Tan Chong opens new Subaru CKD plant in Thailand, exports to SEA markets

Tan Chong International Limited (TCIL) together
with Subaru Corporation officially launched its Tan Chong Subaru Automotive
(Thailand) Limited (TCSAT) manufacturing plant here in Ladkrabang Industrial Estate,
Bangkok.
This is the first dedicated Subaru manufacturing
plant outside of Japan in Asia and the third plant to fully produce Subaru vehicles
worldwide – Tan Chong’s plant in Segambut assembles Subaru cars on a contract
manufacturing basis. With an initial investment of THB5 billion (RM647 million)
from TC Manufacturing and Assembly (Thailand) Limited (74.9% stake) and Subaru
Corporation (25.1% stake).
The new plant occupies more than 24.7 acres
of space covering a Paint Shop, Body Shop, Assembly Shop, CKD Warehouse and management
offices. It took a mere 24 months from the ground breaking ceremony till the
first car to roll off the production halls on 15 August 2018. Thailand’s status
as an automotive hub with established component suppliers and strong localisation
ability mean the plant could be up and running in a short time frame.
The
fifth-generation Subaru Forester
 is the first CKD model to be assembled at TCSAT and some 100 cars have already been delivered to customers in Thailand. The cars will be distributed in Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia with targeted delivery of more than 6,000 Foresters in the plant’s first operating year.
Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of TCIL, Mr Glenn Tan said: “This is truly a milestone for us, to be able to build Subaru cars ourselves in Thailand. From distribution, dealerships and aftersales, we are now also manufacturing Subaru cars. This strategic long- term move will allow us to better manage our supply chain, widen our product line up, localise better and be less dependent on supply from Japan. We will be better able to respond and meet consumer demand for Subaru vehicles in the region, and perhaps even beyond the region in future.”
IMAGE GALLERY
Tan Chong Subaru Automotive (Thailand) CKD Plant


BMW R nineT & BMW S 1000 R unveiled in Malaysia [+Video]

BMW Group Malaysia unveiled the new
BMW R nineT
 to commemorate BMW Motorrad’s 90th anniversary, a classic roadster created to represent the company’s 90 years of history. Launched at the same time is the new
 BMW S 1000 R
, the naked version of the legendary BMW S 1000 RR.
BMW R nineT
The first BMW motorcycle was made in 1932, the BMW R 32. The heart of the R nineT is the same longitudinal twin-cylinder boxer engine from the R 32 ninety years ago. Now, the air or oil-cooled
1,170 cc
 boxer engine together with a six-speed gearbox in the new R nineT produces
110 horsepower
 and
119 Nm
 of torque.

Design and development of the commemorative model is based on “puristic simplicity” and “emotion”. With its classic and minimalist design, the R nineT is set to create an emotional bond between man and machine.
The BMW R nineT is available only in a classic black colour scheme; Black Strom Metallic with silver and metallic contrast. The R nineT is priced at RM 115,800 on the road, without insurance.
BMW S 1000 R
The legendary BMW S 1000 RR was introduced in year 2009, as the first purpose-built superbike with a powerful four-cylinder in-line engine. Now, the naked version of it has arrived, the new BMW S 1000 R sports roadster, with it’s distinct “tail up, nose down” stance.

Powered by the same
999 cc
 four-cylinder in-line engine as the RR, the S 1000 R produces
160 horsepower
 and
112 Nm
 of torque, 10 Nm more than the RR. It comes with two riding modes, “Rain” and “Road”. When the “Rain” mode is engaged, the ride will be soft and responsive to tackle wet conditions. “Road” mode provides optimal throttle response and controlability. Optional “Dynamic” and “Dynamic Pro” modes are available together with Dynamic Traction Control (DTC) for sporty performance on both road and track.
The new BMW S 1000 R is available in three different colours; non-metallic Racing Red, metallic Frozen Dark Blue, and the corporate design colours of BMW Motorrad, with non-metallic Light White paintwork. The S 1000 R is priced at
RM 95,800
 on the road, without insurance.
BMW Group Malaysia invited BMW Motorrad France stunt rider,
Big Jim
 to the launch event, which was held at Sunway Pyramid Ice Skating. So naturally, Big Jim went ‘skating’ on the new BMW S 1000 R with snow tyres and did a few tricks.

[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY


F1: Red Bull Racing future hangs in the balance without competitive power unit for 2016 season

We brought one of the most exciting pieces of news to spear the realm of F1, which was the
imminent buy over
 of one of the most successful teams in F1 – Red Bull Racing (RBR) by none other than German auto giant Volkswagen, just days before the dieselgate scandal surfaced. In short if they can’t get a power unit sourced by the month’s end, Red Bull Racing is screwed!
Much has happened since then, but RBR is now facing the same conundrum as other teams with one crucial twist, while Mercedes and Ferrari will sell you a power unit for the season, it would be from the
 past season
 or that of
varying specifications
 different from the ones powering the factory teams. These giants aren’t just going to hand you a current season’s power unit and
jeopardize
 their chances of success, a point that was stressed by Mercedes boss –
Toto Wolff
. It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there and Formula 1 isn’t an exception from that rule.
pic credits: speedhunters.com
But why would Red Bull be worried? They still have a year’s worth on their contract with
Renault
. But here’s the thing, because of the slump that RBR (and Toro Roso) has been going through for the last
two
 seasons with power units that just
aren’t powerful enough
 to be in contention with
Mercedes
 and
Ferrari
. So the team
severed
 the contract a year
premature
. Christian Horner, team principal commented on the situation as complete hopelessness.
Redbull’s in-house publication,
Speedweek
 said, “Even after two years of development it lacks around
80hp
 to the Mercedes cars and its reliability is of
pitiful
 proportions, the
disappointment
 with the performance and the posturing of the French are huge. Instead of improving after the 2014 season, Renault has further fallen behind Mercedes.” Strong words indeed but it’s a sentiment that’s echoed especially by
Adrian Newey
, RBR’s chief technical officer.
With Renault, Mercedes and Ferrari out of the picture, it leaves RBR with not a lot of choices.
Honda
 wouldn’t have been a great choice either judging by their performance this season coupled along with the fact that
Ron Dennis
 will only supply engines if RBR inks an
exclusive contract
 that would render them
worst
 off than with Renault engines.
Red Bull owner
Dietrich Mateschitz
 was quoted saying that the
factory teams fear RBR
 and empowering them by supplying engines would be a
suicidal
 move. The reason is simple, RBR has a budget per season that would make some small countries quake in their tracks let alone factory racing teams. The team is set to make a decision in two or three weeks time. That decision will either make or break the teams 2016 season. But this much is certain, Volkswagen neutered Red Bull with help from F1 supremo
 Bernie Ecclestone.


Mitsubishi Triton updated, adds ESC and 7 Airbags, priced from RM77k

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) has officially introduced the updated Mitsubishi Triton here at Mid Valley Megamall. The update brings a range of safety features and premium equipment to the Triton range. Unfortunately, the active safety system is not available as standard across all variants.
The new Triton range sees a slight increase in price across the board, ranging from
RM77k
 to
RM131k
. However, to compensate the price increase, buyers will be delighted to know that the Triton is the only pick-up truck in Malaysia to come with a
5-Year or 200,000 km warranty
 package (up to 2.4L category).
QUICK FACTS
Name
Mitsubishi Triton Quest MT (4×2)
Mitsubishi Triton MT (4×4)
Mitsubishi Triton VGT MT (4×4)
Mitsubishi Triton VGT AT (4×4)
Mitsubishi Triton VGT Adventure AT (4×4)
Mitsubishis Triton VGT Adventure X AT (4×4)
Engine
2,477cc; DI-D Common Rail Intercooled Turbocharged
2,477cc; DI-D Common Rail Intercooled Turbocharged DOHC
2,442cc; MIVEC Turbo Diesel DI-D Common Rail VGT Intercooler
Transmission
5-speed manual
6-speed manual
5-speed automatic with Sport Mode
Max Power
108 hp @ 4,000 rpm
134 hp @ 4,000 rpm
179 hp @ 3,500 rpm
Max Torque
200 Nm @ 2,000 rpm
324 Nm @ 2,000 rpm
430 Nm @ 2,500 rpm
Price (OTR without insurance)
RM77,390
RM93,920
RM107,600
RM114,400
RM123,130
RM130,900
 EXTERIOR
From the outside, the Triton looks no different than the one that was
launched back in late 2016
. Standard on all VGT variants are automatic Bi-Xenon HID Headlamps with LED daytime running lights, sports bar and rear fog lamps. New items in this 2017 update includes a redesigned side steps and dark chrome grille. Standard VGT variants ride on 16-inch alloys while VGT Adventure models get 17-inch alloys.

Top of the line VGT Adventure X gets additional Shield Extender for the front bumpers, Sports Bar with Tonneau Cover and dual-tone finish for the alloy wheels.
The Triton MT and Triton Quest get halogen reflector headlamps and rear fog lamps as standard. Triton Quest rides on 15-inch alloys while the Triton MT rides on 16-inch alloys.
INTERIOR
New to the Triton range is a four-spoke multi-function steering wheel with audio, Bluetooth and cruise control switches as well as a new instrument cluster. VGT Adventure variants further adds 8-way powered driver’s seat.

