【试驾报告】JDM凋零中的一丝曙光 – Toyota GR Yaris

在2020年尾，当Toyota宣布要推出GR Yaris时，许多车迷兴高采烈的欢呼，而有些非车迷人士摸不着头脑这有什么值得高兴的。为此，小编还特地撰写了一篇关于
GR Yaris的故事
细说这台车的由来。
而如今，我们终于拿到实车并且认真的体验了它长达5天。
对于评测一台车来说，我们往往会从性能、操控、实用性、耗油量、空间大小、装备甚至是品质等多个角度进行探讨。但这些角度对于今天这台车大多都不适用，因为它不是为了取悦大众而生的。
WRC世界拉力锦标赛对于车迷来说不是一个陌生的名词，1973年开始举办，许多厂家也在拉力赛中开发了许多科技。其中Audi的Quattro、Subaru的Symmetrical AWD和Mitsubishi的S-AWC就是为了赢得比赛而诞生。
因为赛会规定，参赛车辆必须是以量产车型为原型，改装参赛，所以往往很多赛车都会以家用量产车来参加比赛，但有些车厂总会有一些意想不到的操作。以其把量产车型改装为赛车，为何不研发一辆赛车参赛，然后把赛车改装成为民用车型量产售卖呢？在突破了这个盲点之后，就真的有车厂这么干了，而且还不少。
其中就有：
Audi Sport Quattro(图片来自网络)
Lancia Integrale(图片来自网络)
Mitsubishi Evo 6(图片来自网络)
Ford Escort RS Cosworth(图片来自网络)
而如今Toyota也一样这么干了！
这些车款在推出之后至今都拥有一个共同点，就是都已经成为一车难求的经典车款，而且二手价极硬，如果车况好的话甚至价钱会超过当年发售的新车价。而在2021年，当所有汽车品牌都倾向生产更实用且更环保的车型时，身为环保先锋的Toyota却反其道而行的推出了这款- Toyota GR Yaris。
这台搭载1.6升引擎的小小GR Yaris售价已经超越了RM300k，在RM300k这个价位会有非常多的选择，比如Honda Civic Type R、Subaru WRX STI甚至是同样是小钢炮的Golf R，到底有什么购买GR Yaris的理由呢？虽然同为名叫Yaris，GR Yaris并不是为了让你日常买菜而生，而是一个为拉力赛而生的拉力武器，对于舒适度、耗油量以及实用性完全不在乎，这台车的目标只有一个- 绝佳操控，绝对路感和反应！这个初衷和其他高性能轿车是不一样的，他并不是在日常使用的轿车中加入性能这个词，而是在性能这个词上让你也可以日常使用，单单这点就已经让它成为近代史上其数不多的车种。
图片来自网络
在外观上，它是以一个以浑圆的设计语言进行展开的设计，看起来和本土的Yaris完全不一样，那是因为GR Yaris并不是以东南亚的Yaris为设计蓝本，而是以欧洲版本的Yaris作为外观基础的情况下稍作改进的。
在内装方面并没有什么令人惊叹的设计，以简洁为主，仪表盘甚至有点酷似低配版的Lagi Best Myvi，但毕竟是在
知县元町工厂
生产，所以在做工方面还是非常结实的。中央娱乐主机支援有线连接的Apple CarPlay和 Android Auto。除此以外，并没有什么额外花里胡哨的功能。
在底盘方面，
前面
使用针对小车款所开发TNGA中的
GA-B
平台，悬挂则是
麦花臣式
，而
中段部分
往后则是使用了中等车辆所使用的
GA-C平台
，而避震则是小编最爱的
双A臂(Double Wishbone)独立式悬挂
，但悬挂整体偏硬，路感非常的好(开着这台车就别想舒适性了好吗？)。
在六速手排前面有一个拨动旋钮，分别可以转换Normal、Sport和Track模式。在这三个模式下，它所调整的只有四驱的发力分配，其余的一概不变。Normal模式下，它会以前60后40的偏前驱模式调整四驱的输出，Sport模式则是以前30后70的偏后驱方式驱动，而Track模式则是以前后50的比例输出。这三个模式可让你在一台车上享有三种不同性格的驱动模式。Normal Mode偏前驱的模式适合街道，而Track模式可以暴力输出的当儿又可以保证你获得最大抓地力，但在攻湾的情况下有些许推头的情况发生，而在Sport模式下攻湾就会感觉锐利许多。
在驾驶和操控方面，小编在驾驶这台车的时候发现到，它的方向盘是和悬挂一样偏硬的，这倒是有点出乎预料，更让小编出乎预料的是，它竟然还搭载了模拟声浪，而这个模拟引擎声浪并不悦耳，有点烦(小编觉得这是它唯一的缺点)。但无可否认的是，这台车在搭载1.6升引擎的情况下是真的快，而且非常的贴地。在驾驶期间小编本想挑战这台车的极限，但被反到让它挑战了极限，这是小编从来没有体会过的。搭载的是一套Michelin PS4轮胎，却频频超越了小编所认知的极限。如果想挑战这辆车的过弯极限的话，想必只有下到赛道才能把它完全激发出来。
其实这台车的详细细节以及历史小编早就已经在
这篇
文章里细数了，在这个试驾报告中小编其实也没什么好赘述了，因为驾驶起来就如小编所预料的，在性能平衡方面做得非常完美，而实用性方面也的确烂得一批，但是谁在乎呢？它注定将成为经典。
目前Toyota GR Yaris在大马已经售罄，如果有兴趣想购买的话也只能等二手或者AP版本咯~
【图集】


Round 2 of Toyota Gazoo Racing Online Challenge happening 12th July

Following the success of the first ever
 Toyota
Gazoo Racing Online Challenge, which took place between 23rd April to 21st May, UMW Toyota Motor announced that the second phase will take place on the 12th of July.
The Toyota Gazoo Racing Online Challenge utilises the Gran Turismo Sport platform on Sony’s Playstation. The initial phase saw participants as young as 6-years old compete in five different circuits around the world. In total, prize monies amounted to RM7,500 throughout the five races.
The second phase will see the top competitors from the first round go head-to-head for the final showdown. The “racers” will compete in a mini championship comprising of four different races, featuring race cars such as the Toyota GT86 Group B rally car.
As for the
annual Toyota GR Velocity Esports Championship
, the third installment of the event will be held sometime in August or September this year.
“The COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted the physical aspect of motor-racing but there is no reason why the spirit of competition cannot continue virtually. Gazoo Racing is a philosophy that extends beyond the racing track and that was precisely why we pursued an online presence,” said Toyota Gazoo Racing Malaysia’s Chief Motorsports Officer, Akio Takeyama.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has presented both challenges and opportunities, the result of which has seen e-sports and virtual racing propelled to the forefront at an unprecedented scale. The timely introduction of a regional event will certainly fuel Toyota’s momentum of pursuing an aggressive e-sports agenda in Malaysia,” said President of UMW Toyota Motor, Mr. Ravindran K.


Hyundai Ioniq 5 EV now open for booking in Malaysia!

Hyundai Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) has officially announced that the fully-electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 is now open for booking here in Malaysia. Pricing information has not been announced just yet, but you can reserve a place in the waiting list with a booking fee of RM1,000.
The all-new Ioniq 5 will be the second fully-electric Hyundai model launched here in Malaysia by HSDM, following the
Kona Electric
 that was unveiled in November last year. But unlike the Kona, the Ioniq 5 is a brand-new, exclusively electric model built completely from the ground up under the
new Ioniq sub-brand
.
“The Kona Electric introduced last year was a resounding success with the first batch of vehicles sold out. We expect demand for the Ioniq 5 to surpass the demand for the Kona Electric. Given how well received Hyundai-brand electric vehicles are here, we have lined up more electric models for our discerning customers,” said Sime Darby Motors Malaysia Managing Director of Retail and Distribution, Jeffrey Gan.
Launched globally in February 2021, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is built on the marque’s new Electric-Global Modular Platform (e-GMP) skateboard EV architecture. Here in Malaysia, the SUV electric SUV will be offered in two battery sizes, 58 kWh or 72.6 kWh, and either a single motor (RWD) or dual-motor (AWD) configuration.
Based on the global model, we expect the Hyundai Ioniq 5 range in Malaysia to be topped by a 72.6 kWh dual-motor variant, offering
225 kWh (305 hp)
 and
605 Nm
 of torque and a century sprint time of around
5.2 seconds
. Range meanwhile is rated at around 430 km, based on the WLTP test cycle.
The 58 kWh battery pack size meanwhile should be paired to a single-motor configuration, offering
125 kW (170 hp)
 and
350 Nm
. We’re unsure if the 72.6 kWh pack will also be offered as an RWD variant here in Malaysia, but the configuration is also offered globally. For the latter, range is rated at 480 km.
The Ioniq 5 supports charging speeds of up to 350 kW, thanks to its 800V electrical architecture. At that speed, refilling the Ioniq 5 from 10-80% takes just 18 minutes, while a 100 km range can be added with just a short five minutes top up.
When you’re charging at home, the on-board AC charger supports up to 10.5 kW max, which translates to a charging time of roughly six hours. Although, when it’s fully charged, you can actually use your car’s batteries to power up other things thanks to its built-in Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function.
As for looks, the futuristic Hyundai Ioniq 5 looks almost entirely unchanged from the Hyundai 45 concept that was shown off at the Frankfurt Motor Show back in 2019, aside from a few regulatory requirements like the wing mirrors and actual functioning headlights.
The marque’s new “Parametric Dynamics” design language can be clearly seen in the Ioniq 5’s sharp lines and creases, including the ‘Z’-shaped character lines at the side first seen on the
all-new Hyundai Elantra
.
And while the car may appear tiny and adorable, it’s actually a full-sized SUV, measuring 4,635 mm long, 1,890 mm wide, and 1,605 mm tall – that’s even bigger than a
Honda CR-V
! Heck, the wheelbase of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is also longer than that of a
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
. Those wheels? They’re actually 20-inches in diameters.
Other exterior highlights include the unique rectangular-shaped daytime-running lights, a V-shaped front bumper, and a “parametric pixel” taillight cluster, just like the ones on the
Hyundai Staria
.
Booking of the Ioniq 5 can be done online via Hyundai’s online shopping platform, Cl!ck to Buy (
linked here
), or at any of Hyundai’s authorized showrooms nationwide. Want to check out the car first before its launch? The Hyundai Ioniq 5 will also be displayed in a teaser box at 1 Utama Shopping Centre’s Centre Court from the 2nd to 6th of March 2022.


