Toyota Sienta, Alphard and Vellfire all open for booking in Malaysia!

It’s going to be an MPV showdown for UMW Toyota, as they have three big models (quite literally as well) to introduce throughout the rest of the year. The order books are now open, with pricing for all three MPVs have been announced as well.
Let’s begin with the
Sienta
. As reported previously, the Indonesian-sourced compact MPV recently made its Malaysian debut at the 2016 My Auto Fest and will arrive in two trims, at best. The good news is the funky-looking Sienta, powered by the same
1.5-litre DVVT-i
 powertrain from the Avanza, will get decent levels of safety features. Prices begin from
RM92,900.00
to
 RM99,900.00
.

The
Vellfire
 on the other hand, will cost you
 RM355,000.00
 for the 2.5-litre variant. The Alphard, being Toyota’s most premium large MPV, will have two variants on offer. Both powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine, the Alphard starts from
RM419,900.00
 for the standard variant to
RM519,900.00
 for the
Executive Lounge
 variant. The latter will have luxurious seats just like business class seats from a full fledge airbus, serving as a decent alternative to the usual limos for captains of all industries.
All aforementioned prices are OTR with insurance. Packaged with the purchase is a 5-Year warranty with unlimited mileage.


992 Porsche 911 Carrera is an entry-level 911 with 385 hp

Porsche has just released its entry-level variant for its latest 992-generation Porsche 911, the 911 Carrera. Not only the new base model gets an uprated 3.0-litre bi-turbo flat-six engine, but it also features some of the technology from Carrera S models.
Visually, the Carrera gets the wider body treatment (no more wide- and narrow-body differentiation in the 992-gen), bar-type LED tail lamps with the third brake light resembling a “pause” button, dual exhaust outlets and mixed sizes alloys (19-inch front, 20-inch rear). A set of 330 mm brake discs with four-piston callipers are tasked to anchor the 911 down.
Inside, the cabin is identical to the Carrera S models with a 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Porsche Advanced Cockpit with 5 display dials and electronic gear selector.
The 3.0-litre bi-turbo flat-six while carried over from before, now generates 15 more hp courtesy of new turbochargers, now developing
385 hp
 and
450 Nm
 of torque. Drive is transferred to the rear wheels via an 8-speed PDK dual-clutch. Century sprint takes
4.2 seconds
 (4.0 seconds with Sport Chrono Pack) on the Coupe while the Cabriolet with a 70 kg weight penalty gets there in
4.4 seconds
 (4.2 seconds with SC pack).
The 911 Carrera Coupe commands a top speed of 293 km/h while the Cabriolet is slightly down at 291 km/h. Porsche’s Wet Mode is featured here on the 911 Carrera which limits the car from slipping in wet conditions, particularly helpful for these rear-wheel-drive sports cars.
IMAGE GALLERY
992 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe
992 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet


The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS gets 500 hp, more grip but auto-only

Porsche will be using the upcoming LA Auto Show 2021 as a platform to present a few key models with the latest 718 Cayman GT4 RS as the showstopper. Designed as an uncompromising driver’s car, the mid-engine sports car gets an uprated engine, aerodynamics and reworked chassis tuning.
At 420 hp, the outgoing
718 Cayman GT4
 already has plenty of grunt propelling such a light sports car, as experienced by Eujin at Sepang International Circuit (video
here
). For this RS variant, Porsche has gladly increased the output and redline of the 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated flat-six to a whopping
500 hp
 and
9,000 rpm
, just 10 hp shy of the magnificent
2021 Porsche 911 GT3
.
Weighing in at just 1,415 kg, the power-to-weight ratio per tonne is a phenomenal 353 hp/tonne, just 6.3 units lower than the more powerful 911 GT3. Maximum torque also sees an increment from 430 Nm to
450 Nm
. The 500 hp engine breathes better thanks to intake ducts fitted on the side windows with the burnt gases exit through a titanium exhaust system that mimics the
Porsche 935
.
While it was extraordinarily enjoyable rowing through the shift lever and a clutch pedal that is so communicative, the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS is exclusively available only with the Porsche Dual Clutch Transmission (PDK), a trend in every modern RS model. The additional power and slightly revised gear ratios shave 0.5 seconds off the regular GT4’s benchmark 0 to 100 km/h sprint time to just
3.4 seconds
 and topping off to a top speed of 315 km/h.
Modifications to the chassis are expected being an RS model and this new Cayman GT4 RS gets modified spring rates, anti-roll bars as well as adjustable, circuit-ready shock absorbers with 30 mm lower ride height. Ball joints bind the chassis tightly to the body to deliver even more precise and direct handling.
On the exterior, the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS replaces many body panels including the bonnet and front fenders with lightweight carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) material. Adding to the list of items for the lightweight recipe are thinner carpets, reduction in insulation materials and simple door panels- all contribute to a total of 35 kg in weight savings.
An extensive aerodynamic package has also been given to the new GT4 RS, featuring front fender vents, multi-adjustable front diffuser, a new front spoiler lip with flow-around side blades while the rear end sees the prominent larger swan-neck rear wing working in conjunction with a larger and deeper rear underbody diffuser.
All these, together with a track-only ‘Performance Mode’ add up to an increase of close to 25% in downforce levels compared to the regular GT4. With the higher engine power, better chassis, lighter weight and improved aerodynamic grip levels, the new Cayman GT4 RS easily clocked in a time of
7:04.511
 around the Nurburgring Nordschleife, 23.6 seconds faster than the regular Cayman GT4.
As usual, every bit of performance enhancement come at a cost, in the region of over GBP23,000 extra when compared to the current Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 with Clubsport Package. Priced at
GBP108,370
, (approx. RM607k), the Porsche Cayman GT4 RS is 37% pricier than the base GT4 model, which was available from Sime Darby Auto Performance at a price of
RM999,000
.

An optional Weissach package is also available to be added onto the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS, consisting of exposed carbon-weave finish on the body panels and rear wing, the stylish 935-type exhaust tips, titanium roll cage, dashboard featuring Race-Tex material and even the choice for forged magnesium 20-inch rims.
Porsche will also unveil the track-only 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport racing version at the LA Auto Show, plus showcasing the new
Panamera Platinum Edition
 to the members of the public for the first time.
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TechArt GTstreet R Cabriolet: You’ll never want another topless 911

If you find the standard
Porsche 911 Turbo
 too sedated for your liking, and fancy yourself an out-of-this-world 911 cabriolet, then you’re in luck. Allow us to introduce to you the TechArt GTstreet R Cabriolet.
Based on the drop-top Porsche 911 Turbo, this particular unit was tuned by famed German tuner specialising in Porsches – TechArt. This independent tuner has 30 years of experience in crafting ridiculously fast Porsches, something the folks at Stuttgart would have been proud of.
For starters, this 911 is reskinned with active aero bodykit that’s made of carbon fibre, with the sole purpose of generating massive downforce. It’s super lowered as well, which is why you can option a lift system to raise ride hide by 2.4 inches at the front. The wheel arches have been blown to fit a custom-made 20-inch forged alloys. Completing the back are quad pipes and an unreasonably large GT wing. Inside, the dashboard and seats are draped with a combination of Alcantara and leather.
Being tuners, TechArt managed to massage the 911 Turbo’s 3.8-litre engine to produce
711 hp
 and
919 Nm
 of torque, which is close to hypercar territory. The 0-100 km/h sprint is completed in
 2.7 seconds
, and top speed is clocked at
 338 km/h
!
So to 911 Turbo Cabriolet owners who might have missed their chance to own the 918 hypercar, consider giving TechArt a call to help dress that wound?
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Facts & Figures: 2022 Kia Carnival CKD launched in Malaysia – from RM231,229

The fourth-generation Kia Carnival, which
officially debuted in Malaysia earlier this year
, is now making a reintroduction in our country as a locally-assembled (CKD) model. The CKD 2022 Kia Carnival will be offered in three variants with two different seating configurations, priced starting
from RM231,229
 here in Malaysia.
The existing 11-seater model will continue to be offered here, and will remain in the existing fully-imported (CBU) form.
EXTERIOR
In terms of appearance, not much has really changed on the 2022 Kia Carnival CKD, with the only differences being the smaller, more car-like wing mirrors, as well as the new LED full-width tail lights at the back, both of which are standard across the range.
All other exterior equipment are also shared across the CKD variant line-up, and they include:
Automatic LED headlights
New LED Rear combination taillights
LED front fog lights
Automatic windshield wipers
Dual power sliding doors with smart entry system
Smart power tailgate
18-inch alloy wheels
Exterior colour options: Astra Blue, Sonic Silver, Meteor Gray, Jet Black, Snowflake White Pearl
PERFORMANCE
All variants of the 2022 Kia Carnival CKD will be powered by the same 2.2-litre inline-four turbodiesel engine, as found in the existing 11-seater variant.
Engine: 2,151 cc, turbocharged inline-four, Diesel
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Driveline: Front-engine, front-wheel drive
Max horsepower: 199 hp @ 3,800 rpm
Max torque: 440 Nm @ 1,750 – 2,750 rpm
Top speed: 190 km/h
Rated fuel consumption: 6.5 l/100 km
INTERIOR
The new locally-assembled 2022 Kia Carnival will be offered in either a seven- or eight-seater configuration, with the former exclusive to the range-topping High trim level.
The seven-seater model gets two captain seat-style “Premium Relaxion seats” for the second row, while the eight-seater variants are equipped with a 40:20:40 split-folding, sliding, and detachable seats, which can also be reconfigured to face rearwards.
As for the third row seats, they are 60:40 split-folding, reclinable, and can also be folded flat into the floor for an extended boot space at the back. With the fourth-row seats now gone, both second- and third-row passengers now also benefit from additional legroom.
The equipment breakdown between the variants is as follows:
Standard Equipment, 8-seater MID
12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
12-speaker Bose sound system
4.2-inch TFT multi-info display
Reverse camera
Electric parking brake
Dual-zone front automatic climate control
Single-zone rear automatic climate control
Rear sunshade
Leatherette upholstery
8-way power-adjustable front seats, 2-way lumbar support for driver
7 USB ports
8-seater HIGH

(adds)
12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
360-degree surround-view monitor
Memory function for driver seat
Heated and ventilated front seats
LED interior lighting
360-degree surround view monitor
Dual power sunroof
7-seater HIGH (adds)
Premium Relaxion seats for second row, with heating and ventilation functions
Leather upholstery
SAFETY
The Kia Drive Wise advanced driver assistance suite is offered exclusively on the two higher-end HIGH variants, with features including:
Autonomous emergency braking with junction turning support
Smart Cruise Control
Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Following Assist (lane centring)
Blind-spot collision-avoidance assist
Rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist
Driver attention warning
High-beam assist
PRICING
The new 2022 Kia Carnival CKD will be locally-assembled at the Inokom Assembly plant in Kulim, Kedah, managed by the new joint-venture company, Kia Malaysia. Pricing for the Kia Carnival variants in Malaysia are as follows, on-the-road, without insurance:
11-seater (CBU) – RM196,341
8-seater MID – RM231,229
8-seater HIGH – RM247,229
7-seater HIGH – RM261,229
Included in the price is also a five-year/100,000 km warranty with free scheduled maintenance programme.
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Volvo is the first carmaker to achieve the highest IIHS safety rating on every model

We all know Volvo is serious about safety, with an ambitious goal that no one should be seriously injured or killed in a new Volvo. And they’re not all talk and no show either – starting from last year, all new Volvo cars will come with a
controversial 180 km/h speed limit
.
In yet another example of their commitment to car safety, Volvo has now become the first carmaker to achieve the highest Top Safety Pick Plus (TSP+) rating
across all of its models
 in the American Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) safety evaluations, known to be one of the toughest in the world.

