2023 BYD Atto 3 launched in Malaysia, EV SUV from RM150k

Sime Darby Motors
, the official distributor of
BYD
 in Malaysia has launched the
BYD Atto 3
 in two variants, with prices starting at
RM149,800
. The Atto 3 is an all-electric C -segment SUV with an electric driving range of up to 420 km.
The two variants of the BYD Atto 3 in Malaysia are:
Atto 3 Standard Range –
RM149,800
Atto 3 Extended Range –
RM167,800
On the outside, the BYD Atto 3 measures 4,455 mm in length, 2,050 mm in width, and 1,615 mm in height. With a wheelbase measuring 2,720 mm, it is about the size of a
Proton X70
. At the front, the Atto 3 gets LED headlights adorned with chrome trims, and at the rear, it gets a set of “bird wing” LED taillights.
The Standard Range version of the Atto 3 gets 17-inch wheels while the Extended Range version gets 18-inch wheels, and with different designs. Behind the wheels are ventilated disc brakes in front and disc brakes in the rear that are standard across the Atto 3’s range. Overall, the Atto 3 is subtle, unlike its bizarre interior, which we’ll get into next.
Standard exterior features of the BYD Atto 3 include:
17-inch alloy wheels
LED Headlights and taillights
Roof rails
Electrically heated and adjustable side mirrors
The Extended Range adds on:
18-inch alloy wheels
one-touch open/close tailgate
RELATED:
Thai customers queue overnight for BYD Atto 3, over 2.5k units booked in a day
Inside, the Atto 3’s trims look like muscles in anatomy class, and rightfully so, as it is called the “Muscle Streamline Design”. The interior is rather extraordinary with “red guitar strings” (that actually work) on the door trim, dumbbell-inspired air vents, a treadmill-style central armrest, “futuristic” grip-style door handles, futuristic door levers, and spaceship-like seats. Completing the interior’s bizarre styling is the aviation-inspired gear lever.
Things get even more interesting when you realise that the 12.8-inch infotainment unit is rotatable between landscape and portrait orientation. The rotatable screen can be connected to your smartphone via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Behind the steering wheel is a 5-inch digital instrument cluster that is perched on the steering column, which means it moves together with the steering wheel when you adjust it.
Standard interior features of the BYD Atto 3 include:
A panoramic sunroof
12.8-inch rotatable infotainment unit
5-inch digital instrument cluster
6-way power-adjustable driver seat
4-way power-adjustable front passenger seat
Automatic single-zone airconditioning
6-speaker sound system
Single-colour ambient lighting door handle
The Extended Range adds on:
Wireless phone charger
PM2.5 Air Filter
8-speaker DIRAC HD Sound System
Multi-colour ambient lighting door handle
RELATED:
BYD officially enters Malaysia – distributed by Sime Darby Motors
Powering the BYD Atto 3 is a single electric motor that makes
203 hp
(metric) and
310 Nm
. All power is sent to the front wheels and the Atto 3 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in
7.3 seconds
. Storing power in the Atto 3 are two different battery sizes for the Standard Range and the Extended Range versions.
The Standard Range houses a
49.92-kWh
 battery that provides an all-electric range of
345 km
 (WLTP). The Extended Range version utilises a 60.48-kWh battery that provides
420 km
 of range (WLTP).
As for charging, the Atto 3 can handle
6.6-kW
 AC charging as standard. The Standard Range BYD Atto 3 can handle
70-kW
 DC fast charging while the Extended Range BYD Atto 3 can handle up to
80-kW
 DC fast charging. The BYD Atto 3 is also capable of vehicle-to-load (
V2L
) function at a rate of
2.2 kW
.
RELATED:
China’s BYD to set up RM2.2 billion EV plant in Thailand as ASEAN production hub
Safety features on the BYD Atto 3 include Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop & Go, Hill Descent Control (HDC), Automatic Vehicle Hold (AVH), Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Front Collision Warning (FCW), Rear Collision Warning (RCW), Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM), Door Open Warning (DOW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA).
Included in the price of the BYD Atto 3 is a 6-year/150,000 km vehicle warranty, an 8-year/160,000 km high-voltage battery warranty, and an 8-year/150,000 km drive unit warranty. Also included are a complimentary portable home charger, a complimentary V2L extension cable, and free RM1,000 Go-to-U EV charging credits.
RELATED:
BYD Atto 3 “Grand Launch” in Malaysia set for 9-11 Dec. – sign up to witness the new EV SUV!
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CES 2016: Bentley’s ‘Monster by Mulliner’ gets 3,400-Watts of power!

Consumer Electronics Show (CES), to those of you who aren’t in the know, is an internationally renowned annual gadget and tech expo that showcases the coolest and the cutting edge of technical innovation. But what, you may be asking, are car manufacturers doing at CES ? Seems a tad bit out of place doesn’t it?
On the contrary, actually. The relationship between cars and technology couldn’t be any closer. Autoweek reported this week that
10 percent
 of the 2.2 million square feet display space at the
 Las Vegas Convention Center
 has been allocated to car manufacturers such as VW, McLaren and Bentley. Why? Because people simply aren’t buying cars based on reliability and the number of horsepower (for the most part anyways) but rather the cool toys that come with them.
But the part we’re interested in is the 320 km/h
Bentley Continental GT V8 S
, dubbed the ‘
Monster by Mulliner
”. Those familiar with the
Beats
 brand will definitely recognise the name
Monster
. Bentley Motors’ bespoke coach-building division, Mulliner has teamed up with Monster to create a stunning show-stopper for CES 2016. Most would call it an odd coupling, but so was Sonny and Cher, and they worked – sort of.
Aside from the jaw-dropping way this bespoke GT V8 looks like, it’s on the inside that one will discover the business end of this club-on-wheels. The exquisitely handcrafted interior features
Beluga
 hide and a piano black finish for the trimming. You won’t find Mulliner’s new
stone veneer
 here but rather you’ll find a
3D Laser-etched
 fascia panel that exudes intricacy.
Thumping this Continental along is a whole bunch of speakers selected by the man, Inventor and Head Monster Noel Lee himself. He selects the
 16 speakers
 that will find its way into the GT. Not only that, Noel will
personally
 tune the entire setup of the show car himself. The end result is
3,400-watts
 of awe-inspiring
Pure Monster Sound
 – the company’s signature audio profile. Let that number simmer in for a bit. That number is enough to jump start the party at a club. Believe us.
Noel Lee
 said, “Monster is proud to collaborate with Bentley on bringing the sound and look of a Monster ride to those who want something bold and different. With our Pure Monster Sound system, the drive will be truly incredible and brings a new level of excitement to the driving experience. That’s why this collaboration for the Continental GT V8 S is such a
perfect fit
.”
We could not agree more with Noel on that thought. While Bentley will always be at the top-end of luxury vehicles, this collaboration shows the world of Bentley’s youthful vigor. Where you’d usually find the ‘Bentley’ name plate on the door sill now says ‘
Always Lead Never Follow
’ which is of course Monster’s tagline.
That being said, The GT looks phenomenal on the outside, with a unique body kit and radiator shell bezel adorned in Hotspur-red accents while the body is licked in Onyx-Black and so are the wheels. Capping off the stance is the red painted brake callipers.


It’s official, the Porsche GT2 RS is the fastest RWD around the Nürburgring

When Porsche pulled off the wraps of the all-new
911 GT2 RS
, it was the most powerful road-legal 911 ever made. Now, Porsche can proudly support that claim as the GT2 RS just became the fastest 911 to go around the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
The record breaking lap was piloted by Porsche factory driver Nick Tandy who hails from UK, who completed the 20.6 km stretch in
6 minutes and 47.3 seconds
 – just 2.6 seconds slower than the fastest road-legal car, the
all-electric Nio EP9
. This puts the GT2 RS not just the second fastest production car to lap the Green Hell, but is also the rear-wheel drive production car to do so.
Frank-Steffen Walliser, Vice President Motorsport and GT Cars, said: “At the start of the development process, we set ourselves a lap time target for the GT2 RS of less than 7 minutes and 5 seconds. The credit for beating this target by
17.7 seconds
 goes to our development engineers, mechanics and drivers, who demonstrated an exceptionally strong team performance. This result makes it official: The GT2 RS is not only the most powerful, but also the fastest 911 ever built”.
For the record attempt, the GT2 RS was fitted with Michelin Pilot Cup 2 tyres and the team flagged off at sundown at 7.11 pm. The GT2 RS recorded an average speed of
184.11 km/h
.
At the heart of this record setting car is a 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat six that deploys
700 hp
 and
750 Nm
 of torque, allowing it to sprint to the 100 km/h mark from naught in just
2.7 seconds
. Top speed is rated at
338 km/h
. Drive is sent exclusively to the rear wheels via a seven-speed PDK.
The Porsche 911 GT2 RS carries a sticker price of USD $293,200 (RM1.26 mil) and will go on sale in early 2018.
IMAGE GALLERY


Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche cars can soon park itself at carparks by 2020

Volkswagen Group, in partnership with the City of Hamburg, Germany, is trialling fully autonomous parking at Hamburg Airport as part of the brand’s next push for autonomous driving. The Group is planning to roll out the function in its first vehicles by 2020.
Using pictorial markers installed in the multi-story carpark and carpark map data, Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche vehicles are able to navigate to an empty parking space autonomously at Hamburg Airport. The biggest benefit of this autonomous parking system is that it
can be applied in any car park
 – multi-storey or otherwise.
Chief Digital Officer of Volkswagen Group, Johann Jungwirth, says: “Autonomous parking can make an important contribution to creating convenient, stress-free mobility for our customers. We, therefore, want to democratise the technology and make it accessible to as many people as possible.”
In this trial, the three brands are pooling their expertise to ready the system for commercial use across all three brands. However, the function of autonomous parking, when rolled out to the public, will be introduced in stages to ensure high levels of safety to customers and the public.
Initial stages of autonomous parking will be used in selected carparks in a controlled and exclusive environment, not accessible to other cars and people. This is to build up public awareness as well as collect real-world data in a large sample. Only when the system is ready, will the operation be deployed in mixed traffic where other cars with drivers are part of the equation.
Jungwirth concludes: “Our clear objective is autonomously driving vehicles that facilitate mobility for everyone at the push of a button and that gives people back time and quality of life as well as greatly improving safety on the roads. Autonomous parking is a milestone on the way there.”