One-off McLaren Artura tailor-made to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II

To commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s 70th year in power, British supercar manufacturer McLaren Automotive has developed a one-off version of the Artura supercar with a new paint job called “Platinum Jubilee” along with a custom badge at the front.
The one-off Artura was revealed on the 12th of May because the company’s global headquarters was officiated by the Queen herself 18 years from the date.
To start things off, the Silver Jubilee supercar came directly from McLaren’s in-house bespoke division known as McLaren Special Operations (MSO). To top things off, a commemorative badge was placed on the nose of the car. What sets this badge apart from the rest is that it does not say McLaren, but instead it spells out “Elizabeth II”.
During the process of making this badge, a set of bespoke tools and presses were made specifically to mould the badge. Partnered with AkzoNobel, MSO and McLaren’s advanced coating partner, analysed different lighting conditions just to find the perfect combination of metallic pigment. After this, the paint developers from MSO took another eight days to further refine and add finishing touches to the badge.
“It has been an honour for MSO to create a new platinum paint in celebration of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee this year,” MSO, Managing Director, Ansar Ali mentioned.
“This special paint, which will be available for customers to select for years to come, will be a fitting tribute to mark this historic milestone,” he added.
To recap, the McLaren Arturais the first-ever series production hybrid supercar from the English supercar maker that weighs just under1,500 kg. It is powered by a 3-litre V6 engine with 577 hp and 720 Nm paired with an electric motor that makes 94 hp and 225 Nm of torque. With all this power, the McLaren Artura is able to get from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and tops out at a speed of 330km/h.


This Toyota LandCruiser is legit faster than a McLaren P1! [+Video]

The Toyota LandCruiser is another iconic nameplate equal to that of the Land Rover Defender. While the LandCruiser has pretty much proved its worth on the planet’s most hostile surface, it’s never been a fast machine nor a hypercar beater. That is, until now.
The mad folks at Toyota Motorsports Technical Centre have turned the LandCruiser into a
2,000 hp
 brute. That’s right, such insane number of ponies allows a top speed of a blistering
 370.18 km/h
when tested on a 4 km runway at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California. They call it the
Land Speed Cruiser
 and currently, it’s
unofficially the world’s fastest SUV
.
While it utilises the same
375 hp 5.7-litre V8
 that powers the standard Land Cruiser, power is boosted by the usage of two “volleyball-sized” Garrett turbochargers that’s capable of churning up to 55 psi of boost. The engine’s internal parts have been beefed up to cope with the massive surge of power, with a custom racing transmission being mated to the V8. To reduce air turbulence, the ride has to be lowered, with the frame now narrowed down by 76mm to fit the wider Michelin Pilot Super Sport rubbers.
The current
official record holder
 is held by a Mercedes-Benz GLK tuned by Brabus, where its 740 hp 6.3-litre twin-turbo V12 clocked a top speed of 340 km/h.


No fines; settle in court for these 5 traffic offences committed between 29th April to 8th May

With the Hari Raya frenzy set to hit the open roads, the Minister of Transport, Wee Ka Siong, has thrown a curveball to all road users.
Wee announced that during the Ops Bersepadu, taking place from the
29th of April to the 8th of May
, these offenses committed cannot be compounded and will have to settled in court. They include:
Speeding
Using the phone while driving
Cutting queues
Running the red light
Driving in
 the emergency lane
Wee also added that as many as 2,200 Road Transport Department (JPJ) enforcement officers will be deployed during the period, with some going undercover as passengers in express buses along with enforcement check points at 14 location along major highways.
During the campaign, there’ll also be a ban on heavy-load trailers three days before Hari Raya (between 30th April to 2nd May) and two days after (between 7th to 8th May) to ease congestion.


Lamborghini Huracan Evo RWD is the ultimate hoonigan’s dream

For those who believes that rear-wheel drive is the right-wheel drive, Lamborghini has heard you loud and clear. Starting the year with a bang, the Italian supercar maker has just announced the rear-wheel driven version of its
Huracan
 supercar, promising “maximum driving fun”.
The Huracan Evo RWD packs the same
naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10
 engine, producing
610 hp
 and
560 Nm
 – which is the same as the standard four-wheel drive Huracan variants, but 30 hp down from the
 Huracan Evo
.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox. Lamborghini claims its top speed to be
325 km/h
, with the 0-100 km/h completed in just
3.3 seconds
.
However, the Italian firm says that the Huracan Evo RWD is not just about numbers and straight-line speeds, but “engineered for driving fun”. Lamborghini Chairman and CEO, Stefano Domenicali said, “The Huracán Evo RWD puts the car in the driver’s hands: the driving experience is delivered by the hardware.
“This car reminds the driver of Lamborghini’s pure engineering origins: the driver is at the center of the Huracan Evo RWD’s performance, with unfiltered feedback and an emotive and more engaging driving experience controlled by the pilot,” he added.
Equipped with a specifically-tuned Lamborghini Performance Traction Control System (P-TCS), the Huracan Evo RWD alters its torque delivery to the rear axle for better corner exit traction. In the right mode, the Evo RWD can also do “easy drifting” without compromising on safety.
Thanks to the use of lightweight materials for the chassis and the simpler drivetrain system, the Huracan Evo RWD weighs in at just
1,389 kg
 – 33 kg less than the all-wheel drive counterparts. Weight is distributed in a 40/60 front/rear split, riding on double wishbone suspension with passive shock absorbers.
The firm also says that the Lamborghini Dyanmic Steering (LDS) electronic power steering system is tuned specifically for the Huracan Evo RWD, in order to increase driver feedback.
To differentiate it from its all-wheel drive brothers, Lamborghini gave the new Huracan Evo RWD a new front splitter – with vertical fins within the large framed air intakes. The rear bumper has also been redesigned with a new diffuser that is unique to the Huracan Evo RWD.
The RWD Huracan rides on
19-inch
 Kari rims, shod in specially developed Pirelli P Zero tires. Behind the wheels are the cross-drilled steel brakes, which can be upgraded to carbon-ceramic brakes alongside 20-inch rims.
Inside, a 8.4-inch touchscreen serves as the infotainment display. Aside from controlling all aspects of the car’s functions, the system is also fully connected, and supports Apple CarPlay.
Lamborghini says that its Ad Personam personalisation programme provides “unsurpassed options” for colour and trim to make the car truly yours. Though you’d be silly to choose anything else other than the glorious
Giallo Belenus Yellow
, which is developed specifically for the Huracan Evo RWD.
IMAGE GALLERY


Peugeot 208 beats Porsche and Tesla to win European Car of the Year 2020

At first there were 30 candidates, the list then got trimmed down to just seven. After all the score sheets were returned by a panel of jurors comprising 60 motoring journalists, the
all-new Peugeot 208
 turned out to be the
European Car of the Year 2020
.
In what was supposed to be a teaser event on the eve of the
now-cancelled Geneva motor show 2020
, the presentation of the seven finalists and announcement of the eventual winner were live streamed instead.

The all-new Peugeot 208 supermini – available in
internal combustion
 and
fully electric variants
 – held off two pure electric models, the
Tesla Model 3
 and
Porsche Taycan
 for the win.
The finalists of the 2020 European COTY and final points
tally
Peugeot 208 (281 points)
Tesla Model 3 (242 points)
Porsche Taycan (222 points)
Renault Clio (211 points)
Ford Puma (209 points)
Toyota Corolla (152 points)
BMW 1 Series (133 points)
The new 208 is also available in pure-electric form.
According to Peugeot, nearly
110,000 customers
 have ordered the new 208 since its launch in Europe in
 October, 2019
, with
15% of the mix being electric variants
. In France, the new Peugeot 208 leads the sales charts of passenger car market at the end of February 2020. The 208’s win is also
Peugeot’s sixth ECOTY crown
 since the award was established in 1964. The
Jaguar I-Pace
 won last year’s edition.
“I am particularly proud that the new Peugeot 208 has just
won the 2020 Car of the Year prize. This trophy underlines the excellence of
the work and great commitment of all the teams of the brand and the Groupe PSA,”
said Jean-Philippe Imparato, Peugeot brand CEO.


All-new Toyota Tundra gets hybrid twin-turbo V6 engine, 443 hp and 790 Nm

Full-sized trucks are indispensable in the American automotive landscape. In 2020, the top three best-selling vehicles were all full-sized pick-up trucks from
Ford
, Chevrolet and
Dodge
, contributing to almost 2 million units, or close to 14% of the entire automotive segment!
As such, Toyota has completely revamped their Tundra full-sized pick-up truck to better compete with the native brands. Targeted just for use in North America, the all-new Toyota Tundra has been styled in the US. Key themes for the design include rugged, most powerful as well as sophisticated looking.
The Toyota Tundra gets a front end that is dominated by a massive grille, bordered by a thick inverted ’U’ surround. It does have some similarities to the much smaller
Toyota RAV4
 and
Toyota Corolla Cross
 models. The LED headlamps look tiny in comparison and are accented by thick T-shaped DRLs.
This well modified overlanding Toyota Tacoma brings “glamping” to a different level! Learn more about it here!
The taillamps meanwhile are exclusively for use in North America, with a full-height glow in three red vertical stripes, similar to the items found in a
Ford Mustang
.
An off-road-focused Toyota Tundra TRD Pro variant meanwhile adds more auxiliary lights, badging, unique pattern on the bumpers and wheel arches as well as exclusive rim design.
In the all-new Toyota Tundra, a new ladder frame was developed with higher rigidity as well as lighter in weight, with the use of aluminium in some sections. Coil springs now replace leaf springs on the new multi-link rear suspension, offering better handling dynamics, comfort levels and even payload and towing capacities.
Toyota USA is offering two off-road packages for the new Tundra- the TRD Off-Road add-on package with monotube Bilstein shocks as well as the full-vehicle TRD Pro variant. The Toyota Tundra TRD Pro grades are fitted with 2.5-inch diameter Fox internal bypass shock absorbers with piggyback reservoirs for the most demanding terrain.
Other off-road specific upgrades include a red-painted front stabilizer bar, aluminium front skid plate, underbody protection and Falken all-terrain tyres.
The all-new Toyota Tundra will also offer an air-suspended rear axle as well as adaptive variable suspension that continuously adjusts the damping force for better comfort as well as stability with loads in the cargo bed.
The all-new Toyota Tundra also sees the lightweight cargo bed manufactured with new Sheet-Molded Compound (SMC) and aluminium. This allows the cargo bed to offer better protection against light dents, impact dings and rust. Opening the massive tailgate will also be as simple as a touch of a button, as it now has an electronic switch as well as a remote switch on the keyfob.
Highlighting the all-new Toyota Tundra is the powertrain where the company is not only heading towards downsizing but also electrification. A new 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine is on offer, with the standard output of
394 hp
 and
649 Nm
 of torque that also serves the all-new
Toyota Land Cruiser 300 series
.
Next up is the hybrid version of this engine, which is currently not in use in other Toyota models. Adding an electric motor between the V6 engine and the 10-speed automatic transmission brings the output of this “i-Force Max” powertrain to
443 hp
 and
790 Nm
 of torque.
The hybrid system does all the familiar
Toyota-type assistance
 and propulsion with the motor providing assist during acceleration as well as towing. There is however no dedicated EV mode like the regular Toyota Hybrid System (THS) but the Tundra can still move around on just electric-only when conditions allow.
The Toyota Hilux GR Sport 2WD has access to 500 Nm, Innova-sized tyres and no ESC intervention! Read more about it here!

