Nissan sold over 1 million EVs so far, plans to launch 19 more EV models by FY2023

Under the Nissan Ambition 2030 long-term vision,
Nissan
 plans to launch a total of 19 EV models by the end of
fiscal year 2023 (FY2023)
, ahead of new EVs powered by its own in-house developed solid state batteries by fiscal year
2028.
 Thus far, Nissan’s global EV sales has surpassed the 1 million unit milestone, with Japan, US, Europe, and China being their largest EV markets.
The Japanese carmaker launched its first EV model, the
Nissan Leaf
, back in December 2010, and has since sold more than 650,000 units of the electric hatchback. Fast-forward to 2022, the
Nissan Ariya
 all-electric crossover was born, featuring not just Nissan’s latest design language, but also its latest technologies.
These include the brand’s EV-specific e-4ORCE all-wheel drive system, as well as the ProPilot 2.0 ADAS suite. The Ariya has also won multiple awards, including the Auto Color Award 2021 Grand Prix in Japan, and the Red Dot Design Award in Germany.
RELATED:
Nissan Serena J Impul now in Malaysia, RM170k for kitted up MPV
In the same year, Nissan created the small and cheerful
Sakura
, which became the Japanese Kei car market’s first EV. Since its launch, Nissan has now received cumulative orders of 50,000 units for the model, thanks to the car’s practicality and compact size, which makes commuting through narrow spaces and parking much easier.
Just like the Ariya, the Sakura is also an award-winning model from Nissan. Among awards given to the Nissan Sakura include the 2023 RJC Car of the Year, as well as the 2023 JAHFA Car of the Year award. The Sakura was also the first mini-vehicle to win the 2022-2023 Japan Car of the Year award.
Closer to home, the 2023 Nissan Leaf EV is
offered in a single variant
, with a price tag of
RM168,888
 (OTR, without insurance). Just in case you prefer not to be fully committed to the Leaf, it is also available with a 3-year subscription plan which costs
RM1,800
 per month.
RELATED:
Nissan Almera facelift debuts in Thailand – Approx. RM5k price hike, new ADAS features


Kia EV6 named 2022 European Car of the Year

Following months of deliberation by 61 motoring journalists from 23 European countries, the panel has decided to award the
 fully-electric Kia EV6
 with the 2022 Car of the Year award at the European Car of the Year (COTY) awards.
The Kia EV6 beat the Hyundai IONIQ 5, the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the Skoda Enyaq iV, Cupra Born, Renault Mégane E-Tech and Peugeot 308 to take the title.
RELATED:
Bermaz Auto to introduce the full range of Peugeot SUVs, Kia EV6
Kia Europe, President, Jason Jeong said, “It’s the first-ever Kia to win this prestigious award. The EV6 is an exciting sign of what’s still to come in our evolving electrified line-up.”
It’s not the first award the Kia EV6 has won as it has also been awarded the Irish Car of the Year and recognised at the German Car of the Year awards.
The EV6 is Kia’s first dedicated EV and is not created on platforms initially designed for internal combustion engines. The EV6 can travel up to 528 km (in the GT variant) on a single charge and takes just 18 minutes to charge the batteries from 10 to 80%.
The 800-volt system takes just four and a half (4.5 minutes) of charging to get 100 km of range. There are all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive models, with the former capable of hitting 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds!
Interestingly, the Kia EV6 can also double up as a power bank using a Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) function. It’s capable of powering a 55-inch TV and air conditioner simultaneously for more than 24 hours. Kia also said the V2L system can be used to charge another EV!
More details bout the
Kia EV6
 here!


New Kia EV will do 0 to 100 km/h in under 3.0 seconds!

The Kia 2021 CEO Investor Day has just ended and the company has announced its short term plans, including the launch of their first dedicated electric vehicle (EV) this year.
“Kia is being reborn in 2021 with a
new logo
, new design, and new corporate name,” said President and CEO of Kia Corporation, Ho Sung Song.
The 2019 Kia Imagine Concept vehicle
Under the updated ‘Plan S’ strategy, Kia Corporation will focus on three core pillars that are advancing EV transition, strengthening purpose-built vehicle (PBV) business and expanding future mobility services.
The first dedicated EV From Kia, codenamed
CV
, will be built on the
Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP)
 that is also shared with larger affiliate Hyundai Motor.
Song said the CV will be defined by three key figures of 5,4,3 – a useable range of
500 kilometres
, a 100 km-range in just 4 minutes of charging and a 0-100 km/h sprint time of
3.0 seconds
. Kia has also openly positioned the CV as a direct competitor to the
Tesla Model Y
.
The CV is being promoted as the company’s flagship model and its due to be
unveiled in March
 with sales to being in July.
Moving forward, the target is to have as many as
seven EVs
 built on the E-GMP architecture, while another four on existing ones by 2026. By the end of this decade, the company aims to be the EV sales leader with 880,000 units per annum.
Kia is also developing a range of new Purpose-Built Vehicles (PBV) for corporate customers. These specialised vehicles will be based on flexible
‘skateboard’
 platforms, with
modular upper bodies
 designed to meet the specific mobility needs of a broad range of corporate and fleet customers.
Image:
Canoo
Partnerships with the likes of Canoo and Arrival will mean Kia PBVs can offer different upper bodies mounted on top of an integrated modular ‘skateboard’ platform, tailored to users’ functional requirements.
As for mobility services, Kia plans to further enhance its operations in the vehicle subscription service, as well as expanding car-sharing service in Europe.
GALLERY


BMW hints at all-electric M3, says no one cares if there’s no engine

It’s not hard to imagine the internet’s reaction to the idea of a fully-electric M3, but the top brasses at BMW seem to be confident that whatever the controversy the next-generation M3 creates, it will be a positive one. “Maybe [the BMW M3] will go electric – but if it does, it will always be an M3,” BMW M CEO Frank van Meel told
Autocar
 in a recent interview.
With the current rate of electrification at BMW, it is no surprise that the next-generation BMW M3 will most likely be electrified, although, whether partially (hybrid) or fully electrified (BEV) is not yet confirmed. It’s not hard to guess, however – provided the
BMW 3 Series
 will spearhead BMW’s Neue Klasse on a new platform, the next-generation M3 will likely be built on the same architecture.
Now, before you start picketing in front of the BMW M Division’s office, we implore you to give the BMW M Boss a chance to explain. He says, “The story of the M3 is everlasting. Every time we change the story of the engine, from four-cylinder to six-cylinder to eight-cylinder to six-cylinder and a turbocharger, the story continues.”
“Maybe it will go electric – but if it does, it will always be an M3. Whatever the powertrain, you should always be able to drive our cars and know they are M cars. We have stood the test of time for 50 years and will continue to do so.”
RELATED:
BMW once made a secret E46 M3 CSL with a V8 engine
And the man is right. The BMW M3 has gone through radical powertrain changes from one generation to the other, and yet sales have continued to increase with every new generation. So, it is not as if the type of powerplant actually matters, so long as it delivers the goods.
Interestingly, he also says, “I would love to see electrified Ms in the future – hybrid and pure-electric, but if we bring them, they will be so ground-breaking that you will say: ‘This is crazy, I didn’t see that coming.’”
RELATED:
2022 BMW M3, M4 Competition now offered with M xDrive AWD in Malaysia – from RM798k
Frank Van Meel’s comments suggest BMW bosses are not concerned about the appeal of its high-performance products waning as they go electric. Neither, it seems, are its customers.
“We’ve just been talking to customers and the feedback is that 90-95% don’t care what direction we take on the powertrain. They just want an M car. Yes, some say that if we don’t do V8s, they’re out but that’s okay: I respect that,” said van Meel.
Currently, the only all-electric version of the G20 BMW 3 Series can be found in China in the guise of the BMW i3 eDrive35L. It is
exclusive to China
 and features a longer wheelbase compared to the G20 BMW 3 Series. A global electric version of the BMW 3 Series is set to debut in 2025.
RELATED:
Not ready to go full electric, next-gen BMW 3 Series could use different platforms for EV and petrol variants


NIO and Razer partners to integrate gaming technologies into cars

NIO, the global EV company
and Razer, the leading gaming equipment company has just announced a cross-platform
partnership to bring cutting edge gaming technologies into automobiles.
The two companies will explore using Razer Chroma, Hue Lights and THX Spatial Audio to bring more immersive lighting effects and enhanced audio experience that Razer products are known for into a car. NIO and Razer are devoted to creating a car dedicated to eSports players and enthusiasts.
To celebrate their new partnership, NIO and Razer have just launched the NIO ES6 Night Explorer Edition, dressed in a unique Razer themed livery with matt black paintwork, Razer decals, green calipers and a custom rear emblem.
Based on the
ES6 Performance Edition
, the all-electric vehicle commands a maximum output of
544 hp
 and
725 Nm
 of torque from its dual motor set up. Century sprint takes
4.7 seconds
 while top speed is limited to
200 km/h
.


Perodua is Malaysia’s No. 1 EEV carmaker, over 500k EEVs sold

Malaysia’s second national carmaker, Perodua has just achieved a significant milestone today with over half a million Energy-Efficient Vehicles (EEV) certified vehicles produced and sold since 2014. This cements Perodua’s status as the country’s No 1 EEV company.
Perodua launched the nation’s first certified EEV with the Axia in 2014 and subsequently, the first EEV certified sedan with the Bezza two years later. It’s most recent model, the third-generation Myvi is also a certified EEV.

Perodua President and CEO, Datuk (Dr.) Aminar Rashid Salleh said: “I am proud but humbled to announce that since their respective launches, 342,600 Axias, 130,000 Bezzas and over 75,000 new Myvis have found homes in Malaysia to date.”
The 2014 National Automotive Policy (NAP 2014) states that to qualify for EEV status, the vehicle must meet a predetermined fuel consumption figure according to its kerb weight class based on the UNECE R101 standard. All three Perodua models have rated fuel consumption of over 20 km/L (under 5 L/100 km).
“The frugality of our vehicles contributes to very low running costs, as well as being in line with the Government’s aspirations towards a cleaner and greener Malaysia, and the global trend towards more fuel-efficient cars. Most crucially, the vehicles themselves are within reach of most Malaysians,” added Datuk (Dr.) Aminar.


Watch the upcoming 2020 BMW M4 get manhandled on track with three pedals and a gear lever

The official unveiling of the all-new
2020 BMW M3
 and M4 is scheduled sometime in September this year, which is still a lengthy two months away from now. To make things even more difficult, BMW has already started teasing us with videos like this. We can’t complain though, because my, oh my – what a treat this is.
BMW’s M department just dropped an onboard video of the all-new M4 undergoing track testing at the Sachsenring in Germany, and we were immediately hypnotised by the coordinated dance between the three pedals, gear lever, and steering wheel. Yes – in case you missed it, we are going to see a manual transmission on a brand-new M car in 2020.

