Lend a hand to underprivileged children by fuelling up with Shell

If you’re looking for a charitable cause that you can contribute without having to work a muscle, Shell Malaysia invites you to empower underprivileged children simply by refuelling at any Shell station nationwide on 19 May, 26 May, 2 June and 9 until 14 June 2018.
On these selected dates, Shell Malaysia will be donating
1 Sen
 (RM0.01) to selected charitable organisation for every litre of fuel pumped at any Shell station nationwide as part of their
Shell Raya Charity Campaign 2018
. In addition to that, customers who pay using their
Mastercard
, the payment solutions provider will make an additional donation of
1 Sen
 (RM0.01) per litre.
Managing Director of Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd and Shell Timur Sdn Bhd, Shairan Huzani Husain said: “Shell’s mission is to make life’s journeys better for all Malaysians, by offering high-quality fuels and making a positive impact in the communities where we operate. Children are the future of our nation, and we believe in supporting those in need to help them achieve their full potential. Through the generous support of Malaysians over the past 3 years, we have
made a difference
 in the lives of
over 5,200 underprivileged children
.”
Mastercard Country Manager, Malaysia and Brunei, Perry Ong added: “Mastercard is honoured to collaborate with Shell on a campaign that gives back to the community during one of Malaysia’s key festive seasons. This initiative underscores Mastercard’s commitment to support important causes such as children’s development as part of its global Priceless Causes effort which brings together partners and cardholders to do good. Donations will play a part in supporting the provision of school meals as an essential form of nourishment for children’s wellbeing. Additionally, cardholders can also make charitable contributions via the Mastercard Donations Platform, a digital platform which lets people donate conveniently and safely.”
The funds collected will be donated to
seven charitable organisations across the country
: Kalsom Movement (Nationwide), Yayasan Chow Kit (Klang Valley), Majlis Kebajikan Kanak-Kanak Malaysia (East Coast, North, South), Project T.R.Y (Transforming Rural Youth, Sabah), Pertubuhan Ibu Bapa Kanak-Kanak Keperluan Istimewa Sarawak, Montfort Youth Training Centre (Sabah), and HAUS (Sarawak); all aimed at empowerment of underprivileged children and youth.
Be sure to mark down the remaining dates – 26 May, 2 June and 9 until 14 June 2018 and fuel up with Shell. Not only you’re fuelling up for a charitable cause, first-time users can also experience the new
Shell Fuels with DYNAFLEX technology
, designed to reduce carbon build-up, restore power and improve fuel efficiency.


Ride-sharing services: Are they doing enough to monitor their drivers/cars?

Sometimes I wonder; are we getting too comfortable with the ride-sharing services available to us? Are we getting a little complacent with our own well-being when getting into someone else’s car and being driven by a person we barely know, that all we care about are cheap fares?
These thoughts always arise a few minutes into the trip after booking a ride from either one of the most prominent ride-sharing services available in our country. A few days ago, those questions resurfaced.
Even if it were a
 McLaren,
mechanical faults could ruin the whole Uber experience, right?
I requested for a ride a few days back with the company that usually offers the cheaper rate for a trip to the airport and a few things caught my attention, only just a few kilometres into the journey. While the driver’s approach behind the wheel and the car’s cleanliness was unquestionable, the state of his vehicle was.
Cruising at the legal speed limit, I can’t help but notice
a few indistinguishable noises
 and what sounded like wheel bearing issues. While I may not be a mechanic nor an engineer of sorts, having spent nearly a decade maintaining old car(s), the latter’s noise is rather unmistakable.
On the way back, yet again, the same company was opted and what do you know, although it was a different car and driver, the same “wheel bearing-like noise” could be heard. This time the vehicle’s “interior deco” was a little “too private” for someone (myself) with a compulsive need for good visibility outside the car.
A quick snap in the dark of the sunshades and pillows placed behind the rear seats. Trust me, visibility was almost non-existent.
Most of the vehicle’s windows, especially the rear windscreen were
covered with removable sunshades
 that’s dark enough to turn day into night and this ride was taken late into the day so you can imagine how limited and unclear the driver’s rear-view was.
As if that weren’t bad enough for any form of clarity, rear visibility was further limited with two unnecessary pillows
 placed by the rear windscreen
. I do not expect to be driven by a professional driver but these things make me really insecure, especially when being driven by someone whose calibre behind the wheel is totally unknown to me.
This isn’t the first time and probably won’t be the last. That said, I wouldn’t go so far as to assume that all vehicles tied to ride-sharing services are of questionable condition. While it’s commendable that
ride-sharing services have background checks
 in place along with no-nonsense approaches to their driver’s lack of discipline on the road, I think I speak for everyone in saying that more stringent “health checks” should be in place for owner’s cars, due to their higher than normal rate of usage, for everyone’s safety on the road – not just the passengers.


UMW Toyota issues official statement on dealer’s blunder

UMW Toyota Motor has issued an official statement to the media addressing the incident where
one of its authorised dealers
 had flown the Malaysian flag upside down. Here is the statement in full:
UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT) today expressed their deep regret for the incident occurring at its Authorised Dealer, whereby Malaysian Flags were hung up-side down.
The company acknowledged that the matter was brought to its attention by concerned Netizens who took to Social Media to duly inform the organisation.
The company also stressed that such matters are treated very seriously and it had no intention to disrespect the country; as it was a genuine and unfortunate mistake. The Dealership has also since taken immediate corrective action by removing the flags and stern action has been taken to ensure such matters do not recur in the future.
“We really appreciate our fellow Malaysians and netizens who spotted this mistake and for notifying us. We have since corrected it and taken measures to ensure that such incidences are not repeated in the future. We deeply regret and apologise for what had happened. As Malaysians we have great respect and love for our country,” said Mr. Ravindran K. President of UMW Toyota Motor.
(Photo credit: Toyota PDC Auto Kuantan’s Facebook page)


Honda Malaysia introduces new City variant with Honda Sensing – “V-SENSING”

Aside from the
City RS e:HEV
,
Honda Malaysia
 has added another variant to the City lineup with Honda Sensing, the new
City V-
SENSING, priced at
RM90,212.36
. In total there are now five Honda City variants offered locally.
According to Honda Malaysia, it is targeted that young families or young working adults who seek ample performance alongside advance safety features for their daily commute.
“Since we launched the 5
th
 Generation City in October 2020, we have recorded total sales of more than 23,300 units. To date, the City has contributed 34% to Honda Malaysia’s total sales between January and October 2021, making it the best-selling model in Honda Malaysia, said Honda Malaysia Managing Director and CEO, Ms. Chujo added.
As the name suggests, the main highlight of the new City variant is the host of Honda SENSING features it’s equipped with including:
Adaptive Cruise Control
Forward Collision Warning
Lane Departure Warning
Lane Keep Assist
Collision Mitigation Braking System
Road Departure Mitigation
Auto High Beam
Other driver aids include a reverse camera, hill start assist Honda LaneWatch with six airbags to depend on.

The new City variant also gets a 7-inch TFT display in the instrument cluster, a feature previously exclusive for the City RS model. In terms of powertrain, the new variant is powered by the latest 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine found in the S, E, and V variants, with 121 hp and 145 Nm. The engine is paired to a CVT gearbox.
Like the V and RS variants for the City, the new V-SENSING variant also gets LED headlights and 16-inch wheels.
Inside, the V-SENSING is furnished with leather seats finished with Ivory highlights. It also gets paddle shifters, rear air-con vents, an 8-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Remote Engine Start feature is also available.


Visit the Volkswagen stand from the Geneva Motor Show that never was

The 2020 Geneva Motor Show was
abruptly cancelled
 at the last minute due to the worsening COVID-19 situation. However, Volkswagen was not going to let that dampen its spirits.
After moving the launch of the
eight-generation Golf GTI
 online, Volkswagen has now painstakingly recreated its Geneva Motor Show stand in every detail, but made even better because now everyone can visit it –
through your web browser.
“Visitors” can either stroll around the virtual motor show freely, or follow a guided tour that brings you around the key displays. The guided tour also includes some more interactive aspects – such as an “X-ray” vision for the ID.3 electric propulsion technology, or swapping out wheels and paint job.
All of Volkswagen’s latest offerings are on display, including the recently launched Golf GTI (and the
rest of the Golf line-up
), plug-in hybrid
Touareg R
, as well as the
 ID.3
and the ID Space Vizzion concept.
Volkswagen Chief Marketing Officer, Jochen Sengpiehl said, “Our first digital booth is only the opening chapter in our new sustainable concept for future innovative online experiences.
“Exploiting the opportunities offered by virtual reality is part of our digitalization strategy. It will become an integral component of our experience marketing, the entire external presentation of the brand and interaction with customers and fans,” he added.
The virtual show will be available free of charge on the
website
 until the 17th of April 2020.


Local artist Karwai Chan’s latest work of art is a hand-painted McLaren GT!

Remember Karwai Chan, the local artist we first heard about after seeing her
ultra-realistic paintings
 in McLaren Kuala Lumpur’s showroom? She’s teamed up with McLaren again, except this time instead of her artwork being hung up on the wall, it’s actually parked right on the showroom floor.
That’s right – her latest artwork in collaboration with McLaren Kuala Lumpur is actually a car. Called “Ride Every Wave”, Karwai’s latest art piece is meticulously hand-painted onto the bodywork of a white
McLaren GT
, taking over
 200 hours
 of detailed work to complete!
The artwork is an amalgamation of Chinese and Japanese art styles, inspired by traditional Chinese porcelain and “The Great Wave of Kanagawa”, one of the most recognisable artwork from Japan.
According to Karwai, the wave motif was chosen as it perfectly encapsulates how “limitless, fearless, and unstoppable a McLaren GT is”. Plus, it’s also right around the corner to Chinese New Year, so the porcelain art style is also the perfect way to celebrate Chinese traditions.
Pretty, isn’t it? Unfortunately, you probably won’t be seeing it on the roads anytime soon, despite the
620 hp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
 engine lurking underneath the rear boot deck.
Karwai says that they’ll be applying a layer of varnish on top of the oil painting, plus another layer of paint protection film (PPF) to further protect it from the elements. But it’s still a work of art, which means it’ll need to be preserved like one – displayed under bright lights and watched-on attentively by security guards.
GALLERY


Save up to 30% on aftersales costs with SDAC’s Ford Service Reward campaign

Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC), the sole distributor of
Ford
vehicles in Malaysia, has announced a new ‘Service Reward’ promotion campaign for selected Ford models. The campaign will run for
two days only
 starting today (1st and 2nd September), with only 1,000 Service Reward vouchers available for sale.
The vouchers cost RM5 each, and is
 eligible for three service appointments over an 18-month period
from the date of purchase of the voucher. Each service voucher will entitle the customer to 10% savings on the engine oil during their first vehicle service appointment; 20% on their second, and 30% on the third and final service appointment.
During all three service appointments, customers with the Service Reward voucher can also enjoy a 10% discount on the oil filter, air filter, fuel filter, battery, wiper blades, as well as labour costs. Additionally, customers with the Service Reward voucher can also take advantage of the free 27-point vehicle inspection to ensure their vehicles are in great running condition.
Redemption of the voucher is valid at all Ford Authorised Service Centres nationwide, and the voucher must be presented at each vehicle service to take advantage of the savings. The Service Reward voucher will be available for purchase at all Ford service centres, while stocks last.
SDAC Managing Director, Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz said, “We are always looking for ways to support our customers and reward them for their loyalty. In these uncertain times, as people resume their day-to-day activities, we hope these savings will help lighten their load while keeping them safe on the roads.”
Customers can make a vehicle service appointment online via SDAC-Ford’s website
here
. The new
real-time e-Service Appointment booking system
, which allows customers to check the available time slots and confirm the booking in real-time, is available at seven Ford Service Centres in Malaysia – Ford Ara Damansara, Ford Petaling Jaya 2, Ford Juru, Ford Butterworth, Ford Kuching, Ford Kota Kinabalu and Ford Tawau.
In addition to booking a service appointment online, customers can also schedule a service appointment by calling their preferred authorised Ford Service Centres directly.


