Mansory’s Cullinan ‘Special UAE’ takes Rolls-Royce’s Black Badge to the next level

Mansory
 isn’t known for their subtlety, but even then, this one might just have taken the cake for their most outrageous mod. Unveiled as a celebration for their first showroom in Dubai, Mansory’s new
Cullinan
 ‘Special UAE’ has been given an extreme makeover both inside and out, with everything taken to the next level including its paint job.
Yup, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. That’s a two-tone paint job in the most literal way, fading partway through the bodywork from a graphite-like grey colour in front to a sinister matte black at the rear. On top of that, there’s also a full body kit that adds a deeper front bumper with an integrated splitter, side skirts, rear spoiler, and even a pretty sizeable rear diffuser.
As if that’s still not enough, Mansory’s bodywork also include massive flared wheel arches covering the 24-inch forged wheels, alongside black/grey camo-like trims all around that somewhat resembles granite on closer inspection.
RELATED: Rolls-Royce Black Badge family arrives in Malaysia
The same granite-like finish is also applied onto most trim pieces on the Cullinan’s interior. The black and grey upholstery (different colour on each integrated seats) meanwhile has been given a new wave-like motif on the centre consoles and door panels.
Finishing off the interior touches are theis an outline of the United Arab Emirates, illuminated on the headlining just like Rolls-Royce’s own starlight headlining. The same outline can also be found embroidered onto the headrests and seatbelts – the latter also gets a Mansory-branded stripe bisecting it lengthwise.
ALSO READ: The Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge’s paint job weighs 45 kg just by itself
Mansory did not disclose what they’ve done to the powertrain, but we do know that there’s an additional boost in performance, with the Special UAE Cullinan now outputting
610 hp
 and
 950 Nm
 – a pretty sizeable increase even when compared to the Black Badge Cullinan’s 600 hp and 900 Nm from its 6.75-litre V12 engine.
Also not mentioned is the price, although if you had to ask, the Mansory UAE Special Rolls-Royce Cullinan probably isn’t for you.
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Kia Stinger GT to be modified by West Coast Customs, due for SEMA Auto Show

While it’s still uncertain when the
Kia Stinger GT
 would make its
debut in Malaysia
, if ever, it recently went on sale in the UK at a retail price from £31,995 (approx RM180k) to £40,495 (approx RM228k) with deliveries starting in early 2018.
Officially the
fastest Kia in the world,
 with over
 365 hp
 and
510 Nm
 of torque from a 3.3-litre twin turbo V6 engine in the highest spec GT, along with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo model.
Both would be paired to an 8-speed automatic gearbox where the more powerful Stinger GT will take a mere 4.9 seconds to a 100 km/h from standstill.
Like the
extreme Hyundai IONIQ
 and the
boy-racer Elantra Sport
 we recently featured, the Stinger GT too will be displayed at Kia’s booth in typical SEMA form and fashion after Kia teamed up with our childhood favourite West Coast Customs to show off a uniquely-modified version.
Aesthetically, the all-new fastback sedan will be enhanced with a gloss black front grill, a carbon fibre aero kit, widebody fender flares and a rear diffuser. It will also be fitted with lowered suspension, sitting on 21-inch forged wheels and squared quad exhaust tips.
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Peugeot e-2008 previewed at Malaysia Auto Show 2023 – up to 320km range, 100kW DC charging

The all-electric variant of the
Peugeot 2008
, the
Peugeot e-2008
 has just been previewed at the
Malaysia Auto Show 2023
. Underpinning the e-2008 is the same Common Modular Platform (CMP) as the petrol 2008. Only previewed for now, no details regarding the price of the e-2008 have been confirmed as of now.
Dimensions-wise, the e-2008 is identical to the regular 2008, which is on sale in Malaysia. It measures
4,300 mm
 long,
1,770 mm
 wide and
1,550 mm
 tall. On the outside, the Peugeot e-2008 pretty much looks identical to the regular 2008. Looking funky just like the 2008, the e-2008 includes features such as full LED lighting, LED daytime running lights and 18-inch Black Onyx Diamond-cut wheels. However, the fog lights are most probably not going to make the cut in Malaysia.
However, Bermaz Auto has mentioned that the fog lights will most probably not be available with the e-2008 when it reaches Malaysian shores. The e-2008 can be distinguished from the petrol-powered model through the ‘e’ badge, located on the front side panel and tailgate.
Powering the e-2008 is a single motor system that pushes out
136 hp
 and
260 Nm
 of torque. With a
50 kWh
 battery, the French BEV SUV is able to carry you as far as
320 km
 (WLTP range). When the e-2008 runs out of juice, you can also charge it from 0 to 80% in just
30 minutes
, via
100 kW
 DC charging.
ALSO WATCH:
Peugeot 2008 review – the alluring French alternative
Inside of the e-2008 features a futuristic looking interior identical to the regular 2008’s. Features such as Alcantara and leatherette seats, Peugeot’s 3D i-cockpit hologram display, a head-up display (HUD), a 10-inch infotainment display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, electronic parking brake and ambient lighting are present as well.
Safety-wise, the Peugeot e-2008 comes with High Beam Assist (HBA), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Active Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), Active Safety Brake, as well as Adaptive Crusie Control (ACC) with stop and go function. As for when the car will be launched, Bemaz Auto said we can expect the Peugeot e-2008 to be officially launched in Malaysia in
Q3 2023
. Those interested can check out the car itself by giving Malaysia Auto Show 2023 a visit. The show will be held from
May 4
 to
7, 2023
.
RELATED:
2023 Peugeot 2008 SE launched in Malaysia – adds RM2,900 in accessories
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Next-gen BMW 3 Series to go fully-electric with Neue Klasse EV platform, due 2025

BMW will enter its next phase of electric vehicles (EV) development with a new dedicated platform, dubbed Neue Klasse. The EV architecture is currently under development, and is expected to go into production in 2025 with the next-generation
BMW 3 Series
 – and yes, it will be fully electric.
Speaking during the company’s first-quarter earnings call on Thursday, BMW CEO Oliver Zipse said that the new platform will initially focus on models in the mid-size premium segment. “When it hits the market, it will be concentrated on the 3 Series segment and at that point, in time the market will have developed into a size where it is reasonable to have only one drivetrain in that architecture,” said Zipse.
Unlike the
China-only i3
, which is essentially the G20 BMW 3 Series transplanted with an electric powertrain, the Neue Klasse platform underpinning the next-generation fully-electric 3 Series EV is designed exclusively for pure electric powertrains only – not even hybrid power.
Zipse claims that the Neue Klasse architecture will represent a “quantum leap in technology”, with electric powertrains that offer “more output, new cell chemistry and new cell formats”. With a new dedicated EV platform, it’s also safe to expect a larger battery pack in the fully-electric next-generation 3 Series, instead of the relatively small 66.1 kWh unit that’s shoehorned into the Chinese-market BMW i3.
RELATED: BMW CEO says combustion engines still important, don’t be too reliant on EVs
Review: BMW M340i xDrive – the best of both worlds
Following the initial launch with the midsized cars, BMW is also planning to expand the scope of the Neue Klasse architecture for use in the other market segments. Citing a source from BMW,
Automotive News Europe
 reports that there will be a full range of fully-electric models based on the architecture, ranging “from the high-volume segment to exclusive high-performance models”.
The publication adds that the strategy shift to use the platform on only mid-sized models for the time being will allow BMW to keep its combustion engines for longer on larger models.
The Neue Klasse EV architecture will play a major role in BMW’s plans to hit cumulative sales of two million EVs by 2025, on its way to a target of having half of its sales being fully-electric models by 2030. “We are doing everything we can to meet this goal earlier,” said Zipse.


Proton sold 40,287 cars in Q1 2023, sees 50.9% growth over last year

Proton
 recorded a total sales number of
40,287 cars
(domestic + export) in the first quarter of the year, showing a 50.9% growth from last year. As for the month of March alone, the local carmaker sold
14,753 cars
 (domestic + export), a 3.8% growth from February and an 11.9% growth from the same month last year.
According to Proton Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Roslan Abdullah, the first quarter results “were inflated because brands were rushing to deliver cars for bookings made during the PENJANA incentive period”. A better reflection of the market sentiment will be seen in the second quarter.
Of the 40,287 cars sold in the first three months of 2023, the best-selling model was the Saga with 17,446 units sold. This was followed by the X50 with 9,668 units, the Persona with 6,773 units, the X70 with 3,186 units, the Iriz with 2,120 units, and the Exora with 1,094 units.
As for the month of March alone, the Saga leads the charts with 6,313 units sold. The sales figures reflect the Q1 numbers with the X50 following behind at 3,429 units. This is followed by the Persona with 2,421 units, the X70 with 1,272 units, the Iriz with 712 units, and the Exora with 426 units.
Proton Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Roslan Abdullah said, “The first quarter of 2023 has been exceptionally good for PROTON and our achievement of over 40,000 units sold is something we are justifiably proud of. However, we must consider that sales for the first three months were inflated because brands were rushing to deliver cars for bookings made during the PENJANA incentive period.”
“This is especially true for this month as the deadline to deliver those bookings was 31 March 2023, helping to explain the record estimated TIV number of 78,000 units. A better reflection of market sentiment would emerge by the end of Q2, but we remain confident of maintaining our sales momentum.”
“We will be launching the Proton X90 soon and will also have more additions to the range later in the year. At the same time, we recently announced our commitment to expanding our future New Energy Vehicle (NEV) offerings and this will take the brand into new market segments as we seek out long-term growth to fulfill our ten-year plan. Yes, the runway to Malaysia being a hub for Next Generation Vehicles (NxGV) is still long but PROTON is excited to lead the automotive industry to new horizons in the future.”


Next-gen Volvo digital interiors to be powered by Snapdragon

At the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2022 held in Las Vegas, Volvo and Qualcomm have formally announced their next step in collaboration in enhancing infotainment systems.
Next-generation Volvo and Polestar fully electric models will be using Qualcomm Technologies’ third-generation Snapdragon Cockpit Platforms to take the next level of a digital interior environment.
The new Snapdragon Cockpit Platform is capable of fulfilling highly demanding graphics, audio and artificial intelligence requirements in the forthcoming
Polestar 3
 and Volvo’s upcoming all-new fully electric model that is
replacing the XC90
, all while having a very low power consumption.
Using the latest Snapdragon Automotive Platforms, Volvo Cars’ next-generation infotainment system will be more than twice as fast, while its graphics generation will be up to ten times faster. The user interface will still be the familiar
Google Android Automotive
-based infotainment system.
Interiors of future Volvo vehicles to be vegan and from sustainable materials. More here.
“Volvo Cars is a company that believes in collaborating with technology leaders like Qualcomm Technologies and Google to deliver the best experience to our customers,” said Henrik Green, Volvo Cars Chief Product Officer. “With Qualcomm technology in our forthcoming fully electric SUV, our Google Android-based infotainment system will reach the next level.”
RELATED: Volvo Cars has engaged with NVIDIA to power its ADAS system
With Google’s Android Automotive Operating System (AAOS), the Polestar 3 and Volvo Cars’ upcoming fully electric SUV will feature hands-free help from Google Assistant and precise navigation with Google Maps, as well as a broad ecosystem of automotive applications and services on Google Play.  Future improvements will be rolled out as over-the-air (OTA) updates.


