Lotus Elise 250 Cup is now officially lighter than the Perodua Bezza

Following the launch of the
Lotus Elise Sprint
, the most hardcore road-legal
Elise 250 Cup
 has also gotten an update, shedding more weight with some increase in performance.
Visually, the exterior changes include a redesigned front clam panel with larger radiator apertures, new front splitters, lightweight rear wing and rear diffuser. All these enhance the car’s aerodynamics, while the rear wing is capable of generating 125 kg of downforce at 225 km/h. The Elise 250 Cup rides on mixed wheel sizes – 16-inch at the front and 17-inch at the rear. A set of super sticky Yokohama Advan A048 LTS tyres come as standard (195/50 profile on the front and 225/45 profile on the rear wheels).
Inside, the cabin gets an exposed open-gate manual gearbox (first seen in the
Exige Sport 350
), Alcantara upholstery with red or yellow contrast stitching, carbon race seats, redesigned instrument cluster with new graphics and new infotainment system with better speakers.
Lotus engineers helped shave 14 kg, with the Elise now tipping the scales at
884 kg
. That’s even lighter than the
Perodua Bezza 1.0 Standard
! This was achieved by using a lighter Lithium-ion battery, carbon race seats, ultra- lightweight motorsport forged alloy wheels and polycarbonate rear screen.
For the more discerning enthusiast, below is a list of items that will further trim the weight down to a scant
860 kg
:
Two-piece brake disc, -4 kg
Full titanium exhaust system, -7 kg
Carbon fibre interior pack, -1.2 kg
Carbon fibre exterior pack, -3.7 kg
Carbon hard top, -3 kg
Carbon front access panel, -1.1 kg
Carbon roll-over hoop cover, -0.7 kg
Carbon engine cover, -3.3 kg
Under the hood, the same 1.8-litre supercharged four-cylinder engine remains untouched, generating
243 hp
 and
250 Nm
 of torque. Power is transferred to the rear-wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. The Elise Cup 250 boasts a 0 – 100 km/h sprint time of
4.3 seconds
. Besides that, the damper rates have been uprated for better cornering stability.
Lotus Cars is really pushing the boundaries of “adding lightness
”
to its absolute limits with every revision. Just imagine what the next-generation of Lotus vehicles will bring to the table under its
new owner Zhejiang Geely Holding Group
!


SSC Tuatara breaks speed record with 455.3 km/h, for real this time

You might remember that a while ago, a small North American company by the name of SSC
claimed to have smashed the world speed record
 for a production vehicle with the SSC Tuatara, only to be
debunked almost immediately
 by industry experts and eagle-eyed enthusiasts.
Following that, SSC Founder Jerod Shelby published a personal video admitting that the evidences from the Tuatara record attempt raises more questions than they have answers for, and vowed to return “in a way that’s undeniable and irrefutable”. And indeed – all credits to them – returned, they have.

The SSC Tuatara, in its third record-breaking attempt (after pulling out from the second attempt due to engine overheating issues), have now set a new world record for the fastest production car, with a two-way average speed of
455.3 km/h
 (282.9 mph), and for real this time – the data collected by the Racelogic VBox measurement equipment on board have been verified by the manufacturer’s technical director, as well as an independent analyst – both of them also on site to witness the run.
The new number is no doubt disappointingly, though not entirely unexpectedly, much lower than the previously-claimed 508.73 km/h. A big reason for that is perhaps the fact that the team only had a much shorter distance of about 5.3 km (including braking zone) to work with at the Kennedy Space Center runway in Florida.
The new record was set by Larry Caplin, owner of the first-ever SSC Tuatara (#001), which was used for the attempt itself!
Still, the northbound run at the Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds topped out at 450.13 km/h (279.7 mph), and the return leg brought up 460.43 km/h (286.1 mph), which averages out to 455.3 km/h – still immensely fast, and enough to beat the previous record of 447.2 km/h
set by the Koenigsegg Agera RS in 2017.
It is also still a way off of the
490.4 km/h VMax set by the Bugatti Chiron last year
, though that attempt was not admissible in the official records book as it’s only run in one direction, and not on a standard road-going car.
Will SSC ever beat the Chiron’s top speed? There’s no way to say for sure, but based on how the SSC Tuatara is still accelerating at the braking point, it certainly seems likely. At least we know that SSC will not be the only one attempting, with the
Hennessey Venom F5
 and the
Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut
 both already planning to take a shot at it themselves.
GALLERY


Rare Aston Martin One-77 slips into Germany, going for RM13 million!

At the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, Aston Martin removed the covers to reveal one of the most beautiful (and not to mention exclusive) super cars of the 21st century – the Aston Martin One-77. With only
77-units ever
 made, chances of owning the Aston Martin unicorn are close to nil.
However, if you really really want one, you can pop over to the Aston Martin dealership in Munich to buy one. An extremely clean example of a used One-77 can be yours for a whopping, 2.9 million Euros (approximately RM13 mil based on today’s exchange rate). That’s almost
double
 the initial list price!

Handcrafted in Great Britain, the One-77 for sale is finished in white metallic and sits on silver wheels. The red brake calipers contrasts nicely with the car’s otherwise subtle colour palette.
On the inside, the left-hand-drive model comes with a black and maroon theme. The seats are finished in maroon leather mixed with chequered cloth. This unit is production number 67, and the chassis number is engraved to the body. Interesting to note that this is one of just eight left-hand-drive models, making this example even rarer.

Number 67 has only seen 1,800 km of tarmac. Guess the previous owner did not spend a lot of time hooning the 7.3-litre naturally aspirated V12 that produces
760 hp
 and
750 Nm
 of torque. With those figures, the One-77 is capable of a
3.7 seconds
 century sprint time all the way to a top speed of
354km/h
.
IMAGE GALLERY


Facts & Figures: Mercedes-AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+ Edition 1 launched in Malaysia

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has just launched a series of their compact AMG vehicles which includes the AMG A 45 S 4MATIC+ Edition 1 at
RM459,888
, the
AMG CLA 45 S 4MATIC+ Coupe
 at
RM448,888
 and the
AMG 35 4MATIC Edition 1 Hatchback
 at
 RM379,888
 on-the-road without insurance.
With Agility Financing, the A 45 S will set you back from
RM5,438 per month
. As for AMGPro Financing which includes insurance with unlimited mileage breakdown and accident towing, rim and tyre replacement, the A 45 S starts from
RM5,688 a month
.
Without further ado, let’s get straight into the facts and figures:
PERFORMANCE
Engine:
M139 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: 8-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT
Drivetrain: AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive with AMG Torque Control
Suspension: AMG Ride Control adaptive damping system
Horsepower: 421 hp @ 6,750 rpm
Torque: 500 Nm @ 5,000 to 5,250 rpm
0 to 100 km/h: 3.9 seconds
Top Speed: 270 km/h
The
AMG Torque Control
system in the rear differential has two electronically-controlled multi-disc clutches, each connected to a rear drive shaft. As such power can be variably distributed not just between the front and rear wheels but also between the rear left and right wheel.
The A 45 S also comes with a
Drift Mode
, under the Race drive setting, allowing for powerslides to make less than professional drivers to feel like Ken Block. Drift mode can be summoned via the Race mode using the paddle shifters, with the Electronic Stability Programme deactivated and transmission set to Manual. We’d recommend that you do this in an appropriate environment and not on public roads.
EXTERIOR
AMG Aerodynamics Package – rear spoiler, front splitter, rear diffuser
AMG Night Package
Multibeam LED headlamps with Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus
Quad tailpipes
19-inch five twin spoke light alloy wheels
Red brake calipers
Panamerica grille
6-pot caliper brakes (front)
Colour: Sun Yellow, Designo Mountain Grey Magno
INTERIOR
AMG Performance Seats
AMG Performance steering wheel with Dinamica fibre
AMG illuminated door sills
Edition 1 dark aluminium trims
Electric adjustable front seats with Memory Function
AMG floor mats
FEATURES & CONVENIENCES
MBUX with Mercedes me connect
Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
AMG Track Pace
Burmester Surround Sound System
Head up display
Wireless charging
Reverse camera
With the
 AMG Track Pace
 that’s standard on the A 45 S models, the system that works hand-in-hand with the MBUX operating system can display 80 vehicle-specific parameters, acceleration and lap times and more using GPS.
Certain international race circuits such as the Nürburgring in Germany or Spa Francorchamps in Belgium have been preset into the system. Using the
MBUX Augmented Reality
 feature, the ideal line of a preset race track can be displayed on the multimedia display or head-up display to help the driver improve on lap times. If drivers so wish, they can even record a new circuit.
SAFETY & DRIVER ASSISTANCE
Blind spot assist
Active Brake Assist
Active Lane Keeping Assist
Active Parking Assist with Parktronic
GALLERY


Gallery: 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport – A huge step up

The
 updated 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport
 was launched locally on March 13 this year, right about the time when the entire world came to a grinding halt with everyone stuck at home due to the Movement Control Order. Now that the showrooms are slowly opening up, we stopped by the new Land Rover showroom in Ara Damansara to bring you a closer look at the new Disco Sport.
Although being just a mid-cycle update, the 2020 Disco Sport received some significant changes on the exterior, interior, and even underneath. Most of the exterior design changes are on the front, where Land Rover has given the Disco Sport a redesigned grille, flanked by slimmer headlights – the new
signature Land Rover
 look.
The headlights are full LED, as are the new twin-U-shaped daytime running lights, which also acts as sequential turn indicators. The light signature is also mirrored at the back on the taillights.
Our local-spec Disco Sport only comes in the sole R-Dynamic variant, which includes a sportier front and rear bumper, all-round body-coloured cladding, as well as 20-inch alloy wheels. Exterior options include the “Black Pack”, featuring blacked-out badging, grilles, and other smaller bits and pieces around the car.
Moving inside, you’ll quickly realise how big of a step-up the new Discovery Sport is compared to its
predecessor
– Not just in features – which we’ll get to later – but also the sense of luxury when you sit in the cockpit.
Land Rover has given the 2020 Discovery Sport a cleaner and elegant dashboard. Sitting tall and centre of the it is the new 10-inch Touch Pro infotainment system, paired with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
The air conditioning vents have been moved upwards, integrating it neatly into the horizontal section that runs across the entire width of the dashboard. Further below, the climate controls have been replaced by a new touch panel, featuring two round knobs for various adjustments – the same knob is also used as the driving mode switch.
Other changes inside are the new steering wheel and generation two head-up display. The controversial rotary gear knob of old has also been replaced by a more “regular” pistol-style gear stalk. You can also opt for a huge panoramic sunroof, if that’s something you’d like.
The 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged Ingenium petrol engine, producing 200 hp and 320 Nm of torque. The engine is paired to a 9-speed ZF automatic gearbox, with power transferred to both axles via the updated four-wheel drive system.
The new Discovery Sport is now available in either a five (
RM379,800
) or five-plus-two (
RM409,800
) seating configuration. For more information, be sure to check out our
launch write-up
.
IMAGE GALLERY


RUF celebrates its 80th anniversary with a beautiful documentary

Most people know the brand RUF for the CTR “Yellow Bird”, thanks to the crazy
‘Faszination’ video
 showing off the modified 911 Turbo driving through the Nurburgring Nordschleife at its limits. Well, it’s either that, or through racing games like Gran Turismo.
However, you might not have known that the brand actually has a rich history dating back to the 1940s. As a celebration of their heritage, RUF has released an i
n-depth documentary
 to look back at their 80 years of passion for the love of great cars.