BMW has also confirmed that the 2020 M3 and M4 will be powered by the new S58 3.0-litre inline six engine, available in two different outputs –
480 hp
 (+49 hp) on the base model, and
510 hp
 (+60 hp) on the Competition – exactly the same as the
X3 M
 and X4 M. Although, the max torque output has been raised by 50 Nm to
 650 Nm
.
The manual transmission will only be fitted to the base M3 and M4, but let’s be honest – the three-pedal variants were never going to outrun the eight-speeder siblings, so why bother? As BMW M head of development Dirk Häcker says, the base variant with the manual gearbox is for “customers who prefer a puristic performance experience and particularly intense interaction with their vehicle”.
On the other hand, the Competition models are meant for “maximum dynamics in regards [to] power development and transfer”; aside from the higher output figure, BMW will also be offering 2020 BMW M3 and M4 Competition with the M xDrive all-wheel drive system.
The system should be quite similar to that of the
BMW M8
 or the
M5
, which means the drivetrain sends majority of the power to the rear wheels, even on the all-wheel drive mode. For those who truly want to lay 11s all day, switch to the 2WD mode to have all the power sent to the rear wheels.
Excited? So are we. September truly can’t come fast enough.
IMAGE GALLERY


Super hot Lexus LC F confirmed for production, name trademarked

This news comes as quite the surprise. Lexus’ halo car, the LC is currently available in two variants –
a 5.0-litre V8 and 3.5-litre hybrid
. As is the norm, all F-bearing Lexuses come with the 5.0L V8, so we actually have no clue as to what could possibly power the LC F.
It appears that Toyota has already filed a trademark for the LC F, further affirming that the most hardcore LC is somewhere in the pipeline. To recap, the standard LC 500’s V8 produces
471 hp
 and
540 Nm
. It’s naturally aspirated and is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid however, makes a combined output of 354 hp.
Read our detailed explanation on the genius dual-gearbox setup too
!
Back at home, Lexus Malaysia is currently offering two F models, the
RC F
 and
 GS F
. Meanwhile, the
LC Coupe
 is also scheduled to make its debut here sometime in Q2 2017, so stay tuned for that!


Five reasons to believe that the Mercedes-Benz A-Class is here to stay

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class has just been unveiled and it’s undoubtedly
the most technologically-advanced A-Class
 there has ever been. That said, it wasn’t without a long journey dating back to the first generation W168 from the late 1990s.
Those days, you’d need to consult an eye doctor whenever you come in contact with one but nearly two decades on, the A-Class is now an in-demand eye candy and here are five reasons to believe that the A-Class is here to stay.
Since October 1997, over
5.5 million Mercedes-Benz compact cars
 have been delivered worldwide – three million of them were Mercedes-Benz A-Class models.
In 2017,
one out of four Mercedes-Benz cars sold
 was a compact model. Following the reintroduction of the W176 A-Class in 2012, over 620,000 customers took delivery of their new A-Class, B-Class, CLA and GLA.
The A-Class is now
offered with Intelligent Drive on par with the S-Class
. As standard, it is not only able to brake for vehicles but also for pedestrians. Its Blind Spot Assist also warns against passing cyclists when stationary. The A-Class is also the first model in its class to be available with an extensive Driving Assistance package.
The introduction of the W176 A-Class back in 2012 projected a more youthful image for the Mercedes-Benz brand. In Europe, the average age of an A-Class owner is
more than 10 years less
 than those who own the previous model. In China,
one in three customers were under 30
.
The A-Class has had a
high capture rate
. Last year in Europe, more than 60 percent of A-Class customers previously drove a competing brand.


The 2019 PROTON Persona and Iriz: Intelligent choices for B-segment car buyers

Today, car buyers are spoilt for choice. There are plenty of cars that offer good looks, intuitive features, advanced safety features and most importantly, affordable prices but which do you choose? That depends on your financial standing of course, but for those looking for options priced below RM55,000, few cars stand out more than the 2019 Proton Iriz and Persona.
Several aspects of these cars stand out, particularly in the Premium variants, which come with an
advanced Infotainment Head Unit (IHU)
that allows owners to, amongst other things, quickly navigate and stream songs by using the
‘
Hi PROTON!
’
 catchphrase and voice commands. Thanks to these IHUs, the 2019 Iriz and Persona are the
first cars in their class
 to offer
4G
and
Wi-Fi connectivity
.
In addition to being equipped with powerful IHU systems, the 2019 Iriz and Persona sport a number of practical features. Both cars have tw
o rear USB charging ports, keyless entry systems, parking sensors at the front and rear
, and
keyless entry with push start buttons
. The best thing though are the competitive prices. Go a little down the range and the value for money proposition gets even more attractive with prices for the 2019
Persona starting from RM42,600
 while the 2019
Iriz kicks off from just RM36,700
.
PROTON is driven to serve customers better.
Driven to Perform Better
Purchasing a car is a fairly straightforward affair, but ensuring that your Proton remains in tip top shape requires the right technical know-how, which can be found at the
many PROTON 3S/4S centres
 around Malaysia. PROTON has committed to not only
upgrade existing service centres
, but also to ensure that they are manned by
friendly and knowledgeable staff
 who are capable of providing you with quality sales and after-sales service by following a set of standard operating procedures.
In addition, PROTON also scrutinises each and every vehicle that rolls out of its Tanjung Malim plant, before they reach showrooms. This is done by implementing the
Geely Global Customer Product Audit (GCPA) system
. With
GCPA
, PROTON is able to identify and rectify any possible issues related to design, parts quality and manufacturing aspects on a vehicle on the production line before it reaches the showroom. This is one of the benefits of being part of a big automotive group as Geely also uses GCPA as part of their manufacturing process.
PROTON’s product engineers have also worked tirelessly to improve both cars. With
over 300 new or improved parts on the 2019 Iriz and Persona
, big strides have been made in refinement, quality and equipment levels resulting in cars that offer customers a tempting purchase proposition.
Poised to Lead
They say nothing beats a test drive and if you’re interested in the 2019 Persona and Iriz, you should head to the closest PROTON showroom to try them out. If you visit one of the
100 3S/4S outlets in the Proton network
 of outlets, you will also experience a high level of customer service as the brand seeks to uplift itself. Comfortable customer lounges, free Wi-Fi, complimentary refreshments, these are just some of the improvements Proton dealers have made as the company seeks to become a leader in customer service.
If you still need a reason to try them out, consider also that both cars come with
attractive packages as standard including free labour service, low financing rates and multiple incentives
 for those who insure their purchases with PROTON’s panel of insurers. All that’s left to do is to visit the dealer and to say ‘
Hi Proton
!’ and you could be at the beginning of
owning the most intelligent cars
 in the class.


2023 BMW i7 xDrive60 launched in Malaysia – RM730k, over 600km range

BMW Malaysia

has just announced the price of the all-electric BMW i7, not long after introducing the all-new BMW 7 Series in Malaysia. Available in the i7 xDrive60 M Sport variant only, the all-electric i7 costs
RM 729,800
.
Essentially an electric version of the all-new BMW 7 Series, the i7 is quite hard to tell apart from the ‘regular’ 7 Series with the exception of the location of the charging port and the lack of a fuel filler cap. Since the i7 for Malaysia is offered with the M Sport kit as standard, it looks very similar to the BMW 750e xDrive M Sport which was recently introduced in Malaysia.
Currently in the 7 Series lineup for Malaysia is the BMW 750e xDrive Pure Excellence, 750e xDrive M Sport, and now the all-electric i7 xDrive 60 M Sport.
Powering the BMW i7 xDrive60 M Sport is a dual-motor setup that produces
544 hp
 (400 kW) and
745 Nm
. This system propels the i7 from 0 to 100 km/h in
4.7 seconds
 onward to a limited top speed of
240 km/h
.
As for battery and range, the i7 xDrive 60 packs a
101.7-kWh
 battery pack and this provides
625 km
 of range (WLTP). As for charging, it can be done at a maximum rate of
11 kW
 with AC charging and
195 kW
 with DC charging. The former fully charges the car in
9.5 hours
while the latter charges the car from 10% to 80% in approximately
34 minutes
.
RELATED:
2023 BMW 7 Series now in Malaysia – 750e xDrive PHEV, M Sport and Pure Excellence variants, from RM650k
Inside, the i7 features a non-symmetrical tabletop design for the dashboard, with a scalloped wooden section (carbon fibre-look trims on M-badged models) that houses the new floating iDrive 8 curved display panels. It also has an Interaction Bar, which is a touch-sensitive transparent surface that spans across the entire front half of the cabin from door to door, hiding many of the control surfaces for the climate control system, lights, and even a “button” on the passenger side to open the powered door.
Included in the price of the BMW i7 xDrive60 M Sport is a 5-year/unlimited mileage warranty with free scheduled service programme, BMW roadside assistance and accident hotline, the BMEW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App, BMW Privileges Card, and BMW services online.
RELATED:
BMW i7 eDrive50 unveiled – New entry-level variant, up to 611km of range
GALLERY


Proton will be fielding the Saga to defend its Sepang 1000km race title

The Proton R3 team, winner of last year’s Sepang 1000km (S1K) Endurance Race will be fielding a new car to defend its title – the Proton Saga – which will be competing in the annual race for the first time alongside the Proton Iriz.
The duo will be entrusted to bring home a second consecutive and fourth overall race win for the national carmaker.
For this year’s race, Proton opted for the Saga for its high torsional rigidity of its body, making it an ideal platform for competition use while its balanced handling and proven mechanical abilities are suited for the endurance race where cars are tested to the limits, clocking more than 180 laps in the process.
“The Proton Saga name has had a long history in competing and winning in various motorsports competitions and the S1K is the perfect platform to reintroduce Proton fans to our R3 racing division while reminding them about the racing heritage of our best-selling model,” said Chief Executive Officer of Proton Edar, Abdul Rashid Musa.
The four drivers who competed for the R3 team last year have been retained with last year’s winning pair, Admi Shahrul and James Veerapan, now tasked with piloting the Proton Saga to a podium finish while Fariqe Hairuman and Syafiq Ali will race in the Proton Iriz.
“This year we aim to get both cars on the podium, a tough task as the Proton Saga is a brand new car but with teamwork and a little bit of luck, I am confident of adding more glory to the company’s record of racing success,” said Proton R3, Team Principle, Gary Lee.
Typically, races like the Sepang 1000KM require teams to go flat out for the first few laps before driving at a pre-determined pace to preserve the car and components such as tyres and brakes,” he added.


The BMW Vision iNEXT utilises its seat upholstery as a touchpad!

