2018 Volvo S60 & V60 Polestar gets new aero kit, downforce up by 30%

After announcing that
Polestar will operate independently from its parent company Volvo
, the performance arm of Volvo promised that they will continue to work on Volvo vehicles and as always, they’ve delivered. Introducing the model year 2018 S60 and V60 Polestar, the most dynamic 60-Series Volvo money can buy and is limited to 1,500 units combined.
The new S60 and V60 Polestar receives significant exterior modifications jointly developed by the engineers of Polestar and Cyan Racing, Polestar’s motorsport partner. Applying their experience at the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) programme and its
record breaking run around the Nürburgring Nordschleife
, the engineers had managed to increase the car’s overall downforce by
30 percent
.
This was achieved through the new
carbon fibre extensions
 at the front splitter, side sills and rear spoiler. The additional downforce helps to increase the car’s grip and high-speed stability as well as greater control and steering feedback.
Other cosmetic changes include the gloss black Polestar diamond cut wheels, carbon fibre wing mirrors, new interior upholstery, blue contrast stitching and Polestar embroidery.

Underneath the skin, Polestar has changed
more than 250 components
 as compared to the standard S60/V60 model and among the key components include adjustable
Ohlins shock absorbers
 and
six-piston Brembo brake calipers
 with larger 371 mm rotors.
Powertrain remains with Polestar’s tuned 2.0-liter four-cylinder Drive-E engine and eight-speed automatic pair that produces
362 hp
 and
470 Nm
 of torque. Drive is sent to all four wheels on both the S60 and V60 models. The sedan takes
4.7 seconds
 to hit the 100 km/h mark while the wagon twin is a fraction slower at
4.8 seconds
. Top speed is governed at
250 km/h
.
Locally, Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) has the
S60 T6 on sale for RM239k
 as well as a Polestar optimisation package that takes peak output from
306 hp
/
400 Nm
 to
310 hp
/
430 Nm
. Not quite the full Polestar experience but it’s something eh?
IMAGE GALLERY
Volvo S60 Polestar

Volvo V60 Polestar


Ford bids farewell to Australia, introduces the hot Ford Falcon Sprint!

Following Ford Motor Company’s decision to shut down production operations in Australia which will take effect later this year, the Blue Oval has launched a limited-edition Falcon Sprints as a farewell bid to the Land Down Under.
The Falcon model is Ford’s large saloon, primarily sold in the Australian and New Zealand markets. The Sprint variant is the high-performance version of the already fast and powerful Falcon. Two variants of the limited edition variant (both totalling 1,400 units) will be offered; a
4.0 Turbo XR6 six-cylinder
 making
435 hp
 and the other, a supercharged
462 hp 5.0-litre V8
model. Both variants have an Overboost feature that ups power and torque for 10 seconds.
The XR6 Sprint is offered with an in-house six-speed transmission only, whereas the XR8 Sprint can be had in either a manual or automatic gearbox. Both models receive gold-painted six-piston Brembo calipers at the front and four-piston Brembos at the rear. The V8 variant meanwhile, gets an additional black painted roof and black wing mirrors. Both the XR6 and XR8 (manual only) are priced at AUD54,990 (approx. RM162,000) while the XR8 auto is pegged at AUD62,190 (approx. RM183,000).
Ford Australia began assembling cars domestically in Australia since 1925. And over the past few years, sales have steadily declined and couldn’t justify their operating costs, which means all Ford Production Plants in Broadmeadows and Geelong will be closed in October 2016. That leaves one thing clear –  the 1,400 Falcon Sprint models here will be the last performance Ford models from Australia, and will surely become a collector’s model in the future. We here at
AutoBuzz.my
 tip our hats to you, Ford Australia.
Adieu
!


What is: Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)

The safety systems in our cars have come a long way, which means the spec sheet is perpetually growing with acronyms that probably make zero sense to the general public – even entry-level cars these days such as the
Perodua Bezza
 comes with a decent suite of advanced driver assistance features.
In this new entry of our
What Is
 series, we take a look at the Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) function that forms the basis of most advance driver assistance suites.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Src2jhS4wcA&feature=emb_title
So what exactly is AEB? In the strictest sense, AEB is a type of collision avoidance system that automatically applies the brakes (only) in emergency situations in an attempt to prevent, or reduce the severity of an imminent crash.
The AEB system uses various forms of sensors – from stereoscopic cameras to
lidars
 – to detect the distance and speed of the vehicle or obstacle, usually ahead. Together with other information such as current vehicle speed, the system is able to determine a minimum braking distance in ideal circumstances to prevent a collision.
Most AEB systems also come with what’s called a forward collision warning (FCW) system, though the two should not be confused and grouped together, as some cars have FCW systems but not AEB. The FCW system plays an audible warning tone as an attempt to alert the driver of possible danger and in certain cars, arm the brakes before the AEB system kicks in to intervene if no reaction from the driver was detected.
The radar module found in the 2006 Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
Collision warning systems have actually been attempted as early as the 1950s, though the implementation of these features did not catch on as the radar systems required was deemed too expensive to manufacture.
Over the years though, technologies have matured significantly to bring down the cost of the components (sensors and computer processors, specifically), and AEB systems are now commonplace in our cars. In fact, AEB systems have been made mandatory on all new cars in the countries within the European Union since November 2015. United States is set to follow suit in 2022.
AEB have also become easier to implement in recent years, as several companies – such as Denso, Bosch, and Continental to name a few – have introduced ready-made OEM solutions that can be added into cars without too much effort.
Additionally, due to the maturity of the technology, several manufacturers are now including more advanced features such as pedestrian and cyclists detection in their AEB systems that can function even in low light situations.
The Subaru Eyesight steroscopic camera system.
But why has AEB become such a key part of modern vehicle safety systems? A 2015 study based on data from Europe and Australasia countries found that the system can actually help reduce rear-end collisions by up to 38%. The figure is also reflected in a separate study on police-reported car crashes in the United States (39%).
Despite its effectiveness though, the AEB system should never, ever, replace careful and safe driving. Firstly, AEB systems do not take into account the load of the car, or the surface condition and grip levels between the car and the road surface, and thus it cannot guarantee the prevention of all collisions.
Secondly, AEB sensors do not work reliably in all weather conditions, especially on camera-based systems which are particularly susceptible to inaccuracies in heavy rain or fog.
Just like all other safety systems, they are designed to assist drivers in emergency situations (hence the name), within the constraints of the system itself. The drivers should always be in control of the cars, and are accountable for all of the car’s actions.
We also recommend all drivers to familiarise yourselves with the AEB system available in your cars, as not all systems operate in the same way; understanding the design specifications and limitations of the system can help us all become safer on the road!
Now that the AEB system will be assessed not in terms of availability, but in performance as part of the
upcoming ASEAN NCAP protocol
 which is set to come into effect in 2021, expect to see the AEB feature become more widely available in cars sold in our region.


Team RX Racing is fielding a modified Proton Iriz for the 2021 world RX championships!

Team RX Racing, a UK-based rallycross team, has announced that it will be fielding a modified Proton Iriz for next year’s FIA-accredited World Rallycross Championship events, marking the first time that a Proton model has taken part in the sport!
The Proton Iriz rallycross supercar, called the Proton Iriz RX, will be built in conjunction with Tony Bardy Motorsport (TBM) and Mellors Elliot Motorsport (MEM). Taking on the base platform of MEM’s “highly-regarded”
Iriz R5 rally car
, the Iriz RX will receive a new bodyshell, alongside purpose-built rallycross parts and modifications.
“The car is based on the successful Iriz R5, but it is also an all-new fresh build,” said Team RX Racing principal and lead driver, Ollie O’Donovan. “There’s a huge amount of work to do before we can even think about the first roll-out, but I already can’t wait to get behind wheel in testing, and then to race the car at some of the best rallycross circuits in the world.”
Aside from the World Rallycross Championships, Team RX Racing will also be competing in the British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy, as well as the European Rallycross Championship with their new Proton Iriz RX Supercar.
According to Ollie, the team chose the Proton Iriz as their new Rallycross racer because they wanted to “do something different”. “The easy option would have been to buy a car from the World Championship, but we wanted to do something different, to stand out from the crowd.”
Tony Bardy of TBM added: “It didn’t take us long to decide that this is the way to go, to create the first Proton rallycross Supercar. The team at MEM want to do this, and they’re committed to making it work … The quality of the Iriz R5 is high, and to be involved in this new project with the Iriz RX is a breath of fresh air.
“The Iriz has already done lots of rallies and proved the concept, so as long as we can get comparable power from the engine to what we have now, which I’m sure we can, I see no reason why we can’t be right where we want to be.”
Based on the latest World RX regulations for the Supercar category, the Iriz RX will be equipped with a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, pushing out roughly
 600 hp
 to all four wheels. 0-100 km/h in one of these cars take just
 1.9 seconds
, which is even faster than a Formula 1 car!
And according to the guys that built the original Iriz R5 rally car, there wasn’t much that they had to change in order to turn the B-segment hatchback into a rallycross racer. MEM team principal Chris Mellors said, “When we built the Iriz R5 originally, we had in the back of our mind that we might like to do some rallycross, so it was a bit over-engineered in some areas from the start.
“Although the Iriz is very short, it has one of the longest wheelbases of the R5 cars, with very good suspension travel and fabulous front geometry, from Proton’s original design. We’ve got a lot of adjustment available, and we’re going to need to make some specialist components to best suit a rallycross setup, but we’re not far away already.
“We’re very excited, both Ollie and Tony have vast rallycross experience, and it’s great to have a collaboration for this project to see what we can achieve together … We’ve had some very positive rally tests recently, and we’re getting stuck into the build of the new car now. We like winning and that’s what we want to be doing with this project too.”
It’s great to see that the universally-beloved Proton Iriz is achieving such heights in the motorsports scene, both
locally
 and internationally. And Proton – hint hint, nudge nudge – perhaps it’s time to revisit the souped-up Proton Iriz R3, yes?