RUF’s affection towards Porsche started when Alois Ruf Sr., the founder of the family business, purchased a crashed Porsche 356 to restore it back in his shop in Pfaffenhausen. It was when a Porsche enthusiast offered to buy that exact car at a “super price” that the idea of Porsche restoration and modifications sparked in Ruf’s minds.
Over the years, RUF has moved from plainly modifying existing Porsche cars, into making their own custom parts and even complete models with completely bespoke underbody, such as the
CTR Heritage Edition
. What started out as a small local workshop has now spawned into a full-fledged manufacturer of their own unique models.
RUF holds a special place in many Porsche enthusiasts’ hearts, due to their devotion towards the community. When Porsche wanted to discontinue the 911 Carrera models back in the late 70s to push sales towards the 928, RUF took on the responsibility to make a 911 that driving enthusiasts would want, and more importantly afford to buy – as the Turbo models are just too expensive at that time.
As
modern cars
 become more and more reliant on electronic aids to make it more “liveable” in a day-to-day situation, RUF’s desire to deliver the purest driving experience will continue to garner the respect it deserves from Porsche and driving enthusiasts for ages to come.


DRB-Hicom, Geely sign HOA for development of Automotive High-Tech Valley in Tanjung Malim

DRB-Hicom
and
Geely
together inked a Heads of Agreement (HOA) that sealed their commitment to jointly invest, manage, and develop the Automotive High-Tech Valley (AHTV) in Tanjung Malim.
The HOA was signed by DRB-Hicom group managing director Datuk Seri Syed Faisal Albar and Geely’s chief executive officer Daniel Li Donghui, and was witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the Malaysia-China Business Forum, during his official four-day visit to China.
The AHTV, designed as a “smart city”, is set to become the hub for Next Generation Vehicles (NxGV) in the region, and is expected to attract investments worth an estimated RM32 billion over the next 10 years. It will occupy an area of approximately 1,000 acres, but will be expanded accordingly to cater for future needs.
Proton will be one of the main tenants of AHTV, with the national carmaker committed to moving its entire production operation to Tanjung Malim by 2026. Aside from Proton, AHTV will also include a “fully-fledged high technology global research and development centre”, alongside a manufacturing cluster, support services for the automotive ecosystem, and a research-based university to nurture new talents in areas of new and emerging technologies for the industry.
With the development of AHTV,
Proton
 has committed to investing more towards new products and technologies, including new energy solutions and intelligent technologies.
“Proton is now in the second half of its ten-year business plan,” said Proton Chief Executive Officer, Li Chunrong. “Over the next five years, we aim to work even more closely with Geely and expand our offerings as the market for NEVs grows. This in turn will help develop the national automotive ecosystem and push Malaysia towards its target of being an NxGV hub.”
RELATED:
Proton aims to become RHD EV manufacturing Hub, to start with MHEVs
“We will also expand our focus to include other aspects that support the industry. For example, charging infrastructure development is a priority for NEVs, so we will optimize synergy with Geely group of companies to enhance the NEV infrastructure for Proton and the ecosystem in Malaysia,” he added.
Geely’s EV sub-brand, Zeekr, has also been
 confirmed for Malaysia
following the government’s visit to the carmaker’s Ningbo factory.
READ MORE:
2023 Proton X90 unveiled ahead of launch – 4 variants, hybrid powertrain only


Review: McLaren Artura in Malaga, Spain – The dawn of an electrifying future

The McLaren Artura is, for all intents and purposes, a new beginning for the Woking-based supercar manufacturer. It’s a sequel to the hugely successful decade that kicked off with the 12C, except the focus this time is on electrification.
Under the guise of its carbon-aluminium shell, the said objective isn’t immediately apparent. The Artura is still distinctly a McLaren, albeit sitting on the brand new McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture, and more sophisticatedly produced.
You see, its exterior shell comprises just eight ultra-lightweight panels. There are no shutlines for where the A-pillar meets the roof, and the entire aluminium rear deck is hot-formed (a patented tech) to shape.
There is no active aero here, but there’s ample evidence of clever engineering with the way cool air is routed through the nose and into the engine bay. The titanium-coated engine cover and rear bumper are perforated to evacuate hot air, though the former features a chimney to expedite the cooling of the engine.
Speaking of which, new here is the M630 3.0 litre twin-turbo V6 engine. It’s developed in-house and arrives in a smaller, lighter package compared to the V8 lump, but still offers a throaty, bassy sound signature. The turbos sit within the 120-degree V, and together with a lightweight axial flux electric motor generates a total system output of 680 PS and 720 Nm of torque.
When you’re daily driving, the car behaves just like a regular plug-in hybrid, which means you don’t get the full whack when the battery is depleted. But in Track Mode, battery levels will not drop below 97% state-of-charge (the engine actively charges the battery at a rate of up to 360 kW), ensuring sustained performance and peak propulsion. Handy for track days.
Also new here is the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, replacing the 7DCT of yore. There’s no reverse gear here (the e-motor that’s built into the transmission bellhousing is solely responsible for this), so the box is 40 mm shorter despite having an extra cog.
Shift patterns lean on the aggressive side for the most part, but the e-motor alleviates shift shock with instant torque infills – something that’s even more of a prominence on the race track. Launch control is standard, so you’ll rocket to 100 km/h from standstill in just 3.0 seconds, before maxing out at an electronically limited top speed of 330 km/h.
Other key aspects that make this PHEV supercar a true McLaren are driving position, hydraulic steering wheel and a conventional hydraulic braking system. Regenerative brakes are omitted in favour of pedal feel, so it’s clear the primary role of the electric motor is to boost performance by plugging turbo lag.
But as mentioned earlier, it can behave like a regular PHEV. A 7.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides up to 31 km of range on a full charge, and juicing up the battery (via a Type 2 port on the left; 3.6 kW AC charging max) takes just under three hours.
The Artura starts off in pure electric mode all the time, and the adaptive dampers afford a decidedly wide rebound rate for supple daily driving, or a firmer setup for backroad bombing. Thankfully, the staggered wheels (19-inch front, 20-inch at the back) are not oversized, but they do come with Pirelli’s new cyber tyres with built-in chips that provide real-time pressure and temperature readouts.
Interior appointments, while rather minimalistic still, are well-hewn with swathes of luxurious materials. An eight-inch infotainment display (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) and 10-inch digital instrumentation are standard, the former replete with an integrated SIM card for continual wireless over-the-air updates.
In Malaysia, the standard specification for the Artura already includes the Technology Pack, bringing with it the high-fidelity 12-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system, full adaptive LED headlights with high beam assist, as well as advanced driving aids like adaptive cruise control (with full braking function), road sign recognition, 360-degree surround view camera system, and lane departure warning.
Further personalisations can be made through McLaren Special Operations, but that also means you’ll have to tack on a few more months to the wait list.
The Artura, hybrid it may be, promises uncompromising driver engagement despite being saddled with a laundry list of features, many of which are new to the brand. It may not excite the existing V8 customer base quite as much, but for roughly the price of a 911, perhaps many will find themselves wanting the Artura more. Wouldn’t you want more flash for your cash?


Nissan Thailand spices up the Almera with a sporty Autech bodykit

Nissan Thailand has revealed the new Almera Sportech with a striking new body kit from Autech, a company known for tuning Nissan vehicles in Japan.
Just to be clear, the kit is not just an add-on but consists of completely new front and rear bumpers. The Autech body kit also comes with a new front grille design.
The all-new Nissan Almera Turbo is a real step up from the previous generation model. Find out why in our review
here
!
On the front bumper, the fog light housing is now significantly larger; not only housing the fog light but also comes with what looks like air vents – possibly to cool the brakes.
Almera Autech
The front bumper also comes with an additional splitter while the number plate section has been designed differently, with a larger opening.
Here’s what the Almera Turbo shares with its more powerful sibling, the mighty Nissan GT-R!

Watch the video
here
!
Unlike the body coloured side mirrors seen on the Malaysian-spec Almera, the Autech gets side mirror caps with a silver finish. At the back, instead of rear diffusers as seen on our local Almera, the Autech rear bumper offers a cleaner look.
Almera Autech
The new Almera Turbo, as it is known here in Malaysia, is now powered by a 1.0-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder with a 100 hp and 152 Nm to drive the front wheels via a CVT gearbox.
One of the unique features of the Almera’s 3-cylinder engine is that it shares the same technology as the mighty Nissan GT-R.
Watch our video
as we explain what it is, and how it works!
 GALLERY


This is the most powerful Subaru STI model we’ll likely never get to see

Subaru Tecnica International (STI), a subsidiary of Subaru Corporation has introduced the limited-edition STI S209, the first STI-built model assembled in Japan exclusively for the US market.
Drawing inspiration from the WRX STI Nürburgring Challenge race car which won the SP3T class at the gruelling 2018 24 Hours of Nürburgring race, the STI S209 features an expanded wide body kit that’s
1.7 inches wider than your standard WRX STI
.
The flared arches also serve to accommodate the 265/35 width Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT600A tyres, developed specially for the S209, paired with a set of lightweight 19-inch forged BBS alloy wheels.
Tucked behind those gorgeous wheels are a set of Brembo brakes – consisting of cross-drilled steel rotors clamped on by 6-pot calipers at the front and a twin pot pair at the back. Further inside the wheel wells are a set of specially-developed Bilstein dampers with stiffened coil springs and a 20mm rear stabiliser bar.
In the engine bay rests an extensively reworked EJ25 2.5-litre turbocharged engine with lighter and stronger forged pistons and connecting rods. The Boxer engine, paired to a 6-speed close ratio manual gearbox, is strapped with an STI turbocharger manufactured by legendary tuning house, HKS.
Other mechanical enhancements include a high-flow intake system, an intercooler water spray system, a high-flow fuel pump, larger injectors, a less restrictive performance muffler and an STI-tuned ECU. As a result, the STI S209 is capable of pushing out
341 hp
 with 1.24 bar of boost.
Also in the engine bay is a flexible front-strut tower bar where unlike a conventional rigid bar, is split and joined with a pillow ball joint in the center to be longitudinally mobile while helping laterally stiffen the body of the car.
Inside the cabin, the S209 pays homage to the Subaru subsidiary with STI badges on the steering wheel, passenger side dash, headrest of its Recaro bucket seats and an S209 serial number badge on the centre console.
IMAGE GALLERY


Perodua Axia: Models, Specifications, Price List and Images

The talk of the town now is the new car from
Perodua
, the
Perodua Axia
. Yet to launch officially, it is now available for booking since last Friday, with entry level model starts from an attractive
RM24,900
. We have compiled information you need to know, as Perodua releases details on its new A-segment vehicle in phases.
PERODUA AXIA MODELS