Inside the new Toyota Tundra, an equally large central infotainment screen measuring 14 inches provides the driver and occupants with better connectivity. The locally developed system has processing power that is five times greater than the old unit to offer better usability, crisp graphics and higher levels of voice commands.
GALLERY


BMW previews the XM Label Red, in case the XM wasn’t bold enough – 750 hp, 1,000 Nm

Ahead of its Autumn debut in autumn 2023, the
BMW XM
 Label Red
 has been previewed in an Instagram post by BMW M GmbH. The ‘Label Red’ is a new moniker that is used for the XM, replacing the usual ‘Competition’ moniker.
In the Instagram post, BMW M GmbH states that the BMW XM Label Red produces
750 hp
 and
1,000 Nm
, although these figures are based on the Label Red’s current stage of development. Powered by a hybrid V8 twin-turbo powertrain, the engine makes 585 hp and 750 Nm while the electric drive system makes 197 hp and 280 Nm.
Stitched image from the original post
For context, the ‘regular’ BMW XM with a hybrid twin-turbo V8 powertrain makes 653 hp and 800 Nm. The engine makes 489 hp and 650 Nm while the electric drive system makes 197 hp and 280 Nm. With an eight-speed Steptronic transmission, the 0-100 km/h acceleration is done in 4.3 seconds.
Living up to the ‘Label Red’ moniker, the exterior of the BMW XM Label Red is adorned with red details such as the red surrounds on the kidney grille, the red trim around the side windows, and the red details on the wheels. Only one angle of the XM is shared on the Instagram post, and we don’t get a glimpse of the interior. However, a splash of red is likely to decorate the cabin of the BMW XM Label Red.
RELATED:
BMW XM bookings open for Malaysia starting 20 Oct, RM1.4 million estimated price
‘Regular” version of the BMW XM
The BMW XM is the first PHEV BMW M car and it was unveiled to the world in September this year. It is the second M Car after the BMW M1 to be built from the ground up without an existing ‘regular’ BMW platform. It was also unveiled this year in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of BMW M.
Controversial but starting to gain fans, the design of the BMW XM is what the brand would describe as giving off a “singularly extrovert aura”. Like the BMW M1, the rear of the BMW XM also features two BMW logos, albeit this time engraved into the flat rear window. Wheel sizes for the XM range from 21 to 23 inches.
For Malaysia,
bookings have been opened for the ‘regular’ version of the BMW XM starting October 20, 2022
. The standard V8 Hybrid M car is expected to fetch a price of RM 1,400,000 for Peninsular Malaysia and RM 820,000 for Langkawi.
RELATED:
Is this quad-motor EV prototype hinting at the next-gen BMW M3?


What does Mark Webber think of the all-electric Porsche Mission E?

Mark Webber, former professional race car driver and current Porsche Works Driver is not shy to present himself in front of the camera. Previously did a
walk-around of the 911.2 GT3 RS
 and more recently appeared on the same screen with
Maria Sharapova piloting a 911 GT2 RS
.
In his latest stint, the 41-year-old Australian got behind the wheel of the upcoming
Porsche Mission E
, Stuttgart’s upcoming all-electric four-door saloon. The pre-production Mission E sets off in complete silence onto Porsche’s Weissach test track and here is what Webber has to say about the brand’s first ever all-electric vehicle.
Scheduled for
production floors in 2019 – 2020
, the Mission E takes the shape of a four-door saloon, although just by looking at the rear profile, it’s better described as a stretched out 911. The four-seater is said to pack
600 hp
 with drive deployed on all four wheels.
Commenting on his first test drive experience, Webber said: “I’m a bit of an old-school kind of guy and I love nothing more than to drive so I don’t mind admitting I had some reservations. I thought that the Mission E could feel a little heavy but the driving experience is seriously dynamic: the four-wheel steering, the performance and the braking ability were a really amazing experience.”
Webber also added that the Mission E at times reminded him of the Porsche 919 Hybrid Le Mans race car as the race car can at times be driven in pure electric mode. “It’s a game changer, this car. Quite literally, it is stealth in motion.” he added.
IMAGE GALLERY
Mark Webber Mission E Test Drive

Porsche Mission E Concept


Polestar 2 debuts in ASEAN with Singapore launch, cheaper than XC40

Polestar, the dedicated performance electric brand from Volvo has finally entered the ASEAN region, launching the Polestar 2 in Singapore yesterday.
Polestar’s presence in Singapore, part of the brand’s
Asia Pacific network expansion
, is being managed by Wearnes Automotive, a large premium and luxury distributor that occupies the western corner of Leng Kee Road. Its portfolio includes
Bugatti
,
Koenigsegg
 as well as
Alpine
.
On the outside, the Polestar 2 has DRLs with Thor’s Hammer signature, with the headlamps having Pixel LED technology. A 35-litre front trunk or ‘frunk’ allows storage of a duffle bag and groceries.
Being a fastback design, the tailgate and rear windscreen lift together, revealing a boot space of some 405 litres. A full-width wraparound LED taillight adds style to the rear design that is dominated by lower edges in black.
Inside, a ‘floating’ 11.15-inch central display in portrait orientation takes centerstage, similar to current Volvo models. The system is powered by Android Automotive OS, featuring Google Assistant (voice) as well as Google Maps, and the suite that is now available in the new
2021 facelifted Volvo XC60
. A large panoramic glass roof, 13-speaker Harman Kardon Premium Sound system and vegan WeaveTech seat upholstery are also fitted under the Plus Pack trim.
At launch, only two main variants of the
China-made
 Polestar 2 are available, starting with the Long Range Single Motor Plus Pack, priced at an indicative
SGD214,000
 (approx. RM 662k) inclusive of COE. Performance numbers are adequate, with a
231 hp
 (170 kW) motor accelerating the fastback from standstill to 100 km/h in
7.4 seconds
. The driving range is rated at 540 km under the WLTP test cycle.
Based on the latest
Category B COE price
 (SGD80k), the Polestar 2’s price is on par with Tesla Model 3 Standard Range 50 kWh.
The Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor Pilot Pack meanwhile has an indicative price of SGD240,000 (approx. RM742k) with the model having a combined output of
408 hp
 (300 kW) and
660 Nm
 of torque plus a WLTP-rated driving range of 470 km. Benchmark 0 to 100 km/h sprint is dispatched in just
4.7 seconds
.
An optional Performance Pack that includes Ohlins DFV high-performance dampers, Brembo four-piston monoblock front calipers in copper-gold and lighter 20-inch forged rims with performance tyres is available for this variant, bumping the price up to SGD256,000.
These prices make the fully electric Polestar 2 even lower than the plug-in hybrid
2021 XC40 Recharge T5
 from larger affiliate Volvo, which is also underpinned by the Group’s CMA platform.
An even more accessible Polestar 2 Standard Range with a 69 kWh battery pack, that sees the driving range reduce by 100 km, is scheduled to be made available from Q1 2022.
Images are from global launch of the Polestar 2
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Lamborghini leads 42 supercars and SUVs across a desert in Northwestern China

Remember our recent post on the
Lamborghini Urus being driven all around Japan
, returning with stunning images? Well, Lamborghini China has upped the ante.
The expedition aptly named
“Journey to the Vast”
 saw 42 different Lamborghini supercars including the
Huracan
 and
Aventador
 and
Urus SUV
 travel across the majestic northwestern region in China.
More on Lamborghini: The Aventador Ultimae is the ultimate celebration of Lamborghini’s V12 era!
The fleet of Raging Bulls started their epic journey in Yinchuan before travelling across the vast lands of Ningxia and Gansu. Throughout their journey, the fleet drove through the Helan mountain range and along the Yellow River, visited the Fuyin Temple, and visited the ancient villages of Beichangtan; not before driving through the scenic Route 66 of Zhong Wei.
Lanzhou Danxia Geological Park
The journey carried on through the Tonghu Grassland and the Lanzhou Danxia Geological Park. At the park, Lamborghini’s customers were treated to a stunning backdrop of the red bed of Danxia against the blue skies and steep cliffs.
Perhaps the most incredible part of the trip was the stop at the Tengger Desert where the bulls were checked into the Desert Star Hotel – an igloo-like structure in the middle of the desert that a Bond villain would be proud of.
Italy’s Bologna Airport gets a new Lamborghini Huracan Evo to escort its planes. Read about it here!
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Ford Fiesta ST now available for RM150k: 1.6-litre turbo, 6-spd manual only

The
Ford Fiesta ST
 is finally here, long after a year since it was previewed at the 2013 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS). It’s a hot hatch many hard-to-please motoring journalists have a soft spot for, and we’re more than pleased to know that the prodigious pocket rocket is only available with a
six-speed stick shifter
.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Ford Fiesta ST
Segment
B-Segment 3-door hatchback
Engine
1.6-litre GTDi inline-4 EcoBoost
Transmission
6-speed manual
Max Power
182 hp @ 5,700 rpm
Max Torque
240 Nm @ 1,600 – 5,000 rpm
Price
RM 149,888 (OTR with insurance)

Let’s get straight to the point, shall we? The Fiesta ST can only be had in one configuration – three-door, three pedals, six-speed manual, zingy 1.6-litre direct injected turbocharged engine, 17-inch wheels wrapped with 205/40 R17 series rubbers and ST sports suspension setup.
The hot hatch is fully imported from Germany, and to distinguish it from the regular Fiestas, the ST comes equipped with halogen
projector headlights
, sportier front and rear bumpers, integrated rear spoiler, twin exhaust pipes, Recaro fabric bucket seats and an ST badge on the bottom of the steering wheel.
As mentioned, the Fiesta ST is powered by Ford’s trusty
1.6-litre GTDi EcoBoost
 engine that makes
180 horsepower
 at 5,700 rpm and
240 Nm (
290 Nm with overboost) of torque from 1,600 to 5,000 revolutions. Paired with the six-speed manual gearbox that drives the front wheels, the hatch sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in
6.9 seconds
 while returning a fuel consumption rating of 5.9 litres per 100 km.
Priced at RM149,888 with insurance, the Fiesta ST comes in three colours – signature Molten Orange, Spirit Blue and Panther Black and a three-year or 100,000km warranty programme (whichever comes first) and Ford’s Extended Service Plan. Click
HERE
to visit Ford’s Fiesta ST webpage.
[divider]
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This Peugeot INSTINCT is a 300hp plug-in hybrid that drives itself!