SpyBuzz: Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 AMG spotted, launching in Jan 2016

We were a little jealous when we saw
Thailand launched the Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 AMG
 earlier this year at the
2015 Bangkok Motor Show
. To our surprise, we spotted one in Malaysia today! This white BMW X6 rival was seen parked in Bangsar with proper registration plate.
We believe this yet to be launched model is a fine grey import that arrived way before Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) can unveil it here. Speaking of which, MBM will be launching the GLE coupe here in Malaysia next month!
If you are a little unfamiliar with the model name, then you might not have heard about
Mercedes-Benz’s new naming convention
. The German automaker’s SUV M-Class has been renamed to ‘
GLE
’, with the all-new model revealed in March this year. There’s a shrunken version of the GLE, named ‘
GLC
‘. No, nothing to do with our government.
What you are looking at here is the coupe variant which is introduced to slice off a big chunk of
BMW X6
’s piece of pie. The Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 AMG 4MATIC was introduced in Thailand with a 7,990,000 Thai Baht (approx. RM900,000) price tag.
This kitted up SUV coupe is powered by a
3.0-litre V6 Bi-Turbo
 with a
9G-TRONIC 9-speed Automatic
 gearbox, generating
367hp
 and
 520Nm
 of torque.
The top of the range
GLE 63 S Coupé
 produces
585hp
 and
760Nm
 via its
5.5-litre V8 Bi-Turbo
 powerplant. That will be a tough one for the
X6 M
 to chew.
The all-new Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe will be launching in Malaysia in
January 2016
. Check out the First Look style video we did on the GLE 450 AMG coupe at Bangkok Motor Show.
IMAGE GALLERY

Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 AMG Coupe at Bangkok Motor Show


Proton achieves highest sales figures in 46 months

Proton is celebrating another milestone as the national carmaker posted its highest sales figures in 46 months with 10,611 units sold in May alone – more than 50% jump from the previous month.
Overall sales in the first five months of the year is over 70% higher compared to the same period in 2018.

In case you’re
wondering if the base model X70 feels inadequate
, here’s Adrian’s take on it!
The biggest contributor was none other than the Proton X70, the first SUV for Proton with 2,439 units sold in May and 13,572 delivered in the first five months of the year.
Also driving sales is the 2019 facelift Proton Persona and Iriz, with 2,972 units of the former sold in May, while the Iriz posted 940 units sold. These two models’ strong showing helped contribute 36% of Proton’s overall sales and with 10,000 bookings received thus far, the national carmaker’s got its hand tied for the coming months.

As for the trusty Saga, sales have surpassed 3,000 units for the second month in a row with 3,610 units in May 2019.
For the coming weeks, Proton will be looking to add more 3S/4S outlets to better cater to its customers.
“PROTON’s strategy for the remainder of the year is to continue to grow our sales by introducing improvements to our current model range and improving our brand experience by opening more 3S/4S outlets as these efforts have obtained positive feedback from our customers,” added CEO of Proton, Dr Li Chunrong.


Volkswagen Polo GTI Mk6 debuts, 2.0L turbo, 197 hp & 6-speed manual!

During the grand unveiling of the
Volkswagen Polo Mk6
, Volkswagen AG introduced its hotter twin, the Polo GTI. Now armed with a larger 2.0-litre TSI with more power, Sports Chassis and all the new-generation features, the Polo GTI may be all you need and more.
Mechanically, Volkswagen has retired the old
1.8-litre TSI engine
 in favour of a 2.0-litre TSI unit that churns out
197 hp
 –
8 hp
 more than the previous mill. Power is sent to the front wheels through a seven-speed DSG or a six-speed manual transmission. Unfortunately, key performance figures remain unknown for the time being but the previous Polo sprints to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds with a top speed of 236 km/h. This new Polo GTI also gets a more dynamic Sports Chassis to complement the high output powertrain.
Visually, the GTI differs itself through the honeycomb grille with a strikeout red stripe (this extends into the headlamps), optional LED headlamps, larger black spoiler, rear diffuser, twin exhaust outlet and 17-inch alloys (upgradable to 18-inch), side sill extensions and red brake callipers.
Inside, the GTI gets ‘Clark’ tartan pattern sport seats, leather wrapped multi-functional sports steering wheel, red stitching, black ceiling upholstery, ambient lighting and GTI gearstick.
Like the rest of the Polo Mk6 range, the GTI is expected to go on sale end-2017. More information will be revealed in the coming weeks. There was a time when Volkswagen Malaysia had the Polo GTI Mk5 officially on sale. Now with the Mk6, do you think Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) should revive the Polo GTI nameplate and take the fight to the likes of the
Peugeot 208 GTI
 and
Ford Fiesta ST
 once again?
IMAGE GALLERY


The new 488 GT Modificata is Ferrari’s track-only parting gift to the 488

Ferrari has a history of releasing an all-out track special while they run out an ageing model. The
Ferrari FXX-K
 was for the
LaFerrari
, and the
599XX
 was for, well, the Ferrari 599. Now that the
 Ferrari 488
 is being replaced by the
F8 Tributo
, Ferrari has kept up with its tradition by unveiling the swansong track special version for the model, the 488 GT Modificata.
‘Modificata’ stands for modified in Italian, or in Ferrari speak, means “designs that have been evolved for better performance”. In this case, the Ferrari 488 GT Modificata essentially takes on the best bits from the 488 GT3 and 488 GTE race cars, plus additional development work on the engine since it is unrestrained by FIA’s rulebooks.
As a result, the 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 now makes
700 hp
, thanks to a revamped transmission with a carbon-fibre clutch and different transmission ratios, as well as more aggressive engine mapping. The car’s suspension comes straight from the 488 GTE, while its new Brembo brake system with low residual torque callipers and advanced ABS system is taken from the 488 GT3 Evo.
The exterior is also heavily inspired by these race cars, and is equipped with race car-esque front splitters, large rear diffusers, as well as a humongous wing, because race car. The aerodynamics of the 488 GT Modificata was also extensively fine-tuned on the Nurburgring Nordschleife.
Ferrari says the resulting car has a higher downforce at the front without increasing overall drag, making for better efficiency and sensitivity to changes in rear wing angle. Total downforce is rated at over 1,000 kg at 230 km/h.
Just like any other race car these days, the entire body is also made out of carbon fibre, barring the roof and uprights – which are made out of aluminium.
Buyers can customise both the exterior and interior to any specifications they like. Standard equipment on the track-only Ferrari 488 GT Modificata include aV-Box acquisition system, which is combined with Bosch’s telemetry data acquisition system, a high-resolution rear-view camera, as well as a TPMS system.
Although it is an unrestricted trackday car, the 488 GT Modificata still comes as standard with a second seat, which means you still can bring a passenger along with you for a joyride.
Due to its limited quantities, the Ferrari 488 GT Modificata will initially only be offered to drivers who have recently participated in Ferrari’s own Competizioni GT or Club Competizioni GT race series. So if you’re not already in Ferrari’s contact book, tough luck. For the rest of us, just be happy there’s now a

Lego Technic model for the 488 GTE
…
As it’s not in compliance to any of the FIA race series, the 488 GT Modificata will not be allowed to compete in any FIA-sanctioned race series. To satisfy the racers, the Ferrari 488 GT Modificata will be admitted into the Club Competizioni GT series, organised by the Prancing Horse themselves.
Owners will also get the chance to participate in five events on tracks that “bring out both the handling and dynamic qualities of the cars”, with events planned at the Virginia International Raceway, Monza, Watkins Glen, Suzuka and Nürburgring, as well as the Finali Mondiali – all of which to happen from 2021 onwards.
GALLERY


Electric MINI Countryman specs revealed – 313 hp, est. 450km range, AWD

Soon the join MINI’s all-electric line-up is the
MINI Countryman
, and it makes history for a few reasons. The first is that it will be an all-electric shift for the Countryman model. It will also be MINI’s first all-wheel-drive (AWD) electric vehicle (EV). Lastly, the electric MINI Countryman will also be the first MINI to be made in Germany. Still shown in camouflage for now, some specs of the electric MNI Countryman have been revealed.
While the car is still heavily camouflaged, MINI has revealed that the MINI Countryman has grown in size. It is now 130 mm longer at 4,429 mm and almost 60 mm taller at 1,613 mm. The increase in size provides more space (including headroom) and comfort for its occupants.
The main highlight of the specification reveal would be the powertrain and EV details of the MINI Countryman. So far, MNI has revealed that there will be 2WD and an AWD version of the MINI Countryman. The 2WD version is called the ‘MINI Countryman E’ which makes 140 kW (
191 hp
). The AWD version is called the ‘MINI Countryman SE ALL4’ and it gets a dual-motor setup that makes 230 kW (
313 hp
) including a temporary boost.
As for the battery, the electric MINI Countryman gets a
64.7-kWh
battery, which is a rather average capacity by today’s standards. MINI says that the battery can provide approximately
450 km
 of range, although the test cycle for the quoted range was not mentioned. It was also not mentioned if the range was for the ‘E’ or the ‘SE ALL4’.
RELATED:
First teasers of fully electric MINI Countryman revealed – BMW iX1’s cousin to arrive this year
Materials used for the electric MINI Countryman are also more environmentally friendly. The surfaces of the dashboards, steering wheel, vehicle headliner and floor, and floor mats are made of recycled polyester obtained from PET bottles and carpet remnants. Even the cast light-alloy wheels are made from 70% secondary aluminium.
Besides the introduction of the electric MINI Countryman, the electric MINI Cooper SE will soon get
an all-new revamp
 and the car has already been sighted without camouflage several times. The MINI Countryman will be a fully electric model in its upcoming iteration.
RELATED:
Spied – Next-gen MINI Cooper electric seen undisguised
GALLERY


Lexus LC Convertible will look just like the concept car

Lexus has given the green light on the production of the
Lexus LC Convertible
 and the Japanese luxury carmaker has shown a working prototype at the 2019 Goodwood Festival of Speed (FoS).
Despite cladded in a
unique QR code themed camouflage, it would seem that the LC Convertible will look
exactly
 like the concept car – just like its coupe twin when it first
debut. The prototype showed a little more detail not seen on the concept such as
a wind deflector and the lack of rear seats. Cues such as the prominent spindle
grille and cascading LED taillamps have been retained.

We have yet to see whether the passengers of the LC Convertible will be sheltered with a hard top or fabric roof, but the latter is more likely. This is taking into account that a folding hardtop mechanism will incur a more serious weight penalty and packaging reasons.
 The LC Convertible is expected to share the same powertrain options as the Coupe, a 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 with
 470 hp
 and
540 Nm
 as well as a 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V6 Lexus Multi Stage Hybrid System dishing out a combined output of
354 hp
.
IMAGE GALLERY
Lexus LC Convertible Prototype at Goodwood


Kumho is the best-selling tyre brand in Korea

According to recent
data from Korea Tire Manufactures Association (KOTMA), Kumho Tires topped sales
charts with 6.52 million tyres sold in 2018 which accounts for 40% of all
locally-produced tyres sold in Korea.
The brand’s stellar performance
is largely due to the popular demand for its Majesty 9 Souls TA91 designed for
high-end saloons and the Crugen HP71 premium touring tyres for SUVs. The Majesty
9 Souls TA91 has been well received by consumers due to its excellent comfort
and low rolling noise.
Kumho Majesty 9 Souls TA91
Sales of the Crugen HP71
has increased by more than 155% compared to the same period in 2017 thanks to
the growing SUV market in Korea.
Kumho was acquired by Chinese-owned
Doublestar after the two signed a USD597.4 million deal for a controlling stake
(45%) in the Korean tyre maker in 2018.