Other than that, the Triton gets the same equipment as before such as reverse camera, dual-zone climate control, paddle shifters, cruise control and leather seats for the
VGT Adventure
; keyless entry and push-start, power folding side mirrors, touchscreen infotainment system with six speakers, and leather wrapped steering wheel for the
 VGT
and single DIN audio system with USB, MP3, AUX and CD player, three spoke urethane steering wheel, two speakers and fabric seats for the
Triton Quest
.
PERFORMANCE
Powering the updated Triton VGT is a new 2.4-litre aluminium MIVEC turbodiesel that pushes out
179 hp
 and
430 Nm
 of torque mated to a five-speed automatic transmission or six-speed manual transmission. The new engine is 30 kg lighter and promises 15 percent better fuel economy compared to the old 2.5-litre turbodiesel mill. To demonstrate the new engine’s performance and robustness, watch how
Leona Chin pull a 31-tonne mega truck with the new Triton
!
The
Easy Select 4WD system
 that is on all 4×4 models optimises torque distribution between the front and rear axles in any driving conditions. Drivers can switch between 2WD-Hi and 4WD-Hi via the rotary dial at speeds of up to 100km/h. 4WD-Lo can be selected when the terrains get really tough. Another noteworthy feature of the Triton is the
best-in-class turning radius
 of 5.9 meters (5.7 meters for 2WD) that allows for easy manoeuvre of the pickup truck.
SAFETY
As standard, all Triton comes with dual airbags and ABS with EDB, Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution that absorbs and dissipates collision impact force and ISOFIX mounting points as standard. VGT models gets additional hill-start assist.
However, MMM has finally brought the Triton up to competition as all VGT models now come with ESC or in Mitsubishi terms –
Active Stability & Traction Control (ASTC) system
. VGT Adventure models even gets seven airbags and Trailer Sway Control as standard which qualifies VGT Adventure models for a full
 5 Star ASEAN NCAP crash safety rating
.
WHAT ELSE?
As mentioned earlier, all Mitsubishi Triton comes with a 5-Year or 200,00 km warranty and will be a fully-imported model from Thailand. A total of five colour choices are available but some colours are variant specific. Currently, MMM is represented at 59 showrooms (13 of which are in East Malaysia) and 56 service outlets nationwide.
IMAGE GALLERY
Mitsubishi Triton VGT Adventure X


Geely Geometry: Affordable premium electric mobility for all

Geely Auto Group recently launched their
first Electric brand, Geometry
 in Singapore, showing the Chinese automaker’s commitment to sustainable mobility solutions.
Geometry believes that clean energy vehicles (in this case electric vehicles) along with premium safety features such as semi-autonomous driving, top-notch crash safety rating should be accessible to the masses and not only to the privileged few.
As a result, the company has packaged the brand’s first electric vehicle (EV), Geometry A very competitively, enticing consumers to make the switch to EVs. An entry-level Geometry A with semi-autonomous driving & 410 km pure electric range retails for RMB150k (RM92k) while its closest competitor, the
Tesla Model 3
 is priced closer to RMB407k (RM250k).
Zhejiang Geely Holding
Group President and Geely Auto Group President and CEO, Mr. An Conghui said:
“Geely is a strong force and active participant in the field of new energy. We
are guided by technological innovation and are determined to become a global
leader in new energy.”

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group President and Geely Auto Group President and CEO, Mr. An Conghui at the Global launch of Geometry A
Moving forward, Geometry
will launch no less than 10 pure EVs in various shapes and sizes including
sedans, SUVs and MPVs to cater to different consumer segments by 2025. A crucial
step to pushing the Geometry and Geely brand as the No. 1 choice in pure
electric and new energy vehicles.
From the looks of it, Geometry A has pushed the bar for pure electric sedans with its comprehensive package combining class-leading safety, high tech features, high-capacity battery and most importantly attractive price tag.
IMAGE GALLERY
Geometry A Launched in Singapore


Ops Sedar nationwide roadblocks by JPJ from Wednesday

The Road Transport Department (JPJ) will implement the Ops ‘Sedar’ (aware) from
Wednesday, November 24th
, after an observation on road users lacking one vital document- insurance coverage!
The Ops ‘Sedar’ involves the monitoring and enforcement of road users via roadblocks (sekatan jalan raya or SJR) and will be implemented around the country to nab offenders as insurance coverage is required by the law as stipulated in the Road Transport Act 1987.
Source: Twitter/
JPJ
The minimum coverage that the majority of the insurance companies provide is the ‘Third Party’ cover, insuring the vehicle owner against claims for bodily injuries or deaths caused to the other persons (known as the third party), as well as loss or damage to third party property caused by the said owner’s vehicle.
Simply put, it covers the damages of the property or other vehicles a driver caused, but does not cover the damages to his or her own vehicle, responsibly protecting innocent bystanders and road users.
It is reported (in other portals) that driving without a valid insurance coverage can be convicted with a fine of
RM 1,000
 or a
jail time
 of three months or both under Section 90 (1), Road Transport Act 1987. The offender will also be ‘Blacklisted’ from renewing their driving licence until the court case has been completed.
The JPJ thus remind all road users to be responsible and renew their expired road tax and driving licences before the end of the year, a
deadline that was extended

by the Ministry of Transport announced in September. A valid insurance coverage is also a must, as mentioned earlier.
Check out the
respective state’s JPJ Facebook
 page on the availability of the Mobile Counters
All JPJ and Pos Malaysia counters are open for such renewals and can also be done at selected
Puspakom
 centres as well as online via
mySikap JPJ
 portal as well as
MyEG
.
As of now, the JPJ said it has not received any direction on the extension of the expiry date for both the road tax and driving licence.


Bosch reinvents the sun visor to save us all from retinal damage

Anyone who’s ever driven a car would know that the flimsy little piece of trim that car manufacturers call “sun visor”, doesn’t really block the sun all that well – especially when it’s 6.30 pm and the sun is just above the horizon.
More often than not, the sun visor also blocks out a large chunk of the driver’s outward vision, which makes looking ahead for any road hazard that much harder.
The engineers at Bosch, probably out of fury after a drive home from work, designed a solution from the ground up – called Virtual Visor – to hopefully make the road a safer place for all.
The Virtual Visor is essentially a piece of liquid crystal display (LCD) with large hexagonal pixels. Using artificial intelligence, the Virtual Visor constantly tracks the driver’s facial features through a video camera.
The software analyses the driver’s vision, then darkens out precisely the pixels required to cast a shadow over the eyes – leaving the rest of the LCD transparent, and no longer obscuring a large part of the driver’s vision.
Still in concept form, the Virtual Visor takes on the guise of a regular visor, which means it could be potentially retrofitted to existing cars. The Virtual Visor, which debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), is rightfully (we think) awarded Best of Innovation in the CES 2020 Innovation Awards.
Bosch did not reveal when we’ll actually see the Virtual Visor in a production vehicle, but according to
The Verge
, on-site executives said that Bosch is “currently in conversation with commercial and passenger OEMs.”


Next year’s all-new Volvo XC90 to employ more NVIDIA technology

Volvo Cars is expanding its collaboration with NVIDIA to use
NVIDIA DRIVE Orin
 system-on-a-chip (SoC) technology to power the autonomous driving computer in next generation Volvo models.
The latest announcement represents the next step in the deepening collaboration between Volvo Cars and NVIDIA. In 2018, Volvo Cars announced it will also use NVIDIA DRIVE Xavier SoC technology for the core computer on vehicles based on the next-generation
SPA2
 modular vehicle architecture.
Volvo Cars aims to be the first car maker with a global footprint to use NVIDIA DRIVE Orin in its next-generation models with the first vehicle to feature the SoC is the
all-new
Volvo XC90
, which will be revealed next year.
“We believe in partnering with the world’s leading technology firms to build the best Volvos possible,” said Henrik Green, chief technology officer. “With the help of NVIDIA DRIVE Orin technology, we can take safety to the next level on our next generation of cars.”
The NVIDIA DRIVE Orin-powered is dedicated to autonomous driving computing, processing intense work such as vision and
LiDAR
 (light detection and ranging) and delivering the high safety integrity level required for autonomous driving. It works together with the NVIDIA
DRIVE Xavier
-powered core computer that manages core functionalities inside the car such as base software, energy management and driver assistance.
NVIDIA DRIVE Orin, an industry-leading AI-computing platform for the automotive industry, is capable of an unprecedented 254 tera (or 254 trillion) operations per second (TOPS). It will work together with software developed in-house and by Zenseact, Volvo Cars’ autonomous driving software development company, as well as backup systems for steering and braking.
Volvo Cars are also moving to have a
centralised computing architecture
 in its next-generation vehicles, reducing complexities and enabling more frequent improvements together with growth in features via over-the-air (OTA) updates.


Second-generation Nissan Leaf launched in Malaysia at RM189k

The all-new, all-electric Nissan Leaf has been officially launched in Malaysia by Edaran Tan Chong Motor with improved range, technology and practicality. And there now different ways with which to own this fully electric hatchback.
First things first, the specs; specifically the battery capacity and range. Edaran Tan Chong Motor has chosen the
40 kWh version
 of the Leaf for Malaysia, it offers a range of
311 km per full charge, according to the NEDC combined cycle
, or
270 km based on the stricter WLTP combined cycle
 for the variant fitted with 17-inch alloys. The first-generation Leaf came with a battery capacity of
24 kWh
.
Before you dismiss the Leaf and say that’s not enough to reach Penang, please bear in mind that an EV isn’t for everyone. If you travel over 200 km every day, you will be better off with a petrol- or even better, a diesel-powered car. But if you are like the majority of car owners around the world who clock no more than 100 km a day, you may choose to read on.
Styling wise, the all-new Leaf is easily discernible over the previous one which divided opinions. It is altogether a much better effort this time around, looking sufficiently futuristic, even sporty from some angles with the
two-tone roofline, integrated rear spoiler and boomerang-shaped LED taillights
. The charging port remains on the bonnet, just aft of the V-motion grille. Otherwise, the Leaf is a C-segment, Golf-sized 5-door hatch with a roomy cabin and a surprisingly spacious boot that measures 435 litres (a Golf has 380 litres by the way).
 Floor-mounted battery pack does not impinge on trunk space worth 435 litres.
To back up the sportier new look is a more powerful electric motor driving the front wheels, rated at
150 hp and 320 Nm
 and worthy of a respectable time of
7.9 seconds for the 0-100km/h benchmark
, along with a limited top speed of
155km/h
. EVs consume energy far quicker at higher speeds than in city crawls, hence the limiter.
 Full-charge from zero on normal 6.6 kW wall-box charging takes 7 hours.
There are two ways to top up the 40 kWh lithium-ion battery pack; either through
‘Normal’ 6.6 kW AC charging
 (utilising a SAE J1772 plug) or through the
‘Quick’ 50 kW DC charging
. Nissan is throwing in an AC wall box charger capable of
30-ampere
 delivery, so the Leaf would take around
7 hours for a full charge
 from a depleted battery, though in reality, charging times are usually shorter as there will likely be residue charge left in the car. DC quick charging takes
50 minutes
, though there are currently only three locations in Peninsula Malaysia with this facility.
The new Nissan Leaf offers a total of four different drive modes to govern the level of energy to be recovered –
D, ECO, B and B-ECO
. In short, ‘D’ offers the highest level of performance and energy usage, ‘ECO’ consumes 10% less by managing energy-intensive functions, ‘B’ maximises regen braking while ‘B-ECO’ combines B and ECO energy savings.
On top of all that, there’s a new feature called the
‘e-Pedal
’. When engaged, backing off from the accelerator actually slows the car down (the rear brake lights will illuminate), and this helps in regenerating energy instead of using the brakes. By anticipating the traffic, the Leaf can be driven by just using the accelerator pedal and you can come to a stop with it, even on a slope. Of course, the brake pedal should be preferred when the situation warrants.