We are living in an era where automakers are no longer in pursuit of semi-autonomous driving, but cars that can completely drive itself. Behold, Peugeot’s latest INSTINCT concept – the French carmaker’s vision of a self-driving vehicle.
Underneath the Shooting Brake body is a hybrid powertrain with up to
300hp
 at its disposal, whilst also giving us a glimpse of Peugeot’s future automobiles. Besides that, drivers can choose to either drive the car themselves, or leave it up to the computers.
In ‘
Drive
’ mode, drivers can cycle between ‘Drive Boost’ or ‘Drive Relax’. As the names suggest, the former is for the spirited drive and the latter for a more laid back journey. In ‘
Autonomous
’ mode, there are two settings to choose from, namely ‘Autonomous Soft’ or ‘Autonomous Sharp’, balancing between comfort and optimised journey times.
At the core of the INSTINCT is
Samsung’s ARTIK Cloud
 which syncs the driver’s device(s) with the car. The data influences the way the car drives, like for example travelling route or even the seating position can be preconfigured according to the driver’s preference based on their connected device.
The interior of the INSTINCT features a futuristic version of the
Peugeot i-Cockpit
 architecture that is more intuitive, adaptable and comfortable cabin. At the centre dash sits a 9.7-inch screen that houses all the main controls of the car.
Futuristic design, autonomous tech, 300hp and the ability to adapt to your lifestyle? We’re not too sure if we’re excited about the future just yet. Well, anything goes, so long as it doesn’t eat into the Peugeot GTi R&D funds!
IMAGE GALLERY


You’ll love the Toyota Supra even more after this teardown

The big day is getting close and
UMW Toyota has started teasing
 the arrival of the Supra on social media. We already know that the A90 will be launched in September, and the likely variant will be powered by the B58 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six made by BMW, with a tasty output of 340hp and 500Nm.
BMW Power in a Toyota? Why not.
While the wholesale adoption of BMW engineering has raised questions regarding to the ‘authenticity’ of the Supra, enthusiasts by and large are just happy that there is a new chapter to the story. But as new cars reach the hands of owners across the world, many have been pleasantly surprised by its performance, some even conceding that Toyota may not have had the gumption to pull off a such a tidy powertrain.

If you need any further persuasion, just watch this teardown of the B58 inline-six lifted from a brand new Supra by
Papadakis Racing Team
, a winning Formula Drift outfit. They are on a mission to extract 1,000 hp from the B58 to go racing and if this insightful and well narrated video is anything to by, looks like there are going to be many more chapters of the Supra story to tell.


Volkswagen is charging full-speed into electrification, teases ID.4 SUV in China

Right after the official unveiling of the
 ID.3
, Volkswagen has reinforced their commitment in electrification by previewing the brand’s next fully-electric car at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show 2019.
The unnamed camouflaged prototype was placed in a darkened box with subpar lighting, making it hard to make out what’s hiding within. Fortunately, Volkswagen has now given us a clearer look at the upcoming electric SUV at their New Brand Design presentation at Guangzhou.
Curious for the future of Volkswagen's electric family? Get a glimpse of the next ID.!
#IAA19

[Concept Car]
pic.twitter.com/oUgaD70dRV
— Volkswagen News (@volkswagen)
September 10, 2019

The striped camouflage manages to hide its finer details, but the proportions certainly suggests that it is somewhat based on the
ID.Crozz concept
.
The high-riding body and low-slung roofline design certainly seems to be borrowed from the concept, but the prototype appears to be less curvy and sloped, presumably for practicality purposes.
Volkswagen ID.Crozz Concept.
 Volkswagen’s new electric SUV is expected to be called the ID.4 globally, although the German marque has named the prototype on display “ID.Next” in Chinese.
The new zero-emissions SUV will be Volkswagen’s first electric model in China based on the MEB platform. The car will be built locally in China starting from late 2020 at their new Anting plant, followed by the recently introduced ID.3.
The Volkswagen ID.3 will make its way to China through VW’s SAIC joint venture.
The ID.4 together with the ID.3 are part of Volkswagen’s electrification plan for the Chinese region. By 2023, the german carmaker expects to introduce 10 battery electric vehicles (BEV) based on the MEB platform for the Chinese market.
Over at the other side of the world, production of the Volkswagen ID.3 has kicked off at the Zwickau plant. Volkswagen plans to deliver 300,000 EVs to customer in 2020, and the Zwickau plant will play a key role in Volkswagen’s transformation of their worldwide production network.
The manufacturing plant was completely retrofitted for electromobility with an investment of 1.2 billion euros, making it the largest and most efficient electric car plant in Europe.


This Porsche 356 for ice expedition is the wildest and coolest yet!

Looks like something out of video games or even the HotWheels collection, isn’t it? This insane Porsche 356 with snow and ice tracks is built by Valkyrie Racing for its upcoming expedition in Antarctica.
After serving numerous cross-continent vintage rallies such as the notorious La Carrera Panamericana in 2017 and Peking to Paris in 2019, the humble 1954 Porsche 356 will tackle its final and the seventh continent in an expedition called the Antarctica Ice Challenge.
Right after the East African Safari Classic in December 2019, Valkyrie Racing took more than 18 months to re-engineer the existing Porsche 356 with skis, tracks and all other survival equipment for the 356-mile (573 km) polar expedition.
Devoid of any regular conventional pneumatic tyres, the ‘Polar Porsche’ features a combination of skis, tracks and a crevasse bar. According to the Chief Engineer, Kieron Bradley, the front ski and rear track combination increase the floatation by as much as 300% compared to even the most prepared
Antarctic 4×4
 support vehicles on 42-inch tyres.
This setup plus the composite skis are specially made to create an impact that is less than a footprint on the snow. The air-cooled naturally aspirated six-cylinder boxer engine continues to provide traction to the huge Camso 4S1 tracks running an 18t sprocket.
Renee Brinkerhoff, racer turned philanthropist and also the founder of Valkyrie Racing will be teaming up with professional ice navigator Jason de Carteret for this expedition. They will start their journey on December 5th 2021.
Air-cooled Porsche remains one of the best classics for rally driving. Take a look at this masterpiece by expert resto-modder, Singer.
This final Antarctica expedition, her sixth race, completes her ‘Project 356 World Rally Tour’ over seven continents and a journey of over 32,000 km to pursue to ultimate endeavour by one woman, one car and one global mission to end child trafficking that started with the La Carrera Panamericana race in October 2017.
Brinkerhoff added, “By racing our ’56 Porsche in extreme rallies that have never seen this type of vehicle before, we are a unique anomaly and use this recognition to give a voice to put an end to child trafficking.”
For those who are interested to contribute to the cause, visit the dedicated Donate356 page
here
, and perhaps some action of the ‘Polar Porsche’ at the Antarctica expedition updated on their Instagram
page
.
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The all-new BMW Z4 has arrived in Malaysia, yours for RM480k

It’s almost unfathomable to think that BMW’s latest Z roadster very nearly didn’t make it to production, if not for the ‘collaboration’ with Toyota which eventually satisfied business objectives. It also explains the two-year lull after the last generation E89 ceased production in 2016.
The Z roadster nearly didn’t survive, but it’s back now.
But all is looking sunnier now, literally and figuratively, as the Z4 returns to our Malaysian roads once again. For this instalment of the roadster, BMW has gone back to basics, ditching the complicated folding hard top and opting for a quick-folding canvas roof. In fact,
sunshine to shade can be achieved in 10 seconds
 – the fastest in the segment, according to BMW. Useful when the sky starts bucketing.
Soft top folds in 10 seconds, great when you encounter sudden thunderstorms.
For Malaysia, only one variant is offered – the
sDrive30i M Sport
. As its 30i moniker suggests, under its long hood is a B48 2.0-litre turbocharge four-cylinder good for
258 hp and 400 Nm, mated to an 8-speed ZF automatic. Idle to 100km/h takes 5.4 seconds, while the top speed is 250km/h (limited)
, plenty fast on paper, and subjectively it’ll feel even faster with the top down, so no qualms about the performance here. The 1.5-tonne two-seater Z4 30i rides on passive M Sport suspension complemented by Variable Sport Steering.
Only sDrive30i tune is offered, but 258 hp and 400 Nm are plenty.
The G29 third generation Z4 is longer, wider and slightly taller than before. There will be no confusing this with the last one, its vertically aligned LED headlamps and new grille motif (inspired by the 328 Mille Miglia race car) are dead giveaways. Even from the sides and particularly the rear, the change is substantial. We think its best view is from rear three-quarters; the Z4’s slim-cut tail-lamps, integrated spoiler and wide haunches looking so seductive.
Sexy is back with the G29 3rd-generation Z4.
The interior continues the minimalist theme like with past Z4s, but it now sports the latest version of
BMW’s Live Cockpit Professional
 with touch-sensitive iDrive display and a fully-digital driver’s instrument panel
a la the G20 3-Series
. The new Z4 is also offered with the
Digital Key
 function utilising NFC, if you have a compatible Android smartphone (e.g. a Samsung S9), you won’t need to bring along the physical remote key fob anymore, and the digital key can be shared with up to five persons.
Another novel feature is the
Reversing Assistant
; it is part of the Intelligent Parking Assistant package which takes over the steering from the driver in manoeuvring the vehicle out of tight alleys. BMW
ConnectedDrive
services and Qi wireless phone charging are also part of the standard kit found in the Z4.
Powered canvas roof does not fold into the trunk, so you get a very useful 281 litres’ worth of luggage space come rain or shine.
You can have the all-new Z4 in four different exterior colours –
San Francisco Red, Misano Blue, Black Sapphire and Alpine White
, matched with interior options of Black décor, Magma Red or Cognac, all with black stitching.
Misano Blue is our pick, what’s yours?
BMW Group Financial Services is offering a Balloon Financing Plan with monthly instalment plans starting from
RM 5,478
 (based on estimates of an 80% loan on a five-year tenure), otherwise, its regular retail price is a cool
RM 479,800
. Hmmm…we wonder how much would the Z4-based Toyota Supra cost?


Watch the Polestar 1 go sideways in the snow! China debut soon

Polestar will be bringing their first-ever car, the
Polestar 1
 to the 2018 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (Auto China 2018), marking the first time the high-performance hybrids is presented to the Chinese public.
Ahead of its debut, the Swedish brand has released footages of the Polestar 1 being put through its paces at the Arctic Circle. The result of the rigorous shakedown of the prototype was to study and fine-tune the cars driving dynamics. For the rest of us, sliding action caught on camera of the Polestar 1:
In the video, we can see the Polestar 1 accelerating to over
140 km/h
 (Polestar claims they did 200 km/h) without any obvious engine noise. The next segment saw the all-wheel-drive coupe going sideways with minimal effort from the driver to maintain its composure.
Polestar CEO, Thomas Ingenlath said: “Besides being very happy with the balance of the chassis, they are particularly excited about the torque vectoring. We are now very confident about how this enhances the Polestar 1’s cornering responsiveness and accuracy. This is a driver’s car. We have now passed a major milestone in the development of the Polestar 1, and prototype testing continues throughout 2018.”
The engineers and test drivers were working to calibrate aspects of suspension, drivetrain, battery performance and torque vectoring systems. The
Polestar 1
 packs a 2.0-litre TwinCharged (turbocharged and supercharged) up front to drive the front axles and two-electric motors that drive the rear wheels. Combined, the high-performance hybrid system gives
600 hp
 and
1,000 Nm
 of torque while delivering an all-electric driving range of 150 km – the longest of any hybrid vehicle.
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Jaguar F-Type SVR tears down Nürburgring with a 575 hp 5.0L V8!

