McLaren has created five units of the 570S Spider for patriotic Canadians

McLaren Automotive and Pfaff Automotive Partners, the distributor for McLarens in Canada, have partnered up to create five very special
570S Spiders
, in celebrating McLaren’s milestones in Canada.
Customised by
McLaren Special Operations (MSO)
, McLaren’s bespoke department, the 570S Spiders are named the ‘
Canada Commission
’ and features a number of unique design elements that pay tribute to McLaren’s history in Canada.
Firstly, the body is painted in Silica White, with exterior trims tinted in red carbon fibre. There are also subtle white Canadian flags replacing the ‘
570S
’ wordings on the door and Canadian Maple Leaf accents on the rear of the vehicle to go with the 10-spoke lightweight forged wheels in stealth finish.
Inside, the black leather Alcantara interior is contrasted by a red Alcantara steering wheel and roof lining as well subtle maple leaf accents. Each car is stamped with plaque that identifies it as
one of five “Canada Commission”
 vehicles.
The
McLaren MSO X
, based on the 570S, inspired by the 570S GT4 race car.
The
seductive 570S Spider
 features a 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine paired to a 7-speed transmission with
 562 hp
 and
600 Nm
 of torque. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 3.1 seconds, onward to a top speed of 328 km/h, identical to the
570S Coupé
 while the
 top speed with the roof down is 315 km/h
. The “Canada Commission” 570S Spider is priced at
RM 1.3 million before taxes
.


myTukar launches Retail Centres for used cars in shopping malls

myTukar
, Malaysia’s online used car selling platform today launched the first phase of its used car purchasing experience with a chain of myTukar Retail Centres at major shopping malls in Klang Valley.
The Retail Centres complement the
new myTukar retail website
 and are one of the many initiatives by the company to offer a complete car buying/ownership experience to all car buyers.
myTukar, CEO, Fong Hon Sum said, “We are bringing a brand new car buying experience for customers by having our myTukar Retail Experience Centres located in major shopping malls. To further enhance the purchasing journey of our customers, we have also launched a new refreshed website where our customers can enjoy a complete end-to-end car purchasing journey that is transparent and convenient.
“Customers can now trade in their used car, purchase a new used car and have it delivered – all at one location. This innovative concept is a breakthrough in the used car industry and will be expanded nationwide in the future, thereby supporting the expansion of the used car industry. The Brand New Purchasing Experience launched today is complementing our key collaborations with partners such as Sime Darby Auto Selection, DRB-HICOM and authorised dealer partner,” he added.
A the myTukar Retail Centres, customers can have a 360-degree view of the cars available for sale via HD touchscreen monitors. Customers can also trade-in and have their used cars inspected while having the opportunity to take the potential new cars for a test drive.
These retail centres are located at the
Paradigm Mall
,
One Utama
, and
MyTown
 shopping centres. Every new car sold through myTukar comes with a 5-day money-back guarantee, plus a 1-year warranty and quality assurance seal from myTukar.
Customers can rest assured of the quality of myTukar cars which undergo
 three rounds of quality control checks and a 123-point inspection
. They are guaranteed to be free of major accidents, untampered odometer and have not been through floods.
Customers can also perform a loan pre-screening at any of these retail centres to get financing, buy or renew their car insurance directly with myTukar and enjoy competitive pricing from myTukar insurance partners specially-curated for myTukar’s customers.


Mercedes-AMG unveils two PHEV powertrains – flagship hybrid V8 to get 800+ hp!

We’ve known for a while now that Mercedes-AMG will be unveiling a PHEV model – heck, we’ve even
seen it in the metal
 on
two separate occasions
. But now, we finally get to find out what’s underneath the sheet metal, revealed in today’s electrification presentation in addition to the
fully-electric tech
.
As part of the marque’s “E Performance strategy”, Mercedes-AMG today unveiled two separate PHEV powertrains, pairing an electric motor to the German carmaker’s existing 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 and 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engines.
Said to be developed together with Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP) and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, both powertrains will feature a nine-speed AMG MCT-Speedshift torque converter automatic gearbox, and the AMG 4Matic+ all-wheel drive technology.
The electric motor is placed on the rear axle in a P3 hybrid layout, where it is integrated with an electrically-shifted two-speed transmission and an electronic rear axle differential lock into a compact Electric Drive Unit (EDU).
Power output on the electric motor will be dependent on the model itself, but at its peak, it can provide up to
204 hp
 and
320 Nm
 of torque. The motor acts directly on the rear axle, bypassing the gearbox, though when the rear wheels are slipping too much, power can also be sent to the front wheels temporarily via a cardan shaft.
This PHEV layout is quite unlike the ones used on regular Mercedes-Benz PHEV models, where the electric motors are usually placed on the front axle. Mercedes-AMG says that this is crucial to its E Performance models as it retains the handling properties of its existing ICE line-up (despite adding an average of 200 kg in weight), while providing a higher, more direct torque output to the wheels.
The electric motor is juiced by a new
400V 6.1 kWh AMG High Performance Battery
, which supposedly only weighs 89 kg. The battery is capable of providing 70 kW of continuous power or 150 kW peak power for ten seconds, the latter translating to a power density of 1.7 kW/kg – supposedly double of a conventional battery, according to AMG.
To achieve that, Mercedes-AMG had to an all-new direct liquid cooling system, dissipating heat from all 560 individual battery cells, to keep the battery at a happy working temperature of 45 degrees Celcius, even during hard driving on track, with all electric horses at their maximum-output.
As with all other electrified cars on the market, the new Mercedes-AMG PHEV drivetrains also features a four-stage kinetic energy recuperation system selectable by the driver via a button on the steering wheel. In Level 3 – the highest of the four starting from zero – the generator is capable of capturing up to 90 kW of energy.
Just like any other AMG models, the entire hybrid powertrain is tied into the AMG Dynamic Select and AMG Dynamics system, with six individual driving modes that alters everything from the ESP, rear differential, power outputs, and all-wheel drive system for various driving situations. In Electric mode, the new Mercedes-AMG PHEV models can reach a top speed of 130 km/h without using a drop of fuel.
Now, back to the powertrains themselves. Mercedes-AMG was being a little coy on the electrified V8 unit, only stating that the total system output can “technically”
exceed 816 hp
 and
1,000 Nm of torque
, as well as a 0-100 km/h time of
under three seconds
. No word on when we’ll see the first application of this powertrain, but it’s likely to be on the
AMG GT73e
.
As for the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-banger, Mercedes says that the combustion engine can produce more than 449 hp, even before factoring in the new electric motor, thanks to a new turbocharger derived from the AMG Project One that can maintain the boost pressure at all times, ensuring a continuous direct response.
Again, no mention on when it’ll be unveiled, but the company did confirm that it’ll be featured in the next C-Class-based Mercedes-AMG model. With such beefy outputs, we’re guessing this means that the next
Mercedes-AMG C 63
 will be down-sizing from a 4.0-litre V8 to now a 2.0-litre with four-cylinders.
GALLERY


UMW Toyota opens new 3S centre in Cyberjaya with body and paint facilities

UMW Toyota Motor
 recently officiated the opening of a new 3S centre in Cyberjaya by Otomobil Sejahtera. As it is a 3S centre, the new outlet offers sales, service, spare parts, as well as body and paint services to customers around the area.
The three-story facility is home to seven service bays, a customer lounge, and a customer service area. Free Wi-Fi and work desks are also available for customers who prefer to wait and work while their cars are being attended to.
RELATED: 2022 facelift Toyota Camry 2.5V Dynamic Force, 5 Things
UMW Toyota Motor President, Ravindran Kurusamy said, “This new 3S service centre is just our way of bringing our brand closer to our customers, wherever they may be, while ensuring they have seamless access to our services whenever they need them.”
The new Toyota 3S centre is located at 16, Jalan Autoville 2, Cyberjaya, Selangor. For more information or appointment bookings, call 03-8320 9374, or head to UMW Toyota Motor’s
website
.
The operating hours of the outlet are as follow:
Monday to Friday: 8 am to 5:30 pm
Saturday: 8 am to 2 pm
Sunday & Public Holiday: Closed
RELATED: Toyota GR86 to launch in Malaysia soon?
In conjunction with the Ramadan month, UMW Toyota Motor is currently running a ‘
Pandu Uji dan Menang Duit Raya
‘ campaign where customers stand a chance to win RM100 worth of
‘duit raya’
 by visiting any Toyota showroom for a test drive. Customers who test drive and book the vehicle stand a chance to receive RM200
‘duit raya’
. A total of 30 lucky winners will be selected weekly throughout the campaign which ends on the
1st of May 2022
.


Suzuki UK turned a Jimny into a fully-loaded mobile coffee shop!

Due to strict emissions restrictions in the EU, the
Suzuki Jimny
 can only be sold as a light commercial vehicle (LCV) over in the UK, which means no rear seats, and some minor interior tweaks. But despite that, Suzuki still believes that the tiny Jimny is a car with unlimited possibilities, and they’ll do everything they can to convince you – including turning it into a sick mobile coffee bar!
The Jimny Beans, as it’s called, started life off as a regular Chiffon Ivory Pearl Jimny LCV with a Bluish Black roof. However, in order to fit a full-blown two group head espresso machine at the back, several heavy modifications had to be made.
The most important of all, is of course the custom-made aluminium work top where the espresso machine sits. The work area also integrates a compact 12V Waeco drawer fridge underneath, which cools the all-important milk down to -2 degrees Celsius!
On the inside, the Jimny’s only passenger seat in the front was removed to make space for a 57-litre water tank, alongside the necessary 3M water filtration system. Ever seen a job listing asking for a valid driving licence? Well, it’s pretty much a requirement for the barista of the Jimny Beans.
The Suzuki Jimny will finally be making its Malaysian debut soon! Read more about it here.
At events, where Suzuki UK plans to actually utilise the Jimny Beans, the entire coffee-making getup can either be run off of mains electricity thanks to a built-in power inverter and two large capacity 12V batteries, or through a gas generator – the latter requiring a LPG tank under the rear floor section replete with a custom exhaust pipe.
Closer to home, a food truck operator from Alor Setar turned a classic Volvo 240GL into a mobile cold-brew coffee shop! Check it out here.
As a bit of a coffee nerd myself, I can’t help but feel giddy whenever I see a unique coffee set-up like this. And having it built inside a Suzuki Jimny? That’s just another reason to love the Jimny even more – something I never thought would be possible.
The Jimny Beans will make its public debut for complimentary refreshments at the Southampton International Boat Show from 10-20 September, at which Suzuki Marine will be displaying their products from its UK Range.
GALLERY


Proton X70 GKUI head unit gets first Over-the-Air Update

Just a month after the Proton X70 made its local debut, Proton has announced an Over-the-Air (OTA) update for their SUV. The update, which comes as no cost to owners, adds new convenience feature for the Standard variant and alters the settings of the Premium variant’s Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS).
As noted in our full review of the X70 Premium, the Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) and Intelligent High Beam Assist (IHBA) automatically disables every time the engine is switched off. With the OTA update, both functions are now activated as their default setting. In addition, the system will also remember the last configuration of the ADAS whenever the car is started.
As for the entry-level Standard, the OTA update adds automatic folding function for the side mirrors upon locking. A small touch but elevates the feel-good factor of the most affordable X70 on sale today.
Proton has noted that the OTA update will not consume the customers 1GB monthly data package and all mobile data related to the OTA update will be borne by the company. What is even more impressive is that the OTA update will automatically pause upon ignition cut off and resume when the car is on the move again. No need to keep the engine running for prolonged periods for the update. The whole process is expected to take around 45 minutes and Proton has published a full guide on performing the OTA update for the X70.


