including a slight bump in performance as well.
So, what’s new with the facelifted GT-R? In the aesthetics department, the front receives the new ‘
V-Motion
’ grille, keeping in line with the Nissan’s current range of products. The front bumper also sports a larger front intake and a shorter daytime running lights, with a new lower lip spoiler completing the package. The bonnet also receives a redesign that improves high-speed stability.

At the back, the GT-R’s signature quad rear lights and quad exhaust notes are retained, which comes together with a reprofiled rear bumper. The GT-R also sits on updated alloy rims via the 20-inch ‘Y-spoke’ design, and a bright and striking multi-layered ‘Katzura’ orange colour paint option.
The cabin is a step up from before. Here, it benefits from more liberal use of premium leather, new 8-inch touchscreen head unit, redesigned steering wheel with paddle shifters built onto the wheel as opposed to its predecessor which had them built fixed into the column.
It’s the same old engine powering this beast – a
3.8-litre twin-turbo V6
that is tweaked to give 20 horses more, bringing up the final output to
562 hp
 and
 638 Nm
 of torque. This is achieved through improved individual ignition timing and more boost from the turbochargers, including an all-new titanium exhaust. The GT-R’s dual-clutch gearbox is also more refined for less noise and smoother shifts.
The GT-R’s handling and agility is also said to be enhanced through its stiffer body shell and new set of suspension. With the added power and improved aerodynamics, the updated GT-R reinforces Nissan’s commitment in the high performance car segment.
Currently, there’s no price tag put in place, but word is that Nissan is working hard to develop a hybrid GT-R as the successor to the R35. We could possibly be looking at the last generation GT-R that runs on pure internal combustion engine before the next one comes along. How does an electrified
Godzilla
 sound to you?
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2016 Range Rover updated with new semi-autonomous tech

As far as luxury 4×4 vehicles go, the Land Rover Range Rover is in a class of its own. With its luxurious interior and superior off-roading capabilities, the Range Rover is highly regarded as a luxury 4×4.
Firstly, new to the line-up is the
SVAutobiography Dynamic
variant which Jaguar Land Rover boasts as being the most powerful and dynamic Range Rover ever made. The SVAutobiography Dynamic is powered by a
550 hp
,
680 Nm

supercharged

V8
 paired to a
ZF eight-speeder
 that is good for a 0-100km/h time of
5.2 seconds
. Besides that, a retuned suspension lowers ride height by 8mm to provide better handling dynamics is standard fitment. Inside, the interior is spoilt with luxury. Diamond quilted leather seats, contrast stitching and knurled finished controls are all standard affair in the top of the range model.

A new engine choice is also added to the current line-up – a
3.0-litre supercharged V6
 that produces
340 hp
 and
450 Nm
 of torque. It is good for a 0-100km/h sprint time of
7.2 seconds
.
JLR added a whole suite of semi-autonomous tech to the Range Rover called Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). New here are Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Cruise Control with Speed Limiter and Rear Park Distance Control.
The Drive Pro Pack adds on Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist, Intelligent Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Assists, Traffic Sign Recognition, Reverse Traffic Detection, Intelligent Speed Limiter, Driver Condition Monitor as well as Lane Keep Assist.
In addition to that, JLR also introduced Advanced Tow Assist that guides drivers to reverse into position when towing a trailer. It uses the cameras to lay out trajectory lines to ensure a perfect fit. Low Traction Launch is also available, which controls the torque delivered to each wheels from standstill on slippery surfaces to prevent wheel spin.
Moving into the cabin, a new 10-inch touchscreen ‘InControl Touch Pro’ infotainment system is also available as an option on the updated Range Rover. It comes with an integrated app that allows owners to remotely activate climate control, alarm and engine start. The app will also alert the owner if the security system on their Range Rover is triggered.
There are 19 new exterior colours available for customers to specify. With the introduction of the 2017 Range Rover, JLR further pushes the luxury benchmark. But does it come with the right dose of grandiose to take on the
Bentley Bentayga
?
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Video: BMW X2 M35i in Malaysia, 5 Things To Know

The first ever M Performance vehicle in Malaysia, the
BMW X2 M35i
 may come as a disappointment to many enthusiasts who were hoping for the M135i or M340i but let’s not undermine this Sports Activity Vehicle’s sporty credentials.

Packing the most powerful 2.0-litre four-cylinder from BMW, the X2 M35i commands
306 hp
 and
450 Nm
 of torque. A ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic and xDrive all-wheel-drive system are tasked to send power to the wheels allowing the most potent X2 to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in
4.9 seconds
 onwards to a top speed of
250 km/h
.
There are also some tasty M Performance bits – not just
cosmetic
 – available here too such as M Sport adaptive suspension, M Sport front differential, sports exhaust and M Sport brakes with blue calipers.
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BMW X2 M35i Launched in Malaysia
BMW X2M35i
BMW_X2M35i


2017 Honda Jazz facelift announced, 135 hp Sport Hybrid coming to Malaysia!

Honda Malaysia is set to refresh the Honda Jazz with a raft of updates, but the bigger news is the upcoming introduction of the Honda Jazz Hybrid. Order books for both the regular petrol and hybrid variants are now open, with the former hitting showroom floors sometime this quarter while the latter by Q3 2017.
At the same time, Honda Japan has previewed the Jazz facelift on its website, giving us a glimpse of how the facelifted Jazz will look like. Known as the Honda Fit in Japan, this third-generation model receives a redesigned front bumper and an extended grille, similar to the
refreshed City
 that was launched recently. The headlights and taillights receive LED treatment just like its sedan sibling. It’s unclear if the Jazz Hybrid will get Honda Sensing (a big range of safety tech) like the JDM Fit, though.
Just like the facelifted City, the
 1.5-litre four-cylinder SOHC i-VTEC
 mill is carried forward, generating
118 hp
 and
 145 Nm
 of torque. It is mated to the same
seven-speed Continuously Variable Transmission
 (CVT). The Sport hybrid i-DCD on the other hand, is a totally different ballgame.
It gets the newer
 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC
 engine that will be paired to a
 seven-speed dual clutch transmission
. The predecessor’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) is now gone, replaced by an
 Intelligent Power Unit (IPU)
. This means the car is a full hybrid, capable of running on electric propulsion alone. The motor is juiced by a
lithium-ion battery
 located under the boot. The hybrid setup makes
 135 hp
, and the new electric power steering is said to improve handling.
The 2017 Honda Jazz hybrid is open for public viewing this weekend at the upcoming
Drive, Test & Buy
 event organised by our good friends of
Carlist.my
. Stay tuned as we bring you live updates of the car soon!
IMAGE GALLERY


Next-gen Infiniti QX50 shown ahead of global debut, gets 2.0L VC-Turbo

Infiniti has just confirmed that the
teaser image
 released earlier is indeed the second-generation QX50 and the company has released details of the new SUV ahead of its global debut at the 2017 LA Auto Show.
The new QX50 will feature an all-new platform that promises new levels of refinement, rigidity and interior space in the compact premium SUV segment. It shares much of its design elements with its larger sibling the
QX80
, continuing the “Powerful Elegance” design language. Inside, Infiniti says the public can expect high-quality materials and advanced craftsmanship.
Motivation comes from Infiniti’s new
2.0-litre four-cylinder VC-Turbo engine
, the world’s first production-ready
variable compression ratio engine
. The engine can alter its compression ratio anywhere between 8:1 to 14:1 for maximum performance and efficiency. Official output for the engine has not been released but engineers are looking at around
268 hp
 and
390 Nm
 of torque. The QX50 is available in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive layout.
Infiniti has also fitted the QX50 with ProPilot semi-autonomous driving system that can autonomously accelerate, brake and steer during single-lane carriageway driving, similar to the system shared on the
Nissan Serena
 and
Leaf
.
The Infiniti QX50 world premiere will take place next week with more details to follow.


Rolls-Royce adds three more hues to its 44,000-strong bespoke colour palette

When inspired by ‘by the hills, sand and sea surrounding Pebble Beach’, Rolls-Royce took the liberty to showcase the creative colour capabilities of the artisans back at the factory at Goodwood at the 2019 Concours d’Elegance.
(From left) Ghost, Dawn and Wraith.
The chosen canvas of the Pebble Beach 2019 Pastel Collection is a trio of Rolls-Royce Black badge models. It starts with the Ghost Black Badge in Light Green Solid; the pastel green represents the rebirth of the flora on the Monterey peninsula following the years of drought and fire. The hand-crafted leather interior is black mixed with a splash of Serenity Green.
The convertible within the collection is the Dawn Black Badge in Coral Solid; requiring seven coats of paint and more than nine hours of hand polishing in the Surface Finish Centre at Goodwood. The new pastel colour carries over to the Dawn’s aero cowling, giving it a characterful yet aggressive exterior. The Dawn Black Badge interior is finished in Artic White and Sunset, taking after the northern California hills and valleys.
The final piece of the trio is the Wraith Black Badge in Semaphore Yellow, a bright and sunny finish for the most powerful member of the Rolls-Royce family. The Wraith Black Badge features a Selby Grey and Lemon interior with the Black Badge Starlight Headliner. Have fun browsing the other 44,000 colours when customising your Roller.


