The all-new Nissan Sentra might be the hottest family sedan to date

Shortly after unveiling the
new Almera
 to the Thai market last week, Nissan has drawn the curtains on the 2020 Nissan Sentra in the US – the company’s best-selling US model of all time.
Nissan says that the all-new Sentra aims to transform the storied nameplate into a head-turning compact sedan. Gone is the bulbous and reserved family car, and in place sits the all-new Sentra that is sharp, aggressive, and as Nissan quite rightly puts it, sexy.
The front fascia of the all-new Sentra seems to take on the biggest change. The signature V-motion grille is now bigger, and the headlights are now slim LED units. Nissan has also taken the word “sharp” quite literally, as there almost seems to be no curved lines to be found anywhere on the front, maybe except the Nissan logo.
The rear three quarters of the car also seems to be elongated for a more fastback-like look, and the floating roof design accentuates the sloping roofline even more. You can also specify the car with a dual-tone black roof exterior paint scheme to complete the sporty appearance.
Built on a new platform, the eight-generation Sentra now sits approximately
two inches lower and two inches wider
 than the previous generation, which should improve driving dynamics, aside from the more intimidating stance.
Nissan says that the engineers also paid extra attention to the smallest of details in the interior, and we must admit that it does look quite nice – specifically the contrast stitching in orange that matches the exterior colour on the press photos, and the new circular air vents.
Sitting in the cabin, your attention is drawn directly to the free-standing
eight-inch infotainment display
 on the sculpted dashboard, which supports
Apple CarPlay
 and
Android Auto
. The instrument cluster also gets updated with a larger digital display in between analog dials, but Nissan did not disclose the exact sizing in the press release.
Nissan is also making available a whole swath of luxury options for the interior, including “quilted, leather-appointed” heated front seats, heated outside mirrors, and Nissan’s renowned Zero Gravity seats.
Under the hood, a
2.0-litre four-cylinder engine
generates
149 hp
 and
198 Nm
 of torque – a 20% and 16% increase respectively over the previous generation’s 1.8-litre mill.
There’s no mention on performance figures, but we wouldn’t expect much as Nissan says that the engine is also tuned to provide a better fuel efficiency compared to the previous generation, hence the relatively modest power output.
However, Nissan says that driving dynamics has been greatly improved on the all-new Nissan Sentra, with the use of a new
independent rear suspension
 and electric power steering system.
As for safety, the eight-generation Nissan Sentra comes with Nissan Safety Shield 360 as standard, which is the brand’s advanced safety suite that includes Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Rear Automatic Braking, and High Beam Assist.
The new Sentra also gets 10 airbags as standard, along with Rear Door Alert, Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, and Intelligent Driver Alertness.
IMAGE GALLERY


Review: Honda CR-V 1.5 TC-P 2WD – Can it get any better than this?

There’s really no way to go about this review except making it seem like I had “extra incentives” to say good things about the fifth generation Honda CR-V but it was really that good.
If anything, you should be paid if you can find any faults with it – whether on its exterior, interior, ride comfort, space or even performance – because again, it was really that good. Features wise, if you look closely at the brochure, Honda hasn’t been stingy with the features either. From the base model to the second highest variant, almost everything were similarly provided as in the highest spec.

The only thing exclusive to the highest spec 1.5 TC-P 2WD were features like the Honda Sensing, LaneWatch Camera and a Powered tailgate – features of which, most would have no qualms doing without. There will be mentions on how much more improved the AWD system is compared to the previous generation CR-V but for all intents and purposes, focus will be given on the high-spec 1.5 TC-P 2WD model.
Honda was so confident with its product and so eager to demonstrate it to the media that before loading up the CR-V en route to a long drive down south to Johor, they arranged a series of test for us on an airstrip, in the administrative capital of Putrajaya.
The course was setup to allow me to sample a few things – the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) system, the all-wheel drive system and the range of Honda Sensing offerings – specifically the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow and the Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS).
It’s not easy to trust the system, given that some would prefer to be in full control behind the wheel and although we should never entirely rely on these systems, suffice to say, they work effectively enough to mitigate further trouble on the road should our senses, attention and skill fail us.
On a straight, clear stretch of tarmac, we were required to get up to speeds of around 70-80 km/h between two vertical lines while tailing a car ahead to test the ACC and LKAS system. While it may be slightly intrusive, the system cleverly and gently pulled the car back into the middle of the lane without being too unsettling.
Setting the ACC system to follow the vehicle ahead within a certain distance, it did exactly that and as the car ahead slowed down, so did the ACC – progressively and intuitively. It’s not easy to trust a car to brake on its own, trust me, I had my foot by the brake pedal eagerly waiting to jam the brakes but that was not at all required.
The AWD system was another massive improvement – we say this because Honda even provided the previous generation AWD CR-V for us to test and compare the difference. Told to hold the pedal firmly even through mid-corner, it was clear how late the AWD system reacted to drag the car back into the bend as it understeered just so slightly upon entering the bend at an “unusually high speed”.
In the fifth generation, the difference was instantaneously noticeable. Going into the bend at the same speed as in the previous gen, almost immediately you feel all four wheels keeping you inwards of the lane, at the entry of the bend, without the profound understeer as experienced in the previous model – truly impressive stuff. The AWD system which powers the front wheels most of the time, only sends power to the rear axle as and when is necessary – ticking both the optimum traction and efficient drive boxes.

With the VSA, it was more straightforward and to an extent, FUN. On a wet slalom course, I was told to switch it off – now that’s not something you get to do everyday to fully understand the extent of the system. With the VSA off, the back simply whaled out with a rigorous flick of the steering and while a simple counter steering may have aligned the vehicle, it may not be so ideal to experience such a reaction on the road. With the VSA on, you can almost feel the system adding and subtracting power to and from the wheels to immediately flip the car back into position – the importance of VSA on a car of such proportions and weight were clear to see.
Inside, the rear legroom deserves a priority shout-out. Probably safe to say there is no SUV in this segment and price point that offers that much space. Frankly, even the living room of a condominium could be embarrassed by the spaciousness of the second row – there is no way you can be uncomfortable even in the most uncompromising, obscene sitting posture.
The seats, which one could nitpick to be in need of slightly softer padding, folds flat which is a plus for almost whatever kind of cargo you’d want to carry in a precious CR-V. Rear air vents and dual USB ports complete what is the most satisfying rear section of an SUV I’ve ever been in. Have I mentioned how spacious it was?
Over at the front, the ergonomics is nothing less than what you’d expect in a Honda – even in its SUV. Visibility was good beyond the sensibly laid out dashboard and control panels. Functions on the 7-inch touchscreen display were simple and straightforward to manoeuvre through and the controls around the almost perfectly-positioned gear lever were simply where you’d expect and want it to be.

The front seats offered plenty of support especially in the rib section and despite the mention on the cushioning of the rear seats, at the front, it was rather pleasant on the long haul down to Johor. The centre storage compartment sure deserves a highlighting – you can almost store a fridge in there, enough said.
There is one thing I would point out, although I’m already expecting majority to disagree – the wooden trims. While I lament that it’s there to add a touch of luxury, the shade, the surface, the sight of it, just wasn’t for me. I’d take the silver trims on the 2.0-litre NA model any day of the year. On that front, maybe it’s fair to point out the simplistic elegance of the
new Mazda CX-5
‘s almost full black interior, it’s arguably more plush too.
Speaking of plushness, while cabin comfort and ride quality would no doubt invite more positive remarks and negative criticism, the NVH while tolerable, still falls behind the CX-5. I may have had a few individuals agree with me on that but second opinions are always welcomed – you know where to leave your thoughts.
Behind the wheel though, that thing can fool you for a rather competent saloon. Steering felt taut and rather precise for something of such height and centre of gravity with minimal body roll. Despite how much I dislike CVT gearboxes, this one felt rather responsive and man, the way the little 1.5-litre engine pulls, all the way to its top speed well in excess of double century figures, makes you question if it only had
190 hp
 and
 243 Nm
 of torque.
It was simply relentless – unlike most cars, in fact unlike most 1.5-litre engines that would lose its breath beyond a certain high speed, this one kept going and going before fizzling out at a speed you would not think a tiny engine in such a heavy car can be capable of. Off the line, the 2WD variant was clearly the more eager one as reflected by its 0 to 100 km/h time of around
8.8 seconds
 but it’s silly to talk about these things with regards to a SUV. The sensible family man or woman would not bother about these things.
Like I said right at the beginning, there is little to none about the CR-V that I can eagerly and passionately fault. To believe me, a test drive is all it takes and onwards, I hope you’d take my word for it. That said, arguments are always welcomed.
IMAGE GALLERY


Video: This is the most original and immaculate R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R we’ve ever seen!

Just seeing one on the road these days is a rarity; so imagine coming across an
R32 Skyline GT-R
, one that is more than 20 years old, that’s completely unmolested and getting to keep it for a week!
As we examined the little details, it just takes your breath away how much of the original trims, bits and pieces were still intact. It still had the original pedals, the original rims and even the original mats!

Minimal modifications, including an aftermarket exhaust system and adjustable suspension also meant that we could enjoy the R32 Skyline in its purest form – as Nissan intended it to be – and for a car old enough to be someone’s father, it still packed a hefty punch, and was every bit the “Gojira” we expected it to be.
Time and time again, we were approached, waved at, given the thumbs up wherever we went. Kids would point at the car, teenagers would be baffled at it and the older fanboys would just stop and gaze in awe.
Just what is the driving experience all about? You’ll just have to watch and find out!


Mazda 3 crowned Thailand Car of the Year 2019

The
all-new Mazda 3
 has been named as Thailand Car of the Year 2019 (TCOTY 2019) by the Thailand Automotive Journalist Association.
 Scoring a total of 408 points, The Mazda 3 finished well ahead of six other competitors. Coming in second is the
Toyota Corolla
 with 205, followed by the Honda Accord with 204.

We had quite a few good things to say about the all-new Mazda 3, check it out here!
Other TCOTY 2019 finalists include the
BMW X3
, MG HS,
Subaru Forester
, and the
Toyota Camry
. For the cars to be eligible for the award, it has to be an all-new model assembled in ASEAN, and launched in Thailand between 1st October 2018 and 30th September 2019.
The Thailand COTY award, now in its fifth year, is organised by the Thailand Automotive Journalist Association. The cars are judged by a panel of over 60 car journalists from various media outlets.
Previous TCOTY winners include the
Toyota C-HR
,
Honda CR-V
,
Mazda CX-3
, and Ford Everest, making the Mazda 3 the first ever non-SUV car to win the award.
Locally, the Mazda 3 is available in both sedan and hatchback variants. The C-segment will be imported directly from Japan, with prices starting from
RM139,620
.


Vietnamese wins MediaCorp Subaru Car Challenge 2015, gets brand new Subaru XV after 77 hours 58 minutes [+Video]

After 78 gruelling hours, we finally have a winner at the
MediaCorp Subaru Car Challenge 2015
. Nguyen Phuoc Huynh from Vietnam will drive home a brand new Subaru XV 1.6L! Malaysian Tan Hong Sheng finished in second place and Singaporean Yip Yu Wai in third.
The endurance challenge, now in its 14th year, kicked off on Saturday, 1pm at Ngee Ann City, Singapore with a total of
four hundred
 local and regional participants. Representing Singapore is a contingent comprised of 320 hopeful individuals, each geared on winning a new
Subaru XV
 and for the first time ever, with
COE
 included – worth
S$115,000
 in total. The other 80 participants hail from eight countries with each team represented by ten individuals.