The new Perodua
Axia
 line-up consists of four models. Starting of with the entry level
Standard E
, followed by
Standard G
,
SE
 and top range
Advance
. All powered by the same 1.0-liter 12-valve DOHC engine that produces
66 horsepower
 and
90 Nm
 of torque. The main differences that set them apart are the transmissions: Manual OR Automatic; and exterior design: Aerodynamic bumper design OR Sporty bumper design + side skirtings.
Perodua Axia
Standard E
 comes with the smallest price tag of
RM24,900
 and the simplest among all models. Well, simple as in, it comes with 14-inch steel rims and no audio system. Perodua offers the E with 5-speed Manual only, without ABS. For RM7,900 more,
Standard G
 (from
RM32,800
) does come with audio system, alloy rims, but no ABS. It comes in both Manual and Automatic variants.
The Axia
 SE (Special Edition)
 is available in both transmission variants, starting from
 RM37,900
. Fitted with semi-bucket fabric seats, audio system with Bluetooth function, ABS with EBD & BA and Solar & Security tint. The top range Perodua Axia
 AV (Advance)
 gets the same safety and security features, and on top of that, it is equipped with semi-bucket leather seats and audio system with multimedia system and navigation. All these comes with a cost. A
RM20,000 premium
 on top of the Standard E, the AV (Advance) is priced at
RM44,900
.
KEY FEATURES

The new A-segment car from Perodua does come with some exciting key features. Perodua has made it easy for us to understand by group them into four main features. In short, the Axia covers efficiency, spaciousness, drivability and economical factors.
The Axia is Malaysia’s first Energy Efficient Vehicle (
EEV
) that can travel up to
21.6km/l
 in all Manual variants, while 4-speed Automatic variants achieves
20.1km/l
. Perodua is offering a
 5-year Warranty
 for all Perodua Axia models, which is a first from Perodua.
SPECIFICATIONS

Refer summarized specifications below. We will bring you the full specs once we get hold of them!
PRICE LIST

Prices for all Perodua Axia models are as below. These are however tentative as confirmed prices will only be announced during its official launch.
Variant
OTR Price
Booking Fee
Solid
Metallic
Standard E
RM24,900
RM25,300
RM250
Standard G
RM32,800
RM33,200
RM300
RM34,800
RM35,200
RM300
SE (Special Edition)
RM37,900
RM38,300
RM300
RM40,900
RM41,300
RM300
AV (Advance)
RM44,900
RM45,300
RM300

MORE INFO

Stick around for more info. Or better still,
video highlights
 of the new Perodua Axia soon!
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY


Here are some of Volvo Car Malaysia’s plans for 2020

Aside from the launch of a new regional training centre, Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) also announced how it fared in 2019 and revealed a few exciting plans in 2020.
The new training centre located in Symphony Square, Seksyen 13 Petaling Jaya will be used to train Volvo staff and dealers from across the Asia Pacific region on technical and non-technical areas.
“This training center and other shared services such as Finance Cluster, Technical Hub, and Procurement which operate here are expected to generate export service revenue of over RM100 million in the next 5-7 years,” said Volvo Car Malaysia, Managing Director, Mr. Nalin Jain.
Also announced at the launch was Volvo’s sales performance both globally and domestically. Last year, Volvo saw an unprecedented sales performance of
705,452 units sold globally
, a first for the Swedish car company.
By comparison, Mercedes-Benz sold over 2.3 million vehicles while BMW shifted 2.1 million units of ultimate driving machines. Locally, Volvo Car Malaysia had personal highs to celebrate with
1,883 units sold
 – the highest sales figure to date.
Production in the Shah Alam assembly plant also
increased to around 5,000 units
 so interestingly, VCM actually exports more cars outside of Malaysia – to countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam and Philippines – than it sells locally.
The new regional training centre in Petaling Jaya.
“Even as the Malaysian premium segment is in decline, VCM chalked up the highest ever year-on-year growth in retail delivery at 36.1% in 2019 compared to the previous year,” said Nalin.
“We are definitely on the right trajectory and we are excited to show our customers what’s in store for the Volvo brand in 2020,” he added.
The S60 T8 launched in Malaysia recently.
Cause there’ll be plenty, even on the home front. Following up with launches and warm reception of the
XC40 T5,
 the
 S60 T8
 and the
 XC90 facelift
last year, VCM will continue its assault on the premium segment by
introducing the S60 T8 CKD and the S90 facelift this year
. The S60 T8 CKD will be priced similarly as the CBU model and will feature similar specifications.
A new dealership will also be opened in Kota Kinabalu this year for better accessibility of all things Volvo. In 2019, VCM launched a total of five new dealerships to include one in
 Johor
, another in
Ipoh
 and one each in
Ara Damansara
,
Mutiara Damansara
 and
Setia Alam
.
IMAGE GALLERY


Cycle & Carriage receives 100% score in Daimler AG’s “Centre of Competence” certification

Cycle & Carriage Bintang Berhad’s Body & Paint facility in Batu Caves has scored a perfect 100% for the second time, in Daimler AG’s stringent ‘Centre of Competence’ certification.
Cycle & Carriage also achieved 98% and 96% for its Johor Bahru and Bukit Tengah facilities respectively.
created by dji camera
With Daimler AG’s stringent evaluation criteria, the excellent performance that our facilities continue to demonstrate is a testament that we are moving in the right direction in support of Mercedes Benz customers in this country,” said Cycle & Carriage CEO, Wilfrid Foo.
Cycle & Carriage Batu Caves is an authorised B&P Repair Facility with the expertise to conduct structural repairs on Mercedes-Benz vehicles while upholding global safety standards to provide customers peace of mind. Spanning over 45,000 sq ft with 22 body and paint work bays, the facility has the capacity to service up to 130 vehicles every month.


Can’t travel? Take this 1-min “drone tour” of the Porsche Museum now!

Let’s not even talk about going overseas; at the rate things are, vaccines taking too long to roll out, there’s no saying when we’ll be able to make interstate travels even.
While car brands have taken the swift leap to go digital with every facet of their business, especially sales, some have taken their online marketing approach to another level.

If this feels oddly familiar to you, that’s because Mercedes-Benz pulled the same publicity stunt with an FPV drone
at their museum
, similarly in Stuttgart. Arguably, their FPV pilots did a better job too.
Of all the quotes by the narrator in the video, one did catch our attention. It’s goes something like, “The
Porsche Museum
; it’s a place you arrive as a visitor, and leave as a fan”.


No need to panic, the next BMW M2 will still be rear-wheel driven

If the all-new
BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe
 left you slightly disappointed due to its front-wheel drive configuration, this is going to be music to your ears.
According to a report by
Autocar
, BMW’s 2 Series Product Manager, Gernot Stuhl said that the next-generation BMW 2 Series Coupe will remain as a rear-wheel driven car.
While the new 2 Series Gran Coupe has adopted the front-wheel drive FAAR architecture from the F40 1 series, market research shows that the drivetrain configuration remains a selling point for the two-door coupe, according to Stuhl.
It seems like BMW is also satisfied with the performance from the current 2 Series Gran Coupe line up. Stuhl said that BMW will not produce a full-blown M Performance model for the four door coupe, as “there’s not much missing” in terms of driving dynamics.
The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe is headed by the M235i xDrive, producing
306 hp
 and
450 Nm
 of torque from its 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine.

However, Stuhl says that “there will still be a hardcore BMW M2 for those that want it” in the upcoming all-new BMW 2 Series Coupe line up.
Although no technical details were revealed, he said, “If you feel you need a compact car with more than 300 hp, there will be an offering for you in the BMW range.”


Vehicle theft in Malaysia reduced by 37% last year – Proton Wira still most stolen

According to Vehicle Theft Reduction Council (VTREC), a non-profit organisation dedicated to – as the name suggests – reducing car theft in Malaysia, the average numbers of vehicles reported stolen daily has reduced from 32 in 2019 to 20 last year, representing a 37% drop.
The council’s coordinator, Mas Tina Abdul Hamid while speaking at the launch of this year’s PDRM-VTREC Vehicle Theft Public Awareness Campaign yesterday, said that 7,400 cases were reported last year compared to 11,675 cases in 2019. Among those, 3,993 were motorcycles, 2,981 cases were private cars, and 426 commercial vehicles.
For cars, the Proton Wira once again topped the lists with 353 units stolen. Despite its low value in the used car market, these cars are being rampantly nicked to be cannibalised and sold for parts, as they are not being made by OEMs any more.
The list is followed by the Proton Iswara, which saw 273 units reported as stolen last year, and the
Toyota Hilux
in third place with 209 units being reported as stolen. As reported by
The Star
, other vehicles in the Top 10 most-stolen list last year include the
Perodua Myvi
 (131), Perodua Kancil (114),
 Proton Saga
 (110), Proton Waja (104),
Honda Civic
 (85),
Honda City
 (75) and
 Toyota Vellfire
 (60).
According to VTREC statistics, Selangor contributed the highest vehicle theft record in 2020 with 2,332 cases, followed by Kuala Lumpur (1,572), Johor (1,006), Kedah (495) and Sarawak (454).
Despite the drop in vehicle thefts, the police says that more can still be done to raise awareness. Bukit Aman CID (Intelligence/operations) deputy director Deputy Commissioner Datuk Dev Kumar, who was also at the event, said that car theft syndicates frequently change their modus operandi, using increasingly sophisticated gadgets to steal cars.
“We also have to evolve to keep up with the trend and not allow them to have an upper hand over the police,” he told reporters after attending the event.
The Vehicle Theft Public Awareness Campaign is aimed to educate and create awareness among vehicle owners and road users to protect their vehicle from theft. VTREC believes that the number of vehicle theft can be further reduced if the public stay vigilant and take measures in protecting their own vehicles.
“Having additional security measures, such as steering and pedal locks as well as dashboard cameras, can act as a deterrent. While we are constantly taking action against such syndicates, the public must also do their part and not provide easy opportunities that thieves could take advantage of,” Comm Dev Kumar added.


Proton introduces flood relief assistance programme for affected customers

In light of the devastating floods that hit many parts of the country over the weekend,
Proton
 has now announced a special flood relief assistance programme for its customers whose vehicles have been affected or damaged by the floods.
The national carmaker is offering a
20% reduction on selected parts and labour charges
 for all of its customers who have been affected by the flood. Additionally, towing charges of up to RM200, as well as cleaning charges for the exterior and engine bay of up to RM100 will also be borne by the company.
To be eligible, customers will need to lodge an official report regarding the flood damages with the police.
Proton Edar CEO, Roslan Abdullah said, “The floods have affected thousands and especially hit hard in Selangor and Shah Alam where Proton is headquartered. Many of our customers have seen their homes and businesses damaged by floodwaters, and this extends to their cars as well.
“Therefore, Proton would like to offer customers a helping hand to get them back on the road and to show them they are our main priority. Proton will work hard to ensure it can repair cars as quickly as possible and advises all affected customers to visit our authorised service centres to enjoy these benefits.”
The national carmaker added that its production lines were spared from the flooding, but more than 1,000 of its staff had been affected. In response, the company has mobilised
Kelab Proton
, its in-house social and well-being organisation for all staff, to create care packages and offer clean up assistance to affected employees.