One e-Pedal to rule them all?
The Malaysian-spec Leaf gets leather and suede seats with blue accents, the latest flat-bottom steering wheel as seen in the Serena and facelifted X-Trail and a display head-unit.
Electronic park brake, keyless entry and ignition, automatic climate control and cruise control are standard as well
. The Leaf also comes with the new-generation part digital, part analogue (speedometer) driver’s display which is expected to be featured in the forthcoming Kicks crossover and the next generation Almera.
In the safety department, the Leaf is keeping with Nissan’s Intelligent Mobility initiative and it is equipped with a range of active and passive safety functions including
Intelligent Forward Collision and Emergency Braking, Around View Monitor (360-degree view) with Motion Object Detection and Driver Alert warning
, this is on top of the usual servings of 6 airbags and electronic stability.
A Delta-branded wall-box charger comes packaged with the Leaf.
The Japan-made, fully imported Nissan Leaf is available in only one grade but you can choose from
six different body colours
, two of which have dual-tone paintwork and two interior hues – black or grey. The price for the new Leaf starts from
RM188,888
, prices includes a 3-year/100,000 km vehicle warranty,
3-year/100,000 km maintenance, with the high voltage battery pack covered for 8 years or 160,000 km
.
To allay fears on residue values of an EV, you can also ‘own’ the Leaf via a subscription model (like Netflix) at RM3,500 per month, over a 3-year contract period.


BMW X1, Kia Niro and Hyundai Ioniq 6 named finalists for 2023 World Car of the Year award

The
BMW X1
,
Kia Niro
 and
Hyundai Ioniq 6
 have been named the top three finalists for the 2023 World Car of the Year award. The winner will be announced on April 5 at the New York International Auto Show.
To be eligible for the World Car of the Year award, at least 10,000 units of the vehicle must be produced annually and must be priced below the ‘luxury-car level’ in their markets. The vehicles must also be sold in at least two major markets including Europe, China, India, Japan, Korea, North and South America. They must also be on sale within the January 2022 and March 2023 period.
Audi e-tron GT
GR Corolla
Other categories in the awards include the World Performance Car of the Year, where two of its finalists, the
 Audi e-tron GT
 and
GR Corolla
, are now on sale in Malaysia. The other is a rather surprising inclusion, the Kia EV6 GT. Other awards include the World Luxury Car, World Electric Vehicle, World Urban Car and World Car Design of the Year.
Among all the finalists, the Lucid Air, Hyundai Ioniq 6 and BMW i7 could walk home with more than one award after being named the finalist in more than one category. The following are the top three finalists for the other categories:
World Performance Car of the Year
Kia EV6 GT
Nissan Z
Toyota GR Corolla
World Urban Car of the Year
Citroen C3
Ora Good Cat
Volkswagen Taigo
World Luxury Car of the Year
BMW 7 Series
 /
i7
Genesis G90
Lucid Air
World Electric Vehicle
BMW i7
Hyundai Ioniq 6
Lucid Air
World Car Design
Range Rover
Hyundai Ioniq 6
Lucid Air


Rest in peace, 308 GTi: Peugeot says that hot hatches are dead

For reasons unbeknownst to us, Peugeot isn’t a brand that’s too popular here in Malaysia. But over in the Western side of the world, the French marque still holds some prestige in the hot hatch market – thanks to its GTi models, starting from the Peugeot 205 GTi way back in the 80s.
If you saw the aggressive-looking
all-new Peugeot 308
 – which debuted yesterday – and thought to yourself: “I would get one of those when the GTi model comes out”, we’re very sorry to burst your bubble, but that day is most probably never going to come. Ever.
The new looks could definitely have worked with a hotter GTi version.
According to a comment made by Peugeot’s product director in a recent interview, the French brand looks like they just aren’t that interested in making a performance-oriented hatchback any more.
Speaking to
Top Gear
, Peugeot’s Jerome Micheron said this about the prospects of a 308 GTi: “If you look at the market for sporty versions, and the CO2 regulations, it has collapsed.” Ouch. And that wasn’t all that Micheron had to say.
Remember the Peugeot 508 Sport Engineered variant? The one with additional electric propulsion and all-wheel drive? Yeah, that’s not happening on the 308 either. “We don’t see a market yet. And it adds extra weight,’ he added.
Similar to what other car brands are saying these days, the main reason for the mass exodus of high-performance internal combustion engine is none other than the Euro 7 emissions standards, due to come into effect in 2025.
An electric GTi, perhaps?
The effect is felt even more on smaller cars, as they don’t have high-enough profit margins to absorb the high costs required for the new tech required to lower the CO2 emissions. A more detailed breakdown, complete with industry leaders’ comments, can be found in
this report
by
Automotive News
.
Oh well, at least Peugeot says that a fully-electric 308 is “in our roadmap”, and looking at what the electric cars are achieving now, we
could
 probably see an electric-only 308 that’s good enough to wear the GTi badge. But until then though, we’ll be mourning the death of the Peugeot GTi. Good bye, old friend.


Perodua still on track for 240k sales target, despite 12% drop in May 2021

Perodua has just announced its sales data for the month of May 2021, in which it managed to deliver
17,973 units
 – a 12% reduction from April’s 20,399 units.
The national carmaker attributed the drop in sales to the ongoing
Covid-19 pandemic
, as well as the global semiconductor shortage, which has significantly hampered its production capabilities. Despite that, the company is still maintaining its
240,000-unit sales target for the year
.
Taking into account Perodua’s May’s sales data, the company has now sold
96,281 vehicles
for the first five months of 2021, representing an 82% increase compared to the same period last year. However, the 2020 figure is heavily distorted by the first Movement Control Order, which was in place from March to May last year.
Perodua President and CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad says that a fairer comparison would be against 2019, when the company sold 105,745 units in the first five months – 8.9% higher than this year.
For context, 2019 was the year that Perodua achieved it’s highest-ever annual sales figure at 240,341 units – not too far off its 2021 target. In order to achieve 240,000 units sold this year, the company will have to average 20,531 units sold monthly for the remainder of the year.
“Despite these challenges and barring further uncertainties moving forward, we believe we will be able to meet our 240,000-unit sales target for 2021 as demand remains strong for all of our models,” said Dato’ Zainal. The Perodua Alza replacement, rumoured
to be introduced later this year
, could also help fill up the company’s orders book in order to achieve its targets.
“We thank the government for extending the
sales tax exemption to end-2021
, which will bolster our strong demand, encourage economic activity and help sustain the Malaysian automotive ecosystem.
“We understand that the measures taken by the government to contain the pandemic are necessary to ensure the people’s health and safety, and we, along with our suppliers and dealers, will cooperate fully with the government to flatten the curve.”
For the month of May, Perodua also manufactured a total of 18,283 units, boosting its year-to-date production tally to 98,944 units, or 36% of the company’s initial 272,000 units manufacturing target.


MINI Malaysia introduces limited edition Countryman Sports with Blackline Package

MINI Malaysia
 has introduced two new variants for the
Countryman Sports
 – the limited edition Countryman Sports with Blackline Package and the Countryman Sports with Panoramic Sunroof.
“Since we introduced the MINI Cooper S Countryman Sports in 2018, the model has remained one of the most popular models in the local MINI portfolio. In the two years of its availability here, we have delivered over 800 units in Malaysia. The sporty model also accounted for 75% of total MINI deliveries in 2019,” said BMW Group Malaysia, Harald Hoelzl.
The
MINI Countryman Sports with Blackline Package
 comes with a front grille and MINI emblems finished in Piano Black. The same treatment can be seen on the head and taillight surrounds and door handles. The Countryman Sports with Blackline Package will be available either in British Racing Green or Light White. Both of which will be finished with a black roof.
As for the other variant, the Countryman Sports with Panoramic Sunroof, it’s pretty much self-explanatory. For those who prefer to go without a Panoramic Sunroof, you can still have the standard Countryman Sports.
The rest remains unchanged. The Countryman sports the same 19-inch JCW wheels, a JCW Aerokit, and as for the inside, it retains the 8.8-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Carbon Black Cross Punch leather upholstery, MINI Yours Piano Black trims, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sounds system.
The Countryman Sports also comes with MINI Connected Services that includes digital services like Intelligent Emergency Call, MINI TeleServices, and Remote Services.
Both the Countryman Sports Blackline Package and Panoramic Sunroof variants are powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with
192 hp
 and
280 Nm
. Power is channeled to the front wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission capable of propelling the Countryman Sports variants from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds. Top speed is rated at 225 km/h.
The Countryman Sports with Blackline Package is priced at
RM243,280.38
 while the Countryman Sports with Panoramic Sunroof can be yours for
RM247,280.38
. This makes the Countryman Sports with Panoramic Sunroof RM8,000 more than the standard model.
With the Balloon Financing from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, the MINI Countryman Sports with Blackline Package starts from RM 2,778.00 per month, while the Countryman Sports with Panoramic Sunroof starts from RM 2,828.00 per month based on estimates of 80% loan on a five-year tenure.
The MINI Countryman Sports comes with 4-years unlimited mileage warranty with free scheduled service along with 5-years roadside assistance. For the latest price list of MINI vehicles in Malaysia, click
here
.
GALLERY


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia offers flood relief assistance – 30% off parts, free towing

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia
 has announced a flood relief assistance programme to help all customers who are affected by the recent floods nationwide. The assistance programme is valid
until 31
st
 January 2022
, and offers up to
30% discount on parts repair
at all authorised Mercedes-Benz service centres.
The company is also offering
free vehicle towing
 by authorized dealerships,
free evaluation
of all necessary repairs, as well as a
0% interest-free easy payment plan
 for all repair costs, allowing customers to spread out the bill over 12 months.
MBM President and CEO, Sagree Sardien said, “The safety of our customers is our utmost priority. Together with our network of dealers, we are committed to ensure that our customers and their Mercedes-Benz cars get the care it needs in these unprecedented times.”
Affected Mercedes-Benz owners can get in touch with their preferred authorized Mercedes-Benz dealerships directly for more information, or contact Mercedes-Benz 24h Roadside Assistance & Customer Care Centre at
1-800-88-1133
.


