Subaru BRZ gets mild midlife update, remains naturally aspirated

A few months after the
Toyota 86
 received a facelift, it’s now Subaru’s turn to get a makeover with the unveiling of the facelifted BRZ.
So what’s new this time around? To begin, the most obvious difference is the new front bumper and headlamps that include LED DRLs and LED fog lights. The BRZ also receives a new set of redesigned rims, making the aesthetic difference meaningful.
Changes on the inside are minimal as well, apart from the inclusion of a new
 4.2-inch LCD display
 within the instrument cluster and new three-spoke steering wheel. Also updated here are the air conditioning controls.
Just like the facelifted 86, the BRZ receives updates in the performance department, but unfortunately it’s not turbocharged or supercharged like many of you hoped for. Instead, Subaru modestly adds 5 hp and 7 Nm of torque into the BRZ’s
2.0-litre FA20 direct-injected flat-four engine
, means the sports car now makes
204 hp
 and
212 Nm
. Only the
 six-speed manual
 gets that upgrade, whereas the
six-speed automatic
settles with no performance increase.
The handling department has received a number of improvements, with the BRZ’s chassis and suspension now tweaked. The rear axle now gets a larger stabiliser bar too. An
Incline Start Assist
 system, which prevents cars from rolling back, is also standard in the BRZ.
Buyers who seek thrills in the corners can opt for the
Performance Package
, which consists of Brembo brake calipers on all four wheels, SACHS Performance shocks and a different set of black 17-inch rims.
The facelifted BRZ will be available in Limited and Premium variants by September while the Performance Package will only arrive by the end of 2016. Back at home, the BRZ is offered by Motor Image Subaru at
RM247,461
 for the automatic variant.
IMAGE GALLERY

 Pic Source: CarScoops


McLaren 570S Spider gains Track Pack, lighter by 33 kg with Sport Exhaust

McLaren has now extended the Track Pack option for the
McLaren 570S Spider
. Previously available only on the
570S Coupe
, the Track Pack adds lightweight options and Sport Exhaust for maximum driver engagement on track.
Available only on new vehicle purchase, cars with the Track Pack can be differentiated through the Dark Palladium Roof, super-lightweight 10-spoke forged alloy wheels in stealth finish and a Sports Exhaust with Stealth Exhaust tips. The new alloy wheels alone save a total of
15 kg
 compared to the standard wheels while having the full carbon fibre exterior pack delivers an additional weight savings of
6 kg
.

Inside, the Track Pack adds Carbon Fibre Race Seats that saves
13 kg
 compared to the standard Sport Seats, Carbon Black Alcantara Steering Wheel, carbon fibre interior pack and McLaren Track Telemetry (MTT) that provides a full rundown and data-logging of the cars on track performance. Buyers can choose from one of six By McLaren Designer Interior Sport Design themes.
No upgrades were done to M838T 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8, continue to deliver
570 PS
 (562 hp) and
600 Nm
 of torque driving the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. With launch control activated, the convertible will go from 0 to 100 km/h in
3.2 seconds
, 0 to 200 km/h is achieved in 9.6 seconds onwards to a top speed of
328 km/h
 (roof up) – identical to the Coupe variant. With the roof down, the 570S Spider can still hit V-Max of 315 km/h.
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McLaren 570S with Track Pack

McLaren 570S in Curocao Blue

McLaren 570S in Silician Yellow


This Maserati Levante Trofeo is the most powerful Levante money can buy

Also making its maiden appearance at the 2018 New York International Auto Show is the Maserati Levante Trofeo. The holy grail of the
Levante range
 is powered by a Ferrari-sourced V8 powerplant with extensive mechanical upgrades to be the ultimate Maserati SUV.
Peeping under the hood, you’ll find a Ferrari-sourced 3.8-litre Twin Turbocharged V8 pumping out
590 hp
 and
730 Nm
 of torque, the latter peaking from 2,250 to 5,000 rpm. The petrol engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, deployed to all four corners via the Q4 Intelligent All-Wheel Drive System.
With Launch Control engaged, the Levante Trofeo will sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in
 3.9 seconds
 and will register a top speed of
over 300 km/h
. The chassis has also been tuned to handle the higher outputs without compromising on comfort while it’s
50:50 weight balance
 and low centre of gravity are maintained to ensure balanced handling and lateral stability.
The designers have given the Levante Trofeo a much sportier appearance to match its high-performance credentials. The front is defined by a new bumper with aggressive side intakes, carbon fibre side bezel blades, a carbon fibre splitter, a vented bonnet, a piano black front grille and honeycomb mesh at the lower fascia.

Moving to the rear the Levante Trofeo gets a sharper carbon fibre bumper to complement the oval quad exhaust tips. A set of 22-inch forged aluminium “Orione” alloy wheels, available in either polished or matte finish, completes the look of the car.
Inside, the Levante Trofeo is furnished with sculpted sport seats with “Pieno Fiore” natural leather upholstery complemented with contrast stitching and “Trofeo” embossing on the headrest. Other touches include matte carbon fibre interior trims and paddle shifters, specific instrument cluster graphics, floor mats with metal Trofeo badges, a unique Maserati analogue clock and a 1,280-watt, 17-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium surround sound audio system.

For the US and Canada, early customers can opt for the limited-run Launch Edition that adds a Grigio Lava matte paintjob, matte-finished 22-inch alloys, red brake calipers, black window surround trim, fog light rings, as well as Black Chrome Maserati badges, Trofeo “Saetta” logos, side air vents and boot accent.
The cabin of the Launch Edition features natural “Pieno Fiore” leather sport seats available in Black leather with blue or yellow stitching, Tan or Red with contrast stitching, matte carbon fibre weave interior trim as well as a serialised badge with the customer’s name on the centre console.
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Maserati Levante Trofeo Launch Edition


All-new Honda HR-V Hybrid scores four stars in Euro NCAP crash tests

Euro NCAP
 has just published its latest round of test results, which includes the
all-new Honda HR-V
 that was
launched in Europe
late last year. Available solely with the e:HEV hybrid powertrain in Europe, the all-new HR-V managed to score four stars out of five in the extensive safety tests.

Breaking the scores down to its individual components, the Honda HR-V hybrid scored 82% in adult protection, 75% in child occupant protection, 72% in vulnerable road users protection, and 78% in safety assist, for a total score of 31.3 points.
The Honda HR-V performed decently throughout the crash tests, however the restraint performance, in particular for children seated in the rear, was less than ideal, resulting in a drop in score that moved the compact crossover into the four-star band.
RELATED: New tech, looks, and more space – Can the new Honda HR-V keep its crown?
That being said, the Honda Sensing advanced driver assist features performed admirably in the tests, scoring 5.7/6 points for the AEB Car-to-Car test, 3.5/4 points for Lane Support tests, and 2.5/3 points for the Speed Assistance tests; points were mostly dropped in the Occupant Status Monitoring category, due to the system’s lack of a driver monitoring feature.
The Honda HR-V is widely believed to be making its way into the Malaysian market sometime this year, rumoured to also feature the same e:HEV hybrid powertrain as the Europe-spec car. Powered by an Atkinson cycle 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated engine and two electric motors, the hybrid system sends
131 hp
 and
253 Nm
 of torque to the front wheels via an e-CVT gearbox.
However, if Honda Malaysia’s recent product strategy is anything to go by, the e:HEV hybrid powertrain will only be reserved for the range-topping RS variant; the other lower variants will instead adopt the more traditional 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated VTEC engine making
121 hp
 and
145 Nm
 of torque.
RELATED: All-new Honda HR-V unveiled in Thailand, only in e:HEV hybrid powertrain
Honda also recently unveiled the
non-hybrid RS variant in Indonesia
, which features a 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo engine underneath its bonnet, packing
177 hp
 and
240 Nm
 of torque. However, we believe that it’s quite unlikely that we’ll see this particular configuration here in Malaysia.
While the ASEAN NCAP might arguably be more relevant in our parts of the world, the (more stringent) Euro NCAP tests should still give us a good idea on how these cars will perform under emergency situations.
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If aliens built cars, they’d look like the Bugatti Centodieci

It means “110” in Italian. Now that it’s out of the way, let’s talk about how this thing looks.
To emulate and more importantly pay homage to the EB110 that coined a significant milestone for Bugatti in the supercar hall of fame, the front end gets a wedged, flat look and a smaller horseshoe-shaped radiator – a look inspired by the 1990’s supercar but with a modern twist.
 With “Asian eyes” stretched over the front fenders, it looks almost evil – so full of malice.
The C-shaped B-pillar on the Chiron is significantly smaller in the Centodieci with five round vents on each side serving as air intakes to feed air into the 8.0-litre W16 engine.
It makes
1,600 hp
 and to give the Centodieci a 0 to 100 km/h performance of
2.4 seconds
. By the time a standard Volkswagen Golf GTI has hit the century mark (6.1 seconds), the Centodieci would’ve touched 200 km/h.
As for top speed, it makes you wonder what the Centodieci is really capable of, when Bugatti claims that it’s been
electronically-limited to 380 km/h
.
The engine, like the EB110, can be seen through a transparent glass – a small hiccup in Bugatti’s weight-shedding exercise that includes using lightweight windscreen wipers and carbon fibre stabiliser. The result is a 20 kg weight reduction compared to the Chiron.
The Bugatti Centodieci is limited to just
10 units
 and unsurprisingly, they’ve all been sold out to those with extra-terrestrial wealth, at
8 million Euros each
.
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Facts & Figures: 2021 Suzuki Jimny launched in Malaysia – RM169k

As expected after a short
teaser
 campaign on social media pages, Naza Eastern Motors, the current distributor of Suzuki cars in Malaysia, has just launched the new Suzuki Jimny 1.5.

