Mercedes-Benz CLS teased, to get E-Class Coupe interior?

Mercedes-Benz has released a teaser image of the CLS on its official Facebook page hinting the imminent launch of the third-generation four-door fastback.
Based on the teaser image, the new CLS will feature a single LED daytime running light brow just like the rest of the
C-Class
 range. It gets a more angular front end as well as a larger trapezoidal grille with a single bar tri-star emblem. Expect the new CLS to feature larger dimensions and a sleeker profile overall.
Inside, the teaser image shows an interior resembling that of an
E-Class coupe
 – jet turbine air vents, Widescreen Cockpit, ambient lighting and even down to the engine start/stop button. Carbon fibre inlays can also be seen here although customers can most definitely have it in other finishes like wood or aluminium.
The all-new Mercedes-Benz CLS will make its official debut at the 2017 LA Motor Show happening from 1st December onwards. Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) was asking RM599k for the
second-generation CLS 400
 and knowing them, the third-generation CLS will definitely make its way to our shores.


Perodua has sold 250,795 cars so far this year, the most in its history

Perodua
 has posted its monthly sales performance report for November 2022, in which it recorded a 29,149 units sold – the company’s highest-ever monthly sales record at
28,592 units
.
The November figure brings Perodua’s year-to-date sales performance to 250,795 units, surpassing its
 full-year target of 247,800 units
 with one month to spare, and also the highest sales achievement for the company to date.
And that’s not all – Perodua’s trifecta of celebrations in November also includes its new highest monthly production record since the company’s inception, at 29,149 units.
Commenting on the new record, Perodua President and CEO, Dato’ Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad said, “This achievement is meaningful on many levels; the first shows our ability to further maximise current resources, both within Perodua and its supplier ecosystem. “
“The second is that through this achievement, we now realise that we can further increase output – both in sales and production – without investing in a new plant or acquiring more land for our manufacturing operations.”
But even as the national carmaker shifts into higher gear to meet demand, Dato’ Sri Zainal Abidin said that Perodua will still continue to invest in upgrading their operations, with an emphasis on upskilling its workforce. “We are also working closely with our suppliers and dealers to ensure that their operations are capable to meet future demand and challenges,” he added.
READ MORE:
3 things we like (and don’t) about the 2022 Perodua Alza!
The 28,592 units sold in November 2022 represents an increase of 40.9% over the company’s performance in the same month last year, and a 10.6% increase over
October 2022
. November’s sales figure was mostly contributed by the
Bezza
 (8,089 units),
Myvi
 (6,624 units), and
Axia
 (5,812 units).
On a year-on-year comparison, meanwhile, the YTD figure of 250,795 represents a monumental 50% increase over the same period last year – however, the company clarifies that the muted sales figure last year was primarily due to the
Covid-19
lock down between June and mid-August.
“We are looking to continue the sales and manufacturing momentum to ensure that all our valued customers will receive their Perodua vehicles quicker, as well as to ensure all those booked their vehicle within the sales tax exempted timeframe will get their cars before 31 March 2023,” Dato’ Sri Zainal added.
ALSO READ:
Apple CarPlay now available on 2022 Perodua Alza – Updates provided at Perodua SC


Supercharged Ford Mustang GT with 710 hp teased for Goodwood debut

Ford will be unveiling a special edition Ford Mustang GT 5.0 at the 2018 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The special edition model pays tribute to American fighter pilots who served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War II and were based near Goodwood.
Ford has confirmed that this one-of-a-kind model, named Eagle Squadron Mustang GT was co-developed by Ford Performance and Gittin’s RTR Vehicles – the authorised Ford Mustang tuning company. The duo has slapped on a Ford Performance supercharger onto the 5.0-litre V8 engine to push out a whopping
710 hp
 (700 bhp) that are deployed onto the rear wheels,
230 hp
 more than the
Mustang Bullitt
!
Other unique bits include RTR carbon fibre wide-body kit and Tactical Performance suspension package to complement the immense power jump. The supercharged Mustang will carve its way up the Goodwood hill climb by world champion drifter Vaughn Gittin Jr. before being on display throughout the rest of the festival.


Limited-edition Aston Martin Rapide AMR revealed; only 210 units available

Following the debut of the DB11 AMR, Aston Martin has revealed the limited-edition Rapide AMR (Aston Martin Racing) in conjunction with the brand’s return to Le Mans to defend its 24-hour race.
At the heart of the Rapide AMR lies a 6.0-litre naturally-aspirated V12 engine with larger inlet manifolds and quad exhaust system upgrades, making
603 hp
 and
630 Nm
. That’s capable of catapulting the Rapide AMR from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds, with a top speed 330 km/h.
Outside, the Rapide AMR is incorporated with a large and aggressive front grille reminiscent of the extreme track-only Vantage Pro while its circular daytime running lights take lessons from the recent Zagato models.
Strapped on the body of the Rapide AMR are a long list of lightweight components including a new front bonnet, splitters, sills, rear diffuser and boot lid spoiler – all made of carbon fibre.
Underneath the 21-inch forged wheels, a first for any Aston Martin, are carbon ceramic brakes fitted as standard. The multi-spoke wheels are not only rigid but are designed to aid brake cooling.
The Rapide AMR also utilises an upgraded cooling system borrowed from the Vanquish S, with modified brake ducts and dust shields.
It is the first time the Rapide has been equipped with such immense braking power – with 6-pot calipers in the front and a 4-pot pair at the rear. The new Rapide AMR sits 10mm lower than a Rapide S and while the three stage adaptive dampers are retained, they’ve been thoroughly re-engineered for better agility.
Inside, a One-77 style steering is available as an option while standard fitments include a full-length carbon fibre centre console and seats upholstered in Alcantara.
Every Rapide AMR is garnished with AMR logos stitched into the seats and a limited-edition AMR inspection plaque. The Aston Martin Rapide AMR will be available globally except in China and Russia and is available from £194,950 (approx. RM 1.04 million) with deliveries due at the end of this year.
IMAGE GALLERY


Mercedes-Benz EQV facelift unveiled, electric VAN.EA platform to debut in 2026

Mercedes-Benz
 has just given its people carriers – the all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQV, V-Class, and the V-Class Marco Polo camper MPV a facelift. Alongside the luxury MPVs, the German carmaker’s commercial vans – the Mercedes-Benz Vito and eVito have been given an update as well.
In Malaysia, the
Mercedes-Benz Vito Tourer
 is offered in a single variant with a price tag of
RM342,036
 (OTR, without insurance). Compared to the Vito Tourer we currently have, the facelifted EQV sports a refreshed front fascia design with updated headlights and grille designs.
The grille is also fitted with an LED light band to enhance its looks. Its bumper has also been tweaked to look sportier than before, helping it blend into the overall design better.
Other standard exterior features fitted onto the Mercedes-Benz include the Adaptive Multibeam LED headlights with Highbeam Assist Plus. Round the back, the EQV facelift can be seen sporting a similar LED rear lights design, but with darkened contours.
It has also gotten a much larger rear window, which features a new chrome strip and Mercedes-Benz lettering just below it. The EQV facelift’s rear bumper has gotten a slightly sportier treatment too.
RELATED:
2023 Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+ launched in Malaysia, RM799k – 761hp, 1020Nm
As for alloy wheels choices, 17-, 18-, and 19-inch wheel sizes are available, alongside five new paint colours for customers to choose from. The alloys still feature a similar design motif as before, but now come with thicker spokes which should aid with the MPV’s aerodynamics.
The Malaysian-spec Mercedes-Benz Vito Tourer is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine, mated to the brand’s 9G-Tronic automatic transmission. This results in a total of
211 hp
 and
350 Nm
 of torque for the 10-seater MPV, which sports a 3-2-3 rear seat configuration.
Powering the Mercedes-Benz EQV, on the other hand, is a front-mounted electric motor, which makes
204 hp
 (metric) and
365 Nm
 torque. Thanks to a
100 kWh
 lithium-ion battery, the EQV is capable of reaching a rated top speed of
160 km/h
.
When the Mercedes-Benz EQV runs out of juice, it can be charged at a rate of up to
11 kW
 of AC charging, which can juice up the EQV from flat to full in
10 hours
. When faster charging is needed, the EQV can also support up to
110 kW
 of DC charging, which can charge the MPV from 10 to 80% in approximately
45 minutes
.
Inside, the Mercedes-Benz EQV facelift features a much more modern interior design compared to the Malaysian-spec Vito Tourer. You now get two much more modern-looking 12.3-inch widescreen displays, which consist of a fully digital instrument panel and a touchscreen central display.
The facelifted EQV also sports a new-generation steering wheel design which comes with capacitive hands-off recognition and heated functions. At the centre, gone are the old central air vents design found in the outgoing model, replaced by slimmer and more elegant-looking ones, which are now positioned slightly lower to accommodate the new floating screen. The air conditioning controls are also completely redesigned, featuring a much more mature and cleaner design.
There is also dimmed rear lighting for nighttime driving, as well as a 64-colour ambient lighting system for a luxurious interior experience. Mercedes-Benz has included the electronic parking brake (EPB) as standard for all EQVs equipped with an automatic transmission.
At the rear, the Mercedes-Benz EQV comes with the electric Easy-pack tailgate, as well as the Tempmatic air conditioning system. And as a Mercedes-Benz model, the EQV gets the latest generation Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) system too.
Safety-wise, the Mercedes-Benz EQV is equipped with a myriad of safety features. This includes standard features such as attention assist, active brake assist with cross-traffic function, blind spot assist, active lane keeping assist, intelligent speed assist and park package, cruise control, as well as headlamp assist with rain sensor.
The German luxury people carrier is also equipped with the brand’s driving assistance package, which includes active distance assist distronic, active steering assist, and active speed limit assist. The parking package, on the other hand, comes with active parking assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and pedestrian emergency braking with drive-away assist.
Mercedes-Benz mentioned that it will be building its future people carriers and commercial vans using its EV-specific VAN.EA platform. The platform will be utilised for its models from 2026 onwards, which will include the next-gen EQV.
RELATED:
New Mercedes-Benz entry-level concept teased for IAA Munich 2023 – Is this the next-gen A-Class?
GALLERY


Shell ‘Nak Ekstra RM20,000’ winners celebrate, 126 more cash prizes to be won!

