A 911 GT3 with Mobil 1 engine oil vs Vloggers – who will survive?

Porsche has recently put their 991 GT3 RS to the test in extreme temperatures of negative 20-degrees celcius and 40-degrees celcius with 50% humidity in collaboration with Mobil 1 on the operating temperatures of its engine oil.
Three vloggers, from UK, Germany and Russia were invited to be part of this challenge with one of Porsche’s most extreme road-going vehicle. As you can see in the video, in temperatures below freezing point, the Porsche’s exterior is draped in a veneer with ice along with the interior trims like the door handles and seat which have frozen up.
Despite so, as Shmee150 demonstrated, the engine still fires up to life without any hesitation with the signature rumble of the boxer. Mobil 1 claims that the engine oil can operate in low temperatures up to
negative 40-degrees
 while its touch sensitive display still shows no sign of lag or delay when browsing through it.
In the later bit of the test, temperatures were hiked up to the other extreme end at
40-degrees celcius with 50% humidity
. The human test subjects may have thrown in the towel very early on but Mobil 1 claims that its engine oil is capable of operating at up to
240-degrees celcius
.


All-new 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe pairs familiar looks with new-age tech

Like clockwork, Mercedes-Benz has now unveiled the all-new 2023 GLC Coupe, a little more than nine months after the debut of its more
traditional SUV counterpart last June
. And just like the regular GLC, the all-new C254 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe here is also more of an evolution than a complete makeover.
That’s especially the case for its exterior design changes, as updates here are pretty much limited to just a wider grille, a sleeker headlight with Digital Light matrix LED options, and a new slim-line tail lights that, to be honest, actually does look very nice.
Everything else, though, is basically just a slight rehash of the outgoing model – including its dimensions. While the standard GLC saw quite a significant change in proportions, the all-new 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe very much maintains the same silhouette from before, only gaining 31 mm in overall length and 5 mm in height.
The rear track does see a significant gain at 23 mm (while maintaining overall width), which should give it a more imposing stance on the road (on top of better driving dynamics), while the raked coupe roofline, alongside the more aggressive rear ducktail spoiler, have also been refined to give it a more aerodynamic shape measuring 0.27 Cd.
Standard equipment on the all-new 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe include 18-inch alloy wheels, but stepping up to the AMG Line specifications brings them up to a 19- and 20-inch staggered set-up, plus body-coloured wheel arch flarings for a sportier appearance.
RELATED:
All-new 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC goes small on design tweaks, but big on tech
Inside, the cabin of the all-new 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe basically mirrors that of the GLC and the all-new C-Class, with the same dashboard design featuring the free-standing 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, as well as the tablet-styled 11.9-inch infotainment display connected to the centre console.
All the tech upgrades found on the GLC have also made their way onto the all-new 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe, including the optional MBUX Augmented Reality system that overlays virtual objects into the built-in navigation system’s camera display, as well as a “transparent bonnet” feature for the 360-degree surround view monitor that will help significantly with off-roading… for the remote possibility that you need to take the car off the beaten path.
The slightly longer dimensions of the all-new coupe SUV has also translated to a larger boot space at the back, with an additional 45 litres compared to its predecessor, measuring 545 litres on the mild-hybrid versions, and 390 on the plug-in hybrids.
On that note, The all-new 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe will only be offered with electrified powertrains at launch. These include four mild-hybrid options, made up of two petrol and two diesel mills, as well as three plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants (two petrol) that offer up to 131 km of fully-electric range, and an EV-only off-roading feature.
The petrol mild-hybrid line-up consists of the GLC 200 4Matic and GLC 300 4Matic, both powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four mill for an output of
204 hp/320 Nm
 and
258 hp/400 Nm
 respectively. The new second-generation integrated starter-generator gives an additional temporary boost of 23 hp and 200 Nm when needed.
As their variant names suggest, they all come with the marque’s all-wheel drive system, paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission as standard. Sport suspension also comes equipped as standard, alongside a variable ratio steering rack; air suspensions are available as an option, alongside rear axle steering of up to 4.5 degrees, as part of the Tech package.
As for the PHEV variants, they come in two petrol options, pairing the same 2.0-litre mill with a larger electric motor for a total system output of
313 hp
 and
550 Nm
 on the GLC 300e, and
381 hp
 and
650 Nm
 on the GLC 400e.
All PHEV variants come equipped with a 31.2 kWh battery, offering a fully-electric driving range between 119 km and 131 km. Charging can be done using the on-board 11 kW AC charger, or optionally through a 60 kW DC charger that takes the battery from empty to 100% in roughly 30 minutes.
The PHEVs also get an air suspension system on the rear axle, with additional level control, in order to manage the extra weight from the battery.
As for safety, the all-new 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe comes equipped with the latest generation of the marque’s Driving Assistance Plus package, which includes an improved adaptive cruise control system, and a new lane detection feature for the Active Steering Assist system, which can now even automatically form an emergency lane at low speeds by moving over to one side of the lane when needed.
There’s also a new Parking Package, which includes a Memory Parking Assistant feature that remembers parking locations such as how to get into and out of the garage at home – and can then automatically park the car after completing the training process.
ALSO READ:
Mercedes-Benz GLC 300e Coupe Gallery – plug-in hybrid SUV, RM404k
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A new dawn: The GMC Hummer is back as a 1,000 hp EV pick-up truck

We’ve heard about it for a while now, but the
Hummer
 is now finally officially back – this time a whole lot quieter than all previous iterations. Gone are the loud and brawny fuel-guzzling internal combustion engines, because the new Hummer is actually an EV “supertruck”.
The headline of the new Hummer EV’s new Ultium Drive electric powertrain is its
1,000 horsepower
 output figure, derived from three electric motors. GMC also claims that the new Hummer EV has a massive 15,591 Nm of torque, but it’s best not to pay too much attention to that – it’s measured at the wheels (with transmission ratio multiplication) instead of at the driveshaft, so it’s intentionally misleading.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjMhZKmHKGk
Based on the most common drive ratio of electric vehicles available on the market, the Hummer EV should have an “actual” torque figure nearer to the 2,000 Nm ball park – still a whole lot of twist, just nothing near the five-figure number provided by GMC. Anyway, we digress.
Power is provided from a double-stacked Ultium battery pack (of unknown capacity), which GMC estimates to enable a
driving range of up to 563 km
. The Hummer EV also supports 800-volt DC public quick charging at up to 350 kW, which equates to around 160 km of driving range from just 10 minutes of charging, according to GMC that is.
In terms of performance, the American company says that the Hummer EV does
0-96 km/h (60 mph) in “approximately three seconds”
 when put into the “Watts to Freedom” drive mode – yes, it’s really called that. Despite that impressive time especially when taken into account how heavy it must weigh (no official figures were given), the Hummer EV’s true prowess is when it’s taken off road.
The Hummer EV is equipped with a
CrabWalk feature
, which turns the rear wheels at the same angle as the front wheels at low speed, allowing the truck to move diagonally and get out of tricky terrain easier. The air suspensions, standard on the Hummer EV, is also capable of providing an additional 149 mm of lift in “Extract Mode”, helping it traverse across larger boulders or water hazards of up to 600 mm.
Bear in mind that the powertrain and features above are for the Edition 1 variant, which should begin deliveries in Autumn of 2021. The range-topping Edition 1 will be followed by a 800 hp/480 km range tri-motor Hummer EV3X a year later in 2022, a 480 hp/460 km dual-motor Hummer EV2X in 2023, and lastly a 480 hp/400 km dual-motor Hummer EV2 base variant in 2024.
If you think that batteries, sharp rocks, and water don’t sound particularly confidence-inducing when put together, there’s no need to worry as GMC has obviously thought of that. An extensive underbody armour made out of steel plates is designed to specifically protect the batteries.
There’s also the UltraVision underbody camera system with live “virtual spotter” views to help drivers navigate obstacles and place wheels more accurately off the beaten path. Speaking of cameras, the GMC Hummer EV can also be equipped with up to 18 cameras all round, which the company says is “best-in-class”.
In terms of styling, few cars on the road are as instantly-recognisable as a Hummer. The all-new Hummer EV takes on the iconic look, but reimagined with a “bold and futuristic” twist.
For example, the classic Hummer grille slats have been turned into a full-width LED light bar at the front, with each column housing a letter spelling out “Hummer”. From the launch video, it also seems like the light bar is used as a charge indicator with blue LED lights when plugged in.
The exterior design also doesn’t try to hide the Hummer EV’s offroad prowess one bit, as evident from the comically-oversized front skid plates and squared-off wheel arches, surrounding the large 35-inch all-terrain tyres. The extra structural rigidity provided by the Ultium batteries also allows for removable Infinity Roof panels, which can be stowed in the frunk storage compartment.
The boxy motif is also mirrored throughout the cabin, giving the Hummer EV’s interior a super utilitarian look and feel. Staying true to its name, the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 13.4-inch infotainment screens come with off-road-specific widgets that display the vehicle’s functions and terrain status, such as torque output, differential locker engagement, tyre pressure, pitch and roll angles including maximum values, drift gauge, friction circle, and torque vectoring, among others.
The Edition 1 also gets a MultiPro tailgate that can be set to six different “functional positions”, along with power-operated rear glass window and tonneau cover. The Edition 1 Hummer EV will also come with the latest version of the Super Cruise advanced driver assistance feature, offering hands-free driving on more than 322,000 km of enabled roads, and a new automatic lane changing feature.
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Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia opens new 3S showroom in Petaling Jaya

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM), the official distributor of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles in Malaysia, together with authorised dealer Ingress Motors Centre (IMC) has officiated a new 3S (Sales, Service & Spare parts) Mitsubishi showroom in Petaling Jaya.
This is IMC’s fourth Mitsubishi showroom in Malaysia with the
first three in Puchong, Bangi and Shah Alam
 respectively. Just like the first three, the latest showroom by IMC in Petaling Jaya has also incorporated the company’s new corporate brand; represented by its global tagline “Drive Your Ambition”.
“MMM and IMC have been business partners since 2013 and within seven years, IMC has established four out of 14 MMM showrooms within Klang Valley,” said MMM CEO, Tomoyuki Shinnishi.
He added, “As we work together towards introducing the new XPANDER to the Malaysian market very soon, the opening of this new showroom is in line with putting our customers at the forefront and as our utmost priority. It is our aim to serve our customers better in terms of sales and after sales in the central region.”