Ford Ranger now comes with a five-year warranty in Malaysia

Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC)
 today announced a new five-year warranty for the Ford Ranger line-up in Malaysia, a two-year extension to the previously three-year warranty previously offered on the pick-up truck.
The new warranty is applicable to all new
Ford Ranger pick-up trucks
 manufactured from 2021 onwards, including those purchased before the announcement today. The new warranty is valid for
 five years or 160,000 km
, whichever comes first. Previously, the Ford Ranger is only offered with a three-year/100,000 km warranty.
SDAC-Ford Head of Sales, Turse Zuhair said, “We understand that for our Ranger customers, their vehicles are not just point-to-point modes of transportation. They are an extension of their lifestyle – for work and play besides daily commutes for families and loved ones.
“With the new 5-year manufacturer’s warranty for our Ranger line-up, we aim to provide added value to customers as they go about their life’s adventures.”
As for existing Ford Ranger owners who currently are on the three-year warranty, SDAC-Ford is also offering an
optional two-year/60,000 km warranty extension
, which can be purchased at any Ford Authorised Service Centres across Malaysia.
Two types of warranty extensions are available: the PremiumCARE plan, priced at RM5,000 for the Ford Ranger, provides a two-year comprehensive coverage on over 1,000 components, or the PowertrainCARE, priced at RM3,500, which only covers 29 key components in the engine, transmission, and drivetrains.
The warranty extension plans are backed by Ford Motor Company, which means that all repairs and maintenance works will be carried out by factory-trained and certified technicians, using only genuine Ford components. The warranty extension is transferable to the new owner if you decide to sell your car.
SDAC-Ford’s website also lists the
Everest
 as eligible for the new warranty extension plans. The PremiumCARE comprehensive plan is priced at RM5,800 for the SUV, while the PowertrainCare is priced at RM3,800.


Kia Sportspace Concept: The Optima wagon is set to be previewed at Geneva

If we want to see radical car designs, we can always trust the Koreans to give us that with their concept cars. Here we have the
Kia Sportspace Concept
 wagon, which hints rather largely at how the fourth generation
Kia Optima
 will look like. If the Sportspace is indeed the Optima’s new face, then it would be the first time the mid-size Korean sedan can be had in a wagon body, brawling in the arena alongside its sister company’s
Hyundai i40 Tourer
.
The Sportspace is 4,855 mm long, 1,870 mm wide, 1,425 mm tall and sits on a 2,840 mm-long wheelbase. Comparatively, the outgoing Kia Optima’s overall length is 10mm shorter, 40mm narrower, 30mm taller and a full 45mm shorter wheelbase that of the Sportspace. So expect better rear legroom space when the Sportspace makes it to production, although the concept only appears to accommodate four persons.
On the outside, the Sportspace’s front features the brand’s signature ‘Tiger nose’ grille with rotatable inlets, allowing greater air intake if need be. Profile-wise, Kia’s designers highlights the strong character line running along the body, visually connecting the front and rear. Its high beltline, shaped flanks and carbon fibre kick-plate exudes a sense of muscularity and athleticism.
The D-pillar is brought forward and is positioned to give the car a more hatchback-like rear door arrangement. Finished here in a shade of ‘Ignition Red’, the sporty wagon sits atop 20-inch 10-spoke wheels with carbon fibre inserts.
On the inside, the all-black cabin seats four, and the carbon fibre seats are hand woven ‘cuoio intrecciato’ wrapped with polished black leather. The dashboard appears to be simple, though it’s a very unlikely character when production begins. Other visually evident design cues include the sporty flat-bottomed steering wheel, intricate-looking user-customisable instrument clusters, huge infotainment screen with split-screen function that is operated via the console knob just below the gear lever.
Apparently, Kia’s removed the conventional rear view mirror, replacing it with a slim screen feeding continuous stream of visuals fed by the rear view camera. It’s unclear whether this feature will make it to production, but this author believes that the traditional electro-chromic rear view mirror does a better job at addressing long term reliability concerns.
Powering the Sportspace is Kia’s latest
diesel-electric T-Hybrid system
, featuring a lightweight
1.7-litre twincharged
 oil burner supported by an electric booster. The
48-volt booster
 increases low end torque and provides better acceleration for highway overtaking. The Sportspace can also be driven in all-electric mode, with Kia claiming that this T-Hybrid system is simpler and lighter than conventional hybrid-drive systems.
So, what do you think of the Optima wagon? Let us know what you think of the Sportspace concept in the comments section below!
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Lotus Evora Sport 410 now in Malaysia, supercharged 3.5L V6, from RM641k

One year after the global unveiling of the fastest Lotus Evora ever, the Lotus Evora Sport 410 has arrived at our shores. The Evora 410 boasts more power, weighs less and is sharper around the corners compared to the standard
Evora 400
.
In true Pure Driving spirit, Lotus Cars Malaysia is offering the Evora 410 with a manual and automatic transmission. Powering the Evora 410 is a mid-mounted 3.5-litre V6 that is slapped on with an Edelbrock supercharger to make
410 hp
 and
420 Nm
 of torque.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual with sports ratio or a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters transmission. The automatic Evora 410 will complete the century sprint in 4.1 seconds – 0.1 seconds quicker than its three-pedalled twin. Top speed however favours the manual variant at
305 km/h
 compared to the automatic’s
285 km/h
. Only the manual Evora 410 comes with Torsen Type limited slip differential.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Lotus Evora Sport 410 Manual
Lotus Evora Sport 410 Automatic
Engine
3.5-litre supercharged V6
Transmission
6-speed sports ratio manual
6-speed automatic
Max Power
410 hp @ 7,000 rpm
Max Torque
420 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
0 – 100 km/h; Top Speed
4.2 seconds; 305 km/h
4.0 seconds; 285 km/h
Price (OTR without insurance)
RM640,999
RM651,999
Tipping the scale at 1,291 kg (dry, without fluids), the Evora 410 gets a comprehensive carbon fibre package as standard. These include front splitter, roof panel, tailgate, rear diffuser and engine cover. The car now sits 5 mm closer to the ground thanks to revised suspension calibration. Malaysia-bound Evora 410 gets ultra-lightweight satin black 10-spoke forged wheels as standard, measuring 19-inch at the front and 20-inch at the rear.

Inside, the more hardcore Evora 410 ditches a number of features for additional weight savings. Items omitted include the infotainment system, cruise control and rear seats. However, you still get air-conditioning, tyre pressuring monitor system, active exhaust valve control, driver selectable ESP modes, leather upholstery, paddle shifters, engine start button, power windows and power folding wing mirrors. Still a whole lot more premium than the Cup variants Lotus has on offer.
Lotus Cars Malaysia offers a variety of cost options for the Evora 410 and below is the breakdown:
Options
Price (exclusive of GST)
Titanium Exhaust
RM28,862
4-speaker double DIN ICE unit with navigation and reverse camera
RM10,492
Cruise Control
RM1,575
Full Alcantara Steering Wheel
RM1,575
Sound Insulation Pack
RM1,315
Mud Flaps
RM788

According to Tengku Djan Ley, Head of Lotus Cars Malaysia, customers can also personalise their Lotus cars to their heart’s content via the Lotus Exclusive Programme. For a handsome fee, no less. The Lotus Evora Sport 410 has a limited global production run of 150 units per year.
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How Proton’s R&D helped improve the safety of the X50 and future Geely models

To many, the
Proton X50
 is just a rebadging exercise of the
Geely Binyue
. While it might be true to a certain extent, it also does no justice to the amount of work that Proton’s research and development teams have put in on the car. Key among them are the improvements on the safety front of the Proton X50, so much so that these changes are also being implemented into future
Geely
 models too.
Adapting a car from left-hand drive to right-hand drive (or vice versa) often surfaces some small, but critical issues – some of which remain hidden unless examined by a keen eye. For Proton, this task – in terms of safety, at least – fell under the watchful eyes of Zanita Zainuddin, Proton’s head of Safety and Intelligent Drive.
Proton’s head of Safety and Intelligent Drive, Zanita Zainuddin.
For example, in Proton’s efforts to achieve a full five-star
ASEAN-NCAP
 safety rating for the X50, her team’s initial development tests often found tearing in the front floorboard area in frontal collisions. This is unacceptable in the ASEAN-NCAP certification, as the standards are extremely strict on tears affecting the feet area.
As a remedy, Proton engineers had to reinforce these areas with ultra-high-strength steel, thereby shifting the force of impact to other areas that do not present any threat to occupant safety. Overall, 40% of the body, including the front, side, and back, was made using a combination of high-strength steel variants.

And when we said ‘small’ issues, we meant it quite literally. Due to the engine placement, which is always on the right side of the vehicle regardless of the driving position, the carmaker said that the driver of a right-hand-drive Proton X50 would always be more vulnerable to foot injury as compared to the driver of a left-hand drive Geely Binyue in the event of a collision.
To protect the driver’s resting foot from excessive injuries, the footrest for the Proton X50 had to be modified to ensure that the foot remains on the footrest, with minimal slippage. It’s things like these that shows just how detailed Proton’s R&D team were in the development phase of the X50.
According to Proton, the curtain airbags on the Proton X50 has also been tweaked to provide better protection to the head areas during an impact.
Although this was done initially to comply with the ASEAN-NCAP criteria, which emphasised that the curtain airbags must cover a wide range of body types, the improvement in occupant protection from this slight change was so impressive that Geely has also committed to adopting this new design for its future models.
The timely partnership between Geely and Proton also presented them with the opportunity to work together on the Child Occupant Protection (COP) assessment. Interestingly, the C-NCAP which Geely’s cars are mostly developed for do not currently assess the safety of baby seats for child occupants, but will likely introduce this assessment in 2021.
Changes that Proton made in this area included lengthening the hook on the ISOFIX interface, making it easier to fit the baby seat, as well as readjusting its angle so that seats can be placed into the car securely.
With both Geely and Proton being subjected to different safety approval and market standards, both brands can benefit from each other in terms of technical knowledge during the development phase. In the end, it’s ultimately a win for us consumers, as we get to enjoy safer drives on the road.
“Proton has always emphasized safety as one of its unique selling points unbiased to any country or platform. It is not surprising then, that we continue to challenge ourselves so that this DNA is inherent throughout our range of models, be it our locally produced car or the current joint development with our partner Geely,” Zanita said.