Executive Director of Tan Chong International Ltd, Mr Glenn Tan said, “Over the years, we have seen numerous contestants battle it out for the final prize of a Subaru car, and they have all displayed tenacity and perseverance, traits that resonate with values of the Subaru brand – endurance, longevity and durability.”
[Subscribe to our
YouTube channel
 for latest updates]
In the final hour, last three contestants were showing signs of fatigue and even hallucinated after 77 hours without sleep. It was truly heart warming to see supporters cheering them on to make sure they stay awake until the 7pm break. All breaks come in an interval of six hours and last for only five minutes!

Cameras were set up around the participants to make sure their palms stay within the designated area. Nguyen, standing with Tan at Car 2, appeared calm and composed with minimal movements. Tan on the other hand received two warning tags within a 20-minute window for minor faults.
The last 10 minutes before the break was a dramatic turn of events as Yip Yu Wai (#158 in the photo above) was disqualified after he accidentally moved his palm from the dedicated decal on the car. When asked about his final minutes, he said “I don’t know why I lost. Maybe because I haven’t slept for a long time. I could have done better.”
Five minutes later, Tan Hong Sheng was slapped with a third warning, which automatically led to his disqualification, leaving Nguyen the last man standing.
The 32 year-old engineer from Vietnam is the first regional winner in the challenge’s history, clocking 77 hours 58 minutes. This means Mr. G. Jaishanker is still the record holder of this endurance race, lasting 82 hours 16 minutes last year.
“Tan was a strong competitor, so I needed to be strong in order to achieve my target which is to bring joy and pride to my teammates and family,” said Nguyen.
Nguyen’s
 determination and stamina won him the Grand Prize that is the Subaru XV, S$5,000 cash as Regional Winner and S$1,000 cash as Country Winner.
Tan
 meanwhile received S$5,000 as First Runner-up and an additional S$1,000 as Country Winner. Host country contestant
Yip
 took home S$2,000 as Second Runner-up and S$1,000 Country Winner prize.
The Malaysian contingent had their eyes set on the
Country Team Winner
 title this year, and the team of ten won the S$10,000 prize for the first time, and will be split evenly.
“We all came here to fight together as a team and we told ourselves we need to stand until we get ‘wheelchaired’ out from the arena. That was the strategy,” joked Tan Hong Sheng, a 35 year-old Sales Manager.

Subramaniam, 35, the “
Yoga Master
” (and a banker by profession) at the event was one of the final three Malaysians standing, performing head stands to regain composure during his breaks. “This is my first time in the Singapore challenge, and I thought I could last longer. But I miscalculated, and started hallucinating. I can hear people calling me from left and right, but I can’t see anyone there. My headstand made me see again,” said Subra, who lasted 57 hours.
Second longest standing Malaysian, 41 year-old Veterinarian in Puchong, Sathivale was with Tan throughout the game at Car 2, pushing on to motivate Tan but finally tapped out at 7.30 am after 65 hours.
Hallucination
 proved to be one of the most deterring factor for most of the participants. Some of the contestants actually thought their fingers turned into grilled prawns, saw burger patties in the car, heard voices and get this – hands morphed into fried chicken! The Palm Challenge is no joke, guys. All the Malaysian contestants enjoyed the process and are proud of their achievements this year.
Challenge organiser, MediaCorp made the decision to set up a
canopy
 over the arena due to the recent haze situation, but this received some mixed feedbacks. Sandra Yeow, the challenge’s only female winner who won in 2007, reckoned that the canopy takes away one of the biggest hurdles – the weather. By setting up the canopy, there’s one less element to worry of, but it’s one of the challenge’s most daunting struggles.
Both Nguyen and Tan welcomed the canopy idea but bad ventilation became a new challenge as heat built up in the tent, causing difficulty in breathing and a spike in humidity.
Again, here are our ten local heroes: Tan Chuan Kok aka Scott, 40 (6th time participating), Tan Hong Sheng, 35 (5th time), Chang Wei Khang aka Darren, 33 (4th time), Sathivale A/L Sundrammorthy, 41 (3rd time) and Mihammad Afif Bin Drani, 29 (3rd time), Tan Chuan Meng aka Benny, 35 (2nd time), Mohd Fadhlly Bin R. Azmi (2nd time) and Ronesh Biswas A/L Bisanuth Biswas aka Ron, 32 (2nd time), Vimalnath A/L Francis, 21 (1st time) and Subramaniam A/L Gunasegaran aka Subra Yoga (1st time), 35.

We asked our fellow Malaysians if they will be back again next year to take on the challenge, and it was an immediate yes. Excellent job boys, see you next year!
VIDEO GALLERY
IMAGE GALLERY


The Volvo XC60 is Volvo’s bestselling model in 2018

Volvo Cars set a new global sales record in 2018, selling more than 600,000 cars for the first time since the company was set up in 1927. In 2018, Volvo recorded a total of 642,253 unit sales worldwide, a 12.4 per cent increased compared to the same period in 2017.
This new sales record marks Volvo’s fifth consecutive year of record global sales, underscoring the brand’s renewed product portfolio led by its award-winning SUV models – XC90, XC60 and XC40. The XC60 was the company’s bestselling model in 2018 with 189,459 cars sold, followed by the XC90 with 94,182 cars sold.

A total of 77,587 Volvo V40/V40 Cross Country were sold in 2018, placing it the third-best selling model of the company’s portfolio. During the same year, a total of 75,828 XC40s and 57,142 S90 saloons were sold.
Europe remains the biggest market for the Swedish brand, with sales rose by 6.4 per cent to 317,838 cars in 2018 compared to the previous year. The strong performance in Europe was led by the new V60 and XC40 models. This followed closely by China which sold 130,593 cars in 2018 (+14.1 per cent) with the locally assembled XC60 and S90 being the main sales drivers.
Sales in the US also grew by 20.6 per cent to 98,263 cars compared to the same period in 2017, led by growing demand for the XC60. While the first US-made S60 saloon has already rolled out of factory floors, the S60 will only start to contribute to sales volumes in 2019.


Bespoke Rolls-Royce Dawn & Wraith inspired by lavish enclave, Porto Cervo

If you own a marina and would like to have an elegant ride that’s equally as picturesque, Rolls-Royce can sort that out for you. Located in the northern corner of Sardinia, Italy, is Porto Cervo; a seaside resort once frequented by the upper echelons of society.
In conjunction with the launch of these two bespoke models, Rolls-Royce will be opening the doors to their Summer Studio, where both the Wraith and Dawn will be on display. First up is the Bespoke Wraith, finished specifically in a two-tone silver meant to signify the dimming of daylight, while the cabin gets finished in a combination of black, slate, blue and purple to exude calmness as night falls. There’s also ostrich leather used selectively, further adding depth and texture to the cabin.

The Dawn on the other hand, has been specified to depict the vibrancy and vivid colours of the Porto Cervo seascape. If it’s not clear at this point, the Emerald Green paintwork, seashell and green leather interior and the use of open-pore teak (a type of wood) extends the nautical theme. Precious emeralds and mother pearls are meticulously crafted and set into white gold, which are then placed onto the centre dash.
In Malaysia, the
Dawn was just recently introduced with a starting price of RM4 million
. At the time of writing, Rolls-Royce hasn’t revealed the prices for the Bespoke duo (we’re dying to know). Alternatively, we can tell you this – rumour has it, that a young Thai chap in his 20s walked up to the Rolls-Royce stand at the Bangkok Motor Show and purchased the Dawn, there and then. Well, go figure!
IMAGE GALLERY


F90 BMW M5 unleashed, 4.4L V8, 600 hp & 750 Nm, 0-100km/h in 3.4 secs!

Since the introduction of the
G30 BMW 5 Series
 back in 2016, the company had an extensive line up for the 5er spanning from the ultra-frugal 530e iPerformance to the monstrous M550i xDrive but not a word on the fire-breathing M5. Ten months down the road, the company has unleashed the holy grail of 5 Series’, the F90 BMW M5, into the world.
BMW is keeping it safe with the powerplant, unlike Mercedes-AMG who employed a newly developed engine for the
E63,
 the new M5 gets the same unit carried over from the
F10 M5
. When mated to the eight-speed automatic transmission, the heavily revised 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 churns out
600 hp
 and
750 Nm
 of twisting force. The increased output from the M TwinPower Turbo powerplant is mainly due to the newly developed turbochargers, higher maximum injection pressure and better lubrication.
For the first time in the history of M5s, the F90 M5 comes equipped with a
M xDrive all-wheel drive system
. The newly developed xDrive system boasts a rear-biased set-up whereby the front-wheels come into play when the need arises. The biggest merit from switching to an all-wheel drive set up from a RWD is that the new M5 will sprint off the line much more efficiently thanks to additional traction. From standstill, the M5 will get to 100 km/h in just
 3.4 seconds
; half a second quicker than the
F10 M5 Competition
. If you have the M Driver’s Package option, the speedometer will read
305 km/h
 (250 km/h on standard versions) on full whack.
Stopping power comes from the standard M compound brakes with
blue painted six-piston callipers
 at the front while the rear axles are retarded by single-piston items, also painted in blue. For the track frequenters, be sure to tick the optional M carbon ceramic brake kit that aren’t only
23 kg
 lighter than the standard set up, but is instantly recognisable from the
gold-colour painted callipers
.

Enthusiast can put down their pitchforks and torches because M-division understands very well that Sheer Driving Pleasure means going sideways with the throttle wide open. Hence, BMW has equipped the xDrive system comes in
three different drive modes
 – 4WD, 4WD Sport and 2WD. Yes, confident drivers can have their M5s to be rear-wheel driven only with “
no control systems to hold it back
“. The only inconvenience is having to select 2WD every single time before driving off.
While the 4WD is set up for greatest possible traction, the standard 4WD mode still allows a small amount of slip angle for that playful character M-division vehicles are renowned for. Switching to
4WD Sport
 and the xDrive will send more torque to the rear axles allowing the drivers to easily put the M5 into controlled drifts and enjoy its playful handling with a wide safety net.
Separating itself from the regular M5 with a
 M-specific body kit,
it covers the front and rear bumper, side sills, rear lip spoiler, rear diffuser and wing mirrors. These parts collectively contribute to the cars overall aerodynamics and cooling function. Also unique to the M5 are the Carbon Fibre-Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) roof and quad-exhaust tailpipes.
As standard, the M5 rides on
19-inch five-double spoke light-alloy
 wheels finished in polished Orbit Grey wrapped in mixed tyre profiles of 275/40 at the front and 285/40 on the rear axles.
20-inch seven-double spoke light-alloy
 wheels finished in black or polished black are available as an option.
Inside, the F90 differs from the regular G30 with its M-Specific digital instrument cluster, iDrive system and Heads-Up Display. The red start button is also unique to the M5 as are the
 red-painted M1
 and
M2
 buttons next to the shift paddles. These two buttons allow the driver to instantly select from
two individual set-ups
 for the M5 including M xDrive, DSC, engine, transmission, damper and steering characteristics, as well as the appearance of M view in the Heads-Up Display.

