2016 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid CKD launching soon – RM130k, 140 hp & 265 Nm!

Previewed earlier this year for the first time at My Auto Fest was the
Hyundai Ioniq
, a Toyota Prius rivalling C-Segment hatchback with an immensely attractive price tag of RM130k. The order books have already opened, and will be locally assembled at the company’s plant in Kulim, Kedah.
Depending on the region, the Ioniq can be had in three different configurations: full electric, plug-in hybrid, and petrol-electric hybrid. According to Hyundai Sime Darby Malaysia (HSDM), we will be getting the regular hybrid, and the local assembly will grant the Ioniq its EEV status. This means full tax breaks and incentives, and it is also the first time the Ioniq is being assembled overseas apart from the Ulsan plant in Korea.

It is powered by a
1.6-litre four-cylinder Gasoline Direct Injection (Kappa GDI)
 that makes
104 hp
 and
147 Nm
 of torque. But when paired with an electric motor, the Ioniq gets a total output of an estimated
140 hp
 and
 265 Nm
 of torque. A
1.56 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery
is placed just underneath the rear bench and will be tasked with supplying power to the electric motor.
Power is delivered to the front wheels via an ultra efficient
six-speed dual clutch gearbox
, also a world’s first for a hybrid. In pure electric mode, the Ioniq can travel up to speeds of 120km/h!
What’s unconfirmed now is the specification and equipment list of the Malaysian-bound Ioniq. It rivals the
fourth-generation Toyota Prius
 (which will not make its way here, unless CKD) and comes with a healthy array of active safety features such as
autonomous emergency braking
 and
 blind spot detection
, just to name a few.
IMAGE GALLERY


Check out the new Toyota GR Yaris in action at the Fuji Speedway!

As if we haven’t tripped and fallen head over heels for Toyota’s fiesty new hatchback, here’s another video to whet your appetite for a meal you might never even get to sniff – in Malaysia at least.
Before you jump off your seats, what you’re hearing isn’t exactly the actual exhaust note of the
road-going GR Yaris
 as the one in the video has been prepped for a race at the Fuji Speedway circuit although we really wouldn’t mind the Yaris to sound that menacing as standard.

Powering the Toyota’s new pocket rocket that’s been completely developed in-house,
unlike the other GR sportscar
, is a 1.6-litre 3-cylinder engine with
 272 hp
 and
 370 Nm
 of torque.
As a result, you get Golf R-rivalling performance with a 0 to 100 km/h time of just five seconds. That’s if you can shift through the 6-speed manual gearbox quick enough. The driver is also able to tweak the torque distribution for different driving requirements – 60:40 (front biased), 30:70 (rear biased) or 50:50.
If the new Camry and Corolla is anything to go by, the new GR Yaris that’s built on the GA-B Toyota New Global Architecture platform (TNGA) should be as potent around the corners as it is on the straights but don’t just take it from us,
check out the testimonies of these WRC greats
!


Bespoke “Stealth” McLaren 600LT by MSO comes with a roof scoop!

Here’s a car that makes 600 hp and 620 Nm of torque; here’s also a car that will go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.8 seconds before every ounce of juice is squeezed out at over 300 km/h.
This is also a car that comes with a 12-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system  – for you to enjoy those drives to the track before you’re blown away by a different kind of acoustic feast – the roar of the 600LT’s 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8.
But this is not the
 600LT
 we shared last month, this one’s by McLaren Special Operations (MSO), McLaren’s bespoke division, finished in Stealth Grey.
It’s a preview of the lengths of personalisation that can be performed on McLaren’s lightest, most powerful road-legal Sports Series car.
Its bespoke paint finish gets orange accents and it’s also got a carbon fibre roof scoop with a
track telemetry camera
 seamlessly integrated into it “to record inspirational moments” on the track.
Other MSO Defined options on the car include all three Carbon Fibre Upgrade packs available for the 600LT, which include door mirrors, exterior door inserts, a front splitter, diffuser, and a rear deck.
An MSO Defined Carbon Fibre Roof and Cantrails, plus Carbon Fibre Front Fender Louvres – which help to further reduce weight – are also fitted. Completing the “Stealth look” is a set of ultra-lightweight 10-spoke Forged alloy wheels with a Gloss Black finish.
Inside is myriad of MSO touches including Super-Lightweight Carbon Fibre Racing Seats, plucked out from the
McLaren Senna
, with orange contrast stitching to mirror the exterior and a Carbon Fibre Interior Upgrade Pack. The package includes a central tunnel and door insert panels, harness bar and 6-point harnesses from the MSO Clubsport Pro Pack.
The drama inside is also amplified by the carbon fibre roof scoop cover with intake hoses seamlessly incorporated into the headliner and the cabin design, embroidery on the headrests and discrete etching of “600LT” on the throttle pedal.
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Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid 1.8 all set for launch on 14 Jan in Malaysia

UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has posted the latest update on the Corolla Cross Hybrid 1.8 with the company announcing the official launch date-
14 January 2022
. The launch is expected to be broadcast live over its Facebook
page
 at 9 P.M.
Apart from updating its social media pages and website with a lone image, nothing new has been shared on this self-charging hybrid crossover SUV.
First
teased
 in October and then headed straight to the estimated pricing of
RM137,000
, the introduction of the Corolla Cross Hybrid 1.8 not only coincides with the return of
local assembly (CKD) of hybrid vehicles
 by UMWT in Malaysia but also the commencement of the Corolla Cross
CKD model
.
Compared to the 1.8V variant priced at RM129,000, the increase in feature level is scarce, with UMWT listing just the addition of the digital Optitron instrument cluster measuring seven inches, a similar item that is found in the
Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8G.
Standard features found in the Corolla Cross 1.8V include 18-inch wheels, acoustic-glass front windshield, LED ‘curtain’ taillamps, interior ambient lighting, single-zone automatic air-conditioning, powered tailgate with handsfree foot sensor and 9-inch infotainment display.
Quick Review: Why the Toyota Corolla Cross IS the next big thing on our roads!
The Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 ADAS suite includes the Pre-collision System (autonomous emergency braking), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, and Automatic High Beam. The Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and Lane Tracing Assist features have been enhanced in the CKD variants of the Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8V and Hybrid 1.8 to operate at all speed ranges, unlike the earlier version that only activates from 30 km/h.
The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is powered by a 98 hp / 142 Nm naturally aspirated 1.8-litre paired to a sophisticated dual-motor-generator setup (72 hp / 163 Nm) with a power-split device (PSD) that functions as an electronic continuously variable transmission (ECVT).
The combined system output is
122 hp
 whilst returning a fuel consumption of 4.3 litres per 100 km or 23.3 km/L (ECE R101). The powertrain first appeared in the fourth-generation Toyota Prius. Find out why the output is lower than the 1.8G and V variant’s 139 hp as well as the difference compared to Honda’s e:HEV system
here
.
The nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) traction battery is now placed under the rear seats for maximum luggage space as well as improved handling. Coupled with the compact torsion beam rear axle, the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid 1.8 has a very spacious luggage area of at least 440 litres, which is class-leading.
UMWT is also offering an eight-year unlimited mileage warranty on the hybrid electrical components, which includes the battery, inverter and power management control unit. Customers can even extend it for an additional two years for an estimated RM2,950.
We will keep readers posted on new development as well as all the facts and figures after the official launch of the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid 1.8 in ten days.


Ferrari 488 Pista Spider is the 50th drop-top model from Ferrari

When Ferrari showed the
Ferrari 488 Pista coupe
 in early 2018, a drop top convertible is expected to be the next course of action for the track-focused mid-engine supercar. Fresh off the lawn of Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach in California is the Ferrari 488 Pista Spider.
The 488 Pista Spider is the 50
th
 drop-top model from the Prancing Horse to make its grand reveal in the sunshine state California was a natural choice given that North American clients have always been keen connoisseurs of high-performance convertibles.

Like its coupe sibling, the 488 Pista Spider is powered by a 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 packing
720 hp
 and
 770 Nm
 of twist that drives the rear wheels via a seven-speed F1 dual-clutch transmission. Century sprint takes
2.85 seconds
 – identical to the coupe – but 0 to 200 km/h is a touch slower with the roof down at
 8.0 seconds
. Top speed is limited to
340 km/h
.
Innovations such as motorsports technology derived from the 488 Challenge and 488 GTE, Ferrari Dynamic Enhancer (FDE), ultra-lightweight materials, Side-Slip Angle Control 6.0 and aerodynamic enhancements make the 488 Pista Spider the ultimate road-legal convertible to roll out of Maranello.
Customers have the choice to customise their car by Ferrari Tailor Made but standard options include carbon fibre exterior pack, centre stripe livery and 20-inch one-piece carbon fibre wheels.
IMAGE GALLERY
Ferrari 488 Pista Spider

Ferrari 488 Pista Coupe


No plans for Hari Merdeka this year? Here are 5 fun ideas from Bosch!

Hari Merdeka
 is just around the corner once again, and this year, a long school holiday follows right after the celebration of Malaysia’s 65th year of independence. In case you still don’t know how to spend your time on our National Day,
 Bosch
has 5 suggestions for you.
1. Plan a freeing road trip
What better way to celebrate
Merdeka
 than exploring our own country? Not only will you see the Jalur Gemilang proudly flying high all over the nation, you can also enjoy the rich experiences and local food that Malaysia has to offer.
This is also a perfect opportunity to reunite with family and friends. Before you head out, Bosch suggests you plan your route with adequate stops, stock up on water and snacks, and create a road trip playlist before hitting the road.
RELATED:
Bosch shares key tips to better prepare for flash floods/being stranded
2. Visit the Tugu Negara and enjoy the fireworks lighting up the KL Skyline
Rekindle your pride as a Malaysian by taking a trip to our national monument and honour those who have braved the front lines to give us our independence. Near the Tugu Negara are also picture-worthy places such as the Perdana Botanical Garden, KL Bird Park, and the ASEAN Sculpture Garden.
Spend your time in KL during the countdown, and you can also enjoy the beautiful skyline as it lights up with fireworks. Good lookout points suggested by Bosch include Taman Titiwangsa, Changkat Semantan, and Bukit Permai. You could also drive up to Genting Highlands to get an even better (albeit smaller) view.
3. Watch the National Day Parade on 31st August at Dataran Merdeka
After a night of enjoying the fireworks, you could join the crowd at the Dataran Merdeka to witness the National Day Parade. Here, you can expect a host of activities lined up to inspire the patriotic spirit. While in KL, you’ll be just a stone’s throw away from fantastic food and spectacular sights, so take this time to explore the capital and soak up all it has to offer.
RELATED:
Bosch shares tips on prolonging battery life in cars with Auto Start-Stop
4.
Merdeka
 yourself from hassle before you put the pedal to the metal
If you’re a bit of a grease monkey, you can use the holiday as an opportunity to
Merdeka
 yourself from the usual car hassles. Failing to plan is planning to fail. Here’s what Bosch thinks you should check in your vehicle to ensure it runs perfectly:
Steering – make sure the steering system is working smoothly
Brakes – take note of any unusual sound when braking
Fluid levels – brake fluid, engine oil, coolant fluid, and wiper fluid
Tyres – check tread depth and tyre pressure
Battery – check on the health of the battery and recharge if required
Wipers –change if they are worn out
Lights – visual check to make sure they are functional
Car suspension – send for checks if you hear any unusual noise
Seatbelts – check for any visual damage on the belt and buckle
Baby car seat – make sure the car seat is properly installed and no visual damage or cracks on it
5. Share your most creative
Merdeka
 photo with Bosch to win exciting prizes
To make the celebration even better, Bosch is also holding a photo competition that you can enter via Instagram. Just upload your
Merdeka
 photo on Instagram with the hashtag #BoschMERDEKAR, remember to tag and follow
@boschautoparts_my
 on Instagram, and also to make your account public.
The contest period is from August 15 to August 31. Five lucky winners with the most creative
Merdeka-
themed photo will stand a chance to win a Bosch C7 Battery Charger each, while 10 other winners will win Shopee vouchers worth RM50 each. Get inspired with creative ideas and let your patriotic spirit shine this
Merdeka
!


