Hyundai-Kia to partner with Apple to build a car!

In our report last month, we shared that talks between
Hyundai-Kia and Apple to build a car
 was only at an infancy stage and nothing has been decided just yet.
It seems that vision is close to becoming a reality as various reports and sources have claimed that the two juggernauts are close to finalising a deal that could see
Apple
 pump a whopping USD3.6 billion into the joint venture.
First a
robot
, now a car!
It would not be a Kia or Hyundai vehicle with Apple’s technologies but instead an “Apple car” manufactured by Hyundai-Kia at Kia’s assembly plant in Georgia, USA. Think Apple phones; designed by Apple, built by Foxconn.
Here’s the thing; it’s likely that’ll you’ll never get to drive it.
Yeap, the “Apple car” is going to be an autonomous vehicle that’s predicated to be
based on Hyundai’s electric modular platform
or in short,

E-GMP. The E-GMP platform will also provide the
base for the soon-to-be-unveiled Ioniq 5 EV crossover
!
The
E-MGP platform revealed in December 2020
 was designed to be rear-wheel drive as standard but can also be an all-wheel drive platform, with the addition of another electric motor in the front.
Its batteries are packed between the front and rear axles for even weight distribution and positioned really low (as illustrated below) to ensure a low centre of gravity for better stability.
On that note, Hyundai also shared that its electric motors are capable of powering a high performance model with impressive figures. 0 to 100 km/h in
less than three seconds
, with a top speed of around 260 km/h and an
electric range of 500km
.
It’s easy to forget that we’re still talking about a potential car by Apple here. Production is
expected to begin in 2024
 if talks don’t fall through at the 11th hour.
Let’s also hope Apple includes a cable with every purchase to charge the car.


Honda Civic e:HEV, Type R wins Best Performance Car in 2022/2023 Japan COTY

It’s December again, and aside from the usual festivities surrounding Christmas, it’s also the month when companies wrap up the year with sappy videos, and Car of the Year awards release their final roster. One such award was Japan Car of the Year (JCOTY), who have just announced their winners for the 2022/2023 edition.
The 2022/2023 Japan ‘Car’ of the Year is awarded to a
pair
of Kei-car EVs, the Nissan Sakura and Mitsubishi eK Cross, seeing that they are both essentially the same car underneath the sheet metal. The win marks the first time that a fully-electric car has won the award outright, and even more incredibly, a tiny pair of kei-cars at that.
2023 Honda Civic Type R
It is a genuinely impressive feat, but to be honest, we’re actually more excited about the 2022/2023 Performance Car of the Year. That’s because it was awarded to the
Honda Civic e:HEV
 and
Type R
, both variants of the car listed under a single entry.
The e:HEV variant, being evaluated as a sports sedan here, was noted for its “modern and smart driving performance thanks to its sophisticated powertrain”. The true sports-car-worthy Type R meanwhile was awarded the win thanks to its “excellent chassis performance” and smooth VTEC turbocharged engine.
WATCH:
Hybrid Honda Civic e:HEV RS – How much faster vs Civic Turbo RS?
Honda Civic e:HEV RS in Malaysia
On top of that, the Honda Civic also very nearly won the actual Japan Car of the Year award, coming in second with 320 points (compared to the Nissan/Mitsubishi’s 399).
Other award winners in the 2022/2023 JCOTY include the
BMW iX
 for the Design award, The
Hyundai Ioniq 5
for the Import Car of the Year award, and the
Nissan X-Trail’s
 powertrain for the Technology award.
BMW iX
The 2022 Honda Civic e:HEV RS was
recently launched here in Malaysia
, taking the place as the new range-topper of the Civic line-up, with prices starting at RM166,500.
Powering the hybrid Civic is one of the marque’s most powerful e:HEV powertrain, consisting of a 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle engine acting largely as a generator, and two electric motors – one to drive the front wheels. In total, the hybrid engine makes
184 hp
 and
315 Nm
 of torque, translating to a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 7.9 seconds – 0.6 seconds quicker than the petrol-powered RS.
As for the Honda Civic Type R, don’t hold your breath for it to arrive at Malaysian shores anytime soon, seeing that it’s
still struggling to keep up with demand in its home country
…


New Lexus ES to feature world’s first “digital side mirrors”

You’ve heard about the new Lexus ES right? The slightly shrunk version of the LS packed with either a 300 hp 3.5-litre V6 engine or a 2.5-litre hybrid engine may have a few new tricks up its sleeve but this particular one will get your attention.
The ES is set to feature the world’s first
Digital Side-View Monitors
, equipped on a mass-produced vehicle. Effectively replacing the exterior mirrors with small cameras, it’s able to provide drivers with a clearer view of the vehicle’s surroundings.
The images are then transmitted onto two 5-inch display monitors, one on each A-pillar. Forget the improved visibility from the slimmer side mirrors, the more intriguing effect is that it’s been designed to “reduce accumulation of raindrops” – a problem we’re all familiar with here in Malaysia when it rains.
Also because of the slimmer design, it’s more aerodynamic so wind noise has been reduced too – resulting in a quieter cabin.
For the millions of us suffering from blurred vision caused by raindrops on the side mirror, the solution is here!
The video above may be thoroughly in Japanese but I guess the visuals paint a very clear picture of what the system can do. You’d also notice how the visuals react and focus area shifts almost actively, according to your turn indicators or when you’re in reverse.
The Digital Side-View Monitors will make its debut on the new Lexus ES, which will go on sale in late October. Currently, the system is only available in Japan.
IMAGE GALLERY

 Lexus ES crudely place screens on the dashboard


Lexus Malaysia introduces special and limited edition variants of ES and RX models

Lexus Malaysia today announced the availability of not one, but two special and limited edition variants: the ES 250 Limited Edition and the RX 300 Luxury Special Edition.
Starting with the
Lexus ES 250 Limited Edition
, this premium sedan is now furnished with the exclusive
bamboo wood trim
 inlays on the steering wheel, doors, centre console, and dashboard. Lexus says the bamboo is
hand-picked from a sustainable forest
 in Kochi, southern Japan, and a master craftsman or ‘takumi’ sculpts and polishes each piece by hand.
Customers can choose to have either Topaz Brown or Black interior theme to pair with the handcrafted bamboo wood trim.
Lexus Malaysia is pricing the
ES 250
 Limited Edition from
RM327,510.50
 on-the-road, without insurance and with the on-going sales tax exemption that is valid until 30th June 2021.
Meanwhile, the
RX 300 Luxury Special Edition
will see an upgrade to the exterior through the fitment of a 4-piece
aerodynamic body kit
. The set consists of a front bumper spoiler, a pair side skirts, and a rear bumper diffuser.
Priced at
RM421,909.50
 on-the-road without insurance and sales tax, the RX 300 Luxury Special Edition sees a significant price add-on (+RM12,124) compared to the
Luxury variant
 it is based on, and just RM2,278 lower than the fully sport-focused F Sport variant.
Both the ES 250 Limited Edition and RX 300 Luxury Special Edition share three colours in the 4-colour palette available: Sonic Quartz, Sonic Titanium, and Graphite Black Glass Flake. Unique to the ES 250 Limited Edition is the Deep Blue Mica, while the fourth colour available to the RX 300 Luxury Special Edition is the Red Mica Crystal Shine.
The newly introduced variants will be available for booking from the middle of January at all six authorized Lexus Centres nationwide, with
deliveries from Japan set to begin in February 2021
.


Men vs MINI in Putrajaya: Behind the scenes with MINI Cooper S F56 [+Video, +Images]

MINI Malaysia launched the
official video
 of the New MINI Cooper F56 recently featuring 4 stuntmen and 1 MINI terrorizing the administrative capital of Malaysia. Now, MINI Malaysia released another video showing how the team pulled off the stunts and camera production; The Making of Men vs MINI in Putrajaya.
Watch “Men vs MINI in Putrajaya” here
Saatchi & Saatchi Arachnid
, the creative agency for the project put together an all-star team that turned what was on the drawing board into reality. Starting with the stunt team, coordinator Raja Aris Dzulkifli gathered four stuntmen; BMX Freestyler, Fizzy; Extreme Pro Flyboarder, Shuk; Paramotor Pilot, Rizlan; and Base Jumper, Nasa.
Against these men was the MINI Cooper S F56 driven by Malaysia Gymkhana Champion, Ivan Khong. Stunt props and special effects prepared by Kenneth Chong. Meanwhile, camera and post production were carried out by creative and production house,
Creature Communications
.
The two-day shoot that took place in Putrajaya was not as smooth sailing as they hoped. “Whatever could go wrong, went wrong on the first day”, said Creative Director of Saatchi & Saatchi Arachnid, Kelvin Wong. Uncertainties and mishaps loomed the first day of production, even before the camera started rolling.
From gloomy weather to landing choppers. It however did not dampen their spirits. The production team, Creature Communications took it as a challenge and wrapped up the shoot in that two days as planned.
According to Director, Seelan Param, “Two days for this (production), theoretically it is impossible. But i’m surprised we managed to pull it off”. He also added, the most challenging part was trying to coordinate four stuntmen and the stunts.

AutoBuzz.my was involved in this project and we have to say, the team that made the
official New MINI video
 was an awesome all-star team. Hats off to you guys!

Enjoy the making of video below and images taken from behind the scene.
Watch “Men vs MINI in Putrajaya” here
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY
DAY 1

[divider]
DAY 2

MINI Cooper S F56 in action


The Zyrus LP1200 Strada is a surprisingly road-legal 1,200 hp Lamborghini Huracan mod

Zyrus Engineering is a relatively new aftermarket tuning company based out of Norway. They’ve worked on several projects in the past, including a carbon styling kit for the
Porsche Taycan
, but this here might be their most ambitious one yet. It’s called the Zyrus LP1200 Strada, and it might be the most extreme
 Lamborghini Huracan
 we’ve ever seen.
Yes, you read that right – the LP1200 Strada is based on the Lamborghini Huracan LP640-4, and as the name suggests, it makes a whopping
1,200 hp
 from the 5.2-litre V10 engine, thanks to a pair of new turbochargers.
When driving on the street, the LP1200 Strada in its normal driving mode reduces its power output to a “measly”
900 hp
, but can be dropped into a track-driving mode with just a press of a button on the dashboard, or via a mobile application.
But of course, the first thing that will catch your attention on this car is its borderline excessive body kit. According to Zyrus, the kit isn’t just for aesthetic purposes, too – it’s capable of generating
2,010 kg of downforce at 200 km/h
.
Up front, Zyrus LP1200 Strada is equipped with a reworked front fascia with a surprisingly sleek bumper, bookended by a set of aerodynamic strakes on each side. A large hole is also cut out on the front bonnet for air channeling purposes, while a roof scoop collects the stream of cold air to feed into the hungry engine.
There’s also the extended side skirts at the side with ostentatious fins and cannards, reworked rear diffuser, and of course the gargantuan rear wing that extends from the body panels on the side of the car, large enough to be fitted on a LMP1 race car.
All in, Zyrus says that they’ve fitted no less than
 600 new parts
 onto the LP1200 Strada, and of course – all hand built and assembled. Despite all the new parts, the tuning company still managed to somehow strip approximately 80 kg off the standard Huracan car – tipping the scales at just
1,427 kg
.
And with all of these over-the-top modifications fitted on, it is still somehow completely road-legal. Fancy one of these for yourself? The Zyrus LP1200 Strada starts at
EUR595,000
(~RM3 million), which also includes a track day “familiarisation package” with the team and engineers to help you extract the most out of your new over-the-top supercar slayer.