All F90 M5 will come with Merino leather as standard with M Sport Seats while the bucket-seat style depicted are the optional M multifunctional seats that provides greater shoulder support. A variety of exterior colours can be had on the M5 while new additions to the spectrum include Marina Bay Blue Metallic,
Frozen Dark Silver
 and
Frozen Arctic Grey
.
Locally, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has the
Mercedes-AMG E43
 on sale. While the E43 is not a direct competitor to the M5 (the
E63
 is), having it in Malaysia to spice up the business saloon segment does sound like an exciting proposition. After all, they already have the
M4 LCI on sale here
.
IMAGE GALLERY


2017 Mazda CX-5 flying off the shelf, 31% chose new Soul Red Crystal!

In Japan, the
second generation Mazda CX-5
 is enjoying an early head start, because bookings for the new SUV have shot up to 9,055 units since they’ve begun taking orders last December.
Approximately 49 percent of CX-5s sold are the L Package, which comes with leather seats as standard. The new Soul Red Crystal Metallic is also the most popular choice of colour, accounting for 31 percent of the total orders. The next popular colour is Machine Grey Metallic – about 17 percent.
The attempt of incorporating an upmarket look has certainly paid off, then. According to
carguide.ph
, Mazda’s Global PR Manager, Hidetoshi Kudo said the brand believes in combining fun-to-drive characteristics with premium looks. This creates a deeper bond between car and driver.
Expect the all-new CX-5 to arrive on our shores late this year, if not in 2018. Let’s hope by then the CKD plant will be able to produce both the Soul Red Crystal and Machine Grey metallic paints.
IMAGE GALLERY


Review: Renault Megane R.S. 265 Sport, the ideal mountain pass weapon

When Renault first participated in the Formula One Championships back in 1977, the brand made a strong name for themselves as constructor and engine supplier. Come the 21st century, Renault was also responsible for dead-stopping Ferrari’s six-year winning streak. Since then, the dark horse of Formula One etched a lasting impression in my younger self. I mean, they led the pack despite not having the most powerful engine.
I came across numerous high-performance Renault cars on the road before this and I dreamt of experiencing one first hand, from the driver’s seat. When my editor passed the chance to review the
Renault Megane R.S. 265 Sport
, there was no thinking twice.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Renault Megane R.S. 265 Sport
Renault Megane R.S. 265 Cup
Engine
1,998cc; 16V 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission
6-speed manual
Max Power
265 hp @ 5,500 rpm
Max Torque
360 Nm @ 3,000 – 6,000 rpm
0 – 100 km/h; Top Speed
6.0 seconds; 255 km/h
Price (OTR without insurance)
RM197,888
RM234,888
Here we have the “tamer” C-segment hatch of the lot, the Megane R.S. 265 Sport. Compared to the more expensive
Cup variant
 (costlier by RM37k), the Sport variant loses out on the
Cup chassis
,
front axle mechanical limited slip differential
, Recaro R.S. semi-leather seats, red Brembo brake callipers, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with
 R.S. Monitor 2.0,
 two additional speakers, reverse camera and keyless entry. Even so, the R.S. 265 Sport is still more than capable.
EXTERIOR
Upon receiving the key card, the jubilant me searched high and low for a bright yellow Megane, only to realise that the card in hand unlocks the doors to a Diamond Black unit. I got to learn that the Sport variant is only available in Diamond Black and Glacier White while the Sirius Yellow is an
RM7k option
 (yikes) that’s exclusive to the Cup variant. Nonetheless, the Diamond Black paintjob looks just as good.

This example here is the facelifted third-generation Megane R.S. which adds on a
large diamond emblem with R.S.

designation
,

presumably short for Really Serious. Okay, no, it’s short for Renault Sport. Hence, you get more aggressive headlamps, LED daytime running lights and F1 inspired wing in the lower intake. It’s quite a looker, isn’t it?
The fluid body lines, aerodynamic roof and tastefully flush roof spoiler with integrated LED third brake light all come together nicely to give this hot hatch a planted and athletic silhouette. Coupled with the rear diffuser and a centre-mounted tailpipe, it really is an attractive car. This variant rides on
18-inch Tibor alloys
 wrapped in 225/40 profile tyres.
INTERIOR
Although the interior is bare and simple, the saving grace is that all the controls are very easy to navigate, almost intuitive, if you will. It does not come with a cigarette lighter but the 12V socket is still present. The fabric R.S Sport seats at the front provides ample support, especially around tight corners.
The infotainment system supports Bluetooth connectivity, USB and Auxiliary port connected to a six-speaker sound system. While the Sport variant loses out on the R.S. Monitor 2.0 7-inch touchscreen display, I don’t quite miss it as it keeps me focused on things that matters most – driving.

Being a three-door hatch, accessing the rear seats is naturally inconvenient. Fortunately, both the front seats come with a one-touch tilt and slide function which greatly aids ingress and egress. The aperture is decent enough for even taller individuals to slide right through.
PERFORMANCE
This French hatch is equipped with a transversely oriented
2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
 pushing out
265 hp
 at 5,500 rpm and a maximum torque of
360 Nm
 from 3,000 rpm – 6,000 rpm. Thanks to a
camshaft angle variator
 at the intake port, the engine delivers high torque at the lower end of the rev range. Power is sent to the front wheels via a
six-speed PK4 manual transmission
 propelling the car to 100 km/h in just
6.0 seconds flat
 before maxing out at
 250 km/h
.
Drivers are also able to select the vehicle’s throttle response and ESC threshold via a
R.S. Drive select switch
 to three different driving modes – Normal, Sport and Race. Race mode leaves the fate of the vehicle entirely to the driver as it completely disables the ESC.
With great power comes with great stopping power. The front axle is fitted with
340 mm ventilated disc brakes
 with
silver four-pot Brembo brake callipers
 while the rear axle comes with
260 mm solid discs
, giving great breaking confidence to the driver. The exhaust system is also delicately calibrated to play an exhilarating symphony during hard accelerations that seeps into the cabin, giving an aural pleasure for fellow passengers.
SAFETY
As a high performance vehicle, safety features are essential to keep occupants safe when driving at the limits. As such, standard features on the Megane R.S. include six airbags, ABS with EBA, EBD, ESC,
ASR anti-slip function
 and
understeer control logic (UCL)
.
Besides that, the car also comes with several convenience features such as automatic headlamps and wipers, cruise control, speed limiter, automatic hazard lights during emergency braking and ISOFIX mounting points in the rear side seats.
THE DRIVE
Driving the Megane R.S., my heart beats as rapidly as the engine gets up the revs. Just a gentle nudge on the throttle and the speedometer climbs at an alarming rate. Despite being in a
265 hp
 manual hot hatch, operating the Megane R.S. in traffic was not as difficult as I expected, because daily driving this machine is entirely plausible.
The next day I leapt at the opportunity to let the Frenchie loose through some B-roads. Regardless in high or low gear, the car has plenty of grunt to carry its weight around. It’s eager to put power down at the exact moment your right foot demands without much turbo lag.
Steering on the Megane R.S. is well weighted and has plenty of feedback, allowing me to confidently dance along its limits. Even as I took a turn a little too optimistically, it remained unfettered and understeer was inexistent. The occasional lift-off oversteers can be enthralling but also manageable. I believe that the Megane R.S.’s superb performance is inherited from
Renault’s DNA in motorsports
. Of course, knowing very well where my driving skills stand, I dare not explore the limits of the car in
Race mode
 (turns ESC completely off) in the beautiful mountain pass.
During our journey back, the brakes and suspension setup on the Megane R.S. were very confidence inspiring during the descent from Genting Highlands. Even with some fairly basic hill-toe action, the French hatch was able to maintain its composure very well. Not once did it try to pull a fast one on me.
Overall, my short stint with the Megane R.S. has taught me plenty about driving. If you’re fortunate enough to have this highly capable hatchback as your daily driver, no doubt you’ll experience exponential growth in your driving capabilities.
IS THIS CAR FOR YOU?
If you’re looking for something that can tackle the twisty mountain pass and occasionally take it to Sepang for some hot laps, the Renault Megane R.S. will do just that. The car, together with its
F1 derived technology
 is a very forgiving vehicle to drive and is enjoyable for just about all but the most hardcore purists.
Despite being a Renaults Sports Car series, the car is remarkably damped and is honestly liveable day in and day out. A
265 hp
 weapon for less than
RM200k
? Well, nothing else in the market comes close to its value proposition. Just head on over to a Renault showroom for a test drive and you’ll know for sure if this is the car for you.
WILL I BUY IT?
The Megane R.S. left a lasting impression, be it its exterior design, interior layout or even the performance and driving dynamics. It’s a car I that I was very reluctant to give back. And once you know how difficult it is to part ways, you’re more than certain that it’ll end up being in your garage one day. That’s how I feel about this car.
Now, the fourth-generation Megane was just recently unveiled in Europe, both in
hatchback
and
sedan
body styles. It is only a matter of time before Renault Sport injects their racing genes into it. If it really arrives to our shores in the future, maybe I won’t be able to resist it.
Adrian’s take: This is a proper, proper pocket rocket. The sheer adrenaline that rushes through your veins when the car takes off from naught is euphoric. It boggles the mind how a car performs this well, yet is perfectly able to manage road undulations just as well as other regular, road-going hatches. At RM198k, this car is an absolute steal if you can look past the rather basic equipment list. Of course, there is the more expensive Cup version that comes with more convenience features. However, the otherworldly performance as well as the pops and crackles during overruns is more than enough for this car to be
the best car I’ve driven in 2016
.
Words by:
Andrew Choo
IMAGE GALLERY


2016 Mazda6 refreshed, gets G-Vectoring Control and interior updates

After the
Mazda3 facelift was unveiled
, the bigger sibling was also due for a minor refresh. Don’t worry if you’re squinting your eyes to find the changes from the
current Mazda6
 that’s currently on sale, because the changes are applied under the skin.
Inside, a new three-spoke steering wheel carried over from the
all-new CX-9
 is fitted. The Active Driving Display (heads up display) is now multi-coloured. Elsewhere, a suite of safety conveniences is included in the refreshed D-segment, such as Traffic Sign Recognition, Lane-Keep assist and Advanced Blind Spot Monitoring. Other premium touches include heated steering wheel and contrast stitching around the rest of the cabin.
However, the biggest change is literally under the skin, invisible to the naked eye – Mazda’s all new G-Vectoring Control (GVC). Debuted in the
Mazda 3/Axela facelift
, the GVC is the first in Mazda’s series of Skyactive-Vehicle Dynamics Control Technologies. This series of technology aims to take the
 Jinba-Ittai
 philosophy to the next level.
In a nutshell, the GVC (a software instead of hardware) modulates torque output of the SkyActiv engines according to steering inputs. This allows for a more lateral acceleration when turning the wheel as the GVC optimises the power channelled to each wheel.
With the introduction of the GVC and premium touches to the interior, the already upmarket Mazda6 just got better.