Feature Friday: The cheapest cars from 9 different countries around the world

In a country where cars are the second largest investment after properties, one can be a car owner with just over RM 20k with the
Perodua Axia
 1.0 Standard E. At RM24,900, the compact hatchback which comes equipped with a spartan interior and steel wheels is an ideal learner’s car and it’s no wonder then, why it’s seen in the drones at driving schools nationwide.
But what about those from our neighbouring countries? We looked beyond our borders to find out which car commands the lowest price tag in their respective countries in bog standard form. In short, what is their Axia Standard E equivalent?
Singapore and Indonesia
Car prices in the city state are notoriously known to be among the most expensive in the world, the 1.0 Standard G Perodua Axia automatic is the cheapest new car at ‘just’
SGD

63,800
. That’s approximately
RM 200k
 after conversion;
not including
the infamous cut-throat Certificate of Entitlement (COE)!
In Indonesia,

with a mere
 Rp 92,550 mil (approx RM 29k)
,

you can bring home the most affordable car in the country in the form of a 1.0-litre
Daihatsu Ayla
 with a manual transmission which, as some of you may know, is the car that our beloved Perodua Axia is based on.
China
The largest automotive market in the world is home to numerous domestic brands, ranging from jointly-formed manufacturers to one of their largest manufacturer formerly known for building
 fridges
. In the Middle Kingdom, the title for the most inexpensive car goes to the
Jiangnan TT
.
Not to be confused with a certain
coupe from Ingolstadt
, this hatchback is based on a second-generation
 Suzuki Alto
 from the 1980’s where it retains the original Alto’s 3-cylinder 800 c.c. engine, paired to a 4-speed manual transmission. Additions made by the Chinese included roof rails and a single cup holder. So,
20,800 yuan (RM 13.2k)
 buys you a time capsule from the 1980’s – perfect for those with a taste for nostalgia?
Japan
In the land of the rising sun, Kei-cars are known to come with the lowest price tags. For now, two such cars lay claim to the title – the
Daihatsu Mira e:S
 and
Toyota Pixis Epoch
.
Equipped with the same powertrains, they’re propelled by a 660 c.c. engines mated to a Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT), together with Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) as standard. Priced at
842,400 yen (RM 31.7k)
, these two cars could possibly be the basis of the next-generation Axias (the current Axia is based on the first generation Mira e:s).
Australia
Mitsubishi’s little town-trotter is a firm favourite among the frugal-minded from Down Under. The 3-cylinder
Mitsubishi Mirage
 can be had at just
AUD $12,250

(RM 40.4k)
 and despite the meager price tag, it comes with Hill-Start Assist!
Back home, the Mirage was offered by Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia in late 2012 from RM 55-63K range, but it’s no longer on sale. Although, a used example will only set you back RM 25K.
United States
It’s not all V8 muscle cars and huge pick-ups in America, motorists on a budget in the US seem to have a liking for the
Nissan Versa
. More commonly known as the Almera in Malaysia,
USD 11,900 (approx RM 50.5k)
 is all you need to buy a brand new example of the Versa.
It shares the same 109 hp, 1.5-litre petrol engine as the Almera with several differences; it adopts a seven-speed CVT gearbox, together with the incorporation of the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Traction Control System (TCS).
The United Kingdom
The Perodua Nippa (Kancil) and Kelisa were once the cheapest cars sold in the UK. With Perodua now dormant in the UK, it’s the
Dacia Sandero
reigns supreme.
At
 6k pounds Sterling (approx RM 33.3k)
, this cheap and cheerful Romanian hatchback has its components sourced from Renault’s parts bin. There’s a catch to it though, the base spec Sandero has no air conditioning – not ideal for summer drives. The Dacia Sandero is also the most inexpensive new car to buy in
Europe
!
India
Lastly, let’s look at India where the
Tata Nano
 is not only the cheapest new car within the nation but also the entire world. Touted as the
 1 Lakh car (approx RM 6.5k)
 in 2008, bare essentials such as power steering and air conditioning were omitted. However, that did not stop the car from getting over 200k bookings via a ballot system in March 2009.
At present, its price tag has ballooned to
2.69 Lakh (RM17.5k)
 and despite the added luxuries in later Nanos, the microcar has lost its lustre. Torrid safety and image issues have hurt sales, and Tata is looking to axe this once revered, budget means of transportation.
Note: Prices were taken directly from the manufacturers’ website in their respective countries. No additional options were selected. Exchange rates are based on conversion rates on 7/10/2017.


Mercedes-Benz could remove entry-level models from its line-up after the current generation

The future of Mercedes-Benz’s entry-level/compact models looks uncertain as the latest report by Autocar indicates that the company could remove them from its lineup with further confirmation next week.
Speaking to the UK publication, Mercedes-Benz has said that it is not their goal to be a competitor in volume producers, as it is not what the brand stands for. This suggests that Mercedes-Benz’s entry-level models are no longer a priority.
In light of the semiconductor shortage situation, the company is now looking to shift its priority and supplies to more profitable models at the cost of lower manufacturing and sales volumes of its smaller vehicles.
Referring to it as an ‘unwanted experiment’, the company highlighted that it has made the decision to chase value for customers and the company, instead of going after volume.
What does this mean for the future of the AMG A 45?
This follows after Mercedes-Benz confirmed that the A-Class sedan and hatchback would be killed off in the US and Canada after 2022 even though it’s been well-received there.
This opens up a pandora’s box of debates as one can only wonder which models would be affected – likely the A-Class sedan and hatchback. What would this mean for the AMG A 45 and AMG A 35 models?
The A 250 AMG Line.
Locally,
locally assembled versions of the A 200 and A 250 sedan
 were launched in 2019, before
receiving upgrades
 earlier this year along with a price increase. The A 200 Progressive Line now starts from
RM220,459
 (up by RM9,556) while the A 250 AMG starts from
 RM243,858
 (up by RM4,000).


AutoBuzz.my is hiring, are you going to be one of us?

It’s 4th of April, so this is not a hoax. We are looking for a suitable candidate to take on what is arguably the best job in the world* – the position of a
full-time
 motoring journalist (junior writer). To determine whether you have what it takes, please put yourself through the 10-point checklist below:
Sun screen is optional, but fortitude to learn is a prerequisite.
I’ve always wanted to get into automotive journalism
I have a nose for news and will always tell the truth
I can string sentences in English without messing up the grammar
I love to drive more than I love to eat
I’m a fast learner and won’t stop learning
I’m able to work odd hours and not bitch about it on FB
I don’t mind working under the sun and getting a tan occasionally
I have a valid driving license and I behave sensibly on the road
The near extinction of cars with three pedals keeps me awake at night
When I grow up, I want to be just like GC Mah
 Inspiration can come to you in odd places, with or without footwear.
Okay, maybe question #10 is asking too much, but at least pretend that to be the case when you’ve been shortlisted for an interview. If you had answered ‘yes’ to the majority of the of the questions above,
please e-mail your updated curriculum vitae (CV)
to
[email protected]
 and
share your thoughts about the car you currently drive in no more than 400 words
.
Easy? We can’t wait to hear from you.
* Characterisation may
differ from actual occupation and subject to change


The Ferrari Omologata is a special one-off model that took two years to complete

Ferrari has introduced the Omologata, a one-off client-commissioned unit that is based off the
812 Superfast
. Finished in Rosso Magma, the Omologata pays tribute to the brand’s historic race cars while remaining uniquely one-of-a-kind.
Ferrari says that the entire process from initial sketch to completion took a little over two years to complete. Visually, it shares only its windshield and its headlights with the model it’s based on, aside from the inevitably-similar proportions.
The objective of the design was to exploit the proportions of the 812 Superfast’s mid-front layout to deliver a sleek design defined by smooth volumes and undulating reflections, with surface breaks only present wherever dictated by aerodynamic functions.
Ferrari says that the design team led by Flavio Manzoni, who also penned the award-winning
Ferrari J50
, carefully studied the and refined the “stance and attitude” of the car from all angles, which resulted in a very defined flat oval grille at the front.
The front wheel arches are emphasized by the contrasting stripe that goes across the bonnet. At the rear of the door, the flank develops into a muscular rear haunch that blends neatly upwards towards the three-quarter panel.
The rear of the Ferrari Omologata is also frightfully imposing, thanks to the single round taillights on each end set deeply into the body work, surmounted by a prominent spoiler which adds not only downforce but a more aggressive, sporty stance. The louvred rear “window” contributes further to the whole retro-inspired look.
Inside the Omologata, the electric blue seats are finished in a tasteful combination of leather and Jeans Aunde fabric and fitted with a four-point racing harnesses, which stands out against a full black interior.
However, the coolest detail inside is definitely the metal trims on the dashboard and steering wheel, finished with a crackled paint effect associated with the Ferrari’s GT racers of the 1950s and 1960s, along with a hammered paint effect on the door handles inspired by the 250 LM and 250 GTO.
No specifics have been revealed as to what is powering this one-of-a-kind Ferrari Omologata, though the Prancing Horse did say that it’s the 10th front-engined V12 one-off that has been delivered since the 2009 P540 Superfast Aperta, suggesting the use of the naturally-aspirated 6.5 litre engine from the 812 Superfast, which develops
800 hp
and
 718 Nm
 in stock configuration.
Commissioned by an unnamed Europe client, Ferrari of course did not divulge on the price for this one-off bespoke model. But seeing the extent that Ferrari designers have gone to recreate some of the most signature Ferrari design cues – all without falling into nostalgia – it’s not hard to guess that the number will probably be more than a couple of magnitudes higher than the number we can imagine.
GALLERY