Remember
Shell’s “Nak Ekstra RM20,000” weekly giveaway
? Well, some
84 winners
 have cashed ever since the campaign kicked off on 1
st
 December 2019. If you’ve been trying but has yet to strike any prizes, there are five more weeks to go before the campaign ends on
9
th
 February 2020
.
It’s worth repeating that
one grand prize of RM20,000
 and
20 consolation prizes of RM1,000
 are given away
weekly
, so there are still
126 cash prizes
 to be won, and all you need to do is spend a minimum of
RM40 in one receipt
 at any Shell stations nationwide, complete and hand up the contest form along with the receipt on the spot or submit online by scanning the QR code.
Shell Malaysia organised a prize-giving ceremony for the winners from the first four weeks of the campaign, with three of the RM20,000 lucky winners in attendance; they were
Mohd Raffi Ismail from Bangi
, M
uhd Shukri Muhd Deris from Pahang
 and
Azniza Bakar from Negeri Sembilan
, each with their own little story on how they will utilise the windfall.
In the case of week 3’s grand prize winner, Muhd  Shukri Muhd Deris, the win comes at a good time. “My 6-year-old daughter is in pre-school. While I am excited to see her start her schooling years, I was worried about the costs; from her books to school uniform and even the school fees.
“Imagine my relief when I was told I had won the RM20,000 grand prize from Shell Malaysia. This unexpected extra cash is a blessing for my wife and I, as it will contribute to our savings for our children’s education. Thank you, Shell, and I hope you will continue to reward Malaysian families in 2020!”
Shairan Huzani Husain, the Managing Director of Shell Malaysia Trading and Shell Timur remarked, “This is not a Shell story, this is a Malaysian story. We understand that many are faced with life’s hurdles and challenges and my goal is for us to help as many Malaysians as we can and we are doing this through the ‘Nak Ekstra RM20,000?’ campaign by giving Malaysians a platform to go further and do more”.
The event was also attended by consolation prize winners who celebrated their winnings which has helped them get one step closer towards their goals for the year.
In conjunction with the campaign, Shell is hosting
roadshows
at selected cities across Malaysia with activities and prizes to be won at these locations;
East Coast Mall, Kuantan (9
th
 January)
,
Gurney Plaza, Penang (10
th
 January)
,
Vivacity Mall, Kuching (17 January)
, and
MyTOWN Cheras, Kuala Lumpur (17
th
 January)
.


The funky gets funkier with the Renault Captur+, with more power and features

There’s now an upgraded Renault Captur in the market and local authorised dealer TC Euro Cars (TCEC) has even thrown in a special edition model to make the vibrant Captur even more attractive.
The Renault Captur has been given a bump in power,
from 190 Nm to 205 Nm
, from its new Euro 6 compliant engine that now comes with an auto stop-start feature. Transmission wise, it’s still utilising the silky smooth 6-speed Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) gearbox.
Aside from the mechanical upgrades, the Captur also gets a new 7-inch infotainment system with offline/online navigation and Internet connectivity. It’s also able to support apps like Waze when connected to the Internet.
As for the Captur+, the special edition model sports a silver/black two tone front and rear bumper to go with the Captur’s already two tone body colour – not sure if that’s overdoing it – you be the judge.
Obviously the “+” doesn’t just mean “plus some body panels” and it’s job done; the Captur+ is also offered with
hands-free power tailgate
, a first in its class, where even the height of the opening can be adjusted.
Inside, it seems Renault has decided for the Captur+ to appear a little more mature as the Maroon combination leather seats and upholstery suggests.
Also provided in the Captur+ is a dashcam, door sill plates with “Captur” working and a boot entry guard that protects the bumper when you’re utilising the boot with 377 litres to 1,235 litres of space when the rear seats are folded.
Like before, four airbags and Hill Start Assist are standard, along with auto door lock, keyless entry, auto head lamps and a reverse camera to name a few.
Every Captur comes with TC Euro Cars’
5-in-Captur aftersales guarantee
 with 5-years/100,000km free service and maintenance (parts and labour), 5-years manufacturer’s warranty with unlimited mileage, pick-up and delivery for service, 24 hours roadside assistance and a replacement car (subject to availability) if replacement parts are not available for over 48 hours.
The Renault Captur goes for a highly enticing price of
RM107,980
 while the Captur+ is asking for
RM113,300
. From now till 30th May 2019, those who purchase a Captur is eligible for “The French Experience” – a trip for two to Paris including flights and accommodation.
IMAGE GALLERY
ACCESSORY – TRUNK SILL


Turn up the music with the Volkswagen Sound & Style range

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has just introduced a new accessory range for its range of vehicles. Similar to the
JOIN package
, which was introduced before, the Sound & Style range gains improved Hi-Fi system and stylish elements.
Available for the
Golf R-Line
, Passat Comfortline,
Passat Highline
 and
Tiguan Highline
, the Sound & Style range are fitted with a Volkswagen Approved Accessory HELIX 300W Soundbar in the boot. The soundbar is a compact 5-channel amplifier with an integrated sound processor and subwoofer that complements the existing 8-speaker sound system available in the car.
On top of the soundbar,
the Golf R-Line Sound & Style, which is priced at RM177,390, also gains VW Tint.
The Tiguan Highline builds upon that with the addition of a chrome trunk
garnish, chrome exhaust tips and rear black spoiler, all for RM174,990.
The Passat Sound &
Style range also gets aluminium sports pedals and side scuff plats on top of
the soundbar and tint. The Passat Comfortline also gets larger 18-inch Dartford
alloy wheels while the Highline now rides on 19-inch Verona alloy wheels. Retail
price for the Passat Sound & Style are RM188,690 and RM211,390 respectively.
Managing Director of
VPCM, Erik Winter said: “Malaysians love to drive, and we love our radio
stations and playlists. The ‘Sound & Style’ range strikes the perfect chord
as we are not just offering cars that are pleasurable to drive, but with
next-level music quality. Fans of our brand can continue to expect more special
edition offerings to cater to our discerning customers.”
Every purchase of a new Volkswagen vehicle comes with a 5-Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty, 3-Years Free Maintenance and 5-Years Roadside Assistance.


Volvo cars of the future can communicate and warn each other of road hazards

Volvo Cars will soon introduce a ground-breaking, industry-first, connected safety system that allows their cars to “communicate with each other” and warn drivers of potential hazards on the road.
The cloud-based system, called the Hazard Light Alert and Slippery Road Alert, was first introduced in 2016 in Volvo’s 90 series cars in Norway and Sweden.
These features will come as standard in all Volvo vehicles by the year 2020 and can be retrofitted into selected models.
Safety research by Volvo showed that alerting people to dangers ahead in a timely manner and allowing them to adapt with time to spare, can radically reduce the risk of accidents.
Just like when Volvo left their safety belt patents open to the automotive industry to replicate and follow suit – all in the name of safety – Volvo is also inviting the car industry to join them in sharing data related to traffic safety.
When activated, the Hazard Light Alert sends a signal to all nearby Volvo cars connected to the cloud service, warning drivers to help avoid potential accidents.
On the other hand, the Slippery Road Alert increases the driver’s awareness of current road conditions and what’s ahead by anonymously collecting road surface information from cars further up front and warning drivers approaching a slippery road section in advance.
Driver Monitoring Camera positioned by the A-pillar
This is not all. Last month, Volvo Cars announced that from the year 2020,
all Volvos will be speed-limited to 180 km/h
 – a move that has received mixed reviews so far with some even questioning if they have the right to do so.
They’ve also announced that they would install
in-car cameras and other sensors to monitor and detect if the driver is intoxicated or distracted
 – allowing the car to intervene where necessary.


5 features we wish all cars have as standard

Like most people, we wish that our car had more power, more safety features, and generally well, more. However, more stuff equals higher costs, but what about features that are a little more straightforward?
There are no ‘hero’ items on this list. Every single one is an uncomplicated feature in cars we have tested that have elevated the ride and driving experience.
BUILT-IN TOLL READER
We call it by many names – SmartTAG reader, Touch ‘n Go reader – the actual term Perodua uses is ‘built-in toll reader’. So far we’ve seen it in the new Toyota Rush, the Perodua Myvi and Aruz to name a few. It even reads the balance on the card too!
CHILD BOOSTER SEATS
With the welcome implementation and enforcement of child seats in our country, we’d like to highlight in-built child booster seats, such as this one in our
recently tested XC90
. The ones in the Volvo are only for children four-years-old and above.
Sure it may require some deft engineering to safely incorporate such a feature into a car, but we think smaller cars in particular would benefit even more from this, as it frees up a lot of space previously occupied by child seats.
REAR WINDOW SHADES
Probably the ‘lowest tech’ feature on this list. Why not just buy aftermarket rear window shades? Because if they are designed with the windows they fit better, and as you know these shades will stow away nicely inside the door panel instead of having to fold and tuck them away. Rear windscreen shades are a welcome feature too.
ADJUSTABLE CENTRE CONSOLE ARM RESTS
Another feature that we’d love to see in cars are adjustable centre console arm rests. Often it will only slide forwards or backwards, but sometimes it can be elevated or lowered as well, like they do in Volkswagens. Such arm rests are ‘rake and reach’ capable if you’ll allow me to use that term here.
In our
recent review
 of the Volkswagen Passat, it was one of the car’s best features. Also, since the arm rest is moveable, they also leave a small gap for wires going into the USB ports in the centre console.
SEAT POCKETS WITH DIFFERENT SIZES
We’re talking specifically about seat pockets found at the back of the front seats, like the ones in the new
Subaru Forester
.
Instead of the usual one pocket, it has three: the usual single deep pocket, and two additional ones for a phone and a tablet. What’s more, they are made from a scratch-resistant material so it will withstand the disaffection of young children.
We pay a lot of attention to specification sheets for good reasons, but items such as these don’t always make those pages, and it’s always welcomed when a carmaker puts in extra thought (and value) to enhance the user experience of their cars.
What else do you think should be made standard in cars?


The wait is over – the 1.9-litre Isuzu D-Max is now in Malaysia!

Years after it was introduced in Thailand, Isuzu Malaysia has finally deemed fit to introduce the latest D-Max fitted with a 1.9-litre turbo diesel engine priced from as low as
RM80,149.20
!
The 1.9-litre D-Max is introduced along with a 3.0-litre model, with single and double cab models available for both engine options, for a total of 11 different variants.

Although the facelift model retains a largely familiar look from the model it replaces, the devil is in the details with redesigned headlamps, now equipped with Bi-LED projectors, a new grille design and a new fog lamp housing and new wheels.
At the back, there’s now a damper available for soft opening and closing of the tailgate and a tray which can be rolled in and out for easier loading of cargo. These however, are optional extras.
Inside, the facelift D-Max comes with added padding in all the vital touch points such as the arm rest, door trims and dashboard, with newly designed seats wrapped in a mix of fabric and leather. The facelift model now also features an 8-inch touchscreen display with eight speakers and reverse camera display and a rear USB port.
That said, the highlight of the new D-Max has to be the
1.9-litre turbo diesel
 engine which Isuzu says is quieter, more powerful, more efficient and reliable than before.
The new
RZ4E-TCX engine
, with a new Variable Geometry Turbo and fuel injection system, makes 10% more power and 9% more torque than before with
150 hp
 and
350 Nm
 of torque on the taps.
The outgoing 4JK1-TCX 2.5-litre turbo diesel engine before made 136 hp and 320 Nm of torque. Funnily enough, the 3.0-litre model makes just 27 hp more at 177 hp and 30 Nm more at 380 Nm.
The 6-speed automatic and manual transmission offered is also new. Isuzu explained that the new drivetrains, featuring a new final drive and wider ratios, were developed side by side with the new engine to better complement each other.
While these figures may not matter in a pick-up, the facts may intrigue you. The new 1.9-litre D-Max with the 6-speed automatic transmission does 0 to 400 metres in 19.3 seconds and 0 to 100 km/h in 13.7 seconds. The previous 2.5-litre model did it in 20.3 seconds and 15.3 seconds respectively – borderline disturbing stuff this.
Isuzu has even worked on noise dampening on the engine, although not by much, with the new engine now 2-3 dB quieter when idling than the engine it replaces. This is contributed by a more robust construction of the engine and reduced combustion noise from more precise fuel injection.
Isuzu said the delay from introducing this new powertrain in Malaysia was due to the extensive development work to ensure that the 1.9-litre would perform reliably in our environment.
Not only is the new engine 56kg lighter than the 2.5-litre engine, it’s more efficient with 37% less friction of the engine components and produces 14% less emissions. With that, the new D-Max comes with a claimed fuel consumption of 8L/100km.
Safety wise, the D-Max has been enhanced with Hill Descent Control with Hill Start Assist, to go with the six airbags, Electronic Stability Control, Traction Control etc.
Lastly, those who book the new 1.9-litre or 3.0-litre Isuzu D-Max between 18th of September to 31st of October 2019 will be given 5-years Unlimited Mileage Warranty with up to 8-years or 80,000 km Free Maintenance.
IMAGE GALLERY


