Next-generation Nissan Leaf can go from KL to Singapore in a single charge

While Electric Vehicles (EV) continue to be objects of desire (no thanks to Tesla), it was Nissan which made the most important move by producing the world’s first mass-market electric vehicle, the Nissan Leaf.
Now, a second-generation model of the
Leaf
 is being readied for introduction, possibly by the end of the year. The sole teaser image showcases the new Leaf’s modern headlights design, and that’s that.
The first-generation Nissan Leaf
Nissan’s next-gen zero-emissions electric hatchback will get upgraded powertrain and drivetrain. According to the Japanese carmaker, the Leaf is capable of covering a distance of 400 km! The outgoing Leaf can only achieve 135 km of cruising range. Nissan’s
ProPilot
 autonomous driving system could also make its debut here.
Since the introduction of the Nissan Leaf in 2010, over 260,000 units of it have been sold globally. Back home, Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) still offers the Leaf for
RM180,566.18
.

Two years ago, we reviewed the Leaf to see if it’s a viable alternative to urban motoring. Find out what GC Mah has to say in the video below!


The Hyundai Santa Cruz is the pick-up truck version of the Tucson and it looks great!

The automotive landscape in the USA is entirely self-sufficient, evident with many models designed, engineered, and made just for its own domestic consumption. Apart from normal body-on-frame pick-up trucks, there has been a tiny sub-segment of pick-ups that are passenger-car derived such as the Honda Ridgeline.
Hyundai USA has just introduced their
first pick-up truck
, the
Santa Cruz
. Hyundai terms the new Santa Cruz as a ‘Sport Adventure Vehicle’, rather than a pick-up or small truck, as it is heavily targeted to users who frequent recreational and outdoor activities than hauling construction or fabrication materials. The development of the Santa Cruz was backed by a comprehensive study and data collection.
Similar to the recently unveiled
Hyundai Tucson
 SUV, the front of the Santa Cruz has its daytime-running lights integrated into the parametric jewel grille design, making it invisible when turned off. Wheel sizes up to 20 inches fill the arches, while the deck features plenty of storage spaces as well as a retractable tonneau cover.
In terms of size, the Santa Cruz measures close to five metres long over a three-metre long wheelbase. Compared to the recently unveiled
2021 Nissan Frontier
 (which Nissan terms it as right-sizing), it is marginally smaller, but still provide a decent deck length of 1.32 metres.
Customers will however appreciate the low entry height, thanks to its monocoque/unibody bodyshell. The new Santa Cruz is over 100 mm lower than the traditional pick-up trucks, similar to the overall height of the current crop of
C-Segment SUVs
.
There is a choice of two petrol engines, both displacing
2.5 litres
. A naturally aspirated unit delivers
190 hp
 and
244 Nm
 of torque and drives the front wheels via an eight-speed conventional automatic transmission. The more powerful
turbocharged
 engine meanwhile delivers
275 hp
 and
420 Nm
 of torque and paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT).
Users can have the engine drive channelled to all four wheels via the
intelligent HTRAC
 variable all-wheel drive system where more torque is sent to the rear wheels in Sport mode. A centre locking differential function can be used for conditions that require more consistent torque at all four corners.
Being developed from the Tucson underpinnings, the rear suspension features an
independent multi-link
 set up and much of the interior is lifted from the popular SUV. As such, the Santa Cruz promises to drive just like its SUV sibling.
Similar to the Tucson, the Hyundai Santa Cruz is equipped with a plethora of advanced driving assistance system (ADAS) under the SmartSense banner.
The Santa Cruz will be manufactured at Hyundai USA’s production facility in Montgomery, Alabama, where it currently rolls out the
Sonata
,
Elantra
, Santa Fe and the all-new Tucson that the Santa Cruz is based on.
GALLERY


BMW Belarus’ website has allegedly leaked the upcoming 2022 X7 facelift

The
 BMW X7
facelift is not due until some time later this year, but the car has apparently already been leaked almost in full – this time by BMW Belarus’ own official website – giving us a first look at the updated big boy SUV.
As usual on a Life Cycle Impulse (LCI) model, the overall silhouette of the (alleged) BMW X7 facelift still remains pretty much unchanged from before. But with that being said, the front fascia here does receive a significant update in appearance, with a new split headlight assembly that’s sure to draw some controversies among fans.
The top half of the new headlight design is a slim enclosure for the daytime running lights, which gets a new light signature similar to that of the BMW iX. Below that, separated by a piece of horizontal sheet metal, is a new recessed enclosure for the main beams that is also integrated into the vertical air intake cutouts on both ends.
Love it or hate it, the new split headlights will be soon be making its way onto other BMW models, as the
upcoming i7 EV
 that’s due next month is also rumoured to feature a similar split set-up up front.
VIDEO: BMW X7 xDrive40i SUPER-size SUV review
Screenshot: BMW Belarus’ website via Autoevolution
From the sole leaked image, we can also see that the front bumper has been redesigned with a wide rectangular air intake positioned in the centre, bookended by two triangular pieces. The same geometric theme is also repeated on the new trim piece behind the front wheel arches. The chrome elements beneath that, though, seems to be unchanged from before.
The image also shows off a set of massive alloy wheels, featuring a brand-new flower-like multi-spoke design. Based on the tyre profile (or lackthereof) in the image, we won’t be surprised if these are actually 23-inch items.
RELATED: BMW X7 xDrive40i CKD launched from RM649k
Aside from what we see here, we should also be able to expect slight tweaks to the rear bumpers, plus a reworked interior – the latter possibly including the new
 iDrive 8 infotainment system
. Confirmation will of course have to wait for the official launch, but based on the leaked website, it seems like we won’t have to wait for much longer.
[Source: Autoevolution]


Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia becomes sole local importer and dealer

Jaguar Land Rover (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (JLRM), a joint venture between Sime Darby Motors and SISMA Auto, has consolidated its retail operations, making it the sole importer and dealer in Malaysia.
The move includes the acquisition of dealer assets and transfer of staff from both Sime Darby Auto Connexion and SISMA Auto into JLRM’s central business operations at the Jaguar and Land Rover Dealership in Ara Damansara, Selangor.
This 167,586 sq ft facility houses both new and approved Jaguar Land Rover pre-owned vehicles. It’s also the largest Jaguar Land Rover 4S facility in the South-East Asia region.
Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia Sdn Bhd also has retail operations located in Penang; along Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad. As for the Southern Region, Service Outreach programmes will be curated to serve the local customers.
The JLRM outlet in Penang.
Aside from the announcement, JLRM also added that customers can expect more luxurious and convenient services to be rolled out. It also plans to increase its investment in digital initiatives over the next few years to continue improving customer service.
JLRM will also train more Jaguar Land Rover Master Level 4 Technicians and Electric Vehicle Technology Certified Technicians for customer assurance.

JLRM highlighted that customers can also expect new models in the near future including the Jaguar F-Pace with a new interior and exterior design, the XF, I-PACE, Land Rover Defender 90, and the new Range Rover.
Land Rover Defender 110 now in Malaysia, from RM798k. Check out our coverage here!


Volvo Cars acquires 100 percent of Swedish tuning company, Polestar

News from the chilly Scandinavians has brought Volvo fans the world over to rejoice when Volvo Car Group announced that it has acquired 100 percent of Polestar, a famed Swedish high performance car company, including the Polestar brand.
Volvo isn’t really a car company that springs immediately to mind when speaking about performance cars. They are known for making
sensible and safe family saloon cars
. That notion however, is rapidly changing because Volvo currently develops and manufactures some of the
most powerful
,
most environmentally-friendly engines
in the automotive industry.
Volvo S60 Polestar, model year 2016
Having said all of that, Volvo has made some incredible road going monsters in its time. In
1996
, Volvo introduced the five-door station-wagon called the
 850R
. With a manual gearbox it could do the century sprint in
6.5 seconds
 and with a top speed of
255 km/h
. This was done with help of a
2.3-litre five-cylinde
r powerplant.
Fast forward this year and consider the
S60 Polestar
as a proposition. In essence, it’s a
 345 hp turbocharged inline-six
 with a
Haldex all-wheel-drive
 system with a
rear torque bias
 and huge
245mm
 wide Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres. Add to it the Ferrari-beating rarity and that ever so striking shade of Polestar’s
“Rebel Blue”
 lick of paint that Volvo splashes on their performance-oriented Polestar cars.
In 2015, Volvo expects to sell
750
 Polestar versions of the
V60 wagon and S60 sedan globally
. Polestar sales are forecasted to increase between
1,000
and
 1,500
 cars a year in the medium term under Volvo’s ownership. The Swedish carmaker also revealed that existing Polestar Performance employees will become Volvo employees, and that the Polestar racing team will be renamed despite retaining Christian Dahl, former owner of Polestar, the person in control.
However, it is very unclear at this juncture, on whether or not Volvo will be retailing its new-acquired Polestar car division on our shores.
IMAGE GALLERY


Honda patents new 11-speed automatic gearbox with three clutches!

The technology for automatic gearboxes has advanced rapidly. From dual clutch transmissions to torque converters with ratios reaching double digits, the latest piece of news from Honda will surely raise some eyebrows.
A report from
AutoGuide
 stated that Honda had just patented an 11-speed automatic transmission, which is also a triple-clutch gearbox! The patent, published in May at the Japan Patent Office, mentions that the new transmission will allow “speed change to be more effectively restricted and a speed change response to be increased.” In other words, adding the third clutch will reduce the drop in torque from a regular dual-clutch transmission (DCT).
Theoretically, the obvious benefits with this gearbox are
 faster gear changes
 and
improved fuel economy
. However, it’s uncertain as yet which Honda model will come fitted with this transmission.
On the flip side, Honda’s history with dual-clutch transmissions haven’t been as promising. In 2014, Honda suffered from
three recalls
 related to the transmission software in the seven-speed DCT fitted into the Fit and Vezel (HR-V) models sold in Japan. Apart from Japan, most markets get either the automatic torque converter or the EarthDreams CVT.
Is this a classic example of one too many, or will this gearbox become one of Honda’s greatest engineering feat since the glory days of VTEC?
[Source:
AutoGuide
]


RM20k more than the Alza, what’s extra on the Toyota Veloz?

