Stunning Lexus LF-C2 2+2 Roadster Concept debuts at LA Auto Show

Lexus has just revealed their latest Grand Touring concept car, codenamed the
LF-C2
, at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. According to Lexus, the LF-C2 is a
design study
 that will be a key determinant in the brand’s
future styling direction.
The idea behind the LF-C2 concept is derived from a drop-top sports coupe, and Lexus says that
no soft or hard top
 are available to cover the cabin. Fret not, it’s just a concept car and we can pretty much expect at least a soft top if the car goes into production.
Exterior style is said to be influenced by how light interacts with the various surfaces of the car. As such, the designers have sculpted the LF-C2 in such a way that would allow the concept roadster to
exude a different character
 when viewed from different angles under different lighting conditions.
To achieve just that desired effect, Lexus chose to go with the bright golden yellow paint specifically produced as such – primer makes the base coat, followed by a few coats of silver, clear coat and finally the yellow paint that reflects off the silver.
“We’ve been instinctively drawn to and inspired by things that capture the beauty of light,” said Yasuo Kajino, Chief Designer of the LF-C2.

It appears that Lexus is going gaga with their signature spindle grille. The concept’s grille features a
braided mesh design
 theme that
changes its appearance
 at different angles under different lighting conditions as well. At the front are air vents that feed cool air to the brakes and functions to
manage airflow
 through the body, keeping the car stable at higher driving speeds.
At the back you’ll spot Lexus’
L-shaped tail lights
 that is becoming increasingly common in most of their newer models. There’s also the chrome-accented quad tailpipes, while the car sits on 20-inch five-spoke alloy wheels.

Inside, the LF-C2 aims to evoke the sense of luxury and top notch finishing, just like any other Lexuses. Stuff like the head unit, remote touchpad, analogue clock and multi-function steering wheels will very likely be offered in the actual production unit, and it isn’t something that Lexus
hasn’t done before
.
So there you have it, Lexus’ latest 2+2 roadster concept, the LF-C2.
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Mercedes-Benz Malaysia launches the facelifted C43 AMG 4MATIC

Aside from introducing the new
C200 Avantgarde and C300 AMG Line
, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia also took to the stage the new C43 AMG 4MATIC, furnished with visual, safety and performance enhancements.
The 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 engine has been tweaked to produce 23 hp more, at
390 hp
 while torque figures remain the same at
520 Nm
. The engine is paired to a 9-speed AMG Speedshift TCT automatic transmission, channeling power to all four wheels as per.
Mercedes-AMG C43 4MATIC
Engine
3.0-litre twin-turbo V6
Transmission
9-speed AMG Speedshift TCT automatic
Max Power
390
[email protected]
,100rpm
Max Torque
520
[email protected]
,500rpm
0-100 km/h ; Top Speed
4.7 secs ; 250 km/h (electronically-limited)
Price
RM 421,888
0 to 100 km/h now takes just 4.7 seconds with top speed electronically-limited to 250 km/h still. As for the drive modes, there’s a self-explanatory new “Slippery Mode” that joins the existing Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual modes.
On the outside, the AMG gets a new grille design, additional trims on its front bumper while a more aggressive rear diffuser sits at the back. It also gets the highly-coveted Multibeam LED headlamps, with a slightly revised 19-inch wheel design and AMG sport exhaust system.
Within the cabin, the C43’s displays are the same as the standard C200, with an upsized 10.25-inch media display from before, topped off with a Burmester Sound System.
There’s also an AMG Track Pace feature which allows drivers to gather driving data from spirited drives or track days. Other AMG specific touches include matte silver fibreglass trims, an Artico leather-finished dashboard, a panoramic sunroof and a new AMG flat-bottomed steering wheel.
The locally-assembled Mercedes-AMG C43 AMG 4MATIC goes for
RM 421,888
 on-the-road without insurance. In mitigating your urge to own one of these C-Class’, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia introduced the Flex-C financing service with monthly repayments starting from RM 2,688 (three-year tenure and 22% downpayment).
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Carlos Sainz replaces Vettel at Ferrari, while Daniel Ricciardo joins McLaren F1

Sebastian Vettel’s
departure from Scuderia Ferrari next year
 has caused a domino effect in the driver market. The Italian team snapped up rising star Carlos Sainz, while Formula 1 veteran Daniel Ricciardo completes the driver line-up at McLaren starting next year, the two teams confirmed today.
Sainz will be joining Scuderia Ferrari on a two-year deal, joining Charles Leclerc to form the team’s youngest driver pairing in the last fifty years. Aged 25 years old, the Spaniard has completed 102 Grand Prix races over five seasons.
He finished sixth in the driver’s championship last year, his best ever result, in a year where he also made it to the podium for the first time – finishing third in the Brazil GP.
Carlos Sainz replaces Sebastian Vettel at Scuderia Ferrari
Scuderia Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto said, “With five seasons already behind him, Carlos has proved to be very talented and has shown that he has the technical ability and the right attributes to make him an ideal fit with our family.
“We’ve embarked on a new cycle with the aim of getting back to the top in Formula 1. It will be a long journey, not without its difficulties, especially given the current financial and regulatory situation, which is undergoing a sudden change and will require this challenge to be tackled in a different way to the recent past.
“We believe that a driver pairing with the talent and personality of Charles and Carlos […] will be the best possible combination to help us reach the goals we have set ourselves.”
Ricciardo, meanwhile, has signed a “multi-year agreement” to race for the Woking-based
McLaren Racing F1 Team
 starting next year. The 30-year-old Australian will be joined by
Lando Norris
, who will be in his third season of Formula 1.
McLaren F1 Team Principal, Andreas Seidl said, “Daniel is a proven race-winner and his experience, commitment and energy will be a valuable addition to McLaren and our mission to return to the front of the field. With Daniel and Lando as teammates, I believe we have two racers who will continue to excite our fans and help the team grow.
“Carlos is a true professional, a pleasure to work with and we will continue to enjoy going racing with him this year. We all wish him good luck for the next stage in his career when he leaves McLaren,” he added.
Nicknamed the ‘Honey Badger’, Ricciardo started his F1 career in 2011 with HRT, before moving to Toro Rosso in 2012. The Australian was promoted to Red Bull in 2014, where he won seven races and finished third in the championship thrice in his five year stint with the team.
Ricciardo took a gamble by signing for Renault F1 in 2019 – the team was largely running at the back of the field since rejoining the sport as a works team in 2016. The campaign was largely unsuccessful, with a best finish of fourth, due to a string of
unfortunate events
 and general lack of performance in the car.
All eyes are now on Renault while they fill up the empty driver seat alongside Esteban Ocon. Vettel’s future in Formula 1 is also still in doubt, as Ricciardo’s deal with McLaren closes yet another door for the German.


Acura teases production version of the NSX, due for world debut next month [+Video]

The
NSX
 nameplate is no stranger to the world of high performance sports cars. As promised, the all-new NSX featuring Honda’s
Super Handling All Wheel Drive
 (SH-AWD) system is bound for the 2015 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in January.
What’s most interesting is that we will be treated to view the production version of the Acura NSX, so no more concept car-esque traits here. As with the previous NSX, the new one by Acura will also get a mid-engine configuration that will now drive all four wheels.
Like the LaFerrari, McLaren P1 and Porsche 918, the Acura NSX’s
twin-turbocharged engine
 will be paired to not one, but
three electric motors
. Expect a power output no less than
500hp
 and
600 Nm
 of torque! There is however, no mention of transmission choice here, so we’ll have to wait for the official word.

It’s finally here now, there years since the project was resuscitated. Watch this space for the exclusive first-hand details of the rebirthed NSX!
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IMAGE GALLERY
Acura NSX Production Version Teaser

Acura NSX Concept Car


Honda Malaysia opens doors to RM19 mil Semenyih 3S Centre

Honda Malaysia Sdn Bhd has officially opened their brand new 3S Centre in Semenyih, costing approximately RM19 million to establish a customer-centric facility with a total built-up area of 22,000 sq ft.
The 3S facility sits on a plot of land spanning 61,000 sq ft and houses
14 service bays
 that can accommodate up to
30 cars per day
. While waiting, customers can treat themselves to the usual Wi-Fi equipped lounge, or simply drop the car off for servicing.

Operations are managed by SAG Ultimate Sdn Bhd and the launching of this 3S Centre brings Honda Malaysia’s dealer network tally to 86 nationwide – 22 of which are in Selangor alone. It’s also the first ever Honda dealership to be designed and built based on Honda’s new Corporate Identity (CI), with aims to offer top notch quality in terms of sales and after sales experience.
As of October 2015, Honda Malaysia has
sold over 74,920 units
 – a whopping
19 percent jump
 from the same period last year. The company also recently celebrated their 500,000th vehicle sold. Honda is currently leading the Non-National segment in Malaysia.
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BMW 4 Series Convertible unveiled with sophisticated soft-top

After launching the
4 Series Coupe
 back in June, BMW has now unveiled the all-new BMW 4 Series Convertible. With a blend of driving pleasure and open-air thrills, the new 4 Series Convertible builds on a long-standing tradition in this model class that began 35 years ago with the launch of the first-ever BMW 3 Series Convertible.
The 4 Series Convertible’s elegant yet muscular presence comes from its larger exterior dimensions. In terms of length, the 4 Series Convertible measures at 4,768 mm, 123 mm longer than it’s predecessor, while width has increased by 27 mm to 1,852 mm.
The wheelbase of the 4 Series Convertible has also increased by 47mm to 2,851 mm. Height of the car is 1,384 mm with the roof up, and track width is increased by 28 mm in the front and 18 mm at the rear.
In terms of engines, the 4 Series Convertible is powered by petrol and diesel engine options; the 2.0-litre petrol-powered engine generates
184 hp
 and
300 Nm
 in the new BMW 420i Convertible. The same petrol mill found in the BMW 430i Convertible, however, generates
258 hp
 and
400 Nm
.
For the diesel option, there is a four-cylinder diesel engine that’s found on the BMW 420d Convertible putting out
190 hp
 and
400 Nm
 whereas, the 430d Convertible gets a six-cylinder diesel engine that puts out a healthy
286 hp
 and
650 Nm
.
The 4 Series Convertible also has a mild hybrid variant that comes in the form of the BMW M440i xDrive Convertible. The engine powering this can be had in either petrol or diesel. The six-cylinder petrol engine will put out
374 hp
 and
500 Nm
 while the six-cylinder diesel engine will churn out
340 hp
 and
700 Nm
.
This is the first time that all model variants in the BMW 4 Series Convertible range are fitted with an eight-speed Steptronic transmission as standard.
The 4 Series Convertible comes with a sophisticated and innovative panel bow soft-top. It marries the strengths of a retractable hardtop and the purist appeal of a fabric roof, thereby combining the best of both worlds.
Despite comprising of a large panel bow elements with a flush-fitting glass rear window, several layers of insulation and a fabric cover, the 4 Series Convertible’s soft-top is actually 40% lighter than it’s predecessor’s hard-top. The soft-top is available in black as standard, but customers can opt for the Anthracite Silver as an option.
The roof of the 4 Series Convertible is powered by an electric motor that allows it to
open or close within 18 seconds
 at the push of a button. On the move, the retractable soft-top can operate at speeds of up to 50 km/h.
BMW also very recently unveiled the new
BMW M3
 and
BMW M4
, with the BMW M3 makes
480 hp
 and
550 Nm
 from a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six engine. The BMW M4 on the other hand is powered by the S58 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline-six engine with
473 hp
 and
550 Nm
 for the standard and
503 hp
 and
650 Nm
 for the higher-tuned Competition specification.
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Jaguar F-PACE unveiled, went loopy and sets a Guinness World Record! [+Video]

After countless of teaser images and videos, Jaguar has finally unveiled their historic first crossover, the F-PACE; and already the F-PACE is setting a world record by driving up and over a 19.08 metre high 360 degree loop.
Driven by the British pro driver
 Terry Grant
, the F-PACE endured
6.5G worth of force
 (that’s 6.5 times the force of gravity!) to complete the stunt, flaunting its agility and strength in the process.

