Review: 2016 Mercedes-Benz A 250 Sport, the competent little Benz

Sometimes, things just don’t go as planned. When Mercedes-Benz launched the W168 A-Class back in the late 90s, one of their intentions was to lower the median age of their buyers. They thought by creating a revolutionary compact car would draw the younger crowd towards the brand, so they prepared a hearty ‘sandwich’ – a sandwich platform, that is.
It was an engineering feat – the ingenious platform allowed the engine to be mounted partially underneath the front occupants’ feet, which in return gives the small Merc a spacious interior. But it turns out that the tall mini-MPV profile and the high driving position favoured senior buyers more than the hip and trendy youngsters.
So after two generations, the sandwich was cut and a new plan was hatched, to which the third generation A-Class – a much better and sleeker looking hatch – was conceived. Debuted in 2012, the W176 A-Class rides on a simpler but more flexible MFA platform which also underpins four other compact models in the Merc’s stable, ranging from a hatchback to a crossover. In this way, Mercedes-Benz is able to broaden its appeal to a wider range of customers in a more cost-effective way.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Mercedes-Benz A 250 Sport

Engine
1,991cc; turbocharged inline-four
Transmission
7G-DCT, 7-speed dual-clutch
Max Power
211 hp @ 5,500 rpm
Max Torque
350 Nm @ 1,200 – 4,000 rpm
Price (OTR without insurance)
RM238,888
Three years after the debut, Mercedes gave the A-Class a
mild update
 with a tweaked software and a very subtle styling refresh. For the
Malaysian market
, you can choose from three non-AMG variants of the facelifted A-Class. RM196k will net you the
A 180
 powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-banger, and if you top up another RM10k for the
A 200
 you’ll get 34 hp and 50 Nm more from the same engine and a more fetching AMG Line kit. But this writer is testing neither of the two, because yours truly was given the keys to the range-topping
A 250 Sport
 powered by a bigger
2.0-litre inline-four turbo
, costing just below RM240k. Sounds interesting, though I’m still not so sure about the colour on this test unit.
EXTERIOR
This
Oriental Brown
 hue might not be to everyone’s tastes, although I kind of like it under bright sunlight, much like MINI’s
Iced Chocolate Metallic
 that got me craving for some sort of chocolatey beverage. Anyway, the A-Class’ transition from a pseudo mini-MPV format to a sleeker two-box hatchback body style is very much welcomed, but to this writer’s eyes the latest A-Class is not quite as graceful as the booted sibling, the CLA.

A couple of things that got under my skin is the lower character line on the flanks that rises abruptly towards the rear lights, and the overall side profile. The lines are much smoother on the CLA, and unlike that 4-door Coupe, the A-Class doesn’t have a tail to balance out the long front overhang, thus creating a rather awkward proportion when viewed from the side.
Did the recent facelift address those niggles? No, Mercedes-Benz just threw in new bumpers, new
LED High Performance headlamps
 with
Adaptive High Beam Assist
, and a redesigned LED pattern in the tail lights. Old man’s gripes aside, the A-Class does have what the younger demographic is looking for. ‘Sport’ is the word of the day, and the A 250 is not shy to admit that with a chrome emblem that literally says that on its front fenders.

It doesn’t end there, obviously. The A 250 Sport is fitted with
AMG Line
 bumpers like on the A 200, but on the A 250 they’re garnished with mean red slashes to go with the red brake calipers. The whole sporty package sits
15 mm lower
 to the ground courtesy of the
sports suspension
, and filling up the wheel arches is a set of five spoke
18-inch rims
 wrapped in
235/40 R18
 Michelin Pilot Sport 3 rubbers.
INTERIOR
The sporty theme continues on the inside. The red highlights pop out in an otherwise sombre all-black interior, a far cry from the more classy almond beige interior we’ve seen in the
CLA
 before. Build quality is solid although there are some hits and misses in terms of the materials used. The combination of
leather and alcantara
 upholstery is just lovely, but the faux carbon on the dash somewhat degrade the cabin ambiance.

For the facelifted model, the buttons on the center head unit have been redesigned – not that you’d notice them anyway, but one of them is called ‘
Dynamic Select
‘ and it lets you cycle through four driving modes available: Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual. The driver gets a
new steering wheel
 and a redesigned instrument cluster, while the
8-inch screen
 in the middle of the dashboard is an inch bigger than before.
Whereas there’s no issue regarding space in the front two seats, the space in the back is cocooning to say the least. Head room is rather limited and elbow room is very tight when three adults occupy the rear bench, but that’s pretty much expected from a compact hatch in this category. Two adults will do just fine in the back although my colleague did point out the that rear passengers should take note on the sharp lower edge of the front seat that might come into contact against their lower shins.

For all that, the A-Class is not short of practical features. In the center console alone there’s a couple of lidded storage, two cup holders, and a cubby hole under the arm rest. In the back, the rear seat’s backrest have a
load-through door
 in the middle and they
split 60/40 and fold flat
 to extend the boot space. The boot will take
341 litres
 of cargo with additional storage space under the boot floor, although the narrow hatch opening slightly hampers its usability when it comes to loading and unloading bigger items.
PERFORMANCE
The
M270
 turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder has been around since the debut of the third-gen A-Class, and in the facelifted
A 250 Sport
 it was supposed to get a few extra horses. Unfortunately due to our local fuel quality, the output figures remain the same as the pre-facelifted A 250. Regardless,
211 hp
 and
350 Nm
 is already a healthy figure, but a few more wouldn’t hurt, right?
Even so, the
seven-speed dual-clutch
 transmission assigned to deliver the torque to the front wheels has been updated, cutting the
0 to 100 km/h
 sprint time by 0.2 seconds to
6.4 seconds
. The
top speed
 remains at
240 km/h
, while the fuel consumption is slightly better than before, at
6.2 litres per 100 km
.
THE DRIVE
Forget about the lofty driving position of the old A-Class, the new one sits you closer to the tarmac, reminding you about its transformation from a mundane mom’s ride into a proper driver’s car. I think it does the trick, but the trade-off is that the view out is not particularly generous, especially with the shallow windows and the thick C-pillars round the back.
But don’t let that be a deterrent for you, as the W176 A-Class is still an easy car to drive in the city. And if you worry that the limited rear view will make it a harder car to park, there’s a
reverse camera
 to guide you and also
Park Assist
 for a hands-free parking manouvre. With the
Dynamic Select
 in
Comfort
 mode, the A 250 steers easily with a light but precise rack, and the throttle response is leisurely but progressive. The dual-clutch ‘box is not as quick as its rivals but it doesn’t jerk as bad at crawling speed, making it much more manageable in stop-and-go traffic. And then there’s the ride…
The A 250’s ride reminded me of another MFA-underpinned Merc I’ve driven before, the
CLA 200
, which is to say that it’s less than pleasant most of the time. Although strangely, the sports suspension setup in the A 250 feels a touch more forgiving than the standard suspension fitted on the CLA 200. It seems to have a more lax attitude towards broken surfaces, but bigger potholes will still send nasty jolts up the cabin.
The firm suspension setup may keep the A 250 reassuringly planted during a high speed cruise, but sadly we live in a country where smooth roads are as scarce as hen’s teeth, and for that reason a relaxed cruise in this compact hatch is hard to come by. The cabin insulation too is not as per usual Merc’s typically high standards. Constant tyre hum and other external noise will accompany you on every journey, so you better get your playlist sorted before setting off to override the outside hubbub.
However, the A 250 is a very capable car in the backroads. It seemed unperturbed when rushed through serpentine roads, showcasing its impressive body control and serious pace, although the turbo four needs a little bit of working to get past its laggy state at the south of 1,500 rpm. For a livelier throttle, switch the
Dynamic Select
 to
Sport
 and you should be able to get the most out of the engine, but as mentioned, the dual-clutch transmission is not always quick, and it sometimes ignores your input when you want to manually downshift.
There’s a good deal of grip that made me wonder, why would the A-Class require an all-wheel drive system, although turn-in isn’t particularly sharp and in Sport mode the steering can feel a tad artificial every now and then. Personally I’d preset my own
Individual
 mode by pairing the Sport setting of the powertrain with the steering in Comfort setting, which helps to make the car feel more agile around tight corners. Still, it’s not something I would call as an entertaining drive.
At the end of the day if you’re planning to do an economy run in the A 250 you will need to be a very tolerant driver to try to match the claimed fuel consumption by activating the Eco mode via the Dynamic Select. And if you are, you definitely can better my average of 8.6 litres per 100 km.
IS THIS CAR FOR YOU?
For those who have always wanted a sporting hatchback from Mercedes, your prayers have been answered. Just don’t expect the A-Class to glide through rough roads without shaking your internals, and you’ll have a competent handler on twisty roads. If you’re just going for the looks then the A 180 (RM43k cheaper) should suffice, and if you require more space there’s the B-Class, the CLA, or the GLA to consider. On a separate note, the bigger, rear-wheel drive (but less powerful)
C 180 Avantgarde
 is actually not that far off the scale when it comes to pricing – it’s just RM10k more than the A 250 Sport.
COMPARISONS
BMW
 Malaysia doesn’t sell the
1 Series
 with a 2.0-litre engine anymore, and
Audi
 only sells their
A3
 in sedan guise, leaving only the
Volkswagen Golf GTI
 as the A 250 Sport’s closest sparring partner. Both possess near identical performance figures, but each car has its own advantages.
Even though I personally don’t quite like how the A-Class looks, we could agree that the Golf is no match for the striking A-Class. On the other hand, the Golf yields a more spacious interior beneath its modest looks, and it also rides with more pliancy over the A-Class. But perhaps the biggest pull of the GTI is its price, which undercuts the Benz by at least RM12k.
Mercedes-Benz A 250 Sport
Volkswagen Golf GTI
ENGINE
Type
inline-4, DOHC, turbocharged
inline-4, DOHC, turbocharged
Displacement
cc
1,991cc
1,984cc
Max Power
hp/rpm
211/5,500
217/4,500
Max Torque
Nm/rpm
350/1,200
350/1,500
STEERING
Type
Electronic Power Steering
Electronic Power Steering
DRIVETRAIN
Transmission
7-speed dual-clutch
6-speed dual-clutch
SUSPENSION
Front
MacPherson Strut
MacPherson Strut
Rear
Multi-link
Multi-link
BRAKES
Front
Ventilated & Perforated Disc
Ventilated Disc
Rear
Solid Disc
Solid Disc
TYRE & WHEELS
Tyre
235/40 R18
225/40 R18
Wheels
18-inch Alloy
18-inch Alloy
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
Overall Length
mm
4,299mm
4,268mm
Overall Width
mm
1,780mm
1,799mm
Overall Height
mm
1,438mm
1,442mm
Wheelbase
mm
2,699mm
2,637mm
Max Kerb Weight
kg
1,455 kg
1,370 kg
Luggage Capacity (VDA)
Litres
341 litres
380 litres
FUEL
Tank Capacity
Litres
50 litres
50 litres
Consumption
litres per 100km
6.2 litres
6.4 litres
PERFORMANCE
Max Speed
km/h
240
244
0 to 100 km/h
sec
6.4
6.5
Price
RM
RM238,888.00
RM227,060.00
WOULD I BUY IT?
By diverting its focus and injecting some “sportiness” into the baby Benz, Mercedes have cited that their strategy worked brilliantly, and they now have more young people driving the A-Class compared to the previous two generations. Although I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who thinks that it could have been a better car. It has what it takes to be a fun car, except that the whole package didn’t quite work together as harmoniously as I would have liked. I’ll give this A 250 Sport a pass, but if i have to choose one from all the MFA Benzes, I’d pick the CLA anytime. At least it looks good enough to make me forgive its firm ride.
Matthew’s take: If there’s one thing the W176 A-Class proved is that looks sell, beyond a shadow of a doubt. The entire Compact Range (A, CLA, GLA Class) has turned into a go-to choice for the young and successful, whose previous choices some five years ago were the Volkswagen Golf, Audi A1 and BMW 1-Series. The A-Class has plenty of grunt for just about any kind of driving, but the rigid ride (regardless of variant) gives me no real reason to put my money down on one. But if I must choose, it’ll be the
A45
, no less.
VIDEO – Mercedes-AMG A45 vs Volkswagen Golf R (Mk7)
IMAGE GALLERY