McLaren unveils new Design Edition for 570S, five designs to choose from

Personalising a
McLaren 570S
 can be described as a love-hate affair. The sheer variety of colour themes for the Sports Series would put anyone on the fence. Should the brake calipers be finished in red to match the Vermilion Red paintjob or should they be in silver to contrast with the stealthy wheels? See what I mean?
Well, McLaren is going to make the personalisation process easier with their new Design Edition models
exclusively
 for 570S. From McLaren’s very own designers, the team has put together
five different design combination
 based on the designers’ choice on exterior paint, wheel style and finish, exhaust style, and brake caliper colour, taking the popular “By McLaren” personalisation themes a stage further.
Design Edition 1
 combines a Vermillion Red paintjob with five-spoke diamond cut wheels, stealth exhaust and red calipers. The interior features Carbon Black Alcantara, Apex Red Nappa leather seats, Jet Black Nappa leather upper fascia, Apex Red Nappa leather lower fascia, Slate Grey contrast stitching, a dual colour co-ordinated steering wheel, and a McLaren branded leather sill finisher.
A quick check on McLaren’s
configurator
 for the 570S reveals an Onyx Black paintjob with McLaren Orange calipers and a McLaren Orange themed interior for the
Designer Edition 2
.
Designer Edition 3
 features a Storm Grey paintjob with red calipers and an Apex Red interior theme, while
Designer Edition 4
receives a Ventura Orange paintjob, McLaren Orange calipers, and McLaren Orange themed interior. Lastly,
Designer Edition 5
 comes with a Silica White paintjob and McLaren Orange brake calipers as well as interior theme.
On top of the
£8,500
 (RM47k) Designer Edition pack, customers are still able to specify other optional extras and MSO parts to their hearts’ desire. Previously, the Designer Edition’s parts can be had à la carte for their individual prices, however the all-in option price offers
significant savings
 than the single option pricing.
McLaren are currently taking orders for the Designer Edition 570S with first deliveries expected to commence in 2017. Now there’s no need to scratch your head for design ideas!
IMAGE GALLERY


Check out the G20 BMW 330i with M Performance kit at MITEC this weekend

If you want to be among the first in the country to check out the
newly launched G20 BMW 3 Series
, BMW Group Malaysia is hosting a BMWMY3Series roadshow happening this weekend (29 – 31 March) at Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) Level 3.
Not only will the G20 BMW 330i M Sport be available for customer test drives, there will also be one Alpine White unit decked out in the
M Performance kit
. To see this exact specification in the metal quite a treat because otherwise, you’ll only have brochures and pictures to stitch the image in your mind.
The G20 3 Series is a
through bred sports sedan and the M Performance bits dials the car’s sporty
intentions up a few notches with gloss black kidney grille, 20-inch M
Performance forged cross-spoke 794 M style alloys, side skirts, M Performance
decals and a ducktail rear spoiler.
Also on display are the previous six-generations of the 3 Series from the E21, E30, E36, E46, E90 and F30. Classic car enthusiast will appreciate a mint 2002 that BMW Group Malaysia has on display at the exhibition hall.
IMAGE GALLERY
G20 BMW 330i with M Performance Kit in Malaysia


Smart #1 scores 5-star Euro NCAP rating – Malaysia-launch in Q4 2023

Set to enter the Malaysian market in Q4 2023 via
PRO-NET
 (Proton’s subsidiary), the all-electric
Smart #1
 has scored a 5-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash test.
Euro NCAP
 has recently released the crash test results of 14 other cars as well including the
Hyundai Ioniq 6
 and the Toyota bZ4x.
Classified as a “small off-road” vehicle by Euro NCAP, the Smart #1 managed to obtain a score of 96% for “Adult Occupant Protection”, 89% for “Child Occupant Protection”, 71% for “Vulnerable Road Users Protection”, and 88% for “Safety Assist”. Smart says 74% usage of high-strength steel and 19% press-hardened steel in the Smart #1 has helped to create a strong safety environment for the user.
Besides the high Euro NCAP safety rating, Smart highlighted its overall battery safety protection system. The company has adopted multiple technical safeguard measures, including high thermal stability battery core materials, heat insulation of battery modules, and structural protection of the battery packs.
As for intelligent driving systems, the Smart #1 is equipped with the Smart Pilot Assist Package bundle. This includes Front Collision Mitigation (FCM) and Lane Keeping Assist (LKA). FCM detects when the vehicle is in imminent danger of a frontal collision and makes necessary countermeasures. LKA helps guide the driver back into the centre of the lane in case the vehicle is moving out of its lane without indicating by applying light counter-steering.
Other safety features of the Smart #1 include Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) with Vehicle, Pedestrian and Cyclists Detection, and Emergency Manoeuvre Assist (EMA). It also features a Door Open Warning System (DOW).
RELATED:
Proton inks distributorship deal with Smart, #1 EV SUV to launch in Q4 2022

Back in August this year,
Proton and Smart inked a distributorship deal for the Smart #1
 electric vehicle (EV). Proton’s clean energy subsidiary, PRO-NET will be in charge of sales of the Smart #1. Besides that, PRO-NET will also deploy charging solutions for customers which include home-based chargers and a public charging network.
As standard, the Smart #1 gets a single electric motor on the rear axle that makes
272 hp
 (metric) and
343 Nm
. Energy is stored in a
66-kWh
 battery pack that provides up to
440 km
 of range (WLTP). A Brabus version of the Smart #1 adds another electric motor to the front axle, producing a system output of more than 400 hp.
RELATED:
Smart #1 EV gets Brabus treatment – hot compact SUV EV to have over 400 hp


Volkswagen ID.7 unveiled – up to 700km range, 200kW DC charging

The new all-electric
Volkswagen ID.7
 just made its world debut in Berlin. This is
Volkswagen’s
 first EV sedan and it sits at the top of the
Volkswagen

ID.
 family lineup for now.
Being the second model to be built on the German automotive giant’s Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB) platform after the
ID.4
, the ID.7’s body measures almost
5,000 mm
 long, with a wheelbase measuring
2,970 mm
.
For context, this compact executive EV is basically longer than the
Toyota Camry
,
Honda Accord
,
BMW 5 Series
and the
Mercedes-Benz E Class
.
On the outside, the ID.7 features a fastback design with a roof that slopes at the rear, a popular trend in the current automotive scene. In order to provide a longer range, Volkswagen has spent effort in designing the ID.7 to be aerodynamic. This results in a drag coefficient of about 0.23.
RELATED:
The Volkswagen ID.2all concept is what the ID.3 wanted to be all along
Powering the car is a Volkswagen Group in-house developed A-PP550 electric motor that produces
281 hp
. This is by far the most powerful found in a Volkswagen ID model.
Thanks to Volkswagen’s engineering and design efforts, the ID.7’s aerodynamic design and efficient drivetrain is able to churn out up to a targetted 700 km range (WLTP). In addition to that, the ID.7 also features efficient thermal management that allows the car to have good range.
Despite the healthy targetted
700 km
 range, charging is of course still required to keep the ID.7 running. In this regard, charging can be done at a maximum rate of
200 kW
 with DC charging, enabling the car to be juiced up from 10% to 80% in just
20 minutes
.
Moving inside, you will find a spacious interior, thanks to the long wheelbase. What’s more, the ID.7’s interior doesn’t only look and sound roomy but is also modern, simple yet stylish. It is claimed that the interior of the ID.7 is free from animal leather.
Volkswagen also claimed that the ID.7 provides exceptional travel comfort through premium features usually found in more premium cars. These features include interior ambient lights and a panoramic sunroof with switchable smart glass. This enables the panoramic sunroof to, as the name suggests, switch between opaque and transparent settings via touch control or voice command with the IDA voice assistant.
The ID.7’s seats are also available with the brand’s Adaptive Seat Climatronic function as an option. This seat option provides cooling, heating and drying functions, as well as a German-Campaign-of-healthier-backs-approved massage function. Developed and improved based on customers’ feedback, Volkswagen designed the ID.7’s centre console with a 15-inch infotainment display and an Augmented Reality (AR) head-up display (HUD).
The German automobile manufacturer even reimagined the airconditioning system for the ID.7, positioned at the upper half section of the infotainment system. Volkswagen enables the climate control to be controlled either via voice command, the backlit touch slider located below the infotainment display, or the infotainment display itself. What’s even more interesting is the air vents swing up and down automatically according to the climate.
A 700-watt Harman Kardon sound system is also fitted to the ID.7. This consists of 14 loudspeakers, including a front centre speaker as well as a subwoofer in the rear boot.
Volkswagen innovated the ID.7’s safety features by integrating its own developed Travel Assist with swarm data. This system is essentially a combination of adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist but collects data such as localisation landmarks, lane markings as well as path driven, to the cloud digital map.
The map then supplements the onboard camera to keep the car driving on the right side of the road even when the centre line on the road is missing. The Travel Assist’s functionality will also improve as more ID. drivers’ data are collected, provided owners permit it of course. Furthermore, lane changing is also supported on multi-lane highways when above
90 km/h
. The all-electric Volkswagen also features automatic parking as well as memory function over a distance of up to 50 metres.
Martin Meiners
The ID.7 EV sedan is scheduled to be launched in Europe and China in

Autumn

2023, while the North American market will see its launch in 2024.
As for Malaysia, Volkswagen Malaysia has already previewed the Volkswagen ID.4 at the Volkswagen fest in 2022. The ID.4 that was previewed in Malaysia was in the Pro Performance guise. Buyers looking out for EVs with a similar footprint can opt for the
Kia EV6
 or the
Hyundai Ioniq 5
.
RELATED:
Volkswagen ID.4 Pro Performance previewed for Malaysia at VW Fest 2022 – 520km range EV SUV
GALLERY


The all-new Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport is made to tackle the Nurburgring!