Volkswagen ID.3 reportedly facing delays due to ‘disastrous’ software problems

While production lines are being shut down by the coronavirus epidemic, one manufacturer is apparently feeling the heat more than others, according to German newspaper
Sueddeutsche Zeitung
.
Volkswagen promised to start delivering its
ID.3 electric car
 this summer. However, software issues have plagued the all-electric car even before production lines shut down, essentially making those cars
rolling off the production floor in Zwickau
 ‘dead’, the newspaper reported, as they do not have the necessary software to run or use them.
Volkswagen is reportedly now considering to introduce a scaled-down operating system to the ID.3 to achieve the delivery target. According to an insider source to the German newspaper, the current software has been described as an “absolute disaster” internally at VW.
The newspaper also says that the German carmaker giant is also struggling to attract software experts required to further develop or fix the current software. To make matters worse, Volkswagen Chief IT Officer of almost nine years, Martin Hoffman has also just departed the company.
The ID.3 is a crucial model for the brand – a bastion of Volkswagen’s transition to e-mobility. But more than that, the ID.3 will also be needed to help Volkswagen achieve its EU CO2 emissions targets.
Therefore it is important that the brand delivers the ID.3 in a timely manner, even if it will be a scaled-down version at first. the ID.3 is capable of updating its software over-the-air (OTA) to enable features retrospectively.
The newspaper reports that the anxiety is starting to kick in for Volkswagen, with top-level management executives from Wolfsburg reportedly meeting with Daimler – parent company to Mercedes-Benz – to develop a unified operating system to be used on electric cars from both brands.
The news was apparently an “earthquake” in the automotive industry when it became public last week, the newspaper reports, because Daimler was revealed to also have been talking to BMW at the same time for the same purpose – Oops.


Ferrari built a one-off SP3JC based on F12tdf for client/collector

Remember the
one-off SP38 based on the Ferrari 488 GTB
? Well, Ferrari has taken a swing at custom builds again and revealed its latest creation, the SP3JC, made to order by an unnamed Ferrari customer/collector who wanted a “pure, uncompromising roadster”.
The SP3JC is based on the chassis of the
F12 tdf
, similarly utilising the engine and transmission from the car. Specific output was not mentioned but based solely on the F12 tdf, the SP3JC should be making around
 780 hp
 and
705 Nm
, with power directed to the rear wheels through a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox.
Seen as a tribute to Ferrari’s V12-powered roadsters of the 1950s and 1960s, the permanently open top SP3JC took more than two years to build, with input and close involvement by the customer in the process.
The customer’s passion for Pop Art is also reflected onto the car, with the combination of the Azzurro Met (Blue) and Giallo Modena (Yellow) livery over the main Bianco Italia (White) colour scheme.
What’s even more catchy is the glass inserts on the front bonnet that allows you to take a peek of the monstrous 6.3-litre naturally-aspirated V12.
IMAGE GALLERY


Bridgestone is Toyota Asia Pacific’s most outstanding supplier of 2014

Bridgestone Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. (BSCAP) was recently awarded the
2014 Regional Supplier Overall Outstanding Performance Award
 by Toyota Motor Asia Pacific Engineering & Manufacturing Co., Ltd at the Japanese’s supplier conference held in Berkeley Hotel Pratunam in Bangkok, Thailand.
From left: Mr. Hisayuki Inoue presenting the award to Mr. Shinichi Hanashi
The award recognises Bridgestone’s contribution as Toyota’s key supplier in their
Asia Pacific operations
 that covers the safety, quality, cost, delivery, engineering and management aspects. The award was presented by CEO and President of Toyota Motor Asia Pacific Engineering & Manufacturing Co., Ltd, Mr. Hisayuki Inoue to Mr. Shinichi Hanashi, CEO of BSCAP.
Upon receiving the award, Mr. Hanashi said, “Bridgestone is honoured to receive this distinguished award. In business, it is important to sincerely listen to our customers’ voice – to identify their needs and receive feedback. This quality is essential for Bridgestone to survive the intense competition in the tyre industry. This award encourages us to further enhance our service and quality, to become a true regional and global partner with Toyota, with the aim of making ever better cars.”


2016 Toyota Vellfire 2.5L launched in Malaysia, priced at RM355k

The Toyota luxury MPV lineup has enjoyed tremendous success in Malaysia, thanks to its proper 7-seater configuration, a generous boot and wide sliding doors. Models such as the Estima, Alphard and Vellfire have been popular among families that seek luxurious comfort when travelling.
However, the bulk of these MPVs we see on the road are purchased through parallel importers. UMW Toyota did officially sell the fully-imported Alphard and Estima (named Previa here) before, but it’s the first time they are throwing the Vellfire into the mix.
QUICK FACTS
Name
2016 Toyota Vellfire 2.5
Engine
2,494cc 2AR-FE with DVVT-i
Transmission
7-speed continuous variable transmission (CVT)
Max Power
177 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Max Torque
235 Nm @ 4,100 rpm
Price (OTR with insurance)
RM355,000
EXTERIOR
Sitting at 4,930mm in length, 1,850mm in width and 1,895mm in height, the Vellfire is screaming with road presence. Features such as auto-leveling full LED headlamps, cornering lamps and LED daytime running lights, together with the large chrome grill on the front fascia truly give an impression. Just like the Alphard, the fog lamps are also of the LED type.

At the rear, clear tail lamps with LED combination is standard, as are the fog lamps. A spoiler with integrated LED braking lights completes the Vellfire. The Vellfire rides on multi-spoke 18 inch alloys (same as the Alphard) wrapped in 235/50 profile tyres to complete the exterior package.
INTERIOR
The all-new Vellfire comes with a full-black interior theme with wood trimmings. The powered front seats (Ottoman function for the front passenger) are finished in high quality leather. The rear Captain Seats come with power reclining and Ottoman features as well. The third row seat have a 50:50 split design for easy folding when not in use. Power sliding doors and a powered boot comes as standard for easy access.

Toyota has spent a lot of resources to refine the ingress and egress of the Vellfire. As such, the doors are now 70mm wider, side steps sit 50mm closer to the ground, overall vehicle height is lowered by 20mm and it gets a longer door assist handle for easier reach. Other creature comforts are keyless entry with push-start button, electronic parking brake with auto hold function (a first for Toyota), multi-functional steering wheel, cruise control, auto rain sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors, 7-inch touch screen display with navigation and reverse camera, triple-zone climate control with nanoe™ and passenger air vents, 10.2-inch roof-mounted entertainment system with remote control and wireless headphones compatibility, manual sunshades, twin moon roof and a 16-colour LED ceiling illumination. This Vellfire is definitely not short on equipment.
PERFORMANCE
The tried and tested 2.5-litre 2AR-FE with DVVT-i is mated to a seven-speed CVT to maximise efficiency. On the front,  MacPherson strut bars with stabilisers is tasked to manage ride comfort, whereas the rear end is managed by new double wishbones to provide luxurious ride quality and performance. Chief Engineer for the all-new Alphard and Vellfire, Kenichi Yoshioka claims that the ECU and suspension have undergone special tuning to suit Malaysian driving conditions, especially in our hot and temperate climate. All four corners get disc brakes as standard.
SAFETY
Buyers will be glad to know that the Vellfire comes standard with a generous amount of crucial safety kit. Standard affair include seven airbags, Traction Control, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), ABS with EBD, BA and hill-start Assist Control. ISOFIX mounting points are available for easy fitment of child seats.
WHAT ELSE?
This Toyota Vellfire comes in four exterior shades: White Pearl, Silver Metallic, Black and Burning Black (black with a slight purple tinge, seen here) which is specific to the Vellfire. All luxury MPV models come with a 5-Year unlimited mileage warranty and 10-year parts guarantee. Since its inception in 2015, Toyota has sold more than 108,000 units of the all-new Alphard and Vellfire. UMW-Toyota hopes to receive similar encouraging results by targeting to sell 1,500 units of the all-new Aphard and Vellfire by end-2016.
An equipment-heavy Vellfire backed by factory warranty, wide network of aftersales support and 10-year parts guarantee for a peace of mind ownership; all for the price of
RM355,000
? Hats off to you, UMW-Toyota. Meanwhile,
read our report on the Alphard here
.
IMAGE GALLERY


The Prodrive P25 is what a Subaru Impreza 22B STi would be like in the modern day

Any rally enthusiast will recognise the
Subaru Impreza
 22B STi – which was essentially a road-going version of the car that helped Subaru win its third consecutive constructor’s title in the World Rally Championship back in 1997, in the hands of one Colin McRae.
To say that the 22B was rare is almost an understatement, as only 424 were ever built, and were all reportedly sold out within the two days of its release in 1998. But now nearly 25 years later, Subaru’s historic racing partner
 Prodrive
is bringing the iconic 22B back as a restomod, and while it’s even rarer than before, it’s also going to be significantly better.
Dubbed the P25, the Prodrive restomod begins life as an original two-door Mk.1 Subaru Impreza chassis, and from there it gets a heavy dose of carbon fibre, with the entire exterior body pretty much made out of a carbon composite. As a nod to the 1997 WRC car, the P25 also gets the unique mini wing mirrors and a massive WRC rear wing at the back, both made out of carbon fibre, of course.
Prodrive even enlisted the help of Peter Stevens, who designed the original Impreza WRC in 1997, to help further tweak certain elements on the exterior styling of the restomod tribute – and well, the results just speak for itself.
ALSO READ: Radford shows how to do a retro tribute right with the 600 hp Type 62/2
Thanks to the intense weight-loss regime, including optional lightweight seats and carbon fibre door cards on the interior to further reduce mass, the entire car comes in at just under 1,200 kg. And on top of that, the P25 also gets a thoroughly modern Subaru powertrain, with a new, upgraded 2.5-litre turbocharged boxer engine underneath the bonnet to make
over 400 hp
.
The powertrain is connected to a six-speed sequential gearbox with gear shift paddles behind the steering wheel, with power – of course – sent to all four wheels. Pair that to a WRC-style launch system, and the P25 can reach 100 km/h from a standstill in just
3.5 seconds
. Not bad for a “25-year-old” car, eh?
Prodrive also gave the P25 a set of upgraded suspensions with adjustable dampers, with springs and sway bars optimised for on-road corner-carving. Bigger brakes with six-piston calipers and 15-inch rotors in front help keep the speed in check, both of which are mounted behind the 19-inch Prodrive wheels – which unfortunately aren’t painted gold like the WRC cars.
The company did not provide any interior photos of the car just yet, but it’s said to have an “authentic late 1990s Impreza interior” feel, albeit upholstered with leather and Alcantara, instead of fabric and plastic. As it is essentially a race car for the roads, the Prodrive P25 also gets a widescreen MoTeC digital instrument dash that also includes a drive mode selector for street and track conditions.
Only 25 units of the Prodrive P25 will ever be offered for purchase, and they’ll all come in a standard four-seat configuration – although, the company will yank out the rear seats for a partial roll cage on request by the buyer. It’s not cheap, starting at GBP460,000 (approx. RM2.47 mil) before any taxes. But then again, you’ll also be getting a piece of history, so…