A few months after the launch of its Malaysian-brand counterpart,
UMW Toyota
 has finally
launched the all-new Toyota Veloz
. Fetching a price of
RM95,000
, the Veloz is more expensive than the
Alza
 AV by about RM20,000.
Launched in one variant only, the Veloz is powered by the same 1.5-litre engine (
106 hp
/
138 Nm
) and gets the same CVT as the Alza. Powertrain aside, here is how the Veloz and Alza compare against one another.
1. Exterior – Tougher look, two-tone paint job
At the front, the Veloz sports a different set of headlights and a different bumper that both give it more presence compared to the Alza. There is also a chrome garnish that stretches from the headlights all the way to the D-pillar, highlighting the car’s shoulder. The wheel arches also have a prominent indent.
As for the rear, the Veloz’s taillights span the car’s width, with only a small interruption from the Toyota emblem in the middle. The rear bumper design is also different, and a ‘VELOZ’ lettering is perched on the tailgate. Special to the Veloz is a two-tone paint job that is available with the silver and the blue base colour.
RELATED:
3 things we like (and don’t) about the 2022 Perodua Alza!
2. Bigger wheels and more ground clearance
The wheels on the Veloz are 17 inches in size, which is one inch bigger than the 16-inch wheels on the Perodua Alza AV. In the Alza range, the base-spec Alza gets an even smaller set of 15-inch wheels. Together with the bigger wheels, the Veloz also has a higher ground clearance at 190 mm compared to the Alza’s 160 mm (AV & H variant) and 150 mm (X variant).
3. Interior – Wireless charging, automatic AC control, and ambient lighting
Inside, the Veloz runs a different colour scheme than the Alza, foregoing all of the Alza’s red elements. In terms of convenience, the centre console of the Veloz adds a Qi 2.4 wireless phone charger. Unfortunately, there is still no storage space in front of the gear lever in the Veloz, although the space is now minimised due to the gear lever being pushed forward to account for the new wireless charging pad.
Sprucing up the interior is a bluish ambient lighting system that can also be seen on the centre console. Above the centre console on the dashboard is a different set of Air Conditioning controls, as the Toyota Veloz comes with automatic climate control.
4. Tilt & Telescopic Steering Adjustment
Enabling you to get the perfect driving position in the Toyota Veloz is the tilt and telescopic steering adjustment. The Alza only offers tilt adjustment, which is a spot of bother for those with long legs but short arms and vice versa. Both the Veloz and Alza have the same set of control buttons on the steering wheel.
5. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
Like the Alza, a floating 9-inch touchscreen infotainment unit takes centre stage on the dashboard. However, the unit in the Veloz provides phone connection via wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as opposed to the wired connection in the Perodua Alza. However, the 7-inch multi-info display unit for the driver is mostly similar to the Alza’s.
RELATED:
UMW Toyota sold 70,872 cars in 2022 so far, 54% up from last year
6. Vehicle Telematics System
Special to the all-new Veloz is a Vehicle Telematics System (VTS) that allows the owner to keep track of the vehicle’s location via an app. The connectivity is 24 hours, and the owner can check on the status of the vehicle, including the speed it is travelling (if the owner is not in the vehicle). Should the vehicle be stolen, VTS enables a Command Centre to locate it via GPS signals and inform the relevant authorities who can retrieve the vehicle.
At RM20k more, the Toyota Veloz adds a decent amount of features over its Malaysian-brand counterpart. While some may scratch their heads at the RM20k price difference,
the Veloz has already received more than 5,200 bookings ahead of its launch
. It comes with a comprehensive five-year/unlimited mileage warranty, and additionally, UMW Toyota Motor offers a 24SEVEN Road Assist package to its customers.
For the full specifications breakdown of the all-new Toyota Veloz, check out our detailed launch coverage here.


Ferrari F12tdf unveiled, pays homage to legendary Tour de France race – only 799 units to be sold

When the Prancing Horse company announced back in 2012 that the replacement for the 599 Grand Tourer will be show cased at the Geneva International Motor Show (with ridiculous figures from every angle), most would have thought it to suffice. The F12Berlinetta as it came to be known was put on sale with the tag line that read – “the most powerful Ferrari made to date”. Ferrari spoke of the possibility of a
Speciale
version of the F12. Could this cut the mustard ?
The first thought to hit your mind when speaking of the
Tour de France
 is probably
Lance Armstrong
 riding his ultra-lightweight carbon fibre
bike
 past the finishing line. Throw in a couple of news reports of his alleged career-ruining doping scandal and I think most of us would get the picture loud and clear. However, the Tour de France in question here involves
two extra wheels
, an internal combustion
engine
 and team full of heroic chaps in tweed jackets – yes we’re talking about the Tour de France Automobile race series that took place in the early 1950s and ‘60s.
First organised in
1899
, the race series has picked up massive momentum with the likes of
Ferrari
 throwing their almost-priceless 250GTO into the mix with
Jaguars
,
 Mercedes-Benz
 and even
BMW
 (they weren’t the most athletic brand back then). In the later years, marques such as
Lancia
,
Porsche
,
Ford
 and
Renault
 all took their shots at the podium and gave them a run for their money. It was as pure as racing could get – just man and his machine. Sadly the series was
disbanded
 in
1986
 for a number of reasons. Ferrari has since opted to honour the memory of those fearless lads zooming around in black and white with a limited edition version of the Ferrari F12Berlinetta, dubbed the
F12tdf
.
A quick glance at the current road-going F12 would give most chills straight down the centre of their spines. Some say it was almost
impossible
 to make it look any more aggresive and untamed, but the blokes in
Fiorano
 have indeed proved everyone wrong, yet again. Enter the Ferrari F12tdf – the example shown here is licked in a brilliant shade of the company’s signature
yellow
 paint scheme. The car is even more angular than before and as aggressive as a scorned bull waiting to charge straight at you. It is decked out in
slashes
 on the rear quarter panels and a
redesigned front bumper
 that is there for one purpose only –
aerodynamics
.
In addition to the fierce styling, the F12tdf is now even more powerful than before. The engineers have managed to squeeze out another
40 horses
 from the
6.2-litre
 wailing banshee of a
V12
. At a screaming
8,500 rpm
, it’ll be pushing out
770
 rampaging Italian horses and an immense
705 Nm
 of torque at
6,750 rpm
 with
80 percent
of it available at
2,500 rpm
, resulting in unparalleled, progressive pick-up all the way to the red-line at
8,900 rpm
.
In order to achieve this, the engineers had to think outside the box considering the fact that the existing engine was already on the brink of what is possible with the technology at hand. Numerous modifications have been developed for this engine, starting with the use of race-inspired
mechanical tappets
 and
variable-geometry intake trumpets
 used on Formula 1 cars which help boost
volumetric efficiency
 at high revs. In addition to that the F12tdf is equipped with a specific version of the
F1 DCT
 with
 6 percent
 shorter gear ratios that delivers
 30 percent faster
 upshifts and
40 percent
 faster downshifts. Insane!
Every single part of the Ferrari F12tdf is geared toward to the sole purpose of speed. Aerodynamics is one way of making all those technical achievements work towards that ambition. It has an aerodynamic efficiency figure of
 1.6
 which is almost double that of the road-going F12berlinetta. Downforce is
230 kg
 at 200 km/h, which is an impressive
107 kg
 more. Those digits means that the F12tdf would stick to the road like it was anchored on.
The rear spoiler is now
60mm
 longer and
30mm
 higher, while the rake of the rear screen has been made more vertical to extend the surface area over which the spoiler can generate downforce and to capitalise on its advantages even more effectively. The concave curvature of the rear luggage hatch either side of the rear screen further enhances the solution. The rear
diffuser
 has been reworked and now sports a system of
three active flaps
 that works in tandem with the
three
 pairs of GT-racing-derived
strakes
 on the underbody.
Just 799 prime examples will be built, but prices have not yet been announced. That said, it is widely rumoured that it’ll command a premium of at least £30,000 (
RM195k
) more than the F12– meaning a price tag in the region of £275,000 (
RM1.78 million
) seems likely. As ever, a few choice options could send this spiralling, well past the £300,000 (
RM1.94 million
) mark. Mind you, those prices are void of
duty
 and
excises
.
IMAGE GALLERY


Topless all-electric Polestar 6 to debut in 2026 – 884 hp, 900 Nm

Polestar
 has announced that it plans to launch an electric roadster, named the
Polestar 6
, in 2026. Starting from August 16, 2022, interested customers may already reserve a build slot online for the hard-top convertible EV.
A preview of the hardtop convertible can somewhat be seen through the Polestar O₂ Concept that was unveiled in March 2022. The O₂ concept was built on another concept car called the
Polestar Precept,
 which basically previewed the
Polestar 5
. The decision to bring the hardtop convertible to production follows the overwhelming response toward the O₂ Concept.
Polestar O₂ Concept
Polestar CEO, Thomas Ingenlath said, “With the overwhelming consumer and press response, we took the decision to put this stunning roadster into production and I am so excited to make it a reality. Polestar 6 is a perfect combination of powerful electric performance and the thrill of fresh air with the top down.”
Polestar has revealed that the Polestar 6 will feature the high-performance 800V battery that has also been confirmed for the Polestar 5. As for the powertrain, the Polestar 6 will get a dual-motor setup that churns out
884 hp
 and
900 Nm
. Polestar targets a
3.2-second
 0-100 km/h time for its upcoming convertible.
RELATED:
Upcoming Polestar 3 wants to “bring the ‘sport’ back to the SUV”
Upon its launch, 500 numbered units of a special ‘LA Concept’ version are planned to be produced. They will exclusively feature the unique ‘Sky’ blue exterior, light leather interior, and unique 21-inch wheels of the original Polestar O₂ concept.
The upcoming electric roadster will headline the brand’s attendance at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, as well as ‘The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering’ events during Monterey Car Week in California, happening on the 18-21 August 2022.
RELATED:
Electric Volvo XC90 patent images leaked – borrows styling from Polestar 2


Puspakom’s mobile inspection units now available every day

As the Covid-19 vaccination rate has reached 57% of the total adult population (79% with least one dose) in Malaysia, more and more businesses in the service sector are slowly increasing their output.
For the transportation sector, Puspakom, the sole vehicle inspection body in Malaysia, is making its mobile inspection units available every day, seven days a week, to ease those in need of the service.
The mobile inspection unit consists of three different services; Mobile Truck for heavy commercial vehicles, Light Mobile for light commercial vehicles, and Mobile Van for private vehicles.
There has been an important update to the list of allowed activities and services for states under Phase 1 NRP. Click here for more info!
The mobile van is intended to serve private vehicle owners or businesses who want the inspection on their vehicles performed at their convenience at a place and time of their choice. However, only two inspections can be done, which are the Transfer of Ownership (Tukar Hakmilik) B5 and Special Inspection B2.
Note the mobile van doesn’t offer these inspections
As for the fee, two separate charges are imposed; the usual RM30 inspection fee and an RM100 service fee, per-vehicle basis.
There are still five weeks left in the validity extension of expired inspection reports and road tax by the JPJ, which ends on September 30th. Those who wish to renew their road tax and driving licenses can make an appointment at their nearest Pos Laju at
this link
.
In conjunction with the celebration of the month of Merdeka, JPJ is offering discounts of up to 70% on summons. More information here.
JPJ also encourages vehicle owners to use their mySikap JPJ portal as well as MyEG to renew their road tax and driving licences.
If you are keen to have the Puspakom mobile inspection team at your premises, head to their
website
 to book an appointment and the payment.