The future is closer than you’d expect as production models of the BMW iNEXT is set to roll off the assembly line at Plant Dingolfing, Germany from 2021.
Celebrating its world premiere at the
2018 LA Motor Show
, the BMW Vision iNEXT not only represents BMW’s vision into the future of personal mobility but also highlights the excitement of the brand’s future line-up of electric vehicles.
Not much was revealed at its unveiling, except that design cues were taken from the iX3 but offers X5 levels of space inside.
Notable features on the outside include cameras that replaces the conventional side mirrors,
much like the new Lexus ES
, and a front windscreen that merges with the panoramic roof.
At the back, the blue accents you see on the rear diffuser aren’t actually painted on but is illuminated instead, for a more dramatic effect. It’s said that when the car is introduced in 2021, BMW should offer it with Level 4 autonomous driving capabilities.
Aside from the suicide doors, the Vision iNEXT also comes with a very cool feature within the cabin. The rear seat upholstery can be used to control the features on the infotainment system – think of it as a touch pad on your laptop.
Simply move your fingers on the upholstery the same way you would with your laptop or even smartphone and you’d be able to control the volume of the music or even zoom into the visuals on the screen ahead.
IMAGE GALLERY


Gallery: 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4MATIC, RM430k

The 2023
Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4MATIC
 is here in Malaysia. Offered in a single variant only, the fully imported (CBU) luxury mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) SUV is offered at
RM429,888
.
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
.
Mercedes-Benz
 introduces the 2023 GLC as an all-new model. However, its design looks more like a facelift of the X253 generation, rather than a complete redesign, like most all-new models are.
Since the Malaysian spec Mercedes-Benz GLC comes with the AMG Line trim, it comes with a Mercedes-Benz star grille, and also a set of 20-inch AMG multi-spoke light-alloy wheels. Mercedes-Benz’s slim Digital Light LED High-Performance headlights are also included, together with Adaptive Highbeam Assist.
At the back, the new GLC 300 comes with a bridged taillight design, which features an interior with a three-dimensional look. The taillights also come with a startup animation. At the bottom of the SUV’s rear end is a simulated chrome under guard, which encases the simulated chrome-look tailpipes.
RELATED:
Electric Mercedes-Benz CLA and “electric GLC” to debut in 2024, may drop EQ name
Globally, the GLC is offered in more than four variants, and they are now all fully electrified. In Malaysia however, the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 gets an MHEV 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged system. This is essentially a slightly more powerful version of the same powertrain unit found in the GLC 200 4MATIC, which is not available in Malaysia.
Paired with the brand’s 9G-Tronic automatic transmission, the GLC 300 produces a rated output of
258 hp
 and
400 Nm
 from the engine alone. The Integrated Starter Generator (ISG), which is part of the mild hybrid system, gives an extra boost of
23 hp
 and
200 Nm.
Thanks to Mercedes-Benz’s 4MATIC all-wheel drive (AWD) system, power is sent to all four wheels. This enables the luxury SUV to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in
6.2 seconds
 and hit a top speed of
240 km/h
.
Inside, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 features a new interior that is on par with what’s found in the current-generation
C-Class
 (W206). At the centre of the GLC’s interior is a portrait-oriented larger screen compared to its predecessor. Measuring 11.9 inches, the central screen features Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, as well as MBUX Augmented reality navigation.
The new GLC 300 also comes with a 12.3-inch driver display, as well as ambient lighting with brand logo projection. As part of the AMG Line package, the GLC 300 also gets the latest AMG Line steering wheel design and also aluminium pedals. The seats are all wrapped in Artico man-made leather upholstery, with both the driver and front passenger seats being power-adjustable, and featuring memory functions as well.
Safety-wise, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 in Malaysia is specified with passive cruise control, blind spot assist, active lane keeping assist, and active brake assist. Mercedes-Benz’s Pre-Safe system, Active Parking Assist with Parktronic, as well as the Parking Package with 360° cameras, are also included in the GLC 300.
RELATED:
All-new Mercedes-Benz E-Class W214 debuts: Rear wheel steering, built-in TikTok app
GALLERY


A look inside the new, track-only Alpine A110 Cup

Alpine’s exploits and success in motorsports dating back to the 1970’s have spawned interests and legacies long after its heyday. Entrusting Signatech (Alpine’s race partner) with the design, development, production and sales, Alpine introduces the A110 Cup, as it looks to heightened the excitement behind the wheel of the light and agile, mid-engined sportscar.
Armed with a 1.8-litre turbocharged direct injection engine with a race-developed air filter and exhaust system, the A110 Cup puts out
270 hp
 with
320 Nm
 of torque. Power is transmitted through a six-speed sequential gearbox with a limited-slip, self-locking differential.
And weighing a measly 1,050 kg body, you can imagine how brutal the acceleration can be. Damping is tasked to Ohlins’ coilivers with Slick and threaded Michelin tyres for traction. Stopping power is provided by Brembo’s 6-pot calipers and rotors machined from a single piece of magnesium.
Inside its stripped interior that has been strengthened by a roll cage features a Sabelt bucket seat with a built-in head restraint and the XAP steering wheel with paddle shifters. There’s also a digital instrument panel and a variety of control switches for traction control, ABS, radio, pit limiter and even for drink-feeding! It has also got an adjustable pedal box and steering column to help driver’s position themselves snugly into the cockpit. It has even retained its original air-conditioning system.
The A110 Cup will be used to compete in a one-make championship called the Alpine Europa Cup in 18 separate races. Alpine will be charging €100,000 (approx RM 493k) for the car, with series registration fees amounting to about £18,000 (RM 88k).
IMAGE GALLERY


Sebastien Ogier clinches first win with Toyota before WRC is suspended

While Seb Ogier’s string of six
consecutive World Rally Championship
 drivers’ title was snapped in 2019, the Frenchman – now with the Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC team run by Tommi Makinen – is back to winning rallies in 2020.
The
Rally Guanajuato México
 was shortened by a day due to the widespread travel restrictions brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, and Ogier was on top of the leaderboard when the organisers
halted proceedings on Saturday night
 after he had seized the lead on Friday.

When the dust settled, Ogier finished ahead of
reigning champion Ott Tanak
, now with Hyundai, by 27.8 seconds, with
Teemu Suninen
 a further 10 seconds back in a Ford. In terms of overall standings after the first three rallies, Ogier assumes the familiar position at the top with 62 points, followed by teammate Elfyn Evans and Thierry Neuville of Hyundai.

The heat at Rally Mexico got the better of this Ford Fiesta WRC.
Like most motorsport events brought to a standstill by Covid-19 containment and travel restrictions, WRC and FIA
won’t be able to ascertain when the season can resume
. Rally Mexico was the last FIA-sanctioned motorsport event in the world to have been running before it was suspended.


Audi A7 Sportback facelift landed in Malaysia, priced at RM626k

Shortly after the launch of the
facelifted A6 sedan
, Audi Malaysia has announced the introduction of the facelifted A7 Sportback. The A7 Sportback used to be sold here in the 3.0 TFSI guise, and now it’s back after a refresh inside and out.
Unlike the similarly good-looking A6 sedan that’s offered in either the 1.8 TFSI or the 3.0 TFSI guises, this svelte five-door coupe comes only in a 3.0 TFSI variant.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Audi A7 Sportback 3.0 TFSI quattro

Engine
2,995cc supercharged V6
Transmission
7-speed S tronic
Max Power
333 hp
Max Torque
440 Nm
Price
RM 625,900.00
EXTERIOR
The facelift is subtle but carries quite an impact to the whole vehicle. At the front, the
Singleframe grille
 is more angular, while the sharp headlamps are slimmer than ever, and incorporates
full-LED
 technology. The
19-inch forged aluminium alloy wheel
 is new, but apart from that the side remains the same, which means it retains the dynamic silhouette that ends with the sexy
Kammback
 rear end.

The innards of the
LED tail lamps
 have been redesigned, featuring
dynamic turn indicators
 as seen on the recent Audis. As before, the
pop-up rear spoiler
 sits flush along the edges of the sharp boot when not in use, while down below a pair of
rectangular tailpipes
 replace the rounded tips of the previous A7.
INTERIOR
Most part of the interior is lifted from the A6, so you should be able to recognise the
three-spoke sports steering wheel
, the dashboard, and the centre console. The Malaysian-spec A7 comes with
Aluminum Delta dashboard inlay
 and
Valcona leather seats
, and the front seats are not only
electrically-operated
, they’re
ventilated
 as well.
MMI touch
 is standard here and it controls the huge
8-inch display
 on the dash which also includes
MMI navigation plus
.
Nvidia
 provides the powerful graphics processor, allowing for a smooth transition of the MMI screen. A
6-slot DVD changer
 and a
 600W, 14-speaker BOSE surround sound system
 combo should keep the passengers entertained, and they can also surf the internet thanks to
Audi connect
 that provides Internet connectivity with
LTE high-speed data transmission
.
PERFORMANCE
The
3.0 TFSI V6
 under the bonnet will sip
7.6 litres of petrol per 100km
 thanks to the inclusion of
start/stop system
 with energy recuperation. The V6 has also been massaged to produce
333 hp
, while
 440 Nm
 of torque can be had from 2,900 rpm to 5,300 rpm. All the power goes to the
quattro permanent all-wheel drive
 system via the
seven-speed S tronic
 transmission, which enables the A7 Sportback to sprint from
0 to 100 km/h
 in
5.3 seconds
.
WHAT ELSE?
The updated A7 Sportback now carries a price tag of
RM625,900
, and it’s available in
seven colour choices
: Glacier White, Ibis White, Floret Silver, Dakota Grey, Oolong Grey, Tornado Grey and Mythos Black. What do you think? Would you rather have this, or the
Mercedes-Benz CLS 400
?
IMAGE GALLERY


BMW’s Joy.Electrified campaign offers 0.33% financing rates for a different kind of Joy

BMW Malaysia today kick-started its Joy.Electrified campaign, which includes exclusive deals and offers for BMW’s electrified iPerformance line-up of vehicles. The offer runs for a limited time from now until the
31st March 2020
.
First up in the Joy.Electrified campaign is the ‘Unplug & Play’ offers exclusive for the
BMW 530e
. These include
 0.33% financing rates
 with the BMW Straight Line Financing Solution, as well as
rebates of up to RM20,000.
Click to enlarge.
Additionally, the BMW 530e and other selected iPerformance vehicles will also receive a
 complimentary one-year BMW Comprehensive Motor Insurance
, along with
 one-year BMW Ultimate Protection Programme
.
The first-of-its-kind insurance plan is underwritten by Allianz General Insurance, and covers both the driver and vehicle special relief, scratch and dent, and compassionate floor cover, among others.
Click to enlarge.
The BMW Comprehensive Motor Insurance also includes complete vehicle replacement in the event of Total Loss or theft within the first 12 months, along with instant claim processing of windscreen damage, as well as waiver of betterment for vehicles up to 10 years.
The campaign also includes the BMW ChargeNow Promo, where new owners of selected BMW electrified vehicles will also receive a free
BMW i AC Fast Charging Cable
 and
BMW ChargeNow card
 – granting access to a network of over 270 ChargEV charging stations.
Additionally, purchase of a
BMW 740Le
 will also net you a complimentary
BMW i Wallbox Plus
 and
BMW i AC Fast Charging Cable
, as part of the i Wallbox Promo.
All new BMW iPerformance vehicles will be covered by a
six-year or 100,000 km hybrid battery warranty
 for added peace of mind.
The Joy.Electrified campaign will hopefully help BMW Group Malaysia retain its lead in the electrified vehicle segment in Malaysia, where the group topped the ranks last year with a total of
3,148 electrified BMW and MINI vehicles delivered
.