2020 Honda BR-V received over 1,400 bookings within first month

The updated 2020 Honda BR-V has received
more than 1,400 bookings
 within its first month since the

launch of the facelifted seven-seater SUV last month
, according to Honda. The latest figure brings the total sales figure over
32,600 units
 since the model was first introduced in Malaysia
back in 2017
.
The top-of-the-range 1.5V variant proves to be the more favoured one between the two, making up 85% of the order books. The seven-seater SUV is also most popular in the Central region, contributing 42% to the total bookings for the 2020 SUV. Buyers also seem to prefer the Modern Steel Metallic colour, with over 24% of bookings made with that option.
The 2020 Honda BR-V (which stands for Bold Runabout Vehicle) received a mid-cycle update in June with several exterior updates, including a new front end with redesigned grille and lower bumper, reworked rear bumper with vertical reflectors, and a new alloy wheel design, which remains unchanged in size at 16-inches.
Inside, the updated Honda BR-V gains new tweeter speakers, cargo lighting, and a cabin filter across the board. The range-topper 1.5V variant in particular gains a new seven-inch touchscreen infotainment display, power retractable side mirrors, paddle shifters and a multi function steering wheel, along with Black/Red leather upholstery.
However, the key selling point of the updated BR-V is still its versatility in space. Honda claims that the seven-seater SUV has the biggest trunk space in the segment –
223 litres
 of cargo space with all seats in its standard position, and
539 litres
 with the third-row seats stowed away.
The seats at the rear passenger area can also be configured in a variety of different set-ups. The second-row seats, which can be slid forwards and backwards, feature a 60:40 One Touch Tilt & Tumble mechanism. The third row seats are split right down the middle, with Tilt & Tumble functions.
Under the hood, the 1.5-litre i-VTEC naturally-aspirated engine remains unchanged from the outgoing model, making 120 hp and 145 Nm of torque to drive the front wheels via a CVT gearbox.
The 2020 Honda BR-V is priced at
RM89,900
 for the 1.5E, and
RM96,900
 for the 1.5V variant. With the
sales tax exemptions
 which will be in place until the end of the year, the Honda BR-V sees a reduction of 3.5% and 3.6% for the two variants respectively, now
starting from RM86,726 and RM93,420
.


BMW M4 is MotoGP’s Safety Car: Features water injection tech for the first time! [+Video]

After making its appearance
last October
 at the Malaysian MotoGP race, the
F82 BMW M4 Coupé
 will yet again be leading the Safety Car fleet in this year’s MotoGP season, but this time with a twist – it will be featuring the Munich carmaker’s latest
water injection technology
.
QUICK FACTS
Name
BMW M4
Coupé

Segment
2-Door Coupé
Engine
2,979cc, inline-6 cyl, M TwinPower Turbo
Max Power
431hp @ 5,500-7,300 rpm
Max Torque
550Nm @ 1,850–5,500 rpm
Price
RM 748,800

The words “water injection” must not be confused with direct injection, because the former is simply used to
improve cooling efficiency
, especially in the high-performing vehicle lineup. What’s new under the bonnet are
supplementary radiators
 for the gearbox, turbocharger and circuitry.
More specifically, the production version of the M4’s turbocharger gets the conventional intercooling setup, whereas this MotoGP Safety Car gets an additional electric water pump to further improve the cooling process. The engine also reaps the benefits of this technology by substituting the supercharged air cooling system with water injection technology.
So, how does water injection work? The keyword here is ‘vaporisation’. Water is injected (fine spray) into the intake module’s collector, cooling the exhaust air during the vaporisation process. It effectively lowers the discharge temperature in the combustion chamber, reducing knocking tendencies. The resulting effect is that the engine can now run on a
higher boosting pressure
 and
earlier ignition point
.
If water injection does prove its worth and is yet another efficient system in the uptrend realm of forced induction, then your regular BMW 3 Series may just come with this feature some good few years down the road. Sounds promising, right?
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY
BMW M4 Coupé MotoGP Safety Car & Bike

BMW M Division’s Water Injection Technology


Proton returns to Chile with LHD Preve; Bangladeshi market to follow

After 18 long years since they last sold their car (the Proton Wira) in the South American continent, Proton Holdings Berhad is ready to set its foot in a growing left-hand drive market. As of today, 50 units of Proton Preve (Premium CVT, CFE variant) have been shipped to San Antonio, Chile, the first of 1,000 units to be introduced throughout this year.
The shipment takes approximately 42 days to reach the Chilean port in San Antonio, and this entire export operation was made possible when Chile and Malaysia signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) dating back to 25 February 2012. Then, on 1 July 2015, a Distributor Agreement was signed between Proton and Andes Motor (more on this company below). With that, the Malaysian government granted Proton a six percent exemption of import duty.

So, how is the Chilean car market really like? The relatively small but long country has a population of about
17.6 million
 – about half that of Malaysia, and its Total Industry Volume (TIV) is about 330,000 units strong (passenger cars only), and growing. The top three most popular car brands in Chile, interestingly, are Hyundai, Kia and Chevrolet. However, the American carmaker has been at the top of the sales chart for
33 consecutive years
, but is slowly losing its ground to fresh new models produced by Toyota, Peugeot, Nissan (including Infiniti) and Ford.
It’s undoubtedly a tough market for Proton to tap into, but according to Proton Chairman, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, it was Andes Motor, a subsidiary of the Kaufmann Group who came forth with great interest to sell Proton cars in Chile. This partnership makes Proton the very first car brand to be sold under the stewardship of Andes Motor, a company which imports and distributes buses and trucks made by Chinese manufacturers Foton, Maxus and Golden Dragon.
Proton isn’t a strange brand in Chile, having
sold over 3,000 units of cars
 between 1994 and 1998. However, the strategy this time around is to offer the Preve (Premium CVT variant) as its debut model, which will later be joined by the non-CFE variants. It will be priced at USD17,000 (or close to
12 million Chilean pesos
) The Proton Evora and
Saga
 will also be offered – the latter in November this year, but Proton has confirmed that the Saga will not be that of the new model. Proton CEO, Dato’ Abdul Harith Abdullah explained that the upcoming Saga hasn’t gone through development for Left-Hand Drive (LHD) conversion, but stressed that it will be offered soonest as possible.
Both Chile-bound Preve and Exora models will officially be launched in May this year. Proton is still in talks with its Bangladeshi counterpart (Bangladesh has a population of over 170 million), and this expansion includes the setting up of a CKD plant, however its exact location remains unknown at press time. The plant will be manned by Bangladeshis, and this should give Proton a favourable incentive for creating job opportunities.
Dato’ Harith also said, “We are positive that this is the beginning of many more opportunities to go global, especially after completing the new engine programme which will meet more stringent European regulations. We will continue building good cars and carry out product improvements so that we won’t just do better in our home turf, but improve our global presence as well.”
This leaves us with Proton’s latest model, the
Iriz
. Like the Saga, Proton is all about making its latest supermini a global product, although a specific timeframe has yet to be announced.
With
a range of new engines
 and
UK re-entry planned
 for the next 48 months, it seems that Proton is really serious about putting themselves back on the world map once again. The global automotive market is a thriving bubble, and it’s only a matter of time before the world’s collective car sales breach the 90 million mark; 70 percent of which are contributed by left-hand drive markets. Maybe this time, things may just play in favour for Proton.
Buena suerte
, Proton!
IMAGE GALLERY


Kia Picanto X-Line unveiled, 1.0L turbo with 99 hp & 172 Nm, 4.5L/100km

Also making an appearance at Kia Motor’s booth at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) is a jacked up, forced induction version of the
third-generation Kia Picanto
, the Picanto X-Line.
Since its debut, Kia has sold 31,827 units of the supermini in the first half of 2017 and quickly became one of the brand’s best-selling model globally. The Picanto X-Line will help to further bolster sales in Europe with its rugged appearance and superior performance.
Unlike the standard Picanto which carries an Eco-friendly 1.0-litre engine, the X-Line gets a more powerful
1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder T-GDI
 engine that outputs
99 hp
 and
172 Nm
 of torque. This allows the lightweight supermini to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just
10.1 seconds
. Rated fuel economy on the blown mill is a commendable
4.5L/100 km
.

Visually, the X-Line gets a noticeably more aggressive appearance compared to the standard GT-Line. Kia has introduced a series of cosmetic enhancements to give the little car an SUV attitude such as new bumpers with metal skid plates, additional intake opening at the front bumper, contrasting lime green highlights (silver available too) and black cladding around the wheel arches.
Kia has also raised the overall ride height by
 15 mm
 on the X-Line to give it additional ground clearance and accentuate the imposing SUV vibe. Other than that, standard equipment on the X-Line dittos the high-specification GT-Line.
Safety wise, the Picanto X-Line gets six-airbags (seven airbags available as an option), Vehicle Stability Management with Electronic Stability Control and Autonomous Emergency Braking. It’s only a matter of time before the all-new Picanto is officially launched in Malaysia, perhaps you can draw some modification inspiration from this beefed-up X-Line?