2017 Volkswagen Tiguan launched in Malaysia, two variants priced at RM149k and RM169k

A month after its
preview
, the second-generation Volkswagen Tiguan is now officially launched here in Malaysia. Available in two variants – Comfortline and Highline, the Tiguan is among the first carmakers to launch their next-generation SUV and will go up against the likes of the
CR-V turbo
 and
Mazda CX-5
.
Locally assembled here at Volkswagen’s production plant in Pekan, Pahang, the Tiguan is priced slightly below its estimated price tag at
 RM148,990
 and
RM168,990
. For now, our Tiguan will come in a sole 1.4-litre TSI front-wheel drive option, although Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is not ruling out the possibility of offering a 2.0-litre TSI variant and all-wheel drive 4MOTION option.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4TSI Comfortline
Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4TSI Highline
Engine
1,395cc; Direct injection with Turbocharger TSI
Transmission
6-speed DSG (Wet Clutch)
Max Power
148 hp @ 5,000 – 6,000 rpm
Max Torque
250 Nm @ 1,500 – 3,500 rpm
0 – 100 km/h; Top Speed
8.9 seconds; 198 km/h
Price (OTR without insurance)
RM148,990
RM168,990
 EXTERIOR
Based on the group’s new MQB platform, the new Tiguan is now longer, wider and sits closer to the ground than before. The Tiguan now measures 4,486 mm in length (+60 mm), 1,839 mm in width (+30 mm), 1,664 mm in height (-39 mm) while wheelbase is now 2,681 mm (+77 mm). It also weighs
 50 kg lesser
 and has
 40 percent reduction in overall drag
 compared to the outgoing model.
While both variants look identical at first glance, the Highline comes with significantly more kit. The Highline gets dressed with LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights, LED taillamps, chrome grille, front and rear fog lamps, powered folding door mirrors with integrated turn signals, keyless entry and start, powered tailgate, chrome roof rails and 18-inch “Kingston” alloy wheels wrapped in 235/55 profile Hankook Ventus S1 evo2 tyres.

Comfortline can be distinguished from its simpler manual levelling halogen headlamps, black roof rails, 17-inch “Montana” alloy wheels wrapped in 215/65 profile Falken ZE914 tyres and the omission of keyless entry/start and powered tailgate functions. Other than that, it gets all the available exterior bits of the more expensive variant.
INTERIOR
Inside, the range topping Highline comes with 12-way powered driver’s seat, “Vienna” leather upholstery, tri-zone “Climatronic” automatic climate control,
12.3-inch Active Info Display
, three-spoke leather wrapped multifunctional steering wheel with paddle shifters, cruise control, Park Distance Control, Park Assist, 8-inch “Discover Media” infotainment system with navigation and reverse camera.

The Comfortline is decently equipped as it comes with “Rhombus” fabric upholstery, three-spoke leather wrapped multifunctional steering wheel with paddle shifters, single-zone “Climatic” climate control system, 8-inch “Composition Media” infotainment system and park distance control. Boot space for the Tiguan is rated at
 615 litres
.
PERFORMANCE
Powering the all-new Tiguan is a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder TSI that produces
148 hp
 and
250 Nm
 of torque – the same engine and output of the
Jetta
 and
Golf TSI
. Unlike the other two, power is transferred to the front-wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission (wet clutch) found in the Golf GTI and
Passat Highline
. Sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h takes
8.9 seconds
 and on full whack, it will hit a top speed of
198 km/h
. Fuel economy is rated at
6.7 litres per 100 km
.
SAFETY
All variants of the Tiguan come equipped with six airbags, ABS with BA, EBD, ESC, electronic parking brake with auto hold, hill-hold assist, ISOFIX mounting points and Active Bonnet Pedestrian Protection. In the event of a collision, the bonnet raises 50mm within 22 milliseconds to reduce the risk of injury to pedestrians and cyclists.
WHAT ELSE?
The Volkswagen Tiguan can be had in
five exterior shades
 – Pure White, Deep Black, Atlantic Blue, Tungsten Silver and Indium Grey. Every new purchase of the Tiguan comes with a 5-Years manufacturer’s warranty and 5-Years roadside assistance. Additionally, the
 early bird RM7,000 rebate
 still applies to the Tiguan. For a limited time only, owners of the Highline can get the optional App Connect for RM699 which retails at RM1,099. We’ve sampled the Tiguan earlier and find it to be a highly capable SUV so be sure to check out our
first drive impression of the Tiguan
!
IMAGE GALLERY
Volkswagen Tiguan Highline

Volkswagen Tiguan Comfortline


Chevrolet Malaysia opens new 10,000 sq ft Parts Centre in Shah Alam

Naza Quest Sdn Bhd, the official distributor for Chevrolet cars in Malaysia has just opened their brand new Parts Centre in Shah Alam in an effort to serve their customers better.
The 10,000 sq ft facility will hold up to
RM5.5 million worth of Chevrolet spare parts
 with stocks comprising
over 55,000 separate components
. The parts will cater to all
24,000 existing Chevrolet owners
 (as of end-2014) in the country, with the company looking to
 shorten delivery time
 to all Chevrolet 3S  centres and spare part dealers nationwide.
The facility is also expected to carry additional parts in the coming months following the introduction of several new models. Naza Quest’s Vice President 1, Thoo Ai Wuen said their sales parts have been growing between
25 to 30 percent
 in the past year and foresees this trend to continue. With this, the company will be able to address the concert of parts availability which will lead to greater customer confidence in the Chevrolet brand.


Gallery: Mazda CX-8 2.5 High Plus AWD, RM221k 6-seater SUV

If you find MPVs and 5-seater SUVs to be ubiquitous, Mazda has an interesting proposition for you if you still need to haul more than 5 people around – the
Mazda CX-8 2.5 High Plus AWD
. This range-topping version of the
CX-8
 comes with a 6-seater configuration and costs
RM221,360
.
By the way, if you’re looking to renew your car insurance, you can get a 10% rebate and cash back at the end of your policy if you renew with MotorTakaful by Etiqa. Just log on to
www.motortakaful.com
.
Due to its familial look, the CX-8 can be quite tough to differentiate from its SUV siblings. Given a facelift in 2022, the Mazda CX-8 now sports a new grille up front. Replacing the horizontal-slate grille design is a weave-like design. The Mazda CX-8 2.5 High Plus gets Mazda’s Adaptive Front-Lighting System (AFS) and auto High Beam Control (HBC).
The Mazda CX-8 2.5 High Plus sits on a set of 19-inch wheels with a Grey Metallic finish. It is also equipped with roof rails for added practicality. At the back, the CX-8 gets LED rear combination taillights with Mazda’s Signature Illumination. Overall, the Mazda CX-8 measures 4,900 mm long, 1,840 mm wide, and 1,730 mm tall. Its wheelbase is 2,930 mm long.
ALSO WATCH:
Mazda CX-8 2.5L Turbo AWD High Plus, from RM221k – 5 Things
Powering the CX-8 2.5 High Plus is a new-to-the-model 2.5-litre turbocharged engine that makes
228 hp
 and
420 Nm
. Paired with the engine is a 6-speed automatic transmission. The CX-8 2.5L Turbo High Plus is the only variant of the CX-8 to get an all-wheel drive system. It is also the only variant to get a 74-litre fuel tank instead of a 72-litre tank.
As for other specifications, the CX-8 2.5 High Plus gets a MacPherson strut suspension setup at the front and a multi-link suspension set up at the rear. It gets disc brakes all-around with the front set being ventilated discs and the rear set being solid discs. From the factory, the CX-8 2.5 High Plus is fitted with a set of 225/55R19 Toyo Proxes R46 tyres.
RELATED:
2023 Mazda CX-30 CKD launched in Malaysia, from RM128k – drops AWD and diesel variants
Inside, the CX-8 2.5 High Plus AWD provides a 6-seater configuration. It is perfect for chauffering your old folks around as the second-row seats don’t feel too discounted compared to the first-row seats. Second-row passengers get a proper armrest with a proper storage box, seat heating function, climate control, and window blinds. The seats can be pushed forward to allow access to the third-row seats.
As for safety, the 2022 Mazda CX-8 in Malaysia comes as standard with six airbags and stability control and traction control systems, and your standard suite of ABS with EBD and BA. The 2.5 High variant adds on autonomous emergency braking (front), blind-spot monitoring system, and rear-cross traffic alert. The High Plus variants meanwhile get the full suite of Mazda’s i-Activsense advanced driver assist features, which has been updated for 2022 with the addition of the adaptive radar cruise control system with stop-and-go function, lane keeping assist, and a new rearward autonomous emergency braking system.
RELATED:
2022 Mazda CX-8 now available with 2.5L Turbo in Malaysia, more kit across all variants
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Honda Malaysia recalls 419 units of Civic Type R (FD2R) over airbag concerns

Honda Malaysia has just issued a recall for 419 units of Honda Civic Type R (FD2R), MY 2007, 2008 and 2010 to replace the potentially faulty Takata airbag module. All 419 units of the high-performance sedan will require to have both front airbag inflators replaced.
In case you are not aware of the ongoing Takata crisis, we have detailed in full on
why you should get your faulty airbags replaced as soon as possible
. In short, the faulty airbag module, when deployed, will send metal shards into the occupants and cause even more harm. In some cases, even
death
!
Honda Malaysia would like to emphasise that all its current model on sale are
not affected
 by the Takata airbag recall campaign. Owners of the FD2R will receive a notification letter which will include details of the recall. Alternatively, you can logon to
their microsite
 to check if their respective vehicle(s) is involved in any recall campaign.
These airbag inflators can be replaced at any one of Honda Malaysia’s 86 authorised service centres nationwide, as well as official mobile hubs at various shopping malls and Petronas stations. The full list of Honda Mobile Hubs locations (effective till 31 May 2017) can be found
here
.


Video: Mitsubishi Xpander 1.5 MIVEC review

If you’ve not seen
our

Vlog of the new Xpander
, which accompanied us on a day trip to Jelebu, Negeri Semblian, here’s the full and thorough introduction of Mitsubishi’s new 7-seater to start with. Find out how it fares against its competitors
here
!
The Xpander is only available in Malaysia in a
single variant
and is powered by a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder MIVEC engine paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission. Output is rated at 105 hp and 141 Nm to drive the front wheels.