Mercedes-AMG GT R roars into Malaysia, 4.0L bi-turbo V8, priced from RM1.7m

Still hungover from the launch of the
Porsche 911 GT3
, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) shot us with the
Beast of the Green Hell
, the Mercedes-AMG GT R. Coincidentally (or intentionally), the GT R carries an estimated price tag of RM 1.7 million just like the Porsche.
Essentially a road legal version of the
AMG GT3 race car
, the AMG GT R draws exterior and aerodynamic inspirations from the race-winning car. Compared to the standard GT S, the GT R wears more aggressive bumpers, a Panamericana grille, a carbon fibre fixed rear wing and multi-spoke alloy wheels (19-inch front; 20-inch rear).
QUICK FACTS
Name
Mercedes-AMG GT R
Engine
3,982cc; bi-turbo V8
Transmission
7-speed AMG Speedshift DCT
Max Power
585 hp @ 6,250 rpm
Max Torque
700 Nm @ 1,900 – 5,500 rpm
0 – 100 km/h; Top Speed
3.6 seconds; 318 km/h
Price (OTR without insurance)
Est. RM1.7 million
The new front splitter with additional air curtains help reduce front axle lift, improve air flow to the radiators and reduce drag coefficient. Other aerodynamic items that aren’t obvious to the naked eye are the electronically-controlled louvres on the front bumper that opens and closes to achieve an optimum balance between drag and cooling together with an active underbody that lowers the car by
40 mm
 at
80 km/h
 in
Race mode
 for better downforce.

Besides the aerodynamic components, the GT R gets a beefed-up chassis too. It’s upgraded with an AMG coilover suspension with AMG Ride Control adaptive damping system,
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
 tyres, active rear-wheel steering, speed-sensitive sports steering, an AMG performance sports exhaust system and an AMG high-performance composite brake system (carbon ceramics available as an option).
All that improved performance is paired to an uprated 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission deploying
585 hp
 and
700 Nm
 of torque to the rear wheels. Sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h takes
3.6 seconds
 and top speed is capped at
318 km/h
.
The key highlight of the GT R is a
nine-stage Traction Control system
 – not to be confused with ESP (Electronic Stability Programme). In ESP Off, drivers can pre-select nine-stages of slip on the rear axle – Level 1 for maximum safety reserve and Level 9 for maximum slip on the rear wheels. Mercedes-AMG GT3 driver, Peter Hackett explained that although it shares the same system with the GT3 race car, the road car is much better refined for maximum driving pleasure on road and track.
As standard, our local spec AMG GT R comes equipped with AMG Performance seats while a lighter, manually-operated AMG Bucket Seat available as option. Other standard issue items include the AMG Night Package and Piano Black trims. Of course, customers can opt for the interior to be draped in Matte Black carbon fibre for a small fee.
A spokesperson from MBM expressed that while the Mercedes-AMG GT R is highly sought after worldwide, Malaysian customers can expect a three to six month waiting period from the day they place their order.
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Ford parks the Explorer SUV 47 meters in the air in latest publicity stunt

If you’re afraid of heights, best look away right now. In celebrating the adventurous spirit of the Ford Explorer plug-in hybrid, Ford has parked its SUV atop the tallest free-standing climbing tower in the world.
The SUV was placed atop the climbing tower – 47 metres off the ground – situated in southern Norway. The climbing tower took six months to plan and build after detailed scrutiny by engineers and architects; to ensure that the tower can withstand the additional weight.

Ford said the tower, made of solid wood and aluminium, was so tall that you can see neighbours Denmark at the top.
Ford made a fragrance for EV drivers who miss the smell of burning petrol…find out more here!
Once completed, Ford invited Norway’s climbers to scale the tower, where the fastest climber would walk away with a free 2-year lease for the Explorer plug-in hybrid. Don’t they deserve to keep the car, Ford?
14 climbers competed in the challenge, with a 21-year old climber taking just 3 minutes 33 seconds to scale the tower.
The Ford Explorer plug-in hybrid combines an EcoBoost petrol engine and an electric motor to produce
457 hp
 and
825 Nm
, resulting in a six-second 0 to 100 km/h run.
Check out our gallery of the “True Red” Ford Ranger Raptor X in Malaysia!
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The Golf R ’20 Years’ is now the fastest Volkswagen R model around Nürburgring

The team at
Volkswagen
 is celebrating the Golf R’s 20th anniversary by setting a new fastest “Volkswagen R” lap time around the Nürburgring Nordschleife, with development driver Benjamin Leuchter at the wheels of the
special edition Volkswagen R ’20 Years
‘.
Clocking in a time of 7:47.31, the ’20 Years’ Golf R is roughly four seconds faster than the standard Golf R, but curiously, still (marginally) behind the
2016 Golf GTI Clubsport S
 – a model that was developed specifically to tackle the Green Hell.
Still, it’s a hell of an achievement, especially for a car that you can drive to the grocery store after your track excursions, and a large part of it comes from the uprated powertrain underneath its bonnet.
Powering the Golf R ”20 Years” is a tuned version of the 2.0-litre turbo engine from the ‘normal’
Golf R
 that now make
333 hp
 and
420 Nm
. Besides enhanced engine tuning that boosts power by 13 hp, Volkswagen R says the anniversary edition also gets a preloaded turbocharger and a continuously open throttle valve.
Also modified is the seven-speed transmission. VW says the shift characteristics have been modified to create more intensive feedback. These enhancements to the powertrain result in a
4.6 second
 0-100 km/h time, or 0.1 seconds faster than the non-anniversary version.
RELATED:
New Volkswagen Golf R ’20 Years’ is the most powerful Golf to date
As for handling, the Volkswagen Golf R “20 Years” is equipped with an R-Performance package that comprises a Driving Dynamics Manager and R-Performance torque vectoring. The special-edition model also comes with additional “Special” and “Drift” modes on top of the usual “Comfort”, “Sport”, and “Race” modes.
Specially developed for the Nürburgring, the aptly named “Special” mode includes adjusting the shock absorbers to a more soft and comfortable setting due to the enormous loads at the maximum performance level when driving on such tracks. The “Drift” mode is self-explanatory.
There is also an “Individual” mode of the Driving Dynamics Manager, making it possible to manually adjust all parameters, such as R-Performance Torque Vectoring or the engine sound, and adapt them in line with personal preferences.
Volkswagen R development driver, Benjamin Leuchter said, “With this car, I can drive here on the Nürburgring and the next stop is then the baker’s or the DIY store. The vehicle is really an all-rounder that can do everything.”
It has to be noted, however, that the lap time is made around the shorter 20.6 km loop of the Nürburgring Nordschleife that ignores the 200 metres in between the T13 grandstand, instead of the longer 20.8 km lap that’s now used for official timekeeping.
You’ll need to be quick if you want the keys to the special edition Volkswagen Golf R “20 Years” as the production period is limited to approximately one year only. Who knows, maybe you too could clock 7 minutes and 47 seconds on the Green Hell.
ALSO WATCH:
Mk8 Volkswagen Golf GTI & TSI R-Line at Sepang – the best just got better!

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BMW X1 gets a mid-life makeover, sDrive20i M Sport variant offered

Alongside the launch of the
G20 320i Sport
, BMW Malaysia has also made available the facelifted BMW X1, this time in sDrive20i M Sport guise.
The sDrive20i M Sport is the only variant available in our market for the Life Cycle Impulse (LCI) X1, which adds more standard equipment, a refreshed exterior, as well as M Sport goodies.
The updated X1 is locally assembled, and priced at
RM233,800
 – RM13,000 more from the
pre-facelift
variant in Sport trim which is still available in limited quantities.
The most striking changes on the facelifted X1 are at the front end – featuring a restyled front bumper with larger air inlets and integrated LED fog lights. The kidney grilles have also been slightly enlarged, and are now joined by a chrome strip.
Flanking the trapezoidal-shaped kidney grilles are the redesign headlights, which takes on the more modern hexagonal-shaped “angel eyes” corona rings daytime-running light. The taillights have also been tweaked with new internal graphics, and they’re now
fully LED
.
The locally-assembled X1 also comes with the
Lights Package
, which includes a Welcome Light Carpet. When the vehicle is unlocked, a light-source on the driver-side exterior mirror projects the “X1” graphics onto the ground.
The sporty front bumper is part of the
M Aerodynamics Package
, along with the more elaborate bumper at the back, and body-coloured skirtings on the side. The updated X1 rides on
18-inch
 double-spoke Style 570 M two-tone alloy wheels.
Along with the styling upgrades, the M Sport designation also brings with it the
M Sport suspension
, which provides a slightly firmer ride, and lowers the X1 by
10 mm
 to 1588 mm.
On the inside, the updated F48 X1 gets a new
8.8-inch touchscreen navigation infotainment system
, which wasn’t available in the pre-facelift model. The infotainment system runs on the previous-generation iDrive
Operating System 6.0
, with access to the BMW ConnectedDrive services.
Instrument cluster here remains as analogue items, paired to a
5.7-inch multifunction
 digital display. The LCI X1 also gains a M leather steering wheel.
The dashboard trims are finished in aluminium, with Pearl Chrome highlight trim finishes. The driver and front passenger get power-adjustable sports seats, upholstered in black Dakota Leather.
Under the hood, the updated X1 uses the same
2.0-litre inline-four TwinPower Turbo engine
 from the pre-facelift model, making
192 hp
 and
280 Nm
 of torque.
Power is sent to the
front wheels
 via a
seven-speed dual-clutch Sport transmission
. BMW claims a zero-to-100 km/h time of
7.6 seconds
, and a rated top speed of
224 km/h
.
The updated BMW X1 sDrive20i M Sport will be available in four exterior colours – Misano Blue, Black Sapphire, Alpine White and Mineral Grey. As with all new BMW vehicles, the X1 comes with
5-year unlimited mileage warranty with free scheduled service
, as well as a 2-year tyre warranty programme for the run-flat tyres.
The BMW X1 can also be financed using the Balloon Financing Plan from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, with monthly installment plans starting from
RM2,668
 (based on estimates of an 80% loan on a five-year tenure).
In conjunction with the launch of the X1 and 320i, BMW will be organising two road shows in Kuala Lumpur – The Square, Bangsar on
10-12 January
, as well as Bangsar Shopping Centre on
10-19 January
. Test drives for the newly released cars will be available, along with exclusive BMW
ang paus
 and fortune cookies giveaways.
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2017 BMW M4 CS unveiled, a standard M4 on steroids, 460 hp & 600 Nm!!

If you missed out on the BMW M4 GTS, here’s a good news: the BMW M4 CS have just been unveiled at the Auto Shanghai 2017. Although don’t expect the GTS’s exclusivity and performance figures on the M4 CS, because it’s positioned below the water-injected special.
What’s the difference, you ask? The
3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six
 in the
M4 GTS
 develops 500 hp and 600 Nm courtesy of the water injection system, but the M4 CS foregoes that fancy tech. Therefore the same engine in the M4 CS produces ‘only’
 460 hp
 but still delivers
600 Nm
 of torque.
Bear in mind, that’s still
29 hp
 and
50 Nm
 more than the
standard M4
, and 10 hp more than the
M4 Competition Pack
. And no, there will be no manual transmission option, because the M4 CS only comes with a
seven-speed M DCT
. Century sprint is done in
3.9 seconds
, and the M4 CS has a limited top speed of
280 km/h
.
Like its cooler sibling, the M4 CS is very concerned about its weight. There’s the same carbon fibre bonnet and rear diffuser as the M4 GTS, but the carbon fibre front lip is not adjustable and on the boot lid sits a simpler carbon fibre gurney flap instead of the taller and adjustable wing spoiler.