First Drive: 2016 Proton Ertiga 1.4L Executive+, six-seater family mover

Never in the history of Proton Holdings Sdn Bhd that four brand new cars are launched in a single year. This year, for the fourth time in less than six months, we were invited to the company’s private test track to sample yet another new car called the Proton Ertiga.
It’s not an all-new car, nor is it the successor to the Exora, but rather a rebadged MPV sold in our neighbouring countries as – you’ve guessed it – the Suzuki Ertiga. The Proton Ertiga is based on the facelifted version of Suzuki’s B-Segment MPV, which means it gets a redesigned front bumper and a new chromed grille. All these cosmetic changes are done by Suzuki, or in other words, not a single thing on the Proton Ertiga is developed by Proton.
Yep, not aesthetically and not mechanically either, because that’s all
part of the deal signed by Proton and Suzuki last year
. Instead, Proton engineers will only begin tweaking the Ertiga in the later stages, although no details of this have been revealed as yet.
The name Ertiga originated from the R-Tiga concept, where R stands for Rows and ‘tiga’ for three in the Indonesian (and Malay, of course) language
QUICK FACTS
Name
Proton Ertiga Executive (MT)
Proton Ertiga Executive (AT)
Proton Ertiga Executive+ (AT)
Segment
B-Segment MPV
Engine
1,373cc; DOHC with VVT, timing chain, multi-point injection (MPI)
Transmission
5-speed manual
4-speed auto
Max Power
95 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Max Torque
130 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
Price
To Be Announced
At the heart of the Ertiga is a Suzuki K14B engine – a
1.4-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder
 petrol capable of producing
95 horsepower
 at 6,000 rpm and
130 Nm
 of torque at 4,000 rpm. It’s the same engine powering the
third-generation Suzuki Swift
, except here it’s tasked with lugging around a sub-1,200kg six-seater MPV around. Power is sent to the front wheels through a choice of
five-speed manual
 or
four-speed automatic
 transmissions. Interestingly, the Ertiga is the first ever Proton car to earn the EEV status.
All variants sit on 15-inch wheels, wrapped with 185/65 GT Radial Champiro Eco tyres
Off the line, the Ertiga’s puny engine punches surprisingly well, even with five moderately large occupants (between 65kg to 85kg) in the car. The four-speed auto, as archaic as it may seem, is suitably geared for daily driving around town. It accelerates briskly and should face no troubles getting up to speed, much less overtake distracted drivers. There is of course the want for more power, but the other cars in its class aren’t that much capable either.
The smooth automatic transmission will definitely account for the bulk of sales, but those who don’t mind rowing their own gears should find the extra foot paddle far more liveable than the thought suggests. The clutch is completely mechanical (not hydraulic like the Persona and Iriz’s mushy clutch) and feels pleasantly springy, yet effortless at the same time, even for the most demanding
balik kampung
 journey. Okay, maybe that was a little subjective, but it certainly is one of the more enjoyable manual transmissions I’ve tested in the segment.
For now, the Ertiga will only come with a beige interior. There are no leather seats as well
But of course, the biggest reason anyone would consider buying the Ertiga is to ferry friends and family. It’s marketed strictly as a six seater because there are only six seat belts in the car. Now, although the Ertiga is built atop a B-Segment platform, the wheelbase is actually 10mm longer than the Proton Exora (2,740mm vs the Exora’s 2,730mm wheelbase). The direct consequence of this is that the third row seats are far more conducive to be in, and legroom can be expanded by a fair margin thanks to the sliding (up to 240mm!) second row seats. In short, it will seat six individuals rather comfortably, so long as you’re no taller than 180cm.
There is one caveat, though. When fully loaded, occupants in the third row seats will be subjected to more discomfort, but the cause of this is mostly mechanical. The rear axle is managed by a torsion beam setup which, by nature of application, rebounds pretty harshly on poor road surfaces. Damping falls a tad short of expectation; the Ertiga isn’t as proficient in absorbing road undulations as the usual crop of Proton’s produce, and body roll also becomes apparent when too much speed is carried into the corner. If there’s one thing we can count on Proton to work their magic on, it would be suspension tuning, without a doubt.
There is a total of seven cubbies in the car
For those who find the Exora’s asking price a tad too steep, this is a worthy alternative, even to those who are torn between that and the Alza. The Ertiga’s 1.4-litre engine is pretty frugal as well, consuming 5.7 litres of fuel per 100km (for the manual; auto variants do 6.0L/100km). It has a 4-Star ASEAN NCAP crash safety rating, and additional creature comforts include dual 12V sockets and rear air conditioning vents with a three-step blower speed.
Lastly, you can have your Ertiga in four exterior shades – Solid White, Carnelian Brown, Fluorite Silver and Ruby Red Metallic, as seen in the pictures here. It will be launched by the end of the month, and with it the pricing for all three variants. All in, as an affordable MPV, I think the Proton Ertiga will appeal to those who are in the market for a small but comfortable family car. If you’re already eyeing the
Toyota Sienta
 or
Honda BR-V
, we definitely recommend taking a quick peek at the Ertiga.
IMAGE GALLERY


Video: 2020 BMW X1 sDrive18i launched in Malaysia, 5 Things

Aside from launching the BMW M135i xDrive last week, BMW Malaysia also made ownership of a compact BMW SUV more accessible with the introduction of the
X1 sDrive18i
.
The X1 sDrive18i will be sold alongside the
X1 sDrive20i M Sport launched earlier this year, priced at RM233,800
. Unlike the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine in the sDrive20i model, with 192 hp and 280 Nm, the sDrive18i is fitted with a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder engine instead with
140 hp
and
220 Nm
.

Priced at RM208k, it would be wrong to assume that the BMW X1 would be a “kosong spec” type of car. Surprisingly, it’s rather well equipped and more than makes up for what it lacks in the engine department. For starters, it gets autonomous emergency braking – something even the CBU 330i doesn’t have – along with adaptive cruise control, high beam assist, and adaptive cruise control.
And aside from the missing M Sport steering in sDrive20i, the equipment list is nearly identical with the pre-facelift sDrive20i. You still get leather upholstery, dual zone air conditioning, automatic tailgate, electrically adjustable front seats with memory function for the driver.
The X1 sDrive18i is priced RM208,368 on the road without insurance and inclusive of the Sales Tax Exemption. With BMW’s Balloon Financing Plan, the new compact SUV can be yours from RM 2,378.00 per month, based on estimates of an 80% loan on a five-year tenure.
For the latest price list of BMW vehicles in Malaysia, click
here
.


Lamborghini teases new Aventador model – is this the heavily-rumoured “final edition”?

It’s been a long time coming, but it seems like the
Aventador
 name will finally be retired soon. Lamborghini has just published a teaser on its website and
social media accounts
, featuring an image with the unmistakable Aventador headlights and a save-the-date for July 7th – hinting at the launch of the much-rumoured “Final Edition”.
The teaser photo is accompanied by the caption “It takes time to become timeless”, and we think that it’s a pretty apt description for the “final edition” Aventador – the Lamborghini flagship model is now more than 10-years old, being first unveiled at the 2011 Geneva motor show.
Check out this unique aero kit by Huber in celebration of the Aventador’s 10-year anniversary!
Earlier reports claim that the final edition model will be called the
Lamborghini Aventador S Jota
, or SJ for short. The development mule has already been spotted on the roads, with spy video footages showing that it’ll have a rear-end somewhat similar to the
Aventador SVJ
 – just without the massive wing.

The Lamborghini Aventador SJ will also be the last hurrah for the massive 6.5-litre V12 engine – the next-generation model is expected to feature a hybrid powertrain, as part of the brand’s

Cor Tauri
electrification plans
.
The Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Xago Edition is a 10-unit-only celebration of hexagons. Check it out here!
Based on earlier reports, the V12 mill in the final edition Aventador will gain an
extra 10 hp
 on top of the SVJ’s already bonkers 770 hp and 720 Nm of torque, making it the most powerful Aventador to date!
No other information is available at this juncture, but we’ll only have to wait another two more days before we get to see the car in full – so mark your calendars!


Renault and Geely to form new engine company – to supply Proton, Nissan, Mitsubishi

Renault Group
 and
Geely Holding Group
 have signed a non-binding framework agreement to create a new standalone powertrain company. The new company will make hybrid powertrains and low-emission internal combustion engine (ICE) powertrains. Both parties will each hold 50% of the company shares and the framework agreement should be finalized in 2023.
Upon the powertrain company’s launch, it is expected to supply several industrial customers. This includes Renault,
Dacia
, Geely Auto,
Volvo Cars
,
Lynk & Co
,
Proton
, as well as
Nissan
 and
Mitsubishi Motors Company
.
Renault’s E-Tech hybrid powertrain
The new company is expected to operate 17 powertrain mechanical plants on 3 continents, with approximately 19,000 employees. Annually, the company will be able to produce more than 5,000,000 powertrains to serve over 130 countries and regions. Renault says the combined product portfolio and geographic footprint of both companies could provide solutions for 80% of the global ICE market.
The announcement of this agreement coincides with Renault Group’s Capital Market Day in Paris, during which the group presented a series of initiatives aimed at accelerating its transformation and presenting its medium-term financial objectives.
RELATED:
Geely and Renault join forces to develop new hybrid models for South Korea
Renault Group CEO, Luca de Meo said, “As Renault Group accelerates its transformation with Renaulution to capture the value of the entire new automotive value chain, we are pleased to have reached an agreement for an ambitious partnership with Geely in order to continue to develop the technologies for internal combustion and hybrid engines which will remain essential elements of the automotive supply chain in the decades to come. We will be able to offer state-of-the-art powertrains and electrified solutions to many automotive brands around the world, unlocking the market potential of this low-emission technology.”
RELATED:
For Europe only, the all-new 2023 Mitsubishi ASX is a rebadged Renault Captur
Geely Holding Group Chairman, Eric Li said, “Today’s agreement with Renault Group will create a global leader in hybrid technologies to provide advanced, energy-efficient solutions to automakers around the world. We look forward to working with Luca de Meo and his Renault team to make this partnership a reality. This agreement builds on our commitment to leverage our group’s technology expertise and brand portfolio to continue our pioneering journey in sustainability and value creation, which leads to excellence for consumers.”
Moving forward, the new company will be able to welcome new partners and shareholders. More information will be released in the coming months.
RELATED:
The all-new Geely Boyue L looks like an SUV designed for aliens!


BMW Digital Key Plus now available for Android smartphones, UWB extends user convenience

BMW
 has just made its Digital Key Plus feature available on a handful of Android smartphones, including the Samsung Galaxy S23+ and S23 Ultra, as well as the Google Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 6 Pro.
The Digital Key Plus works similarly to the previous
Digital Key
, which essentially replaces the traditional key fob in day-to-day use, but now adds more convenient features. Thanks to the ultra-wideband technology (UWB), customers now no longer need to place their smartphones in specific locations in order to lock, unlock, and start the car.
For those who don’t know, UWB is a low-energy digital radio technology for close range with high bandwidth, which features very precise localisation with the maximum possible security. The precision of UWB is also able to eliminate the risk of relay attacks, where the radio signal is jammed or intercepted.
Digital Key Plus has already been made available for Apple iPhones since early 2021, but is now available for compatible Samsung and Google smartphones running Android 13.1 or later. These include Samsung smartphones like the Galaxy S23+, S23 Ultra, S22+, S22 Ultra, S21+, S21 Ultra, the Z Fold4, as well as the Note20 Ultra in markets that support Samsung Wallet. Google’s Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 6 Pro are also supported.
Unfortunately, the feature is still not yet available in Malaysia.
RELATED:
BMW iX1 xDrive30 ROI opens for Malaysia – 440km range, 313hp dual-motor
The Digital Key Plus feature is currently only available on BMW vehicles produced from November 2022 onwards. The German carmaker did however promise to expand the Digital Key Plus capabilities to more vehicles via a future remote software upgrade.
Moving forward, BMW aims to make the full range of comfort access functions available for Android devices as well.
RELATED:
BMW i5 teased in pre-production testing ‘spyshots’ – fully-electric 5 Series coming this year


Toll hike deferment to cost Government over RM2.25 billion this year, according to LLM

