Gallery: All-new 2022 Kia Carnival – The 11-seater road trip warrior

MPVs unfortunately have a pretty bad reputation in many parts of the world, for either being too “soccer mom”, or too “I’m a rich man I can do whatever I want on the road” i.e. your typical Alphards or Vellfires. But that might all change soon, as the
all-new 2022 Kia Carnival
 has flipped the script entirely for what it means to be an MPV.
You see, Kia now calls the Carnival a “GUV”, short for Grand Utility Vehicle. While we usually hate silly marketing names (
ahem, Gran Coupe
), this one here makes just enough sense for us to give it a pass.
That’s because the all-new Carnival features some fundamental changes to its proportions that differentiates itself from the run-off-the-mill MPVs in the market. Particularly, the A-pillars have been pushed backwards for a longer bonnet giving the impression of an SUV – at least when viewed from the front.
The Korean carmaker also incorporated several other SUV-inspired design elements into the Carnival, including the stylised C-pillars, floating roof, well-proportioned wheels, and sleek belt line on the sides to further add to the illusion. But most importantly of all, the Carnival just plainly looks good.
Video: Can the 2022 11-seater Kia Carnival MPV finally dethrone the Toyota Alphard?
And yet, the 2022 Kia Carnival doesn’t forget its true purpose as a people carrier. Inside the cabin is, on paper, space for 11 passengers – although we’ll argue that it’s perhaps more comfortable to carry just six (or eight in a pinch) and save the rest for your luggage. There’s also rear air con blowers with a separate single-zone climate control, sliding doors, sunshades, and plenty of USB ports to keep all your passengers comfortable and occupied.
It’s also pretty well-equipped for the driver, too, with a large 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display on the dashboard for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, eight-way powered seats with lumbar adjustments, and safety features such as blind-spot monitoring and rear-cross traffic alert to take away some of the stress when driving such a large vehicle.
The more advanced safety features such as autonomous emergency braking and lane-keep assist, however, are unfortunately lacking here. Hopefully they’ll be present on the eventual CKD model.
As for the actual driving part, the all-new 2022 Kia Carnival is powered by a 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine making
199 hp
 and
440 Nm
 of torque, with drive sent to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
All of the above come at a very competitive price of
RM196,341
. Enough for you to forget about the recond Alphards? Check out the detailed gallery below and decide for yourself.
GALLERY


Next gen Audi A8 to get a three-screen Audi virtual dashboard

Think you’ve seen it all with Audi’s Virtual Cockpit? Think again, because Audi’s upcoming successor is out to impress even the most tech-savvy of you out there. The virtual dashboard will debut in the next generation Audi A8.
What you see here is an extended version of the virtual cockpit, and the next time you lay eyes and hands on the Audi A8, you’ll be greeted by three screens: a
central dash
,
lower dash
, and
instrument binnacle
. These thin and curvy screens are 14.1-inch diagonally across (2,240 x 720 pixel resolution), utilising OLED (organic light emitting diode) technology which is new for cars. The slightly curved surface ensures a glare-free experience.

The instrument cluster will remain as is, but the two new screens in the centre dashboard help facilitate infotainment controls, navigation and media functions, whereas the lower screen is used for text input and climate controls.
The screens, which provide
haptic feedback
, can be personalised to your liking. Also to note, the rotary knobs and dials we all have come to know of Audi will be history when the virtual dashboard arrives. That said, it’s still a work in progress as Audi is still working on reducing heat levels and improving screen longevity. OLED technology is also in its infancy, so expect the first batch of the new A8 to come with the usual LED and LCD screens instead.
IMAGE GALLERY


Proton Saga Plus to replace SV, Executive and SE variants at no additional cost!

Proton Holdings Berhad has just launched a new variant to the Saga lineup – the Saga Plus, which will effectively replace the outgoing SV, Executive and SE variants all without increasing its price of RM33,242.40 (manual; RM36,099.84 for the CVT).
So, what’s new to the Saga Plus? For the same price as the Proton Saga SV, you get the looks of the costlier Saga Executive look, courtesy of a new set of
14-inch full alloy rims
, full body kit (front, side and rear), a rear spoiler, a ‘Plus’ badge as well as a rear garnish body colour (previously matte black).
Powering the Saga Plus is a 1.3-litre Campro IAFM inline-four cylinder that makes 94 hp at 5,750 rpm and 120 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. Acceleration from 0 to 100km/h will take 13.0 seconds with the five-speed manual, and with the CVT it takes 14.5 seconds. Top speed is 160 km/h for the manual and 155 km/h for the CVT.
The Proton Saga Plus will only be available for viewing in showrooms beginning 15 August 2015 (Saturday), and will come in
five different colours
 – Tranquility Black, Fire Red, Genetic Silver, Solid White and Elegant Brown. Packaged together with your purchase is a
 three-year or 60,000km
 warranty programme, whichever occurs first.
IMAGE GALLERY


Bentley Continental GT turns to the dark side with new Mulliner Blackline trim

Bentley’s Blackline package has always been one of its most popular options – the Crewe-based luxury carmaker says that 38% of all Continental GTs (and its related family members) sold have been customised with its
existing Blackline offering
.
So it stands to reason that Bentley has now introduced a new Mulliner Blackline package for the Continental GT, perhaps to appease some of its even wealthier customers.
For those who aren’t aware, Mulliner is Bentley’s fancy coachbuilding and customisation arm. They call it the “world’s oldest automotive coachbuilder”, but these days, they mostly just make unique trim options for Bentley’s already luxurious vehicles – like this one.
As the name suggests, the Mulliner Blackline package essentially takes the
 fancy Mulliner exterior trim
– including the unique “double diamond” grille, 22-inch wheels, and Mulliner-branded side vents trims – and replaces all of the shiny chrome bits with a gloss black.
RELATED: Bentley celebrates 1,000 Mulliner projects with a bespoke purple Bentayga
The black-out treatment extends to the wing mirrors, which gets a special Beluga Black hue. But to still give it a touch of “bling”, Bentley has kept the emblems, grille surrounds, and the circular trims around the wheels’ self-levelling Bentley badge in chrome.
On the inside, the Mulliner Blackline package still comes with the unique diamond-in-diamond quilting for its seats and door panels. But despite being called “Blackline”, customers are (fortunately) not just limited to black leather.
A “limitless” list of Mulliner interior upholstery colour options is still available for your choosing, but if you have trouble choosing your own palette, Bentley has also helpfully come with eight recommended three-colour combinations to fit your tastes.
ALSO READ: The new Bentley Flying Spur Mulliner is for when “luxury” just isn’t enough
The powertrain of Bentley Continental GT is unchanged, no matter if you get it with or without the Mulliner Blackline package. Underneath the bonnet, you’ll find either a
6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 engine
 with
635 hp
and
900 Nm
, or a
twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8
 with
 550 hp
 and
757 Nm
.
Both engine options are paired to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, for a 0-100 km/h sprint time of
3.8 seconds
 and
 4.1

seconds
respectively.
GALLERY


Donate to charity just by spending at any Shell station this Raya

Shell Malaysia is back again with another Corporate
Social Responsibility (CSR) campaign in conjunction with the Hari Raya season.
This is the fifth consecutive year the company is giving back to society together
with the help of fellow patrons of Shell Stations nationwide.
The “Anda Beli, Kami Derma” campaign Shell
will be donating 1 sen to selected organisations for every 1 litre of Shell
fuels pumped or every RM1 spent in all Shell SELECT stores (excluding e-pay services).
The collection will run for 10 days from 30
May to 8 June 2019 and contributions will be donated to National Cancer Society
Malaysia, Food Aid Foundation and Malaysian Nature Society. Last year, Shell supported
the empowerment of underprivileged children and youth.
Mastercard is also onboard for the second
year and will be making additional contribution of 1 sen to Food Aid Foundation
for every litre of Shell fuel pumped and every RM1 spent at Shell SELECT stores,
paid with any Mastercard debit or credit card.
Additionally, customers can select their preferred
choice of beneficiaries by submitting a copy their receipt at a Shell station
and indicate their choice.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister
Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail commended Shell’s campaign: “With simple
acts of kindness, we can go a long way in doing our part during this giving
season of Ramadan and Raya. I would like to commend Shell for working to make
giving back so seamless and flexible. Customers will now be able to easily
share  their  blessings
with  those  in
need and give everyone a ‘balik kampung’ journey worth celebrating even
more.”


Research says more people are ditching white for grey paint jobs on their new cars

A vehicle’s colour communicates both the individuality of one’s vehicle, as well as highlighting the specifics of a model, such as
Nissan Navara Pro-4X
 in Stealth Grey and the bright yellow Perodua Myvi 1.5 with the ‘Lagi Power Lagi Best’ tagline.
On the final week of 2021, automotive coating specialist Axalta has again provided statistics of colours chosen by customers for their new rides via the Colour Popularity Report. White, although at a decline, continues to be on top thanks to it being favoured by fleet sales as well as looking great in pearlescent finishing.
In fact, separating solid (21%) and
pearlescent white

(14%) shades see the latter still in the top 4 most popular colour globally.
However, Axalta noted that vehicle buyers in 2021 are selecting grey paintwork more, perhaps thanks to the added availability by automakers. The company noted that preference for grey increased by four percentage points worldwide compared to
last year
.
For the third year in a row, grey colour tops the list of new vehicles in Europe at 27%, while being second in Africa, North America, Russia and South Korea. Grey is also very prevalent on Compact/Sport and Medium/MPV models in Europe at 30%.
With a large majority of premium and luxury vehicles associated with black, this shade continues to see strong demands in North America, Europe and China, all hovering at 20% popularity. Silver continues to be in the single-digit percentage points, leading blue (8%), red (5%) and
brown/beige
 at 3%.
Russia and India however see the largest percentage of brown/beige paint finishing on their vehicles at 11% and 6% respectively.


Proton X50 has undergone 75,000 hours of local testing – over 1.9 million km!

