2016 BMW 330e iPerformance arrives in Malaysia, priced at RM249k!

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles have become all the craze these days, fuelled further by the holy trinity of hypercars. There is nothing to hate really; lower emissions, better performance and in Malaysia, usually attractive pricing.
There is no better time for BMW Malaysia to introduce their latest locally assembled 3 Series variant, the highly anticipated 330e plug-in hybrid. Priced at
 RM249k
, this EEV from BMW iPerformance is not to be overlooked.
QUICK FACTS
Name
BMW 330e iPerformance
Engine
1,998cc; twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission
8-speed automatic with Steptronic
Max Power
184 hp @ 5,500 – 6,500 rpm
Max Torque
290 Nm @ 1,350 – 4,250 rpm
Hybrid Motor Output
88 hp & 250 Nm
Combined Max Power / Torque
252 hp / 420 Nm
0 – 100 km/h; Top Speed
6.1 seconds; 225 km/h
Fuel Consumption
2.1 litres per 100km
Price (OTR without insurance)
RM248,800
EXTERIOR
On the outside, the 330e is identical to the regular
F30 3-series LCI
. This means the 330e wears a sport-line trim. With the LCI, you get the ever so slightly reshaped
Corona Ring DRLs
 with
LED headlights
 and redesigned
 full-LED tail lamps
. Fog lamps are of LED combination as well. Overall the 330e is unmistakably BMW’s sporty 3-series.
The only tell-tale signs are the charging inlet on the front left wheel arches and the “e” badge at the rear. Otherwise the 330e is identical to the 330i it replaces. The 330e rides on larger
18-inch
 alloys wrapped in 225/45 section rubbers at front and 255/40 section at the rear.

INTERIOR
Inside is a familiar BMW cockpit. Some may find the interior bland and unimaginative, but others would appreciate the familiarity and ease of use. Thanks to the EEV incentive by the government, BMW Malaysia were able to introduce an array of equipment while keeping the price attractive.
With the 330e, you get a M sport leather wrapped steering wheel with
paddle shifters
,
BMW ConnectedDrive
 infotainment system and
full-coloured heads up display
 as per the LCI 3-series. On top of that, BMW has thrown in
reverse camera
,
electric panoramic roof
 and
Park Assistant
.

The ConnectedDrive system comes with BMW Online Office for the workaholics. This service allows the occupants to read, write and send emails from within the car. Besides that, you will also services such as
Intelligent Emergency Call
,
Concierge Services
 and
BMW Teleservies
.
On top of that, you get a
 MyBMW Remote App
 to control your 330e’s climate control as well as data on the current charging status of the battery. A
built-in SIM
 card ensures that you are always connected to the net without the need of an external hotspot.Other than that, you get a series of ‘eDrive’ badges around the cockpit to remind you that you are in a special Bimmer.
PERFORMANCE
Don’t be fooled by the ‘hybrid’ because this 330e has every bit of Sheer Driving Pleasure DNA etched in it. Powered by the same 320i’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine, the combustion engine manages
184 hp
 and
290

Nm
 of torque. Meanwhile, the electric motor supplements the combustion engine with
88 hp
 and
250 Nm
 of twist from 0 to 2,500 rpm. These add up to a combined output of
252 hp
 and
420 Nm
 of torque.
The 330e gets to 100km/h in just
6.1 seconds
 with a top speed of
225km/h
. Thanks to its electric motor, fuel consumption is rated at
2.1 litres
 per 100km. With those fuel savings, losing out on the 330i’s century sprint by just a fraction of a second (0.3 seconds to be exact) is a compromise most of us are able to deal with.

The eDrive button allows the driver to switch between three driving modes:
AUTO eDRIVE
,
MAX eDRIVE
 and
SAVE BATTERY
. Auto allows the car to decide the best settings for the combustion engine and electric motor to give you the most pleasurable drive. MAX eDRIVE allows for pure electric drive when the battery has sufficient charge. In pure electric mode, the 330e has a theoretical range of
37km
 with a top speed of
120 km/h
. In SAVE BATTERY, the car is powered solely by the combustion engine to conserve and charge the battery.
Besides that, the Driving Experience Control operated by a switch next to the gear leaver allows the driver to put the steering and chassis dynamics into either
Comfort
,
Sport
 or
Eco Pro
.
WHAT ELSE?
The 7.6 kWh battery pack takes about five hours to get it to full charge on regular power sockets. With the optional RM6,000 BMW Wallbox Pro, the time is cut to 3.5 hours. In addition to that, buyers would be glad to know that the charging inlet is compatible with the ChargEV public charging stations in 19 different locations throughout the peninsular.
The 330e is available in four exterior shades: Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Mediterranean Blue and Mineral Grey. Only one interior theme is available which is Black Dakota leather. The iPerformance vehicle comes with BMW’s
5-Year unlimited mileage warranty
 with free scheduled service and 24-month BMW tyre warranty programme.
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
BMW has kindly offered the media a short spin with the 330e around Sri Damansara. The drive was short and bogged down by heavy traffic, however it is sufficient for us to have a
little

taste of the car’s capabilities. My first impressions to the car is extremely positive. The battery motor and combustion engine work together harmoniously. The transitions between the two power sources were buttery smooth.
Driving dynamics wise, I am happy to report that despite being a PHEV, the 330e drives just like you’d expect of a Bimmer. Power delivery was strong and the eight-speed autobox provided seamless shifts. Even with the extra battery motor, BMW has managed to set up the car with an impressive
50:50
 front to rear weight distribution, suggesting that it would be a joy around bends. The short drive did not permit pushing the car’s boundaries, but the 330e sure feels capable.
Getting into the car was a horrible mistake for me. The short 15-minute stint has got me hooked and it only made me crave for more. With a price that undercuts its 330i sibling, sparing fuel consumption and sheer driving pleasure, I simply cannot imagine a bigger value for your buck. Now, what about the
C 350e
?
IMAGE GALLERY


What do you think of the Kia ProCeed Shooting Brake?

After an
extensive teaser
, Kia Motors has pulled off the covers of its Kia ProCeed at the 2018 Paris Motor Show. The all-new shooting brake design combines the athleticism of the second-generation pro_cee’d hatchback with the versatility of a five-door shooting brake.
Although Kia already has the Ceed Sportswagon in their line up, the ProCeed is positioned as a sporty alternative for young families. The ProCeed is noticeably lower and longer than even the Ceed Sportswagon measuring at 4,605 mm long (+5 mm), 1,422 mm in height (-43 mm) and 1,800 in width with a wheelbase of 2,650 mm.

The design brief to Kia’s European design teams was to create a sporty design for the top of the range Ceed family with lean proportions. Upfront, the ProCeed wears the familiar family face, iconic “tiger nose” grille, wide lower air intake and ice cube LED daytime running lights as standard. Wheel options for the ProCeed range from 17 to 18-inch while the exterior colour palette span 10 choices.
Inside, the ProCeed spots the same ergonomic cabin as its Ceed brothers, 7.0-inch floating touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, flat-bottomed multifunctional steering wheel, grey roof liner, dual-tone leather upholstery and more. The lower roofline and raked tailgate mean the ProCeed can
only
 carry 594 litres of luggage space, 31 litres shy of the Ceed Sportswagon.
There are two variants of the ProCeed available – GT Line and GT, the latter sporting a more powerful 1.6-litre T-GDI petrol engine with 204 hp and 265 Nm, seven-speed DCT and sharper handling. The GT Line, on the other hand, is available with a 1.0-litre T-GDI, 1.4-litre T-GDI and a 1.6-litre CRDi.
Safety kit available on the ProCeed include six airbag, High Beam Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Lane Keeping Assist with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Blind Spot Collision Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning, Smart Parking Assist, and pedestrian recognition for the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist system. Kia has also thrown in the Lane Following Assist function that allows the ProCeed to operate semi-autonomously from 0 to 180 km/h.
As good looking and desirable the Kia ProCeed is, Kia Motors will only be selling the shooting brake in Europe. Chief Operating Officer for Kia Motors Europe, Emilio Herrera comments: “Engineered on European roads, for European drivers, the ProCeed will be engaging to drive. Built in Europe, to the highest standards of production, it also offers owners the reassurance of Kia’s unique 7-Year, 150,000-kilometre warranty.”
IMAGE GALLERY


MINI John Cooper Works revealed, more power and more attitude

While the
 MINI Cooper
 is already a competent little number and the Cooper S was seen
terrorizing Putrajaya
, the
F56 MINI
 gets sportier with the announcement of the
John Cooper Works
 variant. Not that the Cooper S is under-powered, but who’s complaining?
QUICK FACTS
Name
MINI John Cooper Works
Engine
1,998 cc 4-cylinder petrol with MINI TwinPower Turbo
Transmission
6-speed manual / 6-speed automatic
Max Power
231 hp @ 5,200 – 6,000 rpm
Max Torque
320 Nm @ 1,250 – 4,800 rpm

The MINI John Cooper Works offers more power than the Cooper S, and looks the part with the extra all-round styling addenda. The turbocharged four-cylinder in the MINI John Cooper Works produces 40 hp more power and 40 Nm more torque than the Cooper S. Available in the three-door bodystyle, the five-door version should follow at a later date.
EXTERIOR
MINI John Cooper Works sets itself apart with its unique styling kit. The single bar in the grille is finished in red as opposed to the chrome bar on the Cooper S, and the front bumper now sports a more agressive lower and side air intakes.
The kit continues with a new pair of side skirts, restyled rear bumper with center-exit twin tailpipes, and a set of 17-inch John Cooper Works light alloy wheels.

INTERIOR
Special John Cooper Works door sills greet the occupants into the sporty interior with anthracite roof liner, exclusive John Cooper Works sports seats, multifunction steering wheel, gear lever, and stainless steel pedals.
The rev-counter and speedometer behind the steering wheel get new background graphics, and there’s also the Driving Excitement package is fitted as standard.