On the outside, the Xpander comes with a
facelift exterior
 that includes a redesigned headlamp cluster and a new front grille design. It even gets cameras mounted on both side mirrors to provide a 360-degree view through the
not-so-satisfactory 9-inch touchscreen display
 on-board.
The infotainment system is paired to 6-speakers, with
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
. The Xpander’s meter cluster and steering have been taken off the Outlander, and together with premium-ish touches on the door panel, dashboard and seats, lends a more expensive feel to the interior.

Perhaps the strongest appeal of the Xpander’s interior is the sheer number of storage spaces. There are some underneath the front passenger seat, behind the front seats, on the dashboard, and even under the boot floor but it’s not entirely a bed of roses in this Xpander.
What are its downsides then? Watch and find out!
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The new Passat PLUS, significantly cheaper but with upgrades!

“Getting more with less” are consumer-enticing deals which almost always never happens. Somehow, VPCM made it happen – offering upgrades with up to RM 15,000 off the asking price from the standard variants.
Following the launch of the new
B8 Volkswagen Passat at the end of last year
, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has introduced two new additions to the Passat family, the Trendline PLUS and Comfortline PLUS.

With upgrades in appearance and interior offerings from the
standard Passat we’ve drove in Langkawi last year
, the Passat PLUS adds a sportier touch to Volkswagen’s already popular D-segment sedan. The Trendline PLUS will now come with 17-inch ‘Istanbul’ alloy wheels as opposed to the 16-inch ‘Aragon’ alloy wheels in the standard Trendline while the Comfortline PLUS will now get 18-inch ‘Monterey’ alloy wheels, a size up from the standard Comfortline’s 17-inch ‘Istanbul’ alloy wheels.
The upgrades, including window tints for both vehicles, are worth RM 8,000 for the Trendline, with upgrades for the Comfortline valued at RM 12,000.
Changes are also applied on the interior – with the Trendline PLUS getting the leather upholstery treatment, fabrics are completely eliminated from the entire Passat range. As such, the Passat can now be said to be a testament of affordability and refinement, emphasising VPCM’s commitment in providing added value to its customers.
For a limited time till the 30
th
 of September 2017, the Passat PLUS is offered with a special interest rate from as low as 0.88% on hire purchase loans with the durations of five to nine years. To provide maximum peace of mind to customers, the entire Passat range, including the PLUS, also comes with
 5-year free maintenance, or 75,000km
 (whichever comes first) with registrations by the
30
th
 of September 2017
.
The Passat PLUS variants are each powered by a
1.8L turbocharged TSI engine with a 7-speed direct shift gearbox (DSG)
 to give an impressive output of
178 horsepower
 and a
250 Nm of torque between 1,250 to 5,000 rpm
, with an impressive fuel consumption of approximately
5.7 L/100 km
.
Features that make the Passat even more attractive include start/stop function, regenerative braking, electric parking brake with auto hold function and with 3-zone climatronic air conditioning for comfort. It’s high standard of safety is also retained with
 six airbags, driver alert system and front fog lights with cornering light functions.
The Passat Trendline PLUS retails at
RM144,990
, while the Passat Comfortline PLUS is
RM169,980
.


Facts & Figures: Locally-assembled Mercedes-AMG GLA35 launched in Malaysia from RM345k

Mercedes-Benz has launched the new GLA35 AMG 4MATIC, alongside the
updated A35 AMG sedan
 at the Sepang International Circuit.

If you act now (before the 30th of June 2022 when the SST exemptions expire) the GLA35 AMG can be yours for
RM345,048.74
 but after that, it’ll set you back
RM363,888
. Despite SST exemptions for new cars ending on the 30th of June, those who register their cars before the 31st of March 2023, will still be entitled to it.
The GLA35 AMG is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with 306 hp and 400 Nm, just like the A35 AMG. The engine is paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission to drive all four wheels via the AMG Performance 4MATIC system.
0 to 100 km/h is done in a brisk 5.2 seconds. Select the “Sport +” drive mode, and you’ll even get launch control to sprint off the line quicker.
On the outside, the GLA35 AMG stands out from the standard GLA with a Panamericana grille, 20-inch wheels similar to the GLB35, larger brakes, a rear spoiler, and of course more aggressive front and rear bumpers. The headlamp design on the GLA35 is also different; with three separate projectors along with the Multibeam LED and Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus technology, against the dual projectors in the GLA250.
Inside, the GLA35 comes with an AMG Performance steering with switches for the drive modes and transmission settings, just like the AMG A45. AMG influences can also be seen on the door sills and floor mats along with switches on the centre console that allows users to go through different suspension, and transmission settings.
Sport seats are standard; you don’t get the massive bucket seats like in the AMG A35 but you do get red seat belts from Mercedes-Benz Manufaktur, a head-up display, and carbon trims by the dashboard and door panel. A Burmester sound system and wireless charging are also standard items.
For safety and driver aids, there are features 360-degree display with Active Parking Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Blindspot Assist, Active Brake Assist, Lane Tracking and Exit Warning Assist.
More info on the standard Mercedes-Benz GLA
here
!
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Hyundai to spawn hotter i30 Fastback N, to make global debut this year

Hyundai motor has just announced that the third model to bear the high-performance N logo will be the new
Hyundai i30 Fastback
 – essentially the i30 sedan. The company is expected to reveal the i30 Fastback N in its full glory by the end of this year.
Like its hatchback sibling, the i30 Fastback N was developed at Hyundai’s technical centre at the Nürburgring, Nordschleife. The car is currently undergoing prototype testing to evaluate its performance and durability a variety of road conditions around Europe and of course, on the Green Hell.
The i30 Fastback is expected to get a similar set up as the
i30 N
 with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder and six-speed manual combo that dishes out
247 hp
 and
353 Nm
 of torque to drive the front wheels. The optional Performance upgrade bumps output up by an additional
25 hp
. With Launch Control, the i30 will sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in
6.4 seconds
 (6.1 seconds on i30 N Performance) with a limited top speed of
250 km/h
. Expect the sedan to achieve similar figures.
On the hatchback model, Hyundai’s N division has added Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres, Electronically Controlled Suspension, 17-inch ventilated brake discs (16-inch at the rear), N Torque Vectoring System, steering wheel mounted Drive Mode selector. The i30 N Performance even gets model-specific Pirelli P-Zero tyres (wrapped in 19-inch alloys), larger brake kit (18-inch front; 17-inch rear) and an Active Variable Exhaust System.
IMAGE GALLERY


This is the meanest the Kia Sorento has ever looked!

With such menacing looks, the 4th generation model which will be the first Sorento to feature a hybrid powertrain, should have more suitors than haters.
Like its predecessor, the Sorento will be built for Europe and many other markets at Kia’s Hwasung manufacturing facility in Korea. The car will also be built for North America at Kia’s West Point, Georgia, USA production plant.
The Sorento is the first vehicle to be based on Kia’s new-generation midsize SUV platform and it will be the first time that hybrid power has featured in the Sorento line-up.
The Sorento’s design revolves around the idea of ‘refined boldness’ – projecting a robust, tough-looking aesthetic while applying a greater degree of refinement and elegance, and even a sense of sportiness.
The front gets the latest version of Kia’s “tiger nose” grille, with the new “tiger eyeline” to depict “the intense impression of the lines around a tiger’s eyes.” Ok, Kia.
The new model, large as it may appear, is only 10mm wider than the third-generation Sorento. It is also 10mm longer and taller than its predecessor, yet it features shorter front and rear overhangs. The Sorento should be more spacious too, with a wheelbase that has grown 35mm.
Aided by the platform’s longer wheelbase, the second-row seats can now slide up to 45 mm further, creating a wider entry point to the third row with more space for the feet and legs.
The 35mm longer wheelbase also contributes to an overall improvement in cruising comfort while the new bodyshell with a 4% average increase in tensile strength throughout its structure also results in lower body vibrations.
Inspired by the Telluride, the Sorento adopts new vertical tail lamps which wrap around the side of the body. The fourth-generation model follows other recent Kia models, such as Telluride and ProCeed, with the Sorento model name displayed centrally across the tailgate.
Like the Velar, the Sorento’s integrated spoiler conceals the rear wiper to provide a cleaner, less obstructive rear view for the driver. For the first time, 20-inch wheels will be available, on top of the 17, 18, and 19-inch options.
Inside, twin digital displays on the dashboard take centre stage. The 12.3-inch digital driver instrument cluster is paired with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
There are new haptic buttons for various controls and a 64-colour “Mood Lighting system” that emits soft ambient downlighting from beneath the dashboard and door trim. A wireless smartphone charger also sits at the base of the centre console, while a powerful 12-speaker BOSE surround-sound is also available.
Other cool stuff includes a head-up display and a new ‘Sound of Nature’ ambient sound function that enables occupants to select from a range of relaxing natural soundscapes.
The new Sorento Hybrid is powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged
Continuously Variable Valve Duration (CVVD) engine
with
230 hp
 and
350 Nm
, paired to a 6-speed automatic. The pair works alongside a 1.49kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack under the floor and a 44.2kW electric motor.
As a result, the SUV offers generous space for up to seven passengers as well as one of the largest luggage capacities in its class – up to 821 litres (for 7-seater models) or 910 litres (for 5-seater models), depending on specification.In 7-seater models, with all seven seats in place, boot space is also increased by 32% compared to its predecessor, to 187 litres.
There will also be a
202 hp
/
440 Nm
 2.2-litre turbo diesel engine, paired to a new 8-speed wet dual-clutch transmission.
The Sorento is equipped with various driver assistance systems such as Kia’s latest Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) technology with pedestrian, cyclist and vehicle detection.
It’s also available with Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM), Surround View Monitor (SVM) and Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA), Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go (SCC) and Navigation-based SCC (NSCC), Lane Following Assist (LFA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), and Highway Driving Assist (HDA).
The Lane Following Assist (LFA), controls acceleration, braking and steering depending on the vehicles in front. LFA operates between speeds of 0 and 180 kph, using camera and radar sensors to maintain a safe distance from the car in front, while monitoring road markings to keep the Sorento in the centre of its lane.
In addition, it is also the first Kia available with the new Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA) which enables drivers to move their car autonomously out of a front-and-back parking space remotely with their key fob. RSPA brakes the Sorento automatically if it detects another car, cyclist or pedestrian behind the vehicle or crossing behind it.
The Sorento’s Safe Exit Assist feature also prevents rear doors from opening if the vehicle detects a hazard approaching from behind, such as a cyclist or another vehicle.
Finally, Kia’s first Multi-Collision Brake system enables the Sorento to mitigate the severity of secondary collisions. It automatically applies vehicle brakes when the airbags have been deployed after an initial collision, further protecting occupants from secondary frontal or side impacts.
IMAGE GALLERY


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia launches pre-owned “Proven Exclusivity” programme