Fully imported (CBU) from Suzuki Kosai Plant in Japan, the Suzuki Jimny is priced from
RM168,900
 on-the-road without insurance and inclusive of ongoing SST exemption.
EXTERIOR
Measuring just 3.65 m in length (inclusive of the spare wheel) and 1.65 m in width even in this wide-fender “Sierra” exterior, the three-door Suzuki Jimny is incredibly compact, even smaller than the recently launched
Hyundai Casper 1.0
. The
Perodua Ativa
 looks like a mid-size SUV when parked next to the little Jimny.
Suzuki says the upright and thin A-pillars and the flat, clamshell bonnet allow great visibility when traversing on very rough terrain.
Key exterior features in the Suzuki Jimny include:
Auto on-off circular LED projector headlamps with washer
Squared-off bumpers in scratch-resistant material
Unpainted wheel ‘over fenders’
15-inch alloy rim, 195/80R15 H/T tyres
Tailgate-mounted full-sized spare tyre
Apart from the signature Kinetic Yellow on offer, other colours available are Bluish Black Pearl, Jungle Green and Medium Grey.
INTERIOR
Similar to many previous generations, the new Suzuki Jimny only has space for four occupants. The compact interior offers the usual gadgets such as:
Fabric seats
Split-folding 50-50 rear seat
Multi-function leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and cruise control switches
7-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay connectivity
Automatic air-conditioning system
Passenger grip bar (horizontal)
The rear seats also fold fully flat with the quarter trim panels and seatbacks have been carefully designed to increase storage width. The backs of the rear seats and luggage room floor are coated with plastic for easy removal of dirt or stains.
PERFORMANCE
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder, VVT
Transmission: Four-speed automatic
Drivetrain: Part-time 4WD with low-range transfer
Max power: 102 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Max torque: 130 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
Top speed: 140 km/h (limited)
Fuel consumption: 6.8L/100 km
The Suzuki Jimny in Malaysia follows the powertrain option offered to the rest of the world- a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre engine with outputs of
102 hp
 and
130 Nm
 of torque. In true SUV format, the powertrain is position longitudinally, driving the rear wheels by default.
Naza Eastern Motors restarted the Suzuki brand in Malaysia this year via the launch of the Swift Sport Turbo. More about the fan favourite here!
A four-speed automatic is tasked to performed gear shifting duties, with a part-time 4WD low-range transfer gearbox called 4×4 AllGrip Pro apportion the drive to the front wheels in 4H or 4L modes. Selection of the 4WD mode is done by a traditional lever directly connected to the transfer case rather than an electronic dial switch.
Apart from the 4WD system, the Jimny is built on a robust ladder frame and suspended via a 3-link full-width rigid axle on both the rear and front ends. Usage of the non-independent rigid axle allows maximum tyre contact to the loose and uneven terrain.
The ground clearance might sound modest at 210 mm, but the Suzuki Jimny with its short overhangs and wheelbase provide pick-up truck levels of obstacle clearance, such as ramp break-over angle of 28 degrees, an approach angle of 37 degrees and a departure angle of 49 degrees.
To further increase traction while having wheel slip, the Suzuki Jimny also comes with Electronic Brake Actuated Limited-Slip Differential (or Brake LSD), a feature again only found in pick-ups such as Toyota Hilux and Nissan Navara.
SAFETY
On the safety front, the Suzuki Jimny is only equipped with two airbags. The three-door SUV also comes equipped with other safety features such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Hill Hold Control, Hill Descent Control, side-impact door beams, ISOFIX child seat tethers and a decoupling mechanism for the brake pedal during impact.
Check out some of the outrageous modifications for the little Jimny here!

PRICING
As mentioned above, the new 2021 Suzuki Jimny is now available in Malaysia, priced at
RM168,900
 on the road, without insurance, but inclusive of the sales tax exemptions that are valid until the end of the year.
The price for the 2021 Suzuki Jimny in Malaysia is also inclusive of a three-year/100,000 km warranty coverage as standard.
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Acura has announced the return of the Integra!

The Monterey Car Week has commenced in California, USA with all the major manufacturers present to announce their new products and so far Acura has made the loudest noise.
Aside from introducing the
new and final NSX
, Acura has also revealed the best-kept secret in automotive so far this year – the Integra is making a comeback! The last Integra introduced by Acura was in 2001.
Integra Teaser Sketch
“The legendary nameplate, one of two models in the original product lineup when Acura launched on March 27, 1986, will rejoin the performance brand’s product portfolio as a new compact premium entrant next year,” said Acura Vice President, Jon Ikeda.
Aside from the announcement, Acura also added that more details of the Integra will be available closer to its 2022 introduction.


Geely Icon: On sale in China, but will it come to Malaysia?

It’s interesting how every new Geely model launched elsewhere is greeted with anticipation now that Proton is part of the Geely group, and it’s no different with
Geely’s Icon SUV
 which has just gone on sale in China.
As a refresher, we dubbed the Icon as
‘design study made into reality’
for its
rectangle and minimalist styling theme
 conceived by different Geely design studios around the world – and the end product is eye-catching but also polarising. Well, if the Land Rover Freelander had a wild successor, this could pass off as one.
Under the Icon’s highly creased and angular sheet metal is Geely’s
B-segment BMA platform
 which also underpins the
Binyue
compact crossover and what’s likely would be Proton’s highly anticipated X50 as well. Of course, being the newest kid on the block means the Icon has new equipment not seen on the Binyue, at least not yet.
In China, the Icon is available as a
mild hybrid with the 1.5-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder engine
 (seen on the Binyue) complemented by a
48V system incorporating a starter generator
; the quoted system output is
190 hp and 300 Nm
, which
14 hp and 45 Nm more
 than the non-hybrid 1.5-litre turbo 3-pot variant. Power is sent to the front axle via a wet-clutch 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, capable of propelling the Icon hybrid from
idle to 100km/h in 7.9 seconds
.
Apart from a wide array of digital displays on the Icon’s chunky dashboard, the air of its upright cabin is filtered through an
Intelligent Air Purification System
 that is N95-compliant –
the first Geely model to be equipped
 as such. The Icon also features
Level 2+ driver assist functions
,
autonomous braking with pedestrian recognition
,
one-button self-parking
 along with remote access via the smartphone.
Being a
unique style icon
(pardon the pun) for Geely, it is unlikely that the Icon will be allowed to be passed off as a Proton via some grille and bumper rework, which goes against the spirit of a styling adventure. Considerable investments would also be required to turn the Icon into a RHD model, particularly its cabin. However, expect to see those cool new tech incorporated in the X50 when that arrives.
Geely Icon image gallery


Toyota C-HR Interior revealed, a dynamic crossover in and out

Toyota C-HR (Coupé High-Rider) crossover that was
unveiled last February
 has an audacious exterior that surely attracts attention. What remains is the interior, in which Toyota has released some preview shots of the C-HR’s interior.
The coupe-inspired crossover surely has sporty aspirations and that’s replicated on the inside as seen in the driver-focused cockpit. The
Toyota C-HR
 receives the  ‘
Sensual Tech
‘ design concept that combines technology with style.

Overall, the inside is predominantly black with a single coloured stripe that providing contrast on the dashboard. This two-colour interior trim will be available in three colour schemes : Dark Grey, Black/Blue (pictured here) and Black/Brown. The piano-black trim applies on the dashboard, doors, gear lever and steering wheel.
The dashboard design is
asymmetrical
, allowing buttons and controls reachable by the driver and allowing front passenger access to the relevant switchgear. Also notable is a 6.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system that housed at the middle of the console.
Look closely and notice the switches are reflecting the “
diamond motif
” of the
Toyota
 C-HR exterior aesthetic design. Also, audiophiles will be delighted to know the C-HR gets 9-speaker JBL premium audio system.
Marketed as a C-segment crossover, the C-HR will be equipped with a choice of a
 1.2-litre turbocharged
 engine that outputs
 114 hp
 and
185 Nm
 of torque, or a
2.0-litre naturally aspirated
 lump that generates
148 hp
 and
193 Nm
 of torque. It can be had with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive variant, and a choice of either a six-speed manual or
seven-speed CVT transmission.
The C-HR will also have
Toyota Safety Sense
 (comprises of Pre-Collision System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert with steering control, Automatic High Beam and Road Sign Assist), S-IPA system (Simple Intelligent Park Assist), and 18-inch wheels.
This agile and sporty crossover positioned between the Auris hatchback (Corolla) and the RAV4 SUV, will be ready for delivery in Europe by the end of 2016. Looking at it, should UMW Toyota brings the C-HR to our shores, it might be priced at around RM130K to 150K in a form of a 2.0-litre front-wheel drive variant with CVT. Judging from the overall packaging, expect a home run hit from UMW Toyota next year.
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NextEV teases 1,300 hp all-electric hypercar, to debut on 21 November

NextEV is a Chinese startup company that is adamant on producing world class electric vehicles, proof of which can be seen in the company’s exploits in the
FIA Formula E
 series. What NextEV has in store for us next will attempt to shame even the highest performing hypercars of today, or at least that’s the claim.
In the opening season of Formula E, NextEV came out on top, winning both driver’s and manufacturer’s title. The following year they started developing powertrains in-house that will be used in a mysterious sports car (pictured below) that was doing its test runs in the UK last month.
Image Source: Autocar UK and Autohome
New details have emerged, suggesting that the pictured EV will be powered by an electric motor (or motors) capable of producing over
1,360 hp
. NextEV says it will sprint from standstill to 100km/h in
under 3.0 seconds
, which we doubt not the slightest bit. When materialised, the Chinese hypercar will charge (pun intended) straight towards two equally mind bending modern hypercars, the Aston Martin/Red Bull
AMR-RB 001
 and Mercedes-Benz’s F1 powered hypercar.
However, just like the AMR-RB 001, NextEV’s hypercar is not for mass production. Just like many high performing cars of this level, the asking price is close to seven figures and will only be limited to the privileged few.
Most importantly, it’ll serve as a technological test-bed for the company’s EV technology. It will make its world debut in London on 21 November. Watch out, Tesla and BMW.


Proton X70 handed over to KPDN – 28 units for enforcement activities

Proton has handed over 28 units of the
Proton X70
 via Spanco Sdn Bhd to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN). The SUVs will be used by KPDN for enforcement activities.
Present at the handover ceremony was Deputy Director of UCM and Corporate Sales, Wan Ahmad Fadzli and Head of Corporate Sales, Fazli Hisham. The X70 SUVs will be distributed to all states by the Secretary General of KPDN who will hand over the vehicles to the Chief State Enforcement Officers.
Prior to the handover, Spanco and Proton representatives conducted a vehicle briefing programme in the presence of the KPDN’s enforcement officers. The programme was held at Spanco Services located in Bandar Baru Bangi.
“Proton is proud to assist the government in running its official activities and looks forward to more collaborations in the future,” the company said in its Facebook post.
Currently, the Proton X70 MC (minor change) is powered by the same 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine found in the Proton X50, with 177 hp and 255 Nm of torque. With the minor change, new to the X70 includes a new wheel design, gloss black exterior trims and black headlining on the inside. Prices now start from
RM98,800
 for the 1.5 TGDI Standard 2WD up to
RM128,800
 for the 1.5 TGDI Premium 2WD.


This fake Tesla Cybertruck looks even more ridiculous than the original

It has only been a month since Elon Musk’s
catastrophic unveiling of the Tesla Cybertruck
 and as rudimentary as its design was, we didn’t think someone would actually bother to replicate it.
And like all the Lamborghini replicas we’ve seen shared before, this one’s no different; with ludicrous proportions and wheels so small they appear more comical than extra-terrestrial.
 https://www.instagram.com/p/B6Oo67wiaPg/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_video_watch_again
We’re definitely not expecting armoured glass windows or ultra-hard cold-rolled steel body panels here, unlike in the original, which are strong enough to withstand 9mm rounds.
It’s no slouch either.
The original Cybertruck
 will do 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds – as quick as a
Ferrari 812 Superfast
! Highly necessary in our opinion; when driving something which looks that unfortunate, you’d want to drive fast to avoid being seen.