The lightweight wheels are new in design, but they follow the GTS’s setup. The fronts are 9 J x 19 and the rears are an inch bigger at 10 J x 20. They are wrapped in bespoke
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
 rubbers measuring 265/35 R19 at the front and 285/30 R20 at the rear. As standard, the M4 CS is fitted with BMW M compound brakes, but BMW M carbon ceramic brakes are available as an option. You’ll also notice that the M4 CS also gets the flashy
OLED rear lights
 from the GTS at no extra cost.
Inside, the M4 CS retains the lightweight door cards from the GTS, but everywhere else it’s more lavish and more habitable for the daily grind compared to the GTS because the M4 CS sits four like a normal M4, and there’s none of that orange scaffolding behind the front seats like in the M4 GTS.

This San Marino Blue Metallic is exclusively available on the M4 CS along with Lime Rock Grey Metallic, but there will be limited units of the M4 CS painted in Frozen Dark Blue II. While the production of the M4 GTS was limited to 700 units, BMW will churn out the M4 CS for two years from July, which roughly translates around 2,000 to 3,000 units. In Europe, the BMW M4 CS is priced at €116,900.
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New generation Mercedes-Benz GLA to be unveiled digitally in December

You know you are living in the digital age when new cars are launched online, which is logical given the target customer of the new generation Mercedes-Benz GLA. The original SUV model of the compact class (there’s now the
more upright GLB
) will premiere on the
Mercedes me communications platform
 on 11
th
 December, 2.00pm CET (Central Europen Time) or 9.00pm local time.
With the majority of the second-generation compact class models already launched, there shouldn’t be many surprises left in terms of powertrain or technology, leaving only the
final styling
 of the new GLA to be unveiled.
Judging from the official camouflaged teasers released by Mercedes-Benz, the GLA is expected to retain its
sporty, low slung crossover look
 while incorporating new design details of the compact class models. It should come with a more spacious interior as well as the latest version of the MBUX interface.
We expect the GLA to be made available in
200
and
250
variants initially; the former being a 163 hp and 250 Nm 1.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder driving the front wheels, while the latter a 224 hp and 350Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with 4MATIC all-wheel drive. It will likely be joined later on by the GLA 35 and 45 with proper AMG muscle power.


Volvo V60 Cross Country is ready to take on the beaten track

Back in 1997, Volvo unveiled the Volvo V70 XC which stands for Cross Country. Essentially a jacked-up version of the V70 wagon that combined the stylish practicality of a wagon with increased off-road capabilities. The XC moniker has since moved on to be on Volvo’s SUV body styles but the company is still committed to making cars for the jacked-up wagon segment.
Enter the all-new Volvo V60 Cross Country, a handsome looking wagon that you can take off-road without the slightest worry. The new V60 Cross Country completes the Swedish carmaker’s 60 Series model line up, joining the
XC60
,
V60
 and recently unveiled
S60
.

Volvo did not simply raise the V60 Cross Country to give it
additional 75 mm
of ground clearance compared to the standard V60 but also bespoke Cross Country chassis (based on the SPA platform like other 60- & 90- series models) and suspension to allow the car to take on the challenging terrains. The V60 Cross Country also features All-wheel-Drive, Hill Descent Control, Corner Traction Control and Off-Road driving mode to fully exploit the off-road ready chassis.
At launch, the V60 Cross Country is available with a T5 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol and a D4 2.0-litre turbodiesel, giving the car
254 hp
 and
190 hp
 respectively. Mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants will be available at a later date.

Equipment available on the V60 Cross Country is identical to the rest of the 60 Series models which include LCD instrument cluster, 9.0-inch Sensus touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, panoramic sunroof, premium sound system, powered tailgate, Pilot Assist semi-autonomous driving system, autonomous emergency braking, Run-off Road Mitigation, Oncoming Lane amongst others.
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Fuel prices up by 10 sen in October [+Video]

Effective 12am on 1 October 2015, all fuels – RON95, RON97 and diesel will see an increase of 10 sen per litre, no thanks to the weakening of Ringgit against the Greenback.
This follows after two months of sustained fuel pricing, with RON95 costing RM1.95 per litre, RON97 at RM2.35 per litre, Euro2M diesel at RM1.80 and Euro5M diesel at RM1.90 for the month of August and September.
As for October, the new pricing will be
RM2.05 per litre
 (RON95),
RM2.45 per litre
 (RON97),
RM1.90 per litre
 (Euro2M diesel) and
RM2.00 per litre
 for the newer Euro5M diesel.
If you haven’t seen our video on tips to save fuel, be sure to watch our video by clicking the embedded thumbnail below!


2023 BMW X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence facelift launched in Malaysia – MHEV engine, from RM655k

BMW Malaysia has just unveiled the
 new 2023 BMW X7
, featuring significant updates to the luxury SUV nicknamed ‘The President’. Locally assembled in Malaysia, the new 2023 BMW X7 in xDrive40i Pure Excellence form is priced from
RM654,800
 on-the-road, without insurance, and inclusive of the five-year extended warranty and scheduled service programme.
BMW X7 M60i in Palm Springs, California – local specifications differ
2023 BMW X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence Exterior: New front fascia
The biggest update to the 2023 BMW X7 comes in the form of a new front fascia, featuring the new split headlights design that will form the new look of the marque’s luxury class of vehicles.
Complementing the new headlights are the double-slat kidney grille, alongside the two chrome trims that frames the lower air intakes on the bumpers. Round the back, the BMW X7 also gets redesigned tail lights with a reworked internal graphics layout, joined together by a new glass-covered chrome strip that helps emphasise the width of the X7.
Coming in the Pure Excellence trim here in Malaysia, the new 2023 BMW X7 xDrive40i is equipped with satinated aluminium exterior trims, paired to new 22-inch alloy wheels. Customers can choose between five exterior colour options: Sparkling Copper Grey Metallic, Blue Ridge Mountain Metallic, Skyscraper Grey Metallic, Mineral White Metallic, and Black Sapphire Metallic.
2023 BMW X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence Performance: New mild-hybrid powertrain
Another significant update to the new 2023 BMW X7 xDrive40i in Malaysia is its powertrain, as the 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six engine is now paired with a 48V mild-hybrid system for increased efficiency and driving dynamics, says BMW.
Maximum outputs are now rated at
 375 hp
 and
540 Nm
, which drops the luxury SUV’s century sprint time by 0.3 seconds to now
5.8 seconds
. Drive is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed Steptronic Sport automatic transmission, and the marque’s xDrive all-wheel drive system.
Just as before, the new 2023 BMW X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence in Malaysia is equipped with a two-axle air suspension (with automatic level control) as standard, alongside rear-wheel steering to help with low-speed manoeuvrability.
BMW X7 M60i in Palm Springs, California – local specifications differ
2023 BMW X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence Interior: BMW Curved Display
Similar to all of the other BMW models updated recently here in Malaysia, the new 2023 BMW X7 is also now equipped with the
 BMW Curved Display
 on the dashboard, combining a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment display underneath a single curved pane of glass.
In order to accommodate the larger screens, the dashboard has also been adapted with new discreet central air vents. A new backlit ambient light strip can also be found on the dashboard, and is paired to a new Welcome Light Carpet when the doors are opened on either side of the SUV.
Coming in the Pure Excellence trim, the new 2023 BMW X7 xDrive40i in Malaysia comes dressed with Lindenwood Fineline wood trim on the interior, paired to a mix of real and vegan leather on the steering wheel and seats, plus Alcantara on the headliner.
As with before, the BMW X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence is offered in a sole six-seater configuration, with two power adjustable individual seats for the second row. Other standard interior appointments include the large head-up display, Crafted Clarity interior trims, and a panoramic glass roof for a more airy interior ambience.
2023 BMW X7 xDrive Pure Excellence Safety
The new 2023 BMW X7 xDrive Pure Excellence in Malaysia will be offered with an extensive list of advanced safety systems, including lane departure warning and prevention, rear cross-traffic warning and collision prevention, autonomous emergency braking, as well as the Parking Assistant Professional package.
However, it seems that the previously-available Driving Assistance Professional package, which includes the adaptive cruise control and lane keeping systems, have now been removed on the new 2023 facelift model.
2023 BMW X7 xDrive Pure Excellence Pricing in Malaysia
The new 2023 BMW X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence in Malaysia is priced at
RM654,800
 on-the-road, without insurance, and inclusive of the five-year extended warranty and service package, representing a significant price drop of RM70,000.
With the Straight Line Financing Plan from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, the New BMW X7 xDrive40i Pure Excellence can be had with a monthly instalment plan starting from RM7,581 (based on estimates of an 80% loan on a seven-year tenure).
READ MORE:
2022 BMW X7’s new split headlights might be even more divisive than the kidney grille
GALLERY
2023 BMW X7 M60i in Palm Springs, California


What was Volkswagen trying to say in this Mk 8 Golf advertisement?

A 10-second Instagram post by Volkswagen to promote the
 new Mk 8 Golf
has been taken down after it generated the wrong kind of hype – sparking racial outcries by netizens.
The video showed a man of colour being lifted up by a massive white hand like a puppet and subsequently flicked into a cafe. The cafe as it was pointed out, was called “Petit Colon” – a French term when translated to English means
“Little Colony”
 – something viewers perceived as a reference to colonialism.
Apparently, the video was part of a series that depicts a love story between a man of colour and a white woman. Netizens however, did not react positively to the way the story was presented.