Audi RS Q8 launched in Malaysia from RM 1.7m – in case the Urus is too flashy for you

PHS Automotive
, the official distributor of
Audi

in Malaysia has just launched the Audi RS Q8 for the Malaysian market. Fetching a price of
RM 1,699,990
, the RS Q8 is the more reserved cousin of the
Lamborghini Urus
.
Powered by a 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the Audi RS Q8 produces a maximum power output of
600 hp
 and a maximum torque of
800 Nm
. Previously the fastest SUV around the Nürburgring Nordschleife (now beaten by the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT), the RS Q8 accelerates from 0-100 km/h in just
3.8 seconds
. The top speed is 305 km/h.
Naturally for an Audi, the RS Q8 is equipped with the brand’s Quattro permanent all-wheel drive (AWD) system with a quattro sport differential and wheel-selective torque control. The active torque vectoring improves traction, stability, and dynamics.
Adjusting the RS Q8’s ride to suit the road, track, or offroad trails is the RS-specific adaptive air suspension sport with controlled damping. The RS-specific damper tuning allows for a broad spread between a ride geared towards comfort and an extremely sporty one. Minimising the body roll is the electromechanical active roll stabilisation (EAWS) system.
RELATED:
Lamborghini Urus Performante makes Southeast Asian debut in Malaysia
With Audi Drive Select, the driver can select between eight driving profiles – “Comfort”, “Auto”, “Dynamic”, “Efficiency”, “All Road”, “Off Road”, “RS1”, and “RS2”. Both “RS1” and “RS2” are RS-specific modes which are individually configurable. Standard on the RS Q8 is the RS brake system with internally vented composite discs in front and ceramic discs at the rear.
Appearance wise, the Audi RS Q8 is a toned-down version of the Lamborghini Urus. At its front is a carbon and honeycomb grille protecting an RS-specific radiator. Over the normal Q8, the RS Q8 adds on RS-specific trim strips in the body colour widen the body by 10 mm up front and 5 mm in the rear, providing space for the more generous track. Also featured are a roof edge spoiler and black Audi emblems.
Lighting the way is the RS Matrix LED headlights that showcase an expressive RS-specific animation when the car is locked or unlocked. Flanking the headlights and taillights are dynamic turn signals.
RELATED:
PHS Automotive named new distributor for Audi in Malaysia, sister company to VPCM
Inside, the RS Q8 features a Perforated Valcona leather package with honeycomb stitching and a three-spoke flat-bottom sport contour leather steering wheel with shift paddles. Both front seats get a 12-way powered adjustment lumbar support and memory function.
Safety-wise, Audi RS Q8 gets adaptive cruise assist, efficiency assist, intersection assist, lane change warning, and 360-degree cameras. Included in the Audi RS Q8’s
RM 1,699,990
 price tag is a five-year/unlimited mileage warranty. Also included in the price is a three-year free maintenance package and a five-year roadside assistance package.
RELATED:
Audi Centre Setia Alam reopens, now under Goh Brothers Motor
GALLERY


What’s the Buzz: Bad behaviour taken to the next level

A
local daily reported
 a few days ago that 281,527 road accidents were recorded over the first six months of this year – an increase of 2.5% compared to the same period last year. That works out to an average of 1,543 accidents per day, not including cases that go unreported.
What have Malaysians become on the road?
When you think it can’t get any worse, a Facebook user uploaded terrifying images and a video over the weekend – two young teens perched on the trunk and rear windscreen of a moving Toyota Vios. If this was a movie set, the director and crew would’ve been arrested for child endangerment.
(Photos and video credit to Facebook user Chitran)
Chilling as it may be, the incident is a sad reflection of
the brazen attitude seen on our roads every day. To all the so-called netizens
who have been quick to condemn the action, we hope your own behaviour is
impeccable when you get behind the wheel, because bad behaviour – rampant queue
cutting, speeding, use of mobile phone while driving, illegal parking – fuels
even more bad behaviour.
It was no coincidence that the video ended with a pick-up truck, the Vios and the teens and a motorcyclist ignoring a set of traffic lights that had already turned red.


Upcoming Volkswagen ID.2 EV could be renamed as Golf, to spawn electric GTI

Volkswagen
 is dead set on pivoting to a fully electric car company within the next 12 years, but it seems that the iconic Golf name will still stick around despite the change – at least according to a new report by
Autocar
.
Following up with Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer’s
comments in November last year
, an insider within the company told the publication that the upcoming compact ID.2 urban electric car could be renamed with the Golf nameplate, and could make its debut in concept form as soon as next month.
The small EV is due in showrooms in 2025, at a targeted base price of EUR22,500 (approx. RM105k) in today’s money, the report reads.
Not much information is available for the ID.2-based electric Golf just yet, but the source revealed that it will be the first Volkswagen model to be built on the MEB-Plus platform – an updated version of its MEB architecture widely used on many of VW Group’s current EV models that will feature new LFP (lithium iron phospate) prismatic batteries, and charging speeds of up to 200 kW.
The new compact five-seater hatchback will also feature a more conventional design, as opposed to what we’ve seen on the
 ID. Life concept
. It was reported that the VW CEO hated the ID. Life’s design so much, he sacked their chief designer. The ID.2-based car will be a “comprehensive reset” – not only to the model itself, but also for Volkswagen’s overall electric car strategy under Schäfer.
ALSO READ:
Volkswagen ID.7 debuts in camouflage, EV luxury sedan with 700km range
While initial suggestions were that the Golf name maybe reserved for an updated version of the
ID.3
, the Volkswagen insider denied this rumour, saying “the true value of the Volkswagen Golf lies in a car the size of the ID.2”.
The still-unnamed compact hatchback is expected to come in between the size of the existing
 Volkswagen Polo
 and
Golf
, with a length of “around 4,250 mm”. But despite its smaller overall size, the electric architecture allows for a bigger interior space, akin to those “typically one segment higher”.
The upcoming electric Volkswagen Golf and Golf GTI could take on styling cues from the
Cupra UrbanRebel concept
.
It’ll be offered at launch with a single motor, front-wheel drive set-up, although the platform will also support an all-wheel drive set-up with two motors, which could be used for the upcoming GTI variant that will also be returning on the new ID.2-based electric Golf.
“The GTX is dead,” said a senior source within the company. “A decision has already been made to replace it with the traditional GTI name and it is being considered for the ID.2”. We don’t have an indication on its powertrain yet, but according to insider sources, the model will still be “relatively lightweight by electric car standards, somewhere between 1,600 kg and 1,700 kg.”
RELATED:
Goodbye DSG, Volkswagen R to go fully electric by 2030


Thailand sales of Toyota Camry and Honda Accord dominated by hybrids

According to recent sales data from Thailand, the majority of
Toyota Camry
 and
Honda Accord
 cars sold were of the hybrid variants. Only the two models compete in Thailand’s D-segment saloon market since the
Nissan Teana
 was discontinued.
Headlightmag
 reports that from January to July 2022, a total of
5,541
 D-segment saloon cars were sold in Thailand. Toyota sold
3,562 units
 of the Toyota Camry (64% market share) while Honda sold
1,979 units
 of the Honda Accord (36% market share).
Of the 3,562 units of the Toyota Camry sold,
52.94%
 (
1,886 units
) were of the hybrid variant. In Thailand, the petrol version of the Camry is powered by a 2.5-litre engine. The hybrid version is also powered by a 2.5-litre engine, albeit with electric assistance.
As for the 1,979 units of the Honda Accord,
53.71%
 (
1,063 units
) were of the hybrid variant. The Thai-spec petrol-powered Honda Accord uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine. The hybrid version, on the other hand, uses a 2.0-litre engine with a hybrid system.
Unlike in Thailand, neither the Toyota Camry nor the Honda Accord is offered in hybrid variants in Malaysia. Back in July 2021, UMW Toyota committed to producing hybrid models in Malaysia and invested RM 270 million in local operations and facilities. Earlier this year, Toyota even launched the locally assembled (CKD)
Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid
. Prior to the hybrid, the Corolla Cross was already locally assembled.
However, given that the Camry is fully imported (CBU) from Thailand, a hybrid Camry (most likely also CBU) in Malaysia will not enjoy the same tax rates as the hybrid Corolla Cross. Given its current price of RM 209,800, a hybrid version would cost even more.
Honda also has CKD hybrid cars like the
Honda City RS e:HEV
. The petrol-powered Honda Accord is also locally assembled, but Honda does not offer it in the hybrid version. Currently, Honda Malaysia’s hybrid line-up comprises the City RS e:HEV (sedan and hatchback) and HR-V RS e:HEV.
RELATED:
Hybrid-powered 2022 Honda Civic e:HEV makes global debut in Thailand and Europe


Singapore to phase out ICE by 2040, EV incentives to begin in 2021

From being described by Tesla’s Elon Musk as
‘not supportive’ of electric vehicles
, Singapore has now declared its intentions
phase out vehicles powered by internal combustion engines by 2040
 in favour of low- and zero-emission vehicles.
From ‘not supportive’ to highly conducive; there should more Teslas in Singapore from next year onwards.
To encourage mass adoption EVs and hybrids, the Singapore government will offer
tax rebates of up to S$20,000 per vehicle
 under the
EV Early Adoption Incentive
 programme beginning 1
st
 January 2021 (and ending 1
st
 January 2023). The scheme
significantly lowers
 the high upfront cost of owning an EV, and it covers
taxis
as well.
Can Porsche produce Taycans quickly enough for Singapore?
Additionally,
road tax
for EVs and certain hybrid models will be reduced, although a flat annual fee will be imposed to compensate for the expected loss of fuel excise duty collection by the government, since electric cars won’t require fuelling.
The EV initiatives were announced by Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat during his budget speech on 18
th
 February, as part of the government’s goal to achieve a
low-carbon, low-emission economy
.
Charging points to increase from 1,600 to 28,000 across the island.
Of course, any effort to promote the adoption of EVs and plug-in hybrids wouldn’t be effective without a
comprehensive charging network
. To this end, the Singapore government will work with the private sector to expand the number of public charging points from
1,600
 presently to
28,000 across the island
.


Toyota C-HR specs and price confirmed, Thailand CBU, 1.8L CVT for RM145,500

UMW Toyota (UMWT) has released the official specification and pricing details of the long-awaited Toyota C-HR. As
promised earlier
, our local-spec C-HR is offered in a sole 1.8-litre naturally aspirated variant priced at RM145,500, on-the-road without insurance.
While the price point is RM30k cheaper than
parallel imported units
 (RM176k – RM185k), the C-HR still costs a hefty premium over its main rivals such as the
Honda HR-V
 (RM117k),
Mazda CX-3
 (RM138k) and
Subaru XV
 (RM137k).
QUICK FACTS
Name
Toyota C-HR 1.8L
Engine
1,798cc; naturally aspirated 4-cylinder DVVT-i
Transmission
Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT)
Max Power
138 hp @ 6,400 rpm
Max Torque
171 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
Price (OTR without Insurance)
RM145,500
Underpinning the C-HR is the brand’s
Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA)
 that promises superior driving pleasure, comfort and safety. Dimension wise, the CH-R measures 4,360 mm in length, 1,795 mm in width, 1,565 mm in height and 2,640 mm in wheelbase.
QUICK COMPARISON
Name
Toyota CH-R
Honda HR-V
Mazda CX-3
Length
4,360 mm
4,294 mm
4,275 mm
Width
1,795 mm
1,772 mm
1,765 mm
Height
1,565 mm
1,605 mm
1,535 mm
Wheelbase
2,640 mm
2,610 mm
2,570 mm
Max Kerb Weight
1,497 kg
1,249 kg
1,211 kg
Luggage Capacity (VDA)
377 litres
437 litres
350 litres
Visually, Malaysian bound C-HR will come equipped with automatic halogen projector headlamps with LED daytime running lights, front and rear fog lamps, LED combination taillamps, puddle lamps, shark fin antenna and 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in 215/60 profile tyres. A total of five colours are available White Pearl CS, Metal Stream Metallic, Attitude Black Mica while Blue Metallic and Red Mica are the only options that come with black roof and mirrors.
Inside, you’ll find leather upholstery, three-spoke multifunctional steering wheel, keyless entry and start, 7-inch DVD-AVX touchscreen infotainment system, reverse camera, six speakers, dual-zone automatic climate control, electrochromic rear-view mirror and electronic parking brake. Despite the lengthy list of creature comfort items, you’ll still get manual levelling seats.