Baidu’s autonomous driving tech will be one generation ahead of Tesla, says CEO

China’s search engine giant Baidu is developing a new fully-electric AI-powered “robo-car”, with an autonomous driving system that will supposedly be a full generation ahead of
Tesla’s
 system, according to its CEO.
“Our understanding of smart vehicles is that being electric is the semi-final while being intelligent is the final,” Baidu chief executive Robin Li said during its inaugural partner’s conference in Shanghai yesterday.
Baidu first announced its entrance to the EV space in January last year, joining forces with chinese carmaker giant
Geely
 to form the Jidu marque, with a focus on popularising autonomous driving and human-machine interaction technologies.
The company’s autonomous driving tech will be shown off on a flagship EV due for market launch in 2023 that’s based on the ROBO-01 concept, and will feature a retractable steering ‘yoke’, which will be automatically stowed away when the car is driving itself.
RELATED:
China’s Didi D1 is a fully-electric car made exclusively for e-hailing
Aside from software wizardry, the ROBO-01’s autonomous driving system also utilises two Nvidia Orin X chips to process data from 31 external sensors, including two LiDAR sensors, five millimetre-wave radars, 12 ultrasonic radars, and 12 cameras.
Unlike Jidu and most other carmakers autonomous driving technologies, Tesla has decided against LiDAR sensors, with eccentric CEO Elon Musk publicly claiming that they are “expensive” and “unnecessary”, even going so far as to say “anyone who relies on LiDAR is doomed.”
Although now in public beta testing, Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system is now years late from its original promised delivery date. The American carmaker is also under scrutiny from regulatory boards recently, with California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) accusing it for misleading customers about the system.
ALSO READ:
Elon Musk is “extremely confident” that Tesla will launch its fully-autonomous system in 2021
Aside from boasting about its autonomous self-driving tech, The company also detailed its “2880” strategy at the partner conference, with a target of 800,000 robot EVs delivered annually by 2028.
Aside from the flagship sedan, which the company says will bear a 90% resemblance to the ROBO-1 concept, the company is also on track to introduce a second mass-produced model in 2024.
The production version of the Jidu ROBO-01 concept is expected to be revealed soon, followed by the first public display of the second model’s exterior design at the Guangzhou Auto Show in late 2022.

GALLERY


Proton cars will cost more in 2016, no thanks to weakening Ringgit

Looks like we have another bad news to bring you, dear readers, this time coming from our homegrown automaker, Proton.
Apparently, due to the depreciating Ringgit, Proton has no choice but to increase the price for their models across the range. This move is to offset the cost of importing parts and materials, though the company hasn’t announced the revised list at press time.
Proton’s CEO Dato’ Abdul Harith Abdullah was quoted saying, “The weaker Ringgit affects the company’s operation cost and the entire eco-system chain from the vendors to us. Hence, we are evaluating our pricing structure and the percentage of the price increase will depend on the models.”
With Proton becoming the
latest string of brands to announce price increase for next year
, we can only wonder how much local content goes into the making of Proton cars. Proton Chairman, Tun Dr. Mahathir, once mentioned that there is about
90 percent locally manufactured parts found in Proton
. So given that price increase to offset the remaining 10 percent (presumably the drivetrain) does raise a few uncertainties. Will the price increase be in the hundreds, or thousands? Will the local contents be impacted as well? Will Proton, in a worst case scenario, introduce variants cheaper than the SV trims to mitigate costing issues?
As of now, Proton is offering seven models to the Malaysian market, with the
Saga Plus
 model being the most affordable pick with a starting price of
 RM33,243.40
. Next year will see the introduction of the new
Perdana
 model, with the Saga and Persona models both set to be succeeded soon.
If there’s one thing we can be certain about, is that the new Proton Perdana will surely cost more than they initially hoped. The better question now is, how much more?


Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is a 640 hp, 868 Nm American V8 rocket

The Chevrolet
Camaro
 is a car that needs no introduction. Every now and then, a unique edition finds its way to production, and it’s no different here with the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. The folks at General Motors said the ZL1 is “designed to excel at everything”, so let’s see what it’s really about.
This Camaro ZL1 is not as simple as swapping the Bumblebee image for a red hot, more focused machine. Instead, Chevrolet’s prime muscle car receives a huge dose of steroids in the arm, improving performance, refinement and track capabilities. Aerodynamically, it’s enhanced too with a larger lower grille, new hood with carbon-fiber inserts, front splitters and rear wing. The ZL1 also weighs
 90kg
 less than its predecessor, thanks to a revised, lighter architecture.
Underneath the hood lies a supercharged
 6.2-liter V8
from the Corvette Z06 that shoots
 640 hp
 and
 868 Nm
 of mind bending torque. New to the Camaro is an all-new quick shifting
10-speed automatic
gearbox, although purists get to opt for the six-speed manual gearbox. The new automatic, jointly developed by Ford and GM, will allow the supercharged V8 to remain in optimum revs during acceleration or while cornering.
The handling department is managed by Magnetic Ride suspension, electronic limited-slip differential and specially crafted Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tyres. Brakes are supplied by Brembo – a set of six-pot 390mm two-piece rotors.
GM is confident that with the Camaro ZL1, they have a car that can rival any sports coupe (think Cayman and you’re not too far off), but the only thing not revealed at this point is its pricing.
IMAGE GALLERY


Nissan reveals the person behind their ‘new car smell’

The ‘new car smell’ is just as important to most, as the new car itself and Nissan has shared how it goes to great lengths to make sure the smell is just right.
Introducing Peter, the Odour Evaluation Lead Engineer as he is called at the Nissan Technical Centre Europe. He has an acute sense of smell, and the sole responsibility of ensuring that the ‘new car smell’ in new Nissan vehicles deliver a ‘positive response’.
“We aim to provide the best sensory experience for the customer. While tastes and preferences evolve over time, smell remains a constant. Therefore, it is part of our job to make sure that any material we use is always going to be perfect in terms of scent and that all of the senses are harmonised,” said the man with a powerful nose.
Nissan stressed that the new car smell isn’t just a consequence of the manufacturing process but instead is the result of months of work devoted to carefully analysing materials and chemicals used such as the seat fabric and adhesives. This is done to ensure that the materials and adhesive do not generate an unpleasant odour in the new car.
This is where the nose of Nissan comes in testing materials such as those used for the diamond-quilted seats and how they change (smell wise) in different real-world conditions. If a material interferes with the new car smell, the nose and his team will identify alternative materials to protect that new car smell.
GALLERY


Hyundai Ioniq 6 to launch in Malaysia on 21 July – ‘Streamliner’ EV with 610 km range

With a total of
five cars planned for launch over 2023
, Hyundai Sime Darby Motors will be kicking off a busy second half of the year with the
Hyundai Ioniq 6
, which will be making its Malaysian market introduction this Friday, 21 July, according to teasers published on the company’s social media channels.
Dubbed the “streamliner” thanks to its
slippery shape
, the sleek-looking EV boasts a drag coefficient of just 0.21 Cd, which translates to a real-world power consumption as low as 13.9 kWh/100 km, making it one of the most energy efficient EVs out on the market today.
Paired to a 77.4 kWh battery pack, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 promises an EV range of up to
610 km (WLTP)
 in a single charge on the single-motor long-range variant. The E-GMP platform’s 800V electrical architecture also enables support of up to 350 kW with DC fast charging, taking just 18 minutes to recharge from 10-80%.
The E-GMP platform also supports a Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) feature that enables the Hyundai Ioniq 6 to power other electrical appliances through an adapter.
READ MORE:
3 new Hyundai models teased for 2023 – Ioniq 6, Santa Fe & Tucson, is that you?
Performance wise, the all-new Hyundai Ioniq 6 is offered in both single- and dual-motor configurations, with the most powerful variant delivering up to
 239 kW (320 hp)
 and
 650 Nm
 of torque, translating to a century sprint time of
 5.1 seconds
.
The exact configurations and availability for the Malaysian market will have to wait until its official launch, but some of the globally-available equipment include the Parametric Pixel exterior lighting, twin 12-inch displays with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, as well as the SmartSense suite of advanced driver assistance systems.


McLaren to reveal a Ferrari 812 Superfast rival in May, luxury GT

After the reveal of the
McLaren 600LT Spider
 in January, McLaren is gearing up for yet another product launch in May. This time, an all-new model that will enter the British supercar maker into the luxury Grand Tourer segment.
Before you bring out your pitchforks saying that the
legendary F1
 and
Speedtail
 are McLaren’s GT offerings, remember those are
hyper
GTs – emphasis on the hyper. The yet to be named model will be a rival to the likes of
Ferrari 812 Superfast
 and
Bentley Continental GT
.
McLaren did reveal that
the luxury GT will feature a mid-engine layout powered by the M840T 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged
V8. The new car combines competition levels of performance with the highest of
refinement for long distance journeys and agility that the company claims, “never
experienced before in the luxury GT segment”.
Judging from the camouflaged
test mule, it appears that the new car will feature a sleek silhouette similar
to the 720S with unique headlamp design and a bulkier rear profile. McLaren
also said that the cabin of the new luxury GT will feel spacious, uncluttered
and modern with only authentic, high quality materials employed.