As you would’ve already known, the
Proton X50
 – which will be
launched on the 27th of October
 – will come with a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine. While most people are receptive to the idea of having a modern engine in a national car, there were of course some criticisms and confusions laced in between the generally positive comments.
Some of the main criticisms are aimed towards the “notorious” noise and vibration issues stemming from the unbalanced forces of a three-cylinder engine – which we’ve
previously covered over here
. With that out of the way, let’s take a look at another key concern among the Proton X50 buying crowd, and that is the reliability of the new turbocharged engine.
During the
media test drive event
 organised earlier this month, Proton X50 chief engineer Noor Hisham Ismail revealed that the 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder has been subjected to
over 1.9 million (and still increasing) kilometres
 of local testing, involving
more than 75,000 man hours
. To put the number into context, the distance is enough to go around the earth more than 40 times!
If you’re lucky, you could also still spot some of these camouflaged test mules crawling on the streets, even though the car has already been fully unveiled to the public – which Noor Hisham explains, are for the purpose of
reconfirmation activities and validation work
. So rest assured, Proton will be doing everything it can to ensure that the new powertrain on the X50 is reliable enough for our Malaysian climate and driving conditions.
Did the Proton X50 really outrun a BMW X1? We decipher the facts in our write-up
here
.
If that’s still not enough to convince you, the 1.5-litre turbocharged three-potter – developed by China Euro Vehicle Technology (CEVT), a joint venture of sorts between Geely and Volvo – is also
designed to last 15 years or 350,000 km
, more than 50% higher than the industry standard 10 years or 200,000 km. To date, the engine has already been
deployed on over 550,000 vehicles
 across the globe.
The powerplant is built upon the Volvo Engine Architecture (VEA), which has been in development from 2006. The company begun testing three-cylinder variants in 2014, and the same VEA base also forms the T3 engine that is being used on the Volvo XC40. Before anyone gets confused though, they are still different engines, but are based around the same technology.
At the end of the day, words and numbers can only say so much – the true test of how reliable the Proton X50 is will be when they are being delivered to customers, and used in real world conditions. At the very least, they should provide some confidence for prospective buyers who are thinking of taking the plunge for the X50, as well as
other Proton models
 in the future.


Review: 2016 Bentley Bentayga, long live King of SUVs!

First impressions matter especially when they are a reflection of status. The Bentley Bentayga makes a massive and impressive impact because it’s big and very grand. Bentley’s first SUV is a mountain-climbing limousine with supercar performance and I was one of five Malaysian motoring journalists invited down to Singapore to take it for a few rounds on the F1 Pit.
A motorsport track may sound like an odd place to drive an SUV but it’s doubtful if any owners would really take theirs off-road, the Bentayga’s most natural habitat being Bukit Tunku. Hard manoeuvres on tarmac would more closely approximate the life of the average Bentayga so in the short time that we had, the track offered the best glimpse of what it could do.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Bentley Bentayga
Engine
5,950cc; W12 twin-turbocharged petrol, DOHC
Transmission
8-speed auto
Max Power
600 hp @ 5,000 – 6,000 rpm
Max Torque
900 Nm @ 1,350 rpm
0 – 100km/h; Top Speed
4.1 seconds; 301 km/h
Price
POA
EXTERIOR
In the Bentley line-up, the Bentayga stands alongside the Continental GT and Flying Spur. At 5,141mm long, the Bentayga is 150mm longer than the Audi Q7 with which it shares a platform but is otherwise unrelated. Its closest rival, the Range Rover comes in two variants: the 4,999mm standard wheelbase or the 5,199mm long wheelbase. In its standard form, the Bentayga is the largest luxury SUV in the market.
The LED rear lamps which form a graphic B are a trademark of the Bentayga. The rest, like the twin round headlights, honeycomb grille with a chrome line down the middle, and windswept “B” on the side vents along with a high shoulder line and muscular rear haunches are hallmark Bentley and intended to appeal to existing Bentley customers who drive SUVs in winter.

A lot of sophisticated engineering went into the body of the Bentayga, but the finer details are not what most would notice at first glance. The complexity of the Bentayga’s build is one of the reasons why it takes the most man-hours to produce – 130 man hours per unit. In comparison, the Continental GT takes 104 hours.
The front fender is hammered from the largest single piece of sheet aluminium produced in the automotive industry. The Bentayga’s flush fitting head and tail lamps and continuous surface with minimal shut lines from front to rear give the illusion of muscular bulk. The daintier-looking Range Rover is actually 75mm wider, at 2,073mm, than the Bentagya which at 1,998mm boasts a surprisingly lithe 0.24 drag coefficient.
INTERIOR
The cabin is sumptuous: Bentley signature quilted upholstery, tofu-smooth leather wrapped dashboard, chrome air vents with organ stop-style pulls, highly lacquered wood veneer and an aroma from the leather that was nearly intoxicating.
The new eight-speed gearbox’s manual shifts are controlled through discreet steering-mounted paddles which are an improvement on the column-mounted, large padded coat hanger-style ones found in the Continental GT and Flying Spur.

Drive mode with corresponding ride height and damping modifications is selected on one side of the dial around the ignition button. Select from Sport, Bentley, Comfort with an option to customise the ride stiffness relative to rev holding. What’s Bentley mode? That’s where the ride and handling dynamics are optimised for you by the chassis engineers in Crewe.
Analog meters for speed and revs continue the “classic” theme on the instrument panel though the electronic driving, performance and parking aids are entirely 21st century. As standard, the Bentayga comes with four identical sized electrically-adjustable reclinable seats with ventilation and massage functions at the front and ISOFIX fittings and foot rests for the rear.
The rest of the standard equipment list is not long but includes the eight-speed automatic gearbox, panoramic sunroof, air suspension, eight-inch infotainment touchscreen monitor, 10-inch frameless Android-based entertainment tablets for the rear seat passengers, GPS system and LED headlights with high beam assist and hill descent control.
Soft-closing doors and triple seals on all apertures and insulation against any noise or vibration create cabin serenity but should passengers become bored by all that cosseting, there is a 20-speaker audio system or detachable 10-inch entertainment tablets linked to the car’s infotainment system and Bluetooth headphones to preoccupy them.
The boot is small at 430 litres, in comparison Range Rover’s 550, but pull back the rear cover and it goes up to 590 litres. Cargo volume for those with bench seats is a bit more flexible as they can be split and folded.
PERFORMANCE
There’re more engine variants in the works but currently, there’s only one engine capacity, an all-new six-litre W12 which is a brute. It was specifically developed for the Bentayga. It produces 600 bhp and 900 Nm of torque compared to the 552 bhp and 650 Nm in the previous W12, but is lighter by 30kg. The twin-scroll twin turbos give faster spooling, and there are both port and direct injectors, and special pumps so that the Bentayga can be tilted at up to 35 degrees in any direction without the engine dying.
The Bentayga has permanent four-wheel drive in a 40 front, 60 rear torque split, Hill Descend Control, torque vectoring, electronic stability and traction control, 245mm of ground clearance and a wading depth of 500mm to get it through most situations.
The Bentaygas on our test drive was fitted with optional All-Terrain Specification: denoted by the four off-road modes on the right of the Drive Select dial: snow and grass; dirt and gravel; mud and trail, and sand dunes. Details of the vehicle’s longitudinal and transverse angle, individual wheel suspension travel, steering angle, altitude and compass baring would have been displayed on the Driver Information Panel.
Is it possible to complain that an engine sounds too refined? The W12 lacked that certain low timbre that should come from something with such great performance. It has so much available torque that it negates the need for a low range gearbox. Also, because peak torque is available at 1,350 rpm there’s not much call for sport mode for everyday driving. This though, might be considered good for fuel economy if it were something Bentayga owners had to worry about.
Auto start-stop, sailing function to decouple the engine when cruising and full cylinder shut down – one bank so it runs as a 3.0-litre VR6 – help with fuel conservation but having three separate water pumps and cooling systems to manage engine temperature is still thirsty work. It may be 10 percent more efficient that the earlier W12 but the 14.9 litres per 100km claimed on the urban run isn’t going to be anything like that in KL traffic conditions.
THE DRIVE
To recap, a few points about the Bentayga’s weight, power and acceleration: some 2.4 tonnes, 600 bhp and 900 Nm, triple digit speed in 4.1 seconds. Have we mentioned before, that it’s the fastest SUV in the world?
So there were a few surprises when we were hauling the Bentayga at full tilt on the track. First was how quickly it moved for its size: the 0-100km/h time is just a figure until it’s your foot spurring it on. When the instructors realised just how much ground the Bentayga could cover in how little time, the handling track was shortened by five metres so that it would stop safely because the track was still slick from rain.
Second was the incredible power of the brakes. A power to weight ratio of 248 hp per tonne, compared to the 219 hp per tonne of the Flying Spur effectively made it an SUV-shaped rocket. Yet from full speed to dead halt, the Bentayga stopped in a shorter distance than the lighter, V8 powered Conti GT and the Flying Spur and with remarkably little yaw considering the amount of weight it was carting in front.
There was no indecision from the gearbox to hamper smooth driving and the electric power steering itself felt weighty without being heavy, providing good amounts of feedback so it never felt like handling a lumbering mass.
Which comes to another surprise: despite the elephantine body, the Bentayga was elegantly fleet-footed as it wove its way around traffic cones during the slalom. There was incredible body control and handling precision in comfort mode with ride buffering that was refined, stiff but not jarring. In sports mode there weren’t any noticeable suspension changes but the tone of the revs dropped and were held for longer with crisper steering responses.
The suspension technology was also newly created for the Bentayga. The air suspension mopped up shakes and bumps to keep it as stable as possible through sensors in the active anti-roll bars. In comfort mode, they were ready to stiffen the dampers to sport mode levels if they detected a change in how the car was moving.
Called the Bentley Dynamic Ride, body roll is countered by electric motors at each corner of the car, which stiffen and relax the anti-roll bars to keep the SUV level through twists and turns. The continuous active damping is powered by a specially developed 48-volt system, separate from the standard 12-volt system. It’s quite a feat of engineering to control the forces of physics so exactingly, especially on something as tall and muscular as the Bentayga but it worked and fast too. It wasn’t easy to destabilise the Bentayga – I tried, hard. Pity my passenger.
IS THIS CAR FOR YOU?
This mobile temple of excess would definitely cement your place at the top of the social pile. The only thing you’d need is the patience to wait for the delivery of your perfect Bentayga.
COMPARISONS
Land Rover’s most lavish top-of-the-range four-wheel drive is the £165,500, 550 hp, 680 Nm petrol V8 Range Rover SVAutobiography LWB. It can’t compete in the personalisation stakes but then the Bentayga’s possibilities are, frankly, dazzling: 102 exterior paint colours, five alloy wheel options, 15 leather upholstery colours of which are 14 main hide and 12 secondary hide choices with four ways in which those colour options can be combined. Then there’re seven wood veneers to select from before moving on to the small yet still important details: stitching, piping, carpet and seat belt colours. The Bentayga’s diamond stitched upholstery also gives it the upper hand in cabin ambience.
Pitch the two on the open road and the Bentayga would easily outgun the Range Rover. It is 1.5 seconds faster in the century sprint and boasts a 301km/h top speed. But alter the landscape and the Bentayga would be the lagger because the Rangey has the full off-road caboodle: Terrain-Response 2, All Terrain Progress Control and a low range gearbox fitted as standard with the added advantage of steeper approach and departure angles, higher wading depth and ground clearance.
If you absolutely have to go off the beaten track in your Bentayga, make sure your trailblazing buddy is in a Range Rover because the Bentley’s 85-litre tank’s range is limited compared to the the Range Rover’s 105 litre reservoir and lower burn rate.
The Land Rover comes prepared for every eventuality – all available options are fitted as standard. The Bentayga has permanent four-wheel drive but to be able to compete under tougher conditions, owners would need All-Terrain Specification, a £4,520 (RM24,000) option that adds undercarriage protection and traction management systems to handle more varied surfaces. To come up to the same kit level as the SVA would require two more packages: City Specification at £3,925 (RM21,000), and Touring Specification at £5,900 (RM31,000), making the top-up cost of the electronic driver aids almost £15,000 (RM79,000). It’s small money to any Bentayga owner so it’s surprising that Bentley isn’t just throwing them all in.
The Bentayga was sold out for 2016 even before the first one had been driven. At this stage, the chances of getting one for 2017 are slim but that’s not a bad thing because it means you get more time to mull over the multitude of options and combinations and also to treat yourself to a few very special order options like a mechanical Breitling clock that takes three months to handcraft. Add that and the price of your Bentayga would double before any other options are specced.
This is a rarefied world so if being amongst the first is even more important then there is another newer yet no less exclusive waiting list to get on to: the Rolls-Royce SUV that will debut in 2018. And after that is the Lamborghini Urus.
As there is no official quoted price for the Range Rover SVAutobiography LWB (short for Long Wheelbase) in Malaysia, we used pounds sterling (£) to compare between the Bentayga and the equivalent SUV.
Bentley Bentayga
Range Rover LWB SVAutobiography
ENGINE
Type
W12, petrol, twin-turbocharged
V8, petrol, supercharged
Displacement
cc
5950
5000
Max Power
hp/rpm
600/5000-6000rpm
550
Max Torque
Nm/rpm
900/1350
680/3500-4000rpm
STEERING
Type
Electric Power-Steering
Electric Power-Steering
DRIVETRAIN
Transmission
8-speed, auto
8-speed, auto
SUSPENSION
Type
Front/rear
Double wishbone/multi-link
Double wishbone/multi-link
BRAKES
Front
Ventilated disc
Ventilated disc
Rear
Ventilated disc
Ventilated disc
TYRE & WHEELS
Tyres
275/50 R20

