Rolls-Royce Black Badge family arrives in Malaysia – Cullinan, Ghost, Dawn & Wraith

After almost five years since it was introduced at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, the Black Badge family has finally made its way to Malaysia. Rolls-Royce Kuala Lumpur is the only distributor in this region to have the complete line-up; made up of the
Cullinan
, the
Wraith
, the Dawn and the Ghost.
Created for a new category of Rolls-Royce clientele, the Black Badge aims to appeal to the bold and youthful, the innovators and the disruptors hence the menacing image.
“We are seeing a distinct change in the Super-luxury arena within Malaysia. Increasingly, we are welcoming younger, adventurous Rolls-Royce customers alongside our more established clientele. We have refreshed our Black Badge range for 2020, and have already seen strong interest from customers who are looking for something very contemporary and bold,” said Quill Motorcars Sdn Bhd, Executive Director, Anas Zawawi Khalid.
But that’s not all, each of the Rolls-Royce Black Badge models are distinguished with a few distinct features. For one, the silver badges with black details on a standard Rolls-Royce have been inverted – they now appear with a black base and silver details.
The Spirit of Ecstasy which has appeared in various forms throughout the marque’s history is now presented in high gloss black chrome. For the first time, black chrome is also seen on the mascot’s mounting plate.
Although Rolls-Royce expects most of its clientele to opt for the Black Badge’s signature Black finish, there over 44,000 in-house colours to choose from should they decide not to. Multiple layers of the Black paint has been applied meticulously, and hand polished 10 times before a Coachline is hand-painted along the sides.
Exclusively for the Rolls-Royce Black Badge Cullinan are 22-inch forged alloy wheels and high gloss Red brake calipers – the first ever coloured caliper in a Rolls-Royce. The Cullinan’s brake bite point has been raised and pedal travel decreased, if you’re interested to know.
Inside, each of the Black Badge models are presented with Technical Carbon trims, with exposed carbon fibre weaves for 3D look. Six coats of lacquer are applied on it before it’s left to cure for 72 hours. All 23 pieces of these trims are then hand-polished, in a process taking 21 days!
And then you have the Starlight Headliner that’s made up of 1,344 handwoven fibre optic lights to mimic the night sky. They’ve even got eight shooting stars that move about the headliner randomly over the front occupants – how cool is that!
If you’re wondering what the “infinity symbol” represents, it’s called the Lemniscate and it represents infinite power. The symbol was first seen on Sir Malcolm Campbell’s record-breaking Rolls-Royce-powered Blue Bird K3 hydroplane which meant it was in a category of boats with infinite engine power.
In the Rolls-Royce
Black Badge Cullinan
, an extra 29 hp and 50 Nm has been extracted from its 6.75-litre V12 engine, bringing the new total to 600 hp and 900 Nm. The
Black Badge Wraith
 still makes 632 hp but gets an additional 50 Nm for a total of 870 Nm.
The
Black Badge Ghost
sees a 41 hp and 20 Nm increase, now at 611 hp and 840 Nm. Lastly, the
Black Badge Dawn
‘s figures stand at 601 hp and 840 Nm, with a 30 hp and 20 Nm increase. Prices of these Black Badge models are excluding duties and of course, Rolls-Royce’s endless threshold for customisation so take a deep breath:
Black Badge Wraith – starts from RM 1.7 million
Black Badge Ghost – starts from RM 1.4 million
Black Badge Dawn – starts from RM 1.8 million
Black Badge Cullinan – starts from RM 1.7 million
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Sixth-generation BMW M3 teased at Nurburgring, featuring a “normal” face and xDrive AWD

The sixth-generation BMW M3 is due to launch sometime in Autumn this year, which means there’s at least two more months of waiting. To keep the eager fans excited, BMW has now given us an official first look at the upcoming M3 while it undergoes testing at Nurburgring.
We’ll address the the topic everyone seems to be the most interested in first – the next-generation BMW M3 does not look like it will be sporting the large buckteeth grilles as seen on the
all-new 4 Series.
Although heavily camouflaged, the front grille on the upcoming sixth-generation BMW M3 seems to be directly lifted from the

current 3 Series
. Keep in mind though that this is still a pre-production, so the final product might differ completely.
Otherwise, the exterior design (as far as we can see now) is pretty much everything you’d expect from an M car, such as the aggressively-widened fenders, larger air intakes, and the quad exhaust set-up that we’ve seen before on
previously-leaked spy shots
.

In the video, BMW M head of driving dynamics system, Christian Flessa also confirmed officially that the sixth-generation BMW M3 will be available with the marque’s M xDrive all-wheel drive system – a first for the iconic M3.
There’s no confirmation yet if this system will be similar to that of the BMW M5 where 100% of the drive can be sent to the rear wheels, but the purists need not raise their pitchforks yet as the sixth-generation BMW M3 will also be offered with a rear-wheel drive only option.
As expected, the sixth-generation BMW M3 will be offered with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, though BMW has already
previously confirmed
 that a manual option was also in the works.
The video does not mention the powertrain under the hood of the upcoming M3, though we expect to see the same S58 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six engine from the
X3 M
and X4 M to make its appearance here.


2022 Aston Martin DBX 707 launched in Malaysia from RM1.1 million

Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur
 has just launched the
Aston Martin DBX 707
 in Malaysia, another addition to the DBX line-up, albeit not just a bespoke specification this time around. The DBX 707, as its name suggests, boasts
707 hp
, which is 157hp more than the DBX’s 550 hp. In its most ‘basic’ form, it fetches a price of
RM 1,098,000
. The DBX707 you see in the pictures here is the ‘Launch Edition’ which is priced at RM 1.5 million.
Powering the Aston Martin DBX 707 is still a 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo engine sourced from
AMG
. In addition to the boosted power, the maximum torque figures have also jumped to
900 Nm
 from 700 Nm. The twin-turbo V8 sends power through the same 9-speed automatic gearbox, but this time around, a multi-plate ‘wet clutch’ pack replaces the good old torque converter.
Orchestrating the V8 twin-turbo engine is a straight stainless-steel exhaust with active valve control. At the end of the exhaust system are black quad exhaust tips. The DBX 707 completes the century sprint (0-100 km/h) in
3.3 seconds
, 1.2 seconds faster than the
DBX
.
DBX 707 owners can choose from five driving modes with one of them being for “off-road” purposes. Just so you know, the DBX offers six drive modes with two “off-road” modes instead.
Hinting at the added performance is the sportier and more aggressive exterior of the DBX 707. A different set of bumpers adorn the DBX 707, and a “Double Vane” grille dominates its front end. Almost looking like fangs at the front, additional breathing vents near the horizontal Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) give the DB707 a sinister appearance.
Move on to the rear, and the DBX 707 somewhat mimics a race car with its sculpted rear diffuser, side aero winglets, and black quad exhaust tips as opposed to the DBX’s twin exhaust tips. The rear wheel arches also get breathing vents, just like the front wheel arches.
Perched on the rear window is a “Batman”-style spoiler that completes the look of the DBX 707. You would also notice that the Aston Martin badges on the DBX 707 have been given the blacked-out treatment.
RELATED:
Aston Martin DBX “The One Edition” launched in Malaysia from RM1.1 million
As standard, a set of 22-inch Aston Martin Sport wheels in gloss black/diamond turned finish sit under the DBX 707. Customers can also opt for satin black/silver on the 22-inch Sport wheels.
Alternatively, they also can choose other wheel designs at additional cost such as the 22-inch Ribbon wheel (Gloss Graphite Diamond Turned, Satin Black Diamond Turned, or Satin Black & Bronze Diamond Turned). Another wheel design option is the 23-inch Forged wheel (Satin Black/Diamond Turned, Satin Black/Halo Diamond Turned, or Textured black).
RELATED:
Aston Martin KL presents bespoke DBX SUV in Arden Green, from RM1 million
Inside, the Aston Martin DBX 707 gets the Monotone “Accelerate Environment” as standard. Also standard on the DBX 707 are 16-way sports seats, dark satin chrome jewellery, a touchpad infotainment controller, a wireless phone charger, and a set of Aston Martin satin designer keys. Those who opt for the ‘regular’ DBX can opt for these features at an additional cost. The Interior of the DBX 707 is finished with leather/Alcantara upholstery.
Like the DBX, the DBX 707 comes with a 10.25-inch thin-film-transistor (TFT) head unit and a 12.3-inch TFT digital instrument cluster. The head unit supports Apple CarPlay, but not Android Auto. An Aston Martin Premium Audio System with 14 speakers is standard in both the DBX and DBX 707.
RELATED:
Mild hybrid Aston Martin DBX to be China-only, PHEV due in 2024
As for safety, a full suite of ADAS is present in the Aston Martin DBX 707. Adaptive cruise control (ACC), Auto Emergency Braking (AEB), Auto park assist, Auto vehicle hold, Blind spot warning (BSW), Lane change warning (LCW), Door exit warning (DEW), Forward collision warning (FCW), Lane departure warning (LDW), Lane keep assist (LKA), Rear cross traffic detection (RCT) are all provided on this 707-hp luxury SUV.
For Malaysia, the Aston Martin DBX 707 is fully imported, being hand-built in in St. Athan, United Kingdom. The first DBX 707 customer car was completed in May 2022, and the DBX 707 is sold in 50 countries.
ALSO WATCH:
Aston Martin DBX 4.0L V8 twin-turbo SUV review
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BMW 6 Series GT gets 620d variant, 2.0L turbodiesel with 190 hp & 400 Nm

BMW has added a new entry-level variant to its
6 Series Gran Turismo (GT)
 line up, the BMW 620d GT. With the new addition of the four-cylinder diesel engine, it brings the total powertrain options available for the 6 Series GT to five.
The N47 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel and eight-speed Steptronic automatic combo – the same one found in the F30 320d – generates
190 hp
 at 4,000 rpm and
400 Nm
 of torque between 1,750 to 2,500 rpm. The oil burner 6 Series GT is capable of sprinting from 0 to 100 km/h in
7.9 seconds
 while sipping 4.9 litres of diesel per 100 km. V-Max is quoted to be
220 km/h
.
All suspension options including Adaptive Two-Axle Air Suspension, Integral Active Steering and the Executive Drive system with Active Roll Stabilisation are available for the 620d GT. So are wheel options ranging from 19- to 20-inch in size as well as multiple trim limes.
BMW Malaysia has confirmed that the
G32 BMW 6 Series GT will be coming to Malaysia
 to replace the outgoing 5 Series GT. Knowing that the company has quietly phased out diesel variants in their line up in favour of cleaner plug-in hybrid iPerformance models, we may not see the 620d GT to hit our local shores.
IMAGE GALLERY
BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo


Mercedes-Benz’s Project Maybach proves that luxury and off-road can mix

The late Virgil Abloh, who unfortunately died last Sunday aged 41, was no stranger to Mercedes-Benz having previously collaborated on the
G-Wagen race truck concept
. Now, in honour of his family’s wishes, the German carmaker has unveiled the world-renowned fashion designer’s latest work – an outlandish off-road concept vehicle called the Project Maybach.
Described as a “collaborative electric show car designed to inspire the next generation, and forever question the status quo”, Abloh worked in tandem with Mercedes-Benz’ chief designer Gorden Wagener to create from the ground up something unlike anything the marque has ever made before.
The German carmaker says that the concept is “inspired by the great outdoors”, and has been styled with the aim of “recontextualising a traditionally urban brand within a distinctly off-road environment” – the brand, of course, refers to the ultra-luxurious
Maybachs
.
RELATED: This is what happens when the founder of Off-White helps pen a G-Wagen race truck
The Project Maybach is technically a two-seater battery-electric coupé, but you wouldn’t have thought so by just looking at it thanks to its huge Gran Turismo proportions. The overall length spans six metres long, which is even longer than the extended wheelbase version of the
Mercedes-Maybach S-Class
.
To balance out the massive body work, the duo gave the concept large off-road wheels and distinctive wilderness-friendly attachments, including an exoskeleton over the glasshouse of the car that also integrates a roof rack.
Inside, the concept car is surprisingly spartan for a Maybach. The seats in particular look like it came out of a 70s passenger car, although Mercedes says that it can be folded completely flat for the occupants to sleep in during camping trips.
With such a massive footprint, there is of course a lot of space to store all your outdoor equipment. There’s even a Maybach-branded axe integrated into the side panels, accessible when you open the doors.
The entire concept vehicle is also finished in a brown hue inspired by the desert – and yes, that includes the interior. Although, the brown bodywork on the outside is contrasted by black on the central facets. The black paint job hides the solar panels underneath the “transparent” bonnet, which is said to increase the “imagined range” of the BEV vehicle.
ALSO READ: The Concept Mercedes-Maybach EQS previews an electric future for the ultra-rich
Mercedes didn’t reveal much about the Concept Maybach’s powertrain and performance capabilities, although it probably doesn’t matter that much since it most likely wouldn’t go anywhere near the production line.
Revealing the project after his passing, the German marque said in a statement: “Mercedes-Benz is devastated to hear of the passing of Virgil Abloh. Our sincere thoughts are with Virgil’s family and teams. Now opening the world of our collaboration, and Virgil’s unique vision, to the public we want to respectfully celebrate the work of a truly unique design talent, who created endless possibilities for collaboration through his unbridled imagination and inspired all that knew his work.”
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Ferrari returns with the most powerful production convertible in the market – the 812 GTS

50 years since the debut of the last front-mounted V12, the 365 GTS4 also known as the Daytona Spider, Ferrari has introduced the most powerful production convertible in the market with the new 812 GTS – an open top version of the most powerful car we’ve driven at AutoBuzz.my – the
812 Superfast
.
The 812 GTS’ greasy bits are essentially the same as the 812 Superfast; sporting a 6.5-litre naturally-aspirated V12 producing 800 hp and 718 Nm paired to a 7-speed F1 DCT dual-clutch gearbox.

0 to 100 km/h is done
under three second
s (2.9 seconds in the 812 Superfast), 0 to 200 km/h in 8.3 seconds and despite weight 75 kg more than the hardtop model, due to the folding roof, the 812 GTS is only 0.4 seconds slower to 200 km/h.
Top speed rated at 340 km/h; similar to the F8 Spider launched alongside the 812 GTS.
The Retractable Hard Top (RHT), like in the F8 Spider, can be opened and retracted in just
14 seconds
, at speeds of up to 45 km/h.
To accommodate the RHT, the aero ducts as seen in the 812 Superfast have been replaced with additional flaps on the rear diffuser. For the same reason, the entire rear deck of the 812 GTS was redesigned and now features integrated rollover protection humps.
Drag, on the other hand, was cut by using the air vents on top of the rear flank to efficiently channel excess pressure build-up out of the wheel well.
There was huge focus on minimising both turbulence inside the cabin and aerodynamic noise to ensure occupants could converse undisturbed even at high speeds.
As with the LaFerrari Aperta, two small L-shaped flaps on the upper corners of the windscreen generate a coherent concentrated vortex that creates outwash in the velocity field immediately above the rear screen, thereby avoiding excess pressure behind the occupants’ heads.
IMAGE GALLERY


Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia launches the seventh dealership in Sarawak

Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia together with its authorised dealer, Auto Pacifica, has launched a new 4S centre in Bintulu, Sarawak. With that, there are now seven Mitsubishi showrooms in Sarawak.
With a built-up space of 10,000 sq ft, the 4S centre showcases the company’s brand identity and features a customer lounge with WiFi and a kid’s corner, five service bays along with insurance renewals and trade-in services.
“Auto Pacifica started operating as a Mitsubishi Motors dealer in 2007, shortly after MMM was established in 2005. Besides this showroom in Bintulu, Auto Pacifica has another Mitsubishi showroom in Miri and soon will be launching its third outlet in Kota Samarahan by the end of March 2023,” said MMM, CEO, Shinya Ikeda.
Auto Pacifica is located at Lot 4463 to 4470 (Ground Floor) and Lot 4467 to 4468 (1st Floor), Pier 99-3 Storey Shophouse, Subdivision of lot 4474, 97000 Bintulu. The showroom is located along the main road of Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi. Operation hours are from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm from Monday to Saturday and on Sunday from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm.


Volvo Car Malaysia broke its own sales record in 2021 with 2,229 cars sold

Volvo Car Malaysia
 has announced its sales figures for 2021, of which it sold a total of 2,229 units. The figure represents a 14.3% increase over the previous year, and also marks the sixth consecutive year of sales growth for the marque here in Malaysia.
The sales performance also sets a new record for the highest sales performance since the establishment of Volvo Car Malaysia, and is further boosted by the milestone of the highest sales performance per month on record, with 524 units sold in December 2021 alone.
The company says that almost 73% of all new Volvo cars sold in Malaysia were Recharge (electrified) models.

VIDEO: 2021 Volvo XC60 facelift now in Malaysia – B5 and Recharge T8, from RM292k
“We are proud of our record-breaking achievements in 2021. Despite a challenging year, we have gained customers’ confidence in providing them with the freedom to move in a personal, sustainable and safe way,” said Volvo Car Malaysia Managing Director, Charles Frump.
“The collective efforts of our dealers and staff have laid the groundwork for an electrifying 2022, encouraging us to charge towards our goal of becoming a fully electric car company by 2030,” Frump added.
Globally, Volvo Cars sales also grew by 5.6% to 698,693 cars in the full year 2021. Sales of its Recharge models grew by 63.9% in 2021 compared to the previous year, which continues to demonstrate the popularity of Volvo’s line-up of electrified cars with a fully electric or plug-in hybrid powertrain.
Recharge cars made up 27% of the company’s total sales volume in 2021, and almost 40% of all new Volvo cars sold in December were Recharge models, while fully electric cars made up 7.4%.
Back home in Malaysia, Volvo Car Malaysia has also begun teasing a new plug-in hybrid model on its social media pages, widely rumoured to be the
Volvo V60 wagon
 – so keep your eyes peeled as we bring you the latest news!


Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTEC Hybrid arrives in Malaysia: Pinnacle of hybrids for RM349k [+Video]

There’s no denying the fact that hybrid cars at present day is advancing at a phenomenal rate. In just the span of a decade, hybrid technology has proved that cars can be blisteringly quick yet remain frugal, with the only palpable downside being the reduced boot space where the battery usually sits.
One prime example of an industry leading hybrid car is this – the Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTEC Hybrid, Malaysia’s
first ever diesel hybrid car
.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTEC Hybrid
Engine
2,143cc; inline-4 two-stage turbodiesel with 20kW electric motor
Transmission
7G-Tronic Plus, dual clutch transmission
Max Power
204 hp @ 4,200 rpm (Electric motor: 27 hp)
Max Torque
500 Nm @ 1,600 – 1,800 rpm (Electric motor: 250 Nm)
Price
RM 348,888 (OTR without insurance)
Oil burners (diesel cars) naturally return impressive kilometers per litre of fuel, and the equivalent BMW F10 520d is capable of covering over 1,000km of land in one full tank if driven tamely.
But how does
2,000km on a single tank of fuel
 sound to you? British journalist Andrew Frankel drove this exact variant across two continents, from north Africa to Goodwood, UK, covering a total distance of
1,968km
 with an
additional 160km
 of juice left to spare. To put things into perspective, that’s like driving from KL to Bangkok, and then back to Hat Yai without even needing to refuel!
It took some time for Mercedes-Benz to tap into the local hybrid foray, but it’s never too late to bring your cake to the table, so let’s get down to business and see what Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) has to offer.
EXTERIOR
According to MBM, all E300 BlueTEC Hybrids destined for the Malaysian market will get the
AMG Sports treatment
. This gives you the 18-inch AMG five-spoke alloy wheels (245/40 R18  front, 265/35 R18 rear), AMG design front bumper with chrome diffuser, more prominent side skirts while the rear bumper dons the AMG touch, with its twin exhaust system finished in chrome.

Other visually distinguishable differences are the larger ventilated front discs and twin-louvre grille with the marque’s emblem smacked right in the middle. Look closer and you’ll find
three cameras
 at the front – one right under the logo, and the other two cleverly masked at each side of the enlarged air intakes.
Headlights are fully LED here, and features the carmaker’s Intelligent Light System (ILS) which basically means bending light beams as well as auto-dimming headlights when oncoming traffic is detected.
INTERIOR
The E300’s cabin is given a sportier, darker tone, and the rear passengers now benefit from the 8-inch high-resolution screens built into the front seats’ headrests. Behind the AMG-style flat-bottom steering wheel are the paddle shifters.

Like all E-Classes, the E300 gets its gear lever mounted on a column behind the steering wheel, and its instrument clusters remain largely the same, save for the
new animated graphic display
 that pops up in the digital window that shows real-time energy flow from the battery, much like the Audi A6 Hybrid and Toyota Prius.
Despite the larger
 80-litre fuel tank
 and hybrid battery pack, rear legroom isn’t compromised and is as good as the other E-Classes. Complementing the AMG theme are the floor mats, and they come printed with the AMG badge.
Panoramic sunroof
 is also standard and retractable.