As much as it’s a strain to the eye, the Cybertruck should be much easier on the bottom as it’s equipped with air suspension that can increase or lower the car’s height by up to 40cm.
IMAGE GALLERY


BMW Malaysia opens doors to refurbished showroom in Alor Star

Lee Motors Autocare, an authorised BMW dealer in Alor Setar, has just launched its newly refurbished showroom to better serve its customers in the northern region.
Operating in the existing
15,000 square feet compound, the refreshed showroom now proudly wears the brand’s
latest Corporate Identity complete with Grand Klasse (GKL) sales workstation,
BMW Customer Lounge, Isetta Bar and BMW Lifestyle merchandise counter.
From left: Eugene Lee, MD of Lee Motors Autocare & Harald Hoelzl, MD of BMW Group Malaysia
The facility is also a
fully equipped 4S centre for the BMW brand and employs over 20 staff members.
In addition to that, Lee Motors Autocare will now serve as a BMW Premium
Selection dealership for the region. The new showroom is capable of displaying seven
new BMW vehicles and six BMW Premium Selection units.
Managing Director of
Lee Motors Autocare, Eugene Lee said, “We have over a decade of experience in
delivering Sheer Driving Pleasure in the country. We believe and take pride in
pushing the BMW brand forward by providing excellent service and an enriching driving
experience to our customers. With this newly refurbished space, we aim to exceed
all expectations by giving our customers a fresh glimpse into the BMW brand.”
Last year, Lee Motors
Autocare achieved a double-digit growth of over 30% compared to the year 2017, with
over 200 new deliveries of BMW vehicles.
Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director of BMW
Group Malaysia said, “Our network of dealers have contributed to our success of
delivering our promise of Sheer Driving Pleasure to customers across the
country. To date, we have delivered over 5,000 vehicles, charting more than 6%
of growth compared to the same period last year. We look forward to growing
from strength to strength with dealers such as Lee Motors Autocare who continuously
strives to raise the game to provide top-of-the-line service to our customers.”


Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 “Sports Cup Edition” unveiled to celebrate 15 years of club sport racing

Porsche has revealed a new commemorative model – the 718 Cayman GT4 Sports Cup Edition – at the Sportscar Together Day to celebrate the opening of the Porsche Experience Centre in Hockenheimring and the season finale of the Porsche Sports Cup.
The Sports Cup Edition, which will only be available in Black or White with red stripes is the culmination of experts from Style Porsche and Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur – the latter made up of 30 highly qualified employees whose attention is solely devoted to optimising, by hand, every aesthetic detail of special edition Porsches to perfection.
The No.15 on the doors refers to the anniversary of the Porsche Sports Cup. To protect this special edition model, dressed in 20-inch Satin Gloss Black wheels, the Sports Cup Edition will also be delivered with an “exclusive indoor car cover”.
Typical of a Porsche, the Sports Cup’s interior gets a subdued leather and Alcantara combination interior and just in case there is any confusion on where the driver sits, which is unusual, Porsche also made sure to distinguish the passenger seat from the driver’s with different coloured back rests – in red and black.
The Sports Cup Edition is based on the standard Cayman GT4 with
420 hp
 and
420 Nm
 from a 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated flat-six, paired to a 6-speed manual. 0 to 100 km/h takes just 4.4 seconds – just like the
straight-six BMW M2 Competition with 10 hp less
.
The Porsche Sports Cup has been the most successful customer and club sport series in the world with up to 1,200 drivers per season. The Porsche Sports Cup consists of six race series where races are held on famous race tracks.
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Perodua Ativa’s ASA 3.0 system – now detects motorcycles, unlimited auto braking up to 120 km/h

Launched yesterday, the Perodua Ativa is
available in three variants
 with prices starting from RM61,500 for the X variant, RM66,100 for the H variant, and RM71,200 for the highest spec AV variant. Check out the
differences between all three variants here
!
Aside from sharing the same engine and transmission, all three variants also share a significant feature – the Advance Safety Assist (ASA) 3.0.
The ASA 3.0 now feature
two new stereo cameras
 with
Level 2 autonomous driving
 capabilities, following the addition of features such as adaptive cruise control, lane keep control, blind spot monitor and rear cross traffic alert.
Following the upgrade from the
previous ASA 2.0 in the Myvi
, Bezza and Aruz, its basic features, which is available across three variants, such as pre-collision warning, pre-collision braking, pedal misoperation control, and front departure alert have also been upgraded as well.
The most important thing to note howeever is that the pre-collision braking (or autonomous braking) feature is
no longer limited to just three stops; it’s now unlimited!
Previously in the Myvi,
once the system has been activated three times
, you’d have to kill the engine to reset the system. You don’t have to do that anymore with the Ativa.
As for operation speed, the autonomous braking feature in the ASA 2.0 only worked up to speeds of 80 km/h, but in the ASA 3.0, it has now increased to 120 km/h against other vehicles. Against pedestrians, the autonomous braking feature works up to 60 km/h, up from 50 km/h.
As for the pre-collision warning, operation speed has increased from 100 km/h to 120 km/h against vehicles, and from 50 km/h to 60 km/h against pedestrians.
The pre-collision warning and braking features in the ASA 3.0 system has also been upgraded to detect bicycles and motorcycles. Before, it was only limited to vehicles and pedestrians. Additionally, the ASA 3.0 now also works at night, but can only detect cars if their taillights are switched on.
Impressed? For a RM61,000 car, we sure are!


Daihatsu Rocky Hybrid delivers 28 km/L, 106 hp system, from est. RM77k

After opening its order books
a month ago
, Daihatsu Motor Co. in Japan has officially launched the Rocky e-Smart Hybrid compact SUV, delivering an astonishing
3.57 L/100 km
 (or 28 km/L) of fuel consumption in the WLTP cycle. That’s a
38% reduction
 in fuel consumption versus the
Perodua Ativa
 which closely resembles the Daihatsu Rocky Turbo.
The latest e-Smart hybrid system is unlike any other hybrid system from Toyota Motor Corp and a first for Daihatsu. Designed to be used in compact vehicles, the e-Smart hybrid system is termed as a series hybrid system, meaning the energy only flows in a series layout.
UMWT has just opened the order books for the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid with 122 hp and 4.3 L/100 km consumption. More details here.
In this Rocky e-Smart Hybrid, the petrol engine, featuring a new 1.2-litre three-cylinder naturally aspirated engine with high thermal efficiency, has outputs of just 82 hp and 105 Nm. Its sole purpose is just to recharge the battery pack, similar to the Nissan E-Power system in the
Nissan Kicks
.
The e-Smart hybrid is a self-charging hybrid system, meaning there isn’t any external power port to replenish the small battery pack.
Energy from the battery pack, located under the rear seats for maximum space efficiency, powers the electric motor that has an output of
106 hp
 (78 kW) and
170 Nm
. Daihatsu says this new parallel arrangement of the motor-generator unit allows for a compact dimension.
Thanks to being 100% electric motor motive force, the overall driving sensation is similar to an EV. However, the petrol engine will frequently ignite to a constant engine speed to charge the tiny battery pack, but not drive the wheels. A ‘Smart Pedal’ feature allows for one-pedal driving, with strong braking regeneration from the electric motor slowing down the Daihatsu Rocky tremendously in normal traffic conditions.
During this model upgrade timing, Daihatsu has also included an electric parking brake (EPB) with auto-hold function that also aids with stopping the SUV when adaptive cruise control is activated.
Blue tinted Daihatsu badges, e-Smart hybrid emblems and a dual-tone wheel design are just the identifiers for this new hybrid variant. Inside, the
7-inch TFT full-colour
 digital multi-information display has its graphics updated to display an energy flow meter and hybrid-specific information.
The ignition button also is coloured in blue, a similar design seen in Toyota hybrid models.
Joining the Rocky 1.0 Turbo is a non-electrified version of the 1.2-litre engine, with increased outputs of
87 hp
 and
113 Nm
. Paired with a CVT-type transmission, the fuel consumption is respectable 4.83 L/100 km (20.7 km/L), while being 90 kg lighter than the e-Smart hybrid variant at just 970 kg. This variant debuted in
Indonesia
.
Daihatsu is expecting only 30% of sales to be contributed by the new e-Smart hybrid variant, with a total of just 2,000 units per month across all three powertrains.
The new Daihatsu Rocky e-Smart hybrid is only offered in two variants- XHEV at
JPY2.116 million
 (approx. RM77k) and Premium G HEV at JPY2.347 million (approx. RM85.1k) which is slightly higher than the turbocharged variants.
The new 1.2-litre variants meanwhile start from JPY1.667 million (approx. RM60.5k) to JPY2.058 million (approx. RM74.7k).
It is only a matter of time before Perodua starts introducing the e-Smart hybrid system into the Ativa, and even other models featuring the DNGA platform, as the company is also committed to
riding on global trends
.
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Tesla Model 3 launched in Thailand – from RM221k, up to 614 km range

American electric carmaker
Tesla
 is now officially in Thailand, and has launched the
Tesla Model 3
 alongside its SUV high-riding counterpart, the
Tesla Model Y
. In Thailand, the Tesla Model 3 is offered in 3 variants, with prices starting from 1,759,000 baht (approx.
RM221,403
).
The three variants of the Tesla Model 3 in Thailand are:
Single Motor RWD – 1,759,000 baht (approx.
RM221,403
)
Dual Motor Long Range AWD – 1,999,000 baht (approx.
RM251,611
)
Dual Motor Performance AWD – 2,309,000 baht (approx.
RM290,630
)
Orders for the Tesla Model 3 have been opened starting today, and deliveries in Thailand will begin in the first quarter of 2022. In Southeast Asian (SEA) region, Tesla is now officially present in Singapore and Thailand.
Measuring 4,694 mm in length, 1,849 mm in width, 1,443 mm in height and with a wheelbase of 2,875 mm, the Tesla Model 3 is about the size of a
BMW 3 Series
 or a
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
. Designed by former
Mazda
 designer Franz Von Holzhausen, there are elements in the Model 3 that would remind one of the Japanese make.
RELATED:
The Tesla Model S Plaid has apparently set a new EV lap record at the Nurburgring
Tesla Model 3 Singe Motor RWD
The entry-level Single Motor RWD Tesla Model 3 is powered by one rea-mounted electric motor that makes
283 hp
 (metric) and
420 Nm
. It has a 0-100km/h acceleration time of
6.1 seconds
 and a top speed of
225 km/h
. With a
57.5-kWh
 battery, the Single Motor RWD Model 3 has a range of
495 km
 (WLTP).
Up a tier is the Dual Motor Long Range AWD, that as its name suggests, has a dual-motor setup. The two motors have a combined output of
498 hp
 (metric) and
493 Nm
. The Dual Motor Long Range accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in
4.4 seconds
 and has a top speed of
233 km/h
. The Long Range has a
614-km
 (WLTP) all-electric range thanks to a
75-kWh
 battery capacity.
RELATED:
Someone stuffed an actual V8 engine into a Tesla Model S
Tesla Model 3 Dual Motor Long Range AWD
Topping the range is the Dual Motor Performance AWD Model 3 which has a system output of
513 hp
 (metric) and
660 Nm
. The Performance model does the century sprint in
3.3 seconds
 and has a top speed of
261 km/h
. With the same
75-kWh
 battery as the Long Range AWD, the Performance model has a shorter
547 km
 range (WLTP) that is compensated by its higher performance.
Besides the added performance over the ‘Long Range’, the Performance AWD model also adds on 20-inch alloy wheels with Uberturbine wheel design, a Performance brake system, a carbon fibre rear spoiler, and aluminium alloy foot pedals.
RELATED:
ONE’s experimental battery tech gives Tesla Model S 1,210 km of range on a single charge
Tesla Model 3 Dual Motor Performance AWD
As for charging, the Long Range and Performance versions of the Tesla Model 3 can support
250-kW
 DC fast charging. The Single Motor RWD can only handle
170-kW
 DC fast charging. AC charging is standard at
11 kW
 for the Model 3.
Thai customers of the Tesla Model 3 get a 4-year/80,000 km general warranty as standard. The Single Motor RWD gets an 8-year/160,000 km battery and drive system warranty, while the Dual Motor Long Range AWD and Dual Motor Performance AWD both get an 8-year/192,000 km battery and drive system warranty.