275/45 R21
Wheels
Alloy
Alloy
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
Overall Length
mm
5141
5199
Overall Width
mm
1998
2220
Overall Height
mm
1742
1840
Wheelbase
mm
2995
3120
Max Kerb weight
kg
2422
2523
Luggage Capacity (VDA)
L
430
550
FUEL
Tank Capacity
L
85
105
Consumption
13.1L/100km
12.8L/100km
PERFORMANCE
Max Speed
km/h
301
225
0-100km/h
sec
4.1
5.5
OFF ROAD
Ground clearance
mm
245
295.5
Wading Depth
mm
545
900
Approach Angle
25º
34.7º
Ramp Angle
22º
26.1º
Departure Angle
25º
29.6º
PRICE (without insurance)
RM
POA
POA
WOULD I BUY IT?
With so many customisation options to choose from, I’d need have two.
IMAGE GALLERY


New Power15: A warranty programme that covers your Ferrari for up to 15 years!

Ferrari has introduced the New Power15 extended warranty programme, whereby your Ferrari would be covered for up to 15 years from the date they’re first registered, yet again leading the way in its provision of after-sales services.
In fact, did you know that in 2014, Ferrari became the first marque in the world to offer its elite clientele the possibility of extending warranty cover up to 12 years?
To enhance the Prancing Horse ownership experience, it has now extended that programme further to offer owners an even better package with the aim to protect the value and functional integrity of the owner’s Ferraris over an even longer period.
Every new Ferrari comes with the standard factory
three-year warranty
 along with a
seven-year free maintenance programme
. The full factory warranty can be extended for a further two years and, from the vehicle’s 6th to 12th year, where owners can opt for the New Power warranty which will provide
cover on all major components
.
This new offering even extends the coverage further by offering the possibility of covering the vehicle’s main mechanical components, including the
engine
,
gearbox
,
PTU
,
suspension
 and
 steering
, from year 12 right up to year 15. Extensions for the coverage will last for 12 months with an option to renew annually for three years.
This warranty extension option is available both for new and pre-owned Ferraris. Subject to the said Ferrari’s passing specific technical checks, the New Power15 extended warranty can also be provided to those which have not taken up the extended warranty cover, or on cars with gaps in the cover.
This makes the New Power15 Extended Warranty the most flexible and comprehensive package of its kind, setting a new benchmark in the automotive world.


Ford Performance takes the drapes off the ultra hot Ford Mustang GT4

Ford Performance just pulled the wraps off one of the most badass looking Mustangs to date, but this one is for the track. The Ford Mustang GT4, as its name suggests, will compete around the globe in the FIA GT4 series.
Strapped with a purpose-built
5.2-litre naturally aspirated V8
 motor (developed together with Roush Yates Engines) up front, the GT4 receives extensive aerodynamic bodywork. Extra downforce is provided by the front splitter, hood vents, diveplanes, rear diffuser as well as a massive rear wing inspired by the Ford GT racing programme.
We don’t have information on the performance figures yet, but the six-speed Holinger paddle shift transmission is supposedly race-proven and is direct-pneumatic activated. The flywheel and twin-plate racing clutch is co-developed with ZF. The chassis now gets Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve dampers from Multimatic, who also supplies the front and rear stabiliser bars as well as rear lower control arms (designed specifically for coil-overs). The 18″ x 11″ wheels are from Forgeline, whereas the brake rotors and six-piston callipers are by Brembo.
On the inside, the Mustang GT4 is equipped with a roll cage that is full FIA-compliant, including a racing dash logger from MoTeC. This Mustang will go head to head against race giants such as Porsche, Aston Martin and Ferrari.
Can we have a road-legal variant of the GT4, please?
IMAGE GALLERY


Toyota Yaris launching in Malaysia soon, would you take this over the Jazz?

UMW Toyota Motor, the official distributor of Toyota vehicles in Malaysia has announced that their next product launch will be the all-new Toyota Yaris, essentially the hatchback version of the
Vios
.
It will be locally assembled at UMWT’s plant in Bukit Raja, Klang where the Vios is currently being built. The company did not reveal specification details of the upcoming hatchback but expect the Yaris to follow the specification of the
Vios
.
Our local spec Yaris is expected to use the same 2NR-VE 1.5-litre Dual VVT-i engine and CVT combo packing
107 hp
 and
140 Nm
 of torque to drive the front wheels. Seven airbags and Vehicle Stability Control should be standard across the Yaris range.
If UMWT hopes to compete
with the Honda Jazz, the Yaris’ pricing should not stray too far from the Honda’s
RM70k to RM83k range. Question is, would you go pick the Yaris over the Jazz?
IMAGE GALLERY
Toyota Yaris in Thailand
Toyota Yaris in Indonesia


Hyundai Ioniq is serious about slaying the Toyota Prius

It appears that Hyundai is seriously aiming at crippling the hybrid giant of the world – the Toyota Prius – with their all-new Hyundai Ioniq. The Korean carmaker has devised a strategic three-pronged attack by coming up with the Ioniq Hybrid, Electric and Plug-in variants.
All variants will share one key feature – a sleek exterior shell with an impressive coefficient drag value of
0.24
. Also to note, the hybrid and plug-in models will get blue accents while the exclusive copper coloured highlights is only reserved for the all-electric variant.
As a callback from our
previous story
, all three variants of the Ioniq are powered by the new Kappa
1.6-litre four cylinder Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI)
 engine mated with an electric motor. Together, they make for a combined output of
140 hp
 with up to
265 Nm
 of torque. Transmission choice is a rather unique call – a six-speed automatic dual clutch gearbox, and the electric motor is juiced by a
1.56 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery
. Top speed is rated at
182km/h
.
The Ioniq is not built for 0-100km/h glory, instead the car’s main focus is its range. The plug-in electric model utilises an
8.9 kWh lithium-ion
battery pack that is capable of travelling
50km
 on electrical power alone. The electric variant meanwhile, carries a larger
 28 kWh lithium-ion-polymer
 battery pack that’s good for up to
250km
 on a single charge!
The Ioniq is equipped with a multitude of safety tech which include autonomous emergency braking, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist that will proactively prevent traffic accidents by applying brake force.
At this point in time, it’s still too early to say for sure if Hyundai Sime Darby Motors will introduce the Ioniq as a fully imported model. The odds are against us, mainly due to unfavourable excise duties and taxation that could skyrocket the Ioniq’s asking price. However, should they find a way to localise the model via Inokom’s plant (used to rebadge Hyundai vehicles in Malaysia) in Kedah, then it might just be able to qualify for the Energy Efficient Vehicle (EEV) incentive.
[Image Credit: Autocar UK]
IMAGE GALLERY


Can the Mitsubishi Triton Absolute Concept rival the Ford Ranger Raptor?

Mitsubishi has just showcased the Mitsubishi Triton Absolute concept pick up truck at the 2019 Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS). A design study for an extreme version of the Triton clad in a heavy duty body kit and enhanced tuning for absolute off-road performance.
On the outside, the Triton
Absolute wears additional protective body cladding with a carbon fibre finish
on the front and rear skid plates accented with red pinstriping. If Mitsubishi decides
to send this car to production, those carbon fibre bits (assuming they are genuine
carbon fibre) are not going to be cheap to come by.
The underpinnings of the
Triton Absolute have also been beefed up with wider track, heavy duty Falken Wildpeak
M/T off-road tyres, upgraded suspension and raised ride height by 50 mm for
improved ground clearance and suspension travel.
It would be interesting to see what Mitsubishi can achieve with an extreme version of the Triton but the question is, is it more desirable than the
Ford Ranger Raptor
?
IMAGE GALLERY
Mitsubishi Triton Absolute Concept


Police faced with all sorts of excuses at roadblocks

According to TheStar, while many are adhering to the Movement Control Order, which has now been extended to the 14th of April 2020, some are giving the plain ridiculous excuses at the roadblocks.
Some needed screwdrivers while some claimed only the missus knows what groceries to get.
This was reported by Serdang OCPD Asst Comm when a car with two passengers were stopped with the husband claiming that his wife was better off with the groceries. Such a statement should be embarrassing for a grown man to think of, let alone spoken out loud.
While it’s understandable that perhaps with all the free time, one is more inclined to notice some maintenance work required for the household but if it can wait, it should be put on hold.
Nothing is more important than not contracting the virus and bringing it back to your household
.
Instead of going out, here’s
 5 car chase scenes from movies of the 90s
 worth revisiting!
“There are some from the outskirts who thought it’d be a nice to drive around the city due to the lack of cars while some are in KL from a faraway district just to buy food,” said Dang Wangi OCPD, Asst Comm, Mohd Fahmi Visuvanathan Abdullah in the same report.
In Penang, authorities have also reported that some have attempted to cross the Penang Bridge into the island for some Nasi Kandar. Some people just can’t handle the slightest inconvenience, change, “pain and suffering”.
Authorities have said that those caught wandering about for no good reason will spend time in the slammer but truth be told, with these guys, nothing short of a draconian approach will do.
Catch them, throw them into the front line to watch what our first responders are going through – that’ll show them.