Boot volume remains the same here at
540 litres
. But the addition of the lithium-ion battery pack means forgoing the spare wheel, which is replaced with a
fix-a-flat tyre kit
. Simply plug the inflator into the DC socket and fill the flat tyre with the supplied solution and you’re good to go.
PERFORMANCE
Under the hood beats the familiar
2.1-litre diesel
 engine (shared with the European E250 CDI) with two-stage turbocharging, and the E300 benefits from a
20 kilowatt electric motor
 that puts out
27 hp
 at 1,800 rpm and
250 Nm
 of torque right from the get go. MBM assures that the diesel engine is
specifically tailored
 to run on the lower grade oil in Malaysia, citing
no loss of output figures
 while only suffering from a marginal increase of carbon emission.
The numbers:
204 hp
 at 4,200 rpm and a thumping
500 Nm
 of torque from 1,600 to 1,800 rpm. Contrary to popular trend, it’s metrically incorrect to add figures of the combustion engine and the electric motor to form a unified output figure, reason being the latter is merely assisting the engine in power delivery.
Tasked with handling all that torque is Mercedes’ trusty modular
seven-speed

dual clutch
 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission that drives the
rear wheels
. The hybrid drive unit is taken from the S400L Hybrid, but has been reengineered by omitting the hydraulic torque converter in favour of a
dual clutch system
 (wet clutch) also found in the AMG series models.
This is done so that the high voltage electric motor could be integrated within the gearbox without taking up too much space. Size still grows, but only by a mere 65mm, and the dual clutch transmission can
completely disengage
 from the engine, allowing it to “sail” at speeds up to 160 km/h, effectively
reducing drag
 and fuel consumption.
As a result, it sprints from standstill to 100 km/h in
7.1 seconds
 and goes on to a top speed of
242 km/h
. Now for the best part – fuel consumption is rated between 3.8 litres to 4.1 litres per 100km travelled, or
26.32km per litre of diesel
 at best.
Like the S400L Hybrid, the E300 can also run on
full electric
 at up to 35km for up to one kilometer. If your battery charge is more than 35 percent full,
basic ancillaries
 such as your steering wheel, brakes and air-con compressor
work electrically
. Any less than that, the engine seamlessly restarts and charges the lithium-ion battery which by the way, is refrigerant-cooled to facilitate optimum thermal efficiency.
One of the perks of an electric motor is that torque delivery is
virtually instantaneous
, in this case, all 250 Nm of it. It also aids the diesel engine by
supplying a surge of torque
 – Boost function – during sudden accelerations, such as an overtaking attempt.
SAFETY
Fitted standard on the E300 is the
Collision Prevention Assist
, a radar-based collision warning system working in unison with the adaptive brake assist system which greatly
reduces the risk of rear ending
 the car ahead. Attention Assist is also standard; a system that actively monitors your level of inattentiveness and drowsiness while driving. It’s also capable of informing the driver on his level of fatigue and total driving time – things your wife would do.
As per mentioned earlier, the cameras on the exterior feed a stitched
360-degree visual
 (bird’s eye view included) onto the 7-inch high-res head unit via the
Surround View Camera
 feature. Parking lines appear on the screen, aiding drivers in manoeuvring tight parking spaces; or simply use the
Active Parking Assist
 to automatically have your E300 parked. When activated, this feature turns the steering, applies the throttle and brakes automatically and can perform parallel or end-on parking.
Frequent travelers or grocery shoppers would be pleased to know that the car comes with
Hands-Free Access
 to the boot compartment, and works simply by
waving your foot
 beneath the rear bumper. Wave again and the boot lid closes.
WHAT ELSE?
The first batch of E300 BlueTEC Hybrid are fully imported, with local assembly at their Pekan production plant scheduled to begin soon. Electrical engineers working at the E-Class assembly line have already been trained to properly execute the production of this E300.
IMAGE GALLERY


Bentley Bentayga gets all-new 4.0L tri-charged V8 diesel, makes 429 hp and 900 Nm!

Bentley has always been associated with prestige, refinement, luxury and of course, power. The English carmaker has made a drastic move in diversifying their model line-up with their luxury SUV, the
Bentayga
. It seems that Bentley are challenging themselves yet again with their first diesel powered Bentley – the Bentayga Diesel.
Diesel engines are getting more technologically advanced, slowly moving away from the assumptions that they lack refinement and produces lorry-like noises. With Bentley behind the drawing board, one can only expect a diesel engine like no other.
Resting under the bonnet of the luxurious SUV is a
4.0-litre triple-charged V8 diesel
 that produces
429 hp
 and
900 Nm
 of torque developed in-house by Bentley. This next generation V8 diesel is mated to a ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission.
This allows the Bentayga to sprint from 0 to 100km/h in
4.8 second
. That’s only less than a second slower than the W12 petrol’s
4.1 seconds
! The oil-burner Bentley is capable of a top speed of
270 km/h
. These figures crown the oil-burning Bentayga as the world’s fastest road-going diesel SUV ever.
The diesel engine consists of a pair of variable-geometry, sequential twin-scroll turbocharges, supported with an additional electric supercharger. Bentley’s supercharger adopts an innovative 48V system that allows the supercharger to spool up within
30 microseconds
, effectively eliminating turbo lag. The full
900 Nm
 of torque from the triple-charged V8 diesel is accessible from as low as
1,000 rpm
.
Official fuel consumption figures are pending approval at the moment but it is said that the Bentayga is able to travel over
1,000km
 on a single tank of diesel. It also boasts the lowest CO2 output of any Bentley at
210 grams per km
.
Elsewhere, the Bentayga wears the same shell as the petrol powered twin, with a full range of personalisation options available for customers to choose from. Deliveries of the diesel Bentley will commence in Europe by early 2017, with Russia, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan to follow suit.
Considering that Bentley Malaysia does not officially offer the petrol powered Bentayga just yet, it may take some time before the diesel variant makes it way to our shores. Meanwhile, check out what we think of the petrol Bentayga W12 that we
sampled
 in Singapore.
IMAGE GALLERY

BENTLEY BENTAYGA PETROL


5 Instagram accounts to follow if you love Porsches

The weekend is here, so it’s time to ogle at one of the most recognisable posteriors in automotive history. The Porsche 911 needs no introduction; and the accounts here all have their own interpretation of the iconic car. Time to hit that “Follow” button.
On a separate note, the 911 was originally unveiled in 1963 Frankfurt Motor Show as the 901. However, Peugeot argued that it had exclusive rights to cars with “0” in the middle of their names (for eg. 408, 508) and so, the 911 came into existence.
Singer Vehicle Design

@singervehicledesign

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Singer Vehicle Design (@singervehicledesign)
The company was founded in 2009, and their tagline is ‘The Porsche 911 Restored. Reimagined. Reborn.’ Customers supply a 911 (964 generation and older), and SVD will handle the restoration and modifications – tailoring it to their customer’s needs and even personality.
Singer Vehicle Design is arguably the most well-known company handling 911 restomods, with good reason, and their Instagram page is full of pictures of completed builds and the work that went into it.
Gunther Werks

@guntherwerks

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Gunther Werks (@guntherwerks)
Another restomod specialist, but with a totally different interpretation. Gunther Werks is obsessed with building the ultimate Porsche 993 911. They are based in California, and their Instagram page is a feast of delicious carbon fibre.
Magnus Walker

@magnuswalker

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Magnus Walker (@magnuswalker)
Yet another recognisable name (and possibly beard). Walker started collecting and customising 911s as a hobby in the early 90s, and become a familiar name when
a short film about him and his collection took the Internet by storm
.
His take on 911s are interesting
 because he approaches it from the perspective of a fashion designer.
000 Magazine

@000magazine

View this post on Instagram
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This is a handle for an actual magazine that you can buy or subscribe to, and it’s a celebration of all things Porsche. 911s are featured prominently on the page, but you’ll more often than not see supercars like the 918 Spyder or race cars like the Porsche 962.
type 7
@type7

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Another Insta account for a physical magazine, but with a different take. Type 7 celebrates good design so the page is a beautifully eclectic mix of architecture, landscapes, fashion, and of course, Porsche 911s. Pictured above is another classic, the Porsche 924.


This recent stunt by two Jaguars is actually harder than it looks

Jaguar recently celebrated the shared DNA of the XE 300 and the
SV Project 8
 with a super long, 1000 metre “artwork” that resembled the pattern of a “Double Helix” DNA molecule.
The XE 300 Sport and SV Project 8 shares the same lightweight aluminium body structure and all-wheel drive system to name a few. As the stunt required a large space to perform, the two cars did so on the Pendine Sands of Wales – where the same location had been used for motorsports for over 100 years.
“The aluminium-intensive body construction of the XE enabled Jaguar to create a car as special as Project 8. These two saloons share the same DNA, delivering excellent handling, peerless performance and unrivalled dynamics,” said Chief Engineer of Vehicle Integrity, Jaguar Land Rover.
Recently, both the cars also achieved incredible feats individually where the
XE 300 Sport raced against an ice-skater
 while the SV Project 8 recently blitzed through the
Laguna Seca circuit to a new record
, on top of being
the fastest saloon to lap the Nurburgring
.
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2021 Honda HR-V Hybrid facelift pricing confirmed for Malaysia – RM114k

Following the
update earlier this year
 to the 2021 Honda HR-V line-up, Honda Malaysia has now finally unveiled the pricing information for the HR-V Sport Hybrid i-DCD variant, which starts at
RM113,954.82
 on the road, without insurance, and inclusive of the
sales tax exemptions
 that is valid until the 31st of December.
As a recap, the Honda HR-V Hybrid received a significant update as part of the refresh that was announced in January this year, bringing its spec sheets closer to parity with the 1.8L V variant.
On the outside, the HR-V Hybrid finally gets LED headlights, LED fog lights, LED combination tail lights, and chrome door handles as standard. As for the interior, the hybrid variant is now equipped with a new three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Honda HR-V buyers can now opt for a 360-degree surround view monitor at an additional cost of RM3.3k. Learn more here.
But of course, the big ticket upgrade for the HR-V’s interior this year is the new 7-inch centre infotainment display, which also makes its appearance here on the HR-V. The new Display Audio unit supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as standard, and comes with two USB ports for added convenience.
The Honda HR-V Sport Hybrid i-DCD is also now available in the Platinum White Pearl colour, alongside Lunar Silver Metallic and Modern Steel Metallic.
Pre-update model pictured.
Powertrain wise, the Honda HR-V Sport Hybrid i-DCD remains unchanged from before. Underneath the bonnet is a 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine with 132 hp and 156 Nm, paired to a 22 kW (30 hp)/160 Nm electric motor for a combined output of
152 hp
 and
190 Nm
.
The hybrid powerplant is paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission to send power to the front wheels. Unlike Honda’s newer i-MMD series hybrid technology as seen on the new Honda City RS, the i-DCD system is more akin to a traditional hybrid set-up, where the electric motor provides additional assistance to the petrol engine.
2021 Honda HR-V finally comes with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto as standard! Check it out in detail here.
As mentioned above, the new 2021 Honda HR-V Sport Hybrid i-DCD is now priced at
RM113,954.82
, on the road, without insurance, and inclusive of the SST exemptions. The HR-V Hybrid was previously priced at RM120,800, although that was inclusive of the sales tax – the HR-V Hybrid was not given an SST-exempted pricing prior to this.
With the new price, customers can now essentially choose between two different powertrains with near-identical standard equipment (1.8L V and 1.5L Sport Hybrid i-DCD) at around the RM113k mark, with a price difference of only around RM500.
The 2021 Honda HR-V Sport Hybrid i-DCD is now available for pre-booking via Honda’s new online-booking site, linked
here
, or through the HondaTouch application on their smartphones. Customers can also enquire with their preferred dealership, which are now all back in operation, alongside the marque’s assembly plant in Melaka.
“We will continue to adhere to the guidelines and SOPs at our dealerships to ensure customers’ safety when visiting our dealerships,” said Honda Malaysia’s new Managing Director and CEO Madoka Chujo. “We hope that the resumption of businesses will contribute to the nation’s economic recovery phase and elevate the livelihood of Malaysians.”