McLaren’s new boss is open to crossovers and other body styles, but won’t make a “classic SUV”

It really is inevitable, isn’t it? After holding out for what seems like an eternity,
McLaren
 could now be the next supercar maker to turn to the dark side. Speaking to
Autocar UK
 in an exclusive interview, new McLaren Automotive boss Michael Leiters said that they are open to launching an SUV, and the carmaker is now actively investigating what form such a model may take.
Leiters is no stranger to SUVs, having overseen two launches of such models, one in Ferrari (as Chief Technology Officer), and one in Porsche. “I love SUVs […] I think it’s a really important market,” Leiters says. “It still is, and it continues to grow. It’s very attractive as a market segment.”
The CEO says that McLaren will not be building one just because he likes it, however. “What we have to understand as McLaren is, ‘how can we find a product that is in line with our DNA?’. We shouldn’t do a classic SUV,” he added, insisting that the model is still very much in the discussion phase, and McLaren is also open to other ideas and models instead of, or in addition to, an SUV.
Why the sudden change of heart from McLaren? At the end of the day, it always comes down to money, especially after seeing its competitors post record-breaking sales figures led by crossovers and SUVs.
RELATED:
Ferrari is making a new V12 engine for the Purosangue SUV
Porsche delivered more cars in 2021 than at any point in its 91-year history, with the
Macan
 and
Cayenne
 together accounting for well over its 300,000 sales. In contrast, the 911 only accounted for 38,464 units.
The
Lamborghini Urus
 is now the Italian marque’s
best-selling model of all time
, and the
DBX
 also made up half of all Aston Martin global sales in 2021 – and that’s just in its first full year on sale.
Leiters said that a McLaren SUV will have a knock-on effect onto its current range of sports cars, as it would lead to greater brand awareness and acceptance. He added that at Porsche, many of their Cayenne customers ended up buying a 911 too.
The advancement of its own electric technology and
carbon-fibre chassis
also allowed McLaren to experiment with different sizes, proportions, and body styles.
ALSO READ:
McLaren unveils new carbon fibre tub for their upcoming electrified cars
McLaren’s first electrified series-production model, the Artura.
Read our review here
.
Rumours are rife about McLaren entering into a partnership with another major carmaker, with
talks with BMW
 and Audi known to have taken place. The McLaren SUV may be one of the first models to spawn from said partnership. Leiters confirmed that McLaren was interested in working with a partner, although he clarifies that no deal was imminent.
“You have two sides of a partnership, one is technology and one is financial,” he said. “And if you find both in one, definitely that will be the best. But the first thing is to have a technology partner to create synergies. But it has to be the right partner.”
“We have to maintain our DNA; I’m not interested in any partner which gives me only ‘me too’ technology. So the question is to find the right partner; the question is not to find a partner,” Leiters added.


Mitsubishi models in Japan to ride on Nissan platforms from 2026

The next-generation Mitsubishi cars for sale in Japan will use platforms from Nissan as the former plans to stop the development of new car platforms specifically for their home market. The current Mitsubishi eK Kei car is already a joint venture between Mitsubishi and Nissan.
Platforms
, which not just includes the chassis but also the electrical architecture, are the highest expenditure for any automaker, contributing up to half the vehicle development cost. They are usually used for over a decade in the model’s lifecycle as well as spread upon a few body types, such as the
Mitsubishi Lancer
 sedan and the
Mitsubishi ASX
 crossover.
The 2022 Subaru WRX lives on! So what is the reason for the delay for even a mild Mitsubishi Lancer Evo? Here from MMC themselves here.
As the shift to legislation for zero-emission vehicles exponentially increases, a medium-sized automaker such as Mitsubishi Motors does not have the resources to fund research and development for multiple platforms and powertrain solutions.
Japanese news portal
Nikkei Asia
 shared that by 2026, Mitsubishi Motors will offer Kei cars as well as SUVs and vans using Nissan platforms and powertrains for their home market of Japan. The exterior and interior will still be Mitsubishi’s own design and flavour, as seen in the differences in the Mitsubishi eK and Nissan Dayz Kei car joint venture project.
The first phase of the next-generation platform sharing has already started, with the all-new
2021 Mitsubishi Outlander
 sharing many technologies and you’ve guessed it, the platform with the all-new
2021 Nissan X-Trail
.
Dropping the budget for a relatively small volume product and adopting an ally’s technology will allow Mitsubishi to focus on further research and development on electric vehicle technologies. The plan is to reduce the current count of eight platforms to just four by March 2026, two of which is specifically for us here in the ASEAN region.
As the
Mitsubishi Triton
 pick-up is a huge sales volume and profit contributor to the company, it is no surprise that this will be prioritised with rumours that the all-new Nissan Navara will share the pick-up platform. The second is probably the
electrified version
 of the
Mitsubishi Xpander
 MPV that currently enjoying brisk sales in the region.
The remaining two platforms are reported to be co-developed with Nissan offering large portions of electrified propulsion such as plug-in hybrid technology as well as fully-electric.
Other Japanese companies have also embarked on platform sharing and cooperation towards the shift to a line-up of zero-emission vehicles. Toyota and Subaru will offer their first EV in the form of the
bZ4X
 and
Solterra
 SUV, while
Honda has teamed up
 with General Motors (GM) in the US to introduce their range of EVs.
Source:
Nikkei.com


Proton now has Malaysia’s largest parking lot bi-facial solar panel facility

Proton
 has long committed itself to reducing its carbon footprint in its entire production change, evident from the launch of its five-phase Proton Green Wheel and Green Policy back in 2015.
They’ve now kick-started phase four of the project by unveiling its new solar power initiative at the Tanjung Malim plant, which will help the national carmaker reduce its CO2 emissions by up to 11,536 tonnes a year, while also generating extra utility cost savings.
The solar project consists of a 23.4 acre-sized covered parking lot, equipped with 20,544 bi-facial solar panels, alongside extra solar panels mounted on its factory rooftop. Combined, the solar power initiative can generate up to 12 MWp (Megawatt peak), which is enough to meet up to 25% of the plant’s total power consumption.
The covered parking lot, which serves as Proton’s motor pool car park, will provide parking spaces for 2,880 cars, and is used as a transit point for cars produced at Tanjung Malim before being distributed to dealers and outlets nationwide. And if you’re a fan of weird and obscure facts, Proton says that it now has the biggest parking lot bi-facial solar panel facility in Malaysia!
ALSO READ: Proton to import and distribute Smart EVs in Malaysia and Thailand
In case you’re wondering, bi-facial means the panels can also pick up reflected sunlight from the ground as well as cars parked underneath the panels, significantly increasing the efficiency of the panels by area covered. The panels also provide shaded car storage, to help protect the newly produced cars from the elements.
Built and commissioned by Pekat Group and its associate MFP Solar, the parking lot solar panel facility can generate up to 9MWp by itself, which means Proton could potentially save up to RM4.39 million a year on its energy bill, with a further saving of RM1.46 million available via the 3MWp generated by the factory roof-mounted panels.
“Proton’s solar panel facility is part of the company’s green initiative as the company takes up the challenge to help Malaysia meet the government’s target of becoming a carbon-neutral nation by 2050,” said
Proton Deputy CEO, Roslan Abdullah
.
“Aside from generating utility savings, the use of a clean and renewable energy source will allow us to remove 11,536 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere, benefitting the local community and ecosystem at Tanjung Malim,” he added.
Following the new solar energy facility, Proton is aiming to digitise all of its energy data on the cloud in phase five, using AI and Big Data Analytics technology to provide the company’s energy managers with energy consumption predictions and prescriptive measures, helping to reduce energy consumption across all plants and office facilities.
Proton says that across the five-year period between 2015 and 2020, its green initiatives have achieved an energy bill savings of RM20 million, or equivalent to 55,000 MWh in savings and over 40,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions reduction.