The last Land Rover Defender leaves production line after 68 years

The Land Rover Defender, an iconic off-road vehicle that is recognisable just about anywhere in the world, has reached an important milestone after the final unit of Defender rolled off the production line in Solihull. This marks the end of an era for the Defender after 68 years of production.
To celebrate the occasion, 700 current and former staff of the plant gathered to witness the Defender 90 Heritage Soft Top model rolled out from the production line. That unit was in fact, the
2,016,933 millionth
 Defender built within the confines of Solihull which has been in existence since 1948. Despite that, it’s not all gloom and doom as Jaguar Land Rover is developing the next generation Defender that is set to carry the same mantle as its predecessor.
The Defender was not known as the “Defender” when it left the factory in 1948, instead, it was known as the Land Rover Series. Inspired by the Willys Jeep, it had undergone three iterations (or series) of evolutions before being rebranded as the Defender in 1990. Over the years, the Defender and Series models have shaped the world like few others, be it for exploration, ferrying soldiers into the battlefield or providing transport in paths no ordinary vehicles could traverse.
The Defender/Series has had a colourful presence in Malaysia. Our police force used them as the “Black Maria”, transporting criminals to justice while over at East Malaysia, they’ve been a useful tool used to explore the dense forest of Borneo. In Cameron Highland lies the biggest gathering of old and battled Land Rovers with “CH” logo on each side of the door. These workhorses have been running up and down the hills of Cameron Highlands for decades upon decades, ferrying all sorts of things from people to harvests. In fact, read more about it
here
.

 Source: www.cahayakeagungan.com

 Image Source: http://brakehorsepower.com.au/
Last year, Land Rover Malaysia offered the Defender Limited Edition model with 13 additional accessories at RM153,888, plus RM65,388 for the Limited Edition Accessories package.
Farewell, good ol’ lad. You will be missed.


BMW’s new gaming chair is just what you need during this lockdown

If there’s one thing those of us who have been working from home have in common, is that we’re sitting way too much. Whether it’s for work, leisure browsing, streaming, or gaming, we’ve been on our butts far more than we should the past two years. Thanks, Covid-19.
The one thing we all need then is a chair and table combo with proper ergonomics and support. If only that was considered for every household in the government aid schemes.
In collaboration with Designworks, a design studio for the BMW Group, BMW has come up with this – the
Rival Rig
.
The rig features a gaming chair that was developed in close collaboration with gamers and BMW engineers; not just for the best ergonomics and comfort but also to allow gamers to fully immerse themselves.
The gaming rig is clever too. Take the
Microclimate Control System
 for example. Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, if it detects that the gamer’s neck or ears are heating up, it will direct cool air specifically to that area.
The
Adaptive Seating
 feature on the BMW gaming chair is also worth mentioning. If it detects pressure on the armrests, the seat will lower its armrests automatically using sensors, pneumatic air pads, and actuators.
The design of the Rival Rig was
influenced by spaceships and Formula 1
 cars to promote a sense of focus for the user; allowing them to fully concentrate on the task at hand.
With LED lighting everywhere, the gaming rig can also mirror what’s happening in a game through lighting effects – from calm lighting to brightly lit depending on the game.
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Honda Malaysia launches the facelifted Honda Odyssey with Honda Sensing

Honda Malaysia has extended their model range equipped with Honda Sensing with the launch of the facelifted Honda Odyssey – the third model aftrer the CR-V and Accord to be equipped with the Next Generation Advanced Safety Technology.
Mechanically, nothing’s changed; the facelifted Odyssey retains the 2.4-litre i-VTEC Earth Dreams Technology that’s mated to a Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT). Output is rated at
172 hp
 with
 225 Nm
 of torque.
Name
Honda Odyssey 2.4 EXV
Engine
2.4-litre DOHC i-VTEC
Transmission
Continuous Variable Transmission(CVT)
Max Power
172 hp @ 6,200 rpm
Max Torque
225 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
Price (OTR without Insurance)
 RM 254,800

The new Odyssey’s exterior has been enhanced with a redesigned front bumper, new front grille, new LED rear lights, newly-designed 17-inch wheels, LED fog lights and electric-retractable door mirrors with Auto Dim rear view mirrors.
The Odyssey’s reworked interior comes with new bigger armrest by the driver seat, 4-way passenger power seats, bigger headrests for its Premium Captain seats with Ottoman on the second row for improved comfort on longer journeys.
The Ultra-Low Floor Platform in the new Odyssey allows for passengers to get in and out easily on top of improving cabin space, equivalent to a large-class MPV.
The highlight of it all is the addition of the Honda Sensing system to the facelifted Odyssey. The system consists of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Collision Mitigating Braking System CMBS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM).
On top of that, the Odyssey also comes with a Multi-view Camera System, Smart Parking Assist System, Blind Spot Information System and Cross Traffic Monitoring along with six airbags.
The Odyssey will be available in three colours – two of which are a first for a Honda –
Platinum White Pearl
 and
Premium Twinkle Black Pearl
 along with the former Super Platinum Metallic. The Odyssey goes for
RM 254,800
, including GST without Insurance, with 5-years warranty with unlimited mileage.
IMAGE GALLERY


Geely and Renault join forces to develop new hybrid models for South Korea

Geely Group and Renault Group have officially inked a new deal to develop new hybrid and pure-ICE models for the South Korean market as well as export sales. As part of the agreement, Geely will license its compact modular architecture (CMA) platform and powertrain technologies to Renault Samsung Motors (RSM).
The CMA platform was jointly developed by Geely and Volvo under their China Euro Vehicle Technology (CEVT) R&D outfit. The modular architecture made its debut in 2017 on the
Volvo XC40 crossover
, and has since seen use in a variety of other models under Geely Group brands, including the
Polestar 2
,
Geely Xingyue L
, and a slew of
Lynk & Co
 models.
According to the press release, Renault and RSM meanwhile will contribute in terms of design and “customer experience”, as well as the production of the vehicles at the RSM facility in Busan, South Korea.
“
Geely has a proven track record in creating mutually beneficial collaborations that focus on technology, experience and shared ideas with the ultimate goal of creating higher quality, more sustainable products. We are looking forward to working with Renault and realizing new synergies that combine strengths from both parties to create value for the end user,” said Geely Holding Group Chairperson, Eric Li.
“We are happy to initiate such an innovative partnership with Geely Group, which has an impressive track record in Automotive Industry. Through this project, Geely Holding and Renault Group pave the way to pursue 20 years of successful RSM journey and contribution to the South Korean industry,” added Renault Group CEO, Luca de Meo.
The partnership was first announced back in
August of last year
, when the companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the joint venture.
Renault has previously ended its partnership with Dongfeng Motors and exited the Chinese market due to poor sales; it is understood that the products from this new Geely-Renault tie-up could also be exported to China as the French marque hopes to regain some foothold in the region.


Volvo offers free 1st-year insurance, Polestar package and service for the S90 and S60

In conjunction with the
Volvo 2020 Merdeka campaign
, the company will be offering free 1st-year insurance, free Polestar optimisation package and free 5-year service maintenance for three of its cars –
the S60 T8 R-Design
, the
S90 T8 Inscription Plus
 and S90 T8 Special Edition.
The three special deals under the Volvo 2020 Merdeka campaign is worth RM11,000, RM5,250 and RM9,200 respectively. Specifically for the S90 models, Volvo is also throwing in a RM15,000 voucher to purchase accessories for the T8 Inscription Plus, and a complimentary exterior styling kit, 20-inch wheel and tyre package worth RM35,000 for the T8 Special Edition.

Through the campaign, Volvo Car Malaysia is offering the public a chance to own exclusive Volvo merchandise such as watches, sunglasses, electric ride-on cars for children, and more at a special bundle price of RM1,957. There is a bundle deal for men, women, and children, with each category consisting of specific lifestyle items.
Alongside the Merdeka campaign, Volvo Car owners who present their car key when purchasing any Thule Crossover 2 luggage bags and backpacks will be given a Thule Subterra PowerShuttle Organiser worth RM119. Volvo car owners will also receive a 15% discount on all Thule items until the end of December 2020.

Volvo Car Malaysia has extended its current online booking campaign until the end of August. To recap, the campaign offers a complimentary Polestar optimisation package for
all Volvo cars booked online
.
Following the Sales Tax Exemption, for the latest price list of Volvo vehicles in Malaysia, click
here
. Find out more about SELEKT used car programme
 here
.
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2017 Citroen E-Berlingo Multispace unveiled, 67 hp & 200 Nm, 170 km range

Remember some good years ago when the quirky Citroen Berlingo was sold here in Malaysia? Now there’s a much more modern version of the small MPV, the Citroen E-Berlingo Multispace.
As its name suggest, it is all-electric and is built based on Berlingo. It retains the two iconic rear sliding doors and seats five. Standard boot volume is
675 litres
, but expands to a cavernous 3,000 litres when the rear seats are folded. Items such as air conditioning, hill-start assist and a 7.0-inch touchscreen are available.
This electrified Berlingo is powered by an electric motor that packs
67 hp
 and
200 Nm
 of torque. E-power comes from two high-capacity lithium-ion battery packs that are located on each side of the rear axle. With fast charging, up to 50 percent of energy can be recuperated within 15 minutes, and getting to 80 percent charge takes just 30 minutes. When it’s plugged into a domestic home socket, it takes 8 hours to get a full charge from empty.
At full capacity, the batteries yield up to a claimed distance of
170 km
. As of now, no pricing has been revealed, and it’s unclear as to whether the E-Berlingo will sell in great numbers. But it does make sense for Citroen to roll this out, for it might just give urbanites a highly practical, tax-free alternative.
IMAGE GALLERY


Grab Malaysia to increase ride fares, to give drivers fairer compensation

Grab Malaysia announced today that it will revise its fares based more on the time it takes to complete a journey and less on the distance of it. The reason for this initiative would be to give Grab drivers fairer compensation.
According to
Malay Mail
, the e-hailing provider, the revision is part of its efforts to address the low availability of Grab drivers during heavy traffic and congestion.
“Over the past year, we have observed that traffic jams have increased. This increases the cost (in time and fuel) to serve each ride while simultaneously reducing the effective capacity of Grab drivers to complete more rides,” according to Grab.
As for its driver-partners, Grab Malaysia said that there will be an addition of new incentives including a ‘far pick-up bonus’ and hourly cashbacks.
“We have taken great consideration to ensure that average ride fares remain largely unchanged with some minor increase and decrease across rides throughout the day,” Grab said.