The 150 millionth Volkswagen delivered is a Golf GTE plug-in hybrid in Norway

Since its foundation back in 1937, the Volkswagen brand has become a household nameplate all over the world. The German automaker now celebrates yet another milestone to their 80-year heritage – delivering its 150 millionth Volkswagen.
Rolled out of the assembly line at the Wolfsburg plant in August, the
Atlantic Blue
Golf GTE plug-in hybrid
 found its way to a customer in the town of Lier in Norway. The new owner, Turid Sedahl Knutsen, decided on the Golf GTE due to its climate-friendly powertrain, sporty and exciting driving experience. For Knutsen, the Golf GTE is her sixth Golf and she has also owned two Passats, a Polo and Caravelle in the past.
Turid Sedahl Knutsen taking delivery of her new Golf GTE
The Golf GTE is powered by a 1.4-litre TSI turbocharged petrol engine with
148 hp
 coupled with a
101 hp
 electric motor to deliver a combined output of
201 hp
. Drive is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed (wet clutch) DSG transmission. Sprinting to 100 km/h from zero takes
7.6 seconds
 and top speed is limited at
 222 km/h
.
The electric motor is juiced by an 8.7 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, giving the Golf GTE an all-electric range of
50 km
 (top speed of 130 km/h). Fuel consumption of this plug-in hybrid is an astonishing
 1.7L/100km
.
In Norway, all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles accounts for
37 percent
 of all new vehicle registration from January to September – putting the Scandinavian country the frontrunner for e-mobility in Europe. This impressive figure is possible thank to a collaborative effort from the government and local authorities, power suppliers and vehicle manufacturers to make e-mobility a viable alternative for customers.
There was a point where the
Volkswagen Golf GTE was slated for Malaysia
, but that was kicked into cold storage after we’ve learnt
why we can’t have the Golf GTE – or any GTE for that matter – in Malaysia
.
IMAGE GALLERY
Volkswagen Golf GTE Facelift


McLaren and BMW are reportedly in talks for a jointly-developed electric supercar

The partnership that spawned the
 iconic McLaren F1 supercar
 back in the 90s could be coming back for an encore. That is, according to
Car Magazine
, who reported that the two companies have met behind closed doors to discuss a project, focusing on two new electric cars.
According to the UK publication, the two companies are in talks to build not just an electric supercar, but also a carbon fibre electric crossover/SUV to cash in on the craze.
The partnership will reportedly see the joint development of a new low-volume supercar platform, leveraging on McLaren’s expertise in carbon-fibre chassis production, and BMW’s electric powertrain and – let’s be honest – deep pockets.
The two models – if made into reality – will come in both BMW and McLaren guises, as it was reported that none of the brands want to share a model. The basic vehicle architecture and electric drivetrain will be shared, but they’ll each have unique exterior and interior designs to help differentiate between the two – think
Z4
/
Supra
, rather than the identical
GR86/BRZ
twins.
RELATED: McLaren Artura Review – The dawn of an electrifying future
Romanticism about the F1 aside, the reported BMW-McLaren partnership does raise a few interesting points of note. Firstly, McLaren’s previous leadership flatly rejected the idea of an SUV, saying that it’ll dilute the brand’s puristic values. Thus, it remains to be seen if (and it’s a big if) the rumoured second model will actually be an SUV, or a taller riding sedan like the
Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo
.
There’s also the fact that Audi was reportedly looking to take over the Woking supercar maker. Sure, progress has seemingly stalled in recent months, but this new partnership between McLaren and BMW would have, without a doubt, thrown an extra spanner in the works too.
Neither BMW nor McLaren have publicly acknowledged the talks, as one would expect. There are also a lot of pieces that need to fall into place for the partnership to get the green light, so the deal probably won’t happen any time soon, if it even does. But would you be up for a new-age McLaren F1? Let us know in the comments section below!


All-new Lexus NX teased, launching on June 12th

The Lexus NX represented the brand’s entry-level SUV when it was launched back in 2014. Today, that role has since been taken over by the
Lexus UX
.
With the model being around for close to seven years, it is a matter of time before Lexus introduced a replacement. We will not need to wait any longer, as the company has released a sole teaser image of the all-new Lexus NX.
The single image zooms to the rear of the all-new Lexus NX. The tail lamps and the spelt-out ‘LEXUS’ font have elements from the
Lexus LF-Z Concept
, featuring a thick lighting bar connecting the two taillamps, reminiscent of the 2019
Porsche Macan facelift
 model.

Lexus will launch the all-new Lexus NX on 12th June. Currently,
Lexus Malaysia
 offers the
NX 300
 in three variants, with prices ranging from
RM306,117
 to
RM339,019
.
The current-generation Lexus NX is powered by either a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine developing
235 hp
 and
350 Nm
 of torque, or a 2.5-litre petrol-hybrid with 197 hp whilst returning 7.1 l/100 km of fuel consumption (WLTP).
The all-new Lexus NX will also be the latest model in its segment which consists of the
Mercedes-Benz GLC
,
BMW X3
,
Volvo XC60
,
Jaguar E-Pace
 and the
Land Rover Discovery Sport
.
The all-new Lexus NX is the first of two new models that Lexus plans to unveil this year.


BMW M2 CS Racing becomes first race car to be used as a Moto GP Safety Car

Unlike before, where MotoGP safety cars were regular BMW M cars with bolt-on modifications, the new 2022 MotoGP season will see something much more special – an
M2 CS Racing race car
. BMW M cars have been used as MotoGP Safety Cars for the past 24 years.
“BMW M has been our partner since 1999 and, over the course of this long-term collaboration, has always thrilled us with new highlights,” said Dorna Sports, MotoGP rights holder.
For the first time, a purpose-built race car will be used to lead the pack of two-wheeled racers in the upcoming 2022 season which begins on the 6th of March with the Grand Prix of Qatar.
RELATED:
The BMW M2 CS is the F82 generation’s last hurrah!
“M stands for Motorsport so we’ve selected a race car from our BMW M Motorsport range to be the new MotoGP Safety Car – an appropriate choice to mark the 50th anniversary of M,” said CEO of M, Franciscus van Meel.
On the performance front, the M2 CS Racing gets the same engine from the
M2 Competition
 – a 3.0-litre straight-six engine paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox – with
450 hp
 and
550 Nm
. All that, is funneled solely to the
 rear wheels
, imagine that.
Noteworthy features on the M2 CS Racing includes ZF Sachs race suspension, a carbon roof, custom driveshafts, motorsport software for the transmission, alongside light bars specifically for its role as the MotoGP safety car.
The livery of the new BMW M2 CS Racing MotoGP Safety Cars is a tribute to the 50th anniversary of BMW M and is also based on the anniversary logo of BMW M.
Apart from the M2 CS Racing, other models from the BMW M fleet to be featured as safety cars in the 2022 MotoGP season includes the M3 Competition, M4 Competition, M4 Competition, M5 CS and the M8 Gran Coupe Competition, X5 M and two BMW M 1000 RR bikes.
GALLERY


All-new Nissan Leaf confirmed for Malaysia, launching in 2018!

As the world celebrates the dynamic debut of the
all-new Nissan Leaf
, Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) wasted no time to announce that the second-generation electric vehicle (EV) will be making its way to Malaysia come 2018!
ETCM had the
first-generation Leaf
 on sale since 2013, but its steep
RM180k
 price tag was difficult to justify its
135 km
 driving range. Nevertheless, it was a bold and commendable feat from ETCM to offer Malaysians the option for
affordable
 zero-emission driving.
This all-new Leaf however, will set a new benchmark for EVs with an
updated

e-powertrain
, larger battery capacity and semi-autonomous driving capabilities. It now packs
147 hp
 and
 320 Nm
 with a theoretical driving range of
378 km
. With almost three times the driving range, the new Leaf can now be a viable daily commute alternative compared to the outgoing model.
Visually, the Leaf is a sporty and edgy looking thing while boasting a commendable drag coefficient of
0.28
. Inside, the new Leaf gets a significantly more modern interior along with Nissan’s
ProPILOT
 semi-autonomous driving and
ProPILOT Park
 auto parking feature.
Japan will begin deliveries of the all-new Nissan Leaf in October 2017 while North America and Europe will receive their Leaf early next year. For ETCM to promise a 2018 market launch is indeed a commendable feat. However, the bigger question is: will ETCM be able to take advantage of the locally assembled hybrid tax incentive offered by the Malaysian Government? If so, we are looking at a real winner here.
IMAGE GALLERY


The new Ford Fiesta ST looked a little underwhelming with Launch Control

Let’s set the record straight. While the Launch Control feature is available in the new
2017 Ford Fiesta ST
, it’s
 merely an optional extra
 along with the Limited Slip Differential (LSD) and Ford-patented force vectoring springs.
At the moment, it’s still unclear if Sime Darby Auto Connexion, sole distributor of Ford vehicles in Malaysia, will bring in the new
Fiesta ST
 although it could be very likely, judging from the positive response and reviews from the previous model.
For now, here’s a quick taste of what the new Fiesta ST will be like off the line, should the Launch Control option be ticked for the local models.
At first glance, the Fiesta ST doesn’t seem to be that brisk off the line, with its
197 hp
 and
290 Nm,
 impressively extracted from a compact 1.5-litre turbocharged EcoBoost engine but a closer observation of the speedometer tells a different story of how rapidly the car picks up speed with 0 to 100 km/h done in a supposed 6.7 seconds –
0.2 seconds quicker
 than its predecessor.
Source:
 Carfection


Kia Cerato Koup 1.6L Turbo on display at One Utama, will be priced around RM150k

Kia Malaysia has, for the first time, publicly displayed the new
Cerato Koup
 as part of their roadshow at One Utama shopping centre. The Korean company has been relatively quiet of late, especially after their last launch of the
Kia Cerato KX
 last July.
The turbocharged C-Segment coupe is expected to carry a price tag of
around

RM150,000
, putting it squarely against its sister company’s
Veloster Turbo
 – also a Korean C-Segment hot hatch that was recently introduced. They both share the same
turbocharged GDi

engine
, but the Koup makes healthier numbers, as you’ll find out in a bit.
First things first. The Cerato Koup’s front fascia is distinctly different from the regular four-door Cerato sedan, bearing a
much slimmer Tiger-nose grille
, a completely
new front bumper
 and a lower grille that features a faux carbon fibre finish.
Standard features on the outside including
HID headlamps
 with
LED daytime running lights
 (identical to the Cerato), halogen projector fog lamps surrounded by more LED DRLs,
18-inch wheels
wrapped with
225/40R18
 Nexen NBlue HD tyres, blacked out side mirrors with integrated signal indicators, gloss black/chrome door handles,
shark fin antenna
 and power sunroof. At the back, the Koup gets a different set of tail lamps (LED combination), a new bumper with diffuser, dual exhaust pipes and a reverse camera built on top of the KIA badge.

Like the previous generation Forte Koup, the doors here are
frameless
and comes with keyless entry. Upon opening them, you will be greeted by
leather upholstered sport seats
 for all passengers, but the driver gets an additional 2-way lumbar support and seat ventilation. Both front seats are manually adjusted, though.
On the dashboard, you get more carbon fibre inserts on the air conditioning vents and door trims. As for the driver, you get a
leather wrapped multifunction steering wheel
 with the brand’s
Flex Steer technology
, allowing you to choose between Normal, Comfort or Sport. This simply alters steering weight, so don’t expect any drastic mechanical differences.