2022 Ford Ranger loads up the truck bed for Sabah and Sarawak previews

After touring Peninsular Malaysia, the 2022
Ford Ranger
 is now packing its bags and loading up its truck bed to head to Sabah and Sarawak. Still fresh from the launch of the next-generation Ranger,
Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC)
 will be showcasing Ford’s brand-new truck in Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.
These will be the last two venues for the Ford Ranger’s nationwide tour ahead of its showroom launch. In total, the Ranger tours five regions in Malaysia over the course of five weekends for the public to get a first-hand look.
In East Malaysia, the Ford Ranger will first visit Vivacity Megamall, Kuching from
September 7
 to
11
. It will then traverse Northeast to be at Suria Sabah Shopping Centre, Kota Kinabalu from
October 5
 to
 9
.
Those who have received their exclusive event invitation will have a seat at the respective unveiling ceremonies happening from 10:30 am to 11:30 am. They will also be taken through an in-depth presentation on the next-generation Ranger. Registrations are open 30 minutes prior to the unveiling ceremony.
RELATED:
Ford’s proudest feature on the 2022 Ranger is not what you think it is
Offered in seven variants (including the upcoming
Raptor
), prices for the 2022 Ford Ranger start from the following for the base ‘XL’ variant with a 6-speed manual transmission:
RM 108,888.00 (Peninsular Malaysia, Individual Private)
RM114,888.00 (Sarawak, Individual Private)
RM114,888.10 (Sabah, Individual Private)
ALSO WATCH:
All-new 2022 Ford Ranger launched in Malaysia, from RM109K
Currently topping the Ranger’s range is the Ford Ranger Wildtrak with a 10-speed automatic transmission which is offered at the following prices:
RM 168,888.00 (Peninsular Malaysia, Individual Private)
RM174,388.00 (Sarawak, Individual Private)
RM174,388.00 (Sabah, Individual Private)
Depending on the variant, the 2022 Ford Ranger is either offered with either a 2.0-litre single turbo diesel engine (
170 hp
/
405 Nm
) or a 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel engine (
210 hp
/
500 Nm
).
RELATED:
All-new 2022 Ford Ranger launched in Malaysia – from RM109k


Don’t like how the new BMW M3 looks? This CKD M340i xDrive is the next best thing!

Even though a
tuning house in Germany has already designed a new front bumper for the new BMW M3
, realistically, how many M3 owners would actually go through the trouble to purchase them? None, most likely. This then, the new G20 M340i xDrive just launched here in Malaysia at
RM402,354.15
 inclusive of Sales Tax Exemption, could just be the next best thing!
Following recent launches of the
218i Gran Coupe M Sport
 and the
M340i xDrive
, launched
alongside the 330e PHEV
, is the first locally-assembled M Performance vehicle and certainly lives up to its name with more than enough power to propel it from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds!
It’s just as fast as the new M3 and frankly, far better looking!
PERFORMANCE
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six
Transmission: 8-speed Steptronic automatic
Drivetrain: All-wheel Drive with M Sport differential
Horsepower: 387 hp
Torque: 500 Nm
0 to 100 km/h: 4.4 seconds
Top Speed: 250 km/h
Guess what,
the M3, with all its might, is only 0.2 seconds faster
 from 0 to 100 km/h and in the real world that fraction of a second is almost, if not completely insignificant! Also, we don’t have to point out to you how much better-looking the M340i xDrive is as well, when you compare it with the buck teeth M3.
EXTERIOR
BMW Laser Light with high beam assist
19-inch style 792 M Light alloy wheels with run flat tyres
4-pot front and single pot rear M Sport brakes
Adaptive M Sport suspension
M rear spoiler
hands-free powered tailgate
And it has some distinct exterior traits too; like the trapezoidal exhaust tips that stand out from the 330e’s single exhaust tip on each side or the quad tailpipes on the M3. Sitting on the M Sport suspension also means the M340i is lower by 10 mm compared to the standard 3 Series.
The M340i xDrive is built with a rear biased setup up, with torque distribution controlled by the M Sport differential for optimum traction and power delivery.
INTERIOR
M leather steering
M pedals
M floor mats
12.3-inch BMW Live Cockpit instrument cluster display
10.25-inch touchscreen display
16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
Sunroof
Head up display
3-zone air conditioning
BMW Individual headliner in Anthracite
The new “BMW M3” as we’d like to call it now is available in Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Sunset Orange, and Portimao Blue. The interior will feature Vernasca leather upholstery in Black or Cognac.
SAFETY
Forward collision warning with brake intervention
Rear collision warning
Rear cross traffic alert
Lane change warning
Lane departure warning with steering intervention
Parking assistant
The M340i xDrive is accompanied by a 5-year unlimited mileage warranty with free scheduled service. With the Balloon Financing Plan from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, the BMW M340i xDrive can be yours with a monthly instalment plan starting from RM 4,468.00 based on estimates of an 80% loan on a 5-year tenure.
Following the Sales Tax Exemption announcement, for the latest price list of BMW vehicles in Malaysia, click
here
.
GALLERY


Lexus IS facelift teased, may debut at Beijing Motor Show

Lexus has dropped a shadowy preview of the
Lexus IS
 compact car for the first time. The third-generation IS has been around since 2013 (followed by a powertrain upgrade thereafter), so it’s about time the sharp-looking saloon gets a makeover.
The updates are mainly aesthetics, though. Seen here are a new pair of headlights and a more chiselled front bumper, staying true to Lexus’ current design language. And as usual, Lexus’ signature spindle grille will remain in this facelift.
Lexus IS 200 prefacelift model
No mechanical changes are planned for the facelift since Lexus
dropped
 the naturally aspirated 2.5-litre V6 last year. Hence, expect to see the
240 hp

turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder
 engine and all-new
8-speed Sports Direct Shift automatic
to soldier on.
As tech updates are a norm with facelifts, Lexus could introduce interior updates in the form of an updated infotainment system. Apart from that, Lexus’
Remote Touch Interface
could make its way with the updated IS, which allows drivers to navigate the MID (
Multi-Information Display
).
Look out for more updates on the IS facelift once the Beijing Motor Show commences on 24 April 2016. Presently, Lexus Malaysia is offering four variants of the IS, beginning with the base IS 200 t  costing
RM298,000
, while the range topper IS 300h hybrid costs
 RM452,000
.


试驾报告：2023 Honda Civic RS e:HEV- 完美的成绩单

自混动车型问世以来，我一直对其抱有质疑的态度。各品牌所推出的混动方案都各具特色，但在我看来，混动车型要么是为了规避排放限制，通过在动力较弱的引擎上添加电动机以在不增加排放的前提下增强动力，要么是以牺牲驾驶感为代价，只为了实现高效的燃油效率。然而，Honda现在提供了一个混动方案，它挑战了我之前的观点。
这款最高版本的Civic RS e:HEV是在大马贩售的Civic阵营中的最高等级，它的售价比起低一阶的Civic RS 1.5T车型还要高出大约16k。而且还把它这台混动车款定义成Sport Sedan, 这究竟有何依据呢？
目前Honda的e:HEV动力系统只有两种，一个是搭载在HRV RS e:HEV和City RS e:HEV上的1.5升混动系统和搭载在这款Civic RS e:HEV或泰国版Accord e:HEV上的2.0升混动系统。两者的分别只是在于引擎容量和电动马达的大小。
具体这套系统是怎么运作的呢？那就要从基本概念开始探讨。
纯燃油车和纯电车都各有优缺点。燃油车在城市驾驶时耗油量较大，需要忍受换挡的空档期，涡轮车型甚至需要应对涡轮迟滞的问题。而纯电车在高速巡航时耗电严重，给人造成了里程焦虑，充电时间长，同时电池加重了车身重量。基于这些问题，Honda提出了他们的解决方案：将引擎用作发电机为电池充电，让电动马达驱动车辆。
这个解决方案不仅让车辆拥有如同纯电车的丝滑加速感，而且因为引擎能为电池充电，车上只需装配一个1.05kWh的电池包，无需搭载过重的电池。为了解决在高速巡航时耗电量较大的问题，e:HEV系统还配备了单齿轮比的变速箱。当车速保持稳定时，引擎会连接到变速箱为车轮提供持续动力，同时为电池充电，电动马达则可以休息。而在加速或减速过程中，全部由电动马达负责。
这个设计旨在解决纯电车的续航焦虑，并提高了车辆的驾驶乐趣，例如像纯电车一样几乎没有油门响应延迟，引擎噪音低，燃油效率极高。
在Honda上一代的
IMA混动方案
里，一旦电池耗尽，车辆的动力就会立即衰减，这是IMA非常大的败笔。但如今的e:HEV因为纯使用电动马达来提供动力，所以这个问题也直接解决了，在引擎提供源源不断的电力下，驾驶可以无间断的享受电动马达所带来的181匹马力和315牛米扭力。正如以上所述，虽然这个数字和Civic RS 1.5T上数据只相差了2马力和75牛顿米的扭力，并且因为搭载电池包的缘故也比较重了83公斤，但因为没有换挡空隙和涡轮迟滞，它0-100km/h 7.9秒的成绩比起Civic RS 1.5T的 8.5秒差异还是很明显的。
对于完全对混动系统运作方式不感兴趣的车主，Honda并不期望你去深究其工作原理，他们相信一旦你驾驶过这款车型，就会被其性能和燃油效率所折服。
多出的车重并不是一件坏事，它解决了在1.5T版本上头重尾轻的特性，开起来非常的平衡。悬挂设计也偏软，但是因为足够的刚性和足够大的轮毂，在攻湾时的车身侧倾也非常的可控，加上几乎没有延迟的油门响应，再加上深踩油门后的模拟变速，和18寸235/40的Michelin Pilot Sport 4的轮胎，让它的驾驶乐趣超越了其他等级，甚至可以越级挑战德系车型。
在这几天的激烈驾驶中，我似乎根本突破不了它每升15公里的油耗。我想通过我狂蹬的右腿证明，混动车型只要遇到黄金右脚也是无济于事，油耗该耗还是得耗，但是我似乎错了，我突破不了这个油耗。毕竟我这可是把标榜每百公里耗油3.3升的
X5 xDrive40e M Sport
踩成每百公里油耗16升的黄金右脚啊！虽然有点受挫，但也足以证明这套混动系统的成熟之处，它是真的在不牺牲性能的情况下达成这么杰出的燃油效率的。
这代全新Civic RS e:HEV也改变了以往的风格，不再是热血风格了，现在偏向于成熟。而我说的成熟不仅仅是在外观上，在驾驶感上也一样。在城市驾驶时并不会让你感觉到笨重，而在高速公路上驾驶时也能感受到它偏软悬挂所带来的从容。这种偏德系的驾驶感在以往的Civic车型上都没有出现过。
在选择购买一辆车型时，往往很多时候我们会因为它缺失了一些配备而把那款车型淘汰，但是在Civic RS e:HEV上我却完全找不到。
该给的都给了，无钥匙进入、无钥匙启动、无线充电托盘、无线Apple CarPlay和Android Auto、自动车道居中、自动跟车等等全都标配了。内装和外观方面也完全符合小编的审美，在设计和配备上几乎无懈可击。
缺点方面当然还是有的，比如不够高清的Lane Watch和倒车摄像头、具有争议性的方向柱和Honda Safety Sense误触发的问题。但是如果你问我的话，这些问题在这辆车的优势下都不值一提。
一辆既安静、动力强大、舒适、操控优秀的车型，怎能不引人心动呢？毫无疑问，这也解释了Civic RS e:HEV在2022/2023日本年度汽车大奖中获得最佳性能车型的原因。
Honda的这款Civic RS e:HEV车型不仅挑战了我对混动车型的刻板印象，也为我提供了一个新的视角去看待汽车的未来。它是一个完美的结合，既有混动技术的高效率，又有驾驶的乐趣，让我们期待未来还有更多的混动车型能像这样，将效率与驾驶乐趣完美结合。
【图集】