The monumental accomplishment was achieved last month when the
Volvo XC40 Recharge EV
 was given the TSP+ rating. Volvo has already been awarded 15 said ratings in 2021 award, which makes it the most single-year TSP+ awards earned by any carmaker since the honours began in 2013.
“Regardless of body style, engine or trim, every Volvo offers innovative protection in a crash,” said Volvo Car USA President and CEO, Anders Gustafsson. “We are proud that IIHS has recognised this by awarding a Top Safety Pick Plus to every vehicle we produce today. No other company has been awarded this honour across all car lines.”
A large part of that achievement comes down to the fact that its advanced driver assistance systems are standard equipment on every trim level on every model they sell. Granted that their cars are on the premium side of the spectrum, sure, but it’s still a commendable effort – the same can’t be said for every premium carmaker out there.
And that’s in addition to the fact that Volvos are made with some of the hardest steel found in modern cars, plus years of safety engineering know-how.
I guess all of those
 expensive simulators
, the
daily crash tests
(for the past 20 years!), the
30-metre crane drop tests
, and even the barrage of hate mail they received after the 180 km/h speed limit mandate, they’re all worth it now. Volvo is truly putting the money where their mouth is.


Aston Martin Vantage GT3 & GT4 race car drops V12 for 4.0L twin-turbo V8

Over the Le Mans 24 Hours weekend, Aston Martin Racing’s (AMR) not only unleashed its latest creation, the
Aston Martin Vantage GTE
 onto the 24 hours endurance race, the British racing subsidiary also revealed two other racing derivatives of the super sports car, the Vantage GT3 and GT4.
Both race cars are set to find its way into the hands of customers. Like the GTE, the GT3 and GT4 shares the same
4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8
 engine, making
542 hp
 and
700 Nm
 of torque in the application of the GT3.

The Vantage GT3 will officially make its way to race tracks after homologation work is completed on 1 March 2019 and will officially replace the
V12 Vantage GT3
, the one we had the opportunity to let loose at the Sepang International Circuit. Weighing in at 1,245 kg (dry), the new Vantage GT3 features a steel roll cage, Xtrac six-speed sequential gearbox, Alcon motorsport multi-plate clutch, Öhlins four-way adjustable dampers, Alcon brakes and Bosch Motorsport ABS.
Vice President and Chief Special Operations Officer David King said, “The Aston Martin Vantage GT3 is a worthy successor to the V12 Vantage GT3 and represents the core future of our customer racing programme. With the continued growth of GT racing in general and the GT3 category in particular, this new car and its Vantage GT4 brother will lead our expansion in the GT markets around the globe and particular target areas of the US and Asia. We’ve already seen a high level of interest from potential customers and we only expect that to grow as the car evolves closer to its homologation date.
IMAGE GALLERY
Aston Martin Vantage GT3

Aston Martin Vantage GT4


The most powerful Porsche Macan gets a new striking sports attire

In an age where SUVs are engineered and manufactured to be just as, if not more powerful than most sportscars, sheer brute performance and impeccable refinement simply won’t cut it anymore. Visual appeal sells, and Porsche probably got that figured out.
Enter the
 Porsche Macan Turbo Exclusive Performance Edition
 – one that is based on the
Macan Turbo with a Performance Package
and now with some youthful vibrance to go with its brute.
The Exclusive Performance Edition utilises a 3.6-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine which delivers
440 hp
, 40hp more than the Macan Turbo along with
600 Nm
 of torque. 0 to 100 km/h takes a mere
 4.4 seconds
 before the Macan tops out at 272 km/h. With all that torque comes a meaty mid-range; with 80 km/h – 120 km/h taking just
2.9 seconds
 to complete!
The Macan Exclusive Performance Editions comes with a grooved, high-performance brake system as standard, along with the
Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM)
 tuned to accommodate the Macan’s lowered ride height of 15 mm. It also comes equipped with the Sport Chrono Package and a sports exhaust system.

But this is where the Exclusive Performance Edition stands out from the other Macans; how it looks on the outside and in its cabin. Exterior wise, it comes with
 21-inch 911 Turbo Design
wheels with lateral spokes painted in high gloss black. LED headlamps and tinted LED taillights comes as standard while trims on the front spoiler, rear apron and side skirts are painted in Carmine Red.
The black and red theme is also carried into the Macan’s interior. It is highlighted by the Garnet Red leather and Alcantara combination, specifically designed for the Exclusive Performance Edition. The exclusive colour is also applied to the contrasting stitching, embroidered “turbo” wording, seat belts, the ring of the Sport Chrono stopwatch and the vehicle key wallet.
The same Garnet Red leather treatment is applied to the aluminium PDK gear selector while the long model description, the “Macan Turbo Exclusive Performance Edition” logo has been added to the door sills and dashboard trim.
The Macan Turbo Exclusive Performance Edition finished by hand at the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur department, is only available in selected countries with prices start from EUR 116,091 (
approx RM 577k
).
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Happy 60th Birthday, Fiat 500! [+Video]

The same year we Malaysians celebrated our first independence, an iconic small car was born. On July 4th 1957, the first unit of the “world’s original city car” rolled out from Fiat’s Mirafiori plant in Turin. This car, the Fiat 500, is officially 60 years old.
Designed by Dante Giacosa, the original Fiat 500 epitomised the term “
cheap and cheerful motoring
“. Over 4 million units were sold worldwide before production ended in 1975. Of the total amount, it’s believed that there’s over 400,000 units of the first-generation 500 still roaming around Italian roads today.
The original 500 was powered by a 479cc engine, producing a meagre 13 hp. It weighed 479 kg and proved to be an affordable and reliable transportation to the masses for its time.
Fast forward to 2007, and inspired by the resurrection of similar icons such as the MINI and the Beetle, the second-generation 500 was conceived. The new 500 captures the style and essence just like its predecessor, and since then two million units have been sold.
The current 500 is now a decade old can be had with a choice of
0.9-litre Twinair turbocharged petrol engines
,
1.2-litre petrol
, and a
 1.4-litre turbocharged
 petrol mill which powers the Abarth variants. In fact, the ‘500’ nameplate has gone beyond the two-door hatchback; it’s also available as a convertible (500C), a compact MPV (500L) and a crossover (500X).
Earlier this year, Fiat unveiled a limited edition
500-60th
 in the UK to commemorate the 500’s 60 years in existence.
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The Peugeot 3008 SUV is the Malaysia Car of the Year 2018

The Malaysia Car of the Year (COTY) 2018 is an annual initiative by the Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) that highlights and celebrates the year’s best and most popular cars as well as recognising the personalities that have played key roles in elevating the automotive industry to its current standing.
The COTY 2018 not only awarded entry-level cars and premium limousines, but it is also enthusiast driven with a Hot Hatch of the Year category which the Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk7.5 took home the coveted title. The full list of winners is as below:
Entry Level Car of the Year
 –
Perodua Myvi 1.5
Hot Hatch of the Year
 –
Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk7.5
Pick-up Truck of the Year (Twin Cab)
 –
Ford Ranger 2.2 WildTrak
Compact Crossover of the Year
 –
Peugeot 3008 Active
Mid-size Crossover of the Year
 –
Mazda CX-5 2.2 GLS SkyActiv-D 2WD
Premium Crossover of the Year
 –
Mercedes-Benz GLC 200
MPV of the Year (Below RM200,000)
 –
Kia Grand Carnival 2.2D SX
MPV of the Year (Above RM200,000)
 –
Toyota Alphard 3.5
Entry Level SUV of the Year
 –
Subaru XV 2.0i-P AWD
Mid-size SUV of the Year
 –
Mitsubishi Outlander 2.4 4WD
Mid-size Premium SUV of the Year
 –
Volvo XC60 T8 Inscription
Premium SUV of the Year
 –
Mercedes-AMG GLC 43
Executive Sedan of the Year
 –
Mercedes-Benz C 200 AMG Line
Premium Executive Sedan of the Year (Above RM300,000)
 –
Mercedes-AMG C 43
Limousine of the Year
 –
Mercedes-Benz S 450 L AMG Line

The nominees of the Malaysia COTY 2018 Awards were judged based on the coherence of exterior and interior design, technical specifications and engineering innovations for the car’s intended purpose, safety features and ratings, energy efficiency and environmental friendliness and overall value for money.
However, one car stood out among the rest and named as the
Malaysia Car of the Year (COTY) 2018
 which went to the
Peugeot 3008
 Active, joining over 60 other international awards the SUV has already received since its global market introduction in 2017. The 3008 went home with a hat trick that evening, earning the “Good Design Award” for its outstanding overall design.
Additionally, the COTY Awards also presented the COTY Lifetime Automotive Award to Prime Minister YAB Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamand, the father of the nation’s automotive industry. The Premier’s industrial vision for Malaysia pushed the formation of our first national car, Proton which stirred the countless component manufacturers that exist within the supply chain.
At the same award’s night, President of the Malaysia Automotive Association (MAA), Datuk Aishah Ahmad was honoured as 2018’s Automotive Personality of the Year, for her years of contribution as a prominent leading voice towards the development of the Malaysian automotive industry. MAA’s most recent stint was the organisation of the
2018 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show
.

 Dato’ Samson Anand George receiving the Malaysia Car of the Year 2018 Award for the Peugeot 3008

 Group photo of all the winners of the Malaysian COTY 2018

 Tun Dr Mahathir receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from Datuk Darell Leiking
Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Darell Leiking also took the opportunity to announce that the Malaysia Automotive Institute will be rebranded as the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) which will expand the scope of the MITI agency towards enhancing the competitiveness of the automotive industry and overall mobility.
On the rebranding of MAI to MARii, CEO of MAI, Dato’ Madani Sahari commented: “The advancement of automotive technology will create a convergence with overall mobility towards a higher degree of automation and connectivity. This is expected to spur greater cross-functional applications in Advanced Manufacturing and Advanced IT, with robotics and IoT applications rapidly becoming a fundamental requirement particularly in achieving Industry 4.0 compliance. It is for this very reason MARii will be tasked to undertake the adoption of these two key areas to complement the development of the automotive industry.”


Video: 2021 Mazda CX-9 “Ignite Edition”, 5 Things

Bermaz Motor has introduced the
updated

2021 CX-9
 that’s fully imported from Japan starting from
RM319,847
 for the 2WD (front-wheel) and RM336,215 for the all-wheel drive model.
The only other difference between the two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive model is that the latter gets an additional ‘Off-Road Traction Assist’ feature.