PDRM receives 15 Mitsubishi Outlanders for use as Expressway Mobile Patrol Vehicle

It’s a far cry from the 25 units of Mitsubishi Evolution X they acquired just over a decade ago, but our esteemed police force will now have 15 units of the sturdy and robust
2.4-litre Mitsubishi Outlander
 contributed by PLUS Highway.
These vehicles were contributed to PDRM to be used as
Expressway Mobile Patrol Vehicle (EMPV)
. Carrying on with the “Helang” theme of the Evo X’s, the fleet will be know as the ‘Police Highway Eagle.
“Safety is the Mitsubishi Outlander’s strongest suit; befitting its role as a family vehicle. We are delighted to know that besides being one of the safest vehicles on the road, the Outlander is meeting
PDRM’s every requirement to assist them with the enforcement of traffic laws on the highway,” said Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia, Chief Executive Officer, Tomoyuki Shinnishi who was present to witness the handover ceremony.
“With many years of  experience in
winning the grueling Dakar Rally under its belt, Mitsubishi is also a specialist in rugged 4WD vehicles. So with the Outlander’s safety functions, power and stability, we are confident that the Outlander will do its part in assisting our policemen to eradicate traffic offences and eventually lower the risk of road accidents.”
PDRM also acquired eight Mitsubishi vehicles consisting of the Mitsubishi Outlander 2.4-litre and
Mitsubishi ASX Compact SUV
 contributed by ANIH Berhad. The contribution made by these two highway concessions were valued at an estimated
RM3 million.
The Mitsubishi Outlander recently received the “Family SUV of Malaysia” award at the

2018 Cars of Malaysia awards
.


Mazda RX-Vision rotary sports car concept unveiled in Tokyo, Skyactiv-R for Rotary!

One of motoring’s greats is making a comeback, and it’s huge. Mazda for one, is a brand that’s synonymous with perfecting the rotary-powered sports car formula, with evidence to back this stretching as far back as the 1960s. This global unveiling which took place at the Tokyo Motor Show today effectively marks the company’s 50th anniversary of rotary goodness.
Just last month, Mazda surprised us by
teasing a brand new concept sports car
 that had design cues similar to that of the iconic RX-7. Today it is confirmed – those long sweeping lines and flat-stretched bonnet are all subtle indications of what lurks under the hood. Interesting that Mazda should use the
SkyActiv-R
 moniker here as the technology is the brainchild of engineers who
do not rely
 on
forced-induction
 to extract
power
 and
efficiency
 from an engine, thus it would make this car one of the most highly anticipated roadsters since the revival of the
MX-5
.

An exquisitely proportioned
front-engine
,
rear-wheel
 drive layout, the RX-VISION represents a stunning “vision” look into the company’s future ‘s and it’s one that
countless
 fans of the brand around the world hope will become a reality. Word is that if the engineers can sort out the remaining
pre-production
 issues, we could see this concept hit showrooms by
2017
.
Rotary engines function very differently from regular internal combustion chambers. They generate power through rotational motion of triangular rotors instead of the normal reciprocal pistons in conventional engines. Mazda has faced countless technical difficulties in reviving this engine, but it seems they are making great strides in terms of research and development. When it comes to fruition, the engine will bear the SkyActiv-R badge.
“I look forward to talking with you more about this
vision
 we revealed here today at the Mazda stand, [we] will continue to take on new
challenges
 in an effort to build a special
bond
 with our customers and become their one and only brand” said Mazda’s Representative Director, President and CEO
Masamichi Kogai
.
IMAGE GALLERY


Audi to invest over RM14b next year, plans to launch new Q2, Q5 and Q6

As the coming financial year dawns, Audi Group has no plans to rest on their laurels but to continue their large investments into its product expansion strategy. By 2020, the Four Rings will see their lineup balloon to 60 different cars!
The sum invested amounted to 3 billion euros, or
just over RM14 billion
 (at press time) and will be channeled to their Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm bases. Experts will also be recruited to further develop their current technologies and alternative drive systems, of which includes the
hydrogen-powered Audi Q6 h-tron concept
 (pictured above), a model that commands a significant proportion of Audi’s investment.
The introduction of this
RM390k Audi TTS
 signals Audi Malaysia’s strong intention to expand its product lineup
Their press statement also highlighted the premium carmaker’s intent on entering a new market segment with the
Audi Q2
 next year. Also joining the all-new subcompact SUV is the successor to the
Audi Q5
 and
Audi A5
. Watch out, Munich and Stuttgart!


This seriously cool hatchback will hit European roads by late 2019

Yes, it’s been confirmed. Honda will start taking orders for the production model of the
Urban EV Concept
 by early 2019, as announced at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. It will be Honda’s first mass-produced electric vehicle sold in Europe.
Senior Vice President of Honda Motor Europe, Philip Ross, also confirmed that the production version of this highly-acclaimed concept will hit European roads
by late 2019
.
While the Urban EV Concept isn’t short of technological advancements, it’s nice to see a manufacturer adopting all the modern amenities available today (i.e. electric powertrains) but “packaging” it in such a minimalist and simplistic way.
On the outside, the empty spaces between the headlamps are capable of displaying messages to other motorists, greetings and even the car’s charging status. The Urban EV Concept features such slim A-pillars that it offers almost a 180-degree front view that sweeps around the entire front of the cabin.
The Urban EV Concept can comfortably accommodate passengers with its two bench seats, finished in different materials to replicate a lounge environment. The front row is wrapped in grey fabric and finished with wood accents. The dashboard projects a “wrap-around” effect as it extends to the side of the doors.
The displays by the door function as the car’s side mirror with images reflected from digital cameras. This eliminates the need for physical side mirrors that will undoubtedly offer cleaner exterior lines and possibly allowing the Urban EV to be more aerodynamic.


AirAsia unveils new ride-hailing service with Toyota Alphard and Vellfire fleet

AirAsia will soon be rolling out a new ride-hailing service, as announced by its CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes through the social media platform
LinkedIn
.
The single attached photo in the LinkedIn post hints that the new AirAsia ride-haling service will be offered with a fleet of
Toyota Alphard and Vellfire
 MPVs, at least for the time being.
Ride-hailing drivers will receive their third cash handout of RM500 from the Government to weather the Covid-19 pandemic. Learn more about the economic aid programme here.
No other details for the new ride-hailing service were shared thus far, but Tony Fernandes promises that the new service will be “AirAsia style”, although we’re not quite sure what that means. Based on their history as an airline, we’d assume it’ll be a low-cost option to Grab and the likes, although the vehicle fleet certainly doesn’t suggest that.
Business class for the roads?
The emblematic CEO does say that it’ll be unlike the existing services provided by
Grab
 and (previously) Uber, with a “different culture, different cabin, and more”.
Learn more about the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire here.
“If you think about it, we’ve always been a delivery company, delivering (by plane) people to destinations the world over, [and] now delivering food, packages, fintech products, and even online education. Now [we’re] hitting the road – we know delivery, we got this,” he added.
Only time will tell what AirAsia’s service will end up being, but more competition will never be a bad thing for us consumers. Either way, we’ll bring you updates on the latest developments on AirAsia’s new ride-hailing service as soon as we get them, so keep your eyes peeled.


2016 Audi S8 Plus unmasked, fastest S8 to date with 596 hp and 750 Nm of torque!

Audi surely has a knack for building fast saloon cars. Take the S8 for example. It started life as a humble limousine with a decent V6 engine, maybe a V8 as well. Then there’s lashings of leather enveloping the occupants while the supple ride and handling waft you from point to point. Sounds brilliant, no?
This sensible, stately saloon is then given multiple doses of steroids where the boffins at Audi stiffen its
aluminium space frame
 to handle the power and torque of the
4.0-litre bi-turbo
 mill that’s lifted from the
Bentley Continental GT3-R
. This engine, believe it or not, makes a scarcely believable
596 hp
 and
750 Nm
 of torque on overboost (700 Nm on regular driving).

This thundering V8 unit has been extensively modified and gains a special
engine management control
 with speed and
charge pressure boosting
 to complement its modified exhaust valves. The inner geometry of the turbocharger has also been optimised for improved efficiency, and giving it a green hand is the
eight-speed Tiptronic
 gearbox.
As a result, the S8 is able to catapult itself from standstill to 100 km/h in
 3.8 seconds
 and onto a top speed of
 305 km/h
 with the electronic speed muzzle
removed
. Stopping this hunk of metal is a job tasked to the fade-resistant
carbon fibre reinforced ceramic brakes
 that sits on a set of sticky
275/35 R21 tyres
 – yes, 21-inch wheels hold it all in place.

Like all Audi S models, the S8 gets the brand’s
AWD Quattro
 system with a sports differential that splits torque between the rear wheels for optimum directional stability. Apart from the mechanics, one other distinctive difference from the pre-facelift D4 model is the new pair of
LED Matrix
 headlights which uses mapping data from the MMI Navigation and other sensors to individually dim or illuminate the 25 individual LEDs as and when they are needed.
Inside however, the S-Sports comfort sport seats comes with with
22-way
 adjustability and memory that are exclusively upholstered in black leather with contrasting Arras red
 quilted stitching
 and piping can be had as an option. The headlining and rear parcel shelf wrapped in black Alcantara too, are cost options.