The Lembaga Lebuhraya Malaysia (LLM) or Malaysian Highway Authority has released a statement that the deferment in toll hikes this year has an estimated compensation value of over
 RM2.25 billion
.
Three highways which are the
Shah Alam Expressway (KESAS)
, South Klang Valley Expressway (SKVE), and East Coast Expressway Phase 2 (LPT2) were scheduled to have an increase in
toll fares
 this year as stipulated in the Concession Agreement.
As the increase did not take place, the total compensation for the said three expressways above amount to RM160.1 million.
Among the key highways and expressways that continue to have its toll rates (all vehicle classes) maintained and given compensation are:
North-South Expressway (PLUS)
Lebuhraya Damansara Puchong (LDP)
ELITE Expressway
Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE)
Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE)
Sungai Besi Highway (BESRAYA)
KL-Kuala Selangor Expressway (LATAR)
SMART Tunnel
KL-Putrajaya Expressway (MEX)
Cheras-Kajang Highway (GRANDSAGA)
Kajang Dispersal Link Expressway (SILK)
Kajang-Seremban Highway (LEKAS)
KL-Karak Highway (KLK)
East Coast Expressway 1 (LPT1)
Malaysia-Singapore Second Link (LINKEDUA)
As for these highways listed below, the MHA said that the toll rates for private vehicles and buses are maintained for now:
Ampang-KL Elevated Highway (AKLEH)
The Penang Bridge
SPRINT – Pantai Toll
New Pantai Expressway (NPE) – PJS2 Toll
MHA said that the government’s step to delay the hike in toll fares are meant to benefit the road users. The highway authority will also play its role to ensure that all highway concessionaires continue to provide the best service quality to preserve customer importance.
“In line with the government’s decision, consumers will continue to enjoy toll payments at a lower rate compared to the toll rates under the concession agreements,” said MHA in the statement.


Next-gen 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan teased in camouflage – PHEV to get over 100 km of electric range

Volkswagen
has just unveiled the first details for the upcoming all-new Tiguan, giving us a first look at the next-generation of the marque’s bestseller that will be officially unveiled in the coming months, ahead of its market launch in 2024.
The third-generation
Volkswagen Tiguan
 will be offered in a variety of powertrain options, including petrol, diesel, mild hybrid petrol, and plug-in hybrid – the latter offering a pure electric driving range that has been increased “to up to 100 km more [sic.] compared with
the predecessor
“, depending on equipment level – meaning we could possibly see electric driving range upwards of 140 km.
The major increase in electric range is partly due to the new MQB evo platform that allows for a bigger battery, and the use of newer, more efficient motors. You’ll also be able to charge the eHybrid variants via DC chargers, in addition to the AC inputs more commonly seen on PHEVs.
The new platform also allows Volkswagen to now offer an electronically-controlled adaptive suspension on the next-gen Tiguan, giving the SUV “probably the best active chassis control in its segment”. A vehicle dynamics manager, which VW says is inherited directly from the current
Golf GTI
, also now comes as standard on the all-new next-gen Tiguan.
The system controls the functions of the electronic differential locks (XDS), the DCC Pro adaptive absorbers, as well as wheel-specific braking (a la
Mazda’s Kinetic Posture Control
) and shock absorber hardness control, to further improve the Tiguan’s handling performance – which the company says is “more neutral, stable, agile, and precise”.
Dimensions of the upcoming next-gen Tiguan hasn’t grown by all that much – Volkswagen says that its length has increased by around 3 cm, while its height, width, and wheelbase all remaining “almost identical” to its predecessor. Despite that, the luggage compartment on the all-new Tiguan has grown by 33 litres (now 648 litres), signifying the new generation model’s improved use of space.
As is standard for these teasers, the cars all sport significant camouflage, masking most of its exterior styling. But from what we can see, it appears that it’ll feature larger
ID.4-
inspired headlights (with IQ.Light HD matrix illumination available as option), a slim light bar across the front fascia, and a lower grille reminiscent of the
Volkswagen Up!
 of all things.
In stark contrast, it appears that Volkswagen isn’t shy about the next-gen Tiguan’s interior at all, basically showing it off in full. It’ll feature a revamped infotainment system, with a rotary dial control (
with its own screen!
) on the centre console, and a screen that measures up to 15 inches in diameter. No surprises, really, considering
how badly received
 the current system is.
The gear shifter has been moved from the centre console up onto the steering column (operating similarly to its EV models), freeing up the centre console for more storage space. Volkswagen also says that the cabin will be covered in “high-quality materials”, and offer “premium-class” comfort thanks to its improved noise insulation and upgraded seats.
RELATED:
Touchscreen/touch-sensitive controls for air-con: Looks modern but how effective are they?
The Tiguan has been Volkswagen’s best-selling model worldwide for years, with over 7.4 million units sold since the model’s debut back in 2007. With what the all-new next-generation Volkswagen Tiguan is set to offer, we can’t see a reason for it to not continue the trend – even in the age of rapid electrification.
GALLERY


Blackline adds sporty undertones to the Bentley Continental Flying Spur

If you’re in the midst of customising your new Bentley Continental Flying Spur – in that we mean Crewe’s all-new four-door grand tourer (as they would like to call it), it might be wise to checkout the Blackline specification on the configurator.
For an additional
£3,550
 in the UK, Bentley will swap most of the exterior brightwork with a darkened
Blackline
trim; from the grille, window surrounds, door handles, wing vents, bumper blades, the bezels on the lighting equipment, even the powered flying ‘B’ hood ornament!
The Blackline specification also brings with it
21-inch five tri-spoke alloy wheels
, with the option of upgrading to 22-inch Mulliner Driving Specification items. As is already customary at Bentley, you can choose from
17 different exterior hues
 for the new Flying Spur, on top of the 13 extended range colours shown during its launch in June.
Bentley says that the Blackline specification is proving to be a popular choice with up to 30% of Continental GT customers opting for this subtly sporty but tasteful trim. We can understand why.
The third-generation Flying Spur
 is built on an
aluminium composite chassis
 featuring
all-wheel steering
 for the very first time on a Bentley. Power is courtesy of the updated
635 hp and 900 Nm 6.0-litre, twin-turbo W12
engine, mated to an 8
-speed transmission driving all four wheels
. The 2.4-tonne super limo will accelerate from
idle to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds
 and reach a top speed of 333 km/h.


New Volvo XC60 facelift coming soon to Malaysia – ROI now open

The new
Volvo XC60
 facelift will be making its debut here in Malaysia very soon, based on the teasers published on Volvo Car Malaysia’s social media channels. A special registration of interest page is now open on the company’s website, although no official pricing and specifications details have been revealed just yet.
Launched
globally in March this year
, the new Volvo XC60 gets a mild nip and tuck on its exterior design, particularly on its bumpers. On the Inscription trim level, which is the one we have here in Malaysia on the pre-facelift model, the front bumper gets a larger pair of fog light housings on the corners, alongside additional chrome trim elements across the entire front lip.
The chrome trim is also mirrored onto the rear bumpers, while the exhaust outlets have been completely omitted on this facelift exercise. Rounding up the exterior changes on the Inscription trim are the new wheel designs, and thicker chrome vertical elements on the front grille – as seen on the
 new Volvo XC90 facelift
 that was launched in Malaysia back in 2019.
An R-Design trim level is also offered on the XC60 in other markets, featuring much more aggressive bumper designs, as well as a mesh insert on the grille instead of the vertical slats. However, seeing that the R-Design trim was never offered on the pre-facelift XC60 in Malaysia, it should also most likely remain that way on the forthcoming facelift model.
RELATED: Volvo Car Malaysia’s new genuine parts warranty programme covers defects for a lifetime
The key highlight on the new 2021 Volvo XC60 actually lies within its infotainment software – as hinted by the “intelligent features” caption in Volvo Car Malaysia’s marketing materials.
The new infotainment system, first debuted inside the
fully-electric Volvo XC40 Recharge
, is built on top of the Android Automotive OS, and offers more direct access to various Google services including the hands-free Google Assistant, Google Maps, and more native in-car apps via Google Play Store.
Other updates to the Volvo XC60’s smarts include a revised Advanced Driver Assistance Systems suite, featuring a new sensor stack for improved functionalities.
Currently, the pre-facelift Volvo XC60 in Malaysia that was last updated in April this year is offered with two powertrain options – a T5 petrol variant and a Recharge T8 hybrid.
The T5 utilises a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that serves up
254 hp
 and
350 Nm
 to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Meanwhile, the T8 adds on a supercharger to the engine for 320 hp and 400 Nm, plus an electric motor on the rear axle for a total system output of
407 hp
 and
640 Nm
.
We expect that the powertrains will stay unchanged on the new facelift model here in Malaysia, although final confirmation will have to come from Volvo Car Malaysia.
RELATED: The Volvo S90 Recharge T8 facelift has been introduced in Malaysia, priced at RM339k
Pricing wise, we also expect that the new Volvo XC60 to hover around the same price of the current model, which retails at
RM278,195
 for the T5 Momentum, and
RM324,656
 for the range-topping T8 AWD Inscription Plus, both prices are on-the-road, without insurance, and inclusive of the sales tax exemptions.
Interested? Submit your information at the ROI page, linked
here
.
GALLERY


Toyota launched a GR Supra into the air and landed it on card boxes!

Toyota USA released a rather comical YouTube video about two marketing-communication staff members discussing a commercial pitch for the Toyota GR Supra with their more traditional executives.

In the video, the younger pair wanted plenty of dynamic and dramatic actions of the GR Supra while the more matured executives wanted a more “calming” commercial.
Much of the video centres around the short wheelbase and rear-wheel drive dynamics of the
BMW-sourced
 Toyota GR Supra, with the bulk of the action footages showing the car performing long continuous drifts and powerslides.
In the drifting scene, a regular Toyota GR Supra was tandem-drifting with Formula Drift competition Supras and this behind-the-scene footage actually explained how multiple race winner Fredric Aasbo performed the continuous slides on the showroom GR Supra.