Shell Lubricants Malaysia introduces most advanced engine oil, the Helix Ultra ECT C2/C3 0W-30

Shell Lubricants’ most advanced and latest fully synthetic engine oil, the Shell Helix Ultra ECT C2/C3 0W-30 has just joined the groundbreaking Shell Helix Ultra with PurePlus Technology range. This follows the oil and gas giant’s 5W-40 engine oil
introduced last year
, one that
we had the privilege to test for ourselves
.
It’s been a while now since Shell made the 0W-30 grade oil, but now it’s back with
Emissions Compatible Technology
 (ECT) which is said to help protect emissions system of most modern day engines, both petrol and diesel. It’s also
OEM approved
 by Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen.
Shell Lubricants’ General Manager, Leslie Ng said the new Helix Ultra ECT C2/C3 0W-30 engine oil meets and
 exceeds the highest specifications
 of all motor oils in the market to date. “The oil’s stable molecular structure is achieved via PurePlus Technology and plays a key part in keeping performance at its optimum and at the same time keeping the engine clean and protected while improving fuel economy.”
Before going into the technical side of things, let’s be clear about one thing – its price. The ECT C2/C3 will cost a premium of
RM338
 for a
4-litre pack
, and meets ACEA C2, ACEA C3 and API SN specifications. The motor oil’s thin viscosity is best suited for high performing vehicles, and has been designed with multi-fuel capability and advanced low-emissions vehicles. It’s also
backward compatible
 with many OEMs and industry specifications.

Shell Lubricants claims that the engine oil offers
unsurpassed wear protection
 while delivering
three times better corrosion protection
of engine components. The ECT C2/C3 also produced
45 percent cleaner pistons
to protect and maximise engine operation while delivering up to 2.6 percent (or 16km more per tank)
better fuel economy
.
About Shell’s patented PurePlus Technology: What makes the Helix Ultra with PurePlus Technology one of the most advanced motor oil lies in the methods in which it is processed. The PurePlus Technology is the result of a
40-year research programme
 that converts natural gas into crystal-clear base oil with almost zero impurities such as those found in crude oil processes. This revolutionary process is called gas-to-liquid (GTL) process, and is produced at the Pearl GTL plant in Qatar.
IMAGE GALLERY


2015 Audi RS3 Sportback unveiled, gunning down the A45 AMG with 367 hp and 465 Nm

This car is capable of keeping up with the
BMW M3 and M4
 in a 0 to 100 km/h sprint, and its five-cylinder engine makes more power than the inarguable might of the A45 AMG and it’s
four-door sibling
. Behold, the
all-new 2015 Audi RS3 Sportback
, the Ingolstadt-based carmaker’s answer to an all-encompassing, AMG beating hot hatch.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Audi RS3 Sportback

Engine
2,480cc; inline 5-cylinder turbocharged
Max Power
367 hp
Max Torque
465 Nm from 1,625 – 5,500 rpm
0 – 100 km/h; Top Speed
4.3 seconds; 250 km/h (280 km/h upon request)
Drive Type
 Quattro permanent all-wheel drive

The five-door Sportback sits atop Volkswagen’s modular transverse matrix (MQB) platform that is made mostly out of ultra high-strength steel and is lightweight, allowing the car to weigh in at 1,520kg – about 55kg lesser than its predecessor. Its front and rear tracks have been widened, and the car is lowered by 25mm as a result of the RS Sports suspension.
EXTERIOR
Differentiating an RS3 from the regular A3 or S3 even, is fairly simple. The RS3 Sportback gets flared arches, fatter stance, reworked bumpers with larger air intakes, larger wheels and twin exhaust pipes are clear giveaways of the model’s highest performing variant.
Let’s start from the front. The ‘Singleframe’ grille on the RS3 is blacked out (chrome on the A3), encased in an aluminium frame. The larger air inlets of the bumper functions by feeding air into the radiator and transmission oil cooler. The headlights are, well, exactly the same as any of the A3 models. Its side mirrors are given a matte-aluminium finish, a typical trait shared among all high performing Audis.
Over the back, the hatch gets RS-specific bumpers with integrated diffusers finished in matte aluminium, complemented by large twin oval exhaust pipes and a roof spoiler. Additional features include a carbon-fibre engine cover, matte aluminium and gloss black styling packages. The RS3 Sportback sits on 19-inch cast aluminium wheels wrapped with 235/35R19 profile tyres. Front
 carbon-fibre ceramic brakes
 are optional, and a first in the segment.
INTERIOR
The cabin of this beastly hatch has been given a proper touch of black with RS badges to remind you that it’s no ordinary A3. Seats are wrapped with Fine Nappa leather and stitched with contrasting rock gray threads. The layout here is similar to the A3, albeit with a flat bottomed steering wheel wrapped with leather and Alcantara. New in the instrument clusters are boost pressure indicator, oil temperature gauge and lap timer.
Another feature shared with the A3 is the head unit with MMI navigation plus with touch control via the knob below the gearknob. Other amenities include power-adjustable and heated front seats with four-way lumbar support, auto-dimming side mirrors and light and rain sensors.
If you fancy racier seats, there’s the optional S sport seats with diamond pattern or the RS bucket seats with integrated side airbags and carbon-fibre seat shell, weighing a good
seven kilograms
 lesser than the standard sport seats.
PERFORMANCE
We mentioned AMG-beating numbers, didn’t we? Under the hood beats the same
2.5-litre
,
inline-five cylinder
 turbocharged engine carried over from the outgoing model, but it’s been reworked to produce nearly 30 hp more. It now makes
367 horsepower
 and
465 Nm
 of torque that’s readily available from 1,625 rpm to 5,500 rpm. By comparison, the 2.0-litre mill by AMG makes 360 hp and 450 Nm of torque.
The century sprint is done in
4.3 seconds
 (0.3 seconds quicker than the previous model), before topping out at
250 km/h
, although if nicely asked, Audi could raise the top speed to
280 km/h
. That’s absurdly quick for a hot hatch. According to Audi, the exhaust sounds throatier and meatier thanks to the
1-2-4-5-3 firing sequence
 of the engine.
All that power is transferred to the brand’s quattro permanent all wheel drive system via a seven-speed S tronic dual clutch automatic gearbox. Launch control comes standard, here.
WHAT ELSE?
The RS3 Sportback comes with all six colours offered on its lesser siblings, with
two additional new colours
: Nardo Gray and Cataluya Red (featured in these pictures), the latter exclusive only to the RS3. Deliveries of the super hot hatch is scheduled to begin in summer next year – that’s sometime after June – and will sell alongside six of its RS stablemates: RS Q3, RS4 Avant, RS5 Coupe, RS5 Cabriolet, RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback.
It’s pricing, as per suggested by company officials, will be close to the 40,000 Euro (RM175k) mark. Keep in mind that, despite having the A45 AMG staring right in the barrel of the RS3 Sportback’s gun, Mercedes-AMG has already hinted at a facelifted version of the A45 AMG with better output figures towards the end of next year. What’s your mega hot hatch pick?
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY


New MBUX Voice Assistant introduces a ‘story-telling tour guide’ in Mercedes-Benz vehicles

Mercedes-Benz has enhanced its MBUX Voice Assistant system with a new acoustic travel guide, blatantly name the “Tourguide”.
When activated, the audio travel guide reads out interesting and entertaining information about attractions along the route in what Mercedes-Benz considers to be a ‘fun way to pass time’ when travelling on holiday.
The “Tourguide” audio travel guide will be available in all new Mercedes-Benz vehicles produced from the 1st of June 2022 and they include models like the EQS, EQE,
the new C-Class
,
new S-Class
,
EQS SUV
, new GLC, and the AMG SL as well. As for the latter, it’s hard to imagine wanting to hear an audio travel guide more than the engine’s roar while the top is down.

To activate, users merely have to say “Hey Mercedes, start Tourguide”, and the feature will read out extensive information on tourist attractions and places of interest along the route. Content for the Tourguide feature was generated exclusively for Mercedes‑Benz Group AG.
When the feature is activated, announcements begin when the car detects the first sign related to a particular tourist attraction. One especially convenient feature is the ‘connection to automatic route guidance’. If the user is interested in a particular tourist attraction, all they have to do is select the navigation function and will be guided there directly without having to key in the name of the place or address.
EQS
EQS
For now, the company announced that the new audio travel guide will only be available in Germany but will be rolled out in other countries as well. In its home country, the company says the system is able to detect and respond to approximately 3,400 tourist information signs along German autobahns.
Locally, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has announced that the local launch of the
fully electric Mercedes-Benz EQS
 will take place on the 22nd of July so mark your calendars and stay tuned!


Mitsubishi Triton, Xpander now cost up to RM3.3k more, Phantom Plus dropped

Three months into the new year, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia has revised its prices for both the
Mitsubishi Triton

and
 Xpander
. The Triton is now up to RM3,300 more expensive (for the Athlete variant) while the Xpander is RM3,180 more expensive for the sole variant.
The Mitsubishi Triton sees a price increase across the range, even for the 4×2 low-riding Triton Quest. Previously costing RM81,390 the Triton Quest is now RM2,500 more expensive at
RM83,890
. The Triton Quest is powered by a 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine that makes
110 hp
 (metric) and
200 Nm
. It is only available with a manual transmission.
Up a tier, the 4×4 Triton 2.4 VGT Standard sees a price increase of RM2,300 to
RM105,500
 for the manual version. The automatic Triton Standard sees an RM2,000 price increase to
RM109,990
. The standard 4×4 Triton and variants above it are powered by a 2.4-litre turbodiesel engine that makes
181 hp
 (metric) and
430 Nm
.
Moving on, the Triton 2.4 VGT Premium sees an RM2,500 price hike to
RM118,700
 for the manual version. As for the automatic Triton Premium, it sees an RM3,000 price jump to
RM129,900
.
The Triton Phantom Plus Edition is no longer available with new revised prices released
In its range-topping form, the Triton Athlete is now RM3,300 more expensive at
RM149,900
. As for the
Triton Phantom Plus
 that was launched last year, it is no longer available. The Triton Athlete used to slot in between the Triton Premium and the Triton Athlete in the variant hierarchy. It was equipped with an exclusive body kit, roof-mounted lights, and a unique set of wheels.
Mitsubishi Triton new Prices:
Triton Quest 2.5 (4×2) –
RM83,890
Triton 2.4 VGT Standard MT –
RM105,500
Triton 2.4 VGT Standard AT –
RM109,990
Triton 2.4 VGT Premium MT –
RM118,700
Triton 2.4 VGT Premium AT –
RM129,900
Triton2.4 VGT Athlete AT –
RM149,900
Joining the Triton, the 7-seater Mitsubishi Xpander MPV is also given a price hike, now RM3,180 more expensive. Previously costing RM96,800, the family MPV now fetches a price of
RM99,980
. The Xpander is powered by a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine that produces
105 hp
(metric) and
141 Nm
. Paired with the engine is a 4-speed automatic transmission.