New Aston Martin DBX 707 is now the most powerful luxury SUV

These days, it’s all about who has the fastest, the most luxurious, and so on. In the case of Aston Martin, luxury alone clearly isn’t enough for its SUV, the DBX so here it is, the new DBX 707, the most powerful luxury SUV in the world.
How much more powerful is it compared to the
standard DBX we reviewed
?
RELATED:
We recently “bought” an Aston Martin and here’s how we customised it!

The new DBX 707 produces
 157 hp

and 200 Nm more
 than the standard car, now producing 707 hp (hence the name) and 900 Nm. 0 to 100 km/h ends quicker than a 911 Carrera 4S, at just 3.3 seconds. In fact, it’s even quicker than the
Lamborghini

Urus
!
RELATED:
Aston Martin “Hunter Edition” arrives in Malaysia!
All that comes from a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine paired to a 9-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Other mechanical upgrades include a strengthened electronic limited-slip differential to cope with the increased torque and revised suspension for better steering response.
The DBX 707’s 48-volt active roll stabilisation system and electric power steering have also been revised for better agility and driving feel.
As for the exterior, the DBX 707 projects a more sinister appearance with an even larger front grille, a new front splitter, new brake ducts and air intake along with slimmer LED daytime running lights.
The 22-inch wheels remain, albeit a different design. There are optional 23-inch wheels that supposedly offer better steering response and body control. Production of the DBX 707 is set to take place within Q1 of this year, with deliveries expected to take place in early Q2 2022.

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The new Subaru Impreza (WRX) is more spacious, yet sportier

Just shortly after Subaru
teased us earlier this month
 with the new Impreza, the small Japanese company went on to unveiled the car in New York, and it can be had in both four-door sedan and five-door hatchback variants. At launch, it will go against cars like the
Ford Focus
,
Honda Civic
 and Volkswagen Golf.
The new Impreza is Subaru’s first model to sit on the company’s new “
Global Platform
“. Thanks to that, it’s now larger and wider than its predecessor. The sedan variant is already 25mm longer than before, whereas overall length and width are up by 41mm and 38mm respectively. Height on the other hand, has been reduced by 10mm which lowers centre of gravity. The new platform also ensures an increase in body rigidity with improvements up to 70 percent over the older car.
Inside, the new Impreza gets a newly designed dashboard with a pair of screens located in the middle. The top screen’s function doesn’t differ much from the model today, which displays essential driving data. Below that is a
6.5-inch touchscreen panel
 with built-in Starlink multimedia system which also supports GPS navigation.
Even more promising is its safety aspect. Debuting in this Impreza is the all-new “
EyeSight
” system, which includes a raft of safety gadgets such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Pre-Collision Braking, Lane Departure and Sway Warning. The system utilises stereo cameras to monitor the road ahead for potential hazards. The headlights have been updated with cornering beams and auto high-beam lights.
Most importantly, Subaru’s signature boxer engines and all-wheel drivetrain are retained here, but this time the engine will come with cylinder deactivation technology to improve fuel economy. The Impreza is expected to be powered by a
direct-injected 2.0-litre flat-four
 engine that produces
152 hp
. Transmission choice is the same
Lineartronic CVT
.
Subaru states that the new platform is designed to deliver higher standards of driving pleasure, agility, crash protection and ride comfort. The platform will underpin most of Subaru’s next-generation cars, including a four-wheel drive performance hybrid.
IMAGE GALLERY


New entry-level 1.2L NA Toyota Raize in Indonesia costs the same as a Perodua Myvi!

The Daihatsu Rocky and Toyota Raize was
launched in Indonesia
 earlier this year, and just like its Malaysian sibling, the
Perodua Ativa
, the duo in Indonesia also comes with a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine.
The marque’s Indonesian arm, Toyota Astral Motor said during the launch that a 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated variant for the Toyota Raize will be available at a later date. Now just less than two months after the local launch, the company has made the entry-level variant available in the country ahead of schedule, marking the global debut for the model-powertrain combo.
Underneath the bonnet of the 1.2L Toyota Raize is a WA-VE 1.2-litre, three-cylinder naturally-aspirated engine, good for
88 hp
 and
113 Nm
 of torque. Compared to the 1.0L turbocharged engine, the NA mill puts out 10 hp and 27 Nm less, and peak torque is only achieved at 4,500 rpm, compared to 2,400 rpm on the turbo engine.
How powerful is the 1.0-litre turbocharged engine on the Perodua Ativa? Watch our review here!
The engine is paired to either a CVT gearbox, like the Perodua Ativa here in Malaysia, or a five-speed manual transmission – the latter an Indonesian exclusive.
In terms of equipment, the 1.2L Toyota Raize comes as standard with full-LED headlights, 16-inch wheels, and digital air conditioning controls. It does lose out on the Toyota Safety Sense suite of advanced driver assistance features, and the infotainment system is one inch smaller than those found on the more expensive variants, coming in at eight-inches in diameter.
The Toyota Raize 1.2L starts at IDR202 million (~RM58k) for the manual variant, while the 1.2 G CVT costs IDR215 million (~RM62k), both with the full luxury tax exemption that’s in place to spur the nation’s automotive industry. That’s almost identical to the
Perodua Myvi
 (or Daihatsu Sirion) in Indonesia, which starts at IDR201.75 million in the Archipelago. Which would you choose?


Sorry friends, it doesn’t look like the 2020 Subaru BRZ is coming to Malaysia

If you’re like us, November 18 can’t come soon enough as we await the global launch of the next-generation Subaru BRZ. However for fans of back-to-basics no frills sports cars, we bear bad news – A Subaru spokesperson has told
Autocar UK
 that the all-new BRZ will be a US-only model.
The company said that it has “no plans” to bring the rear-wheel driven coupe over to Europe, and most likely over to the rest of the world too – which sadly includes Malaysia. It is unknown at this time if its Toyota twin, –
rumoured to be called the GR86
– will suffer the same fate, but we certainly hope it doesn’t. The GR86 does not have a launch date as of writing.
Despite the BRZ’s imminent debut, we are still in the dark on most of the details for Subaru’s latest sports car. We
roughly know how it’ll look
 from the front thanks to our rough Photoshop chop job, but that’s about the extent of what’s been made known to us.
A recent rumour, along with a
leaked image
 of the car from the recent
Subiefest event
, suggests that the BRZ/86 will be powered by a Subaru-sourced naturally-aspirated four-cylinder boxer engine. No turbocharger as previously rumoured, but the power output of
220 hp
 and
240 Nm
 is still a decent bump from the outgoing model.
Another conflicting rumour is the chassis under the upcoming Hachiroku twin.
 Early rumours
 suggested that it will be built on the celebrated
Toyota TNGA platform
 – the same ones underpinning the
 all-new Toyota Corolla
, but the more recent words around the grapevine seem to point to a revised version of the current underpinnings.
All of that will be answered by Subaru themselves in just over a week’s time. For now though, we’ll be spending all our efforts praying that the BRZ’s Toyota counterpart will make its way over here.


Video: 2019 Proton Iriz Facelift 1.6 Premium CVT Review

Having experienced it
on track
 and on the
public highway
, the facelifted Proton Iriz 1.6 Premium CVT continues to surprise us during this extended test drive. We scrutinised and dissected the little hatchback even further and found that this may be your best bang for your buck if you want a fun yet sophisticated city car.

The range-topping 1.6 Premium CVT as tested is powered by a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated VVT petrol engine offering
107 hp
 and
150 Nm
 of torque paired to a recalibrated Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) for better refinement, response and efficiency.
Beyond the new looks and enhanced features, the improvements that Proton has done to the car goes skin deep. The Iriz may be old (first launched in 2014), but this
2019 facelifted model
 is still right up there with the competition, both national and non-national.


First ever BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe will take on the Mercedes-Benz CLA

BMW will be expanding its
model line up with the first-ever BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe at the upcoming 2019
Los Angeles Auto Show happening in November. This will be the first time the 2
Series is available as a front-wheel driven four-door saloon.
The success of a four-door Gran Coupe has been well documented in upper segments like the
4 Series
 and
6 Series
 (even the
8 Series may get a GC variant
). The 2 Series Gran Coupe expands BMW’s footprint in the compact segment with a practical but design-oriented model for urban consumers.
Styling to be inspired by its larger sibling,
G20 3 Series
It will share the same
underpinnings as the upcoming new BMW 1 Series which builds upon the brand’s front-wheel
drive architecture. The company has also hinted that buyers can expect a degree
of electrification in the new 2 Series Gran Coupe.
When launched, the 2 Series Gran Coupe will go up against the likes of
Mercedes-Benz CLA
 and BMW will need to bring out the big guns to hold its ground against the sleek and particularly high tech CLA. The car will make its global debut in November 2019 with a subsequent market launch scheduled for 2020.


Mazda MX-5 is Japan’s Car of the Year 2015!

The fourth-generation
Mazda MX-5
 has added another major accolade as it won the
2015-2016 Japanese Car of the Year
 award. This is the second consecutive year the Hiroshima-based automaker won Japan’s most prestigious title, after bagging the crown jewel with the
Mazda2 last year
.
Competition this year certainly wasn’t easy, with runner up (also a JDM favourite) Honda S660 trailing just 41 votes behind. Meanwhile, the
BMW 2-Series
 finished in third place, and also obtained Import Car of the Year award for this year. Looking at the scale of things, all the top three contenders are some really fun-to-drive cars!
During the award ceremony, Mazda’s Vice President – also in charge of product planning and head of the company’s Skyactiv technology R&D – Kiyoshi Fujiwara said, “We went through some tough times during the financial crisis and 2011 earthquake, but we stuck to our founding principles and created a winning formula. We think the jurors’ response to our MX-5 shows that sports cars are making a strong comeback in Japan. This award means a lot to our development team.”
The previous winners of Japan’s COTY include the Toyota Prius, Honda CR-Z, Nissan Leaf, Mazda CX-5 and the Volkswagen Golf. The Golf was the first ever non-Japanese make to walk home with the award.
Find out what we thought about the
Mazda2
 and
Mazda MX-5
!


Toll-free interstate highways, 50% discount on other major highways this Hari Raya

Is it just us, or does it feel like an election is coming? Regardless, the Government has announced a kind gesture not just for those heading back to their hometowns this Hari Raya but also for those staying back in Kuala Lumpur and other respective states.
Between the
30th of May to the 1st of May
and the
7th of May to the 8th of May
, interstate highway users will get to enjoy toll-free drives. This will take effect from midnight (30th April) to 11:59 pm (1st May) and midnight (7th May) to 11:59 pm (8th May). The highways involved are:
North-South Expressway
North-South Expressway Central Link (Elite)
Seremban – Port Dickson Expressway (SPDH)
Butterworth – Kulim Expressway (BKE)
Malaysia – Singapore Second Link Expressway (Linkedua)
Penang Bridge
East Coast Expressway (LPT 1 & LPT 2)
KL – Karak Expressway (KLK)
For those who will be staying back in Kuala Lumpur to enjoy the less congested roads, fret not; we’ve not been forgotten as most major highways will be giving out
50% discounts on toll charges
. These include:
Damansara – Puchong Expressway (LDP)
Sungai Besi Expressway (Besraya)
New Pantai Expressway (NPE)
Ampang – KL Elevated Highway (AKLEH)
KL – Putrajaya Expressway (MEX)
Duta – Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE)
Shah Alam Expressway (KESAS)
Cheras – Kajang Expressway (Grand Saga)
Toll charges on certain highways will also be
reduced by 30%
 and they include:
Storm Management and Road Tunnel (SMART)
Guthrie Corridor Expressway
KL – Kuala Selangor Expressway (LATAR)
Butterworth Outer Ring Road (LLB)
Kemuning – Shah Alam Expressway (LKSA)
Kajang Dispersal Link Expressway (SILK)
Sultan Abdul Halim Muad’zam Shah Bridge
South Klang Valley Expressway
SPRINT
Kajang – Seremban Expressway (LEKAS)
New North Klang Straits Bypass (Grand Sepadu)
Senai – Desaru Expressway (SDE)
West Coast Expressway (WCE)
The toll-free and discounts on toll charges are
applicable to all vehicle classes
.