Also speaking at the new showroom launch was Ingress Motors Centre Auto Dealership Division, President, Rabian Abdul Rahman who said, “I strongly believe that the opening of our new Mitsubishi showroom in PJ will pave the way for new Mitsubishi customers. There is an enormous market potential here in view of the huge population and promising growth of not less than 1.25% per annum with at least 60% of mid to high-income households.”
With a built-up area of over 34,000 square feet, the 3S Centre houses a customer lounge with WIFI and sufficient space to display up to four cars. Its service centre also comes with a fully-equipped workshop with 12 service bays.
The new Mitsubishi spare parts warehouse….
…located in Shah Alam, Selangor.
The
There are now 52 Mitsubishi showrooms (out of which 46 are 3S Centres) and 52 service outlets throughout Malaysia. In East Malaysia, MMM is represented by 14 showrooms (7 in Sarawak and 7 in Sabah). As for the new 3S Centre in Petaling Jaya, it is located at No. 13, Jalan 225 Section 51A, 46100 Petaling Jaya.
MMM also recently launched a
new 3S centre in Temerloh, Pahang
, followed by the opening of a
new, larger warehouse for spare parts in Shah Alam, Selangor
. These efforts should more than prepare the company for the imminent arrival of the Xpander, which
will be launched this year following its preview recently in Midvalley Megamall
, KL.
Click here
 to watch our Xpander review, in collaboration with Fitra Eri, Indonesia’s top motoring journalist.
The Mitsubishi Connect App.
As a refresher, in light of the COVID-19 situation, the new
Mitsubishi CONNECT app
 was introduced to allow customers to
schedule service appointments
 and
monitor their vehicle’s maintenance history
. Owners can also receive reminders of their next service and more conveniently, register more than one vehicle under one account. The app is available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store for free.


We need more quirky EVs like the Fiat 500e to save the planet

Yes, the electric powertrain is most probably the future, for both performance gains as well as environmental reasons. But let’s be honest here, a main reason why electric vehicles haven’t truly taken over yet is because they all just look really…
uninspiring
.
Fiat is looking to change that by injecting some soul into the electric vehicle scene with the introduction of the all-new 500e, the third-generation
Fiat 500
 that just happens to also be the Italian carmaker’s first fully-electric car.
Although still carrying the timeless Fiat 500 silhouette, the 500e is
designed completely from the ground up
, built on a new electric platform making it 6 cm wider and 6 cm longer, while the wheelbase has been extended by 2 cm.
Styling wise, the design team focused on cleaner lines and better proportions in relation to its chassis. Fiat says that this makes the 500e “spatially attractive”, giving a perception of increased stability and dimensional presence.
The front fascia has been completely reworked for a more modern and upright look; the headlights now separated by the bonnet line, while the Fiat logo in front has been replaced by the 500 logo. The rear of the car has been reshaped, featuring a more three-dimensional taillight design.
The interior has also been cleaned up, featuring a more modern and horizontal dashboard, dominated by a central freestanding
10.25-inch UConnect5 infotainment display
. The instrument cluster has also been replaced by a
seven-inch TFT display
.
It’s not a fast EV by any means, but as a city-focused runabout, we’d say Fiat got the target absolutely right. Powered by a single electric motor generating
 87 kW (117 hp)
, the Fiat 500e sips juice out of a
42 kWh
 battery for a range of up to
 320 km
 on the WLTP scale.
Zero-to-hundred km/h takes
nine seconds
, onward to a limited top speed of
150 km/h
 – It’s probably not going to be anywhere near that figure regularly anyway.
Fiat thinks that charging time is a more important factor in a city runabout. the Fiat 500e comes with a
85 kW fast charger system
, capable of giving you a
50 km
 range with just
five minutes
 of charging time, and reaching
80%
 in
just 35 minutes
. At home, the Easy Wallbox charges the 500e fully in
just over six hours
.
There’s also three driving modes for different situations – Normal, Range, and a long-range mode affectionately called ‘Sherpa’. Inspired by the Himalayan Sherpas in charge of expeditions, the Sherpa mode in the 500e adjusts the maximum speed (to 80 km/h), accelerator response, and deactivation of the climate control system (can be activated manually by the driver), to ensure that the car reaches its destination. Cute.
The third-generation Fiat 500 will come with “
level 2 autonomous driving
“, a first in its segment according to Fiat. Other safety features include intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Centering, Autonomous Emergency Brake, Lane Control, and Automatic headlights.
If the “regular” Fiat 500e isn’t stylish enough for you, there’s also three one-off editions, thanks to iconic Italian brands – Giorgio Armani, Bvlgari, and Kartell. Talk about coming in with a bang.
IMAGE GALLERY


Proton begins work on RM200 mil expansion at Tanjung Malim plant

Proton today began work on a further addition to their Tanjung Malim plant with an official ground breaking ceremony. The expansion will house a
new stamping facility
.
With an investment of
RM200 million
, this new facility is part of Proton’s plan to make Tanjung Malim a world-class manufacturing plant.  The new “Superlarge” press machine that stamps large pieces of steel
body panels
, is necessary to enhance the automaker’s stamping abilities.
More significantly, it is part of Proton’s overarching plan to increase levels of localisation on both current and future models. The facility will also be equipped with state-of-the-art tools as well as systems.
The expansion project is a further commitment of the company that has already spent
RM1.2 billion
 previously for the manufacturing of the Geely-based models, with the investment part of its growth strategy for the manufacturing of more models. The new stamping facility is expected to commence production from the
third quarter of 2022
.
“While we are happy with our progress so far, Proton must continue to look to the future”, said Dr. Li Chunrong, CEO of Proton.
“This new addition is part of our strategy to ensure that we can grow continuously as well as
increase our model footprint
 when we have to. This means having the ability to build more variants but more importantly to be able to build them to the highest standards as well as to incorporate new technology”, he added.
“We are very clear about direction and growth for Proton. While Malaysia will always be our primary market, we must be able to
compete beyond our shores
. This facility is one small part of that journey. It is especially important for us because it means we can do far more localisation going forward. This will have a spill-over effect which will see us engaging with more vendors and further growing the local automotive ecosystem”, said Li.
The Proton Tanjung Malim plant currently produces the
X70
, the
X50
 as well as the
Iriz
 and
Persona
 models. The new-generation plant also has the capability to stamp
high tensile steel
 that adds to the strength and rigidity of the vehicle’s bodyshell, without the penalty of increase in weight.


Perodua sold 46,385 cars in first 2 months of 2023, up 33% from 2022

Local car maker
Perodua
 sold
46,385 cars
 in the first two months of 2023, showing a
33%
 year-on-year growth. Production has also been ramped up by
32.95%
 to
51,134 units
 from 38,460 units.
Perodua attributes the increase in sales and production to improved efficiency in terms of production, better financing facilities for Perodua dealers, and better communication, both internally and with Perodua customers.
All-new Perodua Axia launched in February 2023
Demand for its cars is also remaining healthy according to Perodua, and the company is ramping up its production to cater to that. Currently on “overdrive”, Perodua’s production side is working hard to meet customers’ demands
Perodua President and Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad said, “While there are still ongoing challenges with the supply of semiconductor chips, cost increases – among others but despite these challenges, we managed to see double-digit growth in our production and sales, for this we thank our partners for their dedication.”
As a result of the global automotive crisis, the average waiting period for a Perodua car is now between 2.5 months to 8 months.
RELATED:
MITI wants Proton and Perodua to speed up development of national EVs
Commenting on the waiting time for a Perodua vehicle, The Perodua President and CEO said, “Of course, this timeframe is subject to the model, variant, and colour. That being said, we apologise to our customers and thank them for their patience. We will try to further improve our production and registrations in the months to come.”
As shared during the company’s
2023 outlook
, Perodua is aiming to sell
314,000 cars
 this year, which is 11.3% more than the number of cars sold in 2022. In the first 2 months of the year, 15% of that has been achieved. While the company predicts a lower total industry volume (TIV) this year, its prediction is more optimistic compared to other manufacturers. Perodua is also aiming to produce
330,000 cars
 this year and 15% of that has been achieved.
RELATED:
2023 Perodua Axia – now with more space and why it should be better to drive
Dato’ Sri Zainal added that Perodua will continue to improve its operations and within the ecosystem as well as the delivery timing of its customers. Moving forward, Dato’ Sri Zainal said the outlook for the automotive industry and Perodua are positive given that the current economic situation remains stable.
“The current focus now is labour stability, especially for the automotive suppliers to ensure that production can be improved. We also hope that the policymakers continue to engage with the ecosystem on future changes in policies that may impact the industry” he said.
RELATED:
Perodua to launch at least one more new car in 2023 – Bezza, Aruz facelift due?


Auto Bavaria launches BMW i showroom, dedicates entire floor for i brand

Auto Bavaria, the longest serving BMW authorised dealer in Malaysia has officially launched the BMW i Showroom and service centre at its Jalan Tun Razak dealership, right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.
Occupying the entire first floor of the dealership, Auto Bavaria set aside
1,383 sq ft
 for our nation’s first
BMW i showroom
 to showcase the brand’s identity, furniture and fittings. It houses a (one, singular) unit of the
BMW i8 plug-in hybrid
 sports car, along with the wall mounted charging accessory, the
BMW i Wallbox
.

BMW’s Managing Director and CEO, Mr Alan Harris said, “Introduced earlier this year at the BMW World Malaysia 2015, BMW i is about the development of futuristic vehicles and mobility services with inspiring design and a new understanding of premium that is strongly defined by sustainability. With BMW i, the BMW Group has changed the premium automotive industry and with this new BMW i facility from Auto Bavaria, we are able to develop the BMW i brand further here in the country.”
Jeffrey Gan, Managing Director of Auto Bavaria said, “Customers of the BMW i8 can be rest assured that our BMW i centre will offer excellent day to day support for their BMW i vehicle. This includes service and maintenance appointments as well as vehicle repairs and on the road assistance, with a dedicated mobile charging device for owners courtesy of our BMW i Mobile Care Centre”.