Revealed two years after the unveiling of the
C-X17 concept
 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Jaguar has kept true to the original concept car’s looks. Minor tweaks were done to the details, but it retains the overall shape of the distinctive sporty silhouette.

There are hints of the
Jaguar F-TYPE
 in the design, such as the muscular rear haunches and the tail lights, but the F-PACE also carries the elements from the other Jaguar sedans with the signature side vents and the slim headlamps that’s also offered in full-LED configuration. A total of
six variants
 are available at launch: Pure, Prestige, Portfolio, R-Sport, S, and First Edition, and they differ in trims and equipment.
The interior is also an amalgamation of the current Jaguar vehicles, featuring the
rotary gear selector
 in a clean and simple dashboard with minimum button count, and a virtual
12.3-inch full-HD instrument panel
. On top of that, the
head-up display
 is projected by
 laser
, so the images stay visible even in bright sunlight.

A
10.2-inch touchsreen
 sits in the middle of the dash, used for the
InControl Touch Pro
 infotainment system with
60GB solid-state drive
 powered by a
quad-core processor
. It runs on
ultra-fast Ethernet
, allowing
up to eight devices
 to be connected to the vehicle’s
WiFi hotspot
. Another cool feature is the
Activity Key
, a wearable waterproof and shockproof wristband with an integrated transponder that allows owners to lock their valuables inside the vehicle, including the key fob itself. Perfect for those who are into watersports.

With a wheelbase measuring 2,874 mm, Jaguar claims the F-PACE will carry five adult occupants in absolute comfort while offering
650 litres
 worth of cargo space in the boot. The cargo area is 1,255 mm wide, so it’s big enough for two full-size golf bags or four large suitcases to occupy the boot easily.
The 4,731 mm long F-PACE sits on Jaguar’s
Lightweight Aluminium Architecture
 which is not only good for fuel efficiency, Jaguar says the lightweight construction should result an agile handling vehicle with unrivalled dynamics, combined with the specifically tuned
variable ratio steering
 and
Torque Vectoring
 offered as standard.
Up to
22-inch wheels
 can be specified on the F-PACE, and they’re suspended by
double wishbone front suspension
 and
Integral Link rear suspension
. Base model uses monotube dampers while
Adaptive Dynamics system
 is available as an option, and it can be customised via the Configurable Dynamics that also changes the settings for the throttle, transmission and steering.
Four engines are offered in the F-PACE: a
2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel
 with
178 hp
, a
2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol
 with
237 hp
, a
3.0-litre V6 diesel
 with
296 hp
, and a
3.0-litre V6 petrol
 with either 335 hp or
375 hp
, and a choice of either a
six-speed manual
 or an
eight-speed automatic
 transmission by ZF.
The
RWD
 variant of the F-PACE can be had with either of the two four-cylinder engines, but only the diesel is available with manual transmission option, while the
AWD
 variant is available with all the engine options except the four-cylinder petrol, and manual transmission option is again available exclusively on the four-cylinder diesel.
With
Intelligent Driveline Dynamics
 (IDD) and
Adaptive Surface Response
 (ASR), the
AWD system
 used in the F-PACE is their most advanced system ever fitted in any Jaguar. The IDD works in all weathers and on all surfaces, where it controls torque distribution of all four wheels, while the ASR regulates the throttle, transmission, and Dynamic Stability Control for optimum traction in any conditions.
A host of driver assistance systems are available on the F-PACE, and it includes the
Park Assist
,
Adaptive Cruise Control with Queue Assist
, the
All Surface Progress Control
 (ASPC) which works like a cruise control but for a more rugged surfaces, as well as a
stereo camera
 for the
Autonomous Emergency Braking
 (AEB),
Traffic Sign Recognition
 (TSR),
Intelligent Speed Limiter
 (ISL),
Lane Departure Warning
 (LDW), and
Lane Keep Assist
 (LKA) systems.
In the UK, the Jaguar F-PACE is now available for booking, with a starting price of £34,170 or
RM226k
. There’s also the limited
First Edition F-PACE
 that costs £65,475 or
RM433k
. Only
2,000 units
 will be produced, and all will be finished in
Caesium Blue
, the exact shade of blue used on the
C-X17 concept
. The
22-inch Double Helix alloy wheels
 hide
red brake calipers
, while the interior gets
Gloss Black trim
, special carpet mats, and
Houndstooth embossed Windsor Leather Sports seats
.
IMAGE GALLERY
Guinness World Record attempt

F-PACE First Edition

F-PACE Portfolio

F-PACE R-Sport


Subaru issues recall for vehicles with brake light switch issues

Subaru Corporation (Subaru) has announced a recall involving the Forester (from 2014-2016), 4-door WRX (2011-2014), Impreza (2008-2016) and Subaru XV (2012-2017).
In Subaru’s words, “silicone gas” from certain consumer products may seep through the housing of the brake light switch – potentially causing functions related to it such as the Brake Light, Transmission Interlock, Ignition Interlock, Vehicle Dynamics Control and EyeSight system to fail.
If this happens, the brake lights may not come on and may cause other road
users to be unaware of the car slowing down. This could increase the risk of accidental collisions.
Motor Image says the recall involves customers from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, those affected will be duly notified.
Replacement of the affected brake light switch and other related parts, will be free of charge.


What is: Oversteer

Following up on our
What Is: Understeer
 from last week, today we visit the opposite end of the spectrum – oversteer. Oversteer can be a very frightening experience especially when it happens unexpectedly, and you do not necessarily have the skills to regain composure of your vehicle. For the lucky ones, the car could go into a 360-degree spin and come out unscathed, but the not so lucky ones might end up spinning into another car or object.
Oversteer happens when your rear tyres lose traction before the front which results in the
rear end of the car sliding out uncontrollably
 – potentially sending the car into a spinning motion. Oversteer is more commonly experienced in rear-wheel drive (RWD) vehicles because it is easier to spin and break traction in the driven wheels.
There are
two main factors
 for oversteer to happen – worn tyres and overpowered rear wheels. Cars with worn tyres will not be able to effectively hold onto the ground while in motion, causing the rear wheels to slip thus inducing oversteer. RWD vehicles with high power output are also susceptible to oversteer when accelerating mid-corner, breaking traction of the rear wheels and sending it into an oversteer position.
However, there is a sport that encourages the drivers to put the car into oversteer –
drifting
. Drifting is essentially controlled oversteer where the driver dictates which direction the car is going with the rear “hanging out”. It is an adrenaline pumping sport and demands high levels of car control from the driver. But “drifting” is not something you would want to attempt on public roads because it is just silly to slide your car around and endanger other road users.
Even our very own
Prince of Drift
 takes his sliding action to the track
In the unfortunate event that your car is thrown into an oversteer position, regardless of it being a front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive, counter steer into where you want to go and gently release the throttle to allow the tyres to regain traction. This manoeuvre, however, is easier said than done but at least now you have the basics to regain control of your car from an oversteer.
Lastly, we cannot stress enough that regardless of your skill behind the wheel or type of vehicle you are piloting, tyres are the only contact patch between your car and the tarmac so always ensure that your tyres are always in good condition. This itself will drastically reduce the chances of your tyres losing grip resulting in either
understeer
 or oversteer. Another point is to slow down when approaching the corner and do not get overly enthusiastic with the throttle pedal when exiting the bend. Drive safe everyone!


Hyundai Malaysia opens doors to SEA’s first flagship showroom in Old Klang Road

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors have launched the region’s first flagship Global Dealership Space Identity (GDSI) 3S Centre at Old Klang Road – an event that took place in conjunction with the debut of the second generation
Genesis
.
The three-storey showroom is the result of a RM9.5 milllion investment and spans 38,000 square feet. There are 20 service bays including 3 Quick Service bays as well as ample parking space for visitors and customers. The modern showroom features floor-to-ceiling glass panes topped off with a bronze-coloured roof, while on the inside customers can expect a premium lounge during their visit.
There is also a VVIP lounge for Leader Card members including pickup and delivery service for the convenience of busy working executives. The showroom is located at No. 193 & 195, Batu 3 3/4, Jalan Klang Lama, Kuala Lumpur and is open on weekdays from 8.30am to 7pm, Saturday from 8.30am to 6pm and Sunday from 9.30am to 6pm. Service centre opens on weekdays from 8.30am to 5.15pm and on Saturday from 8.30am to 12.45pm.


Michelin partners with wind-powered logistics provider Neoline in step towards zero carbon emissions

Michelin
 has recently signed a letter of commitment for maritime transport with Neoline, a French startup offering innovative carbon-free shipping service, on the Canada-France line. This represents a significant step for Michelin towards decarbonising its logistics operations, in line with the company’s goal of attaining zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.
Instead of burning diesel or coal, Neoline’s cargo ships relies on clean and renewable wind energy as their main propulsion. The 136-metre-long cargo ships are equipped with 4,200 square-metre sails, and is said to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in maritime freight transport by up to 90%.
Michelin Group Supply Chain Director, Pierre-Martin Huet said: “This new partnership marks the first step in carbon-free shipping, which is fully in line with the sustainability strategy of Michelin’s operations. It will contribute to achieving the objective of reducing CO2 emissions from logistics by 15% in absolute terms between 2018 and 2030.”
Neoline President, Jean Zanuttini added: “We are honoured to welcome on board the Michelin Group, an emblematic French player strongly committed to innovation and sustainable mobility. With our sailing cargo ships, we are developing a mode of transport that is more environmentally friendly, adapted to the current economic and logistical reality of shippers and not dependent on fossil fuels.”
Michelin will utilise Neoline’s cargo ships to transport their tyres from Halifax, Canada to the Nantes Saint-Nazaire port in France – the shipping company’s pilot line, scheduled to be inaugurated with their first operating vessel in 2023. With Neoline’s second vessel to arrive a year later, Michelin Group will gradually entrust Neoline with at least 50% of the group’s containers transported on this line.


Isuzu D-Max updated in UK, new Euro6 1.9L turbodiesel, 162 hp and 360 Nm!