Volkswagen has followed up the launch of the
Golf GTI Mk8
 swiftly with the introduction of a more powerful and track-oriented Clubsport model, reviving a nameplate last used in 2015.
Unlike the hardcore
Clubsport S
 – which was the last model to carry that name, the new Mk8 Clubsport doesn’t seem to be a limited-production model. Despite that though, it still carries a lot of the Clubsport DNA – most importantly its connection to the
Nurburgring Nordschleife
.
So what does a made-for-Nurburgring Golf GTI entail? Firstly, it has more power. The EA888 Evo4 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine from the GTI has been uprated to now produce
300 hp
 and
400 Nm
 of torque – a 55 hp and 30 Nm increase over the regular GTI, all of which sent to the front wheels only via a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch gearbox with Clubsport-specific gear ratios.
The added performance translates to a 0-100 km/h time of “under six seconds” compared to 6.2 seconds on the GTI, though still shares the same electronically-limited 250 km/h top speed.
But of course, you can’t call it a Clubsport with just a boost in output. The new flagship Golf GTI also gets a reworked chassis, equipped with an upgraded vehicle dynamics control system that now also integrates the electromechanical front-axle locking differential, in addition to the electronic differential locks (XDS) and adaptive shock absorbers that was already controlled by the system on the regular GTI.
The new GTI Clubsport also sits 10 mm lower than the regular Mk8 GTI, along with reworked suspension geometries, a more aggressive camber, and tweaked power steering to improve the corner-negotiating capabilities of the flagship hot hatch. VW works driver Benjamin Leuchter – who is also part of the Nurburgring development team for the car – even goes so far to say that the steering feels better than the Clubsport S.
The standout detail on the all-new Golf GTI Clubsport though, at least in respect to the Nurburgring, is the new Special driving mode which was tuned specifically for the Green Hell. In essence, it has everything maxed out at its most aggressive setting, but the suspensions softened to handle the bumpy surfaces of the historic race track.
With all of the performance improvements, along with larger and lighter brakes, the all-new Golf GTI Clubsport laps the Nordschleife a whopping 13 seconds faster than its “normal” sibling – 7:54 vs 8:07.
As for looks, the GTI Clubsport gets a more aggressive front bumper design with a larger honeycomb mesh air-intake surface that seemingly extends to the bottom to the car, along with a Clubsport signature two-tiered roof spoiler that’s said to “significantly increase the downforce” on the hot hatch.
The side skirts have also been widened, while at the rear you get a revised diffuser, bookended by two oval-shaped tailpipes, replacing the round ones on the regular GTI. As standard, the new Clubsport rides on 18-inch wheels, though 19-inch items are available as options.


All-new 2022 BMW X1, fully-electric iX1 leaked ahead of imminent launch

The all-new next-generation 2022 BMW X1, alongside the fully-electric iX1 are only due to make their debut later today, but images and specifications of the compact crossovers have already been leaked online, courtesy of serial leaker
Wilcoblok
 on Instagram.
On the outside, the all-new 2022
BMW X1
 appears to have received a significant styling update, borrowing many of the design elements from other new BMW models. The headlights are now slimmer and sleeker, similar to the
new 2022 BMW 3 Series
, while the taillights also get a new three-dimensional L-shaped design that gives the rear fascia a significantly more modern appearance.
Since it’s only a leak, images of the all-new BMW X1 are still very limited, but the rear bumper seems to have also received a hefty update featuring black chunky plastic trim inserts that give the crossover a more angular appearance. On the side, the all-new X1 also now gets a smoother door panelling with minimal character lines, paired with a discreet door handle for better aerodynamic performance.
The fully-electric BMW iX1 meanwhile can be distinguished by its unique bumpers, bright blue trim pieces all around, and the i badging on the front grille.
Inside, the all-new X1 now gets a completely redesigned dashboard architecture, headlined by the new twin floating displays running BMW’s latest
iDrive 8.0 operating system
. Although, the screens do not appear to be curved in these photos, and the display panels themselves also seem to be smaller in size compared to the other models like the
 iX
.
The rest of the dashboard is dominated by air vents for the climate control system, and similar to the iX, the all-new 2022 BMW X1 also gets a floating centre console that extends from the armrest, although it seems that the iDrive rotary dial has been removed completely.
While information on the mechanicals are not available just yet, the images did reveal one of the electric iX1’s powertrain options, which we presume will likely be badged the xDrive30. It gets a dual motor set-up making a total output of
200 kW (268 hp)
 in normal driving conditions, with a further 30 kW (40 hp) of ‘boost’ available during harder acceleration.
 Power will be supplied by a 64.7 kWh battery pack mounted in the floor to provide up to 438 km of estimated range, based on the WLTP test cycle. A 130 kW DC fast charger translates to roughly 29 minutes for a 10-80% charge, while the built-in AC charger is rated at 11 kW as standard, with a 22 kW kit available as option.
We expect the rest of the powertrain options to not differ too much from the current offering, with the standard variants including the
sDrive18i
 and
sDrive20i
 that are currently on offer here in Malaysia. However, a plug-in hybrid xDrive30e variant is also rumoured, offering up to 321 hp in its sportiest drive mode.
There are still a lot of holes to fill in, but we won’t have to wait too much longer as the all-new BMW X1 will be revealed completely later today – so keep your eyes peeled!


‘Drift King’ test drives Toyota GR Yaris on hill climb, uncovers weaknesses

Back when DVDs were popular, many of us enthusiasts got our education of JDM machines via Best Motoring videos. Tuned-up cars from popular tuners like Spoon, HKS, Amuse and local specialists were meanwhile featured in the Best Motoring-Hot Version edition.
It was awesome to hear the engines scream and watch the drivers execute rev-matching and other clever footwork to maneuver the vehicles around Tsukuba and Gunsai-Gunma circuits.

Thanks to the high tuning potential of the Toyota GR Yaris, many Japanese tuning companies have started to push the performance envelope of the hot-hatch.
Watch Eu Jin chasing a Toyota GR Supra with the GR Yaris at Sepang!
In this video from Best Motoring, Japan’s ‘Drift King’ Keichi Tsuchiya has been roped in by Auto Craft Evolution (ACE) to set some benchmark time during a hill climb event on the Tajima Alpine Road in Kyoto, Japan.
Image from
ACE’s Facebook
Mr. Shirahige, the owner of ACE, explains that not much has been done to the Toyota GR Yaris since he just collected the car about a month ago. He was however able to replace the stock suspension with HKS Hypermax items and paired with wide Rays ZE040 9.5Jx18 wheels.
You can watch the full video
here.
 Be sure to turn on the captions for English subtitles.

The engine meanwhile features the plug-and-play HKS Power Editor boost controller unit which brings up the total output from the turbocharged 1.6-litre engine to
292 hp
 and
380 Nm
. The interior meanwhile features lightweight Bride racing seats and
ACE’s own advanced steering wheel
 with data readout and upshift lights.
The ‘Drift King’ set some fast times as well as praised the suspension setup by Mr. Shirahige. “The car turns in so good especially at entry, so controllable. It is not bumpy and absorbs so well,” said Tsuchiya after his fastest run.
Back at his workshop in Kyoto, Mr Shirahige then points out the strengths and weaknesses of the Toyota GR Yaris. He has plenty of ideas planned to further improve the performance of the hot hatchback and perhaps become the ‘king of the hill’.
Source:
Best Motoring YouTube
GALLERY


Volvo has just broken its own sales record in the first half of 2021

Volvo has just recorded its strongest ever sales for the first half of a year
, rebounding strongly from the 2020 coronavirus slump to sell
380,757
 cars globally. The previous record was set in 2019, where Volvo sold 340,826 units.
The Swedish carmaker’s sales between January and June increased 41% compared to the same period last year, when sales and production were majorly affected by national lockdowns globally. In the month of June itself, 68,224 cars globally, which is 11% more than it did the same month last year.
This is how the next-gen XC90 could look like, courtesy of Volvo Concept Recharge
According to Volvo, the overall increase in sales was driven by strong demand in China, US, and Europe, all of which reported a double-digit growth compared to the same period last year. The carmaker also reported a fivefold increase in cars sold online in the same period.
The all-electric Volvo C40 Recharge
Of the 380,757 cars sold, Volvo’s line-up of the ‘Recharge’ electrified models accounted for 24.6% of the total figure – a nearly 150% increase from the previous year.
The next-gen Volvo XC60, rumoured for launch around 2026, will also be a fully-electric model
SUVs remain a popular choice by Volvo buyers, with the XC40 retaining the crown as the brand’s best-seller with 118,121 units sold, followed by the XC60 (113,500), and XC90 (54,177).
The
Volvo XC40 Recharge T5 PHEV
 was only recently launched here in Malaysia.
With a continued uptrend following its second-half sales record set in June-December 2020, Volvo is on course to break its overall annual sales record of 705,452 – a figure that was set in 2019.


Get AXA motor insurance in just 3 steps with the Setel app!

AXA Affin General Insurance Berhad (AXA) has partnered with Setel – Malaysia’s first mobile application for fuel payment at Petronas stations – to offer a fast, secure and simple way to purchase insurance online.
With that Setel users can now purchase AXA’s motor insurance plan – SmartDrive Enhanced – through the app itself. Users can receive instant quotations, purchase motor insurance, receive e-policy, and more through the app. Users will also earn Mesra points with every policy purchased. The policies are customisable for better flexibility.
RELATED:
One Setel e-wallet can now be shared with two others at Petronas stations
The
AXA SmartDrive Enhanced

motor insurance plan offers comprehensive protection on the road that includes free towing up to 30km, 24/7 emergency roadside assistance, repair warranty and fast claims approval. Customers may also add other forms of coverage including windscreen, flood and natural disasters, waiver of betterment and more.
Early birds who purchase their insurance via the Setel app will receive a 10% discount on top of their No Claims Discount (NCD) from 28the of February to the 27th of May 2022. Additionally, the first 500 users with successful insurance purchases via Setel will get a complimentary RM20 KFC Delivery e-Voucher for a limited time period only (from 28th of February to 2th of March 2022).
For more Setel-related promotions, click
here
!