Honda Civic Type R spotted – less aggressive, more fans?

In recent weeks, we’ve seen the
all-new

Honda Civic sedan
 break cover, followed by the
hatchback version
. Then news came that the all-new Civic Type R is on its way too;
set to arrive in 2022
.
Unsurprisingly, images of the all-new hot hatch, supposedly the first of the hybrid Type Rs according to reports online, have started surfacing.
Click here for the extended gallery of the all-new Honda Civic sedan!
Also to no surprise is how it looks, well roughly, based on what you and I can tell from these images. As it is mainly based on the new Civic hatchback, most of the Type R’s exterior design cues appear similar to the standard model save for some sporty touches.
As this should be the all-new Type R’s final production design, the differences from the previous generation FK8 model are quite clear. Honda has retained the air scoop on the front bonnet, along with the massive rear wing, but the Type R lacks the “fierceness” from the previous model.
We compare two different generations of the Honda Civic Type R in the hills – NA vs Turbo! Watch the video here!
This could be down to the missing vortex generators atop the rear windscreen or due to the new rear spoiler with less pointy ends; it’s hard to tell.
Watch the new Honda Civic sedan vs the Mazda 3 & Toyota Corolla in a drag race!
The unique tri-exhaust tip has been carried over but the rear lip spoiler seen in the previous model has been removed. Will the more subtle design sit well with enthusiasts? It should, seeing how the previous-generation FK8 Civic Type R was berated for looking like a toy robot.
Rumour is that the new Type R could be likely hybrid, according to
Autocar UK
. The electrification approach could be similar to what Honda did with the NSX. This could even mean that the Civic Type R could no longer be front-wheel drive.
How would that sit with the Honda boys?

Source:
Spyder7


Lamborghini Urus sets high-speed record on ice!

Automobili Lamborghini showed off the Urus’ traction and performance even in slippery conditions in setting a 1,000-metre record on the ice of Lake Baikal, Russia.
In a mere 1,000 metres, the
Urus clocked a maximum speed of 298 km/h
, in the presence of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and Russian Automotive Federation (RAF).
During the practice runs, the Super SUV managed to clock a more impressive top speed of 302 km/h.
“This extreme challenge has once again proven that the Urus Super SUV delivers the inherent performance expected of a Lamborghini in terms of acceleration and top speed as well as handling, to unlock any road: be it a highway, off-road route or even ice. We are excited to see the Urus’ official results published,” said a representative of Lamborghini.

The Lamborghini Urus, which was featured in our
 AutoBuzz Best Cars of 2018
 video is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with 650 hp and 850 Nm. 0 to 100 km/h takes just 3.6 seconds with a top speed of 305 km/h.
There are six driving modes available through its “Tamburo” drive mode selector – Strada (Street), Sport, Corsa (Race), Neve (Snow), Terra (off-road) and Sabbia (Sand). They work hand-in-hand with the Urus’ specially-tuned damping system that continually adjusts itself depending on driving conditions.

Take a closer look at the local specification Lamborghini Urus
in our gallery
!


Toyota Mirai FCV to celebrate Earth Day’s 45th anniversary in Washington D.C. [+Video]

Guests of Earth Day’s 45th anniversary will be among the first few in the world to get an up close and personal look at the future direction of automobiles, one that’s been conceptualised into the form of a four-door midsize sedan by Toyota. This
hydrogen and oxygen powered
 fuel cell vehicle (FCV) is known as the
Mirai
 which literally means
future
 in Japanese.
Toyota is partnering with Earth Day Network to sponsor the
Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day
 celebrating that will take place from 17 to 19 April. The event, staged to take place at the National Hall in Washington D.C., will feature leading environmental voices, government leaders, celebrity performances and of course, a Mirai activation – whatever that means.
The Mirai is the result of more than
20 years of research
, and Toyota believes that Earth Day 2015 will be a great platform to educate the public about their fuel cell technology and hydrogen as the potential fuel for propulsion in the future. Read more on the Mirai and how it works
here
.
This tide-turning Toyota is said to manage a travelling distance of
650km
 on a full tank of hydrogen, and refueling will take about five minutes. Frankly speaking, that’s not too quick or impressive a time, but the technology will most certainly improve over time. The Mirai will go on sale in California later this year.
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY

 Toyota Mirai, Fuel Cell Vehicle


Bye-bye 488GTB, hello Ferrari F8 Tributo

Ferrari has just unveiled its latest mid-engine V8-powered sports car ahead of the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show. The Ferrari F8 Tributo, will replace the
488GTB
 in the prancing horse line up and packs a mean 720 hp twin-turbo V8 like the hardcore, limited edition
488 Pista
.
The rear engine deck now sits a 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 pushing out
720 hp
 and
770 Nm
 of torque, 50 hp and 10 Nm more than the 488GTB it replaces. In addition to the increased power, Ferrari has managed to shave off 40 kgs compared to the 488GTB.  With all its lightweight options ticked, the F8 Tributo tips the scale at 1,330 kg.
As a result, century sprint is done in
2.9 seconds
, 0 to 200 km/h in
7.8 seconds
 and top speed is registered at
340 km/h
.
To keep the F8 Tributo
in check, Ferrari has beefed up the car’s aerodynamics along with the latest generation
Side Slip Angle (ver. 6.1). The aerodynamic improvement can be seen in the car’s
design with a new front S-Duct, more compact LED headlights to house new brake
cooling intakes in the outside bumper and the subtle aero package around the car.
While the front is a
familiar face, the rear has been extensively reworked to reflect Ferrari’s new design
language that emphasises the brand’s high performance and extreme aerodynamic
efficiency. The rear engine cover, brake duct and side intakes all contribute
to the F8 Tributo’s engine cooling efficiency and downforce at high speeds.
The cabin is still
very much present-day Ferrari but enhanced with new steering wheel controls, 7.0-inch
passenger touchscreen display and round air vents.
IMAGE GALLERY
Ferrari F8 Tributo


Traffic offenders, time to settle your summons!

This is the time you’ve all been waiting (or rather hoping) for; time to dig up those old summons from under your bed.
There will be
50% off
 outstanding summons from
18th to 1st of February 2020
, said the Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department.
The department is encouraging the use of e-payments for those looking to “clear their debts” quicker, as the festive season may cause long queues and waits. Online payments can either be made via MyEG or Rilex.com.


Ferrari 458 MM Speciale, Maranello’s latest special one-off

Remember the mysterious Ferrari that was going around Fiorano naked? It turned out to be a one-off from Ferrari Special Projects division, and it’s named ‘Ferrari 458 MM Speciale’.
It’s wasn’t a Ferrari
Dino
 or a
488 Speciale
 as speculated when images of a
mysterious white Ferrari
 was making rounds on the track and road. It is a bespoke model, specially crafted for a British car enthusiast.
This
Ferrari 458 MM Speciale
 is based on the naturally aspirated
4.5-litre V8
 458 Speciale that churns out
597 hp
. A
133hp per litre
 world record thanks to the
14.0:1
 high compression ratio setup.
The appearance weirdly reminds me of the 488, the Lotus Evora, and a little bit of Ford GT. I guess that’s how the British bloke likes it. Making sure it stands out from the rest of the 458 Speciales.
With the unique shoulder line and side scoop, one of a kind front and rear bumpers, finished in Bianco Italia (white) matched with Italian flag livery, it is a brilliant looking Prancing Horse.
Have some spare million bucks lying around? Give
Ferrari Special Projects Programme
a call and they will make your dreams come true.
IMAGE GALLERY


Hankook offering cash rebates with purchase of Ventus Prime 3 tyres

Hankook Tire has announced a special two-month tyre promotion that offers cash voucher rebates to customers. The offer extends to customers who purchase two or four pieces of the all-new
Hankook Ventus Prime 3 tyres
 that was
launched in November
 last year.
The promotion, which runs
from 1st of July to 31st of August 2020
, is
applicable to 16 to 19 inch variants
 of the Ventus Prime 3 K125 tyres. Cash rebate vouchers of up to RM100 are in the form of Aeon’s shopping voucher, Lazada’s gift card or Grab’s e-promo code.
“Hankook Tire is very pleased to be offering its award-winning innovative tyre, the Ventus Prime 3 K125, for all car owners in Malaysia who are seeking a safer and more distinguished driving experience. Introduced in Malaysia in November last year, the Ventus Prime 3 K125 is our flagship product specially made for markets like Malaysia, where changes in tropical weather conditions can be challenging for drivers,” said Hankook Tire Malaysia, Managing Director, Tommy Kim.
Customers who purchase Hankook Ventus Prime 3 tyres during the promotion period will need to
go online to register their contact details
. That, or simply scan the QR code provided by the dealer/retailer upon purchase. Upon processing and approval, the selected cash voucher will be sent to the customer either by SMS or postage.
This promotion is available at all authorised Hankook Master dealers and retailers in Peninsula Malaysia. The cash rebate vouchers are based on first come first serve basis, while stocks last.


Check out what the new Honda City “Special Edition” has in store!

Honda Malaysia has introduced a “Special Edition” for its best-selling model the City, which will be available in Passion Red Pearl and White Orchid Pearl at RM75,955 and RM76,075 respectively.
The Special Edition also comes with a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) for front and rear view, Built-in Toll Reader, Door Visors and a trunk organiser – in case you haven’t already got one from Mr.DIY.
The 1.5-litre,
120 hp
 and
145 Nm
 B-segment sedan has been the biggest sales contributor for Honda Malaysia, making up 34% of the company’s
total sales from January to July 2019
 – maintaining its No.1 position in the segment along the way.
The City’s success isn’t just confined to the Malaysian market as it is also
Honda Thailand’s best selling model in 2017 and the strongest sales contributor for Honda Philippines
 – further cementing the City’s reputation as a practical, reliable and more importantly, affordable B-segment sedan.
 IMAGE GALLERY


The most popular car on TikTok is the Audi TT!