When you’re not shaming supercars and smoking them in between the lights, there’s a
14-speaker BOSE
 surround sound system for the discerning audiophile. An advanced parking system with
 top view camera
 should help you out in tight parking spots. The bottom line? It costs
 £97,700
or
 RM592,928
 without taxes and duty.
IMAGE GALLERY


Dongfeng Warrior M50 is China’s version of the Hummer H1

Remember the military-based road truck, the Hummer H1? Well, Dongfeng in China has started offering civilian versions of their own military-based pick-up truck, called the Warrior M50.
The Dongfeng Warrior M50 actually looks like the Hummer due to its localisation programme. Back in the 90s, Dongfeng was tasked to reverse-engineer the Humvee to build vehicles for the Chinese army. Dongfeng eventually built everything in-house and spawned various body types of the Warrior since 2011.
It is no surprise that the Warrior M50 is the first Chinese military vehicle to be converted for civilian use. The idea was mooted as early as 2011, where Dongfeng made some civilian concepts of EQ2050 military vehicles but received little interest from the public. Built on the same assembly line as the military version, it has been “civilised” via colourful paintwork and a more opulent interior featuring an infotainment system.
The interior continues to be a strict two-seater, with a massive space and console box between both occupants, just like the Hummer H1.
The all-new 21st century Hummer is still huge and going all-electric! Click here for more details!
Based on Chinese automotive portals, the Warrior M50 measures over five metres in length, more than two metres in width and a wheelbase of over three metres. Built on a basic body-on-frame design, the engine upfront is a 4-litre turbodiesel unit delivering
203 hp
 and
600 Nm
.
That engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission, sending power to all four wheels. Highlight of its off-road capabilities include climbing angle of 60 degrees, wading depth of 1,200 mm and a ground clearance of 380 mm. Large diameter terrain tyres are also required to be strengthened to support the behemoth.
The Subaru models might look predictable, but their off-road performance is phenomenal. Watch its capabilities here!
The Dongfeng Warrior M50 is probably one of the most expensive locally-made vehicle in China, with prices starting from
CNY668,800 (RM436,000)
. To put things into perspective, one can purchase a
BMW X5
 for that price, or be seen in the Hongqi H9 3.0t that is best known as a state limousine.
Source:
Cars
coops.com
GALLERY


More than half of Malaysians likely to give up car ownership, survey shows

Avis Budget Group, a leading global provider of mobility solutions, recently set out to examine how the mobility landscape is changing around the world, how it’s likely to look in the future and how people in different countries view these changes.
In the research conducted across 16 countries in Europe and Asia, including Malaysia, respondents revealed that over the next decade, consumers are likely to move to an access-driven and on-demand model as their favourite mode of transportation.
It was found that 97% of Malaysians think that owning a car is important and 67% still see the car as the ideal mode of transportation.
However, more than 51% said that they would consider giving up car ownership and rely on long-term car rental if it was more convenient for them.
The single biggest factor leading the transport revolution is technology, specifically 5G networks.
Once 5G is implemented in Malaysia, one of the first countries in Asia to do so, large amounts of data provided by 5G networks will enable mobility companies to collect and mine data for insight – to be used to improve travel experiences.

The
new fully-electric Nissan Leaf
 is available through
Nissan’s Subscription Programme.
So far, Avis’ research revealed that 73% of respondents feel comfortable having their data accessed and shared for the implementation of smart infrastructure and better travel experiences. More than 81% of respondents also expect driving to become easier in the coming years.
“Changing needs and the expansion of the sharing economy offer both challenges and opportunities for the mobility industry. Our research has shown that whilst consumers are expectant of connected, integrated and on-demand services, they still want convenience at a reasonable price,” said Avis Budget Group, President, Keith Rankin.


Audi e-Tron Sportback does 446 km and projects animations on the road

If you think that the
Audi e-Tron
 – the brand’s first battery-powered electric car looks a little too
regular Joe
, you might want to pay attention to this. Audi has unveiled the e-Tron Sportback at the Los Angeles auto show, for the more stylish lot.
As the name suggests, the e-Tron Sportback features a steeply raked D-pillar for the coupe-esque look. However, the changes made on the Sportback goes more than just for aesthetic purposes only.
The sleek roofline actually makes the car more aerodynamic, with a drag coefficient of just
0.25
, compared to the 0.27 Cd of the standard e-Tron. There’s the upgraded brake system too, to reduce residual brake torque on brief applications, along with the upgraded water cooling pumps, decoupling of the axles, and increased usable battery capacity.
All this means that the Sportback (in the 55 quattro guise) can do
446 km
 on a single battery charge based on the WLTP cycle, 40 km more than the standard e-Tron.
The Audi e-Tron Sportback will be available in two power output levels; the more powerful 55 quattro variant with a
95 kWh
 lithium-ion battery has an output of
355 hp
 and
561 Nm
 of torque, which can be temporarily boosted up to
402 hp
 and
664 Nm
 in sport mode for as long as eight seconds. 0 to 100 km/h is done in just
5.7 seconds
 in this mode.
The 50 quattro model on the other hand features a smaller
71 kWh
 battery, and generates
 308 hp
 and
540 Nm
. The century sprint is done in
6.8 seconds
, onward to a top speed of
190 km/h
. Due to the smaller battery, the 50 quattro has a lower range of
347 km
 on the WLTP cycle.
The quattro nameplate also suggests that both of these models will be available in all-wheel drive, however the front axle is almost always decoupled during normal driving for better efficiency and increased range.

The Audi e-Tron also features the world’s first
digital matrix LED headlights
 on a mass-production car. Featuring technology found in projectors, the headlight uses more than 1 million micromirrors to direct the lights on the road or pedestrians it spots, without dazzling oncoming traffic.
The digital matrix LED headlights can also display animations on the ground or a wall, but Audi says this feature will only be available from mid-2020.
Moving inside, the cabin of the e-Tron Sportback is basically identical to that of the e-Tron. The dashboard design is instantly recognisable, featuring the dual touchscreen centre-console setup as with many other Audis.
The is also an optional virtual exterior mirrors, where the picture from the digital cameras are displayed on an OLED screen positioned between the instrument panel and the door. The smaller virtual exterior mirrors also help with the efficiency of the car.
The coupe-like roofline does have its drawbacks though, with luggage space at the rear dropped to
615 litres
 – 45 litres less than the standard e-Tron. Rear headroom is also lowered by
20 mm
. There is still the “froot” (or frunk) at the front that offers
60 litres
 of storage space.
Charging wise, the e-Tron Sportback comes with a
11 kW charger
 for home use, which can be increased to 22 kW with an optional on-board device.
As with the e-Tron, the 55 quattro can be recharged with a
150 kW DC
 charging station, which can fill up 80% of its battery capacity in just under
30 minutes
. The 50 quattro does the same with 120 kW DC.
The Audi e-Tron Sportback will be available in two trim levels, with the sportier S line getting 20-inch wheels (upgradeable to 22-inch) and sports air suspension. The front bumper is also reworked alongside the air curtains, which improves aerodynamics of the Sportback.
The wheel arch trims, sills, bumpers, and exterior mirrors are painted in body colour (matt anthracite on the non-S variant). For a more aggressive look, buyers can opt for a black styling package that blacks-out the singleframe grille area, side windows, bumpers, and the wing mirrors.
IMAGE GALLERY


KPDN: Targeted fuel subsidy could be based on vehicle horsepower

As global fuel prices, the Malaysian government is considering implementing targeted fuel subsidies that could be based on the vehicle’s horsepower. According to
Bernama
, Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub said that the government can identify those who are eligible to receive subsidies based on the horsepower of their vehicle.
Fuel prices in Malaysia are already subsidized and the government spent RM 37.3 billion in 2022 alone for the fuel subsidy program, which is RM 5 billion more than it spent on healthcare. The targeted fuel subsidy aims to reduce this expenditure, whilst not burdening the masses.
On the targeted fuel subsidy program, Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub said, “So in terms of the data (targeted subsidy), it is almost complete for us to forward it to the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) on how we can implement this targeted subsidy.”
The idea of targeted fuel subsidies sounds partially doable as the JPJ database, for example, can be used for RON95 petrol subsidies since the government can identify those who are eligible to receive subsidies based on the horsepower of the vehicle they own. The execution, however, may not be so smooth. Currently, even foreign vehicles sometimes get away with fueling up with our subsidized RON95 fuel.
ALSO WATCH:
How far can we travel in the Nissan Almera Turbo with just RM50 of fuel?
As to whether the idea is a good one is debatable. However, we have seen a similar implementation of vehicle horsepower being used to determine the road tax for electric vehicles in Malaysia, albeit in the ‘kW’ unit. EV Road tax is now free until the end of 2025, but the default calculation is still based on power output/horsepower.
The Minister of Trade and Cost of Living adds, “The Prime Minister has given instructions for the matter (targeted subsidy mechanism) to be studied. But for the time being the government is still continuing the existing policy which is that we do not withdraw (subsidies) or increase any tariffs that we feel could burden the people. So the policy will continue until the Cabinet decides on that (targeted subsidy) later.”
RELATED:
Budget 2023 – EV tax exemption extended to 2024, no AP fees for grey import EVs


Ford made a fragrance for EV drivers who miss the smell of burning petrol

No, this isn’t an April Fool’s joke – we had to check our calendars too. Apparently, Ford’s new fragrance, called “Mach-Eau”, is a very real thing, and is supposedly designed to make the transition to EVs easier for petrolheads.
According to a Ford-commissioned survey, one in five drivers said the smell of petrol is what they’d miss most when swapping from ICE to electric vehicles, with almost 70% of respondents saying that they’ll miss it to some degree.
Even more worryingly is the fact that petrol – as a scent – ranked higher in popularity than both wine and cheese, and almost identically to the smell of new books. First of all, y’all are monsters. Secondly, weren’t we taught that petrol sniffing is a form of drug or inhalant abuse or something?
The Ford Mustang Mach-E recently set the Guinness World Record for the lowest energy consumption on an EV – read more about it here!
Anyway, this new “fragrance” was unveiled alongside the European debut of the
Ford Mustang Mach-E
 GT at the Goodwood Festival of Speed “to usher these drivers into the future of driving through their sense of smell”, and will be part of Ford’s “ongoing mission to help dispel myths around electric cars and convince traditional car enthusiasts of the potential of electric vehicles”.
Fortunately (unfortunately?), even though it’s very real, the Mach-Eau won’t actually be available for sale – and neither does it smell exactly like petrol either.
Ford says that the Mach-Eau is a “high-end fragrance” that fuses smoky notes, hints of burnt rubber, and even an “animal” element to give a nod to the Mustang heritage. We’re not quite sure how the “animal element” is supposed to smell like, but our experiences with animals haven’t been the most pleasant, to say the least.
In related news, Auto Trader once made (and sold) a perfume that smells like a new car
Developed by renowned fragrance consultancy, Olfiction, the one-off bottle of Mach-Eau is a blend of benzaldehyde, which is an almond-like scent given off by car interiors, and para-cresol, which is key in creating the rubbery scent of tyres, along with other more “natural” ingredients like blue ginger, lavender, geranium, and sandalwood that added metallic, smoky, and further rubbery accents.
“Judging by our survey findings, the sensory appeal of petrol cars is still something drivers are reluctant to give up. The Mach-Eau fragrance is designed to give them a hint of that fuel-fragrance they still crave. It should linger long enough for the GT’s performance to make any other doubts vaporise too.” Ford Europe Product Communications director Jay Ward said.
I’ll just take the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT without any accompanying smell, please and thank you.