Review: Mio MiVue 792 dashcam – the jack of all trades

Dashboard cameras, or dashcams, have almost become a necessity for daily commuters, as law-breakers are becoming more rampant on the road these days. Heck, there are even various Facebook pages dedicated in share video clips of these local road offenders.
When there’s demand, you’ll be sure that there will be supply as well – dashcams have flooded the market in all forms, sizes and price. Mio, having
just entered the Malaysian market
, is here to take on the big boys with its top-of-the-line MiVue 792. But a pretty hefty price tag of RM799, does it have what it takes to justify its asking price?
The Mio MiVue 792 comes in an orange box made of thick paper stock. Inside, we have the dashcam unit itself, alongside a Mini USB power cable, windscreen mount with swivel ball joint, a 16 GB microSD memory card as well as a quick start guide.
On first glance, there are already a couple of things we aren’t too fond of – the USB power cable (on the 12V power adapter) is fixed and not removable, and there are no additional USB slots on the adapter as well; additionally, the set does not come with a windscreen protective film for the adhesive mount, so that can potentially foul the tint when removing – but we digress.
The design of the MiVue 792 is discreet, with the majority of its body made up of black plastic. Although the looks of the MiVue 792 is not a knock-out, the weightiness of the device gave us a feeling of robustness – it feels as if it can take a beating, especially under the harsh Malaysian weather.
A large 2.7-inch LCD screen dominates the rear side of the device, which displays the video feed and other information. While not particularly high in resolution, the size of the screen definitely made navigating through the menus a lot easier, which is executed through physical buttons on the device.
Beside the screen is an orange Event Button, which starts saving a 15-seconds long (including 5 seconds before the button press) video when you press it. More on this later.
Moving to the side of the device, four unlabelled buttons make up the main navigation soft key buttons, with its actions shown on the right side of the screen.
Setting up the MiVue 792 is straightforward and simple, especially with the device automatically obtaining the GPS time during set-up. The 3-meter long power cable makes routing and concealing a piece of cake, though if this sounds too daunting to you, you can always make use of the free installation service available in the Klang Valley.
The Mio MiVue 792 records at a maximum resolution of
1080p
 at
60 frames per second
 (fps), though it is set to
30 fps by default
. For a dashcam at this price, we would have hoped for a video feed that resolves details better – which would come in handy when you need to zoom in for a clearer view.
Image quality from the dashcam is just about average during the daytime. On the move, the dashcam sometimes struggles to capture a clear image of the number plate ahead, even when it’s just at a car’s length away.
At night, the MiVue 792 fares slightly better, thanks to the
Sony Starvis IMX291
 sensor. Colours are vibrant, and details are well kept even in dimly lit situations. That said, chromatic aberration does seem quite apparent on bright and contrasty areas – such as number plates.
Dive into the settings menu, and you’ll see where the MiVue 792 truly shines. The inconspicuous dashcam is jam-packed with features that can even make some luxury vehicles drool with envy – though the long list of features in the menu also makes it slightly intimidating for the regular user.
The MiVue 792 comes equipped with various advanced driver assistance features, such as forward collision warning, lane departure warning, driver fatigue alert, and even an eco drive indicator.
Of course, as an aftermarket solution, certain features don’t work as well as the OEM-developed ones. For example, the lane departure warning system makes a loud noise whenever we switched lanes, even with the indicators on – we switched this feature off as the alerts started to annoy.
The MiVue 792 also comes with a traffic enforcement camera warning feature, thanks to the built-in GPS receiver. The camera database is available for download from Mio’s website, but the information cannot be edited by the user. In our experience, most cameras – including traffic light cameras – have been mapped, in the Klang Valley at least.
As far as dashcam mobile applications go, the MiVue application is one of the simplest and most straightforward dashcam applications we have used in a while – and that’s not a bad thing.
Using the built-in WiFi connectivity on the MiVue 792, videos are transferred pretty quickly from device to phone, and we have not experienced any connectivity issues thus far – something we cannot say for many other dashcams.
The MiVue Manager application displays helpful information, in addition to the recorded clip.
Once connected, the MiVue application automatically downloads all “Event” videos – either those saved via the Event Button, or automatically recorded from activation of the G-force sensor. The instantaneous process makes sharing of video clips quick and direct.
Mio also provides a MiVue Manager application for your PC, which allows you to view recordings in more detail. The application lists your videos based on the recorded date, and shows information such as G-forces, speed, and even a plotted map of your drive.
The Mio MiVue 792 excels in its versatility, thanks to the extra features it packs. However at a price point of RM799, it gets a tad bit harder to recommend, as it leaves something to be desired in its core functionality – being a competent third eye on the road.
Although, if you’re looking for something more than just a basic video camera, the driver’s assistance features, as well as the front-and-back recording capability (with an additional camera, sold separately) does make the MiVue 792 a compelling package.
IMAGE GALLERY


BMW Group Malaysia sold 13,088 cars in 2022 – sales leader in premium segment for 3rd straight year

During today’s media event for the launch of the updated
3 Series line-up
, BMW Group Malaysia’s managing director and CEO, Hans de Visser, announced that the company has sold a total of 14,466 vehicles in 2022, consisting of 13,088 cars and 1,378 motorbikes.
The figure represents a 35% increase over the
previous year
, and helped the company maintain the title as the sales leader in the premium segment in Malaysia for three consecutive years.
From the 14,466 figure,
 BMW
 contributed a total of 11,855 units sold in 2022, a 38% year-on-year jump compared to the previous year. The best-selling model from the marque’s line-up still remains the 3 Series, moving over 2,300 units across the year, with the base
320i Sport
 variant contributing over 34.5% of those.
The BMW 2 Series, specifically the
218i Gran Coupe
, also enjoyed a successful year in 2022 with over 1,300 units delivered. As for the SUVs, the
BMW X3
 is by far the most popular model, with over 1,300 units delivered. Overall, the BMW X family line-up saw a total of over 5,100 SUVs sold in 2022.
The BMW brand alone has already occupied over 45% of the segment share within the premium car segment, says de Visser.
MINI
 meanwhile saw a total of over 1,300 units sold in 2022, a record figure for the brand, representing a year-on-year growth upward of 25%. The MINI Countryman was the biggest contributor, with over 800 units delivered, accounting for over 65% of total sales.
Electrified MINI models also saw an impressive growth here in Malaysia in 2022, where over 24% of MINI models delivered were electrified – an 83% improvement over the previous year. This includes the
fully-electric MINI Cooper SE
, which was also given a mild update yesterday.
ALSO READ:
BMW Malaysia partners with JomCharge – 10% off on charging sessions, extra free credits for owners
On the financial side of things, BMW Group Malaysia’s financing arm, BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, announced that it has funded over 5,000 contracts in 2022. More specifically for its BMW Easy Drive product, the company also recorded over 100% in growth.


Honda Malaysia delivered 51,354 new cars in 1H 2018, City most popular

Honda Malaysia is on track to achieve its sales target of 109,000 units for 2018 following healthy sales performance in the first half of this year. In the first six months of 2018, Honda Malaysia delivered 51,354 new cars, allowing the company to maintain its lead in the non-national segment for 1H 2018.
The
Honda City
 stood out as the most popular model with over 15,400 units sold or 30 per cent of total sales, a 7 per cent increase from the same period last year. Following closely behind are the
HR-V
 and
CR-V
 which accounted for 16 per cent and 13 per cent of total sales, respectively. Additionally, all locally assembled Honda models (City, Jazz, BR-V, HR-V, CR-V, Civic and Accord) maintained their leadership position in their respective segment.

In the month of June, when the new Pakatan Harapan Government announced that the Goods & Services Tax to be zero-rated, Honda Malaysia received the highest number of bookings in its history with 20,000 units booked. As a result, the company has to extend the waiting period for certain models for up to four months.
Moving forward, the company has previewed their next and final model launch for 2018, the
Honda HR-V facelift
 in early July. Order books for the refreshed SUV are now open at all 95 authorised Honda dealers nationwide.


Sony to develop new EVs with Honda, first model due 2025

Sony’s electric vehicle (EV) dreams might finally be coming true soon, as the company announces the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japanese car giant
Honda
to establish a new joint venture company, tasked with developing a new range of electric vehicles.
While a MoU is non-binding, the companies said that the new joint venture company will be established formally before the end of 2022, with first customer deliveries slated for 2025.
As usual, what exactly will be the first joint venture production vehicle still remains in the dark, but Sony has previously already shown off two concept EVs – the
Vision-S 01
 and
02
 – with the former already
carrying out road tests in Europe
last year.
The new joint venture company will be involved in the planning, design, development, and sales of the new electric cars, while leveraging on Honda’s expertise in vehicle development, manufacturing, and after-sales services. The cars will be built in Honda’s existing manufacturing plants.
Sony, meanwhile, will utilise its “expertise in the development and application of imaging, sensing, telecommunication, network, and entertainment technologies” to develop a “mobility service platform”.
“Through this alliance with Honda, which has accumulated extensive global experience and achievements in the automobile industry over many years and continues to make revolutionary advancements in this field, we intend to build on our vision to ‘make the mobility space an emotional one,’ and contribute to the evolution of mobility centred around safety, entertainment and adaptability,” said a Sony Group chairman, president, and CEO, Kenichiro Yoshida.
RELATED: Sony Vision-S 02 SUV shown at CES, could be on sale soon!
“Although Sony and Honda are companies that share many historical and cultural similarities, our areas of technological expertise are very different. Therefore, I believe this alliance which brings together the strengths of our two companies offers great possibilities for the future of mobility,” added Honda president and CEO Toshihiro Mibe.
Sony first entered the automotive world in 2020, with the reveal of the Vision-S (now Vision-S 01) electric sedan concept during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that year. The car was subsequently put through on-road tests in Austria the following year, with a development mule built by Magna-Steyr.
A second EV concept, the Vision-S 02 SUV, was revealed in CES earlier this year, alongside plans to establish a new Sony Mobility company to “explore entry into the EV market” while searching for a partner to assist in the development and production of its planned models.