Unsurprisingly, legendary car designer Frank Stephenson isn’t a fan of the Tesla Cybertruck

The
Tesla Cybertruck
 caused quite a stir when it was launched in 2019, thanks to its… otherworldly styling cues that was perhaps even more divisive than pineapple on pizza. With the design of the Cybertruck already marinating in our minds for more than a year, esteemed automotive designer Frank Stephenson has finally weighed-in on the debate, and let’s just say – he’s not a big fan of it.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the name, Frank Stephenson has been widely regarded as one of the most influential car designers of our time, with an impressive resume that includes the first-ever BMW X5, the reborn Mini,
 Ferrari F430
, Maserati MC12, Fiat 500, McLaren P1, and even a flying car.

First up, the exterior. Frank Stephenson compared the sharp lines and boxy shapes of the Tesla Cybertruck to the graphics fidelity of a Sony PlayStation 1 – which we find it hard to disagree with – and believes that it will look dated very quickly with time.
Stephenson also draws parallels between the styling of the Cybertruck and that of the
 Citroën Karin concept
, and argues that the latter actually feels a lot more futuristic than the electric pick-up truck. But here’s the twist – the Karin was debuted in 1980.
The use of indestructible materials, to Stephenson, also feels like we’re moving towards a future where we’d want to be shielded from the nature, instead of being one with it. It’s not a line of thought that we would embark on ourselves, but it’s not surprising from Stephenson given his own signature “biomimicry” design philosophy, where styling motifs are taken from nature and landscapes.
As for the interior, Stephenson argues that the Cybertruck feels cold, isolated, and “anti-environmentalist” – which for an electric pick-up truck that’s supposed to be the environment-friendly alternative to diesel-burning options, seems extremely counter-intuitive.
Interest in the Tesla Cybertruck has certainly skyrocketed since launch – and if not for its controversial design, it will be due to the fanboyism surrounding Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk himself. The Cybertruck is certainly a step in a different direction in car design, and for us, we still aren’t too sure about the design of the Cybertruck. Frank Stephenson’s video certainly helped articulate a lot of our feelings towards it.
Will it stand up to the test of time, though? Well, as the saying goes: only time will tell. And hey – professionals can make mistakes, too, and perhaps Stephenson will be wrong about this one.


Hyundai to introduce its first pick-up in the US – we’d love to see one of these here

After unveiling the Santa Cruz back in 2015, Hyundai Motors has announced that there are plans to launch a pick-up in the United States with the go-ahead from Hyundai’s top management.
The move aims to keep up with the growing trends that has seen a shift from sedans, in one of Hyundai’s biggest markets.
At the moment, Hyundai does not offer pick-up trucks in the United States and
Reuters have reported
 that inside sources claim it’s not to be expected until 2020 at least. The
Kona all-wheel drive SUV
, however, is expected to be launched later this year.
The previously unveiled Santa Cruz at the 2015 Detroit Motor show comes with a 2.0-litre turbo diesel powertrain delivering
190 hp
 and
407 Nm
 of torque through
Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel drive system
.
With great strides being made by Hyundai Malaysia with the recent launch of a
2.0-litre turbo diesel Tucson
, that offers a robust family-moving platform, the
impressive Elantra
 that zips through bends like no other Hyundai has in ages and the frugal feature-infested
 IONIQ
, wouldn’t you like to know what a “modern day Hyundai” pick-up would be like?
IMAGE GALLERY


Volvo once broke the Nurburgring record but chose not to tell the world [+Video]

Any car manufacturer serious enough to take their cars down to the Nürburgring Nordschleife is either crazy or, well, dead serious.
After Cyan Racing (the racing division of Polestar) completed the WTCC season last year with the Volvo S60 Polestar, they remained at the Green Hell to further refine the car. The ultimate aim was to bring all their R&D findings and have them transferred onto regular road-going cars. In the process, the S60 Polestar broke the lap record for the fastest production car with four doors with an incredible time of 7 minutes 51.11 seconds.

Of course, the record didn’t last long, because the
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
 came along and wiped that record clean with a time of 7 minutes 32 seconds – about 19 seconds quicker than the Volvo. But remember, the S60 has been around since 2010, so it’s no less impressive a feat.
The biggest takeaway here isn’t what Volvo and Polestar achieved at the Nürburgring. It’s what people like you and me can look forward to in the near future: hot, tyre ripping, seat-strapping high performance Volvos. And we think the
C90
 is a terrific place to start.
IMAGE GALLERY


2023 Mercedes-Benz A-Class facelift launched in Malaysia, from RM239k

Fans of the compact Mercedes-Benz are in for a treat as
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia
 has just launched the
2023
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
 facelift. Still available in the saloon versions only (for non-AMG models), prices for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class start at
RM238,888
. There are also facelifts of the AMG versions of the A-Class launched together with the refreshed non-AMG versions. Prices for the A 200 are official but the A250 4MATIC’s price is now at an estimated RM264,000.
Looking to renew your car insurance? Check out
MotorTakaful.com
 by Etiqa for an instant 10% rebate, cashback, and many more if you renew online.
As for the normal non-AMG versions of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz A-Class, the options on offer are as follows:
Mercedes-Benz A 200 saloon –
RM238,888
Mercedes-Benz A 250 4MATIC saloon – estimated
RM264,000
The changes to the exterior of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class are minor. The tweaks can be seen in the new headlights, taillights, larger grille, and new bumpers. The new A-Class also introduces the hood power bulges for all variants now. Previously this was only present on the AMG A 45. Naturally, the updated A-Class also introduces new wheel designs with respect to variants.
Standard exterior equipment on the 2023 Mercedes-Benz A-Class includes:
Progressive line trims
LED High-Performance Headlamps
Adaptive Highbeam Assist
17-inch wheels
The A 250 4MATIC adds on:
AMG Line trims
18-inch wheels
A 250 4MATIC
As for performance, the A 200 is now electrified with a 48V mild hybrid system, albeit still housing a 1.3-litre turbocharged engine. Full technical details of the A 200 are as such:
Engine: 1,332 cc turbocharged 4-cylinder engine
Rated Power:
 163 hp
 @5,500 rpm
Rated Torque:
270 Nm
Boost: 14 hp
Transmission: 7-Speed DCT
Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive (FWD)
0-100 km/h:
8.3 seconds
Top Speed:
230 km/h
Up a variant, the A 250 4MATIC is also electrified with the 48V mild hybrid system. Previously only a front-wheel drive (FWD), power is now sent to all 4 wheels in the A 250 4MATIC, as its name suggests. The full technical details of the A 250 4MATIC are as such:
Engine: 1,991 cc turbocharged 4-cylinder engine
Rated Power:
 224 hp
 @5,500 rpm
Rated Torque:
350 Nm
Boost: 14 hp
Transmission: 8-Speed DCT
Drivetrain: All-wheel drive (AWD)
0-100 km/h:
 6.4 second
s
Top Speed:
250 km/h
Inside, things have been tweaked slightly with the most drastic change being the removal of the touchpad that used to be on the centre console. That space is now just a shallow storage space. You now get the latest MBUX (NTG7.0) with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with the CarPlay display now filling up the entire screen.
You also get the latest Mercedes-Benz steering wheel in the new A-Class which comes with capacitive controls. The HVAC controls retain the physical button layout and as expected of the brand, the A-Class features the signature 64-colour ambient lighting system. There are also now more USB ports in the refreshed A-Class.
Standard interior equipment of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class include:
Comfort seats
Electrically adjustable front seats with memory function
Leather multifunction sports steering wheel
Thermatic automatic climate control
Ambient lighting with 64 colours
Auto-dimming interior mirror
Velour floor mats
10.25-inch MBUX multimedia system
10.25-inch all-digital instrument display
Artico man-made leather upholstery
Velour floor mats
The A 250 4MATIC adds on:
Sport pedals
AMG Line steering wheel
AMG floor mats
Artico man-made leather/microcut fibre upholstery
Safety-wise, the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class is equipped with:
Active Parking Assist
Lane Tracking Package
Blind spot assist
Active lane-keeping assist
Exit warning assist
Active Brake Assist
GALLERY
A 200
A 250 4MATIC


Chery Omoda 5 EV specs revealed, 450km range – BYD Atto 3 rival?

In our
previous article
, we mentioned that the
Chery

Omoda 5

EV
 was previewed at
Auto Shanghai 2023
. We also confirmed that the EV SUV will be coming to Malaysia soon, either in late
2023
 or early
2024
, and will be a possible rival to the
BYD Atto 3
. What is even more interesting now is the Chinese carmaker also revealed the EV SUV’s specs.
Powering the Chery Omoda 5 EV will be a single motor that pushes out 165 kW (
221 hp
). This translates into
18 hp
 more than the BYD Atto 3. However, the Omoda 5 EV takes
7.8 seconds
 to do the 0-100 km/h sprint, which is 0.5 seconds longer than the BYD Atto 3.
Range-wise, the Omoda 5 EV’s
61 kWh
 battery will be able to carry you as far as
450 km
 (WLTP) on a single charge. This is basically
30 km
 more than what the BYD Atto 3 is able to provide. When you do need to juice up your Omoda 5 EV, it will take no more than
35 minutes
 to go from dead to 80% charge using a DC charger.
As for the details of the Omoda 5 EV’s exterior and interior, we have briefly covered them in our previous article as well. But just in case you haven’t read them, here is a recap for you.
Having its platform and design heavily based on the regular Omoda 5, the Omoda 5 EV essentially looks similar to its petrol-powered sibling inside and out. However, Chery has done some design changes to differentiate these two models.
RELATED:
Chery meets with Malaysia Government to discuss local investment plans, brand launch in Q2 2023
This includes exterior details like the smoothen-out front bumper, more aerodynamic-looking rims, a lower grille, a body-coloured side mirror, roof rails and a slightly tweaked rear bumper design.
As for the interior, Chery has given it a floating twin-screen display, a lighter colour scheme compared to the regular model, a steering column-mounted gear selector, as well as Sony-branded speakers.
Safety-wise, the Omoda 5 EV, just like its competitors will be coming with a full suite of ADAS systems, including Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Departure Prevention (LDP), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and more.
However, it must be mentioned that details mentioned above are merely initial specifications. The variant(s) coming to or produced in Malaysia could come with different specifications.
For now, we can only hope goodies like the floating twin-screen and Sony-branded speakers will make it in the ones coming to Malaysia. With a good price going alongside, the Chery Omoda 5 EV should be able to give the BYD Atto 3 a good run for its money.
RELATED:
‘All new’ Chery Tiggo 8 Pro revealed – to launch in Malaysia June 2023, PHEV variant by year-end


Only client racing drivers can have their 488 Pista in this ‘Piloti Ferrari’ spec