With over a billion active monthly users per month on TikTok, a survey by Dick Lovett in the UK has shown that
BMW is one of the most popular car brands
 on the app with over 22 billion views.
This is followed by Audi with 8.9 billion views and Jaguar in 3rd place with six billion views. Household supercar makers like Porsche and Ferrari only gathered four and three billion views respectively.
The BMW M4
Among the top three most popular car brands on TikTok, a survey was also conducted to find out which model from these three brands was the most popular.
BMW may be the most popular car brand on TikTok but it is the
Audi TT that’s the most popular car on TikTok
, with over 5.5 billion views.
The limited-edition Audi TT RS
Interestingly, the BMW M4 is the second most popular car among TikTok users, with over 1.3 billion views. That makes us wonder if the BMW M4 was a source of admiration or mockery because you know why.
Audi celebrates 40 years of quattro with limited edition TT RS. Read about it here!
In case you’re not convinced that SUVs have taken over the world, the most popular Porsche isn’t the 911 as you’d expect. It didn’t even make it to the top three!

Eight luxury brands were included in this survey including BMW, Audi, Jaguar, Porsche, Ferrari, Land Rover, Mini, and Aston Martin. The Top 3 most popular models from each brand are as follow:
BMW
 – M4, M3, M2
Audi
 – TT, A4, R8
Aston Martin
 – DBS, Valkyrie, Atom
Porsche
 – Panamera, Macan, Cayenne
Ferrari
 – 812 Superfast, Monza SP1, F8 Tributo
Jaguar
 – XE, XF, F-Type
Land Rover
 – Defender, Discovery, Discovery Sport
Range Rover
– Sport, Velar, Evoque
MINI
 – Cooper, John Cooper Works, Countryman
The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera in Malaysia.
According to Dick Lovett, the survey was conducted based on the number of views on videos using hashtags mentioning each car and brand on TikTok, with all view counts correct as of 15th June 2021.
Watch our video of the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera here!


Take five and check out the F90 BMW M5 hitting 312 km/h on the Autobahn

The
new F90 BMW M5
 was just launched in Malaysia and while we were allowed to
unleash the 600 hp weapon around our Sepang International Circuit
, reaching its top speed was another challenge all together.
There aren’t many places in the world that can provide you with the space and discretion to max out your car but in case you haven’t heard, the unrestricted Autobahn in Germany is one such place – a mecca for those brave and skillful enough to attain and maintain the top speed of their cars.
I’d recommend you to skip past the tacky techno music in the first minute and jump straight to 1:07. Almost instantly, you’d notice how effortless it was for the
F90 BMW M5
 to hit the 250 km/h where at one point, the driver even sped past a police patrol car at over 300 km/h.
Most of us in Malaysia may have never seen the 200 km/h mark let alone maintain that speed so this video definitely offers a very different perspective on what it’s like to be travelling consistently at 300 km/h – and of course, the risks and dangers that come with it.
Just don’t try it on the North-South Expressway!


New Civic hatchback gets level-up in style with Modulo bodykit

On the day of the launch of the new
Honda Civic hatchback
, Honda Access in Japan also showcased their Modulo styling concept for the new model.
The biggest appeal in this kit has to be the wheels, featuring dual-tone 18-inch wheels, with three-dimensional, multi-spoked design. Tyre size remains the same at 235/40R18 and the new wheels are finished with a Modulo centre cap.
The subtle Modulo bodykit meanwhile consists of a front bumper spoiler and a mid-mounted rear wing, with an elaborate design. The supporting stands are finished in gloss black while the main element is in body colour.
Honda USA also unveiled their Honda HPD styling kit for the new Honda Civic sedan…check it out here!
The rear spoiler has a nice flowing design to it, where the main element is horizontally placed further back than its supports, giving it a very sporty look.
A “mini-dark package” is also available which applies gloss black to the ‘H’ and ‘Civic’ emblems plus side mirrors.
Honda Access also made some accessories for additional lighting in the new Civic, such as side mirror puddle lamp, inner door handle spot lamps, cup holder and illuminated doorsill trim finishers.
The new Honda Civic hatchback is powered by an improved turbocharged 1.5-litre engine with
180 hp
 and
240 Nm
 or a new e:Hev hybrid system. In Japan, transmission choices are a CVT or six-speed manual.
Only in Japan, can you show off a Toyota that’s made to looks like a Lamborghini Urus!
Honda has made plenty of changes to the steering and suspension systems for body road holding and ride comfort. The interior meanwhile feature larger displays on a simple dashboard for ease of use and a high-quality look.
Honda will also use this new hatchback as the basis for the
next Honda Civic Type R
, which is slated for launch in
2022
.
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Sony and Honda’s new EV brand will be called ‘Afeela’

Nearly a year after the two companies
announced their plans to build new EVs together
, Sony and Honda have now finally unveiled a new prototype at CES 2023 under the new brand, Afeela.
The prototype sedan, driven on stage by Sony’s CEO Kenichiro Yoshida, is slated to go into production by the end of 2025.
The name Afeela is meant to represent “feel”, as in “where people ‘feel’ mobility as an intelligent entity, and mobility ‘feels’ people and society using sensing and network IT technologies”. It’s branded itself as a “mobility tech company”, and will leverage on Sony’s expertise in artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality, and augmented reality to create technology and experience-focused EVs.
As for the car itself, the Afeela prototype vehicle looks pretty much like the
 first Sony concept that was first revealed three years ago
. On the outside, it will feature a Media Bar on both the front and rear fascia, allowing the car to “express itself” and communicate with surrounding people using light.
The interior meanwhile is based on a “gentle rounded tone”, with a design that cocoons the occupants to create a comfortable atmosphere, yet being as simple as possible to minimise distractions.
RELATED:
Sony Vision-S 02 SUV shown at CES, could be on sale soon!
It’ll also have a total of 45 cameras and sensors inside out, including in-car cameras and Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensors to detect the driver and car’s conditions at all times to help avoid accidents. The company has committed to develop a Level 3 automated driving system “under limited conditions”, and Level 2+ driving assistance in even more situations, including urban driving.
Not much else has been revealed on the car just yet, but we do know that it’ll be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon Digital Chassis processor. The car will also “seamlessly [integrate] real and virtual worlds”, with the company already partnering with Epic Games to explore possibilities in virtual settings such as the metaverse.
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The Uniti One might just be the perfect city runabout EV

The electric vehicle market is booming faster than ever, with car companies increasingly joining the revolution. Uniti, a new company based in Sweden, is the latest addition to the movement with the introduction of their Uniti One.
The Uniti One, unlike the
recently unveiled Porsche Taycan
, is not your usual ‘all-out performance’ electric vehicle. Built for three passengers, the tiny EV aims to reimagine city mobility – designed with efficiency, sustainability and affordability in mind, while maximising interior space for three adults.
You might think why specifically three adults? That is because the Uniti One has only one front seat! The driver is seated in the centre of the vehicle, similar to that of the legendary McLaren F1.
Uniti says that the unique one-plus-two seating configuration offers ergonomic and visibility benefits for the driver, while providing easy ingress and egress for rear seat passengers.
Flanking the steering wheel are the two touchscreens, running on Android Automotive OS (just like in the upcoming
Volvo XC40 EV
). The Google powered infotainment system offers access to Google Maps, Waze, Spotify and other Play Store applications without the need to have a smartphone tethered to the system.
The touchscreens are also responsible for other key vehicle functionalities such as lighting, climate control and ventilation, and can be controlled through Google’s voice assistant as well.
The Uniti One does away with traditional keys, where entry into the car is done through their own secure mobile application.
On the outside, Uniti incorporated their Scandinavian touch in the design of the car – utilising clean, simple body lines and smooth contours. The car is seemingly split into two halves, with the top dominated by a sweeping electrochromatic panoramic roof that joins the front and rear windscreen to form a canopy.
The electrochromatic roof which comes as standard can be adjusted to be fully opaque or transparent to allow natural light into the cabin, and automatically darkened when parked to keep cabin temperatures low. Completing the equipment list are items such as LED daytime running light and LED taillamps, with full LED headlights as optional extras.
Uniti also equipped the One with standard safety features such as ABS, ESC, and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Customers can also specify the Uniti One with the Intel MobilEye 6 advanced driver assistance system, which includes Forward Collision (including pedestrians and cyclists) and Lane Departure Warning, as well as a speed limit indicator.
Offered in its base specification with a
12 kWh
 power pack, the Uniti One can cover
150 km in a single charge
, and requires just 10 minutes charging for an additional 100 km of range using a 50 kW CCS charger. A larger
24 kWh
 battery is also available as an option, extending its range to
300 km
.
With the same high-speed charger, the 24 kWh battery can recharge from 20% to 80% in just
17 minutes
, while the 12 kWh does it in nine.
Weighing in at a mere
600 kg
, Uniti says the ultracompact urban EV achieves a class-leading
8.0 kWh/100km
 efficiency. Being efficient does not mean it’s lacking in performance either, with a claimed 0 to 50 km/h in 4.1 seconds, 0 to 100 km/h in
9.9 seconds
, before reaching its top speed of
 120 km/h
.
Uniti is a result of an open innovation research at Lund University, Sweden. After a few successful crowd-funding campaigns, the team quickly expanded to kick-start the company’s sustainable mobility business plan.
The ultracompact urban EV will be built in the United Kingdom, due to the region’s focus on “light-weighting” and innovation in advanced materials, which the company’s CEO, Lewis Horne highlighted as an ideal model for electric car production globally.
Uniti One will be available in metallic Scandium, Dark Graphite, and Warm Titanium – which are actually self-coloured materials instead of paint! The urban EV is now open for booking directly on the company’s website – skipping the industry-standard dealership network.