Isuzu has just introduced the updated Isuzu D-Max for the UK market and the biggest change here is a new 1.9-litre turbodiesel that replaces the old larger capacity diesel engines. The updated D-Max is now more efficient, safer and lighter compared to the model it replaces.
At launch the UK market gets a total of five trim lines – Utility, Eiger, Yukon, Utah and Blade with a range of single, extended and double cab variants to choose from, and compared to the 2015 model it replaces, the 2017 D-Max is a step up in terms of features.
EXTERIOR
The refreshed D-Max for the UK market is similar to what we get on our
Malaysian-spec D-Max
, as such it gets the new front and rear bumpers, projector headlamps with LED daytime running lights and chrome front grille. Thanks to the revised front end and the slightly reshaped roof, it now channels airflow to the tailgate more efficiently. As a result, the D-Max sees a
0.4 percent reduction in drag
 compared to the old model. This improves the overall fuel economy and NVH levels.

INTERIOR
Inside, the cabin is identical to what we have on our local-spec D-Max with the addition of a different leather seat design and 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
PERFORMANCE
Here comes the meat of the updated D-Max. Isuzu’s workhorse is now powered by a sole 1.9-litre turbodiesel capable of producing
162 hp
 and
360 Nm
 of torque mated to a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. This new powertrain combination also adds to weight savings of anywhere between 26 kg to
154 kg
!
Additionally, the new engine meets strict
Euro 6
 emission standards without having to add AdBlue – a type of exhaust fumes treatment – yet it remains capable of 3.5 tonne towing capacity and one tonne payload. Fuel consumption has also improved by 4.4 percent to
22.5 percent
 (variant dependant) as compared to the old engines.
SAFETY
As standard, the D-Max comes with six airbags, ABS with EBD and ESC. The D-Max also comes with a reengineered front bumper and bonnet that better absorb impact energy in the event of a collision; thanks to the smaller engine that creates extra distance between the bonnet and engine which acts as additional crumple zone.
Prices in the UK for the Isuzu D-Max starts from £18,841.80 (RM104k) to £33,541.80 (RM185k). Locally, our similarly spec-ed D-Max retails at RM83k to RM128k hence kudos to Isuzu Malaysia. Now all it needs is that new engine.
IMAGE GALLERY


Mercedes-Benz GLA named the Most Beautiful Car of 2021

Recently launched in Malaysia, the
all-new Mercedes-Benz GLA
 has emerged as the
Most Beautiful Car of 2021
 at the Festival Automobile International in Paris, France.
Out of nearly 100,000 online votes from the public, the Mercedes-Benz GLA was chosen out of six finalists including the Honda e, Skoda Enyaq VI, Opel Mokka-e, Mazda MX-30. Last year’s winner was the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, now in Malaysia as the 218i M Sport.
Last year’s winner of the Most Beautiful Car award, the 2 Series Gran Coupe.
The other awards are as follow:
Most Beautiful Showcar –
Audi Q4 E-tron Sportback
Most Beautiful Concept Car –
DS Aero Sport Lounge
Most Beautiful Futuristic Car –
Mercedes Vision AVTR
Most Beautiful Supercar –
Maserati MC20
Most Beautiful Hypercar –
Bugatti Bolide
Most Beautiful Interior –
Honda e

There were also awards for the niche aspects of the auto industry too; like the
Grand Prize of Advertising
 for example, which recognises the most creative video that in terms of aesthetics or originality. The award was presented to Porsche for their work on
“The Heist”
video featuring the all-electric Taycan.
The Taycan RWD is
now in Malaysia
!
The 36th edition of the annual event also recognised individuals for their work on the drawing board with the Grand Prize of Design award. It was presented to Sang Yup Lee, the Head of Design at Hyundai Global Design Centre and Senior VP at Hyundai Motor Company, for the creation of the
Prophecy Concept
.
The Mercedes-Benz GLA is
available in Malaysia
 as the GLA 200 priced at RM244,199.82 and GLA 250 at RM285,336.66.
Under the hood of the
GLA 200
 is a 1.3-litre turbocharged engine with 163 hp and 250 Nm and is paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. As for the
GLA 250
, it gets a more powerful 2.0-litre engine with 224 hp and 350 Nm, alongside an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. Both the 200 and 250 are front-wheel drive.
GALLERY
Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 AMG Line
Mercedes-Benz GLA 200 Progressive Line


BMW Malaysia spruces up the X7 xDrive40i with new M Sport variant – RM729k

BMW Malaysia has unveiled a new variant for the locally-assembled X7 xDrive40i, equipped with the additional M Sport package for a sportier appearance. The new BMW X7 xDrive40i M Sport is priced at
RM 728,800
 (on-the-road, without insurance, and inclusive of the five-year warranty and service package), making it RM20,000 more than the existing
 Pure Excellence
 offering.
The new M Sport variant differentiates itself with the addition of the M Aerodynamics package as standard, which includes the more aggressive bumpers and side skirts, alongside a set of 22-inch Style 758 M Alloy wheels, M Sport brake, as well as aluminium exterior trims.
Inside, the BMW X7 xDrive40i M Sport also adds the variant-specific M Sport leather steering wheel, while the new fineline black wooden trims on the dashboard replaces the high-gloss style on the Pure Excellence.
RELATED:
2022 BMW X7 facelift’s new split headlights might be even more divisive than the kidney grille
Aside from these, the rest of the variant’s standard equipment remains unchanged, including the BMW Laserlight system, panoramic glass roof, soft-close doors, “CraftedClarity” glass trims on the interior, Harman Kardon 16-speaker surround sound system, as well as the BMW Live Cockpit Professional screens running BMW’s iDrive 8.0 operating system.
It’ll also still come with the full suite of BMW’s advanced driver assistance features,
no subscription required
. These include the Driving Assistant adaptive cruise control system, alongside the Parking Assistant Plus system that also features a 360-degree surround-view monitor.
Power continues to come from a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six engine underneath the bonnet, providing up to
340 hp
 and
450 Nm
 of torque. The TwinScroll turbo mill is paired to an eight-speed Steptronic Sports automatic transmission to send drive to all four wheels, achieving a 0-100 km/h time of
6.1 seconds
.
The BMW X7 xDrive40i M Sport is available in four exterior colours, including Black Sapphire, Mineral White, Manhattan Metallic, and Arctic Grey Brilliant Effect, the latter exclusive to the new variant. Inside, customers can choose between cognac, coffee, or black for the Vernasca leather upholstery.
ALSO READ:
BMW X7 xDrive40i CKD launched from RM649k
With BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia’s Easy Drive Financing Plan, the new BMW X7 xDrive40i M Sport can be owned with a monthly instalment plan starting from RM8,800 (based on estimates of an 80% loan on a five-year tenure).


Gallery: Kia EV6 GT Line AWD – 506 km range EV from RM301k

Launched in Malaysia in June this year, the
Kia EV6

GT Line AWD
 turns heads wherever it goes, thanks to its rather unique styling. Selling at a price of
RM300,668
, it is only offered in one variant and shares the same underpinnings with the Hyundai Ioniq 5.
Designed with the brand’s ‘Opposites United’ philosophy, the EV6 combines sharp stylistic elements with smooth and sculptural shapes. A ‘Digital Tiger Face’ adorns its front end, and the side profile features a crossover-inspired aesthetic.
Measuring 4,695 mm long, 1,890 mm wide (excluding side mirrors), and 1,550 mm wide, the Kia EV6 is bigger than it looks in the pictures. Standard exterior equipment on the Kia EV6 GT Line includes dual LED projector headlights with LED daytime-running lights, 20-inch alloy wheels, a Smart powered tailgate, and Smart keyless entry.
ALSO WATCH:
Kia EV6 GT Line AWD launched in Malaysia, 5 Things
Powering the Kia EV6 are two electric motors that provide an all-wheel drive system. Combined, the electric powertrain, makes
320 hp
(metric) and
605 Nm
, launching the car from 0 to 100 km/h in
5.2 seconds
. Storing power in the Kia EV6 is a
77.4-kWh
 battery pack that provides
506 km
 of range (WLTP).
RELATED:
2022 Kia EV6 GT Line AWD open for booking in Malaysia, from RM300k
Recharging the Kia EV6 can be done with a maximum AC charging rate of
11 kW
 and a maximum DC fast charging rate of 350 kW. With 11-kW AC charging, the EV6 recharges from 10% to 100% in
7 hours and 20 minutes
. With
150-kW
 DC Fast charging, the EV6 charges from 10% to 80% in just
18 minutes
. As you may already know by now, the Kia EV6 also supports the vehicle-to-load (V2L) function at a rate of
3.6 kW
.
RELATED:
Malaysia-bound Volvo C40, Kia EV6, and all-new C-Class score five stars in Euro NCAP
Inside, the Kia EV6 boasts a cabin space “similar to many mid-size SUVs”. Highlights in the cabin include a curved display panel that consists of a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, dual-zone automatic climate control, a wireless charging pad, a 14-speaker Meridian surround sound system, and powered front seats with relaxation mode.
RELATED:
Kia EV6 named 2022 European Car of the Year
As for safety, the all-electric Kia EV6 is offered with a full suite of advanced driver assistance technology that includes Autonomous emergency braking (forward, junction blind-spot, and rear-cross traffic), Smart Cruise Control (L2 semi-autonomous), Lane following and keeping assist, Blind-spot monitor, Driver attention warning, and Remote Smart Parking Assist.
Included in the price of the Kia EV6 are a five-year/150,000 km vehicle warranty and a seven-year/150,000 km lithium-ion battery warranty. The Kia EV6 is fully imported (CBU) from Korea and is offered in one trim only for Malaysia.
RELATED:
Kia EV6 GT goes head-to-head with ICE sports cars in a six-car drag race!
GALLERY


Volvo Car Malaysia appoints Sime Darby Swedish Auto as dealer-partner

Volvo Car Malaysia has just announced the appointment of Sime Darby Swedish Auto Sdn. Bhd., a subsidiary of Sime Darby Berhad, as its latest dealer-partner.
This appointment comes as Volvo Car Malaysia aggressively expands its dealership network across the nation, in line with the second phase of the brand’s transformation plan.
Volvo Car Malaysia Managing Director Nalin Jain said, “We are committed in the expansion of our dealership network to allow our customers a greater range of showrooms and service centres to choose from, in line with our effort to deliver the best customer journey within the premium automotive segment.”
The new outlet will also be carrying Volvo’s signature Swedish-inspired design.
Volvo joins a line up of seven other brands under Sime Darby Motors. Volvo Car Malaysia believes that with their strong background in the premium automotive segment, Sime Darby Swedish Auto has the potential to deliver the brand’s vision for the market.
Sime Darby Swedish Auto has selected Ara Damansara to host their 3S (sales, service and spare parts) centre, and the retail outlet will be operational in the coming months.