In conjunction with the 2018 season of 24 Hours of Le Mans, Ferrari has revealed a unique “Piloti Ferrari” specification for their latest track-focused
Ferrari 488 Pista
. Keeping the spirit of one of the most challenging endurance race, the “Piloti Ferrari” 488 Pista will only be sold to esteemed clients involved in the
Prancing Horse’s motorsports programmes
.
Inspired by the AF Corse’s No. 51 race car which won the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Driver’s and Manufacturer’s titles, the 488 Pista will wear the racing livery of the 488 GTE. On the outside you will find the Italian flag livery, the logo of the WEC and the word “Pro” on the hood of the car, indicating the championship and class the car raced in. Each customer’s personal race number will be added to the door panels to indicate their participation in Ferrari’s motorsports programmes.
Other personalised bits include matte black S-Duct, natural carbon-fibre ‘dovetail’ spoilers and carbon fibre vent surrounds. The ‘Piloti Ferrari’ 488 Pista will be offered in four exterior shades: Rosso Corsa, Blu Tour De France, Nero Daytona and Argento Nürburgring.
Inside, the car is upholstered with black Alcantara while the colours of the Italian Flag can be found along the seat backrest, paddle shifters and floor mats. The client’s race number found on the outside will also be etched at the base of the steering wheel. All exposed carbon fibre trims will feature a matte finish while an exclusive identification plate completes the interior.
Mechanically, the special edition 488 Pista remains powered by a 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 kicking out
720 hp
 and
770 Nm
 of twist. Drive is sent exclusively to the rear via a seven-speed F1 dual-clutch transmission. Century sprint takes
2.85 seconds
 while top speed is registered at over
340 km/h
.
IMAGE GALLERY
Ferrari 488 Pista “Piloti Ferrari”

Ferrari 488 Pista


Audi celebrates 40 years of quattro with limited edition TT RS

Audi has unveiled a limited edition
 TT RS
 with a unique finish, not only to celebrate four decades of quattro but also the heritage it has built from motorsports.
Its Alpine white paint is topped off with decals on the hood, shoulders, roof and rear; paying tribute to the Audi Sport quattro S1 driven by Walter Rohrl to victory at the 1987 Pikes Peak race in the United States. The hood with central air vents in gloss carbon adds another visual highlight while also improving on engine compartment ventilation.
The Audi TT RS also gets an aero kit that consists of a front splitter, side skirts, a fixed rear wing and diffuser which were developed in a wind tunnel. The ensemble is then finished with 20-inch alloys wheels.
On the inside, customers can opt to replace the rear seats with a strut brace made entirely of carbon fibre. It not only improves the TT RS’ torsional rigidity but also sheds 16 kg off its weight.
Otherwise, there’s plenty to remind you that it’s no ordinary TT RS. “40 years of quattro” inscriptions are seen on the seats, wrapped in a mix of Nappa leather and Alcantara, and on the gear knob. The gear knob in particular even displays the serial number of the car. Only 40 units of the TT RS 40 years of quattro will ever be made.
Under the hood is a 2.5-litre 5-cylinder TFSI engine from
Audi Sport
 that has won the “International Engine of the Year Award in nine consecutive years. It makes 400 hp adn 480 Nm to power all four wheels via a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. 0 to 100 km/h is done in just 3.7 seconds, with top speed de-restricted to 280 km/h!
GALLERY
Cockpit
Color: Alpine white


Toyota Voxy facelift launched in Indonesia, 2.0L CVT for RM143k

Here’s another car that is hard to miss at the 2017 Gakindo International Auto Show – the third-generation Toyota Voxy facelift. Positioned above the
Sienta
, the Voxy is a budget version of the premium
Alphard
 and
Vellfire
. Our neighbours in Indonesia gets only one variant of the Voxy and is priced at IDR446 million (RM143k).
Dimension wise, the Voxy is marginally smaller than Alphard/Vellfire duo measuring at 4,710 mm in length, 1,735 mm in width, 1,835 mm in height with a wheelbase of 2,850 mm. Motivation is courtesy of a 3ZR-FAE 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder mated to a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) developing
150 hp
 and
193 Nm
 of torque, driving the front wheels.
Up front, the Voxy is a carbon copy of the sportier Vellfire thanks to the standard Aero package. At the rear, it’s a different story from its premium sibling. The Voxy gets a much larger rear windscreen design with vertical taillamps, giving it a much more utilitarian vibe. Other equipment in horizontal grilles, slim headlamps, fog lamps and 16-inch alloys wrapped in 205/60 profile tyres.
Inside, the cabin architecture reminisces the Vellfire and Alphard, in a very good way. Standard items include Optitron speedometer, Multi-Information Display, keyless start, all four auto powered windows, triple-zone automatic climate control, manual rear sunshades, touchscreen infotainment system, reverse camera,
dual powered sliding door
, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control and double moonroof. With options like those, the Voxy is basically an Alphard, sans the premium touch.

It’s also properly equipped on the safety front. As standard the Voxy gets seven airbags (driver knee), Vehicle Stability Control, Hill Start Assist, Emergency Brake Signal among others. All these for RM143k? Why aren’t we getting this?!
IMAGE GALERY


Volkswagen Jetta axed in the UK due to low demand, hatchbacks & SUVs more popular

Volkswagen has dropped the Jetta from its UK line-up due to its low demand in the UK according to
AutoCar Uk
. From January to October 2017, the company only shifted 379 units of the C-segment sedan in comparison to 5,398 units of the
Passat sedan
. The Passat sedan is now the only Volkswagen sedan on sale in the UK.
Volkswagen UK commented that the growing demand for SUV vehicles and the rising popularity of its
Golf
 and
Polo
 models have impacted the sales of the Jetta. Furthermore, the company’s representative expressed that the Jetta was reaching the end of its lifecycle thus the discontinuation of the model.

Volkswagen seems to be shifting their focus to people movers as seen in their recent concept cars like the
I.D. Crozz
,
Kombi
 and the recently unveiled
T-Roc
. Who can blame them when the market is prioritising space, versatility and tall ride height over a conventional sedan. Besides, the more stylish fastbacks such as the
Arteon
 proved to receive better market sentiments over sedans at the moment.
In the UK, the Jetta now joins the history books with the
Scirocco which saw its production halted recently
. Closer to home, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has three variants of the
facelifted Jetta on sale
. A car that we find is the
best value for your money
 if you are in the market for a C-segment sedan.


All-new Nissan Terra 4×4 SUV unveiled for China, coming to Malaysia?

Nissan has just revealed that they will be introducing the all-new Nissan Terra SUV, the first vehicle to be conceived from Nissan’s frame and LCV (Light Commercial Vehicle) division under the company’s midterm plan
Nissan M.O.V.E to 2022
.
One in every six Nissan vehicles sold globally is a frame-based vehicle or an LCV, hence the company is looking to maximise the division’s potential and targets to increase sales by 40 percent and becoming a global leader in pickups and frame-based SUVs. The Terra, a ladder frame SUV with rugged 4×4 capabilities will spearhead Nissan’s ambitions when it goes on sale.
The Terra will make its global debut in China and will be made available to selected markets across Asia at a later date. Considering the growing appetite for vehicles like
Toyota Fortuner
 and
Isuzu MU-X
 here in Malaysia, will our market be one of the recipients? More details of the new SUV will be available in April.
senior vice president for Nissan’s frame and LCV business. “I’m very pleased to announce that the all-new Nissan Terra will soon arrive in China. This rugged SUV is practical, authentic, and designed to go anywhere.”
“Nissan’s frame and LCV business is seeing steady growth, and with our ambitious midterm plan and growing product lineup, we’re confident that this growth will continue. It is an exciting time for Nissan. We have the Nissan Terra arriving soon, the award-winning Nissan Navara is now in 133 markets worldwide, and more drivers are purchasing our LCVs around the world.” he added
IMAGE GALLERY


Hyundai Sonata and Genesis win distinguished 2014 Good Design Awards

Christmas came early for the folks at
Hyundai
, because two of their cars – the
Sonata
 and
Genesis
 – have earned the
GOOD DESIGN Awards
 from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

GOOD DESIGN is the world’s
oldest

and most prestigious
 architecture and design awards organised throughout the globe and emphasises highly on contemporary design. Held annually, it honours the year’s best industrial and graphic designers as well as world manufacturers for their extraordinary design excellence.
“By earning the GOOD DESIGN awards for the all-new Genesis and Sonata from the most longstanding and respected organisation in the architecture and design industry is proof of Hyundai’s commitment to developing products that embody anything but ordinary design,” said Chris Chapman, chief designer at the Hyundai Design Center.
The event was held at Chicago and judged by an international jury of design professionals, architects, experts and cultural leaders. The winners are selected based on its overall design quality, function and aesthetics.
The new Hyundai Genesis is set to
launch
 in Malaysia early 2015. How early? Stay tuned to find out! Read all about the
seventh-generation Sonata here
 and the
Sonata Hybrid here
.
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY
Hyundai Genesis

Hyundai Sonata


BMW introduces first-ever X models made in China – X5 xDrive30Li & X5 xDrive40Li

BMW has pledged its long-term involvement in China with the first-ever BMW X5 produced exclusively for the China market. Built at the BMW Brilliance Automotive plant in Shenyang, two variants will be available – the X5 xDrive30Li and the X5 xDrive40Li.
Previously, the sole manufacturing plant for the X5 was in South Carolina, USA, the largest facility in BMW Group’s production network. BMW said the move will also allow the plant in the US to meet the high demand for X models in the US and around the world.
The wheelbase of the two BMW X5 variants has been extended by 130 mm, to 3105 mm, to free up more legroom for second-row passengers. Not only that, but rear passengers will also be able to get in and out a lot easier due to the longer rear doors. The overall length of the X5 has also increased by 138 mm to 5060 mm.
More about the Malaysian-spec BMW X5 xDrive45e PHEV M Sport here!
Living up to its “Made in China, for China” moto, the BMW X5’s standard specification has been tailored specifically for Chinese customers. They come with specially-designed comfort seats, extra four degrees of rear seat recline, a panoramic glass sunroof, along with a bespoke M Aerodynamics exterior package.
RELATED: B
MW Malaysia reveals 2nd batch of limited-edition BMW X5 with M Performance parts
Standard equipment includes the BMW Laser headlamps, electronically-controlled suspension, and a Harman Kardon sound system. A newly-designed smartphone tray on the centre console also offers wireless charging.
The xDrive30Li is powered by a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine while the xDrive40Li gets a more powerful 3.0-litre straight-six turbo engine. Both are paired to 8-speed automatic transmissions to drive all four wheels.
GALLERY
‘
‘


The 2020 Lexus IS is truly a thing of beauty!