Some eagle-eyed viewers even pointed out that when the “Der Neue Golf” slogan in German first faded into the video, it first spelt “Neger” for a very brief moment before the complete slogan appeared. According to reports, the term “Neger” can be used as the German version of the N-word.
One viewer even went as far as to assume that the person responsible for this video knew what they were doing, in a report by
Al Jazeera
.
Whether or not that is true, is not for us to say but in case case you’ve not been taught by pop culture, absolutely no one is allowed to used the N-word except for people of colour to address their “homies” (friends). It’s just a fact – an unspoken universal rule.
It could be intentional, it could be sheer coincidence or perhaps that was just how the slogan appeared when special effects were applied during editing, we will never know.
The new Mk 8 Volkswagen Golf.
From a different point of view though, could netizens perhaps be a little oversensitive about it? Overthinking things perhaps? Just a little food for thought; a different perspective, if we may. We too, do not tolerate such ideas but often times, it’s easier to be negative than positive.
Volkswagen initially responded by saying they were shocked at the response of the video and how it was perceived so wrongly. However, the company apologised later on and removed the video altogether; saying it was distasteful and unacceptable.
Given that Volkswagen’s history is heavily linked to World War 2, the company also released a statement saying that it firmly rejects such forms of racism, xenophobia and discrimination, according to a report by the
BBC
.
The company said it would get to the bottom of the matter and there will be consequences for those responsible. *chills down our spine*


Uber charges rider in Canada more than RM 57,000 for a ride

It’s not uncommon for Uber rides to be subject to surge charges, especially during peak hours and when there’s more ride requests than there are Uber drivers in the area.
Personally, I’ve been quoted three times more for a ride that would usually cost around RM 20 but this guy in Toronto, Canada was faced with a real shocker.
Based on an article from The Comeback, the rider was was charged a mind-boggling $18,518 Canadian dollars (approx USD 14,000/RM 57,000) for a 20-minute ride that would normally cost around $10 to $ 12.
Although Uber initially stood by the insane charges, the fee has since been refunded with Uber claiming there to be
a glitch in the system
.
Source:
The Comeback


Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia to help owners affected by flood – discounts and free towing

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia, recently announced a Flood Relief Effort for Mitsubishi owners affected by the recent flood disaster in Penang.
A 40% discount will be offered on spare parts and labour prices from today until
 31st December 2017
 for vehicles damaged in the flood. The only condition is that only vehicles purchased from Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia’s authorised dealers are eligible and cases are subject to verification to ensure authenticity.
“We hope that this Flood Relief Effort will help ease the burden of our customers through this difficult period. Our prayers and best wishes go out to our customers and their families who have been affected by the floods,” said
Chief Executive Officer of MMM, Tomoyuki Shinnishi.
MMM is also offering free towing services for vehicles involved in the flood to the nearest Mitsubishi service centre. Customers merely need to lodge a police report and then make a call to Mitsubishi Motors Customer Careline at
1-800-88-2166
 or
03-7803 1566
 for the free towing service.
Recently MMM have also partnered up with 120 Triton Tuners Club members alongside authorised Mitsubishi dealers to initiate clean-up programmes in some flood-hit areas.


Facts & Figures: BMW 218i Gran Coupe M Sport now in Malaysia, priced at RM211,637

BMW Malaysia has launched the new, locally assembled BMW 218i Gran Coupe M Sport at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. It’s priced at
RM211,367
 (on-the-road without insurance) with the Sales Tax Exemption and is accompanied by a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty and free schedule service programme.
Like the new 1 Series, the BMW 218i Gran Coupe M Sport is yet another torchbearer for BMW’s revolution of front-wheel drive cars. Yes, the 218i Gran Coupe is front-wheel drive! You may be as appalled as we are but when we first got to drive the
exact car in Portugal earlier this year
, BMW said most of their customers
don’t care if their BMWs are front or rear-wheel driven
!
PERFORMANCE
Engine: 1.5-litre 3 cylinder turbocharged
Transmission: 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission
Horsepower: 140 hp
Torque: 220 Nm
0 to 100 km/h: 8.7 seconds
Top Speed: 213 km/h
EXTERIOR
In terms of dimensions, the 218i Gran Coupe measures 4,526 mm in length, 1,800 mm in width, 1,420 mm in height. To give you a little perspective, compared to the G20 BMW 3 Series, the 218i Gran Coupe is only 39 mm shorter, 27 mm narrower and 22 mm lower. As for wheelbase, the 218i Gran Coupe measures 4,670 mm. Compared to the G20 3 Series, it’s 181 mm shorter.
18-inch M Sport light alloy style 819 wheels with 225/40 R18 tyres
M Sport Suspension
M Sport front and rear bumpers
Keyless entry
Hands-free powered tailgate
LED head and tail lights
The new BMW 218i Gran Coupe M Sport is available in Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Snapper Rock Blue, Storm Bay, and Melbourne Red.
INTERIOR
Despite the significant difference in wheelbase compared to the BMW G20 3 Series, the 218i Gran Coupe which is based on the BMW X1 and X2 platform still manages to offer plenty of legroom, with sufficient head and knee room for a 180 cm tall passenger. As a “based model BMW 2 Series, the interior isn’t what you’d call bare either; just check out the list of features and equipment!
8.8-inch touchscreen display with 6 speakers
Dual-zone air conditioning
Digital instrument cluster
Wireless charging pad
4 USB charging ports (only 1x USB-A)
Black leather Dakota upholstery
M Sport seats
M Sport steering
M Sport floor mat
M Sport door sill
SAFETY
Forward Collision Warning with brake intervention
Lane Change Warning
Lane Change Assist with steering intervention
Rear Collision Warning
Cross Traffic Alert
Parking Assistant
Reversing Assistant
It will be available at all authorised BMW dealerships nationwide starting from today and customers can place their booking for it with just RM1,000 on
BMW Malaysia’s online store
.
With the Balloon Financing Plan from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, the BMW 218i Gran Coupé M Sport can be yours from RM 2,418.00 monthly based on estimates of an 80% loan on a five-year tenure.
GALLERY


This new MINI Electric Pacesetter takes the award for the coolest looking Safety Car!

The all-electric Formula E racing series will have the
MINI Cooper SE
 joining as the third vehicle for Safety Car duties from next month onwards.
MINI is calling it the MINI Electric Pacesetter inspired by JCW and it is more than just a MINI with flashing lights. Wide wheel arches, a signature John Cooper Works elements, are required for the fitment of wider tyres together with a deep front aerodynamic spoiler with corner splitters.
The rear bumper has been swapped with a more aerodynamic efficient item through the usage of diffuser fins plus cut-outs for better airflow. A rear wing, larger than the on the
MINI John Cooper Works GP
, is tastefully blended to the trailing end of the MINI, with the signal light unit integrated into it. The aerodynamic pieces are 3D-printed from
recycled carbon fibre
 in Oxford, England.
The MINI Electric Pacesetter gets a custom livery and graphics, with the main body colour in matt silver until the rear one-third of the MINI. From there on, a two-stage colour gradient shifting from Highspeed Orange to Curbside Red metallic is applied.
MINI says yellow accent lines and surfaces on the aerodynamic elements (the spats, skirts and rear wing) provide a nod to the airflow optimisation taking place in these areas and add a visual flourish to the air deflectors and aero edges. The four-spoke forged 18-inch rims from the MINI John Cooper Works GP model are given a bi-colour black-neon/orange design.
Thanks to the removal of all the unnecessary road-car fittings and equipment from the interior, the MINI Electric Pacesetter now weighs just 1,230 kg- a
130 kg reduction
 from the MINI Cooper SE. The interior also features many items replaced with construction out of carbon fibre, as well as innovative removable cushioning pads in the racing seats.

Power output from the front-mounted electric motor remains at
184 hp
 with torque gaining an extra 10 Nm to peak at
280 Nm
. The lighter weight launches to a much quicker 0 to 100 km/h time of
6.7 seconds
 (0.6 seconds faster than the standard model). Charging time to reach 80% capacity for the 28.9 kWh battery (net) in the standard model takes just 35 mins through a 50 kW DC fast charger.
Technical upgrades for sustained high-speed driving around tight
makeshift street circuits
, a common layout in Formula E, includes a larger four-piston braking system from MINI JCW, fully-adjustable racing shock absorbers, coil springs and suspension control arm mountings with a 10-mm increase in track width.
The MINI Electric Pacesetter will also be fitted with the
same Michelin Pilot Sport control-tyres
 as used by the Formula E machines, measuring 245/40 R18.
Bernd Korber, Head of MINI, said: “We have already shown how well
driving fun
 and electric mobility go together with the MINI Electric. However, the MINI Electric Pacesetter inspired by JCW goes at least a step further and blends the performance character of the John Cooper Works brand with electric mobility. For me, the message is clear: electrification and John Cooper Works are a good fit.”
Formula E has not retired the
BMW i8 Safety Cars
 (Coupe and Roadster) and will rotate duties at selected events with the new MINI Electric Pacesetter. Three other electrified BMWs are also used during the race events- the
BMW 530e
 serves as the Medical Car supported by the
BMW X5 xDrive45e
 as the Rescue Car while the fully-electric
BMW i3s
 is allocated for the Race Director.
The MINI Electric Pacesetter will see action for the first time in Rome at the second event of Formula E’s 2021 season with Bruno Correia behind the wheel.
GALLERY


2016 Mitsubishi Triton launched in Malaysia, new 2.4L turbo, from RM73k

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) introduced the
fifth generation Mitsubishi Triton
 last year. The new model came with a series of new conveniences which add to the appeal of the already popular pick-up truck. However, the biggest let down was that we were given a miss on the new aluminium diesel engine, mainly due to the poor diesel quality that is not compatible with their clean diesel engine.
This year, with the Euro5M diesel become increasingly more accessible, MMM is confident to finally introduce the new Mitsubishi Triton with MIVEC Turbo Diesel engine.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Mitsubishi Triton Quest 4×2 MT
Mitsubishi Triton 4×4 MT
Mitsubishi Triton VGT 4×4 MT
Mitsubishi Triton VGT 4×4 AT
Mitsubishi Triton VGT Adventure 4×4 AT
Mitsubishi Triton VGT Adventure X 4×4 AT
Engine
2,477cc DI-D Common Rail Intercooled Turbocharged
2,442cc MIVEC Turbo Diesel DI-D Common Rail VGT Intercooler
Transmission
5-speed manual
6-speed manual
5-speed automatic with Sport Mode
Max Power
108 hp @ 4,000 rpm
134 hp @ 4,000 rpm
179 hp @ 3,500 rpm
Max Torque
200 Nm @ 2,000 rpm
324 Nm @ 2,000 rpm
430 Nm @2,500 rpm
Price (OTR without insurance)
RM73,438
RM88,997
RM102,619
RM109,446
RM118,198
RM125,005
EXTERIOR
The new Triton VGT variants come with some refreshed bits to bring the Triton up to competition. Standard on all VGT variants are
automatic Bi-Xenon HID Headlamps
 with LED day time running lights and
rear fog lamps
. The top of the line VGT Adventure X adds on a
Shield Extender
 for the front bumper,
Sports Bar with Fullbox
 and
dual-tone 17-inch alloys
.

Other than that, the basic Tritons wear the same fascia as before. Both the VGT Adventure’s 17-inch alloys is wrapped in 245/65 rubbers while the rest ride on 16-inch alloys wrapped in 245/70 rubbers. Only the Triton Quest rolls on 15-inch alloys with 195 R15C profile tyres. The Quest also gets reflector headlamps and power adjustable side mirrors as standard.
INTERIOR
As is the aim during the launch of the fifth generation Triton, Mitsubishi aims to introduce more passenger-car like features to the robust pickup. Here, the base Quest variant comes with a single DIN audio system with USB, MP3, AUX and CD player, a three spoke urethane steering wheel, two speakers and fabric seats. The Triton 4×4 variant adds on four speakers.