Dumb Tesla jump stunt is precisely why EVs don’t need 1,000 hp

Electric Vehicles
 (EVs) are a technological marvel – there, we said it. Massive power, instant torque, all while being whisper quiet and burning zero fuel; If you hate EVs, you either probably haven’t tried one yet, or you just hate change itself.
That being said, though, EVs scare us a little bit. Not because the cars are unsafe (crash tests have proven the opposite), but because they make insane power incredibly accessible for your regular Joe. And in the age of TikTok and internet fame, that can be dangerous.

If you’ve been around the internet over the weekend, you’ll have probably come across a viral video of a Tesla Model S catching massive air over a crest on a street in Los Angeles, before crash landing into the ground and damaging parked cars and other properties.
According to the video above published by YouTuber Alex Choi, the stunt happened after a Tesla convoy drive, and was performed in front of a sizeable crowd, without any safety precautions in place. And the best part? The “stunt” driver didn’t even own the car – it was a rented 2018
Tesla Model S
.
Screenshot: Alex Choi/YouTube
As expected, the Los Angeles Police Department caught wind of the stunt, and on Sunday night, have already narrowed down their search to a person of interest, identified as @dominykas on TikTok.
The account published a video early Sunday with a footage of the crash, overlaid with the words “I just crashed my new Tesla”. The video has since been deleted, but a subsequent video from the same account shows a man reacting to the news with the words “LAPD didn’t like my stunt” overlaid on top.
RELATED: New Tesla Model S is even faster than a Bugatti Chiron! – 0-100 km/h in under 1.99 seconds!
The
Tesla Model S Plaid
 has over 1,100 hp for no apparent reason, other than “just because we can”.
Now, to be fair, the same stunt could be performed by any other car, as long as it has enough horsepower to bring it up to speed up the steep incline. However, these cars are usually also significantly more expensive to own (or rent) compared to a Tesla Model S with comparable performance.
The saying “with great power comes great responsibility” cannot be more relevant here. If carmakers can’t guarantee responsibility, then perhaps they also shouldn’t stuff 1,000 horsepower in a passenger car that can be bought by almost anyone. Ever heard of the mandated driver training programmes some sports car makers implement for their car owners? Now you know why.
Screenshot: Alex Choi/YouTube
Yes, we get it, it’s a free world, and you’re free to do whatever (legal, of course) you want. But we implore you to show us a reason why anyone would ever need 1,000 hp in their daily commuter. Because to us, those numbers will always just be spec sheet paddings to help the EV makers sell more cars, and serves no purpose in the real world.
LAPD Detective Calvin DeHesa told
Road & Track
 that no one has been injured from the stunt, and the agency is working with Enterprise, the car rental company who owns the car, to track down the driver.
ALSO READ: 400 horsepower is all you need, as seen on the Volvo XC40 Recharge.
… and a yoke steering, for some reason.
Jordan Hook, a musician who owns one of the parked cars along the street struck by the Tesla,
published a video on YouTube
detailing the damage to his Subaru Forester.
“They came down here and hit my car pretty bad,” Hook said in the video. “They jacked up my front tires, my steering column’s all messed up, my suspension’s all blown, so the car’s done.”
Speaking to the publication, Hook said, “It’s this trend thing. Everybody’s like ‘Oh, I could be seen by Elon if I do a stunt or a trick on this street!’ It’s just gotten kind of stupid.” And he’s right.


Honda Accord 2.0L 2003-2007 recalled AGAIN for Takata airbag replacement

Honda Malaysia has
just issued a recall for 9,998 units of the Honda Accord 2.0L manufactured
between 2003 to 2007 for a second replacement of the Takata driver front airbag
inflators. This second recall is issued as a preventive measure to replace the defective
airbag inflators.
The company apologises
for the inconvenience caused to customers once again and urges owners to send
their vehicles to any of the 95 Honda authorised dealers for inspection and
replacement. Like before, the second replacement is free of charge and will
take approximately 45 minutes to complete.
To date, there are no crashes or injuries related to the Takata driver front airbag inflator in the MY2003 – 2007 Accord 2.0L reported in Malaysia. Affected customers will be contacted via mail, alternatively, owners of any Honda vehicles (imported and distributed through authorised Honda Malaysia channels) can verify whether their vehicles are involved in any recall exercise
here
.
As of 21 April 2019, Honda Malaysia has completed more than 243,720 units of Takata driver front airbag inflator replacements, which translates to 92% completion ratio. The total number of Takata driver and passenger front airbag inflator replacements completed is at more than 527,480 units or 89% completion ratio.
The company also
issued an official statement as below:
“Honda Malaysia also appeals to affected Honda
customers who have yet to have their affected Takata front airbag inflators
replaced to do so urgently as it may deploy with excessive internal pressure
when activated. The defective airbag inflator casing might rupture which may
result in injury or fatality of the driver and passenger.”


Limited run Mazda MX-5 Icon to be unveiled at Goodwood

The special edition Mazda MX-5 Icon is set to make its debut at the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed which kicks off next week in the UK.
The production number will be capped at just 600 units, making it the most exclusive MX-5 Icon compared to previous iterations of the Icons back in 2000, 2005 and 2007. The all-new ND Mazda MX-5 Icon uses the 131hp 1.5 litre engine (which is not available here in Malaysia) and does the century sprint in 8.3 seconds.
Only two colours are available to choose from; Meteor Grey Mica or Crystal White Pearlescent. Both have contrasting Soul Red Metallic finishing on the side mirrors, rear spoiler, body decals and front skirt. Its new 16-inch Gunmetal alloy wheels further enhances the overall looks. Standard equipment is also upped, of which include leather seats, parking sensors and automatic lights and wipers.
Revealed earlier this year at the 2016 New York Motor Show, the
folding hard-top Mazda MX-5 RF
 (short for Retractable Fastback) made its European debut and will be joining a host of MX-5 highlights at Goodwood. Also joining them and making their first appearance outside of North America are the
MX-5 Speedster and Spyder concept cars
. The one millionth production MX-5 will be on display as well to celebrate the success of the world popular sports car.
Held in West Sussex, England, the Goodwood Festival of Speed starts this weekend from 24 to 26 June 2016, while the Moving Motor Show takes place on 23 June.
The Icon is expected to go on sale in August whereas the RF goes on sale sometime next year in the UK. While the Icon is unlikely to reach our shores, it’s unclear as yet whether the RF will make its appearance here. But watch this space for more updates!
IMAGE GALLERY


Nascar driver dropped from sponsorship deal after rage quitting in virtual race

The term “rage quit”, used mainly in a gaming context, means letting your emotions take over and prematurely stopping whatever it is that you’re doing, usually due to anger from something that transpired in the game.
We’ve all been there, because sometimes it’s easier to just give up than sitting around with no chance of redemption. Normally, rage-quitting wouldn’t have mattered much – you’ll probably take a small hit on your online gaming rank, or racing license points in sim racing, and that’s pretty much it.
However, for Nascar driver Bubba Wallace, the situation wasn’t so “normal” – Wallace was racing in Nascar’s official Pro Invitational Series event, held in place of actual races which were cancelled or postponed due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSKVMZUwlac
Involved in several early incidents, Wallace was left with a damaged car with no fast-repairs to use. Instead of running around hopelessly at the back, Bubba Wallace decided to retire from the race.
With the event broadcasted live on television, fans who saw it live flocked to Wallace’s Twitter account to show their displeasure. As it turns out, one of Wallace’s sponsors, Blue Emu, weren’t too happy with the retirement too.
After Wallace
tweeted a message
 mocking his fans for getting angry at him quitting in a video game, Blue Emu publicly announced on Twitter that they’re dropping him from sponsorship.
 https://twitter.com/BlueEmu1/status/1246878793790296067
Perhaps Blue Emu have reacted a little strongly here, as racers sometimes retire from actual races too if their cars are too damaged to continue – though to be fair those drivers are in more danger than Wallace here.
However, it just goes to show how serious simulator racing, or virtual racing has become over the past few years, and especially now when racing series including Formula 1 are
turning to virtual racing series
 to keep their fans engaged during the COVID-19 period, which put many countries in restricted-movement mode.
[H/T:
WTF1
]


Buy a dream car, win a dream bike at the Sime Darby Motors Dreamride roadshow at 1 Utama

Sime Darby Motors will be hosting its Dreamride roadshow at the
1 Utama Shopping Centre
 Highstreet and Oval concourse areas starting tomorrow, from
22nd to 26th July
, featuring brands represented by the company, including BMW, Mini, Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo, Ford and Hyundai.
As an added incentive, customers purchasing a car at the roadshow will also stand a chance to win a BMW Motorrad G 310 R touring motorcycle, worth RM27,500.
The
 all-new Range Rover Evoque
 will be on display at the Dreamride roadshow.
The cars that will be on display at the Dreamride roadshow include the
recently-launched Range Rover Evoque
, the locally-assembled
BMW 330i
, the
Ford Ranger Raptor
,
Volvo XC40
, and many more.
Visitors can also have a taste of the latest BMW vehicles, with test drives for the following BMW and MINI cars available at the roadshow: BMW 530e M Sport, BMW X3, and BMW 320i; MINI Countryman Sports, MINI Countryman Pure, and MINI Clubman S.
The BMW 320i Sport
Sime Darby Motors Retail & Distribution arm Managing Director, Jeffrey Gan said, “This is the first automobile roadshow by Sime Darby Motors featuring multiple brands. We hope to create a unique shopping experience by bringing all our brands together as well as incorporating lifestyle elements to the shopping experience.”
The company is also collaborating with leather bags and accessories maker Braun Buffel at the roadshow; customers who register at the Sime Darby Motors booth during the Dreamride roadshow will be entitled to a Braun Buffel mystery gift and a complimentary membership for the brand.
Furthermore, every purchase of any Braun Buffel product at its retail store in 1 Utama will also receive a
RM500 cash vouchers
 that can be used to purchase any vehicles at the Dreamride roadshow.
Volvo XC40.
Sime Darby Motors says that the roadshow will feature exclusive deals and promotions for both corporate (fleet) and individual customers, including special trade-in deals for the latter. This is in addition to the government’s
sales tax exemption initiative
, which sees a complete exemption of the 10% SST in locally-assembled models, while imported units get a 50% reduction in applicable sales tax.
 For the latest revised car prices for the various car brands in Malaysia, do check out our price list round-up
here
!


