Aston Martin becomes official sponsor and partner of Johor Darul Ta’zim Football Club!

Johor Darul Ta’zim Football Club, otherwise known as the Johor Southern Tigers has announced a new international sponsorship and partnership with one of the most exclusive car brands in the world, Aston Martin. The deal was just announced on the football team’s
Facebook
 and
Twitter
 pages.
The most exciting of all, JDT FC also announced that there would be a
“JDT Edition range”
from this new partnership, without elaborating further.
The video below was released in conjunction with the announcement, featuring several Aston Martins of new and old driving up to the JDT FC stadium.
The V8 Vantage “Dark Knight Edition”
The V12 DBS Superleggera
The Aston Martin Vantage “Dark Knight Edition” is the last unit in Malaysia to get the Sea Storm colour! Read the article here!
If the video is a hint of things to come, could there be a JDT Edition for every model in Aston Martin’s current range? Including the DBS Superleggera, the DB11, the DBX, and the Vantage?
That would be something, wouldn’t it?
No details were shared on the international sponsorship deal either but one would assume that it
should be a shirt sponsorship deal
. That would be quite incredible; seeing the words “Aston Martin” plastered across our local football team’s jersey.
You won’t believe how much work goes into making an Aston Martin badge…watch how its done here!

“The partnership is not only very valuable monetarily to Johor Darul Ta’zim FC (JDT), but is also a deep-rooted relationship that is going to develop opportunities for JDT and Johor in various areas over the coming years,” according to a statement published by the team.
JDT FC highlighted that talks have been ongoing for several weeks now and are delighted to have reached an agreement with the illustrious British sports car maker.
Watch us drive, scream and review the Aston Martin Martin V12 Vantage GT3 race car on the Sepang International Circuit!


Mercedes-Benz confirms production of first fully-electric G-Class, the Mercedes-Benz EQG

Six months after the preview of the
EQG concept back in September of 2021
 at the Munich Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz Chairman, Ola Kallenius finally has confirmed that the fully-electric G-Class (EQG) will go on sale in 2024, according to a report by
MotorTrend
.
Ola Kallenius also further confirmed that the production version of the EQG will not be using a dedicated EV platform, it will be built based on a modified version of the current G-Class platform. This is unlike the Mercedes-Benz EQS and EQE SUVs where they’re built on the dedicated EVA2 platform, specifically for electric vehicles.
As part of the EQ family, the main identifier for the new “fully-electric G-Class” comes with a sealed-off front panel in replacement of the traditional front grille. The three-pointed star is now also illuminated. The rest of the body will continue to feature the iconic boxy shape of the G-Class.
Production of the EQG is expected to take place in Tuscaloosa, Alabama alongside the EQS and EQE SUV. The EQG will feature four electric motors, one for each wheel, to provide all-wheel drive capabilities. Performance figures for the EQG are yet to be confirmed but it’s expected to share technologies with the EQS and EQE SUV since they’re rolling out from the same manufacturing plant.


Video: Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge review – Simply The Ultimate Coupe

What is the most incredible Coupe you’ve ever had the privilege to be in? Take that, multiply the experience by 1000 and that’s what the
Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge
 is like. Even so, it could be better.
That’s because power isn’t everything it possesses. The Wraith Black Badge will happily keep up with today’s boy racers its 870 Nm and brisk 4.3 seconds from 0 to 100km/h but that isn’t all. In fact, we should be punished for even highlighting its performance because that has never been the essence of a
Rolls-Royce
.
It’s the extremely obsessive attention to detail, the level of customisation, and the labour of love required to put it all together that makes a Rolls-Royce, a Rolls-Royce. Just
click here
 and check out what they’ve been up to recently and you’ll understand.

In the rare circumstance of automotive manufacturing where all these come together, whether it’s the hand-painted pin-stripe on the body, the clicks of the buttons, or even just the precision of the gaps in the doors and panels, you have a car that is just engineered to be the best that it can be.
It’s empowering and in the case of the Wraith Black Badge, it’s menacing too. More importantly, what was truly staggering especially for us being in a Rolls-Royce for the first time ever, was how smooth it felt. It is simply the pinnacle of ease and comfort this thing. If you’ve ever wondered if it can ever get any better than this, while being in a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the answer is yes.
That being said, we shouldn’t go any further with this and instead leave you to discover what we experienced through visuals. The Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge is priced from
RM1.7 million
 and was recently launched concurrently with the Ghost Black Badge (
from RM1.4 million
), Dawn Black Badge (
from RM1.8 million),
 and Cullinan Black Badge (
from RM1.7 million
).


Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia now delivers your brand new car to you!

Ever since the start of the pandemic and its resulting lockdowns, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) has been at the very forefront of providing safer and contact-free measures for its customers, whether it’s for test driving a new car or even servicing it.
Today, the company has announced a new offering, the
Home Delivery Service
. The new service aims to offer a more comprehensive online shopping experience for customers with the option to have their new Mitsubishi vehicle delivered to their doorstep.
“As Malaysia is transitioning from the Covid-19 pandemic, we want to offer a one-stop digital service; everything from viewing the car, making a booking, finalising the sale, as well as having the new car delivered right to their doorstep,” said CEO of MMM, Tomoyuki Shinnishi.
The service will first be available to customers in the Klang Valley. Later on, it will be available to other regions in the country.

It’s only available to customers who book and register their new Mitsubishi vehicles online via the
Mitsubishi Online Service
 platform.
Aside from the new Home Delivery Service, Mitsubishi had also introduced the
Mitsubishi Connect App
 that allows customers to schedule service appointments and monitor their vehicle’s maintenance history.

To ensure proper social and physical distancing, MMM also launched the “
Test Drive 2U
” service. Through the website, once the vehicle model and nearby dealership has been selected, a sales representative will deliver the Mitsubishi vehicle to your doorstep.
There’s more; from now till the 31st of December 2021, those who
book and register
 a Mitsubishi Triton with the
4SUREBELI
 promo code will receive a limited edition North Face jacket.


People are getting increasingly fed up with the built-in touchscreen systems in their cars

We’ve been
very vocal
 about the
touchscreen apocalypse
 happening inside our cars. We know that many of you share the same sentiment, too, and according to a recent JD Power study, it seems that we’re not alone.
In the latest 2023 edition of its Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout (APEAL) Study, JD Power has found that overall customer satisfaction is only at 845 (on a 1,000-point scale), a decrease of two points from a year ago, and three points lower than in 2021. That’s the first time in the 28-year history of the study that the consumer research firm recorded a consecutive year-on-year decline in owner satisfaction.
No Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity on Proton and ACO Tech’s Atlas OS
The study is based on 10 different factors, but one of the biggest contributors to this year’s decline is the confusing and problematic tech equipment in the cabin. According to JD Power, only 56% of owners prefer to use their cars’ built-in system to play audio, down from 75% in 2020.
The numbers are even more dire for navigation, voice recognition, and phone calls, with less than half of the owners saying they like using their car’s native systems for each of those functions. Evidently, customers are getting more and more fed up with the increasingly confusing touchscreen systems on their cars, that – for some reason – continue to hide more and more of the frequently-used features under multiple layers of settings.
Apple CarPlay
and Android Auto continues to be the preferred method of controlling in-car entertainment, and even Porsche is now themselves adding climate control buttons directly into the Apple CarPlay interface, probably in recognition of their own software’s complexities.
What’s interesting, though, is that customers are actually quite receptive of infotainment systems that are built atop the Android Automotive operating system (AAOS) – specifically those with Google apps built in, like in
Volvos
. According to JD Power data, these cars “score higher in the infotainment category than those with no AAOS whatsoever.”
I guess what this shows is that carmakers should just stick to making cars, and let people who make touchscreen interfaces (smartphones) make the software. I’m only half kidding.
RELATED:
Volvo C40 Recharge – Google’s Android Automotive OS will make you forget about everything else
Aside from the in-car technologies, the JD Power APEAL study also looked at customers’ satisfaction levels with their cars’ exterior design, and –
perhaps unsurprisingly
 – the category also saw a stark decline this year, dropping from 894 in 2022, to just 888 this year.
Out of the 10 factors, the only one that didn’t see a decline this year was fuel economy, which posted a score 15 points higher than in 2022. This category is now, however, a slight misnomer, as the improved scores come courtesy of the new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) that scored 797 in the “fuel economy/range” category, compared to the internal combustion engine (ICE) cars with just 758.
The JD Power APEAL Study is based on responses from 84,555 car owners of new 2023 model-year vehicles, who were surveyed after 90 days of ownership. The responses were fielded from February through May 2023, based on vehicles registered from November 2022 to February 2023.
Among the responses, car buyers seem to be the most satisfied with the
Porsche 911
 overall, while EVs like the
Kia EV6
 and
BMW iX3
 continue to dominate many of the rankings in their respective segments.
Tesla
– which
made their official debut in Malaysia yesterday
 – also saw a decline in satisfaction this year, although it still remains one of the higher performing brands in the industry.
[H/T:
The Verge
]