Porsche ramps up Taycan launch with record run at Nurburgring

Another day, another new record at the Nordschleife, but this one happened rather ‘quietly’ over the 20.6 km north loop of the Green Hell courtesy of the all-electric Porsche Taycan; a pre-production unit piloted by test driver Lars Kern.
 Stefan Weckbach (left), VP of Product Line for Taycan, and test driver Lars Kern.
Kern stopped the clock at 7 minutes 42 seconds. For context, the Panamera Turbo Hybrid managed 7 minutes 38 seconds some three years ago, but the Taycan is fully-electric, so it now holds the record for being the fastest all-electric four-door to have lapped Nurburgring.

“Again and again, I am impressed at how stable the all-electric sports car handles in high-speed sections, such as Kesselchen, and how neutrally it accelerates from tight sections, such as Adenauer Forst,” exclaimed Kern.
It worth noting that the Taycan deploys a two-motor all-wheel drive system and features adaptive air suspension and roll stabilisation. Okay Porsche, it’s time to peel off those unsightly stickers and show us the whole hog.


The Alpine A110 “Pure Edition” is a friendly face with rude performance

This is one very interesting car; it tried to kill Chris Harris of Top Gear by setting itself on fire while filming, with James May calling it the greatest thing to come out of France since the Mouli cheese grater.
Like it or hate it, the Alpine A110 “Pure Edition” was by far the biggest show stopper at the
2019 Singapore Motor Show
. At it’s premiere, the Alpine was introduced with two models – the A110 Pure and the A110 Legende.
The rear-wheel driven Pure Edition is all about being lightweight and driver focused while the Legende focuses on refinement and grand touring. Weighing just 1,100 kg, the Pure draws parallels with the original A110 Berlinette that won the Monte Carlo Rally in 1973.
With
 252 hp
 and
320 Nm
 extracted from a 1.8-litre turbocharged Renault/Nissan engine, 0 to 100 km/h is done in a Supra-rivaling 4.5 seconds and when you’re done going through all seven gears in the dual clutch transmission, the car should be nudging 250 km/h.
There’s much to like about the Alpine A110; whether it’s the alluring tail lights or the friendly face up front, it drew the most attention from the auto show visitors. That said, a spoiler of sorts could do the rear end even more justice, don’t you think?
There are three different wheel designs for the Alpine A110. This particular one is dressed in 18-inch forged Fuchs light-alloy wheels which complements the one-piece lightweight Sabelt bucket seats in Alpine’s pursuit of lightness.
It may be the size of a Lotus Elise, with performance figures to rival Hethel’s Cup models but the plushness of the interior (even in the Pure form) suggests an otherwise more refined cabin.
The drive control buttons, positioned like the ones you’d find in the new
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
 featured in our
Best Car’s of 2019 video
, is among the cabin’s party pieces along with a huge red Sport button on the steering wheel and a Lamborghini-like “Start engine” button along the centre console.
In the UK, the Alpine A110 Pure Edition is priced at £46,905 (approx. RM 247k) so expect double that, if you can even get one here.
IMAGE GALLERY


Need a battery replacement or vehicle towing? Setel now does them too

Setel
, the mobile payment platform for Petronas, has introduced a suite of new auto assistance features into the mobile app, connecting its users directly to a wide range of different auto service providers in the event of a vehicle emergency.
These features include battery replacements, vehicle jump-start, tyre replacement, emergency refuelling assistance (in case you run out of fuel on the road), vehicle unlock (in case you lock yourself out of your own car), and vehicle towing.
The new auto assistance features are supported by Bateriku.com, Setel’s first partner for the initiative. Just as if you are buying fuel, Setel users using the new auto assistance features will also be able to automatically earn Mesra points, which can then be later used to redeem fuel and other rewards.
Setel Chief Executive Officer, Mazlin Erawati Ab Manan said, “Setel aims to be the constant companion to motorists by offering an ecosystem of mobility services to settle their needs. The auto assistance feature complements the motorists’ journey with access to safety essentials
right at their fingertips.
“The partnership with Bateriku.com expedites the help needed when a Setel user is stranded, minimising the impact of what could be a stressful event.”
RELATED:
Setel now lets you refuel your car with just one tap of a button
Bateriku.com Chief Executive Officer, Azarol Faizi Bin Zakaria Ansari added, “With the increasing numbers of vehicles on the road, it is crucial for Bateriku.com to make roadside assistance services easily accessible to motorists nationwide via API integration with customer
facing platforms such as the Setel app.
To take advantage of the latest feature, download the latest version of the Setel app via the Apple Store, Google Play Store, or Huawei App Gallery.


The all-new 2022 Toyota Sienta is the most practical family car we might never get

Toyota
 has just launched the third-generation all-new 2022
Toyota Sienta
 in Japan, now built on the latest TNGA-B platform. The first-generation Toyota Sienta was only offered in Malaysia for a few years upon launch in 2016, and we never received the 2018 facelift.
Over in Japan, the all-new Toyota Sienta costs between 1.95 million Yen (approx.
RM63,800
) to 3.1 million Yen (approx.
RM101,600
), available in both five- and seven-seater configurations.
Its odd looks are the result of maximizing space and practicality in a compact minivan. With the rear seats folded, Toyota claims you can now put an entire bicycle (with 27-inch tyres) into the car without having to remove the front wheels and still not have the handlebars stuck in the opening.
This is thanks to the load height that has been increased by 202 mm. The cabin floor’s height from the ground has been kept the same at 330 mm from the ground, allowing for easy entry/exit for passengers of all ages.
RELATED:
Toyota Sienta 1.5G & 1.5V launched in Malaysia, priced at RM93k and RM100k
Also offered on the all-new 2022 Toyota Sienta are taller powered sliding doors (by 60 mm from older Sienta) that don’t require you to duck too much to enter the car.
Inside, the gear lever is positioned on the dashboard, very much like our beloved ‘Lagi Best’
Perodua Myvi
. Paired with a foot parking brake, this enables the driver/passenger to easily move across the front row and easily access the second row via the small passage between the driver and front passenger seat.
RELATED:
UMW Toyota monthly sales down 25% in July, Hilux still best-selling truck in Malaysia
Designed with family in mind, practical features in the all-new 2022 Toyota Sienta include numerous cubby spaces, useful hooks, plenty of pockets, and USB sockets. There are even pictograph guides on the door bins to let you know what size bottles can fit in respectively. A wide variety of dealer-installed options are also available, allowing the Sienta to be customized to suit various customer lifestyles.
We all know how messy our car’s cabin can get when you have little children. With these little monsters in mind, the Sienta offers fabric seat covers with deodorizing and water/oil-repellent treatment for easier cleaning.
All the practicality equipped in the Sienta is hauled around by either a fully petrol-powered powertrain or a hybrid powertrain with Toyota’s E-Four system. The fossil fuel option is Toyota’s 3-cylinder 1.5-litre Dynamic Force Engine (
120 hp
/
145 Nm
) paired to the brand’s D-CVT. Fuel consumption is claimed to be
18.3 km/l
.
The hybrid option comprises a less powerful 1.5-litre engine (
91 hp
/
120 Nm
) and a 3 hp/44 Nm electric motor, paired to Toyota’s E-CVT. The claimed fuel consumption for the hybrid Sienta is
28.2 km/l
.
A practical choice indeed for urban families with young children, it would be lovely to see the 2022 Toyota Sienta make its debut in Malaysia. However, looking at how the first generation Sienta was received here, the Malaysian debut of this odd-looking minivan is rather unlikely.
GALLERY


2016 Citroen C3 introduced, gets up to 36 unique colour combo!

Citroen has unveiled the third-generation C3 supermini, and it’s everything fashionable. In a crowded segment with the likes of the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo, the new Citroen C3 brings flamboyance and distinctive personality to the table. Just take a look at its side ‘airbump’ panels!
Based on Citroen’s ‘Platform A’  shared together with the C3 Cactus, the new C3 is strictly a five-seater hatchback. The C3’s overall length is just 0.01mm short of being 4 metres long, with an extra 20mm shoulder room and a wheelbase of 2,540mm. Boot space is decent for a B-Segment supermini at 300 litres.

The new C3 borrows bits and parts from existing Citroen models, beginning with the fascia that mirrors the C4 Picasso. It also gets the familiar LED daytime running lights, while the headlamps are positioned below them – just like the quirky Cactus. The C3’s rear is a close resemblance of the Cactus as well.
Now let’s talk about the

airbump
 kink. These “bubble wrap” panels that look like band aids are made of thermoplastic polyurethane, a flexible plastic filled with small air pockets. It’s designed as a shield against daily obstacles, preventing minor bumps and scrapes that occur while opening the doors.
Just like the outgoing C3, buyers can customise the exterior paint through nine available body colours and three roof colours. Citroen claims that the colour offering gives customers up to 36 possible colour combinations.