Locally-assembled Volvo S90 T8 PHEV to be exported to 5 ASEAN countries!

At the launch of the
Volvo S90 T8
, Volvo Car Malaysia (VCM) has expressed that the locally assembled flagship premium sedan will be exported to five markets in the ASEAN region with more markets under consideration. This business move supports the Government’s policies to transform Malaysia to a regional hub for Energy Efficient Vehicles (EEV).
Among the countries that will receive the Malaysian assembled include Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Laos and Cambodia have been marked as potential export markets as well. VCM estimates that annual export volumes will be close to 5,000 cars within the next few years.

Despite the S90 being built on the company’s all-new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform, VCM is able to assemble the premium sedan at their Shah Alam facility thanks to the continuous investment made to modernise the 50-year-old plant. The continuous upgrades are critical for the Malaysian plant to produce future Volvo models especially when the Swedes has plans that
all Volvo cars will be hybrids from 2019 onwards
with the brands
first full EV to be built in China
.
Chairman of the Malaysian Green Technology Corporation, Tan Sri Peter Chin Fah Kui, said at the launch, “Malaysia is a strong proponent of sustainable mobility as it is the future of the transport industry. IGEM is proud to have hosted the launch of the new Volvo Car Malaysia’s new entry into the sustainable transport market. I am certain that the new Volvo S90 T8 Twin Engine will convert more drivers into green enthusiasts.”


Mercedes-AMG GT Concept may get 800 hp and all-wheel drive!

Unveiled at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show early this year, the
Mercedes-AMG GT Concept
 was the limelight for Mercedes-AMG. Sporting a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 hybrid powertrain, the company hinted that the grand tourer is capable of a 0 – 100 km/h sprint time of less than 3.0 seconds.
At the Mercedes-AMG 50
th
 anniversary celebration, they revealed more details of their upcoming four-door grand tourer. According to Tobias Moers, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH, the GT Concept is the embodiment of
AMG Future Performance
– to produce more high-performance hybrid drive systems.
As reported earlier, the GT Concept will be the second AMG model to bear the “EQ Power+” designation, after the
Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One vehicle
. A new, fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive system will be employed to give drivers maximum traction control.
The electric motor sends drive to the
rear axles exclusively
 and acts as an additional booster for the combustion engine. According to Moers, the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 hybrid powertrain, in its final development stages is capable of generating up to
600 kW
 which roughly translates to
805 hp
!
The battery pack (passed down from their F1 cars) will constantly be charged whilst the vehicle is in motion for maximum electric boost at any given time. For that, a performance oriented battery pack is developed to be more powerful, compact and lighter than conventional hybrid batteries.
IMAGE GALLERY


Watch how President Duterte massacred vehicles worth RM22 mill

Philippines President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is known for his crackdown against illegal drug trade which he executes with an iron fist. However, drugs are not only President Duterte’s only concern as he recently led the public destruction of smuggled vehicles to show his renewed commitment to combat smuggling. Fair warning because it is not a pretty sight for us petrolheads.
A total of 68 ‘luxury’ vehicles and eight superbikes worth P296 million (RM22 million) were bulldozed at Port Irene. Among the
victims
 were a Lamborghini Gallardo, Porsche 911, Ford Mustang, Mercedes-Benz SLK, Nissan Fairlady and many more… If you have the stomach to watch the purge take place:
The President remains firm on the importance of peace and order in order for a community to become progressive hence the public condemnation of contraband goods. While many netizens voiced out their concern that the seized goods could’ve been auctioned off and the earnings can be put to better use.
To reply to naysayers, we would like to extract a quote from a modern classic film: “It’s not about the money, it’s about sending a message.”
IMAGE GALLERY


Start of a new era: Volkswagen ID.4 GTX shows-off new high-performance EV suffix

When you see a car with the ‘GTI’ badge, be it the
VW Golf
 or
Peugeot 308
, you know that it means business. But with the automotive world gradually (For the most part) moving towards electric, the ‘I’ in ‘GTI’ (which stands for ‘Injection’, for fuel injection) doesn’t make too much sense any more. So how do you name a performance-oriented EV? For Volkswagen, it’s GTX – the X stands for crossing over to electric drive, apparently.
Say hello to the future of the GTI, the Volkswagen ID.4 GTX. But the funny thing is, this is actually not the first time the GTX suffix appeared on a Volkswagen model. Some 30-odd years ago, the German Manufacturer once made a Jetta GTX that was most definitely not electric powered. Anyway, we digress.
The main difference on the GTX variant is the addition of an extra motor on the front axle, which means the ID.4 GTX is all-wheel driven – a first for electric VW models. With the extra paws up front, total system power output is bumped up to
220 kW (295 hp)
 – though no mention of the new torque figures.
The extra power translates to a 0-100 km/h of
6.2 seconds
(down from 8.5s), while the top speed has increased 20 km/h to an electronically-limited
180 km/h
. For day-to-day driving, perhaps a more relevant performance figure is the 0-60 km/h acceleration, which VW says the ID.4 GTX can complete in 3.2 seconds.
The new powertrain is paired to the same
77 kWh
 battery pack from the
 standard ID.4
, which on the GTX, gives it a
480 km range
, per WLTP.
Despite the new additional electric motor up front, the Volkswagen ID.4 GTX will still stay in RWD mode for the most part of your regular daily drives to save electric juice. The front motors are only activated when the onboard sensors detect more traction is needed, or when the driver gives the car the full beans. VW says the switch from RWD to AWD is completed in a matter of milliseconds, and it’s so smooth that the driver won’t even notice it.
To mark it out from the normal ID.4, VW gave the GTX a couple of unique exterior features, including the tri-beam daytime-running lights on the faux air inlets up front, reworked bumpers, and fancy 3D tail lights at the rear that supposedly forms an ‘X’ with its light signature.
The interior of the GTX is also suitably (to some people, at least) spiced up, with the top of the dashboard wrapped in leatherette in a colour called “X-Blue”, contrasted by red accents that is synonymous with the previous GTI models.
The new Volkswagen ID.4 GTX will go on sale this summer in Europe, with a starting price tag of EUR50,415 (~RM248k) in Germany before the EUR7,500 subsidy. If you had a choice, would you take the new ID.4 GTX over the
Golf GTI
 – which is still around EUR5,000 cheaper even with the EV subsidy? Let us know in the comments below!
GALLERY


The McLaren F1’s successor will be called the McLaren Speedtail

McLaren Automotive has just confirmed that it’s the McLaren’s F1 spiritual successor, project BP23 will be called the McLaren Speedtail. The new Hyper-GT will make its public debut before the end of 2018.
The sold-out Speedtail replicates the ethos of the legendary McLaren F1, to be the greatest GT car to go down in history. With a centre driving position and two seats on either side, top speed in excess of 243mph (391 km/h), the Speedtail will be the fastest (in a straight line) and most luxurious vehicle to roll out of McLaren.
Unlike the track-oriented Senna, the Speedtail will spot a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain like the P1. Although we can expect the ultimate road-going McLaren will have over
900 hp
 at its disposal in order to achieve its acceleration and top speed claims.
The 106 lucky customers who have placed their deposits will be invited for a private preview of their upcoming car. Production is expected to begin end 2019 with McLaren Special Operations (MSO) working overtime to tailor-made every Speedtail to the owners individual liking.


下一代Mazda MX-5将会电气化，预计将在2025年上市

在经历了漫长的传言之后，根据
MotorTrend
的报道，Mazda现在最终确认了下一代MX-5敞篷车将被电气化。
这个确认在细节上很少，我们还不确定“电气化”到底意味着什么 – 它会是轻型混合动力，混合动力，还是全电动。Mazda之前确实宣布了与Rohm Semiconductor和Envision AESC合作，以开发符合Mazda“驾驶的乐趣”品牌理念的电动机和电池，所以我们可能会在下一代Mazda MX-5上看到这些合作的第一批结果。
将Mazda MX-5敞篷车电气化符合公司的总体方向，到2030年，这家日本品牌的整个产品线将通过“多种电气化技术”实现电气化，以在2050年实现端到端的碳中和。
考虑到Mazda MX-5的使命，我们认为轻型混合动力方案 – 最早在2021年传言 – 在这里似乎最有可能。Mazda MX-5以其轻巧、无华丽装饰的刺激性而著名，而一个为混合动力或全电动驱动系统的大电池包可能导致重量和成本过度增加。
MotorTrend报道称，电气化的下一代Mazda MX-5将在2025年尽快推出。至于它会看起来如何，去年年底揭示的Vision Study Model很可能会向生产模型提供一些，如果不是全部，它的设计影响。
第四代(ND) Mazda MX-5搭载了一台自然吸气的SkyActiv-G 2.0升发动机，输出
181 hp
和
205 Nm
扭矩，理想情况下通过六速手动变速器传输到后轮。敞篷车的Retractable Fastback (RF)版本最近在马来西亚更新了，配备了Mazda的Kinetic Posture Control扭矩分配系统，并且现在的价格从
RM276,200
开始。
【英文版】


BMW i-setta: It’s a cheeky hoax but we love it anyway

It’s cute and tongue in cheek, and BMW is having a laugh in conjunction with
April Fools’ day,
 but a fully-electric version of its legendary bubble car actually makes a lot of sense as that would not only keep an automotive icon alive (as electric powertrains are much simpler to maintain), but the concept hits the spot as a modern zero-emission urban runabout.
The 2002 (background) probably owes its existence to the diminutive Isetta.
The history of the Isetta is a tale worth telling. This two-seater came about in the mid-1950s when BMW was struggling to start over in the post war era as a maker of motorcycles and automobiles (they made aircraft engines for the Luftwaffe during WW2). To offer customers an ‘economic’ option, the company licensed the Isetta from an Italian firm called Iso which specialised in producing small vehicles. Yes, even BMW rebadged when it had to.
Over 160,000 Isettas were produced by BMW, some still run today.
Of course, BMW equipped the Isetta with a powerplant of its own – a 250cc motorbike engine worthy of 12 hp and 14.2 Nm and could power the microcar up to a top speed of around 85 km/h. The four-stroke, one-cylinder motor turned two closely-spaced rear wheels and was mated to a manual transmission with four forward ratios and a reverse gear. The 360 kg-Isetta was a fuel-efficiency record holder then with a rating of 3.8-litre per 100 km, or 26.3 km/l.
Talk about grocery shopping in style!
The Isetta could accommodate two adults, even a child at a pinch and it was revolutionary in that it had a forward-opening door (like a fridge) and an attached steering assembly that folded out of the way, which made getting in and out easy. For its size, the Isetta offered room for luggage and carried a spare wheel. In the event of a frontal collision, occupants could escape through its fabric sunroof.
Isetta draws the crowd at the BMW Museum.
Over 160,000 units of the Isetta were eventually sold and the bubbly car kept BMW alive during its period of rebuilding. The Isetta is a collectors’ item these days and are traded for serious money. To experience and see an Isetta up close, make your way to BMW Welt in Munich where a mint Isetta 250 roams the halls offering visitors a unique taste of BMW history. Or we can wait for the launch of the electric-powered i-setta. Well, maybe.
If you ever make it to the Welt, ask for a ride in this!