Ford Ranger to get petrol-PHEV powertrain in Australia, due next year

The
all-new fourth-generation Ford Ranger

is set to receive a brand-new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain, according to documents sighted by Australian publication
Drive
. The PHEV Ranger will be making its way into Ford showrooms in Australia sometime next year, as part of the Model Year 2024 (MY2024) updates for the pick-up truck.
Ford has previously said that the all-new Ranger and its
Everest SUV
 sibling have been engineered to support electrified powertrains in the future, including fully-electric and hybrid mills. Ford Europe has also previously announced plans to electrify its entire commercial vehicle line-up, lending credence to the PHEV Ford Ranger rumour.
The Australian publication reports that the first electrified Ford Ranger will be powered by a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, which is paired to “one or more” electric motors. The engine – without electric assistance – is already available in the US market Ranger, as well as the
Ranger-based Volkswagen Amarok
in Australia.
No power output estimates are available at the time of writing, as it’ll be a brand-new powertrain combo for Ford. The non-hybrid 2.3-litre turbocharged mill already makes 302 hp and 452 Nm of torque on its own – with additional electric assistance, it wouldn’t be surprising if the petrol-PHEV Ranger boasts comparable outputs to the
V6-powered Ranger Raptor
.
RELATED:
2023 Ford Ranger Raptor to be offered with 2.0L Bi-Turbo Diesel in Malaysia
The Ford Ranger PHEV will reportedly also be sold in the US, with the same powertrain eventually making its way into the Ford Bronco. There are no indications if the PHEV model will make its way into showrooms here in Malaysia either, though we wouldn’t keep our hopes up.
That’s because the Thailand assembly plant, where we import our Rangers and Everests from, currently do not produce any models with the 2.3-litre petrol engine. While Australia currently also imports its cars from Thailand, the nation’s low import tariff makes it possible to also bring the PHEV Ford Ranger in from South Africa at only a 5% tariff rate.
Although, 5% is still higher than 0%, so there could be a possibility of it being assembled in Thailand too. Who knows…


2022 Proton Exora launched – RM3k pricier, but what’s new?

The
Proton Exora
 has just received another update for 2022, sporting the new Proton emblem and LED DRLs on the Premium variant, nothing else is different on the exterior. Dubbed the Running Change 2 (RC2), the 2022 Proton Exora now provides electronic stability control (ESC) on all variants.
The minor changes bump the Proton Exora’s price to
RM62,800
 for the Executive variant and
RM69,800
for the Premium variant – RM3,000 more expensive than what it used to be (with SST included). Still powered by the same 1.6-lire turbocharged engine paired to the same CVT, the 2022 Proton Exora produces
140 hp
 of maximum power and
205 Nm
 of maximum torque.
The exterior of the 2022 Proton Exora is virtually unchanged besides the new Proton emblem and LED DRLs on the Premium variant. The Executive variant offers halogen headlamps, 16-inch single-tone alloys, and manual-folding side mirrors. The Premium variant adds on LED DRLs, electric folding side mirrors, two-tone finish alloy wheels, and exterior accessories. Colour options remain the same with both variants offered in Snow White, Indiana Grey, Rosewood Maroon, Ruby Red, and Cocoa Grey.
On the inside, the Executive variant comes with a urethane steering wheel, a multi-info instrument cluster display, fabric upholstery, manual air-conditioning with rear vents and N95 cabin filter, and a standard head unit with Bluetooth and four speakers. The Premium variant spices things up on the inside with full leatherette upholstery (compared to previous semi-leatherette), a leather multi-function steering wheel, and a second-row seat armrest. Also exclusive to the Premium variant is a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with “Hi Proton” voice command system, Smartphone connectivity, online navigation, online music streaming, 4G, and Wi-Fi.
RELATED:
Proton X50, X70, Exora lead segment sales charts in first four months of 2022
Sitting on the same chassis for more than ten years, the Exora still only offers 2 airbags. Standard safety features include the usual ABS, EBD, and ESC – The standard ESC is new for the Proton Exora. No advanced safety features have been added. The 2022 Proton Exora comes with a five-year/150,000-km warranty, three times free labour service, and a five-year data package (1 GB/month).


JMC Vigus Pro 4×4 pick-up previewed by Angka-Tan Motor

A new model is set to enter the ever-competitive pick-up truck landscape, with China’s JMC Vigus Pro 4×4 distributed by Angka-Tan Motor (ATM), a subsidiary of Warisan TC Holdings Berhad. The company has begun to preview the new pick-up model from today which is slated for launch later within this month.
JMC or Jiangling Motors Co. Ltd based in Nanchang, China has been placing as the second best-selling pick-up brand in China for many consecutive years. Angka-Tan Motor, also an affiliated company of Tan Chong Group, and JMC signed a Vehicle Technology Licensing agreement in July 2020 granting ATM the sole right to manufacture, assemble and sell the JMC Vigus Pro 4×4 pick-up in Malaysia.
“We are pleased to announce that after more than 12 months of hard work, Angka-Tan Motor, in collaboration with Jiangling Motors Co., Ltd, is ready to introduce an exciting contender in the popular pick-up segment. The stylish and technologically advanced JMC Vigus Pro 4×4 pick-up truck has proven its mettle in the Chinese market and we can’t wait to share this new product with pick-up fans across Malaysia,” enthused Warisan TC Holdings Bhd, CEO, Tan Keng Meng.
Only key specifications and features are shared by Angka-tan Motor on the JMC Vigus Pro 4×4. For the powertrain, the pick-up truck has a 2.0-litre turbodiesel with outputs of
141 hp
 and
340 Nm
, paired with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. Fuel consumption is rated at 7.8 litres / 100 km.
New Tank 500 is the striking alternative to the Land Cruiser 300 Series. With such a name, it’s easy to guess its origins!
A BorgWarner electronically control 4WD system distributes power to all four wheels via the 4H and 4L modes, with additional rear-wheel traction provided by a locking differential from Eaton.
Angka-Tan Motor is set to officially launch the JMC Vigus Pro 4×4 within this month, hinting at attractive pricing and supported by 13 sales and service outlets
nationwide
.


Naza Automotive Manufacturing exports the Peugeot 3008 to the Philippines

Remember NAM or Naza Automotive Manufacturing which Groupe PSA took a majority stake last year with the aim of turning it into a regional manufacturing hub? Well, they are now exporting the first shipment of vehicles.
The first batch of vehicles produced at NAM’s Gurun plant comprising the Peugeot 3008 1.6L Active is on its way to the Philippines and will arrive before the end of the month. The handsome 3008 SUV is expected to be joined by the 3-row
5008 1.6 THP
, with both models to account for over 4,000 units by 2023 in the Philippines market. Other ASEAN countries will also be receiving Gurun-produced models soon.

The Peugeot 3008 was the European Car of the Year for 2017. In 2018, it was awarded the title of ‘
Malaysia Car of the Year
’ by the Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI), now rebranded as Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii).
In February 2018, Naza Corporation Holdings and Groupe PSA signed a share sale and joint venture agreement to officially establish shared operations of the Naza Automotive Manufacturing (NAM) plant in Gurun, Kedah for Groupe PSA which also distributes the Citroën, DS and Opel brands.


Gentari, JomCharge, chargEV launch EV Roaming Network – Only one app needed to cover 600 chargers

Charging your electric car in Malaysia has now been made simpler thanks to the latest collaboration between
Gentari
,
JomCharge
, and
chargEV
. Launched at Energy Asia 2023, the “EV Roaming Network” between these three charge point operators means that you only need one of the three apps (Setel, JomCharge, ChargEV) to cross-access their chargers. Eventually, you will be able to access a network of
600 chargers
 nationwide through one app only.
The EV Roaming Network comes as no surprise as the three parties signed an agreement back in March to enable the EV roaming network. Immediately during the launch today, all three apps were updated to accommodate the changes.
To ensure that you can view the roaming network availability on the three respective mobile applications, make sure to update the apps to their latest versions. With each of the apps, you can now cross-access the charge points, activate, pay, and charge instantly for Gentari, JomCharge, and chargEV EV chargers.
The partnership is for the greater good of EV adoption. Gentari does partly own JomCharge, but the collaboration with chargEV purely serves to push for EV adoption. Upon its launch today, the cross-charging is already available at four locations during its first phase, namely
X Park Sunway Serene
Berjaya Times Square
Suria KLCC
Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur
RELATED:
Gentari partners with Lotus for green mobility infrastructure deployment
Only in its first phase for the time being, the cross-access network will expand to 600 chargers from Gentari, JomCharge, and chargEV in stages. Also showcased at Energy Asia 2023 are Gentari’s achievements in the renewable energy sector as well as its plans for a sustainable future. Visitors of the expo can also check out a BMW iX which is part of the company’s “vehicle as a service program”. A mock DC charging station and the company’s home charging solution are also on display.
RELATED:
Proton’s PRO-NET and Petronas’ Gentari to build 20 DC fast chargers in 2023


New Nissan Terra SUV launched in Thailand

The new Nissan Terra facelift is now in Thailand. The seven-seater SUV is based on the underpinnings of the Nissan Navara D23 pick-up, which used to share common items such as the dashboard.
However, in order to project a more SUV image and family-oriented image, the facelifted new Nissan Terra gains a different interior design compared to the outgoing model. On the outside, new quad LED headlamps are not just pretty to look at, but also increase the brightness to the road ahead by 34%.
Terra
Navara
Similar to the
facelifted Nissan Navara
 pick-up, the radiator grille has been enlarged, with the bumper sculptured to have a more imposing look. A metallic-looking bumper protector completes the new look in front.
Nissan has redesigned the rear, from the roof spoiler down to its lower bumper, with strong chrome and silver highlights adding a hint of a higher image. New dual-tone 18-inch wheels with six spokes complete the facelifted outlook.
Before all these lockdown restrictions, ETCM managed to lend us the new Navara Pro-4X! Watch the many activities we had in the new pick-up!

Inside, Nissan has redesigned the dashboard for both better aesthetics as well as usability. The driver’s instrument display has been updated to a colour display unit measuring seven inches, similar to the unit in the facelifted new Nissan Navara.
Nestled in the new dashboard with a coloured soft-touch panel is a new 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Apart from wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, the system also supports NissanConnect telematics services. The range-topping variant meanwhile is fitted with an eight-speaker Bose premium audio system complete with an amplifier.
Rear passengers meanwhile have their own source of video entertainment from a ceiling-mounted 11-inch screen with HDMI or Smart TV connectivity. Every row in the new facelifted Terra also comes with a smartphone charger, with a total of five USB ports (Type A and C) located at the front and centre consoles, as well as at the third row. A wireless charging pad (15 Watts) is neatly placed under the air-conditioning control panel.
In the Nissan Terra, entering the third row requires less workout of the arms, as the driver has a switch to remotely tumble the second-row seats. Apart from redesigned seats for better comfort, the Nissan Terra is also the only SUV fitted with noise-cancelling acoustic glass on the front windshield plus the side windows for a quieter cabin ambience.
Available in three variants, only one engine and transmission powertrain is offered in the facelifted Nissan Terra. Carried-over unchanged is the 2.3-litre YS23DDTT turbodiesel engine with outputs of
190 hp
 and
450 Nm
. The engine, that is compatible with
biodiesel fuel
 of up to B20 blend, is paired to a 7-speed automatic transmission.
Default engine drive is to the rear wheels, but for those who prefer 4×4 traction with shift-on-the-fly convenience, the Nissan Terra flagship VL variant has this feature.
We managed to gather the top diesel workhorses for a few days and a piece of airstrip. What else, but a drag race! Watch it here!
In terms of safety features, the new facelifted Nissan Terra gets the
 Intelligent Rearview Mirror
 which is a first-in-the-class feature. The digital mirror displays live feed from a high-mounted camera in the rear windshield to project an unobstructed rearview. Fitment of this digital rearview mirror will also score big points under “advance rear visualisation” in the latest
2021 ASEAN NCAP
 Protocol that includes motorcyclist safety.
Standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in the facelifted Nissan Terra are the autonomous emergency braking system and lane departure warning. Higher grade variants include Around View Monitor (AVM) four-camera system, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert and the Intelligent Rearview Mirror.
The facelifted new Nissan Terra starts from
THB1,199,000
 (over RM150k) for the E 2WD variant,
THB1,449,000
 (approx RM184k) for the VL 2WD variant and an additional
THB50,000
 (approx RM6.4k) for the VL 4WD variant.
The prices are lower than the king of pick-up based SUVs in the ASEAN region, which is the
Toyota Fortuner
 that has its prices start from THB1,349,000 up to over THB1,800,000.
Isuzu, which is enjoying great success globally this year thanks to the
all-new D-Max
 model, has the pricing of the MU-X SUV close to the new Nissan Terra, starting from THB1,109,000 for the 2WD 1.9 Active variant.
GALLERY