There’s dual zone full automated air conditioning with
cluster ioniser
, smart welcoming light system, electrochromic rear view mirror that will display the rear view camera, a 4.2-inch TFT LCD supervision cluster in between the odo- and tachometers, push-start button and passive cruise control.
Now, onto the most fun bit. The Cerato Koup is powered by the said
1.6-litre T-GDi engine
that, in this state of tune, makes
201 hp
 at 6,000 rpm and
265 Nm
 of torque from 1,750 to 4,000 rpm. Unlike the Veloster Turbo, the Koup will make do with a
six-speed automatic torque converter
 with
paddle shifters
. This allows the
front-wheel driven
 Koup to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in
7.4 seconds
 before maxing out at
222 km/h
. Fuel consumption is rated at 7.4 litres per 100 km travelled.
Adding to the list are
six-airbags
, front and rear parking sensors, ABS with EBD, ESC, Brake Assist, Hill Assist Control and Vehicle Stability Management. Again, the Cerato Koup has an estimated price of RM150,000, and will be offered in the single 1.6L turbocharged mill only. Its official arrival will be within the coming month.
IMAGE GALLERY


Just like your phone, you can also now unlock the Genesis GV60 using only your face

Cars are becoming more and more like smartphones on wheels. We’ve seen the screens gradually gobbling up the entire dashboard, and now you’ll also be able to unlock your car with just your face, thanks to the new Face Connect feature on the upcoming
Genesis GV60 EV SUV
.
The Face Connect utilises a Near Infra-Red (NIR) camera on the driver-side B-pillar to recognise the driver’s face in all lighting conditions, including in the dark, to unlock the doors.
This feature will be particularly useful for outdoor enthusiasts, as you can just leave your car keys inside the cabin and lock and unlock the car using your face – no need to carry your car keys around when you go for a run or swim in a lake any more.
The system can register up to two faces, and individual profiles can be set up for each face. Depending on which face the system detects, the car will then automatically adjust personalisation settings such as the driver’s seat and steering wheel position, head-up display, wing mirrors, and infotainment settings as you unlock the door.
Although still a fairly young brand, the Genesis G90 has impressed the Johor Sultan enough for it to be used as the official state car! Check it out here.
If that sounds just a little too dicey for you, don’t worry – you’ll still have to use your fingerprint inside the car to start and drive the car. The fingerprint scanner will also replace the existing PIN code access for other in-vehicle payments and unlocking of the Valet Mode.
The Genesis GV60 replaces the usual wing mirrors with two stealthy cameras! Check it out in more detail here.
Other new updates on the upcoming Genesis GV60 include the significantly expanded over-the-air (OTA) software update capabilities, where you’ll now be able to enable additional features on major electronic devices including the electric vehicle integrated control device, suspension, brakes, steering wheel, and even the airbags.
In essence, you’ll now be able to modify or upgrade the car, without even visiting a service centre, or have a technician work on it.
The new features, including Face Connect, Fingerprint Authentication System, and expanded OTA Software Update will make their debut on the upcoming fully-electric GV60, which is scheduled to be released soon. However, Genesis says that the new features will also gradually be introduced on the other models too.


McLaren GT: The “practical” supercar is now available in Malaysia

In conjunction with the opening of the McLaren Kuala Lumpur showroom, the McLaren GT has made its official debut on our shores.
As the name suggests, the McLaren GT is the British carmaker’s first model in the luxury grand tourer category. The Grand Tourer series will sit alongside McLaren’s existing Sports, Super and Ultimate Series models.
Going against the market trends, the McLaren GT is a mid-engined grand tourer that only comes with two seats. According to McLaren Automotive Asia Pacific and China’s Managing Director, George Biggs, McLaren’s GT series are designed to offer the best driving experience in any grand tourers, while providing ample space for luggage – not so much about carrying more passengers.
On that point, Biggs also added that four-door tourers and SUVs are not currently in McLaren’s future plans.
Taking the
720s
 as a starting point, the designers have given the McLaren GT a more fluid and sleeker exterior silhouette that improve the aerodynamics of the grand tourer, resulting in a quieter cabin.
The luxury treatment becomes apparent once you step inside the grand tourer. As standard, the Mclaren GT comes with Carbon Black Nappa leather upholstery and interior trims. The machined and knurled aluminium switches and controls also gives the McLaren GT an extra touch of class.
Being a grand tourer, the Comfort Seats in the McLaren GT are mounted 2 cm higher than the 720S for enhanced outward visibility. The GT can also be specified with an optional electrochromatic sunroof to alter the amount of light entering the cabin with a touch of a button.
Without the rear seats – which are usually non-functional on other grand touring cars according to Biggs, the Woking-based carmaker was able to push the luggage capacity of the McLaren GT up to a class-leading total storage space of
570 litres
.
The 150-litre trunk at the front is large enough to fit a cabin-sized luggage, while the rear boot space underneath the glass deck holds another 420 litres of cargo – McLaren says that it is big enough for two golf bags.
Despite all of the added kit, the McLaren GT is still fairly lightweight at just
1530 kg
. The low weight can be partly attributed to the brand’s famed carbon fibre monocoque, but reworked exclusively for the GT, now dubbed MonoCell II-T.
The stiff carbon fibre monocoque also contributes to the handling prowess of the McLaren GT, while the Proactive Damping Control on its hydraulic suspensions reads the road surface and adjusts the dampers in just 2 milliseconds for maximum ride comfort.
The suspensions on the McLaren GT can be fitted with an optional lift system, pushing the standard ground clearance up by an additional 20 mm to
130 mm
 at the front – equivalent to most mainstream sedans on the market.
In an effort to maximize ride comfort, McLaren has also filled the standard-equipment Pirelli P Zero tyres with sound deadening material to reduce tyre roar. The alloy wheels are sized 20-inches at the front, and 21-inches at the rear.
Powering the McLaren GT is a new derivative of the
4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
, codenamed M840TE. The powerplant generates
620 hp
 and
630 Nm
 of torque, paired to a
7-speed dual-clutch transmission
 to drive the rear wheels.
McLaren says that the detuned engine features a flatter torque curve and a more seamless transmission shift logic in tune with the grand touring characteristics of the car.
Although power figures are down, the McLaren GT is still no slouch – 0 to 100 km/h is done in just
3.2 seconds
, and continues to 200 km/h in a total of
9 seconds
. Flat out, the McLaren GT can reach a top speed of
326 km/h
.
The base McLaren GT is priced at RM908,000 before applicable taxes and options. A McLaren spokesperson said that the on-the-road price is expected to start at around
RM2 million
. The car is now on display and available for booking at the new McLaren showroom in Glenmarie.
IMAGE GALLERY


Volkswagen Malaysia’s sales carnival happening at One Utama and The Curve from 1 to 4 October!

The Volkswagen Malaysia crew will be hitting a couple of our best loved shopping malls starting from the 1 to 4 October. They will be holding a sales carnival in One Utama where customers can learn more about their latest Volkswagen deals.
Models present at the sales carnival include the
Polo
 CKD
,
Jetta
, Tiguan,
Passat
 and the CC. Seeing is just one part of the experience, therefore Volkswagen is making every model available for test drive!
Not only that, but all event attendees will stand a chance to win
exclusive

Volkswagen

merchandises
and even a RM200 petrol voucher daily! There will be a special treat for the kids as the
Volkswagen Buckle Up Bear
 will be making an appearance at the carnival.
However, at
The Curve
, things are a bit more relaxed with a chance to get up close and personal should you fancy the
limited-edition
Beetle Club
 and
Passat
 models. Be sure to check it out. Both venues will happen throughout the same period from 10am till 10pm.


Can this BAC Mono handle driving on ice?

Open-cockpit vehicles like the BAC Mono and
Lotus 3-Eleven
 were built with a single purpose in mind, giving the driver the most rewarding driving experience. Because you don’t have a roof over your head, the occupants are at the mercy of the weather but Briggs Automotive Company (BAC) believes that its cars can take on even the most extreme driving conditions.
The BAC team together with a selected number of owners and enthusiast took the single-seater Mono to the frozen lakes of Sweden for the second instalment of the Mono Ice Driving Experience with the goal of giving the drivers the raw Mono experience and having plenty of fun along the way in sub-zero temperatures:
AC Co-Founder and Design Director, Ian Briggs, said: “Mono and our drivers were tested thoroughly, of course, but this is the ultimate piece of sporting equipment that simply thrives even in the most extreme conditions. Our video perfectly captures what it means to be part of the BAC Family – having unbelievable fun behind the wheel of Mono but also coming together as one when the helmets are off.”
Available in Hong Kong, North America, Japan and London, the Mono is powered by a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder by Mountune delivering
305 hp
 and
308 Nm
 of torque. With a dry weight of mere
580 kg
, the Mono will sprint from 0 to 96 km/h in
2.8 seconds
 onwards to a ridiculous top speed of
273 km/h
.
IMAGE GALLERY


Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV completes Pilot Sport family in Malaysia

With the launch of the Pilot Sport 4 SUV, Michelin Malaysia has now answered the call of high-performance SUV owners with a tyre specially developed to match their vehicles. The introduction of the Pilot Sport 4 SUV also completes the Pilot Sport family comprising the Pilot Sport 4, 4 S, Cup 2 and Cup 2R.
Bibendum personally attended the launch and gave the Pilot Sport 4 SUV two ‘thumbs up’.
While its
asymmetrical tread pattern
 looks similar to that of the Pilot Sport 4, the new Pilot Sport 4 SUV incorporates a
more rigid groove design for better cornering grip and longevity
. It also utilises a
new compound
 featuring innovative functional elastomers and thin silica for better grip and braking on wet conditions.
The Pilot Sport 4 SUV is developed for sporty premium SUVs.
The need for tyres specifically catered to
sporty premium SUVs
 lies in the higher kerb weights and performance envelope of these vehicles which result in
increased loads, heat and wear on the tyres
. Under the Pilot Sport 4 SUV’s surface lies a hyb
rid belt made of aramid and nylon for sharper steering response and precision
, supported by high density, double casing ply for
resistance against road shock damages
. All tyre sizes also come with an
in-built rim protector
 to mitigate against curb rash.
Michelin is confident that the performance of the Pilot Sport 4 SUV is superior against other premium brands based on tests conducted by independent testing and certification service providers
TUV SUD and DEKRA
. In areas of
dry and wet braking
, the Pilot Sport 4 SUV led the field and recorded a stopping distance of up to 2.7 metres shorter than competitors in the dry, and 4.9 metres shorter (when new) and up to 8.5 metres shorter (worn) against rivals in the wet.
Furthermore, it also
lapped the 1.05-km track faster
 by a margin of 5.06 seconds and stood above other competitors in terms of
longevity
by lasting up to 13,000 km more on test runs measured against six other tyre brands. Do note that the Pilot Sport 4 SUV is
optimised for on-road performance
 and isn’t suitable for heavy off-roading.
Performance tyres need to look good these days.
To complement the look of premium SUVs, Michelin added a subtle v
elvet finish onto the sidewalls
 of the Pilot Sport 4 SUV as part of its ‘Premium Touch’ design philosophy. There are a total of
39 sizes to fit rim diameters ranging from 17- to 23
 inches with prices starting from
RM 700 a piece
. The Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV is available now at TYREPLUS and authorised dealers across Malaysia.