Facts & Figures: CBU Fully-electric Mazda MX-30 crossover now in Malaysia from RM198k

Bermaz Motor, the sole distributor of Mazda vehicles in Malaysia has opened for booking the fully imported (CBU), fully-electric MX-30 crossover in two variants – Mid and High – with prices starting from
RM198,780
. The MX-30 was first revealed at the
2019 Tokyo Motor Show
. Deliveries are expected to take place in Q4 of 2022.
The Mazda MX-30 comes with a 5-year/100,000km manufacturer warranty, whichever comes first along with an 8-year/160,000 km EV battery warranty, whichever comes first.
Built on the CX-30 platform, the fully electric MX-30 is fitted with a 35.5 kWh battery, to power an electric motor that drives the front wheels. The combination produces
143 hp
 and
271 Nm
and is expected to return up to 199 km of electric driving range.
Using a 6.6 kW Type 2 AC charger, the MX-30 can be fully charged in just 5 hours while the quicker 40 kW DC charger can charge the MX-30 up to 80% in 36 minutes.
On the outside, both variants – the Mid and High – offer similar specifications including items like 18-inch alloy wheels, heated side mirrors, LED headlights, taillights, and rear along with keyless entry and 10 parking sensors – four in the front and six at the rear. Exclusive to the High variant are items like a powered sunroof and LED Signature headlights.
Moving inside, both variants share nearly the same specifications as well. Standard features include a head-up display, 7-inch colour TFT LCD multi-info display, dual-zone air conditioning, electronic parking brake, gear shift paddles, 8.8-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, two USB ports and reverse camera display.
Exclusive to the High variant are features such as the Bose sound system with 12 speakers, frameless rear-view mirror, 360-degree view display, seats wrapped with a mix of leatherette and fabric material, and 8-way powered seats with memory, lumbar and heated functions. The Mid variant only gets 6-way manually adjusted seats for the driver and passenger.
In terms of safety and driver aids, the MX-30 comes with seven airbags, along with Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop-Go function, autonomous emergency braking (front and rear in the High variant), lane keep assist and lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert and blindspot monitor. The high variant even comes with front cross-traffic alert.
GALLERY


RM500 aid to drivers of e-hailing vehicles, taxis and buses this year

Under the Malaysian government’s latest
“Permai”
 economy and people’s assistance package, drivers of e-hailing vehicles, taxis, buses, rental cars as well as tourist guides are set to receive a one-off RM500 aid this year.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said an allocation of RM66 million has been set aside to support the 118,000 drivers and 14,000 tourist guides who were trying to make ends meet through the services above.
The special granting of aid was to ease the burden of the affected group under the
recently enforced movement control order (MCO)
 due to the rising daily Covid-19 cases.
This is the
second of such financial aid distribution
 to the individuals from the group above, albeit a much larger group and allotment.
For last year’s aid, recipients in the e-hailing category were thoroughly screened and filtered. Only drivers who have obtained all the
necessary documents
 from JPJ and APAD with earnings of at least RM 1,200 in either November 2019, December 2019 or January 2020 are eligible.
Based on news reports, over 68,000 e-hailing drivers qualified and received their RM500 aid which was paid out in stages from June 2020. No announcement has been made yet if the criteria for e-hailing drivers is maintained.
The support for taxi drivers and operators has also increased under “Permai”, as the goverment has reduced the condition of transfer and disposal of taxis to private car usage. The ownership requirement has been reduced from seven to five years.


Honda Malaysia recalls 46,710 cars over Airbag Inflator issue

Honda Malaysia today announced a precautionary recall for another 46,710 units of Honda vehicles in sold in Malaysia.
This extension involves a total of 26,186 units whose recall is likely to linked to the
Takata
 airbag inflator issue which has affected an estimated 53 million vehicles worldwide making it the biggest recall ever.
The Malaysian recall by Honda consists of the
City
 (2008-2009 manufactured year),
Civic
 (2007-2009),
CR-V
 (2007-2008) and
Jazz
 (2007 & 2009) for the
front passenger airbag inflator
. And 20,524 units of the
Honda Accord
 (manufactured from 2003–2007) which are affected by the
driver front airbag inflator
.

Front Passanger Airbag Inflator
Model
Manufactured Year
City
2008 – 2009
Civic
2007 – 2009
CR-V
2007 – 2008
Jazz
2007 & 2009
Front Driver Airbag Inflator
Model
Manufactured Year
Accord
2003 – 2007
Honda is taking the proactive precautionary measure which is in place to swap over the airbag inflator module for a
newly made
 part to combat the issue. The
cost
 of the replacement will be
borne by Honda Malaysia
 once the parts supply is ready.


BMW 320i Sport Edition joins the F30 line-up in Malaysia, priced at RM259k

BMW Group Malaysia have just announced the arrival of another F30 variant, this time in the guise of the
BMW 320i Sport Edition
. The
locally assembled
 premium compact executive sedan is given a price tag of
RM258,800 (OTR without insurance)
, up about
RM17k
 from the regular 320i (RM241,800).
QUICK FACTS
Name
BMW 320i Sport Edition
Segment
C-Segment
Engine
1,997cc, inline 4-cylinder, BMW TwinPower Turbo
Max Power
184 hp @ 5,000 rpm
Max Torque
270 Nm @ 1,250 to 4,500 rpm
Price
RM258,800 (OTR without insurance)

Before we get into the details of the 320i Sport Edition, here’s a brief idea of where the new variant sits in the F30 stable:
EXTERIOR
So what do you get when you fork out an additional RM17k for what is essentially another 320i? Well, for one, you get the
18-inch double-spoke light-alloy wheels
 (wrapped with
225/45 R18 series tyres
) which are found on the 328i Sport Line variant. This effectively
replaces the 17-inchers
 on the cheaper 320i. That’s about it on the outside, though.

INTERIOR
On the inside, the 320i Sport Edition gets the same 6.5-inch iDrive head unit but is now smacked with a
GPS navigation system
 which BMW calls the “Navigation systems Business”. The
instrument cluster
 is also new with an
enlarged multi-info display
, reminiscent of the 328i. Also new to the interior are the
nine-speaker HiFi loudspeaker system
 with a
205 Watt amplifier
.

PERFORMANCE
No changes have been made under the hood, unfortunately. To recap however, the same effervescent
2.0-litre

turbocharged
 mill powers the F30, one that is capable of making
184 horsepower
 at 5,000 rpm and
270 Nm
 of torque from 1,250 to 4,500 rpm. Such numbers propel the car from standstill to 100 km/h in
7.6 seconds
 and onto a top speed of
235 km/h
. All this is achieved thanks to the proven
eight-speed automatic
 transmission which drives the
rear wheels
.
The BMW 320i Sport Edition comes in
six shades of colours
: Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Melbourne Red, Glacier Silver, Imperial Blue and Mineral Grey. Priced at
RM258,800
, it comes with a
three-year or 60,000km
 BMW Service + Repair Inclusive warranty programme.
[divider]
IMAGE GALLERY


2016 Renault Koleos 2.5L launched in Malaysia, priced at RM172k

Thinking of getting an upmarket SUV but the go-to models just don’t seem to fit your taste? Want an SUV that stands out even when you’re stuck in traffic, yet you don’t want to compromise on equipment? Maybe the new flagship SUV from Renault, the Koleos, is the car for you.
The Renault Koleos is definitely not for the ones who want to blend in. Its bold design and European built quality may fit the bill for some buyers.
QUICK FACTS
Name
Renault Koleos
Engine
2,488cc DOHC with VVT
Transmission
X-tronic CVT
Max Power
167 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Max Torque
226 Nm @ 4,400 rpm
Price (OTR without insurance)
RM172,800
EXTERIOR
The Koleos gives off a very imposing impression that is also pleasant to the eyes. However, its 4,520mm length is actually one of the shortest among its closest rivals. It is the widest in its class at 1,855mm. The front grille with the large Renault badge in the middle gives it that masculine SUV look, and it is flanked with those slim full LED Pure Vision headlamps with LED daytime running lights.

The front fog lamps are halogen powered, but at the rear you get this pair of sleek LED combination tail lamps that dominate most of the rear profile. The chrome trims on the front bumper, side skirts and rear bumper all point towards the SUV’s adventurous nature, and complementing this are the roof rails. The Koleos rides on 18-inch alloys wrapped in 225/60 rubbers as standard.
INTERIOR
On the inside, the French SUV has an air of exclusivity and quality. The interior upholstery is finished in premium leather, and the first thing that stands out in the black-themed cabin is the huge 8.7-inch touchscreen
R-Link 2 multimedia system
. The screen is vertically mounted and houses all the multimedia controls. The screen can be operated using swipe gestures the same way you navigate a smartphone or tablet.

Other standard built in amenities are GPS navigation and reverse camera. As expected from a premium grade SUV, the Koleos comes with a suite of additional features. Driving aids such as cruise control, tyre pressure monitor, front and rear parking sensors, parking assistance, auto dimming rear view mirror, rain sensing wipers and automatic headlamps all come as standard.
Besides that, the Koleos also comes with keyless entry and push-start, electric parking brake, six-way powered driver seats with power lumbar adjustments, dual zone climate control, ambient lighting, cooling function for front cup holders and two USB charging ports at the rear.
This large SUV is able to take in 952 litres of cargo with the rear seats folded down. Put the seats back up and it will do 458 litres of boot volume. Although not the biggest in its class, it has a flat loading lip, making it considerably easier to load items.
PERFORMANCE
The Koleos is powered by a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated VVT engine that produces
167 hp
 and
226 Nm
 of torque. Power is mated to an X-Tronic CVT to drive the front wheels. Don’t turn away from the CVT gearbox just yet, because the 1.6 tonne SUV is able to sprint from nought to 100km/h in just
9.5 seconds
. This is achieved with its impressive low end torque with
200 Nm
 made available from just
1,800 rpm
. The Koleos will manage
8.1 litres
 per 100km on a combined cycle.
SAFETY
Standard safety features include six airbags, ABS with EBD and EBA, Electronic Stability Control and Hill-Start Assist. Blind spot indicator system is also available here. Besides that, the car has automatic locking function that is absent in many Japanese cars – function that most of us take for granted.
WHAT ELSE?
Customers can specify their Koleos in four different exterior shades: Meissen Blue (like the one here), Universal White, Black Metallic or Grey Metallic. As with any modern Renault, the Koleos comes with a 5-Year unlimited mileage warranty. Bookings are now open for Renault’s flagship SUV. You can catch the fully imported Koleos in the metal at Mid Valley Mega Mall from 7 to 11 September 2016.
The Koleos is fully imported from Renault’s production facility in Busan, South Korea. So, for RM172k, you’re really getting a car of real good value. There’s no plans for local assembly yet, though.
IMAGE GALLERY


Gallery: Suzuki Jimny now in Malaysia, from RM169k

The
Suzuki Jimny
 was
officially launched in Malaysia
 yesterday, and we just couldn’t wait to see it in person. So armed with a camera, we popped by the Suzuki showroom to get a closer look.