Ferrari Malaysia opens first experiential pop-up store in Pavilion KL

Naza Italia, the official distributor of Ferrari vehicles in Malaysia has just launched a one-of-a-kind experiential pop-up showroom here at the main entrance of Pavilion Shopping Centre, Kuala Lumpur.
Happening from today until 28 September 2018, the pop-up showroom is the first of its kind in Malaysia and part of a regional effort that offers the public a taste of the Ferrari brand. The showroom features two distinct models from the brand’s stable, the Ferrari Portofino and the GTC4 Lusso V8, both of which were officially launched in Malaysia not too long ago.

Group CEO, Automotive Group, Naza Corporation Holdings Sdn Bhd, Dato’ Samson Anand George said: “The Ferrari Pop-Up Experience, an expansive open-air showroom that greets the eyes with the brand’s signature red hue, invites the public to explore the lavish world of the Prancing Horse. Ferrari is known to be a very exclusive brand, however, on this occasion, we are making it more accessible. Situated amongst other luxury brands in Pavilion KL, this experiential pop-up showroom really does offer customers an insight into the lifestyle that complements Ferrari ownership.”
In conjunction with the Ferrari Pop-Up Experience, Ferrari Malaysia is also running a photo contest on Instagram from 22nd to 28th September where you’d stand a chance to win exclusive Ferrari merchandises. All you have to do is follow Ferrari Malaysia’s official Instagram account (
@ferrari.malaysia
), take a photo of the booth with the accompany hashtag #ferraripopupmy and tag 3 friends in your caption.
IMAGE GALLERY


Frankfurt 2015: Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio makes first public appearance, 3.9s and a 308 km/h top speed !

The
Four-leaf clover is back
 and it looks better than ever. The Quadrifoglio badge is steeped in rich history spanning back to when Enzo Ferrari himself basked upon the charm that decorated his Alfa Romeo when him and fellow comrade Ugo Sivocci won the Targa Florio race in 1923. It seems almost poetic then, that this new Giulia is powered by a Ferrari inspired mill.
Like all Alfas in the past, it’s one to evoke emotion amongst petrol heads, drivers and believers alike. Why believers, you might ask? The bare fact of the matter is, everyone knows that Alfa Romeos will be as unreliable as a Greek accountant, but that said, it is the truest form of
driving nirvana
. Perseverance  is key to that. But it
rewards
 dividends richly with the biggest
grin
 imaginable.
To put it simply, the Giulia QV is drop dead gorgeous. It’s built from the ground up as well. The successor to the
159
 as you see here is designed to be as wrought and muscular in a package that combines the best of all worlds, such as a
 long sweeping bonnet
,
short wheel base
 and
 short over hangs
. It’s basically penned to be a
 Ferrari-inspired Quattroporte
 on a ‘budget’.
The Quadrifoglio is shuffled along by a
 2.9-litre
,
twin turbocharged 90º V6
 block that will kick out
 510
 rampaging Italian horses with
600 Nm
of
 twist
 to boot. The numbers mean that 100 km/h is dispatched from standstill in just
3.9 seconds
. Keep your foot welded to the carpets and you will hit its top speed of
308 km/h
. This Italian will give most sports and even super cars a proper run for their money!
All that power is fired out through the
rear wheels
 via a choice of an
automatic
 or the one the
six-speed stick shifter
 that’s located at the back in order to attain a perfect
 50:50
 weight ratio balance. The rear suspension is underpinned by an advanced
multi-link
 set up, with an electronically-controlled
Torque Vectoring
 system on the rear
differential
 allowing the driver to explore the Quadrifoglio’s handling
without
 ever needing the stability control to intervene.
Alfa has also come up with a new and innovative braking system dubbed
Integrated Brake System
 (IBS) – an ingenious
electromechanical
 system which combines
stability control
 and a traditional
brake servo
 for
instantaneous braking
 response. The result is a record-breaking stopping distance from 100km/h to standstill of just
32 metres
! The G-forces involved in an exercise such as that are unthinkable.

The Giulia comes with a whole host of high-tech wizardry such as
Chassis Domain Control
 (CDC), one that was jointly developed by
 Magneti Marelli
 which in essence acts like the car’s ‘brains’ and coordinates all the
on-board electronics
. The system manages other features such as
Torque Vectoring
,
Active Aero Splitter
,
active suspension
,
brakes
,
steering
 and
 ESC
 systems.
Most sports cars come with driving mode selectors and this Alfa is no exception to that rule. However, here it’s called the
Alfa DNA Pro
. The system lets you select from
 Dynamic
,
 Natural
,
Advanced Efficiency
 and
 Race
. Noteworthy though, as ironic as it is for the QV have an Advanced Efficiency mode, it returns the
 best in class
 CO
2
 emissions levels at just
198g per km
 that’s largely thanks to its electronically-controlled
cylinder disabling
 system and excellent
active aerodynamics
.
Now once you’re done running rings around your rivals and hooning about, the Quadrifoglio lets you appreciate the fine
Italian craftsmanship
 like plush
stitched leather
, exquisite
trims
 and gorgeous
instruments
 that surround the driver. Lead-footed audiophiles rejoice for the red-hot Alfa comes packed up with a
12-channel
 class D amplifier with
Logic 7
 tech to distributes rich, clear
5.1 surround
 sound through
14 speakers
.
UK sales are slated to begin in the second half of 2016. This is because Alfa is only producing the Giulia in left-hand drive configuration for the time being. We sincerely hope that the Alfa brand will make its comeback here. We want the Giulia!
IMAGE GALLERY


Proton delivers 8,500th unit of the X70, in just 100 days since its launch

The said unit was delivered to Malaysian law firm Lee Allen Hishammuddin & Gledhill (LHAG), as Proton’s first SUV broke all previous records for delivery numbers in its segment.
Charting a cumulative
42% sales growth
 for the first two months of 2019, Proton also achieved the highest sales growth rate among the Top 3 automotive brands in Malaysia.

The 8,500th Proton X70 is only one of six units ordered by LHAG for their corporate fleet.
“PROTON is delighted that LHAG, our long-term corporate partner, has chosen to add the Proton X70 to its fleet. First impressions are important in the business world so we are proud our SUV will represent the firm at business meetings and events,” said Dr Li Chunrong.

In other related news,
a convoy of nine Proton X70s and their respective owners
 have just returned from a round trip to Hangzhou, China, where they were treated to a tour of the Geely Experience Centre.
On average, the convoy travelled 400 km a day throughout the 33-day road trip, covering four countries and 13 major cities.


Upcoming Volvo EX90’s displays will magically show you the right information at the right time

Volvo is continuing its drip feed of information on its upcoming
fully-electric EX90
, which is slated for launch on November 9. After showing off the car’s
 LiDAR system
 and driver monitoring cameras, the Swedish carmaker is now giving us a first look at the EV SUV’s dashboard, including its infotainment and instrumentation set-up.
For the former, the Volvo EX90 will utilise a large portrait-oriented centre screen, which gives the drivers quick access to navigation, media, phone connectivity, as well as controls and other common actions. The centre screen also features a special contextual bar that suggests different actions based on the specific situation you’re in, be it driving, parked, or on a phone call.
The instrument cluster meanwhile is now just a slim horizontal screen, which displays more driving-focused information such as directions, current speed and range info. Volvo says that this screen also helps the car “contextualises the change from one mode to another, making sure you know what to expect from the car – and what the car expects from you”.
Notice the repeated mention of “contextual” displays? That’s because Volvo says that clear, contextual information can help reduce distractions and confusion, making it more intuitive and – ultimately – safer to operate the car on the roads.
To that end, every display element on-screen is designed to be clear and concise, with information only displayed when relevant. For example, the displays will show different information and graphics depending on whether you’re in a manual or assisted/autonomous driving mode, or even when transitioning between them, making it clear and intuitive to the driver if you’ll need to take over the controls.
ALSO READ:
 Upcoming Volvo EX90 EV will come with LiDAR as standard, to be unveiled on 9 November
By combining the car’s exterior and interior sensors with in-house developed software, the Volvo EX90 will be able to quickly read and understand each situation, and provide the driver with contextual information based on that input.
“It’s all about providing you with the right information at the right time,” says Volvo Cars head of UX, Thomas Stovicek. “We want your driving experience to be focused, simple and safe. Since the car also understands its surroundings and you better than ever before, we can create an even safer situation by reducing mode confusion, distraction and information overload.”

Volvo says that the EX90 will be “hardware-ready” for unsupervised autonomous driving, which means that in the future once legislations allow and software sufficiently developed, the car will be able to drive you instead. But even before then, the displays and contextual user interface is already designed to make the transition between the different driving modes as predictable and smooth as possible.


This is the last Volkswagen Beetle Collector’s Edition, RM164,390

The world will be
bidding farewell to the iconic Volkswagen Beetle
 this year after over 22 million units sold globally, as the German automotive group shifts their focus onto electric mobility solutions. To commemorate and give the Beetle a
send-off
, local distributor Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has launched the final Volkswagen Beetle Collector’s Edition.
Based on the
Beetle Sport 1.2-litre TSI
, only
75 units
 of the Collector’s Edition will be made. Priced at RM164,390 (OTR without insurance), it gains exclusive accessories worth up to RM12,000 which includes a rear spoiler, centre racing stripes, chrome exhaust tips, aluminium sports pedals, scuff plates, VW Tint and a plaque signifying its production number of the 75 units.
 Managing Director of VPCM, Erik Winter
There are no changes to the mechanicals, continuing on with the 1.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder TSI mill and 7-speed DSG dual-clutch generating
105 hp
 and
175 Nm
 to drive the front wheels. Other items on the equipment list include Bi-xenon headlamps with LDE daytime running lights, paddle shifters, 16-inch “Whirl” alloy wheels, 6.5-inch Composition Media touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 8-speakers and “Vienna” leather seats.
There are four colours available for the special edition Beetle which are Blue Silk, Pure White, Hanabero Orange and Tornado Red. Every purchase also comes with a 5-Years Unlimited Mileage, 3-Years Free Scheduled Maintenance and 5-Years Roadside Assistance.
Managing Director of VPCM, Erik Winter said that the Collector’s Edition Beetle is a celebration of the amazing run the Beetle has had. “All good things must come to an end, and it is the same with this global bestseller. The Beetle has enjoyed a rich history – in Malaysia it is one that dates to when it was assembled in Shah Alam in 1968.  In fact, most Malaysians grew up with a connection to the much-loved car.”


This turbocharged Mazda MX-5 ND sprints faster than a Golf R. For real!