For now, the
RM1,188,800
 i8 will be the sole model offered for our market, as the complexity of setting up the charging infrastructure in place for
i3
’s two different models needs to be sorted. BMW Malaysia is in talks with the government and related agencies to make that happen. “Once that comes, we will consider to bring in the i3”, said Harris.
While declining to comment on the exact numbers of the i8 reserved for our market, Harris did confirm that all examples have been snapped up. That being said, Auto Bavaria and BMW is committed to offer excellent day to day support for their BMW i vehicles, from service and maintenance appointments to repairs and road-side assistance; qualified personnel are ready to assist.
Auto Bavaria’s BMW i showroom is the
third of its kind
 in South East Asia, joining
Thailand
 and
Singapore
 to serve the demands of the region.
IMAGE GALLERY


All-new 2022 Ford Ranger set for July 22 debut in Malaysia

The highly-awaited
 all-new 2022 Ford Ranger
 will finally be making its official debut here in Malaysia on July 22, as announced by the marque’s sole distributor in Malaysia, Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC).
A registration of interest (ROI) form for the all-new pick-up is now open on SDAC-Ford’s website, which you can find
linked here
. Although the launch event on the 22nd will be closed to invited guests only, interested customers can also sign up to view the car in person (
linked here
), as it makes its way around the country on a nationwide tour starting from July 23.
The all-new 2022 Ranger pick-up truck has been redesigned from the ground up as an “all-rounder lifestyle vehicle” that can cater to not just work, but also family and play, says Ford.
Launched in Thailand back in March this year, the all-new Ford Ranger is offered in the Kingdom in two different powertrain options – both utilising a 2.0-litre EcoBlue inline-four diesel mill, paired to either a single or double turbochargers.
The former, available on the lower-end variants, is rated for an output of
150 hp
 and
350 Nm
, while the latter boasts a higher output figure of
170 hp
 and
405 Nm
. Depending on variant, you’ll also be able to opt between a five-speed manual, six-speed manual, six-speed auto, or 10-speed automatic transmission.
Aside from the regular Ford Ranger, we should also be getting the Baja racing-inspired
Ranger Raptor
 here in Malaysia, which gets a huge injection of power on this all-new generation thanks to the switch from diesel to petrol power.
Underneath the bonnet of the Thai-spec Ford Ranger Raptor is a new 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo EcoBoost petrol engine, making
397 hp
 and
583 Nm
, although the existing 213 hp/500 Nm bi-turbo diesel mill will still be made available in select markets.
RELATED: Next-gen Ford Ranger is so advanced that plant in Thailand gets USD900 million investment!
As for looks, key highlights on the all-new 2022 Ford Ranger include the new C-shaped LED headlights, large hexagonal front grille, a unique H-shaped front bumper, three-dimensional LED taillights on the back, and unique integrated steps on the sides of the rear bumper to make ease access to the truck bed.
Inside, the all-new Ranger also gets an extensive makeover, with the biggest change being the new massive portrait-oriented touchscreen central display that measures up to 12-inches diagonally, depending on variant.
Get excited, boys and girls, because the pick-up truck market here is about to heat up… by quite some margin.
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All-new Ford Ranger Wildtrak
All-new Ford Ranger Raptor


The 2016 Hyundai Elantra looks brilliant and sportier than ever

Hyundai has just launched the sixth-generation Elantra saloon in Korea, a model natively called the Avante Sport.
The new Elantra is more than just a fresh face, but its overall dimension is more or less similar than the outgoing Elantra that’s currently sold in Malaysia. The new Elantra dons a new grille design that’s consistent with Hyundai’s latest lineup, complemented with sleeker headlights and bumper. It’s now a lot more aggressive and better looking than the preceding model, and it features a sharp shoulder line that’s reminiscent of the Sonata YF. The rear end gets a design overhaul as well, complete with a pair of all-new tail lamps.

New to the Elantra is the
Veloster
-sourced
1.6-litre turbocharged direct injection
 four-cylinder engine that produces
204 hp
 and
265 Nm
 of torque. The Veloster’s
seven-speed dual clutch transmission
 is also utilised in the new Elantra, with a six-speed manual offered alongside it.
Unlike the Veloster’s rear torsion beam setup, this Avante Sport utilises a
multi-link setup
. Adding to its sporty allure is the inclusion of lightweight 18-inch rims, tuned suspension and anti-roll bars via the optional Extreme Selection variant.
At present, Hyundai Malaysia is selling the fifth-generation Elantra (launched since 2012) with the 1.6-litre and 1.8-litre naturally aspirated variants. Prices start from RM92k onwards.
IMAGE GALLERY


Toyota C-HR “Karl Lagerfeld Edition” brings high fashion to the masses

If you thought high fashioned and the masses don’t go hand in hand, then Toyota Motor Thailand has proven you wrong with this limited edition
 C-HR
with fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld’s name slapped on it. Finally, there’s now 200 units of a Toyota worthy of a teenage girl’s wet dream.
Priced at 1.2 million Thai Baht (approx. RM159k), the limited edition model is draped in “special materials” both inside and out in a “unique collaboration to embark on radical design revolution by integrating the science of automotive technology with the art of fashion”.
The deal is also sweetened by a set of limited edition merchandise made up of a luggage, handbag, cap and keychain said to be worth 50,000 Thai Baht (approx. RM6,600).
On the outside, the Karl Lagerfeld edition C-HR gets a roof, side mirrors, side skirts, front bumper and rear spoiler in Pearl White. And that white strip that runs along the side of the car with Karl Lagerfeld’s logo at the end of it, well, sorry to disappoint you but it’s merely a wrap. Topping the exterior off are 17-inch wheels in gloss back.
Step inside and you’d immediately be greeted with a two-tone dashboard with yet another repetition of the fashion designer’s name on it and in case you forget how it’s spelt, there’s more to remind you on the leather seats and scuff plates.
Karl Lagerfeld CEO, Mr. Pier Paolo Righi said, “It is extremely surprising that the design of Toyota C-HR can blend seamlessly with Karl Lagerfeld’s identity. Shades of black and white have been artfully expressed in the car as we call it ‘Parisian Rock Chic’ style, which provides beyond the illustration of beauty.”
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New facelift Renault Megane R.S. 300 hp now in Malaysia, only with DCT

Fans of the Renault Megane R.S. hot hatchback can finally get their hands on the facelifted model. However, while the previous Megane R.S. 280 came with the
option
 of a manual or automatic transmission, the new R.S. 300 Trophy will only be offered with the six-speed Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) automatic.
The new facelift Renault Megane R.S. 300 Trophy imported by TC Euro Cars is priced from
RM326,477
 that is valid until June 30th thanks to the sales tax exemption.
The changes to the exterior are minimal, limited to the fitment of new LED headlamps and taillamps that emit a new signature. With the Trophy package, the front bumper now shyly sports a
‘Trophy’ decal
 on what Renault calls an F1-styled blade.
The Trophy also package adds-on the
dual-sound exhaust
 valve system, where sportier and fuller acoustics are channelled from the muffler depending on the R.S. Drive mode.  The 10%-stiffer Cup chassis and Torsen limited-slip differential (LSD) are maintained while new 19-inch ‘Jerez’ wheels with red highlights are fitted to the Megane R.S. 300 Trophy.
The sophisticated
4Control
 four-wheel steering is also maintained in the new Megane R.S. 300 Trophy. At low speeds, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction of the front wheels delivering incisive
handling and agility
, while at high speeds, they turn in the same direction for increased stability.
More power has been extracted out of the
turbocharged 1.8-litre
 four-cylinder engine. Credit to the
ceramic ball bearing
 system in the turbocharger’s turbine, the engine now develops
300 hp
, up from 280 hp. The dual-clutch automatic available for Malaysia gets access to
420 Nm
 of torque at 3,200 rpm (up from 390 Nm), a higher value than the non-available three-pedal manual transmission that is ‘limited’ to 400 Nm of torque.
With Launch Control activated, the Renault Megane R.S. 300 Trophy EDC sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in
5.7 seconds
 with the top speed limited to 255 km/h.
In Sport and Race modes of the R.S. Drive Modes, the EDC transmission allows for
multi-change downshift
, where the computer control unit automatically drops several gears while the driver holds the left shift paddle.
The colour palette of the new Megane R.S. 300 Trophy has increased to five, with the addition of Flame Red. Existing colours are Diamond Black, Pearl White, Liquid Yellow and Orange Tonic with the latter two colours being premium colours and require an additional RM9,000.
Inside, a new EASYLINK seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity has been added. The front seats continue to be thickly padded RS sports seats, with dark carbon upholstery highlighted by red stitching.
The yellow R.S. double-diamond logo is now more visible too, placed on the new leather and Alcantara wrapped steering wheel, the front sports seats and the front grille. A new sportier instrument panel with a seven-inch customisable TFT driver’s information display conveys the powerful and dynamic agility of the Megane R.S. 300 Trophy even better.
Apart from outright purchase at a price of
RM326,477
, TC Euro Cars also continues to offer the Renault Megane R.S. model with a
subscription plan
, ranging from one- to three-years plan, with pricing starting at RM5,200 per month. Test drives are available at selected Renault showrooms by appointments only and can be requested via the Renault Malaysia
E-Store
.
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Porsche created a dedicated children’s website to keep your little ones entertained

After what seems like an eternity, most Malaysians have returned to work today, with most car manufacturers resuming business and production operations within the strict confinements issued by the National Security Council (Majlis Keselamatan Negara).
Schools, colleges and higher learning institutions however are
still not allowed to open
 as
per our Prime Minister’s announcement last week
 therefore time is still in abundance for those who might still find colouring to be an interesting activity.
Over the weeks, there have been plenty of it from
Nissan
,
Audi
,
BMW
,
Volkswagen
,
Toyota
 and now it’s Porsche’s turn to tend to your kids – albeit a little late – to help make their hours stranded at home feel more bearable with arts and crafts, puzzles and more that’s guaranteed to stop your kids from becoming bored at home through the dedicated
Porsche 4Kids website
.
The interactive activities will not only keep your children entertained but also trains their concentration according to Porsche. Through the dedicated site, children can also learn about all things electro-mobility as well as
take virtual tours of the Porsche museum
 – an activity that should interests the adults too.
 “Before, our learning programmes were only limited to physical experiences at exhibitions but the new children’s website now allows us to make them available to everyone online. With the Kids Driving School magazine, parents can also practise correct road traffic behaviour
with their children,” says Porsche Museum and Head of Heritage, Achim Stejskal.
GALLERY
Tom Targa and Tina Turbo will be at hand to guide your children…
…no really, those are their names.


Ford to produce medical gowns from airbag material, ramps up COVID-19 equipment production

As the
 COVID-19
 pandemic continues to cause an upheaval worldwide, many carmakers have hopped into action by producing medical and personal protection equipments (PPE) for the front liners in the fight against the virus.
One of these carmakers is Ford, whom in addition to current production of more than
3 million face shields
, announced today that it will begin making face masks and medical gown, with the latter produced using
repurposed material used to make airbags
.
The Detroit-based carmaker collaborated with Beaumont Health hospital in Detroit and supplier Joyson Safety Systems to rapidly prototype the ingenious medical gown. The gowns are fully tested to
meet the US federal standards
, and are
washable up to 50 times
.
Ford aims to produce 75,000 gowns a week by this Sunday, and scaling up to
100,000 gowns per week
 by April 19. The company aims to produce a
total of 1.3 million gowns
 by July 4. As of now, more than 5,000 gowns have already been delivered to the Beaumont Health hospital.
Meanwhile at the company’s Van Dyke Transmission Plant, the facility’s ISO Class 8 cleanroom has been repurposed to
manufacture face masks
. Currently made for Ford’s internal use globally, the brand is currently pursuing certification for medical use.
Aside from those, Ford has also partnered with Thermo Fisher Scientific to produce
plastic vials for COVID-19 test collections
. Face shields are also being produced globally at the company’s facilities in Canada, Thailand, and India with partner Mahindra.
The previously-reported powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR), dubbed
Project Apollo
, will begin production today in Michigan, where it aims to produce 100,000 or more units.
The
Model A-E ventilator

built in collaboration with 3M has also received an order of 15,000 from the UK government, where it will be produced at the Dagenham engine plant in London. This is in addition to the 50,000 units to be produced by June 4 at its Rawsonville plant in Michigan US.
Ford Vice President of Enterprise Product Line Management, Jim Baumbick said, “We knew that to play our part helping combat coronavirus, we had to go like hell and join forces with experts like 3M to expand production of urgently needed medical equipment and supplies.
“In just three weeks under Project Apollo, we’ve unleashed our world-class manufacturing, purchasing and design talent to get scrappy and start making personal protection equipment and help increase the availability and production of ventilators,” he added.