Ford Ranger facelift launching soon, Ranger Raptor included

Shortly after the introduction of the updated Ford Everest, Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) is gearing up for another product launch before we bid 2018 goodbye. The company is not being discreet about it either, highlighting the features that will be available on the facelifted Ford Ranger.
According to the brochure listed, it appears that SDAC will offer three engine options for the Ranger – 2.2-litre TDCI turbodiesel, 2.0-litre EcoBlue Si-Turbo (single turbodiesel) and 2.0-litre EcoBlue bi-turbodiesel. The 2.2-litre TDCI that powers the entry-level Ranger is a carried over from the previous model paired to a six-speed manual or automatic transmission making
160 hp
 and
385 Nm
 of twist.
The new 2.0-litre EcoBlue Si-Turbo pumps out a healthy
180 hp
 and
420 Nm
 while the 2.0-litre EcoBlue Bi-Turbo pushes out class-leading outputs of
 213 hp
 and
500 Nm
 of torque. Besides annual road tax savings from the 1,996cc capacity engine, the EcoBlue diesel engines are paired to a first-in-class 10-speed automatic transmission that offers improved acceleration and best-in-class fuel efficiency.
As for trim levels, SDAC offers the Ranger in three trims – XL, XLT, Wildtrak as well as the first Ford Performance model, the
Ranger Raptor
. Curiously, the official leaflet that was uploaded to SDAC’s website did not list the Ranger Raptor variant.
The
 base XL range
 is powered by the 2.2-litre TDCI unit with the option for a single cab or double cab and three colour options – Cool White, Meteor Grey and Aluminium Metallic. Standard equipment reads halogen reflector headlamps with daytime running lights, 16-inch alloys wrapped in 255/70 profile tyres, fabric upholstery and audio head unit with four speakers (Single Cab gets two speakers).
Safety kit reads dual airbags, ABS with EBD, Emergency Brake Assist, ESC with Traction Control, Hill Descent Control (HDC), Hill Launch Assist (HLA), Rollover Mitigation, Trailer Sway Control (TSC) and Adaptive Load Control (ALC).
Stepping up the range, the
2.2 XLT
 Manual and Automatic is powered by the same engine as the XL while the 2.0 XLT+ (AT) gets the 2.0-litre EcoBlue Si-Turbo mill with 10-speed auto. The XLT builds upon the equipment trims of the XL with the addition of automatic halogen projector headlamps, rain sensing wipers, front and rear fog lamps, 17-inch alloys (265/65 profile tyres) premium fabric upholstery, leather wrapped multi-functional steering wheel, 4.2-inch audio head unit with 6 speakers and a rear-view camera.
The
XLT+
 gains a bit more kit with HID projector headlamps with LED daytime running lights, 18-inch alloys with 265/60 profile tyres, 8.0-inch touchscreen Sync3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual 4.0-inch TFT instrument cluster display, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery and keyless entry with push-start. Colour options on the XLT range are Aluminium Metallic, Lightning Blue, Frozen White, Magnetic, Absolute Black.
Lastly, there are two
Wildtrak variants
 on offer, the 2.0L Widltrak 4×2 High Rider and 2.0 Wildtrak 4×4 High Rider. The 4×2 High Rider gets the 2.0-litre EcoBlue Si-Turbo while the 4×4 High Rider gets the more potent 2.0-litre EcoBlue Bi-Turbo. Colour options include Frozen White, Magnetic, Absolute Black and Saber.
On equipment levels, the Wildtrak builds upon the XLT+ with the addition of eight-way powered adjustable driver’s seat, Wildtrak Premium leather upholstery and six airbags while only the Wildtrak 4×4 comes equipped with Active Noise Cancellation and advanced driver assist systems such as Forward Collision Warning, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning & Assist, Semi-automatic Parallel Parking and Adaptive Cruise Control.

While SDAC did not disclose the specifications and equipment levels of the Ranger Raptor, expect it to come dressed with the flared arches, F-150 Raptor inspired front grille, magnesium paddle shifters, centre marking on the steering wheel, sportier seats and the all impressive Terrain Management System (TMS) that puts the souped-up pick up truck into six driving modes – Normal, Sport, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Sand, Rock and Baja.
No news on the pricing details, but don’t expect them to come cheap especially the top of the line Wildtrak 4×4 and Raptor.
IMAGE GALLERY


Ferrari finally joins the SUV bandwagon, plans to launch one by 2021

It all started wit the
Porsche Cayenne
. Immediately after its success, Aston Martin and Lamborghini went on to announce the
DBX
 and
Urus
 models respectively, and
Bentley with the Bentayga
. All these while, Ferrari remained hell-bent at making
super fast grand tourers
, but a recent report by Car Magazine UK suggests otherwise.
Apparently, Ferrari is working on an SUV codenamed
 F16X
and is developed alongside the next GTC4. Both are scheduled for world debut in 2021. The SUV will purportedly get suicide doors, eliminating the need for B-pillars and makes ingress and egress easier. Of course, it’ll get a reasonably higher ground clearance as well.
Will the new F16x look anything like the GTC4 with higher ground clearance?
It will get the GTC4’s aluminium architecture and all-wheel drive platform. What’s more interesting is the powertrain – it may be powered by a
V8 petrol
 or a new
hybrid
 powertrain, making this the second hybrid model after the
LaFerrari
.
The F16X SUV is expected to be priced around
€300,000 (approximately RM1.47mil)
 when it arrives in showrooms. As SUVs and crossovers get mainstream, Ferrari’s new SUV will certainly help push the numbers to 16,000 units. Fancy yourself an SUV with a Ferrari badge?
Source:
Car Magazine UK


The Lotus Elise Cup 260 – the lightest Elise Cup ever

Forget the SUV
 for now; in marking the 70th anniversary of when founder Colin Chapman built his first car in 1948, Lotus has revealed the extreme, race-bred, limited-edition, Lotus Elise Cup 260. With inspirations taken from the Exige Cup 380, the Evora GT430 and the Elise Race 250, it is said to be the most accomplished car Lotus has ever produced.
Being 15 kgs lighter than the Elise Cup 250 at just
902 kg
 (unladen weight), weight savings come from its large rear wing, front access panel, engine cover, two piece brake discs, lightweight race seats and forged alloy wheels along with a polycarbonate rear screen.
The Elise Cup 260 took lessons from the
GT 430
 with its louvred front wheel arches, a new oversized motorsport-derived rear wing, developed from the
Lotus 3-Eleven
. Together with the carbon front splitter and rear diffuser, it generates up to
180 kg
 (a 44% gain from the Elise Cup 250) of downforce when the Elise Cup 260 reaches its
243 km/
h top speed.
The Elise Cup is powered by a supercharged 1.8-litre engine delivering
250 hp
 and
 255 Nm
 of torque through a 6-speed manual gearbox. A race-derived air-filter and a tuned exhaust note ensures that the Elise Cup 260 retains the “best-sounding forced-induction four-cylinder” crown.
0 to 100 km/h takes just
3.8 seconds
 to complete in a composed manner, supervised by independent double wishbone suspension, adjustable anti-roll bars and two-way adjustable Nitron dampers, fitted for the first time to an Elise.
Stopping power is provided by twin-pot AP Racing calipers in the front and Brembo units at the rear tucked beneath 16-inch ultra-lightweight motorsport forged alloy wheels in the front and a 17-inch pair at the back. 10 mm wider Yokohama Advan Neova tyres than the Cup 250 promises increased mechanical grip to fully utilise the brute power of the Elise Cup 260.
Centre pieces inside include an in-house manufactured, carbon race seats in Alcantara together with a new carbon fibre instrument cover. The car seen here is painted in Championship Gold to commemorate the forthcoming 70th anniversary of Lotus.
IMAGE GALLERY


Don’t underestimate the subdued looks of this new Jaguar XE SV Project 8 “Touring”

Remember the
XE SV Project 8
 – the car that
 set a new record for the fastest saloon car around the Nurburgring
 back in 2017?
Well Jaguar’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division has developed a more restrained, road-oriented version of the extreme model that features a new, more discreet rear spoiler with removed body decals that masks the car’s fire-breathing ferocity.
There will only be
15 examples of the Touring specification Project 8
, as it is called, fitted with a fixed front splitter and a fixed “Touring spoiler” that replaces the more extreme version’s carbon fibre rear wing.
Under the hood, thankfully nothing about the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 has been tampered with, delivering the same
600 hp
 with
 700 Nm
. 0 to 100 km/h takes just 3.3 seconds with top speed limited to 300 km/h.
Not contented with its achievement around the Nurburgring, the more extreme XE SV Project 8 recently also set a
new record for the fastest production sedan around the Laguna Seca circuit
.


Sime Darby Auto Selection partners with Trevo to let you loan out your newly-bought car

Sime Darby Auto Selection (SDAS)
has announced a new partnership with
Trevo
in the form of the new
‘Fund your Drive’
 programme, which seeks to make car ownership more affordable and accessible for Malaysians.
The programme, which runs from
2 September until 18 November 2021
, provides an opportunity for SDAS car buyers to also generate income from their vehicles by listing it on the Trevo platform, at the same time offering a guaranteed resale price at the end of a 12-month period through the BuyBack option.
“During this time of economic uncertainty for many, those who need to own a vehicle may be thinking twice due to the financial outlay required,” said Trevo’s parent company Socar Mobility Malaysia’s CEO, Leon Foong.
“Through a programme like ‘Fund Your Drive’, owners not only have a variety of reliable, pre-owned vehicles that suit their budget from SDAS to choose from, Trevo also offers them additional means to fund the expenses associated with owning a vehicle.”
Trevo wants to be the AirBnB for cars in Malaysia. Learn more about it here!
Trevo promises a “guaranteed income” from listing the cars up on its platform, which will cover at least 70% of the monthly loan repayments, essentially providing car owners with loan instalment support for 12 months. As part of the programme, customers will also enjoy
 free car servicing
 from SDAS for the 12-month period.
For example, Foong said that a Trevo host with a 2015 Hyundai Grand Starex can earn approximately RM850 a month if their car is booked for seven days, while leaving the car available for personal use on the other 23 days of the month. The supplemental income is estimated to cover “almost the full amount” of the monthly loan instalment.
SDAS recently also launched a new Extended Warranty Programme for used cars through its multi-brand service centres. Check it out here!
Interested customers can choose from a range of car models marked with the Trevo logo on the
Sime Darby Auto Selection online marketplace
, linked
here
. For more information on the ‘Fund Your Drive’ programme, visit the programme microsite here, or contact Trevo’s customer service via WhatsApp (
+6019-205 2803
) or email (
[email protected]
).
The ‘Fund Your Drive’ programme is open to all Malaysians.