Mazda tuning specialist, BBR UK has just introduced a turbo kit for the
MX-5 ND
 that not only bumps the power output but also maintains all the factory electronic safety features and emissions compliances. The turbo kit is applicable to all 2.0-litre SkyActiv-G equipped MX-5 ND and yes, that includes the
hard-top MX-5 RF
.
BBR did not just take a TD04 and strapped it onto the engine and called it a day. They’ve been turbocharging MX-5 Miatas since the late 1980s and wanted to make sure that their latest development complements the high-compression and ultra-efficient SkyActiv-G engines while maintaining refinement and characteristics the SkyActiv range is known for.
As a result, a twin-scroll turbocharger was fitted onto the 1,998cc in-line four-cylinder SkyActiv-G that bumps the stock power output from
158 hp
/
200 Nm
 to
234 hp
 and
 320 Nm
;
76 hp
 and a stunning
120 Nm
 increase! The turbo kit slashes the 0 to 60 mph time from 7.3 seconds to just 5.0
 seconds flat
, and that makes it faster than the
Volkswagen GTI Clubsport
!
The reason for using a more advanced twin-scroll turbocharger rather than a single-scroll turbocharger was the lower back pressure characteristics of the twin-scroll unit. This works harmoniously with the SkyActiv-G layout and knock-resistant technologies.
The Stage 1 turbocharger upgrade gives
271 Nm
 from just 2,750 rpm while max torque (320 Nm) kicks in at
3,250 rpm
, highlighting the upgrade’s user-friendly nature. The turbocharger is cleverly designed to be installed without needing any intrusive mechanical alteration onto the stock engine.
Other mechanical upgrades that come with the TSX30-71R twin-scroll turbocharger include:
BBR bespoke cast iron twin scroll exhaust manifold
BBR stainless steel downpipe
BBR high-flow lightweight front mounted aluminium intercooler with factory look black intake pipes
BBR high-flow custom silicone turbo pipes in factory look black finish with stainless steel hose clamps and unique black coating
BBR lightweight aluminium battery tray in factory black finish
BBR recirculating piston type dump valve in factory black finish
BBR / Bosch MAP / temperature sensor
BBR high efficiency carbon fibre turbocharger heat shield
BBR high flow K&N Typhoon induction kit
BBR stainless steel oil and water lines
BBR Starchip EcuTek RaceRom calibration software
BBR Stage 1 Mazda MX-5 ND Turbo upgrade retails at £4,995 (RM24k) including parts and installation. BBR also ships internationally (enquire through their website) while US prospects can purchase the upgrade from
Flyin’ Miata
. If you’re not convinced to go down the blown route, perhaps the
BBR Super 200
 package would be a safer bet for those who prefer to remain naturally aspirated.
IMAGE GALLERY


2022 Toyota Hilux Rogue updated in Australia with wider, Raptor-esque looks

Toyota Australia has just given the
Hilux Rogue
 a refresh for 2022 with a host of new upgrades, including several mechanical tweaks. Despite the upgrades, the range-topping variant will still be priced from an unchanged AUD70,200 (approx. RM215k), with deliveries slated to begin in October.
The main update on the 2022 Toyota Hilux Rogue in Australia comes in the form of a widened track (distance between the left and right wheels), which has been increased by 140 mm, alongside a 20 mm gain in ride height. Toyota says that the change will help improve the Hilux Rogue’s on- and off-road performance, but it also gives the pick-up truck a much more aggressive appearance.
In order to contain the wider track, Toyota has given the new 2022 Hilux Rogue a new wider set of Raptor-esque overfenders and mudguards, which are accompanied by revised bumpers both front and rear with additional body extension, alongside a set of darkened 18-inch wheels, in place of the 17-inch items from before.
RELATED:
2020 Toyota Hilux facelift launched in Malaysia
Aside from the widened track, the new 2022 Hilux Rogue also benefits from an extended front suspension arm and stabiliser bar, while the front damper angle has also been adjusted to improve efficiency.
Over at the back, the increased track also means a lengthened rear axle, with the rear dampers moved out towards the wheels. The updated Rogue also marks the first time a Hilux is equipped with a rear stabiliser bar from the factory, which is said to improve roll rigidity by up to 20%, while promoting better steering feel during corners and lane changes.
Other mechanical changes on the updated 2022 Hilux Rogue include new ventilated disc brakes at the rear, used for the first time in place of drum brakes to improve stopping power. The front discs have also been enlarged by 25 mm to now measure 432 mm.
Aside from these updates, the rest of the new pick-up truck remains unchanged. As the range-topping variant in Australia, the Rogue comes with additional niceties, including a motorised roller cover for the bed, a resin sports bar, marine-grade bed lining, heated front seats, perforated “leather-accented” upholstery, as well as a nine-speaker premium audio system.
The powertrain is also untouched on this update, with the 2.8-litre turbodiesel four-banger still found underneath the bonnet making
201 hp
 and
500 Nm
, paired to a six-speed automatic transmission. The engine output isn’t too far off from the current
Ranger Raptor
, so if you really want a Toyota-badged Raptor fighter, all you have to do is to get yourselves a set of fancy Fox shocks.
ALSO READ:
Performance Comparison – Isuzu D-Max vs Toyota Hilux vs Mitsubishi Triton
GALLERY


JPJ: Straight to court for these 7 major offences during Hari Raya Aidilfitri, 18-27 April

Hari Raya Aidilfitri is around the corner and many Malaysians will be returning to their respective hometowns or going for holidays within the country during the festive period, primarily via driving. In conjunction with the celebration, the
Road Transport Department (JPJ)
 has announced 7 major non-compoundable offences, effective
April 18
 to
27, 2023
. With this announcement in effect, offenders will be required to pay an irreducible compound fine and will be directly referred to court.
The 7 uncompoundable offences include:
Using mobile phones while driving
Failing to obey the red-light
Driving in the Emergency Lane
Driving over the speed limit
Overtaking at a double-lined road
Cutting traffic queue
Not wearing a seat belt
As reported by The Star, Transport Minister Anthony Loke mentioned that the Road Transport Department will be stepping up monitoring works in 231 locations across Malaysia that have been tagged as areas with frequent accidents or ‘hotspots’.
Another approach that will be done is stationing patrol cars in those frequent accident areas to conduct patrols. This is done so that with the presence of enforcement officers, road users will be more likely to drive carefully and obey traffic rules.
RELATED:
Free toll for 4 days this Hari Raya, April 19, 20, 21, 24
The announcement was made after the Transport Minister attended the new Bentong JPJ office’s construction groundbreaking ceremony in Jalan Chamang on
April 11
, and he hopes this strategy will be able to help reduce road accidents as road traffic will be at an all-time high during the festive period.
The Transport Minister also hopes that road users will be more careful and observe traffic rules while on the road, especially in Pahang, as it is the main ‘gateway’ to get from Klang Valley to the East Coast. In addition, a heavy-vehicle ban will also be enforced, a practice that has been carried out throughout past major holidays, reported The Star.
RELATED:
No need to display road tax anymore for private vehicles starting today


You can now drive with an expired driver’s license and road tax but…

In light of the Covid-19 madness, the Ministry of Transport has given some leeway to those with expired road tax and driver’s license during the Movement Control Order (MCO) duration.
This applies to those holding the Competent Driver’s License (CDL), Goods Driving License (GDL) and Public Service Vehicle License (PSV). These documents however, will need to be
renewed within 30 days from the last day of the MCO
.
While you may still be able to drive with an expired road tax and license, your vehicle must still have insurance coverage. Drivers are urged to carry their vehicle’s insurance cover note while on the road.
For now, driver’s license and road tax renewals can be done via
MySikap JPJ
 or
MyEG
. Those who have renewed the said documents do not need to collect the physical documents over the counter during the MCO period; merely showing the proof of payment/receipt will do.
Such measures have been taken to avoid gathering of large crowds and to also ensure that the supply of essential goods to the public will not be affected by the MCO.


Hyundai N starts the summer holidays through adorable pixel art!

The overall post-pandemic recovery situation in Europe is getting better every week, with news of more travellers moving around the continent to enjoy their summer break plus getting out of lockdowns and stay-at-home directives.
A Hyundai Veloster N in front of Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Gate
Hyundai’s performance division,
Hyundai N
, has issued some adorable pixel art to lighten the mood.
The pixel art features Hyundai i30 N and the recently launched i20 N and Kona N at various international landmarks, such as the Sydney Opera House, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Gate as well as Paris’ Arc de Triomphe.
Cryptocurrency? That’s nice. Polestar now offers payment via artwork! More here!
Of course, not forgetting the famous Nurburgring Nordschleife where plenty of development activities were done on the chassis, powertrain and vehicle durability.
The N also stands for both the 20.8 km loop in Nurburg, Germany, plus Hyundai Motor’s global research and development centre in Namyang, Korea.
In summary, the Hyundai N models are:
i30 N
 – 280 hp, 392 Nm, 6-MT or 8-DCT, 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds
Veloster N – 280 hp, 378 Nm, 6-MT or 8-DCT, 5.6 seconds
Kona N
 – 280 hp, 392 Nm, 8-speed DCT, 5.5 seconds
i20 N
 – 204 hp, 304 Nm, 6-speed manual, 6.7 seconds
Hyundai will also launch the
Elantra N
 in the coming weeks, their first sedan in the growing line-up of N models.
Hyundai N collaborated with a software company for the pixel art, so be sure to check out
Etherfield Games
 for more of their collection. They also produced a few fan favourites and icons from the 70s and 80s.
GALLERY


All-new Toyota Corolla launched in Malaysia – 2 variants, RM129k and RM137k

First launched in 1966 with the E10 model, the Corolla went on to become one of the best-selling cars of all time, with over 46 million units sold in more than 150 countries.