We knew that the Jimny is small, but really, photos and videos that you see online still doesn’t really convey just how tiny it is. Credit where it’s due though – Suzuki has really nailed the proportions of the Jimny down to a T. Despite its small footprint, the Jimny still looks like a proper (adorable) beast, ready to tackle any terrain it’s being thrown at.
The Suzuki Jimny, not in its natural habitat.
Since it’s really meant as a no-frills, entry-level offroader, the Suzuki Jimny’s exterior equipment list is fairly basic. As standard, you get an automatic LED projector headlights, halogen-illuminated fog lights, 15-inch wheels wrapped in 195/80 section tyres, and a full-sized spare wheel at the back – and that’s about it.
Suzuki says that the chunky black plastic bumpers are made up of a anti-scratch material, so you don’t have to worry about brushing up against a tree while traversing the jungle. The same material also extends over the fenders for the proper offroad-ready look.
There are four exterior colours available – pictured here is the Jungle Green hue, but there’s also Medium Grey, Bluish Black (additional RM1,500), and a special Kinetic Yellow + Bluish Black roof combo (additional RM2,500).
Naza Eastern Motors also introduced the latest Suzuki Swift Sport here in Malaysia earlier this year. Check it out here!
Inside, the no-frills ethos continues with the use of hard plastic all around, alongside manually-adjusted fabric seats. Take a look at the rear seats/cargo area, and you’ll even see some uncovered surfaces that shows off the car’s exterior body colour!
Standard equipment on the interior include a leather-wrapped steering wheel with cruise control buttons, an analogue instrument cluster (covered in a unique offroad-inspired binnacle), a seven7-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay connectivity, and single-zone automatic climate control.
Underneath the bonnet, you’ll find a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine sending
100 hp
 and
130 Nm
 of torque to all four wheels, exclusively via a four-speed automatic transmission here in Malaysia.
As a proper off-roader, the Jimny comes with a part-time 4WD low-range transfer gearbox called ‘4×4 AllGrip Pro’ with 4H, 4L, and 2H drive modes for different driving situations – the latter for when you’re just driving around on properly-paved roads.
It’s also built on a ladder frame chassis, with three-link rigid front and rear axles and coil springs to handle difficult surfaces. Due to its short overhangs, the Suzuki Jimny boasts a 49-degrees departure angle, 39-degrees approach angle. Ground clearance, meanwhile, stands at 210 mm.
The Suzuki Jimny is only available as a single variant here in Malaysia, priced at
RM168,900
 on the road, without insurance, but inclusive of the sales tax exemptions that are valid until the end of the year.
Also included in the price is a three-year/100,000 km official warranty from Naza Eastern Motors. For the full specifications breakdown of the adorable little off-roader, do check out our launch coverage
here
.
GALLERY


Watch how the McLaren Senna destroys every other supercar on track!

With all its horsepower and aerodynamic aids, the McLaren Senna is a formidable track weapon that you can drive to work. Now, there’s proof. Here’s one tearing the tarmac at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, making us feel sorry for the rest.
The video starts off with incredible B-rolls of the same car in a garage that is the wet dream of every car nut. It even had another Senna and an old Ferrari Formula 1 race car parked in it!
Then the madness begins. In a field made up of countless Porsches, Lamborghinis and Ferraris, the Senna just made everyone look like they’re were moving backwards! Even the
Huracan Performante
 (or what seems like one) with 640 hp and 600 Nm from a 5.2-litre V10 seemed helpless in putting up a fight with the Senna on the main straight.

This is not the first time the McLaren Senna has been caught bullying everyone in its way on the track. It was so quick, you’d be easily fooled to think the video was sped up, but it wasn’t. Watch it
here
.
Powering the beast named after one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers known to man, Ayrton Senna, is a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that pushes out
789 hp
 and
800 Nm
. It’ll do 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.8 seconds before topping out at a mind-boggling 340 km/h.


Waze is now officially on Apple CarPlay for iOS 12

Waze has just announced that the Waze navigation app is now officially available on Apple CarPlay. Users have to update their iPhones to the latest iOS 12 software to
enable third-party navigation applications
 like Waze and Google Maps.
On compatible devices, users can access the Waze app directly through the infotainment screen. Available functions include shortcut buttons to Home, Work and Favourites. As reported
earlier
, manually searching for destination requires you to key in the address onto your iPhone as the Waze on CarPlay does not have a pop-up keyboard.

Once the destination is set, the full route overview will be displayed on the screen to allow users to easily review alternate routes, adjust sound settings as well as receive visual and audio alerts through the sound system. Users can also report any traffic situations via the “Send a Report” button, however, map chat function is not available.
Our colleagues from
the Mandarin site
 has
sampled Waze on Apple CarPlay
 the day it went live on iOS 12 as a beta version and what he can take home is the cleaner and more minimalist user interface compared to Waze on Android Auto.


Video: Nissan Almera Turbo vs Honda City V comparison

For the longest time, think B-segment sedan and the

Honda City
 and
 Toyota Vios
names are usually the first to pop up but all that is about to change; with the
all-new Nissan Almera
. Check out our
comparison between the three cars
!
For the longest time, the Almera has had an unfortunate image attached to it but for good reason. It was cheap to own, cheap to run, and practical but it lacked aesthetic appeal, and let’s just say, you’ve never seen a viral video of an Almera leaping across a massive drain, have you? It lacked a certain excitement to it too.

From a car that you need, the Almera has now become the car you want. From a car that was sold as a cheap and cheerful mode of A to B transportation, it can now boast higher performance, better handling, improved refinement, and unparalleled safety.
On the other hand, the City has grown strength to strength. If the Almera has come out of puberty into an attractive young adult, the City has gotten more mature – evolving from an already accomplished product into one that’s finished with more premium touches. If anything, the cabin design and finishing can easily fool you for a more expensive C-segment car.
The new City now
 starts from RM74,000
while the base model Almera
starts from RM79,000
 and they could not be any more different from each other. One’s turbocharged, the other isn’t. One feels and looks sporty and youthful, the other is more grown up and mature now.
Which would you choose? Check out the video and tell us why!


Ford Focus RS specs revealed: 2.3L EcoBoost makes 345 hp & 470 Nm! [+Video]

At the recent
Goodwood Festival of Speed
, Ford revealed the
Focus RS
, one that was co-developed with Ken Block who described the hot hatch as being on another level.
This hatch certainly has its work cut out with stiff competition from the Deutchland duo – the
280 hp

Volkswagen Golf R

and the beastly
381 hp

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG
. The plucky Brit (we say Brit, but it’s made in Germany, oddly enough) is powered by the new
2.3-litre EcoBoost
 four banger that’s also shared with the
Mustang
.
Ford hasn’t gotten around to releasing the full spec sheet of their most focused Focus, but the motor has been significantly upgraded for the Focus RS to deliver
10 percent
 more power with
345 hp
 maximum output as opposed to the
310 horses
 of the Pony’s. Torque figures stand at
440 Nm,
 however the Overboost feature will push it up to
470 Nm
, just 5 Nm shy of the A 45 AMG.
The significant go factor here is attributed to the new
 redesigned, low-inertia twin-scroll turbocharger
 unit that utilises
 larger compressors
 for greater air flow. Cooling is a matter of precedence when dealing with wacky output figures. A much
 larger intercooler
 is in place to
 maximise the charge density
. The engine also breathes better through an
enlarged and less restrictive intake
 design which makes for a deep throaty induction sound. The RS just wouldn’t be complete without a
high performance exhaust system
 that comes with an electronically controlled
 butterfly valve
 that helps optimise
back pressure
.
Putting all that power down on the road requires some serious machinery, which is why the
six-speed stick shifter
 co-developed by racing transmission gurus
Xtrac
 is fitted as standard on the RS. Thereafter, power is divided onto all fours via a trick
non-Haldex type AWD system
 that employs
Dynamic Torque Vectoring
 technology, which basically means that the power can be divided
 up to 70 percent to the rear wheels.
Now here’s something you would typically find in Need For Speed instead of a car. The Focus RS comes with a driving selector, one of which is labeled as
Drift Mode
. Befitting isn’t it, considering that the hatch was unveiled by Ken Block himself. The madness doesn’t end there. There’s also a Launch Control feature to go against the said German hatches.
Ford’s performance division has revealed that the Focus RS is one of
12 new hot performance models
 that will rolled out globally through to
2020
 as part of Fords new direction. Needless to say, watch this space for more updates.
IMAGE GALLERY


Toyota debuts new 6-speed MT for TNGA platform cars, lighter and more efficient

Manufacturers are slowly shunning away from the good ol’ stick shifters, pouring their resources into more marketable slushboxes and DCTs (dual-clutch transmission). Manual transmissions then are a rare commodity, but Toyota however, still believes that a good portion of its customers still prefer to row through the gears on their own.
This has led the Japanese carmaker to develop a new six-speed manual transmission for its latest line up of cars that sit on the highly acclaimed Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform – a development framework to make more engaging and efficient cars.
The result is a new transmission that is lighter, more efficient and more liveable than ever before. Compared to the existing version, the new six-speeder is now lighter by seven kilograms and engineers have shaved 24 mm in total length. The lighter and more compact transmission contributes to fuel efficiency and helps in the overall packaging of the car. It is also one of the world’s smallest transmissions and boasts
world-leading transmission efficiency
.
Tipping the scale at
40 kg
, the new manual transmission is able to accommodate up to
280 Nm
 of torque hence the new gearbox will find its way to more civilian vehicles and
potentially
 the low- and mid-range sportscars like the
Yaris GRMN
 and
GT 86
.
The new six-speed manual also makes use of the iMT (Intelligent Manual Transmission) controls, an electronic control unit which automatically adjusts engine’s rpm when changing gears (both upshifts and downshifts) to ensure smooth and recoil-free gear shifts – think of it as a form rev-matching if you will.

It’s a shame however that this new six-speed manual transmission was developed to cater to European markets where the appetite for stick shifters makes a strong business case for manufacturers. Us on the other hand, are getting more and more CVTs (Continuously Variable Transmission) by the day…
IMAGE GALLERY


Video: The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 is a complete riot in Sepang!

Between turbocharged and naturally-aspirated performance cars, it’s always been a personal preference to go with the latter. The reason is simple and should be easy to agree on – purity. Not only are they more responsive and “alive”, but they also sound better. So when Porsche Malaysia rang us up for a drive in the
Porsche Cayman 718 GT4
 around Sepang, you can imagine the excitement.
That’s because the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 is one of the last of its kind. Locally, they’ve given it a “Perfectly Irrational” tagline that perfectly reflects the car’s persona and the company’s direction.