Modifications were necessary, which were all prepared by championship-winning outfit
Papadakis Racing
 that engineered that B58 engine to nearly
1,100 hp
 output.
Autonomous driving is cool. How about that school project is building an autonomous drifting GR Supra! More here!
In the final scene, the staff members gave up pushing the idea of powerslides, drifts and incredibly demoralised by words like “can we have the VSC on”, settling down to “jump off a ramp, into the sunset, 2000s internet style.”
While the video showed the special orange-painted GR Supra jumping off a seven-foot ramp at high speed, there was no continuity as to where the car landed.
The production team did all the necessary modifications for the utmost stunt-driver safety such as a full roll cage, full-sized bucket seat and multi-point harness system. Weights have been added into the boot to reduce the chances of the GR Supra tilting downward too much that could injure the stunt driver while landing.
In the end, the orange GR Supra landed into a pile of
large cardboard boxes
. Precise calculations by the experienced stunt team meant the car landed smoothly and its momentum stopped perfectly by the vast quantity of giant brown boxes. Acceleration time of 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds helped a lot too.
Last year, Toyota USA sold 5,887 units of the GR Supra, a massive 104% increase over its debut full first-year sales in 2019. Sales in the first quarter have been even better, recording a 70% increase versus Q1 2020. Nissan USA aims to complement this segment with the upcoming
Nissan Z sportscar
, scheduled for launch in August.
The Toyota GR Supra 3.0 with
382 hp
 and
500 Nm
 of torque in the USA is priced up to
USD54,795( RM223k)
, while the entry to the GR Supra range begins at USD43,090 (RM175k) thanks to a smaller 258 hp / 400 Nm turbocharged four-cylinder 2.0-litre variant. Meanwhile in Malaysia, the 2020 GR Supra 3.0 retails at
RM589,987
.
GALLERY


The Rolls-Royce Dawn Silver Bullet is the ultimate coastal drives machine for the wealthy

Imagine yourself as a multi-billionaire cruising down the coastal roads of Cote d’Azur, breathing in the cool sea breeze and soaking up the warm sun rays with your roof down. What do you see yourself in? A
Lexus LC500 Convertible
? That’s a great choice, but what you really need is this, the Rolls-Royce Dawn Silver Bullet.
The Dawn Silver Bullet is Rolls-Royce’s latest limited-run production model from the company’s client-commissioned Collection Cars line, transforming the
four-seater drophead Dawn
 into a two-seater roadster with the addition of a new rakish Aero Cowling over the rear seats, finished with vapour-blasted titanium.
Inspired by its glamorous roadsters from the 1920s, Rolls-Royce says that the Silver Bullet is a “contemporary interpretation of the classic roadster spirit and driving experience, offering committed drivers a sublime blend of serenity and sophistication with an exhilarating sense of uncompromised freedom.”
Even the paint job – ultra-metallic Brewster Silver – is a nod to the special Rolls-Royce cars of old, such as the Silver Dawn, Silver King, Silver Silence and Silver Spectre, contrasted by subtle black trims.
Inside, the Dawn Silver Bullet features an open-pore carbon fibre dashboard, along with a quilted leather-wrapped centre console which the company says is inspired by leather jackets, the “quintessentially rebellious fashion accessory”. The Silver Dawn will, of course, be hand-built in Goodwood, England.
We still don’t know what’s underneath the hood of the Rolls-Royce Dawn Silver Bullet, but it’ll most likely be powered by the same 6.6-litre turbocharged V12 engine from the regular Dawn. In the
Black Badge
 form, the Dawn makes
601 hp
 and
840 Nm
 of torque.
Only 50 units
 of the Rolls-Royce Dawn Silver Bullet will ever be built, which means the ultimate top down experience will only be reserved to the most elite few in the world. Well, at least the “regular” millionaires can still have the LC500.
IMAGE GALLERY


Honda Accord vs Volkswagen Passat – Is it time to go continental?

“
Eh what the heck, price increase so much, and only 1.5-litre engine some more, better buy conti lo like that
“. Okay fine, we made that up, but that was pretty much the sentiment of many netizens after the launch of the
10th-generation Honda Accord
 here in Malaysia. Don’t believe us? Check out the comments section on
our video.
Priced from
 RM185,900
 for the 1.5TC variant, the Honda Accord is slowly creeping up in terms of price point towards the bigger players in the segment, even matching the “elusive” continental cars such as the recently-launched
Volkswagen Passat Elegance
 (
RM189,012
).
With barely any difference in terms of price, is it really a better idea to go with the Passat? Let’s see if the netizens are right with an spec-for-spec comparison.
POWERTRAIN
A common complaint we heard online is that the all-new Accord “only” has a 1.5-litre engine. However, when compared to other similar D-segment players, the 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine actually produces one of the highest output of the bunch –
 201 hp
 and
260 Nm
 of torque.
On the Passat, the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine produces
190 hp
 and a segment-leading
 320 Nm
 of torque. Torque to weight ratio wise, the Accord achieves a figure of
 0.18 Nm/kg
, compared to
0.22 Nm/kg
 on the Passat.
Based on the torque figure, the Accord probably loses out slightly to the Passat in terms of straight-line acceleration – a quick check online shows that the Passat does the century sprint in about eight seconds, compared to the claimed
nine seconds
 from Honda.
Obviously, performance shouldn’t be the main factor in a swanky D-segment executive sedan, but there really shouldn’t be any issues when you to overtake someone on the highway in either of these cars.
Although losing on outright performance, there are other merits to having a smaller capacity engine too – The Accord claims to have a fuel consumption of
6.3 l/100km
.
On the other hand, the larger 2.0-litre engine on the Passat has a fuel consumption figure of
6.5 l/100km
 – admittedly still an admirable result.
With a smaller engine, you’ll also be paying a lower road tax rate – The 1,498 displacement engine on the Accord costs just
RM 90 per year
, while the larger 1,984 cc engine on the Passat costs almost
RM380 per year
 to keep it on the road.
If driving dynamics is something you care about though, the seven-speed wet-clutch DSG gearbox will probably be quite a bit better to drive than the CVT on the Honda Accord.
INTERIOR
Most D-segment sedans have pretty conservative interior designs, and that’s no different in our two contenders here. But what sets these cars apart are the features packed in the cabin.
Apart from the basics, it’s apparent that the Passat is slightly better-equipped in this match-up. On the German side of the ring, the Passat gains on its tri-zone automatic air conditioning, and a 12-way powered driver seat with a massaging function.
The Passat also has a larger
9.2-inch infotainment display
 compared to the
8-inch unit
 on the Accord. Additionally, the Passat Elegance also gets
wireless Apple CarPlay
 connectivity on its Discover Pro infotainment system.
Space wise though, the Accord still trumps here. Measuring larger in all dimensions, passengers should get more leg room, shoulder room and also headroom in the Accord. Surprisingly though, the Passat has the larger boot capacity between the two, coming in at
586 litres
 – 16 litres larger than the Accord.
SAFETY
Comparing the Volkswagen Passat Elegance against the standard 1.5TC Honda Accord, safety features are pretty much neck and neck between the two. Though with just a slight top-up in price from the Passat, the Accord 1.5TC-P (
RM195,900
) does offer quite a bit of value when it comes to safety.
With the Premium variant, the Honda Accord gets the full suite of
Honda Sensing
 advance driver assistance features, which includes Adaptive Cruise Control with Low Speed Follow, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keep Assist System, Lane Departure Warning, Road Departure Mitigation and Auto High Beam.
Although no advance safety features are included, The Passat Elegance still comes equipped with Side Assist with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, and Blind Spot Monitor – the former two only available with the Accord 1.5TC-P.
VERDICT
There’s really not a wrong answer in this segment of vehicles – it all comes down to what features really matter to you. If you’re looking for a better drivability, the Volkswagen Passat Elegance with the higher torque figure and DSG gearbox might be a better fit.
On the other hand, the Honda Accord in the 1.5TC-P variant does have a better safety equipment list if that’s what you’re looking for.
Of course, there’s always the venerable
Toyota Camry
, which comes with the Toyota Safety Sense advanced driver assistance suite, and the brilliant TNGA platform which makes the car a joy to drive.
If you don’t mind the ride height (or perceived image), SUVs such as the
Honda CR-V
,
Mazda CX-8
 and the
Hyundai Santa Fe
 are also great value propositions at this price point.
We have reviewed the
Volkswagen Passat Elegance
 and
Toyota Camry
 in full – do check them out to help you make up your mind, too.


Drama, conflicts and victories – Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival draws to an emphatic close

After the last three legs taking place first in Penang, Johor and MAEPS, Serdang, the finale of the inaugural Vios Challenge, at Technology Park, Bukit Jalil continued to present nail-biting drama as all three categories – Promotional, Sporting and Super Sporting – gave the 20,000-strong crowd over the weekend lots of excitement.
The Promotional Class may have been aimed at celebrity racers including the likes of Shawn Lee, Fattah Amin, Diana Danielle and Venice Min to name a few but the quality of racing was as evident as their prowess on screen.  The final race saw Shawn Lee in pole position followed by Shukri Yahaya and Diana Danielle.
When the lights turned green, Shukri made a great pass on Shawn on the opening lap while Fattah Amin rapidly moved in on Diana Danielle to clinch 3rd place off her.
Fattah Amin then made tremendous progress with the leading pack to snatch 2nd place off Shawn Lee, who was having transmission problems.
Shawn slipped further down to 4th after Diana made up place to 3rd position before the end of the race. Yet, Shawn Lee walked home the overall champion of the Promotional Class having flourished in previous races.
In the Sporting Class, Brendan Paul of Team Dream Chaser led the pack in pole position with Brendon Lim of Tedco Racing and Patrick Tam of Team NanoPlus in 2nd and 3rd place.
The top two positions were swapped immediately after Brendan Paul was caught off-guard, allowing Brandon Lim to creep ahead going into Turn 1. Brendan Paul later on made a bold move and dove into the inside of a right turn to pass Brendon Lim with the two exchanging paintwork along the way.
With double wins in Race 1 and 2, Brendan Paul clinched the Sporting Class championship, despite missing the season opener in Penang, impressively.
The category to watch though, had to be the Super Sporting Class – starring the likes of Tengku Djan and Mark Darwin among other top drivers. The start of the final race saw Tengku Djan of Team NanoPlus and Mark Darwin of Team Dream Chaser both making perfect starts with Ser Ming Hui of MMCS Sports Racing in third making things difficult for those tailing behind him.
Contact was made between 3rd place Ser Ming Hui and William Ho in 4th position going into Turn 1. Following an intense pursuit, things took an ugly turn when William Ho again nudged into Ser Ming Hui from the back, causing him to go into a spin on the back straight. Despite earlier engine issues, Tengku Djan did not look back and opened up a five second gap over Mark Darwin in 2nd to cruise to a comfortable win.
The race ended with Tengku Djan taking first place, Mark Darwin in 2nd and William Ho in 3rd. Later on, the results were overturned with William Ho dropped two positions down the order as a penalty for the offence on Ser Ming Hui, ultimately costing him the championship. That left Tengku Djan to walk home the champion of the Super Sporting category along with a brand new Toyota Vios.
It was indeed a thrilling end to an exciting season of impeccable motor racing in the inaugural Vios Challenge. It was also without a doubt a celebration of grassroots racing the Malaysian motorsport fans have not seen in a long while. Bring on the next season!
IMAGE GALLERY