New Hyundai i20 N Line looks so sharp, you can hurt yourself just looking at it

Following the unveiling of the all-new i20 earlier
this year
, Hyundai Motor has now unveiled its more aggressive sibling, the all-new Hyundai i20 N Line.
 “With the all-new i20 N Line, we are bringing our stylish and sporty trim option to the i20 for the first time,” said Hyundai Motor Europe, Vice President Marketing and Product, Andreas-Christoph Hofmann.
“With this new model, we are ensuring that we can meet the needs of an even wider customer base by offering exclusive performance-styling inspired by our N brand to emphasise the motorsport roots of our brand”, he added.
The i20 N Line’s exterior is based on Hyundai’s ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ design language with some refined performance-oriented design cues sprinkled in. The i20 N Line’s front bumper is accented with a grey character line and features a stylish black cascading chequered flag-style grille equipped with the N Line badge.
The car’s motorsport-influenced styling continues at the rear, as it features sporty grey accents and a sleek rear bumper. The triangle-shaped fog lamp and chrome twin-muffler exhaust system add further emphasis on the all-new i20 N Line’s dynamic look which sets it apart from the regular i20.
Completing the overall design of the car, the all-new i20 N Line comes with dedicated
17‑inch alloy wheels with a two-tone finish
.
Inside the all-new i20 N Line, you’d find the N logo spread out quite liberally; from the sport seats with red stitching to the steering wheel. Other N Line enhancements include metal pedals and a leather N gear shift knob with red inserts.
Powering the all-new i20 N Line is the same 1.2-litre 4-cylinder engine with
84 hp
 and 1.0-litre turbocharged engine with either
100 hp
 or
120 hp
 found in the regular i20. However, the 1.0‑litre turbocharged version has been given some refinement in terms of its suspension, engine response and exhaust sound.
Just like the i20, the all-new i20 N Line 1.0-litre turbocharged engine can be specified to work with a
48-volt mild-hybrid
; a feature that is standard on the 120 hp model. This combination can be paired with the new
Intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT)
.
Like the regular model, the all-new i20 N Line offers the latest version of Hyundai’s Bluelink technology including a wide range of Connected Car services such as Hyundai Live Services, as well as remote features via the Bluelink smartphone app.
The all-new i20 is also equipped with Hyundai SmartSense safety and convenience features such as Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, Lane Following Assist, Blind Spot Monitor, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Parking Assist with rear collision avoidance and cross-traffic alert, Driver Attention Warning, and High-Beam Assist.
The All-new i20 N Line comes in four exterior colours: Phantom Black, Aurora Grey, Polar White and Brass; with an optional two-tone Phantom Black roof if customers go with the Polar White i20 N Line.
GALLERY


Mazda6 facelift price list announced, CBU Japan from RM156k to RM197k

Bermaz Motor has officially announced the price list of the facelifted Mazda6 range and just like the good news with the
Mazda CX-3
, there is no price increase from the pre-facelift Mazda6 range.
Available with two body styles and three engine choices, the entry-level Mazda6 2.0 sedan is priced at RM156k on-the-road without insurance, GST & SST. Like before, the range-topping model remains the diesel-powered 2.2D variant coming in just under the RM200k mark at RM197k, also OTR without insurance, GST & SST.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Mazda6 2.0L
Mazda6 2.5L Sedan
Mazda6 2.5L Touring
Mazda6 2.2D
Engine
1,998cc; 4-cylinder SkyActiv-G
2,488cc; 4-cylinder SkyActiv-G
2,191cc; 4-cylinder SkyActiv-D
Transmission
6-speed automatic
Max Power
162 hp @ 6,000 rpm
192 hp @ 6,000 rpm
188 hp @ 4,500 rpm
Max Torque
213 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
258 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
450 Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Price (OTR without insurance)
RM 156,190.60
RM 189,698.47
RM 193,472.06
RM197,401.47

The Mazda6 facelift wears Mazda’s latest evolution of the Kodo Design face that reminiscence of the new CX-5. Other improvements include a new cabin design and improved NVH refinement. Kit list remains the same as before with the more expensive varaints getting leather upholstery, Active Driving Display (colour windshield projection), 8.0-inch MZD touchscreen infotainment system, 11-speaker BOSE sound system, dual-zone climate control with rear air vents, multifunctional steering wheel with paddle shifters as well as 10-way powered driver seat.

The entry level Mazda6 2.0L loses out on paddle shifters, Active Driving Display and gets a standard six-speaker set up instead. This is also the only variant to not come with the full suite of i-ActivSense advanced safety technology which includes Smart City Brake Support (front and rear), Driver Attention Alert, Lane Departure Warning System, Lane Keep Assist System, Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
A total of seven colour choices will be available for the Mazda6 facelift – Snowflake White Pearl, Sonic Silver, Jet Black, Deep Crystal Blue, Soul Red Crystal, Machine Gray and Titanium Flash. All variants of the Mazda6 are fully imported from Japan.
IMAGE GALLERY
Mazda 2.5L SkyActiv-G Sedan Facelift


Volkswagen’s first purpose-built EV is called ID.3, here’s why

Volkswagen is already taking orders for the first model from its purpose-built, fully electric ID range in 29 EU member states, with initial deliveries expected to happen in the middle of 2020. Oh, the car will be called the ID.3.
According to Jürgen Stackmann, member of the VW board of management for sales, “ID. will be the name of all members of our ID. family. ID. stands for intelligent design, identity and visionary technologies. ID. is not an abbreviation for a specific term, but stands symbolically for the characteristics that these vehicles combine: emission-free, automated driving, intuitive operation and personalized connectivity.”
VW is looking for 30,000 early ID.3 adopters across Europe.
“The 3 in the ID.3 stands for compact class, this number identifies this segment in the internal project nomenclature of all Volkswagen Group brands. You can also see on the 3: We start from the middle. The number indicates expandability, there is still plenty of room to move upwards, but also downwards. Because we still have a lot in the pipeline. In addition, after Käfer (Beetle) and Golf, the ID.3 is now the third big chapter for Volkswagen.”
The use of numerals is a major shift from VW’s naming convention, rightly so given the significance of the all-electric ID range. Despite sporting some seriously psychedelic camouflage in the press conference, the ID.3 looks to be a Golf equivalent in terms of size, and why not, this is where Volkswagen is traditionally strong at.
The first 30,000 adopters of the ID.3 will need to stump up €1,000 as registration deposit, in return they’ll be getting the ID.3 1
st
 special edition which comes with a range of 420 km (based on WLTP); other range options being 330 km and 550 km.
Looks familiar, but show us more, VW…
Among the perks of first adopters include premium specs fitted as standard on the ID.3 1
st
 (e.g. large alloys, heads up display, panoramic roof, voice command, etc.) and free charging for the first year, up to a maximum of 2000 kWh at public charging stations associated with the We Charge app and Ionity rapid charging network.
In Germany, the base ID.3 is estimated to retail starting from €30,000, while the ID.3 1
st
 at under €40,000.


Video: Making our E36 BMW 325i sound and drive better!

The never-ending project is finally coming to end, for now, but not without a bang…literally.
Now that the E36 325i is wearing a fresh new coat of paint, it looks completely transformed and 10 years younger. With the “M3 look” matching the used 17-inch BBS RK wheels which were bought from Japan, one could even say it looks sporty now.

But the new, replica M3 kit, which includes front and rear bumpers along with side skirts from
EX Concept in Puchong
 has given us a couple of other things to look into.
The ride height for example, while it is signature BMW, it isn’t what you call good-looking. The front half sits a little higher than the rear, while the original exhaust tips are far too small for the cut-outs originally intended for the larger muffler of the E36 M3.
And while the E36 may drive with some sense of composure and European-ness, compared to the Honda Civic of today, it is floppier than a deflated balloon. Something had to be done….
Watch:
Episode 1 –
New BBS RK wheels for Eu Jin’s 94′ BMW E36 325i!
Episode 2 –
Time to look like an E36 BMW “M3”!


All 3 variants of the 2019 Toyota Vios comes with 7 airbags, from RM77k

The 2019 Toyota Vios that was first
previewed at the 2018 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show
 is now officially on sale in Malaysia and for the first time, we will be getting the Yaris ATIV sedan look just like Singapore and Thailand, giving the B-Segment sedan the sporty edge over its rivals.
There are three variants of the facelifted Vios available starting from the 1.5 J, 1.5 E and 1.5 G. There will
no longer be a manual variant available
 leaving the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with seven virtual ratios the only option for the 2NR-FE 1.5-litre Dual VVT-i engine carried over from before. Output is the same at
107 hp
 and
140 Nm
 to drive the front wheels with a new Drive Mode Selector – Eco, Normal and Sport.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Toyota Vios 1.5 J
Toyota Vios 1.5 E
Toyota Vios 1.5 G
Engine
1,496cc; 4-cylinder DVVT-i
Transmission
CVT
Max Power
107 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Max Torque
140 Nm @ 4,200 rpm
Price (OTR without insurance)
RM77,200
RM81,200
RM87,300
The new styling gives the Vios a newfound sportiness with its sharp front end and curvaceous rear profile. Lower grade variants get reflector halogen headlamps with LED daytime running lights, aero kit with red pinstriping, door visors, halogen combination taillamps, rear drum brakes and 15-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 185/60 profile tyres.

Stepping up to the E grade Vios and it adds a bit more flare with LED combination taillamps, rear spoiler, powered folding door mirrors, chrome plated door handle and front fog lamps. Only on the top-spec G grade, you’ll find projector halogen headlamps with LED daytime running light, chrome plating on the front grille, rear disc brakes and 16-inch dual tone alloys wrapped in 195/50 profile rubbers.
The cabin is decidedly more contemporary with leather seats, leather-wrapped multifunctional steering wheel with paddle shifters, Optitron instrument cluster with TFT Multi-Info Display (MID), 6.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with six speakers, 360-degree Panoramic View Monitor, digital panel automatic climate control, Premium Security and Solar Film as well as illuminated footwell (blue).

The mid-spec Vios 1.5 E settles for black fabric upholstery, analogue instrument cluster, urethane steering wheel with audio controls (no paddle shifters), four speakers and Premium Security and Solar Film becomes an optional item. The entry-level Vios 1.5 J, on the other hand, settles for a standard urethane steering wheel, 2-Din head unit with Bluetooth and fixed rear seats (the rest gets 60:40 split folding).
Safety is where the facelifted Vios gains a massive, massive upgrade. As standard, all variants of the Vios gets seven airbags, Vehicle Stability Control, Hill-Start Assist Control and ISOFIX mounting points. The higher-grade E and G spec further add Front Digital Video Recorder (DVR) (rear DVR available as an option), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert as well as front and rear parking sensors (G spec only).
The facelifted Toyota Vios is available in five exterior colours – Dark Blue Metallic, Red Mica Metallic, Attitude Black, Silver Metallic and Super White II. Every purchase of the Vios comes with a 5-Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty.
IMAGE GALLERY
2019 Toyota Vios 1.5 G Launched in Malaysia


Facts & Figures: All-new Nissan Almera Turbo launched in Malaysia – from RM80k!