The Bentley Bentayga Mulliner is probably the single poshest SUV around

Not impressed by the “standard” Bentley Bentayga? Perhaps sir would be delighted to discover the announcement of the Bentley Bentayga Mulliner by the good chaps of Bentley Motors from the town of Crewe.
This is the
crème de la crème
 (or is it the creamiest of butter, if you catch my drift) of all SUVs, as Bentley boldly declares their Bentayga Mulliner as the
ultimate luxury SUV
. Naturally, the flagship Bentayga Mulliner is powered by the biggest block of the lot, the
6.0-litre W12
, because the
4.0-litre triple-charged V8 diesel
 variant basically reeks from its buttocks.
To refresh your memory, the W12 generates a healthy
600 hp
 and a heady
900 Nm
 of torque to get the
all-wheel drive
 leviathan from
nought to hundred in 4.1 seconds
. And don’t forget that the Bentayga is also the
world’s fastest SUV
, maxing out at
301 km/h
. Blimey indeed.
Externally, the Bentayga Mulliner differs little from the non-Mulliner Bentaygas, apart from the seven-spoke
22-inch Paragon wheels
. The
Duo Tone paintwork
 also makes its debut on the Bentayga Mulliner, but eventually the lesser-Bentaygas can be specced with this option from April onwards.
However, the Mulliner touches are more obvious inside. The front and rear seats are wrapped in different coloured leather, but they’re finished with matching
contrast stitching
 and
Mulliner embroidery
 to remind you that you’re sitting in the poshest Bentayga. Meanwhile the
Ombré Burr Walnut Veneer
 looks as delicious as it sounds, where the Burr Walnut trim seamlessly appear from deep black as it wraps towards the back of the cabin.
If you prefer to lounge in the back, the
Mulliner Bottle Cooler
 inside the rear center console holds your bubbly together with a couple of bespoke
Cumbria Crystal flutes
. Completing the ultimate SUV experience is
customisable mood lighting
 and a
20-speaker 1,950-watt Naim for Bentley Audio system
.
But those are just the standard items. The option list for the Bentayga Mulliner extends to the
Linley Hamper by Mulliner
 for that ultra haute cuisine from behind the Bentayga. It includes a refrigerator (yes, a fridge!), fine Linley china cutlery, crockery and crystal glass, and storage area for dry goods. Also not forgetting is the world’s most expensive in-car clock, the
Mulliner Tourbillon by Breitling
 with its own winding mechanism.
The Bentley Bentayga Mulliner will be produced in “very limited numbers”, and it will premier at the
2017 Geneva Motor Show
 in a special one-off example featuring a unique inlay to the front fascia depicting the stunning Monte Rosa mountain range in exquisite hand-crafted marquetry. Fancy certainly is an understatement.
IMAGE GALLERY


Chevy Malaysia launches Sales and Service Campaign for Hari Raya

The sole and exclusive authorised distributor of Chevrolet in Malaysia, Naza Quest (a subsidiary of Naza Motor) just announced that the sales and service campaign has kicked off for the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations that’s just around the corner.
Owners of Chevy cars such as the
Malibu
, Sonic, Captiva, Cruze, Orlando
 and the
Colorado
 pick up truck model will receive a
 free 40-point service check
 and a
free diagnostic scan
 when they send in their Chevys in for a check–up before embarking on the annual pilgrimage back home.
Now, what if you don’t happen to own a Chevy ? Naza Quest is holding out
 a limited time offer
 from
19 June till 31 July
 for
certain models
 which offers
zero downpayment
 and
free car insurance
. It gets better with
free road tax
,
cash rebates
 plus
free shopping and petrol vouchers
. Not a bad deal at all.
In addition to the promotion, Naza Quest is also offering
two lucky participants
 the opportunity to “loan”
 a Malibu or Cruze for Hari Raya
through their Facebook contest. All you need to do is just hit the
 ‘Like’
 button on their
Facebook Page
 and post a creative picture with a caption based on the theme and hashtag #rayawithchevrolet.


Review: Renault Captur TCe 120 all set to capture the middle ground

Compact crossovers have been making waves on our shores of late, with the
Honda HR-V
 leading the segment sales chart, while the
Mazda CX-3
 continues to build up its presence on our roads. The Renault Captur has achieved similar success in European markets, being the best selling compact crossover in a segment that has grown 30 percent in the first quarter of 2016.
With a proven winner in hand, TC Euro Cars have decided to bring in the contender and take the fight to its Japanese rivals. Question is, does it have what it takes? To find out, we took the Captur out for a spin, and here’s what we think of it.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Renault Captur TCe 120 EDC
Engine
1,197cc; 4-cylinder Turbo Sequential MPI
Transmission
6-speed Efficient Dual Clutch Automatic
Max Power
118 hp @ 4,900 rpm
Max Torque
190 Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Price (OTR with GST and Insurance)
RM120,669.63
EXTERIOR
The Captur may be mistaken as the Clio at first glance as it sports the distinctive front end and the large vertical diamond that is part of the Renault’s design language. Free-flowing lines add curves to the car, which in turn bulks up its appearance. Subtle application of chrome detailing on different parts of the car adds a touch of class to it, while the black plastic cladding gives it a more rugged look.

Up front, there’s a pair of
halogen projector headlights
, with the
LED daytime running lights
 housed right above the fog lights. Turning indicators are integrated into the wing mirrors. At the back, conventional bulbs are used in the taillights, nothing fancy but gets the job done. A rear fog light can also be found on the rear bumper. In case you are wondering, the rear door handles are not hidden like its supermini sibling.
My favourite part of the exterior is its
dual-tone colours
. There are two choices – Diamond Black and Ivory – for the top half of the car including the side mirrors, where it is painted from the A-pillar towards the roof, and all the way to the integrated rear spoiler at the back of the car. While the Ivory roof can only be paired with Pacific Blue for the bottom half of the car, there are three options – Arizona Orange, Ivory and Beige – to match with the Diamond Black roof.

The car rides on a set of dual tone
17-inch black diamond-cut wheels
 wrapped in
205/55 R17
 rubbers, it actually looks quite nice if you ask me.
INTERIOR
The Captur’s dashboard gets its design from the Clio, but the dual barrels that look like sad eyes in the Clio has morphed into a fat butterfly on the Captur. The gear selection and huge speedo reading constantly reminds me not to go over the speed limit, while other useful information can be found above it. However, I had to look up the handbook to find the buttons to scroll through the information display. It is on the tip end of the right stalk from the steering column, where controls of the wipers are.
The steering wheel is leather wrapped, the top half of it. The bottom half is glossy plastic, which is a fingerprint magnet. Buttons for the cruise control and speed limiter settings can be found on the steering. Controls for the multimedia head unit is on a stalk hidden behind the steering wheel, which I incidentally stumbled upon when my knee knocked on it.

On the center of the dashboard, you will find the
MediaNav 7-inch touchscreen head unit with navigation
 and comes with four speakers plus two tweeters. I had no problem hooking up my phone to the system via Bluetooth, and the USB port on top of the screen makes it easier for me to charge my phone while keeping it out of sight in the closed storage compartment on top of the dashboard. The buttons to adjust the settings for the
automatic climate control
 are right below the screen, and once I set it to Auto I can easily forget about the other buttons.
Further down, there is this slot to hold your
car key card
 (yes, a credit card sized device that is a little too thick to fit into my wallet), and next to it is the
Push Start button
. Every time when I have to start the car, I have to reach down to the button, and I actually have long hands. The
Eco
 button and the speed-limiter cum cruise-control button are next to the hand brake, and you really need to train yourself to reach the buttons without looking. All in all, the positions of the buttons seem like an afterthought to me.

Leather seats are not offered in the Captur, instead you will find
removable fabric seat covers
, with three different options – Ivory and Beige, Orange and Blue – to match with the shade of the car. Instead of having pockets on the back of the front seat, several stretchy strings are available to hold items that are big enough not to slip through the holes in between. Now that should prevent the back seat passengers from hiding candy wrappers in the pockets. The seats are comfortable, but I find that it lacks the lumbar support to back me through longer drives.
Rear passengers can enjoy the ample knee room, which Renault claims to be about
216mm large
. The boot space of this French crossover is huge, capable of filling
377 litres
 of load, and can be further enlarged up to
455 litres
 when the back seat is folded down. Furthermore, the flat-foldable rear seats and the
slidable bench
 creates different spaces to meet different situations. Another clever feature that is worth mentioning, is the
adjustable boot floor
 that can be raised to sill level, creating a hidden compartment to conceal things from prying eyes.