PERFORMANCE
Under the bonnet of the MINI John Cooper Works is the most powerful four-cylinder engine ever fitted in a serial production MINI to date. The two-litre four-cylinder petrol with
MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology
 now produces
231 hp
 and
320 Nm
 of torque, and all the power is sent to the front wheels via either a
six-speed manual
 or a
six-speed automatic
 transmission.
Acceleration from
0 to 100 km/h
 is
 6.3 seconds
 for the manual and the auto is quicker by 0.2 seconds, but both have the same
top speed
 of
 246 km/h
. Average
 fuel consumption
 is rated from
 5.7 to 6.7 l/100 km
.
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) including Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Electronic Differential Lock Control (EDLC) and Performance Control, and Dynamic Damper Control ensures the MINI John Cooper Works handles well to match the extra performance increase, while the brakes have also been updated accordingly with the newly developed Brembo sports brake system.
WHAT ELSE?
Being a MINI, the MINI John Cooper Works can be further customised with a huge array of optional accessories, ranging from exterior roof and mirror graphics, bigger 18-inch alloys, camera-based active cruise control, Harman Kardon hi-fi speaker system, and all the way to the lighting package with LED interior ambient lighting with continuously variable colour adjustment.
Currently the F56 MINI range in Malaysia consists of the three-cylinder Cooper and the four-cylinder Cooper S, but only the Cooper S is available in both three and five door bodystyles.
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY


#Rewind: The Audi A6 Hybrid, then and now

As the year draws to an end, let us take a look back down memory lane on the cars that made an impact on our lives. Here, we pay tribute to several four-wheeled cars that stood out, and also ghastly cars that nobody remembers. This time, we take a look at a very “left winged” car from Ingolstadt, Germany.
It’s no secret that Audi takes their motto –
Vorsprung durch
Technic
 (loosely translated in English as the art of progress) – very seriously. The Four Rings’ engineering expertise remains unquestioned, from pioneering crucial all-wheel drive technology to the vast array of electronics and technology built into every Audi car. However, not many knew that Audi also toyed with a drive technology that was quickly mastered by Toyota. That’s right, it’s the
hybrid

technology
 we’re referring to.
The Audi A6 Hybrid on the left, the facelifted A6 1.8 TFSI on the right
Audi’s first foray into hybrid powertrain began in 1989 in the guise of an Audi Duo. Eight years later, they conceived the A4 Avant-based Audi Duo Mk3 and became the first European manufacturer to mass-produce a hybrid vehicle. Subsequently, the hybrid powertrain was offered to the
 fourth generation Audi A6
 (C7 model). Initially, the plan was to offer the A6 Hybrid for the North American market, because you know, driving a hybrid like the Toyota Prius is cool and sexy – that’s if you’re Cameron Diaz. True story, though.
Back in 2013, the sales of hybrid vehicles skyrocketed thanks to the extension of hybrid vehicles incentives from Budget 2012. As the Toyota Prius, Lexus CT200H and Honda Insight became common purchases during that period, it didn’t take long for Euromobil (Audi’s franchise holder and sole distributor in Malaysia back then) to jump at the opportunity to introduce a premium hybrid saloon. In January 2013, the Audi A6 Hybrid arrived, fully decked out at a price nobody could resist.
The A6 Hybrid is powered by a
 2.0-litre TFSI
four-cylinder engine that’s paired to an electric motor, and together they produce
245 hp
 and
 480 Nm
 of torque. The car is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in
 7.5 seconds
 before it maxes out at
240 km/h
. Fuel consumption however, is conservatively rated at
6.2 litres per 100km.
While hitting 3km (in full EV mode) via its
1.3 kWh lithium-ion battery
 isn’t impressive compared to other modern hybrids, having to fork out just over
RM280,000
 for a fully-imported premium German saloon is a bargain no one could afford to miss.
How much will it cost without the incentive, then?
RM450,000
. If you walked into a showroom and a salesperson told you that, what would you do? Naturally, it didn’t take long for the A6 Hybrid to find new homes in affluent neighbourhoods across Malaysia.
However, in late 2014, the executives in Ingolstadt realised that only
4,000
 units of the A6 Hybrid were sold and
80 percent
 of them landed in Asia, with Malaysia being the highest recipient of the model. Such disappointing figures had prompted Audi to axe the A6 Hybrid, cutting short its lifespan down to three years. Not making the car available for voluminous market like the US is one reason why the A6 Hybrid didn’t to so well sales wise, but the key reason for its short lifespan is the Malaysian government’s decision to ‘revise’ the National Automotive Policy. That was the final nail to the coffin. Subsequently, prices for the Toyota Prius, Prius C and Nissan Leaf flew sky high (up to 50 percent), which made no sense for Euromobil to continue selling it.
At the used car market today, some units of the A6 Hybrid can be found going for about RM180k to RM200k – close to
45 percent depreciation
 after two years. Nevertheless, Audi’s venture into alternative powertrains continues, as proven by the Q5 and A8 Hybrid’s existence. They are also working on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles with the
Q6 h-tron concept
, whereas their electrification technology is put to good use at the all-electric racing series,
Formula E
. At least for now, the future for Ingolstadt certainly seems
electrifying
.
So, how should the A6 Hybrid be remembered? Despite its short-lived success, Malaysia became the country with the highest number of A6 Hybrids sold, even more than its country of origin! It’s probably safe to say that the A6 Hybrid Owners’ Club in Malaysia is perhaps the most active A6 Hybrid clubs in the world, if only such a club existed. Does it?
Next time, we’ll look into a car that was formally launched by its principal in
only TWO countries
, one of which is Malaysia. Can you guess the car?


Ferrari could be leaving Formula One after 2020

Once Malaysia attains the “first world nation” status it’s been aiming to achieve since 1991 – although it’s still uncertain how – the Formula One powerhouse of the old world may be no more.
As eye-widening as it sounds, it looks likely to be a case of leaving the Lego build just because the bricks don’t fit. This follows after Liberty Media’s recent announcement where they have expressed intentions to level the playing field and balance revenue streams once the current agreement with Formula One teams run out by 2020.
The newly unveiled
Ferrari FXX-K EVO
, a 1035 hp Formula One-derived track weapon you can’t keep at your own home.
Liberty Media, an American mass media company, who assumed 100% ownership of Formula One’s commercial rights after ousting long-time boss Bernie Ecclestone, had also dished out plans for cheaper and simpler engines. Talks could also be in place for the engines to be higher-revving, so as to bring back the theatrical drama of the sport.
Ferrari president, Sergio Marchionne has expressed concerns that not only could it change the playing field but may affect the essence of the sport; one that the longest participating carmaker in Formula One may not be willing to accept and as such, triggers the possibility that could see Ferrari “build their own playground” if we have read the lines in between correctly. This is exciting stuff!


ZTH Time To Attack 2014, where petrolheads gather

This is the absolute first time we are covering the famous ZeroToHundred (ZTH) TimeToAttack 2014. This is the first round for 2014, and was indeed an eye opener for me. Stepping into the carpark, I was greeted by a sea of GT-R R35s. What a great start for TTA 2014.
Upon reaching the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), I hit the first snag. I had no idea where the registration booth was, until I asked around and was pointed to the far end of the parking lot. Great. Luckily collecting the pass was an easy affair, but I do hope that the organizers would put the future registration counter somewhere a bit more visible.
Upon walking to the pits, I was greeted by a very spectacular gathering of JDMs and European cars. The Nissan GT-R (R35),  Civic Type-R (FD2R), Lancer Evolution (I saw a 3, 6 and a few 10s), Impreza WRX STI, Toyota 86, Altezza were present.
Then on the European side, I spotted a E46 M3, several Golf GTIs, a couple McLaren MP4-12Cs, a very awesome looking Caterham Seven and surprisingly, a E90 320D.
The race started with minimal glitch, although there were some accidents, both serious and minor. The complete laptimes for all the participants can be found
here
. Other than the time attack, there was also a car gathering. I wouldn’t call it a classic car gathering per se, as there was some modern JDM cars as well. I spotted a whole row of nicely modded Volvos, some timeless old Japanese cars as well as slightly more modern Japanese cars (Think 90’s).
One of the more unique cars at the gathering was an old 1960s Honda S600. On the outside, it looks like a rust box, but mechanically wise, it works fine. The owner is a friendly chap who also brought his car to Retro Havoc last month. Exposing the car’s bare metal to the elements may seem like a crazy idea, but it seems like the owner knows what he’s doing. So hats off for having a truly unique looking oldie.
Enough of me talking and enjoy the pictures. I do look forward to the next ZTH TTA as it was really one of the biggest local car races around and it should not be missed by any car enthusiasts.
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY


Gordon Murray’s GMA T.50 could well be the ultimate analogue supercar

Gordon Murray, the famed automotive designer, has finally unveiled the Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA) T.50 – named to epitomise the culmination of his illustrious 50-year career, and also the 50th distinct car penned by Murray.
Engineered to be the “purest, lightest, and most driver-centric supercar ever”, GMA says that the T.50 improves on the
McLaren F1
 – which he also designed – in “every conceivable way”.
To realise the claim, the T.50 is powered by a
“100% bespoke” 3.9-litre Cosworth V12 engine
 that revs up to a mind-numbing
12,100 RPM
. Peak power stands at
663 hp
 and
467 Nm
 of torque, with 71% of the max torque available from 2,500 RPM. What’s more impressive is that the whole V12 engine
weighs just 178 kg
 – GMA claims that it is the lightest road-going V12, ever.
The engine is just one example of GMA’s “unflinching dedication to lightweighting”. Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a six-speed Haldex manual transmission (yes, you read that right) that weighs just 80.5 kg.
Pair that to a carbon-fibre monocoque and body that weighs less than 150 kg total, along with many more weight-loss tactics, the GMA T.50 weighs
 just 958 kg
, resulting in a weight-to-power ratio of just
150.77 kg/100hp
. GMA says that a typical supercar weighs about 1.4 tonnes, and has a weight-to-power ratio of 210 kg/100hp.
Just like the McLaren F1, Gordon Murray’s T.50 is not designed to chase power outputs or top speed, so there are no zero-to-hundred or MaxV figures provided in the press release. But with a 633 hp V12 engine fitted to a car that weighs less than one tonne, it’s not hard to imagine how quick this thing can go.
The company also claims that the T.50 features one of the most advanced aerodynamics ever seen on a road car, too, specifically its 400 mm rear-mounted ground effect fan inspired by the Brabham BT46B Formula 1 car – which Murray also designed.
But unlike the F1 car which Murray likens it to a vacuum cleaner, the fan on the T.50 works more as a “boundary layer control” system for both underbody and overbody air flow, cleaning up the air around the diffusers and rear spoilers to help increase downforce by up to 50%, all while reducing drag by 12.5%.
The fan also adds around 50 hp to the car’s output, thanks to the ram-air induction, and can also cut braking distance by up to 10 metres when stopping from 241 km/h (150 mph).
Just like the McLaren F1, the new GMA T.50 also has a “jet-fighter style” central driving position. Every aspect of the interior is designed to be as driver-focused as possible, with all primary and ancillary controls laid out neatly in an “ergonomic bubble” around the driver.
To deliver the ultimate pure driving experience, even the manual transmission’s gearchange motion and weighting was meticulously honed, resulting in a “smooth, crisp, satisfying gearchange” that is signed-off personally by Murray himself.
On the topic of purity, distractions in the cabin are kept to a minimum to not take attention away from the driving. There are no pesky touchscreens, nor even protruding control stalks – even the indicators are operated via thumb buttons on the steering wheel spokes.
The rev counter is delightfully analogue with the needle carefully milled from aluminium, which means there are no flashy digital graphics that can detract driver’s attention. And when digital displays are used, of which there are three, GMA made sure that graphics are kept simple – white graphics on a plain black background – to ensure ease of use and minimal distractions.
While it may seem like everything is pared-down in the name of lightness and purity, the T.50 does still look like a pretty decent everyday-car. It’s equipped with a 700W 10-speaker premium audio sound system from Arcam (specially designed to be ultra-lightweight, of course), and the infotainment system even supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
GMA claims that the T.50 can comfortably seat three adults with easy ingress and egress, along with a usable luggage space of up to 288 litres. There will also be a reverse camera on the final production model to aid in parking the supercar – not that it should be too difficult, seeing as the car is just about the size of a Porsche Cayman.
The concept of “purity” also extends to the exterior design of Gordon Murray’s T.50, utilising simple lines and clean surfaces to give it a timeless look – you don’t need vents, ducts or big wings to go fast.
It’s not hard to see the resemblance to the McLaren F1, too. Both cars feature a low-slung nose and a short stout rear end with minimal overhang, along with a curved windscreen and large windows to create an airy passenger glasshouse. The GMA T.50 even retains the split side windows from the F1.
Only
100 examples
 of the GMA T.50 will ever be built, and every customer will have the opportunity to meet Gordon Murray himself to discuss and personalise their car. This process will include a seat, steering wheel, and pedals “fitting” session to ensure that the car is ergonomically perfect for the driver.
How much for all that you ask? Just a cool 2.36 million Great British Pounds (MYR13 million) before taxes – which, to be honest, doesn’t sound all too bad considering how much the McLaren F1s are going for these days…
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Land Rover’s Horsepower vs Husky power – a race around an underground snow tunnel