Volvo starts testing wireless EV charging with XC40 Recharge taxis

Volvo Cars
has announced a new trial for an EV wireless charging technology at the
Gothenburg Green City Zone
in Sweden, to evaluate its potential use for future electric cars.
The trial will take place over three years, and will involve a small fleet of slightly-modified
fully-electric Volvo XC40 Recharge
 taxis operated by Cabonline, the largest taxi operator in the Nordic region.
The charging stations used in the trial are delivered by Momentum Dynamics, an American company specialising in wireless electric charging systems. The charging pads are embedded in the streets, and will automatically begin charging when a compatible vehicle is parked over the pads.
Volvo says that the wireless charging receiver unit, installed underneath the cars, can accept charging powers of over 40 kW. That makes it around four times faster than a standard wired 11 kW AC charger, and almost as fast as a wired 50 kW DC fast charger.
RELATED: Volvo is turning its hometown in Sweden into a climate-neutral city by 2030
Interestingly, Momentum Dynamics’s website says that their wireless EV chargers can provide up to 450 kW, although we’re guessing that it’s still under technical development at the moment.
In total, the Volvo XC40 Recharge taxi cars will be used for more than 12 hours a day, and driven over 100,000 km per year, which also makes this the “first durability test of fully electric Volvo cars in a commercial usage scenario”.
360-degree surround view monitor helps the driver align the car correctly to the charging pads.
The wireless charging test is one of many projects outlined within the Gothenburg Green City Zone strategic initiative, under which designated areas within the city are used as live test beds for the development of sustainable technologies.
“Gothenburg Green City Zone lets us try exciting new technologies in a real environment and evaluate them over time for a potential future broader introduction,” Volvo Cars head of R&D, Mats Moberg. “Testing new charging technologies together with selected partners is a good way to evaluate alternative charging options for our future cars.”


Nissan NP300 Navara wins coveted 2016 International Pick-up award

Against seemingly stacked odds, the
Nissan NP300 Navara
 emerged on top to win the coveted 2016 International Pick-up award at a ceremony in Lyon, France. The NP300 faced stiff competition against equally popular and capable rivals like the
Mitsubishi Triton
 and
Ford Ranger T6
.
Each pickup truck was rigorously tested and judged for its off-road capability, on-road performance and their value for money. The tests also include towing abilities to determine just how capable of a workhorse these new pickup trucks are. Following these tests, the Nissan NP300 Navara subsequently picked up the award, thanks to newfound levels of ‘
crossover-inspired comfort and refinement
‘ while maintaining off-road capabilities. Not bad for a truck with multi-link type rear suspension, huh?
Its exterior and interior also received praise from the judges who were also impressed with some of the NP300 Navara’s first-in-class features and technologies. To recap, all Malaysia-bound Navaras will be
fully imported from Thailand
 and carries a price tag from RM85k to RM125k. Only one engine will be offered, and that’s the
2.5-litre YD25DDTi oil burner
 with two states of tunes.
QUICK FACTS
Nissan NP300 Navara
Grade VL
Grade V
Grade SE (AT)
Grade SE (MT)
Grade E
Single Cab
Engine
2,488cc; inline-4 DOHC with Variable Geometry System; Commonrail Injection (YD25DDTi)
Transmission
7-speed Auto with Manual Mode
6-speed manual
Max Power
190 hp @ 3,600 rpm
163 hp @ 3,600 rpm
Max Torque
450 Nm @ 2,000 rpm
403 Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Suspension
Independent Double Wishbone (Front), Multi-Link with Shocks (Rear)
Double Wishbone (Front), Multi-Leaf with Shocks
Estimated Price
RM125,000
Between RM95,000 to RM115,000
RM85,000
The Nissan NP300 Navara will be officially launched on 26 November 2016. First deliveries will also begin on launch day, and it’s covered with a
3-year or 100,000km warranty
 programme.
IMAGE GALLERY
Nissan NP300 Navara Single Cab & Grade E

Nissan NP300 Navara SE (MT & AT); Grade V

Nissan NP300 Navara VL


The new bZ Compact SUV Concept could be the electric successor to the Toyota C-HR

In addition to the launch of the
all-new fifth-generation Prius
, Toyota also took the opportunity to show off a new EV concept, dubbed the bZ Compact SUV Concept, at the opening of the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show overnight.
But showing off, was pretty much all that they did. Aside from just giving us a very surface-level look, Toyota really didn’t reveal much else. Still, it’s a pretty sweet-looking (concept) car, and it also looks reasonably production ready, hinting at what might be the next EV from Toyota to slot underneath the
bZ4X
. A fully-electric successor to the
C-HR
, perhaps?
In terms of appearance, the new bZ Compact Concept remains very faithful to Toyota’s latest design motif, most notably in the front thanks to their boomerang-style headlights. The fenders are nicely rounded, and dispenses with the chunky black plastic claddings as seen on the bZ4X, making it look a lot more street-friendly.
In line with the C-HR, the new Toyota bZ Compact SUV Concept also comes with a heavily-raked roofline for a sportier look, while the rear door handles are hidden neatly integrated into the C-pillars. Other nice touches that we like here include the third braking light integrated into the shark fin antenna, although we’re pretty sure that won’t make it into production…
RELATED:
Toyota & Lexus to launch 30 new battery EVs by 2030
While the exterior gets a fairly aggressive design, the bZ Compact Concept’s interior on the other hand adopts a more minimalist styling language, with a slate-like wraparound surface and a tabletop dashboard, the latter being the home of two curved displays serving instrumentation and infotainment purposes.
The lack of physical controls is thanks to the new AI assistant named ‘Yui’, who will utilise audio and visual cues to react to requests from the passengers. And in keeping up with recent trends, the concept also features a yoke-style steering – thanks, Elon Musk.
Not much else has been revealed aside from the photos, so we still don’t know anything about its powertrain or electric range. But with 30 EVs (including 5 under the bZ umbrella)
to unveil by 2030
, it seems like we probably won’t have to wait too much longer until we get more info.
“We’ve only just begun to scratch the surface of the Beyond Zero moniker,” said Toyota group vice president and general manager, David Christ. “With an aerodynamic design coupled with intuitive tech features never before seen in a Toyota model, the bZ Concept showcases another possible vision of the very near future with our battery electric vehicles.”
ALSO READ:
 Toyota to invest $5.6b in EV batteries, but says EVs are not the ‘only solution’
GALLERY


This naked carbon fibre Subaru WRX STI is the next Gymkhana beast

While the past couple instalments of the
Gymkhana series
 all featured a Ford (due to marketing purposes), the series will be going back to its roots with an all-new drift-prepped Subaru for the first time since Gymkhana 2, with Ken Block
passing the tyre-shredding torch to Travis Pastrana
 for Gymkhana 11.
More specifically, it’s a special one-off drift-prepped
WRX STI
 built by Vermont SportsCar, the company that’s been in charge of the brand’s motorsports efforts in the United States. With no rulebooks to follow this time round other than to make the best Gymkhana machine ever, the racing outfit created what Subaru describes as the “most outrageous WRX STI ever”, and it’s proper bonkers.

The most apparent feature on the one-off WRX STI (which really needs a name, by the way) is the gratuitous use of carbon fibre. In fact, the entire shell is made out of unpainted carbon fibre, including the over the top wheel arches, as well as “wind-tunnel proven” aerodynamic fins, wings, and diffusers, all over the body.
There’s also a giant gaping hole on the tailgate which appears to be for cooling purposes, with air seemingly being fed through the air inlets on the rear doors. Other mechanical changes include the rally-style long travel suspension, as well as a stripped-out racecar interior built to Pastrana’s specs.
And while no technical specifications were revealed, Subaru says that the boxer engine underneath the hood is also custom built for the Gymkhana 11 project, with fire-spitting exhaust shooting right out of the bonnet – I mean, how cool is that?!
Commenting on his new ride, Pastrana said, “This STI is unbelievable! We’ve never had the opportunity to do this before, to build a car with no restrictions. Engine, suspension, aero—everything is unlimited, clean sheet.
“It’s crazy fast, easy to control and get sideways and it was perfect out of the box in testing. Gymkhana is a new challenge for me but I want to raise the bar, and this is the car to do it.”
Buckle up, ladies and gents – we should be in for a good one.
GALLERY


2017 Jeep Compass unveiled, to rival the BMW X1, Audi Q3

The next-generation Jeep Compass is set to make its debut at the LA Motor Show next month. To commemorate the occasion, Fiat Chrysler Automobile (FCA) released these pictures barring none of the SUV’s new looks. Production of the new Jeep will take place at the Jeep Assembly Plant in Brazil.
Not much details on the car have been announced so far, but Jeep confirmed that they will be offering as many as
17 powertrain options
 for the new Compass. The Compass will incorporate the best-in-class 4×4 off-road capability without sacrificing fuel economy. Apart from improved road dynamics, this new SUV will be equipped with the finest safety and advanced technology offerings from FCA.
Aesthetically, the Compass shares some obvious design cues the latest
Grand Cherokee
. It’s also more muscular than the model it replaces. The Jeep Compass is set to be sold in over 100 countries around the world, with deliveries beginning in early 2017 for the North American market. It will compete against the
BMW X1
 and
Audi Q3
.
The Jeep brand was just recently
revived in Malaysia
 after DRB-Hicom signed the distribution rights. The outgoing Compass is powered by a
2.4-litre four cylinder
 engine that develops
170 hp
 and
220 Nm
 of torque, and is to a
six-speed automatic
 that drives all four wheels. It’s also Jeep’s most affordable model in Malaysia with an asking price of
 RM248,889
.