First Drive: The all-new 2019 Subaru Forester is simply unflappable

You’ve seen the videos of Eu Jin taking the all-new Forester
from Hat Yai to Hua Hin
 (in one tank of fuel!), and then another one where
he tested Subaru’s famous AWD and the EyeSight driver assistance system
. Here’s our first drive of the car on Malaysian roads, and spoiler alert, we think really highly of it.
This is the fifth generation of the SUV, and there are three variants of the all new Subaru Forester offered here in Malaysia; they are the
2.0i-L, the 2.0i-S,
and
the 2.0i-S EyeSight
 (or ES).
The
overall design remains familiar but there is enough to differentiate it from
its predecessor. C-shaped LED DRLs adorn the LED headlamps and that shape finds
its way to the rear light cluster as well. These are standard in the 2.0i-S and
2.0i-S ES, while the 2.0i-L gets bulb-type DRLs. Finally, a prominent skid
plate finishes the lower apron.
That’s it? Not really, as the changes go beyond skin deep. It is 30 mm longer at its wheelbase at 2,670 mm, resulting in an overall length of 4,625 mm. It is wider as well, with an additional 20 mm to give it an overall width of 1,815 mm.
Boot space has increased by 100 litres to 520 litres
. This means luggage plus the family dog will fit nicely at the back, and you have 2,155 litres if you fold the rear seats down (60:40).
What does this all mean?
Increased room where you and the fam will spend most of your time
. There are acres of real estate here, a criterion that is highly valuable in a family SUV. What’s more, the rear seats are also reclinable for added comfort.
There is only one engine option in our country, which is Subaru’s 2.0-litre, horizontally-opposed 4-cylinder engine (codenamed FB20) and it is mated to a Lineartronic CVT transmission. The powerplant is good for
156 PS (153 hp)
and
196 Nm of torque
.
You’d think these figures are humble… and you’re right, so let’s address it right now.
We’re not advocating power for power’s sake, but there will be occasions where more of it is necessary, like when you need to pass a truck or to avoid an accident.
In this era of turbocharging it’s not something we think about anymore, but in the Forester the manoeuvre does require a bit of “pre-planning”. In short,
having just enough means having slightly less peace of mind in these situations
.
The modest engine finds a perfect partner in the CVT
, however. The Subaru intelligent Drive provides two drive modes. It is modern and refined and does not retain much of the ‘rubber band’ character in Intelligent mode.
In Sport mode, the transmission gets 7 virtual speeds. In the former, it is smooth and quick to find the meat of the engine – around 4,000 rpm – and in the latter feels like a quick little conventional auto box with its virtual gears.
Ride and handling is where the all-new Forester really, really shines. Our route took us from Petaling Jaya to Gambang (half an hour away from Kuantan), and
it handled the twisty bits of the Karak highway with ease – nay, with aplomb
.
There is a sophistication in the suspension setup, which is a McPherson strut and double wishbone combo. Small imperfections on the road are isolated, while bigger undulations are absorbed well. The Forester will take any corner (at appropriate speeds) with poise, and even mid-corner bumps won’t faze it.
This is also in no small part due to
Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system
. It hangs on to the chosen cornering line well even when we were a little ham-handed, and when we were tidier, the traction out of the apex was immense. The unmistakable Subaru DNA is well and truly alive in the Forester.
The system is even more impressive off road. There are two different settings to choose from for when the tarmac ends:
Snow/Dirt
and
Deep Snow/Mud, via the X Mode dial
. The latter allows for more wheel spin, causing the tires to dig into the ground and find more traction.
Even on normal road tyres, we climbed small hills effortlessly, and descended them with even more ease as its Hill Descent Control system turns on automatically when X Mode (either terrain) is engaged.
This halo variant comes with the
EyeSight Driver Assist Technology
. The system uses a pair of cameras (or stereo cameras) to provide information for a suite of assistance systems like adaptive cruise control and pre-collision braking.
A full review is coming soon, but this was a fantastic first impression of the car. There are downsides to the car too, like its divisive looks and the lack of any other engine option. However, these are easily offset with all the positive takeaways from the car. Subaru’s new Forester. Go check it out for yourselves!
Subaru Forester 2.0i-L
 RM139,788
Subaru Forester 2.0i-S
 RM149,488
Subaru Forester 2.0i-S EyeSight
 RM159,788
IMAGE GALLERY


Hyundai Motor Group now third-largest global carmaker – 3.3 million vehicles sold in H1 2022

Hyundai Motor Group
 announced on Monday announced its global sales volume for the first half of 2022 stood at
3.3 million vehicles
. According to
Korea Times
, that makes the Korean firm the third-largest carmaker in the world, following behind Volkswagen Group at 4 million vehicles and Toyota at 5.1 million vehicles between January to June 2022.
Trailing behind Hyundai Motor Group, meanwhile, are the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance with 3.14 million vehicles, and Stellantis with 3.01 million vehicles sold in H1 2022.
Compared to the same period in 2021, Hyundai Motor Group has moved up two ranks in 2022. While Hyundai Motor and affiliate Kia Corporation did see a 5.1% drop in sales in H1 2022, the drop was still smaller than that of the other automotive groups.
Toyota

sales decreased by 6%,
Volkswagen
 by 14%,
Stellantis
 by 16%, the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance by 17.3%, and GM by 18.6% compared to the same period last year.
The
Hyundai

brand recorded a global sale of 325,999 vehicles in July 2022 (up 4% from 2021), of which 269,694 vehicles were sold outside of Korea (6.3% YoY increase), and 56,305 vehicles in Korea (5.9% YoY decrease). Over 16,000 Hyundai EVs were sold globally, with the
Ioniq 5

accounting for more than 8,000 of the EVs sold.
Kia

meanwhile recorded a total global sales figure of 257,903 vehicles in July 2022, which is a 6.3% jump from 2021. Kia Corporation sold 206,548 vehicles outside of Korea (6.2% YoY increase) and 51,355 vehicles in Korea (6.6% YoY increase). Globally, Kia reportedly sold 44,000 EVs in the second quarter of 2022, with 8,171 units being the
Kia EV6
.
Focusing on just the EVs, Hyundai Motor Group has now sold 27,000 EVs in the United States market alone between January and May of this year, as reported by
Bloomberg
. The Group is now only second after
Tesla
 in terms of EV sales market share in the country.
RELATED:
Hyundai reportedly shut down combustion engine development centre


New MINI charging facility launched in Malacca – 40kW DC, 22kW AC, up to RM1.20 per kWh

Seong Hoe Premium Motors,
BMW Group Malaysia
’s longest-serving dealer in Malacca has unveiled a new
MINI
 charging facility. Situated strategically at Kota Syahbandar, the charging facility is just two kilometres from the iconic Jonker Street, and is open to all EVs, no matter if it’s a MINI or not.
Set up to address the historical city’s rising demand for EV infrastructure, and support locals and tourists who are visiting from out of state, the facility is equipped with four parking lots and compromises two Stellar40
40 kW
 chargers. Powered by ChargeSini, the chargers are capable of providing 40 kW of charging when one is in use, and
20
+
 20 kW
 when both are in use.
Two Nexus
22 kW
 AC chargers are also provided. The MINI charging facility is precisely located at Jalan KSB 1, Taman Kota Syahbandar, 75200 Melaka.
Users will be charged a minimum fee of RM 5 upon booking confirmation. The charging rate for the DC charger is
RM 1.20
 per kWh or
RM 0.80
 per minute. Meanwhile, the AC charging rates start from
RM 0.07
 per minute at 3.7 kW to
RM 0.40
 per minute at 22 kW.
RELATED:
MINI teases new steering wheel, OLED screen for upcoming models
Seong Hoe Premium Motors General Manager, Loy Suan Chiow said, “We are seeing rising demand for not just electrified vehicles amongst our loyal customers in Malacca but also proper infrastructure to support them as well, especially amongst tourists who are visiting and exploring our rich heritage here during the weekends and long holidays.”
“Together with BMW Group Malaysia, we are ever-ready to support the growing market for Electrified Mobility in Malaysia and we are happy to have also partnered with leading smart EV charging provider – ChargeSini, to deliver on this commitment,” said Loy.
The new MINI charging Facility in Malacca by Seong Hoe Premium Motors is part of the 1,000+ charging facilities available under BMW Group Malaysia’s network thus far. This is thanks to the company’s partnerships with energy providers such as ChargEV, Yinson Greentech, JomCharge, Gentari and more.
RELATED:
Next-gen MINI Cooper Electric specs revealed – up to 400km range, 214hp


PDRM offering up to 50% discount on traffic summonses at 2022 Police Day event

It’s that time of the year again. If you’ve been waiting for another discount to pay off your
samans
, here’s your chance – the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) will be offering up to a 50% discount in traffic fines for selected offences through its Road March 2022 programme t commemorate the upcoming 215th Police Day.
The offer will be valid for one day only, and you’ll have to be present at the event at Dataran Merdeka on
July 30
 to take advantage of it.
As with previous summonses discount programmes, the offer will not be valid for summonses that involve accidents, dangerous driving, misuse of emergency lanes, disobeying traffic lights, non-compoundable offences, exhaust modifications, as well as those involving heavy commercial vehicles.
The payment counter will be open from
9 am to 6 pm
 on the day, according to the announcement on PDRM’s Facebook page. The event at Dataran Merdeka will also feature performances from PDRM’s various special units, as well as an exhibition of the police’s assets.