PERFORMANCE
To satisfy the power-hungry Malaysians, TC Euro Cars brought in the most powerful Captur Renault has to offer – the
Renault Captur TCe 120 EDC
.
This compact crossover is powered by a
1.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder direct injection
 petrol engine. Renault calls it the
 Turbo Control Efficiency (TCe)
 engine and claims that it uses F1 technology to make it both powerful and frugal.
It is paired to a
 six-speed Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) automatic
 gearbox, which sends up to
118 hp
(or 120 PS, hence the name) to the front wheels at just
4,900 rpm
. Maximum torque of
190 Nm
 can be had at a low
2,000 rpm
, and the car sips just
5.4 litres of petrol per 100 km
.
There is also an
ECO mode
 to please environmentalists, which the manufacturer claims will modify the vehicle’s performance characteristics and
reduce fuel consumption by up to 10 percent
 when activated.
On the safety side, the Captur comes standard with
four airbags
 (dual front and dual head- and chest- level),
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR)
,
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
,
Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
 and
Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
. Automatic dipped headlights and automatic wipers are standard features too.
THE DRIVE
I was not expecting much from the car after reading the spec sheet but I was surprised how good it drives from the moment I stepped on the accelerator. On the highway, the Captur feels steady and composed when driven at speed limit (with the help of the speed limiter). Overtaking is also a breeze as peak torque comes as low as 2,000 rpm and the car is supermini light.
When ECO mode is activated, the car immediately feels like it has lost some power, and the climate control automatically adjusts the temperature to a warmer setting. Eventually I had to press the accelerator harder and downshift to maintain the power, which actually defeats the purpose of the ECO mode. The best time to use this is when you’re not in a rush when driving in the city, and this helps soften irregular throttle modulation cars typically suffer in stop-and-go traffic.
Gear shifting is smooth and you get that distinctive shifting sound from dual clutch gearboxes. The automatic gearing ratio is tuned for fuel economy so I prefer to shift the gears myself via the shift stick. It is a pity that there were no paddle shifters equipped. The infamous jerky shifting of dual clutch gearboxes is not obvious, but that doesn’t mean that the car is free from it.
Ride is smooth and the suspension is tuned more for comfort, so I was not prepared for the amount of body roll as I was exiting the highway into a steep curve while carrying some speed. It was then I realise  that I wasn’t driving a supermini, but a compact crossover instead!
The only gripe I have with the car is its steering during parking, which I think is important for a car meant to be used mostly in the city.
IS THIS CAR FOR YOU?
Everyone seems to want a compact crossover nowadays and we have some good options to choose from. If you are in the market and have not been swayed by either the Honda HR-V or Mazda CX-3, then it is worth your time to seriously consider the Renault Captur.
The Captur is like the middle child of a three-sibling family, where the eldest always sets the expectations and the youngest gets all the attention. However, we have always overlooked the fact that the middle child is usually the quiet achiever. Once you take a closer look at the Captur, you will know what I mean.
COMPARISONS
The HR-V has ticked most of the boxes on the checklist of Malaysian buyers seeking practicality and space in a small package. On the other hand, the CX-3 has met the expectations of those after an engaging drive, while looking cool at the same time.
While the HR-V and CX-3 combine a B-segment platform with a C-segment powertrain, the Captur opts to retain both the platform and the powertrain from its B-segment sibling, the Clio. As a result, the Captur does not differ much from the Clio in terms of dimensions, and it is lighter too.
The Captur has a tough fight in its hands, so let us examine whether it can capture the middle ground with what it has to offer.
Renault Captur
Honda HR-V
Mazda CX-3
ENGINE
Type
4-cyl turbo, direct injection
inline 4-cyl SOHC i-VTEC
4-cylinder direct injection, DOHC
Displacement
cc
1,197cc
1,799cc
1,998cc
Max Power
hp/rpm
118/4,900
140/6,500
154/6,000
Max Torque
Nm/rpm
190/2.000
172/4,300
204/2,800
STEERING
Type
Electronic Power Steering
Electronic Power Steering
Electronic Power Steering
DRIVETRAIN
Transmission
6-speed Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC)
7-speed Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT)
6-speed automatic
SUSPENSION
Front
MacPherson Strut
MacPherson Strut
MacPherson Strut
Rear
Torsion Beam
Torsion Beam
Torsion Beam
BRAKES
Front
Ventilated Disc
Ventilated Disc
Ventilated Disc
Rear
Drum
Solid Disc
Solid Disc
TYRE & WHEELS
Tyre
205/55 R17
215/60 R16
215/50 R18
Wheels
17-inch Alloy
16-inch Alloy
18-inch Alloy
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
Overall Length
mm
4,122mm
4,294mm
4,275mm
Overall Width
mm
1,778mm
1,772mm
1,765mm
Overall Height
mm
1,567mm
1,605mm
1,535mm
Wheelbase
mm
2,606mm
2,610mm
2,570mm
Max Kerb Weight
kg
1,180 kg
1,249 kg
1,211 kg
Luggage Capacity (VDA)
Litres
455 litres
437 litres
350 litres
FUEL
Tank Capacity
Litres
45 litres
50 litres
48 litres
Consumption
litres per 100km
5.4 litres
N\A
6.6 litres
PERFORMANCE
Max Speed
km/h
192 km/h
188 km/h
192 km/h
0 to 100 km/h
sec
10.9
N\A
N\A
Price
RM
RM120,669.63 (OTR including Insurance & GST)
RM121,500.00 (OTR including insurance & GST)
RM135,082.99 (OTR including insurance & GST)
WOULD I BUY IT?
The compact crossover is a new segment that tries to attract the younger urban generation. For someone who is approaching middle age and grew up in a rural area where a car means four doors and a boot, this car is really not my cup of tea. Rather, I would get a supermini for my city commute and a proper 4-wheel-drive for my off-road excursions. For everything else, there are always rental services when I need it.
IMAGE GALLERY


Mercedes-AMG A 45 S in M’sia now without Edition 1, CLA 45 S gets head-up display

The Mercedes-AMG A 45 S was
launched here in Malaysia
 exclusively in a limited ‘Edition 1’ trim, which brought onto the car several additional exterior and interior features. For those still holding out on buying the pocket rocket, unfortunately the ‘Edition 1’ has now run out, and will be replaced by the “regular” A 45 S from here on out.
However, just like its predecessor, the new “regular” model still gets most of the kit that the Edition 1 model offered. Both the
Aerodynamic Package
 (additional aerodynamic fins and splitter on the front apron, rear spoiler, and enhanced rear diffuser) and
AMG Night Package
 (blacked out trims) have been retained on the new model, with the only noticeable difference being the removal of the Edition 1 decals.
The “regular” Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4 Matic+ also gets the iconic Panamericana grille up front, and the 19-inch alloy wheels are unchanged from the Edition 1 variant, matte black and all. Although the Edition 1 kit is no more, exterior colour choices still remain the same from before – you only get to choose between Sun Yellow and Designo Mountain Grey Magno.
Inside, the new regular model comes without the Edition 1 “dark aluminium” trim on the dashboard, replaced by a light longitudinal-grain aluminium trim. The Edition 1 steering wheel, wrapped completely in Dinamica microfibre, is also now replaced with a more “regular” AMG Performance unit that includes a touch of Nappa leather.
Otherwise, the new variant is essentially unchanged from the “Edition 1” variant. This includes all the mechanical bits, such as the 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four engine, making
421 hp
 and
500 Nm
of torque, paired to an eight-speed DCT gearbox for a century sprint time of just
3.9 seconds
.
It still comes with a Drift Mode!
The new 2021 Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4Matic+ is priced at
RM437,673.41
, on the road, without insurance, and inclusive of the sales tax exemptions (until the 30th of June), making it roughly RM5.6k cheaper than before.
Meanwhile, the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S 4Matic+ has also been updated for the 2021 model-year, with a new price tag of
RM453,374.19
 on the road, without insurance, and inclusive of the sales tax exemptions – approximately RM19.6k higher than before (based on the most-recent SST-exempted pricing).
For that extra dough, you now get a new head-up display on the dashboard, displaying key driving information closer to the driver’s  natural line of sight – particularly helpful when you’re having a little bit of fun.
Otherwise, the car is essentially unchanged from before, so do make sure to check out the full facts and figures from our launch coverage,
here
.
We’ve also
compared the all-new Mercedes-AMG A 45 S
 (in Edition 1 form) against its predecessor, so make sure to give that a read before you splash down the cash!


UMW Toyota restores classic KE10 to celebrate 12 generations of the Corolla

The Toyota Corolla has become one of the most recognisable nameplates in history. In fact, with more than 46 million units sold in over 150 countries, the Corolla is also one of the best-selling cars in history, even surpassing the Volkswagen Beetle in 1997.
The Corolla traces its roots back to the KE10, first launched in Japan in 1966, and locally in 1968 when it rolled off the assembly lines of the
Champion Motors plant in Shah Alam
. As a celebration of the illustrious history of the Corolla, UMW Toyota set out to give the KE10 a new life with a complete restoration.
The Toyota Corolla KE10 used in this restoration has been sitting dormant for the past 15 years. As a result, the engine was completely seized, and the transmission non-functional. After a thorough check by project lead Khairil Anuar Sarmat, who’s a senior technical consultant in the company, it was found that two pistons had completely snapped.
Khairil initially anticipated issues in sourcing the replacement parts, but fortunately was able to find most of it online, mostly shipped from the Northern states interestingly. As for parts that they were not able to source, UMW Toyota’s engineering department took on the responsibility of refurbishing it into a working state.
“If we want to build something, we must have the interest. When we have the interest, the fun will follow, and then finally we can achieve our target,” said Kahiril.
While the KE10 restoration is a one-off project, its spirit will live on with the
12th-generation Toyota Corolla
, which was launched late last year. We had a drive in the all-new Toyota Corolla during its launch, and
first impressions were pretty good
. Stay tuned for more Toyota Corolla content coming soon!


Perodua warns of sales scams involving Perodua vehicles

As the case with many
popular car models in Malaysia
, an extensive wait list is inevitable due to the high demand. As such, there are irresponsible individuals who take advantage of the situation and scam eager buyers with the promise of “quick deliveries” on the condition that they pay a certain “booking fee”.
Perodua has just released a Public Service Announcement (PSA) alerting the public to be extra cautious when making vehicle purchase transactions in view of recent arrests regarding a scam involving Perodua vehicles.
According to a report, the culprit posed as a Perodua sales representative to sell Perodua vehicles online and had scammed victims of tens of thousands of Ringgits.
Perodua’s most popular model, the
Perodua Myvi
Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd Managing Director Dato’ Dr Zahari Husin said, “This scam involved the sale of new Perodua vehicles as well as Perodua Pre-Owned Vehicles (POV). Perodua and the affected parties have lodged a police report on the matter and are extending our full cooperation to the relevant authorities. Perodua urges the public to be cautious in order to avoid becoming victims of such scams”.
Dato’ Dr Zahari advised the public to not make payments to personal accounts of sales representatives as the standard operating procedure is to
make payments to Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd or its authorised dealers
. He also asked all customers to insist on
original receipts
 when making any form of payments.
“We would like to inform the public that at present, genuine Perodua Certified POV cars are only available for sale at our Perodua Kuala Lumpur outlet located along Jalan Pahang,” added Dato’ Dr Zahari.