What would you do if you were a company aiming to market your new product? Why, you’d post an ad, perhaps a TV commercial and that’s about it. Well, Jaguar thinks otherwise.
Not keen on the mundane, Jaguar brought their new F-TYPE SVR (does a name come across stronger than this?) to the Nürburgring Nordschleife – a circuit many track day fans, automotive enthusiasts, Gran Turismo players know better than the back of their hands – and let it loose. And it promises to give everyone a taste of the SVR, for a price of course.
That’s right, for everyone. In conjunction with the ‘Jaguar Co-Pilot Nordschleife’ program, one can be a co-pilot in the F-TYPE SVR.
Strap in with a full race suit plus HANS (Head and Neck Support) system into the all-wheel drive, supercharged 5.0 V8 that delivers a stratospheric 575 hp and 700 Nm of torque in the F-TYPE SVR and blast down the straight at 321km/h (or 200mp/h) as a video camera records your experience.
What can better than going 320km/h in a straight line? Why, perhaps going from speed into the famous Karussell. Experience face-tearing G-forces in ease as the F-TYPE SVR has also been upgraded with enhanced aerodynamics to keep the wheels planted.
And the cost? Just €295.(~RM1,330). What better way to spend your hard earned cash than to get an experience of a lifetime? Go book this thrilling ride at
www.nuerburgring-shop.de
. You won’t regret it, we promise.
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2022 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross facelift unveiled in Indonesia with new rugged looks

Following the
launch of the Xpander facelift last year
, Mitsubishi Indonesia has now unveiled the updated 2022 Xpander Cross at this year’s edition of the
Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS)
.
The facelifted MPV crossover adopts many of the changes that were introduced on the regular
Xpander
, including the new T-shaped headlights up front, new square-shaped LED foglamps, reworked Dynamic Shield front fascia, and the complementary T-shaped taillights at the back.
The Mitsubishi Xpander Cross does, however, stand out with its own model-exclusive grille design, alongside the more rugged-looking bumper design, replete with silver skid plate-like elements at the bottom. And to tie up the exterior design, the new 2022 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross also gets its own unique 17-inch alloy wheel design.
Inside, the new Mitsubishi Xpander Cross facelift also adopts the same updated dashboard design (but with blue soft-touch material) as the regular Xpander, which comes with a few upgraded features including a new nine-inch floating infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, alongside reprofiled digital air-con controls.
However, the Cross goes one-up on the regular Mitsubishi Xpander in Indonesia with the addition of a fully-digital instrument cluster, alongside a new steering wheel design that appears to be borrowed from the Triton pick-up. The new facelift also gets an electronic parking brake system (on the premium CVT variant), alongside a wireless charging pad at the bottom of the centre stack.
RELATED:
2022 Mitsubishi Xpander facelift launched in Thailand with new CVT gearbox
The 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated inline-four MIVEC engine underneath the bonnet remains unchanged from before, which continues to deliver
105 hp
 and
141 Nm
 of torque. Drive is sent to the front wheels either via a new CVT gearbox that was introduced as part of the Xpander’s update last year, or a five-speed manual transmission that’s exclusive to the entry-level variant.
As for safety, the new 2022 Mitsubishi Xpander Cross comes as standard with two front airbags, Active Stability Control, ABS with EBD, Hill Start Assist, and Active Yaw Control. Unfortunately, no advanced driver assistance features here, but the crossover MPV does come equipped with a reverse camera with switchable viewing angles.
ALSO READ:
 Mitsubishi Xpander leads MMM to top-three non-national car brand in Malaysia; 19,217 cars sold in FY21
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Review: Isuzu D-Max 1.9L AT Premium – The dependable workhorse

If you’ve been paying even just a little attention these past couple of years, you would have definitely seen the rising trend of pick-up trucks as lifestyle vehicles, boasting incredible refinement and technology to satisfy the general masses. To a certain extent, true workhorse pick-ups now are considered the odd ones out these days – and in that case, the
new Isuzu D-Max
doesn’t shy from being an outcast.
Instead of relying on superficial bells and whistles to sell, Isuzu stuck to its roots with the D-Max, spearheaded by the new 1.9-litre Ddi four-cylinder turbodiesel engine. On paper, the smaller unit actually performs better than the previous 2.4-litre turbodiesel mill with an output of
150 hp
 (+14 hp) and
350 Nm
 (+30 Nm), and it certainly feels that way.
Sure, these output figures are on the more modest end when compared to other competing pick-up trucks, but while on the move, you’d be hard pressed to find it in any way underpowered. In fact, one might even argue that it’s perfect for urban situations (where we actually spent the most time inside the D-Max), thanks to the pokey low-end torque.
It does, however, run out of steam a little when approaching the higher revs, so overtaking at highway speeds – especially when paired to the hesitant six-speed automatic gearbox – might be a little more work. Though, the engine noise, or lack thereof, more than makes up for it.
While we did say that Isuzu pushed on with its whole practical approach, that does not mean that the new D-Max is unrefined – actually far from it, as evident by the quieter engine and reduction in vibrations inside the cabin – in normal cruising situations at least.
Ride is soft and supple in front, making it quite comfortable for longer journeys, though the leaf spring at the rear makes it quite bouncy across high frequency bumps – a necessary evil in pick-up trucks to handle the additional payload on the cargo bed.
Just as expected, the Isuzu D-Max doesn’t shy away from the beaten path too, thanks to the tough exterior look and robust ladder frame chassis. Of course, the off-road-specific features – such as Isuzu’s Terrain Control 4×4 system, hill start assist, and hill descent control – help too.
Inside, new D-Max has also been spruced up by some “premium” soft touch materials on the dashboard and door cards, elevating the general feel of the living quarters. There’s also a new Android-based infotainment display, measuring eight-inches diagonally, which is in my opinion borderline passable to use. Still, it’s better than not having it at all, right?
The seats in the updated Isuzu D-Max have also been resculpted to give better lateral and thigh support, but no matter how much the interior has been improved, it still can’t shake off its true utilitarian side – it really is still the same second-generation pick-up truck launched in our country way back in 2013, made even more obvious by the simplistic instrument cluster and ancient-looking air conditioning control panel.
The resemblance to its older self is even more obvious outside. While the front fascia has been updated with a new grille design – inverting the old U-shaped design into something that sort of resembles fangs, and flanked by new bi-LED headlights, the rear-end of the truck is practically unchanged, save for the new decals letting you know of its new beating heart.
However, these to me are non-issues – nobody is buying a D-Max to look good, there’s the
Mitsubishi Triton
 for that. What you’re buying into in the D-Max is the unwavering reliability to help you do what you need to do. There’s no need to be mainstream, and Isuzu is not afraid to embrace that.
Isuzu D-Max 1.9L AT Premium Double Cab 4×4 specifications:
Engine
RZ4E-TC 1.9-litre turbo-diesel 4-cylinder
Transmission
Six-speed automatic
Max power
150 hp @ 3,600 RPM
Max torque
350 Nm @ 1,800 – 2,600 Nm
0-100 km/h
13.7 seconds
Price (OTR, w/o insurance)
RM115,799.20
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Porsche has beaten its own Nürburgring record with the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo

On 28 May 1983, Stefan Bellof claimed the lap record of the Nürburgring Nordschleife when he got behind the wheel of a 628 hp Rothmans Porsche 956. The lap record of 6 minutes 11.13 seconds remained uncontested for 35 years and 31 days until recently when the Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo complete one lap of the Green Hell in 5 minutes 19.55 seconds.
The Evo version of the 919 Hybrid race car is based on the
standard
 championship-winning race car at the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) that have been heavily reworked for maximum performance. Basically, a de-restricted Le Mans car.
Since Porsche did not have to comply with any regulations whatsoever, the 919 Hybrid Evo now develops a total system output of
1,160 hp
 and weighs only 849 kg (-39 kg) thanks to updated software and removal of
non-essential
items like air-conditioning, electronic race controls and more.
Engineers have also given the car’s aerodynamics a massive upgrade with new diffusers, larger rear wing and active aerodynamics (not available on WEC race). This resulted in 53 per cent greater downforce and an improved aerodynamic efficiency by 66 per cent, allowing the 919 Hybrid race car to tackle the Green Hell with greater aggression and composure.
Behind the wheel of the record-breaking lap is none other than Timo Bernhard, five-time overall winner of the Nürburgring 24-hours, two-time outright winner of the Le Mans 24-hours and reigning World Endurance Champion with the Porsche 919 Hybrid.
Climbing out from the cockpit, Bernhard said, “This is a great moment for me and for the entire team – the 919 programme’s icing on the cake. The Evo was perfectly prepared and I have done my best on this lap. Thanks to the aerodynamic downforce, at sections I never imagined you can stay on full throttle. I’m pretty familiar with the Nordschleife. But today I got to learn it in a new way”
The Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo completed one lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 5 minutes 19.55 seconds with an average speed of 233.8 km/h around the 20.832 km track. Bernhard beat the previous lap record by 51.58 seconds.
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Dear Germans, stop fighting and start paying attention to Volvo

Volvo has, for the longest time, watched in envy of its Germans rivals in their pursuit of global market share dominance. That all began changing in 2010 when Ford sold the Swedish company in full to Chinese carmaker, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group.
Volvo Cars was recently awarded the “One to Watch” award by Fleet World Honours, an honourific title that’s typically awarded to manufacturers who are ‘on the verge of great things’. This really comes as no surprise seeing Volvo’s rapid development in the field of autonomous drive, connectivity, safety and electrification technologies.
This sexy thing is coming to Malaysia very soon – the Volvo S90 R-Design
Modern Volvo cars aren’t just state-of-the-art tech bombs, in fact they are arguably one of the best looking cars of the decade. In 2016, Volvo recorded their third consecutive sales high with a global volume of 534,332 cars, and the numbers will only climb.
Let’s backtrack to 1999, the year when Ford bought 100 percent of Volvo for $6 billion. The US manufacturing giant also acquired many other luxury brands like Aston Martin, Jaguar and Land Rover in a diversification bid. Long story short, things didn’t turn out too well and acquisitions turned into abnegations. Volvo however, was the last to be sold, and they did so at a terribly steep loss of $1.5 billion.
Volvo now thrives on much greener pastures after Geely allocated $11 billion in cash. The untold truth is that Volvo had all the freedom to do as they please without much interference from their new owners. The rest? Well, let’s just say Volvo is on the right track. They still produce world-class cars, not just in terms of safety and powertrain technology, but now in design as well. Who doesn’t love a thoroughly beautiful and purposeful car?
For those who have no clue about Volvo’s presence in Malaysia, allow me the privilege to tell you that they’ve been manufacturing and assembling cars in Shah Alam, Selangor since 1967. The production plant, although old, is routinely upgraded to facilitate the assemblies of newer cars, particularly the
XC90 T8 Inscription
 and soon, the
S90
 and
V90
.
Exciting things are coming our way, and it’s from the company we, five years ago, least expected. Time to revisit that annual priority assessment, eh?
IMAGE GALLERY


The Mitsubishi Xpander is now Indonesia’s best-selling car

The
Mitsubishi Xpander
 is now the best-selling vehicle in Indonesia after a strong sales performance in May 2021, which saw the seven-seater capture 29% of the market share in the archipelago.
Mitsubishi Krama Yudha Sales Indonesia (MMKSI), Mitsubishi Motor’s arm in Indonesia, recorded a total retail sales of 7,516 units in the nation last month, of which, the Xpander model line-up (inclusive of the Xpander Cross) dominated 49.6% of the total sales figure.
Check out the Indonesia-exclusive Xpander Rockford Fosgate Black Edition, which comes factory-equipped with a subwoofer!
Even more impressively, most of the units sold are of the top-of-the-range variant. Year to date, in terms of wholesale numbers, the Mitsubishi Indonesia managed to move a total of 3,469 units of the Xpander Ultimate (1,370 in April 2021 alone).
Likewise, the Mitsubishi Xpander Cross Premium AT sees a total of 4,560 units sold thus far in Indonesia (wholesale), more than double of the Standard AT, coming in at second place.
See how the Mitsubishi Xpander compares against the Honda BR-V in our in-depth comparison.
The numbers are indicative of the high demand for these premium variants, which could be the effect of consumers taking advantage of the relaxed PPnBM luxury tax in Indonesia.