Now more than half a century later, UMW Toyota (UMWT) has finally introduced the 12th-generation Toyota Corolla to the Malaysian market! The Toyota Corolla will be available in two variants – 1.8E (
RM128,888
) and 1.8G (
RM136,888
).
Chassis
A key improvement on the new Toyota Corolla is the adoption of
Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform.
 First used locally on the
C-HR
, the flexible platform promises to enhance the driving experience, spaciousness as well as visibility out of the car.
The circular frame structure of the TNGA helps provide improved body rigidity for better handling stability. With the new TNGA platform, Toyota has also replaced the rear suspension with a double wishbone setup, paired with MacPherson struts at the front to provide a ‘linear steering response when cornering at mid to high speeds’. The shock absorbers and coil springs have also been optimised specifically for Malaysian road conditions.
Powertrain
The 2019 Toyota Corolla Altis will be powered by the 2ZR-FE
1.8-litre 4-cylinder engine
, producing
139 hp
 and
172 Nm
 of torque.
Both variants of the new Corolla are fitted with a
7-speed Sequential Shiftmatic CVT gearbox
, which incorporates a new cooperative control with drive-by-wire throttle. The engineers at Toyota programmed the transmission shifting characteristics to provide an experience similar to a regular torque converter ‘box. The 1.8G variant will include shift paddles for manual gear changes.
Toyota claims that the changes made to the drivetrain makes the new Corolla quicker by up to 0.6 seconds during overtaking maneuvers, accelerating from 60 to 80 km/h in 3.3 seconds, when compared to the previous generation.
The electronically controlled drivetrain also allowed Toyota to include two driving modes – Eco and Sport, to provide a driving experience suitable for every situation through revised throttle mappings and transmission shifting characteristics tuning.
Exterior
Toyota has refreshed the exterior design of the Corolla in-line with the change in the brand’s styling philosophy. We have covered the exterior design of the Corolla in more detail in our
preview gallery
, but in general the design of the Corolla is made to be more angular with dynamic forms and lines.
The side-view mirrors have been moved from the A pillar to the door panel, along with a redesigned housing to give the driver better visibility through the sides. The mirrors also automatically angle downwards when the reverse gear is engaged.
The new Corolla will be available in five exterior colours: Celestite Gray Metallic, White Pearl CS, Silver Metallic, Red Mica Metallic, and Attitude Black.
Exterior highlights
1.8E
* Automatic Bi-Halogen headlights
* Power adjustable wing mirrors with auto-fold and signal lamps
* Time-adjustable intermittent wipers
* 16-inch alloy wheels
1.8G
* Automatic Bi-LED headlights with LED turn signals
* Power-adjustable wing mirrors with auto-fold, reverse link and signal lamps
* Automatic wipers with rain sensor
* 17-inch alloy wheels
Interior
The interior of the new Corolla has been designed along with the TNGA platform to provide a more spacious interior, while improving driver ergonomics as well as visibility. The overall height of the dashboard has been reduced, lowering the base of the front windscreen.
Toyota has also fitted the Toyota Corolla with new ergonomically-correct seat structures to improve ride comfort. The driver’s seat now includes 8-way power adjustments with lumbar support, while the passenger seat will remain manually-adjustable.
Both variants will come with automatic air-conditioning systems, with rear blower vents at the centre console.
The new Toyota Corolla will receive a 6.8-inch infotainment system as standard on both variants. The 6-speaker system will include USB Mirroring and Bluetooth connectivity for smartphones. The screen also acts as a display for the reverse camera.
Interior highlights
1.8E
* Standard instrument cluster with 4.2-inch TFT multi-information display
* Single-zone climate control
* Fabric seats, single stitching
* Manual day and night rear-view mirror
* Manual parking brake
1.8G
* Optitron instrument cluster with 7-inch TFT multi-information display
* Dual-zone climate control
* Leather seats, double stitching
* Electro-chromic rear-view mirror
* Wireless charger
* Rear manual sunshade
* Electronic parking brake
Safety and Security
The new Toyota Corolla will be equipped with Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) with traction control, ABS, hill-start assist, and Tyre Pressure Warning System.
Both variants will come with 7 SRS airbags, and all seats are now equipped with 3-point ELR seatbelts. ISOFIX mounting points are available in the rear seats.
New in the latest generation Toyota Corolla is the
Toyota Safety Sense (TSS)
 safety suite, consisting of the 5 main systems:
* Pre-Collision System (PCS)
* Lane Departure Alert (LDA) with steering assist
* Lane Tracing Assist (LTA)
* Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) at all speeds
* Automatic High Beam (AHB)
The TSS system will only be available on the 1.8G variant, in addition to extra safety equipment such as dual Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) and 3D Panoramic View Monitor, both available as options for the 1.8E.
As an value-added benefit, the new Corolla will come with Toyota Premium Security & Solar Film for both variants. The tint meets current JPJ regulations, and will help impede glass break-ins while reducing UV rays and reducing heat build-up.
UMW Toyota is also offering an optional Vehicle Telematics System (VTS) for installation on the new Corolla, providing a GPS/GSM tracking system to help locate the car in the event of it being stolen.
IMAGE GALLERY


Video: The new F44 BMW 218i Gran Coupe tested in Portugal

Throughout the entire four day trip, among all the statements made by BMW, one really stuck with me and if I’m honest, it didn’t sit well.
According to survey, it’s said that most of BMW’s new customers do not care if their cars are front or rear wheel drive. It wasn’t just disappointing but also highly distressing but that’s mainly the reason why the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe is offered in front-wheel drive. The higher models like the M235i get all-wheel drive.
Positioned as the new entry level four-door BMW in hopes of making the brand more accessible to a wider and more importantly younger audience, the 2 Series Gran Coupe can count the Mercedes-Benz CLA as its main rival.

Most of you would then ask, “What’s a BMW if it wasn’t rear-wheel drive?”.
I asked the same question too, but you know what, it doesn’t matter for two reasons. There’s still the 3 Series and if you can take my word for it, this one’s actually real fun to drive – like a well-rounded front-wheel drive machine with a large boot.
While it may take a while to stomach and digest its unconventional design, the drive is still very much BMW – just with the wrong pair of wheels.


Tesla Semi pricing revealed, 2 variants, limited Founders Series from US$200k!

Shortly after the unveiling of the
Tesla Semi truck
, the company has revealed the pricing details for the all-electric truck. At launch, the Semi will be offered in two variants and like the
Roadster
, the Semi can be had with a limited-edition Founders Series.
The Semi truck is available with two driving range:
300 miles
 (482 km) and
500 miles
 (802 km). Tesla is asking for US$150,000 (RM618k) for the base 300-mile Semi while the extended range Semi will set you back at US$180,000 (RM741k). The limited-edition
Founders Series
 is the most expensive at US$200,000 (RM823), although it remains unclear what extra goodies the Founders Series will get.
The 500-mile Semi gets a
200-kWh
 battery pack, but Tesla did not disclose whether the lower driving range is due to electronic tuning or a smaller battery pack. Both variants are powered by four electric motors on the rear axle allowing the unloaded to propel from 0 to 96 km/h in just
5 seconds
. Fully loaded with
3.6 tonnes
 of cargo and the Semi will get to the same speed in a blistering
20 seconds
.
Its superior driving range is not only due to the large battery pack, but also thanks to its unique design that boasts a drag coefficient of
 0.36
 – more aerodynamic than a
Bugatti Chiron
 (0.38 cd). The electric motors with its regenerative braking and negative torque systems helps to stretch a few more miles from the Semi.
The Semi is also equipped with
Enhanced Autopilot system
 which bundles Automatic Emergency Braking, Automatic Lane Keeping, Lane Departure Warning and event recording. The Semi can also autonomously travel in a convoy, where one or several Semi trucks will be able to follow a lead Semi.
Reservation prices for the Semi has also increased from US$5,000 (RM20k) to US$20,000 (RM82k) but if you’re eyeing for the Founders Series, you’d have to fork out the full price of US$200k upfront to reserve for one.
IMAGE GALLERY


New Mitsubishi SUV teased: Could this be the next-gen ASX?

Mitsubishi is set to take centre stage at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show with the unveiling of an all-new SUV. It’s not yet known what the actual vehicle may be, but a replacement for the
ASX
 seems right about timely, we think.
What’s most exciting about the image above is the sleek-cut silhouette; tapering roofline, strong character line draped in a sultry coat of red metallic paintwork. The front and tail end of the car seem angular and is in line with Mitsubishi’s current Dynamic Shield design philosophy. Expect a fascia similar to that of the
Outlander
.
The new model could be the final version of the
XR-PHEV II
 concept unveiled in Geneva two years ago, or better yet, the production model of it. My current best guess is that we could be looking at Mitsubishi’s answer to the increasingly popular compact crossover segment, such as the
Mazda CX-3
,
Honda HR-V
, and the new
Toyota C-HR
.
All will be revealed – including the model’s name and its powertrain – when Mitsubishi takes the covers off it on 7 March 2017.


Touch ‘n Go to begin RFID payment trials at five selected Shell stations

It is finally expanding. Since its introduction in late 2018, Touch ‘n Go’s
(TNG) RFID
 sticker has been only limited to
intercity highway
 toll payments.
Today, TNG has announced that they will be rolling out a
TNG RFID Fuelling Pilot Programme
, where selected RFID users will be able to purchase petrol using the infrastructure.
TNG has partnered with
Shell Malaysia
 for this pilot programme. The five Shell stations that will be participating in the project are:
Shell Bandar Sri Menjalara
Shell Mint Hotel
Shell NKVE Damansara
Shell Taman Connaught
Shell Taman Tun Dr Ismail
Payment for fuel will be done through the RFID sticker (and TNG eWallet app) itself at the individual fuelling bay, hence completely zero physical contact with any personnel.
RFID users are
randomly selected
 for this pilot programme, as such, check your inbox or spam folder of your e-mail if you are one of the lucky ones. TNG also said that only customers who have registered and participated in the programme will be entitled to receive a
RM20 eWallet
 credit incentive.
Currently, only
Petronas
 via the dedicated
Setel
 app offers contactless, cashless and cardless payment of fuel. One major benefit of the Setel app is the integration of the Mesra loyalty card, where points are automatically added after every fuel purchase plus easier product redemption.
Caltex meanwhile has been reported to have kickstarted a payment system similar to Setel app called CaltexGo.


The City was Honda Malaysia’s best-selling car of 2018

Honda Malaysia announced yesterday that it had ended 2018 on a high as the No.1 car brand in the Non-National segment for the 4th consecutive year. The company also maintained second spot in overall Total Industry Volume (TIV) for three consecutive years.
The company said the three-month tax holiday period was a significant contributor to its total sales with
102,282 units sold in 2018
 – a 6.6% decrease from 2017.
Among Honda Malaysia’s seven CKD model line-up, the
 Honda City
was the biggest sales contributor, amounting to 32% of overall sales. The other significant contributors were the Civic at 16% and CR-V at 13%.
Honda is anticipating the TIV of 2019 to be at 580,000 units, with a
sales target of 95,000 units
for this year.


Mercedes-Benz GLC awarded five stars in Euro NCAP rating

The new
Mercedes-Benz GLC
 (formerly known as the GLK) has achieved top scores in the Euro NCAP crash test and was awarded five stars for excelling in occupant safety, child safety, pedestrian protection and driving assistive features.
According to Mercedes-Benz, the GLC achieved this by using a combination of a highly rigid passenger cell, highly efficient restraint systems and the company’s latest suite of driver assistance systems. Most of the GLC’s safety systems can also be found in the C-Class, E-Class and S-Class models, which include Collision Prevention Assist Plus, Crosswind Assist (great for interstate journeys), Headlamp Assist and Attention Assist.
As for passenger safety, the Mercedes-Benz GLC is fitted with an
active bonnet
 which is raised by 80mm upon impact to provide additional crumple zone. Its engine cover and air intake have both been redesigned to create more deformation space – the only way to meet and exceed Euro NCAP’s stringent pedestrian safety standards. This of course works in tandem with the other safety features – Pre-Safe Brake with Pedestrian Detection, Cross-Traffic Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist and Pre-Safe PLUS.
Expect most, if not all of these safety features to be equipped as standard when the GLC joins Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s current range of models next year. It’ll be a year of SUVs, so expect the GLC,
GLE
 and possibly the
GLS
 to hit Malaysian showrooms over the course of 2016. We also
spotted a registered GLE 450 AMG conveniently parked outside a house in Bangsar
, a model which is due for its Malaysian debut in January 2016.