2022 Kia Carnival CKD pricing confirmed for Malaysia – RM231k to RM261k

Although not officially open for booking just yet, Dinamikjaya Motor has put the locally-assembled (CKD) 2022
Kia Carnival
on a preview over the weekend, with pricing information for the MPV now available.
The new CKD 2022 Kia Carnival will be offered in three different variants, in seven- and eight-seater guises as opposed to the 11-seater layout that was standard on the
 existing fully-imported model
, and are priced as follows (on-the-road, without insurance, inclusive of SST):
2.2D 8-Seater –
RM 231,228
2.2D 8-Seater ‘High’ –
RM 247,228
2.2D 7-seater ‘High’ –
RM 261,228
As previously reported
, the pricing is indeed higher than the existing fully-imported counterpart, as the latter benefitted from preferential taxation status with the 11-seater being categorised as commercial vehicle.
At least, you do get a couple of extra standard equipment to help make up for the steep price increase, including a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in place of the analogue unit of the imported model, new LED tail lights, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, sunroof, heated and ventilated seats, as well as the Kia Drive Wise suite of advanced driver assistance systems, depending on variant.
The latter, said to be exclusive to the High variants, will come with features such as autonomous emergency braking with cross traffic detection, adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, lane centring and lane keeping assist, blind spot and rear cross traffic collision avoidance, as well as automatic high beam.
While detailed specifications will have to wait until closer to the official launch, we do know that the existing 2.2-litre turbodiesel mill will be retained on the 2022 CKD Kia Carnival, which makes
202 hp
 and
44
0
 Nm
 to drive the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Check out our first-drive impressions of the Kia Carnival here!


Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric EV pricing confirmed for Malaysia – RM262,460

Three weeks since it was
 first unveiled here in Malaysia
, Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) has now officially announced the pricing for its first-ever fully-electric model, the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric, coming in at
RM262,459.75
 on-the-road, without insurance, and inclusive of all relevant tax exemptions.
As the Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric is locally-assembled here at VCM’s Shah Alam plant, it is exempt from sales tax, road tax, import duties for all imported CKD parts, as well as excise duties until the end of 2025.
The pricing essentially makes the Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric the range-topping variant in the line-up, costing approximately RM20k higher than the
T5 Recharge plug-in hybrid variant
 (RM242,055), and RM32k more than the
non-PHEV XC40 T5
 (RM230,091).
RELATED: Volvo Car Malaysia to launch one EV per year from 2022 – XC40 Recharge, C40 this year
For that price, which Volvo calls “hassle-free price”, the XC40 Recharge Pure Electric EV will also come with a five-year warranty and free service package, an eight-year battery warranty, five-year roadside assistance package, as well as an included charging cable.
The Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric is now available for order via its new online ordering page, linked
here
, as part of the company’s pledge to become completely carbon-neutral by 2040.
As a quick recap, the Volvo XC40 Recharge EV is powered by a P8 twin-motor set-up, with a total system output of
408 hp
 and
660 Nm
 of torque. Drive is sent to all four wheels (one motor per axle), which propels the compact SUV from 0-100 km/h in just
4.9 seconds
 – the quickest of all Volvo SUVs on sale.
The motors sip power from a 78 kWh battery pack for a rated range of
418 km
 from a full charge based on the WLTP test cycle. To charge, the XC40 EV supports AC charging of up to 11 kWh, taking roughly 7.5 hours for a full charge, or DC fast charging at up to 150 kWh which juices the battery from 0-80% SoC in roughly 33 minutes.
In terms of features, the fully-electric Volvo XC40 Recharge’s spec sheet matches closely to its other ICE-powered brethens. The main difference, aside from the powertrain of course, comes in the form of the Google Android Automotive operating system running on the infotainment and digital instrument cluster displays.
The software allows the Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric to be tightly integrated into Google’s services, including an EV-focused Google Maps experience, Google Assistant, as well as a Google Play Store to download other additional apps such as Spotify.
At RM262k, the Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric is priced roughly RM16k cheaper than its chief rival, the fully-imported
Mercedes-Benz EQA 250
, but just RM7k cheaper than the larger, range-topping
Hyundai Ioniq 5
 Max with the extended five-year warranty package. Which would you choose?


UMW Toyota Motor sold 22,447 cars in Q1 2022, March 2022 sales up 32%

UMW Toyota Motor
has just published its sales performance report for March 2022, recording a total sale of 8,386 units for the Toyota brand, and 101 units for Lexus.
The figure represents a 32% and 53% increase in sales over February for the two brands respectively. As a whole, total sales for the first quarter of 2022 reached 22,447 units, which is incidentally also a 32% increase over the
same period last year
.
The company attributes the positive growth in sales to its ongoing promotions, including value added benefits worth RM4,000 for its two best-selling models, the
Vios
 and
Yaris
.
UMW Toyota is also anticipating a further boost in its sales figures thanks to new product launches later in the year, which it says will offer “best value of money deals to its customers, along with top-of-the-line security features and enhanced performance”. Could it be the highly-rumoured
all-new Toyota Veloz
?
Video: 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid in Malaysia from RM136k
Commenting on the parts supply shortage that has plagued its productions, UMW Toyota Motor President, Ravindran K. said, “We are constantly reviewing and adapting to the changing circumstances and uncertainties. We are working closely with our suppliers and monitoring the developments closely to ensure minimal impact to our production and our customers.”
“As we transform towards sustainable mobility, Toyota aims to leave no one behind as we continue to beat the forefront in offering value for money innovations equipped with technological advancements and state-of-the-art safety features across all our products,” he added.
In conjunction with the months of Ramandan and Syawal, UMW Toyota Motor is offering a chance for customers to win ‘
duit raya
‘ with the new
 Pandu Uji dan Menang Duit Raya
 contest, as part of its
Bersama Lebih Bermakna
 celebrations.
From now until the 1 May 2022, each test drive at any Toyota showroom will represent one contest entry to win RM100, while a successful vehicle booking will give the participant a chance to receive RM200
duit raya
. A total of 30 winners will be selected weekly.
In addition, the celebrations will also include a Ramadan Weekender event on the 16th and 17th April at all Toyota outlets nationwide, where the company will be offering exclusive ‘
bulan puasa
‘ deals and value added offers, in addition to exclusive free gifts when you test drive a vehicle.


This retractable soft-top, stretched Land Rover is a statement of wealth

Today’s world dictates that for one to standout, one has to be different. Whether it’s with your choice of phone covers, clothing or vehicle (and its colour) of preference.
A lot of us own the cars we do because of specific reasons – we like how it looks, how it drives, how technologically advance or efficient it is but no one will have a legitimate reason to own a Mercedes G63 AMG 6×6 or a
Kahn Flying Huntsman
 (pictured below) – unless you spend most of your life in the North Pole or in a deserted wasteland.

These cars are purely a statement of wealth – a means to flaunt your riches in such an exuberant way that an average continental car owner would feel inferior. In terms of exuberance, there are only a handful of cars out there that can match up to the stretched, soft-top Land Rover Defender.
The Flying Huntsman which debuted in 2015 costed a whopping RM 1.25 million and came with 6.2-litre V8 making
430 hp
. Prices for the soft-top version of the Flying Huntsman has yet to be revealed but 6x6s on Kahn Automobile’s website are listed for as much as RM 1.3 million so expect the soft-top to fetch a figure in that ball park.


New Toyota Hilux unveiled with significant styling and performance upgrades

Toyota has given the venerable
Hilux pick-up truck
 a new facelift, including significant updates to the styling, drivetrain, and chassis, to ward off stiffer competition.
On the exterior styling, the new Hilux gets an enlarged hexagonal grille, surrounded by a much thicker chrome trim to emphasise its three-dimensional appearance. On higher-end variants, the surrounding trim piece extends downwards, dominating the entire front fascia, giving the pick-up truck a tougher appearance and increased road presence.
The new Toyota Hilux also gets a redesigned slimmer headlights, and depending on variant, features Bi-Beam LED illumination and LED daytime running lights. Meanwhile at the back, the redesigned LED taillights take on a new angular LED light signature. The pick-up truck rides on 17- or 18-inch alloys depending on the variant.
The updates made to the interior are less obvious, with the dashboard architecture still pretty much identical to when the model
first launched in 2015
. The analogue instrument cluster has been slightly redesigned featuring a 4.2-inch multi-info display, and depending on the trim level, you now get a new eight-inch touchscreen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.
Underneath the hood, the 2.8-litre turbodiesel mill has been given a significant power bump, now producing
 204 hp
 and
500 Nm
 of torque (up from 177 hp and 450 Nm). As a result, Toyota claims that the Hilux will now reach 100 km/h from a standstill in just
10 seconds flat
, while also returning an average fuel consumption of
7.8 l/100km
.
In other markets, the updated Hilux is also with the existing 2.4-litre turbodiesel, producing 150 hp and 400 Nm of twist. All engines are paired to a six-speed automatic or manual gearbox.
Toyota Hilux Revo PreRunner (Thailand)
Toyota Hilux Revo Recco (Thailand)
Toyota Hilux Revo Recco (Thailand)
On the chassis, Toyota has fitted the new Hilux with a revised suspension set-up – retuned shock absorbers and leaf spring structure – to improve comfort on the road. Despite the plusher ride, the pick-up truck’s hauling capabilities have been improved – all 4×4 now have a one tonne payload and a 3.5 tonne towing capacity; the 4×2 variants gets bumped to 300 kg and 2.8 tonnes respectively.
The offroad prowess of the Hilux have also been worked on, featuring a new electronically-controlled slip differential on 2WD models, lower engine idle speeds, new vehicle stability control system, new tyre angle monitor, and a retuned accelerator response.
IMAGE GALLERY


SpyBuzz: BMW G30 M5 leaked ahead of global reveal, looks like it’s ready to kill!

As the internet grows more connected than ever, carmakers find themselves trying to keep their upcoming models under wraps increasingly challenging. Another vehicle to be stripped naked and put on display for the entire world to see ahead of its official debut is the BMW G30 M5.
A series of undisguised images of the new M5 was uploaded to a Korean-based YouTube channel
Return
. From the snippets, the model displayed is unmistakeably the G30 M5 from the obvious M5 badges at the kidney grille, front fenders and rear trunk. Visually, the M5 wears a more aggressive front and rear bumper, but looks somewhat tamed when parked next to the M-Performance.