Under the hood, you’ll get a 1.8-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder paired to a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) that deploys
138 hp
 and
171 Nm
 of torque to drive the front wheels. No turbocharging or hybrid options here.
As for safety, the C-HR comes with a comprehensive suite of seven airbags, Traction Control, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, Hill-Start Assist Control, Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, front and rear parking sensors and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.
Unfortunately, UMWT
does not
 offer the Toyota Safety Sense P that comes with Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and Automatic High Beams. You’d have to turn to
MyMotor.my
 for that.
Like all models distributed by UMWT, the fully-imported (from Thailand) Toyota C-HR a comes with a 5-Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty package. With the price list available on their official website, it would mean the official launch will happen very, very soon.
IMAGE GALLERY
Toyota C-HR in Malaysia


Chevrolet Camaro facelift gets 2.0L turbo, 6-speed manual only

Chevrolet has just given its Transformer star, the Chevrolet Camaro a minor facelift in the form of new aesthetics, more tech as well as a new 2.0-litre four-cylinder mill to power their entry-level model.
The refreshed Camaro now features a new front-end with revised fascia, grille, LED headlamps and a reshaped hood. Round the back, the LED taillamps now feature a sculptured design to complement the revised bumper. Alloy wheels measures 20-inch in diameter for all variants of the Camaro.

Jumping straight to the oily bits, the new Camaro Turbo is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that pushes out
275 hp
 and
400 Nm
 of torque paired exclusively to a six-speed manual transmission. The turbocharged Camaro has its chassis beefed up with FE3 suspension, larger front and rear stabilizer bars, specifically tuned dampers, stiffer rear cradle bushings and cross-axis ball joints in the rear tow links to enhance lateral stiffness.
The new four-cylinder set up also boasts near 50/50 weight distribution for superior handling prowess. Chevrolet wants to ensure that drivers will have all the thrills and performance despite the engine capacity, hence Launch Control, Shift Lights and performance instrument readouts are fitted as standard on the Camaro Turbo.
Other engine choices include the 3.6-litre naturally aspirated V6 and a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 with
455 hp
 and
617 Nm
 of torque. The supercharged V8 is also paired with a new 10-speed automatic that promises quicker shift times and better fuel economy.
Other updates include Chevrolet’s Infotainment 3 touchscreen, Rear Camera Mirror that uses a camera to display the rear view, Forward Collision Alert and enhanced Performance Data Recorder system.
IMAGE GALLERY


CKD Kia Carnival to be priced from RM235k-RM260k, 7- and 8-seater variants

The locally-assembled (CKD) Kia Carnival could soon be launched here in Malaysia, five months after the car was
first launched here in Malaysia
 as a fully-imported model, if a
Facebook post
 by a Kia dealership in Seri Kembangan is anything to go by.
According to a post published on AZ Master Motor’s Facebook page, the CKD Kia Carnival is now open for booking, with three variants on offer, estimated to be priced between
RM235,000
 and
RM260,000
.
The estimated pricing is a stark increase over its CBU counterpart, which slides in right under the RM200k barrier at RM196,341. We don’t usually see a price increase moving from CBU to CKD, but the reason behind the price hike is due to a unique tax loophole in our country.
Due to the 11-seater layout, the current fully-imported Kia Carnival was able to be classified as a commercial vehicle, thus taking advantage of lower tax rates. Citing customer feedback, the locally-assembled Kia Carnival will instead switch to a seven- or eight-seater layout, which should afford more legroom for passengers at the back, but at the expense of a higher price as it’s now classified as a passenger vehicle.
At least, the new car should come with some upgrades to its equipment list to help compensate for the higher price. Official specifications haven’t been announced yet, but the dealer’s post confirmed that the CKD model will come with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, as opposed to the analogue unit on the current car.
We could also see the addition of advanced driver assistance features such as autonomous emergency braking and adaptive cruise control, which are sorely missing from the current fully-imported Kia Carnival.
As for performance, we expect the locally-assembled Kia Carnival to continue with the same 2.2-litre turbodiesel mill as before, which sends
202 hp
 and
440 Nm
 of torque to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Interested to know how the Kia Carnival drive? Check out our first impressions here!
GALLERY


The more powerful Porsche Macan S with 480 Nm is now yours from RM625k

If you felt the
2.0-litre four banger Macan introduced by Porsche Malaysia in June
, with a mere
252 hp
 and
370 Nm
 does not match up to the badge it carries, there’s now a
Macan S
 with a bit more punch starting from RM625,000.
That extra punch comes from a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 with
354 hp
and
480 Nm
 of torque – an
increase of 14 hp and 20 Nm
 from the old model.
The Macan S rivals the
Golf R
 from 0 to 100 km/h, with a time of 5.1 seconds – 0.1 second faster than before – but with more allowance for five passengers and undoubtedly higher levels of comfort. The base model Macan does the same in 6.7 seconds.
Power is sent to all four wheels (mix sized) via a 7-speed PDK transmission, safeguarded by the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) System.
The exterior remains largely a familiar one – sharing similarities with the base model Macan with 18-inch wheels, LED headlamps and a very catchy rear LED light bar with 3D “Porsche” lettering.
With power comes responsibility and the Macan S is not just a charging bull without leash. Emphasis has been placed on its braking performance and pedal feel for the driver to feel a very precise pressure point.
Like the Macan, the Macan S also gets larger front brakes, with a 10mm increase in diameter to 360 mm and 2 mm thicker discs.
On board the Macan S, you’d find features like the 14-way power adjustable seats, a Bose Surround Sound System, a 10.9-inch touchscreen display (up from 7.2-inch) supported by the Porsche Communication Management System, just like in the Cayenne and Panamera. A GT sports steering wheel, like in the 911, can also be specified as an optional extra.
IMAGE GALLERY


Several localities in KL, Selangor to be placed under EMCO from July 3-16

Due to the continuous high number of
Covid-19
 cases in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, Senior Minister of Security, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has announced that an
Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO)
 will be imposed in several localities in the region. The EMCO will be enforced from July 3 until July 16.
“Selangor recorded an average of 1,800 to 1,900 cases daily, while Kuala Lumpur have between 600 and 1,000 cases daily. All districts in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur recorded Covid-19 case incidents of more than 12.1 per 100,000 residents,” he said in a statement released by the National Security Council (MKN) today.
“R-naught (R0) in both states are still around the 1.0 mark, and is not showing any downward trend. This is a worrying situation given that we take into account the density of residents and spread of three new variants, which is much more dangerous.”
With the implementation of the EMCO, all roads in the areas affected will be closed and guarded by the police. All residents in EMCO areas are not allowed to leave their homes, except for one member per family to acquire essential items within a 10km radius. A curfew will also be imposed at 8pm, except for emergency situations or with the police’s approval.
GoCar is offering free shuttle service and vehicle usage for vaccination appointments
All public transport will be operating at 50% capacity, while taxi and ride-hailing services will be limited to two persons onboard, including the driver. Travelling to vaccination centres will be allowed with valid proof of the vaccination appointment in the MySejahtera app or SMS.
Grab offers discounted rides for senior citizens for vaccination appointments
During the EMCO period, only essential services will be allowed to operate from 8am to 8pm. On top of that, only factories that are involved in production of food and daily essentials such as medicine and face masks will be allowed to operate during this period.
Only key workers in the essential services sector with a valid letter of approval from MITI will be allowed to travel to work. All other sectors must work from home.
Restaurants, food trucks, and hawkers will be allowed to operate for takeaway, drive-through, and delivery from 8am to 8pm. Supermarkets, pharmacies, and convenience stores selling essential items will also be allowed to operate from 8am to 8pm.
Meanwhile, petrol stations will be allowed to operate from 6am to 8pm daily, with the exception for those along highways, which will be allowed to operate 24/7.
All social, sports, recreational, and cultural activities will be strictly banned during the EMCO period.
The full SOP document can be found on the National Security Council’s website, linked
here
.
The full list of regions placed under EMCO from July 3 until July 16 are as follows:
Kuala Lumpur
-PPR Batu Muda, Batu
-PPR Sri Semarak
-Flat Seksyen 2, Wangsa Maju
-Flat Seksyen 1, Wangsa Maju
-Kg Padang Balang
-Taman Koperasi Polis (Phase 1 and 2)
-Flat Sri Sabah
-Kampung Puah
-PPR Kg Baru Air Panas, Setiawangsa
-Flat Desa Pandan (termasuk Baiduri & Delima), Titiwangsa
-Kg. Batu Muda, Batu
-PPR Kerinchi, Lembah Pantai
-Tmn Ikan Emas
-Bandar Baru Sentul
Selangor
Gombak
Batu
Rawang
Setapak
Hulu Kelang
Kuang
Petaling
Petaling
Damansara
Sg Buloh
Bukit Raja
Hulu Langat
Ampang
Cheras
Kajang
Semenyih
Beranang
Hulu Langat
Sepang
Dengkil
Labu
Sepang
Kuala Langat
Tanjung 12 (1)
Tanjung 12 (2)
Teluk Panglima Garang
Morib
Bandar
Jugra
Batu
Klang
Kapar
Klang
Kuala Selangor
Ijok
Bestari Jaya
Jeram
Tanjung Karang
Hulu Selangor
Serendah
Rasa
Ulu Yam


BMW 530e now updated with 12 kWh battery pack, up to 64 km EV range

With the latest
progress in battery cell technology, BMW has announced that their BMW 530e
iPerformance plug-in hybrid will feature a new lithium-ion battery pack with increased
gross energy content.
Although its dimensions are unchanged, the 530e iPerformance now gains a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, up from 9.2 kWh from before. This increased the all-electric range by more than 30% to
64 km
. Fuel consumption is now quoted at
1.7 litres per 100 km
. Later in the year, there will also be a new
 xDrive all-wheel-drive
 variant of the 530e sedan with an all-electric range of up to 57 km.
BMW did not reveal whether output and key performance figures were altered with the new battery pack but the 530e iPerformance with its 9.2 kWh battery, packs a combined output of
248 hp
 and
420 Nm
 of torque to drive the rear wheels. Century sprint is done in
6.2 seconds
 while top speed is limited to
235 km/h
.
The 9.2 kWh battery pack
takes 5 hours to be fully charged when plugged into a standard domestic power
socket or under 3 hours when it gets juiced from a BMW i Wallbox. Expect the new
12 kWh battery pack to take a slightly longer, if not the same time to be fully
charged.