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia sells 5,913 cars in 1H 2017, C-Class most popular model!

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) once again reaffirms their lead in the premium car sector by selling approximately 5,913 cars in the first six months of 2017. Their market share currently stands at 2.2 percent.
That’s just 104 units down (6,017 cars) from the same period last year, but remember they had the
W212 E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid
 on sale at the time. The succeeding E-Class hybrid, the fully-specced
W213 E 350 e AMG Line
 will be introduced within the next two months and costs below RM400k thanks to CKD and EEV incentives.

As it stands, the single most popular model is the W205 C-Class, with 2,075 units collectively sold. The
E-Class (now also CKD)
 follows closely behind with 1,358 units, whereas the S-Class at 230 units. The Compact Cars range –
A-Class
, CLA and
GLA
 – sold about 739 units, the SUV range at 1,233 units and the Dream Cars range at 238 units.
MBM also recorded their best ever sales record in history, selling 1,210 cars in June 2017. That’s 7 cars more than the same month last year, by the way.

To date, MBM is represented by 31 dealerships nationwide which altogether serviced 61,850 vehicles in 1H 2017. That’s a 17 percent growth over the same period last year. At the same time, the company emerged on top of the Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) After Sales charts.
As for the second half of the year, the company plans to introduce a handful more cars, including two limited edition models.


Pre-registered Golf GTI for RM188k, only at Volkswagen Fest 2018

Volkswagen Fest is back for the second year and in the 2018 instalment, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has much more in store for VW fans to celebrate their love for the brand. Volkswagen Fest 2018 will take place from 12 to 14 October (Friday to Sunday) at Setia City Convention Centre. On Friday and Saturday, the festival will run from 10 am till midnight while the closing time on Sunday at 10 pm.
Visitors will get the opportunity to test drive VPCM’s selected range of models as well as enjoy amazing deals and rebates on new and pre-registered cars. Pre-registered units of the
Vento
 start from RM55,888 while the
Golf GTI
 can be yours from as low as RM188,888. There will also be free petrol vouchers worth RM3,000 on selected pre-registered cars.
As for those wanting to sell off their current vehicle for a Volkswagen, there will also be a free car evaluation and quick loan checks by a partner bank to assist in their hire purchase applications. Existing Volkswagen owners will also enjoy a free 20-point check on their cars at the festival. What’s more, VPCM will be offering a special aftersales membership for the first 200 owners with Volkswagen vehicles that are four years and older.
Other highlights at the festival include an outdoor movie screening of Herbie Fully Loaded (2005) on 12 October (Friday) 8.30 pm as well as a mini-concert featuring popular artists Paperplane Pursuit, Talitha Tan and Bunkface on 13 October (Sunday) from 7.45 pm onwards. For fitness buffs, a sunrise Yoga and HIIT workout session is available on 14th October, Sunday morning from 8 am till 10 am.


Malaysia, Singapore sign cooperation agreements for EV charging standards

Malaysia and Singapore have inked three new agreements yesterday, including two for the cooperation in the digital economy and green economy. The agreements were signed between Malaysia’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and Singapore Ministry of Trade and Industry, during an official visit led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The green economy partnership agreement marks the first of its kind for Malaysia, and is expected to strengthen collaboration to decarbonise both countries’ industries, and help businesses and workers seize more opportunities in the green economy,
The Straits Times
 reports.
Image: Anwar Ibrahim/Facebook
Elements of the cooperation will include setting of standards and deployment of charging stations for
electric vehicles (EVs)
, as well as exploring joint projects in low-carbon solutions, particularly hydrogen and carbon capture, utilisation, and storage.
Both governments will also exchange information on carbon markets, explore collaboration opportunities in carbon credits projects, and the development of other new and renewable energy-related technology standards to support domestic and regional decarbonisation.
READ MORE:
AC/DC? Common EV terms and jargons explained
Image: Anwar Ibrahim/Facebook
Currently, there are no set standards in Malaysia when it comes to EV charging. However, aside from some of the earlier models, most carmakers here have opted for a Type 2 (and CCS for DC) connection for their vehicles. And as a result, most charging stations in Malaysia are also equipped with the Type 2 charging cables.
With a set of rules in place, EV carmakers who intend to bring their vehicles into Malaysia will likely have to abide by the standard established by the government in order to pass a Vehicle Type Approval (VTA). This will certainly result in lesser confusion for the end users, however several importers who are bringing in Tesla cars from other countries might be affected by the new code.
RELATED:
Shell and Porsche announce cross-country 180 kW charging network, six stations in M’sia
Image: Anwar Ibrahim/Facebook
As for digital economy, the agreement will see cooperation between the two countries in areas such trade facilitation, cross-border data flows, and electronic payments. The parties also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the cooperation on issues such as personal data protection and cybersecurity.
In a Facebook post, PM Anwar Ibrahim said, “Although our cooperation has achieved a lot of success in the past few decades, I believe that there is still great potential to improve the relationship between the two countries to a higher level for the benefit of the people.”
The visiting delegation also included Minister of Transport Anthony Loke, Minister of Foreign Affairs Zambry Abdul Kadir, Ministry of Communications and Digital Fahmi Fadzil, Premier of Sarawak Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari, as well as the Menteri Besar of Johor Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim added that the agenda discussed during the meeting will continue to be refined by relevant agencies and ministries of the two countries in the coming months.


Volvo Car Malaysia launches the new XC60 with Drive-E Powertrain, RM289k [+Video]

Volvo’s new
Drive-E
 powertrain made its debut appearance in Malaysia, residing under the facelifted XC60 body. Revealed by
 Volvo Car Malaysia
‘s Managing Director Keith Schäfer in Glenmarie, the refreshed XC60 is
assembled locally
 at Swedish Motor Assemblies in Shah Alam, and currently offered in the
T5
 guise with a base price of
RM288,888
. A more powerful T6 version of the same Drive-E engine will be introduced by next year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQjEryNxYJw
QUICK FACTS
Name
Volvo XC60 T5 Drive-E
Segment
Compact SUV
Engine
1,969cc In-line 4 Turbo
Max Power
245hp @ 5,500 rpm
Max Torque
350Nm @ 1,500–4,800 rpm
Price
RM 288,888

The
Drive-E
 powertrain marks a new milestone for Volvo, where future Volvos claimed to deliver a mix of power, driveability and fuel efficiency from it. Formerly known as Volvo Engine Architecture (VEA) during its development phase, the
2.0-litre four cylinder
 engine was developed in-house and built at Volvo Car Group’s high-tech engine plant in Skövde, Sweden.
EXTERIOR
 The facelift brings a cleaner look to the XC60. The grille is wider than before and the headlamp design is simpler, with the auxiliary light strips moved down to the edge of the front bumper and function as the
daytime running lights
.

At the back, a horizontal chrome strip has been added on top of the number plate garnish. There are still
 twin tailpipes
 on the facelifted XC60, but they are now trapezoidal as opposed to the round pipes on the pre-facelift XC60. The lower part of the body loses the unpainted black cladding thus making the XC60 less utilitarian.
The rest of the car remains the same including the silver roof rails, and the new XC60 rides on
17-inch
 ‘Valder’ wheels as standard fitment. The side mirrors have lost their cameras, as the new
 Blind Spot Information System
 (BLIS) now uses radar to scan the surroundings.
INTERIOR

Nothing much has been changed on the inside, with familiar dashboard design and Shimmer Graphite aluminium inlay on the floating center console. However, the steering wheel gains a nice pair of
paddle shifters
, and the
 illuminated gearknob
‘s face is now finished in black.
Adaptive Digital Display
 as previously seen on the V40 reviewed
here
 is available at a cost.

Leather
 is offered as standard along with
8-speaker
 High Performance Multimedia
 audio system
 that supports Bluetooth and DVD. In the back there are aircond vents on the B-pillars for the rear passengers and the outer rear seats comes integrated with two-stage
booster cushions
 as well as
ISOFIX
 mounts.
Occupants will be protected by
Side Impact Protection System
 (SIPS),
Whiplash Protection System
 (WHIPS),
Roll Over Protection System
 (ROPS), two
front airbags
, front
side airbags
, and
Inflatable Curtain
 (IC).
City Safety
 collision prevention system that automatically brakes the vehicle has also been updated to work at speeds up to
50km/h
.
PERFORMANCE

The new Drive-E powertrain takes center stage in the new XC60. The T5 badge now no longer means it has a 5-cylinder engine under the bonnet, instead a new
4-cylinder turbocharged
 engine is now on duty to power the XC60 T5.
The
Drive-E
 engine offers incredible flexibility from only a single displacement of
1,969cc
. With varying states of tune, it will replace the previous four, five, and six-cylinders engine from the previous T4, T5, and T6.
In this T5 guise, it is
more powerful
 than the previous 5-cylinder engine in the outgoing T5, providing
 245 hp
 at 5,500 rpm and
350 Nm
 of torque 1,500–4,800 rpm. Combined fuel consumption is rated at
6.7l/100km
.
Driving the front wheels via a new
8-speed Geartronic
 automatic gearbox, the XC60 T5 accelerates from
 0 to 100 km/h
 in
7.2 seconds
, with a top speed of
 210 km/h
.
Dynamic Stability and Traction Control
 (DSTC) with
 Advanced Stability Control
 is fitted to the XC60, with the inclusion of
Corner Traction Control
 by
Torque Vectoring
 that should reduce understeer in corners.
WHAT ELSE?