It appears that the M5 loses the bumper integrated LED fog lamps in favour of larger scoops presumably to channel more air into the engine bay. The wing mirror housings now dittos the ones on the M3 and
M4
. At the rear, the M5’s iconic quad-tailpipes are retained and are handsomely tucked into both ends of the bumper with diffuser. A little duck tail spoiler can also be seen. Curiously, the xDrive badge denoting all-wheel drive beemers are nowhere to be found.
As for the wheels, they are 20-inch multi-spoke diamond cut items wrapped in 275/35 profile at the front but with the limited information at hand, we can’t tell what’s on the rear axles. However, the gold brake calipers are a very nice touch.

Inside, the M5 gets the same kit as the regular 5-er with additional bits such as the M gear leaver, three-spoke M steering wheel with paddle shifters, carbon fibre trimmings, M5-specific bucket seats and M5-specific iDrive menu.
Motivating the most hardcore 5 Series is a
4.4-litre bi-turbo V8 lump
 that will outdo the previous generation
F10 M5 Competition
 in terms of performance. Expect the M5’s powerplant to best the M550i xDrive’s output of
 462 hp
/
650 Nm
 and
4.0 seconds
 century sprint time. Like the
M550i xDrive
, the new M5 will be equipped with an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive (rear bias).
The new BMW G30 M5 is scheduled to debut next week while on the local front, BMW Malaysia has only one variant of the G30 5 Series on sale, the
530i M Sport for RM398,800
. With the
Mercedes-AMG E43
 (though the
E63
 is the M5’s direct competitor) officially on sale here, perhaps BMW Malaysia could consider bringing in the M5 and slay the high-performance business saloon segment.
IMAGE GALLERY


Abarth 595 Yamaha Factory Racing Edition revealed, gets 160hp and 230 Nm

Abarth is celebrating its position as the Official Sponsor and Car Supplier to the FIM MotoGP Championship with the launch of a new range of 595 sports hatches – the Abarth 595 Yamaha Factory Racing Edition. Abarth is a brand known for making performance exhausts and other hot bits for Fiat cars for over half a century. Now, they’ve taken their expertise and applied them to this pukka Fiat 500.
Created from a partnership with the
Yamaha Factory Team
, and with world champion riders
Valentino Rossi
 and
Jorge Lorenzo
 who are on course for an historic one-two finish in this year’s championship, the tiny Fiat is powered by Abarth’s potent
1.4-litre T-Jet
 engine that churns out
160 hp
 and
 230 Nm
 of torque.  The 595 Yamaha Factory Racing Edition is further enhanced with a
Record Monza
 exhaust system,
Koni shock absorbers
 with
FSD
 (frequency selective dampers) valves and
Eibach
 lowering
springs
.
This tiny city runabout does boast some impressive figures, such a century sprint time of just
 7.4 seconds
 with an eventual top speed of
210 km/h
 shot out via a
five-speed stick shifter
. But what sets this apart from any other Fiat 500? With
17-inch
 matte black alloy wheels, painted brake callipers and optional matching Abarth side stripes and mirror covers, there is no mistaking the 595 Yamaha Factory Racing Edition.
Darkened windows, a flat-bottom leather steering wheel, aluminium pedals and a special ‘Yamaha Factory Racing’ badge – all as standard – enhance the model’s sporting credentials. Xenon headlamps, leather interior and dual zone air conditioning are among the cost options that are offered should it tickle you fancy. The 595 Yamaha Factory Racing Edition retails for £17,420 or about
RM115k
.


At RM79,890, the Mitsubishi Triton Quest is the most affordable pick up in Malaysia

The Triton for the working man is here – the Triton “Quest” – priced at an unbelievably enticing RM79,800 and is accompanied with a 5-year factory warranty or 100,000 km, whichever comes first.
For that you don’t get the current 2.4-litre turbocharged MIVEC engine with 181 hp and 430 Nm but instead you get the older, proven 2.5-litre turbocharged powertrain with
110 hp
 and
200 Nm
.
Granted, these figures are substantially smaller than the more desirable Triton models higher up the spectrum but the Triton Quest only weighs 1,600 kg (kerb weight), nearly 400 kg lighter than its more luxurious siblings.
You don’t get the optimised 6-speed automatic gearbox in the higher grade Tritons too. Instead, the Quest is only available with 5-speed manual, in 4×2 rear-wheel drive configuration and with a White Diamond exterior only.
Built for the heavy lifters, the Triton Quest comes with a load capacity of up to 970 kg, and the largest cargo deck in the low rider category. Spartan as it may seem both on the inside and outside (it doesn’t even come with a rear bumper), the Triton Quest does come with some basic modern amenities.
Among them includes a reverse camera, auto off headlamp function, a multi-information display, speed sensing wipers, one-touch turn indicators, along with dual airbags, ABS with EBD and ISOFIX – because the working men have families too.
IMAGE GALLERY


2022 Mercedes-Benz A-Class updated with mild facelift and new 48V MHEV engines

Four years after its
introduction back in 2018
, Mercedes-Benz has now unveiled a mild mid-cycle update to the fourth-generation Mercedes-Benz A-Class, which continues to be offered in both hatchback and sedan body styles.
In this case, however, the term ‘mild’ actually means a little more – in a literal sense. Because in addition to the light facelift with several minor design tweaks, the updated 2022 Mercedes-Benz A-Class is also now offered with 48V mild-hybrid electrification across all petrol powertrain options, the only exception being the
AMG A 45 S
.
While actual output figures are unchanged from before, the new 48V MHEV powertrains come with an additional belt-driven starter-generator (RSG), capable of providing up to 14 hp of temporary boost when needed. Additionally, the RSG also allows for a quieter and smoother engine start-up, as well as a ‘sailing’ feature where the combustion engine is shut off during steady cruising.
RELATED:
CKD Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan launched in Malaysia – from RM211k
The powertrain offerings for the standard A-Class are unchanged from before, including four petrol, three diesel, and a plug-in hybrid variant. For us Malaysians, we are more familiar with the 1.3-litre turbocharged inline-four-powered A 200 with
163 hp
 and
270 Nm
, as well as the A 250 with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, making and unchanged
224 hp
 and
350 Nm
.
The A-Class’ AMG line-up has also been updated. The AMG A 35 gains the same RSG mild-hybrid system as its other petrol siblings, alongside a new eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox replacing the old seven-speed unit, while the “regular” A 45 model has been dropped, leaving the A 45 S at the top of the pecking order. Just like the other variants, output figures are unchanged for both of these AMG models.
As for looks, it really is just about as mild as it gets. New to the 2022 Mercedes-Benz A-Class are the new headlamps, which have been slightly reshaped and now come with a new single-line daytime-running light signature, alongside a slightly resized front grille, redesigned LED tail lights signature, and reworked bumpers.
The bonnet on the A-Class now comes with two power bulges on all variants for a more aggressive look, while the new wheel designs round up the exterior visual changes. Specifically for the AMG models, the round badge on the bonnet edge now shows an AMG emblem instead of (another) three-pointed star.
ALSO READ:
Locally-assembled Mercedes-AMG A35 4MATIC sedan now with new features!
The interior of the new 2022 Mercedes-Benz A-Class is largely unchanged compared to the pre-facelift model, save for the new steering wheel that was first introduced on the
new E-Class back in 2020
. On the AMG models, the steering wheel also comes with an additional rotary dial for quick access to your performance settings.
Sharp-eyed viewers will notice that the touchpad panel on the centre console has also been removed, replaced by a shallow storage cubby for your smartphone, and joined by a small island of buttons for the Dynamic Select driving mode selector, parking assistance systems, a volume dial, as well as a new fingerprint sensor.
Mercedes-Benz says the new fingerprint sensor is expected to be available from the 1st quarter of 2023, and will function as a quick switch for driver profile selection in the central display, as well as driver-specific settings like seats adjustments. Presumably, the fingerprint sensor will also help authenticate payments in supported countries in the future, as previewed on the
all-new S-Class
.
Order books for the facelifted Mercedes-Benz A-Class will start in the final few months of the year in Europe, with market launches expected in Q1 of 2023. The model’s Malaysian launch should follow not too long after, although likely to be widely available in the sedan form only; the A-class hatchback is currently only available on an indent-order basis for interested customers, with a higher price tag due to the hatchback model being fully-imported only.
GALLERY


The one-off Ferrari KC23 looks way too good to be a track-only car

What you’re looking at isn’t a concept car. It is an actual new car from
Ferrari
, but one that isn’t bound by homologation constraints. This is the Ferrari KC23, and it is a one-off Ferrari for track use only. Yes, this one-off creation is not road-legal, but thanks to its owner, it will be making its first public appearance at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed and will also be on display at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello from August 1 to October 2, 2023.
The special one-off creation is based on the Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo 2020 which is Ferrari’s most successful track car in its 76-year history. Having collected over 530 victories and 119 championship wins, it isn’t exactly a bad platform to build a unique private Ferrari.
Being a track-only car, the Ferrari KC23 isn’t bound by homologation constraints. Destined to be a radical creation, all of the 488 GT3 Evo 2020’s lines were redesigned, with glass surfaces and light clusters included.
The result is a futuristic Ferrari with moving body panels (active aero), a front end that pays homage to the 499P endurance racer, and a rear end that is inspired by the Ferrari Vision Gran Turismo Single Seater. Stunning is quite an understatement (at least based on the picture) and it is a shame that this one-off Ferrari is limited to track use only. Even the special colour begs to be shown off in public.
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Speaking of the colour, the paintwork is a specially-developed 4-layer aluminium livery called “Gold Mercury”. Part of the paint is a liquid metal which gives it a luminous gleam in the sunlight. The colour changes depending on the light and where you’re standing. It all just seems a little too precious to be taken to the track. But hey, Ferrari says that the KC23 has been designed exclusively for “non-competitive track use” as opposed to the road.
Set to make its first public appearance at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, it would be interesting to see the KC23 in person. Especially since it adopts a clean look when parked (with the aero bits hidden), but as soon as you start the car, it transforms using custom kinematics to reveal its huge air intakes and active aerodynamics. To top it all off, the KC23 comes with butterfly doors.
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Essentially the 488 GT3 Evo 2020 underneath it all, the Ferrari KC23 is powered by a 3.9-litre V8 Twin Turbo engine that outputs
600 hp
 at 7,000 rpm and
700 Nm
 at 6,000 rpm. The transmission is a sequential 7-speed by Getrag. No further performance figures have been shared.
Inside, the KC23 is a Spartan racer with toggle switches, a roll cage, a utilitarian instrument cluster and a racecar steering wheel. The bucket seats are wrapped in Alcantara, bridging the focused interior and the urbane exterior.
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Sometimes Ferrari’s unique SP cars are never shown in public. In this case, the owner is keen to share his collaboration with the world. The KC23 will make its first public appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK from July 13 to 16, before going on display at the Ferrari Museum in Maranello from August 1 to October 2, much to the delight of the Ferraristi.
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