The all-new Kia EV9 is “futuristic design” done right

Carmakers have experimented with all sorts of “futuristic” or “next-generation” design ever since electric vehicles became mainstream. We say “experiment”, because some (
read:
Tesla Cybertruck
) have clearly taken that ethos to the extreme. But as nature often plays out, for every Cybertruck out there, there’s bound to be a Kia EV9 that does things just right.
Sticking closely to the design of its
original concept
, Kia’s fully-electric three-row SUV represents a huge departure from the sleek silhouette of the
EV6
 thanks to its large, polygonal body panels and sharp lines throughout. The most interesting angle is on its side, we think, especially with the massively flared and squared off fenders, alongside the blocky character lines, and a sharp beltline that tapers into a unique triangular kick on the D-pillars.
RELATED:
Kia is reusing old EV batteries as energy storage systems for buildings in Europe
The front and rear fascias are comparatively a lot more muted, although it all contributes to the three-row SUV’s tough stance on the road, which we think the EV9 wears incredibly well. Despite being significantly modernised, Kia’s signature design touches are all still here too, including the new ‘Digital Tiger Face’ which combines the sleek vertical headlights up front with a ‘Digital Pattern Lighting Grille’ – the latter with individual cube-like lighting elements hidden within the bodywork itself.
Overall, Kia says that the EV9 “effortlessly combines an undoubted aura of rugged capability for all conditions with the serene calmness of a sophisticated EV”, and we think that description is pretty much spot-on.
Moving inside, the Kia EV9’s interior design draws inspiration from its previous electric models, with an emphasis on clean and uncluttered layouts, mixed with unique “environmental-friendly” materials. Two 12.3-inch displays sit atop the dashboard in a scalloped section, with a smaller five-inch segment display sandwiched between them to control basically all the vehicle’s functions.
Kia says that the physical buttons are kept to a minimum on the EV9, though from first glance, it seems there are still a number of them littered around the dashboard for easy access to the most important functions – old dinosaurs like myself would appreciate.
Thanks to the use of the marque’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the EV9’s long wheelbase, low beltline, and the completely flat floor all contribute to its generous space on the interior – especially when compared to an ICE-powered vehicle of similar stature.
It’s available as either a six- or seven-seater SUV, and Kia says the occupants of both the first- and second-rows can simultaneously recline their seats to relax and rest while the car is charging. The second row seats can also be swivelled 180 degrees for a meeting-room like seating arrangement, although based on pictures, it does seem a little too cramped in terms of foot space for a comfortable boardroom meeting.
Powertrain and detailed specifications will be revealed later this month, but as it’s built on the same E-GMP platform as the EV6, we can already get a rough idea of what’s in store for the three-row SUV. Just by looking at its design, though, we think Kia has already hit a home run with the EV9.
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Here’s how complicated a Formula 1 car’s steering wheel really is!

For most of us, watching a Formula 1 driver’s POV from the TV in our living rooms is the closest we’ll get to the race car’s steering wheel.
Even the most oblivious of Formula 1 drivers can notice how cluttered a Formula 1 car’s steering is; but how complicated is it really? Valtteri Bottas of the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team explains.

The drivers are involved from the development of the steering from the get-go – from the mould of the steering, to the layout of the buttons.
In this video, you’ll finally get to find out, in relative detail, on the work that goes on behind every Formula 1 driver’s tool of the trade.
Credit:
Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport


Fully synthetic Shell Helix HX8 launched, from RM165 per 4L pack

Shell Malaysia has just launched a new fully synthetic engine oil and they’re going as far as saying it’s the most affordable premium engine oil of its kind in the country.
The new
Shell Helix HX8
 is available in two different viscosity – 5W-40 and 5W-30 which are suitable for most passenger vehicle types in the Malaysian market. Both viscosity ratings come with the adaptive
Flexi Molecule Technology
 that promises better engine protection and fuel economy.
The Helix HX8 offers 58%
better high-temperature deposit control and viscosity stability, 78% better
corrosion protection in start-stop urban driving conditions and 40% better engine
wear protection. As a result, car owners can enjoy longer engine life, longer
oil drain intervals with lower maintenance costs.
Each 4-litre pack of the
HX8 5W-40
 is priced at
RM165
 for Peninsular Malaysia (RM166 East Malaysia) while the
HX8 5W-30
 is priced at
RM180
in PM and RM181 in EM.
Additionally, each purchase of Shell Helix HX8 qualifies the consumer for the unique
Shell Advantage and Rewards (SHARE)
 loyalty programme which offers free Shell engine oil from accumulated purchases and free
Shell Helix Engine Warranty (SHEW)
 for cars eight years and below and 150,000 km on the odometer.
Look out for the “Untuk Pasaran Malaysia” label
To identify the authenticity of the new Shell Helix HX8, each bottle comes with a
“Made for Malaysia / Untuk Pasaran Malaysia”
 label on the packaging which contains a unique QR & product code to verify whether they are authorised products from Shell Malaysia.


This is Kia and Hyundai’s vision for the future of wireless charging and automated parking

With
BMW offering the world’s first factory-fitted wireless charging technology
 for electrified vehicles, Hyundai and Kia are in arms to top the idea with an additional Automated Valet Parking System (AVPS).
As with the wireless charging system, the car will first inform the driver when the battery charge is low. Through the smartphone, the driver can then command the car to head to the nearest wireless charging facility.
When the vehicle is fully charged, it will
automatically relocate itself
 to another vacant parking space using the Automated Valet Parking System (AVPS), allowing other vehicles to charge at the spot.
When the driver calls for the vehicle, it will then autonomously return to the location of the driver. It’s a seamless process between the driver, electric vehicle, parking facility and charging system.
With overcrowded parking lots already becoming a problem of the present, this concept although still in the “hopes and dreams stage” offers the drivers the convenience of being dropped off at their destination as the car drives itself to an empty charging station and subsequently a parking space. Charging status can also be monitored in real-time.
Kia and Hyundai are looking to implement the technology upon the launch of a Level 4 autonomous vehicle around 2025. The Korean heavyweights also plan to commercialise autonomous vehicles in various smart cities from 2021, with a goal of launching fully autonomous vehicles by 2030.


This Vision M NEXT shows what BMW’s new hybrid sports car could look like

It’s called the BMW Vision M NEXT and it was just revealed in Munich hours ago and BMW says it offers a foretaste of the BMW M brand’s electrified future.
The Vision M NEXT represents BMW’s future experience concepts – EASE and BOOST. “EASE” is where the vehicle is transformed into a living space on four wheels while “BOOST” represents the ultimate active driving experience.
Inspired by the iconic BMW Turbo and BMW i8, it adopts a low-slung, wedged-shaped silhouette with gullwing doors.
Its Power PHEV drive system can offer between electric all-wheel drive and pure rear-wheel drive, with either all-electric power or from a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.
Output is rated at
600 hp
, allowing the Vision M NEXT to get to
100 km/h from standstill in just three seconds
, before hitting its claimed top speed of 300 km/h. Purely electric driving range is rated at 100 km.
The Vision M NEXT also debuts BMW’s latest Laser Wire lighting technology on the headlamps and tail lights – featuring glass fibres coated with phosphorous to produce a new, super-slim and extremely precise form.
Parts of the exterior and interior are made of recycled carbon fibre, while contoured shoulders are used to create the effect of the iconic Hoffmeister kink, instead of incorporating the actual design we’ve all been so used to seeing.
Filling the arches are 21-inch wheels in the front while a 22-inch pair occupies the rear. Its rear window design takes its cue from the BMW M1.
Distinctive features displayed with the car also include the Curved Glass Display that stretches around the steering wheel like a visor, facial recognition, foam material for the seats with shape memory properties, with minimal use of leather – applied only in areas where the occupant’s hands would touch – such as the steering wheel and door handles.
IMAGE GALLERY


Isuzu donates three D-Max pick-ups for construction of temporary hospital

Isuzu UK has provided three D-Max pick-ups to support the construction of the NHS Nightingale – a temporary hospital to help hospitals around the Birmingham area cope with the increasing number of patients infected with Covid-19.
The first NHS Nightingale Hospital was first set up in London, after converting the ExCel London Convention Centre into a temporary hospital capable of housing up to 4,000 patients.
The NHS Nightingale in Birmingham will be the largest of all five Nightingale hospitals earmarked for construction and will have a capacity of up to 4,000 beds. Nearly 300 people have been working on the site, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to relief the mounting pressure on existing healthcare services and local hospitals in one of the worst-hit regions in the UK by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The new 1.9-litre turbo diesel Isuzu D-Max tested in Phuket, Thailand.
Isuzu is firmly committed to helping wherever possible and is delighted to play even a small role in the construction of this important hospital. The three Utah specification pick-ups form part of the D-Max ‘All Purpose’ range and have high levels of comfort, practicality and safety which will be put to good use moving building materials around the site and to transport supplies and equipment.
Isuzu UK, Managing Director, William Brown said, “As we’re based in the most hard-hit region in the UK, we felt the need to get involved and offer assistance in our local community at this critical time. We’re really pleased to be able to contribute to such a crucial development and would encourage other frontline services to get in touch as we’re ready and willing to help further”.
The company has made four key commitments to help during the Covid-19 pandemic as many of their customers form part of the ‘key worker’ group. In addition to keeping workshops open for essential services, Isuzu is pledging to loan its fleet and demonstrator vehicles, free of charge, to those businesses and services that need to get food and medicine to people who are most in need and are hardest to reach.


Honda records jump in bookings for facelift CR-V

A month after the facelift CR-V was launched
,
Honda Malaysia
 is pleased to announce a 180% increase in bookings for the upgraded SUV. To date, the company has received over 1,700 bookings for the facelift SUV.
The facelift CR-V is now available in
three different variants
 – 2.0L 2WD, 1.5L TC-P 2WD, and 1.5L TC-P 4WD. The 1.5L TC-P 2WD has been the most popular choice among customers, making up for 46% of the total bookings.
The Central region has contributed to the highest number of bookings, making up 45% of the total bookings nationwide. The facelift CR-V has also been well received in the Southern region (20% of total bookings) and Northern region (19%).
Dark Olive Metallic
has been the colour of choice, with 30% of customers opting for the unconventional exterior shade. So far, Honda Malaysia has delivered more than 1,300 units of facelift SUV.
Honda Malaysia, Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Toichi Ishiyama said, “We would like to thank our valued customers for their trust and support towards Honda Malaysia even during these challenging times. The launch of the New CR-V has definitely captured the interest of many SUV enthusiasts. Combining its premium features and attractive pricing starting from RM139,912.53, we believe the new CR-V is the ideal SUV for customers, especially families and professionals who have a discerning taste for SUV with top-notch specifications.”
The new CR-V features a new grille, new bumper design, smoked taillights, and new 18-inch wheels among many. Creature comforts now include the remote engine start feature, remote retractable side mirrors, and hands-free powered tailgate.
It’s also equipped with a new rear seat belt reminder feature, to go with the existing Honda SENSING features. They include adaptive cruise control, low speed follow, forward collision warning, collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist and auto high beam.
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Is SsangYong Motor making a comeback? New model sketches unveiled with striking looks!