Back in February this year, the Indonesian government introduced a 100% luxury tax break for sedans and two-wheel drive vehicles with engine capacity below 1,500 cc. The incentive was scheduled to drop to 50% after May, but has since been extended to August.
Following the release of the May 2021 sales data, Mitsubishi’s market share in Indonesia now stands at 12.6%. The company also enjoyed a 37% increase in sales in the second quarter of 2021.
[source: Autonet Magz]


F1’s Grid Girls is now officially replaced by Grid Kids

Formula 1, together with FIA has announced that the pre-race ceremony will now feature Grid Kids alongside the drivers. This comes after the announcement of the motorsport’s discontinuation of Grid Girls for the 2018 F1 season.
The joint initiative will involve the local Grand Prix promoter working alongside the National Sporting Authority (ASN) to provide a unique experience for the youngsters and their families to immerse themselves in the whole race weekend. These lucky youngsters will be chosen by their motorsport clubs and are already be competing in karting or junior formulae.
Similar to the tradition with football, the selected youngsters will accompany and stand alongside the 20 drivers on the grid as they prepare for the race. They will be accompanied by an immediate family who will also have paddock access for the race weekend.
F1 Managing Director of Commercial Operations, Sean Bratches said: “This will be an extraordinary moment for these youngsters. Imagine, standing beside their heroes, watch as they prepare to race, the elite of the elite in motorsport, to be there, alongside them in those precious few minutes just before the start.”
“What an unforgettable experience; for them, and their families. An inspiration to keep driving, training and learning so that they can dream of one day being there themselves. What better way to inspire the next generation of Formula 1 heroes.” Bratches added.
FIA President Jean Todt said: “Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsports and the dream of every young racer competing for the junior series that make up the FIA’s single-seater pyramid, from karting all the way to F1. We are therefore delighted to bring that dream a little closer by giving the future champions of our sport the opportunity to stand alongside their heroes on the grid in the build-up to the race start.”


One owner, two custom-built McLarens by MSO – life is too unfair

McLaren will soon be delivering two unique McLarens, built to the owner’s specific liking courtesy of McLaren Special Operations (MSO). They’re called the MSO R Coupe and MSO R Spider – the latest of the ever-increasing custom-built McLarens where customers get to work closely with MSO on the custom specifications of the car.
Based on the
675 LT
 model, both the cars which share the same exterior, interior and mechanical specifications, are finished in Liquid Silver – the Coupe in Satin and the Spider in gloss finish – topped off with a carbon fibre central stripe.
Both also come with identical twin-element rear wings, with front dive planes to further enhance aerodynamic performance. Most of the body parts – the bumper, bonnet, louvered fenders, roof scoop are all MSO Visual Carbon Fiber (VCF) components.
The exclusive MSO R branding is extended to the side skirts, sill panels, rocker panels and plenum. Both the bespoke McLarens are fitted with 5-spoke wheels, finished in Satin Black on the Coupe and Gloss Black on the Spider.
If you thought the exterior stands out from any other McLaren you’ve seen, the interior will prove you even more incorrect. The cabin is decked out with Alcantara trims as they’re finished with black and red stitching.
The upper and lower section of the steering wheel is made of carbon fibre, matched with black Alcantara grips. Even the switches on it are built to that one lucky owner’s liking – with carbon fibre bezels.
Now to the juicy bits – horsepower figures! The 3.8-litre V8 engines have had their heads and exhaust ports hand-polished, for an output of
679 hp
 and up to
700 Nm
 of torque. The exhaust system features a crossover design, ending with titanium tail pipes.
IMAGE GALLERY


Perodua Tweckbot to offer free vehicle checks in Kota Kinabalu ahead of the festive season

Perodua’s long-running Tweckbot complimentary vehicle inspection service will be making its final road safety push for the year next weekend, in Kota Kinabalu.
As part of Perodua’s Road Safety Programme, Perodua Tweckbot will be stationed at
ITCC Mall, Penampang
 on
21 and 22 December
 from
10 am to 5 pm
 on both days.
The Perodua Tweckbot will offer free inspection to all Perodua vehicles. The complimentary vehicle check will cover
over 50 touch points
, including the engine, transmission, cooling system, brakes, power steering, clutch, tyres, suspension and electronics.
Customers who inspect their vehicles with Perodua Tweckbot will also receive a
20% discount voucher
; redeemable at any authorised Perodua service centre for the purchase of selected parts and accessories.
While customers are waiting for their vehicles to be inspected, Perodua Tweckbot staff will engage in activities designed to increase road safety awareness.

Here are five things you need to know about the recently released
Perodua Axia Style
.
Perodua, President and CEO Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad said, “As Christmas and the New Year approaches, many will be taking to the roads for vacations and to visit family and friends. Therefore it is crucial that their vehicles are in good working order at this time, more so considering the large travel distances in East Malaysia.”
“Perodua Tweckbot aims to promote the importance of regular vehicle checks, servicing them at authorised Perodua outlets and only using genuine Perodua products and parts, all in the name of safety,” he added.
Since its inception in 2011, the Perodua Tweckbot complimentary vehicle check service has inspected over 8,000 cars.


Gallery: V177 Mercedes Benz A 250 Sedan AMG Line – small but mighty

The
V177 Mercedes Benz A-Class Sedan
 is an important car for the Stuttgart-based luxury car maker, as it is an entirely new body-style for the brand’s compact car line-up.
The new body style and modern exterior styling received much fanfare at launch, but how does it look in metal? We recently got ahold of the all-new A 250 Sedan AMG Line, so we thought we’d let you have a taste of Mercedes Benz’s latest baby with this detailed gallery.
The A 250 Sedan receives an AMG Line bodykit, which includes more aggressive front and rear aprons. Up front, the lower bumper receives large air inlets at the sides, decorated with two vertical slats.
The trapezoidal grille gets the diamond pin design with chrome treatment, flanked by the two slimline LED headlights. The large three-pointed star in the middle completes the imposing shark-nose front end.
Compared to its hatchback twin brother, the A 250 Sedan measures 130 mm longer with the extra length going to the rear overhang. Despite its longer dimensions, the wheelbase is identical to the hatchback, so the only gain is in terms of boot space – coming in at 420 litres (50 litres more than the hatchback).
The A 250 Sedan also receives an 18-inch five-spoke AMG alloys as part of the AMG Line – although the large bezel all-around does make the wheels look a little smaller than the size suggests. Behind the front wheels are the larger cross-drilled brake discs, specific to the A 250.
Moving to the rear, the A 250 Sedan receives a diffuser on the lower apron, flanked by tailpipes on both sides. The AMG Line bumper also includes “vents” on the outer edge for a more aggressive stance.
The full LED taillights are identical to the standard A 200, which are now two-piece items. The T-shaped design was also inspired by the facelifted
W176 A-Class
.
Higher up, the Sedan gets a “ducktail” boot lid which helps smoothen airflow around the rear-end – contributing to the low drag coefficient of 0.22 Cd.
Step into the cabin, and you’ll immediately see that the two-stepped dashboard of the A-Class Sedan is lifted directly from its hatchback twin. Dominating the dashboard is the twin 10.25-inch displays that make up the infotainment and instrument cluster.
Standing out from the dashboard are three circular jet turbine-style air conditioning vents. The vents even come with ambient lighting on the centre stalk, which changes its colour during temperature adjustments.
Separating the A 250 from the A 200 is the light longitudinal-grain aluminium trim, which separates the stepped dashboard, and continues onto the door cards.
The A 250 Sedan variant also gains a Nappa leather-wrapped flat-bottomed steering wheel, illuminated AMG door-sill panels, as well as heated sports seats.
The A 250 Sedan runs on the Mercedes Benz User Experience (MBUX) operating system, which does away with the rotary dial on the centre console. In its place is a large matte-black trackpad for navigation, though you can just interface with the infotainment system through the large touchscreen.
At night, the cabin of the A 250 Sedan comes alive with the 64-colour ambient lighting, which runs across the entire dashboard and the air conditioning vents.
Powering the A 250 Sedan is the M260 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, producing 224 hp and 350 Nm of twist. Paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the A 250 is good for a zero-to-hundred time of 6.3 seconds.
Curious to find out how the Mercedes Benz A 250 Sedan performs? We have a review coming up soon, so do keep your eyes peeled for that!
IMAGE GALLERY


Gallery: 2023 Mercedes-Benz S580e PHEV from RM708,888 – Immerse into the S-Class world!

The
Mercedes-Benz S580e PHEV
 was launched in Malaysia at the end of 2021, with a current price tag of
RM708,888
. While we all know of the S-Class, for most of us, it’s only something we only see on the road or through the showroom window so here’s a detailed gallery of every inch and corner of the car for you to immerse yourself in!
By the way, if you’re looking to renew your car insurance, you can get a 10% rebate and cash back at the end of your policy if you renew with MotorTakaful by Etiqa. Just log on to
www.motortakaful.com
.
At the heart of the S580e lies a M256 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six paired to an electric motor with a combined output of
510 hp
 and
750 Nm
 of torque. In case you’re wondering, that’s 34 hp and 50 Nm more than the previous
S560e
 model. Fitted with a 9G-Tronic automatic gearbox, the S580e gets from 0-100 km/h in just 5.2 seconds.
With a larger 28.6 kWh lithium-ion battery, the pure electric range is now
up to 100 km
. In terms of charging, the S580e can take up to 11 kW of AC charging. Using a three-phase AC wallbox charger, it takes up to 2.5 hours to charge the car’s battery up to 80%.
On the outside, the S580e is equipped with 19-inch wheels, pop-out door handles, Digital Light LED headlamps, hands-free powered tailgate, although the boot could do with a little more space. Having batteries tucked in the undercarriage meant that the boot floor is much higher than non-PHEV models, offering limited space for cargo should the S-Class be used for outstation trips. Goes without saying, a hands-free powered tailgate is standard.
Inside is where the S-Class really knocks it out of the park with a tech-filled cabin. For starters, you get a fully digital instrument cluster with 3D effect, 16-speaker Burmester 3D surround sound system, 64-colour ambient lighting now with 250 LEDs (40 before), MBUX Interior Assistant, wireless charging front and rear, dual 11-inch touchscreens and a seven-inch Android tablet for the rear passengers.
Also at the rear is what we call a ‘Business Class’ seat but for land travel. That’s cause the rear left seat can be easily extended and reclined at the touch of a button. Imagine the view of the world from inside the S-Class, whether from the windows or the panoramic sunroof; things look merrier! Aside from that, the rear seats also come with seat ventilation and even a calf massage function.
The S-Class is every bit as impressive on the safety and driver assistance front. It comes with 14 airbags including belt bags and rear side and rear seat cushion airbags, park assist, a 360-degree surround view system, autonomous emergency braking (up to 130 km/h), adaptive cruise control with stop and go and lane centering assist. The S580e autonomous driving rating is still rated at Level 2.
GALLERY