It’s hard not to stop and stare at the new Mercedes-AMG GT R

The new Mercedes-AMG GT R, alongside the
 AMG GT C
, has roared its way to Malaysia, priced at RM1.7 million on-the-road before insurance.
Vital Stats
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: 7-speed AMG Speedshift DCT
Horsepower: 585 hp @ 6,250 rpm
Torque: 700Nm @ 2,100 – 5,500 rpm
0 to 100 km/h: 3.6 seconds
Top Speed: 318 km/h
Having spent most of its development time on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, known as the world’s toughest race track or the
Green Hell
, the AMG GT R is nicknamed “Beast of the Green Hell” with a lap time of just 7:10.9 minutes.
The raw appearance of the GT R goes beyond aesthetic appeal – two aerodynamically-shaped horizontal fins help ensure maximum air flow to the radiator for the best cooling performance. Cooling performance is also enhanced with special cooling air slits by the wheel arch liners, and an AIRPANEL active air management system,
At a speed of 80 km/h in RACE mode, the carbon component that weighs only about two kilograms that is sealed almost invisibly in the underbody in front of the engine moves downward by about 40 millimetres and changes the airflow.
The GT R also comes with a carbon fibre roof, 20-inch wheels and 6-pot caliper brakes with carbon ceramic discs.
The carbon-fibre roof, yellow-painted brake callipers and prominent fixed wing accentuates the racing DNA of the AMG GT R. The side view additionally benefits from the AMG 5-twin-spoke forged wheels and the AMG cross-spoke forged wheels for the AMG GT R and GT C, respectively.
On to the mechanical bits, the GT R’s wishbones steering knuckles and hub carriers on the front and rear axle are manufactured entirely out of forged aluminium to reduce unsprung mass.
It also adopts uniball spherical bearings on the lower wishbones at the rear axle in place of conventional wishbone bushings for reduced play, contributing to better driving precision.
Inside, the GT R is as dramatic as its exterior with the AMG Track Package. This includes a steel roll cage, AMG full bucket seats and a fire extinguisher.
Also available in the Mercedes-AMG GT R is AMG TRACK PACE – a system that transform COMAND and a smartphone into a personal race engineer.
The AMG DYNAMIC SELECT allows an adjustment of the vehicle’s characteristics in the AMG GT by turning a switch. It works even faster than a racing team according to Mercedes-Benz – adjusting parameters for the engine, transmission, suspension and steering. Depending on the selected drive program, the vehicle either becomes more comfortable or ready for the racetrack.
IMAGE GALLERY


Volvo targets 50% EV sales and 50% subscription sales by 2025

Volvo Cars have big plans for autonomous driving and electrification. Recently partnered with tech giants to
research on Level 4 automated driving
 as well as making a pledge to
launch every new Volvo model with some form of electrification
 from 2019 onwards.
Now, the Swedish premium carmaker announced new financial and operational ambitions by 2025 – generating half of all annual sales from fully electric cars and have one-third of all cars sold to be autonomous driving cars.
Five pure electric vehicles are planned for launch between 2019 and 2021 and the automaker targets to sell a total of one million electrified cars by the end of 2025. Not too long ago the company announced that they will
not be developing new-generation diesel engines
 and will focus on electrified petrol engines, further highlighting their commitment towards electrification.
Autonomous driving cars, on the other hand, does not mean fully automated cars but vehicles that feature high levels of self-driving capabilities (Level 4 autonomy) which the drivers can take over the wheel at any given time.
President and Chief Executive of Volvo Cars, Hakan Samuelsson said, “Our customers’ expectations are changing rapidly. This means that Volvo Cars is also changing rapidly. These initiatives will help transform Volvo from being purely a car company to being a direct consumer services provider,”
Volvo Cars also targets to have 50 per cent of its cars offered to customers are from its subscription service. Polestar, its high-performance EV subsidiary, is already offering their first ever car, the
Polestar 1 with a subscription plan
.


Toyota bZ4X SUV detailed, 218 hp and up to 500 km range

Toyota’s first foray into the mass-production electric vehicle has been further detailed, with the
bZ4X
 SUV fitted with either a single or dual-motor setup.
Measuring 4.69 m long, 1.86 m wide and with a wheelbase of 2.85 m, the Toyota bZ4X SUV has nearly the similar dimensions as the
Kia EV6
 and
BMW iX3
 whilst slotting in between the Toyota RAV4 and
Toyota Harrier
. The American pair of Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model Y are wider than the new Toyota.
Being Toyota’s first EV, the bZ4X will utilise a dedicated platform prioritising a low centre of gravity to house the thinly designed 71.4 kWh lithium-ion battery as well as a dual-motor set-up. Two major drivelines are in the works, with a front-mounted electric drive unit offering up to
204 hp
 and 500 km of range.
The dual-motor AWD set-up meanwhile has a total combined system output of
218 hp
 with both axles distributing equal power. The range is estimated to be in the region of 460 km. Straight-line acceleration figures meanwhile are typical of Toyota’s conservative figures with the single motor requiring
8.4 seconds
 to perform the 0 to 100 km/h acceleration, while the AWD shaving 0.7 seconds.
Subaru
, Toyota’s partner in this electric SUV project, will oversee the development of the
X-Mode
 All-Wheel Drive system with a new Grip Control function for some light-duty off-road driving that is better than many EV SUVs.
Toyota also wants drivers to enjoy the sensation of driving in the new bZ4X and as such, the steering control sees a major evolution to how we steer and even how the steering “wheel” is designed. China will be the first market to adopt the new “one-motion grip” steering system, featuring an oblong-shaped steering wheel.
Fully electrical without any mechanical connection, the steer-by-wire system allows an unheard-of lock-to-lock rotation of just 150 degrees (not even half a circle), eliminating the need to change grips when steering, greatly reducing the burden on the driver for U-turn, parking and on winding roads.
Without a mechanical shaft and rack, the vibration from the road is not transmitted to the driver, providing a more relaxing drive over a long distance. Semi-autonomous driving will also be more precise thanks to the redesigned steering system.
Availability of the Toyota bZ4X will be limited to markets with great demand for battery EV (BEV) and plentiful supply of electricity from renewable energy such as wind, solar, and ocean. To further add the Toyota bZ4X’s driving range, the roof panel can be ordered with a solar panel which Toyota claims to increase the driving range by up to 1,800 km a year.
Customers in major markets such as the US, Europe, Japan and China can expect the Toyota bZ4X to be available in showrooms from the middle of 2022. Subaru’s Solterra will have a digital debut on the morning of November 11th from Japan.
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Lotus Elise Sprint Edition shaves a massive 40 kg, gets sexy gated gearbox!

There’s a saying at Hethel, “Less weight equal more Lotus” and the brilliant engineers has done just that to the legendary Lotus Elise. Updated for the year 2017, the Lotus Elise went through a diet and gets a more hardcore Sprint Edition for the Sport and Sport 220 variants.
The Elise range benefits from a
10 kg weight reduction
 thanks to a redesigned lightweight front clam panel (front bumper) that shaves off 8.7 kg and redesigned rear lights that weigh 300 grams less. Every gram counts, eh? Inside, a new exposed open-gate manual gearbox that was first used in the
Exige Sport 350
 helps bring the weight down by another 1 kg.
For even more weight saving, customers can opt for carbon side sill covers that further trims weight down by 800 grams while increasing door aperture by up to 10 mm. Who says it’s all about light weight? Other optional components include Alcantara finished steering wheel, vent-surrounds and sills. A new Electric Light Blue has also been added to the Lotus core colour palatte.
No changes were made to the mechanics of the Elise, as such the car remains powered by a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated flat-four engine that produces
134 hp
 and
160 Nm
 while the Elise Sport 220 gets a more powerful 1.8-litre supercharged four-cylinder with
217 hp
 and
250 Nm
 of torque. The Elise Sport 220 also gets a new exhaust system that Lotus claims will make the 1.8-litre supercharged Elise the best-sounding four-cylinder car on the market. Can it be better than the
AMG A 45
, though?
As for the Sprint Edition, this special variant gets a massive 30.8 kg weight reduction, thanks to a new lightweight lithium-ion battery (-6 kg), carbon race seats (-6 kg), lightweight forged alloy wheels (-5 kg), carbon access panel, roll hoop cover, engine cover and polycarbonate rear screen (collectively -6 kg). Opt for the optional two-piece disc brakes and carbon sill covers and that will save you an additional 4.8 kg that brings the Elise Sprint to a dry weight of just
 798 kg
. Thanks to the additional weight savings, the Sprint Edition boast a faster 0 to 96 km/h time of
5.9 seconds
 and
4.1 seconds
 for the Sprint and Sprint 220, respectively.
Regular Elise Sport and Elise Sport 220 buyers can specify all the lightweight components found in the Sprint Edition but only the Sprint range gets bespoke matt black transom panel, black wheels, side stripes and Sprint badging.
The updated Lotus Elise range will arrive in UK showrooms in the second quarter of the year and starts from £32,300 (RM177k) for the base Elise Sport and tops out at £44,300 (RM243k) for the Elise Sprint 220. In their never ending pursuit of lightweight, the next generation Elise may literally just be a go kart for the road.


2017 Hyundai i30 unveiled, to pit squarely against the VW Golf [+Video]

Top selling European small family hatchbacks like the
Volkswagen Golf
 and
Ford Focus
 may have dodged the Korean bullet twice. Perhaps third is not quite the charm after Hyundai unveiled the all-new third generation Hyundai i30 ahead of the Paris Motor Show.
Just like its predecessors, the i30 is designed to cater specifically to European customers. As seen in its
teaser
 not too long ago, the i30 displays a new hexagonal front grille. Known as the “
Cascading Grille
“, it will represent a new signature identity in future Hyundai cars. The new car is slightly longer and wider than the old model, although the wheelbase remains the same at 2,650mm. Boot space gets a slight bump at 395 litres, 27 litres more than before.
Safety wise, the new i30 possess autonomous emergency braking and radar cruise control systems to complement the hatchback’s
seven airbags
setup.
Powering the i30 is an all-new
1.4 T-GDI turbocharged four-cylinder
 engine that churns
138 hp
 and
242 Nm
 of torque. Joining this new engine is a
1.0 T-GDI turbocharged three-cylinder
 engine that produces
118 hp
 and
171 Nm
, as well as a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel option. There is also a 99 hp 1.4-litre naturally aspirated unit.
Gearbox options can be specced with either the standard six-speed manual transmission or Hyundai’s
seven-speed double clutch transmission
 (DCT). The DCT is claimed to improve fuel consumption up to 20 percent compared to its predecessor’s six-speed automatic. At the same time, acceleration is quicker by 10 percent.
As far as variants go, there will be the
 N Performance i30
 which is much like the Golf GTI and the Focus ST. Hyundai says the hotter i30 will pack around 250 horsepower and has been extensively developed at the Nurburgring. Right now the i30 is available strictly as a five-door hatch, but expect to see the estate and crossover variants sometime in the near future.
IMAGE GALLERY


Prepare your tissues, BMW is ending production of the i8 hybrid sports car in April