Land Rover recently pitted their
Discovery Sport SUV
 against a team of six sled dogs led by Laura Kääriäinen in an underground snow tunnel in Finland for a unique training challenge.
The “race” was organised at the Vesileppis Ski Tunnel in Finlandfor a much-needed sprint around the track in anticipation of winter championships.
Laura Kääriäinen and her Finnish middle distance championship-winnning team of sled dogs went head to head in a unique one km sprint around a tunnel that’s been carved out
 35 metres
 below ground level and kept at a constant
 -2°C
 to maintain a blanket of snow that’s
20mm deep
 throughout the summer. This makes for a perfect place to put the Discovery Sport’s all-terrain capability to the test.
Driver Karl Richards, Lead Engineer for Stability Control Systems at Jaguar Land Rover, said: “Snow is one of the most demanding surfaces drivers will encounter during winter around the world and Discovery Sport proved to be as comfortable in these conditions as the dogs. Land Rover’s advanced Terrain Response technology and intelligent four-wheel drive system ensure our premium compact SUV is in a class of its own when it comes to off-road driving – whether you’ve got two legs or four.”
IMAGE GALLERY

Land Rover Discovery Sport


This video is a love story between 6 generations of the BMW 3-series and its owners

It won’t be long before the all-new G20 BMW 3-series is introduced to the Malaysian market and this video is a timely reminder of why we love, not just the 3-series but BMWs in general.
The video features six generations of 3-series’ spanning 40 years – from the E21 to the current F30 – and the heart-warming stories its owners had to share throughout their ownership.

From an elderly man in Spain who refuses to let go of his E21 3-series, a German family of various 3-series owners, to a race-built E30 in Indonesia, the adoration for the 3-series on a global scale is a testament to what the car was engineered for – satisfying our love for driving.


Gallery: Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 at Sepang – A Sensory Overload!

Sime Darby Auto Performance, the sole distributor of Porsche vehicles in Malaysia, surprised us with an early Christmas treat: laps around the Sepang International Circuit with their latest track day-oriented
718 Cayman GT4
.
The heart of the GT4 is the powertrain. Bolted behind the driver is four litres of naturally-aspirated goodness in the hallmark flat-six configuration, derived from the
992-generation 911 Carrera
 family, paired to a six-speed manual transmission to preserve the pure driving experience.

Uninterrupted by the plumbing of exhaust turbochargers, the
420 hp
 4.0-litre flat-six sings to
8,000 rpm
, and flicking the crisp shift lever that precisely slots into each gear is literally ‘the stuff legends are made of’.
The GT4 is equipped with the
high-performance GT chassis
, consisting of lightweight spring-strut front and rear axles – a technology inherited from motorsports, as well as adjustable ride height, camber, toe angle, and anti-roll bars.
The Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) is also standard here with the sports setup and suspensions, bringing the centre of gravity of the 718 Cayman GT4 30mm closer to the ground.
At the Sepang circuit, the GT4 feels taut, tightly strung, with the steering wheel commanding all your attention thanks to its sheer accuracy.
The racier looking bumpers at both ends of the GT4 feature significantly enhanced aerodynamic devices such as the more efficient
rear wing and a more elaborate diffuser
 – the latter responsible for up to 30% of the downforce at the rear axle. We confidently carried more speed into the corners too.
The GT4 models we sampled ticked all the important boxes on the options list, thus stopping power is taken care by the
Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB)
. They took the abuse like a champ; no signs of fade nor loss of feel, lap after lap.
In summary, the GT4 delivers raw automotive performance, close to the perfection of steering, accelerating, braking, and gear shifting.
The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 starts at RM999,000.00 a pop, but to fully enjoy the vehicle at its natural habitat, get the Clubsport package.
GALLERY


Winning doesn’t come any easier with the Ford Ranger XLT Plus

There are pick-up trucks, and then there’s the Ford Ranger – the pick-up that constantly redefines what trucks are capable of, both in the wild and within the confines of the urban jungle.
In the new and updated Ranger XLT Plus, Ford is once again leading from the front with class-leading features that no other pick-ups can lay claim to.
2.0-litre EcoBlue
Si-Turbo diesel engine
With an exceptional output of
180 hp and 420 Nm
 from just

a
 2.0-litre engine
, the all-new single-turbocharged four-cylinder diesel unit in the Ford Ranger XLT Plus not only trumps other 2.5-litre diesel engines in performance, fuel efficiency, emissions and refinement, but its lower cubic capacity means significant savings on annual road tax.
10-speed automatic transmission
The all-important supporting act of the all-new powertrain of Ford Ranger XLT Plus is its
10-speed automatic transmission with SelectShift
 – a first for pick-ups in this segment. Due to its 10-speed configuration, this newly-developed gearbox has a suitable gear for every occasion, whether it’s crawling on a river bed or cruising on the highway, in 4WD or 2WD mode.
The wider spread of gear ratios also brings about greater fuel efficiency through reduce engine revs at higher speeds, not to mention drivetrain refinement as well.
8-inch display with
SYNC3 infotainment system
In-car connectivity matters in the digital age, and it is no different for pick-up owners. The Ranger XLT Plus is equipped with
Ford’s cutting-edge SYNC 3 infotainment system
.
Apart from functions such as voice command, GPS navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, the
 8-inch touchscreen
 also shows the reverse camera and status of the dual-zone climate control. If that’s not enough,
Apple CarPlay
 and
Android Auto
 are standard.
First-in-class Easy Lift
Tailgate
Even though the Ranger is built Ford tough to take on the most challenging terrains, Ford prefers to do the heavy lifting for its owners. Take for example the ingenious
Easy Lift Tailgate
 which requires only the strength of a finger to operate what used to be a task that required both arms.
By incorporating a torsion rod to support the weight of the tailgate, Ford has managed to make pick-up trucks that much easier to live with.
Best-in-class water
wading and payload
While the new Ford Ranger XLT Plus comes loaded with functionalities that can only be found on premium vehicles, owning a Ranger is also knowing that you have a pick-up truck with proven 4×4 off-road performance, built on a robust chassis with
best-in-class water wading capability
 as well as a
cargo payload
 that shades other trucks.
It is all about winning
Whether you appreciate the Ranger XLT Plus for its luxurious leather seating or admire its ability to go-anywhere while looking smart and stylish, it is undoubtedly the most complete and best value-for-money pick-up that stands out in a crowded segment.
In short, winning doesn’t come any easier with the Ford Ranger XLT Plus.


Over 4,300 participants ran together in Toyota OutRun 2023, raising RM170k for cancer society

After a four-year hiatus, the second edition of the Toyota OutRun event successfully took place last Sunday, 15 January 2023 at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur. The event drew a total of over 4,300 participants.
The Toyota OutRun 2023 was a much larger event compared to the
 inaugural edition back in 2019
. Aside from the 5 km and 10 km races themselves, this year’s event was also filled with fun activities including race village, as well as concrete and plant workshops. Participants were also entertained with performances from local Malaysian artistes such as De Fam and Toyota Yaris ambassador Janna Nick.
Toyota OutRun was an event that kicked off as part of
UMW Toyota Motor
‘s Start Your Impossible campaign, in conjunction with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic. The campaign encourages everyone to challenge their own impossible and empower movement among all communities, with the proceeds from the inaugural event going to the Paralympic Council of Malaysia.
This year’s Toyota OutRun meanwhile is based around the “All for One, Run fo All” theme, in line with the company’s new vision of Move Your World. According to the press release, the theme “stems from the idea of making running, which is seen as a rather individualistic sport, as something more collective”.
Commenting on the success of the event, UMW Toyota Motor President, Ravindran K. said, “We are delighted to see the overwhelming response and participation for our second Toyota OutRun, which is done on a much larger scale following the success of the first event, back in 2019.”
“As part of our CSR commitment, we have partnered with the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) for this year’s initiative, in which 100% of the registration proceeds, worth about
 RM170,000
, will be donated to them.”
GALLERY


Sales Tax Exemption: Honda Malaysia announces revised price list

Honda Malaysia today announced its revised price list after Sales Tax Exemption, following the government’s announcement of the
short-term economy recovery plan
. The plan sees the sales tax on locally-assembled models reduced to 0%, while imported models have their sales tax halved to 5%.
Honda’s revised price list
, which goes into effect starting today until 31st December 2020, sees a reduction across the board ranging between 3.5% to 5%, with prices reduced by as much as RM9,502.47.
The recently-updated
Honda Civic
 sees a reduction of up to 3.8% or RM4,966, depending on the variant. The
all-new Accord
 that was launched alongside the updated Civic, also sees a reduction of up to 4.4% (RM8,545.63), depending on variant chosen.
On the SUV front, the
new Honda BR-V
 gets a reduction of up to 3.6% (RM3,507). The
 HR-V RS
, which recently gained an additional
brown leather interior upholstery
 option at zero cost, gets a reduction of up to RM6,245.46.
Interestingly, all hybrid variants have been omitted in Honda Malaysia’s revised price list after Sales Tax Exemption. Models with the premium White Orchid Pearl exterior shade – which usually
commands a slight price premium
 – also gets a slightly different price reduction compared to the standard colours.
For the latest updates on the revised price lists from all other car brands in Malaysia after Sales Tax Exemption, do check out our round-up, available
here
.


The new Suzuki Jimny is coolest 4WD you won’t be able to buy

When Suzuki formally withdrew from the Malaysian market in early 2015 to facilitate a strategic partnership with Proton, some tears were shed. It meant saying goodbye to cars that were a little left field but always characterful and more importantly, affordable; values that are not often spoken in the same breadth.
The recent debut of the fourth-generation Suzuki Jimny, some 20 years after the last new one, may have just turned those droplets of tears into streams, if the decidedly adorable Ignis hadn’t already done so. The new Jimny is easily the coolest-looking retro thing to have emerged in recent memory, while holding true to its roots as a robust and authentic go-anywhere compact 4WD, just like the original one first sold in Japan back in 1970. Suzuki has sold 2.85 million Jimnys across the globe since.
All-new Jimny stays true to its roots with ladder frame construction and part-time 4WD.
You won’t find any sissy monocoque body construction under the new Jimny — it’s built on a ladder frame. The engine that rests under the clamshell bonnet drives the rear wheels, with part-time 4WD and a low range transfer gear for off-road duties. The presence of modern electronics means brake LSD is available along with traction control. The Jimny rides on three-link rigid axles with coil springs at both ends, and the steering is a recirculating ball system. Wow.
The powertrain for global markets is a naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder capable of 95hp and 130Nm, with the choice of either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. Suzuki doesn’t quote a 0-100km/h time, but the far-from-aerodynamic, 1.1-tonne 4WD is capable of a 145km/h top speed. It is available as a three-door and only seats four, but who’s cares. Please come back to Malaysia, Suzuki?


Pininfarina Battista has 1,900 hp, but can it beat the NIO EP9 around the ring?