Inside, the C3 gets a modern infused retro theme. Conventional dials aside, it receives a 7.0-inch touchscreen that supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink. New to the C3 that should impress the young is the
ConnectedCam
, a wide-angle camera mounted in the rear-view mirror. The camera connects to the infotainment system, allowing the occupants to shoot videos or photos that can be shared on social media. Is this the ultimate solution for taking a selfie while on the road?
In the powertrain department, the C3 receives three
 PureTech three-cylinder
 petrol engines and two
BlueHDi
 oil burners. All engines are paired to a standard
six-speed manual
 transmission, but other markets (like Malaysia) will get the
 EAT6 six-speed automatic
 transmission as standard.
Pricing for the C3 has yet to be announced at press time, but the car will hit selected showrooms by 2017. Meanwhile, the C3 is no longer on sale in Malaysia but its nearest equivalent, the DS3, can be had for RM121,888.00.
IMAGE GALLERY


Toyota Hilux, Fortuner, Innova updated for 2021 with more goodies – now open for booking

The
Toyota Hilux
,
Fortuner
, and
 Innova
 – which makes up UMW Toyota Motor’s IMV (Innovative International Multi-Purpose Vehicle) range – has been updated in Malaysia for 2021 with additional goodies across the board for improved convenience and comfort, and updated petrol engines to meet the upcoming Euro4 emissions regulations.
All three models can now be ordered at all authorised Toyota showrooms nationwide, as well as the
Toyota Online Showroom
.
TOYOTA HILUX
The Toyota Hilux range remains unchanged for 2021, with five different variants ranging from the single-cab 2.4 to the
Hilux 2.8 Rogue
, starting from
 RM92,880
 (on the road, without insurance).
The two range topping variants – 2.4V and 2.8 Rogue – now get a dual-zone climate control system in place of the single-zone set-up previously.
TOYOTA FORTUNER
As part of the update, the entry-level Toyota Fortuner 2.4 that was previously offered solely to East Malaysian customers will now be available nationwide, alongside the existing
2.7 SRZ and 2.8 VRZ variants.
 Pricing for the new Toyota Fortuner starts at
RM169,167
(on the road, without insurance, inclusive of SST exemptions), with sales scheduled to commence in January 2022.
For the 2021 update, the front air-conditioner of the Fortuner 2.8 VRZ and 2.7 SRZ have also been updated to a dual-zone climate control system. A Qi wireless charging pad is also now available for all variants, while the rear USB port on the 2.8 VRZ is now changed to a Type C port.
Additionally, the 166 hp/245 Nm 2.7-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol mill on the Fortuner 2.7 SRZ has also been updated to comply with the Euro4 emmisions regulations (up from Euro2) that will come into effect in 2022.
TOYOTA INNOVA
As for the
Toyota Innova MPV
, all three variants (2.0X, 2.0G and 2.0E) have now been updated with a Qi wireless charging pad as standard. Additionally, the 2.0-litre petrol engine in all three variants has also been upgraded to meet the stricter Euro4 emission control standards.
The new Toyota Innova is priced from
RM115,553
 on the road, without insurance, and inclusive of the SST exemptions, and will be available for sale in showrooms starting January 2022.
As usual, all purchases of a Toyota vehicle comes as standard with a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty (aside from Hilux, limited to 150,000 km). UMW Toyota Motor also offers a wide range of financing plans, including
subscription plans,
 to suit different buyers’ needs.


Honda S2000 set to return in 2017, with 350 horsepower

Since its retirement in year 2009, rumours have been going about speculating if the Honda S2000 will make a comeback. A British media has reported that the Japanese automaker has been working on the replacement of the highly popular S2000 and is set to return in 2017.

 This all-new mid-engined sports car however will not be a convertible, as it is set to be a
coupe
 instead. Under its hood is a modified 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine from the upcoming
Honda Civic Type R
. It is set to deliver
350 horsepower
!
It is also reported that the new S2000 will feature some
hybrid
 technologies developed in collaboration with the
McLaren Formula 1 Team
. It enables the Honda’s new sports car to perform a 0 to 100 km/h in around
5 seconds
, while achieving impressive fuel consumption at 7 litres / 100km.
 There is a possibility of having a simplified version of the
all-wheel-drive
 petrol-electric system used in the upcoming NSX. Speaking of which, the new S2000 get some styling cues and resemblance from the new Honda NSX. Honda has yet to reveal official image of the new S2000, however, looking at the
exclusive image posted by the British media
, it is looking good.
The all-new mid-size Honda S2000 is expected to go on sale in
2017
 for around £35,000.
 Nope. This is the NSX. Not the new Honda S2000.


Need a premium transporter for your precious vehicles? Check out Starrtrek Carriers!

With more than 30 years of experience, Starrtrek Carriers Sdn. Bhd., a bonded car carrier has unveiled two of their latest automotive transporters in Malaysia namely the Confidential Auriga Deluxe 122 and the Blizzard.
As the name suggests, the Confidential Auriga Deluxe 122 features a fully enclosed, air-sealed tow bed that can accommodate up to six supercars or four SUVs.
The Confidential Auriga Deluxe 122.
Exclusively on the Confidential Auriga Deluxe 122, a special loading ramp with a tail lift is fitted to load or unload supercars with low ground clearance safely onto the tow bed. The roof can also be extended to provide more space when stacking up vehicles.
The Confidential Auriga Deluxe 122 has multiple openings on both sides of the carrier that can be fully opened to provide ease of access to the supercars, and aid the loading process.
The Blizzard.
Unlike the Confidential Auriga Deluxe 122, the Blizzard does not come with an outer shell/cover or a loading ramp with tail lift, as the Blizzard is mainly used to transport passenger cars instead. The Blizzard has a maximum carrying capacity of up to 10 vehicles, which is more than the average norm for carriers in Malaysia.
Both models feature advanced hydraulic systems to stack stationary vehicles efficiently on the tow bed, making room for the entry of the next vehicle.
As Starrtrek Carriers Sdn. Bhd. Managing Director, Datuk mentioned, carrier drivers are the core of the company, and safety is not to be neglected. Cameras have been placed strategically throughout the carrier to ensure a safe journey. These include:
Blindspot camera on both sides of the carrier
Front facing camera
Driver facing camera
The front-facing cameras are fitted to support the lane departure and pre-collision alert features. The driver-facing camera not only monitors the driver’s attention but an alarm will be triggered when a safety hazard is detected, such as the driver not wearing a seatbelt or using the phone while driving. The video footage will be stored and can be further reviewed if necessary.
All models are fitted with GPS systems that provide information on the route taken and location history. The company will also receive geofence alerts during the entry or exit of the pick-up location.
Starrtrek Carriers Sdn. Bhd. services include the transfer of premium vehicles between Langkawi and Klang Valley, vehicle transfers between distributors and dealerships as well as to exhibitions, motorsport events, and more.
Starrtrek Carriers Sdn. Bhd. is located at No.1, Jalan Penyair U1/44, Seksyen U1, Glenmarie, 40150 Shah Alam, Selangor. For more information, call +603-5569 1188 or log on to their website.
GALLERY


Gallery: Honda HR-V facelift preview, this or the sportier RS variant?

Honda Malaysia previously previewed the range-topping
RS variant
 of the facelift and now the number one non-national carmaker has given us a first taste of the non-RS variant of the refreshed crossover.
For now, the company is hush-hush about the exact details of the HR-V facelift, but we learnt that this Ruse Black Metallic unit shown here is one of the higher specification model (but below the RS variant). Compared to the HR-V RS, the design changes on this lower variant is less pronounced with the most obvious changes happen on the front end.

Up front, it gets a new pair of projector halogen headlamps with LED daytime running lights that replace the halogen reflector units. The grille is now a Honda Wing platinum design which tucks neatly into the headlamp housing. The lower section of the bumper sees a new foglamp housing.
This HR-V variant rides on the same 17-inch dual-tone alloys wrapped in 215/55 profile
Continental UltraContact UC6 tyres
. At the rear, the refreshed HR-V gets an additional chrome trim across the tailgate but loses out on the silver touch on the lower diffuser section. Also
missing
 is the Honda Lane Watch camera that is mounted on the side mirror and the full LED taillamps, both found on the HR-V RS variant.

Expect the same 1.8-litre four-cylinder SOHC i-VTEC engine and CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) to be carried over, producing
142 hp
 and
172 Nm
 of torque. Drive is sent to the front wheels.
One innovation on the HR-V facelift range is the
Variable Gear Ratio (
VGR) that varies the steering ratio according to the speed and steering input to give the car a more responsive steering and reduces the steering angle needed to make a turn. This not only gives the car a sportier driving feel but also better control and stability at speeds.
Unfortunately, the interior is sealed off from prying eyes, so we will just have to wait until the official reveal which should be just around the corner (Q3 2018).
IMAGE GALLERY
Honda HR-V Facelift

Honda HR-V RS Facelift


Next-gen Volkswagen Golf R Mk8 could have a 400 hp “R+” variant

The next-generation Volkswagen Golf Mk8 is long overdue no thanks to the whole Dieselgate fiasco. Now that the Group is slowly getting back on tracks, Volkswagen is looking to revive the Golf R400 concept as a “Golf R Plus” variant for the Mk8.
The Golf R400 concept was first shown back in 2014 and was
this
 close to making to production floors but unfortunately, Dieselgate meant that the
400 hp
 Golf R project had to be canned.
The Golf R400 concept was originally planned to feature the EA888 2.0-litre four-cylinder TSI engine beefed up with motorsport components to produce
400 hp
, 100 hp more than the
standard Golf R
. The specific power output of 200 hp per litre of displacement means the Golf R400 has a power-to-weight ratio of 3.55 hp per kilogramme, allowing the mega hatch to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in
3.9 seconds
.
According to
AutoCar UK
, the next-generation Golf R is expected to feature two variants with a 400 hp+ version as the hotter “Golf R Plus” variant. This strategy is similar to Audis
S3
 &
RS3
 and more recently Mercedes-AMGs
 A 35
 &
A 45
.
IMAGE GALLERY
Volkswagen Golf R400 Concept


Toyota Sienta MPV launched in Indonesia, 1.5L, CVT [+ Video]

Indonesia is a hotbed for small and affordable MPVs. Now, at the 2016 Indonesian International Motor Show, Toyota decided to debut their newest compact MPV, the Toyota Sienta.
Introduced for the first time to the South East Asian market, this new compact MPV comes in four trims (E,G,V, and Q) and will be sold alongside the popular
Toyota Avanza
 model in Indonesia. Judging from its front fascia, the Sienta remains consistent with Toyota’s current design language. Sliding doors are standard across all Sienta variants, making it probably the most exciting looking compact MPV in the country.
Moving the Sienta is a
1.5-litre Dual VVT-i 2NR-FE
 engine that makes
105 hp
 and
143 Nm
 of torque. If that rings a bell, that’s because it’s the similar engine plucked from the Avanza and the updated Vios. Transmission options include a
 six-speed manual
 or
seven-speed continuously variable transmission (CVT)
. The 1.5-litre hybrid powertrain that is offered for the Japanese market is absent for Indonesia.
Equipment list depends on the variants, but we’re happy to report that the range-topping Q variant gets LED headlights, 4.2-inch central console, digital air conditioning, electric sliding doors and keyless entry with push start button. Active safety features such as Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Hill Start Assist (HSA) are also only available in the Q, but will miss out on Pre-Collision System (PCS) braking, Lane Departure Alert (LDA) and Automatic High Beam (AHB) which are available for the Japanese variant.
The Sienta is assembled at Toyota’s new plant in Karawang with pricing beginning from
Rp230 million (approx RM69,000)
 for the base E to
Rp280 million (approx RM84,000)
 for the Q variant. There’s a good chance that the Indonesia assembled Sienta might make its way to Malaysia, but not anytime soon we suppose. Earlier this year, UMW Toyota confirmed that the new Hilux, Alphard, and Vellfire models will be
introduced
 this year.
IMAGE GALLERY