DRB-Hicom sells Lotus Cars and 49.9% of Proton for RM1 billion

It’s official, DRB-HICOM Berhad and Zhejiang Geely Holdings (Geely) have just signed a Definitive Agreement to appoint Geely as Proton’s Foreign Strategic Partner (FSP). The deal will see Geely acquire a 49.9 percent stake in Proton for RM460.3 million in cash as well as the
Boyue SUV platform
.
Of the
RM460.3 million
, RM170.3 million is of cash injection from Geely while the remaining sum (valued at RM290 million) makes up for the Boyue platform. DRB-HICOM has also disposed all 100 percent ownership of
Group Lotus
 for £100 million (RM545 million) with 51 percent going to Geely and 49 percent going to Etika Automotive Sdn Bhd.
Dato’ Sri Syed Faisal Albar, Group Managing Director DRB-HICOM Berhad
The deal came about after Proton received a RM1.5 billion soft loan from the Government with the condition that the national carmaker appoints a foreign strategic partner as part of its turnaround plan.
According to Dato’ Sri Syed Faisal Albar, Group Managing Director DRB-HICOM berhad, Proton has approached 23 potential partners, invited 15, shortlisted five and finally decided on Geely. Proton eventually chose Geely due to their outstanding portfolio as a carmaker, especially with Geely’s success in China as well as turning around Volvo and London Taxi Company.
Mr Li Shufu, Chairman of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group
Dato Syed Faisal highlighted the
six
major benefits
 for Proton from this partnership:
1) Access to Geely technologies
Proton will have direct access to Geely Automotive Group’s products, platforms and latest technologies. Geely will also help Proton (and Lotus) to embrace electrification and artificial intelligence applications.
2) Access to ASEAN and China Markets
Geely intends to help Proton regain a foothold in Malaysia as well as the ASEAN region. However, Li Shufu, Chairman of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group expressed that their immediate focus is to reclaim Proton’s position as Malaysia’s best-selling car brand.
3) Proton to manufacture Geely’s RHD Models
To date, Geely vehicles are only available in left-hand drive. This partnership will allow Geely to manufacture right-hand drive vehicles of their own marque at Proton’s Tanjung Malim plant.
4) Proton R&D to become Geely’s Centre of Excellence in ASEAN
With Proton’s 30 years of experience in automobile development and market research, Proton’s research and development operations will become the benchmark and guidance for Geely in the ASEAN region.
5) Local vendors to join Geely’s Global Shared Purchasing System
Local vendors of Proton will have a chance to be part of Geely’s global supply chain provided they meet the necessary requirements and standards. For example, if Volvo requires a specific part for their cars, local vendors are able to be one of Volvo’s supplier.
6) Tanjung Malim to assemble Volvo Models
Volvo will be able to use the production facility should there be room for more productivity. This will supplement Volvo’s existing manufacturing plant in Shah Alam.
The first car to be conceived from this Geely-Proton partnership is the Geely Boyue SUV here in Malaysia. Dato Syed Faisal said that Proton is currently examining the best course of action to introduce the Boyue SUV. Among the challenges are whether to bring in a batch of CBU units, localisation content and features to suit the local market.
Proton says this Definitive Agreement is not a way of ‘selling out’ the brand to a foreign company. DRB-HICOM remains the majority shareholder of Proton. Besides that, Li Shufu expressed that this acquisition is more of a partnership with DRB-HICOM to revitalise the Proton and Lotus brands than an outright acquisition of assets. Regardless, we Malaysians can expect better things from Proton in the near future. Fingers crossed.


2023 Proton X90 first drive – decent ride, but hard to hide that 3-cylinder sound

With 2023 being the 40th anniversary year for local carmaker
Proton
, its upcoming
Proton X90
 is quite the car to coincide with the occasion. It is after all, Proton’s first electrified or New Energy Vehicle, and
introduces several Proton-first features
. We’ve been given a chance to drive the Proton X90 up Genting Highlands, and here’s what we think about it.
By the way, if you’re looking to renew your insurance, you can get a 10% rebate and cash back at the end of your policy if you renew with MotorTakaful by Etiqa. Just log on to
www.motortakaful.com
.
2023 Proton X90 Comfort – Specially tuned for Malaysian roads
One of the main highlights of the Proton X90 would be its multilink rear suspension which has actually been specially developed for the Malaysian market. The Geely Haoyue, which the X90 is based on, runs a torsion beam setup. Having driven the car for approximately 100 km, the X90 rides comfortably and feels decently planted at high speeds. There’s not too much body roll and the X90 makes for a nice large family SUV. On bumpy roads, most of the undulations are well absorbed.
You may be wondering if the new suspension setup has affected the cargo or cabin space of the Proton X90. We’ve asked the engineers at Proton, and fortunately, no compromise has been made in that department. It is a costly development on Proton’s side that was done in the middle of the X90 development project. Prioritising ride and comfort, Proton made the costly decision to fix a multibeam suspension setup for the rear wheels of the Proton X90.
2023 Proton X90 NVH – Satisfactory
As we were given the liberty to drive on the Karak highway in this yet-to-launch large SUV, we did take it up to some decent highway speeds. Wind noise and road noise are actually minimal, given the speculated sub-RM200k price of the car. With its only technical rivals being cars like
Mazda CX-8
 and the
Hyundai Santa Fe
, the NVH levels of the X90 is satisfactory and would impress you if you’re used to driving the usual budget family car.
If you were cruising on the highway, it would be easy to forget that the Proton X90 is powered by a 3-cylinder engine. Yes, the X90 is powered by a 1.5-litre TGDI engine that gets assistance from a Belt Starter Generator. It is only when you floor the car that it brings out that 3-cylinder noise, which almost sounds like a diesel unit. Some of the media members have reported that the sound is louder from the third-row seats, which are nearer to the exhaust tip.
2023 Proton X90 Performance – Sometimes you’d forget its 3-cylinder engine
The X90 is a cruiser, being able to keep its revs below 2,000 rpm at highway cruising speeds. It is actually a relaxing driving experience, making you almost forget that under the hood is a 3-cylinder engine. And this is basically what Proton calls a ‘Smart Glide’. Accelerating from high speeds, however, can feel a bit laggy.
Going uphill, the X90 felt rather light on its feet (given that it is a large car by Malaysian standards). Sure, it makes quite the noise, but it didn’t feel like you were lacking power. We drove the car up Genting Highlands with 4 adults in the car, and the power and torque were sufficient. At lower speeds, Proton calls it the “Dynamic Boost”, and at higher speeds, it is called the “Full Boost”. We’re pretty sure, it is the “Full Boost” that really brings out the X90’s engine noise.
Just to recap, the Proton X90 runs a mild hybrid (MHEV) system which consists of a 1.5-litre TGDI engine that makes 177 hp and 255 Nm. The Belt Starter Generator (BSG) makes 13 hp and 45 Nm. Combined, the system makes
190 hp
 and
300 Nm
. Paired with the engine is a 7-speed DCT.
2023 Proton X90 Interior – Mature, spacious, and ergonomic
As for the cabin of the X90, it does have a nice premium feel to it. The colour scheme is mature, which is perhaps boring to some, but very much to my personal liking. Fit and finish is decent and the seats of the X90 are comfortable without being too soft. The seats even have a headrest flap like the ones you find on aeroplane seats
Catering to all passengers, the X90 comes with AC vents for all three rows. The X90 gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen head unit that has a decent resolution. In the Executive and above variants, it comes with a 360° which is very helpful. Space is decent in the X90 as it is actually a proper 7-seater SUV and not a 5+2 seater car. In the third-row, those below 170 cm should not have an issue with getting comfortable.

The Proton X90 is due to launch in Malaysia this year, and it is a rather significant model for Proton being the brand’s first hybrid car. The X90 is already open for bookings at Proton 3S and 4S centres nationwide.
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Sebastian Vettel to race for Aston Martin F1 from 2021

Following the shock announcement last night on the departure of Sergio Perez at the end of the year, Racing Point F1 Team has announced that four-time Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel will be joining the team “from 2021 and beyond”, as the team rebrands to Aston Martin F1 Team.
Being one of the most accomplished drivers on the grid with 57 pole positions, 53 Grand Prix wins and 67 podium finishes to his name, the Silverstone-based team says that the addition of Vettel “is a clear statement of the team’s ambition to establish itself as one of the most competitive names in the sport.”
Sebastian Vettel became the youngest-ever Formula 1 World Champion in 2010 with Red Bull, and dominated for three more years until 2013.
“I am pleased to finally share this exciting news about my future,” said the 33-year old German. “I’m extremely proud to say that I will become an Aston Martin driver in 2021. It’s a new adventure for me with a truly legendary car company. I have been impressed with the results the team has achieved this year and I believe the future looks even brighter.
“The energy and commitment of Lawrence [Stroll] to the sport is inspiring and I believe we can build something very special together. I still have so much love for Formula 1 and my only motivation is to race at the front of the grid. To do so with Aston Martin will be a huge privilege.”
Racing Point CEO and Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer added: “Everybody at Silverstone is hugely excited by this news. Sebastian is a proven champion and brings a winning mentality that matches our own ambitions for the future as Aston Martin F1 Team.
”On a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, Sebastian is one of the best in the world, and I can’t think of a better driver to help take us into this new era. He will play a significant role in taking this team to the next level.”
Vettel’s campaign with the Scuderia Ferrari team turned sour after the addition of wonderkid Charles Leclerc as the second driver.
Word around the paddock was that the German has been in talks with Racing Point team owner Lawrence Stroll since Ferrari’s decision to
release him at the end of the year
 – which resulted in a
domino effect
 with Carlos Sainz moving to Ferrari and Daniel Ricciardo taking the spot in McLaren.
However, it didn’t look like there was a spot in Racing Point/Aston Martin available for Sebastian Vettel, as Sergio Perez was still in a multi-year deal with the team which was supposed to run until the end of 2022, while the second driver in the team is, well, Lawrence Stroll’s son – Lance Stroll.
Sergio Perez is left without a seat currently for the 2021 season.
Following the announcement, Sergio Perez – who has been with the many iterations of the team for seven years –
said in a statement
 that he currently has no “plan B” in terms of a drive for next year, though wishes that he will still be part of the sport.
With an uncompetitive Ferrari car, Sebastian Vettel is currently 13th in the Drivers’ Championship with just 16 points across eight races. His best finish this year was sixth at the Hungary Grand Prix.
Sergio Perez meanwhile is currently 11th in the standings with a car that has been heavily criticised as a direct copy of last year’s Mercedes. However, he only started in six races this year due to testing positive for nCoV-19 prior to the British Grand Prix.
The travelling F1 circus will be heading to Mugello Circuit, Italy this weekend for the Tuscan Grand Prix, where Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 Team will be celebrating its 1,000th Grand Prix across the team’s illustrious history in the sport.
[Images: Formula 1]


Mazda UK launched a new service that offers body repair estimates without owners leaving home

At a time when a mere trip to the work/body shop could expose you the dangers of Covid-19, Mazda has introduced a photo-based accident damage estimation service to allow owners in the UK to receive a repair quote without having to visit a bodyshop.
By accessing the “Accident & Repair” section of their official page, owners can now
get a repair estimate by simply uploading photographs
 of their vehicle’s damage to allow their nearest Mazda Approved Accident Repair centre to asses the severity of the damage and provide a quote for repairs, absolutely free of charge with no obligations attached.
This can easily save one’s time and allows owners to evaluate on whether to repair the damage themselves or to proceed with insurance claims based on the estimates, in order to avoid losing their no-claim bonus.
In other news, the Mazda3 effectively became the prettiest car in the world after being
awarded the 2020 World Car Design of the Year
.
That being said, based on Mazda’s statement, the cost estimation for repairs should be based on their service centre rates and we all know that any repair work done – whether mechanical or body related – at a service centre is always more expensive than opting for an independent body shop. The effectiveness of this service, as such, can be called into question.
“With the launch of the new Accident Damage Repair Portal we’re able to provide our customers with the relevant knowledge in advance to help make that important decision,” said Mazda Motors UK, Customer Service Director, David Wilson-Green.
“As part of the new highly convenient service, the Mazda Approved Accident Repair centre will also check whether the vehicle has any outstanding safety recalls, and if required, these will be completed at the same time as the repair, ensuring both simplicity and convenience for the customer,” he added.