Facts & Figures: 2022 Proton Iriz facelift launched – from RM40,300

Proton has launched the 2022 Iriz and is now available in three variants – 1.3 Standard, 1.6 Executive and 1.6 Active. Prices start from RM40,300 for the Standard, RM47,100 for the Executive, and RM54,000 for the Active.
Each comes with a 5-year/150,000 km warranty. Prices mentioned include SST exemptions valid till the 31st of December. Note that the 1.3 Standard Manual and 1.3 Executive variants have been discontinued.
Here’s what Malaysian rally legend, Karamjit Singh, had to say about the Proton Iriz…watch the video here!
EXTERIOR
Notable changes have been made to the exterior of the 2022 Iriz and while the facelift in 2019 seemed to focus on a clean and mature look, the new 2022 facelift model appears more youthful.
2019
2022
Among the new touches to the exterior are:
new grille featuring Infinite Weave design
new fog light surrounds
silver accent on front bumper (Active only)
15-inch wheels (Standard & Executive)
16-inch for Active
Roof rails (Active only)
Wheel arch extension (Active only)
2019
2022
At the rear, there aren’t any significant changes if you get the Standard or Executive, except for the red line that runs across the bumper. That being said, the rear bumper on the Active is of the same design, just different coloured trims.
INTERIOR
Where do we even begin? Frankly, we’d much prefer to see an all-new Iriz by now, but the changes in its cabin are more than enough for us (and hopefully you as well) to put that thought on hold for a while more.
Here’s what you get:
8-inch touchscreen floating display (Executive & Active)
new air con controls
new gear level console
new seat design
Red seatbelts (Active only)
“Hi Proton” voice command (Active only)
6x USB ports including one for dashcam
In the Active variant, prepare to be smothered by a sea of red details. There’s “Active” letting on the door panels, and if that message isn’t clear enough, there’s another on the seat backrest.
There’s also more storage space freed up under the new air-con control panel. We’re not too happy about Proton ditching those Martini-themed seats in the 2022 Iriz though; old as it may be, it was the coolest thing in the previous models.
There’s even a USB port for your dashcam….how convenient!
And the speaker count, two in the Standard variant? Two? It can’t possibly cost that much more to have four like in the Executive and Active, can it?
Michelin Energy XM2+ tyre review on a Proton Iriz. Here’s what we think about them!
PERFORMANCE
The notable change here is the “S” on the gear lever, and a proper Eco mode unlike before where the icon just pops up every time you’re not driving like a mad man (or woman).
Nothing has changed under the hood. The Iriz is still powered by the same 1.3- and 1.6-litre engines as before:
Engine: 1.3-litre VVT 4-cylinder
Transmission: Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT)
Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive
Power: 95 hp @ 5,750 rpm
Torque: 120 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
Engine: 1.6-litre VVT 4-cylinder
Transmission: Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT)
Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive
Power: 109 hp @ 5,750 rpm
Torque: 150 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
SAFETY
Moving on, there are 4 airbags in the Standard variant, while the Executive and Active gets additional side and curtain airbags for a total of six. The Executive and Active variants get four parking sensors; two each in the front and back along with a reverse camera display.
Here’s how different the old 2019 Proton Iriz looks…compare and see for yourself!
GALLERY


Proton R3 (Race Rally Research) shuts down, bitter end to performance division

Proton’s internal motorsports and performance division, Race Rally Research (R3) has met its demise and will shut down by the end of May. The decision to axe R3 was not related to the recent appointment of Geely as Proton’s
foreign strategic partner
, though.
According to the report by
Mekanika
, Proton’s investment in R3 wasn’t providing the returns they expected, and the call for quits actually came from within. The statement was confirmed by none other of R3 head of department Tengku Djan Ley.
During its heyday, R3 was largely funded by Petronas. However, the troubling state of economy forced both both parties to scale thing down. This year, the R3 team mainly acts as technical support for the Saga cup during the Malaysia Speed Festival series. Thankfully, all existing R3 staff will be reassigned to other departments within Proton.
Just like the M division or AMG, R3 was responsible for some of the most amazing Protons ever created, be it for the streets or the race tracks. Among the notable ones were the R3 editions of the Satria GTi (mostly revered to as the best Proton ever) and the Satria Neo. In 2010, R3 produced the most radical Satria Neo – the Satria Neo R3 Lotus Racing edition.
The R3 team also raced in both touring car and rally racing with the Proton Satria Neo S2000 rally car, which proved to be quite the achiever. Back home, the R3 team swept multiple manufacturers’ and drivers’ titles in the Malaysian Super Series and Malaysia Rally Championship.
Source:
Mekanika


New Toyota Supra gets more than just extra power, now at RM589,987

UMW Toyota Motor announced today that the new and improved
2021 Toyota Supra
 is now in Malaysia for
RM589,987
 following the
Sales Tax Exemption
. Without it, the 2021 model would cost RM611,880 –
nearly RM50k more than the model launched in September last year
 as the new
torchbearer of the Supra heritage
.
So what do you get for all that money? For starters, there’s more power. It now makes
388 hp
, up from 340 hp with torque figures unchanged at
500 Nm
.
Power band has also increased slightly, now from 1,800 rpm to 5000 rpm instead of 4,500 rpm. If you remember
our Supra dyno video
, what the Supra actually makes now is again, anyone’s guess. It could even be over 400 hp!
0 to 100 km/h is rightfully quicker – down to
4.1
from 4.3 from seconds. This makes the Supra both the fastest Toyota and “BMW Z4” in Malaysia as the Z4 M40i isn’t officially sold here. You can almost here the
M2 Competition screaming for a rematch
.
Toyota’s engineers may have tuned the 2021 Supra for better output but not before some modifications to the exhaust system. It’s now fitted with a dual branch exhaust manifold with six ports instead of two for improved heat management. Compression ratio has also been significantly reduced with a new piston design.
All that power would be nothing without control so the Toyota turned to the Supra’s chassis. They’ve further increased its rigidity with lightweight anti-roll bars, complemented by a new damper setup.
They’ve also re-tuned its electric power steering, adaptive suspension, Vehicle Stability Control and differential. Toyota claims that the updated Supra is more stable when performing quick direction changes, with increased roll resistance and enhanced cornering stability.
Interestingly, the 2021 model is quite vain as well. The red brake calipers at the front now writes “Supra” – possibly a further attempt by Toyota to convince the relentless naysayers that this is indeed a Supra.
GALLERY


2023 Range Rover updated with all-hybrid powertrains – SV gets 615 hp V8 MHEV!

The
fifth-generation Range Rover
 has just been updated for 2023, with a new fully-electrified powertrain line-up. A total of four powertrains are now on offer, consisting of two plug-in hybrids and two mild-hybrid 4.4-litre V8s – the latter available in a new
615 hp/750 Nm
 P615 configuration, specifically for the new SV variant. Oddly enough, though, no performance figures for the new range-topper were provided.
READ MORE:
2023 Range Rover L460 launched in Malaysia, from RM1.268m before tax
The two 3.0-litre inline-six plug-in hybrid powertrains, meanwhile, benefit from a more powerful 160 kW (218 hp) electric motor for a higher total system output. As such, the previous P440e is now known as P460e, while the P510e is now P550e, both to reflect their new horsepower figures.
With such a significant increase in outputs, the latter also now dispatches the 0-100 km/h sprint in
4.8 seconds
, down from 5.2 seconds from before. Complementing the newfound performance is also an increased fully-electric range of up to 120 km,
Autocar UK
reports.
As part of the 2023 refresh, the 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment display on the inside has also been updated with the latest-generation Pivi Pro software. With the latest update, JLR says that nearly 80% of tasks can now be performed within two taps of the home screen.
There’s also a new Country Road Assist system as part of the adaptive cruise control, which uses navigation data to automatically adjust the vehicle’s target speed by taking into account the bends in the road and changes to the speed limit. Additionally, there’s also now an adaptive off-road cruise control system, with up to four comfort setting that adjusts the vehicle’s speed accordingly.


2022 Honda HR-V and BR-V score 5 stars in ASEAN NCAP, high Safety Assist points

Just last week, ASEAN NCAP released the crash test results for the
Honda HR-V

and
Honda BR-V
. Both cars received five-star ratings with the HR-V achieving an 81.38 overall score and the BR-V reporting a 77.02 overall score. Both cars were tested with the latest 2021-2025 ASEAN NCAP standards.
The Honda HR-V was launched in the Malaysian market in July this year in four variants. Already launched in
Thailand
 and
Indonesia
, the all-new Honda BR-V has not yet been launched in Malaysia.
Tested in July 2022, the Honda HR-V scored 28/32 for Adult Occupant Protection (AOP), 45.43/51 for Child Occupant Protection (COP), 19.5/21 for Safety Assist, and 8/16 for Motorcyclist Safety (MS) in the ASEAN NCAP test. All variants of the Honda HR-V are equipped with the latest Honda Sensing technology which includes:
• Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
• Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
• Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS)
• Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
• Low-Speed Follow (LSF)
• Auto High Beam (AHB)
• Lead Car Departure Notification (LCDN)
Except for the “S” variant, all variants get dual front airbags, side airbags, and side curtain airbags. The “S” variant gets dual front airbags and side airbags but is not equipped with side curtain airbags. Honda’s LaneWatch safety feature is only fitted onto the “V” and “e:Hev RS” variants.
ALSO WATCH:
All-new 2022 Honda HR-V now launched in Malaysia, 5 Things
Not yet launched in the Malaysian market, the Honda BR-V obtained 26.98/32 for AOP, 44.53/51 for COP, 16.5/21 for Safety Assist, and 8.1/16 for MS in the ASEAN NCAP test. Over in Thailand and Indonesia, the all-new Honda BR-V has been launched in two variants and five variants respectively. Looking at its segment rivals, the BR-V’s ASEAN NCAP score (77.02) follows behind the
Perodua Alza
 (81.64)and the
Toyota Veloz

(79.99).
The Honda BR-V is equipped with six airbags, Honda Sensing, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD,) Brake Assist (BA), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), and Hill Start Assist (HSA). Some variants are only equipped with four airbags (omitting side curtain airbags) and don’t get Honda’s Sensing technology (in Indonesia). Honda’s LaneWatch safety technology is only available on the higher-tier variant. Safety specifications for the all-new Honda BR-V in Malaysia have yet to be confirmed.
In August, it was reported that Honda Malaysia delivered over 1,300 units of the all-new Honda HR-V in just one month. In Malaysia, the Honda HR-V is available in four variants with the “S” variant starting at a price of
RM 114,800
. With Thailand and Indonesia already receiving the all-new Honda BR-V, it won’t be long until it will reach Malaysia. With the ASEAN NCAP results out, buyers can make a more informed decision.
RELATED:
All-new 2022 Honda BR-V launched in Thailand – Honda Sensing now standard