The five types of drivers that should buy a Subaru XV

The second-generation Subaru XV was launched here in Malaysia
back in 2017
, and even though there were several updates along the way, the car by and large stayed the same throughout its four years of existence here in our country. But that’s not really a bad thing though, is it? As the saying goes: if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.
And the Subaru XV is certainly not broken. In fact, we’ve had many good things to say about it in the past – just have a look at our previous reviews, in both
written
 and
video
 form. Recently, we had the opportunity to sample the compact SUV once again in the prettier
GT Edition form
, which reminded us why we liked it that much the first go-around.
But as we’ve mentioned, the Subaru XV did not see that many changes over the years, so instead of another review with us repeating the same things over and over again, we thought we’ll switch things around this time, and try to figure out who the Subaru XV is for.
1. Small families
There’s a reason why almost everyone is buying an SUV these days – the convenience benefits are just too hard to ignore, even if I don’t personally prefer them. Primarily, its taller ride height means getting in and out of the car is a lot easier, especially for the elderly folks, or those carrying toddlers.
An SUV also usually means more space, and that’s also the case here. Being slightly larger than most of its competitor, the Subaru XV offers one of the best interior space within its segment, highlighted by the impressive legroom, knee room, and headroom for the back passengers. Despite the title above, we’d wager that even a group of adults wouldn’t find anything to complain about, space wise.
The cargo room at the back however, does suffer a little due to the XV’s all-wheel drive system. Coming in at 385 litres, the boot space is admittedly quite snug compared to its rivals. But on shorter trips, it should still have sufficient luggage space for a small family, especially if you’re willing to play some luggage tetris. Fortunately, the large aperture makes that process pretty painless.
2. Outdoors enthusiasts
For those who revel in the great outdoors; those who much prefer to spend their weekends off the beaten path rather than yet another shopping mall, there’s no better choice in this segment for you than the Subaru XV.
The reason is none other than Subaru’s famed
symmetrical AWD system
. Specifically for off-road driving, the XV comes with an “X-Mode” switch that adapts the system to provide optimal traction for trickier terrains. But for most surfaces, including loose gravel roads, “normal” mode seems to already do a stellar job.
Impressed? Wait until you realise that it’s all done on regular road-going tyres. After your weekend getaway, you can still drive home on the highways in complete comfort, without the noise and harshness from a more off-road oriented tyres. The Subaru XV is truly an every day go-anywhere compact SUV – and not just a “crossover” like most of its competitors.
3. Functionality over aesthetics
They say that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, but most people would probably agree that the
Proton X50
 looks better than the Subaru XV. Don’t get me wrong, the Subaru XV is not a bad looking car – in fact, we do quite like how the additional
GT Edition kit
 adds that little bit more pizazz. But when compared to its chief rivals, it’ll never come out ahead in a beauty contest.
And truthfully, that’s okay – because the XV is a car built for maximum functionality with zero fuss; aesthetics come second. As we’ve already mentioned above, it’s designed to take a beating, not just to shuffle the family to and fro shopping malls.
Analogue dials, but if it’s not broken, why fix it?
Take for example the additional display above the dashboard, which looks like it came straight out of a 90s sci-fi movie. Call it geeky, but it puts all of your crucial driving information – from water temperature to even your pitch and roll angles – right where your peripheral vision would be while driving.
It’s hard to ingore that the Subaru XV lacks the “wow” factor car buyers – especially the younger crowd – seem to seek for, but that’s only because all of the investment were made to perfect what’s underneath the car.
4. Drivers who hate braking
Don’t you just hate how every time you come to a corner, you’ll have to tap on the brakes to slow down your car, just so you’ll make it through safely? Well, good news – when you drive a Subaru XV, you’ll never have to worry about replacing your brake pads.
We kid, but there’s actually some truth in that statement. And once again, the secrets sauce comes in the form of the Symmetrical AWD system. Unlike most other all-wheel drive SUVs that are mostly front-wheel drive in normal circumstances, Subaru’s solution sends power to all four wheels, all of the time.
The system constantly manipulates the torque distribution, sending power to the wheel with the most traction at any given moment, helping the car keep its line no matter rain or shine. If you have the chance to test drive the Subaru XV, bring it to a roundabout and you’ll know what we mean.
Not only does it turn in like a pouncing tiger on faster entries, the XV seemingly just sticks onto the tarmac like magic as you gradually increase your speed through the roundabout too.
Believe us when we say this – the amount of speed that the XV can handle through corners can seriously mess with your head, even to the point of you forgetting how to drive a “normal” car after this – true story. We’ve been there, so consider this a public service announcement.
5. Driving enthusiasts
No, you did not read that wrongly. Common sense would tell you that a tall-riding SUV can never handle well, but the Subaru XV defies all logic. Not only does it have the grip to hold on to the road, it actually feels exciting to drive too – especially when it’s pushed to its limits.
A huge contributor to the XV’s handling chops is its beating heart, the 2.0-litre boxer engine. Due to its horizontally-opposed piston layout, the boxer engine can be placed much lower within the engine bay, significantly lowering the centre of gravity of the car, which in turn reduces the body roll.
In fact, Subaru says that the second-generation XV has 50% lesser body roll than the model it replaces – and that’s even with a softer-sprung suspension set-up, made possible by a significantly more rigid chassis.
“But wait, doesn’t the Subaru XV come with a CVT gearbox?” Indeed it does, and while I myself am not usually a fan of the unlimited-ratio gearbox, it’s important to remember that not all CVTs are created equal – and Subaru’s Lineartronic CVT is perhaps one of the best in the market.
CVT gearboxes gets a bad rep due to the notorious rubber band effect, but its basically non-existent here on the Subaru XV. Power is delivered completely in tandem with your right foot and the engine revs, working together with the all-wheel drive system to give you extra confidence pouncing out of corners.
So there you have it, the five types of drivers that would be a perfect match for the Subaru XV. Do you agree with our list? Let us know in the comments section below if we’ve missed out anything!


All-new Suzuki Swift Sport debuts, 1.4L turbo, 138hp & 230Nm, 6-spd manual only!

We’ve
seen it in full
, heard the rumours that it will go down the
turbocharging route
, now at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA), Suzuki Motor Corporation has unveiled in full the third-generation Suzuki Swift Sport.
Like the
regular Swift
, the Swift Sport rides on the company’s “HEARTECT” platform that shaves
70 kg
 compared to the outgoing model but boasts greater rigidity for superior handling and safety. Kerb weight of this hot hatch is just a scant
970 kg
. Overall dimensions of the Swift Sport are identical to the regular version at 2,450mm in wheelbase (+20mm), 3,840mm in length (-10mm), 1,735mm in width (+40mm) and 1,495mm in height (-15mm).

Visual cues unique to the Swift Sport include staggered honeycomb grille, carbon-fibre embossing on the front grille, front-lip spoiler, side skirts and rear diffuser, 17-inch thin spoke alloy wheels and dual-exhaust tips.
The cabin has been revised to create an immersive sporty driving experience such as a driver focused instrument cluster, D-Shaped steering wheel, sports alloy pedals, semi-bucket seats as well as new boost and oil temperature gauges. Red accents can be found at major touchpoints to elevate the sporty driving experience. A 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard fitment.
Unlike its naturally aspirated predecessor, the new Swift Sport gets a new 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder Boosterjet engine that churns out
138 hp
 and
230 Nm
 of torque. Drive is channelled to the front wheels via an improved
six-speed manual transmission
. Suzuki promises superb power delivery from the low rev range with good fuel economy.
Handling has always been a forte of the Swift Sport, hence engineers have paid extra attention to ensure the new car meets enthusiasts’ expectations. The front suspension now gets thicker stabiliser joint bars, new Teflon seat on the stabiliser mount, a single unit wheel hub and bearings as well as expanded width between the bearings to add
15 percent camber rigidity
 during cornering. All these upgrades help to improve handling without excessively increase the spring rates.
The rear suspension has been revised to ensure unrivalled stability at high-speeds. Toe rigidity is
1.4 times stiffer
 while camber rigidity is up three folds compared to the old model. The torsion beam has been tuned to provide optimal roll stiffness for enhanced handling and control.
Safety wise, the Swift sport is equipped with a range of
driver assistance systems
 such as Advanced Forward Detection System, Dual Sensor Brake Support (DSBS) or AEB, Lane Departure Warning, Weaving Alert Function, High Beam Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control and Radar Brake Support. Other standard safety features include six airbags, ESP, Emergency Stop Signal, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System among others.
Unfortunately, Suzuki is no longer represented here in Malaysia. However, we can always turn to our friendly neighbourhood parallel importers to ship one from overseas.
IMAGE GALLERY


Feature: The Borneo Triton Adventure, touching lives with Mitsubishi Tritons

Disclaimer: This drive was done in
Mitsubishi Tritons
, but very little about this article is about the actual truck.
The typical corporate social responsibility project starts with identifying a body or organisation to assist, and then crafting an activity or event for the best possible munificent outcome. Not so for Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM). In the process of charting a route for the Borneo Triton Adventure, a very specific watery issue came to light. Thankfully, there is more than one way to travel from Kota Kinabalu to Kundasang, and this discovery was made as a result of choosing the one furthest from tarmac. As you would, in a convoy of pickup trucks.

“It wasn’t just a case of visiting Kampung Sinaron once and asking for permission to pass through the village,” said Silas Martin, CEO of Borneo Tru Events and our squadron leader. “In the course of a few recce expeditions, it was made known to us that this village didn’t have a proper way of storing water during drought seasons, which is when we went back to Mitsubishi with an idea.”
The idea was simple. On our way from the Pacific Sutera Harbour hotel in Kota Kinabalu to our night stop at the Puteri Nabalu in Kundasang, we were to handover 10 industrial-size water tanks to the villagers of Sinaron — and join them for lunch during the stopover. These water tanks were to be positioned primarily at locations within Sinaron where the villagers tended to congregate, e.g. the kindergarten, clinic, community hall, church and surau.

MMM of course, was completely on board. As a result, what started out as a standard off-road media drive turned into something far greater, resulting in a significant impact on a small and little-known community. According to Sinaron village chief Mahadi Lakang and
Ketua Anak Negeri
 Jining Lakang, about a third of the villagers were school-going children.
That’s a high percentage, and for a simple economic reason. Many if not most of the young adults had left the village in search of employment opportunities, including in some instances some of the parents of these children.
And so, on a sunny Wednesday morning, eight Tritons led by big bad Double Zero — the zombie apocalypse-spec Triton you see here — we set off from the Pacific Sutera Harbour. Double Zero is the result of MMM giving Borneo Tru Events a budget and letting them loose upon the countless 4×4 tuner and customising outfits around KK. Where do we sign up for this?
The 200km journey to Kampung Sinaron was uneventful, and for the most part was spent on the road. Lunch was delicious, not just because we had worked up an appetite joining the villagers in the graceful Sumazau dance but also due to the freshness of pretty much everything. Seafood goes from river to plate within the day; great for us, not so much for the fish.
As we pushed off into the rough we waved goodbye to our new friends in Sinaron village, fervent in the hope that the water tanks would go some way in alleviating their difficulties. At some point during the 50 or so kilometres though Keningau and Beluran before we got back out onto the open road, the trees dropped away to reveal the mountainside steppes of bario rice meeting beautiful, clear skies above.
What this means of course is that between the dirt track and certain tumbling death was a two to three meters of error margin at best, but the view was spectacular. There are checkpoints at the entry and exit of this mountainous path, for the purpose of checking that the same number of vehicles that had gone in had also made it back out. In a Triton, there is no doubt you will be accounted for on both ledgers. After clearing the gate, we continued on for 150km to the Puteri Nabalu for a good night’s rest before making our way back to Kota Kinabalu.
Over two days and roughly 500km later, the convoy was completely intact save for generous helpings of mud and dust. The terrain we passed through was just another day at work for a Triton. No truck got stuck, no winching, nothing. Even the use of 4L was mentioned in passing, because for the most part, 4H was plenty up to the task of the trail — selectable in the automatic VGT variant and above through the Easy Select 4WD knob.
Also, for those potential truck customers who spot a glaring omission on the spec sheet in the form of stability control, there is more than meets the eye. The Triton’s hybrid LSD functions as a mechanical stability control mechanism, eschewing sensors for a helical gear and viscous coupling to trigger the channelling of torque to the wheel with traction. When roads are nowhere in site, the simplest technology is very often the best.
Not long after the drive had been concluded — exhausting, but wholly fulfilling — in 2.5-litre Tritons in both manual and automatic guises,
MMM launched a significantly updated version carrying the new 2.4-litre MIVEC turbodiesel with VGT churning out 179hp and 430Nm
. Maybe it’s time to revisit the Borneo Triton Adventure…
[Words by VB]
IMAGE GALLERY