Can ride-hailing companies finally be profitable by eliminating its drivers?

While it’s clear that companies like Uber,
Grab
 and Lyft are aggressively expanding and changing the way of modern mobility, it’s also no secret that their losses incurred are monumental.
Uber has never registered an annual profit, losing USD 4.5 billion last year while Lyft recorded a loss of USD 1.2 billion between 2016 and 2017. In an article by
J.D. Power
, it claims that industry experts have narrowed the cause of these losses to
two reasons
 – the rides have been
heavily subsidised
 and the cost of paying the drivers.
The best Uber rides are the ones with GC Mah; in a
McLaren
 and a
Lotus
.
The same article, written by the Director of Automotive Industry Analytics at J.D.Power then raised the question; can these ride-hailing companies finally turn a profit by opting for driverless technology instead, a rampant development which had done nothing more than yielding road fatalies.
It makes sense, on the surface at least, that by
eliminating the drivers
, the bulk of the overhead could be turned into profits instead. But is it really that simple? Not really actually.
Eliminating the drivers would also mean eliminating their personal vehicles and by that, these ride-hailing companies will have to incur even higher expenses for purchase new vehicles, maintain them and house them in a secure facility. It’s like taking one step forward and two steps back.
The man-power required, security, logistical and maintenance costs (insurance, repairs etc.) alone would set these companies back years in the accounting journals.
Perhaps there could be an arrangement where the
cars can be provided by the manufacturers
, for the ride-hailing companies to attract their customers, with maintenance taken care of by a third party that services and secures the vehicles when not in used.
It’s evident that these ride-hailing companies and their unstable tech are
still not ready for the inevitable transition
, and unless they can come up with overnight solutions for the challenges that are attached to the switch, you jobs and livelihood are still safe.


Not just the BMW M3: PDRM’s coolest police cars in history!

We’re sure you’ve already seen the
new police-liveried BMW M3
 that took the internet by storm. The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM)… with a proper performance car! This can’t be true, can it?
Well, as it turns out, the
BMW M3
, alongside two
X3
s and two
Volkswagen Tiguan
s, are being provided as technical evaluation units to the Malaysian police, for a duration of two weeks. So unfortunately, it’s not quite officially part of PDRM’s fleet – or at least, not yet.
With that being said, though, the Malaysian police did have some pretty interesting cars in its stable throughout its history. So while we wait for the PDRM’s decision on the M3, let’s have a look at some of the coolest Malaysian police cars in the past!
Photo: DayDry7629/Reddit
Alfa Romeo Alfetta 2.0
Although Alfa Romeo is no longer being officially represented here in Malaysia, the Italian carmaker did make quite a significant headway here in our country, with not one, but two models (the other being the Giulia 1.6) being used by the PDRM back in the 70s.
So what makes this car cool? First of all, it’s an Alfa, so it’s
already
 cool by name. But more importantly, the Alfetta also featured a 2.0-litre inline-four engine underneath its bonnet, pushing out
130 hp
 and
178 Nm
 to the rear wheels.
Those numbers may not sound like much now, but it was quite an impressive figure back in the 70s. Keep in mind, the best-selling car at that time, the Datsun Sunny (120Y), only made about 70 hp – so it’s safe to say that most baddies won’t be able to outrun the Alfa Romeo when it comes to high-speed chases.
Photo: One.Stop.Go
Proton Satria GTi
The Proton Satria GTi was, or perhaps still is, the most performance-oriented model to ever roll out from the assembly line of our local carmaker. Many Malaysian car enthusiasts dreamt about owning one, but did you know that the police actually had a couple of these little gems in their fleet?
The Proton Satria GTi is used as part of the PDRM’s highway patrol car, specifically to be used on the North-South Expressway. However, unlike the Alfa Romeo above, the reason the police chose the GTI isn’t due to its raw performance figures.
Powering the Satria GTi is a Mitsubishi-sourced 1.8-litre naturally-aspirated inline-four engine, generating
138 hp
 and
164 Nm
 of torque to drive the front wheels. The 0-100 km/h time of
8.5 seconds
 is pretty… alright to be fair, but the GTI’s main selling point is its “Handling by Lotus” badge on its bootlid.
Fun fact: the handling prowess of the Satria GTI was so good, that – in addition to the
praises
 from the one and only Richard Hammond – it’s also
trusted by the UK Police
 in Humberside as a pursuit and rapid response car! Oh, what I’d give for Proton to make a proper successor to the beloved Satria GTi today…
Photo: IW/Wikipedia
Volvo S80 T5
You must be wondering why this made the list of the
coolest
 police cars in Malaysia, but the Volvo S80 is interesting precisely because of how… normal it looks.
From the outside, the Volvo S80 just looks like any other regular D-segment executive sedan – that is, if you can ignore the police livery on it. But underneath the plain Jane outfit is a 2.5-litre turbocharged inline-five engine that makes a pretty impressive
200 hp
and
300 Nm
 of torque.
Sure, its heavier weight does mean a less-than-ideal century sprint time of
8 seconds flat
. But with that much power, cruising at high speeds on the highway will be a piece of cake for the Volvo S80 – perfect for its specific use case in the police fleet.
Photo: Rizuan/Wikipedia
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X
Last but definitely not least in this list, is the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X – perhaps the most “well-known” Malaysian police car. Called the
Helang Lebuhraya Polis
 (Police Highway Eagles), the Evo Xs are used primarily for highway patrolling and other high-speed chases, particularly in cases of carjacking, kidnapping and highjacking.
Underneath the bonnet is a 2.0-litre inline-four turbocharged engine that’s good for
295 hp
 and
 366 Nm
 of torque, making it the most powerful police car the PDRM has ever had. Power is transferred to all four wheels via a five-speed manual transmission on the police car, as opposed to the six-speed twin-clutch on the car that was sold by Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia.
Sure, it’s not the Lamborghinis or Ferraris that some other countries’ cops have, but with the clout and heritage surrounding the car, plus the JDM fandom among many Malaysian car enthusiasts, we dare say that the Evo X might actually be more desirable than the other police supercars – and definitely something for us Malaysians to be proud of!
Photo: DayDry7629/Reddit
Bonus: Holden EJ Wagon
Man, the 60s really was a great era, wasn’t it? Even an every-day run-off-the-mill station wagon can look so cool.


Jamaican bobsleigh team uses MINI Convertible for “training”

With the Covid-19 causing all sorts of disruption, the Jamaican bobsleigh team has gotten very creative – bizarre almost – with their training methods.
The trio consisting of sled pilot Shanwayne Stephen, Dy’Neal Fe’ssal, and Matthew Wilson, have been using a
MINI Convertible
 for their training in UK’s largest indoor slope at The Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead.
They would push the MINI Convertible, wrapped in the colours of the Jamaican flag, up and down the snowy slopes for the ultimate resistance training.
When the UK was in lockdown earlier this year, the team stayed fit in their self-built gym at home while using the MINI as a makeshift prowler.

The trio are currently training to qualify for the Beijing 2022 Winter Games, while their next major event will be the World Championships in Lake Placid, New York, in February 2021.
Shanwayne said, “Matt and Dy’Neal are new to the team and they have never been in a bobsled or even seen one yet! Pushing the MINI here may seem like a bit of fun but this has been an important exercise.”
He added, “The Snow Centre is only -3 degrees, that’s pretty mild compared to what we’re normally in, and they’re already complaining about the cold!”
GALLERY


Drive the Jaguar F-PACE around a “Smart Cones” course this weekend!

Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia is giving you a chance to have a go in the Jaguar F-Pace, the Jaguar XE and Jaguar XF around a “Smart Cones” course this weekend from 16-18th March at the Art of Performance Tour in Setia City Convention Centre.
The Smart Cones course, with
cones that randomly illuminate in Green and Blue
 is not only a test of the car’s agility, maneuverability and comfort but also challenges the driver’s awareness and reaction.
There will also be a separate course to test the Jaguar XE and Jaguar XF’s “
low friction acceleration
” and “
dual friction braking
“. The former will allow drivers to experience a standing start with and without Traction Control (TC). With Traction Control on, there’s literally no drama as the car sets off with the Traction Control stepping in to prevent wheel spin.
As for the “dual friction braking”, drivers will be asked to
accelerate till 40 km/h
 until they arrive at a slippery surface drenched with soap and water where they’ll subsequently be instructed to brake as hard as possible. Drivers will be able to
experience the vast effect of driving with and without Jaguar’s electronic safety nets
 like Traction Control, Electronic Brake Force Distribution and even ABS.
Those present will also be among the first Malaysians to sample the 2.0-litre F-PACE before it’s launched in Malaysia this April. The F-PACE’s new 2.0-litre four-cylinder Ingenium powertrain features a single twin-scroll turbo that produces
247 hp
 and
365Nm
from only 1,200 rpm. The soon-to-be-launched F-PACE is equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission, allowing the lightened F-PACE to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.0 seconds. The XF business saloon does the same run in 5.6 seconds while the XE sports saloon hits the 100 km/h mark in just 5.5 seconds.
Those interested may
register yourselves here
.
IMAGE GALLERY
Jaguar’s Art of Performance Tour

Jaguar F-PACE 2.0


New 2021 Perodua Myvi to come with L2 autonomous driving capabilities!

With the new
Perodua Myvi
 facelift now officially open for bookings, the usual pre-launch drip feed of information has now begun. Today’s entry on Perodua’s social media feed gave us a closer look at the Myvi’s new instrument cluster with red accents, alongside its new steering wheel.
Looks familiar? That’s right – that’s the same steering wheel as seen on the
Perodua Ativa
, and the buttons on the right suggests that the new Myvi will also feature the full PSDA advanced driver assistance systems, including level 2 autonomous driving capabilities!
Read more about Perodua’s new PSDA system in more detail here!
These new features (Lane Keep Control, adaptive cruise control) should be limited to only the range-topping AV variant, but still pretty impressive for a car that’s priced below RM60,000. Perodua does say that the ASA 3.0 system will be available across the board, though that should be watered down to “just” the basic features such as autonomous emergency braking.
Other buttons on the steering wheel include a new power button, which should help perk up the engine and throttle response (and further hints at the heavily-rumoured CVT gearbox), alongside a set of media controls and voice assistant button for the new touchscreen infotainment display that we saw in the earlier teasers.
Perodua says that the new Myvi will be priced from
RM45,700
 to
RM58,800
, which are on-the-road prices, without insurance, and inclusive of the sales tax exemptions that have recently been extended to June 2022. Which means it’s a roughly RM3,000 to RM6,000 price hike over the pre-facelift model.
Do the new advanced driver assistance features justify the price hike, or are you hoping to see even more upgrades in our Malaysian king of the highway? Let us know in the comments below!
As usual, the teasers will keep coming in until the official launch, so keep your eyes peeled on our site! To read more on the previously-announced information for the new Perodua Myvi, check out our earlier coverage here.