If the idea of owning a brand new Mercedes-Benz seems too big a financial commitment, it probably is. Your alternative option is to look for a cheaper reconditioned unit through a parallel importer (we really don’t recommend this), but that hardly comes packaged with proper after sales support and warranty coverage.
They say good things come to those who wait. To the patient ones among you, dear readers, this news is perhaps the kind you’ve been waiting for. Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) has officially introduced their “Proven Exclusivity” programme that offers a variety of pre-owned Mercedes-Benz cars to prospective and aspiring owners.
This Mercedes-AMG A45 (MY2015), which has less than 300km on the clock, is going for just RM315k!
Vehicles sold under this programme are strictly sourced from
 authorised MBM dealers
, which means all cars come with proper parts and components that’s most suited for our humid and temperate climate. To qualify for this programme, the cars must be
no more than six years old
 and
have absolutely no structural damage
. They must also be fully serviced and maintained by authorised MBM service centres,
clocked less than 125,000km
 and serviced only using original Mercedes-Benz parts.
Surely there must be a more comprehensive criteria for that all-important hassle free ownership, right? Yes, in fact all cars to be sold under this programme will undergo a mandatory multi-point inspection. Certified technicians will perform 215 individual inspection, as illustrated below:
Electrical Systems and Function Test (75-point inspection)
Undercarriage and Drivetrain (27-point inspection)
Chassis and Body (23-point inspection)
Road Test (27-point inspection)
Post Road Test (14-point inspection)
Engine, Systems and Pre-Road Test Checks (31-point inspection)
External Body (18-point inspection)
For the added peace of mind, all vehicles purchased under this programme will be covered by a 12-month unlimited mileage warranty on top of the remaining manufacturer’s warranty. This means if the Mercedes-Benz of your choice is registered in 2014, your new pre-owned car will continue to be covered by the 5-Year factory warranty (effectively three years left) PLUS the 12-month Proven Exclusivity warranty package.
In conjunction with the launch of this programme, Hap Seng Star Balakong is having a Pre-Owned Carnival that will run until 12 June 2016. If you live out of the Klang Valley or find the journey too exhaustive, you can visit any authorised Mercedes-Benz dealerships (be it Hap Seng Star, Cycle & Carriage or NZ Wheels) to purchase the pre-owned car of your choice.
IMAGE GALLERY


This Posaidon-tuned Mercedes-AMG S63 has more power than a Lamborghini Aventador

We thought we’ve seen it all in the world of after market tuning, but clearly, some people have a more vivid imagination than us. Because a German tuner that goes by the name Posaidon somehow thought that the
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
 (well, okay,
AMG S 63
) needed 940 hp. Do you really need to get to meetings that fast?
The standard twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine on the Mercedes-AMG S 63 makes 620 hp and 900 Nm, which to some people (us included) already seems excessive. But with its stage four tune, Posaidon managed to squeeze out an additional 320 hp and 380 Nm from the V8 mill for a total of
940 hp
 and
1,280 Nm
 – basically an additional
A 35
 on top.
That’s more than Lamborghini’s “ultimate” supercar, the Aventador Ultimae.
Even with its “entry level” RS 830 package, which includes upgraded ball-bearing turbochargers, a sports air filter, new downpipes with sport catalytic converters, and new engine and transmission software, the Posaidon-tuned S 63 already makes an incredible 830 hp and 1,100 Nm of torque.
In related news, Brabus gave the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 450 hp and 500 Nm of torque for some reason…
Stepping up to the middle-of-the-pack RS 830+ gives you 880 hp and 1,200 Nm of torque, which is good for 3.2 seconds century sprints and a top speed of 350 km/h. We can only wonder what the 940 hp tune can do, as Posaidon didn’t publish any performance metrics for that.
If you decide to not mess with hardware mods, even just a plain ECU tune for the Mercedes-AMG S 63’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 can already produce a whopping 707 hp and 1,000 Nm. Posaidon might as well be known as the one true engine whisperer from now on.
Design-wise, Posaidon (rightfully, in our opinion) left the Mercedes-AMG S 63 pretty much how it is from the factory, giving it a fairly sleeper-esque look – well, aside from the already pretty aggressive-looking stock AMG body kit. The only thing that’s changed on the Posaidon S 63 is the ground clearance, thanks to a new electronic lowering module for the standard air-suspension.
Pushing 900 hp on a Mercedes-AMG GT 4 Door makes a lot more sense than the S-Class…
That’s all fine and dandy, but we
still
can’t get over the fact that anyone would actually want 940 hp in an S-Class. Think you know why? Let us know in the comment section below.
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Would you take this limited-run Lotus Exige Cup 430 Type 25 to the track?

The year was 1962; Team Lotus unveiled its revolutionary Formula One (F1) race car bearing the name Lotus Type 25. It was the first F1 car to adopt a fully-stressed monocoque chassis that weighs only half as much as the race cars before it but was three times stiffer than its predecessor, the Type 24.
In the hands of Jim Clark, the Type 25 went on to win three races in its first year and proceeded to dominate the following 1963 season, winning seven out of 10 championship races with seven pole positions and six fastest laps. Earning Lotus’ first Constructor’s Championship and Driver’s Championship.
As a tribute to one of the most successful and influential F1 cars of all time, Lotus had built the Lotus Exige Cup 430 Type 25. Inspired by the Type 25, this collector’s piece gets a bespoke exterior and interior livery and like its moniker, only 25 units of these will ever roll out from Hethel.
Available in either Metallic Lotus Racing Green or Old English White, the Exige Cup 430 Type 25 gets contrasting pinstripes on the front splitter and front access panel. The exterior is further enhanced with bespoke bargeboards, a roof panel, a rear wing and unique decals finished in Lotus Racing Green or yellow. It rides on forged aluminium wheels measuring 17- and 18-inch in diameter for the front and rear axles.
Distinguishing the interior of the Exige Cup 430 Type 25 are the Carbon race seats finished in black Alcantara, a custom stripe for the head and backrest as well as new contrast double stitching for the upholstery. In a nod to the original Lotus Type 25 Formula 1 car, the car comes with a wooden gear knob.
This limited edition Exige gets the same powertrain setup as the regular
Exige Cup 430
, a 3.5-litre supercharged V6 pushing out
430 hp
 and
440 Nm
 of torque, sending drive to the rear wheels via a six-speed close-ratio manual transmission. Century sprint is completed in
3.3 seconds
 onwards to a top speed of 290 km/h.
Announcing the new car, CEO, Group Lotus plc, Jean-Marc Gales, said, “Although the Lotus Exige Cup 430 Type 25 is street legal, it blurs the line between road and race car to provide owners with an unbeatable blend of power, road holding, intuitive handling at any speed. On everyday open roads it rewards its driver with a pure analogue experience, like only a Lotus can, yet venture onto the track and you’ll find a depth in performance that only the very best driver can truly exploit.  Like the Lotus Type 25 in 1963, this car is without any rival.”
IMAGE GALLERY


Malaysia is largest Mercedes-Benz market in SEA, charting record 109% growth in Q3 2015

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) is clearly taking the lead of this upstream battle against the softening market, charting growth of its passenger car sales of 8,196 units by the end of the third quarter in 2015. That’s 70 percent more than the 4,817 units sold in the same period in 2014!
Since announcing their
best first half result in Malaysian history
 by selling 5,163 units earlier this year, MBM in Q3 2015 sold approximately 3,033 units which equates to 109 percent growth from the 1,451 units sold in Q3 2014. As expected, the bulk of this sales success is achieved via their core models – the
W205 C-Class
,
W212 E-Class
 and
W222 S-Class
; all of which are locally assembled at their Pekan Production Plant in Pahang.
Of the 3,033 units sold in Q3,
2,188 units
 (or 72 percent) of them are comprised of the popular trio, with 861 units of the C-Class registered (that’s 210 percent up from Q3 2014), making it the most popular model of the three. Following closely behind is the E-Class with 679 units and the S-Class even closer at 648 units. Both E- and S-Class models saw a growth increase of 72 percent compared to the same period last year, whereas sales for the S-Class is up by 127 percent.
The month of September is also MBM’s highest sales month in the third quarter this year, selling a cumulative 235 units. But the good news doesn’t end there, because Mercedes-Benz remains relentless in expanding its product lineup, and that includes the AMG models. To date, the company sold 302 units of AMG cars, one that’s populated by the likes of A45, CLA45, GLA45,
C63 S
 and
AMG GT S
. The compact car lineup on the other hand, charted sales totalling 838 units in Q3 2015, up 87 percent from the same period last year.
Icing this cake is the repositioning of their W205 C-Class offering, which sees a price reduction of up to RM52k for the range topping C250 AMG variant. The C-Class is the latest Mercedes-Benz model to qualify for the Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) incentive, and now the base model C200 Avantgarde is priced at
RM248,888
 (about RM21k down from before) without sacrificing equipment kit. One spec up is the C200 Exclusive, costing
RM252,888
 and topping off the offering is the C250 AMG at
RM287,888
. The C250 Exclusive offered before this announcement has been discontinued.


What does Hans Zimmer and 530 hp have in common? The BMW Concept i4.

Can electric cars be exciting? Yes, if they come looking like the BMW Concept i4.
The Gran Coupe continues the Bavarian’s march towards pure electric vehicles, and as it is slated to enter production in 2021, what you’re looking at shouldn’t be too different from its production form.
Before we dive into the marque’s first ever all-electric model in this premium midsize class, here are some figures. The electric motor can make up to
530 hp
 so the century sprint is complete in just 4.0 seconds and it will go pass 200 km/h.
That means it’s as quick as the BMW M4 which makes
425 hp
, with a 0 to 100 km/h time of 4.1 seconds.
The electric motor, electronics, charging unit and high-voltage batteries are all part of the fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology. This version of the battery weighs in at 500 kg, and is rated around 80 kWh, bringing the operating range up to 600 km on the WLTP cycle (world harmonised light-duty vehicles test procedure).
 The ‘driving sounds’ of the car, interestingly, are developed by Hans Zimmer (yes, the renowned composer) together with BMW Sound Designer, Renzo Vitale, under a brand named BMW IconicSounds Electric.
Why does a car need ‘driving sounds’? It’s to mimic the aural experience of a normal combustion engine to make it more sound organic, supposedly.
Design wise, it is pretty divisive. We’re all for pushing boundaries, but it’s hard to digest a kidney grille of that size, for now at least.
As there is no combustion engine to cool down or draw air to, they’re closed for aerodynamic efficiency and now serves as a panel housing several sensors.
Aero efficiency plays a big role in the design of the
Concept i4, as you can tell. No exhaust tips mean the diffuser and rear apron
can be optimised even further, while the rims, which are unique to this car, are
light and designed to improve air flow.
BMW has also used the launch of this concept to unveil a new look for its brand, and this translates to the new transparent badge sitting on top of the grilles. It’s unclear from the press release if it will feature on every car from here on out, but colour got us intrigued.
The modern and minimalistic theme continues inside the car. Seen first on BMW iNEXT, the
Curved Display
 projects all the vital parameters and infotainment display into a single, huge display that is angled towards the driver.
This means that haptic buttons continue their inexorable march into obsolescence. Even the gear lever is replaced by a toggle shifter.
From the aforementioned curved display, drivers can choose three driving modes :
Core
,
 Sport
, and
Efficient
 which have an effect on the driving sounds of the car. Interior presentation like ambient lighting is adjusted, along with the appearance of the Curved Display.
200 million euros (approx. RM934 million) will be invested in BMW’s main plant in Munich to enable series production of the i4, as the structure of the i4 which needs to accommodate high-voltage batteries, differs from the architecture of the vehicles currently produced there.
Approximately 90% of the existing production equipment in the body shop can be incorporated into the process however the remaining 10% – especially the machinery involved in building the rear structure – will need to be newly built.
IMAGE GALLERY


Renault Malaysia’s turbocharged B-Segment crossover to “Captur” the HR-V

Renault, through authorised distributor TC Euro Cars Sdn Bhd, have snuck under the B-Segment crossover radar to offer the segment’s first turbocharged model, the Renault Captur.
The French car, pronounced here as “Capture” instead of “Kaptur”, is built based on the fourth generation Renault Clio but is marginally bigger by way of footprint, measuring at 4,122 mm long, 1,778 mm wide, 1,566 mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,606 mm (against the Clio’s 2,589 mm).