MIROS to assess Perodua Axia safety, no complaints received so far

Regarding the Daihatsu safety scandal that concerns the all-new
Perodua Axia
, the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (
MIROS
) will conduct an assessment of the Perodua Axia. MIROS Chairman, Dr. Wong Shaw Voon told
Free Malaysia Today
 that the assessments would be of the latest Axia models to ensure the safety of the cars.
For those of you learning about this matter for the first time, Daihatsu has admitted to “procedural irregularities” in the safety testing which affects the Perodua Axia, Toyota Agya, and
Toyota Vios
. More specifically, slight modifications were done to the driver door to improve performance during side impact testing.
The MIROS Chairman said, “We haven’t received any complaints, but we’ll look into Perodua’s claims.”
Statement by Akio Toyoda
After Daihatsu admitted to its wrongdoings, Toyota Chairman of the Board, Akio Toyoda released an official statement. In that he said, “Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.’s wrongdoing is a matter that concerns safety, which is the most important aspect of vehicles. We consider this an absolutely unacceptable act that betrays the trust of our customers. We would like to sincerely apologize to our customers around the world and all related parties for the inconvenience and concern this has caused.”
“Since this problem occurred with a Toyota brand passenger car, we believe that the problem is not limited to Daihatsu. We will begin by conducting a detailed investigation and thoroughly collecting facts to understand the situation, determine the true cause, and work diligently to prevent a recurrence. We will also inform the public in a timely manner regarding the facts we learn through our investigations.”
“I personally promised our customers that Toyota would not run away, lie, or distort the truth during the recall crisis in 2009. Nevertheless, we find it to be a serious matter that such a problem has occurred at one of our group companies.”
RELATED:
No recalls for Perodua Axia despite Daihatsu safety scandal, deliveries unaffected
Both Perodua and UMW Toyota Motor have also addressed the matter. So far, both companies say that there is no need for a recall for both the Perodua Axia and the Toyota Vios. Both cars still meet the requirements for the UN-R95 certification and are safe to be driven. MIROS has only stated that it will assess the Perodua Axia among the affected models.
RELATED:
No recalls for Toyota Vios amidst Daihatsu safety “procedural irregularity”


Third-party Only vs Comprehensive car coverage – What’s the difference?

When it comes to renewing your car takaful/insurance, you’ve heard of things like “Third-party Only” coverage and “Comprehensive” coverage. Naturally, the former costs less than the latter, but have you ever wondered what is the difference between the two? Well, if you didn’t know yet, here is an article to explain it to you.
First things first, we must understand why car takaful/insurance is mandatory by law. It is so that in the event that you (the first party) injure or cause damage to another driver/road user (the third party), you will be able to compensate the damages done through your takaful/insurance provider (the second party).
With that being the case, third-party takaful/insurance is what matters the most, since it serves to protect the other person involved in an accident. Sometimes that “third party” could be yourself if you’re claiming from another driver’s takaful/insurance.
*Terms and conditions apply
To make things easier to digest, here’s a table to show you the differences between the two types of coverage. The coverage listed here is in accordance with the takaful programme that
MotorTakaful.com

by Etiqa provides. If this is your first time learning about MotorTakaful.com,
click here
 to learn more about them.
Third-Party Only
Comprehensive
Liability to third parties
✓
✓
Damage to
your

own car
 arising from following incidents:
i. Accidental collision or overturning
✗
✓
ii. Collision or overturning caused by mechanical breakdown
✗
✓
iii. Collision or overturning caused by wear and tear
✗
✓
iv. Impact damage caused by falling objects provided no convulsions of nature is involved
✗
✓
v. Fire, explosion or lightning
✗
✓
vi. Breakage of windscreen, windows or sunroof including lamination/tinting film,
✗
✓
vii. Burglary, housebreaking or theft
✗
✓
viii. Malicious act
✗
✓
ix. While in transit (including loading and unloading)
✗
✓
Third-Party Only coverage
So, “third-party only” takaful/insurance is pretty much the bare minimum when it comes to car coverage. So, what sort of damages can you claim from a “third-party only” coverage? Let us have a look at what is covered in third-party coverage provided by MotorTakaful.com by Etiqa.
As the name implies, “third-party only” coverage only covers “liabilities to third parties”. What are they? Well, in the incident arising out of the use of your car on a road, you and/or your Authorised Driver will be indemnified for the amount which you and/or your Authorised Driver are legally liable to pay any third party (including the third party’s costs and expenses) for:
Death or bodily injury to any person except those specifically excluded under the Takaful Certificate
Damage to property except those specifically excluded under the Takaful Certificate
Simply put, you can only claim coverage for the third party that is involved. Damage to your own car or your own property is
NOT
 covered under a “third-party only” coverage. There are also a lot of other limitations to “third-party only” coverage, where cases like:
Death or bodily injury to any passenger being carried for hire or reward
Death or bodily injury to any person where such death or injury arises out of and in the course of the employment of such person by You or by Your Authorised Driver…
…and a few more (which we will list & explain in another entry) are not covered.
Comprehensive car coverage
Comprehensive takaful/insurance, on the other hand, adds coverage for
YOUR OWN CAR
 on top of the “third-party only” coverage. The limitations to “third-party only” coverage such as
“Death or bodily injury to any passenger being carried for hire or reward”
 are still applicable even if you have comprehensive car coverage.
With comprehensive coverage, damage/loss from incidents like theft, damages to your own vehicle (first party), and a few more items are covered. Key things that are covered by Comprehensive coverage but not “third-party only” coverage include damages and losses to

your car arising from the following incidents:
Accidental collision or overturning
Collision or overturning caused by mechanical breakdown
Collision or overturning caused by wear and tear
Impact damage caused by falling objects provided no convulsions of nature are involved
Fire, explosion, or lightning
Breakage of windscreen, windows, or sunroof including lamination/tinting film, if any
Burglary, housebreaking, or theft
Malicious act
While in transit i.e. being carried from one place to another (including during loading and unloading)
More holistic than “third-party only” coverage, there still limitations to comprehensive coverage. Damages/losses that are
NOT COVERED
 by Comprehensive coverage include:
Consequential losses
Loss of use
Depreciation
Breakdown or malfunction of parts
Damage to tyres
Convulsions of Nature
Excess
Loss of electronic data
Cheating or criminal breach of trust
While it may obvious to some, other may not realise that comprehensive coverage doesn’t necessarily cover everything. Tyre damage and malfunctioning parts are not covered by your car coverage. The former’s cost is to be borne by yourself, while the latter will have to be claimed through your vehicle’s manufacturer warranty (if still applicable).
Notice that even with comprehensive coverage, damages to your own car are still not covered if arising from “convulsions of nature” (i.e. floods). For this, you’ve probably heard of “special perils” coverage, which we will explain in upcoming articles. If you’ve reached this far down this entry, we hope you’ve fully understood the differences between “third-party only” coverage and comprehensive coverage.
There are also “General Exceptions” that will render your coverage useless such as incidents involving unlicensed drivers, fraud, and use of intoxicating substances. This too shall be covered in future articles which will be linked up here in the future.
And if you’re looking to renew your car coverage, remember that you could do so online through
MotorTakaful.com

by Etiqa. When you renew with them, you can get 10% rebate, cashback at the end of your policy, and more.


Rolls-Royce raises the bar for custom work with an illuminated dashboard!

The Bespoke Collective division of
Rolls-Royce
 has upped their customisation game yet again with a new creation called the Illuminated Fascia.
Developed over two years and more than 10,000 man hours, the illuminated Fascia glows around the Ghost nameplate on the passenger side of the dashboard. The effect is achieved using more than 850 “stars” but when the car is not in used, the entire display becomes invisible when the car is not in operation.
According to Rolls-Royce, busy and superficial detailing was rejected in favour of a more refined method to project the company’s customising expertise hence, a screen was to achieve this effect simply wasn’t good enough. In other words, if it’s not complex, it’s not worth Rolls-Royce’s time.

Check out the 1 of 50
Rolls-Royce Wraith Eagle VIII
 we reviewed recently!
The illumination is achieved through 152 LEDs mounted above and beneath the surface of the dashboard. They’ve also been meticulously colour-matched with the cabin’s clock and the lighting of the instrument cluster.
To ensure that the “Ghost” graphic is evenly illuminated, a light guide is used, featuring more than 90,000 laser-etched dots across the surface. This not only projects light more evenly but also creates a twinkling effect. When the car is not in operation, the Illuminated Fascia becomes completely invisible.
To achieve this, three layers of composite materials were used. The first is a Piano Black substrate, which is laser-etched to remove the black colouring and allow light to shine through the Ghost wordmark and star cluster.
This is then overlaid with a layer of dark-tinted lacquer, hiding the lettering when not in use. Finally, the fascia is sealed with a layer of subtly tinted lacquer before being hand-polished to achieve a perfectly uniform 0.5mm thick, high-gloss finish.


Ford is one of the world’s most attractive employers

According to a new annual survey of students worldwide, Ford Motor Company has been ranked as one of the world’s most attractive employers.
“We consistently strive to make Ford a great place to work and the skills we need are becoming increasingly diverse. This achievement demonstrates that we remain on the right path to attracting the talent we need,” said Peter Godsell, vice president, Human Resources, Ford of Europe and Middle East and Africa.
The Universum Talent Survey, saw the participation of more than 294,000 students in 12 of the world’s largest economies. The survey ranked companies based on characteristics which included having a creative and dynamic work environment, innovation, high future earnings and leaders who support development.
For engineering students, Ford ranked 12th while for Business students, Ford came in at 42nd place. Ford of Britain employed 96 graduates in 2016, and this reflected Ford’s 12th ranking for engineering students as a large proportion of the 96 graduates took up roles within the company’s Product Development team.
“To be published in the ranking is a true reflection of how strong an employer is globally and proof of strength in attracting and retaining the right talent,” said Petter Nylander, global CEO, Universum Group. “This year we have seen a more varied employer list including new industries such as e-commerce, whereas the more established sectors like the energy industry have lost ground with this new generation of talent.”


New national car to launch in March 2021, powered by Daihatsu!