While their operations in Malaysia has ceased since 2016, SsangYong Motors continues to be available in selected markets, such as the UK. The struggling South Korean automaker has been treading on a tightrope and the company has been under court receivership since April this year as its parent, Mahindra & Mahindra failed to secure a buyer for its 75% stake.
SsangYong Motors is nonetheless moving forward with the rollout of new products and utilising their expertise in the SUV segment. As the automotive landscape is moving towards full electrification (EV), SsangYong Motor is also joining the bandwagon too.
Walk-away auto-lock, remote engine start, soft-touch materials…Find out what makes the new Isuzu D-Max more SUV than a pick-up!
The X200 design concept is based on the company’s new design philosophy “Power by Toughness” and follows the recently announced J100 mid-sized SUV that will be an EV.
SsangYong Motor is no stranger to quirky designs. It is great to see the company bringing back some distinctiveness for the brand, in particular the Korando compact SUV that was available in the late 90s. The X200 showcases a strong identity to communicate a powerful and modern SUV while drawing on the inherited values and its authentic heritage.
When placed side-by-side, the X200 features the core styling of the old Korando via the circular headlamps over a narrow front fascia, a large and upright windscreen and very-pronounced wheel arches.
Lee Kang, head of SsangYong Design Centre said, “We have re-interpreted our future design vision and product philosophy by drawing heavily on our unique heritage. With the forthcoming J100 and X200 models, we have drawn a line in the sand in terms of design, and everything from this point forward will follow this new brand design direction.”
Mid-size J100 SUV
Subaru, another by-word for tough and rugged SUVs, is transitioning to EV as soon as next year. Find out more here!
While the larger J100 will be an EV, the smaller X200 will have a range of low emission powertrains.
An existing Korando with an electric powertrain called Emotion will fill the gap first before the arrival of newer models. However, the global semiconductor chip shortage is also affecting the small automaker in building up inventories for its European launch in Q4 2021.
As for the arrival of the new owner, a final bidder is only expected to be chosen in September and hopefully can keep the introduction of the J100 on track for a 2022 launch.
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The Seres SF5 is Huawei’s first electric car – well, kind of

Remember when we reported earlier this year that Huawei is
planning to make its own electric cars
? Well, it’s happened faster than we thought it would, but also not in the way we thought it to be. It’s called Seres SF5, and it’s a range-extender – not a pure EV – built by Chinese-owned, California-based (but still built in China by Chongqing Sokon) EV start-up, Seres.
Well… actually – it’s called the Seres Huawei Selection SF5, and the car itself is pretty much identical to the Seres SF5 shown off at the Auto Guangzhou motor show back in 2019. So no, Huawei did not technically design a car, or at least not any more so than using an existing template.
But what Huawei did have a hand in is the powertrain underneath. The Chinese tech giant calls it the Huawei DriveONE, which is supposedly a “three-in-one” powertrain consisting of the motor, a motor controller, and something that Google translates as “reducer” – whatever that is.
As mentioned above, the Seres SF5 is actually a range-extender EV rather than a pure fully-electric model, of which it makes use of a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine as a generator to extend its range
 up to 1,000 km
. Just on battery-power alone, the SF5 is capable of driving 180 km without a single drop of fuel.
The SF5 will be available in two powertrain options, with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. No technical specifications were shared on the former, but on the latter, the dual-motor set-up is capable of generating up to
 405 kW (551 hp)
 and
820 Nm
 of torque.
Century sprint is completed in a very specific
 4.68 seconds
, but Huawei is also particularly happy about its 0 – 50 km/h acceleration figure, with 1.99 seconds proudly displayed on its website.
Inside, the large portrait-styled centre infotainment display runs Huawei’s own HiCar software, which promises various connectivity solutions including V2X inter-car connectivity, and even smart home controls with various IoT devices, all directly from the touchscreen within your car.
Other interior highlights include the Huawei Sound sound system, which uses 11 speakers to achieve a supposedly “theatre-grade” experience. Although, according to Huawei, it’s not just the loudspeakers doing the work.
The Seres SF5 supposedly boasts a 38 dB noise floor within the cabin – which according to Huawei is similar to that of a library – thanks to the various noise dampening techniques found within the SUV.
As for safety, the Huawei Seres SF5 is equipped with two radars (millimetre-wave and ultrasonic), along with a surround-view camera system to enable “L2+” autonomous driving features, including a “traffic jam assist” (or as we understand it, adaptive cruise control with stop-go functionality), autonomous emergency braking, and lane centering assist, among others.
The Huawei Seres SF5 is now available for in the Chinese market, priced at RMB216,800 (~RM137k) for the single-motor variant, and RMB246,800 (~RM156k) for the dual-motor, all-wheel drive variant.
Interested customers can make a booking via Huawei’s own Vmall e-commerce platform with a fee of RMB1,000 (~RM630). The Seres SF5 will also be available for test drives at Huawei Experience Stores in China starting today.
GALLERY


Goodyear Assurance MaxGuard SUV tyres launched in Malaysia – 16-19 inch, from RM375

Goodyear Malaysia
 has announced the official launch of the Assurance MaxGuard SUV, the company’s latest addition in the Assurance range catered specifically for mid-sized SUVs and crossovers.
The new Goodyear Assurance MaxGuard SUV will serve as the successor to the
Wrangler TripleMax
, and is said to be customised specifically for the Asia Pacific market with a focus on improved wet grip and durability, making it ideal for customers who are shopping for tyres with safety in mind.
The new Assurance MaxGuard SUV tyres achieves its wet grip capabilities thanks to the unique tread design of Goodyear’s ActiveGrip Technology. The increased number of multi-biting edges, alongside vertical serrations on the treads and blended silica ActiveGrip cap compound help claw on to the road surfaces to provide up to 15% improved wet braking distance and 25% improved wet handling characteristics over the TripleMax.
Goodyear also says that the new Assurance MaxGuard SUV also boasts the best wet braking distance in its class, compared to three other unnamed competitors.
Meanwhile, the DuraGuard Technology employs a more robust tyre carcass to withstand cuts and punctures, alongside a two-ply steel belt package inside the tyres to ensure even more strength specific for SUV applications.
Additionally, Goodyear also claims that the new Assurance MaxGuard SUV also provides a quieter ride thanks to its new angled block design on the tread pattern, alongside a noise reduction rib and narrower outward-facing grooves. The more squared-off cavity shape and optimised tread depth also ensure a longer-lasting usage life – estimated to be around 40,000 to 60,000 km depending on the weight of the SUV and driving styles, according to Goodyear Asia Pacific product director, Jenner Powell.
“We are very excited to introduce Assurance MaxGuard SUV to the Malaysian market. We know many Malaysian drivers are family-orientated and want the best products to ensure safety. At the same time, we recognise that they are looking for comfort,” said Goodyear Malaysia Managing Director, Alex Ng.
“The Assurance MaxGuard SUV is a significant expansion of our product portfolio for SUV vehicles in providing a more pleasurable driving experience,” he added.
And just in case you’re wondering, the Goodyear Wranger line-up is now reserved for more off-road-focused tyres, while the Assurance series is for road-going applications – hence the change from Wrangler TripleMax to Assurance MaxGuard SUV, even though they’re from the same lineage.
The new Goodyear Assurance MaxGuard SUV tyres will be offered in 15 individual SKUs, suitable for rim sizes ranging from 16 to 19-inches, which means it’ll fit most of the popular midsized SUV models in the market, including the
Honda CR-V
 and
HR-V
,
Mazda CX-5
,
Nissan X-Trail
,
Proton X70
,
Hyundai Santa Fe
, and
Proton X50
.
The Goodyear Assurance MaxGuard SUV is now available at all Goodyear Autocare Centres nationwide as well as the Goodyear Lazada Flagship Store online, priced
from RM375 each
.
Just like other Goodyear Assurance models, it also comes with the company’s Worry Free Assurance that includes six months of road hazard protection and a five-year limited warranty against manufacturing defects.


Never been seen footages – Sultan of Brunei’s car collection

What would you do if you were the ruler of one of the richest nations on earth and just so happened to be a huge petrolhead as well? Well you’d have the largest collection of exotic cars known to man.
Despite being a tiny nation, no bigger than the state of Negeri Sembilan, it’s no secret that the tiny nation of Brunei is one the wealthiest in the world with crude oil and natural gas accounting for a large chunk of its income. Since the death of the Thai King, the Sultan reigned supreme as the richest monarch in the world.
It’s also no secret that its Prime Minister and also Sultan, the Yang Di-Pertuan Hassanal Bolkiah is a massive car enthusiasts – you’d probably guess where this is going. Recently,
GTBOARD.com
, a portal known for all things super/hypercars, shared a video made up of a compilation of pictures actually taken from the Sultan’s garage during a private preview.
As explained by
Taffy Sastrawiguna
, the saint who provided these pictures, “It was a miracle that those pictures were not lost after 16 years, the printed photos survived and were in an album but the negatives did not”.
Apparently, a friend of his was miraculously given the exclusive permission to take these pictures during his stay in Brunei. Unfortunately time was limited and there were more than 3000 cars in the main garage alone. Just imagine the size of that compound! Limited to only TWO ROLLS of film, he had to overlook other sections of the garage.
Looking at the video the Sultan seemed to even have a few of the same cars, just in different colours! Amongst the cars, as listed by GTBOARD.com includes a few Ferrari F50’s (RHD), McLaren F1, Pininfarina Venice Cabriolet, a few Jaguar XJ220’s, Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversario, an ultra rare Ferrari FX, Bugatti EB110 SS, McLaren F1 LM, Tokyo Ueno Clinic, and the
rarest McLaren of them all
, the F1 GT also known as the “Longtail”.
In hindsight, feels kinda nostalgic thinking back on how we used to take our pictures doesn’t it? Glad those days are over though; we’ll happily stick to carrying “little chips with oversized capacities” instead rolls of films.


Perodua hands out 5,000 face shields to 17 schools

With schools reopening on the 24th of June,
Perodua
 has distributed over 5,000 face shields to 17 secondary schools in the Hulu Selangor district. Perodua also distributed face shields to the Hulu Selangor District Education Office in Kuala Kubu Bharu.
The face shields will complement the face masks used by Form 5 and Form 6 students, teachers and support staff who will return after a 3-month school closure.
Selected Perodua service centres will be extending its operation hours from 8 am to 9 pm.
The self-made face shields feature a fog resistant visor made of polyethylene terephthlate for optimal visibility. It also comes with a sponge to cushion the forehead, while also acting as a barrier against airborne droplets. Eventually, Perodua plans to distribute these face shields to community clinics in the Hulu Selangor district.
“We would like to thank the government, especially the Health Ministry, and all frontliners for working so hard to guide our nation through the Covid-19 crisis. We hope the Malaysian public will continue to exercise caution and comply with all health and safety guidelines,” said Perodua President and CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad.
In April, Perodua
donated RM2 million to the National Disaster Management Agency’s (NADMA) Covid-19 fund
. They also donated 150 mattresses, 200 pillows, 105 boxes of mineral water, 15 industrial fans and 300 pairs of rubber boots to the Sungai Buloh hospital.
More recently, Perodua announced that it would extend the operation hours of selected service centres and Body & Paint centres. It
involves 16 service centres and three Body & Paint centres
, which will operate from 8 am to 9 pm.
In conjuction with the recent Hari Raya celebration, Perodua is offering
special cash redemptions of up to RM1,300
 for the
Aruz
 and
selected Myvi models
.