Toyota has developed a new system to compensate for our incompetence

It’s still baffling how people can actually step on the wrong pedal and hard no less, but hey, guess we’re nobody to judge but Toyota’s got a solution.
Well, it’s more like an “enhanced safety net” rather than a solution cause a solution would be
to eliminate this phenomenon entirely
 – of reversing into our kids, our pets,
or even off a multi-storey parking lot
.
It’s called the
Acceleration Suppression Function
 and unlike current systems which only work when sensors detect obstacles such as other cars or walls, this one is rather different. The newly developed function aims to control acceleration due to “abnormal operation of the accelerator” even when no obstacles are present.
When developing the new system, Toyota analysed big data collected from other connected vehicles to determine instances when the driver genuinely intended to step on the throttle and instances where it was accidental.
With this, it has allowed them to identify and compute when the accelerator has been operated abnormally before allowing the system to kick in. With that, they’ve even come up with a function to control acceleration even in the absence of obstacles.
This function will be available in new cars through the Toyota Safety Sense driver assistance system while older models can be retrofitted with it. Toyota also plans to share the operational logic of this function extensively, including with other auto makers.
IMAGE GALLERY


Automated Enforcement System (AES) aptly rebranded as AWAS

The entire Automated Enforcement System (AES) fiasco has been controversial since its introduction in September 2012. Despite
being labeled as useless
, it’s given a revamp and a new name along with it.
From this point onwards, the AES will be known as the Awareness Automated Safety System or AWAS. Like before, several cameras positioned along major highways and accident-prone areas will continue snapping speed offenders. AWAS will not blacklist offenders, but it has reportedly caught and issued over RM500 million worth of traffic summonses, with many of them unpaid.
[Source: The News Straits Times, The Malaysian Insider]


Upcoming Volvo EX90 EV will come with LiDAR as standard, to be unveiled on 9 November

Volvo’s
upcoming fully electric vehicle
, which will take the guise of a 90-series SUV, is not quite ready for prime time yet. The official reveal date for the car is set for
9 November
, but the Swedish carmaker did at least confirm its name during yesterday’s safety keynote: Volvo EX90.
Volvo Concept Recharge previews the upcoming EX90 electric SUV.
Taking over the
XC90
 as the marque’s flagship SUV model, the EX90 will also be “safest Volvo car to ever hit the road”, thanks to the addition of several new sensors as standard, including a roof-mounted long-range LiDAR, as well as in-car sensors that can detect if the driver is distracted or intoxicated.
The new sensors are part of what Volvo calls “one of the most advanced sensor sets on the market”, which also includes including eight cameras, five radars, and 16 ultrasonic sensors. By combining the advanced sensors with in-house developed software and the car’s core computing power, Volvo says the EX90 is able to keep track of more potential hazards than ever before, both on the outside and inside.
ALSO READ:
Volvo is planning to add a LiDAR “hood scoop” on its future cars
LiDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing method that uses pulsed laser beams to measure ranges with high precision and fidelity. The new sensor – which Elon Musk infamously hates – will be a key ingredient to enabling Volvo’s upcoming SAE Level 3 autonomous driving system,
Ride Pilot
.
While not a new technology, LiDAR has not been regularly implemented on production vehicles due to the sensor’s (traditionally) large size and high cost, costing as much as USD75,000 (approx. RM342k) each. However, it seems Volvo’s LiDAR partner,
 Luminar
, has mostly solved the two main issues, with the company previously saying it hopes to price its sensors at just USD1,000 (approx. RM4,557) a pop, and eventually bringing it down to USD500 (approx. RM2,279).
Volvo says the addition of the LiDAR sensor can help reduce accidents with severe outcomes by up to 20%, and improve the car’s overall crash avoidance by up to 9%, based on its recent research.
Resembling a small roof scoop on the EX90, Volvo says the new LiDAR sensor can detect pedestrians at up to 250m distances, or something “as small and dark as a tire on a black road” 120 metres ahead – all this while travelling at highway speeds, no matter day or night.
RELATED:
Volvo aims to become an all-electric carmaker within 20 years
As for the interior, Volvo is using a set of special sensors and a pair of cameras to gauge the drivers’ eye gaze concentration. The technology will see when the driver is distracted, tired, or otherwise inattentive, and will utilise several methods to bring the driver’s attention back onto the roads.
However, if the driver continues to be unresponsive, the EX90 is also designed to safely stop the car, and automatically call for help.
“Our research shows that by simply observing where the driver is looking and how often and for how long their eyes are closed, we can tell a lot about the state of the driver,” said Volvo Cars Safety Centre Senior Technical Expert, Emma Tivesten.
“By basing its calculations on our research findings, the sensing system allows our cars to identify whether the driver’s ability is impaired, perhaps due to drowsiness, distraction or other causes for inattention and to offer extra assistance in a way that best suits the situation.”
The new safety additions are all part of Volvo’s target of zero deaths and serious injuries in new Volvo cars. The Volvo EX90 will also help lead the charge in the marque’s goal of becoming a
fully-electric carmaker by 2030.


Mazda owners are now eligible for 15% off Mazda Genuine spare parts, here’s how

Mazda owners are now eligible for discounts on the maintenance of their vehicles with the newly launched Mazda Privilege Card by Bermaz Motor – the first of its kind in the industry.
Introduced as an extension to the Mazda Peaceful Ownership Program, the card offers
15% off on Mazda Genuine Spare Parts
,
5% off on labour costs
 and
15% off on Mazda official merchandises
.
By applying for the card (applicable to new and current Mazda owners) at any Showrooms or Aftersales Service Centres operated by Bermaz Motor Trading Sdn Bhd and Prima Merdu Sdn Bhd, you’d also be helping the less fortunate through the Mazda Medicare Fund.
Sign-up fee for the Privilege Card is
RM 100
 which will be
valid for three years
. If the car is sold within that duration, the new owner would have to apply for a new card.
The sign-up fee can
serve as a tax-exempted donation
 to the Mazda Medicare Fund in the name of the applicant. The Mazda Medicare Fund established in 2014 has raised close to RM 1 million to assist charity homes, dialysis patients, and a non-profit hospital.
Cardholders will also be rewarded with
rebates on aftersales services
 required beyond Bermaz’s 5-Years Manufacturing Warranty and 3-Years Free Maintenance package.
For more information on the Mazda Privilege Card and a list of participating outlets please visit
www.mazda.com.my
.


There’s now a fake exhaust to make fake noises for electric cars

Made by UK-based exhaust manufacturer, Milltek Sport, the
Active Sound Generator
 is available either as a single or dual sound generator, for those who want some rumble to go with the silent performance of electric cars.
The Active Sound Generator system enables a user to control and select the exhaust sound of their liking to compensate the deafening silence of electric cars. The different sounds and volumes can be controlled via Milltek’s own app, which is compatible with iPhones and Android smartphones.
The system can emit “hyper-realistic” sounds, according to Milltek, that correspond with the vehicle’s speed and throttle position. The system also includes a fake exhaust with a built-in speaker that emits fake exhaust noises that can vary according to the user’s preference.

While it may just be an aftermarket accessory of sorts for now, if applied onto mass produced vehicles, specifically electric vehicles, should further compel the current generation to make the transition from internal combustion engines. It’ll no doubt draw the attention of the next generation of buyers too.
Furthermore, aural pleasure aside, it should also make electric cars safer for pedestrians, especially the visually-impaired, as they’ve been the most vulnerable to the silence of electric cars.


New Maserati convertible to be called ‘MC20 Cielo’

As we have
shared in December 2021
, Maserati is preparing to welcome its latest offspring; a convertible variant of the
MC20 flagship

sportscar
 launched in 2020.
Before its global launch on the 25th of May 2022, Maserati has jumped the gun to reveal the name of its new convertible called the ‘MC20 Cielo’. As you may have read, MC stands for ‘Maserati Corse’ which means ‘racing’, while 20 refers to ‘2020’, the year that sparked a new era for Maserati beginning with the MC20 coupe.
As for Cielo, it means ‘sky’ in Italian and according to Maserati, it’s a model devoted to driving pleasure in the great outdoors while maintaining all the pleasures of a true sports car.
RELATED:
Check out David Beckham’s Maserati MC20 that he designed himself
Like the coupe, the new Cielo is developed at the Maserati Innovation Lab in Modena and manufactured at the Viale Ciro Menotti plant as is the coupe.
While it may look rather similar to the design of the coupe, teaser images shown before indicates that the A-pillars and roofline of the MC20 Cielo could be redesigned. Maserati says the body of the MC20 Cielo is also made of carbon fibre composite.
Engine specifications were not revealed but it’s safe to assume that the Cielo will be powered by the same 3.0-litre twin-turbo engine that powers the MC20 coupe, with 630 hp and 730 Nm.
GALLERY


Geely donates medical supplies to Malaysian Government in fight against COVID-19

Geely Holding Group, through their local partner DRB-HICOM, is lending a helping hand to the Malaysian Government in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic with a medical aid donation.
The donation consists of disposable 3-ply surgical masks, medical personal protective equipment (PPE), and PL 700 ADV ventilators, and is estimated to be
worth approximately RM5.5 million
. The medical supplies will be distributed to
55 hospitals around the country
, as earmarked by the Ministry of Health (MOH).
The timely donation is part of a larger initiative by Geely Holding to supply medical equipment via the Li Shufu Charity Foundation – a charity body established by Geely founder Li Shufu in 2006 with a focus on poverty alleviation and helping with national disasters.
Li Shufu Charity Foundation has pledged a total of RMB200 million (RM122 million) to help local healthcare providers and communities located at affected areas in China, and in countries where it has significant international operations in their fight against COVID-19.
Currently serving as Geely Holding Chairman, Li Shufu said, “As a socially responsible company, we have a duty to support the well-being of every market in which we operate. I am proud that we have the resources and logistics capability to ship vital supplies to areas hard-hit by this global pandemic.
“We will play our part, whenever possible, to lend support to communities and medical authorities to overcome this global challenge,” he added.
Geely and DRB-HICOM jointly own and operate the national carmaker, Proton. In addition to the medical supplies received from China, Proton has also contributed to the fight by loaning
50 units of X70 to the MOH
 to assist in their logistical operations.
Proton also
 manufactured and delivered 60,000 face shields
 to 46 hospitals around the country, ahead of its original schedule. The company aims to produce another 60,000 face shields in just five days to step up their assistance in the fight against the pandemic.
Meanwhile, DRB-HICOM along with other subsidiaries under its parent company, the Albukhary Group, contributed cash donations, medical equipment, meals for government hospitals, media front liners and university students, as well as long-range drones for monitoring and surveillance purposes.
Proton Chairman, Dato’ Sri Syed Faisal Albar, said, “As a key contributor to the nation’s economy, we felt compelled to assist the government in its battle against the spread of COVID-19.
“The front liners form the country’s backbone in this fight, and it is essential for us to assist them in any way possible. We are especially fortunate to have a partner like Geely who has been extremely generous in leveraging their resources to make this happen.”


Fuel Price: Ron95, Ron 97 & Diesel up by 10 sen at midnight June 1

As clock strikes 12.01 am on
June 1, 2015
, prices of
Ron95
 &
Ron97
 Petrol and diesel are going up by RM0.10.
KPDNKK via thier
Facebook page
 announced the fuel
price hike
 for the aforementioned commodities. Prices are up
10 cents
 to from RM1.95 to
Rm 2.05
 for Ron95 petrol and Diesel. Whereas the price of
Ron97
 is up 10 cents as well from RM2.25 to
Rm 2.35
 (inclusive of 6% GST).