The rest of the equipment list spells the same features like LED lighting, sunroof, and blacked-out 20-inch wheels, side mirror caps, and front grille as part of the Ignite Edition exterior package. In case you haven’t noticed, the front grille has been redesigned too.
Inside, the standard black interior previously has now been replaced with burgundy upholstery that fortunately, does not make the cabin look like a giant ang pow.
Standard creature comforts include 3-zone air conditioning, ventilated seats, and a 12-speaker Bose sound system while new additions such as paddle shifters, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless charging makes life onboard the 7-seater even more pleasant.
Safety-wise, the 2021 CX-9 is fitted with Mazda’s i-ActivSense driver assistance system that includes autonomous braking, a blindspot monitor, and rear cross-traffic alert.
Both the 2WD and AWD variants are powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine with 228 hp and 350 Nm, paired to a 6-speed automatic gearbox.
Check out our gallery of the CX-9 here!


Buying used or ‘recon’? You can now get a comprehensive vehicle report from CTOS Vehicle Check

CTOS Digital Berhad, through its subsidiary CTOS IDS, has just unveiled a new service, dubbed CTOS Vehicle Check, in collaboration with Otofacts for consumers to check the history of vehicles in Malaysia, including reconditioned or ‘recon’ vehicles imported from Japan and the United Kingdom.
The new service will be particularly beneficial to those who are shopping for used cars, as you’ll be able to obtain comprehensive reports for the vehicles being considered for purchase with just the vehicle’s chassis number.
Screenshot:
CTOS Vehicle Check
“The challenge with buying a used car is that buyers more often than not have little to no access to verify the background information of the car,” said CTOS Digital Group CEO, Eric Hamburger.
“By providing easy and immediate access to extensive data through CTOS Vehicle Check, we can help reduce fraud and improve transparency in the sale and purchase of used vehicles in Malaysia, giving consumers the peace of mind with a used car report they can trust.”
RELATED:
Carsome PJ Automall now open – a ‘shopping mall’ for cars with over 200 examples under one roof!
The new service is made possible thanks to its partnership with Otofacts, Malaysia’s “first online automotive bureau” with the largest database of automotive records in the country, including information from auction houses, insurance companies, and several government agencies.
CTOS Vehicle Check will enable consumers to check information such as a vehicle’s accident history, mileage, car ownership history and status, service and maintenance records, vehicle registration, any open manufacturer recalls, and even airbag deployment history (for Japanese vehicles).
Otofacts CEO, Shahir Ali added, “An important step in any used car purchase is getting a vehicle check report that can be trusted. This will enable consumers to make informed decisions based on hidden details behind the vehicle to determine the car’s market value and ensure years of reliable and safe transportation.”
The new vehicle check feature is CTOS’ latest service offering in the automotive industry, following the launch of CTOS Car Insurance last month. The feature is now available at the CTOS IDS website, linked
here
.


Lotus Evija in John Player Special livery is proof that all Lotus cars should be painted black and gold

In case you weren’t aware,
 Goodwood Speed Week
 took place last weekend. While this year’s iteration of the iconic event is a little different (in the sense that no public audience was allowed), carmakers were still determined to make it an unforgettable spectacle.
In the case of Lotus, the British sportscar maker brought the Evija electric hypercar for its “dynamic debut” at the historic hill climb track, draped in a retrolicious John Player Special black and gold livery as a reminder of the brand’s glorious F1 days of the past.
For those who are unfamiliar, John Player Special is a tobacco brand that sponsored Lotus Formula 1 endeavours in the 1970s and 1980s. As a result of the sponsorship deal, the Lotus cars donned a black and gold livery. But not only did the cars look good, they also starred some of the most successful drivers during its time, such as Ayrton Senna and Jacky Ickx, making the black and gold cars an instant classic.
To us, black and gold just looks right on a Lotus, and the
Lotus Evija
 looks right at home when parked next to the trio of black and gold Lotus F1 cars, that were also brought out of storage for a photo op and shakedown at Goodwood.
Of course, the Evija wasn’t just there for posing duties only (although it looks so good doing it). Lotus prepped the car for a full entry in the Supercar Run, where it was pitted against other supercars such as the
McLaren Elva
 for a top spot on the coveted timing board. We’re still waiting for the footage from the official timed run, but in the mean time, enjoy this short video that Lotus shot during the warm-up day.

While the interior of the car is still far from production-spec, what stood out to us in the video is just how loud the electric motors’ whirring noise actually is within the cabin. Sure, it’s nothing like the screaming howls that can be heard from the other black and gold Lotuses, but it certainly does not lack drama, just in its own futuristic flavour.
Lotus Cars, Director of Vehicle Attributes, Gavan Kershaw said, “Bringing the cars to an event like this is a welcome break from the hundreds of hours spent on proving grounds, where there’s a huge amount of open space and long straights to test the car’s performance limits.
“Goodwood is a fast and flowing circuit with numerous undulations in the surface, and so is a fantastic test and demonstration for the Evija as it’s the type of environment where many owners will use the car.”
The
GBP1.7 million
 all-electric hypercar features four electric motors to produce a mind-warping
2,000 hp
 and
1,700 Nm
, which is enough to complete the century sprint in under three second, and 0-300 km/h in under nine seconds.
But it’s not just about raw power – the Evija is also a “true Lotus” too, according to the British brand. Significant focus was placed on making the all-electric hypercar as light as possible, starting with a carbon fibre monocoque that weighs less than 130 kg. When it comes out, the Lotus Evija will be the lightest electric hypercar ever made, not as though there’s much competition anyway.
Only 130 units of the Lotus Evija will ever be built, and as of August this year, more than 70 units were already spoken for.


Toyota is officially the Most Valuable Automotive Global Brand of 2017

Last year, Toyota was named the world’s top automotive brand in terms of brand value by
Interbrand Rankings
. Now, the Japanese giant has just proven themselves one again by being the most valuable automotive brand of 2017.
Toyota is currently valued at
USD

$28.7 billion
 and ranks 30th, according to the BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands. BMW and Mercedes-Benz took second and third spots, with the former valued at
$24.6 billion
while the three-pointed star comes in at
$23.5 billion
.
Ford meanwhile settled for fourth at $13.1 billion, followed by Malaysia’s current favourite non-national brand, Honda, with an incredible brand value of $12.2 billion. Nissan took the final 100th spot with a brand value of $11.3 billion.
Tesla, while not among the top 100, is one of the fastest rising automotive brands of 2017. Elon Musk’s pet project has a brand value of
$5.9 billion
, making it the eighth most valuable automotive brand in the world.
According to
BrandZ
, they are the largest global brand equity platform that measures the contribution of the brand that is validated to in market sales. In this year’s list, five technology firms dominated the top five, and chances are you’ve probably guessed it right. They are
Google
,
 Apple
,
 Microsoft
,
 Amazon
, and
Facebook
. Google’s brand value is almost nine times more than Toyota’s.
[Source: Brandz]


Gallery: Nissan Serena S-Hybrid Premium Highway Star 7-seater MPV from RM162k

Before the all-new Nissan Serena arrives, here’s a complete and detailed look at the current facelift model which to date, is possibly the best-looking version.
Launched last July
, there are two variants of the facelift Serena S-Hybrid – the Highway Star at
RM149,888
 and the Premium Highway Star at
RM162,888
. The model you see here is the range-topping Premium Highway Star variant.
Firstly, here are the changes from the pre-facelift model. The bulk of the design revisions is shown on the front end that now sports a full-height V-motion grille that stretches down to the front bumper. The chrome trims on the bi-LED headlamps now stretch from the headlamps to the bottom of the grille.
At the rear, the LED taillamps design has been revised with a more futuristic look. The taillamps are also larger than before. Take a closer look and you’ll notice that the taillamps now stretch past the rails for the sliding doors. Overall, the new look of the facelift model gives the impression that the Serena is now finally a finished (polished) product – at least for its generation.
RELATED:
Nissan Serena – the ‘dual back door’ feature should be an industry standard for all MPVs!
Colour options include Radiant Red, Brilliant White, Tungsten Silver and Diamond Black. The Radiant Red is available only to the Premium Highway Star variant. As standard, the variant also comes with a black roof and 16-inch wheels.
Inside is where the Serena shows off its MPV prowess; with legroom, headroom and even walkways in abundance. There are plenty of storage spaces too – the glovebox, above it, ahead of the steering, by the driver’s left and right knee.
New to the cabin include a larger 9-inch infotainment display (up from 6.75-inches), silver surrounds on the gear lever console and quilted Nappa leather, a first for the Premium Highway Star. Also, larger is the roof-mounted monitor, now 10.1-inches from 11.6.
Standard features include seven USB ports, a 360-degree monitor, six speakers, and hands-free power-sliding doors while exclusive to Premium Highway Star are door visors, V-Kool tinting, and front and rear dashcams. Safety features consist of autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, blindspot monitor, and rear cross-traffic alert, along with six airbags.
RELATED:
All-new Nissan Serena revealed in Japan with Transformer-esque looks, e-Power hybrid
The only thing that has remained unchanged is the 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine mated to an Xtronic CVT gearbox. The powertrain drives the front wheels with 150 hp and 200 Nm, aided by an electric motor for better acceleration.
GALLERY


2015 Nissan Almera facelift gets a new face and NISMO Performance Package

Good news to those who were eyeing for the
Nissan Almera
, as it just received a facelift to the nose without facelifting its price. Yes the prices remain the same throughout the range (as
reported earlier
), but with the additional
NISMO Performance Package
 to spice things up a little.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Nissan Almera
Engine
1,498 cc; inline-4 cylinder with Continuously Variable-valve Timing Control (CVTC)
Transmission
4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual
Max Power
102 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Max Torque
139 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
Price
RM 66,900 (E variant manual)
 RM 69,900 (E variant automatic)
 RM 76,900 (V variant automatic)
 RM 79,900 (VL variant automatic)