Road tax and license renewals could soon be done online – JPJ

The days of long queues and hours waiting at JPJ offices for a simple road tax or driver’s license renewal could soon be over, according to a
Facebook post
 by Transport Minister, Anthony Loke.
In the post, Loke said he had visited the JPJ Negeri Sembilan branch along with JPJ Director-General, Datuk Zailani to observe the situation during operation hours.
Loke pointed out that the JPJ has added new kiosks at branches across the country to ease the process of renewing road tax and driver’s licenses. The kiosks also serve to reduce waiting time and congestion at branches. Operation hours of these kiosks also extend beyond office hours.
The Seremban MP noted that the digitalisation process will not stop with the kiosks as work is underway to offer online services with the JPJ currently working on offering services to renew road tax and driver’s license via a smartphone app.
This follows after a recent announcement by Loke that the JPJ will focus on digitalising its core services along with the introduction of
improved road tax stickers
.
GALLERY


Jaguar’s new 2.0L turbo is good for 296 hp & 400 Nm, closer to AMG-levels!

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) finally adds another
Ingenium petrol engine
 to their
powertrain lineup
, this time with a new 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol. It will power the
XE
,
XF
,
F-Pace
 and
F-Type
 models and will propel these cars to 100 km/h in less than six seconds.
Built at JLR’s Engine Manufacturing Centre in Wolverhampton, UK, the engine produces
296 hp
 and
 400 Nm
 of torque. Power is channelled to the driveshaft via an
eight-speed automatic transmission
 sourced from ZF. Sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in the F-Pace takes
6.0 seconds
 flat while the XF business saloon gets there in
5.6 seconds
. The XE sports saloon is the quickest among the lot, taking only
5.5 seconds
 to hit the 100 km/h mark.

JLR also claims that this new 296 hp 2.0-litre turbo returns
6.9 to 7.7 litres per 100 km
 despite the added performance, thanks to JLR’s latest engine technologies such as a twin-scroll turbine and a high flow compressor wheel.
Besides the new engine option, 2018 models of the XF and XE will come with added features of Gesture Boot Lid, Configurable Dynamics (allows the driver to personalise gearbox, throttle and steering settings), Forward Vehicle Guidance and Forward Traffic Detection.

Currently, Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia has all three models on sale: XE from RM340k, XF from RM450k and the F-Pace from RM599k.


Facts & Figures: Jaguar E-Pace lands in Malaysia

It’s been a
pretty long wait
, but Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia has finally introduced the Jaguar E-Pace compact SUV on our shores. The E-Pace will be available in a single variant, priced at
RM403,216.67
.
EXTERIOR
The exterior design of the Jaguar E-Pace is said to be heavily inspired by the brand’s F-Type sports car, with many of its design cues such as the sweeping roofline, gaping front grille, and the muscular rear haunches, all making its way onto the compact SUV.
Despite not equipped with the more aggressive R-Dynamic body kit, the Jaguar E-Pace still looks plenty sporty. Exterior highlights include:
LED headlights with Signature daytime-running lights
LED Taillight
20-inch “Style 6014” six split-spoke alloy wheels with Satin Grey Diamond Turned finish
Twin tailpipes with finishers
Two exterior colour options: Yulong White Metallic and Firenze Red Metallic
PERFORMANCE
The E-Pace compact SUV is powered by a two-litre turbocharged Ingenium engine that’s shared with the recently-updated
Land Rover Discovery Sport
. In fact, the E-Pace is also built on the same Jaguar Land Rover Premium Transverse Architecture (PTA) as the Disco Sport.
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder twin-scroll turbocharged Ingenium petrol engine
Transmission: ZF Nine-speed automatic transmission
Drivetrain: all-wheel drive
Max horsepower: 200 hp @ 5,500 RPM
Max torque: 320 Nm @ 1,250 RPM
0-100 km/h: 8.2 seconds
Top speed: 216 km/h
The all-wheel drive system is mated to a bunch of electronic wizardries, such as JaguarDrive Control driving mode switch, All Surface Progress Control, and Torque Vectoring by Braking, to ensure that the drivability of the E-Pace is on par with other Jaguar models.
INTERIOR
A key addition to the E-Pace is the introduction of Smart Settings, as seen on the
Land Rover Discovery Sport
 and
Evoque
, which automatically adjusts the seats, climate control, and various other comfort and infotainment settings as the driver approaches the car with the key fob or registered smartphone.
Over time, the Smart Settings system will pick up more of the driver’s preferences such as time, location, weather, and behaviour patterns thanks to the built-in artificial intelligence ‘self-learning’ technology. For example, the system is able to change the media source on a particular day of the week or time of day.
Otherwise, interior equipment are as such:
10-inch Touch Pro infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Connectivity
Navigation Pro service
5.0-inch multi-info display in the instrument cluster
380W Meridian Sound System
Two-zone climate control
Grained leather upholstery, Ebony
14-way electric memory front seats
Powered tailgate with gesture control
SAFETY
Safety equipment on the Jaguar E-Pace include:
Six airbags – Front, side, and full-length curtain airbags
Automatic headlights with automatic high-beam assist
Lane Keep Assist
Driver Condition Monitor
Park Assist with 360-degree Parking Aid
Rear-view camera
Rear Traffic Monitor
PRICING
The Jaguar E-Pace is available in Malaysia in a sole 2.0L AWD variant, priced at
RM403,216.67
 on the road, without insurance, and inclusive of the sales tax exemptions until the end of 2020.
Included as standard in the price is the Jaguar Care programme, which includes:
five-year/150,000 km warranty
five-year/65,000 km free service package
three-year roadside assistance
If you’re interested in the new Jaguar E-Type, you can now register for a test drive via Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia’s website
here
.
IMAGE GALLERY
Jaguar E-Pace
Jaguar E-Pace R-Dynamic


The Bentley Continental GT Speed revealed with 659 hp and 335 km/h top speed

Bentley announces the company’s most dynamic road car in history with the Continental GT Speed. The 2021 Continental GT Speed is only the third generation of Speed models, with the pioneering 3-Litre Speed model introduced in the 1920s.
Only one engine is available with the Continental GT Speed, keeping with the Speed’s ethos. The renowned twin-turbocharged
W12 engine
 displacing 6.0 litres now delivers an additional 24 hp to bring the peak output to
659 hp
. Torque is maintained at an extraordinary
900 Nm
. Paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, the GT Speed completes the century dash in
3.6 seconds
 and onward to a top speed of
335 km/h
.
Apart from Active All-Wheel drive, the Continental GT Speed is equipped with an electronic rear limited-slip differential (eLSD), a first time in a Bentley. Suspending the 2.3-tonne grand tourer is a three-chamber adaptive air suspension system and the Bentley Dynamic Ride anti-roll control system.
The dynamic anti-roll control system operates on a 48-volt system and features powerful electric motors within the anti-roll bars to resist body roll, delivering as much as 1,300 Nm within 300 milliseconds to counteract cornering forces, keeping the body level.
All these features are well-calibrated and come alive together in Sport mode to deliver a thrilling and engaging drive. The transmission’s shifting time is also quicker, in fact,
twice as fast
 as in any other Bentley. All that speed and weight comes to a stop, confidently, with the newly engineered light-weight carbon-ceramic brake system. Ten-piston front calipers and four-piston rears supply incredible braking force.

All these upgrades in the chassis make the Continental GT Speed the most capable, performance-focused Bentley ever with no compromise to comfort or luxury.
Bentley also specified that limited amounts of brake dust are discharged, ensuring the 22-inch unique Speed wheels are perfectly presentable. Speaking of the wheels, buyers can select the finishing to be bright silver, dark tint or black gloss finish.
Other exterior enrichments on the Continental GT Speed include dark-tinted bumper grilles, more sculpted sports sills and discreet Speed badges on the front fenders.
For even more personalisation, the Continental Blackline Specification replaces the chrome coating with black on exterior trim pieces such as headlamp and taillamp bezels, exhaust outlets, window frame, door trim and fender vents.
Inside the 2+2 grand tourer, the Continental GT Speed’s credentials are further highlighted by a unique duotone colour split handcrafted in hide and matching Alcantara, which is also applied to the steering wheel. The exterior badging is matched with an elegant Speed icon on the passenger fascia.
Bentley’s Diamond in Diamond quilting is included as standard, and Speed embroidered headrests distinguish the cabin of the most potent Continental GT.
The luxurious interior can be further personalised with a choice of 15 main and 11 secondary hide colours, as well as the use of leather in place of Alcantara for the Speed colour split. The centre console can be finished in a new dark tint engine turned aluminium, bringing a geometrically perfect machined surface and a beautifully patterned finish.
Closer to home, Bentley Kuala Lumpur offers the Bentayga, the
Continental GT
 as well as the
Flying Spur
 four-door limousine, with limited
 First Editions
 available direct from Crewe.
GALLERY


After delivery of the 100th unit, Bugatti has sold over RM 1 billion worth of Chirons

Shortly after announcing in January that they’ve delivered over 70 Chirons, painstakingly
put together by just 20 technicians
, Bugatti is celebrating the delivery of its 100th
Chiron
.
The car in question costs €2.85 million (
approx. RM 13 million
) where it will now be delivered to an Arab owner – possibly on the back of priceless camels, draped in diamond-encrusted Egytian cotton.
The first used Bugatti Chiron in the UK, sold for approx. RM 20 million.
With each costing a minimum of 2.5 million pounds (
approx. RM 13 million
), that’s more than RM 1 billion worth of Chirons sold. With the Chiron introduced just two years ago, its resale value has soared too; with
one owner in the UK walking away with a million pound profit
 after just four months of ownership.
Let that sink into you, while you ponder why 100 million children in developing countries are still hungry everyday according to the Food Aid Foundation.
The recently unveiled
Bugatti Chiron Sport
.
The shell of the immensely
thirsty 1,500 hp Chiron
 consists entirely of dark blue carbon, with a matte finish, contrasted by a predominantly red full-leather interior.
Bugatti have had their hands tied recently; while having to deal with overwhelming orders, they’ve also had to recall 47 Chirons globally, which were affected with
faulty welds in the front seat recliner brackets
.
Only 500 Chirons
 in total will ever be produced.