Easy Drive: More ways to ‘own’ a BMW or MINI

While hire purchase remains the most common method of financing vehicle purchases in Malaysia, the traditional definition of car ownership is being gradually expanded to include leasing, with more car brands going down this route to meet different requirements of buyers and businesses.
Here’s how the BMW Group Malaysia’s Easy Drive financing solution works; it begins with choosing an initial down payment of between 10% to 30%, then a loan tenure of between three or four years, and a mileage cap of either 20,000 km or 25,000 km, annually. After which, BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia tabulates the monthly installment and a Guaranteed Future Value of the vehicle.
For a modest monthly fee, customers can opt for Easy Drive Prime with benefits such as car care plan and coverage on scratches and dents, even flooding.
At the end of the tenure, the lessee can trade in the car and choose another BMW or MINI to upgrade to, or return the vehicle with no further obligations (e.g. such as finding a buyer), or settle the final payment which is also the guaranteed future value as agreed upon, or lastly, to extend the contract term of the current vehicle.
While the monthly installment of a lease is higher than that of a hire purchase plan (over the same period), the leasing option suits customers and businesses with little inclination to ‘own’ or use the vehicle beyond three to four years. For those with concerns on the residue values of plug-in hybrid vehicles, Easy Drive is also a suitable financing option as it guarantees the future value of the vehicle.


Lexus Malaysia unveils the facelifted NX models – renamed the NX 300

Lexus Malaysia has just launched the facelifted NX 200t which is now redesignated to NX 300 where the range will consist of four variants – the NX 300 Premium, NX 300 F Sport, NX 300h and the new entry-level variant, the NX 300 Urban.
Performance figures remains unchanged as all NX variants (except the NX 300h) will come with 2.0-litre four cylinder engine producing
235 hp
 and
350 Nm
 of torque. Power is delivered through a sequential 6-speed automatic transmission with Torque-Demand control logic to calculate required engine torque to deliver quick response and exhilarating acceleration feel.
There is also the G-force Artificial Intelligence (G-AI) system which enables spirited driving by selecting the optimum gear and downshift pattern in response to g force.
Changes are primarily on the aesthetics of the car where the 2018 model will now feature a new grille, redesigned front and rear bumpers and ultra compact 3-beam LED headlamps inspired by the LC500. Also new to the exterior are the 18-inch alloy wheels along with baffle-type design exhaust tips.

The NX 300’s interior has also been refreshed with the inclusion of a new analogue clock design and a redesigned air-conditioning control panel with toggle switches. The dashboard also houses a new 8-inch Lexus Display Audio unit for all variants except the NX 300 F SPORT and NX 300h Hybrid which gets a new 10.3-inch EMVN Display complemented by a Mark Levinson audio system.
A moonroof is now standard for the NX 300 Premium alongside a new new Drive Mode Select Switch Design, while the palm rest for the award-winning Remote Touch Interface has been improved for maximum wrist comfort. The touchpad has also been increased in surface area by 30% for better control to make menu selections easier.
The Drive Mode Select system allows the drivers to tweak different parameters of the car including throttle response and the power steering assist curve. Three modes are available – Normal, ECO and Sport
for Urban and Premium grade
 while the F SPORT gets an additional
CUSTOM mode
 that allows the driver to set their own suspension, power train and power steering settings.
In the NX 300h, it comes with an additional EV mode which induces the powertrain to use only the electric motor but is only available for a limited range and in certain operating conditions.
Significant improvements have been made to the suspension setup with new shock absorbers, retuned springs, stabiliser bars and bushings for improved turn-in response and better cornering stability.
On the F SPORT model, the Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) now has 650 levels of continuous variably control – a massive step up from the 30 levels available in the 2017 model.
There are seven colours to choose from for all variants while the F SPORT gets eight colour options – two of which are exclusive to the variant. The two colours are applied using a four-layer paint process for a more vivid finish. Inside, the F SPORT will be offered with three exclusive interior colour themes/trims.
The NX 300 Premium is priced at RM329,800 (RM11,000 less than the equivalent NX 200t sold in 2017), NX 300 F Sport at RM387,900, NX 300h at RM397,800 while NX 300 Urban starts from RM311,900.
All new models sold by Lexus Malaysia come with a comprehensive factory warranty of 5 years with unlimited mileage. The NX 300h is supplemented with an 8-year battery assurance programme for the hybrid battery pack.
IMAGE GALLERY


500,000th Mercedes-Benz G-Class rolls off production line, EV model coming in 2024

The 500,000th unit of the iconic
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
 has just rolled off the production line in Graz, Austria on
April 20
. Initially introduced in 1979, the G-Class is now one of Mercedes-Benz’s longest-running production vehicles.
Lucky number 500,000 harks back to the classic G-class with a vintage-inspired look, featuring many design features based on the 280 GE from 1986. These include the ‘agave green’ hue on the outside, which is one of the first paint colours available for the G-Class, the iconic round headlamps but with LED technology, turn signals with the retro orange cover, spare wheel cover with a larger-than-usual Mercedes-Benz star, brand badge on the rear door, as well as the five-spoke sterling silver wheel.
The classic G-Class design continues on the inside, with iconic design touches including the passenger-side door handle with agave green ‘No. 500,000’ lettering, ‘Schöckl’ door sill trim, and logo embossing on the door handle. Despite the retro looks, the 500,000th G-Class still shows itself as a modern car underneath with its modern driver assistance systems.
Mercedes-Benz G Chairman and CEO and Mercedes-Benz AG Head of Off-Road Vehicle Product Division, Dr Emmerich Schiller said, “On the occasion of the 500,000th anniversary, we would like to thank both our loyal customers and long-time fans as well as our employees and our production partner Magna Steyr in Graz. We are proud of this figure, which also underscores the exclusivity of the G-Class.”
Schiller added, “After all, four whole decades have led to this significant anniversary. This makes the G-Class anything but a mass product. With the all-electric G-Class launching in 2024, which will push the boundaries of the off-road sector, we look forward with anticipation to the future of the off-road icon.”
RELATED:
Watch the upcoming Mercedes-Benz EQG do a stationary tank turn
And yes, just as mentioned by Schiller, Mercedes-Benz will be making an all-electric G-class for the off-road icon’s upcoming 45th production anniversary in 2024. ICE fans of the off-roader do not need to panic either as the German automotive giant ensured that the combustion engine models will be rolling off the production line alongside as well.
Mercedes-Benz also added that the new product’s design will continue to remain true to itself, with the motto ‘technical development with unchanged character’. Here in Malaysia, the fully imported
Mercedes-Benz G 63
 is available for
RM1,788,888
 on the road, without insurance.
RELATED:
2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4MATIC launched in Malaysia, RM430k – single variant, MHEV


Perodua aims 314,000 sales in 2023, to expand subscription business

Having sold 282,019 cars in 2022, local carmaker
Perodua

targets to sell
314,000 cars
 in 2023, essentially a 11.3% year on year growth. In terms of production, Perodua aims to produce
330,000 cars
 this year, which is 14.2% more than 2022.
To achieve the 314,000 unit target, Perodua has recently opened bookings for the all-new
Perodua Axia
. Perodua says that they “have allocated RM537.1 million on the development of a new model” which refers to several models including the all-new Axia. Besides the introduction of new models, Perodua also aims to expand its Pre-Owned Vehicle (POV) and Subscription business this year.
The all-new Perodua Axia is now open for bookings
Perodua President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dato’ Sri Zainal Abidin Ahmad said, “This year (2023) provides a golden opportunity for us as consumers still have confidence in the automotive market. In fact, more than half of our targeted volume is from bookings we collected last year but have yet to deliver.”
“As our normal installed annual production capacity for our Perodua Manufacturing and Perodua Global Manufacturing plants are at 320,000 units on a two-shift cycle, we can still increase our volume by improving productivity and by instituting overtime.”
RELATED:
All-new 2023 Perodua Axia open for booking – same engine, D-CVT gearbox, up to 6 airbags
Besides boosting production and increasing sales, Perodua is also committed to an RM10 billion budget to purchase parts from local suppliers for 2023. Dato’ Zainal said, “This purchase commitment is expected to further encourage the Malaysian automotive ecosystem to further improve its production capabilities and quality standards. In short, the increase in production will give much-needed boost for our local industries to improve their economies of scale and to better compete with their counterparts abroad.”
RELATED:
Daihatsu Ayla EV concept unveiled – Electric Perodua Axia in the making?
In terms of expansion, Perodua has allocated RM1.15 billion capital expenditure this year to improve its group operations.
The Perodua CEO said, “We have also allocated RM537.1 million on the development of a new model, as well as RM247.1 million to further modernise our operations, which also include upgrading existing 1S and 2S centres into 3S centres.”
Perodua is also targeting an increase in vehicle intake at its service centres nationwide. The company targets 2.8 million intakes in 2023 over the 2.6 million intake in 2022.
RELATED:
Perodua sold 282k cars in 2022, no increase in car prices soon


Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan now in Malaysia, from RM229k

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) has just expanded its new-generation Compact Cars line up with the first ever
Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan
, joining the
hatchback variants
 which was introduced to the market in late 2018.
Like the Hatchback, the A-Class Sedan is offered in two variants –
A 200 Progressive Line
 and
A 250 AMG Line
. The fully imported models are priced at RM229,888 and RM267,888 (on-the-road without insurance) respectively.

QUICK FACTS
Name
Mercedes-Benz A 200 Sedan Progressive Line
Mercedes-Benz A 250 Sedan AMG Line
Engine
1,332cc; turbocharged 4-cylinder
1,991cc; turbocharged 4-cylinder
Transmission
7-speed dual-clutch
Max Power
163 hp @ 5,500 rpm
224 hp @ 5,500 rpm
Max Torque
250 Nm @ 1,620 – 4,000 rpm
350 Nm @ 1,800 – 4,000 rpm
0 – 100 km/h; Top Speed
8.1 seconds; 230 km/h
6.3 seconds; 250 km/h
Price (OTR without insurance)
RM229,888
RM267,888