Ferrari SF90 Stradale plug-in hybrid is faster than the LaFerrari around Fiorano

The prancing horse is
welcoming a new chapter in its history with the introduction of the brand’s
first ever plug-in hybrid and all-wheel-drive model, the Ferrari SF90 Stradale.
Let’s get down to the technical bits first because we know what you’re thinking, a PHEV from Ferrari?? In view of tightening emission standards, this is Ferrari’s way of reducing its overall emissions and the most
straightforward
way is electrification.
What do you think of how it looks?
With the outstanding performance of the
LaFerrari
, you can trust that the engineers at Maranello know a thing or two about hybrid systems. The
award-winning 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8
 is tuned to develop
780 hp
 and
800 Nm
 to drive the rear wheels via a new 8-speed dual clutch transmission.
The V8 is supported with three electric motors – one at the rear and 2 at the front axle, effectively giving the SF90 Stradale all-wheel-drive capabilities. Combined, the electric motors generate additional 220 hp giving the new mid-engine supercar a
system output
 of
1,000 hp
.
More focused SF90 Stradale Assetto Fiorano
Century sprint is dispatched in
2.5 seconds
and 0 to 200 km/h is done in a mild numbing
6.7 seconds
 while top speed is capped at
340 km/h
. The SF90 Stradale is also the fastest Ferrari to go around Fiorano circuit at 1:19.00, just a fraction of a second quicker than the LaF’s 1:19.7 lap time. Hybrid assistance doesn’t sound too shabby now eh.
On top of the Manettino switch which sets the vehicle dynamics, there is an eManettino button on the left side of the steering wheel which toggles the hybrid system into 4 different drive modes –
eDrive
for pure electric drive mode (up to 25 km on full charge),
Hybrid
for maximum efficiency,
Performance
for balance between performance and battery charge and
Qualify
for all-out lap times.
The electric motors drive the front-wheels in EV mode, making this a FWD Ferrari
The SF90 Stradale has to lug around
270 kg
worth of hybrid system and battery pack, but the engineers have managed to keep the cars overall weight to 1,570 kg (with lightweight options) which is around 100 kg more than a 488GTB.
However, to have the SF90 Stradale in its lightest configuration, customers will have to opt for the Assetto Fiorano version which is the sports-oriented specification. The Assetto Fiorano specification bags you GT racing-derived Multimatic shock absorbers, carbon fibre exterior pack, carbon fibre rear spoiler which generates 390 kg of downforce at 250 km/h, titanium exhaust and specific Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2 rubbers.
Also making a first appearance
on a Ferrari is a fully digital instrument cluster, a 16-inch HD screen which curves
towards the driver making it easier to read and give off an F1-style
wrap-around cockpit effect. The buttons on the steering wheel have also been restyled
with new touch controls, rotary cruise control knob and engine start/stop
button on the centre spoke.
IMAGE GALLERY
Ferrari SF90 Stradale Debut


Nissan Fairlady Z Proto makes appearance with older siblings in official video

After
revealing most of the car last September
, Nissan has the new Fairlady Z to stage again at the “Fairlady Z Protoype Special Talk Show” at Nissan’s headquarters in Yokohama.

At the event, Mr. Shinichiro Irie, Program Design Director highlighted a few key features of the new Z and the inspiration behind them.
If we understood the translated article correctly, initial intentions were for the new Fairlady Z to feature round headlamps, just like the original car.
Instead, they opted for a
teardrop-shaped design
 for better light distribution but complemented it with a double arch effect with the daytime running lights to project a circle.
On the side of the car is a
silver trim that runs along the sloping roof of the new Fairlady Z
, with a sharp finish at the bottom of the C-pillar. The minimalist design detail is to mimic the design of a Katana, a Japanese sword.
The rear fenders were inspired by “athletes who train the inner muscle” according to
car.watch.impress.co.jp
. It was moulded out of clay by a 40-year veteran at the company, one they refer to as a Takumi. Takumis are master craftsmen who’ve repeatedly honed his or her craft for decades.
Old school influences in the new Z also includes the
triple gauge display at the centre of the dashboard
– a tribute to the original car. The stacked oval shapes seen on the air-con vents, the front grille, and more prominently on the tail lights were inspired by the Fairlady 300ZX from the 1990s.

So far, not much else has been revealed of the new Fairlady Z although it looks certain to house a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6 with 400 hp and 500 Nm. Even more exciting is that it will come with a 6-speed manual transmission as standard, with the option for an automatic.


UMW Toyota facing difficult times due to poor consumer sentiment and weak ringgit

It’s certainly not a bed of roses for UMW Holdings Bhd this year, especially not after losing their coveted number one spot in the non-national automotive segment and recording lower year-to-date revenues (RM2.60 bil in 2015, compared to RM2.64 bil in 2014; by end of Q3), according to a report by
The Star
.
UMW Holdings attributed the lower revenue to stiff competition from other players in the market and admitted to suffering from ‘weak consumer sentiment’. The weakening ringgit also played a major role here, as have higher campaign and promotion expenses. To mitigate this, UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd have announced that
beginning January 2016
,
both Toyota and Lexus cars will see a slight hike across both model ranges.

An analyst from a bank-backed brokerage revealed that the ringgit’s poor performance will have a huge impact on UMW Holdings Bhd and Tan Chong Motors Holdings Bhd in 2016. He said, “These players have rather high-denominated US dollar costs, primarily because of the import of CBU vehicles, CKD kits and other parts and components that squeeze margins.”
On the flip side, analysts are optimistic on the outlook for Berjaya Auto Bhd which distributes Mazda vehicles. During a press conference at the
launching of the new Mazda CX-3
, Berjaya Auto’s CEO, Datuk Seri Ben Yeoh said
prices for Mazda vehicles will not increase
 because the company trades in Yen which has been stable against the ringgit. The monetary stimulus implemented by the Bank of Japan also helped the yen to stay soft.
Meanwhile,
Proton revealed that pricing for all their cars will go up beginning January 2016
. Honda too, have said that their cars will cost between 2 to 3 percent more next year, compared to Toyota’s 4 to 16 percent.


The new DS 3 Crossback has flushed door handles just like the Velar

The DS 3 Crossback officially replaced the DS
3 hatchback when it was unveiled at the 2018 Paris Motor Show, catering to the
growing worldwide trend and appetite for SUVs.
It is the first model to ride on Groupe PSA’s
new Common Modular Platform (CMP) that underpins entry-level compact cars with
an internal combustion engine or battery powered systems. The DS 3 Crossback
measures 4,118 mm long, 1,790 mm wide and 1,535 mm tall with a wheelbase of
2,558 mm which is roughly the same size as a Peugeot 2008.
One of the selling point of the DS 3 Crossback
– or all DS models for that matter – is its distinctive sculptural styling and
futuristic cockpit. You’ll find a honeycomb hexagonal front grille, Matrix LED
headlamps, 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels, two-tone paintwork, a unique kink on
the rear doors, slim LED taillamps, large dual exhaust outlets on petrol powered
models and more. But the party piece of the Crossback would be the retractable
flushed door handles.
With the Proximity Keyless Entry and Start,
the door handles will be deployed and unlocked when the keys are within a
radius of 1.5 meters. Similarly, the door handles retract and locked automatically
as the passengers walk away from the car. As the car pulls away at 10 km/h, the
door handles retract to give the car its sleek and aerodynamic profile.

Inside, the DS 3 Crossback can be had with a
combination of different materials from Black Nappa Leather to white upholstery.
On top grade models you’ll find 10.0-inch HD touchscreen unit, Heads-Up Display,
wireless charging, frameless electrochromic rear-view mirror and DS Sensorial
Drive mode selector.
Safety features such as emergency braking system, Lane Keeping Assist, Active Blind Spot detection, Active Cruise Control with Stop and Go Function, speed limit recognition and recommendation that allows
semi-autonomous driving
 at speeds between 64 km/h to 177 km/h are only available in top grade models.
There are two engine options available in Europe – a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder PureTech petrol and a 1.5-litre BlueHDi turbodiesel. The 1.2-litre PureTech is tuned to provide
101 hp
/
205 Nm
,
131 hp
/
230 Nm
 and
155 hp
/
240 Nm
 while the 1.5-litre BlueHDi mill churns out
102 hp
/
250 Nm
.
The entry-level PureTech and BlueHDi mills are mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission while the rest gets an 8-speed automatic instead.
IMAGE GALLERY
DS 3 Crossback


Porsche once experimented with a weird Cayenne Convertible

Convertible SUVs are weird, and most examples of it have turned out… pretty bad – just take a look at the
Range Rover Evoque Convertible
. Fortunately these odd mishmashes don’t come about very often, but even Porsche once experimented with a Cayenne Convertible concept, which we can only describe as grotesque, sorry.
The open-air
Cayenne
 was one of three possible spin-offs that Porsche considered shortly after the launch of the original five-door SUV back in 2002, alongside a seven-seater and a coupe version – the latter nearly 20 years before the current
Cayenne Coupe
 joined the line-up in 2019.
Despite being the most unconventional concept among the three, the convertible Cayenne actually “surprisingly” made it much further than the other two in the conceptualising process, with a single Package Function Model (PFM) actually built, and still being kept in storage at the Porsche Museum.
Revealed as part of the 20th anniversary celebrations for the original Cayenne, the PFM model was made for designers to assess the concept’s viability as an actual vehicle, physically testing for things such as ingress and egress, headroom, seating position, and other small details that are usually difficult to tell on paper.
RELATED:
First made-in-Malaysia Porsche Cayenne rolls out of new Kulim CKD assembly plant
It’s not meant to be driven, and thus it doesn’t have a functioning powertrain underneath the bodyshell, nor the necessary body-stiffening measures needed for a convertible. It does, however, give us a good look at what the designers had in mind for the Cayenne Convertible, including the two separate rear-end designs as they themselves can’t decide how it should look.
The tone of the press release also shows that Porsche wasn’t too fond of the idea. Aside from it looking like… that, the company also had doubts about its profitability.
ALSO READ:
Volkswagen raises the roof with the T-Roc Cabriolet
“An SUV as a convertible is a challenge both aesthetically and formally,” says Porsche’s current chief designer, Michael Mauer, while looking at the concept today. “An SUV always has a large and heavy body. You combine this with a small top half and then cut off the roof – you get very strange shapes emerging from that.”
Luckily, the Cayenne Convertible wasn’t a complete waste of time for Porsche. Although the project (fortunately) did not reach production, it did at least give Porsche a new roof-folding mechanism design that was eventually adopted onto the 991-generation
 911 Targa
.
GALLERY


New Passion Red and more on improved 2021 Perodua Aruz, same RM68,526 price

Perodua has updated the Aruz seven-seat SUV with some useful features and no change to the price.
Both variants now get
side steps
 to ease ingress and egress, plus
automatic door-locking
 above 20 km/h (doors will automatically unlock in the event of a collision). A new
Passion Red
 colour (exclusive to the AV variant) joins the existing palette of Granite Grey, Electric Blue, Glittering Silver and the only non-metallic Ivory White.
“With well over
60,000
 units sold since its
2019 birth
, the Perodua Aruz was already the nation’s
best-selling SUV
 in 2019 and 2020, but, true to the principles of
Kaizen
 (continuous improvement), we believe there are always ways we can make our products incrementally better.