Polestar to double global retail presence this year, five new Asia Pacific markets

Polestar
, Volvo’s electric car brand, is by all measures, a very small carmaker. As of the beginning off this year, the Swedish EV maker only officially sells their cars in nine countries. And so, just like how we make our annual resolutions, Polestar is targetting to double that figure this year – and unlike the rest of us, they’re actually on track to achieve their goal.
A big part of the success lies on its plans to expand into five new markets in the Asia Pacific region, as Polestar
announced back in March
. These markets include South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand.
The expansion will also see the carmaker double its retail outlets to around 100 locations. These “retail environments” will include the existing Polestar Spaces retail approach which are usually found in city centre locations, a new Polestar Destinations concept that can be found “easy-to-access out-of-town locations”, as well as some “temporary pop-up locations”.
Polestar did not expand further on these pop-up locations, but noted that the other two will offer “the same experiential approach for customers to immerse themselves in the Polestar brand”, including test drives and vehicle handovers.
Polestar has just announced the Polestar 3, a performance EV SUV to be built in the USA. More details here!
“We are expanding both within markets in which we already have a presence and into new markets extremely rapidly. As a brand that has only been fully operational for just over 12 months, this sort of footprint is unprecedented,” sais Polestar CEO, Thomas Ingenlath.
“We aim to expand at a similar rate in terms of new markets in 2022 as well. This continued pace, combined with new retail concepts, will support our goal to exceed our owners’ expectations,” he added.
Polestar took an experimental (read: more powerful) Polestar 2 to the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Watch the video here!
Aside from the physical locations, Polestar will also be ramping up its online car-buying environment, which the carmaker says fits some of their newer markets particularly well.
Customers will not need to visit a showroom to buy a car, though the brand recognises how important it can be for customers to take a closer look and test drive the cars. To that end, it will be adding around 60 test drive locations by the end of 2021, while handover centres are also expanding rapidly alongside other formats such as home delivery.
As for aftersales, the company aims to increase its service points in Polestar markets from 650 to over 780 by the end of 2021.
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First made-in-Malaysia Porsche Cayenne rolls out of new Kulim CKD assembly plant

Nearly seven months after the Sime Darby Auto Performance’s
official announcement last year
to locally assemble its cars here in Malaysia, the first-ever CKD
Porsche Cayenne
 has now finally rolled off the assembly line at the Sime Darby assembly plant in Kulim, Kedah.
Not only is it the Cayenne the first Porsche model to be assembled in Malaysia, the assembly plant is also the first assembly facility for Porsche vehicles outside of Europe. It’ll be staffed 100% by Malaysians, all of them comprehensively trained by Porsche of course, and supported by a local network of suppliers and service providers.
Porsche Executive Board member for Production and Logistics, Albrecht Reimold said that the new assembly site in Malaysia meets the specific market needs, and operates alongside the company’s established network of production facilities in Europe.
“In particular, it meets comprehensive quality standards set forth by Porsche when assembling Porsche sports cars,” he added.
In addition, the new Kulim assembly plant also meets Porsche’s sustainability standards, with solar panels on the roof to provide renewable energy for production, and rainwater harvesting technologies to reduce wastewater.
RELATED: CKD Porsche Cayenne now open for pre-orders – RM550k, deliveries start March 2022
The Cayenne is the only model currently planned to be assembled here in Malaysia, and Porsche says that the CKD operation is only intended to serve the local market.
As announced last year
, the locally-assembled Porsche Cayenne will start from RM550,000, making it RM115k cheaper than its CBU counterpart.
On top of the price reduction, the locally-assembled Cayenne will also come with additional standard features previously only available as options. These include:
LED headlights with Porsche Dynamic Light System (PDLS)
21-inch RS Spyder design wheels
14-way power-adjustable comfort seats with memory function
Bose Surround Sound System
Four-zone climate control
Porsche Communication Management system
12-inch touchscreen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay connectivity
Park Assist with front, rear and surround views
Porsche Advanced Cockpit
Sports steering wheel
Aside from the extended list of equipment, Porsche will also be offering a specially-curated Exclusive Manufaktur package option which adds additional exterior styling elements and a sports exhaust system for RM58,000, as well as a Carbon Interior Package and other lifestyle-oriented Tequipment accessories.
As for power, the base-model Porsche Cayenne is equipped with a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 engine that sends
 340 hp
 and
450 Nm
 of torque to all four wheels via an eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission.
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GoAuto subsidiary named Malaysian distributor for Hozon, Neta V EV “soft launch” next week

Malaysia will soon be welcoming yet another Chinese EV brand, called Neta. The first model from the marque to be launched here will be the Neta V, which will make its official debut at the upcoming Malaysia Autoshow 2023.
This was revealed in the announcement of the appointment of Intro Synergy, a wholly owned subsidiary of
GoAuto Group
, as the sole distributor for the Neta marque here in Malaysia.
The partnership with Hozon New Energy Auto, Neta’s parent company, will “come into force in five years”, with an investment plan of RM300 million being earmarked for the development of a manufacturing and assembly plant, as well as sales and after sales network here in Malaysia.
“We are excited to announce our partnership with Neta, which will enable us to bring our innovative electric vehicles at affordable and competitive prices to more customers in Malaysia,” said GoAuto Group chairman Datuk SM Azli SM Nasimuddin Kamal. “We hope that this brand will be well received by the public and further boost EV acceptance in the country.”
RELATED:
Government working to reduce EV prices for the rakyat – Tengku Zafrul
The Neta V is a budget-focused fully-electric crossover, coming in about the same size as your run-off-the-mill B-segment model. Launched in Thailand earlier this year, the compact Chinese EV features a 38.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that powers a single electric motor on the front axle, making
70 kW (94 hp)
 and
150 Nm
 of torque.
The relatively small battery means it only has a NEDC-rated range of
 384 km
, so expect a real-world range of around 200 km. Though, with an official top speed of just 101 km/h, you probably won’t be driving the Neta V on the highways that much, anyway. No official 0-100 km/h sprint time figures were given, but 0-50 km/h will take just 3.9 seconds.
For charging, the Neta V comes with an on-board AC charger that supports up to 6.6 kW, translating to a full charge in roughly eight hours. DC fast charging is also supported up to 100 kW, which can take the car from 30-80% charge in 30 minutes.
Despite its small battery, the Neta V will also still come with a vehicle-to-load (V2L) system that can output up to 3.3 kW of electricity to power external accessories.
Intro Synergy labels its upcoming event at the Malaysia Autoshow 2023 as a “soft launch” for the Neta V, where visitors will have the opportunity to “see and experience the latest innovation in sustainable transportation”. Customers who book the Neta V during the motor show (4-7 May 2023) will also get to enjoy “significantly lower prices”, according to the press release.


Limited edition 2020 Honda Civic Type R will be lighter and faster

Shortly after introducing the 2020 model update for the FK8 Civic Type R, Honda has announced a limited-edition, street legal, track-focused version for the U.S market.
The lighter and faster model which will arrive in America later this year, will feature
all of the 2020 model year updates such as the Honda Sensing
 suite of driver assistance systems.
The limited edition model not only sports a new Phoenix Yellow paint job and lightweight forged aluminium wheels from BBS but has also experienced a 28 pound (12.7kg) weight loss from reduced sound deadening materials.
The rear wipers, tonneau cover and rear heater ducts have also been removed, all in the name of weight reduction. Aside from the new exterior colour and wheels, the Civic can also be distinguished with contrasting gloss black paint on the roof, side mirror caps and intake vents on the hood.
The 600-unit limited run model with individual serial number plates also come with specially-tuned dampers and recalibrated steering for better feedback and control.
Pricing details have yet to be confirmed although Honda says it will be revealed closer to its launch.
IMAGE GALLERY


Drive the car of your dreams without ownership hassles with FLUX!

Sick of not being able to keep up with your monthly commitments, let alone own the car of your dreams? Fret not,
Flux
 is here and the service they’re offering will alter your views on “car ownership”.
Flux is an all-inclusive monthly car subscription service, offering all the benefits of having your dream car without the drawbacks. Members pay a monthly fee to drive a car of their choice without commitment.
The range of cars in their inventory vehicles like the Honda CR-V, BMW 6 Series GT, Toyota Yaris, Volvo XC40, Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 and Kia Sportage.
Their cars are sourced from reputable automotive groups and retailers which have been independently inspected to determine that each and every one is maintained to the highest standards and free of major accidents and flood damage.
Once members have selected a car, they then choose a
subscription plan
which starts at month-to-month for total flexibility or up to three years for best value.
Subscription plans indicate how long members intend to use the Flux service, not a specific car as they have the privilege to switch throughout their subscription.
Members also choose a mileage package

between
Lite
,
Standard
and
Unlimited
 which offers a monthly maximum of 1,250 km, 2,000 km and cap-less mileage respectively.
Upon selecting a car, Flux offers the freedom to switch car after a minimum of one month use with just a standard switching fee. After the switch, members would just have to pay the monthly rate of the newly chosen car – no one else can offer you such a flexibility at the moment.
If for some reason you’re not enjoying the selected car, Flux offers 3-day Risk Free Returns before assisting you with a car that suits your needs.
Unlike other new-age mobility solutions where cars have to be returned to a collection point, your Flux car stays with you throughout the duration of your subscription.
Also, unlike traditional car ownership which requires visits to the service centre, road tax renewals and such, a membership with Flux means these hassles are eliminated.
Should your car be involved in an accident, using their telematics device, Flux will send emergency services to your location so that medical attention is received as soon as possible.
Flux has partnered with leading automotive insurers for comprehensive protection and 24/7 nationwide roadside assistance to ensure your safety and assist you in every step of the post-accident process.
Flux allows both Malaysians and non-Malaysians to become Flux members, as long as they have a Malaysian credit card, mobile contact number and are above 25 years of age. International driving licence holders are also accepted.
IMAGE GALLERY


Lamborghini Huracán GT3 debuts in the Blancpain Endurance Series test in Paul Ricard