Volvo’s
5+5+5 extended coverage
 plan is included in the base price of
RM288,888
 which means five years
unlimited mileage warranty
, five years
free scheduled maintenance
, and five years
free Volvo On Call service
. On top of that, a number of optional packages can be had with the XC60 at a special discounted price until 31st August 2015.
Candor
 gives you four huge 20-inch wheels at
RM15,400
,
 Olav
 is a set of front and rear mouldings with running board and side step at
RM6,650
,
Sigrid
 buys you the bumper skid plates at
RM3,300
, and
Vidar
 Adaptive Digital Display can be had for
RM2,600
. The Twilight Bronze XC60 T5 you see here is decked out with the full
Viking Package
 that includes everything mentioned earlier and costs a cool
RM25,155
.
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY


Construction of Volkswagen’s first dedicated EV plant starts in China

Electrification is the future and Volkswagen is committed to being part of said future as the brand commence construction of their new dedicated factory for electric vehicles in Anting, China. The SAIC Volkswagen China plant will the first mass production site for e-cars under the Volkswagen Group.
Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, Herbert Diess said: “The Volkswagen Group, its brands and their Chinese joint venture partners focus consistently on sustainable mobility and push the transformation of the automotive industry in China and worldwide. In this way, we point out the high importance the Chinese market has for the Volkswagen Group.”
The plant will focus on building Volkswagen vehicles based on the
MEB (Modular Electric Drive Kit) platform
. The first car to roll out from the new plant will be an
electric SUV
 in 2020 and will focus on building medium- and large-sized pure electric SUVs, as well as battery systems.
The new 610,000 square meters facility is part of a joint venture between SAIC and Volkswagen, adopting a production network structure based on Industry 4.0, placing emphasis on automation and efficiency. The plant also utilises 27 types of environmentally-friendly technologies with a focus on water preservation, energy saving and carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) reduction, turning the factory into a veritable “Green Field Factory”.
The Anting factory has a planned annual capacity of 300,000 vehicles and will operate alongside the FAW-Volkswagen factory in Foshan, which opened this summer.


Proton sales down 32.2% in April 2022, blames chip shortage

The ongoing chip shortage is seemingly wreaking havoc for carmakers worldwide, including our very own Proton, as it just reported a 32.2% drop in sales for the month of April 2022 compared to the
previous month
.
The national carmaker sold a total of
 8,839 units
 (domestic and exports) in the month, which also translates to a 41.1% drop compared to the
same period last year
. Proton’s market share for the month is estimated at 15.6%, down from 18.6% in March, although the year-to-date market share remains largely unchanged at 17%.
Despite its lower sales figure in April, Proton still maintains that it’s the second-bestselling brand in Malaysia for YTD sales and market share. The company refrained from making the same claim for its monthly sales figure, however, suggesting that it may have fallen down the pecking order.
The April’s sales figure was primarily contributed, yet again, by the
Proton Saga
. A total of 4,579 units of the entry-level sedan were delivered in the month, bringing the YTD total up to 14,028 units. This will also be the current Saga’s last full month of sales, as Proton has announced that the 2022 Saga facelift will be unveiled in May.
Aside from the Saga, Proton also claims that it still led three market segments for the month of April, despite the downturn in sales. The
Proton X50
 was the bestseller for the B-segment SUVs with 1,554 units sold; the
X70
 for C-segment SUVs with 1,530 units sold, and the
Exora
 for C-segment MPVs, with 301 units sold.
“After two years of pandemic-affected sales, Malaysia’s automotive market continues to show strong growth potential in 2022, as evidenced by the long waiting list for new car deliveries,” commented Proton Edar CEO, Roslan Abdullah. “Proton is also trying to catch up to market demand, but we also must acknowledge being the most affected by chip supply issues.”
The Proton X70 is also used as police vehicles in Kenya.
Roslan reassures its customers that the company has secured its semiconductor supply for May and June, and is expecting a “quick turnaround” in the coming months. “The situation is still uncertain for the rest of the year and the global car industry is under pressure from rising costs, but the company is working on countermeasures against these issues to ensure our customers get the best products and value in Malaysia and abroad,” he added.
Proton’s export sales also fell sharply in April to 456 units, although year-to-date figures still represents a 109.7% increase compared to 2021, at 1,573 export units sold.
Pakistan
 was by far Proton’s biggest export market with YTD sales of 1,050 units, followed by
 Egypt
 at 172 units, and
Brunei
 at 138 units.


Universo Ferrari brings Maranello’s best to Sydney, Purosangue debuts

For the first time in the brand’s history, the world of
Ferrari
 was showcased outside of its hometown in Maranello. Through “Universo Ferrari”, the Italian brand took over Winx Stand at Royal Randwick Racecourse from November 26 to November 29. Lasting four days, the exhibition was open to the public on its last day.
The stars of the show were the
Ferrari Purosangue

and the
Ferrari Daytona SP3
. Making their debut for the first time in the Southern hemisphere, both cars were launched in Australia at the first-of-its-kind event by Ferrari.
A key consideration of Universo Ferrari is to inspire enthusiasts of the future and to engage all people inclusively. As such Ferrari invited students from the University of Technology Sydney Car Society and welcomed its members to the immersion experience. Proceeds from the ticket sales will be donated to ‘Save the Children’ which is Ferrari’s long-standing global charity partner.
The exhibition showcases Ferrari’s journey right from where it all began for the brand: Racing. The first room of the exhibition transports visitors into Scuderia Ferrari, the brand’s Formula 1 team. From there, visitors walk into “Ferrari Classiche” which is a space dedicated to the stories of Ferrari models that have become automotive icons and the factory experts who restore and maintain them to a perfect state.
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Next is a room dedicated to the “Ferrari lifestyle and spirit of competition” that delves into the customer racing programs of Corse Clienti and Competizioni GT. Also displayed at Ferrari Universo is a preview of the Ferrari Tailor Made personalisation program, which seeks to fulfil specific customer requests through endless customisation possibilities.
Representing the Ferrari Icona series at Universo Ferrari are the
Ferrari Monza SP2
 and the
Ferrari Daytona SP3
. The Icona series is the brand’s limited-production special edition series. The exhibition ends on the rooftop terrace where Ferrari’s first high-riding vehicle, the
Purosangue
 is displayed.
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At the event, Ferrari Chief Marketing & Commercial Officer, Enrico Galliera said, “Ferrari enjoys a time-honoured bond with the motoring enthusiasts in Australia, having been here for the last 70 years while the brand celebrates its 75th anniversary. It’s fitting that we share this occasion with our clients and fans by having this unique exhibition, thus bringing a piece of Maranello to Sydney”.
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GALLERY


Nissan introduces the AUTECH lineup in Japan – bring it to Malaysia!

Nissan announced that it would expand its series of “AUTECH-enhanced” vehicles in Japan beginning with the unveiling of the new Serena AUTECH minivan.
The new brand will co-exist with Nissan’s existing NISMO sub-brand. While NISMO cars draws from Nissan’s motorsports DNA, AUTECH will emphasise on premium craftsmanship, with the use of top quality materials and immaculate attention to detail.
Nissan recently announced
plans to expand its range of NISMO road cars
 which has already been extended, obviously,
to the GT-R
, Fairlady and even the March. On top of that, there’s even a
Nissan Serena NISMO launched just recently
. Like NISMO, the AUTECH extensions will be rolled out based on Nissan’s model lineup.
Nissan has also introduced the NISMO Heritage programme which will support owners of Nissan performance cars by offering new replacement parts for some of its heritage models – beginning with the
Nissan Skyline R32 GTR
.


BMW Concept 8 Series unveiled, looks like a major S Class coupe rival! [+Video]

Just a few weeks ago, BMW decided to do away with the
6 Series Coupe
 to make way for the new 8 Series. It appears that the sacrifice was worthwhile, because the next coupe is set to be more extravagant and lavish – the BMW Concept 8 Series.
Revealed at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, BMW’s flagship luxury coupe remains a concept for now. Which means technical details, dimensions and powertrain bits are all undisclosed. However, we can’t help but point out the visual similarities it shares with Aston Martin and Maserati. Anyone else think the same way?

At first glance, it features a long bonnet with a sleek sloping roofline – very much like a regular grand tourer. The headlights are super slim but obviously drowned out by the grossly oversized grille. At the back, there’s the swanky L-shaped tail lamps while the entire look is complemented with a set of 21-inch wheels. If you’re not a fan of the fascia, don’t worry, because BMW did say the end product will be toned down to a more conservative and palatable approach.
Inside, it’s a fine combination of luxury and sportiness, as expected from the Bavarian giant. The driver-focused cockpit is wrapped with Dark Brown or Fjord White Merino leather. The slim sporty carbon fibre seats aside, there’s an iDrive Controller made from Swarovski glass.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrwE9I1CJqw
The unveiling of the BMW Concept 8 Series could certainly mean one thing: BMW is dead serious about taking on the luxurious Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe. More details will be revealed closer to its global debut sometime next year.
IMAGE GALLERY