Mercedes-Benz’s Georgetown Autohaus gets RM4 million makeover

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM), together with partner Cycle & Carriage Bintang Berhad (CCB) have jointly launched their newly renovated Autohaus in Georgetown, Penang.
The
RM4 million upgrade
 shows both companies’ commitment to strengthening their presence in the northern region and spans a total built-up area of
 33,489 square feet
. It’s home to the latest Mercedes-Benz Corporate Identity, featuring most key aspects of the Mercedes-Benz Presentation System II. In short, it’s a through-and-through modern facility built within the confines of a UNESCO heritage building.

The Georgetown Autohaus features
seven display vehicles
, an upgraded lounge area and 14 advanced mechanical service bays. Cycle & Carriage and Mercedes-Benz have been business partners for 65 long years, and CCB has a sizeable 40 percent share in MBM.
Cycle & Carriage Bintang’s CEO, Dato’ Wong Kin Foo said the company will continue to invest into the brand and retail network. CCB now operates 28 authorised dealerships across Peninsular Malaysia, which is the country’s most extensive Mercedes-Benz dealer. He also announced that an additional RM30 million will be invested over the span of two years, all of which will facilitate upgrading works for the six remaining Autohauses throughout West Malaysia.
IMAGE GALLERY


New Volkswagen Setia Alam 4S centre opens, offers free 20-point inspection

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM)
 and Goh Brothers Motor have opened Volkswagen Setia Alam, the latest addition to the Volkswagen network in Malaysia. After the Juru and Ipoh outlets, this is the third Volkswagen dealership under Goh Brothers Motor.
Opening as a 4S centre, the Volkswagen Setia Alam facility spans
60,000 square feet
 and is four storeys high. 2,790 square feet is dedicated to the Mezanine Floor showroom where a total of eight cars can be displayed, complete with a guest lounge.
The service centre, which sits on two floors and spans a total of 10,200 square feet, is manned by 15 experienced aftersales staff that can service up to 30 Volkswagen vehicles per day.
In conjunction with the opening, Volkswagen Setia Alam is inviting Volkswagen owners who have not serviced their cars for over six months for a complimentary 20-point safety diagnostic and health check, which is available throughout the month of October.
VPCM Managing Director, Erik Winter said, “Our good relationship with our dealer partner, Goh Brothers, has culminated to the opening of the Setia Alam dealership. This opening further expands our network of dealers and the presence of Volkswagen in the country. “I would like to extend our congratulations to Goh Brothers on the opening and our appreciation for your commitment to the Volkswagen brand.”
RELATED:
Get up close and personal with the Volkswagen ID.4 EV at VW Fest 2022!
On the opening, Goh Brothers Motor Managing Director, Mr Goh Kian Sin said, “With the expansion of the business in the new area, Volkswagen Setia Alam will serve the community within the township and surrounding areas, including Shah Alam and Klang. We would like to welcome all Volkswagen fans and customers to visit our authorised 4S centre and enjoy an enhanced ownership experience with Goh Brothers Motor.”
Volkswagen Setia Alam operates from Monday to Sunday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm (sales), while aftersales services are available from Monday to Saturday from 8.30 am to 5:30 pm.
RELATED:
Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace adds new entry-level ‘Life’ variant in Malaysia, from RM173k


Performance Comparison: Isuzu D-Max vs Toyota Hilux vs Mitsubishi Triton

After a busy April with plenty of new vehicle launches, we now have some time to dissect the features of the latest pick-up trucks in Malaysia.
The all-new third-generation Isuzu D-Max is making quite a strong presence via digital advertising and rightfully so as the product has been improved tremendously.
For this edition of comparison, we take a more detailed look at the first three pick-up models in Malaysia, which are all top-of-the-range and within the same price range.
Horsepower and torque
Let’s get the ball rolling. The all-new
Isuzu D-Max 3.0L X-Terrain
 is powered by a new engine that is still displacing
3.0 litres
 and carries a price tag of
RM141,938
.
Whilst the output of the
new engine
 has increased over the previous generation,
190 hp
 at 3,600 rpm and
450 Nm
 of torque at 1,600 to 2,600 rpm are still below the outputs of
Toyota Hilux’s latest 2.8-litre
 turbodiesel.
The latest iteration of Toyota’s 1GD-FTV engine delivers
204 hp
 at 3,400 rpm and
500 Nm
 of torque. More impressive is the peak torque is generated from 1,600 rpm to 2,800 rpm. There is a premium to this performance though, as the Toyota Hilux 2.8 Rogue is priced
from

RM146,880
.
The third model we have for the comparison is the
Mitsubishi Triton Athlete
 2.4 MIVEC. Being the smallest in displacement, it also has the lowest output at
181 hp
 and
430 Nm
 of torque. The engine doesn’t have a flat torque band, unlike the Isuzu or Toyota, with all 430 Nm peaking at 2,500 rpm.
But being a smaller-displacing 2.4-litre engine, the
road tax
 in Peninsular Malaysia is also the lowest of the trio, at just
RM793.60
 per year with the vehicle on-the-road selling price at
RM141,500
.
While the data is not available here, the
fuel consumption
 figures from the Australian market ranks the new Isuzu
D-Max the best
 of our trio at 8.0 litres of diesel consumed per 100 km travel. The Toyota Hilux clocks 8.4 litres per 100 km, whilst the smaller 2.4-litre engine in the Mitsubishi Triton consumes 8.6 litres. The same pattern (albeit lower figures) is also seen in Thailand’s fuel consumption declaration.
Transmission and traction
All three pick-up vehicles have six-speed automatic transmission with an
electronic shift-on-the-fly
 dial switch to select between 2WD or 4WD modes. The Mitsubishi Triton Athlete however does offer an extra fourth mode via the 4H without locking of the centre differential, instead via an
oil-based viscous coupling
. There are the usual 2H, 4HLc and 4LLc with the two 4WD modes locking the centre differential.
The Mitsubishi Triton Athlete’s
 Super Select II AWD
 system in 4H (four-wheel drive at highway speeds, such as windy roads that are wet or slippery) allow better cornering comfort, as the front and rear axles spin more freely via the viscous coupling which translates to
a lot less vibration and noise
.

Also evident is the better turning radius in the Mitsubishi Triton Athlete, requiring just
5.9 metres
. View the video above for more details.
The Mitsubishi Triton Athlete also comes with an
off-road mode
 that controls the engine, transmission and brake control according to the conditions of gravel, mud, sand and rock. The system will perform the
Brake-LSD
 procedure to transfer the engine torque to the wheel with the most grip (or least wheelspin).
Both the Toyota Hilux 2.8 Rogue and Isuzu D-Max 3.0 X-Terrain might not have the easy-to-use off-road mode, but they have something well-liked in the off-road community which is the
electronic-locking rear differential
.
Locking the rear differential means both left and right tyres will have equal amounts of torque, allowing for much better traction out of the trickiest conditions and terrain. This fully mechanical approach is better as it does not depend on the braking system which could overheat.

The aforementioned Brake-LSD or simulated LSD (limited-slip differential) is also featured in the Toyota Hilux under the name Active Traction Control (A-TRC) and
Auto LSD
. Isuzu meanwhile doesn’t have this feature.
Here is a tip we found from Toyota, which recommends that Hilux users switch to 4H mode and drive for about 16 km each month to keep the front drive components well lubricated. Such a procedure was not mentioned by Mitsubishi and Isuzu.
Other features
Being global vehicles, all three flagship variants of the pick-up trucks are fitted with autonomous emergency braking (
AEB
) and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control (ACC) is only not available in the Mitsubishi Triton Athlete while Isuzu D-Max’s ACC can operate in all speed range, including
stop-and-go
 traffic.
The Mitsubishi has a 360-degree surround bird’s eye view camera system as standard, while it is a hefty RM2,600 option in the Toyota Hilux 2.8 Rogue. Unfortunately, the large 9-inch display in the Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain only displays the rear-view camera, with no option to upgrade to a surround camera system.
However, on a hot sunny day parked out in the open, the Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain is the only pick-up truck that has a
remote engine start
 feature that can turn on the engine and air-conditioning to cool the interior first, before stepping inside.
Speaking of air-conditioning, all three models here have air-conditioning vents for the rear, but the fitment in the Mitsubishi Triton is on the ceiling and has fan speed selection.
Pricing and warranty
In the aspect of accessories, the sports bar is a cost option on all three models, plus it’s the only accessory for the Isuzu D-Max. Bedliner and tailgate assist (easy manual open and closure) are cost option in the Mitsubishi Triton, while Toyota Hilux and Isuzu D-Max include the bedliner in its retail price.
As such, ticking all the accessories (360-degree camera, tailgate assist and sportsbar) in the Toyota Hilux 2.8 Rogue bumps the retail price to
 RM152,020,
with

warranty coverage of five-year/ 150,000 km. Meanwhile, the Mitsubishi Triton Athlete arrives at a price tag of
RM147,225
 and warranty coverage of five-year/200,000 km.
As mentioned earlier, the bedliner and tailgate assist is already included as standard in the Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain, as such, including the sports bar prices the vehicle at
RM143,258
. The Isuzu D-Max 3.0 X-Terrain is the only pick-up truck with a
seven-year/unlimited mileage warranty
 coverage.
So there you have it, with more detailed information about the performance of these new pick-up trucks in Malaysia. A few features that are standard in Isuzu and Mitsubishi are found to be optional in the Toyota, as such, happy shopping for the best deals!


Mitsubishi to bring back Ralliart name – releases first teaser image

The Ralliart name has not been mentioned as Mitsubishi’s performance and motorsport division for more than a decade but all that’s about to change.
After
announcing its return
 in May this year, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation in Japan has revealed a teaser of
EV kei car concept
and a
 Ralliart concept car
. The pair will be fully revealed at the upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon 2022 which will be held on the 14th till 16th of January 2022.
According to Mitsubishi, the kei EV concept is a new generation of all-electric kei cars that are built around safety, security, comfort, and environmental-friendliness. It combines the practicality of a kei-car with the smooth performance of an EV while offering advanced driver assistance systems and connectivity.
On the other hand, the Ralliart concept car brings together Mitsubishi Motors’ engineering and passion for
Monozukuri
 (craftsmanship) challenges. It exudes a premium feel with a strong presence, indicating Mitsubishi’s vision for the new Ralliart.
The return of Ralliart name will not only see new custom-made accessories for Mitsubishi’s model line up but also the company re-entering motorsports with it, according to Mitsubishi CEO, Takao Kato.
In Thailand, Mitsubishi has wasted no time celebrating the return of the iconic name with the launch of two special editions; the
Triton and Pajero Sport Ralliart Edition
.
Triton Ralliart
Pajero Sport Ralliart
The special edition models are fitted with blacked-out wheels, wing mirror covers and door handles along with red mud flaps. Other additions include Ralliart bumper trims, decals, and Ralliart floor mats for the interior.