It’s official – production of the
BMW i8 Coupe
and
Roadster
 will end in the
middle of April 2020
, six years after its introduction at the 2013 IAA Motor Show.
In its six-year lifetime, the BMW i8 has collected many accolades, including multiple car of the year awards, as well as the coveted “
Engine of the Year Award
“, winning five years in a row for the category it competed in.
According to BMW, the BMW i8 has also developed into the world’s most successful sports car with an electrified drive system, with
more than 20,000 units sold
 since 2014 – higher sales than all competitors in its segment combined.
More importantly, the BMW i8 also helped paved the foundation for BMW Group’s now broad range of plug-in hybrid models, setting the course for
 25 electrified models
 across the group by 2023 – of which half will be fully electric – rightfully earning its place in the company’s milestones.
The BMW i8 was a study of integrating dynamic driving pleasure with sustainability. Under the hood, a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine makes 231 hp and 320 Nm of torque, with power routed to the rear wheels.
The internal combustion engine is paired to an electric motor, sending an additional 143 hp to the front wheels for a total combined output of
369 hp
 and
570 Nm
 of torque.
Driving dynamics is handled by the BMW LifeDrive architecture, with its chassis made of aluminium (drive module) and carbon fibre reinforced plastic (passenger cell), the BMW i8 weighs
 less than 1,500 kg
, and boasts a perfect
50:50 weight distribution
.
As a last hurrah, BMW is currently producing the 200-unit limited Ultimate Sophisto Edition of the i8 at the Leipzig assembly plant – one of which was manufactured in December 2019 as the 20,000th unit of the plug-in hybrid model.
Take a bow, BMW i8. You will be missed.
IMAGE GALLERY


Here’s the Mazda CX-60 before you’re supposed to see it

It’s
not as though we haven’t seen it before
, but less than a day before its official launch, the
Mazda CX-60
 has been leaked once again – this time in high definition photos courtesy of several Instagram accounts, including serial leaker
wilcoblok
.
The CX-60 is part of Mazda’s latest SUV line-up expansion, underpinned by the marque’s
new rear- and all-wheel drive architecture
. Designed as a five-seater mid-size SUV for markets more receptive of smaller dimensions such as Europe and Japan, the CX-60 will be offered with Mazda’s latest six-cylinder engines.
From these leaked photos, we can see that the CX-60 does not deviate too much from Mazda’s tried and true design language, somewhat resembling the
new CX-5 facelift
. Notably, however, it does seem to adopt a bolder design particularly around the fenders, alongside the flatter nose and new unique LED headlights with a distinct daytime-running light signature.
The front bonnet also seems exceptionally long when compared to most SUVs in the market these days, as they’re designed to fit a longitudinal-oriented engine for the car’s rear- and all-wheel drive set-up.
RELATED: Mazda to introduce a wave of SUVs with new naming scheme, six cylinders, and wider bodies
Moving inside, the cabin of the CX-60 once again looks very “Mazda-like”, with all the plush material choices that we’ve come to expect from the Japanese carmaker. From the leaked image, it looks like that the CX-60 will also be the first Mazda model to feature a fully digital instrument cluster, in place of the hybrid units we’ve seen from the marque’s other models.
Other interior highlights include the massive (what looks like a 12.3-inch unit) infotainment display sitting atop the dashboard, tilted slightly towards the driver.
As for powertrains, while nothing has been confirmed just yet, rumours suggest that the range-topping variant will be a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model, packing a 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine and an electric motor for a maximum combined output in the region of 300 hp.
The global model will also feature Mazda’s
SkyActiv-X
 inline-six petrol engine and SkyActiv-D inline-six diesel in other variants at launch, both paired to a 48V mild-hybrid system.
Word on the grapevine is that we’ll also be receiving the all-new Mazda CX-60 here in Malaysia, although it’s still unclear which powertrain options will be offered here; the
Mazda3
, which saw the introduction of the brand’s new SkyActiv-X engines globally, was launched here with the older SkyActiv-G 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated mill.
Stay tuned to
AutoBuzz.my
 to follow the global launch of the Mazda CX-60 SUV tomorrow, plus the latest news on its Malaysian availability!


2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class now locally-assembled in Malaysia, from RM288k

Six months after its
 official launch here on our shores
, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has now announced that the
all-new 2022 C-Class
 is now locally-assembled as a CKD model here in the brand’s production facility in Pekan, Pahang.
Offered in the same two variants as before, the new locally-assembled 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class starts from
RM287,888
for the C 200 Avantgarde Line, and
RM327,888
 for the C 300 AMG Line, both prices on-the-road, and without insurance.

Specifications for both variants remain largely unchanged from before; the C 200 comes equipped with the Avantgarde exterior package, paired to 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, while the C 300 gets the AMG Line exterior body kit, plus a set of 19-inch AMG multi-spoke wheels.
The LED High Performance headlights with adaptive high-beam assist is standard across both variants, as are the full LED tail lights, but the C 300 stands out with a unique “Mercedes-Benz pattern grille” with the star design mesh finished in chrome, alongside an additional panoramic sunroof.
C 300 AMG Line
Moving inside, the equipment appointments are mostly shared between the two variants. Highlights in the Malaysia-spec 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class’ cabin include a free-standing 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 11.9-inch portrait-oriented central touchscreen infotainment display running the latest MBUX NTG7 operating system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, wireless charging pad, Artico man-made leather upholstery, powered front seats with four-way lumbar support, as well as an augmented-reality navigation system.
The range-topping Mercedes-Benz C 300 AMG Line variant does stands out with extra AMG Line goodies, including a sportier flat-bottom steering wheel, Sports seats, a variant-exclusive metal weave trim, and AMG floor mats.
Exclusive to the locally-assembled model, Both CKD variants now come with powered hands-free access for the boot, while the safety kit also includes the Pre-Safe occupant collision protection system.
RELATED:
 All-new Mercedes-Benz C-Class has over 200 tiny stars on its grille
As for powertrain, both variants now come with 48V mild hybrid technology on-board. The base Mercedes-Benz C 200 is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged inline-four engine with
204 hp
 and
300 Nm
, while the C 300 gets a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot mill with
258 hp
 and
400 Nm
.
Both variants are equipped with a nine-speed automatic transmission to drive the rear wheels, resulting in a 0-100 km/h sprint time of
7.3 seconds
 and
 6.0 seconds
 respectively.
GALLERY
Mercedes-Benz C 300 AMG Line
C 300
C 300 AMG Line
Mercedes-Benz C 200 Avantgarde Line
C 200
C 200 Avantgarde


No matter how you look at the BMW 7-series, that grille is just too big

Traditionally, the grille has always been the identity of a car and for BMWs, those kidney grilles are the symbol of the brand; like what the Petronas Twin Towers are to Malaysia.
When the
all-new 7-series
was first unveiled to the world in January this year, the automotive end of the Internet exploded but for the wrong reasons. Regardless of how quick and well-equipped the car was, no one could lay their focus away from that unnecessarily massive front grille.
Three months on, BMW has released this set of new pictures of the 740LE taken in Faro, Portugal and it still looks like a jarring imperfection – as if it has a swollen eye.
GC Mah was sent on the same trip – an international media test drive – where he also got a closer look at the
BMW X7
 alongside the 7-series so keep your eyes peeled for that video. He actually thought the grille looked good on the car although we suspect that jet-lag may have impaired his judgment.
GC Mah
with the BMW X7 and 7-series in Faro, Portugal.
At least, you don’t get to see the struts beneath the grille, like in the
BMW X3 xDrive 30i we reviewed recently
.
There will be no questioning its performance though. Among the top ranking 7-series’, the V12 M760Li xDrive makes over
580 hp
 while a twin-turbocharged V8 unit pumps out
500 hp
.
The M760Li xDrive will do 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds; that’s
as fast as the G30 BMW M5 we tested in Sepang
!
IMAGE GALLERY


2016 Porsche 718 Boxster unveiled, loses flat-six for a flat-four turbo

It’s confirmed – Porsche announced last year that both the
Boxster and Cayman
 models will be refreshed, which is the good news. The bad is the flat-six engines we have all come to love will be put into retirement. Before we get to that, the 718 Boxster will be joined by the 718 Cayman at their world debut at Geneva in March.
Apart from the “718” badge, what separates this model and the predecessor is the updated front bumper with larger cooling ducts and a distinctive new accent strip underscored by the Porsche lettering at the back.
Updated aesthetics aside, the new 718 Boxster receives a new set of suspension, brakes and most significantly, new turbocharged flat-four engines. The standard 718 Boxster is propelled by
2.0-litre lump
 producing
300 hp
 and
380 Nm of torque
. The hotter S variant will receive a
2.5-litre
 version, producing
350 hp
 with
420 Nm of torque
.
The 2.0-litre variant can reach 100 km/h from nought in
4.5 seconds
, a 0.7-second improvement over its predecessor. The 718 Boxster S gets there
0.5 seconds quicker
 than the standard 718 Boxster.
Turbocharging not only increases performance but according to Porsche, it also improves fuel consumption figures by around
13 percent
. Back in Malaysia, road tax will be significantly cheaper at
RM380
, compared to paying over four figures based on the outgoing model. But this, you don’t really care.
Also good news to enthusiasts is that a six-speed manual gearbox is offered as standard, while the
seven-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox
 will serve as a cost option. We guess only the PDK version will be sold in Malaysia should both the 718 models arrive here.
Other improvements made by Porsche includes a more direct electrically-assisted steering, configured to be 10 percent more direct. The suspension has also been retuned to suit the new 718 models, and it sits 10mm lower to the ground than it did before. It comes with
Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM)
too, of course.
The new models will go on sale from 30 April. The 718 Boxster starts at £41,739 (est
RM255k at press time
) while the 718 Boxster S will cost £50,685 (
RM309k
). A more powerful 718 Boxster GTS is surely in the pipeline, one that could potentially outperform the
Cayman GT4
.
IMAGE GALLERY


PHEVs could actually be worse for the environment than pure ICE cars

Plug-in hybrid vehicles
 (PHEVs) are frequently billed as the tree-hugging environment-friendly technology of the future, at least until fully-electric vehicles become more widely available. However, a recent study by Fraunhofer ISI institute and the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) shows that they might not be as green as we thought they were.
The study, which examined usage data from more than 100,000 PHEVs across more than 66 different models sold in Europe, the US, and China, found that at best, a PHEV produces average CO2 emissions that are
twice as high
 as the carmaker’s claim, regardless of the test cycle it was measured in (NEDC or WLTP).
However, the real stinger is that at worst, they produce
up to four times as much CO2
as stated on the spec sheet. That means that a PHEV with a “certified” 50 g/km CO2 emissions figure actually outputs 100 to 200 g/km of carbon dioxide into the environment during regular operation.
For context, a modern engine in a regular sedan vehicle like the
Mercedes-Benz C200
 only emits 146 – 156 g/km of CO2 during operation. And the figure goes even lower on a diesel-powered vehicle.
So, what gives? The biggest culprit to the higher-than-claimed emissions is the
limited fully-electric range
 of these PHEVs, as well as only being recharged every other day on average. When PHEVs are driving around without extra electric propulsion due to the batteries being depleted, the internal combustion engines (ICE) will have to work extra hard to lug around the battery packs which are essentially dead weight.
Company cars are the number one contributor to the problem, as they are regularly driven distances that exceed the fully-electric range, and have less incentives to recharge the batteries as the employers are the ones who pay for fuel.
“If we want to see lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in real life, the engine’s horsepower needs to be reduced and the electric range increased,” said the study’s leading author, Patrick Plotz.
Plotz estimates that for a PHEV to replace regular ICE cars (in Germany at least) for environment-friendly reasons, they will need an all-electric range of 80-90 km instead of the 30-60 km as seen on most of these vehicles on sale today.
The study, being described as the first systematic analysis into the actual benefits of plug-in hybrids, essentially labels the current PHEVs as nothing more than “compliance cars” – which means they are fuel-efficient on paper but emit just as much CO2 as conventional models.
The findings are made even more controversial, as Plotz has previously published a study titled “Plug-in hybrid vehicles are better than their reputation”, which was cited by carmakers – in this case Volkswagen – as recent as this September.
However, Plotz claims that these carmakers fail to mention that the study was not designed to provide a comprehensive and definitive conclusion. “At the time, we looked solely at the number of kilometres driven electrically,” Plotz told
Automotive News Europe
. “We did not examine the deviation from the test cycle, and that is where these unflattering results can be found.”
The study calls for regulators to reduce the excessive incentives for PHEVs, especially for company cars – by only issuing the incentives to organizations that provide a sufficient workplace charging infrastructure or support employees’ efforts keep their cars charged.