The facelifted Almera comes in three main variants:
E
,
V
, and
VL
 and all are powered by the same
1.5-litre four-cylinder
 engine mated to a four-speed automatic gearbox. A five-speed manual however, is only offered in the base E variant.
EXTERIOR
As mentioned in our earlier
scoop
, the front received a more aggressive pair of headlamps and a
new bumper
 incorporating the
new grille
. There are a dash of
chrome
 near the fog lamps, and the side mirrors now include
LED turn signal
. The
15-inch wheels
 get a
new design
 as well to complement the facelift.
If that’s not enough, you could opt for the
NISMO Performance Package
. Externally it adds
all round skirts
, a
trunk lid spoiler
, a
sports exhaust muffler
, and the wheels grow an inch up from the standard items. The
16-inch wheels
 are wrapped in a set of
205/50 R16 Continental Max Contact MC5
 tyres. It rides lower too with the help of the
NISMO Performance Suspension System
.
INTERIOR
New steering wheel
 is fitted to the facelifted Almera, complete with
 integrated audio controls
. Peeking through it is the
Fine Vision Meter
 cluster with
Multi Information Display
. Meanwhile the
center console
 is now finished in
premium piano black
, with an option to include the a
6.5-inch screen
 for the
Android-based Multimedia Navigation system
.
The system also offers
internet connectivity
 with
Virtual Acoustic Positioning System
 (VAPS),

rear view camera
, iPod connectivity, USB and Bluetooth.
PERFORMANCE
The
HR15DE 4-cylinder
 unit is carried over to the new Almera, producing
102 hp
 at 6,000 rpm and
139 Nm
 of torque at 4,000 rpm. Paired with the
4-speed automatic
 transmission, it is claimed to achieve
14.9 km/l
 or an
extra kilometer
 with the
5-speed manual
 transmission.
WHAT ELSE?
There are five colours to choose from; Graphite Blue, Diamond Black, Bronze Gold, Brilliant White and Tungsten Silver. The new Almera is priced at
RM 66,900 (E variant Manual)
,
RM 69,900 (E variant Automatic)
,
RM 76,900 (V variant)
 and
RM 79,900 (VL variant)
 and all variants are covered with the
3-year or 100,000 km warranty
.
The
 NISMO Aero Package
 (bodykits only) costs
RM 9,000
 while the full
NISMO Performance Package
 with the sports muffler and sports suspension is
RM 14,000
.
Other than that, there’s the
RM 750 Elegance Package
 that consists of
LED Stainless Steel Kicking Plate
,
door visor
,
trunk tray
, and
sports pedal
 (only for auto variants). The 6.5-inch Multimedia system is part of the
Navi with DVD Player Package
 which costs
RM 6,000
 and includes
 combination leather upholstery
 and
Solar Gard Armorcoat
 tints. If you need internet connectivity, that will cost you
RM 7,000
 for the
Navi with Internet Connectivity Package
.
The facelifted Almera is now available for viewing in Nissan showrooms nationwide, or you can view it at
Nissan Roadshows
 that will be held at selected venues nationwide. Below is where you can catch the Nissan Roadshows.
Date
Region
Venue
6 January – 11 January
Central
1 Utama Shopping Centre, Petaling Jaya
8 January – 11 January
Northern
Village Mall, Alor Setar
9 January – 11 January
East Malaysia (Sabah)
Giant, Tawau
14 January – 18 January
Central
Alamanda Shopping Centre, Putrajaya
15 January – 18 January
Northern
Queensbay Mall, Penang
16 January – 18 January
East Malaysia (Sabah)
Center Point, Kota Kinabalu
18 January – 24 January
Eastern
Tesco Kota Bharu
23 January – 25 January
East Malaysia (Sarawak)
StarMegamall, Sibu
30 January – 1 February
Central
Paradigm Mall, Petaling Jaya
30 January – 1 February
East Malaysia (Sarawak)
Imperial City Mall, Miri

[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY


The manual gearbox is making a comeback on the Porsche 911 Carrera S and 4S

Here’s some good news for you gear-rowing folks. Try to contain your excitement, because Porsche is making available a seven-speed manual transmission option for the
new Porsche 911
.
And it doesn’t just stop there, because Porsche is making the manual transmission as a no-cost option. Yes, you read it right. The same Porsche that charges for coloured seat belts will be giving you the option for a manual gearbox for free – and it even comes with the Sport Chrono Package!
The Sport Chrono Package – usually a USD2,720 option – features Dynamic Drivetrain Mounts, PSM Sport Mode, a rev-matching function, as well as a swivel switch on the steering wheel to select between driving modes.
The seven-speed manual transmission comes standard with a mechanical limited-slip differential with Porsche Torque Vectoring (PVT), replacing the electronically controlled one from the eight-speed PDK gearbox.

Naturally, a manual transmission will be slower than a latest-generation dual-clutch gearbox. Porsche says the manual transmission 911 Carrera S can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in “about 4 seconds”, but who really cares about the extra 0.3 seconds when you’re already grinning from ear to ear?
The manual version of the 911 Carrera S also claims a top speed of over 305 km/h, and tips the scale at 1496 kg – at least 9 kg lighter than the PDK variant.
Here’s the kicker though, Porsche has confirmed that the manual gearbox will not be making its way to the standard Carrera and Carrera 4 models. If you want a manual 911, you’ll have to shell out extra cash for the more powerful Carrera S models.


The stunning BMW 840i Gran Coupe M Sport has arrived in Malaysia, priced at RM968k

BMW Malaysia has followed up with the launch of the
850i xDrive Coupe last year
, with the introduction of the new 840i Gran Coupe M Sport, priced at RM968,800 on-the-road without insurance.
For starters, the Gran Coupe is accompanied with the M Sport Package and M Aerodynamics Package which not only means more aggressive styling at the front along with a rear diffuser but a completely sealed underbody, active kidney grille slats and more. Complementing the raw stance of the 840i are 20-inch light alloy style 728 wheels with run-flat tyres.
Not like you’d have much time to admire it on the road because this thing is fast. It’s got a 3.0-litre straight six engine making
340 hp
 and
500 Nm
, good enough to get it from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.2 seconds.
The engine is paired to an 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission with paddle shifters and a sports exhaust to fuel the exhilaration between gear changes. The 840i Gran Coupe also gets the coveted items by the enthusiastic driver – the M Sport Differential for better traction and adaptive suspension for versatility in different driving conditions.
Getting in and allowing the soft-close doors and panoramic roof to gently ease you into the warm cabin, it first greets you with an M Sport steering wheel, headlining and leather upholstery from the BMW Individual catalogue and gloss metallic wood trims. Up ahead is a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with customisable displays and a 10.2-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay projected on BMW’s latest interface.
The equipment list may require toilet rolls to list down but among the notable ones are ventilated front seats, Gesture Control, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a head up display and surround view monitor. Further at the back, boot space is rated at 440-litres.
The near-million Ringgit 840i Gran Coupe isn’t short on safety equipment and driver aids either. Among them are Active Cruise Control, Lane Control Assistant, Front and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, autonomous emergency braking and the Parking Assistant Plus feature.
The 840i Gran Coupé M Sport is available in Barcelona Blue, Sonic Speed Blue, Carbon Black, Black Sapphire, Mineral White and Sunset Orange. They can be paired in different shades of leather from the BMW Individual catalogue such as Black, Night Blue, Cognac, Tartufo and Fiona Red.
The 840i Gran Coupe comes with a 5-year Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service. With the Balloon Financing Plan from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, owning the 840i Gran Coupe costs
RM11,058.00 a month
, based on estimates of an 80% loan on a five-year tenure.
GALLERY


BMW will stop making V12 engines after June this year

Come June 2022, BMW will build the very last V12 engine to be fitted in a production car. As such the company will offer “The Final V12”, a limited series of 12 vehicles for customers in the USA. Only those who have had a long history of V12 7 Series ownership will be invited to buy the car.
The Final V12 will be based on the M760i xDrive and is exclusive to the US market. Its 6.6-litre engine produces 609 hp and 800 Nm, paired to an 8-speed automatic.
Despite its size and weight, The Final V12 is capable of leaving most supercars behind with a 0 to 100 km/h time of 3.6 seconds. The standard 760i does it in 3.8 seconds.
On the outside, The Final V12 differentiates itself with a V12 badge at the rear, 20-inch style 760M light-alloy wheels in either grey or black, along with blue or black brake calipers.
Upon entry, passengers will be reminded of what a special car The Final V12 is, with inscriptions on the door sill and a console-mounted plaque with the serial number “1 of 12”.
The
BMW 740Le in Malaysia
, from RM592k.
Inside, The Final V12 stands out with the Luxury Rear Seat package, a Panoramic Sky Lounge LED roof, and Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound system. The “furniture” is finished with Merino leather, in various colours for customers to choose from.
Upon receiving the car, customers will also receive a custom-built desk trophy; an exact replica of the car’s specifications and colour.
BMW first introduced a V12 engine in a production car in 1987 where the naturally-aspirated, 5-liter V12 engine produced 295 hp.
RELATED:
The new BMW M760Li x
Drive will do 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds!


Malaysia’s first EEV launched, Perodua Axia promises 21km/l [+Video]

September has been a busy month for the local automotive scene, mainly due to the intense rivalry between
Proton
 and Perodua which resulted in a barrage of prelaunch pictures being teased online. But here we have the country’s
first

Energy Efficient Vehicle
 (EEV) in all its glory, so let’s get straight to the point.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Perodua Axia 1.0L Standard E

Perodua Axia 1.0L Standard G

Segment
A-Segment
A-Segment
Engine
998cc DOHC, Electronic Fuel Injection
998cc DOHC, Electronic Fuel Injection
Transmission
5-speed Manual
5-speed Manual / 4-speed Auto
Max Power
66hp @ 6,000 rpm
66hp @ 6,000 rpm
Max Torque
90Nm @ 3,600 rpm
90Nm @ 3,600 rpm
Price
from RM 24,600.00
from RM 29,800.00 / RM 32,800.00

Name
Perodua Axia 1.0L Special Edition (SE)

Perodua Axia 1.0L Advance (AV)

Segment
A-Segment
A-Segment
Engine
998cc DOHC, Electronic Fuel Injection
998cc DOHC, Electronic Fuel Injection
Transmission
5-speed Manual / 4-speed Auto
4-speed Auto
Max Power
66hp @ 6,000 rpm
66hp @ 6,000 rpm
Max Torque
90Nm @ 3,600 rpm
90Nm @ 3,600 rpm
Price
from RM 36,800.00 / RM 39,800.00
from RM 42,130.00

The
Axia
 is Perodua’s 10
th
 model, and also their
 first EEV vehicle
. It has received more than
13,500 bookings
 form the public since 15 August. “We are humbled by the overwhelming response from the public and we will honour that trust by giving you the best we at Perodua can offer,” said Perodua’s President and CEO, Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh.

EXTERIOR

This EEV looks strikingly similar to its older brother – the Myvi Lagi Best – at first glance, and possibly from different angles from the front. Datuk Aminar said, “At least 90 percent of the Axia was designed locally, and this is to meet Malaysian’s demands as well.”

The Axia comes in four variants – Standard E, Standard G, SE and Advance trim. The standard trims get
halogen headlights
, subtler looking fascia and red-lense
LED tail lights
. Fog lights are omitted, however. Rims on the Standard E and G measure at
14-inch
, shod with 175/65 R14 series tyres.
The SE and Advance trim get halogen projector headlights, chrome grille, fog lamps and clear-type LED tail lamps. Rims are
14-inch
, twin-five spoke wrapped with 175/65 R14 series tyres.
INTERIOR

The inside of the Axia is impressive, with plenty of space and versatility. There is plenty of compartments, just the way Malaysians would love. Two interesting features not seen in any cars out there would be the
built-in tissue
 compartment and
anti-snatch hook
 that’s integrated to the inner side of the front seats.