Video: P300 Jaguar XE R-Dynamic facelift review

Launched here in August
 of this year, the
Jaguar XE facelift
, priced at
RM395,831.02
, has arrived with a host of changes both on the inside and out.
For starters, it’s got a sleek new exterior; with slimmer head and tail lamps to render the pre-facelift model it replaces, a dinosaur. The front grille is also less prominent and along with a coupe-like silhouette that makes the XE, now finished with the R-Dynamic kit and sportier wheels, looks fast without even moving.

Inside, the facelift jaguar XE R-Dynamic’s leather upholstery is available in various shades, along with a complete tech overhaul. This includes a new digital instrument cluster, new infotainment system, and a more stylish control panel for the air conditioning. It even gets a new steering wheel taken out of the
Jaguar I-Pace
.
Under the hood is a P300 2.0-litre turbocharged Ingenium engine, paired to an 8-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters. Output is rated
 300 hp
 and
400 Nm
 – enough to get the XE from 0 to 100km/h in about 5.7 seconds.
Brought in to compete with the higher end models of BMW’s 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz’s C-Class, it got us asking two questions. Does it still retain the exclusivity of a Jaguar sedan? And does it feel like a sports saloon?
Here’s what we thought.


Berjaya Auto Alliance is calling on Peugeot owners for information update

Berjaya Auto Alliance (BAASB),
new distributors of Peugeot vehicles in Malaysia
 from a joint venture between Berjaya Corporation and Bermaz Auto, is taking the first step in improving the ownership experience of current Peugeot owners.
The company is doing so by calling on owners to
provide their vehicle’s information on their official site
.
Owners are encouraged to submit their vehicle registration card, warranty card, free service card, insurance (optional) on the site. Information such as the vehicle’s registration number and chassis number will also be required.
The exercise will allow BAASB to keep owners updated with recall notifications, service intervals, warranty periods, news, and other campaigns. All information and details provided will be kept and protected in accordance with the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) of Malaysia.
Aside from distributing Peugeot vehicles, BAASB is now also the provider of aftersales services and spare parts for Citroën and DS vehicles in Malaysia.
For more information on this, owners can email their enquiries at
[email protected]
 or call the Peugeot Customer Support number at 03-76278818.


The Toyota GR Yaris is finally going rallying – 2022 hybrid Rally1 car now undergoing testing

The
Toyota GR Yaris
 is perhaps the most celebrated car of 2020, with journalists and car enthusiasts alike singing unending praise for the little hot hatch. It was made as a homologation special for its 2021 rally car, though the race car never actually got to race no thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic causing havoc for the World Rally Championships (WRC), eventually leading Toyota to scrap its plans for the car.
You can’t help but be disappointed – considering how good the car is on the roads, it would’ve been interesting to see how it performs off the beaten path as well. Fortunately, there is good news – Toyota will be running a significantly updated GR Yaris in the 2022 championships, in line with the revised Rally 1 specifications, and there’s now a new teaser video to show what they’ve been working on.

Currently undergoing testing at the Portugal rally stage, the most obvious change on the exterior of the 2022 Toyota GR Yaris rally car that we can see is undoubtedly the giant air scoops on both sides of the car. The Japanese carmaker did not divulge what these are for, but they’re most likely used to channel air to cool the hybrid batteries – yes, these cars will be electrified, as per the 2022 Rally1 specification!
As it’s still undergoing testing, Toyota also did not share any information on its performance figures. According to the Rally1 technical regulations however, these hybrid powertrains will make around the region of
510 hp
 when the battery is fully charged, and it certainly looks and sounds fast in the video.
Massive side air scoops.
Another new addition to the 2021 Rally1 regulations is the new roll cage, to further improve the safety of the driver and co-driver in the treacherous rally stages. The new safety-cell structure as part of a “completely new chassis design” can be seen on the on-board footage of the new car.
Other changes on the 2021 spec include less complex suspension set-ups with shorter wheel travel and more straightforward components, a more simplified five-speed transmission system, and simpler brake cooling and fuel tank configurations.
All of these changes are designed to make WRC more accessible for new manufacturers (i.e. cheaper), while also improving the sport’s environmental credentials.
New safety cell structure.
Toyota Gazoo Racing technical director, Tom Fowler said: “It is a really exciting project because so many things have changed; we have had to go back to the drawing board on almost the complete car and all of the systems.
“It has been a real pleasure to work with our excellent team of engineers, designers and technicians to get this car ready, and now we are here on the stages of Portugal to put the car through its paces on European gravel roads and really start to experience what the World Rally Championship has to show for a WRC car.”
The 2022 Toyota GR Yaris rally car will continue its validation tests around other sites in Europe until the end of the year, after which the car will be homologated for the Monte Carlo Rally stage as well as the start of the 2022 season.
GALLERY


2022 Volkswagen Arteon R-Line price increase by RM9k to RM258k, specs unchanged

A quick check on Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia’s (VPCM) website revealed that the company has quietly updated the pricing for the new
2022 Volkswagen Arteon R-Line 4Motion
, roughly seven months after the facelift’s launch here in Malaysia.
The fastback sedan now costs over RM9,000 dearer compared to when it was first launched here, pushing its pricing up to
RM258,019
 on the road, without insurance, and inclusive of the ongoing SST exemptions until the 30th of June 2022 (100% here, as the model is locally assembled in Malaysia).
Aside from the pricing update, however, it seems like the rest of its spec sheet remains unchanged from before. Underneath the bonnet is a 2.0-litre turbocharged TSI engine and seven-speed wet dual-clutch DSG gearbox providing motivation to all four wheels, with
280 hp
 and
350 Nm
on tap translating to a century sprint time of just
 5.6 seconds
.
Standard kit also remains completely identical to the launch car, including the full R-Line exterior package, 19-inch two-tone alloy wheels, and full LED lighting on the exterior. The cabin meanwhile comes equipped with an 11.7-inch digital instrument cluster, 9.2-inch Discover Pro touchscreen infotainment display with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, powered Nappa leather ErgoComfort seats, and a 700W Harman Kardon premium sound system as standard.
For the full list of facts and figures on the 2022 Volkswagen Arteon R-Line, Click here!
Unfortunately, an unchanged equipment list also means that the 2022 Volkswagen Arteon R-Line facelift here in Malaysia also continues to miss out on basic ADAS features such as autonomous emergency braking. It does, however, come with new rear cross-traffic alert feature, alongside blind-spot alert (Side Assist), and lane departure alert and assist system.
Included in the price is still an unchanged five-year unlimited mileage warranty, alongside a three-year free maintenance package and five years of roadside assistance. In related news, the Volkswagen Passat Elegance has also
 recently been updated
 with a mild price increase, although that includes actual equipment changes.
GALLERY


BMW, Polestar designers say big screens might be on their way out

Carmakers used to one-up each other’s engines, but it seems like these days all they’re competing for are screen sizes. Infotainment displays are reaching upwards of 15 inches across, and heck – Mercedes even fills up its entire dashboard with screens on its
Hyperscreen
 set-up.
The big-screens’ aesthetic charm is arguable, but to us, it’s just a usability nightmare – especially when you’re actually driving, like what a car is supposed to do. Fortunately, though, it seems that this weird obsession with big screens might just be ending soon – at least according to
BMW
i interior designer, Matthias Junghanns.

The statement came from a livestreamed roundtable hosted by
Car Design News
, discussing the luxury car interiors of the future with some of the brightest minds in the industry – in which, a question from the audience was highlighted: “Today, premium luxury and UX (user experience) seems to be synonymous with the big screen, will it still be the case tomorrow?” He added, “Have we reached Peak Screen?”
Junghanns responded, with another question: “Is it the big screen that counts?”, adding that he personally believes that the trend will be left behind, “sooner or later”. As for what’s coming in the future, the designer imagines a cabin where “all the intelligence of your car [is] at your fingertips, but interfaces that [only] appear when you need them, and when you want them.”
RELATED: BMW’s all-new iDrive system wants you to forget about physical controls
A similar all-screen dashboard design on the
Geely Xingyue L
.
Polestar
‘s interior design manager, Conny Blommé concurred with the view: “Everything has its peak, and probably screens have. Most of the time, you’re travelling in a car, and you enjoy the view more than you enjoy the screens.”
Sure, two designers definitely don’t represent the entire industry. But at the very least, it’s indicative that not everyone in the car world share the design ethos of “big screen or bust”. Do you agree with the two designers? Let us know in the comments section below.
[
H/T: The Drive
]


Kia Stonic B-segment SUV goes on sale in UK, 6-spd manual only, from RM92k

Shortly after the global unveiling of the
Kia Stonic
, the Korean carmaker’s first B-Segment SUV will first go on sale in UK. A total of five variants will be made available at launch and all models will be front-wheel drive with a six-speed manual transmission.
Three powertrains will be available for purchase: a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine T-GDI (
118 hp
/
172 Nm
), 1.4-litre four-cylinder MPI (
98 hp
/
132 Nm
) and a 1.6-litre turbodiesel CRDi (
108 hp
/
260 Nm
). To no one’s surprise, the most powerful turbo petrol engine is the quickest to the 100 km/h mark at
9.9 seconds
 while the 1.6-litre turbodiesel is a full second slower at
10.9 seconds
. The naturally aspirated 1.4-litre MPI is the slowest of the lot, taking
12.2 seconds
 to complete the century sprint.
In the UK, the Stonic is offered in two distinct trim lines – an entry level
grade “2”
 and the higher grade “
First Edition
”. Despite being the cheapest model, the grade “2” comes generously equipped with projector headlamps with LED daytime running lights, cornering lights, roof rails and 17-inch alloy wheels. Buyers who went for the “First Edition” can have their Stonic to receive a swanky two-tone paintwork along with chrome window trim.
The entry level variant comes equipped with multifunctional steering wheels, heated side mirrors, 7-inch infotainment display and 3.5-inch supervision instrument cluster. If you’re someone who is big on features, the “First Edition” packs a whole lot more kit – keyless entry and start, black cloth and grey faux leather upholstery, automatic climate control, privacy glass, D-shaped steering wheel, 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and dual-height luggage floor.

All variants of the Stonic comes with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Vehicle Stability Management, Torque Vectoring, Straight Line Stability, Cornering Brake Control and Hill-Start Assist. The top of the line “First Edition” gets a series of
advanced driver assistance systems as standard
such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Departure Warning System, Driver Attention Warning, High Beam Assist and Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross Traffic Alert. Fortunately, grade “2” buyers can have all these advanced assistance systems as an option.
Prices for the entry level 1.4-litre MPI grade “2” starts at £16,295 (RM92k) while the highest grade 1.6-litre CRDi “First Edition is priced at £20,495 (RM116k). Kia expects to sell 70,000 units of the Kia Stonic across Europe in 2018.
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