Five-door Ford Fiesta ST unveiled, does not compromise driving dynamics

The
Ford Fiesta ST
 is currently one of the finest hot hatches sold in the market. Yet for some, it’s far from perfect, due to the lack of practicality. It didn’t take long for Ford to get this sorted out, because announced just recently is the five-door Ford Fiesta ST.
Available for the first time ever, the two extra doors does not comprise the car’s top-notch driving dynamics and brilliant performance. In fact, Ford is confident that 25 percent of the Fiesta ST customers will opt for the five-door variant.
Apart from the newfound practicality, nothing much has changed.  Thus, the all-familiar
1.6-litre EcoBoost turbocharged
 engine that produces
180 hp
 and
 240 Nm
 of torque is retained. It’ll still sprint to 100km/h in
6.9 seconds
, which is just as quick as the three-door sibling. The only observable drawback is the fuel consumption. It now consumes 6.1 litres of fuel per 100km travelled, or about 0.2 litres more than the three-door.
The Fiesta ST comes with Torque Vectoring Control and three-mode stability control, just as before. The same wheels, sports grille, rear diffuser, Recaro seats and ST badges are all identical.
The five-door Fiesta ST starts at £18,495 (approximately RM99k based on today’s conversion rates) in the UK, a premium of RM3,200 over the three-door variant. Back at home, the
Ford Fiesta ST
 (three-door) is sold in limited numbers, and carries a sticker price of
RM 149,888
.

Will the five-door Fiesta ST be introduced here, then?
IMAGE GALLERY


This Honda “Mean Mower” looks like a ridiculously exciting and scary ride!

Honda UK is out to re-write its own record for the world’s fastest lawn mower,
previously set with the original Mean Mower in 2014
, in the new Mean Mower V2.
Built by Team Dynamics, Honda’s British Touring Car Championship partner, the same team that built the original Mean Mower, development has moved on to a whole new level.
It now packs almost double the power and is estimated to reach
in excess of 240 km/h
 – that’s a lawn mower we’re talking about! The original Mean Mower managed a top speed of “only 187 km/h”.
The Mean Mower is based on the Honda HF 2622 lawn tractor, with its front cowl, grass box and body panels still intact but it’s now fitted with a 999cc 4-cylinder engine taken out from Honda’s CBR 1000RR Fireblade SP motorcycle.
While it’s still able to perform as a grass cutter, it’s now packs more than
192 hp
 and with the Mean Mower weighing just 70 kg, its power-to-weight ratio is
more than 1000 hp per tonne
. That’s more than the Bugatti Chiron at just 762 hp per tonne!
The suspension-less Mean Mower also retains the Fireblade’s 6-speed transmission, clutch, ECU and LCD display. Gear shifts are made with the carbon fibre paddle shifters on the steering wheel, where it would
reach 144 km/h in first gear alone
.
The all-important task of slowing down the 190 hp lawn mower is undertaken by four-piston callipers at the front and a six-piston unit at the rear. 10-inch ATV wheels have been deployed with custom Hoosier racing tyres to ensure that the Mean Mower stays on its tracks during its brutal acceleration.
The Mean Mower will be piloted by the gorgeous Jess Hawkins, an experienced kart and racer who is currently performing as a stunt driver in the Fast & Furious Live show. For more updates on the Mean Mower, follow Honda UK Power on
Facebook
, Twitter
 and
Instagram
.
IMAGE GALLERY


2017 Subaru Impreza launched in Singapore, may come to Malaysia

Officially launched on the floors at the 2017 Singapore Motor Show is the all-new,
fifth-generation Subaru Impreza
. It sits on a completely new platform called Subaru Global Platform (generic, yes, we know) and is doing exceedingly well in Japan.
The
2016 Japan Car of the Year
 dons a more evolutionary approach to styling, but Subaru says over 80 percent of the car is new. Exterior and interior don’t just look good, but feel better thanks to more liberal use of high quality materials. All these are the outcome of Subaru’s new
DYNAMIC x SOLID
design philosophy, which promises to improve a Subaru car’s holistic appeal.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Subaru Impreza 1.6i
Subaru Impreza 1.6i-S
Subaru Impreza 2.0i-S
Engine
1,600cc; horizontally-opposed, 4-cyl DOHC, port injection
1,995cc; direct injection DOHC, horizontally-opposed
Transmission
Lineartronic CVT
Max Power
112 hp @ 6,200 rpm
154 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Max Torque
150 Nm @ 3,600 rpm
196 Nm @ 4,000 rpm
Depending on where you live, the Impreza can be had with either a 1.6-litre or 2.0-litre engine, and they’re both naturally aspirated four-cylinder boxer engines. The smaller unit pumps
112 hp
 at 6,200 rpm and
150 Nm
 of torque, and is port injected. The 2.0-litre flat-four gets direct injection and produces
154 hp
 at 6,000 rpm and
196 Nm
 of torque peaking at 4,000 rpm.

Both engines get paired to Subaru’s intelligent
Lineartronic CVT
 (torque converter type). The front axle is managed by a MacPherson strut setup, whereas the rear benefits from the wonders of double wishbones. Wheel sizes start from 16-inch for the 1.6i, which goes up one size for the 1.6i-S and 2.0i-S. Disc brakes are found on all four corners, and they are all ventilated.
Some noteworthy equipment include auto levelling and cornering LED headlamps, front and rear fog lamps, shark fin antenna and powered sunroof. Inside, there’s an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, dual zone climate control, aluminium pedals, electronic parking brake and up to
seven airbags
 including a driver’s knee airbag.

Among the suite of safety systems available as standard are Brake Assist, Brake Override, Engine Immobiliser, Safety Pedal System, Vehicle Dynamics Control System and a wholly-reinforced frame. Subaru is taking great pride with their new Global Platform, because it will underpin a range of their future cars, including hybrids, plug-in hybrids, fuel cell tech and even pure electric vehicles.
According to the company, the new platform will offer better traction, more confident control and much improved low and high speed stability. Rigidity is also significant upped thanks to use of high tensile strength steel, and it now sits 5mm closer to the ground than any of their existing cars. Despite all that handling mojo, comfort is also apparently improved. Body roll is largely eliminated by mounting the rear stabiliser directly to the body.
Now, Subaru Malaysia has confirmed that the Impreza will not make its way to Malaysia anytime soon, primarily due to cost. A rough estimate brought the ballpark figure close to RM130k (because CBU and poor forex), and that’s just for the base 1.6i variant! The flip side is, the next generation XV crossover will also sit atop this new platform, so expect it to arrive really, really soon.
Update:
 Executive Director of Tan Chong International Ltd, Glenn Tan said there is a very small possibility that the Subaru Impreza 2.0i-S will be introduced to Malaysia, but this very much depends on market demand. Also, it’s likelier for us to get the 5-door hatch instead of the sedan, due to broad similarities with the XV in the way they are assembled.
IMAGE GALLERY


Prime Minister: ‘Toll Rahmah’ 4-day free toll for Hari Raya, special RM50 only price for all traffic summons

Today, Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’s Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced “Toll Rahmah”, which is essentially free toll for the highways in celebration of Hari Raya Adilfitri this year. The free toll period will span across 4 days –
April 19
,
20
,
21
, and
24
. The “Toll Rahmah” will be applicable for
33 highways
 for all vehicle classes.
Together with the “Toll Rahmah” announcement, the Prime Minister also announced that all traffic summons from 2022 and earlier will only cost
RM50
 if payment is made between
April 21
 to
May 21, 2023
. The RM50 special price is applicable for all traffic summons. However, it is not applicable for traffic summons issued in 2023.
Besides Toll Rahmah and the special summons price, Dato’s Sri also announced the operation of Ops Lancar which will take place on April 18 and 19, 2023. PDRM will also be conducting Ops Selamat 20 which will take place from April 20 to April 27.
For those of you planning to
balik kampung
 for the festivities, do take note that there will be seven non-compoundable traffic offences between April 18 to April 27. This means that the offenders will be directly referred to court. Part of the 7 offences are using mobile phones while driving, driving in the emergency lane, and cutting traffic queues. You can learn more about this
here
.
RELATED:
Straight to court for these 7 major offences during Hari Raya Aidilfitri, 18-27 April


Tesla flexes electric muscle with Model S Plaid – 0-100 km/h in under 2 seconds!

The premium electric segment is well and truly heating up with the introduction of the
Porsche Taycan
 and
Lucid

Air
. While nothing has really beaten the Model S P100D in terms of century sprint times yet, Tesla isn’t going to be a sitting duck in this instance, instead taking the opportunity at its Battery Day event to unveil its the highly-anticipated tri-motor Model S Plaid.
Exact performance figures have yet to be announced yet, but here are the bold claims laid out during the presentation: 0-100 km/h in
under 2 seconds
, quarter-mile (402 m) time of less than 9 seconds, and a top speed of
320 km/h
. Wowza.
The only thing beyond Ludicrous is Plaid
— Tesla (@Tesla)
September 23, 2020

If you’re keeping track, the numbers – if it turns out to be true in production form – will make the Tesla Model S Plaid the fastest-accelerating production car by quite a huge margin, well, until the electric hypercars such as the
Lotus Evija
 and
Pininfarina Battista
 come about. Second place? None other than the Tesla Model S Performance.
The quarter-mile sprint time of under 9 seconds also beats out the recently-launched competitor Lucid Air, which recorded a quarter-mile time of 9.3 seconds. Power output is claimed to be
over 1,100 hp
, with an unknown amount of torque.
So what does all that performance mean when put to the test on track? Elon Musk said during the announcement that the Tesla Model S Plaid lapped the WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway in 1:30.3, and figures that they can take another 3 seconds off that time. For comparison, the Lucid Air completed the lap in 1:33. Watch the lap in full below:
In-car footage from Sunday’s Plaid Model S run at Laguna Seca
pic.twitter.com/rwQDBFCWoH
— Tesla (@Tesla)
September 23, 2020

German publication
Auto Motor und Sport
 previously also reported that a Model S Plaid prototype lapped the Nurburgring Nordshleife with an unofficial time of 7:13, beating the current record-holder for the fastest four-door vehicle around the ‘Ring – the Jaguar XE SV Project 8 – by approximately eight seconds.
Aside from pure performance, Tesla also claims that the Model S Plaid will have the longest range of all the other variants, boasting a zero-emissions range of 836 km from a single charge – again, exceeding the Lucid Air’s 832 km by a hair. The extra range comes courtesy of a bigger battery pack featuring the company’s latest tabless battery architecture.
The Tesla Model S Plaid can be ordered now with a price tag of USD139,999 (RM578k), with  first deliveries scheduled for late 2021.