PHS Automotive announces recall for 2,767 Audi vehicles in Malaysia with Takata airbag

PHS Automotive Malaysia
, the new guardian for the Audi brand here, has announced a voluntary recall totalling 2,767 cars for the inspection and replacement of the Takata airbag and related parts.
The models involved in the recall includes
Audi A4 Sedan, A5 Sportback, A6 Sedan, Q5, and TT Coupe
 maufactured
between 2008 and 2017
, that are fitted with Takata airbags or gas generator for the airbag unit on the driver’s side, passenger side, and curtains.
Based on the manufacturer’s latest update, the gas generator housing may be damaged if the airbag is deployed. This could cause small metal parts to become dislodged from the housing, posing a serious safety risk.
PHSAM Managing Director, Erik Winter said, “At Audi, safety is paramount, and this will continue to be one of the distinguishing factors in our ongoing efforts to improve aftersales service. We recognise that the top reasons customers choose Audi are for its performance and safety features – and it is a high standard we will continue to uphold responsibly.”
The
Takata airbag recall
has involved more than 100 million vehicles worldwide, across multiple brands, since 2015. To date, there has been at least seven fatal accidents in Malaysia involving the faulty airbag system.
While the company has determined the number of vehicles involved in the recall, not all of them will need replacement parts. However, all affected customers are encouraged to have their vehicles inspected at the company’s service centres for better peace of mind.
For more information on the recall, customers are advised to visit the Audi Malaysia website, linked
here
, or contact Audi Customer Service at
1800-22-2834
, or email via
[email protected]
.
PHS Automotive also recently launched the new Audi Plus programme, offering a 10% discount on maintenance services at Audi Centres for vehicles five years and older. Customers will also receive 3 service discount vouchers, which are applicable within a period of three years after the fifth year of service, along with complimentary Audi Roadside Assistance nationwide for up to 12 months from the date of voucher redemption.
READ MORE:
Why are you not changing your defective Takata airbag?


The Jacob & Co Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon is as OTT as the hypercar

The
Bugatti Chiron
 needs no introduction; powered by 1500hp and 1600 Nm from an 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 engine, it is as over-the-top a production car will ever get. So, the burning question is, which matching timepiece does a Chiron owner slip on when going out for a drive?
At
US$ 280,000
 a pop, the
Jacob & Co Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon
 isn’t nearly as stratospherically priced in the horology world as the Chiron is for a car, but in terms of complications (in the watch sense), the New York-based jeweller took the literal route in paying tribute to the Chiron by giving it a working W16 ‘engine’ driven by an in-house
hand-wound movement with a 60-hour power reserve
 and a
Tourbillion regulator
 for accurate time-keeping.
Yes, you’ve read right. Housed within an ‘engine block’ made of sapphire is a
CNC-milled steel crankshaft
 flanked by two main clusters of pistons and cylinder, each with its own narrow-vee configuration and a pair of turbochargers, just like the real thing. The Bugatti Chiron Tourbillonare has
three crowns
; pressing the rightmost one gets the W16 cranking, the middle crown winds the movement while the leftmost crown sets the time.

The mechanicals of the watch movements and the miniature W16 ‘engine’ are also
suspended on four shock absorbers
 and sealed in a case made of
titanium
and
sapphire crystal
, replete with a power reserve meter mimicking a car’s fuel gauge. Taste is personal, and some horologists will no doubt recoil at the fact that such an outrageous timepiece even exists. But whether you think it’s cool or grotesque, the Jacob & Co Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon does arguably echo the excessiveness of the hypercar which inspired it.


Perodua aims to sell 240,000 cars in 2021 – to increase production by 23%

Perodua
 has released a sales target of 240,000 cars for this year, a 9% increase from the 220,163 units sold last year. By comparison, the company sold 240,341 in the pre-pandemic days of 2019.
Of the
220,163 units sold in 2020
, 66,330 were Myvis, 59,651 were Axias, and 56,996 were
Bezzas
. As for the larger
Aruz
, 22,494 were sold along with 14,691 Alzas – netting a 41.6% market share.

“With the extension of the sales tax exemption to end-June 2021, recent COVID-19 vaccine developments and all our models continuing to be in demand, we believe 2021 will be the year of recovery,” said Perodua President and CEO, Dato’ Zainal Abidin Ahmad.
“With the estimated recovery of Perodua’s sales volume, the compact car maker is expected to purchase a record
RM6.5 billion worth of locally-sourced components in 2021
,” he added.

“In addition, with 2020 ending better than previously expected for both Perodua and the industry, we are looking to increase our stock to boost our production target to 272,000 vehicles this year – the highest in our history. This increase will replenish our stock to ensure brisk delivery this year,” Dato’ Zainal said.
Perodua’s 2021 production target represents a
23% increase over the 220,968 units manufactured in 2020
. Considering Perodua vehicles are made of 90% local parts, the carmaker remains the biggest buyer of automotive components in Malaysia.
As for service intakes, Perodua is expecting it to grow by 20%; from 2 million units in 2020 to 2.4 million units in 2021.


Mitsubishi ASX gets new 2.4L MIVEC engine for the American market only

The
Mitsubishi ASX
, or Mitsubishi Outlander as it is known in the American market, will now be offered with a larger
2.4-litre engine
 and sold alongside the existing 2.0-litre variant.
Offered there in two trims – the 2.4 ES and 2.4 GT, the larger MIVEC engine makes
168 hp
, about 20 horsepower more than the smaller engine. The range topping Outlander Sport 2.4 GT is equipped with power driver’s seat, aluminium pedals, leather wrapped brake handle, blackened exterior roof rails and LED signal indicators built into the side mirrors.
There’s also an optional GT Premium Package that gives you a 710-watt Rockford Fosgate sound system with nine speakers and a subwoofer. Panoramic sunroof, adjustable ambient lighting and auto dimming rear view mirror also comes with the pack, whereas the GT Touring Package adds leather seats, GPS navigation with 7-inch touch screen display unit, 3D mapping and real-time traffic monitoring.

Pricing for the Outlander Sport 2.4 ES is at USD 21,295 (RM76,000 est) and the range topper 2.4 GT is sold for USD 23,595 (RM84,000 est). They come with a 5-year or 100,000km fully transferable warranty, 10-year or 160,000km powertrain warranty, 7-year or 160,000km anti-corrosion perforation warranty and a 5-year unlimited mileage roadside assistance benefits. Interesting warranty scheme, don’t you think?
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY


Geely demonstrates its 60-second battery-swapping process in real-time

Apart from the lack of charging infrastructure, charging the battery of an electric vehicle (EV) is the next hurdle in EV adoption.
Currently, public wallboxes in Malaysia takes close to two hours to fully charge a plug-in hybrid vehicle. Even with a 50kW DC quick charger, the Nissan Leaf still requires
50 minutes
 to reach full charge, while the larger battery in a Porsche Taycan will reach
80% capacity
 with a 175 kW high-performance charger in half an hour. For the record, China has an average of two high-performance chargers per 10 square-km area, similar to Germany.
Geely, through their research and technology arm called Geely Technology Group, unveiled modular
battery swapping stations
 in the Chinese provinces of Chongqing and Shandong back in September 2020.
In this pilot city for its battery swapping technology, Geely has established battery swapping stations in 39 locations, with plans to expand to 200 locations by 2023. Furthermore, agreements have already been signed to establish more of these swapping stations in 1,000 locations throughout China.
Geely has finally produced a video of the entire battery swapping process in real-time (and with an English speaker). The smartphone app not only lists the nearest battery-swapping station, but also the quantity of batteries that are fully charged. Currently, the pilot programme only performs battery swapping on the
Maple 80V
, an EV version of the
Geely

Jiaji
 seven-seater that is used in the Geely-owned Caocao mobility service provider.

Each station is designed on a space of
1,360 sq ft
, covering 12 parking bays (6 by 2) and made to be easy to set up. The swapping process is similar to an automated car wash, where the driver is guided to the specific spot and patiently wait inside the car. Thanks to the smartphone app plus number plate recognition system, security and payment is done wirelessly and unmanned.
The process is done in a synchronised manner, with the vehicle being lifted, the 53 kWh battery pack disconnected from the chassis while a fully-charged battery is being prepared. Once the depleted battery is placed on the awaiting tray, the following tray with the fresh battery is ready to be installed to the Caocao Maple 80V taxi.
The narrator, who is familiar with Geely operations, said the wires, walls and other fittings are fire-retardant, together with a heap of sensors to detect the breakout of the smallest fire. In a separate section of the station, automated battery inspection and fast charging is handled.
Geely Technology Group has tested all the swapping equipment plus fast chargers to ensure the station has a minimum service life of
10 years
.
These Geely battery swapping stations open new pathways to an electrified future. With swappable batteries, the
battery as a service (BAAS)
 business model becomes a viable option to support and encourage the adoption of EVs.
Separating the cost of batteries from the cost of the vehicle will help make EVs more cost-competitive than ICE models sooner as well as boost EV resale value as consumers worry less about battery degradation. In China, as well as all over the world, many apartments and condominiums still live without the necessary charging facilities for electric vehicles. With these stations, the inconvenience of charging is eliminated in just 60 seconds.