Proton steps up flood relief aids – now up to 50% off parts, 25% discount on labour

Following its
initial announcement
 last week, Proton has now stepped up its flood relief and assistance initiatives for its customers who have been affected by the recent devastating floods.
The national carmaker has now increased the discount on selected replacement parts from 20% to 50%. This change is applicable to all Proton models, except the
 X50
 and
X70
 – For the latter two, the discounts have been increased to 25% instead.
The reduction in labour charges have also been revised from 20% to now 25% across the board. Flood victims will also be provided with free towing services (up to RM200), as well as free cleaning services (up to RM100) for both exterior and engine bay.
All assistance benefits are offered at selected Proton 3S/4S centres, and are subject to terms and conditions.
Proton Edar CEO, Roslan Abdullah said, “Proton is deeply sympathetic to the plight of those affected by the recent floods, as many of them consist of B40 households. To date, our service centres have received approximately 600 cars, and we estimate there to be many more that will arrive in the coming days and weeks.”
“Therefore, we have enhanced our assistance package in the hope that it will provide some financial relief to these families,” he added. Additionally, customers insured under the Proton Insurance Programme (PIP) can also claim an additional RM1,000 in flood relief benefits.
Aside from the assistance package, Proton is also negotiating with banks to allow customers to pay for their repairs via instalment using their credit cards. “This will further assist their cash flow as they will neither be charged interest fees nor have to come up with a lump sum payment,” said Roslan.


Porsche 911 Turbo S Exclusive Edition on sale, limited to 500 units worldwide!

The veils to the most powerful Porsche 911 Turbo S have been lifted, and this one is hand crafted at the new Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur in Zuffenhausen. Production is limited to just 500 units, and all customers can have the matching chronograph wristwatch from Porsche Design that’s also limited to 500 units.
This Exclusive Edition comes with the Golden Yellow metallic paint as well as carbon fibre bonnet, roof, side skirts, ram-air scoop and while two strips of carbon fibre vinyls contour the roof and bonnet. Behind, it gets a new rear wing, apron and twin stainless steel exhaust pipes painted in black. Finishing it off is a set of black 20-inch centre-locking wheel with gold detailing. Customers who wish to opt for other colours can do so as well.

Inside, the coupe gets Porsche Sport Seats Plus that’s wrapped in perforated leather, contrasted with golden-yellow stripes to match the exterior theme. The stitches are also of the same golden colour, whereas the roof is lined with Alcantara. There’s also a new plate with the limited-edition number fitted to the passenger side of the cabin, and the carbon fibre door sills feature Exclusive Series lettering.
It’s not all about looks as well, because Porsche tuned the
3.8-litre twin-turbo
 engine to crank out 27 hp more to a grand total of
599 hp
 with
750 Nm
 of torque. On paper, it doesn’t sprint from 0 to 100 km/h any quicker (the standard Turbo S does that in
2.9 seconds
!), but the 0 to 200 km/h sprint is completed in 9.6 seconds. That’s 0.3 seconds quicker! Top speed is 330 km/h.
Other standard fitments include Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), Sport Chrono pack, rear-axle steering and Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) which lets drivers tweak chassis and suspension setting on the fly.
As for the cost, it’s at least RM200k over the standard Turbo S. Expect the premium to go up a fair once it finds its way here.
IMAGE GALLERY


1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe becomes most valuable car in the world

Named after its creator and chief engineer at the time,
Rudolf Uhlenhaut
, one of only two prototypes of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut has been sold at an auction for a record price of 135 million Euros (approx. RM627 million) to a private collector – making it the most valuable car in the world.
“The 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupes are milestones in sports car development and key historical elements that have shaped our brand. The decision to sell one of these two unique sports cars was for a good cause. The proceeds from the auction will fund a global scholarship programme called Mercedes-Benz Fund,” says Mercedes-Benz Group, CEO, Ola Källenius.
 The creator, Rudolf Uhlenhaut and his creation, the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe.
The “Mercedes Benz Fund” will be divided into two sub-categories: University Scholarships in order to connect, educate and encourage students to realise/conduct research on environmental science projects and School Scholarships focussing on pupils to realise local environmental projects in their communities.
RELATED: Mercedes-AMG’s 55th anniversary model for the GT 63 S E Performance is called… F1 Edition
The sale of the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé took place earlier this month at an auction held at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in cooperation with renowned auctioneer RM Sotheby’s. The invitees were among selected Mercedes-Benz customers and international collectors of cars and art, who share the corporate values of Mercedes-Benz.
The 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé sold was part of the non-public vehicle collection belonging to Mercedes-Benz Classic, comprising more than 1100 automobiles from the invention of the automobile in 1886 until today.
“The private buyer has agreed that the 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupe will remain accessible for public display on special occasions, while the second original 300 SLR Coupe remains in company ownership and will continue to be displayed at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart,” said the company.
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Gallery: Audi TTS 2.0 TFSI quattro in the metal at Glenmarie showroom

The third generation
Audi TTS is now on sale
 in Malaysia and represents the German carmaker’s first ever Audi S model to officially be sold here. It runs on the same 2.0-litre TFSI engine powering the TT, but gets some mechanical upgrades and a larger turbocharger to ram more air for better output.
It costs just over RM100k more than the base model TT, but there’s very few add-ons to choose from and the MQB-based sports car is considerably decked out. For
 RM389,900
, you get exactly what you see here in these pictures, but need we remind you that the optional
RM5,000 Matrix LED headlights
 and
RM2,500 reverse camera
 is something to consider, especially the latter for that extra peace of mind.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Audi TTS 2.0 TFSI quattro
Engine
1,984cc; four-cylinder TFSI
Transmission
6-speed S tronic dual clutch
Max Power
286 hp
Max Torque
380 Nm @ 1,800 – 5,200 rpm
0 – 100 km/h; Top Speed
4.7 seconds; 250 km/h (electronically limited)
Price
RM389,900
Again, the difference between the TT and TTS lies largely in the way they look, but spotting the hotter of the duo is quite an easy affair. The TTS for one, has a completely
chromed-out front grille
 and a more dynamically sculpted front bumper with large air vents.

The side mirrors, in typical Audi S fashion, are finished in satin aluminium whereas the rear bumper gets an integrated diffuser and two pairs of dual oval exhaust pipes. It also comes standard with a set of
19-inch forged aluminium wheels
 (shod with 245/35 series Bridgestone Potenza S001 tyres) and of course, some TTS badges for the oblivious. There are two exterior colours unique to the TTS, and they are Vegas Yellow and Sepang Blue. If you’re no fan of the two colours, there’s nine more shades for you to choose from.
Inside, you get
quilted S sports leather-mix-Alcantara seats
 as standard, a high-res and customisable
12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit
, special leather wrapped multifunction steering wheel with TTS lettering, Audi MMI and a
680 Watt 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system
 with a 14-channel amplifier that also
supports DVD playback
.

Under the hood nestles a transversely mounted
2.0-litre turbocharged engine
 – similar to that of the regular TT. But as mentioned above, the
four-banger
 gets reinforced components and
a larger turbocharger
 with a maximum boost of 1.2 bar, bringing the total output to
286 hp
. That’s 56 horses more than the TT, but just 10 Nm more twist at
380 Nm
. That said, it performs much quicker off the line and reaches the 100 km/h mark a full 1.2 seconds quicker than the TT at
4.7 seconds
. That’s mighty quick, mind you. Top speed is electronically capped at 250 km/h.

And as you can tell from the title, the TTS gets
Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system
 which receives power from the same
 six-speed S tronic dual clutch
 gearbox. If driven with a tame right foot, the TTS returns a commendable fuel economy of
6.9 litres per 100km
. Once again, it can be yours for a cool
RM389,900
. It can be viewed at your nearest authorised Audi dealerships, but meanwhile, do enjoy the gallery below.
IMAGE GALLERY


The new all-electric C40 Recharge is one of Volvo’s most powerful SUVs

Volvo has just launched the new all-electric C40 Recharge, the first Volvo designed as a pure electric vehicle, and is giving us more than one reason to be excited for the electric future.
Firstly, it’s the power. The C40, that’s based on the CMA platform like the
XC40
, is powered by two electric motors, one for the front wheels and the other to drive the rear wheels.