[Images: YouTube Screencap/Tesla (Official images not unveiled yet)]


Mazda opens their first ‘Anshin’ pre-owned car centre in Glenmarie

Longtime aspiring Mazda owners may find this a tad too irresistible, because Bermaz Motor Sdn Bhd, the sole distributor of Mazda cars has just announced their brand new and nation’s first
Pre-owned Car Centre
.
The Mazda “Anshin” Pre-owned Car Centre offers greater affordability without compromising the quality and reliability of the cars, hence the word Anshin, which means “peace of mind” in Japanese.
Customers who are looking to buy any of the pre-owned vehicles can also benefit from Mazda’s
Free Warranty
 and
Maintenance Programme
. Also keep in mind that these cars have undergone strict scheduled maintenance and its parts were thoroughly checked before they’re put on sale.
The pre-owned car centre is located some good
two kilometers
 away from Mazda’s headquarters in Glenmarie. Anyone care for a quick zoom-zoom visit?
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY


The new Rolls-Royce Ghost is so high-tech it’ll make your brains hurt

Over its 10-year lifespan since 2009, the Rolls-Royce Ghost has become the most successful model in the marque’s 116-year history. That legacy looks set to be extended with the new Ghost – a modest and minimalist expression of Rolls-Royce.
The new Rolls-Royce is built on the company’s proprietary aluminium spaceframe architecture first used on the
 Phantom
 and subsequently the
 Cullinan
. Underneath the hood is a 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 with
 571 hp
 and
850 Nm
 to power all four wheels and because it’s a Rolls-Royce, you’re not allowed to ask its 0 to 100 km/h time.
The new Ghost rides on Rolls-Royce’s redeveloped Planar Suspension System, named after a geometric plane which was flat and level. The system took 10 years to develop in order to create a sense of flight on land – something we’d expect of a Rolls-Royce.
The system incorporates a world-first Upper Wishbone Damper (which took five years to develop) positioned above the front suspension to create an even more stable and effortless ride. It’s also the latest evolution of the company’s Magic Carpet Ride suspension system.
The new suspension system works alongside the Flagbearer system which uses stereo cameras on the windscreen to read the road ahead and prepare the suspension system for any changes in the road surface. It’s capable of adjusting the suspension proactively up to speeds of 100 km/h.
Self-closing doors may be a common sight with Rolls-Royce’s of before but it seems the elite now have even lesser time (or energy) for trivial movements like opening a car door. As such customers of the new Ghost can now, for the first time, also open the doors with power assistance.
Customers can first open the door with one pull of the interior handle, then allow the handle to return to its resting position while they check for potential hazards, and then pull and hold it for full power assistance on opening.
Once the door is opened sufficiently for the customer’s egress, they simply stop pulling the handle, which engages a door brake. Impressive but honestly though, a manual door that we commoners use just sounds less complicated to operate.
Not contented with just the Starlight Headliner, Rolls-Royce also applied the same effect on the dashboard of the new Ghost called the
Illuminated Fascia; a world-first innovation
. Developed over two years and more than 10,000 hours, the ensemble glows around the Ghost nameplate, surrounded by more than 850 stars.
The illumination comes from 152 LEDs mounted above and beneath the fascia, each meticulously colour matched to the cabin’s
clock and instrument dial lighting. To ensure the Ghost wording is lit evenly, a 2mm-thick light guide was used, featuring more than 90,000 laser-etched dots across the surface.
If that does not impress you, check out the
Rolls-Royce Wraith Eagle VIII we had the pleasure to shoot earlier this year
. Only 50 were ever made, with one unit allocated for Malaysia although it has already found a home, obviously.
GALLERY


Gallery: Ferrari Portofino M – Easy does it

When you are handed the keys to a Ferrari for a day – especially one with 620 hp – your first instinct is probably to drive it like you stole it and pin your right foot down into the accelerator at every chance you get. Or at least, that’s what we’d do… normally.
But oddly enough, when we were given the chance to sample the new
 Ferrari Portofino M
 recently, all we wanted to do was to take it easy and, well, savour the experience with the top down.
Don’t get us wrong – the new Portofino M is more than happy to oblige with your every input, be it chucking it into corners on your touge runs, or mashing the pedals whenever the traffic light turns green; for the laymen drivers, the car’s limit depends only on the size of your own cajones.
And that shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. The ‘M’ suffix in its name – which stands for
Modificata
– is essentially Ferrari’s way of saying that the car has received a ‘significant boost to their performance’. And it certainly feels that way too, not just in its updated powertrain, but also its chiselled chassis.
Even reading the spec-sheet alone is enough to tell you what the car can do:
620 hp
and
760 Nm
 from its 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8, new eight-speed DCT gearbox, and a new Manettino switch that now comes with the balls-to-the-wall Race mode – there are no doubts that this car is fast.
And heck, the car even looks the part too, with the ‘M’ treatment bringing along the sportier bumper and larger air intakes up front, alongside a significantly more aggressive diffuser at the rear.
But it’s when you slide into the driver’s seat and set off for the first time – preferably with the top down – that you truly understand what this car is about.
Yes, it can bite. But unless you specifically asked for it, the Ferrari Portofino M will just happily cruise along in utmost comfort (and speed, of course). Because even though it’s now got a lot more grunt, it hasn’t forgotten that it’s still a topless grand tourer – and Ferrari has made it even better in that aspect, too.
The seating position is spot on, giving you just enough of the “sporty” feel without sacrificing comfort on long journeys. And it’s even offered with seat ventilation and neck warmers too, if you so choose.
And the Ferrari Portofino M now even comes with an advanced driver assistance systems suite, with features including adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, rear-cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, adaptive high beam, and a 3D surround-view monitor – all to make driving it around other people easier.
But most importantly, it’s the way it drives. In comfort mode, the retuned adaptive suspension just soaks up all of the bumps that the Malaysian paved highways can offer. And with the top down, overtaking is as easy as it is fun, as the roar from the engine just engulfs your senses.
A full review will be coming very soon for the Ferrari Portofino M, so keep your eyes peeled. But for now, we’ll let the photos do the talking…
GALLERY


First Drive: French B-Segments Renault Clio GT Line and Captur 1.2L turbo sampled

The Renault brand in Malaysia has a longstanding reputation for being a left-field choice among many aspiring car buyers for various reasons, mostly negative and discouraging. These perceptions are widely the consequence of pluralistic ignorance, a communal/social bias that came to existence during the Japanese’s unprecedented success in winning customers over during after the ’80s.
Things have certainly spun in favour for most French brands in recent years, thanks largely to their modern design appeal and increasingly competitive pricing. And if you haven’t noticed, Renault Group together with sole Malaysian franchise holder TC Euro Cars introduced six new models just this year alone, with the newest B-Segment duo being the
Clio GT Line
 and
Captur
.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Renault Clio GT Line
Renault Captur
Engine
1,197cc; 4-cyl turbo, direct injection
Transmission
6-speed Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC)
Max Power
118 hp @ 4,900 rpm
Max Torque
190 Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Price (OTR without Insurance)
RM118,000
RM123,000
It’s unquestionably a steep uphill battle for both models, but they bring turbocharging to the table; a costly bit of kit that was reserved for the Ford Fiesta EcoBoost and VW Polo TSI – until now, or in this segment at least. Renault Malaysia claims that the Clio GT’s
direct injected

1.2-litre turbocharged
engine performs equal to that of a naturally aspirated 1.8-litre engine, if not better. This engine is also shared with the Renault Captur.
Update: The Renault Captur’s 1.2-litre engine is in fact a
direct injection unit
, as clarified by Tan Chong Euro Cars (Renault Malaysia).
EXTERIOR
As we’ve said earlier, the Clio GT Line easily stands out among the crowd in terms of design appeal. It’s one of the best looking B-Segment hatches on sale right now and is well presented with
17-inch anthracite dark metal wheels
 wrapped with 205/45 profiled rubbers. Like the Clio R.S. 200, the
rear door handles are hidden
 next to the C-pillars, which makes for a really sporty, coupe-like look. The LED daytime running lights from the more hardcore R.S 200 variant is also offered as standard here, while the fog lamp binnacles, side mirrors and lower rear bumper all are finished in contrasting colours.

The Renault Captur on the other hand, doesn’t turn heads quite as easily as the Clio GT on the runway, but it’ll be hard to mistake the Captur for anything else in its class. It’s not the best looking B-Segment crossover, but it certainly is one of the most adept and frugal, as we’ll find out in a bit. Headlights on both the Clio GT and Captur are halogen, but the crossover benefits from a pair of projectors as opposed to the reflectors on the hatch. The tyres here are also of a higher profile – 205/55 series and rides on two-tone 17-inch wheels.

What’s unique on the Captur is its dual-tone exterior finish. There’s only four colour options – Arizona Orange, Pacific Blue, Ivory (white) and Beige, however the roof is finished in a different colour, either in gloss black or gloss white.
INTERIOR
Both these French B-Segments pack a mixed bag of impressions in the cabin and they don’t quite exude the same sense of desirability when compared to their respective exterior styling, much less when compared to the current crop of competition. Granted, both these cars have some age to it (launched globally back in 2012, the Captur later in 2013), so here’s hoping that the facelift variants will iron out the ‘French’ in cabin design.
Renault Clio GT Line

The Clio GT Line and Captur’s interior design are largely similar – if not identical, save for the seats and centre dashboard. There’s a chunky
leather-wrapped steering wheel
 with two rocker switches built into the left and right side for convenient on-the-fly cruise control operation, and behind it a bowtie-esque instrument cluster, if you will. Paddle shifters aren’t available on both models, so you’ll have to rely on rocking the gear lever for some manual fun.
Plastic is extensively used in the car, but the Koreans do a better job at making them feel less cheap than it already is. If anything, quality is on par with the Japanese, if not a touch better. The centre dash which houses Renault’s
7-inch MediaNav touchscreen
 gives us the impression that its existence is more of an afterthought, including the air conditioning controls built right below the head unit. Move the eyes further down and you’ll find a
keycard slot
 and right next to it, the
push-start ignition
. This layout will get some getting used to, though it’s not entirely a surprising placement after seeing it in the Renault Fluence.
Renault Captur

Going back to the seats –
both models only come with fabric seats
, however the Captur features a class’ first removable fabric cover (via zippers) for easy cleaning. It’s a convenience not many carmakers tend to include in their products, so don’t be surprised if the Captur doesn’t smell like a sweat-soaked carpet five years down the road. Finishing off the interior for both models are the
four-speaker configuration
 (they don’t sound bad, though) and
four-airbag count
.
PERFORMANCE
Now, the performance area is where these French cars excel in their class. They aren’t the most powerful (the
Mazda CX-3
 takes the cake), but they are certainly the most fuel economical. As mentioned above, both the Captur and Clio GT Line come with a modern 1.2-litre engine, featuring
direct injection and