The new Aston Martin Vantage Roadster might be even sexier than the Coupe

Not everyone is a fan of roadsters and convertibles, and that is fine. But if there’s one car to make everyone fall in love with topless cars, it might very well be this.
After teasing the car on Twitter a
few months ago
, Aston Martin has now finally unveiled the gorgeous Vantage Roadster, finished in this gorgeous blue paint job and tan interior. Please give us a moment while we clean up our drool.
Under the hood of the topless Vantage is the same 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine as seen in most modern Aston Martins, capable of churning out
 510 hp
 and
 685 Nm
 of torque.
Mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox, the Vantage Roadster reaches 100 km/h from standstill in just
3.7 seconds
, onward to a top speed of
306 km/h
 (190 mph) with the roof up.
Although being a convertible, the Vantage Roadster
only adds 60 kg
 in weight compared to its
Coupe brother
, thanks to a new Z-fold roof mechanism.
Aston Martin also claims that the Vantage Roadster has the fastest full operating cycle of any automotive convertible system, able to
lower its roof in just 6.7 seconds
 or raised in 6.8 seconds, at speeds of
up to 50 km/h
.
Of course, there is still a luggage space penalty, as with every other convertible. Boot capacity is down to
200 litres
, from the 350-litre capacity of its hard-top counterpart.
However, Aston Martin still claims that the boot is large enough to stow a full-sized golf bag and accessories – in other words, still capable of ferrying the rich retired man to the golf course.
Removing one of the main structural parts of the car also means that Aston Martin had to make some minor chassis revisions to the car to maintain rigidity.
New structural shear panels and chassis components has been added to the Roadster to retain its dynamic ability, to the point where the British sportscar maker is confident enough to say that there is “no compromise to feel or refinement.”
The Roadster also shares the same Adaptive Damping, Dynamic Stability Control, Dynamic Torque Vectoring and Electronic Rear Differential as its Coupe brother, but tuned specifically to suit the Roadster’s characteristics. The driving modes – Sport, Sport+, and Track – have also been tuned specifically for the Roadster.
Along with the debut of the Vantage Roadster, Aston Martin is also introducing a range of new options across the Vantage range (which includes the Coupe) to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Vantage nameplate.
These include the company’s iconic ‘vane’ grille – as an alternative to the track-inspired ‘hunter’ grille, and a range of optional alloy wheel designs and finishes.
The Vantage Coupe also now get the option for a seven-speed manual transmission to appease driving enthusiasts, being initially only available in the
limited-edition Vantage AMR
.
IMAGE GALLERY


2014 Volvo XC60 T6 introduced, gets supercharger, priced at RM316k

Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) made mention at the launch of the
facelifted XC60
 that a
more powerful
 and
kitted T6 variant
 will join the SUV’s lineup sometime next year. Well, wait no longer because that day is finally here. The T6 variant gets Volvo’s
all-new modular Drive-E engine
, and is priced at
RM315,888
(on-the-road without insurance), costing a good
RM27k more
 from the T5 model.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Volvo XC60 T6 Drive-E
Segment
Compact SUV
Engine
1,969cc, turbocharged inline 4-cylinder
Max Power
306hp @ 5,700 rpm
Max Torque
400Nm @ 2,100–4,500 rpm
Price
RM 315,888

For those who are looking to get their hands on this SUV, it pays to know that the T6 variant runs on the same
2.0-litre four-cylinder
 engine, but is tuned to
produce more power
 than the T5 variant. It now makes
306 hp at 5,700 rpm
 and
400 Nm of torque
 at 2,100 to 4,500 rpm.
The increased output is achieved via
supercharging
 on top of the turbos, allowing the Swedish SUV to sprint from 0 to
100km/h
 in
6.9 seconds
 (the T5 does it in 7.2 seconds) while achieving a fuel consumption figure of
7.3 l/100km
thanks to the
eight-speed Geartronic
transmission it’s paired to.
A supercharger isn’t all that you’re getting, though. Despite sporting the same exterior look as the XC60 T5, the T6 gets a
few notable additions
 (standard features) like the
18-inch Pan Alloy
 wheels that are wrapped with
 235/60R18
 series tyres and the
8-inch Adaptive Digital Display
that was first seen in the
V40 T5
. It also gets a
power operated tailgate
 along with a
grocery bag holder
 housed in the boot. Talking about added user convenience, eh?
The XC60 T6
gets all the toys and safety features
 found in the T5 variant, and gets a
few more as standard
, such as: Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist and Distance Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Driver Alert Control, Active High Beam Control and New Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection Technology. To help you understand better, here’s how these features work:
Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist and Distance Alert
: The XC60 gets a radar-based system that maintains the user defined gap with the car ahead. It works in both stop-and-go traffic and on highway cruising situations.
Lane Departure Warning
: Acoustically alerts the driver when the system detects that the car is crossing lanes without the use of the signal indicator.
Driver Alert Control
: Monitors the car’s progress on the road and alerts the driver if this system detects inconsistencies in driving input via the steering wheel.
Active High Beam Control
: This feature automatically and actively adjusts the beam throw of your SUV’s headlights when it registers an oncoming vehicle.
New Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection Technology
: This safety feature comes with full auto-braking, and is equipped with sensors that scan the area ahead. If a cyclist suddenly swerves in front of the car and detects an imminent collision, the XC60 warns instantly and applies full braking. The same process applies for pedestrians.
That aside, the earlier mentioned 8-inch Adaptive Digital Display gets a number of additional features via Sensus Connect, such as the
integrated cloud-based services
 (subjected to future updates),
improved GPS navigation with 3D maps
, TuneIn internet radio with
over 80,000 channels
, voice controls and
Bluetooth music streaming
.
VCM announced that the XC60 T6’s pricing of RM315,888 is
introductory
, meaning that the price is exclusive and limited until November ends. It can be had in
five different exterior colours
 – Twilight Bronze, Ice White, Ember Black, Electric Silver, and Seashell. As with all Volvo cars, the XC60 comes with a
five-year warranty
,
five years free service

including parts
 as per scheduled maintenance and
five years free roadside assist
 (Volvo-on-Call).
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY


Performance Head-to-Head: Nissan Almera vs Honda City vs Toyota Vios

Buying a new car is already not an easy task, and it’s now compounded by the sheer amount of choices available to car-buyers these days. Take for example the B-segment sedans, where there was a seemingly unending streak of
car launches
 in just the last few months.
To help ease some of your car-buying headaches, we have assembled a crack team of number-crunchers and word-chaining monkeys for this new series of articles dubbed
Head-to-Head
, where we will be pitting the heavyweights of each segment in Malaysia against their key rivals.
In this series, we will be comparing the different aspects of these cars to
hopefully
 help you make a better decision. And for this inauguration entry, we will be looking at how the recently-launched
Nissan Almera
,
Toyota Vios
, as well as the
Honda City
 measure up against each other
in terms of performance
. But before we get started, there are a few things to note in this comparison.
First of all, the Nissan Almera and Toyota Vios are only available with one single powertrain choice, while the Honda City has two. For the sake of simplicity, the two powertrain options will be considered as two separate entries in this comparison.
Also, where possible, we’ve chosen the cheapest variant for each entry in this comparison, as they are the lowest entry point of each model to achieve the same level of performance. Now with the general housekeeping out of the way, let’s dive right into it!
Warm Up: The Competitors
Sitting in corner A of our four-way brawl today is the
Nissan Almera Turbo 1.0VL
, priced at
RM79,906
. As the name suggests, the 1.0VL is powered by a
1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine
, paired to a CVT gearbox to drive the front wheels.
Next-up is the Toyota Vios, which has just recently received a facelift makeover. With no changes under the hood, our
Vios 1.5 J
 in this match-up continues to feature a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine, alongside a CVT gearbox. Pricing starts at
RM74,623
 for the entry-level variant.
Our next contestant is the
Honda City 1.5L S
, boasting a new 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine with dual-overhead cams. Just like its other rivals, the City also features a CVT gearbox to send power to the front wheels. The 1.5L S variant is priced at
RM73,851
, the most affordable in this match-up.
Last but not least we have the
Honda City RS e:HEV
, the only electrified contestant in the ring with its intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) powertrain. The powertrain consists of a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated engine paired to two electric motors – but only one drives the (front) wheels. Will this prove to be the key advantage to winning this match? Let’s find out together, shall we.
Round 1: Horsepower and Torque
In terms of horsepower output, The Honda City 1.5L S tops the charts at
121 hp
, followed by the Toyota Vios 1.5J at
107 hp
, then the Honda City RS at
108 hp
, and lastly, the Nissan Almera Turbo 1.0VL with
100 whole ponies
. Aside from the ICE Honda City, all other competitors are on a fairly level playing field.
However, in slower stop-go traffic within the city – where most of these cars will be spending a majority of their time, torque output will play a
more significant role in the perception of power
. If we’re looking at just the torque figure, the Honda City RS with its
infamous 253 Nm of torque