IMAGE GALLERY


The Hyundai N Vision 74 is the DeLorean reboot that we never got

Back in 1974,
 Hyundai
 showed off a concept for a Pony Coupe that was developed by legendary automotive designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro. Sadly, that concept never made it to production, but fortunately, all is not lost as much of the original design would later be recycled by Giugiaro into the iconic
DeLorean DMC-12
.
Fast-forward nearly 50 years, DeLorean announced its comeback with the
 Alpha5
, a sleek-looking fastback sedan complete with gullwing doors. As impressive as it looked, though, it’s missing the ‘soul’ that made the DeLorean what it is – a retrofuturistic boxy silhouette that still looks modern more than four decades later.
So in an attempt to right the wrong in the universe, Hyundai has now unveiled the new N Vision 74 concept – the latest addition to its “rolling lab” development vehicle collection, inspired by the car that never was. And if you’re wondering, the ’74’ in the name is a homage to the year 1974.
The resemblance to the original concept is immediately apparent, although it’s not quite as boxy as its predecessor. The overall angular profile is still present, although Hyundai designers have added some curves to the design, including large rounded fenders over each wheel.
Still, most of the iconic design motifs have been mirrored onto the N Vision 74, albeit with some modern touches such as the square lighting fixtures, now illuminated by Hyundai’s signature Parametric Pixels.
Nearly 50 years on since the original concept debuted, and the square-ish concept still looks incredible. But the N Vision 74 concept is much more than just a design exercise. As a “rolling lab” vehicle, it’s also meant to test and verify the company’s “advanced technologies” that could influence future Hyundai N models.
On the Hyundai N Vision 74, that refers to its unique hybrid powertrain underneath the stylish bodywork, combining a “traditional” battery-electric drive system with a hydrogen fuel cell.
RELATED: Hyundai charges towards “hydrogen society” with 670 hp FCEV concept sports car
Hyundai says that the unique set-up not only helps with the car’s cooling efficiency, but can also provide two different drive systems depending on the driving conditions, which the company claims can lead to better torque vectoring for superior traction and “cornering experiences”. Based on the images provided by Hyundai, we think they meant drifting.
The system also has practical benefits, too, Hyundai claims. The 4.2 kg hydrogen fuel tank can be refilled in just five minutes, and the 62.4 kWh battery pack is also capable of 800V fast charging, just like the Ioniq 5.
Not only does it make it more versatile for drivers to add range depending on what’s more convenient, the system also boasts a driving range of 600 km. That, despite the motors making a total output of over
500 kW (680 hp)
 and
 900 Nm
of torque.
All that’s left now is for us to convince Hyundai to make the N Vision 74 into an actual production model, which the company insists that it won’t be. Hyundai, please don’t make the same mistake twice…
GALLERY


Lamborghini’s new track-only hypercar is a proper lap-time slayer

Lamborghini is known to mix unrelenting performance with style, and their new track-only hypercar, developed by the motorsport arm Squadra Corse, does not look to differ from the recipe.
Said to be based on the Aventador, the new Lamborghini track machine uses the same V12 engine, but turned all the way up to 11 – outputting a mind-boggling
830 hp
. Just to put it in perspective, the current Nurburgring Nordschleife production car
track record holder
 – the
Aventador SVJ
 produces 770 hp.

Lamborghini said that the car is designed aerodynamically and mechanically to bring out the best of the 12-cylinder engine. A large rear wing made from carbon fibre should keep the car planted on the track, while the dual air intakes on the hood, as well as the carbon fibre air scoop on the roof help channel air to the V12 engine.
Based on a carbon fibre monocoque, Lamborghini utilises an aluminium front frame to improve safety, while a steel roll cage at the rear houses the engine, at the same time providing improved torsional rigidity.
The six-speed sequential Xtrac transmission also serves a structural load-bearing function, with the suspension arms connected directly to the gearbox for improved kinematics.
Together with the unnamed hypercar, Lamborghini has also previewed the Urus ST-X, a race-ready version of the
super SUV
. Decked out in a Verde Mantis Green paint job, the Urus ST-X gains several improvements over its road-going brother, including a carbon fibre hood with additional air intakes, carbon fibre spoiler, and racing exhausts.
On the inside, the cockpit is reinforced with a tubular roll-bar, and equipped with racing seats and a fire extinguishing system.
Under the hood, the Urus ST-X features the same twin-turbo V8, however with weight savings measures in place, the ST-X should feel more agile than the regular Urus.


The REC 901 RS Limited Edition watch is made of salvaged parts from a 911 Carrera RS

Apparently it all started from a bottle of Scotch when two friends were talking about merging two of their greatest passions – cars and watches – into one.
Fast forward a few years and a distribution network of 60 countries later, the journey of REC watches has just begun – with a mission to deliver stunning watches of the highest quality based on salvaged legendary cars coupled with a story to behold.
With the introduction of the new
REC 901 RS Limited Edition Series
 priced at RM8,159.00, the story began when REC stumbled upon a particular Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 with an interesting backstory.
The car had been part of multiple Monte Carlo Rally events, with German rally driver Peter Rumpfkeil and famous German Racing driver Clemens Schickentanz, among the greats behind the wheel.
Inspired by the backstory, REC went on to build the REC 901 RS series watch based on that particular Porsche 911 Carrera RS where the watch’s dial is
cut directly from a 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS
.
The stainless steel bracelet on the REC 901 RS Limited Edition follows the lines of the 901 case shape; which again is inspired by the seductive curves of the classic Porsche 911. The yellow theme on the REC 901 RS Limited Edition also pays homage to its organ donor – the 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS.
Along with the REC 901 Series, there are also other models made from salvaged Mustang and Mini Cooper parts. Not only are they each visually-unique, they are also born with an authentic story of the car it was made from.
“With every watch that comes, we do our best to ensure that they are made from parts of cars that have a great story. We understand that watch designs are important, but it also needs to be coupled with a great story”, said Chief Sales Officer of REC Watches, Mr. Thomas Dusinius Kronevald.
He added, “This gives our customers the opportunity to envision reincarnation slapped right on their wrists. Imagine checking for the time but then you’re instantly reminded by the great past the cars have had.”
These exquisite timepieces are available at all Red Army Watches stores located in One Utama Shopping Centre, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, and Gurney Plaza as well as mo.men.tum in Sunway Velocity.
IMAGE GALLERY


Proton has received more than 10,000 bookings for the X70 since September

We all knew this was bound to happen, the craze also took place when the other national car maker announced their new car last year, but it’s quite something to see, especially when prices have yet to be announced.
Since the order books opened in early September, supported by
online bookings in mid October
, Proton has received bookings of over 10,000 units for the
 X70
, of which nearly 2,000 were made online.
“We are thankful to all Malaysians for the support they have given to PROTON since we started accepting bookings for the Proton X70. We were unsure how customers would react to this new method to book a car but its success points to how cars might be sold in the future.
“Now we ask for a little bit more patience from everybody as we make the final preparations for the launch of the Proton X70. This will be the first Proton SUV as well as the first car to be jointly developed by PROTON and Geely. We are working hard to ensure it meets the expectations of buyers and are also investing heavily in our outlets and dealerships so that we have the necessary sales and after sales resources to support such an important product,” said Chief Executive Officer of PROTON, Dr Li Chunrong.
A couple weeks back, Proton announced
initial specifications for the X70
, with four different variants confirmed. There was also a preview on its
 intuitive infotainment system
 and more importantly, on
what it’s like to drive
 – something you’d seriously want to hear about.
IMAGE GALLERY


The Geely Icon is a design study made into reality

Originally introduced as a concept car at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show, Geely has officially unveiled the Icon in production-ready form at a design seminar in Nanjing.
Geely says that the Icon is designed “for a new generation of users, a generation that demands high-tech, inspiring vehicles”, and it seems like they got it spot on with the stark departure from Geely’s design language on their existing cars.
The styling of the SUV is a global effort by Geely’s design studios, with the initial exterior conceived by Geely Barcelona and interior by Geely California, further refined in Geely’s Shanghai studio into the final production version.
Inspired by application icons as the name suggests, the Geely Icon sports the same unapologetic
squarish
 shape first introduced on the concept car. Geely says that the production version of the Icon retains nearly 90% of the features shown on the concept, a testament to the close work relationship between the engineers and designers.
At the front, nothing much has changed from the concept. The futuristic rendition of Geely’s expanding cosmos grille dominates the front facade, flanked by the infinity loop headlamps. The slim daytime-running lights are embedded in the the slit just underneath the hood cover.
The daytime-running lights extend to the side of the Icon, and are continued by the sharp character lines that turn 90-degrees downward and back to the wheels – a design motif that is mirrored above the rear wheel arch.
The pillars on the SUV have been blacked out, along with the roof to create a canopy-style design. Changes to the side profile include a new simplified, or dare we say, regular looking wheels compared to the concept. The flush pop-out door handles have also been repositioned, hinting at the removal of the suicide doors.
At the rear, the expanding cosmos motif is repeated on the lower rear fascia, while the infinity loop design is used once again on the taillights. The taillights does away with the three-dimensional look, and is replaced with a slightly larger enclosure.
The minimalistic approach to the styling continues on the interior of the Geely Icon. The dashboard is dominated by two screens – one for the instrument cluster and another for the GKUI infotainment system.
The infinity loop motif is also found on the interior with the airvents, door trim pieces, as well as the cup holder moulding.  Overall, the interior design remains clean and uncluttered throughout. We particularly like the brown and white interior colour scheme!
The Geely Icon will ride on the B-segment Modular Architecture (BMA) platform, which underpins the Bin Rui sedan and
Bin Yue
 SUV.
Geely did not reveal any other technical details during the media unveil. Based on previous BMA-based vehicles, we can expect the Icon to feature Geely’s 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine, as well as the 1.5-litre turbocharged engine
co-developed with Volvo
, producing
177 hp
 and
255 Nm
 of torque.
The
BMA platform
 also allows for the use of plug-in hybrid, hybrid or mild-hybrid powertrains; We won’t be surprised to see a PHEV version of the Geely Icon as well.
IMAGE GALLERY


This Gemballa Avalanche 911 Turbo gets an obscene 809 hp & 948 Nm!

The standard
Porsche 911 Turbo
 has already established itself as a supercar equal, but everyone loves to push the envelope, no? German tuning specialists Gemballa is en route to Geneva with a beast they call the Gemballa Avalanche, and for good reason.
In stock form, the 911 Turbo gets a
3.8-litre flat-six engine
 that pushes out 540 hp and is enough for a 3.0-second century sprint. Gemballa however, aims to massage the boxer to punch way above its weight class with a stratospheric output of
809 hp
 and
948 Nm
 of torque! Complementing the colossal gains are Gemballa’s very own body kit, comprised on modified front and rear bumpers, signature golden wheels, purple paint finish and… a rather ugly but functional spoiler.
According to the tuners, the Gemballa Avalanche is an indefinable creation of engine sounds, power and acceleration to blast you across the horizon. It was founded by Uwe Gemballa in 1981 before dwindling into a crisis following the passing of its founder in 2010. They however bounced back with new owners.
The Gemballa Avalanche 911 Turbo will be joined by the GTR 780 Evo in Geneva. We’d take one, but God… not the spoiler please.