The
current-generation Lexus IS
, while decent looking, always felt a little odd to us – remember those droopy tail lights? Although the compact sport sedan received a
facelift in 2016
, aesthetic changes were quite reserved to say the least. Now though, with the 2020 refresh, all of the weirdness on the Lexus IS have vanished, leaving us with a truly stunning sports sedan – I mean, just look at it!
Up front, the enlarged spindle grille now takes on a more angular and three-dimensional shape, flanked by more angular air inlets at the side. Gone are the split headlights with standalone daytime-running lights, replaced by slimmer headlights that looks like it has been carved right into the body work. Sharp.
Over at the rear, the 2020 Lexus IS features a new taillights assembly, with the familiar “L” motif running across the entire width of the rear end to join the two taillights together. In true Lexus’s attention-to-detail fashion, the seam between the rear bumper and the body panel still lines up perfectly with a kink on the taillights, without the whole droopiness of course.
In terms of dimensions, the 2020 Lexus IS has grown in almost every aspect other than the wheelbase, paired with more pronounced rear fenders to give it a more muscular, aggressive stance. As standard, the IS is fitted with 19-inch wheels, bolted onto the axes using hub bolts to improve handling and braking feedback due to increased fastening strength and reduced mass.
Under the sheet metal though, not much has really changed. The new IS still rides on the same platform as before, though Lexus says that the driving experience has been honed at Toyota’s own Nurburgring-esque test track at the new Toyota Technical Center in Shimoyama, Japan.

Updates done to the chassis include hardened bodyshell, reinforced radiator side supports, additional front-side-member weld points, and optimised reinforcement structures from the C-pillars to the sides of the roof.
Aside from improvements in driving performance such as steering response, Lexus also says that these changes has helped eliminated unwanted noise and vibrations, while improving ride comfort.
On the suspension set-up, the new IS utilises swing-valve shock absorbers with ultralow-velocity valves in their piston that Lexus says can respond to even the tiniest road irregularities, resulting in “excellent responsiveness on all varieties of road surfaces”, and a “ride quality that is consistently even”.
As a result, Lexus says that the new IS delivers a “linear operation that is faithful to driver’s intentions” in all driving situations. The brand now calls this the “Lexus Driving Signature”, and intends to apply it on all future Lexus models.
Under the hood, the rear-wheel drive IS300 retains the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, rated to produce
241 hp
 and
350 Nm
 of torque. As for the all-wheel drive IS300, the similarly named car utilises a very different 3.5-litre V6 that delivers
260 hp
and
320 Nm
 of torque to drive all four wheels.
On the top-end of the model line-up is the IS350, powered by the same 3.5-litre V6 engine, uprated to produce
311 hp
 and
380 Nm
 of torque – unchanged from its predecessor.
The IS350 is available in both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations. The higher performance engine results in a naught-to-100-ish km/h (60mph) time of
5.6 seconds
 on the RWD variant, and
 5.7 seconds
on the AWD. All rear-wheel drive variants get an eight-speed automatic gearbox, while all-wheel drive models are paired to a six-speed auto ‘box.
A hybrid variant is also available in certain markets. Lexus did not reveal much info on the powertrain, though it’s safe to assume it’ll still be using the same Lexus Hybrid Drive unit from before – a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol pushing out
178 hp
 and
221 Nm
, paired to an electric motor generating
105kW (140 hp)
 and
300 Nm
 of torque.
Also (pretty much) unchanged is the cabin, which on first glance looks like it was lifted directly from the predecessor. Aside from the new circular-shaped air vents, the Lexus IS gets a new 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display, featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The infotainment system is paired to the marque’s touchpad control system on the centre console.
The 2020 Lexus IS refresh does get a pretty significant boost on the safety front, though. Now equipped on the
 BMW 3 Series
 and
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
 rival is the Lexus Safety System+ (LSS+) 2.5, which uses a single camera and millimetre-wave radar to enhance the Pre-Collision System, consisting of Frontal Collision Warning , Automatic Emergency Braking, Pedestrian Detection and Bicyclist Detection, Emergency Steering Assist, and Low Speed Acceleration Control.
The LSS+ 2.5 system on the new IS also features an enhanced Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and Lane Tracing Assist, Automatic High Beam, Road Sign Assist, and Driver Emergency Stop Assist.
The range-topper IS350 can also be specified with the F Sport package, which nets you variant-specific front and rear bumpers, “F mesh” pattern on the spindle grille, rear bootlid spoiler, rocker panels, and rear diffuser. The sportier variant also gets a set of staggered 19-inch F Sport wheels, along with an additional cool air intake at the front lower grille, and F Sport exhausts.
On top of that, F Sport models can also be brought one level higher with the Dynamic Handling Package (DHP), including adaptive variable suspension, Torsen limited-slip differential, and an additional Sport S+ drive mode with everything turned up to 11. The DHP-equipped F Sport variants also get 19-inch forged alloy BBS wheels finished in matte black, weighing approximately 2kg lighter each compared to the regular F Sport units.
IMAGE GALLERY


The new Ford F-150 fully-electric pick-up can power a home for 3 days!

Ford has just unveiled a fully-electric version of their best-selling product, the F-150 pick-up truck, aptly called the Lightning. The introduction of the F-150 Lightning will expand and complement the line-up, which also includes the off-road targeted
F-150 Raptor
.
Ford has developed a new battery electric vehicle (BEV) platform for the F-150 Lightning, made from a mix of aluminium and steel. A dual-motor setup delivers the standard all-wheel drive paired with a new model’s-first independent semi-trailing arm rear suspension.
The Ford F-150 Lightning will come with either a standard output battery or an extended-range and output battery. The driving range from the standard battery is
370 kilometres
 with a combined system output of
432 h
p and
1,051 Nm
 of torque from the dual-motor setup powers the 3-ton (6,500 pounds) truck.
The larger extended-range battery, increasing the driving range to
483 km
, will only be tied to the range-topping Platinum variant. It will have outputs of
571 hp
 and a similar 1,051 Nm of torque. That is even more output than the
Ford Mustang Mach-E
 GT Performance Edition with “just” 487 hp and 855 Nm.
0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) time for the Ford F-150 Lightning is expected to be in the
mid four seconds
, just a second more than the fastest Mustang Mach-E.
Ford did not mention the size of the battery pack, but with the best possible charging solution available today, a 10-minute usage at a 150 kW DC high-performance charger can increase the driving to 66 km and 87 km for the standard and extended-range batteries respectively.
At home, the highest specification 80-Amp Ford Charge Station Pro requires
eight hours
 to fully charge the extended-range battery, with an additional two hours needed for the standard battery.
Ford is offering a specific 8-year/160,000 km warranty coverage for the EV components together with a promised capacity of 70% of its original charge over that period.
Being designed as a workhorse, for recreational activities as well as the main daily-driver, the new F-150 Lightning has been designed to provide plenty of power on the go, akin to a mobile power bank. Apart from having up to
11 power sockets
, the 80-Amp
Intelligent Backup Power
 module in the Charge Station Pro can off-load up to 9.6 kW of power that can roughly
supply electricity to a home
 for three days.
Ford also plans to extend the capabilities of this car-to-home system where owners can use their F-150 Lightning to power their home during high-cost, peak-energy hours while recharge the batteries during the opposite.
The Ford F-150 Lighting shares the basic design of the latest F-150 bodypanels, but with revised front and rear lighting. Key elements include thick signature LED lightbars that run across the front and rear, plus three new grille designs that bring a bold new look to a familiar face while maintaining Built Ford Tough authenticity.
An awesomely named storage space called the
“Mega Power Frunk”
 now takes over the void where it previously housed the V6 or V8 engines. The front boot has storage of up to
400 litres
 and a payload of 180 kg. Four of the 11 power sockets (2.4 kW power) are placed at the Mega Power Frunk, where the “frunk-lid” is also aerodynamically sculptured.
Key interior features include a Sync 4A portrait-oriented infotainment system measuring 15.5 inches, B&O Sound System with 18 speakers, ventilated multi-contour 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and Ford Co-Pilot360 2.0 Bluecruise hands-free highway advanced driving assistance system (ADAS) suite.
The basic work truck starts from under
USD40,000
 (just USD3,000 more than the base petrol variant), while the XLT is expected to be priced at
USD55,000
. The range-topping Platinum variant sees an eye-watering price tag of
USD90,000
 with the Lariat variant slotting in between the XLT and Platinum models.
The new Ford F-150 Lightning will roll off the line from
May 2022
 at a new high-tech factory using sustainable manufacturing practices at Ford’s storied Rouge complex in Dearborn just outside Detroit, Michigan, USA, unlike the Mustang Mach-E which is made in Cuautitlan, Mexico and soon in
China
.
GALLERY


Video: How to Change Car Battery – AutoDIY

Last week, we demonstrated how you can help yourself and save some labour charges by
changing your own spark plugs
. In this new edition of AutoDIY, things get a little simpler – so simple even your 10-year old might be able to do it.
If you’re vehicle has needed more than a few cranks to start up, perhaps you might want to look into your car’s battery for a start, how long it’s been in use and check out this video to find out how you can perform a simple battery swap.
Generally, it’s recommended that you change your car’s battery
every one to two years (MAX!)
. If you actually took this initiative, first give yourself a pat on the back and then find out how you can dispose off the old battery in a way that would not upset mother nature.
A new episode of
 AutoDIY
 will be aired every Wednesday, with many more interesting and informative episodes to come.


30% off on Mitsubishi spare parts for flood-affected customers

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia announced a flood relief program for Mitsubishi owners in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Pahang who have been affected by the recent floods caused by the persistent rain.
The company is offering
30% discount
 on Mitsubishi genuine spare parts and a
50% discount
 on labour costs from today until the
20th of January 2022
 for vehicles damaged by flood.
In addition, Mitsubishi Motors will also support owners by offering
 free towing service
. Simply contact Mitsubishi Assist 24Hrs customer careline (MA24) at 1-800-88-2166.
Mitsubishi owners who arrange for their vehicle towing, without the assistance of MA24 and insurance coverage, are also entitled to rebates worth up to RM300. All customers need to do is lodge a police report and then tow the affected vehicle to the nearest Mitsubishi Motors service centre.
“Our thoughts are with Malaysians impacted by the aftermath of the flash floods tragedy. All of our service staff and authorized dealers are ready to assist our Mitsubishi owners with their affected vehicles. We hope that this flood relief program will help ease the burden of our customers going through this difficult time,” said MMM CEO, Shinya Ikeda.
The Mitsubishi flood relief program is offered for vehicles purchased from Mitsubishi Motors authorised dealers. For further information, kindly be in touch with our Customer Careline at 1-800-18-8161.


McLaren Automotive team up with toy makers for a very special kind of sports car

McLaren Automotive has teamed up with Step2, an established American toy manufacturer, to create a unique model tailored to appeal to a small and young but very important (and demanding) demographic.
The result? A McLaren 570S Step2 Push Sports Car. It comes with a storage area at the “undercarriage” and also provided are “cupholders” for the baby bottles and your very own morning coffee.
Step2 shares many values with McLaren Automotive; while McLaren has been recognised as a pioneer in carbon fibre technology, something it has applied to its cars since 1981, Step2 has gained the recognition of pioneering the push car.
The idea behind the 570S Push Sports Car was to create a fun and visually-appealing item to captivate and exude a sense of fun for the parents, children and even pedestrians alike.
Designers from both ends of the collaboration have worked closely to replicate the essence of the real
McLaren 570S
 to give the car a “smooth ride”, a
flat-based steering wheel which offers excellent feedback
 and electronically-replicated sounds to provide an exhilarating experience for the “mini-racers”. It’s easy to forget that we’re not talking about an actual car here.
The McLaren 570S Push Sports Car will be launched initially in Ventura Orange,
similar to the actual 570S
 and will be exclusively available through Amazon.com US in September before rolling out later this year through leading global retailers and
Step2.com
. Recommended retail price is
USD 79.99 (RM 344)
.