instantly rises to the top of the rankings, followed by the Nissan Almera Turbo with
152 Nm
, then the Honda City 1.5L S at
145 Nm
, and lastly the Toyota Vios with
140 Nm
 on tap.
More importantly, the electric drive on the Honda City RS means that the maximum amount of torque is available essentially at idle, giving you an improved response from a stand-still. Max torque on the Almera Turbo is not far off at 2,600 rpm, while the other two contestants have their peak torque output at 4,300 rpm and 4,200 rpm respectively.
The new
Toyota Vios GR-S
, while not featured in this comparison, does come equipped with the same 1.5-litre powertrain!
Round 2: Power-to-weight shootout
Plain power output figures can only tell us so much; to get a clearer picture of each car’s performance, we’ll have to also factor in the car’s weight. Based on our calculations, the humble Honda City 1.5L S takes the top spot with
108 hp/tonne
, thanks to its high raw output figures.
The Toyota Vios 1.5J comes in second with a horsepower-to-weight ratio of
93 hp/tonne
, followed closely by the Nissan Almera Turbo 1.0VL at
92 hp/tonne
. The Honda City RS, despite its higher horsepower output as compared to the Vios and Almera, ranks last in the power-to-weight shoot-out with just
 87 hp/tonne
, thanks to the weight penalty from its more fancy electrified powertrain.
On the flip side though, the City RS’s e:HEV powertrain delivers by far and away the highest torque-to-weight ratio at
203 Nm/tonne
. The rest of the field are more closely packed together, with the Almera coming in at
139 Nm/tonne
, followed by the City 1.5L S and Vios 1.5J with
129 Nm/tonne
 and
122 Nm/tonne
 respectively.
For the same reasons as mentioned above, the Honda City RS should feel the most responsive and pokey in city-driving conditions – falling in line perfect with its name. While we have not driven the all-new Honda City RS yet (it’s only scheduled for launch next year), we can confirm that the all-new Almera Turbo feels sufficiently eager in town – our full review is dropping soon, but you can check out our first impressions
here
.
Round 3: Performance-per-Dollar (Ringgit)
Cars are one of the largest purchase we’ll ever make in our lives, so it’s completely normal to look for every single ounce of performance out of your Ringgit. However, this simple calculation proved harder than we thought to be, solely because we still don’t have the pricing information available just yet for the Honda City RS – the car is only due for “launch” next year.
For the sake of comparison, we will be using an assumed “estimated” price of RM95,000 – though be forewarned, this is a complete speculation from our side, and will most probably not be accurate. However, the ranking below should still stand based on our various simulations at different “realistic-ish” price points, with no change in results.
New face, who this?
Looking at the round-up of competitors in this Head-to-Head contest, the Honda City 1.5L S comes out first based on our calculations at
RM610/hp
. The Vios 1.5L S came in second, with each pony costing
RM697
, while third place went to the Nissan Almera Turbo 1.0VL with
RM799/hp
. The Honda City RS unfortunately ranks last, due to its lower horsepower figure and a higher price – coming in at
RM880/hp
.
On the torque side of things, the electrified Honda City RS unsurprisingly came out on top again with a price of just
RM375/Nm
. We all expected the turbocharged Nissan Almera to rank second, but the lower price of the Honda City 1.5L S actually pulled out a victory here at
RM509/Nm
.
The Almera Turbo drops to third place with a price of
RM526/Nm
, while the Toyota Vios ranks last in this comparison, at a price of
RM533/Nm
.
Knock-out: The Winner(s)
If you’re looking for a winner after the comparisons above, we’re sorry – there won’t be a winner. As always, the answer will depend on your use cases and requirements.
For example, say you’re someone who frequently travels on the highway at higher speeds, the Honda City might be a better choice due to its higher horsepower output (and horsepower-to-weight ratio), letting you achieve higher speeds easier.
On the flip side, if you’re someone who mostly drives their cars around the congested city roads, something like a Honda City RS or the Nissan Almera might be of better choice, thanks to their higher torque output, giving you a more enthusiastic power delivery in stop-go traffic situations.
There’s also many more things to consider than just purely performance when it comes to buying a car – some of which we will definitely explore more in the Head-to-Head series. People who spend and inordinate amount of time in their cars might value a more comfortable and functional interior more than anything else, whereas for someone who just uses it for short-distance journeys, a small nippy car might be the way to go.
And at the end of the day, your car-buying decisions should all come down to your budget. But no matter which one you choose, just know that either one of the four in our comparisons today carries more than sufficient power for what we generally expect out of them, which is to be a good commuter car.


All-new Genesis G80 – nothing shouts luxury like a massive grille

Big grilles are the latest trend in car design –
 you know what we’re talking about
. We’re not sure what should be the definition of “all grille”, but if we have to choose one car, the all-new Genesis G80 definitely comes very close to it. Divisive grille design choices aside though, the all-new G80 is actually quite a pretty thing.
Being the definitive model of the brand, the G80 takes the Genesis design identity to the next level, starting with its front fascia. The giant Crest Grille is flanked by the brand’s new Quad Lamps as seen on the GV80 SUV – designed to resemble the Genesis emblem.
However, what caught our attention is the parallel lines from the Quad Lamps, which flow all the way around to the side fenders and the tail lamps, forming a cohesive line around the entire car.
the straight lines are complemented by an arc-shaped character line, mirrored vertically by a chrome strip running from the front wheel arch to create an aerofoil shape – which again, references the wings on the Genesis emblem.
The Genesis G80 rides on 20-inch five-spoke wheels finished in chrome, which contrasts nicely with the chameleon-esque two-tone paint job shown on this example.
On the inside, Genesis split the cabin of the G80 into two parts – panoramic and control areas, apparently inspired by traditional Korean architecture. These include the steering wheel, as well as the entire dashboard, separated by a full-width air-conditioning vent.
The panoramic area includes a heads-up display, 12.3-inch 3D digital instrument cluster, and a
14.5-inch infotainment display
, fully equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, paired to a Lexicon sound-system.
Meanwhile, the control area includes the HVAC controls, and a rotary dial-touchpad combo for the infotainment system. Genesis says that the hard buttons are intentionally kept to a minimum, for both aesthetic purposes and ease of use.
Despite adopting a fastback-like roofline, Genesis says that the all-new G80 actually gains in both headroom and legroom, thanks to the lowered seating position on the rear seats, courtesy of the new platform.
The 2020 Genesis G80 is built on the brand’s exclusive
third-generation rear-wheel drive platform
 – not shared with
parent-company Hyundai
 – designed specifically for a lower centre of gravity and wider cabin for improved driving stability.
Three powerplant options are available for the all-new G80, starting with a 2.5-litre turbocharged inline-four engine, producing
304 hp
 and
 422 Nm
 of torque. Going one step up is the 3.5-litre turbocharged V6 mill, pushing out a respectable
380 hp
 and
 530 Nm
 of torque.
For fans of oil-burners, a 2.2-litre turbodiesel inline-four engine is also available, with its output rated at
210 hp
 and
441 Nm
 of twist.
All that extra power output from the new engines pairs nicely to a lighter overall weight, too. Genesis says that the G80 utilises aluminium in approximately 19% of its body construction, which helps
reduce weight by 110 kg
.
The third-generation Genesis G80 is packed to the brim with the latest advance safety and convenience technologies. These include Highway Driving Assist II which supports lane-change actions, Smart Cruise Control with Machine Learning, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, and Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist.
The electronically-controlled suspension uses information from the front cameras to “brace” the dampening settings for large potholes, ensuring utmost comfort for passengers. The G80 also comes with Remote Smart Parking Assistance, which lets you move the car forwards or backwards remotely via the key fob.


One Setel e-wallet can now be shared with two others at Petronas stations

Setel, Malaysia’s first
e-payment solution
 that allows you to purchase fuel right off the app in your smartphone, has now made it possible to allow the main user to pay fuel for their loved ones.
Setel users can now create a Setel Share group and invite up to two other members to pay from the same e-wallet balance. Owners of Setel Share group have full control to safely track & monitor any refuelling expenses by the members via the shared e-wallet.
This new feature allows earning of Mesra points in one account without having the hassle of passing a physical card around that can be used to unlock more rewards.
“We ran a survey with thousands of Setel users and 71% of them are already paying for fuel for their family members and friends today. With Setel Share, we want to help our customers extend a safer refuelling experience with minimised contact to their loved ones, without them having to top up on their own. Together, we can work towards supporting our nation’s recovery efforts to move into the endemic phase,” said Setel, CEO, Mazlin Erawati Ab Manan.
The Setel Share feature is especially useful for parents to control the fuel expenditure of vehicles used by their children, as well as benefitting the elderly who aren’t so well versed with e-wallets.
Fully regulated and compliant with Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) e-money guidelines, Setel Share has safeguards in place to ensure the security of every transaction. The Setel Share owner can set or remove the group members at any time and get real-time notifications for any transaction made via the Setel Share wallet.
RELATED: Petronas to deploy EV fast chargers in partnership with Mercedes-Benz and JomCharge
Apart from contactless fuel payment, the Setel app also allows users to pay and perform Mesra points redemption for items in Petronas’ Kedai Mesra. Last year, Setel introduced the
Deliver2Me
 function which allows Setel users to purchase selected Kedai Mesra items within the app and get delivered while refuelling.
Users can now invite family and friends who are not yet on Setel to enjoy Setel Share features and earn additional rewards via the latest Setel ‘Refer-a-Friend’ Challenge. From now until December 31st  2021, Setel welcomes users to earn even more rewards and bonus credit of up to RM50,000 upon successful referrals.
The Setel app is available at over 900 Petronas stations nationwide and can be downloaded for free via the Apple Store, Google Play Store and Huawei AppGallery.


A group of daredevils just went skydiving in a car!

While the Fast and the Furious sequel is on a break, this group of skydivers ensured that the show went on with a wildly dangerous stunt of their own – by falling out of a plane while still in a car in Arizona, USA.
As you can tell, the act was only for the extremely brave, if not the completely mindless. Right of the bat, as the car rolled out of the back of the plane, the skydiver pushing it completely lost his balance and scraped the side of the car while his fellow skydivers remained almost unfazed.
As the vehicle started rolling uncontrollably, notice how the skydivers were “ejected” involuntarily as the car carried on spinning in an absolutely unpredictable and volatile manner.
At the end, the car ultimately “spunned to its demise” while the rest of the skydivers kept their limbs and minds intact – escaping only with minor injuries. Please do not try this – not at home, not in the sky – just don’t.
Credit:
ViralHog