More than 100 Kia vehicles sold in 3 days at last weekend’s Pre-Owned Fest!

It must’ve been a free-for-all at the
Naza Kia Malaysia “Pre-Owned Fest”
 as bargain hunters flocked the Naza Automall in search for used Kia vehicles – some from as low as RM8,000!
The madness was such that between 28th to 30th of June, over 100 bookings were made – most of which were pre-owned vehicles while a handful opted for the pre-registered vehicles.

The Kia Rio sedan and hatchback, the Cerato and the
 Picanto
 were among those snapped up during the 3-day carnival-themed event.
It’s still not a clean sweep though as Naza announced that over 200 vehicles were available on sale so those interested could still probe and poke around the showroom for a bargain.
Aside from the vehicles on sale, Naza Kia Malaysia also displayed the unicorn of their line-up, the
Kia Stinger
 along with lucky draws, food and beverages to entertain guests throughout the day.


Is your BMW 5-Series part of the engine fire recall in Korea?

Self-igniting fires make for dramatic headlines, just ask Samsung or BMW. After a string of F10-generation 520d caught fire in Korea (32 cases as reported this year alone), BMW Korea called a press conference not only to apologise to its customers, but also to announce a product recall involving more than 106,000 units of the 520d saloon in Korea.
According to BMW (
as published on BMW Korea’s website
), “The recall is an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) recall of E84 and F0x F1x F2x F3x with B47, N47 and N57 engines. A component defect causes a coolant leak in the EGR cooler. The glycol component of the coolant may be combined with soot and oil deposits, which can cause ignition. These deposits can be ignited by high exhaust gas temperatures, which can create holes along the intake manifold and cause a fire. BMW has shared this information with the Ministry of Land, and will cooperate fully with the authorities in the future. “
The F10 520d sold in Malaysia is rated Euro 3 and has a different emission system compared to the ones sold in South Korea and Europe.
In addition to the recall in Korea, BMW is also working on ‘technical measures’ to address the same issue which have caused similar incidences in Europe. Both Korean and European specification F10 520d sedans have Euro 4-compliant emission systems and uses the same offending part, i.e. the EGR cooler.
Is your F10 5-Series affected?
BMW Malaysia has clarified that the issue does not involve petrol-powered F10 5-Series and while the 520d was sold in Malaysia, it was fitted with a Euro 3-compliant emission system and had different technical specifications compared to the model sold in Korea and Europe (which are Euro 4). Hence, the 520d sold in Malaysia is not part of the recall. But just to be safe rather than sorry, do watch out for ‘engine and coolant low warning lights, engine power drop, screeching, exhaust gas odor, and wind noise from the engine,’ all of which are symptoms that could precede an engine fire, says BMW Korea. No injuries or deaths have been attributed to the 520d engine fire thus far.


‘Final’ 2022 Subaru WRX revealed, full debut tonight

Here it is folks, one final teaser image of the all-new Subaru WRX before its official launching in the USA that is
scheduled today
 at 9:00 pm Kuala Lumpur time.
The lone image was actually a thumbnail for an earlier recorded walkaround video by
Motortrend.com
. The video is clearly still unavailable to play at this moment, but it could well be a teaser to their website as well as for Subaru USA.
With the thick black trim surrounding the wheel arches as well as the lower portion of the car, the new 2022 Subaru WRX looks like a lowered crossover-sedan mash-up. This styling was clearly a designer’s favourite aspect, as it first appeared in the
Subaru Viziv Performance Concept
.
Full details of the performance sedan will be released tonight, but key enthusiasts features such as a turbocharged boxer engine (allegedly displacing 2.4-litres),
manual transmission
 and quad exhaust tips are all available in the all-new 2022 Subaru WRX.
Toyota and Subaru are rumoured to jointly build an AWD hot-hatch. Find out more here!


BMW Malaysia DC fast chargers now part of ChargEV – cheaper time-based rates, annual subscription required

The
BMW i DC fast charging network
that was set up at several of their dealerships nationwide since late last year are now part of the ChargEV network, BMW Group Malaysia announced through a press release yesterday.
The change was made to “ensure a fair and standardised experience for all users in Malaysia”, says the company. As before, the DC fast chargers will be open for public usage on a time-based pay-per-use system, although it now requires a ChargEV annual subscription, which costs RM240 per annum.
Customers will be able to pay for the charger usage directly via the ChargEV mobile application, in addition to other features such as remote charging start/stop, charger reservations, as well as remote monitoring of your vehicle’s charge status. AC chargers within the ChargEV network will also be free to use for subscribed members.
As for pricing, the now-standardised pay-per-use charging rates have essentially been halved as compared to the previous fees that were stipulated by the respective individual dealerships. The pricing breakdown is as follows, with preferential rates for BMW and Mini:
Charging speed
Public
BMW/Mini owners
30 kW DC
RM0.60/min
RM0.40/min
45 kW and 60 kW DC (split from 90 and 120 kW)
RM1.40/min
RM1.00/min
75 kW DC (split from 150 kW)
RM1.50/min
RM1.20/min
90 kW DC (split from 180 kW)
RM1.80/min
RM1.40/min
The fee breakdown works out to between RM36-RM108 per hour (or RM24-RM84 for BMW/Mini owners), although pricing will roughly even out between the different chargers as faster charging speeds will result in lower charging times, provided that the higher speeds are supported by your electric vehicle.
Most of the BMW dealerships with DC fast chargers are now included in the ChargEV network, as listed in the table below, with the sole exception being Auto Bavaria’s dealerships.
Regas Premium Auto’s 180 kW DC fast charger in Kuching
 (split to 2x 90kW) is also currently still being offered to EV users free-of-charge, despite being included in the ChargEV network.
BMW Group Malaysia Managing Director, Hans de Visser said, “We have long been working on fostering a viable ecosystem that is future-ready and one that electrified mobility can thrive in, knowing that the main roadblock to EV adoption remains to be range anxiety and a worry that there may not be enough charging facilities in place across the country.
“Through our many partnerships with local tech and EV industry leaders over the past few years, we have been able to continuously grow our network of charging facilities where the needs are highest. With an official pricing structure in place, we are taking the next step in the ever-maturing EV ecosystem in Malaysia, by endeavouring to provide fair and adequate access to these facilities for all EV users in Malaysia – regardless of make and model, as electrification remains a shared responsibility amongst automakers in solving climate change.”


KL International Motor Show (KLIMS) is coming back in 2024, dates TBC

After a five-year “break”, the KL International Motor Show (KLIMS) has just been confirmed to be making its comeback next year (2024). This is according to an official announcement made by the
Malaysia Automotive Association (MAA)
 today during its bi-annual performance report.
The last KLIMS was held back in
2018
 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC). And among the many interesting cars showcased at the motor show include the then brand new
Proton X70
, the
Perodua Myvi GT Concept
, the 2018
Toyota Vios
 facelift, the Toyota FT-1 Concept which eventually became the
A90 Toyota Supra
, the
Lexus ES
, and so much more.
The Proton X70 at KLIMS 2018
After a five-year hiatus, we can expect to see a drastic change to the cars that will be at the next KLIMS. This is because there are many new brands that have entered (and re-entered) the Malaysian market in the past few years, such as
BYD
 and
Chery
. Besides, the electric vehicle (EV) market in Malaysia has also grown significantly since 2018.
Being an international auto show, one could also expect to see concept cars being displayed, as well as some interesting cars from our local carmakers, such as the Perodua Myvi GT Concept that was displayed at KLIMS 2018. Perhaps we might see a
Perodua Ativa GT
 or an
Axia GT
 next year?
The Perodua Myvi GT Concept at KLIMS 2018
No further details regarding the upcoming 2024 KLIMS have been announced just yet. But we believe fans of the motor show are surely happy to hear that it is coming back. The motor show is also a good opportunity to help develop the local automotive business.
Are you excited about the upcoming 2024 KLIMS? Let us know in the comments!
RELATED:
MAA: Perodua sold the most cars (145k units) in H1 2023, followed by Proton, Toyota, Honda, and Mitsubishi


Delivery service with private vehicles allowed to continue

Individuals or freelancers doing delivery service during the pandemic will not need to comply with any new regulations yet.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the decision to allow part-timers or freelancers to use their private vehicles, either car or motorcycle, to deliver items was to enable them to generate income during these strained economic times.
The activity, to be known as P-Hailing, is currently unregulated. The delivery service operator’s requirements include 18 years of age, suitable driving or riding licences and the attendance of training sessions.
Image: Facebook/Ministry of Transport
“I have instructed the Ministry Of Transport and its agencies to study this matter and
develop appropriate regulations
 so that their business activities can thrive in a regulated environment. However, it will take time for this process to be finalised,” he said.
Image: Lalamove
Currently, drivers and riders
delivering goods
, parcels and packed food using private vehicles
are not subjected
 to any additional regulatory requirements, unlike the need for a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence, Puspakom inspection and E-Hailing Permit (EVP) for fetching passengers.
E-hailing drivers were allowed to embark on the delivery service since March 2020 due to the tight Movement Control Order (MCO) conditions, which was previously disallowed. According to Grab, these drivers supported the GrabFood delivery service immensely as a car could carry more packed food and could travel much further too.
Earlier this week, the government announced a
one-off RM500 aid
 for drivers of e-hailing vehicles, as well as taxi and bus drivers.


Proton returns to World Rally Championship with Evo-powered Iriz R5!

In what is perhaps the most exciting news with regards to our national carmaker, Proton, is their return to the WRC stage. This time, it’s with Proton Iriz R5.
Proton is not in charge of building the WRC car though, instead most – if not all – efforts are by British firm
Mellors Elliot Motorsport (MEM)
 who is no stranger to Proton. Remember the glory days of Proton in the WRC? It’s by the same guys, and that says a lot about the trust they have in Proton’s products. Among the cars built by this Derbyshire based company include the Proton PERT (based on the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 6) and the legendary Proton Satria Neo S2000.
According to MEM’s founder, Chris Mellors, their collaboration with Proton began last year and he believes the size and shape of the Iriz is perfect for rallying. Given its solid chassis, all it needs is a good engine and guess what… they’re slapping on a
Mitsubishi 4B11T
 engine detuned to
1,600cc
. That’s right. It’s the same engine that powers the
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X
!
The Iriz R5 is also equipped wit Xtrac transmission, Reiger dampers, Brembo brakes and Cosworth electronics. The car will compete in the
R5
 category, the second fastest class in WRC and eligible for WRC2 category. The Iriz will compete against the Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Polo, Skoda Fabia, and many more.
MEM is set to debut the Proton Iriz R5 at the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK next month. The car is expected for go for homologation by January 2018 before competition begins.
Source:
AutoSport


Atlanta proposes designated street racing spots to curb dangerous driving

There’s no easy way to say it, but street racing is just a terrible idea. Not only are the streets not suitable for racing – spotty surfaces, and zero run-off areas making it more dangerous for the driver, racing on the public roads also means risk putting other road users in danger.
The common advice for people who want to do some racing is to bring your cars to a nearby race track, or better yet – explore other methods of racing such as go karting or even
racing simulators
. However, with movement restriction orders in place due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, street racing has gotten much more rampant, with rebels taking advantage of the clearer roads.
It seems like the issue has gotten way out of hand for the city of Atlanta in the United States, that the city mayor is looking at more creative ways to keep the racing off the streets.