At a time when the company’s focus lies mainly in electric mobility, as is the direction of the industry as a whole, they’ve somehow made a car that, to some, may seem like it’s from a different time.
It comes with a manual gearbox and it’s not turbocharged. Instead, Porsche completely reversed the process – modifying the
3.0-litre turbocharged engine from the all-new Porsche 911
 – and gave birth to a 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated one with an 8,000 redline that’s loud, raw, and ferocious.
By today’s standards, the
 420 hp and torque
 (up 35 hp from before) may not sound like much, but when the flat-six engine is screaming near the rev limit and you’re upshifting from 3rd to 4th gear at over 150 km/h, there’s nothing out there, even for twice the price, that can deliver the same exhilaration and sensations.
The
911 Carrera S we drove in New Zealand
 does 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds, 0.7 seconds quicker than the Cayman GT4, and while it’s outrageously quick, it doesn’t feel as visceral as the Cayman GT4. Between 6,000 to 8,000 rpm in the Cayman GT4, it’s like being in the front row seat to the end of the world.
Your eyes are peeled to the road ahead that’s approaching quicker than you can comprehend; your ears are constantly overwhelmed by the flat-six noise blaring just behind you while your hands and legs are working overtime just to keep the car on the tarmac. It is truly a sensory overload and needing more power will be the last thing on your mind.
And the fact that the Cayman GT4 requires the manual changing of gears – something most would be appalled by (or incapable of doing) – makes it look like dial up modem to today’s 5G broadband. However, unlike the annoying dial up tunes and the slow connection speeds, this Cayman GT4 modem has taken all the good from the past and reintroduced in the digital era with modern enhancements.
Take the auto blip for example, a feature which pretty much allows you to “heel and toe like a pro” without having to rev match on your own. It truly takes a whole lot off the driver’s mind, allowing him or her to fully experience the car in all its mechanical glory without need professional training.
It also makes you realise that if Porsche were to apply the same treatment to its 911 GT models, it would be mandatory for its owners to undergo advanced driving courses. With the amount of fire those monsters breathe, especially the
GT2 RS
, having a manual gearbox would be a real handful.
The brakes we had on the Cayman GT4 were the best Porsche has to offer the car – carbon ceramics. It truly showed its worth, durability and effectiveness as after four hours of continuously lapping the South Section of Sepang, it still held its own. Hard braking maneuvers were still met with rapid deceleration without the slightest hint of the brakes fading or losing its bit.
They’ve also improved the aerodynamics and stability of the GT4. Porsche says it now
produces 50% extra downforce
 from its predecessor, largely contributed by the fixed rear wing and a new, more prominent rear diffuser.
The results truly speaks for itself as when we were doing close to 180 km/h on the back straight Sepang, the rear end felt like it was nailed to the tarmac without the slightest flinch.
The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 is as analogue as you’ll ever get in a high-performance car without the inconveniences of the past. Irrational? Yes, because this is a typewriter of a car more ways than one but if you’re going to go against a norm, to please a minority of enthusiasts, this is as perfectly irrational as it can get today.
GALLERY


All-new 2022 Perodua Alza bookings now 39k units strong, 4,000 units delivered

Alongside its July sales report,
Perodua
 also revealed that the recently-launched all-new Alza has now received
over 39,000 bookings
. The figure represents a significant increase over the 30k that was revealed during the model’s launch two weeks ago, which itself was already a record figure for the national carmaker.

Of the 39,000 bookings, Perodua has already delivered 4,000 units of the 2022 Alza to new owners. The company also revealed that 65% of all bookings are for the range-topping AV variant, while a whopping 70% of buyers are also opting for the
GearUp bodykit
, which costs RM2,500 and can be installed on all variants.
Perodua attributes the positive response to the
expiring SST exemptions at the end of June
. However, the 9,000 bookings in just two weeks shows that demand for the all-new seven-seater MPV is still healthy, despite a higher price tag.
RELATED:
All-new 2022 Perodua Alza GearUp accessories – RM2.5k body kit for all variants
In order to cater for the demand, Perodua is considering to expand its plant’s production capacity for the Alza from the initially-planned 3,000 units per month up to 4,000. The company reassures that those who have placed their bookings before the expiry of the SST exemptions will receive their vehicles by the March 31, 2023 registration cut-off date.
As a brief recap, the all-new Perodua Alza is currently offered in Malaysia in three variants, with prices starting for at RM62,500 for the entry-level 1.5 X variant, moving up to RM75,500 for the range-topping AV.
All variants are equipped with the same 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated inline-four engine making
105 hp
and
138 Nm
 of torque, with power sent to the front wheels via the brand’s Dual-Mode CVT (D-CVT) gearbox. Perodua’s ASA 3.0 advanced driver assistance suite is also standard across all variants.
For the full specifications breakdown of the all-new 2022 Perodua Alza, check out our detailed launch coverage here.


BMW 218i Gran Coupe gets new Limited Edition model in Malaysia, exclusive to Auto Bavaria

The
BMW 218i Gran Coupe
 is getting a new limited-edition model here in Malaysia, offering a variety of additional equipment and aesthetic upgrade parts for the compact model. Just like the
limited-edition BMW X5 with M Performance parts
, however, the new model will be exclusive to
 Auto Bavaria
dealerships nationwide.
Three different packages will be available to choose from: “Aesthetics”, “Signature Sound”, and “Best of Both Worlds”, with only 50 units offered in Malaysia. Pricing ranges from RM227,800 to RM233,800 depending on package, but will all come with complimentary window tint, and a Sttoke Reusable Ceramic Cup.
The Aesthetics package (
RM228,800
) comes equipped with several M Performance Parts to jazz up the looks of your car, including a gloss black mesh grille with a similar design to the M340i, carbon fibre wing mirror caps, a black boot lid ducktail spoiler, and puddle lights that project a BMW M logo onto the ground when the doors are ajar. Also included are petrol vouchers worth RM3,000 to sweeten the deal even further.
The Signature Sound package at
RM227,800
, meanwhile, includes the more premium Harman Kardon sound system, alongside a complimentary Harman Kardon bluetooth speaker to take the party outside too. As the name suggests, the Best of Both World package nets you all of the above, at a price of
RM233,800
.
RELATED: BMW Malaysia updates 2022 218i Gran Coupe – to come with dual screens from RM204k
Aside from these additional items, the rest of the car is unchanged from the base car here in Malaysia, with standard equipment including LED headlights, 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels, black Dakota leather upholstery, as well as the
BMW Live Cockpit Professional system
 with twin 10.25-inch displays.
Motivation comes from a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine that makes
140 hp
 and
220 Nm
 of torque, with power sent to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox for a 0-100 km/h time of
8.7 seconds
, and a rated top speed of
213 km/h
.


Toyota to develop a new GT 86 with Subaru, promises improved performance

After recently confirming that the
GT 86 will not be turbocharged
, Toyota is reportedly developing on the next generation 86 model with Subaru, with an aim to launch it sometime after 2020.
According to
reports
, the new 86 could likely have a larger capacity 2.4-litre engine than the out-going 2.0-litre model and will have better stability all-round.
Subaru on the other hand would likely incorporate its Eye Sight driver assistance system in its BRZ – a move we feel may tamper with the image and simplicity of the BRZ as a purist sports car, with all the added driver aid electronics.
Chief Engineer for the GT 86 and Supra, Tetsuya Tada, recently stressed that the GT 86 will never be turbocharged as it would affect the vehicle’s weight distribution.
Toyota Chief Engineer for GT 86 & Supra, Tetsuya Tada
With a power boost, a turbocharged GT 86 would require a change of the vehicle’s dynamics, as it would upset the front and rear balance of the car thus losing the essence of the car – balance.


Can the Bugatti Chiron beat a 2011 F1 car in a drag race?

People talk about the advancement of technology and all that, but what’s the point if our current hypercars still can’t beat a 10-year-old Formula 1 race car? Of course, we’re only kidding, but it seemed like the lads at Carwow weren’t, as they’ve literally just pitted a
Bugatti Chiron
 beside the Red Bull RB7 F1 race car in a drag race.

While the RB7 is already 10-years old now, its performance is still nothing to scoff at. The 2.4-litre naturally-aspirated V8 engine at the back can put down
750hp
 to the rear wheels, and it needs to work against 650 kg plus one David Coulthard.
On the other hand, the Bugatti Chiron’s massive 8.0-litre W16 engine packs a whopping
1500 hp
 and
1,600 Nm
 on tap, but it also weighs like a pig with all of its leather and luxury touches on-board, tipping the scales at just under 2,000 kg.
Screenshot:
Carwow
/YouTube
Just based on numbers alone, it already doesn’t look too good for the Chiron. At least it has launch control and all-wheel drive to help put the power down into the ground, I guess.
Can’t get enough of the Bugatti Chirons in drag races? Check out this one against a fighter jet!
And unsurprisingly, the Red Bull RB7 managed to outgun the Bugatti Chiron in all three drag races – the F1 racer completed the standing quarter mile run in 9.2 seconds, while the Chiron came in just 0.4 seconds away at 9.6 seconds!
Screenshot:
Carwow
/YouTube
We all thought that the F1 car would make the Chiron look like it’s standing still, but the fact that it managed to stay so close to an actual F1 car is already impressive – granted, F1 cars are never built for drag races, but… it’s still an F1 race car, for heaven’s sake.
At the end of the video, the Bugatti Chiron even managed to beat the RB7 from a rolling start on a longer run, thanks to its higher top speed. The downforce-focused design of the F1 car just generated too much drag, even though it managed to accelerate faster at the start. We’ll take that as a win in our books.
We at AutoBuzz.my run our own drag races too! Here’s the ultimate Juara Kampung showdown, the Perodua Myvi vs Proton Iriz.
All in all, it’s just one hell of a fun video, so make sure you give it a watch, especially because you may not see anything like it again. It’s not every day the F1 cars are allowed to do fun stuff like that. At the very least, you’ll still enjoy the glorious sound of the “old-school” V8 F1 cars.