At long last, Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) has now officially launched the highly-anticipated Nissan Almera Turbo here in Malaysia. The three variant line-up starts at
RM79,906
 for the VL, followed by the mid-spec VLP at
RM85,715
, topping out at
RM91,310
 for the range-topping VLT variant.
PERFORMANCE
With ‘Turbo’ included right into the name for the Malaysian market, the key highlight on the all-new Nissan Almera is of course it’s powertrain. Only one engine option is offered across all three variants, and it is the HR10DET 1.0-litre turbocharged mill, featuring technology
 taken straight from the GT-R
.
Engine: 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol
Transmission: Xtronic CVT gearbox with D-Step logic
Drivetrain: Front engine, front wheel driven
Max horsepower: 100 hp @ 5,000 rpm
Max torque: 152 Nm @ 2,400 – 4,000 rpm
Fuel consumption: 5.4 l/100 km
Aside from the new powertrain, our
brief test drive session
 also highlighted just
how well the all-new Nissan Almera drives
, especially when compared to its predecessor thanks to its improved body rigidity, steering system, and chassis – not to mention the improvement in the
cabin refinement department
!
EXTERIOR
Aside from the powertrain, the biggest change to the all-new Nissan Almera Turbo is probably in its styling department, marking a stark departure to the bulbous look of its predecessor. Standard styling elements across all three variants include automatic headlights (halogen on the two lower variants, LED for the range-topping VLT), LED combination taillights with LED fog lights, and a rather attractive rear bumper with carbon fibre-like inlays and a body-coloured diffuser.
Two wheel sizes are on offer – 15-inch units on the base VL specification, while the VLP and VLT variants are both equipped with 16-inch machined two-tone alloy wheels. Stepping up to the range-topping variant will also net you an additional trunk lid spoiler in gloss black, while the headlights are now completely LED illuminated – including the daytime-running lights.
The all-new Nissan Almera Turbo will be available in six exterior colours – Radiant Red, Monarch Orange, Dark Metal Grey, Brilliant White, Diamond Black, and Tungsten Silver. The first three in the list are all-new hues, with the Monarch Orange taken from the Nissan GT-R options list!
INTERIOR
Similar to the exterior, the cabin of the fourth-generation Nissan Almera has also been completely revamped for a more modern and premium appearance. Notably, the dashboard now has a dual-tone design surrounded by soft touch material (on VLP and VLT variants), carbon fibre pattern textures, as well as chrome and piano black trims.
Standard equipment across the board also include:
“Zero Gravity-inspired” seats
Flat-bottomed steering wheel
keyless entry and push-start ignition
Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment
Centre console with arm rest
Three USB ports
60:40 Split fold-down rear seats with armrest and cup holders
The base VL variant is fitted with a bluetooth-enabled headunit, paired to a analogue Fine Vision instrument cluster with multi-info display, Manual Air-conditioning system, along with fabric seats and urethane-wrapped steering wheel and gear lever.
Stepping up to the two higher variants nets you several additional creature comforts, including an upgraded eight-inch touchscreen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay connectivity, seven-inch semi-digital instrument cluster, automatic climate control, as well as full leather upholstery, with grey accents on the “semi-bucket seats”.
SAFETY
The all-new Nissan Almera for the Malaysia market is equipped with autonomous emergency braking as standard across all three variants, but the more feature-complete advanced driver assistance systems is only available on the range-topping VLT variant. The system includes the following functionalities:
360-degree around view monitor with moving object detection
blind spot warning
rear cross traffic alert
cruise control
The base-variant Nissan Almera only comes with two airbags, increasing to six on the two upper variants. The VLP variant is equipped with a reverse camera (in place of the 360-degree around view monitor of the range-topping variant), while Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), Traction Control System, ABS, Electronic Brake-Force Distribution, brake assist, and hill-start assist are standard across all variants.
PRICING
As mentioned above, the all-new Nissan Almera Turbo is priced at
RM79,906
 for the VL, followed by the mid-spec VLP at
RM85,715
, topping out at
RM91,310
 for the range-topping VLT variant in Malaysia. All prices are on the road, without insurance, and inclusive of the sales-tax exemptions in place until the end of 2020.
Included in the price is a
five-year unlimited mileage vehicle warranty
, along with
free five times alternating maintenance service within 5 years
, with parts and labour included.
ETCM is also offering a special hire purchase
Flexi Financing Promotion
, with monthly repayments starting at RM688, RM738, and RM788 respectively for the three variants, based on a 90% loan on a nine-year loan tenure. The promotion is valid until 31 December 2020.
If you’re looking to spice up your new ride even further, ETCM is also offering
additional accessories
 that are all covered with a 3-year/100,000km warranty, and can be financed with the vehicle purchase.
Following the announcement of the Sales Tax Exemption in place until the end of December 2020, for the latest price list of
Nissan vehicles
 in Malaysia, click
here
.
GALLERY


Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors launches two new customer loyalty programmes

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM), the sole distributor of Hyundai vehicles in Malaysia, has launched two new after-sales loyalty programmes for enhanced customer and ownership experience –
the Loyalty Card
 that offers discounts and freebies and the
i-Care Plus Programme
 for owners of older Hyundai vehicles.
The Loyalty Card comes
automatically
 with the ownership of any Hyundai
model
. Membership privileges include exclusive monthly promotions, such as a 20% discount on Klima Fresh and BlueChem car care products for the month of April.
Customers can expect more privileges in the future such as birthday month discounts on after-sales service, discounts on Hyundai merchandise and a higher trade-in value when purchasing another
new Hyundai
 vehicle. Existing customers can register for their complimentary Loyalty Card at any authorised Hyundai service centre nationwide and check for promotional updates via Hyundai’s official
website
.
The i-Care Plus programme, on the other hand, focuses on owners with
four-year-old or older
 Hyundai vehicles. For only
RM20
, customers will get six discount vouchers which offer a 10% discount on selected parts, and a 5% discount on labour charges, in addition to two free bottles of engine oil and an oil filter. Available for a limited time from 1st April, the i-Care Plus programme is valid for 35 months from the date of purchase and can be purchased at any authorised Hyundai service centre nationwide.
Mr Low Yuan Lung, Managing Director of HSDM, said the new customer loyalty programmes are testimony to the company’s promise in offering distinctive value to Hyundai car owners here, in the spirit of its tagline ‘Geared for Distinction.’
“We hope to bring more value and benefits to our customers through such specially designed programmes, as we focus on enhancing the customer experience with Hyundai,” added Mr Low.


All-new Honda CR-V receives 5-star rating for safety in ASEAN NCAP

Honda Malaysia has announced that the All-New CR-V has achieved a 5-star rating with the overall score of 88.80 points in the new rating system of ASEAN New Car Assessment Programme for Southeast Asian countries (ASEAN NCAP).
This new rating system is a single rating system which consists of the three main domains – Adult Occupant Protection (AOP), Child Occupant Protection (COP) and Safety Assist Technologies (SATs); and the fifth Generation All-New CR-V scored 47.25 points for AOP, 22.84 points for COP and 18.71 points for SATs.
Applied to all variants of the all-new CR-V, it also became the first model in the ASEAN region to obtain the result from the new ASEAN NCAP assessment. It is also the second consecutive generation of CR-V that has won 5-Star rating since ASEAN NCAP was introduced in 2011.
In 2014, the 4th Generation CR-V achieved a 5-star rating in the Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) and 86% in the Child Occupant Protection (COP). These top scores placed the All-New CR-V as the safest model in the SUV segment, as it is equipped with Next Generation Advanced Technology and comprehensive safety features.
The
newly launched All-New CR-V
 offers unrivaled safety features such Honda SENSING* and Honda LaneWatch* where the latter has been made available since 2015; first in its segment.
Honda Lane Watch enhances the driver’s view of passenger-side traffic (blind spot), and allows for a better view when compared with using the side mirror alone.
Honda SENSING*, the Next Generation Advanced Safety Technology is the newest safety feature from Honda to assist drivers in potentially dangerous driving conditions. The system includes seven features -the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Low-Speed Follow (LSF), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) that will provide Driver’s Cruising Aid, Frontal Collision Deterrence and Side Collision Deterrence.
In addition to Honda SENSING, the all-new CR-V also comes with a comprehensive package of active and passive safety features such as the six airbags, front seatbelt with 3-point ELR, rear seatbelts with 3-point ELR x3, rear seat ISOFIX, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with Agile Handling Assist (AHA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Walk Away Auto Lock and Multi-Angle Rearview Camera, alongside the standard body structure with ACE and G-Force Control (G-CON) technology.
It’s no wonder then why the all-new CR-V has risen to be the most sought after SUV in Malaysia, recording more than 2,900 booking units as of 12th August 2017 –  a figure which translates to an equivalent of its four month target achieved in just one month; of which 80% of the bookings were for the turbo variants. Even so, waiting period is maintained at the standard 1-2 months.
*Honda Sensing and Honda LaneWatch features are only applicable to the
1.5-litre TC-P 2WD
 variant only.
IMAGE GALLERY


Old vs New: What’s changed in the 2020 Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+?