Can the Range Rover Sport SVR beat a Ferrari 458 up Tianmen Road? [+Video]

Fresh from the set of the
Dragon Road Challenge
, Land Rover decided that being the world’s first ever vehicle to climb the Heaven’s Gate was not enough. They had to take home with them the lap record of the fearsome
Tianmen

Road
 hill climb, humiliating the previous record holder, a Ferrari 458 Italia in the process.
Driven again by 24 Hours Le Mans winner, Ho-Pin Tung, the showroom standard Range Rover Sport SVR sets off from the bottom of the hill and embarked on an 11.3 km sprint, carving through 99 corners in the process:
With
567 hp
 available from its 5.0-litre supercharged V8, the SVR is the fastest Land Rover ever made, capable of sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in
4.5 seconds
 with a top speed of
 280 km/h
. Propulsion is deployed on all four-corners via an eight-speed automatic.
Other than the optional exposed carbon fibre bonnet installed, the stock standard SVR clocked an unofficial record of
9 minutes 51 seconds
, beating the Ferrari 458’s time of 10 minutes 31 seconds set in 2016, by a comfortable margin.
Tung said, “I am used to the high speeds of racing, but this was even more demanding. Maintaining concentration was the biggest challenge as the road twists and turns constantly, with huge drop-offs to the side. The consequences of getting it wrong would have been really serious so I focused on establishing a rhythm and the SVR made this easy – it may be an SUV, but it has the performance and agility of a supercar and can take you to places a supercar can only dream of.”
IMAGE GALLERY


Volkswagen ID.4 Pro Performance previewed for Malaysia at VW Fest 2022 – 520km range EV SUV

The latest to showcase its electric vehicle (EV) in Malaysia is
Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM)
 with the
Volkswagen ID.4

Pro Performance
. Only a preview, for the time being, VPCM has taken the opportunity to showcase its EV offering at Volkswagen Fest 2022 at Sentul Depot.
Volkswagen’s electric lineup is known as the ID. family and its members include the
ID.3
, ID.5, and ID.6. The Volkswagen ID.4 debuted in September 2020 and is the brand’s second fully electric car after the ID.3. It features an SUV body style and size-wise, the VW ID.4 measures close to the
Hyundai Ioniq 5
, being 4,584 mm long, 1,852 mm wide, and 1,636 mm tall with a 2,765 mm wheelbase.
There are several versions of the Volkswagen ID.4 including the ID.4 Pure, ID.4 Pro, ID.4 Pure Performance, ID.4 Pro 4Motion, and ID.4 GTX. The version that is previewed at the Volkswagen Fest 2022 is the Volkswagen ID.4 Pro Performance which gets a
77-kWh
 battery pack and is rear-wheel-drive.
Turning the rear wheels is a
204 hp
/
310 Nm
 electric motor that accelerates the car from 0-100 km/h in
8.5 seconds
. The top speed of the ID.4 is
160 km/h
. Just so you know, the hottest version of the ID.4 is the
ID.4 GTX
 which features a 295 hp dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) system and accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 6.2 seconds.
As for charging, the Volkswagen ID.4 can handle either up to
11-kW
 AC charging or up to
125-kW
 DC Fast charging. Volkswagen says that with 125-kW DC fast charging, the ID.4 can regain
320 km
 of range in just
30 minutes
.
RELATED:
Start of a new era: Volkswagen ID.4 GTX shows-off new high-performance EV suffix
Boasting a drag coefficient of 0.28, the ID.4’s exterior design is inspired by nature. Standard on the “base” ID.4 are headlights that are almost completely equipped with LEDs and full-LED taillights. The “Pro Performance” and higher-tier variants come with interactive “IQ.Light” LED matrix headlights that welcome drivers with swiveling lens modules and generate an intelligently controlled main beam. The “IQ.Light” LED headlights are paired with 3D LED taillight clusters. The wheels on the ID.4 Pro are 21 inches in size.
Thanks to Volkswagen’s modular electric drive matrix (MEB) architecture, the ID.4 boasts a spacious cabin. Priority is given to the passengers and Volkswagen says the room is comparable to SUVs of a higher segment.
RELATED:
Volkswagen is taking its ID.4 EV SUV to a 2,500 km rally
In the middle of the dashboard is a 12-inch touchscreen unit with “Hello ID” voice control function. Also featured in the interior is a narrow light strip under the windscreen called the “ID.Light” that intuitively supports drivers. There is also an optional augmented reality (AR) head-up display (HUD) for the ID.4.
Equipment highlights of the Volkswagen ID.4 Pro Performance are:
30-colour Ambient Lighting
Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC)
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop & Go
Dynamic Light Assist
Air Care Climatronic 3-Zone
Area view 360° camera
Auto Emergency Braking Front Assist
“Discover Pro” Navigation System
Dynamic Road Sign Display
Easy Open & Close
ergoActive front seats with electric adjustment
Side Assist with lane change system
Wireless mobile phone charging
Wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay
At the moment, VPCM lists a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, a three-year free maintenance package, and a five-year roadside assistance package for the Volkswagen ID.4. There has yet to be information on its battery warranty.
Only previewed, for now, the Volkswagen ID.4 is put on display to the public at Volkswagen Fest 2022 happening at Sentul Depot from
October 15 to 16, 2022
. The event is happening from 10 am to 10 pm on Saturday and 10 am to 8 pm on Sunday. Also happening at Volkswagen Fest 2022 is the “Classic Car Display”, “Freestyle Football Battle”, and the “Volkswagen Driving Academy”.
GALLERY


Hyundai partners with Bisimoto to build the most extreme IONIQ you’ll ever see

If you’ve not heard about Bisimoto Engineering, maybe it’s wise to first fill you in on how bonkers this “tuning house” is. Over the years, they’ve built a reputation for modifying a diverse range of cars to ultimate extreme – squeezing more power imaginable from the most unlikely of sources – generating and receiving praises from all quarters.
They include a
700 hp
1.6-litre turbocharge Honda Civic wagon, a
533 hp
 1.5-litre CR-Z hybrid, a
1000+hp
 Honda Civic Si, an
800 hp
 Hyundai Elantra GT, and many other extreme
twin turbo Porsche 911s
.
Credit:
Bisimoto
You should get an idea of how capably mad they can be with a car and this should be plenty reason to be excited when news got out that both Bisimoto and Hyundai are creating the “HyperEconiq IONIQ”. It will be based on the standard
IONIQ
 platform which will be modified to the extreme; way beyond its standard limits for performance and efficiency.
Performance wise, the
IONIQ’s petrol/electric
 powertrain will be upgraded with ARP headstuds,
 Bisimoto’s pulse-chamber exhaust
, low-friction engine oil, NGK spark plugs and enhanced electric-generators. On the inside, the IONIQ will house Recaro racing seats and OBD-based instrument cluster.
The standard IONIQ looks unacceptably tame compared to the HyperEconiq
On the outside, the HyperEconiq will be “dressed” in the
 Bisimoto Dream Aero Kit
 which includes a front splitter, side splitters and even rear wheel covers, presumably for reduced drag. Tucked beneath the
19-inch one-piece carbon fibre wheels
 wrapped in high-silica tyres are a set of Buddy Club aluminium brake calipers and coilover suspension with minimised ground clearance and optimised alignment settings.
You might think this will all ruin the eco-friendly attributes of the frugal IONIQ but no, the HyperEconiq is now capable of
80 mpg

(34km/L)
.


Proton records 28.6% sales jump in 1H 2023 – 14,351 units sold in June

Proton
 has published its sales report for June 2023, in which it delivered a total of
14,351 units
 (inclusive of domestic and export sales). With that, the company has delivered a total of
77,321 units
 in the first half of 2023 (1H 2023), translating to an increase of
 28.6%
over the same period last year.
The national carmaker claims that the figure essentially outpaces total sales growth for the industry by “more than three times”. Year-to-date market share has also increased to 21.3%, representing a 3.2% increase over 1H 2022.
Leading Proton’s sales chart in June was once again the
Saga
, which retook the lead for the best-selling A-segment sedans with 6,111 units sold. Cumulatively, the Proton Saga saw a total of 33,325 units sold thus far this year, marking the model’s best performance since 2012.
This is followed by
Proton X50
 with 2,449 units sold, the
Persona
 with 2,254 units, and the
X70
 with 1,245 units. The Proton X50 continues to be the best-selling B-segment SUV, as well as the best-selling SUV overall in Malaysia, while the Proton Persona retook the lead for the B-segment sedans.
RELATED:
Thailand’s largest auto parts company Aapico invests RM140 million in Proton’s Avee Global
The
Proton X90
, which was
only launched here in Malaysia in May
, also saw an impressive showing for its first full month on sale by recording a total of 1,082 units sold, vaulting it straight to the top of the D-segment SUV category.
As Proton’s first new energy vehicle (NEV), the positive sales results should bode well for the national carmaker’s electrification plans in the future. Proton has previously committed to launching
“at least” one new NEV model per year
.
Commenting on the sales performance, Proton Edar’s Chief Executive Officer, Roslan Abdullah said, “Proton’s performance in the first half of 2023 is noteworthy as we achieved our best start to a year since 2012 and are also on track for fifth consecutive year of sales growth. The numbers show demand for our products remain strong despite projections of a reduction in liquidity for consumers, and this is proven by our growth rate.”
“For the second half of the year, Proton is confident we have the products and promotional strategies in place to continue our growth trajectory. We will also execute our plans to update our range, launch our
entry into the Malaysian EV market
 with
PRO-NET
 and further improve the quality of our products via investments announced this year to improve our production capabilities,” he added.
ALSO READ:
Proton aims to become RHD EV manufacturing Hub, to start with MHEVs


Review: Hyundai i40 2.0 GDI Sedan, a D-segment sushi beater

Unveiled to the world back in late 2011, the Hyundai i40 was only introduced to Malaysians back in 2013 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show. In certain markets, the Hyundai i40 is set to replace the aging Hyundai Sonata. Hyundai Sime Darby meanwhile is selling the Hyundai i40 alongside the Hyundai Sonata, though it remain to be seen when they will phase it out.
Read our review on the other variant of i40, the
Hyundai i40 2.0 GDI Tourer
.
QUICK FACTS
Name
 HYUNDAI i40 SEDAN
Segment
 D-SEGMENT SEDAN
Engine
 Nu 2.0L GDI
Price
 RM159,888 (Sedan) / RM163,888 (Sedan Plus)
Back then, a lot of us were dismayed when the Elantra introduced here comes with a so-so specification. Now Hyundai Sime Darby is going to amend things a little with the Hyundai i40. Boasting loads of feature such as keyless entry, engine start-stop, 4 door automatic (up and down) window, 9-airbags, Hill-Assist Control, Electronic Stability Program, we will explore what the Hyundai i40 really have to offer.
 EXTERIOR

Based on Hyundai’s
Fluidic Sculpture
, one cannot deny that the Hyundai i40 it is very appealing and it is a looker. When we get the car for the weekend drive, we are pretty confident it will catch some attention and turn a few heads. We did not perform a full survey-cum-research the
Top Gear
 style, but we manage to catch a glimpse of a pair of couple staring at us in the Hyundai i40. Perhaps the
Fluidic Sculpture
philosophy is beginning to show it’s age.
The money you spent will get you a very nice looking daytime running lights (DRL). Although the DRL is not very useful in our tropical weather, its presence help boost the Hyundai i40’s image as an European car (it is designed for the European market in mind). HID front light comes standard and turns on automatically when it is dark and it comes standard as auto levelling function. The rear end is complemented with a rather stylish LED stop lamp.
Measuring around 4.7m in length and 1.8m in width, it is indeed a huge car. The rear trunk is high and having no reverse camera in this car does not help. Hyundai Sime Darby is more than willing to fit the reverse camera for you if you are willing to fork out an additional RM4,000. The saving grace is, you get front and rear parking sensors. The Hyundai i40 Tourer however get all these goodies as standard!
The overall bulkiness of the car is reduced by not having an antenna that sticks out from the body. Instead, the antenna is printed on the rear glass. The sleek design of the Hyundai i40 is further enhanced by having a prominent beltline running right from the front door and continues backward until the rear lamp. It doesn’t just end there. You will find not one but 2 nicely chrome exhaust pipe sitting at the bottom of the bumper.
Our Hyundai i40 test car came wrapped in 215/50 Continental ContiMaxContact MC5 tyres and comes together with a rather bland multi-spoke 17-inch rims. Some may or may not like the choice of rims, but the Continental rubber strikes a good balance between ride & handling.
INTERIOR