Mazda6 Facelift with G-Vectoring now in Malaysia, priced from RM171k

Mazda Malaysia has just quietly rolled out the
updated Mazda6
, and while the visual differences are less than obvious, rest assured that you’re getting what your money’s worth under the skin.
Most of the aesthetic updates remain as per the
2015 Mazda6 facelift
. This time however, it gets Mazda’s new
G-Vectoring Control (GVC)
, along with some updated interior bits. Like before, the Mazda6 facelift with GVC can be had in four variants –
2.0L sedan
, 2.5L sedan and 2.5L wagon while the
2.2L diesel
 remains in sedan form. Prices have gone up slightly across the board (around RM6.5k) due to the poor forex.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Mazda6 SkyActiv-G 2.0L
Mazda6 SkyActiv-G 2.5L
Mazda6 Touring SkyActiv-G 2.5L
Mazda6 SkyActiv-D 2.2L
Engine
1,998cc; DOHC, inline-4
2,488cc; DOHC, inline-4
2,488cc; DOHC, inline-4
2,191cc; DOHC, turbocharged inline-4
Transmission
6-speed automatic
Max Power
153 hp @ 6,000rpm
185 hp @ 5,700 rpm
185 hp @ 5,700 rpm
173 hp @ 4,500 rpm
Max Torque
200 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
250 Nm @ 3,250 rpm
250 Nm @ 3,250 rpm
420 Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Price (OTR with insurance)
RM170,407.58
RM206,896.70
RM211,006.94
RM215,264.67
The entry level variant gets halogen projector headlamps with bulb-type DRLs and fog lamps. Anything above that gets full LED headlamps with LED DRLs as well as LED fog lamps. The 2.0L is also the only variant to ride on 17-inch wheels (225/55 profile), versus the 19-inch (225/45) set for the rest.

Inside, the equipment list dittos that of the
current Mazda6
 on sale. However, new items include the slimmer three-spoke leather wrapped steering wheel that was first featured on the
CX-9
. Also new is an updated instrument cluster with
full-coloured LCD display
. Models fitted with heads-up display (2.5L petrol and 2.2L diesel) now feature colours instead of the monotonous display of old.
No mechanical changes have been done to the 2.0L and 2.5L SkyActiv-G petrol engines. The former produces
153 hp/200 Nm
 whereas the latter churns
185 hp/250 Nm
. The 2.2L SkyActiv-D on the other hand produces
173 hp and 420 Nm
. The
six-speed SkyActiv Drive automatic transmission
 is fitted on all models to channel drive to the front wheels.
Every variant comes equipped with i-STOP auto start/stop function to conserve fuel, but only the base variant misses out on the i-ELOOP regenerative braking system. The biggest change as mentioned earlier is the introduction of the
GVC
. This software distributes optimum power to each wheel depending on steering response,
improving vehicle dynamics and ride comfort
 in the process.
Standard safety equipment include six airbags, ABS with EBD, BA, ESC and emergency stop signal. The 2.5L petrol and 2.2 diesel models gets
 i-Activsense safety system
 that gives adaptive LED headlamps, Lane Departure Warning System, Lane Keep Assist System, Smart City Brake System, Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
Every purchase of the Mazda6 facelift with G-Vectoring Control comes with a 3-Year or 60,000km warranty and a 3-Years or 60,000km free service package.
IMAGE GALLERY
Mazda6 2.5L Sedan Facelift with GVC


These Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII images will make you wish your parents made more money

Cause if they were filthy rich, we wouldn’t have to worry about money, wouldn’t we? How else would we be able to enjoy the painstakingly-crafted opulence of a Rolls-Royce if not by leeching off our parents?
On our own efforts? Not a chance. To perform such a high level transaction, Rolls-Royce vehicles would require at least two generations of accumulated wealth to acquire and although it’s not mathematically-proven, you know it’s true for most of us.
So how else can you appreciate the full extent of a Rolls-Royce’s glory? How about these images of the Phantom VIII roaming the streets of Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur from peak to the wee hours?
As cliche as it sounds, there’s only one way to describe them – absolutely stunning. It’s the work of
Visio Imaging
 and they’re arguably the best in the automotive photography business.
These images not only successfully capture the sheer presence and aura of a Rolls-Royce Phantom on our roads but also the beauty of our rustic inner city.
Among the iconic locations set out for the 8th generation Phantom to perform its catwalk included the infamous street food haven, Jalan Alor, the diverse surroundings of Kampung Baru, the back streets of Petaling Street and in the Smart Tunnel.
As if maneuvering it around the tight ends of our city wasn’t stressful enough, it had to also deal with countless onlookers jumping in front of the slow-moving vehicle for selfies.
“The attention generated by the second Phantom built under BMW’s ownership was simply phenomenal,” said those involved with the project.
The
Phantom VIII was introduced in Malaysia towards the end of 2017
and is available in two different forms – Standard or Extended Wheelbase – to the tune of
RM2.2 million
 and
RM2.5 million
 (before taxes) respectively.
It’s powered by a massive 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12 making
 563 hp
 and an incredible
900 Nm
of torque. This allows even the heavier Extended Wheelbase model to sprint from o to 100 km/h in just 5.2 seconds,
as quick as a Volkswagen Golf R
off the line; just let that sink in.
IMAGE GALLERY


Mazda reportedly developing hydrogen combustion rotary engine for RX-8 successor

Mazda’s rotary engine revival is not a secret any more; the company officially confirmed earlier this year that there’ll be a Wankel engine-powered range extender EV due sometime next year. But according to a
report
 from Japanese automotive publication
Best Car
, Mazda isn’t stopping there just yet – they’re also developing a hydrogen-burning rotary engine to be used in the
 successor to the RX-8
.
Citing no sources, the publication writes that Mazda has carried on developing the rotary engine, even after production for the RX-8 ended in 2012. While development post RX-8 focused around the range-extender tech that we’ll soon see being implemented on the MX-30, racing against the
hydrogen-powered Toyota Corolla
 in the Super Taikyu endurance race has reignited Mazda’s passion for high-performance hydrogen-powered rotary engines.
Mazda will be unveiling a rotary-powered range extender variant to the MX-30 EV next year. Learn more about it here!
We say “reignited”, because it’s not the first time Mazda has experimented with hydrogen-powered rotary engines. The Japanese company first introduced a hydrogen rotary concept way back in 1991 with the HR-X, and in 2003, they even leased hydrogen-powered RX-8s to customers, and supplied 30 units to Norway’s national hydrogen project, Hynor.
According to
Best Car
, rotary engines are particularly suited for hydrogen combustion, due to the use of rotors instead of pistons, which eliminated “heat spots” in the engine. These heat spots are a particular pain point for hydrogen combustion engines, due to the fuel’s tendency to spontaneously combust.
Recent Mazda patents suggest that the company is making a new sports coupe based on the RX-Vision concept! Check it out here.
There are no details yet on the engine’s output capabilities, as its development is most likely still in the embryonic stage. No words too on which car the hydrogen rotary engine will ultimately power, though the consensus in the community seems to be for a sports coupe based on the
Mazda RX-Vision concept
 unveiled in 2015.
The report does however state that it’s likely the hydrogen-burning rotary engine will also feature some form of electric assistance. This is particularly due to the difficulty in extracting power from hydrogen without a large, highly-pressurised tank.
Mazda recently filed a trademark application for a new ‘R’ logo in Japan – is the Spirit R making a comeback? Learn more here.
“If [we] decide to do it, I think the prototype will be completed within three years. The most likely system is a system that combines an electric turbo,” an anonymous Mazda official told
Best Car
. However, making a prototype is the easy part; the challenge is to find a strong-enough business case to justify building the car.
Ultimately, the project will only be green-lit if there are enough people willing to buy the car, which
Best Car
 says will most likely be an expensive and limited edition model. Will you be interested in a hydrogen-powered Mazda RX-8 successor? Let us know in the comments below!
[H/T:
Autoblog
]


Jeremy Clarkson and Co. says goodbye to studio television

Choking on his words, a tearful Jeremy Clarkson announced that it’s the “end of an era” for the trio while filming the Grand Tour in front of a live audience.
The end, however, isn’t imminent, with Season 3 of The Grand Tour to be premiered next month and a 4th season confirmed, the latter will see a move away from the usual studio formats we’ve been used to for the past 17 years. Check out the Season 3 trailer below:
In his usual cynical manner, Clarkson said, “There’s only so much you can say about a BMW going around a track. We all agreed that we’ve been doing it a long time and everything eventually runs its course”.
“Besides, I’m too fat to be climbing on to the stage”, added the 58 year old who is also the host of UK’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.


New Kia Stinger unveiled with 300 hp 2.5L turbo engine option

After a flurry of news on electric vehicles this week, we return to coverage of the traditional combustion powertrain. Kia Motors in the USA has just released information on the updated Stinger sports sedan, six months after its
initial unveiling
 in South Korea.
The highlight of the updated model is the new four-cylinder engine, now displacing
2.5 litres
. Codename G4K3, the turbocharged engine pushes out
300 hp
 and
422 Nm
 of torque, which are a significant 45 hp and 69 Nm increase over the ‘Theta II’
 2.0-litre mill
.
Sprinting from naught to 96 km/h (60 mph) is now 0.8 seconds quicker, registering 5.2 seconds on the stopwatch, with top speed electronically governed at 209 km/h (130 mph).
The head-lining twin-turbocharged ‘Lambda II’
3.3-litre V6
 maintains its peak outputs of
368 hp
 and
510 Nm
 of torque. Kia however promises a more visceral six-cylinder soundtrack from the newly designed exhaust outlets thanks to an electronically-control
variable valve
 in the exhaust system.
Both engines are still paired with Kia’s own eight-speed automatic transmission, and customers can select to have either rear- or all-wheel drive traction.
The new 2.5-litre engine is only available with the GT-Line trim levels, as such, it is meeting expectations of a regular D-segment sedan rather than a sports sedan. Standard features include LED headlamps, 18-inch wheels with equal-sized tyres, large quad-exhaust outlets, high-performance dampers, the new 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, wireless phone charger and the full suite of Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS).
The 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged engine can be had in the similarly equipped GT-Line with additional performance-focused items such as a launch control system, mechanical limited-slip differential (LSD), variable gear ratio steering rack, larger red-painted Brembo braking system and 19-inch wheels with staggered tyre sizing.
Additional niceties such as nappa leather seats with ventilation and multi-way power adjustment, head-up display, Harman Kardon surround sound system, larger 7-inch driver’s display with performance-oriented content and electronically-controlled dampers are available as an upgrade package in the 3.3-litre variant.
In the updated Kia Stinger, revisions were made to the front and rear lights, with the new rear lights now spanning across the width of the car. The new Stinger also wears the updated Kia emblems that was recently launched as part of a
new corporate identity.
To celebrate the 2022 Model Year introduction, Kia Motors America is also introducing the Scorpion Edition that applies gloss black on the wheels, fender garnish, side mirrors and exhaust tips, a rear spoiler and carbon fibre pattern in the interior panels.
As of today, there are still no updates on the transfer of ownership of the Kia distributorship in Malaysia which was held by Naza Group. In early October last year,
Bermaz Auto
 was rumoured to be the frontrunner to continue Kia’s presence in Malaysia. The latest model to be launched by Naza Kia is the
Kia Seltos
.
Bermaz Auto announced in December 2020 that the company, together with Berjaya Corporation formed a joint venture company to take over the
distribution of Peugeot
 vehicles from Naza Group. The Malaysian conglomerate has reduced its automotive presence by ceasing control of mid-market segments and instead focussing on niche, luxury and exclusive brands such as
Ferrari, Maserati
,
Ducati and Mercedes-Benz
.
GALLERY