At long last, the
Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+
 has landed on Malaysian shores. Coming in at
RM459,888
, does it pack enough to have eager Malaysians shelling out their hard-earned money?
To see what’s new and upgraded in the shiny (and bright!) new car, we pit the latest German pocket rocket against its popular predecessor in a direct comparison, from head to toe.
POWERTRAIN
Under the hood of the all-new A 45 S is the new
M139 two-litre four-cylinder twin-scroll turbocharged engine
, pushing out
421 hp
 and
500 Nm
 of torque – an increase of 40 hp and 25 Nm from its predecessor. It’s also now paired to an eight-speed AMG Speedshift dual-clutch transmission, compared to the seven-speeder in the previous generation.
As a result, the new model benefits from a pretty significant performance improvement over its predecessor, shaving off 0.3 seconds in the century sprint times, while also gaining an additional 20 km/h at full whack. With the new six-pot brakes in front (as opposed to four from the outgoing model), the new A 45 S should stop quite a bit better too.
However, the biggest change in the powertrain department would be the new 4MATIC+ fully-variable all-wheel drive system on the new A 45 S. Using two electronically controlled multidisc clutches – one between the two axles, and another between the two rear wheels – the new A 45 S can not only control the amount of torque split between front and rear wheels, but also between the rear-left and rear-right wheels, giving you optimum traction to slingshot you out of the corner.
With the new all-wheel drive system and the AMG Dynamic Plus package which comes as standard on the S model, the marque’s latest hot hatch also gets a shiny-new Drift mode, allowing experienced drivers to carry out controlled powerslides with ease. Any true AMG car must be able to go sideways, right?
EXTERIOR
At launch, our local-specification AMG A 45 S comes exclusively in the Edition 1 trim, just like when its predecessor was first introduced here – later updates removed the nameplate (and decal stickers), though the trim kits still remain.
As before, the Edition 1 comes standard with the Aerodynamic Package (additional aerodynamic fins and splitter on the front apron, rear spoiler, and enhanced rear diffuser) as well as the Night Package (blacked-out exterior accents such as window linings and wing mirror housings).
The twin-louvre front grille has been replaced with a new AMG-specific Panamericana grille, making it look more coherent with its bigger cousins such as the
Mercedes-AMG C63 S we recently reviewed
.
The new AMG A 45 S is shod in 19-inch alloys just like the outgoing model, though gone is the multi-spoke design, replaced by five twin-spokes. The new design barely obscures the large six-pot brake callipers up front, finished in a coat of red paint.
Over at the rear, the controversial rhombus-shaped fake tailpipes trims have been replaced by larger twin-oval-shaped ones – though they’re still just tailpipe finishers when inspected closely.
As for colour, the new A 45 S Edition 1 is offered in either Sun Yellow (as pictured here) or Designo Mountain Grey Magno. Depending on the colour chosen, the other will act as a secondary hue on the contrasting decal graphics plastered on the doors.
INTERIOR
The interior of the latest-generation A 45 S is a huge step-up from its predecessor, not just in features, but also in build quality and material choices – though this isn’t too surprising given that the interior is
pretty standard A-Class affair
.
The old COMAND Online system on the outgoing model is replaced by the marque’s new Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system on the twin 10.25-inch displays, with a few additional AMG-specific touches such as the three selectable AMG displays on the instrument cluster screen.
The new A 45 S also packs the Track Pace feature, reserved only for the true full-blown AMG models – sorry AMG Line owners. The feature uses GPS data, along with various in-car parameters to help you improve your performance on track.
Several famous international circuits have already been pre-programmed into the car, where you will be able to use the MBUX Augmented Reality feature to overlay optimum driving line onto the circuit. Sadly, the Sepang International Circuit is not included by default, though you can always record it yourself into the system.
The new AMG Performance steering wheel on the 2020 AMG A 45 S is now finished in Dinamica fibre, and even comes with the steering wheel controls that’s plucked straight from Affalterbach’s bests. Additionally, the new model also gets a new configurable head-up display to keep your vision on the road during spirited driving.
The large panoramic sunroof is also a new addition on the latest-generation hot hatch, along with the LTE connectivity module to enable the
Mercedes me service
 for remote access via a smartphone application.
SAFETY AND DRIVER ASSISTANCE
On the safety front, the all-new Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+ is now equipped with several advance driver assistance features, including Active Brake Assist, Active Parking Assist with Parktronic, Blind Spot Assist, and Active Lane Keeping Assist – the latter two are new to the performance hot hatch.
PRICING
Once again, the all-new Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+ is priced at
RM459,888
 on the road, without insurance – which is a significant increase over its predecessor (RM348,888). Although, do keep in mind that this pricing is for the limited Edition 1 version, so do expect a price drop when the “standard” A 45 S is rolled out here.
With MBM’s Agility Financing, the new A 45 S hatchback can be yours starting from
RM5,438 per month
. If you prefer more protection for your new prized possession, the AMGPro Financing Package for the A 45 S starts at
RM5,688 a month
, and includes insurance coverage with unlimited mileage breakdown and accident towing, as well as rim and tyre replacement.
For a full facts and figures breakdown of the all-new Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+ Edition 1 hatchback, do check out our launch article,
here
!


Radford shows how to do a retro tribute right with the 600 hp Type 62/2

Remember Radford, the historic British coachbuilding firm that was recently revived by F1 World Champion Jenson Button? In case you missed their
earlier announcement
, Radford has partnered with
Lotus
 for their first project to build a modern-day 1969 Lotus Type 62/2 prototype race car – and the result, shown-off over the weekend, has got us all hot and bothered. Hoo-boy.
Just by looking at the photos, you can already see the parallels between the Radford and the original Lotus Type 62/2 race car, from its silhouette down to classic F1-inspired liveries.
But what you can’t see, are all the modern-day mechanical components underneath it, including the same bonded aluminium chassis as the other Lotus cars, carbon fibre composite construction of the body, and the same supercharged 3.5-litre Toyota V6 that’s been in Lotus cars for more than a decade.
The Lotus Exige and Elise have been discontinued – now replaced by the all-new Emira. Check it out here!
Image: Jenson Button/Twitter
The Radford Type 62/2 will be offered in three variants, cheekily called the “Classic”, “Gold Leaf”, and “JPS” (for John Player Special), inspired by the most successful Lotus race cars – and their liveries – of days past.
Starting with the Classic, the 3.5-litre supercharged V6 mill behind the driver already makes
430 hp
 out of the gate – pretty much the top-end of the
Lotus Exige
 and
 Elise
 range. The Gold Leaf takes it up a notch to
500 hp
 thanks to upgraded pistons and camshafts, while the JPS, with a new supercharger and upgraded software tuning, takes the total up to
600 hp
.
If you want to fully commit to the old-school experience, though, the Classic will be your only option, as it’s the only one that comes with a manual transmission. Other variants are equipped exclusively with a seven-speed DCT gearbox, alongside an an electronic limited-slip differential.
The Classic and Gold Leaf Radford Type 62/2s also get four-piston AP Racing brakes, while the JPS gets upgraded carbon-ceramic stoppers for better stopping performance to go alongside its significantly uprated engine.
If you’re still looking for an Elise or Exige, here’s your last chance – the Final Edition models are now available in Malaysia. More info here!
Other mechanical upgrades are in its chassis, which Radford’s own bespoke subframe is said to help improve stiffness and agility, while keeping the weight down. All-in, the Radford Type 62/2 measures in at just 1,000 kg, which means it’ll have a power-to-weight ratio comparable to other modern day supercars.
All three Type 62s will use four-way adjustable coilovers with an optional nose lift as well, which the company notes that Jenson Button personally calibrated the car to achieve “exceptional steering feel and driver feedback.”
That’s all mightily impressive, but let’s be honest, people buying this car are really only doing it for the looks; those looking for a pure Lotus driving experience can just buy an actual Lotus, for (presumably) a lot less money.
Stylistically, the Classic is the most subtle of the bunch, without the unique rear wing and the historic liveries, and only wearing 17-inch wheels up front and 18-inchers on the rear.
The Gold Leaf and JPS meanwhile, as their name suggests, wears the respective classic Lotus race car liveries, and adds on a unique “double ducktail” spoiler at the rear to improve downforce specifically for track driving. Wheel sizes are up by one inch on both front and rear axles.
In similar fashion, the Kimera EVO37 is a bespoke creation made to honour the great Lancia 037 rally car. Check it out here!
No images have been shared for the inside, but Radford says that the modern-day Type 62/2 is designed to be a “true driver’s car with the luxury appointments of a bespoke coachbuilder”. Just like a modern car, there’ll be a six-inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, and an infotainment display with most modern connectivity features built in.
Taking the “modern touches” one step further, are the “wing mirror” cameras on both sides of the car in place of actual mirrors, with the image being displayed on the A pillars. Even the rear-view mirror is a camera as well – but this one is pretty much out of necessity, as the rear panel is a solid piece covering the engine underneath it.
Radford hasn’t shared how much this slice of perfection will cost, but seeing that it’s limited to just 62 units worldwide, plus all the bespoke work that’s gone into it (not to mention the celebrity status of its founders…), it’ll probably be pricier than you think.
Production of the Radford Type 62/2 will start at the company’s facility in California beginning later this year, with first units expected to be delivered early 2022.


Manual’s not dead… yet: Toyota patents “stick shift” for EVs

The number of new cars offered with a manual transmission has been on a downtrend for a number of years now, and despite the constant moaning from enthusiasts, the fact is nobody really buys the manuals any more, and thus carmakers have zero incentive to continue making them.
The demise of the manuals is further compounded by the tectonic shift towards
EVs
 in the industry, which, as many of you know, do not necessarily require a traditional “gearbox” at all. But as bleak as it may seem, stick shifts might not actually be dead just yet – if this recently-unearthed
Toyota
 patent application is anything to go by.
The
Toyota GR Yaris
and its manual shifter – one of the last of its kind.
Yup, you read the title right. According to a couple of new filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Toyota is apparently working on a new manual “transmission” to be used in electric vehicles.
Obviously it won’t be an actual transmission, but the system is supposed to simulate the feel of driving and operating a six-speed manual gearbox – or “technique for producing a pseudo shift change in a vehicle that transmits torque to wheels from a drive motor”, according to the document.
RELATED: Volkswagen to ditch manual gearboxes, all auto from 2023
In essence, the “gearbox” consists of a “pseudo-clutch” and “pseudo-shifter”, the latter being a series of switches in the H-pattern shifter that sends input to the car’s on-board controller, which then varies the torque output of the electric motors according to the simulated engine RPM (that is displayed on a tachometer).
Since the pedals and shifters are not actually connected mechanically to the drivetrain (hence the ‘pseudo’ in their names), Toyota’s patent also includes a “pedal reaction force generator” and “reaction force actuator” for the third pedal and shifter respectively to emulate the physical feel of an actual manual gearbox, such as the vibration when you drag the clutch on the flywheel while partially disengaged.
Apparently, the system will even simulate the car stalling if you drop the simulated RPM too low!
ALSO READ: Here’s how Kia’s Intelligent Manual Transmission clutch-by-wire system works
Toyota says that the system is to “provide an electric vehicle capable of enjoying a driving feeling like a manual transmission vehicle, without experiencing the difficulties peculiar to [one]”.
It’s odd, sure, but with the entire automotive industry moving towards electric, this might be the best we’ll get in the future – although, it’s important to keep in mind that a patent doesn’t necessarily mean that it’ll make it into production at all.
EVs with a manual gearbox isn’t exactly new, too. Ford previously also experimented with a manual gearbox in an electric vehicle when they built the
 Mustang Lithium
 for the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.


Ford opens newly upgraded dealer showroom in Kota Kinabalu

Strategically located at Jalan Limau Manis, the facility has been redesigned to Ford’s Global
[email protected]
 standards with six additional service bays accompanied by vehicle hoists, to a new total of 13 bays.
The facility also features a dedicated customer service lounge with complimentary Wi-Fi, where customers can enjoy hot beverages and snacks while waiting for their service to complete.
Staffed by certified technicians, the revamped showroom will also be equipped with the most up-to-date diagnostic equipment, special tools and a full supply of genuine spare parts.
“The quality of the ownership experience we provide is just as important as the quality of our world-class Ford vehicles. The newly upgraded Sime Darby Auto Connexion (Kota Kinabalu) demonstrates our joint commitment to offer Ford customers an even better experience”, said Managing Director, Asia Pacific Emerging Markets, Ford Motor Company, Truong Kim Phong.
The Sime Darby Auto Connexion (Kota Kinabalu) is located at Jalan Limau Manis, Off Jalan Lintas, 88450 Inanam, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The showroom is open from 8:30 am – 5.30 pm from Monday to Friday and from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm on Saturday while the Service Centre operating hours are 8:00 am – 5:00 pm from Monday to Friday, 8:00 am – 12:30 pm on Saturday.