Together, they generate 408 hp however torque figures were not revealed. 0 to 100 km/h is rated at 4.9 seconds, with
top speed limited to 180 km/h
.
Placed at the chassis is a 78 kWh battery pack that’s capable of returning up to 420 km/h of pure electric. A full charge will require 7.5 hours with a standard charger but with fast charging, the C40 can be recharged to 80% in just 40 minutes.
Secondly, it’s the C40’s tech and we’ll start with those headlamps. Like the Multibeam LED headlamps on a Mercedes-Benz, the C40’s headlamps can be on high beam all the time as it is capable of detecting other vehicles and avoid glaring them.
The 84 LEDs can avoid up to five vehicles at the same time, and performs a welcoming light sequence along with the rear LED tail lights.
Volvo C40 Recharge
The C40 also comes with an Android-based head unit that was jointly developed with Google; offering access to all of Google’s services such as the Google Play Store, Google Maps, and Google Assistant. Each purchase of the C40 Recharge comes with unlimited data and constant over-the-air software updates.
Next is how the C40 looks. With its dramatically sloping roofline and high-riding stance, it’s hard not to compare it with BMW’s X4 and X6 along with Mercedes’ GLC and GLE Coupe. Despite the its dramatically sloping roofline, boot space is still rated at a respectable 413-litres of bootspace.
Although the C40 is a lot sleeker with more covered surfaces on its body for aerodynamic purposes with minimal slates and vents at the front for cooling purposes. Wheels are 20-inch in size and as for the rear end, it’s possibly the most aggressive design ever seen on any Volvo SUV.
Lastly, it’s how sustainable the C40 is. Along with Volvo’s
use of recycled plastic for its interior panels
, the C40’s upholstery is completely leather-free. The C40 Recharge can only be bought online, with its official launch date due to be revealed soon.
Along with the introduction of the C40 Recharge, Volvo also announced that by 2025, it aims for 50% of its global sales to be fully electric cars. By 2030, the goal is for every car sold to be pure electric.
The C40 Recharge will go into production at the end of this year and will be built alongside the XC40 Recharge at the Volvo Cars manufacturing plant in Ghent, Belgium.
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Take a look at the Nissan Serena’s ProPilot self-driving system [+Video]

There’s an increasing number of car manufacturers embracing autonomous technology, with Nissan being the latest one to do so. It’s still not 100 percent autonomous, unlike those being developed at Google and Apple. Instead, the ProPilot which debuts with the all-new
Nissan Serena
 will provide a helping hand in heavy traffic and long commutes.
Activating and disabling the ProPilot is as simple as a flick of a switch on the steering wheel. As for now, the system is designed primarily for
highway use in single-lane traffic
, and it controls the vehicle’s
steering
,
accelerator
, and
braking
. This requires the assistance of a camera which uses image processing software to quickly identify vehicles and lane markers in three-dimensional depth.
While on the highway, ProPilot controls the distance of the car ahead via speed determined by the driver. Even if you’re in the middle lane, the system works by reading lane markers. When coming to a stop, ProPilot automatically applies braking force. Once the car is ready to move, the ProPilot system can be reactivated via the same switch on the steering wheel after the accelerator is depressed.
The next Nissan expected to receive this technology will be the Qashqai crossover in Europe by next year, with more Nissan cars planned to be equipped with this tech in the following years. The company has also announced that the ProPilot technology will incorporate urban driving as well as through intersections by 2020.
IMAGE GALLERY


Tesla introduces the new Roadster – 0 to 100 km/h in 1.9 seconds!

Revealed as a surprise alongside Tesla’s new truck, the Tesla Roadster which is expected to hit the roads come 2020 is set to wipe out all its petrol-powered competition with a 0 to 100 km/h time that’s quicker than two blinks of an eye.
The four-seater sports car is said to have
 10,000 Nm
 of torque from three motors where 0 to 160 km/h will take just
4.2 seconds
 with top speed expected to be in excess of 250 mph (
402 km/h
).
“It will be the first time that any car has broken the 2 second barrier to a 100 km/h, the fastest to 160 km/h and the first time any production car has a quarter-mile (400m) run in under 9 seconds,” said Elon Musk at the unveiling.
The all-wheel drive Roadster is powered by a 200 kWh battery pack which will provide the Roadster with 620 miles (965 km) of driving range. The highest capacity battery pack made by Tesla can be found in the Model S P100D, with a 100 kWh battery pack capable of just over 300 miles (482 km) in range.
The “base model” Roadster is said to come with a removable glass roof which can be stored in the trunk – much like the Targa layout of the 911 or the Mazda MX-5 RF. The brand’s latest autonomous systems will not be excluded; with surround cameras providing a 360-degree view together with 12 ultrasonic sensors for detection of objects.
IMAGE GALLERY


Full-electric Audi R8 e-tron revealed: 456hp, 920Nm, 250kph top speed

Here’s one of the
Audi’s seven starlets
 at Switzerland. Showcased alongside the R8 V10 models at
Geneva Motor Show
, is the electrifying
R8 e-tron
. The R8 e-tron shares the
R8 V10’s

Audi Space Frame
 multimaterial construction, which provides maximum rigidity with minimal weight.
The styling has been tweaked slightly, which includes a blanked off section in the grille, increased amount of horizontal slats on the side intakes, distinctive side blades, a subtle rear spoiler, and a set of aerodynamic wheels.
What’s more significant is under the skin. This non-smoking
full-electric
 R8 e-tron is said to produce a total of
456 hp
 and a whopping
920 Nm
 of torque. It will get from
0 to 100 km/h
 in
3.9 seconds
 and the
top speed
 is limited to 210 km/h or
250 km/h
.
Providing the energy is a T-shaped
49 kWh lithium-ion battery
 located along the center tunnel and behind the occupant cell. It allows the R8 e-tron to
travel for up to 450 km
, and it can be
fully charged in less than 2 hours
.
According to Audi, the R8 e-tron acts as a
mobile high-tech laboratory
, and the findings acquired will lend a hand in creating
“a vehicle with a sedan character”
. Could it be the A6 e-tron? We’ll have to wait for that.
Audi also revealed that the R8 e-tron is
available for order upon request
. They didn’t mention how much, but the R8 V10’s asking price in Europe starts from €165,000 (about RM670k). Given by the amount of tech the e-tron carries, expect a princely premium over its petrol-powered siblings.
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY


2022 Volvo XC40 facelift unveiled with C40-inspired styling

Five years after the model’s first introduction, Volvo has now given the
XC40
 compact crossover an update for 2022, with a mild refresh to its exterior design plus some updated features on the inside.
In terms of looks, most of the changes are reserved onto the front fascia of the XC40, with new design elements inspired by the
C40 electric coupe-SUV
. In particular, the headlights are now more compact with a slightly more triangular shape, and the front bumper also get a redesign featuring a more vertical corner faux air intakes and diagonal slats.
The fully-electric Volvo XC40 Recharge, meanwhile, gets an additional blanked-off grille that is also taken from the newer C40. Aside from those upgrades, however, the rest of the changes are just a range of new wheels and exterior body colours.
RELATED: Volvo XC40 Recharge T5 PHEV now available in Malaysia – RM242k
Moving inside, the changes are even more limited, with the main update being the new Android Automotive infotainment operating system running on the screens – which are both unchanged in dimensions. There are also a couple of new upholstery options, including a new wool textile reserved for the electrified Recharge models.
Alongside the introduction of the facelift model, Volvo has also revised the trim level offerings for the XC40. The existing Momentum, Inscription, and R-Line variants have been dropped in favour of a new line-up consisting of Essential, Core, Plus, and Ultimate. Volvo says that the new structure is meant to help increase price transparency and reduces model complexity.
With the introduction of the facelift comes a revision of the trim levels. The usual Momentum and Inscription variants have been ditched in favour of Essential, Core, Plus and Ultimate; the sportier R-Design trim has also been dropped.
ALSO READ: Volvo starts testing wireless EV charging with XC40 Recharge taxis
Powertrain options on the Volvo XC40 appears unchanged from before, with the offerings varying by regions globally. The electric XC40 Recharge however will get a new single-motor P6 option, with 231 hp driving the front axle.
The P6 option, which will also be offered on the C40 coupe-SUV, also gets a smaller 69 kWh battery (compared to 78 kWh on the dual motor AWD variant), which provides up to 423 km of range.
GALLERY


Audi A8 L flagship with mild hybrid system officially launched in Malaysia

Audi’s fourth generation flagship saloon, the A8 L 3.0 TSFI quattro is now officially available in Malaysia at a price of RM 879,900. As the model name denotes, it comes in long wheelbase form and the drivetrain of choice is a 3.0-litre turbo-charged V6 aided by a 48-volt mild hybrid system, with all-wheel drive of course.
If the price of the Audi is eye-popping compared to the BMW 745Le (RM 595k) and the Mercedes-Benz S560e (RM 659k), do bear in mind that the A8 L is made in Audi’s Neckarsulm plant in Germany and fully imported, whereas both the BMW and Mercedes-Benz limos are CKD and enjoy tax exemptions as locally assembled hybrids. Without tax relief, the 745Le would cost over RM900k.
48-volt mild hybrid system centered on a belt alternator starter motor and 10Ah lithium-ion battery pack.
In terms of performance, the A8 L 3.0 TSFI runs close to its German rivals, courtesy of
340 hp and 500 Nm
driving all four wheels via an
8-speed automatic
.
Idle to 100km/h takes 5.7 seconds
, along with a limited top speed of 250 km/h. The mild hybrid system is based on a belt alternator starter and a 10Ah lithium-ion battery located under the trunk, the system allows engine-off coasting between 55 km/h and 160 km/h and up to 40 seconds of zero emission operation.
Features on the A8 L include
Matrix LED headlamps
 with dynamic turn signals (fore and aft), surround view cameras, panoramic glass roof,
Virtual Cockpit
 driver’s instrumentation along with
MMI Navigation Plus
 infotainment system with haptic touch control, heads up display, B
&O premium audio
 and a portable touch control tablet for passengers to fiddle with the comfort settings. The A8 L seats three across at the back by the way.
The A8 L isn’t fond of buttons, prefers virtual controls with haptic feedback.
Adaptive air suspension
 is standard on the A8 L as are
all-wheel steering
, lane departure warning, lane change assistance and rear cross traffic alert. There is however no adaptive cruise control or any semi-autonomous features to speak of.