The SE variant gets fabric semi-bucket type seats, whereas the top trim gets the
leather semi-bucket type seats
. The base E and G variants get standard
fabric seats
. Seats are flexible and the front seats can be flat-out retracted. Boot space is larger than the Myvi, measuring in at
260 litres
.
PERFORMANCE

Powering the Axia is the new all-aluminium 1KR engine that is lighter, more economical and quieter at the same time. All variants get the same 1.0-litre Dual Over Head Cam (DOHC) engine that makes
66 horsepower
 at 6,000 rpm and
90 Nm
 of torque at 3,600 rpm. The numbers here aren’t all that flattering, but the engine features Electronic Fuel Injection and returns
21.6 km/l
 with the five-speed manual, and
20.1 km/l
 with the four-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission.
The claimed fuel consumption figures have helped the Axia earned its EEV incentives, but there’s one thing to bear in mind. The engine uses fully-synthetic engine oil (0W-20 API SN) which helps in reducing fuel consumption. However, if a different type of oil is used, the engine will not be damaged, but will only suffer from increased fuel consumption.
PRICE

At a media preview late last month, Datuk Aminar didn’t rule out the possibility of a price reduction – and that’s precisely what happened at the launch. Every variant of the Axia, including the base model, gets a price reduction as seen in the picture below.
WHAT ELSE?

During the press conference held earlier, Datuk Aminar announced that the Perodua Axia will be given a 5-year or 150,000 km warranty as a sign of confidence with their latest model. Also, this warranty program extends onto their Myvi and Alza models. However, the 3-year free service package will be traded off in favour of the new 5-year warranty programme.
IMAGE GALLERY


The new McLaren Senna is back in stock, well, sort of

Sometimes you wonder if the world has gone mad. Make an announcement to produce 500 units of an insanely expensive but not especially good-looking supercar (£750,000) named after a bloke who used to drive for the factory F1 team, and it gets sold out in no time. You can’t buy a new one anymore. So, what do you do?
Like the real thing it is modelled after, the LEGO Speed Champions McLaren Senna is also hand-assembled but takes appreciably less time to complete one, all 219 pieces of it. The
fastest road-legal Ultimate Series McLaren
 takes 300 hours to put together at Woking, and heaven knows how many billionaires are ahead in the queue. With the LEGO, you control your own waiting time and we reckon the supply won’t be as scarce.
Not only that, you also get your own ‘wind tunnel’ in the box so that you can check out if the front splitter, roof snorkel, diffuser and giant rear wing on the LEGO are generating micro-downforces. The LEGO Speed Champions McLaren Senna is finished in Victory Grey with contrasting orange highlights, and comes with interchangeable wheel rims, a removable windscreen and its own Mini-figure driver, attired in a McLaren race suit complete with Pirelli partnership logo.
How much? The LEGO Speed Champions McLaren Senna retails for RM79.90 on
BrickMagic Asia
 – Malaysia’s official Lego certified E-commerce site. Hurry up then.


What do you think of the new facelifted Mazda CX-3?

One of our, if not the nation’s, most favourite compact crossover, the Mazda CX-3 has been given, albeit minor, an abundant of cosmetic updates and we think it would sit really well with those eager to get their hands on one.
For starters, the most notable change in the front end is a
new grille design
 with dual horizontal lines, along with chrome finishing on the lower end of the front bumper and the sides of the car. A new optional Soul Red Crystal paint is also available. At the back, the CX-3’s tail lights get a new design with a more cylindrical look to go with the more visually-appealing 18-inch wheel design.
The most drastic change lies inside the CX-3 with a newly redesigned centre console and arm rest. This is the result of opting for an electronic parking brake that has freed up space for designers to relocate the cupholders, provide more storage space in the centre console and an integrated armrest with soft padding.
The seats have been redesigned too – to be wider and now stuffed with high-density, vibration-absorbing urethane foam that creates a firm, supportive seating surface.
Thicker door panels, rear-door glass, headliner and upgraded door seams will also ensure a quieter and more refined cabin that’s now laced with suede-like materials on the dashboard and door trims. For rear-seat passengers, their ride will now be enriched with a center armrest with built-in cupholders.
Underneath it all sits a SKYACTIV-G 2.0-litre, direct-injection petrol engine that’s been retuned to push out
148 hp
 and
201 Nm
 for increased torque across the RPM range. The CX-3’s suspension and power steering have also been optimised for better shock absorption  steering responsiveness.
IMAGE GALLERY


First Drive: Volkswagen Vento 1.2 TSI Highline, the proper comeback kid

The Volkswagen brand has been under heavy fire over the past two years, plagued locally by poor after sales support and the
dieselgate scandal
 which sparked the beginning of an international probe into emissions tests.
But amidst all the noise is this product so thoroughly refined, one that’s evidently honed to absolve the vilified Volkswagen Group Malaysia (VGM) of its recent unbecoming – or at least the start of this changing tide. To do that, the company introduced the updated
Golf 1.4 TSI
 and the facelifted Polo Sedan, now effectively known as the
Vento
.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Vento 1.6 Trendline
Vento 1.6 Comfortline
Vento 1.2 TSI Highline
Engine
1,598cc; 4-cylinder MPI
1,197cc; 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission
6-speed automatic with Tiptronic
7-speed DSG
Max Power
104 hp @ 5,250 rpm
104 hp @ 5,000 rpm
Max Torque
153 Nm @ 3,800 rpm
175 Nm @ 1,550 – 4,100 rpm
Price (OTR without insurance)
RM80,646
RM87,646
RM94,461
As an introduction, the Polo Sedan is sold as the Vento in India, where it is built. Just like the preceding model, the Vento is locally assembled at VGM’s production facility in Pekan, Pahang. It’s offered in three trims – 1.6 Trendline, 1.6 Comfortline and 1.2 TSI Highline. The multi point injection
1.6-litre engine
 is a carryover unit that we’re all familiar with, and its output (104 hp and 153 Nm) remains unchanged from before. This powertrain choice comes with the same six-speed automatic gearbox as well.
New to the model, mechanically, is the
1.2-litre turbocharged
 (TSI) four-cylinder engine. Don’t let its conservative on-paper performance fool you though, because it’s legitimately the most successful engine in the history of the international “Engine of the Year Award” after Volkswagen bagged
eight consecutive trophies
. This direct injection engine packs just as much horsepower as its naturally aspirated counterpart, but churns more torque – all
175 Nm
 of it from just 1,550 rpm.

Tasked with managing the peppy little firepower up front is a
seven-speed
, quick shifting dual clutch gearbox (dry clutch DSG). As you read on, you’ll find out that it’s no longer the Freddy Krueger transmission of yore. In fact, it’s much improved, refined and reliable than before.
Before we go into the details of the drive, we’d like to bring your attention to the Vento 1.2 TSI Highline’s overall packaging. On the outside, the Highline is the only variant to get the
16-inch
 “Syenit” alloy wheels (7J x 16), shod with fat 215/45 series
Continental ContiPremiumContact 2
 tyres. Elsewhere, the Highline looks identical to the Trendline and Comfortline, including the front bumper, headlights, tail lamps and the repositioned chrome bar that spans the tailgate’s width.
The cabin benefits from a few upgrades as well, and it didn’t take us long to get comfortable with the new leather wrapped, flat-bottom steering wheel. If you think it looks familiar, that’s because it’s taken straight off a Mk7 Golf. Also new here is the Radio 320G head unit that supports USB, iPod, SD card, auxiliary and Bluetooth connectivity. All Ventos come with
four speakers
 as standard. To give credit where it’s due, they sound just as good as a conventional six-speaker setup, perhaps even better.

The new matte silver trim surrounding the centre dash and air conditioning vents ups the look and feel, but its highly reflective surface can be a tad too glaring when driving in mid-day. Another gripe of mine when driving the Vento over long periods is the lack of lumbar support. Both front seats are manually adjustable; the rear bench can be folded down to make way for more cargo space, and all seats are upholstered in the new ‘Cable’ fabric.
With all that out of the way, how does the turbocharged Vento drive? As the
only turbocharged B-Segment sedan
 (remember, the keyword here is
sedan
) in the market right now, it punches well above its weight. Power delivery is decidedly urgent, yet suitably linear for all driving conditions. We’ve sampled the Vento on a good mix of city and highway, but the former setting is where the old DSGs writhed erratically. Much work has been done to iron out the drivetrain’s flaws, and to say I wasn’t impressed with the result is downright blasphemous.
Highway cruising is also
remarkably stable
 for a B-Segment car, and the Vento is easily the most reassuring car in its class to drive at speeds above 100 km/h. Comparatively, the 1.6-litre variants which sit on smaller 15-inch wheels with narrower tyres manage to deliver a similar experience (as far as I remember, that is), but the extra width on the turbocharged Vento gives you the added confidence to carry more speed into corners.
It’s not quite as zippy and agile as the Ford Fiesta or the Mazda2 around the bends, but steering feedback is quick enough (albeit slightly muted) to enjoy a decent drive through the winding roads of Balik Pulau. Granted, agility isn’t the Vento’s strongest suit, but it’s definitely the most planted car of the lot, matching that of a C-Segment sedan.
One thing you can consistently count on a continental car to deliver is
cabin refinement
. Despite being produced in India (the parts are imported here from India, then assembled in Pekan), the Vento comes with premium insulating materials such as felt lining on all four doors. This greatly reduces wind noise, which only started creeping into the cabin way above the legal speed limit. The wheel wells don’t generate a lot of humming noise as well, hinting at proper use of vibration-absorbing material.
In short, there’s plenty to like about the new Vento, and hardly anything irksome that would be off-putting. Would I recommend the Vento to my friends and family? Without a shadow of a doubt. Forget everything you’ve heard about Volkswagen Malaysia. To some of you, the Vento may just be another passing thing, but really, it’s them starting on a clean slate.
IMAGE GALLERY


Honda X-NV Concept: Fully-electric HR-V, but earmarked for China only

While Honda is late to the EV game in China, it is making up for lost time with the introduction of the X-NV Concept – an electric-powered, near production-ready crossover based on the popular HR-V – at the ongoing Shanghai motor show.
 Looks familiar? Yeah, it’s the HR-V, but this one is electric.
The X-NV is a joint development between Honda Motor China Technology
and its local partner, Dongfeng Honda (the other partner being Guangzhou
Automotive Group, or GAC) and is planned to hit showrooms in the second half of
2019, which is pretty soon in automotive speak.
Stance is raised to accommodate floor-mounted battery pack.
If the emblem on the concept crossover looks unfamiliar, that’s because the X-NV is expected to sport Dongfeng Honda’s NEV (New Energy Vehicle) brand logo with a theme centred on ‘Seeing the future”. Oh, the front grille of the X-NV also doubles up as the charging port cover, let’s hope future owners see and track the traffic up ahead diligently too.
Under the skin, the X-NV is likely to be identical to GAC’s
Everus VE-1
launched at the Guangzhou motor show last November, so expect an output of 163 hp and 280 Nm from an electric motor driving the front wheels, backed up by a relatively large 53.6 kWh battery pack that’s good for 340 km on a full charge, on paper at least.