turbocharging technology
. As a result, the engine makes a respectable
118 horsepower
 at 4,900 rpm and
190 Nm
of torque at 2,000 rpm.
Both engines are paired to the same six-speed Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) gearbox driving the front wheels. The Clio GT Line impresses even before we drove it, simply because it shares the same suspension setup as the Clio R.S 200. Up front, it gets McPherson struts, while the rear settles for a torsion beam setup with coil springs and an anti-roll bar. The same tale is told with the Captur, though we feel that the Clio handles road undulations far better than the Captur – more on this later.
THE DRIVE
It’s a shame that people acquaint Renault cars as being unreliable and costly to maintain, because if there’s one thing that deserves an eminence of such magnitude is
the way they drive
. Renault’s range of superminis in particular, have long tug the heartstrings of driving enthusiasts the world over. For RM118k, the Renault Clio GT Line administers a solid dose of fun around the bends, and ranks easily in the top three of best handling B-Segment cars that’s currently on sale. Unfortunately, we only had the entire length of Elite Highway and an hour’s duration (per driver) to sample the Clio, so we can’t conclusively decide whether it handles better than the
Mazda2
 or the
Ford Fiesta EcoBoost
.
But if it’s that fun to drive, something has got to give, and it’s the ride quality. The Clio’s ride quality proved to be a fairly forgiving despite riding on 17-inch wheels. However, ride comfort in the rear is a tad too harsh for our liking – a shortcoming of the torsion beam suspension. This discomfort is especially pronounced in the Captur, but take it away from terrible road conditions and you’ll be all smiles – more so when you toss it in and out of corners. When crossing over speed humps, just remember to recite your meditation mantras, because you’ll need to really slow down.
You must be wondering, at this juncture, how the 1.2-litre engine stacks up in real world driving. In terms of outright performance, it edges the Volkswagen Polo’s 1.2-litre TSI engine (103 hp and 175 Nm) by a slight margin, thanks to the French engine’s better output figures. Overtaking cars on the freeway is a breeze, that’s until the engine runs out of breath somewhere between 500 to 800 rpm below the rev limit. The engine’s sprightly nature means you won’t be having any trouble getting the car up to three-digit speeds. Couple that to the quick-shifting dual clutch gearbox and you’ll have yourself a tamer Clio RS by the wheel.
Like we said earlier, it’s not the most powerful engine of the lot, but it is the most frugal with a claimed combined cycle of
5.2 litres per 100km
(5.4 litres with the Captur). Curious, we hit the ECO button and put the car through a 50km stretch of stead-footed driving, all to see how realistic Renault’s claims were. Upon activating ECO mode, the car’s computers immediately numb the throttle and transmission mapping, sipping fuel as thriftily as Macklemore does his shopping. Some overtakings, hypermiling and 40 agonising minutes later, our labour bore fruits – both the Clio and Captur managed
4.9 litres per 100km
!
Our day’s drive from Petaling Jaya to Port Dickson and back proved quite literally to be a race against time. This means limiting the bulk of our journey to using the highways, hence the lack of involvement in the handling department. Wind noise was relatively well isolated at 110 km/h, even when the wind gusted in our direction. NVH qualities also fared favourably, however road noise starts creeping in as you climb above 100km/h. Nothing a better set of tyres and some rubber undercoating can’t fix, right?
IS THIS CAR FOR YOU?
Both the Clio and Captur are two relatively decent all-rounders that score exceptionally well in the performance and handling department. If you’re looking for a continental car that’s easy on the wallet (hold your horses, I’ll justify that in a second) in terms of running and ownership costs, the Clio GT Line and Captur may well be the car for you.
But which between the two should you get? That depends. If you fancy yourself a flashy looking car that’s distinctly non-Asian and can handle all the twisty bits you chuck at it, then settle for the Clio. The Captur on the other hand, suits city dwellers better thanks to its higher ground clearance and larger storage capacity. It’s not a true 4×4 to say the least, but it’s a crossover that serves its purpose as well as the HR-V and Ford EcoSport. If you’re constantly travelling within our flash-flood-prone cities, the Captur is a no-brainer.
There are two good reasons why either one is the car for you. Firstly, running costs. The
road tax
 for both cars cost just
RM55 annually
, and drive it consistently with a light right foot and you’ll easily stretch that visit to the petrol station by a few more days. Secondly, and more importantly, both cars are packaged with a
5-year unlimited mileage warranty programme
 that’s fully backed by TC Euro Cars. This means, for the purposes of claiming a faulty or damaged component, you won’t have to go through a third party hanky-panky insurer just to get your ride fixed.
COMPARISONS
The Clio GT Line isn’t exactly a cheap selection from the densely populated B-Segment range, so for this round of comparison, it’ll go against some of the best equipped and most popular cars in the category. This showdown will include the
Ford Fiesta EcoBoost
,
Mazda2 hatchback
 and segment leader
Honda Jazz
.
Renault Clio GT Line
Ford Fiesta Sport+ EcoBoost
Mazda2 1.5L Skyactiv-G Hatchback
Honda Jazz Grade V
ENGINE
Type
inline-4, direct injection turbo, DOHC
inline-3, direct injection turbo, DOHC
inline-4, direct injection, DOHC
inline-4, SOHC
Displacement
cc
1,197cc
998cc
1,496cc
1,497cc
Max Power
hp/rpm
118/4,900
123/6,000
114/6,000
118/6,600
Max Torque
Nm/rpm
190/2,000
170/1,400
148/4,000
145/4,600
STEERING
Type
Electric Power Steering
Electric Power Steering
Electric Power Steering
Electric Power Steering
DRIVETRAIN
Transmission
6-speed EDC
6-speed DCT
6-speed auto
CVT
SUSPENSION
Front
MacPherson Strut
MacPherson Strut
MacPherson Strut
MacPherson Strut
Rear
Torsion Beam
Torsion Beam
Torsion Beam
Torsion Beam
BRAKES
Front
Ventilated Disc
Ventilated Disc
Ventilated Disc
Ventilated Disc
Rear
Drum
Drum
Solid Disc
Drum
TYRE & WHEELS
Tyre
205/45 R17
195/50 R16
185/60 R16
185/55 R16
Wheels
17-inch alloy
16-inch alloy
16-inch alloy
16-inch alloy
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
Overall Length
mm
4,062mm
3,982mm
4,060mm
3,955mm
Overall Width
mm
1,732mm
1,722mm
1,695mm
1,694mm
Overall Height
mm
1,488mm
1,489mm
1,470mm
1,524mm
Wheelbase
mm
2,589mm
2,489mm
2,570mm
2,530mm
Max Kerb Weight
kg
1,071 kg
N/A
1,056 kg
1,081 kg
Luggage Capacity (VDA)
Litres
300 litres
276 litres
220 litres
363 litres
FUEL
Tank Capacity
Litres
45 litres
43 litres
44 litres
40 litres
Consumption
litres per 100km
5.2 litres
5.3 litres
5.1 litres
5.6 litres
PERFORMANCE
Max Speed
km/h
199 km/h
N/A
184 km/h
N/A
0 to 100 km/h
sec
9.9 second
N/A
10 Seconds
N/A
Price
RM
RM118,000.00
RM93,888.00
RM85,470.00
RM84,363.79
On paper, the Clio GT Line pretty much
has the upper hand
 over the trio it’s compared against. It’s larger in terms of dimensions, and has a sizeable boot space eclipsed only by the king Honda Jazz. For RM118k, you pay the cheapest road tax (RM55) per annum despite having the
most powerful engine of the bunch
. Pair that to the larger fuel tank and a frugal engine and you have yourself quite a worthy package, not before forgetting how rewarding it feels to drive around and out the corners.
Sure, it costs RM25k more than the already-exceptional Ford Fiesta EcoBoost, but the Clio promises
exclusivity
 – something the maverick in you will come to appreciate, if you’re the kind, of course. On the other end of the spectrum, you have other formidable offerings like the Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSI and Suzuki Swift Sport (the latter is a must-buy if you want some proper rowing action), but they’ve aged and are no longer in the popular run.
However, the Clio’s crossover brethren, the Renault Captur, faces an even stiffer competition as it battles against Malaysia’s home favourite, the Honda HR-V. That said, the Captur holds one competitive advantage over its rivals with its turbocharged engine. Let’s spread the spec sheet and see how the Captur fares against the
HR-V
 and the
Mazda CX-3
.
Renault Captur
Honda HR-V
Mazda CX-3
ENGINE
Type
inline-4, direct injection, turbo, DOHC
inline-4, SOHC
inline-4, direct injection, DOHC
Displacement
cc
1,197cc
1,799cc
1,998cc
Max Power
hp/rpm
118/4,900
140/6,500
156/6,000
Max Torque
Nm/rpm
190/2,000
172/4,300
204/2,800
STEERING
Type
Electric Power Steering
Electric Power Steering
Electric Power Steering
DRIVETRAIN
Transmission
6-speed EDC
CVT
6-speed auto
SUSPENSION
Front
MacPherson Strut
MacPherson Strut
MacPherson Strut
Rear
Torsion Beam
Torsion Beam
Torsion Beam
BRAKES
Front
Ventilated Disc
Ventilated Disc
Ventilated Disc
Rear
Drum
Solid Disc
Solid Disc
TYRE & WHEELS
Tyre
205/55 R17
215/60 R16
215/50 R188
Wheels
17-inch alloy
16-inch alloy
18-inch alloy
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
Overall Length
mm
4,122mm
4,294mm
4,275mm
Overall Width
mm
1,778mm
1,772mm
1,765mm
Overall Height
mm
1,567mm
1,605mm
1,535mm
Wheelbase
mm
2,606mm
2,610mm
2,570mm
Max Kerb Weight
kg
1,180 kg
1,249 kg
1,211 kg
Luggage Capacity (VDA)
Litres
455 litres
437 litres
350 litres
FUEL
Tank Capacity
Litres
45 litres
50 litres
48 litres
Consumption
litres per 100km
5.4 litres
6.6 litres
TBA
PERFORMANCE
Max Speed
km/h
192 km/h
N/A
N/A
0 to 100 km/h
sec
10.9 second
N/A
N/A
Price
RM
RM123,000.00
RM114,744.77
RM131,218.50
The Captur’s vital stats alone can’t quite match the Japanese duo it’s up against, but like the Clio GT, its strongest points are performance, handling and for what it’s worth – value for money. It is above all the only model in its class to feature a turbocharged engine. Despite that, the Captur won’t quite enjoy the HR-V’s success (that crossover racks up sales figure faster than you can pronounce the two-syllabled Captur) simply because it isn’t a volume player, and it’s perhaps more niche than the
Ford EcoSport
 and
Peugeot 2008
 combined.
WILL I BUY THEM?
In hindsight, I can vividly recall the Clio and Captur’s composure when it was put through its paces. But for personal reasons (and for having an unshakable bias towards manual sub-200 horsepower pocket rockets), I’d rather spend the money on a C-Segment car than on vehicles one segment down. It’s not because the Renaults are too pricey, but like I said, my preferences lean towards cars with a larger footprint that will meet all the demands of my long distance travels.
If you’re captivated by their looks and are intrigued to find out how they drive, do yourself the favour and pay your nearest Renault showroom a visit. Driving pleasure awaits.
IMAGE GALLERY
Renault Clio GT Line

Renault Captur


More than 110,000 applied for interstate travel but failed

While you and I have had our bottoms firm and flat at our home workstations and sleeping the weekends away, some have been attempting interstate travel, to no avail.
Bernama reported that some 114,474 applications for interstate travel were rejected by the police since the full lockdown came into effect on the 1st of June. Problem is, there was no mention of how many were approved either.
Bukit Aman said these applications did not fulfill the conditions for interstate travel and applicants failed to submit relevant documents to support their application. They were not “long-distance couples” either.
Currently, only long-distance couples and parents with children under 18 are allowed to cross states. This is only allowed if they are fully vaccinated and will require a permit from the police station.
Click here for the latest updates on movement and travel restrictions!
Car wash and accessory shops, dealerships allowed to resume business. Read about it
here
.
The 10-km limit in states that are in Phase 1 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) has been
removed
. As for states in Phase 2 and Phase 3 of NRP, interdistrict travel is now allowed.
However, motorists will have to show their Covid-19 Vaccination Digital Certificate via the MySejahtera app when stopped at roadblocks.