Standard features in the VGT models include auto headlamps with manual levelling, keyless entry and push-start, power folding side mirrors, touchscreen infotainment system with six speakers, auto climate control and leather wrapped steering wheel with audio controls.
The VGT Adventure models get additional reverse camera, dual-zone climate control, steering wheel voice control, paddle shifters, cruise control and leather seats as standard.
Exclusive to the VGT Adventure X are automatic wipers.
PERFORMANCE
Powering the updated Triton is a new 2.4-litre aluminium MIVEC turbodiesel. The all new engine is developed from the ground up to be lighter, more powerful and cleaner in emissions. As such, it now produces
179 hp
 and
430 Nm
 of torque, up 1 hp and 30 Nm from the old 2.5 mill. NVH levels are also greatly improved compared to the previous mill, but Mitsubishi claims that it maintains the same sturdiness expected from a Triton.
The new engine is also 30kg lighter and promises 15 percent better fuel economy. The new engine is now compatible with Euro2 grade diesel, but MMM recommends Euro5 quality for better emissions and fuel economy. The engine’s output remains the same regardless of fuel grade. Speaking of fuel economy, the new 2.4L MIVEC consumes
6.2 litres per 100km
, but this result was obtained by driving on Malaysian roads.
The
Easy Select 4WD system
 that is on all 4×4 models optimises torque distribution between the front and rear axles in any driving conditions. Drivers can switch between 2WD-Hi and 4WD-Hi via the rotary dial at speeds of up to 100km/h. 4WD-Lo can be selected when the terrains get really tough. Another noteworthy feature of the Triton is the best-in-class turning radius of
 5.9 meters
 that allows for easy manoeuvre of the pickup truck.
SAFETY
Standard on all Tritons are ABS with EBD, dual airbags, Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution that absorbs and dissipate collision impact force and ISOFIX mounting points. However, no stability or traction control is found in any of the Triton.
WHAT ELSE?
All Tritons come with a 2-Year free maintenance and a 3-Year or 100,000km warranty package. There is a total of eight different colour choices to choose from, but these vary according to the variant of your choice. Mitsubishi targets to deliver 500 units of Triton a month through their network of 54 showrooms and 52 service outlet nationwide.
IMAGE GALLERY
Mitsubishi Triton 2.4L VGT Adventure X (A/T, 4×4)

Mitsubishi Triton 2.4L VGT M/T (4×4)


Facts & Figures: All-new BMW 330e M Sport Plug-in Hybrid now launched in Malaysia – RM265k

Alongside the range-topping
BMW M340i xDrive
, BMW Malaysia today also introduced the highly-awaited 330e M Sport plug-in hybrid variant of the G20 generation 3 Series here on our shores. Replacing the ever-popular
F30 330e M Sport
, the new locally-assembled PHEV 3 Series is at
RM264,613
, on-the-road, without insurance, and inclusive of the
 sales tax exemptions
 until the end of 2020.
This puts the BMW 330e M Sport right smack in the middle between the
330i M Sport
 and
320i Sport
 variants in terms of pricing. However, it is kitted out almost identical to the petrol-powered 330i M Sport, which means you’re getting nearly the same car but with a discount of nearly RM22,000, thanks to its electrified powertrain.
PERFORMANCE
The BMW 330e M Sport is powered by a detuned B48 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine – with the same output as the 320i – paired to a electric motor.
Engine: B48 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol (184 hp, 300 Nm)
Electric motor: 50 kW (68 hp)
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Drivetrain: Front engine, rear-wheel drive
Suspension: Adaptive M suspension
Total system horsepower: 252 hp (292 peak with XtraBoost)
Total system torque: 420 Nm
0-100 km/h: 5.9 seconds
Top speed: 230 km/h
New to the PHEV BMW 3 Series is an XtraBoost feature which provides a
temporary boost of 40 hp
 during acceleration, resulting in a
peak horsepower output of 292 hp
. The feature can be enabled in the Sport drive mode, under kickdown, and in the gearbox’s sport and manual modes.
Compared to the outgoing PHEV 3-er, the new BMW 330e M Sport is 0.2 seconds faster to 100 km/h, while the top speed has also been increased by 5 km/h. Fuel consumption figure is rated at 2.2 l/100 km – though as usual on a PHEV vehicle, the
real world figure will be higher
 depending on your battery charge levels.
Electric power is provided from a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which now provides nearly double the
full-electric range at 56 km
. The 330e M Sport can also now travel up to 140 km/h in pure electric drive mode, which is 20 km/h higher than the previous outgoing model.
Topping off the battery to full from 0% in the BMW 330e M Sport takes approximately six hours (4.3 hours to 80%) with a standard Malaysia 240-volt domestic AC power outlet, or 3.6 hours (2.6 hours to 80%) using an AC wallbox or public charger with a maximum charging capacity of 3.7 kW.
Unique to the new BMW 330e M Sport is an
adaptive M Suspension set-up
, which should help soften the firm and crashy ride of the 330i (which only has passive M Suspension). Aside from that, other M Sport parts are identical to the petrol-powered variant, including the M Sport brakes with blue callipers at the front.
EXTERIOR
Just like the range-topping 330i M Sport, the new PHEV variant is also dressed in the same M Sport exterior package, with nearly identical features to its elder sibling. These include:
adaptive LED headlights
18-inch double-spoke Style 790 M two-tone alloy wheels – mixed tyre sizes
BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line
Twin high-gloss chrome tailpipe finishers
M Aerodynamics package
Exterior colour options: Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Portimao Blue, Mineral Grey, and Sunset Orange
INTERIOR
The interior kit of the new 330e M Sport is also identical to the 330i, which includes as standard the BMW Live Cockpit Professional system with BMW Operating System 7, featuring a 10.25-inch centre touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster – the former supporting Apple CarPlay but still requiring a subscription for the service.
Other interior highlights include:
tri-zone automatic climate control,
10-speaker, 205-watt sound system
Aluminium Tetragon interior trim finishers with Pearl Chrome highlights
Leather Vernasca upholstery – in Black or Cognac
M leather steering wheel
M-specific pedals
Sport seats for the driver and front passenger
hands-free opening boot lid
SAFETY
As for safety, the BMW 330e M Sport comes as standard with six airbags, reverse camera, and the Dynamic Stability Control suite, which includes traction, cornering brake, and dynamic brake controls, along with Antilock Braking System (ABS) with Brake Assist.
Just like the rest of the 3 Series model line-up in Malaysia, the 330e M Sport also gets Driving Assistant advanced driver assistance package, which includes the following functions:
front collision warning with brake intervention
lane departure warning
lane change warning
rear crossing traffic warning
rear collision prevention
Parking Assistant with Reversing Assist system
PRICING
As mentioned above, the BMW 330e M Sport is priced at
RM264,613
 in Malaysia on-the-road, without insurance, and inclusive of sales tax exemptions. The price is valid until the end of December 2020, after which it will be reverted back to its original recommended retail price of RM268,800.
Included as standard with every purchase is a five-year unlimited mileage warranty with free scheduled service programme, and BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline. From now until the 31st of December 2020, BMW Malaysia is also offering customers an extended hybrid battery warranty for the 330e M Sport for up to 8 years or 160,000 km, whichever comes first.
The new BMW 330e M Sport will be available at all authorised BMW dealerships nationwide starting 24th October 2020, or can be booked through the new
BMW Online Shop service
 starting today at RM1,000. Following the sales tax exemptions period, for the full updated price list of BMW models in Malaysia, click
here
.
GALLERY


Over 1 million BMWs to be recalled over fire risk from faulty exhaust system

BMW had in August announced that it would recall over 480,000 diesel vehicles in the European and Asian region affected by the above said problem after some 30 cars caught fire in South Korea this year.
Upon further internal investigations, on engines with similar configurations, it is found that those “not included in the initial recall” posed no significant risk to its owners.
Nonetheless, BMW has decided to expand its initial recall campaign to involve four and six-cylinder diesel engines produced from August 2010 until August 2017, to a total of 1.6 million vehicles.
What in the world is going on, you ask?
Well, internal investigations have revealed that leaked coolant from the vehicle’s exhaust system could melt the intake manifold in “very rare cases”. In more “extremely rare cases”, it could result in a fire – something which has occurred around 30 times in South Korea.
Speaking to the Head of Corporate Communications of BMW Group Malaysia, Sashi Ambi, he said, “In the initial technical campaign which was undertaken on the specific models from the experience Korea, the cars from Malaysia were excluded as we offered different engines.”
“The campaign has been expanded and we are now verifying if the vehicles in Malaysia are involved in this precautionary technical campaign. If there are vehicles involved in this campaign, BMW Malaysia will be in touch directly with our customers together with our dealers. To clarify, there have been no similar incidents of that in South Korea, occurring in Malaysia”, he added.


Volkswagen Malaysia contributes 200 child car seats to PPBM

A few weeks back we saw Volkswagen Group Malaysia (VGM) holding for the first time, a child passenger safety campaign in collaboration with the Persatuan Pengasuh Berdaftar Malaysia (PPBM) which saw VGM proiding a
roundhouse awareness training program
 to reduce child fatalities on the road.
VGM has made good on their deal to help spread the message far and wide when they contributed
 200 Volkswagen child seat units
 and a further
10,000 copies
 of the A-Z of road safety flash cards given out to participants of the
Child Passenger Safety (CPS)
 campaign.
The
CPS workshop
s will be conducted nationwide for
280 childcare centres
until
 August
this year. The workshop training includes
hands-on assistance
 with proper use of
 child restraint systems and safety belts
. VGM’s Director of Human Resource, Sharifah Salmah Syed Harun said, “Statistics revealed that the use of child seats
reduces the risk of death by 71 percent for infants
 and
54 percent for children aged between one to five
.”
We couldn’t agree more with VGM and their stand on this matter.
Exposure, awareness and proper training
 needs to be conducted on a wider scale to
 curtail this problem
 and nip it in the bud. And as proof that Volkswagen cars are keeping to the time and ideology,

all models in the family
 lineup come with
ISOFIX mounting points.
There is sound reasoning behind the use of child seats.
 Seat belts
 are designed to work most effectively with
grown adults
 in terms of height.
Infants and children
 on the other hand, are required to be holstered down in
rear and front facing seats respectively
 whilst older kids should be strapped onto a
 booster seat
 which
maximises
 the effectiveness of a
seatbelt,
given the height of the passenger. So guys, always remember to buckle up, even when taking the back seat. It will go a long way.


Ford GT Competition Series launched, weighs less and has no air-con!

The new
Ford GT
 is undeniably one heck of a supercar. Just last month, the car won the Rolex 24 Hour race at Daytona. To celebrate their remarkable feat, the Blue Oval unveiled a limited edition variant called the Ford GT Competition Series.
This track special doesn’t benefit from performance gains, but is actually lightened to improve the power to weight ratio. In place of the glass cover is a Perspex acrylic engine cover, which is supported by carbon fibre prop rods. The glass separating the cockpit and engine bay is made of Gorilla Glass. Wheels are now made entirely out of carbon fibre, screwed securely in place by titanium lugs and the entire exhaust system is now titanium.