According to a report
 by the local news outlet
CBS46
, Atlanta city officials have been working with Bloomberg Associates, a municipal consultancy firm, to determine the best way to curb the issue. However, one of the ideas that the officials are considering comes from the Mayor’s 18-year-old son – to set up a designated space for street racing.
Atlanta Mayor, Keisha Lance Bottom said, “Along with Bloomberg, who we’ve reached out to help us do some benchmarking and assessment of what’s happening in other cities has been to consider a designated space for street racing.”
Other cities in the states have long considered the idea of cordoning off certain streets for the controlled street racing in a safer space. According to The Drive, Detroit already has a sanctioned street racing “sideshow” events since march.
The idea is not foreign to us too – we’re sure many of you readers still remember our then Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan
suggesting the same solution
 for the prevalent
mat rempit
 problems on our streets, way back in 2016.
What do you guys think of the solution? While we would be happy to see the dangerous acts of
hooniganism
taken off the streets, we can’t help but think if it would be better for the local governments to utilise divert the cost into subsidising events at proper race tracks, where proper safety standards are met. During these difficult times now, it might even help these race tracks stay afloat.


Volvo Car Malaysia appoints Charles Frump as new Managing Director

Volvo Car Malaysia
 today announced the arrival of Charles Frump as its new Managing Director, succeeding Nalin Jain, who previously served in the role from 2019 to 2020. Frump will continue Jain’s responsibilities in overseeing the company’s overall operations, and driving the marque’s electrification plans here in Malaysia.
Commenting on his appointment, Charles Frump said, “I am excited to embark on a new chapter of my journey with Volvo in a new market. I see Malaysia as a crossroad of the places I have been in the past, and I look forward to working closely with the local team, individual by individual, to build our strengths.”
Frump brings with him more than 20 years of automotive experience in different markets across Asia, US, and Europe, where he held global, regional, and local roles in a multitude of areas including marketing, sales, customer service, and network management.
His association with Volvo dates back to 2009, where he worked as the Director of Marketing in Volvo Car Japan. Prior to joining Volvo Car Malaysia, Frump was serving as the Managing Director in Volvo Car India since 2019, where he helped accelerate Volvo’s growth in market share and earnings in the country’s luxury car segment.
Volvo Car Malaysia sold 1,950 units last year, the highest figure since the company’s establishment. Learn more here.
Frump’s appointment follows Volvo’s global announcement of becoming a fully electric car company by 2030. He will be taking over the torch in the company’s electrification efforts here in Malaysia from Nalin Jain, who successfully made Volvo the first brand in the country to offer a
complete PHEV line-up for all of its models
.
Video: Watch our Boss Torque interview episode with Nalin Jain here.
“The future is electric – this is something we firmly believe in. The children of today will be the drivers of tomorrow, and they are going to grow up in an environment where climate change and global warming are the main issues they will face.
“To ensure that they will have a safe and green planet to live in, we aim to consistently reduce the life cycle carbon footprint per car through concrete action, which is why we are moving our entire portfolio of vehicles into electrification. We hope that by doing so, we can also help our customers take active steps in sustainability together,” Frump added.
Frump holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in International Marketing from UCLA Anderson School of Management, Los Angeles, USA. In his free time, he enjoys taking part in a variety of sports, most notably ice hockey, as well as travelling to a new country every year with his wife.
More information about Volvo Car Malaysia’s new Managing Director, Charles Frump, can be found on his LinkedIn page
here
.


Volkswagen Malaysia recommends Walnut Blasting Decarboniser every 45,000 km

Volkswagen Passenger Cars
Malaysia (VPCM) has just introduced a new Walnut Blasting Decarboniser service
at all its authorised aftersales centres nationwide. This service is part of
the Volkswagen Cares initiative and is recommended as a preventive measure to keep
the engine running in tip-top condition.
Recognised and
approved by Volkswagen AG, the Walnut Blasting Decarboniser service is an economical,
efficient and non-corrosive method to remove the carbon build-up in the engine.
Gasoline engines with direct injection technology will produce carbon deposits
as a by-product of the combustion process which will lead to a less efficient
engine.
Carbon build-up is aggravated in prolonged stop-go traffic
Symptoms of an engine with high carbon build-up include loss of power, overheating, higher fuel consumption, rough idling and engine misfiring. The Walnut Blasting Decarboniser process can restore the engine’s performance to a certain degree by removing the carbon deposits.
VPCM recommends owners
to carry out Walnut Blasting Decarboniser service every 45,000 km as a
preventive measure and this service is available from RM515.


Updated Maserati Ghibli and Ghibli S now available in Malaysia, from RM619k

Naza Italia, the official importer and distributor for Maserati in Malaysia has introduced the 2017 Maserati Ghibli and Ghibli S shortly after its global debut at the Paris Motor Show. The 2017 model sees a number of upgrades to the interior as well as safety features.
Under the hood, both variants remain motivated by a
Ferrari built 3.0-litre twin turbo petrol V6
 mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. Power outputs for the base Ghibli has increased from 330 hp to
350 hp
 while torque figures remain at
500 Nm
. This is enough to propel the Italian saloon from standstill to 100 km/h in
5.5 seconds
 and is able to hit a
top speed of

267 km/h
 (up 4 km/h).
For the hotter Ghibli S, it packs
410 hp
 and
550 Nm
of torque under its belt and is able to complete the century sprint 0.5 seconds quicker, along with a higher top speed of
285 km/h
.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Maserati Ghibli
Maserati Ghibli S
Engine
2,979cc; Twinturbo V6
Transmission
8-speed ZF automatic transmission
Max Power
350 hp
410 hp
Max Torque
500 Nm
550 Nm
0 – 100 km/h; Top Speed
5.5 seconds; 267 km/h
5.0 seconds; 285 km/h
Price (OTR without insurance)
RM618,800
RM708,800
New features to the interior of the Ghibli include a rotary control knob as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity for the 8.4-inch infotainment system with multi touch technology and Air Quality Sensor. The cabin of the Ghibli has also been further refined with sound deadening technologies to achieve better aero-acoustic comfort.
The Ghibli is now available with optional Luxury and Sport packages as well as Exterior and Interior Carbon packages. As the term Luxury suggest, the interior will be finished in
Zegna Edition Silk and Premium Leather upholstery
 while the Sport pack features sports seats and sports steering wheel with
aluminium shift paddles
. The Carbon packages add carbon accents to the interior and exterior.

For improved safety, customers can opt for the optional
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
 which includes Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Blind Spot Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning with Advanced Brake Assist and Automated Emergency Braking. Fancy a Surround View Camera? That too is an option.
The 2017 Ghibli and Ghibli S are priced at RM619k and RM709k respectively (includes local duties and tax). Naza Italia is now accepting bookings for both cars.
IMAGE GALLERY
Maserati Ghibli

Maserati Ghibli S


Waze now shows how much it’ll cost you to take the toll roads

Waze, the popular community-driven navigation application, have now added the brand-new Toll Prices feature in Malaysia to display the approximate toll fees along your selected route.
Toll Prices was made possible thanks to over 30,000 monthly active map editors, says Waze. Six users in particular – Kadyus, Kweeheng, Rickylo103, EpailXi, Izuaniz and Lutfi_bihar, helped collect and input toll prices into the application.
The feature, which is compatible with high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lanes, is automatically enabled for all Malaysian Waze users. If the generated route includes a toll road, a toll tag will be displayed on the route.
Estimated toll prices are also shown during route selection, enabling drivers to now make planning decisions based on both estimated time and toll costs ahead of time.
Waze Product Manager, Moriah Royz said, “Until now, Waze was trying to reduce your time spent in traffic – now, we’re also helping our users save as much money as possible by giving them the absolute best choice of routes, based both on ETA and potential costs of tolls along the way. “
The Google-owned navigation application will be working with their community to make the Toll Prices feature available in more markets as soon as possible.


Each Happy Meal in Japan will soon come with a Toyota Supra by Tomica

McDonald’s has been the culprit of long queues and traffic congestion on several occasions over the years every time there is an interesting giveaway with their standard or Happy Meals.
There was the Minion episode that often caused the long queue of cars to spill out of the drive-through and onto the road and there was the Hello Kitty mania before that; even the Coca-Cola cups in various glass forms caused a bit of stir.

But most times, it’s the kids dragging the adults into the (of late) not-so fast food joint. This time around, the adults would be the ones dragging their kids to McDonald’s so they wouldn’t look out of place or feel embarrassed getting a Happy Meal just to score the this toy.
It’s a red Toyota GR Supra made by Tomica and and it’ll only be available in the Happy Meals of Japan (actually, it’s called Happy Set over there) beginning 1st of May.
In fact, it’s such a big deal that the two juggernauts of their own industry, Toyota and McDonald’s, have collaborated to produce a video where two heavily modified Supras, one driven by
drifting extraordinaire Daigo Saito
, performed tandem drifts and donuts around a Big Mac.

The video not only serves to announce the giveaway but is actually also a trailer for the “
Drive Through Special Movie
” – a special drift entertainment according to Toyota – which will be released in seven days on the 28th of April 1989.
If you’re unaware, the
Toyota Supra is available in Malaysia
 and can be
viewed exclusively at five GR Garage locations around Malaysia
. Having had the car for about a week, aside from producing a
review video
, we even
strapped it on to a dyno just to find out if the Supra made more power than its brochure indicated
. This was because the BMW engine that powers it has been notorious for making more power than its official figures. You’d be surprised with the outcome.
The Supra in Refraction Blue, an all-new colour exclusively for the updated 2021 model.
You’d also be suprised at the outcome of the drag race above – between the
BMW M2 Competition
 and the Supra. When we
first got to sample the sheer performance of the Supra
 on an airstrip
 during its launch
, the car was quick to display its relentless acceleration but we certainly didn’t think that it could cause the M2 Competition any problems.
The Supra, also offered with a
 2.0-litre turbocharged engine
, was recently
updated with more power, upgraded engine components, a stiffer chassis and a new suspension setup
. In announcing the arrival of the 2021 model Supra, Toyota also introduced an all-new colour exclusively for the
cult-status sportscar
. Here’s a feature on the
journey of the Supra
to the sports car hall of fame.