Ferrari GTC4Lusso premiered & previewed in Tokyo, Japan [+Video]

The
Ferrari GTC4Lusso
 has arrived in Japan at its recent Far East debut in Tokyo. The updated FF now packs more power and technology, with a “Whole New World” of experience.
The
FF
 was
Ferrari
‘s first four-wheel-drive GT supercar introduced five years ago, based on a shooting brake concept which seats four and can enjoy the immense V12 engine at the same time. Hence the name FF – Ferrari Four: an unconventional path Ferrari calls “a decisive break with the past.”
The name GTC4Lusso stands for “Gran Truismo Competizione 4-seats Luxury”

After making its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show just two months ago, the Ferrari GTC4Lusso is finally available in its largest Asian market, Japan. The launch also serves as a sneak preview for other South East Asian markets.
CEO of Ferrari Far and Middle East Hub,
Dieter Knechtel
 said, “We are very happy to hold the GTC4 Lusso Far East premiere here in Tokyo. Japan is an important market, and this year also marks our 50th anniversary here. The GTC4Lusso is the only GT car which has this exceptional level of performance, and with its remarkable versatility I am confident it will be extremely popular here, as it is proving to be in other similarly sophisticated markets.”
The latest Italian supercar’s name pays tribute to two of its GT predecessors, the
330GTC
 and the
250 GT Berlinetta Lusso
(pictured above), which were displayed at the event. The Ferrari 330GTC was launched 50 years ago, and this year marks the 50th year since Ferrari set foot in Japan.
The new 4-seater Grand Tourer retains the FF’s silhouette, but with quite a major facelift. The front bumper now has a unified air intake, new headlights, triple-slatted side air vents inherited from the 330GTC, new rear spoiler, new twin tail lights and a new rear bumper with redesigned diffuser. It runs on 20-inch rims wrapped with Michelin Pilot Super Sport 245/35 R20 in front and 295/35 R20 at the back.

Cabin design has a fresh new look with “Lusso” in mind. Steering wheel is now sleeker thanks to a smaller airbag module, and centre display is now using a larger
10.5-inch
 high-res touchscreen display. For the first time ever, a passenger side touchscreen display is incorporated into the dashboard (which we think looks brilliant), including a redesigned panoramic roof with improved wind noise reduction while cruising.

Unlike the 330GTC 2+2 configuration, the extra seats at the back here are two full seats. Ferrari says on average, a FF owner travels with three other passengers 55 percent of the time. A proven recipe that appeals to its current and potential clienteles.
The front-mounted naturally aspirated
6.3-litre V12
 engine has been tweaked, producing
680 hp
 and
697 Nm
 of torque. An increase of 30 hp and 14 Nm of toque as compared to the FF, thanks to the higher compression ratio of
13.5:1
. Now, 80 percent of max torque is available from as low as 1,750 rpm.
Power is distributed to all four wheels via the
seven-speed F1
 dual clutch gearbox, propelling the car from 0 to 100km/h in
3.4 seconds
, all the way up to its
335 km/h
 top speed.
Changes have also been made to the exhaust manifold, now featuring a 6-in-1 with equal lengths together with an electronic bypass valve. This means, the Lusso can now orchestrate a better engine soundtrack across all engine speeds. Roaring engine note during sporty driving, down to a “subtle yet potent purr” in city cruising.
Ferrari added four-wheel-steer to its four-wheel-drive system 4RM, now known as
 4RM-S
 (quattro ruote motrici e sterzanti) in the GTC4Lusso, improving agility. The new system also features electronic differential and Ferrari’s latest
Slip Side Control 4.0
 system.
The shooting brake mode contributes to 10 percent of Ferrari’s total global sales. The GTC4Lusso is currently the most powerful shooting brake in its class, and Ferrari is targeting younger clients who seek elegance and versatility in all driving conditions. The Ferrari GTC4Lusso will only arrive in Malaysia late this year, or early 2017.
IMAGE GALLERY


Facts & Figures: All-new 2020 Range Rover Evoque now available in Malaysia

Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia has launched the all-new
second-generation Range Rover Evoque
 here in Malaysia through an online presentation today, nine years after the local debut of its predecessor.
The all new Evoque is available in two variants locally – the base Evoque priced at
RM426,828
, as well as the Evoque R-Dynamic priced at
RM475,398
. Both price listed are inclusive of the
50% sales tax exemption
, excluding car registration, insurance and road tax.

EXTERIOR
The exterior of the second-generation Evoque is heavily inspired by its elder brother, the
Range Rover Velar
, though it still maintains its signature coupe-like design cues including the rising belt line and sloping roofline.
In terms of size, the all-new Evoque is slightly larger in all dimensions compared to the outgoing model, measuring 4,371 mm (+6 mm) in length, 1,649 mm (+14 mm) in height, 2,100 mm (+135 mm) in width and a longer wheelbase of 2,681 mm (+21 mm).
The R-Dynamic variant pictured here gains additional burnished copper accents on the front and rear bumpers, front fender inserts, and bonnet louvres. Otherwise, the exterior design specifications are largely similar to the base model:
Premium LED headlights with signature daytime running lights
LED taillights
Sweeping turn indicators
Flush door handles
tailgate spoiler
Five split-spoke design 20-inch alloy wheels in Gloss Sparkle Silver (Style 5076 on base model, 5079 on R-Dynamic)
Colours: Sillicon Silver, Firenze Red, Santorini Black, Seoul Pearl Silver (pictured), Yulong White, Carpathian Grey
PERFORMANCE
Both variants of the all-new Range Rover Evoque are powered by the same Ingenium 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four engine, tuned to two different power outputs. Both variants get a nine-speed automatic gearbox as standard.
On the base model, output figures are as follows:
Max horsepower: 200 hp @ 5,500 RPM
Max torque: 320 Nm @ 1,300 – 4,500 RPM
0-100 km/h: 8.5 seconds
Top speed: 216 km/h
Meanwhile, the R-Dynamic variant gets quite a significant bump in performance:
Max horsepower: 249 hp @ 5,500 RPM
Max torque: 365 Nm @ 1,300 – 4,500 RPM
0-100 km/h: 7.5 seconds
Top speed: 230 km/h
Despite the pretty face, the all-new Range Rover Evoque should be quite handy off road too, thanks to the standard-equipment
Terrain Response 2
 all-wheel drive system, which can automatically adjust torque delivery depending on the current terrain the car is on. Other driving technologies include:
All Terrain Progress Control
Hill Descent Control
Hill Launch Assist
Roll Stability Control
Torque Vectoring by Braking
INTERIOR
Thanks to the now larger size and elongated wheelbase, the second-generation Range Rover Evoque gained 20 mm extra legroom at the rear, along with a 10% larger boot space at 591 litres (+16 litres).
The interior of the all-new Evoque is chock-full of technologies, featuring the marque’s latest Touch Pro Duo infotainment system which uses two 10-inch high-definition glass touchscreens to control most of the vehicle’s functions – including climate control and the aforementioned Terrain Response 2 system.
The all-new Range Rover Evoque is also the first Land Rover model to carry the Smart Settings feature, which uses Artificial Intelligence to automatically learn and adjust the seats, climate control settings, and even your radio stations before you step in the car, depending which key or phone is approaching it.
Otherwise, the Malaysia-specification Range Rover Evoque gets the following interior specifications as standard:
12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
Perforated grained leather seats
Leather steering wheel
Graduated Linear Bright Aluminium trim finishers
14-way electric memory front seats
two-zone climate control
380W Meridian sound system
The R-Design variant gains the
Clear Sight Technology
 system which includes ClearSight Interior Rear View Mirror and ClearSight Ground View. The ClearSight Interior Rear View Mirror uses a camera positioned atop the vehicle to display a 50-degree field-of-vision rearward view on the rear view mirror.
ClearSight Ground View on the other hand allows the driver to see what’s happening right underneath the engine bay using smart camera tricks to project a 180-degree view of the ground onto the infotainment display.
Other R-Dynamic interior upgrades include:
Configurable ambient lighting
Perforated duo-tone grained leather seats
Perforated leather steering wheel
Chrome door sillplates
Bright metal pedals
Gradated Linear Dark Aluminium trim finishers
SAFETY
As standard, the second-generation Evoque comes equipped with the following safety and driver assistance features:
Six airbags
ABS with EBD
Emergency Brake Assist
Clear exit monitor (approaching traffic warning for door opening)
Park Assist, 360-degree Parking Aid (proximity sensors)
Driver Condition Monitor
Rear camera
Rear cross traffic monitor
Lane Keep Assist
Traffic Sign Recognition and Adaptive Speed Limit
Opting for the R-Dynamic variant nets you the following upgrades:
360-degree surround camera
Adaptive Cruise Control
High-speed Emergency Braking
Blind Spot Monitor
PRICING
As mentioned above, the all-new second generation Land Rover Range Rover Evoque is available in Malaysia starting at
RM426,828
 for the base model, and
RM475,398
 for the R-Dynamic model. Both price listed are inclusive of the 50% sales tax exemption for fully imported vehicles, excluding car registration, insurance and road tax.
As standard, the all-new Range Rover Evoque comes with the Land Rover Care package, which includes:
Five-year/150,000 km warranty
Five-year/65,000 km servicing package
Three-year Land Rover Roadside Assistance
IMAGE GALLERY


GALLERY: 2015 Toyota Hilux TRD Sportivo, now available at your nearest Toyota showroom

You’ve
read our story
 and seen how the Hilux looks like with the
TRD Sportivo bodykit
, but it hasn’t made its public appearance until today, when it officially hits your nearest Toyota showroom.
For those who are not free over the weekend to view the Hilux TRD Sportivo in person, don’t worry, we have you covered. Toyota has also updated their
website
 on the new Hilux range, which you can visit to apply for a test drive session (or simply
click here
).
As a recap, the TRD Sportivo kit is only available to the 2.5G and 3.0G variants, and cost about
RM105,622.20
 (2.5G) and
RM112,967.00
 (3.0G) respectively. Prices mentioned are OTR with insurance.