Luxuries such as air conditioning, cup holders, infotainment system, and even storage bins are removed in pursuit of quicker lap times.
Aesthetic wise, the Ford GT Competition Series is differentiated with the use of a unique, high-gloss carbon fibre stripes, mirror caps and A-pillars. Apparently, to save more weight, some interior carbon fibre components are not even painted over!
Inside, the seats are finished with dark Alcantara with red accents. Ford is offering six exterior colours, beginning with Shadow Black, Frozen White, Ingot Silver, Liquid Blue, Liquid Grey and Triple Yellow.
Despite all that extensive weight loss programme, Ford remains mum on the total weight reduced. Well then, let’s just be reminded that the standard Ford GT packs 647 hp and weighs just 1,385kg. That’s quick enough to
obliterate the McLaren 675T
, so go figure.
IMAGE GALLERY


Despite electrification plans, Honda expects ICE cars to stick around past 2040

Honda
 is finally serious about EVs, with a new investment plan worth USD40 billion through 2030 in an effort to catch up to its international rivals. This includes a USD3.5 billion joint venture with LG for a new battery plant in the US, as the Japanese aims to push its hybrid and fully-electric vehicle sales up to 40% of its sales by the end of the decade.
Despite its commitment to electrification, however, Honda still thinks that the internal combustion engines (ICE) could still be around beyond 2040. “The charging infrastructure is not at a place that it needs to be for our customers,” said Honda President and CEO, Toshihiro Mibe in a
Reuters
 report.
As such, the company has been running feasibility studies on everything from chargers and advanced batteries, to aerial vehicles and rockets, as well as the new carbon-neutral synthetic fuels that could help keep the ICEs around – particularly for performance cars, big trucks, and planes – for another decade or two.
However, Mibe added, “as we move toward carbon neutrality, we are focused on electrification and fuel cells – those are the two core components of future mobility.”
RELATED:
Europe passes law to officially ban new petrol and diesel cars from 2035
The Honda Civic RS e:HEV hybrid made its debut in Malaysia late last year. Learn more about it
 here
.
The Japanese will be establishing a new standalone business unit next month, which will oversee the development of its EV and battery business. This could eventually lead to an investment in charging stations, most likely in the United States, to rival the likes of Tesla’s Supercharger network – the latter recently added CCS charging cables to several of its stations to support other EVs other than Tesla’s own.
Honda is also developing its own EV architectures, and will arrive sometime in the 2026 alongside its own advanced batteries for its future models.
“I’ve been in the engine development business for more than 30 years, so personally [electrification is] a little threatening. But I have to separate my own feelings from what is best for the business,” Mibe added.


Porsche Cayenne facelifted for 2014, first plug-in hybrid Cayenne introduced [+Video]

After the introduction of the Macan, the Cayenne is now receiving a facelift to keep it looking fresh alongside the lithe Macan. On this refresh also debuts the first
plug-in hybrid
 variant in the Cayenne family, while the Cayenne S loses a couple of cylinders under its bonnet with a twin-turbo V6 in place of a normally-aspirated V8.
Porsche claims that their designers “have given the Cayenne an even sharper design with precise lines and purposefully placed light refracting edges”. Well from what we can see in the pictures it still looks like a Cayenne but certainly looks sharper with crisper lines especially in the nose area.
The front middle air intake now features automatically-controlled
active air flaps
 that open or close to aid the engine cooling or to improve aerodynamics. There are also
airblades
 on the edge of the side intakes to guide air to the intercoolers. All Cayenne will get
Bi-Xenon
™ headlights with the now-familiar “hovering” four-point LED daytime running lights as standard, except on the Cayenne Turbo which gets the
high performance LED headlights
 with
Porsche Dynamic Light System
 (PDLS).
At the back the tailgate has been slightly redesigned with slimmer LED tail lights, and the exhaust pipes are now integrated into the rear bumper. Changes are very minimal on the inside, the 918 Spyder-inspired steering wheel as seen previously in the Macan is now offered as standard across the range. The rear seats are now said to be more comfortable with optional rear seat ventilation.
One of the highlights on the 2015 Cayenne is the new
Cayenne S E-Hybrid
. Touted as the first plug-in hybrid in the premium SUV segment, it combines a
 3.0-litre supercharged V6
 with electric motor to generate a total of
416 hp
 at 5,500 rpm and
590 Nm
 of torque from 1,250 to 4,000 rpm. The Cayenne S E-Hybrid sprints from
0-100 km/h
 in
 5.9 seconds
 and the
top speed
is
 243 km/h
. The
10.8 kWh lithium-ion battery
 provides enough energy to power the
 95 hp electric motor
 in the Cayenne S E-Hybrid up to 126 km/h in pure electric mode. The fuel consumption is rated very low at
3.4 l/100km
.
Another highlight is the new
3.6-litre twin-turbo V6
 in the Cayenne S. Even though the new Cayenne S is ditching the old 4.8-litre V8 with a smaller unit, it gains 20 hp and 50 Nm more and 0.4 seconds quicker from standstill to 100 km/h. The new engine sips less fuel at
9.5 l/100km
 but produces
420 hp
 at 6,000 rpm and
550 Nm
 of torque from 1,350 to 4,500 rpm.
0-100 km/h
 is achieved in
5.2 seconds
 while the
top speed
 is
259 km/h
.
The rest of the Cayenne range consists of the Cayenne Diesel, the Cayenne Diesel S, and the Cayenne Turbo retain the same powerplants as the pre-facelift model but have been tweaked to provide better performance and efficiency. The
3.0-litre turbocharged V6
 in the
Cayenne Diesel
 generates
240 hp
 and
580 Nm
, and the
4.2-litre twin-turbo V8
 in the
 Cayenne Diesel S
 develops
385 hp
 and a whopping
850 Nm
 of torque. Meanwhile the
4.8-litre twin-turbo V8
 in the
Cayenne Turbo
 now produces
520 hp
 and
750 Nm
. Fuel consumption for the Cayenne Diesel, Cayenne Diesel S, and Cayenne Turbo are
6.8 l/100km
,
8.0 l/100km
, and
11.5 l/100km
 respectively.
Every Cayenne models are equipped with an updated
auto stop-start function plus
 and optimized thermal management for greater efficiency. Porsche didn’t mention about the base Cayenne model replacement in the new Cayenne range but it will make its public debut at the Paris motor show in October.
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY


Review: Mercedes-Benz E 200 Avantgarde – All the premium sedan you’ll ever need

As you all know by now, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has introduced not one, not two but three new E-Class variants during the recent lockdown.
There’s the
E 200 Avantgarde
, the
E 300 AMG Line
, and the
E 300 Coupe AMG Line
. There’s also the
GLE 450 AMG Line
 but we’ll save that for another day.
As soon as the showrooms were allowed to opened, I was contacted by Cycle & Carriage who invited to spend a day with the E 200 Avantgarde. Frankly, I would’ve preferred an
AMG E 63 S 4MATIC+
 *wink* but after nearly three months of driving no further than five kilometres, you can imagine the excitement when Mercedes offered the keys to a Benz and said “Enjoy the car”.
So what do you do when you get such a car for a day? You call your friend and show off the car; and go for a joy ride. So we went to lunch at Damansara Perdana and boy was I glad to be in the E 200 Avantgarde instead of the AMG E 63 S.
If you have been to the DP (for Damansara Perdana) area, you’d know what a mess it is over there with the ongoing DASH Highway construction. The roads conditions are poor and half of the main road is poorly lit as a result of the overhead highway.
If I was in the E 63 S, I’d be cursing and swearing harder than someone who has cryptocurrency in a pen drive he/she can’t unlock. But no, I was in the E 200 so it was calm and serene in the cabin. The noise from the surrounding construction was mostly drowned out as well.
The first thing James pointed out upon climbing onboard was how cool the dual-screen setup looked – Mercedes-Benz calls it the Widescreen Cockpit. He also singled out the futuristic graphics and how easy it was to use; something I agree with as well.
For someone who uses an iPhone such as myself, how easy a device is to use and how smooth its operation feels really matters. With the MBUX operating system, even your 60 plus-year-old parent who isn’t tech-savvy will be able to adapt to it very quickly.
What may be a slight inconvenience (at first) would be the Type-C (only) charging port that Mercedes_Benz has adopted across its range. Sure, it helps charge your devices quicker but you’d now have to have a whole new set of cables just for the car. Stuck in the ice age, it was a good thing I had a 12V USB charger with me; problem solved.
The roads are pretty narrow in DP so having a smaller turning radius in the E 200 was certainly helpful. After lunch, I was off to bake in the sun at a park in Subang Jaya for some photos of the car and it was only then that I got to take in the (almost) new look.
It’s got a new hexagonal grille with clear references to the Panamericana grille which at first sight looked a little too busy but once you take it in, it actually makes sense. Compared to the previous model, the new one along with its new headlamps no doubt extends the current generation E-Class relevance a few more years.
Those taillights as well. Put the
pre-facelift model
 and the E 200 side by side and they’ll look worlds apart. If no one told you, the E 200 could’ve easily been passed off as an all-new model.
It was only when I started using the boot, to store my bag, was when I started questioning the car. It costs
RM326,943
 and I have to manually pull the boot cover down to shut it, instead of hitting a switch? I’m aware it’s just an E 200 but it’s an E-Class nonetheless.
The switch only opens the boot, not close.
Boot’s massive though.
As for the inside, to me at least, nothing about it was jarring to the eye – from the silver door trims to the oak wood centre console but the steering, although looks really sporty, has just a bit too much gloss on it.
It’s about time carmakers, whether it’s Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, or Volkswagen to figure out an alternative to a panel surface that oftentimes looks like a crime scene once it’s in use. Worse, if your hands are sticky or grimey, it makes the controls less responsive. Gloss panels (in any car for that matter) should be buried and never be dug up again.
As usual, I didn’t get to test the rear seat as most of these test drives are unfortunately experienced alone. While taking pictures of the interior, I did get to spend a few minutes in the backseat and with those sunshades (side windows and rear windshield) up, it’s just a pleasant place to be – irrespective of whether it’s an E 200 or E 300.
Under the hood is a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder paired to a 9-speed automatic, with 197 hp and 320 Nm. If sheer power is what you need in your E-Class, the E 200 isn’t the one to look at but if you’re getting the E 200, its unlikely that its performance would disappoint you. 7.9 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h is not slow at all.
When you compare E 200’s price with its BMW equivalent, you’ll be getting a more powerful and sportier-looking
530e M Sport
 for about RM3,000 less, but what if you wanted something simpler, with extra complications of a plug-in hybrid, something more subdued?
Not everyone who’s looking for an E-Class needs it to look fast, they might prefer something more understated but with no less prestige. If you’re one of those then look no further – you can’t go wrong with one of these.
 GALLERY


Mercedes-AMG GT R is the Green Hell on four wheels [+Video]

Here it is, Mercedes-Benz’s track focused supercar that is crafted not only to obliviate track records but also gunning down the Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Meet the new Mercedes-AMG GT R, a mean sports car in AMG Green Hell Magno shades which has Nürburgring in its blood.
The AMG GT R is the road legal version of its GT3 race machine that took top glory in this year’s
Nürburgring 24-hour
 race. To start, the aesthetics is enhanced with the inclusion of Panamericana grille taken from its GT3 race car.
Active aerodynamics
 is available underneath the body where at speeds above 80 km/h while in race mode, the front axle lift can be significantly reduced for better traction. It also receives a huge carbon fibre rear wing at the back.