Gallery: 2023 Lexus RX 350 Luxury now open for booking in Malaysia – RM469k

Just a few days
since its first official teaser
, Lexus Malaysia has now announced the opening of its order books for the
2023 Lexus RX
. The all-new model will be offered in a single RX 350 Luxury variant at launch, priced at
RM468,888
 (on-the-road, without insurance), and will be available for booking at all Lexus dealerships across Malaysia.
Looking to renew your vehicle insurance? Be sure to check out MotorTakaful.com by Etiqa. Renewing online will not only get you a 10% instant rebate, but also cash back at the end of your coverage. Log on to
www.motortakaful.com
 to find out more.
The exterior design of the all-new 2023 Lexus RX is arguably more evolutionary than revolutionary, but it’s still undoubtedly a striking look. The most notable feature on its exterior redesign is the new ‘Spindle Body’ grille; a fresh reinterpretation of the Lexus signature front fascia that’s evolved into more of a three-dimensional mass rather than a grille, and as such does without any of the traditional “frame” around it.
Flanking the new grille are the new slimmer tri-beam LED headlights, but still with the marque’s signature boomerang-shaped light signature that emphasises on the spindle shape. It’s a cleaner look overall compared to before, yet at the same time a lot more aggressive too.
Over to the side, the all-new Lexus RX’s profile is also fairly reminiscent of its predecessor, but with several mild touches to bring it up to date, including the new surface line treatment, and an A pillar that has been pushed backwards to elongate the bonnet. The black plastic claddings around the wheel have also been removed for a cleaner appearance.
As for the back, there’s a new and substantial full-width tail light assembly that underscores the small Lexus script in the centre of the tailgate. The area around the tail light housing also looks a little more pronounced, thanks to a more rakish rear window. For Malaysia, the Lexus RX 350 Luxury rides on 21-inch alloys, in a classy Hyper Chrome metallic finish.
The more significant change is actually found underneath the car, as the all-new 2023 Lexus RX is now built on parent
Toyota’s TNGA-K platform
. The new underpinnings should significantly improve on the SUV’s handling capabilities, thanks to its 90 kg lower weight (despite a slightly bigger size overall), lower centre of gravity, and increased body rigidity.
These improvements are coupled with the all-new 2023 Lexus RX’s aerodynamically efficient bodywork, including flush windows and door mouldings, as well as specific aerodynamic devices all around the exterior, to also enhance the SUV’s overall comfort and ride qualities.
Moving inside, you’ll find a new two-tiered, wraparound dashboard design, accentuated by a curved black segment consisting of an air vent, semi-digital instrument cluster, and the 14-inch touchscreen infotainment display with integrated climate control knobs, that forms the cockpit area.
The driver-focused ethos is based on what the marque calls the ‘Tazuna’ concept, which is apparently inspired by the interaction between jockeys and their race horses – think Mazda’s Jinba Ittai. In essence, only the most-frequently used controls are directly accessible to the driver, while everything else is relegated into various menus within the software.
This, according to Lexus, makes driving and operating the all-new RX a lot more intuitive to the driver, while at the same time also enhancing visibility from within the cabin. Case in point, the head-up display also shows a button “map” when you’re touching on the touch-sensitive physical buttons, so you’ll know what you’re clicking on without looking away from the roads.
Other interior highlights include a three-zone automatic climate control system, 64-colour ambient lighting system, NanoeX negative ion air purifier, 12-speaker Lexus Premium Sound System, the e-Latch electronic door lever, open pore wood trims in black ash colour, and a black leather and microfibre mixed upholstery.
The seats – both front and rear outboard positions – are also powered (10-way adjustable for fronts, recline and folding for rear), and all come with heating and ventilation systems.
The switch to the new TNGA-K platform has also translated to an improvement in interior space for the all-new 2023 Lexus RX. Specifically, kneeroom for the rear passengers have been increased by 12 mm, while the lowered floor also helps with the SUV’s legroom and boot loading height – the latter apparently lowered by some 30 mm. Boot space here is now rated at 612 litres, enough to fit four golf bags.
As a luxury product, Lexus has also taken extra care in regard to the all-new RX’s cabin refinement, particularly in terms of noise and vibration control by way of an active noise cancellation system, improved door sealing, high sound insulation glass, as well as a twin-lock structure for the bonnet to suppress vibrations.
The all-new 2023 Lexus RX 350 Luxury in Malaysia is powered by a 2.4-litre turbocharged inline-four engine, which is rated for
279 hp
 and
430 Nm
 of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels via an all-time electronically controlled all-wheel drive system, which sends a minimum of 25% of torque to the rear wheels, up to 50%.
Paired to an eight-speed Direct Shift automatic gearbox, the all-new Lexus RX 350 Luxury accelerates to 100 km/h from a standstill in 7.6 seconds. Damping, meanwhile, is handled by the Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) system.
As for safety, the all-new 2023 Lexus RX 350 Luxury in Malaysia comes as standard with the Lexus Safety System+ advance driver assistance suite, which includes the dynamic radar cruise control with stop and go and curve speed reduction functions, lane departure alert and lane tracing assist, autonomous emergency braking, road sign assist, and an adaptive high-beam system with BladeScan matrix technology.
The e-Latch system also works together with the Safe Exit Assist system, which prevents the doors from being opened if it detects a vehicle or cyclist approaching from behind.
The all-new Lexus RX 350 Luxury is now open for booking at all Lexus showrooms nationwide, priced at
RM468,888
 on-the-road, without insurance, and inclusive of a five-year unlimited mileage warranty.
Five exterior colours are available on offer, including Sonic Copper (pictured), Sonic Quartz, Sonic Iridium, Sonic Titanium, and Graphite Black Glass Flake.
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Volkswagen ID.Tiguan in the works, EV SUV could be ready by 2026

Set to join the “ID” electric vehicle (EV) lineup of the Volkswagen brand is an all-electric version of the
Volkswagen Tiguan
, which is projected to start production in 2026, as reported by
Handelsblatt
. News of the all-electric Tiguan, most likely named the Volkswagen ID.Tiguan, surfaces after a works council meeting at the Volkswagen Wolfsburg headquarters, where Chancellor Olaf Scholz was in attendance.
Just a day before, the word was already out that
the upcoming Volkswagen ID.2
 could be named the Volkswagen ID.Golf and could make its world debut as soon as next month. After having numbers following the “ID” prefix for a while now, Volkswagen might pair the “ID” prefix with iconic model names like the
Golf
and Tiguan.
At the LA Auto show last year, Volkswagen Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of passenger cars, Thomas Shafer, explained, “we have iconic brand names,” adding, “we will stick with the ID logic, but iconic models will carry a name.” As such, the “ID.Tiguan” name is a likely outcome.
Initially, Volkswagen’s plan was to bring
Project Trinity
 to reality by 2026. However, due to software development constraints, the plan had to be postponed to around 2028. Part of Project Trinity is an all-electric sedan and the other part is what the company calls a “Business Model 2.0”. The all-electric Tiguan or the ID.Tiguan serves to fill this gap to bridge the company toward the new implementation date of Project Trinity.
RELATED:
Upcoming Volkswagen ID.2 EV could be renamed as Golf, to spawn electric GTI
The first sketch of the Trinity project shows a flat, sporty sedan.
Volkswagen had already announced at the end of the year that it would be relying more heavily on the Group’s well-known product ranges – also in terms of design. According to the group, many customers wish that models like the Golf, the GTI, or the Tiguan had a future in the electric age. So far, Volkswagen has not had an offer for this. That should change with the ID.Tiguan.
Ahead of the Volkswagen ID.Tiguan, Volkswagen is set to debut an updated internal combustion engine (ICE) version of the Volkswagen Tiguan by this year. In Malaysia, the current Tiguan is only available in the Allspace 7-seater configuration in three variants (Life, Elegance, R-Line).
RELATED:
Volkswagen ID.4 Pro Performance previewed for Malaysia at VW Fest 2022 – 520km range EV SUV


PIECHA produces the hottest AMG GT yet, produces 604 hp & 840 Nm!

German tuning company Piecha has taken the AMG sports coupe and beefed it to match their latest Green Hell Beast, the
AMG GT-R
. How much tougher you ask? Approximately
604 hp
 and
840 Nm
 tougher.
It’s called the PIECHA AMG GT
RSR
and the model you see here is tuned based on the
AMG GT S
. The
RSR
stands for
Reinrassig – Sportiv – Richtungsweisend
in German. When translated to English, it loosely means Purebred – Sporty – Point the way. According to Piecha, it is an innovation that transcends design; it is a masterpiece with purpose and emotion.
With their €4,998 (approximately RM22,765 based on today’s exchange rate) performance module, the 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 now produces
94 hp
 and
190 Nm
 more than the standard GT S. If that is not impressive enough, the GT
RSR
betters even the more hardcore AMG GT-R’s
585 hp
 and
700 Nm
 setup. With
840 Nm
 on tap, the
RSR
sprints to 100km/h in just
3.7 seconds
;
0.1 seconds
 faster than the standard GT S and just a shade slower than the GT-R’s
3.6 seconds
.
To keep the rear-wheel drive beast in check, the GT
RSR
comes with a series of aerodynamic upgrades. The ultra-lightweight body kit serves to improve the car’s overall aerodynamics while maintaining the desirable appeal. The front and sides feature subtle but effective revisions but it is only from the rear that one can tell this is no ordinary AMG GT.
The rear now features a more aggressively styled rear bumper, quad exhausts and a huge, fixed rear wing. Interestingly, the fixed rear wing can be mounted with the stock active rear spoiler in place. The carbon wing costs €4,284 (approximately RM19500) while the body kit – also made from carbon fibre – costs a hefty €19,040 or approximately the price of a brand new
Honda City
.
According to Piecha, their GT
RSR
is capable of a top speed of 330km/h only if the specially developed tyres with Yokohama is used. The tyres are now 275/35ZR19 up front and the rear gets shod with 305/30ZR20 Yokohama Advan Sport V105. The wheels are also fitted with 26mm wheel spacers to fit the new tyres perfectly. There’s no indicative price for the wheels and tyres, however the 20-piece wheel bolts will cost you €90 (approximately RM410).
Besides that, there is also a height adjustable coilover kit that lowers the car from anywhere between 0-25mm at the front and 10-30mm at the rear. Piecha claims it provides a more dynamic driving experience with the AMG GT. The kit costs €1,119 (approximately RM5100).
In total, the GT
RSR
kit will cost upwards of €29,531 (approximately RM134,436) on top of the base price of an AMG GT S. What do you think folks? In Malaysia, a brand new AMG GT S will cost around RM1.15 million. For around 12 percent of the price, your RM1.2 million GT S can be more powerful than the Green Beast from Hell (AMG GT-R). Not a bad deal really, but the only problem is that Piecha is based in Germany.
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KLIMS18: The new Hyundai Accent can give the City and Vios a good fight

Dull, unappetising, and uninspiring – ask anyone what they thought of the Hyundai Accents of old and the answer should be unanimous. The same can’t be said about the
 new 5th-generation model
 previewed here at the 2018 Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show.
While the older Accents (3rd-generation and older) looked as if they were made in the Northern half of Korea, the new designs (from 4th-generation onwards) are a better reflection of the dynamic and progressive South and it’s not just the sharper lines and sleeker looks.
Those seats, the panels, the trims, even the way the door closes – the new Accent offers and projects a sense of sturdiness and quality at first impression. Should the car be sold in Malaysia, the Accent will make it hard for you to ignore it as a prospect, when shopping for a B-segment sedan.
Compared to the City (120 hp/145 Nm) and the
new Vios
 (107 hp/140 Nm) , the Accent’s 1.4-litre engine with
100 hp
 and
132 Nm
 is certainly at a disadvantage.
That said, while both the B-segment bestsellers are now equipped with CVT gearboxes, don’t be so quick to discount the new Accent as it adopts a 6-speed automatic transmission instead – a trait that could salvage some points for the Accent in terms of delivering performance and driving feel.
The model you see here may just be a preview unit but is a good enough indication of what the Accent could offer should it arrive in Malaysia. It’s equipped with LED daytime running lights, projector headlamps, a 3.5-inch TFT LCD colour instrument cluster display, keyless entry and start, cruise control, six airbags and Hill-start Assist Control.
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Facts & Figures: 2021 Mazda CX-9 launched, from RM319,847

Bermaz Motor has introduced the updated 2021 Mazda CX-9 with prices starting from
RM319,847
for the front-wheel drive and
RM336,215
for the all-wheel drive (AWD) models.

The fully imported CBU CX-9 are subject to the 50% sales tax exemption, valid till the end of 2021. They come with 5-years/100,000 km warranty and 5-years free maintenance.
Both the front-wheel-drive and AWD variants of the CX-9 are powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine with
228 hp
and
350 Nm
. The engine is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission, with newly added paddle shifters.
Watch our review of the Mazda CX-9 here!
The updated 2021 CX-9 is introduced as the
Ignite Edition
and that includes gloss black finishing on the front grille, side mirrors, and 20-inch alloy wheels. Design-wise, nothing has changed.
As for features, automatic LED headlamps are a given, with a sunroof, keyless entry and powered tailgate included. Its size will be no obstacle in the parking lot with eight parking sensors – four each in the front and back.
Moving inside, the CX-9 features a 9-inch infotainment display with Android Auto
as per last year’s update
 along with the Mazda MX-5. The new addition here is the Apple CarPlay function, finally.
The list of equipment onboard includes a coloured head-up display, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, and tri-zone air conditioning.
Safety and driver aids include six airbags, Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control Plus, Off-road Traction Assist, hill-start assist, and i-ActivSense driver assistance system. It consists of features like Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and autonomous braking for front and rear.
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