The TRD trim gives you an exclusively designed
all-around bodykit
 by Toyota Racing Development (TRD), LED daytime running lights, black alloy wheels, TRD side body and rear stickers, carbon fiber prints on the interior, TRD leather seats with red stitching (more carbon fiber here) and TRD carpets.

As with the non-TRD Hilux, they get a pair of LED daytime running lights fitted into the bumper placed above the fog lamps. Its wheels are finished in grey now, while the cabin sports a new leather trimmed upholstery, whereas the base model gets new fabric seats.
Do feast your eyes on the photo gallery below, or pay a visit to your
nearest Toyota authorised dealer
 to see the vehicle in person.
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY


Holding your car remote against your head to boost its signal actually works – here’s why

Ever heard of the simple “hack” where you can unlock your car from further away, if you place the remote control key fob up by your head? Or perhaps the one where you place it under your chin, then opening your mouth to “beam” the signal towards your car?
Well, we have (at least the second one), and it definitely worked the last time we tried it. We didn’t really think about why or how it worked, and if we’re being honest, we didn’t really care – but some people certainly did.
Heated debates happened across internet forums, where some claim that it only works because the key fob is physically higher, thus giving a larger signal coverage – but that’s easily disprovable by just trying it away from your head. So if it only works when the key is placed near our heads, that means the signal is definitely being boosted by our bodies. But how?
Well, fortunately, a YouTuber by the name of Kyle Hill just
published a new video
 explaining the science behind the superpower-like phenomenon.
Meanwhile, the Genesis GV60 will let you unlock the car with just your face! Check it out here.

Essentially, the reason that this happens is due to the fact that nearly 60% of our body is made up of water. And water, as Hill explains, basically acts as an amplifier for the key fob’s wireless signals, thanks to an effect called “dielectric resonator”.
We’re too underqualified to even attempt explaining the science-y mumbo jumbos behind the phenomenon, so be sure to give it the whole video a watch. But essentially, it’ll work the same with any container of water, as Hill demonstrated in the video.
So if you’re concerned about people giving you weird looks the next time you try to lock or unlock your car from a distance, maybe keep a bottle of water handy.
[Source: YouTube via
Jalopnik
]


The Volkswagen Golf is the best-selling car in 8 European countries

The UK has a big appetite for hatchbacks with eight of their top 10 best-selling cars in the first half of 2018 made up of hatchbacks. The Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Golf took top spots in the UK top ten charts. But what about other parts of Europe?
Here’s are the best-selling cars across Europe according to
AutoCar UK
 as measured by market analyst JATO Dynamics:
Country
Model
Country
Model
Austria
Volkswagen Golf
France
Renault Clio
Belgium
Volkswagen Golf
Germany
Volkswagen Golf
Croatia
Renault Clio
Greece
Toyota Yaris
Czechia
Skoda Octavia
Hungary
Suzuki Vitara
Denmark
Peugeot 208
Ireland
Nissan Qashqai
Estonia
Skoda Octavia
Italy
Fiat Panda
Finland
Skoda Octavia
Latvia
Volkswagen Golf
France
Renault Clio
Lithuania
Fiat 500
Germany
Volkswagen Golf
Luxembourg
Volkswagen Golf
Greece
Toyota Yaris
Netherlands
Volkswagen Polo
Hungary
Suzuki Vitara
Norway
Nissan Leaf
Ireland
Nissan Qashqai
Poland
Skoda Octavia
Italy
Fiat Panda
Portugal
Renault Clio
Latvia
Volkswagen Golf
Romania
Dacia Logan
Belgium
Volkswagen Golf
Slovakia
Skoda Fabia
Croatia
Renault Clio
Slovenia
Renault Clio
Czechia
Skoda Octavia
Spain
Seat Leon
Denmark
Peugeot 208
Sweden
Volvo S90/V90
Estonia
Skoda Octavia
Switzerland
Skoda Octavia
Finland
Skoda Octavia
UK
Ford Fiesta

 Skoda Octavia

The
Volkswagen Golf
 turned out to be the top pick of eight countries and it is not surprising given its versatile product offering from hatchbacks to estates and multiple powertrain options. Its stellar practicality in a compact package surely checks plenty of boxes for many.
Another noteworthy country is Norway where its most popular vehicle is the all-electric
Nissan Leaf
, the only European country where an EV tops the sales chart. The Norwegian government heavily incentivises its people to purchase an electrified vehicle to tackle emissions which explain how it is the only country in Europe that has an EV as their best-selling car.


The new 2019 Kia Forte is unquestionably good looking

The newly-launched K3 Kia Forte (Cerato for us) been introduced in the USA and now promises increased cabin comfort, with newly-integrated driver assistance technology.
Underneath the hood is a 2.0-litre Nu four-cylinder engine supported by the benefits from the Atkinson Cycle technology and cooled EGR system to help boost fuel efficiency. Transmission options include a six-speed manual or Kia’s all-new Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT).
The use of the IVT system addresses the rubber band-like response of a CVT gearbox with the use of a chain-type belt instead of push belt. Gearbox noise had been reduced by wrapping the transmission case in a sound-insulating cover to help quiet the typical “drone” associated with the CVT gearbox.
Power output is reportedly unchanged from before with
147 hp
 and
 180 Nm
 of torque, with focus placed on efficiency where the Forte now returns a claimed
 14.9 km/L
.

The all-new 2019 Forte structure receives additional hot-stamped components and 54% Advanced High-Strength Steel. Its body is now 16% stiffer, not only improving handling but also NVH along the way.
Suspension geometry has been reworked along with enhancements within the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) to improve steering response and road holding.
Styling wise, the Forte took inspiration from the Stinger fastback sport sedan – a long hood and short deck – to achieve a fastback-like shape. The cowl point (the lower section of the windscreen) has been moved back five inches, creating a more athletic stance.
The front end sports Kia’s signature tiger nose grille, aggressive black lower valance and turn signal indicators with air curtains underneath it to improve aerodynamic performance.
Around the back, the rear bumper also receives separate reverse and turn signal indicators located beneath the  LED taillights. Similar to the Sportage crossover, a horizontal trim piece connects the taillights.
Inside features an 8-inch colour touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The quieter cabin received a surprise inclusion in the form of a 320-watt Harman Kardon sound system.
Safety wise, the new Forte comes with Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) and Smart Cruise Control (SCC).
IMAGE GALLERY


From pink to green: Aston Martin F1 Team unveils new hues

With the 2021 Formula 1 season scheduled to start its first race in March, Aston Martin has begun its return to the top-flight of motorsports through online communications.
After a 60-year absence, the
Aston Martin Formula One Team
 will make its race return at the opening round of the 2021 season in Melbourne, Australia.

The Formula One team is not newly formed, however, as it used to be called Racing Point F1 Team, which featured eye-catching pink liveries. The Silverstone-based team is owned by Lawrence Stroll, whose consortium bought 16.7% stake in Aston Martin Lagonda almost 12 months ago.
Racing Point F1 Team, which is owned by Lawrence Stroll of Aston Martin Lagonda
As such, all
online communications
 formerly produced by the Racing Point team now carry the Aston Martin Formula One Team name.
Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin Lagonda Executive Chairman said: “
Formula 1
 is a hugely powerful platform that
will play a key part in the overall Aston Martin strategy
 as we seek to take the company forward.”
“This is a brand that has already had huge success in top-level international motorsport such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans – and now we have an opportunity to write a new page in the history books. That’s a hugely exciting prospect for anyone who is a lover of the Aston Martin brand, for fans of Formula 1 and the sport itself,” added Mr Stroll.
The
confirmed driver-pairing
 is headlined by newly recruited four-time world champion
Sebastian Vettel
 and multiple podium-finisher
Lance Stroll
. In February, Aston Martin Formula One Team will reveal
its livery
 and car which
continues to use Mercedes-AMG
 power units.
The last F1 race that Aston Martin participated was back in August 1960, with the DBR5.


Toyota named the most searched car brand of 2022

Toyota has topped the polls again as the most searched car brand of 2022, after taking the top spot in 2021 and 2020, according to Compare the Market.
According to the survey, Toyota was the most searched car brand in 69 out of 155 countries – representing 44.5% of all car brand searches and an increase of 10% from the year before. Compare the Market attributes this to the brand’s introduction of no less than 15 new models last year including the
Toyota Prius
 and the
Malaysian-bound bZ4x
.
With Toyota in pole position, the second most searched car brand was
BMW
, followed by
Mercedes-Benz
. The German automakers have been firmly placed in the Top 3 spots ever since Compare the Market began its search trends analysis back in 2018.
The survey also showed that while BMW has seen an increase in the number of countries where it was the most searched car brand (from 29 countries to 36), Mercedes-Benz saw a decline, from 23 countries to 10 in 2022.
While brands like Toyota, BMW and Mercedes-Benz were popular searches across the world, some brands were more popular in specific regions. Kia for example, was the most searched brand in Ecuador, India, Vietnam, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Palestine, Syria and Uzbekistan.


Save up to RM11,000 on the Volkswagen Passat Elegance this 11.11!

In conjunction with the 11.11 online mega sales day, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has announced its own ‘Volkswagen 11.11 Sale’ featuring the Passat Elegance and the recently launched all-new Tiguan Allspace Highline.
Unlike past iterations of the sale where VPCM partnered with online shopping platforms, This year’s sale event will be held directly from VPCM and their dealers’ Facebook pages. Customers can place the booking directly through VPCM’s own
Volkswagen eShowroom
 on the 11th of November to redeem the rebates.
Models on offer during the 11.11 sale include the
Passat Elegance
, which is available with total savings of
up to RM11,000
 – consisting of RM5,500 online cash savings, as well as one year of free vehicle insurance worth RM5,500.
The
 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace Highline
 meanwhile is offered with a
total savings of RM4,749
, consisting of an online cash savings of RM3,500, along with a free accessories package.
The first 11 customers to purchase the two models during the sale will also receive a free Lego Volkswagen Campervan worth RM499, along with other VW merchandise. Existing Volkswagen owners can also enjoy a complimentary exclusive Volkswagen merchandise pack worth RM160 if they book a service or repair appointment online during the 11.11 sale.
The aftersales service offer is available for service and repair appointments between the 13th to 30th November 2020. The Online Service Booking feature is available on both desktop and mobile. Customers just need to select their preferred dealership, date and time, and key in their vehicle details. An Aftersales representative will then be in touch to confirm the appointment booking.
The Volkswagen eShowroom is available on VPCM’s website
here
. As for the Online Service Booking service, that’s available
here
.