“This incremental adaptation of the Aruz is in line with the Perodua Smart Build blueprint; another example of our symbiotic collaboration with our suppliers to customise our products to better suit Malaysian needs and wants, and through this, developing further the capabilities of our suppliers towards true self-reliance,” he added.
The heart of the Aruz is a 1.5-litre 2NR-VE engine, the same unit you’d find in the new
Perodua Myvi
 and the Aruz’s stepbrother, the
Toyota Rush
, but makes slightly less power with
102 hp
 and
133 Nm
 of torque. The fuel-efficient Dual VVT-i unit with idling start-stop feature is paired to a
 four-speed automatic
 transmission and drive the rear wheels.
Standard features include LED headlamps, 17-inch alloy wheels, a reverse camera, keyless entry, power folding door mirrors and roof-mounted rear air-conditioning vents.
The key difference in the higher-specification AV variant is the
Advanced Safety Assist (ASA) 2.0 system
 which includes Pre-Collision Warning (between 4 km/h to 100 km/h) and Pre-Collision Braking (4 km/h to 80 km/h) with pedestrian detection (4 km/h to 50 km/h), front departure alert and pedal misoperation control.
Other niceties are leather upholstery, Android-smartphone mirrorlink connectivity and front fog lamps.
The Perodua Aruz is available in two variants – 1.5 X at
RM 68,526
 and the 1.5 AV at
RM 73,226
 – attached with a 5-year/150,000 km warranty (whichever comes first). The Perodua Aruz commenced its first international export last month, with our neighbours down south being the first to receive it.
Thanks to their multi-tier taxation system plus a right to vehicle ownership called Certificate of Entitlement (COE), the Aruz 1.5X is priced at
SGD92,999
 (approx RM286,400) in Singapore.
A quick check at the Toyota Malaysia
website
 also shows the Rush adopting the same colour palette but sans side step.


Great Wall Motor to return to Malaysia in 2022 with Haval and Ora

Great Wall Motor (GWM) has reaffirmed its commitment to the ASEAN region, with the announcement of its plans to expand into four new markets this year, including Malaysia.
The return to the Malaysia market was announced by GWM ASEAN and Thailand president, Elliot Zhang, as part of his 2022 outlook briefing during GMW Thailand’s Brand Day 2022 event this week, celebrating the marque’s successful first year in the Land of Smiles.
“Great Wall Motor will utilise its foothold in Thailand to further expand towards the entire ASEAN region. This year, we plan to launch GWM in four more countries, namely Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, and Singapore,” Zhang said during the presentation. The brand is currently present in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Brunei.
RELATED: The Ora Good Cat starts purring in Thailand, up to 500 km range
Haval H6
The return of the brand in Malaysia will likely be headlined by three models: Haval Jolion and H6, as well as the
Ora Good Cat EV
 – all three have been previously sighted in Malaysia in one form or another.
All three models will likely be sold as CBU units here in Malaysia, built in GWM’s recently-acquired manufacturing plant in Rayong, Thailand. The company also said that they are continuously investing in the plant, which will serve as the production hub for the ASEAN market.
Haval Jolion
The Haval Jolion and H6 were both launched in Thailand in 2021. The former is a B-segment SUV competing with the likes of the
Honda HR-V
 and
Toyota Corolla Cross
, and is sold exclusively in the country as a hybrid model with a combined output of
190 hp
and
375 Nm
.
The Haval H6 SUV meanwhile has since become one of the best-selling models in the C-SUV segment in Thailand during the last few months of the year, even out-performing the
Honda CR-V
. Just like the Jolion, it’s also only available with a 1.5-litre hybrid powertrain that makes a total of
243 hp
 and
530 Nm
.
Ora Good Cat
The Ora Good Cat meanwhile is a fully-electric model hatchback offering
143 hp
 and
210 Nm
 of torque, and up to a 63.1-kWh battery pack for a driving range of roughly 500 km.
All three models are likely to be distributed by GWM’s existing partner Go Auto, who recently teased several new models under the GWM umbrella on its social media channels.
Aside from its regional expansion plans, GWM also announced that they will be adding 5 more new models to its line-up in Thailand. They should all include electrification of some sort, especially since the company is investing heavily into EV infrastructures in the company, with up to 55 charging stations nationwide planned by the end of 2022.
According to GWM Thailand Managing Director Narong Sritalayon, Thailand’s total annual car sales is forecasted to reach 850,000 units in 2022, of which roughly 94,000 (11.4%) is expected to be electrified models, more than double the amount sold last year.


BMW X5 and X6 M Competition facelift debut – new MHEV V8 powertrain, 625hp, 750Nm

Following the debut of the facelifted
BMW X5
 and
X6
, BMW has now unveiled both the BMW X5 M Competition and BMW X6 M Competition. Following the non-M versions of the X5 and X6, the M Competition versions of both cars have also become electrified only, now with a 48 V mild hybrid (MHEV) system with a V8 engine.
Being performance versions of both cars, let us get straight down to the performance enhancements. The X5 and X6 M Competition mark the debut of the 48V technology in the brand’s high performance models. Like other MHEV versions of the X5 and X6, the MHEV system adds on a 12-hp electric motor that has been integrated in the eight-speed Steptronic transmission.
Combined with a new 4.4-litre M TwinPower Turbo V8 engine, the MHEV powertrain generates a maximum output of
625 hp
 (metric) at 6,000 rpm and
750 Nm
 of torque at 1,800-5,800 rpm. The new V8 mill now features a reinforced crankshaft drive, further developed turbocharging, a new air intake duct, and an optimized oil supply system. With all new technology combined, both the X5 and X6 M Competition complete the century sprint in
3.9 seconds
.
Singing the tune of the V8 MHEV powertrain is a standard M Sport exhaust system with electrically controlled flaps. Just so you know, there’s also a new catalytic converter on the M Sport exhaust.
Besides the new engine, both the X5 and X6 M Competition are equipped with a new version of the eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic. There are three choices of shift settings and the new gearbox features a retuned setup and sharper shifting actions.
Further beefing up the performance of the X5 and X6 M Competition is a newly adapted version of the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system, which teams up with the Active M Differential at the rear axle. The M Setup menu lets the driver switch from the default 4WD setting to 4WD Sport mode, which makes it possible to execute controlled drifts by splitting power with a distinct rear-wheel bias.
As for suspension both M Competition cars are equipped with M suspension Professional as standard. The electronically controlled dampers have been reworked, and the system features active roll stabilization. BMW has also adjusted the toe-in values at the rear axle for greater poise at high speeds.
Other handling bits on the X5 and X6 M Competition include a modified application of the steering gear and M compound brakes. The M xDrive all-wheel drive (AWD) system and the Active M Differential now work in unison with near-actuator wheel slip limitation (the first time in the X5 and X6 M Competition), as opposed to just being interconnected with the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) module as before.
On the outside, the front end of the X5 and X6 M Competition cars mimic the large vertical grille of the M#/M4 without actually having a tall grille. Black gloss trims surrounding the grille extend into the front bumper and connect the upper grille with the lower grille, forming an ‘X’-shaped area.
Both models come as standard with 21-inch M light-alloy wheels at the front paired with 22-inch M light-alloy items at the rear. Forged M light-alloy wheels with the same dimensions are available as optional extras. They include a new variant in a Jet Black solid finish.
Building on the X5 and X6’s cabin, the M Competition models add on broad interior trim strip in Fineline Black fine wood with high-gloss metal effect, the ambient light bar with effective backlighting and the addition of an M logo to its graphic, plus the M leather steering wheel with its new carbon gearshift paddles. Also to be found on the standard equipment list are M multifunction seats, knee pads, fine-grain Merino full leather trim and the Harman Kardon Surround Sound System.


Hyundai Kona Electric confirmed for launch in Malaysia by end Nov. – starting under RM150k!

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors today confirmed that the Hyundai Kona Electric will make its Malaysian debut by the end of November, making it the first fully-electric model from the Korean brand to be officially launched on Malaysia soil.
The Hyundai Kona Electric will be offered in two variants – a long-range variant juiced by a 64 kWh battery, offering up to 484 km of driving range on a single charge (WLTP test cycle), and a smaller 39.2 kWh battery version with a driving range of 305 km.
No matter the battery size though, both variants will be powered by the same single electric motor set-up, offering a maximum power output of
204 hp
 and
395 Nm
 of immediate torque. Translating that to actual performance means a century sprint time of just 7.9 seconds.
The facelift Hyundai Kona Electric has already been spotted in Malaysia… at the most unlikely place! Check it out here.
Hyundai says that the lithium-ion polymer battery pack takes approximately 47 minutes to charge from 10 to 80% on both batteries using a 100 kW DC fast charger.
However, it can also charge at a pretty decent rate at home (via a dedicated wall box) or at public AC chargers, thanks to the on-board three-phase 11 kW AC charger – four hours and 20 minutes on the 39.2 kWh variant, and six hours 50 minutes on the larger 64 kWh battery.
The sportier Hyundai Kona N Line was also launched here in Malaysia back in June this year! Check it out here.
Design wise, the Kona Electric is based on the facelift Hyundai Kona that was launched here in Malaysia earlier this year, which means it gets the reworked headlights and tail lights, alongside new bumpers and wheel designs.
“With the newly announced import and excise duty exemptions, we envisage greater interest in EVs in Malaysia. The arrival of the Kona Electric is timely as it will provide more choice for consumers who want a more sustainable and greener ride option to help reduce carbon footprint,” commented HSDM Managing Director, Low Yuan Lung.
The new Hyundai Kona Electric is estimated to start under RM150,000 for the base model thanks to the
recently-announced tax exemptions for BEVs
, and is now available for booking via
 Hyundai’s online shopping platform
, Cl!ck to Buy, linked
 here
.


GTLM: BMW M6 GT3 racer comes to light, set to replace aging Z4 GT3

The BMW Z4 GT3’s days are numbered. The Munich giants have opted to bring in the M6 GT3 for the GT Le Mans class of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. The Z4 has had a good run but sadly it’s on its way out as the M6 bodied GT3 race car takes the helm at the 2016 championship season.
It is unclear as to why BMW has made the decision to replace the race car for the next season, but we can tell you what made the
 Z4 GT3
  go like a stabbed rat. The Z4 featured an aluminium
4.4-litre DOHC 32-valve V8 naturally aspirated
 engine that churns out a respectable
490 hp
 (fitted with the mandatory air restrictor that is) and
480 Nm
 of torque. All of that packed together in an aerodynamic package that tips the scale at
1,230 kg
 as per IMSA regulation.