EXTERIOR
Compared to the hatch, the A-Class Sedan is longer by 130 mm with the extra length going to the rear overhangs. The sedan is also 4 mm taller, but its wheelbase of 2,729 mm is identical to the Hatch.
This means that despite its longer dimensions, you still get the same interior space (head, knee, shoulder room) as the hatch. The only edge it has is the
420 litres
 boot space which is 50 litres more than the hatch.
The A-Class Sedan boasts the
lowest drag coefficient of 0.22 Cd
 in the segment thanks to a small frontal area, sleek body panels and clean underbody. The rear “ducktail” boot lid also helps with smoothening airflow around the car.
On the A 200 Progressive Line, it wears a less pronounced body kit complete with LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights, 18-inch five-twin spoke alloys and full LED taillamps.
Step up to the A 250 AMG Line it gets a more distinct appearance with sportier front and rear apron and 18-inch five-spoke AMG alloys.
INTERIOR
The cabin is lifted
from the A-Class hatch which means you get the Widescreen cockpit with two
10.25-inch displays for the instrument cluster and infotainment system,
multifunctional sports steering wheel, powered front seats with memory
function, keyless entry and go, 64-colour ambient lighting, Mercedes-Benz User
Experience (MBUX) with intelligent voice control, Apple CarPlay and Android
Auto, rear view camera as well as illuminated door sills.
Separating the two
trim lines are the material used to furnish the interior trims. On the A 200
Progressive Line you’ll find open pore lime wood trim and comfort seats while
the A 250 AMG Line is equipped with light longitudinal-grain aluminium trim,
Nappa leather steering wheel and AMG illuminated door sill panels.
PERFORMANCE
Powering the A 200 is
the Renault-sourced 1.33-litre turbocharged four-cylinder packing
163 hp
 and
250 Nm
 of torque. Century sprint is covered in 8.1 seconds while
top speed is registered at
230 km/h
.
On the A 250 you find the M260 2.0-litre turbocharged four banger with Volkswagen Golf GTI rivalling power of
224 hp
 and
350 Nm
. It will sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds and top speed is a touch higher at
250 km/h
.
Like the hatchback,
another key differences between the A 200 and A 250 is the rear suspension set
up. The former adopts a torsion beam while the latter uses a more sophisticated
multi-link set up.
SAFETY
Standard safety
equipment reads seven airbags, tyre pressure monitoring system, anti-theft
alarm system, Active Brake Assist, Active Parking Assist and Automatic
high-beam control on top of all the usual three-letter acronyms.
WHAT ELSE?
Every purchase of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan comes with a 4-Years Warranty and is available with attractive financing packages with Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia.
IMAGE GALLERY
Mercedes-Benz A 200 Sedan Progressive Line


Video: Aston Martin DBX 4.0L V8 twin-turbo SUV review

It all first started with the Porsche Cayenne, then it snowballed to the (in no particular order) Bentley Bentayga, Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Lamborghini Urus, Maserati Levante, and soon it’d be Ferrari’s turn but for now, let’s focus on this – the new
Aston Martin

DBX
 that has made its way to Malaysia.
With prices starting from RM818k before taxes and options, the
Aston Martin
 DBX is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine making
550 hp
 and
750 Nm
 of torque. That’s more than what the
Vantage
 and
DB11
 produce if you’re wondering. The engine is paired to a 9-speed automatic transmission; both have been sourced from Mercedes-Benz.
This translates to staggering performance numbers. 0 to 100 km/h takes just
4.5 seconds
, almost as quick as the
new BMW M3 and M4
 while top speed is rated at (if you even dare achieve) a frightening
291 km/h
!

That’s not all. The Aston Martin DBX isn’t just all brawn and no brains; it’s full of clever ideas as well. It’s got a “self-cleaning” rear windscreen, door hinges that make the doors open at an angle to avoid hitting the curbs, glass B-pillars so as to not interupt the clean, elegant lines of the car. It also helps improve airflow.
Inside, it’s just a leather fest as GC Mah describes it. Almost every conceivable surface in the cabin has been wrapped with leather, even the speaker covers! That’s not all. There’s also a massive panoramic sunroof and generous amounts of space at the back.
As an option, there is a Pet package which includes a portable washer for your pets after they’ve had a rub in the mud, in addition to the various wheel options, as well as exterior and interior finishes.
GALLERY


Skechers to feature Goodyear’s Performance Outsoles for better grip and stability

Goodyear has announced its collaboration with Skechers which will see the outsoles of their shoes feature Goodyear rubber technology for increased grip, stability and durability.
Whether it’s for men, women or children, these Skechers will feature Goodyear Performance Outsoles that offer enhanced stability while running, excellent grip over slippery surfaces, and durability for long-lasting wear.
This is made possible with Goodyear-developed rubber technology that contains a special polymer including sustainable soybean oil – a renewable, bio-based material used in some of the company’s top-performing tyres in the U.S. and Canada.
Initially only available in the Skechers’ GOrun collection, the technology will soon be applied to a wider range of shoes – for kids and work footwear.
In other related news, the company announced that it has eclipsed three million miles of data from road tests and field trials with customers on its connected tyres. These connected tyres which are embedded with sensors and are able to communicate road and tyre conditions to the vehicle.
Studies have shown that Goodyear’s connected tyres can
reduce stopping distance lost between a new and worn tyre by 30%
.
Goodyear’s connected tyre system continuously measures and records tyre-derived information, which is paired with other vehicle data and connected to Goodyear’s cloud-based proprietary algorithms.
The tyres can measure tyre wear, load, inflation and temperature, along with road surface conditions, in real time, allowing the vehicle to adjust and respond to these measurements and optimise vehicle performance. This feature according to Goodyear, will see increased importance with the uprising of electric and autonomous vehicles.
Recently, Goodyear introduced to the Malaysian market the new
Eagle F1 SuperSport range of tyres
, their latest addition to the Eagle F1 line-up.
The
SuperSport range consists of three tiers
 – SuperSport, SuperSport R and SuperSport RS. Categorised as UUHP (for ultra ultra-high-performance) tyres, Goodyear says that the tyres utlises development experience from racing to be used on the road.


Review: Hyundai Sonata 2.0L Executive, the maturing family sedan maverick [+Video]

There’s often a taboo surrounding the words ‘Korean cars’, especially when it involves paying almost as much as what you would for your regular Japanese D-Segment sedan (read: Honda Accord, Mazda6 and Toyota Camry). Good looks aside, the Koreans have always faced the gun’s barrel in what appears to be a deliberate case of unaddressed social stigma.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Hyundai Sonata 2.0L Elegance B
Hyundai Sonata 2.0L Elegance
Hyundai Sonata 2.0L Executive
Segment
D-Segment Sedan
Engine
1,999cc; inline-4 cyl with DVVT technology
1,999cc; inline-4 cyl with DVVT technology
1,999cc; inline-4 cyl with DVVT technology
Transmission
6-speed automatic
6-speed automatic
6-speed automatic
Max Power
152 hp @ 6,200 rpm
152 hp @ 6,200 rpm
152 hp @ 6,200 rpm
Max Torque
194 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
194 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
194 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
Price (OTR
with
insurance)
RM143,163.30
RM149,845.30
RM158,053.30

The bias towards Japanese cars stacks on the Korean’s poor run in the early 2000s, and some of these reasons for bias have been rooted so deeply that it’s almost impossible to shake off. All that is said while keeping in mind that over the past few years, there is indeed an observable growth in terms of brand acceptance where reliability, good looks, safety and value for money is concerned.
This all-new, seventh generation
Hyundai Sonata LF
 appears to be a worthy competitor to challenge the status quo, but can it really succeed in winning the immovable hearts of pro-Japanese consumers? To answer that, we more than willingly covered over 300 kilometers of tarmac, dirt and cement to see just how big a punch this most recent Korean D-segment sedan can throw.
EXTERIOR
When the Sonata YF made its debut here in Malaysia, it generated quite a shockwave simply by means of its design. Let’s face it. No other D-Segment offerings from Japan at the time had such wild styling as the Sonata did. In fact, the Fluidic Sculpture approach proved to be quite a hit among the younger group of its target market, a feat that can only be achieved when one does the unexpected.

The new Sonata however, is all grown up. It certainly bears some obvious similarities from the previous Sonata, but this time packaged in a more sedated and elegant way. We sampled the range topping Sonata 2.0L Executive here, so the exterior gets trim-exclusive features such as
bi-xenon HID headlights
, a set of polished
18-inch wheels
(235/45 R18 tyres; lesser trims ride on 17-inchers) that has a skimmed-like effect and rain sensors which we didn’t have the opportunity to test.
It all spells normal and fits the typical everyday-kind-of-car to boot – that’s because it is. But what’s truly unique about the Sonata is its new
Smart Trunk System
 which automatically pops the tailgate open when the car detects the key fob. Assuming your hands are full, simply stand behind the car for
three seconds
 and the trunk will open in full. Granted, this will work even when you don’t intend for it to, so just keep that in mind. This feature is demonstrated by yours truly in the video above, so you might want to see how it works. There are six different colours to choose from, but our favourites are Ice White, Dark Horse (like the main picture on top) and Remington Red.
INTERIOR
The Sonata continues to impress with its impressive build quality in the cabin. Stepping inside the car makes for a pleasant affair because you know you’re not shortchanged in any way. Gone are the days where buttons, switches and knobs feel flimsy in a Korean car. Properly executed, this one, and ranks somewhere at the top of its game in terms of finishing.