Gordon Murray’s McLaren F1 successor will have a V12 engine weighing just 180 kg

Gordon Murray, famed automotive designer best known for his work on the
McLaren F1
, is making a new supercar. Hailed as the spiritual successor to the legendary F1, the new Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA) T.50 promises to be the purest, most driver-focused supercar ever built.
According to GMA, those words mean a mid-mounted screaming (up to 12,100 rpm!) V12 engine, proper manual gearbox, and above all else, lightness – the
T.50 will weigh just 980 kg
 fully built.
To do that, Gordon Murray says the team had an “unflinching dedication to lightweighting” while designing the car. For instance, the 3.9-litre ‘Cosworth Gordon Murray Automotive’ engine that produces
650 hp
 and
450 Nm
 of torque, weighs
less than 180 kg
 – more than 60 kg lighter than the BMW-sourced V12 in the F1.
The six-speed H-pattern manual gearbox, specifically sourced from XTrac, is also designed to be extra light – 10 kg lighter than the F1’s gearbox, while the supercar’s fully carbon fibre monocoque and body panels weigh less than 150 kg in total.
The ultra-light Xtrac manual gearbox.
In fact, GMA takes lightness so seriously that the senior design and engineering teams even hold a weekly “weight-watchers meeting” to ensure no single part – including the 900 fasteners in the car – are bigger or heavier than they need to be.
“Today, the enjoyment of driving has been lost as so many supercars only come ‘alive’ at the upper-ends of their performance capabilities. Chasing a top speed only adds weight (notably through ever-more powerful engines), so the future of true performance cars lies in shedding weight intelligently,” explains Murray.
And it gets better, still. The T.50 will feature “intelligent management of underbody airflow”, which basically means a ground effect fan similar to that of the Brabham BT46B Formula 1 car (that was banned just after one race). We’d expect T.50 to pull mind-bending amounts of G-forces around corners thanks to its lightweight and ground effect aerodynamics.
That’s a lot of things to get excited about, and fortunately we don’t have to wait much longer. Cosworth is currently testing a three-cylinder mockup of the engine, and should have a preliminary V12 engine on the dyno in the coming months.
The six-speed manual gearbox prototype has also been delivered and is currently undergoing testing. If all goes according to plan, there should be a running T.50 test vehicle come September.


Proton appoints Industrial Laboratories Sdn Bhd as 2nd photovoltaic system supplier

Proton
’s wholly owned subsidiary, Proton Global Services Sdn Bhd (PGS) has appointed Industrial Laboratories Sdn Bhs as its second solar photovoltaic (PV) system supplier. The appointment serves to expand the adoption of solar power in Proton’s network of dealers and vendors. It is also part of Proton’s sustainability of initiatives to boost ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) scores.
PGS has a presence in a diverse range of business activities and executes energy optimization and sustainable energy solutions for Proton. Industrial Laboratories is a major supplier and service provider of renewable energy solutions in Malaysia with experience throughout Southeast Asia.
Proton Global Services Chief Executive Officer, Lee Yeet Chuan said, “New energy is one of the core business activities for PGS and aside from promoting and implementing the use of solar energy to our dealers and vendors, we have also overseen the installation of a solar farm at Proton’s plant in Tanjung Malim capable of producing 12MWp and generating potential energy bill savings of up to RM3.5 million per year for Proton for 25 years.”
“With the addition of Industrial Labs as our second PV system supplier, we are looking to accelerate the adoption of solar power in the Proton network of dealers and vendors in 2023 to further reduce carbon emissions for the company.”
RELATED:
Proton’s PRO-NET and Petronas’ Gentari to build 20 DC fast chargers in 2023
Representing Industrial Laboratories Sdn Bhd during the signing ceremony was the company’s co-founder and director, Shamsul Azhar bin Zainuddin. He said, “The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt last year outlined steps that needed to be taken to ensure global temperature increases are minimised compared to pre-industrial levels. Decarbonising energy production is one of the initiatives being promoted, which is why we are delighted to work together with PGS as promoting clean and renewable energy like solar is a step in the right direction.”
On a national level, Malaysia has committed to be a carbon neutral nation by 2050. Manufacturers such as Proton play a pivotal role to help reduce the country’s carbon emission levels.
On the appointment of Industrial Labooratories, Proton Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Roslan Abdullah said, “With ESG parameters gaining more prominence each year, all corporate entities must look at ways to improve their scores in these areas. Beyond the score card however, PROTON has a responsibility as a national automotive brand to play an active role to help Malaysia reach its carbon neutral goal by 2050, which is why we will continue to promote more green initiatives within the company and to our ecosystem for the foreseeable future.”
RELATED:
PRO-NET is Proton’s new EV subsidiary that will also build a public charging network


Toyota Mirai introduced: The Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle sedan with 650km range

It’s here now, the dawn of a new era in the global automotive scene. Toyota Motor Corporation presented their all-new Fuel Cell Vehicle (
FCV
), the
Toyota Mirai
, which will be officially launched in Japan come 15 December.
As one of the pioneering manufacturers championing alternative fuel, Toyota revealed that the Mirai – which means
future

in Japanese – will feature their new Toyota Fuel Cell System (
TFCS
) technology that combines both fuel cell technology and hybrid technology. It is said to be
more energy efficient
 than traditional internal combustion engines.
According to Toyota, the Mirai manages an average cruising range of
650km
 with a hydrogen refueling time of three minutes – roughly the same time as refueling conventional fuel sources. The TFCS technology is comprised of
Toyota FC Stack
,
FC Boost Converter
 and two highly pressurised
hydrogen tanks
.
Here’s how the components work:
Toyota FC Stack
This Fuel Cell Stack (also known as fuel cell unit) is where the magic happens. It generates electricity through a chemical reaction between
hydrogen
 and
oxygen
, the latter of which is fed via air inlets, of course. This fuel cell unit generates a maximum output of
153 horsepower
. The only emission this unit will produce is
water vapour
!
FC Boost Converter
This compact, high-capacity and high-efficient

converter ups the powered generated by the FC Stack to
650 volts
, which made it possible for Toyota to reduce the overall size of the electric motor and consequently reducing system and maintenance costs.
High-pressure Hydrogen Tanks
As described above, two tanks with storage volume totaling up to
122.4 litres
– 60 litres front tank, 62.4 litres rear tank – store hydrogen at 700 bars. The tanks are made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic.
You can read the more detailed explanation of these units
here
.
Hydrogen in its purest form is
extremely unstable
 and
highly flammable
, so the engineers at Toyota have sophisticated safety and preventive measures that will ensure the complete stoppage of hydrogen flow in the event of a leakage. The hydrogen tanks are
placed outside
 of the cabin, making way for better dissipation, thus preventing the hydrogen from accumulating.
More on the safety front; the Mirai gets a pre-collision system, lane departure system, blind spot monitoring system and the drive-start control system that limits sudden jolts during acceleration or when shifting gears.
Another interesting feature of the Mirai is its large-capacity power supply system of about 60 kilowatt-hour. It is capable of producing a maximum output of 9 kW for use during power outages, which means it can
power your house
, provided that the wiring is compatible.
EXTERIOR
Now, you may think that the design is a tad too futuristic for its time, but it’s no form without function. The Mirai’s front face is designed to draw in air for the oxygen supply needed by the FC Stack.

Complementing the fascia are the super thin LED lights with built-in heat sinks. The signal indicators are separated from the headlights, and the front look is finished by vertically positioned LED daytime running lights. All this design translates to improved aerodynamics.
The underside of the car is fully covered and minimises turbulence. This promotes better air flow and improves fuel efficiency and to some extent, its handling. The Mirai comes with
17-inch lightweight aluminium
 wheels, and can be had in six exterior body colours which includes the two-tone Pure Blue Metallic.
INTERIOR
On the inside, the Mirai gets a high-luminance silver finish throughout the cabin, whereas the driver and passenger seats are electrically powered with eight-way adjustments. A
4.2-inch TFT
 screen is housed in the instrument cluster.

The Toyota Mirai will go on sale in countries with proper refueling infrastractures. Toyota Motor Corporation aims to sell about
400 units
 of this four-seater, four-door FCV by the end of 2015. It’s on sale now for RM210k in Japan.
IMAGE GALLERY

 Toyota Mirai, Fuel Cell Vehicle


The Renault Megane might be getting the axe too

The future for compact hatchbacks, and by extension, hot-hatches is looking grim. Earlier this month, we reported that the
Ford Focus RS is being killed
 due to tightening emission regulations. Not two weeks later, a separate report has surfaced pointing to the death of the
Renault Megane
, including its
Megane R.S.
 hot hatch counterpart, although this time for a different reason.
Renault design chief, Laurens van den Acker, has told
Auto Express UK
 that the future of the Megane is in doubt, citing dwindling sales figures and increased focus on the development of electric vehicles. Van den Acker says that the company is looking at whether the development costs associated with the Megane project can be better utilised elsewhere.
“Inevitably, once we’re starting to add a range of EVs to our line-up, some of the other vehicles are going to have to go because we just can’t afford to develop all of this at the same time,” van den Acker explained. “The Megane is in a segment that’s increasingly under pressure. You have to put your money where the future of the market is.”
The Megane has been the French carmaker’s bread and butter since its introduction in 1995. However, sales of the
VW Golf
 rival has been falling steadily in the past decade. In fact, the figure has more than halved in less than 10 years, with only 209,845 unit sold across Europe last year, compared to 465,732 examples in 2010.
Even more shockingly, the Renault Megane only sold 2,699 units last year in the UK. To put it in context, Volkswagen sold 58,994 units of the golf in the same period.
This might be the last generation of the Megane RS to
grace the Sepang Circuit
.
Locally, the Renault Megane is only available in the
spiciest R.S. 280 flavour.
 Recently, TC Euro Cars also announced that the Megane R.S. is will be offered with its
new Renault Subscription plans
, with subscription fees
starting at RM3,999 per month
.
Would you, dear reader, be upset to see the Megane go? We know we definitely would – we liked the Megane R.S. so much it’s featured in our
#ABC2019 AutoBuzz.my Best (Driver’s) Car of 2019
.


Waze data shows sharp drop in traffic during MCO

The Movement Control Order (MCO) has been in
 effect for almost an entire month now
, but just how well have Malaysians been complying to the directives? According to data from Waze, we’ve done a pretty sterling job so far!
According to Waze, traffic on Malaysian roads were significantly reduced (by
approximately 80%
) during the MCO period, compared to the daily average recorded between 11 February to 25 February 2020. The statistic mirrors, but exceeds the global trend of 60% in traffic reduction.
Despite the sharp reduction in traffic, many essential journeys still have to be made every day – be it grocery runs, seeking medical help, or essential workers travelling to-and-fro work.
In support of these road users, Waze map editors and Crisis Response teams have begun working with 58 countries (and counting) to add region-specific relief efforts, such as road closures and red-zones to the map.
Drastic drop in traffic within Kuala Lumpur since 18 March.
The crowd-sourcing navigation app has also rolled-out a
 COVID-19 landing page
, urging governments to contribute data on medical testing a well as welfare centre locations to help improve its map information for its users.
If you own a business and is listed on the Waze directory, you can also now add specific “curbside pick-up” or “drive-through” badges to your business listing to help promote social distancing measures.