Proton sets new Malaysia Book of Records by fitting 55 people in an Exora

Proton has just broken a 17-year-old record in the Malaysia Book of Records recently, a very peculiar one too we might add – “Most People in an MPV”. The record-breaking attempt was part of the national carmaker’s Ace the Space Challenge where participants squeeze as many people as they possibly can into a Proton MPV.
In the preliminary rounds, participants from different states managed to fit up to 41 persons into an Ertiga. In the final round (also the record attempt), participants were challenged to squeeze their teammates in the seven-seater Exora.
Team Girls Power from Universiti Perlis Malaysia emerged as the new record holder after successfully fitting 55 persons in the Exora with the doors closed. The closest competitors were team KVT Girl from Kolej Vokasional Temerloh and Senawang Triggers of Politeknik Port Dickson which managed 53 persons respectively.
Besides walking home with their names penned in the Malaysia Books of Records, team Girls Power also received RM1,000 worth of Proton Sales voucher each, one smartphone each, one pair of TGV movie tickets each, RM10,000 cash prize and the invitation to the Proton SUV Launch ceremony.
IMAGE GALLERY


Nissan curated a colouring book with a mix of their latest cars and old school classics

Can you believe we’re actually into Day 44 of the Movement Control Order (MCO) already? The outdoors are increasingly unfamiliar territory while we spend more time with LED lights than sunlight.
It’s no matter, there are more arts and crafts to go about and this time it’s by Nissan and I reckon it’s one of the coolest and most “balanced” of them all. Why?
Not only does it intrigue the new/next generation of car buyers/enthusiasts, with the Gran Turismo Concept for example, but it also appeases the enthusiasts, those who grew up side by side with Nissan’s arsenal of four-wheel weaponry such as the
R32 GTR Skyline

and the
Datsun 240Z
.
There are also outlines of the new
Ariya Concept
, the
new more desirable Juke
and the
 Leaf
and
Serena
 that’s available in Malaysia, to name a few.
Car manufacturers have been steadfast in keeping their presence felt throughout this Covid-19 madness. Not only have they mobilised resources to support healthcare workers with the production of essential protective equipment but they’ve also curated activities for those who’ve been stranded at home (you and I) to past time.
Toyota
 and
Mazda
 curated paper crafts, while
Audi
,
Volkswagen
 and
BMW
 were responsible for some pretty interesting colouring books. As for the Nissans, you can get the
 higher resolution copy of the complete collection here
.
GALLERY


Shell Helix HX8 0W-20: Low viscosity protection at affordable prices

Shell Malaysia Trading has launched a low viscosity Shell
Helix HX8 engine oil specially developed to meet the requirements of modern
passenger cars (read fuel efficiency) while providing engine protection
expected from a fully synthetic blend.
Rated at
0W-20
, the latest variant of the HX8 range is affordable as well, starting at a recommended retail price of
RM 199 for a 4-litre pack
, and
RM 53.90 for a one-litre pack
. It promises to deliver ‘maximum performance, improved fuel economy and better engine protection during cold starts’ courtesy of its
Flexi Molecule Technology
 which adapts to every driving style and condition.
Shell Lubricants Marketing General Manager May Tan said Shell was always developing innovative products to meet the market’s evolving needs.
“Globally, there is a continuing migration to low viscosity passenger car motor oil with many car manufacturers converting their factory first fill and service fill requirements to these low viscosity grade products. The new Shell Helix HX8 offers premium fully synthetic engine oil performance at an affordable price so that car owners can now give the best to their cars without compromise,” she said.
 Shell Lubricants Marketing General Manager May Tan launching the new Helix HX8 0W-20.
The new Shell Helix HX8 0W-20 is available at participating Shell Helix branded workshops and Shell retail stations. To ensure authenticity, consumers are advised to purchase from these Shell outlets and also to look out for the ‘
Untuk Pasaran Malaysia
’
 label on the packing.
The new Shell Helix HX8 0W-20 joins two other Helix HX8 variants already on sale – the
5W-40 at RM165 per 4-litre pack
 and
5W-30 at RM180 per 4-litre pack
. All three ‘Made for Malaysia’ HX8 grades now come with attractive new ‘skyline’ labels.
In conjunction with the launch, Shell Malaysia is offering
RM 25 off
 for any of the three Shell Helix HX8 variants upon the customer registering the purchase on the
Shell Advantage and Rewards (SHARE)
loyalty programme. The promotion is valid until 30 November 2019.


Largest parade of Land Rovers and Range Rovers set new Guinness World Record

In celebrating the 70th anniversary of Land Rover, 632 vehicles gathered in what was the largest parade of Land Rovers, setting a new Guinness World Record in the process.
The record-breaking 7.4 km parade in Bavaria, Germany beat the previous record of 516 Land Rovers set in Portugal in 2014.
The fanfare featured a wide range of models including many classic Defender models, accompanied by the newer Land Rover Discovery, Discovery Sport and Freelander models and the complete Range Rover line-up – Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Evoque and Velar.
“It was a fantastic atmosphere on the day and a great pleasure for us to celebrate the 70th anniversary of our brand with more than 1,500 enthusiastic Land Rover fans, friends and families. We thank everyone who helped us to bring this together”,
Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover Germany, Jan-Kas van der Stelt.
Locally, Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia has been busy introducing new models like the
Range Rover Velar
 and the
Jaguar F-Pace 2.0L Ingenium Turbo
 which will be available in three variants – Prestige, R-Sport (Mid-Spec) and R-Sport (High-Spec).


2016 KL City Race cancelled, reports V8 Supercars

The organisers of the V8 Supercars have confirmed this year’s Kuala Lumpur City 400 Supercar Extravaganza is a no go, due to the ongoing legal dispute involving the promoters of the event. This means the 2016 edition of the
KL City Race
 is not going to happen this year.
Supercars CEO James Warburton said that due to ongoing legal action between the organisers, there isn’t much time to prepare the street circuit of Kuala Lumpur during the weekend of 12 to 14 August. It’s not possible to move the race to the Sepang International Circuit, hence they have no choice but to scrap this race.
Regardless, the organisers of the V8 Supercars are hopeful to return by 2017 as they have an agreement to race in the streets of Kuala Lumpur until 2019. Meanwhile, the other races planned for this year’s event such as the Lamborghini Super Trofeo, Audi LMS Cup and so on, could move to Sepang, or potentially meet the similar fate as the V8 Supercars.
Last year, during the inaugural KL City Grand Prix, the race exhibition by five
V8 Supercars
 was enough to warrant much interest for a full race this year despite the hiccups faced by the Malaysian organisers and the outcry from the public. While this is disappointing news for motorsports enthusiast, perhaps KL city folks could show some signs of relief, for now.
[Source:
V8 Supercars
]


McLaren is hinting at the arrival of the 570LT with this single image

McLaren has released an image on
its Facebook page
 that points at the imminent arrival of the 570LT, the more hardcore version of the
570S
 that’s part of McLaren’s entry-level Sports Series.
It shows the unmistakable rear end of the 570S but with more aggressive aesthetic enhancements and more notably, the lack of an exhaust by the corner of the rear bumper.
Notice the difference in the rear bumper design and absence of the exhaust?
Could it come with a top-exit exhaust? There’s no word on it just yet but expect it to be revealed real soon, according to Autocar which reported that the car was complete and merely awaiting an appropriate time for it premiere.
Said to posses in excess of
 600 hp
, expect it to undergo significant weight reduction and aerodynamic enhancement – much like the
675LT
 from the Super Series model.


Lotus’ upcoming new sports car could be the brand’s last ICE model

While
Lot
u
s
 still has a huge appeal to the true driving enthusiasts, it’s hard to ignore the fact that its ageing cars (aside from the the ultra-millionaire-only Evija) barely attracts regular car buyers any more. The
Lotus Elise
 and
Exige
in their latest iterations are now a decade old, and the “more comfortable”
Evora
 was unveiled more than twelve years ago.
It’s no secret that
Lotus has been working on a new “global appeal” sports car
 to reinvigorate its model line-up, with rumours floating about ever since Geely took over ownership of the famed British brand. But according to a new report by
Automotive News Europe
, the new model
could be unveiled as early as June this year
.
Speaking to the publication, Lotus CEO Phil Popham said that the new internal combustion engine sports car “will focus on usability”, and is “designed so you can live with it on a day-to-day basis”. He also said that the new sports car will hopefully broaden Lotus’ appeal in the United States, giving the Hethel-based sportscar maker “quite substantial growth”.
“This car will have a wider price point, and that gives us an opportunity in the US,” said Popham. “To be successful in the sports car market you have to be successful in the US.” Due to legal issues and safety regulations, Lotus currently only has the Evora on sale in the states.
According to Popham, the still-unnamed model will be offered in various versions with prices ranging from GBP55,000 (~RM304k) to GBP105,000 (~RM581K), roughly matching that of the marque’s current offerings. Production will begin next year at Lotus’ revamped factory in Hethel.
The new sports car will feature modern electrical architecture to allow for a higher degree of connectivity, Popham said. The platform has also been redesigned to remove some of the practical disadvantages of the current Lotus cars, such as the ingress/egress body contortion one has to perform to get in or out of the cabin.
Not much else is known about this new sports car as of now, but according to several people in the know, this might well be the
last internal combustion-powered model
from Lotus.
Recently, the British sportscar maker announced a partnership with Renault’s Alpine brand to
develop fully-electric sports cars
. But even before that, Lotus has already signalled its intentions with the RM10 million Evija fully-electric hypercar – which is expected to begin delivery by year-end after development was delayed by the
Covid-19 pandemic
.
No matter what the model ends up to be though, rest assured that it will most likely be available on our shores too, with
 Lotus Karz now taken the reins of the brand here in Malaysia
.


MCO travel restrictions: Everything you need to know!