SST exemptions period extended to June 30, 2021

In a memo issued to the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) and Malaysian Association of Malay Vehicle Importers and Traders (PEKEMA), the Finance Ministry has today announced that the sales tax (SST) exemptions period that is set to expire after the 31st of December 2020, will be
extended to the 30th of June 2021
.
As such, all locally-assembled (CKD) passenger cars, including SUV and MPVs (but not commercial vehicles such as pick-up trucks), will continue to be completely exempted from the 10% sales tax, while imported passenger cars will still enjoy a 50% cut in SST (at 5%).
The news comes as a surprising turn of events, as just recently the MAA’s request for an extension to the sales tax exemption period has been denied by the government.
The sales tax exemption period is part of the government’s short-term economic recovery plan (PENJANA), designed to spur the demand in the automotive market, which have been heavily impacted by the Covid-19 health pandemic.
Following the announcement, automotive companies in Malaysia will have to release the updated price lists for their 2021 models, including the
BMW M3 and M4 Competition
,
BMW 530i M Sport Dark Shadow Edition
,
Lexus LM 350
, and the
Toyota GR Yaris
 – all of which only slated for delivery beginning next year.
All the new price lists will be updated accordingly here as soon as they are announced, but for now, the SST-exempted price lists of for car brands in Malaysia can be found
here
.


This parallel imported Toyota C-HR 1.2L Turbo costs between RM176k to RM185k

For those of you who can’t wait any longer for UMW Toyota (UMWT) to officially introduce the Toyota C-HR, here is an alternative if you want this funky compact crossover to
balik kampung
 with during the Chinese New Year season.
MyMotor.my
, the online car marketplace backed by MyEG, has brought in
32 units of the JDM-spec C-HR
, ready to be delivered before Chinese New Year. The parallel imported C-HRs comes in two variants: S-T and G-T, both are powered by a 1.2-litre turbo and four-wheel drive.
Under the hood, you’ll find an 8NF-FTS 1.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder paired to a CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission) with seven-stepped ratios to produce
113 hp
 and
185 Nm
 of torque. Drive is deployed to all four wheels. The
official units from UMWT
 will be a 1.8-litre naturally-aspirated engine paired to a CVT and will only be front-wheel driven.
Equipment wise, the
entry level S-T
 gets halogen headlamps, 17-inch alloys, 8-inch touchscreen and more. The more expensive
G-T
 adds LED headlamps, upsized 18-inch alloys, front and rear park assist Sonar and fabric-leather combination seat covers. MyMotor also kitted some of the units with body kit options and a variety of bright colours such as this Yellow.

Being a full JDM-model, these parallel imported C-HR comes with
Toyota Safety Sense P as standard
 which comes with Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and Automatic High Beams. In Malaysia, the
only car that comes with Toyota Safety Sense P as standard
 is the recently launched Harrier.
Now for pricing, if you remember UMWT hinting a price tag of RM145k for their
local-spec C-HR,
 a C-HR from MyMotor starts from RM176,000 to RM185,000 depending on the variant and specifications. Yes, you read that right, RM30k more expensive than what UMWT is quoting.
Official Toyota C-HR by UMWT
While UMWT offers a 5-Years Unlimited Mileage warranty on all their models, MyMotor customers can opt for the MyOPal extended warranty package of 1-Years or 20,000 km for RM1,000 which is upgradable to a maximum of 3-Years/60,000 km. Like a regular warranty package, owners will have to send their car for routine servicing at authorised MyOPal service centres.
IMAGE GALLERY


Subaru is bringing STI back to the Impreza – but with a catch

The all-new Subaru Impreza will finally be getting an STI badge – but it’s not what you’d expect. While previous WRX STIs have always been
balls-to-the-wall extreme performance models
, the one that Subaru will be unveiling at the upcoming Tokyo Auto Salon 2023 (TAS 2023) will seemingly just be an aesthetic makeover. Boo.
The Impreza ‘STI’ will be the headlining car at the stand, and will remain covered until the event begins.
According to the press release announcing their TAS 2023 line-up, Subaru said that the Japanese-market “standard model” Impreza will be unveiled at the show, “with STI parts equipped” – which suggests that it will only be a regular ol’ non-turbocharged Impreza, with STI-styled parts for some go-fast looks.
This is in line with what the company
said earlier this year
, that there will not be a WRX STI based on the latest-generation model, due to the tightening and constantly-evolving emissions regulations around the world.
RELATED:
New Subaru WRX gets launched in Japan, STI Sport R has new chassis tech
All hope is not lost, however, because it does seem like there’s at least a semi-hot STI Sport # (
hashtag?
) version of the
Levorg
 that will be making its debut at TAS 2023. And if we’re being honest, the Levorg is the better-looking car, anyway.
Information on the new model is scarce right now, as the only thing revealed by Subaru – aside from its looks – is that the new Levorg STI Sport # prototype will be a “STI complete car” based on the sporty Levorg STI R EX trim, with “enhanced stable handling and premium drive feel”.
The model will also be sold in “limited amounts”, presumably only in Japan.
Other cars slated to be shown off at Subaru’s TAS 2023 booth include the Rex Boost Gear Concept, a pretty sweet off-road-ready cousin to the
Perodua Ativa
, as well as the
Crosstrek (previously known as the XV)
 Boost Gear Concept, and three race cars.
The Tokyo Auto Salon will be the first major international motor show for 2023. Aside from Subaru who has already confirmed its line-up for the show, Nissan has also announced that it will be unveiling the Fairlady X – a mash-up between the Nissan Murano SUV and the Nissan Z.
It will be an interesting week for automotive news starting 12 January 2023, so keep your eyes peeled!
ALSO READ:
Subaru unveils all-new 2023 Crosstrek – drops ‘XV’ name globally


Next-gen Honda BR-V to start production in Indonesia this December, M’sia debut next year?

The next-generation
 Honda BR-V
 will be launched in Indonesia by the year-end, with production to begin in December this year at the Indonesian plant, according to a report by Indonesian automotive publication
OtoDriver
.
“Indonesia will be the home base for the successor to the BR-V”, the anonymous source told
OtoDriver
. The Honda BR-Vs built at the Indonesian factory will be exported to Thailand, the Philippines, Mexico, and South Africa.
There will be additional assembly plants for the Honda BR-V in India and Malaysia, added the source. The former will begin at a later date, where it will also offer a diesel option for the seven-seater SUV, while Malaysia will be bringing in CKD vehicle packs from Indonesia for local assembly.
From that statement alone, it seems like the Malaysian launch for the next-gen Honda BR-V will also be imminent!
Check out the next-gen Honda BR-V in more detail in the image gallery here
While not confirmed, it’s now pretty much an open secret that the next-gen Honda BR-V will take the shape of the N7X concept that was unveiled earlier this year, thanks to a
new patent filed by Honda in Indonesia
.
According to the patent filing, it’s likely that we’ll continue to see the same 1.5-litre four-cylinder on the next-gen BR-V. The four-banger is good for
120 hp
 and
145 Nm
 of torque, and sends power to the front wheels via a CVT gearbox.
How does the Honda BR-V compare to its rivals? Check out our three-way comparison here
The patent filing also revealed that the upcoming Honda BR-V could come equipped the Honda Sensing advanced driver assistance suite, which would be a huge upgrade over the current-gen budget people-mover.
The current Honda BR-V here in Malaysia has been on sale since 2016, and even though it received a facelift last year, the design itself still looks quite dated compared to newer competitors, such as the
Mitsubishi Xpander
.
Pricing for the
current model
 runs from RM86,726 to RM93,420.27 (both excluding sales tax), and we expect the new model to not stray too far from this bracket.


The Mercedes-Benz Concept GLB proves luxury will still prevail post-apocalypse

If you think that luxury will seize to exist, in a post-apocalyptic world, Mercedes-Benz is proving that wrong with the Concept GLB, unveiled at the
2019 Shanghai Motor Show
.
For starters, it actually isn’t as big as it looks. Comparing the dimensions and you’d realise that the GLB is only as big as the Mercedes-Benz GLC.
It’s probably the immense ride height and the bulgier proportions that makes this look more G63 than GLC, but we absolutely love it. Couple that with 17-inch wheels wrapped in chunky off-road tyres and you have an SUV that’s ready for I Am Legend Pt. 2 – if only they can figure out how to revive Will Smith.
While it may look rough and tough on the outside, the cabin is a testament that luxury can be had wherever you are, whenever. Chestnut brown seats, aluminium trims and wood inlays are just Mercedes-Benz’ way of saying that you’d still get the best or nothing, even when zombies roam the earth.
And you won’t have to face them alone. In fact, you can carry six other passengers (or rather post-apocalypse survivors) as the GLB will come as a seven-seater.
It won’t have a problem running away from zombies with a full load too; with
 224 hp
 and
350 Nm
 (about the same output as the GLC) from a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine paired to an 8-speed dual clutch transmission.
IMAGE GALLERY


BMW debuts the new X1, petrol and diesel lumps now improved

The BMW X1 has been around for the last six years and and as such, this compact crossover SAV has garnered sales of up 730,000 units worldwide. The new X1 has indeed grown up from its humble looks.
Offered in either an all-wheel-drive or 2 wheel-drive – front-wheel-drive this time which provides better power delivery and a better fuel economy. The X1 comes with a variety of petrol and diesel powered options that are up to
17 percent more efficient
 than the previous reiteration.
Name
X1 sDrive20i
X1 xDrive20i
X1 xDrive25i
X1 sDrive18d
X1 xDrive20d
X1 xDrive25d
Engine
1,998cc; inline-4 with BMW TwinPower Turbo
1,995cc; inline-4 with Variable Geometry Turbo
Transmission
8-speed Steptronic auto
6-spd manual or 8-spd auto
8-speed Steptronic auto
Max Power
192 hp
192 hp
231 hp
150 hp
190 hp
231 hp
Max Torque
280 Nm
280 Nm
350 Nm
330 Nm
400 Nm
450 Nm
Top Speed
225 km/h
225 km/h
235 km/h
205 km/h
219 km/h
235 km/h
EXTERIOR
Notably, one of the biggest changes of the car is the exterior. It is much more imposing now, with the front end looking a bit like the
X5
 in terms of styling. Even the signature pair of kidney grilles are much
bigger
 as compared to the previous model. Couple that to the high mounted fog lamps make it more alike to its bigger siblings, namely the
X6
.

Down along the side, it is evident that there is a much substantial line running down the side of the car. It is immediately apparent that this car has indeed grown a fair bit,
53 millimeters
  from the previous to
4,439 millimetres
 long to be precise.
Dimensions wise, the BMW X1 stands at
1,598 millimetres
 tall and
1,821 millimetres
 wide sitting on 18-inch lightweight alloy wheels. Standard though are door sill plates and LED lighting for the door handles.
INTERIOR
The interior has been redesigned to be more driver focused and oriented. Looking at it does remind the more avid BMW enthusiast to the cockpit found in the E36 BMW 3-Series. Rear mounted steering wheel paddle-shifters and the instrument cluster has been designed to reflect just such. The
 iDrive
 system is displayed via either a
6.5-inch
 or a
 8.8-inch
 display.