Even new colours couldn’t mask the new BMW M3 of its jarring kidney grille

The

new BMW 4
Series

was revealed a couple of months back, and while we’re still grappling with how the front end looks, BMW has revealed the new M4 and M3 and as hard as it is to say, that front grille is still a glaring eyesore.
It may have
480 hp
 and
550 Nm
 for a 0 to 100 km/h time of 4.2 seconds from a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six engine but it’s really hard to be completely engrossed with the kidney grille and be overwhelmed by it above all else.
Interestingly, it’s actually slower than the
F80 M3
. The previous generation made 431 hp and 550 Nm but could do the same 0 to 100 km/h run in 4.1 seconds, 0.1 seconds faster with the optional 7-speed M DCT gearbox offered then.
With the majority of netizens still harping on what could’ve been for the grille, it’s hard to imagine how BMW would convince its customers that this is the way to go. At least you can brag that the new engine in the M3 is the same one used in the M4 GT3 race car.
The mighty power plant is paired to either a 6-speed manual or 8-speed M Steptronic automatic transmission, to power the rear wheels. Alternatively, customers can also specify the new M3 to come with the M xDrive all-wheels drive system. Under the wheel arches are 18-inch wheels in the front and 19-inch wheels while tucked behind them is an M Adaptive Suspension kit.
As for the other bits of the exterior, the kidney grille clearly needs no introduction at this point. The roof, however, is made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic, but if for some reason, you prefer having more weight on your car, there is a steel roof option at no cost.
The new M3 is available with three new colours – Sao Paulo Yellow, Toronto Red and Isle of Man Green. The latter seems to hide the grilles quite well; maybe something future M3 owners can look into.
Inside, the M3 can be specified with M Carbon bucket seats which are lighter, compatible with multi-point racing harness and removable head restraints for track driving. Helpful; as I’d imagine M3 drivers, if any, to be driving really fast all the time, to avoid their cars being spotted, for obvious reasons.
The new M3 is also offered with a M Race Track Package – mainly for weight reduction efforts. The package includes M Carbon ceramic brakes, M light alloy wheels and M Carbon bucket seats.
With the new M3, BMW is also offering the M Drive Professional Package to include the new M Traction Control, M Drift Analyser and M Lap Timer. The M Traction Control allows new integrated wheel slip limitation function of the Dynamic Stability Control, adjustable up to 10 different stages.
The M Drift Analyser on the other hand records and rates driving stats posted from dynamic cornering. With the M Drive Professional that’s standard on the M3 and M4 Competition models, an addition Track Mode is added.
The new M3 will be built in Germany at the BMW Plant Munich and is due for deliveries in Q1 of 2021.
GALLERY


Honda marks 15 million units sold in China

After more than 20 years since Honda sold their first vehicle in China back in 1999, the company has reached an incredible milestone of 15 million vehicles sold – the fastest in terms of automotive sales for Honda in any region.
Honda operates in China via
Guangzhou Honda Automobile (GAC Honda)
 and
 Dongfeng Honda Automobile
. Together, cumulative Honda vehicle sales in China reached 1 million units by 2006.
Patent for new Honda BR-V filed in Indonesia, looks exactly like the N7X! Read about it here!
The Honda N7X Concept.
While it took Honda nearly a decade to reach 10 million units sold in 2018, it only took them
just three years
 to hit the 15 million mark. Moreover, since hybrid vehicle sales began in China in 2016 with the Accord Sport Hybrid i-MMD, Honda has sold over 500,000 units to date.
All-new Honda Civic sedan fully unveiled in USA, with more powerful 180 hp turbo engine! Read about it here!
Currently, the company offers 9 hybrid models in China including the Honda CR-V PHEV launched earlier this year – Honda’s first plug-in hybrid vehicle in China.
As you can tell from the graph, since 2016, Honda has been selling over a million vehicles annually and in 2020, they sold over 1.6 million units.
GAC Honda Automobile produces models such as the Vezel, Breeze, Fit, Accord, and the Crider, while the
XR-V
, CR-V Civic, Inspire, and Elysion models are manufactured by Dongfeng Honda Automobile.
Is that a Honda Civic hatchback or a Kia Stinger? Read about it here!


Nissan to purchase 34 percent of Mitsubishi Motors’ shares

Following the
fuel economy cheating scandal
 that rocked Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan came to the rescue by acquiring 34 percent of Mitsubishi’s shares worth 237 billion yen (approx RM8.37 billion based on today’s conversion). This effectively means Nissan will become Mitsubishi’s largest stakeholder.
With this development, Nissan has provided a lifeline to the struggling Mitsubishi, apart from allowing Nissan to appear in Mitsubishi’s strongholds in Asian countries. Nissan Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn said both companies now share and jointly develop technology, rationalise markets and grow both brands in many ways rather than competing with each other.
This deal also means that Mitsubishi will now be part of the Renault-Nissan alliance. The French manufacturer has a 43.4 percent stake in Nissan, while the latter holds a 15 percent stake (with no voting rights) in Renault. Other brands in this alliance include Datsun, Dacia and Samsung Motors.
With this, Mitsubishi could be benefiting from the extra support and funds to produce new models. In fact, the ageing Mitsubishi Lancer may finally have a successor. Also, there will likely be a jointly-developed pickup truck in the future, for cost efficiency reasons. Maybe the
Nissan Navara
 and
Mitsubishi Triton
 could essentially be the same pickup with different badges. But more interestingly, will this acquisition spawn the legendary Evo once again?


Malaysia-assembled CKD Porsche Cayenne reaches 1,000-unit milestone

The 1,000th locally-assembled CKD
Porsche Cayenne
 has now rolled off the production line, just a little over a year since
production of the luxury SUV begun
 at the Inokom assembly plant in Kulim, Kedah. The production achievement marks an important milestone for Porsche Malaysia and Sime Darby Auto Performance, as it is the
first local assembly facility for the marque outside of Europe
.
Commenting on the achievement, Sime Darby Auto Performance CEO, Christopher Hunter said, “We are very pleased to reach this milestone with the locally assembled Cayenne, affirming once again that the Porsche SUV remains a favourite with our customers. Our local assembly facility in Inokom continues to support our growth, to meet the demand from sports car fans in Malaysia.”
“This growth in demand also speaks volumes about our high quality – proof that a Porsche is built to the highest standards,” he added.
The local assembly facility highlights the importance of the Malaysian market for Porsche, and further affirms the long-standing partnership between Porsche and Sime Darby. In addition, the programme also helps empower the local community and automotive industry, as it continues to be 100% staffed by highly-skilled Malaysians.
The Porsche Cayenne recently celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2022. Here in Malaysia, it’s offered in one single variant, powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 engine that sends
 340 hp
 and
450 Nm
 of torque to all four wheels via an eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission.
Customers can however choose from a range of accessories and options for the locally assembled Cayenne, including from lifestyle-oriented Tequipment accessory line-up, as well as the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur Package that adds the SportDesign exterior trim, plus a unique Sport exhaust system, among others.
The
locally-assembled Porsche Cayenne
 is available to order, starting from RM550,000 before insurance and options.


Next-gen Mazda 6 to get RWD, inline-six mild-hybrid powertrain?

The D-segment sedan is in a litle bit of an odd position now. As most mass market car buyers flock towards SUVs, low sales numbers are pushing carmakers to either abandon the sedans and focus on making SUVs, or completely reinvent them into something more attractive and sporty to attract younger buyers – like the
Toyota Camry
 did.
According to
Car and Driver
, Mazda might be going down the same track with its forthcoming
Mazda 6
 with a move than perhaps nobody expected – sticking an
inline six engine
 on a longitudinal platform, sending the drive to the
rear axles
.
The engine will not just be a new drive layout either, as Mazda is reportedly incorporating the brand’s latest SkyActiv-X engines with
48V mild-hybrid system
. According to Car and Driver’s sources, the power output should be around the
350 hp
 mark.
That might all sound like a ton of work, and you’d be right – especially for a relatively small company with a small R&D budget, such as Mazda. However, if you may remember, Mazda has an ongoing partnership with Toyota from 2015 to develop next-generation fuel efficient engines.
With Toyota sharing the costs, the rumours seem more likely. The partnership might also see the next Lexus IS and RC adopt the new SkyActiv-X inline-six engine too.
As for looks, sources say that the new Mazda 6 will see design elements borrowed from the highly-praised
Vision Coupe concept car
 of the 2017 Tokyo Auto Show – the same KODO design language is already seen on the current
Mazda 3
, and if we may say, that’s a dang good-looking car.
And the last bit of good news? The new Mazda 6 will reportedly have a
lower price tag
 too, without sacrificing on the luxuries. The forthcoming Mazda 6 is expected to debut
 by the end of 2022
, and if the rumours are true, we already cannot wait.


2022 Honda Civic e:HEV RS launched in Malaysia, from RM166,500

Close to a year after the launch of the latest-generation
Honda Civic
 in Malaysia, its hybrid version, the Honda Civic e:HEV RS is now available, fetching a price of
RM 166,500
. Skipping one generation, the hybrid version of the Civic is back with a 2.0-litre engine and a dual-motor electric drive system.
Bookings for the Honda Civic e:HEV RS has been open since October 2022. Among the highlights of the Civic e:HEV RS are its hybrid powertrain and its key card entry system.
With both the ‘RS’ and ‘e:HEV’ moniker, the Civic e:HEV RS sits above the turbocharged Honda Civic RS in the variant hierarchy. Differentiating the Hybrid Civic e:HEV RS and the turbocharged Civic RS are chrome trims on the headlights, window frames, and door handles.
The e:HEV RS also has a set of dual-tone 18-inch wheels as opposed to the turbo’s matte black 18-inch wheels. The Honda emblems on the e:HEV have a blue tinge and the e:HEV only has a single tailpipe as opposed to the turbo’s dual tailpipe setup.
One unseen change the Civic had to adopt for the hybrid powertrain is the integration of the Intelligent Power Unit (IPU). The IPU includes the inverter, battery, and converter, and is located in front of the rear axle and sits underneath the car floor. Weighing 36.4 kg, the integration of the IPU has lowered the Civic’s centre of gravity by 10 mm, increase rear torsional rigidity by 3%, and decrease the unsprung mass ratio by 4%.
Like the
City e:HEV RS
and
HR-V e:HEV RS
, the Honda Civic is powered by Honda’s hybrid system with dual motors, albeit with a larger 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated engine. The hybrid system has a system maximum output of
184 hp
 (metric) and
315 Nm
 which is essentially from the e-CVT unit alone (includes transmission, traction motor, and generator). The newly-developed 2.0-litre engine (Atkinson cycle, direct injection) itself makes 143 hp (metric) and 189 Nm.
Just in case you were wondering, the Civic e:HEV RS’s hybrid system makes an extra 2 hp and 75 Nm more than the turbo Civic RS. Depending on the situation, the Honda Civic e:HEV RS can be driven in either “EV Mode”, “Hybrid Mode”, or “Engine Mode” to maximise its efficiency.
Inside, the Honda Civic e:HEV RS features a 10.2-inch full digital instrument cluster, a 9-inch touchscreen head unit with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, and dual-zone automatic climate control. All else is similar to the turbocharged RS version.
The Civic e:HEV RS comes with one key card and 2 key fobs
Safety-wise, the Honda Civic e:HEV RS gets the full suite of Honda Sensing. This includes Lead Car Departure Notification System (LCDN), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Low-Speed Follow (LSF), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Auto High Beam (AHB).
Included in the price of the Honda Civic e:HEV RS is a five-year/unlimited mileage standard warranty and an eight-year/unlimited mileage hybrid battery warranty. Free labour service is applicable for up to five times within the first 100,000 km.
GALLERY


The BMW M340i is the hottest 3 Series before the arrival of the M3

BMW has just announced a new range-topping variant for their
G20 3 Series
, the BMW M340i xDrive. Powered by an updated 3.0-litre straight-six turbo petrol with lots of M-specific technology, the M340i joins the 320i and 330i in the new G20 line up.
The B58 straight-six now features an aluminium crankcase and cylinder head while the injection pressure has been increased to 350 bar resulting in output figures of
374 hp
 and
 500 Nm
, 48 hp and 50 Nm more than the outgoing
F30 340i
. An eight-speed Steptronic sports transmission sends drive to all four wheels via the rear-biased xDrive all-wheel-drive system. With Launch Control activated, the M340i can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in
4.4 seconds
.
Befitting the M designation in its nameplate, BMW has fitted the M340i with M-specific components in the form of M Sport suspension (lowers the car by 10 mm), optional Adaptive M suspension, variable sports steering, M Sport exhaust, M Sport differential, M Sport brake kit with discs measuring 348 mm front and 345 mm rear as well as 18-inch M light alloy (225/45 front; 255/40 rear) which can be upsized to 19-inch BMW Individual light alloy wheels.
Identifying the M340i from its other brethren are the model specific body kit that has been designed to optimise airflow for better aerodynamics, mesh design on the kidney grille, trapezoidal dual exhaust exits as well as Cerium Grey metallic finish on the kidney grille, tailpipe and air intake struts.