The powertrain choice of a
4.0-litre twin turbo V8
 mated with a
seven-speed dual clutch automatic
 remains the same with the standard car. However, the engine receives a pair of new turbochargers and a revised engine mapping program. The result is power has been bumped from 503 hp to
 585 hp
, together with the torque has risen from 650 Nm to
700 Nm
. The gearbox has been reworked with a longer first gear ratio and a shorter top gear, allowing rapid response to boost acceleration.
These improvements allow the AMG GT R to hit
100 km/h
 from nought in
 3.6 seconds
, an improvement of 0.2 seconds over the GT S. The car also reach a top speed of
318 km/h
, around 10 km/h faster than the GT S. Obviously with the added performance, the AMG GT S gets upgraded brakes with carbon-ceramic set is available as an added cost.
Four-wheel steering
 is the car’s party trick and the first for Mercedes. Two electro-mechanical actuators replace the conventional control arms on the rear axle, together with “by-wire” system that adjusts the tow angle of the rear wheels at most 1.5 degrees.
The result is when at speeds below 100 km/h, the rear wheels turn the opposite of the front, shortening the wheelbase in the process. The wheelbase will be virtually lengthened when speeds above 100 km/h. This complements the heavily modified suspension system, allowing the AMG GT R to attack corners and straights on the track at ease.
The AMG GT R rides on a set of new lightweight ten-spoke forged rims, with
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
 tyres – 275/35 ZR 19 at the front and 325/30 ZR 20 at the rear.
The “Green Hell” on wheels is developed extensively in the
Nürburgring Nordschleife
 track, and will go on sale by November. Price tag has yet to be unveiled at this point in time.
Meanwhile, here’s the launch video featuring Lewis Hamilton!
IMAGE GALLERY


The all-new BMW 3 Series: Impressions of the G20 from Portugal

BMW describes the 3 Series as the heartbeat of the brand. We think it goes deeper than that. If there’s a car that reflects the soul of BMW, it has to be the 3 Series. It goes without saying that the original sports sedan remains as BMW’s most popular model despite the deluge of SUVs and crossovers.
China consumes the most 3 Series, followed by the EU and the US.
Which is why every new generation of the 3 Series is greeted with deep interest and scrutiny, not only by enthusiasts but by the car-buying public in general. What is BMW bringing to the table this time around, is the new 7th-generation 3 Series the car to beat once again ?
New G20 face bears more aggression than before.
Design
The styling of the G20 generation was always going to be evolutionary because there’s only so much you can reinvent a four-door, three-box saloon. That said, BMW has done more than enough to distinguish the G20 from its predecessor on the basis that you can tell them apart quite easily. But is it pretty?
Wider front and rear tracks give the G20 a naturally sporty stance.
While the G20 may not jump at you from images, in the metal, it harnesses a lot more aggression with more contours on the sides and bonnet, the fenders also flare out more while the front and rear ends have eye-catching cosmetics. Even the good old Hoffmeister kink on the C-pillar has a new presentation with the rear door frame having an exposed glass edge.
Long bonnet, short overhangs, coupe-like profile and a tidy rump; hallmarks of a 3 Series. The Hoffmeister kink lives on too.
The kidney grilles are now technically a single piece as the chrome surrounds have been joined, they are also larger and wider. The full-LED headlamps sport a kink that harks back to the E46, with the outlines of the daytime illumination expressing a focused scowl.
Could this be the sexiest butt seen on a 3 Series ever?
Yet it is the shapely but tidily rendered rear end that will get most attention. As the G20’s stance is wider (at both ends), the view from the back is sporty, not surprisingly. The taillamps are slim with the sculptured L-shape lighting element accentuating width, contrasted against a recessed smoked housing. The boot also sports an upturned trailing lid that forms a natural spoiler. Nice.
Just about everything has changed inside, and about time too for the 3 Series.
Interior and
technology
If the exterior is an evolution, the interior is a revolution. There is where the departure from the previous generation is most obvious – the G20 following the footsteps of the 8 Series. The flowing aesthetics of old have made way for sharper, diamond-cut outlines that shape the primary elements in the cabin. BMW also arranged the controls within defined clusters, so you now have the start/stop button where the glossy gear selector and iDrive controller reside. The climate control and multimedia buttons have swapped places as well.
Stop/Start button relocated to centre console; electronic park brake replaces manual one.
There’s more technology fitted in the car as standard, as
you’d expect from a premium German product. What greets you is the new 12.3-inch
digital driver’s display (as part of the BMW Live Cockpit Professional package)
and the 10.25-inch touch-and-gesture sensitive Control Display (what used to be
referred to as iDrive display) running on BMW’s latest Operating System 7.0.
We are not so sure about the symmetrical graphics on the driver’s display, on the one hand it is a welcomed break from the past, but the anti-clockwise rev counter really takes some getting used to, especially when there’s no option to change to more familiar circular virtual dials. Otherwise, BMW’s iDrive user interface is probably still the best in the business – snappy, logical but getting a bit more complex with every iteration.
Anti-clockwise rev counter takes time to get used to, and you can’t change it.
The addition of a voice-activated personal assistant is somehow of a commercial necessity these days, and like others before it, BMW’s version will get better over time and since the operating system can now be updated over the air, we won’t judge it too harshly for now.
Cup-holder cubby is bigger and has a proper lid; Qi wireless charging is available too.
The gains in overall dimensions of the G20 means that there are now more shoulder room but the increase in width also makes for storage spaces that are more accommodating, particularly the door pockets and centre console area. There’s more rear legroom too with the addition of 41 mm to the wheelbase (to become 2,851 mm) and the rear seats do feel more supportive to travel long distances in.
Cabin is roomier and better presented, but does it have the measure of the C-Class?
What about perceived quality? The F30 can be patchy in certain areas but also properly premium in others. The G20 is a step up in that the quality is more consistent across the board and more importantly, that much more attractive to look at. Take for example the door cards, in the F30, the presentation is subdued even if the build quality is competitive, whereas in the G20, you can find different materials that contrast each other, and while they aren’t necessarily better than what’s found on an F30, they are more visually appealing.
Chassis
This is where BMW’s magic sauce usually lies. The G20 starts with a 25% stiffer structure overall and suspension mountings (up to 50%!), which allows the G20 to run 20% stiffer spring rates without compromising comfort, BMW claims. The engineers also widened the front track by 43mm (and upped the wheel camber too) and the rear by 21mm, all substantial increases.
Front track widened by 43 mm, which is a lot.
It speaks volumes that BMW elected not to launch the 330i with adaptive dampers (the M340i xDrive M-Sport had them though). Instead you’ll find newly developed ‘lift-related’ passive dampers on each wheel. We will let BMW literature explain the complex workings of these dampers:
“The introduction of lift-related damper control reduces body movement perceptibly when evening out vibrations caused by bumpy road surfaces and dynamic cornering, which paves the way for sporty, authoritative handling. The system adds extra hydraulic damping at the front axle and a compression limiting system at the rear. It is continuously variable and adjusts the damper firmness progressively according to the changing spring travel. This prevents excessive body dive when driving over large bumps and so avoids uncomfortable, nervous damping response.
BMW developed new passive dampers that can rival adaptive ones.
At the front axle, the
first line of defence against body vibrations is an additional element within
the inner sleeve of the damper. Only when greater loads are encountered does
the entire damper become active. The rear dampers also adapt continuously to
the driving situation. Even when the vehicle is carrying heavier loads, they
provide the ideal degree of hydraulic damping for the situation at hand.
Lift-related damping
is as an active element of the suspension set-up and is designed specifically
to optimise the balance between sportiness and comfort. However, the positive
effect of progressive suspension adjustment can also be felt in less demanding
circumstances; even small bumps can trigger damper lift, which makes a
noticeable difference.”
All of this is further complemented by aluminium front control arms, beefed up subframes and recalibrated kinematics for a more precise steering.
Powertrain
For Malaysia, the launch variant is expected to be the fully imported 330i M Sport with 258 hp and 400 Nm, an increase of 6 hp and 50 Nm over what the previous generation 330i could muster. The raise output of this updated B48-series turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine is mainly due to improved cooling in the engine bay, it is mated to the slick 8-speed ZF automatic – now with shorter gearing for lower ratios and faster shift times. Idle to 100 km/h for the 330i takes 5.8 seconds, with a limited top speed of 250km/h. No complaints there.
Better cooling in the 3 Series’ engine bay means the 330i now has a higher output.
We may possibly see a return of the 320i to the 3 Series range when local assembly begins later in the year, its ‘detuned’ B48 engine is rated at 184 hp and 300 Nm; good for a 0-100km/h time of 7.2 seconds, with a top speed of 238km/h. The
new 330e
 could also join the fray then with an improved plug-in hybrid powertrain capable of 252 hp and 420 Nm, along with an electric range of up to 60 km.
Driving impressions
Whenever a car does exactly what you want it to do, you know you have something special in your hands. The last generation F30 was a 3-Series that catered for many, it rode well and handled competently, but for the G20, there is a renewed focus towards driving.
The best driving sedan in its class once more? Never a doubt.
Even on the passively damped 330i M-Sport, the balance struck between sporty and comfort is near perfect right off the bat. Compared to the F30, there is a noticeable increase in composure through the steering when the 330i settles into a tight corner. Resistance to roll is high but the car never feels too stiff or harsh when running over bad surfaces. The ‘calmness’ of the front axle translates into a lighter, ‘quieter’ steering feel, which is also far more delicate in response.
And because of that, the front end of the new 3 Series is that much more willing to go where you point the steering at, it simply shrugs off road cambers and imperfections as if they weren’t there. If the handful of laps on the Portimao circuit in the 374 hp and 500 Nm M340i xDrive is anything to go by, there is a lot to look forward to in the G20-generation 3 Series.


Kia reveals new Blind-Spot View Monitor feature for the latest Sorento

The
recently unveiled Sorento
 will be the first Kia in Europe to feature the new advanced driving assistance system.
The
Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM)
 consists of two wide angle, high-resolution cameras – positioned on each of the side mirror housings. The live video feed is then displayed on the Sorento’s new fully digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster.
The live view can be projected either on the left or right side of the TFT LCD instrument cluster when the driver indicates to change lanes. This is unlike most systems currently available, like
Honda’s LaneWatch system in the new Accord
 for example, that projects the view of the vehicle’s blind spot on the infotainment display instead.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x8LAWG4bt8
Supporting the Sorento’s Blind-Spot View Monitor is the
Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA)
which will intervene to pull the vehicle back into its lane if the system detects an impending crash with another vehicle in the Sorento’s blind spot.
The BVM is also bundled with other features as a package for the European-specification Sorentos. Among them are the Surround View Monitor, Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist (PCA) and a Bose Performance Series sound system.
GALLERY