Gallery: All-new Peugeot 2008 now launched in Malaysia – RM127k

Peugeot is finally back in Malaysia
under a new brand representative
, and they’re coming back with a vengeance and even more swagger. After launching the
3008
 and
5008
 SUVs just a couple of months ago, Bermaz Auto Alliance has now unveiled the
all-new Peugeot 2008
here in Malaysia.
The ultra-stylish crossover will be offered in one single variant, called the Allure, priced at
RM126,753
. It’ll also be assembled locally in Malaysia at the Stellantis manufacturing plant in Gurun, Kedah, and exported to neighbouring nations.
On the outside, the all-new Peugeot 2008 carries many of Peugeot’s latest signature design hallmarks, such as the lion fang daytime-running lights (although physically disconnected from the main headlight element here), and the claws tail lights at the rear, connected by a gloss black trim piece.
In terms of standard equipment, the Peugeot 2008 in the Allure trim comes as standard with 17-inch Black Onyx diamond-cut wheels and all-LED lighting fixtures. It’s also now physically larger than before thanks to its longer body and wheelbase, resulting in a larger bootspace (by 74 litres).
Learn more about the all-new Peugeot 2008 in Malaysia here!
Inside, the mini Pug gets the signature Peugeot i-Cockpit dashboard design, characterised by the tiny steering wheel (which is supposed to be aligned
below
 the instrument cluster), floating infotainment display panel, and the piano keys control button stack in the centre.
The infotainment display is sized seven-inches diagonally, and comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as standard. But to us, the key highlight on the interior is the 3D holographic instrument cluster.
According to Peugeot, the 3D instrument cluster projects animated displays and data on a “holographic” layer according to importance or urgency, and supposedly helps improve reaction time by half a second.
In our tests, although we couldn’t quantify the specific reaction time gains, we definitely agree that it helps us concentrate better on the road, as the most important information such as driving speed is presented up front and “in your face”, making it significantly easier to understand at a glance.
The Peugeot 2008 here in Malaysia is powered by a 1.2-litre three-cylinder PureTech turbocharged engine that’s inherited from the previous generation. However, the French marque says that the engine has been significantly improved, not only for better reliability, but also a higher system output at
131 hp
 and
230 Nm
. Drive is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox.
Safety wise, the all-new Peugeot 2008 comes equipped with several advanced driver assistance features such as autonomous emergency braking and lane-keeping assist, alongside blind-spot monitor and six airbags as standard.
A full review of the mini (but also bigger) Pug is coming soon, but for now, feast your eyes on these photos!
GALLERY


UMW Toyota sold 7,579 cars in May 2022, teases new car launches later this year

UMW Toyota Motor
 has just published its sales data for May, which saw the company sold a total of
7,579 units
 consisting of 7,442 cars from
Toyota
, and 137 from
Lexus
. The latest figure represents an increase of roughly 9% compared to the
previous month
 (6,946 units: 6,848 Toyota, 78 Lexus).
As of May 2022, the company has registered a cumulative total of 36,972 vehicles (inclusive of both Toyota and Lexus) year-to-date, compared to 34,026 in the
same period last year
, which translates to an 8.6% jump.
The company says that the positive sales performance is despite the forecast that vehicle sales in Malaysia will be slow for the rest of the year, stemming from production slowdowns caused by the knock-on effects from the silicon shortage.
Additionally, the end of the sales and service tax (SST) exemption after June 2022 will also put a damper on sales, although the company says that customers who are looking to take advantage of the current pricing have helped ramp up its sales somewhat.
RELATED: Government mulling extension of SST exemption beyond June 30
“As we rev up for the second half of this year, we at UMW Toyota are truly appreciative and emboldened by the support we have received from our customers. It has always been our policy to put our customers first, and we are always ready to extend our assistance to the many Toyota fans as we journey out of these uncertain times,” said UMW Toyota President, Ravindran K.
“We are looking forward to continued confidence in our products and servicing capabilities, backed by our advanced automotive technology and comforted by the security features of all our products. Here’s to a more positive outlook forging ahead,” he added.
Continuing with its monthly promotions, UMW Toyota is currently offering benefits worth RM4,000 to customers looking for the Yaris and Vios, alongside special mid-year savings and other cash rebates for the month of June. The company is also teasing about its “
upcoming product launches
” in the press release, which it expects to help further increase its sales.


Audi R8 V10 Plus ‘Selection 24’ is a RM1.05 million special edition supercar

Audi has had a solid track record in motorsports, from rallying three decades ago to its recent exploits in touring cars in DTM and endurance racing. One of its famous victories was last year’s 24 Hours of Nürburgring won with the R8 LMS supercar.
To top it off, the victory was one of 323 races won by the same car since its birth back in 2009. To commemorate the occasion, Audi is unveiling the limited-edition R8 V10 Plus ‘Selection 24’. The car may not have bare stripped interiors and a single driver seat just like the GT3 race car. Instead, this road car equivalent has 50 percent of the LMS’ components. It retains the same
602 hp

5.2-litre

V10
 that translates to a century sprint in
 3.2 seconds
 with a top speed of
328 km/h
.
Instead of oversized GT wings and racing splitters, Audi adds ‘competition-inspired styling enhancements with an exceptional specification’. This includes a more subtle rear spoiler, diffuser and wing mirrors made from gloss-finish carbon fibre. The R8’s body is finished in Suzuka Grey, with Mythos Black and Misano Red highlights that altogether makes the striking difference in this special edition supercar.
Customers are also allowed to customise their R8 ‘selection 24’ with lighting options and  illuminated door sills which display its serial numbers to mark the car’s exclusivity. Speaking of that, just like the hours in Nürburgring and Le Mans endurance races, only 24 cars will be made, with pricing beginning at
229,000 Euros
 (approx
RM1,054,000.00
 based on today’s conversion rates).
Meanwhile, do check out our brief but enthralling experience with the Audi R8 V10 Plus in Germany
here
.
IMAGE GALLERY


GALLERY: BMW i4 Gran Coupe EV previewed in Malaysia!

BMW Malaysia surprised everyone at the
NEXTGen Malaysia event
 today by bringing out the
fully-electric i4 Gran Coupe
in metal for the first time in the country. So naturally, we couldn’t resist but to get up close and personal with it to bring you some live photos.
Order books for the car is still not open yet, so we don’t know how much it’ll cost, but the company did release some preliminary info for us to pore over in anticipation!
As the name suggests, the i4 Gran Coupe is essentially the fully-electric version of the
BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe
 – and thus it looks nearly identical to its fossil fuel-powered twin.
However, there are still several exclusive exterior touches to differentiate it from the 4-er, such as the partially shuttered-off kidney grille (with an indented gloss black panel), unique rear bumper with massive diffuser elements, as well as the blue accents around the BMW emblems, front grille, and rear bumpers. Obviously, there aren’t any exhaust tips here too.
Here in Malaysia, the upcoming i4 Gran Coupe will come – at the very least – with standard equipments such as the M Sport exterior package, BMW Laser Light headlights with LED daytime-running lights, as well as a pretty sweet-looking set of 20-inch BMW Individual alloy wheels, hiding the M Sport brakes with blue callipers.
ALSO READ: BMW iX xDrive40 electric SUV now available in Malaysia!
Moving inside, the design once again mostly mirrors that of the 4 Series – except for one key update. The BMW i4 Gran Coupe is equipped as standard with the BMW iDrive 8 infotainment system, which presents itself as a single curved panel above the dashboard housing the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment display.
The area surrounding the central air vents have also been reworked, with the air conditioning controls being moved into the infotainment system itself. Meanwhile, the bank of shortcut buttons for the infotainment system have also been replaced by new haptic touch buttons for the hazard lights and window defrosters.
As for standard equipment on the interior, the brief press release mentions a head-up display, alongside the three-zone climate control and a panoramic sunroof.
Nothing to see here…
According to BMW Malaysia’s press release, the all-new i4 Gran Coupe will be offered solely in the eDrive40 guise, which packs BMW’s fifth-generation eDrive powertrain consisting of a single electric motor at the rear axle, paired to an
80.7 kWh
 modular battery pack.
Output is rated at
340 hp
 and
430 Nm
 of torque, which translates to a century sprint time of
5.7 seconds
, onward to a top speed of 190 km/h. With such a sizeable battery, the i4 eDrive40 also boasts a pretty respectable driving range of
 590 km
based on the WLTP test cycle.
RELATED: Budget 2022 – EVs fully tax-free and Sales Tax Exemption extended to June 2022
The BMW i4 Gran Coupe comes with a Type 2 CCS charging port. Confused?
Learn more here
.
With a standard 11kW AC wall box, topping off the battery pack from empty takes approximately 8.5 hours. If you manage to find a 200kW DC fast charger around, it’ll take you just 31 minutes to charge from 10-80%.
Pricing information isn’t available yet, but we do know that – just like all other BMW i models – it’ll come with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty with free scheduled service programme, alongside an eight-year/160,000 km battery warranty.
The all-new BMW i4 Gran Coupe should be launched here in Malaysia very soon, so keep your eyes peeled!
GALLERY


2-year-old left inside of car for 4 hours died of heatstroke in Port Dickson

Despite countless public service announcements (PSA) online, parents are still leaving their child inside their cars for an extended period. Parents, stop. Do not, under any circumstances, leave your children unattended inside the vehicle. A two-year-old girl died after her mother left her inside the car for four hours.
According to
The Star
, the mother who was a lecturer at Port Dickson Vocational College left the toddler locked in the car at the college’s parking lot since morning. It was not only until 1 pm the mother realised that her daughter was still strapped onto the child seat at the front passenger seat of her Proton Saga.
Port Dickson OCPD Supt Zainuddin Ahmad said “She only realised that her child was still in the car at around 1 pm. When she rushed to the vehicle, the victim was already unconscious,”. The victim was brought to a health clinic but was pronounced dead shortly after.
Again, we cannot stress how dangerous it is to leave your children – regardless of their age – locked in a car without supervision. An enclosed space without ventilation will soar to ridiculous temperatures in a matter of moments, especially in our country’s hot and humid climate.


Check out this see-through dashboard on the Nissan IMk concept

Ahead of the 2019 Tokyo motor show, Nissan has previewed some of the stars, including this cute IMk concept — incorporating chic design, the latest technologies and electric drive to create the “ultimate urban commuter.”
Nissan turned to traditional Japanese design for inspiration. On the outside, the IMk is characterised by flowing lines, adopting the minimalism design cues of the past. However, the signature Nissan cues are all there – particularly the V-motion front-end – albeit redesigned for a modern look.