Inside, the M340i comes as standard with Sensatec/Alcantara upholstery, anthracite BMW Individual roof liner, M leather-clad steering wheel, interior trim strips in Aluminium Tetragon as well as the M340i xDrive lettering on the digital instrument cluster and front door sills.
The new BMW M340i will make its market debut in July 2019 after making its premiere at the 2018 LA Auto Show. Now, where’s the M3…
IMAGE GALLERY
BMW M340i Global Premiere


2014 Honda City 1.5L launched in Malaysia, price from RM76k [+Video]

You may have already seen the all-new
Honda City
 online for quite sometime now. It is finally here in Malaysia today. The
2014 Honda City
 is officially launched by Honda Malaysia at Publika Shopping Gallery. There are
four variants
 to choose from and prices are between RM75,800 to RM90,800.
Quick Facts
Name
2014 Honda City
Segment
B-Segment Sedan
Engine
1,497cc, 4 Cylinders, 16 Valve, SOHC i-VTEC (119hp, 145Nm)
Price (OTR with insurance)
City S   RM75,800
City S+ RM78,800
City E   RM83,800
City V   RM90,800

There are a total of 2.2 million units of Honda City sold since its global debut in 1996. More than 145,000 units are on Malaysian roads alone since 2001. With the introduction of the fourth generation City that comes with two extra variants, Honda Malaysia is aiming to sell 2,500 units monthly.
Specficiations

Refer below for specifications on all four variants.

Exterior
 Generally, this new car is slightly bigger than the outgoing model by 25mm. Appearance wise, does vary depending on which variant you are looking at. In this case, let’s examine the hi-spec V model. Designed from the ground up, the front look is mainly dominated by the new wide
Platinum Grille
,  which you may need to take awhile to get use to. Headlights however are still halogen ones, together with front fog lights.

You’ll also get a pair of indicator lights on the auto retract side mirrors and
16-inch
 alloy wheels. Whereas the rest of the variants get 15-inch rims only. Going along the side, it does have a distinctive and deep shoulder lines. A quick glance from the rear, you may think it’s a BMW 3-Series due to how the rear lights are designed.
Interior

“Man Maximum, Machine Minimum” is Honda’s philosophy in developing the car, focusing on premium comfort and spaciousness for its occupants. Wheelbase is made longer by 50mm providing the largest cabin space in its class. A total of
6 airbags
 are fitted in the cabin; dual front airbags, i-Side airbags and Side Curtain airbags. Seats and upholstery come in black fabric in all variants. The dashboard has a new design, that creates a floating effect.

The top-range City V is equipped with
7-inch
 touch screen display that controls the infotainment together with 8-speakers audio system. It also has the interesting touch panel climate control, which is something new. The multi-function steering wheel has the hand-free telephone steering switch as well.
There are enough cupholders to hold a small party in here, eight to be exact. Should your party guests require quick charging for their digital devices, there are three power ports in total. In which two are below the rear aircond vents. Thanks to the increase in wheelbase and focus to cabin space, rear occupants get quite a bit of legroom. This car has the largest boot space in its class, 536 litres of it, plus a 60:40 foldable rear seats.
Performance

All four variants are powered by the same
1.5-litre i-VTEC
 engine that is paired with the Earth Dreams Technology
CVT
 gearbox, which generates
119 horsepower
 and
145 Nm
 of torque. It can go at the maximum speed of 190 km/h and acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h in 10.8 seconds. There is a
ECON
 button function that will setup the car for a more economical drive.
Steering system is Electric Power Steering (EPS), while braking system is ventilated disc for the front and drum for the rear. As for suspension system you get McPherson Strut for the front and torsion beam for the rear. There are a few safety features such as hill start assist and emergency stop signal.
What else..
 This fourth generation Honda City is a
CKD
 that comes straight from the Malacca plant. Honda Malaysia has also confirmed that the Honda City Hybrid is in development stage in Japan and that they hope to offer it in Malaysia as soon as possible. That will be locally assembled as well.
The all-new 2014 Honda City comes in four variants the City S (
RM75,800
), City S+ (
RM78,800
), City E (
RM83,800
) and City V (
RM90,800
). It well covered by a
5-year warranty
 with
 unlimited mileage
. 1,800 buyers have placed their bookings since its pre-launch last month. If you are looking to get one, you can choose from the following five colours; Modern Steel Metallic, Alabaster Silver Metallic, Taffeta White, Crystal Black Pearl and the new Brilliant Sporty Blue Metallic. Should you want to sportify your car, there’s the original Modulo accessories.
[divider]
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McLaren 570GT MSO Concept, the proper everyday supercar?

Earlier in February, McLaren released a Grand Tourer version of the 570S called the
McLaren 570GT
. It’s as potent as a McLaren should be, but the GT moniker comes with added amenities and luxury to make it more ‘liveable’ as a daily driver.
Now, the 570GT you see in this set of pictures have been further enhanced by the guys at MSO Concept. To kick things off, the GT is fitted with an all-titanium exhaust system that’s 30 percent lighter than the old stainless steel setup. Besides being lightweight, McLaren says it gives a more characterful tone as the engine revs harder. The exhaust’s heat shield is finished in a golden titanium nitrite tint (visible through the rear air ducts) which turns blueish-purple as it heats and cools.

The car also features a high-tech Electro-Chromic Glass Roof which, at the touch of a finger, allows occupants to adjust the opacity of the tint. There are up to five tint settings to choose. Complementing the glass roof is MSO Concept’s Elite Pearl White paintwork, contrasted with a Piano Black package that adds gloss black finishes to the wheels, side skirts, front and rear door inserts and interior trims. Notice the carbon fibre sill panels? You can have that in gloss finish, but for a small price.
Inside, this 570GT is equipped with a
12-speaker Bowers and Wilkins Hi-Fi system
, while the rest of the cabin gets upholstered in exquisite Saddle Tan leather. There’s more carbon fibre here as well, and they are all finished in gloss lacquer.
There are no changes in the powertrain department. The same M838TE
3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8
 engine soldiers on, producing
562 hp
 and
600 Nm
 of torque. A
seven-speed dual-clutch transmission
 channels power to the
rear wheels
. Just like the 570GT, the extra glass panels and stowage spaces means additional weight, so it sprints from 0 to 100km/h a tad slower at
3.4 seconds
, compared to the 570S’ 3.2-second benchmark.
One big difference here is the revised suspension; spring rate on front axle is now 15 percent less stiff than the standard GT, while stiffness at the rear is reduced by 10 percent. The damping characteristics can still be altered through Normal, Sport or Track settings.
The McLaren 570GT MSO Concept will make its public debut at one of the most prestigious car shows to date – the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. We don’t know about you, but we’re sold.
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The Mitsubishi Xpander AP4 is the world’s first crossover rally car!

When you think of a rally car, often times you’d picture a Blue Subaru with its iconic gold wheels and “555” livery or a Red and White Mitsubishi with massive spotlights on its front bumper but you’d never picture a 7-seater MPV/crossover as one, would you?
All that is about to change, or rather has changed with the world’s first MPV/crossover Mitsubishi Xpander AP4 rally car as
Mitsubishi Motors South Africa
 puts it.

In case you’re wondering, no, the Xpander is not powered by the 1.5-litre engine paired to a 4-speed auto like the ones
coming to Malaysia
. Instead, it’s driven by a de-tuned Mitsubishi Evo X engine, which has been downsized from 2.0-litre to 1.6.
Still it’s nothing to belittle as the Xpander AP4 still makes a generous 350 hp and 556 Nm! Power is transferred to the wheels via a 6-speed sequential gearbox, that works with three differential (front, centre, rear) for the most efficient torque distribution.
Like the bonkers exterior that retains the Xpander’s Dynamic Shield design language, but is now slightly widened by the wheel arches with an added roof air scoop. What stands out most is the massive carbon fibre rear wing to keep the Xpander planted at high speeds.
Interesting, the Speedline wheels on the Xpander AP4 are only 15-inch in size, a tad smaller than the 16-inch units in the road-going model.
The cabin is completely unrecognisable from the 7-seater family crossover that’s due for launch in Malaysia. Every single trim and creature comfort has been stripped out to accommodate a complex roll cage, a pair of OMP bucket seats, and a myriad of switches and buttons. The seating position of the Xpander AP4 has been moved further back, to achieve a weight distribution of 55:45.
Indonesian Rally Driver Rifat Sungkar said the Xpander was chosen to be converted into a rally car due its well sorted chassis and popularity in Indonesia and the South East Asian region.
The car took 6-7 months to develop and build from scratch by Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand and will participate in the AP4 (Asia Pacific 4) category, the highest in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship, hence the name Xpander AP4.
While it’s unlikely that future Xpander owners can achieve such levels of modification, it’ll surely sweeten the notion of owning a road-going Xpander, knowing well that it’s providing the very basis of a fire-breathing rally car – just like the old Lancer Evolution days.
Watch our
FULL REVIEW
 with a twist of the new Mitsubishi Xpander as it is hosted by Indonesia’s top motoring journalist, Fitra Eri.
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Volvo and Uber signs USD300m deal to develop driverless cars