Firstly, the leather wrapped seats feel good to the touch and the cushioning is spot on; not too soft, not too hard. The seats are also electrically powered with lumbar support, so you need not worry about backaches on the occasional long weekend drives. Rear legroom in the Sonata falls short of the Accord’s, but anyone shorter than 185 cm shouldn’t have any issues with seating comfort. On the plus side, occupants can benefit from the rear air conditioning vents, a 12V output socket and the retractable panoramic glass roof.
Here’s something many are at guilt when it comes to telling whether a car is properly built or not – the
door closing test
. We’ve got that covered, and trust us when we say the thud it makes is pretty satisfying, if that’s your way of measuring quality.
PERFORMANCE
Now, the engine is a carryover unit and the model will only be offered with the
2.0-litre Nu engine
 making
154 hp
 at 6,200 rpm and
194 Nm
 at 4,000 rpm. Yup, no more 2.4L Sonatas from hereon. The decision to omit the larger engine stemmed from the reason that the 2.0L variants fared better in terms of sales, so out the creamier engine goes.
Moving on, the drivetrain is also a familiar one – an in-house
six-speed
 torque converting automatic gearbox that drives the
front wheels
. There’s little chance of us seeing the Sonata coming here with the more advanced GDI engine, what more the
Sonata Hybrid
. The Nu engine is also shared with the outgoing
Tucson
 SUV, just so you know. So that’s all there is to it, now let’s see how the improved family car fares on the road.
THE DRIVE
Being our D-Segment
pick of the year
 for 2014, the bar was set rather highly for this Korean sedan, thanks to Hyundai Sime Darby Motors’ (HSDM) game changing 8-year or 300,000 km warranty programme. As mentioned earlier, we took the car on a good mix of roads, and the first leg of our journey was comprised mostly of poorly maintained trunk roads via Sepang which led to Port Dickson.
The hour-long drive saw us pacing along considerably punishing one-way roads, but the much improved Sonata remained unfettered and took them in its stride with the suspension effectively absorbing harshness and minimising vibration along the way. Comfort in the ride department has certainly improved over the sixth generation model. That said, it still has a few tricks up its sleeves.
In terms of handling, you wouldn’t expect a lot out of a Korean model, only because they’re more purpose built in the getting from Point A to Point B sense. Well, the ballgame has changed with this one. Trunk roads are generally the ideal roads to push a car to its limits and in some cases, to find its limits. But we went out there with one goal in mind – to put Hyundai’s claims to the test that this very Sonata drives and handles much better than before.
Having driven the perennial best seller Honda Accord just a week before the Sonata, much of the experience remained and were carried into the Sonata’s driver’s seat. To our surprise, the Korean showed incremental gains in the way it handles the corners, though not as agile and precise as the Accord, is still a significant improvement over its predecessor. Having said that, body rolls and understeering were commonplace, but to do that you’d have to really push the car hard, and by hard we mean
really
 hard.
New to the Sonata this time around is the
Drive Mode Control System
, a switch placed next to the gear lever that allows for
three driving mode
 selections – Active Eco, Comfort and Sport. It doesn’t do much, but each mode alters engine and transmission behaviour as well as adding or reducing steering feel. We liked Sport mode the most, and it is in sport that the car feels most alive.
Cabin insulation is commendable and is much better than the Accord despite having an Active Noise Cancelling device. At cruising speeds, the Sonata remained pliant and is still no less comfortable than slow city driving. There’s hardly any wind noise at legal speed limits, but road noise did make its way into the cabin. Nothing a good set of tyres can’t fix here, so we’ll pass judgement on that.
IS THIS CAR FOR YOU?
Korean cars have come a long, long way. Hyundai continues to push the boundaries of its own limits and in doing so, they produce cars that are getting increasingly hard for the Japanese to ignore. If you’re looking for a confident, sleek looking car and would want to go the less obvious route then yes, this car fits that picture best. For what it’s worth – at
RM153,767.50
 without insurance, the Sonata is undoubtedly a promising segment contender.
If your past experiences with Korean cars have formed unshakable impressions of what the modern ones will have to offer, just remember that it’s really a thing of old. A simple comparison on paper between the Accord 2.0 VTi-L and the Sonata Executive will show you just how well equipped the latter is, despite costing a pinch over RM8,000.
COMPARISON
Here we put the Sonata against some of the more popular D-Segment sedans out there – the Nissan Teana and Honda Accord. To even things out, the trio will be compared based on their 2.0-litre variants, so here goes.
Hyundai Sonata LF 2.0L Executive
Honda Accord 2.0L VTi-L
Nissan Teana 2.0XL
ENGINE
Type
 Inline 4-cylinder
Inline 4-cylinder
Inline 4-cylinder
Displacement
cc
1,999
1,997
1,997
Max Power
hp
152
153
134
Max Torque
Nm
194
190
190
STEERING
Type
Electric power-steering
Electric power-steering
Electro-hydraulic power steering
DRIVETRAIN
Transmission
6-spd auto
5-spd auto
CVT
SUSPENSION
Type
Front/Rear
MacPherson strut/Multi-link
MacPherson strut/Multi-link
MacPherson strut/Multi-link
BRAKES
Front
Ventilated disc
Ventilated disc
Ventilated disc
Rear
Solid disc
Solid disc
Solid disc
TYRE & WHEELS
Tyres
235/45R18
225/50R17
 215/60R16
Wheels
Alloy
Alloy
Alloy
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHTS
Overall Length
mm
4,855
4,870
4,885
Overall Width
mm
 1,865
1,850
1,830
Overall Height
mm
 1,475
1,465
1,485
Wheelbase
mm
 2,805
2,775
2,775
Kerb Weight
kg
N/A
1,530
1,456
Luggage Capacity (VDA)
L
510
461
516
FUEL
Tank Capacity
70 litres
65 litres
65 litres
Consumption (Combined)
 L/100km
7.9
N/A
7.4
PERFORMANCE
Max Speed
km/h
200 km/h
N/A
N/A
0 – 100km/h
sec
11.1
N/A
N/A
PRICE

RM
153,767.50
145,737.50
145,748.20

 WILL I BUY IT?
If I were to buy myself a D-Segment sedan, I’d factor in several key elements like comfort, road presence, reliability, power on tap and its overall driving smoothness both in and out of the city. The Sonata ticks a good number of those boxes, but it still lacks that
oomph
 we got when we tested the
i40 Sedan
 and
Tourer
. It didn’t feel as powerful, but the well executed gearbox pairing does count for something.
Still, this Sonata is one of the best performing family sedans money can buy right now, and it is without question the only car in its segment to earn you a 2-year “The Leader” concierge service, personalised medical assistance and most importantly, an additional three-year or 300,000 km warranty on top of the manufacturer’s five-year warranty for your engine and gearbox. But if I were to be honest, the
Passat CKD
 may well be the more promising alternative.
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY
Hyundai Sonata LF Executive Media Test Drive

Hyundai Sonata LF Launch


Honda City top sales charts in Thailand and Philippines

Honda Thailand has retained the No.1 position in Thailand’s passenger car market for the third year in a row in 2017 with a whopping total of 127,768 units sold.
The brand’s top five best-selling models in 2017 were the
Honda City (34,955 units)
, Honda Civic (27,448 units), Honda Jazz (23,360 units) while the HR-V, CR-V and BR-V contributed (32,690 units) – leading to the highest total sales in three major market segments.
Malaysia is the only market outside of Japan to receive the
Honda City Sport Hybrid
.
Meanwhile, in Philippines, Honda announced that it has successfully continued its growth with record breaking sales in 2017 with 31,758 vehicles sold, compared to 2016 with 23,199 units.
The primary contributors to Honda’s strong sales performance were the
City (9,430 units)
, the BR-V (7,212 units) and the Civic (4,146 units). With the successful launch of the all-new CR-V (2,799 units sold), it further solidified Honda’s growth with its introduction last August 2017.


Limited-time offer on new and pre-owned Hyundais – this weekend only, up to RM18K off

Sime Darby Auto Hyundai (SDAH) will be offering exclusive deals on
 new and pre-owned Hyundai models
 this weekend starting tomorrow from
12 to 14 June
, available at all SDAH outlets nationwide, including the new Sime Darby Motor City in Ara Damansara.
The three-day-only promotional campaign will see
cash rebates of up to RM18,000
, as well as
complimentary accessories
 with the purchase of selected Hyundai models.
The
Hyundai Santa Fe
 was given a slight update, and now includes third-row air conditioning as standard.
All pre-owned models on sale are less than five-years old, or with a mileage of less than 100,000 km on the clock. Additionally, all units have also undergone stringent inspection protocols to ensure they are in mint condition, with only genuine parts and original engine fitted, and are major accident-free.
For added peace of mind, Hyundai product experts will be at hand to answer to any queries you might have before making a purchase.
In line with the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO), health and safety protocols will be in place at all Hyundai outlets during the campaign. These include sanitisation of test drive vehicles before and after each test drive, as well as the practice of social distancing.
Customers interested are
advised to make an appointment
 prior to their visit to their preferred showroom. The operational hours will be split into four sessions for appointments – 9am to 11am, 11am to 1pm, 1pm to 3pm, and 3pm to 5pm.
Recently, SDAH also launched their new
‘Test Drive To You’ online service
, allowing customers in areas around its six SDAH outlets in the country to test drive Hyundai models right from their door step.


Video: Ora Good Cat review – Can the cheapest EV in Malaysia actually be good?

EVs are a dime a dozen these days, but the
Ora Good Cat
 is one of them that stands out, thanks to its unique design and attractive starting price of
RM 139,800
. Even the name of the car is unusual and unique enough to make people curious about the car. While the car has been out for a while now, we finally have time to review it for you (Yes, the Ora Good Cat is no longer the cheapest EV in Malaysia. This review was filmed before the launch of the Neta V).
As mentioned above, the most unique part of the Ora Good Cat must be its exterior. Styled literally like a cat, the Good Cat features feminine curves all around the car, reminding us of cars like the
Volkswagen Beetle
. The LED headlights are also rounded and shaped like a cat’s eye, making the car fit the ‘Good Cat’ name even more.

At the rear, the Ora Good Cat features a unique tail light design for its price range, making it a unique buy that won’t break the bank. However, don’t let its size fool you as it is actually bigger than you might think. Details are in our video review, so watch on to find out!
Inside the Good Cat features a modern interior that also looks luxurious. Featuring a 7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display, the Good Cat also comes with features such as a 6-way powered driver seat, leather upholstery, and a wireless mobile phone charging pad.
RELATED:
Malaysia-bound Ora Lightning Cat at Auto Shanghai 2023, up to 705km range
Powering the Good Cat is a single electric motor that is capable of pushing out
143 hp
 and
210 Nm
 of torque. The 0-100 km/h sprint can be done in
7.9 seconds
.
This all makes the Ora Good Cat sound like a great deal. But is it also a good cat when it comes to its range, safety features, interior quality, charging performance, and the way it drives? Because there’s no perfect car in this world right? Watch our Ora Good Cat video review to find out.
RELATED:
Tengku Zafrul receives Ora Good Cat for long term test drive – MITI to study EV usage pattern


The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 and Boxster Spyder will be getting a PDK gearbox after all

Although rowing your own gears might be the closest we can get to a sense of euphoria on the empty mountain roads, there is no way we can deny the speed and convenience that a proper dual-clutch gearbox offers, especially in our mundane day-to-day commute.
The speed of a performance-oriented dual-clutch gearbox is even more apparent on the race track. It is no surprise then, that Porsche will soon be offering the track-focused
718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Boxster Spyder
 with the brand’s famed PDK dual-clutch gearbox, according to a report by
Evo UK
.
This will be the first time that Porsche is offering the PDK transmission in its mid-engined GT4 and Spyder models, since their
introduction in 2015
.
As a refresher, the 718 Cayman GT4 and Boxster Spyder announced last year features a 4.0-litre naturally aspirated flat-six engine, capable of producing
420 hp
 and
420 Nm
 of torque. Up until now, the GT4 and Spyder are only available with a
six-speed manual gearbox
, in the name of maximum driving pleasure.
Aside from the powertrain, the GT4 and Spyder also features a sophisticated GT suspension, with the front inherited from the 991 911 GT3, along with the GT3’s brakes.
According to the same report, the recently-announced
718 Cayman and Boxster GTS
, featuring the same 4.0-litre engine from the GT4, will also be offered with the same PDK gearbox.
The predecessor
 with a flat-four engine was available with a dual-clutch transmission since launch.


The Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato is now a family of 4, a very sexy family of 4

Zagato, the Italian Automotive and Design company has been a strong partner with Aston Martin since 1960 when the two brands worked together to develop the Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato. Renowned for its beautiful reimagination of Aston Martin vehicles, Zagato has added two additional renditions to the Vanquish family – Zagato Speedster and Zagato Shooting Brake.
The Speedster and Shooting Brake will join the existing
Coupe
 and
Volante
 body styles, completing the family of four of Vanquish Zagato models.  A total of
325 cars
 will roll out of the production floor with the Coupe, Volante and Shooting Brake each limited to
99 cars
 whereas the Speedster is limited to just
28 cars
, making it the rarest of the lot.
Let’s address the elephant in the room, the Zagato Shooting Brake. It remains
strictly a two-seater
 except it gets the added practicality of a GT car. Although still kept under wraps, we can tell from the sketch that the Shooting Brake will have an extended roofline with a ‘double-bubble’ design. Zagato has also revealed that the car will have luxurious convenience items such as glass inlays to let light seep into the cockpit, powered tailgates, trimmed rear cabin area and a complete tailored luggage set. Besides that, the Shooting Brake is the only Vanquish Zagato model you can own brand new, the rest are all sold out.
While the Shooting Brake offer high levels of sophistication and GT capabilities, the Speedster is an uncompromising ultra-high-performance open-top supercar. Like the Shooting Brake, the Speedster gets Zagato’s signature ‘double-bubble’ roof. All the extra bits present on the car are made from carbon fibre no less.
Powering the Vanquish Zagato family is a 6.0-litre naturally aspirated V12 mated to an eight-speed Touchtronic III automatic transmission. Output is rated at
592 hp
 and
630 Nm
 of torque. On the
standard Vanquish S
, century sprint time is clocked in at
3.5 seconds
 while top speed is capped at
323 km/h
.