Turns out that all the hoopla surrounding an electric SUV designed by Giugiaro was a smokescreen after all. For the much anticipated ‘third’ national car company, the tried and tested formula of working with a technical partner from Japan – in this case, Daihatsu – will be adopted once again. And we will be seeing the first model to roll out as early as March 2021, some 18 months from now.
Historic moment as MITI Minister Datuk Darell Leiking announces new national car company.
The ‘anchor company’ to deliver the new national is
DreamEdge Sdn. Bhd
.
 The literature on their capabilities is enough to fill up this whole page, but this is how they describe themselves (just the first paragraph) on their website:
“Innovation and Engineering have been at the very core of DreamEDGE’s DNA. DreamEDGE focuses on several types of innovation, from product and process innovation, to business and service innovations. DreamEDGE Sdn Bhd has developed its’ local Research and Development (R&D) status company, recognition by Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA).
“
Tight timeline, 18 months to market launch.
Powerful stuff. Anyway, what we managed to gather at the 30-minute press conference held at their headquarters in Cyberjaya, located on an aptly name street called Jalan Impact:
The chosen technical partner is Daihatsu
, they will ‘provide support in advanced technology’ but
won’t be taking up equity
 in the yet to be named new national car company.
The pillars of this new model were listed as ‘
new model with advanced technology
’, ‘
exclusive model with new approach to segmentation
’ and ‘
affordable to the public
’.
Key areas which the new national car company will focus on are ‘
upper body design
’, ‘
interiors
’, ‘
human machine interface
’, ‘
NVH
’ and ‘
ride and handling
’.
Major milestones are;
mock up to be shown by end of this month (August)
, a
prototype by March 2020
 and
market launch a year later in March 2021
.
According to DreamEdge, the mock-up of the first model will be shown in the end of August, there is no name for it yet, but it is described as a
C-segment sedan
. Daihatsu currently has no C-segment three-box sedan in its line-up. The only C-segment model is the
Mebius which is a rebadged last-generation Prius
.
When queried as to what kind of powertrain to be used in the first model, the CEO of DreamEdge Khairil Adri Adnan mentioned ‘
advanced ICE
’ or ‘
hybrid
’.
DreamEdge is looking to
contract manufacture
 its first model, so expect a local manufacturing partner to be chosen. Could this partner be located somewhere in Rawang?
More details will emerge soon enough, but after a year’s worth of public discourse and speculation, looks like the new national car company is assuming a
familiar business model
, it’s not straight rebadging but it will very likely be based on a vehicle that’s already in production, given the tight timeline to deliver a brand new car in 18 months. Now Malaysians can start speculating on which model and powertrain it’ll be based on.


The Kia Stinger GT 3.3L V6 is now RM74,000 more expensive post-SST

Back in September 2018, Naza Kia Malaysia released its
post-SST (Sales & Services Tax) price list
 for its range of cars sold in Malaysia but curiously, the list did not include the brand’s halo model, the
Kia Stinger
. Now the company has quietly released the revised price of their halo model.
Revised on-the-road pricing (without insurance, inclusive of SST) for the Stinger 2.0L GT-Line is RM264,888, RM25,000 more expensive than before and the Stinger GT 3.3L V6 is now RM74,000 pricier at RM383,888.
The revised prices place the Stinger in an even more unfavourable position against German alternatives, in particular, the locally assembled
Mercedes-AMG C 43 4MATIC facelift
 which is priced at RM421,888 or within RM38,000 of the Stinger GT 3.3L V6. Both spotting a twin-turbocharged V6 engine but the AMG has the benefit of smaller engine displacement (lower road tax) and four-wheel drive.
To recap, the Stinger 2.0L GT-Line is powered by 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol pushing out
255 hp
 and
352 Nm
 while the Stinger GT is powered by a 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged V6 packing
 365 hp
 and
510 Nm
 of twist. Both engines are paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission and are rear-wheel drive.
Century sprint on the four-pot Stinger is
 6.0 seconds
 flat while the V6 equipped Stinger GT will go from 0 to 100 km/h in
 4.9 seconds
; just 0.2 seconds slower than the C 43.
Equipment list remains unchanged from launch, with the Stinger 2.0L GT-Line equipped with LED projector headlamps, LED combination headlamps, quad exhaust outlet, 18-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, 700W 15-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system, panoramic sunroof, 12-way powered front seats with memory function for driver seats, heated and ventilated front seats and 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

The Stinger GT 3.3L V6 gets additional red painted Brembo brake calipers, 19-inch alloys, Nappa leather upholstery, heads-up display, 16-way powered driver seats and GT embroidery on the seat headrest and multi-info gauge (G-Force, oil temperature, etc).
Safety equipment for both variants include seven airbags, Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control (DTVC), limited-slip differential, launch control, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control System (TCS), ABS, Hill-start assist, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), 360-degree surround view camera, blind spot monitor as well as front and rear parking sensors.
There are four exterior colours to choose from, HiChroma Red, Deep Chroma Blue, Panthera Metal and Aurora Black. The top-spec GT gets an exclusive red interior while the GT-Line gets a single-tone black theme. Every purchase of a Kia Stinger GT comes with a 5-Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty.
IMAGE GALLERY
Kia Stinger Launched in Malaysia


Nissan completes Mitsubishi takeover, Carlos Ghosn to helm

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) is now an official member of the Renault-Nissan Alliance group, following the completion of a substantial
 takeover (34 percent)
 right after the
scandal
. At the same time, one of the industry’s greats, Carlos Ghosn, is there to save Mitsubishi.
Nissan has roped in four key individuals to revive the ailing three-diamond brand, with Carlos Ghosn set to be chairman of the board. The move, according to MMC President and Chief Executive Officer Osamu Masuko, will provide strategic, operational and management support to the company. Rebuilding customer confidence and seeking potential future synergies are also part of the plan for Mitsubishi.
The first on the agenda for Mitsubishi and Nissan is a five-year joint venture in exploring minicars, where both companies will share parts and technology. Mitsubishi could benefit from Nissan’s autonomous technology while offering its plug-in electric hybrid system to Nissan as a synergistic exercise.
Carlos Ghosn has had a proven track record in turning things around. Notoriously known for his no-nonsense leadership and radical cost-cutting antics that saved both Renault and Nissan, he’s also achieved celebrity status in Japan. That said, the once mighty Mitsubishi could really use Ghosn’s touch to bring them back to former glory.


2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class interior revealed, launching in Detroit Motor Show

German automaker Mercedes-Benz will be leading the charge for 2016 by launching the next-generation E-class saloon at the Detroit Motorshow in January. Prior to that, Mercedes has provided glimpses of its interior of the upcoming E-Class, codenamed
W213
. According to Mercedes-Benz the
“all-new design”
 E-Class will be
“much more beautiful and modern”
 than the predecessor and
“much cleaner than even the C-Class and S-Class”
.
Let’s begin with the centrepiece; the new E-Class joins the
digital dashboard
bandwagon just like its S-Class sibling, with two 12.3-inch screens integrated as a single unit. The new digital dashboard is offered to all trims, except the entry-level ‘Avantgarde’ trim.
The new digital dashboard allows a wide range of customization and also included, an improvised main menu interface for COMAND. The gauge cluster offers three theme options for the drivers to choose from –
Classic, Sport
 and
Progressive
.
The eponymous
Classic
 mode will feature a clean, two-gauge design and different driver-selectable information screens in the middle. While in the
Sport
 mode, it retains the similar two-gauge design, changing the fonts and colours to a brighter and more aggressive looks.
Progressive
 mode changes the display just like the ones in supercars where a large single-gauge is being displayed, giving drivers the impression of driving an AMG sports car.
New to the new E-class is the
dual thumb controls
 on the steering wheel. The left side controls functionalities in the gauge cluster while on the other side controls the main infotainment screen. The buttons are touch-sensitive just like a smartphone, hence allowing commands to be delivered via horizontal and vertical finger swipes with ease.
The driver and passenger are welcomed by an elegant and classiful interior using the finest authentic materials offered by Mercedes-Benz. This includes open-pore woods, wood in a yachting look with flowing lines and a novel metal fabric. The doors are leather-covered with beltline for selected lines. Personalization is the main theme of this new E-Class, as it has
64 ambient light colours
 to choose from.
Also expected in the new E-Class are newly designed headlamps that feature the high-resolution
 MULTIBEAM LED technology with ILS (Intelligent Light System)
 and
Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus
. This feature allows a flexible and adjustable high-resolution light distribution allowing improved safety while driving in the dark. The newly designed
“one-part” rear lights
 will be incorporated in the new E-Class, improving rear illumination.
The W213 E-Class will be available in the forms of a sleek estate, dramatic coupé and cabriolet and a hot E63 AMG model. Look out more for the new 5-Series and A6 fighter during the world premiere of the new E-Class on
 January 11 2016.
IMAGE GALLERY

 E-Klasse Interieur
E-Class Interior

 E-Klasse Interieur
E-Class Interior

 E-Klasse Interieur
E-Class Interior

 E-Klasse Interieur
E-Class Interior

 E-Klasse Interieur
E-Class Interior

 E-Klasse Interieur
E-Class Interior

 E-Klasse Interieur
E-Class Interior

 E-Klasse Desigskizze
E-Class design sketch


New Mitsubishi 3S Centre opens in Bukit Raja, Klang

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) has announced the addition of a new 3S Centre in Bukit Raja, Klang, bringing the total number of authorised Mitsubishi dealerships up to 52 – of which 47 are 3S Centres.
The new 3S Centre in Bukit Raja is operated by MN Wheels, the dealer’s second Mitsubishi outlet after their first in Kuala Selangor.
The new Mitsubishi 3S Centre in Bukit Raja features a total built-up area close to 5,000 square feet, which houses three fully-equipped service bays, a customer lounge with WiFi access, and sufficient showroom space to display up to two cars.
As standard, the new MN Wheels outlet is also built in accordance to Mitsubishi Motor’s latest corporate visual identity, represented by its global tag line ‘Drive Your Ambition’.
You can also now shop for Mitsubishi cars online with their new Online Showroom! Read more about it here.
Mitsubishi 3S Centre in Temerloh, Pahang.
As part of their strategy in response to their rapidly growing sales, MMM Chief Executive Officer Tomoyuki Shinnishi said that the company is aiming to open a new showroom in every quarter for Financial Year 2021.
“We have been in a very challenging business environment and despite that, MN Wheels have managed to complete the build-up of this impressive showroom with our new visual identity. This goes to show MN Wheels’ commitment to further strengthen Mitsubishi’s brand presence in Malaysia,” he added.
Check out the Mitsubishi Triton Athlete in more detail over at our full gallery!
The new Mitsubishi MN Wheels 3S Centre is located at
No. 36, Jalan Astaka 4, Bandar Bukit Raja, 41050 Klang, Selangor
, and is open from Monday to Saturday, from 8.00am to 5.00pm.


Ford Malaysia urges all to employ these safety tips for the ‘Balik Kampung’ journey

Hari Raya Aidilfitri is officially around the corner, and throngs of Malaysians will inevitably make the pilgrimage back home to celebrate the festive season with friends and family. The first thing that springs to mind when driving back to their respective towns is the immense traffic heading in all directions of the compass.
Unfortunately, the grime truth is that,
traffic accidents and fatalities
 are indeed
higher
 come the festive season. In light of this, Ford Malaysia is urging everyone to drive safe, with a few safety reminder tips to go along with it.