Underneath the hood is a transversely mounted
 1.2-litre turbocharged
 four cylinder engine that makes
120 horsepower
 at 4,900 rpm and
190 Nm
 of torque from 2,000 rpm, paired to a
six-speed dual clutch automatic
 transmission sending drive to the
 front wheels
. It’s technically the most powerful vehicle in its segment with 190 Nm of torque, however it falls short on power when put next to the Honda HR-V’s 140 hp 1.8-litre engine.
The engine may be small, but on the flip side you only pay
RM55 for road tax

yearly
, whilst enjoying numbers like
10.9 seconds
 for the 0 to 100 km/h sprint before reaching a top speed of
 192 km/h
. Fuel consumption on the other hand, is rated at
5.4 litres per 100 km
.

Now, this funky looking car will be offered in four colours, all with contrasting-coloured roof. Colours that come with the black top comprise of Arizona Orange, Ivory (white) and Beige, whereas the Pacific Blue hue gets the white top. Only one variant will be available, and the amenity kit is pretty impressive to begin with.
On the outside, the styling is largely reminiscent of the Clio. The Captur gets LED daytime running lights built into the fog lamp binnacles, halogen projector headlights, two-tone 17-inch
Shuriken-style
 wheels shod with 205/55 series tyres, keyless entry and push-start button.
Inside, the Captur gets removable fabric seats that come with three varying designs, depending on the exterior colour of your vehicle. Air conditioning is automatic, and in the middle of the dash is a
7-inch touchscreen
 display supporting GPS navigation, Bluetooth connectivity for audio and telephony streaming. There’s also USB and auxiliary connectivity, including visual feed from the reverse camera.
Boot volume measures at
377 litres
, but expands to
455 litres
 when the rear seats are brought forwards or
1,235 litres
 when they are folded flat. Driver convenience features are made of cruise control with speed limiter, Electronic Stability Control, ABS with EBD, Emergency Brake Assist,
Eco Mode
 and Hill-Start Assist. If that doesn’t sound convincing enough, the Captur scores a full
5-star Euro NCAP
 crash safety rating, and comes with
four airbags
 as standard.

The Renault Captur will butt heads with models like the Honda HR-V, Peugeot 2008, Ford EcoSport and the soon-to-come Mazda CX-3. It carries an indicative on-the-road price tag of
RM123k without insurance
, effectively making it the costliest B-Segment crossover in the Malaysian market to date. That said, it is also – and will remain – as the only turbocharged model in its segment, for now at least.
IMAGE GALLERY


New one-off Ferrari SP48 Unica is a full-blown customised version of the F8 Tributo

The new SP48 Unica, the latest addition to Ferrari’s one-off series has joined an exclusive group of models that are forged based on a customer’s specific requirements.
The SP48 Unica, designed at the Ferrari Style Center is a two-seater Berlinetta created based on
F8 Tributo
. New design elements include redesigned front headlights and repositioned air intakes for the brakes.
The highlight of the SP48’s design lies in the extensive use of parametric-procedural modeling and 3D prototyping techniques deployed by the Ferrari Style Center designers and the engineers of Maranello to reshape what was originally the core design of the F8 Tributo.
The use of procedural modeling has resulted in the smooth transition from black to body colour; stretching across the windows, roof, and bonnet. The reduced side window area and the removal of the rear window have given the top half of the SP48 Unica a smooth visor look. The design of the car allows for the air intake for the intercoolers to be placed behind the side windows.
Inside, the seats are wrapped in specially-developed laser-perforated Alcantara. Upon entering the SP48 Unica, the polished end caps with the same laser-embossed will also catch the attention of occupants.
The one-off Ferrari SP48 Unica was designed for a loyal Prancing Horse customer who was involved in every phase of its creation.
Ferrari’s Special Projects program is aimed at creating unique “pieces”, called One-Offs and is the embodiment of the customer’s requests. Each project starts from the client’s idea, developed together with a team of designers from the Ferrari Style Center.
After nailing down the design, the next phase sees detailed technical drawings and a scale model before the construction of the car. The process takes over a year, during which the customer is involved in all phases of development and design verification.


Geely investing close to $5 billion for battery plant to support EV business expansion

Geely has taken the next step to further commit itself as the go-to business for making electric vehicles (EV). The company has announced plans to build an EV battery factory with an annual energy content of
42 GWh
.
A report by
Reuters
 state that a separate statement from the local government highlighted the total investment in the project by Geely’s technology arm will be
30 billion Yuan
 (USD4.6 billion). Geely’s technology group has previously invested in EV battery maker Farasis Energy.
Farasis Energy is no stranger to powering EVs, with Daimler/Mercedes-Benz recently taking a stake of around 3% during the battery company’s IPO in July 2020. The company also supplied batteries to Venturi Racing Formula E team for four years ending in 2020.
This is the second news in two days that a carmaker is building its own EV battery plant, as Volkswagen yesterday announced a systematic battery roadmap to include having
six ‘gigafactories’
 with a total energy content of 240 GWh by 2030.
In January, Geely announced a new
venture with Foxconn
 to not only provide consulting services on car manufacturing, but also contract manufacturing, specifically building EVs using the highly-scalable
Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA)
 platform.
The first vehicle to ride on the company’s open-sourced SEA platform is the soon-to-be-launched Lynk & Co
Zero Concept
 that targets over 700 kilometres of range and completes the century sprint in under four seconds.
Geely currently lists four fully electric models, highlighted by the
Geometry
 portfolio. Meanwhile, there are 10 models with PHEV systems, consisting of the entire
Lynk & Co
 line-up and newer models such as Emgrand EL sedan and
Xing Yue
 coupe-crossover.
Last week, Mercedes-Benz and Geely are reported to be working together on an
all-new Smart
 model in the form of an electric SUV.
China, already the world’s biggest car market, forecasts New Energy Vehicles such as EVs and PHEVs to contribute 20% of the country’s annual vehicle sales by 2025 as the government continues to push for vehicles with little or no emissions.


Perodua tops 2015 Malaysian sales charts, Honda dethrones Toyota as non-national leader

In the latest Total Industry Volume (TIV) statistics released by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), Perodua took top honours as the manufacturer with the highest sales figures in 2015. Honda on the other hand, finally dethroned arch rivals Toyota to claim the title for best non-national make.
Perodua’s success is applaudable considering how big a blow the automotive industry suffered in 2015, following the implementation of GST and the Ringgit’s volatility which subsequently maimed vehicle sales. As per our previous
report
, the
Axia
 was introduced right when customers started tightening their belts, and the Axia makes up a whopping 46.7 percent of Perodua’s total sales. Its success in 2015 had cemented Perodua’s position as the number one car manufacturer in Malaysia for a decade.
As for Honda, 2015 proved to be a pivotal year for the Japanese carmaker. The company continued its momentum gained in 2014 (thanks to the
new Honda City
 and
Jazz
) with the introduction of the
HR-V
 compact crossover. While other compact crossovers such as Ford EcoSport and Peugeot 2008 drew little success, the HR-V scored big among buyers, charting a
record number of bookings
 just one month after its introduction. The well-specced
Honda City
 contributed 40 percent of Honda’s sales as well.
On the other hand, Toyota, a winner in the non-national segment for years, played second fiddle (thanks to healthy commercial vehicle sales) to Honda by a whisker, followed by Nissan and Mazda. The latter jumped from ninth last year to sixth; a good improvement thanks to new products (the
Mazda 2
 and
Mazda 3 CKD
) launched last year. Just like Honda, Mercedes-Benz had a stellar year after the three-pointed star
sold a historic 10,845 units
, firmly sitting at the 10th spot, making them the leader in the premium segment.
Overall, the TIV in 2015 is
666,674
 units, a marginal increment of 187 units (0.03 percent) compared to 2014. However, for 2016, MAA has lowered its TIV forecast to 650,000 following global economic uncertainties and the fall of crude oil prices. Hopefully,
Proton’s upcoming products
 and a potential new sedan from Perodua could support better TIV figures in the coming years.
For more info on the top selling manufacturers in Malaysia, do click on the screenshots below:


Video: 2019 Toyota Vios 1.5 G facelift Review

When the
new facelift Toyota Vios
 was launched, it was met with more criticisms than praises by netizens mostly because of its styling. To say that it looks aggressive isn’t exactly appropriate but it’s not like it looks futuristic either.
If you ask me, the front end of the new Vios especially, just looks a little too busy – almost characterless. If anything it makes the front bumper of the
new 2.5-litre Camry which I reviewed
, look like a plain white tee.

After a few days with it, Adrian seems to believe that the new facelift Toyota Vios can once again wrestle buyers back from Honda’s grasps. What do you think? Check out his video and see if he has a point!


Nissan to extend ProPILOT semi-autonomous driving system, still no news for Malaysia

With more than 120,000 Nissan vehicles worldwide already fitted with ProPILOT, the system is now set to expand to additional models, including the Nissan Rogue Sport in the U.S. and the Qashqai in Canada, beginning late 2018.
As seen described in this demonstration, ProPILOT
 is a hands-on driver-assist system that helps drivers stay centered in their lane, navigate through stop-and-go traffic and maintain a set vehicle speed and distance from the vehicle in front.
So far, it’s yet to be introduced in Malaysia and was also absent in the latest Nissan introduced in Malaysia, the
 S-Hybrid Serena launched just yesterday
.
It also remains to be seen if, the
Nissan LEAF
,
expected to arrive in Malaysia
 this year will come with the semi-autonomous driving system.
Find out what’s new in the
Nissan Serena S-Hybrid
 here!
The ProPilot system was originally introduced in 2016 in the
JDM-specific Serena MPV
 and has since been extended to the all-new LEAF, the Qashqai in Europe, the facelifted X-Trail in the UK and more recently, Nissan also announced that the all-new 2019 Nissan Altima will feature the system.
Additional vehicles will adopt the technology in coming years, with Nissan planning to expand to 20 models and 20 markets by the end of 2022.