All-new Ford Kuga is a Focus on stilts, up 50 km EV range for PHEV variant

Ford has just pulled
off the wraps of its third-generation Ford Kuga SUV, packing a distinct styling
compared to the old car and host of new technologies.
The new SUV sits on
Ford’s new global C2 architecture that is up to 90 kg lighter than its
predecessor. The new platform also supports improved aerodynamics, better crash
safety performance, 10% stiffer torsional rigidity and more interior space.
Compared to the old model, the new Kuga is 89 mm longer, 44 mm wider, 20 mm lower with a 20 mm longer wheelbase, translating to increased cabin space for all passengers. The second-row seats can slide forward or backwards to offer best-in-class rear legroom or increase the boot space.
Following the design language of modern Ford models (
Fiesta
 and
Focus
 in particular), the new Kuga is more sculpted with a more streamlined silhouette thanks to the extended wheelbase, longer bonnet, further reclined rear windshield angle and a lower roofline. All these make the new car appear more athletic than ever before.
Depending on the trim
line selected – Titanium, Vignale or ST-Line, the Kuga can be dressed in different
bumpers and wheel sizes ranging from 17- to 20-inches. The ST-Line styling
package is inspired by Ford Performance that adds body-coloured bumpers and
side skirts, black grille, rear diffuser and twin sports exhaust outlets.
The cabin is taken lifted
from the new Focus featuring a more minimalistic styling. Inside you’ll find an
8.0-inch touchscreen floating display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
connectivity, 12.3-inh LCD “true colour” instrument cluster display that is supposedly
more informative, intuitive and easier to read, 575-watt 10-speaker Bang &
Olufsen surround sound system, heads up display, Qi wireless charging tray,
powered tailgate, Active Noise Control and others.
At launch, the Kuga is available in a range of plug-in hybrid, mild hybrid, diesel and petrol engines. The top of the range is the
Kuga PHEV
 packing a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor with a 14.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack to deliver
225 hp
 with a pure electric range of up to 50 km.
Alternatively, the same 2.5-litre petrol mill can be paired to a mild-hybrid system which will be available at a later date. As for a more conventional setup, the Kuga is available with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder EcoBoost engine with
120 hp
 or
150 hp
 paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
As for diesel options, there’s the
120 hp
 1.5-litre,
190 hp
 2.0-litre EcoBlue turbodiesels as well as a
 150 hp
 2.0-litre EcoBlue mild-hybrid system for even greater fuel efficiency.
Safety system is comprehensive
to say the least with Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian and Cyclist
Detection, Lane-Keeping System, Lane-Centring technology, Blind Spot Assist, Adaptive
Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop & Go, Evasive Steering Assist, Front and
rear wide-view cameras, Adaptive Front Lighting System and Wrong Way Alert.
The Ford Kuga competes in the same space as the likes of the
Volkswagen Tiguan
 and
Honda CR-V
. Previously, Sime Darby Auto Connexion offered the second-gen 1.5-litre EcoBoost Ford Kuga at upwards of RM160k.
IMAGE GALLERY
All-new Ford Kuga


McLaren 720S Spa 68 Collection is possibly the rarest 720S to date

McLaren Special Operations (MSO) have built a three-car only special to honour McLaren’s debut Formula 1 victory in the 1968 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, with company founder Bruce McLaren behind the wheel. Half a century later, the McLaren 720S Spa 68 Collection pays tribute to the achievement by echoing the colour of the 1968 race car.
Commissioned by McLaren Brussels, only three units of the 720S Spa 68 Collection rolled off the production facility. The limited edition 720S wears the MSO Bespoke Anniversary Orange that reflects the winning race car and rides on a set of MSO Bespoke Satin Black 5 Twin-Spoke Lightweight wheels to contrast against the bright orange paintwork.
Curiously the Spa 68 Collection comes with black painted front splitters, headlamp covers, side skirts and diffuser and not the extended carbon fibre exterior pack nor the Track Pack available from MSO. It does, however, get a silver outline of the 14 km Spa-Francorchamps track on the rear wheel arches and a “1st McLaren F1 victory Belgian Grand Prix 9th June 1968 – Bruce McLaren” inscription in the carbon fibre sill covers.
Inside, the black Alcantara upholstery is set off against McLaren Orange topstitching as well as a Spa-Francorchamps track embroidery in the headrest. Other touches include a “1 of 3 Spa ’68 Collection” dedication plaque and MSO bespoke keys painted Anniversary Orange with silver “Spa 68” text.

The 1968 Belgian Grand Prix is Bruce McLaren’s fourth Formula 1 career win but his first victory driving his own McLaren car, at that time making him only the third driver to win a Grand Prix in a car of his own design and construction. The victory set the McLaren team on a path to eight World Constructors’ Championships and 12 World Drivers’ Championships.
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McLaren 720S Spa 68 Collection

 1 of 3 McLaren 720S Spa 68 Collection by MSO


Even the Mitsubishi Delica van is getting Ralliart accessories in Japan

Mitsubishi announced last year that it’s bringing back the Ralliart name, through renewed involvement in motorsports, alongside a range of accessories and special edition models. For the latter, they’ve already introduced the Triton and Pajero Sport
Ralliart edition models in Thailand
. And now, Mitsubishi is bringing the same treatment over to almost all of its models in Japan – including the Delica D:5 van.
As expected, the Ralliart accessories are modelled after the brand’s rally race cars of yore. For the Delica D:5, these parts include red mud flaps, red side mirror covers, fog lamp garnishes, blacked-out under garnishes beneath the front and rear bumpers, plus a black and red spoiler round the back.
The Ralliart accessories are also available for the Mitsubishi Outlander, RVR (or Outlander Sport in other markets), and Eclipse cross SUVs in Japan, consisting of similar parts such as the mud flaps, skid plates, side under garnishes, and large tailgate spoilers. All of them with red and black accents, of course.
ALSO READ: Mitsubishi is bringing back the Ralliart name and re-entering motorsports
Aside from the model-specific Ralliart kits, Mitsubishi is also offering a range of general accessories in Japan, including a dark chrome-plated frame for licence plates, licence plate frame bolts, black wheel lugnuts, and a Ralliart-branded push-start button.
Earlier this year, Mitsubishi also unveiled the
Vision Ralliart concept
 at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2022, although it turns out to be just a souped-up Outlander SUV with a slight redesign, instead of an out-and-out rally car (
or a new Evo model
) like many have hoped.
Will the Japanese carmaker ever make a Ralliart model befitting the legendary nameplate? We’ll never know, but we’re not holding our breath.


Forget sensible, you need this Yellow Tang paint job on the Aston Martin DBX Intrepid Aura

Following the official launch of the
Aston Martin DBX
 here in Malaysia, Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur has now unveiled its latest customisation special for the ultra-luxury SUV, dubbed Intrepid Aura.
The Aston Martin DBX in the Intrepid Aura configuration is available in four bright exterior colours; this example here is finished in a reflective Yellow Tang paintjob, but it can also be optioned in Ceramic Blue, Stratus White or Lime Essence.
The bright paint is contrasted by the window surrounds, grille, roof rails, and mirror caps in gloss black – Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur says that this is designed to be evocative of “a late night ride through a sleepless city scene”.
Similarly, the rear lights have been given a smoked effect, along with the Satin Black finish on the 22-inch sport alloy wheels and the Aston Martin Wings & rear ordmark in Black Chrome to fully emphasise the effect.
Moving inside, the effect is once again seen on the upholstery, with Metallic Black Caithness Leather paired to a contrast stitching of the exterior colour. Everything else in the cabin of the Aston Martin DBX Intrepid Aura though, is darkness amplified.
These include the Dark Satin Chrome interior jewellery pack (also known as buttons and dials for the other carmakers), embroidered Aston Martin Wings logo on the seats, Black alcantara headlining, Obsidian Black carpets, and a Piano Black wood veneer finish on the dashboard.
Aside from these aesthetic options, no other changes have been made to the “sports car first, SUV second” Aston Martin DBX. Underneath the hood is the same Mercedes-AMG sourced 4.0 litre twin-turbocharged V8, tuned to make
550 hp
 and
700 Nm
 of torque.
Power is sent to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission and a fancy all-wheel drive system featuring an active central differential and an electronic rear limited-slip differential (eDiff). In terms of performance, the Aston Martin DBX completes the century sprint in 4.5 seconds, onward to a top speed of 291 km/h.
The Aston Martin DBX starts at a base price of RM818,000 before, taxes, duties, and all other associated costs. With the Intrepid Aura configuration, the price jumps upwards to
RM958,000
, again, without taxes and duties.
The Aston Martin DBX Intrepid Aura is now available for viewing at the Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur showroom. To book a viewing appointment, Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur is contactable via phone at
+60 3 2163 1196
 or
email
.
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Volkswagen offers a sneak preview of what the Polo GTI R5 rally car would look like

Volkswagen will return to the rally stages with Polo GTI R5 – where it will make a 270 hp rally version of the Polo which will be available to professional teams and aspiring drivers to enable them to compete in championships including the FIA World Rally Championship.
A sketch of the car, based on the
new sixth-generation Polo
 gave a foretaste of what’s to come. Like the production model, due for launch at the end of the year, the Polo GTI R5 will come with a four-cylinder turbo engine with direct fuel injection.
What do you think of the new Polo GTI?
Other features include four-wheel drive, a sequential five-speed racing transmission and a comprehensive safety package. This gives privateers, teams and importers the opportunity to contest in national, regional and international championships with cost-effective, powerful rally cars.
“With the Polo GTI R5 we are hoping to transfer our expertise from four WRC titles to customer racing successfully, and offer a first-class racing machine for countless rally championships from national series to the WRC,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director, Sven Smeets.


Video: Unleashing the 2022 Maserati Levante’s V6 goodness in Langkawi

It was a much-needed break when
Maserati Malaysia
 invited us to Langkawi to sample their
 updated Maserati Levante S
 that first arrived in Malaysia in
November 2017
 but it was more than just a trip to an island as we discovered later on.
The Maserati Levante S has actually been improved where it matters; with a new grille and tail light design on the outside and an improved infotainment system that’s one of the most user-friendly we’ve ever experienced. Even the default onboard navigation system in the infotainment was worth a mention, it was easy and convenient to use without us having to resort to Waze or Google Maps.

That’s not all, also making an impact in the cockpit section of the Levante S is the new instrument cluster. Although still analogue, the plastic cover has been replaced with a glass cover with the fonts revamped for a more modern look and the effects can be seen (in the video).
Of course, this wouldn’t be a Maserati without a mention of its performance but it’s not just about how powerful the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 was with 430 hp and 580 Nm. Instead, it’s how the entire car makes you feel when your inner 17-year old is enjoying the fruits of your labour.
Comparing it with its rival, the Cayenne may have the advantage of being more nimble and composed during spirited driving, but the Porsche would never sound like a Maserati. If the Porsche was a choir singer – clean, clinical and precise – then the Levante S is would be Freddie Mercury from Queens – the Maserati just stands out with a little more flamboyance.
Want to know more? Check it out in detail in the video!