Firstly
,
prepare your vehicle for the trip
. Have the car serviced and checked out to ensure things such as,
engine oil, radiator coolant, brakes
 and other various vitals are up to par.
Secondly, plan your trip thoroughly
. Consult the
map
, draw out the
 best route
 and remember that the
shortest route
, isnt necessarily the
fastest route
. Avoid over-exerting yourself.
Plan naps
 along the way. Better safe than sorry.
Thirdly, pack wisely
. Always ensure that a
first aid kit
 is kept handy in the glove box. Keeping a
portable fire extinguisher
 in the car may sound a tad bit extreme, but rest assured prevention is definitely better than cure. Make sure the kids are
stocked up on toys
 to keep them entertained.
Pack your favourite music
 while you’re at it.
Fourth, divide the labour
. Some are capable drivers, others make good navigators – sadly some just can’t read a map even if they tried.
Last but not least, keep calm
. Frustrations rise and tempers flare, but keep close to mind that Hari Raya is a time of forgiveness and reconciliation. Read back to the third pointer, pack your favourite
music CDs
 or fill up your
USB
 flash drive with your favourite tunes. It’ll make the journey more
relaxing.
However, good driving habits aren’t just reserved for the festive season. Ford invites the public to participate in the
 ‘Future of Safety with Ford’ tour
. The 45 minute safety tour will be held on
 6 and 7 August
, at every half an hour from 10am at the
 1Utama Shopping Centre
.
IMAGE GALLERY


GoEV users can now access ChargEV chargers directly from the GoCar app

GoCar Malaysia
 has announced a new collaboration with Green EV Charge – a joint venture between Yinson Green Technologies and GreenTech Malaysia – to “enhance EV charging convenience across the country”.
The collaboration will see the
 ChargEV mobile platform
 being integrated directly into the GoCar mobile app, enabling GoCar members and other EV users to gain easier access to the ChargEV charging stations, which now boasts over 400 locations nationwide.
At the moment, the integration of the platform will allow GoCar app users to view locations, availability, and the types of chargers on the ChargEV network. The companies say that future capabilities will also include pre-booking an EV charger, scheduling a recharge, making payments, and monitoring of the charging progress.
The collaboration with Green EV Charge is the latest in GoCar’s ongoing efforts to expand the accessibility of EVs to more Malaysians. Aside from ChargEV, the company also recently teamed up with EV Connection to provide its users with access to charging stations on the JomCharge network.
RELATED:
BMW Malaysia DC fast chargers now part of ChargEV
GoCar has also recently expanded its
GoEV sharing and subscription service
‘s vehicle line-up, which now includes the
Nissan Leaf
 and
Hyundai Kona Electric
 (in E-Max and E-Lite guises). The company is targetting to increase its EV fleet to more than 100 vehicles by the end of 2022.
With GoEV, GoCar members can experience driving an EV for an hour, a day, or even up to three years (via GoEV Subs). Based on its own data collected to date, over 90% of its regular users were actually first-time EV users!
On a related note, ChargEV has also announced that its chargers are now available to non-paying members on a pay-per-use basis. The updated app now displays charger availability in real time, alongside the pay-per-use fees for non-paying members.


Kia could debut an all new logo soon!

These days, the badge and the image it represents is everything. It’s the first thing a person scrutinises and contrary to the saying, the “book cover” is judged before he or she continues to observe the models and variants of his or her liking.
And it’s not uncommon for car manufacturers to revamp themselves to keep their images fresh and relevant. Volkswagen recently came up with a revised logo and so did Lotus and now it seems Kia may soon debut a new one of their own too.
The new logo was first seen on the Kia Imagine Concept revealed
at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.
Recently it was revealed that Kia had filed a new trademark with the
Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service
which indicates that a new logo may be in the pipeline however as the areas of “publish date” were still blank, perhaps it has yet to receive an approval.
The traditional but more recognisable black oval has been completely replaced with a more stylised version of the Kia word which looks more appropriate for the futuristic designs of Kia’s new vehicles like the
XCeed
,
Seltos
and
Telluride
 for example.
So far, there’s still no word if the new logo will be borne by specific models, destined for specific countries or exclusively for the Korean market.


Hyundai Ioniq 6 EV, Creta SUV teased for launch in Malaysia “soon”!

Hyundai Sime Darby Motors (HSDM)
 has just dropped a giant teaser for its upcoming model launches here in Malaysia, right as we’re about to wrap up the year. In a short video posted on its social media channels, the company teased four models that are “coming soon” to our shores, including the
Ioniq 6
EV fast back sedan, as well as some of its SUV stablemates such as the
Creta
, updated
Santa Fe
, and the
Palisade facelift
.
That’s a huge list, but the (only) real surprise is the Ioniq 6. Taking the form of a fully-electric “streamliner” sedan, the Ioniq 6 looks wildly different to the
Ioniq 5
 that made its Malaysian debut earlier this year, thanks to the marque’s “Hyundai Look” design strategy that gives each model a unique appearance to appeal to a wide range of customers’ tastes.
The unique curvy shape also gives the Hyundai Ioniq 6 a drag coefficient of just 0.21 Cd, making it one of the most aerodynamic vehicles in production, which also helps in achieving a rated electric driving range of
over 610 km
 from its 77.4 kWh battery pack.
The all-new Hyundai Ioniq 6 will be offered in both single- and dual-motor set-ups, with the most powerful variant making up to
239 kW (320 hp)
and
 650 Nm
 of torque, which translates to a 0-100 km/h sprint time of
5.1 seconds
.
Thanks to the e-GMP platform, the Ioniq 6 will support both 400V and 800V charging without any additional equipment. The latter allows for DC fast charging up to speeds of 350 kW, which means you’ll be able to top up from 10 to 80% charge in just 18 minutes.
ALSO READ:
Hyundai Ioniq 6 boasts over 610 km of EV range thanks to its swoopy shape
Aside from the Ioniq 6, the rest of the models teased are somewhat already
expected
to make their appearances here in Malaysia. The Hyundai Creta has already been spotted carrying out road tests, while the Santa Fe and Palisade are existing models here in Malaysia, so a facelift update is likely.
The Creta is the most interesting one of the lot, as it’s a model that was never introduced in Malaysia before. Designed as a compact crossover competing against the
Proton X50
,
Honda HR-V
, and
Mazda CX-3
, the Hyundai Creta features a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine underneath its bonnet, outputting
115 hp
and
144 Nm
 which, unfortunately, is quite a bit lower than its chief rivals in the segment. Power is sent to the front wheels via Hyundai’s Intelligent Variable Transmission.
Based on the teaser image, the Hyundai Creta will most likely be introduced here with the facelift model (unlike what happened with the Kona), which made its global debut at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) last year.
The model is priced from IDR279 million (approx. RM79k) to IDR400 million (approx. RM113k) in the Archipelago, which crucially undercuts the Honda HR-V. In Thailand meanwhile, the compact crossover is priced from THB949,000 (approx. RM121k) to THB999,000 (approx. RM128k).
With Hyundai Sime Darby Motors stating that these models will be “coming soon”, we expect them to be unveiled across 2023… which is now only three days away. Keep your eyes peeled!
RELATED:
Hyundai Creta scores 5 stars while Stargazer scores 4 stars in ASEAN NCAP crash test


Facts & Figures: Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo launched in Malaysia, from RM645k

First revealed earlier this year, the Sime Darby Auto Performance has launched the Taycan Cross Turismo in Malaysia.

It’s available in three variants with prices starting from
RM645,209
 for the Taycan 4 Cross Turismo,
 RM728,727
 for the Taycan 4S Cross Turismo and
RM968,928
for the Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo.
Performance-wise, it’s nothing short of a buffet of options. The Taycan 4 comes with all-wheel drive with an electric motor in the front and back along with adaptive air suspension.
All Taycan Cross Turismo variants also come with the
Performance Battery Plus package
 as standard. With that, the Cross Turismo gets a 93.4 kWh battery with up to 437 km of electric driving range.
With a standard AC charger, a full charge will take about nine hours while the faster DC charger can get the Cross Turismo up to 80% charged in just 23 minutes.
Taycan 4 Cross Turismo
Max Power: 380 hp (overboost 476 hp)
Max Torque: 500 Nm
0 to 100 km/h: 5.1 seconds
Top Speed: 220 km/h
Range: 437 km
Taycan 4 S Cross Turismo
Max Power: 490 hp (overboost 571 hp)
Max Torque: 650 Nm
0 to 100 km/h: 4.1 seconds
Top Speed: 240 km/h
Range: 436 km
Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo
Max Power: 625 hp (overboost 680 hp)
Max Torque: 850 Nm
0 to 100 km/h: 3.3 seconds
Top Speed: 250 km/h
Range: 425 km
EXTERIOR
Aside from having a hatchback-style rear end, much like the
Panamera Sport Turismo
, Porsche’s new EV also stands out with black trims on the side skirts and wheel arches.
Porsche wants you to go greener with the new eBike for your Taycan Cross Turismo. Check it out here!
Its ground clearance is also 20 mm more than the Taycan. With the
Offroad Design Package
, ground clearance is further increased by 10 mm, along with flaps on the front and rear bumpers for protection against stone chips.
INTERIOR
Inside, the Sport Turismo-like look offers 47 mm more headroom for rear passengers compared to the
standard Taycan
. The design also allows the boot to handle 40 litres more cargo, at 446 litres. As it is engine-less, the frunk also offers cargo space up to 84 litres.
As you can tell, the rest of the interior looks much like the standard Taycan although with the Offroad Design package, you’ll even get a compass in replacement of the clock/timer on the dashboard.
Porsche’s new EV in Malaysia will be available for viewing at Porsche Centres nationwide soon. Interested to have this parked next to your existing Taycan? Schedule an appointment to view the car
here
!
Video: A day on the road and track
with the Porsche Taycan!
GALLERY


New MINI charging bays launched at Eco Sanctuary – 50kW DC, 22kW AC, RM1.20/min

A new
MINI
 Charging facility for electric vehicles (EVs) has been opened in Sanctuary Mall @ Eco Sanctuary, introduced by Wheelcorp Premium. The new charging facility comprises two parking lots, a
50-kW
 DC charger with 2 DC holders (CCS2 and CHAdeMO), and a
22-kW
 AC charger (Type 2).
The chargers at the MINI charging facility are provided by
JomCharge
. Now open to the public, rates for both the AC and DC chargers are at
RM1.20 per minute
. Precisely, the chargers are located at Sanctuary Mall @ Eco Sanctuary, Persiaran Eco Sanctuary, 8/3, Eco Santuari in Selangor.
Commenting on the new charging facility, Wheelcorp Premium Managing Director, Jayden Liew said, “With the rising uptake of electrified vehicles in Malaysia, we – the providers of these automobiles, consider it one of our main responsibilities to ensure that sufficient infrastructure is in place to support this demand. The positive reception for Electrified Mobility in recent times, bolstered by the many initiatives by our local government, has been a welcome sight for us; and we are committed to developing the EV landscape further for our customers, alongside BMW Group Malaysia.”
The new charging facility from Wheelcorp Premium is also part of BMW Group Malaysia’s strategy to develop the infrastructure needed for the charging of electric vehicles. So far, over 670 charging facilities have been made available by
BMW Group Malaysia
 for EV owners here thus far, with access to over 360 of these facilities provided through partnerships with
ChargEV
 and Yinson Greentech.
RELATED:
Electric MINI Countryman specs revealed – 313 hp, est. 450km range, AWD
The partnership with JomCharge also enables access to over 70 charging facilities, and Gentari with approximately 150 facilities. Over 100 BMW i and MINI charging facilities are also available at most authorised dealerships, as well as partnering venues across the country.
Eco Sanctuary Assistant General Manager, Max Leong Yew Mun said, “Sustainability is EcoWorld’s number one core value and we are always on the lookout to actively engage with organisations that share common sustainability goals. By supporting Wheelcorp Premium’s drive to roll out more charging facilities, we are also making good progress on our own ESG goals, which is to ensure that all EcoWorld projects have at least one EV charging station.”
RELATED:
Fully-electric MINI Cooper SE Convertible launched – 999 units, 201km range, 0-100km/h 8.2 seconds


Here’s what you need to know about the new Honda Insurance Plus!