No need to display road tax anymore for private vehicles starting today

Your days of struggling with the flimsy road tax stickers are over, as Transport Minister Anthony Loke has just announced that starting today, private vehicle owners no longer have to display the ‘road tax’ on their vehicles.
From this joyous day onward, Malaysian private vehicle owners only need to show their vehicle license (e-LKM) and driving license details (e-LMM) from the MyJPJ app if required. The transport minister has encouraged the public to make their registrations on the JPJ portal
here
.
Screenshots from the MyJPJ mobile application showing the road tax and the driver’s license
During a press conference today, Anthony Loke said, “I welcome all drivers and vehicle owners to transition to the digital platform. With this, the congestion and long lines at JPJ counters will be reduced.”
The news comes as Section 20 of the Road Transport Act will no longer be enforced. Previously it was a must for motor vehicles to have the vehicle license fixed and displayed on the vehicle itself.
RELATED:
Road tax and license renewals could soon be done online – JPJ
In the bigger picture, the transport ministry is making an effort to digitize the road transport department’s services, particularly for motor vehicle licenses and driving licenses. It is essentially a step forward from the digitalization that took place when the previous vehicle grant was transformed into the
Vehicle Ownership Certificate (VOC)
.
The digital transformation of the ‘road tax’ will take place in stages, first starting with private vehicles which include cars and motorcycles. Digitalization will not yet happen for foreigners, holders of learners and vocational licenses, as well as international driving permits. For these purposes, a physical license will still be required. They will perhaps be digitalized in the next few stages of the transport ministry’s efforts.
Anthony Loke adds, “Lastly, I want to stress that action will continue to be taken against anyone found driving a vehicle without a valid motor vehicle or driving license, in line with the Road Transport Act.”
RELATED:
JPJ introduces Vehicle Ownership Certificate (VOC) to combat cloned cars
GALLERY


Why does the US-exclusive Honda HR-V look so much like a Ford Kuga?

The US will be getting their own version of the
Honda HR-V
 this year, and the carmaker’s American arm has just published the first teaser images for it. But upon seeing it, one thing just stood out to us immediately – doesn’t this look just a little too much like the
Ford Kuga
? I mean, just take a look at it:
It’s got the same slim-style headlights with the LED daytime running lights running below it (albeit flipped, to be fair), a similarly-shaped grille with short edges near the headlights, and they’ve even got the same bumper design with angular slats below the grille, and C-shaped air intakes at the corners.
It’s almost as if Ford told Honda: “Go ahead, but just change it a bit so it doesn’t look too blatant, OK?” We’re joking, obviously, but you can’t deny that there’s an uncanny resemblance between the two.
Fortunately, the resemblance doesn’t continue at the rear, with the Honda HR-V getting a more stylised tail lamp design with a squiggly light signature round the bottom. Although, the raked tailgate design trend is shared between the two.
From the looks of it, the US-exclusive Honda HR-V could also be larger than the global version, possibly to compete against the Toyota Corolla Cross that was launched in the region last year. The biggest giveaway is the additional rear quarter windows; the global model’s lighthouse ends at the C-pillars with a hidden door handle. Of course, we’ll have to wait until the launch to confirm that.
RELATED: All-new Honda HR-V unveiled in Thailand, only in e:HEV hybrid powertrain
The global-spec Honda HR-V e:HEV
As usual, No technical details have been revealed just yet, but we expect the US-only HR-V to share its powertrain with Honda Civic, including the 1.5-litre turbocharged VTEC mill that’s also found in the Malaysian-spec Civic launched just yesterday.
With Mazda offering all-wheel drive across the board for the
 CX-30
(and standard on the
CX-5
) over in the US, it’s also likely that Honda will at least offer it as an option, possibly together with the e:HEV hybrid powertrain.


Volvo recently announced that the latest Polestar tuning package for Volvo vehicles equipped with all-wheel-drive (AWD) and owners in Malaysia can rejoice as Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) has confirmed that the
Polestar AWD optimisation software
 will be available in Malaysia soon.
The software update is available for all petrol and diesel variants of the Volvo 90 series, 60 series and XC40 that are equipped with AWD. The software tweaks the AWD system to feature a rear-biased torque split, allowing the car to have sharper turn-ins, better control and engagement in a corner as well as improved traction when pulling away.
A more dynamic
S90 & V90 T6 R-Design
 with the optimisation software
To engage the optimisation software, drivers will have to put the car into Dynamic drive mode or have Electronic Stability Control disabled. This software is not available for plug-in hybrid models as the T6 Twin Engine and T8 Twin Engine already features a rear-biased AWD.
VCM did not confirm the availability and pricing details of the Polestar AWD optimisation as the software was only introduced recently.


BMW M3, M4, and 430i get SST-exempted pricing in Malaysia – up to RM25k off

Following the extension of the SST exemptions
until the end of the year
 as part of the Government’s Pemerkasa+ plan, BMW Malaysia has now announced the SST-exempted pricing information for the
430i M Sport Coupe
, as well as the
M3

and

M4 Competition
, which were previously announced with their full prices due to product availability schedule.
As these are fully imported models, a 50% exemption for the sales and service tax will be applied. As such, the the BMW 430i M Sport Coupe is now priced at
RM390,033
 (-RM16k), while the M3 Competition and M4 Competition Coupe starts at
RM639,664
 (-RM25k) and
RM659,357
 (-RM25k) respectively.
The prices above are all on-the-road, without insurance, and inclusive of the basic two-year factory warranty. With the optional five-year unlimited-mileage warranty and free-service package box ticked at checkout, the BMW 430i is priced at
RM403,153
, while the M3 and M4 Competition rises to
RM665,904
 and
RM685,597
 respectively – with SST exemptions applied.
Not a fan of the huge grilles on either of these cars? Check out the BMW M340i xDrive instead! Read our review here.

Aside from the updated pricing, the cars’ spec sheet remain identical from before. The BMW 430i M Sport Coupe continues to be powered by the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with
258 hp
 and
400 Nm
 sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
The M3 and M4 Competition models, meanwhile, are packed with a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline-six engine, which makes
510 hp
 and
650 Nm
 of torque to power the rear wheels strictly via an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Completing the regular 3 Series line-up here in Malaysia is the all-new BMW 330Li. Read more about it here!
For the full specifications and features of the BMW 430i, M3 Competition, and M4 Competition here in Malaysia, head on over to our full launch breakdowns available
here
 and
here
.


Proton X50 Flagship’s L2 autonomous driving system includes stop-go intelligent cruise control!

During the media preview event yesterday at Sepang International Circuit, where we also learned about the
three-cylinder engine’s NVH-specific improvements
, Proton has also finally revealed the details of the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) features on the Proton X50, exclusive to the Flagship variant.
As you probably are aware, the Flagship variant of the Proton X50 will be equipped with level two autonomous driving capabilities as standard – a feature that Proton boasts as a first in its class. We’ve explained the
differences between the Level 2 and Level 1 system
 (as on the
X70
) before, but in short, Level 2 autonomous driving includes
 sustained control
for lateral movements (i.e. steering) in addition to longitudinal control, or accelerating and braking.
The main highlight of the L2 autonomous feature on the Proton X50 Flagship is the
Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC)
, which is capable of providing acceleration, braking, and steering assistance in certain driving conditions. Essentially, it combines the adaptive cruise control (ACC) system from the X70 together with
lane keeping assist
 and
lane centering assist
, which allows the car to follow another car ahead at a predetermined distance at up to speeds of 150 km/h.
On the ACC front, the system has also been improved from the one on its elder brother, with the addition of a stop-go functionality, allowing the X50 to brake to a complete stop depending on the vehicle ahead. If the stop was less than three seconds, the system on the X50 will resume driving (in cruise control) automatically without any driver input; otherwise, the driver will need to click on the resume button or apply the accelerator to resume cruise control.
The ICC system also gains an overtake assist feature, which automatically speeds up the car if the turn indicator was activated, along with a curve deceleration control which automatically applies the brakes slightly to help the car steer into the bend.
Being an assistance feature, the ICC system still requires the drivers to put their hands on the steering wheel at all times. A torque sensor within the steering wheel detects for driver input, and a warning chime will kick in to instruct the driver to keep their hands on the wheels if no movement is detected. If the driver’s hands were not detected for an extended period of time, the system will disengage automatically.
The Proton X50 Flagship variant is also equipped with autonomous parking assist, or APA as proton calls it – another level two autonomous driving assistance feature which can automatically park the car in both perpendicular and parallel parking spots, as well as exiting from tight parallel spaces.
For the purpose of keeping the drivers mindful of their surroundings at all times when using the system, the X50 requires drivers to keep their hands held on the parking assist button on the centre console. The system stops immediately if the driver releases the button – useful in the event of sudden obstacles – and can be resumed by holding the button again.
Other advance driver assistance features on the Proton X50 Flagship include forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking (with pedestrian detection), an improved blind spot monitor with indicators located within the side mirrors (
a la
 Volvo), and intelligent high beam control.
The Proton X50 is

now open for booking
, though no pricing has been announced just yet. Four variants are available – Standard, Executive, Premium, and Flagship, with the ADAS system mentioned above only reserved for the range-topping Flagship variant.
The lower three variants is equipped with a port-injection version of the 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine, capable of making 150 hp and 226 Nm of torque, while the range-topper Proton X50 Flagship gets a direct-injection version of the same engine, bumping up the outputs to 177 hp and 255 Nm. Both engines are mated to a retuned seven-speed DCT gearbox.