Weekly round-up: Stories you may have missed this week! (27 Sep. – 1 Oct.)

It is the end of another working week for many of us, plus also the start of the final quarter of 2021! As more sectors are starting to reopen due to the ease of restrictions, we also get more caught up with other activities.
Apart from various local product launches and policies, news from the region and teasers to upcoming products are the topics of this week’s recap.
Gallery: 2021 Volkswagen Arteon R-Line – Beauty and the beast
Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) launched the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon R-Line 4Motion facelift here without much time gap from its international launch. Apart from the handsome grille embedded with the striking DRLs, the technical features have been tremendously increased, without a large jump in retail price!
We do hope to be able to review the new Volkswagen Arteon R-Line 4Motion in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, here is a gallery of the new sporty liftback.
Facts & Figures: Ferrari Portofino M “Modificata” launched in Malaysia
It has been quite an active 12 months for Naza Italia, with launches of various models under their stable. The latest model by Ferrari to reach our shores is the Ferrari Portofino M.
More than just a facelift, the Modificata or M refresh cycle brings mild upgrades to the engine and sees the fitment of a new 8-speed transmission.
UMW Toyota teases a hybrid SUV model on the website, full reveal in mid-October
After perhaps a gap of close to four years, UMW Toyota is restarting the assembly of hybrid models in Malaysia. While the digitally generated graphics are trying to hide all the details, the crossover silhouette plus some character lines answered the model in question as the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid. A launch date has also been set.
Gallery: Suzuki Jimny now in Malaysia, from R
M
169k
More and more models are seeing their local launch in Malaysia. To close the month of September, Suzuki Malaysia has chosen to launch the iconic Jimny. The fully-capable SUV is powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine and mated to a 4-speed automatic. Standard features include chunky H/T tyres, LED headlamps, 4WD with low-range and a touchscreen infotainment system.
Govt to study vehicle end-of-life policy for environmental reasons – old cars to be phased out soon?
Earlier this week also saw our Prime Minister deliver the 12th Malaysia Plan. In order to steer the nation towards carbon neutrality by 2050, the topic of phasing out old cars has been proposed.
End-of-life policy has been discussed but a definitive regulation or requirement has not been reached. Reasons used during previous proposals placed a tight rope on safety grounds, but the latest proposal now brings demolition of old vehicles as a step towards a cleaner environment.
Geely wants to build 5,000 battery swapping stations in China by 2025
Battery-as-a-service (BaaS) has proved to be a success in the eyes of Geely, as the company plans to radically increase the number of swapping stations. Pricing the battery out of the total cost of the electric vehicle not only lowers the price of the vehicle against competitors but also gather important data of customers usage and patterns whenever they return for a fresh unit.
All-new Toyota Avanza set to be unveiled in November, moving to front-drive layout
Here is a piece of news from our neighbours down south. The all-new Toyota Avanza is expected to be officially unveiled at the Indonesia Motor Show in November. The biggest surprise is the move from a rudimentary rear-wheel drive layout to a more efficient front-wheel drive platform.


We should never resort to vandalism to silence our neighbour’s noisy car

While it’s great for personal amusement, especially when you’re behind the wheel going flat out but often times, what we fail to realise or at least acknowledge, is that our loud exhaust systems can be a bigger nuisance to others than it is an amusement to us.
Generally, as pedestrians, these “ear sores” are ignored, with a “mental middle finger” shown to the driver (at most) as they zoom past. The owner of this Ford Mustang was not so lucky, and (we won’t discount that) he may have done something with such frequency for such lack of courtesy shown to him and his car.
Apparently a certain spray foam was unloaded into the muffler tips – clogging the exits – in an attempt to silence the car and his owner. The culprits even left a note, written with a tone that reflected the ill nature of their work.
Having checked out the Mustang owner’s profile on Facebook, it seems he’s driving the
latest generation Mustang unveiled
around
 three years ago
. Did he not turn on the
Good Neighbour Mode
? Or was it inadequate in suppressing the V8 growl? Were the neighbours a little oversensitive? And subsequently overreacted?

In the grand scheme of things, we have other questions too. Does two wrongs make a right? If this ever happened to you, would you take the less righteous approach and resort to vandalism to silence that neighbour? Or would you take the high road and confront the man (or woman) with some respect and courtesy?
We’d encourage the latter approach; always use words first. Peace.
Source:
Facebook


Japanese Lexus LX customers are made to wait as long as four years for their cars

The entire world is in a bit of a mess right now, and due to reasons that we don’t need to mention any more (the obvious one being the chip shortage), carmakers worldwide have also been struggling to make new cars. We Malaysians think we have it bad with a six-month wait time for the
Proton X50
, but wait until you hear about our poor friends in Japan.
According to a report by
Automotive News
, the demand for the
Lexus LX
 in Japan has been so overwhelming that customers are now expected to wait up to 48 months just to get their hands on the behemoth SUV. Yes – that’s four whole years.
In a bid to contain the issue and cut down the backlog, Lexus has already stopped taking orders for the LX in its domestic market. But even then, the company is still concerned cars ordered today won’t even arrive in their customer’s driveway before the next model update rolls about.
And that’s not the only model in Lexus’ stable that’s experiencing long wait times. The smaller
all-new NX
, which made its debut last year, is also being forced to close its order books in Japan, as the wait list have apparently also been backed up for about 12 months.
RELATED: The queue for a new Land Cruiser in Japan is officially a four-year wait
“LX is very popular not only in Japan but also around the world, and we have received orders that greatly exceed our production capacity,” reads the apology note on Lexus’ Japanese website, as translated by
Automotive News
.
Over the past two years, Lexus’ parent company Toyota has had to repeatedly shut down production at some of its facilities in Japan due to the lack of necessary components – a problem which started with just silicon chips, but has since spiralled to also include other parts, due to supply constraints caused by the
Covid-19
 pandemic.
Here in Malaysia, both
Perodua
 and
Proton
have also cited parts supply issue as the main culprit behind the long wait times for their cars. It’s not pleasant to wait such an extended period to get your dream car, but perhaps we should really count our blessings that it’s
only
 six months, especially in this troubled times.


Video: Toyota Camry 2.5 V Review

So you’ve seen
Adrian’s introductory video of the “all-new” Toyota Camry 2.5 V
, let me share my thoughts on this car with you.
The new
Toyota Camry
, unveiled at the
2018 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show
 has received heavy criticisms mostly due to the fact that it’s still utilising the old powertrain that has powered generations of Camrys before this and it’s unanimously unacceptable asking price of
 RM189,900
.

But is it necessarily a bad thing? As you’d be able to tell in the busy comment section of the video, it seems to be a massive deal breaker but some have been quick to respond – that a proven albeit slightly seasoned formula, isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
With all things considered from the video, what do you think?
IMAGE GALLERY


The electric Mercedes-Benz EQS is the world’s most aerodynamic production car – 770 km range!

Mercedes-Benz has finally pulled off the camo and officially unveiled its heavily-hyped flagship fully-electric sedan, the EQS. And with it being the new flagship, there are of course, many headline-worthy flagship specifications to go with it.
But of course, through all the marketing fluff, there’s one thing that everyone wants to know on an EV – and it’s the range. And the good news is that you probably won’t be disappointed here, because the EQS is capable of driving up to
770 km (WLTP) on a single charge.
Just to go off on a tangent a little, it’s surprising to see just how far ahead Tesla is with their battery tech. The recently-unveiled Tesla
Model S Plaid+
 boasts a whopping 830 km of range – and measured with the more stringent EPA test cycle at that. Many “traditional” manufacturers meanwhile are still scrambling to even reach the 600 km mark, so it’s positive to see Mercedes coming out swinging on their first “serious” EV entry.
Anyway, back on topic. To achieve that impressive fully-electric range, Mercedes-Benz had to optimise not just the powertrain and battery technology, but also every last detail of the EV. And on the all-new EQS, the big ticket item here is its aerodynamics.
In fact, Mercedes-Benz claims that the all-new EQS is the most aerodynamic production car currently, thanks to its 0.200 Cd drag coefficient, besting the Tesla Model S’s 0.208 Cd. The latter’s rounds up to 0.21 Cd anyway, so that’s another bragging point.
While the difference in numbers might look to be in the minutiae, the difference in an EV can be huge, especially when it’s compounded with all the other various energy losses. A decent sedan these days start at around 0.23 Cd. According to Mercedes, the 0.03 difference can mean up to 4-5% of range.
So yes, while the resulting design of the car – with its fancy cab-forward, low-slung front and rear “One-Bow design” – might look a little weird, we’d argue that it’s the
good
 kind of weird, since its design actually serves such an integral function to the overall package.
What’s less good in its weirdness though, is the new screen-fest on the interior that is
the Hyperscreen
. Even though the all-screen dashboard was already unveiled to the world before the car was launched, we still struggle to understand how touchscreens – even if there’s haptic feedback and AI-powered software – will be more functional than a normal bank of buttons, especially when on the move.
Fortunately, the Hyperscreen isn’t a standard fit item – the regular EQS comes with a regular portrait screen set-up, just like the one on the regular S-Class. So for regular people like you and me, please go with the regular option – you’ll thank us later. Anyway, we digress.
At launch, the Mercedes-Benz EQS will be offered in two variants, a rear-wheel drive EQS 450+, and an all-wheel drive EQS 580 4Matic. The former features a single motor at the rear axle, with
333 hp
 and
568 Nm
 of torque on tap, good enough for a century sprint in
6.2 seconds
, onward to an electronically-limited
210 km/h
top speed.
The more powerful all-wheel drive variant meanwhile gets two electric motors – one on each axle – resulting in a total peak system output of
523 hp
 and
855 Nm
 of torque. The 0-100 km/h time is a lot faster at
4.3 seconds
, though the top speed is capped at the same 210 km/h.
Mercedes-Benz also confirmed that there’ll be at least one high-performance Mercedes-AMG version coming later in the year, and although no further information has been divulged (
we pretty much knew already, anyway
), the company says that it’ll make 761 hp from the factory.
There are two battery options (both running a 400 V architecture) available, 90 kWh and 107.8 kWh, though the company did not say which variant and battery option the 770 km electric range figure was based on. If we had to guess though, it’ll most likely be the EQS 580, as it’s capable of recuperating up to 290 kW of energy during hard braking under ideal circumstances (!). The 450+ does with a lesser – but still impressive – 186 kW.
For context, the Tesla Model S is capable of clawing back around 77 kW under hard braking on a good day, while a Formula E race car does 200 kW.
When you’re not relying just on the brakes to charge the battery though, the EQS can be plugged into a AC regular wall socket, charging at a standard 11 kW (or the optional 22 kW) rate. However, you’d probably much rather utilise its 200 kW DC fast charging capability, which can provide up to an additional 300 km of range in just 15 minutes – that’s if the charging infrastructure is available around, of course.
GALLERY