Honda Malaysia has introduced an enhanced Honda Insurance Plus (HiP), an auto insurance plan exclusively for all Honda owners, first introduced in 2002. The new HiP package offers Rescue, Protection and Savings benefits and here’s what it entails.
RESCUE
This offers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on call service by the Honda Insurance Plus Rescue Team. It also includes 24/7 towing services in case of accidents, breakdowns and floods. The affected cars will be sent to any Honda authorised Body & Paint centre within a 450 km round trip from the location while the roadside repair service offers free labour of up to RM200 per event, excluding spare parts.
The roadside repair service also includes unforeseen incidences such as a flat tyre, running out of fuel or replacing a flat battery. As for insurance claims, HiP members will be updated constantly throughout the claims process.
PROTECTION
Honda Insurance Plus members can rest assured that only Honda Genuine Body and Parts replacements are used at all authorised Honda centres. They come with 6 months warranty or 10,000 km mileage warranty.
HiP members who repair their cars at Honda Authorised Body & Paint Centres will receive speedy claim pre-approval for claims below RM20,000. Also, HiP members are entitled to medical assistance such as medical referral and arrangement of appointments, dispatch of medications which are not available locally, and medical evacuation or repatriation if required. Even better, HiP members are now entitled to Personal Accident Coverage of up to RM15,000 in the event of Accidental Death or Permanent Disability in the Named Vehicle Car accident.
SAVINGS
Might want to consider Honda’s Insurance Plus for that
new City
 you’re getting!
The 100% insurance payout based on the agreed value in the event the car is stolen or severely damaged in an accident for vehicles up to 10 years old, has been extended to 13 years. Other newly introduced privileges include Unnamed Driver whereby the HiP provides coverage for all drivers under private registration with no additional names and compulsory excess payment required.
Flood allowance is also provided, up to RM1,500, a special relief of RM1,500 in the event of car theft or total loss and RM1,000 for lost key reimbursement. HiP members are also entitled to 100% coverage for 10 years with no betterment fee that allows old parts of a Honda car damaged due to accident to be replaced with new original parts.
All existing and new Honda customers can renew and apply for the Honda Insurance Plus at any nearest Honda authorised dealers. For more information, customers can call Honda’s Toll Free number at 1-800-88-2020 or log on to the
Honda Malaysia official site
 to discover more about the enhanced Honda Insurance Plus.


The all-new Honda Civic Prototype is the most European-looking Civic ever!

This is it – the 11th-generation Honda Civic, at least in prototype form, anyway. The vehicle has been unveiled via the game streaming website Twitch in between bouts of Fortnite, giving us a good idea of how the car will look like eventually when it’s launched, given Honda’s past “prototypes”.

The all-new Honda Civic has been given a complete overhaul in the looks department, significantly dialling back on the “boy racer” image for a more matured and upmarket aesthetic, giving it an almost “European” look in our opinion.
Up front, while it still retains the general Honda Solid Wing grille design, the “solid wing” part of it has been removed almost completely now, with the Honda emblem just barely touching the edge of the bonnet line. The LED headlights have also been reworked, with a more squared-off design that reaches further to the sides as compared to the upswept ones on the
current Honda Civic
.
Further down, the 11th-generation Honda Civic features a large lower grille with a trapezoidal mesh pattern, flanked by two C-shaped air intake structures on each end that are joined together via a horizontal piece that forms the front lip of the car.
The side profile continues to feature an almost coupe-like silhouette with its sloping roofline. The kink on the C-pillar that we first saw on the
10th-generation Honda Accord
 also made its way onto the Civic Prototype, tying the two models together in appearance.
The prototype also shows off a new five twin-spoke alloy wheel design, though they do look quite huge – even larger than the current 18-inch items on the Civic TC-P, so we’re unsure if the new wheels will make it into production. They do fit the overall aesthetic of the all-new Civic Prototype pretty well though, giving the C-segment sedan some extra sporty aggression.
Over at the rear, the taillights have also been completely redesigned. Gone are the C-shaped taillights so affectionately called “
ketam
” in our parts of the world, replaced by horizontal two-piece item, dressed with an L-shaped light signature that mimics the daytime-running lights in front. When the
car was first teased
, we said that the taillights look almost Audi-like, and now that we’re seeing it in full, we think the similarities are even more apparent!
The bootlid also receives an integrated ducktail spoiler kink, while further down, there are two oval tailpipes exits occupying the corners, surrounded by a gloss-black garnish that are joined together via a thin strip of trim – giving the bottom body-coloured piece an almost diffuser-like look. From what we can see though, it doesn’t actually look like there are functioning diffuser struts.
The interior of the all-new Honda Civic has also been given a complete overhaul. It’s still a sketch for now, but from what we can see, the overall dashboard architecture is now a lot more cleaner, highlighted by a full-length trim piece with integrated air vents that splits the dashboard into two halves.
The physical control knobs for the climate control that we loved on the all-new Honda Accord also makes its way into the Civic (bless you, Honda), while the infotainment display – with physical volume knob, mind you – now gets a floating panel design that sits atop the dashboard.
It’s still a prototype for now, so there are no indications of what powertrain we’ll find under the bonnet of the 10th-generation Honda Civic eventually. Honda says that the 11th-generation Civic will go on sale in the US in spring 2021 as a 2022 model year vehicle, so we shouldn’t have to wait too long to find out!
GALLERY


Scientists will be using Audi’s quattro system to trek the moon

Audi will be supporting a private group of German engineers and scientists called PTScientists on their mission to the Moon – a journey of 384,400 km which will take five days to complete.
Two “Audi Lunar Quattro Moon Rovers” will be loaded into a spacecraft that will be travelling
 10 times the speed of sound
 on its way to the Moon.
Upon landing, the two Audi Lunar Quattro Moon Rovers will roam the surfaces of the Moon as it relays data back to Earth but it wouldn’t be without challenges.
Audi’s quattro system will have to provide traction for these rovers as they trek through unpredictable terrains filled with Moon dust which constantly breaks into finer pieces  which can render the rovers immobile. The rovers will also be visiting the Apollo 17 Lunar Rover’s landing site. Check out that interesting short video for more intriguing facts!


BMW unveils the F30 3-Series LCI, new powertrains include a 1.5L 3-cylinder petrol

The
BMW F30 3 Series
 has received its
Life Cycle Impulse
 (LCI) treatment (fancy BMW lingo for facelift), and it brings a host of new engines from the
BMW EfficientDynamics
 family to go with the subtle styling refresh. Available in both
sedan
 and
touring
 guises, the 3 Series LCI range now comprises of the petrol 318i, 320i, 330i, 340i, and diesel 316d, 318d, 320d, 325d, 330d, and 335d.
Unlike the LCI on the previous generations of the 3 Series, the facelift on the F30 is very minor in terms of visual appearance. Pay close attention to the official images here because if you blink your eyes you might miss what has been changed. The styling updates at the front include a
new bumper
 and a
new pair of headlamps
 with distinct pattern for the LED DRLs.
BMW pointed that on models that are equipped with the
Active Cruise Control
 (ACC), the radar in the front bumper is now less prominent too. Full
LED headlamps
 is available as an option, featuring
BMW Selective Beam
 that automatically adjusts the light cone depending on the road condition. The sides are left intact but the rear receives a new bumper and
LED tail lights
.

Similarly on the inside, the updates are limited to a redesigned center console with a
sliding cover for the cupholders
, and some
 chrome highlights
 for the controls on the dash. Want more? Well, BMW claims that the navigation system (optional, of course) has been updated with new and more realistic graphics for the 3D map and it is now quicker to respond to your input. More optional items include a
full colour Head-Up Display
 and
Parking Assistant
 to facilitate those who find parallel parking a bit too tedious.
Several trim lines are also available to suit different buyer requirements that brings a choice of material and finishes for the interior and styling packs for the exterior, as shown on these official press images. While current F30 owners can contemplate to retrofit the new bumpers and LED lights to their rides, they will not be able to change what’s under the skin as easily.
Under the bonnet, every engine in the 3 Series lineup is equipped with BMW’s
TwinPower Turbo
 technology. A
2.0-litre 4-cylinder diesel
 is used in the 316d, 318d, 320d, and 325d with varying states of tune. In the
316d
 it develops
116 hp
 and
270 Nm
, in the
318d
 it gives you
150 hp
 and
320 Nm
,
190 hp
 and
400 Nm
 in the
320d
, and in the
 325d
 it delivers
218 hp
 and
450 Nm
. Even better is the lusty
3.0-litre straight-six diesel
 in the
330d
 and
335d
. It dishes out
258 hp
 and
560 Nm
 in the former, and
313 hp
 and a whopping
630 Nm
 in the latter.
The
 318i
 gets a compact
1.5-litre 3-cylinder
 that churns out
136 hp
 and
220 Nm
, replacing the 1.6-litre 4-cylinder in the outgoing 316i. Powering the
320i
 and the
330i
 is a
2.0-litre 4-cylinder
. It generates
184 hp
 and
290 Nm
 in the
320i
, but in the
330i
 it delivers
252 hp
 and
350 Nm
. Topping the petrol 3 Series range is the
340i
 that packs a
3.0-litre 6-cylinder
 with
326 hp
 and
450 Nm
.
Depending on engine, buyers can choose from a
six-speed manual
 with what BMW refers to as “
engagement speed control
“, which will automatically match the revs upon shifts; or the excellent and proven
eight-speed automatic
 transmission. Drive is sent to the rear wheels, but the
 xDrive
 all-wheel drive system is available on some models too.
BMW also announced that there will be a
plug-in hybrid
 variant called the
330e
. Combining a
2.0-litre 4-cylinder
 from the 320i with an
80 kW electric motor
, it will have a total output of
252 hp
 and
420 Nm
. Set to launch in 2016, the 330e will accelerate from
0 to 100 km/h
 in
6.3 seconds
 and all the way to the
top speed
 of
225 km/h
; and it’s claimed to return just
2.1 l/100 km
. Best of both worlds? Let’s hope the 330e make its way here so we can give you the full AutoBuzz.my review.
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY


Two Shell stations in Klang Valley recognised as “Green Buildings”

Shell Malaysia announced another milestone on its path to a greener and cleaner future by being the first in the retail fuel industry to be awarded the Green Building Index (GBI) Certification in Asia Pacific.
The GBI is Malaysia’s green rating tool to promote sustainable construction and buildings. Two its stations, one in Damansara Jaya and the other in Taman Connaught are now recognised as “green buildings”.
Are you
buying the original Shell Helix engine oil?
 Find out here.
“When the new category for the Retail Fuel industry was introduced, we decided to rethink and retrofit smart solutions and design elements into our stations. We’re proud to achieve GBI Certification for these two stations within six months,” said Managing Director of Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd and Shell Timur Sdn Bhd, Shairan Huzani Husain.
In achieving this, the stations were installed with solar Photo Voltaic (PV) systems to generate clean electricity, replacement of conventional bathroom fittings with waterless urinals and water saving taps, as well as monitoring systems that would alert the station of any consumption inconsistency to avoid unnecessary wastage of resources.
“With the production and usage of energy so intrinsically tied to the planet’s well-being, we are looking at increased pressure on our resources. Therefore, there is a critical need for industry players to get more innovative to balance both economics and ecology,” said Shairan.