GWM Malaysia opens new 4S centres in Seremban & Butterworth

Just less than two months after the opening of
GWM’s first 4S centre in USJ
,
GWM Malaysia
 has opened yet another two new 4S (sales, service, spare parts, and survey) centres in Seremban and Butterworth. The new 4S centres are operated by GWM Malaysia together with its dealer partners – Seremban Victory Credit Sdn Bhd and CS Euro Auto Sdn Bhd respectively.
Transport Minister, YB Anthony Loke Siew Fook attended and officiated the opening ceremony of the GWM Seremban 4S Centre. In response to this, GWM Malaysia Managing Director, Mike Cui said during the opening ceremony, “I am grateful to have YB Anthony Loke, Minister of Transport, here to witness this significant milestone of GWM in Malaysia.”
Spanning around 11,000 sq ft and 25,000 sq ft respectively, the new 4S centres in Seremban and Butterworth provide both sales and aftersales service support and are equipped with dedicated service areas which include multiple service bays. Genuine spare parts are also available at the new 4S centres.
With showrooms capable of displaying up to 5 vehicles in both 4S centres, other amenities provided include a meeting room, lounge area, and gaming area. Free Wifi connection, coffee and snacks are also available.
ALSO WATCH:
Ora Good Cat review – Can the cheapest EV in Malaysia actually be good?
GWM Malaysia says that the opening of its Seremban 4S centre is a significant move for the company, as the centre is catered towards people who are moving from cities to suburban areas, while the population of Seremban has also grown significantly over the years. In addition, Penang is also one of the major cities in Malaysia with a rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) charging network.
As GWM is expanding its presence in Malaysia, it is also supporting the Malaysian government’s effort to become a carbon-neutral nation as soon as 2050. This initiative aligns with the government’s plans to encourage EV adoption, as well as the national target of 15% total industry volume (TIV) for EVs and hybrids by 2030.
As part of the government’s commitment to a greener future, YB Anthony Loke recently mentioned that the proposed tax structure aims to encourage people to embrace EVs. He also acknowledged concerns from the people regarding the potential increase in road tax for EVs after the current exemption policy expires in 2025. To address these concerns, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) plans to provide clear and transparent information about how the road tax will be calculated by the end of this year, offering direct answers to potential buyers.
RELATED:
GWM Malaysia opens first flagship 4S Centre in USJ


All-new Subaru Forester coming to Malaysia in May 2019

At the preview of the new
Subaru Forester e-Boxer in Singapore
, Motor Image Subaru has
stuck to their word
 that the fifth-generation Subaru Forester will be making its Malaysian debut sometime in May 2019.
Subaru’s EyeSight driver assist system will be available in Malaysia but will be reserved for the more expensive variant(s). The EyeSight system on the Forester bundles new innovations such as Reverse Automatic Braking (prevents a collision when in reverse), Rear Vehicle Detection, Steering Responsive Headlights, High-beam assist and Driver Monitoring System that alerts the driver when it detects signs of distraction or drowsiness.

To recap, the new Forester sits on the new Subaru Global Platform that promises best-in-class collision safety and responsive handling characteristics. A 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder Boxer engine with
182 hp
 and
238 Nm
 was introduced at the model’s global debut, but Malaysian market will most likely receive the FB20 2.0-litre Boxer unit pushing out
156 hp
 and
196 Nm
. The company did not dwell on the idea of the introduction of the hybrid-powered Forester e-Boxer here in Malaysia any time soon.
Motor Image has previously hinted that our local-spec Forester will not be too different from the
ones sold in Taiwan
 so we can expect LED projector headlamps with LED daytime running lights, 17- or 18-inch alloys, electronic parking brake, multifunctional steering wheel and leather upholstery. Not sure if more premium goodies like the powered sunroof and powered tailgate will make its way to our local spec car though.
IMAGE GALLERY
Subaru Forester 2.0 i-S EyeSight in Taiwan

Subaru Forester e-Boxer in Singapore


MCO 3.0: everything you need to know for essential travel during lockdown

The government and related agencies have released guidelines and restrictions with regard to essential travel during the Movement Control Order (MCO 3.0) Phase One
“Full Lockdown”
 period planned for the first two weeks of June 2021.
Similar to measures during the initial MCO in March last year, inter-state and inter-district travelling is
banned
 nationwide. Only
two
 people per household are allowed in
a vehicle
, with movement restricted within a
10 km radius
, to purchase essential goods and healthcare.
For those seeking medical attention and well as to the vaccination centre, an additional occupant can accompany, making it three per vehicle – The latter
will require

proof of the appointment
 in the MySejahtera app or other forms of appointment.
As per the first MCO, interstate or inter-district travel for long-distance married couples
 will not be allowed
 to travel during phase one of the “full lockdown”. Some
800 road blocks
 will be set up nationwide during this period to enforce these travelling restrictions.
As for travelling in taxis and e-hailing vehicles, only
two occupants
 are allowed per vehicle, including the driver. That means only
one passenger per trip
, regardless of vehicle capacity. However,
an additional
 occupant can accompany for medical needs such as emergencies, doctors appointment or the purpose of getting the vaccination.
Public transportation will be operating at 50% capacity as well as reduced frequencies.
Fuel stations are allowed to operate from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm. The SOP also states that
workshops
 for automobiles with repair, maintenance and spare parts plus tyre workshops are allowed to operate between
8:00 am and 8:00 pm
 from June 1 to 14.
Essential economic and services will remain open, such as food, beverage, health, water, energy, communications, I.T, banking and logistics. Meanwhile, goods and services in the
disallowed list
 include
car sales and distribution
, car wash centres, car accessories, hairdresser and salon, furniture, sporting and toys.
The “lockdown” is Phase One of the government’s move to contain the rapid spread of the coronavirus and not paralyse the already-strained national healthcare system. Reopening of other economic and services sectors will be revisited after 14 days, where if the conditions allow, the MCO will move to Phase Two.
Although travelling is permitted during this MCO3.0 period, we at
AutoBuzz.my
 would like to remind everyone to please
stay home, and stay safe
; keep travelling to a minimum, for essential purposes only. Nobody likes to be stuck at home, but the more we do our part, the sooner we can defeat the pandemic and return to normalcy.


Mercedes-Benz Dream Cars achieves all-time high, AMG outsells BMW M cars

Mercedes-Benz ended 2017 as the
most successful premium carmaker
 after shifting 2,289,344 vehicles worldwide, followed closely by rivals BMW and Audi. While its mass-market models – limousines, SUVs and compact cars all made significant growth in their respective segments,
Mercedes-Benz’s dream cars
 and AMG performance models also witness a record-breaking year.
There are currently 12 dream cars bearing the three-pointed star badge made up of coupes, cabriolets and roadsters. In 2017, the brand delivered nearly 170,000 new dream cars to customers, surpassing previous-year sales by
22.4 percent
. Among the 12 cars, the
C-Class coupe
 and
cabriolet
 proved to be the crowd favourite. The dream car range will be further bolstered in 2018 with the recently unveiled
CLS Coupe
,
S-Class coupe and cabriolet
.
Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupe
Last year was AMG’s 50
th
 anniversary and what better way to celebrate the auspicious event than achieving its first-ever six-digit unit sales in history. Mercedes-AMG delivered a grand total of
131,970 AMG models
 to customers worldwide, a
growth of 33 percent
 compared to the previous year. As a comparison, BMW M Division only sold 80,795 units of M cars in the same calendar year.
Closer to home, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) has introduced a wide range of dream cars to the local market since 2016 spanning from the C-Class Cabriolet to the new
E-Class Coupe
. Should you prefer a shouty high-performance Benz to go in your stable, MBM has got you covered from the entry-level
A 45 4MATIC
 to the Beast of the Green Hell that is the
AMG GT R
.
IMAGE GALLERY
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Dream Car Drive


Perodua to offer Advance Safety Assist in wider range of models

Perodua is not taking safety lightly and as such, there are plans in place for the
Advance Safety Assist
 to be available in the lower and cheaper variants of Perodua vehicles.
At the moment, the driver assistance system is available in the
recently launched Aruz
 where
 more than 14,000 units have been booked since January
 this year, after being debuted in the
new Perodua Myvi
.

Other vehicles in the Perodua line up includes the Axia, Alza and the Bezza, which do not come equipped with the system.
This implies that either of the three could soon be equipped with the system where its Pre-Collision Braking (also known as Autonomous Emergency Braking) has been reported to
reduce minor collisions by up to 53%
.
Other features that make up the Advanced Safety Assist includes Pre-Collision Warning, Front Departure Alert and Pedal Misoperation Control.

At the moment, there’s no specific timeline as to when the system will be rolled out in the lower models but Perodua did announced that the company is in the position to introduce an all-new model, along with a facelift model every year.
Judging from previous developments, safe to assume that an
updated Bezza
 is on the way?


Petronas urges you to take Coffee Breaks during this festive season

Petronas Dagangan Berhad (PDB) launched its annual Coffee Break campaign today to promote safety among motorists travelling during this festive season.
Those hitting the roads this Chinese New Year can rest and refresh with complimentary coffee and snacks from
 2nd to 3rd
 and
9th and 10th February
 at 150 participating Petronas outlets.
In conjunction with the festive season, Petronas also launched the
National Safest Driver Challenge
 in collaboration with PLUS Highway, Touch ‘n’ Go and Katsana, a company known for its GPS tracking and fleet management systems.
The Challenge will be conducted by DriveMark, a safety mobile application which will keep track of driving behaviour and rewards safe driving actions with positive scores.
To participate, motorists will need to download the DriveMark app on Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store and drive a
 minimum distance of 200km from now until 28 February.
Two grand prize winners will walk away with 100,000 Mesra points worth RM 1,000, RM 1,000 Touch ‘n’ Go credit, 10,000 PLUSMiles points and RM 10,000 DriveMark Personal Accident Coverage for 12 months.
There will also be 50 special prize winners who will receive 5,000 Mesra points, RM 50 Touch ‘n’ Go credit and RM 10,000 DriveMark Personal Accident Coverage for three month, as well as 2,750 consolation prize winners.
As part of the Coffee Break Campaign, Perodua car owners will receive complimentary vehicle inspection. There will also be free health checks for all by St. John Ambulance of Malaysia at selected Petronas stations.
IMAGE GALLERY


New Ferrari Portofino M revealed with engine and exterior “modificata”

The M in the Portofino M’s name stands for “Modificata”, a term commonly used on models that have undergone an evolution that has significantly boosted their performance.
The evolution of the
Ferrari Portofino
, which was unveiled entirely online for the first time in Ferrari’s 70 year history, has been given more power with a reworked engine, new 8-speed gearbox and a 5-position Manettino which now includes a Race mode. It is the first time a Ferrari GT Spider has received such a feature.