In preparation towards the first round of
Blancpain Endurance Series 2015
 at Monza in April,
Automobili Lamborghini
 sent their
Huracán GT3
 to the official two-day test session at
Circuit Paul Ricard
 in the South of France.
All six official
Lamborghini Squadra Corse
 drivers involved in this year’s Blancpain Endurance Series were present during the test session managed by Stéphane Ratel Organisation (SRO) on the 11th and 12th of March.
On the first day of the testing,
Fabio Babini
,
Jeroen Mul
, and
Andrew Palmer
 took the #19 car out to the track while
Adrian Zaugg
,
Mirko Bortolotti
, and
Giovanni Venturini
 drove the #63 car the next day.
According to Automobili Lamborghini, the two Huracán GT3 machines fielded by the Austrian
GRT Grasser Racing Team
 “demonstrated its potential as it covered an impressive number of laps”. The team will be out for another test session on the 1st and 2nd of April at Autodromo di Vallelung, before heading to the opening round in Monza on 11th and 12th of April.
2015 Blancpain Endurance Series Calendar
11-12 April
Monza, Italy
23-24 May
Silverstone, Great Britain
19-20 June
Paul Ricard, France
23-26 July
Spa-Francorchamps (24 hours), Belgium
19-20 September
Nürburgring, Germany

[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY


Toyota Supra’s 2JZ engine is so powerful, its tyres just gave up

The
 4th generation A80 Toyota Supra
 is the stuff of legends. Over the years, we’ve seen 500 hp, 700 hp and even 1,000 hp builds but it seems even the sky isn’t the limit for the Supra’s mighty 2JZ engine, on the topic of making power.
We bring you this video from the Middle East; where the Supra owned by
 Ahmad Daham
, a professional drifter from Jordan is being tuned on the dyno by
NMK Performance
.
 https://web.facebook.com/NMKPerformance090/videos/270735607485570
The Supra’s standard 2JZ 3.0-litre engine of the Mk4 has been upgraded (or rather stroked, in tuning speak) to 3.2-litres. Marry that with tonnes of other top shelf upgrades and the Supra is now said to be pushing out
over 1,400 hp
.
According to NMK performance, the Supra has achieved some incredible milestones. It is the first 3.2-litre Supra in Jordan and the first 2JZ Supra to rev over 9,000 rpm in the country, with a top speed of over 300 km/h.

Now watch how the Supra and its 2JZ engine absolutely tears its rear drag tyres apart, as it exceeds 275km/h on the dyno. Thankfully, no one was hurt in the tuning and filming process, according to NMK Performance.
For more insights on the development of the monster Supra,
watch Ahmad Daham’s videos here
!

Speaking of the Supra on a dyno, we did a little test of our own as well on the
A90 Toyota Supra
 that
arrived in Malaysia last year
. This follows after reports that the Supra’s B58 3.0-litre BMW engine actually made more power than advertised. Just how much more?
Watch it here
!


Catch the Toyota C-HR at One Utama and Aeon Tebrau in September!

Ever since the Toyota C-HR had its maiden debut at the
2017 Carlist.my Test, Drive and Buy event
 in May, UMW Toyota Malaysia (UMWT) has been making rounds around Malaysia, at Toyota showrooms, shopping malls and roadshows. The compact SUV has garnered so much interest from the public that UMWT has decided to host additional public display for the C-HR.
For the month of
September
, here’s where you can catch Malaysia’s most anticipated SUV in the metal:
Date
Venue
6 – 10 September
One Utama Shopping Centre (LG Oval)
12 – 17 September
Aeon Tebrau, Johor Bahru (Centre Court)
To recap,
UMWT has confirmed
 that we will be getting a
1.8-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder Dual VVT-i
 engine mated to a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) with sequential shifter. Other features include side mirror puddle light, follow-me-home headlamps, a “luxurious interior”, “full range” of safety features and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) that should be bundled with Blind Spot Monitoring.
Our local-spec C-HR will be available in no less than
six exterior shades
 – White Pearl CS, Metal Stream Metallic, Attitude Black while Red Mica, Radiant Green Metallic and Blue Metallic will come with a blacked-out roof.
IMAGE GALLERY


Polestar to launch their very own car in Shanghai next week, to rival AMG & M?

The wait is finally over. After Polestars announcement that they will
break away from Volvo Cars
 to establish a sub-brand under Volvo Group, the Swedish brand is ready to unveil their first ever Polestar badged high-performance car on 17 October 2017.
The launch event will be held in Shanghai, China, further emphasising the company’s value towards the Chinese market. Polestar has unveiled a series of teaser images on their Instagram page which points towards a design that resembles the
S90 Coupe Concept
 unveiled back in 2013. However, we’ll have to wait for the official launch to view the car in full.
As announced earlier that Polestar will focus on developing high-performance electric vehicles (EVs) using its access to Volvo’s existing technologies and engineering database. These information points towards a car that features Volvo design with a monstrous electric powertrain to boot. Of course, we wouldn’t mind a mean sounding petrol engine either.
Even more recently, Volvo announced that they will be building their
first electric vehicle in China
, suggesting that future Polestar models could potentially be built in China too. The new Polestar model will not only bear the Polestar logo, but will also be shipped globally.
IMAGE GALLERY
Volvo S90 Coupe Concept


RHB Bank offers attractive auto loans and more under new financing programme

Just a day after the
announcement to review
 the making and selling of low emission vehicles under the Twelfth Malaysia Plan (12MP), RHB Bank has launched the RHB Sustainability Financing Programme (SFP) that focuses on financing products for green products and services.
To cover as many products and services that support low carbon emissions as well as sustainability to the environment for both businesses and individuals, RHB Bank has set four categories for the SFP, namely Green Building, Green Process, Green Energy and Green Products.
To promote the purchase of eco-friendly products such as
hybrid
,
plug-in hybrid
 and
electric vehicles
, RHB Bank via the Green Products in the SFP is offering an ‘Auto Financing’ plan with an attractive interest rate as low as
1.99%
 (flat rate equivalent) across all financing tenures for up to nine years amounting to a maximum loan of RM500,000.

In true European culture, the Polestar 1 is the first car you can buy with works of art! More about the method here.
To further keep customers within the RHB Group, an additional discount of up to 10% in premiums is provided when they opt for insurance coverage by RHB Insurance.
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) meanwhile can benefit via lower preferential rates and longer tenure plus relevant tax incentives, for example, a business might need financing for equipment and machinery towards supporting customers’ decarbonisation efforts or even design, construction, operation and maintenance of buildings with eco-friendly features.
Prices of EVs are expecting to match and even go cheaper than engines. When? Find out here!
RHB Bank targets to grant a total of RM1 billion in new financing via the RHB Sustainability Financing Programme by 2025. More information about the new programme can be found on their
website
.
As of May 31st 2021, RHB Group’s Green Financing Commitment stood at RM3.25 billion, of which approximately 20% is in renewable energy projects. In line with the governments move to discontinue the construction of new coal-fired power plants, RHB Group also naturally will not be pursuing opportunities or provide financing for power plants projects that consume such fuel.


The Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato is the first, but also the last of its kind – 1,499 units only

The wild-looking all-terrain
Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato
 has finally made its world debut, and it is rather historical for two things. It is Lamborghini’s first all-terrain supercar, but also the last Lamborghini to be purely petrol-powered. With only
1,499 units
 planned and production will start in February 2023.
From a sales report last in November,
Lamborghini
 said, “A final farewell to the pure combustion engine will be made at the end of the year at Art Basel in Miami with an all-terrain version of the Huracán, a model once again destined to impress and create a new segment in the super sports car world.”
Based on the
Lamborghini Huracan EVO
, the Huracan Sterrato is powered by the same 5.2-litre V10 engine that makes
610 hp
 (metric) and
560 Nm
. The V10 engine is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) that sends power to all wheels, and the car does 0-100 km/h in
3.4 seconds
 and 0-200 km/h in
9.8 seconds
.
Compared to the Huracan EVO, the Huracan Sterrato gets an updated version of Lamborghini Integrated Vehicle Dynamics (LDVI) system with specific ‘Strada’ and ‘Sports’ calibrations. There is also a new ‘Rally’ mode which is introduced to the Huracan line for the first time.
Lamborghini Chief Technical Officer, Rouven Mohr said, “With the high-speed all-terrain concept of the Sterrato, we have uniquely combined the driving experience of a true super sports car and the fun of driving a rally car. Lamborghini cars always deliver emotion: the Sterrato delivers a new degree of driving thrills.”
RELATED:
No roads? No problem – Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato exterior unveiled
‘All-terrain upgrades’ on the Sterrato include the increased ground clearance by 44 mm, a 30mm wider front track, and a 34 mm wider rear track. For protection, the underbody is equipped with aluminum front underbody protection, reinforced sills, and a roof-mounted intake for the V10 engine.
The tyres are much beefier than usual, and they are a set of Bridgestone Dueler AT002 tyres that have been custom-engineered for the Huracan Sterrato. The wheels are 19 inches on all four corners and the tyres are 235/40R19 in front and 285/40 R19 in the rear. For a worry-free “off-road” experience, the tyres are of the run-flat type that can still be driven at 80 km/h with 0 pressure.
Completing the adventurous look (and nature) of the Huracan Sterrato are wheel arch claddings, front LED spotlights, and roof rails. There is also a ‘Sterrato’ design on the sides just in case you didn’t notice how special this new car by Lamborghini Automobili is. Remember, only 1,499 units will be made.
RELATED:
Lamborghini’s last non-hybrid car is the all-terrain Huracan Sterrato, to debut by year end
Inside, the Huracan Sterrato is upholstered in the exclusive ‘Alcantara Verde Sterrato’ and has a “feel like a pilot” philosophy that places the driver right in the centre of the cockpit. No official images have been posted on the Lamborghini website yet, but the various videos on the car already show its interior.
Also equipped in the Huracan Sterrato is the Lamborghini Connect service that includes integration with Amazon Alexa. With Alexa, drivers can adjust car features such as air conditioning and lighting, as well as control navigation, phone calls, and entertainment with a simple voice command. The car can also be controlled remotely via the Lamborghini UNICA app.
The Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato is an exciting new car by Lamborghini Automobili that also spearheads a new genre. However, it is also the brand’s “final farewell to the pure combustion engine”.
RELATED:
The Porsche 911 Dakar is a sports car you can drive anywhere
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Proton advises against believing viral messages, says it’s fine to jump start cars

The thing about social media is anything can be spread out that could misinform or mislead others. The latest round involves a viral image that says jump-starting certain Proton model will lead to irreparable damages to the Transmission Control Unit (TCU). Proton has issued a statement which vehemently denies this claim, and went on to say that all their cars can be jump started.
In light of that, here’s a quick recap on
Car Maintenance 101
 on the correct way of jump-starting a car:
Connect the positive (+) terminal from a healthy battery (assisting car) to the positive terminal of the battery of the affected car. Use the red cable to connect this two terminals.
The negative (-) terminal from the source must be connected to the body of the affected car. Use the black cable to connect these two ends.
To paint a better picture, refer to the picture provided by Proton below:
Also, please take note on the correct procedure to jump start a car as recommended by Proton:
Vehicles should be close enough so that the jumper cables can be connected, but be sure that the vehicles aren’t touching each other. If they are, it could cause an undesirable ground connection. It will not be possible to start the vehicle, and the bad grounding could damage the electrical systems (Transmission Control Unit, TCU).
The assisting vehicle must have a 12-volt battery and the capacity (Ah) of the booster battery should not be significantly lower than that of the discharged battery, this is to avoid damage of circuit shorting both vehicles.
Only use jumper cables with insulated battery clamps.
Vehicle must be positioned in “P” (PARK) for automatic transmission and “N” (NEUTRAL) for manual transmission.
Turn off the ignition on both vehicles beforehand.
When connecting the booster cable, do not connect the positive (+) cable to the negative (-) terminal or it can cause sparks and battery can explode.
The negative jumper cable (black) must never be clamped to fuel lines with metal sheath or to the fuel filter or brake lines as this could cause a fire.
Start the engine in the vehicle, which has the booster battery, let the engine idle for a few minutes and then start the engine in the vehicle with the discharged battery.
After the engine is started, disconnect the cables in reverse order.
After all, the engineer’s adage of “
when in doubt, read the manual
” aptly fits this circumstance. Therefore, here’s our parting message: Viral messages aren’t necessarily verified information, so
always read the manual
!