Volkswagen Golf facelift now in Malaysia, 1.4L TSI from RM156k

Making its international debut in late 2017, the Volkswagen Golf facelift (MK7.5) range has finally arrived in Malaysia. Like the pre-facelift range, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) is introducing the full Golf range – 1.4 TSI,
GTI and the top of the line R
.
Starting with the Golf 1.4 TSI, it will be offered in two variants like before – Sportline and R-Line. Both trims share the same 1.4-litre four-cylinder TSI engine carried over from the outgoing model. The unit is good for
147 hp
 and
250 Nm
 of torque and is paired to a seven-speed DSG dual clutch to send drive to the front wheels. Century sprint takes
8.2 seconds
 and it maxes out at
216 km/h
.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI Sportline
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI R-Line
Engine
1.4-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder TSI
Transmission
7-speed DSG
Max Power
147 hp @ 5,000 – 6,000 rpm
Max Torque
250 Nm @ 1,500 – 3,500 rpm
0 – 100 km/h; Top Speed
8.2 seconds; 216 km/h
Price (OTR without insurance)
RM155,990
RM169,990
Starting with the entry level Sportline, it gets halogen headlamps, LED combination taillamps, front and rear fog lamps as well as a set of 16-inch alloys wrapped in 205/55 profile tyres.
The R-Line gets dressed in trim specific front and rear bumper with trapezoidal chrome exhaust outlets, front apron with air curtains, R-Line logo on the radiator grille and a rear spoiler. It also gets upgraded full LED headlamps and taillamps with dynamic turn indicators and a set of 17-inch ‘Singapore’ alloy wheels wrapped in 225/45 profile tyres to complete the look.

Inside, the cabin architecture remains the same but gets a host of new technologies 8.0-inch ‘Discover Media’ infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, eight-speakers, Air Care dual-zone climate control, reverse camera and Driving Profile Selection.
The Sportline settles for analogue dials for the instrument cluster, fabric seats, three-spoke multifunctional steering wheel with paddle shifters, auto dimming rear view mirror, manual levelling seats, electronic parking brake with auto hold and rear air vents.

Stepping up to the R-Line, it adds keyless entry and start, 12.3-inch Active Info Display, ‘Vienna’ leather upholstery with R-Line embroidery and reversing camera.
Safety kit reads seven airbags, Electronic Stability Control, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist and Post Collision Braking.
The Sportline is available in five exterior shades – Atlantic Blue, Pure White, Deep Black, Tungsten Silver and Indium Grey while R-Line has the added option for Turmeric Yellow and While Silver. Like all Volkswagen vehicles registered from 1 January 2018 onwards, the Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI Sportline and R-Line come with a
3-Years/45,000 km free service package
 as well as 5-Years Warranty and 5-Years Roadside Assistance.
IMAGE GALLERY
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI Sportline


Not a fan of the Civic’s matured looks? Here are features that could change your mind!

The latest
11th generation Honda Civic
 was fully unveiled at its largest market, North America, just a few weeks ago. The exterior design has been a hot topic of debate, as the styling has moved towards a more mature approach, removing all the hard lines and sharp angles and left with smoother and sleeker curves.
However, being just an unveiling event and not a full sales launch, the exact specification of each variant was not publicly disclosed. However, the good guys at
Honda Canada
 and
Civic 11 Forum
, they’ve already prepared a detailed breakdown of variants and their key features.
So, as such, let’s take a look at what is new in the all-new Honda Civic versus the incredibly popular
current generation
. We understand this sales document from the USA is certainly not reflective of what could be offered here in Malaysia. Nonetheless, a good portion of the features should be a global standard feature, as seen in the current generation.
Exterior
No changes have been made to the tyre and rim sizes, ranging from 16 inches to 18 inches. The wheelbase has been
increased by 36 mm
 as such we can expect better legroom for all occupants.
A
shark fin antenna
 is prominently featured in the exterior images and it could be a standard feature.  In the current generation Honda Civic in the US, the physical shark fin antenna was paired with SiriusXM/HD Radio service. However, the said premium radio service is only featured in the range-topping Civic Turbo Touring, which could mean the shark fin antenna is now a standard feature and not tied to the premium radio service.
As for the luggage space, there seems to be a
1.6% reduction
 in the new generation, measuring 420 litres from 427 litres. The values are certainly very different from Malaysia, measuring 519 litres, but a reduction in the new generation nevertheless.
The dual exhaust tips in the Turbo variants continue to point downwards, unlike its key competitor.
Interior
The dashboard of the latest generation Honda Civic is simple and neatly laid out with a symmetrical design. Honda calls this approach “Simplicity and something” and thus, an incredibly simple layout of key controls and functions.
Two driver’s information displays are available. The smaller 7-inch size is similar to the unit found in the
new Honda Accord
 and
Honda City RS e:HEV
, where the speedometer is a physical needle.
The range-topper meanwhile gets a full-colour display measuring
10.2 inches
 with customisable content and layout.
Other new features featured in the range-topping Touring include:
Wireless smartphone charger
Front passenger seat with power adjustment
Rear USB charging ports
Rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA)
Rear autonomous emergency braking (parking)
A new larger
9.0 inch
 infotainment display has customizable features and smart shortcuts. Honda USA also offers a Bose 12-speaker Premium audio system with the larger display. We hope this makes it to Malaysia too, however, it could be a USA-special as their current Honda Civic already has an upgraded 10-speaker audio system. Lower variants continue with a similar-sized 7.0 inch unit with updated content and interface.
The cabin is expected to be quieter too thanks to better insulation from the suspension and drivetrain components as well as the use of the
acoustic-glass
 front windscreen.
Other ‘wow’ features such as head-up display and moonroof found in the
Mazda3
, or 360-degree bird’s eye view parking camera in the
Toyota Corolla Altis
 are not available in the all-new Honda Civic.
Safety
Honda’s single-sided LaneWatch blind-spot monitoring (BSM) system has now been replaced by the regular dual-sided radar-based system. While
BSM
 is made available from the middle variant, only the range-topper gets a rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA) function.
A new feature is the ‘Rear AEB’, which sounds like an auto-brake feature that is used during parking. The Mazda3 2.0 High Plus also has this feature named Smart Brake Support Rear.
Honda Sensing is standard across all variants, something expected in large developed markets. The current practice of fitting Sensing only in the top variant should continue here in Malaysia.
Front knee airbags
 are also fitted in the US-market all-new Honda Civic, which are not available here in Malaysia even in the latest Accord model.
As for vehicle dynamics, the 1.5-litre turbocharged engine is tuned to now deliver
180 hp
 and
240 Nm
 of torque, an increase of 6 to 7 hp (depending on unit conversion) and 20 Nm. The CVT has also been programmed to offer better performance and feel.
Driving dynamism and stability have been heavily revamped through a series of improvements focused specifically on the subject. Apart from a more rigid bodyshell, the suspension components have been made lighter and less friction, while the rear track (width between the left and right wheels) has been widened by 12 mm.

That is all we can compare from this one piece of sales document on the all-new Honda Civic. If you are a fan of the current design and not looking forward to the simplicity of the interior, then better hurry and put a deposit on the current generation Honda Civic 1.5 TC with its
RM125,081
 pricing set to expire in six weeks from today.
For those who are waiting for the new generation to reach our shores, with the thought of being cocooned in a more premium interior and promised even better driving dynamics, the additional features should make it a compelling reason.
Singapore
 is set to be the first right-hand drive country to launch the all-new Honda Civic!
GALLERY


Perodua received a whopping 25,100 orders in the last day of SST exemption!

Just like clockwork,
 Perodua
 has announced its sales report for the first half of 2022, which saw a total of 127,343 vehicles delivered in the first half of the year, or a 30% increase over the same period last year (97,290 units).
Perodua says that the strong sales performance in the first half of 2022 is largely due to the influx of new orders from customers who want to take advantage of the sales tax exemptions, and the effect was even more apparent on the
final day of the SST exemptions deadline
.
According to Perodua President and CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad, the final day of the SST exemptions saw a whopping 25,100 orders placed, marking the highest single booking day the company has ever seen.
“This is unprecedented and a testament to the growth potential of Malaysia’s automotive industry given the right incentive,” he added.
In terms of individual model performances in the first half of 2022, the
Perodua Myvi
unsurprisingly still reigns supreme as the most popular model in Perodua showrooms with 38,029 units registered, followed by the
Perodua Axia
 with 29,183 units, and the
 Perodua Bezza
 with 28,719 units registered.
Although sales figures for the Bezza pales in comparison to the Myvi, Perodua says that the entry-level sedan is actually their most sought-after model at the moment.
RELATED: 2021 Perodua Myvi facelift
unveiled – from RM45,700
The company also notes that the stark difference in terms of year-on-year monthly sales figures for June was further exacerbated by the low registration of vehicles last year, due to the second Covid-19 lockdown implemented nationwide during the month.
To put this into perspective, only 1,009 units were registered back in June 2021, while June 2022 saw a colossal jump (by comparison) up to 21,164 units sold. Parts supply for Perodua have also taken a turn for the better last month, which helped the company achieve a month-to-month increase of 10.7% in sales, from the 18,901 units registered in May 2022.
Despite that, Dato’ Zainal Abidin warns that the skilled labour and parts shortage issues are still present, and is hoping to seek customers’ understanding for the long delivery lead times.
“We sincerely apologise for the long wait and are doing everything in our power to further improve production for the benefit of our customers,” he said, adding that the company is working closely with their supplies and in certain cases, even providing Perodua staff to work at the supplier’s premises to ensure that parts supply continue to flow.
Also read: All-new 2022 Perodua Alza now open for booking, est. RM62k-RM75k
At the same time, the company is still keeping continuous communication with its suppliers and partners, while at the same time searching for alternative components in order to reduce the impact of said issues.
Perodua is still hopeful of maintaining its
full-year sales target of 247,800 units
sold, he added.