Singer’s ACS is the Safari 911 that I’ve had unspeakable dreams about

Singer Vehicle Design, or
Singer
 as it’s more commonly known amongst the automotive enthusiast crowd, is a boutique workshop that has been restoring and modifying old-school Porsche 911s to turn them into appropriate daily drivers for just over a decade. What they’ve done this time round though, is something completely out of their norm – but boy oh boy, did they knock it out of the park.
This here, is the Singer All-Terrain Competition Study, or ACS for short. Built for a long-time customer a who wanted an air-cooled 911 that could “compete in off-road racing and demonstrate all-terrain exploration capabilities”, Singer managed to turn a 1990 Type 964 Porsche 911 into what is basically the ultimate Safari 911 tribute.
As this is Singer’s first foray into built-for-competition cars, the company enlisted the help of one Richard Tuthill of a certain Tuthill Porsche – a company started by the old-timer rally driver for the sole purpose of building Porsche 911 rally cars. So for those out of the loop, here’s how you turn a road-going sports car into a full-blown rally car – while looking damn good doing it.
First off, the suspension set-up has been completely reengineered to “dramatically” increase the ride height, while offering as much travel as possible. Two five-way adjustable dampers sit behind a 16-inch forged aluminium wheel in each corner, wrapped with monstrous BF Goodrich off-road tyres that look almost comically oversized for the Porsche 911.
Every single body panel on the 1990 Porsche 911 has been replaced by carbon fibre for weight reduction and easy replacement, while also allowing them to craft the ACS into what Singer truly wanted it to be – a proper off-road machine with actual racing credentials.
Just take a look at the ducktail rear wing-thing that extends from the engorged wheel arches, as well as the mutant wing-like mud flaps up front. Look at it long enough, and you’d think that the Singer ACS is a proper sanctioned Porsche rally car that came about when a 954 had some fun with a Dakar trophy truck and a 959 Safari.
The monocoque has also been strengthened for heavy duty off-road use, while the entire underbody is covered in 5 mm-thick aluminium underbody protection that can be easily removed for emergency repairs.
Looks even better drenched in mud.
For power, the air-cooled 3.6-litre twin-turbocharged flat-six engine has been tuned to now produce
450 hp
, but Singer said that the “performance characteristics of the engine can be tuned depending on the demands of competition and the owner”.
The engine is paired to a 5-speed sequential dog-box transmission and a full-time all-wheel drive system – one that has three individual mechanical, plated limited-slip differentials, one on each axle, and one in the centre dividing the power up.
In what seems like the complete antithesis of what Singer is about, the interior of the ACS is suitably bare-bones – just like how a proper race car should be. It’s fitted with FIA-compliant roll cage, seats and harnesses, alongside a GPS navigation system and rehydration system for driver and navigator, ready to take on the Baja 1000 or Dakar Rally.
As it turns out, the mysterious customer actually commissioned two units of the ACS – one in Singer’s signature Parallax White colour focused on high-speed desert rallying, and a second – in Corsica Red – configured for high-speed, high-grip tarmac events and disciplines.
The best part of it all is that the customer has allowed Singer to sell the ACS design to future customers who are looking to build one for themselves. No pricing information has been shared, but seeing how Singer’s “usual” Porsche 911 restomods are priced well above USD500,000 (RM2 mil), we’d wager that this will probably quite a bit more than that.
A bedroom poster will do for us, Singer.
GALLERY


2023 Toyota Vios launching tomorrow, est. RM90k – RFID tag, no spare wheel

Following Thailand, Malaysia will be next to welcome the all-new
Toyota Vios
, with its launch set to happen tomorrow (March 20, 2023) at 8 pm. So far, there will be 2 variants of the Toyota Vios, namely the E and G, and prices are estimated to start at
RM90,000
.
By the way, if you’re looking to renew your insurance, you can get a 10% rebate and cash back at the end of your policy if you renew with MotorTakaful by Etiqa. Just log on to
www.motortakaful.com
.
The all-new Vios now sits on an all-new platform and naturally introduces a newer styling. Showing a resemblance to Toyota cars like the all-electric bZ4x, the all-new Vios employs a hammerhead shark-like look at the front end. The all-new Vios measures 4,425 long, 1,740 mm wide, and 1,480 mm tall. Its wheelbase is now 2,620 mm in length.
Despite being slightly larger than its predecessor, the all-new Vios is about 100 kg lighter than the predecessor, weighing 1,035 kg for the G variant, and 1,015 kg for the E variant. The wheels are 17 inches in size for the G variant and 16 inches in size for the E variant. Due to the wheel size alone, the former has a turning radius of 5.2 m while the latter has a turning radius of 4.8 m.
Both variants are largely similar on the outside, both being equipped with the standard ‘Aerokit’ that includes a front lip, side skirt, rear diffuser, and rear spoiler. Both cars are also fitted with an RFID tag, just like the
Perodua Alza
. Both variants are also not equipped with a spare wheel, as the Vios now comes with a tire repair kit instead. We’ll dive into this in another entry.
Differentiating exterior features between the two variants are the wheels, grille finishing, window trims finishing, and the rear combination lamp. To add some exclusivity to the G variant, it is equipped with sequential rear indicators.
Powering the all-new Vios is still a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder naturally aspirated engine. It now makes
106 hp
 and
138 Nm
, which is 1 hp and 2 Nm less than its predecessor. This is due to the fact that it has been tuned for efficiency instead. According to Toyota, the Vios is now 8% more fuel efficient, with a fuel consumption rating of
5.2 l/100km
. Paired with the engine is a new CVT from Toyota which operates similarly to the group’s dual-CVT. The CVT provides 7 virtual gears.
Inside, the all-new Vios introduces a rather familiar-looking interior. Wanting to look a bit more premium than its competitors, there are brown trims on the dashboard and door panels of the all-new Vios.
At the centre of the dashboard is a 9-inch head unit with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Speaking of digital screens, the range-topping G variant gets a 7-inch TFT digital instrument cluster while the G variant gets a 4.2-inch version.
In its range-topping form, the all-new Toyota Vios is equipped with tilt & telescopic steering adjustment, electronic parking brake (EPB), 64-colour ambient lighting, automatic climate control, and leather seats. Standard features for both variants include rear AC vents, a push start button, 3 USB ports, and 6 cupholders.
As for safety features, the range-topping G variant comes equipped with the full suite of Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) which includes Pre-collision System (PCS), Lane Departure Warning, (LDW), Lane Departure Prevention (LDP), Lane Keeping Control (LKC), Auto High Beam (AHB), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), and Front Departure Alert (FDA). The E variant makes do without AHB, ACC, and FDA.
For more information, more images, and the confirmed official pricing of the all-new Toyota Vios, stay tuned for its launch which is set to happen on
March 20, 2023
 at
8pm
.
RELATED:
2023 Toyota Vios – No folding rear seats, no spare wheel – Here’s why
GALLERY


Review: Goodyear Assurance DuraPlus, Kevlar reinforced rubbers that’s good for 100,000km! (Part 1)

Goodyear has recently
launched its newest line-up of tyres
 that drips with cutting-edge technology and with environment preservation planted firmly in mind. It’s also a set of rubbers that are easy on the wallet, robust and extremely reliable. And best of all, these tyres are specifically designed for small to mid-sized cars, generally for those who preferring value over anything else.
So, what makes these DuraPlus tyres stand out among the rest sitting on the rack? It’s laden with technology, for starters. Goodyear has collaborated with the geniuses over at
DuPont
 who have invented and perfected Kevlar technology. Instead of stopping lead in its track, it’s used here to give tyres better protection and durability. It’s also an improved version of Goodyear’s proprietary TredLife Technology.
To that note, these set of tyres are good for a mighty long road trip. Not just any trip might we add, but one that will take you around the globe
two and a half times
 over! That’s a trip clocking close to
100,000 km
! In proving just how durable these tyres are, Goodyear Malaysia has rolled a set of these DuraPlus Assurance rubbers our way and had them fitted on a daily-driver
Proton Gen-2
.
Fitment was pretty straightforward with
 balancing
 and
 alignment
 checks done to ensure it sits
evenly
. The dimensions of the rubber in question here is
195/60 R15
. As you would have noticed, we’re testing
60-Series
 (standard Gen-2 tyres are 55-Series) tyres, which provides a great amount of
comfort
 while driving at lower speeds. Driving under heavy downpours proved to be a breeze, thanks to the
deep-cut grooves
 that does an excellent job of channeling water and
 preventing aqua-planing
.

Given the unpredictable conditions of our local roads, the tyres may at times feel
 rigid
 in terms of ride quality. Now, this is largely down to the extensive use of carbon and Kevlar compounds that line the innards of the tyre, both of which lend their hands toward
durability
 and the
100,000km lifespan
. Thanks to that, the tyres allow for more wearable rubber. In combating rigidity,
reducing
 the
air pressure
 ever-so-slightly to
30 PSI
 does the trick and lets you enjoy the more comfortable side of the tyres.
Whilst providing commendable levels of comfort, 60-Series tyres are rather ‘
fat
‘ and when turning lock-to-lock, it does
rub against
 the inner wheel well guard. In terms of
 handling
, the DuraPlus Assurance tyre has a
Traction
 rating score of an
A
, which copes well despite its series-rating. That being said, it does
 float
 into the
corner
 at
higher speeds
 and due to amount of give in the sidewall, there is much
play
 in steering feel while
cornering
. A noticeably loud
tyre roar
 has been observed at
higher speeds
. Again, this is attributed to the nature of hard compound tyres, so give and take a little.
Interestingly, the makers of Assurance DuraPlus give their customers a peace of mind, knowing that the rubber is covered by
Goodyear Malaysia’s Worry Free Assurance Programme
. The Assurance DuraPlus is the sixth Goodyear tyre range to be included within this programme, which protects the tyres from nasty road hazards such as
puncture
,
cuts
,
bruises
 and
impacts
 caused during the course of
normal driving
 on regularly
maintained road
 for a period of six-months after purchase.
Domestically, for the majority demographic of cars on the road, Goodyear is offering the Assurance DuraPlus in two sizes –
14
 and
15 inches
 diameter. Goodyear retails them from between
 RM226
 to
 RM325 inclusive
 of
GST
. You can now purchase the Assurance DuraPlus tyres at any
Goodyear Autocare
 or
Servitekar
 outlets, as well as
authorised Goodyear dealers
 nationwide.
SIZE

LOAD INDEX
SPEED RATING
165/55 R14
72
H
185/60 R14
82
H
185/65 R14
86
H
185/70 R14
88
H
195/70 R14
91
H
195/60 R15
88
V
195/65 R15
91
V
As for us, it’s quite the case of so far, so good. The tyres will be monitored for the next
6 to 12 months
 on
tread wear
 as well as
performance
. It has been
four weeks
 since the tyres have been in service and has clocked well over
1,500 km
. More updates on the progress of these rubbers will come soon, so stay tuned!
IMAGE GALLERY


Honda HR-V open for booking – to be launched in Q3 of 2022

Honda Malaysia has announced that the highly-anticipated
Honda HR-V
is now open for booking at all Honda dealerships in Malaysia. The all-new HR-V is
set to be launched in Q3 2022
and will be available in hybrid and petrol variants.
HR-V RS in Indonesia.
“The HR-V was first introduced to the Malaysian market in 2015 and with more than 111,000 units sold to date, the HR-V has been the forerunner in the Non-National Compact SUV segment from 2015 to 2021. The facelifted HR-V which was launched in 2019 has sold close to 39,000 units”, said Honda Malaysia, Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Hironobu Yoshimura.
The all-new Honda HR-V was launched
last February
 and has since gone on sale in the region in countries like
 Thailand
 and
 Indonesia
. While engine specifications have yet to be revealed for the Malaysian market, it’s expected to feature a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated engine with 121 hp and 145 Nm along with a turbo variant – exciting stuff this.
That’s not all. The hybrid variant of the 2022 HR-V referred to above will feature Honda’s Intelligent Multi Mode Drive featuring a 1.5-litre engine paired to paired to an electric motor just like the City hatchback and sedan but the HR-V is more than just about improved performance.
In terms of dimensions, the crossover will be longer but will have the same wheelbase for extra room in the cabin. It’s also wider than lower before. Exciting new features include a hands-free power tailgate with walk-away close, remote engine start and walk-away auto lock.
The all-new HR-V also steps up with safety, with comprehensive Honda Sensing features such as adaptive cruise control, auto high beam, autonomous braking, and more. It also recently scored a convincing four stars out of five, in the most recent
Euro NCAP
 crash test.
Those who are keen to place a booking can click
here
 or download the HondaTouch app. For more information, customers can visit any Honda authorised dealerships nationwide or call Honda’s toll-free number at 1-800-88-2020.