The seating position has been raised and provides a roomier legroom for the occupants inside. The rear knee room has been increased to 66mm, which is an increase of
 37mm
 from the previous model. The luggage compartment receives an
85 litre
 increase to
505 litres
.
The X1 also comes with a six-speaker sound system with USB and AUX compatibility as standard. However, a
Harman Kardon
 HiFi
12-speaker
 system with a
360-Watt
 output
digital amplifier
 can be specified as an option.
PERFORMANCE
Now the interesting bit. The BMW X1, may only come with a range of
turbocharged four bangers
 deploying its power to the road via an
all-wheel-drive
 or front-wheel-drive options, driven either by an
eight-speed automatic
or
 six-speed manual
transmissions. The X1 also features the brand’s latest TwinPower Turbo tech, whereby the
turbocharger
 is
intergrated
 into the
exhaust manifold
 design. It also employs the newest
ValveTronic
 and
high-pressure
 commonrail
direct-injectors
 for the oil burning variety.

The X1 can be had with a few varying power outputs. The petrol powered sDrive20i and xDrive20i puts out
192 hp
 at 5,000 rpm and
280 Nm
 of torque from as low as
1,250 rpm
, whereas the range topper (xDrive25i) has an output of
231 hp
 at 5,000 rpm and
350 Nm
 of twist at
1,250 rpm
 with a century sprint time of
6.5 seconds
.
The most frugal of the diesel powered X1 is the sDrive18d with an output of
150 hp
at 4,000 rpm, providing
330 Nm
 of twist from 1,750 rpm and manages a fuel consumption figure of
5.1 litres per 100km
. The xDrive20d and xDrive25d chucks out
190 hp and 231 hp
 respectively.
SAFETY
The X1 comes as no surprise with these German marques kitted out to the brim with a host of electronic safety systems such
Dynamic Traction Control
 (DTC),
Cornering Brake Control
(CBC),
Dynamic Brake Control
 (DBC),
Brake Assist system
,
Brake Fade Compensation
,
Active Differential Brake
 (ADB) and
Electronic Differential Lock Control
 (EDLC) for the xDrive models.
WHAT ELSE?
The BMW X1 is designed to be as efficient as possible for its class. It employs
BMW’s EfficientDynamics
 technology that allows it to be more
fuel economical
. For example, the kidney grille and slats in the bumper can be
actively shut
 to decrease drag. The X1 is built from a lightweight construction of
ultra-high tensile steel
 which enables a reduction in materials usage whilst
improving
 torsional rigidity and strength of the chassis.
IMAGE GALLERY
BMW X1 xDrive20d

BMW X1 xDrive20d


F90 BMW M5 to star in new Mission Impossible film alongside Tom Cruise

Another Mission Impossible film, another BMW. The multi-billion dollar movie franchise starring the evergreen Tom Cruise, who’ll still play Ethan Hunt in our grandchildren’s time somehow, will once again feature another BMW, this time the new BMW F90 M5.
In the
sixth installment
 (yes, the world will always need saving and only Tom Cruise can help us) of the movie series which began in 1996, the “four-wheeled star” this time around is none other than the all-new F90 BMW M5,
launched recently in Malaysia
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g8CgwU70KY
And it won’t be the first time BMW has associated themselves with the highest grossing spy film series of all time. There was the F30 M3 in the Rouge Nation sequel and the BMW i8 and 6-series Cabriolet in Ghost Protocol. Even their bikes were not neglected; when a S1000RR was involved in a chase scene in Rogue Nation.
In the video itself, there’s a particular scene that might catch the attention your attention. A scene that’s reminiscent of James Bond’s “Tomorrow Never Dies” when Benji, Tom Cruise’s tech guy in the film drives the BMW M5 with what seems like a remote (0:15), just like Pierce Brosnan did in his E38 BMW 7 Series.
Check out
our brief introduction of the F90 BMW M5
 here!
The new 4.4-litre twin turbo V8 F90 M5 makes
600 hp
 and
750 Nm
 of torque. 0 to 100 km/h takes just
3.4 seconds
 while 0 to 200 km/h is done in just
11 seconds
. Top speed is limited to just 250 km/h, although we don’t have to tell you that the car is capable of going much faster.


The Renault Zoe just got a power boost, accelerates 2 sec faster than before!

Europe’s best-selling electric vehicle (EV), the Renault Zoe, has just gotten a power upgrade for 2018. The battery-powered hatchback gets a more potent electric motor, Android Auto and new purple metallic body colour for MY2018.
The new motor, codenamed R110 is an evolution of the R90 used previously on the Zoe. Despite being the same size, the R110 motor now packs
80 kW
 (107 hp), 12 kW (16 hp) more than the
outgoing model
. Max torque of
225 Nm
 kicks in from 0 rpm, making the Zoe as nimble as ever.
While peak torque is the same as before, drivers will notice the R110 motor’s stronger acceleration performance at higher speeds. Renault claims the new car shaves almost two seconds off when accelerating from 80 to 120 km/h; a significant improvement that provides greater peace of mind when commuting high speeds.
Assistant Programme Director, Renault Zoe, Elisabeth Delval said: “Thanks to this power boost, ZOE is even more responsive and versatile when used for journeys out of town. In addition to being able to enjoy the pleasure of driving a ZOE, drivers will also benefit from the longest range available for a mass-market electric car.”
Besides the new electric motor, MY2018 Zoe’s will benefit from an Android Auto-enabled R-LINK Evolution infotainment system that allows drivers to connect compatible Android apps from their smartphones such as Waze, Spotify, Skype, Messenger and many more.
Aconite, a dark metallic purple shade was also added to the exterior colour palette that can be paired to the new Purple Interior Pack which adds a violet satin finish on the dashboard trim, air vents, gear lever, speaker surrounds, topstitching along with black and violet fabric upholstery.
Back at home, Renault Malaysia who is pushing for electric mobility in the country has the
Renault Zoe on sale for RM145,888
. On full charge, the R90 equipped Zoe has a theoretical range of 220 km.
IMAGE GALLERY


2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Highline updated with new wheels, USB-C ports

Following the update the
 Tiguan Allspace R-Line
 received earlier this year, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has also now given the base Tiguan Allspace Highline variant a similar model-year refresh.
The price tag for the
Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Highline
 remains unchanged at
RM165,031
 on the road, without insurance, and inclusive of the SST exemptions. A five-year unlimited-mileage warranty is also included in the price, alongside a three-year/45,000 km free maintenance package.
On the outside, the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Highline gets a new ‘Nizza’ alloy wheels design, although still sized 18-inches in diameter. Over at the back, the LED tail lights also now get the 3D light signature, the same ones found on the range-topping R-Line variant.
Inside, the Highline mirrors the changes of the 2021 Tiguan Allspace R-Line with new USB-C charging ports, replacing all existing USB-A items. The eight-inch touchscreen Composition Media infotainment display has also been updated with a new voice command function.
Functionality wise, the Composition Media head unit offers the standard App-Connect feature, with support for wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity; the higher-end R-Line meanwhile gets wireless connectivity for both.
Aside from these changes, the rest of the Highline’s spec sheet remains identical from before. Standard equipment include LED headlights with LED daytime-running lights, an 11.7-inch digital instrument cluster, tri-zone automatic climate control, Vienna leather upholstery with 12-way powered driver’s seats, among others.
The powertrain is also unchanged from before. For the Tiguan Allspace Highline, a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine sends
150 hp
 and
250 Nm
 of torque to the front wheels via a six-speed DSG wet dual-clutch transmission.
As part of VPCM’s Raya-Raya promotions, the Tiguan Allspace Highline is currently being offered with a RM1,000
duit raya
 cash rebate, along with an additional RM3,500 in eShowroom savings. The Raya-Raya promotion runs from now until the 13th of June.


Mitsubishi Raya Deals: Up to RM6,000 cash rebates for selected models

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM), in anticipation of the upcoming Raya festivity, has announced their exclusive Raya Deals offering cash rebates of up to RM6,000 and a five-year free maintenance program for selected Mitsubishi models.
Effective immediately until 31 July 2015, customers purchasing the
2015 ASX CKD
 will enjoy a
5-year free maintenance and warranty
 programme. The 2WD ASX is currently priced at
 RM114,043.50
, while the 4WD is priced at
RM128,179.50
.
Next, buyers of the Mirage – Mitsubishi’s most fuel efficient model on offer – can enjoy
cash rebates
 of up to RM6,000 and is priced at
RM63,740.65
 OTR without insurance. Do note that the prices listed here are their retail prices and the cash rebates have not been accounted for.
Also part of the Raya Deal is the Pajero Sport VGT with up to RM5,000 in cash rebates upon registration, whereas the
Lancer GTE
 gets RM3,000 cash rebate. The Pajero is priced at
RM172,211.60
 and the Lancer at
RM115,581.63
.
The mentioned 5-year free maintenance package offers complimentary maintenance on parts, lubricants and labour costs. Some of the
free maintenance parts
 include engine oil, fuel filters, air cleaner, brake fluid, coolant, differential oil and transmission oil. Do bear in mind that this offer is strictly subjected to the
recommended scheduled service
.
Also, MMM will be hosting exclusive open houses at all their showrooms nationwide on the weekends of 6, 7, 13 and 14 June. Booking and test drive gifts will be handed out, and refreshments will also be served. Lastly, Mitsubishi will also be offering up to
70 percent discount
 on the brand’s
genuine accessories
 range, and prices start from as low as RM45.00 after discount. They can be purchased at all authorised Mitsubishi 3S Centres nationwide.


BMW’s new all-electric SUV to be named as BMW iX3? Coming in 2020

During the announcement of its 100,000 units electrified vehicles delivered to customers, BMW Group has also revealed that they have patented names from BMW i1 to i9 and BMW iX1 to iX9 in anticipation of the
25 new electric vehicles to come by 2025
.
Earlier on, the company announced that the
next fully-electric model will be based on the X3 SU
V which is safe to assume will be known as BMW iX3. The all-electric iX3 is touted to debut as soon as 2020 while the next model to join the iPerformance line up will be the
i8 Roadster
 set to debut in 2018.
BMW Group’s electrification timeline looks are as follow: i8 Roadster in 2018,
MINI Electric in 2019
,
BMW iX3 in 2020
 and the BMW iNEXT in 2021. Although not much has been revealed about the iNEXT, it will serve as a technology study in bringing electric mobility together with autonomous driving in production models.
Beyond 2021, BMW will have readied it’s next-generation electric drive powertrain and battery technology and scalable platforms, in line with the company’s plans to offer electrified variants for all MINI and BMW cars. Electric mobility is a core element of BMW Group’s NUMBER ONE > NEXT strategy to further strengthen its global position as a leader in premium mobility as electrified vehicles are expected to make up 15 to 25 percent of its global sales.