Pininfarina’s wants to contribute to the battle against pollution and true enough since their new all-electric Pininfarina Battista doesn’t emit any local emissions on the move. But underneath all the “Save the Earth” fluff in the press release is a small footnote that the Battista comes with 1,900 hp and 2,300 Nm.
First deliveries are due in late 2020 and only 150 units of this all-electric hypercar will be made. With
 1,9000 hp
 at its disposal, the Battista is capable of a 0 to 100 km/h sprint time of under
2 seconds
 and is able to
theoretically
break the
402 km/h mark
. Mind-boggling figures, to say the least, perhaps Pininfarina should consider snatching the title of
“King of the Ring” from the NIO EP9
.

The Battista also comes with a very reasonable cruising range of over
 483 km
 on a single charge, the company said can go from London to Paris without having to be plugged into a power source.
CEO of Automobili
Pininfarina, Michael Perschke said: “The Battista is a truly beautiful,
guilt-free hypercar – the first EV to really fall in love with – because
electricity enables us to develop it with zero emissions and as the most
powerful car that will have ever been designed and built in Italy.”


First teasers of fully electric MINI Countryman revealed – BMW iX1’s cousin to arrive this year

Production for the all-new
MINI Countryman
, both pure electric drive and combustion engine variants, is set to begin this year at the BMW Group plant in Leipzig, Germany. It is the first time a MINI is produced entirely in Germany.
To date, MINI vehicles have been produced in England, the Netherlands and Austria. The first units are expected to roll off the production line by the end of this year. Not only the vehicles, the electric Countryman’s high-voltage batteries will also be made at the plant’s own production facilities.
The fully electric MINI Countryman should share the same powertrain as its BMW sibling, the
iX1
. The iX1 is powered by two electric motors, one for the front wheels and the other for the rear for all-wheel drive capabilities. As an indicator for the electric Countryman’s output, the iX1 produces
272 hp
 and
494 Nm
of torque. Under the BMW iX1’s floor is a 64.7 kWh battery, capable of returning up to 438 km of electric range.
RELATED:
All-new 2022 BMW X1 unveiled with wildly good looks, 272 hp fully-electric iX1 variant
Thanks to space-saving components such as the flat high-voltage battery, which is also produced at the BMW Group Plant Leipzig, the MINI Countryman will offer additional space and even greater comfort.
The petrol-powered and electric versions of the all-new Countryman will be produced on the same production line in Leipzig alongside the BMW 1 series,
 2 Series Gran Coupe
 and the 2 Series Active Tourer. The Leipzig plant is the first plant where BMW and MINI vehicles are manufactured together.
“The new all-electric MINI Countryman demonstrates what the brand stands for; electrified go-kart feeling and a strong focus on a minimal environmental footprint,” said MINI.
GALLERY


Price of new Kia Carnival announced in Malaysia, from RM196,341

After first
opened for booking
 in late November, followed by its public debut at the Drive Auto Fair at Setia Alam, Dinamikjaya Motors Sdn Bhd, the official distributor of Kia vehicles in Malaysia, has officially announced the price of the all-new Kia Carnival.
The large 11-seater “Grand Utility Vehicle” that is fully-imported from South Korea is priced from
RM196,340.80
, on-the-road without insurance. Dinamikjaya Motors is also adding in a five-year/100,000 km free maintenance package in the price, with the warranty period having the same mileage and coverage period.
The new Kia Carnival is powered by a 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine making 199 hp and 440 Nm of torque, with power sent to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Key features on the large Kia Carnival include LED lighting at both ends of the vehicle, with unique signature graphics, smart powered sliding doors and tailgate, 18-inch wheels, rain-sensing wipers and roof rails.
Inside, the seating configuration can be as little spacious as a six-seater, expanding up to 11 seats. The flexibility come via the two middle seats that can also be folded to make a walk-through aisle to the fourth row. The fourth row meanwhile can be neatly hidden and level with the boot floor when not in use.
Key comfort features in the large MPV include three-zone air-conditioning, manual sunshades for the second and third rows, tinting film on the windows, seven USB ports, a 12.3-inch touch screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity as well as a wireless charger.
At the safety front, the all-new Kia Carnival will be fitted with seven airbags, inclusive of a driver’s knee airbag. The fitment of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic assist and surround-view monitor system.

Watch our first look video to get a good approximation of the sheer size of this grand 11-seater, as well as the disappearance of the fourth-row seat!
GALLERY


2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6在大马正式发布，从RM290k起跳-高达610km续航，流线型设计

今年早些时候，Hyundai Sime Darby Motors 定下了一项计划，打算在2023年发布五款新车。目前为止，该公司已经发布了两款车型 —— 2023款的 Hyundai Palisade 小改款和2023款的 Hyundai Creta。现在，第三款车已经发布，这款车无疑是最引人注目的。引入2023款的 Hyundai Ioniq 6，这是在马来西亚上市的第二款 Hyundai 电动车。像 Ioniq 5一样，Hyundai Ioniq 6 提供两个版本，上路价格（不含保险）从
RM289,888
起，最高为
RM319,888
。
Hyundai Ioniq 6 Max RWD –
RM289,888
Hyundai Ioniq 6 Max AWD –
RM319,888
Hyundai 描述 Ioniq 6 为 “电动流线型”，通过观察其外部设计，这一点不难理解。Ioniq 6 的设计流畅，整体造型独特，尾部则更像跑车。
实际上，Ioniq 6 的外观设计让我们想起了Porsche Panamera。除了外观，流线型的外观设计还使 Ioniq 6 的阻力系数降至仅
0.21 Cd
，这意味着实际功率消耗低至每100公里13.9kWh，使其成为当今市场上最节能的电动车之一。
外观上，Hyundai Ioniq 6 Max RWD的标准配置包括：
具有智能前照灯系统的Parametric Pixel LED 投影式大灯
LED 日间行车灯 (DRL)
Parametric Pixel LED 后组合灯
高安装刹车灯（HMSL）
后扰流板
智能电动尾门
数字侧视摄像头
平顺的门把手
18英寸 ‘Aero’ 合金轮毂
Hyundai Ioniq 6 Max AWD 添加了：
天窗
20英寸 ‘Performance’ 合金轮毂
2023款的 Hyundai Ioniq 6 基于电动全球模块化平台 (E-GMP)，该平台也支撑着 Hyundai Ioniq 5 和 Kia EV6。在尺寸上，它长4,855毫米，宽1,880毫米，高1,495毫米，轴距为2,950毫米。
Hyundai Ioniq 6 Max RWD 由后置电机驱动，将
225马力
和
350牛米
的扭矩输送到后轮。这导致了
7.4秒
的百公里加速时间，以及
185km/h
的极速。
而顶级规格的 Ioniq 6 Max AWD 则配备了双电机设置，为所有四轮提供动力，总共提供
320马力
和
605牛米
的扭矩，百公里加速时间为
5.1秒
，极速为185km/h。在悬挂方面，这款 “Streamliner” 电动车的前部装有一套麦弗逊减振器，后部则为多连杆。
“Streamliner”电动车的续航里程最高可达到
614公里
（WLTP），这是 Max RWD版本的数据，而 Max AWD版本的续航里程为
519公里
（WLTP），这两者都有
77.4 kWh
的电池。这使得 Ioniq 6 Max RWD的续航里程远超过
Tesla Model Y Long Range
的最大续航里程533公里（WLTP）。
E-GMP 平台的 800V 电气架构使 Ioniq 6 能支持高达
350 kW
的 DC 快速充电，这将需要
18分钟
从10%充电至80%。Ioniq 6还支持
50 kW
的 DC 充电，这将需要
73分钟
将车辆的电量从10%充到80%。
如果没有快速充电器，
11 kW
的 AC 充电器可以在
7.1小时
内将 Ioniq 6从完全放电充满。该平台还使汽车具有车辆对负载 (V2L) 的功能，通过适配器，Hyundai Ioniq 6可以为其他电器提供电力。独特的是，Hyundai Ioniq 6 还配备了电动活动声音设计 (e-ASD) 系统，该系统在驾驶舱内发出 “最佳的，像宇宙飞船一样的声音”，这个声音会根据车辆的驾驶状态改变。
在内部，Hyundai Ioniq 6，就像 Ioniq 5一样，具有现代而简洁的内饰，给人一种干净而舒适的感觉。所有版本的 Hyundai Ioniq 6 都配备了双12英寸全景显示器，以及如 Apple CarPlay 和 Android Auto 支持等功能。
Hyundai Ioniq 6 的特性包括：
皮质座椅
驾驶员和前排乘客座椅电动调节（带腰部支撑和Premium Relaxation座椅功能）
双12英寸驾驶和信息娱乐显示屏
支持 Apple CarPlay 和 Android Auto 的连接
抬头显示器
自动双区空调
Bose 8扬声器音响系统
64色环境照明系统
e-ASD系统
电子自动调光镜
1个USB-A和4个USB-C接口
在安全性方面，2023年的Hyundai Ioniq 6在马来西亚标配了该品牌的SmartSense高级驾驶员辅助系统套件，以及其他标准安全功能。此外，“Electrified Streamliner”在Euro NCAP碰撞测试中也获得了满分5星的评级。
以下是马来西亚规格的Hyundai Ioniq 6的所有安全功能：
7个安全气囊
盲点碰撞防止辅助（BCA）
车道保持辅助（LKA）
前方碰撞防止辅助（FCA）
带有停车和启动功能的智能巡航控制（SCC）
手动速度限制辅助（MSLA）
遥控智能停车辅助（RSPA）
停车碰撞防止辅助（PCA）
轮胎压力监测系统（TPMS）
总的来说，2023年的Hyundai Ioniq 6已经在马来西亚上市，共有两个版本。价格从
RM289,888
开始，最高为
RM319,888
（上路价格，不含保险）。价格包括标准的2年/50,000 km质保，以及8年/160,000 km的电动车电池质保。
顾客还可以选择额外支付RM10,000，升级到
5年/100,000 km
质保，并获得3年/50,000 km的免费服务。首批30位车主还将在车辆交付时获得一年的Shell Recharge Gold会员资格。
【英文版】


Is the Chevrolet Silverado HD the most outlandish style pick up truck ever?

In the full-sized pick-up truck segment, big is always better and such is the case of the Chevrolet Silverado HD, a new variant that targets buyers who are looking for a more outlandishly styled and premium truck.
Compared to the standard Silverado, the HD stands for Heavy Duty which is why it gets a reworked body suited for ultra-demanding tasks. However, Chevy understands that the Silverado must still be equally at home working on a construction site or pulling a camping trailer hence from the front it’s bold and imposing but from the rear it looks like a docile every day pick up truck.

Vice President, Global Design for General Motors, Mike Simcoe said: “Truck customers are very clear: They want the perfect truck for them and not a ‘one size fits most’ truck compromised for the masses.” Which is why the Silverado HD is offered in five distinct trim levels on top of the eight trims available on the standard Silverado 1500.
Chevy is keeping mum about the full details of the Silverado but powertrain options in the US range from a 2.7-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol to a 6.2-litre EcoTec3 V8 petrol unit. Other standard equipment and technologies include Automatic Emergency Braking, 360-degree camera, Blind Spot Alert, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Connectivity.