The day when you’re able to hail a driverless
Uber ride
 is just around the corner, but only if you’re staying in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Towards the end of August, a fleet of Uber-Volvo XC90 wearing a funny hat will be in service for Uber users in Pittsburgh, and this is part of the latest project worth USD300 million signed by both Volvo and Uber to develop next-generation autonomous vehicles.
The base vehicles will be provided by Volvo, but Uber and Volvo will
develop their own autonomous driving systems
 upon the same base vehicle. The
XC90
 was chosen because it was built upon Volvo’s
Scalable Product Architecture
 (SPA), a modular platform future-proofed from the beginning of its development cycle for future electrification and connectivity developments as well as autonomous drive technologies.
The funny hat thingamajig sitting on top of the roof actually holds some of the equipment needed for the car to be able to drive on its own, which consists of
GPS receivers
,
cameras
,
radar
, and
lasers –
 just to name a few. Sounds scary? Don’t fret, each XC90 will be supervised by a couple of engineers, and yes, both of them are actual real humans.
Travis Kalanick, Uber’s CEO, said “Over one million people die in car accidents every year. These are tragedies that self-driving technology can help solve, but we can’t do this alone. That’s why our partnership with a great manufacturer like Volvo is so important. Volvo is a leader in vehicle development and best-in-class when it comes to safety. By combining the capabilities of Uber and Volvo we will get to the future faster, together.”
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Five big reasons to consider buying the Volkswagen Polo 1.6 MPI

I remember when the Volkswagen Polo TSI was first introduced to our market back in 2010. It carried a price tag north of RM110k and was honestly outrageous to think that people would pay C-segment money for a B-segment hatchback. But still, it found ways to many Malaysian homes.
Perhaps it’s the attractive price tag for a German car, or maybe the turbocharged engine and dual clutch allure, or perhaps even the Volkswagen badge (bear in mind this was seven years back, long before the dieselgate scandal took place). The Polo then was quite the entry level model to the Volkswagen family, that is until the locally assembled Polo 1.6 MPI was introduced.
Today, Volkswagen Malaysia has done away the complicated TSI and DSG combo, came down from its high horse and repackaged the Polo to be a true wallet-friendly car.
Retailing at RM69,888
, the Polo 1.6 MPI is the cheapest Volkswagen on sale and it goes up directly against the likes of the
Honda Jazz
,
Mazda2
 and
Ford Fiesta
.
The question now is, is the cheapest Volkswagen still a real Volkswagen? Here are five things I love about the Polo 1.6 MPI that proves that it is.
WELL INSULATED CABIN
B-segment hatchbacks are generally popular for its small footprint and manoeuvrability, especially for urban commuting. However, city driving does no justice for the incredibly muted cabin of the Polo, because highway cruising is where it truly shines.
Thanks to generous use of sound deadening materials (you can find felt linings around the doors on just about every other VW car), highway cruising is very relaxed as wind and road noise are kept at minimal. Inf act, I dare say the Polo has best in class cabin insulation and easily puts many other cars above its segment to shame.

RESPONSIVE POWERTRAIN
Powering the Polo hatchback is a conventional 1.6-litre four-cylinder multi-point injection (MPI) engine that delivers
104 hp
 and
153 Nm
 of torque. Drive is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed torque converter.
From the word go, the powertrain feels eager and linear in delivery. I find it just peppy enough for city driving, and the gear ratios make overtaking rather pleasant on the freeways. In “D”, the gearbox optimises shift times to arrive at the highest gear as quickly as possible to conserve fuel and achieve the acclaimed
6.3 litres per 100 km
.
In “S” or Sport, the transmission gets a newfound sense of eagerness, keeping revs close to the 6,000 rpm redline, perfect for your weekend B-road blast. While the conventional powertrain does not come close to the performance of the sophisticated TSI and DSG powertrain, the silver lining is that the MPI and six-speed auto should, in theory at least, outlast the turbo and dual clutch combo.
WELL BALANCED CHASSIS
Underpinning the Polo is Volkswagen Group’s PQ25 platform developed for superminis – P stands for
passenger car
, Q refers to a
transverse engine
layout, 2 refers to the platform size and 5 refers to the generation. Being part of the VW group means this sub RM70k supermini shares the same platform as the mighty
Audi A1
. Yes, the RM180k Audi A1.
I had a hard time trying to unsettle the car, which speaks volumes of its chassis. Regaining control of the Polo in the event of an oversteer or understeer is rather easy (if you don’t panic, that is), and even under emergency evasive manoeuvres, the car still maintained its composure without much drama. Bear in mind that this is achieved
without the intervention of Electronic Stability Control
.

Doing J-turns and handbrake turns in the Polo without losing control is right up to the Polo’s ally. GC had an exciting stint with the Polo back in 2014, so be sure to read what he thought about
sliding the Polo around
. Or better yet, watch the
video
!
QUALITY RIDE AND HANDLING
Balancing between agility and damping is a dark art and I have reasons to believe that the engineers who worked on the Polo are wizards. Hustling along the less-than-ideal roads of Klang Valley, the Polo absorbs most undulations without breaking a sweat.
Despite its decent suspension travel and plush ride quality, it remains well planted around twisty courses. Body roll is kept at a minimum and steering feedback gives you the required confidence to take corners when you’re up at speed. Okay, the comfort-ish 185/60 Goodyear rubbers do squeal in protest at times, but the Polo maintained its composure well. As goes without saying, a set of high performance rubbers will bring out the best of the Polo’s handling capabilities.
GERMAN ATTENTION TO DETAIL
Despite many other makes offering much more bells and whistles like keyless entry, automatic folding mirrors and some even
360-degree surround camera
 (why on earth); no one tops the Germans in terms of attention to details.
It’s the little things like speed sensing auto-lock, a feature not found on most Japanese makes because in the event of a collision, those models are unable to automatically unlock all four doors like the Polo. They even have a fancy technical name for it –
Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS)
.
Auto up and down for all
four
 windows is also standard on the Polo, something very insignificant but takes convenience and premium-ness to another level. To put things into perspective, the Honda Accord only has auto up and down for the front two windows. To further impress your friends, the Polo comes with a neat party trick that
remotely opens and closes the windows
 by holding down the Lock or Unlock button on the key fob. Try it yourself.
There is much to like about the Polo, but unfortunately it has a tough time going against rivals that are better looking and come with more creature comforts and safety features. With its relatively high price tag, the Polo struggles to convince shoppers to look its way.
It’s a shame really. For what it’s worth, the Polo is a cornerstone in the Volkswagen model line-up, helping the German marque bag numerous prestigious awards including 2010 European Car of the Year, 2010 World Car of the Year and 2010 and 2011 Japan Import Car of the Year.
With the strengthening brand presence here in Malaysia and VPCM’s commitment to offer strong after sales support through 5-Years Warranty and 5-Years Roadside Assistance packages, perhaps the Polo deserves your showroom visit. It even comes with a sportier
ALLSTAR body kit
.
Service intervals for the Polo is scheduled at every 15,000 km. VPCM is also conducting a
“Polo P” Young Drivers Training Programme
 with the Polo.
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Audi wants to change the way we commute with this autonomous compact car

After revealing fully electric concepts like the
e-Tron GT Concept
 and the
PB18 e-Tron Concept,
 Audi is about to spark even more conversations when they reveal their new concept car, the Audi AI:me, at the Shanghai Motor Show starting on the 15th of April 2019.
Audi claims that the car is capable of
Level 4 autonomous driving
, where for the most part, can operate without any human supervision.

Looking at the picture, you’d notice words like
Discover
,
Moment
and
Well Being
 on the dash and it’s quite exciting just guessing what they’d do when activated.
Remember our trip to Singapore last year for the Audi Brand Experience? Well this kinda looks like the Aicon featured in the video, but on a smaller scale.
Check it out and see if you’d be up for the future of autonomous driving, you non-manual driving commuter.
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Chery set to relaunch brand in Australia – Omoda 5 SUV to launch in March this year

Chery is set to relaunch its brand in Australia after leaving the market eight years ago. Along with the announcement, Chery said that it had waited until a new range of models with five-star safety ratings and advanced technology were developed before returning Down Under.
On their re-entry into the Australian market, Chery said it will do so with the aim of sustainable growth and a long-term vision.
Tiggo 7
Tiggo 8
According to Drive, Chery Australia Managing Director, Andy Zhang said that the
 Omoda 5 SUV
 will be the first model to arrive in the country, due in March 2023. Two other models will follow suit later this year such as the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro and Tiggo 8 Pro. Electric variants of the models will be introduced next year, barring any delays.
Zhang also said that the company plans to launch a network of approximately 60 showrooms along with introduction of a seven-year, unlimited mileage warranty for its vehicles. Zhang also highlighted that every Chery vehicle will have a five-star safety rating. The Omoda 5 SUV has already earned a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP.
Chery Australia Marking Director, James Curtis commented that Australia is part of the Chery’s global expansion plan and is seen an important market with strong competition and discerning customers.
RELATED:
Chery Tiggo 7 Pro confirmed for Malaysia launch – Proton X70 rival with up to 197 hp!


Tan Chong has an amazing app for Nissan, Renault & Infiniti owners

Tan Chong Ekspres Auto Service (TCEAS), the aftersales provider for Nissan, Renault and Infiniti has just launched their first-ever vehicle service app called DriveOn by Tan Chong for owners of the three brands.
The app, available on both
Apple App Store
 and
Google Play Store
, is a comprehensive aftersales mobile application where owners can schedule a service appointment, check their vehicle service history record and obtain Service Information such as parts and price estimation in advance.
Here are the 9 key
functions of the DriveOn by Tan Chong app:
1)
Scheduling a
service appointment
 – view live booking slots and schedule an appointment,
locate any of TCEAS 60 service centres and set favourite service centre, as
well as navigation to the outlet.
2)
Service history
record
 – view and keep track of your vehicle service records
3)
Service
information
 – obtain Service Package information, parts and price
estimation in advance
4)
Service
reminders
 – be reminded whenever your vehicle service date approaches, and
be notified when it is ready for collection
5)
Easy roadside
assistance
 – access to 24-hour emergency roadside assistance and call
centre for vehicle-related assistance.
6)
Mobile app only
promotions
 – be entitled to promotions that are available only to app users
7)
Instant
promotion updates
 – notifications on attractive promotions or upcoming events
8)
‘DriveOn’
e-magazine
 – get latest Nissan news and developments, tips on driving and
maintenance, even topics of interest for you, your family and friends
9)
GoCar Malaysia
 – additional offers to obtain GoCar services while your vehicle is under
maintenance
As part of the launch
campaign, the first 5,000 successful app download and registration will receive
5% discount on vehicle parts by TCEAS (terms & conditions apply).
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KL, Selangor, and Putrajaya move to Phase 2 of National Recovery Plan (NRP)

The Government has just announced that areas in the Klang Valley including Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Selangor will move to Phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) effective 10th of September 2021.
It has also been decided that the three areas will be combined as one therefore there will be no roadblocks for movements between the three areas.
10-km limit removed for the fully vaccinated in Phase 1 NRP states, full vehicle capacity. More about it here!
Also, states in Phase 1 of the NRP are now allowed to resume these activities:
Indoor sports activities excluding the gym – must be fully vaccinated and by appointment only
Nurseries and florists, outdoor equipment stores and new development galleries are now allowed to open
Barbers, saloons and beauty parlors are now allowed to open in Phase 2 states. More updates on SOPs to come.