#ABC2018: AutoBuzz.my Best (Driver’s) Cars of 2018

There’s a saying that goes, Christmas only comes once and this is similarly the case with our annual AutoBuzz.my’s Best Cars of the Year video.
Unlike Christmas however, there’s no need to set aside our differences for a greater good. Instead, as with every year, we celebrated the diversity and differences of all the supercars and high performance wheels we’ve had the privilege to drive with the Top 6 featured in this 2018 edition.
Brought to you in collaboration with
Bosch
, this year’s line up is unlike any other; with the Ferrari 812 Superfast, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Mercedes-AMG E63 S 4MATIC, Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo and the Volkswagen Golf R making up the ranks.
Ferrari 812 Superfast
Denis:
 With a 6.5-litre V12 sitting up front, you’d think it has too much weight over its front wheels. With
800 hp
 and
719 Nm
 channelled through to the rear axle, you’d imagine it to feel all “squirrely” and a total handful. But, no and no, the Ferrari defies physics. The first thing that hits you is how light the steering is (even in the scariest mode), how delicately the throttle responds and how refined the powertrain is – subjectively, the Superfast is on a different plane compared to the rest here.
GC Mah, Managing Editor, with the Ferrari 812 Superfast
Even the ride is supple, as far as supercars go. Like a scalpel with four wheels, the Ferrari is a weapon of high precision, its mission is to carve an imaginary racing line on roads you drive on, with every tiny input eliciting a soul-gratifying reaction. It’ll reward a skilled hand handsomely, yet it doesn’t intimidate a beginner either. What a thing.
Eu Jin:
 At full throttle, the Ferrari 812 Superfast was by far the maddest road-legal car I’ve ever driven. If you thought it had a silly name like I did, a quick 100 metre sprint in it, will change that perception. Never have I felt such a slow-creeping yet intense head rush solely from the flex of my right toe without having to ingest industrial-amounts of substances.
Steering response was bar none to anything I’ve ever gotten behind the wheel of. The time it takes for the car to react to your steering input was probably faster then what it took for your brain to deliver the message to your hands. As for the up and downshifts, well, have you fired a shotgun before?
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Denis:
 There is no compulsion to mention James Bond when describing an Aston Martin, but in the flesh, the Vantage could be the prettiest co-star Agent 007 will lay hands on. It’s a bit of a shame that Aston Martin couldn’t spare as as much effort with the interior as they did with the exterior, because with the venerable AMG 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine sitting front midship, the new Vantage has that the sweet balance which Aston Martins are known for.
Eu Jin, the troublemaker, with the Aston Martin V8 Vantage
It doesn’t feel the fastest here, nor the most agile but it is the most communicative; you can easily discern the degree of weight transfer and even tell how much purchase the rear tyres have on the surface. And that ass…James, please don’t bend this one.
Eu Jin:
 While it may have been my appointed Driver’s Car of the Year, having the privilege of all six stupidly fast cars at our disposal meant I could jump from one to another. You classify the Superfast and Vantage to be supercars but it’s clear that the latter was the more “docile” of the two, despite having over
500 hp
 and close to
700 Nm
 at its disposal.
As quick as it was, the distinction was clear. With the Superfast demanding every ounce of concentration you never thought you could muster, the Vantage allows you to tango with it at a tempo you so please. If the old Vantage was a clean-shaven James Bond with a laser pen, this new one looks more like John Wick, lined with every possible heavy armoury within it’s pin-stripped suit.
Lamborghini
 Urus
Denis:
 If you somehow still think that Lamborghini shouldn’t have made an SUV, don’t. The Urus is a welcomed addition the growing number of high-riding vehicles that behave like supercars. Whilst it may share Audi/Bentley/Porsche/VW underpinnings, the flavour of the Urus is Lamborghini’s own, from the evocative styling to a drive that’s unexpectedly well-rounded. For Lamborghini owners who always craved for a daily driver, this is it.
Denis Wong, Head of Editorial at AutoBuzz.my, with the Lamborghini Urus
The Urus will ride smoothly in town and cruise in relative comfort on its air suspension…until you slap the drive mode toggle to ‘Corsa’ to summon a brutal demeanour more reminiscent of cars that wear the raging bull insignia. The manner which the Urus resists roll (it has active roll damping and four-wheel steer) and tucks into corners is alien for something that weighs 2.2-tonne.
Eu Jin:
 To make the Urus is to allow those who couldn’t afford a supercar back when they were in their 30’s, 40’s or even 50’s, a chance to own a Lamborghini. Lets face it, for a person of obscene financial means, it’s not a pleasant realisation when your belly comes in the way of you getting in and out of the car.
In the Urus, there’s none of that ungraceful nonsense aside from profound presence of all the elements of what makes a Lamborghini, a Lamborghini. Right from the crank of the V8 engine to the fighter jet-like cockpit, the Urus oozes all the excitement a Super SUV should offer. Better yet, you can now share that with four other passengers, without the slightest groan over a lack of headroom.
Porsche Panamera 4 Sport Turismo
Denis:
One is entirely within reason to expect the Sport Turimo to perform just like how a Porsche would – sporty, with equal measures of performance and handling. And it delivers, but against the backdrop of rapid (and rabid) cars, the Sport Turismo is somehow missing a bit of the usual Porsche sparkle, perhaps weighed down by expectations of its jaw-dropping styling, if not the actual near two-tonne kerb weight. What the Sport Turismo 4S does show is that Porsche is at ease serving up ‘luxury’ as well as ‘sport’, and its impeccably built cabin was my personal pick for the long journey home.
Chung Yi-shen of
AutoBuzz.my (Chinese)
 with the Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo
Eu Jin:
 We could not have done this without the household deity from the temple of automotive gods but rather than showing up, predictably, in a 911 GT3 or GT2 RS, we went for the Sport Turismo instead and in typical Porsche fashion, it did not disappoint.
Sure, the former could render the Panamera as nothing more than a speck on their rear view mirrors but with a precisely-measured interior that looks like a surgery room draped in leather, a body style that finally pleases the eye and a throaty V6 to match its predictable driving characteristics, the Panamera Sport Turismo is a worthy torch bearer of a driver-oriented, four-door Porsche.
Mercedes-AMG E 63 S 4MATIC
Denis:
 How a car with such a rude exhaust note can pass homologation is anyone’s guess, but it does sum up the E63 S in a nutshell. It’s a relief that Mercedes-AMG didn’t choose the route of the BMW M5 and made it all super refined, nothing really wrong with every day drivability but a proper AMG needs to retain some badass-ness about them, something which the E 63 S has in spades; from the stomach-churning
850 Nm
 of torque from its twin-turbo V8 to a playful AWD system that prefers rear-wheel drive most of the time.
Dominic Yee, Co-founder of AutoBuzz.my, with the Mercedes-AMG E63 S 4MATIC
The lack of decorum befits the E 63 S, this is a super saloon that goads you into taking more liberties and begs for a hard spanking on your favourite piece of tarmac. By far the naughtiest car of the bunch.
Eu Jin:
 The E63 S can be quite a bit of a confusing mix really; to have so much brute force in a supposed luxury sedan is like a concoction of alcohol that just doesn’t end well as a cocktail. But like a hazardous mix, it’s potent and when that kicks in, it’s nirvana.
With such explosive power, in such an evil facade, this is by far the most cynical set of wheels in Mercedes-Benz Malaysia’s line-up. It should also come with a “buy at your own risk” disclaimer form.
Volkswagen Golf R
Denis:
 Yes, the Golf R is hopelessly outgunned here in firepower, but because real-world performance is about coping with driving conditions that are far from ideal and making the most out of what you’ve got, the little three-door Golf turned out to be as good as any in this exalted company in covering ground rapidly, really.
Adrian Chia, the wizkid, with the Volkswagen Golf R
The mechanical package of the R is potent when deployed – we are talking about all-weather traction, instant on-demand response from the powertrain and an agile chassis. Everyone who jumped into the Golf R felt at ease immediately and went fast without breaking a sweat, surely that’s what great hot hatches are about.
Eu Jin:
Whichever aspect of the car you’re focused on, the Golf R does not deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as the rest of the “million Ringgit club members” but over the course of the two days it spent with the big boys, it was like watching me fight Muhammad Ali till the very last round.
Except for the lack of blistering pace compared to every car but the Panamera Sport Turismo, this thing just stuck on with the pack with the resilience and stubbornness of household flies on a slab of meat. When things got a little wet, slippery and unpredictable, guess which car prevailed and surged ahead without the slightest concern of oversteer? Yeap.
*We’d like to thank Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Aston Martin, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen for their unwavering support in making this possible.
IMAGE GALLERY

Ferrari 812 Superfast

Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Lamborghini Urus

Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo

Mercedes-AMG E63S 4MATIC

Volkswagen Golf R


Sales Tax Exemption: Lexus Malaysia releases updated price list

Following the announcement of the
Sales Tax Exemption
, Lexus Malaysia has released an updated price list on its vehicles.
The new prices are effective beginning 15th of June but instead of the 31st December end-date given by the government, Lexus Malaysia’s sales tax exempted prices will remain until the
31st of January
.
Discounts have been massive with every vehicle offered by Lexus reduced by more than RM10k,
except for the Lexus UX Urban and Luxury we got to test earlier this year
.
All variants of the new Lexus UX
 are powered by a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine, producing
169 hp
 and
205 Nm
 of torque, paired to a Direct Shift CVT (mechanical first gear) to drive the front wheels.
For the updated price list from other car brands in Malaysia, click
here
.


Volvo opens second 3S centre in Johor Bahru with Pekin Auto

In efforts to expand
its local dealership network, Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) has just appointed Pekin
Auto Sdn Bhd as its latest dealer representative in Johor Bahru. This brings
the total number of dealers nationwide to 13.
The new 3S Centre (Sales, Service and Spare Parts) will be located near Skudai and furnished with Volvo’s latest VRE (Volvo Retail Experience) standards. Although the new centre is not officially launched, it will be a strategic touchpoint for VCM to connect with fans and customers in the Southern region.
VRE with a Swede touch
VCM is committed to implementing the next phase of its transformation plan with a focus on customer experience and dealer network. Managing Director of Volvo Cars, Nalin Jain said: “VRE goes beyond its Scandinavian-inspired aesthetics; it is the manifestation of our brand values and our desire to take care of our customers throughout their whole journey with Volvo Cars.”
The expanding dealer network and support are also reflected in the company’s sales growth in the first half of 2019 of more than 60% – a record figure for VCM. VCM is looking to launch more dealerships in the coming months.


The Frankfurt motor show won’t be in Frankfurt anymore

Having played host to the Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (International Automobile Exhibition in English) since 1951, the city of Frankfurt will handover the baton to
Munich
for the next installment of the motor show in
2021
.
The last IAA held in September 2019 saw
560,000 visitors
 setting foot on Messe Frankfurt, which constituted a
30% decrease
 from over 800,000 in 2017 and a high of 935,000 in 2015. There were also notable absentees among the list of exhibitors including Ferrari, Toyota, Renault and Fiat in 2019.
Mercedes-Benz’s pavilion at the IAA 2019.
The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) conceded that the form
at of the IAA had to be redesigned
 to reflect the changing automotive landscape and invited different cities in Germany to bid for the biennial portion of the passenger car show, with the commercial vehicle exhibition (also named IAA) to remain in Hanover.
“Munich has beaten off the competition from Berlin and Hamburg. All three cities that had made it onto the shortlist of possible locations presented very ambitious and convincing plans for continuing the IAA’s development together with the VDA,” said VDA President Hildegard Müller, adding, “It was a very close race, and for this I sincerely wish to thank those involved.”

The Porsche Taycan at the IAA 2019.
According to VDA, the IAA will evolve into a
‘mobility platform’
 apart from showcasing the fascination of the car, it is expected to trigger the host city’s development into a ‘smart city’ with intelligent traffic concepts and innovative connectivity linking various modes of transport. In the view of VDA, the city of Munich and its concept offer the best conditions for this and also for the
relaunch of the IAA
.
The state of Bavaria is also the home turf of
BMW
and
Audi
.