The Rolls-Royce Ghost looks oddly comfortable on the Nurburgring Nordschleife

Rolls-Royce cars are usually known for their ultimate luxury experience, from the cabin materials to the ride quality – the race track is pretty much the last place you’d expect a Rolls-Royce to be at.
However, that doesn’t mean that it is not capable of handling the curves once in a while. In an effort to prove the point, YouTuber
Misha Charoudin
 and his friend Faby (who owns the car featured in the video) took the
Rolls-Royce Ghost
 to the ultimate race track of them all – the Nurburgring Nordschleife.

In case you didn’t know, Rolls-Royce is owned by BMW, who themselves have quite a reputation for driving dynamics. The Ghost featured in this model shares the same chassis as the fifth-generation BMW 7 Series.
Of course, the air suspension set-up on the Rolls-Royce is tuned for comfort, soaking up the undulations, surface imperfections, and even the kerbs. This might have possibly been the most comfortable lap around the ‘Ring ever.
Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost
The Rolls-Royce doesn’t lack in the horsepower department too, with a giant 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12 engine under the hood, producing
563 hp
 and
780 Nm
 of torque. Pair that to a silky smooth eight-speed ZF automatic transmission, and the Ghost can reach 100 km/h in just
 4.9 seconds
 from a standstill.
The driver commented that the Ghost actually handles pretty well around the track, but it was later revealed in the comments section that he was not pushing the car as hard due to the winter tyres.
For something weighing over 2.5 tonnes, the Ghost certainly looks pretty comfortable around the Green Hell. It’d be interesting to see how the Rolls-Royce performs with proper performance tyres!


Porsche remains the go-to sportscar brand in the UK

Tough times may be clouding the middle and lower income groups but supercars and luxuru automobiles are still flying off the shelves for the well-to-do.
According to finance provider, JBR Capital in the UK, there have been “record volumes of lending” on models from the Aston Martin, Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche and Rolls-Royce brand in recent weeks.
Watch our on-road and on-track review of the all-electric Porsche Taycan here!
The final 991-generation 911, the limited-edition 911 Speedster.
Last month, Porsche was again the company’s most financed brand. While the all-electric Taycan generated the highest loan applications in March, it was the 911 that was most popular overall, alongside the Macan and Cayenne.
Driving the new 992-generation Porsche 911 in New Zealand with epic views and sceneries! Watch the video here!
Interestingly, it’s the 991-generation models of the 911, not the latest 992-generation that’s been flying out of the dealerships. As for Lamborghinis, the Huracan has been preferred over the Aventador, making up more than 50% of all Lamborghinis financed by JBR Capital, followed by the Urus.
The Ferrari 458.
As for the Prancing Horse, JBR Capital reported that the 458 Italia is the most in-demand Ferrari at the moment, making up more than half of all the loans by JBR Capital for Ferraris.
Over the course of 2020, UK households have accumulated a total of £200billion with savings coming from reduced commuting and restrictions on leisure activities.
The company said since the lockdown, there’s been a stark increase in demand for high-end cars with buyers having more funds allocated, following a permanent work-from-home regime.
The McLaren 570S made up more than 80% of loans for McLarens, ahead of the 720S and 650S.
Over the course of May, JBR Capital experienced the largest number of loan applications since the business was launched in 2015.
JBR Capital, Founder and CMO, Darren Selig said, “Demand for sports cars, supercars, and prestige vehicles continues to be incredibly strong. We experienced a record March and April – and May has now eclipsed those months. Without doubt there has been pent-up demand, and as restrictions have eased, this has been unleashed onto the market with our dealer introducers reporting luxury cars being snapped up quickly and a lack of stock.
“With customers unable to take expensive overseas holidays, many are looking to treat themselves. Plus, many are fortunate enough to have more money in their pockets through lockdown savings too.”
The Huracan has been preferred over the Aventador
There are the top 10 most-in-demand vehicles with the most loan applications in May according to JBR Capital:
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Bentley Continental
Ferrari 458 Italia
Lamborghini Huracan
Land Rover Defender
McLaren 570S
Mercedes-AMG GT
Porsche 911 (991)
Range Rover Sport
Rolls-Royce Cullinan
JBR Capital is the only independent finance lender in the UK dedicated to high-end vehicle financing. To date they’ve loaned over £500m (approx. RM2.9 billion).


Kia Cerato Koup 1.6L Turbo now on sale in Malaysia, yours for RM136k

Kia’s official distributor, NAZA Kia Malaysia has finally revealed the pricing for the
2015 Kia Cerato Koup after seven months since it was put on public display
 at the One Utama Shopping Centre. This turbocharged Korean coupe is priced at RM135,888 – about RM14k shy of its initial pricing, which is big news for those who have been eyeing it.
Before talking about its performance, let’s glance through the kit list to see what comes packaged with this red-hot Koup. At the front, the Cerato Koup bears Kia’s signature Tiger-nose grille that’s slimmer than its sedan sibling and a sportier front bumper complete with a lower grille finished in faux carbon fibre.
QUICK FACTS
Name
2015 Kia Cerato Koup 1.6L Turbo
Engine
1,591cc; inline-4, turbocharged direct injection, DOHC
Transmission
6-speed automatic
Max Power
201 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Max Torque
265 Nm @ 1,750 – 4,500 rpm
0 – 100 km/h; Top Speed
7.4 seconds; 222 km/h
Price
RM135,888
Illumination source is HID, and the headlights also come fitted with LED daytime running lights as standard. Round the side, you’ll spot the sleek
18-inch rims
 shod with
 225/40 series Nexen NBlue HD tyres
, black-finished side mirrors and keyless entry. At the back, the taillamp clusters differ from the sedan’s, as is the bumper which features an integrated diffuser. Its rump is finished off with dual tail pipes and a rather oddly placed reverse camera. The shark fin antenna comes free of charge, of course.

Upon opening the
 frameless doors
, you’ll first notice the firm leather-wrapped sports seats, but unfortunately both the front seats are manually adjustable. There’s some minor
carbon fibre trimmings
 on the air conditioning vents and door trims which can be a hit or miss to some.
This sole-trim Cerato Koup comes with
dual-zone automatic climate control
 with cluster ioniser, smart welcoming light system, electrochromic rear view mirror with integrated reverse camera, a miniscule screen in the centre dash and passive cruise control.

This Korean’s party piece resides under the hood – a
1.6-litre Gamma T-GDi
 (Turbo, Gasoline Direct Injection) four-cylinder engine that’s capable of producing
201 horsepower
 at 6,000 rpm and
 265 Nm
 of torque from 1,750 to 4,500 rpm. The
front wheels
 receive power from a
six-speed automatic gearbox
 (torque converter, not
dual-clutch like the Veloster Turbo
), allowing it to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in a respectable
7.4 seconds
 before topping out at
222 km/h
. Keep your hands off the paddle shifters and you’ll likely manage
7.4 litres per 100km
, or at least that’s how much fuel Kia claims it’ll sip.
Other stuff worthy of keeping check are the
six airbag count
, front and rear parkings sensors, Brake Assist, Hill Assist Control and Vehicle Stability Management. It’s available in just
three exterior colours
 – Racing Red, Aurora Black Pearl and Clear White. The pricing (RM135,888) excludes insurance, and each purchase comes with a
5-year unlimited mileage warranty
. The 2015 Kia Cerato Koup 1.6L T-GDi is now available for viewing at your nearest authorised Kia showroom.
IMAGE GALLERY


Volkswagen does minimalism right with the all-new VW Golf’s cockpit

You’d be forgiven if you quickly dismissed the
eight-generation Volkswagen Golf
 as “just another Golf”, and that is mostly true, at least for the evolutionary exterior styling.
However, if you’ve never made it past the exterior, you’d be missing out on the completely revamped cockpit of the Golf 8. In case you missed it, Volkswagen has just released some additional information on the Digital Cockpit, so let’s dive in and see what’s new.
Volkswagen says that the Golf will come with a “revolutionary” cockpit that is clearer, neater, and completely digitalised, and it is immediately evident with the generous usage of screens on the dashboard.
The Digital Cockpit – comprising of the instrument cluster, infotainment system, and multi-function steering wheel – forms the first functional level, in which virtually all displays and controls are digital.
Although simplified, Volkswagen still promises quick and intuitive controls for all systems. Touch sliders are utilised for volume and temperature controls, while a touch island underneath the infotainment system provides direct access to additional air conditioning functions and assistance systems.
Positioned beside the instrument cluster on the other side of the wrap-around dashboard is a second touch island for the lights and vision (windscreen and rear window heating) functions.
The infotainment system can be upgraded to a 10-inch Discover Pro unit, along with an optional head-up display for critical driving information such as speed, and navigation information.
The simplification continues on to the centre console, where the old and bulky gear shifter is replaced by a significantly smaller shift-by-wire gear knob for the DSG models.
Just like most latest-generation vehicles, the all-new Volkswagen Golf also features a natural voice control system that reacts to intuitive voice commands by saying “Hello Volkswagen”.
Unlike most vehicles though, is the digital microphones, capable of locating the person who is speaking (driver or front passenger) and respond accordingly. For example, the voice control system can identify which zone’s temperature needs adjusting!
The eight-generation Volkswagen Golf is also always connected. Individual driver settings such as seat position, exterior mirror settings, and even the ambient lighting can be saved in the cloud, and will still be available even with a change of vehicle.
Connectivity to the cloud is enabled via an online connectivity unit (OCU) with an integrated eSIM, coming as standard on all models. The OCU is also used to interface with the We Connect online-based functions, allowing the car to be “upgraded” without heading back to a dealership.