Mitsubishi Xpander MPV makes global debut – 1.5L Mivec, 104 hp & 4-speed AT

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has officially unveiled its latest people carrier, the
Mitsubishi Xpander
 at the 2017 GAIKINDO Indonesia Auto Show. The new seven-seater MPV will go against key rivals such as the
Honda BR-V
 and Toyota Avanza in the ever-growing budget people carrier segment.
Measuring at 4,475 mm in length, 1,750 mm in width and 1,700 mm in height with a ground clearance of
205 mm
, the Xpander claims to offer the best in class cabin space as well as practicality. Corporate Vice President, Design Division, Tsunehiro Kunimoto said, “The Xpander actually was designed by our customers, I simply turned their thoughts, needs and desires into shapes.”
This resulted in a design that marries the best qualities of a spacious MPV and an adventurous SUV. The radical design is largely similar to the
concept model
 which debut at the same auto show last year but if we were to be honest, we can’t decide what to make of its looks.
Nevertheless, the front end wears the “Dynamic Shield” family face like the
Outlander
 and
Eclipse Cross
 except here, the fenders are flared, adding to the rugged SUV appearance. The slim items on the top are actually LED daytime running lights, not headlamps as one would expect. Where are the headlamps you ask?
The large hexagonal pieces on both sides. Yes, it makes for a very awkward design but MMC said positioning the forward illumination pieces low in the bumper helps maximise vision during rough road conditions. Fortunately, the rear spots a more conventional look with sleek L-shaped LED tail lamps.

Stepping inside, its minimalistic cabin architecture is the product of the design team to give an uncluttered and spacious look. Besides boasting to offer best in class space, the Xpander is also able to accommodate its customers active lifestyles thanks to flat folding second and third row seats, giving it a breadth of utilitarian capabilities. There are even
16 bottle holders
 in the Xpander and dedicated smartphone trays for each passenger!
Besides that, MMC has also went the extra mile to ensure that the Xpander is one of the most premium MPVs in the segment. The large windshield is made out of a
soundproof glass
, laminated with an extra sound-absorbing layer to ensure noise doesn’t seep into the cabin. There are also a range of bells and whistles to play with such as coloured LED display instrument cluster, eco-drive indicator, touch screen infotainment system, 12V power socket for each row, keyless entry and more.
Powering this people carrier is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder MIVEC petrol engine that outputs
104 hp
. Drive is sent to the front wheels via a four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual transmission. MMC claims that this powertrain combination delivers competently, even when climbing steep hills ferrying a
full load
.
The Xpander uses MMC’s proprietary RISE (Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution) monocoque body structure that offers high cabin integrity and efficient energy absorption, keeping the passengers’ safe in the unfortunate event of a crash. Standard safety kit is generous too – dual airbags, ABS, Brake Assist, Active Stability Control (ASC), Hill Start Assist, Emergency Stop Signal and three-point seatbelts on all seats.
The Xpander will first be assembled and sold in Indonesia later this year with plans to ship it to other markets in the ASEAN region from early 2018 onwards. In Indonesia, prices for the seven-seater MPV starts from Rp. 189,050,000 (RM61k) to Rp. 245,350,000 (RM79k). What do you think dear readers, if Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia brings this in, reckon it give the
mighty BR-V
a good fight?
IMAGE GALLERY


Volkswagen says the ID.3 is more cost-effective than a Golf

Thanks to the exploits of Tesla, Porsche and Polestar, it has been established that electric vehicles are cool, but the next major obstacle is to make them
affordable for the masses
. With the internal combustion engine having decades of
head start in terms of scale and costs
, EVs have had to play catch up.
Now that Volkswagen is finally walking the talk with the
ID range of all-electric models
. Europe’s biggest manufacturer is sparring no expense in taking on the
key factors
 of
mass EV adoption
 –
acquisition costs
,
running costs
,
residue value
 and
total cost of ownership
. And though these arguments are made in the context of Germany, the doubts surrounding EV ownership are common to car buyers around the world – something which Malaysian automotive policymakers can perhaps pick up on.
Buying costs
A recently updated ‘
environmental bonus
’ offered in Germany sees consumers receiving rebates of between
5,570 and 6,570 euros
 (RM 26,670 to RM32,460) for the purchase of an EV. For example, an ID.3 Pure model (330 km in range) will cost
less than 30,000 euros
 – appreciably lower than the price of a
Mk7-based e-Golf at 36,900 euros
 with 231 km of range per charge.
In fact, a base model ID.3 in Germany can be had from just
23,430 euros
 which is below the price of a comparable combustion engine powered model such as the
Golf Life 1.5-litre TSI
 and the
Golf Life 2.0-litre TDi
. The conclusion is that with some initial government incentives, EVs can be comparable in price to combustion engine models, and that the uptake in adoption would then
drive the cost of EVs lower
.
Running costs
Although the costs of wear and tear are somewhat higher for EV as they require more costly tires with optimised rolling resistance, these are more than compensated for by
lower costs for insurance, vehicle tax and maintenance
 in Germany.
Like any EV, the ID.3 does not require an oil change and only needs to be taken to the workshop for
inspection every two years
, regardless of mileage. In terms of insurance, the ID.3 is rated three classes better than comparable combustion engines in Germany, which equates to savings of around 200 euros per year, subject to no-claims class and mileage. Overall, the ID.3 has a
running cost advantage of around 50 euros per month
 or 600 euros per year over comparable combustion engine models.
Residue value
According to Volkswagen, EVs were less stable in value than their combustion engine counterparts partly due to the
low market volume
 (barely any used EV market) and partly to the
rapidly improving battery technology
.
This is changing in Germany as the
demand for pre-owned EVs for everyday use has been rising
– a trend that is likely to continue in the coming years. The ID.3’s range and charging capacity are sufficient for many German customers, and battery technology is expected to develop more slowly in the coming years, so that there will no longer be a major efficiency between new and used EVs.
The eight-year battery warranty
 (over 160,000 km) also offers additional peace of mind.
Industry experts are forecasting residual values of the ID.3 to be roughly
 on par
 with those of comparable oil burners.
Total cost of ownership
Based on the factors presented, Volkswagen is confident that the
total cost of ownership
 of an ID.3 is below that of what customers would fork out for over the ownership of a
comparable combustion engine model
 in Germany, taking into consideration the government-supported purchasing rebates at the present time. Volkswagen is also convinced that EVs will be competitively priced even without these incentives in the longer term.
(Before many parts of Europe went into partial ‘lockdown’, the ID.3 was scheduled to hit the market this coming summer).


Diesel is truly on its last leg as world’s largest diesel engine plant goes electric

Electric vehicles are coming, and there’s nothing you can do about it no matter how much you resent it. In another example of the ongoing shift in the automotive industry, newly-minted Stellantis (FCA-PSA) will be transitioning its manufacturing plant in Tremery, France, from producing diesel engines to fully-electric powertrain.
The transition will not happen in an instant, but the ramp-up does look pretty sharp. From less than 10% of its total output in 2020, the factory is looking to double its electric powerplant production capacity to around 180,000 in 2021, and eventually reaching 900,000 – or more than 50% of the plant’s peak pre-pandemic output – by 2025.
Speaking to Reuters
, Laetitia Uzan, a representative for the CFTC worker union at Tremery added: “2021 is going to be a pivotal year, the first real transition towards the world of electric models.”
While diesel isn’t the popular choice for combustion material in civilian vehicles here in Malaysia, it still accounts for
more than 40%
 of the vehicles sold in Europe. However, demand for diesel-powered vehicles is already on the decline, with the fall further accelerated by the
Dieselgate scandal
.
Carmakers left and right are also dropping diesel in response to the tightening emission regulations around the world, but when the largest diesel engine factory in the world is transitioning away from diesel fuel, it’s pretty much the final nail in the coffin for Rudolph Diesel’s namesake invention.
Aside from the loss of yet another internal combustion technology, the transition also comes with another downside – job cuts. Given the relative simplicity of an electric motor as compared to a traditional diesel engine (with approximately one fifth of parts), the change in focus will more than likely put some of the 3,000 Tremery plant workers’ jobs at risk.
Stellantis has said that they will not be closing any factories, and will seek to protect jobs, but that’s still not a guarantee. Uzan acknowledged the risk that fewer staff may be needed, but was optimistic that the cuts could happen “quite naturally” as workers retire without being replaced.
However, the Tremery factory is only one part of the entire picture. Industry researchers warn that Europe’s car manufacturers, who are already suffering from overcapacity, will have to make big cuts in order to deliver the investments needed to catch up with leading EV manufacturers, such as Tesla.
French car lobby group PFA estimates that 15,000 jobs linked to diesel are at risk in France, out of 400,000 employed by the industry as a whole. Meanwhile, German labour research institute IAB says that the transition to
electric vehicles
 could threaten 100,000 jobs in Germany alone, approximately one in eight German automotive industry jobs.


Monthly sales of the Perodua Aruz have surpassed the Alza

Perodua is off to a
good start for the year as the company posted a 7.3% increase in sales for the
first two months of 2019. The second national carmaker sold nearly 37,400
vehicles from January to February 2019, up from 34,800 vehicles in the same
period last year.
The
fourth-generation Myvi
 continues to be the most popular choice among buyers with around 15,000 units delivered in the first two months of the year, followed by 10,100 Axias and 5,900 Bezzas.

Sales of the new
Aruz
 have also surpassed the
Alza
 with the former recorded 3,600 units vs. 2,700 units for the latter. Perodua has collected over 13,000 bookings to date since the launch of their first seven-seater SUV.
Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd
Managing Director Dato’ Dr Zahari Husin said: “The heightened sales performance
is a result of our efforts to further improve our delivery times. We have
adjusted our production to reduce the waiting time for the Aruz. This will continue
in March as well.”


Renault Samsung Motors SM3 Z.E. facelift unveiled, 213km EV range

Renault Samsung Motors has just unveiled its facelifted SM3 Z.E at the 2017 Daegu International Future Auto Expo in Korea. Better known as the Fluence Z.E. in other parts of the world, the battery-powered sedan now boasts increased driving range and an updated look.
The facelift exercise brought about a new front grille and bumper design, sleeker five-spoke alloy wheels, bringing the looks closer to the
petrol-powered Fluence
 which happens to be on sale here in Malaysia. Inside, new items include digital meter cluster, door panel design and brushed aluminium trim.
Driving the SM3 Z.E. is an electric motor with
94 hp
 and
226 Nm
 of torque moving the front wheels. However, the battery capacity has been upped to
 36 kWh
 (previously 22 kWh) without any increase in weight. The new battery pack is said to return 213 km on a single charge,
57
per cent more mileage than before.
In South Korea, the average daily commute is around
40 kilometres
 according to a Korean Transportation Safety Authority (KOTSA) report. This would mean that the updated SM3 Z.E. with extended driving range makes for a viable electric vehicle for the average Korean consumer.
South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare has just purchased 1,200 of the Renault SM3 Z.E. last April and the model is a popular EV taxi in Seoul, Daegu and Jeju island.
IMAGE GALLERY


BMW cars in Malaysia now (finally) comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for free

BMW Malaysia
 has announced that starting this year, all BMW models will now come with Smartphone Integration and Connected Package Professional as standard – which means Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity will now be available for free. About damn time.
Smartphone Integration features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and will be available on both the iDrive 7 and
iDrive 8
 infotainment operating systems. For iDrive 8, Apple Maps will also further be adapted into the instrument cluster and head-up displays for an even more connected driving experience.
The feature previously required a one-time activation fee, priced at RM1,299, via the BMW ConnectedDrive store.
RELATED:
BMW Malaysia starts charging subscription fees for things your car already has
Connected Package Professional meanwhile gives owners remote control to their cars via the My BMW App, and offers functionalities such as the ability to lock their doors, activating the headlight flash or horn, as well as starting the ventilation system.
The vehicle’s Last State Call (LSC) will also be available in the app, displaying relevant information about the status of the car including fuel level, mileage, status of doors and windows, Check Control Messages, pending services, and more. These features will be available on “lifetime offer”, providing that the technical prerequisites are met.
As part of the Connected Package Professional suite, customers will also be able to enjoy the BMW Maps Connected Charging and Connected Navigation features, although they will only be offered with “three years runtime”. Presumably, future updates will require a subscription.
BMW Maps Connected Charging is more relevant to EVs such as the

BMW iX
,
iX3
, and
i4
, allowing owners to not only check for public charging stations directly via the vehicle’s mapping system, but also to view past and ongoing charging sessions, and provide remote control functionalities for ongoing and upcoming charging sessions. The app will also notify users should there be any specific charging events.
ALSO READ:
Your next car’s cabin could be powered entirely by Apple CarPlay
For non-electrified models, Connected Navigation allows for a more intuitive address input system and a more populated Point of Interest listing, thanks to the system being connected to the cloud database. Owners will also be able to send their destinations from the My BMW App to their vehicles, while a Last Mile feature can assist in navigating towards their destination should they need to travel by foot at the end of the journey.