Proton sold 11,681 cars in Jan 2023 – best start of the year since 2013 with 162% YoY growth

National carmaker
Proton
 kicked off 2023 with a bang, with 11,681 sales recorded (domestic and export) in the month of January. The figure translates to a 162.3% year-on-year increase compared to 2022, and represents the best start it had since 2013.
The sales figure also represents an estimated market share of 22.9% for the month (total industry volume estimated at 51,000 units, 22.8% increase), an improvement of over 12% year-on-year, and over 3% better than its market share figure of 19.6% for the whole of 22.8%. Proton says the sales performance helped it retain second place in the sales table.
Leading Proton’s sales performance was the
Proton Saga
once again, with 4,788 units sold across January. This was followed by the
Proton X50
 with 2,992 units, making it the best-selling SUV in the nation. The
X70
meanwhile claims second place in the C-SUV segment sales charts with 933 units delivered.
The
Proton Persona’s
sales figures have also bounced back now that chip supplies have mostly stabilised, with 2,039 units sold in January, taking the top spot for B-segment sedans in Malaysia. As for its hatchback counterpart, the
 Proton Iriz
 sold 597 units in the first month of 2023, representing a slight increase over its performance in December 2022, and a 111% year-on-year growth.
Rounding off the sales charts is the
Proton Exora
, with 332 units sold last month to retain its lead in the C-segment MPV rankings.
READ MORE:
Proton aims to become RHD EV manufacturing Hub, to start with MHEVs
“Proton has enjoyed a good start to 2023 and while the growth over January 2022 is exaggerated by the poor opening month number last year, it should not be overlooked this is our best January since 2013. We expect this trend to continue for the first quarter of the year as we must fulfil outstanding orders exempt from SST by 31 March,” said Proton Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Roslan Abdullah.
“Looking ahead to the rest of 2023, while the market outlook is for TIV to recede from the record numbers last year, Proton remains optimistic of a fifth consecutive year of growth. With new facilities due to come online at our plant in Tanjung Malim, continued expansion of our dealer network,
investments in the EV charging infrastructure
 as well as the addition of new conventional and EV models to our range, we are confident of being able to end the year with a positive result,” he added.
Proton is expected to unveil the
highly-awaited X90 SUV
 in the second quarter of 2023, which will be offered with a mild-hybrid powertrain for the first time in the company’s history. The
Smart #1
, distributed by the company’s EV arm
PRO-NET
, will also make its debut in Malaysia this year.
ALSO READ:
Proton to return in Indonesia and Thailand, aims 10k units global exports


Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has serviced over 40,000 cars since January 2019

This year will be a
challenging year for the automotive industry with the Malaysian Automotive
Association (MAA) forecasting a flattish year for sales growth. However, that did
not stop Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) from hyping the market with five new model
variants in the first quarter of 2019.
The five model variants –
E 200 SPORTSTYLE Avantgarde, E 300 Exclusive, E 350 AMG Line
,
GLC 300 Coupe
 and
GLE 450 AMG Line
, reinforces MBMs product portfolio in the premium automotive segment. That is further spruced up with the recent introduction of the A-Class Sedan.
With the wide range of products and array of customer engagement activities, MBM successfully retained its position as the number 1 premium brand in Malaysia with 2,944 new cars delivered to customers since January 2019 – down by -11.7% compared to the
same period last year
.
The slight decline in new vehicle deliveries was bolstered with the news of over 40,000 Mercedes-Benz vehicles were serviced in the first quarter of 2019, a staggering 13% increase compared to the previous year. The positive growth in vehicles serviced further highlights the success of MBMs customer-centric approach.
Mercedes-Benz Services
Malaysia (MBSM) also recorded a growth in the first quarter of 2019 with a
financing portfolio of over RM2.7 billion with an increase of 0.3 billion of
year-to-date. MBSM financed four out five Mercedes-Benz vehicles sold and 50%
of them were insured by MBSM.
Commenting on MBM’s outlook for the year ahead, MBM President and CEO, Dr Claus Weidner said, “We will continue the momentum in the first quarter of 2019. We are indeed looking to introduce more upcoming premium products and we will be sharing more information in due time.”
IMAGE GALLERY


Mercedes-Benz reveals new Maybach “Edition 100” to celebrate a century of luxury

“What is good, must also be beautiful.”
Those are the wise words and credo of Wilhelm and Karl Maybach at the beginning of the 20th century as the father and son combo forged a path in automotive luxury.
Born in 1846, Wilhelm Maybach became a close friend of Gottlieb Daimler and was involved in developing the first-ever Mercedes-Benz vehicle. In the early 1920s, Maybach Motorenbau was formed and arrived at a motor show in Berlin in 1921 with its first mass-produced car – the W 3. It was the first German production car with brakes all-round and an interior with the finest materials.
When son Karl Maybach passed away in 1960, Daimler took over Maybach and the rest as they say is history.
To this day 100 years later, innovation and luxury are still what the Maybach name stands for and to celebrate the centennial milestone of bespoke luxury, Mercedes-Maybach has presented the “Edition 100”. Just like its name, only 100 units will be available worldwide.
The “Edition 100” gets the V12 twin-turbo engine in the standard Mercedes-Maybach S-Class but its appeal lies mostly with aesthetics and the pool of exquisite features.
It’s handpainted with a two-tone Cirrus Silver and Nautical Blue mix with Crystal White/Silver Grey Pearl leather upholstery. The “Edition 100” badges can be seen on the C-pillar, storage compartments and on the illuminated panels in the cabin.
A car cover is also included; featuring the company’s signature double M logo as well as a handmade leather case to store keys and documents.
Inside, the cabin comes equipped with a set of champagne glasses made by silver manufacturer Robbe & Berking. They are finished with the Maybach logo on the base with fine engraving of the letters “100 Years”.
What you also don’t see is the limited edition 18-carat gold fountain pen that accompanies the car. It’s made by Maybach Icons of Luxury in black or white, with a cap tip made of pearls. The clip of the pen is finished with 100 pieces of diamonds and the same colour as the car.
It’s a shame they only released so few images.
GALLERY


We spent an entire weekend watching the Diecast Rally Championship and so should you

It’s been a long winter break for Formula 1 as we prepare to kick off the 2020 F1 season this weekend in Melbourne, Australia. If you already can’t wait for some racing action, here’s a little something to help scratch your itch.
Jalopnik was tipped
 to a YouTube channel called
3DBotMaker
, who makes videos such as the
Diecast Rally Championship
, or DRC. If you haven’t figured it out yet, the DRC is designed to resemble the World Rally Championship (WRC) as much as possible using diecast models.

The first “event” of the DRC takes place at Race Canyon, which is a 3D-printed track featuring bank turns and big jumps. The competitors are no laughing matter either, ranging from classic rally legends such as the Lancia Stratos and Ford Escort Mk. I Rally Car, all the way to the last-generation
Volkswagen Scirocco
.
Hot Wheels cars racing videos are nothing new, but what sets the DRC apart from the rest is the truly brilliant production quality – from the multiple camera angles and instant replays, to the model-specific engine sounds and other skidding and crashing sound effects.
And then there’s the deadpan yet scintillating commentary by “race commentators” 3D and 2D, complementing each other with their humour, enthusiasm, and mispronunciations. If Martin Brundle and David Croft are the best race commentators, dare I say 3D and 2D are a close second.
The 3DBotMaker channel is filled with plenty of these goofy videos, so if you value your productivity, probably best to avoid visiting during work hours. When you’re done with that, check out the equally nail-biting action in the
Marbula One
 Marble Championship.


In the new 2019 Jetta, Volkswagen even “upgraded” the cupholders

When Volkswagen called the 2019 Jetta all-new, they weren’t just referring to the chassis, styling but even the cupholders have undergone a “rigorous engineering upgrade”.
There was a time when Volkswagen America actually
shipped fast food cups to Germany
 to ensure future cupholders were robust enough for Volkswagen owners in America.
Today, Americans can’t get enough of cupholders. The 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, for example, has 17 cup holders and the new 2018 Tiguan has 12.
For the seventh generation Jetta, Volkswagen designers and engineers looked closely at not just cupholders but the whole interaction of parts in the center console. If the cups stuck up too high, it can interfere with the gear lever while the wrong kind of armrest can take up too much space or be uncomfortable for some drivers.
Volkswagen designers not only updated the Jetta driver and passenger cup holders to make space for
a mug with a handle
 but also reworked the cup holders inside the backseat armrest entirely.
The cupholders in the previous model’s backseat armrest were too shallow hence
softer plastics were used at the bottom of the cupholder
, allowing it to be much deeper. The updates were based directly on feedback from Volkswagen drivers and although the seventh generation Jetta just hit dealerships, Volkswagen is already folding their sleeves up for the next one.
“Believe it or not, we are already in the process of defining customer requirements for the eighth generation Jetta,” says Senior Manager for Concept and Design Quality for Volkswagen Group of America, Carsten Scharf.


Drive-Me-Eco: Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia’s sweet deals

That’s right, Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia is currently running a ‘Drive-Me-Eco’ campaign for their Mitsubishi
Attrage
 SE, Mitsubishi Attrage GS and Mirage GS. This promotion runs from
9th April 2014
 until
30th June 2014.
 This deal includes lower monthly instalment fees and it is
only
 applicable to prices on
Penisular Malaysia
 and via
Maybank
.
Read our full review on the Mitsubishi Attrage GS here.
Customers who book the
Attrage SE
 will be entitled for 1 year free maintenance, with cash rebates of up to
RM4,000
, OR a low monthly instalment of
RM658.

The
Attrage GS
 on the other hand will get the same 1 year free maintenance, and cash rebates of up to
 RM4,000
, OR a low monthly instalment  of
RM588.
If you prefer a sportier stance & look, the
Mirage GS
 hatchback can be yours with a monthly instalment of
RM458
, OR cash rebates up to
RM6,000
, together with 1 year free maintenance.
The Attrage GS is priced at
RM 67,978.50
, while the top of the range Attrage SE costs
RM 75,796.50
. The
Mirage GS
 is priced at
RM64,090.65.
All prices are on-the-road without insurance. All above mentioned models comes with a warranty of
3 years
 or
100,000 km
, whichever comes first.
**Monthly installment amount varies according to financing package and models selected
Watch our video review on the Mitsubishi Attrage GS here!