The BMW M2 Competition looks super mean in the metal

BMW Singapore has officially launched the
BMW M2 Competition
 at the 2019 Singapore Motor Show. The baby M car with its new engine and fully loaded options dial the car’s aggression to 11.
The M2 Competition is powered by an S55 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged in-line six taken from the M3 and
M4
 but in detuned for this application to
410 hp
 and
 550 Nm
. A six-speed manual is a standard option for the enthusiast but if you want to hit the century mark in
4.2 seconds
, you’ll have to opt for the seven-speed M dual-clutch transmission (the manual gets there in 4.4 seconds). The standard 250 km/h top speed can be raised to
 280 km/h
 with the M Driver’s Package.

The car on display is fully kitted with all available options including the 19-inch Y-Spoke forged alloys, M Sport brakes that measure 400 mm in diameter front and 380 mm at the rear as well as bucket-style M Sport seats with illuminated M2 logo on the backrest. Wonder if BMW Singapore will offer the radical
M Performance Parts for the M2
.
Compared to the standard M2, the M2 Competition features larger kidney grilles, restyled air intakes, M side mirror caps, larger rear diffuser and a new exhaust system with quad outlets. The new exterior kit collectively gives the car smoother airflow for better aerodynamics and cooling.
Not obvious to the naked eye is new carbon fibre high-precision strut and bulkhead strut taken from the M4 to for increased front-end rigidity and better steering precision, recalibrated electronic power steering for more accurate steering and tweaked Dynamic Stability Control system for more delicate control at the limit.
Cost of having one of these beauties in the land across the causeway is SGD324,888 or RM984k based on today’s exchange rate. In Malaysia, you can get the
F90 BMW M5
 for the same money.
IMAGE GALLERY
BMW M2 Competition at the 2019 Singapore Motor Show


Here’s why the new Mitsubishi Triton is using a 6-speed gearbox and not a 10-speed unit

After unveiling the
 facelifted 2018 Mitsubishi Triton in Bangkok, Thailand
 just last month, the 2018 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) which concluded just yesterday,
 gave Malaysians a preview
 into what the new Triton would look like when it goes on sale here early next year.
We even got to sit down with Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia CEO, Mr. Tomoyuki Shinnishi and Chief Product Specialist, Mr. Yoshiki Masuda to speak on all things Mitsubishi Triton. Having been lavished with so many new additions and improvements in so many areas, we had to ask, what was the main focus of the new pick-up.
“Improvements have been aplenty; the exterior for one, is a reflection of our new Engineered Beyond Tough design concept with an emphasis on robustness and toughness,” said Masuda.
The most drastic change lies in the front end of the new Triton. It features the new-generation “Dynamic Shield” design concept, with Bi-LED projector headlamps for a more imposing presence. Take the headlamps for example, they’re now positioned
700 mm off the ground
, so they wouldn’t be vulnerable to flooding, should the Triton take on extreme driving conditions.
“Emphasis is also given to the improvement of the Triton’s off-road capabilities, with the new Super Select 4WD II from the Pajero Sport which automatically adjusts torque split between the front and rear wheels,” Masuda added.
Along with the Hill Descent Control, featured for the first time in a Triton, there are also various off-road driving modes including Gravel, Mud/Snow, Sand and Rock available.
“Safety was also another major focus point for the new Triton. It offers more than what most current pick-ups are equipped with,” said Masuda.
Features like Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM), Blind Spot Warning, Lane Change Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation System (UMS) are all offered in the new Triton.
Aside from braking performance from bigger calipers and rotors and smooth power delivery from a new 6-speed automatic transmission, comfort had also been enhanced with the use of larger dampers at the rear.
To that Masuda said, “This is not only to improve the ride quality but also the stability of the pick-up when tackling different road undulations, with lesser body roll.”
When asked if the Triton’s new, fancy driving aids/electronics can withstand the harness of off-road driving, Masuda said there’s “no meaning” for us to incorporate these systems if they can’t work between road and off-road conditions, as it has undergone extensive testing.
When asked if the testing of these safety systems were conducted in Malaysia, Masuda, who’s been a testing development engineer at Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, added that these systems have endured months and countless kilometres of testing.
“Considering that the Triton will be sold in more than 150 countries around the world, different teams are often dispatched to different countries – some as far as Chile and Peru – including Malaysia to collect data on all things driving and road conditions. Data collected from these harsh conditions – both in extremely high and low temperatures – will be applied onto the simulators in MMC’s R&D centre in Okazaki, Japan,” said Masuda.
With the Triton’s rivals offering 7-speed, some even 10-speed transmissions, studies have been conducted where results have shown that the new 6-speed transmission is the best option to fully optimise and harness the potential of the Triton’s 2.4-litre turbo diesel engine – offering a “functional balance”.
Considering the diverse applications of the pick-ups in Malaysia and such high levels of emphasis on comfort in the new Triton, we also asked Masuda if there could be a model in the future to
feature coil springs rather than leaf springs
 – for the Triton owners who confine themselves in the urban jungle.
“The use of coil springs have always been a long-standing debate within MMC. However, based on consumer sentiments around the world, those who purchase pick-ups do so for a very specific reason like its ability to carry cargo etc.”
“Hence, retaining the leaf springs is to retain the pick-up capabilities of the Triton despite the increased focus on comfort. This retains the duality of the Triton where it can offer comfort, while at the same time, still be able to carry cargo,” said Masuda.
Just for kicks, we also asked Masuda on whether the Triton will be available in a “more extreme” version like the one its rival recently launched in Malaysia for a sub-RM200k price tag.
“It’s human nature, especially when looking for a pick-up, to want it big and imposing,” said Masuda as he acknowledged this global trend but said that while there may not be any imminent plans for an “extreme Triton” in the near future, consumer response and demand will play a huge role in the consideration for the development of such a vehicle.
IMAGE GALLERY


Perodua sold 61,624 cars in Q1 2022, urges government to extend SST exemption period

Perodua
 has just reported its sales performance for the first quarter of 2022, which saw a total of
61,624 units sold
, marking a 6.4% increase in sales over the same period last year (57,909 units).
The figure is bolstered by a healthy sales performance of
26,759 units
in March alone, which translates to a 9.5% increase over the same period last year, and a 53.2% increase over February.
Perodua also boasted that its March sales figure is just a whisker away from its record monthly sales figure of 27,858 units, which it achieved in
October last year
.
RELATED: 2021 Perodua Myvi facelift unveiled – from RM45,700
Perodua President and Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad said the effects of
Covid-19 and component supply issues
 are still present currently. However, the company was able to work with its suppliers and dealers to reduce the impact.
“Our focus is now to expedite the vehicles delivery to our customers before the sales tax exemption deadline ends on 30 June 2022,” he said.
In a statement today, Dato’ Zainal said that he expects the second quarter of 2022 to be the “highlight of the automotive industry”, as car brands are trying to deliver as many vehicles as they can within the three-month period before the scheduled end of the sales tax exemption period.
“While semiconductor chip supply and Covid-19 would still influence production, we expect that production and registration will continue to improve. We do not foresee other factors such as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to have a major impact on Perodua’s production moving forward,” he added.
As such, the company is forging forward with its
2022 sales target of 247,800 units

– a massive 37.5% jump
 compared to its 2021 sales figures.
ALSO READ: Perodua donates RM87k worth of supplies to Shah Alam General Hospital
With that being said, the company is still hoping that the government would consider extending the sales tax exemptions period once again past its original scheduled end date, as requested by the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA).
“Perodua also echoes MAA’s request to further extend the sales tax exemptions as factors such as the global semiconductor supply disruption and Covid-19 cases are still impacting the industry,” he said, adding that the initiative was key in sustaining the industry and its local ecosystem throughout the worst of the pandemic.
“Right now, the local automotive ecosystem is starting to recover and an extension in the sales tax exemption is what the industry needs for sustained growth during this recovery period,” Dato’ Zainal added.


2017 Mercedes-AMG E63 Estate unveiled, 612 hp, 0-100 in 3.5 secs!

Just after BMW revealed their gorgeous
G30 5-Series Touring
, Mercedes-AMG went ahead to steal the limelight by introducing the 2017 E 63 Estate.
It essentially shares the same recipe as the
saloon-bodied E 63
, and is available in a hotter E 63 S trim as well. Both are powered by the same
4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
, but the latter is tuned to produce more power. The company’s 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive system is standard, and the sole nine-speed Speedshift dual clutch auto is also standard fitment.

The E 63’s V8 belts
571 hp
 and
750 Nm
 of torque, while the E 63 S pushes out a ludicrous
612 hp
 and
 850 Nm
 of torque. The former sprints from 0 to 100km/h in 3.6 seconds while the latter manages that in 3.5 seconds. Another feature this car comes with is “Drift” mode for some sideway fun. When AMG Driver’s Package is optioned, the electronically limited top speed will be lifted and the E 63 S will go on to hit 290km/h!
All that brute force comes hand in hand with practicality, because all that additional rear estate in the back gives it 630 litres of boot space. Fold the rear seats down and it expands to 1,820 litres!
The 2017 Mercedes-AMG E 63 Estate will make its worldwide debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The E63 S estate has clearly cemented itself as the fastest production estate in the market, dethroning even the Audi RS6 Avant. Will we ever see the BMW M5 Touring come to life?
IMAGE GALLERY


The new Audi A1 Sportback is the perfect city car for millennials

Audi’s most compact model, the first-generation Audi A1 first made its global debut back in 2010, allowing the four rings to tap into the premium supermini segment virtually uncontested. After eight long years of service, Audi has finally released a replacement model.
Available exclusively as a five-door Sportback model, the A1 now measures at 4,029 mm in length (+56 mm), 1,940 mm in width (+34 mm) and 1,409 mm in height (-13 mm) while the wheelbase is now 2,563 mm (+94 mm). Occupants will enjoy a substantially more spacious cabin with a more practical boot at 335 litres, 65 litres more than before.

Visually, the A1 gets distinctive daytime running light graphics on the optional full-LED headlamps which Audi coins as hydrofoils that were inspired from sailing. Its taillamp graphics are also never seen before on previous Audi models. These work in combination with the more expressive design to give the supermini a wider stance.
A total of 10 colour choices are available for the A1 with the option for a contrasting roof, side mirror caps, side front spoiler lips and side sills. At launch, Audi is offering a limited run
Edition model
 that adds a little more flare to the A1 S-Line – 18-inch alloy wheels in bronze, white or black, tinted headlamps and taillamps as well as dechrome for the Singleframe grille and badges.