Kia releases several official pictures of the next-generation Sportage

We’ve all seen the
leaked pictures
 of the new
Kia Sportage
, but the Korean automaker spares no time in disclosing a trio of official pictures ahead of its debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show come mid-September.
The fourth-generation SUV is the result of a design collaboration between Kia’s European, Korean and Californian teams. It’s nothing short of bold (maybe a tad too bold in our opinion), though looking at it from different angles will reveal a hint of the outgoing model’s silhouette.
One of the biggest styling changes can be seen from the front. Its ‘Tiger-nose’ grille is louder than ever before, and the headlamps are now separated from the grille and sweeps rearward of the newly sculpted bonnet. Like the facelifted Kia Optima, the Sportage’s fog lamps feature a cluster of four LEDs – a welcoming design that may stick to the company’s image for years to come.
Besides the heavily revised fascia, Kia says the car has a slightly longer wheelbase and front overhang,  whereas the rear overhang has been shortened. Its wheel arches are also bolder now, with sharp lines to give the Sportage its profound new look.
More details of the Sportage will surface on 15 September at Frankfurt, so be sure to stay tuned for the latest updates of the vehicle!


Compact, rugged and practical – here’s the first ever Mercedes-Benz GLB

With 609,000 customers worldwide taking delivery of a compact Mercedes-Benz (one in three are compact models) and a total of 2,600 units of the Mercedes-Benz GLC and GLE delivered in Malaysia last year (Volvo Malaysia only sold more than 1,000 cars), the appetite for compact luxury vehicles have proven beyond insatiable.
And the new Mercedes-Benz GLB, the brand’s first compact SUV with third row seats, has arrived to fuel that fire with petrol and a pressure jet spray.

Slightly narrower and shorter but taller than the new Mercedes-Benz GLC (1,644mm), the new GLB (1,658mm) is said to accommodate passengers up to 168cm in height in the third row seats.
With collapsible third row seats, boot space is rated between 560 litres to 1755 litres. Occupants in the third row seats are not neglected from comfort and convenience with dual cupholders and USB ports offered.
Made in Mexico, the new GLB’s 4MATIC system includes the Off-Road Engineering Package where in combination with the Multibeam LED headlamps system, offers a special off-road light function.
With the off-road light function, the cornering lights on the Multibeam LED headlamps are continuously switched on up to a speed of 50 km/h, resulting in wide and bright light distribution immediately in front of the vehicle.
The Off-Road mode can be activated through the Dynamic Select drive control switch, where it adapts the engine’s power delivery and ABS control when driving in off-road terrain.
In “Eco or Comfort” power distribution is at 80:20 (front axle:rear axle), while in “Sport” it is 70:30. In off-road mode, power distribution is at a balanced 50:50.
When in Off-Road mode, an animation of the car can be displayed on the infotainment system to project the terrain’s gradient, inclination angle and other technical details to assist the driver.
In the GLB 200, the compact SUV gets a 1.33-litre M282 petrol-powered engine paired to a 7-speed DCT with
163 hp
 and
250 Nm
, while the GLB 250 4MATIC is fitted with the M260 2.0-litre engine paired to an 8-speed DCT with
224 hp
 and
350 Nm
.
Diesel models include the GLB 200 and GLB 200d 4MATIC, both with
150 hp
and
320 Nm
while the GLB 220d 4MATIC offer
190 hp
 and
 400 Nm
 on the taps. All three diesel models are paired with an 8-speed DCT.
Adopted from the S-Class, the GLB’s driver assist system, with improved camera and radar systems, can scan up to 500 metres ahead and is able to drive semi-autonomously with the Active Distance Assist feature. A new feature in the GLB is the Active Steering Assist, to complement the Active Lane Change Assist and Active Parking Assist.
IMAGE GALLERY


Video: Kia Optima EX 2.0 Review

This is the one you’ve all been waiting for – GC Mah’s appearance and a review of the very attractive package that is the
Kia Optima EX
.
Love it or hate it, you can’t deny that for a
RM139,888
, it’s a lot of car for the money – not just in metal but in features and equipment too – effectively making it a D-segment car for C-segment money.

We had a ride in it before GC Mah set off to shoot the review and aside from lacking leather seats, something we all unanimously agreed wasn’t that big a deal, it’s possibly one of the most complete cars (in terms of features and size) you could buy in the sub-RM140k bracket.
And it wasn’t like it wasn’t underpowered either, something most would assume considering it’s such a big car with only a 2.0-litre engine putting out
163 hp
 and
196 Nm
, because it isn’t.
As for how it drives, we’ll leave GC Mah to share with you.


Porsche sold nearly as many Taycans last year as the Cayman and Boxster combined!

Who says that nobody wants an electric sports car? Make one good enough, and people will naturally snatch it up. The
Porsche Taycan
 is the best example of that – despite being in the market for just a little over a year, reception for the fully-electric Porsche has shot right through the roof with 20,015 units sold last year, even though many denounced it even before its very existence.
The figure is even more impressive when you take into account the six-week pause in production due to the ongoing
Covid-19 pandemic
. In fact, the Taycan’s sales performance nearly eclipsed the entire 718 range – that is the
718 Cayman
 and
718 Boxster
 combined! On a side note, we recently got to sample the
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4
 on the Sepang Circuit recently – be sure to
check out what we thought about it
!
The Porsche Taycan was just slightly bested by the 21,784 units of 718s sold last year, which is nothing short of remarkable for its first-year outing of a completely new model. Despite a promising start though, the electric Porsche still has a long way to go in comparison to Porsche’s true staples (in terms of sales).
The
Cayenne
 once again took the lead in Porsche’s global sales charts, with 92,860 examples sold in 2020. The Taycan also trails the iconic
Porsche 911
, which sold 34,328 units worldwide last year.
Overall, Porsche sold a total of 272,162 cars worldwide in 2020 – 3% down from the previous year, but not unexpected given the circumstances. However, the brand did manage to find sales growth in Asia-Pacific, Africa and Middle East by 4%, with China by itself thriving 3%.
After the fairly positive 2020 result, Porsche is optimistic about its future developments in 2021. “We are continuing our product offensive – our customers can look forward to it. It will include additional derivatives of the all-electric Taycan and the 911, among others,” said Porsche executive board member of Sales and Marketing, Detlev von Platen.
“We are full of optimism and looking forward to 2021, a year that will also be characterised by unique experiences with the Porsche brand.”
The Porsche Taycan was
 launched here in Malaysia in September last year
. A total of three variants is available here locally – the Taycan Turbo S, the Taycan Turbo and the
Taycan 4S
, with prices starting from RM725K for the entry-level 4S model.


The Lotus Emira GT4 is here to rip through racetracks

The
 Emira
 might be Lotus’ last-ever pure ICE sports car, but it’s not going out without a bang. The British sportscar maker has just unveiled the Emira GT4 race car on its Hethel test track, the first new model from the Lotus Advanced Performance division, and will be sold to customers participating in various entry-level sports car racing globally.
Serving as the follow-up to the hugely popular Evora GT4, the new Lotus Emira GT4 sports the same Toyota 3.5-litre supercharged engine underneath its rear cover, delivering a total of
406 hp
(before balance of power adjustments). But unlike the road car, the GT4 also gets a MoTeC engine management system, and an Xtrac six-speed sequential gearbox to send drive to the rear wheels.
Underneath the familiar “advanced composite” bodywork hides the two-way Ohlins TTx dampers, new anti-roll bars, a larger 96-litre FIA-FT3-certified fuel tank, competition-level brakes, and a Bosch motorsport ABS system. For rubbers, the Lotus Emira GT4 gets a set of Pirelli GT4 tyres from the factory with 265 front and 305 rear sections, wrapped around 18-inch forged aluminium wheels.
As it’s a full-blown race car, the Emira GT4 is of course built to meet the latest safety regulations, and will be homologated for all racing series. The interior is completely stripped out, and replaced with a FIA-homologated six-point roll cage, HANS-approved seats with six-point harness, as well as other required safety equipment.
RELATED: Lotus welcomes the new Eletre – its first-ever, fully-electric ‘Hyper SUV’
Lotus says that the Emira GT4 was tested at the Portimao Circuit in Portugal for an entire week to validate the car’s aero performance and component reliability. Since its
initial announcement
 back in September last year, the Emira GT4’s development team has been focused on “precision engineering to deliver outstanding dynamics and high-speed stability”.
Lotus’ Director of Vehicle Attributes and former British GT Championship winner Gavan Kershaw, who has been heavily involved in the development of the Emira GT4, commented: “We knew we had an excellent starting point for the Emira GT4 because of all the work done to make the road car such a great performer. Showing off the GT4’s dynamic capabilities on the Hethel test track – which has shaped countless race cars and their drivers since Lotus moved to the site in 1966 – is a very special moment for me and all the team involved.”
Also present at Hethel for the Emira GT4 launch event was a Lotus Type 30 sports racer. The white (privately owned) 1965 GT is powered by a Ford 4.7-litre V8, and won the Whitsun Trophy at last year’s Goodwood Revival. Only 33 examples of the Type 30 were ever built, and it achieved numerous wins in the hands of Lotus legend Jim Clark and other racers.
The Emira GT4 is priced from GBP165,000 (approx. RM891k), excluding taxes and deliveries. Order fulfilments will begin 2022, with production ramping up for 2023 in line with global demand.
Closer to home, Lotus Cars Malaysia recently opened the order books for the road-going Emira, with pricing starting from
RM1.13 million
fully-taxed in Peninsular Malaysia, or
RM457k
 in Langkawi without duties.
Learn more about the Lotus Emira in Malaysia here.
GALLERY


Video: 2019 Lexus ES 250, 5 Things

Alongside the new Lexus RX 300, Lexus Malaysia also took to stage the long awaited arrival of the
Lexus ES 250
, previewed at
last year’s Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show
.
The new ES 250 is available in two variatns – Premium at
RM299,888
 and Luxury at
RM332,888
. Under its skin, the higher spec ES 250 “Luxury” stands out from the Premium variant with performance dampers.