The BMW M6 GT3 on the other hand comes with a
dry-sump
,
twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8
 M-TwinPower Turbo production mill that’s lifted straight from the
M6
. BMW themselves have reaffirmed that the engine will remain broadly
 unchanged
 and will kick out an excess of
 500 hp
 and wrapped up in a lightweight shell that tips the scale at just under
1,300 kg
. A heavy duty
six-speed sequential
 racing transmission channels all that power onto the wheels.
BMW’s engineers have worked tirelessly to ensure that M6 is track worthy, with
driver’s safety
 being the one of the more major issues to deal with. For that matter,
BMW Motorsport

developed
 and
produced
 the FIA-approved
safety cell
. As we’ve learned, safety in motorsport is something not be taken lightly, with the unfortunate demise of
Jules Bianchi
 as an example close to mind.
Bimmer has done well to retain the shape and enhance the design whilst keeping the spirit of the production car and then making it into a race car. As for the camo, BMW has yet to shed it off as the car is still in the late developmental stages before it debuts the next season.
IMAGE GALLERY


Utopian Road Trip: Eight days around the majestic roads of Iceland

Iceland – not to be mistaken for the northernmost island blanketed by ice and snow (that’s Greenland, by the way), but it’s widely considered as planet Earth’s utopia. If an alien were to ask me which place best represents the Third Rock, my answer would be Iceland.
Iceland is a small nordic country with a population of
330,000
, and is an envy to many nations. Surrounded by mother nature’s finest creation, it’s also one of the
happiest nations
 in the world. By looking at its breathtaking surroundings, you can see why famous singers such as Jonsi of Sigur Ros and Bjork can produce mesmerising music that tug the heartstrings. It’s also one of many popular tourist destinations, one that helped Iceland recover from the 2008 economic crisis.
Iceland and Malaysia are two drastically different countries, but they share one obvious trait: they have one of the highest levels of car ownership in the world. The entire island is home to innumerable valleys, waterfalls, volcanic zones, and snowy mountain passes, all of which are connected by Route 1, also known as the
Ring Road
. I was told that one of the best ways to experience Iceland is by going on a road trip on the Ring Road, to which I did on my honeymoon with the missus.
Together, our journey spanned over eight days and by the end of it, we had clocked over 2,000km on a rented car. The journey began from the capital city of Reykjavik in the South West of Iceland and traversed on a counter-clockwise direction of the Ring Road. Before turning the ignition key, here’s a little tip about driving in Iceland:
The island has
13,034 km
 of roads, but only
4,617 km
of them are paved. The rest are highland and dirt roads.
Driving is on the
right side of the road
, which means all cars are left-hand drive.
The speed limit is capped to 90km/h on paved roads and 80 km/h on gravel roads. Urban areas are restricted to 50km/h.
Icelandic traffic laws requires the front headlights to be
 turned on at all times
 while on the road.
Single lane bridges exist especially in rural areas. Whichever car nearest to the bridge has the right to cross the bridge while the opposing side waits. This idea will never work in Malaysia.
Driving offroad is
 illegal
 in Iceland, in order to preserve domestic vegetation.
Driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal in Iceland as well.
Parking is free in most areas except along certain city streets.
Renting a car is the most effective way to travel around the island. Rental car companies are everywhere near the airport and Reykjavik.
Despite the high ownership of cars, fatalities from road accidents are tremendously low.
Last year
 was the country’s worst record with 16 deaths. A year before, only four fatalities were recorded.
Our weapon of choice during the road trip was a
Dacia Duster
 crossover. Yes. Jokes aside, I initially opted for a C-segment hatchback for four (two humans, two oversized luggage). But fortunately, the friendly staff at the car rental upgraded my ride to this relatively strange-looking SUV, and I couldn’t be happier.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Dacia Duster dCi
Segment
B-Segment Compact Crossover
Engine
1,461cc; inline 4-cylinder SOHC Turbodiesel
Transmission
Six-speed manual
Max Power
 109 hp
Max Torque
 240 Nm
Price (OTR with

insurance)
Not Available in Malaysia
The Dacia brand is not available in Malaysia, probably because us brand-conscious Malaysians wouldn’t be attracted to a brand that’s the equivalent to some hypermarket Colas, as opposed to the Coca-Cola. That’s a shame, because the Duster grew on me more than I thought it would. The cabin is largely basic but functional, but that’s fine considering the amount of space it has.
For a long road trip on the unpredictable roads of Iceland, a sturdy SUV with excellent fuel economy is highly recommended, and the Renault-sourced 1.5-litre dCi oil burner was all I needed. Since speed traps are common around the island, a slow but safe drive is all that’s needed.

Here are some short takes called “Pitstops” where I’ll explain the important things and tips during a road trip in Iceland.
PITSTOP 1: Rental Cars
Rental cars are aplenty in Iceland, ranging from big companies such as Hertz, Avis to local companies such as Blue Car and more. They offer a variety of cars ranging from city cars, superminis, wagons, SUVs and even campervans.
My recommendation is to get at least a supermini (Hyundai i20, Volkswagen Polo, Ford Fiesta) for a road trip of two, with no more than two luggages. Also, request for a diesel variant because you’ll get better mileage. We’d recommend a manual transmission, but that’s entirely up to you to decide. Also, if you’re driving during the non-winter months, a two-wheel drive car will suffice. If driving through the valleys (also known as F-roads) is on your itinerary, you’ll surely be needing a four-wheel drive SUV.
If there’s one negative aspect about Iceland, it’ll be the car rental companies, so be sure to read the reviews of these companies online before signing the agreement. As a heads up,
collision damage waiver
 (
CDW
) is usually offered by default. However,
gravel protection
 is a must, because once you get stone chips, you’re going to pay for it (this goes up to the thousands of Ringgit). My recommendation is to pick all insurance offered, because the last thing you want to ruin your vacation with is the hefty bills from these companies.
According to a car rental company, a normal national driving license with English wordings will do, but it a better idea to make a trip down to your preferred JPJ (Road Transport Department) branch and apply for an International Driving Permit (IDP), just to be safe.
I got my car and accommodation from self-drive tour companies, and the one I engaged with was
Iceland Road Trip
. They planned the route and accommodation according to my needs. This is one of the many tour companies to offer self-drive tours. Otherwise, you can even plan one on your own!
EIGHT DAYS ON THE RING ROAD…
After a night in the capital city of Reykjavik, day one brought us to the South. Driving was immensely tricky at first. It was my first time driving on the right side of a two-lane road, and also we met with strong winds while leaving the city. Eventually, we left the mountains and came across a few picturesque waterfalls –
Seljalandsfoss
 and
Skógafoss
. The waterfall currents in Iceland are vicious, so be sure to wear sufficient waterproofing gears if you wish to go nearer.
Driving further down south led us to
Dyrhólaey
, where we were greeted with the majestic view of black sands and strong waves. Day one of the drive ends with a night’s stay at a countryside guesthouse in Skógafoss. It’s hard to believe that in just one day, we saw the city, waterfalls and scenic roads, but that’s just a preview of what’s to come in the subsequent days.
PITSTOP 2 – Hotels and seasons in Iceland
In Iceland, a place to put up a night can be either standard hotels or countryside guesthouses. My recommendation would be the latter, because the cosy settings of a proper home makes us feel more, well, at home. A peek behind the curtains would reward you with scenic vistas that’s the equivalent of the wallpapers from Windows OS.
One point to take note is the bathroom, as some low-cost guesthouses have shared bathrooms. Rooms with private bathrooms are also available, but this of course comes with additional costs.
Hotel rates are expensive during the summer (mid June to mid August). The best time is to travel during shoulder season (May and September) where the rates are cheaper and with fewer tourists around. Obviously, travelling during winter is cheapest, but be prepared for more unscheduled pitstops. If there’s one good thing about travelling during the winter is you get to see the aurora borealis, or northern lights, for your viewing pleasure.
Day two took us to the Reynisfjara beach, or also known as the
black sand beach
, rated as one of the 10 most beautiful non-tropical beaches in the world. A few towns afterwards, we reached
Skaftafell
 national park and trailed a mountain pass to see the Svartifoss waterfall. The highlight of the day goes to the
Jökulsárlón
 Glacier lagoon. A gathering of floating ice camps combined with the sunset as a backdrop proved to be a once-in-a-lifetime event, and it was nothing short of breathtaking.
Jökulsárlón
The following day after a night at Höfn town, we headed towards the east of Iceland. Day three was mostly driving from South to East, and personally, it was my favourite as we travelled through a variety of interesting landscapes. From black volcanic ash fields to bright coastal roads before arriving in a long undergrown tunnel, our journey to the east was spectacular.

Also for the first time, we drove on Iceland’s notorious gravel roads which made us feel like driving on a cross country trail. After passing Egilsstaðir, we took the snowy mountainous of Route 93 before putting the night at a wonderful small town of
Seydisfjordur
. That’s right, this is the exact town where the
volcanic eruption scene
 from “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” was filmed. The fictitious eruption aside, this small town with colourful buildings and serene ambience was our favourite town in all of Iceland. In short, if I’m looking for a place to retire, this will be my sanctuary.
PITSTOP 3 – Towns in Iceland
Seydisfjordur. This is actually my current desktop wallpaper
Speaking about towns in Iceland, there are mostly small but self-sustaining community, be it in coastal areas, highlands or in the valleys. Population in such towns range from a few hundred to a mere thousand. To give you some perspective, Reykjavik is the most populous city in Iceland with 110,000 residents, followed by Akureyri with 18,000 residents.
Mývatn
The next day, we drove across the snowy mountain passes and headed straight to another popular Icelandic attraction –
nature baths in the district of Mývatn
. Any place with volcanic activities usually means you can find natural geothermal baths, and apart from the world famous Blue Lagoon bath, Mývatn Nature Baths offers clean and warm geothermal water, and it’s a waste not to go for a dip in such pools. The day ends in Husavik, a place where you can go whale watching,
In case you’re wondering where we stopped for fuel and food, here it is:
PITSTOP 4 – Petrol Stations
Some of the more prominent petrol stations in Iceland include  N1, Olis, Orkan, and a handful of Shell stations. N1 stations are the most common petrol stations in Iceland and consist of either full-size, independently run or remote stations.
Petrol or diesel can be purchased via cash or credit card, but do bear in mind Chip-based credit cards are used in its kiosk. If possible, buy petrol cards from their counters.

The stations near the towns or main roads have convenience shops that sell a variety of items and food, so we took the chance to stock up on sandwiches and salads in between drives. Some stations have restaurants and fast food chains, including a local delicacy called the Icelandic Meat Soup. Trust me, the burgers and hotdogs served in N1 stations are far superior than many of the fast food chains we’re all familiar with. And oh, don’t forget to grab a cup of hot coffee to go too!
The following day, we left Husavik for
Goðafoss
 to see the “waterfall of the Gods”. This stop is a must before making our way to Akureyri, the capital city of the north. After a night’s rest at Skagafjörður, we moved westbound to the Þingvellir National Park. However, there were two things that were best remembered during the day.
One, we passed the
Hvalfjörður
 tunnel, the one and only place in Iceland where the road is tolled. A drive on the 5.7km tunnel costs 1,000 ISK (roughly RM33). Certainly isn’t cheap.
Also, remember the Papa John’s scene in the Walter Mitty movie? The picture above, located in the small town of
Borgarnes
, is exactly where the scene was shot, but there’s not a single Papa John’s Pizza chain in all of Iceland! Funnily enough, the scene was criticised for
bad product placement
.