Ford’s unicycle may soon be built with your car’s rear tyre!

Picture this: there’s a terrible traffic jam ahead of you and you need to reach your destination fast. You stop your car, take out the rear tyre and build a unicycle. You proceed to ride it, and soon enough you’re passing each and every other cars caught in the same horrendous jam. Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Well apparently, this could someday be real, thanks to Ford!
It was reported that Ford is in the closing stages of patenting an idea of having a car’s rear tyre that can be converted into a unicycle. It’s also described as a “self-propelled unicycle” that can be “selectively disengaged with the vehicle for independent use”. An electric motor attached to the unicycle’s single hub will be used to propel the unicycle.
So, imagine taking out the rear wheel of a Ford Fiesta and putting it onto a unicycle. It is not only the solution to beat traffic, because for all you know know, you could be having more fun on the road!
However, as this is still in the early stages, it would take some years for Ford to come out with a working concept before it goes into production. But as cities get increasing congested (KL included), this could well be the ideal solution to our traffic woes and environmental concerns as well. However, one question remains – will it pass the NCAP crash tests?


Mercedes-Benz to raise stake in Aston Martin to 20%

Aston Martin’s fortunes seem to be turning towards the bright side. Hot off the press from a much needed cash injection from billionaire and F1 team owner Lawrence Stroll, which saw him
acquiring a 16.7% stake in the company
, Mercedes-Benz and the Aston Martin also announced a renewed “strategic technology” partnership, which will see the German carmaker increase its stake from 2.6% to
up to 20%
.
In exchange,
Mercedes-Benz
 will be providing
Aston Martin

with access to its next-generation hybrid and electric powertrains, as well as other vehicle components and systems.
The agreement will see shares being issued in several tranches over the next three years, up to a total value of GBP286 million (approx. RM1.55 billion). The first tranche is valued at a GBP140 million (approx. RM760 million), which will increase the German carmaker’s equity in the company to 11.8%.
The partnership between the two companies begun in 2013, where Mercedes-Benz received a 5% equity in exchange of the supply of the AMG V8 powerplants and electrical components – which later became 2.6% following Aston Martin’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) and subsequent funding rounds. Mercedes-Benz said in the press release that it has no intention to increase its shares in the British sportscar maker beyond 20%.
While not officially part of the partnership, former Mercedes-AMG CEO Tobias Moers also recently replaced Andy Palmer as the CEO of Aston Martin, following the investment from Lawrence Stroll.
The Aston Martin DBX, perhaps one of the most important Aston Martin models in recent years, was
 recently launched in Malaysia
.
Mercedes-Benz Head of Product Strategy, Wolf-Dieter Kurz said, “We already have a successful technology partnership in place with Aston Martin that has benefited both companies. With this new expanded partnership we will be able to provide Aston Martin with access to new cutting-edge technologies and components, including next generation hybrid and electric drive systems.
“The supply arrangements for these new technologies will be on agreed commercial terms. We look forward to continuing to work together with Aston Martin and we wish the company every success in its next stage of growth.”


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia teases hardcore Mercedes-AMG GT R, coming soon?

We are halfway through October and while everyone is preparing to end the year on a quiet note, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) seems to be hinting that the upcoming months will be a loud and rumbly one.
On Deepavali, the kind folks at MBM uploaded a greeting card for all those celebrating the Festival of Lights. Nice gesture, but blink and you will miss a cheekily embedded silhouette of their flagship super sportscar, the
AMG GT
.
As we all know, the AMG GT S has been around for some time (launched in 2015) but what piqued our interest in this particular teaser is the additional fixed rear wing. There are only two ways to have a fixed rear wing on an AMG GT (from factory at least), one is to specify the
Edition One package
 and the other is the track-bred AMG GT R. Our best guess? The
AMG GT R
, no less.
The AMG GT R is essentially the road legal version of the GT3 race car that dominated the Nürburgring 24-hour race. It draws aesthetic and aerodynamic enhancements from the GT3 race car such as the Panamericana grille, carbon fibre rear wing, bumper elements, active aerodynamics and more.
Motivation comes from an uprated 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 mated with a seven-speed dual clutch automatic to drive the rear wheels. Power is bumped from
510 hp
 to
585 hp
 while torque figures jumped
50 Nm
 to
700 Nm
. It’s quicker to the century mark too, at
3.6 seconds
 (3.8 seconds on the GT S) and top speed is raised to
318 km/h
.

This bonkers of a road weapon gets the marque’s first ever
Four-wheel steering technology
 that turns the rear wheels by up to 1.5 degrees for better handling at the limit. It also rolls on sticky
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2
 tyres fitted onto the light-weight 10-spoke forged alloys (19-inch at the front, 20-inch at the rear).
Another party trick of this Green Hell Beast is its
nine-stage traction control system
 which gives the car nine-levels of slip at the rear axle. Need to be a responsible and civilised driver on the public highway, stage one shall be your default setting – allowing almost no slip to the rear wheels . But if you have an empty race track all to yourself, dial it all the way to “ESP off” and it will happily dance to your tunes.
As of press time, we have no information on when the Mercedes-AMG GT R will be officially available, but stay tuned for more updates.
IMAGE GALLERY


The NSX’s legacy lives: Gets twin-turbo V6, 550+ hp and 9-speed dual clutch auto [+Video]

With much bated breath, the
Acura NSX
 (
Honda NSX
 for the rest of the world) made its production debut today at the Detroit Motor Show, in a little less than a month after releasing
several teaser pictures
 of what’s to expect of the Japanese icon.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Acura NSX
Engine
Twin-turbocharged V6 , DOHC; with 3 electric motors
Transmission
9-speed dual clutch automatic transmission
Max Power
over 550 hp
Price
est. above USD 150,000

The NSX, when first conceptualised, was an object of marvel. It was such a competent car, to the extent that it could take on its Italian rivals when nobody thought a car of such talent could spring out of the Land of the Rising Sun. Like it or not, this mid-engine Japanese legend is back with looks to kill – in every sense of that word.
Long story short, the NSX challenged every conventional beliefs about supercars, ticked every single checkbox there is to tick and achieved a god-like status among enthusiasts. Heck, even the late great Aryton Senna had a hand in refining its dynamics. So, big shoes to fill. Very big shoes. No pressure.

EXTERIOR
Come next month will be the
25th anniversary
 of the NSX. Over the past three years, we have seen several concept cars that came and went. Not forgetting the
NSX SuperGT concept
 that ran on the
2014 Japanese Super GT Series
. That, as well as the specially homologated
HSV-010 GT
 that ran the years before it. This final production version was lengthened by 76mm and widened by 25mm, and is slightly more cab-forward packed, compared to the NSX Concept shown in 2012.
Utilising advanced joining technologies, the NSX features an innovative new multi-material space frame design composed of aluminium, ultra-high strength steel, carbon fiber floor and other advanced materials to add torsional rigidity. The body panels are a combination of
Sheet Molding Composite (SMC)
 and aluminium.
PERFORMANCE
Not much was announced in terms of the specifications, but we did learn that there will be a
twin-turbocharged 75-degree DOHC V6
 engine paired to a
nine-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT)
, producing upwards of
550 bhp
. Also, get this: a
three-electric motor Sport Hybrid system
, just like the La Ferrari, Porsche 918 and McLaren P1 hybrid supercars. One for each of the front wheels to help provide more forward traction, as well as vector torque to improve handling; and one electric motor for the rear to aid accelerating, braking, and transmission shift quality.
The car was developed under the concept of
“human-centered supercar”
, a car that puts the driver first in every aspect of its design, employing state-of-the-art hybrid body and chassis to deliver exceptionally intuitive and immediate response to driver inputs.
It will also feature the carmaker’s sophisticated drive system, known as the
Sport Hybrid Super-Handling All Wheel Drive (Sport Hybrid SH-AWD)
, as well as
Agile Handling Assist (AHA)
 which uses the subtle application of brake torque. This applies the brake on the inside front wheels to enhance yaw response and dynamic stability. Sort of like torque vectoring, if you will.
INTERIOR
Four driving modes are to come as standard:
Quiet, Sport, Sport+
and
 Track
 are prominently featured on the dial-operated
Integrated Dynamic System
 found right in the middle of the centre console that adjusts the engine, motor, transmission, chassis response and engine sound level. Quiet mode for electric-only driving at lower speeds, Sport and Sport+ mode for that extra performance and Track mode that, well… is pretty self explanatory.
Couple all that with a
launch
 function and all that translates into – as Acura puts it – an
instantaneous
,
zero delay
launch performance and handling response that anticipates the driver’s style.
WHAT ELSE?
Production will start in summer this year at Ohio, USA; a departure from its longstanding home in Tochigi, Japan. It took Acura three years to turn the NSX concept into this production-ready version you see here in these pictures. In comparison, it took Bugatti almost double the time to produce the Veyron from when its concept was first shown. That’s mighty quick for the guys at Acura. Let’s see if it’s as quick to shred its tyres.
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY


Alpine Vision Concept reignites Renault’s long lost performance brand

Renault has finally revived a famous but long forgotten brand,
Alpine
, back into making cars by the revealing of the Vision Concept. This, after 20 years, is the first ever Alpine model to be produced since the A610 was put out of production.
The Vision Concept is the follow up to the Alpine Celebration Concept at Le Mans last year. Despite its name, the car’s design suggests that it’s pretty much already a work in progress, with Renault claiming that it’s about 80 percent of the real car. Production is set for 2017, so that’s more good news.

To start, the Vision Concept follows what made its predecessor, the A110, a legend in the 1970s – a lightweight, mid-engined, rear wheel driven sports car that seats two. The Vision Concept is clearly an updated, modern interpretation of the A110, as you can tell from its headlights.
We’re still in the blue with regards to its powertrain, but it will likely sport a mid-mounted turbocharged
four-cylinder
, mated to Renault’s Efficient Dual Clutch gearbox or a six-speed manual. Alpine expects the car to manage the century sprint in
 4.2 seconds
, something achievable thanks to its featherweight body. The two-seater sports car is rumoured to weigh less than 1,100kg!

Inside, the cabin gets an injection of modern taste, ranging from a digital dashboard and the use of  leather, aluminium and carbon fibre.
The Vision, as described by Alpine, is a “high-performance, elegant, lightweight car dedicated to driving pleasure in its very purest form”. When produced, it will go against models like the Alfa Romeo 4C,
Porsche Cayman
 and
Lotus Elise
; putting France back into the battle of lightweight sports cars occupied by entries from Italy, German and the current all-time favourite, the UK.
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