Porsche 911 takes top spot for most trouble-free ownership in owner survey

According to a Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) conducted by J.D. Power 2021 in the US, the Porsche 911 has emerged the top-rank model for trouble-free ownership.
This is the
second time in three years
 that the Porsche 911 has taken top spot. On the other hand, the Porsche Macan emerged as the most dependable among premium compact SUVs.

The study, now in its 32nd year, measures the number of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100)
experienced during the past 12 months by owners of 3-year old vehicles
. This year’s study was based on 2018 model-year vehicles.
The Porsche 911 came in with a score of
57 PP100
 – the lower the figure, the more dependable the car is.
Locally, the Porsche 911 is available in the form of the Carrera S and Carrera,
priced at RM1.1 million and RM1.2 million
 respectively.

Underneath its rear bonnet is a 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six engine which now makes 450 hp and 530 Nm,
a 30 hp and 30 Nm increase
 from before. This is largely attributed to the relocated intercoolers and revised turbocharger flow.
The RWD Carrera S will do 0 to 100 km/h in just
3.7 seconds
 while the all-wheel drive Carrera 4S gets to the century mark 0.1 second faster.


Sales tax exemptions – 50% for CBU and 100% for CKD vehicles

2020 is the year of many firsts for all of us. We were locked in at home for two months, every social norm as know has been turned upside down and of course, in our context, the local automotive industry has had to implement new Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in every aspect of their business and constantly adapt to new circumstances.
But what we just heard was least expected. In the most recent speech by our Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that just took place today, the government has agreed to
 exempt sales tax of locally-assembled vehicles (CKD) by 100%
.
As for fully imported vehicles,
sales tax will be reduced by 50%
. The initiative will be effective beginning 15th June 2020 till the 31st December 2020 in efforts to fire up a somewhat stagnated automotive industry and of course more generally to boost the economy.
Remember how sales charts shot up for every conceivable brand in Malaysia
during the 3-month post GE14 tax holiday
? Will we be seeing another wholesale of vehicles soon? Only time will tell.
Here’s an excerpt from Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s speech today:
“
Selain itu, bagi menggalakkan pertumbuhan industri automotif negara, Kerajaan bersetuju memberi pengecualian cukai jualan sebanyak 100 peratus ke atas penjualan kereta penumpang pemasangan tempatan, dan 50 peratus bagi kereta penumpang yang diimport bagi tempoh mulai 15 Jun 2020 hingga 31 Disember 2020
.”


Prices increased for Honda HR-V, Civic, City Hatchback in Malaysia by RM1.1k, RM1.2k, RM300

With inflations happening globally, and manufacturing costs on the rise, price hikes for all kinds of products are basically unavoidable these days. And the weakening of the Ringgit on top of all that definitely doesn’t help with things either. Despite
Honda Malaysia
’s
 decision not to increase its products’ prices earlier this year, it seems like the economic situation is indeed unavoidable.
There are three
Honda
 models in Malaysia that have their prices affected. This includes the
Honda HR-V
,
Civic
, and
City Hatchback
.
The current third-gen HR-V was first launched in Malaysia in July last year, with a total of four variants and three powertrains on offer. Based on prices listed on Honda Malaysia’s website, the Honda HR-V is seeing a
RM1,100
 price increase throughout its entire lineup.
With the RM1,100 price increase, the base 1.5L S variant of the Honda HR-V now costs
RM115,900
, while the turbocharged 1.5L E now costs
RM130,900
. Moving up, the also turbocharged 1.5L V variant now costs
RM135,900
, and the top-spec 1.5L e:HEV RS hybrid variant will now cost
RM141,900
.
All of these prices are on-the-road (OTR), without insurance, and are applied to the standard exterior colour options. The Premium White Pearl colour, on the other hand, will cost an extra RM600 and can be applied to all variants of the Honda HR-V.
RELATED:
2023 Honda WR-V now open for bookings in Malaysia, exclusive previews begin June 16
First launched in Malaysia in January last year, the 11th generation Honda Civic FE is offered in four variants, just like the HR-V. Based on prices listed on Honda Malaysia’s website, the Honda Civic is seeing a
RM1,200
 price increase across three of its variants, as compared to prices in July 2022, inclusive of SST (sales and service tax). The top-spec 1.5L e:HEV RS variant is the only variant that has its price maintained.
With the
RM1,200
price increase, the base 1.5L E variant of the Honda Civic will now costs
RM131,900
, while the 1.5L V variant now costs
RM144,900
. Moving up, the 1.5L RS variant now costs
RM151,900
, while the top-of-the-range 1.5L e:HEV RS hybrid’s price tag remains the same at
RM166,900
, since its launch in November last year. The above prices are OTR, without insurance.
The Honda City Hatchback is also another Honda model in Malaysia that has to face the inevitable price hike. The B-segment hatchback now sees a
RM300
 price increase across all variants, relative to prices in July 2022. Like the Honda Civic, the 1.5L e:HEV RS variant is the only variant which price is maintained.
With the RM300 price increase, the base 1.5L S variant now costs
RM78,900
, while the 1.5L E variant costs
RM86,900
. Moving up, the 1.5L V and V Sensing variants both cost
RM91,900
 and
RM95,900
 respectively, while the top-spec 1.5L e:HEV RS variant maintains its price tag of
RM109,800
. Once again, the above prices are all OTR and without insurance. And like the Honda HR-V, opting for the Platinum White Pearl colour option will cost you an additional RM300.
To recap, these are the latest prices of the Honda HR-V, Civic, and City Hatchback (OTR, without insurance) in Malaysia:
Honda HR-V:
1.5L S –
RM115,900
1.5L E –
RM130,900
1.5L V –
RM135,900
1.5L e:HEV RS –
RM141,900
Honda Civic:
1.5L E –
RM131,900
1.5L V –
RM144,900
1.5L RS –
RM151,900
1.5L e:HEV RS –
RM166,900
 (unchanged)
Honda City Hatchback:
1.5L S –
RM78,900
1.5L E –
RM86,900
1.5L V –
RM91,900
1.5L V Sensing –
RM95,900
1.5L e:HEV RS –
RM109,800
 (unchanged)
RELATED:
All-new 2023 Honda CR-V launched in Thailand, previews what we’ll be getting soon!


Hyundai unveils new skateboard e-GMP platform for future EVs

Hyundai Motor Group has unveiled the company’s first dedicated battery electric vehicle (BEV) platform, the Electric-Global Modular Platform (e-GMP). The platform will underpin a wide range of BEV models from
Hyundai
,
Kia
, as well as
Genesis
 in the near future.
While
Hyundai BEVs
 do exist now, they are all built on an architecture that was designed initially with internal combustion engines in mind. With a dedicated modular BEV platform, Hyundai says that its future EVs – from sedans to SUVs – will benefit from better driving performance, increased driving range, strengthened safety features, and more interior space.

This is largely due to the skateboard design of the Hyundai e-GMP architecture, which packs all of its batteries in between the two axle. The lowly-mounted batteries help improve overall weight distribution between the front and rear, while also lowering the centre of gravity of the car.
Combined with a five-link rear suspension system – like the ones found on the
all-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class
 – along with the “world’s first mass-produced integrated drive axle”, Hyundai promises enhanced ride comfort and stability while delivering “improved cornering performance”.
The e-GMP is designed for rear-wheel drive as standard, though an additional electric motor can be added to the front axle for all-wheel drive. Powertrain consists of a “powerful” motor of undisclosed size, a single-speed transmission and an inverter, all packed neatly into one module.
While no figures were divulged, Hyundai says that a “high performance model” will boast a 0-100 km/h time of
less than 3.5 seconds
, and a top speed of
 260 km/h
 – 70% higher than the company’s existing motors.
As for the battery packs, Hyundai says that they will be the most power-dense system it has ever created – 10% more than existing EV battery technology. According to the company, this is largely thanks to the enhanced cooling performance as a result of a new separate cooling block structure, which helps make the batteries more compact.
With the ability to pack more batteries into a smaller space, cars based on the new Hyundai e-GMP platform will be capable of
more than 500 km of range
 based on the WLTP cycle. With its standard 800V charging capability (currently only available on the Porsche Taycan), charging to 80% with a 350 kW charger takes just 18 minutes, or an additional
100 km range in five minutes
!
As 50-150 kW chargers are more commonly seen at charging stations these days, the e-GMP platform will also come equipped with a “world’s first” patented multi-charging system that will automatically boost the power input from 400V to 800V for stable charging compatibility.
The new Integrated Charging Control Unit on board the e-GMP platform also comes with a vehicle-to-load (V2L) feature, which means the cars will be able to use its battery reserve to power other electrical equipment, or even charge another EV.
The e-GMP platform will be introduced to market starting in 2021 with the launch of the Ioniq 5 EV, and will play a huge role in realising Hyundai Motor Group’s strategy to introduce
23 BEV models across its brands by 2025
.
GALLERY