Inside the A1 is touted with “the sportiest interior in the compact class” with the cabin dominated by a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster (Audi Virtual Cockpit with extended functions available as an option) and an optional 10.1-inch MMI touchscreen infotainment system. The interior was penned to create a seamless and driver-focused cockpit. Other available options include wireless charging tray,
560W 11-speaker Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound System
 and 30-colour ambient lighting.
Available powertrains on the A1 include a range of turbo petrol engines with output ranging from
95 hp
 to
200 hp
. A six-speed manual and seven-speed S Tronic dual-clutch transmission are available for all engines but the top-of-the-range
200 hp
 A1 gets the six-speed S Tronic instead.

Safety is regarded very highly in this supermini with standard driver assist systems including lane departure warning, Audi pre-sense front collision warning and autonomous emergency braking. Adaptive cruise control with stop-go assist, Audi park assist, and reversing camera are however reserved for more expensive models.
IMAGE GALLERY
Audi A1 Sportback

Audi A1 Sportback Edition Model


Kia made a special edition model we’ll never get to experience – the Stinger GTS

Only 800 units of the Stinger GTS will be available and they be had either purely as a rear-wheel drive or opt for the new all-wheel drive system.
It’s not like we’ve had a chance to
try the ones that came to Malaysia
 but to think that there’s an even hotter version of a car that’s been lauded by foreign media as something comparable to the BMW 5-series, triggers even more hunger and curiosity to know.
Why? Because the development of this thing was led by Albert Biermann. And who in the world is this Albert dude, you ask?
Only the guy who’s been developing BMWs for the last 30 years; serving as Vice President of Engineering in the BMW M Division. I guess that says enough about the man.
The Hyundai i30N.
He is now, however, the man who’s charged with elevating Hyundai and Kia’s fortunes as the Head of R&D in both companies to develop new high performance cars.
And he’s brought us the impeccable
 i30N
. Again, enough said. Back to the Stinger GTS, the all-wheel drive system, dubbed the D-AWD, has been tweaked to offer a mix of all-wheel traction and pure rear-wheel fun.
A mechanical limited-slip differential supports the D-AWD system by distributing power more evenly between the rear wheels should there be a slip.
Three different drive modes accompany the car – Comfort, Sport and believe this, Drift Mode. In
Comfort Mode
, 60% of power goes to the rear wheels, 80% in
Sport
and 100% in
Drift Mode
.
Output wise, the 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 still makes the same
365 hp
 and
510 Nm
 which we’ve not had a taste of.
As for the frivolous bits, the Stinger GTS gets an exclusive Federation Orange paint job, some carbon bits by the front grille, side mirror, hood vents, side vents, rear bumper and a custom Stinger emblem that replaces the Kia logo.
There’s not much to highlight on the inside save for an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel and suede-like material for the headlining. As for costs, the RWD version is set to cost USD44,000 (RM182k) while the D-AWD model asks for USD46,500 (RM193k).
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Audi TT TDI quattro unveiled, but it won’t be coming to Malaysia

Joining the third-generation Audi TT lineup is the new TDI quattro variant, which Audi says will deliver strong performance, excellent traction and high efficiency/frugality. It’s offered in both hard top coupe and soft top roadster variants.
The TT TDI was initially available as a front-wheel drive, but customers in selected markets can now opt for the all-weather quattro version. Powering this TT is a
2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel
 engine, putting out
182 hp
 and
380 Nm
 of torque, with the latter peaking from 1,750 to 3,250 rpm.
The RM400k Audi TTS is a monstrosity of a coupe, belting 286 hp and 380 Nm of torque from a 2.0L four-potter!
All four wheels will receive power from the sole
six-speed S tronic twin-clutch
 transmission. This results in a healthy century sprint of 6.7 seconds (7.0 seconds for the Roadster), and maxes out at 233km/h (228km/h for the Roadster). The six-speed stick is only reserved for the FWD TT 2.0 TDI.
Back at home, Audi Malaysia is offering just two variants of the TT – the
2.0 TFSI
 and
TTS 2.0 TFSI
. Unfortunately, the former isn’t equipped with quattro, and neither TDI variants will come to Malaysia. On the flip side, there’s a small chance the TT RS will hit our shores next year, so fingers crossed!
Meanwhile, read our reviews of the
Audi TT 2.0 TFSI
 and
TT S 2.0 TFSI
 to find out if either one of the duo is the car for you!
VIDEO GALLERY


All-new Hyundai i20 unveiled with striking design and mild hybrid engine

Originally scheduled to be launched early next month, Hyundai has unveiled the all-new i20 ahead of the Geneva Motor Show, following the leaks that has been circulating online.
On the outside, the all-new Hyundai i20 carries a striking design featuring Hyundai’s ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ design language. Most notably is the more dynamic stance of the car, thanks to the wider body and lowered roof.
The all-new i20 stands out with its use of sharp angles and creases, especially on the front and rear bumpers. Up front, the large grille dominates the front fascia, with the slim headlights integrated neatly into the “wings” of the front grille.
The rear of the all-new i20 is characterised by the LED taillights, which runs across the entire width of the tailgate. Hyundai says that the new lighting signature further emphasises the width and dynamic stance of the i20.
Looking from the side, the wedge-style shape is amplified through a prominent (if not a tad busy) character line, as well as an unique C-pillar design. The two-tone roof and large
 17-inch wheels
 complete the sporty look of the
Volkswagen Polo
 rival.
Inside, Hyundai says that the all-new interior of the Hyundai i20 offers enhanced aesthetics, comfort, and best-in-class connectivity. Although the interior of the supermini has not been revealed yet, Hyundai has published a detailed sketch which provides us a good look at the newly redesigned cabin.
The dashboard now features a sculptured look that continues from door to door. Sitting up high on the dashboard are the
two 10.25-inch displays
 – one each for the infotainment and instrument cluster. The infotainment display sits above the horizontal “blades” which runs across the entire width of the dashboard, hiding the air-con vents.
The all-new Hyundai i20 comes equipped with
wireless Apple CarPlay
 and
Android Auto
 connectivity, along with
 Hyundai’s Blue Link system
, which includes a navigation system with live traffic updates from TomTom, and remote access through a mobile application.
Hyundai has also included the brand’s
Smart Sense advance driver assistance suite
, which includes safety and convenience features such as Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, Lane Following Assist, Blind Spot Monitor, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Parking Assist with rear collision avoidance and cross-traffic alert, Driver Attention Warning, and High-Beam Assist.
Under the hood, the all-new Hyundai i20 will be offered with three different powertrain options, starting with the entry-level
1.2-litre 4-cylinder engine
with
84 hp
, paired to a five-speed manual transmission.
A
1.0-litre turbocharged engine
 is also available on the B-segment hatchback, in either
100 hp
 or
120 hp
 guises. A
48-volt mild hybrid system
 can be applied to the engine, either as an option for the 100 hp or as standard with the 120 hp.
According to Hyundai, the mild-hybrid system contributes to a three to four percent reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The mild-hybrid powertrain can be paired to a seven-speed DCT gearbox, or a six-speed intelligent manual transmission (iMT), which decouples the engine from the transmission automatically when coasting.
The non-hybrid 1.0-litre turbocharged engine will be available with the seven-speed DCT or a regular manual six-speeder.


Mercedes-Benz S400L Hybrid W222 is tax exempted, selling at RM588k [+Video]

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia today announced the confirmed price tag for the S 400 Hybrid variant; the Mercedes-Benz
S400L Hybrid
 is selling at
RM587,888
OTR without insurance. The all-new
Mercedes-Benz S-Class W222 was launched
 in March this year, with a three-model line-up; S 400 Hybrid, S 500 and S 63 AMG.
The confirmed selling price is about RM300,000 lower than its initial estimation somewhere below RM900,000 during its launch. The massive ‘reduction’, thanks to the full duty exemptions granted to the locally-assembled hybrid car, means Malaysian buyers can now own a brand new S-Class for less.
Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has invested RM15 million to equip its Pekan plant to roll out the completely-knocked-down S400L Hybrid. The move is in support of Malaysia’s direction of making the country an
Energy Efficient Vehicle
 (EEV) hub.
Kai Schlickum, Vice President, Sales and Marketing said, “With the S400L HYBRID qualifying and receiving full duty exemptions, we are proud to be able to contribute in helping Malaysia fulfil its ambition of becoming a regional EEV hub.”
“We have worked hard to bring the S-Class as a hybrid vehicle to the Malaysian market. Having invested a considerable amount in preparing our assembly line and manpower at our Pekan Plant. This marks another great achievement and certainly a milestone for Mercedes-Benz Malaysia.” said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia President and CEO, Roland Folger.
The all-new S-Class codenamed ‘W222′, is the first car in the world to use only LED for its interior as well as exterior lighting system. That’s almost
500 LEDs
 used. Up to 112 of them are fitted in the headlights, 70 in the rear lights and 300 LEDs for interior
The S400L Hybrid, it is powered by a
 3.5-litre V6 CGI
 engine and a electric motor, producing
306 horsepower
 and
370 Nm
 of torque; and 27 hp and 250 Nm of torque respectively. Mated with the 7G-Tronic Plus gearbox, acceleration figure is at 6.8 seconds, with top speed of 250 km/h.
Read more about the all-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class W222 here
Specifications
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Volkswagen celebrates 25 years of Polo GTI with new “special edition” model

Think ‘hot hatch’, and you’ll think of the
 Golf GTI
. But Volkswagen also has another (lesser celebrated) hot hatch called the
Polo GTI
, which is turning 25 this year. So to celebrate the anniversary, Volkswagen has unveiled the new limited-edition Polo GTI Edition 25, with only 2,500 units to ever be made.
As special as it may sound, though, the new special edition model is unfortunately all show without any additional ‘go’, as all you’re getting for the extra money are just some visual mods. These include the blacked out roof, wing mirrors, and 18-inch wheels, complemented by exclusive decals on the sides, red brake calipers, and chrome-plated tailpipes at the back.
These extra touches do work quite well on the Ascot Grey paintwork, but the colour is not exclusive to the limited-edition model either (though not available on the regular GTI). What you won’t be able to get on the regular Polo GTI, though, is the unique door sill plates that read ‘One of 2500’, denoting its limited-edition status.
ALSO READ:
 2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI updated in Malaysia with IQ. Drive ADAS system – from RM246k
Otherwise, the rest of the car is essentially identical to the regular Volkswagen Polo GTI. Underneath the bonnet is a turbocharged two-litre inline-four engine, making
207 hp
 and
320 Nm
of torque. Drive is sent to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission for a 0-100 km/h sprint time of
6.5 seconds
.
As with the standard Polo GTI, the new Edition 25 variant here comes with the specially-tuned suspension that also lowers the car by 15 mm. A XDS electronic differential lock system – also standard on the standard GTI – helps improve traction out of corners.
RELATED:
Volkswagen celebrates 45 years of the Golf GTI with an angry-looking Clubsport 45 edition!
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