Nissan’s executive design director Satoru Tai said that the bumper, wheels, tires, windows, tail lamps, roof and high mount spoiler are inspired by
mizuhiki
, a thin twine made of Japanese rice paper. The combination taillights also borrows from traditional Japanese lattice woodwork.
Dipped in a red-copper paint job, named Akagane, the IMk pays homage to traditional artists who formed copper into works of art.
However, what really stands out is the interior design of the urban commuter concept, more specifically, the bezel-less “prism” screen, acting as both the instrument cluster and infotainment display, information “floats” on the glass pane in a holographic manner.
Nissan even used lighting strips under the prism display area, mimicking the display’s colors for a subtle halo effect. During operation, the designers added scene transitions in the form of a flock of birds flying across, a design detail that can also be seen as a faint pattern on the prism itself – signifying how the display can come to life.
Elsewhere in the interior, the IMk is fitted with bench-style seats, wrapped in dimpled leather to give an impression of “sitting on a floating cloud”, or so says Nissan. The dashboard and door sections are upholstered in light-tonal material, giving an airy yet cozy atmosphere, with Akagane accent finishing to add a luxurious touch.
The interlocking wooden panels between the lower dashboard and door panels are inspired by traditional Japanese wood joinery –
kigumi
 and highlighted by hidden lighting around it.
You might have realised from the images that the IMk does not have any sideview mirrors. Nissan has opted to have cameras instead, reducing drag. We think that these cameras will also be used as an additional pair of “eyes” for the ProPilot 2.0 system, Nissan’s advanced driving assist system.
Other than single-lane autonomous driving on highways, ProPilot also communicates with your smartphone. The ProPilot Remote Park feature allows you to step out of the car and let the IMk look for a parking by itself – perfect for busy cities. Once you are ready to get back on the road, a press of a button on your phone summons the car to you.
Nissan is also showing off their Invisible-to-Visible (I2V) technology in the IMk, merging data from the sensors inside and out of the car, together with data from the cloud. The technology will help the IMk better understand its immediate surroundings, anticipating events even around the corner, outside of the direct line-of-sight.
The IMk concept will be built on Nissan’s expertise in electric vehicles. However judging by its dimensions, we expect this compact urban car to remain a Japanese domestic market model, if it ever gets built. As a concept, we should expect to see some of these cool features incorporated into production cars in the near future.
IMAGE GALLERY


Range Rover Evoque 3 door axed globally due to poor demand

Despite the global demand for SUVs has increased substantially over the recent years, it seems that no one wants a sleek but impractical two-door SUV. Land Rover has decided to cut the three-door Range Rover Evoque from its line up because of this according to
AutoCar UK
.
Since the global debut of the Evoque nameplate in 2011, the compact crossover is available in three body styles – five-door, three-door and convertible. Since the introduction of the topless Evoque, the three-door has been the slowest-selling body style and sources have touted that the five-door accounts for almost 95 per cent of sales.
Just look at how impractical this thing is…
A Land Rover spokesman said: “From the 2019 model year, Land Rover has rationalised its Range Rover Evoque body style offering to concentrate on the five-door model and convertible, which account for the majority of sales.”
When the Evoque first landed onto Malaysian shores in 2011, Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia (JLR) offered both the three-door and
five-door
 guise but have since dropped the less practical twin in the 2016 revision.


2023 Tesla Model Y officially launched in Malaysia – BMW iX3 rival from RM199k!

At long last, the poster child for EVs has now
 made it into Malaysia
 with the launch of the
 Tesla Model Y
 today. The fully-electric compact SUV will be offered here in three variants – Model Y RWD, Model Y Long Range Dual Motor AWD, and Model Y Performance Dual Motor AWD, with prices starting from RM199,000.
The Tesla Model Y is now available to order on Tesla’s official online configurator (linked
here
), with first deliveries slated to begin in early 2024.
Looking to renew your car insurance? Check out MotorTakaful.com by Etiqa for a 10% instant rebate, cashback, and many more. Head on over the
MotorTakaful.com
 to learn more.
Tesla Model Y exterior design, equipment for Malaysia
Essentially a crossover version of the
Model 3
, the Tesla Model Y also sports the sedan’s minimalist design language, but with a taller roof, reworked rear hatch, and larger wheels. The Tesla Model Y measures 4,751 mm in length (2,890 mm wheelbase), 1,921 mm in width, and 1,624 mm tall, putting it in about the same ballpark as the
BMW iX3
 and
Mercedes-Benz EQC
.
Exterior equipment highlights on the Tesla Model Y include:
LED headlights
LED tail lights
Keyless entry with access card and smartphone entry
19-inch Gemini wheels (21-inch Uberturbine wheels for the Performance Dual Motor AWD variant)
Pearl White exterior colour
The Tesla Model Y is also offered with several options, including:
20-inch Induction wheels – RM10,000
Solid Black, Midnight Silver Metallic, Deep Blue Metallic exterior colour – RM5,000
Red Multi-Coat exterior colour – RM10,000
Tesla Model Y performance, electric range
The Tesla Model Y is powered by either a single- or dual- motor set-up, depending on variant. All three variants of the Model Y utilise a 400V electrical architecture, though Tesla does not advertise their actual battery capacities, instead opting to differentiate them via their driving range.
RWD
Long Range Dual Motor AWD
Performance Dual Motor AWD
Max horsepower
347 hp
514 hp
534 hp
Max torque
420 Nm
493 Nm
660 Nm
0-100 km/h
6.9 seconds
5.0 seconds
3.7 seconds
Top speed
217 km/h
217 km/h
250 km/h
Battery capacity
57.5 kWh
75 kWh
75 kWh
Range (WLTP)
455 km
533 km
514 km
DC charging support
170 kW
250 kW
250 kW
The Long Range Dual Motor AWD variant is also offered with an Acceleration Boost feature (paid option, activated via Tesla Mobile app), which reduces the century sprint time to just 4.5 seconds.
Befitting its sporting credentials, the range-topping Performance Dual Motor AWD also comes equipped with a Performance Brake system, lowered suspensions, a carbon fibre rear spoiler, and aluminium pedals on the interior.
Tesla Model Y interior
Tesla’s signature minimalist design language, with the simplistic dashboard only interrupted by the single 15-inch touchscreen display in the centre, that serves as both the infotainment system and instrumentation display for the driver.
While the Tesla Model Y is offered globally in both five- and seven-seater configurations, the SUV will only be available in a five-seater layout here in Malaysia. Standard interior equipment across all variants of the Tesla Model Y here in Malaysia include:
15-inch touchscreen display
Dual wireless mobile charger
Automatic climate control with HEPA air filter and Bioweapon Defence mode
Electrically adjustable front seats
Front and rear seat heating
Vegan leather upholstery, black (white upholstery colour available as option, RM5,000)
Panoramic glass roof with UV and infrared protection film
13-speaker sound system
4 USB-C ports
Sentry Mode video recording (as dashcam)
854 litre rear cargo space, 117 litre ‘frunk’ storage area
Tesla Model Y Autopilot, Full Self Driving available in Malaysia
All three variants of the Tesla Model Y will come as standard with the basic Autopilot advanced driver assistance suite, which includes autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and lane centring assist.
An Enhanced Autopilot option (RM16,000 extra) is also available, and adds an automatic lane change system, a ‘Navigate on Autopilot’ feature that automatically moves your car into the right lane for highway exits, an automatic overtaking function, automatic parking assistance, and a Smart Summon system that can drive the car autonomously through a car park.
Customers can also opt for the “Full Self-Driving” (FSD) package at RM32,000, which currently consists of all the features in Autopilot and Enhanced Autopilot, with ‘Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control’ and ‘Autosteer on city streets’ listed as “upcoming” on the company’s website. The system can also be updated in the future via automatic software updates.
Despite its name, however, the driver assistance suite (which is currently still in beta testing) is not truly an autonomous driving system just yet.
2023 Tesla Model Y pricing in Malaysia
The 2023 Tesla Model Y is offered in three variants in Malaysia, priced as follows (on-the-road, without insurance, before options):
Tesla Model Y RWD –
RM199,000
Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD –
RM246,000
Tesla Model Y Performance AWD –
RM288,000
Included in the price is a four-year/80,000 km Basic Vehicle Warranty, as well as an eight-year/160,000 km Battery & Drive Unit Warranty.
GALLERY
2023 Tesla Model Y RWD
2023 Tesla Model Y Performance


Stellantis takes over Naza’s Gurun plant as regional manufacturing hub

Stellantis, the new company formed following the merger of Groupe PSA and Fiat Chrysler Automobile (FCA), announced yesterday that they have obtained full ownership of Naza Automotive Manufacturing (NAM) and its manufacturing plant in Gurun, Kedah. The plant was previously operated on a
joint venture basis
 between Groupe PSA and Naza.
The completed acquisition reinforces Stellantis’ commitment to the Southeast Asian market. The company plans to “invest and dramatically expand its footprint as part of a robust localisation strategy” in the region, according to a statement released yesterday.
“Stellantis is deeply committed to growing our presence in ASEAN, and taking full ownership and responsibility of the plant in Gurun, Kedah is a very important step towards strengthening our operations, production outputs and workforce in the region,” said Stellantis Senior VP of ASEAN and general distributors, Christophe Musy.
“We have an ambitious growth strategy that will enable us to build on the existing production outputs in Gurun, as well as extend the breadth of brands and models within the Stellantis portfolio built in ASEAN for ASEAN. This is a very exciting proposition. We are focused on our mission to achieve world-class manufacturing in Gurun, to build high-quality, Malaysian-produced vehicles for South East Asia.”
Related:
Berjaya, Bermaz JV replaces Naza as sole distributor for Peugeot in Malaysia
Production at the Gurun plant has recently restarted, with the
facelifted Peugeot 3008
 and 5008 models already being exported and rolled-out across the region. The company says that the
 Peugeot 2008
will also follow suit this month, and just like its elder siblings, will also be exported across the ASEAN region.
The company previously already confirmed that it is planning to
unveil the Peugeot 2008 here in Malaysia “in the near future”
.
Related: Malaysian-made facelift Peugeot 3008 goes on sale in Thailand
Musy said that the company has seen increased demand for Peugeot in the region despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, and production at the plant has now already returned to pre-pandemic levels. Volume is now being ramped up for the remainder of 2021 to re-establish supply to Malaysia, Thailand, and other ASEAN markets.
“We are working closely with our partners to increase plant capacity by almost 40% to meet demand, and this combined with our strong product plan and determination to achieve the highest standards in quality and safety has set us up for great success in Malaysia,” he added. The Gurun plant has an annual capacity of 70,000 units.


Toyota teams up with McDonald’s in Ken Block-styled drift video for Tomica giveaway

Remember when we shared last week about
McDonald’s giving out a die cast Supra by Tomica
, with every purchase of the Happy Set in Japan? They’ve launched the campaign with a rather elaborate video featuring two heavyweights from the drift scene.
They’re Nobuteru Taniguchi, the first ever D1 GP champion and multiple D1 GP winner Daigo Saito, in their drift cars based on the
new Toyota Supra
 and while such collaborations are rarely seen, the stunts are rather familiar – if you’re familiar with the Ken Block name.

What was really cool though was how they ended the video; with an “M” initial left behind by burnout marks. It’s a witty short film nonetheless, with Daigo performing donuts around a serving of french fries while Nobu took a more “no-nonsense approach”.
Now if only McDonald’s Malaysia can get off their rear ends and work something out with UMW Toyota Motor. We won’t expect to see such a drift video, we promise. We just want the toy!
GALLERY


McLaren Special Operations reveals the “Chinaman-spec” McLaren 570GT

Created in collaboration with Chinese fashion designer and entrepreneur, Mr. Cabbeen, McLaren has revealed the McLaren 570GT Cabbeen at the 2018 Beijing Motor Show; the first bespoke model to introduce distinctive Chinese classic design elements.
Only
 five examples
 of the 570GT will be available. It’s finished in custom Obsidian Black paint
accompanied by dragon motifs
, hand-painted in Speedline Gold. The same paint is also applied to the new 15-spoke GT wheels and brake callipers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJzWroTCqQY
Like most manufacturers today, the 570GT MSO Cabbeen was created to
satisfy the brand’s Chinese customer’s
 endless demand for customisation and is a mark of the growing interests in MSO services from the China market.
The same dragon motifs embroidered in gold can also be seen inside – applied on the 570GT’s centre console and rear luggage deck’s Alcantara surface.
The motifs are an example of
Chao Embroidery
, which is recognised as part of China’s cultural heritage. They’re sewn by the Director of the Professional Embroidery Committee of China’s Arts and Crafts Institute, Kang Huifang, who has
spent four decades preserving the art of Chao Embroidery
.
The 570GT is part of McLaren’s Sport Series line-up. It’s equipped with a
562 hp
3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 engine paired to a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox. Since its introduction, McLaren has
spawned various models from the standard model
, more notably the
McLaren MSO X
.