Peugeot 508 facelift pricing announced, from RM174k to RM202k

Nasim Sdn Bhd, the official distributor of Peugeot cars in Malaysia have announced the official pricing for the facelifted
508 Sedan, SW and GT
 variants. With GST and insurance included, the net selling prices are RM173,888, RM183,888 and RM201,888 respectively.
During the launch in May, the company threw us their estimates of RM175k to RM205k. That didn’t veer off too much, nor did it go above the unofficial asking price, which is good news if you ask us. As for the pricing itself, that’s open for debate.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Peugeot 508 THP Sedan
Peugeot 508 THP SW
Peugeot 508 GT Sedan
Engine
1,598cc; inline-4 with twin scroll turbo and VVT
1,598cc; inline-4 with twin scroll turbo and VVT
2,179cc; turbocharged inline-4 with VVT
Transmission
6-speed auto
6-speed auto
6-speed auto
Max Power
163 hp @ 6,000 rpm
163 hp @ 6,000 rpm
202 hp @ 3,500 rpm
Max Torque
240 Nm @ 1,250 – 4,250 rpm
240 Nm @ 1,250 – 4,250 rpm
450 Nm @ 2,000 – 2,750 rpm
0 – 100 km/h; Top Speed
9.2 seconds; 220 km/h
9.2 seconds; 220 km/h
8.4 seconds; 235 km/h
Price (OTR with insurance and GST)
RM173,888.00
RM183,888.00
RM201,888.00
To quickly recap, the French D-Segment contender gets a fresh new front fascia with all its forward lighting sources powered by LEDs. The same
1.6-litre Turbo High Pressure
(THP) and
2.2-litre turbodiesel engines
 are retained, but both have been slightly tuned for better performance and fuel economy.

Also revised is the
six-speed Aisin-sourced automatic
 torque converter driving the front wheels. The petrol unit makes
163 hp
 at 5,000 rpm and
240 Nm
 of torque from 1,450 to 4,250 rpm, whereas the oil burning lump makes
202 hp
 at 3,500 rpm and
450 Nm
 of torque from 2,000 to 2,750 revolutions. Performance figures wise, the 1.6L engine sprints from standstill to 100 km/h in
9.2 seconds
 while the 2.2L diesel gets there in
8.4 seconds
. Top speed is
220 km/h
 and
235 km/h
 respectively.
On the safety front, the 508 gets
six airbags
, two Isofix fixtures for the rear seats, new ‘curved’ head restraints, collapsible front structure to better absorb energy transfer in the event of an accident and
Blind Spot Sensor System
 (BLISS). There’s also ESP, traction control, Dynamic Stability Control, Emergency Braking Assist, ABS with EBD, smart cruise control with speed limiter as well as front and rear parking sensors.
The 508 comes packed with a
5-year unlimited mileage warranty
 and Peugeot 24 hours assistance. Customers can also benefit from the Peugeot Privilege programme, granting them the brand’s premium services such as the usage of Peugeot Lounge at Subang Skypark Terminal.
IMAGE GALLERY
2015 Peugeot 508 Launch

2015 Peugeot 508 GT

2015 Peugeot 508 THP Sedan

2015 Peugeot 508 THP SW


BMW Group smashes own sales record, global leader in premium segment with 2.5 mil. sales

The numbers are in with BMW Group announcing fantastic sales results for 2021. The Munich-based company posted sales of
2.52 million
 vehicles which represented a 8.4% growth versus the year before.
BMW Group, which consists of the namesake brand as well as MINI and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars saw record sales numbers, with the latter seeing some 48% growth with 5,586 units. It is the marque’s highest sales in its 117-year history. The past year was characterised by
high demand worldwide
 for all models, particularly Ghost and Cullinan and all Black Badge variants, with current orders extending well into the third quarter of 2022.
The BMW brand ended 2021 with global sales up 9.1% (to 2,213,795 vehicles) on the previous year and surpasses its previous record of 2.168 million units. Compared to arch-rival
Mercedes-Benz
, last year’s performance by BMW was circa 120,00 units better than the 2,093,476 units by Team Stuttgart; a total itself representing a 5% decline compared to 2020.
The BMW M performance brand also continues to see growth, as well as pull further ahead of Mercedes-Benz’ AMG brand. Both performance brands saw growth, with BMW seeing sales of 163,542 M vehicles (+13.4%), while Mercedes-AMG delivered 145,979 units (or 16.7% growth).
Growth came mainly from the new BMW 4 Series models, and in particular the
coupe variant
. BMW also said the
M3
 and M4 performed especially well and the large BMW X5 M and X6 M sales also saw large growth. Expect figures to surge this year too, as the BMW M brand is celebrating its
50th anniversary
 this year with more models.
The MINI brand also saw sales growth of 3.3% to end the year with 302,144 units, more than 10% or 34,851 units comprise of the
MINI Cooper Electric
. MINI had its highest sales of over 360,000 units back in 2017.
Combining all the
electrified vehicles
 from BMW and MINI, the group moved a total of 328,316 units which represented a massive 70% growth! This figure is expected to grow even larger thanks to the introduction of the new BMW i models such as the i4,
iX
 and
iX3
 as well as the upcoming
i7
 large sedan and X1 compact SUV.
Locally, 2022 is going to be a busy year for BMW Malaysia, as the company gears up for the introduction of the aforementioned BMW i models, as well as the all-new
BMW 2 Series Coupe
 and the
BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe
.


GrabSupermarket offers next-day groceries deliveries with no fee – pilot trial begins today!

Grab
 is launching their own supermarket – that’s right. Called GrabSupermarket, the new service will be a delivery-only grocery service which promises next-day delivery at no cost!
While the application already has a GrabMart feature, GrabSupermarket differentiates itself by having its own fully functional and stocked dark store (not catering to walk-in customers), offering a wide variety of household needs from fresh produce, frozen food, packaged food and beverages, to homecare, household products, personal health, supplements and more.
Grab is now a whole lot more than just its Grab Car service, but there are alternatives for that if you are looking for rides. Check out our
write-up here
!
According to Grab, the GrabMart feature is meant to cater to your emergency needs with deliveries in 30 minutes or less, while the new GrabSupermarket aims to “deliver the convenience of a full online grocery shopping experience”, boasting greater value and perhaps the most attractive feature especially when compared to other competing services, no delivery fees.
GrabSupermarket is part of Grab’s efforts to offer more income opportunity to Grab’s delivery network – which currently services the aforementioned GrabMart as well as GrabFood –

while providing an end-to-end service for local producers, farmers wholesalers and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) brands to serve directly to Grab’s existing customer base.
Leveraging on Grab’s existing application and payment systems, customers can purchase all of their groceries needs without having to leave their homes or pull cash out from their wallets – in line with the
Covid-19
 guidelines.
The service will begin its pilot trial starting today, and will be available for Grab customers around
 Section 12 and 13, Petaling Jaya
. Customers looking to try out the service can access the GrabSupermarket via the “Mart” tile on the application’s home screen. More information on the new GrabSupermarket service can be found on Grab’s website
here
.


BMW shows the 2015 BMW X6 F16 to the world [+Video]

You know this was coming. With the launch of the
F15 X5
, an X6 will eventually be introduced to the consumers. End of this year that is. This second-generation
X6
 codenamed
F16
 follows the same recipe as the previous X6, which looks like a more athletic version of the vehicle it is based on, the X5.
The shape is instantly recognisable as an X6 Sports Activity Coupe, but the new car has grown a little bit taller, a wee bit wider, and a tiny bit longer. Standing at
1702mm tall
, the new X6 is 12mm taller than the predecessor, and at
1989mm

wide
 it’s 6mm wider than before. It is also 32mm
 longer
 at
4909mm
, but the
wheelbase
 is retained at
2933mm
.
Even though it has grown in every direction, the new X6 is up to
40kg lighter
. Three variants will be available at launch in December namely xDrive50i, xDrive30d, and M50d; with combined
 fuel consumption at 9.7 – 6.0 l/100 km
. The petrol
xDrive50i
 is powered by a
 4395cc V8
 belting out
450hp
 and
650Nm
 of torque and it sprints from
0-100 km/h
 in
4.8
seconds.
The remaining two diesels are the ‘base’
2993cc inline-6
 with
258hp
 and
560Nm
 of torque that powers the
 xDrive30d
, and another
 inline-6 2993cc
 but with
triple turbo
 that generates
381hp
 and
740Nm
 of torque in the
M50d
.
0-100 km/h
 time is
6.7
 seconds for the
 xDrive30d
 and
5.2
 seconds for the
M50d
.
Another two variants will be added to the range later next year, a petrol
xDrive35i
 and a diesel
xDrive40d
. All variants are using the infamous
eight-speed automatic
 transmission from ZF and every new X6 is equipped with the BMW
 xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system
.
Buyers will get to choose different suspension setups on the new X6.
Dynamic adaptive suspension package
 highlights the X6’s sporty handling attributes with
Dynamic Performance Control
 together with
Dynamic Drive active roll stabilisation
.
Comfort adaptive suspension package
 equips the X6 with rear
air suspension
 coupled with
Dynamic Damper Control
 while the
Professional adaptive suspension package
 combines both features from both Comfort and Dynamic.
Adaptive M suspension
 is standard on the M50d but can also be specified on all X6.
The interior follows the X5 albeit more cocooning, especially in the back. It’s still practical though, the
 boot capacity
 is
580 litres
 and the rear seats split and fold
40:20:40
. Up front the dashboard is lifted from the X5, with
 black-panel instrument cluster
 and up to
10.25 inch display screen
 controlled via the iDrive toggle in the center console. Optional Navigation System Professional with Touch Controller can be specified, along with Bang & Olufsen high-end surround-sound system and Rear Entertainment System Professional.
In terms of safety, the X6 includes
airbags
 in
 front and side
, and even
 head airbags
 for front and rear seats. The X6 also comes with
active bonnet system
 that raises the bonnet upon impact with pedestrian.
The launch date is set to be in
December 2014
, so expect the F16 X6 to arrive here in Malaysia by next year.
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IMAGE GALLERY