Infiniti released a single teaser image of its new concept car

Ahead of its world debut next year in January in Detroit, USA, Infiniti has released an image of a new concept car that would preview what would be with the new generation of Infiniti vehicles and will be the first representation of a new Infiniti design language.
The new Infiniti concept car will take the traditional saloon architecture to its next stage of evolution, said Infiniti Executive Design Director, Karim Habib.
From the features on the new concept car, at least based on what has been revealed, it actually resembles the next-generation
Infiniti QX50
 we recently reported – especially with the sharp, squinty headlamps and grille design but we’ll just have to see what becomes of it.
On the side note, the QX50 revealed just recently will be powered by a 2.0-litre VC-Turbo engine with a likely output of around
 268 hp
 and
390 Nm
 – officially, it’s not been confirmed yet.
Infiniti also claims that the new generation will bring about smarter, more compact and less intrusive powertrains – in line with our previous report on the F1-inspired,
Infiniti Project Black S
. It is said that the concept will feature a long cabin, balanced proportions and a muscular stance, as it welcomes a new era of Infiniti vehicles.


BMW Malaysia introduces 5 Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty & Service Program

BMW Malaysia has recently announced a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty and a free scheduled service program for all BMW cars sold via official dealerships including the
BMW M
 and
i8
 models registered from 1 June 2015 in a bid to provide better after sales service to its clientele base.
This announcement would certainly make all aspiring BMW owners out there to take a better look at the offering from Munich because the warranty now gives a
service vehicle check
 and
engine oil check
 which includes the filter and the oil to go along with it. That’s in accordance to BMW’s Condition Based Service (CBS). On the other hand, the service regime takes care of the likes of
air filters, fuel filters, micro filters, spark plugs
and
 brake fluids.
Excluded
 from the warranty and service program are components such as the
front and rear brakes
 which naturally
includes
 the
disc and pads
. Also omitted from the warranty coverage are the
windscreen wipers,
wear and tear parts such as
halogen light bulbs
 and
batteries
 for the key fob.
Worth noting though, is that BMW
reserves
 the right to
reject
 any defect claims by owners should they find out that the vehicle has been serviced at an
unauthorised
 service outlet on the basis that the cars may not be properly taken care of at the hands of a skilled technician. Also in concern is the use of aftermarket parts at these outlets.
Read all about the recently launched
BMW i8
,
BMW X6
 and
BMW 2-Series Active Tourer
.


Frankfurt 2015: Audi launches S4 B9, 3.0 TFSI V6 now turbocharged to make 354 hp & 500 Nm

Just as expected, merely a couple of months after the introduction of the
B9 A4
, Audi is has unveiled the hotter variant at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, the S4. Based on the fifth generation B9 A4, the new S4 is readily available in either the Sedan or the Avant (wagon in Audi-speak) body styles.
Not to be confused with the
S-line
 model Audis which are essentially regular models donned up in a fancy suit, the
S
 models sit in between the regular models and the full-blown
RS
 models.

The evolution of the S4 is parallel with the A4, which means it doesn’t stray far in terms of looks from the outgoing B8 generation A4/S4. It might take awhile for you to tell the S4 apart from the A4, because the S4 looks, well, like the regular A4.
The
aluminium-coloured side mirror
 covers are the biggest clue, and as you squint harder you should be able to spot that the slats in the
Singleframe grille
 are different too.
LED headlamps
 are part of the standard equipment, but customers can upgrade to
Matrix LED headlamps
 from the options list.
At the other end, the
diffuser
 accommodates
two pairs of tailpipes
 on each side, while the S4 sedan gains a small lip spoiler at the edge of the boot lid. With the
S sport suspension
, the S4 rides 23 mm lower than the regular A4 too. Gracing the sides is a set of
18-inch 5-twin spoke star design wheels
, but an inch-up option is also available, together with a beefier set of brakes.
Inside, the sporty treatment is not only limited to the black colour scheme and the S4 logos on the door sills. The S4 gets a
sportier steering wheel
, and a pair of
S sport seats
 for the front occupants.

Equipment level is on par with the top-spec A4, so the S4 gets everything the A4 has, including the slick
12.3-inch virtual cockpit
, the
8.3-inch monitor
 for the
MMI touch system
, the
MMI navigation plus
 and the
MIB II infotainment system
 with
Audi connect
 that grants
high-speed Wi-Fi hotspot
. Additionally, buyers can opt for a banging
Bang & Olufsen 3D Sound System
 as well.
Most of the changes are hidden from view. Chiefly, the new
3.0 TFSI V6
 lump under the bonnet is now
turbocharged
 instead of supercharged, serving up 25 hp more than the previous S4 resulting a total of
354 hp
. Torque has also risen by 60 Nm to
500 Nm
, and it’s spread across evenly from 1,300 rpm to 4,500 rpm.
There’s only one gearbox available this time, which is the
eight-speed tiptronic
 automatic, but power is still sent to the
quattro
 permanent all-wheel drive system. Up to 70 percent of the torque can be diverted to the front axle, and up to 85 to the rear axle, but under normal circumstances it’s split
40:60
 front and back.
The new S4 is claimed to handle more precisely and more agile than before. The
 wheel-selective torque control
 will brake the inside wheels during cornering, but that can be further improved with the optional
sport differential
 that distributes the torque between the rear wheels, and also the
variable speed-dependent dynamic steering
.
Century sprint
 takes
4.7 seconds
, while the
 top speed
 is electronically limited to
 250 km/h
. Similar to the A4, the S4 is
lighter
 than before, at 1,630 kg the sedan is 20 kg less than its predecessor. With all that, the S4 achieves a
combined fuel consumption
 of
7.4 litres per 100 km
.
While we’re waiting for the arrival of the B9 A4 to reach our shores, Europe markets will get the new S4 in
2016
, but there’s no mention on the price yet. Now that we’ve seen the new A4 and the new S4 are now lighter and more powerful than ever, let’s hope the same applies for the upcoming RS4!
IMAGE GALLERY


Honda Malaysia recalls City and Civic for ADAS camera and welding points – 702 units affected

Honda Malaysia
 is currently recalling 630 units of the
2021

Honda City
 Hybrid
 and 72 units of the
2022
Honda Civic
. All affected customers will be informed via notification letters which include details of the product recall.
Both the City Hybrid and the Civic are recalled for different reasons. For the Honda City Hybrid, the recall is due to an inactive Advanced Driver Assistance (ADAS) camera on the front windscreen. Honda Malaysia says the camera may not operate properly, causing the ADAS to be ineffective during operation. Honda Malaysia will replace the ADAS cameras on the
630
 affected units of the 2021 Honda City Hybrid.
As for the Honda Civic, the recall is due to incomplete welding in the driver seat slide adjuster. The defect may cause the driver seat to not be in a fixed position and may compromise the seatbelt protection system. For the 72 units affected, Honda Malaysia will rectify the welding points.
Honda Malaysia apologises for the inconvenience caused to their customers and reassures them that other current production and selling models are not affected by the recall. Thankfully, no unwanted incidents have occurred to affected customers and Honda is taking precautionary safety measures to ensure the safety of its customers.
RELATED:
Honda Malaysia delivered over 1,300 units of the all-new HR-V in one month since launch
If you’re wondering whether you could be an affected owner, Honda Malaysia says it will inform affected customers via notification letters. The letters include details of the product recall. Affected customers are urged to contact any authorised dealer to make an appointment. Repair duration is subject to parts availability.
Honda Malaysia ensures that the inspection, repair, and replacement of the affected are free of charge and Honda Malaysia will bear all costs related to the recall. Honda Malaysia encourages affected City Hybrid and Civic owners to download the HondaTouch mobile app for further verification of the recall.
Customers can obtain information or check their vehicle status on this product recall by calling Honda Malaysia’s Toll-Free number at 1-800-88-2020 or logging on to
productrecall.honda.com.my
. Honda Malaysia will continue to uphold transparency and stringent controls for customers.
RELATED:
2022 Honda HR-V and BR-V score 5 stars in ASEAN NCAP, high Safety Assist points


Lamborghini reveals limited-edition Aventador called the “Korean Special Series”

No, if you’re wondering whether Lee Min-ho or Bae Suzy had anything to do in the design and development of this ultra-limited edition Aventador S Roadster, sorry to disappoint.
But rest assured, the Korean Special Series edition is every bit as Korean (culturally speaking) as all the crying and sobbing commonly associated with the South Korean TV shows.
The Korean Special Series is the collaboration of Lamborghini Seoul and Automobili Lamborghini to create a symbolic model that connects the spirit of Korea and Italy. Its design however would be inspired by rich and unique Korean tradition.
The Aventador Ultimae is the ultimate celebration of Lamborghini’s V12 era. Read about it here!
Korean traditional window designs – with vertical and horizontal criss-cross patterns – are reflected on the front bonnet, doors, and rear fenders. The engine bay features the two trigrams of the Korean flag – Geon and Gam – a sense of patriotism instilled among Koreans.
Lamborghini reveals more teasers of the new Countach…check out the images here!
The Green Ocno colour on the exterior symbolises
‘warm Korean sentiment’
 while the Blue Emera colour symbolises
 ‘intelligence

and wisdom’
. As for the Bianco Leda colour on the inside, it symbolises
 ‘the white-clad race’
 – meaning the national spirit of Korea.
The Aventador S Roadster Korean Special Series is powered by a 6.5-litre ntaurally-aspirated V12 with 740 hp and 690 Nm. It accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in just three seconds, while 0-200km/h will be clocked in just nine seconds. Top speed? 350 km/h, just like the Aventador Coupe S.
The Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Xago Edition is a 10-unit-only celebration of hexagons. Read about it here!
GALLERY


Future Aston Martin cars will use Geely parts, including air-con and seats

In a bid to save costs and reduce development lead times,
Aston Martin
 will reportedly be dipping into Geely’s parts bin for its future electric vehicles.
As announced earlier this week, the Gaydon-based luxury sportscar manufacturer’s future EVs will be
 utilising electric motors and batteries from Lucid Motors
, while
Mercedes-Benz
 will also still continue supplying its combustion engines, hybrid motors, and electronic controllers. But powertrains are just one part of the equation; there are still hundreds, if not thousands of other equipment that are required to build a complete “car” – and that’s where
Geely
 steps in.
As reported by
Autocar UK
, Geely, who recently
upped its stake in Aston Martin to 17%
, will be supplying several components for the British marque’s future models, including the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system and powered seats, according to Aston Martin’s head of development, Roberto Fedeli.
Speaking to the publication, Fedeli adds that the company will try to source “everything we can get from a wide shelf of components” to help get the new models to market faster. Aston Martin’s relationship with Geely could help cut its supplier list by as much as 30%.
READ MORE:
Aston Martin is going electric – EV motors and batteries to be supplied by Lucid Motors
Lotus Eletre
Aside from Aston Martin, Geely also owns or holds a stake in several other automotive marques including
Volvo
,
Lotus
,
Lynk & Co
,
Smart
, and more familiarly to us Malaysians,
Proton
.
The part-sharing agreements are a big part of chairman Lawrence Stroll’s plan to turn the company around, which the Canadian businessman says is largely complete. In addition to the business restructure, Stroll has also invested over GBP1.5 billion into growing the company and its surrounding businesses, including the Aston Martin F1 team.