Aston Martin Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman, said of the Vanquish Zagato family: “We haven’t released Zagato models as a family before, at least not in this way, but the idea is not without precedent. Think back to the DB7 Zagato and DB AR1, or the V8 Zagato Coupe and Volante, for example. We’ve simply taken things a few steps further.”
“Why create a family of Zagatos? Well, many of our customers want different things. Some prefer the purity of a Coupe, but others love the idea of something more extreme, like the Speedster. And yes, some of them have ordered one example of each. There’s always an over-demand from our clients and patrons. We could easily fulfill demand for more cars than this, but we want Zagato to remain something very special.” He added.
IMAGE GALLERY
Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Speedster

Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake

Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Volante


Honda Malaysia adds new Body and Paint Centres to its dealerships

In a continuous effort to improve customer experience, Honda Malaysia is expanding their Body and Paint (BP) Centres at its dealerships. Six new BP Centres have been opened this year, bringing the total number of Honda BP Centres to 28.
BP Centre is Honda’s one-stop solution in providing Honda customers
accident vehicle repairs, vehicle inspections, painting, and quality check after maintenance
. The BP centres also provides associated services such as preparing documents and assisting in the process of an insurance claim.
Along with the enhanced customer experience, Honda also promises that the technicians are
trained to the highest skills and knowledge
 to ensure all repairs and maintenance are performed according to the set standards.
Honda Malaysia Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Toichi Ishiyama said, “We believe the expansion of BP Centres will help Honda Malaysia meet the increasing demand as well as offer high quality after-sales service and benefits to our customers such as skilled technicians and conducive environment.
“To top it off, Honda Malaysia provides quality products in our BP Centres. This includes Waterborne paint, the revolutionary green product as well as genuine Honda parts that are certified by Honda Motor Co., Ltd. We are also working closely with our dealers to deliver top-notch customer experience from sales to after-sales,” he added.
Honda Malaysia’s consistent sales growth for the past five years has translated into an increase in after-sales service demand. In the first ten months of the year, Honda Malaysia has recorded over 36,000 BP service intakes, a 40% increase from the same period last year.
The full list of Honda BP Centres are as follows:


Audi R8 LMS GT3 race car updated with better aero, cooling & durability

Audi has just unveiled its refreshed Audi R8 LMS GT3 race car at the 2018 Paris Motor Show. The updated GT3 race car is ready for customers to take on the 2019 racing season.
During the development of the updated R8 LMS GT3, Audi Sport concentrated on areas of aerodynamics, cooling and durability of the transmission to allow customers to stay more time on the track than in the pit.
Upfront there is a restyle bumper with a new splitter for better aerodynamic stability and consistency. Brake cooling has been improved thanks to improved airflow to the brake systems and more efficient evacuation of hot air from the disc brakes. This results in a more consistent braking performance as well as tire pressure.
Audi Sport has introduced an improved three-plate racing clutch that has
 50 per cent longer rebuild interval
, revised gear teeth and reinforced bearings to prolong the longevity of the six-speed sequential transmission. No changes to the 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V10 that pumps out
585 hp
 and over
550 Nm
 of torque.
Customers who intend to race the 2019 Audi R8 LMS GT3 in various racing series that it qualifies in will have to fork out €398k (RM1.9 million). However, customers who already possess the second-generation R8 LMS GT3 race car can retrofit the evolution kit for €28,000 (RM134k).
IMAGE GALLERY


Aston Martin KL’s new DBS Superleggera in Pentland Green is beauty intensified!

The fastest production car by Aston Martin and also our
2019 AutoBuzz Best Driver’s Cars
 has arrived at its Kuala Lumpur showroom in a new shade of green that simply peaks the heart’s desire.
It’s called Pentland Green. The new paint job has been paired with Bronze brake calipers, carbon-ceramic brakes and a set of 21-inch 10-spoke wheels in Gloss Black Diamond. The effect of it is simply one of the most elegant yet stealthy Aston Martin DBS’ we’ve laid eyes on.
Complementing the elegant new exterior finish are Caithness leather upholstery with Sahara Tan stitching. The latter colour has also been applied to the headlining of the DBS Superleggera that looks
far less tacky than the one
in the launch model! Brrrr!
 So un-Aston Martin-like!
Also unlike the launch unit we saw at Aston Martin’s KL showroom, the Pentland Green DBS Superleggera comes with a more elegant seat design. The Aston Martin emblem embroidery on the back rest of the front seat has been replaced with “DBS” letters instead. Completing the exterior are Tamo Ash open pore trims and a Satin Silver Jewellery pack.

Performance wise, nothing has changed. Underneath the DBS’ carbon fibre front hood is a 5.2-litre quad-cam twin-turbo V12 producing
725 hp
 and
900 Nm
 of torque. Frighteningly, every inch of performance is channeled solely to the rear wheels via an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission and a carbon fibre driveshaft.
0 to 100 km/h is done within a highly disturbing
3.4 seconds
, onward to a spellbinding top speed of 340 km/h. In case that doesn’t excite you, it’ll also do 80-160 km/h in just four seconds.
The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera is available from the base price of RM 1,228,000.00, while the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera in Pentland Green is priced at RM 1,450,000.00 (excluding duties and taxes).
This customised DBS Superleggera Pentland Green comes with a 3-year factory warranty, complimentary 24-months of Aston Martin Extended Warranty and 5-years scheduled servicing with labour.
For more details, please call Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur +60 3 2163 1196 or email to
[email protected]
.
GALLERY


Volvo is turning its hometown in Sweden into a climate-neutral city by 2030

Volvo Cars is teaming up with Gothenburg, its hometown in Sweden, to turn Scandinavia’s largest port city into an emission-free model city for the future.
The initiative, called Gothenburg Green City Zone, will establish an area inside the city with a variety of climate-neutral transportation modes and a connected infrastructure, serving as a realistic test bed for technologies such as electrification, shared mobility, autonomous driving, connectivity and safety.
As part of its plans, Volvo will also be running autonomous robotaxis within the zone, operated by its fully-owned mobility provider M.
The
XC40 Recharge
, Volvo’s first fully-electric model.
“Essentially, we initiate a project that intends to limit the number of cars in the city – which is fully in line with our company’s purpose,” said Volvo Cars chief executive Håkan Samuelsson. “We want to be involved in creating the cities of the future and keep them liveable. This initiative gives us an opportunity to do that and take on responsibility in our own hometown at the same time.”
By working with the city, Volvo will be able to test technologies such as geo-fenced electric-only zones, and direct communication with the vehicle’s safety systems via Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) connectivity. This will open the doors to true autonomous vehicles, which have always had limited public road-testing due to
Other potential examples include fully electric mobility hubs, electric cars charging network, and as mentioned above, autonomous taxis to reduce vehicles on the road.
According to Volvo, the main obstacle to climate transition is not a lack of climate-friendly and smart technologies, but the capacity to implement them. With the Swedish carmaker having an active role in the planning process of this initiative, they can ensure that the climate-neutral zone integrates its electrified mobility services from the get go, and develops them in a live environment, thus increasing the impact on sustainability goals.
“We want to use our knowledge and technology to help create a future city that is electrified, connected, shared and climate-neutral,” said Henrik Green, Volvo Car’s CTO. “This is an opportunity to lead by example, by testing new technologies and services in a live large scale environment, we can show that if it is possible here, it is possible anywhere.”
The Gothenburg Green City Zone initiative will begin later in 2021, and will gradually scale up going forward. In related news, Volvo has also confirmed that its
second fully-electric BEV model will debut later this year
.


Subaru VIZIV-7 SUV Concept previewed at LA Motor Show, due in 2018

Subaru has unveiled a seven-seater SUV concept at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show (LAAS). Dubbed the VIZIV-7 SUV Concept which stands for Vision for Innovation, the three-row midsize SUV will be the largest vehicle Subaru has ever made.
The concept car measures 5,200mm in length, 2,030mm in width, 1,860mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2,990mm. While the production model may or may not measure the same, it gives us an idea of the vehicle size that Subaru is going for. Elsewhere, the VIZIV-7 SUV Concept features
full three-row
 seat layout and Subaru’s
DYNAMIC x SOLID
 design philosophy.
Takeshi Tachimori, Corporate Executive Vice President of Fuji Heavy Industries expressed that the VIZIV-7 SUV Concept will embody the brand’s core values of
safety
,
dependability
,
capability
 for outdoor activities and a
forward-looking attitude
.
Subaru hinted that the midsize SUV is expected to be introduced to the North American market in early 2018. What do you think of this concept, folks? Think it’s able to give the
Nissan X-Trail
 or
Mitsubishi Outlander
 a good run for its money?


Nissan helps protect your family when you buy a X-Trail or Serena S-Hybrid

If you’ve been looking to purchase a
Nissan X-Trail
 or
Serena S-Hybrid
, Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) has just sweetened the deal with a complimentary 1-year insurance protection plan.
The promotion comes via a collaboration between ETCM and FWD Takaful (previously known as HSBC Amanah Takaful). The
FWD Protect Direct
 family takaful protection plan on offer here covers a
sum of RM100,000
.
FWD Protect Direct is an online takaful plan, promising to offer protection for the entire family through one single plan, up to a family of four. Customers can opt between individual, couple, family (up to two children), and single parent (up to two children), depending on their family requirements.
Upon purchase of a new Nissan X-Trail or Serena S-Hybrid
 between 1 February and 30 April 2020
, customers will receive a unique code for the redemption of the complimentary 1-year coverage at the
FWD Takaful website
. The redemption has to be done before the
 30th of May 2020
.
In addition, 10 lucky customers will also walk away with
 Cuckoo Healthy Home Appliances worth RM60,000
, when they purchase and register any Nissan model in February 2020.
As an added incentive, ETCM is offering promotions and discounts on all of the Nissan models, touting attractive monthly instalment plans as low as RM749 for the
Nissan Almera
, RM958 for a
 Nissan Navara
, RM1,275 for the New Nissan X-Trail and RM1,295 for a Nissan Serena S-Hybrid.
In conjunction with the ongoing promotions, ETCM will be organising a Test Drive Carnival at selected ETCM showrooms across the nation, on
15 to 16 February
, as well as
22 to 23 February
. Full list of locations can be found in the image below.
Click to enlarge