Inside, the Luxury model is treated to a 3-zone air conditioning system, rear sunshades, 12.3-inch touchscreen display, heads up display, wireless charging, 10-way power adjustable for the front seats and 2-way reclining rear seats.
Under the hood is a 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated engine with
 204 hp
and
247 Nm
, paired to an 8-speed Direct Shift Automatic Transmission.


Volkswagen Cares customer loyalty programme launched in Malaysia

Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) has just launched the “Volkswagen Cares” customer loyalty programme at
Volkswagen Fest 2018
. The Volkswagen Cares mobile app helps existing Volkswagen owners to stay up to date with owner rewards, access 24-hours Volkswagen Roadside Assistance and more with a touch of a button.
Volkswagen and non-Volkswagen owners can also access special offers, service offers, book a test drive as well as educational videos and tips from within the app. Speaking at the launch, Managing Director of VPCM, Erik Winter said: “Volkswagen Cares applies on all levels, be it to our colleagues, dealer partners and our other stakeholders. And more importantly, it is about how we interact, engage and serve our customers better.”

Additionally, VPCM is also rolling out a Volkswagen Care Plus (VCP), an exclusive programme for owners with a Volkswagen vehicle 5-Years and older. VCP member privileges upon registration include three 20 per cent service discount vouchers, 2-Year extension of Volkswagen Roadside Assistance and an RM100 merchandise voucher. All these benefits can be viewed and managed within the Volkswagen Cares app.
Interested owners can register themselves at any authorised Volkswagen dealer and make a one-time payment of RM138 to enjoy all the above privileges. They will also receive a membership card that is linked to their Volkswagen vehicle. The Volkswagen Care app is available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Playstore.


BMW M4 Coupe LCI unleashed in M’sia, 3.0L, 425 hp & 550 Nm, RM760k

So the rumours about the discontinuation of sales of the
BMW M3 and M4
 in Malaysia is untrue, then, because together with the launch of the
4 Series LCI
, the
Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe rival
 is now yours for RM760,000.00.
With the facelift, the M4 gets minor nip and tuck enhancements to its appearance and chassis. It gets a new pair of full-LED adaptive headlamps and LED tail lamps as standard. Other visual items that separate the M4 from regular 4 Series are M specific wing mirrors, M gills at the front fenders, carbon roof, Powerdome (bonnet air inlet) and M quad exhaust. It rides on 19-inch lightweight M five twin-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in 255/35 and 275/35 (front and rear) tyres.
QUICK FACTS
Name
BMW M4 Coupe LCI
Engine
2,979cc; inline-6 M TwinPower turbo
Transmission
7-speed M DCT
Max Power
425 hp @ 5,500 – 7,300 rpm
Max Torque
550 Nm @ 1,850 – 7,300 rpm
0 – 100 km/h; Top Speed
4.1 seconds; 250 km/h
Price (OTR without insurance)
RM760,000
Inside, there’s new M Sport seats with adjustable side bolsters and wider apertures for better support and ventilation on the race track. Other M specific touches include carbon fibre trims and M leather sports steering wheel with M Drive buttons.
Mechanically, the M4 LCI retains the same 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder M TwinPower turbo that generates
 425 hp
 and
550 Nm
 of torque. Drive is exclusively sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed M dual clutch transmission. While its
4.1 seconds
 century sprint time and
250 km/h top speed
 is impressive to say the least, the M4 is still 0.2 seconds slower to the mark compared to the C 63 AMG.

BMW Malaysia is offering the new M4 in three exterior shades – Sakhir Orange, Austin Yellow and Yas Marina Blue. Like all official BMW models, the M4 comes with 5-Years unlimited mileage warranty with free scheduled service and 2-Years BMW Tyre Warranty Programme as standard.
IMAGE GALLERY


Review: BMW 118i Sport, the BMW equivalent of a Burberry belt

Nothing says class like a premium German automobile. Past awards for excellence in execution are what keep most Asians coming back for more. It doesn’t matter if we can’t afford the full Monty BMW M5, we’ll settle for much less. Four wheels and a badge, please.
When compared to its predecessor, the new BMW 118i is a winner. More rear boot space, far superior base engine offering; styling suited to a lawyer who hasn’t quite made partner yet, but still wants to feel important first thing in the morning. And lastly, more buttons and switches than a standard QWERTY keyboard.
QUICK FACTS
Name
BMW 118i Sport
BMW 120i M Sport
Engine
1,499cc; 3-cyl turbo, DOHC, direct injection
1,598cc; 4-cyl turbo, DOHC, direct injection
Transmission
8-speed automatic
Max Power
136 hp @ 4,400 rpm
177 hp @ 4,800 rpm
Max Torque
220 Nm @ 1,250 rpm
250 Nm @ 1,500 rpm
0 – 100km/h; Top Speed
7.2 seconds; 222 km/h
8.7 seconds; 210 km/h
Price
RM173,800.00
RM219,800.00 (
no longer on sale
)
So let’s start with “I’m not partner yet” styling. Were I not a brutish barbarian, in a suit and tie, I’d fit right in with the rat race pack. Nothing too sharp or outlandish, just understated lines. Exactly what you need to keep up with the herd and not embarrass your boss if he shows up in a previous generation 5 Series.
Walking around the car, I find everything is as it should be, until I drop my camouflaged laptop bag in the boot. I know the key in my hand unlocks the boot at a touch of a clearly labelled button. I press it and fumble for a handle to lift up the boot. There is none. Using the tips of my fingers I pry open the assisted boot with He-Man force.

Annoyed at the process, my barbarian instincts want me to head butt the boot door as punishment. I decide that I’d lose that fight and close the boot. Out of curiosity, I push the BMW badge on the back of the boot door. It turns into a handle. First impressions? I hate this car for making me look like an idiot to myself.
Grumbling, I enter the BMW 118i. It smells like a BMW. Feels like a BMW. Nice. The driver’s seat adjusts in many ways to accommodate my wide ate-too-much-roti-canai-as-a-child frame. I reach down for the control buttons and a few seconds later I am positioned. The steering is off, I pull the lever to make the necessary changes and discover that it is also telescopic. After another five minutes, I feel like no other barbarian before me. In perfect driving position that’s comfortable, too. The rest of the interior is excellent, with plenty of visibility and room behind the husky driver.

Time to use some of that extra data Maxis has so graciously decided to bestow on us. Menu after menu after menu, I find the right settings to link my device to the BMW. So much reading. I just want to connect to my Bluetooth. All other information is irrelevant. If my device was going to blow up, then tell me, otherwise I. Don’t. Care.
Finally, Spotify is on. I am a little excited, it’s a brand new BMW and I’m driving it! Then I remember the engine details: a 1.5-litre three-cylinder that’s turbocharged to produce just over 130 horsepower. My excitement wanes.
Open road, I pin the throttle to the mat, the eight-speed gearbox kicks down two cogs and away we go. The turbo is small so there’s plenty of low-end torque and hardly any lag. All 220 Nm is available very early on in the rev range. It brings a wry smile to my face. As the rpm climb to 6,000 – in second gear, the smile fizzles. There just isn’t enough puff up top, which is to be expected of a smaller displacement, small turbo setup. But for a few seconds, it felt like the BMWs of old. I guess it’ll do.
The engine and gearbox has four driving modes. Sport and Sport+ give the Bimmer sharper throttle response and keep the revs higher, longer. But they also made the ride jumpy. A light accelerator touch would send the car lurching forward. Comfort mode was by far the choice for me, while Eco mode was sluggish and throttle response felt like the tyres were rolling in quick sand.
For a 36-year-old barbarian that still thinks the late 90’s were the best years humanity has ever had, there’s just too many settings and buttons. It took me a minute to find the central locking button. I just want everything to be simple and easy to use. Give me one button for one action, clearly labelled and all in a row. Give me a dial and several other buttons everywhere else, and I become Mary’s lost lamb.
So far, I’ve been building up two arguments. The first, I’m obviously not meant for this sort of car. Class is the last thing I use at the dinner table and in polite conversation. With me it’s punch this, kick that, red light districts and easy everything. Like a true 80’s badass I rarely wear my emotions on my sleeves because I tore them off in a battle to the death with biker gang’s boss.
The second, the BMW 118i is, much to my displeasure, perfect for the modern age. And that’s where I find myself torn between decisions and caught in a vortex of time between two distinct eras of motoring.
I prefer my turbos big and laggy, full of top-end power. I prefer my handling to be knife-edge and scary, because I want to feel every bit of the road. I want to hear the roar of the engine, not a muffled wheeze.
I want to enjoy everything that’s BMW about the 118i, but can’t. Beneath the layers of modern automotive advancement, there’s only a sliver of BMW magic. No more straight sixers, just three-cylinders, a turbo and a super slick I-don’t-know-what-gear-I’m-in transmission.
I know it’s the base model. But then I’m reminded of the E46 318 and how much I loathed it. BMW 118i, even with its turbo, only further reminds me that I’m only getting part of the entire BMW performance package. It doesn’t aspire me aspire to own an M3, M4 or M5. And that’s what BMW cars used to do.
In short, the BMW 118i is like showing up to a dinner party claiming to be wearing Burberry. In reality, the only thing you’re wearing from Burberry is a belt.
Matthew’s take: The fight between BMW, Mercedes-Benz and to a certain degree, Volkswagen, has seen all three German carmakers duke it out to offer the most attractive entry-level model. In one corner you have the
1.6-litre A 180
, in the other a
Golf 1.4 TSI
, and then comes this peppy Bavarian looker. Its 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine – the same unit you’ll find in an
i8
 – is much better refined than the older 1.6-litre Prince. Although less powerful, the three-potter lump has an aurally delightful note and performs much more sensibly than say, the A 250. If I had to pick, I’ll put my money down on the Bimmer any day. In fact, it may just be the last rear-wheel drive 1 Series, ever…
IMAGE GALLERY
BMW 118i Sport

BMW 120i M Sport


Proton sold 109,716 cars in 2020, up 8.8% from 2019

Despite the economic downturn as a result of the ongoing
Covid-19
 pandemic, national carmaker Proton still managed to close 2020 on a high, with a total of
109,716 vehicles sold
 for the entire year.
The positive sales figure represents an
8.8% growth
 over the 100,821 units sold in 2019, raising the national carmaker’s market share to an estimated 21.1% – 4.4% increase from the previous year. In December 2020 alone, the company managed moved 13,306 units – a healthy increase over the 11,411 units sold in November.

Proton’s achievement in 2020 is driven in large by the bread-and-butter
Saga
, with 46,527 units sold in the year, followed by the
Persona
 with 23,917 units sold – the latter taking the crown of the best-selling B-segment sedan in 2020.
The ever-popular
Proton X70
 is up next with 21,944 units sold in 2020, making it the highest-volume C-segment SUV of 2020. Meanwhile, Proton has also managed to deliver 3,787 units of the
recently-unveiled X50
 – just over 200 units short of its 4,000 units target for the year. The
Proton Iriz
 and
Exora
 sold 7,636 and 5,849 units respectively.
The encouraging performance is further bolstered by the massive 49.8% jump in export volume, with presence in Kenya, Pakistan,
 Egypt
, Bangladesh, and
Brunei
. Kenya saw the first Proton Saga roll off the local CKD assembly line just in December last month, while both the Saga and X70 will also be locally-assembled in Pakistan later this year, to be built in the
new Karachi assembly plant
.
The year 2020 also saw the national carmaker increase its sales network by another 20 3S and 4S centre nationwide, bringing the total number of outlets to 140. As part of the company’s long-term business evolution plan, Proton has also transferred ownership of 49 of its own sales branches. The national carmaker says that this will allow the company to focus more on product development, product quality, aftersales service and export activities.
Proton CEO Dr. Li Chunrong said, “We are grateful to have achieved this level of performance against the backdrop of 2020. To describe it as challenging would be an understatement but we persevered. Our results were backed by many factors, trust from our customers, support from the government, commitment from vendors, resilience of our dealers and also the diligence of our staff.
“2020 was a real test of Proton’s mettle as we had only just begun our new trajectory. The nature of this pandemic for an organization like ours, which depends on global supply chains, put great strain on the business.
However, a combination of good strategy and hard work has left us not only with an increase in sales against a decreasing market but a renewed belief in our product strategy, quality and commitment to our customers … We will continue to put the pedal to the metal in 2021 and strive to improve all aspects of the business,” he added.