The Portino M get its legs from a 3.9-litre twin turbocharged engine, the same V8 engine found in the
new Roma
 which was voted the International Engine of the Year for four consecutive years.
The engine now however makes 620 hp, 20 more than the Ferrari Portofino although torque figures remain at 720 Nm. 0 to 100 km/h takes 3.4 seconds while 0 to 200 km/h will only require 9.8 seconds. Top speed is in excess of 320 km/h.
Ferrari says the Portofino M can deliver instantaneous acceleration, in line with its “Zero Turbo Lag” concept, through a Variable Boost Management system that adjusts torque output in accordance to the selected gear in its new 8-speed dual clutch gearbox.
The reworked front bumper of the Portofino M now features an air vent at the wheel arch to reduce overall drag. The new rear bumper that shelters a new exhaust system, comes with a diffuser that is completely separate to allow customers to specify it in carbon fibre. Topping off the exterior are 20-inch diamond-finished wheels designed specifically for the Portofino M.
Inside, the seats are supported by a magnesium structure with different density padding and an ultra-compact seatback profile that has resulted in more space for the rear passengers. They’re also available with three-level ventilation where the system constantly adapts the speed of the warm air flow from the headrest to ensure it is proportionate to the car’s speed and outside temperature.
The passenger has an optional dedicated capacitive display on the dashboard. It is directly linked to the main screen providing all information relating to car speed, rpm and gear engaged.
That’s not all; they can also select music, view the satellite navigation information, or select a new point of interest, such as a restaurant, which is then automatically integrated into the route.
For a grand tourer that’s expected to chew miles, safety is also of utmost priority in the Portofino M. It’s equipped with an Predictive Emergency Brake System, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop&Go function, Blind Spot Monitor, Lane Departure Warning, Automatic High Beam, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and a Surround View display.
During the online press conference with Ferrari Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer, Enrico Galliera, he said prices for the Portofino M will start from 206,000 euros with deliveries of the first batch of left-hand drive models expected to take place in Q2 of 2021.


Nissan launches yet another new GT-R only for Japan – “T-spec” limited to 100 units

As expected, the latest Nissan GT-R model is simply
another limited edition
, without any changes to performance and styling. For the latest improvement under the MY2022 (model year 2022), Nissan is introducing the GT-R T-spec to the Japanese market, limited to just 100 units.
The MY2022 Nissan GT-R, which is only scheduled to go on sale in late October, adds two limited grades- the GT-R Premium T-spec and the GT-R Track Edition T-spec. Both T-spec limited editions gain a carbon-ceramic braking system, a carbon-fibre rear spoiler and exclusive T-spec emblems.
Nissan has also reworked the suspension and damping characteristics of the GT-R T-spec editions for better comfort and stability. The GT-R Track Edition T-spec meanwhile adds a roof panel and trunk lid made from lightweight carbon fibre, reducing 20 kg of kerb weight.
When asked what T-spec meant, Chief Product Specialist of the Nissan GT-R,
Hiroshi Tamura
, comically answered, “No, the T is not for my name, Tamura, but I feel I should say yes to that question (chuckles),”
“The name T-spec comes from TM-spec, a secret engineering code we originally used while we were developed this. We put TM for this R35 for trend making, a milestone for new trend as well as traction master (maximum traction from 4WD technology),” continued Tamura. The Nissan GT-R T-spec editions will also be made available with two re-introduced colours from the older Skyline GT-R palette.
The introduction of Millennium Jade and Midnight Purple colours make them the second and third “heritage” colours after the introduction of the Bayside Blue in the MY2020 model.
The all-new Nissan Almera Turbo uses engine technology from the Nissan GT-R! Find out more here!
In a Question and Answer (QnA) session with the key project executives, Nissan said both colours were specially re-formulated to suit the shape of the R35 Nissan GT-R as well as the painting process that now involves more environmentally friendly processes and materials.
The Midnight Purple that was last used in the R33 Nissan Skyline GT-R is an advanced version of the colour and now incorporates colour-shifting pigments, inspired by the naturally occurring aurora borealis phenomenon.
For the Millennium Jade paintwork, more grey shade has been added to match the contours of the R35 Nissan GT-R. Nissan also said the Japanese customers are especially sensitive to green thus plenty of fine-tuning of the colour was needed.
A Nissan Skyline GT-R Nur-spec was advertised with a seven-figure price tag! Could the revival of Millennium Jade paintwork knock off a few thousand now?
The GT-R Premium T-spec comes equipped with 20-inch forged Rays rims in bronze finishing, while the GT-R Track Edition T-spec has its forged Rays rims in Nismo Racing Black. Gold is meanwhile used on the engine cover and door sill plates for both variants.
While a few exterior colours are available, the interior of the Nissan GT-R Premium T-spec edition only comes finished with a specially-developed green theme and a black headlining with special stitching. The GT-R Track Edition T-spec is finished in a black interior with a pair of Recaro seats.
Under the bonnet lies the venerable twin-turbocharged V6 VR38DETT engine displacing 3.8-litres with a maximum output of
570 hp
 and
637 Nm
 of torque. Power is sent to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission mounted on the rear axle, and then redistributing a portion to the front axle via the ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive system.
The lighter and more performance-focused
Nissan GT-R Nismo
 with
600 hp
 and
652 Nm
 of torque was unveiled earlier in April. All variants are said to complete the century sprint benchmark in
2.8 seconds
.
Prices for the MY2022 Nissan GT-R begins at
JPY 10.83 million
 (approx. RM408k), with the T-spec editions commanding a premium of over JPY 3 million (approx. RM135k) versus their “regular” variants, with the GT-R Premium T-spec starting from
JPY 15.9 million
 (approx. RM600k).
GALLERY


Toyota GAZOO Racing fields Malaysian in Thailand Super Endurance 600 race

Mark Darwin, the race car driver from the Toyota Vios Challenge series happening at MAEPS, Serdang this weekend will be representing Malaysia with Team Asia in a Toyota Corolla Altis in the Thailand Super Endurance 600 min race.
Darwin will be teaming with drivers from Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand for the race held in December at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand. The race is part of Toyota’s initiative to develop new talent in the region by providing them with the platform and exposure to the international arena.
“We are proud to be able to name Mark Darwin for this Super Endurance 600 Race. It is a key part of Toyota’s initiatives globally to use motorsports as a means of developing not only our cars, but more importantly, to provide our talents with the opportunities that allow them to fully realize their potentials,” said
Deputy Chairman of UMW Toyota Motor Akio Takeyama.
Darwin, 27, currently undergoing a four-day intense training stint at the Bira and Buriram circuits said, “It is an honour and privilege to have been selected to represent Malaysia. I’m looking forward to race with other drivers in the Corolla Altis and I hope that we will be able to get the results that would make Malaysians proud.”
Darwin would be pitting alongside the likes of Tengku Djan at this weekend’s Toyota GAZOO Racing (TGR) Festival at MAEPS, Serdang together with other celebrity drivers namely Fattah Amin, Geraldine Gan, Diana Danielle, Shawn Lee and Janna Nick to name a few.


Johor Police to clamp down on “fancy number plates”

Police in Johor will start clamping down on
“fancy number plates”
where the alphabets and numbers are not in line with the specifications approved by authorities, according to a report by Berita Harian.
This follows after 9,985 vehicles were issued summons since January 2020 for having fancy number plates.
The legal way!
Enforcement will first begin with the official vehicles in the Johor police force and there will be no compromise against other government official vehicles as well. Here’s to hoping the same applies to the state’s elite and most influential as well.
The different fonts, sizes, and distance between the alphanumeric characters can cause confusion and makes vehicle identification difficult. This makes it especially tough for authorities to identify hit and run cases and enforce other traffic offenses.
These fancy plates are an offense under Section 14 (4) and Section 108 (3)(F) of the
Road Transport Act 1987
 and Rule 6 (1) LN173/69.
Image source:
Polis Johor


Toyota was the best-selling automaker in the USA in 2021

After holding the top spot for 90 years, General Motors has been knocked off its No.1 spot for the first time ever as the best-selling automaker in the USA and unsurprisingly, it’s by the other giant from the orient – Toyota.
Last year, Toyota sold a total of 2,332,262 vehicles in the USA, representing a 10.4% increase from the previous year. The figure consists of Toyota (2,027,786 units) and Lexus (304,476 units) vehicles.
Toyota recently announced that it would launch 30 new battery EVs by 2030.
By comparison, GM sold 2,218,228 units, a 12.9% drop from the previous year. The difference of 114,034 vehicles sold between the two allowed Toyota to take the top spot away from General Motors for the first time since 1931.
Sales were primarily led by the RAV4, with over 407,739 units, outselling even the Tacoma pick-up, Highlander SUV, and Camry. The Camry was also crowned the best-selling passenger car in the USA for the 20th consecutive year while the RAV4 has been the best-selling SUV in the USA for the 5th consecutive year.
In light of the annual round-up, both companies have attributed the semi-conductor chip shortage to be one of the main challenges in vehicle manufacturing in 2021.
Related: Toyota & Lexus to launch 30 new battery EVs by 2030!


First images of Hyundai i20 released, to debut at 2014 Paris Motor Show [+Video]

Hyundai Motor
 has released first images of the
 New Generation i20
, which is set to debut at the 2014 Paris Motor Show in October. At the same time,
 Hyundai Motor India Limited
 (HMIL) also released thier version of the i20 called
The Elite i20
.
Featuring the latest
Fluidic Sculpture 2.0
 design language, the new generation i20 has been both designed and developed in Europe. Designed at Hyundai Motor’s Design Centre Europe in Rüsselsheim Germany, the new design language introduces more straight lines throughout the exterior of the car.
The nose features a thin horizontal grille with a bigger separate hexagonal grille just below it. The headlights now includes
LED daytime running lights
 and LED position lamps as well. Towards the back, the i20 gets a
blacked-out C pillar

a-la
 Jaguar XJ with boomerang-shaped
 LED taillamps
.
Sitting on a new platform, the new generation i20 measures
4,035 mm long
 with additional 45 mm to the
 2,570 mm wheelbase
 compared to the old i20. The interior is claimed to incorporate Hyundai Motor’s core interior design principles of premium aesthetics, intuitiveness and simplicity with a driver-focussed dash.
The India-spec Elite i20 features a multifunction steering wheel, MP3 Audio system with 1 GB internal memory, Bluetooth connectivity, Start Stop button, rear aircon vents, automatic climate control, and a height-adjustable driver’s seat. For Europe, the i20 is offered with an optional panoramic sunroof and a rear-view camera.
For safety, the India-spec Elite i20 is said to feature ABS and dual front airbags, but Europe-spec i20 should offer more safety kit. There are no mention of the engine choices offered for the Europe-spec i20, but the India-spec Elite i20 comes with either a
 1.2-litre Dual VTVT Kappa petrol
 generating
82 hp
 or a 2nd Generation U2
 1.4-litre CRDi diesel
 producing
89 hp
 powerplants.
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IMAGE GALLERY
European’s New Generation i20

India’s The Elite i20