Over 10,000 Subaru XV booked within a month in Japan, white most popular!

Just one month after the
second-generation Subaru XV
 was officially launched, Subaru Japan has recorded over 10,000 bookings for this compact crossover! In its home country, the XV is offered in four different trims: 1.6i, 1.6i-L, 2.0i-L, 2.0i-S, retailing between ¥1.98 million (RM75k) to ¥2.68 million (RM102k).
Of the
 11,085
 total units booked, the 2.0-litre variants were the most popular, accounting for 79 percent of the bookings (
8,718 units
). The range topping 2.0i-S was the most popular of the two, at 4,719 units (43 percent). The remaining 2,367 units (21 percent) is broken down to: 255 units of the 1.6i and 2,112 units of the 1.6i-L.
Of the nine exterior colours on offer,
 Crystal White Pearl
 was the most popular, making up 30 percent of the bookings. This is followed closely by Cool Grey Khaki at 28 percent. Curiously, only 4 percent of the customers selected the model’s hero colour, Sunshine Orange.
At the
Subaru XV regional launch
, Subaru Malaysia confirmed that the 2.0i-L and 2.0i-S will go on sale in Malaysia early next year as a CKD model. However, it remains to be seen whether our local-spec will come with the
EyeSight active safety system like the JDM models
.
IMAGE GALLERY
Subaru XV 2.0i-S

Subaru XV 2.0i


Volkswagen Arteon goes on sale in UK – Elegance & R-Line, priced from RM191k

Shortly after its global debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, right-hand drive versions of the
Volkswagen Arteon
 is now on sale in UK. The flagship model is available in a total of 11 variants along with a range of factory options for customers to own their perfect Arteon.
The Arteon is the successor to the Passat CC and is the better-looking twin of the
Passat B8
. Sitting on the group’s modular MQB platform, the Arteon dwarfs the Passat at 4,862 mm in length (+95 mm), 1,871 mm in width (+39 mm), 1,450 mm in height (-6 mm) and 2,837 mm in wheelbase (+46 mm). Body rigidity is also up by 10 percent and drag coefficient has been slashed from 0.28 to
0.265
.

 Passat B8

 Arteon R-Line
UK-bound Arteons will be available in two distinct trims –
Elegance
 and
R-Line
. As the name suggests, the Elegance models gets dressed in a more sophisticated fashion for that sleek and mellow appearance. R-Line on the other hand is the sportier alternative with aggressive bumpers and a ducktail spoiler to boot. Lighting source are identical on both trims – LED headlamps and tail lamps with dynamic indicators. Both trim levels however, can be specified with alloy wheels ranging from 18- to 20-inch in diameter.

Inside,
standard equipment
 reads
Nappa leather upholstery
, 12.3-inch Active Info Display, tri-zone Air Care Climatronic air conditioning, 8.0-inch Discover Navigation touchscreen infotainment system, eight speakers and Volkswagen Media Control which allows remote control of the infotainment system via compatible smart device.
For a small fee, UK buyers can have their Arteon to come with heads up display, a 9.2-inch Discover Pro infotainment system with gesture control, a 700-watt 12 speaker Dynaudio ‘Confidence’ sound pack, panoramic roof, front massaging seats and heated steering wheel.

At launch, buyers can have their Arteon to be powered by a
276 hp
 2.0-litre turbocharged TSI petrol,
237 hp
 2.0-litre turbodiesel TDI or a 148 hp 2.0-litre turbodiesel TDI; all transversely mounted four-cylinder units. All engine choices will be equipped with a seven-speed DSG dual clutch transmission while the lower output
148 hp
 2.0 TDI can be optioned with a six-speed manual.
Higher outputs of the TSI and TDI engines gets
 4MOTION all-wheel drive system
 as standard while other models driven by the front wheels only. The most powerful Arteon (
276 hp
 2.0 TSI, 4MOTION) will sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just
5.4 seconds
.
A 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder TSI EVO with
148 hp
 (first featured on the
Golf MK7 facelift
) and
187 hp
 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder TSI will join the Arteon line up in due course.
On the safety front, the new Arteon comes equipped with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with predictive cruise control, City Emergency Braking, Front Assist, Speed Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, Lane Assist and Driver Alert fatigue warning system. The Arteon is also awarded with full 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
In UK, the Volkswagen Arteon Elegance retails from £34,305 (RM191k) to £39,170 (RM218k) while prices for the R-Line ranges from £35,090 (RM195k) to £39,955 (RM222k). Since Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia is able to locally assemble the Passat B8, could there be a slim chance that the Arteon will make its way here as a CKD model? If so, how much would you pay for one?
IMAGE GALLERY
Volkswagen Arteon R-Line

 Arteon R-Line

Volkswagen Arteon Elegance


First McLaren 720S rolls out of factory, company to launch 14 models by 2022!

McLaren Automotive has just entered a new chapter in their automotive history with the completion of the first production model
720S
. As the second-generation Super Series and the first replacement model since the company’s inception in 2010, the 720S is truly a significant milestone for the British marque.
The previous-gen P11 Super Series. Which is your favourite?
Hand-assembled by McLaren’s craftsmen and craftswomen, the first 720S to roll out of the McLaren Production Centre is finished in Glacier White – an Elite colour on McLaren’s colour palette. Compared to its predecessor, the 720S packs a new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 producing
710 hp
 (720 ps) and
770 Nm
. Key performance figures are
 2.8 seconds
 century sprint time, 0 to 200 km/h in
7.8 seconds
 and top speed of
341 km/h
.
The 720S is also the first of
15 new McLaren models to come by the end of 2022
 under the company’s Track22 business plan. That may seem a tall order but to put things into perspective, in a span of six years (2010 to 2016), the company has rolled out no less than
12 models
 (Coupe, Spider, non-road legal variants and derivatives included). Can’t wait to see what McLaren have in store for us!
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 The McLaren 720S Super Series


Proton X70 Premium 2WD SUV, here’s what we know

Proton has just
previewed their first ever SUV
 to the media behind closed doors at Proton Centre of Excellence (COE). Besides the long-awaited official naming of the SUV, we had the chance to get up close and personal with the top of the line Proton X70 Premium and here is everything we’ve learnt so far.
As standard, all variants of the X70 is powered by a 1.8-litre turbocharged direct injection four-cylinder engine paired to a six-speed automatic transmission with
183 hp
 and
265 Nm
 of torque. The X70 Premium is front wheel drive, but Proton will be offering an all-wheel drive alternative on the lower Executive spec.
On the outside, the X70 Premium comes equipped with projector headlamps with LED daytime running lights, LED foglamps, LED taillamps, smart keyless entry, dual exhaust outlet, roof rails and 18-inch five twin-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in 225/60 profile Hankook DynaPro HP2 tyres. Other visual cues include a satin finish foglamp housing, chrome side sill trim and a TGDI badge on the front doors.
Compared to the Geely Boyue that the X70 is based on, Proton Design has added their own input to the front grille and a new tailgate trim with a Proton badging. There are also Proton wordings added inside the headlamps and taillamps. You will not find a powered tailgate even on this range-topping Premium variant.

Moving inside, you’ll be greeted by brown Nappa leather upholstery complemented with black soft-touch materials on the upper dashboard and door cards. From what we can observe, the X70 Premium comes equipped with three-spoke flat-bottom multifunctional steering wheel, LCD instrument cluster touchscreen infotainment system, panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control with AirClean ioniser, rear air vents, electronic parking brake, powered front seats and six USB charging ports and a tonneau cover for the boot (Boyue uses a fixed cover).
From the centre console layout, we can tell that Proton and Geely have put in considerable effort to make a proper right-hand drive conversion and not just moving the steering wheel to the
right
 side. The switch gears on the centre console tunnel – EPB, drive mode selector, parking sensors – have been flipped with the essential controls placed to the driver side. (Mercedes-Benz, please take note)
Another observation is the LCD instrument cluster on the Proton features a new design with blue hue as opposed to a clear design on the Boyue. Like the Boyue, the instrument cluster can cycle through different design and layout according to the drive mode selected – Eco, Normal and Sport.
On the safety front, the X70 Premium comes equipped with six airbags, Electronic Stability Control, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Hill Descent Control and 360-degree camera.
Keep in mind that this is a media preview event and Proton has yet to officially confirm the full specification of the X70 line up. This list was compiled based merely on our observation and short time with the Proton X70 Premium.
For now, the company is keeping a tight lip on their pricing strategy but did reveal that the X70 will be on display in Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Penang, Kuantan, Johor Bahru, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu in the coming weeks as part of Proton’s campaign leading up to the official launch of their new SUV.


When was the last time you checked your engine’s oil level?

Maintaining a car is not as easy as refueling and washing it but the full magnitude of it extends beyond what you can see on the surface. Take the engine oil for example; without it, the components inside the engine has no way to function and move as fluidly as they should.
Older engines are a little trickier; they tend to gobble up engine oil consistently which as a result, requires your constant attention on the oil levels by checking it with the dipstick.
Lucky for us, the guys at
Fifth Gear
 have taken the liberty to explain and illustrate on what it would be (and sound) like if your engine is
drained completely
 of its lubricants.
Coincidentally, their test subject was one that we’re familiar with and can relate to – the Proton Wira. Watch the video in its entirety to understand briefly why your engine needs an optimum amount of oil to operate efficiently.
Source:
YouTube


Toyota reveals world’s first convertible Hiace with built-in oven

After decades of its existence, Toyota Australia has finally revealed the world’s first convertible Hiace to be sold exclusively Down Under in a limited run of just 2,019 units.
“The ground-breaking shape of the new Hiace, with its semi-bonnet and stiffer frame, lends itself perfectly to a convertible design while maintaining rigorous safety standards,” said Toyota Australia, Head of Public Affairs, Brodie Bott.
Toyota Australia also revealed an optional extra “built-in pie oven” for the convertible Hiace, called ‘PieAce’, disguised neatly behind the rear tailgate.
“It works a lot like a slow cooker. All you do is pop an uncooked pie or sausage roll in the PieAce, set it to the desired temperature using the buttons on the steering wheel, and away you go.”
“An alarm on the dash lets the driver know when the pie is cooked and ready to eat. When it’s safe to do so, the driver can bring the Hiace to a complete stop to open up the rear tailgate to access the retractable PieAce,” said Bott.
In conjunction with the exciting news, the company would also like to wish everyone, “
Happy April Fool’s Day
“.
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