As you climb onboard the Hyundai i40, things takes a slightly different turn. There are plastic here and there, just like any Japanese offerings. But at the same time it doesn’t really feel too cheap at all. Fit and finishing is top notch. There is no uneven gaps to be seen. Other than that, there is a mixed of black glossy plastics and faux leather wrapped on the steering wheel, centre armrest, and side armrest on all doors completes the overall interior finesse.
Driving position can be adjusted to your hearts content. The Hyundai i40 features a 10-way electronically adjustable seats for both driver and passenger seats. If it comes with memory seats, then it will be prefect. Steering wheels can be adjusted for height and reach (tilt and telescopic adjustment). So no qualms there, anyone from short to tall is all catered for!
That being said, all buttons are logically laid at the convenience of driver. The steering wheel itself houses all the necessary controls such as voice activated commands for phone, cruise controls, ICE volume adjustment, trip button, Multi Information Display toggle and not to mention the paddle shifters. On the centre console, you will probably find the usual air condition and air recirculation controls. Upon closer inspection, you will find buttons that are supposedly positioned closer to the driver are actually placed further away from the driver! Take for instance the “
Sport”
button, is placed at the left most side of the console.
In car entertainment is a pretty decent one.
The sound quality is nothing much to shout about. The norm includes CD, MP3, USB, AUX input, radio with Bluetooth hands-free. The 2-DIN player features a very blueish display that reminds you of an illuminated G-Shock watch of the 90’s! It is done so just to complement the blue scheme of the overall ambient setup of the Hyundai i40. As mentioned, if you choose to fork an additional RM4,000, you get reverse camera with touch screen entertainment and a pair of display monitors mounted on the front seats that comes standard with the Hyundai i40 Tourer.
Having driven cars with a proper hand brake, the electronic-parking brakes that comes with the Hyundai i40 proves to be a little confusing to me at first. But after meddling with the Hyundai i40 for one and a half day, I find it as an excellent way to save space and it is rather convenient than a foot-brake. As a comparison, most Japanese D-segment contenders in Malaysia comes with a foot-operated parking brake. Oh and did I not mention the accelerator is of organ-type pedal?
One of the best feature that one must truly appreciate is the panoramic sunroof. Not only it provides a visually stunning view of the city skyline but it also gives the Hyundai i40 a roomier feel. Whether you are a kid or an adult, you will definitely love it to bits.
PERFORMANCE

The GDI poweplant in the Hyundai i40 is one of the most powerful
naturally-aspirated
 engine that you can find the Malaysian market, at least on paper. It definitely trump all Japanese D-segments in the power department, but still looses to Continental offerings due to their turbocharged nature (read Ford Mondeo and VW Passat). The power delivery is super smooth, no qualms there, thanks to the 6-speed automatic transmission that is powering all Hyundais (and Kia). Driving around town is never a problem. Highway drive should be nearly as good. Acceleration is smooth and steady, but that is not true for throttle response.
The kickdown/downshift is slow, in my opinion and the opinion of a few other people that have tested it. But, fret not! Whenever I feel sleepy, I will just reach for the
Sport
button as my instant kick of refreshment. However do not let the
Sport
button fool you into thinking that it is a magic button that will lower or harden your suspension, increase your engine output, or sharpen steering input
ala
Audi. It will only hold the gear change slightly longer, thus giving a feel of oomph.
THE DRIVE

The ride & handling is decent in the Hyundai i40.  It could be everyone’s daily drive, whether in the city or highway. Steering response gives reasonable feedback through the electronic power steering (MDPS in Hyundai speak). There are times where I can feel some vibration and a very faint humming sound coming through the steering, but might not be
noticeable to a majority of the drivers.
 The NVH of the Hyundai i40 is something I would like to touch more on.
Whenever I push the throttle, the engine sound will seep in. So is the road noise, but road noise may vary between roads, no thanks to our Malaysian roads. Wind noise is kept to a minimum, no problem there. There is also a manual mode for those who prefer to do the shifting yourself. However I would recommend letting the ECU do the shifting for a more pleasant drive.
IS IT FOR YOU?

Probably, given that the specifications and the amount of kit being offered on the Hyundai i40 is simply irresistible. With 9-airbags to boast, hill-assist control, a panoramic sunroof, and 5 year warranty by Hyundai Sime Darby, what is not to like? Hyundai had come a long way, and the Hyundai of today differs totally from the Hyundai of yesteryears. If you like to take a trip with your family once in a while in long distance drive, and to stand out amongst a sea of dull Japanese D-segments, this car is for you.
That being said, a lot of Malaysian D-segment buyers is still rooted to Japanese cars only because of their perceived resale value.
COMPARISONS

With so many offerings nowadays, we will put a few closest and most popular rival here for a quick comparison, namely the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Other honourable mentions in this class is the Kia Optima K5, Nissan Teana, and also the all new Mazda 6.
Hyundai i40 Sedan
Toyota Camry 2.0G
Honda Accord 2.0 VTi-L
ENGINE
Type
DOHC 16V D-CVVT, 4 cylinder engine
DOHC 16V VVT-i, 4 cylinder engine
SOHC 16V i-VTEC, 4 cylinder engine
Displacement
cc
1999
1998
1997
Compression Ratio
11.5
 10.6
Max Power
hp/rpm
175 / 6500
146 / 6000
 153 / 6500
Max Torque
Nm/rpm
214 / 4700
 190 / 4000 rpm
 190 / 4300
Carburetion System
Gasoline Direct Injection
 Fuel Injection
Fuel Injection
Fuel Tank Capacity
L
70
 70
65
STEERING
Type
Electronic (MDPS)
 Electronic (EPS)
Electronic (EPS)
DRIVETRAIN
Transmission
 6-speed A/T
 4-speed A/T
5-speed A/T
SUSPENSION
Type
McPherson Strut (F) / Multi-link (R)
MacPherson Strut (F) / Dual Link Independent Strut with Stabiliser (R)
MacPherson Strut (F) / Independent Multi Link with Stabiliser (R)
BRAKES
Front
Ventilated Disc
Ventilated Disc
Ventilated Disc
Rear
Solid Disc
Solid Disc
Solid Disc
TYRE & WHEELS
Tyres
215 / 50 R17
215 /60 R16
 225 / 50 R17
Wheels
Alloy
 Alloy
Alloy
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHTS
Overall Length
mm
 4,770
4,825
4,870
Overall Width
mm
 1,815
1,825
1,850
Overall Height
mm
 1,470
1,470
1,465
Wheelbase
mm
 2,770
2,775
2,775
Max Kerb weight
kg
1,445
1,530
SAFETY
Airbags
9 SRS airbags, including driver side knee airbag
2 (front) SRS airbags
2 (front & front side) SRS airbags
Others
anti-locking brake system, hill-start assist, stability control, parking assist
anti-locking brake system, hill-start assist, stability control, parking assist
anti-locking brake system, hill-start assist, stability control
FUEL
Grade
min. 95 RON
min. 95 RON
min. 95 RON
PRICE
RM
159, 888.00
158, 915.30
144, 959.00

WILL I BUY IT?

I would probably pick the Sonata 2.0 Sport with it slightly cheaper price and similar specifications. But the newer GDI engine that you get in the Hyundai i40 should give slightly better fuel economy, power and refinement over the older Sonata. And the Hyundai i40 looks so much better looking with it sexier curves and panoramic sunroof!
Read our review on the other variant of i40, the
Hyundai i40 2.0 GDI Tourer
.
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY


BMW X6 M arrives in Malaysia, priced at RM1.2m

BMW Group Malaysia
 have announced the arrival of their meanest Sports Activity Coupé (SAC), the
BMW X6 M
. The F86 X6 M is the sleeker twin of the F85 X5 M which was
revealed together
 earlier this year, but there’s no word yet on whether the taller twin will make it to our shores or not. Anyway, for the Malaysian market, the twin-turbo V8 beast carries an equally beastly price tag at RM1.2m a pop.
Yes, the cooked-up version of the F16 X6 is more than RM500k dearer than the
X6 xDrive35i M Sport
 that was launched a few months ago during the BMW World Malaysia event, and not to mention it’s also more expensive than the funky
i8
 hybrid supercar too.
QUICK FACTS
Name
BMW X6 M
Engine
4,395 cc twin-turbo V8
Transmission
8-speed automatic
Max Power
575 hp @ 6,000 – 6,500 rpm
Max Torque
750 Nm @ 2,200 – 5,000 rpm
0 – 100 km/h
4.2 seconds
Top Speed
250 km/h
Price
RM1,238,800.00
EXTERIOR
It takes a pair of keen eyes to tell the
X6 M
 apart from the
X6 xDrive35i M Sport
. While both of them may look similar, there are subtle differences between the two. For example, the
double kidney grille
 have
twin slats
, and the
front and rear bumpers
 are
totally different
.

From the side, apart from the
 twin-arm side mirrors
, the X6 M also rides
10mm lower
, while the wheel arches are filled with
21-inch M alloy wheels
. The back receives a
boot lid spoiler
, and
four round tailpipes
 exit under the M-specific rear bumper.
INTERIOR
The cabin have been spruced up with various M bits, which includes the
three-spoke M steering wheel
 with shift paddles, the
M gearshift lever
, and the gorgeous
M multifunction front bucket seats
.

The instrument cluster is also unique to the X6 M with M-specific dynamics systems display and the additional
M Drive Menu
 in the Control Display. Furthermore, you can access the
BMW M lap timer app
 on your smartphone via the iDrive controller for an “in-depth analysis of your driving style”, and there’s even an optional
full-colour Head-Up Display
 with rev-counter and shift lights for the racer in you
BMW ConnectedDrive
 is fitted as standard, and it features the latest generation
Navigation System Professional
 with 3D map display.
PERFORMANCE
The
4.4-litre twin-turbo V8
 is currently the most powerful engine ever fitted to any all-wheel drive BMW vehicle so far. Dishing out
575 hp
 and
750 Nm
 of twisting force, the X6 M will get from
0 to 100 km/h
 in just
4.2 seconds
. That’s 0.4 seconds quicker than the
Cayman GTS
!
Power is sent to the
M-tuned xDrive all-wheel drive system
 via the
8-speed M Steptronic
 automatic transmission, and the claimed fuel consumption is said to be
11.1 l/100 km
.
To ensure the vehicle delivers on the handling department, the X6 M comes with
stiffer springs
 and
Dynamic Drive anti-roll system
 which helps to minimise body roll, while understeer is taken care by the
Dynamic Performance Control
.
Pneumatic rear suspension
 and
Dynamic Damper Control
 are also featured, which allow the dampers to be adjusted electronically to suit your driving style.
WHAT ELSE?
The X6 M carries an estimated price of
RM1,238,800.00
 sans insurance, but it’s covered with BMW Malaysia’s latest
5 Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty
 and
Free Scheduled Service Program
.
IMAGE GALLERY