Nissan teases new EV crossover, part of GBP1 billion investment in UK

Nissan is the next automaker to heavily invest in electric vehicles (EV) and its manufacturing ecosystem. Dubbed Nissan EV36Zero, the electric vehicle hub is an expansion of the Sunderland plant in the UK that sees the construction of a new battery-making facility as well as a power generation plant using wind and solar energy.
The proposed new Nissan EV takes the form of a
crossover
, and suspect not to be the similarly-sized
Nissan Ariya
 or recently launched
Qashqai
 as the investment for the new EV alone is USD584 million (RM2.4 billion). Designed for global markets, Nissan UK will export the new EV to the European markets traditionally served by the Sunderland plant, up to the tune of 100,000 units a year.
The new EV will be built on the Alliance CMF-EV platform which also underpins the upcoming Renault Megane EV and the aforementioned Nissan Ariya. With Mitsubishi now being part of the Alliance, this new EV could also wear the
Mitsubishi
 badge.
This owner has been driving his original Nissan Leaf for over 200,000 km! More on the family here!
To keep total production efficient and minimize greenhouse gas emissions, a new battery factory will be built next to the Sunderland plant. Envision AESC, which already operates Europe’s first battery plant in the same city since 2012, will invest USD620 million (RM2.58 billion) to build UK’s first Gigafactory that is
powered by renewable energy
.
The initial output of the plant or ‘gigafactory’ is a modest nine GWh and is designed to deliver
up to 35 GWh by 2030
 as demand and investment grow. Envision AESC is targeting to manufacture cheaper-priced batteries as well as
30% more energy density
 for improved range and efficiency.
Locally, the Sunderland council is also leading the
‘microgrid’ project
 that aims to deliver 100% renewable electricity that will save 55,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
This made-in-Sunderland Nissan Leaf just hit a milestone. Find out how many units been made here!
The ‘microgrid’ plan includes the creation of 10 new solar farms plus the existing 12.5 MW wind and solar farms together with storage of energy via refurbished batteries from old Nissan EVs. The project, a first-of-its-kind, is estimated to be worth USD111 million (RM459 million).
The EV36Zero plan’s goal is to create a world-first EV manufacturing ecosystem, using renewable and sustainable energy to build the vehicle, as well as power it within the surrounding region. The USD1.38 billion (or
GBP1 billion
, RM5.7 billion) investment is set to created 6,200 new jobs for both Nissan UK and the Envision AESC factory.
Britain has pledged to end the sale of vehicles with internal combustion engines from 2030.


2023 Suzuki Jimny Rhino Edition launched in Malaysia – 30 units only, RM175k

Naza Eastern Motors
 has unveiled a new limited-edition model for the beloved
Suzuki Jimny
, called the Rhino Edition. Essentially just a visual package, the new Suzuki Jimny Rhino Edition will be limited to just 30 units only, priced at
 RM174,900
– although existing Jimny customers can purchase the kit for RM15k.
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The Suzuki Jimny Rhino Edition is available exclusively in a Pure Pearl White paint job, paired to a generous dose of red, grey, and black decals all around the exterior – the ones on the side even feature large ‘Real Offroader’ wording to remind everyone that it’s still a capable 4X4 despite its compact size.
Jimny diehards may already recognise the Rhino emblem all around the outside that gave the special edition model its name, but for those who don’t, the branding traces its roots all the way back to the second-generation SJ Jimny some 40 years ago, which was used in certain markets as a symbol for “rugged strength, robust appearance, solidity, and dynamic power”.
The Rhino logo has since become essentially synonymous with the Jimny.
Other exterior modifications on the Jimny Rhino Edition include the Suzuki Heritage grille, chrome wing mirrors, red mud flaps with white “Jimny” lettering, bumper under garnishes, additional front and rear differential guards, as well as wind deflectors above the windows.
Aside from these, though, the rest of the car is essentially identical to the Suzuki Jimny that was launched here in Malaysia nearly two years ago. Underneath the bonnet is a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated inline-four engine that makes
102 hp
 and
130 Nm
, with power sent to all four wheels via a four-speed automatic gearbox and a part-time four-wheel drive system.
For more information on the Suzuki Jimny in Malaysia, check out our
detailed launch coverage here.
GALLERY


BMW 6 Series Coupe on the chopping block, focus is all on the new 8 Series

The BMW 6 Series started life as a two-door coupe before the four-door Gran Coupe and the Convertible versions came along. Today, BMW announced that the 6 Series coupe will no longer be available, but the other duo will still be produced.
A report from
Road & Track
 confirmed that BMW stopped production of the 6 Series coupe in February as a consequence of poor sales. What does this mean? Well, enter the
8 Series
, the Bavarian giant’s latest foray into the luxury two-door GT. Its concept form will take centre stage on 26 May, and once it comes to fruition, the GT will go head to head against the
S-Class coupe
.
Back at home, the BMW 6 Series is only available as a four-door 640i Gran Coupe M Sport, which will set you back at a cool
RM788,800
. And if you’re can’t tell already, the silhouette below is of the new 8-er. We can’t wait!


Chery makes first official appearance in Malaysia – Tiggo Pro Series, Omoda 5 previewed

Chery
today made its first official appearance here in Malaysia, after the brand
announced its revival
 in our country back in February this year. At a media event today, the Chinese carmaker previewed the five models that it has earmarked for introduction here in Malaysia, including the Tiggo Pro Series and Omoda 5 – the former including the first Southeast Asian appearance for the Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV.
Chery Omoda 5
“As one of ASEAN’s largest economies and with a developed automotive market. Malaysia is a very strategic market in China’s plans for further globalisation,” said Chery Malaysia country director, Leo Chen.
“As China’s top passenger car exporter for 19 consecutive years, with a presence in over 80 countries and regions, and the trust of over 10 million users worldwide, we believe we will be able to draw on our expertise to contribute to the Malaysian automotive industry and further spur its growth.”
ALSO READ:
Chery CKD plant for Malaysia in the works, SUV models to compete with Proton X50, X70
Chery Omoda 5
“Phase one” of its Malaysian product plan will include the
Chery Omoda 5
 and the
Tiggo 8 Pro
, although a concrete launch window wasn’t specified.
The Omoda 5 is the first model under Chery’s new flagship global model series. Designed to appeal to “young consumers in the 25-30 age group”, the compact SUV features the ‘Art of Motion’ design language with sharp lines and funky exterior styling, paired to a modern and high-tech interior.
Chery Omoda 5
At launch, the Omoda 5 in Malaysia will be offered with two powertrain options, including a 1.5-litre turbocharged inline-four engine with
154 hp
 and
230 Nm
 paired to a CVT gearbox, as well as a 1.6-litre turbocharged direct-injection inline-four unit making
194 hp
 and
290 Nm
, paired to a seven-speed DCT gearbox.
Chery also revealed that there will also be a fully-electric BEV variant for the Omoda 5 here in Malaysia, although they stopped short on revealing any specifications.
Chery Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV
As for the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro, it’ll be offered here with a single powertrain option featuring a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four engine making
250 hp
 and
390 Nm
. Power is sent to either the front wheels or all four wheels via a seven-speed DCT gearbox.
The company also showed off a hybrid-powered Chery Tiggo 8 Pro PHEV at the event here today, although it’s only slated to be launched at a later date. The PHEV’s powertrain consists of a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, two electric motors, as well as what the marque calls a 3DHT (Dedicated Hybrid Transmission) gearbox, for a combined output of
 241 hp
 and
 510 Nm
.
The unique gearbox allows for nine different modes of operation, with the powertrain capable of running in both series and hybrid configurations depending on the driving situation.
Chery Tiggo 8 Pro
Other models earmarked for Malaysia include the
Chery Tiggo 7 Pro
and Tiggo 4 Pro. The former as a C-segment SUV rivalling the likes of the
Proton X70
and
Honda CR-V
, while the latter being the “entry-level” model that’s slightly smaller than the
Proton X50
.
The two model share the same 1.5L and 1.6L powertrains as the Omoda 5, although the Tiggo 4 Pro will only be available with the former.
RELATED: Chery Tiggo 8 Pro launched in South Africa with 10-year/1,000,000 km warranty!
Chery Tiggo 7 Pro
Chery Tiggo 7 Pro
Chery Tiggo 4 Pro
Chery Tiggo 4 Pro
“At Chery, getting close to consumers is of paramount importance,” said Chen. “Besides communicating our recent global successes and showing them our leaps in technology, quality and design, this preview event is also a platform for us to directly engage with Malaysian consumers and deeply understand their hearts and minds with regards to automobiles.”
“This preview event will strengthen the market research we have done so far by allowing us to gather extensive feedback from our valued guests via survey, this time alongside the real vehicles. The feedback will greatly help us fine-tune our product and brand strategy to best serve the Malaysian market, as well as assess the suitability of each of these models for the market,” he added.
GALLERY


Volvo starts rolling out 180 km/h speed limit on new cars

It’s official – the
controversial announcement
from Volvo last year to limit the top-speed of all new vehicles to 180 km/h is now being implemented on new cars rolling off the production lines. The move is part of a larger vision from the Swedish carmaker to achieve zero serious injuries and fatalities in traffic.
In addition to the new speed limit, all new Volvo cars will also come with a
Care Key
, allowing owners to set additional speed limitations – we figure this might be particularly useful for those with rebellious teens at home.
Volvo believes that the move is more than just a speed limit, but also to promote discussions around speeding. Head of Volvo Cars Safety Centre, Malin Ekholm said, “We believe that a car maker has a responsibility to help improve traffic safety. Our speed limiting technology, and the dialogue that it initiated, fits that thinking.
“The speed cap and Care Key help people reflect and realise that speeding is dangerous, while also providing extra peace of mind and supporting better driver behaviour.”
Speaking to Autocar UK, she added: “We decided there really is no reason to go faster than 180 km/h. 180 km/h is still fast, so is that going to be the end of speeding? No, it’s not, but it’s still a limitation. Everyone talks about speed and speeding, and we wanted to do something to show that we’re serious.”
According to Ekholm, Volvo customers’ response to the new speed limit had largely been “very supportive” since the announcement last year. Moving forward, the carmaker will look towards curbing the issues of driver intoxication and distraction through in-car
driver monitoring systems
.
Locally,
Volvo Car Malaysia Managing Director Nalin Jain
 confirmed that the recently-launched
locally-assembled S60 T8 R-Design
 will not come with said speed limit on the
first batch of vehicles
 rolling out of the assembly plant in Shah Alam – later ones will still be subjected to the global Volvo directive.