Honda launches online booking website – pre-book your preferred model at only RM99!

Honda Malaysia
 has launched its latest digitalised web service, in the form of online new car pre-booking platform. The pre-booking function is the latest addition to Honda Malaysia’s shopping tools on its official website, which include other features such as loan calculator, models comparison and
Honda Insurance Plus
.
To access the latest feature, interested customers can access the booking page via the ‘New Car Pre-Booking’ button located within the shopping tools section on the Honda Malaysia official website, or as they enter the specific model’s information page.
The online pre-booking procedure consists of four steps, with the first step being to select their preferred Honda dealer. While poking around the website, we found that the service currently only supports three dealerships – one each in Selangor, Johor, and Sabah – but we’re sure that more will be added in due time.
After selecting your preferred dealer, customers will then be asked to fill in their particulars, then select their chosen model, variant, colour, and accessories pack. Once all of those are completed, you’ll then be brought to a page where you can review your information, and proceed to make the pre-booking payment of RM99.
A confirmation email with all the necessary information will be sent to the address that you have given in the first step. Within 72 hours, you will then be contacted by a designated sales advisor from the selected dealer to proceed with the purchase, such as arranging a test drive appointment if you wish.
Honda Malaysia’s new car pre-booking online platform also has a tracking feature where customers can monitor their pre-booking status via the ‘Track My Pre-Booking’ status page. The platform will also be added to the recently-unveiled
HondaTouch mobile application
 by early next year.
The summary also shows a full break-down of the pricing details – useful.
Honda Malaysia Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Toichi Ishiyama said, “This New Car Pre-Booking Online Platform is part of Honda Malaysia’s effort to provide greater accessibility to customers to own a Honda car in this digital era via an online car purchase process. It allows Honda customers to stay ahead of the crowd and pre-book their preferred Honda model through a most convenient and user-friendly process which is right at their fingertips, anytime and anywhere.”
Aside from the official Honda Malaysia website, you can also jump straight to the pre-booking site at
prebook.honda.com.my
, or alternatively pre-book a car via Honda Malaysia’s toll-free number at
1-800-88-2020
.


Proton says warranties not affected by MCO

Proton has now officially joined the
 list of car brands
 in Malaysia to offer warranty extensions amid the Movement Control Order (MCO) due to the evolving
COVID-19 pandemic
.
According to a statement released by Proton, all warranties expiring during the MCO period will be automatically
extended by 1,000 km or 30 days
 following the final day of the MCO, whichever comes first.
As for customers who missed their scheduled maintenance due to the temporary closures of service centres, rest assured that your warranty will not be voided. Customers are advised to carry out service their vehicles
30 days post the end of the MCO
 to keep their warranties valid.
To ensure that you don’t miss the deadline, Proton advices to contact your preferred service outlet to book an appointment within 15 days after the end of the MCO.
You’ll have to wait a while more for the drive you’ve been dreaming of…
The MCO is scheduled to end on the 14th of April, though ramblings on social media seem to point towards an extension – we’ll just have to wait and see. For now, please stay at home and help flatten the curve!
If you need some tips on how to keep your cars healthy too during this MCO period, Proton has helpfully provided
some pointers
.


Bentley EXP 12 Speed 6e Concept, a full-electric Bentley to come by 2018!

We’ve seen a
diesel powered Bentley
 before, and now here’s a Bentley that runs on pure electricity. The Bentley EXP 12 Speed 6e is the first electric car to come out of Crewe, but you can’t buy one just yet because it’s still a concept car.
Although not much has been revealed about the electric powertrain, Bentley only said that the EXP 12 Speed 6e will be able to travel “between London and Paris (456km) or Milan and Monaco on a single charge”. Quite a bold claim if you ask us, but the crew at Crewe seems confident about it. The car is also said to support
rapid inductive charging
 if the owner doesn’t feel like getting his hands dirty by plugging the charger into a dedicated slot behind the rear number plate.
Some of you might recognise the car, because the design is actually two years old. It was previously revealed as the
EXP 10 Speed 6
 at the Geneva Motor Show back in 2015. However, that car was a coupe and it was powered by a petrol hybrid powertrain. This year Bentley has repainted it in white, replaced the side mirrors with a couple of rear-facing cameras, and chopped the roof off.
The interior too has been given a slight makeover. Like the roof, the top part of the steering wheel has been sawn off, and there’s a new gear selector finished in copper. The rest of the cabin is still a blend of old-school craftsmanship and new-school tech featuring a fancy “intelligent infotainment system” enclosed inside solid piece of curved glass in the middle of the dashboard.
The EXP 12 Speed 6e (and the EXP 10 Speed 6) previews at an upcoming “small” two-seater Bentley to slot below the Continental range, and it could get into production as soon as next year. Meanwhile, Bentley mentioned that they will be introducing a range of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) in 2018 starting with the Bentayga.
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Live Stream: All-new Mercedes-Benz GLC to debut tonight at 11pm! [+Video]

We’ve seen the
concept
 (coupe styling), we’ve seen the
spy shots
 (regular bodied), and now for the real deal – the world premier of the GLK’s successor – the GLC.
The GLK nameplate may be strange to us, especially because it was never made in a right-hand drive configuration. But that’s about to change with the GLC, and it’s only a matter of time before the premium compact SUV gets introduced here. It’s main rival? The
BMW X4
.
Just to quickly recap, the GLC measures at 4,727 mm long, 2,000 mm wide, 1,593 mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,827 mm. Powering the GLC Coupe is a
3.0-litre twin turbocharged V6
 engine mated to a
nine-speed (9G-Tronic) automatic
 transmission, sending
367 hp
 and
520 Nm
 to the four wheels via the brand’s
4Matic

all-wheel drive
 system.
As for the regular GLC, we can expect the familiar
2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four
 powering the
W205 C-Class
 (the model which it’s based on) to be featured here. On the inside however, as per our spy shots, revealed quite a stark resemblance to the C-Class, which isn’t a bad thing at all.

Confused as to why the GLK will be named the GLC instead? Click
here
 to find out all about Mercedes-Benz’s new naming convention. For now, be sure to follow to global unveiling of the new GLC by clicking the video above!
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Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

Mercedes-Benz GLC Spied


Porsche’s all-new 911 GT3 RS even comes with an F1-inspired DRS system!

If you’re pursuing a doctorate in aerodynamics, we suggest you put down that literature review of yours for a minute, and instead take a gander at the new
Porsche 911 GT3 RS
 – It is just fully loaded with state-of-the-art aero bits. Not only is the “father of all wings” perched on the GT3 RS’s posterior, but even the suspension components are also aerodynamic. We’ll get to these in a bit.
Before we go nuts with the aerodynamics, let’s address the powertrain. Sitting behind the rear axle is a normally-aspirated 4.0-litre flat-6 engine that revs up to 9,000 rpm. It is a souped-up version of the engine in the
911

GT3, producing
525 hp
, which is 50 hp more than the non-RS GT3. Upgrades to the engine include cams with longer durations and different cylinder heads that provide more lubrication in high-G situations.
Paired to the flat-six engine is a seven-speed PDK gearbox that has overall shorter ratios than the 911 GT3. With only 1,450 kg of weight to lug around, the powertrain combination results in a 0-100 km/h of
3.2 seconds
and a top speed of
296 km/h
 in seventh gear. In charge of stopping all this power are 6-pot aluminium monobloc brakes in the front and rear.
Now, onto the aerodynamics. Starting from the front, the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS has ditched the three-radiator layout for a central mono-radiator system. The hot air exiting the radiator then flows through the massive hood outlet that pushes the air to the sides. Under the nose of the car are adjustable flaps that can rotate by 80 degrees to either increase or decrease the downforce on the front end.
RELATED:
Porsche brings Cars’ Sally Carrera to life with new 911 ‘Sally Special’ one-off
To cool the wheelhouse, the traditional louvre outlets were simply not enough, so the GT3 RS has large gaping passages behind the front wheels instead. This new source of airflow meant that Porsche had to redesign the doors on the 992 911 GT3 RS. Oh, and these doors are made of carbon fibre, shaving off almost 5kgs of the car’s weight.
Move on to the rear, and you will not miss the massive wing on the 911 GT3 RS’s posterior. The swan neck wing is a bit taller than the roof line and features a static and active aero component. The static lower wing is made of carbon fibre and the top part of the wing is the DRS feature on the GT3 RS. Stolen from Formula 1 cars, the DRS is a first for a Porsche streetcar.
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Keen to reduce even more resistance, the aerodynamic bits of the 911 GT3 go beyond skin deep. Since high-speed, high-density air flows through the wheel well, the double wishbone suspension components have a teardrop-shaped profile to improve aerodynamics.
With all the aero components working harmoniously, the 991 Porsche 911 GT3 RS produces up to 860 kg of downforce at 285 km/h – twice of the 991.2 GT3 RS and thrice of the 992 911 GT3. Porsche says the GT3 RS has spent 250 hours in the wind tunnel, and we totally believe them.
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Equipped with a ‘Track’ driving mode, customers can individually adjust settings like compression and rebound for the front and rear in several stages. The rear differential can also be adjusted via rotary controls on the steering wheel.
Inside, the track-focused 911 GT3 RS is adorned in black leather, Racetex, and a carbon-weave finish. The Clubsport package which includes a steel rollover bar, a hand-held fire extinguisher and six-point seat belts for the driver is available at no extra cost.
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Customers can also opt for an optional Weissach package with extra cost that includes:
Carbon weave finish for the front lid, roof, parts of the rear wing and the upper shell
CFRP front & rear anti-roll bars, rear coupling rods, and shear panel on the rear axle
CFRP rollover bar
PDK shift paddles with motorsport-derived magnet technology
Optional magnesium forged wheels