The final day of our road trip brought us to the
Golden Circle
. Here, we were treated to a few magnificent spectacles –

a Geysir Geothermal Area, Gullfoss waterfall and the Kerið Crater. These locations are popular among bus tours and foreign tourist as it’s near to Reykjavik. Once at Geysir, look out for the  geyser called Strokkur, where it spurts boiling hot water once every few minutes. By the end of the day, we went back to Reykjavik to return the car and put two more nights at the Laugavegur street before returning back home.
Speaking about Reykjavik, Laugavegur is an ideal place to stay if you’re into shopping. You can also find many restaurants along the street, as well as cafes and souvenir shops. Also, the
Hallgrímskirkja Lutheran Church
, the tallest and perhaps the most beautiful church in Iceland, is located near the area, and it’s a must-see.
Hallgrimskirkja Church
To sum it all up, let me pose a question: Is this road trip for you? While my answer is a definite yes, even if you don’t fancy long distance driving, the whole experience of immersing yourself with some of Mother Earth’s finest creations can be encapsulated in just a week of driving around the incredible country of Iceland. It’s certainly a once in a lifetime experience. Allow me to end this story with a quote from Walter Mitty which aptly describes this road trip:
“To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other, and to feel. That is the purpose of life
.
IS THIS CAR FOR YOU?
Being a car portal, I have the obligation to answer this, and I have to admit that the Dacia Duster is an amazing car for such road trips. The car handles pretty well for most of the time and the suspension is able to absorb many of the imperfect roads, bet it gravel or tarmac.
The engine works like a charm and despite being a diesel, we didn’t feel like driving a truck on the inside. The manual gearbox is lovely and easy to shift. Speaking of fuel consumption, it didn’t disappoint, as we managed an average of
6 litres per 100km
. I personally think Renault should bring the Duster to Malaysia, and perhaps our friends in East Malaysia will develop a new liking for such a Romainan.
Special thanks to Road Trip Iceland and Procar Iceland for allowing this amazing road trip to happen for both myself and my missus!
IMAGE GALLERY
Iceland

 Hallgrimskirkja Church

 Jökulsárlón

 The road at Hofn during the evening

Dacia Duster


The all-new Kia Sorento ditches conventional for ‘refined boldness’

Kia has revealed its all-new Sorento ahead of the SUV’s debut at the 90th edition of the Geneva motor show next month.
First teased
two weeks ago
, the all-new midsize SUV adopts a new design unlike its predecessor. Kia designers say that the all-new Sorento is based on the concept of “refined boldness”, adopting the robust and tough-looking aesthetic of the earlier generations, while giving the SUV added refinement and elegance.
The new angular styling is reflective of the US-only
Telluride
, and can be seen especially in the new vertical taillights. Up front, the Sorento features a reinterpreted signature ‘Tiger Nose’ grille, integrating the headlights with new ‘Tiger Eye’ daytime-running lights.
The proportions of the Sorento has also been subtly tweaked to give the SUV a longer appearance. The front and rear overhangs have been shortened, matched with a longer wheelbase.
Looking from the side, the A-pillar has also been moved backwards by 30 mm to give the Sorento a longer front bonnet and a “cab-rearward” appearance. Tying the styling together is a single character line, which flows from the trailing end of the bonnet to the taillights assembly.
Based on Kia’s new-generation midsize SUV platform, the fourth-generation Sorento promises a better packaging resulting in better space, practicality and efficiency.
No information has been given on the interior of the all-new Kia Sorento, though looking at the press images, we can see that the dashboard features a Mercedes-style instrument cluster and infotainment display panel, sat atop the stepped dashboard design.
A separate climate control panel sits between the central vertical air vents.
The interior photos shown here are likely to be the Korean-spec Sorento, but general cabin architecture shouldn’t differ too much across markets.
Powertrain offerings and other new features will be announced at the Kia Sorento’s global debut on the
3rd of March 2020
.
IMAGE GALLERY


Volkswagen introduces the VW Tiguan 1.4 2WD in Malaysia, priced at RM179k

Walk in to any VW showroom now and you will be able to view the latest addition to Volkswagen Malaysia growing range of cars. It’s the new
Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4TSI 2WD
. This new model is CBU from Germany, not a local CKD variant as yet.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4TSI 2WD

Segment
J-Segment Compact SUV
Engine
1,390cc 4-cylinder TSI engine
Transmission
6-speed DSG gearbox
Max Power
160hp @ 5800 rpm
Max Torque
240Nm @ 1500-4500 rpm
Price
RM178,888 OTR without insurance

Back in 2011, VGM (Volkswagen Group Malaysia) launched the facelifted model of the 2.0 TSI Tiguan, offering a 210hp engine coupled with a 7-speed wet clutch DSG gearbox and VW’s 4Motion AWD system. The 1.4TSI variant loses the 4Motion system, but retains a more reliable wet clutch DSG gearbox, albeit with only 6 speeds. The 1.4TSI genrates
160hp
 and
240NM
 of torque.
Performance wise, the 1.4 TSI engine will propel the 1.5 tonne SUV from standstill to 100km/h in a mere
8.9 second
s, before hitting the top speed of
198km/h
. If driven sanely, the Tiguan will return a fuel consumption of
8.9L/100km
.
Standard accessories for the new Tiguan includes Climatic semi-auto aircon, ‘Milan’ Alcantara seat upholstery, ‘Boston’ alloy wheels, a rear view camera and a rain sensing windscreen. Also standard is an anti-theft alarm and drowsiness detection. There’s also an optional “
Tech Pack
” that adds bi-xenon headlamps with LED DRLs, Climatic dual-zone aircon, Bluetooth connectivity, foldable wing mirrors, multi-function steering as well as the RCD510.
On the safety front, the Tiguan offers ABS, EBD, ESC, 6 airbags and ISOFIX mounts. Euro NCAP has awarded the VW Tiguan with 5 stars for it’s crash test results.
Volkswagen Group Malaysia is selling the VW Tiguan 1.4TSI for
RM178,888
. The Tech Pack adds another RM10,000 to the listed price. Warranty is a standard 5 year affair like other VW models, with unlimited mileage. The color palette includes Pure White, Reflex Silver, Toffee Brown, Pepper Grey and Titanium Beige.


The Lexus LF-Z Electrified Concept ends complex mesh patterns in their spindle grilles

Lexus begins its journey into fully electrified vehicles with the reveal of the more-conventional looking Lexus LF-Z concept.
The new LF-Z Electrified concept incorporates driving performance, styling and technologies that Lexus plans to realise by 2025. It will further advance the Lexus Driving Signature, bringing together expertise gained in performance car development with new opportunities offered by electrified powertrains to give the driver exceptional responsiveness and a sense of being fully connected with their car.
The
Lexus spindle grille
 that seems to have become too complicated especially with the mesh pattern has now been evolved into a simple spindle body, sans texture and in body colour.
Key performance targets for the 2.1-tonne LF-Z include
544 hp
 and
700 Nm
 of torque to complete the century sprint in three seconds. The company is also aiming for a
600-kilometre
 range under WLTP test method with a 90 kWh battery pack.
While having
dual-motors
 in EVs is the norm, Lexus is focusing on the controls and delivery of motion of each motor. Dubbed “DIRECT4”, the system precisely controls the delivery of drive torque from the front and rear electric motors and braking force to all four wheels.
The “DIRECT4” system adapts the driving conditions to the driver’s intentions, changing the driving feel and giving the car the best driving posture.
Lexus also announced that it will open a new business and technology base in Shimoyama, Aichi Prefecture in March 2024 to accelerate the planning and development of next-generation products.

The
new Lexus IS
 had its handling honed at the new Shimoyama Technical Centre
More test courses are also currently added together with the existing 5.3 km country route, rising through 75 metres and featuring a range of different bends, making use of the natural contours of the topography. There will be around 10 different test tracks in all, including a high-speed evaluation course and others which replicate different road surfaces from around the world.
President and Chief Branding Officer of Lexus International, Koji Sato, said not one but
two new models
will be released this year. Something to look forward to then!
By 2025, Lexus plans to introduce 20 new or improved models, including over 10 electrified models such as BEVs, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and HEVs which could also include sports models.
Varying the degree of electrification, in line with the needs of each country and region around the world and based on the concept of offering the right products in the right place at the right time. Lexus also expects the sales ratio of electrified vehicles exceeding that of petrol-engine vehicles.
GALLERY


Mercedes-AMG says ‘Goodbye’ to the AMG E63S with Final Edition models

Mercedes-AMG
 is bidding farewell to the
 W213 E63S AMG
 with ‘
Final Editions
‘ of the sedan and estate after nearly six years in existence since it was first introduced in 2016, before undergoing a facelift in 2020.
The exterior of both body styles is finished exclusively in Matte Graphite Gray Magno paint, along with 20-inch AMG forged wheels and the AMG Night Package.
The exterior package includes a front splitter, AMG side sills, and mirror caps, window surrounds, exhaust tips and AMG rear bumpers trims that are all painted in high-gloss black.
The exclusive Final Edition markings can also be seen on the inside; firstly through the AMG Performance Seats wrapped in Nappa leather, with grey and yellow stitching.
Nappa leather is also used on the steering wheel (with a mix of microfibre) and dashboard. Completing the Final Edition interior are model-specific items such as yellow illuminated door sills and AMG floor mats that mimics the colour scheme of the AMG Performance seats.
Other distinct Final Edition features include carbon trims on the doors, dashboard and centre console. To further enhance the exclusivity of the Final Edition models, each unit is branded with a ‘1 of 999’ badge on the inside.
With every purchase of the Final Edition models, each customer will also receive a customised AMG Indoor Car Cover with “AMG E 63 S Final Edition” lettering in the matching colour.
No performance upgrades were mentioned so it’s expected that both body styles will continue serving
612 hp
 and
850 Nm
 from a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 paired to a 9-speed automatic transmission to drive all four wheels. 0 to 100 km/h in the E63S takes just 3.4 seconds.


This is the fastest accelerating lawnmower in the world!

Honda’s Mean Mower has once again splice its way into the record books by setting a new Guinness World Records for the “Fastest 0-100 mph Acceleration for a Lawnmower”.
The new record of
6.29 seconds
 was set in Germany with experienced stunt driver and race car driver, Jess Hawkins, behind the wheel of the Honda HF 2622 lawn tractor or more famously, the
Mean Mower V2
.

It’s powered by a 999cc 4-cylinder engine from a CBR1000RR Fireblade SP superbike, with around
 200 hp
 and a 13,000 rpm redline.
With a super-light frame and dry engine weight of just 70 kg, the mean mower achieves a higher power-to-weight ratio than even the Bugatti Chiron!
The Mean Mower V2 (left) and the original from 2014.
With a top speed well in excess of 240 km/h, the Mean Mower V2 takes over the
original Mean Mower
 from back in 2014 which achieved a top speed of 187 km/h.