The entirety of Malaysia has been placed under various stages of the
Movement Control Order (MCO)
 since March 2020. As of the 15th of June 15, 2021, a
four-phase National Recovery Plan (PPN)
 kicked in, to gradually relax restrictions depending on each state’s progress in managing the Covid-19 pandemic.
Starting August 4, 2021, Perlis, Sarawak, and Labuan has entered phase 3 of the PPN, while the rest are still placed in phase 1 and 2.
With so many different variations and versions of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in each stage of the MCO, it’s bound to cause confusion. For clarity, we’ve rounded up all the do’s and don’ts for the PPN period, so here’s everything you need to know in case you need to move around!
Inter-state and inter-district travels
Phase 1 and 2
: Inter-state and inter-district travel is

not allowed, unless with express permission from the police.
Phase 2 and 3
: Long distance couples may now travel across state and district lines between Phase 2 and 3 areas, with police permission
Phase 3
: Inter-district travel is now allowed, although inter-state travel is still forbidden.
*Travel for funerals and natural disasters are allowed, with police permission.
Vaccination and medical care
Up to
three passengers
, including the patient, can travel to seek healthcare, medical care, screening test, vaccination, or attend to any medical emergencies, within a
radius of 10 km
 or to the nearest provider.
Inter-state and inter-district travel for vaccination at Vaccines Administration Centres (PPV) is allowed, with proof of appointment via the MySejahtera mobile application, website, or SMS notifications.
Grab is offering discounted rides to seniors heading for vaccination. Find out more here!
The new Hyundai Elantra. More info about it
here
.
Essentials and daily needs
Phase 1 and 2
: Only
two per household
 are allowed in one vehicle to purchase food, medicine, dietary supplement, and other necessities, within a radius of 10 kilometres.
Phase 3
: Up to
three per household
 may now travel in one vehicle to purchase food, medicine, dietary supplement, and other necessities. No distance limit, although inter-state travels are still not allowed.
Taxis, e-hailing and public transport

Phase 1 and 2
: All public transportation to operate at
50% capacity
, schedules and frequency reduced.
Phase 1 and 2
: Taxi and e-hailing rides restricted to
two passengers
, inclusive of driver. Passenger must be seated at the back.
Phase 3
: All public transportation can now operate at 100% capacity.
Phase 3
: Taxi and e-hailing rides are now restricted to
three passengers
, inclusive of driver. Passengers must be seated at the back.
The government is mulling the easing restrictions for individuals with two complete vaccine doses. More info here!
Work
Only businesses included in the various phases’ approved list can operate during the PPN period.
Phase 1: Critical essential services only
Phase 2: Essential industries only
Phase 3: Most economic sectors reopened
Employer’s letter of authority, alongside the letter of approval from the Ministry of International Trade of Industry (MITI), are required for all employees’ travel to work.
Miscellaneous
Phase 1
: Petrol stations can operate from
6 am until 8 pm
, except for those on tolled highways, which can operate
24 hours
.
Phase 1
: Vehicle workshops allowed to operate from
8 am to 8 pm
.
Phase 2
: Petrol stations can operate from
6 am until 10 pm
, or 24 hours for those alongside highways.
Phase 2
:
Car wash centres
 can operate from
8 am to 8 pm
.
Phase 2
: Vehicle workshops allowed to operate from
6 am until 10 pm.
Phase 3
: Petrol stations can operate from
6 am until 12 am
, or 24 hours for those alongside highways.
Phase 3
: Dine-in at restaurants are now permitted from
6 am to 12 am
, with physical distancing of at least 1 metre.
Although travelling is permitted during this PPN period, we at
AutoBuzz.my
 would like to implore everyone to please try – as much as possible – to
stay home, and stay safe
.
Keep travelling to a minimum, and for essential purposes only.
The more we do our part, the sooner we can defeat the pandemic and return to normalcy. Also, please get vaccinated!
[source:
National Security Council
]


SpyBuzz: Hyundai Kona snapped undisguised in Portugal! Fancy the design?

While taking a casual stroll along the streets of Lisbon, Portugal, a man named Patrick Kramer came across a strikingly coloured SUV that was being shot for commercial. As it turned out, it happened to be the all-new
Hyundai Kona
, completely undisguised and in my opinion, it does look pretty good!
The new Kona gets Hyundai’s signature cascading grille design with muscular hunches up front. Illuminating elements seem really interesting and is unlike anything in the Hyundai stable right now. The wheel arches are clad with hard plastics, and it also appears to come with a two-tone paintwork, just like the
Renault Captur
.
Named after a coastal Hawaiian region, the Kona will be Hyundai’s smallest crossover that will be sold to the rest of the world. According to Hyundai, it has the best in class interior space and driving dynamics.
The Hyundai Kona will go against the mighty
Honda HR-V
 and
Toyota C-HR
. Expect the Kona to make its world debut later this year.
Source:
AutoWeek.nl
IMAGE GALLERY

 Not even the CX-3’s headlamps comes close in terms of slimness.


Without the extra 6%, the Toyota C-HR finally gets a “reasonable” price tag

Effective 1st of June 2018, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is to be set at 0% and we suspect it’ll make the Toyota C-HR an even more attractive prospect from now.
If you haven’t already seen, here’s
Adrian’s first impression on the new Toyota C-HR
.
By not paying the extra 6%, the asking price for the C-HR has
now dropped to RM 137,300
 (without Insurance); a full RM 8,000 cheaper than before at RM 145,500 – a figure most thought were a little
“out of reach”
, to say the least.

Sedans
Current Price
Without GST
Vios
1.5J M/T
74,980
70,752
1.5J A/T
77,980
73,582
1.5E A/T
81,980
77,356
1.5G A/T
87,980
83,016
1.5GX A/T
90,980
85,847
1.5S A/T
93,980
88,677
Corolla
Corolla Altis 1.8E
117,400
110,790
Corolla Altis 1.8G
120,300
113,526
Corolla Altis 2.0V
134,900
127,305
Camry
Camry 2.0G X AT
155,400
146,645
Camry HV 2.5 LUXURY AT
169,900
160,352
That said, it’s still not as competitively priced as the 2017
CBU Mazda CX-3
 with G-Vectoring Control (RM 131 k) and the
 Japanese-import factor
 of the CX-3 still has the edge in terms of appeal to most buyers, against the C-HR from Thailand.
MPV
Current Price
Without GST
Avanza
Avanza 1.3E MT
70,200
66,242
Avanza 1.5E AT
76,600
72,281
Avanza 1.5X AT
82,700
78,035
Avanza 1.5G AT
79,200
74,733
Avanza 1.5S AT
81,500
76,903
Sienta
Sienta 1.5V A/T
97,000
91,528
Innova
Innova 2.0E M/T
107,800
101,739
Innova 2.0E A/T
115,800
109,287
Innova 2.0G A/T
123,800
116,834
Innova 2.0X A/T
132,800
125,324
Vellfire & Alphard
Vellfire 2.5
350,800
331,010
Alphard 3.5
429,800
405,626
Alphard 3.5 Executive Lounge
540,800
510,343
As for the SUVs, the
2.0-litre Harrier Turbo “Luxury” we reviewed recently
 is now priced at RM 245,233 instead of the RM 259,900;
nearly RM 15,000 cheaper
 from when we had it – wonder what that will do to the waiting list/duration for the car.
SUV & 4×4
Current Price
Without GST
Fortuner
Fortuner 2.4 AT 4×4
169,800
160,251
Fortuner 2.4 VRZ AT 4×2
185,800
175,346
Fortuner 2.4 VRZ AT 4×4
195,800
184,779
Fortuner 2.7 SRZ AT 4×4
181,800
171,594
Hilux
Hilux S/CAB 2.4 MT 4×4
87,200
82,327
Hilux D/CAB 2.4 STD MT 4×4
96,900
91,478
Hilux D/CAB 2.4G MT 4×4
106,700
100,723
Hilux D/CAB 2.4G AT 4×4
116,300
109,779
Hilux D/CAB 2.4 L-Edition AT 4×4
119,300
112,610
Hilux D/CAB 2.8G AT 4×4
130,900
123,581
Hilux D/CAB 2.8 L-Edition AT 4×4
133,900
126,411
Harrier
Harrier 2.0T Premium
238,000
224,573
Harrier 2.0T Luxury
259,900
245,233
C-HR
C-HR 1.8L A/T
145,500
137,300
President of UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd, Mr. Ravindran, has assured all its customers that any relief and benefit from the new tax structure will be fully passed on to its customers and any price revision will be considered in the best interest of its customers.
Further information on the reduced On-The-Road prices of Toyota vehicles can be obtained through the Toyota Freephone at 1800-8-TOYOTA (869682) or by visiting any authorised Toyota sales outlet.


Road race in Japan takes an ugly turn for one unfortunate Ferrari 360 Modena

Whether you’re in a Ferrari or a Perodua Myvi, the self-proclaimed “fastest car in Malaysia” by the automotive community, road-racing is never a smart move; not to mention a selfish and inconsiderate act.
And recently, one unlucky Ferrari 360 Modena owner found that out the hard way. In what seems like a test of skill and ego on a Japanese highway, a dashcam footage showed a Ferrari F50 being chased down by another Ferrari, a 360 Modena.
The video, as tragic as it is to watch, does offer a lesson – to be tactful of your surroundings when travelling as such high speeds and be ultra careful and considerate when swerving across multiple lanes as the Ferrari F50 owner should’ve.
The ultimate lesson though, is to resist the urge and temptation. The spur-of-the-moment temptation to indulge in such immature behaviour on the road and the urge to go beyond the scope of reasonable driving – not on public roads at least.


Aston Martin owners to hone their skills… on ice! [+Video]

After a successful inaugural year in 2014,
Aston Martin On Ice
 returns for the second time next February, offering its customers the chance to experience their sports cars on roads far removed than the usual.
Aston Martin V12 Vantage On Ice
The three-day On Ice programme will see drivers manoeuvring around several specially designed tracks covering a total area of
435,600
 square foot. The tracks were meticulously constructed over some odd
250 man hours
.
Staged in the town of Crested Butte in Colorado, owners will be put through braking and cornering exercise loop, slalom, skid pad as well as a full circuit. None of this will be unsupervised of course, so every driver will be put under expert tuition and strict guidance before they are allowed to drive on the full 1.6km track.

The ice driving event isn’t the only bespoke driving experiences held by Aston Martin in the US, though it is one of their most interesting. After all, you don’t always get to drive any V8s or V12s on ice now, do you?
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY


Proton introduces 62 units of the “Merdeka Edition” X70 for the ultimate patriot

Available exclusively in the
Premium variant
, the limited edition Proton X70 will be available in either Snow White or Flame Red and is priced at
RM126,100
 – about RM2,300 more than the standard model.
The 62 units available commemorates the 62nd anniversary of Malaysia’s independence and judging from the
X70’s high demand
, Proton believes they’ll be snapped up in no time.

Mechanically, they’re identical to the Premium variant on sale with a few aesthetic differences. Both the Snow White and Flame Red paint jobs are complemented with Quartz Black painted on the roof and A-pillar. Window visors have also been added to the limited edition look.
A rear bumper scuff plate has been added, finished with a customised “Merdeka Edition” emblem on the tailgate. On the inside, the limited edition X70 gets new floor mats, a plush trunk mat and numbered emblems at the corner of the dashboard.
“The Proton X70 Merdeka Edition was born out of Proton’s desire to celebrate Malaysia’s 62nd Merdeka anniversary. We are extremely thankful for the support of the Malaysian government and more importantly, the Malaysian car buyers so as a small gesture of gratitude, the limited edition X70 is Proton’s way of saying thank you,” said Proton CEO, Dr. Li Chunrong.
IMAGE GALLERY


Video: Mazda CX-30 2.0G High 2WD review

The new Mazda CX-30 was
launched earlier this year
 and almost immediately, we were treated to a
drive up to Bukit Tinggi on a day trip for a quick review
. The Mazda CX-30 is a bit of an interesting propositon; it sits between the CX-3 and CX-5 but is priced somewhere between the CX-5 and CX-8.
At launch, the CX-30 was introduced with three variants; a 2.0G, 2.0G High as well as a diesel-powered 1.8D High. In May of this year,
Bermaz Motor, distributors of Mazda vehicles
 in Malaysia,
added another variant – a

2.0-litre High AWD variant
 that sits right at the top of the CX-30 range.

Aside from that, Mazda also added a few more features to the base model 2.0G variant. They include
keyless entry
and
walk away lock feature
 for a more “atas” feel to the overall ownership experience.
To recap, the front wheel driven 2.0G base model and 2.0G High along with the highest spec 2.0G High AWD is powered by the same 2.0-litre engine with
162 hp
 and
213 Nm
. As for the 1.8-litre SkyActiv-D turbodiesel engine, that makes
114 hp
 and a healthy dose of
270 Nm
.
Following the Sales Tax Exemption, here’s the
latest price of the CX-30 we reviewed and other
 Mazda vehicle’s in Malaysia
.